Lorain County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 5 of those read), 1879

The Mound-Buildebrs

A people, concerning whom nothing beyond the fact of their existence is known, are called Mound- Builders. 'This name was given them because of the earthworks, mounds and fortifications which they erected, - generally along the courses' of streams. Some of these are works of defence, others burial places. These mounds and their contents furnish us the only information obtainable in reference to this strange people. That the period of time at which they existed reaches far back into the past is evidenced from the fact that the races of red men who succeeded them have been unable to furnish us any account of who they were, whence they came and whither they went. A veil of impenetrable mystery enshrouds their history. 'Their mounds are a proof of their existence, for their character and the place and mode of their erection attest the handiwork of intelligent beings, while the bones, weapons of warfare, stone implements and arrow-heads which have been discovered and are still found buried in these earthworks, furnish a still stronger proof of the existence of a pre-historic people. The skeleton remains of human beings of such dimensions_as to show that their one-time possessors were beings of almost gigantic proportions, were exhumed from their ancient cemeteries by the first settlers. The Indians, disclaiming them as kindred, could give no information in regard to them. These ancient earthworks are found in several places in Lorain county. We describe one or two of them. Professor Newberry says:

"The best preserved fortifications in the county are on land owned by R. Burrell, Esq., in the angle formed by the union of French and Sugar creeks, in Sheffield township. The valleys of these two streams are quite deeply excavated, and inclose a narrow triangle of high land at their juncture, which is bounded by cliffs of shale forty-five feet in height and almost perpendicular. Across the base of this triangle, at the distances respectively of three hundred and fifty and two hundred and seventy-eight feet from the apex, are two deep, parallel trenches, each one hundred and thirty-five feet long, reaching from bluff to bluff. Mr. Burrell states that when the land was first cleared in 1816, these trenches were eight feet deep. They have been plowed over from year to year since, but are quite plainly discernible. The purpose of these trenches was evidently to defend from attack, a village or citadel situated on the level surface of the height. The plateau was evidently in habited for many years, perhaps centuries, as the soil which covers it is a 'made soil,' abounding in bones of animals, stone implements and arrow-heads. Probably the efficiency of the trenches was increased by palisaies or some other defence-of wood, all trace of which has disappeared by decay.

"An ancient fortification erected by the Mound-Builders is discernible on land owned by Mr. Jacob Delker on a bench of the west bluff of the Vermillion river, where it makes a bend after entering the township from Henrietta, not far below the bridge. The descent upon this projection of land is quite rapid. About midway of the descent a trench was dug and breastworks were thrown up. They now stand out distinctively, but have been cut through in the middle to permit the passage of wagons. The trench has been mostly filled in by the washing down of the gravelly bluff above. A young peach orchard is in the old fortification.

** About seven acres are included in a large fort on Mr. Jacob Ennis's land, on the east bank of the Vermillion river, three miles above its mouth. The Mound-Builders must have considered this an important station, as shown by these extensive intrenchments, now somewhat obscured in outline on one side by reason of many years' plowing. The soil of this fort contains quantities of fragments of bone and pottery and chippings of flint."'