Stark County, Ohio - Chapter 2, 1881

THE development of all the branches of natural science the last half-centniT has been so colossal that a Hood of light has been thrown upon numberless subjects, that befoi'e were either wholly or paiiially unknown. New fields of instruction have been opened to the race in eveiy department of science, and a vast fund of information that touches the sjirings of human life, and widens and elevates the s[ihere of social usefulness, has been placed before eveiy true philomatheau for his imjirovement. One of the most liaffling undertakings for the unpromising research of scientific men, is to clear uj) the mysteiy enveloping the origin and early stages of human life. That all earnest efforts looking to this result have signally and wholly failed, is not because millions in money have not Ijeen expended, nor because unremitting research of splendid intellects has not been turned in this direction; but is probably because the subject lies beyond the limits of the circle in which the mind of man m\ist move. The sedulous endeavors to clear up the mystery have disclosed many circimistances connected with the early history of the human race that are of vast social value, iuid iu-e regarded with universal interest throughout the earth. Many of the factors which combine to fonu the wonderful organism of society, many of the relations and forces compelling and controlling individual conduct, and many of the pre-existing, environing conditions, which metamorphose the laws governing social intercoiu-se, have been revealed l)y the persistent labor of scientific men.

of the ancient people, now univei-sally known as Mound-Builders. That a strange and semicivilized people resided throughout all the counby in times which antedate the Indians' occui>ancy of the soil is established l)y conclusive evidence, aside from the almost universal denial of the savage tribes of their having had any participation in the erection of the vast number of earthworks scattered throughout the continent. It is estimated that, in Ohio alone, there are 1(1.(1(10 of these works, many of them being in a fair state of preservation. All that is known of this mysterious people has been discovered from the decaying remnants of their works: but their origin and final fate are enshrouded in hopeless obsciu'ity. Some authorities have suggested that they ultimately deteriorated into the ancestoi-s of the Indian tribes, though the majority of intelligent WTiters on the suljj(>(rt discourage such a view, and give evidence tending lo show that an interval of many eentiu'ies elapsed between the reign of the two races. Others state the conviction that they were Mongolians, having reached the Western Continent by way of Behriiig"s Strait, ^'arious iuiti(|uarians have refeiT«'d their origin to the Hebrews, Tartars. Persians, Celts, Egyptians, Toltecs, Aztecs and Peruvians; but in most cases the reference is largely speculative. From their works must l)e derived the solution of their modes of life: habits; customs; advancement in intelligence, morals, social intercourse, and the means of sustaining life; their degi'ee of civilization; th<Mr knowledge of the arts of jx'ace and war: their liinguage, religion, and labor: and their final fate, whether ly e.xtinetiou through war, famine, or pestilence, or whether thiy became the ancestors of the succeeding Indian tribes. Although the pre-historic remains of Stark

Comity are few in mimber and comparatively luiinterestiug in detail ; yet, since reseai'ch has thro\vn so mneb light upon the suViject, ;ind aroused so much interest among scientists and lovers of science, a brief statement will here be given of the progress that has been made in this bi'anch of arclueology.

The ancient earthworks, conceived to have been erected by the Mound-Buildei-s, have been divided fi'om the theory of their special iises into mounds, effigies and inclosures. Moiinds are subdivided into sejiulchrai, sacrificial, templar, observative and memorial. Effigies are animal, emblematic, symbolical and religious. Inclosures ai'e militai'y, covered, sacred and festival. Em'tli was the usual material used in the construction of these works. Some iu-e found built wholly of stone, and some of eailh and stone in varying proportions. Sepulchral momids are ordinarily conical in form, are of all sizes, varying in height fi'om a foot to seventy feet, and are more numerous than any other class. Within them, and usually at the center of the base, there are always foimd bones, which sometimes are hard and sound, but usually are brittle or in a crmnbled condition. The universal presence of human bones renders the view plausible, that these mounds were used as sepulchers. They always contain one or more skeletons, together with implements and ornaments, sujiposed to have been placed there when the individual was Ijiu'ied. for use in the Spirit Land. It is thought that the size of the mound bears some relation to the illustrious character of the person, in whose honor it was erected. Others infer from the quantity of bones often found in the larger ones, that they were the tombs of many individuals. Igneous stones, ashes, and chai'coal are often found in proximity with the skeletons, under conditions which render it probable that fires were used in the burial ceremony. With the skeletons are also foivud specimens of mica, pottery, bone and coi)i5«r beads, and animal bones. Ordinarily these moimds contain but one skeleton, though in Licking County seventeen were foimd. The most noteworthy of this class was one in Hai'din County, which contained 800 crmnbling skeletons. Col. Whittlesey and others, however, entertain the opinion that they belong to the Indians, who had used the mounds for Ijurial piu'poses. Templar mounds are few in number, and are ordinai'ily circular. They are invariably truncated, and are often suri'ouuded with embankments, inclined planes, or s^siral pathways or steps, leading to the smumit. They are found romid, square, oblong, oval and octangular, and generally rest upon a large base, but have a limited altitude. It is supposed that these elevations were sm'moimted with wooden temples, all traces of which have been removed by the ravages of time. These mounds and the buildings at their smumits, are thought to have been erected for religious pui'[)oses. Sacrificial mounds are ordinarily stratified, with convex layers of clay and loam above a stratum of sand. They generally contain ashes, charcoal, igneous stones, calcined animal bones, beads, stone implements, lottery, and specimens of rude sculptui'e. They ai-e often found within iuclosm'es, which are supposed to have been associated with the religious ceremonies of the Mound-Builders. Altars of igneous clay or stone are often found. Evidences of fire upim the altars yet remain, showing that viu'ious animals and probably human beings were immolated to secm-e the favor of the Great Spirit. These moiuids infrequently contain skeletons, together with implements of wai': mica from the Alleghenies; shells fi'om the Gulf of Mexico; differently colored varieties of obsidian; red, pm'- jile, and green sjiecimeus of porj)hpy; and silver, copper and other metallic ornaments and utensils. Observative mounds were ajjparently designed for alarm- towers, or signal stations. Some wi'iters have fancied that ! they " occur in chains, or regular' systems, and that many of them still beai- ti'aces of the beacon fLres that were once burning upon them." They are often foimd built like towers fi-om the summits of emliankments siu'- roundiug the inclosm'es. One of the latter, in Licking County, has a height of twenty-five feet. "Along the Miami liiver," says Judge Force, " are dotted small mounds or iirojectiug highland which seem to have been built to caiTy intelligence by signals along the valley." Memorial mounds are of that class of tuiini/i intended to commemorate some important event, or to perpotnate the memory of some tlistinguisheil eliarncter. Most of tlio stone mouucls Ijcloni^ to tliis elass, and usually eontain no bones, for the supposed reason that they were not used iis sepulehei-s. They are thoucflit to hav(> l)een monuments over the illustrious dead of the Mound-Builders.

Elliuies are elevations of earth in the form of men, beasts, birds, reptiles, and, occasionally, of inanimate objects, varying in height from one foot to six feet above the suiTounding soil, and often covering many acres of land. Mr. Schoolcraft expresses the belief that this class of works were designed for "totems," or "triliuliU' symbols;" while Prof. Daniel Wilson and other ^\Titel-s of distinction entertain the opinion that they were ei'eeted in accordance with the religions belief of th(> various trib<>s of Mound-Builders, who worshiped or in some way venerated th(> animals or objects represented by the elevations. A large work near Newark represents a bird of enormous size, with its wings outspread in the act of flight. Its total length is aliout 200 feet. An excavation in this elligy disclosed a clay and stone altar, upon which were found charcoal, ashes, igneous stone, and otlier evidences of fire. The stuToundings indicated that the altar had been used for sacrificial offerings. It is called "Eagle ^lound." from its fancied resemblance to that bird. Another work near Newark represents a huge alligator, having a total length of 200 feet Prof. "Wilson believes that it " synilj(^lizes some object of special awe and ven(>ration thus reared on one of the chief high places of the nation, with its accom|)anying altar, upon which these ancient ])eo))le of the valley could witness th(! celebration of the rites of their worship, its site having been obviously selected as the most prominent feature in a populous district abounding with militaiy, civic and religious structures." The gi'eat(>st breadth of the Ixidy is twenty feet, and its body, from hind-legs to fore-legs, is fifty feet. Each limb is twenty-five feet long. The principal portioTis of the animal are elevated about six feet, while other portions are much lower. The most remarkal)lo earth work in Ohio is in Adams County. Its fonn is that of an enormous serjient more than a thousand feet in length, with body in graceful anfractuous folds, and tail ending in tri|)le coils. The gi'eatest width of the bod}- is thirty feet, and the effigy is elevated alxiut five fe(>t abov(» the siuTounding soil. " The neck of the figure," says the American Cyclopedia, " is stretclied out and slightly curv»Hl. and the mouth is opened wide, as if in the act of swallowing or ejecting an oval ligm'e, whidi rests partly within the distended jiiws. The combined figiu'e has been regiu'ded V)V some as a representation of the oriental cosmological idea of the serpent and the egg."

Defensive inclosures are ii-reg>xlar in fonn, and are always on high ground, in positions difficult to api)roach by a hostile fo(>. "The walls." says the American Cyclopedia. " generally wind around the borders of the elevations they occupy, and when the nature of the gl'oirnd renders some point more accessible than others, the height of the wall and the depth of the ditch in these weak points are proportionally increaseil. Tlie gateways ai'e naiTow and few in mimber. and well guarded by embankments of (>arth placed a few yards inside of the openings or gateways, but parallel with them and pi'ojecting somewhat beyond them at each end. thus fully covering the entrances, which, in some cases, are still further protected by prejecting walls on (>ither side. These works are somewhat numerous, and indicate a clear ap])reciation of, at least, the elements of fortilication. and unmistakal)ly point out a C(*rtain degree of engineering in their general make-up.

" A large number of these defensive works consist of a line of ditches and embankments, or several lines, carried across the neck of peninsulas or bluff'-hi>adlands. formed within the bends of streams - an ejisy and oVwious mode of foi-titication common to all rude ])eople-.." The era1)ankments of one of this class in Wan-en Comity are nearly four miles in length, varying in h<>ight from ten to twenty feet, to accord with the locality to be protected, and inclose several hundred acre.s. Covered ways or jiarallel walls ai'e often found, either conn(>cting ditVerent inclosures, or portions of tlie same. Tluw were undoubt edly designed to protect those passing bad; ancl forth within. There are largo numlx-rs of sacred iuclosures in the form of circles, squares, hexagons, octagons, ellipses, parallelograms, and others, many of which ai'e designed and executed with siu'prising geometrical accuracy. They are sometimes found within military inclosures, and very likely were connected with the religious rites and ceremonies of the peojile, as small elevations are found within them, which were evidently used for altars, ujwn which sacrifices of vai'ious kinds were offered. Some archpeologists maintain that many of the so-called sacred inclosures were intended and used for national games and celelirations, and it is probable that those without the altar wore used as such. The earthworks and their contents afford abundant opportunity to specu.late as to the characters and customs of this ancient^ people, of whom nothing is left save their crumbling habitations. They were a numerous people, as is clearly proved by the magnitude and elaboration of their works. Their presence here, beyond question, antedates the coming of Columbus, and very probably extends back a thousand years or more. Perhaps a majority of intelligent men who have made the subject a study jjlace the Mound Builders" period back to that of the Egyptians. Assyrians and Babylonians - to a period two or more thousand years before the Christian Era. Some place them back much farther in the past - back to a time when Southern Europe and the British Isles were inhabited by what is now Icuowu among antiquarians as " Fossil Man." The antiquity of man is now an established fact.* Pre-historic archfeology, the latest- born of the sciences, has lived through the successive stages of scornful denial, doubt and unwilling assent, and has finally won for itself substantial recognition. Even its most strenuous opponents are forced to concede that there are proofs of man's existence dming a laj)se of time far exceeding the limits of the previously ajjproved chronology. In the Quaternary gravels and cavei'ns, mingled with the bones of numerous extinct species of animals, such as the mammoth, the i woolly rhinoceros, and the cave bear; human bones have been discovered, although comparin tlio P..pular Hcienee atively rarely, while the implements and objects of man's fabrication are found in large quantities. Those found imbedded in or covered by stalagmitic formation, sometimes many feet in thickness, render it impossible to confuse these evidences of man's prehistoric existence with those of a later date. The human remains discovered show man, at this earliest epoch, to have been possessed of a cranial development quite equal to the average now. But, though the antiquity of man is admitted, and the fact of his co-existence with extinct animals during the Quaternary period cannot be denied; yet both the dm\ation of the Quaternary period, and the question of his existence in the previous Tertiary age, are still stoutly contested. Whether the duration of Quaternary times extended over a period of one hundred thousand years, as some claim, or over twenty thousand, or even less, can never probably he absolutely determined. The most satisfactory explanation of the chronological question has been foimd in the systematic esjilorations that have been carried on without interruption since 1865, by a most comjJetent committee of the British Association, of a large cavern in South Devonshire, near Torquay, called " Kent's Hole." The most scrupulous care and vigilant watchfulness have characterized these explorations and investigations. The following is a brief sketch of what has been discovered in the course of the exjiloration: The bottom of the cavern was found to be encmnbered with huge blocks of limestone that had become detached from the roof, between and under which was a layer of vegetable mold of varying depths, up to a foot or more. In this layer were found objects of various periods, running back as far as the time of the Roman occuj)ation of the island. Below this came a floor, a stalagmite of an average thickness of sixteen to twenty inches, and underneath it a layer of cave earth four feet deep, in which were found objects of man's fabrication. Still lower, they came upon a second floor of stalagmite, which in some places had attained a thickness as great as twelve feet. Below all came a breccia (angular fi-agments of rock cemented together), in which were found numerous teeth and bones of the cave bear.

and with them three undoubted flint instruments. Now, in one pai"t of the cavern is a huge boss of stahigmite rising fi'om th(> floor, and on it is inscribed, " llobort Hedges, of Ireland, FebiniaiT "iC, H)S8." For neai'ly two liunth'ed yeai^s, the process of the formation of stahigmite appears to have been going on, and still the letters are now only covered by a film of not more than one-twentieth of an inch in thickness. Even gi"mting that the deposition of stalagmite may have [)roceeded much more rapidly under fonuer conditions than at present, when more water and more c<irbonic acid may have peneti'ated the cavern, still it is evident what a lapse of time is required to account for the fonuation of such a mass of material. Nor can accident or fi'aud be invoked to explain the presence of these relics of man, under the circiunstances in which these have been found. The work was executed under the daily su])ervision of the committee, and by tnistworthy laborers, and no intermingling of objects falling fi-om a higher level: no burying of them in later times in excavations made in an older deposit: no attempt at making gain fi-om forged articles, palmed off upon the credulous collectors, in this case, is possible.

Much more might be quoted in this connection, if space pennitted. The distant antiquity of the Mound-Builders is not so well established as that of the "Fossil Man." While some intelligent authorities place the latter twice, or thrice, or even more times, back of the Mosaic account of creation, the former are allotted a period in history conesjMjnding, as has been said, with that of the Egyptians, when records were first chi-onicled. Many imjHjrtant inferences can l>e drawn of the chai'acter of the Mound-Builders, from their works. They were uncjuestionably subservient to rulers or superiors, wli<; had power to enforce the erection of gigantic structm-es, which, considering the semi -barbarous condition of the people, their lack of suitable implements of lal)or, and their ini])erfe('t and insufiicieut knowledge of mechanical princii)les, are surjirisingly vast in extent and ingenious in design. Their works indicate that the people were warlike: that they were familiar with many mechanical and mathematical rules; that they were religious and probably idolatrous; that they wer<> skilled in the manufactm"e of metallic and bone ornaments and pottery; that they had attained no little degree of perfection in the working of metals: and that they were essentially homogeneous in customs, pursuits, religion and govermnent. They, of necessity, were an agi'icultural people, being too numerous to live l)y the chase alone. They ofl'ered burnt and other sacrifices and oblations to l)oth gix)d and bad spirits. Dr. Foster says they worshiped the elements, such as fire, air and wat«r - also the sun, moon and stai-s, and offered hmnan sacritices to the gods they worshi]>ed. Many implements and ornampnts have lieen found scattered tlu-oughout the continent, that undoubtedly belonged to the Mound-Builders. Of these there are stone axes, mauls, hammers, celts, mortars, pestles, flint aiTow and spear heads, fleshing and skinning instiiiments, ceremonial stones, shuttles, colored slate ornaments, In-eastplatos of stone or shell, ornamental charms or totems, sh(>ll ornaments, rude and imperfect specimens of potteiy, bone and metallic ornaments, igneous stones, slate implements for wea\ iug, inscrijitions and devices, and a multitude more, of all sizes and shapes, whose uses are unknown. That many of these were made and used by the Indians is certainly true. It is (|uite likely that the latter people would learn something from their predecessors, especially of those implements used in the arts of war, even though an iuten'al of many yeiU's elapsed between the reigns of the two races.

It is now the design to give a brief, accurate description of every earthwork in the county, whether it was constnicted l)y the Mound-Builders or l)y the Indians. In Congress Lake, in the northern pait of the county, is a singulai- formation. NciU' the center of the western side of the hike, bounded on the east by its waters, and on all other sides l)y a deep, marshy swamp, is a large moi;nd. some seventy-tivo feet in diameter north and south, and about fifty east and west. It is conical, rises some fifteen or eighteen feetalx)V(> th<> level of the swamp and lake, and is com]>osixl of the same material as the adjacent bluffs. It is difficult to determine whether this is an arti- licial or natiu-al formation. In either case, it must have been an island in an early clay, and. if occupied by either of the above-mentioned races, must have been an impregnable position. An excavation of a few feet was made on the eastern side, but nothing of note was discovered. Futiu-e efforts in this direction may bring to light important facts.

On the farm of David Yant, in the southeastern part of Bethlehem To\vnship, is a structure which must be refen-ed either to the Mound-Builders or to the Indians. In a large, level field on a low tract of land, is a large moiuid, which must have been erected long before the white man came to the coiuatry. The moimd is some sixty feet in diameter and five feet in height, although, when first erected, it is evident it was much narrower at the base, and had a corresponding increase in height. Time has accomplished the change by washing the soil from the summit. The mound is constructed of eaiih and stone, and, from the design, it would seem that the latter was at first heaped together, very likely with some distinct order in view, and afteiTvard, over all was thrown a large quantity of dirt. There is a strange tradition regarding this mound, which is as follows: Two i)owerful Indian tribes had been at war for many years, and still the feud between them was unsettled, and the tomahawk and scalping-knife continued to do their dreadful work. The older sachems of both tribes saw that the hostile jiarties were so eqiially matched that both tribes would be almost or wholly exterminated should the feud continue until settled by the arbitrament of war. Treaties for peace were called, liut no terms could he mutually agreed upon that would be satisfactory to both parties. Finally, after many such attempts to adjust the difference by overtiu-es of peace, it was agreed that twenty of the bravest and strongest warriors of each tribe should assemble on the level tract of land where the mound now rests, and there, with knife and tomahawk and war-club, should be closed in deadly strife, after which the " hatchet " should be buried, imd peace should prevail. Accordingly, on a given day, the two parties of dusky warriors, armed capa-pie for the fray, assembled, and, after an'aying themselves in the grotesque paraphernalia of war. and assuming a hostile attitude near each other, the word for the onset sounded, and the di-eadful work Ijegan. Every art of desperate encounter was practiced by the combatants, and the brave men, one by one, sank down in death, until at last but a single one ' remained, a powerful young warrior, the com- I ing chief of his tribe. But the terms b}' j which the feud was to be adjusted called for the blood of this young warrior, and his father, an old man, and the chief of his tribe, I stepped forward, and, with one blow of his L tomahawk, stretched his son dead at his feet. \ The bodies of the forty sacrificed warriors : were placed together on the ground where they fell, and over them were heaped the stones and the earth constituting the present moimd. If the tradition be true, the moimd shoiild contain the crumbling skeletons of the dead warriors. It has never l)een opened, and it will be left to some future historian to I'ecord the jtrobable truth of the tradition, after the mound has been opened and its contents disclosed. As far back as the memory of man runneth, a large oak tree, between two and three huudi'ed years old, was growing fi'om the siunmit of the mound. This was removed many years ago, and the soil around the mound is now a cultivated field. The Mound Builders are known to have erected similar structui'es, and possibly this formation may be properly referred to them. Even if the moiuid is found to contain many crumljling skeletons, or evidences thereof, either the tradition may be tnie. or the structure may have been the work of Mound- Builders, as the latter people often biu'ied their dead in large numbers in the same mound. Of course, all I positive knowledge on the sul->ject will ever I remain hidden, until all things shall be made ' plain. There is said to be a smaller mound not far from the one just described, but its location could not be found by the wi'iter. At various places along the course of the Tuscarawas, there are meager evidences of the presence and work of a former people. Several mounds may be seen in the valley at dif- \ ferent places, but there are no traditions rei garding them, and, beyond reasonable doubt, I they are natiu-al formations. When the connty was lirst settled, it was no imcommon thing to discover old Indian trails intersectinj; each other at various points in the county, and to find the crunihlinio; remains of old villages, that once teemed with a hu'ge and thriving pojJulation. Those have long since been ' removed by the destructive influences of time. There ai'o many curious earth formations in the co\inty. which, after extended examination, might disclose the fact that they were consti'ucted by the earlier races. Otliei's. no doubt, have Iseen destroyed by the husbandman. From the fact that Stark County has a noticeable lack of ancient remains, it has been infen-ed that the county was a portion of the neutral land which separated two or more hostile nations or tribes of Mound- Builders. Large numbers of (>iu'th and stone works are found ak)ug the (Juyahoga River in Summit County, and also farther south on the Lower Tuscarawas, and on the Muskingum. This renders plausible the netitral view of St.irk County. Perhaps, oV(>r these broad plains, long Ijefore the present growth of timber had started, the god of battles raged iuid thundered. In some portions of the count}', large numbers of flint aiTow and speai" heads, and implements and utensils of various sorts, are discovered, some of which have been refen-ed to the Mound-Builders, and some to the Indians. Quite a number of iron axes have lieen found in the county. These were mauufactm'ed in England, and shipped to this country to be used by the Indians during the bloody Ixjrder wars of the last half of the last century. Many ye;u's ago, on the farm of ^NEartin Bechtel, where his residence now stands, a number of flint aiTow-hoads, spear- heads and ornaments were found buried. At the same time, several Indian saddles were unearthed, all being considerabl)' decayed. No evidenci^s were seen that Indians had been bm-ied there. Their saddles, however, had been, but certainly not for safe keeping. There is scarcely a jwrtion of the county that has not a similai- tradition.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Indian history of Stark County is extremely meager as regards pnjminent events, several interesting incidents are remembered, and will be naiTated. Perhaps no other territoiy in the

United States was the stage u])(>n which were enacted so many thrilling border incidents a.s Ohio in early years. From 17.">0 until the war of 1 8 1 2. there was a continued succession of Indian atrocities and alarms. Some of the Ohio tribes were, for short periods, at [)eace with the whites, but no permantmt cessation of massacre and i>illage could be anticipated. Other tribes, a.s the erratic Shawauese, constantly protested against the encroachment of the whites on the Indian lands, and steadily resisted almost eveiy overture for [)eac(». During all the wai-s in wliich the borderers were likely to be involved, an alliance with the Ohio Indians was earnestly sought, or at least gi"eat inducements were oftered them to remain neutral. The British, on the Canada side, through the artifice or impostiu'e of their emissaries, lost no opjjortunity of inciting the savages to l)utolier the white ])ioneers in Eastern Ohio and "Western Pennsylvania, and to ])illage and burn tlieir homes. In 17-")0. the members of some ten or twelve tribes lived in what is now Ohio, among whom were the following: The Wyandots (called Hurons by the French), the Delawai'es and Shawanese (both members of the .iVlgoncpiin gi'oup), the Miamis (also called Twigtwees), the Mingoes (a branch of the Iro<iuois or Sis Nations), and the Ottawas ami Chii)i)ewa.s. The Wyandots occupied the country in the vicinity of Sandusky River. The Delaware,s were established on the JInskingum and Tuscarawas Rivers, and at a few other points. The Shawauese were chiefly found on the Scioto and Mad Rivers. The Miamis were on the Great and Little Miami Rivers. Tlie Mingoes were in great force at Mingo Bottom near Steuben ville, and at sev(>ral other ])oints in Ohio. The Ottawas occujiied the valleys of the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers; and the Chippewas, few in number, were mostly confined to the southern shore of Lake Erie. Only four of these tribes were present in such nitmbers as to merit a special sketch. These ai'e the Wyandots, the Delawai'es, the Shawanese and the Ottawas.

The Wyandots. as indicated by the idioms and other characteristics of their language, were related to the Iroquois; but, about the middle of the seventeenth centurv. thev em- braced the religious faith of the Roman Catholics, and, for some reason luiknown, severed their connection with their relatives, the Iroquois, and cast their lot with the powerful Algonquins.* Their original residence was in Canada, some authorities fixing their location on Georgian Bay, and others, as Mr. Schoolcraft, on Montreal Island. Their number is estimated to have been about 40,000 souls. Some time after this, they became involved in a war with the Iroquois, by whom they were nearly exterminated, after which in Pennsylvania at the close of the seventeenth century. Those in Florida lived at peace with the Spaniards, and afterward became known as Savannahs, or Yemassees. These retired to the Creeks, and linally joined the Northern Shawanese. The Iroquois claimed sovereignty over the Shawanese, and drove them west. In 1 758, they aided the French; but, in 178], sided with the English. They joined the conspiracy of Pontiac, and were active in war until subdued by Col. Bouquet. In 1774, enraged at the attacks of Col.

finally to Quebec. They were found south of the great lakes in IHfiO, by some French traders, and, ten years later, having become involved in a war with the powerful Sioux, they removed to Michilimaekinae, and were accumjianied by Father Marquette. Afterward, they established themselves at Detroit, their hunting-grounds extending into Northern Ohio. In 1778, remnants of the tribe were yet in Canada, while the one at Detroit was estimated to comprise about one hundred and eighty warriors. In 18"29, a small band of the tribe was located in Michigan. They numbered about forty, and were provided with annuities by the Government. Immediately after the war of 1812, the princijial portion of the Wyandots, nmnbering aliout six hundred, were established on the Sandusky River, on a tract of land eighteen miles long east and west, and twelve miles wdde. In 18iir>, the Wyandots decided to sell a strip of land five miles wide on the eastern border of their reservation, and the land was accordingly throvTO into market. In 1848, they all tribes, and. in October, defeated the Virginians at Pleasant Point, but sued for peace the following year. Col. Bowman, who marched against them in 1779, was twice defeated. They joined the peace treaty of 1 78(5, but took ])art in the Miami war, in the campaigns against Harmar and St. Clair, but were reduced by Gen. Wayne, and then entered the peace treaty of 1 795. The main body was at this time on the Scioto, but a few had gone to Missoiu-i, and another band had gone South. During the war of 1812, u.rged by Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, they endeavored to unite the Western Indians against the Americans ; but those in Ohio remained faithful. The Missouri band ceded their land to the Government in 1825, and the Ohio band in 1831. In 1854, the band of Shawanese proper, living in that part of the Indian Territorv now included in Kansas, and consisting of 1,()00,0()0 acres, numl)ered 900; but at this time, or soon afterward, the tribal relations were dissolved by treaty, and the lands divided in severalty. Besides these, there were, in

The Shawanese are an erratic tribe of the Algoncjuin family. A tradition of recent origin makes them one with the Kickapoo nation ; but they moved eastward, and a part ai'e said to have I'emained, in 1()48, along the Fox River, while the main body was met south of Lake Erie by the Iroqiiois, and di'iven to the Cvunberland River. Some passed thence to Florida, and some to Carolina. One band was

The Ottawas, when first known to the French explorers, were located on the Manitoiilin Islands, and the northwest shore of the Michigan Peninsula. They believed in Michabou, "the great hare," a mythical personage who formed the earth and developed men from animals: in Mirabichi, god of the water: and in Missabizi, "the great tiger." Soon after 1049, they fied before the Iroquois to Green Bay, thence west beyond the Mississippi to the country of the Sioux, with whom thev became involved in war, when they fell ijack to Chegoimegon before 1060, and tinally to Mackinaw. The trilx' liecame considerably divided here, one of the divisions settling near Detroit, and the other at Mackinaw, but finally ] Hissed over to Arbre Croche. The grc^ater number of the Ottawas were in the last war with the French, and at its close, Fontiac, an Ottawa chief, and one of the ablest Indians of any tril)e that eviT lived, organized a vast conspiracy fur the destruction of the English. They were under British inllueuce during the Revolution, and at this time numbered about 1.5(Mt. They pai-ticipated in the troiities of 178."), ITSy and 179"), and afterward, l)y other treaties, they ac(pxired a tract of land on the Miami, thirty-foiu- miles stpiare. By the treaty of 1888, they cedi>d their laud around Lake Michigan for land south of the MissoiU'i River, and soon ceased to bo a distinct band. A band of Ottawas at Maumee ceded 49,000 acres in 188(i to Ohio, and 'iOO emigi-ated to the Osage River, locating south of tlie Shawanese. Some '2'-'>0 remained and became scattered in detached bauds. In 18(57, they became citizens, and. in 1870, were removed to a reservation of acres in the Indian Ten-itory. Several thousand are yet living in scattered bauds iu Michigiui and Canada, and all are self-sujjporting. The Delawares are a tribe of the Algomjuiu fmnily. and, when iiist known to the whites, were dwelling in detached bands, under separate sachems, on ihe DelawiU'e River. They styled themselves iienajjpi, or. as now written. Lenape. or Lenni Lenape. The Dutch began trading with them in 1010, and enjoyed fi-iendly intercoiu'se with them until 103"J, when the settlement at Swanendael was utterly destroyed by a sudden attack, but trade w;us soon afterward resumed. The Swedes made eflbrts to Christianize them, iuid had Luther's Catechism printed in their language. The Delawares claim to have come fi'om the West with the Miugt)es, who soon afterward reduced them to a state of vassalage, and, when they were con(pu>red l)y the Five Nations, they wore termed women l)y the latt«'r. The Delawares formed tlu-ee families or clans - the Tm-key, the Tiu-tle and the Wolf. At the time of the " walking treaty," made by Penu, the Delawares complained that they had been defrauded in the interpretation of the treaty, and showed a reluctance to "walk," upon which the authorities called ujion the Six Nations, who ord(>red the Delawares, as women, to retire. The Delawares were now thrown among warring people: and, though previously mild and [leaceable, they now became energetic and savage, and con ducted their wars with great ferocity aud coiu'age. In a war with the Cheroke(>s, tht»y reached the Ohio River, where a portion remained until 177;{. They took up arms and fought with the French at Braddock's defeat, and elsewhere, but suffered so much fi'om English attacks that they finally treated for peace, part of them in 1 7r)7, and the others after the fall of Fort Du Qu(>sne. They then centered on the Suscjuehaima, and a small number soon afterward came West and settled on the Muskingum. They took up anns in the border war, but were liadly defeated at Bushy Run, in August. 170:5, by Bouquet Their towns on the Suscpu'luinna were pillaged and Ijm'ned, many were killed and dispersed, and, in 1708, they emigrated as a body to Ohio. In 1774, they were again badly defeated at Pleasant Point, aud a part were afterward engaged in the Revolution. In 1772, the Christian Delawares settled on the Muskingmn (which, in early yoai's, extended as far north as the mouth of Sandy Creek), but were hastily i-emoved to Sandusky in 1781, by the Briti.sh. Early in the following year, ninety- fom- who retiu'ued were murdered by a party oi enraged Iwrderers under Col. Daniel Williamson. By the treaty of 1785, the Delawares occupied th(> soil between the rivers Cuyahoga and Miami. At this time, there were many scattered bands of Delawares, several of which were Christian, aud at peace with the whites. The main tribe at Grand Blaze, with 480 warriors, was hostile, and 400, under Buckongehelas, were at the defeat of St. Clair in 1 70 1 ; but, foiu' years later, they joined the peace treaty at Greenville. In 1808, there were 800 at Wapeminskink, a few at Sandusky, a few on the Muskingmn (and TusCcU-awas), and a large l)ody at Fairfield, Canada. In 1818, the Delawai'es, 1,800 strong, ceded tlieir lauds to the L'nited States, and emigrated to Missouri. In 1 829, manv went to Kansas, aud some to south of the Red River. In 1853, they sold all their land.s to the United States, except their reservation in Kansas. During the last war, out of 201 able-bodied warriors, 170 enlisted and served in the army. They sold their lands, in 1S68, to the Missouri Railroad, and settled on the Verdigi'is and Cone Rivers. In ISOfi, they became citizens, though their clans - Turkey, Turtle and Wolf - still exist.

The Delawares who lived along the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Rivers were the principal tribe with which Stark County has to deal. The lands upon which they lived did not really belong to them, but had been granted them by the Wyandots, whose headquai'ters were at Sandusky, when they immigrated to Ohio. Piirtions of the Delaware tribes tlu'ough all the l)loody Indian wars of the last half of the last century. w»'re steadfast firiends to the white settlers, and did all they could to restrain their young men. Sometimes they were Buecessftil. but oftener the headstrong yoimg warriors, through the influence of the savage Shawanese, or at the instigation of British agents, refused to remain at peace, and took up the hatchet, notwithstanding the protests and entreaties of those who were opposed to war. From the fact that the Moravian missionaries were not only established along the Tuscarawas further south, but also in Stark Coimty, the Indians in this part of the State were no doubt often counseled not to take up the hatchet against the borderers. It may also be reasonably concluded that the Delawares were often restrained from indulging in war throTigh the influence of the missionaries. However, the Moravians could not do much, as there were always prominent chiefs in the tribe who were bitter enemies of the white borderers, and lost no opportunity to slaughter and pillage. Th(> following, fi'om the pen of a local writer, was wTitten in 184f5: "In \Hi2, an Indian village of forty wigwams was standing across the river fi-ora the post settlement. The spot where the dwellings stood, and the streets between them, as well as the place of carousal, and where they used to play ball, were plainly visil)le. So was their biuwing-groTind easily identified, as well as the havoc which some unprincipled fellows committed about twenty years ago. in digging after some silver trinkets, which the Indians used to biuy with their dead. The graves were dug open, the silver taken out, and the bones scattered over the ground. Just across the river is the old missionaiy station. It is situated on the north side of the river, near its bank, about three- fourths of a mile above the bridge, on the road leading from Bolivar to Bethlehem, and just below a spur of the hill which approaches the river above it. The stones which had probably fonned the back wall of the chimney form a heap of rubbish about two feet high. This is all there is left, by which the site of the house can be identified. The place where their garden was differs from woods around it by the total want of hea\y timber. This coiresponds in all res|)ects with the description given in Mi\ Heckeweldor's joiirnal." It will be I'emembered that Frederick C. Post, the missionaiy who is )'eputed to have been the first permanent white settler in Ohio, Imilt his cabin in southern Bethlehem Township, where he lived in constant communication with the Indians for many years. The following, taken fi'om the sketches of a local wi'iter. more fully exjilains Mi\ Post's suiToundings: "The old Indian crossing-])lace at the Delaware cajntal (called Tuscarawas), one mile north of Fort Laurens, is a prominent landmark in the early goograiJiical division of Ohio, as well as the scene of the most important events that transpired in Stark County. Tuscarawas Town was located upon the bluft" on the west side oi the Tuscarawas River, at the mouth of Sand}% on land now (Februarj'. 1877) owned by Samuel Biu'ns, and was on the main trail fi'om Fort Pitt to Sandusky." The WTiter goes ou to say that near the southeastern corner of Bethlehem Township was the cabin built in 1701 liy Frederick C. Post as a mission among the Indians. It was located about a mile from the crossing, on the east bank of the Tuscarawas. The ti'ading-house of Calhoun was on the west side of the river, about fifty rods above the iron bridge. In 17()4. the military expedition of (!ol. Bou(juet followed the Indian trail west from Fort Pitt into the heart of the Wyandot and Indian eomitry, ci'osserl the Muskingum (now Tuscarawas) at the above-mentioned crossing-place, and pro- ceeded down the river to Goshegunk (Coshocton). Post's house was about a mile north west of the Delawiu-e capital. The Delawares were at lirst disposed to disj)ute the right of Post and Heckcwelder to cut down the forest aroiuid their cabin, ;ind sent them word to desist, and to appear at the council the following day to give .ui account of their conduct. At the head of this coimcil was Tamaque (or Beaver), the chief of the Delai wares, who said to Post that the latter, instead of devoting his time in instructing the Indian childi-en, was cutting down the forests and taking possession of the land, as all the whites unlawfully did. Post replied that, while his real object in coming into the Indian country was to instruct the chikh'en, yet he must make aiTangements to live. He must have corn and vegetables, and could not raise them unless he had the necessary land. Finally, after some fui'ther amicable discussion, it was agi'eed that Post should have a gai-den, hfty steps scjuare, smd this land was stepped ofl' the next day by the afterwiU'd famous, or infamous, Capt. Pijje. There was at this time quite a liU'ge Indian village at NavaiTe, or near there. A mile down the river fi-om Post's house was a trader named Calhoun, and farther dcnvn wiis the Delaware eai)ital (Tuscarawas), containing some forty wigwams. Post owned a canoe, and was in the habit of rowing up the river until neai' XavjuTe, when he woidd land, cut a quantity of cedar wood, load it in his boat, and retiu-n down the river. The wood was used in making tubs, etc., for the Indians. The Indian cajiital about this time is supposed to have contained some 7U(t inhabitants. It is stated that the village was the capital of the Senecas, as well as the Delawares. No doubt but that, in the eiU'ly border w;u-s, white caj>tives were held at this village, and very [irobably more than one white Indian slayer was tortm-ed to death on this spot. Col. Bou- -luot, in his exj)edition into the Indian conntiy passed tlu'ough the southern piui of the county. His object was to sulxhu; the Indi ans, or awe them into submission, and his iiriuy comj)rised some 1, ")()() men, all well ;u-med and prepai-od, if necessary, to chastise the Indians in a manner they would not soon forget. Seeing the danger they were in, the

Indians came humbly forward and sued for peace. Col. Bouquet chai'ged them with a wanton violation of their treaties, but the In dians, through their speakers, Tmile Heart, Custaloga antl Beaver, vehemently asserted that they were unaljle to resti'ain their young men. Col. Bouquet demanded every white captive they had, and finally received some 300 of these unfortunates. " There were seen," says a wi'iter in the Historical Record, " fathers and mothers recognizing and clas})ing their once captive little ones; husbands hung ai'ound their newly recovered wives; brothers and sisters met, after long separation, sctu'cely able to speak the same language, or to realize that they were childi'en of the same pai'- euts. In those interviews, there were inexpressible joy and raptm'e, while, in some cases, feelings of a very difl'erent chiu'acter were manifested by looks or language. Many were flying fi'om place to place, making eager inquu'ies after relatives not foimd, ti'embliug to receive answers to their questions, distracted with doubts, hoi)es and fears; disti'essed and gi'ieved on obtaining no infonnation of the fi'iends they sought, and, in some cases, petrified into living monuments of hoiTor and woe on learning their unhappj' fate." It is also said that " in some cases, strong attachments had gro^NTi up between the savages and their captives, so that they wei'e reluctantly smrendered, some even not without tears, accompanied with some token of remembrance."

The full force of all the sanguinary Indian wars dui'iug the last half of the eighteenth century fell upon the border settlements in Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, and Eastern Ohio. The savages were not slow in availing themselves of every opportunity to massacre the pioneers, destroy their homes, and drag large numbers of unfortunates into hopeless captivity. To retaliate, bauds of daring borderers would invade the Indian countiy and slaughter numy of the inhabitants. White men were bred to the one pursuit of slaying Indians. Great rivalry existed among them, in the frontier settlements, as to who could strike the severest blow the farthest into the heart of the Indian countiy, and retm-n in safety to the settlements with satisfactory proof of their deeds. They were taught from the cradle to hate the Indian, and their boyish tongues soon learned to lisj) maledictions against the hated race. Indians were not merely killed to avenge wrongs done by them to the whites. The borderers coiu'ted death and danger from love of excitement, or because they desired to boast of their exploits, or because they expected pecuniary gain. Horse-stealing was a favorite pastime, in which both races indulged without restraint, and many of the most exciting individual contests recorded in border history were the result of these unlawful incursions. The dreadfril and desultory border warfare hecame, in a measure, systematic. Rangers and scouts were to be found all along the frontier, who constantly penetrated the Indian domain to watch the movements of the warriors, to wai'n settlers of impending attacks, and, if possible, to rescue white captives. These daring men were often captm'ed and made to feel the weight of savage vengeance in agonizing deaths by fii-e and torture. John Glover, who was captiu'ed diu'ing Crawford's campaign against Sandusky, and who escaped death at the stake as by a miracle, states that, while he was at Wapitomica, twelve captive white men were brought in from Kentucky, all of whom were tortured to death Ijy the savages. A captive was first stripped naked, and then, by means of charcoal and water, irns paiuted Hack (a sure omen of an awful death). He was then forced to run the gantlet. Two lines of Indian men, women and childi-en were formed, two or three hundi'ed yards in length, and about twelve feet apart, the men being armed with tomahawks, knives, and guns loaded with powder, and the women and children with bows and arrows, clubs, knives, etc., the object being to inflict all but death upon the runner, without checking or impeding his ])rogress by a front lii'e. As the captive dashed through the lines at full speed, his body was shot full of powder, and cut and hacked in a frightful manner. After this, the whole band piu-sued him round and round, beating, bm-uing and torturing him in every conceivable manner, until death at last came to his relief. The body was then either cut in pieces and raised on poles, or given to the dogs! Thus ended the awful tragedv. Beyond question, the Delaware capital was the scene of incidents of this character. Perhaps the hills around Navarre have echoed with the frenzied death -cries of white men, and the dreadful y<>lls of exulting savages. There is one conflict, between the Delawares and a small band of scotits from Pennsylvania (probably), the record of which may properly come within the limits of Stark County history. An account of this was wi'itten a number of years ago by Dr. Slusser, of Canton, and will be given in his words:

" On the occasion of this encounter, the party left the place of rendezvous for a scout, in April. 1798. It consisted of six men, five of whom were James Downing, Sr.. John Cupjiy, Isaac Miller. George Faulk and Thomas Dillon. They crossed the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow Creek, followed up the north branch of that stream to near its source, then directed their com-se west to the head-waters of Sandy. After reconnoitering this section of the country for miles around without discovering any signs of Indians, they concluded there were none about. Up to this time, they had not discharged a gun for fear of being detected. The rations they had brought with them were neai'ly exhausted, and they concluded to kill some game for subsistence. Downing shot a deer, and another of the paity a tm'key. This was the morning of the fourth day out, between Little Sandy and Indian Rim, As they had not yet taken breakfa,st, they concluded to prepare the meal. Miller was kindling a fire: Faulk was pre])aring the turke)' for roasting: Downing was in the ;tct of bending down a sapling, upon which he intended to hang his deer, that he might the more easily skin it; and Cuppy was sitting at the root of a tree, with his gun on his lap, examining the lock. A party of Indians, niuubering eighteen or twenty, as was afterw ard ascertained, of the Delaware and Wyandot tribes, heard the firing, and thereby detected the locality of the scouts. They divided their force into two parties, with the view of approaching them from different points, and from the direction the scouts would lie most likely to take in attempting to escape. One party of the Indians circled around and advance<l from the northeast, the other from the south- oiist. While Cuppy was engaged with his gim, he happened to look up. when he saw at a ilistance an Indian peering throngli the nnderhnish. Instantly he s])rang to his feet and gave the aliu-m. As soon as the Indian saw he was discovered, he tiU'ned and ran, and as he did so. Cuj)py hi'ed at him. l)ut without eft'ect. Miller and Faulk snatched u]) their guns and gave chase. The ground was spars(!ly timbered, and. as the two men continued the jnu'suit. Miller being in advance. Faulk called to him to halt, as he knew that just as soon as the Indian reached a more heavily timbered place, he would stop behind a tree and shoot Miller as he approached. Thereupon Miller tiu'ned about, and he and Faulk stm-ted back for the place they had left. ^Meanwhile, the other party of Indians, coming from the other direction, made their appearance in great numbers. Downi-ng said to Cujjpy and Dillon: ' Let us stand together and defend oiu-selves to the last.' Dillon hastily replied: 'Each one for himself," and, suiting his action to the sentiment, broke and ran. Downing and Cuppy kept together, and moved along the higher ground toward the ft)rks of Sandy. As the IncUans pressed upon them, they would turn, raise their guns as though they intended to shoot, whereupon the Indians would jump about with the view of diverting their aim. By degrees they became bolder, and advanced closer, when Downing shot the ne.irest, which had the effect to keep the others at a greater distance. Soon after. Downing and Cuppy caught up with Dillon, who s(>emed much exhaust^'d. and was staggering as tlujugh about to fall. Dillon l)egged for (iod's sake that they would helj) him, and, as Downing tui'ned imd saw his face, he was found to be choking on acccnmt of his neck-tie. Dillon, in his haste in trying to loosen it to improvt? his wind, ])ulled the WTong end and made it tighter instead. Downing cut the neckerchief with his knife, thereby relieving the p.mting Dilh^n. who immediately took a fresh start and was Boon out of sight. Downing and (Juppy were both past middle age, and somewhat Heshy. They were nearly exhausted, and knew they could not hold out much longer. Downing at last said to Cuppy : ' I can't go any fiirther; I"ll stand and fight under this thom-bosh if I die ' - and stand he did. Cuppy at the siune time got behind a tree, and both anxiously awaitetl the appearance of the savages, determined to make the l)twt resistance they could. They had not long to wait, for soon the Indijins were seen approaching. Downing reserved his fire until the foremost Indian came within close range, then, taking deliberate aim, fii-ed and brought him down, The others retui-ned a volley, which cut the bushes around the two men. Init failed to strike either. Miller and Faulk, hearing the tiring, hastened in the direction whence it came, and, ere they were awaiv, were among the Indians. Miller observed a lai'ge one with a silver half -moon on his Ijreast in the act of loading his gun, and, just as the scout was drawing a bead on him, he gave a yell and s]jrang behind a b'ee. Miller soon discoveivd that the Indians had so smrouuded him that it was impossible to protect himself behind a tree, whereupon he deteiinined u])ou Hight as the only means of preserving his .scalp. Quick as thought he s]>raiig from the upper bank. Emd ran across the liottom toward the north branch of the stream. The Indians left Downing and Cuppy. and all united in the pm-suit after Miller. At one time, they were so near him that he recognizeil a tall warrior kuowni among the whites as Tom Jilleway. After Miller crossed Little Sandy and came out in an open plain, he thought, as he afterward expressed it, ' Now, legs, for it,' and ran with all his might for about a mile and a half northwest, until he reach(>d the highland, or ridge, when he stop[)ed to look Itack and listen. He could neither see nor hear anything of the Indians. After resting awhile, he concluded to return to the place where they were first surprised, in the hope of meeting tlie balance of thecom})any. Not fimling them there, and the day being far advanced, he decided to make for the rendezvous of the company, on the east bank of the Ohio liiver. He continued to track as long as he could see, and passed the night on a ridge bordering Yellow Creek. He made a bed of chestnut leaves luider a fallen tree that lay u]) from the gi'ound, and slept soundly, amidst the howling of wolves and the screaming of wildcats. Ne-tt day, he crossed the Ohio at the mouth of Yel- low Creek and reached the place of rendezvous, where he found Downing, Cupjiy and Dillon safe and unhiu't, save that Downiug's face was much swollen, and his eyes bloodshot from overexertion. In the evening of the next day, Faulk made his appeai'ance, and reported that, when the Indians started after Millei, he hid himself in the brush. AVhen they were out of sight, he crossed over a branch of Sandy (since called Indian Run, from this light) and secreted himself on a hill, where he could overlook the plains south without being discovered. He could see the Indians in camp, and, from their performances, was satisfied, fi'om a knowledge of their ceremonies, that two of their number had been killed. In talking over the matter, the comjiany were of the unanimous opinion that they had the Isest of the fight, and had made a very lucky escape."

The above sketch was written a number of years ago, and was then published in the county jia2>ers. It has passed the ordeal of public criticism without serious injiu-y, and is given in full as wi'itten. In conversing with various pOTties thi'oughout the county, the wi'iter has found some objections to many of the circumstances connected with the movements of the hostile paiiies, as n;uTated by the writer. It is stated by descendants of IVir. Downing that the site of the battle was farther south than as stated in the sketch. Others have suggested that some of the circmnstances described ai'e overdrawn, and that too much speculation was employed in the naiTUtion of minor details. In all histories, the wi'iters, after becoming thoroughly familiar with the prominent events, and as many details as possible, are compelled to conjecture, fi'om evidences known to be correct, many facts which they record. This is done by all historians, and curious mistakes often occur under the ])en of the most careful writer. The high social standing of Dr. Slusser, his thorough knowledge of pioneer events, his reputation as a writer, and his eminent, recognized integrity, place his writings far above insignificant innuendoes and ci'iticisms.

The following sketch was written a niunber of yeai-s ago, by Col. E. Ball, of Canton, and published, as given, in one of the county papers :

"A gentleman, whose name is not remembered, had lieen to Canton on business, and stopped on his way home (to Lake Townshif)) at what was known as Everhaii's Mill (in Plain Townshi)i), and there reported, in the presence of a number of fanners and their sons, that a band of Indians was jiassing through the settlements soiith of Canton, laying waste the country and spreading death and destruction as they went. He reported that they had jnst laid Rowland's Mill in ashes, and were about to lay siege to the village of Canton, and that it was their j)urpose to visit Cleveland and all intermediate settlements, and drive the palefaces out of the country. The settlers of Lake, Green and Plain Townships became terribly frightened. Neighbor was sent to sound the alann to neighbor, and thus the sad intelligence spread with astonishing rapidity, until it reached the ears of hundi-eds. Men flew to their cabins, where each family held a council of war. Every latch-string was ]iuiled in, the store of ammunition was examined, and, if bullets were lacking, new ones were cast. Axes, pitchforks, scythes and sickles were immediately hunted up and brought into the house, not only to prevent their being used in the hands of the expected savages, but for the purjiose of being used as defensive weapons in the hands of the family. JNIany families carried their most valuable articles to the woods, and covered them with leaves and old rubbish. whUe others buried them in the gi-ouud. Many of those residing within a few miles of Greentown met at S(juire Dickerhoof's, where they placed the wives and children in the gawet of the cabin, while the men formed themselves into a company. Everybody anned. and all awaited the aiTival of the savages. One man became so much alarmed that he loaded his family in a two-horse wagon, and, leaving his house and such goods as he could not carry, left the country. He did not stop until he found himself east of the Allegheny Mountains, where he had come from a short time before, and where he remained for the space of two years, when he returned, never to hear an end to the jeerings of his neighbors for this singular manifestation of backwoods bravery. My own father left his cabin, which was situated in the woods about a milo and a half west of CTi-t'ciitowu. aud, with his wife and childi'on, walked to the residence of ray grandfather, a distance of several miles. Such was the consternation in the neighborhood that tinally a few young men volunteered to act as a scouting party. Accordingly, they mounted the best horses they could finil, and. with their trusty riries. moved dowu toward Canton. That villiige. consisting of about half a dozen houses, was found to be unharmed. Here the whole afl'air was fomid to be a eompl(>te fabrication. The boys returned and spreatl the glail tidings, and thus ended the last ' Indian war ' in Stiu-k County.'" ^Vhether this Indian alann occurred during the wiu- of 1812 is not stated. During aiul prior to this war, the Indians were to be found m large numbers at the old Delaware cai)ital, and in many temporary encamj)- ments throughout the county. They were peaceable, though it was well known that they might arise in fiuy at any moment. It was a common thing to hear them boast of their exploits on the border - of how many white men they had killed, or how many had suffered death by torture at their hands. Some of them pnmdly displayed dry tongues or scalps, stating that such had been taken fi'om white captives. It is related that, on one occasion, when one of the Iiulians had displayed a string of dried human tongues, and liad boasted of having killed the white men, he was followed by Mr. Harter, of Plain Township, and after that the Indian was never seen again. Mr. Harter is said to have stated significimtly, aftt>nvard, "He will never show those scalps again." All'. Bechtel had a similai- experience with another, who is also said to have stalled, about that time, on a prolonged trip to the ha[)])y himting grounds. Occasionally, troubles arose between them and the whites, mainly owing to the rascality of the hMn: The Indians were notorious beggars, surpsussiug the tram]) in artifice and expediency. They w»'re very fond of swec^t milk, and one of them could envelop a gallon of that delicious licpiid with apparent ease. Cows were fi'ecpiently foiuid dry u]>on being driven home, Imt no one seemed to know what became of the milk. The Indians would secure wild honey, or venison, or fiu-s. which would l)e traded for potatoes, pumpkins, melons, corn-meal, flour and other provisions. Sometimes, when they foun<l the whites unwilling to givt», they resorted to artifice. They would watch the cabin until the husband and father were absent, when they would (piietly present themselves, enter without invitation, seat themselvt^s, and ask for whisky, or whatever was wanted. If the settler's wife hesitated or demm-red, a few hostile looks and gestiu-es were sufficient to kindle into life her most lavish generosity. If whisky was given, the wife knew that .she must immediately get rid of ht<r tawny guests, or, when the licpior had gained control, she might suffer many indignities, and jierhaps serious injury or death. " The northwest quart(>r of Section 20, in Green Township, formerly belonging to Stark County, but now to Snnnuit, on lauil |)urchased by Cornelius Johnson of the United States in 18 1 1!, a})()eared to have been a favorite himting-groimd, or battleground, of the Indians, as arrow-heads, hatchets, skinning knives and other implements have been foimd there in great almndance. From the numerous tlint chi]3s found on that quai-ter of the section, it seems to have been a place for manufactiu'ing their stone hatchets aud an'ow- heads. Where they obtained such large (juantities of Hint is unknown. The spot seems to have been s(*lected on account of its being light-timlsered, clear from underbrush, and elevated a little above the siuTounding lands. Scattered over this elevated plateau were found piles of stones, varying in size fi-om two to eight inches in diameter, and arranged in htiaps of from four by six feet to a little larger or smaller. Tradition assigns to thi^m the honor of hokhng the ashes of some wairior or chief, but, as no Ijones or human remains have ever been found in them, they we thought by some peo])le to have been sacrificial altars, or monuments, erected to perjietuate the memory of some great events." The above is cpioted fi'om the wi'itings of Josiah Q. Kern. Henrj' Bechtel, of Jackson TowTishij), says that on one occasion a settler who was sawing logs in the woods was u\>- ])roached l)y an Indian, who, after viewing the operation with gi-eat interest for a tim(\ left, and, some time afterward, when the settler was absent, the Indian retm-ned. accompanied bv two others, and, after pointing to the nicely sawed logs, took his ramrod and drew it back and forth at right angles across the log, to illustrate the manner in which the sawing had been j)erformed. The ease and simplicity of the process were Iseyond the comprehension of the red men of the woods.

During the war of 1812, the settlers in the county were apjM'ehensive that the Indians might timi against them, in which case a di'eadfnl time of i^lood and death might be expected. At one time, news was received that SOO warriors had congi'egated in the bend of the river at NavaiTe. and were making prep- Jirations to attack the settlers. The news came fi'om a reliable source, and was ci-edited, and immediate pre])arations were made to receive them in a fitting manner. A company of militia at Canton, commanded by Col. Sloane, and another in Sandy Township, commanded by Capt. Downing, were hastily assembled to resist the expected attack. The few cabins then in Canton were ban-icaded, and rendered as strong as possible by levers and bars. Pickets were sent out a half-mile or more fi'om the village, and all movements of the people were made subservient to the orders of the military commanders. All the settlers living on the outskirts of the settlement hurried to Canton, armed with pitchforks, sickles, clubs, scythes, axes, etc.. prepared to sell their lives at a high premium (if the figiu-e may be indulged in). Philip Dewalt's tavern became a sort of headquarters for the excited populace. Drums were improvised from old pails, and martial music soon fired the lilood of the citizens to fever heat. No one slept that eventful night. All were watchful, and pro]ierly so. Indeed, the settlers did exactly right, for, if the report had been tnie, their prom])tness would have disconcerted the savages, to say the least. Some laughable incidents are related. John Shorb, during a portion of the night, was assigned picket duty on the advance line. Wliile on his beat, on the alert for any suspicious sound, he was suddenly startled Ijy the snapping of a twig, as if some person had incautiously stepped upon it. Ml'. Shorb instantly cocked his rifle, and demanded, in stentorian tones, "Halt! who goes there?" A painfi;l and ominous silence answered his words, and for a moment nothing could be heard but the rapid beating of his heart, and the soft sighing of the night wind through the dark forest. Suddenly the same noise was repeated, and again Mr. Shorb commanded a halt. Squatting upon the gi'oimd, he could see some dark object coming nearly toward him, and, raising his rifle, he took deliberate aim and fired. A heavA^ fall announced the success of the shot, and Mr. Shorb, after loading his rifle, stepped catitiously forward to view his fallen foe. He

' reached the spot, and, peering forward, saw the bloody corpse of a - cow. He afterward said. " That's what the cow got for not answering." He never boasted very much, however, of this exploit. When the morning

I davraed, the two companies moved forward to discover what had become of the Indians. The site of Navairewas reached, Imt nobloodj thirsty savages were seen, and. after proceed-

I lance and alarm did not subside immediately, but everything, including the militia companies, was kept in readiness to resist a possible attack. Extra precautions were taken when the news was received that the British were landing from Lake Erie, with the inten tiou of attacking the settlements in Eastern Ohio. All apprehensions of danger from this soiirce were removed by the appearance of a few of Hull's half-starved, half-clothed, paroled soldiers, who were the ones that had landed at the lake. The Indians continued in the county, and in all Eastern Ohio, until after the war. It is said that, just before the battle of Tippecanoe, the Indians were seen to be unusually active. War dances were frequently held, and the battle cries and scalp halloos could lie heard above the boisterous confusion in the Indian village. The Indians would flourish their tomahawks and scalpingknives, and the settlers wondered if another outbreak was brewing. At last the news of the liattle of Tippecanoe was received, and after that, the conunotion in the Indian villages ceased, save an occasional wai' dance, indulged in in memory of olden times, and to prevent the time-honored customs of the tribe from dying out. The settlers were often pres- ent during the txibular ceremonies, and occasionally they took part in the dance. When it came to taking food or soup prepared on these occasions, the settlers, one and all, desired to be counted out. Wrestling matches were foiTued, antl the " whites " and " rods " w(>re arrayed against each other. Sometimes one succeeded, sometimes another. Shooting matches were formed, yet, notwithstanding the superior vision of the Indians, the whito huntei-s usually secured the prizes. The greater portion of the Indians left immediately after the close of the war, though straggling bands remained and could be seen as late as 1825, or even later. The tale of the red man will soon be told as a romance of the past.