Ashland County, Ohio - Chapter 27: After Ire War Cf Isn, 1880

'Die Close of the Tour. - Peace Declared. - A Rush of Piero*:! s to the Branches of ihe Mohican. - Cabin Raising. - The Woodman's Axe. - Log Rolling. - Planting. - Social Bearing of the Pioneers. - Sugar Making in 1S15.

After the departure of General Harrison for Buffalo, New York, the humbled Indian tribes of the northwest were earnest in their desire for an early peace. The government of the United States appointed General Plarrison and General Cass commissioners to negotiate a treaty with the Indian tribes. The commission me'.. at Greenville, July '.jjiq; and the tribes were represented at that [dace by their her d men, chiefs, and warriors, and a treaty was agreed upon, which was ratified by the Senate of the United States, and signed by President Madison, December 1, 1S14. In the treaty, the llryan~ Jots, De/invan'$, S/uno/tees, Senecas and Ci'yHpus. being friends of the United States, granted peace to the Miami:, PottavoatomUs , Ottawa s, Ktckapoos, Ct/pperoos and other tribes aiding the British. The treaty was signed by Killbuck, White Eyes and Captain Pipe of the Delmvores , and one hundred and ten other chiefs and heads of Indian tribes. The various bands or tribes mentioned in the treaty, agreed to place themselves under the protection of the United States, and aid in .li wars against Great Britain. This brought a speed) ieconcil ration among the Indians of Ohio, and au ted all danger of subsequent difficulties by fixing boundaries to tlie tribes and regulating their intercourse with the whites who had settled in their midst. In the mean- time, commissioners on the part of the United States ; and Croat Britain met at Ghent, in Belgium, and on the twenty-fourth of December, 1814, agreed to articles of a treaty of peace and unity between the two countries; but before it had been received and ratified by the two governments, the brilliant victory over the Brit- 1 ish forces under Buckingham, at New Orleans, had been j won by General Andrew Jackson and his gallant army, j on the eighth of January, 1815, the treaty being ratified | and signed February 18, 1815. Thus ended the second war for independence, after the United States had shown, i ability, for nearly three years, to cope successfully with the mother country by land, lake and sea. Tire warhaving closed, pioneers from all the States east, with their families, goods and valuables hastened to occupy a ! portion of the paradise west of the Ohio river ; and in i 1815 the forests, of this region echoed with the sturdy 1 blows of the new settlers.

A pioneer, Michael Culler, who was among the first I settlers within this region, assures us that in the months j of April, May, 'and June, the forests along the various . ! streams of this1 county presented a scene of unrivaled j beauty. The banks of the streams resembled a vast j greenhouse, where choice flowers, flowering shrubs, and plants of every' variety peculiar to this climate, might be seen growing in wild luxuriance, diffusing their fragrance ! on the passing gale. The trees being in full leaf, with an undergrowth of shrubbery, pea-vines, and sedge grass, intertwined by wild grape-vines; and, in the glades, black haw, red haw, and plum trees, in abundance: and all echoing with the merry songs of. birds,, j and the chatter of squirrels, leaping from branch to j branch, saluting the pioneer or hunter, rendered the j scene a veritable paradise. Fie says: "Nothing could be more lovely and inviting; though to the town and city people of the present day, a scene of this description would possess 'but few charms." After a trip to the Black fork to select his future home, he returned to j Maryland to report what he had seen in the far west, and : to invite a fair young lady, .of that State, to accompany i him to his cabin, to share his joys and sorrows, in his newly discovered paradise of flowers, beautiful streams, blooming forests, and rich land, in which dwelt Indians, wild animals, and serpents of all kinds! "Telling the i whole truth, the old people thought it extremely hazardous to make choice of such a home : ' but the little lady he had left behind him had a strong will and a brave heart, and said "she would freely go to the wilds of Ohio, and share .his joys and griefs, amid the serenades of wolves, and the teriffic screams of the wild cat." J She did come ; and, for over half a century, dwelt upon the banks of the Black fork, sharing the prosperity and happiness of a faithful husband, surrounded by her family, until the benevolent Father of all, in 1873, called he'- ; hence. The old man still lingers, with gray locks and ! trembling gait, and is now waiting to join her in that better land.* Since they came to the Black J,»rk. what a change ! The unbroken forests have been leveled b\ the woodman's axe, and the village and farm are nowseen, where then all was wild luxuriance. This is the story of hundreds of -pioneers, now old and feeble, residing in this county; and, though romantic, is, nevertheless, real life.

The first task of the pioneer was the erection of a comfortable cabin for the reception of his family. The first cabins were generally made of round logs, which were cut in suitable lengths, and dragged by oxen to the spot selected for the erection of a house. Those who bad ox-teams hauled the logs, while the axe-men cut them in suitable lengths. While this was being done, others were riveing clap-boards of oak for the roof. They were made six or eight incites wide, and about four feet long, and a half to three-quarters of an inch thick. Though mechanics were very scarce, almost any pioneer c-ould use a frow, an adz, a broad-axe and a drawing knife. When the. logs were collected, the task of raising commenced. A good axe-man was placed at each corner to notch the logs, while. other hands shoved or lifted them into position. When the first story was completed, straight saplings w ere placed across for joists, and upon which rested a clap-board loft. From the second story the logs were gradually cut shorter, and the ends tapered so as to form the roof, by placing straight logs three or four feet apart, upon widen the clap-boards rested, the last log of the main round jutting over about fifteen inches for the eaves, upon which a log was placed for the first course of clap-boards. As each course of boards was placed in position, it was secured by a roofpole, supported by blocks of the proper length, extending from pole to pole. The chimneys were very ample, and built on the outside, of split timber, and lined with stone and clay. A section of the logs was cut out for a door, chimney, and a small window or two. The floor was made of split timber, hewed into what were known as puncheons. Many of the cabins had only earth floors for the first year or two. In this manner the first cabins were erected near a good spring. Having thus completed a cabin for the new settler, and congratulated him on his new home, ail hands dispersed. In such rude cabins, the pioneers of Ashland county lived many happy years. The occupants of ' hose humble homes venal ways distinguished for their hospitality ar.d manhood.

The dense forests seemed to defy the efforts of man to remove them. The aggregated strength of a community always triumphed. It was the custom, for miles, to assemble >n aid of each other, to cut and heap the logs. The hands were divided into squads, so that they could work to advantage, and by the use of strong ox-teams, the logs were easily heaped into piles, where the) could be consumed by fire. These gatherings furnished excellent opportunities for the display of strength, ami the herculean woodsmen of that day were not backward in seeking the championship. The rugged men of tho-i times overflowed with fun and frolic. After a Irani da\ at a cabin raising or a log lolling, it was nut uncommon to wind up with a foot race, a wrestle, w even a trial of skill in boxing, it blows followed, the parties were compelled to Make hands, take a drink, and ague to be good friends. These little frolics were esteemed trivial, and only meant a sort of friendly how do you do. I o hold resentment after such .m adjustment, was regarded as cowardly, and hence, discountenanced. These exhibitions of fun and merriment were thought to be but the outcroppings of a whole-souled, courageous and spirited nature. Very few new communities possessed a more rugged, go-ahead class of backwoodsmen than the branches of Mohican, and nowhere in Ohio could be found a more generous and hospitable people.

The rarest sport was found at the corn huskiogs, flax scutchings, and quiltings. The corn was plucked from the stalks, hauled and piled in a long row, near where it was to be cribbed. An invitation was then extended to 'the hardy settlers and their sons to assemble in the evening and husk corn. At these gatherings captains were chosen, and the hands divided as nearly equal as possible, and the long pile of curn measured, and the center marked by a rail. The captain? were placed next the rail to maintain fair play, and keep it in position until the pile had been husked. At a given signal all hands entered briskly upon the contest. The rivalry was generally very exciting, and the golden maize was unshucked with astonishing rapidity. Interest was increased by an occasional song and a little whiskey. It was thought that a little music and whiskey added freshness and vigor. Shouting and hurrahing were in order. Thus hours passed, until the pile had disappeared. In the meantime, it was not unusual for some sly contestant, if the night were dark, to conceal many bushels of unhusked corn, that his side might excel. Such performances, if not discovered at the time, were esteemed allowable, and evidence of shrewdness. When the task was completed, supper was announced, and the buskers assembled in the cabin of the pioneer, where a plain meal had been prepared. To the surprise (?) of all, a large company of married and unmarried ladies cos - fronted the buskers. They had assembled in die afternoon to aid a neighbor friend in preparing a quilt. W hile the h ushers had been enjoying themselves over their contest, the quilting ladies had been arranging and bringing upon a table a steaming supper. After the buskers had satisfied their hunger, the 1 ables were removed, and some native violinist appeared. "French fours," and "Old Virginia reels" were then in order. '1 he puncheon floors received additional polish by the brogans of the rustics.

The cottons, calicoes and other goods used at that time were scarce and costly. This deficiency was supplied by home manufacture. Flax was extensively cultivated by the early settlers, and when manufactured into linen, largely used for shirting, pantaloons, and other wearing apparel. When combined with wool the article was called "linsey-woolsey," and was very generally worn by both sexes. W hat were known as "hunting-shirts" with a cape, a belt, and fringed around the edges, were worn by the men. They were large and (lowing, and nun. much esteemed in their day. Almost, anv housewife .,t that era could spin and preside at the loom, and nuieli of the family wearing apparel was spun and woven by them.

The flax scutchings, therefore, were of prime necessity, and the young men and women regarded such gatherings as highly useful and honorable. It was on such oc- | casions that the flax was broken, the shives separated therefrom and made fit for spinning and weaving, j These frolics, so called, furnished much amusement for the young people, and generally wound up with a merry 1 cabin dance. Everything tended to practical utility.

For several years, Beall's trail, and the Portage, cut by General Crooks, were the principal roads in the county, along which many emigrants reached their new homes in the wilderness. The roads diverging from ; these trails were mere paths, being only ten or twelve ! feet wide. The undergrowth had been cut. and removed , to the sides of the road. Owing to the sparseness of ; the settlers, the roads were, for several years, very rough and poorly kept. To keep them, even in a passable condition, required a good deal of labor. The supervisor of highways was a man of considerable importance. If he properly filled his office, he was regarded i as a public benefactor. From the importance of the position, it was customary to select the most energetic ; man as supervisor. For a long time, the only bridge | fund was the strong muscle of the pioneer. By him,

! .On the arrival of the early settlers, in 1810-1 i-i a, i there were a good many black bear, deer and wolves in [- the forests. In a few years the bear and wolves disapi peared. The deer and turkey remained until within the last thirty-five years. When the dense forests began to j be cut away, gray faxes appeared. Hunting deer and - other game was regarded as rare sport. A majority of the hunters kept hounds for deer and fox hunting. Foxes were esteemed fc.r their fur. In pursuit of this game the baying of the hounds, as they wound up and down the valleys and over the uplands, was deemed charming music by the hunters. The head branches of Black river were the usual resorts for game. Deer, bear and wolves were found there in abundance. Solomon Urie,

! John McConnell, Christopher Mykrantz, and Jacob Young were among the most noted hunters. Many an- 1 ecdotes are related concerning their exploits with the rifle.

J The forests of this county abounded in maple and sugar trees. Along the Black fork and Jerome fork and their branches, there was one continuous camp of sugar trees. For a long time prior to the appearance of white settlers, these regions were the favorite reso't of the De/aiva/cs, WycniJots and J/Twgvw, in the season for making sugar; ! and numerous huts and small camps of Indians were seen along the banks of the various streams of t his county. The Indian mode of tapping sugat trees, securing the sap, and boiling it down,, and granulating sugar, has been fully described in a former article. , Ain 1 tli. treat) ol 1814, the ll'yahJots , A Am :>rs. (V'a.wis, and Mri; v< s or ADuyv/j, returned to tin. region in the spring ci 1015 to make sugar and hunt The white set tiers and the Indians were frequently neighbors during j the season for making sugar, and exchanged visits, and . generally got along on friendly terms. This custom, in some parts of the county, continued for twelve or fourtrim years, when the Indians finally disappeared, never to return. Some of the pioneers who had lost relatives , during the war, did not entertain the most cordial affection for their red skinned brethren, and occasionally one of the Indians known to have been very active in killing ! and scalping white people during and prior to the war of 1812, ceased to visit the settlements, and it was whis- 1 pored about that they had probably fallen into Black river, or mired in some of the swamps about the Mifflin : or Clcnrcreek lakes.

Making sugar was rare sport for the young people. Small camp-houses of poles were erected and covered with clapboards or bark, and a furnace of stones, cemented with yellow clay, and sufficiently long to receive ; eight or ten large iron kettles, in which the sugar water j was speedily evaporated, and prepared for granulation. When large iron kettles could not be obtained, iron pots, brass kettles and oilier cooking utensils were brought into requisition. The large iron kettles were generally purchased at Zanesville, Pittsburgh, and Portland. Large troughs, dug-outs of white ash, holding two or ; three hogsheads, were made for the surplus water in a ; good run. T he usual mode of tapping, sugar trees being abundant, was to notch, and bore a hole so as to intersect the inner part of the notch, which sloped down and back, so as to fit in a spile of elder or alder to convey tiie water into a trough or other vessel. The troughs 1 were generally made of black and white ash, dug out, ! and would hold two or three gallons each. It was not uncommon foi a pioneer to tup from three hundred to , six hundred trees, and make from one thousand to one ' thousand five hundred pounds per season. Sugar, in | those days, ranged in price from eight to eighteen cents per pound, and hundreds of pioneers paid for their farms by making sugar. The utmost hilarity and good i cheer prevailed in the camps, and it was not uncommon j for parties of young, and even middle-aged people, to j travel four or five miles about the neighboring camps to j serenade, sing, tell anecdotes, romp and frolic Tims, : the friendly Indian and the white settlers gathered a harvest of sweets for many recurring springs, as neighbors.