Ohio History Journal

124       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

GAINING THE "DUNMORE TREATY," AFTER THE BATTLE OF

POINT PLEASANT, IN WHICH HE FOUGHT IN THE HAMPSHIRE

COUNTY, VIRGINIA REGIMENT. CAPTAIN MICHAEL CRESAP

WAS PRESENT HERE AND A SIGNER OF THE "DUNMORE

TREATY," IN OCTOBER 1774.

CAPTAIN MICHAEL CRESAP'S COMPANIONS IN ARMS,

EBENEZER ZANE, GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE, COLONEL

BENJAMIN WILSON, BENJAMIN TOMLINSON AND OTHERS,

CORRECTED LOGAN'S MISTAKE IN ASSOCIATING CAPTAIN

CRESAP WITH THE YELLOW CREEK AFFAIR.

CAPTAIN MICHAEL CRESAP TOOK THE FIRST COMPANY

FROM THE SOUTH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON AT CAMBRIDGE.

HE DIED IN THE SERVICE AND WAS BURIED WITH THE

"HONORS OF WAR," AND HIS TOMB STANDS IN TRINITY

CHURCH YARD, NEW YORK CITY.

 

The day proved inclement in weather and not over a hun-

dred gathered to participate in the occasion.   Conspicuous

among those present were twenty-one of the lineal descendants

of Col. Thomas Cresap of early American pioneer fame, and

whose son Captain Michael Cresap was the one designated by

the Mingo Chief Logan as the destroyer of the Chief's family.

After the unfurling of the flag by Mr. William Neil as

many of those present, as could, assembled within the log cabin,

in the ample fireplace of which the burning logs snapped and

sparkled as of "ye olden time," while Colonel Henry C. Taylor

read the following dedicatory address:

 

ADDRESS OF HENRY C. TAYLOR.

The ground on which we meet today has many interesting associa-

tions. It was the scene of conflict of two races of men, the white and

the red. Here were the troublous days of a retiring and oncoming race.

The aboriginal had roamed over these plains for uncounted years until

something like two centuries ago the pale face began here and there to

appear. In a short time antagonisms grew into open hostility and con-

tinued with increasing energy until at last treaties of peace were made,

the red men seeking other hunting grounds and the white men entered

in and possessed the land. After the conflict of many trying years, it is

recounted that the representatives of the Indian and the pale face as-

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Unveiling of the Cresap Tablet.               125

 

sembled here in friendly council. We are pleased to think of the times

when they met here, to smoke the pipe of peace.

The home of the red men was the wigwam and around this were

held the council fires and to these were brought the trophies of the hunt

for game, then so abundant. The wigwam was conical in shape with

long poles driven into the ground and was generally covered with bark

and skins. At the top an open space was left for the escape of smoke.

It was temporary in its structure, easily made and could be quickly taken

down and removed. The Indian wigwam was of the tent type, the home

of man in all countries in the early ages of the world. It is said that

when an Indian wandered far and wide and could not find his wigwam,

the wigwam was considered lost but not the Indian. Such was their

pride of location in forest and plain. In the now distant days the home

of the white man was the log cabin. This was their refuge from danger

and place of rest and protection. Around these log abodes clustered the

home ties of the pioneers. Living in these they went forth to subdue

the earth for their uses and purposes. Not relying on the woods and

streams for their sustenance they planted the Indian corn. Soon the

potato and cabbage found their way into the cleared ground, also some

wheat and patches of buckwheat grew about the cabins. Upon the sides

of the cabin were often stretched the skins of wild animals, especially

those of the coon, mink, opossum, groundhog and fox. The wolves were

at large in these plains and woods and their skins were turned to com-

mercial use by the pioneers. There was not so very much light in the

cabins, the windows being small and usually no light from the door. In

the evening and during the night a large open fire furnished the light

and made the interior bright and cheery, after the day of hardship, ex-

posure and toil. The back log was from four to five feet long and was

hauled to the cabin door by a horse. It was then rolled in and put into

place by two men and served the purpose for several days. The longer

pieces, consisting of limbs and split wood, were placed in front and a roar-

ing fire would be the result. The chimney would be so open and of such

large proportions that one could look up through it at night and see the

stars. Great care was exercised in selecting the back log and the kind

of wood largely determined the time it would last. It was said of the

buckeye that one good back log of this timber would last all winter and

then it could be taken out in the spring and planted and would sprout and

grow. In the interior of the cabin the ceiling on the first or ground

floor was generally low, probably 71/2 or 8 feet in height. Heavy timbers

extended across to support the loft or space above. From these timbers

were many wooden hooks made from the saplings to support different

household articles but especially the guns. It was customary to have at

least two rifles and probably a flintlock shotgun so suspended. In the

hands of the skilled hunters the rifles were deadly instruments; the flint-

lock was uncertain, not carrying far and was only fatal at short range.

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126        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

In the beginning of things in the history of our state it was a great

class of men and women that lived in the log cabins. They were the

stalwarts from the East and South, of English, Irish, Scotch, Welch, Ger-

man, Dutch and French descent. The prevailing type of the first settlers

was, I think, a mixture, and what is known as the Scotch-Irish. They

were the settlers of whom General Andrew Jackson was a representative

man. The characteristics of the people who built and lived in these cabins

were industry, economy, courage, self-sacrifice, morality and a firm belief

in churches and schools. Their education was often limited and some of

them who were most highly esteemed and honored could scarcely read or

write. Andrew Johnson was taught to read by his wife after he was

married. It is said that Andrew Jackson was always quite deficient in

spelling and one version of the original of O. K. is that on some measure

which met his approval he wrote O. K., which he supposed was the initial

letters for "all correct.' This branch of education is not now so highly

valued since the advent of simplified spelling and spelling reform.

The national compaign of 1840 resolved itself into a celebration of

the log cabin period of our country. The enthusiasm knew no bound

and the candidate whose name was associated with this humble structure

was elected president of the United States. On the 22nd day of Feb-

ruary, 1840, there was held in Columbus a political demonstration, the like

of which had never before been seen and which for many years after

was referred to with the greatest pride.

A log cabin with a coon on top was placed upon a wagon and hauled

down High Street, to the infinite satisfaction and amusement of the pub-

lic. On this occasion Mr. William Neil, the elder of two brothers who

came in an early day from Kentucky to Columbus, drove the six pairs

of horses for the float on which were seated the young ladies dressed in

white representing the different states of the Union. My father took a

part in this notable procession of that time, and today there are repre-

senatives here in the third generation of these two families.

The log cabin has a place in our literature in prose and verse. In

the winter of 1851 in the National Intelligencer, published in Washington,

D. C., a story was commenced which was destined to become, when pub-

lished in book form, the most effective work ever written by an American.

This story was finished in 1852 and was published under the title of

"Uncle Tom's Cabin." In a short time it gained a wide circulation and

continues to be largely read unto this day. It has been translated into

twenty different languages and has gone into all parts of the world. Its

effect in our country after the first year of its publication was tremendous

and it has been credited with having accomplished more in the work of

overthrowing the institution of slavery than all the abolition societies

ever formed and anti-salvery orations ever delivered. The alternative

part of the title, though seldom heard, is quite significant, the full title

being "Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly."

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Unveiling of the Cresap Tablet.                127 From the log cabin in Ohio we had General Grant, the successful leading general in our Civil War from 1861 to 1865. His monument on Riverside Drive, New York, attests the nation's appreciation of his rank and service in our great crisis. From a log cabin in Kentucky came Abraham Lincoln, our president when the life of the nation was in peril and whose name now belongs to the world and to the ages. It is not in human probability that another of the sons of men will arise from any condition, humble or exalted who will threaten his pre- eminence in the world and have a loftier and more enduring fame. In the sterling virtues and simplicity of life, the Scotch Cotter as pictured in Burns' "Cotter's Saturday Night," must have borne a strong resem- blance to our forefathers of the log cabin days. The same integrity of character, the same reverence, the same self-denial, the same sacrifice and the same faith. If you will permit some slight substitutions we shall have: From scenes like these Ohio's Grandeur springs That makes her loved at home, revered abroad; Princess and lords are but the breath of kings, And honest man's the noblest work of God. And certes in fair virtue's heavenly road The cabin leaves the palace far behind. To the memory of our forefathers and foremothers who wrought so valiantly and lived such worthy lives, we their grateful descendants now dedicate this log cabin to their lasting remembrance.

From the cabin the participants proceeded to the Cresap monument, located almost under the lengthy branches of the Logan Elm. Mr. E. O. Randall, Secretary of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society presided. Rev. C. B. Beckes pronounced  the   invocation  after which Master Willis Cresap, aged eight, assisted by Master Ben O. Cre- sap, both lineal descendants from Cap- tain Michael Cresap, removed the flag that covered the Cresap tablet, while Willis recited the following lines:

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