The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Where are those brave and hardy men.
TboSa MOI, xr;fIoDT a fasr

Reared their rude dwellings here?
The early pioneers of. our township
and county; where are they! They
are nearly all gone from among US,
and soon the grave will hide the last
remaining one from our sight, and it.
is well, while the few that remain
are yet with us, that we record some
of their experiences in battling with
the Yild denizens of the forest, and
tell of their labors, in converting those
dense forests that were here fifty years
ago, into the cultivated fields and
pleasant homes that we now see
around US in every direction.
Among the various trials and hard
ships which those early settlers were
obliged to encounter, was the difficult
ty of raising stock, which was con-
linually subject to the depredations of
the bears and wolves, which were
prowling around their clearings, ready
to sieze upon and destroy any unfor-
tunate calf or sheep, or pig, which was
left exposed: and it therefore became
necessary to adopt every means within
their power, to rid the country of these
troublesome animals.
Bounties were paid by the State for
the ,scalps of the wolves, and the valu-
able skin and meat of the bear fur
nished all inducement which stimu-
lated the hardy hunters to the most
active exertions in destroying them,
but still their numbers were so great
as to prevent the settlers from raising
sheep and hogs 10 any great extent.
It was favorite plan for large
Numbers of the Inhabitants on a cer-
tain day, which was agreed upon, to
surround whole township, and,
marching towards the center, to drive
the large game into close quarters,
when, with such an advantage, they
would succeed in killing large num-
bers in single day. |
a description ofone of these hunts,
as given by one of our earliest settlers,
Mr.. Lorenzo Chaplin, who was a par
ticipant at the time, may be interesting
to the readers Of the ''PREss." 1t took
place in the month of November, 1918,
and the territory surrounded incinded
the present township of Freedom, in
the north part of this county; but
which was then an unbroken wilder
ness, with no settlers, except, perhaps,
a Mr.. Paine, from Painesville, who
had purchased a tract of land therein,
of a Mr.. Root, from Connecticut, who
was the original owner of the town
ship, which went by the name of
Roots-town, until another settler, one
johnson, an Irishman, gaveit its pres
ent name.
The protector of the hum, Mag q
celebrated hunter, Capt. Delaim Mills
of Nelson, brave and energetic man
who emigrated from Massachusetts.
Capt. Mills was married at II years
of age, and hissbold and fearless spirit
and love of adventure, determined
him to emigrate to Ohio, which was
then the land Of promise. Starting
with an OK team, to convey all his
worldly goods, and accompanied by
his young wife, who was as fearless as
her husband, they travelled with slow
and toilsome progress, encountering
various kinds of piivations and dan,
gers, until they reached Youngstown
having spent all their money, except
one old fashioned pistareen, or TWEEN.
! ty cent bit. He finally settled at Mel.
son center, and became known as 8
great hunter in all the region round
about, and living to- good old age
died and was buried, near his old
home in Nelson.
About a week previous to the hun
just mentioned, committee rad been
sent to mark out the battle ground, tc
which the animals were to be driven
which was north west of the center
and west of the big swamp, and com
prised about 160 acres of high ani
dry land. The. trees were blazed on
!, line of nearly two miles, extending
around the battle ground, and at thi
line the hunters were to halt and shoe
the frightened animals, as they raj
!. around on the inside,of the contracte,
space. endeavoring to break througl
the line and escape. II
The men and boys who were to ell
:, gage in the hunt, were, on the mornin
: of the day that had been designated
stationed on the line around the town
ship, about twenty rods apart, thu
forming acontinuous line, of ttwent
y miles in slengeh. They were over 80
i'll number. and came from the town
ships of Nelson, Hiram, Mantu:
Windham, Shalersville, Ravenna, an
other towns in the vicinity; eac
. township having its own Captain, an
y the whole number under the directio
L and command of Capt. Mills, who's
= enthusiasm on that day was unbound
ed as he passed along the lines, exhol
ting each man to keep his place an
- let no animal escape. The division
% from Mantua contained several note
q hunters, among them were Patric
q Ray, James Ray, Wareham Loomi
IS Basil WindsoS Jr., Alvin Besto
o. Samuel Moore Jr- VIM. s. Josep
,f Skinner, and all under the leadershi
!. of Capt. .Hezekiah Mooney. Frol
a. Hiram came Richard, John g Graz
% Redding, three brothers whose e1
a. ploits among the Indians and otht
"a wild game, made them somewhat ce
al ebrated in those days. The captain
a., from the other townships are not re
,e objected. The day was pleasant, wit
no snow, and the men were in fir
/ spirits, anticipating. plenty of spoI
Fl, and after the line was complete
er which was known by the word ga