Licking County, Ohio - Atit, 1881

First White Men Story

OLLOWING the Mound Builders and the Indians came the superior race to occupy the soil of Licking county. 'The first permanent settlement of the county was made in 1798; prior to that, however, a few white men either passed across, or occupied, for a short time, this territory. These may be noticed so far as history gives any account of them.

Christopher Gist was the first, so far as known. This hardy pioneer first set foot on the virgin soil of Licking in 1751. He was exploring in the interest of a Virginia land company. Anterior to his advent, and during long ages of pre-historic times, the Indian was probably.the sole and unmolested human occupant.

Two brothers of General Washington and other prominent Virginia gentlemen of that day were members of the land company represented by Captain Gist, and in whose interest his exploration was made.

This company had heard of the rich lands west of the Ohio, but they knew little of this great dark wilderness, except that it was occupied by savage tribes.

Gist started upon the Indian trail at the forks of the Ohio (Pittsburgh), and followed it to the forks of the Muskingum (Coshocton) and from there, by way of Wakatomika (Dresden), and King Beaverstown, which stood on the dividing ridge between the waters of the Hock-Hocking and Scioto, at a point about equi-distant between the present cities of Lancaster and Columbus, to the old Indian

' JoNEs AND DAVID DUNCAN - SKETCH OF Jones' LirE - "BiLiy" ADVENTURES - CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRADY AND His ScouTs - JUDGE ELLIOTT - SKETCH OF ELLI0T?'s Lit AND First DEATH OF A WHITE MAN IN THE towns near the Pickaway plains, on the Scioto, and from thence to the Indian towns on the Big Miami. This trail led to the reservoir, a portion of which is within the county of Licking. Captain Gist reached it and camped upon its border, as his written journal shows, 51, and on "the next day," continues the asa he "set OL from the great swamp." This trail, in all probability crossed the Licking at or near the mouth of Bowling Green run, about four miles east of Newark. Mr. John Larabee, who settled on the south side of the Licking in 1801, near the mouth of Bowling Green run, and a few

Andrew Montour, son of a Seneca chief and of the famous Catharine Montour, a Canadian woman; also Mr. George Croghan, a commissioner to treat with the Indian tribes on behalf of Pennsylvania, joined Captain Christopher Gist at the Indian village of Muskingum, situated between the Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers, not far from their junction (Coshocton), and accompanied him to the old Indian towns on the Big Miami river.

From the latter point Gist passed into Kentucky. He was a noted character,.a man of mark, a natural leader, and a heroic adventurer. The vear following his passage through this county (17 he with eleven other

Ae 52 ' families established a settlement between the Monongahela and Youghiogheney rivers in western Pennsylvania. He was an intimate friend and companion of the then youthful Washington, his while on the perilous mission under the ¢ of Governor Dinwiddie, to the Frenc]; ant on the Ohio and Allegheny rivers.

Washington once recommended him as a proper person to appoint to the office of Indian agent, and said that he knew "of no person so well qualified for it as Captain Gist." And further "that he had extensive dealings with the Indians, is in great esteem among them, well acquainted with their manners and customs, indefatigable and patient - most excellent qualities where Indians are 'concerned. As to his eT honesty and zeal, I dare venture to engage."

Two-thirds of the average years of human life passed away after Gist's tramp across the county, before it was honored by the presence of a second white man. This was an eccentric character known as "Chaplain Jones," and he was accompanied by aman named David Duncan, an Indian trader. These two gentlemen, in 1773, traveled eastward from the Shawnee towns on the Scioto, along the Indian trail of the Licking valley which had been followed by Captain Gist.

Duncan was from Shippensburgh, Pennsylvania, and was on his way to Fort Pitt, probably for goods. Rev. David Jones was on his return journey to Freehold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, from the Indians on the Scioto, among whom he had been as missionary, by authority of the Philadelphia Baptist association, of whiclthe was a member. He kept a diary of this journey, from which these facts are taken.

This diary shows that he followed a trail that led from the Indian tewns on the Scioto, to ''Standing Stone" (Lancaster), where, in the language of the diary, "'was an Indian town consisting chiefly of Delawares, and which was situated on a creek called Hock-Hockin. It appears muddy, is not wide, but soon admits of large canoes." He did not arrive at Standing Stone until nearly nine o'clock at night, and says "that his road was very small, and the night dark in this wide wilderness, which made traveling more disagreeable than can be easily expressed."

Wednesday, February 10, 1773, they "set out early in the morning - our course more northerly than northeast - the land chiefly low and level, and where our horses broke through the frost, it might be called bad road and good land. No inhabiht ae crossed a clear large stream, called Salt Lick creek [doubtless Licking river, four miles east of Newark] which empties into the' Muskingum."

The town above mentioned was doubtless the Indian village situated on the Bowling Green, five miles east of Newark, which yet existed twenty years later, when Judge Elliott, father of Benjamin Elliott, of Newton township, was located there as Indian trader. 'The diary Hohe country here appeared calculated for health, fertile and beautiful."

This 'Chaplain Jones" was born of Welsh parents, on White Clay Creek Hundred, Newcastle county, Delaware, May 12, 1736. He was licensed to preach by the Welsh Tract church in 1761, and ordained at Freehold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, December 12, 1766, and remained pastor at that place until he started on his missionary tour to the Indians of the northwest.

In 1775 he became pastor of the Great Valley church, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, but resigned the following year on being appointed chaplain of Colonel (afterwards General) Arthur St. -Clair's regiment, raised for service in the Revolution. He was on duty with his regiment at Ticonderoga, and served in two campaigns under Major General Gates. In 1777 he served as brigade chaplain under General Wayne. At the close of the war he retired to a farm in Chester county.

In 1789 he again visited the northwest, and January 13, 1790, preached the first sermon ever preached in the Miami country, at Columbia, six miles above Cincinnati. He was chaplain in

Wayne's army during his campaign against the Indians, and in 1812, though seventy-six years old, he again entered the army as chaplain, and served under Generals Brown and Wilkinson until the close of the war. This ended his public career. He was afterward a large contributor to the Philadelphia press on public affairs.

Chester county, Pennsylvania, commemorative of the Americans who were massacred there in 1777. He died February 20, 1820, in his eighty-fourth year, and was buried at the Great Valley Baptist church.

He often visited his countrymen on the "Welsh Hills," near Granville, in his missionary tours. Howe states that "the first Baptist sermon was preached in the log church (in Granville), by Elder Jones in 1806." This was probably Chaplain Jones.

He is yet remembered by a few of the early pioneers as a kind, companionable gentleman, of rare eccentricities, who always wore the queue, the breeches, the shoe and knee buckles, the cockade and military toggery, of high rank chaplain in the service; and as a gentleman of the ''Old School."

The third white man to press the soil of Licking, was ''Billy" Dragoo, who afterward became a permanent resident of the county. His first visit to this county was in 1786, under peculiar circumstances.

In October of that year, Mrs. Dragoo and her son, William, a lad of twelve years, were gathering vegetables in their garden in Monongahela county, now West Virginia, 'when a party of savages rushed upon them from an adjoining thicket, and made them prisoners. The mother was placed upon a horse that had been stolen in the neighborhood, and the party started in the direction of the Ohio river. On the third day of their captivity and before the river was reached, the horse rode by Mrs. Dragoo fell, and injured her severely, whereupon the Indians tomahawked and scalped her ; and often during the remainder of the journey to the Indian towns on Mad river, exhibited the scalp as a trophy, before their heart-broken captive boy. At the Ohio they were overtaken by another party of marauders, who had a number of stolen horses, and thereafter the captive was furnished a horse on the march. -

The Ohio was crossed three miles below Fishing creek, and the Muskingum, at the mouth of the Licking (Zanesville). They followed the Licking valley to the junction of the North and South forks of that stream (Newark), and then pursued the Indian trail up Raccoon creek, passing through Raccoon town, which, until 1807, was known as an Indian village, situated a mile or more above Johnstown, in Monroe township. Their route, it may be observed, passed through the Indian village on the Bowling Green, before mentioned. Sometime after his capture, Billy Dragoo was adopted by an Ottawa chief, with whom he remained a number of years, enduring all the hardships and vicissitudes incident to Indian life. He became an excellent hunter, and was engaged as such while the chief with whom he lived, and the other savages of the tribe, were engaged in their victorious campaign against St. Clair. Subsequently Billy married an Indian woman, and became a thorough The bridge of his nose was bored, and his ears slit preparatory to wearing the usual ornaments. He lived with his Indian wife until 1808, when there had been born to them four children, and for this family he had procured, up to that time, a precarious subsistence by fishing and hunting. About this time his brother, hearing of his whereabouts, visited him and obtained from him a promise that within forty days he would revisit his father and kinsmen, yet residing in Monongahela county. This promise was kept, and he passed through this county by way of the valley of the North fork, remaining over night in the small tavern kept by the first settler of the county, Captain Elias Hughes, on the farm afterward owned by William Weis, north of Vannattaburgh. The next day, accompanied by an Indian, his wife's brother, he passed through Newark, spending the nignt at the house of another of his brothers, who lived near the present site of Irville, Muskingum county. He then had suspended from his nose a half-moon silver ornament, wore large rings in his ears, and upon other parts of his person were other Indian trappings. He was at least half Indian, and could readily have laid aside the little remnant of civilization that yet adhered to him. Twenty-four years had elapsed since he was captured and carried away from the friends he was now going to visit At Irville two brothers and a brother-in-law joined him, and the four journeyed in company to meet his father. The latter, on hearing of his approach, could not await his arrival, but set out to meet him on the road. His friends and neighbors to tht number of forty or more joined him, and the cay alcade of excited and interested people traveled fifteen miles before meeting the long lost son. No pen or pencil can adequately picture such a meet- -ing. Remaining two months with -his father and breed children, on his way again spending the night with Elias Hughes. Two years afterward (1810) Billy Dragoo re- ' solved to abandon Indian life and its degradations, and spend the remainder of his days in the enjoy- »ment of the blessings of civilization. Taking two 'of his children, aged two and ten, respectively, he 'returned to Monongahela county and spent five years with his father and brothers. These two children subsequently rejoined their mother.

other family of children. Perry township, this county, where he resided until his death - about thirty years ago. Two of his daughters yet reside in Perry township. He never wholly abandoned his half civilized habits and mode of life, but continued until his _death to spend most of his time fishing and hunting. He was a quiet, peaceable, inoffensive man, and was greatly esteemed for his many excellent _ qualities.

The next white man to enter the limits of Licking county was Captain Samuel Brady, the noted scout 'and Indian fighter, with a party of hunters and scouts under his direction. The exact date of this -expedition has not been ascertained, but it must have been about 1792, or possibly a year later. The facts here given, pertaining to this scouting party, are upon the authority of four gentlemen of credibility, namely: Messrs. Hamilton, Simms and Darrah, who afterward settled in Muskingum county, and Mr. Jonathan Evans, who located near the Ohio river, below Marietta, all four having ' been members of the expedition. In interviews with the above named scouts, by _ Rev. C. Springer, more than half a century ago, as well as during subsequent years (the three first named being his. near neighbors and friends), the objects or purposes of the expedition were de- -clared to be "to ascertain the condition of the more or less hostile Indians of the Muskingum

The members of the expedition crossed the Ohio river at Wheeling, and directed theiz course to the forks of the Muskingum, at the junction of the 'Tuscarawas and 'Walhonding rivers (Coshocton), From there they moved up the Walhonding to the mouth of Kokosing or Owl creek, now called Vernon river. This stream they followed until they came to a point north of and near the headwaters of the Licking (probably the present site of Mt. Vernon), when they turned south and followed

From here they continued down the Licking four or five miles, until they reached the level plat of natural prairie, extending a mile or more along the river. Captain Brady was greatly enamored of the beautiful lawn which here presented itself to his view. To him it resembled a well-remembered spot in Virginia known as " Bowling Green." He therefore called it Bowling Green, and by this name it is yet known. The contiguous locality, in early times known as ''Montour's Point," is now seldom mentioned, but ''Bowling Green" is a very familiar name.

"Near evening" writes Rev. C. Springer, 'all the men had returned to camp but Jonathan Evans. After waiting in suspense for some time, they gave their usual signal for lost persons - firing their guns - but no response came from Jonathan; and as they had that day discovered fresh Indian signs, they had little doubt that he was captured.

Apprehending danger to themselves, they, for greater security, passed around the hill immediately southeast of Dillon's old furnace, where they lay concealed during the night. In the morning they resumed their march down stream, not deeming it safe to remain longer, although Evans had not rejoined them, and soon reached the present site of Zanesville. They continued down the river, but before reaching the mouth of Moxahala creek they, to their great joy, found Evans. He had strayed away, got lost, in fact, and remained all night upon an elevated point of land on the bank of the Moxahala, a few miles above its mouth.

This stream was therefore named by Brady "Jonathan's creek," and by that name it has generally been known since, and appears under that name in maps, gazetteers and histories.

In passing over the rapids, nine or ten miles below the falls of the Muskingum, the canoe of an Irishman named Duncan was wrecked and himself thrown into: the stream, from which he was rescued with but little difficulty. Thereupon those rapids were called "Duncan's Falls," and have ever since borne that name.

Thus the men of Captain Brady's expedition gave names to two important places on their line of march, and its commander very happily named another interesting locality in the vicinity of Newark, which names continue to be recognized by authors and historians.

So far as known, the last man to visit the present territory of Licking county, before the first settlement was made, was a gentleman afterward known as 'Judge Elliott."

The Indian village on the Bowling Green, several times referred to in this chapter, was the He was a bold, adventurous, enterprising young Pennsylvanian, who brought with him a stock of goods and became an "Indian trader."

He was the father of the late Benjamin Elliott, who lived three miles north of Newark, in Newton The point of high land that juts out into the first bottom of the Licking valley, and upon which stands the mansion of Charles Montgomery, close by the

3owling Green run, was in early times known as "Montour's Point," named in honor of the half-breed, Andrew Montour, before mentioned. Upon this spot Elliott established himself in a hut, or wigwam, for moneymaking purposes, as a dealer in such goods as he might be able to trade to the Indians for fur and pelry. He might be called the first white settler was not allowed to remain, as will be seen. Just what date Elliott became a resident of this Indian village is not known, but it must have been by the following account of the manner in which his mercantile venture terminated. After that treaty, Indian traders were not molested in their occupation.

One day a friendly squaw, in whose veracity Elliott had the utmost confidence, informed him of a plot concocted by the Indians, to take his scalp and appropriate to themselves his effects. Realizing the situation at a glance, he hastily gathered up his most valuable goods, and _ secretly

He had been gone but a short time when the discovery was made by the savages, who at once started in pursuit, and did not abandon it until they

The Indians confiscated the goods he was compelled to leave behind at the "Point," but failed to get his scalp; albeit he was never afterwards very familiar with them, and never resumed his trading operations this side of the river. He was, probably, the first merchant within the county limits.

When in subsequent years the trader of Montour's Point was known, he was a citizen of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and a member of the county court. At least as early as 1805, Judge Elliott was a large land holder in what is now Newton township. Although a frequent visitor to the county, he never became a permanent settler here. -

He laid out the second village in the county in 1805. It was located upon his land, where the Mt. Vernon road crosses the Brushy fork, three miles north of Newark, and on the south bank of that stream. He gave it the name of "Fairfield," but it ultimately became known as ""Canonsburgh," in honor of Thomas Canon, the tavern-keeper of the village. It contained a few houses at one time, but they were primitive in style. After a time, the west, and in his business operations displayed much daring and enterprise. He owned lands convenient to the "Big Spring," sometimes called the "Spencer Spring;" and upon the stream that 'rises from the spring, and near its entrance into 'the North fork, he built a saw-mill in 1814.

Judge Elliott was one of a numerous family connection, composed of men of energy and more than ordinary ability. His brother, Colonel Robert

Elliott, was a contractor in the army, was ambuscadedand killed by Indians near Cincinnati in 1794. Commodore Elliott, who participated, as second in command, in Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and was conspicuously identified with the American navy until 1845, was his nephew. In the war of the Rebellion, some of his descendants were conspicuous in the navy, acting an honorable part, and rendering the name famous.

The following incident is given on the authority of B. C. Woodward, esq., to whom it was related by Mr. Jennings Crawford, of Iowa, a son of the Crawford below mentioned: peace reached Wheeling, and to ascertain the _truth, the commandant of the post at that place dispatched six men, belonging to Samuel Brady's company of scouts, in the direction of Sandusky. This party was made up of skilled backwoodsmen, among whom were Crawford and one of the Wetzels. They crossed the Muskingum at Dresden, came across to the Licking river, up which they travelled to the present site of Newark. Here they turned north along the North fork, and after going a short distance beyond the site of Mt. Vernon, they became satisfied that Indians were watching them with hostile intent, and. turned back. Following the route they came, they encamped for the night about fourteen miles west of the present site of Dresden, in the eastern part of what is now Licking county, and not far from the line of Muskingum county - probably on the farm owned by the late Jocob Frees. In this camp they were fired upon by Indians, in the night; one of the party killed and one wounded. 'They scattered and made their way separately, the best they could, to Wheeling. Mr. Crawford afterward returned, with a companion, and buried the dead man.

If the account of this affair be correct, this was probably the first death of a white man that occurred within the limits of Licking county.

into Licking valley to "spy out the land." They were accompanied by Elias Hughes, in the capacity of hunter and guide, and it was at this time that he made the discovery of the beauty and desirability of the valley of the Licking. 'Two years after, in the year 1798, he returned to this valley with his family, and became the first settler of the county.