Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 9: Rocky Creek Fort Ball-Col. Ball Attacked by Indians Erastus, 1880

Richard Jaqua

ROCKY CREEK FORT BALL-COL. BALL ATTACKED BY INDIANS ERASTUS BOWE OAKLEY NEW FORT BALL FIRST POST OFFICE -MILLS-ARMSTRONG AND McCULLOCH SECTIONS EARLY SETTLERS IN FORT BALLLOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT -HUNTER'S MILL EARLY SETTLERS IN THOMPSON. ON HONEY CREEK AND ROCKY CREEK MELMORE COL. KILBOURNE HARRY BLACKMAN'S CORNERS ANCIENT FORT1FICATI ONS COL. RICHARD JAQUA.

ROCKY CRIT'.K. lias its source near the south line in section }}. Reed township. Running north about three miles, it takes a westerly direction through the center of Scipio township, entering Kden near the north-east corner, and sweeping through several sections, turns in a north-westerly direction and enters the Sandusky river at its right hank, in the city of Tiffin.

Nearly opposite, and west ot the mouth ot this stream, on the left hank of the river, where Lafayette street now strikes the same, is a large -pring of excellent, cold water. This spring attracted the attention of Col. (as. Y. Hall, when in 1813 he was about to build a stockade near the army road on the bank of the river, under instructions from (icncral H a rr i son. A deta< hment of men. under the command of the Colonel, built the stockade, and called it "Fort Hall."

In September. iS^^. a company muster was held near the pla< c where the old fort Used to be. There was an open space between this 'loint and where the Mo^r works now are. The trees were cut. but ps Mil! remaining, interfered very much with the evo --,!;- My lamented friend. ( 'hristopher Studer. a e lit'1 uill be found elsewlu're herein, i and unbelt at mpaiH mu-ter. It was the 'irM display of' Ameri«an ever --aw. The sun shone very hot. and to gel into some kind, of -diade we both sat down under a small sycamore bush 'i-.at grew out tr<>m under an old log. bedded half wa\ into the ground. l'hi> log .. rt D| the '>id tort, and the little s\ < amort1 bush _;reu writing. This < amp was built as a temporary place of security in < ase «t nece-sit\. and a- a maga/ine lor supplies. It consisted of stakes a toot in th:< ki;e» fixed in the ground, with old bavoncts driven through them hori/ontally, near the lops. A^ain--! the-,e lo^-, \\ere piled upon the out>;de, .uul o\er tlu- hu's «lirt was thrown trmn a ilitch. whu h >ur rounded the whole. Theiv was room in the ulterior lor ti\e hundred MICH.

On the i.Sth of November. 1817. Mr. F.rastus Howe, the first settler in Sciiet .1 cotiiit\. arrived at ('amp Hall, where some hired men had erected tor him a double louc house within the limits ot tlie camp. Mam of the stakes were then still standing. This was the first settle meiit in the county. Here Mr. Howe kept tavern, which was the first in Seneca. Hotel bills must have been lii^h in those days, because butter co>t two shillings a pound, pork six dollars per hundred, and tlour twelve dollars a barrel. The house ot Mr. Howe was the only one on the left bank of the river within the present limits of Tiffin, when the town of Oakley was surveyed and platted.

In i X i <) Mr. Joseph Yanse surveyed a town upon land granted to one Robert Armstrong, known as the Armstrong section, and called it < >akiey. This was the first town surveyed and platted in the count}. Howe's tavern was in that survey.

Mr. I (avid Risdon. who took a very active part in opening up the i ounty to civili/ation. and who became very popularly known as a siir vevor and citi/en. was appointed the nrst post -master in the count}, 'he office beiiiLC located here at Oakley. There was then but one mail route in or through the count}', and that extended trom ('olumbus to Lower Sundusky. alonu the armv road. -

It was said oi Mr. Risdon. that while he was post master he used to L:O fishing oc< asionalh . and < arrv the mail matter with him in his hat. I'eople th.it were anxious to -et their mail, and could not wait for his return, would lolimv him up. ah>n_; the river. Mr. Risdon would then take the post office trom his head, and look lor papers and letters.

In iSji ;\vo brothers. K/ra and Case Hrown. erected the first ^rist mill in the count}, upon Honey creek, near Melmore. A Mr. Free. Iroin Hloom towiishiji had the first urist ground there. The event was hailed w;tli -real jo_\ aniou-st the earlv settlers, who had hitherto been compelled to L:O to Monroevillc. ('old ('reek. I'pper Sandusky or Mount Yernon. to _;et their ^rindim; done. John Knit/er. an earlv ---tiler from the state of Pennsylvania. aUo erected a jurist mill a short d.;>;am e ilnwn the < reek trom Mrlmore. in iXjj. Mr. Knit/er was es 'eemeii bv those who knew him. tor his intelligence and manlv ipialitie-.

I :; i x i o \bner I 'ike settle*! in ( )akley. and, at'.eru ards located on I he 'arm -it 'he late l./ra Maker, near where the mill by that name still -rand- . .; - : Sandusky.

the sagacity of Josiah Hedges, were of the opinion that if the lands on the west bank of the riser had not belonged to Robert Armstrong, the counts seat ot' Sene< a would have been 1m ated there.

At the treats of the Miami of lake Frie, the I'nited States -ranted this tract to Robert Armstrong. It was a section of six hundred ami torts ,n res, and known as the "Armstrong reservation."

Armstrong svas taken captive by the \\sandots ss hen a child three years old, in Pennsylvania. He married a halt blood, and was much respected. He spoke exi client Fn-lish, and one could si an els discover that he svas raised amongst the sas a-es. This land svas -ranted to him by the I'nited States for his sirs ices as interpreter. He died in iSj^.in the \\sandot reserve, about tsvo miles from I ppcr Sandusky. At the same treaty the I'nited States also -ranted to the children of William Mi ( 'ulloch a section of six hundred and forty acres, ly in- just north ot and adjoining the Armstrong reserve. Mi ('ulloi h was killed by a i annoii ball at the sie-c of l-'ort Mei-s, while sittin- in (ieneral Harrison's tent, and was at that time employed bv the I nited States as interpreter.

store, was the place intended tor the location of the court house. New Fort Hall was surveyed and platted in 1X57. It is situated u]>on the eastern portion of the Armstrong section, and contained six hundred and twcntv in lots. together with several additions that had then already been made to Tittm, "Pan \ an" among them, which was situated between the iron bridge and the tunnel.

In iXji Josiah Hedges entered the land where the old town of Tiffin was afterwards located, at the Delaware land office. The town was surveyed and platted by the brother of the proprietor, Oeneral lames Hedges, ot Mansfield. The first stick was cut upon the town plat in March. 1X22, and soon thereafter Henry Welch, of Kdcn township. John Mini and two other men, Wet/ and Drennon, had each a lot given to them, with the condition that each should build a cabin on his lot and move int.< it with his tamilv. which was done accordingly.

lames Spink, ot \\Doster. came here in the same month, and brought with him a stock ot goods. In the following winter his store was broken open and robbed of nearlv all its contents. This so discouraged Mr. Spink that he left in disgust.

Finally the day arrived when the great trouble about locating the county seat was to come to an end. The legislature, during the winter session of i Xj.?. had appointed three commissioners to locate the county seat for Seneca countv. vi/ : Messrs. Hertord, Miner and Cyrus Spink. These gentlemen arrived here on the 251!! of March, 1X22. and located the seat of justice for Seneca count}' at Tittm. where it has ever since remained. The Fort Hailites were very much chagrined and put out about it, but finally came down.

Very soon thereafter Mr. Hedges built a mill on the right bank of the river, immediate!) north of Tittm. where the present brick mill now stands, tin/ dam of \\hich is still (lowing back the water of the river throughout the whole extent of the city along the river. The mill was known b\ the name of the "Hunter mill," because Mr. Samuel Hunter, the oldest son in law of Mr. Hedges, had charge of it. To show how greal a spih the principal inhabitants on the Fort Hall side of the river entertained against Mr. Hedges, the) inliuenced Mr. Spencer to bring an a< lion against \]r. Hedges, tor flowing Spencer's land b\ the dam. Th i I ihe mill, and said all the hard things of Mr. Hedges

Then Mr. Hedges resorted to .1 stratagem. whi« h -oon proved t" have the desired etfeet. 1 ledges sent mil word to a! I his i 'i-tonier- .mil the people far ami near, that he uould hkels he i ompellcd In take himill away, and that ii they ui-hed their ^rindin^ done the\ IIPI-I hurry up, etc. This nntit e ra;-ed -mh general indignation m the i - «uiiti v against the enemies of Mr. lied_;e- that ii turned the tide in his ta\ur. and Hunter's mill be< ame the nn»t popular null "D the ri\er. Mr. Hedges bought Spemet'- Ion Hall, and pea< e ua- restored to the border. At the time the i ommi->>ii>ner-> Imated the (<nni!\ -eal at I'ittin. there were but six « ;il>in^ Hi it . I 'he greater number «' t hi- early settler- were mi the Fort Hall side, and the lau\er-. d'x tm-. MICK hants and all. were in uni-»n in their li^lit U]MHI Mi. lleiLe--. b'.n lie init^en eraled them all.

About the -aine time the toueriim oak-, -oil and -i ein r\ aloim the bank- of llo:i<-\ i reek and l\oi k\ < reek, made the immigrants -a\ . u;th the di-< iple- of old: -- It :- ^ood for n- to be here ; let M- maki here three tabei'liaele- : one for thee, one lor MO,,'-,, am! one to,- l.l;a-.'

I 48 History Ok Sknkca County

Col. Kilbourn. also a pioneer surveyor in Seneca county, took a very acti\e part in its organi/ation. He surveyed the state road already described and known by his name; also the towns oi Melmore and Caroline in this count}'.

Among my first acquaintances in America, was my friend James M. Steven-., of Melmore. He and 1 were apprentices ami learned our trades at the same time, in the same shop, in Tiffin. James is a great singer - was at that time - and among the many songs he sang was the poem composed by Col. Kilbourn on Melmore. James used It) sing it to the tune of "How tedious and tasteless the hours."

Friend Stevens - well, I don't like to say much of the living - but James is a very clever man. He lost an arm in the war of the rebellion, and is now familiarly known as Colonel Stevens. The poetry on Melmore is recorded here, not so much for its poetic excellence, but because lame-; used to sing it.

Moses Smith put up a small frame building across the road from Anway's house, in which, lie kept a store for awhile. Robert Dutton was the first man that died in the township, and was buried on his farm, which is now owned by Frederick Fox. William Pierre, a colored man, put up and carried on the first blacksmith shop in the township. Mary, daughter of John Anway. was the first child that was born in the township. She is the wife of Mr. John Wilrox, of Republic. A Mr. Fanglev was also among the first settlers.

and expressive countenance. He was a great talker, and very interesting in conversation. He lived in Columbus, where he associated with the best society, and was highly esteemed. He was a great singer, and often produced his own poetry, adapted to some familiar tune. The widow ot one ot his sons became the wife ol Mr. Keber, a lawyer in Sanduskv City. This son was a phrenologist of some note, in ( 'olumbus.

Honey creek is the largest affluent of the Sanduskv river at its right bank. It rises near New Haven, in Huron count}', in the marshes, and near the point where Richland, Huron, Crawford and Seneca counties corner. It enters Venice township immediatelv alter it leaves the marshes, and taking a northwesterly direction through Venice, it enters Bloom near its northeast < orner. Then, taking a westerlv direction through Bloom, it t1<nv> into Fdeii township, and making a large curve in Fden. it cuts across the southwest corner ol Clinton and enters Hopewell in section tliirtv-six. and there the Sanduskv river at the s ->t ream, and to those 1 ' beauty and scenery, the i1., i he beautiful farm In >uses. ' i > add to (he c o m f <> r t ' ' - aft r.ii lion: but to people lev. i here is not ; n all this - - very singular construction ami workmanship. There \s.is m>thin_; about the works th.it would indicate the Iinli.in. and tin- fort must ha\e belonged to a people who prei edcd the Indians, and of whom the Indians themselves had no knowledge. The work \\.is < i>n-tru< tfd ol' stone, sonic ol which were dressed. The main buildings ucre in a circular t'orm. about one hundred teet in diameter. At the side towards Honey creek there was attached to eat h ot these t in ular walls a stone appendage of about twehe tee: square, with an opening towards the spring. 'There was a spat e ot about three hundred \ aids be: ween these circular walls. I'.oth buildings seemed to ha\e been alike. As Lite as iS'S, the walls \\ere about n\c teet hi^li. but t rumbling doun.

'There was IM >ign o; an\ mortar having been Used, in the ere« tion ot' the buildings, and \et it seemed that the stones had OIK e been held together b\ some cement, troiii the manner in whi< h the\ rested upon eat li oilier. The stones had 1 alien d<>\\ n on bo1. h side- ot the w.ill, and the piles on eat h side were as high as the \\all itself.

Forsythe was in command. The Major examined each man separately, and being fully satisfied of the truth of their statements, gave each man a pass.

Jaqua then went over to his native county of Columbia, and on the }d day of April. 1X13. started back tor Ogdensburgh. On his way he met his friend Brown at Morristown. New York. They were both experienced in the use ot small boats, and intimately acquainted with the dangerous places in the channel of the St. Lawrence. Here they came to the conclusion that they would help other deserters to get over to the American side, and tor that purpose procured a craft, by the means of which they helped a goodly number of the fugitives to get across the river to the American side.

This sort of employment was exceedingly dangerous, inasmuch as no crafts of any sort were allowed to touch the Canadian shore; yet these friends followed up this work during all the summer and fall of 1813. The Canadian authorities became fully informed of these operations, and sent a squad of men to a small island opposite Gibway Point, with instructions to capture both (aqua and Brown as they were passing to and fro.

One night (aqua. Brown. Patterson, and live others crossed over to Gibway Point and secreted themselves until morning. Patterson walked along the beach to attract the attention of the guard. Immediately three men were seen [tutting out from the island in a punt-boat, and landing on Gibway Point.«pulled their boat on shore, and then made for Patterson. These men and Patterson, getting into sharp conversation. Patterson receded trorn the British and the shore, and when they were tar enough away to be considered sate. (aqua. Brown, and the other men, who were secreted with them, jumped up. and with cocked guns and the help ot Patterson, took the men prisoners and handed them over to a militia captain at Rawsee. This captain detailed a guard, consisting of Sergeant \\hipple. (aqua. Brown, and several others, to take the prisoners to Sackett's Harbor, which they < lid.

In the fall of the same year. 1X13. the American arm\ . under Gen. \Vilkrrson. uas in camp on the American side ot the St. Lawrence, a short distance below Gravelly Point. Gen. llainhn. with his troops, was al-o >;ationrd at a point on the same side < ailed Lrcm h Mills. Hamlir. was very anxious to have \\ilkersoii. with his men. join him, ibout. it would require a long and tedious man h bv rk the whole force in boats and proceed down the St.

Hamlin sent two messengers witli his orders for NVilkerson, and when these arrived at Morristown, where Jacjua and Brown then were, one ot the messengers was taken sick, and became unable to ponced further. 'The other messenger employed |a<|iia and Brown to take him to (len. Wilkerson's headquarters. Thev took the punt boat. and. traveling by night only, they reached (ien. Wilkcrson's camp in two weeks after they lett Morri.stown. In a tew days thereafter. Brown and laqua were engaged by (Ien. \\iiker-oii to pilot him and his forces down the river to (Ien. Hamlin, through the 'Thousand Isles. lacpia and Brown, with their punt-boat and a (lag. took the lead, and the fleet, with (Ien. \Vilkerson and his forces, passed s.ilely through the 'Thousand Isles, and reached a point about lour miles above Tort I'resc ott. called Hog 1'oint. where they landed. Here the army remained a tew days, and then crossed the river into ('anada. Tor about four weeks thereafter. |a<pia and Brown were < oiistantly busy piloting parties down the river. Tor tear of trouble troin the ('anadian authorities, Mr. (aqua kept his name, and the tact that he wa- dratted in Canada, a profound secret during all the time he wa- a--o( iated \\ith the movements ot the American troops along the St. l.awrence.

On the lath day ot May. iSi.i. Mr. Jaijtia enrolled hi- name a- a private in a < ompany ot minute men under ('apt. T'.lli-. at 1 lotindsfield. about five mile- above Sacketf- Harbor. I>ur:nglns service in that company, one Wol-ev was in charge of a tied oi -mall boat- loaded with store- belonging to tin- I mled State-, and vessels then : n pro, ess of construction. When the cmnpanv arrived at a point ott B;_: Sandv creek, near Sackett's Harbor, thev were not;, id bv the British ileet. and Wolsev . to save his tleet. ran it into the month ot Bi^ Sandv. The bar at the m out h o! the (reek prevented the Bn ! ish v es-el- jroni in. 'Thereuj'on th" British immedial followed \\'ol-ey. 'The alarm was arri v ed v erv -< >< >n at the -< ene, am thereon duty, gave the Briti-h battle. Af time, the British retreated, leaving ninetv six of the field. Mr. |a<jua -m c ceded in hav :ng In- tain;! v bi < fall of i,S i }, and now joined them. In i x i ^ he w .is timber and lumber to Sa< keti's Harbor, \\liepvessels u ere being built.

He moved to the we -tern part o! tb.e -tate oi V lived six years, tnd then moved to this countv, in i.s.'j, an Kden township, where he lived to the time Brown had pro eded li;m as a pioneer f.i th;- c nunly.

Colonel Jaqua, as he was familiarly called, received neither compensation nor pension from the government for all his valuable services, until 1872. His property in Canada was all confiscated by the British authorities. t'pon his petition to Congress, the Hon. C. Foster representing this district in Washington, Congress generously acknowledged and recogni/ed Mr. Jaqua's merits, and granted him a pension, by special act. that tended very materially to gladden the few remaining years of the Colonel's life.

Col. Jaqua was a little more than six feet high, and well proportioned. He was blessed with an iron constitution, and great force of character. In his boyhood days his chances for education were not very good: but whatever he lacked in book-learning, he made up by his sound sense and clear judgment. In stature and persona] appearance, in his movements and tone of voice, he resembled fosiah Hedges, the proprietor of Tiffin, very much. He had a noble bearing, an open, frank, but sincere countenance: heavy lower jaw, clenched lips, dark eyes, nose not very large and a little of the Roman shape, and a fine forehead. His very looks would say: "I'll do as I agree, sir." lie took a very active part in public affairs in Seneca county, and contributed largely to the development of her resources, having lived here more than half a century. He was social in his nature, hospitable, generous, kind. He was a good neighbor, a good citi/en, a good husband and father, and. above all. an honest man. He died, without a struggle, in peace with Cod and mankind, on the j6th of September, 1878, aged ninety-one years, five months and seventeen days. His wife had preceded him to the other world on the ;th of May, 1877. aged eighty six yeUrs, seven months and tour days. This venerable couple lived in h;qipy wedlock nearly seventy years - more than two generations of time. The Colonel was buried with the plain, but impressive ritual of Ma>onrv. having been an honored member of the order during the greater part ot his lite. Rfyuit'scc in pace.