History of Seneca County : containing a detailed narrative of the principal events that have occurred since its first settlement down to the present time ; a history of the Indians that formerly resided within its limits ; geographical descriptions, early customs, biographical sketches, &c., &c., with an introd., containing a brief history of the state, from the discovery of the Mississippi River down to the year 1817, to the whole of which is added an appendix, containing tabular views, &c.

Front matter

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QENEALOGY ollecTIOP^

Preface

The object in writing the following pages has been to perpetuate the memory of our oldest settlers, and to rescue from oblivion such as is of interest to our citizens, by giving a faithful narrative of the most important events which have occurred within the limits of the county.

We had at first prepared a limited sketch, which was intended for publication in one of the county papers; but at. the suggestion of our very esteemed friend, Mr. James Gray, of Melmore — and as, upon investigation, it was found that much matter might be added which would interest the public, we have produced this volume.

Much of the materials have been furnished us by those who are residents of, or have resided within the county; and while wfe have sought the homes of early settlers for information, we have been greeted with a frank welcome, characteristic of its inhabitants.

As our pleasant, though arduous task is now finished, we take this opportunity to acknowledge the many obligations due to those who have been pleased to render us assistance, and the work is now respectfully submitted to the public, for their careful and candid perusal. C. W. B.

Tiffin, Dec. 1st, 1847.

Introduction

Ohio* derives its name from the river which washes nearly all of its eastern and southern boundary. The name is of Indian origin; and some writers have imagined it to signify handsome river ; as, about the middle of the eighteenth century, some French explorers of the country, who found the stream a pleasant one to sail upon, and fine lands along its borders, called it, “ la-belle-riviere ,” or the beautiful river. But that circumstance could have had no influence with the Indians, at an earlier period, in inducing them to give it a name of that signification. Another, and more probable meaning of the word Ohio , is bloody . This was applied by the Indians to the

river, from the circumstance of numerous bloody battles having been fought along the shore, by different tribes, in centuries past. This signification is corroborated by the white woman whose history has been given to the world, and which would seem to establish the fact beyond a doubt.

* The Shawanese called the Ohio river, Kis, ke, pi, la Sepe — i. e., Eagle river. The Wyandots were in the country generations before the Shawanese, and consequently their name of the river is the primitive one, and should stand in preference to all others. Ohio may be called an improvement on the expression, O, he, zuh, and was, no doubt, adopted by the early French voyagers in their boat songs, and is substantially the same word as used by the Wyandots; the meaning applied by the French, fair and beautiful*,. 41 la belle riviere,” being precisely the same as meant by the Indians — great, grand and fair to look upon. Col. Joiin Joh^tox .

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The present state of Ohio, is a part of that vast region, formerly claimed by France, between the Alleghany and Rocky mountains, and first known by the general name of Louisiana. The earliest civilized inhabitants were Frenchmen. As early as the year 1673, two French missionaries penetrated from Canada to the Mississippi, and they may be regarded as the discoverers of that mighty river. Their names were Marquette and Joliet. They commenced their journey of discovery from Quebec, with five men; traversed the rivers, forests and immense inland seas, and arrived at last at Green Bay. From Green Bay, they pursued their course up Fox river, crossed the Portage from its head to that of the Wisconsin; when, with no companions but the two, they embarked upon its bosom and followed its course, unknown whither it would lead them. Solitary they floated along till in seven days they entered, witli inexpressible joy, the broad Mississippi. Sailing on their solitary way, the discoverers heard afar, a rush of waters from the west — and soon the vast Missouri came down with its fiercer current, to hasten on the more sluggish Mississippi. They discovered and passed the mouth of the Ohio; nor did they stop till they had descended the river a thousand miles, to its confluence with the Arkansas; and ascertained, as well from its general course as from the information of the Indians, that its mouth must be far wrest of the English colonies on the Atlantic coast.

The day of the discovery of the Mississippi river, an era which should be so memorable to this country, was June 15th, 1673. We can imagine the sensations of these explorers, when they first beheld that broad and beautiful river. We can fancy how their imaginations kindled at the view of the romantic bluffs, the grand forests, the flowering prairies, the tangled grape vines on the trees, the beautiful birds that fluttered among the branches, the swans, sailing in their stateliness on

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the stream, and, as yet, unterrified by the sight of man: the fishes darting in the pellucid wave, and nature in her array of June !

Marquette and Joliet now retraced their course to the the Illinois; entered and ascended that river and beheld the beautiful fertility of its summer prairies, abounding in game. They v isited Chicago, and in September were again at Green Bay. The next year, Marquette retired for devotion, from the company with which he was journeying, to pray by a rude altar of stones beneath the silent shade. There, half an hour afterwards, his dead body was found. He was buried on the shore of the lake, and the Indians fancy that his spirit still controls the storms.

On the return, Joliet found at Frontenac, M. de la Salle, who was then commandant of the Fort. It may be expected that he did not undervalue their discovery or underrate the beauty of the river and country which he had explored. La Salle at once gave up his imagination and his thoughts to this discovery. He was a man of standing, courage and talent, and well fitted for the enterprise. At the close of the summer of 1679, he had, by the greatest exertions, equipped a small vessel, called the Griffin , at the lower end of Lake Erie, and launched it upon its waters. This was the first vessel that ever navigated lake Erie. On his journey across the lakes he was accompanied by father Hennepin, a Jesuit, and forty men. He marked Detroit as a suitable place for a colony; gave name to Lake St, Clair, planted a trading house at Mackinaw, and finally cast anchor in Green Bay. At length, through many discouragements by disaster, treachery and defeat, they reached the great Illinois. Here La Salle sent out a party, under Hennepin, to explore the sources of the Mississippi; while he returned, on foot to Frontenac.. The next year, having returned to the Illinois, he built a small vessel and sailed down the Mississippi

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until he reached its mouth. lie also erected forts and estab' , lished settlements at various points. Fully satisfied of the vast importance of prosecuting the system of colonization thus % commenced, he proceeded to France and communicated his ideas to the French government. The minister of the French ,, king readily entered into a scheme, which not only promised , an immense accession of valuable territory, but seemed likely to create a permanent and- efficient barrier to the western extension of the English colonies. An expedition was fitted out . for the prupose of planting a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi river, and command given to La Salle. This expedition failed, and its illustrious but unfortunate commander perished, a victim to the treachery of his own men.

This expedition did not, however, quench or abate the ardor of the French in the prosecution of their great plan. A second expedition sailed from France, under the command of M. DTberville. This officer explored the Mississippi river for several hundred miles, and permanent settlements were made at different points; and from this time, the French colony west of the Alleghanies, though occasionally harassed by the English and the Spaniards, steadily increased in numbers and in strength.

Before the completion of the first quarter of the eighteenth century the colony had been divided into quarters, each having its local governor or commandant and judge; but all were subject to the superior council-general of Louisiana. One of i these quarters wras established north-west of the Ohio. Forts had also been erected on the Mississippi, on the Illinois, on the Maumee and on the lakes. Still, however, the communication with Canada was through Lake Michigan, as the nearer route through the Ohio river and Lake Erie had not yet been dis- J covered. This discovery wras, howrever, made soon afterwards, j Before the year 1750, a French fort had been fortified at the i

3 1833 02495 8214

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II mouth of the Wabash; and a communication was established, through that river and the Maumee, with Canada. About the same time and for the purpose of checking the progress of the French, the Ohio Company was formed and made some attempts to establish trading-houses among the Indians. This event, however, only hastened what it was designed to prevent. A third chain of fortifications was established, extending from the confluence of the Monongahela and the Alleghany to the sources of French creek, and to Lake Erie. The French were now in actual possession of the whole valley of the Mississippi; and the English government became seriously alarmed. Negotiations took place, in the course of which, England proposed to limit her American colonies on the west, by a line drawn from Lake Erie through French creek to its mouth, and thence direct, to the nearest mountains of Virginia. These negotiations availed nothing, and the contending parties referred their controversies to the arbitrament of war. The events of the contest which ensued do not belong to this sketch, but its issue decided the momentous question, whether the vast central valley of North America should bear through all coming time, the impress of English or French civilization.

By the treaty of 1763, France ceded to Great Britain all her possessions in North America east of the Mississippi, and on this foundation, the title of the former power to the region included by the Ohio, the Mississippi, and the great lakes, rests more safely, according to the international law of Europe, than on any other. Long before this time, however, English charters had been granted, including within their limits the whole of this country. In 1609, a grant was made to the London company, of all territory which extends along the coast for two hundred miles north and south from Point Comfort and “ up into the land throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest.” In 1624, this company was dissolved upon a writ of n

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quo-icarranto , and the grant was resumed by the crown. In 1662, Charles II. granted to certain settlers upon the Connecticut, all the territory between the parallels of latitude which include the present state of Connecticut, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The pretensions which Massachusetts advanced during the revolutionary war, to an interest in the western country, were founded upon a similar charter granted thirty years before. Notwithstanding these extensive grants, the English government, after the peace of 1763, evinced a determination to confine the colonies to the coast, and to prevent the settlement of the interior. By a royal proclamation, all the lands west of the sources of the Atlantic rivers, were declared to be reserved under the sovereignty, protection and dominion of the king of Great Britain for the use of the Indians, and all persons were forbidden to settle or remain within the reserved territory. In consequence of this proclamation, no settlements were made north-west of the Ohio until after the declaration of independence, when the detached colonies of Britain became free and united states. Until that period, the soil remained in the hand of the rightful proprietors, undisturbed by the wandering hunter or the vagrant trader. Over the whole vast extent, except where the prairie spread its luxuriant vegetation, and where the settlements of the French or the villages of the Indians dotted the wilderness, there stretched a mighty and unbroken forest, yet ignorant of the woodman’s steel.

During the war of the Revolution, the frontiers of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New' York were harassed by the murderous incursions of the savages from this region and from Canada; and, in 1783, an expedition was concerted against the Wyandot village, lying upon the wraters of the Sandusky. Great exertions were made to procure volunteers. Every man who should equip himself with a horse and rifle was to be exempted from two tours of militia duty; and, any loss, either of arm*

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or horses was to be repaired out of the plunder of the Indian towns. The volunteers were to rendezvous on the 20th of May, at an old Mingo village on the western shore of the Ohio, about forty miles above Fort Pitt, and the unfortunate Colonel Crawford was unanimously selected as the leader of the expedition. On the appointed day, four hundred and fifty mounted volunteers assembled at the Mingo village and impatiently awaited the arrival of their colonel. Crawford instantly accepted the appointment, which had been so unanimously pressed upon him, and, a few days before the day of rendezvous, passed through Pittsburgh, on his way to the appointed place. He there prevailed upon Dr. Knight to accompany the detachment as surgeon, and . having provided such medical stores as were likely to be useful on the expedition, he lost r. time in putting himself at the head of his troops.

On Saturday, the 25th of May, the little army commenced its march, striking at once into a pathless wilderness, and directing their course due west. On the fourth day, they halted at the ruins of the old Moravian town, about sixty miles from the Ohio, where a few of the volunteers gave a sample of the discipline which was to be expected from them, by abandoning the party and returning home. The main body, however, still seemed eager to prosecute the expedition, and the march was continued with unabated spirit. On the morning of the 30th, Major Brunton and Captain Bean, being a few hundred yards in advance of the troops, observed two Indians skulking through the woods, apparently observing the motions of the detachment. They instantly fired upon them, but without success. Secrecy now being out of the question, it only remained to press forward with all practicable dispatch, and afford the enemy as little time for preparation as possible. As the wilderness began to deepen around them and the critical moment approached in which their courage would be tried, it 2

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became evident that the ardor of the men was considerably cooled.

On the eleventh day of their march, they reached the spot where the town of Sandusky had formerly stood, but from which the Indians had lately removed, to a spot about eighteen miles below. Here the detachment halted, and here the insubordinate spirit of the army first displayed itself. They insisted upon returning home, alledging the tired condition of their horses, and the fact that their provisions were likely to be soon exhausted. The -officers, yielding to the wishes of their cowstituents , (for the troops had elected their own officers,) determined in council, that they would continue their march one day longer, and if no Indians appeared, they would then return home ! What other results them these which we are now about to record, could have been anticipated from such officers and such men ? Just as the council broke up, a single light-horseman, belonging to the advanced guard, rode in at a gallop, announcing that a large body of Indians were formed in an open wood, a few miles in advance, and seemed determined to arrest the further progress of the invaders. Instant preparations were made for battle. The troops, notwithstanding their previous murmurs, advanced with alacrity, and soon came up with the light-horsemen, who were slowly retiring, within view of the enemy. The country was generally open, and well adapted to the operations of cavalry. Here and there a thin copse of woodland appeared, free from undergrowth and giving to each party a full view of their enemy’s movements. The Indians had partially obtained possession of one of these copses, although their full force had not yet come up.

The importance of seizing the wood was instantly seen, and Crawford hastily ordered his men to dismount, tie their horses, and force the enemy from their position before their reinforcements could arrive. This judicious order was promptly and

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effectually obeyed. Both flanks of the Indian position were immediately turned, and a rapid and threatening movement upon their front, quickly compelled them to give way. Crawford now took possession of the wood, but scarcely had he done so, when the main body of the enemy hurried up to the assistance of their van, and, out-flanking Crawford, in turn opened a heavy and galling fire upon his men, from which they found it very difficult to obtain shelter.

The action now became sharp and serious; Crawford maintaining his ground, and the enemy, (who were hourly increasing in number,) making the most strenuous efforts to regain the wood. From four in the evening until dusk, the firing was very heavy, and the loss considerable. During the whole of this time scarcely an Indian was visible, unless for a moment when shifting his position. Their number could only be ascertained from the many wreaths of smoke which arose from every bush, tree, or tuft of grass within view. At night the enemy drew off, and Crawford's party slept upon their arms upon the field of battle. On the next day the attack was renewed, but at more respectful distance. The Indians had apparently sustained some loss on the close firing of the preceding evening, and seemed now determined to await the arrival of additional reinforcements. Occasional shots were fired through the day, on both sides, but without much injury to either. As soon as it was dark, the field officers assembled in council; and, as the numbers of the enemy were evidently increasing every moment, it was unanimously determined to retreat by night, as rapidly as was consistent with order and preservation of the wounded. The resolution was quickly announced to the troops, and the necessary dispositions made for carrying it into effect. The out-posts were silently withdrawn from the vicinity of the enemy, and as fast as they came in, the troops were formed in three parallel lines, with the

INTRODUCTION.

wounded borne upon biers in the centre. By nine o’clock at night, all necessary arrangements had been made, and the retreat began in good order.

Unfortunately, they had scarcely moved a hundred paces, when the report of several rifles were heard in the rear, in the direction of the Indian encampment. The troops soon became very unsteady. At length, a solitary voice, in the front rank, called out that their design was discovered and that the Indians would soon be upon them. Nothing more was necessary. The cavalry were instantly broken; and, as usual, each man endeavored to savo himself as best he could. A prodigious uproar ensued, which quickly communicated to the enemy that the white men had routed themselves and that they had nothing to do but pick up stragglers. The miserable wounded, notwithstanding the piercing cries with which they supplicated to be taken with them, were abandoned to the mercy of the enemy, md soon put out of pain.

Dr. Knight, the surgeon of the detachment, was in the rear when the fight commenced, but seeing the necessity of dispatch, he put spurs to his horse and galloped through the woods as fast as the darkness of the night would permit. He had not advanced three hundred yards, when he heard the voice of Colonel Crawford, a short distance in front, calling aloud for his son, John Crawford, his son-in-law, Major Harrison, and his two nephews, Major Rose and William Crawford. Dr. Knight replied, in the same loud tone, that he believed the young men were in front. “Is that you, Doctor V9 asked Crawford, eagerly; for no features could be recognized in the darkness. “Yes, Colonel; I am the hindmost man, I believe.” “ No, no !” replied Crawford, anxiously; “ my son is in the rear yet: I have not been able to hear of him in front ! Do not leave me, Doctor; my horse has almost given out; I can-

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not keep up with the troops, and I wish a few of my best friends to stay with me !”

Knight assured him that he might rely upon his support in any extremity, and drew up his horse by his side. Colonel Crawford still remained upon the same spot, calling loudly for his son, until the last straggler had passed. He then, in strong language, reprobated the conduct of the militia, in breaking their ranks and abandoning the wounded, but quickly returned to the subject of his son, and appeared deeply agitated at the uncertainty of his fate. Perceiving, however, that further delay must terminate in death or captivity, the party set spurs to their horses and followed the route of the troops. Presently an old man and a lad joined them. Crawford eagerly asked if they had seen his son or nephews ? They assured him that they had not; upon which he sighed deeply, but made no reply.

At this instant, a heavy fire was heard at the distance of a mile in front, accompanied by yells, screams, and all the usual attendants of battle. Not a doubt was entertained but that the Indians had intercepted the retreat of the main body, and were now engaged with them. Having lost all confidence in his men, Crawford did not choose to unite his fortune to theirs, and changed his course to the northward, in such a manner as to leave the combatants upon the right. He continued in this direction for nearly an hour, until he supposed himself out of the immediate line of the enemy’s operations, when he again changed his course to the eastward, moving as rapidly as possible, with an interval of twenty paces between them, and steadily regulating their route by the north star. The boy who accompanied them was brisk and active, but the old man constantly lagged behind, and as constantly shouted aloud for them to wait for him. They often remonstrated with him upon the impropriety of making so much noise, at a time when all

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their lives depended upon secrecy and celerity; and he repeatedly promised to do so no more.

At length, upon crossing Sandusky creek, the old man found himself once more considerably in the rear, and once more shouted aloud for them to wait, until he could come up. Before they could reply, a halloo was heard in the rear of their left, and apparently not more than one hundred paces from the spot where the old man stood. Supposing it to be the cry of an Indian, they remained still and silent for several minutes, looking keenly around them in 'the expectation of beholding an enemy. Every thing, however, remained silent. The old man was heard no more, and whether he escaped, or was killed, could never be ascertained. The party continued their flight until day-break, when Colonel Crawford’s horse and that of the hoy, sunk under their riders and were abandoned.

Continuing their journey on foot, they quickly fell in with Captain Biggs, an expert woodman and gallant officer, who, in the universal scattering, had generously brought off a wounded officer, Lieutenant Ashley, upon his own horse, and was now composedly walking by his side, with a rifle in his hand and a knapsack upon his shoulders. This casual meeting was gratifying to both parties, and they continued their journey with renewed spirits. At three o’clock in the afternoon, a heavy fall of rain compelled them to encamp. A temporary shelter was quickly formed by barking several trees, after the manner of the Indians, and spreading the bark over poles so as to form a roof. A fire was then kindled, and the rain continued to pour down in torrents. They remained here through the nighr without any accident.

Continuing their route on the following morning, at the distance of three miles from the camp, they found a deer, which had recently been killed and skinned. The meat was neatly sliced and bundled up in the skin, and a tomahawk lay near*-**-

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giving room for suspicion that Indians were in the neighborhood. As the whole party had fasted for thirty-six hours, this was a very acceptable treat, and lifting the skin, with the meat enclosed, from the ground, they carried it with them until they had leisure to cook it. Having advanced a mile farther, they observed a smoke in the woods before them. The party instantly halted, while Colonel Crawford and Dr. Knight went forward to reconnoiter.

Cautiously approaching the fire, they found it burning brightly, but abandoned, from which they inferred that a party had encamped there the preceding night, and had retired a few minutes before their approach. Having carefully examined the bushes around, and discovered no Indian signs, they directed their friends in the rear to come up, and quickly set about preparing breakfast. In a few minutes, they observed a white man, skulking in the rear, examining the trail and apparently very shy of approaching them. Calling out to him in a friendly tone, they invited him to approach without fear, assuring him that they were countrymen and friends. The man instantly complied, and informed them that he had killed the deer which they were cooking, but hearing them approach, he had taken them for enemies, and had fled into the bushes for concealment.

Highly pleased at the accession to their strength, the party breakfasted heartily upon the deer and continued their march. By noon, they had reached the path by which the army had marched, a few days before, in their advance upon the Indian towns, and some discussion took place as to the propriety of taking that road homeward. Biggs and the doctor strenuously insisted upon continuing their course through the woods, and avoiding all paths; but Crawford overruled them, assuring them that the Indians would not urge their pursuit beyond the plains which were already far behind.. Unfortunately, the colonel;

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prevailed; and, abandoning their due eastern course, the party pursued the beaten path. Crawford and Knight moved one hundred and fifty yards in front, Biggs and his wounded friend, Ashley, were in the center, both on horseback, the doctor having lent Biggs his horse, and the two men on foot brought up the rear.

They soon had reason to repent their temerity. Scarcely had they advanced a mile, when several Indians sprung up within twenty yards of Knight and Crawford, presenting their guns, and in good English ordered them to stop. Knight instantly sprung behind a large black oak, cocked his gun and began to take aim at the foremost. Crawford, however, did not attempt to conceal himself, but calling hastily to Knight, ordered him twice not to fire.

Instantly, the Indian at whom Knight had taken aim, ran up to the . colonel with every demonstration of friendship, shook his hand cordially, and asked him how he did. Knight still maintaining a hostile attitude behind the tree, Crawford called to him again, and ordered him to put down his gun, which the doctor very reluctantly obeyed.

Biggs and Ashley, seeing the condition of their friends, halted, while the two men in the rear very prudently took to their heels and escaped. One of the Indians then told Crawford to order Biggs to come up and surrender, or they would kill him. The colonel complied, but Biggs feeling no inclination to obey his commander in the present instance, very coolly cocked his rifle, took deliberate aim at one of the Indians, and fired, although without effect. He and Ashley then put spurs to their horses, and for the time escaped. The two prisoner* were then taken to the Indian camp, which stood within a few miles of the place where they were taken; and on the next evening, five Delawares came in with the scalps and horses of

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Biggs and Ashley, who, it appeared, had returned to the road, and were intercepted a few miles farther on.

On the morning, which was the 10th of June, Crawford and Knight, together with nine prisoners, were conducted by their captors, seventeen in number, to the old town of Sandusky, about thirty-three miles distant. The main body halted at night, within eight miles of the village, but as Colonel Crawford expressed great anxiety to speak with Simon Girty, who was then at Sandusky, he was permitted to go on that evening, under the care of two Indians. On Tuesday morning, the 11th of June, Colonel Crawford was brought back from Sandusky on purpose to march into town with the other prisoners. Knight eagerly accosted him, and asked if he had seen Girty? The colonel replied in the affirmative; and added that Girty had promised to use his utmost influence for his (the colonel’s) safety, but * was fearful of the consequences, as the Indians generally, and particularly Captain Pipe, one of the Delaware chiefs, were much incensed against the prisoners, and were endeavoring to have them all burned. The colonel added, that he had heard of his son-in-law, Colonel Harrison, and his nephew, William Crawford, both of whom had been taken by the Shawanese, and admitted to mercy. Shortly after this communication, their capital enemy, Captain Pipe, appeared. His appearance was by no means unprepossessing, and he exhibited none of the ferocity which Knight, from Girty’s account, had been led to expect.