1816-1916 Cedarville Centennial Souvenir

intelligent, and religious community which is now found in this town– ship. It may be said first of all that in the settlement of the United States two great obstacles had to be removed, viz., the Indians and the forests. The first settlers in Cedarville Township were the Mound– builders. * * * * * * * * * They evidently lived along Massie's Creek, and left as evidence that this was once their home, the ancient Fort, enclosing twelve acres, a half mile below Cedarville, and also the large mound, forty feet high, cone-shaped, a quarter of a mile north of the fort. In 1848 an exploration was made of this mound by a well, sunk from top to bottom. A human skeleton was found, probably some great chief of his day. Could he have spoken, INDIAN MOUND when his bones were brought to the surface, what an interesting his– tory he could have given of his people. But that history is envelopt in impenetrable darkness. Around that o~d mound many battles were fought, for the early settlers found arrow-heads in great numbers; _ and human blood was poured out and many a human being was tor– tured, who was unfortunate enough to be taken prisoner. Many learned historians believe that the Mound-builders were driven out long ago by the Indians, for, when Columbus discovered America in 1492, the Indians were living in every part of this continent. They · were organized into tribes and were governed by chiefs. When the. Anglo-Saxons came over the sea from Europe to find homes for them– selves in 1607 and 1620, they came in contact with the Indian race, who were uncivilized and savages. They bought large tracts of land from the Indians and settled colonies along the Atlantic seaboard. But soon trouble arose between the two races and tragic and bloody wars followed. But the Indians were no match for the Caucasian race, and, as emigrants came in · great numbers from Europe, the Indians were gradually driven back over the Allegheny mountains,