Our Native History
|
The following article was originally published in the Lucasville Sesquicentennial 1819-1969 booklet and condensed from Mr. Frank Rowe's collection by Mrs. Lucille Moulton.
"Undoubtedly the earliest inhabitants of the Lucasville area were the Indians. The Shawnee tribe crossed the Ohio from the Kentucky shores at the mouth of the Scioto River. Tradition has it that Daniel Boone and other pioneers travelled over the second terrace along the Scioto River which is Scioto Trial or Route 23. This trail runs through Lucasville, Wakefield, Piketon, and Waverly, also Chillicothe northward to Upper Sandusky. In the Portsmouth area was an Indian Village on the Feurt farm just a few miles south of Lucasville. At this Feurt site, the dead were buried with the bod being flexed. There was also a burial ground on the Bannon farm, now owned by the State of Ohio. Many skeletons were found there in this flexed state after the 1913 flood. From the journal of Reverend David Jones of Philadelphia, who made a trip to the mouth of the Scioto River in 1773, we learned that the Shawnee named the river "Scioto" which means thick hair, because they found deer so plentiful that in the spring when they came to drink, the water would be thick with hair from the deer. The Shawnee, according to Jones, had a good God and a bad God. They believed in a future state of existence. It was common to perform some form of ceremony when one of them died. They must have thought that the soul of the deceased ate in the hereafter, because they would dress good food and place it at the head of the grave for several nights after the burial. He also tells that Pawpaw was too luscious for some stomachs." The article ends by stating, "... Shawnee and Delaware tribes roamed and hunted deer in this land along the Scioto River where Lucasville now stands. Many of our local citizens have spent many hours wandering over the bottom lands to search for the Indian relics and have collected fine samples of Indian artcrafts. Mr. Walter Diamond had a wonderful collection and so does Harold Young, Wayne McNamer and Raymond Zaler. Many others have found some very interesting items also." |
1969 Sesquicentennial Souvenir Book
Various items from 1969
Sesquicentennial Celebration |
The 1969 Sesquicentennial book included the following article from " the "History of Ohio", Vol. I Galbreath Ohio Reference Library Gazette Vol. III" and was included in the book by Irene Preston.
The Scioto Trail was the most traveled trail of Indian days, from Shannoah Town at the mouth of the St. Totoe (Scioto River) it was occupied by the Shawnee. It followed the East bank of the Scioto to its headwaters and on to Sandusky Bay.
On January 27, 1751, Christopher Gist, explorer and surveyor (click on name or read more at bottom), accompanied by George Grogan, an Indian Trader and peacemaker (click on name or read more at bottom) , reached a small Delaware Indian town in what is now known as Clay Township, and located on the George L. Davis farm, just below the mouth of Brush Creek. There dwelt at this time the famous Chieftain Windaughalah. He entertained these men kindly...". The Feurt Mound, where Clay High School now stands, was excavated and found to be of The Fort Ancient Culture. The Old Marsh Farm (Big Bend Acres) now State property, located about one mile south of Lucasville, near Cook Road is the site of a large Conical Mound. The previous owners would not have it excavated. There is evidence of thirteen known Indian Camp sites in this area.
Looking east over the Mounds into the hills between the head of Lintz Hollow and Huston Hollow Road is where the out cropping of Ohio Pipe Stone (fire clay) was found. Called Clay Diggings. At the crest of these hills numerous excavations ranging in depths..." have occurred. Of the 145 taken from Tremper Mound, at the junction of route 73 and 104, all but four were of this material. It is said to have yielded the finest Mound Builders relics the world has known. Excavation was by W. C. Mills in 1915. First published account of Tremper Mounds found in "Ancient Monuments of Mississippi Valley" by Squire and Davis, 1846 page 83".
Another Indian village was located where the Scioto River touched Lucasville at the Lucasville Cemetery. White Gravel Bank and at the present site of the elementary school building {former site of Valley Elementary School was beside Lucasville Cemetery, but has since been torn down}.
The Haystack Hill was used as an Indian lookout (see picture below). On a clear day one can see for miles. Through the years it has been the most popular hiking place for all in our town." {US Dept. of Interior and US Geological Survey has location recorded as Haystack Knob}
The Scioto Trail was the most traveled trail of Indian days, from Shannoah Town at the mouth of the St. Totoe (Scioto River) it was occupied by the Shawnee. It followed the East bank of the Scioto to its headwaters and on to Sandusky Bay.
On January 27, 1751, Christopher Gist, explorer and surveyor (click on name or read more at bottom), accompanied by George Grogan, an Indian Trader and peacemaker (click on name or read more at bottom) , reached a small Delaware Indian town in what is now known as Clay Township, and located on the George L. Davis farm, just below the mouth of Brush Creek. There dwelt at this time the famous Chieftain Windaughalah. He entertained these men kindly...". The Feurt Mound, where Clay High School now stands, was excavated and found to be of The Fort Ancient Culture. The Old Marsh Farm (Big Bend Acres) now State property, located about one mile south of Lucasville, near Cook Road is the site of a large Conical Mound. The previous owners would not have it excavated. There is evidence of thirteen known Indian Camp sites in this area.
Looking east over the Mounds into the hills between the head of Lintz Hollow and Huston Hollow Road is where the out cropping of Ohio Pipe Stone (fire clay) was found. Called Clay Diggings. At the crest of these hills numerous excavations ranging in depths..." have occurred. Of the 145 taken from Tremper Mound, at the junction of route 73 and 104, all but four were of this material. It is said to have yielded the finest Mound Builders relics the world has known. Excavation was by W. C. Mills in 1915. First published account of Tremper Mounds found in "Ancient Monuments of Mississippi Valley" by Squire and Davis, 1846 page 83".
Another Indian village was located where the Scioto River touched Lucasville at the Lucasville Cemetery. White Gravel Bank and at the present site of the elementary school building {former site of Valley Elementary School was beside Lucasville Cemetery, but has since been torn down}.
The Haystack Hill was used as an Indian lookout (see picture below). On a clear day one can see for miles. Through the years it has been the most popular hiking place for all in our town." {US Dept. of Interior and US Geological Survey has location recorded as Haystack Knob}
Haystack Hill {view from Robert Lucas Road}
Who was Christopher Gist?
|
In 1750, the Ohio Company hired Christopher Gist to survey along the Ohio River from its headwaters near the Lenape (Delaware) village of Shannopin's Town (modern-day Pittsburgh) all the way to what is now Louisville, Kentucky. That winter he mapped the Ohio countryside between Shannopin's Town and the Great Miami River. At the mouth of the Scioto River Gist crossed into Kentucky and eventually returned to his home via the Yadkin. During the winter of 1751-1752, again in the employ of the Ohio Company, Gist returned west and explored much of the land that comprises modern-day West Virginia. Through his connection to the Ohio Company, Gist developed a close association with George Washington. Travelling with Washington to the Ohio Country in 1754, Gist served as scout, messenger, and Indian agent. It was Gist’s reconnaissance that alerted Washington to the French presence at Great Meadows and allowed for the subsequent massacre of Jumonville’s forces. Gist was also at the battle at Fort Necessity the following month. During this time with Washington, Gist solidified his place in history, twice saving the young colonel's life. Gist provided England and its colonists with the first detailed description of southern Ohio and northeastern Kentucky, and provided the Ohio Company with a toe-hold in the Ohio Country that ultimately led to the establishment of Marietta. While Daniel Boone is generally given credit for opening Kentucky to European settlement, Gist preceded the famous frontiersman by more than fifteen years.
|
Who was George Grogan?
George Croghan was a prominent trader, frontiersman, and Indian agent. Born in Ireland around 1718, Croghan emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1741. Within a few years, Croghan became a successful western fur trader. A quick-witted, and savvy negotiator, Croghan was a brilliant intermediary who fellow frontiersman Christopher Gist once labeled "King of the Traders."
