The Children of the Forest

     It goes without saying that the forests of Perry County were at one time the hunting grounds of the Indian.  The lack of navigable streams, possibly deterred it from making for them a permanent home.  The valleys of the Muskingum, the Scioto, the Miami and the Maumee were the chief centers of Indian population.  The tide of Indian Warfare had at different times given this region into either the hands of the Algonquins or Iroquois.  When the white man first penetrated the Ohio solitudes, he found the Shawnees on the banks of the Scioto, the Wyandots on the Sandusky and the Delawares on the Muskingum.  At a little later date, we find Wyandots on the lower Muskingum and on the Hock-Hocking.  It seems that a portion of the Sandusky Wyandots must have crept through between the Delawares and the Shawnees and made their abode partially in southeastern Ohio.  By looking at a map it will be seen that Perry County was in their pathway.  The result is that several of the most important "trails" with their tributaries passed through our county.  It is certain that Perry County furnished excellent hunting-grounds.  Our woods were heavily timbered, our valleys and rocky caverns furnished excellent retreats for game.  Our streams were full of fish.  There were wild turkeys on Turkey Run, wild pigeons at Pigeon Roost and bears on Bear Run.  There were wild ducks at the Great Swamp, while the timid deer placidly slaked his thirst in our brooks or sought the "salt-licks" in the valleys.  We can clearly see why the sombre colored native would long to linger in these "happy hunting-grounds making side excursions from the regular beaten "trail."   They were no doubt as successful in capturing that "big" fish with a bone hook as our modern Isaac Waltons are with the latest improved "tackle."  They probably had as big stories to tell, too, when they reached home.  As to shooting, our Nimrods with their Winchesters would be put to shame.
     Buffalo "Trails" - The first road makers in our country were Buffaloes.  Their immense bodies, together with their countless numbers served to beat a path through the forest.  Their routs were along the hill-tops and the water divides.  The Indian, true to Nature's instinct would doubtless have selected the same course.  Whether it was because the road was partially made or for another reason, we do know, that the buffalo and Indian "trails" are pract5ically the same.  There are reasons for this selection and it applies with equal force to both Indian and Buffalo.  The summits of the divides were the driest.  The winds sweeping over them usually left them bare of snow in winter.  The hills were not so heavily timbered with undergrowth and they offered excellent outlooks for the enemy.
     The Monongahela Trail - Perry county was traversed by an Indian "trail," however, before the Wyandots.  The principal "trail" in the county was the Monongahela of the Shawnees.  The Wyandots used it later in part.  It connected the Shawnee towns on the Scioto with the Monongahela Valley.  It was the war path, or "through" route between the Shawnee nation and the nearest settlement of whites, which was in south-eastern Pennsylvania.  Many white captives were brought from Pennsylvania through Perry county, to the banks of the Scioto.  This "trail" struck the Muskingum at Big Rock, followed that stream till they came to Big Bottoms, near where the town of Stockport now is.  At this place the whites built a block-house (1790).  The inmates were one day surprised and twelve persons massacred.  From this place the "trail" crossed the ridges till it struck wolf's creek, which it followed to its source, which is at Porterville on the boundary between Perry and Morgan counties.  Here it followed the "divide" between Jonathan and Sundaycreek throughout the county.
     The road now known as the Marietta and Lancaster is i part located on the old Monongahela Trail.  Later it was known as the Wyandot Trail.  The Wyandots had a village at Marietta and one at Lancaster, under the shadow of Mt. Pleasant.  When the state surveyed the old Lancaster and Ft. Harmar Road the one made by the Shawnees and Wyandots gave them the most direct route.
     Shawnee Run Trail - From this main "trail" there were several subordinates or "loops" that would lead out and then gradually merge back again.  Of course the object was to scour the country more completely.  There was one of these tributaries that left the main over the Morgan county somewhere and reached our county in the neighborhood south of Corning, crossed Sundaycreek, went up through Monroe township following the stream known as Indian Creek west to its source, by way of Buckingham and Hemlock, passed through the low "gap" to Shawnee where they had a village.  The stream at Shawnee is known as Shawnee Run and the town and stream stand as monuments to the redman in Perry county.  It is plain why this route was selected.  At McCuneville is the old "saltlick" where deer and buffalo were wont to to.  The Indian followed them for a two-fold purpose - to capture them and to et salt for himself.  From McCuneville it crossed the ridge, past where the old Stone Church now stands, till they reached Salt Run in Mondaycreek Township.  Here was another "salt-lick."  Near the source of one of the tributaries of this creek, they had a camping-place among some rocks.  The object no doubt was to be close to the "lick" that they might watch for game.  At this camping-place may yet be seen their hominy-mill.
     In a large rock is a hole shaped like an inverted 

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Under the Banner of St. George.

Under the Lilies of France.

In the Province of Quebec.

Boutetorst County.

The County of Illinois in the State of Virginia.

First White Man of Perry County.

     In 1748 a company was formed in Virginia, entitled The Ohio Land Company.  The object was to survey the lands and establish English Colonies beyond the Alleghenies.  They sent an agent to explore the region.  This agent we will recognize as no other than the friend and companion of Washington, when he carried the message from Governor Dinwiddie to the French commander in 1753-4.  Christopher Gist traveled through leagues of almost unbroken forest, crossed the Muskingum and Scioto rivers, and was kindly received by the Shawnee Indians, who had a village on the latter stream about seven miles south of Circleville, wehre the hamlet of Westfall now is.  The name of their town was Chillicothe.  Christopher Gist encamped one night on the shore of "Big Swamp," which we now recognize as Buckeye Lake.  No doubt he was the first white man within the limits of Perry County.  Gist started from the forks of the Muskingum, where Coshocton now stands, on Jan. 15, 1751.  By drawing a straight line from Coshocton to Westfall, it will be seen that it touches Buckeye Lake, where the village of Thornport now stands.

Land Surveys.

The Scioto Company Land Scheme.

 Zane's Trace.

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