Ashland County, Ohio - Chapter 2: The Stone Era, 1880

Chapter 2: The Stone Era

The Period of Stone Axes, Fleshers and Arrow Points, Etc. - By whom made. - Skiil and Patience shown in iheir Manufacture. - Their use for Domestic as well as for Warlike Purposes. - Others for Ornament only. - Implements Found in Ashland County. - By whom Constructed and for what Purposes Used.

The archaeologist is furnished a wide field in Ohio. Almost every county in the State abounds in evidence of the former presence of an extinct race. The question as to when the Mound Builders took possession of North America, how long they flourished, and under what circumstances they disappeared, is unsettled. It is equally uncertain whether the presence of that race constituted the "Stone Era," or, whether the race by whom the battle-axes, spear heads and flint darts were manufactured, preceded or succeeded the Mound Builders. The'presumption, however, is, that the rude implements of warfare, such as battle-axes and flint arrow-heads, were made by the Mound Builders, or a race that was cotemporary with them. This inference gains strength from the fact that the aforesaid implements are found in and about the mounds and earthworks throughout Ohio, and other States, and must have been abundant during that period. So numerous were these implements, that in almost every section of the State they continue to be plowed up by the farmers while preparing for their crops.

The writer of this article has many rare and curious specimens of the war-like implements of the Stone age. which evince high architectural skill in their preparation. We know not, at this time, how such weapons were manufactured. The extreme hardness of the flint and granite out of which they are made, and the evident absence of all knowledge of iron and steel, will suggest to the archaeologist the amount of skill and patience exercised by the race by whom they were prepared. It seems to be generally conceded that large numbers of arrow-heads, spear-heads, stone axes, and the like, were manufactured in the vicinity of the flint ridge, in Licking county, Ohio, and from thence scattered all over the State in the chase and in warlike incursions. This inference gains strength from the quantity of spalls and broken arrow-heads found in that region, as well as from the admitted identity of the material. We have certain proofs that the Indian tribes found or. this continent by the early settlers and missionaries, had a knowledge of the manufacture of such implements, and may have prepared them for the chase and for svar. They seem to hare readily adopted them for hunting purposes, using them as arrows, with elastic bows and raw-hide thongs, in their incursions against each other.

The Ohio Indians undoubtedly manufactured stone axes, stone knives and arrow-heads of flint, before the French and English introduced fire-arms, and perhaps long since.

spear heads, arrow points, stone wedges, stone images and the like, found on this continent, and those found in Europe and Asia, would suggest a like rn'gin and age. Mr. Evans, an able English arch.eologist. enters into a iull discussion of the implement manufactured during m,. st, uie age h> England, Ireland, and Scotland, in the ha>'d and unmanageable rock known as flint. j,js work the important suggestion is thrown cut that pi, s were not used for the purposes of warfare alone, !,,,{ fur purposes of husbandry, the chase, domestic use, hhI personal ornament; and that they worked up the materials found in these plains and valleys, consisting of ilint and granite. He cites the fact that the Celts manufactured, from Hint, implements for felling trees, hewing canoes, hoes, harrows, scrapers for preparing skins, arrow points for shooting birds and other small game, knives, gouges, saws, pounding-stones, chisels, hammer-axes, picks, and instruments for grinding stones and dressing (!K-ir Hint arrows. He also says that rings, amulets, spindle-whorls, pestles, needles of bone, drilled by flint, were found in caves.

A large number of the implements mentioned seem to he of little use further than ornament, because of their fragile structure. They are, he says, exquisitely polished and ground, 'and evince a wonderful degree of useless toil, if they were designed for warfare. Neither could they have been available for hard work, such as cutting clown trees or working timber, for they do not exhibit any sign of fracture or even of scratching, which would not be the case if they had been used for cutting, as tools or weapons. He further declares that many of these implements are made of Asiatic stones of beautiful colors and capable of taking high polish. To students in archaeology, this suggestion will furnish a strong argument in favor of the eastern origin of the Stone age, for it is improbable that the human race appeared simultaneously on the eastern and western continents. That the course of the nations of that era was from India into Asia, Europe and North and South America, is as well settled as any hypothetical problem can be. This is again suggestive of the origin of the primitive races of this continent. That there must have been some connection between Asia and North America admits of scarcely a doubt.

Stone Implements

Several classes of implements are found, in great numbers, within this county. They seem to have been scattered broadcast over the hills and valleys. One class consists of highly polished stone pestles, stone axes, weighing from six or eight ounces to five or six pounds -

' stone flesbers, stone implements pick-shaped, with a neatly drilled hole in the middle, stone beads, and flat, variagated stones, from one to two inches wide, six or seven long, and half an inch thick, with rounded ends, highly polished, and generally with a neatly drilled hole m the center, have been found in and about these ancient works.

Another class of more recent date, consists of thousands of flint arrow-heads from a half to seven inches in length. These were unquestionably made by the modern tribes that overspread northern Ohio, and most of the material was procured from the ridges in Licking « ounty. One such nest was plowed up in Sullivan tuwnid'ip, three years since, by Mr. S. \v. Riggs, containing two hundred and one pear-shaped arrow-heads, neatly finished and of an unsual style, having no notch for fastening them to the shaft, and had the appearance of being intended for cutting.

It is claimed that the polished stone implements were used by an earlier race than the Eries. It will be difficult to substantiate that assertion. It is not certain that the Fries ever saw' European arms, and they undoubtedly never used them. It is equally certain they occupied an advanced position in the art of self defence, and like the civilized races, began to gather into fortified towns. It is reasonable, then, to suppose they were equally skilled in preparing arms for the defence of their country. The stone axe would be easy of construction. The flesher would follow in the preparation of their clothing, which consisted of dressed skins. The polished stones were doubtless used for ornamental purposes, as were the beads and other stone badges.

"Indeed, we have some small differences with the English, and during tiie^e, some of their young men would, by way of reproach, be telling us, that we should have perished, if they had not come into the country, and furnished us with strowds (shawls) and hatchets and guns, and other things necessary for the support of life ; but we always gave them to understand, that they were mistaken, that we lived before they came amongst us, and as well, or better, if we may believe v hat our forefatheis have told us. We then had room enough, and plenty of deer, which were easily caught; and though we had not knives, hatchets, or guns, such as we have now, yet we had knives of stone, and hatchets of stone, and bows and arrows, and these served our uses as well then, as the English ones do now." *

There can be no doubt as to the fact that the Iroquois, Eries , Delawares, .and other tribes, continued to manufacture stone axes, flesh ers, hammers, war-clubs, headed with stone, and arrow-heads, until, and even after, English arms were introduced. The Creeks and Blackfed, of Red river, Canada, still continue to manufacture very beautiful stone axes and fleshers.

If these works were constructed by a more ancient race, the growth of forests proves nothing, unless it may be, that all the timber of these valleys was destroyed by the Mound Builders; for the trees found in and upon these fortifications, were of the same size and character as those of the surrounding forest. Two hundred and seventy-five or three hundreu years would be a sufficient length ot. time for the growth of the trees found in and upon these works. These fortified places, and polished implements, may have been constructed by the Eries, then, to protect their people from sudden invasion by the Iroquois, while cultivating the soil; for that nation must have been too numerous to depend alone upon the chase.

If done by an earlier race, the swarms of red men, of Tartar descent, who passed Behring's Straits, and poured down the shores of our northern chain of lakes, may have compelled their erection, as a means of defence, until their occupants were driven south, or exterminated, by the wild, nomadic tribes, who overran and, subsequently, occupied, all northern Ohio.

tools or implements to erect such stockades. It is true j we are unable to designate the manner of their construe- ' tion. That proves nothing. An examination of the j most extended railroad track and embankment in Ohio, might not lead to the discovery of a single plow, shovel, mattock, carl, horse, or wheelbarrow. Soil the fact would exist, that all these were employed in the construction of our railways. If the aborigines used wooden, flint, or stone shovels, bark buckets, or copper tools, in erecting their stockade, they probably carried them away. The races that lived and nourished, and contended for their soil and homes, had passed away years before the Caucasian discovered the western world. Their deeds of heroism disappeared with them, and no Homer, Virgil, or native bard, sung or related their achievments.

They were followed by the fierce and untamed red men, who still linger in the far west. They, too, are passing away. The light canoe of the Wyandot, the Muhegan , and the Delaware, arc no more seen upon our waters. They are remembered only by the most aged of the white race. Armstrong, and Pipe, Lyons, and Johnnycake, have long since gone to the great huntingground, and their descendants have found homes on the headwaters of the distant Missouri.

As we have seen in the history of the Mound builders strong indications of Asiatic civilization, so in the striking resemblance of the stone implements found in the East and West, we discover other links of the great chain that connected the races of America, Europe and Asia, as well as another evidence that man progressed westward as the populations of the earth pushed him forward in pursuit of a. new home and enterprises. How long the people of the ''Stone age," may have inhabited this continent, will doubtless ever remain an unsolved problem. To continue such an inquiry would be like the toil of dropping buckets in empty wells, and growing old in drawing nothing up; for the aboriginal races, found here by our fathers knew nothing of their ancestors worth preservation. We know that such a people existed along the streams, and upon the uplands of this county, because stone images, implements of warfare, battle-axes, arrow-heads, and the like, are -et found in our fields and in the forests. The presence of these rude images is conclusive that the primitive races inhabiting j this r gion venerated objects of idolatry. A year or two | since, an image, cut front granite, representing a sort of i ape, was plowed up on Honey creek in this county, by a farmer! Query: - Did the people of the "Stone age," venerate the ape like those surrounding the sacred groves of Benares? Did they pay devotions to idols, or is this simply a rude representation of a household pet? We have no evidence that the Indian tribes of Ohio were ever idolaters. Their history shows that they had very correct conceptions of a Supreme Being, or Great Spirit, from whom they derived life, happiness and prosperity. Idolatry came from the east. In the early ages, in the East, almost every object in nature was invested with divine power, and was ir.ovked by the ignorant devotee. Wert those image brought to this continent as household gods by the Mound Builders or their successors? It seems useless to speculate upon the subject. No ray of history has, as yet, penetrated the gloom of that era, and we will have to content ourselves with believing that such a people once roamed over the hills and through j the valleys and along the streams of this county.

Chapter Hi

A Description of the Forts. - Tyler's Fort. - Ramsey's Fort. -Metcalf's Fort. - Winbigler's Fort.- The Glenn Fort. - Gamble's Fort. - Sprott's Hill. - Bryte's Fort. - Stoner's Fort. - Sharnbaugh's Fort. - The Parr Fort. - Darling's Fort. - The Origin of the Works.

On section twenty-four, now in Wayne county, a short distance below the junction, upon the heights northeast cf Tylertown, and east cf the stream, is an ancient intrenchment. It overlooks the valley, which here is about one and a half miles wide, and gives an extended view, up and down the Mohican. The work is situated on an elevated spar of the ridge, on the lands of Benjamin Tyler; is circular in form, and contains about three acres. When Mr. Tyler located in 1S14, he found the work destitute of grown timber. The ridge, in and about the intrenchrnent, had the appearance of having been often burned over. He found the embankment about four feet high, and about ten fee': in diameter, at the base, and completely covered with hazel-brush, about as high as his head. He states, that he stood in the center of the work, and could overlook the Mohican valley for many miles. The work is now covered by a growth of thrifty young white oak, ranging from fifty to seventy i feet in height, and ten to fifteen inches in diameter ! Unlike most of the earthworks of this county, there was no spring in its immediate vicinity. From the center of the work, a grand view of the Mohican valley, for many miles dotted with fertile farms, may be had. The work was evidently one of defence, and was calculated to repel a large force, as access to it, from every side, was up a declivity.

Ascending the Muddy fork, about fifteen miles, we find another intrenchment upon the lands of John Ramsey, on the southwest quarter of section twenty-eight, in Jackson township. The valley ot the stream, the entire distance, is very fertile and was once a favorite resort of the Delawares. This work is situated on the western side of an elevated ridge, overlooking the valley. The eastern line of the entrenchment reaches the summit facing the valley. The ^\o"k is quadrangular, and climated to contain a fraction over two acres. When tirst discovered, the embankment was about three feet in height, and from, eight to ten in diameter at the base, j The timber within the fort was equal in size to that of the forest around it, and was of the same character. The

(>l While plowing within the fert, a highly polished "lo.u. live inches long, two inches at the base, and one Mid (jnv-haif itv lies at the point, encircled in the middle ; ,y ;l groove, was found. The implement is known as the some hammer. The ravines in the vicinity contained water sufficient to supply the wants of the fort if belea; ured by an enemy.

Two mounds were found in the north part of Perry township, about one mile from the fort. They were about thirty feet apart, and occupied level ground near a brook, 'fhe larger one was about five feet high, and twer.ty-five feet in diameter, at the base. The smaller one was probably twelve feet in diameter, at the base, and three and a half feet high. William Hamilton extirpated the larger one in digging a cellar; and about four feet below the natural surface found a triangular wooden post, and three human skeletons, one of unusual size, embedded in sand. On exposure the smaller ones dissolved. He also found a highly polished stone, six inches long, one and a half inches wide, and half an inch in thickness, rounded at the ends. It was converted into a whetstone by a German of the vicinity.

By returning to the Jerome fork, and ascending that stream about one and a half miles, we approach a fort on the lands of the late William Metcalf, south of the stream, on an elevated plateau, facing the valley on section twenty-one. It was circular in form and contained about three acres. It was near a spring. When first discovered in the forest, in 1S12, the embankments were about four feet in height, and the base about ten feet in diamerer. Large trees grew in and upon the work. It commanded an extensive view. The fort at Tyler's, some four miles down the stream, could be easily seen by the naked eye. By the means of assault probably used by the race that then inhabited these valleys, it would have been difficult to capture it.

On an elevated point, two and a half miles north, and across the Jerome fork, was another fort on the lands of Henry Winbigler, on the northeast quarter of section nine. It contained about four acres of land, was circular in form, and was much more defensive than Metcalf's, because the ground around it was steep and more difficult of ascent. The embankments were also somewhat higher than the former work, and ten feet thick at the base. When first discovered it was covered with large timber - a sort of ridge oak, of slow growth, and must have been abandoned for a long series of years. It had a gate-way looking to the north and one to the south, and was near an excellent spring. From this fort a good view of Metcalf's was had. By the use of torches or other signals, the Tyler fort could have been alarmed at the same time. Nearly due west of t! is fort, on section thirteen, in Vermillion township, is a large mound : which was used as a burial site bv the A/ohci'o/n and res ; but was, doubtless, erected as a signal point by the same race that constructed the forts. West of it, about four miles, on section fourteen, and near the town j of Hayesviile, is another large mound, a: the head of I the valley reaching the Mohican. It was also most likely ; used as a signal point.

The Ci.F.Nn Fort

About one and a half miles nearly east of the Winbigier fort, on an elevated plateau, is found, near the center of section eleven, a square fort, the north side being two hundred and thirty-six feet long, the east side one hundred and ninety-five, the south two hundred and six, and the west one hundred and thirty-nine feet. The north side is thirty-six feet greater than the south, and the east fifty-six feet greater than the west side, so that the square is rather oblGng. There is a gate-way at the northwest corner, fifteen feet wide, with a guard or embankment extending out about thirty-five feet, which terminates in a small mound, probably the post of a sentinel. A wing about ninety feet long extends from the northeast corner, and one one hundred and fifty feet long, from the southeast corner. There is a mound a few rods southwest of the center of the work, thirty-one feet in diameter and about three and a half feet in height. This work overlooks the Tyler, Metcalf, and Winbigler forts, and gives a good view of the valley for many miles. A number of stone and flint instruments have been found in the vicinity of this work. Mr. J. N. Glenn, jr., has made, also, a curious collection of fragments of ancient pottery found in the vicinity of the fort, resembling those relics excavated from the mounds of central Ohio. In plowing he has also found many ingeniously constructed pot-holes, sufficiently large to contain eight or ten gallons of water, neatly paved with small bowlders, much burned and roasted. This may have been the work of modern tribes, but the earthworks evidently belonged to another race.

Continuing up the Jerome fork, which rises in the summit, in the north center of the county, is found a beautiful valley, from three to six miles wide, through which that stream meanders, fed by numerous smaller ones, on either side. As ve approach Ashland, an elevated point of land, on the north of the town, on section eight, southwest quarter, is seen overlooking the whole surrounding country, for a distance of from four to seven miles. This work is above the town, and there is a gradual descent from it in all directions. It is a strong military position. The practical eye of the engineers of the ancient race that once swarmed in these valleys, selected it as a defensible position of value. A circular embankment, two thousand one hundred and forty-five feet in length, containing an area of eignt and one-fourth acres, surrounded the brow of the hill. When the late Henry Gamble entered upon this land, in 1S15, the fort was covered by large trees, such as were found in the forests of the neighborhood. The embankments were very nearly four feet high, in the renter, and ten or eleven feet wide at the base. The work must have required a considerable body of men a lung time to con- struct it. It had a gate-way at the southwest side, facing a deep ravine ; and near the gale, a very excellent spring. In taking the dimensions of the fort, I was assisted by Colonel George W. Une, and Major Richard P. Fulkerson, who examined the work nearly fifty years ] ago, when much of the large timber was standing. The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railway passes down j the ravine just south of the fort, and the spring now supplies the water-tank. The embankments have been plowed over for nearly fifty years, and exhibit but slight traces of their outlines.

In looking down the valley some two miles, a large mound can be seen, which has recently been opened and found to contain human bones, charcoal and woody fibre, clearly evincing the presence of fire. The mound is situated on the northeast part of section nine, and is j composed of sand and drift. The excavation from which it was taken, about one hundred yards away, can be plainly seen. On section three, in a northeast direction from the above mound, about a quarter of a mile distant, near a fine spring, stood another small mound, ! which contained human bones, a few arrow heads and ! one or two stone axes and fleshers. These were turned up by the plow. The site of the mound is now obliterated. Other small mounds have been found in Montgomery township, the contents being similar to the ones described. Four miles northeast of the Gamble fort, ! on section twenty-eight, in Orange township, is found the Norris mound, near the village of Orange. It has been examined and found to contain human bones, large quantities of red and yellow ochre, charcoal, a few | shells and a pure copper needle seven inches long, with a well-tempered point, if the forest were removed this mound could be plainly seen from the fort. It was evidently a burial site. The presence of charcoal, and the j oily condition of the hard-pan, ochre and sand, would suggest that vast quantities of animal toil had been used | in its sacrificial ceremonies. It may have been a signal ' point also. Large tn-es grew around and upon this ! mound, its height being about five feet arid diameter thirty. It was evidently the work of a race that preceded the red man. This locality must have been the I lorae of a people in advance of the Indian. Many ; curious relics have been found within a short distance ; of the mound.

'About thirty- five years since, while engaged in cutting , a bluff, on the bank of the creek, east of the residence i of the lafe Patrick Murray, for the purpose of improving the trail-road alluded to, a number of human skele- I tons were unearthed, among which was one supposed to have been over seven (?) feet high, when erect. The bones were in a good state of preservation. This giant must have loomed up among his abougina! kinsmen 1 like a Colossus, as he headed their war-files along the forest paths, on the margin of the streams of this 1 county. If he wielded authority in proportion to his immense physical dimensions, he must have moie than rivalled Pipe, Logan or Tecumseh. Colonel Oldshue, who discovered the remains, found no difiicultv in passing the under-jaw over his face ! The cranium and 1

In the year 1850, George Barrick, in digging a well for Isaac Stull, near his residence, half a mile south of the village of Orange, after having dug down about five feet below the surface, came upon an earthen vessel that would hold, perhaps, about two gallons. Before discovering this singular relic, he unfortunately stepped upon, and broke it. It was found mouth up, and resembled, in many respects, a two-gallon crock. The rim around the top was artistic, and intended to aid in lifting che vessel. It was formed of a bluish earth, and seemed to have been subjected to the influence of heat. It was ornamented, all over the exterior surface, by finely pulverized white Hint, somewhat resembling rice grains, which adhered firmly to it. A short time afterwards, in plowing in a field, northwest of his house, Mr. Stull turned up a fragment of the same kind of vessel, as large as his hand.

In the fall of 1872, Harvey Roberts, residing a short distance west of the Stull farm, on an elevation, just north of the creek, while engaged in excavating for the foundation of a small building, came upon two human skeletons, some three feet beneath the surface, in a sitting posture, in a good state of preservation. These remains were undoubtedly those of Wyandot r, who had died during their annual residence' and hunting excursions along the .Mohican, over sixty years ago. Another old Indian cemetery was found, on the premises of Jacob Young, about half a mile southeast of Mr. Roberts, and many of the graves, being very shallow, were exposed, in his garden, and on the bank of the creek. The most of those on the lands of Mr. Young, we believe, were buried in a horizontal position. We do not, as yet, find the precise reason for this difference. It may be, that the parties found by Mr. Roberts may have been chiefs, or members of another tribe.

On the northeast quarter of section thirty-five, in Clear Creek township, and about two and a half miles northwest of Gamble's fort, is Sproit's hill. This hill is about ninety feet high, and contains, at its base, an area of about five acres. It is composed of alluvium, mixed with gravel and rounded boulders. The top is about sixty by ninety feet, and is nearly fiat. Upon this two mounds were, erected, each about twenty-fuc feel in diameter, and four or five feet high. When Thomas Sprott settled there, some fifty years since, large trees grew upon and about these mounds, which were about thirty feet apart. From these mounds a good view of the Gamble fort and the mound at Orange can be had.

In examining the south mound some thiity years ago, Thomas Sprott and a brother came upon a sort of stone coffin, constructed of flat stones set on the edges, which contained the skeletons of some six or eight Indians, neatly cleaned and packed, in u good state of | sc: \ a tion. On the flat stones constituting the lid of the coffin, over a peck of red vermillion was found. These relics were replaced by Mr. Sprott.

<|iiadrangular in shape. Its longest sides face th.e east and west, and are very nearly five hundred feet each in length, while the north and south ends are each about two hundred and fifty feet long, making the whole length I of the embankment about fifteen hundred feet. Near the southwest corner was a gate-wa\ leading to a very fine spring, some four or five rods distant. A deep i

S ravine encircles the west side and the south end of the < work, while there is a gradual descent from the north end and eastern side, showing that it was erected for de- fensive purposes. The view from the fort in all direci lions, is very fine, and takes in an area of four or five miles. The Orange mound and those of Sprott's hill, were plainly discernible. When Mr. John IJryte commenced to clear his farm some fifty-four years ago, he found large oak trees and other timber growing on the embankment, and often walked upon it in hunting squir- : rels. When he first saw it the walls were between three and four feet high, and perhaps ten or eleven wide at the base. He has been cultivating the fort for nearly fifty years, and the embankment is nearly obliterated. For defensive purposes the site was a good one. The water of the adjoining spring would supply a large army. It is situated on the summit, where the brooks divide to flow north to Lake Erie, and south to the White-woman, the Muskingum and the Ohio.

Ashland county must have been, in pre-hisloric times, the home of a numerous people. From evidences to be found in many parts of the county, its people lived in huge fortified villages, and from the nature of the places chosen for settlement, capable of making a vigorous defence against the attacks of a beleaguering enemv. High and commanding points were prepared. The localities are generally found at the head of valleys, at a prominent point; many of the ancient earthworks overlook a wide valley, and give, a commanding viev. of the surrounding country. In this manner, no doubt, the inhabitants were enabled to detect the approach of an enemy and 'guard against sudden attacks and surprise.

It is a curious question to determine by what means, or in what manner these villages were protected from attack and dispersion by the enemy. How were they fortified? The early French explorers say the ancient Erics , a remnant of the Mound Guilders, no doubt, resided in castles or towns fortified by picket or palisade; the intrenchments were thrown up in circular or square form. This county possesses, perhaps, twelve or fifteen such works, ranging in area from two to eight acres in quantity. The remnants of these fortified places found in the forests when the first pioneers commenced to clear up the country, some seventy years since, were generally about three to five feet high in the center, ami about ten feet across the base, having in many places large oak and other timber, ranging in a growth from three hunj dred to six hundred years.- Tt will be easily observed I that mtrenchments of this kind, without pickets, would furnish no possible defence against the attacking forces of an enemy; for the red warrior could easily leap over such an earthen wail and assault the village. It is equally difficult to fix, with precision, the date of these works, and the kind of people who built them; judging from the timber and its slow growth, they may have ranged these valleys fifteen hundred years ago. It is equally difficult to determine the cause of their disappearance; they may have been succeeded by the fierce red man, or driven by force to a less rigorous climate for protection. The traditions of the Aztec race fixes their former residence in the far north, possibly in Ohio, Indiana and in Missouri, from whence they were expelled by a fiercer and more warlike race, finally finding a home in Mexico. The habits of the red man are different; they are opposed to physical exertion, and never could have been the means of fortifying great military works. They are very warlike, full of strategy, and very destructive to their enemies. The race they expelled must have been organized into a sort of government, and either by coercion or arrest employed large numbers in the erection of their stupendous earthworks in different parts of Ohio. Many of their works seem to. have been erected in the absence of timber; in fact, the whole country | seems to have been almost destitute of timber, from | what cause we are unable to detennine. The growth of our timber has largely occurred within six hundred years. Acorns planted by design or accident, on the very intrenchments of the forts, have grown into lofty oaks, three to four feet in diameter, and perhaps six hundred years old.

With these prefatory remarks, we desire to call the attention of the pioneers to an ancient earthwork or intrenchment on lands of John and David Stoner, in southeast quarter of section twenty-eight, in Milton township. Sixty-seven years ago the pioneers of Milton | had their attention drawn to this work then in the forest, and nearly as when left by those who erected and occupied it. It is a few hundred yards west of Mr. Stoner's house, and is partly within a plowed field. It forms nearly a complete circle. The length of the circle is j about one thousand nine hundred feet; it contains nearly eight acres of land. The east half of the circle has been j plowed over for, perhaps, forty years, and is nearly obliterated. The west half of the circle can be distinctly traced, and has many trees up-on it. Among these were noticed some three or four white oaks, very tali, that are over three feet in diameter, that have grown upon the embankment, that are at least six hundred years old. In the location of tire work it is surrounded by ravines east, west, and northwest, 'possessing sufficient water for all practical uses. Eady settlers slate that before the removal of tin forest the work was about three feet high, m l nine or ten feet at the base, and may have been originally a strong stockade, and been the residence of lunnheT. of people, 'rite view from the foil is very fine ; it ovei looks the valley of the Black fork to the west and north- ; west for a long distance. The locality in Richland county i known as High Hill, comes clearly into view from the ; fort, and constitutes a striking feature of the landscape. : This seems to be a continuation of the same class of works found on the farm of the late John Bryte, m Clear Creek township), and doubtless erected by the same race, for defensive purposes. Mr. John W. Fry of Ash- | land, accompanied me in Hewing and taking the dimen- i sions of the work, and is of the opinion that it was much j more distinct when he first saw it, many years ago. ; From the fort v\c passed to land of Mr. Henry Pifer, about half a mile northwest, where we viewed the ; remains of an ancient mound, probably connected as a i burial site, with the fort, in the valley, near the Black fork. While no bones have been reached in plowing, j different strata of earth have been turned up, such as tough yellow clay, black, tough hard-pan and sand, and gravel in great abundance. By excavating eight or ten feet deep, it was discovered that large numbers of human bones may be found encased in muck, like those recently found in the John Green mound. In plowing farther south, along the Black fork, Mr. Pifer is of opinion that other burial places and excavations will i came to light. It will then appear that to erect and complete such a village, with the mound to be used for burial j purposes, it must have taken the joint labor of a vast number of men: To accomplish so much with the 1

Returning to the south end of the county we ascend the Black fork of Mohican. At the farm of Lewis Oliver, and one or two points below, were found mounds of five or six feet in height, and about thirty feet in diameter, at the base. A little southwest of Perrysville, on the road leading to Newville, on the summit, above the village, was a mound overlooking the valley, the size of the ones described.

Passing up the stream to near the old Indian village I of Greentovvn, to the lands of Mr. John Shambaugh, on , the north side of the stream, on section eighteen, we find another circular fort, containing very nearly two j acres, with a gate-way looking to the west. In the center was a mound, about four feet high, which had prob ably been an altar or lookout. When first discovered, the 1 embankment was about three and a half feet high, and ! ten wide at the base. It is difficult to conjecture for ! what purpose the work was constructed, as it was situated on the bottom, fully a quarter of a mile from the elevated lands on either side of the stream. A small brook flowed by it, from which, no doubt, water was obtained. Timber - sue!) as oak, hickory and elm, grew upon and within the work, the larger trees being over three feet in diameter. Fhe lands along the streams are very fertile : and the site of the fortification having been plowed over for half a 'entury, the embankments are merely traceable.

The Parr Fort

About one mile distant from the work alluded to, on section nineteen, is found what is known as the Parr fort. It is also a circular work, the embankment, when first discovered by the pioneers, being about seven feet high, and twelve or fourteen in diameter, at the base. It enclosed an area of about three acres, and had a gateway at the west. Very near it, on the east side, stood a large mound from which copper beads and stone implements have been taken.

I am informed by Dr. J. P. Henderson, of Newville, that this mound was opened some fifty years ago. In it were found human bones, charcoal, decayed wood, a stone pipe, the stem of which was wrapped with copper wire and a copper wedge. This last produced quite a sensation at the time, as it was supposed to be gold ; but on being taken to Wooster, and examined by a silversmith, it depreciated in value, and was disposed of for a mere trifle. The mound was of peculiar structure. It was built of large flat stones in a circular form, like a shot-tower, and filled up and around with earth ; and was a cone in appearance. The fort was well situated, and should have made a good defence. Many stone axes, stone fleshers, and polished stone plates have been found in the vicinity of these works.

About two and a half miles south of Parr's fort, near St. John's church, on the north bank of the Clear fork of the Mohican, is found another very strongly situated work. It is circular, and contains an area of nearly three acres. It had embankments from the gate on the south side (as I am informed), -leading down to the bank of the stream. When first discovered, by Judge Peter Kinney and others, it was covered with large timber, and the embankment was over three feet high. It commands a full view of the valley for many miles, and was doubtless used as a defensive work. Many very choice stone relics have been plowed up along the valley by farmers, and are now in the cabinet of I)r. James P. Henderson, of Newville. It will be seen then, that, Green township contained three defensive works, and is rich in archaeological remains.

We find no other remains until we reach the village of Mifflin. On the level land, a little northwest of the village, is a large mound. The topis slightly flattened, and was, no doubt, used as a burial spot by the Delcr, cares. It has not been excavated, and its contents are only a matter of conjecture. Many stone axes, stone heads, flint arrow-heads, and pick -shaped implements of stone highly finished, have been plowed up by tin: farmer-, a'.i along the valley of the Black fork.

There are, perhaps, twenty or thirty smaller mounds scattered over the county to which my attention lias not been called. The mounds of this county arc invariably truncated and m ne exceed ten feet in height. I am inclined to the opinion that many of the smaller ones were the center of an encampment, and wore erected for sacrificial purposes. Such n mound existed in the center of the council house at Gieemtown. The venison and bear nieat, for their great feasts, was boiled in large copper j kettles upon the mound. This may account for the char- | coal, ashes, and charred bones so frequently found in sniall flat mounds. I have reason to believe, also, the tent or wigwam of the ruling chief was sometimes placed or. a central mound of similar structure.

The Origin Ok The Works

Two hundred and thirty years ago, when the French Jesuit missionaries, La Moyne, F ther Joseph De la Roche, D'Allyon, Brebceuf, Chamount, and Sayard, were endeavoring to establish missionary stations among the Ilurons, O Hawns , and she l ive Nations known as the Iroquois, the Iiries , a powerful nation, owned all the territory south and adjoining Lake Erie, and gave name to the lake. This nation was able, single-handed, to repel the assaults of the Five Nations. Its borders extended along the lake shore, from the Senecas , near Buffalo, to the Miamis, southwest of the lake, one of their fortified positions, according to Schoolcraft, being on what is now known as Kelley's Island. Like the Ilurons, they are supposed to have occupied densely populated villages, well fortified by ditch and palisade. They owned the territory out of which the Western Reserve was erected, and many suppose the earthworks of this region were constructed by that people. When the missionaries were first permitted to enter the eastern part of their territory, they had twenty-eight villages, and twelve large tov, ns or forts, which contained twelve thousand people and four thousand warriors. From 1634 to about 1660, a fierce and relentless war raged between the Fries and the Iroquois or Five Nations , in which the Iroquois finally triumphed and expelled the Fries from the country.

If it be true, as conjectured, that the Fries erecced the earthworks of northern Ohio, it must have taken place about that period. If we take the growth of forest trees as evidence of so recent an occupation of these fortified places, it will make it tolerably certain that they were constructed by that nation. The peculiar structure of the embankments strengthens the supposition that they once contained a stockade. They are too low to have afforded protection in case of assault, and only upon the theory of having been palisades can we imagine they were used for military defence. If it be rue, that two hundred and fiity years ago, as suggested by Mr. Shea, the Huorns, Fries , and other nations occupied fortified places, it may be reasonably inferred that the Fries , about the beginning of the year 1600, occupied and fortified this region.

It may be said they were destitute of implements to construct such fortifications. We know not what implements were used, or how long it took to throw up such embankments, nor the number of men employed in their construction. The earth was found in situ , and only had to be heaped against each side of a palisade. How the stakes were obtained fur such a purpose is a matter of conjecture. The trees may have been felled, and the st,