History of Seneca County Ohio

Front matter

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HISTORY

H-EIEC A CO HIT Y:

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 we 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-helle-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 SJfiawanese called the Ohio river, Kis, ke, pi,.la Sepe— i. e., Eagle river. Th» 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,, "la belle riviere," being precisely the same as meant by the Indians — great, granii ».Tid fair to look upon. Col.. John lowserQu..

Q INTRODUCTION.

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, with 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 west 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 1.5th, 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

INTRODUCTION. 9f

the stream, and, as j^et, unterrified by the si^ht 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 visited 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 tbe 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 illinoisj he built a small vessel and sailed down the Mississippi antil he reached its mouth. He also erected forts and established 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. D'Iberville. 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 these quarters was 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 discovered. This discovery was, however, made soon afterwards. Before the year 1750, a French fort had been fortified at the 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 diflScult 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 v/hich arose from every bush, ti-ee, or tuft of grass within view. At night the enemy drew ofi", 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 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 save 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, and 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 ?" 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 cannot 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 1 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 &■ 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 t-o 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 possihie, with an interval of twenty paces between them, and steadily regulating their route by the north star. The boy who accompanied them was brisk md 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'

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 moreshouted 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 stoodl 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 boy, 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 Omcer, 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 shouldei's. 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 night 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 skiii, and a tomahawk lay near — 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 reconnoiten

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, a-nd 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 prevailed; and, abandoning their due eastern course, the parlypursued the beaten path. Crawford and Knight moved one hundred and fifty yards in front, Biggs and his vi^ounded 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 ve-ry 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 prisoners 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 o£

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.

On the contrary, his language was flattering and his manners bland. But one ominous circumstance attended his visit. With his own hand he painted every prisoner Hack ! While in the act of painting the doctor, he was as polite as a French valet, assuring him that he should soon go to the Shawanee town and see his friends; and while painting the colonel he told him that his head should be shaved — i. e., he should b© adopted — as soon as he arrived at Wyandot town. As soon as the prisoners were painted, they were conducted towards the town, Captain Pipe walking by the side of Crawford, and treating him with the utmost kindness, while the prisoners, with the exception of Dr. Knight, were pushed on ahead of him. As they advanced, they were shocked at observing the bodies of four of their friends, who had just left them, tomahawked and scalped, with an interval of nearly a mile between each. They had evidently perished in running the gauntlet. This spectacle was regarded as a sad presage of their own fate. In a short time they overtook the five prisoners who remained alive. They were seated on the ground, and appeared much dejected. Nearly seventy squaws and Indian boys surrounded them, menacing them with knives and tomahawks, and exhausting upon them every abusive epithet which their language afforded. Crawford and Knight were compelled to sit down apart from the rest, and immediately afterwards the doctor was given to a Shawanee warrior to be conducted to their town, while the colonel remained stationary.

The boys and squaws then fell upon the other prisoners and tomahawked them in a moment. Among them was Captain McKinley, who had served with reputation throughout the Revolutionary War until the capture of Cornwallis. An old squaw, approaching him and brandishing a long knife, seized him by the hair, instantly cut off his head and kicked it near the spot where Crawford sat in momentary expectation of a similar fate. Another destiny, however, was reserved for him. After having sufficiently exhausted their rage upon the lifeless bodies of the five prisoners, the whole party started up, and driving Crawford before them, marched towards the village.

Presently, Girty appeared on horseback, coming from Sandusky. He stopped for a few moments, and spoke to Crawford, then, passing to the rear of the party, addressed Knight — "Is this the doctor?" inquired he with an insulting smile. " Yes ! Mr. Girty, I am glad to see you !" replied poor Knight, advancing towards him, and anxiously extending his hand. But Girty cursed him in a savage tone, ordered him to be gone,

and not to suppose that he would give his hand to such a

rascal. Upon this the Shawanee warrior who had him in custody, dragged him along by a rope. Girty followed on horseback, and informed him that he was to go to Chillicothe. Presently they came to a spot where there was a large fire, around which about thirty warriors, and more than double that number of squaws and boys were collected.

As soon as the colonel arrived, they surrounded him, stripped him naked, and compelled him to sit on the ground near the fire. They then fell upon him and beat him severely with sticks and their fists. In a few minutes, a large stake was fixed in the ground, and piles of hickory poles, rather thicker than a man's thumb, and about twelve feet in length, were spread around it. Colonel Crawford's hands were then tied behind his back; a strong rope was produced, one end of which was fastened to the ligature between his wrists and the other tied to the bottom of the stake. The rope was long enough to permit him to walk around the stake several times and then return. Fire was then applied to the hickory poles, which lay in piles at the distance of six or seven yards from the stake.

The colonel, observing these terrible preparations, called to Girty, who sat on horseback at the distance of a few yards from the fire, and asked if the Indians were going to burn him. Girty very coolly replied in the affirmative. The colonel heard the intelligence with firmness, merely observing that he would bear it with fortitude. When the hickory poles had been burnt asunder in the middle. Captain Pipe arose and addressed the crowd, in a tone of great energy, and with animated gestures, pointing frequently at the colonel, who regarded him with an appearance of unruffled composure. As soon as he had ended, a loud whoop burst from the assembled throng, and they all rushed at once upon the unfortunate Crawford. For several seconds the crowd was so great that Knight could not see what they were doing; but in a short time, they had dispersed sufficiently to give him a view of the colonel. • His ears had been cut off, and the blood was streaming down each side of his face. A terrible scene of torture now commenced. The warriors shot charges of powder into his naked body, commencing with the calves of his legs and continuing to his neck. The boys snatched the burning hickory poles and applied them to his flesh. As fast as he ran round the stake, to avoid one party of tormentors, he was promptly met at every turn by others, with burning poles, red hot irons, and rifles loaded with powder onl};^; so that in a few minutes nearly one hundred charges of powder had been shot into his bod}'', which had become black and blistered in a terrible manner^ The squaws would take a quantity of coals and hot ashes and throw them upon his body, so that in a few minutes he had nothing but fire to walk upon. In the extremity of his agony, the unhappy colonel called aloud upon Girty, in tones which rang through Knight's brain with maddening effect — " Girty ! Girty ! ! Shoot me through the heart ! Quick! — Quick ! ! Do not refuse me ! !" " Don't you see I have no gun, colonel 1" replied the monster, bursting into a loud laugh, and then turning to an Indian beside him, he uttered some brutal jests upon the naked and miserable appearance of the prisoner.

The terrible scene had now lasted nearly two hours, and Crawford had become much exhausted. He walked slowly around the stake, spoke in a low tone, and earnestly besought God to look with compassion upon him and pardon his sins. His nerves had lost much of their sensibility and he no longer shrunk from the fire-brands with which they incessantly touched him. At length he sunk in a fainting fit upoii his face and lay motionless. Instantly an Indian sprung upon his back, knelt lightly upon one knee, made a circular incision with his knife upon the crown of his head, and clapping the knife between his teeth, tore the scalp off with both hands ! Scarcely had this been done, when -a withered hag approached with a board full of burning embers, and poured them upon the crown of his head, now laid bare to the bone ! The colonel groaned deeply, arose, and again walked slowly around the stake ! ! Nature at length could do no more, and at a late hour of the night, death released him from the hand of his cruel tormentors.

The awful torture which Crawford had undergone, made a deep impression upon the mind of Knight. He resolved, if possible, to make his escape, and this he did in a most wonder- I'ul manner, before reaching Shawanee town. The particulars of his last adventure, are omitted for want of room. Thus ended the lamented expedition of Colonel William Crawford; rashly undertaken, injudiciously prosecuted, and terminating with almost unprecedented calamity.