George Bowman - Fort Amanda Soldier

George Bowman - Fort Amanda Soldier

1793 - 1873

This photo of George W. Bowman was taken in November 1865 when he was 72 years old. 

Bowman was born on Oct. 6, 1793 in Somerset County, New Jersey the fourth child of Richard (b. 1767) and Mary (Senteny) Bowman (b. 1769).  Richard was a Revolutionary War veteran.  George's father was a cordwainer, “a shoemaker who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury foot ware articles.”

The Bowman family moved to Kentucky between 1796 and 1799.  Three years later (1802) they moved to Hamilton County, Ohio.  The last of the Bowman children, William, was born the same year his older brother George went off to war (1813).

When the War of 1812 broke out, 20 year old George was assigned to Captain Daniel Hosbrooks company.  He was living with his parents in Sycamore Township Sec. 13  T3  ER2 at the time (btm. right corner).   

On March 29, 1813, while George was on active duty, his parents sold the family farm. (marked with the "X")  

Street Level View of "X" looking west at the original Bowman property. 

In 1813, shortly after returning from Ft. Amanda, George married Phebe Thompson.  They purchased land in Sycamore Township  (Section 17, T4 ER) 

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The family eventually grew to 11 children; 9 boys and 2 girls.  George was a farmer by occupation and judging by the birthdates of his children (exactly 2 years apart), George Bowman must have been a very methodical man.

Richard            1814

Mary                1816

Hannah            1818

William           1820

Ann                  1822

George            1824

John                 1826

Jeremiah          1828

Alva                 1830

Price                1832

Hiram              1834

                       

On April 16^th of 1829, George’s father, then 62 years old penned his last will and testament.  He must have been very ill because he died 3 weeks later.

Richards will reads: 

In the name of God Amen.

I Richard Bowman of the Township of Sycamore, in the County of Hamilton and state of Ohio being weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind and memory, Thanks be to Almighty God for the same and knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time, thereof do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following (That is to say)

First – I will order and direct that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid.

Second – I will and bequeath to my four sons, George W. Bowman, Hiram Bowman, Ezekiel Bowman, and Jacob S. Bowman, All my wearing apparel and all the cloth on hand that was intended for wearing apparel for myself and my bags to be equally divided amongst my said sons, if my son Jacob returns or call for his share within two years after my death if not his share to be equally divided amongst the three others.

Third – I will and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary her choice of the bed and bedding, twenty-five dollars in money, and one third of all the residue of my estate not otherwise disposed of.

Fourth – I will and bequeath to my children namely, Charity Wilson, Hannah Lucas, George W. Bowman, Hiram Bowman, Sarah Lucas, Ezekiel Bowman, Jacob S. Bowman and Jane Lucas, all my property not here in not hereby otherwise disposed of they be equally divided amongst them my said children.    But if my son Jacob does ot return or call for this his share within two years after my death then his part to be equally divided amongst my children. 

I nominate and appoint my son George W. Bowman sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and it is my will that letters Testamentary be granted to him without his being required to give bail or security for his performance.

I witnesseth where I Richard Bowman have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine. 

Signed sealed published and declared by Richard Bowman to be his last will and testament in our presence who is in his presence and at this request have hereunto set our names as witnesses.

Abraham Miller Jr.

John Buxton                                                                Richard Bowman (seal)

Benjamin Ayres

Personal Thought

There seems to be an undercurrent of family problems in the way this will is worded.  It reads as if 29 year old Jacob was estranged from the family for some reason. His name doesn’t appear in the 1830 census but he does appear in the 1840 Green Township Hamilton county census.  The 1850 census records shows the same Jacob Bowman, a wagon maker living in Green Township.  He was married to a woman named Hannah and their 2 children were Mary and Sarah.  Whether Jacob ever returned to collect his inheritance is unknown.

Moving On

 On April On May 9, 1829 George’s father Richard, passed away on his farm in Sycamore township.  Sometime after that date, the George’s mother went to live with her daughter Sara in Logan County, Illinois. 

Richard Bowman - Father of George W. Bowman 

In 1850  George and Phebe were living with their four teenage children in Sycamore Township on the original farm.  The census that year shows their land was worth $2500.  

In 1854, on January 11, 1854, George’s mother died.  She was still living with her daughter in Illinois and is buried in the Steenbergen Cemetery, Mount Pulaski, Illinois.  

Mary Bowman - Mother of George W. Bowman

His Namesake Moves West

George and Phebe’s 6^th child, George Washington Bowman (b. 1833) moved to Cowley County Kansas around 1849.  He was less than 17 years old at the time.  In 1854, the same year his grandmother died, he married a woman named Nina (b. 1831).  The 1850 census shows George and Nina living in Cowley Cty. Kansas with their 33 year old son Edwin, their 37 year old daughter Francis, her husband James and their son, Charles W.  The 1910 census lists George living with his daughters family in Cowley Ct. Kansas.  He died at their home on Oct. 30, 1917 at the age of 84.  His obituary in the Winfield Dailey Courier, Oct. 31, 1874 read:

Bowman ---George Washington Bowman died Tuesday at this home in Floral, Kansas, at the age of 85 years and 50 days.  Mr. Bowman was a pioneer resident, having lived in Cowley County the past 25 years.  He lived a number of years at Eaton and Tisdale.  He is survived by two sons, Ed of Floral and James of Arkansas, and one daughter, Emma of Floral.  Burial was made in the Tisdale Cemetery on Wednesday. 

Man on right is George Washington Bowman Jr.
1833 - 1917 ,
Son of George W. and Phebe Bowman

Phebe Thompson Bowman, wife of George W. Bowman

On March 28, 1860 Phebe, George's wife of 47 years died.   A short time later, George went to live with his son near Montgomery, Oh..   On Dec. 5, 1863 he remarried and he and his sixty five year old wife Hannah moved to a farm near Reading, Oh.

George died 10 years later on Oct. 8, 1873, at the age of eighty.  Nine days later on Oct. 17, 1873,  letters of administration over the estate of George W. Bowman, deceased were issued to John F. Johnston, the administrative bond being set at $500.  The Hamilton County land records show there were 11 heirs that survived him, the interests of 10 heirs were consolidated into ownership of William Laudenburg; the 11^th interest was that of Mary M. wife of William Laudenburg.  William and Mary M conveyed full title to William Conkling on Sept. 5, 1874.

 Both George and Phebe are buried in the Sycamore Township Memorial Cemetery,  in Kenwood, Hamilton County, Oh.. The Cemetery is located on Kenwood Road, on the west side of the road, south of the Township Admin. Bldg. 8540 Kenwood rd. Cincinnati, Oh.  GPS:  N39°12'42.64”,W84°22'46.

 

Sycamore Township Memorial Cemetery

Neighbors in Peace and Brothers at War


 

The Grave of Lt. Joseph Davis

NOTE:  it was our 50^th wedding anniversary (May 24, 2014).  I told my wife I had and Idea of where one of the officers from Fort Amanda was buried.  We love Cincinnati so we decided to make a day of it and see if we could find him.  

Joseph Davis was a Lieutenant in Captain Hosbrooks company at Fort Amanda.  He was born in Romney, Virginia, in 1782, son of Samuel W. and Mary (Byrd) Davis. The family consisted of 9 children; 6 boys and 3 girls.. The Davis family emigrated to Ohio in 1803 coming down the Ohio river on a flat boat. They landed at the mouth of Crawfish creek then moved on to Shaylor's Run, in Union township. Joseph our subject, eventually saved enough money to purchase some land in Hardin's Survey, on the East Fork, between Perin's Mills (Perintown, Oh) and Milford.



Davis built a log cabin there and on March 1, 1806, Roger W. Waring, justice of the peace joined 24 year old Joseph and 16 year old Rachel Fowler in Holy matrimony. The newlyweds carried all their household goods on a horse to their new home, the bride following with her dishes of pewter in her apron. There was no floor in the cabin and their beds were made of sticks and saplings, as were also their tables. At that time that part of Union township was a wilderness, but he eventually claimed over 400 acres of land. Ten children were born to Joseph and Rachel; Mathew, Jeremiah, Joseph, Samuel, Thomas, Henry, Robert F., Ira L., George W., and William B.

The War of 1812

During the War of 1812, 31 year old Davis served as a lieutenant in Captain Daniel Hosbrook’s company at Fort Amanda. Schillinger mentions him often throughout his journal. Those entries are as follows:

Wednesday Feb 17
This morning the Captain and Lieutenant being absent, I paraded the company. All well but one man, M. Strickland. This morning received from Mr. Tootens, some clothes from home and with them my wife’s profile. At 3 o’clock this afternoon we got word that the baggage we were waiting for had taken the road to Franklin. We marched at 3 o’clock and moved 5 miles out of town and camped for the night.

Monday Feb 22
This morning cold and cloudy. Paraded at 7 o’clock. Found 3 men sick. Prepared to march at 10 o’clock agreeable to orders. At 5 o’clock our Brigadier and Lieutenant came out and on parade, the General read the articles and regulations of the armies of the U. S. and gave us orders to march at 8 o’clock tomorrow.

Friday Mar 5
Cool and cloudy. We had almost all our men on fatigue cleaning up the fort and grounds adjacent. Lieutenant Davis, officer of police and I went out hunting but found no game but a few ducks which we could not get to shoot. After some time spent in vainly attempting to get some game, we returned home and took our dinner. After examination I found that two men belonging to Captain Seaton’s company had deserted. Spent this evening writing letters.

Tuesday Mar 16
At day break the morning gun was fired at 7 o’clock. Captain Manary with his company of Rangers (being discharged) paraded to march for homeward. The Colonel ordered a salute to be fired at their march which was done by firing a 6 pounder. Took breakfast. At 9 o’clock the court was called. There being one supernumerary, I was permitted to return to Fort Amanda. I proceeded at 11:30, accompanied by Captain Ball, our Wagon Master and arrived at Amanda at 4 o’clock. Found all well. The Lieutenant with his fatigue party began to dig the trench for the stockading and intended addition .

Wednesday Mar 17
Last night heavy rain with thunder and continued raining in showers. After breakfast all hands paraded and proceeded to throw into the river, a large quantity of dead hogs and skins and entrails that had been left on the bank above the fort, which were beginning to be offensive by reason of putrefaction. After dinner the Lieutenant and myself went over the river hunting but found no game but some squirrels which were very wild. We shot one and returned to the fort. Weather warm and showery.

Saturday Mar 27
This day, all hands washing our clothes, gathering wood, etc. Lieutenant (Davis) and 1 man went out hunting to get some game to make our Captain some soup. Killed a pheasant. In the afternoon, I went out with out cook to get a broom stick. He took the gun and as we happened along the bank of the river, discovered a fine large Pike in shallow water and shot it. At 6 o’clock it began to rain. Wrote a letter to send to my wife.

Monday May 17
Clear and pleasant. Our men making cartridges. Paid Captain Perry for what sugar we got from him of Captain Walls. Sent my letter by Captain Hixon, who goes into the settlement with all his hands that was building boats. This morning our wagon left the fort for home, it being discharged by Colonel Orr. The Captain and Lieutenant went out spying. Made no discoveries of any of the enemy. They found a number of articles which was lost by the Kentuckians. I bought some fish from the Indians. Our men put a fist pot in the river today.

Sunday June 20
This morning the Brigade Major inspected the company. Gave them credit for their good appearance. Left the fort in company with Major Kain who is ordered to Fort Winchester. Milikin and Heaton left at 10 o’clock. At 2 o’clock, Lieutenant Davis left the effort to go home for a few days. Took a number of letters from the company. Doctor Lewis accompanied him as far as St. Mary’s. This evening 1 man who had been sent in company with Neville returned and brought us the word that they had only gotten 6 miles from the fort when the horse gave out.

Saturday July 10
Very cold for the season. At 12 o’clock Lieutenant Davis returned to the fort. Brought a letter from Captain Armstrong to me. All well. Mr. Kercheval returned from Fort Jennings.

Sunday Aug 1
Clear and warm. Lieutenant Davis and sergeant Bradbury went to Fort Logan today. This afternoon, Captain Benagh and Mr. Steel went to St. Mary’s. Sent one of our sick men and one man to take care of him. F. Duchouquet, Indian Interpreter came to the fort to draw provisions for the Shawnees.

Tuesday Aug 3
This morning clear and warm. Captain Brier took command of the fort. We prepared to leave it. Delivered up our arms, etc. Our men being all dismissed, Captain, Lieutenant and myself, on examination found that the horses which we had in keeping to take us home were gone. Some evil disposed persons having drove them off, and we could not find them. We then applied to the Quartermaster for others but obtained but one, on which I loaded our baggage and proceeded by way of St. Mary’s. The Captain and Lieutenant went by way of Fort Logan. I agreed to meet them at Mr. Stotlers, 2 miles below Piqua. I arrived at St. Mary’s about 6 o’clock PM, being 4 hours from Amanda. Stayed here all night.

According to some sources, Davis served 2 tours of duty during the war. A county history says that in addition to serving as a lieutenant in Hosbrook’s company, and participating in the siege of Fort Meigs, near Perrysburg, Oh, he also served under Colonel Crogan in his gallant defense of Fort Stephenson, at what is now the city of Fremont, Ohio. That has yet to be confirmed.

After the War

Davis arrived back home on Saturday, August 7, 1813. He went on to become a successful farmer and a greatly respected member of his community (Perintown, O) He was a deeply religious man and spent much of his life serving several offices in his church. He also served many years as a Justice of the Peace because he was considered an upright and honest man.

Court records show that no appeals were ever taken involving cases in his docket. He was public spirited and having risen from a poor boy to one of the substantial men of the County, he took great interest in all public improvements.

Joseph’s wife Rachel died on Christmas Day in 1837 at the age of 47. Her epitaph reads, “Aged 47y 10m 12d.” Four months later, on April 8, 1838, Joseph married 43 year old Rebecca Vail.

Joseph Davis, pioneer, patriot, soldier who helped build part of Ft. Amanda, a mediocre hunter (as portrayed by Schillinger :-)), an educated man, father of 10, a religious man, a successful farmer, civic leader and highly respected citizen, died on Tuesday July 17, 1855, at his home in Union Township. He was 73 years old. Rebecca died 15 years later on December , 1870. Her burial site is unknown but more than likely it's in the same cemetery (Round Bottom) as Joseph and Rachel.

Joseph and Rachel are buried side by side in a small and all but forgotten cemetery on Round Bottom Road near Perintown. Like many old cemeteries, it isn’t marked and difficult to find. Only a couple stones remain upright, the others covered by leaves, dirt and debris. I found it only by chance talking with residents of a lovely old stone home at 956 Round Bottom Rd. who showed me the location.

Note: the empty plastic bottle held water to clean the stones. It was properly disposed of.

Robet Gazel was a neighbor of Joseph Davis

This has since become all oveRgrown and stones no longer visible.

Grave marker of 47 year old Rachel Fowler Davis, wife of Lt. Joseph Davis, pioneer woman, mother of 10, endurer of hardships and no less a patriot than her husband. And like her husband we shall remember her as well.

Personal Thought

Finding graves, particularly those of soldiers at Ft. Amanda can sometimes be little bittersweet. Such was the case of Lt. Davis. I’d come to know him pretty well through Schillinger’s journal entries and through my own research through census records, county histories and other genealogical sources. I guess I’d hoped I’d find him in a well manicured gated cemetery perhaps in a veterans section with his grave marked with an official War of 1812 headstone; he deserved that. Instead what I found was only a footstone with his initials, "J D" buried under leaves branches and other forest debris on a small rise a few feet behind a metal storage building with a gravel parking lot. I shouldn't have been too surprised as I've found some of Davis' comrades buried in the middle of a field, alongside a road, even under a paved parking lot.

Still, standing at his grave I couldn't help feeling a little sad I guess. I’d gotten to know him pretty well and was disappointed his life had come to this kind of end, his final resting place accessible only by luck. I eventually found some closure knowing that Josephs grave marker, like Amanda’s is safe from vandalism, used as shims under farm buildings or even worse sold as curiosities at flea markets, or hidden away in a college dorm room. While there is some danger of disclosing the location of grave sites, I suspect most people like me, don't do this kind of research out of curiosity, they do it out of respect. You see my hope is one day to meet Lieutenant Davis and the other “boys of Ft. Amanda and when I do I want to be able to say with all sincerity, "Lieutenant, I gave it my best shot."

An Abolitionist at Fort Amanda

 

After the war of 1812, Pvt. Mark Strickland, one of the men in Hosbrook's company at Ft. Amanda (Feb. - Aug. 1813) went on to become a noted abolitionist whose home was a safe house on the underground railroad.  Little is known about his personal life other than he had several children, outlived 3 wives and helped create a school (The Clermont Academy) for children of all ages and colors in Clermont County, Ohio.  Included in this blog are excerpts from a journal of a teacher at the school and her observations of the children at the academy.  It includes personal insights into the lives of some of the children at the school, description of their interactions and describes the fear and apprehensions about the upcoming war between the states and the sad story of how one young girl hung herself.   She talks about the the congregation at the Presbyterian church in New Richmond and the rush to see the soldiers loading onto boats and the crying mothers and wives saying goodbye to their loved ones.  

Strickland, Mark  (b. abt. 1792 –d. 1883)

Mark Strickland was a 21 year old private in Captain Hosbrook’s company at Fort Amanda.  He was born about 1792 in Upper Township, Cape May County, NJ, the son of  Michael and Eleanor (Cullen). Michael Strickland was born in Connecticut and Eleanor was born in Ireland. 

HIS PARENTS

In 1790, Michael Strickland (b. 1765) was working as a blacksmith at Jobs Point, New Jersey.  On September 13 that year, the business burned to the ground so Michael moved to Egg Harbor, N. J. for a short time before moving on to Philadelphia where he again found employment on November, 5, 1791  

Note:  a day earlier and 500 miles to the west ¼ of the United States army had been slaughtered at the battle at Fort Recovery, Ohio)  In a battle lasting less than 4 hours, 632 officers and men were killed or were dying on the field, and another 264 wounded, an astounding casualty rate of 98%.  In addition 200 women and 50 children were also murdered in the attack. 

Michael Stricklands business was a lucrative one.  Records list him as weighing 153 pounds. The 1913 History of Brown Cty, Ohio says this of Michael Strickland: 

He came to Clermont County in 1809 where he secured 600 acres of land in THE “Jersey Settlement in Tate Township and erected the first brick house on Popular Creek in 1811.  Michael Strickland was a fine mechanic and could construct almost any article made with tools.  A fine stone sundial made by him is still in existence.  He was also an extensive farmer and stockman and took great pleasure in transforming the wilderness of his possessions into a valuable property.  He spent the remaining years of his life in Clermont County, where his death occurred on March 8, 1851 at the age of eighty-seven.    He and Eleanor are buried the Old Bethel M. E. Church Cemetery. 

 Old Bethel M. E. Church Cemetery

Michael Strickland
1760 - 1851

Eleanor Strickland (Marks mother) was an original member of the Bible Society, whose function was producing religious materials.  She gave the materials to her children, whose job was to actually distribute the materials.  Mark, Paul, Daniel, and daughters, Hope, Sarah, Betsy, Maria, Harriet and Hannah.  Eleanor died June 15, 1860 at the age of 85. 

Mark Strickland

Mark Strickland, worked in his father’s blacksmith business until he was called to duty in 1812.  He was assigned to Captain Daniel Hosbrook’s company and was stationed at Fort Amanda on the Auglaize.   One of Strickland’s daughters married a man named Ogden  and it is possible it was a relative of Lt. William Ogden mentioned in Schillinger’s Journal.  Ogden died at the age of 20 at Ft. Defiance.  The Ogden’s and Strickland’s lived in the same general area.   

After the war Strickland started his own blacksmith business and was very successrul.  He followed it for some years until he decided to move to Louisiana.  He sold his property and moved to Caddo Parish, Louisiana where he remained only a short time.   Louisiana being a slave state was too much for Strickland so he left and moved back to Clermont County.

            
The 1913 History of Clermont and Brown counties says this about Mark Strickland:

“Mark Strickland was a noted Abolitionist, and his home was a station on the underground railroad, many slaves being assisted to freedom by his help.   Byoccupation, he was a blacksmith at New Richmond where he had a very lucrative business. He was a most interesting character, very active and high minded and upright in all his conduct. He was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, very strict in his beliefs and always ready to assist all worthy enterprises. He was a trustee of New Richmond from 1831 to 1832 an of Ohio Township from 1835 to 1836.  Mr Strickland was three times married the first union with Tryphosa Newton, daughter of Ebenezer Newton, a Clermont pioneer and author of a textbook on spelling.  To this union was born two sons and two daughters (Paul, Francis, Alice and Eleanor).  His second marriage was with Margaret Quinlan and his third wife was Elizabeth Snyder, who bore him two daughters (Belle and Emma).  He survived all three wives.”

Slavery   

In July 1836 , the members of the Presbyterian Church in New Richmond passed a "Resolution to withhold from Communion all persons holding men , women , or children as property or those advocating the system." Seven years later in 1843 , in continued action , the same church demanded that the Cincinnati Presbytery take similar action and threatened to "dissolve all connections with any organizations supporting this mother of abominations(slavery.)" Many of the members of the Anti Slavery Society were members of the Presbyterian Church and Harriet Beecher Stowe's brother , the Rev. George Beecher was preaching at that church (And also at nearby rural Nicholsville church. when the 1836 statement to the Cincinnati Presbytery was delivered.

The Clermont Academy

Mark Strickland was also involved in the creation of The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond.  It  enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history.  The following has been included in this posting because it reflects the feelings and emotions of the times and what Mark Strickland may have experienced.  

Note:  This monument commemorates the site of the Parker Academy, a private school organized in 1839. It was open to students of both genders (co-ed) and all races. Edwin Mathews, a former slave of James G. Birney, was the first black student enrolled. Plantation owners brought their bi-racial children here to be educated. Many of the children of Clermont’s abolitionists were also enrolled. On at least one-occasion slave hunters came to the school in search of a fugitive. 1,500 students attended the school during its fifty-three year history. (1324 Clermontville-Laurel Rd.)

The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history.
Sarah Preston Baker Parker relates the details in her writing, "A Brief History of Clermont Academy ,Together with a Few Items from the Lives of its Founder and Principal." This precious old manuscript was written in 1889 , the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the academy. Sarah Parker was the wife of James K. Parker , who was the teacher and head of the academy , a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Parker , founders of the school.  In her "brief history" Mrs. Parker referred to the student register, which she evidently had at hand , and commented on each student (some were young; some were old; some were colored) who had ever attended the academy.
I have extracted the following accounts regarding black history and the colored people who attended Clermont Academy. I quote verbatim from her "brief history", in order to pass on the exact feelings that Mrs. Parker expressed in her writing.
________________________________________
November 4 , 1839: "then came Edwin Matthews (third student enrolled) , a colored young man who was working for Mr. Strickland came and made application for him.In the great conflict raging at the time , the Strickland’s and the Parkers and many of the leading families had become abolishonists. Now came the test of this principal. While the family were discussing the question of his admission , Elmer Denham , an English Baptist minister , was visiting them; he said, "Do this thing and you honor God and lose patronage." They did it and the prophesy came true."

May 6 , 1844: "Sarah Jane Richmond and Elizabeth Richmond were colored girls from Memphis, Tennessee. They were very interesting girls indeed , who learned rapidly and were very affectionate. our eldest daughter Frankie had their most devoted attention , especially the younger one "Dizzie" as she was called. Mother Parker said that they scarcely ate a meal without hearing something from "Dizzie" about "the teacher's baby."

November 4 , 1845: Fifth year of school begins: "Zachariah M. Landsdowne was a young minister , newly married to Miss Mary Hoover. He became interested in the moral questions of the day , especially in the liberation of slaves. He became a warm partisan as it was not his nature to take things by halves."(It is not stated that Landsdowne was colored; probably just interested in the slavery question because he was a sincere minister.)

Novemeber 4, 1845: Ephraim Hayden was a colored boy from New Richmond. His parents wre slaves if the noted Arthur THome of Augusta , KEntucky. When they wre emancipated they came to New Richmond , and for a long time were members of the Presbyterian Church. Ephraim is now a barber in New Richmond.

November 4 , 1845 Term: Thomas Richmond , a brother of Sarah and Elizabeth Richmond , was as bright and teachable as his sisters. Before he came home he was requested not to sing any of his comic Negro melodies , and well kept his promise for a long time , but unfortunately one day some of the boys in the filed heard Tom singing and solicited him to sing. He told them no , he could not , that he had promised his folks at home not to sing; but they persisted in begging him and when he began it was difficult for him to stop. They boys were so delighted that they wanted the old folks, the teachers, and the girls to hear him. Tom did not like for his sisters to hear him , as they know that he had broken his promise. The boys succeeded some way in bringing him before the whole audience, much to the delight of all except Tom's sisters, and they did not seem to object so much when they found Tom was so well received. It certainly was equal to any collection of Negro melodies that we had ever heard.

November Tem 1846: "James W. Rariden was a very clever , earnest student. He was also from Kentucky. He became displeased because some colored students came into the school from Kentucky, and he left us rather abruptly."

November 1847: "On the 12th of January that term Milton Taylor came from a farm back of Maysville , Kentucky, with his three children , John J. , Phebe Ann , and Matu Jane Taylor. He was a white man , their father , and their mother was a colored slave. This question had been settled some years before , by the New Testament teaching that God was not a respector of persons neither would we be , and the commission of Christ is "Teach all Nations." They were accepted but there was great commotion in the school when it was known they were coming, James Adams (A student) was so frank a fellow that he told his convictions and experiences all out. He came into our room and spoke to the writer one day in a very angry manner, saying "I could kill that man and all his children and be glad to do it."He was taught that if he cherished that kind of feeling he was a murderer and that he had better calm himself, and write a letter to his father. The great flood of December 1847 was then on hand and he could not get home, so he remained and before an answer came from his father the Taylors had gotten here through the perils of ice and snow and flood. When they came I could scarcely recount to you the excitement , the warm debates , the ernest struggle. A school is a little world of in itself , and as they were all free to speak each his mind , there were some great debates; but when the Taylor children came to school they wre comely , polite well dressed , and withal had been taught in John Rankins school. They were somewhat advanced. John Taylor was a good mathmetician and he was not in school a day until James Adams and others were asking help of him in Algebra. We should also state that there were students in school at this time of excitement that went on in the even tenor of their way and recited every day as though nothing in particular was going on. Not so with all. Several good young men of Kentucky left and bore the inconvenience of ice and snow and flood and got home. Finally old Mr. Adams letter came, and he very calmly told his boy that he had better stay where he was for he might meet the same thing in other schools in Ohio"....
"The three Taylor children - John married a respectable woman, had a large family. He has been for a long time in business on Fifth Street in Cincinnati. Phebe married an artist of celebrity , named Robert Duncanson. (Robert Duncanson's restored murals may be seen in the Taft Museum in Cincinnati today,1996. A.M. Whitt) Mary Jane married a man who deserted her, then after some years she was married to the son of a Presbyterian minister names Rodgers.

November Term 1848: "Sophia Houston was a pretty little girl familiarly called Alabama because she came from that state. Her story was a sorrowful one, There landed at New Richmond a master and his slave Emma, and her little boy , they , and with them this little girl , Sophia. They started from their home in Alabama in their own wagons and camped out at night. They were not a very happy company. The young woman thought she wanted to be free , yet longing for her friends that she left behind her, and being timid about going into a strange land made her sad , murmuring, fretful. She had seen the little girl literally torn from the arms of her mother and grandmother and by force placed in the wagon amid groans, the tears, the anguish of the parents, and the wild screams of the child. This little girl mourned so continually for her home and friends that she was sick , she would not eat , and they feared she would die. At night she seemed particularly grieved and frightened, and they lulled her to sleep each night by the promise that the next day she should be taken home , but each day she was still farther away; each night the same promise came. The master came to Mr. Martin Ryan's public house, and there he told to Mr. Ryan his purposes and desires, concerning his children. Mr. Ryan became their guardian. In his house was born the second child of the young woman. He was called Harry Houston. The woman Emma lived in Mr Ryan's home for several years and was a good , kind woman , except at times she would say hard cutting things and they would correct her and bear with her and they would take good care of her,and her children. But one day , Emma was particularly unkind in her talk , and Mrs. Ryan thought it best to tell her that she could no and would not bear such talk any longer. Emma went across the street to Mr. Ryan's neice, waiting for a new place. We (the Parker family) needed help and went to Mr and Mrs Ryan. They frankly told us of her good qualities and her faults, but commended her heartily , thinking her experience would od her good. They very kindly helped her prepare to go with us , and seemed really happy to think that she was to be established in a home again. And this history is the story of our Emma who lived with us for several years, a very useful , good woman. She will be remembered, no doubt by many of the students and with great kindness. She never forgot Mr. and Mrs. Ryan's kindness. They were friends to her as long as they lived. Emma and her children’s words and ways are mingled with many a merry time. One Christmas Mother Parker had a straw man to represent Santa Claus. They stepped up to him in the dimness of the early morning and addressed Santa thus, "Santa Claus where you had to?" Evidently he meant "where have you been, tell me the story of your travels," but the students laughed so hard at   that he could not have heard, even if the straw man had told him. We have dwelt on this story, a slave story, long because in it we see that the best efforts of a good men could not cure the direful effects of that dreadful system. The master went home and died soon after. Little Alabama had to be taken from school. Mr Ryan , her guardian , placed her in his sisters family where she was very kindly treated and well brought up."
(In her discussion of students enrolled in the November 1849 term , Mrs. Parker distresses and tells:"In the spring of 1857 , we left our school and went to Wilberforce University, near Xenia, Ohio to care for a colored school for a time." She further realities that , while there , they received many letters asking them to return to Parker Academy.)

May 1851 Term: David Devore came from a farm near Higginsport, Brown County. He was one those jolly, openhearted souls that everybody delights on. He was the some of Peter DeVore who often came to our neighboring church to preach. Though we thought so much of him, we had to part with him. There was a young colored girl in the school at that time and some of the citizens of that place were unwilling that Uncle Joe Staten's children should go to school in their own district. The parents had been slaves and did not know how to read and write, so of course the children would have been left in ignorance if some one did not teach them. Mrs. Nancy Thompson , when she had a school in her own house , used to teach them , and they were admitted to the Academy, but this young man (DeVore) said - " I cannot go to school where the colored are admitted." He was young and did not realize the power of Christ's word upon us,as teachers. Under his great commission we re commanded to "Teach the Nations." We feel that it is just as much our duty here in our quiet little valley to follow out that injunction as though we were in Africa or Asia. As neither could yield we parted as friends, but after this his sisters , Amanda and Mary E. DeVore came into the Academy in the winter of 1856. They were like their brother, very amiable and companionable in their natures."

May 1852 Term: (Here Mrs. Parker tells that Christian , Emily and Anna Donaldson , children of Thomas and Susanna Doonaldson enrolled. "The mother in the family is the sister of the principal." She goes on to relate:" The school was founded through prayer. Religious services were held in the Academy by Rev. John Powell. Among the first meetings three of the Parker family were baptized, Mrs. Donaldson , William Tell Parker , and Charles Parker. After these were baptized, Mr. Donaldson , while witnessing the scene, became interested and desired to be obedient and asked the minister to baptize him. He and his wife joined the First Baptist Church of New Richmond and were members there for several years , and left because they thought the church was not anti slavery enough." This is just another of many references to how strong the anti slavery and abolitionist feelings were in the New Richmond area.)

May 1852 Term: "Julia Staten was the daughter of Uncle Joe Staten of Point Pleasant and was among the students quite a number of times. Some of the best families of Point Pleasant were willing that Uncle Joe's children should attend their school , but there were some opposed. Julia was a good girl and died while quite young in the Christian faith. Uncle Joe Staten and his wife Chrisie had been slaves and neither could read or write, and if their children could not have teachers, they must go ignorant. We felt they ought to be instructed and we taught them. Uncle Joe sent all his children and one of his grandchildren to the Academy."

April 1853: "John W. Winn was a colored boy from Arkansas. He had naturally a bright mind, and he had learned much by observation and work on the farm at home, but was wholly uneducated as to books. He could read a little in the first reader. Although he was the size of a man, yet he had to take the books of a little child. All of these he went through with remarkale rapidity and ease and exhaustiveness. He took the Gazette and read it regularly with enthusiastic interest. When he had been two years in school he was with the best students in Grammar , Philosophy, and Mathmatices. We began to think it would be better to let boys run the farm without knowledge of books until they were almost grown men and then send them to school. His case was remarkable.
Same term: "Abner Williams was a colored student sent here by old Judge Esty. The Judge supplied him with all the money that was necessary for his comfort and he made commendable progress.

April 1854 Term: William and Oliver Hardin with their sisters Virginia and Almeda were brought here by their father, a wealthy slave holder of Texas. Their mother had been his slave. He was one of those tenderhearted slave holders who could not sell his children, and who happily had wealth enough to set them free and leave them in comfort. This Major Hardin did. William , the oldest , did not learn as fast as the other children , but he was a good honest fellow. Virginia and Almeda were excellent girls. They progresses very well in their studies. The sad intelligence came to us later that Almeda had hung herself in the barn. These children were all agreeable, pleasant students, except for a time Oliver was very contrary; but he was suspended from schoool and in a little while he came to his senses and applied for restoration. We gladly gave him again the privileges of the school, and he ever after that behaved as a gentleman. The other children were always cheerfully obedient to every requisition of the school."

November 1854 Term: "Cary Campbell was a colored young man from Ripley , Ohio. He was named and , I believe, brought up by Mr. Campbell of that place. He also proved to be a good student. He is a teacher now in Clermont County , and we meet him at the Institute. He is a good useful man."

April 1855 Term: "Edinburg, Charles and Lucy A. St. John were unusually intelligent, polite, pleasant colored children whose mother brought them here from New Orleans., Louisiana. The mother was an interesting , neat, honest and clever woman....Lucy St. John had given the baby (evidently the Parker's baby, Hassie) a very handsome gold ring. She (the baby) had poked it under the stair carpet."

October 1856 Term: "Samuel Wilkins was pious old colored man , who had been a slave and who came to learn to read the Bible , and he did learn to read it. He left us triumphantly, carrying away a great Bible that could read. I doubt if we ever had anotehr student who was more grateful than Samuel Wilkins.,"
"Andrew J. Napier was a colored student, a very handsome, modest young man, who came from a farm on Twelve Mile."
"Paulina and Rebecca Lott were colored girls from New Richmond of more than ordinary enterprise. They had an excellent mother. They were sprightly active girls, both in work and study. Soon after the girls left school their father went to Haiti and we have known nothing of them since."

"Ellen Waters was a young colored girl who was rather peculiar in being very wicked and very religious at the same time. She sighed deeply one day and on being asked what made her so sad replied that she was sorry that she was a Christian."Why are you sorry for that?"asked one."Oh", she replied "there is to be a dance at one of our neighbors and I want so bad to dance." One suggested that if that were true, very likely she was not a Christian at all. That thought stirred her deeply and wonderfully. She said," Oh, if you could only hear my Christian experience you would never say that about me. I have a most wonderful experience." We hope that she is a good woman now and that she has a true experience.(Note by A.M.W.: Evidently Mrs. Parker considered dancing to be "wicked", as did many religions of the time. I hope Ellen got to dance and keep her religions at the same time. I don't agree with Mrs. Parker that she was "rather peculiar" at all. Aileen M. Whitt)
"Aurelia Woodson was a nice little colored girl from Batavia. She did not remain with us long."

"Our blacksmith at this date was a colored man , a local M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) minister. A good man and full of charity. He took into his hosuehold a widowed sister with six children, and when his wife's sister and her husband died , leaving another set of six children, he took them in also, thus making a household of fifteen persons. They were all industrious and neat and prospered wonderfully well. They all loved the generous uncle and were all called by his name. They sent Sarah , the oldest girl of the children, to school.(Mrs. Parker does not give the name of the family; perhaps a study of the 1860 census would identify a black head of household , who was a blacksmith/minister with 15 children in the household , one of them named Sarah."

" At the close of this term we were urgently solicited to take charge of an enterprise begun by the Cincinnati Conference of the M.E. Church. They had purchased buildings of Tawa Springs in Green County near Xenia. Here they designed to establish a school for the colored, and they succeeded. TO find a man able to teach an Academic course of study, and know how to treat colored people with respect, and also having the ability to exercise the strict discipline necessary to make an orderly school was not an easy task. They solicited the teacher of our Academy.  We locked up our houses with their goods in them. We took clothing, books and musical instruments with us and went for a short stay at Wilberforce University. In the summer of 1858 we returned home."

Fall 1855 Term:"Phillip Smith was an agreeable colored student from a farm near Twelve Mile."

1859: "Martha Smith was a very pleasant colored girl. She and her brothers made agreeable students."
(At this point n the "brief history" Mrs. Parker gives a heart-rending description of the effects of the Civil war on the Academy and the country, excerpts of which follow:)
"we are just at the opening of the great rebellion. Mutterings of war , thunderings, are deep,  sullen and full of hate. Discussions are held at every man's fireside.  We (our country) had to professed in freedom and yet we have supported the vilest style of slavery upon the earth. We did this with our eyes fully opened to all the abomination that was in it..We trembled,  but aroused ourselves,  and the North sprang into arms at the first sound of alarm. We see that these disturbances affect our school,                         for last year at the opening we had 46 young men, this year about 35. But this is a goodly number considering the tumultuous times which we were passing through.

.On April 1 , 1861 , 21 young men and 16 girls came into the school. Of these 21 (men) but 7 remained to complete the term.  The air was all astir with animation concerning the war. Sometimes teacher and all would go to New Richmond to see the departure of the soldiers. The first time we did this the public meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church. Oh, how the people spoke! Everybody that was an orator then had a tongue of fire. The house was crowded. As the meeting closed we were starting to to the river to see the soldiers embark.  The crowd rushing out broke down the floor in the vestibule. This made great confusion; many rushed to the back door, tumbling pell-mell over each other.  Someone proclaimed at the front door."Be not afraid, no one is hurt, only the floor is broken".   All was in a moment calmed We were soon out on the street, moving in masses to the river, there to see the soldiers go aboard. But, oh, sorrowful the sight. Many brave women quietly wiped the tears away that afternoon; but there was one old German mother who could not restrain her tears; her piercing cries sounded far up and down the street, finding an echo in many a wounded heart. The boat was testless, whistling, puffing, soldiers were hastening on. Some of their friends were going on as far as they could with them.")

(At this point in her writing Mrs. Parker makes note, dating it Jan 21 , 1889,"Last year , 1888,the severe illness of the Teacher (her husband James K. Parker) compelled the stoppage of this writing." She resumed her narrative comments on the students enrolled after 1860, but with briefer remarks. There is no further mention of which students enrolled were colored , and no further comment of interest to black history. We wish Mrs. Parker had continued to comment on the colored students from 1860-1889,but we are grateful that she recorded as many tid bits as she did, as her remarks greatly enhance our picture of that period in history.
These stories are just a few of the items and records of interest to the history of the black people of the New Richmond area. Further research would tell their continued involvement and participation in the history of the area to the present day.

 The End of His Life

The 1860 census lists the 69 year old Strickland as working as a Blacksmith in Miami township, Clermont County, Ohio. 

In 1870 he was living near Stonelick with his 47 year old daughter Elizabeth and her family.  

 By 1880 Strickland had moved to Manchester in Adams County, Oh. where the census that year lists him as a retired farmer and his health as “old age.”  He died 3 years later (1883).   

While his burial site is unknown, it most likely is in Manchester, Oh

What a appropriate  thing it would be for schools to take a field trip to Fort Amanda during Black History Month and tell the kids about the first African-American to live within the confines of Auglaize/Allen County; a man named David who lived there during the winter of 1812.  And tell them about Pvt. Mark Strickland, a 21 year old blacksmith from southern Ohio who went on to dedicate his entire life to ending slavery including putting his own safety in peril by keeping a safe house for run away slaves.   How cool would that be?

Bunker Hill Hero at Ft. Amanda - Surviving a Stampede

 

Epitaph:

Peter Sunderland

A Revolutionary Soldier

Fought at Bunker Hill

Died Aug. 1, 1827

Aged 90 years

Catherine

His Wife

Died Sept 1, 1831

Aged 85 Years

If you're looking for a real hero of the Revolutionary War, look no further than the cemetery at Fort Amanda. Along the walkway back to the fort, look to your right under a large tree and you'll see the grave marker for Peter Sunderland and his wife Catherine.

The following information was found on the Find-A-Grave site and on the internet site:
http://www.ohiogenealogyexpress.com/auglaize/auglaizeco_bios_s.htm

The Engagement on Bunker Hill

Thirty eight year old Peter Sunderland joined the patriots of the Revolution early in the Spring of 1775. On the night of the 16th of June, the regiment to which he belonged crossed he neck of the bay and entrenched themselves on Breeds Hill. When the morning dawned there was a great sir on board the British fleet that lay in the harbor. Thousands of spectators who climbed to the house-tops in Boston to watch the progress of events, could be seen from the redoubt. About one o'clock the British made an assault on the redoubt and were repulsed with the loss of a great number of men. A second assault was followed with a result equally disastrous. Unfortunately for the Patriots, their ammunition by this time was nearly exhausted. When the third assault was made the patriots had but three rounds of powder and ball, which were expended on the advancing enemy, and then there was a lull. The Americans, now out of ammunition, clubbed their guns and hurled stones at the assailants. After firing the last charge, Sunderland picked up three guns in succession to find that each had been discharged. Upon picking up a fourth gun he was attacked by a British soldier who struck at him with a saber. A quick turn of the gun caused the edge of the instrument to strike directly in his mouth, cutting through each cheek. Again the British soldier struck, and again the blow was partially parried, causing the weapon to cut through the wall of the abdomen. At the state in the encounter, Sunderland succeeded in discharging his gun into the face of his assailant and thrust his bayonet through his body. He hen withdrew in haste from the entrenchment believing that he was the last man in the retreat. He succeeded in reaching a swamp where he found a man accompanied by his wife and an infant. Here Sunderland dressed his wounds as best he could, binding a large handkerchief about his abdomen. He then crossed the swamp; the water in a number of places being so deep that they were compelled to swim. At such places the infant was tossed from one to the other. On reaching the opposite margin of the swamp, Mr. Sunderland concealed himself in a thicket for three days. On the third day he found a relief party and conveyed to a place of safety.

Note: I read another story of this incident in which it said because his mouth had been torn open through the cheeks, he couldn't call for help. Plus, fearing he could be discovered by the British he laid quietly for those 3 days and broke twigs trying to get the attention of passer byes with whom he felt safe.

Source 1: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -by C. W. Williamson- Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905

Note: There is much more information including geanology information on the Sunderland family on file in the Allen County Museum.

The Number of Soldiers Engaged and the Casualties

Closest account shows the British began their fight with 2,200 men. Their casualty rate was 226 killed 828 wounded. The patriots began the battle with 1,200 men (700 on the hill and 500 in reserve). Their casualtiy rate was 115 killed and 305 wounded for a total for the day (both sides) 341 killed and 1133 wounded. Even though the patriots on Bunker (Breeds) Hill were outnumbered 2 to 1, they had the advantage of being on the high ground, plus the British came over in waves from Boston and not from a single full on frontal assault. The patriots used up all their ammunition and all they could do was swing their rifles like clubs and throw rocks as the British over ran their position. One Royal Marine wrote "Nothing could be more than so shocking than the carnage that followed the storming of this work. We tumbled over the dead to get at the living, with soldiers stabbing some and dashing out the brains of others. The significance of the battle showed the world that a group of rag tag militia men could give the professionally trained soldiers of the British army a pretty darn good fight. When they ran out of ammunition, they didn't run, they turned their rifles into clubs and fought till the end. We may have lost the battle, but in the end we gained far more than we lost, the resolve to fight.

Then and Now

After the War

Peter Sunderland was born in 1737 the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Barraclough. He married a woman named Catherine Holman, daughter of Francis Holman. After the war, the Sunderlands entered land near Dayton, Ohio on which they resided until 1822 when he and his wife came to the area and lived with their son Dye Sunderland until Peter died in 1827.

Cabin Site

Dye Sunderlands cabin was located on the north side of Ft. Amanda rd and in line with Dug Hill Rd (see pic below). I haven't been in the field for 30 years but last time I was there, the foundation stones were still visible. My reason for posting the site of the cabins is for fear that someday it may be forgotten. The pic below is a recent Google Earth pic and I can tell already that the area has changed dramatically since my last visit

Close Call

While metal detecting can be lots of fun, it can also be dangerous.
I used to take my oldest son Mike with me whenever I went out metal detecting. The owner of the field always warned me to be on the lookout for the bulls who pastured in the field. On one occasion I must have made one mad. I had just made one of my greatest finds (a spur) and as I pulled it from the ground, I turned and saw a bull charging at us at full speed. I dropped the spur and detector, grabbed mike up, and ran for the nearest fence. I deposited Mike (threw him actually) on the safe side of the fence but when I turned around the bull was just a few feet away so I jumped over the fence but snagged the barbed wire and literally tore the back out of my pants. Mike thought it was funny but I didn't (until later). :-)

Music Soothes the Savage Beast (and Bulls)

My last outing in the field was also my most memorable. I was doing my regular searching and got a nice signal. I got down on my knees and carefully started removing dirt. My detector was still making its humming noise. I happened to look up and saw a scene I will remember forever. Completely surrounding me were 6 or 7 of the largest black bulls I've ever seen in my life. I could literally reach out and tough the nose of everyone one of them (In fact I did touch one and yes, it was snotty). They just stood there not moving and I'm looking around for a place I could run through but I was totally surrounded and I started to panic thinking, "Don't move Dave, if these guys run off, you're going to get trampled." The standoff lasted about 2 or 3 minutes until I reached down and turned the tuning knob on my detector so it made a higher pitched sound. After a minute or so, I got the nerve to stand up and it must have been a funny site, me standing in the middle of all these bull but I just started walking slowly between them and touching them so as to have them move and they all just turned around and walked away. It was both scary and cool all at the same time.

I regressed from my original Fort Amanda post so I'll just remind everyone here that next time you're out at Fort Amanda, take time to visit the grave of Peter Sunderland. It's not always we get the opportunity to stand beside the grave of a true American Patriot. While I'm sure Peter appreciates the American flag beside his grave, I have a hunch his wife Catherine, a pioneer woman who braved the same dangers of the frontier as her husband, wouldn't mind a flower or two placed at the grave for her as well.