Ohio History Journal

480       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

a brief description of the service of each, and a roster

of officers and men. We are told that "Fairfield County

is credited with a service enrollment of 1821" in the

World War. There is a complete list of these, alpha-

betically arranged. This is followed by a brief account

of "Women in the Service."

The concluding chapter, "After Armistice Day," de-

tails the return of the soldiers who survived the perils

of camp and field, the organization of the American

Legion and other orders of World War Veterans.

This survey touches only a portion of the interesting

material in the 192 pages of this compactly written

book. One lays it aside with the conviction that the

writer of the "Foreword" has well and truly said:

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve

it as a sacred memory from the fact that it contains so much that

would never find its way into public records and which would

otherwise be inaccessible. It will stand as a monument to those,

who at home or abroad, had anything to do with the greatest of

all wars, and as a memorial more lasting than the wreaths to

those who have passed over the heights into the valley of the

shadow.

When every county in the State has made a similar

contribution, we shall have the basic materials for a

"History of Ohio in the World War."

 

 

FORT LAURENS

The Story of the Acquisition of its Site by the State of Ohio

The following is a stenographic report of an ad-

dress, delivered by C. L. Baatz, to a community gather-

ing of the people of Bolivar, Tuscarawas County, Ohio,

June 21, 1927:

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Reviews, Notes and Comments             481

 

I am going to start out by telling you of my first visit here

when I first became interested in Fort Laurens. Almost forty

years ago -- in July, 1887 -- I came to Bolivar and my first thought

was to find and have the pleasure of walking over the site of this

historic spot, Fort Laurens.

I was acquainted with several of the young men of the town

at that time and spoke to one of them, asking him if he knew

where Fort Laurens was. "You bet I do, and I'll take you right

to it," he replied. We marched down the road until we got to the

cemetery. Pointing to the hill, or knoll, he stated that it was the

Fort hill or where the Fort was. I knew better than this as the

Fort was not on a hill and this I told him.

That is one trouble -- we are living so close to these his-

toric places that we do not appreciate their value. I don't want to

pretend I know more about Fort Laurens and its location than the

people who live here, but I know, and historians have proven me

correct in my statements, the location of Fort Laurens.

In the years following my first visit, I visited the site as

often as two or three times a year and finally had two of my

Massillon friends, Mr. Ed. N. Pease and Mr. Wm. A. Lowe,

accompany me to the site.  On our first visit it was decided

that we would be the pioneers in giving publicity to Fort Laurens,

and I was selected to write an article for our local paper.

Previous to this time the only thing I had seen in our His-

torical Society Reports, appeared in 1908, in Volume 17, page 493.

It gave a short account of a visit to the site by E. O. Randall and

Wm. C. Mills, of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society, who recommended that the State should acquire the site

and make it into a State Park. This question was brought before

Mr. Pease and Mr. Lowe. and I suggested that we wait and see

what the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society would

do. After waiting five years more, we decided that we would go

ahead with our work.

Using all records to which I had access, I drafted the fol-

lowing story, of which I have with me here this evening my

first notes in lead pencil, (holding this up for inspection), also a

typewritten copy of same, (holding this up for inspection), also

clippings from the newspaper, dated August 2, 1913, giving a

full account of my first story of Fort Laurens, which I later read

to The Daughters of the American Revolution, in Convention as-

sembled, October 14, 15 and 16, 1913, at Canton, Ohio. I shall

now read you this first story of Fort Laurens, by quoting a small

part of their program.

"State Regent: -- In the absence of any report from   the

chairman of the Historic Spots Committee, we are fortunate in

Vol. XXXVI--31

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482         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

having present with us two gentlemen who wish to bring before

us the claims of an adjacent historic spot for preservation. I

shall first call upon Mr. C. L. Baatz, of Massillon."

Mr. Baatz said:

Thirteen miles south of Massillon, one-half mile south of Bolivar,

near the banks of our beautiful Tuscarawas River, and first mutilated by

the builders of the Ohio Canal, is a spot of land which was baptized by

the blood of at least thirty heroes of the Revolutionary War. This spot has

been torn by the plow of industrious farmers, for, lo, these many years.

Its sacredness is probably unknown and, no doubt, the iron plow has muti-

lated the graves of those heroes; if not, it may do so at next season's plow-

ing. Some were buried in the Fort, some near by on the outside, and some

where they fell at the hands of savage Indians, led by the white traitor,

Simon Girty.

I am sure an abundance of patriotism would bring about the rebuild-

ing of Fort Laurens, the erection of a monument and a flag staff on which

"Old Glory" could wave on national holidays, in memory of those heroes

who fought in the War of the Revolution. They were the favorite soldiers

of Washington, as evidenced by the fact that the fort was named in honor

of Washington's brave adjutant, General Laurens, who later became presi-

dent of the first Congress.

The site of Fort Laurens is on a level plane of land, west of the canal,

near the road to the cemetery. It is owned by the Gibler Brothers, pros-

perous farmers, from whom it should be bought and preserved as an historic

park. It was first visited by the writer about 25 years ago, when, after

being newly plowed, its outline could be readily followed. On a recent

visit, it was only by recollection of its location that I could find it.

Our State Legislature should be appealed to for sufficient appropria-

tions to recover the ownership, restore the fort to its original lines, erect a

monument and flag staff, and provide a fund for its care and its maintenance.

Let me quote from Howe's Historical Collections (page 693): "Fort

Laurens was erected in the fall of the year 1778, by a detachment of 1,000

men from Fort Pitt, under the command of General McIntosh. After its

completion a garrison of 150 men was placed in it and left in charge of

Colonel Gibson." Again, on page 778, in speaking of Fort Harmar, built

in 1785, on the Muskingum, near the present Marietta, the historian says:

"It was the first military post erected by Americans within the limits of

Ohio, excepting Fort Laurens, built in 1778, near the present Bolivar, Tus-

carawas County."

Quoting from the "Rise and Progress of an American State," page

226, "This -- the first fort erected by Americans within the present Ohio

state boundaries--was named Fort Laurens in honor of the president of

Congress." Quoting further from the same page, "To the hostile tribes this

placement of Fort Laurens in the enemy's country by McIntosh who then

retreated to his headquarters on the Ohio, was 'like poking a bumble bee's

nest and then running away,' for the savages came swarming out of the

woods from every direction like so many insects. Here we leave the little

stockade and its brave defenders, who knew how to endure hardship and

suffering, for they belonged to the 13th Virginia Continentals and had been

with Washington at Valley Forge."

During the siege of Fort Laurens, January, 1779, (The Rise and Prog-

ress of an American State, page 225), the Commander (Gibson) pluckily,

by messenger, sent word to McIntosh, "You may depend on my defending

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the fort to the last extremity." The story of this siege is one of bloody

deeds and brave suffering. Quoting from The Ohio Archeological and

Historical Society Publications, VI, the language of Vernon, in a letter

from  the fort, dated April 29, 1779, was expressive and startling:

"Should you not send us provisions in a very short time, necessity will

oblige us to begin to eat some cow hides the Indians left." Again on

same page, "At this time the garrison was so much reduced for want of

provisions that they were scarcely able to stand on their feet." Again,

"The men in the Fort were found in a deplorable condition; for nearly a

week they had subsisted on raw hides and such roots as they could find

in the vicinity after the Indians had gone."

During the siege, 16 men were sent after strayed horses -- 14 were

killed, and 2 made prisoners; and of a party of 17 sent for wood near an

old Indian mound, (a natural formation), all were surrounded and killed.

Fort Laurens was evacuated early in August, 1779, by orders of

Colonel Brodhead. Two more soldiers, as they were leaving the Fort, were

killed by lurking savages.

The site of the Fort was visited several days ago by the writer, and

be found the present part-owner to be David Gibler, who is also executor

of his brother Valentine's estate. David is 78 years old, well preserved,

and very much interested in Fort Laurens. He told the writer that his

grandfather, Rhinehart, was the first owner, his father the next, then the

present David, who, with his brother, Valentine, leveled the Fort and pre-

pared same for farming in 1853. At that time, remnants of wood, used as

palisades, were still found embedded in the walls. Relics found, consisted

of bullets, buckles, a broken gun barrel and other unknown rusted objects

of iron.

At one time the north line of the Zoar Society ran through the Fort,

and it was not cultivated until 1856. Before this time, Gibler said it had

been covered with wild strawberry bushes for years and years.

The fort site is to be plowed late this fall for next season's corn,

when anyone interested can find evidence of its exact location.

My understanding is that 38 men lost their lives in defending this

Fort. These men who fought so valiantly with Washington, and endured

the hardships of Valley Forge, did not lay down their arms and return to

homes, wives, sweethearts or mothers, and there rest on the laurels of their

valor. No; they once more shouldered their arms and marched through

tbe wilderness over the old Tuscarawas Indian Trail, and here erected a

Fort, shed their blood, and rest in unknown and unmarked graves.

I now appeal to all patriotic people, in particular to the Sons and

Daughters of the American Revolution, to assist us in restoring this historic

Fort, and surrounding ground, that the memory of the heroic deeds of

these Revolutionary heroes may be forever honored and perpetuated, and that

the neglect of 135 years may be erased from our memories."

 

That is the true story of Fort Laurens. A motion was made

that this report should be accepted and made part of permanent

records. A lady from Cleveland got up and protested and

said that the report should not be approved until thoroughly exam-

ined, and that she thought it was impossible that there was such

a spot so near Canton and Massillon that had not been recognized

heretofore. The Committee, after searching the historical records

and looking into the matter, finally adopted the report and made

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it part of their permanent records. That was in 1913. Mr. Lowe,

Mr. Pease and myself waited until late the next year.

Neither the Historical Society, the Sons nor Daughters of the

American Revolution, nor anybody made any move to further the

interest in restoring this historic spot. Then I had a copy of the

above Fort Laurens story printed, (holding up copy of same),

together with printed petition head, (holding same up), which

reads as follows:

To the Legislative Bodies of the State of Ohio:

We, the undersigned Citizens of Ohio, request your honorable bodies

to make a LIBERAL appropriation for the purpose of purchasing the site

of Fort Laurens, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

For converting same into a State Reserve, for restoring the outline of

the Fort, erecting a suitable monument with bronze inscriptions and figures

of Colonial Soldiers and the Delaware Chief, "White Eyes."

For the erection of a flag staff, planting shrubbery and flowers,

constructing walks and drives, and generally beautifying the grounds, in

honor of the Revolutionary Soldiers, who suffered death and lie buried

there in a cultivated field. (S. A. R. and D. A. R. please add initials of

Societies after signatures.)

Mr. Lowe, Mr. Pease and myself sent these petitions out to

every Chapter of both Sons and Daughters of the American Revo-

lution, in the State. I know of one Chapter at least that did not

reply with a single name on the petition. I sent the printed story

of Fort Laurens along with the petition, so that they knew what

the petition was for and so they could explain it to anybody who

did not know about Fort Laurens.

After assembling all the signed petitions, I sent them to Rep-

resentative Hines, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, with a letter

requesting him to present this petition to the Legislative Bodies

of Ohio, and to use his power and influence to have a bill passed

covering the restoration of Fort Laurens, as outlined in my story

to the Daughters of the American Revolution, at Canton.

The next story of Fort Laurens that I found in the Ohio

Archaeological and Historical Society Publications, appeared in

1917, in Volume XXVI, page 293. In this report Mr. Randall,

the Secretary, states that the bill had passed and was now a law,

and that the State would acquire a deed for the property within a

short time.

Mr. Randall further said that it was a pleasure to him to

report that this enactment had finally been accomplished and

credited the Society and the Sons and Daughters of the American

Revolution for its enactment.

I was very much surprised that no recognition was given to

the pioneer service rendered by Mr. Pease, Mr. Lowe and myself

in bringing out the story of Fort Laurens, in spending our money

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Reviews, Notes and Comments             485

 

to print petitions and the story of Fort Laurens, and in sending

them broadcast over Ohio without any recognition from the Sec-

retary of the Historical Society.

So on my visit to Columbus in February, 1927, I called on

Mr. Galbreath, the present Secretary, and asked him what mys-

terious force rendered the pioneer services that brought about the

recovery of the site of Fort Laurens by the State, and at that time

showed him my manuscript, etc., as I have shown them to you this

evening. Mr. Galbreath seemed very much surprised to learn of

the activities of Mr. Pease, Mr. Lowe and myself in this matter,

and asked me to give him all the data and information that I had

available on this subject, and for this purpose the young lady here

is taking notes so that she may transcribe my talk to you this

evening, verbatim, and that I can submit my story of Fort Laurens

to the Secretary from my talk this evening.

On this same visit to Mr. Galbreath, I also called his atten-

tion to two other historic places near Massillon -- the first for a

granite boulder monument with a bronze plate marking the burial

place of Adam Poe, the noted Indian fighter; and the second for a

marker on the site where the first cabin was erected in Ohio by a

white man -- Christian Frederick Post -- one and one-half miles

north of here. Mr. Galbreath also wanted me to give him the

data and information on both of these places, which I have done

recently and have submitted to him a report together with a photo-

graph of the Poe Monument and another of the marker of the

Post cabin-site.

His replies to me, upon receipt of these reports, have pleased

me very much, and by the tone of his letters, I believe that the

Society is aiming to place in their permanent records an accurate

account of all historical events occurring in the State and I also

believe that you can expect the hearty cooperation of the State

Society, and that they have a desire to have a correct account of

historical events as they occur in Ohio.

Mr. Lowe, Mr. Pease or myself were at no time consulted in

any of the work or plans of the Legislative Committees, nor in the

appointment of any of the Park Commissions. I believe, had this

been done, Fort Laurens, in which we are all so deeply interested,

would be an ornament and a credit to our heroic soldiers of the

Revolutionary War, who lie buried in unknown and unmarked

graves in this State Park.

I believe this Park should all be very deeply plowed and an

effort made to find and explore the graves for verification of our

historical knowledge and for permanently marking the resting

places of those who fell. As you know, the historian tells us that

some were buried in the Fort, some just outside, and the others

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where they fell at the hands of the Indians. This, I think, should

be one of the first things to be done by the Commissioners.

The pioneer history of Ohio is filled with soul-stirring events

and I know our posterity will read, with grateful hearts, the story

of the builders of the great foundation on which now stands, in

high esteem in all lands of the world, our great State of Ohio.

Good-night.

 

 

COLONEL WILLIAM LEONTES CURRY.

Colonel William Leontes Curry was born in Union

County, Ohio, January 25, 1839. He died in Grant

Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, April 27, 1927. He was the

son of Stephenson Curry. His grandfather, Colonel

James Curry, was an officer of the Continental Line in

the Fourth and Eighth Virginia Regiments during the

Revolution and was granted, as part-payment for his

service, one thousand acres of land in Union County.

On this the family settled in the year 1811.

The subject of this sketch worked on his father's

farm during his boyhood days and until he arrived at

the age of twenty-one years. He received a common-

school education and for a time attended the Marysville

Academy. In the fall of 1860, he entered Otterbein

College, at Westerville, Ohio. In January, 1861, he

commenced to study law.

At the first call for troops in the Civil War he en-

listed for the three-months service. He was elected

first lieutenant and his company promptly commenced

drilling, but the quota for Ohio was filled before this

company was mustered in. He then enlisted at the first

call for three-years troops as private in the First Vol-

unteer Cavalry. At its organization he was appointed

orderly sergeant, and was promoted successively to sec-

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