Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-11-15
[FrOm the IrontOn Register ]
THE FRENCH OF SOUTHERN OHIO.

Robert Stafford, of GalIipolis, some tim
since. l was put in possession of som
facts respecting the settlement of tina
! place by the French, which may be o
interest to the readers of the Register
The above gentleman, New Englan
: der, was one of the company employed
by the "Ohio Company" to prepar
buildings for the reception ofthe French
He is now in his 88th year, in goot
health, of very cheerful disposition
residing on his farm near GallipoIis.-
Having resided constantly in the mids
of the colonists from before their arriva
to the present time, and being a clos,
observer of men and of fine memory
he is more conyersant with the complet,
history of the French than any othel
man now living. He is among the
last of the earliest pioneers of the NORTH
West Territory who live, especially with
such a vigorous mind. By his con
slant intercourse with the colonists he
learned to speak fiuently their tongue
and by his life as hunter, soldier, spy
and civilian, he obtained an accurate
knowledge of Indian character. give,
then, from this man some facts, &c.
In October, 1899, Col. Stafford and
his comrades under the direction of Gen.
Rufus Putnam arrived at the site of
GallIpolis, cleared the ground, built
forts and erected cabins to the number
of eighty. Most of the colonists arriv-
ed during the last week of October,
1890, and took possession of the cabins
assigned them As long as they were
supplied with provisions life passed
smoothly by; balls, soirees. &C.. were
regularly given in which the etiquette
Of St. Cloud prevailed; early every
Sunday morning all adult males were
required to be on parade and practice
tactical evolutions; this was regularly
followed by Mass end other services of
the Church; and the afternoon was Civ
en- to recreation.
As provisions were dear and game
plentiful. party of thirty was hired
and paid by the "Ohio Company" for
supplying the settlement with meat
Capt. McMann was chief of this band,
and besides their wages each man was
allowed as a stimulous to industry the
valuable skins and furs. McMann was
killed at Fort Recovery. 1t was not
the custom of these hunters to be at the
chase on the Sabbath, but it was their
custom to make and mend mOccasins,
to clean guns, to stretch and dress skins.
Stafford was one of these hunters, and
on one occasion he saw panther near
the river on a tree. He shot it through
the lungs. 1t fell and rolled into the
river, where, after another shot had bro
ken its under jaw, it maintained sharp
struggle with some five dogs. 1t was
ten feet long and had killed and covered
with leaves a raccoon and wolfe which
it was watching.
The colonists were slow in adapting
themselves to Western life; many re
moved to the larger cities; many died
during the fourth and fifth years after
their arrival, and some went back to
France. Their two great holidays
were the Fourth of July and the Des-
truclion Of the Bastile, both of which
they celebrated with all the pomp and
sincerity their means and ardent feelings
would command.
Col. Stafford was present atthe "draw-
ing of lots" and relates the circum-
stances thus: Gen. Putnam appointed a
Mr.. Martin to survey the Grant, and af-
ter this was done and the lots number
ed, Messrs. Manney, Putnam and Tai
madge appointed day when all who
were to get land should assemble in the
Public Square. The day came and all
assembled. The names of the "draw-
ers" were written on square pieces OF
paper and as many like pieces were
numbered. The papers were placed
in two small boxes; two clerks were
provided, and two disinterested men
were selected, 10 each Of whom one of
the above boxes was given. When all
were ready the boxes were shaken and
then opened. Stafford was selected to
draw out the papers which were num-
bered. As he drew out one and an
nounced the number the clerk took 1t
down; and then from the other box a
name was drawn which being announc-
ed was taken down as the owner of the
number Just drawn. They proceeded
thus until confusion arose in conse-
quence of mistaking 16 for 81 and 19
for 61-the 9's and 6's being written
old style. By closer inspection all
was made right again.
Col. Stafford was with others on an
exploring trip up the Mississippi river,
and as they were returning they were
favored with fine wind. At the mouth
Of the Tennessee they at twilight of
eve. spread the canvass of their keel
boat and sat by turns on their oars un-
til morning, when they found that they
had sailed 80 miles-the wind having
blown right aft continually. While on
this trip Col. Stafford saw specimen Of
Indian eloquence. A Mr.. Edgar. an
In6ian agent, was in the company
They had occasion to stop at a fort, and
while they were there Mr.. Edgar had
occasion to decide suit in which a
Kiekapoo was defendant, and one Of
another tribe plaintiff-the Kickapoo
being charged with stealing horse.
The plaintiff had his case stated to Edgar
hv IN interrrptar which was fo1lowed