Ohio History Journal

EARTHWORKS OF FRANKLIN            COUNTY, OHIO.

EDITOR OF THE QUARTERLY

SIR: The following completes the list of mounds, etc.,

that exist in Franklin county, and that are known to me

and not mentioned in the "Bibliography of the Earth-

works of Ohio."

I will here state that the first work described in that list

as being in Franklin county, viz., "Embankment, etc.," is

in Delaware county, and is also described under the head

of Delaware county. I will also state that the second

described work of Franklin county, "Anc. Mon., p. 84,

Pl. xxxix, No. 3," is the same as the fourth work, viz.,

" Mound at Whittington. Trans. Amer. Antiq. Soc., Vol.

I., p. 174." It should read Worthington, not Whittington.

The only published descriptions of the work of the

Mound Builders in this county that I can refer to is the

History of Franklin and Pickaway counties, published by

Williams Bros. in 1880. It is there stated that Charles

Whittlesey describes in a Contribution to the Smithsonian

Publications, Vol. III., ancient remains about three miles

southwest of Columbus, on the Harrisburg pike. "There

were here plainly visible, a few years ago, two almost ex-

actly circular enclosures, one about 800 feet and the other

about 500 feet in diameter. The walls were only slight

elevations, and measured from the bottom of the ditch

(which was in this case exterior) to the top of the em-

bankment, the height was in no place over three feet."

Joseph Sullivant describes a small work at the mouth of

a run which empties into the Olentangy a short distance

above Worthington. " It is a low embankment in the form

of an arc of a circle, and runs from that of the river bank

to that of the creek. It is marked in the drawing as sit-

uated on the DeWolfe lot."

Upon the authority of Mr. Sullivant, it is also stated

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350    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

there was a mound in Fraklinton made of clay, and brick

were made from it and used in the construction of the first

court house in Franklinton; and that another mound stood

upon the ground now covered by the penitentiary, and

that at an early day he observed many small and irregular

elevations and enclosures about Franklinton which are

now entirely obliterated; parallel lines of embankment

occurred in several places.

If any explanation of the following is needed, or if I can

furnish any additional information to you, I will cheerfully

do so.        Yours truly,

PROSPER M. WETMORE.

No. 48 Monroe avenue, Columbus, O.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.-There are three mounds on the

land of M. Cloud, situated on the elevation overlooking

the bottom lands of the Scioto and Gahanna rivers. The

southern one is the largest; diameter at base one hundred

feet, height fifteen feet. There is a graded roadway to the

summit. The base has been cut into, on the south side,

by a road. The other two are smaller. They are in a line

north and south, and their bases are about two hundred

feet apart. The trees on the south mound have been

cleared; the other two are in the woods.

Another small mound upon the same man's land is

located about one mile northeast from the three mounds

last described. It is on high ground, on the east or left

hand bank of the Gahanna river-fifty feet in diameter

at base, ten feet high.

There are two mounds upon the farm of Thos. M. Clark,

on the east or left side of the Gahanna river; largest,

fifty feet in diameter at base, ten feet high; the other,

thirty feet in diameter and eight feet high. They are in

cleared ground.

There is a small conical mound on the farm of W. T.

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Earthworks of Franklin County, Ohio.  351

Spangler, on an elevation or hill about one mile east of the

Scioto; diameter of base thirty feet, height ten feet.

There is a mound on the farm of E. J. Young, about one

mile northeast of Lockbourne, which I have never visited.

An " Ancient Fort," upon the farm of Hugh E. Jones, is

put down in the atlas of Caldwell and Jones. The ground

is under cultivation; and many years ago I visted the lo-

cality, but could discover no vestiges of it.

Mound on the farm of Robert Simpson, one mile north-

west of last described one. I have not visited this mound.

Two mounds on the farm of John Shoaf, a few rods

apart, on a line north and south. Ground under cultiva-

tion, and mounds nearly leveled.

Two mounds on the farm of A. O'Harra. The bases are

about one hundred feet apart, in a line north and south.

The south one was a conical mound, three hundred feet in

diameter, and forty feet in height. It has been excavated,

and a large portion of it removed to gravel pikes in the

neighborhood. A road has been dug through the center,

but it is five to eight feet above the original level of the

mound. The other mound is an oblong one; shortest diam-

eter at base one hundred and fifty feet, longest three hun-

dred feet, height twenty feet.

Mound about eighty rods west of last described mounds,

situated on the farm of W. N. Fisher. It has been under

cultivation a long time, and is now about five feet high.

Mound on the farm of C. Lahman, about one mile north

of the O'Harra mounds. Plowed over, and only a few feet

high.

"Ancient Fort," on the farm of the Jos. Fisher heirs, is

laid down in the Caldwell and Gould atlas. It was on

high ground overlooking the Scioto, and under cultiva-

tion. Many years ago I visited the site, but could discover

no remains of it.

There is in the Caldwell and Gould Atlas an "Ancient

Fort," laid down on the farm of M. Fisher, Sr. It is about

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352    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

one mile easterly from the O'Harra mounds. I have never

visited the site.

There is a mound on Baker's Hill at the intersection of

the Lockbourne and Groveport pikes. It is about seventy-

five feet in diameter at the base, and fifteen feet in height.

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.-Columbus is situated in this

township, and most of the township is now included in

the city. There is in the city a small conical mound upon

the grounds of Peter Ambos. It is on high ground on the

east bank of the Scioto. It is thirty feet in diameter at

the base, and eight feet high.

There was, a few years ago, a small mound in the east-

ern part of the city. The extension of Town street has.

levelled it.

There is a mound on the farm of Origen Harris, about

two miles southeast of Columbus. His farm-house is built

on it. I have never visited the site.

There is a mound on the east side of Alum Creek, on

the farm of George McAlta. It is seventy-five feet in diam-

eter at the base, and, when I first visited it, was about

fifteen feet high.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.-There are ancient works and

mounds on the farm of H. C. Cook, situated on high

ground, at the junction of two branches of a run that

empties into the Olentangy. There is a cirular embank-

ment and ditch (the latter on the interior). The ground

is under cultivation, and the walls of the embankment are

only a few feet high. The ditch and embankment follow,

in part, the brow of the ravine. The mounds have been

plowed over, and are now only a few feet high. I visited

these mounds when a boy, and when the ground was cov-

ered with the original forest. The mounds, then, were

conical, and about ten feet high. The ditch and embank-

ment are nearly circular.

There is a "cache" on the Wetmore farm. It is on the

east bank of the Olentangy at the junction of a run.

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Earthworks of Franklin County, Ohio.  353

SHARON TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm of

James Kinney, on the east side of the Olentangy creek,

on an elevation overlooking the bottom lands. It has been

plowed over for forty years, and is now partly leveled. It

was originally about seventy-five feet in diameter at the

base, and fifteen feet in height.

There is a mound on the farm of A. Coe, on the west

side of the Olentangy, original diameter about seventy-five

feet at base, and ten feet high. It is now nearly leveled.

There is a small, low mound, about a mile north of the

last-named one, under cultivation, and only a few feet

high.

There is a mound on the farm of W. R. Samuel, about

one mile west of Alum creek, in the northeast part of the

township.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm

of G. L. Smith, on the south side of Little Walnut creek,

and about one mile southeast of Groveport. It was about

thirty feet in diameter, and eight feet high.

There are three mounds north of Canal Winchester.

The first is on the farm of E. Stevenson, the second on

the farm of James Lawrence, and the third on the farm of

W. K. Algire. They are small mounds, about one-half a

mile apart. The nearest stream is Black Lick creek.

TRURO TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm of

W. Cornell, on the east bank of Big Walnut Creek, on

high ground, overlooking the bottom land. It is on the

north side of the national road, which cuts into the base a

little. The mound is about two hundred feet in diameter

at base, and thirty feet high.

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.-There is a small mound on the

land of Albert Buttles' heirs, about two miles northeast of

Columbus, and two-thirds of a mile west of Alum creek.

Been plowed over a long time, and is now only three feet

high.

There is an "Ancient Fort" on the farm of R. Jackson.

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354    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

His house was built on it. It is about one mile west of

Alum creek.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm

of F. Shull, on the east bank of Rocky Fork, a branch of

Big Walnut. It is a large, oblong mound, diameter about

two hundred by three hundred feet at base, and forty feet

high, with a small conical mound on summit. Original

forest standing on it.

There is a mound on the farm of Ambo Mann, on the

west bank of the Black Lick creek. It is partly under

cultivation, and originally was three hundred feet in diam-

eter at the base, and thirty or forty feet high. It is on

high ground.

There is a mound one mile north of the preceding one,

on the farm of D. Headly, situated on the west side of

Black Lick creek. It is under cultivation. Present height

about ten feet; diameter, one hundred.

There is a mound on the farm of E. Dryer, situated on

high ground, on the left hand or south side of Rocky

Fork. The diameter at base is one hundred feet, and it

was originally about fifteen feet high, now plowed over. I

visited the mound when the ground was in forest, in 1860.

PLAIN TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm of

E. Headley, on the west side of the Black Lick creek, and

about one mile north of Headley's Corners. The original

forest is yet standing on it. It is about three hundred

feet in diameter at its base, and forty feet high.

There is a mound about forty rods northeast of the last-

described one. It is a very large, low mound; the ground

is under cultivation, and has been plowed over for a long

time.

There is a mound sixty rods south of last-named one.

It has been plowed over a long time, and probably was

originally about seventy-five feet in diameter at base, and

ten feet high.

BLENDON TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm

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Earthworks of Franklin County, Ohio.   355

of M. C. Howard, on the west side of Big Walnut creek, a

mile and a half north of Central College.

There are two mounds on the west bank of the Big

Walnut creek, and southerly from Central College, in this

township. I cannot locate them exactly at this time.

BROWN TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on the farm of

Henry Francis, on the east bank of the Big Darby. It

has been plowed over, and is only a few feet high.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.-There is a mound on James

Corry's farm, six miles southwest of Columbus, on the

west side of the Scioto river. It was originally a very

large mound, and a large portion of it has been removed

for the gravel and sand. When I was last there teamsters

were loading dirt, which they said contained human bones

in a crumbling condition. I was given some pieces of

them, which I have now.

There is a small low mound, one mile northwest of the

preceding.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.--There is a mound on the farm

of J. R. Anderson, two miles northwest of Columbus, on

the left bank of the Scioto. It is about two hundred feet

in diameter at the base, and thirty feet high.

There is a mound on the farm of S. W. Shurm, on the

west side of the Scioto. It is about five miles northwest

of Columbus.

PERRY TOWNSHIP. - There is a mound on the farm of

T. Legg, five miles northwest of Columbus, and midway

between the Scioto and Olentangy. It has been plowed

over a long time, and has now only a few feet of elevation

above the surface.

 

COLUMBUS, 0., February 2, 1888.

Prof. G. F. Wright, Editor of THE QUARTERLY:

DEAR SIR:-Since sending you a list of the mounds,

etc., in this county, I find something further upon the

subject in Williams Bros.' History of Franklin and Picka-

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356   Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

way Counties, and I send you herewith extracts from the

same.            Yours truly,

PROSPER M. WETMORE.

(From Williams Bros.' History of Franklin and Picka-

way Counties, Ohio. Page 381. Perry township.)

"ANCIENT WORKS.-On the banks of the Scioto river,

in Perry township, are remains of ancient works, which

have the appearance of fortifications, and were undoubt-

edly used as such by some earlier inhabitants of this

county, of whom all trace further than these forts and

mounds is lost. On the farm of Joseph Ferris, a mile

north of Dublin bridge, are to be seen, in a good state of

preservation, the outlines and embankments of three forts.

One of these is within a few feet of his house, and is per-

haps eighty feet in diameter, inside, with an entrance at

the east side. The ditch and embankment are well de-

fined. A short distance northeast of this spot, and within

arrow-shot of it, is a larger fort in a square form, and en-

closing nearly, or quite, half an acre of ground. Although

the tramping of cattle for many years has worn down the

embankments, they are several feet high, and the ditch,

which is inside the works, is now some six feet deep.

When the country was first settled this ditch was filled

with water, and was a bed of mire, a pole thrust into the

ground to a depth of ten feet finding no solid ground be-

neath. This would tend to show that originally this was

a strong place, and that the ditch was quite deep. Time

has filled it with dead leaves, and refuse matter has assisted

in obliterating this work. It is situated on a hill that

commands a view of the country for a considerable dis-

tance in either direction. At a little lower point, and

nearer the river, is a small mound. There was also a

small mound in the center of the larger fort, which was

opened many years since, and found to contain the bones

of a large man. These crumbled in pieces soon after be-

ing exposed to the air. It is possible that by uncovering

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Earthworks of Franklin County, Ohio.  357

the ditch of this fort some relics of the extinct race that

built these works might be obtained. Search of this kind

has generally been turned to the mounds, instead of the

inner ditches of the fort, where probably was the habita-

tion of the builders. A short distance from this larger

fort is a smaller one than that first described. There have

been several old works of this kind along the bank of the

river, between these works and Columbus, but they are

mostly obliterated by the cultivation of the land on which

they stood."

(Page 418.) "Along Big Darby creek in the western

part of Brown township there existed in the early settle-

ment many evidences of that mysterious people of whom

so much has been written and so little known. On the

farm of Henry Francis there is yet remaining quite an

extensive mound, and towards the creek were numerous

others, which have now disappeared. These were evi-

dently tumuli, or burial places, as many human bones

were found during the excavation of these works. There

was also an enclosure, or fort, on the farm of H. C. Adler,

Esq., with two circles, enclosing perhaps one-half an acre

of ground. Its location was upon the high bank of the

creek, toward which was the usual opening found in

works of this kind. It was composed of gravel, which

has been removed for building and other purposes. Hu-

man bones were also found here. It is highly probable

that this was a favorite camping ground for the Indians,

as stone hatchets, arrow-points, skinning knives, etc., were

found here in great numbers by the settlers. Mr. Francis

has a number of fine specimens found here."

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