Ohio History Journal

REMINISCENCES OF A PIONEER.

 

 

EDITED BY CLEMENT L. MARTZOLFF, B. PED.

 

 

[The following reminiscences are from the pen of a Highland county

pioneer, one Thomas Rogers, who as the recital reveals, was born a Vir-

ginian, and at the close of the American Revolution, moved with his

family to Kentucky and thence in 1795 with the Massie party journeyed

to Paint Creek, vicinity of Chillicothe, and there abided. This recital

of the scenes of early times, in Ohio, is worthy of preservation and perusal,

as it is a narrative at first hand, picturing the every day life of the prim-

itive times and pioneer settlers, written by one, who though at the time

of writing was nearly ninety years of age, had clear and vivid recollections

of the long ago. This interesting document was secured for publication

by Prof. C. L. Martzolff, Athens, Ohio, who has added to the value of the

"reminiscences" by his editorial notes. -E.O. R.]

 

GREENFIELD, (O.) Nov. 3, 1871.

This day I, Thomas Rogers, Sr., seat myself to write a short

sketch of my life and (of) my forefathers.

I was born, 1782, in Loudon County, Virginia, on Goose

Creek. My father, William     Rogers, took what was called a

thru life1 lease on a large tract of land some ten or twelve years

before my day. At that time the country was under British rule;

but at the close of the Revolutionary War the country fell into

new hands and my father's title to his land was disputed, and

the exact manner in which it was settled I am not able to state

at this distant period.  But the result was, two large slave hold-

ers settled on each side of him and so angered him with their

barbarous treatment of their slaves that he began to meditate on

a move to some other part.

In the fall of 1783 or 84, I think it was, my father and two

of the brothers took a trip over the mountains to the Redstone

or Monongahela country to seek a new home. At that time they

heard of the great cane lands in Kentucky as they met with some

that had visited it, and were beating up for volunteers to join

 

1A three life lease covered three generations or 99 years.

(190)

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            191

 

them the next spring. So father returned wonderfully bent on

seeing it himself in the spring. So, he sold outright his claim

to one of those slaveholders and he and Hamilton, his brother,

met the delegation at Redstone now Brownsville,² (Pennsyl-

vania) where they had a flatboat in readiness and embarked for

the cane land. They all landed in safety in Limestone now

Maysville. From this they set out for Lexington. This place

was one of the most noted and largest settlements in Kentucky

off from water navigation. Lexington at this time was a stock-

aded fort but the inhabitants were just beginning to venture to

settle out some distance.

So father and uncle took a lease on some land some five

miles southeast of the fort on a creek called Hickman. Here

they cleared and planted six or seven acres of corn and built a

cabin for our family, as uncle was a single man at this time.

So after the crop was raised and cabin built father returned to

Virginia by the overland route through the Cumberland moun-

tains to prepare for moving the family to the cabin in Kentucky.

This was considered a great undertaking as the road across the

Alleghany mountains was so rough and rocky that it was merely

possible to pass with a wagon. And indeed fifteen years after

this (when) I went with mother on horseback I thought it was

then almost impossible for a team to take more than the empty

wagon over some places, but so it was. They made the trip to

Redstone on the Monongahela even and procured a Kentucky boat.

Two or three families generally joined and purchased a boat.

They got them made to suit the size or number of families that

would occupy them. And as it was always considered a very dan-

gerous voyage down the Ohio they commonly went down in com-

panies of three or four boats and at night would tie all together

and float as near the middle of the river as possible for fear of

an attack of the Indians on the shore.

 

2Redstone Fort had for years been the meeting place of emigrants

from Virginia and Pennsylvania on their way to Kentucky. It was

the rendezvous of George Rogers Clark's men in the winter of 1788 as

he prepared to go on his noted western campaign. At that time it was

claimed to be within the territory of Virginia.

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192      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

On this voyage down the river an incident occurred that is

the first thing that I can distinctly recollect in my life. I was

then just three year and a few days old. There was a great bus-

tle in the boat, looking at something in the river. I being a

pretty inquisitive little fellow was anxious to see. A man in

the boat held me up above the sides of the boat and told me to

look down the river and I saw the buffaloes, head and shoulders

out of the water. And even to this day it seems as vivid as it

was at that day. The next thing that I recollect distinctly is the

day we landed at our cabin in Kentucky. I was standing up in

the forepart of the wagon looking with great anxiety for our

cabin. So when we came in sight I yelled out, "I see our home!

I see our house!"

Now I shall attempt to give some account of our forefathers.

My grandparents on my father's side were from the Old Coun-

try. Hamilton Rogers was an Irishman. Isabel, his wife, was

of English descent - real Anglo-Saxon blood. They were

united in marriage in Buck's county, Pennsylvania, but the exact

date I can only infer from my father's birthday. He was born

1751 the year the Old Style was changed. I have heard him

often speak of it. My grandfather was a shoe-maker by trade

and followed it to the day of his death until he was almost double

bending over his work.

They settled in Virginia about three miles east of Leesburg,

Loudon county, on Catoctin mountain, and there raised a numer-

ous family - eight sons and four daughters. While on this farm

my father became of age and went down on Goose Creek (and)

took a lease on some government land from King George's

agents. This was before the Revolutionary War. Here he

found my mother, Phoebe Swart, the third daughter of Arthur

Swart, a respectable citizen near Middleburg, a wagon maker

by trade. They were Hollanders or (of) Low Dutch origin.

On this farm he had six children were born. While here he

was called out to serve a tour in the War of the Revolution but

I cannot recollect distinctly what battles he was in but I remem-

ber hearing him tell about the battle at White Plain and Sara-

toga. However that don't matter so it was he was not a Tory.

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            193

 

So after the close of the War and Independence declared,

King George's titles were called in question (and) my father

began to think of moving to some part where he would not be

annoyed by the screams of the tortured slaves. So the result

was we find him at length settled in Kentucky as heretofore

stated with the hope of making Kentucky a free state. So when

she attained a population that entitled her (to) a constitution of

her own my father took a deep interest in getting those elected

that would favor his views on the slave question and did succeed

in electing Colonel James Smith and Father Rice as he was

called. But when the final vote was cast slavery gained it by

one vote. This was in 1792. Here I will leave this part of my

narrative and give some further account of Kentucky life.

My father and brother Hamilton took a lease on land on

Little Hickman belonging to Thomas Cavens, an old bachelor

who made his home at my father's until he found a wife. Here

the two jointly labored and cleared out their lease and sold

their time to their landlord.

In the meantime the Indians committed depredations on the

settlements around. So there was (a) draft made for soldiers

to make a campaign against them, chastise them and bring them

to time if possible. So just in spring when the time and labor

was so much needed to prepare for a crop the expedition started

on a six weeks' campaign. If I recollect it was called Clark's

campaign.³ I can recollect well seeing my mother and my older

brothers and sisters all out in the clearing hauling rails, making

fence, burning brush (and) doing what they could while father

was gone.

But fortunately they were not kept away as long as they ex-

pected or they would not (have) been able to get in their corn

in good time.

When the friends in Virginia heard from us in Kentucky

they began to talk of following to the fat land. So one after

another came on till all his brothers, sisters and fathers (?) all

 

3This must refer to the Indian expedition of 1786 which ended by

Clark taking a party to the Wabash region in the autumn of the same

year. The result was a keen disappointment.

Vol. XIX. -13.

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194      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

moved to Kentucky. But hare I am a little ahead of my story.

My father sold his time on his lease and bought land on Stoner

Creek in Bourbon county. Here all his brothers and fathers (?)

came and settled in one neighborhood. Now we might suppose

this restless spirit of emigration would cease and settle down in

contentment but not so. Just at this time in 1792, the conven-

tion rose and slavery triumphed. One of the members of the

convention, Col. James Smith, who lived near to us on his re-

turn came to see father and gave a full account of their proceed-

ings. I remember well my father's expression after hearing

Smith through. "Well, well, Kentucky will not hold me much

longer." Mother was standing on her feet listening with breath-

less anxiety. On hearing father's expression (she) asked,

"Well, William, where next?" Father replied, "I will be among

the first to go to the Northwestern Territory," and he made good

his promise.

Here I will leave my narrative and go back to the first set-

tling in Kentucky to relate some incidents that may be of inter-

est to those who are fond of romance or scenes of the hunter.

I was always a very attentive listener to stories about hunting.

I remember seeing my father come home from a hunting

tour while we lived on Hickman in Fayette county. It was after

night. I saw him bring in his load of meat and skins. The meat

was in a bag made out of a buffalo hide. There was buffalo

beef, bear meat for pork and deer for venison-all cut off the

bones. I remember well the buffalo skin was very fine wool.

So of course it was a young one not more perhaps than a year

and a half old. I remember well seeing my mother shearing

the wool off it and I think I wore stockings made from the wool.

It was very common at this time for farmers to tan their own

leather for shoes and dress their deer skins for clothing. Buck-

skin overalls were a common dress at this time. My father gen-

erally tanned his heavy hides such as buffalo and bear and beef-

hide when he killed one. He was a shoemaker also and gener-

ally worked till bedtime on his shoe bench. As soon as my sis-

ters were big enough to sit on the loom bench he had a loom pro-

vided for them. So the loom was kept up till bedtime and us

boys were furnished work of some kind also, shelling corn or

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           195

 

filling quills for the weaver and indeed very often in the clearing

burning brush till nine or ten o'clock at night. Once in a while

we could (have) a night to take a hunt for coons and opossums.

But it was the custom in father's house to keep all at work of

some kind till bed time.

Here I will leave this part of my history and relate some of

the incidents I heard father relate during the Indian campaign.

First I will tell how they prepared their provisions for their

tour in the woods. They take about a gallon of corn and parch

it well then pound it fine and mix it with as much sugar as would

make it sweet enough for coffee, then put it in a buckskin bag

and stow it in their knapsack; then take a chunk of raw bacon

wrap it up well (and) stow this in the knapsack. A tincup

(was) tied to the strap of their knapsack. This store is for a

reserve-never to be used till there is no other shift; with a

tomahawk and butcher's knife and rifle-gun and blanket; this is

the equipage of (an) Indian campaign. It was common to have

a commissary department on hand but it was very difficult to take

a full supply of provisions, hence the necessity of having some-

thing to fall back on.

On this trip there were some amusing anecdotes occurred.

One I will relate. One of the hunters and a spy also, was told

one morning as they started out on their march there must be

no shooting that day unless it was at the enemy. Mike came in

(and) went direct to the general, "Well, Mike, what is your re-

port for the day?" "Well, not much only I found a buffalo

lying dead down in the branch. Would it be any harm to take a

piece of the rump?" "Ah, Mike, how came he dead?" "Ecod,

that was his lookout and not mine!" So Mike was allowed to

take rump and all and the general took share with the rest and

no further complaint for breach of orders.

In this campaign a man by the name of Philemon Thomas

was commissary or quartermaster of whom I shall have cause to

speak hereafter. At this point I will leave this part of my nar-

rative and carry out the history of our family living on Stoner

in Bourbon county.

I have told that while at this place the brothers and sisters

and grandfathers came and leased lands and were all settled in

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196      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

one neighborhood again. At this time there was no organized

Presbyterian Church in this part of the country. There was oc-

casional preaching in Paris by Adam Rankin, an Old Side Se-

ceder but the people on Cane Ridge and Stoner settlements united

and formed a congregation and called it Cane Ridge on account

of the dense canebrakes that surrounded it.

Here they called Robert Finley⁴ as their pastor, a very able

and eloquent man from one of the Carolinas, I am not certain

which. He soon gathered a large congregation together and all

seemed to promise well. Religion seemed to (be) the all absorb-

ing topic. He soon established a high school to educate young

men for the ministry. Religious zeal run very high even to en-

thusiasm. Just in the midst of this popular prosperity it got out

that their pastor was seen coming home from Paris drunk. I

can remember well my father came home one day from the black-

smith shop. It was on the road from town to Cane Ridge. He

seemed very sad. Mother said to him, "What is the matter,

William?" "Oh," said he, "I have heard sad news and from one

I cannot doubt. Our pastor was seen passing his house so drunk

he could scarcely ride." This struck a damp on all the neighbor-

hood. This sore stroke on the church and the triumph of slav-

ery so defeated my father's prospects that now he was deter-

mined then even to leave Kentucky and make one more trial for

a free country.

Just about this time Nate Massie issued a proclamation to

all who wished to explore the Scioto country to meet him at the

Three Islands now Manchester, on a certain day in May next

and he would make a tour through the Paint Creek and Scioto

country. So on the appointed day about fifty men from all parts

were on the ground equipped for the trip, some of them old In-

dian fighters and many of them young but very desirous to see

Indians. So some of these old veterans told these brave lads

they would hide or run if they saw an Indian and so it turned

out. When their bravery was needed it was not there but as

 

4Robert Finley conducted classical schools in North Carolina and

Tennessee. On the advice of Massie he came to Chillicothe and there

established the second Presbyterian Church in the state.

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            197

old Captain Petty told them they would hide, some of them, in a

sink hole or run the wrong course.

Here I will leave this part of (the) subject and turn to the

subject of our minister's fall. He was soon called to account

by the proper authorities and proof being abundant was dis-

missed. From this time he seemed to give himself up to dissi-

pation for a long time, both he and his wife. But in justice to

him and his wife they both became zealous and we hope true

penitents and zealous Methodists. I heard Father Finley preach

when in connection with the Methodists one of his best Cal-

vinistic sermons at a campmeeting on Rattlesnake when he was

very old and frail not long before his death.

I will now return and relate some of (the) scenes of my

early life recollections while we lived on Stoner. I think we

moved to our farm on Stoner in 1789. This was a dense cane-

brake almost as thick as a hempfield. This was fine food for

cattle as it remained green all winter. It was common at that

day to take the cattle out to the fresh cane region and bore holes

in the trees and logs and fill them with salt. This would "hant"

the cattle to this place and the owner would visit the place once

a week and call them. The lead one was always belied. In this

way large droves were wintered for a few more years. But the

cane was soon eat out and fields of corn took its place. At this

(time) I was about eight years old.

In this creek was abundance of fine fish, so in the spring

at spawning time the riffles would be literally covered with fish.

And it was our task every day to go out where the cane was

dead and dry and gather it for torches to fish with at night.

This was great sport and very profitable also. As little fellows

that were too young to handle the gig (we) would keep along

the shore with a basket and receive the fish and pack them home.

Sometimes the creek would (be) light with torches for miles

up and down the stream as people from miles off came to fish.

At this day grist mills were scarce and far between, so my

father made a handmill to grind corn. This was employment

for us boys, every night, sometimes till bedtime, especially in the

dry season of the year. And this was the only one in the neigh-

borhood. It was often as thronged with people contending for

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their turn as watermills are. At this (time) sawmills were

scarce. The first one erected anywhere in reach was at Paris

five miles below us. Father and some of the brothers concluded

they would prepare a raft of saw logs and float them down to

the mill at Paris. So they got their rafts all ready for a voy-

age but a suitable freshet did not come till it was cold weather.

However the logs must be launched and off they went. Each

raft had its captain. I can remember seeing them passing on

down. One man took a canoe with the provisions and a jug of

whiskey, of course, as nothing of importance could be done at

that day without that very essential article. Well, on they sailed

for a mile or so till they came to a short turn in the stream

where there was a drift of timber lodged against trees in water.

Their rafts being heavy and unwieldly, here one raft stuck. The

other more lucky or better managed, passed on. Well, what

could they do to extricate themselves. The only alternative was

to cut them asunder and let them go alone and follow with the

boat and conduct them the best they could. So when they got

near the milldam this was the trying time. They could not get

them ashore as fast as they came down and some went over

the dam, and indeed both rafts were wrecked on the route.

I mentioned in some of the former part of my history that

father generally tanned his own leather, so at this time he had a

large trough full of leather in tan. It was near the creek bank.

The creek rose one night very high beyond its usual bounds.

In the morning his tan-trough was gone. So as soon as the water

fell he put off down in search of his tan-yard. About a mile

down he found it in a drift all safe. He got it ashore, took out

the leather, hung (it) up on a tree to dry and sent me for it.

About this time some friends from Virginia came to visit

us; so as a matter of course, we must show them whatever was

great or uncommon. There was a large sycamore tree about a

mile down the creek at a place called Stroud's Ford. When any

of the friends came we generally took them to see the big tree.

Almost every one that came had heard of the big tree at Stroud's

Ford. It was a place of resort for all that visited this part.

There was a door cut in one side some three or four feet wide.

I have seen it measured at different times. Two persons could

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            199

stand up in the inside and stretch out their arms full length

from each side and touch their finger ends in the center. It was

fully twelve feet across the hollow, breast high to a grown per-

son. This may seem like an unreasonable story, but I certify

to the truth of it.

I mentioned in a former page that the brothers and grand-

father had all, or most of them, followed my father to Kentucky

and settled near (each) other. All had bought lands and opened

farms. Here another trouble began about their land titles. There

were so many different methods of taking up the wild lands that it

was very difficult to know when they got the right one or one

that (would) stand in law. Here would come a man and lay

claim to the place we lived on and produce his title and my

father knew little about law and would not venture a lawsuit.

He would rather pay for his farm over again than run the risk

of a suit. So he paid twice for his farm. A third claim came

on. This time he would not agree to pay it and sold for what

was considered the worth of his improvements to his neighbor

and let him fight it out with the man who claimed it.

About this time Nate Massie issued a proclamation to all

that wished to see the Scioto country to meet him on a certain day

at the Three Islands, now Manchester, and he would take them

through the country. At the appointed (day) about fifty men

were on hand prepared for the trip, my father among the rest-

all well armed and mounted. I believe there was no formal elec-

tion for a captain or leader, but it seemed to be fitting to award

the command to Massie although there were several old Indian

fighters along. Captain Petty for one and a man by the name of

Fellenash who had been a prisoner with the Indians and was

well acquainted with Indian warfare. Just at this time General

Wayne was negotiating a treaty with the Indians at Greenville.

It was not expected to meet with any hostility from them, so they

set out for the Scioto country. The second day they arrived at

the falls on Paint Creek.⁵ Here they halted and spent the even-

ing much delighted in exploring these beautiful rich, rye-grass

 

5Rev. James Finley gives a good account of this skirmish. It oc-

curred in July, 1795. See Evans' and Stivers' Adams County, page 65.

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bottoms and the beautiful streams of water pouring over the

falls. All started in great glee down the valley much (pleased)

with their trip so far. They did not go far till they found a

gang of horses feeding on the fine rye-grass bottom. "Now what

shall we do with these horses?" The horses fled before them to

where their owners were camped at the lower end of the bottom.

When the Indians saw the company of armed men following

their horses they thought they were trying to catch them. So the

Indians fired on them and our party returned the compliment and

routed them and took all their goods.

In the scrimmage we lost a valuable man, Joshua Robinson

by name. He and his brother William from the Redstone coun-

try were in the company. This was all that was touched on our

side. It was not known if there was any Indians killed. So as

soon as they gathered up the Indians' goods they set off with their

booty and Mr. Robinson on a bier, but it was soon discovered that

he could not live. They halted on the back side of the bottom

and prepared the best they could for his funeral. They found

a large old tree with a fork lying pretty well rotted. Here they

hewed out (a) coffin, wrapped his blanket around him and cov-

ered (him) as well as they could with earth then piled on large

logs to prevent wolves from digging him out. This camp of

Indians was headed by John, a Wyandot chief. He was at the

treaty [Greenville] but he became offended at something and left

before it closed but must have got his portion of the annuities

for it was rich in goods. Here they found a white boy of four-

teen or fifteen years old. So when the fight was over they sent

three men in pursuit of the horses intending to get them as well

as their goods. While on pursuit of the horses this boy⁶ jumped

up from his hiding place and held up both hands for quarter. He

was taken to camp and clothed with the best they had and a horse

and gun given him out of the booty and he was taken home to

his parents over in Kentucky. After they done the best they

could for the dead they set out for home that night. They

camped over on Sunfish Creek about eleven or twelve miles from

the battle ground. Here they put out strong sentinels expecting

 

This boy was Armstrong (Wilcoxon).

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           201

to be attacked. Well, all was quiet till just before day the In-

dians were discovered creeping around very sly. So they were

fired on by one of the company of sentinels and they returned the

fire. My father who was on sentry also could see them by the

blaze of their fire. He fired at the lump and wounded their cap-

tain. This defeated their plans so completely they had to take

their wounded and retreat for safety. When my (father) fired

the Indians returned the fire by the blaze of his gun and made

several holes in the blanket he had round him and one ball struck

the tree he stood by about as high as his breast. So he made a

narrow escape himself.

While part of the Indians were taking care of their wounded

the others kept up a fire on the camp but no damage was done

but one man⁷ slightly wounded in the thigh and one horse killed.

So they packed up and made for home and landed at Manchester

with a rich prize of plunder consisting of three horses, one pris-

oner reclaimed and (an) abundance of spoil. So they made a

sale of the plunder and each one bid off such articles as he chose.

I remember the sale amounted to one hundred and fifty pounds.

And here they separated for their homes in different parts, some

of them from Redstone or the Monongahela country as (it) was

called at this time. I remember well when father and Amos

Evans came in sight my mother looked out, "Oh," she exclaimed,

"they have had a fight with the Indians," as she saw they were

loaded with Indian plunder such as camp kettles, blankets and

so on.

On parting Massie told (them) he would provide lands for

all that wanted lands on Paint Creek or Scioto, shortly. So he

sent out handbills to different points where (he) would be on

certain days and prepared to furnish lands to all who would pay

in advance one-half the money at eighty dollars per one hundred

acres. Just such land as that on Paint Creek where they de-

feated the Indians. So he made my father's house one point.

Here father and grandfather and several of his brothers con-

tracted for lands and all got land they were well pleased with.

At this time Wayne's army was about to be discharged so

 

7This man was a Mr. Gilfillan.

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Massie was on hand with money and bought up warrants very

low and returned in the spring and employed several surveyors,

went to work, and by mid-summer gave notice to all who had

advanced him money, those lands were ready for them; and I

believe every man was well pleased with the selection Massie had

made for them, for he had every man's land laid out according to

the amount of money paid him.

He assigned to my father a place on the north fork of Paint

Creek as his home, some four miles west of Chillicothe. He also

gave him two hundred in the big bottom on the Scioto. In the

spring of this year, 1796, he proposed to all who had paid for

land in advance they had the liberty to raise corn on the prairie at

the mouth of Paint Creek. About twenty men took up with the

offer and made a fine crop of corn which was a very great assist-

ance to all the early settlers. That summer he laid out Chilli-

cothe and proposed to give an in and (a) lot to all who would

build a house on their lot that year. So father sent my brother

John. He was then about eighteen years old. He built his cabin

and cleared the four acre lot and made corn on it that summer.

I came out, joined him and commenced the farm on North Fork.

Here we commenced on the 24th day of August, 1797, and I

claim the honor of cutting down the first tree ever cut by a white

man for improvement on North Paint Creek. After we had

built a cabin here father and I went back to Kentucky. He took

me in to bring out a supply of provisions for the winter. On

our way we camped on Three Island Creek some two or three

miles out from the river. A wolf came in the night, took hold

of our wallet of provisions under my head and jerked it out and

waked me. When I waked, the dog was standing on me snap-

ping at the wolf at my head. My father called out, took the

gun and shot after him but it was too dark to see him.

On our way we fell in with old Daniel Boone and a son and

a son-in-law returning from a hunting tour up on the Kanawha.

We lodged with them at May's Lick and traveled together to

their cabin on Hinkston. As father and him had been through

some campaigns together I was highly interested in hearing him

recount the scenes they had passed through. As we passed the

battle ground near the Blue Licks he pointed out the manner of

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           203

the battle and place where his brother and son were killed, and

how he had told the commander how the Indians would have the

advantage of the ground; but they would not hear him and they

paid dearly for their rashness. This was one of the sorest de-

feats (that) ever befell the Kentucky troops. When (we) came

to Boone's cabin father told him he would have to move soon

as he had cut down all the trees near his cabin.

Here I will relate some things that I should (have) men-

tioned on a previous page. This year the squirrels were very

plenty and seemed as if they would destroy the corn crop en-

tirely and powder was not to be had. So father and Uncle

Thomas concluded they could make gunpowder if they could get

saltpeter. Well, they gathered the dry dirt from under old

houses and tried their hands to make saltpeter. They succeeded

to make about two or three pounds. Now, how, and what was

the powder proportion of the different materials? Uncle had

been in a powder mill once in Virginia. So they made a trial

and after several days' experimenting, got powder. This was

the manner in which father came to be a powder maker. About

this time saltpeter began to be found in dry caves in the moun-

tains and father set up the powder making business. Saltpeter

soon became very plenty and father got the name of making the

best powder in the market. So every summer after the corn

was laid by and harvest over we would make powder a month

or so and attend at the courts to sell it. He generally took me

along to retail it when he had other business to tend to. I was

sitting in the courtyard with my bag of powder open. Along

came a man smoking his pipe and stooped down to look at the

powder. I saw the ashes fall from his pipe. I grabbed the pipe

and in my haste run the stem in his mouth. He seemed to be

much offended till I showed him the danger he was in. So (he)

was glad I had more thought than himself. This was a pretty

profitable business at that time and when he concluded to move

to Ohio he made a couple of kegs full, seventy-five pounds each

and packed them on a horse. When we came out to Chillicothe

I sold them for one dollar and twenty-five cents a pound to

James and McCoy, merchants in Chillicothe.

I now seat myself to resume my history. In former pages

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204      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

I stated we commenced improvements on the North Fork of Paint

Creek, four miles west of Chillicothe (the) 24th day of August,

1797. My father and brother John and myself here built a cabin

and dug out a canoe so that we (could) cross when the water

was high and for the purpose of fishing, as fish were abundant at

this time in these waters. When this was done father and my-

self went back to Kentucky and left John to keep camp and

commence clearing for a crop next season. On this trip we fell

in with Daniel Boone at May's Lick. We lodged with him and

his son, Jesse, his youngest son and a son-in-law, a lawyer from

Paris. They had been on a hunting tour upon the Sandy⁸ but

had not succeeded well as it was a very dry fall. So as Boone

and father were companions in an Indian campaign together we

kept company with them and rode and walked time about to

Boone's cabin. He lived on Hinkston about eight miles short of

our home on the old "buffalo trace" made by them from the

cane region to the Blue Licks, a place of great resort at certain

seasons to get salt water to drink. These animals would travel

in droves in great numbers in manner like the wild geese. They

had a leader and would follow him in single file no matter how

large the drove. So this trace was in many places, especially in

crossing ravines they would cut down the banks on each side to

the depth of our horses' backs. This trace passed right by our

door on Stoner and on to the great cane fields on the Kentucky

river at Boonesborough. When we passed the Blue Licks Boone

told us some amusing stories, how he had amused himself look-

ing at them from a concealed place. It beat any bull fight he

ever saw. There would droves meet here from different parts

and like our cattle when they meet with strangers must try their

strength. This was great sport for the lonely old pioneer. Well,

so much for a buffalo story.

After we had gathered the corn and done up (the) fall work

father and I loaded our horses with provisions and started for

Ohio, then called Northwestern Territory. Nothing uncom-

mon occurred till we got about halfway from Limestone to our

 

⁸Mr. Rogers mentions this occurrence on a previous page by saying

the Kanawha. The Sandy is more probably correct.

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.          205

home. We camped a few miles over Big Brush Creek and

started before day hoping to make (the) trip to our cabin that

day but a terrible snowstorm came on us and made the traveling

so slavish we could not get on as fast as we would and we were

calculating on having a dreadful time in getting a fire for a camp

made for the night. But to our joy and surprise we found a

cabin on Paint Creek built since we had been on the road. Here

we turned in for the night and a dreadful night it was! The

cabin had a roof but no door shutter and no chinking nor daub-

ing. There was a woman and two or three children.   Her

husband was not at home. He was out on a bear hunt. So we

cut and got in plenty of wood and kept up a large fire all night,

the snow pouring in through the cracks of the cabin. The

woman and children took one corner, laid down what bedding

they had and covered (themselves) with deer and bear skins.

Just at night two (other) travelers came in also. So we all lay

on the floor the best we could. We (were) glad to see day. I

believe it was the coldest night I ever passed in the woods. The

next day we got to our home but when we (were) about four or

five miles on the road father told me he would go ahead on foot

and left me to bring the horses and he would kill a deer. But

I could not ride fast enough to keep from freezing. So I com-

menced hallooing for father to stop and take the horses and let

me run on foot or I would freeze as I had got my feet wet cross-

ing a run. We got home to our cabin in safety and found John

well and a family living with him -an old lady, a son and a

daughter. This made our cabin pretty throng but the old lady

was willing to cook for us for her room and it was a great help

to us for we could go on better with our work in the clearing.

So father went out the next day and killed a deer and some tur-

keys but this was rather poor fare as both deer and turkeys were

poor on account of deep snow.  But just here a man came along

with some bear meat. We got a quarter of it for the loan of our

dog he had borrowed. This was the man that owned the cabin

we lodged at on Paint Creek. Father stayed with us about a

week and left us to make ground ready for a crop in the spring.

So we went to work in earnest and cleared and fired about ten

or twelve acres by time for planting corn. And father hired the

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206      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

young man to clear a piece for meadow. This old lady was (a)

great guard over me. She was a devoted, pious, motherly, Chris-

tian woman and seemed to take the place of a mother, especially

as I was under the restraint of my parents. She would always

have some comforting story to (tell) us when we would be dis-

couraged to cheer us. And on the Sabbath she would have us

reading our books and catechising us on our questions as if she

was our mother. In the spring her married son and family

came out from Kentucky and they went upon Darby and leased

land and moved there in the fall.

Here I will relate an anecdote that took place during the

winter. A Presbyterian minister was coming through from Ken-

tucky and got to the crossing of Paint Creek (on) a very stormy

day and called at a cabin where old William Kent had just built

but had no chimney to it and only part of the house floored. He

made his fire in one side on the ground and his bed on the floored

part. The minister asked how far to where he could get a place

to lodge. He was told the distance to our cabin. Well, he was

afraid to attempt to make the trip as it was so cold and snow-

ing fast. So what could he do but stay with him and share with

him on the hard puncheon floor? Well, what could he do with

his horse? He was told he could tie him to a tree or turn him

out and let him browse with his ox; for he had no feed for him.

The minister did not like the idea of turning his horse loose.

Had he no shelter that he could have? There was no other shel-

ter but his old camp and his sow and pigs had taken possession

of that and would not like to be turned out so stormy a night.

Well, he insisted and at length he consented to let him tie his

horse under the roof of his camp and turn out the sow and pigs.

When he came to view the premises the sow had rooted up the

ground in the center and made it so uneven it was very uncom-

fortable (for) a horse to stand in it. He asked if it could not

be made level so the horse would feel more comfortable. Yes,

he had a hoe he could have. He handed him the hoe. Now

he might make (it) to suit his mind. He replied he had never

labored any in his life. "Oh, then you have the advantage of me.

I have labored all my life and yours is all in you yet. So now is

your time to try your hand." This strange conduct beat him.

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           207

 

He began to think of leaving for he thought he might not be safe

in his hands. So Kent saw he was alarmed and took the hoe and

leveled the ground and told him he was only joking with him.

He made him as comfortable as he could in the circumstances.

He shared his rough fare with him and gave him a part of his

blanket to cover him on his hard puncheon floor. The next day

he came to our cabin. Here he got the best our good old lady

could produce. He told us all about his doleful night he spent

at Mr. Kent's. Here he got all the sympathy and kindness that

the good old mother could bestow on a minister of Jesus Christ.

He was in search of a place to settle as a minister, he told us

and intended to locate in Chillicothe if the way was open and

would preach there on Sabbath. So all of us except the old lady

went to hear him. This was no less than the Rev. Doctor Speer

who was the first minister ever settled in Chillicothe. He was

now just licensed and married. Here he moved in the spring

and organized the first Presbyterian Church⁹ in Ross county.

This was in the winter of 1797 and 98, he came to our house. A

short time after this Kent came to our house. When the subject

came up about the young minister that lodged with him some

time before, he told us all about it. He said he had fine fun

with him and told us he noticed he had never seen hard times

and he would give him a chance to try his hand. He said he saw

he was afraid of him, but he made him as comfortable as he

could when he saw his alarm. This same Rev. Speer is father

or grandfather, I am not certain which, to the Rev. Speer who

was missionary to China some years ago and returned to this

country.

This was an uncommon hard winter. Snow (was) on the

ground. We had to cut down fresh brush every morning to

keep our cattle alive. We had several milch cows but they gave

but little milk as they could not get grass. When the ground was

bare there was rye grass equal to a rye field. So our cattle and

horses got very weak by spring. Our dependence for meat was

mostly wild game but we were not skillful hunters and indeed it

 

9This statement does not agree with what is usually accepted as the

first Presbyterian organization in Ross County.

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208      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

was very difficult to get near the deer as there was a hard crust

on the snow. The deer could hear one before they could get

within shooting distance. Our provision was like to run short

and hard work and poor fare began to discourage us. But our

good old mother would cheer us up by some comforting promise

from the scriptures telling us the Lord would not let his chil-

dren suffer, "Put your trust in him."  So here would come some

relief not expected. Sometimes a flock of turkeys would come

around the house and we would kill one or two. Sometimes a

deer would come and browse among the cattle, so we would kill

one- poor, but still we could eat them still making the old lady's

word good. At length along came a man with a small lot of fat

hogs from Kentucky. Well, how could we get one? John con-

cluded we must have some pork to cook with our turkey and

deer. So (the) old man concluded he could trust us. He was

Duncan McArthur's father and told John to pay his son Duncan

when he got the next money. We knew father would approve

of the contract when he came out; so we lived well.

The next thing was corn to make us bread. The nearest

place corn could be got was at the station below Chillicothe. We

made out to raise two dollars and twenty-five cents from trav-

elers. I and young Mr. Une (?) went down to the station and

got three bushels apiece. We came up to the horse-mill in Chil-

licothe. Here we got it ground by paying fifty cents besides the

toll. This was pretty dear bread after the sixth was taken for

toll. And it was ground so very coarse little would go through

the sieve.

About this time the traders from about Pittsburg began to

bring down their flour and bacon in big canoes or barges and run

up the Scioto river to Chillicothe. This was a great relief if we

only had the money. So (the) next bread stuff we got was flour

from these traders. This brought us through the winter. When

the snow melted off, our cattle could get plenty of rye grass.

They began to thrive and we got plenty of milk. Heretofore

there was no churn to be had so what butter was made our good

old mother made it by stirring it with her hand in a pail. But

now a family moved in and settled near us on (the) other side

of the creek so we could borrow their churn. Now we had but-

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            209

ter plenty. This was a great substitute in cooking our venison

and turkey meat. And indeed I sold many a pound to travelers

after the family moved away. I was often asked where the

landlady was. When they found out I made the butter they

would be very doubtful about it being very clean.

At this time there was a road¹⁰ laid out through from Lime-

stone to Wheeling by Chillicothe and Zanesville. It was sur-

veyed, marked and some brush cut out so that a person on horse-

back could travel it. And being so much higher than the old

route from Kentucky to the east there was a great rush of travel

on it. Our cabin was often covered all over the floor of a night

with lodgers and we seldom had anything to sell to them. So

we concluded we would get a keg of liquor and retail (it) and

a bag of corn. At this time there was corn in Chillicothe to be

had at a dollar a bushel. So I went and got a sack of corn and

a keg of liquor. We would sell corn at twenty-five cents a gal-

lon and liquor at twelve and a half (cents) a half pint. And

sometimes we could spare a pound of butter. In this way we

made a little change to get our coffee and other necessaries. If

we had any milk this was in good demand; venison jerk was good

sale. When we killed a deer in hot weather the only way we

could save it, we cut off all fleshy parts and salt it and the next

day we make a fire out by, let (it) burn down, then make a

scaffold over the fire and lay the meat over the fire, about half

cook it and dry it. In this way it could be saved. This is the

Indian method of saving meat in warm weather. This was much

pursued by travelers.

This road was laid out by order of the government by a man

of the name of Zane from Wheeling and called Zane's Trace.

He got a portion of land at the crossing of every large stream

that needed a ferry, for his services. How much I can't say,

but I think it was a section as far as the Scioto,11 as all east of

that was Congress lands. I think it the same that was proprie-

tor of Zanesville on the Muskingum river. At this time the In-

 

10Zane's Trace.

11Zane secured three tracts of land, one at Zanesville one at Lan-

caster and one at Chillicothe.

Vol. XIX.- 14.

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210      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

dians were allowed to hunt within our bounds by the treaty of

1794 until we got numerous enough to be an independent state.

So they made good use of this grant and they were our chief sup-

ply for venison and bear meat. They would call by our cabin

on their way to market in Chillicothe frequently and ask for

bread and milk and sometimes they would ask for whisky. But

we never would let them know we had whisky for fear they

would get drunk and endanger our lives as a drunken Indian is

about as dangerous as a mad dog.

When the winter broke we had a very early and favorable

spring and we got along with our clearing and by the 10th of

May we planted our corn in good time and order. Now we

had some leisure for hunting and fishing. About this time I

killed the first deer in my life and I believe the first I ever shot

at. You may be sure I was a very proud boy. I had killed tur-

keys but never got a shot at a deer. Now I was a hunter. We

could get fish in abundance by either the gig or hook. Now our

corn demanded our attention, so we gave it close attention and

made a good crop. Father and two more of my brothers came

out in July and we went to work and built a larger house for the

family. Then all went back to Kentucky but myself and James

a younger brother, to move the family. While we were here

alone I went out with a man to take a hunt but we were not suc-

cessful and I exposed myself and took the flux and had no one

to nurse me but my young brother. I never felt the want of my

mother as I did now. I had no knowledge how to treat the com-

plaint but I got advice from travelers as there were some lodging

with us almost every night. So by the time the family came

home I was pretty well again but we got very little work done.

We had orders to blade the corn and save the fodder before it

was frosted but the frost had come and very little of it saved.

When I heard from travelers they had crossed the river at

Limestone we were expecting them on in three days from that

time. So the third day I started to meet them on foot expect-

ing to meet them by noon at least, but I heard nothing of them till

I got to the falls of Paint. There was no travel on the road that

day so I turned in for the night weary, hungry and discour-

aged, as I was weak yet from my spell of sickness. There was

• 21
 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer.          211

 

about sixteen miles I had traveled without a bit to eat, not ex-

pecting to go more than eight or nine miles. So here I lay down

in a corner like a sick kitten. I had not been here long till some

one called at the door to ask for lodging. I sprang to my feet

hoping to hear from our folks. When (I) came out who should

it be but old Andrew Caughross (?) an old neighbor in Ken-

tucky. He said, "Well, Tom, is that you? Why, my boy, your

father and family are just out back here on the road. They

stopped to camp for the night." Now I felt as light as a fox. I

started without asking any more questions and run for life but I

soon met John coming to get corn for the horses, I turned to

help get the corn. When we got our sacks full of corn we set

out for camp and found them all enjoying themselves in their

movable house (and) very much surprised to see me as they

heard I was lying sick at our cabin. I believe I never was (so)

glad to see my mother nor was she ever gladder to see her son.

She had intended to leave the "flitting" and come on by herself to

my relief but I had sent a message by a traveler if he met them

to tell mother I was mending; not (to) be uneasy about me. But

mother was still fearful I might be worse than I let on to be.

The next morning we were off for home in high spirits,

mother and sister on horseback with the little ones that could not

travel on foot, and myself and brother Ham and a man father had

hired to help drive the cattle all went on ahead of the wagons

with the cattle. When we got within about three miles of home

mother and sister left us as they could travel faster than we

could with the cattle and we got home at a late hour that night.

But the wagons did not arrive till next day. Here we settled

down on the west bank of the North Fork of Paint Creek.

"Now," says father, "I have made my last move in this

world, I trust," and so it was.

When I started to meet them I took the gun hoping to kill

a deer or turkey on the way, never dreaming of such a tramp.

I killed a turkey and hung it up by the road but when I came

back it was spoiled - all fly-blown. Well, now we were all at

home once more for which I trust we felt thankful. Oh, what

a comfort it was to my dear mother to think she was done trav-

eling and especially as we had got away from slavery and out

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212      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

of hearing of the screams of the slaves. (Father said) "Well,

now, boys, look around. Here is all this forest has to be cleared

off. Now you see what has to be done to make a living. So go

to work. I am getting old and I must depend on you to open me

a farm as my day for hard labor is past."

So in a few days father took us out and staked out about

twenty acres of our fine bottom land and told us this must be

cleared for corn next spring. This was our work for the win-

ter. When the weather was dry, we cut, grubbed and burned

brush. When it was wet or snow on the ground we cut down

and cut up the brush and logs and tall timber. So by spring we

had about thirty acres for corn with what we cleared before

father moved out.

About this time brother John came of age and began to think

of doing for himself. So father bought land for him on Dry

Run six miles above Chillicothe. In the fall of 1799 he built him

a house on his land and married the last day of the year 1799.

Now it was my lot to take charge of the farm and carry on the

work. So we labored on and improved the farm till we had

about as much cleared land as we could attend to and an over-

plus of corn. We, like the rich man in the parable began to

cast about in our minds and say, "What will we do with all of

our produce?" It was soon decided not to pull down our barn

but we will build a still house and dispose of our surplus grain

in making whiskey, for at this time no one thought there was any

harm in the business. So at it we went. I was at that time an

expert with the broad ax and my two brothers good choppers,

so in a short time we had a house built for the purpose and a

couple of stills in it. Now there was work for us all both night

and day.

Here I must return to the year 1800. In this year my

mother's father and mother died in Virginia and mother was re-

quested to come in and receive her share of the household goods

with her two sisters the only heirs. This was something of an

undertaking for a woman on horseback as this was the common

mode of travel at this day and that through a wild unsettled wil-

derness all the way to Wheeling at least. Well, about the 15th

of September of this year mother, myself and William Means

• 23
 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            213

set out on horseback on our journey of over four hundred miles.

At Chillicothe at this time there were some settlements (and) at

the crossings of Muskingum and at Lancaster. We had to camp

out two or three nights but were fortunate in getting in company

with some Kentucky merchants. This relieved our fear from

robbers. There had been several cases of robbery on this road

but we got through to the settlement at Wheeling and no acci-

dent worth relating.

Here the company of merchants left us and we turned off

the direct road and stopped a day or two at a friend's on the

Monongahela river at the mouth of Little Whitey to rest mother

and to recruit the horses. From this we (went by) the moun-

tains by way of the Sandy Creek glades and fell into the old road

at Josph Tevers at the big crossings. Here we were on the old

Braddock road that he traveled with his army to that fatal ground

near Pittsburg where Braddock was defeated by the Indians in

the year 1755. We followed this road over the mountains to

near the town of Cumberland. Here we took the Winchester

road to Middleburg where mother's sister lived. Our last days

of travel were very stormy with sleet and snow. My mother

was very much outdone when (we) landed at her sister's in Mid-

dleburg. This was a happy meeting after a separation of fifteen

years. Here we were met by all the friends then living but the

dear parents were gone to rest. Her two sisters and their hus-

bands were living but the eldest sister's husband was on his death

bed, not able to be about much nor even to talk more than a few

words at a time. This was a great grief to mother as McFar-

land was a very great favorite of her's.

Now much of the time was spent in relating scenes that had

transpired since they had been separated. This was the topic

of conversation and mother was able to give some very interest-

ing stories she had passed through since she left them.

While we were among the friends my birthday came on the

19th day of October. I was determined to see the place where

I first drew vital air so I got directions how to find it. I set off

by myself through the fields but nothing could I find to mark the

spot but the remains of the old bank of dirt and the remains of

the old chimney bottom. This was my eighteenth birthday. We

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214      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

spent about a month in visiting old acquaintances and friends

and mother and her sisters made a divide of their mother's house-

hold effects. We made ready for our journey home. My

mother took her mother's old riding mare in part for her dower

and a new saddle for me. So I put my old saddle on the old

mare and packed her all the way home. This was a troublesome

job to lead a packhorse four hundred and fifty miles. I was now

just eighteen years old and mother near fifty. What boy at this

day would think of undertaking such a trial or where is the

woman at this day that could think of undertaking the like?

Verily are we not a degenerate race when compared with what

our ancestors were?

Well we took leave of our friends about the first of No-

vember and nothing particular occurred till we landed at old Mr.

Robinson's on the Monongahela where we stopped to rest on our

way in. Here we lay by over the Sabbath till his son John got

ready and came with us to his brother's, a near neighbor of ours.

After resting a few days here we started for Ohio. We now

had the company and help of young Mr. Robinson. We had the

Monongahela to ferry. At this time there was nothing but a

small flat boat to cross in so my pack horse was frightened when

the oars began to work and jumped out of the boat and threw

my mother's horse out also. Here we lost our wallet of pro-

visions and wet her saddle and blankets and pillows she had to

ride on. We got a grab hook and fished a long time trying to

recover our lost wallet but had to go without it. Mother had a

very uncomfortable ride till night when we got all dried again.

When he got to the Ohio river at Wheeling we took care to take

our load off the horses before we put them on the boat and

crossed safe. Now we were in Ohio again. There was sev-

eral new houses built since we went through before so we got

a cabin to lodge in every night on our way home. We arrived

at home the fifteenth day after a fatiguing journey, found all

well and glad to see us safe on the North Fork of Paint Creek.

We rode a pair of dapple gray horses that was noticed and

admired by everybody on the road and had a great many offers

for them. I was very fearful some time we would lose them as

they were admired by many. Indeed I was alarmed one night

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           215

in Virginia. We had our horses kept out on the farm about a

mile from town. One morning they were missing. We spent

some very uneasy hours till about noon a man came in with the

horses. Some negroes had taken them to ride the night before

to see their wives and overstayed themselves and were afraid to

(be) seen on them at daylight and turned them out and a man

who knew them got them and brought them home.

Now I am at home again ready to resume the old routine

of business. Well, the corn is not gathered yet as we had the

horses away and I was the main hand. This was our constant

employment for about a month or more. We would gather corn

all day and go to huskings every night. I remember of one fall

I gathered corn every day for twenty-one days and attended a

husking every night. We had thirty-four wagon loads of corn

ourselves and I hauled one hundred for the neighbors. I have

often wondered how we stood it.

Now I must give some further account of our success in

whisky making. This may sound strange at this day of reform

on this subject but every honest historian will openly confess and

relate his errors as well as his virtues, so I shall endeavor to

state the truth and let the public judge of my conduct. At this

day the justice or propriety of manufacturing your surplus pro-

duce into liquor was never called in question. Indeed if any one

had a right to object that was myself for the heaviest burden

fell on me. In order to carry it on successfully we must always

keep a store of ground corn meal and rye on hands lest a freeze

or a flood should stop our work, likewise a supply of cord wood.

This was no small job so I was kept busy almost night and day

for two successive winters; scarcely ever got a night to attend

any of the amusements going on in the neighborhood nor a day

to go to school. But the third winter I told father I must be

spared from being so confined and I must get some schooling if

ever I got any, as I was now twenty-three years old. So I went

to Kentucky on a visit and went to school that winter about two

months. This is the principal part of my schooling.

Just before I started to Kentucky there was a notice in the

Chillicothe paper there would be a large tract of land on Paint

Creek offered for sale. Father told me he would attend the sale

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216      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

and bid if he thought best as I had not yet got a place to settle

on. So father bid off a five hundred lot. All the purchasers

agreed on a day to go to see the land and have it surveyed and

divided. This land was attached and sold to satisfy a claim in

behalf of some orphan children against Captain William George,

a Revolutionary soldier. He was guardian for the children.

The claim was put into the hands of Philemon Thomas an old

Kentucky land jobber-one that father was acquainted with.

They had served in an Indian campaign together. Well, we all

set off to see the land. (They) took me and brother Ham. to

carry chain and mark. This land lay on main Paint above the

mouth of Rattlesnake. Here we encamped the first night.

Father left us as soon as he could see to shoot, went up the bot-

tom a little ways and shot a deer and came in and got a horse

and took Dolittle, one of the purchasers, to help him bring in the

deer. So he helped him on his shoulder with the deer, told him

to go round the other side and catch hold when he threw it on

the horse as the beast was a little shy. He gave it the toss on

the horse and behold the young merchant got his fine clothes

well sprinkled with blood. This was a sore defeat to the gen-

tleman. He had a great time scraping and washing his coat but

the old pioneers enjoyed it finely. We meandered the creek that

day to the upper corner. There we camped the next night.

Here I roasted a whole quarter before a large fire, basting it with

pieces of bacon. Our old pioneers thought they never had a

better barbecue in their lives.

We had now surveyed the south line and meandered the

creek. Then we ran the north line, found the beginning corner

and commenced laying off the lots. Now the contest began about

the surplus land as the survey had made considerable overplus.

Mr. Dolittle contested for a share of the overplus land but father

wanted none but his five hundred as it was sold in this way and

the last lot was bid off "five hundred more or less." So if they

divided the surplus in every lot it would shift his lot farther south

but he wanted his lot just where it fell at five hundred each and

they might have the rest and divide it as they chose. So we

commenced and laid out three lots and left the fourth as it was

and this (was) a happy conclusion, for there was a clashing line

• 27
 

Reminscences of a Pioneer.          2l7

 

between George's and Mason's survey. When we got through

Thomas proposed to sell father his first lot as he had bid off the

second lot also and the fourth and last lot. He would not offer

the fourth as he saw there were some interfering lines. So

father made a bargain for the second lot to be paid the next win-

ter. Now he had two lots of five hundred acres. Shortly after

this two of his brothers from Kentucky came. So he sold the

half of his second lot to Uncle Hamilton. Now he had two

hundred and fifty for us boys. I went to Kentucky with them

and spent the winter at school as I stated heretofore; this in the

year 1804 and 05. I was now in my twenty-third year and (the)

first time I had ever claimed my freedom. This year I worked

on the farm till the crop was made and harvest was over. Then

I went to see our land and concluded I would put up a cabin on

it and get some (one) on the farm to improve it and then take a

ramble as I had never seen anything but the woods and hard

work.

Well, brother Ham and me turned in and built a house on

our lots by Christmas and came home for the winter. We saw

a great company camped on the bank on the other side and we

noticed a number of young women. So I proposed to the young

men (to go over) for there was several had come to see us as

we had been absent all fall. Well, we went over to camp (and)

we were much pleased with their appearance. They were all so

clean and neat. On inquiry we found they were intending to go

to Highland county. On being told I was just from that county,

they asked if I knew of any houses for rent? I told them I had

just built two cabins there and should not (need) them before

spring. An old man on hearing this jumped up and replied,

"I'm in for one of them." What would I charge for it? I told

him he might have it till spring free and then I would give him a

lease on the land if I needed the house and he could build one

for himself. Well, how could he find it? I told him I would

meet him at a certain place the next day and pilot him. Part of

the company had agreed to go to old William Parker's (?) up

in the Quaker settlement. Well, I met my old man the next day

at William Smith's on Buckskin and conducted them to Jared

Ervin's the nearest neighbor to my cabin. There we slept over

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218      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

night. The next morning we cut a road for the wagon as there

never was a wagon road to this place before. So we landed them

in my cabin in the woods, a wild looking place. This was Sat-

urday. I told him I would stay the next week and help him

fix up the house as there was but half of it floored and the chim-

ney only part built. As the old man was a regular carpenter we

got along finely. On Monday we were going over to Mr. Ervin's

to grind our tools (and) who should we meet but old man

and his son George on hunt of our place as they

had not found a house yet and heard me say we had two cabins,

hoping to get one of them, and indeed there was no Sabbath up

there and they could not think of settling where no regard was

paid to the Sabbath. We told them to go on to the cabin and

we would be home when we ground our tools. So when all got

done I gave the tools to him to carry home and I got my gun,

took across the creek to find a turkey roost. When I got to the

creek it was dark and no moon but turkeys plenty. I concluded

I would get right under them try (and) if I could see a black

spot, shoot at the place. So I shot a number of times. At last

down came one. I picked it up and plodded on home. They

were all alarmed when they heard so much shooting (and) could

not imagine what it meant but supposed I was attacked by a gang

of wolves. The next morning I told the old man if he would

go with me and do just as I direct, I would load him home with

turkeys. Well, off we went a little before day. I saw the course

they intended flying. I sent the old man in a circle ahead of

them for he must keep in motion never stopping. The turkeys

would not fly while he kept in motion so I could creep up behind

a tree and shoot one. In this way we got them turned and con-

fused by turning the foremost ones back till I killed four very

fine ones. This made a load for us both. The old man was so

pleased he could not quit talking about it. Now he had learned

how to kill turkeys.

So the other families concluded to come and occupy my

brother's cabin until they (could) suit themselves better. The

old man Adear (?) and his son Philip got in my brother's house

but the old father soon bought land just across the creek and

moved to it and took a lease on my brother's land. And my man

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           219

took a lease also and we had a very excellent set of neighbors

and lived in peace all our days. .  .   The next spring I

married. Now I began to think very seriously about what I

should do next year. I had thought of spending some time in

traveling to see some of the world. And I must determine soon

as my man in my house must know whether I would need the

house in the spring or not. So I concluded I would go over and

consult my intended and feel her pulse how it beat. Well, I

found it all right with her. So I made a covenant with her that

night that I never rued. I gave my man notice to go to work

and build his house as I had determined (to) come and be their

neighbor in March. So the next week I drove up some hogs,

three sows and pigs to live on the acorns as they were abundant.

Now I began to make arrangements for farming; horses and

plows and household furniture must be had. But at this day

we could do with very little and that the plainest kind.

Well, next question was "Who shall marry me?" Hereto-

fore the magistrate done the marrying. Dr. Wilson had just

come among us, but had not been licensed yet, and there would

(be) no regular court soon enough for my case. What could

be done? I was not willing to be married by a squire, and to

call a court on purpose would cost at least ten dollars. So I

proposed to see the judges, as they all lived near. They all

agreed to meet at the court house (the) next Saturday and

father (was) to meet them and all would be right. So they

met and ordered the sheriff to call the court. They licensed

Rev. Wilson with powers to marry. "What is the bill?" father

inquired. "We will go to the hotel and we will tell you. A bot-

tle or two of good Maderia will taste pretty well, don't you

think?" This settled the bill. So the judges and their wives

were invited to the wedding on the 6th of March. The 6th of

March was the time agreed on for the wedding, and Rev. Rob-

ert Wilson (was) to solemnize the union and a great crowd it

was as we both had a numerous connection. These with the

judges' families, made a great company.

On the next week my cousin, Betsey Swart, and David El-

liott were married, so we had two weeks of merry times.

Now, the next thing on hands was to gather up our effects

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220      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

and move to our cabin in the woods, and make ready for a crop,

and this in a heavy forest of timber, and now the 18th of

March! "Well," thinks I, "it is root, pig, or starve. I have

but two months till the corn must be planted." So I fell to work,

as I had no other shift, and worked almost night and day, and

on the 22nd of May I planted five acres of corn and made a

pretty fair crop. Also (I planted) some potatoes and fruit trees.

This was my first start in life for myself, but I was blessed with

a good constitution and a will to work, so it did not go hard with

me, for I was raised to hardships.

Now I had made a beginning, I must have a piece ready for

wheat. So I put in all the time I had from tending my corn to

clear a field for wheat. I got about six acres in wheat. And

this was my plan: every spring and fall to add a field to the

farm. So in a few years I began to have something to sell. My

stock of horses mutiplied pretty fast, as I had three sorrel mares

and one year-old colt to start with. So I had seven head to win-

ter the first year. The second fall I hired a hand one month

and cleared out a piece of bottom for meadow. From this time

forth I could spare some produce to help me improve the farm.

This is the way we managed to make a living in my young days.

I will now turn back to relate some things that took place

in earlier days, which I have omitted, in regard to my fondness

for hunting and a life in the woods. I was very fond of camp

life, and whenever an opportunity offered I was always on hand.

So there was an alarm came to the governor of a man found

dead up on the North Fork of Paint Creek, supposed to be the

work of the Indians, as he was tomahawked and scalped. The

governor sent out word to Major Mahary to take some troops

and go up and see the truth of the matter. Now this was a

good opportunity for me to gratify my long cherished desire, so

I was on hand. And when we got to the place we found Cap-

tain Herrod killed sure enough in the way and manner as re-

ported. Next thing, what course shall we pursue to find the

murderers? Well, a plan was given out for all who were ready

and willing to take a trip to the Indian towns to signify by hitch-

ing their horses with Major Mahary's and General McArthur's.

I was the only one that moved the horse to theirs. Some wanted

• 31
 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           221

an election held for leader. So when nothing could be decided,

all set off helter skelter, about one hundred and fifty in numbers,

some young clerks of stores and many of them (with) neither

blankets nor provisions. All drove on promiscuously till we came

on an old he-bear in the barrens about where Bloomingburg is.

Here we had a grand bear chase. Our dogs would stop him

in a thicket and then he would break out again and run several

miles. He got a great many shots, but none brought him down

till he was pretty well run down. There was a man had a brace

of horse pistols. He gave one to another man, and rode up

close and fired and wounded him. The next rode up and shot

him a deadly shot and the bear dropped on the spot and the

horse was at such speed he jumped over the bear, but he made

a grab and caught his foot and jerked him off the horse, but he

rolled off out of reach of him in short order. I was close to him

and jumped off to his assistance, but the bear was dead before

I got to him. A man came riding up and hallooed to me. "Why

don't you shoot him " I replied, "I don't kill dead bears." He

jerked the gun out of my hand and shot the bear in the head.

I told him he had killed a dead bear, and I did not covet the

honor. So "who killed the bear?" was the word through the

company.

At the close of the frolic a number turned back, but no

election had yet (been held). We went on to the cabin of good

Joshua Clark, on the waters of Paint Creek, who had settled

out there for the purpose of hunting and trapping. Here a

number turned back. I carried the bear to his house and skinned

it, as it was awarded to me as I had chased it the whole round.

My dog was the only one that would seize it.

From this we went on to what was called the Willow

Springs. Here we camped for the night. Now our young coun-

ter hoppers was in a bad fix, no blankets and very little to eat,

and a dreadful night of rain. In the morning they were all

dripping wet. This was the end of their bravery. Now the

question is, "Who is for the forward march?" About ten re-

sponded. The rest took the back track. We learned by some

travelers we met there was some Indians camped on Mad river.

So we concluded to hunt them up and see if they knew. This

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222      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

day we fell in with several Indians, but none could talk much

English, but they would tell us Chief Roundhead was out on

Mad river. So we went on to Mad river where Springfield now

stands. Here we found two white men just settled in their

cabins. One, a Mr. Foos, who was the proprietor of the town.

At length here we learned that the Chief Roundhead was some

where in that part hunting. So the next day a call was made

for volunteers to go on the hunt of the chief. I turned out for

one, with man of the place and two others of the company.

In the evening we brought in the chief, and the next day he con-

ducted us to another camp where James Logan was camped on

the head waters of Rattlesnake. Logan could speak English.

He was part white man. Here we held a council. They all

declared their innocence and promised to investigate the mat-

ter, and if they found out the murderer, to bring him to justice.

This we supposed would settle the matter, but while we were out

an unhappy circumstance took place at home near where Cap-

tain Herrod was killed. A certain man by the name of Wolf, and

three of the neighbors turned out to gather up their cattle to get

their milk. They fell in with an honorable, innocent old Indian,

who was camped for the purpose of hunting over on Rattlesnake.

Not hearing anything of the murder of Herrod. (He) came

over in a kindly manner to the settlement to get salt to save his

meat, as the weather was warm. So he came up to those men in

a friendly manner and asked what it meant, (that) all the peo-

ple ran away. They told him how the Indians had come into

the settlement and killed a man, and the people were all afraid

to stay on their farms. The Indian replied, "Not Indian. Bad

white man done it, not Indian." They parted by a friendly

shake of the hand, but when the old chief got twenty or thirty

yards off, Wolf shot him a death shot. But he turned, deter-

mined to sell his life as dear as possible, and tried to shoot

Wolf, but he got behind his horse. So he raised his gun and

shot Williams off his horse dead and then made at Wolf with

his knife. In the scuffle Wolf fell to the ground and kicked him

off his feet. The old brave found he was dying and made a

lunge with his knife and left it in his thigh. Then staggered

off a few yards and fell dead.

• 33
 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           223

This broke up our treaty we had made with the two chiefs.

Now the settlement was worse alarmed than ever. The governor

ordered out a fresh guard over the settlement till they could fin-

ish planting corn. I turned out again and helped them about a

week longer, as we had finished planting some time. This was

in May, 1802 or 3. This old chief's name was Waywilewa, and

was camped on Rattlesnake at the mouth of Pardon's Creek.

(He) had two sons with him. When they heard of their

father's fate they went to their towns and brought in some of

their principal chiefs and demanded the man that murdered their

father. But our governor and the council endeavored to buy

them off but could not. So they returned home and brought old

Tecumseh. He threatened to destroy the whole settlement if

they did not satisfy the sons of their chief. So by a large present

it was settled.

On this page I will give some incidents in regard to my

hunting scenes and adventures. I believe I have stated in pre-

vious pages an account of the first deer I ever killed. This

raised my opinion of myself as a hunter. I was very desirous

for a chance at a bear. Well, as we had a couple of dogs said to

be excellent bear dogs, I had frequent opportunity to go out with

bear hunters to take the dogs, as good bear dogs were a very

essential article in getting up with a bear. So I had several trips

with hunters, but no success. At length a man by the name of

George Vincent Heller came along and reported that he had

found a place where there were some bears in a thicket, and

wanted our dogs and some one to go with him. I was on hands

at a word. I went oved to Uncle Ben's and got him and his two

dogs. We were off by times in the morning to Heller's. That day

when we got near the thicket we left uncle to take the horses

around and Heller and me took through the thicket, and soon

found fresh tracks. Our dogs raised the yelp and treed a fine

bear. Heller got up first and shot him dead. The day was

Christmas, 1802. This day we hunted hard till two or three

o'clock. At last the dogs raised the yelp in a dense thicket.

Now I was determined I would have the shot if possible, so kept

close behind Heller and let him cut the briars and vines in the

thicket. Now he was pretty well out of breath and I was fresh,

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224      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

and we had a steep hill to climb. I got to the tree first and shot

the bear. Oh, but the old hunter was spited! When uncle came

up he says: "Don't you (think) the little rascal got the shot?

I have been a hunter all my life and never was served so before."

It seemed as if he could not get over it. "Why, the little fellow

outrun me up the hill in spite of all I could do." This was the

first successful bear hunt. We now had a load for two horses.

So next morning we set out for home. I had the big one to carry

on my horse and uncle the small one. When we got to Heller's

he got the small one and uncle the big one, and we divided it at

father's. This ended this bear hunt.

Sometime that same winter we heard by a traveler there

were some bears up on main Paint Creek where the Miami Trace

crossed Paint Creek. We told our neighbor, Major Mahary,

about it. We gave Uncle Ben notice as he had two good dogs.

We made up our company and put off to the place and camped

just where the Rock Mill now stands, six miles above Greenfield.

That evening all turned out, but found no sign of bears. That

night there fell a great snow a foot deep. So this was a failure;

the common fate of hunters. We all came home much disap-

pointed.

My most successful career of hunting was night hunting

on the water. I have killed as many as three, and once four,

deer of a night on Paint, since I lived on the farm. The deer

was very plenty when I first came to this place. I have shot

many a deer not more than ten feet from the bow of the canoe.

When I settled on Paint Creek there was game in abun-

dance, and especially deer and turkeys and some bears. One

morning I went over to a neighbor's to get him to help me

gather corn. I took my gun and gig along. As I was coming

back my dog set off very fierce on the scent of something. In

a short time I heard him bark very fierce. I rode up as fast as

possible. I saw a fine bear on a tree, but as soon as he saw

me he came down for battle, but my dog handled him so well

he soon treed again and remained on the tree till I hitched my

horse and took a fair shot at the white spot in his breast. I

had heard old hunters say if they only wounded a bear it was

very hard to tree them again and they would run and fight while

• 35
 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer.           225

they could stand. So I was very lucky to kill him the first shot.

I went home and got the horses and sled and hauled him home.

He was about a two-year-old (and) weighed about two hun-

dred (pounds). This was the second bear I killed.

The next one I shot I was not so fortunate for I gut shot

him and my dog could not tree him. He would bite him behind

and stop him (but) when I would come up he would break and

run but would not tree. I followed on till I gave out. The dog

stuck to him till (they) came to some men in the woods. They

fell at him with their axes and the dog left and the bear got away.

He was found by some hunters the next day but so spoiled being

so shot that it was a lost case.

The next I found two young ones on a tree eating acorns.

When I saw them I supposed their dam was somewhere near. I

looked round for some time for her but I could see no sign of

her so I shot one. It cried out and held on to the limb. I was

sure now the old mother would be on me, so I loaded in haste

you may be sure and made ready for the worst but (there was)

no sign of her yet. So I shot the other a deadly shot. Now how

could I get them home was the next question. As I was out after

my horses I concluded I would go and get hold of my old mare

and see what I could do with her for I knew if she saw them I

could not get her near them. So I got leather wood bark, made

a halter to catch the mare and likewise tied the cubs together and

drew them up on a log that lay high enough to lead the beast un-

der it so I could pull them off the log on the mare's back one

on each side. The next question was "Can I get hold of the

beast?" for I doubted if she smelled my hands she would be off.

But I got hold of her and put on my bark halter. When I came

near the place I took off my hunting shirt and blindfolded her

with it and led her under the log and jerked them across her.

She tore around awhile but I got her pacified and got my cubs

home safe, and fine tender meat they were. They were about

six months old and made about one hundred (pounds).

I was the most successful night hunter in killing deer of any

that tried on Paint. I have killed as many as three and once,

four, of a night and I very seldom missed a shot. As very few

at this day understand how we managed to kill deer at night I

Vol. XIX.- 15.

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226      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

will give some account of the way we done it. We put a stand

for a candle in the bow of the canoe high enough to take sight

under it with a shade between me and the candle, also to shade

the fore part of the canoe, so we could put the gun far enough

forward for the light to shine upon the far sight of the gun. I

have killed deer, I think, as far as forty yards but I never shoot

when they are that far without I notice they are about to scare

or smell us. Then I conclude it is the last chance for that one.

There was one old buck fooled me a long time. He got to

know the light of the candle from a candle fly. I could tell his

walk when ever I heard him in the water but he would always

walk out on the bank before I could get near him to shoot. One

night I got my brother James to come and work the canoe. We

went one trip. I killed a very good buck but I told him this was

not the big buck. It (was) too soon in the night for him. So

we waited longer and made another round. We had not gone

far till I heard him walking in the shallow water. I had in-

structed James to run the canoe as straight and fast as possible

till I gave the sign to steady it so I could take good aim. He

was in the water up to his belly. At length he raised his head

and took a good look at us. I gave the sign. He steadied the

canoe. I fired at I think at about forty or fifty yards. He made

a bound. I knew he was shot but I told him I was afraid he was

gut shot and if so I could tell when I saw the blood. So we

went to where he got out and found dung among the blood and

concluded it was not worth while to follow him to-night as he

would run as well as if he was well for a while. So we took our

dead one home and in the morning took the dog and set him on

the track but it was so cold he could not follow where the blood

stopped. We routed around for some time and at length he

snuffed and held up his head. I let him go. He soon routed him

in a thicket but he was very sick and soon turned to fight the dog.

He would pitch the dog up on his horns. At last the dog got

him by the nose and held him till I cut his throat with my butcher

knife. He was the largest deer I ever killed. He had seven

prongs to the horns. It was supposed he would weigh over two

hundred (pounds).

• 37
 

Reminiscences of a Pioneer.            227

I will now give some account of our first attempt to get the

gospel introduced in our neighborhood. At this date 1808 or 9

young James Hoge was in the neighborhood attending to the sale

of a large tract of land on Rattlesnake at the mouth of Fall

Creek. So we invited him to appoint a day to preach for us.

He told us if we would erect a stand at the big spring on his

land he would preach there occasionally and perhaps it would be

the means of organizing a church. So we gave notice to the

neighbors and met and built a stand in the woods, no one nearer

than two miles except Hoge. He and his colored man had built

a cabin on Rattlesnake at the mouth of Fall Creek. Here was

the first gospel sermon ever preached in Madison township and

I believe this was the first church organized in Highland county.

John Wilson gave it the name of Rocky Spring in memory of

the church he left in Pennsylvania. Now the country settled rap-

idly. Hoge sold his lands generally to Presbyterians and in a

few years we were strong enough to build a house. So a new

place was chosen to build and we met (and) settled on the place

where the present house now stands. The first was a log house

forty by twenty-eight feet. The first minister was Rev. Nicholas

Pittenger from Pennsylvania. He soon gathered a large con-

gregation. Our first house was destroyed by fire. The next we

built (of) brick; it is still standing but the congregation was so

weak that we concluded to unite with the second church of

Greenfield. The Rev. Brice is our pastor at present.

 

NOTE: - In editing and preparing for the press the foregoing sketch

the language and sentence structure of the original is retained as much as

is necessary to give it the pioneer tone. To re-write it in conformity

with correct grammatical rules would destroy much of its uniqueness.

OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS, O., Nov. 8, 1909.

• 38