Dr. Coues, the standard authority on ornithology of the present time, was told incidentally by a reputable woodsman, that the “wild goose” often nested in trees along large water-courses. The Doctor could scarcely believe it, and was led to investigate, and found the circumstance to be a matter of common information among the residents of localities where the bird rears its young. Captain Bindere, of the army, stationed in Oregon, states that one year it was dry and the geese all nested on the ground; and the next year proved wet with high waters, and many nested in the trees, and asks if this is instinct or reason. Other birds that usually nest on the ground, for some reason during the wet season, occasionally build in trees, showing an architectural ability entirely different from nests constructed on the ground. The writer has known the chewink, or ground-robin to build five feet from the ground a well-constructed nest, during wet seasons only.
It is the observing man who resides for many years among beasts and birds that obtains full knowledge of their habits under various circumstances. It is the patient man to whom nature reveals her secrets; and the half-clad hunter is often a man versed in these hidden things, and can even tell how to “feed tadpoles to make them all females” as correctly as a Professor Drummond.
Through the knowledge of such men have come the great educators—the natural history societies and associations of the north-west. Is there one of these institutions of civilization that owes not its origin to the collections, accomplishments, observations and will of the Squirrel Hunter? Not one. He not only collected scientific matter, but was also the man the future looked upon as the one to open up farms, build school-houses, churches, highways, water-courses, mills, manufactures—to carry on commerce, make laws and to enforce them. He kept his gun clean, his powder dry and bullet pouch full, ready to put down rebellion or subdue invasion, or perform any other duty assigned him.
All this is no fancy sketch nor pen-picture—history written and unwritten will forever stand with his honorable mention. In the war of 1812, Ohio sent out more of these men as volunteers than she had voters; and in addition to this—when it was known General Hull had disgracefully surrendered the fort at Detroit, the Squirrel Hunters in the northern counties of the state did not await an invitation, but with their own guns, ammunition, blankets and rations marched to Cleveland, and made General Brock and his Indians feel satisfied to have the big pond of water between them and these determined men.
The following year (1813), at the time Fort Meigs was under hot fire and siege by General Proctor and his mixed army of British and Indians, the besieging general, it is said, was informed “ten thousand ‘squirrel hunters,’ called ‘Hardy Buckeyes,’[12] were on their way and near at hand to tell his army to get out of the country without delay!” On receipt of this, “not another gun was fired,” and the general with his army took the nearest and most expeditious route to Canada.
In the absence of the love of gain that comes with higher civilization, the pioneers were in favorable condition to receive literary and religious instructions. And the teachers found the people always as ready and anxious to hear the words of inspiration and eternal life as are those of the present time to learn the last quotations of the market.
The strictly moral and religious elements seldom, if ever, took part in such amusements as “shooting-matches,” “horse-racing,” ball-dancing, card-playing, or drinking whisky. And for the first forty years of the Nineteenth Century, the social condition, in regard to loading vices, had perhaps less evil than at any period since.
The majority of resident citizens were a Sunday-observing, church-going people. Although the inhabitants were sparse, the congregations were generally very large—whole families would walk six, eight, and ten miles or more to hear a Lorenzo Dow, Jacob Young, or Bishop McKendree.
Sectarian influences were but little felt. The people encouraged all denominations, though differing in confessions of faith and church discipline; each had in view the making mankind better here, and happier hereafter. “And for forms of faith, let graceless zealots fight, holding that his ‘can’t be wrong’ whose life is right.” And with a people who had many reasons to believe in special providences it was but consistent they should cultivate a submissive sincerity and desire to follow the paths of rectitude, with faith and assurance—“to such all ends well.”