society, upon "The Division of the Northwest into States "a subject upon which he has bestowed unlimited study and research. That the subject was graphically and ably handled, need not be guaranteed to those who have made Mr. Thwaites' acquaintance through these pages or elsewhere. In conclusion he made this true and happy point: "America is said to have no history. On the contrary, it has the most romantic of all histories. A hundred years, though a mere nothing in the prolonged career of the old world, is a period

quite long enough in our own land to warrant the brand of antiquity. In the rapidly-developing northwest, a hundred years mark the gap between a primeval wilderness and a complete civilization. Time, like space, is, after all, comparative. In these hundred years the northwest has developed from nothing to everything. It is as great a period, judging by results, as ten centuries in Europe-perhaps fifteen. And that is why it is that the American centenarian of to-day is older by far than the fabled Methuselah."

A RESPONSE TO MR. BUTTERFIELD.

MR. C. W. BUTTERFIELD:

"

My Dear Sir: I have read with much interest your 'open letter" to me in the March number of the MAGAZINE OF WESTERN HISTORY, and note carefully the letter quoted therein.

I should have said, and intended to say, in my article to which you refer, that Mrs. Owen was the first woman to settle in the Ohio company's purchase. Neither she nor the one to whom you refer can truthfully be the first American woman to settle in the territory. The families you name were, I think, among those who might be truthfully called squatters. There were many of this class who came to the north bank of the Ohio river and settled there, against the law of congress forbidding such settlement prior to the survey of the country. Many were compelled to leave by government soldiers. This family may not have been disturbed. However, Mr. Butterfield, we cannot assert that your protégé was the first white (American) woman to settle in territory northwest of the River Ohio. Turn to page 203, of the 'History of Illinois,' by Davidson and Stuve, good authority. Moreover, what they say is from the Annals of the West,' also good authority. On this page and part of page 304 you will read this:

Three hundred boats arrived at the Falls of Ohio in the spring of 1780, mostly destined for Kentucky. Among the emigrants to Illinois we note the names of James Moore, Shadroch Bond,

James Garrison, Robert Kidd and Larken Rutherford, the two latter having been with Clark. They were from Virginia and Maryland: With their families, they, without molestation, in these perilous times, crossed the Alleghanies, descended the Ohio, stemmed the Mississippi and landed safely at Kaskaskia. James Moore, the leader, and a portion of his party located on the hills near Bellefontaine, while Bond and the rest settled in the American Bottom (from which circumstances that name is derived), near Harrisonville, afterwards known as the block-house fort. James Piggot, John Doyle, Robert Whitehead and a Mr. Bowen, soldiers in Clark's expedition also, shortly after settled in Illinois. Doyle had a family and taught school. He was, perhaps, the first teacher to make that profession his business in Illinois. He also spoke French and Indian, and in the latter language was frequently employed as an interpreter. Not until 1785 was this little band of American pioneers reinforced. Then came Joseph Ogle, Joseph Warleg and James Andrews, all from Virginia, and each with a large family.

In the following year the American settlements were again augmented by the arrival of James Lemen, George Atcheson and David Waddell, with their families, besides several others.

Now, my dear sir, who was the first (American) woman settler in the territory?

To the Editor of the MAGAZINE OF WESTERN HISTORY:

AN EARLY ERIE ACCIDENT.

THE following account of an incident on Lake Erie in the early history of our western country-or rather what was then our western country-I find in a worn and faded letter dated at Cleveland, Ohio, November 13, 1825. It was written by my father, Alva R. Chapman, then a youth of nineteen, on his way from his home in central Massachusetts to Detroit. He says:

"I embarked [at Buffalo] on Board the Pioneer, a very beautiful new steamboat, on Friday, at 9 o'clock, bound to Detroit, and touching at the several ports for the landing of passengers. On Saturday evening we had head winds, which obliged us to cast anchor off the mouth of Grand river. The storm continued to increase until Monday morning, and then became squally. The wind being in the northeast, our anchor dragged towards the shore. The cries of the terrified women made me mad, so I

kept on deck. A second anchor was thrown out, and the steam crowded, until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when she ran stern foremost over the sand bar. They immediately let go the cables and gave her to the mercy of the waves, when she hurled herself very near the shore, and before dark all were safe on the land--the vessel and all. For the first time I beheld a wreck. I found myself about thirty miles from Cleaveland. The next day I made a visit to 'Squire John Wait's in Bricksville, and the next day I went to see Mr. Joel Wait."

I would say that these Waits were relatives of his, who had been among the earliest settlers in the Western Reserve. I would gladly know something of them. I have wondered, too, if any passenger of the "beautiful new steamboat" Fioneer, on that trip, still survives. If there should be one among your readers, I have no doubt the above will be a pleasant reminder; at all events, I think it is worth preserving.

T. J. CHAPMAN.

THE PIONEER HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY OF LICKING COUNTY, OHIO.

IN 1867 a number of the citizens of Licking county, Ohio, became impressed with the belief that the time had fully come to make systematic efforts to write and preserve the pioneer history of our county, a few of our early settlers being still among us, who could furnish all necessary information to make our history complete. It was also thought desirable to secure and preserve full and accurate descriptions of the antiquities and ancient works of the Mound Builders in Licking county, and to make a cabinet collection of minerals, fossils and relics of the prehistoric races. Accordingly a meeting of the citizens was held to organize a society to promote the aforenamed objects, the result being the establishment of a society with the above named title, officered as follows: President, William Stanbery; vicepresidents, Dr. J. N. Wilson, Thomas J. Anderson and Daniel Forry; recording secretary, Isaac Smucker; corresponding secretary, William Spencer; treasurer, Enoch Wilson; chaplain, C. Springer.

The society was composed of resident pioneer and

historical members, antiquarian members and corresponding and honorary members, aggregating nearly four hundred. Many meetings were held during the early history of the society, some of them numerously attended. Twenty or more members, and a number that were not members, were appointed to prepare papers to read at the meetings of the society, and a hundred and twenty of them were written, read and published either as newspaper articles or as pamphlets, and were afterwards used, by consent, by the compiler of the 'Licking County History' (a volume of more than eight hundred double-column pages),

thus aiding much in making it one of the best county histories in Ohio. Those papers treated of the antiquities of the county, of its topography, its geology, its paleontology, its mineralogy, its pioneer and later history, and gave a sketch of the local history of the county by townships, neighborhoods and small localities, and of its county-seat and smaller towns.

The following list comprises the names of the authors of those pioneer, historical and antiquarian papers and pamphlets: Rev. C. Springer, Rev. H. M. Hervey, Rev. T. W. Howe, Rev. W. Bower, Rev. S. P. Hildreth, Judge Scott, Judge Brumback, Rev. Mrs. Elizabeth Springer, Mrs. Catherine Stadden, D. D. Woods, Isaac Smucker, Governor Greiner, Rev. Israel Thrap, Dr. J. N. Wilson, Dr. James H. Coulter, Jacob Winter, William Knowles, John White, Jacob F. Conine, M. M. Munson, esq., J. G. Brooke, Captain E. Z. Clark, C. B. Giffin, B. C. Woodward, Colonel John Noble, William Wing, Joseph M. Scott, esq., A. B. Clark, esq., Major Pratt, M. L. Wilson, Revel Everett, esq., Samuel Park and General Rufus Putnam.

The society has collected hundreds of curiosities illustrating our Indian and pioneer history, also a library of books and pamphlets both ancient and modern, numbering many hundreds, some of them quite rare and valuable. Its cabinet of minerals, fossils, numismatic specimens and implements and ornaments of the prehistoric occupants of the territory that now comprises the county of Licking, together constitute an exhibition of no inconsiderable interest and value to those of archæological tastes, or such as take pleasure in the study of our pioneer history or have a pride in our later history as well, and especially to those interested in the antiquities which are so abundant in central Ohio.

し

The resident pioneer members of the society are less numerous than they once were, many of them having deceased. The other classes of members have not diminished but rather increased. Meetings continue to be held annually, or oftener, and never without interesting historical or antiquarian literary exercises. The following officers were chosen at the last annual meeting in July last: President, Isaac Smucker; vice-presidents, E. F. Appy, E.

Nichols, M. M. Munson; recording secretary, C. B. Giffin; corresponding secretary, E. M. P. Brister; treasurer, James H. Smith; historian, S. J. Ewing; poets, A. B. Clark, Martha Wintermute; chaplain, Rev. R. K. Nash; librarian, J. H. Smith; executive committee, A. B. Clark, W. T. Evans, J. V. Burner, Lucius B. Wing, J. C. Hartzler, Griff Rosebraugh and S. J. Davis.

Camp Presqu' isle October 16th, 1795. DEAR SIR

Above is an Estimate of the Cost of the Corn purchased at Cataragaras of the Indians agreeable to your request, By which you will observe that the hire of the man and Boat at that extravagant rate bares a proportion to the Cost of the Corn equal to 39 Cents & 2 mills per Bus. which deducted from the above estimate of 92 Cents & 6 mills, would reduce the price to 53 Cents & 4 mills per Bus. was there no expence necessary in that way-It is also very obvious what a difference there would be in the price of the Corn Could it be brought in Larger Boats so that the expence would not

bare so large a proportion to the Cost of a Bushel

To trade with the Indians on the most advantages terms it is very Essential to have small Silver to pay the Indians, and at the same time a little whiskey is highly necessary -altho you are obliged to give away considerable, Nevertheless it will bring the Cost and more & make trade with them much easeyerI observe some of them brought down Small quantities of Corn on purpose to get a drink when they would not have brought it for the money.

This year has been but poor for Corn with the Indians. Three of the Chiefs told me that all the head men of the Castle had considered on the Scarceity of the present Year for Corn and the distance the have to bring down to the Boat, not less than 4 miles from the Seneca and 5 from the Delaware Castles, (That the wished very much to trade and be friendly with the people at Presqu' Isle) But they did not think they Could Spare much more this season, unless the United States Could give them one Shilling York Currency a String. That perhaps the next year they might have plenty, then they would not Care so much for it

I was obliged to Buy nearly all I got by the

String or load, and was obliged to take 4, 5 & 6 Strings for a Bushel for which I gave them 4s. per Bus. In my estimate I have Calculated the Strings at 5 per Bus. I measured one or two of them and find they will hold at that or very near it-the Greatest part I have got is old Corn, 81⁄2 Bus. of which is Shelled the residue in the ear.

It is my opinion that a load more may be got at Cataragaras if you would give Is. per String—and from information 100 Bus. may be got at Buffalo town at perhaps a less price

From what observations I could make, the method I would recommend to get the Corn from the Indians would be to let them Shell it at the Castle and purchase it there of them at some price by the Bushel, that would be satisfactory to them and the U. States taken care to get good measure and allowance for it to Shrink if green.

The would if they could Spare it Shell a load a day, while which was doing and one person was Settling & trading with them, I would get two or three Horses, which may be hired of them at a low rate and have it Carried down to the Boat-Bags ought to be taken from here to Pack it down in, But Flour Barrels that could be headed up would be the best to bring it up in as it would be less liable to damage by getting Wet and one of those boats would Carry more so than any other way to work well

If you recollect Colo. Reed said he would send a Boat also he did so, But he having got

only 4 Bushels I put in from 16 to 20 Bushels of mine in his boat-Otherways I do not think I should have been able to have Brought what I purchased in one Boat-In the String from 30 to 40 Bus. would be a very good load for one of those boats, and for this Season rather much--Whereas in the Barrels as mentioned above they might with much more Convenience Carry from 45 to 50 Bushel and work better and safer.

By the Estimate you will see I was gone 10 days, every day except the two first sunday & monday I have been Sick, and Continue so still.

I have endevored to set up long enough to give the above information to you, that no time on my part should be lost in making my report.

My head is so dissey and akes so intollerably that I make no doubt you will find many errors in this Schroll, for fear of the atact of the Ague I have so hurried that I fear you will scarcely be able to read it much more make sence of it.

As I have some money in my hands of yours if you will give me orders I will pay Colo. Reed for the Hire of the Man & Boat or pay it to Mr. Seton or on sight of your order to whose favor you may please to draw on me for the Same

With due respect and Regard I am Dear Sir your most obt & Humble Servt A. HUNN Ensign & P. M. Major Isaac Craig D. Q. M. G. Pittsburgh.