OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 78B ************************************************************************ 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 July 3, 2006 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid-Bits - part 78B by Darlene E. Kelley notes by S. Kelly. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-Bits - part 78B. In Search of The First White Child in Ohio. A short time before her father's death.at her request, Rev. John Heckewelder wrote out a statement regarding Johanna Maria Heckewelder's birth and events of early childhood. This manuscript she sacredly retained until her death, and it has never been published, with the exception of a portion, which appeared in the Moravian. the church paper published at Bethehem. The writer has been favored with a copy, through the politeness of a friend. The original manuscript is written in the German language, and was transmitted with great care by the editor of the newspaper referred to. The translation is as follows; " Johanna Maria Heckewelder was born on Easter. Monday, April 16th, 1781, at Salem, a villiage of Christian Indians on the Muskingum River. She was baptized on the day following by Rev. William Edwards, minister at Gnadenhutten. A few days after her birth the Indians in that region were thrown into a state of great alarm by the sudden attack of an American army upon a town of the savages, named " Goschachking," and a number of the latter were killed. About eighty warriors came to our settlements, determined to break up the Indian congregation at Shoenbrun, Gnadenhutten and Salem, or at last remove them about one hundred miles further westward; but dring their stay amongst us they changed their minds and the majority of them, especially the chief, said they considered us a happy people, to injure whom would be a great sin, and they wished that they themselves were partakers of the same happiness. Amongst them however, was one evil disposed man, who had resolved to murder me ( your father.) and for two days he waited eagerly for an opportunity to carry out his purpose, but the Lord watched over and saved me from this danger in a very striking way. " After this event the three Indian congregations continued for some time to live in peace, and increased in spiritual knowledge and grace, so that we were filled wth great joy. But in the beginning of the month of August we heard that there was a new movement amongst the Indians to drive us away, some even being of favor of distroying our settlements, but as they failed to find amongst their own number any who were ready to undertake this, certain wicked white persons joined them, and on the 12th of August, they arrived at Salem with the advance-guard. The others arrived during the following days numbering in all 300 warriors, who camped in the square at Gnadenhutten. They endeavored by all sorts of promises to entice our Indian brethern and sisters to leave our stations and to come and live with them. After spendng three weeks in these efforts, which were entirely unsuccessful, and being in the end disposed to leave the matter drop, they found that they had compromised themselves to such an extent that they were compelled to use force. " They accordingly set apart the 2nd of September for a general council, and all the brethern at the three stations were summoned to be in attendance. Brother David Zeisberger repaired to Shoenbraun. eight miles above, I to Salem, about six miles below Gnadenhutten, and the Brethern Edwards and Senseman to the latter place. Brother Jungmann and wife remained at Shoenbrun with Sisters Zeisberger and Senseman, the latter of whom had an infant at her breast, and Brother Michael Jung remained at Salem with you and your mother. We passed the night in much sorrow, but without fear. Finally on the 3rd of September, as we were walking up and down on a level spot behind the gardens, several warriors of the Wyandotte nation came up and took us prisoners to ther camp. Here we were stripped of our best clothes, and one of them, who probably did not know what he was about, seized us by the head and shook us, saying in a scornful tone, ' Welcome, my friends' " " After a while we were placed in charge of a guard. When we were taken prisoners the appearance of the Indians was indeed terrible, as they all grasped their arms and we thought we should be dispatched on the spot, but our grief at the thought of your mother and yourself and the others, was more terrible than everything else, for just as we were led into camp about twenty warriors, brandishing their arms and with terrible cries, galloped off on their horses towards Salem and Shoenbrun. When he saw them coming at a distance, Brother Jung locked the door of the house. You were lying in your cradle asleep. Finding the outer door locked, they burst it open by force and would have killed Brother Jung on the spot, but a white man who was with them prevented them. Your mother snatched you from the cradle and was told that she was a prisoner and must accompany them to Gnadenhutten. The house was plundered from top to bottom. In the meanwhile it had commenced to rain, and some of the Indian sisters begged very urgently that you and your mother might remain with them overnight, promising to bring you to Gnadenhutten the next day. Brother Jung they took with them, arriving at camp about midnight. We had heard the scalp-cries all the while as we sat on the banks of the river, and the night was thereby made all the more horrible to us. " We were all prisoners together. Our houses had been plundered, and we had nothing to cover our bodies, but what our Indian brothers and sisters brought us. After several days we received permission to be with our Indians, but together with them were conducted through the wilderness to Upper Sandusky. On this journey the mothers and children suffered much, as the warriors would grant no halts. In the beginning of October we arrived at Upper Sandusky. We were entirely distitute, yet quite happy. We cared not for the morrow, and yet we were provided with our daily bread. We commenced to build little huts for ourselves, but before they were completed we received orders from the commandant at Detroit, to repair to that place. This was a new and severe trial. Winter was at hand, and we were to leave our wives and children behind without any provision. In addition, the savages daily threatened to kill us. The day of our departure was fixed, and Brother Zeisberger, Edwards, Senesman and myself set out on the long journey. Brother Schebosch promised to provide our families with provisions brought from our deserted village. " We had not proceeded more than sixty miles on our journey before a messenger caught up with us, bringing news that Brother Schebosch and his company had been seized and carried off by a party of militia. Other messengers arrived bringing the same intelligence, so that our anxiety for our wives and children were intense. At the Iowa (? ) river we encountered endless difficulties in continuing our journey. We could not proceed alone, even if we had permission to do so. The captain who had charge of us, procured a keg of rum and all his men became drunk, and a number of evil disposed people gathered at our halting place. At last, since we had some of our Indian brethern with us, we received permission from a white man to proceed. After several days' journey we came within four miles of Detroit, but for want of a boat to cross a deep river that lay right before us, we were compelled to spend the night, which was intensely cold and stormy, on the open plain, without any protectin whatsoever. We were quite stiff and almost frozen by morning. " The next morning, at about 8 o'clock, without having anything to eat, we were ferried across in a hay boat, and by 10 o'clock, we made our appearance before the Commandant at the Fort, who received us with many harsh words. Finally, as we remained composed, he seemed to have changed his mind somewhat and dismissed us in a much pleasanter manner. For a week we remained in a state of great uncertainity as to what was to become of us. We were not permitted to appear before the Commandant or make any statements, nor were we permitted to address any written communications to him. At last. our accusers being all assembled, we were summoned to atttend, and after a thorough examination into the accusations brought against us, the result was that two accusers were completely silenced, and the third became our defender. The council, which consisted of the military officers and otherofficials at this post and of a number of Indian chiefs, decided that we had been falsely accused and had innocently ben compelled to endure many hardships. Thus even here the glory of God's name was protected. >From this time forth the Commandant became our warm friend, and from other gentlemen at the post we received many kindnesses. We were provided with some warm clothing and provisions by order of the former, we set out on our return. Our Heavenly Father granted us, at this late season, the most pleasant weather, and by the end of November we rejoined our families once more ( at Sandusky ). On the very day of our return the winter set in, a great deal of snow fell and the cold became intense. The distress of our Indians became terrible. Ina short time they lost 150 head of cattle, which were their main dependaence for food. The wild Indians again threatened to stop the preaching of the Gospel, and the power of the prince of darkness seemed almost supreme. The scarcity of food became so great that we began to fear that some, especially the little children, would perish from hunger. " A number of Indian brethern and sisters accordingly resoved to return with their families to their deserted villages and gather in the harvest, which was yet standing in the fields, and little by little to forward the proceeds to this place. They had almost finished this work and were preparing to return to us, when they were attacked by a party of American militia, and taken prisoners, and butchered in cold blood. These dear martyrs, ninty six in number, resigned themselves cheerfully to God's will. They united together in prayer to the Savior, begged each other's forgiveness for past offenses, sang hymns of faith and trust, and testified that they died as Christians. The many little children in this company shared the same fate as their parents. Thus a whole Indian congregation was in one night 7th -8th of March, 1782, translated from earth to heaven. " In the meantime, we who remained at Upper Sandusky, were suddenly sumoned to appear in Detroit, whilst our Christian Indians were to unite themselves to some of the wild tribes in the vacinity. Our poor Indian brethern could not understand no reconcile themselves to these orders. Many of them accompanied us as far as our first camping place, weeping as they walked beside us. Some went with us the whole way to Lower Sandusky, a five days journey, amongst whom were two Indian sisters, one of whom carried you in a blanket the whole way, and the other sister Senseman's child. Here we waited three weeks for further orders, receiving during our stay the certain intelligence of the murder of our beloved Indians at Gnadenhutten. " Those were days of bitter suffering and most distressing doubts, but the Savior comforted and strengthened us. As we were sitting in a friendy trader's house, a wicked man, an English officer, made his appearance and threatened to kill us on the spot. We knew that he could readily summon confederates to carry out his purpose, and commended ourselves to the protection of Him whose own we were. And wonderfully did He interpose in our behalf, for just then two boats arrived to fetch us away, and brought besides an order from Major Arent De Peyster at Detroit, in which he threateed to punish severly any persons who should, in any way, molest us. April 14th, 1782, we set out in our boats, descending Sandusky River for thirty miles and then crossing Lake Erie to Detroit. On the 16th, your first birthday anniversary, we were compelled at four different times to draw our boat to the shore during a storm, once a great risk to us all. As I was afflicted with rheumatism and could not help myself, Brother Edwards built a shelter against the wind for your mother and you out of cedar boughs. April 29th, we crossed Miami Bay, not without considerable danger, and the next day we arrived at Detroit. " Here our whole company remained until August. Our Indians, who had been scattered in many different places, received permission to assemble here, and after several families had come, we commenced a settlement on the Huron river, which empties, into Lake St. Clair. Many of our Indians joined us there, and the Commandant Colonel De Peyster, provided us with provisions. As the brethern Jungmann and Senseman were in the year 1785 to return to Bethlehem your parents concluded to send you with them to the school at Bethlehem. After a farewell love-feast, these brethern set out, May 16th, your father accompanying you as far as Detroit. The journey was made by boat across Lake Erie, and after being detained at Niagara for two weeks, in the same way across Lake Ontario to Wood's Creek, and thence by way of Schenectady and Albany to Bethlehem, at which place you arrived July 8th." To the above account. Mis Heckewelder a number of years before her death added the following; " On this journey we were aften compelled to spend the night in the woods in tents. We heard wolves howling about our camp, and built large fires to keep them away. As we were often compelled to go on foot, I became very tired, and old Father Jungmann use to carry me for miles on his back. Arrived at Bethlehem. I was placed in the Children's Institute, being then only five years old. There was at that time no boarding school. This was only instituted the following year. I look back upon the years spent at this institution with the greatest pleasure. We received the most affectionate and tender treatment, and an exemplary Christian demeanor of our teachers has made an abiding impression upon my heart. My school days being ended, I entered the Sisters' House. Having been received into the Church a short time before, I partook of my first communion on August 13th, 1795. " In my twentieth year I received a call as teacher in the recently established boarding school at Litiz. Here I remained for five years, until the impaired state of my hearing compelled me to resign, and I returned to Bethlehem. A Litiz I had many severe experiences; many, too, which were very benificial to me. The Holy Spirit wrought powerfully on my heart, and the sinful state of my heart was revealed to me. I spent many sad and troubled hours, trying to build up a righteousness of my own, and yet never discerning what a Redeemer I had. On the occasion of a choir communion, September 10, 1803, I had a pecularly deep feeling of my own poverty and sinfulness, and yet I experienced the peace of God in my soul in a way which I can not discribe in words. An ineffable feeling of love and gratitude to Him who could bless and forgive one so unworthy as myself, filled my soul. Now, everything was bright within me; I had passed from death to life. In this lessed frame of mind I remained for a long time, but I had yet many things to learn. The total loss of my hearing occasioned me much pain, and I had a severe struggle before I could resign myself implicity to this deprivation. The thought that this trial came from the Lord and was intended for my advancement in the heavenly life, has now reconciled me to it." The loss of her hearing prevented Miss Heckewelder from devoting her future to the object chosen -- the education of young women for useful occupations in life.From 1806 she resided at Bethlehem: up to 1823 in the family of her father, and afterward with sisters of the Church. She was oblidge to use a slate in conversation. Her habits were those of a pious, industrious woman. Her acts of benevolence and charity were frequent and disinterested. She abounded in good works. Old age curtailed her deeds of kindness and her "missions of Love." Her latter days were spent in meekness and quietness-- waiting the coming of her time. Her last illness was short, and her end was in peace. She died in the assurance of a blessed immortality, September 19th, 1868, aged 87 years, five months, and two days. Hee remains were deposited by those of her Father in the Moravian cemetery, at Bethlehem. We have leave our first inquiry, and give the reader a brief sketch of the first white person born in Ohio, after the settlement made at Marietta, on the Ohio, in 1788. That person was Leicester G. Converse. He was born at Marrietta, February 7th, 1789, and resided there for many years. In 1834 he located in Morgan county, engaging in mercantile operations, from which, in 1846 he retired to his farm, situated on the west bank of the Muskingum, about five miles above McConnelsville. There he continued to reside until his death, which occurred February 14th, 1859. Mr. Converse was a man of character and ability, an examplary Christian, and a citizen of great usefulness. He was passionately fond of farming, and for several years before his death was interested in the operations of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-bits continued in part 79.