Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 2: Settlement /nd Organization of Summit County, 1908

Chapter 2: Settlement /nd Organization of Summit County

Pioneer Conditions - Indian Trading - Wild Garae - Home-Made Garments - Pioneer Hospitality - Social Amusements - First Published Description of Summit County - Making of Summit County - Western Reserve - Organization of the County - County Seat Selected - County Seat Contests - Adams' Reception - Territorial Changes.

Unfortunately for the purposes of the modern historian, the early settlers of Summit County left no written record of their experiences in breaking the forest and founding homes in the wilderness. Only a few meager accounts contained in letters and recorded in journals, exasperatingly deficient in details, have been left to give succeeding generations an idea of how the pioneers in the land lived. Many oral traditions have survived, however, and many vivid stories are still being told which have never been seen in pi'int.

In 1904 the total valuation of property in the State of Ohio was $2,113,808,168. The real wealth of Ohio in this year - 1907 - is probably not far from five billions of dollars. In respect to wealth, ours is the fourth State in the Union, only New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania exceeding it. It is difficult to realize that this has practically all been accumulated within one century. Every nook and corner of the State has ' kept pace with the growth of American culture and refinement. Ohio is abreast of the times in every desirable respect. The humblest today enjoy advantages which would have been extreme luxuries for their predecessors of only two or three generations back. Contrast the life of today with the following picture of the everyday experiences in the early years of the past century found in Carpenter and Arthur's

History of Ohio. It was written at an early time, when the first cornel's were still with us and were fond of relating their early hardships.

Pioneer H.-Vrdships

The present resident's of the now flourishing State of Ohio, living in the midst of plenty, can form but a faint conception of the hardships and privations endured by their predecessors. The first object of the pioneer, after selecting a suitable spot, was to build a log cabin of proper dimensions as a residence for his family. The walls of his cabin were constructed of logs piled one upon another, the space between being completely closed with tempered clay. The floor was made of puncheons or planks, formed by splitting logs to about two and a half or three inches in thickness, and hewing them on one or both sides with a broad-axe. The roof and ceiling -were composed of clap-boards, a species of pioneer lumber resembling barrel staves before they are shaved, but split longer, wider and thinner. The walls of the log cabin having been erected, the dooi^ and windows were then sawn out; the steps of the door being made with the pieces cut from the walls, and the door itaelf formed of the same material a." the floor. The apertures in the walls intended for windows were pasted over with paper lubricated with bear's oil or lard, which was used as a substitute for glass. This paper resisted the rain tolerably well, and at the same time subdued the direct rays of the sun, and admitted into the mde apartment a light beautifully softened and mellowed.

The furniture of the log cabin corresponded to the cabin itself in simplicity and i-udeness of construction. The bedstead was usually formed in the following manner. Two round poles were first fixed in the floor as uprights, at a distance from each other and from the walls of the cabin, equal to the intended length and breadth of the bedstead. A pole was then inserted into either post as a side rail, and two poles were also fixed in them, at right angles to the plane of the wall, their ends being wedged into the crevices between the logs. Some puncheons were then split and laid from the side-rail across the bedstead, their ends being also inserted into the chinks of the log wall. This constituted the bottom of the bedstead. The skins of the bear, the buffalo and the deer formed the bedding. The shelves of the log cabin were made of clap-board, supported on wooden pegs driven in between the logs, and on these were displayed such wooden, pewter and earthenware plates and dishes as the pioneer was fortunate enough to possess. One pot, kettle and frying-pan were considered to be the only articles absolutely indispensable, though some included the tea-kettle. The few plates and dishes on the clap-board shelf were sufficient for the simple wants of their owners, who relished their food none the less that it was eaten from common trenchers and from a puncheon table. The great scarcity of domestic utensils among the settlers often taxed their ingenuity to supply the want when an influx of visitors unexpectedly trespassed upon their hospitality.

"A year or two after we arrived," writes one of the earlier pioneers, "a visiting party was arranged by the ladies in order to call on a neighboring family who lived a little out of the common way. The hostess was much pleased to see us, and immediately commenced preparing the usual treat on such occasion.* - a cup of tea with its accompaniments. She had only one fire-proof vessel in the house - an old, broken bake-kettle - and it was some time before tea was ready. In the first place, some pork was fried in the kettle to obtain lard; secondly, some cakes were made and fried in it; thirdly, some short cakes were prepared in it; fourthly, it was used as a bucket to draw water; fifthly, the water was boiled in it; finally, the tea was put in, and a very excellent and sociable dish of tea we had."

The seats in the log house were generally three-legged stools, for, owing to the unevenness of the puncheon floor a chair with four legs could not readily be made to stand evenly upon its surface. Some of the wealthier families might have a few split-bottomed chairs, but more frequently stools and benches occupied the place of chairs and sofas.

After the pioneer had completed his log house, the next thing to be done was to effect a "clearing" around it for a "corn-patch." When the trees were cut down the ground was usually ploughed with a shovel-plough, this 'being the best instrument with which to force a way among the roots. As the clearing expanded, many were the farinaceous delicacies M^hich covered the settler's puncheon table. The johnny-cake, made of corn-meal, hominy, or pounded maize, thoroughly boiled, and other savoury preparations of flour and milk. The forest furnished him with an abundance of venison and wild turkeys, while corn "pone" supplied the place of every variety of pastry. Hogs and sheep were, however, seldom raised, on account of the wolves and bears which infested the woods.

The corn of the first settlers was either pounded in a "hominy block," which was made by burning a hole into the end of a block of wood, or ground in a hand-mill. After the corn was sufficiently pounded it was passed through a sieve, and the finer portion of the meal having been made into bread and mush, the coarse remainder was boiled for hominy. The supper of the pioneer usually consisted of mu.sh and milk. A capacious pot containing this preparation was sometimes placed on the table, and all the guests invited to help themselves. More commonly, however, each person was furnished with a pewter spoon, and a tin cup containing milk, into which he infused the pure mush in proportions most agreeable to his taste.

The pioneers had frequently great difficulties to surmount before they could get their corn ground. Notwith.standing, the rich harvests of maize yielded by their clearings, meal was a very scarce article in their cabins. To procure it they had to choose between the hominy mortar or a toilsome journey of upward of thirty miles, over an Indian trail, to the nearest mill. In 1791 flour was so scarce and dear, that the little which could be afforded in families was laid by to be used only in sickness or for the entertainment of friends, for, although corn was then abundant, there was but one floating mill on the Little Miami. It was built in a small fiat-boat tied to the bank, its wheel being slowly turned by the force of the current. It was barely sufficient to supply the inhabitants of Columbia (the second settlement in Ohio) with meal; and, sometimes, from low water and other unfavorable circumstances, was of little or no sers'ice. At such times the deficiency in flour had to be supplied by hand mills, a most laborious mode of grinding.

About this time each house in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, had its own hand gristmill in the chimney corner, which has been thus described: "The stones were of the common grindstone gi'it, about four inches thick and twenty inches in diameter. The ninner was turned by hand, with a pole set in the top of it near the verge. The upper end of the pole went into another hole inserted into a board and nailed on the underside of the joist, immediately over the hole in the verge of the runner. One person turned the stone, and another fed the corn into the eye with his hands. It was very hard work to grind, and the operators alternately changed places." It took the hard labor of two hours to supply enough for one person for a single day.

operating by water, were erected. One of these was built at Newbury, in Cuyahoga County. In Miami County the most popular millers were Patterson, below Dayton, and Owen Davis, on Beaver Creek. But the distance of many of the settlements from these mills, and the want of proper roads, often made the expense of grinding a single bushel equal the value of two or three.

It was not an uncommon thing for the pioneer to leave his family in the wilderness with a stinted supply of food, and with his team or pack-horse travel twenty or thirty miles for provisions. The necessary appendages of his journey were an axe, a pocketcompass, a blanket and bells. He had to cut a TOad through the woods with the axe, wide enough for his team, ford .almost impassable streams, and, as the day drew to its close, look out for a suitable place for a night's encampment. Having decided on the spot, he then, by means of flint, steel, and a charge of powder, kindled a fire to dissipate the gloom and damps of night, to drive off the mosquitoes, and to prevent the approach of wild animals. The harness being removed from the cattle, the bells were attached to their necks, and they were driven forth to find such pasturage as the forest afforded. After having partaken of his solitary meal, the blanket was spread on the ground in the neighborhood of the camp-fire, and the wearied backwoodsman, wrapped in its warm folds, .slept soundly beneath the trees. In the morning, or more frequently, long before the break of day, he listened to catch the sound of bells, to him sweet music, for not unfrequently hours were consumed in tedious wanderings before he could recover his stray cattle, harness them to his team, and resume his journey. On reaching his place of destination, if he could only get his grinding done by waiting no longer than a day and a night at the mill, he esteemed himself fortunate. The corn having been ground, the pioneer retraced his steps to his lonely and secluded family, and not unfrequently had scarcely time to rest and refresh himself, before the same journey had to be repeated.

Jacob Foust, one of the Ohio backwoodsmen, when his wife was sick, and he could obtain nothing to eat that she relished, procured a bushel of wheat, and, throwing it on his shouldere, carried it to Zanesville to get it ground, a distance of more than seventyfive miles from his dwelling, bjf the tortuous path he had to traverse. His object accomplished, he once more resumed his load, and returned homo, fording the streams and camping ovit at nights.

The animal food which covered the table of the settler was chiefly obtained from the woods. Hunters, the better to elude the everwatchful eye of the deer and turkey, wore hunting-skirts of a color suited to the season of the year. In spring and summer their dress was green; in the fall of the year it resembled the fallen leaves, and in winter, as nearly as possible, the bark of trees. If there was any snow on the ground, the hunters put on a white hunting-shirt. As soon as the leaves had fallen, and the weather became rainy, the hunter began to feel uneasy at home. "Everything about him became disagreeable. The house was too warm, the bed too soft, and even the good wife for the time was not thought to be a good companion." A party was soon formed, and on the appointed day the little cavalcade, with horses carrying flour, meal, blankets, and other requisites, were on their way to the hunting-camp. This was always formed in some sheltered and sequestered spot, and consisted of a rude camp, with a log fire in the open air in front of it, the interior of the hut being well lined with skins and moss, the only bedding on which these hunters were accustomed to sleep.

It was to the spoils of the chase that the pioneers and Indians trusted for the skins and furs to barter for the few necessaries they required from tlie Eastern States. An Indian trail from Sandusky to the Tuscarawas, passed by the residence of Mr. Harris, who formed the first regular settlement at Harrisville, .in Medina County. It was a narrow, hardtrodden bridlepath. In the fall the Indians traversed it from the west to this region, remained through the winter to hunt, and returned in the spring; their horses laden with furs, jerked venison, and bear's oil, the last an extensive article of commerce. Their horses were loose, and followed each other in single hunter's file, and it was by no means remarkable to see a single hunter returning with as many as twenty horses laden with his winter's work, and usually accompanied by his squaw.

Indian Trading

The mode in which business was conducted with the Indians by the fur traders, was as follows: The Indians walked into the merchant's store, and deliberately seated themselves, upon which the latter presented each of his visitors with a small piece of tobacco. Having lighted their pipes, they smoked and talked together awhile. One of the Indians then went to the counter of the merchant, and, taking up the yard-stick, pointed to the first article he desired to possess, and inquired its price. A muskrat skin ^vas equal in value to a quarter of a dollar ; a raccoon skin, a third of a dollar; a doeskin, half a dollar, and a buckskin, a dollar. The questions were asked after this manner : "How many buckskins for a shirt pattern?" The Indian, learning the price of the fii-st article, paid for it by selecting the required number of skins, and handing them to the trader, before proceeding to purcha.se the second, when he repeated the same process, paying for everything as he went along. While the first Indian was trading the others looked on in silence, and when he was through, a.nother took his place, until all were satLsfied. No one desired to trade before his turn, but all observed a proper deconim, and never offered a lower price, but, if dissatisfied, passed on to the next article. They were careful not to trade when intoxicated; but usually reserved some of their skins with which to buy liquor, and close their business transactions with a frolic.

To such of the pioneers, however, as did not hunt, the long winter evenings were rather tedious. They had no candles, and cared but little about them, except at such seasons. The deficiency in light was, however, partially remedied by torches made of pine-knots, or the bark of the shelly hickory. To relieve the tedium, the pioneer would read aloud to hi>s family from such books as his cabin afforded, or engage in the usual operations of the season, such as shelling corn, scraping turnips, stemming and twisting tobacco, plaiting straw for hats, or ci'acking walnuts and hickory nuts, of which the inmates of every cabin usually laid in a' good winter's supply.

Avild Game

The wolf for a considerable time caused much trouble to the pioneers, and prevented the profitable raising of sheep and hogs in the neighborhood of the "clearing." In order to preserve the hogs from the attacks of these animals, it was necessary to build the walls of the hog-pen so high that the wolf could neither jump nor climb them. Their depredations were so great that the state offered a bounty of from four to six dollars apiece on their scalps. This made wolf hunting rather a lucrative business, and called into action all the talent of the country. Sometimes these ferocious animals were taken in traps. The wolf-trap resembled a box in appearance, formed of log-s, and floored with puncheons. It was usually made about six feet in length, four feet in width, and three feet in depth. A very heavy puncheon lid was moved by an axle at one end, the trap being set by a figure four, and baited. On one occasion, a hunter went into a wolf-trap to adjust the spring, when the lid .suddenly fell and hurled him into the pit. Unable to raise the cover, and several miles from the nearest house, he was imprisoned for a day and night in his own trap, and would have perished but for a passing hunter, who heard his groans and instantlj' relieved him.

Bears and panthers were at one time common in the northwestern territory, but their depredations on the hog-pen were not so frequent as those of the wolf and the wild-cat, and they were tisually more shy in tlicir habits.

Homk-Made Garments

Most of the articles of dress worn by the first settlers were of domestic manufacture. Wool was not yet introduced into the country, and all their home-spun garments were made from flax or hemp, or from' the skins of the deer, which, when nicely dressed, afforded warm and comfortable clothing. Such was the settler's everyday and holiday garb. A common American check was considered a superb article for a bridal-dress, and such a thing as silk or satin was never dreamt of. A yard of cotton check, which can now be obtained for twelve and a half cents, then cost one dollar, and five yards was deemed an ample dress pattern. The coarser calicoes were one dollar per yard, while whiskey was from one to two dollai's per gallon, and as much of this article was sold as of anything else. The country merchants, however, found it advantageous to their business to place a bottle of liquor on each end of the counter for the gratuitous use of their customers.

In the fall of 1800, Ebenezer Zane laid out a town in Fairfield County, and in compliment to a number of emigrants from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who had purchased lots, called it New Lancaster. It retained that name until 1805, when, by an act of the legi.slature, the word "New" was dropped. Shortly after the settlement was made, and 'while the stumps were yet in the streets, the cheapness of whiskey occasionally led some of the settlers to indulge in drunken frolics, which not un frequently ended in a fight.

In the absence of law, the better disposed part of the population held a meeting, at which it was resolved tliat any person in the settlement foimd intoxicated .should for every such offense either dig a stump out of the street, of which there were many, or suffer personal chastisement. The result was. that, after several of the offenders had expiated their offenses, dram-drinking cea.sed. and sobriety and good conduct marked the character of the people.

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTYon the footing of social equality. The rich and the poor dressed nearly alike. What little aristocratic feeling any new settler might bring with hini', was soon dissipated, for all soon found themselves equally dependent. The pioneers knew who were sick for manj' miles ai-ound, and would very cheerfully tender their assistance to each other under such circumstances. All sympathized on these occa-sions, and the log cabin of the invalid would be visited, not only by those in his own immediate neighborhood, but by settlers from a distance, who would keep him well supplied with the best of everything their primitive habits could afford.

Pioneer Hospitality

The stranger ever received at the log cabin of these pioneers a generous welcome. The rough fare on the puncheon table was most cheerfully shared, and any offer of remuneration would offend them. Even the Indian, in times of peace, was no exception, and would be received and kindly entertained with such fare as the cabin afforded. The pioneer hospitality, together with its happy effects on one occasion, is well exemplified in the following confession of converted Wyandot chief, named Rohn-yen-ness. He had been chosen by his tribe to murder Andrew Poe, a woodsman, celebrated in border warfare, who had slain, among others, one of the bravest warriors in the Wyandot nation. This Indian proceeded to Poe's house, where he was received with utmost kindne.ss and hospitality. Poe, having no suspicion whatever of his design, furnished him with the very best which his cabin afforded. When bedtime came, a pallet was carefully prepared for their Indian guest by the hospitable couple in their own chamber. The unsuspicious hunter and his famih'^ having fallen into a deep sleep, the Indian had now a fair opportunity to accomplish their destruction. He thought of the duty he owed to his nation, of the death of its most valiant warrior, and of the anger of his . tribe : but Poe had received him with so much kindness, had treated him so much like a brother, that he could not summon a sufficient amount of resolution to kill him, and in this unsettled state of mind he lay till about midnight. Once more he arose from his pallet, and approached his sleeping host. His sinewy arm was uplifted, and the murderous weapon glittered in his hand. Again the kindness of the sleeping pioneer overcame the resolution of the Indian, who, feeling it to be unworthy the character of a warrior to kill even an enemy who had reposed in him such generous confidence, returned to his pallet and slept till morning. During the war, however, it was necessary to be more guarded in entertaining Indians, and, although the following incident is more romantic than tragic, it affords a good general illustration of the danger to which the settlers were exposed.

One night, just before retiring to rest, a backwoodsman of the name of Minor Spicer, residing near Akron, in Summit County, heardi some one call an front of his log cabin. He went out and saw a large Indian with two rifles in his hand and a deer quartered and hung across his horse. Spicer asked him what he wanted. The Indian replied in his own dialect, when the other told him he must speak English or he would unhorse him. He finally gave Spicer to understand that he wanted to stay all night, a request which was reluctantly gi-anted. The rifles of the Indian were laid in a corner, his venison hung up, his horse stabled in an out-house, and the Indian invited to enter the dwelling of the settler.

The savage now cut a piece of venison for Mrs. Spicer to cook for him, which she did in the usual way, with a liberal supply of pepper and salt. He drew near the table and ate only sparingly. The family being ready to retire, he placed his scalping-knife and tomahawk in the corner with his rifles, and, stretching himself upon the hearth before the fire, was soon apparently asleep. After a while he was observed to raise himself slowly from his recumbent position and sit upright on the hearth, looking stealthily over his shoulder, to see if all was still. Having satisfied himself that the family slept, the savage rose to his feet, and stepped lightly across the floor to the corner where lay his implements 'of death. At this juncture the feelings of Spicer and his wife may be imagined, for they were only feigning sleep, and were intently watching. The Indian stood half a minute to see if he had awakened anyone, and then slowly drew forth from its scabbard the glittering scalping-knife. At the moment when Spicer was about to lay his hand upon his rifle, which stood near his bed the Indiim crossed quietly to the venison, cut several steaks from it. and was soon after busily engaged in broiling a supply for himself, freed from the pepper, which had previously offended his unsophisticated taste.

The social amusements of the pioneers originated in the peculiarities of their habits, and were especially characteristic. On the arrival of a new settler, every one was expected to perform a certain amount of gratuitous labor at the "log-rolling," or the raising of the new cabin. Some felled the trees and cut them the proper length: others prepared puncheons for the floor, and clap-boards for the roof, while another neighbor with his t-eam hauled these materials to the site on which the cabin was to be erected. A large number of persons usually assembled at this place on the day appointed for the raising, by whom the walls of the house w-ere speedily constructed. The labors of the day having ended, the evening was spent in dancing and other innocent amusements. If the company had no fiddler, which was not unfrequently the case, some of the party would supply the deficiency by singing.

Marriages among the pioneers wpi'p generally contracted in early life, and on these truly festive occasions the youth of both sexes in the immediate neighborhoods, and for fifteen or tw^enty miles around, would be gathered together. On the morning of the wedding day the bridegi'ooni and his friends, with their numerous visitors, assembled at the house of the bride, and, after the ceremony was performed, the company were entertained with a most substantial backwoods feast of beef, pork, fowls, with plenty of potatoes, cabbages and other vegetables. After dinner the young people engaged in various rural sports until dancing commenced, which was kept up for the remainder of the day, and not unfrequently through the whole of the night. The dances most in vogue being ordinarily three and four-hand reel-, or square sets and jigs.

The next day the whole party were accustomed to return to the house of the "''groom" to partake of the "infair." On arriving within a mile of the dwelling, two young nif n would volunteer to race for the bottle. Mounted on ponies (the rougher the road the better) both started with an Indian yell, and away they went over logs, brush, muddy hollows, hills and glens, the obstacles on the road only serving for a better display of rival intrepidity and horsemanship. The bottle was always filled and ready to be presented to the first who reached the door. The successful competitor having drank the health of the bride and groom, then returned in triumph to distribute potations among the company.

Although among the pioneers disputes would occasionally arise, biit few ever thought of settling them by legal proceedings. There were other modes of adjudication. Sometimes a duel would decide all difficulties. At others the pugilistic ring was formed, and, after a fight, which often afforded an opportunity of displaying great courage and immense powers of endurance, the conqueror w-ould shake hands with the vanquished, and a perfect good feeling would usually be restored betw-een the contending parties. It is true there were some justices of the peace, men generally chosen by the pioneers on accoimt of their strong, natural sense, who admirably answered all the purposes of their selections.

The First Published Description Of

In the spring of 1755, James Smith, a youth of 18 years, was taken captive by three Indians, about five miles above Bedford, Pennsylvania. He was taken by them to the banks of the Allegheny River, opposite Fort Duquesne, where he was compelled to run the gauntlet, consisting of two long I'anks of Indians, two or three rods apart. He escaped with a slight tomahawk injury, and his fleetness and skill awakened such an admiration among the Indians that they spared his life and adopted him into the tribe, the name of which wa^ Caughnewaga. Several years later, upon the conclusion of a treaty with the whites, he was released and returned to civilization. In 1799 there was published in Lexington, Kentucky, by John Bradford, a book entitled "Narrative of the Captivity of Colonel James Smith Among the Ohio Indians, Between May, 1755, and April, 1759." It is a most thrilling .story of Jame.s Smith's experience during his Indian life, and its authenticity is unimpeached. In his Indian hunting trips he traversed our portage path and has left us the first description of the adjacent country which has been published. It is given in Colonel Smith's own words and is as follows:

"Sometime in October another adopted brother, older than Tontileango, came to pay us a visit at Sunyendeand and asked me to take a hunt with 'hiin on Guyahaga. A.s they always used me as a freeman, and gave me the liberty of choosing, I told him that I was attached to Tontileango, had never seen him before, and, therefore, asked some time to consider this. He told me that the party he was going with would not be along, or at the mouth of this little lake, in less than six days, and I could in this time be acquainted with him, and judge for myself. I consulted with Tontileango on this occasion, and he told me that our old brother, Tecaughretanego (which was his name) was a chief and a better man than he was, and if I went with him I might expect to be well used, but he said I might do as I pleased, and if I stayed lie would use me as he had done. I told him that he had acted in every respect as a brother to me, yet 1 was much pleased with my old brother's conduct and conversation, and as he was going to a part of the country I had never been in, I wished to go with him. He said that he was perfectly willing.

"I then went with Tecaughretanego to the mouth of the little lake, where he met with the company he intended going with, which was composed of Caughnewagas and Ottawas. Here I was introduced to a Caughnewaga sister, and others I had never seen before. My sister's name was Mary, which they pronounced Maully. I asked Tecaughretanego how it came that she had an English name. He said that he did not know that it was an English name, but it was the name the priest gave her when she was baptized, and which he said was the name of the mother of Jesus. He said there were a great many of the Caughnewagas and Ottawas that were a kind of half Roman Catholics, but as for himself he said that the priest and he could not agree, as they held notions that contradicted both sense and reason and had the assurance to tell him that the book of God taught them these foolish absurdities, but he could not believe that the great and good spirit ever taught them any such nonsense, and, therefore, he concluded that the Indians' old religion was better than this new way of worshi)iing (Sod.

"The Otta\A'as have a very useful kind of tents, which they carry with them, mad-^ of flags, plaited and stitched together in a very artful manner, so as to turn the rain and wind well. Each mat is made fifteen feet long and about five feet broad. In order to erect this kind of tent they cut a number of long, straight poles, which they drive into the ground in the form of a circle, leaning inwards; then they spread the mats on these poles, beginning at the bottom and extending up. leaving only a hole in the top uncovered, and this hole answers the place of a chimney. They make fire of dry split wood in the middle, and spread down bark mats and .skins for bedding, on which they sleep in a crooked posture, all around the fire, as the length of their beds will not admit of their stretching themselves. In place of a door they lift up one end of a mat and creep in, and let the mat fall down behind them. These tents are wai'm and dry, and tolerably clear of smoke. Their lumber they keep under birch bark canoes, which they carry out and turn up for a shelter, where they keep everything from the rain. Nothing is in the tents but themselves and their bedding. "This company had four birch canoes and four tents. We were kindly received and they gave us plenty of hominy and wild fowl boiled and roasted. As geese, ducks, swans, etc., here are well grain-fed, they were remarkably fat, especiallj^ the green-necked ducks. The wild fowl fed upon a kind of wild rice that grows spontaneously in the shallow water, or wet places along the sides or in the corners of the lakes. As the wind was high and we could not proceed on uur voyage we remained here several days and killed abundance of wild fowl and a number of raccoons.

"When a company of Indians are moving together on the lake, as it is at this time of the year, often dangerous sailing, the old men hold a council, and when they agree to embark, every one is engaged immediately in making ready, without offering one word against the mea.sure, though the lake may be boisterous and horrid. One morning, though

..e wind appeared to me to be as high as in days past, the billows raging, yet the call was given yohohyohoh, which was quickly anvvered by all -ooh-ooh, which signifies agreed. '.7e were all instantly engaged in preparing

' start, and had considerable difficulties in -juibarking. As soon as we got into our car )es we fell to paddling with all our might, working out from the shore. Though this sort of canoe rides waves beyond what could be expected, yet the water several times dashed into them. When we got out about half a mile from shore we hoisted sail, and as it was nearly a west wind, we then seemed to ride -the waves with ease, and went on at a rapid rr.^e. We then all laid down our paddles, excepting one that steered, and no water dashed into our canoe until we came near shore again. We sailed about sixty miles that day and encamped some time before night. The next day we again embarked and went on very well for sometime, but the lake being boisterous and the wind not fair, we were obliged to make the shore, which we accomplished with hard work and some difficulty in landing.

The next morning a council was held by the old men. As we had this day to pass by a long precipice of rocks on the shore about nine miles, which rendered it impossible for us to land, though the wind was high and the lake rough, yet as it was fair, we were all ordered to embark. We wrought ourselves from the shore and hoisted sail (what we used in place of sail cloth were our tent mats, which answered the purpose very well), and went on for some time with a fair wind, until we were opposite to the precipice, and then it turned toward the shore, and we began to fear that we should be cast upon the rocks. Two of the canoes were considerably farther out from the rocks than the canoe I was in. Those who were farthest out in the lake did not let down their sails until they had passed the precipice, but as we were nearer the rock, we were obliged to' lower our sails and paddle with all our might. With much difficulty we cleared ourselves of the rock and landed.

This night the wind fell and the next morning the lake was tolerably calm and we embarked without difficulty, and paddled along near the shore, until we came to the mouth of the Cuyahaga, which empties into Lake Erie on the south side betwixt Canesadooharie and Presque Isle. We turned up Cuyahaga and encamped, where we stayed and hunted several 'days, and so we kept moving and hunting until we came to the forks of Cuyahoga.

"This is a vers'- gentle river and but few ripples or swift running place? from the mouth to the forks. Deer here were tolerably plentv, large and fat, but bear and other game scarce. The upland is hilly and principally second and third-rate land: the timber chiefly black oak, white oak, hickory and dog-wood. The bottoms are rich and large, and the timber is walnut, locust, mulberry, sugar-tree, redhaw, blackhaw, wild apple trees, etc. The west branch of this river interlocks with the east branch of Muskingum, and the east branch with the Big Beaver Creek that empties into the Ohio about thirty miles below Pittsburg. From the forks of Cuyahaga to the east branch of Muskingum, there is a carrying place, where the Indians carry their canoes, etc., from the waters of Lake Erie into the waters of the Ohio.

"From the forks I went over with some hunters to the east branch of .Muskingum, where they killed several deer, and a number of beavers, and returned heavy laden with skins and meat, which we carried on our backs, as we had no horses. Tlie land here is chiefly second and third-rate, and the timber chiefly oak and hickory. A little above the forks, on the east branch of Cuyahaga, are considerable rapids, very rocky for some distance, but no perpendicular falls.

"The party then built for themselves a 'chestnut canoe' of large dimension? and enjoyed a fine paddling trip down the river. They then skirted the south shore of Lake Erie until they passed the mouth of Sandusky, where they put in on account of the wind having arisen. The narrative contains the following paragraph on profanity, which may not be -without a useful lesson even in these regenerate days.

"I remember that Tecaughretanego, when something displeased him, said 'God damn it.' I asked him if he knew what he then said. He said he did and mentioned one of their degrading expressions, which he supposed to be the meaning, or something like the meaning of what he had said. I told him that it did not bear the least resemblance to it, that what he had said was calling upon the Great Spirit to punish the object he was displeased with. He stood for some time amazed, and then said: 'If this be the meaning of these words, what sort of people are the whites?' "When the traders were among us these words semed to be intermixed with all their discourse. He told me to reconsider what I had said, for he thought I must be mistaken in my definition. If I was not mistaken, he said, the traders applied these words, not only wickedly, but oftentimes very foolishly, and contrary to sense or reason. He said he remembered once of a trader's accidentally breaking his gun lock, and on that occasion calling out aloud, 'God damn it.' "Surely,' said he, 'the gun lock was not an object worthy of punishment for Owananeeyo, or the Great Spirit.' He also observed the traders often used this expression when they were in good humor and not displeased with anything. I acknowledged that the traders used this expression very often in a most irrational, inconsistent and impious manner, yet I still asserted that I had given the true meaning of these words. He replied, if so, the traders are as bad as Oonasharoona, or the underground inhabitants, which is the name they give to devils, as they entertain a notion that their place of residence is under the earth."

Geographical

The two northernmost townships of Summit County are situated in the very center of the Western Reserve. The full designation of this district is "The Western Reserve of Connecticut." The connection of the name Connecticut with land in Ohio, situated six hundred miles distant from the state of that name, came about in this way. In the year 1662, King Charles II of England granted a charter to Connecticut, which, after recognizing the claims of that colony resting upon former grants, conveyed to it all the land now occupied by it and, in addition thereto, all the territory lying west of it between the 41st and 42nd North Paxallels, or the extent of its breadth, from sea to sea. Thus, the colony of Connecticut had a legal title to all the land lying west of the Delaware River between 41° and 42° 2' N. Latitude, to the Pacific Oceaii. Certain terms in the charter excepted from its provisions the Hudson valley, which was part of the territory of New York. Had this claim not been abandoned and had Connecticut's title been held valid, she would have possessed nearly two-fifths of the state of Pennsylvania, about one-third of Ohio, a portion of Michigan and all the western states whose extent is intersected by those parallels. This claim of Connecticut gave rise, later, to serious disputes and much bloodshed and suffering.

The royal ignorance of American geography, in England, was astounding. Conflicting grants had been made on a large scale and nearly all the colonies were making claim to parts of Pennsylvania and the western lands. Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey were each trying to obtain possession of the southern part of Pennsylvania. Several of their charters contained conveyances which overlapped. Each colony thought that it was in the right and relied upon the validity of its own royal grant. Nineteen years after making his grant to Connecticut, Charles II made another grant, by a royal charter, conveying to Pennsylvania the territory she continues to occupy and extending as far North as the 43° N. Latitude. Thus Connecticut's territory was overlapped by one degree and the way prepared for a tremendous controversy. Perhaps in justice to the memory of Charles II, it should be said that the bestowal of these lands upon the Penns was made after a report by the Attorney for the Crown, that "The tract of land desired by William Penn seens to be undisposed of by his Majesty, except the imaginary lines of New England patents, which are bounded westwardly by the main ocean, should give them a real, though impracticable, right to all those vast territories." (The italics are our.s.)

In 1653, Connectic;it be2;an to assert her rights in a physical way. She took possession of several towns on Long Island which were located within the limits of her claims. She made trouble for the Dutch on Manhattan Island, a readable account of which is contained in Washington Ii-ving's "Knickerbocker History of New York." Just one hundred years later she formed the Susquehanna Company, which soon numbered over 1200 persons. It was organized for the sole purpose of taking possession of and colonizing the beautiful Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania, which Connecticut exploring parties had discovered three years before. This company purchased for about $10,000.00, from the Six Nations, the Indian title to all the land lying within the Wyoming valley. The attempt at colonization, which followed, gave rise to the "Pennanite War."

In 1762, the first settlement was made and the first massacre of Wyoming came in October of that year. Although driven out time and time again, imprisoned, subjected to every kind of maltreatment, and many of them killed, the Connecticut colonists persisted in their purpose. Upon the commencement of the Revolutionary War, nearly six thousand people from Connecticut had taken possession of land in Pennsylvania. On July 3. 1778, occurred the awful massacre of the peaceful inhabitants of Wyoming at the hands of the combined forces of Indians and British. This was one of the bloodiest, most atrocious and fiendish deeds of which history ha.s made any record. The entire settlement of Wyoming was obliterated. The earnestness of the people of Connecticut may be seen from the fact that in November of the same year, they returned, in numbers, to possess themselves of this valley of blood.

When the Revolutionary War was over and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which in the meantime had acquired the title of the heirs of William Penn to all the land in dispute, could give her attention to the controversy ; she appealed to the Congress organized under the Articles of Confederation. She presented a petition on the 3rd day of November, 1781, praying that Congress would adjudicate the claims of the different states to the disputed territories. Congress granted the petition and appointed a Board of Commi.ssioners, selected by the delegates of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, to pass upon the respective claims. The verdict of the Commission was as follows: "We axe unanimously of opinion that the jurisdiction and preemption of all territory lying within the charter of Pennsylvania, and now claimed by the State of Connecticut, do of right belong to the State of Pennsylvania. We are unanimously of the opinion that Connecticut has no right to the lands in controversy."

It is probable that this award was made on grounds of policy only. Connecticut's claims in law were well founded and her rights, therefore, were .superior to Pennsylvania's, but the conflicting claims of the other colonies, particularly Virginia, New York and Massachusetts, were bringing the young nation to the verge of civil war. It is not altogether improbable that a compact was made with Connecticut to reimburse her in some other way, by land located elsewhere, in return for her surrender of Pennsylvania settlements she had made. There are many who believe that she was allowed to retain her title to the Wfestern Reserve on this account. This tract contains more land than the parent state itself, and now has a larger population. Thi^m^as what Connecticut received as a balm forTRr feelings, .so nidely wounded by the decree of the Trenton Court, as the Board of Commi&sioners was called.

One of the greatest problems befove the new American nation was the settlement of the land claims made by the different states composing it. Congress made an appeal direct to the states that all claims to western lands, or any territory lying outside the boundaries of the respective states, should be ceded to the general government, for the benefit of all. This appeal succeeded. In 1780, the state of New-York granted to the United States all her right, title and interest in and to all western lands. In 1784, Virginia did the same. Massachusetts followed in 1785. On the 11th day of May, 1786, the state of Connecticut relinquished all her right, title, interest, juri-sdiction and claim to all lands and territories lying west of a line 120 miles west of and parallel with the western boundary line of the state of Pennsvlvania, biit she expressly reserved from her conveyance all the land lying between 41° and 42° 2' North Latitude, and bounded on the East by the west line of Pennsylvania, and on the West by a line parallel with the west line of Pennsylvania and 120 miles west of it. This reserved land contained 3,366,921 acres, as a subsequent sui-vey showed. This was nearly 200,000 acres more than the parent state contained. It embraced what is now the counties of Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Trumbull, Cuyahoga, Portage, Medina, Lorain, Erie, Huron and parts of the counties of Mahoning, Summit and Ashland. The popular designation of this tract was soon established as "The Connecticut Western Reserve." On September 14, 1786, Connecticut made a deed to Congress of the po.s3essions and interests enumerated in her offer and duly reserved the lands which Congress agreed should remain in her name.

In 1792, Connecticut set a.side half a million acres of land, being the extreme western end of her reser\'ed territory, for division among those who had suffered by incursions of British soldiers and their Indian allies during the Revolution. Mo.st of those who had suffered in this way had met their losses owing to the British having burned several Connecticut towns. For this reason, the tract of half a million acres which was at first called the Sufferers' Lands was afterwards given tlie name of "The Fire Lands." which is retained to this day.

Connecticut determined to sell the balance of her land in the Western Reserve. In May, 1795, the Connecticut legislature, in session at Hartford, passed a resolution providing for the sale of all land in the Western Reserve, except the Fire Lands. The legislature appointed a committee, who eventually sold the lands offered, for the total sum of $1,200,- 000.00. Forty-eight different deeds were made to as many different grantee.s. In the same year these forty-eight buyers formed the Connecticut Land Company. The Company was composed of some of the best and most prominent men in Connecticut.

led an expedition of fifty-two persons, for the purpose of making a survey of the lands just purchased. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary ^^'ar, a lawyer by profession, and a graduate of Yale. It wa^ on this surveying expedition, in July, 1796, that Cleveland was founded and the site surveyed into city lots. On July 10, 1800, Congress made the whole Western Reserve one county and gave it a government. It was named Trumbull County, of the Northwest Territory, being so named in honor of Jonathan Trumbull, who was then governor of Connecticut. "Warren was made the county seat.

Summit County is one of the counties forming the southern half of the Reserve. All but its two southernmost townships, Green and Franklin, lie within the boundaries of the "Western Reserve. These townships are six miles square, while the others of the county are each five miles square. In 1833, a few citizens in Akron, which at that time was situated in Portage County, began to agitate the question of forming a new county, with Akron as its nucleus. Ravenna was the county seat of Portage Coimty, and it was a long and difficult trip there. Akron had grown very fast and began to covet the advantages of being the seat of government of the county. The new county project of course had the support of all the villages adjacent to Akron and of all the farmers living in that vicinity.

Doctor Eliakim' Crosby was the prime mover in this matter, as he was in every laudable enterprise. The energy and versatility of the man are worthy of remark in any history of Summit County. He was the most indefatigable of all the founders of Akron, or of all who have wrought for her welfare and advancement. He made an ofiFer to give $2,000.00 toward the erection of the new county buildings, if Akron should be made the county seat of the new county. The proposition encountered much vicorous opposition, especially on the part of Ravenna citizens. For six years the projectors kept at work, trying to arouse sentiment in favor of the project and especially trying to get the representatives from the counties interested to present a bill in the legislature for the creation of the new one.

At last it was accomplished by means of a political deal. The Whigs of Akron and vicinity voted with the Democrats of Portage County and succeeded in electing two representatives from Portage County who were pledged to the creation of the new county. The new State Senator for the district was Colonel Simon Perkins, who was in favor of the project. The legislature convened on the first Monday in December. 1889, and a bill was introduced by Hon. Rufus P. Spalding, the new representative, providing that the townships of Twinsburg, Northfield, Boston, Hudson, Stow, Northampton, Portage,- Tallmadge, Springfield and Coventry in Portage County; Richfield, Bath, Copley and Norton in Medina County, and Franklin and Green in Stark County, be erected into a separate county, to be known by the name of "Summit." In order to restore the constitutional area to Medina County, the bill transferred Homer and Spencer townships from Lorain to Medina County. It provided for the collection of taxes, the maintenance of suits at law, the continuance of officials in office until the election of their successors and that Franklin and Green townships should not be taxed for the erection of county buildings during a term of fifty years after the passage of the Act. It stipulated the first election for officers of the new county should be held on the first Monday in April, 1840, and that courts should be held in Akron until the county seat was located. This was to be done by commissioners to be appointed by the State.

The name "Summit" expressly given as the name of the new county, was obtained from the summit level of the Ohio canal, which level begins in the south part of Akron. It extends from Lock one to New Portage. This long stretch of canal without a lock, being located upon the very highest land along the whole length of the canal, was called Summit Level. It is probable that the name was selected 'by Dr. Eliakim Cro.sby, Colonel Simon Perkins, or Judge Rufus P. Spalding. The last named probably drew up the bill.

With the introduction of this bill, began one of the hottest legislative battles of the session. A powerful opposition arose at once. If the bill passed, Medina, Lorain, Portage and Stark counties would lose some of their best townships. The constituents of the legislators representing these counties were opposed to it to a man. These legislators were, therefore, fighting for personal prestige as well as principle. They enlisted the support of the legislators of all other counties which had been threatened with a like fate. A strong lobby went to Columbus to work against the bill. Not a stone was left unturned in a search to find weapons to bring about its defeat. The opposition brought all possible filibustering tactics into play. They moved postponements, laying on the table, referring to committees, amendments, adjournments and every parliamentary device allowed by the rules of procedure. The ground was fought inch by inch.

The result was a .splendid victory for the new representatives. It reflects much credit upon their skill and sagacity. On Feb. 6, 1840, the bill passed the House of Representatives, thirty- four votes being cast in its favor and thirty-one against. The margin by which success had been won was very small. On the 28th it emerged triumphant from a battle in the Senate, equally as fiercely contested. Here the vote stood 19 in its favor and 15 against it. On March 3, 1840, it was signed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and became a law.

The legislature then appointed James Mc- Connell, of Holmes; Warren Sabin, of Clinton, and Jacob Williard, of Columbiana, as a Board of Commissioners to establish a county seat for the new-created county. Summit was put in the Third Judicial District, with A.shtabula, Portage and Trumbull and into the Fifteenth Congressional District of

Ohio, with Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina and Portage. The people of the neighboring counties were much discomfited by their defeat, and for a long time, looked upon the inhabitants of Akron as robbers and despoilers. The news of the passage of the bill through both houses reached Akron on the evening of March 2, 1840, and an impromptu celebration was held, lasting nearly all the night. On the 4th a formal celebration was had, consisting of a parade of all the military companies and bands in the county; a banquet in the open air in the grove on the "Gore," about where the present Court House stands; speeches by prominent citizens of the county ; and, in the evening, a big dinner and ball in the "Ohio Exchange," an hotel which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Market streets. According to the newspapers of the time, the affair was a great success and the new county w-as started on its successful career under the happiest auspices.

The first officers elected for the new county offices were temporary ones. They were to hold office only from the time of the spring election in April until the regular state and county election, which, at that period of the State's history, was held in October. Thus, on the first Monday in April, there wcve chosen: For county treasurer, William O'Brien, of Hudson ; auditor, Birdsey Booth, of Cuyahoga Falls; recorder, Alexander .Johnston, of Green; sheriff, Thomas Wikon. of Northfield; county attorney, Geo. Kirknm, of Akron ; coroner, Elisha Hinsdale, of Norton ; county eommi-ssioners, Augastus Foot, of Twinsburg; John Hoy, of Franklin, and Jonathan Starr, of Coplev; appraisers, Fred A. Sprague, of Richfield; Milo Stone, of Tallmadge, and Thomas Jones, of Franklin. No probate judge was elected, as the laws of the State did not provide for such courts at that time. Temporary quarters for the county officers were secured in the Stone Block on the ea.st side of Howard Street, near Market, the third floor being used as a court-room with the jail in one corner.

County Seat Selected

In May the Board of Commissioners for locating the county seat appeared upon the scene and called a public meeting to hear arguments in favor of the different sites proposed. Only three were seriously considered - Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and Summit City, the new town just laid out by Dr. Eliakin Crosby as the w^estern terminus of his "Chuckery Race." The advocates of each of these sites had promised that the new court-house would be erected free of cost to the taxpaj'ers of the county if their particular site should be selected. The commissioners decided unanimously in favor of Akron and set off land on the "Gore," which had been donated to the county through the generosity of General Simon Perkins, of Warren, as the place at which to build the new court-house.

As this site was just midway between North Akron, or Cascade, as it was sometimes called, and South Akron, the older village, both places joined in another celebration. A committee of sixteen citizens was appointed for the purpose of raising money by subscription; $17,500.00 was raised. The county commissioners then appointed Dr. J. D. Commins, Richard Home and Col. Simon Perkins, Jr., as a building commission to collect the .subscriptions, make all contracts and have full charge of the work of erecting the new building. They were the first "Court-House Commission." The second was appointed in 1905. They let the contract to Ithiel Mills, of Akron, and by January, 1841, he had completed the foundations.

County Seat Contest

In the meantime trouble was brewing and Akron was in a fair way of losing her advantage as the county seat of Summit. It happened in this way: The orator who presented the claims of Cuyahoga Falls, at the meeting called by the commissioners, was Elisha N. Sill, of that village. His defeat rankled and he was waiting and watching for a chance to retrieve it. He was a man of much force of character and occupied an influential place among the Whig party of the county. Upon the expiration of the term of Senator Perkins, Mr. Sill secured the Whig nomination, as his successor, and was elected. Among his first acts as a legislator, was the introduction of a bill to re-locate the county seat of Summit County. Mr. Sill's influence with his party was sufficient to overcome the opposition in both houses and it became a law. When this news reached Akron there no celebration. Her citizens were almost in despair.

The new legislative commission consisted of Jacob Hoagland, of Highland; William Kendall, of Scioto, and Valentine Winters, of Montgomery. In May, 1841, they came to Akron, looked over the competing sites and conducted an exciting meeting in the old stone church on North High Street, which lasted all day. Senator Sill spoke for Cuyahoga Falls and Hon. Rufus P. Spalding for Akron. Interested citizens of these two places filled the church to the doors. The excitement was intense. The next morning the commissioners astounded the whole community by announcing that a majority of them were in favor of Summit City, the papertown on what is now North Hill. It was evidently a compromise decision. Mr. Kendall made a minority report in favor of Akron. The particular site staked out by the commissioners was about half way up North Hill, nearly where the Bryan School now stands. The crowd which accompanied them expressed such disapproval that the majority commis- became much nettled, pulled up the stakes and drove on to Cuyahoga Falls, where they located the new court-house on the south ?ide of Broad Street, between Front and Second Streets.

The county officials divided on this question. Some moved their offices to Cuyahoga Falls; others retained theirs at Akron. The building commissioners stopped work on the new court-hou.se at Akron. Cuyahoga Falls made no move to build one there. All felt it would be necessary to await the next session of the legislature for decisive action by that bodv.

The Whig party held its convention at Cuyahoga Falls that year and nominated for representatives Amos Seward, of Tallmadge, and Hai-vey Whedon, of Hudson, both favorable to Cuyahoga Falls as the proper site for the county seat. A Peoples Convention was called to meet at Akron and a bi-partisan ticket was nominated. Hon. Rufus P. Spalding, a Democrat, and Colonel Simon Perkins, a Whig, were the nominees for representatives. In the election which ensued, this ticket was triumphantly elected. The Whig ticket was simply snowed under. The vote for the Akron ticket was nearly three to one.

When the legislature assembled, the new Representatives began the work for which they had been sent there. Feeling confident because of the result of the last election, which had, in reality, been an issue simply between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, they agreed to lea.ve the matter of locating the county seat to a vote of the citizens of Summit County, and prepared and introduced a bill for the purpose. Senator Sill fought it vigorously in the Senate, but it passed both houses and was signed March 2, 1842.

On the first Monday in April the election to choose the county seat was held. A poll of the votes showed that Akron had received 2,978; Cuyahoga Falls, 1,384; Summit City. 101, and other places, 24. Thus Akron's plurality and majority were each more than the total vote cast for Cuyahoga Falls. It was felt all over the county that this decisive victory settled the question for all time to come, and so it proved.

The court-house was finished and accepted by the coimty commis.sioners December 6, 1843. The minutes of this meeting show that "having examined the court-house, the board proposed as an offset to the gpnernl had character of the work, which the building trustees fully admitted, to accept it, if the windows were made to work, * * * the doors better hung, * * * and the windows screened, etc." In spite of this sweeping condemnation, the building stood sixty-four years, or until this year of grace, 1907, in which it is proposed to demolish it, because of the erection of the fine new court-house just west of it. In 1867 wings were added on the north and south sides.

Adams Reception

On the morning of Nov. 2, 1843, it was learned that ex-President John Quincy Adams, who w-as on his way to lay a corner stone for a public building at Cincinnati, was coming up the canal from Ckveland and would stop over in Akron while his packet was being "locked" through the local 21 locks. Bells were rung, whistles blown, and almost the entire population were notified in a short time that the distinguished visitor would make an address in the court-room. Although it was not yet nine o'clock in themorning, the court-house was crowded and Mr. Adams received a most enthusiastic welcome. This was the first meeting held in the old (then new) court-house.

Territorial Changes

The only changes which have been made in the territory of Summit County, were to establish townships co-extensive with the municipalities of Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and Middlebury, for purposes of government. Thus in 1851 Cuyahoga Falls Township was created; in 1857, the township of Middlebury, and, in 1888, the township of Akron.