OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 73B

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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
March 3, 2006.

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Historical Collections of Ohio
And Then They Went West
Know Your Ohio
Tid-bits - Part 73 B.
by Darlene E. Kelley
notes by
S. Kelly  [  ]

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Tid-Bits - Part 73 B.
Darke County.


The health of the settlers of Darke county and later residents has been
subjected to the mutations affecting the climate. In the low swamps
miasma prevailed; the action of the sun upon the decaying vegetation
opened by the clearing and stirred by the plow, induced fevers and
chills, and there were few that did not at times, succumb to those
disorders. The healthy and hardy entered into the struggle with nature
courageously and enjoyously. Labor had its zest, and food and sleep were
most refreshing; but there were many who struggled on under the
depression and hindrances of sickness.

As settlers came in and clearing took greater sweep, sickness became
more general, or at least more apparent, and when Dr's. Perrine and
Briggs came to Greenville, they found constant employment in attending
to the calls of the sick. Fever and ague prevailed, and few, if any,
families but had some sick members. Not then, as now, was quinine
available and not even known. The popular remedies were dog-wood and
wild-cherry bark steeped in native whiskey.

Slow progress was made for a time, as men became disheartened, left the
county and circulated reports that were not only true, but sadly true,
of an irreclaimable wilderness of morass and swamp, the haunt of
pestiferous agues and consuming fevers. It is a fact that very few of
the pioneers of Darke held on through all vicissitudes.

>From 1820 to 1840 the doctors were all kept busy attending the sick, so
prevalent were ague, flux and bilious fever at certain seasons of the
year. The years 1836 and 1837 were comparatively healthy; the following
year was more sickly, and 1839 still more so, and from that time until
1850 there were more or less of bilious complaints every season. [Since
that date both towns and county have been generally healthy.]

As an illustration of the desperation to which the medical treatment
subjected patients, we relate an incident in the practice of Dr. Gard,
one of the veteran physicians of the early days. He was called in, as
family physician, to minister to the wants of a sick child. Cold water
was forbidden, and calomel, as was usual, administered. The doctor then
retired, with promise of a return the next day. Cold water was barred;
the boy begged for a drink, but entreated in vain, as the doctor's
orders were immutable law. He then resorted to strategy. Feigning a
desire for rest and repose, the family retired to permit their
indulgence. Soon heavy breathing announced that all were asleep, and the
patient arose from bed, staggered to the water-bucket, and, to his
dismay, found it empty. This discovery would have roused all in the
house had not the necessity of the case demanded control. Water must be
had, although the spring was at quite a distance. The coffee pot was
found, and the patient set out to assuage his comsuming thirst. He
rested several times in the wet grass, but finally arrived at the
spring, drank heartily, and, having placed the well filled coffee pot at
his bedside. The two thirds emptied before this suicidal act was known,
when the doctor was hurriedly summoned and stood wth astonished and
ominous look, awaiting serious results that did not happen. In a few
days the patient had recovered. Dr. Gard was as skillful as the best,
and did his duty, but the practice of that day had its rigors.

Rich as the land was, it could not produce money, and this was a must to
meet payments and taxes. Clearing, aside from small patches, had no
stimulus. Of what avail were bins of corn and wheat, and droves of
swine, without a purchaser or market, and of markets there were none.
Having sufficient bread and meat, all were satisfied, and they shared
freely with each other and with strangers. Wheat was worth about two
shillings per bushel, and corn hanged hands at about one-half that
price, the current prices fluctuated with the supply; and it was a
gratification when a newspaper for the first time made its appearance
and obtained general circulation in the county. It was published at
Eaton, Preble county, and subscription was paid in corn at fifteen cents
per bushel.

Pork was sold, whan it could be sold, at two and three cents a pound;
beef brought the same price; maple sugar was held at six and eight cents
per pound and maple syrup at about two shillings a gallon. Wages ranged
from two to three shillings a day, and this was regarded as an average
compensation. Had some wealthy man bought large tracts and taken steps
to develop the capacity of the land, there were many who would have
gladly offered their services; but improvement in wages, prices and
health were yet far in the future, and this border life between the
civilized and the savage had few attractions such as society affords. 

During the war of the Rebellion, Darke county contributed her full share
to the ranks of the Union army. The Fortieth Ohio Infantry, largely
composed of Darke county men. They were excellant fighters and a credit
to their County.

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[ In the previous part of this article, I mentioned the treaties of
Greenville, their intention was to cease the hostilities between the
Indians and have all prisoners restored. The Indian boundary is defined
as follows;

             3rd of August, 1795
" The general boundary line between the lands of the United States and
the lands of the said Indian tribes shall begin at the mouth of the
Cuyahoga river, and run thence up the same to the Portage, between that
and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum, thence down that branch to
the crossing-place above Fort Laurens, thence westerly to a fork of that
branch of the Great Miami river running into the Ohio, at or near which
fork stood Loromie's store, and where commenced the portage between the
Miami of the Ohio and St.Mary's river, which is a branch of the Miami
which runs into Lake Erie; thence a westerly course to Fort Recovery,
which stands on the branch of the Wabash; thence southerly in a direct
line to the Ohio, so as to intersect that river opposite the mouth of
Kentucke or Cuttawa river.
            ++++++++++++++++

The following are the reservations within the limits of Ohio granted to
the Indians by this treaty;

1st.- One piece of land, six miles square, at or near Loramie's store,
before mentioned.
2nd. - One piece, two miles square, at the head of the navigable water
or landing on the St. Mary's river, near Girty's town.
3rd,- One piece, six miles square, at the head of the navigable water of
the Auglaize river.
4th,- One piece, six miles square, at the confluence of the Auglaise and
Miami rivers, where Fort Defiance now stands.
8th,- On piece, twelve miles square, at the British fort on the Miami of
the lake, at the foot of the rapids.
9th,- One piece, six miles square, at the mouth of the said river, where
it empties into the lake.
10th.- One piece, six miles square, upon Sandusky lake, where a fort
formally stood.
11th.- One piece, two miles square, at the lower rapids of the Sandusky
river."

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A second treaty was concluded at Greenville, July 22, 1814, with the
Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees, Senecas, and the Miamies.

" The commissioners on the part of the United States were Gen. William
Henry Harrison and Gov. Lewis Cass. By it these tribes engaged to aid
the United States in the war with Great Britain and her savage allies.
The prominent chiefs were Tarhe, Capt. Pipe, and Black Hoof. Both of the
treaties were held on the same spot, within the present ( 1846 ) garden
of Abraham Scribner, in Greenville. On the 22nd of July, 1840, just
twenty six years after the last treaty, there was a great celebration at
this place, called " the Greenville Treaty Celebration." at which the
many thousands present were addressed at length by Gen. Harrison.

>From the year 1805 to 1808, the celebrated Tecumseh, with his brother,
the prophet, resided at Greenville. It was the point where they formed
their plans of hostility to the whites. During their residence at this
place, they were visited by many Indians, who were wrought into the
highest excitment of the eloquence of Tecumseh and the cunning of the
prophet.

On the plan of Fort Greenville is laid down " Tecumseh Point," at the
junction of the rivulet with Greenville creek, about a quarter of a mile
from the court-house. At this place are some Indian graves; here
Tecumseh had a cabin, and formally near it was a spring called "
Tecumseh's Spring." In 1832 the remnant of the Shawnees, then moving to
their new homes in the far West, from their reservation on the Auglaize,
took this place on their route, instead of Cincinnati, as desired by the
United States agents. They encamped on Tecumseh's Point to the number of
several hundred, and remained a day or two to take farewell of a place
so dear to their memories."  ]

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Tid Bits continued in part 74.