OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 63B ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 August 4, 2005 ************************************************************************** +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid Bits - Part 63B by Darlene E. Kelley notes by S. Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits - Part 63B Delaware County Capt. John Minter & the Bruin Capt. John Minter, from Kentucky, one of the early settlers in Radnor, Ohio, and brother-in-law of Col. Crawford, who was burnt by the Indians, was, in his younger days, a great hunter, and became famous for a terrible bear fight, in which he came very near losing his life. When hunting alone one day, he came across a very large bear and fired at him. The bear fell, and reloading his gun, Minter advanced, supposing he was dead, and touched his nose with the muzzle of the gun, when he instantly reared upon his hind legs to seize him. Minter fired again, which increased his rage, only inflicting a flesh wound, and then threw his hatchet at him; and as the bear sprang forward to grasp him he struck him with the rifle on the head with all his might. This produced no other effect than shivering the gun to pieces. Too late then to escape he drew his big knife from his sheath and made a plunge at his heart, but old Bruin, by a stroke of his paw, whirled the knife into the air, and enfolding its weaponless owner with his huge arms, both roled to the ground. A fearful struggle then ensued between the combatants: one ruled by unvarying instinct, and the other guided by the dictates of reason. The former depended wholly upon hugging his adversary to death, while the latter aimed at presenting his body in such positions as would best enable him to withstand the vice-like squeeze till he could loosen the grasp. He was about six feet in height, possessing large bones and well developed muscles, and being properly proportioned, was very athletic. The woods were open and clear of underbrush, and in their struggles they rolled in every direction. Several times he thought the severity of the hug would finish him; but by choking the bear he would compel him to release his hold to knock off his hands, when he would recover his breath and gain a better position. After maintaining the contest in this way several hours they, happily for him, rolled back near where his knife lay, which inspired him with buoyant hope, but he had ro make many ineffecual efforts before he could tumble the bear within reach of it. Having finally recovered it he stabbed him at every chance till at last bled to death, only relaxing his hold when life became extinct. He attempted to get up, but was too much exhausted, and crawling to a log, against which he leaned, his heart sickened as contemplated the scene. Not a rag was left on him, and over his back, arms and legs his flesh was lacerated to the bones by the claws of the bear. By crawling and walking he reached home after night with no other covering than a gore of blood from head to foot. His friends, who went out next morning to survey the ground and bring in the trophy, said the surface was torn up by them over a space of at least half an acre. After several weeks he recovered, but he carried with hm the cicatrices and welts, some of which were more than a quarter of an inch thick, till he died, which occurred about fifteen years after. He never desired another bear hug, and gave up hunting, turning his attention to agriculture, which left his children a comfortable living and a good name. +++++++++++++++ Rev. Joseph S. Hughes, from Washington Pa., came to Delaware in 1810, and organized the first Presbyterian church in Delaware, and also those in Liberty and Radnor. For a short time, he was chaplain in the army, and was with Hull when he surrendered, at which time he returned. The societies being unable to pay much salary, he sought his support mainly from other sources, serving several years as clerk of the court, and afterwards in the capacity of editor. He possessed a liberal education, super-added to oratorical powers of a superior order by nature. As an orator he is described as being graceful, mellifluous, persuasive and convincing, and he has left the reputation among many of the old settlers of being the most effective speaker that they have ever heard. In the social circle, too, he excelled, but unfortunately he had an indomitable penchant for festivity and sport. many ancedotes are related detracting from his clerical character, and when dwelt upon, we must not forget to associate the habits and customs of the times in which they occurred. For instance, it is said that one time , on the occasion of a wedding at Capt. Minter's, after the ceremonies had been solomized and the luxuries duly honored, he started off about dusk to go to a place some five miles through the woods, but after dark returned somewhat scratched by the bushes, and reportedly having been lost, and concluded to stay until morning. According to the general custom on such occasions, all the young folks in the settlement had assembled for a frolic, and they charged him with having returned to participate with them, and as he was a good musician, and " their Knight of the bow " had disappointed them, they insisted upon his playing the fiddle for them to dance, which he did all night, wit an occasional intermission for refreshment or to romp ! Some of the old citizens say also that he was a good hand at pitching quoits, and as it was common to chose sides and pitch for the " grog." he seldom even backed out ! For these and other charges he was arraigned before the presbytery, where, declining all assisitance, and relying on his own ingenuity and eloquence, he made a successful defence. He continued to preach as " stated supply " until he was suddenly cut off by epidemic fever in the fall of 1823, and was interred in the old burying ground, but no tombstone points out the place where his remains lie. He was succeeded in 1824 by Rev. Henry Vandeman, the first installed pastor, remaining a pastorial charge for length of time, and in this presbytery there is no simular instance, exceptng that of Dr. Hodge, of Columbus. There were formally two villages belonging to the Delawares, mostly within the limits of the town of Delaware. One occupied the ground around the east end of William street, and the other was at the west end, extending from near the sawmill to the hill-side. Upon the gound now occupied by the town, they cultivated a corn field of about 400 acres. The Mingoes had a small village half a mile above the town, on the " horse-shoe bottom," where they also raised corn. Many of the old pioneers entertained towards the Indians an inveterate hatred, and did not consider it really criminal even to murder them. One time after the last war, a dead Indian was seen floating down the Scioto on two logs, lashed together, having his gun an all his accoutrements with him. He had been shot, and the people believed the murderer was George Shanon,who had been in service considerably during the war, and one time when out, not far from Lower Sandusky, with a small company, fell in with a party of warriors and had to retreat. He lingered behind till he got a shot, and killed one. As soon as he fired, several Indians sprang forward to catch him alive, but being swift on foot, he could easily keep ahead, when he suddenly came to an open field in which he had to run across or be cut off. The Indians gained the first side just as he was leaping the fence on the other and fired at him, one ball entering his hip. He staunched the blood by stuffing the hole with a portion of his shirt, that they might not track him, and crawled into the brush. They gave up the chase, thinking they had not hit him and being convinced of his superior fleetness. Shannon got into camp and was conveyed home, but he was always lame afterwards, and fostered an unrelenting desire for vengence towards the whole race, not excepting the innocent and harmless. In the late 1820's two Indians were murdered on Fulton's Creek. A party came down to the Creek to hunt, as was customary with them every fall, and Henry Swartz ordered them to leave. They replied, " No ! the land belongs to the white man -- the game to the Indian." and insisted they were friends and not ought to be disturbed. A few days after, two of their number were missing, and they hunted the entire county over without finding them, and at last found evidence of human bones where there had been a fire, and immediately charged Swartz with killing and burning them. They threatened vengeance on him, and for several years after he had to be constantly on his guard to prevent being waylaid. It was never legally investigated, but the neighbors all believed that Swartz aided by Ned Williams, murdered and dsiposed of them in a manner the Indians suspected, and at one time talked of driving them out of the settlement. They were considered bad men, and never prospered afterwards. The springs in Delaware have long been known. Tradition states that the Indians resorted to them to use the waters and to kill the deer and buffalo which came in great numbers. Before the grounds were enclosed in the early settlement of the county, the domestic animals for miles around made this a favorite resort in the heats of summer, and appeared satisfied with no other water. The water is said to be simular to of the celebrated white sulpher springs of Virginia, and equal in their mineral and medicinal qualities. The water is cooler, contains more gas, and therefore lighter and more pleasant then the Virginia water. Many cures have been effected of persons afflicted with scrofulous diseases, dyspepsia, bilious derangements of the liver and stomach, want of appetite and digestion. Aside fom the long famed spring above discribed this region seems to abound in mineral springs. On the outskirts of town, in the valley of Delaware Run, in an area of about thirty-seven acres, is a collection of five flowing springs called " Little Springs," consisting of as many different varieties of water-- white sulphur, black sulphur, magnetic, non, and fresh water. Delaware is on the Olentangy river, 24 miles north of Columbus. On William street, one block from the post office in Delaware, was born October 4, 1822, Rutherford B. Hayes, the ninteenth President of the United States. When as a boy he went to a private school, that of Mrs. John Murray, on Franklin Street. A brother of his was drowned while skating on the Olentangy. His father, Rutherford Hayes, a Vermonter, came to Delaware in 1817, and engaged in merchandising. He died in the very year of his son's birth ( 1822 ), leaving a widow and three young children, with a large, unsettled business. Sardis Birchard, a brother of the widow, than a youth of sixteen, emigrated with the family from Vermont. He worked with his brother-in-law in building, farming, driving, taking care of stock, and employing all his spare hours in hunting, and was enabled with his rifle to supply his own and other families with turkeys, and venison. He was a handsome, jovial young man, a universal favorite, and devoted to his sister and her flock. In 1827, when the future President was five years of age, Mr. Birchard removed to Fremont, then Lower Sandusky, and from that date it became the home of the entire family. The Delaware grape was a celebrated grape first sent forth from the county. It took its name from the town, This was about the year 1850, when it was discovered growing near the banks of the Scioto in the lands of a Mr. Heath who had brought it from New Jersey years before. Its origin is doubtful, whether foreign or native. Mr. Thompson, the editor of the " Gazette." discovered its superior merits. Its introduction created a great future in grapegrowing, called " the grape fever." The ability of grape propagators was taxed to the upmost to supply the demand, and Delaware grape-vines were sold in enormous quanities at prices ranging from $1 to $ 5 each. Delaware County is permanently rendered noted not only as the birthplace of a President but also of that of the most brilliant military known to the art of war -- the great soldier and patriot, William S. Rosecrans. Later on in the series I shall give a sketch of this gentleman as told by Mr. W.S. Furay, a native of Ross county, who was a war correspondant of the Cinncinnati " Gazette." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To be continued in part 64.