OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 789 Today's Topics: #1 SENECA COUNTY - PART 2 [Gina Reasoner To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.2.0.58.19991116202631.0094cdc0@pop.prodigy.net> Subject: SENECA COUNTY - PART 2 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Historical Collections of Ohio By Henry Howe, LL.D. SENECA COUNTY - PART 2 INDIAN EXECUTION FOR WITCHCRAFT. At this time their principal chiefs were Coonstick, Small Cloud Spicer, Seneca Steel, Hard Hickory, Tall Chief and Good Hunter, the last two of whom were their principal orators. The old chief Good Hunter told Mr. Henry C. Brish, their sub-agent, that this band, which numbered about four hundred souls, were in fact the remnant of Logan's tribe (see Pickaway county), and says Mr. Brish in a communication to us: "I cannot to this day surmise why they were called Senecas. I never found a Seneca among them. They were Cayugas -who were Mingoes -among whom were a few Oneidas, Mohawks, Onondagoes, Tuscarawas and Wyandots." From Mr. Brish, we have received an interesting narrative, of the execution for witchcraft of one of these Indians, names Seneca John, who was one of the best men of his tribe. About the year 1825, Coonstick, Steel and Cracked Hoof left the reservation for the double purpose of a three years hunting and trapping excursion, and to seek a location for a new home for the tribe in the far West. At the time of their starting, Comstock, the brother of the first two, was the principal chief of the tribe. On their return in 1828, richly laden with furs and horses, they found Seneca John, their fourth brother, chief, in place of Comstock, who had died during their absence. Comstock was the favorite brother of the two, and they at once charged Seneca John with producing his death by witchcraft. John denied the charge in a strain of eloquence rarely equalled. Said he, "I loved my brother Comstock more than I love the green earth I stand upon. I would give myself, limb by limb, piecemeal by peacemeal -I would shed my blood, drop by drop, to restore him to life." But all his protestations of innocence and affecting for his brother Comstock were of no avail. His two other brothers pronounced him guilty and declared their determination to be his executioners. John replied that he was willing to die and only wished to live until the next morning, request being granted, John told them that he should sleep that night on Hard Hickory's porch, which fronted the east, where they would find him at sunrise. He chose that place because he did not wish to be killed in the presence of his wife, and desired that the chief, Hard Hickory, should witness that he died like a brave man. Coonstick and Steel retired for the night to an old cabin near by. In the morning, in company with Shane, another Indian, they preceded to the house of Hard Hickory, who was my informant of what there happened. He said, a little after sunrise he heard their footsteps upon the porch, and opened the door just enough to peep out. He saw John asleep upon his blanket, while they stood around him. At length one of them awoke him. He arose upon his feet and took off a large handkerchief which was around his head, letting his unusually long hair fall upon his shoulders. This being done, he looked around upon the landscape and at the rising sun, to take a farewell look of a scene that he was never again to behold and then told them he was ready to die. Shane and Coonstick each took him by the arm, and Steel walked behind. In this way they led him about ten steps from the porch, when steel struck him with a tomahawk on the back of his head, and he fell to the ground, bleeding freely. Supposing this blow sufficient to kill him, they dragged him under a peach tree near by. In a short time, however, he revived; the blow having been broken by his great mass of hair. Knowing that it was Steel who stuck the blow, John, as he lay, turned his head towards Coonstick and said, "Now brother, do you take your revenge." This so operated upon the feelings of Coonstick, that he interposed to save him; but it enraged Steel to such a degree, that he drew his knife and cut John's throat from ear to ear, and the next day he was buried with the usual Indian ceremonies, not more than twenty feet from where he fell. Steel was arrested and tried for the murder in Sandusky county, and acquaitted. The grave of Seneca John was surrounded by a small picket enclosure. Three years after when I was preparing to move them to the far West, I saw Coonstick and Steel remove the picket-fence and level the ground, so that no vestige of the grave remained. SACRIFICING DOGS TOT HE GREAT SPIRIT. A writer in the Sidney Aurora, gave a narrative of some of the religious rites of this tribe, just prior to their departure for their new homes. We extract his description of their sacrificing two dogs to the Great Spirit. This writer was probably Mr. Brish. We rose early and proceeded directly to the council house, and though we supposed we were early, the Indians were already in advance of us. The first object which arrested our attention, was a pair of the canine species, one of each gender suspended on a cross! one on either side therof. These animals had been recently strangled -not a bone was broken, nor could a distorted hair be seen! They were of beautiful cream color, except a few dark spots on one, naturally, which same spots were put on the other, artificially, by the devotees. The Indians are very partial in the selection of dogs entirely white for this occasion; and for such they will give almost any price. Now for part of the decorations to which I have already alluded; a description of one will suffice for both. First -A scarlet ribbon was tastefully tied just above the nose; and near the eyes another; next round the neck was a white ribbon, to which was attached some bulbous, concealed in another white ribbon; this was placed directly under the right ear, and I suppose it was intended as an amulet or charm. Then ribbons were bound round the forelegs, at the knees and near the feet -these were red and white alternately. Round the body was a profuse decoration -then the hind legs were decorated as the fore ones. Thus were the victims prepared and thus ornamented for burnt offering. While minutely making this examination, I was almost unconscious of the collection of a large number of Indians who were there assembled to offer their sacrifices. Adjacent to the cross was a large fire built on a few logs; and though the snow was several inches deep, they had prepared a sufficient quantity of combustible material, removed the snow from the logs and placed thereon their fire. I have often regretted that i did not see them light this pile. My own opinion is, they did not use the fire from their council house; because I think they would have considered that as common, and as this was intended to be a holy service, they, no doubt, for this purpose struck fire from a flint, this being deemed sacred. It was clear, beautiful morning, and just as the first rays of the sun were seen in the tops of the towering forest and its reflections from the snowy surface, the Indians simultaneously formed a semicircle enclosing the cross, each flank resting on the aforesaid pile of logs. Good Hunter, who officiated as High Priest, now appeared, and approached the cross; arrayed in his pontifical robes, he looked quite respectable. The Indians being all assembled -I say Indians, for there was not a squaw present during all this ceremony -at a private signal given by the High Priest, two young chiefs sprang upon the cross and each taking off one of the victims, brought it down and presented it on his arms to the High Priest, who receiving it with great reverence, in like manner advanced to the fire, and with a very grave and solemn air, laid it thereon -and this he did with the other -but to which, whether male or female, he gave the preference I did not learn. This done, he retired to the cross. In a devout manner he now commenced an oration. the tone of his voice was audible and somewhat chanting. At every pause in his discourse, he took from a white cloth he held in his left hand, a portion of dried, odoriferous herb, which he threw on the fire; this was intended as incense. In the meanwhile his auditory, their eyes on the ground, with grave aspect and solemn silence, stood motionless, listening attentively to every word he uttered. Thus he proceeded until the victims were entirely consumed and the incense exhausted, when he concluded his service; the oblation now made and the wrath of the Great Spirit, as they believed, appeased, they again assembled in the council-house, for the purpose of performing a part in their festival, different from any I yet had witnessed. Each Indian as he entered, seated himself on the floor, thus forming a large circle; when one of the old chiefs rose and with that native dignity which some Indians possess in a great degree, recounted his exploits as a warrior; told in how many fights he had been the victor; the number of scalps he had taken from his enemies; and what at the head of his braves, he yet intended to do at the "Rocky Mountains;" accompanying his narration with energy, warmth and strong gesticulation; when he ended, he received the unanimous applause of the assembled tribe. This meed of praise was awarded to the chief by "three times three" articulations, which were properly neither nasal, oral nor guttural, but rather abdominal. Thus many others in the circle, old and young, rose in order, and proforma, delivered themselves of a speech. Among those was Good Hunter; but he "Had laid his robes away His mitre and his vest." His remarks were not filled with such bombast as some others; but brief, modest and appropriate; in fine, they were such as became a priest of one of the lost ten tribes of Israel. After all had spoken who wished to speak, the floor was cleared and the dance renewed, in which Indian and squaw united, with their wonted hilarity and zeal. Just as this dance ended, an Indian boy ran to me and with fear strongly depicted in his countenance, caught me by the arm and drew me to the door, pointing with his other hand towards something he wished me to observe. I looked in that direction, and saw the appearance of an Indian running at full speed to the council-house; in an instant he was in the house and literally in the fire, which he took in his hands and threw fire, coals and hot ashes in various directions through the house and apparently all over himself. At his entrance, the young Indians much alarmed, had all fled to the further end of the house, where they remained crowded, in great dread of this personification of the Evil Spirit. After diverting himself with the fire a few moments at the expense of the young ones, to their no small joy he disappeared. This was an Indian disguised with a hideous false face, having horns on his head, and his hands and feet protected from the effects of the fire. And though not a professed "Fire King," he certainly performed his part to admiration. During the continuance of this festival, the hospitality of the Senecas was unbounded. In the council-house and at the residence of Tall Chief, were a number of large fat bucks and hogs hanging up and neatly dressed. Bread, also, of both corn and wheat, in great abundance. Large kettles of soup ready prepared, in which maple sugar, profusely added, made a prominent ingredient thus forming a very agreeable saccharine coalescence. All were invited and made welcome; indeed, a refusal to partake of their bounty, was deemed disrespectful, if not unfriendly. I left them in the afternoon enjoying themselves to the fullest extent, and so far as I could perceive, their pleasure was without alloy. They were eating and drinking, but on this occasion, no ardent spirits were permitted -dancing and rejoicing -caring and probably thinking not of to-morrow. -continued in part 3 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 08:20:25 -0500 From: "Linda Dietz" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <000a01bf31c7$ae49fa80$e272bfa8@Linda> Subject: Pioneer Marriages in Allen County 1857 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Taken from Lima Democratic News Oct 1857 By A. Conklin, James ALLEN to Catherine STALTER By same, Solomon CARR to Mary STRAYER By John Richards JP, Henry MILLER to Emily SMITH By J. Hughes JP, Alexander OLIVER to Louisa BOWERS By (Blank), Henry BROWN to Magdaline MAUK By Jas. Davis, Thomas ORELLS to Martha PAUL By same, David ROBERTS to Elizabeth WATKINS By same, William VERBRYCK to Rebecca RIDENOUR By S. Sutton JP, Aaron LOOMAS to Esther WOOD By (Blank), Lewis AUGSBURGER to Luisa NAGAL By Rev. J. Wykes, David LOGAN to Nancy FUNK By same, Abiah JOHN to Phoebe MYERS By J.O. Bredick, Saffirn SHENK to Barbary BROWN By (Blank), Henry LIPPENCOTT to Mary McPHERON By Geo. Overmyer JP, John OSCS to Catherine SOUTH By David Hartzog JP, Samuel KROUSE to Sarah WILSON By Daniel Richardson, Zenas BATES to Phoebe BATES By Elijah Grubb JP, William CUSTARD to Harriet MILLER By same, John THOMAS to Ann RUMBAUGH By S. Heaton, George McPHERON to Elizabeth BURDEN Nov 1857 By John Miller JP, Henry STEPHEN to Melissa FISHER By same, James GRUBB to Lucy COLEMAN By same, John SPENCER to Amanda TOMPKINS By Thomas Frazee, George SHOPE to Eliza DIVORE By A. Conklin, Levi ALLEN to Mary STALTER By same, Calvin WILLIAMS to Mary WEAVER By H.H. Rader JP, Robert LEMON to Mary A. CHRISTY By Rev. Thos. Elcock, Thadeus GILLALAN to Ruhanah BAKER By Wm. Moorman, Samuel MAYER to Mary C. BRENNEMAN By C.Leist JP, John F. MUMAUGH to Margaret BECHTOL By H. Hartshorn JP, James BOYD to Elizabeth MASON By Elijah Grubb JP, John STUMBAUGH to Elizabeth BINKLEY By same, Stephen WHITEHERSE to Mary VALENTINE By John Thuet, Christian STEINER to Magdalina BLOSSER By Rev. A.R. Krebs, J. MAXWELL to Hannah WOOLETT By Rev. J. Wykes, William GARRETSON to Elizabeth FRANKLIN By same, William McPHERON to Samantha GARRETSON By Jno. Richards JP, Andrew Waggoner to Elizabeth LEISER By (Blank), Abraham REEDER to Susannah JENNINGS Dec 1857 By G. Stevens, Francis MUELLER to Eugenia ROEDER By same, Alexander HOMAN to Lovina BROWER By same, J. CHURCHILL to Lucinda SAINT By Enos Foster, George KELLER to Sarah BOYD By Rev. A.R. Krebs, Lewis BELINGER to Nancy ALDRIDGE By same, George SHAW to Sarah NORES By same, Joseph WARD to Mary RICHARDS By Jno. Amstutz JP, Valentine STEINHOUR to Polina KEISER By W. Hutchins JP, Samuel BAXTER to Rachel CARMEAN By same, John CORNER to Luisa CARMEAN By Z. Green, Newton McADAMS to Alma HUBBLE By J. DeLeal, James PANGLE to I. OARD By J. Klinger, Reuben HERRING to Betsey HAYS By same, Godfried HAWK to Elizabeth MATTER By same, William RONEY to Anna WARNER By same, Samuel STOMBAUGH to Frances SHRIDER By S. Sutton JP, Thomas MORTEN to Susan DAVIS By Rev. J. Wykes, Andrew BOGGS to Annetta BINKLEY By (Blank), Samuel BRENNEMAN to Catharine WARD By Jno. Richards JP, William NEELY to Margaret DAVIDSON By same, Noah STALTER to Ellen LEHMAN By J. Hughes JP, Milton SUTTEMEYER to Catharine FOSTER By Geo. Schooler JP, Jerome WALTON to Susan SELLERS By Jno. Shaffer JP, Lot TURNER to Elizabeth BROWN By Samuel Rockhill JP, William YANT to Easter FERGUSON By Lewis Herring JP, Peter SMITHSOLE to Sarah COON By Israel Haynes JP, William CROOKSHANK to Elizabeth DUTCHER By (Blank), Jacob HALLER to Anna STEVENSON By Jno. Wise JP, William RIGDON to Sarah CRIDER Nov 18,1999 Submitted by Linda Dietz ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 08:34:20 -0500 From: "Linda Dietz" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001301bf31c9$9f9cbca0$e272bfa8@Linda> Subject: Allen County Probate Court Notices 1867 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Taken from Allen County Democrat The following accounts have been filed in the Probate Court of Allen Co., Ohio and will be for hearing on Monday July 1,1867 Third account of Isaac POVENMIRE, guardian of Norman POVENMIRE Final account of Martha L. STRAW, late Martha L. NASH, guardian of Levisa L. NASH, minor Final account of Thomas M. ROBB, Exc. of Joshua ROBB, dec'd Third account of Levi GOODENOW, guardian of Caroline L. and Elvina L. GOODENOW Final account of Elias COUNCELLOR,admr. of Abraham SHOCKEY, dec'd First account of Peter BRESLER, admr. of Jacob STUCKEY, dec'd Final account of Henry BOOSE, guardian of Barbara Jones ISCH, minor First account of Peter BIXELL, guardian of Fanny GEIGER, minor Final account of Sarah BLOXHAM, admr. of George BLOXMAN, dec'd Second account of Peter SHOEMAKER, guardian of Christian HERR's minor heirs Final account of Martha CUNNINGHAM, admr. of James CUNNINGHAM, dec'd First account of James CARMEAN and George DANIELS, admr's of Jacob CREMEAN, dec'd Charles Hughes Probate Judge Nov 18,1999 Submitted by Linda Dietz---Ohio Proud Rootsweb Sponsor Member Allen Co,Genealogy Soc -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #789 *******************************************