Early Green Settlers and Native Peoples
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Pictured above at Indian Pond, Rt. 619 and Cottage Grove Road
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Early Stone Mounds & Chief Paupellnan
From Historical Reminiscences of Summit County, Lucius Verus Bierce 1854, pg. 77 Green Township,
In the early settlement of the township the low grounds were noted for the appearance of the "ignis fatuus," or will-a-wisp. By the superstitious they were supposed to be the spirits of the Indians, or "spooks," who had come back to visit their hunting grounds. Previous to the war of 1812, Indians were quite plenty, but as they sided with the British they had to leave the country, since which an Indian has rarely been seen in the town. Their principal location was on the head waters of the Nimishilla, on sections 30 and 25 where the remains of their old forts and wigwams are yet to be seen.
The N. W. quarter of section 25, on land purchased by Cornelius Johnson, of the U.S. in 1813, and on which he yet resides, appears to have been a favorite hunting ground of the Indians, as arrow heads, hatches, skinning knives, and other implements, have been found there in great abundance.
From the numerous flint chips found on that quarter of the section, it would seem to have been a place for manufacturing their stone hatchets and arrow heads. Where they found the stone is unknown.
This spot seems to have been selected on account of its being light timbered, clear from underbrush, and elevated a little above the surrounding lands. Scattered over this elevated plateau, were found piles of stone, varying in size from a man's fist to his head, and arranged in heaps of from 4 by 10 feet to a little larger or smaller.
Tradition assigns to them the honor of holding the ashes of some warrior or chief, but as no bones or human remains have ever been found in them, I am inclined to think them altars, on which they sacrificed to their Gods, and the spirits of their departed Braves. Among all the tribes sacrifices were common; and from these small and rude tumuli to the vast sacrificial mound of Cholula, we can trace the Jewish Altar—the tradition of which still lingers among these remnants of the lost tribes on which, in imitation of their ancient brethren, in the palmy days of Judea, they offer tobacco to the god of Peace, and a dog to the god of War.*
Tradition says that one of the early settlers in Green attempted to desecrate one of these tumuli, but after throwing down three or four feet of it, and when he was, as he supposed, about to accomplish his object, he was seized with a supernatural fear, and abandoned the enterprise. Many of the early settlers dreaded the spirit of the dead Indian far more than they did the living spirit encased in flesh and hones, however well armed. Even the harmless Will-o-the-wisp caused the strong man to tremble, as he paced his solitary way through the forest, and his imagination painted it as the spirit of the injured red man,
* In confirmation of this opinion that these heaps of stones are altars, and that the idea of them is derived from the ancient Jewish custom of erecting a pillar of a single stone, or a heap of stones, on which to sacrifice, to commemorate some remarkable occurrence, I offer the following:—At the foot of the Rapids of the Maumee, near Wayne's battle ground, is a rock, on or near which the Indian Chief Turkey Foot died, from wounds received in that battle, the Indians hive carved a rude resemblance of a Turkey's foot on that rock, and to this day in passing it, they deposit on it a piece of tobacco as an offering to the spirit of Turkey Foot, their favorite chief.
The Jewish custom was similar, except in the thing offered—as appears from their records :—"And Jacob took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows, and lay down in- -that place to sleep. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar and poured off on the top of it. [Gen. 28, v. 11 and 18. Jacob took a stone and set if up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, 'gather stones,' and they took stones, and made an heap, and they did eat there, upon the heap. Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount." [Gen. 31, T. 45, 46, and 54]
Among the celebrated Indians who used this township for a hunting ground, was a chief, called by the whites "Beaver Hat." He had a settlement in the south part of the village of Wooster, where the Baptist burying ground now is. His Indian name was Paupellnan, and his settlement he called "Apple Chanqueeake,'' or apple orchard. He was a bitter enemy of the whites, and, when drunk, he would take out a string with 13 white men's tongues on it, dried, and exhibit them with much pride. One day he got out his string of tongues, and begin to shake them, when George Harter took his rifle, and started after him, saying he would go and kill a buck. The report of a rifle was soon after heard, but he brought back no game, nor was Beaver Hat ever heard of more.
In the early settlement of the township the low grounds were noted for the appearance of the "ignis fatuus," or will-a-wisp. By the superstitious they were supposed to be the spirits of the Indians, or "spooks," who had come back to visit their hunting grounds. Previous to the war of 1812, Indians were quite plenty, but as they sided with the British they had to leave the country, since which an Indian has rarely been seen in the town. Their principal location was on the head waters of the Nimishilla, on sections 30 and 25 where the remains of their old forts and wigwams are yet to be seen.
The N. W. quarter of section 25, on land purchased by Cornelius Johnson, of the U.S. in 1813, and on which he yet resides, appears to have been a favorite hunting ground of the Indians, as arrow heads, hatches, skinning knives, and other implements, have been found there in great abundance.
From the numerous flint chips found on that quarter of the section, it would seem to have been a place for manufacturing their stone hatchets and arrow heads. Where they found the stone is unknown.
This spot seems to have been selected on account of its being light timbered, clear from underbrush, and elevated a little above the surrounding lands. Scattered over this elevated plateau, were found piles of stone, varying in size from a man's fist to his head, and arranged in heaps of from 4 by 10 feet to a little larger or smaller.
Tradition assigns to them the honor of holding the ashes of some warrior or chief, but as no bones or human remains have ever been found in them, I am inclined to think them altars, on which they sacrificed to their Gods, and the spirits of their departed Braves. Among all the tribes sacrifices were common; and from these small and rude tumuli to the vast sacrificial mound of Cholula, we can trace the Jewish Altar—the tradition of which still lingers among these remnants of the lost tribes on which, in imitation of their ancient brethren, in the palmy days of Judea, they offer tobacco to the god of Peace, and a dog to the god of War.*
Tradition says that one of the early settlers in Green attempted to desecrate one of these tumuli, but after throwing down three or four feet of it, and when he was, as he supposed, about to accomplish his object, he was seized with a supernatural fear, and abandoned the enterprise. Many of the early settlers dreaded the spirit of the dead Indian far more than they did the living spirit encased in flesh and hones, however well armed. Even the harmless Will-o-the-wisp caused the strong man to tremble, as he paced his solitary way through the forest, and his imagination painted it as the spirit of the injured red man,
* In confirmation of this opinion that these heaps of stones are altars, and that the idea of them is derived from the ancient Jewish custom of erecting a pillar of a single stone, or a heap of stones, on which to sacrifice, to commemorate some remarkable occurrence, I offer the following:—At the foot of the Rapids of the Maumee, near Wayne's battle ground, is a rock, on or near which the Indian Chief Turkey Foot died, from wounds received in that battle, the Indians hive carved a rude resemblance of a Turkey's foot on that rock, and to this day in passing it, they deposit on it a piece of tobacco as an offering to the spirit of Turkey Foot, their favorite chief.
The Jewish custom was similar, except in the thing offered—as appears from their records :—"And Jacob took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows, and lay down in- -that place to sleep. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar and poured off on the top of it. [Gen. 28, v. 11 and 18. Jacob took a stone and set if up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, 'gather stones,' and they took stones, and made an heap, and they did eat there, upon the heap. Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount." [Gen. 31, T. 45, 46, and 54]
Among the celebrated Indians who used this township for a hunting ground, was a chief, called by the whites "Beaver Hat." He had a settlement in the south part of the village of Wooster, where the Baptist burying ground now is. His Indian name was Paupellnan, and his settlement he called "Apple Chanqueeake,'' or apple orchard. He was a bitter enemy of the whites, and, when drunk, he would take out a string with 13 white men's tongues on it, dried, and exhibit them with much pride. One day he got out his string of tongues, and begin to shake them, when George Harter took his rifle, and started after him, saying he would go and kill a buck. The report of a rifle was soon after heard, but he brought back no game, nor was Beaver Hat ever heard of more.
Chief Wam-pe-tek & Liberton Dixon
From The History of Summit County, Perrin 1892, pg. 592 Green Township, page 530,
Another character who played a conspicuous part in the very early settlement was Libertine Dixon, the Indian hunter and fighter. Between this man and the red men, a deadly hatred existed, which often led to the shedding of blood. Dixon lived for many years in Middlebury or near there, but his time was spent largely in the woods with his invariable companion, a long, ungainly looking rifle, which he always spoke of with respect, calling it by the peculiar name of " Starling." Many are the stories of wild, reckless disregard of human life, which are told of Libertine Dixon, or rather of his gun " Starling." He seemed to feel as though an}' Indian who had an opportunity would shoot him as quick as he would a wolf, and acting upon that supposition, he always tried to get the first chance. One incident illustrating both this feeling, and his regard for his gun, was told by an old gray-haired man who knew him well and knew of the particular time mentioned. One day in 1815, the narrator of this story was in Middlebury Mills, to see after some sawing, grinding or something, at any rate, which called him to
the mill, when some Indians were seen to come into the town and stop at the grocery, where Dixon was. As they entered at the front door, he came out the back way and hastily went to his cabin, saying that the Indians were after him, and if they wanted to see him they should come for him in the woods. He took his gun, ammunition and some dried beef and was gone, and did not return for some time; when he did, he told this story to our informant : " I went into the woods and kept low until the}- left, when I followed them, but kept myself so con- cealed that they did not suspect me. They were, however, on the lookout for some one, and scoured the woods, until finally they seemed to give it up, and started toward Old Portage. One, however, watched the ravine closely where the Big Cuyahoga flows through the chasm near the Big Falls, and once, as he was hanging by one arm over the precipice holding to a hemlock tree on the edge of the rock, and looking closely up and down the valley, I stepped out from behind a big chestnut and 'Starling' spoke to him. But ' Old Starling ' spoke so suddenly that it scared the fellow, and he jumped oft' the bank on to the rocks below some forty feet and killed himself After awhile, I went up to him and as he didn't seem to want his gun and other things any longer, I took them." At another time, when he was hunting down by Long Lake in Coventry, he stepped to the edge of the lake, when he discovered an Indian fishing from a birch canoe. He jumped behind a tree and Old Starling thought he would speak to the fellow. The Indian was so frightened that he uttered a terrific yell and jumped into the lake. The smoke had hardly cleared away when another Indian, a companion probably, who was making afire on the bank above, came rushing down to see what his companion had shot. While he was looking after his friend, Dixon slipped away and disappeared. He also shot one on a little lake west of East Liberty, whose yell can be heard frequently on moon-light nights even to this day, and many times would the young people of that neighborhood go miles around rather than pass that little lake, from fear of hearing the unearthly yell of the murdered Indian or seeing his shadowy form gliding over the smooth surface of the lake in his birchen canoe, that made " not a ripple as he passed." So goes the story, at least, and no believer in ghosts and hobgoblins has any reason to cast discredit on so well authenticated a story as the above. Many of the Dixons who live in Coventry are descended from this old Indian hunter.
From Perrin, pages 597 & 598, About the name of Liberton Dixon is clustered much that is romantic, for he of all the early settlers of Green Township has been handed down to posterity as the daring adventurer of the early day. There is considerable added to the credit of this mighty hunter of the past which would not bear the closest scrutiny of an unbiased historian; but, if we should fail to give Green Township due credit for being the home of this illustrious Nimrod, and record on these pages some of the stories told about him, then every true son of Green would brand the Summit County history as a ''fraud." It is said that Liberton lived with the Indians for seven years, until one evening an old Indian got mad at Liberton while they were around the camp-fire, and took after him with a buoe knife. The famous hunter being convinced that " discretion is the better part of valor," fled from the camp and was followed by the warrior. Liberton accidentally tumbled over a brush heap, and the brave shared the same misfortune. It was a lucky accident for Liberton, but an unlucky one for the Indian, who dropped the knife when he fell; Liberton seized the weapon, killed the savage, and decided to return again unto the haunts of civilization. When on the way to the white settlements he was chased by the Indians who had discovered the body of their comrade. Liberton sought shelter from their bullets behind a tree, but the trunk was so small that it did not satisfactorily answer the desired purpose, and some seven shots were put through his clothing, but nevertheless, he escaped, and afterward settled in Green Township ; but, in his after years, he became a bitter enemy of the red man in consequence of their treachery toward him. According to his own accounts many Indians suffered death by his hands. It is said that, in relating his exploits, be would always leave his hearers to infer that the savage antagonists with whom he had frequent encounters had all been sent to the " happy hunting grounds " in consequence of his skill as an " Indian hunter." But the event of his life, which relates more particularly to Green Township, was the tragic death of Wam-pe-tek. This savage was the chief of a band containing about forty, and they had their headquarters near Turkey Foot Lake. These inoffensive red men never harmed the whites, but spent most of their time hunting, fishing and resting, at which latter occupation they were very successful. But one day Liberton and the chief quarreled about a bee-tree which both claimed. The result was, shortly afterward, the Indian was missing. Some one hearing the report of a rifle, asked Liberton what he had shot. " I shot at a deer," was the reply. " Where is your prize ?" was the next question, and his answer was, "I missed the animal." Dixon was a crack shot with the rifle, and never missed the object he fired at ; consequently, his statements on this occasion were not believed, and it has always been said that Wam-pe-tek, and not the deer, was his mark ; the chief never appeared to clear the mystery, and the supposition is that, while the savage was standing on a log near Indian Pond the fatal bullet struck him. Dixon then threw the body in the pond, which is situated about one mile west of East Liberty, and just northwest of the schoolhouse at that point. Other persons add other statements in regard to the matter. It is stated that a few days after the chief disappeared the ashes of a fire were discovered in the woods, and in them only half consumed were several articles formerly owned by the savage. Also that the band of Indians suspected Liberton, and would have killed him, but Dixon's brother John interfered. This. brother John was also a hunter of some note ; but, fortunately, did not consider it was necessary to slaughter every inoffensive Indian who crossed his path. It is related of John that he killed a very large wild-cat at the swamp which is just west of Grreensburg, and this locality was afterward called " Wild-Cat Swamp." He also shot a large bear which was on a chestnut tree, standing upon land now owned by Widow Spitler, of Greensburg. Liberton married Mrs. Hannah Culver, formerly Miss Pelton, and removed to Coventry Township, where he died about 1830. There are some old settlers who declare that toward the end of his life he was afraid to go out after night through fear that the spirits of some of the savages he had killed would capture him. Liberton was the father of four children ; they all moved West. It is related of Liberton and his brothers that they were brought up in the backwoods and were inured to all kinds of hardships ; they could sleep on the ground, and were not particular about a shelter to protect them from snow and rain if they desired repose ; they could eat an^-thing and live, march, and work without eating for a much longer time than the men who were the permanent settlers of the township. The Dixons were not afraid of danger, and, therefore, more valuable in turbulent times during the war of 1812 than a score of the farmers who inhabited the town at that time.
Another character who played a conspicuous part in the very early settlement was Libertine Dixon, the Indian hunter and fighter. Between this man and the red men, a deadly hatred existed, which often led to the shedding of blood. Dixon lived for many years in Middlebury or near there, but his time was spent largely in the woods with his invariable companion, a long, ungainly looking rifle, which he always spoke of with respect, calling it by the peculiar name of " Starling." Many are the stories of wild, reckless disregard of human life, which are told of Libertine Dixon, or rather of his gun " Starling." He seemed to feel as though an}' Indian who had an opportunity would shoot him as quick as he would a wolf, and acting upon that supposition, he always tried to get the first chance. One incident illustrating both this feeling, and his regard for his gun, was told by an old gray-haired man who knew him well and knew of the particular time mentioned. One day in 1815, the narrator of this story was in Middlebury Mills, to see after some sawing, grinding or something, at any rate, which called him to
the mill, when some Indians were seen to come into the town and stop at the grocery, where Dixon was. As they entered at the front door, he came out the back way and hastily went to his cabin, saying that the Indians were after him, and if they wanted to see him they should come for him in the woods. He took his gun, ammunition and some dried beef and was gone, and did not return for some time; when he did, he told this story to our informant : " I went into the woods and kept low until the}- left, when I followed them, but kept myself so con- cealed that they did not suspect me. They were, however, on the lookout for some one, and scoured the woods, until finally they seemed to give it up, and started toward Old Portage. One, however, watched the ravine closely where the Big Cuyahoga flows through the chasm near the Big Falls, and once, as he was hanging by one arm over the precipice holding to a hemlock tree on the edge of the rock, and looking closely up and down the valley, I stepped out from behind a big chestnut and 'Starling' spoke to him. But ' Old Starling ' spoke so suddenly that it scared the fellow, and he jumped oft' the bank on to the rocks below some forty feet and killed himself After awhile, I went up to him and as he didn't seem to want his gun and other things any longer, I took them." At another time, when he was hunting down by Long Lake in Coventry, he stepped to the edge of the lake, when he discovered an Indian fishing from a birch canoe. He jumped behind a tree and Old Starling thought he would speak to the fellow. The Indian was so frightened that he uttered a terrific yell and jumped into the lake. The smoke had hardly cleared away when another Indian, a companion probably, who was making afire on the bank above, came rushing down to see what his companion had shot. While he was looking after his friend, Dixon slipped away and disappeared. He also shot one on a little lake west of East Liberty, whose yell can be heard frequently on moon-light nights even to this day, and many times would the young people of that neighborhood go miles around rather than pass that little lake, from fear of hearing the unearthly yell of the murdered Indian or seeing his shadowy form gliding over the smooth surface of the lake in his birchen canoe, that made " not a ripple as he passed." So goes the story, at least, and no believer in ghosts and hobgoblins has any reason to cast discredit on so well authenticated a story as the above. Many of the Dixons who live in Coventry are descended from this old Indian hunter.
From Perrin, pages 597 & 598, About the name of Liberton Dixon is clustered much that is romantic, for he of all the early settlers of Green Township has been handed down to posterity as the daring adventurer of the early day. There is considerable added to the credit of this mighty hunter of the past which would not bear the closest scrutiny of an unbiased historian; but, if we should fail to give Green Township due credit for being the home of this illustrious Nimrod, and record on these pages some of the stories told about him, then every true son of Green would brand the Summit County history as a ''fraud." It is said that Liberton lived with the Indians for seven years, until one evening an old Indian got mad at Liberton while they were around the camp-fire, and took after him with a buoe knife. The famous hunter being convinced that " discretion is the better part of valor," fled from the camp and was followed by the warrior. Liberton accidentally tumbled over a brush heap, and the brave shared the same misfortune. It was a lucky accident for Liberton, but an unlucky one for the Indian, who dropped the knife when he fell; Liberton seized the weapon, killed the savage, and decided to return again unto the haunts of civilization. When on the way to the white settlements he was chased by the Indians who had discovered the body of their comrade. Liberton sought shelter from their bullets behind a tree, but the trunk was so small that it did not satisfactorily answer the desired purpose, and some seven shots were put through his clothing, but nevertheless, he escaped, and afterward settled in Green Township ; but, in his after years, he became a bitter enemy of the red man in consequence of their treachery toward him. According to his own accounts many Indians suffered death by his hands. It is said that, in relating his exploits, be would always leave his hearers to infer that the savage antagonists with whom he had frequent encounters had all been sent to the " happy hunting grounds " in consequence of his skill as an " Indian hunter." But the event of his life, which relates more particularly to Green Township, was the tragic death of Wam-pe-tek. This savage was the chief of a band containing about forty, and they had their headquarters near Turkey Foot Lake. These inoffensive red men never harmed the whites, but spent most of their time hunting, fishing and resting, at which latter occupation they were very successful. But one day Liberton and the chief quarreled about a bee-tree which both claimed. The result was, shortly afterward, the Indian was missing. Some one hearing the report of a rifle, asked Liberton what he had shot. " I shot at a deer," was the reply. " Where is your prize ?" was the next question, and his answer was, "I missed the animal." Dixon was a crack shot with the rifle, and never missed the object he fired at ; consequently, his statements on this occasion were not believed, and it has always been said that Wam-pe-tek, and not the deer, was his mark ; the chief never appeared to clear the mystery, and the supposition is that, while the savage was standing on a log near Indian Pond the fatal bullet struck him. Dixon then threw the body in the pond, which is situated about one mile west of East Liberty, and just northwest of the schoolhouse at that point. Other persons add other statements in regard to the matter. It is stated that a few days after the chief disappeared the ashes of a fire were discovered in the woods, and in them only half consumed were several articles formerly owned by the savage. Also that the band of Indians suspected Liberton, and would have killed him, but Dixon's brother John interfered. This. brother John was also a hunter of some note ; but, fortunately, did not consider it was necessary to slaughter every inoffensive Indian who crossed his path. It is related of John that he killed a very large wild-cat at the swamp which is just west of Grreensburg, and this locality was afterward called " Wild-Cat Swamp." He also shot a large bear which was on a chestnut tree, standing upon land now owned by Widow Spitler, of Greensburg. Liberton married Mrs. Hannah Culver, formerly Miss Pelton, and removed to Coventry Township, where he died about 1830. There are some old settlers who declare that toward the end of his life he was afraid to go out after night through fear that the spirits of some of the savages he had killed would capture him. Liberton was the father of four children ; they all moved West. It is related of Liberton and his brothers that they were brought up in the backwoods and were inured to all kinds of hardships ; they could sleep on the ground, and were not particular about a shelter to protect them from snow and rain if they desired repose ; they could eat an^-thing and live, march, and work without eating for a much longer time than the men who were the permanent settlers of the township. The Dixons were not afraid of danger, and, therefore, more valuable in turbulent times during the war of 1812 than a score of the farmers who inhabited the town at that time.
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