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The murder of Levi Jones August 13, 1812
-From the book "A History of Richland County" by A. A. Graham, 1880-
WHEN war was declared with Great Britain, in the spring of 1812 a feeling of uneasiness ran through the border settlements. The Indians had always been allies of the English as against Americans : and they would have been equally allies of any other power that would have assisted them in regaining the territory that was being rapidly wrested from them at the advancing pioneers.
Tecumseh, the brave and eloquent chief, was earnestly engaged in uniting the Indian tribes inducing them to take up the hatchet, and with the help of the British, drive the Americans from their country few soldiers were then upon the border for the protection of the settler : block-houses and means of defense were. When the American commander, Gen. Hull surrendered this feeling of insecurity was increased to one of alarm. It was supposed that a British invading army would immediately cross the State of Ohio, and that the Indians would be let loose upon the defenseless settlers. Block-houses were immediately erected for protection-they sprang up; like mush-rooms, almost in a single night. Two were erected on the site of Mansfield ; one on Rocky Fork, at Beam's mill (now Goody's mill): one on the Clear Fork of the Mohican and one where Ganges now stands. Within reach of these ruble works the pioneers felt comparatively safe. A few of them could defend themselves against quite a force of savages; and as rapidly as possible. these works were occupied by soldiers.
There had been, for some years, a camp of Indians at Greentown on Black Fork-about one hundred of them. A few were Mohawks, but most of them were Delawares, under an old chief, named Armstrong. They had always been friendly and neighborly with the whites, and quite a settlement of white people had gathered around them. Fearing that Tecumseh would influence these Indians to engage in the war and that they would suddenly fall upon the settlers an murder them, the military authorities determined to remove them. It was the policy of the Government to gather all the friendly Indians together as much as possible - to separate the sheep from the goats, as it were--that it might know who were its friends and who its enemies. This was the motive for the order removing the Greentown Indians. However unjust it might seem to drive them from their homes and hunting-grounds, it was in accordance with a general policy that seemed to be for the best. A great many friendly Indians were gathered near the present site of Piqua, Ohio, where they were under the protection and supervision of the military. To this place it was decided to remove these Indians, and that task was intrusted to Col. Samuel Kratzer, who had arrived in Mansfield with hiscommand from Knox County. His soldiers were scattered about the vicinity, building block-houses and doing garrison duty. One company under command of Capt. Martin, was stationed at the block-house at Beam's Mill. In September. Col. Kratzer sent a company of soldiers, under Capt. Douglas, to bring the Greentown Indians to Mansfield. It was a delicate and disagreeable duty. When Douglas arrived at the village and reported his mission to the chief, Capt. Armstrong hesitated about obeying the order. He had eighty fighting men under his command, and could have made a vigorous resistance. It seemed cruel to remove these people from their homes, where they were living quietly, attending to their own business, molesting no one. living mostly- in comfortable cabins, and surrounded by their families and the comforts of life; in a country wonderfully beautiful, which they had always called their own. What wonder is it that they hesitated to obey this peremptory order? These Indians were in a great degree under the influence of Christianity. Missionaries had visited them regularly for years, and preached in their council-house. They traded freely with the whites, and were more intelligent and further on the road to civilization than most other tribes. Their village site had been selected for the romantic beauty of its scenery; it is said by those who visited it at that period that no more lovely spot could be found; yet they must leave all this at the bidding of destiny. It seems as if it was ordained that this race should be ground to powder under the heel of civilization.
"Let them take the last look at the grass-covered grave,
Where rest the remains of their forefathers brave;
The hills and the valleys, the dark, waving woods,
The murmuring brooks and broad, rolling floods;
The bold, massive rocks which environ the shore
Where the bright waters dance and the wild torrents roar
Bid a lasting farewell to each family spot,
And march to where destiny fixes their lot."
The Indians were thrown into a violent state of excitement upon the appearance of the soldiers for their removal. Capt. Armstrong trembled with suppressed emotion; so much so that he could hardly reply to Capt. Douglas. The camp was like a powder magazine-a spark would have caused an explosion-a word would have brought on a desperate struggle. Douglas, finding he would have some difficulty, concluded to go to Mr. James Copus, for his advice and assistance, desiring, if possible; to avoid bloodshed.
James Copus was the first settler in Mifflin Township. He was born in Greens County, Penn., about the year 1775; married in his native county in 1796 ; emigrated to Richland County, in March, 1809, and settled on the Black Fork of the Mohican. He first located about three miles east of the present site of Charles Mill; on what has since been called Seymore's Run, where he erected a camp cabin of poles. In this cabin he lived eighteen months, when he moved down nearer to Black Fork, about three-fourths of a mile from that stream, where a beautiful spring gushes from the foot of a high rocky ridge or bluff. Here he built a permanent cabin on land he had selected, and began clearing off a farm. Meanwhile, he had become well known to the Greentown Indians ; was on the most friendly terms with them, and was much respected by them. He was a man of strong religious convictions-a Methodist, and frequently preached for them in their council-house. He was a stout, fearless, industrious German, and soon had a small patch cleared about his cabin, fenced with brush and logs, and planted in corn. He possessed a yoke of oxen and a.cow or two. A few white neighbors, soon gathered around him; among whom were James Cunningham, Andrew Craig, David and Samuel Hill and Mr. Lambright. The settlement came to be known as the Black Fork or Copus settlement. The Indians soon learned to trust Mr. Copus, to believe in his honesty.
It was to this man that Capt. Douglas went, to secure, if possible, his influence in getting the Indians removed without a conflict. Mr. Copus entertained some peculiar views respecting human rights; his sympathies were with the Indians, and he was strongly opposed to their removal. He liked them as neighbors. believed they were inclined to peace, and could not see the necessity of driving them from their homes. He entered into a long conversation with the officer respecting the justness of his mission. He maintained that they had suffered the most shameful wrongs, and that a God of mercy would require restitution from the hands of the whites. He at first refused to assist the officer, declaring to him, that, if be would not disturb them, he would, himself, stand accountable for their conduct. All Mr. Copus' arguments were to no purpose. The officer stated simply that his orders were peremptory to remove them, and, however unjust it might be, he could not do less than obey orders. Mr. Copus saw that if he did not use his influence and persuade the Indians to go peaceably, there would be bloodshed, and. with this view, he at last agreed to accompany the officer to the Indian village; first stipulating, however, that, should the Indians quietly surrender, their lives and property should be protected. This Capt. Douglas promised; and, taking with him his three sons, Henry, James and Wesley, they proceeded to the village. Through Mr. Copus' influence, the Indians were persuaded to go quietly away with the soldiers, after receiving assurances that their property should be protected and restored them, and that they should be protected on the march. Prior to this, the Indians had assured Peter Kinney, a neighbor, that, if permitted to remain, they would surrender all their guns and warlike-like weapons and answer to roll-call every day, but, as Capt. Douglas had no discretionary power, this could not be done.
A schedule of their property was taken by James Cunningham and Peter Kinney, and they took up their line of march across the Black Fork, turning their faces from a home they, as a tribe, were never to see again. They were taken across to the new State road, thence to Lucas, and from there to Mansfield, camping in the deep ravine, which now crosses the First Ward, above the bridge on South Main street. It is now called Ritter's Run. Some eight or ten soldiers straggled from Douglas' command, and remained behind at the Indian village. No sooner had Armstrong and his people disappeared in the forest, than these soldiers deliberately, to the surprise and distress of Mr. Copus, set fire to the village and burned it to the ground. Nearly everything the Indians left behind was consumed. The village contained some sixty comfortable log houses, a large council-house, and much personal property, which the Indians were unable to carry with them.
This is the statement of Mr. Wesley Copus, who was present. He is now dead, but the statement was written down in his presence, and by his dictation, some years before he died. He attributed the untimely death of his father to this act of perfidy on the part of Douglas' command.
After being joined by a few Indians from Jeromeville, Col. Kratzer and his command conducted the Indians through Berkshire and across Elm Creek, in Delaware County, to Piqua.
It is said the Indians discovered volumes of smoke rising over the treetops, surmised that their property was being burnt, and some of them vowed a terrible vengeance.
Capt. Thomas Steene Armstrong, chief of the Greentown Indians, whose Indian name was Pamoxet, was born in Pennsylvania, somewhere on the Susquehanna River. He was not a full-blooded Indian, but very dark skinned; the name Steene probably alluded to some white relative. In this country he first came into notice at the treaty of Fort Industry, July 4, 1805. He was probably chief of the Turtle branch of the Lena Lenape, or Delaware tribe. and located at Greentown, about the time Capt. Pipe made his residence near Mohican Johnstown. He was often visited by the Moravian missionary Heckewelder, long before any white settlers made their appearance.
At the time these white settlers came, Capt. Armstrong appeared to be about sixty-five years of age; was a small man, slightly stooping, rather dignified and reticent, dressed in full Indian costume, and appeared to advantage. He had two wives-one an old squaw, by whom he had James and Silas, and, probably, other children. He married a young squaw in 1808, by whom he had children. He frequently visited the cabin of James Copus, and made sugar there the first spring after his arrival. James and Silas often shot at a mark with bows and arrows, with James and Wesley Copus, in the sugar camp. They also amused themselves by hopping, wrestling, and other boyish sports. Armstrong had two Indian slaves or servants, both deaf. They were of some other tribe. He was a harmless old chief, and treated every one very kindly. The favorite hunting-ground of his tribe was in Knox County, along Owl Creek and its tributaries, and they frequently had difficulty with the early settlers of that region. After their removal to Piqua, Armstrong settled in the Upper Sandusky region, among the Delawares and Wyandots and never returned to Greentown : his boys, however, James and Silas, frequently came back. The chief was a good Indian Doctor, and could talk very good English. His descendants married among the Wyandots and Delawares and when these tribes were removed, went with them beyond the Mississippi settling near Wyandot, Kansas.
During the short time the Greentown Indians were encamped in Mansfield, two of them, a warrior and his daughter, a little girl, escaped from the guards and made their way toward Upper Sandusky. This Indian's name was Toby; he did not belong to the Greentown Indians, but to another tribe located at Upper Sandusky. For some reason, his little daughter had been living with the Greentown Indians, and, when he found they were being removed by the Government, he came to take her home, and met her at Mansfield. Here he found her under guard, and, not being able to get her away openly, he succeeded in getting her through the guards, and they started for Upper Sandusky. At that time there was, in Col. Kratzer's command, a company of soldiers from Coshocton, and, among them, two men by the name of Morrison and McCulloch ; the latter had a brother killed by the Indians at the battle of Brownstown. These two men took their rifles and started in pursuit of the fugitives, on the Sandusky trail. Two miles out, they overtook and immediately fired upon them, wounding the father. They then returned to town. The Indian ran about forty rods, to a stream, and laid down in it. Morrison and McCulloch told what they had done; and a company of soldiers, under Sergt. J. C. Gilkinson, and accompanied by the two scouts, Morrison and McCulloch, went out to look for the wounded Indian and found him still alive, lying in the stream. As they approached, he lifted his hands, imploring mercy but there was no mercy for him. Morrison drew his tomahawk from his belt and handed it to McCulloch, saying. "Take revenge for your brothers blood." McCulloch walked deliberately up and in spite of the entreaties of Mr. Gilkison, sank the tomahawk into the Indian's skull up to the handle.
They then took the body out of the water and having piled some logs on it, left it for the present and went home, taking along the gun, tomahawk, and other articles prolonging to the Indian. Some days after they returned, cut off the head of the Indian, scalped it, brought it to town and stuck it on a pole in the street. where it remained several days when some one becoming disgusted with the sight took it down and buried it. Dr. J. P. Henderson still living adds to the above the following: "The scalp they filled with whisky, handed it around and drank from it though mixed with blood."
The daughter escaped and after living nine days on berries arrived safely at Sandusky. Nothing could be done to punish Morrison and McCulloch for this crime as there was a standing order that all Indians found in the woods outside the guards should he shot.
About the same time the Indians were removed from Greentown. Levi Jones was killed near 'Mansfield. On the 13th of August 1812, John Wallace and a man by the name of Reed went out a half-mile east of town to clear off a place for a brickyard. In the afternoon. Levi Jones who kept a grocery in the cabin on the Sturgis corner, went out where they were at work and remained with them some time. In returning, he took a different route from the one by which he went out it being a trail through the woods. When he reached the vicinity of the brick block lately known as the Friendly Inn and near the foot of the hill on the east side of North Main street, he was fired upon by a party of Indians in ambush. It is supposed this was a party of the Greentown Indians. They probably had some grudge against Jones who sold whisky and had trouble with them at different times on this account. One shot took effect the ball entering the back of the left hand passing through the hand and entering the right breast. The hand through which the hall passed was confined at his breast by a sling in consequence of a felon on his thumb. Jones did not fall immediately but giving a yell of pain and alarm started on a run for the block-house. He might have reached it, but unfortunately came in contact with a brush across the path which threw him backward upon the ground. Before he could regain his feet the Indians were upon him and finished their work by stabbing him several times in the back. They then scalped him and, having secured his hat and handkerchief gave the scalp-yell and left.
John Pugh and Mr. Westfall were working a few rods from the place and, hearing the yell, ran into town and gave the alarm. They returned and found Jones lying dead in the trail, but fearing an ambush left him there and returned to the block-house. In a very few minutes everybody in the vicinity heard the news and all immediately took shelter in the block-house. The excitement was very great; they momentarily expected an attack. During all this time, the supposition was that Reed and Wallace who were clearing the brickyard in that direction, had also been killed by the Indians and that the latter were still lurking in the neighborhood. The wives of Reed and Wallace were almost frantic thinking their husbands had been murdered. It was now about sundown and as it seems there were no soldiers in the block-house at that time, it was determined to send immediately to Mount Vernon for help. Who would volunteer to go, was the question. It was a hazardous journey whoever volunteered would stand a fair chance of losing his scalp. It happened that, just at that time, the eccentric but brave Johnny Appleseed. was present. He immediately volunteered to undertake the hazardous journey, and started about dark, bareheaded and barefooted, through the wilderness. He reached Mount Vernon, Ohio in safety, and with such expedition that Capt Garey. with a party of soldiers, was at the block-house by sunrise the next morning.
On this journey, Johnny Appleseed gave a warning cry at every cabin he passed, informing the inmates that Reed, Wallace and Jones were killed, and that the Indians were passing south. There was something awful, it is said, in Johnny's warning cry; as he pounded at the door of each cabin he passed; and shouted to the inmates: "Flee! flee! for Your lives! The Indians are upon you." and, before they could open the door or fairly comprehend his meaning, this angel of mercy had disappeared in the darkness and night on his way with the fleetness of a deer to the next cabin-
"And, pressing forward like the wind, Left pallor and surprise behind."
Shortly after Johnny left Reed and Wallace made their appearance at the block-house safe and sound to the great joy of all.
When the soldiers arrived in the morning the body of Jones was brought in on a sled and buried, and a search made for any savages that might be lurking about. The place where the Indians had tied their horses was found near the foot of the hill upon which Judge Geddes now resides. The nest clay Capt Douglas raised a company of fifteen volunteers, and started on the trail of the Indians, following it to Upper Sandusky. They came so near the fugitives on the second day. that they found their campfires still burning. At Upper Sandusky they found Gov. McArthur. with a company from Chillicothe and remained there several days searching in the Indian camp for the murderers of Jones, but did not find them. Some three hundred friendly Indians were encamped there. Douglas did not think it safe to return by the way he went and came back by way of Fredericktown. The men were roughly dressed. and had handkerchiefs tied about their heads instead of hats. They looked more like Indians than white men; and as they were going into Fredericktown, they fired off their guns by way of salute, and greatly frightened the inhabitants. Two women fainted in the street; and a general stampede for the block-house took place.
The murder of Jones must have happened a few days before the removal of the Greentown Indians, as at that time soldiers were already occupying the block-houses on the square.
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