Paulding County, Ohio - | Pre-Historic and Indian, 1892

IBBON, in his Decline and Fall of Rome. says that history is but little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. Bolingbroke, on history, says that it is philosophy teaching by examples. Webster defines it as the narration of events in the order fin which they happened. With the last definition as a guide, the author will for the second time, take up the historical pen, and attempt the writing of a history of Paulding county; and trusts that along the pathway of his somewhat arduous task he may be buoyed up by the smiles and appreciation of a generous and approving public. The history of Paulding county is fraught with romance, interspersed witb tragedy; progressive in its present, hopeful in the future: and intersting throughout its every detail. The county is not as rich in speci- "mens of pre-historic nature as are some of the other counties of the state, yet there is every evidence that portions of that strange people, the Mound Builders, once trod the primeval solitudes of our dark forests. There are no mounds worthy of note in the county, but just over its eastern border, in Perry township, Putnam county. is one whose contour is yet sharply defined. It is situated the east bank of the Auglaize river, and is about ten feet high. and fifty feet in circumference. A few years ago this mound was examined by a shaft being sunk ` in its center. At the depth of four feet a human skeleton was found which was evidently the remains of some one buried there since the tion of the mound. At the depth of eight feet were found quantities of broken pottery and other articles of that extinct race, whose mysterious works left us are the only traces of their existence. Who were they, from whence did they come, and what became of them? are the questions more easily asked than answered. Regarding them, the learned may have his theory, and the mediocre and unlettered their beliefs, but the mysteriousness of the Mound Builders still remains. That there was a time in pre-historic days when huge animals, of the now extinct species, roamed the wilds of Paulding county, is abundantly verified by portions -of their remains which are now and then unearthed. A very rare speci- ` was discovered May, 1891, of which the Paulding Democrat says as follows: "Last Wednesday, while the son of John Cozat. a farmer residing about six miles south-west of Paulding. was engaged at some work along Flat Rock creek, he noticed something peculiar projecting from the bank into the water, and upon examination found it to be an enormous tooth, weighing 41$ pounds, which is one of the largest specimens of that kind ever found. It is thought by many. who have examined it, to be the tooth of a mastodon, an animal of the Tertiary period. and allied with the mammoth." Indian History - When the curtain of history rose from the dark shadows which veiled the pre-historic race, the civilized world saw the ` Ohio country occupied by the Wyandots (or Hurons), and the Shawuees. The latter tribe had been driven from Florida, about the year of 1750, by the Seminoles and Creeks. They had fled down the Cumberland river, and so on into Ohjo, where they sought and received the protection of the Miamis. The Wyandots, the Delawares, and the Shawnees were of the Algonquin family. The Miamis, Ottawas, and Chippewas, were of the Troquois family. By the treaty at Fort McIntosh, in 1785, the Ottawas, _ the Wyandots and Delawares were assigned to the northern section of - what is now the state of Ohio, west of the Cuyahoga river. The Wyan- ` dots fought the invading armies of the Iroquois with desperate valor, until in a long contested battle their warriors were well-nigh exterminated and the shattered remnants of the tribe took refuge in distant Michigan. They were a race of heroes, and when General Wayne ordered his intrepid scout, Capt.Wells, to go to Sandusky, and capture a prisoner there, to get information from him, the veteran Indian fighter said: "I can easily take a prisoner, but not from Sandusky." "And why not from Sandusky?" said Wayne. To which Wells rejoined: * Because there Wyandots there." "Well, why will not Wyandots do?" And Wells replied, " For the best of reasons - because Wyandots will not be taken alive."

With this race of warriors out of the way, the Iroquois advanced upon the second line of Ohio defenses, and endeavored to subjugate the Miamis. But at this date a new element entered into the great game of war, with the resistless western marches of the Virginian riflemen and the British infantry. On the one hand, England enriched the Ohio tribes with armaments and gifts in vast profusion; and on the other, the United States proposed (in the Pittsburgh treaty of 1778) to the Delawares and their allied tribes to organize a friendly state, contracting to admit this aboriginal empire, when so organized, as one of the States of the Union. The tangible gifts of the British officials outweighed the rather misty promise of an Indian legislature, and the Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Wyandots and other tribes remained hostile to the Americans for nearly twenty years, and shattered more than one gallant army, until at last Wayne's famous American legion broke their power forever in the great general battle of Fallen Timbers.

As this legion, on its march to glorious victory, passed through the confines of Paulding county, its history, in connectlon with the county history, will have a direct bearing, and will be meet and proper. When the white settlements began at Marietta and along the Ohio, the warthirsty tribes of the northwest, under the control and instigated by the British agents, began their merciless depredations. General Harmar had been defeated, and Governor St. Clair, at the head of an army, of upwards of three thousand strong, had been surprised upon the banks of the Wabash in the southwest part of Mercer county, and his force entirely destroyed or dispersed, a detail of which disaster may be found in the fragment of an old army song:

This aroused Congress to a different policy. The commanding officers of the hitherto fatal expeditions might have been good generals, and undoubtedly were, in a combat with civilized armies, but they were entirely unaccustomed to an Indian warfare. How General Washington, who was reared to this class of fighting from his youth, could have committed the fatal blunder of selecting generals devoid of training in the peculiar duties demanded of them, is quite inexplicable. The lessons received, however, were not in vain. A new commander was selected, and this time a man who hail fought both the whites and Indians, who possessed not only unquestioned courage, but likewise a keen conception and quick resolve in his actions, the intrepid hero of Stony Point, General Anthony Wayne. This selection was made despite the opposition of, or, as Governor Lee of Virginia, puts it, "to the extreme disgust of all orders in the Old Dominion." But the President had selected Wayne not hastily, through partiality or influence, and idle words affected him.

In June. 1792, Wayne went to Pittsburgh and proceeded to organize the army which was to be the ultimate arbitrator between the Americans and the Indian confederation. Through the summer of 1792, the preparation of the soldiers was steadily attended to. "Train and discipline them for the service they are meant for," said Washington, "and do not spare powder and lead, so the men be made marksmen." In December, 1792, the forces, now recruited and trained, were gathered at a point twenty-two miles below Pittsburgh on the Ohio, in a camp which was called Legionville, the army itself having been denominated the Legion

While Waynes army was gathering and practicing target-shooting, the peace measures of the United States were pressed with equal perseverance. An expedition was sent to examine the field of St. Clair's defeat. This body reached its destination in February, 1792, and a letter from Capt. Buntin to St. Clair regarding the expedition says: "In my opinion the unfortunate men who were taken alive by the enemy were used with the greatest torture; and the women have been treated with extreme cruelty." Next there were peace commissioners sent to the various tribes. Colonel Trueman repaired to the Miami villages with friendly messages and offered the most reasonable terms. Other peace commissioners were sent to the Indians on the Wabash, accompanied by the Moravian missionary, John Heckewelder, and every effort was made to effect a friendly adjudication of the difficulties with the tribes.

On the part of the Indians these peace-offerings were received with a diversity of opinions. Some of the chiefs, among whom was the Wyandot war-chief, Little Turtle, urged the acceptance of the terms offered, while others, as yet intoxicated with the easy victories obtained over largely superior armies, were unwilling to listen to any argument offered. In vain did Little Turtle say them: ~ Brothers, we heretofore had chiefs opposed to us who were sleeping, but I say to you, the ' Great Wind ' [the name given to General Wayne by the Indians] is a chief who never sleeps." They, urged on by the British, who secretly promised them succor, would hear to no terms whatsoever.

General Wayne's legion passed the winter of 1792-3 at Legionville until the last of April, 1793, when it was then taken down the river to Cincinnati. There it encamped in the vicinity of Fort Washington, on a high plateau, selected for that purpose by Wayne's quartermastergeneral, Colonel Hobson, from whom the camp received the name of * Hobson's Choice." It was urged by some that the camping-ground was too far distant from Fort Washington and the town, it being located on what is now the western part of Cincinnati. Wayne, upon inquiry as to who had chosen the place, said: "Then it is Hobson's choice, and we must take it."

After encountering many obstacles, General Wayne, during the summer of 1793, was perfecting the discipline of his army at Hobson's Choice. Profiting by the errors of his predecessors, he at the same time tried to acquaint himself with every thing pertaining to the disposition of the Indians, their location, number, chiefs, and all other matters of interest to a commander of an invading army in a hostile country. He knew that he hada bold, vigilant and dexterous enemy with whom to contend. It was, therefore, indispensable to him to use every precaution in his movements to prevent a surprise. To secure his army against the impossibility of being ambuscaded, he organized a body of spies or rangers, selecting for it the best woodsmen the, camp afforded. He placed this corps under the command of Captain Ephraim Kibby, who had distinguished himself as a bold and intrepid soldier. The corps was divided into two companies, one commanded by Kibby in person, and the other by Captain William Wells, who had been taken prisoner by the Indians when a boy, and had grown up to manhood with them, consequently being well acquainted with their wiles and stratagems.

On the Tth of October, 1793, Wayne's army left their camping-ground at Hobson's Choice, and removed to Fort Greenville, which, under Wayne's direction, was strongly fortified. Here they went into winter quarters, having been sufficiently provisioned to that end. Nothing in particular occurred here, excepting a skirmish with a party of Indians, who made an attack upon some soldiers who were guarding a train of supplies. The Indians were easily repulsed, with some loss on both sides.

During the spring of 1794, negotiations were again opened with the Indians, and terms of peace offered them, but they were rejected. General Wayne then pushed his advance further into the Indian country, to the place of the St. Clair disaster, where he erected a work of defense, which was named Fort Recovery, signifying that the hitherto lost ground had been recovered. This fort was in the southwest part of Mercer county, and was at once strongly fortified, and made the basis of future operations. During the advance of the army Captain Wells and his scouts were constantly making raids into the enemy's country, for the purpose of taking prisoners, from whom to obtain information. In one of these expeditions they crossed the River St. Mary, and passed on to the Auglaize. On the high bluff, about one mile north of where now stands the stirring little village of Oakwood, they came upon a party of three Indians in camp. Two of the Indians were instantly shot and killed, and the remaining one taken prisoner. When the paint was washed from him, he proved to be a white man, named Christopher Miller. He afterwards joined the scouts, and did valuable service during the remainder of the campaign. A few days afterward a Pottawatomie chief was captured near Charloe. Truly, he who meanders along the dark Auglaize in Paulding county is treading upon historic grounds.

The army remained at Fort Recovery until about the 1st of August, when, Wayne having learned from prisoners taken that the enemy had gathered in great numbers at Grand Glaize (now Defiance), he hurriedly moved upon that point. To deceive the Indians a feint was made to the westward, as if to attack the villages on the Wabash, but the army really crossed over to the Auglaize, and passed down the west bank of that stream to its confluence with the Maumee. Here Fort Defiance was erected and the troops allowed a few days' rest. On the loth of August Wayne moved down the Maumee, and on the 18th arrived at a point just above Waterville, where he erected a temporary fortification for the protection of their stores and baggage, and named it Fort Deposit. On the morning of August 20th, 1794,the army moved on down the river to attack the Indians encamped in the immediate vicinity of Presque Isle Hill. There the battle of " Fallen Timber' was fought, and regarding it we quote from Gen. Wayne's Official report: "The legion was on the right, its flank covered by the Maumee; one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brigadier-General Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brigadier-General Barbee. A select battalion of mounted volunteers 'moved in front of the legion, commanded by Major Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely notice for the troops to form in case of action. After advancing about five miles, Major Price's corps received so severe a fire as to compel them to retreat. The legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood which extended for miles on our left, and to a considerable distance in front, the ground being covered with old fallen timber. which rendered it impracticable for the cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distance of each other, and extending for nearly two miles at: right angles with the river. lsoon discovered from the weight of their fire,and the extent of their lines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite grounds, and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance and support the first; and directed Major Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole force of mounted volunteers, by a circuitous route. At the same time I ordered the front line to advance with trailed arms, and rousa the Indians from their coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up to deliver a close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge so as to not give them time to load again. I also ordered Captain Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next to the river, which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude; but such was the impetuosity of the first line that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all their coverts in so short a time that, although every possible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the legion, and by Scott, Todd and Barbee of the mounted volunteers, to gain their proper positions, but part of each could get up in season to participate in the action, the enemy being driven, in the course of an hour, more than two miles through the thick woods already mentioned. Fromevery account the enemy amounted to two thousand combatants. The troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hundred. This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed in terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the influence of the guns of the British garrison. The loss of the enemy was more than that of the portion of the legion engaged. The woods were strewed for many miles with the dead bodies of the Indians and their white auxilaries, the latter being armed with British muskets and bayonets."

Wayne remained a few days in the vicinity of the battle field, laying waste to Indian villages and fields of growing corn, then returned to Fort Defiance, and thence on up the Maumee to Fort Wayne; one detachment passing up Flat Rock creek and encamping a few days about one mile southwest of Paulding, on what is now the farm of Mr. B. A. Holcombe. Inspired by this memorable march up the Maumee, a humble poet of the county has written:

The legion remained at Fort Wayne until November, 1794, then returned to Fort Greenville and went into winter quarters. Its hardships had been innumerable, but its mission had been eminently successful; and now, covered with the laurels of victory, it rested from its labors. The Indians never recovered from their signal and decisive defeat, and soon after, at a general treaty at Greenville,sued for peace. Thus ended the Indian wars in northwestern Ohio. Their homes onthe Maumee had been destroyed. Here for years they had dwelt in calm security. Its beautiful banks were studded with their villages, and the rich bottoms covered with cornfields. Here their wise men had met around the council fires, and the returning braves had exhibited the trophies of their victorious expeditions. In war the river was their base line of attack, their source of supplies and their secure refuge. But Wayne's legion

1805, 1818, 1829 and 1842, the Indians disposed of their lands, and on the last date a remnant of the Ottawas sold their last acre within the limits of Ohio, and removed the following year to the far west, settling near the mouth of the Kansas river.

' The largest Indian village ever located in the county was Charloe, beautifully situated upon the left bank of the Auglaize, in Brown township. It was near the center of an Indian reserve, four miles square, and known as Oquanoxa's reserve. dwelt that chieftain with about 600 squaw named Songo, and two brothers, named Pokeshaw and Wapacanaugh. They were generally peaceable and kind to the settlers excepting when under the infiuence of "fire water." No Indian tragedies of any note ever occurred within the limits of the county. In conclusion of the Indian history of the county, what can be said of the red man of today? There are west of the Mississippi one hundred and two different Indian reservations, with a population of about two hundred and twenty- subject. The United States in its treaties always guarantees that white men shall be kept out of the reservations. This provision is continually and shamelessly violated. Another monstrous iniquity is that the Indians are being constantly moved about from one place to another. They have no property in the soil which the law respects. The great cry is that they should settle down and go to farming. What white man is may be ejected before he gathers his first crop? The only condition on which an Indiar can get land for himself is to break the ties of kindred and friendship, leave his tribe, and take lands under the pre-emption and homestead law. 'This could rarely be done, even if the Indians were the fees necessary for the purpose. It is clear that but one of two destinies await the Indians - extermination or civilization. Which it will be we cannot determine, as we are no prophet, and cannot lift the yeil which shrouds the future of this strange and enigmatical people.