Copywright USGenNet Inc., 2004, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY 1884 CHAPTER II It is conceded by the authority of historians of the Indian tribes, notably Schoolcraft, Tucker and others, that originally upon the settlement of this country by the whites all of the present Indiana was the domain of the Miamis. According to the statement of Little Turtle or Mish-e-ken-o-quah, the head chief of the Miamis and one of the most intelligent and renowned warriors of the aboriginal tribes, made at the treaty of St. Mary's, Ohio, the original tract of country occupied by the Miamis was bounded about as follows; Beginning at Detroit, thence south to the Scioto River, thence down the same to the Ohio River, thence down the same to the mouth of the Wabash, thence up the Wabash to near Covington, Ind., thence north to the southern point of Lake Michigan, thence east to Detroit. This was the Miami land until about a century ago.The whites being stronger constantly encroached upon the hunting-grounds of the Indians in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, and the later gradually kept retiring westward, relinquishing by compulsory desertion at first and cession treaties later the land owned for centuries by their forefathers. The retiring Indians, often depleted by periodical border wars of long and bloody continuance, were forced for tribal protection to sue for adoption into the stronger tribes on the west whose strength had not yet been partially crushed by the invading and land-relentless whites. This procedure eventually led to the great Miami Confederacy, composed of the original Miami and the "permitted" tribes were the Delaware, the Shawnees, the kickapoos, the Wyandots, the Senecas and other fragmentary tribes. The Piankeshaws and Weas seem to be related to the Miamis, or had previously united with them. The Early Indian Occupancy The territory now comprising the county of Washington, with the exception of a small portion of the southwest corner, was acquired of the Delawares, Miamis, Piankeshaws and other tribes by the treaty Grouseland, held near Vincennes, August 21, 1805. The excepted south west corner was acquired the year before. The Delawares seem to have had the greatest claim to the land of this country and mainly occupied it though Miamis, Plankeshaws and occasionally straggling Pottawattomies or Wyabdita were seen by the first settlers. There was no celebrated permanent Indian village in this county at the time of white settlement, but there were seen in numerous places open plats of ground which doubtless, for years had been cultivated by the Indians. There were also a half dozen or more temporary villages on the streams, comprising ten to twenty families who lived in wigwams built for a few months, while the hunting fishing or trap- ing season lasted. The Rangers and Militia At the time of first settlement, and prior to the year 1811, the whites and Indians lived in comparative peace and friendliness as neighbors. But when it became known later that a war was brewing, the Indians left for the North and soon became the allies of Great Britain. Soon after this they began to invade the white settlements in war parties, in paint and feathers, to pillage, burn and murder. This led to the formation of militia companies and companies of mounted rangers, who were regularly sworn into the service of the United States. As early as March 1811, Zachariah Lindley, afterward so well known in Orange County, was made Captain of a militia company in that territory, where he than lived and James McVey was his first Lieutenant. Numerous companies were formed in Harrison County, to which Washington was then attached. At that time the entire country composed the Fifth Militia Regiment, the officers being, John Tipton, Colonel; John DePauw, Major, and the following Captains; Absaliom Sargent, James McKinney, John Bell, Zachariah Lindley, George French, John McVey, Noah Wright, John Beck and Henry Dewalt who were succeeded by the following among others: Samuel Houston, George French, Charles Busey and John Royse. Among the Leiutenants were: Joseph Shields, Elijah Veach, William Cunningham, Jacob Carter, John Maris, E.C. Hunter and others. Upon the formation of Washington County in 1814, it was given a separate regiment- The Ninth. The order for the formation of this regiment was given January 10, 1814, and John DePauw was commissioned Colonel, and to him dedimus was issued by the Territorial Governor to swear into the service the officers and men of the regiment. The first Captains of the Ninth Regiment were Denny, Huston, French, Sargent, Beck, Dewalt, Busey,Royse, Jerry Rankin and Samuel Maris. Some of them were soon succeeded by Clifton Glazebrook, William Kennedy, Jesse Roberts, Jesse Durham, Noah Wright, John Maxwell and others. Jesse Roberts and William HOggatt served early as Majors. The above men were about all the militia officers until after the war. The Indians did not become really dangerous until 1812, but before that date confined their depredations mostly to horse stealing. As the settlers were poor and horses were scarce and very valuable, the magnitude of the act was much greater than at present. During the winter of 1811- 12, over 100 Indians wintered in the vicinity of Spark's Ferry, and committed no depredations until they left the following Spring. During the winter a small detachment of them, to the number of a half dozen or more, located temporarily along the streams of the county to hunt, trap, and trade with the whites, and it was not until Spring of 1812 that they "took up the hatchet" in earnest. The battle of Tippecanoe, the 7th. of November, 1811, had subdued them, but the continuance of the war with Great Britain led them also to keep desultory raids on the white settlements. The Capture of Two Children One of the temporary villages was on Royse's Lick near the store kept by Dr. Lamb. Here "Old Ox" a Delaware Chief and his family and immediate followers were established. "Tow Head" was the son of Ox, and was treacherous and savage. A White man name Mc Cullough had married Tow-Head's sister, and a little boy "Sammy" was the issue. While the Indians remained there Sammy was often visited by two little white boys of his own age, living near by, named Jimmy and Johnny. When the Indians all left the next Spring, which they did suddenly after committing theft, robbery murder etc. Jimmy and Johnny were stolen. The act was planed beforehand and was well executed. Upon the solicitation of "Mrs Ox" the little boys went over one afternoon to play with Sammy. They remained until after dark, and when their parents went to bring them home they found the Indian camp deserted and the boys gone. They roused the neighborhood and continued the search during the night, but without finding either Indian or boys. Early the next morning came reports from various portions of the county of the thievish or bloody raids of the Indians and their hasty departure for the Wabash north. The friends of the stolen boys also found their horses missing. A small squad of resolute men started in pursuit in hopes of recovering the stolen property as well as the boys but they did not succeed, and returned after going as far north as Monroe County. A little later then the others, a full company of Militia under Henry DeWalt started in pursuit, but came back after following the main body of Indians far north. It afterward transpired that to prevent capture or pursuit some half had gone to the mouth of Muscatatuck River, where they had concealed themselves until the ardor of pursuit was over, when they resumed their journey, going north to the main village on the Wabash near Lafayette. On the way one night Jimmy and Johnny were rolled in blankets and laid to sleep against a big log on the side of which a fire was kept burning. During the night the fire crept along and communicated with Jimmy's blanket. In a few minutes he was enveloped in flames, and was so badly burned before it could be put out that the Indians the next morning tomahawked and scalped him rather than to have him with them longer. Johnny was kept captive for some time, but at last was sold top some white man and finally was adopted by a family in this county named Menugh, who for so many years was well known to the people of the county. The Murder of the Solidas The day before the departure of the Indians witnessed two bloody tragedies of the County. In what is now Monroe Township lived Robert Ellison, for whom Daniel Solida worked at clearing etc. Solida was a man of great strength, and had participated in the battle of Tippecanoe the preceding November, at which he had killed several Indians and taken their scalps. During the winter of 1811-12, this fact was made known to the Indians encamped on White River, and when they left they resolved to kill him. Early on the day mentioned Solida and Ellison went out to hunt their horses, and having found some of them Ellison came back with them, leaving Solida to continue the search for the others. This he did and while passing through a dense grove of big trees was shot, tomahawked and scalped, and left dead and mangled on the ground. On the same day and about the same time and under much the same circumstances, another murder occurred in Jefferson Township. Jacob Salida brother of Daniel, and a man equally as strong and active, who had likewise made himself conspicuous at the battle of Tippecanoe and elsewhere against the Indians, had been working for Richard Newkirk, and the two went out on the fatal morning to hunt their stock. While thus engaged they passed into a Indian ambush and were fired upon. Both were wounded, Solida severely and Newkirk slightly, and the later by hard running managed to escape. Solida could not run very fast and was easily overtaken and dispatched. Under what circumstances he died cannot be known, but the ground around where he was found bore witness that he fought heroically for his life. He was overpowered stabbed, tomahawked and scalped. What injury he inflicted upon his enemies is not known, but it is reasonable to conclude that some of them paid dearly for the life they took. The earth was torn up, and here and there covered with other blood than that of the settler. As soon as these two murders became known, E.D. Logan with a company of militia started in pursuit, but after going to Bean Blossom Creek in Monroe County, returned without success. The Indians made good their escape with their stolen horses and other booty. The Forts and Block Houses Immediately succeeding these attacks the settlers of the county flew for protection to the few block-houses that had been erected, and hastily built others, in all numbering about fifteen in the county. These were located, so far as can be learned, a follows: Two called Beck's Forts near John Beck's; one called Lick Fort, at Royse's Lick; one at Samuel Catlin's, three miles north of Fredericksburg; one near Kossuth in Monroe Township, called Logan's Fort; one called the Hattabaugh Fort near Plattsburg; one a t Salem, where John Manley lives; one near Harristown; one three miles southwest of Salem; one near Livonia; one near the Quaker Church; one called Brock's Fort, on the land d of W.L. Reyman; one on Section 7 in the northwest part of Franklin Township; one called Fleener Fort, near Wesley Jones', and very likely others, the location of which could not be learned. These "forts" were usually heavy log cabins provided with port holes from which to shoot, and furnished to accommodate several families, but in some instances real forts were built at Hattabaugh's inclosure in Monroe Township, where a row of log cabins, provided with port holes, etc. was built together with a high block house at each end, and then all surrounded with a high fence of heavy slabs planted firmly in the ground, and leaving a space of about a rod around the cabins. Several of these block houses or forts had been built before the general uprising, and after that others were hastily erected and occupied by the families of the settlers. In the Hattabaugh Fort were gathered the families of Robert Ellison, Dempsey Rice, Thomas Denny, Elisha Driskell, Elijah Rinker, Isaac Beeler, George Hattabaugh, John Ramsey and others. At Brock's Fort were those of George Brock, George Brock Jr., Adam Barnett, William Gordon, Frederick Neighdever, William Kemp, William Natherton and others. At Young's Fort were Joseph Reyman, Isaac Miller, Jacob Miller, John Neighdever, Henry Carter, Benjamin Nicholson, James Young and Martin Putoff. At Logan's Fort were William Logan, Adam Housh, E. Pitts, Western Hattabaugh, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Denny. Dewalt's Fort was full, but their names cannot be given. Beck's Fort were also full to over flowing. Many were in McKnight's Fort in Franklin Township. The fort near Sinking Spring, Madison Township, was large and contained about a dozen families. The wife's, children and helpless were crowded into these forts, while the men armed and organized to be in readiness for any attack. About this time a raid was made into Brown and Jefferson Townships, and horses were stolen, owned by the Driskells et al. In September 1812, occurred the Pigeon Roost massacre, in Scott County, near Vienna. Seventeen women and children were murdered, and the Indians fled, but as quickly as possible were pursued by several companies one from this county commanded by Henry DeWalt. Among those from this county in this pursuit were Henry DeWalt, Arthur Parr, John Dunlap, Steven Shipman, Thomas and James Thompson, Tart Fordyce, Levi Wright, Noah Wright, John and Daniel Zink, John Thompson and a few others. The pursuit was so rapid tha the Indians were caught upwith near Columbus, this State, where a little skirmish occurred; though the Indians were not captured, doubtless several were wounded or killed. John Zink was mortally wounded and was brought home and buried near Salem. The Border Scouts, Etc. In 1812 and 1813 all the northern border of the county was patrolled day and night by white scouts. These men were the most experienced in Indian and woodcraft, and several had had years of experience in Indian warfare. Micajah Calloway, the friend and companion of Daniel Boone, who had figured prominently in many of the encounters with Indians now read of in books, was, perhaps the leader of these scouts. John Beck, and experienced Indian fighter, who had fought at the battle of Tippecanoe, was another of these scouts. These guards did excellent service, as they anticipated several attacks of considerable force, which would have doubtless resulted in several deaths if not extensive massacres. In one of these raids a man named Spurgeon, near Vallonia, was killed, and at others the Flinns and Guthries, near Leesville, and Pierre, the trapper were shot. Another raid into the eastern side of the county resulted in the death of John Huffmann, and the wounding of a young woman in the breast. Two children were carried into captivity, one of whom was afterward returned, but the fate of the other is not known to this day. In the county were several old Indian fighters who scorned the protection of the forts and were very active going far up into the Indian country to anticipate attacks. Two were named Pavey and Miller. Micajah Calloway could go anywhere, and outwit the red natives every time. In June 1813 three or four companies of rangers and militia, under the guidance of these scouts made a sudden raid on several Indian villages on the west fork of White River and reduced them to ashes, together with a considerable quantity of corn and other supplies. The braves, who had for some time been harvesting the border, had their headquarters there, and it was thus determined to root them out. The plan was successful. Vallonia wa a central point where was stationed a company of rangers, who frequently retaliated Indian raids and attacks. They had a fort stockade there. Incidents Etc. Numerous anecdotes could be told, though there is space but for a few. About sundown one evening at McKnight's fort a young woman went out to milk a cow, and while thus engaged was terribly frightened to observe a big Indian peering at her from behind a distant tree. She was not long in finishing her work after that, and though very nervous, sauntered as if nothing had crossed her mind toward the fort. She entered, closed the door, and told what she had seen. Instantly preparations were made to warmly receive the red visitors. The port holes were manned and arms and ammunition were quickly prepared. It soon transpired that William Tokay had personated an Indian to see what effect it would have on the fort. He as satisfied. John Beck commanded a company of rangers at the battle of Tippecanoe, in November, 1811. Upon the return of the men a volley was fired at Beck's Hill. This volley was heard for a long distance and gave rise to the report that the settlers there had been attacked by Indians. About that time a fire which had been started in the woods, threw up large volumes of smoke, and the report also went out that the Indians were burning the cabins and murdering the settlers. People haily gathered in strong cabins and forts and made the best preparations possible for defense, but soon the delusion was dispelled. In early times there was quite an Indian Village near Zink's Quarry, west of Salem. It is asserted that an old Indian squaw, possessed of much eccentricity, was condemned to deah here for being a witch or the like, and was burned at the stake. Mounds and their Contents Apparently the Mound Builders, had but little to do with Washington County. Scattered over the ground, however are numerous evidences of their presence here, in time antedating authentic history. So far as can be learned, they left within the limits of the county no forts or military enclosure's and but very few earth-works of any character. In Brown Township is one or more mounds which when opened many years ago was found to contain human bones, ashes and charcoal and fragments of pottery and charred animal bones. In the southwestern part of the county mounds have also been discovered, though what they contain cannot be stated. On the Joseph Trublood farm, Washington Township, was a mound which was examined many years ago by persons living in that vicinity. In it were found human bones in a decdomposed state, fragments of pottery and flint arrow heads. Sine then this mound has been farmed over and is now almost level with the surface of the ground.