Troy Township (part 5 of 10)

In 1779 General Broadhead was ordered to Fort Pitt j with his regiment, and Samuel Brady, who had been at j the siege of Boston, and was a lieutenant at the massacre 1 of the Paoli, accompanied the regiment. A short time i prior to this, his' father and brother had fallen by the I hands of Indians, and Brady had sworn to avenge their ! murder; and was. full of relentless hate. Fie was selected j by General Broadhead, upon the suggestion of General I Washington, as a suitable officer to proceed to Upper i Sandusky to ascertain the number of British and .Indians j in that region. Fie was appointed captain of the spies, and furnished a rude map of the country in which the Indians were supposed to be located. He was accompanied by four Chickasau w, and some eight or ten select woodsmen and Indian hunters, as spies. They were all dressed and painted in true Indian style, and looked so much like Indians that it was really difficult to distinguish them from the genuine article. Brady was versed in the wiles' of Indian strategy, and was well acquainted with their languages and mode of warfare. Tit- led his band in safety through the deep, dark forests, across streams and over marshes and bogs to the Sandusky. On the way, his Chickasaws deserted him, and suspecting treachery, he was doubly on his guard. On his arrival at Sandusky, he concealed his men, and stealthily approached the Indian town in company with a select spy, where from his concealment he saw about three thousand Indians engaged in the amusement of the raceground. They had just returned from Virginia and Kentucky with some fine blooded horses. After watching the Indians some hours, Ire and his companion returned tion at an eaily ago, and -.vas in several battles. In -77a he was or- , duruil to >:t But, under Genera! Broadlte.nl, where he betaine noted i as an Indian hunter and spy. He was a bravo and reel.iess man. I Those who were best acquainted with hint say he was, morally, quite J unscrupulous.

to the place where he had concealed his spies and they turned their faces homeward. On the homeward trip to Fort McIntosh, Brady and his men had several startling adventures. Fie returned to Fort Pitt and made due report to General Broadhead, and was saluted as a hero.

In 1789 a line of spies and scouts was formed to patrol the borders from Fort Henry, now Wheeling, to Fort Le Boeuff on Lake Erie, of which Samuel Brady was captain. Thomas Sprott, Samuel Sprott, Alexander McConnell, Lewis Wetzel, George Loulks, Adam Poe, Andrew Poe, and some eight or ten other active border hunters were members of the company, which was regularly organized. About this time Captain Brady concluded to enter the Ohio wilderness and proceed in the direction of Upper Sandusky, in the hope of discovering an encampment of the Indians, who were constantly harrassing the border settlers. In company with George Foulks, Thomas Sprott, Samuel Sprott, McConnell, a young man by the name of Grant, and five or six others, whose headquarters were at Fort McIntosh, Captain Brady ascended Big Beaver to the mouth of the Mahoning and encamped over night. During the ascent of Beaver, one of the company shot r. very fat young bear, a part of which they roasted and cooked for supper. They all eat heartily of the meat, and during the night young Grant was taken suddenly very sick; in the morning be was unable to proceed. After consultation, it was agreed that he should return to Fort McIntosh. He was unable to go alone. Lots were drawn to determine who should accompany him. The task fell upon a young man v;ho was very anxious to continue with the expedition, and he refused to go back. The lot then fell upon Thomas Sprott, very much to his regret, because he was desirous of advancing. He and Grant descended the Leaver in a canoe, and landed safely at the fort.

Captain Brady and his men continued up the Mahoning to about the present site of Youngstown, where they left the stream and traveled through the forest in a southwest direction, until they reached Sugar creek, some twelve miles below the present site of Wooster, where they found a camp of Indians, one of which they shot, while another fled into the forest. The escaping Indian appeared to be a chief, and fled across the cicek with the fleetness of a deer, and disappeared. From this point they traveled a westerly course until they reached a stream now known as Apple creek, where they found a camp with one man, a woman and a boy, They shot the man and woman, and the boy being some distance from the camp, and hearing the guns, cautiously approached, dodging, from tree to tree; and when he had come within speaking distance, one of Brady's men told hint to come in, as his father and mother were safe. The boy became alarmed and attempted to escape; but one of the sharp-shooters shot him through the bowels as he ran, and so disabled him that he was easily caught. On examination it was found the wound would be fatal, h was then determined to dispatch him. The poor little fellow undeislood what was to be his fate, and clung to the legs of one of the scouts, begging him to was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1806, and in 1815, when nine years of age, accompanied his father's family to Ohio, making a home in Orange township, in the present county of Ashland. In his boyhood he was an adept in the sports of the day, jumping, wrestling, running foot races, etc., in which he was able to hold his own with the best. His father was a great deer and bear hunter, and he generally accompanied him to assist in bringing in the trophies of the chase. In these expeditions he learned the intricate details of woodcraft, and became as expert with the rifle in securing game as his father.

When a young man he learned the trade of millwright, which called him some distance from his home. He also worked at the carpenter trade for more than twenty years- -at that time very hard work, as mechanics were ol liged to go into the woods, cut suitable trees, juggle, score and hew down the timber to a proper si/e, after which it was hauled by ox teams to the place designed for the building, where it was mortised and framed. Very many of these strongly framed houses and barns are now standing where they were built fifty or sixty years ago, and bid fair to remain another half century.

Colonel Urie possessed strong military tastes, and with his commanding figure and erect bearing was a prominent character at drill and general muster. Under the old State militia law he passed through the various grades from captain to colonel of a regiment of independent titles. At the breaking out of the war with Mexico he still commanded this regiment, and made all i is arrangements to accompany his comrades in support of the honor of the American flag, but having recently recovered from a severe attack of sickness, he was advised lulus physician that if he followed his inclination in the matter it would very likely prove fatal to him. He therefore reluctantly decided to remain at home, and leave the honors that might be won to other officers of the regiment.

In the fall of 1845 he "'as elected treasurer of Richland county, and upon the erection of Ashland count) in 1846, he resigned, and was elected the first treasurer of the new county, which office he held two terms.

In x S3 ; he wars seized with a desire to seek a fortune among the gold mines of California, and entered the "golden gate" by way of the isthmus of Panama. Pic remained in California but one year, and finding his golden dreams contained more dross than pure metal, he returned. In 1S53 he was elected a member of toe State board of equalization from ike district composed of Ashland and Richland counties. In 185; lie was appointed deputy United States marshal for the northern district of Ohio, and aided in taking the census of i860. He was elected recorder of Ashland county in 1865, and held the office until 1874, when he was elected mayor of Ashland, which office he held two years.

Colonel Urie has been a resident of Ashland many years. As is evinced by the numerous places of trust he has filled he has the confidence of inn people of the county in which he lives. He was twice inariied, and by his first wife raised a family of four daughters- Mis Mary J. Porter, Mrs. Alice A. Peer, Mrs. 1 ibbie H. Andeison, and Mrs. Sadie A. Peer. A son died young. Mis. Port r died in September, 1875.

From 1781 to 179.1 during the Indian hostilities, Fort McIntosh was the principal headquarters of Brady and his men. Here the Sprotts, McConnells, Wetzels, Poes and Dickinsons often met for consultation. From 1 7 S3, the close of the Revolutionary war, until the defeat of Harmar and St. Clair, the border settlements were comparatively secure from Indian invasion. Brady and his men often passed up the Beaver to the Mahoning, and once or twice to the Cuyahoga where, on one occasion, Brady made a celebrated leap to escape from his pursuers. His trips with the spies frequently extended to Fort Laurens on the Tuscarawas.

In 1793-4 Thomas Sprott was employed by the Government to carry the mail from Fort Legionville, the winter quarters of General Wayne, to Fort Franklin on the Allegheny. His route was along an old Indian trail, without bridges or means of crossing streams, which he was compelled to wade, many times when flooded with ice. The trip was beset by many dangers, yet he delivered his precious packages promptly.

In 1795, after the treaty of Greenville, Thomas Sprott crossed the Ohio and located a tract of land near the present site of the village of Darlington, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. About this time he married Mary Woodburn, of Allegheny county, and moved upon his farm, which consisted of four hundred acres. The disastrous defeat of the combined tribes, at Fallen Timbers, by General Wayne, and the large cession of territory made the United States by the tribes at the treaty of Greenville, completely humbled the warlike leaders, and a peace of fifteen years between the Indians and pioneers of Ohio, prevailed.

The transition from Indian scout to the peaceful occupation of agriculturist was easy and agreeable, to Thomas Sprott. He soon became noted as a quiet and careful farmer. To the day of his death he took great pleasure in narrating the adventures and hairbreadth escapes of Brady and his men, and proudly contended that the great State of Ohio was indebted to such leaders and men for the expulsion of the merciless savage, who had so often desolated the borders of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Mr. Sprott remained on his farm in Beaver county until 1821, when his excellent wife deceased. In 1823 he purchased a farm in Clearcreek township, Richland, now Ashla livj, county, and with his family, consisting of four sons and four daughters, located thereon - James, his oldest son, remaining in Beaver County.

When Mr. Sprott arrived in Clearcreek it was but sparsely settled. 'Flic Delawares and a few of the IVyandots returned annually to make sugar and hunt. Thev were then harmless and annoyed no one. Mr. Sprott had but little intercourse with them, and was never diturbed. He had seen enough ot the red-skin:; on the eastern border of the State; and the sight of a tomahawk and an Indian hunter brought unpleasant memories ot the past.

In 1839 Mr. Sprott deceased, and according to a de- | sire expressed sometime before his death, was buried on I a favorite Indian mound a few hundred yards northeast of his residence, where his son William was also buried j in t S P5. The location of the mound is very spiking.

! It was built upon an upheaval of drift deposited during ; the glacial period, something over ninety feet high, with a circular base some three hundred yards in diameter. This natural upheaval or deposit of drift was slightly fin t- : tened on the top, where the Indians erected two mounds,

1 each of which possessed a diameter, at the base, of about \ twenty-five feet, and a height of about five feet. From the top of this mound a grand view is presented. The | observer can take in a landscape of five or six miles, ex- | hibiting as fine a valley of land as can be seen on the j . globe. Here, Thomas Sprott, the brave old scout and | pioneer, rests from his toils, with a reputation unsullied,

| aged sixty-seven, resides at Bryan, Ohio; Jane married i Colonel Samuel Russell, and resides in Seattle, King ! county, Washington Territory; Martha resides in Sa- | vannah, Ashland county, Ohio; Mary married Samuel ; Sprott, a cousin, and resides in Leseur City, Minnesota, i was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, near Bloody | run, in 1769. He was in Williamson's campaign against ; the Moravian villages, on the Tuscarawas, in 1782, and . was at the massacre of the Christian Moravians, and saw : the burning of their houses. He was then quite younw but large of his age. Colonel David Williamson was a S brother-in-law, and for that reason he was induced to accompany the expedition. He always disapproved that j barbarous act, and often stated to his sons, that Wiliiam- ' son yielded a reluctant consent to the perpetration of that dreadful tragedy, being unable to control the violence of his soldiers, who were border volunteers, and had suffered much from Indian raids and depredations.

In the year 1S10, Solomon Urie and" his ' brother Thomas went on a hunting excursion across the Ohio ! and established a camp about midway between the j present sites of Cadiz and New Philadelphia. They : hunted together some days, and finally, in one of their j trips through the forest in search of game, became I separated. Thomas, having killed a bear, in the evening was conveying the skin toward the camp, which he had nearly reached, when lie was shot and killed by Indians, who bad taken possession of it, and were in ambush, watching his ai rival. Solomon, at the same time, was approaching the camp from another direction, driving before him his horses, which had been belled and hoppled. When almost in sight of the camp, no heard .1 double crack of guns, and, fearing his bio. her might have been assailed by Indians, considered it pm- ' dent to leave his horses and carefully guard against surprise. When he came in sight of his camp, he saw two 1 Indians plundering it, while a third was acting as sen j tinel. He raised his rifle to shoot the Indian guard, ; when his brother's dog began to bark, which pointed out : his position to the Indian. Mr. Urie comprehended the j position at a glance. There were three Indians. To ! press forward might be fatal. In his rear was a swamp. : To retreat in that direction would be folly. Summon ing all his energies, he made a bold dash in the direction ! of tne Indian sentinel. The Indian became alarmed and retreated, dodging behind trees to escape his white : assailant. Mr. Urie pressed boldly forward, discovering j as he went, the body of his brother Thomas. He sue- ; cessfully escaped the Indians, who pursued him some miles to the verge of a precipice, down which he ; plunged, and on descending to the bottom, discovered ;i that he had broken the breach of his gun, the lock be- '] ing uninjured. The Indians were amazed at the leap, and abandoned further pursuit. Mr. Urie continued his !

He returned to his home in Washington county, re- ! solved to retaliate on the red fiends of the Ohio forests 1 at no distant day. When the war of 1812 was inaug- i urated, he and his son Samuel served three months on j the borders of Canada, and rendezvous xl at Black j Rock. In the summer of 1814, Mr. Urie visited Orange ! township, and located a quarter section of land, and a quarter section in Montgomery township, and erected a small cabin and cleared a few acres of ground, and in the fail of 1815 removed to it with his family, which j consisted of seven sons - Samuel, Thomas, David, Solomon, John, George W. and James; and two girls-- Su- ; sannah and Elizabeth.

In the fall of 1815, he erected a blacksmith shop on j his land, being the first one in Orange township, he being a blacksmith and gunsmith by trade. The first winter I after his arrival, he killed forty deer, eight large black i bears, a great number of wolves, and other game. On , one occasion, there being considerable snow on the ground, he took an old horse ami rode two or three ntiies I north in the forest, hitched to a sapling, and, proceeding j a short distance, shot a fine deer. Returning to the horse, he rode it through the undergrowth to the deer, tied a rope around its neck, fastened the other end to the tail of tire horse, mounted, and rode home, dragging the deer after him. He had reached his cabin but a few minutes, when, as he was engaged in skinning the deer, a gang of hungry wolves, following his trail, appeared in the vicinity of his cabin. His dogs set up a furious barking and commenced an attack upon the wolves, when they soon fled into the forest. It was a narrow escape; for they were half famished for food, lie was very successful in trapping wolves. . He usually made a sort of triangular pen, arranging a large trap, so that the wolf would have to pass over it in reaching a piece of fresh meat which he placed in the narrow end, covering the trap with leaves. Having bent and trimmed a small sapling, he fastened the chain of the trap to it in such a manner that when the wolf attempted to back out, it would tread upon the trap, set it off, be caught by the hind legs, and elevated by the sapling. In this way, he captured a great many, a reward being offered for their scalps. Soon after the erection of his shop, Tom Lyons, Jonacake, Catotawa, and other Wyandot and Delaware Indians, came to have their tomahawks and guns repaired. They frequently brought bent gun-barrels to be straightened. Passing the barrel between the logs of his shop, he used sufficient force to spring it back, until the bend was out,' then, taking a bow with a thong of deer sinews, he passed the thong through the barrel, and, springing it until it was tense, he could see whether any kinks were left in the barrel by sighting through the bore; and if any were discovered, he removed them by a wooden mallet, by laying the barrel on the end of a square block and striking on it, occasionally looking through the bore at a piece of white paper, to see if ail the kinks were out. The Indians watched the operation very closely, insisting that he would "spoil gun." After completing the work, Mr. Urie would challenge the Indians to shoot at a mark with him. Being a fine shot, always shooting off-hand, "Old Peel," as he called his rifle, was sure to cut the paper. The Indians, being accustomed to shoot with a rest, made poor shots off-hand. When they were about to shoot, Urie, who was always brimful of fun and tricks, would stand close to his competitor, saying, " Indian stir mush," 'Cooza," "No go," when the Indian, becoming very nervous, would miss the mark, and Urie would laugh heartily. In this way, when he bet he won most of their furs and skins.

After the murder of In's brothei, Mr. Urie never entertained a very cordial feeling for the red race; and, on -his hunting excursions along the Black river, from 1815 to 1825, though reticent on the subject, it is believed he more than once avenged the death of his brother.

Mr. Urie died in Montgomery township, July y, 1830, aged nearly sixty two years, and Mrs. Elizabeth Urie, his wife, in June, 1842, aged about seventy three years t lolonel George Y, . Urie is the only one of the family in this county. Thomas and David'!' are in Iowa; and by iarge numbers of ferocious wolves. To protect him-. 1 self against these animals, he generally encamped near a dead tree, which he set on fire. When they reached I the Hudson, the ice was somewhat weakened by a thaw. ! Fearing to cross it with his teams, he took the sled and j children and hauled it by hand to the western side, j leaving his wife and horse to follow. After he had 1 landed, she mounted and followed, and when about j midway of the stream, the ice broke with a tremendous ; roar. He stood appalled at the sight, expecting to see ! his wife and horse disappear beneath the floating ice. j Foitunately, she floated on a large piece of ice which ! drifted to the western shore, some distance below him.

cended the bank in safety. Great was his joy over the | providential escape. From near the city of Buffalo the j whole party kept up the lake shore. By examination 1 they found the icc was sufficiently strong to bear their j teams, and hence, followed if until they reached the j northwest coiner of Pennsylvania, when they learned - from an old Indian chief of the Sauras where they were, I and the proper route from there to Trumbull county, I Ohio. When he arrived at the residence of his brother, ! William Bushnell, who had preceded him one year, J l his wife gave birth to a child about two hours after his ! arrival - Jonathan Bushneli. Mr. Bushnell resided in I I Trumbull count) about fifteen years. HE occupations ! were various. Part of the time he taught school- - acted ! as justice of the peace and county surveyor. In his j late residence, he engaged in the mercantile business j and cheese. He launched his boat on a small stream I emptying .into Big 1 leaver, and passed down it to the 1 j Ohio, and thence down the Mississippi, where he sold t his commodities at good prices, and returned on horse j bat k, passing through the Indian nations, C'/W/n.w, bank bills - wet, and stopped with a chief of the Chicka - saws, who entertained him kindly and helped dry his bank bills, and directed him on his way. This venture proved very profitable, and upon returning home, he resolved to make a second trip loaded as before. In passing down the Ohio, he became ice-bound until the opening of the spring thaw, and when he arrived at New Orleans, his goods were greatly damaged from the climate - his batter melted and cheese spoiled. The trip proved a failure, and he was ruined financially. He was gone about six months, returning by the Gulf and Atlantic to New York city, and thence by private conveyance home.

During the war of 1812 a regiment was raised in Trumbull county, Richard Hayes being colonel, Sterling G. Bushnell adjutant, and an eminent pioneer preacher, Father Badger, chaplain. This regiment made a forced march up the lake shore to Sandusky, where Sandusky- City vnow stands. The regiment was, for some time, at Fort Avery, and near Fort Meigs. While near the mouth of Huron, Adjutant Bushnell assisted in the exchange of prisoners between Malden and Huron. While stationed here he became possessed with the malaria. of that region, and was discharged on account of disability, and his widow, forty years afterward, was awarded a pension, which was continued until her decease.-

In May, 1821, he emigrated to near the present site of the town of Hayes-. i He, in Vermillion township. Wiien he arrived he was fifty-one years old. The township was sparsely settled, and he entered upon pioneer life in earnest, purchasing eighty acres of land, upon which, his son, Thomas Bushnell, row resides, of Joseph Lake, of Wooster, for forty dollars. It proved to be a fine bargain. He commenced improvements upon it bv the erection of a comfortable log cabin, in which he resided for many years.

Being a good mathematician, and a practical surveyor, he soon began to retrieve his southern lus-es. His experience as a business man gave him an opportunitv to acquire a knowledge of legal proceedings in justices' courts, and he soon became expert as a country attorney. Many anecdotes are related of him in bis capacity as a lawyer, some of which evince a good deal of shrewdness. On one occasion, three young men, of Vermillion township, went on a little frolic to cut a bee trce on die premises of a watchful farmer. After securing the honey, the secret was divulged to a comrade, who told the farmer of Ids loss. A suit was brought to secure the value of the tr ee, before a justice of the peace. Hie young men consulted Mr. Bushnell as to the best method of escape. Tlu*\ related the circumstances - raid the tree was on a ridge- - which fact they had stated. Bushneil desired to learn whether the precise locality had been stated. They said it had not. Mr. Bushnell told them to return with part of the honey and comb, and cut anothei hollow tree on the same- ridge in tit-: adjoining township, and fill the crevices of a large limb with 1 he comb, and smear it over with honey, and leave the balance to him. I lie round men agreed to pay him 'lift is. a dollars live each if lie would clear them. The trial came, and it was shown that a tree had been tut on the ridge, but. the exact point was in uncertainty. After examining the witnesses, Mr. Bushnell stated that his clients did not deny cutting a tree on the ridge, but the tree was in the adjoining ! township, and the present court had no jurisdiction. Witnesses for the defence had testified that they had seen the tree, and it was as stated. The plaintiff had, therefore, failed to fix the cutting of the tree upon the young men, as charged in his affidavit. Mr. Bushnell, therefore, demanded the discharge of his clients, whic h the justice granted without further delay. For fees he received thirty silver half-dollars, and icturned triumph- 'autly to his own cabin.

Mr. Rushneli died at his homestead in Vermillion township, August 1 6, 1846, aged seventy-four years. He was the father of eleven children - five sons and six daughters - Betsy, wife of Sylvester Bucher; Laura, wife of Tully Crosby; William, an eminent surveyor of Mansfield, Ohio; Collins, who built the first hotel in Hayesville, and died in Louisiana in 1S32 leaving three sons - Judge Tully' C., Sterling G. (a justice of the peace), and Collins W. (probate judge); Sedelia, wife of James Connolly, of Iowa; Joth-an, deceased; Huldah, wife of Stephen Tanner, of Illinois; Rosela, wife of Jonathan \Y. Sloan, of Mansfield; Homer, of Mercer county, Ohio, deceased; Olive, wife of Dr. David Snively, of Xenia, Ohio; and Thomas, of Hayesville, who resides on the old homestead, and is noted for his zeal and success in agriculture and horticulture.

El TAS SLOCUM was born in Rodman township, Jefferson county, New York, August 1 1, 1784. In June, 1817, he came west to select a home, and arrived in Uniontown, now Ashland, in July, after a long and toilsome journey. After examining the country in and about Montgomery township, he concluded to make the vicinity of Uniontown his residence. In October he returned east for his family. In this trip he was accompanied by George W. Palmer, a Mr. Lucas and a Mr. Butterfield. In the meantime the families of the foregoing pioneers remained in the vicinity of Black Rock, somewhat noted in the Indian wars and the war of uSic, and in January, 18 1 8, after having attempted to make a passage up the lake, but having been driven back by the tempestuous storms then prevailing, commenced their journey overland, and arrived in Uniontown in March, after continuous travel of near two months, over rugged hills, down narrow valleys, along winding paths, often crossing deep streams. Mr. Slocum purchased of George Butler, one of the sturdy pioneers, one hundred and six acres of land, two miles east of Uniontown, on section sixteen, and also jointly with Alan son Andrews, and George V. Palmer, who accompanied ' him widi his family, three acres on Montgomery's am, in - Uniontown, and erected a distillc-v, an institution prior to that time unknown in L'niontown. II is family resided in a cabin on the farm, to which Mr. Slocum returned from his daily toils at. tlve village of Uniontown. At tb it

"Old HopewelL" Presbyterian, one mile west of the village, was the only church in this region. Log cabins were the order of the day, and Mr. Slocum, like other pioneers, often spent the whole w eek at cabin raisings, and log-rollings, traveling several miles from home to do so. All were anxious to increase the number of sctlieis, and great exertions were made to aid in raising cabins and preparing lands for culture. When Mr. Slocum settled on section sixteen wild animals, such as deer, bear and wolves, were quite numerous, while the latter proved quite destructive to sheep and hogs. Wild turkeys were also very plenty, and an expert hunter could easily procure an abundance of wild meat.

Mr. Slocum, at a later period, purchased a lot and I house where the town hall now stands, and. removed into ; ft, and kept hotel a number of years. He accumulated ; property quite rapidly, and was very shrewd in money ! matters. At an early day he became quite expert in j legal disputes, and was the principal attorney in thys re- ! gion, although never regularly admitted to the bar.

| Many anecdotes evincing unusual sharpness in practice, are related of him. At an early day he had a suit before 'Squire Solomon Sherradden, who resided where James Newman now lives. It was for the price of a certain "crow-bar," which had disappeared from a quarry two and a half miles east of Ashland, and was in possession j of a certain citizen. The ownership was in dispute, and J the question of identity was to be raised by the defend- I ant. On the morning of the trial Mr. Slocum visited the residence of the justice, and finding him absent, ob- ! tained permission from Mrs. Sherradden, who was at. a j spring a short distance from the cabin engaged in washing,

! to 2:0 to the house and examine the bar, as he was the | attorney for the defendant. Having done so, he replaced it beneath the bed where he found it, and returned at the hour of trial. Lie was confronted by the late S:la? Robbins, jr.. as attorney for the plaintiff. The trial 'proceeded regularly until proof was made that the bar in ! question was new, unmarked, and of the usual style.

| After cro-'s-questioning the witnesses sharply, to avoid | equivocation, Mr. Slocun requested the production of the bar in court. It was drawn from under the bed, and upon examination was found, not to be smooth and unmarked; hut on the contrary, was deeply indented. Mr. Slocum demanded judgment for the defendant, and the court readily granted it, to the great chagrin of Mr. Rob bins and the plaintiff. The facts were, that on the examination in the morning, Mr. Slocum had taken the bar to the shop of Mr. Sherradden, who was a blacksmith, and made the indentations that defeated the claimant. These tricks, then perfectly allowable among country attorneys, constituted a large proportion of the strategy of litigation.

He often met Mr. Sterling G Bushnell. of Hayesville, as a country practitioner in legal contests in justices courts. Mr. ljitsliiie.il hail the reputation of being do. , before [the establishment of the county of Ashland, j Mr. Slocum often conducted appeals in the courts at j Mansfiekl with considerable ability and success. In j person, he was commanding in appearance, was about j six feet in height, hair light brown, eyes a bluish gray and very expressive. In disposition lie was kind and rather disposed to conciliate; but when aroused, exceedingly sarcastic and unyielding. As a business man he was very shrewd, insinuating, and successful. He was a good judge of values, and was not easily overreached in his purchases and e.xchanges. He arrived in Montgomery when it was sparsely settled, and lived to see it the most populous and thrifty township in the county. He passed through all the struggles from a poor and humble pioneer to that of thrift and wealth, and at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, April 17, 1862, deceased at his residence in Ashland, and his remains now rest amid the tombs of his pioneer neighbors, who passed away before him.

He was twice married, having lost the wife of his youth in 1829. He had no children by his second wife. His family consists of Sarah, married to John Lafferty, of Stark county, Illinois; Mary, married to Joseph Palmer, of Galesburgh, Illinois; Elizabeth, married to Daniel Carter, of Ashland; Lvman, deceased ; Wealthy, married to the late David Bryte, of Ashland; Ephraim, who resides on the old homestead, near Ashland ; Willard, an attorney, who resides in Ashland ; Mahala, married to Johnson Carson, of Galesburgh, Illinois; Eli, of Ashland; Alfred, neai Ashland; and Cordelia, de- ! ceased. His descendants are all thrifty, intelligent, and influential people.

Captain Pipe

whose Indian name was " Hobacan," belonged to the Monsie or Wolf tribe of tire Lenni-Lenapc or Delawares. This famous war chief, in his later years, appears to have resided on the upper branches of Mohican, the head j branches of Black river, the Vermillion and the.Cuya- 1 hoga. It is believed that some time between 1793 and 1795, he made his headquarters at Jerometown, an In- i di.un village about three-fourths of a mile southwest of 1 the present site of Jeromeville, and erected a cabin on the old site of Mohican Johnstown. This village was ; surrounded south, east and north by alder swamps that i were impassable by cavalry, and difficult of penetration by infantry.

He was born, as near as can be learned, on the banks of the Susquehanna river, in Pennsylvania, about the year 1740. Though undoubtedly a member of the royal or ruling family of his tribe, his ;omh seems to 1 have been remarkably obscure. This ohseuihy nm have arisen from the fact that all Indian youths were taught to show deference to age and experience. It i.

believed that Pipe and other Delmoares located at the junction of the Sandy and Tuscarawas rivers as early as .'758. His first appearance on the historic page was among the warriors at a conference held at Fort Pitt, July, 1759, between the agent of Sir William Johnston, Hugh Mercer, the Iroquois , Delawares and S/iaronees.

Pipe was then probably about nineteen years of age, much 100 young to be conspicuous. He is next mentioned in an agreement with Charles Frederick Post, the eminent Moravian missionary, in the year 1762. Post had visited the junction of the Sandy and Tuscarawas rivers, in 1761, and obtained the consent of King Beaver, a Delaware chief, to erect a cabin fora school and mission house. When he returned in 1762, with John Heckewelder, then nineteen years old, as an assistant to teach the young Delawares , he located in the cabin, and commenced to mark out a small field for corn. The Indians ordered him to desist. A council was held, in which the Indians expressed fears that a fort would soon appear at that point if they permitted Post to go on with his clearing. On being assured by Post that their fears were groundless, they consented to allow the missionaries a spot of ground - fifty steps each way - for a garden or field, in which to raise corn or vegetables for their support. Accepting these terms, "Hobacan" - Captain Pipe, a young Delaware chief - - was ordered to step off the boundaries, and drive stakes at the corners. Pipe seemed very suspicious of the mission, because his people had suffered many wrongs at the hands of the British in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania, and never failed, in a sly way, to urge Ids tribe to be cautious of the whites and the new missionaries.

In 1764 Colonel Henry Bouquet led an expedition to the Muskingum river against the Indians. When his army reached Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he delayed his march a few days. Some ten Indians appeared on the north bank of the Ohio river during the time he was at this fort, and asked to have a talk. Part of them crossed the river and entered the fort, and not being able to explain their object in coining to the settlement, were detained as suspicious characters or spies. One of these proved to be young Pipe, the Delaware. who, two years prior, had marked out Post's garden spot. He was detained at Fort Pitt until Colonel Bouquet returned from the Muskingum, where he dictated terms of peace and a treaty with the De/aiaarcs and Shawrees. The transaction soured the temper of Captain Pipe, and he resolved upon a relentless course in the future against the "Long Knives," as he called the colonists.

Captain White Eyes, "Coquethagechton,'' chief of the Turtle tribe of Delawares, unlike Pipe, was friendly to the missionaries, and opposed him in his hostility t awards the settlers in western Pennsylvania. Although Pipe's tribe repressed their Irate, with few exceptions until 1780, he entertained a bitter feelingt ow.ard the colonists. In 1765 lie attended a conference a Fort Pitt, at which about six hundred chiefs and warriors and munv women and children were present. In 17OS lie again met in conference at Fort Pill, Gcnrgi Civghan, the sub-agent of Sir William Johnston, and over one thousand Iroquois , Delawares , Shaw nets, Wyandols and In the meantime Pipe and White Lyes became rivals for ascendancy in the councils of the Delawares. White Eyes was a frank, manly and courageous chief, and had the sagacity to see that to make war upon the border settlers was to invoke incursions into the Indian territory, and bring ruin upon his people. Pipe was haughty and ambitious, and detested the "Long Knives," and longed for the time when it would be safe for him to take the hatchet. His young warriors very generally seconded his warlike ferocity, and a Large number of the Turtle tribe were deeply affected by his intrigues.

In 1771 he sent a speech to John Penn, the governor of Pennsylvania, in which he made complaints against white aggression and wrong. Not being relieved of the complaints in 1774, Pipe, White Eyes, and others, met the agent of Governor Dunmore, John Connelly, at Pittsburgh, in conference,, in regard to recent aggressions on the Indian territory, and the unprovoked murder of the relatives of the noted Mingo, Logan. At this conference strong efforts, were made to pacify the Indians and prevent war. The effort was in vain, for a great battle was fought at the mouth of the Kanawha, in October. It is not known how many of the Delawares participated in that battle.

In 1778 a conference was held at Fort Pitt between Andrew and Thomas Lewis, United States commissioners, and Captains White Eyes, Kill buck, and Pipe, deputies and chiefs of the Delawares , concerning the wrongs inflicted by the "Long Knives," and the retaliation of the Indians.

The long-impending separation of Pipe and White Eyes soon after this took place. Pipe made an effort to overthrow White Eyes. Seeing the effect of the intrigues of Pipe upon the Turtle tribe, Whites Eyes ummoned a council, and declared that if they determined, in spite of his remonstrances, to go to war, he would lead the warriors himself and die with his fibe. This heroic proposition turned the scale, and his people remained the friends of the colonists. Pipe, and the warlike members of his tribe, departed from the Tuscarawas and located on the Walhonding, about fifteen miles above the present site of Coshocton,- and attached himself to the British, who furnished his warriors blankets^tomahawks, guns, and ammunition, in exchange for human scalps.

In the midst of the revolution (1780) Captain Pipe and his warlike Delawares removed from the Walhonding to the Sandusky, on Tymocktee creek, and united his forces with the Wyandols , Senecas, and other savages favoring the British cause. While he resided in this region he organized an expedition (1 7S1) for the removal of the Moravian Delawares from the Tuscarawas. He was accompanied by three hundred warriors, two distinguished chiefs, and the notorious Captain Elliott, then active in the British service. After the removal, Colonel Williamson and a large number of border ruffian, from western Pennsylvania, made an expedition to the deserted villages on the Tuscarawas, barbarously murdered a'l

In 1782 followed the unfortunate expedition of Colonel William Crawford. Captain Pipe has been censured for the cruelty inflicted upon Colonel Crawford and the other captives. We are apt to think, notwithstanding ingenious attempts have been made to excuse that wicked expedition, that it was the deliberate intention of Crawford and Williamson, and the barbarous persons who accompanied the expedition, to first assault and destroy the Moravian settlements, and then finish their work of blood and death upon the Wyandols.

The barbarities of the men who accompanied the new expedition on the Tuscarawas, led Pipe and his people to believe that no Indian would be spared. The Delawares, Wyandols, and Shawnees, were ready to meet the invaders and give them a hot reception. They were not non-resisting Moravians. They fully appreciated their position, and, like brave men, met their enemies -and put them to flight. The subsequent tragedies were such as Crawford and his men should have expected when Williamson and his men failed to show mercy even to praying women and innocent children.

Yet Williamson was actually a candidate to lead the new expedition, and some writers are surprised that the historians of that day should entertain the idea that the expedition contemplated the destruction of the remaining Moravians. Pipe was relentless. It was a contest of life and death. Crawford had to die, because he would have killed Pipe and his people, and burned their towns. Retributive justice is severe, but generally overtakes bad enterprises.

Captain Pipe appeared before the British authorities at Detroit, as a witness against the Moravians, and finally excused them against the false accusations of Girty and others; and expressed a determination to treat the captive missionaries better in the future. In December, 1781, he appeared before the same British officer, Colonel Arentz Schuyler DePeyster, and reported the resuit of his military enterprise against the colonists, and bitterly reproached that officer for seducing the Indians into a war, in which they were acting the part of a hunter's dog, which, being hissed to the attack, received all the injuries inflicted by the ferocious beasts of the forest. At the same time he expressed a determination to withdraw from their service by returning his war tomahawk. In 17S5 he was present at the conference at Fort McIntosh, and signed the treaty of that date. His name, by the interpreter, was affixed to that treaty, as "Wobocan," and signed. At this period, it is evident, lie made frequent trips up and down the Muskingum, and possibly to his old residence at Sandy. We next hear of him at the mouth of the Big Miami, below Cincinnati, at a treaty with the Shawnees and others, as late as x 7 S6. He was not a party to the treaty, however, but was present, and signed the document as a witness. One year after this, according to Zeisberger, the missionary, he attached himself ro the tribes friendly to the United States, but in a short time violated his new engager lent.

History Of Asii La

now Marietta, they found Captain Pipe and about, seventy warriors encamped in the neighborhood. At that time General Harnvar described him as a "manly old felioiv, and much more of a gentleman than the generality of the frontier people." Colonel John May, during the same spring, says: "Here (at the residence of General Harmar) I was introduced to 'Old Pipe,' chief of the Delaware Nation, and his suite, dressed like the offspring of Satan." Here he is described as " Old Pipe." According to the most reliable accounts, Captain Pipe j was then about forty-eight years of age.

When we consider the fact, that Blackhoof, and perhaps Thomas Lyon, each lived ever a century, Captain pipe was then in his prime. This leaves Captain Pipe quietly navigating the Muskingum and its branches, hunting and making annual trips, at the proper season, to exchange furs and peltry for such goods and supplies j as were needed by himself and people. Whether he visited Marietta at a later period than 1790 does not 1 seem quite clear, though it is possible he may have done j so.

It seems to be conceded, very generally, that Captain Pipe took an active part in the campaign against Harmar in the fall of 1790. It is urged, however, by some 1 authorities, that he did not freely second the wishes of the Delawares in that campaign ; and that he was opposed to entering the struggle against Harmar ; but that he was ; overruled and yielded a reluctant consent to enter the : contest. Pipe was no coward. He was rash and vin- | dictive. His wishes for peace in this instance were pre- | tended. He entertained no scruples about entering the campaign against General St. Clair in 1791. It is re- ; lated that he boasted of slaughtering the soldiers of that unfortunate expedition until his arm was weary. That was the temper of Pipe when roused to vengeance. He was a merciless foe.

In the campaign of General Anthony Wayne in 1794, we are of opinion Captain Pipe was one of his bitterest foes. We arc also of opinion lie was engaged in the battle of Fallen Timbers, and was even present at the i treaty of Greenville in 1795, though it is asserted that he died in 1794- His name is not attached to that trea y. Why is this? Captain Pipe was in disgrace. He had betrayed his friendship for the United States; brought ruin upon his people by his alliance with Little Turtle and other leaders in that war. The Delawares 1 were left in a state of anarchy. They had wan ed against the United States by the advice and aid of Captain Pipe, and ruin and disorganization had overtaken them. Pipe, j with a few of his friends, skulked away, and came down , to the branches of the Mohican.

A late writer says "he died a few days previous" to the battle of Fallen Timbers, in 1794. Where and under what circumstances? "Upon the Maumee River." Where? In the presence of whom? Who first gave circulation to the story of his death3 "Joseph Pi udt,' a Mohawk, who desired to pacify the bumbling Moravians. Why did 1 lecke welder, I.oskiel, and other Moravians not hear of and mention the circumstance3 They had had bitter experience under the rule of Pipe, and would have been rejoiced to be liberated from his surveillance and dictation. Heckcwdder, who is so frequently assailed as a romancer, - would have been but too happy to have penned a criticism on his old accuser and foe. Heckewelder passed down these valleys many times between 1794 and iSro, and could have thrown much light on the decease of Pipe, and the incidents connected with his last hours. He is silent. So is Loskiel and others; and Zeisberger doubtless based his statement on a rumor, and subsequent writers have simply repeated that rumor.

Now for the reason. About the year 1795, John Baptiste Jerome, a French trader, who had married a Delaware woman, on the Auglaize river, about 1790 or 1791, located with his wife and daughter, then some four or five years of age. upon the present site of Jeromeville, and after whom the village was called. The stream passing said village also received his name, and has ever since been called the Jerome fork of the Mohican. When the earliest settlers came into that region, in 1808-9, Jerome had a good cabin, and some thirty or forty acres of land cleared and in a tolerable stare of cultivation. About three-fourths of a mile southwest of his cabin, across the Mohican, was located the. ancient Mohican Johnstown, then inhabited by Delawares, and near which old Captain Pipe, Hobocan, located about the same time. Is there any mistake about that? The identical spot of his wigwam is yet known. From whom was this information gleaned? From John Baptiste Jerome, the French trader, - who accompanied Captain Pipe to this region, and who knew him well. leroxne often related to the pioneers the circumstances connected with the battle of Fallen Timbers, the utter amazement and terror of the Indians over the movements and victory of "Mad Anthony." According to his statement. Pipe was in the battle of 1794, although it was his opinion that Pipe was not present at the treaty. He often stated to pioneers, yet living in this county, that after the treaty of Greenville Captain Pipe began to see that his diplomacy had brought distress upon his people, and though accepting the terms of peace, bitterly regretted that he had not refrained from identifying himself with the allied tribes and the British, in a vain endeavor to correct the errors of the past, he left the region of the Maumee, and quietly sought repose on the Mohican.

Captain Pipe resided on the Mohican in 1S09-10-.tr and 1812, and when the Finleys, Carters, Warners, Chandlers, Coulters, Olivers. Rices and Taunehills, most of whom still survive, settled on the branches of the Mohican. He continued to reside in a wigwam, about a mile southwest of the present site of Jeromeville, until the spring of 1S12, when he and most of Ids people quietly disappeared from that locality and never returned.

In tire fall of 181 1 a great feast took place at Greentown, an Indian village on the Black fork of the Mohican, about ten miles southwest of Jevonietcwn. Captain Arm ijl rot tg, chief of the ! 1 11 1 1 tribe, and his people resided itr Grcentown. There wcr present between three and four hundred Delawares and other Indians. Among the number of chiefs was Captain Pipe, of

Jerometown. The whites present were the Rices, tiie Coulters, Tannchills, and the Rev. James Copus, and a few others. Some of these are yet living. They all describe him as "Old Captain Pipe." Armstrong, then sixty-five or seventy; Thomas Lyon, seventy five or eighty, and other aged Indians, were present. In the opinion of nearly all the white persons present, the majority of whom have furnished statements, Captain ripe is represented as being quite advanced in years, in fact, "Old Captain Pipe." Captain Pipe, when last seen at Jerometown and Greentown by the pioneers, appeared to be about seventy years of age, was tail, straight, dignified, and very imposing in appearance. He always dressed as an Indian. This corresponds with the description of Mr. Adams.*

This was the Pipe of Crawford, Richland, Ashland, Summit, Knox, and Muskingum counties, and was none other than "old Captain Pipe," the executioner of the unfortunate Colonel Crawford. The Pipe, ofPipestown, south of Upper Sandusky, was too young to be "old Captain Pipe" in 1812. He was about the age of Silas Armstrong, who resided at Greentown, with whom Wesley Copus, and other pioneers yet surviving, ran races and wrestled in their boyhood in sugar camps along the Black fork of Mohican. Armstrong, the father of Silas, was never seen in this region after the war of 1812; neither was young Pipe nor the old captain, bis father. Young Pipe could not have been over twenty-two or twenty-three years of age at that period.

In 1814, after the close of the war, Captain Pipe, Killbuck, and White Eyes, and thirteen Delazuct/es, signed a treaty in the presence of William Walker, a Wyandot interpreter - General Harrison, and Governor Lewis Cass, being commissioners of the United States. This was probably young Captain Pipe, son of old Captain Pipe; and the Killbuck and White Eyes here mentioned were evidently the sons of the chiefs of that name, who were then deceased. It is supposed by an old author that the elder Captain Pipe survived until 1S18, when lie visited Washington city on business connected with the Mohican reservation. He is probably mistaken in the identity of the parties, for young Captain Pipe was then a half chief. Old Captain Pipe probably died some time between 2812 -14, perhaps in Canada. There is a shade of mystery covering his later years. His son was half chief

Mu 1807, Seth Adams, father of W. A. Adams, of Covington, Kentucky, settled on the present site of Dresden, Ohio, and opened a store to trade with the Indians. His customers were principally Vel.i- Wi/ns, from the branches of the Mohican. They exchanged peltries and furs for ammunition, blankets and cloths. Among the leading Indians were "Old Captain Pipe" and his wife, from Jerometown. | Mr. Adams says he was a tall, aged, and fine looking chief. I K and his | squaw, on one occasion, took supper with Seth Adams, on which occa- I sior. he gave utterance to the following sentiments. Mr. Adams said: ' "Captain Pike, I notice you do not drink whiskev like the other Indians." Pipe- said: "You are mistaken; I love whiskey, but refuse to drink because it sets a bad example. Among gentlemen I drink.' Mr. Adams, at the table, handed the captain a bottle and a. glass, and h - drank the health of ail, remarking: ,' AYe Indians have a saving which is good. It is, 'Captain Whiskev is a brave warrior; you tight ] liitn long enough and he is sure to get your scalp.' A the t\ >iy seftleiueuts on the Mnshtngnnt, by 11. .

with 3 i la.; Armstrong, son of old Captain Thomas Armstrong, who ruled the Turtle tribe at Greentown, in Ashland county. The younger chief, 01 sub-chief, Captain Pipe, never married. Pie removed with his tribe to Kansas, and died in 1S39 or 1840, aged about fifty-five or sixty years.

It will be seen at once that in 1S08-12 he was too young to be called "old Captain Pipe." He was too young to be called "old Captain Pipe" at Wakkatomiea, at Mohican Johnstown, and at Greentown. "Old Captain Pipe" was generally accompanied on these occasions - by his wife. The young captain had no wife. The distinction is marked. There can be scarcely a doubt, then, that after the disastrous battle at Fallen Timbers, Captain Pipe and a remnant of the Wolf tribe located at Mohican Johnstown, on the Jerome fork, with John Baptiste Jerome, wife and daughter, where he was residing when the pioneers of Mohican, Lake, Green, and Mifflin townships commenced to erect cabins and open up farms in 1S08-9.

To confirm this opinion, we now offer an authority often quoted as reliable, and of undoubted weight in Indian tradition and history. We mean the late Governor William "Walker, of Wyandotte, Kansas. In a letter on the subject of Pipe and the Delawares , addressed to tire author some months prior to his death, he says ;

I have been prevented from attending to and complying with your request earlier. And now, being able to do some clerical work at short intervals, I cheerfully proceed to give you what little information I am i-.i possession of, though 1 fear you will be disappointed on reading my meager details. To begin then : I am not an Ohio, but a Michigan

Wyandot, came to Ohio after General Harrison's campaign into (Ain- | ada. That winter, 1813 and 18(4, I saw several of the Del- mans ancl [ Mohcgaiis at the Indian agency (my father then an officer of the Indian department) from what they- called Greentown. Among these were a very aged man named Lyons and his son George Lyons, Billy Montour, Solomon Jonacake, Buckwheat, Mounts Dallcdoxis, l in. Jeik. At the head of these Indians as ruling chief, it seems, was a white or part white man named Armstrong. 1 never saw him, as he died that winter or the following spring. He was succeeded by Captain Pipe, jr. , and Silas Armstrong, son of the deceased. Silas died of smallpox in Washington city, in the winter of 1817. The elder Armstrong left eight or nine children. Among these were James, Mrs. Margaret Hili, Silas Joseph, Tolmis, Robert, and two or three younger. These were all smart, stilting men, jovial, fond of fun and frolic. James, if living, resides in Canada. They are all dead except Tobias, who is somewhere down South. The following summer, 1814. ! was west on the borders of Indiana, and on my return a part, if not all, of these people had settled on the Sandusky river, five miles south of Cpper Sandusky. This settlement took the name of " Pipelowu." At the treats' of Maumee, held in the summer of 1817, at the instance of the Wvanclot chief, a parly to the treaty, a reservation of a township, to include " Pipeiown," was made to these people. When the colonization of Indians in the west, under Genera! Jackson's administration, went into operation, they , with other Ohio tribes, coded their domain and went west and rejoined their kindred from Indiana, under the leadership of Captain Pipe, their surviving chief. The elder Captain Pipe could not have died as early as 17134. for he certainly vv ns it the treaty of Greenville, when the p icifieati-'n took place in the following year; and Howe, in his pictorial history, says the Delaware Indians had a settlement at or n -ir Jer oinev illo, which they left , u the beginning of the war. Their chief vv.v; >1. 1 Captain Pipe, who r -dd I 1 - lr tlie road running to M tnxticld, one mile roulh of |vromt die. When v mug ho w . . 1 great warrior, and the implacable 1 --- ol t . - dies It. was in Si. Clairs dwfent, whore, according ;-> Ids own tec 1 mt, !.. distinguished himself, and "slaughtered white men -..ntii l.is arm was former, and the oniv son. He died in this country in i o y, or 1S40, j leaving no children. 1 do not think he ever married. He was a man j of fine natural abilities, good -natured and genial in disposition, and j popular with his people. I do not know whether l br.ve answered ]

Missouri, where I reside. If I can add more, wilt cheerfully do so. 1 j cNpcct to return south the last week in this month to attend the great j Okmulgee council, which will meet simultaneously with Congress, to | organize the prospective Indian Territory, determine the question j whether the Indians will organize their own government, or Congress, j The 'orii.er, 1 opine, will be the finale. 1 thank you warmly for tlv j papers you were so kind to send me. They interest no- a good deal.

concerning the last battle, and the part Pipe and him- j self took in those campaigns, confirms his identity, and j 1 renders his presence on the branches of the Mohican as j definitely certain as any human event, not recorded at ' the time of its occurrence, can be.

was born in Brooke county, Virginia, November 19, 17S5. : In 1813 he enlisted with the Brooke county soldiers 10 j serve in the northwest part of Ohio; but before seeing i active service the war dosed. He entered the east half . of section thirty one, in Cloarc.eek township, Richland v county, in the spring of 1:815, and came on with a hand and erected a small open cabin, and returned about the I middle of the summer, after having prepared a few acres of new ground, for corn, and brought Ids family. His was among the first families who located in Clea-rcreek - - the families of Robert Mclieth, James Haney, John and Richard Freeborn, and Wilburn Shaw having arrived about the same time. When Mr. Huffman first landed he found large numbers cf Delaware and Wyandot Indians encamped along the stream, engaged in hunting and trapping. After a few weeks they returned to Sanj dusky. In the fall they came on again. A hrgt and well worn trail passe 1 near his cabin. The hunters passed up and down this trail on their way to Wooster and Pittsburgh, on their trips to exchange furs and peltry for lead, powder, tomahawks, knives, clothing, and white men's fire-water." There were two burial spots on the farm of Mr. Huffman, one near the modern site of his barn, and where one Mr. Mykranhs erected a residence, east of the Savannah road. In their hunting ursions along the streams of Clvarc reck, they frequently stopped tit these cemeteries, and seemed to mourn the departed. Mr. Huffman was careful not to disturb the last sleeping place of their bravos, ft was H-; nm to feed the Indians w hen they called at Ids < Men, and by doing so he won then esteem. I'k y never disturbed him, although they passed in large numbers until about

1022. Mr. Huffman was a large, energetic and thoroughgoing man. His land contained a splendid sugar camp, and the second year he made enough sugar to complete his payments on his farm. It sold at the trading points -/ at eighteen cents per pound, in cash. For three or four years his toil was constant, for, when not engaged in leveling the forests on his own premises, his services were freely given to aid his neighbors in erecting cabins, rolling logs and the like. The timber of the naliu forests of Clearcreek was very dense and exceedingly tall, do prepare fields ior tillage, therefore, required much hard labor and toil for a number of years. Mr. Huffman, in his prime, possessed uncommon endurance. In a few years he had a mode! farm, and was surrounded by all the comforts of the thrifty agriculturist He residua on his homestead until his family had grown up and became somewhat scattered. Fie had been foremost in encouraging the common schools of the township, in erecting-public highways and in support of houses of worship. He was always ready to aid the needy, and was the foe of every species of vice. In in's intercourse with his neighbors, he was frank and outspoken. He was an active member and official of the Methodist Episcopal church for over fifty years. He removed to Ashland in 1848, disposing of his farm, and died October 19, 1 86c, at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Huffman died in 1862. aged seventy-three years. The family consisted of Zachariah, Susan. Abraham, Benjamin, John, William, Mary Arm, Sarah Jane. Daniel, and Perrin. Zachariah, Abraham, John, Will -am, and Sarah a>e dead, ami the balance of the family are very much scattered.

born at Leadyard, Connecticut, in 1703, came to Uniontown, now Ashland, in the winter of 18.17. Ho obtained a good English education, including mathematics, and surveying, in the schools of his native village Jn the winter of 1817, in company with a cousin, labcz < Lilian, he came west in a one-horse wagon, ar d at the end of six weeks travel, over rough roads and amid wintrv .storms, landed at Cleveland. Here his cousin remained, ami Mr. -Gallup concluded to locate in Uniontown. Hi> pt.-rsoi.nl appearance in 1817 is remembered by a numbe; of the pioneers He- was a reticent young man, of prepossessing manners, and noted for his intelligence, love of order, and gentlemanly beating. He taught school five or six successive winters in and about the neighbor hood of Ysh'and. In the summer season, havng the im dements of a surveyor, lie was extensively employed in what aw now Ashl tnd and Richl md < ounties, in r inning lines for the pioneers, summing and locating new roads and the like. In 1822 he married Miss Vilat.t Ponimov, and huiU a house not a great way from the present Aloof the jail in A.snlnnd. While i\ -iding here he c| . :,m tiw first Sabi-atii -chool in Uniontovn- .mite a v.< .vv-!r\ at the time. I 'he people of l In vi - ti n at -'Oid Hopewell," about one mile u.st on the Olives! , road.

After disposing of his Uniontown property, Mr. Callup purchased wluit is now known as the Fulton farm, south | of Mr. Andrews, on the Mansfield road, where he re- j sided until his death, in March, 1833. He aided in the ! survey of a road from Richland county to Detroit, Michigan, about the year 1823-6, and was extensively cm- , ployed in surveying in every part of Richland count). About the year 1824 he was elected one of the justices : of the peace for Montgomery township, and it is believed was re-elected three terms. As a justice he is well remembered. At that period in the history of Montgomery township, there were a great number of rugged, rollicking, fun-loving pioneers. Corn whiskey was very cheap, and was freely used on all public occasions. In fact., there were but few cabins that were without it. It was deemed essential in cold weather to keep up animal j heat, and proper in warm weather to keep it down. On election days and other village gatherings, there being onlv three distilleries in and about town, many of the ' pioneers became excessively patriotic, and it was not uncommon to see half a dozen well contested pugilistic ; battles in the streets, and hear any amount of profanity.

It is reported that after Squire Gallup got his court fairly organized, he set to work to reform the obstreperous pugilists. He commenced with moderate fines, and if the ! same parties reappeared he doubled the amount each time, until fighting became an expensive luxury. In this \ way he succeeded in checking the noisy fellows who assembled on Saturday evenings to have a spree and a few innocent (?) fights, and go home. Mr. Gallup had served a short time in the year of 1S12, in Connecticut; 1 and during his residence in Richland, now Ashland, county, he served as brigade in -peetor of the militia. He was about foity years old at the time of his death. His widow re-married. She resides at Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio. Her second husband's name is J. R. Clark. ! Most of these particulars were obtained from Hon. M.

Patrick Murray

was born in Ireland, March 17, 1755, and emigrated to America, in 1782. He located at Harrisburg!), Pennsyl- 1 vania, where he married Mary Beattie, also of Irish descent. He remained at Harrisburg!) until 1806, and then removed to Greonsburgh, Pennsylvania. About the year 1809, he located in Stark county, Ohio, where he continued to reside until 18(5. In the fall of 1812, i Mr. Murray volunteered in the brigade of General Reasin Beall to go to the defence of the border settlers in the northwest. Ilis son James, then thirty-five years of age, also entered the same brigade. While quartered at Port Meigs, the army became much distressed for want of rations. The roads to the settlements were long, rough and in poor oond.tion, pissing mostly through dense forests and across marshes and hogs. The quantity cf forage consumed by the cavalry, as well as '.lie supply of the quartermaster's department lor the troops, made it

For a time, the rations were reduced to but a few ounces per meal, and tile half starved soldiers began to murmur over their hardships. The weather was inclement, and their sufferings were regarded as almost unbearable. General Harrison deeply sympathized with the half famished troops; and was urgent in regard to immediate supplies; but "red tape" made many delays in forwarding and distributing food. In the midst of the general distress, the privates began to remonstrate with their officers, and threaten retaliation if their hunger was not soon alleviated. Little knots of clamoring soldiers continued their discussions, notwithstanding the guardhouse menaced them.

Among those who were particularly active and persistent, was Patrick Murray, who took it upon himself to enter the marquee of General Harrison, to expostulate with him concerning the distribution of food. On entering the general's tent, Mr. Murray was asked by one of the aides-de-camp what he desired, and how he dared enter without permission?

General Harrison - "1. am sorry to learn that the troops are suffering for food. We have been urgent for an increased supply, which we hope will be here in a few days."

Mr. Murray --"I thank you, gineral, you are tight, and, as there seems to he a spare loaf or two here, I wili begin at headquarters to supply meself."

Mr. Murray approached the larder, and, taking a large loaf of bread, commenced to devour a part of it, intending to take the balance to his comrades. An officer in the general's tent ordered him to put it buck.

For this act of generous forbearance Mr. Murray always remembered General Damson, and declared that he was "a brave olfic er, a patriot and gintleman."

1 have preserved this reminiscence, because it is characteristic of Mr. Murray, who was nevei known to be without a reply, and wit enough to escape the sham re pa i' tee of an adversary

After I'.eall hid returned, Mr. Murray and his son served a second enlistment, and were at the battle of Fort Meigs. In that contest Mr. Murray was separated from his company, and the grass being very tall, it was ; presumed, by his comrades, that he had been killed and ; scalped by the Indians. Auer a few hours, he appeared in the cgmp amid the cheers of his companions at his ! safe return. Upon the expiration of hi j term of service, lie returned to his home in Stark county, where he re- i mained until 1815, and then removed to what is now j Orange township, in what was then Richland county. The members of his family at that time were James, Edward, j Catharine, Susannah, William, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Alice, Sarah, Rebecca, George, and Hester, and, in 1816, > Hugh.

Mr. Murray was a tailor by trade, and worked at that j occupation in Harrisburgh and Greensburgh, Pennsylva- j nia, and in Stark county, Ohio. He was a "live Irishman" in company - -full of wit and original humor. Al- i though his education was defective, he had a very retentive memory, and, if now living, would relate a volume of exploits and border achievements. On the fourth of July, the year he was ninety-nine years of age, he rode to Ashland in a buggy, walked about one mile i during the day, and returned home, some three miles, > in the evening. He was enthusiastic, like all his countrymen when they have become Americanized, on the observation of the natal day of American Indepedence. j Mr. Murray voted for ten different Presidents of the : United States. He died at his farm in Orange township, , July 23, 1854, aged ninety-nine years and nearly four months. His wife had preceded him to the grave a J short time.

James Murray studied medicine, and resided for a | time in Cincinnati, where he died. John studied surveying, and afterwards became treasurer of Richland county for two terms, and then removed west, where he j died. Of his numerous family, all have deceased, except 1 three married daughters, who do not reside in the county, j from Somerset county, Pennsylvania, purchased the j Trickle farm in Montgomery township, and moved to the cabin, a twelve by twelve structure, early in the ! spring of 1815. When he arrived, there was a camp of Indians on the present site of the residence of Jerry j Fulkerson, in South Ashland, and two or three camps - down the stream about half a mile, all of which contained about fifty Indians, including their squaws and pappooses. They were engaged in hunting and making ; sugar, and had twenty or thirty ponies, and a number of j dogs with them. They left early in the summer. Mr. I Markley's family consisted of himself, wife, and seven sons - Jonathan, John, Matthias, Moses, Aaron, Horatio, ; and Solomon ; and two daughters, Matilda and Frances. They left four sons, grown, Tn 1'ennsylvania -Philip, ; Peter, David, and Joseph. They came by Canton and I Wooster. They brought seven horn s and a line covered wagon, and six milch cows. The forests --vert filled with grass, pea-vines, and shrubbery upon which 'he cattle j and horses fed.

The first summer, Mr. Markley, wife and two daughters slept in the little cabin, and the boys in and under the covered wagon. Conrad Kline, who had purchased the Carter 'arm (since owned by John Mason), and John Heller, were kind enough to supply Markley and family with corn-meal at a neighborly price, until they could purchase corn and get it ground at one of the mills. Aaron Markley, the only member of the familyin this county, says: "Corn-bread, hominy, a little pork, and a tin cf good milk constituted their luxuries the first summer and winter."

The old gentleman, aided by his seven- sons, soon prepared a few acres of corn, which they cultivated with care, and which yielded a tolerable crop. Their next care was to put up a hewed log cabin. It was completed and ready to be occupied early in the fall.

When winter began to approach, Mr, Markley went to Mansfield and purchased three large hogs, for which he paid eighty four dollars and fifty cents. This constituted the winter meat for the family. Jonathan and Horatio took five horses with pack-saddles, and following the Indian paths proceeded to Owl creek, the "Egypt" of northern Ohio, for corn. They purchased five loads of shelled corn, and went to Sbrimplin's mill to get it ground; but the mill having given out, they brought it home, and it was crushed in the hominy block by pounding. After this process, it was sifted, and the coarse fragments being separated, were converted into hominy, and the balance into corn-bread. Thus the winter of 1 Si 6 passed with, the Markleys.

The Markley family soon became famous for their uncommon size and strength. The old gentleman weighed two hundred and sixty pounds, the old lady two hundred and forty, and the boys, when grown, averaged about two hundred and fifty, while Aaron, the runt of the family, weighs two hundred and thirty. The boys, with the exception of Aaron, averaged about six feet three inches in height - Aaron being about five feel seven. It is asserted by the early settlers that David, the third son, could lift by the chimes a barrel of sugar vvater, and drink from the bung-hole. It is rare that such a family of giants is found in a new country. No one had the temerity to contend with David. Samuel, Thomas, and Solomon Urie, all six feet high, and veiy stout; sometimes had a little tilt with the Markleys, but rarely won a laurel.

Joseph Markley, sr., died in 1831, aged sixty years: and his wife soon followed him to the tomb. Most of his. sons went west, where several of them have risen to posts of honor.

Vac Dei. Metcalf

On.-- oi the first seltlas in the township of Orange was Yachel Meteall, originally from W a Aiingion county, 1'ennsylvania. When quit - a young man, Mr. Metcalf joined the expedition ol General Anthony Wayne, which organized at Pittsburgh, and drilled for some time at Legionville, about thirty miles below that city, on the banks of the Ohio river. When Wayne's legion descended the Ohio to Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, Mr. Metcalf accompanied it, as a private in a Pennsylva- | nia company. He went with the army to the 1 oithwest, ! and participated in all the skirmishes, until the final con- j test at Fallen Timbers in 1794. After the treaty he re- | turned with the Pennsylvania troops.

During the great battle of Fallen Timbers Mr. Met- j calf and four comrades, in a charge, became separated ; from their company in the forest, and were immediately ! pursued by the savages. They were unable to rejoin j their company without a terrible conflict, in which all ! might lose their lives. In this crisis they struck out j boldly through the forest, making a circuit of sonic four } miles to reach the rear-guard of the arnn They made ! the best time possible, and being strong and active, kept i at a safe distance in advance of their pursuers. Although j shots were frequently exchanged, none of the party were wounded; Lyut all were much fatigued by the race for life.

In the spring of 1810 a number of families from western Pennsylvania and Virginia located in Mohican, then Killbuck township, Wayne counLy. Mr. Alexander Finley had settled at a point now known as Tyiertown, in the spring of 1809, being the first pioneer in the township. Mr. Metcalf entered a farm in what is now known as the "Bunn settlement." He selected a fine quarter section in the forest, put up a cabin, and commenced to clear a field. He was a man of Strong will, full of courage, of much physical power, and of unshrinking determination when he had formed a resolution. Fie looked forward to a time when he would have an excellent farm : present site of Wooster, and thence, in the direction of Canton, the location of the land office. Sometime in the early part of the night he reached a point where, fox several miles, at certain seasons, the trail was very swampy and difficult to pass on horseback. He found a cabin, and learned that his adversary had not yet passed that point. He was much fatigued by the weight of his dangling money-bags, and his thighs were considerably bruised and his arms wearied. By 'permission of the occupants, he took a supper of mush and milk with them, and slept on the floor. Early in the morning, the footsteps of a horse were heard approaching the cabin, in the direction of the swamp. Mr. Metcalf hastily arose, took some refreshments, and learned that at the swamp, a new road had been cut around it, increasing the distance one or two miles. lie again took his money-bags, and hastened down the path ; and on reaching the swamp, found that the man on horseback had gone around. Fie kept straight ahead, and trusted to luck.

On arriving at tlie opposite side of the swamp, where the new road intersected the old trail, he found, to his joy, that he .was again in adv ance. With renewed energy, he pressed rapidly on, while his adversary, apprehending no danger, rode leisurely and securely. On approaching the Tuscarawas, he discovered an old friend, by the name of Brady, who often ferried emigrants across the stream. Fie aided Mr. Metcalf, and informed him that he was the first traveler who had passed in that direction that day. He hastened onward, and arrived at Canton, after a journey of some thirty hours on foot, with limbs stiffened, and arms bruised by his dangling money-bags, and piled his coin on the table, in the presence of the register, and requested a certificate of entry to be issued as soon as convenient, for the reason that he and valuable improvements, to reward his toil and priva- [ tions. He was a man of peace, and loved good neigh- j bors. He was astonished, however, to find that tricky neighbors envied his choice of land, and were laying schemes to dispossess him.

The fact was, Mr. Metcalf had failed to secure his certificate of entry before commencing improvements on his new farm. This became known to a few, and a meddlesome neighbor resolved on securing the title. The sly neighbor, in order riot to excite suspicion, employed a young man to visit the land office at Canton, and enter the land.* In doing so, lie rode past the cabin of Mr. I Metcalf in the day time, and, on enquiry, Mrs. Metcalf j strongly suspected from Ivs evasive answers, the object j of his trip. She hastened to her husband, who was : chopping some distance from the cabin, in the forest, 1 and related the circumstance. Mr. Metcalf was con- J vineed that all was not right. He requested his wife to j had traveled along distance, and desiicd to return without delay. The money was counted, and the certificate filed with a description of the quarter of land desired. Mr. Metcalf received, and carefully placed it among his papers, and retired from the office. It was, to him. a great victory, and he felt exultant. He was now safe. About two hours after this scene, the young agent rode leisurely up to the register's office, to learn that the coveted farm was in legal possession of its rightful owner. Upon his return home, his officious neighbor was greatly chagrined.

After the surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, in 1813, the Indians of the northwest assumed a hostile attitude toward the border settlements in Ohio. The Indians at Jerometown and Greentown were ordered, bv the State authorities, to be removed from their villages to Urbana, as a means of safety, until peace should be restored. A few weeks after the removal of these Indians, a number of them returned, when the RufTner- Zitnmcr tragedy took place near tire Black fork. This affair was speedily followed by an attack on the cabin of lames Co pus. by some forty savages. The Si tlletm nls were greatlv alarmed, ami means of defence .boptcil as rapidly as poa-Tnle. There were some six or taunt fa ini lies in the vi« inity of Mi. Me'call, nv.ong whom .vco those of William Bryan, James Gnnlcy, Klisna C hi! cute,

Benjamin Bunn, James Slater and James Bryan. These | met in council at the cabin of Mr. Metcalf, when it was | determined that a fort should be built. The building £ was to be two stories high, the walls of the second story

I to project two feet beyond the first, on all sides ; the floor and sides of the second story to be pierced with port-holes. The pioneers gathered with their ox-teams, and axes, and the logs were cut and rapidly gathered :

| and the building soon completed. The lower story, with strong doors, securely fastened, was to be occupied by the women and children, while the men, with their trusty rifles, were to occupy the second story, in hours of danger and alarm. About one acre of ground was cleared around the fort, and enclosed with a palisade twelve or fourteen feet high, with a strong gate ; and all the families of the neighborhood were gathered into the fort, and the horses and cattle inside the palisade. Mr. Metcalf and his neighbors remained, most of the yea;, i in the fort, occasionally visiting their cabins to see that they were safe, and to cultivate their corn and vegetables, with pickets to guard against surprise by the Indians. This fort was about two miles below the present site of Jercmeville, and stood on an elevated spot, on ! the lands of Mr. Metcalf.

In the spring of 1814, Vachel Metcalf and Arnos Norris moved into what is now Orange township, and purchased lands adjoining the present village of Orange. They are believed to have been the first settlers in the township, although several other families arrived within that year, among whom were those of Jacob Young, Martin Mason, Jacob Mason, Martin Hester, Joseph ' Bishop, Solomon Uric, and John Bishop, single. The cabin' of Mr. Metcalf stood not a great way from the present site of the tannery of air. Smurr, on a knoll. Mr. Metcalf had an excellent piece of land, though it was heavily timbered, and required much labor to fit it. for cultivation. Being a man of fine physical powers,

! and of determined purpose, he soon cut away the forest and prepared a desirable homestead. At that day, the pioneers traveled many miles to aid each other in the erection of cabins, in roiling logs and clearing. Mr. Metcalf willingly attended all gatherings of this kind. In fact, the unselfish, character of the pioneers was one j of the most striking features of the times. Each settler | volunteered his aid and good wishes to forward the en- I terprises and interests of all new corners. They aided ! each other in the distribution of seed, and in harvesting their crops. In other words, the "latch-string was always out."

Mr. Metcalf was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the organization of the first class was probably the result of his zeal. The first chinch was built about the year 1830, and he was one of the first class -leaders and official members, and is understood to have been one of the speakers. In the erection 1 of the present: church, in 1853, he was prominent as a j Metcalf was chosen as justice of the peace, and John j Bishop as constable, Mr. Metcalf was, we believe, i elected justice of the oeace three times. In politics he I was a Whig, and, during the heated campaigns of 1828 1 and 1832, his party fell into the minority, and remained I so during most of the balance of his life.

Mr. Metcalf died in 1S5S, aged about seventy-nine ! years. He is remembered as a good neighbor, frank and j straightforward in his business transaction?., and a lover of truth and integrity.

1830 he was elected Justin* « I th p i e and was reelected the six succeeding terms, making .1 continued service of twenty one years. Dining his official career as justice of the peace he was repeatedly elected township treasurer, trustee and road supervisor. Very few officials anywhere had a stronger hold upon the confidence of the public. In the midst of his official duties, in 1837, he taught a district school, and acquitted himself to the J satisfaction of bis employers.

It may be proper, in this connection, to speak more fully of the popularity of the squire. He was benevolent to a fault. He rarely permitted a plaintiff to distress a debtor, always endeavoring to prevent the accumulation of cost, by giving the party notice prior to commencing an action. His docket shows that after judgment had been rendered he often neglected to exact the full payment of his own costs. This act of mercy, though it ill rewarded him for his time and worry, made him many friends among the poor pioneers. Again, lie was free with his money, social and remarkably shrewd. He could tell a good story, sing a pioneer or sailor song, and was the central figure at a log-rolling, house-raising, cornhusking, or at an election. It was his custom, on election days, to treat his friends. For many years saloon keepers from Ashland were in the habit of sending beer and gingerbread to the polls in Milton township, at the elections. When Squire Smith was in his prime he often purchased a keg of beer and treated his political friends, and to wind up the sport, took a large roll of gingerbread under each arm, and passing through the crowd, permitted those who desired to do so, to pluck off a large men, and the mirthful voters joining in, the scene was decidedly rich. In the meantime the voting quietly progressed, and Squire Smith was always elected. In the days of old corn whiskey, he was expected to treat with a stronger. stimulant than beer. In his familiar moods, he would take a tumbler of whiskey, put in sugar, and stir it with his finger, and invite his friends to drink health and prosperity. To abstinence people this may seem objectionable; but church members, as well as all others, by the customs of those days, were regarded as uncivil unless they treated their visiting friends.

His death occuned July iS, 1851. Being exceedingly fond of fruit, he climbed upon a rail fence, near his J residence, to gather cherries from a tree, and his foot- i hold' being insecure he fell upon his head and shoulders, 1 dislocating his neck, and expired before he was discov- | ered. He was about seventy-two years of age at his de- 1 cease. His widow, now (1875) eighty-seven years of j age, still survives, and possesses a clear recollection of \ the past, though physically quite frail. Mr. Smith was the father of eleven children - seven sons and four was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and born Tune 29, 1769. . Fie was educated in the common Schools of his native county. He taught school, when a young man, and was regarded as a fine English scholar and a successful teacher. When about forty-six years of age he purchased the tract of land known as the Andrew Heltraan farm, in Milton township, being 'Virginia military land ; and in 1815, came to the township and erected a sort of camp-cabin, and cleared and cultivated a small field about it. He had his bread prepared by Mrs. Conrad Kline, who resided some distance east of the present site of Ashland, ana camped each day to labor at his new home.

Fie resided in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, from about the year 1801, where he married Miss Emalie Bonham, and where were born to him seven of his eleven children.

In the spring'-of 1816, he removed to his cabin with his family. From near New Lisbon, he passed up Beall's trail, the common route, to within about one mile of his cabin, and then cut a path. Fie resided there a short time, and then exchanged his land for a new homestead, where Scott Nelson now resides, where, by the aid of his neighbors, he erected a new cabin, removed into it, and continued to reside until his decease. When he landed with his family, there were but few settlers in Milton township. Flis nearest neighbors are be- [ lieved to have been: James Kingsal, Frederick Sulcer,

At the time of his arrival, and for many years afterward, the neighborhood was infested by wolves, which destroyed the sheep, and, when hungry, would frequently attack young calves and pigs. Mrs. Nelson was otter, compelled to build a fire at night near the pen where she secured the young calves, to keep the wolves from destroying them. Mr. Nelson obtained meal and flour at Beam's mill for a number of years, until mills began to be more numerous.

Iij t S r 6, July 6, Milton township was organized, prior to that time being under the control of Mifflin for civil purposes. The petition was drawn by Robert Nelson, the best scholar and penmr n in the township, and duly acted upon by the court of common pleas of Richland county, and the request of the petitioners granted. The petition displays considerable ability and readiness of composition, and is an honor to the author. Its history runs thus:

" Now it came to pass when men began to multiply on this side of the river westward toward the lake, even the great Lake Erie, and the inhabitants of Milton township, became numerous and strong, that they said one to another, go to, lot us separate ourselves from Mifflin township, t.o which they aforetime had been attached ; for why should we be oppressed by our brethren, and costs multiplied on us in carrying us before strangers ? Let us select a goodly number from among our brethren, that shah bear rule ova us And they prayed the court in Manffield, and theii request was granted. Milton was organized, and became a fro and independent

The selfishness of our race is apparent in the forego- i ing document, in that, while Milton became " free," her ! jurisdiction continued over Ciearcrefck four years after the important event narrated by Mr. Nelson.

Upon the erection of Milton, it is believed Robert McBeth was elected the first justice of the peace. Mr. , McBeth resided in the territory now composing Clear- j creek township, which circumstance evinced a disposi- j lion on the part of the electors of Milton to divide honors with her neighbor.

In 1819 Robert Nelson was elected a justice of the peace, and served until 1822. Ir. 1S17, at the spring j election, David Crabbs was elected township clerk, and i Benjamin Montgomery, Elijah Charles and Robert Me- ! Beth, trustees, and David McKinny, fence viewer, and ; John Ferrell, appraiser of property, and Abel Mont- : gomery and William Houston, listers; supervisors, Will- j jam Houston, Frederick Suicer, and George Rurget ; j and John Freeborn and Jacob Montgomery, constables; i and Jacob Fouik, treasurer.

In 1818 Robert Nelson was elected township clerk, | and was re-elected in 1819-20. After the expiration of * his term as justice, in 1822, he was re-elected ; and was repeatedly elected trustee and constable after that time.

He is said to have been an upright and popular officer, and could have retained office for many years ; but had no ambition to seek office and public favor in that direction.