In the 18th century, European
colonists arrived in what is today
Pennsylvania and New York - i.e., the land of the
Lenape,
Wyandots, and
Mohawks. Colonist organizations such as the "New Jersey Association for Helping the Indians" forcefully expelled tribes westward via
forced migration, creating Wyandot, Mohawk, and
Lenape settlements in states including Ohio. However, some Lenape and Wyandots were indigenous to Ohio. Circa 1800, Ohio was the land of the
Lenape,
Wyandots, and
Mohawks, some of which were expelled from other territories. Occasional white missionaries and trappers would visit the forests of Ohio, but the territory was considered
Indian country. The
War of 1812 led to an increase in tension between Native Americans and the increasing number of settlers. The military feared that the British Army would recruit the Native Americans as allies. Colonel Samuel Kratzer received orders to remove the Native Americans, who were mostly from the
Delaware tribe, to the Piqua Reservation as a precautionary measure, and he assigned Captain Douglas to the task. Local reverend James Copus was originally from
Greene County, Pennsylvania and moved into the valley of the
Black Fork in 1809 with his wife and seven children (his name is listed in the 1811 tax records of the area). He was a trusted friend of the Native Americans and had settled several miles from
Greentown. Thus, when the Delaware told Captain Douglas that they would not leave, he tried to convince Copus to persuade the Native Americans. At first, Copus refused to interfere against them and said that he would personally stand accountable for their conduct. Douglas told Copus that they were under orders and that if the Native Americans did not comply, there would be bloodshed. Copus then agreed to accompany the soldiers to Greentown and speak with the Native Americans, but not before being assured that their lives and property would be protected if they agreed to surrender. Copus reluctantly met with the council of elders and, after much persuasion and reassurance, the elders agreed to leave their village. Following the deaths of some of his neighbors, including the
Zimmer family, at the hands of Native Americans, Copus asked for protection and was moved with his family to a
blockhouse. After several days, Copus decided that there was no longer any danger, so on September 14, 1812, nine militia soldiers (Captain Absalom Martin's Company of Guernsey County, Ohio) were detailed to accompany him and his family to their home. Upon his return, he found that nothing had been disturbed, and Copus felt somewhat at ease. Later that afternoon, one of Copus' daughters Nancy Copus noticed a Native American at the edge of the woods but did not report the sighting. == Attack at the Copus homestead ==