Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775

Front matter

®ST7VETA LOGY

OLLECTION

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Preface

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This is the second volume of the Early History of Ohio, prepared by Dr. Hildreth of Marietta, and published under the auspices of the Ohio Historical Society. It is composed of a series of Biographical Notices of the early settlers of Washington County, who were also the early settlers of Ohio. Among them are some names celebrated in American history, whose active life commenced amid the most stirring events of the Revolution, and whose evening days were finished amid the fresh and forest scenes of a new and rising State. So various and eventful lives as theirs have scarcely ever fallen to the lot of man. They were born under a monarchy, — fought the battle of Independence, — assisted in the baptism of a great republic, —then moved into a wilderness, — and laid the foundations of a State, — itself almost equaling an empire. These men not only lived in remarkable times, but were themselves remarkable men. Energetic, industrious, persevering, honest, bold, and free — they were limited in their achievements only by the limits of possibility. Successful alike in field and forest, — they have, at length, gone to their rest, — leavingnames which are a part of the fame and the history of their country.

Among the, biographies of such men will also be found notices of some women, whose characters deserve to be perpetuated among the memories of the State. The public and posterity will owe much to Dr. Hildreth for having so carefully preserved these memoirs of the early times. The Historical Society deeply regrets that it has no power to do more than merely introduce this interesting volume to the public.

Edwakd D. Mansfield, President of the Ohio Historical Society.

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Contents

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INTRODUCTION 3

JAMES MITCHELL VARNUM 165

Introduction

“ The early history of the first settlements in the now great state of Ohio, not only ought to be preserved as an important epoch in the general history of our common country, but also the characters and public services of those men who were eminent in forming these settlements, have a claim to go down to posterity amongst the benefactors of mankind. The influence of their morals and habits has had a lasting effect on society, and is now perceptible in the general character of the communities in which they resided. The facts thus preserved, will enable the future historian to account for many things in our history which otherwise might appear obscure. The origin of an orderly, well regulated society, in any given district, may often be explained by tracing .back its history to the influence exerted over it by some one or more individuals, who have imparted this character to it in its commencement : while the example of a few dissolute men, may have done much in placing a stigma on the name of a place, that will remain for ages.” The settlements of the Ohio Company, were fortunate in this respect ; all the leading and influential men were on the side of good order, morality and religion ; and the impress of their character is seen and felt to this day, in the well regulated, quiet habits, of a New England community, worthy the descendants of their Puritan ancestors. While many of the early colonies in the West, were composed of the ignorant, the vulgar, and the rude, those of Washington county, like some of the Grecian, carried with them, the sciences and the arts ; and although placed on the frontiers, amidst the howling wilderness, and tribes of hostile savages, exposed to danger and privation, there ran in the veins of these little bands, some of the best blood of the country. They enrolled many men of highly cultivated minds and exalted intellect. There was at one time, in 1789, no less than ten of these, who had

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received the honors of a college course of education : a larger number than can now be found in the same district of country, if the professors in the Marietta College are excluded. The Hon. William Woodbridge, in his remarks before the Senate of the United States, on the question of the annexation of Texas, against which the citizens of Marietta, with thousands of others in Ohio, loudly remonstrated, when presenting that paper, gave the following sketch of the character of the men who first founded that place :

‘‘It was on the 7th of April, 1788, that this settlement was first commenced ; it was then that the first stone, the corner stone , of this great state was laid ; and it was laid by these men, or by their immediate ancestors. The colony then consisted almost entirely of a remnant, and a most revered remnant, of your armies of the Revolution — of officers and soldiers, who, at the close of that seven years’ term of privation, of suffering, and of battles, found themselves let loose upon the world with their private fortunes, in general ruined, estranged almost from their own early homes, and with occupations gone ! If they were of any of the learned professions, and there were many such, their professions were forgotten, and if their pursuits had been agricultural, commercial, or mechanical, why they had lost those business habits so difficult to acquire, but which are^ yet so indispensable to success ; and such of their pay, too, as they may have been enabled to preserve, being old continental certificates, and become almost worthless in their hands, for all available purposes. In circumstances of so much gloom, the thought occurred of establishing themselves once more in a body, in the untrodden West. During many years they had camped together, and eaten together ; they had fought and bled together ; there was something pleasing in the plan of continuing still closer, their social and friendly relations. They had warrants which entitled them to public lands ; many of them had continental certificates and other evidences of claim, which would go far to enable them to make their purchase.

An association was formed ; negotiations with the old Continental Congress and with the Board of War were commenced, and during the year 1787, a purchase was effected; and on the 7th of April, as I have said, 1788, the first and principal detach mcnt of that interesting corps of emigrants, landed at the confluence of the Muskingum with the Ohio river. This was directly athwart the old Indian war path; for it was down the Muskingum and its tributary branches, that the Wyandotts, the Shawnees, the Ottawas, and all the Indians of the north and northwest, were accustomed to march, when from time to time, for almost half a century before, they made those dreadful incursions, into western Virginia and western Pennsylvania, which spread desolation, and ruin, and despair, through all those regions. Being arrived there, they marked out their embryo city, and in honor of the friend of their country, the queen of France, called it Marietta. They surrounded it with palisades and abatis ; they erected block-houses and bastions. On an eminence a little above, and near the Muskingum, they constructed a more regular and scientific fortification. Thus did the settlement of that great state commence. Among these colonists were very many of the most distinguished officers of the Revolution, and of all grades. Gen. Rufus Putnam, and Gen. Benjamin Tupper, of the Massachusetts line, were there. Gen. Parsons of the Connecticut, and Gen. Varnum, of the Rhode Island lines, were there. Old Commodore Whipple, of Rhode Island, for whom the honor is claimed of firing the first hostile gun from on board a ‘ Congress ’ vessel of war, and who during the whole war, was another ‘Paul Jones,’ and as active and daring, found his grave there ; as did a near relative of Gen. Nathaniel Green. The sons of the ‘Wolf catcher,’ Gen. Israel Putnam, and the descendants of Manasseh Cutler, were there. Col. Cushing and Col. Sproat, Col. Oliver and Col. Sargent, and multitudes of others, distinguished alike for their bravery, for their patriotism, and for their skill in war, were there. Some few there are, some very few, still alive, and whose names I recognize, who constituted a part of this wonderful band of veteran soldiers. The rest, one after another, have dropped off. Many of the things I have adverted to, I personally saw. I was a child then, but I well recollect the regular morning reveille, and the evening tattoo, that helped to give character to the establishment. Even on the Sabbath, the male population were always under arms, and with their chaplain, who was willing to share the lot of his comrades, were accus-

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tomed to march in battle array, to their block-house church. And I take this occasion to remark, that it was not until the memorable victory of Gen. Wayne, that the war of the Revolution really ended, and Gen. Harrison was right when he made that assertion.”

There is nothing more noble than to feel a deep interest in the honor of our country, our state, or the community in which we mingle. The history of these men belongs to the United States ; their breasts were often the bulwarks, which, in the “time of trial,” saved us from the enslaving power of Great Britain, and we are endeavoring to preserve their names and their characters from oblivion, by erecting this historical monument to their memory. For the materials on which it is founded, the author is indebted to many kind friends, generally the relatives of the persons, but in an especial manner to W. R. Putnam, Esq., Hon. Judge Cutler, Col. Joseph Barker, and William Slocomb : for Com. Whipple, to his grandson, Dr. Comstock, of Boston, John Howland, Esq., of Providence, Rhode Island, and P. G. Robbins, M. D., of Roxbury, Massachusetts. The names of many other prominent men are omitted from a lack of the facts on which to found a written biography ; and the larger number of those here given were obtained with much laborious search, amongst old letters, volumes of history, oral tradition, and numerous letters of inquiry written to the relatives of the deceased, in various and distant parts of the country. A full and well written biography of the late Gov. Meigs, who was one of the early settlers of Marietta, has been published in a posthumous volume of Sketches of the early Settlers of Ohio, by the late Alexander Campbell, Esq., and is not given here.* The present work has many imperfections, but may be the means of preserving some facts not generally known, for the use of a future and more able historian.

* That of General R. Putnam in the same volume, is a brief sketch taken from a newspaper notice at the time of his death; and that of Paul Pearing, Esq., wa9 written for Mr. Campbell, by the author of this volume, and is now republished with some additions.

PIONEER SETTLERS OF OHIO.

RUFUS PUTNAM.

General Rufus Putnam, the subject of this historical memoir, was a descendant in the fifth generation from John Putnam, who emigrated from Buckinghamshire, England, and settled at Salem, in the province of Massachusetts, in the year 1634. Pie brought over with him three sons, who were born in England, viz.: Thomas, Nathaniel and John. The father died quite suddenly, when about eighty years old. He ate his supper as usual, performed family worship, and died directly after getting into his bed.

Edward Putnam, the son of Thomas, and grandfather of Rufus Putnam, in the year 1733, made the following record : “ From those three proceeded twelve males, and from these twelve forty males, and from the forty eighty -two males so that in 1733, there were eighty-two males by the name of Putnam, besides the females. All of that name in New England were the descendants of John.

With respect to their condition in life, he observes, “I have been young, I now am old ; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread ; except from God, who provides for all ; for he hath given to the generation of my fathers Agur’s petition, neither poverty nor riches; but hath fed us with food convenient for us, and their children have been able to help others in their need.”

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. When this was written, he was seventy-nine years old. He lived after that fourteen years, and died when he was in his ninety-fourth year. This Edward was the grandson of John, the patriarch of the Putnams in New England. The males of this family were for many ages famous for longevity, numbers of them living to be over eighty years old, and several over ninety. The descendants of this good old man still inherit the promise and the blessing of the righteous : all of that name have had, and still continue to have, not only an abundance of bread for themselves, but also to spare to the poor and needy.

Elisha Putnam, the father of Gen. Rufus, was the third son of Edward Putnam, and his wife, Mary Hall, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1685. Here he continued to live until manhood, and married Susannah Fuller, the daughter of Jonathan Fuller, of Danvers. About the year 1725, when forty years old, he moved, with his wife and family of three children, to the town of Sutton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, where he purchased a fine farm, and pursued the occupation of a tiller of the earth, as all his fathers had done. After his removal to Sutton, three other sons were born to him ; of these Rufus was the youngest, and born the 9th of April, 1738.

The Rev. Dr. Hall, in his diary, says, that “ Deacon Elisha Putnam was a very useful man in the civil and ecclesiastical concerns of the place. He was for several years deacon of the church, town clerk, town treasurer, and representative in the General Court, or Colonial Assembly of Massachusetts. Pie died in June, 1745, in the joyful hope of the glory of God.”

Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam was also a descendant of Thomas, the oldest son of John, in the fourth generation, by Joseph, the third son of Thomas. Joseph had three sons, William, Daniel and Israel. The latter was born in 1717,