The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley

by Fritz Zimmerman

  Warren Evening Mirror, (Warren, Pennsylvania) May 17, 1910

  Grim Relics of Early Fight

  Manitoba Workman Unearth Skeletons In Common Grave

  Snowflake, Man., May. 17-Workman digging on the brow of a hill on the Charles Sims homestead unearthed the skeletons of 20 human beings, which had been buried in all sorts of positions. The bones were those of men, women and children who in ages past, had been slaughtered, evidently in some battle between warring tribes of redskins.

  The spot could have been no peaceful Indian burying ground, as the bodies were thrown in every position, some on top of the others. The skeletons show the men to be of gigantic stature.

  Beads and other adornments for Indian women are quite plentiful. To Dr. Corbett of Snowflake belongs the credit of making the discovery.

  Pennsylvania

  History of Erie County, Illustrated, 1884

  Many indications have been found in the county proving conclusively that it was once peopled by a

  different race from the Indians who were found here when it was first visited by white men. When the

  link of the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad form the Lake Shore road to the dock at Erie was in process of

  construction, the laborers dug into a great mass of bones at the crossing of the public road which runs

  by the rolling mill. From the promiscuous way in which they were thrown together, it is surmised that

  a terrible battle must have taken place in the vicinity at some day so far distant that not even a tradition

  of the event has been preserved. The skulls were flattened, and the foreheads were seldom more than

  an inch in width. The bodies were in a sitting posture, and there were no traces that garments, weapons

  or ornaments had been buried with them. On account of the superstitious notions that prevailed among

  the workmen, none of the skeletons were preserved, the entire collection as far as was exposed being

  thrown into the embankment further down the road. At a later date, when the roadway of the

  Philadelphia and Erie road, where it passes through the Warfel farm, was being widened, another

  deposit of bones was dug up and summarily disposed of as before. Among the skeletons was one of a

  giant, side by side with a smaller one probably that of his wife. The arm and leg bones of this Native

  American Goliath were about one-half longer than those of the tallest man among the laborers; the

  skull was immensely large; the lower jawbone easily slipped over the face and whiskers of a full-face

  man, and the teeth were in a perfect state of preservation.

  Another skeleton was dug up in Conneaut Township some years ago, which was quite remarkable in

  its dimensions. As in the other instance, a comparison was made with the largest man in the

  neighborhood, and the jawbone readily covered his face, while the lower bone of the leg was nearly a

  foot longer than the one with which it was measured, indicating that the man must have been eight to

  ten feet in height. The bones of a flat head were turned up in the same township some two years ago

  with a skull of unusual size. Relics of a former time have been gathered in that section by the pailful.

  Smithsonian Institutions Bureau of Ethnology, 1898-99 On the upper terrace, within the corporate limits of Monongahela City, are situated the garden and greenhouse of Mr. I. S. Crall. Two ravines on the east and west sides open directly south into Pigeon Creek, and their erosion has lowered the ground until it is surrounded by higher land on every side except along the bluff next to the creek. The further side of the creek being bounded by a high hill, the view from the level land between the ravines is shut off in every direction, except through a narrow pass looking up the river, thus the tract is surrounded on every side by hills close at hand, ranging from 40 to 250 feet above its level. In excavating for foundation walls and other purposes, Mr. Crall has, at different times, unearthed skeletons, some of large size; the ground is strewn with mussel shells, flint chips, etc.

  On the eastern side of this level, near the break of the ravine, and close to a never-failing spring, stands the largest mound above the one at McKees rocks, measuring 9 feet in height by 60 feet in diameter… At the center a hole measuring 3 feet across the top and 2 feet into the original soil. In this were fragments of human bones too soft to be preserved. They indicated an adult of large size. The gray clay was unbroken over this hole. Directly over this, above the clay and resting upon it, were portions of another large skeleton, with which was found part of an unburned clay tube or pipe.

  Otzinachson, A History of the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna, 1889

  That Indians frequented this stream in considerable numbers there is no doubt, as they left abundant

  numbers traces of their occupation behind them, both in ruined huts and graves. As late as 1873, at the

  village of Sterling Run, while Mr. Earl was excavating for a cellar, seventeen Indian skeletons were

  disclosed. All except two were of ordinary grown stature, while one measured over seven and one-half

  feet from the cranium to the heel bones. The bones had all remained undisturbed. They lay with their

  feet toward each other in a three-quarter circle, that is, some with their heads to the east, and then

  northeasterly to the north, and then northwesterly to the west. There had been a fire at the centre,

  between their feet, as ashes and coals were found there. The skeletons, except one smaller than the

  rest, were all as regularly arranged as they would be naturally in a sleeping camp and similar

  dimensions; many of the bones were in a good state of preservation, particularly the teeth and jaw

  bones, and some of the leg bones and skulls. The stalwart skeleton held a stoneware or clay pipe

  between his teeth as naturally as if in the act of smoking.

  Twentieth Century History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Vol. I, 1909

  Among the best known is that found in Wayne Township a short distance from Coury, which consist

  of a circular embankment of earth surrounded by a trench from which the earth had been dug, the

  whole enclosing about three acres… Smaller that the Wayne mound or circle is that of the John

  Pomeroy place on Conneaut Creek, near Albion. It encloses an area of a little less than an acre, and the

  embankment of this was three feet high and six feet broad at the base… On the same farm there is an

  interesting mound a hundred feet long and fifty feet wide by twenty-five feet high. There are stories of

  finding the skeletons of giants in one of the Conneaut Township mounds.

  History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1878

  In 1822, while digging a cellar on the farm of Gen. McKean, the excavation came to what was a

  supposed to be “an impenetrable rock, but striking it with a crow, it gave forth a hollow sound.” They

  redoubled their efforts, and at last the stone broke and fell into a vault. And now, with visions of longburied treasure flitting through their minds, they carefully removed the earth from the arch, speculating

  the while as to the probable extent of the “treasure trove” and the amount of salvage the general would

  be likely to claim. On removing the cap they found “not what they sought” but a sepulcher. A careful

  examination of the sarcophagus revealed it flagged at the bottom, the sides artistically built up, and a flat stone laid on the top. The sarcophagus measured nine feet in length, two feet sic inched in width, and two feet deep. In it was found a skeleton, measuring, as it lay, eight feet two inches in length (this measurement was made by Dr. Williams, late of Troy, now deceased). The teeth were sound, but the bones were soft and easily broken. There were two of these sepulchers within the space of the cellars, one of which had a pine growing over it three feet in diameter.r />
  New York Times, August 10, 1880

  Two Very Tall Skeletons

  From the Harrisburg (Penn.) Telegraph

  The following was copied verbatim from a note made in his pocket almanac by the late Judge Atlee: “On the 24th of May, 1798, being at Hanover (York County, Penn.,) in company with Chief Justice McKean, Judge Bryan, Mr. Burd, and others, on our way to Franklin, and, taking a view of the town, in company with Mr. McAlister, and several other respectable inhabitants, we went to Mr.Neese’s tan yard, where we were shown a place near the currying house from whence (in digging to sink a tan-vat) some years ago were taken two skeletons of human bodies. They lay close beside each other and measured 11 feet 8 inches in length: the bones were entire, but on being taken up and exposed to the air they presently crumbled and fell to pieces. Mr. McAllister and some others mentioned that they and many others had seen them, and Mr.; McAllister, whom is a tall man, about 6 feet 4 inches high, mentioned that the principal bone of the leg of one of them, being placed by the side of the leg, reached from the ankle a considerable way up his thigh, pointing a small distance below the hip bone.

  History of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter Counties, Pennsylvania, 1890

  The Freaty Indians, whose old country they entered, were comparatively modern settlers. There were

  men here before them, who lived in the age of giant nature. On the Fisher farm, near Bradford, in the

  Tuna Valley Flats, there were relics of a large race exhumed years ago. It appears an aged tree was

  felled and uprooted to make way for improvements, and beneath were found large skulls, any of which

  could encase the head of any modern man; while thigh-bones and shin bones were several inches

  longer than those of the present people.

  History of Erie County Pennsylvania from its Settlement, 1894

  There are also remains of an Indian fort between Gerard and Springfield. From a grave in this

  vicinity, some years ago, a thigh bone was exhumed which measured four inches longer than that of a

  man with which it was compared, who was six feet and two inches in height.

  In Scoalers woods, east of Erie, is an Indian burying ground. Mr. Fredrick Zimmerman described a

  very large skeleton, which was found there; with it were two copper bowls perforated at the edges and

  laced together with a buckskin thong, which fell to dust soon after being exposed to the air. The bowls,

  which would contain about a pint each, were found filled with beads.

  History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Illustrated, 1884

  An ancient graveyard was discovered in 1820, on the land known as the Drs. Carter and Dickinson

  places in Erie, which created quite a sensation at the time. Dr. Albert Thayer dug up some of the

  bones, and all indicated a race of beings of immense size.

  Ohio

  Ohio Democrat, (New Philadelphia, Ohio) January 14, 1870

  The Cardiff Giant Outdone

  Alleged Discovery of the Skeleton of a Giant in the Oil Regions

  The Oil City Times of Friday is responsible for the following:

  On Tuesday morning last, while Mr. William Thompson, assisted by Robert R. Smith was engaged in making an excavation near the house of the former, about half a mile north of West Hickory, preparatory to erecting a derrick, they exhumed an enormous helmet of iron, which was corroded with rust. Further digging brought to light a sword, which measured nine feet in length. Curiosity incited them to enlarge the hole, and after some little time they discovered the bones of two enormous feet. Following up the “lead” they had unexpectedly struck, in a few hours time they had unearthed a well preserved skeleton of an enormous giant, belonging to a species of the human family which probably inhabited this and other parts of the world at that time of which the Bible speaks, when it says: “And there were giants in those days.” The helmet is said to be the shape of those found among the ruins of Nineveh. The bones of the skeleton are remarkably white. The teeth all in their places, and all of extraordinary size. These relics have been taken to Tionest, where they are visited by large numbers of people daily. When his giant ship was in the flesh he must have stood eight feet in his stockings. These remarkable relics will be forwarded to New York early next week. The joints of the skeleton are now being glued together. These remains were found about twelve feet below the surface of the mound which had been thrown up probably centuries ago, and which was not more than three feet above the level of the ground around it. Here is another nut for antiquarians to crack.

  History of Ashland County, Ohio, 1880

  “About thirty-five years since, while engaged in cutting a bluff, on the bank of the creek, east of the

  residence of the late Patrick Murray, for the purpose of improving the trail-road alluded to, a number of

  human skeletons were unearthed, among which was one supposed to have been over seven feet high,

  when erect. The bones were in a good state of preservation. This giant must have loomed up among

  his aboriginal kinsmen like a Colossus.”

  The History of Brown County Ohio, 1883

  Mastodonic remains are occasionally unearthed, and, from time to time, discoveries of the remains of

  Indian settlements are indicated by the appearance of gigantic skeletons, with the high cheek bones,

  powerful jaws and massive frames peculiar of the red man, who left these as the only record with

  which to form a clew to the history of past ages.

  American Antiquarian, Vol. 13, 1890

  Bones in a Gravel Bed-- Some workmen in Auglaize County, Ohio, recently came across some

  human bones in a bed of gravel. Mr. Charles Jones, a well-known and wealthy landowner of

  Spencerville, Allen County, says of the discovery:

  “There was a remarkable discovery of prehistoric remains in our section the other day. The instance

  came under my own observation. Last week I had occasion to visit the farm of I. Hemley, about two

  miles west of Kossuth, just across the border in Auglaize County. Some workmen were engaged in

  digging a well, and had descended to a depth of 32 feet, when they struck a gravel drift, from which

  they exhumed a skull, 38 inches in circumference. Further down the other bones were found. There

  can be no doubt as to the kind of remains. The thigh bone measured three feet two inches long. All the

  bones were in an excellent state of preservation, and were probably those of a prehistoric warrior who

  was killed in battle, as the skull seemed to have been crushed with a blunt instrument. The whole

  skeleton measured eight feet eleven and one-half inches in height, and when clothed in flesh must have

  been a tremendously powerful man. A huge stone ax weighing twenty-seven pounds and a flint spear

  head of seventeen pounds weight were found with the bones, and were, no doubt, swayed by the giant

  with the greatest ease. A copper medallion, engraved with several strange characters, was also found

  with the bones. This is a startling discovery. The scientific value of the discovery is also considerable,

  and may lead to some interesting developments.

  A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio, 1916

  The most important evidences that the Mound Builders once occupied this region are the mounds that

  they left here and there throughout the county. One of the most important of these lies in Hale

  Township between Mt. Victory and Ridgeway, and from which hundreds of loads of gravel have been

  taken to build pikes. This mound covered an area of about one and one-half acres, and the first settlers

  of that part of the county said it was covered with a very heavy growth of timber when they came. At

  first it was thought the Indians had it for a burying ground, but the Indians knew nothing of the bodies


  there buried. In 1856 when a railroad was built through the southern part of the county connecting

  Cleveland with Cincinnati, this mound was ruthlessly torn to pieces for the purpose of furnishing

  ballast for the track. While the excavation was going on more than three hundred skeletons were dug

  up, most of which were dumped with the gravel on the railroad track. A few of the bones were saved,

  some of them being gigantic in size. Many of the bodies had been buried in sitting posture, and all

  about them were evidences of fire and the remains of various article. As the Indians knew nothing of

  the fact of who was buried there, it is safe to say the bodies must have been placed there many years

  before the white man knew anything about the country.”

  Sketches and Stories of the Lake Erie Islands, 1898

  A large quantity of human bones was discovered in a fissure in the limestone near the United States

  Coast Guard lighthouse. A crude tomb of black stone slabs, of a formation not known on the island,

  was found many years ago beneath the roots of a huge stump. Eight skeletons were found, one

  measuring over seven feet in height.

  History of Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, 1879

  Near these forts were mounds or hillocks, which were found to contain human bones, promiscuously

  thrown together, as if a large number of bodies had been buried at one time. The skull bones, when

  found entire, were shown to be larger upon average, than those of the present race, and all exhibited

  marks that would indicate that life had been taken in deadly combat.

  The Washington Post, December 4, 1898

  Dug Up a Skeleton Eight Feet Long