Up Caesars Creek with a paddle

I knew that the popular enormous flea market called Caesar's Creek near Wilmington OH derived its name from the nearby Ohio State Park.
What I did not know and never thought about much was where the name came from. Like the name Cincinnati, I assumed it was a nod to the Roman era. The billboards for the flea market seem to emphasize that angle too. It turns out the billboards aren't exactly historically accurate and as usual there is more to the story.

The name comes from an escaped or possibly captured black slave named Caesar who was adopted by the Shawnee, a fairly common American Indian practice in those days. Sometimes these adoptees escaped but many they stayed with their new Indian families. Caesar stayed, preferring this new life to his old one. I'll bet that wasn't a hard decision for him. He was eventually given his own hunting land by the local Chief.  I wish there was more information on Caesar himself but his significant place in history was recalled by the famed frontiersman Simon Kenton who owed him his life...

marker near Xenia OH has been stolen

In 1778, Kenton was captured by the Shawnee in Ohio and forced to run the gauntlet..nine times. The gauntlet was a form of a furious beating torture used to test the mettle of captives, who were then considered for adoption themselves. Simon, already well known among the Shawnee, was a prized captive and paraded from village to village for all to see. Kenton was then condemned to die near present day Xenia OH. The Shawnee named him Cuttahotha meaning "condemned to be burned at the stake", something that was attempted three times, yet each time circumstances resulted in his escape. The Shawnee saw this as a sign he was protected by the Great Spirit, Monetoo. They commuted his death sentence and he was adopted into a Shawnee family.

During his captivity, Caesar, now a full member of the Shawnee, took some pity on Simon who was barely clinging to life from his ordeal. Caesar could not offer direct assistance or face punishment himself, but he did give him information on how to escape if given the chance. By following the creek on his hunting land he named for himself...Caesars Creek, to the Little Miami and then to the Ohio River, a trip of at least 60 miles, he could then reach the safety of the settlements in Kentucky.

Simon Kenton never got to use the advice from Caesar but his words gave him hope when all hope seemed lost. He finally did escape in 1779 during a stop at the British Fort Detroit and made it back to American settlements thereby securing his status as a living legend, feared and respected by whites and Indians alike. But this post is really about Caesar. You can look forward to a full Gehio post about Simon Kenton one day!

Simon Kenton (1755 - 1836) in Covington KY

The area around Caesar's Creek fittingly became an important part of the Underground Railroad in the 1850's by the area Quakers who helped slaves escape.
No one knows what happened to Caesar, but without his encouragement, Kenton would surely have perished or been forgotten himself and changed American history.

WWWHH Do? Free Booz!

WHH lived in North Bend OH when he ran for Prez

Even if you don't drink booze, it's a fun word to say. Try it. Booze! Booooze. It's fun!
There were variants of the word “booze” associated with drunkenness back to the 14^th century and even in early America adjectives such as “boosy” meant "drunk",  but it was really a coincidental event in US Presidential politics that popularized the word “booze” to refer to the liquor itself. Let me explain.

So, you are running for US President and you have been accused of being a drunk and a hayseed. Never mind that you were once a US Ambassador, US Congressman (both kinds), Governor of the District of Louisiana, Governor of Indiana, Secretary of Northwest Territory, a US Army General and celebrated war hero. What do you do? Do you deny these outrageous charges?  No! You agree with them, use it to your advantage (also known as lying) and give out free liquor!

WHH at the Treaty of Greenville

This happened to Ohio resident William Henry Harrison. While WHH was campaigning to become our nation’s 9^th President against the incumbent Martin Van Buren in 1840, Harrison was accused of being a backwoods hick who would rather be getting crocked in his log home and at 67, way too old to be President. Never mind that he had an impressive resume, was college educated and came from a wealthy family. I'm not really sure what his drinking habits were. Most people back then drank a lot from what I can tell. Come to think of it, 67 was kind of old back then, but that's not really the point here...

WHH never slept here

What Would WHH Do?

Harrison turned that frown upside down! By adopting a log cabin as his campaign symbol, the symbol of frontier rustic-ness, he portrayed himself as the regular "Jebidiah the Blacksmith" every-man. This was kind of like the guys now that put on those plaid shirts for the camera and walk around a farm set with their family or don a hard hat and shake hands with factory workers. It's all make believe and 1840 was no different. Harrison never once lived in a log cabin. He rightfully defended his war hero status by coming up with the very first presidential campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" emphasizing his win at the Battle of Tippecanoe. He was also the first Presidential candidate to have all sorts of cups, plates, flags, and sewing boxes made with his image on them, but I have a feeling it was the next part that really sealed the deal with voters.

the free Booz

WHH commissioned the E.C. Booz Distillery to make whiskey...in log cabin shaped bottles (with the “Booz” name featured prominently) and Harrison gave them away at campaign stops to potential voters. Yes, he gave out free Booz(e) to get votes. This was a very very...very popular move and Harrison won the election becoming our nations 9th President. Of course then Harrison really got the last laugh and promptly died 32 days into his term and causing a constitutional crisis. Booya!