HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY,

CHAPTER XVII.

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY-PRE-GLACIAL CHANNELS - THE DRIFT-OIL WELLS-TIMBER-COAL MEASURE ROCKS-GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE-WAVERLY CONGLOMERATE-STONE QUARRIES PETROLEUM AND GAS-DEPTH OF OIL WELLS-NEFF PETROLEUM COMPANY.

KNOX county is a continuation of the Southern slope of the table land which separates the waters of Lake Erie from those of the Ohio river. It is bounded on the north by Richland and Ashland counties, on the east by Holmes and Coshocton counties, on the south by Licking county, and on the west by the counties of Delaware and Morrow. Its relative position to the State places it almost in the geographical centre. Its' surface presents a succession of hills, in part rugged and steep where influenced by the coal measure rocks and the Waverly conglomerate; in part symmetrically rounded, and of graceful outlines, where composed of the olive shales of the Waverly. These hills are all intersected by narrow ravines in which flow the tributaries of the larger streams, the latter uniformly occupying ancient valleys of erosion, and bordered by alluvial plains. This ancient river system of the county is very accurately defined. There are four distinct traces of these pre-glacial channels running through the county.

The west channel enters the county from Richland, near the centre of the north line of Berlin township, and runs in nearly a southerly direction to the middle of the township, thence bearing southwest to near Fredericktown, thence in a south easterly direction through Morris to Mount Vernon, on through Clinton, Miller, Morgan, and into Licking county, near Utica.

A second channel is traced through Richland county, and enters Knox county near the northeast corner of Brown township, thence nearly south into Howard, thence in a southwesterly direction through Howard to the northwest corner of Harrison, bearing a little to the west, running through the northwest corner of Harrison, touching the southeast corner of Pleasant, thence enters Clay at the northeast corner of the township, and enters Licking county from the southeast corner of Clay.

A third channel is traced through the county of Ashland, and enters Knox in the northeast corner of Jefferson township, thence bearing slightly to the west enters Union township near Gann Station, continuing into Coshocton county through the southwest corner of Union township.

A fourth channel is traced from the first mentioned channel just south of Mount Vernon, thence running due east to t,- south line of College township near Gambier, thence in a northeasterly direction into Howard, then along the south line of Howard and Union townships, thence bearing a little to the southeast through the northeast comer of Butler township into the county of Coshocton. .

After the valley was filled up by the drift the modem stream found a shorter course across the spur of hills near Fredericktown extending out from the east side, and has cut its recent channel

166 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

through the rock. Owl creek and the Sandusky branch of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad occupy the old channel to Mount Vernon. At Gambier it is the ancient bed which here divided a channel extending southward towards Martinsburgh, now filled with gravel and sand hills, and occupied by Big run, which flows northward, a direction opposite to that of the old stream, and becomes a tributary to Owl creek.

All the old valleys have been filled by glacial drift to the summit of the adjacent hills and, probbably, nearly, if not quite, to the top of the highest hills in the county; the immense erosion which accompanied the retreat of the glacier sweeping away the great bulk of the drift, taking all the finer materials, and leaving a residuum of sand and gravel.

Wells drilled for oil on the borders of Owl creek toward the Coshocton line show that this deposit of coarse gravel extends at least eighty-two feet below the bottom of the valley, and in one instance a log was struck at a depth of one hundred feet. Hence there is here disclosed a broad valley once filled with drift to the depth of not less than two hundred and seventeen feet, through which a channel has been plowed one hundred and thirty-five feet in depth, leaving a succession of terraces, the stream now flowing nearly one hundred feet above the bottom of the old gorge.

Following the Columbus road westward toward Mount Liberty, the surface rises very slowly from the river over a bed of fine gravelly and sandy alluvium, filled with small bowlders, many of them limestone, then striking irregular drift-hills which reach an elevation one hundred and fifty-five feet above the railroad at Mount Vernon.

The material of these hills is coarse, consisting chiefly of gravel and sand, with flat fragments from the Waverly, and a few large granitic bowlders.. The surface is irregular and billowy, as if piled up by the action of shore waves when the water stood at this elevation. Thence to Mount Liberty the surface rises to the height of two hundred and twenty-five feet above the railroad, the wagon road passing over undulating drift hills, the material steadily becoming coarser, containing more limestone, and more flat fragments of rock. The underlying strata are entirely covered by this deposit.

West of Mount Liberty a cut on the railroad at an elevation of two hundred and eighty-five feet above the depot at Mount Vernon shows that the drift is wholly unstratified.

In Hilliar township the hills are composed of tenacious clay drift, the wells showing from eight to eighteen feet of yellow clay, then blue clay, passing into hard-pan on the hills and resting on quicksand in the valleys.

The timber in this region is beech, maple, oak, white and black ash, and black walnut.

The wells of Lock, on the south line of Milford, pass through eight to fifteen feet of yellow clay, and fifteen to twenty feet of blue clay, then on the higher lands striking gravel, on the lower quicksand. The surface is of the same general character through Milford and Miller townships, viz.: undulating hills from which the finer material of the drift has been washed, bordering flood plains through which the small streams flow, generally over beds of water-rolled pebbles, this material resting upon unmodified drift.

Eastward from Lock, drift apparently fills the old valley of erosion to the foot of the hills east of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. These hills rise somewhat abruptly to the height of three hundred feet above the valley. Their slopes are covered with drift, so that no rock exposures are found until the descent into the valley of Owl creek is reached, about one mile from Mount Vernon. The rock is here broken and crushed as if by lateral thrust. An old water plain borders the west side of the railroad from Mount Vernon to the south line of the county, marked by successive terraces, and from one to three miles wide. It is bordered by hills of modified drift, and forms an extension southward of the valley in which Owl creek flows, until deflected to the east by Mount Vernon.

The slope of the first hill, which rises to one hundred and seventy-five feet above Mount Vernon, exhibits the olive shales of the Waverly covered by Waverly debris, with no evidence of drift except occasional granite bowlders. On the top of this hill are found thin bowlder clay and granitic pebbles. Ascending the next slope to the height of three hundred and ten feet, the outcrop and debris of the Waverly continues with no drift material until passing about twenty feet downward on the

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 167

southeast side. There granite bowlders are found, and the slope below is covered with drift mingled with angular fragments of the local rocks. The drift continues to the top of the next hill, two hundred and eighty-five feet, but is thin, and the soil is composed mainly of local debris. One mile north of the last is a broad expanse of gently undulating sandy fields, exhibiting no evidence of drift except large scattered bowlders of granite, the soil like the banks of sandy streams. Rising above these sandy billows are irregular ridges of clay composed largely of foreign drift. At the highest elevation-three hundred and five feet-the hill is capped with a heavy deposit of clay drift. On the descending slope, at twenty feet from the top, a sandy waterwashed surface is reached with granitic bowlders scattered over it. Descending towards the eastern valley, the drift on the slopes is deeper. On the last slope, at an elevation of two hundred and seventy-five feet, the drift disappears, and the crushed layers of Waverly are covered only with their own debris. At two hundred and fifteen feet the river drift of washed sand, gravel, and granitic bowlders is reached, which passes into the alluvium of the valley, cut by Big run, at an elevation of one hundred and sixty-five feet above Mount Vernon.

In Jackson township the Wakatomaka creekwhich has the sources of most of its tributaries in the recently eroded ravines of the Coal Measure rocks on the east-falls a little north of Bladensburgh into the old channel now occupied by Big run, and is bordered by irregular sandy hills of water-washed material, which are continued northward to the junction of Big run with Owl creek near Gambier.

At Mount Vernon, wells sunk in the alluvium pass only through sand and gravel. Those on the sandy slopes strike -

Feet.

1. Yellow clay 10 to 15

2. Blue clay 30 to 40

3. Gravel, sand, and broken stone to bed rock.

That part of the county east of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and north of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus railroad, consisted originally of a high undulating table land, covered with glacial drift. Erosion has intersected it with narrow ravines, and filled it with small streams, leaving a succession of well rounded hills of very graceful outline, characteristic of the Waverly in this part of the State. This peculiarity is only modified by outcrops of Waverly conglomerate. Where this is wanting, or is below the bottoms of the valleys, the hills are entirely without benches; the lines of the landscape are all graceful curves; the hills susceptible of cultivation to the top, and presenting scenes of quiet beauty rarely excelled. These, characteristics change upon approaching the Coal Measure rocks in the southeast and northeast parts of the county.

Standing near the line of division, the observer need make no mistake in regard to the character of any of the hills in sight; those which are symmetrically rounded to the top will be found composed wholly of the Waverly; those of which the summits show benches and irregular lines of contour are capped with the coal rocks. The debris of the olive shales, the upper members of the Waverly, here make a peculiar elastic and excellent roadway, so that travelling in the night along the margin of the coal field the sound of the carriage wheels will enable one to say when he is passing over a road of this material. These hills at the north retain patches of undisturbed drift on protected slopes, with scattered erratics, the latter sometimes very abundant on the lower slopes, and in the beds of streams, where no other evidences of the drift are preserved: The hills when denuded of drift, have but a slight covering of soil, the shales of the Waverly, finely broken up, coming near to the surface.

West of Ankenytown is. a plain about ten miles wide, without rock exposures, but with occasional gravel ridges, the whole composed of river drift, of sand, gravel, and clay on the margin, resting on quicksand and gravel, the whole of unknown depth, filling up the old pre-glacial channel.

In the broad valleys of the streams the native timber was mainly hard maple and black walnut; of the latter a very large part was destroyed before its value was known, but very much has been cut and shipped to market The large sugar maples in this district. seemed a strange thing, but the thorough drainage afforded by the deep deposit of gravel fully explains their presence. If the alluvium rested upon clay, we should find soft maple, elm, and sycamore growing upon it, but no sugar

168 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

maple. On the Waverly hills a mixed forest of maple, beech, hickory, oak, and pepperidge (black gum); in a few places on the borders of the stream, . hemlock, and on the ridges where the Waverly conglomerate comes to the surface, chestnut. On the Coal Measure rocks the predominating timber is oak. On all the hills are scattered trees of whitewood, cucumber, black and white ash, and elm; the latter three being the most abundant where the original glacial drift remains.

The series of rocks exposed in the county comprise about two hundred and seventy-five feet of the coal measures, and about three hundred feet of the Upper Waverly, but borings for oil have extended our knowledge of the strata down to the Huron shale, and have afforded important information in regard to the character and thickness of the subcarboniferous rocks.

The Coal Measure rocks cover the greater part of Jackson and Butler townships, and a small area in the north part of Jefferson. The highest hills in Jackson rise one hundred feet above the upper outcrops of rock and are covered with the bleached and earthy debris of cherty (an impure variety of quartz or flint) limestone.

The coal is of fair quality, in two benches, in places showing considerable sulphur, and at the outcrops does not exhibit a thickness which would make mining profitable, except for local use. The thickness and extent of coal rocks and the fact that they include three horizons of coal, would fully justify further exploration. This exploration could be made most easily by drilling from the tops of the hills, so that the holes would pierce all the strata, disclosing their character and thickness. The shales below this coal indicate less active disturbances, and whatever was originally deposited on the line of the two lower outcrops probably now remains. A fourth horizon of coal is found above the upper massive sandstone at the bench on the hills, one hundred feet below the highest points, but no outcrop of rocks was observed at this elevation. The cherty debris of the limestone above coal No. 4 is abundant upon many of the hills, and constitutes flint ridges in the northern part of Butler township. Much less promising territory in other places has been successfully explored and valuable deposits of coal found. The coal rocks of Butler township extend to within about eight and a half miles of Gambier. At the nearest point is an outcrop of fire-clay of the lower coal, but the water flowing from it shows much sulphur, an indication of coal of an inferior quality.

THE WAVERLY CONGLOMERATE

This is continued from Richland south through the eastern part of Knox county, presenting the best exposures along the banks of Owl creek, near the line between Butler and Union townships. It apparently forms here the crest of an anticlinal (marking inclination in opposite directions), and dips to the east at an angle of about twenty-five degrees. The massive conglomerate is much broken and borders the stream of which the old channel is known to be something like one hundred feet below the present bed.

Ascending the hills on the road from Mount Vernon towards Martinsburgh the broken outcrop of the Waverly may be seen on a level with the railroad, and may be found at all elevations on the slopes of the hills to the height of three hundred feet. Throughout this thickness it consists of thin layers constituting the ordinary olive shales. The same thing is seen in ascending the hills between Mount Vernon and Amity. If the Waverly conglomerate extends to this part of the county it must dip to the west below the valleys; and in that case the hills would all be capped by the Coal Measure rocks. They are, however, Waverly to the top. From thirty to forty feet of this conglomerate is exposed in the bluffs of the new channel of Owl creek, below Millwood, the top being ninety-five feet below Gambier. At Brownsville the Waverly is quarried, and furnishes hard, coarse rock, full of pebbles, but more fissile than the ordinary conglomerate.

At A. K. Fobes' quarry, in Monroe township, one and a half miles northeast of Gambier, and forty feet below it, the Waverly affords large quantities of good stone, though much stripping is required. Many of the layers are thin and much broken. The heaviest layers are about three feet thick, all fine-grained, most .of them yellow, butsome blue, with a sharp grit, and resembling the Berea.

On the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 169

railroad, half a mile east of Howard station, a quarry, belonging to Hurd & Israel, has been opened, of which the following is a section so far as exposed:

Feet.

1. Shaley sandstone with layers of argillaceous shale 20

2. Massive sandstone 6 to 8

The lower stratum is a coarse stone, with much iron, containing pockets of soft iron-ore, in some places striped like the Mansfield stone, and in others of a deep cherry red; general color yellow; fucoids (fossil sea-weed), the only fossils observed.

Indian Field run, a small stream emptying into Owl creek from Harrison township, and occupying a rocky valley of recent erosion, gives fine exposures of the Waverly, where many of the layers are from three to four feet thick, but they contain many concretions or pockets of iron ore, and occasionally nodules of iron pyrites. Impressions of fucoids are here abundant. The general color of the rock is yellow. The valley and slopes are filled with the debris of drift except an occasional granite bowlder. Near the top of the hill on the west, drift bowlders are more abundant, and heavy masses of drift cover the western- slope descending toward Owl creek.

From thirty to forty feet of the bottom of the Waverly conglomerate has argillaceous (clayey) bands interstratified with the quartz-bearing beds of sandstone. Below this the mass of the material to the chocolate shales is argillaceous, with frequent hard bands of calcareo-silicious rock, and occasionally strata of sandstone. One of the latter, No. r9 of the general section, is twenty-two feet thick, the upper part with argillaceous bands, the lower carrying quartz pebbles; another stratum, No. 21, one hundred and twenty-fire feet below the last, is a very fine blue compact sandstone, bearing some resemblance to the finer grades of the Berea.

One hundred and fifteen feet below the hard blue sandstone mentioned above, a similar rock occurs eight and a half feet thick, the upper part dark colored.

At the depth of about six hundred and seventy feet below the sub-carboniferous conglomerate is the red or chocolate shale, the first in this part of the county (Harrison township,) which can be identified fully with any of the subdivisions that are so clearly defined in the valley of the Cuyahoga. This is apparently the equivalent of the Cleveland shale, which in many places at the north is all or in part red shale. The well-borings here show that it is very homogeneous in structure, except that near the bottom there are interstratified bands of argillaceous shale.

Below this chocolate shale are the Erie shales, which so far as their character can be determined by an inspection of the borings, present precisely the same characteristics as in the northwestern counties, where they are fully exposed. They consist of a mass of soft, blue argillaceous shale, with hard calcareo-silicious bands.

Below this Erie lies the Huron or "black shale," the thickness of which cannot be determined. It seems evident that along the western side of the sub-carboniferous rocks the lower members of the series and the upper member of the Devonian are thinning out, and that their absence further west is not altogether the result of erosion, but that their extent in that direction was limited by the presence of dry land at the time of their deposit.

Some ten years ago the attention of enterprising parties was called to the "oil signs" of the eastern part of Knox county. On the western margin of the coal field in Jefferson, Union, and Butler townships, were indications of dislocation in the rock strata; gas springs were abundant, and from several places it was reported that oil in small quantities was obtained. A company was organized, territory leased; and since that time something like eighty-five thousand dollars has been expended in explorations, mainly under the superintendence of Peter Neff, esq., of Gambier. The registers of the wells, which have been kept with commendable care by Mr. Neff, show that there is a marked disturbance in the strata extending to the lower rocks reached, and its apparent extent The red or chocolate shales, the member of the sub-carboniferous, constitute a well marked horizon, and enable us to determine the relative position of the different strata in the wells which reach this material.

Eight wells are located in the territory around the junction of the Kokosing and Mohican rivers, and the following table gives the depth below the upper surface of the red shale:

170 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

Feet.

Well No. 1 615

" " 2 615

" " 3 591

" " 4 562

" " 5 705

" " 6 575

" " 7 607

" " 8 627

In all the wells bored, a similar succession of strata has been pierced in each. The chocolate, the Erie, and the Huron shales were struck in all wells carried deep enough. The rocks included between these and the Coal Measures present alternations of sand, rock, argillaceous, and sandy shales, which, after passing the olive shales that cap the Waverly, present a great variety in the different wells, and forbid all minute systematic subdivisions. The most marked and most general alternations are exhibited in the general section of the rocks of the county.,

In nearly all the wells bored, gas, oil, and brine have been found in greater or less quantities, and from two of them a remarkably strong flow of gas has issued, which, properly utilized, can be made of great value.

The employment of natural gas elsewhere in the manufacture of iron would indicate the proper use to be made of it, were it not that the wells are situated several miles from any railroad or other adequate means of transportation.

The Neff Petroleum company, which, under the management of Peter Neff, of Gambier, made the explorations for oil, has been re-organized under the name of "The Kokosing Oil company," and has utilized the gas in a novel manner, which gives promise of complete success. It has expended twenty-five thousand dollars in erecting buildings and appliances for the manufacture of carbon black, and is now obtaining a product not excelled in quality by anything in the market, except bone or ivory-black, and has demonstrated that the wells have a capacity of producing about five hundred pounds per day of No. I black. This company has also devised a mode of utilizing the acid-waste of oil refineries, making of it a very excellent carbon-black, by using with it a small amount o the natural gas. With eighteen hundred burners, for the consumption of the natural gas, it produces from forty to fifty pounds of the "Diamond," or No. I black, per day, and with twenty-eight burners, for the consumption of the acid-waste, one hundred and fifty pounds per day of the "Pearl," or No. 2 black. The fact that the gas has flowed from the well without diminution for the past ten years gives good promise of its permanency; and the indications now are that by this use of the gas a good return will be secured to the stockholders for all the money so perseveringly expended in sinking the wells.

Well No. 2 also yields a steady flow of gas; and from well No. r over three thousand barrels of water escapes per day.

Well No. 8, near Gann Station, in Jefferson township, shows that the Waverly above the red shale is eight hundred and seventy-two feet in thickness, and, including the red shale, is nine hundred and thirty-four feet, the Waverly being capped with sixty feet of coarse sand-rock, either carboniferous conglomerate, or the Massillon sandstone. If this is regarded as conglomerate, sixty feet should be added to both the above numbers. Above the sand-rock is sixty feet of shaley sandstone, capped with the cherty limestone, underlain by fire-clay, and a faint outcrop of coal.

The Massillon sandstone rests upon the Waverly, on the hills above Gann Station, and directly on Coal No 1, at New Castle. At wells Nos 1 and 2 the Waverly is eight hundred and seventy-seven feet thick, the olive shales rising to the coal, under the same rock, at New Castle. Westward from that point this sandstone rests directly upon the Waverly shales.

Westward, the materials in all the wells gradually become coarser; the Waverly conglomerate, and the other sand-rocks were found in normal position, and the supply of oil in the wells was more abundant. All the indications point to an old shore line, a little to the west during the deposit of the Waverly rocks, along which the coarse sandstones accumulated as shore deposits, while the finer argillaceous shales were deposited in deep water at the east.

In well No. 3 the second sand-rock was struck at two hundred and eighty-five feet, and was six feet deep; the third sand-rock at five hundred and eighty-five feet; and was nine feet thick. The red shale was reached at five hundred and eighty-five

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 171

feet. This well still flows oil, gas, and brine; the latter yielding two pounds and ten ounces of salt from eleven quarts of water.

Well No. 1, the "Buckingham Well," yields heavy green oil from thin sand-rock, which was struck at about five hundred and sixty feet, and is eight feet thick.

In well No. 5, the "Hurd Well," the third sand rock was struck at five hundred and seventy-five feet, and was ten feet thick, yielding gas, oil, and water, which still flow from the top of the tube, about eight gallons of oil per day. The red shale was reached at five hundred and eighty feet.

There is a deep-seated disturbance, involving all the rocks down to and including the Huron shale, which is the great oil-producing rock, so that the dip of the strata is substantially northeast. Eastward the silicious rocks gradually give place to argillaceons shale, the coarser sandstones becoming thin,.or disappearing altogether. In the opposite direction, or westward, the materials are coarser, and the sand-rocks thicker.

On the eastern margin of the territory, by boring, gas predominates, and at Well No. 2 has flowed for twelve years with a continuous pressure of about one hundred and eighty pounds to the inch. Westward, petroleum is more abundant. The oil is thus far nearly all found in the sand-rock, directly above the red shale.

The water obtained above the second sand-rock and that below the red shale is fresh; that between the second sand-rock and the red shale is salt, and affords a suggestion as to the probable source of the coloring material in the red shale-iron deposited by the salt water.

The results obtained suggest further explorations in the southeastern part of the district for gas, and in the western part for oil. With the new uses developed for natural gas, it is difficult to decide which would be the more valuable.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ARCHEOLOGY.

MOUNDS IN THE COUNTY-PROFESSOR ROBERTS' ADDRESS - TRACING THE MOUND BUILDERS-MOUNDS OF EUROPE AND AMERICA COMPARED-THEORIES REGARDING THEIR ORIGIN-MAN IN A SAVAGE STATE-THEIR 'NUMBERS HERE AND MANNER OF LIVING-THE HUNS-CHARACTER OF THEIR EARTHWORKS AND THEIR PROBABLE USE - DIFFERENT CLASSES OF MOUNDS-THEIR ANTIQUITY - THE -IMPLEMENTS IN USE BY MOUND BUILDERS AND INDIANS-COPPER :MINING-STONE RELICS.

ALTHOUGH the territory embraced in Knox county is not nearly so interesting to the archaeologist as that further south and east in the valleys of the Licking and Muskingum rivers, yet archaeological remains are not wanting in any part of the county. There are evidences that the Mound Builders were here in considerable numbers, a few scattered monuments of this mysterious people still remaining. There seems to be no authentic history regarding this people. The known records of the world are silent-as silent as these monuments that perpetuate their memory. Nothing of their origin or end is certainly known. They probably antedate the various Indian tribes, who anciently occupied and claimed title to the soil of Ohio; though this is only problematical-the two nations might have been contemporaneous.

The most prominent of the Mound Builders' works will be briefly mentioned here, and a history of these and others, more in detail, will be found in the histories of the townships in which archaeological remains appear.

A quarter of mile south of Fredericktown, on quite a high eminence, is a mound in an excellent state of preservation, it having been spared any mutilation. Mr. William Allen, who cleared the land, planted fruit trees over it and preserved it. A mile to the southeast of this mound, was, fifty years ago, a perceptible embankment enclosing a considerable area. About four miles south of southwest of this in the southerly part of Wayne township, is a mound in the woods, not well preserved. Three miles on an air line to the west of southwest of Mount Vernon, in Green valley, is a small mound, now nearly obliterated by the plow. About sixty years ago Josiah Bonar, a boy long since dead, dug into the centre of this mound, and found bones in a very much decayed condition.

172 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

Several stone pipes were also found in and around this mound. One hundred rods southeast of this mound is another, of similar size, which has nearly disappeared under the plow. Two miles still southwest, in the northeast comer of Liberty township, is, or was, when in woods, an embankment with gateway, enclosing a plat of ground only a few rods in diameter. The ditch inside this enclosure, having a hard-pan subsoil holding water, so as to make it marshy at the bottom.

Throughout Green valley relics of former occupants were at one time abundant, such as stone axes and tomahawks, arrow-heads, lapstones for cracking nuts, etc.

There is a mound on the summit of what is known as "Rich Hill" in Hilliar township, that is quite peculiar. Rich Hill itself is peculiar. It is mound shaped, containing about one hundred acres, and so high, that when the surrounding country was an unbroken forest, one could stand on the summit and see over the tops of the trees all around. The elevation was perhaps one hundred feet. The hill was covered with the kinds of timber common on the richest bottom land. On the highest point of this hill stood a mound about thirty-five or forty feet in diameter at the base, and fifteen feet high, built entirely of cobblestone, which must have been brought from a distance; as no such stone is found in the vicinity. The first settlers took the stone from this mound and used them for the purpose of walling wells, etc.

In Liberty township, on the farm once owned by Joseph Beeney, was once a mound of considerable dimensions. It was leveled for a building spot. In it was found a skull of immense size, so large that the largest man in the county could put his head into the cavity with great ease, still leaving unoccupied space.

The mound now in the Mount Vernon cemetery has attracted, and does yet attract, much attention. It is of small size but beautifully rounded and compactly built. From its sides and top trees have sprung that have grown to a large size. From its summit on a clear day can be seen the neighboring village of Fredericktown. It is now used for vaults for the dead. .

The works which formerly existed in the northern part of the county, and some of which now exist in the vicinity of Fredericktown, near the head of Owl creek, are described in the journal of the Archaeological association of Ohio, with the aid of a diagram about as follows

The following is taken from Howe's Ohio Collections:

When the settlers first came, there were two wells only a few rods apart on the south bank of Vernon river, on the edge of the town, the origin of which remains unknown. They were built of neatly hammered stone, laid in regular masonry, and had the appearance of being overgrown with moss. Near by was a salt lick at which the Indians were accustomed to encamp. Almost immediately after the first settlement, all traces of the wells were obliterated, as was supposed by the Indians. A similar well was later brought to light, a mile and a half distant, by the plow of Philip Cosner, while plowing in a newly cleared piece of forest land. It was covered with poles and earth and was about thirty feet deep.

The following is from an address delivered before the Nu Pi Kappa society of Kenyon college

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 173

by C. M. Roberts, of Chillicothe, Ohio. In it are advanced theories, and proofs of the same, regarding the Mound Builders, that seem at least reasonable.

From the Alleghanies on the east to the Rocky mountains on the west, we find, thickly scattered, mounds or tumuli, some of which bear evidences of very great antiquity. They extend in an unbroken line from the northern part of British America down through the Mississippi valley, Mexico, Central America, into South America as far as the southern part of Peru. The more southern mounds differ materially from those in the north, bearing evidences of much greater taste and skill, a higher state of cultivation, and a much more recent date. Their numbers and similarity of design at once divest them of all claim to be the result of natural agencies, and stamp them with indubitable marks of human workmanship. Who built these earthworks? The traditions of the oldest Indian tribes throw no light on the subject.

It is now generally conceded as a fact that Asia was the first home of the human race. Not only do sacred writings point to this country, but many other facts, some of which have been but lately brought to light; as, for instance, the roots of those Asiatic languages which were known to have belonged to the most ancient peoples.

Assuming that the above theory-not to speak too strongly - is the correct one, it follows that the Mound Builders must have owed their origin to Asiatic races. The only part of the problem which remains to be solved is how they got here and from what race or races they took their origin.

Glancing at the geography of Asia, we find the central part of the country thickly covered with these same earthworks. They stretch out in all directions, across the whole of Europe into Britain, down through Asia into Africa, across Tartary, and northeast through the whole of Siberia.

Then since we find these mounds in unbroken extent, reaching up through Siberia to Behring' s strait and from Behring's strait on through America, it is only fair to infer that this was the line of march taken up by the Mound Builders. To clinch the above theory and prove it beyond question, the contents of the mounds in Tartary are almost exactly similar to those contained in the mounds of North America. The Tartars opened a mound in Tartary, and found some vases together with the bones of men and animals, besides shells, charcoal, and weapons. Upon excavating a tumulus in Scotland, almost the same contents were found, and it is almost needless to add that they agree in the most minute particulars with the contents of mounds which have been explored in our own country. The burning of the dead was a custom in vogue among nearly all the ancient nations of Asia, and we find the same custom in use among the Mound Builders. The tradition of the intended sacrifice of Isaac is handed down among the Greeks as the intended sacrifice of Iphigenia, the beautiful daughter of Agamemnon, who was spirited away by Diana and made a priestess in her temple; among the Hindoos as the intended sacrifice of Cunacepha, who, being bound to the altar, called upon Indra for aid. As he prayed his bonds became looser and looser until they fell from his limbs, and he stood free by the power of his god; and among the Mexicans the tradition was a stem reality, for thousands of human beings perished yearly upon the sacrificial altar. It is said upon good authority that sixty thousand persons were sacrificed at the dedication of one temple.

What could have been the cause of such similarity of customs if not similarity of ancestry? Had the habits of the two peoples agreed in but one or two circumstances, the .conclusion might be admissible that so much of similarity was the result of chance. But the two peoples, separated as they were by thousands of miles of ocean, agree in almost every fact known concerning their customs and habits. Beyond question the two nations were closely related.

Various have been the theories as to whom this strange people owed their origin. Some have contended, and with no little reason, that they were the descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel. Others think that they sprang from some Polynesians who were accidently cast upon the shores of South America, and who, by a series of migrations northward, gradually peopled the whole of this vast extent of territory. Upon exploring the Mammoth cave there was found a man of this lost race wrapped in a cloth into which the feathers of birds had been so skillfully woven as to be almost as impervious to wet as the back of a bird. The same kind of cloth is manufactured by the Polynesians, and from this fact grew the above theory. But the fact that the more northern mounds bear unmistakable evidence of greater antiquity than those in the south, is quite sufficient to prove the falsity of any such conclusion as the above.

Still another theory is, and it seems by far the most capable of proof, that the Mound Builders were either descendants of the Huns, or were veritable Huns.

In the savage state man is a migratory being. Holding no fixed habitation, recognizing no law but strength, waging war with all living things, governed only by natural appetites, swayed by every impulse and ruled in every act by momentary caprice, he roams from place to place seeking sustenance and ease. Even in the first stages of civilization, man loses but little of his migratory habits. Nature has made all things for man; he has but to chose, to have. It is only when he has reached the higher stages of civilization that he casts aside his migratory habits, and begins to recognize the necessity of fixed habitation and a moral law.

We have sufficient proof to warrant the assertion that the Mound Builders had advanced far beyond the savage state. The number and beauty of the remains we have of them is proof positive that this people were here in immense numbers. Had they been ever so skilful as hunters, the produce of the chase could have sustained but a very meager population. They must have tilled the soil and carried on commerce, both doubtless in a very rude fashion. That they understood something of the science of numbers is evident from the fact that they constructed wonderfully accurate squares, circles, elipses, crosses, besides many other mathematical figures, and this fact, is hardly compatible with the idea that they were savage. Again, the oldest trees in the Mississippi valley scarcely date back Boo A. D., while on the Pacific slope trees are still standing which must be twenty centuries older than our era. When the Lake Superior copper mines were discovered, it was found that they had been extensively worked, more so, in fact, than they have ever been since. Away back under the ground a block of pure copper weighing tons upon tons was found propped up as though it had been just got ready for removal. Everything looked as though the miners had merely gone away to dinner.

According to Chinese history, about the time of the invasion of Rome by the barbarians, a tribe of Huns migrated northeast, passing up through Siberia toward Kamschatka. The

174 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

record is all the more worthy of credibility, as the attention of the Chinese was especially called to the barbarians who lived on the borders of China, and against the inroads of whom the great wall had just been built. From the time that this migration was noticed, nothing was ever heard of them again. This was probably the last of a long series of migrations, as the descendants of this one tribe could not have been the authors of all the earthworks is the New World. There is a tradition among the Mexicans that the Aztecs reached Mexico about the middle of the seventh century. They were in all probability this same tribe of Huns who found the northern countries already occupied. That they were relatives of the Mound Builders is very evident from the similarity of customs. The Huns built mounds, so did the Mound Builders; the Huns intesed animals, weapons, and ornaments with the dead, so did the Mound Builders; the Huns were small in stature, heavy, with round heads, so were the Mound Builders; and we find by the most careful research that, not only were the Mound Builders the exact prototypes of the Huns in a physical sense, but also in every other. To pile proof upon proof, the mode of reckoning time among the Mound Builders was exactly that of the Chinese, Japanese, and Tartars, and the Huns were a Tartar tribe. This fact becomes all the more wonderful when we consider that this mode was by far the most perfect that had been devised. In Mound City, near Chillicothe, Ohio, the bones of horses and elephants, together with the teeth of the latter, were exhumed from a mound, and it is a well known fact that the Huns almost lived upon horseback. The connection of the two peoples cannot be questioned, for they have marked their way with everlasting guide posts, have stamped with their peculiar characteristics every fact known of the two nations. History stopped short, but they unwittingly took up the broken thread and wrote volumes for our perusal, not upon paper, with pen and ink, but upon tablets as eternal as the mountains. In defiance of the ravaging hand of time, the prying curiosity of the would-be antiquarian, and the carelessness of the agriculturist, they still stand silent but indubitable proofs of the identity of their builders.

We now come to the most interesting part of the problem what were these earthworks built for? What sufficient reason could their builders have had in carrying earth, often for miles, to pile it up in any of the many shapes we now see it in? Their motives were probably almost as various as their needs. To a people so primitive in their habits as the Mound Builders must have been, owing to their rude state of civilization at its best, this was almost the only available mode of protecting themselves, and probably their religious notions largely conduced to their building many of the works which could only have been intended as places for worship.

The earthworks of the New World may be separated into two principal divisions, mounds (conical and animal shaped), and enclosures (for defence and religious purposes). The conical mounds are by far the most numerous of the remains. There are thousands upon thousands of them in the broad valley of the Mississippi, and they stand like hoary sentinels guarding the silence of the past. I have stood upon one and counted twenty others. Trees already ages old strike their roots deep into their tops, while the rain of centuries have ribbed their sides in a hundred places. Judging from internal as well as external evidences, the tumuli seem to have been constructed for at least three purposes. Their close resemblance to the Teocalli of Mexico would warrant us in saying that they were places of sacrifice; evidences of fire on their tops indicate that they were used as telegraph stations; while the presence of human remains prove that they were monuments erected over the dead. They were probably used for all three purposes, though no one was perhaps used for more than two. Mounds used for either sacrificial purposes or places of observatory were generally either inside, or contiguous to, some enclosure, though the latter do sometimes extend from one fortification to another. Those tumuli which ought to be classed as sacrificial are sometimes conical, sometimes sided, sometimes animal shaped. The most noteworthy of the animal shaped are in Michigan and Wisconsin. We have, however, two very remarkable ones in Ohio, the "Great Serpent" and the "Alligator." In Pickaway county there is a work shaped like a "cross" which could only have been built for sacred purposes. The uses of these structures cannot be questioned. Their very shape would warrant the assertion that they were temple mounds, and gives us a deep insight into the religious notions, systems and creeds of their authors.

The general inner structure of the sepulchral mounds was always the same. At the bottom of the mound rests the body, sometimes covered with bark, sometimes built over with logs, sometimes enclosed by stones, in a manner closely resembling the Kislvaen of English antiquities. Tumuli of this order are generally isolated, or in small groups, one always appearing to be the central figure. They rarely contain the remains of more than one. From the very manner of the disposal of the mounds we could scarcely help concluding that here slept some eminent family. Over their ashes a grieving nation erected monuments more lasting than brass. Upon excavating such a mound, some mica, a vessel probably at one time containing food or water, some pearl beads, a copper implement, an ornament or two, a tobacco pipe, and some human remains, are probably all that would be found. Yet in honor of these remains this great lasting monument was reared, and even now, when the winds of ages have whistled round their hoary tops, when the snows and flowers of a thousand winters and summers have come and gone in the ceaseless march of Time, they are still a noble record of a nation's honor to a nation's dead. When the last vestige of civilized life shall have passed away, when the beautiful and fertile America becomes as barren as the site of Babylon, these simple monuments will still stand a lasting testimony of a nation's love.

The last two classes of works to be noticed are works of defence and sacred enclosures. The fortifications are in every case situated in the highest and most impregnable places. The shape was always governed by utility alone. They were sometimes built of stone, sometimes of earth, always close to a stream of water. The wall was always surrounded by a ditch. Here the nations collected in times of danger to defend themselves and their country. What thrilling scenes have been enacted behind these walls! Here stood the warrior armed for battle, here the trembling wife surrounded by her offspring, yonder, upon that mound the gray-haired priest, his long white beard sweeping down to his waist, while at his feet is extended the human victim. Outside, up the hill, in myriads comes the foe. These people, isolated as they were from their brethren in the old world, still acted out the same old scenes in the drama of life.

Last of all, we come to the sacred enclosures, probably the most interesting of all. To the antiquarian, the unraveling of the religious dogmas and practices of a people is the most absorbing of all work; for when once you are acquainted with a

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 175

people's religion, you have lifted the veil from a people's moral life. The facts, that certain enclosures are placed in the broad, low, level, river bottoms; that they are in many cases small in size; that the walls range only from three to seven feet in height; that the ditch was inside the walls; that they were often commanded by high hills; is sufficient, not only to prove that they were not places of defence, but to stamp them with that religious character which is, evidently, the purpose of all of them. It was here that the nation assembled on solemn occasions-to celebrate solemn games and festivals-to make prayers to and worship their awful deities.

There are three hundred millions of people in China. The nation is probably four thousand years old. If by some chance that people were suddenly swept from existence, a few centuries would be sufficient to blot out every token of them. Yet China is known to be the most ancient and populous nation on the globe. Here we have a country, far larger than China, abounding in remains, some of which for extensiveness and beauty are scarcely equaled anywhere. From one end of the continent to the other we find them by thousands. There is a structure on the Scioto river which was built upon a hill extending down to the water. Part of the bill and fortification has been washed away by the river which now flows a quarter of a mile off: There is a line of fortifications beginning at Cataraugus creek and extending along what was once the shore of Lake Erie. Now the structure nearest the lake is at least three miles off, while the farthest is about five. Decomposed vegetable matter is found upon this old bed of the lake to the depth of a foot, while no perceptible difference can be noticed between the vegetation inside and the vegetation outside the old shore. What shall we saw then as to their numbers and date? These hills, these valleys, from the Arctic ocean to the gulf, from mountain range to mountain range, must have swarmed with human beings before the time of Homer. No puny colony could have built these vast fortifications, these numberless mounds, these great sacred enclosures. They could only have been the work of a mighty nation whose numbers were almost-beyond computation. You cannot ride a day's journey without meeting some huge remains of a nation which probably appeared more than twice two thousand years ago. Yes, when David was playing before Saul they were here; ere the Greeks were a nation they were here; while Nineveh was in her palmy days, before a dwelling marked the now long forgotten site of Troy, they must have been here in countless thousands. In this land they lived, tilled the soil, herded their flocks and carried on commerce, before the mighty nations of the old world were born. Rivers have changed their channels, and lakes receded for miles since their first arrival here.

Their government was probably by the priesthood. Can we account for the tens of thousands of sacred enclosures which dot our continent on any other hypothesis? The very number of the remains they have left is proof positive, not only of the immensity of their numbers, but that they were fully organized, and religious to fanaticism. That they carried on some commerce may be seen from the fact that in the same mounds we find copper from the Lake Superior mines, mica from the Alleghany mountains, shells from the gulf, green lava from Mexico, walrus tusks and sharks' teeth from the Arctic ocean. Yet, if we allow that they are commercial, we must acknowledge that they had risen above the savage state, that they were a regularly organized nation or nations. That they worked copper mines has been already shown. In a mound near Marietta were found some ornaments rudely covered with a thin coating of silver, which is the only evidence we have that they understood the use of that metal. They were exceedingly good potters, some of their pottery being very beautifully finished. Their implements of war were mostly made of greenstone, flint, and occasionally sandstone. A three-headed vessel was discovered near Nashville, Tennessee, which forcibly reminds one of the Triune god-head of India. Near the same place a vessel in the shape of a woman's head was found standing upon a rock over a spring, about twenty feet below the surface of the earth. The features of the face are Asiatic. I have seen several faces, heads and animals, carved from stone-all of which were exceedingly well done. When we reflect that their tools must have been very rude, being of stone, or at best of copper, we cannot help admiring the perfection of execution which they reached in their sculpture.

Here then we must leave them, for time will not allow us to study the subject more carefully. I close this brief discussion with a feeling of regret. It is in truth a large field for inquiry and research, and the antiquarian will yet make discoveries in this long-forgotten age that will be of great interest and importance to mankind. What more impregnable fortress could be constructed than some of theirs? What more awe-inspiring altar could they have reared than some they have left us? What simpler, yet more sublime monuments could a nation raise over a nation's dead? We trample beneath our feet the dust of more heroes than ever graced the annals of Greece or Rome. Though their names be forever lost in the silence of death, though no Homer has ever swept the harp strings to immortalize their names and their deeds, yet they will ever be known as the loved and honored of a dead nation.

It may be well to notice briefly in this connection the implements made and used by this people, as well as those in use by the Indians, so far as investigation has revealed their character in this county.

Very few copper implements have been found in this part of Ohio, owing partly to the fact of the unexplored condition of the mounds, and also to the fact that little, if any, copper exists in this part of the country. What does exist is in loose fragments that have washed down from the upper lake region. When mounds are explored great care is necessary lest these small utensils be lost, as they are commonly scattered through the mass, and not always in close proximity to the skeletons. The copper deposits about Lake Superior furnished the pre-historic man with this metal, and judging by the number of relics made of this metal now found it must have been extensively mined. The population must have been large, as occasional copper implements tempered to an exceeding hardness, are still found about the country. These implements are small, generally less than half a pound in weight, and seldom exceeding three pounds.

176 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

There were millions of these in use during the period of the ancient dwellers, which may have been of hundreds of years duration. The copper implements left on the surface soon disappeared by decomposition, to which copper is nearly as liable as iron. Only part of the dead Mound Builders were placed in burial mounds, and of these only a part were buried with their copper ornaments and implements on or about them. Of those that were, only a small part have been discovered, and in many instances, the slight depth of earth over them has not prevented the decay and disappearance of the copper relics. .

Articles of bronze or brass are not found with the builders of the mounds. It is evident they knew nothing of these metals in the Ohio valley, nor did they possess any of the copper that had been melted or cast in moulds.

Stone relics are very numerous and well preserved. Stone axes, stone mauls, stone hammers, stone chisels, etc., are very plentiful yet, and were the common implements of the pre-historic man in this part of the west. None were made with holes or eyes for the insertion of a helve or handle, but were grooved to receive a withe twisted into the form of a handle. Under the head of axes, archaeologists include all wrought stones with a groove, a bit and a poll. They are found unpolished, partly polished, and polished. The bit was made sharp by rubbing, and the material is hard and tough, generally of trachyte, greenstone, granite, quartz, or basalt. Most of them are straight on one edge. In Ohio it is very rare that stone axes are found in the mounds, indicating that they are modern, or were not so much prized by the Mound Builders as to be objects of burial, or they may have been in use only among the Indians at a later period. Occasionally axes of a softer material are found, such as slate, hematite, and sandstone, but these are small in size and not common. They appear to have been manufactured from small, oblong bowlders, first brought into shape by a pick, or chipping instrument, the marks of which are visible on nearly all of them. They were made more perfect by rubbing and polishing; probably done from time to time after they were brought into use. A handle, or helve, made of a withe or split stick, was fastened in the groove by thongs of hide. The bit is narrower than the body of the axe, which is generally not well enough balanced to be of much value as a cutting instrument. It is very seldom the material is hard enough to cut green or sound timber. The poll is usually round, but sometimes flat, and rarely pointed. It is much better adapted to breaking than cutting, while the smaller ones are better fitted for war-clubs than tools. As a maul to break dry limbs, they were very efficient, and this was probably the use made of them. In weight they range from half a pound to sixteen pounds, but are generally less than three pounds. The very heavy ones were probably kept at their camps, as they were too heavy for constant use. Such axes are occasionally found in the Indian towns on the frontier, as they were found in Ohio among the aborigines. The Mound Builders, apparently, did not give them as much prominence among their implements, even if they used them at all, as did their savage successors. Double-headed hammers have the groove in the middle. They were made of the same material as the axes, so balanced as to give a blow with equal force at either end. Their mechanical symmetry is often perfect. As a weapon in war they were indeed formidable, and for this purpose are yet used among the Indians on the Pacific coast.

Implements known as "fleshers"and "skinners," chisel-formed, commonly called "celts," were probably used as aids in pealing the skins of animals from the meat and bones. For the purpose of cutting tools for wood, they were not sufficiently hard, and do not show such use excepting in a few flint chisels. They may have been applied as coal scrapers where wood had been burned, but this could not have been a general thing without destroying the perfect edge most of them now exhibit. The grooved axes were much better adapted to this purpose.

Stone pestles are not plentiful in this county, while stone mortars are rare, indicating that they were made of wood, which is lighter and more easily transported. Most of the pestles are short, with a wide base tapering toward the top. They were probably used with one hand and moved about in a circle in the mortar. The long round instrument, usually called a pestle, does not appear

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 177

to be fitted for crushing seeds and grain by pounding or turning in the mortar. It was probably used as a rolling-pin, perhaps upon a board or level log, not upon stone. It is seldom found smooth or polished, and varies from seven to thirteen inches in length. In outline they taper toward each end which is generally smooth, and circular in form, as though it had been twirled in an upright position.

There is almost an endless variety of perforated plates, thread-sizers, shuttles, etc. They are usually made of striped slate, most of which have tapering holes through them fiat-wise, the use of which j has been much discussed. The accompanying plate exhibits several specimens of these; but there are, doubtless, many other forms and styles. They are generally symmetrical, the material fine grained, and their proportions graceful, as though their principal use was that of ornamentation. Many of them may well have been worn suspended as beads or ornaments. Some partake of the character of badges or ensigns of authority; others, if strung together on thongs or belts, would serve as a coat of mail, protecting the breast or back against the arrows of an enemy. A number of them would serve to twist twine or coarse thread made of bark, rawhide or sinew. The most common theory regarding their use is, however, lacking in one important feature-none of them show signs of wear by use. The edges of the holes through them are sharp and perfect. This objection applies equally well to their use as suspended ornaments. Some of them are shuttle-form, through which coarse threads might have been passed, for weaving rude cloth of bark or of fibrous plants, such as milk-weed or nettles. There are also double-ended and pointed ones, with a cross section about the middle of which is a circle, and through which is a perforation.

A great variety of wands or badges of distinction are found They are nearly all fabricated from striped and variegated slate, highly finished, very symmetrical and elegant in proportion, evidently designed to be ornamental If they were stronger and heavier, some of them would serve the purpose of a hatchet or battle-axe. The material is compact and fine grained; but the eyes or holes for handles or staves, are quite small, seldom half an inch in diameter. Their edges are not sharp, but rounded, and the body is thin, usually less than one-fourth of an inch in thickness.

The form of badges known as "double-crescents" are the most elegant and expensive of any yet brought to notice. They were probably used to indicate the highest rank or office. The single crescent perhaps signified a rank next below the double. In the collection of Mr. John B. Matson, of Richland county, there is a rough-hewn double one m process of construction, the horns of which turn inward. In nearly or quite all the finished ones the points turn outward. The finish around the base of all winged badges and the crescents is the same; and the size of the base about the same -from two-fifths to three-fifths of an inch. On one side of all is a narrow ridge; on the other a fiat band, lengthwise, like a ridge that has been ground down from one to two-tenths of an inch. Badges and crescents are invariably made of banded slate, generally of a greenish shade of color. The other forms of wands or badges, such as those with symmetrical wings or blades, are also made of green striped slate, highly polished, with a bore of about one-half inch in diameter, apparently to insert a light wooden rod or staff: They were probably emblems of distinction and were not ornaments. Nothing like them is known among the modern tribes, in form or use, hence they are attributed to the Mound Builders.

In addition to stone ornaments, the pre-historic man seems to have had a penchant, like his savage successors, to bedaub his body with various colors, derived from different colored minerals. These compounds were mixed in hollow stones or shallow mortars "paint-cups" in which the mineral mass of colored clay was reduced to powder and prepared for application to the body. Such paint-cups are not common; in fact are quite rare-the only one known to exist in this vicinity being in the possession of Dr. J. W. Craig, of Mansfield, Ohio.

The comparative rarity of aboriginal smoking pipes is easily explained by the fact that they were not discarded, as were weapons, when those by whom they were fashioned entered upon the iron age. The advent of the whites in no way lessened the demand fur pipes, nor did the whites substitute a better implement. The pipes were retained and used until worn out or broken, save the few that

178 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

were buried with their dead owners. What was the ultimate fate of these can only be conjectured. In very few instances does an Indian grave contain a pipe. If the practice of burying a pipe with its owner was common, it is probable that the graves were opened and robbed of this coveted article by, members of the same or some other tribe.

It only remains to notice the "flints" in addition to which a few other archaeological relics of minor importance are found about the country, but none of sufficient import to merit mention, or to throw additional light on the lost tribes of America. Arrow- and spear-heads and other similar pieces of flaked flints are the most abundant of any aboriginal relics of the United States. They are chiefly made of hard and-brittle siliceous materials; are easily damaged in hitting any object at which they are aimed, hence many of them bear marks of violent use. Perfect specimens are, however, by no means rare. The art of arrow making survives to the present day among certain Indian tribes, from whom is learned the art practiced that produces them.

A classification of arrow-heads is not within the scope of this work; indeed, it is rarely attempted by archaeologists. The styles are almost as numerous as their makers. In general, they are all the same in outline, mostly leaf-shaped, varying according to the taste or skill of their makers. The accompanying cut exhibits a few of the common forms, though the number is infinite. They may have been chipped-probably most were-and some may have been ground. Spear-heads exhibit as large a variety as arrow-heads; like the latter they were inserted in wooden handles of various lengths, though in many tribes they were fastened with thongs of untanned leather or sinews.

Their modes of manufacture were generally the same. Very often, perhaps always, tribes contained "arrow-maker," whose business it was to make these implements, selling them or exchanging them for wampum or peltry. When the Indian desired an arrow-head he could purchase one of the arrow-maker, or make one himself.

Here the ancient arrow-maker

Made his arrow-heads of quartz-rock

Arrow-heads of chalcedony,

Arrow-heads of chert and jasper

Smoothed and sharpened at the edges,

Hard and polished, keen and costly.

The common method was to take a chipping implement, generally made of pointed rods of a deer horn, from eight to sixteen inches in length, or of slender, short pieces of the same material bound with sinews to wooden sticks resembling arrow-shafts. The arrow-maker held in his left hand the flake of flint or obsidian, on which he intended to operate, and pressing the point of the tool against its edge, detached scale after scale, with much ingenuity, until the flake assumed the desired form.

CHAPTER XIX

INDIAN'S.

THE TRIBES OCCUPYING THIS COUNTY-TREATY OF FORT

MCINTOSH- HISTORY OF THE DELAWARE RATION-BOCK-

INGHELAS-KILLBUCK-CAPTAIN PIPE-SKIN CURRENCY

-DELAWARE CAMPS IN KNOX COUNTY-CUSTALOOGA

THE MURDER OF THE SQUAW-BLOCK HOUSES - GREEN-

TOWN INDIANS AND THEIR REMOVAL JAMER COPUS-HIS

INFLUENCE OVER THE INDIANS-BURNING OF THE INDIAN

VILLAGE-CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG-THE KILLING OF AN

INDIAN BY MORRISON AND MCCULLOCH-THE JONES

TRAGEDY-SEARCH FOR THE MURDERERS OF JONES - THE

KILLING OF RUFFNER AND ZIMNER-SKETCH OF RUFFNER -

BATTLE ON BLACK FORK AND THE MURDER OF JAMES

COPUS-REMOVAL OF THE COPUS FAMILY-MRS. SARAH

VAIL-REMOVAL OF THE DELAWARES.

" Through the land where we for ages

Laid our bravest, dearest dead,

Grinds the savage white man's plowshare,

Grinding sire's bones for bread."

THE next inhabitants in the form-of a human being to occupy the territory now embraced in Knox county, after the Mound Builders, were the American Indians. At least, such is the generally received opinion; though whether the Indians and Mound Builders were not contemporaneous is, perhaps, an open question.

The Indian history, as well as that of the Mound Builders, is much involved in obscurity, and much of it largely dependent on tradition, though much of it is authentic and reliable. The Indians, how ever, can be allowed very little, if any, credit for this preservation of their history; it is almost or entirely owing to white occupation that they have any history at all. The day does not seem far distant

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 179

when the Indian race, as a race, will become extinct. If, for any reason, this extinction had occurred before the occupation of this country by the whites, the world would know nothing of the existence of the American Indian. They have erected no monuments, they have neither written or wrought any enduring characters; they have not made an indelible footprint. How many such apparently worthless nations might have had an existence and passed away since the world began, no record will ever tell. Of all the rations that might have lived in America it remained for the Mound Builders alone to leave an enduring record; a history written on the hills and valleys in characters or figures that defies the ravages of time. Even the present intelligent race, were it swept away, would scarcely leave monuments so enduring.

The territory at present embraced in Knox county was in possession of a tribe of Indians known as Delawares upon the advent of the whites, though not exclusively used by that tribe. The several tribes of Ohio were generally on good terms, and though each tribe occupied territory which it considered its own for hunting purposes, yet the boundaries of these possessions were undefined and undefinable with exactness, and the hunters of the different tribes roamed freely over the possessions of all.

Each of the great tribes occupied lands adjacent to some important stream, and considered all the land drained by that particular stream as its hunting grounds. Thus the Miamis occupied the country drained by the Miami river; the Wyandots the country drained by the Sandusky river, and also occupied the Sandusky plains; the Delawares occupied the valley of the Muskingum and its tributaries, one of which, Owl creek, passes through Knox county. All the territory drained by this great river was allotted by general consent to the Delaware nation.

January 21, 1785, a treaty was concluded at Fort McIntosh with the Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa, and Ottawa nations, by which the boundary line between the United States and the Wyandot and Delaware nations was declared to begin at the mouth of the Cuyahoga, and to extend up said river to the portage, between that and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum, thence down that branch to the crossing place above Fort Laurens, thence westerly to the portage of the Big-Miami, at the mouth of Loramie creek where stood Fort Loramie, taken by the French in 1752; thence along said portage to the Great Miami or Omee (Maumee) river, and down the south side of same to its mouth; thence along the south shore of Lake Erie to the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, to the place of beginning. The United States allotted all the lands contained within said lines to the Wyandot and Delaware nations, to live and hunt on, and to such of the Ottawa nation as lived thereon; saving and reserving for the establishment of trading posts, six miles square at the mouth of the Miami, or Omee river, and the same at the Portage, on that branch of the Big Miami which runs into the Ohio, and the same on the Sandusky lake, where the fort formerly stood; also two miles square on either side of the lower rapids of the Sandusky.

The southern boundary line, established by the terms of the above-mentioned treaty, passed across the northern part of the present limits of Knox county. The line forms the northern boundary of Knox from the northeast corner to about the centre of Pike township, where it enters the county, passing across the northern part of Pike township near the village of North Liberty, thence across Berlin township near the village of Ankenytown, a little north of it; thence across Middlebury township near the village of Haneytown. This line was subsequently (in 1795) re-established and extended into Indiana, by the Greenville treaty, made by General Wayne.

By this treaty a large territory was ceded to the United States, including nearly all of Knox county. The Indians were not, however, removed, but continued to live and hunt on their old grounds until later in the century; and even up to the War of 1812 many of them were here.

Regarding a history of the Delaware nation, Colonel John Johnston, an excellent authority on such matters, writes thus:

The true name of this once powerful tribe is Wa-be-nugh-ka, that is, "the people from the east." or "the sun rising." The tradition among themselves is, that they originally, at some very remote period, emigrated from the west, crossed the Mississippi, ascending the Ohio, fighting their way, until they reached the Delaware river (so named from Lord Delaware), near where Philadelphia now stands, in which region of country they became fixed.

180 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

About this time they were so numerous that no enumeration could be made of the nation. They welcomed to the shores of the new world that great law-giver, William Penn, and his peaceful followers, and ever since this people have entertained a kind and grateful recollection of them; and to this day, speaking of good men, they would say, "Wa-she-a E-le'ne"--such a man is a Quaker, i. e., all good men are Quakers. In 1823 I was Indian agent at Piqua, Ohio, and removed to the west of the Mississippi persons of this tribe who were born and raised within thirty miles of Philadelphia. These were the most squalid, wretched and degraded of their race, and often furnished their chiefs with a subject of reproach against the whites; pointing to these of their people and saving to us "see how you have spoiled them" meaning, they had acquired all the bad habits of the white people, and were ignorant of hunting and incapable of making a livelihood as other Indians.

In 1819, there were belonging to Johnston's agency in Ohio, eighty Delawares, who were stationed near Upper Sandusky, and in Indiana two thousand three hundred of the same tribe.

Bockinghelas was the principal chief of the Delawares after Johnston went into the Indian country; he was a distinguished warrior in his day, and an old man when the agent knew him. Killbuck, another Delaware chief, had received a liberal education at Princeton college, and retained until his death the outlines of the morality of the gospel.

Killbuck's creek, in Wayne county, was named from Killbuck. His village, called Killbuck's town, was on the road from Wooster to Millersburgh, on the east of the creek, about ten miles south of Wooster. It is laid down on maps published as early as 1754. When the country was first settled Killbuck was a very old man. There were at least two chiefs of this name.

The Delaware Indians had a settlement at or near Jeromeville (Ashland county), which they left at the beginning of the war (1812). Their chief was Captain Pipe, who resided near the road to Mansfield, one mile south of Jeromeville. When young he was a great warrior, and the implacable foe of the whites. When asked "why his tribe fought so desperately?" he replied, "He who will not defend the graves of his dead is not worthy the name of man." He was in St. Clair's defeat, where, according to his own account, he distinguished himself and slaughtered white men until his arm was weary with the work. He had a daughter of great beauty. A young chief of noble mein fell in love with her, and, on his suit being rejected, mortally poisoned himself with the May apple. A Captain Pipe (son of old Captain Pipe) whose Indian name was Pauhangecanpouye, removed to the small Delaware Reserve, in the upper part of Marion county, and when his tribe sold out, about forty years since, accompanied them to the far west, where he died.

At an early day the Indians, in great number, came to Mount Vernon to trade. They encamped on the river bank, and brought large quantities of furs and cranberries to dispose of for goods. Their method of trading is worthy of notice. They walked in deliberately and seated themselves, upon which the merchant presented each with a small piece of tobacco. Having lighted their pipes, they returned the residue to their pouches. These pouches were made of a whole mink skin, dressed with the hair on, and with a slit cut in the throat, for an opening. In it they kept, also, some kinnickinnick bark, or sumach, which they always smoked with their tobacco, in the proportion of. about three of the former to one of the latter. After smoking and talking awhile together, one only at a time arose, went to the counter, and, taking up a yard-stick, pointed to the first article he desired, and inquired the price. The questions were, "how many buckskins for a shirt pattern?" "or "how many for cloth for leggings?" etc. Their skin currency had an established value. A muskrat skin was equal to a quarter of a dollar; a raccoon skin, a third of a dollar; a doeskin, half a dollar; and a buckskin, one dollar. The Indian, learning the price of an article, paid for it by pick. ing out and handing over the skins, before proceeding to purchase the second, when he, repeated the process, and so on through the whole, paying for everything as he went on, and never waiting, for that purpose, until he had finished. While the first Indian was trading, the others looked uninterruptedly on, and when he was through another took his place, and so on, in rotation, until all had traded. No one desired to trade before his turn, and all observed a proper decorum, and never attempted to get the price down, but, if dissatisfied with the price, passed on to the next article. They were cautious not to trade while intoxicated; but usually preserved some of their skins to buy liquor, and end their visit with a frolic.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 181

Several camps of Delawares were located within the limits of this county prior to the War of 1812. One, located on the bottom land of Owl creek, just opposite the mouth of Centre run, is remembered by the older citizens, who often speak of "the Indian field." Another camp was situated in the neighborhood of what is now Fredericktown; another at Greentown, now in Ashland county, then under the jurisdiction of Knox county. Some of the old pioneers have seen several times old Crane, the Wyandot chief; Armstrong, and Captain Pipe, the Delaware chiefs.

Custaloga was a chief of the Delawares, of the Wolf tribe, and represented the Delawares at the council that met Colonel Boquet at the forks of the Muskingum (Coshocton) October 17, 1764. The expedition under Colonel Boquet came from Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh), and numbered fifteen hundred men. One of the results of the council was the recovery of over two hundred white captives, which had been stolen from the early settlements of the whites near the Ohio river, and western part of Pennsylvania. Many of these captives had grown up from childhood with the Indians, and some had intermarried with them. When they were thus reclaimed by fathers and brothers who had long mourned their loss, and who had accompanied the expedition, many of the captives, instead of rejoicing were thrown into great unhappiness. They clung to their Indian friends and relations, crying with loud lamentations at the separation, and, in some cases, were with great difficulty torn away.

Custaloga was one of the principal speaking chiefs at the council. It is supposed his home was at one of the Indian fields so numerously found by the early white settlers along the Owl Creek valley; a principal and very large one of which was at Elmwood, a little below or opposite to the present city of Mount Vernon, and on the right bank of the river.

In 1820 an Indian squaw of the Stockbridge tribe was shot near the county line, between Utica and Martinsburgh, in Licking county. She was taken to Mount Vernon, where she died. One McLane shot her, and was sent to the penitentiary for it. He and four others, named McDaniel, Evans, Chadwick, and Hughes, were engaged in chopping, when this squaw, and others of the tribe, came along and camped near them. The diabolical proposition was made and accepted, that they should play cards, and that the loser should shoot her. McLane was the loser and did the shooting; his confederates were tried with him and acquitted. McLane died before his- term in the penitentiary had expired, according to some authorities, and according to others served his time out.

The squaw was shot through the thigh, and was carried to Mount Vernon by her companions and placed in the old log gunsmith shop of John Earnhart on High street; but the quarters becoming uncomfortable on account of the cold November weather, she was removed to a log house on the northwest corner of Mulberry and Vine streets, where she died. 'true to the stoicism of her race, she never groaned or complained, though her sufferings were intense. Her five or six Indian companions remained with her until her death, when they buried her in the northeast corner of the old graveyard. For several years her husband would return in November, to see that her grave remained undisturbed. Her name was Rachel Konkupote. She gave birth to a female child while lying confined by her wound, and on her death the child was given to John and Judah Bird, colored persons of Morgan or Clay township. The child was named Mary, and the legislature subsequently undertook to dispose of it. Hence the habeas corpus case, tried before judge Brown, on the twentieth of November, 1820, noted by Norton, as follows:

In this year (1820) an interesting case was presented in an allowance of a writ, on the twentieth of November, by Judge Brown, requiring John Bird and Judah Bird to bring into court the body of an Indian child, daughter of Rachel Conkapote (Konkupote,, deceased, by her husband, Elisha Conkapote [Konkupote} both Indians of the Stockbridge tribe. Judges Young and Chapman also appeared, and the whole court lent itself to an impartial examination of the case, which resulted in their leaving the little Indian in the hands of the Birds, John and Judah.

The legislature subsequently allowed the Birds fifty dollars per annum for the support of the child. This legislation was procured by Hormer Curtis, esq., in 1822, then a member of the lower house of the legislature.

Among the orders issued by the county June 6, 1820, were the following:

182 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

No. 3,928-Paying Moody and McCarty for articles furnished overseers of the poor for the squaw that was Shot - $2.84.4

No. 3,929-Hormer Curtis and Mott for expenses incurred for the sick squaw 1.00. 0

No. 3,930--Jacob Martin, making coffin for squaw... 6.00. 0

The following regarding Indian troubles in the northern part of Knox county (now Richland) is taken from the history of Richland county:

When war was declared with Great Britain, in the spring of 1812, a feeling of uneasiness ran through the border settlements. The Indians had always been allies of the English as against Americans; and they would have been equally allies of any other power that would have assisted them in regaining the territory that was being wrested from them by the advancing pioneers.

Tecumseh, the brave and eloquent chief, was earnestly engaged in uniting the Indian tribes, inducing them to take up the hatchet, and, with the help of the British, drive the Americans from their country. Very few soldiers were then upon the border for the protection of the settlers; block-houses and means of defence were scarce. When ,he American commander, General Hull, surrendered, this feeling of insecurity was increased to one of alarm. It was supposed that a British invading army would immediately cross the State of Ohio, and that the Indians would be let loose upon the defenceless settlers. Block-houses were immediately erected for protection-they sprang up, like mushrooms, almost in a single night. Two were erected on the site of Mansfield; one on Rocky fork, at Beam's mill (now Goudy's mill); one on the Clear fork of the Mohican, and one where Ganges now stands. The block-houses at Mount Vernon and Fredericktown were also erected about this time. Within reach of these rude works the pioneers felt comparatively safe. A few of them could defend themselves against quite a force of savages; and, as rapidly as possible, these works were occupied by soldiers.

There had been, for some years, a camp of Indians at Greentown on Black fork-about one hundred of them. A few were Mohawks, but most of them were Delawares, under an old chief named Armstrong. They had always lien friendly and neighborly with the whites, and quite a settlement of white people had gathered around them. Fearing that Tecumseh would influence these Indians to engage in the war, and that they would suddenly fall upon the settlers and murder them, the military authorities determined to remote them. It was the policy- of the government to gather all the friendly Indians together as much as possible-to separate the sheep from the goats, as it were-that it might know who were its friends and who its enemies. This was the motive for the order removing the Greentown Indians. However unjust it might seem to drive them from their homes and hunting-grounds, it a-a, m accordance with a general policy that seemed to be for the best. A great many friendly Indians were gathered near the present site of Piqua, Ohio, where they were under the protection and supervision of the military. To this place it was decided to remove these Indians, and the task was intrusted to Colonel Samuel Kratzer, mho had arrived at Mansfield with his command from Knox county. His soldiers were scattered about the vicinity, building block-houses and doing garrison duty. One company, under command of Captain Martin, was stationed at the block-house at Beam's Mill. In September, Colonel Kratzer sent a company of soldiers, under Captain Douglas, to bring the Greentown Indians to Mansfield. It was a delicate and disagreeable duty. When Douglas arrived at tire village and reported his mission to the chief, Captain Armstrong hesitated about obeying the order. He had eighty fighting men under his command, and could have made a vigorous resistance. It seemed cruel to remove these people from their homes, where they were living quietly, attending to their own business, molesting too one, and surrounded by their families and the comforts of life; in a country wonderfully beautiful, which they had always called their own. What wonder is it that they hesitated to obey this peremptory order? These Indians were in a great degree under the influence of Christianity. Missionaries had visited them regularly for years, and preached in their council. house. They traded freely with the whites, and were more intelligent and further on the road to civilization than most other tribes. The village site had been selected for the romantic beauty of its scenery; it is said by those who visited it at that period that no more lovely spot could be found; yet they must leave this at the bidding of destiny. It seems as if it was ordained that this race should be ground to powder under the heel of civilization.

The Indians were thrown into a violent state of excitement upon the appearance of the soldiers for their removal. Captain Armstrong trembled with suppressed emotion; so much so that he could hardly reply to Captain Douglas. The camp was like a powder magazine-a spark would have caused an explosion a word would have brought on a desperate struggle. Douglas, finding he would have some difficulty, concluded to go to Mr. James Copus, for his advice and assistance, desiring, if possible, to avoid bloodshed.

James Copus was the first settler in Mifflin township. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1775; married in his native county in 1796; emigrated to Richland county in March, 1809, and settled on the Black fork of the Mohican. He first located about three miles east of the present site of Charles' mill, on what has since been called Zimmer's run, where he erected a camp cabin of poles. 1n this cabin he lived eighteen months, when he moved down nearer to Black fork, about three-fourths of a mile from that stream, where a beautiful spring gushes from the foot of a high rocky ridge or bluff. Here he built a permanent cabin on land be had selected, and began clearing off a farm. Meanwhile, he had become well known to the Greentown Indians; was on the most friendly terms with them, and was much respected by them. He was a man of strong religious convictions a Methodist, and frequently preached for them in their council-house. He was a stout, fearless, industrious German, and soon had a small patch cleared about his cabin, fenced with brush and logs, and planted in corn. He possessed a yoke of oxen and a cow or two. A few white neighbors soon gathered around him, among whom were James Cunningham, Andrew Craig, David and Samuel Hill and Mr. Lambrigbt. The settlement came to be known as the Blackfork or Copus settlement. The Indians soon learned to trust. Mr. Copus, to believe in his honesty and fidelity, and in consequence, he soon acquired great influence over them. It was to this man that Captain Douglas went, to secure, if possible, his influence in getting the Indians removed without a conflict. Mr. Copus entertained some peculiar views respecting human. rights; his sympathies were with the Indians, and be was strongly opposed to their removal. He liked them as neighbors, believed

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 183

they were inclined to peace, and could not see the necessity of driving them from their homes. He entered. into along conversation with the officer, respecting the justness of his mission. He maintained that they had suffered the most shameful wrongs, and that a God of mercy would demand restitution from the hands of the whites. He at first refused to assist the officer, declaring to him, that, if he would not disturb them, he would himself stand accountable for their conduct. All Mr. Copus' arguments were to no purpose. The officer stated simply that his orders were peremptory to remove them, and, however unjust it might be, he could not do less than obey orders. Mr. Copus saw that if he did not use his influence and persuade the Indians to go peaceably, there would he bloodshed, and, with this view, he at last agreed to accompany the officer to the Indian village; first stipulating, however, that, should the Indians quietly surrender, their lives and property- should be protected. This Captain Douglas promised, and taking with him his three sons, Henry. James and Wesley, they proceeded to the village. Through Mr. Copus' influence, the Indians were persuaded to go quietly away with the soldiers, after being assured that their property should be protected and restored to them, and that they should be protected on the march. Prior to this they had assured Peter Kinney, a neighbor, that, if permitted to remain, they would surrender their guns and war-like weapons, and answer to roll-call every day, but as Captain Douglas had no discretionary power, this could not be done.

A schedule of their property was taken by James Cunningham and Peter Kinney, and they took up their line of march across the Black fork, turning their faces from a home they, as a tribe, were never to see again. 'they were taken across to the new State road, thence to Lucas, and from there to Mansfield, camping in the deep ravine, which now crosses the First ward, above the bridge on youth Main street. It is now called Ritter's run. Some eight or. ten soldiers straggled from Douglas' command, and remained behind at the Indian village. \o sooner had Armstrong and his people disappeared in the forest, than these soldiers deliberately, to the surprise and distress of Mr. Copus, set fire to the village and burned it to the ground. Nearly everything the Indians left behind was consumed. The village contained some sixty comfortable log houses, a large council house, and much personal property, which the Indians were unable to carry with them.

This is the statement of Mr. Wesley Copus, who was present. He is now dead, but the statement was written down in his presence, and by his dictation, some years before he died. He attributed the untimely death of his father to this act of perfidy on the part of Douglas' command.

After being joined by a few Indians from Jeromeville, Colonel Kratzer and his command conducted the Indians through Berkshire and across Elm creek, in Delaware county, to Piqua.

It is said the Indians discovered volumes of smoke rising over the tree tops, surmised that their property was being burnt, and some of them vowed a terrible vengeance.

Captain Thomas Steene Armstrong, chief of the Greentown Indians, whose Indian name was Pamoxet, was born in Pennsylvania, somewhere on the Susquehanna river. He was not a full blooded Indian, but very dark-skinned; the name Steene probably alluded to some white relative, in this country. He first came into notice at the treaty of Fort Industry, July 4, 1805. He was probably chief of the Turtle branch of the Lenni Lenape, or Delaware tribe, and located at Greentown, about the time Captain Pipe made his residence near Mohican Johnstown. He was often visited by the Moravian missionary Heckewelder, long before any white settlers made their appearance.

At the tune these white settlers came, Captain Armstrong appeared to be about sixty-five years of age; was a small man, slightly stooping, rather dignified and reticent, dressed in full Indian costume, and appeared to advantage. He had two wives-one an old squaw, by whom he had James .and Silas, and, probably, other children. He married a young squaw in 1808, by whom he had children. He frequently visited the cabin of James Copus, and made sugar there the first spring after his arrival. James and Silas often shot at a mark, with bows and arrows, with James and Wesley Copus, in the sugar camp. They also amused themselves by hopping, wrestling, and other boyish sports. Armstrong had .two Indian slaves, or servants, both deaf. They were of some other tribe. He was a harmless old chief, and treated every one very kindly. The favorite hunting ground of his tribe was in Knox county, along Owl creek and its tributaries, and frequently they had difficulty with the early settlers of that region. After their removal to Piqua, Armstrong settled in the Upper Sandusky region, among the Delawares and Wyandots, and never returned to Greentown; but his boys, however, James and Silas, frequently came back. The chief was a good Indian doctor, and could talk very good English. His descendants married among the Wyandots and Delawares, and, when these tribes were removed, went with them beyond the Mississippi, settling near Wyandot, Kansas.

During the short time the Greentown Indians were encamped in Mansfield, two of them, a warrior and his daughter, a little girl, escaped flora the guards and made their way toward Upper Sandusky. This Indian's name was Toby; he did not belong to the Greentown Indians, but to another tribe located at Upper Sandusky. For some reason, his little daughter had been living with the Greentown Indians, and, when he found they were being removed by the Government, he came to take her home, and met her at Mansfield. Here he found her under guard, and not being able to get her away openly, he succeeded in getting her through the guards, and they started for Upper Sandusky. At that time there was, in Colonel Kratzer's s command, a company of soldiers from Coshocton, and, among them, two men by the name of Morrison and McCulloch; the latter had a brother killed by the Indians at Brownstown. These two men took their rifles and started in pursuit of the fugitives, on the Sandusky trail. Two miles out, they overtook and immediately fired upon them, wounding the father. They then returned to town. The Indian ran about forty rods to a stream, and laid, down in it. Morrison and McCulloch told what they had done; and a company of soldiers, under Sergeant J. C. Gilkinson, and accompanied by the two scouts, Morrison and McCulloch, went out to look for the wounded Indian, and found him still alive, lying in the stream. As they approached, he lifted his hands, imploring mercy, but there was no mercy for him. Morrison drew his tomahawk from his belt and banded it to McCulloch, saying, "Take revenge for your brother's blood." McCulloch walked deliberately up, and, in spite of the entreaties of Mr. Gilkinson, sank the tomahawk into the Indian's skull, up to the handle.

They then took the body out of the water, and, having piled some logs on it, left it for the present and went home, taking along the gun, tomahawk, and other articles belonging to the Indian. Some days after, they returned, cut off the head of the Indian, scalped it, brought it to town and stuck it on a pole in the street, where it remained several days, when some one,

184 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

becoming disgusted with the sight, took it down and boded it. Dr. J. P. Henderson, still living, adds to the above the following: "The scalp they filled with whisky, handed it around and drank from it, though mixed with blood."

The daughter escaped, and, after living nine days on berries, arrived safely at Sandusky. Nothing could be done to punish Morrison and McCulloch for this crime, as there was a standing order that all Indians found in the woods, outside the guards, should be shot.

About the same time the Indians were removed from Greentown, Levi Jones was killed, near Mansfield. On the thirteenth of August, 1812, John Wallace and a man by the name of Reed went out a half-mile east of town to clear off a places for a brickyard. In the afternoon, Levi Jones, who kept a grocery in the cabin on the Sturgis corner, went out where they were at work and remained with them some time. In retorting, he took a different mute from the one by which he went out, it being a trail through the woods. When he reached the vicinity of the brick block lately known as the Friendly Inn, and near the foot of the hill on the east side of North Main street, he was fired upon by a party of Indians in ambush. It is supposed this was a party of the Greentown Indians. They probably had some grudge against Jones, who sold whisky, and had trouble with them at different times on this account. One shot took effect, the ball entering the back of the left hand, passing through the hand and entering the right breast. The hand through which the ball passed was confined at his breast by a sling, in consequence of a felon on his thumb. Jones did not fall immediately, but, giving a yell of pain and alarm, started on a run for the block-house. He might have reached it, but unfortunately came in contact with a brush across the path, which threw him backward upon the ground. Before he could regain his feet, the Indians were upon him, and finished their work by stabbing him several times in the back. They then scalped him, and, having secured his hat and handkerchief, gave the scalp yell and left.

John Pugh and Mr. Westfall were working a few rods from the place, and hearing the yell, ran into town and gave the alarm. They returned, and found Jones lying dead in the trail, but, fearing an ambush, left him there and returned to the block-house. In a very few- minutes everybody in the vicinity heard the news, and all immediately took shelter in the block-house. The excitement was very great; they momentarily expected an attack. During all this time, the supposition was that Reed and Wallace, who were clearing the brickyard in that direction, had also been killed by the Indians, and that the latter were still lurking in the neighborhood. The wives of Reed and Wallace were almost frantic, thinking their husbands had been murdered. It was now about sundown, and, as it seems there were no soldiers in the block-house at that time, .it was determined to send immediately to Mount Vernon for help. Who would volunteer to go, was the question. It was a hazardous journey; whoever volunteered would stand a fair chance of losing his scalp. It happened that, just at that time, the eccentric but brave Johnny Appleseed was present. He immediately volunteered to undertake the hazardous journey, and started about dark, bareheaded and barefooted, through the wilderness. He reached Mount Vernon in safety, and with such expedition that Captain Garey, with a party of soldiers, was at the block-house by sunrise the next morning.

On this journey Johnny Appleseed gave a warning cry at every cabin he passed, informing the inmates that Reed, Wallace, and Jones were killed, -and that the Indians were passing south. There was something awful, it is said, in Johnny's warning cry, as he pounded at the door of each cabin he passed, and shouted to the inmates: "Flee! flee! fur your lives! The Indians are upon you," and, before they could open the door, or fairly comprehend his meaning, this angel of mercy had disappeared in the darkness and night, on his way with the fleetness of a deer to the next cabin

And, pressing forward like the wind,

Left pallor and surprise behind.

Shortly after Johnny left, Reed and Wallace made their appearance at the block-house, safe and sound, to the great joy of all.

When the soldiers arrived in the morning, the body of Jones was brought in on a sled and buried, and a search made for any savages that might be lurking about. The place where the Indians had tied their horses was found near the foot of the hill upon which judge Geddes now resides. The next day Captain Douglas raised a company of fifteen volunteers, and started on the trail of the Indians, following it to Upper Sandusky. They came so near the fugitives the second day, that they found their camp-fires still burning. At Upper Sandusky they found Governor ate-Arthur with a company from Chillicothe, and remained there several days, searching the Indian camp for the murderers of Jones, but did not find them. Some three hundred friendly Indians were encamped there. Douglas did not thick it safe to return by the way he wear, and came back be way of Fredericktown. The men were roughly dressed, and had handkerchiefs tied about their heads instead of hats. They looked more like Indians than white men; and, as they were going into Fredericktown, they fired off their guns by way of salute, and greatly frightened the inhabitants. Two women fainted in the street, and a general stampede for the blockhouse took place.

The murder of Jones must have happened a few days before the removal of the Greentown Indians, as at that time soldiers were already occupying the block-houses on the square,

Two weeks after the removal of the Greentown Indians. Martin Ruffner, and the Zimmer* family, living on the Black fork, about five miles north of the site of the burned village, sere murdered. The deed was supposed to have been committed by a portion of Armstrong's band, in retaliation for the injuries they had suffered, and it was also supposed they had a grudge against the Zimmer family, as members of that family had, on different occasions, tied clapboards to the, tails of their ponies. Their ponies were allowed to run loose in the woods, and annoyed Mr. Zimmer by getting into his core-field. Any insult to their ponies was made a personal matter, and reserved accordingly.

Martin Ruffner came from Shenandoah county, Virginia, and settled in Pleasant township, Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1807. He was accompanied by his mother, brother 'Michael, and a sister, who married one Richard Hughes. Martin Ruffner returned to Virginia a year or two before he settled in Richland county, and married. In the spring of 1812, he and his relatives located on what is now Staman's run, in Mifflin township, half a mile a little north of west of the present village of Mifflin. He was of German origin, a bold, fearless backwoodsman, and

* This has generally been written "Seymour," but the correct name has been ascertained to be Zimmer. The settlers in that direction (including this family) were Germans, and their pronunciation of the name Zimmer sounds very much like "Seymour," hence the mistake.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 185

an uncompromising enemy of the Indians, several of his friends and relatives having been murdered by them. On his arrival in Mifflin, he built a cabin on the brow of the hill, not far from the Black fork, about five minutes' walk from the present residence of Mr. Jacob Staman, and on the latter 's farm. While building this cabin and clearing around it, with the help of a bound boy named Levi Bargahiser, his mother and brother boarded with his brother-in-law, Richard Hughes, while he and Bargahiser kept "bachelor's hall" at the cabin. They had just entered their lands at Canton, and were preparing for a permanent residence.

Mr. Zimmer, with his family, came about the same time, located his land and built his cabin about two and a half miles southeast of Mr. Ruffner. His family consisted of his wife, a beautiful girl named Kate, and his son Philip, aged nineteen. He was an old man, not able to do much work, and, desiring to prepare some fifteen or twenty acres for corn, he employed Michael Ruffner to assist his son Philip.

Early in September, one afternoon, while Michael Ruffner was walking along the trail leading from the cabin of Frederick Zimmer to that of his brother, he met a party of Indians" who were well armed with guns, knives, and tomahawks, and appeared very friendly. They asked him if the Zimmers were at home, and upon receiving an affirmative reply, passed on. Having his suspicions aroused, he hastened to the cabin of his brother Martin, and informed him of his meeting with the Indians. Martin's suspicions were aroused, and taking down his rifle, he mounted a fleet mare, and rode rapidly down the trail to the Zimmer cabin. He arrived before the Indians; and after a short consultation it was decided that Philip Zimmer should hasten to the cabin of James Copus, who lived about two miles further south, on the trail, give the alarm in that neighborhood, and return with assistance. Meanwhile the Grave Ruffner was to remain and defend the family. Philip Zimmer hastened to Mr. Copus' cabin, and from there to John Lambright s two miles further south, on the Black fork. Lambright returned with him, and, joined by Mr. Copus, they all proceeded together to the Zimmer cabin, where they arrived in the early part of the evening. Finding no light in the cabin, and all being silent, fears were entertained that the inmates had been murdered, Mr. Copus moved cautiously around to the back window, and listened a moment; but hearing no movement, he crept quietly around to the door, which he found slightly ajar; and pressing upon it, found some obstruction behind it. He at once suspected the family had been murdered; and on placing his hand upon the floor, found it wet with blood. There was no longer any doubt. Hastening back to Philip and Lambright, who were concealed a short distance from the cabin, he stated his discoveries and convictions.

Philip became frantic with grief and excitement, and desired to rush into the cabin to learn the whole truth. In this he was prevented by the others, who feared that the Indians were yet concealed in the cabin, awaiting his return. Persuading Philip to accompany them, they hastened back to the cabin of Mr. Copus, and, taking the tatter's family, they all proceeded as rapidly as possible to Mr. Lambright's. This family was added to their numbers, and they pushed on to the cabin of Frederick Zimmer, jr.. Philip's brother, and he and his family joined the fugitives. They hastened along an Indian trail, near where the

* One account makes the number two, another three, another four, and still another, five. village of Lucas now stands, and stopped at the cabin of David Hilt, where they remained until the next morning, when, accompanied by the family of Hill, all proceeded to the block-house at Beam's mill. This fort was then occupied by a company of soldiers under Captain Martin. A party of these soldiers, accompanied by Mr. Copus, Philip and Frederick Zimmer, Hill and Lambright, all well armed, proceeded by the most direct route through the forest, to the cabins of Martin Ruffner and Richard Hughes. They found the cabin of Ruffner had not been disturbed, the boy Bargahiser having slept there alone the night before; and the cabin of Hughes was also undisturbed. Ruffner had, a short time prior to this, upon the surrender of Hull, sent his wife and child to Licking county, to a Mr. Lair, or Laird, an uncle, who lived about one and a half miles from Utica. At Ruffner's cabin they were joined by Bargahiser, Michael Ruffner and Mr. Hughes, and all hastened down the trail to the Zimmer cabin. Entering it, they found the old gentleman, the old lady and Catharine, all dead upon the floor and dreadfully mangled. The gallant Ruffner was lying dead in the yard. There was every evidence that he had made a desperate struggle for his life and that of the Zimmers. His gun was bent nearly double, and several of his fingers had been cut off by blows from a tomahawk. The struggle had finally ended by his being shot twice through the body. The details of this butchery could never be certainly known, as the prominent actors were all killed; all had also been scalped. It appeared that the table had been set with refreshments for the savages, and most of the food remained. Whether any of the Indians were killed is not known; they would have taken their dead away with them, and destroyed all evidences, if such a catastrophe had happened to them. It is supposed that eight or ten Indians were engaged in this tragedy.

There is a tradition among the early settlers, that an Indian by the name of Kanotchy was taken prisoner some years afterwards, and related the story of this massacre. It appears from this statement that the Indians entered the cabin and seated themselves very sullenly, while the terrified Kate was setting refreshments for them, as was usual. The heroic Dutchman was the only guard of consequence, as Mr. Zimmer was too old to make much resistance. The Indians made the attack very suddenly. Ruffner, not having time to fire, broke the stock in pieces and bent the barrel double in the terrible fight. The odds were too much for him, and he soon went down before superior numbers. As soon as he was out of the way they killed and scalped the old people. At the commencement of the affray Kate fainted and fell to the floor, and until aroused from this state of syncope, was unaware of the murder of her parents. When she came to her senses, she looked about upon a scene of blood and horror, and burst into a paroxysm of weeping. She begged the savages to spare her life, but all to no purpose. They first ascertained from her where her father's money was concealed, and then buried the tomahawk in her brain. While she was in a senseless condition, a consultation had been held over her, to decide whether they should kill her or take her prisoner. It was decided that her life should be taken, but still they hesitated, as no one wished to do the deed. At length it was decided that the one who should perform the deed, should be considered as possessing the greatest heart, whereupon this same Phillip Kanotchy stepped forward, exclaiming, "Me kill white squaw, me got big heart." When Kate saw the tomahawk descending, she raised a beautiful white arm to ward off the blow, which, falling upon the arm, nearly severed it in

186 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

twain; a second blow did the work-one quiver, and the lovely life went out.

She was engaged to be married to Mr. Henry Smith, who was at that time in the east, attending to some business; they were to be married upon his return.

Martin Ruffner and the Zimmers were buried on a little knoll neat the cabin, in one grave, where the remains still lie. The farm is now owned by a Mr. Culler. After performing the last sad ceremonies over the remains of the murdered pioneers, they returned to the block-house at Beam's, and Michael Ruffner, his mother, and Hughes and family returned to Fairfield county, where they remained.

The settlers were thoroughly aroused by the tragedy, and all fled to the block-house for safety.

When Mr. James Copus and family had remained about five days at the block-house, they became tired of staying, and, hearing nothing of the Indians, determined to return. Having always enjoyed their respect and confidence, and having always been their firmest friend, he felt that they could harbor no ill will toward him or his family. Captain Martin protested against his return, saying that in the present excited state of affairs he would be running great risk. As Mr. Copus insisted on going, nine soldiers were detailed to accompany him. Mr. Copus had seven children, mostly small. They all arrived safely at the cabin, and found everything as they had left it. In the evening, Mr. Copus invited the soldiers to sleep in the ' cabin, but, the weather being yet warm, they preferred to take quarters in the barn, which stood four or five rods north of the cabin, on the trail," that they might have a better opportunity to indulge in frolic and fun, and be less crowded and under less restraint. Before retiring Mr. Copus cautioned them against surprise by any Indians that might be lurking about. During the afternoon, Sarah, a little daughter of Mr. Copus, aged twelve, still living (November, 1880) went into the cornfield a few rods south of the cabin, and, while there, saw an Indian in the edge of the woods skulk behind a brush heap, but, unfortunately, did not relate the circumstance to her father. This child, now Mrs. Sarah Fail, aged eighty-one, says the reason why she did not tell her father of her discovery is that he teas a very strict man in regard to truth, and, fearing she might have been deceived, did not wish to incur his displeasure by creating a false alarm.

That night the dogs kept up a constant barking, and Mr. Copus had many unpleasant dreams-sleeping but little. He was evidently impressed that danger was lurking near. Before daylight, he invited the soldiers into the cabin, telling them he feared some great disaster was about to overtake himself and family. He again laid down to rest, and, when daylight began to appear, the soldiers insisted on going to the spring, about three rods away, to wash. This spring is one of the finest of the many fine springs in Mifflin. It gushes from the base of a hill several hundred feet high, in a large, glittering current of pure soft water. Mr. Copus again cautioned the soldiers of impending danger, telling them that Indians were certainly in the neighborhood or his dogs would not have made such a noise, and urged them to take their guns with them to the spring. They promised to do so, but, on passing out, leaned them against the cabin and went on to the spring. Fatal mistake! The Indians, who had been lurking about the cabin all night,

* A barn occupies the same spot still, and the trail is now a well traveled road. were watching for just such an opportunity as this. Swiftly, silently, stealthily, as a cat creeps upon its prey, they closed in upon the doomed cabin, and, before the soldiers were aware of their presence, were between them and their guns; then came the horrid war-whoop as a score or more of painted warriors rushed upon them with tomahawk and scalping-knife. It seems that only seven of the soldiers went to the spring to wash, the other two--George Luntz and another whose name is not given-were not probably just ready to wash, and were in the cabin when the attack was made. Of these seven at the spring, three were instantly killed. Three more, whose names were George Shipley, John Tredrick and a Mr. Warnock, finding retreat to the cabin impossible, fled to the woods. These were pursued by the Indians, and two of them tomahawked; the third, Mr. Warnock, being fleet on Root might have escaped, but could not outrun a bullet. They fired at him many times while running, one of the balls finally passing through his bowels. The Indians were not aware they had shot him, and gave up the chase. He only went a short distance, however, when, growing weak from loss of blood, he sat down by a tree, stuffed his handkerchief in the wound and died.

The only soldier who regained the cabin was Mr. George Dye, who broke through the mass of savages, and sprang through the cabin door just as it was opened by Mr. Copus. He, however, received a ball through his thigh as he entered. As soon as the attack commenced Mr. Copus sprang from his bed, seized his gun and rushed to the door. Just as he opened it, George Dye sprang through, and a volley of rifle balls came with him. One of these balls gave Mr. Copus a mortal wound, passing through his breast. Mr. Copus had raised his rifle, and, just as he was wounded, fired at an Indian but a few feet away, who fell. The ball that caused Mr. Copus' death passed through the strap that supported his powder-horn. This horn is yet in possession of the family; it is a large, handsome one, and a rare relic. Mr. Copus fell, and was conveyed to his bed, where he breathed his last in about an hour, while encouraging the soldiers to fight the enemy, and, if possible, save his family. On the east of the cabin extended a range of hills several hundred feet high, covered with timber and huge rocks, which furnished an excellent cover for the enemy, and gave them a position from which they could fire down upon the cabin; they were not long in seeking this cover, and, from their secure hiding-places, poured down upon the cabin a perfect storm of leaden hail. The door and roof were soon riddled with bullets. The soldiers tore up the puncheons of the floor, and placed them against the door to prevent the balls from penetrating to the interior of the cabin. Nancy Copus, a little girl, was wounded in the knee by a ball that passed through the door. One of the soldiers, George Launtz, had his arm broken by a ball while up-stairs removing the chinking in order to get a "crack" at an Indian. He soon caught sight of an Indian peering from behind a medium-sized oak that yet stands on the side of the hill about a hundred yards away, and, taking deliberate aim, shot the savage, who bounded into the air and rolled to the foot of the hill into the trail.

The firing became incessant on both sides; wherever the soldiers could make or find a place to fire through they returned the Indian fire with precision and effect. One savage fell mortally wounded directly in front of the cabin, early in the engagement, whether from the ball from the rifle of Mr. Copus is not known. During the battle he was endeavoring to crawl toward the trail, and, although moaning and evidently dying, he attempted several times to elevate his rifle to discharge it upon

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 187

the cabin, but his strength failed him. A soldier, seeing him attempting to shoot, sent a friendly bullet to ease him of his earthly cares and anxieties. He was shot through the head.

The battle lasted from daybreak until about nine or ten o'clock, when the savages, finding they could accomplish nothing more, raised the retreating yell, gathered up their dead and wounded (one account says nine in number) and left; first firing upon a flock of sheep, which, during the eventful morning, had huddled together upon the brow of the hill, looking down in strange bewilderment upon this scene of bloodshed. The poor affrighted animals tumbled down the hill one after another, until they lay in a heap at the bottom.

As soon as the Indians disappeared, one of the soldiers crawled out through the roof of the cabin, and made all possibly, haste to the block-house at Beam's for assistance. The day before, Captain Martin had agreed to call at the Copus cabin the same evening with a number of soldiers, and remain all night. But he and his soldiers, having been scouting al( day and finding no signs of Indians, concluded that all apprehensions of danger were frivolous, therefore neglected to appear as agreed. He encamped above, on the Black fork, and, on the morning of the disaster, moved leisurely down the tail from the direction of Ruffner's, reaching the scene of the fight too late to aid in the fearful struggle. On approaching the cabin, he and his soldiers were awe-stricken on beholding the work of death around them. They attended at once to the wounded. and the grief-stricken family of Mr. Copus, who were weeping over the murdered husband and father. Search was made for the Indians, but, from the trail through the weeds that grew luxuriantly around the base of the hill, it was found that they had retreated around the southern brow of the bluff, gone up a ravine about a quarter of a mile away, and fled in the direction of Quaker Springs, in Vermillion township, and hence pursuit was abandoned.

Mr. Copus and the murdered soldiers were buried by the command in one grave, at the foot of an apple tree, a few yards south of the cabin, where their bones yet repose. Captain Martin then took the family and wounded, and began his march to the block-house. Proceeding up the valley about half a mile, they halted for the night, placing pickets about the camp to prevent surprise. In all, there were about one hundred persons in this camp that night. The wounded were carried on poles, over which linen sheets had been sewed, making a sort of stretcher. The next morning the little army passed up the trail, near the deserted cabin of Martin Ruffner; crossing the Black fork about where the State road is now located; that being the route by which Martin had advanced. The whole party reached the block-house it. safety that evening. About six weeks after this, Henry Copus and five or six soldiers returned to the cabin, and, on their way, found Sir: Warnock leaning against a tree, as before stated, dead.. They buried him near by.

Thus ends the last tragedy of the Greentown Indians. Their reasons for killing the Zimmer family have been noticed. Their reasons for killing Mr. Copus probably were that he had been instrumental in getting them removed; that is, fearing bloodshed, he had used his influence to get them away peaceably, on promise that their property should be protected. Finding their village destroyed, they entertained bitter and revengeful feelings toward Mr. Copus. As to the number of Indians engaged, nothing whatever is known. It was found on examination of the neighborhood of the Copus cabin, that forty-five fires had been kindled, just south of the corn-field, near where Sarah had seen the Indian. These fires had been kindled in small holes, scooped out of the ground to prevent their being seen. Mrs. Vail thought the Indians had feasted on roasted corn the evening before the attack. Some writers upon this subject have inferred from the number officers fires that there were forty-five Indians engaged in the attack. This reasoning is erroneous, as Indians have frequently been known to build fires for the purpose of deceiving their enemies; and, on the other hand, half a dozen Indians might have used one fire.

Mrs. Copus and her family were removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, by Joseph Archer and George Carroll. They were hauled through the forest to Clinton, Newark, Zanesville and Cambridge by a yoke of cattle, in an ordinary cart. The journey consumed many days, during which most of the family were compelled, on little food, to walk over a rough path, wade small streams, encamp by the wayside, and always in fear of being pursued and captured by the savages. They returned in 1815, and found their cabin as they had left it. A few of the Greentown Indians had also returned and re-erected their cabins, but peace had come by that time, and changed, somewhat, the savage nature of their Indian neighbors, with whom they ever after lived in peace and friendship.

There are yet a few mementos of that battle on the Black fork remaining. A single tog of the old cabin remains, and is doing duty in a smoke-house on the premises. The oak, behind which the Indian was shot, still stands on the hillside, its top partly dead. A neat fume house stands a few feet west of where the cabin stood, and is occupied by Mr. John W. Vail. The spot is a lovely one. To the east, the steep, precipitous hill rises abruptly, and is yet covered with timber and great rocks. It is several hundred (eel high, and from its base still gush the waters of the beautiful spring, just as they did on that fatal morning when they were dyed with human blood. Half a mile south, on the Black fork, lives Mrs. Sarah Vail, in a cabin alone, which she has occupied fifty-seven years. She and her sister, Amy Whetmore, now living in Seneca county, are the only surviving members of the Copus family, and were witnesses of the battle. Mrs. Vail was eighty-one years old January 1, 1881. Her mind is still clear and strong and she has a vivid recollection of that fearful tragedy.

After the war the Indians came straggling back to occupy their old hunting grounds, although but few of them had any fixed residence they soon disappeared forever from this region.

By the treaty concluded at the foot of the Maumee rapids, September 29, 1817, Lewis Cass and Duncan McArthur being commissioners on the part of the United States, there were granted to the Delaware Indians a reservation of three miles square, on or near the northern boundary of Marion county, and adjoining the Wyandot reservation of twelve miles square. This reservation was to be equally divided among the following persons: Captain Pipe, Zeshanau or James Armstrong, Mahantoo or John Armstrong, Sanondoyeasquaw or Silas Armstrong, Teorow or Black Raccoon, Howdorouwatistic or Billy Montour, Buck Wheat, William Dondee, Thomas Lyons, Johnnycake, Cap-

188 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

tain Wolf, Isaac and John Hill, Tishatahoones or Widow Armstrong, Ayenucere, Hoomauon or John Ming, and Youdorast. Many of these Indians had lived at Jeromeville and Greentown.

By the treaty concluded at Little Sandusky, August 3, 1829, John McElvain being the United States' commissioner, the Delawares ceded this reservation to the United States for three thousand dollars, and removed west of the Mississippi.

CHAPTER XX.

THE FIRST WHITE MEN.

CAPTIVITY OF JAMES SMITH-HIS LIFE AMONG THE IN-

DIANS-CHRISTIAN FAST, SR. HIS CAPTIVITY AND ES-

CAPE-J. LEETH AND HIS ADVENTURES JOHN STILLEY -

THE BEAUTIFUL KOKOSING-INDIAN LIFE AND MANNERS

-SETTLENbIENT OF MR. STILLEY IN KNOX COUNTY-THE

MORAVIANS-THEIR PASSAGE THROUGH THIS COUNTY AS

PRISONERS-CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY AND HIS SCOUTS

THE PRISONERS DELIVERED TO GENERAL BOQUET-SIMON

GIRTY AND OTHER RENEGADES.

FOLLOWING the Mound Builders and Indians came the superior race to occupy the soil of Knox county. The first permanent settlement of the county was made in 1803; prior to this, however, a few white men passed across, or occupied, for a short time, this territory. These may be unnoticed so far as history gives any account of them.

James Smith, a native of western Pennsylvania, is supposed to have been the first white man to set foot on the soil of Knox county, although other captives among the Indians, or white renegades among them, may have been here before Smith; but the latter is the first, so far as is certainly known.

He was captured near Bedford, Pennsylvania, when about eighteen years of age, by three Indians on a marauding expedition in the spring of 1755, a short time before the defeat of General Braddock. He was taken to the Indian village on the Allegheny, opposite Fort DuQuesne, and compelled to run the gauntlet, where he nearly lost his life by the blow of a club from a stalwart savage. After his recovery and the defeat of General Braddock, he was taken by his captors on a-long journey through the forest to the village of Tullihas, on the west branch of the Muskingum river (Walhonding), about, twenty miles above the forks, in what is now Coshocton county. This village was occupied by Mohicans, Caryhnewagas, and Delawares. Here he was adopted by the Indians into one of their tribes. The ceremony consisted in first plucking all the hair from his head except the scalp-lock, which they fixed according to their fashion; in boring his ears and nose, and placing ornaments therein; in putting on a breech-clout and painting his body and face in fantastic colors, and in washing him several times in the river to wash out all the white blood in his veins. This last ceremony was performed by three young squaws; and as Smith was unacquainted with their usages, he thought they intended to drown him, and resisted at first with all his strength, to the great amusement of the multitude on the river's bank. One of the young squaws finally said: "Me no hurt you," and he then gave them privilege to souse and rub him as much as they desired. When brought from the river he was allowed other clothes, and in solemn council, after an impressive speech by one of the chiefs, he was admitted to full membership in the tribe. He says in his journal that he always fared as they did, no exceptions being made.

He remained in Tullihas till the next October, when he accompanied his adopted brother, Tontileaugo, who had a Wyandot wife on the shore of Lake Erie, on a visit to that nation. On his journey he passed through Knox county. Smith remained among the Wyandots, Ottawas and Mohicans about four years, traversing all parts of northern Ohio. He undoubtedly hunted over what is now Knox county, as the streams in this section of country afforded good hunting grounds, and was probably the first white man who saw these valleys. in their pristine beauty. If any preceded him they were French traders, of whom no records or legends exist in this part of Ohio. At the end of four years he escaped and made his way to Pennsylvania, where he published a memoir from which the above facts are obtained.

Another captive among the Indians before the

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 189

settlement of this territory by the whites, was Christian Fast, sen. He often narrated the incidents of his capture and captivity, which are preserved in Knapp's History of Ashland County, as follows

When a boy of sixteen, Mr. Fast was captured by the Delaware Indians near the Falls of the Ohio. He had enlisted in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in a company of two hundred men, organized for the purpose of chastising the Indians for depredations committed upon the frontier settlement. This force descended the Ohio in boats, and some distance above the falls, separated into two parties,. young Fast being among those in the rear. The forward party were attacked a short distance above the falls, by parties of Indians on both sides of the river. The largest boat in the fleet, in which was Mr. Fast, had landed, and the others were making preparations to do so, when the attack commenced. The smaller boats immediately put up stream, but the larger one was hard aground and could not be got off. Of the one hundred on that boat all were killed except some thirty. Young Fast jumped into the water, receiving, at the same instant, a flesh wound in the hip, and swam to the opposite shore, where he was met by three Indians, who demanded that he should surrender, assuring him of friendly treatment. He declined their request, and again plunged into the stream, the three Indians firing on him as he swam, one of the balls grazing his cheek, momentarily stunning him. Reaching the middle of the stream, he took observations to determine the course of safety, and concluded to strike the shore several rods below where the large boat was grounded ; but on approaching he again encountered the bullets of the Indians, and again made for the middle of the river. Some distance below he discovered a horse-boat belonging to his party, and at once resolved to reach and board it. Just as he had succeeded in getting aboard, the captain received a wound in the arm, and waved his hand to the Indians in token of surrender. The boat was immediately boarded by the Indians, and the whites were all made prisoners.

An old Indian took charge of Fast, by whom he was taken to Upper Sandusky. The prisoners were divested of their clothing, and, as their march led through a rank growth of nettle-weeds, the journey was indescribably painful. Fast, becoming maddened with pain, at length refused to go forward, and, baring his head to his captor, demanded that he should tomahawk him, and thus put an end to his sufferings. The Indian took compassion on him and restored his clothing. During the remainder of the journey he was treated with great kindness. At Upper Sandusky he was adopted into a distinguished family of the tribe. He visited the lamented Colonel Crawford after the failure of the expedition, and during his imprisonment, and was within hearing of his cries during the horrid cruelties he suffered at the stake.

About eighteen months after Fast's capture, an expedition left Upper Sandusky for the purpose of attacking the white settlements and fortifications at Wheeling. Connected with this expedition was the notorious James Girty. Fast, who now possessed the full confidence of the. Indians, was also of the party. The expedition reached its destination and besieged the fort at Wheeling three days and two nights. On the third night Fast determined upon an attempt to effect his escape. Approaching his adopted brother at a late hour of the night, he awoke him, complaining of thirst, and urged his brother to accompany him to a place where they could procure a drink of water. The Indian pleaded weariness, and urged him to go alone, insisting that no harm would befall him. Fast, taking his camp-kettle, started directly for his father's house in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, about thirty miles distant. The night being excessively dark, he made slow progress, and at daylight was yet within hearing of the guns at Wheeling. As soon as daylight appeared, he pushed forward, and soon discovered, by a fresh trail, that about thirty Indians were to advance of him. making for the white settlements in Washington county, Pennsylvania. On reaching a spur of a ridge he discovered that the trails separated, and that the Indians had formed two parties, each pursuing parallel lines through the valleys. He hoped, by vigorously pursuing the middle and straight course, to get in advance of the Indians, and in this effort he was successful. Before night he reached the margin of the settlement in Washington county, the Indians being a short distance in the rear. A few rods in advance of him and advancing on his own trail, Fast discovered a white man, with a couple of bridles on 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 settlement. 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 broaches, his hair (all except a tuft in front, which was passed through a silver tube) nearly plucked from his skull, was anything else than a veritable Indian. Mechanically, however, the man obeyed his directions, and each, seizing and mounting horses, which were near at hand, made for the settlements with all practicable speed. They gave the alarm to all the families in the neighborhood, and succeeded in securing all the settlers in the fort except one boy who was killed at the instant he reached the gate which was thrown open for his ingress.

After the beleaguered fort was relieved by the retirement of the Indians, he sought his father's house; but so completely was he 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. She sprang forward to embrace him, and would have fainted in his arms, but he repulsed her, explaining that his person, as was the case with all the Indians, was covered with vermin. He retired from the house, committed his Indian clothes to the fire he had made, purified his body as best he could, and then clothed himself in garments furnished by his father.

On the very day of his return to Orange township, Richland county, in 1815, he met Tom Lyons, a chief, and one of his original captors, and a party of Indians, by whom he was recognized. The Indians had no suspicion that he had deserted, but believed he had been drowned in the river. They evinced much joy at the discovery of their lost "brother," and ever afterward offered him numerous tokens of their friendship.

John Leeth was a captive among the Indians and traversed this region long before any white settlement was made.

He was born in South Carolina in 1755, ran

190 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

away from home when a boy and went to Pennsylvania. At Fort Pitt he hired out to an Indian trader who had a stock of goods at New Lancaster, Ohio, then an Indian town, and where he sent young Leeth to take charge of the stock. Here he was taken prisoner by the Delaware Indians April 10, 1772, and the stock of goods divided among them.

When Dunmore invaded Ohio with his army, the Indians considered the matter of killing young Leeth to get him out of the way, but his adopted father, who had taken a liking to him, saved his life and he was taken along with the Indians when they abandoned their towns and retreated before Dunmore's advance. During the journey he made several attempts to escape but failed.

After the war Leeth's Indian father voluntarily gave him his freedom, providing him with a gun, ammunition and blanket, and the young man spent two years or more hunting and trading with the Indians, during which time he accumulated furs and peltry to the amount of several hundred dollars. During these years his favorite hunting ground was in this county, along the beautiful Kokosing, where he spent much of his time among the Delawares in their villages hunting deer and bear around the banks of the lake, known in later times as "Gotshall's lake."

Mr. Leeth married for his second wife a widow lady named Sarah McKee, his first wife being a white girl, a captive among the Indians. Mrs. McKee was living on Middle island, near Marietta. This last marriage took place in 1802. Mrs. McKee was the maternal grandmother of Lyman W. Gates, of Miller township. During the summer of 1825, Mr. Leeth visited the family of Mr. Gates' father, and spent some time there. Wishing to visit Mount Vernon, old Mr. Gates accompanied him. When they had reached the Gotshall place, Mr. Leeth got off his horse and pointed out places where he had lain in wait for the wild animals to come and drink, and where he shot them. He also pointed out other localities along the road where he had hunted successfully. As. late as thirty years ago, Gotshall's lake was a considerable body of water, and was a famous place for wild ducks. By successful drainage the water has since been drawn off and the land cultivated.

About two years after obtaining his freedom, about twenty Indians came from another tribe, and while young Leeth was dealing with a trader and his assistant, took them all prisoners, with all their property. They took him some distance through the wilderness, and finally, after several days, sold him to another tribe. His purchaser told him he was not bought for the purpose of being enslaved; it was only because he loved him and wished him to stay with him; and gave Leeth his liberty on a promise not to run away. Again he became a hunter and trapper, and during the following fall and spring accumulated furs and skins to the value of seventy-five or eighty dollars.

During the Revolutionary war, he is found at Detroit, where he engaged with an Indian trader to take some goods to Sandusky. While at the latter place he witnessed the murder of a prisoner brought in by the Wyandots, the murder occurring in front of the door of his employer. As the poor fellow was passing the house, they knocked him down with tomahawks, cut off his head, placed it on a pole and began dancing around it.

Sometime after this the Indian who took him prisoner at New Lancaster came along and told Leeth he must accompany him to the forks of the Muskingum, now Coshocton.

He remained at Coshocton some time. The spring following he married a young woman, seventeen or eighteen years of age, who had been taken prisoner when only twenty months old. At the time of his marriage Leeth was twenty-four years of age. This was in 1779. He resided in the Moravian towns on the Muskingum some two years, and upon the removal of the Moravians to Sandusky, in 1782, was taken with them. In this journey they passed through this country along the Kokosing. At Sandusky Leeth was engaged by five of the British officers, who had formed a stock company, to attend to their business. While in their employ (1782), Colonels Williamson and Crawford marched with an army against Sandusky, during which the Indians closely watched Leeth to prevent him from communicating with the invading army. Being told the Americans were within fifteen miles of Sandusky, Leeth gathered together his employers' effects, about fifteen hundred dollars in silver, fuss, powder, lead, horses, and cattle, and

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started for Lower Sandusky. After traveling about three miles, he met Captain Elliot, a British officer, and about fourteen miles further he met Colonel Butler's Rangers. They took from him his cattle and let him pass. That night he encamped about fourteen miles above Lower Sandusky. A' French interpreter for the Indians came to the camp and was granted permission to stay all night. Next morning, after the horses were loaded and ready to start, they heard the sound of cannon at Upper Sandusky. The Frenchman clapped his hand to his breast, and said, "I shall be there before the battle," and started. He went to where some Indians were painting and preparing for battle, put on a ruffle shirt, and painted a red spot on his breast, remarking, "Here's a mark for the Virginia riflemen," and, shortly after, marched with the Indians to battle, where he soon received a ball in the very spot, dying instantaneously. Leeth reached Lower Sandusky safely. The unfortunate expedition of Colonel Crawford is a matter of history.

After this battle his employers moved their goods again to Upper Sandusky, where Leeth remained about three years, when the partnership was dissolved, the goods divided, and each one entered into business for himself. One of the partners informed Leeth that he was going to establish a store at New Coshocton, on the head waters of the Muskingum river, and would engage him at the same wages to go with him. This proposition was accepted.

Some time the following fall Leeth accompanied the Indians to Fort Pitt, leaving his wife and children at New Coshocton. After matters were settled and articles of peace signed, he entered into partnership with two others, in a trading association; and in a short time he started west with thirty-four horses loaded with several hundred dollars' worth of goods. Leeth went to the Tuscarawas river and remained about nine months, in which time he sold out nearly all their goods. About three months after his arrival at Tuscarawas, Captain Hamilton, an American officer, came there with another store, and opened close by him, and about the same time Leeth's wife and children came from New Coshocton. While Captain Hamilton was absent at Fort Pitt after goods, several Wyandot Indians came to his store; two of them killed his clerk and carried away all the goods. This event alarmed Leeth very much, as he expected the same fate, but a Delaware Indian, one of his old acquaintances, came to him at this time and said, "I will die by you." Preparations for a hasty departure were made, and Leeth and his family started with the Delaware Indian for Fort Pitt. They were captured, however, before they had proceeded far, and taken to the Indian towns on Mad river. The goods and other property left at Tuscarawas were taken away and secreted by the Indians. After some time he was again released from captivity and proceeding to Fort Pitt, he purchased horses and went in search of his hidden goods. He found them all and took them to Fort Pitt, where he left them, and returned to his family on Mad river. After remaining with them some time he returned to Fort Pitt with the intention of dissolving partnership. He told his partners that the times were very dangerous, and trade very uncertain, and if they were willing he would retire from the concern, and quit business, at least for the present. His partners had just purchased a large assortment of goods, and were not willing to dissolve. They told him "if he would venture his body, they would venture the goods." He yielded, and on the fifteenth of January started out with a stock of goods and opened a store in the woods, at the mouth of Whitewoman creek, where Coshocton now stands. In a short time he collected about fourteen horse loads of skins and furs, and the hand he had with him started with them for Fort Pitt. After getting about two-thirds of the way, the Mingo and Wyandot Indians overtook the caravan, killed the man, and took the horses and all the goods off with them. Leeth continued at Coshocton with his family and seven horses until about the first of April, under great apprehensions for his life. He then moved to Tapacon, twenty-five miles from Coshocton, where he left his family and went on horseback to Fort Pitt, to consult with his partners about quitting the business, as they had already lost all their profits. But they thought best to continue the business until all their goods were sold. He then returned to his family at Tapacon; but just before his arrival there two Indians had visited his wife and told her they had better move to Fort Pitt; they said the Mingoes

192 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

had killed the two traders they had left at Coshocton and carried off all their property. Leeth left his goods with the two Indians, and went with his family to Fort Pitt. Soon after he returned to Tapacon with five men, and found the skins where the Indians had hidden them; but they had taken the horses and goods with them. He returned to Fort Pitt with the skins, and soon after set out for the Shawnee towns, where he found his horses and goods. On his route back to Fort Pitt he passed through Knox, Licking and Muskingum counties, trading his goods for furs and peltry, disposing of all of them by the way. He was accompanied by an Indian hunting party of seventeen warriors. Shortly after his arrival at Fort Pitt he settled up with his partners and gave up the horses. He then left Pittsburgh with his family and settled on the Huron River, northern Ohio, in a Moravian town, where he remained some years.

The Moravians, however were continually between two fires, and were all the time in danger of being murdered by one party or the other, and were therefore frequently on the move. Leeth was compelled to take his family and flee for safety to Fort Pitt, where he arrived after a hazardous journey through the wilderness. From Fort Pitt, he proceeded with his family to Bird's ferry, where his wife's relatives resided, and who received the wandererers with great kindness. Mr. Leeth settled among them as a farmer.

Mr. Leeth died about 1850, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. His father was born in the city of Leeth, Scotland, and his mother in Virginia.

In the year 1781 there was a small settlement on Raccoon creek, some sixty miles above Wheeling, in what are now Beaver and Washington counties in Pennsylvania. Some thirty miles southeast was another settlement on Peter's creek, in what is now Allegheny county, same State. The latter settlement was much larger than the former, and possessed a good stockade and block-house, to which the pioneers could resort in times of danger or invasion by the savages of the territory of Ohio.

In the year 1777 the settlers on Raccoon creek were compelled by Indian invasion to abandon that region and seek refuge in the block-house on Peter's creek, where most of them remained several months. About this tune, John Stilley, sr., who had located in the settlement in 1773, accompanied an expedition against the Indians on Beaver creek, where he was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a comrade. Mrs. Stilley and several children were left helpless by the unfortunate circumstance.

Among those who fled from Raccoon creek was a young man by the name of Kennedy. When the others returned to the settlement he remained at the block-house on Peter's creek. In the meantime he had married Rachel Stilley, the oldest daughter of Mrs. John Stilley. In the Spring of 1781, Mr. Kennedy concluded to return to the Raccoon settlement. He took along a good team of horses, and his family, consisting of his wife, a small child, Sarah, and John Stilley, sr., youngest brother and sister of Mrs. Kennedy. Some days after his arrival his horses disappeared. He searched the bottoms in the vicinity of his cabin for them, but without effect. As was the custom among the pioneers, he had placed a small bell on one of the horses before turning them out, that they might be traced by its sound.

Early one morning some six weeks after the disappearance of his horses, just before rising, he heard a horse-bell approaching his cabin, and remarked to his wife: "There they are." He dressed, and on opening his door, was confronted by ten savage warriors of the Wyandot nation, who had used the horse-bell as a decoy to draw him out. These Indians had been skulking about the neighborhood for some time, and had now stealthily approached the home of Kennedy to secure new prizes in the way of prisoners and scalps. The horses were Kennedy's, and they had now returned - with new owners.

Resistance was useless. The whole family sur. rendered at once. The Indians then plundered the house of such articles as they desired, and set it on fire. They then started for the Ohio river with their prisoners and their plunder. Fearing pursuit, they prepared to cross without delay. At the river they were joined by two other Indians who had separated from the rest to plunder a neighbor of Mr. Kennedy, by the name of Wilson. They had crept upon Mr. Wilson just as he had hitched his horses to the plow. They fired at and wounded him, and he fled to his cabin, one of the

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Indians following him with rapidity, as the other one was engaged in cutting the harness from the horses.

On reaching the door of the cabin Wilson fell from exhaustion, and would have been killed by the pursuing savage but for the providential appearance of Captain John Slack, a noted Indian fighter and scout, who rode up and fired at the Indian and hit him on the back of the head just as he leaped the fence, making an ugly gash. The Indians instantly mounted the horses and rode rapidly in the direction of the Ohio river where they were joined by the ten who had captured Kennedy and his family.;

Captain Slack, Wilson, and a number of others gave pursuit and arrived at the Ohio just as the Indians and their prisoners, who were mounted on horseback, reached the opposite shore. They saw the Indians enter the forest and disappear with their helpless captives. Further pursuit was abandoned. It was fortunate for the terrified prisoners that Captain Slack and his party failed to overtake the Indians before they reached the river; otherwise the prisoners would have been instantly tomahawked and scalped. As it was they passed on without being maltreated in any way. John Stilley was then about eight years of age, and Sarah, his little sister, between five and six. After the Indians had conducted their prisoners some distance into the forest they checked the rapidity of their flight and halted some two hours. They killed a few wild turkeys and roasted them after the Indian manner, sharing them equally among their captives. Although much depressed in feeling, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy put on an air of cheerfulness, and assumed a willingness to accompany the savages. This seemed to please them, and led to a relaxation of their vigilance. The captives were treated kindly and suffered but little. It was then about the first of June and the weather was delightful. The forests abounded in a luxuriant growth of pea vines, wild flowers, and flowering shrubs. The party crossed the river not a great ways from the mouth of Yellow creek, and passed through what are now Jefferson, Carroll, and Tuscarawas counties, north of the Moravian villages, thence near the present village of Coshocton, and from thence up the Walhonding to the mouth of the Kokosing, or what is now known as the Vernon river,* thence up that stream to where Fredericktown now stands, thence up the west branch and across the counties of Marion to the Olentangy, and thence to Upper Sandusky, the principal seat of the Wyandots.

Mr. Kennedy and his little family were kindly treated all the way, and they were permitted to ride most of the time. At night they slept on the leaves. They had plenty of wild meat, which, by the aid of Mrs. Kennedy, was roasted to suit their taste. They were greatly pleased with the scenery along the Walhonding and the beautiful Kokosing. They encamped one night on the present site of Mourn Vernon. At that period, and for many subsequent years, the Kokosing was a favorite resort for the Wyandot and Delaware hunters. They cleared a few small fields, which they cultivated in corn, and the hills, made by hoeing, were to be seen as late as 1806.

They traveled up the banks of the Kokosing, which Mr. Stilley states was the finest region he ever saw. It abounded in wonderful growth of timber and exhibited a soil unsurpassed for richness. The undergrowth was very rank; wild game existed in great abundance. As the lonely captives attempted to slumber on a cot of dry leaves they were often serenaded by wolves and owls. Their mingled voices made night hideous.

When the Indians arrived at Upper Sandusky they divided their prisoners. They were parceled out according to the fancy of the Indians and separated. Mr. Kennedy, wife and child were taken in the direction of Detroit. Sarah was adopted by another family and removed to the same neighborhood. John Stilley was adopted by an old Indian and his squaw, who treated him with much lenity, and taught him the Wyandot language, which he acquired very rapidly. He was very apt and spry, and made an impression upon his new parents that grew into a very warm attachment. The old Indian was very grave, and evinced a disposition to make his adopted son contented and happy. He reciprocated these attentions by being obedient and prompt.

* The late Hon. R. C. Hurl, some years since, wrote to Mr. Schoolcraft concerning the definition of Ko-ko-sing, which Mr. Stilley said the Wyandots pronounced Ko-ko-san. Mr. Schoolcraft says-"The habitation of the little owl." From this Vernon river has always been called, in English, "Owl creek."

194 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

The first care of this mild old Indian father was to teach him the first principles of hunting. The Indian boys erected a sort of bower of fresh cut brush and leaves in an open space in the forest, and procuring a wild pigeon, tied it to the top of the bower, and concealing themselves within, with bow and arrow, occasionally alarming it; and those flying over, perceiving the fluttering, alighted so that the boys could easily shoot them with their arrows. In this way they secured a great many. The sport furnished them much amusement. The pigeons, at the proper season, were fat, and in such abundance as to be easily taken. The flesh was very palatable.

One morning the grave old father left the wigwam, and after walking a few hundred yards returned. Before leaving the wigwam to hunt, he told young Stilley there was a rabbit within the circle and he might catch it while he was absent. After the old hunter had departed young Stilley proceeded to search for the rabbit. He finally found the track, and soon traced it to a hollow log. Returning to the wigwam he procured a tomahawk with which he soon cut a hole large enough to extricate the cony. Being certain that the animal would not bite, he thrust his hand in and seized it by the head and neck and dragged it from the hole. As soon as its hind legs were released in commenced a series of struggles to extricate its head from his grasp, during which his hands were severely torn by its hind feet. Being too plucky to give up the contest, he held on until finally he succeeded in killing it. When the old hunter came in young Stilley informed him with much pride that he had found and captured the rabbit. The old father asked the young hunter to show him his hands. Upon doing so the old fellow laughed heartily, saying: "Bad hunt;. take him by hind leg next time, and he no scratch." This was his first lesson in hunting rabbits, and he remembered it as long as he lived.

His next lesson was on trapping raccoon. These animals in the wet season are said to be remarkably fond of live frogs, and haunt the ponds where they are to be found. They walk on the fallen timber, and capture the croaking frogs that leap upon the logs to sing their peculiar songs. The trap was made by cutting a small sapling, eight or ten feet long, which was placed on the log, and stakes driven on each side to keep it from rolling off. One end was then elevated fifteen or eighteen inches, and held up by a short treadle, to which a piece of frog or deer meat was fastened When the raccoon approached the bait and attempted to remove it, the sappling fell and killed it. In this way large numbers of raccoons were caught. They were generally quite fat, and when roasted, made desirable food.

Young Stilley often accompanied the Indian boys on their fishing excursions along the Sandusky and other streams. He soon learned this art; and when the fish came up from the bay, made himself quite useful to his Indian father and mother, by aiding them in supplying food. They always flattered and caressed him in his successful excursions; and soothed and sympathized with him when he failed. For these acts of kindness he always felt grateful, and redoubled his exertions to win their esteem and confidence. In his lonely hours for he often thought of his little sister, and of Mrs. Kennedy, the cheering words and counsel of his Indian parents revived his drooping spirits.

He entered freely into the sports of the Indian boys.. Their principal amusements were wrestling, foot-racing and playing ball. He was strong and active for one of his age, and was equal in strength and courage to Indian boys much older than himself In a general way, he got on smoothly, but occasionally was compelled to use his strength and fists in self-defence. These little quarrels were soon reconciled, and all went on merrily again. The most exciting amusement was their game of ball. It resembled very much the game known among boys of modern times, as "Shinny." They used a crooked stick to strike the ball, which was generally made of wood two or three inches in diameter. The stick had a head or curve at the lower end, with which the ball was hit- The alley was generally two or three hundred yards long, and was perfectly smooth and clear of obstructions. The parties divided, and the ball being cast up was struck by one of the players near the center of the alley, and the trick consisted in driving it in the direction of the opposite ends of the alley. In doing so, the boys often became badly huddled, and their shins, and sometimes their heads, suffered

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 195

from the misdirected blows of the players. Whenever the ball was carried by either party, to a given point, the game was won. The-young men had a game of ball resembling that of the smaller boys, with the exception that there was a sort of hoop and net on the bat, and the party getting it in his net, attempted to carry it to his end of the alley, while the rest used their efforts to prevent him from accomplishing the difficult feat.

The wigwam in which young Stilley's Indian parents resided the first and second winters of his captivity, was a plain affair, and was constructed of poles, after the Wyandot plan. The poles for the sides were cut ten or twelve feet long. The stakes were driven into the ground about four inches apart at each end of the proposed wall. 'they were about six feet high, and tied at the top with elm bark or thongs of elk or buffalo hide: The poles being straight and neat, were laid one upon another until a wall of sufficient height was raised. About nine or ten feet from this wall another similar one was constructed. They then dug a sort of trench at each end, and set poles, upright, so as to make the end walls, leaving a space large enough for a door. A ridge pole was placed over the center of the building, and elm bark over it to form the roof. The cracks were plugged with dry moss. A small space was left in the roof for the smoke to escape. A fire was built near the center of the wigwams, and a bear skin generally served for a door. Their beds were made of deer and bear skins spread around the fire. Upon these they slept. All in all, these rude huts were quite comfortable in the winter season.

Their winter food consisted of such wild game as they could capture in the forest. Deer, bear, and turkeys, were moderately plenty at some distance from the Indian villages. In the fall season, for two or three years, the band to which young Stilley belonged, hunted along the Ko-ko-sing and Walhonding, and generally brought in a good deal of game. When their wild meat was scarce, they used hominy, and a sort of soup made of beans, corn, and a little bear or deer flesh. Young Stilley accompanied his old Indian father on his hunting excursions down their favorite Ko-ko-sing two or three times. Their encampments on these occasions were not a great distance from the present site of Mount Vernon. At that period there was not a white man, except the Canadian traders and a few captives, within the present limits of the State. The valley of the Kokosing existed in all its original grandeur. Its luxuriant forests towered almost to the heavens, while wild game ranged in native freedom among the undergrowth.

Young Stilley occasionally met Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy and his little sister, as they traveled with the bands to which they belonged. These tribes hunted mostly within the present limits of the State of Michigan, and traded at Detroit. The furs and peltry secured by the Wyandots of Upper Sandusky were mostly purchased by French and Canadian traders in exchange for ammunition, blankets, tobacco, trinkets, an,! that bane of the Indian and white man, "fire-water," or bad whiskey-. The route from Sandusky to Detroit was difficult, and the Wyandots preferred to trade at home. When war was threatened, their chiefs and leading men made frequent visits to Detroit to talk with their English Father." Though often in the neighborhood of the river Raisin, young Stilley was not permitted to see Detroit until his release from Indian captivity.

In the summer of 1782, the noted Wyandot chief, Big Foot, with his four brothers, and four or five warriors, left Sandusky for a raid on the settlements opposite the mouth of Yellow creek, along Raccoon and Peter's creek. They killed an old man in his cabin, and perpetrated other crimes in the settlements, and with their plunder and scalps crossed the Ohio. They were followed by the famous Indian fighters and spies, Adam and Andrew Poe, and some six others, and overtaken on Yellow creek, where a fight ensued, and the Indians were all killed but one. When the surviving Indian reached the village of Upper Sandusky he raised a dismal howl. The solitary and grief stricken savage remained in the forest one day and a night, howling like a wolf. He then approached the camps and related the contest between Big Foot and the "Long Knives." The Wyandots lamented the death of Big Foot and his brothers by much groaning and many tears.

Big Foot was a brave warrior and a cunning enemy, and was regarded by the Wyandots as invulnerable. Part of the Indians who accompanied.

196 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

Big Foot, had been present at the capture of Kennedy and young Stilley. Their raids were now closed forever.

Young Stilley knew the Poes very well, and says the strength and size of Big Foot was greatly exaggerated. He and his brothers were above the ordinary size of Indians-were very fine looking, courageous and active. Both the Poes were much larger than Big Foot. He thinks the reason why Big Foot held his own, arose from the fact that he was nearly nude, and Poe could not grip him, while Poe's clothing furnished Big Foot an advantage.

At the close of the Revolutionary war in 1783, an arrangement was made with the British and Indians to bring the white captives to Detroit, to be delivered to their friends. Detroit was a small village, and had a fort and stockade. The Wyandots soon brought in Mr. Kennedy, his family, and little Sarah; but retained John Stilley, who was then regularly adopted in his tribe. He had become so much attached to his Indian parents; and the wild roving life of the Wyandots, that he had no desire to return home. He was then dressed in the Wyandot manner, his hair all plucked out save a small scalp-lock, which was ornamented with gay colored feathers. They had pierced his ears and the cartilage of his nose, and inserted rings and a brooch therein. When painted he resembled the true Indian. He was then something over twelve years of age, full of life and adventure.

When the prisoners were all brought in there were over ninety. They remained several months at Detroit awaiting an opportunity to return home. In the spring of 1784, after the Indians had become pacified, and understood the terms of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy determined not to return home without John. Mr. Kennedy and a few friends, learning that he and his tribe were encamped near where Malden now stands, determined to visit, and if possible, rescue him from his Indian allurements. On reaching the camp, they found him more an Indian than a white boy, painted, dressed in deer skin, hair worn in true Indian style, rings in his ears, with bow and arrow, and deeply fascinated with his present condition. He loved his grave old Indian father and mother, and had nearly forgotten his own language! It was difficult to persuade him to return. After many interviews, he finally accompanied Mr. Kennedy to Detroit.

The prisoners were shipped to Sandusky Bay, and upon landing employed two Indian guides to conduct them to the settlement east of the Ohio. They all ninety-two or three-passed up the San. dusky river, across the Olentangy, through what are now Marion and Morrow counties, to the west branch of the Kokosing, and thence down said stream through the present site of Mount Vernon, down the Walhonding near where Coshocton stands, thence by Indian paths across Tuscarawas and Jefferson counties, to the Ohio river. Before reaching the Ohio river, by comparing destinations, they learned that nearly all their fellow captives belonged to Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Very few crossed the river with Kennedy and young Stilley. Most of the captives never met again. At this time they found no improvements between Upper Sandusky and the Ohio.

Young Stilley remained on Peter's creek, with his mother, some five years. Learning something of the wilds of the territory of Kentucky, from returning adventurers, he determined to abandon his home and visit the hardy pioneers and hunters of the "dark and bloody ground." He and a friend built a large pirogue which they launched, and placing therein such provisions, clothing, and ammunition as they might need, and taking their ride, they descended the Ohio, and landed, in : 78", without accident, at Limestone, near where Maysville now stands. They found a small settlement at Wheeling, Marietta, and Gallipolis. The forest, on the banks of the Ohio were dense and in full leaf, and seemed to press upon the shore like a mighty wall. Although the Shawnees had often crossed the beautiful Ohio to harrass the settlements of Kentucky, they met no hostile bands on their trip down the river.

Mr. Stilley remained at Limestone a short time, and upon learning that there was a settlement on the Elkhorn, he determined to visit it. In cony pang with several hunters, he passed through the forest to that region. He had been there but a short time, when he became acquainted with the brave hunter and Indian spy, Simon Kenton. Kenton, at that time, had command of a small

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company of spies and scouts, who patrolled the Elkhorn for a distance of fifty miles to guard the settlements against surprise by hostel bands of Shawnees and Miamis, who refused to be pacified or submit to a recent treaty. He joined Kenton's company, and became an active minute man. During his stay on the Elkhorn, some three years, owing to the vigilance of Kenton and others, the settlements remained nearly undisturbed by the savages. Elk and buffalo were yet quite plenty, and Stilley often joined parties on hunting excursions. He passed down Licking river on one of his hunting trips, to where Covington now stands, .and thinks he shot a panther within its present corporate limits. The animal had treed, and had a peculiar white spot on its breast, at which he aimed and struck, killing the ferocious. beast almost without a struggle. While in the Elkhorn settlement, he also became acquainted with a noted hunter named Neal Washburn, and a Mr. Robinet who kept a pack of fine hunting dogs.

After the repulse of General Harmar in 1790, and the disastrous defeat of General St. Clair in 1791, and General Wayne was ordered to the west, John Stilley determined to become a soldier. He volunteered in a company commanded by Captain Rollins, raised near Paris, Kentucky, for a term of four months; and passed with the Kentucky troops, by Fort Washington, (Cincinnati) and up the trail of St. Clair to Fort Recovery. At the expiration of his service, he returned with his comrades to the Elkhorn settlement, where he remained but a short time, and re-enlisted for a tour of five months. 'the Kentucky troops were hurried forward,. and participated in the noted battle of "Fallen Timbers," where the Indian army was overthrown and compelled to submit to a humiliating treaty, which deprived them of a vast amount of territory, and crushed their military prestige. Mr. Stilley regarded General Wayne as a courageous and farseeing commander; and just the man to strike terror into the heart of the blood-thirsty savages led by Little Turtle, Captain Pipe, and other wily chiefs.

At the expiration of his second term of service, he again returned to the Elkhorn settlement. He remained there hunting and farming until about 1797, He describes the hunters and pioneers of that time as being the most courteous, hospitable, whole-souled and brave people he ever knew. Their cabins, to use the old phrase, "had their latch-strings always out." They traversed the forest for miles to aid each other in putting up cabins, rolling logs, planting corn and clearing fields. They divided their surplus grain for seed, and thus contributed to the enlargement of the settlement, and the general prosperity and happiness of all.

In 1800 he married Rebecca Thompson, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and remembering the beautiful country along the Kokosing, determined to find a home there. In 1805-6 the lands along that stream, within the present limits of Knox county, were being surveyed into tracts of eighty and one hundred and sixty acres. In 1805, Moses Craig, a relative, settled about one mile west of the site of Mount Vernon. Mr. Stilley, in the spring of 1806, visited Mr. Craig, and located a military tract adjoining him, and clearing a field, planted it in corn, and remained through the summer months cultivating it. In the meantime he cut logs, and by the aid of the neighborhood settlers, erected a cabin. In the fall he returned to Peter's creek.

In the spring of 1807, a company consisting of Robert Thompson and wife, John Stilley, three children and his mother, John Stilley (a nephew late of Morrow county), and a colored boy by the name of Benjamin Truesser (who died in Janesville a few years since, well advanced in years), with teams and covered wagons, loaded with such household articles as were needed, started for the wilds of Ohio. Their route was from Peter's creek to Cannonsburgh, Pennsylvania, thence to Wellsburg. Virginia, thence to Steubenville and Cadiz, thence to Cambridge, thence along Zane's old track to Zanesville and Newark, and thence to the present site of Mount Vernon. They were detained several days at Wilts creek in consequence of high water, and had to camp out between Zanesville and Newark. The trip took thirteen days, and they were much wearied.

As soon as John Stilley had fully rested from the trip, he took two horses and returned to Peter's creek for his wife and a small child (now the wife of Benjamin F. Smith), who were unable to come with the former company. He proceeded down the Kokosing and Walhonding to where Coshoc-

198 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ton now stands, thence to New Philadelphia, thence to Steubenville and thence to Peter's creek He had most of the way but an Indian trail to lead him; but this being the route he had traveled to and from his captivity, it was somewhat familiar. On arriving at his old home, Mrs. Stilley mounted one of the horses and undertook the journey. They traveled the same route and came through with but a single accident. When they were crossing the Walhonding, the horse of Mrs. Stilley being a poor swimmer, became alarmed and turned down stream, and was about to reach a steep bank, where Mrs. Stilley would have been thrown and probably drowned. Fifteen or twenty Greentown Indians were encamped near the bank, and Billy Montour, seeing the danger, mounted a pony and rushed into the stream, pursuing, overtaking, and safely conducting the horse of Mrs. Stilley out. As long as Billy Montour, Tom Lyon and the Greentown Indians visited the Kokosing to hunt, they were kindly regarded for this generous act.

John Stilley served creditably in the war of 1812, as adjutant of Colonel Kratzer's regiment, and as a volunteer in defence of Fort Meigs. He was a brave, active, and able soldier.

After the close of the war, Mr. Stilley, like his thriving neighbors, entered actively upon the task of clearing up his farm, which was handsomely located, and is now one of the most desirable homesteads in Knox county; and, like a true pioneer, always had his latch-string nut. As the population increased, his good judgment, business qualities, and integrity gave him weight with his fellow citizens. The records of Knox county show that John Stilley was more frequently, perhaps, than any other pioneer of the county, selected upon the juries drawn to deal out justice between man and man. In the spring of 1824, he was elected justice of the peace, and in the fall of the same year, county commissioner. These trusts were faithfully executed.

In 1852, he was attacked with paralysis, with which he lingered a short time, and died March 10th. He sleeps by the side of his faithful wife, (who survived him a short time), near his loved Kokosing, where he had so many adventures in his youth.

When he passed through this part of the Northwest Territory, in 1781, there was not a settler in it. When he died, in 1852, this territory had over two millions of people. Two sons, Gilman and Morgan, reside on the old homestead.

Probably the next white men to pass across this territory were the Moravians, who, as prisoners, were taken from the Moravian towns on the Tuscarawas river to Upper Sandusky, by British emissaries. These peaceable Christian Indians were charged with being spies, and with holding treasonable correspondence with the Americans at Pittsburgh and perhaps other points, and of harboring other Indians friendly to the American cause. Upon these charges they were arrested by Captain Matthew Elliottt, of the British army, who had under his command about three hundred hostile Indians. Making no resistance, they were made captives, September 11, 1781, and by this overpowering force compelled to leave their much. loved homes and take up their line of march for the Sandusky river. Upon this march they followed the Indian trail down the Tuscarawas to the mouth of the Walhonding, in Coshocton county; thence up that stream to the mouth of the Kokosing; thence up the Kokosing, passing over the spot upon which Mount 'Vernon now stands, and on to the Wyandot town, near the present site of Upper Sandusky. The missionaries thus forcibly removed were Revs. Zeisberger, Senseman, and Jungman, of New Schonbrunn; Revs. John Heckewelder, and Jung, of Salem, and Rev. William Edwards, of Gnadenhutten.

The point at which they were left to take care of themselves, their wives, children and Indian captives, was on the banks of the Sandusky river, not far from where the Broken Sword creek empties into it, about ten miles from Upper Sandusky. Here they selected a location, and, without delay, built a village of small buts to protect themselves from the inclemency of the weather. This village soon took the name of "Captive's Town," and was situated on the right bank of the Sandusky river, about a mile above the mouth of the Broken Sword, in the present township of Antrim, Wyandot county.

During the progress of the Indian war from 1788 to 1795, the noted scout and Indian fighter, Captain Samuel Brady, on two or three different occasions passed through what is now Knox county.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 199

These expeditions were made in the interest of the military authorities at Fort Pitt, both for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the hostile Indians, and to chastise such small parties as might fall in their way.

About 1792 Brady with a party of scouts crossed the Ohio at Wheeling, and directed his course to the forks of the Muskingum (Coshocton), moving thence up the Walhonding and up the Kokosing or Owl creek, to the present site of Mount Vernon. From this point the party turned back, going over to the headwaters of the North fork of Licking and down that stream to its junction with the South fork at Newark; thence they continued down the Licking and Muskingum to Marietta.

Shortly after the treaty at Greenville (1795) rumors of peace reached Wheeling, and to ascertain their truth, the commandant of that post dispatched six men of Brady's scouts in the direction of Sandusky. One of the Wetzels was in this party. They crossed the Muskingum at Dresden, came across to the Licking, up that stream to the present site of Newark, where they turned north along the North fork, and passed over onto Owl creek. After going a short distance beyond the present site of Mount Vernon, they became satisfied that Indians were watching them with hostile intent, and turned back. Following the route they came, they encamped one night in the eastern edge of Licking county, where they were fired upon in the night and one of the party killed. They thereupon scattered and made their way separately to Wheeling.

It is believed that many other white people passed through the county before any one came to settle permanently. In the treaty which General Boquet made with the Indians at the forks of the Muskingum, in 1764, two hundred and six white captives were given up to him by the Indians. A large number of these captives were among the Wyandots and other tribes in the western and northwestern parts of what is now the State of Ohio, and there is little doubt that a number of these passed along the Indian trail, which followed the Walhonding and Kokosing rivers, from the towns on the Muskingum to those on the Sandusky plains, both while they were being carried into captivity and while on the return journey to be delivered to Boquet.

The renegade Simon Girty and probably his brothers, as well as the notorious British agents, EIlion and McKee, were without doubt through this territory many times while making journeys to and from the eastern part of the State and Fort Pitt. Girty was born "bout 1745, and was consequently in the prime of life during the half century prior to the first settlement of this part of Ohio. No doubt also the Wetzels, Brady, McCulloch and other scouts and spies, were many times through this territory in the prosecution of their business. This territory was also an excellent hunting ground and much used for that purpose by the Indians at Greentown, among whom were white renegades as early as 1785, who no doubt often accompanied the Indians on their hunting and trapping expeditions to the beautiful valley of the Kokosing.

Just prior to the first settlement of the county Andy Craig seems to have located temporarily on Owl creek, and William Leonard in company with a party of scouts came into this territory as early as 1799. Leonard purchased some land on Owl creek and returned with his family and became a permanent settler some years later.

CHAPTER XXI.

SETTLEMENT AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF

THE COUNTY.

AREA-PRIMITIVE CONDITION-SETTLEMENT ON THE LICK

ING-ANDY CRAIG-CHARACTER OF THE PIONEERS -

MILITARY LANDS-NATHANIEL M. YOUNG-FIRST SET-

TLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-THE QUAKERS-FIRST ROADS

TRANSPORTATION-THE PRODUCTS OF THE COUNTY -

MILLS-THE ACT CREATING KNOX COUNTY-FIRST

ELECTIONS-DIVISION INTO FOUR TOWNSHIPS-ITEMS

FROM THE COMMISSIONERS' RECORD--SEFLEY SIMPKINS

RACE.

KNOX county occupies a position near the geographical centre of one of the greatest States in the Union, and contains three hundred and twenty-four thousand four hundred and four acres of land, of which about two hundred and sixty-five thousand are cultivated or cultivable, fifty-four thousand in timber, and a little more than five

200 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

thousand waste or uncultivated. In its primitive condition it was covered with a dense growth of timber, but about the time of the advent of the first settlers three or four little patches of prairie or cleared land appeared along Owl creek and other parts of the county, that had probably been cleared by the Indians for the purpose of raising corn. These were long known as the "Indian fields."

At the beginning of this century no white man . had set foot on the virgin soil of Knox for the purpose of settlement. It was a vast wilderness, occupied by wild animals and wilder men. The territory then belonged to Fairfield county, and so remained until 1808, when it was organized into a separate county and named in honor of General Knox, Washington's Secretary of War.

Perhaps the nearest white settlement to the present border of Knox county at the beginning of this century, was that on the Licking river, about four miles below the present city of Newark, on what was known as the "Bowling Green" prairie. Here Elias Hughes and John Ratliff, with their families, settled in 1798, and were the only settlers here early in 18oo. The wave of white emigration was at that time approaching this territory, and within the next three years came the "first low wash of waves where now rolls a human sea." This was in the shape of Andy Craig, who, however, can hardly be called a settler in the proper sense of that term. He was one of those restless, reckless creatures who continue while they live the picket-guard of civilization. They are always just beyond the white settlements, but never settle permanently anywhere. Andy Craig was here, however, just in advance of the permanent white settlers, and remained here until 1809, though it is not believed that he purchased any land or ever intended to make this his abiding place. His character may be fairly inferred from what Norton writes of him, as follows

From our research into early statements, we are led to believe that Andrew Craig was the first white man who located within the present county limits. He was, at a very early day, a sort of frontier character, fond of rough and tumble life, a stout and rugged man-bold and dare-devil in disposition who took delight in hunting, wrestling and athletic sports, and was " hail fellow well met" with the Indians then inhabiting the country. He was from the bleak, broken, mountainous region of Virginia, and as hardy a pine knot as ever that country produced. He was in this country when Ohio was in its territorial condition, and when this wilderness region was declared to be in the county of Fairfield, the sole denizen in this entire district, whose history is now being written, tabernacled with a woman in a rough log but close by the little Indian Field, about one-half mile east of where Mount Vernon city now exists, and at the point where Centre run empties into the Kokosing. There Andrew Craig lived when Mount Vernon was laid out m 1805 there he was, upon the organization of Knox county, its oldest inhabitant-and there he continued until 1809. Such a harum-scarum fellow could not rest easy when white men got thick around him, so he left and went to the Indian village--Greentown and from thence migrated further out upon the frontier, preferring red men for neighbors.

The early settlers of this region were largely from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with quite a "sprinkling" from the New England States. They were generally Revolutionary stock, and this may be the reason why Ohio has taken such a prominent position in the Nation, politically and socially. The sub-stratum of its population was composed of Revolutionary heroes, whose seven years of struggle and privation had. made them men-giants they might be called. From such stock and from the veterans of the War of 1812, the people of this county largely trace their ancestry. It was fortunate for Ohio that her territory was upon the frontier at the close of the Revolution. The old soldiers, without money, but with land warrants in their pockets, sought the wilderness beyond the Ohio for their future homes. This State caught the larger share of these most desirable emigrants, for the reason that it was the most promising territory then open to settlement in the west. A treaty with the Indians had been made by the Government which opened the larger part of the State to white settlement, and a considerable portion of the State was especially reserved for the soldiers, and was known as United States military lands. These lands amounted to two million six hundred and fifty thousand acres, The tract was bounded on the east by the west line of the seven ranges; on the south by Congress lands and the Refugee tract; on the west by the Scioto river, and on the north by the Greenville treaty boundary line, which passes through the northwest corner of Knox county, and forms a portion of its northern boundary line. All of this county was, therefore, "Military Lands," except fractions of Middlebury, Berlin and Pike townships.

The first permanent white settler in this county was probably Nathaniel Mitchell Young, the "axe

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 201

maker," who came in 1803, soon alter Andy Craig, and following up Owl creek, some ten miles beyond Craig's cabin, settled on a branch of that stream, in what is now Wayne township. This settlement, subsequently known as the "Jersey settlement" receives attention in the chapter on Wayne township.

Regarding the first settlements in .this county, Mr. Norton thus writes:

After many years of solitary residence on the beautiful Kokosing, the solitude of Craig's retreat is broken by the entrance of a lone Jerseyman, who, in the spring of 1803, penetrates some ten miles further into the wilderness, so as not, by too close proximity, to annoy each other, and there raises a little tog cabin and settles down. This follower of the trade of Vulcan soon gets in readiness to blow and strike, and sets about supplying the sons of the forest with the first axes they had ever seen, and by making for them tomahawks, scalping knives, etc., he acquires the sobriquet of the "axe-maker," which for more than half a century has attached to Nathaniel Mitchell Young.

A year passes by before any white accession is made to society on Owl creek. Then a stalwart backwoodsman breaks the silence by the crack of his rifle, and at the spot where James S. Banning now lives, near Clinton, the pioneer, William Douglass, drives his stake.

The skillful navigator plies his oar, and Robert Thompson ascends Owl creek to where Mt. Vernon now stands, and on the rich bottom land, about one mile west, commences another improvement. George Dial, of Hampshire county, Virginia, in another pirogue comes up the creek, and, pleased with the beautiful country about where Gambier now flourishes, pitches his tent at the place now occupied by John Troutman. Old Captain Joseph Walker, from Pennsylvania, settles on the bank of the creek where Mt. Vernon now is. John Simpkins, from Virginia; with his son, Seeley, for capital, located about a mile above Douglass, where George Cassel's beautiful farm now exists. While these plain men from Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are preparing their cabins for occupation, and making a little clearing, a stray Yankee, solitary and alone, with a speculative eye and money-making disposition, is, with pocket compass, taking his bearings through the forest, soliloquizing about the chance of making a fortune by laying out a town and selling lots to those who may come after him into this charming new country. Having, as he thought, found the exact spot for his future operations, he blazes a tree, and wends his way to the nearest town-Franklinton-west of the Scioto, then a place of magnificent pretensions, where he gets chain, compass, and paper, and returns and lays out the town of Clinton, in section number four, township seven, range four. United States Military district, with its large "public green," its North street and South street, its Main street, First, Second,. Third, and Fourth streets, and one hundred and sixty lots, and, taking his town plat in his pocket, he walks to New Lancaster, being the first white person ever known to have made a journey in that direction from this infant settlement, and before Abraham Wright, justice of the peace, acknowledges the important instrument, and on the eighth of December, 1804, places it upon record. Thus Samuel H. Smith, subsequently the first surveyor of Knox county, for many years a resident, its leading business man, and largest landholder, made his entrance into this district.

Shortly afterwards a large accession was made to the population of the county by the emigration from Ten Mile, Washington county, Pennsylvania, of John Mills, Henry Haines, Ebenezer and Abner Brown, and Peter Baxter, who settled a short distance south of Owl creek, where the Beams, Merits and Lafevers have since lived. This settlement, by the increase of the Leopards, was in 1805-6 the largest and list community in the county, and upon the organization of the county, and for several years, thereafter, it furnished the leading men. This settlement is referred to elsewhere.

Benjamin Butler, Peter Coyles, and Thomas Bell Patterson, in the spring of 1805, augment the Walker settlement, where Mount Vernon was located shortly after. William Douglass is joined by James Loveridge, who emigrates from Morris county, New Jersey, and with his wife takes quarters on the sixth of July upon the clapboards in the garret of his little log cabin, and is mighty glad to get such a shelter as that to spend the year in. The next year Loveridge starts off, under pretense of hunting a cow, and goes to the land office and enters and pays for the tract of land, where shortly after he erected a dwelling, and has ever since resided. Upon this land there is an uncommon good spring, which caused him to select it, and he tells with much glee the circumstances under which he obtained it. The only Yankee then in the county claimed to have located it, and proposed to sell it to him at a higher price than the Government rate, which was then two dollars per acre. Concealing his intention from all but his wife, Loveridge slipped off and examined into and purchased it himself from the Government, and when he returned with his patent, Bill Douglass laughed heartily at the Jersey Blue overreaching the cunning Yankee. Amariah Watson, of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, also put up with Douglass, and thus this settlement was made up of Douglass, Smith, Watson and Loveridge, in 1805. The old axe-maker, in the meantime, is followed up by some of his relations and friends, who start what has ever since been known as the Jersey settlement. Jacob Young, Abraham Lyon and Simeon Lyon are the first to settle upon the South fork of Owl creek, and are succeeded by Eliphalet Lewis, John Lewis, and James Bryant. The Indians they found very numerous. and through the kind feelings towards the old axe-maker, they were very friendly, and really quite an advantage in ridding the country of wolves, bears, and other varmints.

In the winter of 1805-6 that settlement entered into a written agreement to give nine bushels of corn for each wolf scalp that might be taken; and three of the men caught forty-one wolves in steel traps and pens! The description of these pens, and one of the stories told of their operation, we give in the words of an old settler: 'Wolf pens were about six feet long, four feet wide, and three feet high, formed like a huge square box, of small logs, and floored with puncheons. The lid, also of puncheons, was very heavy, and moved by an axle at one end, made of a small, round stick. The trap was set by a figure 4, with any kind of meat except that of wolf's, the animals being fonder of any other than their own. On gnawing the meat, the lid fell and caught the unamiable native. To make sport for the dogs, the legs of the wolf were pulled through the crevices between the logs, hamstrung, and then he was let loose, when the dogs soon caught and finished him. In Delaware county an old man went into a wolf trap to fix the spring, when it sprung upon him, knocking him flat upon his face, and securely caught

202 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

him as though he were a wolf. Unable to lift up the lid, and several miles from any house, he lay alt one day and night, and would have perished but for a hunter, who passing by heard his groans and came to his rescue."

North, west and east of these embryo settlements all was wilderness for many long miles. A place bearing the name of Newark had been laid out by General W. C. Schenck, but it had not any greater population than these little scattered settlements aforementioned. The principal towns of note to the early settlers were Lancaster, Chillicothe and Zanesville. Neither of them were much larger then than our usual >C roads' villages now are. The people were exceedingly- neighborly, and performed all manner of "kind chores" for each other, in going to mill, laying in goods, dividing what they had with each other, etc. The nearest mill in 1805, was in Fairfield county. Our old friend James Loveridge informs us of a trip he made to that mill, which was seven miles up the Hockhocking river from Lancaster, It belonged to Loveland & Smith, and was situated in a little crack between some rocks, and he went down into the mill through the roof. He made the trip there and back, about one hundred and twenty-five miles, and brought home with him in his wagon about nine hundred pounds of flour, one barrel of whiskey, and one barrel of salt. How the settlement must have rejoiced at the arrival o! the great staples of frontier life, salt, whiskey and flour.

The spring of 1806 brought with it a new element into the wilderness region, in the form of the Friends the forerunners of large numbers of that society, who by their quiet yet industrious ways have contributed very much to the prosperity and peacefulness of our people. The venerable father Henry Roberts may be justly regarded as the head of this emigration from Maryland. In 1805 he left Frederick county; in that State, with his family, and directed his course to the far west, but on reaching Belmont county, found it necessary to winter his family there, and sent his wagon and team back to Maryland with a load of ginseng and snakeroot, and on their return with a load of goods he started with his family and plunder, and on the seventh of April, 1806, he landed at Henry Haines', in the Ten Mile settlement," and after spending a week looking for a good location, on the fourteenth of that month settled down with his family at the little prairie five miles above Mount Vernon, of late widely known as the Armstrong section. The family consisted of his wife, his sons-William, now living in Pekin, Illinois; Isaiah, now residing near Pilot Knob, Missouri; Richard Roberrs, of Berlin-and a daughter, Massah, who married Dr. Timothy Burr, and died at Clinton, March 9, 1814. Nine acres of that beautiful prairie were at once broken up and planted in corn. It was very hard work to break the virgin soil with a first rate four-horse plow team, but it paid for that labor by one of the finest crops of corn ever raised in this country. In the fall William Y. Farquhar, a cousin of Henry Roberts, came with his family, and after him came William W. Farquhar with his family. They all stopped with Henry Roberts, and thus composed the first settlement of Friends in this district. From this nucleus came the numerous society of Quakers in Wayne, Middlebury and Berlin, in after years. Shortly after this we find other Quakers, Samuel Wilson, and John Ken in what subsequently became Wayne township, and John Cook and ,Jacob

* So called from the fact that the settlers were from Ten Mile, Pennsylvania. The settlement was made a short distance below Mount Vernon, near the present residence of Hon. Columbus Delano.

Cook just above, in what is now Middlebury township, and Amariah Watson goes from Douglass' to the tract of land above, where Fredericktown was the next year laid out, and which he subsequently sold to Jacob Ebersole, a place now easy to be identified by all. In the spring of 1806, there were within the after limits of Knox county but fifteen persons who turned out to vote, and but nine liable to perform military duty out to muster.

The earliest settlers in this, as in all other parts of the State came into the country by Indian trails, and by canoes up the streams. A few of the earliest settlers in Mount Vernon came up the Muskingum and Whitewoman rivers in canoes, and thence up Owl creek; but these primitive modes of ingress and egress could not long be endured, roads must be cut through the great woods. As early as January 23, 1800, Mr. Holden presented at the clerk's table of the house of representatives of the State, a petition from sundry inhabitants of Licking county; also a petition from sundry inhabitants of Licking and Knox, setting forth their remote situation from water carriage, and the necessity of having good roads; "that they have no road whereby they can receive letters, or any kind of intelligence, or any property from any part of the United States, or this State, except by chance or private conveyance, nearer than Newark or Zanesville; and praying for the establishment of a road from Newark, in Licking county; thence to Mount Vernon, in Knox county; thence to Mansfield, in Richland county; and thence to the mouth of the ricer Huron, Lake Erie, etc., which were read.

On motion, and on leave being granted by the house, Mr. Merwin presented at the clerk's table a petition from sundry inhabitants of Fairfield county, of a similar nature to the before mentioned petitions, praying for the establishment of a road from Lancaster, in said county, through Mount Vernon, in Knox county, to the portage, in Cuyahoga. " House journal, page 177.

The north and south road was the first one opened at the public expense. Private roads were made by the pioneers themselves, to the different settlements in the county limits.

It was not until February, 1829, that the State road from Mount Vernon to Columbus was authorized, by act of legislature, to be opened. Prior to this, however, a road had been cut by the pioneers along Dry creek, and the commissioners, James McFarland, of Knox, Adam Reed, of Franklin, and John Myers, of Licking, established the State road partly upon the line already opened. The road south to Newark, via Martinsburgh, was among the first opened. Over these crude roads the advancing pioneers made their way, among stumps and over corduroy bridges, the only kind of bridge then known in the new country.

The War of 1812 checked immigration somewhat, but after it ended the tide began again to flow in greater volume than ever. The passage of troops during the war had served to make new roads and

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 203

widen the old ones, and the war also introduced to the new country hundreds of men who would not otherwise have known of its beauty and advantages, and who, when at liberty to do so, returned and' settled in it. The country no doubt settled far more rapidly than it would have done had there been no War of 1812.

Where no roads existed numerous "blazed" trails led off through the woods in every direction to the cabin of the solitary settler.

The most important of the early roads, to the prosperity of Mount Vernon, was the one leading north to the lake. This was the great out-let for grain and other produce. Great covered freight wagons, with tires seven or eight inches broad and an inch thick, drawn by six horses or mules, made regular trips from Baltimore and Philadelphia over the National road to Zanesville; thence over this "mud road,'' stopping at the little stations on the way to receive and discharge freight. Many of these teamsters were men of high character, standing, and credit, and in transacting their business, would require persons who shipped goods by their wagons to make out three bills of lading, all properly signed, with as much regularity as a ship at sea, or the freight trains of to-day; one bill to accompany the goods, one to be retained by the shipper, and one to go by mail to the consignee. One of these teams would to-day be a greater curiosity than a steamer or a train of cars. They are yet to be found on the great prairies of the west, transporting freight to points not yet reached by the iron horse.

These wagons did most of the carrying trade for the country. The merchant who wished to purchase goods in the east sent his order and received his goods by these wagons, and in order to pay for the same often intrusted large sums of money to the teamsters. The products of the country, received by the merchant in exchange for goods, consisting mostly of wheat, whiskey, furs, etc., were also shipped by these wagons, going, generally, to the lake, where they were sold or shipped on a vessel for some point east, and months would often elapse before returns could be received.

Another source of out-let for the produce of the country was by the water courses, which were, then untrammeled by mills or bridges; and, by reason of the swampy condition of the country and consequent abundance of water, were navigable for small boats to points which would seem incredible at this time. Flat-boats were built, carrying from twenty to fifty tons. 'these were loaded with pork, flour, whiskey, the products of the chase, etc., and taken down the Kokosing, Walhonding, Muskingum, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, where the cargo and boat were sold, and the pioneer, with his money in his pocket, would return across the country, walking, perhaps, the entire distance, or may be, purchasing a mule or horse by the way, or taking occasional advantage of the well remembered stage coach for short distances. In this primitive way the pioneers of Knox communicated with the outside world. About forty years elapsed from the time of the first settlement before these means of transportation were superseded by that great civilizer-the railroad.

The products of the country, for want of a market, brought very low prices-the average for wheat being thirty-five cents per bushel; oats twelve cents; corn twenty cents; whiskey fifteen cents per gallon; pork one dollar and fifty cents per hundred weight; cows eight to ten dollars each, and horses from thirty to forty dollars each. Coffee brought from seventy-five cents to one dollar per pound; salt from four to six dollars per barrel; calicoes from fifty cents to one dollar per yard, etc. Money was the exception, traffic and trade the rule. The great wagons carried the produce to Portland (now Sandusky city) and returned with salt, fish, etc.

In trading with the Indians Gilman Bryant used to set a bottle of whiskey on each end of the counter in order to facilitate business. Cabins for the purpose of trade and traffic sprang up all along the new roads, and were occupied by some pioneer family, who procured a living partly by hunting, partly by working the "truck patch," partly by trading whiskey, tobacco, knives, blankets, tomakawks and trinkets with the Indians and settlers, and as travel on the roads increased, by keeping travelers over night, finally converting the cabin into a. tavern. Frequently these taverns were the means of starting a town, which grew and prospered, or became extinct, according to circumstances. Establishing a town was like investing in a lottery ticket, which might draw a prize or a blank. Nothing now

204 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

remains to mark the site of many early towns platted on the soil of Knox; others are marked by small clusters of partially deserted houses.

Mills were of prime necessity to the pioneers. Norton speaks as-follows of the first mill in the county:

The first grist mill in this county was of a decidedly primitive character. It was in the Hains, or Ten Mile settlement, and constructed without the sound of the hammer upon iron. It was the joint work of Ebenezer and Abner Brown, assisted by the mechanical skill of the whole neighborhood, and was built on what was called by the early settlers "Big run," though in later times it is spoken of as the little lake, through which the road to Granville has since been laid out. The water has almost disappeared-having been in its appearance greatly changed by ditching, and in some parts obliterated by filling up the hollow. The mill stood where Isaac Beam's house now is, and the dam was where the bridge now stands in the lane. It was all of wood-a sugar trough made its meal trough-a little box its hopper - the stones were about two feet through, and hooped with elm bark for want of iron. It cracked corn pretty well with a good head on, but the stream was generally dry, and the mill was only able to run when big showers of rain came. The building was about ten feet square, of rough logs-not a nail or a bit of iron could be had when it was made. The stones of this ancient mill are certainly a curiosity; they are yet to be seen, being the property of Moses Farquhar, of Berlin, who since that day has attempted experiments with them. Robert Richards at one time took a grist to this original mill and had it ground. He was then about seventeen years old, and not much acquainted with the milling business, but he was greatly impressed with its mechanism, and ready to exclaim, with our old friend Hadley: "The works of God are wonderful, but the works of man are wonderfuller!" He thought that it worked first rate, though Henry Haines at that time had got a little hand-mill which he claimed was a great improvement on the little wooden mill.

Mr. Roberts recollects of having at one time packed a bag of corn from Tom Butler's down on Whitewoman home, and thence to a mill near Newark, and back home again, less a heavy toll. While at the mill he saw Hughes, and from his own lips had a true account about the killing of Indian horse thieves, whom Jack Ratliff and himself had pursued into the Owl creek country and killed as they came upon them in the bottom just below where Fredericktown now stands.

In 1804, William Douglass, of Morris township, built a flouring-mill in connection with a saw-mill, and a few years later put up a carding and fulling mill, greatly to the benefit of the pioneer settlers, enabling them to convert the product of their small flocks into material to clothe their families. In 1807, John Kerr built a grist- and saw-mill at Fredericktown. About the same time Jacob Young built mills four Miles west of that place, and Samuel Gregg one about one and a half miles south. In the eastern part of the county Hibbitt's mills, on the Mohican, and Shrimplin's and Dial's on Owl creek, made their appearance about the same time. In 1816 Henry Davis purchased a flouring and saw-mill in the southern suburbs of Mount Vernon, erected about the year 1810. From that time onward mills sprang up rapidly all over the county, until Knox was regarded as one of the most favored counties in the State, on account of the number and excellence of her mills, and durability of her streams. The Miller mill in Pleasant township was erected by Mr. John Kerr, in 1815.

Time, however, has worked a marvelous change. The mill-streams are not what they once were; and now there are mills all over the county, that were once a benefit to their respective neighborhoods, and a source of profit to their owners, rapidly going to decay, and steam is taking the place of water-power. The fact is, that since timber has been cleared away and the swamps drained, the voluble of water has been greatly lessened, and streams that were considered good mill streams in an early day, became, subsequently, very insignificant.

Five years after the first settlement of this territory, the county was created. January 30, 1808, the legislature passed an act establishing Licking and Knox counties. The act relating to Knox reads as follows

SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, that all that tract of country included in the following boundaries be, and the same is hereby laid off into a separate county, which shall be known by the name of Knox : beginning at the southeast corner of the fifth (5) township of said tenth (10) range; thence west along the northern boundary line of said county of Licking, to the line between the fifteenth (15) and sixteenth (16) range aforesaid; thence north to the northern boundary of the military land aforesaid; thence westwardly along said northern boundary line to the western boundary of the twentieth (20) range of the lands of the United States, lying north of said military lands; thence north on said western boundary line to the northwest corner of the seventeenth (17) township in said range; thence east until it intersects the said north boundary line of the military land; thence eastwardly along said northern boundary line to the east boundary of said tenth (10) range in the military lands; from thence south along said range line to the place of beginning.

SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful for the coroner, sheriff, and constables of said county of Fairfield, and all collectors of the county of Fairfield, to make distress for all dues and officers' fees, unpaid by the, inhabitants of said new counties, at the time said division shall take place, and they shall be accountable in like manner as if this act had not been passed, and the court of Fairfield county shall have jurisdiction

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 205

in all actions and suits pending therein at the time of such division; and they shall try and determine the same, issue processes, and award execution thereof.

SECTION 4. Be it further enacted, that the temporary seat of justice in the county of Licking shall be at the house of Levi Hays, and the temporary seat of justice in the county of Knox shall be at the town of Mount Vernon in said county.

SECTION 6. Be it further enacted, that the inhabitants of said new counties shall assemble in their respective counties on the first Monday in April next, at the usual place of holding elections m said counties, and proceed to elect a sheriff, coroner, and commissioners, for their respective counties, who shall continue in office until the next annual election, and until successors are chosen and qualified.

SECTION 6. Be it further enacted, that all justices of the peace and township officers in said counties, shall continue to exercise the duties of their respective offices until successors are chosen and duty qualified.

SECTION 7. And be it further enacted, that all that tract of country lying north of the aforesaid county of Knox, and south of the Connecticut Western Reserve, and so far east as the line between the fifteenth (15) and sixteenth (16) ranges of Congress lands, shall be, and is hereby, erected into a separate county, by the name of RICHLAND, and shall be under the jurisdiction of the county of Knox, until the legislature may think proper to organize the same.

This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the first day of March next.

[Signed] P. BEECHER,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JOHN BIGGER,

Speaker pro tem of the Senate.

January 30, 1808.

April 4, 1808, the first election under the act creating the county was held. The officers of the election were Ebenezer Brown, Jabez Beers, and Samuel Kratzer, judges; William Gass and Robert Anderson, clerks. The voters were here from the most remote parts of the county, as well as from the vicinity of Mt. Vernon. The election of the first officers in a new county brings out everybody. The officers were elected by the following vote: For commissioners, John Lewis received fifty-six votes, John Herrod, fifty-two, and Joseph Walker, forty-eight. Silas Brown was elected sheriff: For coroner, Jonathan Craig had forty-five votes, and Francis Hardesty, one vote. For trustees, George Downs had forty-one votes, Henry Roberts, thirty-six, and Joseph Coleman, thirty-six. For overseers of the poor, Moses Craig received twenty-two votes, James Walker, two, and Alexander. Walker twelve. The candidates for supervisor were Samuel Kratzer and Peter Baxter-Baxter received thirty-six votes and Kratzer thirty-five. The candidates for fenceviewers, were George Zin, Michael Click and Jesse Severe. For "house praisers," Archibald Gardner and James Craig, each had twelve votes. For constables, Gabriel Wilkins received thirty votes, Philip Walker, twenty-one, Jonathan Hunt, jr., fifteen, and David Miller, three. For treasurer, Benjamin Butler received twelve votes, and James Walker, jr., two. None of these parties are now living.

Joseph Walker, John Harrod, and John Lewis, commissioners, on the second day of May, 1808, entered on their record the official proceedings dividing Knox county into four townships. These townships were Wayne, Clinton, Morgan and Union.

They embraced the whole county, and to more particularly show their extent the following statement may be necessary:

Wayne township embraced all of the present townships of Franklin and Chester, now in Morrow county and Middlebury, Berlin, Wayne, and the north half of Morris.

Clinton township included Bloomfield, now in Morrow county; Liberty, the north half of Pleasant, Monroe, Pike, and the south half of Morris.

Union township embraced Brown, Jefferson, Union, Howard, Butler, Jackson, three-fourths of Harrison, and the east half of Clay.

Morgan township embraced the west half of Clay, southwest quarter of Harrison, south half of Pleasant, and all of Morgan, Miller, Milford, and Hilliar.

These townships remained intact until 1812. The commissioners in the meantime, June 9, 1809, created Madison township in Richland county, which embraced the whole county, Richland, being up to 1813, under the supervision of Knox county. The boundaries of the different townships were changed from time to time as the increased population demanded. The names of the original four, with some of. their former territory attached, still remain.

The following interesting items are from the earliest records of the commissioners of the county:

A board of commissioners for the county of Knox was seated at Mt. Vernon, on Monday, the twenty-fourth day of October, 1808.

Present: Gentlemen, Henry Markley, Matthew Merritt, and William Douglass, commissioners, who, at their first meeting, proceeded to the appointment of a clerk, and James -----was

206 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

duly elected clerk, and qualified accordingly; then, according to law, proceeded to cast lots relative to their ceasing to continue in the office, and it is by them declared that Henry Markley continue in said office three years, Matthew Merritt two years, and William Douglass one year. Ordered, that this board do adjourn until next Friday.

Thus simply and concisely are given the proceedings of the first meeting of the commissioners of Knox county of which there is any record. On Friday, the twenty-eighth of October, the following business was transacted:

Ordered, that the Clerk issue an order on the County Treasurer of the county for the sum of one dollar and fifty cents for killing one wolf, proven before William Y. Farquhar, esq., in favor of James Durbin.

Ordered, that an order issue in favor of James Smith for the sum of two dollars, for carrying returns of the annual election to the town of Newark.

P. S.-The above meeting was intended for the purpose of examining and regulating the papers and books relative to the Commissioners.

Ordered, that this Board do adjourn until the first Monday in December next, unless occasion Require a sooner meeting of this Board.

"Occasion" did "require" a "sooner meeting," for wolves had been killed, and it was a "case of emergency," justifying an extraordinary meeting of the board of commissioners at Mount Vernon, on the very next day. Here is the journal entry:

Ordered, that an order do issue to the county treasurer of this county, in favor of Jesse Morgan, for the sum of three dollars, for killing two grown wolves.

Ordered, that an order do issue to the treasurer of this county, n favor of Jonathan Morgan, for the sum of three dollars, for killing two grown wolves.

Ordered, that this board do adjourn until the next meeting in course.

At the December term, 1808, the board was in session two days. On the fifth an order for seventy-five cents was granted Philip Walker, constable, for one day's attendance on the grand jury at the May term; to William Y. Farquhar, esq., four dollars and fifty cents for one day's attendance on a called court, on an indictment of the grand jury, in the case of M. Brown; to John Mills, three dollars for the same; to William Gass, three dollars for the same; and the following wolf orders: To John Simpkins, one dollar and fifty cents for killing one grown wolf, proven before Samuel Kratzer, justice of the peace; to John Butler, three dollars for killing two grown wolves, proven before Abraham Darling, justice of the peace. On the sixth day of December:

Ordered, that the treasurer of this county do pay the following sums to the following persons: To James Dunlap twenty-two dollars for fixing the county seat of this county; to Isaac Kook twenty-two dollars for the same; to James Armstrong twenty-two dollars for the same.

Ordered, that ten cents be erast off the collector's duplicate, for an error made by the lister, who personally appeared and confessed the same, in favor of Samuel Lewis.

Ordered, that the treasurer of this county do pay to James Smith, clerk, six dollars and sixty-six cents for his services in elections until the said term, likewise seventy-five cents for blank books.

A petition was handed the board, praying a view of a road from the town of Clinton running to intersect the county line, near the southwest corner of the county; which review they declare inexpedient and rejected.

A petition was handed the board, praying a view of a road from the town of Clinton through the settlement of Skenk's creek to the eastern line of Knox county, and it is declared by the board that the said petition is rejected.

A petition was handed the board, praying a view of a road from Mulberry street, in the town of Mount Vernon, to William Douglass' mill, and they declared the same inexpedient.

Ordered, that the treasurer of this county do pay Archibald Gardner the sum of one dollar and a half for killing one grown wolf, proven before Samuel Kratzer, esq.

Among the orders issued in 1809, were the following for wolf scalps:

To John Cook $4.50 for killing three grown wolves, proven before William Y. Farquhar.

To James Black $4 for killing two grown wolves, proven before William Y. Farquhar.

To John Jennings $1.50 for killing one grown wolf, proven before John Green.

To Ephraim McMillen $3 for killing two grown wolves, proven before Abraham Darling.

To Levi Herrod for killing two grown wolves, proven before John Green.

To Francis Hardista $3 for killing two grown wolves, proven before Matthew Merritt.

To John Lash $1.50 for killing one grown wolf, proven before John Green.

To George Sap $3 for killing two grown wolves, proven before Abraham Darling.

To Joseph Harriss $1.50 for killing one grown wolf, proven before John Green.

To Francis Hardista $3 for killing two grown wolves, proven before M. :M Merritt.

To George Sap $1.50 for killing one grown wolf, proven before Abraham Darling.

To Joseph Bryant for killing one grown wolf.

To Ephraim McMillen $4.50 for killing three grown wolves.

Ordered, that all persons who shall kill and procure the scalps of grown wolves and panthers within our balawick, and produce a certificate thereof, according to law, after this date, shall be allowed two dollars, and all those who shall kill and procure the same of wolves and panthers of six months and under shall be allowed one dollar.

The first demands made upon the treasury under this act were by John Mitchell and Francis Har-

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 207

dista, each of whom had killed a grown wolf. For a time these animals had disputed the mastery with the white man. They had neither the fear of the church ecclesiastic or the military power; they frightened the women and children, and hung about the heels of men, setting all law and threats at defiance. One old settler told of his having on a Sabbath day killed a large wolf near God's barn at Clinton, which was making off with one of Sam. Smith's geese, while the people were serving the Lord; another of his friends having been present with the whole military of the county parading on general muster day, a fierce black wolf attacked one of George Zin's pigs within a stone's throw northeast of the public square, when the army gave pursuit, and it was finally killed by Captain Joe Walker; whereupon a grand spree was taken by the military and citizens of the town, the money for the scalp purchasing the whiskey.

On the fifth of March "a petition was forwarded to the board of commissioners of this county, praying for a road leading from the town of Mansfield in a southeast direction, to intersect with the State road, near the fifty-four mile tree, to run in a straight direction as the ground will admit, to intersect the State road, and the board do declare that the same is inexpedient.

The tax on William Douglass' mill is ordered to be taken off, as it is a public benefit.

James Morgan is ordered to be taxed fourfold for refusing to give in five horses to the lister of Union township.

On the seventh of June the commissioners "Ordered," that the license of taverns hereafter obtained for one year in this county shall be as follows: In the town of Mount Vernon, on the public square, and on Market street, shall be rated at six dollars; all taverns in the town of Frederick and in the town of Clinton, and on the road leading from the town of Mount Vernon to Newark, within the county of Knox, at five dollars; all taverns on roads leading through any part of the county, or Richland county, at four dollars.

The court met with the commissioners for the purpose of settling with the court in county charges,. etc., which is as follows, to-wit:

County of Knox, Dr., for including from June, 1809, to September 6, 1810:

Commissioners of Knox county .........................................$ 138 27

Associate judges ................................................................... 109 44

Elections ............................................................................ 48 75

Roads.................................................................................... 130 82

" ........................................................................................ 3 10

Treasurer ................................................................................. 40 46

Boarding and imprisoning negro ........................................... 2 75

" " " "............................................... 1 83

Coroner................................................................................... 3 50

Iron-negro ................................................................................ 5 25

Wolf scalps ............................................................................... 67 50

Collector's fees ......................................................................... 102 59.8

Clerk's fees ............................................................................... 41 00

Clerk to, commissioners from January, 1808 ........................... 87 17

Sheriffs fees ............................................................................... 28 06 1/2

Prosecuting attorney ................................................................ 100 00

Repairs of jail ........................................................................... 9 47

Jury boxes ............................................................................... 1 00

Delinquent tax ............................................................................ 24 20

Listing townships .................................................................. 73 00

Petit jurors .................................................................................. 15 15

Postage of letters ....................................................................... 95

Witnesses ..................................................................................... 4 00

Grand jurors .............................................................................. 60 00

Total.................................................................................... $1,194 46 1/2

Cr. by county levy for 1809 . . . ...........................$265 98

By land tax, 1809 .............................................. 252 52

By draft on district collection . . ........................... 118 30

By fines, etc ......................................................... 48 55

By stores and taverns ............................................. 73 82

Total..................................................................... $759 67

The white male inhabitants of Knox county above the age of twenty-one in 1820, were one thousand two hundred and ninety, located as follows: Hilliar, twenty-one; Bloomfield, sixty-nine; Morgan, one hundred and fifty-two; Miller, seventy-two; Jackson, one hundred and seventy-eight; Chester, one hundred and twenty-two; Wayne, one hundred and sixty-eight; Morris, one hundred and fifty-seven; Union, one hundred and forty-four, and Clinton, two hundred and seven. The county gave its vote for Ethan Allen Brown, for governor; John Sloane, for congress; William Gass, for State senator; R. D. Simons, for representative; William Bevans, for sheriff; Abner Ayres, for commissioner; .and E. C. Lee, for coroner.

In 1822, the county gave majorities for Daniel S. Norton, for congress; Hosmer Curtis, for representative; William Bevans, for sheriff; John Kerr, for commissioner; W. Y. Farquhar, for auditor; Tames McGibeny, for coroner. In 1824, majorities were given for Jeremiah Morrow, for governor; Wilson, for congress; Colerick, for sheriff; Stilley, for commissioner; Rigdon, for representative; Runyan, for coroner, and Farquhar, for auditor.

In 1826, the whole number of votes cast was one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, and the county gave majorities for Trimble, for governor; Norton, for congress; Robeson, for representative; Colerick, for sheriff; Runyan, for coroner; Elliott, for auditor; Leonard, for commissioner.

At the June session (1826) of the commission-

208 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ers, upon a petition of Francis Wilkins and others, a road was ordered to be opened up Dry creek, beginning on the farm of Daniel S. Norton, to intersect the old road on the corner of Frederick Carey's orchard. Jonathan Miller, R. D.Simons, and James McGibeny, were appointed viewers, and J. W. Warden, surveyor.

In 1828, majorities were given for Campbell, for governor; Stanbery, for congress; Shaw, for sheriff; Colerick, for representative; Tracy for auditor; Sprague and Beers, for commissioners; and Neal, for coroner.

In 1829, the population of the county is stated at eight thousand three hundred and twenty-six There were then eight post-offices, viz.: Danville, Darling's, Martinsburg, Mount Vernon, Miles' Cross Roads, Sandusky Cross Roads, in Chester township, Fredericktown, and Houck's.

In 1830, the county-voted for McArthur, for governor; Stanbery, congress; Greer, representative; Neal, sheriff; Tracy, auditor; McFarland, assessor; Lowe, coroner; Wilkins, commissioner. The total vote cast was two thousand and eighty-six.

The valuation of Knox county in 1826 was returned as follows:

Land, 301,695 acres, valued at ............................ $716,070

Town property ................................................... 81,362

Mercantile capital .................................................... 60,000

Houses .......................................................................26,340

Horses,2,467 .......................................................... 98,680

Cattle, 4,483 .......................................................... 35,864

Total ................................................................ $1,018,316

The following from Mr. Norton's history is worthy of preservation as illustrative of the spirit of the times

One of the "Phunny" characters in our county's history is our old friend Seeley Simpkins, who is now in his eighty-ninth year, and was born in West Jersey, the precise spot he doesn't know-nor is it material to the thread of this discourse. In x804, when five years old, he was brought by his father from Morgantown, Virginia, and his recollection of Mount Vernon runs from the time Captain Walker lived in a little log but close by the old sulphur spring. Seeley says that its water had a great medicine reputation with the Indians. He was a great favorite with the squaws and pappooses, be reason of his uncommon musical talent. He could mimic any sound of varment or human, surpassed the lute of Orpheus, and out whistled all creation. He furnished the music for early musters, and when it took four counties to make a regiment, he gave a challenge to out-whistle any man within them. He recollects with much pride the encomiums of Adjutant Stilley; who, he says, was the best judge of swill music then in the country." He frequented race tracks and drew crowds and supplied hoe-downs on demand. For along time he labored under the disadvantage of making his pilgrimages on foot, but having the good luck to hear at preaching that " Balaam took his ass and saddled him," he concluded to take the next thing to it-his bull-and saddle and ride him. He was a nice little muscular brute, raised by him, and being gentle, was trained so that he traveled on Seeley's circuit. Often have we seen Seeley in all his glory ride to the mill with his grist, and while it was being ground he would take an airing around the town, whistling as he went. The races were usually in front of Nortons mill, on the flat, and there Seeley acquired "immortality and fame." On the occasion of a grand race, when the Critchfields, Sam Arbuckle, and the Creek nation were in town in their strength, a race was gotten up by Hugh Neal, John Gregg and John Kellifer, between Seeley's bull and Tom Irvine's horse. The stakes were up, judges took their stand, and expectation was soon gratified by the entrance of the steeds. At starting the little bull's tail received a sudden and severe twist, causing him to bellow lustily as Seeley with "vaulting ambition pricked the sides of his intent;" and goaded to desperation, the bull pawed the earth and sped on with all his might, while the air was rent with the shouts and yells of the spectators, frightening him almost out of his skin. The horse, altogether unused to such noise and confusion, inclined to balk, shied to one side, and trembling from fear, could not be brought to the "outcome" in time, and the judges honestly pronounced in favor of Seeley's bull. Amid the applause of the large concourse, Seeley proudly mounted his charger, and as he stroked his neck, complacently took the wager and rode home a happier man than ever in his life before or since. The poet says:

" Honor and fame from no condition rise

Act well your part-there all the honor lies."

Seeley has done this, and his name is inscribed on the page of his country's history, to be remembered long after those who have laughed at his career shall have been forgotten.

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 209

CHAPTER XXII.

PIONEER TIMES.

WHERE THE PIONEERS CAME FRO\t-THEIR CONDITION AND

CHARACTER-WHAT THEY LIVED ON-THE "TRUCK

PATCH"--HOMINY BLOCKS-MILLS-COOKING--CULTIVA-

TION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS-WILD TURKEYS-WHISKEY

SUPERSTITIONS-DRESS OF THE MEN-THE FLAX WHEEL.

AND LOOM - MORE ABOUT CLOTHING-'KICKING FRO -

LICS"-DRESS OF THE WOMEN-WHITE KID SLIPPERS

DYEING-FOURTH OF JULY AND MILITIA MUSTERS-

CABINS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION- FURNITURE OF THE

CABINS-HOOSIER POEM-EARLY LAND LAWS-TOMA -

HAWK RIGHTS-HUNTING EARLY WEDDINGS-DANCING

AND "HOUSE WARMING," SCHOOLING, SCHOOL TEACHERS,

SPELLING SCHOOLS-CONCLUSION.

So the sun climbs up, and on, and over,

And the days go out and the tide comes in,

And the pale moon rubs on the purple cover

Till worn as thin and as bright as tin ;

But the ways are dark and the days are dreary,

And the dreams of youth are but dust in age,

And the heart gets harden'd and the hands grow weary

Holding them up for their heritage.

Joaquin Miller.

PIONEER days for Knox county and the State, of Ohio are gone forever; the wolf, bear, deer, Indian, and all associations and reminiscences of those "good old days" have long since faded from sight, if not from memory, and the pioneers, most of them, are gone, too

"How few, all weak and withered of their force,

Wait on the verge of dark eternity."

It remains to write their history, and the history of the times in which they lived, as of another race of beings; and, if possible, to impress the best of it upon the character of the present and future generations; for it is a history worthy of imitation and preservation. A study of the characteristics of the pioneer fathers and mothers is calculated to ennoble the mind and strengthen the hand for the battle of life.

It would require a volume to tell of their habits and customs; of their trapping and hunting; of their solitary lives in the great woods, surrounded by wild animals and wilder men; of their dress, manners, and peculiar ways; of their cabins and furniture; of the long winter evenings by the logheap fire upon which

"We piled, with care, our nightly stack

Of wood against the chimney-back.

The oaken log, green, huge, and thick,

And oh its top the stout back-stick;

The knotty fore-stick laid apart,

And filled between with curious art

The ragged brush; then hovering near

We watch the first red blaze appear,

Heard the sharp crackle, caught the gleam

On whitewashed wall and sagging beam,

Until the old rude-furnished room

Burst flower-like into rosy bloom."

It was a free, happy, independent life; full of hardships, indeed but sweetened with innocence and peace; with alternations of labor, pleasure and rest.

The pioneers of Knox were largely from New England, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, who sought to better their condition by making permanent homes in the wilderness west of the Ohio river. They came largely on foot over the Alleghany mountains, many of them having a single horse and wagon, or a two-horse wagon, in which their worldly possessions were carried, and in which the very old or very young, only, were allowed to ride. Many of them were poor, and, like Jack in the story, "came to seek their fortunes." A few came with ox teams; some with horses, two, three or four of them; some in two-wheeled carts, while others packed all their worldly possessions on a couple of old "critters." Instances are related of a bag on top, or snugged down in among the bundles, made somewhat after the fashion of a double knapsack, and a couple of babies poked their little bronzed faces out of the slits in this novel conveyance, and rode along like little "possums."

From fifteen to fifty-five days were required in making the toilsome journey to the far West, by the first pioneers. Streams had to be forded frequently. It was not unusual for a team to give out on the way and cause a delay of a fortnight or a month to one of the families. The joy was very great when the team hove in sight and the family rejoined the party who had found "the end of the road," or stopped until the men looked for a suitable location.

When once settled and the cabin erected, it was not only a home and shelter for the pioneer and his family, but for every stranger who passed that way, "without money and without price." The latch string was always out, for these pioneers were great hearted people, and no man, be he white, black or red, was turned away empty. Their cab-

210 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

ins, often not more than fifteen or twenty feet square, made of rough beech logs, with the bark still adhering to them, were frequently occupied by a dozen or even a score of people for a night, and no complaints made for want of room; genuine hospitality, always finds room enough and never apologizes for lack of more; and when breakfast time came there was no apology for the scarcity of knives, forks and spoons, for "fingers were made before any of these." The fare was homely, but generally abundant. What to eat, drink and wear were questions not, perhaps, difficult of solution in those days. The first was the easiest to solve.. The deer, the bear, the wild turkey, the rabbit, the squirrel, all started up and said, or seemed to say, "eat me." These had been prepared for the red men of the forest, and were equally abundant for the pioneer. The forest was full of game, the streams full of fish, and wild fruits were abundant. To get bread required both patience and labor; the staff of life was one of the articles that must be earned "by the sweat of the brow;" it could not be gathered from the bushes, fished from the streams, or brought down with the rifle. Every backwoodsman once a year added to his clearing, at least, a "truck patch." This was the hope and stay of the family; the receptacle of corn, beans, melons, potatoes, squashes pumpkins, turnips, etc., each variety more perfectly developed and delicious because it grew in virgin soil. The corn and beans planted in May brought roasting ears and succotash in August. Potatoes came with the corn, and the cellar, built in the side of a convenient hill, and filled with the contents of the truck patch, secured the family against want. When the corn grew too hard for roasting ears, and was yet too soft to grind in the mill, it was reduced to meal by a grater, and whether stirred into mush or baked into johnnycake, it made, for people with keen appetites and good stomachs, excellent food. Place before one of those brawny backwoodsmen a square foot of johnnycake and a venison steak broiled on hickory coals, and no art of civilization could produce a more satisfactory meal.

Next to the grater comes the hominy block, an article in common use among the pioneers. It consisted simply of a block of wood-a section of a tree, perhaps with a hole burned, or dug, into it a foot deep, in which corn was pulverized with a pestle. Sometimes this block was inside the cabin, where it served as a seat for the bashful young buck skinned backwoodsman while "sparking" his girl; sometimes a convenient stump in front of the cabin door was prepared for, and made one of the best of hominy blocks. When pigs began to be raised, the natural. relation between pork and beaten corn suggested the grand old idea of "hog and hominy."

Hominy blocks did not last long, for mills came quite early and superseded them, yet these mills were often so far apart that in stormy weather, or for want of transportation, the pioneer was compelled to resort to his hominy block, or go without bread. In winter, the mills were frozen up nearly all the time, and when a thaw came and the ice broke, if the mill was not swept away entirely by the floods, it was so thronged with pioneers, each with his sack of corn, that some of them were often compelled to camp out near the mill and wait several days for their turn. When the grist was ground, if they were so fortunate as to possess an ox, a horse, or mule, for the purpose of transportation, they were happy. It was not unusual to go from ten to twenty miles to mill, through the pathless, unbroken forest, and to be benighted on the journey, and chased, or treed by wolves. A majority of the pioneers, however, settled in the vicinity of a stream, upon which mills were rapidly erected. These mills were very primitive affairs -mere "corn crackers"-but they were an improvement on the hominy block. They merely ground the corn, the pioneer must do his own bolting. A wire sieve was then one of the most important articles of household furniture. It always hung in its place, on a wooden peg, just under the ladder that reached to the loft. The meal was sifted and the finest used for bread. How delicious was that "Indian pone," baked in a large deep skillet, which was placed upon coals raked from the fire-place to the hearth. Fresh coals were continually placed under it and upon the iron lid until the loaf, five or six inches thick, was done through. This was a different thing from johnnycake; it was better, and could not always be had, for to make it good, a little wheat flour was needed, and wheat flour was a precious thing in those very early days.

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A road cut through the forest to the mill, and a wagon for hauling the grist, were great advantages, the latter especially was often a seven days' wonder to the children of a neighborhood, and the happy owner of one often did, for years, the milling for a whole neighborhood. About once a month this good neighbor, who was in exceptionally good circumstances, because able to own a wagon, would go about through the neighborhood, gather up the grists and take them to mill, often spending several days in the operation, and never think of charging for his time and trouble.

Cooking, in pioneer times, was an interesting operation.

The trammel and hooks were found among the well-to-do families, as time progressed. Previous to this, the lug-pole, across the inside of the chimney, about even with the chamber floor, answered for a trammel. A chain was suspended from it, and hooks were attached, and from this hung the mush-pot or tea-kettle. If a chain was not available, a wooden hook was in reach of the humblest and poorest. When a meal was not in preparation, and the hook was endangered by fire, it was shoved aside to one end of the lug-pole for safety. Iron ware was very scarce in those days. Instances are related where the one pot served at a meal to boil water for mint tea or crust coffee, to bake the bread, boil the potatoes, and fry the meat. By fine management this was accomplished. Frequently the kettle had no lid, and a fiat stone, heated, and handled with the tongs, was used in stead of one, when a loaf or pone or pumpkin pie was baked. A shortcake could be baked. by heating the kettle moderately, putting in the cake, and tipping it up sidewise before the glowing fire. Bannock, or board-cake was made by mixing the cornmeal up with warm water, a pinch of salt and a trifle of lard, into a thick dough, spreading it on a clean, sweet-smelling. clapboard, patting it with the cleanest of hands, and standing it slanting before the fire, propped into the right position by a flat-iron behind it. Baked hastily, this made a delicious cake, sweet and nutty and fresh, and the pretty stamp of the mother's dear, unselfish, loving fingers was plainly detected in the crisp crust.

The cultivation of domestic animals, both beasts and fowls, for the purposes of food, began early. Cows for milk, butter, beef, and leather, and swine for pork, were bred, ear marked and turned into the woods to browse. "Root hog or die," was the law for man and beast, but the woods were prolific and the hogs grew fat. The young pigs were exceptionally a sweet morsel for the bear. Bruin always singled out these: young animals in preference to any other meat; but the pigs were often successfully defended by the older hogs, who, upon the least signs of distress from one of their number, would go boldly to the rescue, and fiercely attack the foe, however formidable; often the pig was released and bruin, or the panther, compelled to ascend a tree for safety.

The boys often found wild turkeys' nests in the woods, and would bring home the eggs, and place them, to be hatched, under a trusty old hen, in an outside chimney corner, where they could assist the hen in defending the eggs and brood from the opossum or hawk. A Rock of turkeys sometimes originated in this way, but more often, as they grew to maturity, they would fly away into the woods and never reappear. This grandest of birds is identical in civilized and savage life, and is the peculiar production of America. The wild ones were always a dark brown, like the leaves of their native woods, but when tamed, or "civilized," the diversity of color becomes endless.

When corn bread and milk were eaten for breakfast, hog and hominy for dinner and mush and milk for supper, there was little room for tea and coffee; and at a time when one bushel of wheat for a pound of coffee and four bushels for a pound of tea, were considered a fair exchange, but little of these very expensive articles was used.

Next to water, the drink of the pioneers was whiskey-copper-still rye whiskey. Everybody drank it. It was supposed to be indispensable to health, to strength and endurance during the labors of the day, and to sleep at night. It was supposed to be absolutely indispensable to warmth and animation in cold, chilly winter weather. It was the sacrament of friendship and hospitality; it was in universal use; yet there was probably less drunkenness in those days than at present. The whiskey was absolutely pure; it was not drugged, doctored and poisoned as it is to-day, and, although enough of it would bring drunkenness, it did not bring deliri-

212 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

um-tremens, or leave the system prostrated, and the victim with a headache upon "sobering up." It was the first thing in demand as an article of commerce. Stills for its manufacture sprang up everywhere, all along the streams. Pioneers soon found a market at these stills for their corn, hence corn became the great crop, and whiskey the great article of commerce. It was the only thing that would bring money, and money they must have to pay taxes. Whiskey could be purchased for twelve or fifteen cents per gallon and paid for in corn, and the barrel of whiskey in the cellar, was as common as the barrel of cider was later. The whiskey that was not consumed at home was shipped on flatboats or pirogues* on the Muskingum, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans and sold for Spanish gold. The first rebellion against the Government of the United States, commonly called the whiskey insurrection, had its growth out of the hardships of the Scotch-Irish of western Pennsylvania, who in the mother .country had learned to love whiskey and hate gaugers; and this population gave tone and character to the first settlers of eastern Ohio. There was this apology . for the production of whiskey, that it was the only means of disposing of surplus crops, or bringing money into the country.

The hardy pioneers, after disposing of their cargo of whiskey in New Orleans, would often set out on foot for home, a distance of say fifteen hundred miles. Think of it, ye who ride in palace coaches at the rate of forty miles an hour while reclining in cushioned seats, smoking your cigar, and reading in your morning paper the happenings of yesterday in Europe and America. While apologizing somewhat for those whiskey days, it may be well to say that whiskey was not probably of any special benefit, was not to be compared to the pure water of their springs, and that too many of the pioneers drank too much of it, and that too often it made their eyes and noses red, their children ragged and their wives wretched, as it does to-day.

In every neighborhood there were a few families who had brought with them the superstitions of their forefathers, and the result was that some poor man or woman was reputed to be a witch. Not much proof was required. If a woman had very

* A canoe dug out of a log, or two canoes lashed together.

black eyes, or stepped stealthily, or spoke in a low tone of voice, and the gossips said sire was in league with the prince of the black art, it did not take long to fasten the reputation upon her, and the ignorant looked with awe and fear upon the poor hunted, watched creature. And so they greased their broom handles, and laid dead snakes head foremost in the paths, and hung horse-shoes over the cabin doors, and were careful to spit in the fire, and not look over their left shoulders when they passed the abode of the doomed one. But sometimes her wrath fell upon them, and the oxen would lie down in the furrow, and no power could move them, not even hot coals, nor boiling soapsuds, when poured upon them. One time, when the family of a poor man rose in the early morning, one of them lay still, and slept heavily and breathed - noisily. On examination it was discovered that he had been witch-ridden; his sides were black and blue from the kicking heels that had urged him on to his best paces, and the corners of his mouth were torn from cruel bits guided by jerking hands. People who were objects of the witch's spite found a brood of downy young chicks in their chests, and piles of sprawling kittens under the half-bushel; and they overheard deep, cavernous voices, and fine piping ones, in conclave at midnight up in the air and the treetops, and under the dead leaves, and beside the chimney; and tracks, with a cloven foot among them, were discernible Think of the misery of a poor creature reputed to be a witch, met in her own lowly cabin by a weeping mother beseeching her to remove the spell of incantation that her sick child might recover! No denial of the absurd charge could avail her; no sympathy offered was accepted; and the foolish mother could do no more than return home, burn some woollen rags to impregnate the out-door air; stand the child on its head while she could count fifty backwards; grease its spine with the oil of some wild animal; cut the tip hairs off the tail of a black cat, and bind them on the forehead of the persecuted one, while she repeated a certain sentence in the Lord's Prayer. Then, in her own language, "If the child died it died; and if it lived, it lived."

A superstitious old man was often found who could divine secrets, tell fortunes, foretell events,

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find the places where money was buried, cure wens by words, blow the fire out of burns, mumble over felons and catarrhs, remove warts, and, with his mineral ball search out where stolen goods were hidden. The "mineral ball" to which the superstitious ascribed such marvelous power, was no less than one of those hairy calculi found in the stomachs of cattle, a ball formed compactly of the hair which collects on the tongue of the animal while licking itself. This roan, one of the class whose taint infects every neighborhood, could not from any consideration be prevailed upon to leave a graveyard first of all. "Why, drat it!" he would say, "it's sure and sartin death; never knowed a fellow to leave the graveyard fust but what he'd be the next 'un planted there!" When an old neighbor of his died suddenly, this man said, with his thumbs hooked into his trousers' pockets restfully: "Why, drat him, he might a know'd more'n to leave the graveyard fust man! As soon as I seed him do it I says to myself, says I, "Dan, you're a goner; you're done for; they'll tuck you under next time, an' nobody but your booby of a self to blame for it'"

On the frontier, and particularly among those who were much in the habit of hunting and going on scouts and campaigns, the dress of the men was partly Indian and partly that of civilized nations. The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a kind of loose frock reaching half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, open at the front, and so large as to lap over a foot or more when belted. The cape was large and sometimes fringed with a raveled piece of cloth of a different color from that of the hunting shirt itself. The bosom of the hunting shirt served as a pocket to hold bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wiping the gun-barrel, or any other necessary article for the hunter or warrior. The belt, which was always tied behind, answered several purposes besides that of holding the dress together. In cold weather the mittens and sometimes the bullet-bag occupied the front part of it. To the right side was suspended the tomahawk, and to the left the scalping-knife in its leathern sheath.

The hunting shirt was generally made of linsey, sometimes of coarse linen or deer skins. These last were very cold and uncomfortable in wet weather. .A pair of drawers, or breeches and leggins were the dress for the thighs, a pair of moccasins answered for the feet. These were made of dressed deer skin and were mostly of a single piece, with a gathering seam on the top of the foot and another from the bottom of the heel, without gathers, as high or a little higher than the ankle-joint. Flaps were left on each side to reach some distance up the Pegs. These were nicely adapted to the ankles and lower part of the leg by thongs of deer skin, so that no dust, gravel or snow could get within the moccasons. In cold weather the moccasons were stuffed with deer's hair or dry leaves to keep the feet warm; but in wet weather, it was usually said that wearing them was "a decent way of going barefooted;" and such was the fact owing to the spongy texture of the leather of which they were made. Owing to this defective covering for the feet more than to any other circumstance, the greater number of the hunters and warriors were often afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs. Of this disease they were all apprehensive in cold and wet weather, and therefore always slept with their feet to the fire to prevent or cure it as well as they could. This practice, unquestionably, had a very salutary effect, and prevented many of them from becoming confirmed cripples in early life. '

In the latter years of the Indian war the young men became more enamored of the Indian dress. The drawers were laid aside and the leggins made longer so as to reach the upper part of the thigh. The Indian breech-cloth was adopted. This was a piece of linen or cloth nearly a yard long and eight or nine inches broad; it passed under the belt before and behind, leaving the ends for flaps hanging before and behind over the belt. The flaps were sometimes ornamented with some coarse kind of embroidery work. To the `belt were also secured the strings to which the leggins were attached when this belt, as was often the case, passed over the hunting shirt, the upper part of the thighs and part of the hips were naked.

Sometimes, in winter, a waistcoat of the skin of a panther, wild cat or spotted fawn was worn. In summer, when it could be had, linen was made up into warring apparel. The flax was grown in the summer, scutched in the fall, and during the long

214 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

winter evenings was heard the buzz of the little flax-wheel, which had a place in every cabin. Even those who are not pioneers can remember this flax-wheel, for it was in use as late as 1850, or later. It stood in a corner, generally ready for use by having a large bundle of flax wrapped around its forked stick, a thread reaching to the spindle, and a little gourd filled with water hanging conveniently at the bottom of the flax-stick, and whenever the good pioneer mother had a little spare time from cooking for a dozen work-hands, caring for a dozen children, milking a dozen cows, and taking care of the milk and butter, besides doing all the housework and keeping everything clean and neat as a pin, she would sit down to this wheel and with foot on the treadle and nimble fingers, pile thread upon thread on the spindle, to be reeled off on a wooden reel that counted every yard with a snap, and then it was ready for the great loom that occupied the loft: This loom was a wonder-it would be a wonder to-day, with its great beams, larger than any beams they put in the houses of to-day - its treadles, its shuttles, etc. Day after day could be heard the pounding of that loom, the treadles went up and down, the shuttles flew swiftly from one hand to another through the labyrinth of warp, and yard after yard of cloth rolled upon the great roller. And then this cloth was to be cut into little and big clothes and made up with the needle; and, remember, this and a great deal more than any one can think of was to be gone through with. every year. Wool went through about the same operation, only it was spun on the large wheel, colored with butternut bark and other things, but woven on the loom and made up for winter clothing. '

Judge William Johnson, in an address at a pioneer meeting, says regarding this matter of clothing:

But innovations were soon made. My father had brought out a huge trunk full of coarse broadcloth, and this tempted the young men to have coats to be married in. They would bargain with my father for the cloth and trimmings, and with my mother for making the coat, and pay both bills by grubbing, making tails or clearing land.. It may seem odd at this day that a woman of small stature, besides doing her own housework, should make two hundred rails a day with her needle and shears, and find time for reading and mental culture every day. I never think of my mother's tailoring skill, without being reminded of one instance. A young man had purchased the cloth for his wedding coat, and, as a measure of economy, employed one Nancy Clark to make it up. Nancy was an expert on hunting-shirts, buckskin breeches and "sick," but had never cut a coat, so my mother cut out the coat. Nancy made it up, but on the eve of the wedding, when tried on, instead of allowing his arms to hang gracefully by his side as became a bridegroom, it turned him into a spread eagle with arms extended upward. The wedding day was at hand, and in his perplexity he brought the coat to my mother to diagnose its disorder, and, if possible, administer the proper remedies. She found there was nothing more serious than that Nancy had sewed the right sleeve in the left side, and the left sleeve in the right, and put them upside down. As luxury and extravagance in dress in. creased, an old tailor, with shears, goose, and sleeve-board began to "whip the cat" around the neighborhood, and my mother's occupation, except in her own family, was gone. The custom of whipping the cat; both for tailors and shoemakers, was in vogue many years after, and, like the schoolmaster boarding around, had this advantage, that if they received poor pay for' their work, they were fed and lodged while they were about it.

But the material for winter clothing was hard to get. As the woollen goods wore out, my father bought six sheep to commence with, and within the first week the wolves chased the old dog under the cabin floor, and killed two of them within a few yards of the cabin door. On account of the scarcity of wool, many a night I sat up until midnight, with a pair of hand-cards mixing wool with rabbit's fur, and carding them together, while my mother spun and knit them into mittens and stockings for her children to wear to school.

"Kicking frolics" were in vogue in those early times. This was after wool was more plenty, and it was carded, spun, and wove into cloth. Half a dozen young men and an equal number of young women (for the "fun of the thing" it was always necessary to preserve a balance of this kind) were invited to the kicking frolic. The cabin floor was cleared for action and half a dozen chairs, or stools, placed in a circle in the centre and connected by a cord to prevent recoil. On these the six young men seated themselves with boots and stockings off, and pants rolled up above the knee. Just think of making love in that shape'. The cloth was placed in the centre, wet with soap suds and then the kicking commenced by measured steps driving the bundle of cloth round and round, the elderly lady with gourd in hand pouring on more soap suds, and every now and then, with spectacles on nose and yard-stick in hand, measuring the goods until they were shrunk to the desired width, and then calling the lads to a dead halt. Then while the lads put on hose and boots the lasses, with sleeves rolled up above the elbow, rung out the cloth and put it out on the garden fence to dry. When this was done the cabin floor was again cleared and the supper spread, after which, with

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their numbers. increased somewhat, perhaps, they danced the happy hours of the night away until midnight, to the music of a violin and the commands of some amateur cotillon caller, and were ready to attend another such frolic the following night.

The costume of the woman deserves a passing notice. The pioneers, proper, of course, brought with them something to wear like that in use where they came from; but this could not last always, and new apparel, such as the new country afforded, had to be provided. Besides, the little girls sprang up into womanhood with the rapidity of the native butterweed, and they must be made both decent and attractive, and what is more, they were willing to aid in making themselves so. The flax patch, therefore, became a thing of as prime necessity as the truck patch. On the side next to the woods the flax grew tall, slender, and delicate, and was carefully pulled by the girls and kept by itself to make finery of. The stronger growth did well enough for clothing for the men, and warp for the linsey-woolsey, and even every-day dresses for the women, but for Sundays, when everybody went to "meeting," the girls, especially, wanted- something nice, just as they do to-day. This fine flax, therefore, was carefully pulled, carefully rotted, carefully broken, carefully scutched, carefully hackled, carefully spun, carefully dyed in divers colors, and carefully woven in cross-barred figures, tastefully diversified, straining a point to get Turkey-red enough to put a single thread between the duller colors to mark their outline like the circle around a dove's eye. Of such goods the rustic beauty made her Sunday gown, and then with her vandyke of snow-white homespun linen, her snow-white home-knit stockings, and possibly white kid slippers, she was a sight for sore eyes and often for sore hearts. No paint or arsenic was needed, for active exercise in the open air under a sun-bonnet, or a broad-brimmed hat, made by her mother out of rye straw, gave her cheek an honest, healthful glow, and to her eyes the brightness and beauty of a fawn's. Possibly those white kid slippers have caused a nod of skepticism. This is the way it was done: Her brother, or lover, shot six fine squirrels; she tanned the skins herself in a sugar-trough, and had them done up at a consider able expense and trouble to wear on Sundays and state occasions. Possibly it may be wondered how the slippers would look after walking five or ten miles through the mud to church, as was frequently done. There were ways of doing these things that were only whispered among the girls, but have leaked out; and the same process was indulged in more or less by young men, who were fortunate enough to own a pair of fine boots; and that was to wear the every-day shoes or boots, or go barefoot to within a few rods of the "meeting house," and then step into the woods and take the wraps from the precious shoes and put them on.

Linen for Sunday clothes was made of copperas and was white, checked or striped, and when bleached was very pretty and soft. For very choice wear it was all flax; for every day or second best, the. warp was flax and the filling tow. Linsey-woolsey, or linsey, was wool and cotton, very much the same as water-proof or repellant is now, only that it was harsh and not finished. Dye-stuffs in early times were in reach of all-butternut or walnut hulls colored brown; oak bark with copperas dyed black; hickory bark or the blossoms of the golden rod made yellow; madder, red; and indigo, blue; green was obtained by first coloring yellow, and then dipping into blue dye. Stocking yarn was dyed black, brown or blue; and, for very choice stockings, strips of corn husks were lapped tightly in two or three places around a skein of yarn, and dyed blue. When the husks were removed, whitish spots were found, and the rare "clouded" yarn was the result. The little tub of blue dye, with close-fitting cover, stood in the warm corner in every well regulated household, and it made a very convenient seat, and the cover was always worn smooth Many a lad inclined to matrimony has sneaked slyly along and seated himself on the dye=tub as soon as the old folks retired. When carding machines came and lessened the labor of the toiling women, one of the first indications of anything as fine as "store clothes" was the soft, pressed flannel, grand enough for any uncommon occasion, called "London brown." The folds lay in it, and it shone to eyes accustomed to look upon nothing finer than homemade barred flannel, like lustrous satin. It smelt of the shop, however; the odor of dye-stuff and grease and gummy machinery clung to it for a long

216 -HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

while. About this time a better quality of men's wearing apparel appeared in the same wonderful color of London brown; and, to young men coming of age, who had been indentured boys, the beautiful "freedom suit" was valued higher than the horse, saddle and bridle.

It is just barely possibly there is a lady in today's society, who, with five pounds of colored hemp on the back of her head and thirty-five yards of silk velvet in her train, would be uncharitable enough to laugh at these pioneer mothers and daughters; if so, those whose opinions, are worth anything fully understand that there was more work and worth, more value to the world and the community in which she lived, in the little finger of one of these pioneers than in the whole body, train, hair and all, of the aforesaid "lady." By the testimony of all history, luxury tends to degeneracy. If the clothes of the pioneers were poor, they made up in brain and heart. The tables are turned the vacuum of brain and heart is filled with fine clothes. Let it be remembered that the solidity and value of this beautiful structure called society, lies in the foundation-in the pioneer fathers and mothers, and it is only because of this solid foundation that the structure is able to stand at all.

The great days among the pioneers were the Fourth of July and those upon which the militia assembled for muster. These were the holidays, when the people ceased from labor and turned out en masse, and when plenty of fun and whiskey were expected. The place of assembling was generally in some clearing, near some "tavern," the landlady of which had the reputation of being a good cook. There was plenty of drumming, filing and noise, and somebody was always found who could readily perform the duties of president of the meeting; somebody who could read the toasts, and somebody who had been under Harrison or Van Rensselaer as orderly sergeant, to act as marshal. Plenty of men were ready to read that wonderful document, the "Declaration," for among the settlers were not only many excellent scholars and gentlemen, but here and there could be found a veritable graduate of Yale college. When no minister was present to act as chaplain, a good pious man was called to that post. If the meeting did not end with a grand ring fight, the people who came with the expectation of seeing such an exhibition went home disappointed.

The houses, or huts, in which these pioneers lived have been often described; their form and proportions, and general appearance have been repeatedly impressed upon the mind of the student of history. They were built of round logs with the bark on, and side chimneys of mud and sticks, puncheon floors, clapboard roof, with and without a loft or second floor, and all put together without a nail or particle of iron from top to bottom, These buildings stood many a year after the original inhabitants moved into better quarters. They served for stables, sheep-pens, hay-houses, pigpens, smith-shops, hen-houses, loom-shops, schoolhouses, etc Some of them are yet standing in this county, and occupied, to some extent, in some portions of the county as dwellings. A specimen of one of these appears in the upper right hand corner of the accompanying cut.

A second grade of log cabin, built later, was quite an improvement on the first, being made of hewn logs, with sawed lumber for door and window frames and floors. Glass also took the place of paper windows of the old cabin; nails were also sparingly used in these better cabins. It was sometimes built near the old one and connected with it by a covered porch, as shown in the cut. When nails were first used, for a few years a pound of them was exchanged for a bushel of wheat. They were a precious article, and were made by hand on a blacksmith's anvil, out of odds and ends of old worn-out sickles, scythes, broken clevis-pins, links of chains, broken horse-shoes, etc., all welded together to eke out the nail rods from which they were forged. The first cabins were often erected ready for occupation in a single day. In an emergency, the pioneers collected together, often going eight or ten miles to a cabin-raising, and in the great woods, where not a tree had been felled or a stone turned, begin with dawn the erection of a cabin. Three or four wise builders would set the corner-stones, lay with the square and level the first round of logs; two men with axes would cut the trees and logs; one with his team of oxen, a blizzard" and a log-chain would "snake" them in; two more, with axes, cross-cut saw and frow would make the clapboards; two more, with axes, cross

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 217

cut saw and broad-axe would hew out the puncheons and flatten the upper side of the sleepers and joists. Four skillful axe men would carry up the corners, and the remainder with skids and forks or hand-spikes would roll up the logs. As soon as the joists were laid on, the cross-cut saw was brought from the woods, and two men went to work cutting out the door and chimney place; and while the corner men were building up the attic and putting on the roof, the carpenters and masons of the day were putting down the puncheons, laying the hearth and building the chimney high enough to keep out the beasts, wild or tame. In one corner at a distance of six feet from one wall, and four from the other the bed post was placed-only one being needed. A hole was bored in the puncheon floor for the purpose of setting this post in (which was usually a stick with a crotch or fork in the upper end) or if an augur is not at hand, a hole is cut in the puncheon floor and the fork sharpened and driven into the ground beneath; rails were laid from this. fork to the wall, and usually nice, straight hickory poles formed the bottom, upon which straw or leaves were placed and the blanket, put on. This made a comfortable spring bed and was easily changed and kept clean. Often the chinking and daubing of the walls, putting in windows and hanging the door were left until fall or some leisure time after the corn crop and the contents of the truck patch were secured. Often the pioneers did not erect a cabin at all until a crop was secured-living, meanwhile, in their covered wagons, and cooking beside a log in the open air, or erecting a "pole cabin," or "brush cabin," mere temporary affairs, to shelter the family until time could be had for erecting a permanent one. The saving of the crop was of more importance during the summer season than shelter; but when the first frost came, a sure indication of- approaching winter, active preparations were made for the permanent cabin, and the work was pushed forward until a snug cabin stood in the midst of the forest, with a clearing around it, made principally by cutting down the trees for the building. Every crack was chincked and daubed with ordinary clay mixed with water, and when completed, and a fire of hickory logs in the great fire' place, no amount of cold could seriously disturb the inmates. The heavy door was hung on wooden hinges, and all that was necessary to lock it at night was to pull the latch-string inside, and the strong wooden latch held it fast against wild animals or storms. Thieves there were none, and even had there been, there was nothing in the but of a settler to tempt their cupidity. Many of these cabins had no loft or second floor, but when this was added it was used as a sleeping room for the younger members of the family, and as a general store-room for the household goods, and often for the corn crop

218 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and contents of the truck patch when better accommodations were lacking.

Regarding the furniture of these cabins judge Johnson says:

The furniture of the backwoods matched the architecture well. There were a few quaint specimens of cabinet work dragged into the wilderness, but these were sporadic and not common. I can best describe it by what I saw in my father's house. First of all a table had to be improvised, and there was no cabinet-maker to make it, and no lumber to make it of. Our floor was laid with broad chestnut puncheons, well and smoothly hewn, for the obsolete art of hewing timber was then in its prime. Father took one of these puncheons, two feet and a half broad, putting two narrow ones in its place, bored four large augur holes and put in four legs, or round poles with the bark on. On this hospitable board many a wholesome' meal was spread, and many an honest man, and many a wayworn stranger ate his fill and was grateful.

On great occasions, when an extension table was needed, the door was lifted off its hinges, and added to the puncheon What we sat upon at first I cannot conjecture; but I remember well when my father loaded his horses down with wheat and corn, and crossed the country a distance of eight or ten miles, and brought home, in exchange, a set of oak splint-bottomed chairs, some of which are intact to this day. Huge band-boxes, made of blue ash bark, supplied the place of bureaus, and wardrobes; and a large tea chest cut in two, and hung by strings in the comers, with the hollow sides outward, constituted the bookcases. A respectable old bed-stead, still in the family, was lugged across from Red Stone. An old turner and wheelwright added a trundle-bed, and the rest were hewn and whittled out according to the fashion of the times, to serve their day and be supplanted by others as the civilization of the country advanced.

But the grand flourish of furniture was the dresser. Here were spread out in grand display pewter dishes, pewter plates, pewter basins and pewter spoons, scoured as bright as silver.

Money was scarce, but our fathers!". learned to live without it. All was barter. The preacher's stipend, the lawyer's fee, the schoolmaster's salary, the workman's wages, the shoemaker's account, the tailor's bill, were all paid in barter.

I have seen my father, when he had a surplus of grain and a deficit of pigs, fill two sacks of corn, and on the backs of two horses carry it to a distant part of the neighborhood and exchange it for four shoats; and in each sack thrust one shoat tail foremost and another head foremost, tie up the mouths of the sacks, mount them on horseback, rip a hole in the seam of the sack for each snout to stick out, and, bring them home to be fattened for next year's pork. Here. was a currency-a denomination of greenbacks which neither required the pen of the chancellor of the exchequer to make it legal tender, nor the judgment of the chief justice to declare it constitutional. The law of necessity governs in every case, and wise men may fret every hair off their heads without changing the results.

The following poem, originally published in the Cincinnati Chronicle .in 1833, portrays so graphically life in a log cabin that it is eminently worthy of preservation. Although written by a "Hoosier" and intended to portray Hoosier life, it applies equally well to log cabin life everywhere:

Suppose, in riding through the West,

A stranger found a " Hoosier's nest,"

In other words a buckeye cabin

Just big enough to hold Queen Mab in;

Its situation low but airy,

Was on the borders of a prairie.

And fearing he might be benighted,

He hailed the house and then alighted.

The " Hoosier" met him at the door,

Their salutations soon were o'er;

He took the stranger's horse aside

And to a sturdy sapling tied,

Then having stripped the saddle off,

He fed him in a sugar-trough.

The stranger stooped to enter in,

The entrance closing with a pin,

And manifests a strong desire

To seat himself by the log-heap fire,

Where half a dozen Hoosieroons,

With mush and milk, tin-cups and spoons,

White heads, bare feet, and dirty faces,

Seemed much inclined to keep their places.

But madam anxious to display

Her rough and undisputed sway,

Her offspring to the ladder led

And cuffed the youngsters up to bed.

Invited shortly, to partake

Of venison, milk and johnnycake,

The stranger made a hearty meal,

And glances round the room would steal.

One side was lined with divers garments,

The other spread with skins of 'varments;'

Dried pumpkins overhead were strung,

Where venison hams in plenty hung;

Two rifles were placed above the door,

Three dogs lay stretched upon the floor -

In short, the domicil was rife

With specimens of Hoosier life.

The host, who centered his affections

On game, and range and quarter sections,

Discoursed his weary guest for hours,

Till Somnus' ever potent powers,

Of sublunary cares bereft 'em.

No matter how the stony ended

The application I intended

Is from the famous Scottish poet,

Who seemed to feel as well as know it,

That "buirdly chiels and clever hizzies

Are bred in sic a way as this is."

The early land laws of western Pennsylvania and Virginia allowed to each settler four hundred acres of land, and no more, as a "settlement right;" and as the first settlers of this and the adjoining counties were largely from those States, they were, of course, governed largely by the habits, customs and laws of those States in the absence of any of these on this side of the river; therefore many of the first settlers seemed to regard this amount of

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 219

the surface of the earth as allotted by Divine Providence for one family, and believed that any attempt to get more would be sinful. Most of them, therefore, contented themselves with that amount -although they might have evaded the law, which allowed but one settlement right to any one individual, by taking out title papers in other than their own names, to be afterward transferred to them as if by purchase. Some few indeed, pursued this course, but it was generally held in detestation.

Owing to the equal distribution of real property divided by the land laws, and the sterling integrity of the forefathers in their observance of them there were few, if any, districts of "sold land" as it was called, that is large tracts of land in the hands of individuals or companies, who neither sold nor improved them, as was the case in Lower Canada and some parts of Pennsylvania. True, large tracts of land were purchased by companies; but this was done almost always for the purpose of establishing a settlement.

The earliest settlers had become so accustomed to "getting land for taking it up," that for a long time it was believed that the lands on the west side of the Ohio would ultimately be disposed of in this way; hence almost the whole tract of country between the Ohio and Muskingum rivers was parceled out in what was familiarly known as "tomahawk rights;" that is, the pioneer upon finding a suitable location would cut his name with his hatchet or knife upon the trunk of a large tree, and thus lay claim to four hundred acres of land about that spot. Some of them were not satisfied with a single four hundred-acre tract, but laid claim in this way to a number of tracts of the best land, and thus, in imagination, were as "wealthy as a South Sea dream." Some of these land jobbers did not content themselves with marking trees at the usual height, but climbed the large beech trees land cut their names in the bark from twenty to forty feet from the ground, To enable them to identity those trees at a future period they made marks on other trees around for references.

Nor was it an easy matter to dispossess these squatters; their claim was generally respected by the settlers, and these rights were often bought and sold, those who subsequently desired these lands for permanent settlement preferred to purchase the "tomahawk right" rather than enter into quarrels with those who made them.

Hunting occupied a large portion of the time of the pioneers. Nearly all were good hunters, and not a few lived almost entirely for many years on the results of the chase. The woods supplied them with the greater amount of their subsistence, and often the whole of it; it was no uncommon thing for families to live several months without a mouthful of bread of any kind. It frequently happened that the family went without breakfast until it could be obtained from the woods.

The fall and early part of winter was the season for hunting deer, and the whole of the winter, including part of the spring, for bears and fur-bearing animals. It was a customary saying that fur was good during every month, in the name of which the letter r occurred.

As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, and the weather became rainy, accompanied with light snow, the pioneer hunter, who had probably worked pretty faithfully on his clearing during the summer, began to feel uneasy about his cabin home; he longed to be off hunting in the great woods. His cabin was too warm; his feather-bed too soft; his mind was wholly occupied with the camp and the chase. Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in which there was nothing of skill and calculation; on the contrary, the hunter, before setting out in the morning, was informed by the state of the weather in what situation he might reasonably expect to find his game; whether on the bottoms, on the hillsides, or hilltops. In stormy weather the deer always seek the most sheltered places, and the leeward sides of the hills; in rainy weather, when there was not much wind, they kept in the open woods, on high ground. In the early morning, if pleasant, they were abroad, feeding in edges of the prairie or swamp; at noon they were hiding in the thickets. In every situation, it was requisite for the hunter to ascertain the course of the wind, so as to get to leeward of the game; this he often ascertained by placing his finger in his mouth, holding it there until it became warm, then holding it above his head, and the side that first cooled indicated the direction of the wind.

These hunters needed no compass; the trees, the sun and stars took its place. The bark of an

220 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

aged tree is much thicker and rougher on the north side than on the south; and the same may be said of the moss; it is much thicker and stronger on the north than the south side of the tree; hence he could walk freely and carelessly. through the woods and always strike the exact point intended, while any but a woodsman would become bewildered and . lost.

The whole business of the hunter consisted of a succession of intrigues. From morning till night he was on the alert to gain the wind of his game and make his approach without being discovered. If he succeeded. in killing a deer he skinned it, hung it up out of reach of wolves, and immediately resumed the chase until evening, when he bent his course toward the camp, where he cooked and ate his supper with a keen relish with his fellow hunters, after which came the pipe and the rehearsal of the adventures of the day. The spike buck, the two and three pronged buck, the doe and barren doe, figured through their anecdotes with great advantage.

A wedding among the pioneers was a most wonderful event, not only to the parties immediately interested but to the whole neighborhood. people generally married young, in those days. There was no distinction of rank and very little of fortune. A family establishment cost little labor and nothing else. A wedding was about the only gathering at which the guest was not required to assist in reaping, log rolling, building a cabin or some other manual labor. .

On the morning of the wedding day the groom and his attendants assembled at the house of his father, for the purpose of reaching the house of his bride by noon, the usual time for celebrating the nuptials, and which for certain reasons must take place before dinner. The people assembled from great distances, on foot and on horseback, and all dressed in the somewhat fantastic toggery of the backwoods. The dinner was generally a substantial one of beef, pork, fowls, venison and bear meat, roasted and boiled, with plenty of potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables.

After dinner the dancing commenced and generally lasted until the next morning. The figures of the. dances were three or four handed reels, or square sets and jigs. The commencement was always a square four, followed by what was called "jigging it off';" that is, two of the four would begin a jig, followed by the other couple. The jig was often accompanied by what was called "cutting out;" chat is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation the place was supplied by some one of the company without airy interruption to the dance; in this way the dance was often continued until the musician was heartily tired of his situation. Toward the latter part of the night if any of the company through weariness, attempted to conceal themselves for the purpose of sleeping, they were brought out, paraded on the floor, and the fiddler ordered to play "We'll all hang out till morning."

About nine o'clock a deputation of young ladies stole off the bride, and put her to bed, after which a deputation of young men in like manner stole off the groom and placed him snugly beside his bride. If the couple were not subsequently disturbed during the night it was a miracle. Generally in the small hours of the night "Black Betty" (the bottle) was sent up to them, or carried up by an interested delegation, together with as much bread, beef; pork, cabbage, etc., as would suffice for a dozen hungry men. and they were compelled to eat and drink until they could hold no more.

In later years if there was an older unmarried brother of the bride present, he was certain to be compelled "to dance in the hog-trough:" This somewhat humiliating operation was inflicted upon him as a lesson to bachelors. Sometimes he would submit quietly, cheerfully, and gracefully, marching to the pig-pen and dancing his jig in the trough from which the swine devoured the off-fallings of the cabin table; at other times he would escape from his assailants and seek safety in flight, and if fleet on foot sometimes escaped; but if overtaken he would not unfrequently fight with great desperation, and it often required considerable force to, accomplish the desired object.

The feasting and dancing often lasted several days, during which there was much drinking, carousing, and not unfrequently, fighting.

After the wedding the next duty of the neighbors was to erect a cabin for the young couple, and dedicate it by a "house warming" before they were allowed to move into it. This house warming

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 221

consisted of a twenty-four hours' dance and carousal in the new cabin. This ended the ceremony, except that not- half of it has been told, and thereafter the couple were considered married, according to the laws and usages of society.

At a little later time, say from 1820 to 1840, the pioneers were living a little easier. Their farms were partially cleared, many of them were living in hewed log houses and many in frame, and even brick houses. Most of them had barns and innumerable out-houses. They generally had cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and poultry, and were living in comparative comfort. Their neighbors were near, and always dear. Their schools and churches had improved somewhat, yet even at this late day there were hundreds of log school-houses and churches. About three months in a year was all the schooling a farmer's boy could get. He was sadly needed at home from the age of five years, to do all sorts of chores and work on the farm. He was wanted to drive the cows to water and to pasture; to feed the pigs and chickens and gather the eggs. His duties in the summer were multifarious; the men were at work in the field harvesting, and generally worked from early morning until late at night, and the boys were depended on to "do the chores;" hence it was impossible to spare them to attend school in summer. There was no school in spring and fall. In winter they were given three months' schooling-a very poor article of schooling, too, generally. Their books were generally anything they happened to have about the house, and even as late as 1850, there was no system in the purchase of school books. Mr. Smucker, of Newark, Ohio, says his first reading books at school were Patrick Gass' Tournal of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the mouth of the Columbia river in 18045-6; and Weem's Life of Washington. Parents of children bought whatever book pleased their fancy, or whatever the children desired them to purchase. A geography was a geography, and a grammar a grammar, regardless of who was the author. This great confusion in school books made trouble for the teacher, but that was of small moment. He was hired and paid to teach whatever branches, out of whatever books the parents thought were best. The branches generally taught in the early schools, however, were reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic, and, later, geography and grammar. Boys attending school but three months in a year made but little progress. They began at the beginning of their books every winter, and went as far as they could in three months; then forgot it all during the nine months out of school, commencing again the next winter just where they commenced the previous one. In this way they went over and over the same lessons every year under different teachers (for many of the teachers only taught one term in a place), often getting no further in arithmetic than "vulgar. fractions" or the "rule of three," and in their old Webster's spelling books the first class probably got as far as "antiscorbutic" and may be through; while the second class would get as far as "cessation," and the third class probably not through "baker," certainly not beyond "amity." There were always three or four classes in spelling, and this exercise was the last before school was dismissed in the evening. Their old books were conned over year after year until they were worn out and the children grew up to manhood and womanhood, and never knew, and perhaps do not know to this day, what was in the back part of them. That was the kind of a start many a great man had. These schools cannot be despised when it is remembered that the greatest and best of the nation, including such men as Abraham Lincoln, Edwin M. Stanton, and Stephen A. Douglas, were among the boys who attended them.

There was always much competition in the spelling classes as to who should get the "head mark." In the later schools it was the custom that the best speller might stand at the head until he missed, when the one who spelled the word correctly should take his place, and he then stood next to the head; but they did things differently in the earlier schools; the head of the class once gained and held until the last spelling at night, the head mark was received and the lucky scholar then took his place at the foot of the class, to again work his way gradually to the head. These classes sometimes contained thirty or forty scholars, and it was something of an undertaking to get from the foot to the head. Spelling-schools were the beauty and glory of school-days. The scholars were always coaxing the teacher to appoint a night for a spelling-school,

222 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and were usually gratified one or two nights in a month or oftener. A night was chosen when the moon shone, and the sleighing was good, and then the entire neighborhood and perhaps the adjoining neighborhood would turn out to the spelling-school; whole families came on the great two-horse sled, including the old lady and gentleman, all the children, little and big; even the baby and the dogs came. Schools in adjoining districts sent their best spellers to try and carry off the honors. The old log school-house was crowded, and the great box stove, cast at the Mary Ann furnace, in Mary Ann township, Licking county, and which stood in the centre of the room on a box of bricks, was red hot, and kept so during the entire evening. Two good spellers were designated by the teacher to choose sides, and everybody was chosen in one class or the other; then the spelling began, the words being given out by the teacher, first to one class then to the other, beginning at the head. A tally sheet was carefully kept to- see who missed the most words. After recess the "spelling down" was indulged in; the two classes stood up, and whenever a word was missed the speller sat down, and the one who stood up after all had been spelled down, was the hero or heroine of the hour, and always chosen first in future contests.

A year means a hundred-fold more now than formerly. History is made rapidly in these days. The red men's trail across the valley, and over the hills, and along the river's bank, could be traced by the fewest number in this day; their favorite haunts and play grounds are shorn of their primal charms in the sweeping aside of the grand old woodland. The cattle upon a thousand hills roam over the land that they loved, and quench their thirst in the brooks and pools, that long time ago mirrored their dusky features. The plowmen with stolid face upturn in the brown furrow the relic that their fingers deftly fashioned, and the mattock and scraper bring forth to the glare of day and the gaze of the curious, the crumbling brown bones of the chieftain and his squaw; and the contents of the Indian's grave, the moldering clay, will live anew in a pavement to be trodden under the foot of men.

Ah, these old Indian graves on breezy knolls and reedy river banks-who knows but the site was selected by the sleepers therein ? Who knows but they dreamed in their moody moments that the tide of civilization was slowly coming nearer and nearer, to crowd aside their people and intrude upon, and finally possess their vast and beautiful hunting grounds?

It is hard to be reconciled to this natural order of things; to see the pioneers passing away; to see them stand leaning on their staves, dim-eyed, and with white locks tossed in the winds, dazed at the change that has stamped its seal upon the wilderness whose winding paths they once knew so well. They beheld it slowly laying off its primeval wildness and beauty, and its grandeur of woods and waters; until now it blooms like unto the garden of the gods. How beautiful the labors of their hands! How much we owe them! But the olden time is passing away and bearing on its bosom the dear old men and women whose "like we ne'er shall see again." The glory of one age is not dimmed in the golden glory of the age succeeding it; and none more than the pioneers of Knox county can comprehend its growth and its change, or more fully appreciate the sad words of the poet when he sang in mournful strain

And city lots are staked for sale,

Above old Indian graves.

CHAPTER XXIII.

JOHN CHAPMAN.

Give fools their gold, and knaves their power;

Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall;

Who sows a field, or trains a flower,

Or plants a tree, is more than all.

-WHITTIER.

A HISTORY of Ohio, and especially of Knox county, would be incomplete without some account of this very eccentric individual, well-known among the pioneers-of Ohio as Johnny Appleseed, from the fact that he was the pioneer nurseryman.

He seems to deserve a place in history among the heroes and martyrs, for he was both in his peculiar calling. His whole life was devoted to what he believed the public good, without regard

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to personal feeling or hope of pecuniary reward. Not once in a century is such a life of self-sacrifice for the good -of others known. There has been but one Johnny Appleseed, and he lived a life so peculiar, so isolated, and withal so worthy, that his name should be perpetuated.

He was a native of Massachusetts. His father, Nathaniel Chapman, emigrated from the vicinity of Springfield, Massachusetts, to Marietta, Ohio, in very early times, probably about the beginning of the present century. He had a large family, and they all came with him except John. His children were John, Nathaniel, Perley, Abner, Jonathan, Davis, Lucy, Patty, Persis, Mary, and Sally. The family once published a book, containing their genealogy, which, although rare, may yet be found among the descendants of the family, who are scattered over Ohio and Indiana.

The date of John Chapman's birth is not certainly known at present. Mr. C. S. Coffinberry writes that "as early as 1780, he was seen in the autumn, for two or three successive years, along the banks of the Potomac, in eastern Virginia." He must have been quite a young man at that time, and was no doubt following the same calling that so distinguished him in after life. He did not accompany his father when he came west, but had without doubt, preceded him, and was then planting appleseeds in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

Why he left his native State, and devoted his life to the planting of appleseeds in the west, is known only to himself. People have been inclined to consider him insane, and he may have been so to a certain degree. He was certainly eccentric, as many people are who are not considered insane; it is hard to trace eccentricity to the point where insanity begins. He was certainly smart enough to keep his own counsel. Without doubt his was a very affectionate nature; every act of his life reveals this prominent characteristic. From this fact alone writers have reasoned, and with good ground, that he was crossed in love in his native State, and thus they account for his eccentricity. This is only supposition, however, as he was very reticent on the subject of his early life.

He was conscientious in every act and thought, and a man of deep religious convictions; being a rigid Swedenborgian, and maintaining the doctrine that spiritual intercourse could be held with departed spirits; indeed, was in frequent intercourse himself with two of these spirits of the female gender, who consoled him with the news that they were to be his wives in the future state, should he keep himself from all entangling alliances in this.

So kind and simple was his heart that he was equally welcome with the Indians or pioneers, and even the wild animals of the woods seemed to have an understanding with Johnny, and never molested him. He has been variously described, but all agree that he was rather below the medium height, wiry, quick in action and conversation, nervous and restless in his motions; eyes dark and sparkling; hair and beard generally long, but occasionally cut short; dress scanty, and generally ragged and patched; generally barefooted and bareheaded, occasionally, however, wearing some old shoes, sandals, or moccasins in very cold weather, and an old hat some one had cast off It is said he was occasionally seen with a tin pan or pot on his head, that served the double purpose of hat and mush pot; at other times with a cap, made by himself, of pasteboard, with a very broad visor to protect his eyes from the sun.

His diet was very simple, consisting of milk when he could get it, of which he was very fond; potatoes and other vegetables, fruits and meats; but no veal, as he said this should be a land flowing with milk and honey, and the calves should be spared. He would not touch tea, coffee, or tobacco, as he felt that these were luxuries in which it was wicked and injurious to indulge. He was averse to taking the life of any animal or insect, and never indulged in hunting with a gun.

He thought himself a messenger sent into the wilderness to prepare the way for the people, as John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Saviour, hence he made it a part of his duty to keep in advance of civilization. He gathered his apple seeds little by little from the cider-presses of western Pennsylvania, and putting them carefully in leathern bags, he transported them, sometimes on his back, and sometimes on the back of a broken-down horse or mule, to the Ohio river, where he usually secured a boat, and brought them to the mouth of the Muskingum,

224 - HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

and up that river, planting them in wild, secluded spots all along its numerous tributaries. Later in life he continued his operations further west. When his trees were ready for sale he usually left them in charge of some pioneer to sell for him. The price was low-a "fippeny-bit" apiece, rarely paid in money, and if people were too poor to purchase, the trees were given them.

One or two of his nurseries were located in the Owl creek valley, and many of his orchards were scattered over Knox, Richland, Ashland, and other counties further east. One of his nurseries was located in what was known as "Indian Field," on the north bank of Owl creek, directly west of Centre run, and another on the ground where James W. Forest established his pottery. Some of his trees are yet standing and bearing fruit. One or more of them may be found on the old Hill farm in Milford township, and several along the valley of the Kokosing. His residence in this vicinity covered the period of the War of 1812, and several years following it. He would occasionally make trips further west, and return after an absence of two or three months. On these occasions he probably visited his sister Persis, who married a man named Broom, or Brown, and lived in Indiana. Persis lived in Richland county before she moved to Indiana, and Johnny must have made his home with her, as he was considered a resident of that county by the pioneers of Mount Vernon, so far as they looked upon him as a resident of any particular spot.

During the war of 1812 Johnny was very active in warning the settlers of danger, and considered himself a kind of scout and general guardian of the frontier. He never shrank from danger or hardship when he thought the lives of the settlers were in danger. He happened to be in Mansfield when Jones was killed, and immediately volunteered to go to Fredericktown and Mount Vernon for help, as it was supposed a large body of Indians were lurking around the block-house, and about to make an attack upon it; and that they had probably committed other murders in the neighborhood. An early settler says, regarding this trip of John Chapman's, which was made in the night:

Although I was but a child, I can remember as if it were but yesterday, the warning cry of Johnny Appleseed, as he stood before my father's log-cabin door on that night. I remember the precise language, the clear, loud voice, the deliberate exclamations, and the fearful thrill it awoke in my bosom. " Fly! fly! for your lives! the Indians are murdering and scalping at Mansfield!" These were his words. My father sprang to the door, but the messenger was gone, and midnight silence reigned without.

Johnny Appleseed created some consternation among the settlers on this trip, by his peculiar manner of announcing his business. He was barefooted and bareheaded, and ran all the way, stopping at every cabin as he passed, giving a warning cry similar to the above. It must be remembered that after Hull's surrender the pioneers were fearful of an Indian raid, and went to bed every night with the thought that they might lose their scalps before morning; thus their imaginations were already highly excited, and Johnny's hurried rap at the cabin door and his fearful midnight cry merely confirmed their expectations and created a panic. Many ludicrous things happened in consequence. Families left their cabins and flew to the blockhouses for: safety. It is said that one man in Berlin township, through which Johnny passed on this midnight journey, sprang from his bed and hastily putting on his overcoat, grasped his pantaloons and ran in that condition all the way to the block-house at Fredericktown.

Mr. Coffinberry says:

John Chapman was a regularly constituted minister of the church of the New Jerusalem, according to the revelations of Emanuel Swedenborg. He was also constituted a missionary of that faith under the authority of the regular association in the city of Boston. The writer has seen and examined his credentials as to the latter of these.

He always carried in his pocket, books and tracts relating to his religion, and took great delight in reading them to others and scattering them about. When he did not have enough with him to go around he would take the books apart and distribute them in pieces.

Johnny was very closely identified with the early history of Mount Vernon, as the following document, which appears on the records in the recorder's office will show:

John Chapman,

to

Jesse B. Thomas

Know all men by these presents, that I, John Chapman (by occupation a gatherer and planter of apple seeds), residing in Richland county, for the sum of thirty dollars, honest money, do hereby grant to said Jesse B. Thomas, late Senator from Illinois, his heirs and as-

HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY. - 225

signs forever, lot No. 145 in the corporation limits of the village of Mount Vernon, State of Ohio.

The deed was given in 1828. The lot is probably the one upon which now stands the Philo house, on Main street, and is a valuable one. It is pleasant to know that Johnny once had a spot of ground he could call his own.

This was not, however, the extent of his possessions in Mount Vernon. The last time he is remembered to have been in this neighborhood, he pointed out to Joseph Mahaffey two lots of land at the lower end of Main street, west side, about where Morey's soap factory once stood, saying that he owned them and would some day come back to them. Steven's warehouse, formerly the Mount Vernon woollen mills erected by N. N. Hill, now stands upon a portion of the ground.

Besides the cultivation of apple trees John Chapman was extensively engaged in scattering the seeds of many wild vegetables, which he supposed possessed medicinal qualities, such as dog-fennel, penny-royal, may-apple, hoarhound, catnip, wintergreen, etc. His object was to equalize the distribution so that every locality would have a variety. His operations in Indiana began in 1836, and was continued for ten years or more. In the spring of 1847, being within fifteen miles of one of his nurseries on the St. Joseph river, word was brought to him that cattle had broken into his nursery and were destroying his trees, and he started immediately for the place. When he arrived he was very much fatigued; being quite advanced in years, the journey performed without intermission, exhausted his strength. He lay down that night never to rise again. A fever settled upon him and in a day or two after taking sick he passed away. "We buried him," says Mr. Worth, "in David Archer's graveyard, two and a half miles north of Fort Wayne."