Ohio History Journal

DELAWARE IN THE DAYS OF 1812.

 

 

 

ALICE HILLS.

[Miss Hills is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolu-

tion, Delaware, Ohio, Chapter, for which she prepared the following bit

of local history.]

In the war of 1812, Ohio or a part of it, was the scene of

much military action in which our own country and town played

no small part. Delaware, situated so nearly in the centre of the

state about half way between Chillicothe, the capital and the

scene of operations around Sandusky and Detroit, soon became

the principal route for troops going from the Ohio River and

Kentucky to the Lakes and Canada.

In February, 1813, General William Henry Harrison on his

way from Cincinnati to Sandusky (now Fremont), marched with

one division of his army through Chillicothe and Franklinton,

following the trail along the Scioto River and south of Strat-

ford crossed over to the Olentangy. Here in what is known as

Cole's cemetery, are buried two of his soldiers who died on this

march.

On reaching Delaware, the army entered the town by the

principal road which skirted the river bank and which after-

wards became Henry Street; they marched from there on up the

street which is now Sandusky, named for the town which was

Harrison's destination.

Their route through Delaware along Henry Street was just

a little east of the Deer Lick, which was known to the early set-

tlers and to the Indians as the Medicine Water but which was

later called the Sulphur Spring. As this Spring was far famed

for the Medicinal qualities of its waters, what was more natural

than that there should be a tavern near by where travelers could

rest and drink the waters.

This old tavern is interesting to us for more than one rea-

son: besides being the point around which most of the business

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62       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

and social activity of the town centered, it was of historical im-

port as well, for Harrison made this his headquarters when he

came with his army to the town.

The original tavern stood a few rods south-east of the

Medicine Water on the plateau just east of the ridge which is

south of the spring; and stood several rods back from the pres-

ent street. At that time Abraham, or what is now University

Avenue, was opened clear through the present campus to Henry

Street and our old tavern stood at the intersection of the two

streets.

It is small wonder, that with such a location right in the

heart of the future town, being really the center of business and

so near to the Medicine Water that the proprietor was justified

in having great hopes and expectations for it.

The first house was a two-roomed affair facing east with

a large loft, and was built of round logs chinked and daubed.

In a short while a second house, two stories in height, of hewed

logs was added and placed at right angles with the south end

of the first building with a small space between them. In this

space was the well with its curb and tall old-fashioned "well-

sweep." Around at the south-east of this were the log barns and

blacksmith and a double granary or corn-cribs with a space be-

tween for its many purposes. Here were tools of all kinds and

descriptions, and here the hog was scalded and dressed, and the

deer, raccoon and possum skinned and their hides stretched or

tanned. To this place came the hunter with venison and turkey,

the trapper with furs and skins, and the knapsack peddler,-the

pioneer merchant-made every one happy with his wares.

The blacksmith in his abode near the stable seemed to be the

village "jack of all trades" for he did everything from repairing

gun-locks and making knives for the hunters, to bringing joy

to the hearts of the housewives by turning off numberless arti-

cles of convenience for them.

All the town gatherings were held and all county elections

took place under this historic roof where township and county

work and public business of all kinds was done.

Not only was this the business center of the little settle-

ment, but merry gatherings of young people were also held here