In the early 1800s, Native Americans and settlers lived separately, and usually peacefully, in the Black Fork valley but the War of 1812 increased tensions between the two groups. Some settlers feared that the local Native Americans would be influenced by the pro-British Shawnee chief, Tecumseh. These tensions were heightened by the forced removal of the Native Americans from their homes in Greentown, and the subsequent burning of the town by soldiers.
The Zimmer family
Note: In some sources, the name Zimmer is given as Zeimer or Seymour. It is spelled Zimmer on the family gravestone. The Zimmer's were one of the early settler families in Mifflin Township; they are listed in the 1811 tax records, and settled about north of Greentown. At that time, Mifflin Township was part of Richland County, but became part of Ashland County upon its formation in 1946. The family consisted of Frederick Zimmer, his wife, and their children, Philip and Kate.
Martin Ruffner
Like the Zimmer's, Martin Ruffner was one of the early settlers in the area. He came from Shenandoah County, Virginia, and settled about from the Zimmers' cabin, accompanied by his mother, brother Michael, and a sister.
The massacre
Although accounts differ as to the exact details of the massacre and the numbers of Native Americans involved, there are common elements to the story. On September 10, 1812, Ruffner's servant was stopped by a group of four–six Native Americans and asked about the Zimmers. When Ruffner heard about this encounter, he was concerned and went to the Zimmers' cabin, with his gun, to warn them. Ruffner arrived at the same time, or shortly before, the Native Americans and, fearing trouble, sent Philip Zimmer to warn nearby settlers and get assistance. Philip went to the cabins of James Copus and John Lambright, and both men returned with Philip to the Zimmers' cabin. The men found the cabin dark and the front door open. There was blood inside the open doorway and, fearing that the Native Americans were still inside, they fled to the nearest blockhouse where there were soldiers stationed. A group of soldiers returned to the house and found Ruffner's body in the yard. He had been shot twice, scalped, and had several fingers cut off, presumably by a tomahawk. Inside the house, they found the bodies of the Zimmer family, also scalped and, in Kate's case, with a nearly-severed arm. The family had presumably served a meal to the Native Americans, as it was still laid out on the table. The Native Americans involved were thought to be Greentown Native Americans who had avoided, or escaped, resettlement. It is not known if any of them were murdered in the attack. Three possible reasons have been given for why the Native Americans attacked the Zimmers. First, it was thought to be retribution for the events at Greentown. Second, the Native Americans were angry with Mr. Zimmer because he had tied clapboards to the tails of the Native Americans' ponies when they repeatedly got into his corn fields. Finally, the attack was a robbery because the Zimmers were known to be well-to-do.
Aftermath
In 1813, Philip Zimmer sold the family property for $1.50 per acre. Two monuments were erected, by the Ashland County Pioneer Society, to mark the spots of the Zimmer massacre and the Copus massacre. On September 15, 1882, the dedication for the monuments was attended by 10,000 people, including one of the Copus children who had survived that attack. In 1858, a fictional account of the massacre was written by Reverend James F. McGaw, titled Philip Seymour, or, Pioneer life in Richland County, Ohio: founded on facts. This book has given rise to several misunderstandings about the events surrounding the massacres, including the role of Johnny Appleseed.
