A HISTORY
OF
NORTHWEST OHIO
A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress and Development
from the First European Exploration of the Maumee and
Sandusky Valleys and the Adjacent Shores of
Lake Erie, down to the Present Time
By
NEVIN O. WINTER, LITT. D.
Assisted by a Board of Advisory and Contributing Editors
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY \!x'>
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK |
1917
>
li
COPYRIGHT 1917
BY
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
PREFACE
No section of the United States has experi-
enced more changes of sovereignty than has
Northwest Ohio, and none has been the
theater of more interesting historical events
than this same division. Contrasting with the
romance of the coureurs du bois, who roamed
the trackless forests, the fascinating adven-
tures, of the early pioneers, and the marvelous
achievements of the American arms, history
records for us the tragedy of the St. Glair
defeat and the disastrous Crawford campaign,
as well as the infamous memoirs of the Girty
renegades. It has been a matter of intense
interest and genuine pleasure to the writer
to study the history of our section of the
great State of Ohio, and attempt to transcribe
it into a connected narrative form. There
have been many county histories published,
and two or three historical treatises of the
Maumee Valley, as well as a number of val-
uable histories of the entire State of Ohio,
but in no instance, so far as the writer is
aware, has there been a separate history of
the northwestern section of the state.
From an historical standpoint Northwest
Ohio is almost an entity unto itself. The
actual French occupation did not extend
mncli farther into the state than the territory
covered by this history, and the British settle-
ments likewise were practically limited to the
^iime section. More Indians resided within
the territory covered by these twenty counties
than in any other part of Ohio, and it practi-
cally includes the territory reserved for them
by the Treaty of Greenville, in 1795. Several
of the most noted conflicts between the Ameri-
cans and the aborigines took place upon this
soil, and it was also the scene of the principal
conflicts in the "War of 1S12 that occurred
west of the Alleghenies, including one of the
most famous victories of the American navy.
It is also the arena of the only war that Ohio
has ever waged on her own account. Hence
it will be seen that Northwest Ohio deserves
a history of its own, in which the important
events can be elaborated upon and afforded
a fuller description than any work covering
the entire state.
It has been the aim of the writer in the
preparation of this work to transcribe the
history into a readable form, and to give the
events the space that each deserves. He has
also attempted to be absolutely accurate in
his statement of historical facts and events,
and, where there is a conflict of authority, to
follow the one that seems to be the most re-
liable. Errors have undoubtedly occurred in
the work, for such is generally the case even
when the greatest care and precaution have
been taken. Repetitions will occasionally be
found of the same events in the narrative
history and in the county chapters. This has
been unavoidable, and for it no apology is
offered. There are occasionally incidents in
connection with these events that did not
seem to be a part of the general history, but
which do have a particular interest in the
county history, which is included for that
very purpose.
In each of the county chapters it has been
the aim to include and condense the history
of the county and towns within the county,
in the preparation of which I have had the
counsel, and in many cases the most valuable
aid from residents within the counties, who
have kindly acted as advisory and contribut-
ing editors in the preparation of this work.
Tt is believed' that a great deal of interest and
iii
IV
PREFACE
much valuable information will be found in
the special chapters describing the part that
Northwest Ohio has had in literature, in edu-
cation, in religion, in the wars, and in various
other activities. Some of these chapters have
been difficult to prepare, because it was not
easy to locate the sources of accurate informa-
tion. Some inaccuracies may be found, but
the greatest care has been taken in their prep-
aration, and the writer has done the very best
that he could under the circumstances and
with the data at his command.
The writer wishes to acknowledge special
indebtedness to the "History of the Maumee
Basin" by his friend, the late Charles Elihu
Slocurn. Doctor Slocum spent many years in
research and the collection of historical data
for his work. He also wishes to express his
appreciation of the courtesy of C. S. Van
Tassel for permission to reproduce a number
of illustrations from his "Book of Ohio."
Toledo, Ohio.
NEVIN 0. WINTER.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Aldrich, Lewis Cass; History of Henry and
Fulton Counties.
Atherton, William; Narrative of the Suffer-
ings and Defeat of the Northwestern Army.
Atwater, Caleb; History of Ohio, 1838.
Baughman, A. J. ; History of Seneca County.
Baughman, A. J. ; History of Wyandot
County.
Beardsley, D. B. ; History of Hancock County.
Black, Alexander ; The Story of Ohio.
Burnett, Jacob ; Letters.
Butterfield, Consul W. ; History of the Girtys ;
A life record of the three renegades of the
Revolution.
Butterfield, Consul W. ; Crawford 's Campaign
against Sandusky in 1782.
Denny, Ebenezer; Military Journal.
Drake, Benjamin; Life of Tecumseh.
Evers, Charles H. ; Pioneer Scrap-Book of
Wood County and the Maumee Valley.
Pinley, Rev. James B.; Life Among the In-
dians.
Finley, Rev. James B. ; Autobiography, Cin-
cinnati.
Finley, Rev. James B. ; History of the Wyan-
dots Missions at Upper Sandusky.
Gavitt, Elnathan C. ; Crumbs from My Saddle
Bags.
Gilliland, James V.; History of Van Wert
County.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States His-
tory. 10 volumes.
Harvey, Henry; History of the Shawnee
Aborigines.
Heckewelder, John ; Narrative of the Mission
of the United Brethren Among the Dela-
ware and Mohegan Aborigines.
Hopley, John E. ; History of Crawford
County.
Hosmer; Early History of the Maumee Val-
ley.
Howe, Henry ; Historical Collections of Ohio.
Jacoby, J. Wilbur ; History of Marion County.
Jesuit Relations of Travels and Explorations.
73 Vols.
Kimmell, Dr. J. A. ; History of Hancock
County.
Kinder, George D. ; History of Putnam
County.
King, Rufus; Ohio.
Knapp, H. S.; History of the Maumee Val-
ley.
Kohler, Minnie I. ; History of Hardin County.
Lossing, Benjamin; Pictorial Field Book of
the War of 1812.
Lang, William ; History of Seneca County.
McAfee; History of the Late War (1812).
Meek, Basil ; History of Sandusky County.
Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections.
Mikesell, Thomas ; History of Fulton County.
Ohio Archeological and Historical Quarterly.
Parkman, Francis; The Conspiracy of Pon-
tiac, 2 vols.
Parkman, Francis; Pioneers of France in
the New World.
Parkman, Francis ; Jesuits in North America.
Parkman, Francis; La Salle and the Great
West.
Randall, Emilius 0., and Ryan, Daniel J. ;
History of Ohio.
Reid, Whitelaw; Ohio in the War. 2 vols.
Roosevelt, Theodore; The Winning of the
West. Vol. I.
Scranton, S. S. ; History of Mercer County.
Scribner, Harvey ; Memoirs of Lucas County.
Slocura, Charles E. ; The Ohio Country be-
tween the years 1783 and 1815.
vi BIBLIOGRAPHY
Slocum, Charles E. ; History of the Mauuiec Way, W. V. ; History of the Toledo War.
River Basin. Williamson, C. W. ; History of Western Ohio
Smith, James ; Captivity Among the Ohio and Auglalze County.
Aborigines from 1755 to 1761. Printed in Winsor, Justin; Narrative and Critical His-
Drake's "Aborigine Captivities." tory of America.
Trent, James; Journal of. Zeisbarger, Rev. David; Diary.
Van Tassel, C. S. ; The Book of Ohio. 8 vols.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THE BRITISH LION AND THE LILIKS OP PRANCE
CHAPTER II
THE CONSPIRACIES OP NICHOLAS AND PONTIAC 10
CHAPTER III
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD 20
CHAPTER IV
THE CRAWFORD EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKY 29
CHAPTER V
THE RENEGADES *3
CHAPTER VI
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL ST. CLAIR 54
CHAPTER VII
GENERAL WAYNE'S CAMPAIGN 68
CHAPTER VIII
THE BATTLE OP FALLEN TIMBERS AND ITS RESULTS 83
CHAPTER IX
THE ESTABLISHMENT OP Crra, GOVERNMENT 95
CHAPTER X
THE DISASTROUS YEAR OP 1812 104
vii
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XI
THE SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS 116
CHAPTER XII
THE DEFENSE OF FORT STEPHENSON 132
CHAPTER XIII
PERRY'S GREAT VICTORY AT PUT-IN-BAY 146
CHAPTER XIV
THE RED MEN OF THE FORESTS 152
CHAPTER XV
THE RED MEN OF THE FORESTS — Continued 164
CHAPTER XVI
THE WYANDOTS 174
CHAPTER XVII
THE PASSING OF THE RED MAN 187
CHAPTER XVIII
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS 201
CHAPTER XIX
THE LIFE OF THE PIONEER 211
CHAPTER XX
THE TERRIBLE TOLEDO TUG-OF-WAR 227
CHAPTER XXI
THE PREHISTORIC AGE 239
CHAPTER XXII
DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION 244
CHAPTER XXIII
NORTHWEST OHIO IN THE WARS 261
CONTENTS ix
CHAPTER XXIV
NORTHWEST OHIO IN THE STATE AND NATION 280
CHAPTER XXV
NORTHWEST OHIO IN LITERATURE 296
CHAPTER XXVI
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS 308
CHAPTER XXVII
EDUCATIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONS 321
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE METROPOLIS OF NORTHWEST OHIO 333
CHAPTER XXIX
ALLEN COUNTY 356
CHAPTER XXX
AUGLAIZE COUNTY 373
CHAPTER XXXI
CRAWFORD COUNTY 385
CHAPTER XXXII
DEFIANCE COUNTY 404
CHAPTER XXXIII
FULTON COUNTY 416
CHAPTER XXXIV
HANCOCK COUNTY 430
CHAPTER XXXV
HARDIN COUNTY 445
CHAPTER XXXVI
HENRY COUNTY . . 461
x CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXVII
LUCAS COUNTY 475
CHAPTER XXXVIII
MARION COUNTY 493
CHAPTER XXXIX
MERCER COUNTY 509
CHAPTER XL
OTTAWA COUNTY 521
CHAPTER XLI
PAULDING COUNTY 529
CHAPTER XLII
PUTNAM COUNTY 542
CHAPTER XLIII
SANDUSKY COUNTY 558
CHAPTER XLIV
SENECA COUNTY 578
CHAPTER XLV
VAN WERT COUNTY 599
CHAPTER XLVI
WILLIAMS COUNTY
CHAPTER XLVII
WOOD COUNTY
CHAPTER XLVIII
WYANDOT COUNTY _ .
INDEX
A, hi. 459
Ada TS'onn.-il School, 459
Adlor, Jonathan, 89
Alger, 460
Algonquin Indians, 153
Allen county, Enlistments in the Civil War,
264, 265; first white man, 356; first white
child born in, 357; first courthouse, 359,
367; churches, 361; press, 363
Allen, Horace N., 297
Amanda, 371
Antwerp, 540
Antwerp Company, 264
Arcadia, 444
Archbold, 429
Arlington, 444
Ashley, James M., 294
Attica, 597
Auglaize county, Enlistments in the Civil
War, 264, 265; history, 373; established,
375; churches, 379; removal of Indians,
381
Auglaize County Court House (view), 377
Augusta county, 27
Bairdstown, 642
Baker, Eber, 504
Baldwin, John T., 335
Ball, James V., 590
Ball's Battle, 139
Banks of the Maumee 199
Baptist Church, 210, 305
Battle of Fallen Timbers, 83
Battles of the Maumee (map), 69
Baum Company, 337
Baum, Martin, 337
Bear, 68, 615
Bear trap, 615
Beaver Dam, 371
Bed warming pan, 219
Bell, John, 568
Bellevue, 573
Berdan, John, 344
Bissell, Edward, 342
Blackhoof, 169, 204
Blakeslee, 623
Blanohard, Jean .1.. 431
Blockhouse, 214
Bloomdale, 642
Bloomville, 597
Blossom, Ansel, 600
Blue Jacket, 155, 167
Bluffton, 371
Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary,
326
Bluffton News, 372
Boone, Daniel, 135; (portrait), 136
Bouton, Kniily H., -!I7
Bowersox, Charles A., 61:!
Bowling Green, 635, 638
Braddock's defeat, 13
Bradner, 642
Bradstreet expedition, 20
Bradstreet, John, 20
Brice, Calvin S., 360,
Brice, Calvin S. (portrait), 287
Briceton, 541
Brickcll, John, 164
British expedition captured, 27
British Lion, 1
Brule, Etienne, 4
Brumback County Library of Van Wert
County, Ohio, 608
Brumback, John S., 608
Bryan, 619
Bryan Company, 264
Bryan Democrat, 618
Bryan Press, 619
Buckland, 384
Buckland, Ralph B., 265
Buckland, Ralph P., 271
Buckminster Tavern (view), 446
Buckongahelas, 171
Bucyrus, 389, 395; churches, 398; first
school, 399; banks, 400
Bucyrus Evening Telegraph, 394
Bucyrus Forum, 393
Bucyrus Journal, 393
Bucyrus News-Forum, 394
Buffalo, 68, 133
Building a home, 214
Burkettsville, 520
Butterfield, Consul W., 300
Caledonia, 507
Camp Perry, 528
Camp meetings, 223, 308
Canal Boat (view), 250
Canal tolls, 253
Canal war, 377
Canals, 249
Candle moulds, 219
Candlestick, 219
Carey, 657;
Carlin, James J., 509
Cass, Lewis, 107, 190, 195, 253
Catawba Island, 524
Catholic church, 309
Cedar Point, 526
Celina, 516; first newspaper, 518; fraternal
organizations, 518; library, 518
Celina Public High School (view), 517
Celeron 'a journey, 11
Central Ohio Conference Seminary, 308
Xll
INDEX
Champlain, Samuel de, 2
Charcoal burners, 253
Charloe, 529, 532
Chatfield, 403
Chippewas, 11
Christian missions, 201
Church edifice, first permanent in Ohio, 309
Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Bailroad,
259
Civil government established, 95
Civil War, 261, 262
Clearing of the forest, 217
demons, Chesterfield, 417
Cloverdale, 557
Clyde, 572
Coffinberry, Andrew, 296
Columbus Grove, 555
Company K, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infan-
try, First to Civil War from Marion
County (view), 263
Confederate prisoners, release of in the
Northwest, 273
Congregational church, 305
Connecticut Land Company, 521
Connecticut Missionary Society, 207
Conspiracies of Nicholas and Pontiac, 10
Continental, 557
Convoy, 612
Corduroy roads, 437
Corn, 216
Cornstalk, Peter, 170
Council House of the Wyandots, 653
Coureurs des bois, 4
Court House, Toledo (view), 323
Cox, Benjamin, 432
Cox, Jacob D., 483
Cradles, 218
Craig, Alex, 468
Crane, George E., 445
Crawford, Colonel, 386; burning of (view),
40
Crawford county, 275, 385; enlistments in the
Civil War, 264, 265; pioneers, 387; court-
house, 390; lawyers, 391; first physician,
392; press, 393
Crawford expedition, 29
Crawford, William, 29
Crestline, 395, 402
Crestline Advocate, 395
Cridersville, 384
Crist, Elwood O., 305
Croghan, George, 12, 143
Croghansville, 565
Cunningham, William, 360
Custar, 643
Cygnet, 642
Davison, Hamilton, 359
Dayton & Michigan Railroad, 544
Dedication of Ohio-Michigan boundary ter-
minus, 238
Deer, 68, 375, 417, 615
Defiance, 13, 109, 406, 410
Defiance Banner, 412
Defiance College, 327
Defiance College Buildings (view), 405
Defiance Company, 264
Defiance county, 239, 404; enlistments in the
Civil War, 264, 265; pioneers, 405; forma-
tion of county, 407; lawyers, 408; press,
412; churches, 413
Defiance Crescent-News, 412
Defiance Democrat, 412
Delphos, 372; first newspaper, 611
Delta, 420, 427
Delta Avalanche, 423
Democratic Expositor, Wauseon, 423
Denman, Ulysses G., 483
Der Deutsche Demokrat, 470
Deshler, 473
Detroit center for Indians, 25
Dickens, Charles, 185
Dixon, 612
Dola, 460
Doyle, John H., 483
Drawing knife, 219
Duchouquet, Francis, 381
Dudley massacre, 125
Dunkirk, 460
Dunkirk Standard, 460
Dutch oven, 220
Early forts, 9
Early sehoolhouses, 222
Edgerton, 623
Edon, 623
Educational institutions, 321
Eighth Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, 278
Eighty-second Regiment, 265
Elgin, 612
Elmore, 528
English traders, 6
Enlistments in the Civil War, 264
Episcopal church, 305
Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad, 255
Evans' map (1755), 6
Evansport, 415
Fayette, 428
Fayette Review, 423
Fenwick, Bishop Edward, 313
Ferris, Governor, 238
Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, 263
Fifty-seventh Regiment, 265
Findlay, 107, 441; first frame house, 441;
churches, 441; fraternal organizations,
442
Findlay College, 325
Findlay Jeffersonian, 440
Findlay Natural Gas Company, 443
Findlay Weekly Republican, 441
Finley J James B., 223
Finley, James B. (portrait), 178
Finley, James B., Preaching to the Wyan-
dots (view), 180
Fire-bugs, 624
First craft on Maumee River, 244
First Methodist service, 306
First permanent church edifice, 309
First Railroad in Northwest Ohio (view),
258
First religious services, 303
Flail, 219
Flatboats, 374
Flax hatchel, 219
Flood of 1913, 571, 594
Florida, 474
Flower Deaconess Home and Hospital, 307
Flower Home for Girls, 308
Forest, 459
Forest, clearing of, 217
INDEX
siii
Fort Amanda, 356, 373
Fort Ball, 110, 590
Fort Barbee, 109
Fort Defiance, 76, 110, 404, 410
Fort Defiance as Restored (view), 77
Fort Findlay, 432
Fort Findlay, 1812 (view), 107
Fort Findlay, Site of (view), 431
Fort Industry, 100, 335
Fort McArthur, 106, 445
Fort McArthur Burying Ground (view), 106
Fort Meigs, 475; siege of, 116, 117
Fort Meigs (view), 117
Fort Meigs Monument (view), 637
Fort Miami, 3, 8, 73, 87, 94, 111, 114, 195,
489
Fort Miami (view), 88
Fort Necessity, 107
Fort Recovery, 65, 509, 519
Fort Recovery Monument (view), 510
Fort Recovery, Old Flagstaff from (view),
73
Fort Sandoski, 10
Fort Sandoski, Monument Marking Site
(view), 133
Fort Seneca, 138, 150, 578
Fort Stephenson, Attack on (view), 141
Fort Stephenson, defense of, 132
Fort St. Marys, 374
Fort Winchester, 111, 404
Forty-ninth Regiment, 265
Foster, Charles (portrait), 290
Foster, Charles W., 596
Fostoria, 595
Fostoria Academy, 597
Fostoria Daily Review, 587
Fostoria Democrat, 587
Fourot, Benjamin C., 369
Fourteenth Ohio Regiment, 264
Fourteenth Regiment. Volunteer Infantry,
278
Foxes, 68
Freight rates, early, 257
Fremont, 20, 135, 140, 192, 241, 245, 568;
first schoolhouse in, 568; churches, 569;
hanks, 570
Fremont & Indiana Railroad, 259
Fremont Courier, 568
Fremont Daily Messenger, 568
Fremont in 1846 (view), 569
Fremont Journal, 567
Fremont News, 568
Froni'li take possession, 4
Fuller, John W., 265, 268
Fulton county, 416; enlistments in the Civil
War, 264, 265; pioneers, 417;. first court-
house, 419; lawyers, 420; physicians, 421;
newspapers, 422; tornadoes, 423
Fulton County Tribune, 423
Fulton Line, 229
Gallon, 388, 394, 400; pioneers, 401; first
schoolhouse, 402
Gallon Inquirer, 395
Gallon Leader, 395
Gas, 366, 380, 442, 538, 567
Gates, Joseph S., 298
Genoa, 528
Geology, 239
Gibsonburg, 572
Gibson, General, 265
Gibson Monument, Tiffin (view), 271
liil.M.n, William II., 270
QUboa, 556
Cilliland, Thaddeus S., 601
Girty, George, 43
Girty's Island at Napoleon (view), 44
Girty, James, 43, 382
Girty, Simon, 43
Gist, Christopher, 11
Glaciers, 239; determining flow of water, 240
Glandorf, 557
Glass, John, 468
Grand Rapids, 640
Graves, Charles S., 483
Green, William, 387
Greenspring, 573
Greenville Treaty, first signatures to, 92
Grove Hill, 541
Gurley, Leonard B., 296
Hamilton county, 1792 (map), 96
Hancock county, 430; enlistments in the
Civil war, 264, 265; pioneers, 432; first
schoolhouse, 435; lawyers, 439; physicians,
439; courthouse, 440; newspapers, 440
Hard Hickory, 170
Hardin county, 445; enlistments in the Civil
war, 264, 265; pioneers, 446; lawyers, 450;
physicians, 450; newspapers, 451; banks,
452; courthouse, 453
Hardin County Democrat, 452
Hardin County Pioneer Association, 454
Hardin County Republican, 451
Harding, Warren G. (portrait), 289
Hare, Cyrus D., 644
Harmar, Josiah, 57; expedition, 57
Harris Line, 229
Harrison Boulder, 239
Harrison-Perry Embarkation Monument
Tablet on, 135
Harrison, William H., 85, 95, 138
Harrison, William H. (portrait), 108
Harvesting, 218
Haviland, 541
Hawkins, Henry V., 153
Hayes, Lucy W., 576
Hayes Mansion, 573
Hayes Memorial Library Building, 577
Hayes, Rutherford B., 265, 280, 573
Hayes, Webb C., 573, 576
Heidelberg University, 321
Henry County, 230, 461; enlistments in the
Civil war, 264, 265; lawyers, 466; physi-
cians, 467; pioneers, 462
Henry County Agricultural Fair, 467
Henry County Grange Fair, 467
Henry County Old Court House (view), 46f>
Henry County Signal, 470
Hickory, Hard, 170
Hicksville, 414
Higgins, David, 466
Hill, Charles W., 265, 269
Historic Sites in Northwest Ohio (map). 3
Hoadly, Jared, 418
Hocking Valley & Toledo Railway, 259
Holbrook, George W., 375
Holgate, 474
Holland, 491
Hollenbeck, Daniel K., 626
Hopley, John E., 301, 385
Hosford, Asa, 388
Hosford, William, 401
XIV
INDEX
"House-raising," 215
Household utensils, Old Time, (view), 219
Mm-tviHe. 642
Huber, Kdward, 506
Hudson, Shadrach, 529
Hull, Levi, last settler killed by Indians, 188
Hull, William, 104
Hull's surrender, 108
Hull's Trail, 105
Hultgen, Francis L., 578
Hurons, 1 1
Huskiiif; bc-cs, 221
Ice, Jacob, 375
Illinois Country, 27
IllnstnitioiiN, Mauinoe River, 8; 1'ontiac, 14;
Monument on Olentangy Battle Field,
Crawford County, 36; Burning of Col.
Crawford by Indians in 1782 in Wyandot
county, 40; Girty's Island at Napoleon, 44;
Anthony Wayne, 70; Old Flagstaff from
Fort Recovery, Mercer County, 73; Fort
Defiance as Restored, 77; Death of Captain
Wells, 80; Little Turtle, 84; Historic Tur-
key Foot Rock along Maumee River, 86;
Rear of Fort Miami, 88; Edward Tiffin,
98; Fort MeArthur Burying Ground, 106;
Fort Findlay, 1812, 107; William H. Harri-
son, 108; Fort Meigs, 117; Indian Elm at
Maumee, 121; Monument Marking Site of
Fort Sandoski, 133; Daniel Boone, 136;
Tecumseh, 137; Attack on Fort Stephen-
son, 141; "Old Betsey," 144; Perry's Vic-
tory at Put-in-Bay, 148; Perry's Victory
Monument, 151; Indians in Canoes, 153;
Old Shawnee Council House near Lima,
154; Execution of Seneca John, 157; In-
dian Portage, 165; James B. Finley, 178;
James B. Finley Preaching to the Wyan-
dots, 180; Old Mission Church at Upper
Sandusky Before Restoration, 182; Old
Mission House near Waterville, 209; Relic
of the Pioneer Days, 214 ; Pioneer Fireplace,
216; Old-time Household Utensils, 219;
Governor Willis and Governor Ferris at
Dedication of New Ohio-Michigan Bound-
ary Terminus, 238; Old Canal Boat, 250;
A Picturesque Old Lock on the Miami and
Erie Canal, 251; Stage Coach, 255; First
Railroad in Northwest Ohio, 258; Com-
pany K, Fourth Volunteer Infantry, 263;
William Harvey Gibson Monument, 271;
United States Prison Quarters on John-
son's Island, 274; Rutherford B. Hayes,
281; Morrison R. Waite, 285; Calvin S.
Brice, 287; Warren G. Harding, 289;
Charles Foster, 290; Court House at To-
ledo, 333; Toledo in 1852, 334; Oldest
Church Building in Toledo, 347; Last
Council House of Shawnee Indians in
Allen County, 357; Allen County's First
Court House, Lima, 359, 367; Oil Tank
Fire near Lima, 366; Court House, Wapa-
koneta, 377; Scioto Trail at Bucyrus, 396;
Defiance College Buildings, 405"; Site of
Fort Findlay, 431; Buckminster Tavern,
446; Wheeler Tavern, 448, 449; Corn Field,
Henry County, 462; Henry County Old
Court House, 465; A Quiet Reach of the
Maumee, 477; Lucas County Court House
at Maumep, 478; Fort Miami, 489; New
High School, Marion, 502; Fort Recovery
Monument, 510; West Side Public and
Celina Public High School, 517; Along
the Picturesque Shore of Lake Erie, 523;
l'ut-in-Bay from Perry Monument, 526;
Lighthouse at Marblehead, 527; Paulding
County Court House, 533; High School
Building, Ottawa, 552; Putnam County
Court House, Ottawa, 553; Water Works
and Park, Ottawa, 554; Fremont in 1846,
569; Postoffice, Tiffin, 591; Y. W. C. A.,
Van Wert, 610; Williams County Court
House, Bryan, 617; Scenic Road in North-
west Ohio, 630; Fort Meigs Monument,
637; Old Indian Jail at Upper Sandusky,
648; Mill Stone from Old Indian Mill,
Upper Sandusky, 659
Indian cemeteries, 382
Indian Elm at Maumee (view), 121
Indian Jail at Upper Sandusky (view, til-
Indian Portage (view), 165
Indians in Canoes (view), 153
Indians disappearance of, 19; sympathies
with the British, 25; inactive during first
years of Revolutionary War, 25; number
of, 153; characteristics, 158; doctors, 162;
chiefs, 167; honor, 172; passing of, 187;
thirst for intoxicating liquor, 189
Iron furnaces, 253
Iroquois Indians, 5, 153
Jacobs, Thomas K., 369
Jacoby, J. Wilbur, 493
Jesuits, 417, 201, 310
"Johnny Appleseed," 600
Johnson, John, 195
Johnson's Island, 273
Johnson's Island, Prison Quarters (view),
274
Joliet, Louis, 2
. I ones, Samuel M., 344
Kalida, 557
Kargwell, 443
Keeler, Lucy E., 297
Kelley's Island, 239, 274
Ken ton, 106, 454; banks, 452, 454; churches,
456; fraternal organizations, 458
Kenton Democrat, 452
Kenton, Simon, 25, 48, 135, 445
Kilbourne, James, 395
Kimmel, Jacob A., 430
Kinder, George D., 542
King, C. A., 344
Kirby, 660
Kirby, Moses H., 390
Knapp, H. S., 297
Knisely, Jacob, 165
Lafayette, 371
Lake Erie, Along the Picturesque Shore of
(view), 523
Lake Erie & Western Railway, 260
Lakeside, 308
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad,
256
Lane, Ebenezer, 408
Lang, William, 594
Lantern, 219
Lard lamp, 219
INDEX
xv
La Rue, 508
La Salle, Chevalier de, 2
Latty, 541
Lawton, Henry W., 279
Lee, .John C., 483
Liggett, Nathaniel, 4_.'i
Leipsic, 555
Lemart, 403
Lewis, William, 114
Liberty Center, 473
Lighthouse at Marblehead (view), ~>'2~
Lighthouses, 249
Lilies of France, 1
Lima, 357; churches, 361; banks, 364; press,
364; fraternal societies, 365; first hotel,
368; first schoolmaster, 369; free schools,
370
Lima Academy, 370
Lima City Hospital, 370
Lima Daily News, 364
Lima, First Court House (view), 359
Lima Gazette, 363
Lima Public Library, 370
Lima State Hospital for Criminal Insane, 331
Lima Times-Democrat, 364
Lima Young Men's Christian Association,
371
Lime manufacture, 527
Lindsey, 573
Literature, 296
Little Otter, 160
Little Sandusky, 645
Little Turtle, 158, 168
Little Turtle (portrait), 84
Lock on Miami and Erie Canal (view), -">!
Locke, David R., 298
Locomotive, first, 258
Locomotives, first in Toledo, 256
Lucas City, 341
Lucas county, 227, 234, 239, 333, 475; enlist-
ments in the Civil War, 264, 265; early
settlers, 476; first courthouse, 479; lawyers,
482, 2259; newspapers, 485; physicians,
484
Lucas Count}- Court House at Maumee
(view), 478
Lucas County Express, 486
Lucas County Pioneer Association, 487
Lucas, Robert, 107
Lykens, 403
Lynx, 68
Lyons, 429
Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, 257
Magell, James, 468
Mail route, 591; first, 417
Manhattan, 340
Mann, John, 468
Manor, Peter, 476
Maps, Historic Sites in Northwest Ohio, 3;
Military Posts, Forts, Battlefields and In-
dian Trails, 18; United States in 1783, 21;
United States Northwest of the Ohio River,
1787, 24; Maumee Towns Destroyed by
General Harmar, 57; St. Clair's Camp and
Plan of Battle, 60 ; Battles of the Maumee,
69; Wayne's Route Along the Maumee, 75;
Development of Ohio Counties from 1787 to
1792, 96; from 1796 to 1799, 96; Develop-
ment of Hamilton county, 1792, 96; Ohio
counties in 1799, 96; in 1802, 97; Toledo in
Mi.-liigan in 1834, 228
March, George, 539
Marion, 504; first election, 505; first public
building erected, 505; first postmaster, 506;
banks, 506
Marion county, 275, 493; Enlistments in the
Civil War, 264, 265; pioneers, 495; poli-
tics, 496; lawyers, 498; physicians, 499;
churches, 500; schools, 502; newspapers,
502; fraternal organizations, 503; court-
house, 505
Marion Deutsche Presse, 503
Marion Mirror, 502
Marion Star, 503
Marquette, James, 4
Marseilles, 660
Mart Center, 415
Mastodon, remains of, 241
Maumee, 480, 487, 488, 626
Maumee Mission, 209
Maumee pioneers, 225
Maumee River, first craft on, 244
Maumee River (view), 8
Maumee River (view), 477
Maumee towns (map), 57
Maumee Valley, first church at Perrysburg,
306
Maumee Valley Pioneer Association, 488
McClellan, Robert, 79
McClure, 474
McComb, 443
McGuffey, 460
McKee, Alexander, 46
McPherson, James B., 265, 266, 564; death
of, 266; monument, 267
Meek, Basil, 558
Meek, George B., First American-born Sailor
to die in Spanish-American War, 278
Meigs, Return J., Jr., 104
Melmore, 597
Melrose, 541
Mendon, 519
Mercer county, Enlistments in the Civil War,
264, 265; pioneers, 510; first courthouse,
514; churches, 515
Mercer County Bote, 518
Mercer County Democrat, 518
Mercer County Observer, 518
Mercer County Standard, 518
Methodist church, 178, 223
Methodist Episcopal church, 303
Methodist, first service, 306
Methodist mission, 210
Mexican War, 261
Miami and Erie Canal, 251, 254, 317, 377,
531, 610
Miamis, 11, 158
Michigan Southern Railroad Company, 256
Middlepoint, 612
Mikesell, Thomas, 416
Mikesell, William, 417
Military posts (map), 18
Military Road, 494
Millbury, 642
Miller, 557
Miller, Henry, 79
Mill Stone from Old Indian Mill, Upper
Sandusky (view), 659
Milton Center, 643
XVI
INDEX
Minster, 384
Mission Church at Upper Sandusky (view),
182
Mission schools, 206
Missions, 201
Montgomery, James, 179
Montpelier, 621
Montpelier Enterprise, 619
Moraines, 240
Moravian massacre, 31
Moravians, forced migration, 30
Morehead, Jedediah, 386
Morris' journal, 20
Morrison State Road, 570
Mound-Builders, 614
Mounds, 241
Mount Blanchard, 430, 443, 460
Mud holes, 101, 224
Napoleon, 464, 467; incorporated, 469;
schools, 471; churches, 471; fraternal or-
ganizations, 472; banks, 473
Napoleon Company, 264
Napoleon Northwest-News, 470
National Guard, 276
National Orphans' Home, 594
Navarre, Peter, 333
Neely House, 309
Neptune, 520
Nettle Lake, 614
Nevada, 658
New High School, Marion (view), 502
New Rochester, 532
New Washington, 402
New Washington Herald, 395
New York Central lines, 256
Nicholas, 10
Nicholas conspiracy fails, 11
Nichols, Mathias H., 359
Ninety-fifth Regiment, 264
Ninety-ninth Regiment, 264
North Baltimore, 640
North Baltimore Times, 636
Northern Indiana Railroad, 259
Northwestern Normal, 323
Northwest Ohio Regiment, 264
Northwest Ohio in the State and Nation,
280
Northwest Ohio in the Wars, 261
Northwest Territory importance of, 24; or-
ganized, 26
Norton, Samuel, 395
Oak Harbor, 528
Oakwood, 541
O'Connell, John T., 309
Ohio admitted into the Union, 99
Ohio counties, 1802 (map), 97
Ohio counties, from 1787 to 1792 (map), 96;
from 1796 to 1799 (map), 96; develop-
ment of, 1799 (map), 96
Ohio & Indiana Railroad, 259
Ohio City, 612
Ohio Company, 23, 55
Ohio controvesry, 234
Ohio-Michigan boundary terminus, Dedica-
tion of, 238
Ohio Northern University, 322
Ohio Railroad project, 258
Oil, 366, 380, 442, 538, 567, 612, 636
Oil Tank Fire near Lima (view), 366
"Old Betsey" (view), 144
"Old Britain," Chief of the Pienkeshaws, 12
Oldest Church Building in Toledo (view), 347
Old Mission House near Waterville (view).
209
Olentangy Battle Field (view), 36
One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry, 265
One Hundred Eighteenth Regiment, 265
One Hundred First Regiment, 265
One Hundred Tenth Regiment, 265
One Hundred Twenty-first Regiment, 265
One Hundred Twenty-third Regiment, 265
One Hundredth Regiment, 265
Orange county, 27
Ordinance of 1787, 95
Orontony, 10
Oswego council, 22
O'Toole, G. B., 309
Ottawa, 552
Ottawa county, 239, 521; Enlists in the Civil
War, 264, 265; pioneers, 522; first court-
house, 554
Ottawa High School Building (view), 552
Ottawa Water Works and Park (view), 554
Ottawas, 11, 156
Ottokee, 419, 420
Ottoville, 557
Owen, Ezekiel, 356
Pack saddle, 219
"Pains and Penalties Act," 230
Pandora, 556
Panthers, 68
Passing of the Red Man, 187
Patrons of Husbandry, 467
Paulding, 539
Paulding county, 239, 529 ; Enlistments in the
Civil War, 264, 265; pioneers, 529; first
courthouse, 532; lawyers, 534, 2205; physi-
cians, 535; newspapers, 536; churches, 537;
industries, 538; reservoir war, 539; first
schoolhouse, 540
Paulding County Court House (view), 533
Paulding, John, 532
Payne, 540
Pemberville, 640
Pennsylvania System, 259
Perry, Oliver H., 146, 525
Perry's battle flag, 147
Perry's Cave, 526
Perry's Great Victory at Put-in-Bay, 146;
view, 148
Perry 's Victory Monument, Put - in - Bay
(view), 151
Perry's willow, 150
Perrysburg, 188, 628
Perrysburg Journal, 635
Peter Cornstalk, 170
Pettisville, 429
Philanthropic Institutions, 321
Pigs, 218
Pike Road, 398
Pioneer Association, Lucas county, 487
Pioneer Days, Relic of (view), 214
Pioneer fireplace (view), 216
Pioneer frying pan, 219
Pioneer, life of, 211
Pioneer pleasures, 220
Pioneer schoolhouses, 222
Pioneer tavern, 436
Pioneer weddings, 220
Pioneer women, 218
INDKX
XVII
l'Jttxl>ur|T, Fort Wavm- & Chicago Railroad,
259
I Mains, The, 496
Plank roads, 254
Plank road, 570
Political movements, Toledo, 343
Pontiac, 10, 13; conspiracy, 16; death of, 19
Pontiac (portrait), 14
Portage, 642
Port Clinton, 133, 528; greatest fresh water
fishing center, 528
Port Lawrence, 336, 338
Pottawattoinies, 11
Powell, John, 462, 468
Pratt Company, 337
Prairie- Depot, 640
Prehistoric age, 239
Prehistoric man, 241
1 'rosbyterian church, 207, 304
Presbyterians, 223
Preston, John, 405
Preston, William, 405
Price, James L., 360
Prohibition, 252
Prophet, The, 101
Protestant missionary work, 207
Prospect, 508
Providence, 491
Public Library, Lima, 370
Put-in-Bay, 146, 525
Put-in-Bay, from Perry Monument (view),
526
Put-in-Bay Island, 525
Putnam county, 542; Enlistments in the Civil
War, 264, 265; pioneers, 543; courthouse,
545; lawyers, 546; postoffice meeting, 546;
newspapers, 547; banks, 548; churches,
548; schools, 551; fraternal organizations,
551
Putnam County Court House, Ottawa (view),
553
Quakers, 202
Quilting parties, 221
Railroads, 254
Railway, pioneer west of the Alleghenies, 255
Red men of the forests, 152
Religion of the pioneer, 223
Religious denominations, 303
Renegades, 43
Revolutionary period, 20
Revolutionary War graves, 261
Reynolds, Charles E., 461
Rice, Americus V., 546
Ridgeway, 460
Riley, James, 600
Riley, James W., 516
Risingsun, 642
River Raisin massacre, 113
Road in Northwest Ohio (view), 630
Roads, 100
Roche de Boeuf, 83
Rockford, 519
Roundhead, 447
' ' Sainclare 's Defeat, ' ' 66
St. Glair's Camp and Plan of Battle (map),
60
St. Clair expedition, 59
St. Clair, General, 54
St. Henry, 519
st. Johns, :;M
ifAryB. 41, Hi!i. I .V,, l!»t, :)7I, 376, 382;
during \V:ir of IS12, 374; oldest town in
\!i^lui/i> County, .'is:;
Samlnskv i-oiinty, !•:;•), 558; Enlistments in
The Civil War, 264, 265; first election,
559; pioiiri'i-. :.iij; first courthouse, 565;
lawyers, 567; first printing press, 567
Sandusky County I'io T an. I Historical
Association, .~>r.~>
Sandusky Plains, 385
Sargent, Winthrop, 56
Schoolhouse of pioneer days, 222
Scioto Trail (view), 396
s.'oli.-ld, Jared, 462
Srott. 612
Scott, Josiah, 391
Scott, Robert K., 293
Scribner, Edwin, 463
Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 277
Seneca Advertiser, 586
Seneca county, 578; Enlistments in the Civil
War, 264, 265; pioneers, 579; courthouse,
">8.1; lawyers, 585; physicians, 586; news-
papers, 586, churches, 588
Seneca John, Execution of (view), 157
Penecas, 156
Seventy-second Regiment, 265
Shakespeare Club of Celina, 518
Shasteen, John, 462
Shaving horse, 219
Shawnee Council House near Lima (view),
154
Shawnee Indians in Allen County, Last Coun-
cil House of, (view), 357
Shawnees, 11, 154
Sherwood, Kate B., 297
Sherwood, Isaac R., 272, 484
Singing schools, 221
Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 277
Sixty-eighth Regiment, 265
Slociim, Charles E., 241, 300
Slover, John, 32
Snuffers, 219
South Rangers, 261
Spanish-American War, 276
Spencerville, 372
Spiegel Grove, 573
Spiegel Grove Mansion, 575
Spinning wheels, 219
Splint broom, 219
Stage Coach, 255
Stahl, Scott, 521
State Normal College, 329
Steamboat, first, 245
Steedman, James B., 265, 267, 468
Stewart, John, 178
Stickney> Benjamin F., 195
Strandler, John, 610
Strong, Hazael, 462
Stryker, 623
Stryker Company, 264
Sugar trough, 219
Sulphur Spring, 403
Swanton, 428
Swanton Enterprise, 423
Sycamore, 659
Sylvania, 487, 491
Tallow candle, 219
Teeumseh, 101, 126, 130, 140
XV111
INDEX
Tivuiiisrlt (portrait i. l.'!7
Terminal inciriiiiii's, 240
Tri-ntnrial Ir^islatun1, tirst, !'•"
'IViTitorial mail, .117
Thomas, .lamrs, 477
Tluvsliii.-. -'1*
Tiffin. 590; first election, 593; first school-
house, 594
Tiffin, Edward (portrait), 98
Tilliin I'nsrnllire (view), 591
Tiffin I'resse, 587
Tillin Tribune, 587
Tiro, 395, 403
Tod, Covcnior. 264
Toledo, first city directory, 333 ; first election,
335; early, 341; early industries, 342; first
brick manufactured, 342; first foundry,
342; first car works, 342; first postoffice,
343; political movements, 343; a city in
1867, 344; early taverns, 345; churches,
346; first preacher, 346; oldest church
building in, 347; fraternal orders, 349;
schools, 350; first teacher, 351; banks, 352;
first bank, 352; first street railway, 354
Toledo in Michigan (map made in 1834),
228
Toledo in 1852 (view), 334
Toledo & Illinois Railroad Company, 259
Toledo Ameryka-Echo, 487
Toledo Board of Trade, 355
Toledo Blade, 257, 263, 486
Toledo Company, 264
Toledo Express," 487
Toledo Gazette, 234
Toledo Guards, 262, 264
Toledo News-Bee, 487
Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad, 259
Toledo Public Library, 352
Toledo School of Medicine, 485
Toledo State Hospital, 330
Toledo Times, 487
Toledo Tug-of-War, 227
Toledo University, 323, 485
Toledo War, 227
Toledo's Museum of Art (view), 351
Toll rates, 254
Tontogany, 643
Tornadoes, 423
Tragedies, 12
Transportation, 244; early river, 244
Treaty at the Maumee Rapids, 190
Treaty ceding territory in Maumee Basin, 190
Treaty of Greenville, 381
Tremainesville, 340
Tri-State Fair Association, 487
Tupper, Edward W., 109
Turkey Foot Rock, 215
Turkey Foot Rook (view), 86
Turkeys, 68, 375
Turtle, The, 12
Tyler, Justin H., 469
Underground Railroad, 275
United States in 1783 (map), 21
United States Northwest of the Ohio River,
1787 (map), 24
Upper Sandusky, 652; lawyers, 654; churches,
656; fraternal orders, 657; banks, 657
Van Buren, 443
Vanlue, 444
Van Wert, 605; first school, 608
Van Wert Bulletin, 607
Van Wert county, 239, 599; Enlistments in
the Civil War, 264, 265; pioneers, 600, 740,
1705; lawyers, 603; physicians, 604; first
saw mill, 605; newspapers, 606; banks,
607; churches, 607
Van Wert County Grange, 605
Van Wert Republican, 607
Van Wert Times, 607
Vcni'docia, 612
Vistula, 336
\Vabash ami Knc I'anal, 316, ~>:\\
Waggoner, Clark, 486
Waite, Morrison R,, 263, 284, 483 ; (portrait) ,
285
Walker, William, 178
"Walk-in-the-Water," steamboat, 245
Wampum, 167
Wapakoneta, 155, 168, 380; town surveyed,
382; incorporated, 382
Wapakoneta Court House (view), 377
War of 1812, 104, 261
Waterville, 490
Waterville Company, 264
Wauseon, 420, 424; churches, 426; first school
house, 427
Wauseon Company, 264
Wauseon Hospital Association, 427
Wayne, Anthony (portrait), 70
Wayne's Campaign, 68
Waynesfield, 384
Wayne's spies, 78
Wayne's route along the Maumee (map), 75
Webster, Nelson R., 529
Welch, Alfred H., 297
Wells, William, 78
Wells, William, Death of (view), 80
West Cairo, 371
West Leipsic, 557
West Millgrove, 643
West Unity, 622
Western Reserve, 26
Weston, 641
Wheeler Tavern (view), 448, 449
"When the Frost is on the Pumpkin and
the Fodder's in the Shock" (View), 462
Whitaker, James, 559
Whitehouse, 490
Whitlock, Brand, 299, 345, 483
Williams county, 230, 613; Enlistments in
the Civil War, 264, 265; pioneers, 614;
lawyers, 618; newspapers, 618
Williams County Court House, Bryan (view),
617
Williams, Henry D., 368
Williamson, C. W., 373
Willich, August, 383
Willis, Frank B., 292
Willis, Governor, 238
Willshire, 600
Winchester, James, 109; taken prisoner, 114
Wine Islands, 525
Winter, Nevin O., 301, 394
"Wolverines of Michigan," 237
Wolves, 68, 582, 601
Wood county, 229, 230, 626; Enlistments in
the Civil War, 264, 265; early hotels, 629;
pioneers, 629; courthouse, 632; lawyers,
633; physicians, 634; newspapers, 835
INDEX
xi\
VVn.M Ciiuiitv Democrat, 636
\Vdo.l County Sentinel-Tribune, 636
Wool cards, 219
Wren, 612
\Vy:ni(lot county, Knlistments in the Civil
War, 264, 265; pioneers, 645; courthouse,
649; lawyers, 649; physicians, 650; newa-
papers, 651
\Vyandot County Infirmary, 649
Wyandot County Union Republican, 652
Wyandot reservation, 388
Wyandots, 11, 29, 174; last tribe removed
from Ohio, 177; departure of, 184
Young Men's Christian Association, Lima,
371
Y. W. C. A., Van Wert (view), 610
Zane, Jonathan, 32
Ziegler, Wilbur G., 297
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
CHAPTER I
THE BRITISH LION AND THE LILIES OF FRANCE
The exact date of the initial appearance
of the white man in Ohio is not certainly
knowii. It is well authenticated, however,
that the inceptive efforts made by Europeans
to settle within the territory now constituting
the State of Ohio was in the Maumee Valley.
It was on or about the year 1680 that some
hardy French established themselves along
that historic stream, and constructed a small
stockade not far from its mouth. Spain
already claimed a priority to all of Northwest
Ohio by right of discovery. Not having occu-
pied the territory, or made settlements therein,
her pretension was not considered worthy of
serious consideration by the other contending
ami ambitious nations. So far as records go,
the foot of the Spanish conquistador never
trod the region of the Great Lakes, and the
primeval forests of that region at no time
echoed to the footfall of the Don. She based
her claim wholly on a "concession in per-
petuity," made by Pope Alexander VI.
By authority of Almighty God, granted him
in St. Peter, and by the exalted office that he
bore on earth as the actual representative of
Jesus the Christ, Pope Alexander had granted
to the Kings of Castile and Leon, their heirs
and successors, all of North America and the
greater part of South America. These
sovereigns were to be "Lords of the lands,
with free, full and absolute power, authority
Vol. I— 1
and jurisdiction. ' ' This famous decree is one
of the most remarkable documents in authen-
tic history. It was a deed in blank conveying
all the lauds that might be discovered west
and south of a line drawn from the Pole
Arctic to the Pole Antarctic, 370 leagues west
of the Cape Verde Islands. It was based upon
the theory that lands occupied by heathen,
pagan, infidel, and unbaptized people had
absolutely no title which the Christian ruler
was bound to respect. Such human beings as
the Indians, who happened to dwell thereon,
were mere chattels that ran with the land in
the same way as the fruits of the field or the
wild game of the forests. The Pope desig-
nated to Spain and Portugal the exclusive
right of hunting and finding and dominating
these unknown lands and peoples.
Francis I, King of France, disputed the
claims of Spain and Portugal to "own the
earth." He inquired of the Spanish king
whether Father Adam had made them his
sole heirs, and asked whether he could produce
a copy of his will. Until such a document
was shown, he himself felt at liberty to roam
around and assume sovereignty over all the
soil he might find actually unappropriated.
It is certain, that the French preceded the
British in this territory by at least half a
century. Jamestown was founded just one
year before Champlain sowed the seeds of the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
fleur de lis on the barren cliffs of Quebec.
These two little colonies, a thousand miles
apart, were the advance stations of the Latin
and the Anglo-Saxon, which were destined
to a life and death struggle in' the New World.
In the history of mankind this struggle was
no less important than that between Greece
and Persia, or Rome and Carthage in the long
ago. The position of Canada, with the St.
Lawrence opening up the territory adjacent
to the Great Lakes, invited intercourse with
this region, for the waterways provided a vast
extent of inland navigation.
The original claim of France was based on
the discovery of the St. Lawrence by the brave
buccaneer Cartier, in 1534. He had sailed
up a broad river, which he named St. Law-
rence, as far as Montreal, and called the
country Canada, a name applied to the sur-
rounding region by the Iroquois. This appel-
lation was afterwards changed to New France.
The later explorations by Champlain, La
Salle, Joliet, and others simply confirmed and
expanded her former pretensions. She main-
tained the view that to discover a river estab-
lished a right to all the territory drained by
that stream and its tributaries. The waters
of the Maumee and Sandusky, being tributary
to the St. Lawrence, these valleys became a
part of the vast domain known as New France,
with Quebec as its capital. This claim France
was ready to maintain with all the resources
and power at her command.
It is interesting to trace the gradual growth
of geographical knowledge of French cartog-
raphers by a study of the maps drawn by
them in the last half of the seventeenth cen-
tury. Even after all the Great Lakes are
known to them in a general way, the outlines
and the relations of one to the other are at
first indefinite and very far from being cor-
rect. This is probably chargeable to the fact
that the explorers acquired much of their gen-
eral knowledge from the indefinite statements
of the aborigines. In Champlain 's map, pub-
lished in 1632, Lake Erie is shown, but in a
very small way. Lake Huron, called Mer
Douce, is several times as expansive, and
spreads out from east to west rather than from
north to south. The first map in which Lacus
Erius first appears in anything like a correct
contour is one designed by Pere du Creux, in
the year 1660. In this map we perceive the
first outlines of the Maumee and the Sandusky
rivers, although no names are there given to
them. In Joliet 's map of 1672, the Ohio River
is placed only a short portage from the Mau-
mee, and not far from Lake Erie. The
increasing correctness of these maps, however,
makes manifest the fact that priests and
traders and explorers were constantly thread-
ing these regions, bringing back more perfect
knowledge of the lakes and the rivers and
smaller streams, which aided the cartogra-
phers in their important work.
Samuel de Champlain, in the early part of
the seventeenth century, explored much of the
lake region. He founded Quebec in 1608. He
visited the Wyandots, or the Hurons, at their
villages on Lake Huron, and passed several
months with them in the year 1615. It is
quite likely that he traveled in winter along
the southern shores of Lake Erie, for the map
made by him of this region shows some knowl-
edge of the contour of the southern shores of
this lake. Louis Joliet is credited with being
the first European to plow the waters of fair
Lake Erie, but this historic fact has never
been satisfactorily settled. It is generally
believed by some historians that Chevalier de
La Salle journeyed up the Maumee River, and
then down the Wabash to the Ohio and the
Mississippi in the year 1669, although this
fact has not been positively established, for
some of La Salle 's journals were lost. For a
period of two years his exact wanderings are
unknown. But he is generally credited as the
first white man to discover the Ohio, even
though the route by which he reached it is
unsettled. Through the dense forests in the
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
midst of blinding storms, across frozen creeks a boat which greatly astonished the natives
and swollen streams, fearless alike of the howl- who saw it. She bore at her prow a figure of
ing wolves and painted savages, the little band that mythical creature, with the body of a
HISTORIC SITES IN NORTHWEST OHIO
of discoverers picked its way across the un- lion and the wings of an eagle. This vessel
charted Ohio Valley. was a man-of-war, as well as a passenger
We do know that La Salle traversed Lake boat, for five tiny cannon peeped out from her
Erie from one end to the other in the Griffin, port-holes. He also built the first Fort Miami,
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
near the site of Fort Wayne, on his return
overland from this trip. It was a rude log
fort, and a few of his followers were left there
to maintain it.
It was in the year 1668 that the official
representative of France, on an occasion when
representatives of many Indian tribes were
present by invitation, formally took posses-
sion of this territory at Sault Ste. Marie. A
cross was blessed and placed in the ground.
Near the cross was reared a post bearing a
metal plate inscribed with the French royal
arms. A prayer was offered for the king.
Then Saint-Lusson advanced, and, holding his
sword aloft in one hand and raising a sod of
earth with the other, he formally, in the name
of God and France, proclaimed possession of
"Lakes Huron and Superior and all countries,
rivers, lakes, and streams contiguous and ad-
jacent thereunto, both those that have been
discovered and those which may be discov-
ered hereafter, in all their length and breadth,
bounded on one side by the seas of the north
and west and on the other by the South
Sea * * *."
The Jesuit fathers penetrated almost the
entire Northwest Territory, and their reports,
called the ' ' Relations, ' ' reveal tales of suffer-
ing and hardships, self-sacrifice and martyr-
doms, that are seldom paralleled in history.
But their zeal has cast a glamour over the
early history of the country. One of the most
renowned of the Jesuits was Father Mar-
quette, who with Joliet navigated the Upper
Mississippi and wore himself out by priva-
tion and perils. As a result of exposure, he
perished in a rude bark hut on the shore of
Lake Michigan, attended by his faithful com-
panions. He gazed upon the crucifix and mur-
mured a prayer until death forever closed his
lips and veiled his eyes. No name shines
brighter for religious devotion, dauntless per-
severance, and sacrifice for the advancement
of his country and his religion. Ohio, how-
ever, was not the scene of the Jesuit explora-
tions and missionary efforts. The only excep-
tion was a mission conducted at Saudusky for
a time by Jesuit priests from Detroit.
It is quite likely that the coureurs des bois,
who traversed the lakes and the forests in
every direction, laden with brandy and small
stocks of trinkets to barter with the aborigines
for their more valuable furs, were among the
earliest visitors to Northwest Ohio. Some of
these forest tramps frequented the regions of
the Sandusky and the Maumee. These men
became very popular with the savages, by
reason of their free and easy manners, and
because they introduced to them the brandy,
the use of which became one of their greatest
vices.
Les coureurs des bois were of a class that
made themselves popular by terrorism. They
were the forerunners of the cowboys of the
western plains. Their occupation was lawless ;
they themselves were half traders, half ex-
plorers, and almost wholly bent 011 divertisse-
ment. Neither misery nor danger discour-
aged or thwarted them. They lived in utter
disregard of all religious teaching, but the
priesthood, residing among the savages, were
often fain to wink at their immoralities be-
cause of their strong arms and efficient use
of weapons of defense. Charlevoix says that
' ' while the Indian did not become French, the
Frenchman became savage." The first of
these forest rovers was Etienne Brule, who set
the example of adopting the Indian mode of
life in order to ingratiate himself into the
confidence of the savages. He became a cele-
brated interpreter and ambassador among the
various tribes. Hundreds, following the
precedent established by him, betook them-
selves to the forest never to return. These
outflowings of the French civilization were
quickly merged into the prevalent barbarism,
as a river is lost in the sands of one of our
western deserts. The wandering Frenchman
selected a mate from among the Indian tribes,
and in this way an infusion of Celtic blood
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was introduced among the aborigines. Many
of them imliihcd all the habits and prejudices
of tlu'ir adopted people. As a result, they vied
with the red savages in making their faces
hideous with colors, and in decorating their
long hair with the characteristic eagle feath-
ers. Kven in the taking of a scalp they
rivaled the genuine Indian in eagerness and
dexterity. Not until Frontenac's day were
these degenerate French vagabonds brought
again under complete control.
The conn nr des bois was a child of the
woods, and he was in a measure the advance
agent of civilization. He knew little of as-
tronomy beyond the course of the sun and the
polar star. That fact was no impediment, for
constellations can rarely be seen there. It was
the secrets of terrestrial nature that guided
him on his way. His trained eye could detect
the deflection of tender twigs toward the
south. He had learned that the gray moss
of the tree trunks is always on the side toward
the north ; that the bark is more supple and
smoother on the east than on the west ; that
southward the mildew never is seen. Out on
the prairie, he was aware that the tips of the
grass incline toward the south, and are less
green on the north side. This knowledge to
an unlettered savant was his compass in the
midst of the wilderness. Release a child of
civilization amidst such environments and he
is as helpless as an infant ; utterly amazed and
bewildered, he wanders around in a circle
helplessly and aimlessly. To despair and
famine he quickly becomes an unresisting vic-
tim. There are no birds to feed him like the
ravens ministered to the temporal wants of
the prophet Elijah. Not so with the coureur
il< x lulls. To him the forest was a kindly home.
He could penetrate its trackless depths with
an undeviating course. To him it readily
yielded clothing, food, and shelter. Most of
its secrets he learned from the red man of the
forest, but in some respects he outstripped his
instructor. He learned to peruse the signs of
the forest as readily as the scholar reads the
printed page.
The English at last became aroused to the
value of the immense territory to the west of
the Alleghenies. But the sons of Britain were
far less politic in dealing with the savages
than the French. The proud chiefs were dis-
gusted with the haughty bearing of the Eng-
lish officials. In short, all the British Indian
affairs at this time were grossly mismanaged.
It was only with the Iroquois, those fierce
fighters of the Five Nations, that the English
made much headway. These warriors, who
carried shields of wood covered with hide, had
acquired an implacable hatred of the French.
Their antipathy had much to do with the final
course of events. In their practical system
of government, their diplomatic sagacity, their
craftiness and cruelness in warfare, the Iro-
quois were probably unequaled among the
aborigines. If they did nothing else, they com-
pelled the French to make their advance to
the west rather than to the south. The French
laid claim, because of their discoveries, to all
of this vast empire of the Northwestern Ter-
ritory, and this claim had been confirmed by
the Treaty of Utrecht. The English put forth
pretensions to all the continent as far west
as the Mississippi River, and as far north as
a line drawn directly west from their most
northerly settlement on the Atlantic coast.
Thus we find that Northwest Ohio was a part
of the disputed territory.
"We read in the report of a governor of New
York, in the year 1700, the following: "The
French have mightily impos'd on the world
in the mapps they have made of this continent,
and our Geographers have been led into gross
mistakes by the French mapps, to our very
great prejudice. It were as good a work as
your Lordships could do, to send over a very
skillful surveyor to make correct mapps of
all these plantations and that out of hand,
that we may not be cozen 's on to the end of
the chapter by the French." As a result of
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
this recommendation official maps began to
appear in a few years. In Evans' map (1755)
the Maumee and Sandusky rivers, and some
of their tributaries, are pretty well outlined.
Over the greater part of Northwest Ohio is
printed the following: "These Parts were
by the Confederates (Iroquois) allotted for
the Wyandots when they were lately admitted
into their league. ' ' In Mitchell 's map, drawn
in the same year and published a score of years
later, very little improvement is shown, al-
though the outline varies considerably from
that of Evans. The 'best map of the period
that we have preserved is the one drawn by
Thomas Hutchins, in 1776. The originals of
all these are preserved in the Congressional
Library, at Washington.
In the latter part of the seventeenth cen-
tury a man by the name of John Nelson, who
had spent many years among the French in
America, made a report to the Lords of Trade
concerning the difference in the English and
French method of dealing with the natives, of
which the following is a part: "The Great
and only advantage which the enemy (French)
hath in those parts doth consist chiefly in the
nature of their settlement, which contrary to
our Plantations who depend upon the im-
provement of lands, &c, theirs of Canada has
its dependence from the Trade of Furrs and
Peltry with the Aborigines, soe that conse-
quently their whole study, and contrivances
have been to maintaine their interest and rep-
utation with them; * * * The French
are so sensible, that they leave nothing un-
improved. * * * as first by seasonable
presents; secondly by choosing some of the
more notable amongst them, to whom is given
a constant pay as a Lieutenant or Ensigne,
&c, thirdly, by rewards upon all executions,
either upon us or our Aborigines, giving a
certaine sume pr head, for as many Scalps as
shall be brought them ; fourthly by encourag-
ing the youth of the Countrey in accompany-
ing the Aborigines in all their expeditions,
whereby they not only became acquainted
with the Woods, Rivers, Passages, but of
themselves may equall the Natives in sup-
porting all the incident fatigues of such en-
terprises, which they performe."
After the English once became aroused to
the opportunity, it was not long until their
explorers, cartographers, and traders began
to infiltrate into the Ohio country from across
the Blue Ridge Mountains. Clashes soon after-
wards occurred between the French and the
British, or between the allies of the one and
the allies of the other. As early as 1740 trad-
ers from Virginia and Pennsylvania journeyed
among the Indians of the Ohio and tributary
streams to deal for peltries. The English
' ' bush-lopers, ' ' or wood-rangers, as they were
called by the eastern colonists, had climbed
the mountain heights and had threaded their
way through the forests or along streams as
far as Michilimackinack. They sought favor
with the dusky inhabitants by selling their
goods at a lower price than the French traders
asked, and frequently offered a better figure
for the peltries. It was a contest for suprem-
acy between the British Lion and the Lilies of
France. These two emblems were to contend
for the greater part of a century over the in-
comparable prize of the North American con-
tinent. England based her claims on the dis-
coveries of the Cabots in 1498, which ante-
dated those of Cartier. She did not follow up
her discoveries in this northwest territory by
actual settlement, however, for a century and
a half. She also made further claims to this
region by reason of treaties with the Iroquois
Indians, who claimed dominion over this ter-
ritory because of their conquest of the Eries,
who had formerly inhabited it.
Peace had scarcely been concluded with the
hostile tribes than the English traders
hastened over the mountains. Each one was
anxious to be first in the new and promising
market thus afforded. The merchandise was
sometimes transported as far as Fort Pitt
HISTORY OF NORTH WKST OHIO
( Pittsburgh) in wagons. From thence it was
carried 011 the backs of horses through the
forests of Ohio. The traders laboriously
climbed over the rugged hills of Eastern Ohio,
pushed their way through almost impenetrable
thickets, and waded over swollen streams.
They were generally a rough, bold, and fierce
class, some of them as intractable and trucu-
lent as the savages themselves when placed in
the midst of primeval surroundings. A coat
of smoked deerskin formed the ordinary dress
of the trader, and he wore a fur cap orna-
mented with the tail of an animal. He carried
a knife and a tomahawk in his belt, and a rifle
was thrown over his shoulder. The principal
trader would establish his headquarters at
some large Indian town, while his subordinates
were dispatched to the surrounding villages
with a suitable supply of red cloth blankets,
guns and hatchets, tobacco and beads, and
lastly, but not least, the "firewater." It is
not at all surprising that in a region where
law was practically unknown, the jealousies
of rival traders should become a prolific source
of robberies and broils, as well as of actual
murders. These rugged men possessed strik-
ing contrasts of good and evil in their natures.
Many of them were coarse and unscrupulous ;
but in all there were those warlike virtues of
undespairing courage and fertility of resource.
A bed of earth was frequently the trader's
bed ; a morsel of dried meat and a cup of
water were not unfrequently his food and
drink. Danger and death were his constant
companions.
While the newly transplanted English
colonies were germinating along the narrow
fringe of coast between the Alleghenies and
the sea, France was silently stretching her
authority over the vast interior of the North
American continent. The principal occupa-
tion of the Englishman was agriculture, which
kept him closely at home. Every man owned
his own cabin and his own plat of ground.
The Frenchman relied mainly on the fur
trade, and witli his articles of traffic traversed
the rivers and forests of a large part of the
continent. A few nobles owned the entire soil.
It was in a sense the contest between feudal-
ism and democracy. The English clergymen
preached the Gospel only to the savages within
easy reach of the settlements, but the un-
quenchable zeal of the Catholic Jesuit carried
him to the remotest forest. In fact, had it
not been for the hope of spreading the Chris-
tian faith like a mantle over the New World,
the work of colonization would doubtless have
been abandoned. ' ' The saving of a soul, ' ' said
Champlain, "is worth more than the conquest
of an empire." The establishment of a mis-
sion was invariably the precursor of military
occupancy. While the English were still gen-
erally acquainted only with the aborigines of
their immediate neighborhood, the French had
already insinuated themselves into the wig-
wams of every tribe from the Great Lakes to
the Gulf of Mexico. In the actual military
occupation of the territory the French far
greatly antedated their more lethargic com-
petitors. They had dotted the wilderness
with stockades before the English turned their
attention toward the alluring empire beyond
the mountains.
Had France fully appreciated the possibili-
ties of the New World, the map of North
America would be different than it is today.
She sent more men to conquer paltry town-
ships in Germany than she did to take posses-
sion of empires in America larger than France
herself. The Frenchman of that day was short-
sighted— he did not peer into the future. The
glory of conquest today seemed greater than a
great New France of a century or two hence.
Most nations are blind to the possibilities of
the future. If they do vision the opportunity,
they are unwilling to make the sacrifice of the
present for the good of their great-grand-
children and their children's children. Eng-
land seemed to see the possibilities here better
than the other nations, and yet, much of her
8
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
success was doubtless clue to fortunate blun-
dering rather than deliberate planning.
Northwest Ohio at this time was a region
where "one vast, continuous forest shadowed
the fertile soil, covering the land as the grass
covers a garden lawn, sweeping over hill and
hollow in endless undulation. Green intervals
dotted with browsing deer, and broad plains
blackened with buffalo, broke the sameness of
the woodland scenery. Many rivers seamed
the forest with their devious windings. A vast
lake washed its boundaries, where the Indian
endowed. But so thin and scattered were the
native population that a traveler might jour-
ney for days through the twilight forest with-
out encountering a human form.
At the opening of the eighteenth century,
the Maumee River had already assumed con-
siderable importance. Its broad basin became
the first objective in the sanguinary struggle
of the French and British to secure a firm
foothold in Ohio, because of its easy route to
the south and southwest. The favor of the
Indians dwelling along its hospitable banks
A GLIMPSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL MAUMEE
voyager, in his birch canoe, could descry no
land beyond the world of waters. Yet this
prolific wilderness, teeming with waste fer-
tility, was but a hunting-ground and a battle-
field to a few fierce hordes of savages. Here
and there, in some rich meadow opened to the
sun, the Indian squaws turned the black mould
with their rude implements of bone or iron,
and sowed their scanty stores of maize and
beans. Human labour drew no other tribute
from that inexhaustible soil." 1 It is no won-
der that the savage perished rather than yield
such a delectable country, and that the white
man was so eager to enjoy a land so richly
i Parkman 'a ' ' Conspiracy of Pontiac. ' '
was diligently sought by both the French and
English. The French Post Miami, near the
head of the Maumee, had been built about
1680-86. It was rebuilt and strengthened in
the year 1697 by Captain de Vincennes. It is
also claimed that the French constructed a
fort a few years earlier, in 1680, on the site
of Fort Miami, a few miles above the mouth
of the Maumee. In 1701 the first fort at De-
troit, Fort Pontchartrain, was erected. Many
indeed were the expeditions of Frenchmen,
either military or trading, that passed up and
down this river. They portaged across from
Post Miami to the Wabash, and from there
descended to Vincennes, which was an impor-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
taut French post. At the beginning of King
George I I's war. M. de Longueville, French
commandant at Detroit, passed up this river
with soldiers and savages on their way to cap-
ture Britisli traders in Indiana. As early as
1727 Governor Spotxwood, of Virginia, re-
quested the British authorities to negotiate a
treaty with the Miamis, on the Miami of the
Lakes, permitting the erection of a small fort,
hut this plan was not earried out.
Many years before the Caucasian estab-
lished his domicile in Ohio, the Sandusky
River likewise was a favorite water route for
travel between Canada and the Ohio, and from
there to the .Mississippi. The early French
traders and the Jesuit fathers employed this
route, and it required only a short portage.
At that time, traversing as it did a densely
wooded country and considerable marsh land,
it was navigable at all seasons of the year.
The English did not penetrate this region
until the middle of the eighteenth century.
Here occurred the first clash in the rival ef-
forts of the two races to secure a foothold in
Ohio, and here was erected the first fort of the
island invaders into the Ohio country.
The feeble forts erected by both French and
English as outposts of empire were indeed
dreary places. The men thus exiled from
civilization lived almost after the manner of
hermits. Time ever hung heavy on their
hands, whether in winter or summer, because
of the absence of diversion. With its long
barrack rooms, its monotonous walls of logs,
and its rough floor of puncheon, the frontier
fort did not provide luxury for the occupants.
There was no ceiling but a smoky thatch, and
there were no windows except openings closed
with heavy shutters. The cracks between the
logs were stuffed with mud and straw to expel
the chilly blasts. An immense fireplace at
one end, from which the heat was absorbed
long before it reached the frosty region at the
opposite end, supplied the only warmth. The
principal fare was salt pork, soup, and black
bread, except when game was obtainable. This
was eaten at greasy log tables upon which was
placed a gloomy array of battered iron plates
and cups. When a hunter happened to bring
in some venison or bear meat, there was great
rejoicing. Regardless of these drawbacks, it
is said that these men, exiles from every re-
finement, were fairly well contented and gen-
erally fairly thankful for the few amenities
that came their way.
' ' Their resources of employment and recrea-
tion were few and meagre. They found part-
ners in their loneliness among the young
beauties of the Indian camps. They hunted
and fished, shot at targets and played at games
of chance ; and when, by good fortune a trav-
eller found his way among them, he was
greeted with a hearty and open-handed wel-
come, and plied with eager questions touching
the great world from which they were ban-
ished men. Yet, tedious as it was, their se-
cluded life was seasoned with stirring danger.
The surrounding forests were peopled with a
race dark and subtle as their own sunless
mazes. At any hour, those jealous tribes might
raise the war-cry. No human foresight could
predict the sallies of their fierce caprice, and
in ceaseless watching lay the only safety."
CHAPTER II
THE CONSPIRACIES OF NICHOLAS AND PONTIAC
Northwest Ohio was a delightful home and
a secure retreat for the red men. The banks
•of the Maumee and the Sandusky, and their
connecting streams, were studded with their
villages. Their light canoes glided over the
smooth waters, which were at once a con-
venient highway and an exhaustless reservoir
of food. The lake provided them ready ac-
cess to more remote regions. The forests,
waters, and prairies produced spontaneously
and in abundance, game, fish, fruits, and nuts
— all the things necessary to supply their
simple wants. The rich soil responded
promptly to their feeble efforts at agriculture.
In this secure retreat the wise men of the
savages gravely convened about their council
fires, and deliberated upon the best means of
rolling back the flood of white immigration
that was threatening. They dimly foresaw
that this tide would ultimately sweep their
race from the lands of their fathers. From
here their young warriors crept forth and,
stealthily approaching the isolated homes of
the "palefaces," spreading ruin and desola-
tion far and wide. Returning to the villages,
their booty and savage trophies were exhibited
with all the exultations and boasts of primitive
warriors. Protected by almost impenetrable
swamp and uncharted forests, their women,
children, and property were comparatively
safe during the absence of their warriors.
Thus it was that the dusky children of the
wilderness here enjoyed almost perfect free-
dom, and lived in accordance with their rude
instincts, and the habits and customs of the
tribes. "Amid the scenes of his childhood, in
the presence of his ancestors' graves, the red
warrior, with his squaw and papoose, sur-
rounded by all the essentials to the enjoyment
of his simple wants, here lived out the charac-
ter which nature had given him. In war, it
was his base line of attack, his source of sup-
plies, and his secure refuge; in peace, his
home. ' '
It was in Northwest Ohio that two of the
most noted conspiracies against the encroach-
ments of the invading race were formulated
and inaugurated. One of these was against
the French, and was led by chief Nicholas;
the other was the more noted conspiracy of
Pontiac, which had for its object the annihi-
lation of British power. Orontony was a
noted "Wyandot chief, who had been baptized
under the name of Nicholas, The tribe had
just lately removed from the neighborhood of
Detroit, having been in some manner offended
by the French. He devised a plan for the
general extermination of the French power
in the West. Nicholas resided at "Sando-
sket, " and was "a wily fellow, full of savage
cunning, whose enmity, when once aroused,
was greatly to be feared." He had his strong-
hold and villages on some islands lying just
above the mouth of the Sandusky River. It
was he who granted permission to erect Fort
Sandoski at his principal town, in order to
secure the aid of the British. This was the
first real fort erected by white men in Ohio.
In 1747 five Frenchmen with their peltries ar-
rived here, totally unsuspicious of threaten-
10
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
11
ing danger, counting upon the hospitality and
friendship of the Hurons. Nicholas was
greatly irritated by their audacity in coming
into his towns without his consent. At the
behest of rival English traders, these men
were seized and treacherously tomahawked.
When this news reached Detroit, there was
great indignation. Messengers were promptly
dispatched to Nicholas demanding the de-
livery of the murderers, but the request was
defiantly refused.
The crafty Nicholas conceived the idea of
a widespread conspiracy, which should have
for its object the capture of Detroit and all
other French outposts, and the massacre
of all the white inhabitants. The work of
destruction was parcelled out to the various
tribes of Wyandots and Miamis, of which he
was the leader. He had also succeeded in
rallying to his aid the Ottawas, Chippewas,
Pottawattomies, and Shawnees, as well as
some more distant tribes. The real purpose
of this league was nothing less than the driv-
ing out of the French from the lake country.
No mercy was to be shown. The Miamis and
Wyandots were to exterminate the French
from the Maumee country ; to the Pottawatto-
mies were assigned the Bois Blanc Islands,
while the Foxes were to attack the settlement
at Green Bay. Nicholas reserved to himself
and his followers the fort and settlement at
Detroit. A party of Detroit Hurons were to
sleep in the fort and houses at Detroit, as
they had often done before, and each was to
kill the people where he had lodged. The
day set for this massacre was one of the holi-
days of Pentecost.
Premature acts of violence aroused the sus-
picions of the French, and reinforcements
were hurriedly brought in. Like the later one
of Pontiac, the conspiracy failed because of
a woman. While the braves were in council,
one of their squaws, going into the garret of the
house in search of Indian corn, overheard the
details of the conspiracy. She at once has-
tened to a Jesuit priest, and revealed the
plans of the savages. The priest lost no time
in communicating with M. de Longueuil, the
French Commandant, who ordered out the
troops, aroused the people, and gave the In-
dians to understand that their plans had been
discovered. Eight Frenchmen were seized
at Fort Miami (Fort Wayne), which was de-
stroyed, and a French trader was killed along
the Maumee. Nicholas finally sought peace
and pardon, but vengeance smouldered in his
breast. In 1748, he and his followers, number-
ing in all one hundred and nineteen warriors,
departed for the west after destroying all
their villages along the Sandusky, and lo-
cated in the Illinois country.
In the spring of 1749 Celeron made his
memorable journey down the 0-hi-o, the
"beautiful river." He took possession of the
country in the name of his sovereign and
buried leaden plates asserting the sovereignty
of France. It was a picturesque flotilla of
twenty birch bark canoes that left Montreal
in that year. The passengers were equally as
picturesque, including as they did soldiers in
armor and dusky savages with their primitive
weapons. They successfully accomplished
their journey and buried their last plate at
the mouth of the Great Miami River. Chang-
ing their course they turned the prow of their
canoes northward, and in a few days reached
Pickawillany (Pkiwileni). During a week's
stay they endeavored to win the Miamis to
their cause, but were not very successful,
even with a plentiful use of brandy. There
was much feasting and revelry, but the cause
of France was not advanced. From there they
portaged to Fort Miami (Fort Wayne). Cele-
ron himself proceeded overland to Detroit,
while the majority of his followers descended
the Maumee. The expedition traveled "over
twelve hundred leagues," but added little to
French prestige or dominion. In the follow-
ing year Christopher Gist accomplished his
remarkable expedition through Ohio, and at
12
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Piekawillany entered into treaty relations
with the Miamis, or Twightwees, as the Eng-
lish called them. At the same time French
emissaries were dismissed and their presents
refused. The chief of the Pienkeshaws here
known as "Old Britain," by the English, and
as "La Demoiselle" by the French, because of
his gaudy dress.
Major George Croghan was sent as an emis-
sary to the Ohio Indians several times, and
traversed this country in 1765. He says:
"About ninety miles from the Miamis of
Twightwee we came to where the large river
that heads in a lick, falls into the Miami River.
This they called the forks. The Ottawas claim
this country, and hunt here where game is
very plentyful. From hence we proceed to
the Ottawa village. This nation formerly
lived at Detroit, but is now settled here on ac-
count of the richness of the country, where
game is always found to be plenty. Here we
were obliged to get out of our canoes and drag
them eighteen miles on account of the rifts
which interrupted navigation. At the end of
these rifts we came to a village of the Wyan-
dots who received us very kindly, and thence
we proceeded to the mouth of the river where
it falls into Lake Erie. From the Miamis to the
lake it is computed 180 miles, and from the
entrance of the river into the Lake to Detroit
is sixty miles — that is forty-two miles up the
lake and eighteen miles up the Detroit River
to the garrison of that name."
During the long wars between the French
and the British, and their Indian allies, which
extended over a period of half a century or
more, and only ended in 1760, there were no
battles of any consequence between these two
contending forces in Northwest Ohio. There
were, however, many isolated tragedies that
occurred. The expedition of French and In-
dians under Charles Langlade, a half-breed,
which captured and destroyed Piekawillany,
in Shelby County, came from Detroit and as-
cended the Maumee and the Auglaise on their
journey. It was composed of a considerable
force of greased and painted Indians, together
with a small party of French and Canadians.
It was on a June morning, in 1752, that the
peaceful village was aroused by the frightful
war whoop, as the painted horde bore down
upon the inhabitants. Most of the warriors
were absent, and the squaws were at work in
the fields. Only eight English traders were in
the town. It was the work of only a few
hours until Piekawillany was destroyed and
set on fire. This was one of the many tragic
incidents in the French and Indian war.
"Old Britain" himself was killed, his body
being boiled and eaten by the victors. The
Turtle, of whom we are to hear much, suc-
ceeded him as chief.
The English began to arrive in increasing
numbers, following the French along the water
courses to greater and greater distances.
They continued to pay increased rates for
furs, and to sell their goods at lower prices.
In this way they began to undermine the
French prestige. But the poor Indian was in
a quandary. An old sachem meeting Christo-
pher Gist is reported to have said: "The
French claim all the land on our side of the
Ohio, the English claim all the land on the
other side — now where does the Indian 's land
lie ? " Between the French, their good fathers,
and the English, their benevolent brothers,
the aborigine seemed destined to be left with-
out land enough upon which to erect a wig-
wam, leaving out of consideration the neces-
sary hunting grounds.
The British had evidently profited by the
reports of their emissaries, coitcerning the
success of the French in placing a bonus upon
scalps, for we discover them engaged in the
same nefarious business at a little later date.
If the British inflicted less injury than they
experienced by this horrible mode of warfare,
it was less from their desire than from their
limited success in enlisting the savages as
their allies. Governor George Clinton, in a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
13
letter dated at New York, 25th April, 1747,
wrote to Colonel William Johnson, as follows :
"In the bill am going to pass, the council
did not think proper to put rewards for scalp-
ing, or taking poor women or children prison-
ers, in it ; but the assembly has assured me the
money shall be paid when it so happens, if the
natives insist upon it." On May 30th, Colonel
Johnson wrote to the governor: "I am quite
pestered every day with parties returning with
prisoners and scalps, and without a penny to
pay them with. It comes very hard upon me,
and is displeasing to them I can assure you,
for they expect their pay and demand it of me
as soon as they return."
Governor Clinton reported to the Duke of
Newcastle, under date of July 23, 1747, the
following : ' ' Colonel Johnson who I have em-
ploy'd as Chief Manager of the Aborigine War
and Colonel over all the natives, by their own
approbation, has sent several parties of natives
into Canada & brought back at several times
prisoners and scalps, but they being laid
aside last year, the natives were discouraged
and began to entertain jealousies by which a
new expense became necessary to remove
these jealousies & to bring them back to
their former tempers; but unless some enter-
prise, which may keep up their spirits, we
may again loose them. I intend to propose
something to our Assembly for this purpose
that they may give what is necessary for the
expense of it, but I almost despair of any suc-
cess with them when money is demanded."
It would be a tedious task, and is entirely
unnecessary, to follow all the events in the
desperate efforts of the Indians to adapt them-
selves to the new situation. The French were
t';ir more aggressive, and many complaints
came to the British authorities because of
their delay in heeding the appeals of the sav-
ages. These delays afforded the time to the
French authorities to erect new forts and re-
build others, in an effort to control one of the
main routes to the Ohio River. Among these
was Fort Junandat, at the mouth of the San-
dusky River. With Braddock's defeat it
seemed to the Indian mind that the English
cause was weakening, and many of the tribes,
heretofore British in sympathy, began to
waver in their allegiance. William Johnson
wrote: "The unhappy defeat of General
Braddock has brought an Indian war upon
this and the neighboring provinces and from a
quarter where it was least expectant, -I mean
the Delawares and Shawnees. " The English
indeed began to think that "the Indians are a
most inconstant and unfixed set of mortals."
But it was such events that made possible a
federation of the Ohio tribes, together with
others farther west and north to drive the
English from the western country.
In making a study of the history of North-
west Ohio, we learn that this most remarkable
section of our state has produced many great
and notable white men; men who have en-
livened the pages of our nation's history, and
helped to establish her destiny. But we must
not forget that it also lays claim to one of the
greatest men of American Indian annals. His
father was an Ottawa chief, while his mother
was an Ojibwa (Chippewa), or Miami, squaw.
The date of his birth is variously stated from
1712 to 1720. He was unusually dark in com-
plexion, of medium height, with a powerful
frame, and carried himself with haughty mien.
Most writers speak of his birthplace as "on
the Ottawa River," but that tribe bestowed
its name upon practically every stream by the
side of which they camped. According to
the Miami chief, Richardville, the great chief
Pontiac first saw the light of day near the
Maumee River, at the mouth of the Auglaize,
which would be on or near the site of the pres-
ent City of Defiance. The Maumee Valley was
his home and stronghold. It was here that he
planned his treacherous campaign, and here
it was that he sought asylum when over-
whelmed by defeat.
Judged by the primitive standards of the
14
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
aborigines, Pontiac was one of the greatest
chiefs of which we have any record in our
nation's history. His intellect was broad,
powerful, and penetrating. In subtlety and
craft, he had no superiors. In him were com-
bined the qualities of an astute leader, a re-
markable warrior, and a broad-minded states-
the mouth of the Chogaga (Cuyahoga) River,
and that they were under 'Ponteack' who is
their 'present King or Emperor. ' * * * He
puts on an air of majesty and princely gran-
deur, and is greatly honored and revered by
his subjects." Pontiac forbade his proceed-
ing for a day or two, but finally smoked the
man. His ambitions seemed to have no limit,
such as was usually the case with an Indian
chief. His understanding reached to higher
generalizations and broader comprehensions
than those of any other Indian mind. The
first place that we hear of Pontiac is in an
account of the expedition of Rogers' Rangers,
in the fall of 1760. Rogers himself says:
"We met with a party of Ottawa Indians, at
pipe of peace with Rogers, and permitted the
expedition to proceed through his country to
Detroit, for the purpose of superseding the
French garrison there. This was the first act
of British authority over this section of our
country. His object was accomplished with-
out any conflict. "He was an illiterate man,
and unprincipled in money matters, but a good
ranger and observer." His journal of the
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
15
expedition affords interesting descriptions of
the lake region. Like others his descriptions
recount the wonderful profusion and variety
of game. Rogers made an encampment for
a few days near "Lake Sandusky," as he
called it, from whence he sent a courier to De-
troit. On his return in the following year, he
reached Sandusky by the way of the Maumee.
It was the fierce contest between the French
and the English forces that afforded Pontiac
the opportunity which always seems neces-
sary to develop the great mind. It was with
sorrow and anger that the red man saw the
fleur-de-lis disappear and the Cross of St.
George take its place. Toward the new in-
truders the Indians generally maintained a
stubborn resentment and even hostility. The
French, who had been the idols of the Indian
heart, had begun to lose their grip on this ter-
ritory. The English, who were succeeding
them in many places, followed an entirely dif-
ferent policy in treating with the aborigines.
The abundant supplies of rifles, blankets, and
gunpowder, and even brandy, which had been
for so many years dispensed from the French
forts with lavish hand, were abruptly stopped,
or were doled out with a niggardly and re-
luctant hand. The sudden withholding of
supplies to which they had become accustomed
was a grievous calamity. When the Indians
visited the forts, frequently they were received
rather gruffly, instead of being treated with
polite attention, and sometimes they were sub-
jected to genuine indignities. Whereas they
received gaudy presents, accompanied with
honeyed words from the French, they were not
infrequently helped out of the fort with a
butt of a sentry's musket, or a vigorous kick
from an officer by their successors. These
marks of contempt were utterly humiliating
to the proud and haughty red men.
The fact that French competition in trade
had practically ended doubtless influenced
English officials and unscrupulous tradesmen
in their treatment of the Indians. Added to
these official acts was the steady encroachment
of white settlers following the end of the
French and Indian War, which was at all
times a fruitful source of Indian hostility. By
this time the more venturesome pioneers were
escaping from the confines of the Alleghenies
and beginning to spread through the western
forests. It was with fear and trembling that
the Indian "beheld the westward marches of
the unknown crowded nations." Lashed al-
most into a frenzy by these agencies, still an-
other disturbing influence appeared in a great
Indian prophet, who arose among the Dela-
wares. He advocated the wresting of the
Indian's hunting grounds from the white man,
claiming to have received a revelation from
the Great Spirit. Vast throngs were spell-
bound by his wild eloquence. Among his audi-
ences were many who had come from distant
regions to hear him. The white man was driv-
ing the Indians from their country, he said:
unless the Indians obeyed the Great Spirit,
ajid exterminated the white man, then the lat-
ter would destroy them. He enjoined them
even to lay aside the firearms and clothing re-
ceived from the white man.
This was the state of affairs existing among
the Indians in the years 1761 and 1762.
Everywhere there was discontent and sullen
hatred. The shadows of the forest were not
blacker than the ominous darkness which per-
vaded the Indian breast. This condition was
not local, for it spread from the Great Lakes
to the Gulf. It was far more nearly universal
than any other Indian disturbance before or
since that time. The French added fuel to the
passion by telling the Indians that the English
had evolved a plan to exterminate the entire
race. This malicious statement aroused the
fierce passions of the red men to fury. The
common Indian brave simply struck in re-
venge for fancied or actual wrongs. But the
vision of the great Pontiac assumed a wider
scope, for he saw farther. Recognizing the
increasing power of the British, he realized
16
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
that unless France retained her foothold on the
continent the destruction of his race was
inevitable. It therefore became his ambition
to replace British control with that of France.
The result was that far-reaching movement
among the savages, which is known in history
as Pontiac's Conspiracy. In the same year
that the Seven Years War was officially ended
by the peace concluded at Fontainebleau,
which probably surpasses all other treaties in
the transfer of territory, including our own
section, in which the Lily of France was of-
ficially displaced by the Lion of Great Brit-
ain. The war belt of wampum was sent to
the farthest shores of Lake Superior, and the
most distant delta of the Mississippi. The
bugle call of this mighty leader Pontiac
aroused the remotest tribes to aggressive ac-
tion.
"Why do you suffer these dogs in red
clothing to enter your country and take the
land the Great Spirit has given you? Drive
them from it! Drive them! When you are
in distress I will help you." These words
were the substance of the message from Pon-
tiac. That voice was heard, but not by
the whites. "The unsuspecting traders jour-
neyed from village to village; the soldiers in
the forts shrunk from the sun of the early
summer, and dozed away the day ; the frontier
settler, resting in fancied security, sowed his
crops, or, watching the sunset through the
girdled trees, mused upon one more peaceful
harvest, and told his children of the horrors
of the ten years' war, now, thank God! over.
From the Alleghenies to the Mississippi the
trees had leaved and all was calm life and
joy. But through the great country, even
then, bands of sullen red men were journey-
ing from the central valleys to the lakes and
the eastern hills. Ottawas filled the woods
near Detroit. The Maumee post, Presque Isle,
Niagara, Pitt, Ligonier, and every English
fort, was hemmed in by Indian tribes, who
felt that the great battle drew nigh which
was to determine their fate and the possession
of their noble lands."
The chiefs and sachems everywhere joined
the conspiracy, and sent lofty messages to
Pontiac of the deeds they would perform. The
ordinary pursuits of life were practically
abandoned. Although the fair haired Anglo-
Saxons and darker Latins had concluded
peace, the warriors, who had not been repre-
sented at the great European conclave, danced
their war dance for weeks at a time. Squaws
were set to work sharpening knives, moulding
bullets, and mixing war paint. Even the chil-
dren imbibed the fever and incessantly prac-
ticed with bows and arrows. While ambassa-
dors in Europe were coldly and unfeelingly
disposing of the lands of the aborigines, the
savages themselves were planning for the de-
struction of the Europeans residing among
them. For once in the history of the Ameri-
can aborigines thousands of wild and restless
Indians of a score of different tribes were
animated by a single inspiration and purpose.
The attack was to be made in the month of
May, 1763.
' "Hang the peace pipe on the wall-
Rouse the nations one and all !
Tell them quickly to prepare
For the bloody rites of War.
Now .begin the fatal dance,
Raise the club and shake the lance,
Now prepare the bow and dart—
'Tis our fathers ' ancient art ;
Let each heart be strong and bold
As our fathers were of old.
Warriors, up ! — prepare — attack —
'Tis the voice of Pontiack. "
The conspiracy was months in maturing.
Pontiac kept two secretaries, the ' ' one to write
for him, the other to read the letters he re-
ceived and he manages them so as to keep each
of them ignorant of what is transacted by the
other." It was also carried on with great
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
17
secrecy, in order to avoid its licing communi-
cated to the British. Pontiac reserved to him-
self the beginning of the war. With the open-
ing of spring he dispatched his fleet-footed
messengers through the forests hearing their
belts of wampum and gifts of tobacco. They
visited not only the populous villages, but also
many a lonely tepee in the northern woods.
The appointed spot was on the banks of the
little river Ecorces, not far from Detroit. To
this great council went Pontiac, together with
his squaws and children. When all the dele-
gates had arrived, the meadow was thickly
dotted with the slender wigwams.
In accordance with the summons, "they
came issuing from their cabins — the tall,
naked figures of the wild Ojibwas, with quiv-
ers slung at their backs, and light war-clubs
resting in the hollow of their arms; Ottawas,
wrapped close in their gaudy blankets ; Wyan-
dots, fluttering in painted shirts, their heads
adorned with feathers, and their leggings gar-
nished with bells. All were soon seated in a
wide circle upon the grass, row within row,
a grave and silent assembly. Each savage
countenance seemed carved in wood, and none
could have detected the deep and fiery pas-
sions hidden beneath that immovable exterior.
Pipes with ornamented stems were lighted and
passed from hand to hand." Pontiac in-
veighed against the arrogance, injustice, and
contemptuous conduct of the English. He
expanded upon the trouble that would fol-
low their supremacy. He exhibited a belt of
wampum that he had received from their
great father, the King of France, as a token
that he had heard the voices of his red chil-
dren, and said that the French and the In-
dians would once more fight side by side as
they had done many moons ago.
The plan that had been agreed upon was to
attack all the British outposts on the same
day, and thus drive the "dogs in red" from
the country. The first intimation that the
British had was in March, 1763, when Ensign
Vol. I— J
Holmes, commandant of Fort Miami at the
head of the Maumee was informed by a
friendly Miami that the Indians in the near
villages had lately received a war belt with
urgent request that they destroy him and his
garrison, and that they were even then pre-
paring to do so. This information was com-
municated to his superior at Detroit, in the
following letter to Major Gladwyn : —
"Fort Miami,
"March 30th, 1763.
"Since my Last Letter to You, where I
Acquainted You of the Bloody Belt being in
this Village, I have made all the search I
could about it, and have found it out to be
True. Whereon I Assembled all the Chiefs of
this Nation, & after a long and troublesome
Spell with them, I Obtained the Belt, with a
Speech, as You will Receive Enclosed. This
Affair is very timely Stopt, and I hope the
News of a Peace will put a stop to any fur-
ther Troubles with these Indians, who are the
Principal Ones of Setting Mischief on Foot.
I send you the belt with this Packet, which I
hope You will Forward to the General. ' '
One morning an Indian girl, a favorite of
Ensign Holmes, the commanding officer of the
Fort Miami mentioned above, appeared at the
fort. She told him that an old squaw was ly-
ing sick in a wigwam, a short distance away,
and beseeched Holmes to come and see if he
could do anything for her. Although Holmes
was suspicious of the Indians, he never
doubted the loyalty of the girl, and readily
yielded to her request. A number of Indian
lodges stood at the edge of a meadow not far
removed from the fort, but hidden from it
by a strip of woodland. The treacherous girl
pointed out the hut where the sick woman
lay. As Holmes entered the lodge, a dozen
rifles were discharged and he fell dead. A
sergeant, hearing the shots, ran out of the
fort to see what was the matter, and encoun-
tered a similar fate. The panic-stricken gar-
18
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
rison, no longer possessing a leader, threw open
the gates and surrendered without resistance.
On the 16th of May Ensign Pauli, who was
in command at Fort Sandusky, which had
been rebuilt and reoccupied, was informed
that seven Indians were waiting at the gate
to speak with him. Several of these were
known to him, as they were Wyandots of his
MAP SHOWING MILITARY POSTS, FORTS,
BATTLEFIELDS AND INDIAN TRAILS IN OHIO
neighborhood, so that they were readily ad-
mitted. When the visitors reached his head-
quarters, an Indian seated himself on either
side of the ensign. Pipes were lighted, and
all seemed peaceful. Suddenly an Indian
standing in the doorway made a signal by
raising his head. The savages immediately
seized Pauli and disarmed him. At the same
time a confusion of yells and shrieks and the
noise of firearms sounded from without. It
soon ceased, however, and when Pauli was led
out of the enclosure the ground was strewn
with the corpses of his murdered comrades
and the traders. At nightfall he was con-
ducted to the lake, where several birch canoes
lay, and as they left the shore the fort burst
into flames. He was then bound hand and foot
and taken to Detroit, where the assembled
Indian squaws and children pelted him with
stones, sticks, and gravel, forcing him to dance
and sing. Happily an old squaw, who had
lately been widowed, adopted him in place of
the deceased spouse. Having been first
plunged into the river that the white blood
might be washed away, he was conducted to
the lodge of the widow, but he escaped from
such enforced matrimonial servitude at the
earliest opportunity.
It would not be within the province of this
history to describe in detail the prolonged
siege which was undergone by the British
garrison at Detroit against a host of besieging
savages. At every other point the conspiracy
was a success, and for the British there was
only an unbroken series of disasters. The
savages spread terror among the settlers
throughout all the Ohio country. Cabins were
burned, defenseless women and children were
murdered, and the aborigines were aroused to
the highest pitch of fury by the blood of their
numerous victims. It was not until a letter
reached Pontiac from the French commander,
informing him that the French and English
were now at peace, that the Ottawa chief aban-
doned hope. He saw himself and his people
thrown back upon their own slender resources.
For hours no man nor woman dared approach
him, so terrible was his rage. His fierce spirit
was wrought into unspeakable fury. At last
he ar«se and, with an imperious gesture, or-
dered the frightened squaws to take down the
wigwams. In rage and mortification, Pontiac,
with a few tribal chiefs as followers, removed
his camp from Detroit and returned to the
Maumee River to nurse his disappointed ex-
pectations.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
19
Following the withdrawal of the Indians,
comparative quiet prevailed for several
months. I'ontiac was still unconquered, how-
ever, and his hostility to the English con-
tinued unabated. He afterwards journeyed
to the Illinois country, where the French still
held sway, in order to arouse the western
tribes to further resistance. His final sub-
mission was given to Sir William Johnson, at
Oswego. That official, ' ' wrapped in his scarlet
blanket bordered with gold lace, and sur-
rounded by the glittering uniforms of the
British officers, was seen, with hand extended
in welcome to the great Ottawa, who standing
erect in conscious power, his rich plumes wav-
ing over the circle of his warriors, accepted the
proffered hand, with an air in which defiance
and respect were singularly blended." Like
the dissolving view upon a screen, this pic-
turesque pageant passed into history and Pon-
tiac returned to the Maumee region, which
continued to be his home. Here he pitched his
lodge in the forest with his wives and children,
and hunted like an ordinary warrior. He
yielded more and more to the seduction of
"firewater."
For a few years the records are silent con-
cerning Pontiac. In 1789, however, he ap-
peared at the post of St. Louis. He remained
there for two or three days, after which he
visited an assemblage of Indians at Cahokia,
on the opposite side of the river, arrayed in
the full uniform of a French officer, one which
had been presented to him by the Marquis of
Montcalm. Here a Kaskaskia Indian, bribed
by a British trader, buried a tomahawk in his
brain. Thus perished the Indian chief who
made himself a powerful champion of his
ruined race. His descendants continued to
reside along the Mauraee until the final re-
moval of the remnant of his once powerful
tribe beyond the Mississippi. His death was
avenged in a truly sanguinary way. The Kas-
kaskias were pursued 'by the Sacs and Foxes,
and were practically exterminated for this vile
deed. Their villages were burned, and their
people either slain or driven to refuge in dis-
tant places.
Pontiac 's vision of the ruin of his people
was prophetic. The Indian has disappeared,
together with the buffalo, the deer, and the
bear. His wigwam has vanished from the
banks of the streams. Today, mementoes of
his lost race, such as the rude tomahawk, the
stone arrowhead, and the wampum beads,
when turned up by the plow of the paleface
farmer, 'become the prized relics of the anti-
quary or the wonder of youth. But his pro-
phetic eye went no further. Little did he
dream that within the short space of a few
human lives the blue lake over which he oft-
times sailed would be studded with the ships
of commerce ; that gigantic boats propelled by
steam would replace the fragile canoe; that
populous cities and thriving villages would
arise by the score upon the ruins of the pris-
tine forests ; that the hunting grounds of his
youth, and old age as well, here in Northwest
Ohio, would become a hive of industry and
activity, and the abode of wealth surpassed by
no other section of this or adjoining states.
CHAPTER III
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
After the defeat of Pontiac and the com-
plete collapse of his conspiracy, the Indians
became convinced that no more reliance could
be placed on the French, and that their inter-
ests would be best served by remaining on
friendly terms with the British. But this de-
cision did not come spontaneously, for several
expeditions and ambassadors were dispatched
to the various tribes and confederations before
peace followed.
Col. John Bradstreet, a man whose reputa-
tion greatly exceeded his exploits, headed a
large expedition which sailed up Lake Erie to
Detroit in 1764. Israel Putnam was a mem-
ber of this body, the entire expedition num-
bering more than two thousand soldiers and
helpers. It required a large flotilla to convey
so large a force. Bradstreet had positive or-
ders to attack the Indians dwelling along the
Sandusky. He camped there for a time on his
outward journey, but was .misled by the In-
dian subtlety, and sailed away without either
following his orders to chastise these Indians
or completing the fort which he began. The
Indians promised "that if he would refrain
from attacking them, they would follow him
to Detroit and there conclude a treaty." At
Detroit the troops were royally welcomed. An
Indian council was at once summoned, and
Montresor reports it as follows: "Sat this
day the Indian council. Present, the Jibbe-
ways, Shawanese, Hurons of Sandusky and
the five nations of the Scioto, with all the sev-
eral nations of friendly Indians accompanying
the army. The Pottawattomies had not yet
arrived. Pondiac declined appearing here
until his pardon should be granted.
This day Pondiac was forgiven in council, who
is at present two days' march above the Castle
on the Miami (Maumee) River called la Roche
de But, with a party of sixty or more sav-
ages. ' ' The Indians agreed to call the English
king "father," the term formerly applied to
the French sovereign. After several weeks
spent at Detroit, Bradstreet once more em-
barked for the Sandusky, where he arrived in
a few days. A number of prominent and
lesser chiefs visited him here, but nothing
whatever was accomplished. Their subtlety
was too deep for the English commander. He
camped where Fremont is now located, and
began the work of erecting a fort on that site.
This was finally abandoned and the expedi-
tion returned to Fort Niagara.
An interesting incident in connection with
the Bradstreet expedition was a journey un-
dertaken by Captain Morris, of which he kept
a complete and interesting journal. Under
instructions from his superior, he "set out in
good spirits from Cedar Point (mouth of the
Maumee), Lake Erie, on the 26th of August,
1764, about four o'clock in the afternoon, and
at the same time the army proceeded for De-
troit." He was accompanied by two Cana-
dians and a dozen Indians, who were to ac-
company him "to the Rapids of the Miami
(Maumee) River, and then return to the
army." There were also Warsong, a noted
"Chippeway chief, and Attawang, an Uttawa
(Ottawa) chief." The party proceeded up
20
UNITED STATES
1783
UNITED STATES IN 1783
22
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the Mauince to the headquarters of Pontiac,
"whose army consisting of six hundred sav-
ages, with tomahawks in their hands," sur-
rounded him. Pontiac squatted himself before
his visitor, and behaved in a rather unfriendly
fashion. The greater part of the Indians got
drunk, and several of them threatened to kill
him. After the savages had become more
sober, Pontiac permitted the party to resume
its journey up the river.
At the site of Fort Wayne, another rabble
of Indians met the embassy in a threatening
manner, but Morris remained in a canoe read-
ing "The tragedy of Anthony and Cleopatra,"
in a volume of Shakespeare which had been
presented to him by the Indian chief. This
was undoubtedly one of the strangest circum-
stances under which the works of Shakespeare
were ever perused. The journal of Morris re-
veals a keen insight into the Indian nature.
While Bradstreet was being deceived by their
duplicity, Morris recognized their real char-
acter, and said : "I wish the chiefs were as-
sembled on board a vessel, and that she had
a hole in her bottom. Treachery should be
paid with treachery; and it is worth more
than ordinary pleasure to deceive those who
would deceive us. ' ' When he reached Detroit
again, Bradstreet had already departed on his
journey to the Sandusky.
Maj. George Croghan was sent down the
Ohio to the Illinois country, in 1765. Of this
journey we have a detailed and voluminous
account in the journals kept by that officer.
They are replete with copious descriptions of
the country and streams, the topography, the
game, and the Indian villages visited. He
encountered much hostility, and was finally
made a prisoner. This might have been his
last experience, had it not been for some
Pyankeshaws. Among these he found many
of his former friends, who aided him. Accom-
panied by Pontiac, who had joined him in a
friendly mood, Croghan turned his footsteps
eastward to Fort Miami, at the head of the
Maumee. From there he descended that river,
stopping at the Indian villages on its banks,
and proceeded to Detroit. Here a notable
gathering of aborigines assembled pursuant to
his summons. It was a motley gathering of
many tribes. Speeches innumerable were made
and wampum belts exchanged, while the blue
smoke from the peace-pipe curled in clouds
to the roof of the council hall. His mission
was crowned with success, for tribe after tribe
yielded its submission. The trip of Croghan,
during which he had traveled 2,000 miles
through the heart of the hostile Indian coun-
try, had a far-reaching effect. It cemented
the allegiance of the dusky inhabitants of the
forests to their new overlords.
The Detroit meeting was followed by a
council at Oswego, in the following spring,
when new treaties were negotiated. The scene
is described by Stone in his "Life of John-
son": "Indeed the appearance of that coun-
cil upon that summer's morning was exceed-
ingly picturesque. At one 'end of the leafy
canopy the manly form of the superintendent,
wrapped in his scarlet blanket bordered with
gold lace, and surrounded by the glittering
uniforms of the British officers, was seen with
hand extended in welcome to the great Ottawa,
who, standing erect in conscious power, his
rich plumes waving over the circle of his war-
riors, accepted the proffered hand, with an
air in which defiance and respect were singu-
larly blended. Around, stretched at length
upon the grass, lay the proud chiefs of the
Six Nations, gazing with curious eye upon the
man who had come hundreds of miles to smoke
the calumet, with their beloved superintend-
ent." A number of clashes occurred after this
date and before the Revolution, but they were
generally with colonists or colonial forces
which backed up the colonists in their entry
into the Ohio region.
To meet these advances of the whites the
Ohio Indians formed a great confederacy on
the Pickaway Plains, in July, 1772, in which
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
23
tin- Shawnees, Wyandots, Miamis, Ottawas,
Delawares, and even western tribes, united
for mutual protection. They disputed the
right of the Six Nations to convey a title to
the English for all the huntings grounds south
of the Ohio. Hence it was that the purpose
of this alliance was not only to hurl back from
their frontiers the white invaders, but also to
surpass the Iroquois, both in strength and
prowess. The Shawnees were the most active
in this confederation, and their great chief
Cornstalk was recognized as the head of this
confederation. In the year 1774 many in-
human and revolting incidents occurred. But
the power of this alliance was finally broken,
and the peace pipe was again smoked.
This decision of the savages to remain loyal
to the British was destined to cost the Ameri-
can colonists many hundreds of additional
lives, and an untold amount of suffering dur-
ing the several years of bitter struggle for
independence from the mother country. Pre-
vious to this time the colonies had already lost
some thirty thousand lives, and had incurred
an expense of many millions of dollars in their
efforts for protection against the French and
their Indian allies. Of this sum only about
one-third had been reimbursed to them by the
British Parliament. Hence it was that a large
indebtedness had accumulated, and the rates
of taxation had become exceedingly burden-
some.
The war against the savages was almost
without cessation. The campaigns were more
nearly continuous than consecutive, and they
seldom reached to the dignity of civilized war-
fare. In most instances it is difficult to differ-
entiate when one Indian war ended and an-
other began. Incursive bodies of whites and
retaliatory bodies of Indians, or vice versa,
kept this section of the state in an almost
interminable turmoil. An attack was imme-
diately followed by reprisal, and an invasion
was promptly succeeded by pursuit and pun-
ishment. Most of the encounters rose little
above massacres by one or both belligerents.
The killing of some of the family of the Mingo
chief, Logan, is an instance of white brutality.
Bald Eagle, a Delaware chief, and Silver
Heels, a friendly Shawnee chief, were also
brutally murdered by the pale faces. It is no
wonder that the Indians began to ask: "Had
the Indian no rights which the white man was
bound to respect?" In Northwest Ohio the
strength and aggressiveness of the savages was
greater than in any of the other sections of the
state, because of the nearness to the British
outposts and the consequent incitations of the
British emissaries.
The land question was also troublesome, be-
cause the demands for the lands of the sav-
ages were becoming greater and more insist-
ent. The Ohio Company, which was to a great
extent responsible for the French and Indian
war, resumed its activities immediately at the
close of that conflagration. Other companies
were likewise formed to seek grants of im-
mense tracts of the rich country west of the
Alleghenies. Among the group of western
expansionists were the Washington brothers,
including the "Father of his Country," Ben
Franklin, and many others who are now his-
torical figures. As an evidence of this, I quote
from a letter to the Earl of Shelburne, secre-
tary of state at London, and dated December
16, 1766: "The thirst after the lands of the
Aborigines, is become almost universal, the
people, who generally want them are either
ignorant of or remote from the consequences
of disobliging the Aborigines, many make a
traffic of lands, and few or none will be at any
pains or expenee to get them settled, conse-
quently .they cannot be loosers by an Abori-
gine War, and should a Tribe be driven to
despair, and abandon their country, they have
their desire tho' at the expenee of the lives
of such ignorant settlers as may be upon it.
* * * The majority of those who get lands,
being persons of consequence (British) in the
Capitals who can let them lye dead as a sure
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Estate hereafter, and are totally ignorant of
the Aborigines, make use of some of the lowest
and most selfish of the Country Inhabitants
to seduce the Aborigines to their houses, where
they are kept rioting in drunkenness till they
have affected their bad purposes. ' '
The character of at least some of the im-
migrants at this time is revealed by an excerpt
from a report 'by Sir William Johnson: "For
more than ten years past, the most dissolute
f-
.-/
* I
.1
.
-
i \ ITI: i) s i A i i:s
': in:
R '
17.S7 \
TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES NORTHWEST
OF THE OHIO RIVER, 1787
fellows united with debtors, and persons of
wandering disposition, have been removing
from Pensilvania & Virginia &c into the Ab-
origine Country, towards & on the Ohio & a
considerable number of settlements were made
as early as 1765 when my Deputy (George
Croghan) was sent to the Illinois from whence
he gave me a particular account of the un-
easiness occasioned amongst the Aborigines.
Many of these emigrants are idle fellows that
are too lazy to cultivate lands, & invited by
the plenty of game they found, have employed
themselves in hunting, in which they interfere
much more with the Aborigines than if they
pursued agriculture alone, and the Aborigine
hunters already begin to feel the scarcity this
has occasioned, which greatly increases their
resentment. ' '
As a proof that this Northwest Territory
was becoming of greater importance than for-
merly, we find that in 1767 a post, or mart,
was suggested for the Maumee River, as well
as one for the Wabash, whereas formerly .it
was thought that Detroit was sufficient for this
entire territory. In his report to the secre-
tary of state in that year, the superintendent
said among other things: "Sandusky which
has not been re-established is not a place of
much consequence of Trade, it is chiefly a post
at which several Pennsylvania Traders em-
barked for Detroit. St. Joseph's (near Lake
Michigan) and the Miamis at Fort Wayne
have neither of them been yet re-established,
the former is of less consequence for Trade
than the latter which is a place of some im-
portance. At the Miamis there may
be always a sufficiency of provisions from its
vicinity to Lake Erie, and its easiness of access
by the River of that name at the proper sea-
son, to protect which the Fort there can yet
at a small expence be rendered tenable against
any Coup du mains. * * * this would
greatly contribute to overcome the present
excuse which draws the traders to rove at will
and thereby exposes us to the utmost
danger. ' '
Under the French regime, and under the
British also, until the Revolutionary War, the
commandant of the military post at Detroit,
to which Northwest Ohio was tributary, exer-
cised the functions of both a civil and a mili-
tary officer with absolute power. The crimi-
nal law of England was supposed to be the
ruling authority, but as a matter of fact the
supreme law was generally the will of the com-
mandant or the official of his appointing.
Many times the official proved cruel and re-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
25
morselcss, and as a result the greatest of dis-
satisfaction arose. When the office of lieuten-
ant governor and superintendent of aborigine
affairs was created for Detroit and the sur-
rounding country, including this section,
Henry Hamilton was appointed and arrived
at his post in December, 1775. He proved to
be not only tactful but also cruel and remorse-
less. The equipment of the savages with
weapons was absolutely in the hands of the
British officials, and everywhere war parties
of these savages were thoroughly armed. They
were frequently commanded by British officers
themselves, and sent out over this territory,
as well as other sections. In one report we
read that fifteen war parties had been sent out
from Detroit under British officers and
rangers, many of the savages coming from
Northwest Ohio. They brought in twenty-
three American prisoners and 129 scalps. The
white men who accompanied the savages were
frequently as cruel and debased as the red
men themselves. All the scalps brought in by
the savages were paid for, and frequently the
commandant himself encouraged his dusky
allies by singing the war song and by passing
the weapons through his own hands, in order
to show his full sympathy with them in their
murderous work. On their return to Detroit,
they were sometimes welcomed by firing the
fort's cannon.
The following is one instance of a presenta-
tion of scalps from the Indians to the com-
mandant at Detroit: "Presenting sixteen
scalps, one of the Delaware chiefs said,
'Listen to your children, the Delawares who
are come in to see you at a time they have
nothing to apprehend from the enemy, and to
present you some dried meat, as we could
not have the face to appear before our father
empty.' "
During the first couple of years of the Revo-
lutionary War, the Ohio Indians were inactive.
As yet they scarcely knew with which side to
affiliate, and they could not understand the
quarrel. But their sympathies were with the
British. Governor Hamilton, at Detroit, lost
no opportunity to attract them to his cause.
He danced and sang the war-song and mingled
with them freely. Detroit became the great
center for the Indian gatherings. All of the
materials of war were supplied to them there.
"They were coaxed with rum, feasted with
oxen roasted whole, alarmed with threats of
the destruction of their hunting ground and
supplied with everything that an Indian could
desire." The Americans practically ignored
them at this time. Then came the brutal mur-
der of Cornstalk and his son Ellinipsico, in
1777, when on an errand of friendship for the
colonists. The death of this brave and mag-
nanimous chief was the signal for the Ohio
tribes to go on the warpath. As there were
no white settlements in Ohio as yet, their
depredations were committed in Kentucky and
on the Virginia border. Hence it was that
this year is known as the "bloody year of the
three sevens." Standing in the midst of a
long series darkened by ceaseless conflict with
the savages, it was darker than the darkest.
It was bloodier than the bloodiest. The
Shawnees, Ottawas, Wyandots, together with
a few Delawares and Senecas, all took a part in
the disturbances. The policy of hiring Indians
by paying bounties on scalps was on a par with
British employment of mercenary Hessians.
Hamilton, at Detroit, became known among
the Americans as "the hair buyer." Many
scalps and prisoners were taken through
Northwest Ohio to Detroit by parties of sav-
ages. They were assisted by an ignoble group
of renegade Americans, Simon Girty, Alexan-
der McKee, and Matthew Elliott. When the
noted prisoner, Simon Kenton, reached the
Upper Sandusky town, the Indians, young
and old, came out to view him. His death was
expected to take place here.
"As soon as this grand court was organized,
and ready to proceed to business, a Canadian
Frenchman, one Pierre Druillard who usually
26
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
went by the name of Peter Druyer, was a cap-
tain in the British service, and dressed in the
gaudy appendages of the British uniform,
made his appearance in the council. As soon
as the council was organized, Captain Druyer
requested permission to address the council.
This permission was instantly granted. He
began his speech by stating 'that it was well
known that it was the wish and interest of the
English that not an American should be left
alive. That the Americans were the cause of
the present bloody and distressing war — that
neither peace nor safety could be expected,
so long as these intruders were permitted to
live upon the earth.' He then explained to
the Indians, 'that the war to be carried on
successfully, required cunning as well as
bravery — that the intelligence which might be
extorted from a prisoner, would be of more
advantage, in conducting the future opera-
tions of the war, than would be the lives of
twenty prisoners. That he had no doubt but
the commanding officer at Detroit could pro-
cure information from the prisoner now be-
fore them, that would be of incalculable ad-
vantage to them in the progress of the present
war. Under these circumstances, he hoped
they would defer the death of the prisoner till
he was taken to Detroit, and examined by the
commanding general ! '
"He next noticed, 'that they had already a
great deal of trouble and fatigue with the
prisoner without being revenged upon him;
but that they had got back all the horses the
prisoner had stolen from them, and killed one
of his comrades; and to insure them some-
thing for their fatigue and trouble, he himself
would give one hundred dollars in rum and
tobacco, or any other article they would
choose, if they would let him take the prisoner
to Detroit, to be examined by the British
General.' The Indians without hesitation
agreed to Captain Druyer 's proposition, and
he paid down the ransom. As soon as these
arrangements were concluded, Druyer and a
principal chief set off with the prisoner for
Lower Sandusky. From this place they pro-
ceeded by water to Detroit, where they ar-
rived in a few days." With Kenton's escape
was happily terminated one of the most re-
markable adventures in Ohio history.
It was in 1778 that the Legislature of Vir-
ginia organized the Northwestern Territory
into the country of Illinois. A court of civil
and criminal procedure was established at
Vincennes. The various claims of the Eastern
States to the territory west of the Alleghenies
was the cause of friction between these states
for years. These claims were based on the
colonial charters and upon treaties with the
aborigines, and were generally very indefi-
nite regarding boundaries, because the greater
part of the region had never been surveyed.
It was finally advocated that each state should
cede her claims to the newly organized Union.
Congress passed an act in 1780 providing that
the territory so ceded should be disposed of
for the benefit of the United States in general.
This act met a ready response from New York,
which assigned her claim in 1781, but the other
states did not act for several years. Virginia
ceded to the United States all her right, title,
and claim to the country northwest of the
Ohio River in 1784. The following year the
Legislature of Massachusetts relinquished all
her assertions to this territory, excepting De-
troit and vicinity. In 1786, Connecticut
waived all her assertions of sovereignty, ex-
cepting the section designated as the Western
Reserve, and opened an office for the disposal
of the portion of the Reserve lying east of the
Cuyahoga River. This session cleared North-
west Ohio of all the claims of individual states.
The claim of Virginia was based upon her
charter of 1609 in which her boundaries were
described as follows: "Situate lying and be-
ing in that part of America called Virginia
from the point of land called Cape or Point
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
27
Comfort all along the sea coast to the north-
ward two hundred miles, and from the said
point of Cape Comfort all along the sea coast
southward two hundred miles, and all that
space or circuit of land lying from sea to sea,
west and northwest." Virginia statesmen and
jurists interpreted this charter as granting all
that vast territory bounded on these lines and
extending to the Pacific Ocean as included
within that colony. Jurisdiction was exer-
cised over it from the very beginning. Early
in the eighteenth century her pioneers had
crossed the Allegheny Mountains. It was at
first a part of Spottyslvania County, which
was afterwards sub-divided into Orange
County, which included all of the present site
of Ohio, as well as much more. This immense
domain was afterwards sub-divided, and
Northwest Ohio became a part of Augusta
County. Another sub-division was made, and
this section of the country was included in
Illinois Country, which embraced all the terri-
tory within the border limits of Virginia,
northwest of the Ohio River, and east of the
Mississippi. Thus it remained so far as
governmental relations were concerned, until
Virginia ceded to the general government all
her rights to the dominion northwest of the
Ohio River.
In 1778 the British organized a large expe-
dition, consisting of fifteen large bateaux and
several smaller boats, which were laden with
food, clothing, tents, ammunition, and the in-
evitable rum, together with other presents for
the savages. At the outset the forces con-
sisted of 177 white soldiers, together with a
considerable number of Indians. This ex-
pedition started from Detroit with a destina-
tion of Vincennes. Oxen carts and even a
six-pounder cannon were sent along on shore,
together with beef cattle. The expedition en-
countered severe storms in crossing Lake Erie,
and because of the low stage of the water it
required sixteen days to make the journey
from the mouth of the Maumee to its head.
This force was attacked by American troops
under Colonel Clark, and they were defeated.
The governor, Henry Hamilton, and all of his
officers were made prisoners, and conducted
to Virginia, where they were closely confined
and put in irons. The supplies of the expe-
dition were also captured by the Americans,
and they proved very useful in the work
which was laid out before them.
In 1780 a larger expedition than usual of
savages was gathered together to attack the
isolated settlements of Americans now being
established throughout Ohio. It was under
the command of Capt. Henry Bird, with
the three Girtys as guides and scouts. These
Indians were well equipped and it is said had
pieces of artillery, which was very unusual,
if not without precedent among those people.
They passed up the Maumee River to the
mouth of the Auglaize, and then traversed
that river as far as it was navigable. They
numbered about one thousand men when they-
reached Ruddell's Station, in Kentucky.
Ruddell's Station yielded, and was followed
by Martin's Station, a few miles distant.
Several hundred captives were taken. Cap-
tain Bird tried to save the captives, but many
were massacred, and the expedition returned
to Detroit by the way of the Maumee. It was
the most successful foray undertaken by the
British against the Kentucky settlements.
Under date of July 6, 1780, Governor De
Peyster wrote : " I am harried with war par-
ties coming in from all quarters that I do not
know which way to turn myself."
On the 4th of August, he again reported to
Colonel Bolton, his superior officer on the
lakes, that * * * "I have the pleasure to
acquaint you that Captain Bird arrived here
this morning with about 150 prisoners, mostly
Germans who speak English, the remainder
coming in, for in spite of all his endeavors to
prevent it the Aborigines broke into the forts
28 HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and seized many. The whole will amount to P. S. Please excuse the hurry of this letter —
about 350. * * * Thirteen have entered the Aborigines engross my time. We have
into the Rangers, and many more will enter, more here than enough. Were it not abso-
as the prisoners are greatly fatigued with lutely necessary to keep in with them, they
traveling so far some sick and some wounded, would tire my patience. ' '
CHAPTER IV
THE CRAWFORD EXPEDITION AGAINST SANDUSKV
"Come all you good people, wherever you be,
I 'ray draw near awhile and listen to me;
A story I '11 tell you which happened of late,
Concerning brave Crawford's most cruel
defeat."
—Old Song.
One of the most tragic incidents in the
early history of the territory beyond the Alle-
ghenies is that connected with the expedition
against the Wyandots under the leadership
of Col. William Crawford, in 1782.. Corn-
wallis had already surrendered his army at
Yorktown, and the war with England was at
an end. The patriotic minds of the colonists
were already busy with the great problem of
self-government then confronting them. The
western frontier, however, was anything but
peaceful. The blood-curdling war cry of the
savages still aroused their midnight slumbers,
and children were frequently snatched into
captivity by dark hands thrust out from hid-
den places. The center of the Indian power
was on the Sandusky River. Along this
stream was also the chief trading post for
the Indians, and the principal depot in the
Ohio interior for the distribution of arms and
provisions by the British to their savage allies.
These circumstances made it the rendezvous
for the rallying of tribesmen for border
forays, and it was thus a real menace to the
Colonials. The failure of the formidable ex-
pedition against this Indian stronghold fell
like a thunderbolt from a clear sky upon the
eastern settlements, where a feeling of seren-
ity had succeeded the news of the success of
the Revolution. For those dwelling west and
north of the Ohio River, it seemed to portend
ruin and disaster.
We are inclined to heap execrations upon
the red men once living where we now dwell
in peace, because of the heartless and bloody
vengeance wreaked by them upon the mem-
bers of the unfortunate Crawford band who
fell into their toils. We must remember, how-
ever, that both the leader and his followers
suffered for the misdeeds of other white men
in a massacre, equally as bloody and far more
unjustified, of the peaceable and guiltless
Moravian Indians, at Gnadenhutten, only
three months previously. It was not a slaugh-
ter perpetrated in the passion of battle, and
in the excitement of, the moment; it was a
butchery in cold blood, and performed as
coldly as if the victims had been animals fat-
tened for food. Because of the recurrent
massacres by Indians in Pennsylvania of
white people, a body of men was hastily gath-
ered to exterminate the guilty savages. To
them, however, with their hearts saddened by
the occurrences, every man with a copper-
colored skin looked alike, and they slaugh-
tered scores of innocent and Christian Indians
without a qualm of conscience. Continuing
in their desire to exterminate the Indians, a
second expedition was formed to proceed far-
ther into the Ohio territory in pursuit of the
wandering savages.
On their part, the Indians of this western
country were aroused to fury by the massacre
29
30
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of the peaceful Moravian Indians. Even
those red men to whom the Christian religion
made no appeal were horrified at the thought
that their people, who, listening to the seduc-
tive words of white preachers, had laid aside
the tomahawk and the war-club, were now
cold in death, and they only waited an
opportunity for vengeance. The peaceful
Moravians had been invited by these same
Delawares to settle on the banks of the Mus-
kingum, after they had been driven from
Pennsylvania by the persecutions of their
encroaching white neighbors. The prospect
for the conversion of the entire Delaware
nation had begun to loom bright. It is prob-
ably true, as claimed, that in a few isolated
instances some of the Moravian braves had
joined with their brethren in forays against
the border settlements, in which helpless in-
fancy, virgin beauty, and hoary age were
alike dishonored. In at least one or two
instances the evidence against them seems
quite convincing. It is not surprising that
there was a deep and widespread feeling of
revenge against the red men, for, when the
slain were relatives, or dear friends, it was
natural to harbor revenge. But white men
should be held to a higher standard of honor
than the untutored children of the forests.
As a direct result of the mission influence,
the Delawares. had remained entirely neutral
during the bloody year of 1777, when so many
massacres took place throughout the Ohio
Territory.
British emissaries and some white Ameri-
can renegades had finally aroused the suspi-
cions of the Wyandots toward these Christian
Indians. A war party came and forcibly
removed them to their own villages near
Upper Sandusky. It was in June, 1781, that
a numerous Indian force appeared at these
Moravian settlements. Among these were the
Half King and Pomoacan, from Upper San-
dusky; Abraham Coon, a white chief from
Lower Sandusky; The Pipe and Captain
Wingemund, of the Delawares; Matthew El-
liott, and many others, all journeying under
a British flag. They were warmly welcomed
and entertained by the missionaries and the
Christian Indians. The outcome is a tale of
hypocrisy and honeyed lies on the part of
these invaders, and of frightful sufferings on
the side of their victims. Their houses were
looted and property destroyed ; the spoils were
divided among the Wyandots, who "dressed
themselves in the clothes which they had
stolen, and strutted about the camp in child-
ish vanity." All of the Moravians were
assembled and marched away, closely guarded
by Delaware and Wyandot warriors. It was
indeed a sorrowful journey for these Indians.
They were forced to abandon the fruits of
eight years' toil and leave a large amount of
unharvested grain and vegetables. It was
even more grievous to bid farewell to the
churches, to which they were much attached.
This forced migration of the Moravians
took place about the time of the surrender
of Yorktown, and it was only the beginning
of a score of years' wanderings for these
homeless outcasts. Near Upper Sandusky
they were practically abandoned to their fate,
and there they erected log huts for their habi-
tation in the midst of a howling wilderness.
This settlement became known as Captive's
Town. With no provisions, and little game
being in sight, they were thrown upon their
own resources. The men were curtly informed
that they must join the war parties, and that
Pomoacan was their chief. Some of them
were compelled to make a trip to Detroit to
report to the British commander, De Peyster,
who had succeeded "the hair buyer."
In order to harvest their crops, however,
for food was very scarce, a large number of
the Moravians returned to Gnadenhutten in
the following spring. While engaged in this
peaceful work, the whites under Williamson
arrived. Their dress alone marked these
Indians as non-combatants. Their clothes
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
31
were plain, and there was not a sign of paint
•to be seen on their skin, so we are told; there
were no feathers on their heads, and the hair
was worn the same as that of the frontier
whites. With seductive words, and also with
promises that they would be safely conducted
to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh), the Americans
induced the Indians to lay down their arms
and assemble at Gnadenhutten. A council
was held, and a large majority voted for
death. "Some were for burning them alive,
others for taking their scalps." They (the
Indians) were told to prepare for death.
They accepted their fate with resignation,
though protesting their innocence of any mur-
ders. Their last night on earth was spent in
prayer and exhortations to each other "to
place a firm reliance in the mercy of the
Savior of men."
On the following morning the bloody work
of execution was begun with knife, gun, spear,
and tomahawk. Several of the butcherers
immediately seized Abraham, surnamed the
Mohican, one of the patriarchs of the con-
verts, "whose long, flowing heard had at-
tracted their notice the day before as fit for
making a fine scalp, tied him and another
convert with a rope, and dragged them to
the cooper shop, the ' slaughter house, ' selected
for the killing of men." The two men were
deliberately slain and scalped. The rest, says
Doctor Schweinitz, whose account we are
closely following, suffered in the same way,
two by two. When all the men and boys were
dead, the women and small children were
brought out, two by two as before, taken to
the ' ' slaughter house ' ' selected for the women,
and "dispatched with the same systematic
barbarity." Ninety-six Indians were put to
death, two boys escaping as if by a miracle,
to be witnesses to the savage fury of the white
man. Sixty-two of the slain were adults, and
thirty-four were children. Upon their return
these men boasted of their inhuman activities.
In 1782 permission was granted by the War
Department Cor the organization of a large
volunteer gathering against the Indians of
the West. The rendezvous for this expedition
was established at Mingo Bottom, along the
Ohio River, a few miles below Steubenville,
and the date was the 20th of May. Up and
down the Youghiogheny and the Mononga-
hela, and in all the border settlements, there
was unusual stir when the news arrived that
an expedition against Sandusky was in prepa-
ration. Each volunteer was obliged to fur-
nish his own equipment, while a limited sup-
ply of ammunition and flints was all that was
promised by the department. Furthermore,
there was no assurance whatever of remunera-
tion from the Government for either losses or
services during the campaign. Even under
these circumstances the volunteering was very
brisk.
For ten days before the day for the ren-
dezvous the borderers came riding in from all
directions, equipped in customary fashion for
the campaign. The pioneer soldier of 1782
would indeed be a curiosity on our streets
today. His buckskin hunting shirt, reaching
half way to the knees, was belted in at the
waist. Through his belt was thrust the cruel
tomahawk, the glittering scalping knife, and
the string of an ammunition pouch. His feet
were encased in moccasins instead of shoes.
His head was covered with a hat of felt or
fur, which was not infrequently decorated
with the tails of animals. Over his shoulder
the frontiersman carried the necessary rifle.
The indispensable knapsack, made of coarse
tow cloth, was strapped to his saddle, and in
it would be found a few toilet and useful
articles which only a woman could design.
From the pommel of the saddle hung a can-
teen, while a blanket which he carried was
used as a covering for the saddle by day and
the rider by night. Trained to the use of the
rifle from childhood, nearly all of these men
of the frontier were unerring shots. Each
man took along a plentiful supply of powder,
32
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
bullets, bullet-patches, and some extra flints.
The edge of the tomahawk was given a few
turns on the grindstone, and the scalping
knife was made keener than ever by the same
process.
When this grim and motley assemblage was
completed, the first duty was to elect officers.
Under the spreading boughs of the maple and
the sycamore, the walnut and the hickory,
these frontiersmen gathered for this purpose
with grim determination written upon their
faces. All were in the highest spirits. Wil-
liam Crawford received 235 out of the 465
votes cast, and was declared colonel in com-
mand of the expedition. Second in authority
was David Williamson, who had been one of
the leaders in the Moravian massacre. Dr.
John Knight was designated as the surgeon.
Colonel Crawford was cool and brave, and had
had considerable military experience in fron-
tier warfare. He was well fitted by nature
and temperament to be a soldier and a leader,
and was perfectly at home in the backwoods.
A warm friendship existed between him and
General Washington. At that time he was
fifty years of age. John Slover and Jonathan
Zane, both practical frontiersmen, were the
guides of the expedition. Zane was probably
the most experienced hunter of that day in
the western country, and few men enjoyed
the confidence of their fellow-men more
than he.
On the 25th of May the expedition set out
for the Sandusky country, 150 miles away.
The instructions from Gen. William Irvine
were opened, and they read in part as fol-
lows: "The object of your command is, to
destroy with fire and sword (if practicable)
the Indian town and settlement at Sandusky,
by which we hope to give ease and safety to
the inhabitants of this country; but, if im-
practicable, then you will doubtless perform
such other services in your power as will, in
their consequences, have a tendency to answer
this great end. ' ' The expedition adopted the
shortest route, which led through what is now
the counties of Jefferson, Harrison, Tusca-
rawas, Holmes, Ashland, Richland, and Craw-
ford, and nearly to the center of Wyandot.
Though not an Indian had been seen, the
greatest precautions were constantly taken
against ambuscade and surprises. The wily
nature of the aborigine was well known to the
leader. As the avowed purpose was to sur-
prise the savages, the progress was designed
to be swift. Day after day the Americans'
advanced without finding the print of a
single moccasin, or hearing the crack of
a single hostile rifle. We must remember that
this march was not the advance of an army
to the music of a fife or drum ; it was rather
a swift and stealthy movement of a mighty
serpent winding its way warily through
the forests toward the unsuspecting foe. The
entire journey, except the last thirty miles,
was through an almost unbroken stretch of
timber.
On the ninth day of the march, the army
emerged from the dark and shaded forests,
through which they had this far traversed,
into the sunlight of the rolling prairies. These
plains were a favorite hunting ground for the
Indians. "To most of the volunteers," says
Mr. Butterfield, the historian of this expedi-
tion, ' ' the sight of the plains was a novel one.
The high, coarse grass, the islands of timber,
the gradually undulating surface, were all
objects of surprise. Birds of strange plumage
flew over them, prairie hens rose before them,
sailing away and slowly drooping to the grass
on either hand. Sandhill cranes blew shrill
pipes, startled by the sudden apparition.
Prairie owls, on cumbrous wings, fluttered
away in the distance, and the noisy bittern
was heard along the streamlets. Wild geese
were frightened from their nests, and, occa-
sionally, in widening circles far above them,
soared the imperial eagle."
On the morning of the 4th of June, the
men were stirring and ready for the march
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
33
before the ascending sun had illumined the
landscape. Throughout the entire camp there
was a noticeable bustle of excitement. The
men knew that they were near their destina-
tion, and they felt within themselves that a
crisis was approaching. The guns were
carefully examined and fresh charges placed
in them. Packs were readjusted, and saddle
girths were carefully tightened. The army
was now encamped within the County of
Wyandot, and not many miles distant from
the present town of Upper Sandusky. The
sight was familiar to Slover, who had spent
several years as a captive of the Ohio Indians.
From this camp there were several trails
leading in different directions. The army
followed a well-marked path which led down
a diminutive stream, known as the Little San-
dusky, in a westerly direction. The army
advanced with the greatest caution, for Slover
assured Crawford that the Wyandot village
was near at hand. Soon they reached an open-
ing in the woods where, in a beautiful loca-
tion, they could see the Wyandot town, which
had been the goal of the expedition. To their
intense surprise, not a sign of life was visible.
The shrill war cry and the barking of the dogs
were alike wanting. All was solitude and
silence. When they reached the village, they
found to their surprise that this Wyandot
town was without an inhabitant. The empty
huts were silent and tenantless. The ashes of
the camp fires seemed to have been beaten by
many a rain since the hot coals had glowed
in their midst. This fact upset all the calcu-
lations of the leaders, since no one. had had
an intimation of their removal. The men
began to suspect that some great mistake had
been made and that there was no settlement
nearer than Lower Sandusky, some thirty
miles below. This deserted village was dis-
tant in a southeasterly direction from Upper
Sandusky, the county seat of Wyandot
'County, about three miles.
Let us turn our attention to the vanished
Vol. I— t • I
foe for a moment. Unknown to the white
man, every movement of this expedition, from
the time of its gathering at Mingo Bottom
until this day, had been known to the Indians.
The evident purpose had been reported to the
waiting chiefs from day to day by their
subtle scouts. The spies reported that no
quarter was to be giv^i to the Indians. In
every forest through <,,Aich the army had
passed lurked unseen savages, who keenly
watched their course. As soon as the Mus-
kingum was crossed, it became evident that
the destination of the Americans was the San-
dusky, and that the Indians must summon
every available resource for defense. When
the old Wyandot town had been deserted, the
Indians had removed to the point about eight
miles below the old town. Here the Indians
of various tribes were concentrating to resist
this invasion. The squaws and children had
been removed to a hidden ravine. Messengers
had also been dispatched to Detroit, begging
the British commandant to dispatch instant
and powerful aid to his Indian allies. Even
at this time reinforcements from the Dela-
wares were on their way, as well as a couple
of hundred braves from a Shawnee town some
forty miles distant. All of the Indians were
kept ready for instant advance, as soon as it
was decided to strike a blow against the white
invaders. Only a few miles distant was the
Village of The Pipe, or Captain Pipe, a fa-
mous war chief of the Delawares. Near it
was the headquarters of the Half King, chief
of the Wyandots. Of all the savage enemies
of the Americans in the western wilderness
during the Revolution, Captain Pipe had been
the most implacable.
Upon the discovery of the abandoned
Wyandot town, a council of war was imme-
diately held. Opinion was divided upon the
question of advance or retreat. Zane coun-
seled an immediate withdrawal. The very
failure to discover Indians led the wise ones
to surmise that some ambuscade or surprise
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was being prepared. Furthermore, there
remained but five days' provisions for the
forces. It was, however, finally decided to
continue the progression during the after-
noon, and, in case the enemy was not encoun-
tered, that retrogression should be commenced
during the night, In the van of the army
rode a party of scouts, who were attempting
to find the main stream of the Sandusky. At
one side of the route was a cranberry marsh,
absolutely impassable to horsemen, which aft-
erwards reaped disaster for a number of
Crawford's followers. The scouts had not
advanced very far ahead of the main army
when they suddenly encountered a consider-
able body of Indians running directly toward
them. These were the Delawares under The
Pipe. One of the scouts, who was mounted on
the fleetest horse, at once galloped back to
inform Crawford of the enemy 's whereabouts.
The others withdrew slowly as the savages
advanced to the attack. The council of war
had just ended when the breathless scout ar-
rived with the news of the discovery of the
Indians. In a moment the army was ablaze
with enthusiasm, and all started forward at
full speed.
The Indians took possession of an island
grove in the midst of the prairie. The mili-
tary eye of Crawford at once recognized the
strategic value of this grove of timber, and a
quick forward movement forced the Indians
out. The Indians kept themselves under cover
in the thick and high grass of the treeless
prairie. They would creep forward stealth-
ily until close to the trees, and then fire upon
the Americans from their concealment. Some
of the Americans climbed the trees, and from
this vantage point took deadly aim at the
feathered heads of the enemy moving about
in the grass. The battle raged with fury
until the shadows of night had fallen. Not
a foe was visible on either side. Nevertheless,
from every tree and log in the grove the air
was ablaze with incessant flashes of the Amer-
ican rifles, and every vantage point in the sur-
rounding prairie gave forth continuous explo-
sions, while over all hovered a bank of white
smoke. The afternoon was very hot, and the
soldiers suffered greatly from the lack of
_ drinking water. One of the company, John
Sherrard, greatly distinguished himself by
making a dozen or more trips to a pool of
stagnant water discovered by him, on each
of which he brought back his hat and canteen
filled with water.
"I do not know how many Indians I
killed," said one of the sharpshooters, "but I
never saw the same head again above the grass
after I shot at it." The issue of the battle
was doubtful for some time. Towards sunset
the fire of the savages lessened, and their cau-
tion increased. They seemed fearful of ex-
posing themselves to the deadly aim of the
frontiersmen. It was very evident that they
had suffered severely. By nightfall they had
withdrawn beyond the range of the American
rifles. Victory seemed to rest with the Ameri-
cans. To guard against a night surprise,
each party built a line of huge campfires,
and then fell back beyond them for some
distance. The loss of the American army was
five killed and nineteen wounded. The site
of the battle is now known as Battle Island,
and is almost three miles north of the court-
house at Upper Sandusky.
At sunrise, on the morning of the 5th, occa-
sional shots at long range were exchanged by
the contending forces with little damage to
either side. The Americans remained under
the shelter of the island of timber. As the
day advanced, however, the enemy's firing
became irregular. The Americans thought
that this was an evidence of weakness. In
this they were mistaken, for the Indians were
simply awaiting reinforcements. The troops
were kept busy in giving attention to the
wounded and those who were sick through
drinking the stagnant water. During the day
four more were wounded. The grove occu-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
35
pied by the Americans soon became the scene
of animation and excitement. Preparations
were made for an immediate battle. Then it
was that a scout reported reinforcements coin-
in-,' from the rear of the Wyandots. To his
astonished vision was disclosed the fact that
they were white soldiers, which proved to be
Butler's Rangers from Detroit. At full speed
a band of painted Shawnees came galloping
over the prairie. Small squads were sighted
coining from other directions. Then it was
decided at a council of war that the only safe
recourse was a retreat. It was decided to
begin the retrogression as soon as the protec-
tion of night had fallen. The dead were
buried, and litters were made for the
wounded. The army was to march in four
divisions, keeping the wounded in the center,
seven of whom were in a dangerous condition.
The sentinels were called in, and the army
formed for the march, with Crawford at the
head.
The enemy were not sleeping, as the Ameri-
cans soon learned, and quickly discovered the
movement of the Americans, but probably
did not quite understand it. A hot fire was
opened by them. This excited some of the
men, and interfered with the orderly plan
of retreat that had been adopted. The great
wonder is that it did not degenerate into an
utter rout. Some of the men in the foremost
ranks started to run ; the whole army was soon
in full flight, leaving the seven seriously
wounded behind. Five of the wounded were
assisted upon comrades' horses, however,
while two were abandoned to their fate. It was
not long until some of the straggling groups
were in close conflict with the Delawares and
the Shawnees. The main body of the enemy
feared that Crawford's movement might be
only a maneuver or a feint, and not a flight,
and therefore hesitated to pursue. It was
doubtless due to this fact that the greater
part of Crawford's forces escaped. Some of
the Americans became embedded in the cran-
berry swamp, and were there obliged to aban-
don their much needed horses.
A little before daylight the main body found
themselves on the trail formerly followed, and
discovered that they had described a sort of
semicircle around the present Town of Upper
Sandusky. A halt was made while straggling
parties kept coming up to the main body,
until nearly 300 of the volunteers were to-
gether once more. It was then found that
among the missing was Colonel Crawford, of
whom nothing was known. Whether he had
been killed or captured, or had fortunately
escaped, was only a matter of conjecture.
Dr. John Knight, John Slover, and a number
of others were also numbered among the
missing. The command now devolved upon
Williamson.
On the morning of the 6th, the pursuing
enemy again caused a halt of the retreating
army. This spot is almost midway between
Bucyrus and Galion, at the edge of what was
known as the Plains, and not far from a small
branch of the Olentangy River, frequently
called Whetstone Creek. It had been exceed-
ingly hot, but clouds had begun to gather, and
there was every indication of an approaching
storm. The savages and their white allies
seemed in strong force. Williamson did all that
he could to encourage his men. A conflict fol-
lowed, which is known as the Battle of the
Olentangy. It was less than an hour before
the savages gave way on all sides, for they had
attacked from front, rear, and left flank.
Three of the Americans were killed and eight
wounded in this action. The loss of the
enemy was never ascertained. The battle had
scarcely ended when the rain began to fall in
torrents. The troops were drenched to the
skin, and their guns were rendered almost use-
less. No sooner had the wounded been at-
tended to, however, and the dead buried, than
the retreat was continued. The enemy rallied
their forces and renewed their pursuit, but
keeping at a respectable distance. At night
36
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
they encamped on the Sandusky River near
the present Village of Leesville. The soldiers
slept upon their arms that night. At day-
break the retreat was continued, with the
enemy annoying their rear. The last hostile
shot was fired near Crestline, where the pur-
suit was abandoned. Not a single savage was
again seen. It was indeed a welcome adieu.
Nearly all reached their homes in safety. On
the 13th they arrived at Mingo Bottom, and
on the following day they were discharged,
thus ending a twenty days' campaign.
rifled and filled with apprehension. When it
ceased Slover was untied, and he was placed
under the guard of three men for the night.
His guards fell asleep. Slover managed to
unloose his hands, seized a horse, and galloped
away to safety. He heeded not the lacerations
from the branches, but realized only that he
was flying from the fiends who would torture
him.
During the first night of the flight Colonel
Crawford missed his son, John Crawford, his
son-in-law, William Harrison, and his nephew,
MONUMENT ON OLENTANGY BATTLE FIELD, CRAWFORD COUNTY
John Slover had some exciting adventures
before he reached home. In what is now
Wayne County, he and his party were am-
buscaded by a band of Shawnees. Two of the
men were shot and instantly killed; one
escaped, and three were taken captives.
Reaching a village, the inhabitants were al-
most crazy with joy over the prospect of tor-
turing their victims. Slover was kept pris-
oner for several days, the Indians endeavoring
to extract information from him. While pre-
paring to burn him at the stake, a terrific
storm arose. The trees swayed in a frightful
manner. The thunder peals seemed almost to
split the air asunder. The savages were ter-
William Crawford. Alarmed at their ab-
sence, he commenced to search for them in the
darkness and shouted their names aloud. He
hastened back among the trees in his endeavor
to find the missing men. Doctor Knight came
up and declared that the young men must be
ahead of them, as the grove was then nearly
deserted. Crawford answered that he was
positive they were not in front, and begged
Knight not to leave him. The doctor gave his
word and joined in the anxious search. By
this time the grove was rapidly filling up
with the savage enemy. Two others joined
Knight and Crawford, and the four endeav-
ored to make their escape.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
37
At sunrise, Crawford and lii.s companions,
whose progress had been slow and circuitous,
discovered themselves only eight miles from
the battlefield. They were traveling through
a heavy timber. On all sides were giant oaks
and elms mingled with maples and beaches,
hickories and poplars. High overhead the
branches sometimes intertwined themselves,
until only scintillating glimpses of the sun
could be obtained. It was indeed the forest
primeval through which they were journey-
ing. Game was plentiful, but they did not
dare to discharge a gun for fear of attracting
the attention of any lurking savage who might
be in the vicinity. Their horses were already
jaded and had to be abandoned. Early in the
afternoon, they fell in with more stragglers.
On the second morning they found a deer,
which had been freshly killed. "While roast-
ing some of the venison, another volunteer ap-
proached and joined the little party. They
followed the trail of the pursuing enemy,
which probably was an error in judgment.
An old man joined the little party, but he
was unable to keep up with them. Whenever
he got behind, he would call out. He finally
dropped farther behind and an Indian scalp
halloo was soon heard, after which no call
came from the old man. While advancing
along the south bank of the Sandusky, at a
point east of the present Town of Leesville,
in Crawford County, three Indians started
up within twenty steps of Knight and Craw-
ford. Knight sprang behind a tree and was
about to fire, but Crawford shouted to him
not to do so. One of the Indians, a Delaware,
ran up to Knight, took him by the hand, and
called him "Doctor."
Crawford and Knight were at once led cap-
tives to the camp of the Delawares. Their
capture occurred on Friday afternoon. On
Sunday evening, five Indians came into camp
carrying two small bloody objects. Because
of the dusk, it was difficult to discern what
they were. Crawford stooped, looking closely,
and turned deathly sick. He said to Doctor
Knight: "They are the scalps of Captain
Biggs and Lieutenant Ashley." In all, there
were now eleven prisoners in this camp.
Great indeed was the joy of the Indians when
they discovered that Crawford was the "big
captain," and word was immediately sent to
Captain Pipe. This important news de-
manded a grave council of the Delaware
chiefs. It was decided that Crawford should
be burned, but, as they were subject to the
sway of the Wyandots, and the latter tribe
had abandoned death by fire, it was necessary
to obtain the consent of the Half King, head
chief of the Wyandots. This was taken by a
subterfuge, and preparations then began to
go forward for the death of the white leader.
Fearing a refusal, if application was made
direct to the Wyandot sachem, the two Dela-
wares resorted to stratagem. A messenger,
bearing a belt of wampum, was dispatched to
the Half King, with the following message :
"Uncle! We, your nephews, the Lenni Len-
ape, salute you in a spirit of kindness, love
and respect. Uncle! We have a project in
view which we ardently wish to accomplish,
and can accomplish if our uncle will not over-
rule us ! By returning the wampum, we will
have your pledged word!"
Pomoacan was somewhat puzzled at this
mysterious message. He questioned the mes-
senger, who, having been previously in-
structed by the Pipe and Wingenund, feigned
ignorance. The Half King, concluding it was
a contemplated expedition of a Delaware
war party, intended to strike some of the
white settlements, returned the belt to the
bearer with the word — ' ' Say to my nephews,
they have my pledge." This was a death-
warrant to the unfortunate Crawford.
Knight and his nine companions, on the
morning of the llth, were met by Captain
Pipe at the old Wyandot town. With his own
hand this chief painted the faces of all the
prisoners black. While thus engaged he told
38
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Knight in very good English that he would
be taken to the Shawnee town to see his
friends. When Colonel Crawford was brought
before him, he received him with pretended
kindness and joked about his making a good
Indian. But it was all a subterfuge. Here
was a man upon whom to wreak vengeance.
It was Williamson they wanted, because he
was one of the Gnadenhutten murderers, but
Williamson had escaped, and Crawford was
the official leader of this expedition, which had
dared to invade their precincts. He must
suffer, and that in the most cruel way known
to the American savage. It is said that he
offered Girty $30,000 to save him, and the
white savage partly promised, but this is not
well authenticated.
The whole party now started towards the
Wyandot town, but Crawford and Knight
were kept near the rear. They passed by the
corpses of four of their companions that had
been scalped and tomahawked. Almost every
Indian they met struck them either with sticks
or their fists. On their way they met Simon
Girty, but he had not a single word of kind-
ness or encouragement for the prisoners.
Crawford was taken on the llth of June to
a place near what is known as Tymochtee, a
few miles north of Upper Sandusky. At this
place he had an interview with Simon Girty,
of which little has been preserved. The rene-
gade coolly told him that he was destined for
the stake. Here he found a large fire burning
and many Indians were lying about on the
ground. Nevertheless, the dissembling war
chiefs, both of whom well knew Crawford, told
him he would be adopted as an Indian after
he had been shaved.
When the party conveying Crawford ap-
peared, the scene of idleness was transformed
to one of animation. The Pipe painted him
black, and a dozen warriors ran forward and
seized him. They tore the clothes from him
with eager hands, and he was made to sit on
the ground. Surrounded by a howling mob,
he at once became the object of showers of
dirt, stones, and sticks. While some were
engaged in this — to them — sport, others
quickly fixed in the ground a large stake,
some fifteen feet long, which had been pre-
viously prepared. Still others ran quickly to
and fro, piling up around the stake great
piles of light and dry hickory wood, which
had been gathered and prepared for the
occasion.
Wingenund had retired to his cabin that
he might not see the sentence executed, but
Crawford sent for him. with the faint hope
that he would intercede for and save him.
Wingenund accordingly soon appeared in the
presence of Crawford, who was naked and
bound to a stake.
"Do you not recollect me, Wingenund?"
began Colonel Crawford.
"I believe I do." he replied. "Are you
not Colonel Crawford?"
"lam. How do you do?"
"So ! — yes ! — indeed ! ' ' ejaculated Winge-
nund, somewhat agitated.
"Do you not recollect the friendship that
always existed between us, and that we were
always glad to see each other?" queried Craw-
ford.
"Yes! I remember all this, and that we
have drunk many a bowl of punch together,
and that you have been kind to me. ' '
"Then I hope the same friendship still
continues."
"It would, of course, were you where you
ought to be, and not here," said the Indian
chief.
' ' And why not here ? I hope you would not
desert a friend in time of need. Now is the
time for you to exert yourself in my behalf,
as I should do for you were you in my place. ' '
' ' Colonel Crawford ! you have placed your-
self in a situation which puts it out of my
power, and that of others of your friends, to
do anything for you."
"How so, Captain Wingenund?"
HISTORY OF NOKTIIWKST oil In
39
• P.y joining yourself to that execrable man.
Williamson and his party — the man who, but
the other day, murdered such a number of
Moravian Indians, knowing them to be
friends; knowing that he ran no risk in mur-
dering a people who would not fight and
wlmse only business was praying?"
"Hut I assure you, Wingenund, that had I
been with him at the time this would not have
happened. Not I alone, but all your friends,
and all good men, whoever they are, reprobate
acts of this kind."
' ' That may be ; yet these friends, these good
men, did not prevent him from going out
again to kill the remainder of these inoffen-
sive, yet foolish Moravian Indians. I say fool-
ish, because they believed the whites in prefer-
ence to us."
"I am sorry to hear you speak thus; as to
"\Villiamson 's going out again, when it was
known he was determined on it, I went out
with him to prevent his committing fresh
murders."
"This the Indians would not believe, were
even I to tell them so."
''Why would they not believe T"
"Because it would have been out of your
power to have prevented his doing what he
pleased. ' '
"Out of my power! Have any Moravian
Indians been killed or hurt since we came
out?"
"None; but you first went to their town,
and finding it deserted you turned on the
path towards us. If you had been in search
of warriors only, you would not have gone
thither. Our spies watched you closely."
Crawford felt that with this sentence ended
his last ray of hope and now asked with emo-
tion : ' ' What do they intend to do with
me?"
"I tell you with grief. As Williamson,
with his whole cowardly host, ran off in the
night at the whistling of our warriors' balls,
being satisfied that now he had no Moravians
to deal with, but men who could fight and
with such he did not wish to have anything
to do — I say, as they have escaped and taken
you, they will take revenge on you in his
stead."
And is there no possibility of preventing
this? Can you devise no way of getting me
off? You shall, my friend, be well rewarded
if you are instrumental in saving my life."
"Had Williamson been taken with you, I
and some friends by making use of what you
have told me, might perhaps have succeeded
in saving you ; but as the matter now stands,
no man would dare to interfere in your be-
half. The blood of the innocent Moravians,
more than half of them women and children,
cruelly and wantonly murdered, calls loudly
for revenge. The relatives of the slain who
were among us cry out and stand ready for
revenge. The nation to which they belonged
will have revenge. ' '
"My fate is then fixed, and I must prepare
to meet death in its worst form."
"I am sorry for it, but cannot do anything
for you. Had you attended to the Indian
principle, that as good and evil cannot dwell
together in the same heart, so a good man
ought not to go into evil company you would
not be in this lamentable situation. You see
now, when it is too late, after Williamson has
deserted you, what a bad man he must be.
Nothing now remains for you but to meet
your fate like a brave man. Farewell, Colonel
Crawford; — they are coming. I will retire
to a solitary spot."
The savages then fell upon Crawford.
Wingenund, it is said, retired, shedding tears,
and ever after, when the circumstance was
alluded to, was sensibly affected.
This conversation is related by Hecke-
welder. It has generally been pronounced
apocryphal by critics, for that writer is fre-
quently accused of romancing when an oppor-
tunity afforded. The relations of Wingenund
and Crawford had been friendly, however,
40
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and Crawford in his extremity doubtless did
call upon the chief. If so, the substance of
this conversation doubtless passed between
them, and for that reason it is incorporated
in the narrative.
The account of the burning of Colonel
Crawford is related in the words of Doctor
Knight, his companion, who was an unwilling
eye-witness of this tragic scene, near which
he stood securely bound and guarded :
"When we went to the fire the colonel was
stripped naked, ordered to sit down by the
Hi lily or forty men, sixty or seventy squaws
and Iwys.
"When the speech was finished, they all
yelled a hideous and hearty assent to what
had been said. The Indian men then took up
their guns and shot powder into the colonel's
body, from his feet as far up as his neck.
I think that not less than seventy loads were
discharged upon his naked body. They then
crowded about him, and to the best of my
observation cut off his ears ; when the throng
had dispersed a little, I saw blood running
, J ••.
BURNING OF COL. CRAWFORD BY INDIANS IN 1782 IN WYANDOT COUNTY
fire, and then they beat him with sticks and
their fists. Presently after I was treated in
the same manner. They then tied a rope to
the foot of a post about fifteen feet high,
bound the colonel's hands behind his back and
fastened the rope to the ligature between his
wrists. The rope was long enough for him to
sit down or walk around the post once or
twice and return the same way. The colonel
then called to Girty, and asked if they in-
tended to burn him 1 Girty answered, ' ' Yes. ' '
The colonel said he would take it all patiently.
Upon this, Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief,
made a speech to the Indians, viz., about
from both sides of his head in consequence
thereof.
"The fire was about six or seven yards
from the post to which the colonel was tied ;
it was made of small hickory poles, quite
through in the middle, each end of the poles
remaining about six feet in length. Three or
four Indians by turns would take up, indi-
vidually one of these burning pieces of wood,
and apply it to his naked body, already burnt
black with the powder. These tormentors
presented themselves on every side of him
with the burning fagots and poles. Some of
the squaws took broad boards, upon which
HISTORY OF NOBTHWEST OHIO
41
they would carry a quantity of burning coals
and hot embers, and throw on him, so that in
a short time, he had nothing but coals of fire
and hot ashes to walk upon.
"In the midst of these extreme tortures, he
called to Simon Girty and begged of him to
shoot him; but Girty making no answer, he
called to him again. Girty then, by way of
derision, told the colonel he had no gun, at
the time turning about to an Indian who was
behind him, laughed heartily, and by all his
gestures seemed delighted at the horrid scene.
"Girty then came up and bade me prepare
for death. He said, however, I was not to die
at that place, but to be burnt at the Shawa-
nese towns. He swore by G — d I need not
expect to escape death, but .should suffer it in
all its extremities.
• "Col. Crawford at this period of his suffer-
ings, besought the Almighty to have mercy on
his soul, spoke very low, and bore his torments
with the most manly fortitude. In the midst
of his tortures he begged of Girty to shoot
him, but the white savage made no answer.
He continued in all the extremities of pain,
for an hour and three-quarters or two hours
longer, as near as I can judge, when at last,
being almost exhausted, he lay down on his
belly ; they then scalped him, and repeatedly
threw the scalp in my face, telling me, that
'That was my great captain.' An old squaw
(whose appearance in every way answered
the idea that people generally entertain of the
devil) got a board, took a parcel of coals and
ashes and laid them on his back and head,
after he had been scalped ; he then raised him-
self upon his feet and began to walk round
the post ; they next put a burning stick to him,
as usual, but he seemed more insensible to
pain than before."
When the news of the torture and death of
Colonel Crawford reached the Shawnee vil-
lages, the exultation was very great. Not so,
when the awful story was repeated in the
settlements upon the border. A gloom was
spread over every countenance. Crawford's
unfortunate end was lamented by all who
knew him. Heart-rending was the anguish in
a lonely cabin upon the banks of the Youghio-
gheny. There were few men on the frontiers,
at that time, whose loss could have been more
sensibly felt or more keenly deplored.
The language of Washington, upon this
occasion, shows the depth of his feeling: "It
is with the greatest sorrow and concern that
I have learned the melancholy tidings of
Colonel Crawford's death. He was known to
me as an officer of much care and prudence ;
brave, experienced, and active. The manner
of his death was shocking to me ; and I have
this day communicated to the honorable, the
Congress, such papers as I have regarding it."
The Indian brave, Tutelu, who had Doctor
Knight in charge, now took him away to
Captain Pipe's house, three-quarters of a mile
from the place of the colonel's execution. He
was bound all night, and thus prevented from
seeing the last of the horrid spectacle. Next
morning, being June 12th, the Indian untied
him, painted him black, and they set off for
the Shawnee town, which was somewhat less
than forty miles distant from that place.
They soon came to the spot where the colonel
had been burnt, as it was partly in their way ;
he saw his bones lying among the remains of
the fire, almost burned to ashes. After he was
dead, they had probably laid his body on the
fire. The Indian told him that was his cap-
tain, and gave the scalp halloo. It is a well-
received tradition that the precise spot where
the doctor outwitted, overpowered and
escaped from his Indian guard was at the
crossing of the Scioto by the old Shawnee
trail, not far from Kenton, in Hardin County.
This old Shawnee trail ran from the Wyandot
and Delaware villages on the Sandusky and
Tymochtee to the Shawnee towns on the Big
Miami and Mad rivers. The details, as given
by Knight, are in substance as here related.
They started for the Shawnee towns, which
42
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the Indian said were somewhat less than forty
miles away. Tutelu was on horseback, and
drove Knight before him. The latter pre-
tended he was ignorant of the death he was
to die, though Simon Girty had told him that
he was to die. He affected as cheerful a coun-
tenance as was possible, under the circum-
stances, and asked the savage if they were not
to live together as brothers in one house, when
they should get to the town. Tutelu seemed
well pleased at this remark, and answered
"Yes." He then asked Knight if he could
make a wigwam. Knight replied that he
could. The Indian then seemed more
friendly. The route taken by Tutelu and
Knight was the Indian trace leading from
Pipe's Town to "Wapatomika, which ran some
six or eight miles west of what is now Upper
Sandusky. Its direction was southwest from
Pipetown to the Big Tymochtee. They trav-
elled, as near as Knight could judge, the first
day about twenty-five miles. The doctor was
then informed that they would reach Wapa-
tomica on the next day, a little before noon.
When night fell the prisoner was carefully
tied and both laid down to rest. The doctor
attempted several times to untie himself dur-
ing the night, but the Indian was very watch-
ful and scarcely closed his eyes, so that he did
not succeed in loosening the tugs with which
he was bound. At daybreak, Tutelu arose and
untied the doctor. Tutelu, as soon as he had
untied the doctor, began to mend the fire,
which had been kept burning. As the gnats
were troublesome, the doctor asked him if he
should make a smoke behind him. He an-
swered, "Yes." The doctor picked up the
end of a dogwood fork, which had been burned
down to about eighteen inches in length. It
was the longest stick that he could find, yet
it was too small for the purpose he had in
view. He then grasped another small stick
and, taking a coal of fire between them, went
behind the Indian. Turning suddenly about,
he struck the Indian on the head with all his
strength. This so stunned him that he fell
forward, with both his hands in the fire. He
soon recovered and, springing to his feet, ran
off howling into the forest. Knight seized his
gun and followed, trying to shoot the Indian.
Using too much violence in pulling back the
cock of the gun, however, he broke the main-
spring. The Indian continued his flight pre-
cipitately, with the doctor vainly endeavoring
to fire his gun.
Doctor Knight finally returned to the camp
from the pursuit of Tutelu, and made prepa-
rations for his homeward flight through the
. wilderness. He took the blanket of the Dela-
ware, a pair of new moccasins, his powder-
horn and bullet-pouch, together with the gun,
and started on his journey in a direction a
little north of east. About half an hour be-
fore sunset he came to the Sandusky Plains,
when he laid down in a thicket until dark.
Taking the north star as a guide, he contin-
ued in a northeasterly direction, passing near
Galion and then into Richland County, and
so on, until on the evening of the twentieth
day after his escape, he reached the mouth of
Beaver Creek, on the Ohio, and was again
among friends. During the whole journey,
he subsisted on roots, a few young birds that
were unable to fly out of his reach, and wild
berries that grew in abundance through the
forest. Doctor Knight afterwards removed to
Shelbyville, Kentucky, where he died in 1838.
CHAPTER V
THE RENEGADES
Of all historic characters the name of the
traitor to his race or to his country is buried
deepest in the mire. His name becomes a
byword and a reproach among the natives
of the earth. By whatever name the traitor
is known, whether turncoat, tory, apostate, or
renegade, mankind have for him only uni-
versal expressions of contempt. For him
there remains only a pillar of historic infamy.
He lives in the midst of the fiercest passions
which darken the human heart. He is both
a hater and the hated. The white renegade
who has abandoned his race and civilization
for the company of the savages of the forest,
is the abhorred of all. For him there is no
charity. His virtues, if he had any, pass into
oblivion. His name is inscribed with that of
Brutus, of Benedict Arnold, and of Judas
Iscariot. He may have been really better than
he seems, his vices may have been exaggerated,
but of these things it is difficult to form a
correct and impartial opinion, for the exact
truth cannot be obtained. The whirlwinds of
abuse throw dust into the eyes of the most
painstaking historian.
The history of our border warfare furnishes
us a number of instances of white men who
deserted to the Indians and relapsed into a
state as savage as their associates. North-
west Ohio, with its memories of the Girtys,
McKee, and Elliot, has more than its full
share of these ingrates. Of all these known
instances of white renegades, however, there
is none which equals the cruelty and absolute
baseness of Simon Girty, or Gerty, as it is
sometimes spelled. Girty was an Irishman,
who was born in Pennsylvania, not a great dis-
tance from Harrisburg. His father, who was
also named Simon, was of a roving disposi-
tion and somewhat intemperate. It was in a
drunken bout that he was killed by an Indian
called "The Fish," on the very border of
civilization. The Indian in turn was slain by
John Turner, who made his home with the
Girtys and afterwards married the widow, by
whom he had a son, also named John.
Simon Girty and his brothers did not owe a
great deal to either parent, and this point of
heredity may have had something to do with
the low grade of morality of three of them.
There were four brothers in this family, of
whom Simon, born in 1741, was the second.
The entire family were captured by a maraud-
ing party of French and Indians in 1756.
The stepfather was put to death with horrible
torture, all of which the boys, then in their
teens, and the miserable mother were com-
pelled to witness. She sat on a log with an
infant son in her arms, a terrified spectator
of the dreadful scene. The separation of the
boys and their mother followed soon after-
wards. James was formally adopted by the
Shawnees, George by the Delawares, and
Simon was taken by the Senecas, whose lan-
guage he speedily learned. After three years
all of these brothers were returned to their
friends at Pittsburg, in accordance with a
treaty, but voluntarily reverted to savage life
at a later period.
James Girty was not quite so much ad-
43
44
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
dieted to intoxication as Simon and George.
He thoroughly adopted the savage life, how-
ever, married a Shawnee squaw, and became
a trader with the Aborigines in after years.
His principal trading-post for years was
called Girty's Town, on the site of the present
City of St. Marys. Another place where he
had a trading stand at a later period was
opposite a large island, which is still known
spectable family and died in 1820, at a ripe
old age. On one occasion, in 1783, in company
with his half-brother, John Turner, he visited
Simon at Detroit. At that time their patri-
otism seemed to be wavering, but soon after-
wards both took the oath of allegiance. John
Turner accumulated considerable property.
For presenting a burial ground to the citi-
zens of the locality in which he lived, Turner
GIRTY'S ISLAND AT NAPOLEON
as Girty's Island, a short distance above
Napoleon. George married a Delaware
woman, who bore him several children. He
died while intoxicated at the trading post
of his brother James. The fourth brother,
Thomas, who was the oldest, escaped soon
after his capture, and was the only one of the
family to remain loyal to the United States
during all the troubles with the mother coun-
try. He made his home on Girty's Run, which
was named after him, where he raised a re-
was known as "the benefactor of Squirrel
Hill." The career of Thomas Girty and John
Turner, Jr., have no further part in this
history.
The adventures of the three Girty rene-
gades have furnished the material for many
a volume of traditional and thrilling fiction.
Whether plausible or not, readers have been
inclined to accept at their face value the most
absurd statements regarding their reputed
activities. The Indian name of Simon Girty
HISTORY <>K NOKTHNVKST <>HI"
45
\\as Katepakomen. Kor a iiumher of years
after his return I'l i captivity, Simon re-
mained loyal to the American cause and
attained considerable influence. He took part
in Diimnoiv's War in 1774 with the Virginia
forces, acting as guide and interpreter, and
is said to have been as willing to kill a lurk-
ing savage as any of his companions. During
tli is campaign he became a warm friend and
bosom companion of Simon Kenton, also one
of the scouts. During these years he also made
the acquaintance of Colonel Crawford, to
whom he was indebted for favors. He repaid
these at a later date by refusing the mercy
shot begged for by that officer when in his
deepest suffering.
Girty was commissioned a second lieutenant
of the militia at Pittsburg for his services
on behalf of Virginia. "On the 22nd of Feb-
ruary, 1775, came Simon Girty in open court
and took and subscribed the oath." This was
"To be faithful and bear true allegiance to
his majesty King George the Third." At this
time, says Mr. Butterfield, "Girty, notwith-
standing there was trouble of a serious nature
between the colonies and the mother country,
was well disposed toward the latter." He is
included in a special list of loyal subjects by
Lord Dunmore in a report to his government.
In 1775 he accompanied James Wood, a com-
missioner to the Indians, on a long trip
through the Ohio wilderness, as guide and
interpreter, at a salary of five shillings a day.
The trip took them to the Wyandots at Upper
Sandusky, the Shawnees, and other tribes, and
he performed his duties faithfully. His sym-
pathies at this time were strongly with the
colonies. But his loyalty to the colonial cause
ended shortly after his return from this jour-
ney. He was employed in one other expedi-
tion dispatched to the Six Nations, but was
dismissed "for ill behavior," after three
months' service. Just what the unsatisfactory
conduct was is not now known, for the rec-
ords do not reveal it. Girty was still loyal,
however, for he exerted himself afterwards in
enlisting men in the volunteer army.
It is said that jealousy over the fact that
he was not named as a captain, which com-
mission he expected as a reward for his serv-
ices, was the real reason for his desertion
of the American cause in 1778, in the early
years of the Revolution. He was made a sec-
ond lieutenant in a company, but did not go
to the front with the organization. He re-
mained in Pittsburg on detached duty. On
one occasion he was arrested for disloyalty,
but was acquitted on the charge. He was
again sent to the Senecas with a message.
George Girty was likewise considered loyal
and joined a company of patriots, being com-
missioned as a second lieutenant. He took
part in at least one expedition against the
British, as also did Simon.
About this time evidence was secured that
Alexander McKee, a trader and British rep-
resentative at Pittsburg, was making prepara-
tions to join the British. He had for some
time been under constant surveillance. It was
on the night of the 28th of March, 1778, that
Simon Girty, in company with Matthew El-
liot, Alexander McKee, Robert Surphlit, a
man named Higgin, and the two negro serv-
ants of McKee, took their departure from
Pittsburg for the Indian country on their
way to Detroit. It is needless to say that
great consternation followed the departure of
so many well known characters. No other
three men, such as McKee, Girty and Elliot,
could have been found so well fitted to work
for and among the Aborigines. The real mov-
ing cause that made Girty a base deserter of
his native land and of his people is not
definitely known. At any rate, from this time
he became a renegade, and was faithless to
his race and his fellow countrymen.
The little band of traitors stopped for a
brief time with the Moravian Indians by the
Tuscarawas, and from there proceeded to the
headquarters of the Delawares, near the pres-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ent site of Coshocton. Their intrigue with
this tribe nearly changed its peaceful policy
into one of open hostility against the Ameri-
cans. General Washington had been killed,
they said, and the patriot army cut to pieces.
They represented that a great disaster had
come upon the American forces, so that the
struggle was sure to end in a victory for Great
Britain, and that the few thousand troops yet
remaining were intending to kill every Indian
they should meet, whether friendly or hostile.
Leaving the Delawares, Girty and two com-
panions went westward to the villages of the
Shawnees. That the Indians were not en-
tirely fooled by Girty is shown by a message
which the principal chief of the Delawares
sent to the Shawnees : ' ' Grandchildren ! " so
ran the message, "ye Shawnese! Some days
ago, a flock of birds, that had come on from
the east, lit at Goshhochking (Coshocton),
imposing a song of theirs upon us, which song
had nigh proved our ruin ! Should these
birds, which, on leaving us, took their flight
toward Scioto endeavor to impose a song on
you likewise, do not listen to them, for they
lie!" It was here that they met James Girty,
who was easily persuaded to desert his coun-
try. He went to Detroit a few weeks later,
and was employed as interpreter to remain
with the Shawnees. A proclamation was
afterwards, and in the same year, issued by
Pennsylvania publicly proclaiming Alexander
McKee, formerly Indian trader, Simon Girty,
Indian interpreter, James Girty, laborer, and
Matthew Elliot, Indian trader, as aiding and
abetting the common enemy and summoning
them back for trial. It was not until the fol-
lowing year that George Girty joined his
brothers, and thus completed the trio of rene-
gade brothers. He was immediately engaged
by the Indian department as an interpreter
and dispatched to the Shawnees. He acted as
disbursing agent in dealing out supplies to
that tribe.
After his visit to the Shawnees, Simon
Girty and Alexander McKee started for De-
troit by the way of Sandusky. They reached
that fort by the middle of June. It is needless
to say that Girty, as well as McKee, was wel-
comed by "hair buyer" Hamilton, the com-
mandant of the post. McKee was made
captain and interpreter of the Indian depart-
ment. Girty was immediately employed in
the British service at a salary of about $2
per day as interpreter, and sent back to
Sandusky to assist the savages there in their
warfare upon the Americans. Up to this time
he had not taken a part in slaying a fellow-
countryman. He formally took up his resi-
dence with the Wyandots in 1781, and his
influence soon began to be felt among all the
Indian tribes of Northwest Ohio. With his
perfect knowledge of the Wyandot, Delaware,
and other Indian tongues, he was indeed an
invaluable aid to the British. He became
almost as cruel and heartless as the most
hardened savage. He was also an expert
hunter. He joined the Wyandots, the Shaw-
nees, and the Senecas in their murderous
forays against the border settlements, and was
always recognized as a leader. He main-
tained his headquarters at Sandusky, and
exercised great influence over the Half King,
the head chief of the Wyandots. His name
became a household word of terror all over
what is now the State of Ohio, for with it was
associated everything that was cruel and in-
human. Especially was his name terrifying
to women and children.
According to the records that come down
to us Girty took part in many noted instances
of border warfare, some of them extending
down into the bloody battleground of Ken-
tucky. In fact, his first maraud was into that
country. Ruddle's Station was surrendered
after Girty had been admitted and made se-
ductive promises that the captives would be
protected from the Indians. After the sur-
render, the savage fury broke forth, and they
were either killed or made prisoners of the
II 1ST! IKY OF \OKT1I\VKST OHIO
47
Indians. At I ii van's Station he sought to
intimidate the garrison by telling them who
he was, and elaborating upon what would
happen if they did not surrender. lie had
almost succeeded, so we are told, when one
young man, named Aaron Reynolds, seeing
the effect of this harangue, and believing his
story, as it was, to be false, of his own accord
answered him in the tone of rough banter so
popular with backwoodsmen: "You need not
be so particular to tell us your name ; we know
your name and you too. I 've had a villainous,
untrustworthy cur-dog this long while, named
Simon Girty, in compliment to you; he's so
like you — just as ugly and just as wicked.
As to the cannon, let them come on ; the coun-
try's roused, and the scalps of your red cut-
throats, and your own too, will be drying on
your cabins in twenty-four hours." This
spirited reply produced good results. Girty
in turn was disheartened, and, with his
Indians, soon withdrew. It is true that this
account is questioned by some, but Roosevelt
adopts it in his "Winning of the West," as
do many of the writers. If it is true, it cer-
tainly revealed to the renegade the esteem in
which he was held by the backwoods pioneers.
The directing genius in the famous siege
of Fort Laurens, on the Tuscarawas River,
was no other than Simon Girty. He assisted
in killing a number of American soldiers and
taking their scalps, as was the custom. Im-
placable in his hatred, and tireless in his
movements, he was recognized as one of the
chief agents of the British. To judge from
the varied information we have of him, he
seems to have been anything but a loafer, hut
was constantly engaged in some form of activ-
ity. Although classed on British records only
as an interpreter, he seems frequently to have
acted practically as a sub-agent in his dealings
with the aborigines. His treatment of Colonel
Crawford, who had befriended him, has been
related elsewhere. Captain Elliot was the
only one of the renegades who showed any
compassion, and he did all he could to save
Crawford. Of Girty 's cruelty on this occa-
sion, Col. John Johnson said: "He (Simon
Girty) was notorious for his cruelty to the
whites who fell into the hands of the Indians.
His cruelty to the unfortunate Col. Crawford
is well known to myself, and although I did
not witness the tragedy, I can vouch for the
facts of the case, having had them from eye-
witnesses. When that brave and unfortunate
commander was suffering at the stake by a
slow fire in order to lengthen his misery to
the longest possible time, he besought Girty
to have him shot to end his torments, when
the monster mocked him by firing powder
without ball at him." He had evidently re-
received his information from the Wyandots.
George Girty was just as cruel as his more
noted brother. In company with forty war-
riors he took Slover, one of Crawford 's party,
and tied him after stripping him and paint-
ing him black. He then cursed him, telling
Slover he would not get what he had for many
years deserved. He seemed to take a delight
in knowing that death was to be his doom.
A sudden storm came up, however, after the
Indians had tied the prisoner to the 'stake,
and Slover escaped.
Simon Girty 's headquarters were along the
Sandusky, where he exercised great influence
over the Half King, who was head chief of
the Wyandots. When the Moravian Indians
were captured by the Wyandots and brought
to Sandusky, he seemed to take delight in
treating the Christian Indians and the white
missionaries with cruelty. "The missionaries
in particular were as a thorn in their eyes,
being not only considered as the cause that
the Delawares would not join in the war, but
they also mistrusted them of informing the
American Government the part they (the
white savages) were acting in the Indian
country. ' '
Just before he started on an expedition
with a war party, Girty commissioned a
48
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Frenchman by the name of Francis Levallie,
from Lower Saudusky, to conduct the mis-
sionaries to Detroit, and drive them all the
way by land as though they were cattle. The
Frenchman, however, was more humane and
treated them kindly. He sent word to De-
troit for boats to be sent to Sandusky to carry
the missionaries to Detroit. Before the boats
arrived, however, Girty returned and, accord-
ing to Missionary Heckwelder, "behaved like
a madman, on hearing that we were here, and
that our conductor had disobeyed his orders,
and had sent a letter to the commandant at
Detroit respecting us. He flew at the French-
man, who was in the room adjoining ours,
most furiously, striking at him, and threat-
ening to split his head in two for disobeying
the orders he had given him. He swore the
most horrid oaths respecting us, and contin-
ued in that way until after midnight. His
oaths were all to the purport that he never
would leave the house until he split our heads
in two with his tomahawk, and made our
brains stick to the walls of the room in which
we were ! Never before did any of us hear
the like oaths, or know any one to rave like
him. He appeared like an host of evil spirits.
He would sometimes come up to the bolted
•door between us and him, threatening to chop
it in pieces to get at us. How we should
escape the clutches of this white beast in
human form no one could foresee. Yet at the
proper time relief was at hand; for, in the
morning, at break of day, and while he was
still sleeping, two large flat-bottomed boats
arrived from Detroit, for the purpose of tak-
ing us to that place. This was joyful news ! ' '
Only one instance is recorded to the credit
of Girty. As heretofore mentioned he and
Simon Kenton had served together in a
border war. When Kenton was captured by
the Shawnees, he was sentenced to be burned
at Wapatomika, an Indian village within what
is now Logan County. Girty, who had just
returned from an expedition into Kentucky,
came to see the prisoner, who was sitting upon
the floor silent and dejected with his face
painted black, which was a custom among the
Indians when captives were doomed to the
stake. Hence it was that he did not recognize
Kenton until the latter spoke to him. His
first intention was only to gain information
from the captive. Only a few words had been
exchanged, however, before he recognized him.
"What is your name?" Girty asked.
•'Simon Butler," answered Kenton, for
that was the name he then bore.
As soon as he heard his friend's name,
Girty became greatly agitated. Springing up
from his seat he threw himself into Kenton 's
arms, calling him his dear and esteemed
friend. "You are condemned to die," said
he, "but I will do all I can — use every means
in my power to save your life." It was due
to his efforts that a council was convened, and
Girty made a long and eloquent speech to the
Indians in their language. He entreated them
to have consideration for his feelings in this
one instance. He reminded them that three
years of faithful service had proved his devo-
tion to the cause of the Indians. ' ' Did I not, ' '
said he, "bring seven scalps home from the
last expedition ? Did I not also submit seven
white prisoners that same evening to your dis-
cretion ? Did I express a wish that a single
one should be saved? This is my first and
shall be my last request. From what expedi-
tion did I ever shrink ? What white man has
ever seen my back? Whose tomahawk has
been bloodier than mine?" This council de-
cided against him by an overwhelming major-
ity, but a later one at Upper Sandusky,
through the skillful manipulation of Girty,
consented to place Kenton under his care and
protection. As a result he was taken to San-
dusky and thence to Detroit, from whence he
made his escape in safety to Kentucky.
Kenton ever afterwards spoke of Girty in
grateful remembrance. Girty told Kenton
that he had acted too hasty in deserting his
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
49
country, and was sorry for the part he had
taken. It is the only expression of regret that
is recorded of the renegade.
For a number of years now. very little is
mentioned concerning the life of this noted
desperado. He remained among the Indians,
however. His last expedition against the
Americans was in 1783, when he led a band of
red men to Nine Mile River, within five miles
of I'ittsburg. Here it was he first learned
that hostilities had ended, but he did not place
credence in the rumor. "He never again visi-
ted his native state, painted and plumed as a
savage, to imbrue his hands in the blood of
his countrymen," says Butterfield. He re-
mained as an interpreter in the British Indian
Department on half pay, practically a pen-
sioner. His headquarters were at first at
Detroit. This leisure gave him time to think
of something else besides fighting, and he
resolved to many. The object of his affec-
tions was Catherine Malott, then a prisoner
among the Indians, and much younger than
himself. They were married in August, 1784,
in Canada, near the mouth of the Detroit
River, and here they took up their abode in
the neighborhood of the present Town of
Amherstburg. His wife is said to have been
a very comely maiden, and she probably mar-
ried the renegade to escape from her position
as prisoner among the Indians. At the time
of her marriage, she was not more than half
the age of her husband. His daughter Ann,
was born in 1786. A son, Thomas, another
daughter, Sarah, and a second son, Prideaux,
the last one being born in 1797, were his other
children.
After Great Britain had acknowledged the
independence of the colonies, Simon Girty was
one of the leading agents in keeping the sav-
ages loyal to the British. For the succeeding
decade he stands out as a very prominent
figure throughout Northwest Ohio, and prac-
tically the entire Northwest. There is prob-
ably not a county in this section of our state
where there is not some record of his activi-
ties. To him and others of his kind was due
the dissatisfaction with and disloyalty to the
treaty negotiated at Fort Mclntosh. His
harangues had potent influence. He was
under the direction of his old-time friend
McKee. He no longer lived with the red men,
but constantly visited them as British emis-
sary. He played his part well. Of this we
have the testimony of General Harmar him-
sejf. Matthew Elliott was an able second, for
he had taken up his residence with the Shaw-
nees. In 1788 Girty attended an Indian
council at the foot of the Maumee Rapids.
Here he was received into the conference by
the Indians as one of them. He was the
mouthpiece of McKee, who had established a
store there.
By none was the rising war cloud welcomed
more than by the white savage, Simon Girty.
He was present at the grand council held in
October, 1793, at the Glaize (Defiance). Mc-
Kee, Elliott, and other whites were also there,
but Simon Girty was the only white man ad-
mitted to the deliberations. To no one else
did these children of the forests feel safe in
confiding their innermost thoughts. Well had
he earned the confidence reposed in him. It
was no doubt a proud moment in his life, and
one upon which he afterwards reflected with
pleasure. At Fallen Timbers Girty, Elliott,
and McKee were all present, but they kept at
a respectable distance near the river, and did
not take a part in the fighting. All three
made good their escape. After this he and
McKee assisted in furnishing food to the
Indians, whose crops had been destroyed by
General Wayne. This event practically
ended his wild career in the Ohio country.
On only one other occasion, only a few months
later, did he appear as a British emissary
among the Ohio Indians. Nevertheless his in-
fluence remained strong for a long time. He
continued to visit Detroit occasionally, until
the Americans occupied it. He happened to
50
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
be there when the American troops ap-
proached, but fled precipitately to the oppo-
site bank. He could not wait for the boat,
but plunged his horse into the river and swam
to the opposite shore. He never again crossed
to the fort, except during the War of 1812,
when the British troops again occupied it.
For sixteen years he did not step foot on
American soil.
The last time that James Qirty joined in an
expedition against his countrymen, so far as
is known, was in 1782. The point where the
portage at the head of the St. Marys began
was an ideal place for the establishment of
a trading post. It was then the site of a
small Indian village, but is now occupied by
St. Marys. Girty had married a Shawnee
woman, who was known as Betsey by the
whites. He established himself there in 1783,
as a trader, and it soon became known as
Girty 's Town. For a number of years he
enjoyed a practical monopoly of the Indian
trade here. He shipped his peltry down the
St. Marys to the Maumee. At every report
of the approach of the Americans, James be-
came alarmed, and on several occasions had
his goods packed for immediate flight. Upon
the approach of General Harmar, he moved
to the confluence of the Maumee and Au-
glaize. Here he occupied a log cabin.
An incident is related of young Oliver M.
Spencer, who took dinner at Girty 's home
after being released from Indian captivity.
While regaling himself Girty came in and
saw the boy for the first time. The latter
seated himself opposite Spencer, and said to
him : "So, my young Yankee, you 're about to
start for home ?" The boy answered : "Yes,
sir; I hope so." That, Girty rejoined, would
depend upon his master, in whose kitchen he
had no doubt the youthful stranger should
first serve a few years' apprenticeship as a
scullion. Then, taking his knife, he said
(while sharpening it on a whetstone) : "I
see your ears are whole yet; but I'm greatly
mistaken if you leave this without the Indian
earmark, that we may know you when we
catch you again." Spencer did not wait to
prove whether Girty was in jest or in down-
right earnest, but, leaving his meal half fin-
ished, he instantly sprang from the table,
leaped out of the door, and in a few seconds
took refuge in the house of a trader named
Ironside. On learning the cause of the boy's
flight, Elliott uttered a sardonic laugh, derid-
ing his unfounded childish fears, as he was
pleased to term them. Ironside, however,
looked serious, shaking his head as if he had
no doubt that if Spencer had remained Girty
would have executed his threat.
When Wayne approached in 1794, James
Girty packed up his goods and fled to Canada,
but came back once more to again trade with
the Indians along the Maumee. Trade was
not so profitable as before, and he returned
to Canada, at Gosfield. His last trading place
in Ohio was a few miles above Napoleon, at
Girty 's Point, near Girty 's Island. Like his
brother Simon, he was also too old and infirm
to take part in the War of 1812. He died on the
15th of April, 1817. He was thrifty and had
accumulated considerable property. His wife
died first, and two children survived him,
James and Ann. He was temperate in his
habits, but fully as cruel as his brothers.
Neither age nor sex were spared by him dur-
ing the savage expeditions in which he took
part. He would boast, so it is said, that no
woman or child escaped his tomahawk, if he
got within reach of the victim.
George Girty, after the battle of Blue
Licks, in 1782, returned to the upper waters
of the Mad River. It is known that he con-
tinued to reside with the Delawares, but gave
himself so completely up to savage life that
he practically lost his identity. He is heard
of occasionally in Indian forays. He married
a Delaware squaw, and had several children.
During his latter years he was an habitual
drunkard, and died during a spree at the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
51
ral'in of James, near Fort Wayne, but his
family remained with the tribe.
When war broke out between the United
States and the Indians about 1790, Simon
Girty again fought with the Indians and
against the Americans. The last battle in
which he was known to have been actually en-
gaged was at the defeat of St. Clair, in Mercer
County, where he fought most courageously.
Here he captured a white woman. A Wyandot
squaw demanded the prisoner, on the ground
that custom gave all female prisoners to the
squaws accompanying the .braves. Over
Girty 's objection this was done, and he was
furious. Even after the defeat of the Indians
by General Wayne he still advised a contin-
uance of the war against the Americans, so
blinded had he become in this hatred.
In his later years Girty seems to have made
an effort to command a degree of respect as
a decent citizen. The British Government
granted him some land in the Township of
Maiden, Essex County, Canada, described as
' ' beginning at a post on the bank of the river
Detroit, marked 10/11; thence east 131
chains; thence south 12 chains, 52 links;
thence west to the river Detroit, and thence
northerly along the shore of the river against
the stream to the place of beginning, contain-
ing 164 acres." He was abhorred by all his
neighbors, however, for the depravity of his
untamed and undisciplined nature was too
apparent. After the birth of the last son,
Simon and his wife separated because of his
cruelty toward her when drunk. In the War
of 1812 he was incapable of active service,
because his sight had almost left him. He is
said, however, to have rallied a band of Wyan-
dots to the standard of Tecumseh. When the
British army returned he followed it, leaving
his family at home. When General Harrison
invaded Canada, Girty fled beyond his reach,
but his wife remained at the home and was
unharmed. In 1816, after peace was con-
cluded, he returned to his farm, where he died
on the 18th of February, in the year 1818.
He actually gave up liquor for a few months
prior to his dissolution. He is said to have
been very penitent, as the end drew nigh.
He was buried on his farm. A squad of Brit-
ish soldiers attended the funeral, and fired a
parting salute over his grave. His youngest
son was on one occasion a candidate for Par-
liament, but was defeated. He became a man
of considerable influence, and finally moved
to Ohio, where he died. All of his children
lived and married. Thomas died before his
father, but left three children. The widow
of Simon survived him for many years, and
did not die until 1852. All of her children
enjoyed unsullied reputations.
Oliver M. Spencer, who was taken prisoner
by the Indians while a youth in 1792, in his
narrative of his captivity makes some men-
tion of the Girtys. While at Defiance, the old
Indian priestess, Coo-coo-Cheeh, with whom
he lived, took him to a neighboring Shawnee
village called Snaketown, on the site of Na-
poleon. There he saw the celebrated chief,
Blue Jacket, and Simon Girty, of whom he
speaks as follows:
"One of the visitors of Blue Jacket (the
Snake) was a plain, grave chief of sage ap-
pearance; the other, Simon Girty, whether it
was from prejudice, associating with his look
the fact that he was a renegado, the murderer
of his own countrymen, racking his diabolic
invention to inflict new and more excruciat-
ing tortures, or not; his dark, shaggy hair,
his low forehead, his brows contracted, and
meeting above his short flat nose ; his gray
sunken eyes, averting the ingenuous gaze ; his
lips thin and compressed, and the dark and
sinister expression of his countenance, to me,
seemed the very picture of a villain. He
wore the Indian costume, but without any
ornament; and his silk handkerchief while it
supplied the place of a hat ; hid an unsightly
wound in his forehead. On each side, in his
belt, was stuck a silvermounted pistol, and at
52
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
his left hung a short broad dirk, serving
occasionally the uses of a knife. He made of
nio many inquiries ; some about my family,
and the particulars of my captivity ; but more
of the strength of the different garrisons;
the number of Americans troops at Fort
Washington, and whether the President in-
tended soon to send another army against the
Indians. He spoke of the wrongs he had
received at the hands of his countrymen, and
with fiendish exultation of the revenge he had
taken. He boasted of his exploits, of the num-
ber of his victories, and of his personal
prowess; then raising his handkerchief, and
exhibiting the deep wound in his forehead
(which I was afterwards told was inflicted by
the tomahawk of the celebrated Indian chief,
Brandt, in a drunken frolic) said it was a
sabre cut, which he received in battle at St.
Clair's defeat; adding with an oath, that he
had 'sent the d d Yankee officer' that
gave it 'to h 1. ' He ended by telling me
that I would never see home ; but if I should
turn out to be a good hunter and a brave war-
rior, I might one day be a chief. His pres-
ence and conversation having rendered my
situation painful, I was not a little relieved
when, a few hours after ending our visit, we
returned to our quiet lodge on the bank of
the Maumee. "
Girty's one great fear was of capture by
the Americans, and he always endeavored to
ascertain from prisoners what might be in
store for him should he be captured by them.
It seemed as though the idea of falling into
the hands of his outraged countrymen was a
terror to him.
"The last time I saw Girty," writes Wil-
liam Walker, "was in the summer of 1813.
From my recollection of his person, he was
in height five feet six or seven inches; broad
across the chest; strong, round, compact
limbs; and of fair complexion. To any one
scrutinizing him, the conclusion would forci-
bly impress the observer, that Girty was en-
dowed by nature with great powers of
endurance." Spencer was not favorably im-
pressed with his visage, and leaves us the
following picture: "His dark shaggy hair,
his low forehead ; his brows contracted, and
meeting above his short, flat nose ; his gray
sunken eyes, averting the ingenuous gaze ; his
lips thin and compressed; and the dark and
sinister expression of his countenance ; — to me
seemed the very picture of a villain."
"No other country or age," says Butter-
field, "ever produced, perhaps, so brutal,
depraved, and wicked a wretch as Simon
Girty. He was sagacious and brave; but his
sagacity and bravery only made him a greater
monster of cruelty. All of the vices of civ-
ilization seemed to center in him, and by him
were ingrafted upon those of either. He
moved about through the Indian country dur-
ing the war of the Revolution and the Indian
war which followed, a dark whirlwind of fury,
desperation and barbarity. In the refine-
ments of torture inflicted on helpless pris-
oners, as compared with the Indians, he
'out-heroded Herod.' In treachery he stood
unrivaled. There ever rankled in his bosom a
most deadly hatred of his country. He seemed
to revel in the very excess of malignity toward
his old associates. So horrid was his wild
ferocity and savageness, that the least relent-
ing seemed to be acts of positive goodness —
luminous sparks in the very blackness of
darkness!" 1
Of Girty's foolhardiness there is ample tes-
timony. He became involved in a quarrel at
one time with a Shawnee, caused by some mis-
understanding in trade. While bandying
hard words to each other, the Indian, by innu-
1 Consul W. Butterfield made a more extended study
of the life of the Girtys than any other person. In
his "History of the Girtys," published in 1890, he
modified many of his harsher statements expressed
about Simon Girty in his "Crawford's Campaign
against Sandusky, " published seventeen years earlier.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
53
endo, questioned his opponent's courage.
Girty instantly produced a half-keg of pow-
der, and snatching a firebrand, called upon
the savage to stand by him. The latter, not
deeming this a legitimate mode of settling
disputes, hastily evacuated the premises.
The last picture that we have of Simon Girty
den," said Mr. Daniel, "and put up at a
hotel kept by a Frenchman. I noticed in the
bar-room a gray-headed and blind old man.
The landlady, who was the daughter, a woman
of about thirty years of age, inquired of me :
'Do you know who that is?' On my reply-
ing 'No' she replied 'it is Simon Girty.' He
is shortly before his death. "I went to Mai- had then been blind about four years."
CHAPTER VI
THE DEFEAT OP GENERAL ST. GLAIR
Although by the Treaty of Paris, which was
concluded at Versailles in 1783, all the terri-
tory south of the middle of the Great Lakes
and their connecting waters, and east of the
Upper Mississippi River, was granted to the
United States, and Great Britain specifically
covenanted to withdraw her troops from De-
troit, and other parts of this territory, the
British did not comply with their agreement
until some thirteen years afterward. During
this time there were no large war parties of
the aborigines for several years, but small
bands of Shawnees and Wyandots continued
to invade Kentucky and the border settlements
of Pennsylvania with the loaded rifle and the
uplifted tomahawk. For this reason agoniz-
ing appeals kept coming in to Washington
asking for protection and praying that troops
be dispatched into the Ohio country. When
John Adams, the American minister to Great
Britain, protested to the British government,
that country defended itself by saying that
some of the states had violated the peace
treaty, also, in regard to the payment of their
debts to Great Britain. This was true, for
some of the southern states had attempted to
offset the value of slaves impressed into Brit-
ish service against legitimate claims due from
them. The real motive doubtless was the
hope that the league of American states would
prove only an ephemeral union that would
soon be torn asunder.
The new American Government was very
reluctant to enter into a struggle with the
Indians of the Northwest Territory, of which
Ohio was then a part. But the frontier was
steadily advanced westward by venturesome
backwoodsmen, and the Government was in-
evitably drawn in by the necessity of sup-
porting them. There was no well developed
plan. Many of the leaders were averse to
spreading westward ; they were as strong anti-
expansionists as is any American today. They
were quite content to permit the red men to
rove the forests and hunt in peace. They
did not covet the lands of the Indians. They
endeavored to prevent settlers from encroach-
ing upon them. But backwoodsmen are
naturally aggressive. They revert in a sense
to primeval conditions. Rough, masterful,
aggressive, and even lawless, they feared not
the red man nor were they intimidated by the
threatening wrath of the Government. Once
established in a location, they freely appealed
to Washington for help. Then it was that
the men east of the Alleghenies, whose fathers
or grandfathers had also been frontiersmen,
rather grudgingly came to their help. When
letter after letter arrived from the Ohio
country, with accounts of the horrible atroci-
ties there being perpetrated, the congressmen
began to be besieged and the governors for-
warded appeals to the President. Then it was
that some active movements were undertaken
to relieve the conditions in the West.
With all every provocation possible placed
before it, the American Government hesitated
to make open war against the Indians of Ohio.
And yet, although the Northwest Territory,
a vast empire larger than any country in
54
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
55
Kuropr save K'nssia, had become the public
domain of the confederated states, the aborigi-
nal inhabitant, and the one actually in pos-
session, had still to be dealt with. This must
be accomplished either by purchase or con-
quest. The Iroquois claim to these lands was
extinguished by the treaty of Fort Stanwix,
in 1785. An American commissioner, by the
name of Ephraim Douglas, was sent to the
Indians residing in Ohio in 1783 to conclude
treaties with them. Carrying a white flag of
peace he visited Sandusky, passing some days
with the Delawares there, and then journeyed
to the Wyandots, Ottawas, and Miamis along
the Lower Maumee. This was in the month
of June. From there he proceeded to Detroit,
where he met representatives of many other
tribes. Long talks were indulged in to con-
vince them that the war was ended. These
Indians were perfectly willing to give their
allegiance to whichever nation promised them
the most presents, so it appeared. As the
Americans at this time had not learned how
to deal with these simple inhabitants of the
forests, their allegiance was still retained by
the British in most instances, and many lives
were sacrificed as a consequence.
By a treaty entered into between United
States commissioners and the chiefs and
sachems of the Chippewa, Delaware, Ottawa,
and Wyandot Indians at Fort Mclntosh, the
limits of their territory as agreed upon were
the Maiimee and the Cuyahoga rivers, on the
west and east respectively. Within this terri-
tory, which included nearly all of Northwest
Ohio, and almost three-fourths of the entire
state, the Delawares, Wyandots, and Ottawas
were to live and hunt at their heart's pleasure.
They were authorized to shoot any person
other than an Indian, whether a citizen of the
United States or otherwise, who attempted to
settle upon these exempt lands. "The
Indians may punish him as they please," was
the exact language of the treaty. On their
part the Indians recognized all the lands west,
south, and east of these lines as belonging to
the United States, and "none of their tribes
shall presume to settle upon the same or any
part of it." Reservations were exempted by
the United States of a tract six miles square
at the mouth of the Maumee, and two miles
square at Lower Sandusky, for military posts.
Three chiefs were to remain with the Ameri-
cans as hostages until all American prisoners
were surrendered by the savages. In a treaty
made the following year at Fort Finney, the
Shawnees "acknowledged the United States
to be the sole and absolute sovereign of all the
territory ceded by Great Britain," but they
immediately ignored this treaty.
It was some time after the . independence
of the colonies was achieved before a definite
government was adopted for the Northwest
Territory. Army officers and discharged sol-
diers were clamoring for the lands. Thomas
Jefferson evolved a scheme for the creation
of the vast domain into a checkerboard
arrangement of states, to which fanciful
names were assigned. Northwest Ohio nar-
rowly escaped being a part of Metropotamia.
Some of its neighbors would have been Cher-
ronesus, Assenisipia, Illinoia, Pelisipia, Poly-
potamia, and Michigania. The ordinance was
passed but never really went into effect, for
it was soon afterwards superseded by the
famous Ordinance of 1787. The main factor
in the passage of this measure was the famous
Manasseh Cutler, representing the Ohio Com-
pany. This ordinance in its wise provisions
ranks close to the Constitution, being pre-
ferred by the convention at the same time.
The most marked and original feature in its
provisions was the prohibition of slavery after
the year 1800. On July 27, 1887, Congress
passed the ordinance by which the Ohio Com-
pany was granted 1,500,000 acres, and
a little more than twice as much was set
aside for private speculation, in which many
of the most prominent personages of the day
were involved. This was the Scioto Company.
56
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
They paid two-thirds of a dollar an acre in
specie or certificates *bf indebtedness of the
Government.
The Ohio Company was the first real at-
tempt to settle Ohio, and this company had its
full share of troubles. The lands granted
were on the Ohio and Muskingnm rivers. As
Senator Hoar has said : ' ' Never did the great
Husbandman choose his seed more carefully
than when he planted Ohio; I do not believe
the same number of persons fitted for the
highest duties and responsibilities of war and
peace could ever have been found in a com-
munity of the same size as were among the
men who founded Marietta in the spring of
1788, or who joined them within twelve
months thereafter." Many of the settlers
were college graduates, bearing classical de-
grees from Harvard and Yale. Arthur St.
Clair was appointed the first governor of this
new territory, and Winthrop Sargent was
named as secretary. The ordinance required
that the governor, to be appointed by Con-
gress, must reside in the district and must be
the owner of 1,000 acres of land. Governor
St. Clair came of a distinguished Scotch fam-
ily, and had had a distinguished career in
the Revolution. He did not actively enter
upon his duties until the summer of 1788.
To allay the restlessness known to exist
among the aborigines, because of the rapid
influx of settlers, Congress directed that com-
missioners proceed to the homes of the dif-
ferent tribes, in order to make treaties which
would avert future conflicts. The carrying
out of this policy was committed to Governor
St. Glair.1
As an -outcome of this policy a treaty was
i The instructions to Governor St. Clair were as
follows: 1. Examine carefully into the real temper
of the aborigines. 2. Remove if possible all causes
of controversy, so that peace and harmony may be
established between the United States and the aborig-
ine tribes. 3. Begulate trade among the aborigines.
4. Neglect no opportunity that offers for extinguish-
ing the aborigine claims to lands westward as far as
the Mississippi River, and northward as far as the
entered into with several tribes, and a con-
siderable sum of money was paid to the
Indians. This was at Fort Harrnar, and some
200 Indian delegates attended the council.
Among the signatures are those of chiefs
known as Dancing Feather, Wood Bug,
Thrown-in-the-water, Big Bale of a Kettle,
Full Moon, and Tearing Asunder. It was
signed by the Wyandots, Delawares, and
Ottawas, among others. But they were not
the head chiefs. The Shawnees and Miamis
remained away. It required only a few
weeks, however, to demonstrate the insin-
cerity and treachery of the Indians, for their
maraudings began anew with the opening of
another spring. Gen. Josiah Harmar, with a
small body of troops, made a detour of the
Scioto River, destroying the food supplies and
huts of the hostile savages wherever they
were found. Only four of the Indians, so he
reported, were shot, as ' ' wolves might as well
have been pursued."
Recourse was finally had to Antonie Game-
lin, a French trader. Gamelin had visited the
Indians innumerable times, and had dealt with
them for many years. No trader was more
highly esteemed by these aborigines. His
long intercourse, honest dealing, good heart,
and perfect good fellowship had given him
universal popularity among the tribes. Much
as they liked him, and always avowing their
faith in him, the Indians passed him on from
tribe to tribe, with no answer to the speech
or invitation until he arrived on the Maumee.
Here the chiefs were outspoken. "The Amer-
icans," they said, "send us nothing but
speeches, and no two are alike. They intend
to deceive us. Detroit was the place where
completion of the forty-first degree of north latitude.
5. Use every possible endeavor to ascertain the names
of the real head men and warriors of the several
tribes, and to attach these men to the United States
by every possible means. 6. Make every exertion to
defeat all confederations and combinations among the
tribes; and conciliate the white people inhabiting the
frontiers, toward the aborigines.
HISTORY OK NORTHWEST OHIO
57
the tire was lighted: then- is where it ought
first to In- put out. The English commander
is our father since he threw down our Frem-h
father; we can do nothing without his appro-
bation. " When t laincliii returned, lie reported
the situation as hopeless. Other trailers ar-
riving vouchsafed the information that war
parties were on the move.
llth, that Harmar should conduct an expedi-
tion against the MaumPe towns, which were
reported to be the headquarters of all the rene-
gade Indians who were committing the depre-
dations. Troops from Kentucky, New York,
and from the back counties of Pennsylvania,
were ordered to assemble at Fort Washington
(now Cincinnati) on the 15th of September,
A I \I-MEE TOWNS DESTROYED BY GENERAL HARMAR
HARMAR *s EXPEDITION
General Harmar reported to General St.
Glair many raids and murders by the sav-
ages, and it was agreed between them, at a
meeting held at Fort Washington, on July
1790. The object of this expedition was not
only to chastise the savages, but also to build
one or more forts on the Maumee and to estab-
lish a connecting line of refuge posts for sup-
plies, from which sorties could quickly be
made to intercept the savages. Actuated by
58
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
what might be termed by the "peace at any
price" partisans a Commendable spirit, but
which we now know was the sheerest folly and
really suicidal, St. Glair forwarded word of
this expedition to the British commander, to
assure him that no hostile intentions were held
towards Detroit "or any other place at pres-
ent in the possession of the troops of his
Britannic Majesty, but is on foot with the sole
design of humbling and chastising some of
the savage tribes, whose depredations have
become intolerable and whose cruelties have of
late become an outrage, not only on the people
of America, but on humanity."
The army under General Harmar marched
northward from near Fort Washington, on
the 4th of October, 1790. It was composed
of almost 1,500 soldiers, of whom about one-
fifth were regulars, and included an artillery
company with three light brass cannon. The
rest of his troops were volunteer infantry,
many of whom were raw soldiers and unused
to a gun or the woods, and some of them were
indeed without effective guns. Between the
"regulars" and the militia jealousy seemed
to exist from the very inception of the expe-
dition. General Harmar was much disheart-
ened, for at least half of them served no other
purpose than to swell the number. They were
inadequately clad and almost destitute of
camp equipment. Some of the men were too
old and infirm for the contemplated duties.
We have a detailed account of the march from
day to day in Ebenezer Denny's Military
Journal. It reveals the hardships endured
from the muddy roads, marsh lands, and lack
of provender for the horses. The troops aver-
aged nearly ten miles a day. On the 17th a
scouting detachment encountered a body of
Indians, and quite a number of the Ameri-
cans were killed. This was the first serious
incident of the~ campaign. The rout was due
"to the scandalous behavior of the militia,
many of whom never fired a shot, but ran off
at the first noise of the Indians and left a
few regulars to be sacrificed — some of them
never halted until they crossed the Ohio."
The Harmar expedition eventually reached
a place near the headwaters of the Maumee,
and not far from Fort Wayne, Indiana. A
large village of the Indians was destroyed,
and the army then proceeded on. "The chief
village," says Denny, "contained about eighty
houses and wigwams, and a vast quantity of
corn and vegetables hid in various places,
holes, etc. ' ' On the representation by Colonel
Hardin that he believed the town was again
occupied by the aborigines, as soon as the army
passed on, a detachment of "four hundred
choice militia and regulars ' ' was sent back on
the night of the 21st. They encountered the
Indians in strong force and, owing to the un-
reliability of the militia, were overwhelmingly
defeated. General Harmar then lost all confi-
dence in his troops and started for Fort Wash-
ington, which fortress they reached about ten
days later. Of his troops 183 had been killed
and thirty-one wounded. The loss of the sav-
ages must have been severe, for they did not
annoy the expedition on its retreat. One of
the officers wrote that "a regular soldier on
the retreat near the St. Joseph's River, being
surrounded and in the midst of the Indians,
put his bayonet through six Indians, knocked
down the seventh, and the soldier himself
made the eighth dead man in the heap." The
Indians were led by Chief Little Turtle, of
whom much will be heard hereafter. It was
indeed a sorrowful march for General Harmar
back to Fort Washington.
So severe was the adverse criticism of the
conduct of this expedition by its commander
that President Washington appointed a board
of officers to act as a court of inquiry. Al-
though the verdict of this court was an acquit-
tal, the incident proved to be General
Harmar 's undoing. The real causes of the
catastrophe probably were the incompetence
of some of the officers and bickerings among
others which caused distrust and disorder,
HISTORY OK NOKTIIWKST olllo
59
and (lie general lack of discipline among the
militia. As a result of this disaster General
Harinar resigned his commission, but after-
wards rendered good si-rvicc as adjutant-gen-
eral of Pennsylvania in furnishing troops for
General Wayne's campaign.
Another natural result of this defeat was
an increase of anxiety and dread among the
frontier settlers. They feared the over-pacific
policy of sending embassies to placate the
savages, instead of strong military expedi-
tions to crush them if they would not yield.
The savages greatly rejoiced that they had
been able to administer such a decisive defeat
upon trained troops. They became bolder in
their operations in the Maumee and Sandusky
valleys, as well as in other parts of the North-
western Territory. The year 1791 proved to
be a bloody year in many parts of Ohio. But
the great problem was how to prosecute the
war against the savages, without arousing the
active hostility of the British.
General St. Clair recommended another
punitive expedition against the savages, in
order to establish the series of forts in the
Maumee country, which had not been accom-
plished by General Harmar. It was purposed
to build a chain of forts, some twenty-five
miles apart, beginning at Fort Washington as
one terminal. The importance of such a series
of fortified outposts appeared obvious to the
military authorities, as it would make easier
the punishment of the hostile tribes. From
the Government standpoint the expedition was
not necessarily hostile, so that the pipe of
peace was carried along in the same wagon
as the grape and the canister. And yet it
was intended to be impressive and irresistible.
In the carrying out of the campaign St. Clair
was granted the widest latitude and carried
almost plenary powers, although his instruc-
tions were elaborate and specific. In taking
leave of his old military comrade, President
Washington wished him success and honor,
and added this solemn warning :
"You have your instructions from the sec-
retary of war, I had a strict eye to them and
will add but one word, — Beware of a sur-
prise! You know how the Indians fight. I
repeat it, Beware of a surprise."
With these warning words sounding in his
ear, fresh with Washington's characteristic
emphasis, St. Clair departed for the West. He
planned to advance on the 17th of September,
1791. The army, as finally a.ssemliled. was
about equal to that under General Harmar.
This army of 2,300 "effectives," as they were
called, was fairly well provisioned, and had
some courageous officers ; but it was sadly de-
ficient in arms and the necessary accouter-
ments. In its personnel, it was almost as
incomplete as that of Harmar. Fort Hamilton
was established near the site of the present
city of that name, and Fort St. Clair was built
about twenty-five miles farther north. The
third fortification, called Fort Jefferson, was
erected in Darke County.
General Harmar predicted defeat for this
new army, and his predictions proved to be
correct. Cutting its way through the forests
and building bridges over streams, the army
advanced slowly, making not more than five
or six miles a day. Although signs of Indians
were frequently encountered, and the scouts
and stragglers occasionally exchanged shots
with the lurking savages, the army was not
properly safeguarded against surprise in a
country of such dense forests. St. Clair did
not seem to realize the extreme danger of his
position so far in the enemy country. By the
time the foot-sore and bedraggled army
reached the eastern fork of the Wabash, about
11/2 miles east of the Ohio-Indiana line, it had
dwindled to about 1,400 men. Here the army
camped on the night before the battle, while
"all around the wintry woods lay a frozen
silence." Signs of Indians were now unmis-
takable. During the night there was picket
firing at intervals, and the sentinels reported
considerable bodies of the aborigines skulking
60
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
about the front and both flanks. To the officers
this was a matter of grave concern, and scout-
ing parties were sent out in the early morning.
A light fall of snow lay upon the ground.
The army lay in two lines, seventy yards apart,
with four pieces of cannon in the center of
each. Across the small stream, probably
twenty yards wide, a band of 300 or 400
disorder. They broke and fled in panic toward
the body of regulars, thus spreading confu-
sion and dismay everywhere. The drum beat
the call to arms at the first shots, and the vol-
leys brought many casualties among the In-
dians, but their onward rush soon surrounded
the entire camp, while the outlying guards and
pickets were driven in. Only now and then
SCALE
160
TO TWt IttGK
FLAM or 3r<.L*m'» CAMP AMO BATTLE.
ST. GLAIR'S CAMP AND PLAN OF BATTLE
militia were encamped. These men sustained
the first brunt of the battle.
There was no time for the terror-stricken
soldiers to properly form to meet the impend-
ing onslaught of the denizens of the forest,
who quickly encircled the entire camp of the
Americans. Protected by logs and trees, they
crowded closer and closer. The heavy firing
and the blood-curdling whoops and yells of the
painted enemy threw the militia into hopeless
could fearful figures, painted in red and
black, with feathers braided in their long
scalp-locks, be distinguished through the
smoke. "They shot the troops down as hun-
ters slaughter a herd of standing buffalo."
Instead of being frightened by the thunder
of the artillery, the Indians made the gunmen
special objects of their attacks. Man after
man was picked off until the artillery was
silenced. The Indians then rushed forward
HISTORY OK NOIJTHNYKST OHIO
61
and seized the guns. It is doubtful if there
ever was a wilder rout. As soon as the men
realized that there was some hope of safety
in flight, they broke into a wild stampede.
Intermixed with the soldiers were the few
camp followers, and the women who had ac-
companied the expedition. Neither the com-
mand of the officers nor their brave example
seemed to have the slightest effect.
From a report made by Ebenezer Denny,
who was adjutant to General St. Clair, I quote
as follows: "The troops paraded this morn-
ing (4th November, 1791) at the usual time,
and had been dismissed from the lines but a
few minutes, the sun not yet up, when the
woods in front rung with the yells and fire of
the savages. The poor militia, who were but
three hundred yards in front, had scarcely
time to return a shot — they fled into our
camp. The troops were under arms in an
instant, and a smart fire from the front line
met the enemy. It was but a few minutes,
however, until the men were engaged in every
quarter. The enemy from the front filed off to
the right and left, and completely surrounded
the camp, killed and cut off nearly all the
guards and approached close to the lines.
They advanced from one tree, log, or stump
to another, under cover of the smoke of our
fire. The artillery and musketry made a tre-
mendous noise, but did little execution. The
Aborigines seemed to brave everything, and
when fairly fixed around us they made no
noise other than their fire which they kept
up very constant and which seldom failed to
tell, although scarcely heard. * * *
' ' The ground was literally covered with the
dead. The wounded were taken to the center,
where it was thought most safe, and where a
great many who had quit their posts unhurt
had crowded together. The General, with
other officers, endeavored to rally these men,
and twice they were taken out to the lines.
It appeared as if the officers had been singled
out; a very great proportion fell or were
wounded and obliged to retire from the lines
early in the action. * * * The men, being
thus left with few officers, became fearful,
despaired of success, gave up the fight, and
to save themselves for the moment, abandoned
entirely their duty and ground, and crowded
in toward the center of the field, and no exer-
tions could put them in any order even for
defense; (they became) perfectly ungovern-
able. • * •
"As our lines were deserted the Aborig-
ines contracted theirs until their shot centered
from all points and now meeting with little
opposition, took more deliberate aim and did
great execution. Exposed to a cross fire, men
and officers were seen falling in every direc-
tion ; the distress, too, of the wounded made
the scene such as can scarcely be conceived
— a few minutes longer, and a retreat would
have been impossible — the only hope left was,
that perhaps the savages would be so taken
up with the camp as not to follow. Delay
was death; no preparation could be made;
numbers of brave men must be left a sacri-
fice, there was no alternative. It was past
nine o'clock when repeated orders were given
to charge toward the road. The action had
continued between two and three hours. t Both
officers and men seemed confounded, incapa-
ble of doing anything; they could not move
until it was told that a retreat was intended.
* * *»
' ' During the last charge of Colonel Darke, ' '
says Major Fowler, ' ' the bodies of the freshly
scalped heads were reeking with smoke, and
in the heavy morning frost looked like so
many pumpkins through a cornfield in De-
cember." It is no wonder that green troops,
unused to scenes of carnage, became panicky
before such horrible spectacles.
General St. Clair behaved gallantly through-
out the dreadful scene. He was so tortured
with gout that he could not mount a horse
without assistance. From beneath a three-
cornered cocked hat, his long white locks were
62
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
seen streaming in the air as he rode up and
down the line during the battle. He had three
horses shot from under him, and it is said
that eight balls passed through his clothes,
and one clipped his gray hair. He finally
mounted a pack horse and upon this slow
animal, which could hardly be urged into a
trot, joined the army in the retreat which
almost developed into a rout. Colonel But-
ler, second in command, was mortally
wounded.
"During the action Gen. St. Clair ex-
erted himself with a courage and presence of
mind worthy of the best fortune. He was
personally present at the first charge made
upon the enemy with the bayonet and gave
the order to Col. Drake. When the enemy
first entered the camp by the left flank, he
led the troops that drove them back, and
when a retreat became indispensable, he put
himself at the head of the troops which broke
through the enemy and opened the way for
the rest and then remained in the rear, mak-
ing every exertion in his power to obtain a
party to Cover the retreat; but the panic was
so great that his exertions were of but little
avail. In the height of the action a few of
the mep crowded around the fires in the cen-
ter of the camp. St. Clair was seen drawing
his pistols and threatening some of them, and
ordering them to turn out and repel the
enemy. ' '
Guns and aceouterment were thrown away
by hundreds in their frantic haste. For miles
the march was strewed with fire-locks, car-
tridge-boxes, and regimentals. The retreat
proved to be a disgraceful flight. Fortunate
indeed was it that the victorious savages fol-
lowed them only a few miles, and then re-
turned to enjoy the spoils of the battlefield.
This was rich, indeed, for they secured great
quantities of tents, guns, axes, clothing, blank-
ets, and powder, and large numbers of horses
— the very thing that the savages prized high-
est. "A single aborigine," wrote Denny,
"might have followed with safety on either
flank. Such a panic had seized the men that
I believe it would not have been possible to
have brought any of them to engage again."
The number of savages actually engaged and
their losses has never been learned. Simon
Girty is said to have told a prisoner that there
were 1,200 in the attack. Good authorities
place the number at 2,000. Little Turtle was
again the acknowledged leader, and Blue
Jacket was next in authority. It is quite likely
that Tecumseh was also an active participant.
The principal tribes engaged were Delawares,
Shawnees, Wyandots, Miamis, and Ottawas,
with a few Chippewas and Pottawatomies.
' ' Oh ! ' ' said an old squaw many years after-
wards, "my arm that night was weary scalp-
ing white men."
There were many individual instances of
heroism and marvelous escapes. None were
more thrilling than those of William Ken-
nan, a young man of eighteen. Becoming sep-
arated from his party, he saw a band of In-
dians near him. McClung, in his "Sketches
of Western Adventure, ' ' says :
"Not a moment to be lost. He darted off
with every muscle strained to its utmost, and
was pursued by a dozen of the enemy with
loud yells. He at first pressed straight for-
ward to the usual fording-place in the creek,
which ran between the rangers and the main
army ; but several Indians who had passed
him before he rose from the grass threw
themselves in the way and completely cut him
off from the rest. By the most powerful ex-
ertions he had thrown the whole body of pur-
suers behind him, with the exception of one
chief who displayed a swiftness and perse-
verance equal to his own. In the circuit which
Kennan was obliged to take the race con-
tinued for more than 400 yards. The distance
between them was about eighteen feet, which
Kennan could not increase nor his adversary
diminish. Each for the time put his whole
soul into the race.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OIII<>
"Keimaii as far as he was able, kept his
eye upon the motions of his pursuer, lest he
should throw the tomahawk, which he held
aloft in a menacing attitude. * * * As he
had slackened his pace for a moment the
Indian was almost in reach of him. when he
n commenced the race; but the idea of being
without arms lent wings to his feet, and for
the first time he saw himself gaining ground.
He had watched the motions of his pursuer
too closely, however, to pay proper attention
to the nature of the ground before him, and he
suddenly found himself in front of a large
tree which had been blown down, and upon
which brush and other impediments lay to
the height of eight or nine feet.
"The Indian (who heretofore had not
uttered the slightest sound) now gave a short,
quick yell, as if secure of his victim. Kennan
had not a moment to deliberate. He must
clear the impediment at a leap or perish.
Putting his whole soul into the effort he
bounded into the air with a power which
astonished himself, and clearing limbs, brush
and everything else, alighted in perfect safety
upon the other side. A loud yell of aston-
ishment burst from the band of pursuers, not
one of whom had the hardihood to attempt
the same feat. Kennan, as may be readily
imagined, had no leisure to enjoy his triumph,
but. dashing into the bed of the creek (upon
the banks of which his feat had been per-
formed) where the high banks would shield
him from the fire of the enemy, he ran up
the stream until a convenient place offered
for crossing,, and rejoined the rangers in the
rear of the encampment, panting from the
fatigue of exertions, which have seldom been
surpassed. No breathing time was allowed
him, however. The attack instantly com-
menced, and, as we have already observed,
was maintained for three hours with un-
abated fury.
"When the retreat commenced, Kennan
was attached to Maj. Clark's battalion, and
had the dangerous service of protecting tin-
rear. This corps quickly lost its commander,
and was completely disorgani/.cd. Kenuan
was among the hindmost when tin- fight com-
menced, but exerting those same powers
which had saved him, in the morning, he
quickly gained the front, passing several
horsemen in the flight. Here he beheld a
private in his own company, an intimate
acquaintance, lying upon the ground with his
thigh broken, and in tones of the most pierc-
ing distress, implored each horseman who
hurried by to take him up behind him. As
soon as he beheld Kennan coming up on foot,
he stretched out his arms and called aloud
upon him to save him. Notwithstanding the
imminent peril of the moment, his friend
could not reject so passionate an appeal, but
seizing him in his arms he placed him upon
his back and ran in that manner for several
hundred yards. Horseman after horseman
passed them, all of whom refused to relieve
him of his burden.
"At length the enemy was gaining upon
him so fast that Kennan saw their death cer-
tain unless he relinquished his burden. He
accordingly told his friend that he had used
every possible exertion to save his life, but
in vain; that he must relax his hold around
his neck or they would both perish. The un-
happy wretch, heedless of'every remonstrance,
still clung convulsively to his back, and im-
peded his exertions until the foremost of the
enemy (armed with tomahawks alone) were
within twenty yards of them. Kennan then
drew his knife from its sheath and cut the
fingers of his companion, thus compelling him
to relinquish his hold. The unhappy man
rolled upon the ground in utter helplessness,
and Kennan beheld him tomahawked before
he had gone thirty yards. Relieved from his
burden, he darted forward with an activity
which once more brought him to the van."
The prediction of General Harmar before
the army set out on the campaign that defeat
64
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
would follow was founded upon his own ex-
perience and particular knowledge. He saw
the poor material that the hulk of the army
was composed of. They were men collected
from the streets and prisons of the cities, who
were hurried out into the enemy's country.
The officers commanding them were totally
unacquainted with the business in which they
were engaged, so that it was utterly impossible
that they could win against a wily foe. Be-
sides, not any one department was sufficiently
prepared ; both the quartermaster and the
contractors extremely deficient. It was a mat-
ter of astonishment to General Harmar that
the commanding general, St. Clair, who was
acknowledged to be a perfectly competent
military officer, should think of hazarding
with such troops and under such circum-
stance his reputation and life, and the lives
of so many others, knowing as he did the
enemy with whom he was going to contend, an
enemy brought up from infancy to war, and
perhaps superior to an equal number of the
best men that could be taken against them.
In this overwhelming defeat General St.
Clair 's army lost 593 privates killed and
missing; thirty-nine officers were killed, and
the artillery and supplies, consisting of cloth-
ing, tents, several hundred horses, beef cattle,
etc., together with muskets and other equip-
ment, were thrown aVvay and gathered up by
the savages. The casualties exceeded half of
the forces actually engaged. Many women
were along, which would look as though no
serious opposition had been expected. The
cause of the disaster is variously stated, but
its completeness is the one overwhelming and
undisputed fact that stands out clearly on the
page of history. The war department had
been negligent in sending supplies, and it had
become necessary to detach one regiment, the
real flower of the army, to bring up provi-
sions and military stores. It was during its
absence that the conflict occurred. Mistakes
had also been made in the labeling of boxes.
A box marked "flints" was found to contain
gun-locks. A keg of powder, marked ' ' for the
infantry," was cannon powder, so damaged
that it could scarcely be ignited. The army
was on practically half rations during the
entire campaign. The undisciplined charac-
ter of the soldiers and the inexperience of the
officers in border warfare undoubtedly had a
great deal to do with it. The one glaring fault
that might be charged to the commanding
general was that he failed to keep scouting
parties ahead in order to prevent surprise
and ambuscade.
It required six weeks for the aide of General
St. Clair to convey, on horseback, the news of
this crushing defeat to the Government. It
was toward the close of a winter's day in
December that an officer in uniform was seen
to dismount in front of the President's house,
in Philadelphia. Handing the bridle to his
servant, he knocked at the door of the man-
sion. Learning from the porter that the
President was at dinner, he said that he was
on public business, having dispatches which
he could deliver only to the commander-in-
chief. A sergeant was sent into the dining-
room to give the information to Tobias Lear,
the President's private secretary, who left the
table and went into the hall where the officer
repeated what he had said. Mr. Lear replied
that, as the President's secretary, he would
take charge of the dispatches and deliver
them at the proper time. The officer made
answer that he had just arrived from the
western army, and his orders were explicit
to deliver them with all promptitude, and to
the President in person; but that he would
await his directions. Mr. Lear returned, and
in a whisper imparted to the President what
had passed. General Washington rose from
the table and went to the officer. He was
back in a short time, made a word of apology
for his absence, but no allusion to the cause
of it.
General Washington's hours were early,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
65
and by 10 o'clock all the company had gone.
Mrs. Washington left the room soon after-
wards, the President and his secretary re-
maining. The nation's chief now paced the
room in hurried strides and without speaking
for several minutes. Then he sat down on a
sofa by the fire, telling his secretary to sit
down. He rose again, and, as he walked
backward and forward, Mr. Lear saw that a
storm was gathering. In the agony of his
emotion, he struck his clenched hands with
fearful force against his forehead, and, in a
paroxysm of anguish exclaimed:
"It's all over! St. Clair's defeated—
routed; the officers nearly all killed — the men
by wholesale — that brave army cut to pieces —
the rout complete! too_ shocking to think of
— and a surprise in the bargain ! ' '
He uttered all this with great vehemence.
Then, pausing for a moment, he walked about
the room several times, greatly agitated, but
saving nothing. Near the door he stopped
short and stood still a few seconds ; then, turn-
ing to the secretary, who stood amazed at this
spectacle of Washington, the President, in his
wrath, again broke out, saying :
"Yes, sir, here, in this very room, on this
very spot, I took leave of him ; I wished him
success and honor. You have your instruc-
tions, I said, from the secretary of war, I had
a strict eye to them, and will add but one
word — beware of a surprise ! You know how
the Indians fight us. He went off with that
as my last solemn warning thrown into his
ears. And yet, to suffer that army to be cut
to pieces, hacked by a surprise, — the very
thing I guarded him against! 0 God! 0
God! he's worse than a murderer! How can
he answer it to his country? The blood of
the slain is upon him — the curse of widows
and orphans — the curse of heaven!"
This explosion came out in appealing tones.
His frame was shaken with his emotion. Pres-
ently the President sat down on the sofa once
more. He seemed conscious of passion and
uncomfortable. He was silent as his wrath
began to subside. He at length said, in an
altered voice:
"This must not go beyond this room."
Another pause followed — a longer one —
when he said in a tone quite low.
"General St. Clair shall have justice. I
looked hastily through the dispatches — saw
the whole disaster, but not all the particulars.
I will hear him without prejudice, he shall
have fully justice; yet, long, faithful, and
meritorious services have their claims. ' ' And
absolute justice was accorded him. One of
the strongest records in St. Clair's favor is
the fact that he retained the "undiminished
esteem and good opinion of President Wash-
ington." The popular clamor was tremen-
dous, and General St. Clair demanded a court
of inquiry. This request was complied with
and the court exonerated him of all blame.
He followed the example set by General Har-
mar and resigned his commission.
About a year later General Wilkinson
visited this battlefield, which was in Mercer
County, with his command. They found
scattered along the way the remains of many
Americans, who had been pursued and killed
by the savages, or who had perished of their
wounds while endeavoring to escape. The
field was thickly strewn with remains, showing
the horrible mutilations by the bloodthirsty
savages. Limbs were separated from bodies
and the flesh had been stripped from many
bones, but it was impossible to tell whether
this had been the work of the wolves or the
Indians. It was at this time that Fort Re-
covery was erected on the site of the disaster.
As late as 1830 a brass cannon was found
buried near the scene of the conflict.
St. Clair's defeat was made the subject of
a song, which has been sung hundreds of times
with deep emotion. It cannot claim high rank
as poetry, but it deserves preservation as a
relic of those days long since gone by.
66 HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
SAINCLAIRE'S DEFEAT He leaned his back against a tree, and there
resigned his breath,
Twas November the fourth, in the year of And nke a yaliant soldier gon in the armg Q£
ninety-one, death.
We had a sore engagement near to Fort Jef- When We8ged angelg did ^^ hig gpirit to
ferson; convey;
Sainclaire was our commander, which may And untQ ^ ^^ mAs ^ quickly ^
remembered be/ hig
For there we left nine hundred men in t'
West'n Ter'tory. ,,T ,j . .,,
We charg d again with courage firm, but soon
At Bunker's Hill and Quebeck, where many agam gave £round-
a hero fell ^e war-wnooP then redoubled, as did the
Likewise at Long Island (it is I the truth can foes around-
tem They killed Major Ferguson, which caused
But such a dreadful carnage may I never see nis men to crv>
again ' ' Our only safety is in flight, or fighting here
As hap'ned near St. Mary's upon the river to die.
plain.
"Stand to your guns," says valiant Ford,
Our army was attacked just as the day did "let's die upon them here
dawn, Before we let the sav'ges know we ever har-
And soon were overpowered and driven from bored fear." •
the lawn. Our cannon-balls exhausted, and artill'ry-
They killed Major Duldham, Levin and Briggs men all slain,
likewise, Obliged were our musketmen the en 'my to
And horrid yells of sav 'ges resounded through sustain.
the skies.
Yet three hours more we fought them, and
Major Butler was wounded in the very second ,, . ,, , . , ,
fi then were fore d to yield,
TT- ,,,, .,, When three hundred bloody warriors lay
His manly bosom swelld with rage when , J J
forc'd to retire; stretch 'd upon the field.
And as he lay in anguish, nor scarcely could SayS Col°nel Glbson to his men> "^ ^ be
he see not dlsmav d>
Exclaim 'd,' "Ye hounds of hell, 0 ! revenged 1>m sure that true v>rginians were never yet
I will be." afraid-
•
We had not been long broken, when General Ten thousand deaths I 'd rather die, than they
Butler found should gain the field ! ' '
Himself so badly wounded, was forced to quit With that he got a fatal shot, which caused
the ground. him to yield.
"My God!" says he, "what shall we do, we're Says Major Clark, "My heroes, I can here no
wounded every man? longer stand,
Go charge them, valiant heroes, and beat them We'll strive to form in order, and retreat
if you can. the best we can."
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO 67
The word, Retreat, being pass'd around, there Some had a thigh and some an arm broke on
was a dismal cry, the field that day,
Then helter-skelter through the woods, like Who writhed in torments at the stake, to close
wolves and sheep they fly, the dire affray.
This well-appointed army, who but a day
before, To mention our brave officers, is what I wish
Defied and braved all danger, had like a cloud to do ;
pass'd o'er. No sons of Mars e'er fought more brave, or
with more courage true.
Alas ! the dying and wounded, how dreadful To Captain Bradford I belonged, in his artil-
was the thought, lery.
To the tomahawk and scalping-knife, in He fell that day amongst the slain ; a valiant
mis'ry are brought. man was he.
CHAPTER VII
GENERAL WAYNE'S CAMPAIGN
Me-au-me was the way the French explorers
understood the Indians of the Maumee basin
to pronounce the name of their tribe. Hence
it was that the French recorded the name as
Miami. On account of this tribe having a
village by the upper waters of this river, the
French referred to it as the River of the
Miamis. As the same name had been bestowed
upon a river emptying into the Ohio River,
this northern Miami became familiarly known
as the Miami of the Lake. The peculiar and
rapid pronunciation of the three syllables as
Me-au-me led the English settlers who located
in this basin to pronounce it in two syllables,
and so it was that the name became finally
fixed as Maumee. It is also occasionally re-
ferred to or written as Omi, or Omee, which
was evidently another misspelling of the
French designation. No definite Indian name
of the great river has descended to us, al-
though the Shawnees sometimes referred to
it as Ottawa Sepe, and the Wyandots knew
it as Was-o-hah-con-die.
The Maumee Valley was a wonderful hunt-
ing ground in the early days, and harbored
a great abundance of valuable game. There
were bear, red deer, wolves, panthers, lynx,
wild cats, foxes, and turkeys, and the shaggy
buffalo had at one time roamed here. Even
down to the founding of Toledo, the red deer
were very plentiful. The wild turkey was
an important game bird, for it sometimes
weighed as much as thirty pounds. With a
"call" made of a quill, or the wing-bone of
the turkey, these birds could be decoyed
almost into the hunter's presence, if he was
68
securely hidden from sight. The cowardly
wolves were a great pest to the early pioneers.
Liberal bounties were offered, and many were
thus killed, but the wily hunters would fre-
quently release the females from their traps
in order to have a new supply for the next
season. All sorts and variety of foxes were
indigenous, from the red and black to the sil-
ver grey. The lynx was only an occasional
visitor, but wild cat were very numerous.
Small game, such as prairie chicken, quail,
partridge, and snipe, abounded in great num-
bers. Quail could be bought for eighteen cents
a dozen in the market. Wild ducks and geese
were hardly considered worth the attention
of the hunter.
The Maumee Valley is justly entitled to the
appellation of "The Bloody Ground." This
beautiful and fertile region, now so well
adapted to the highest cultivation, and con-
taining all the necessary elements for com-
mercial and agricultural prosperity, has been
the theater of a greater number of sanguinary
battles and has caused the expenditure of
more treasure, perhaps, than any similar ex-
tent of territory in the United States. It was
in this region that the Iroquois made war upon
the Miamis, and claimed to have conquered
all the northwest country. Here it was that
Pontiac gathered together his Indian hordes
and threw them with a savage fury against
the whites. It was in this vicinity, again, that
' ' Mad Anthony Wayne, ' ' with his fiery impet-
uosity, dashed his intrepid little army against
the unseen savages at Fallen Timbers, and
crushed them with a disaster from which they
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
69
never wholly recovered. There were two
sieges of Fort Meigs, during one of which
occurred the butchery of Colonel Dudley's
command, and there were many other conflicts
of lesser note within this valley. It was not
far distant that the massacre of the River
Raisin occurred. All of these conflicts tend
to show that this territory was opened up to
civilization through a pathway of blood almost
without parallel on the continent.
small and insignificant tribes. The great num-
ber of scalps and other rich booty secured
filled their savage breasts with the greatest
joy, and everything seemed ominous of final
victory in driving the hated Americans from
this bountiful country. As a local poet ex-
pressed it :
"Mustered strong, the Kas-kas-kies,
Wyandots and the Miamis,
'r"IIHll . ' • "<V
• '
I'l.A.N II.I.rsTKATINr. Till: ItATTI.KS i >[• TIIK MAIMKK
Lri'lii' nt'iiiii*.— Tli'- map -h"\v^ ai».ni *< mill's "f the i-minti \ alnliir i-arh *i<le "I the Maiimee. including
the tnwiis nt' Perrysburgli, Maumee CiM anil \\'att-i-\ I'le.
Ju>t |irrvi"ii.s l'i tla- li.-it'ii- "I tl»- 1'alli-n 'I'iinlH-rs, ill AliiTU^I. I'HI. \Nayni-'~ army \va~ i'iii-am|ii'i| a! a
!v i-iillnil H'n'lf </'• Hunt, a >li"! ! ili-lani'i- almvi- thr prrsi-li! >ili' "I \\alrrvillr. 'I'ht' liatlli m-
ieil at llu- l'i-i:f/iii' I ••If Itiil. 'Tin- riiiili-il Imliaus wrn- pm-unl t.. I-M-II iimii-r tin- ^'ii!i- of tin- I'.:
A'"/ ' MKIIIII.
t'uit M'-iss. mi'iii'irahlr tn'in hiiviiic.' suslamcd !\\" Mt-L't's m the vi-ai l^l.'f. i^ shnwu mi lln- i-a-t ^uli1 nl
the MautiK-i-. with llu- Iti-itmh Initti-rif.t ..11 Imth ^idcs of tin- river, ami al'"Vi- the British t'"tt. the jmsitimi.
of Procli/r's i
Closely following the rout of St. Clair, the
Maumee Valley was the theater of many
tragic occurrences. Previous to the defeat of
General Harmar's army, the savages did not
court peace ; much less were they inclined to
welcome the overtures made to them for peace
after that disaster and the equally serious
repulse of St. Clair. They rallied all the
available warriors of the neighboring tribes —
the Miamis under Little Turtle, the Delawares
under Buckongehelas, the Shawnees under
Blue Jacket, and bands of Wyandots, Otta-
was, Pottawatomies, Kickapoos, and other
Also the Potawotamies,
The Delawares and Chippewas,
The Kickapoos and Ottawas,
The Shawanoes and many strays,
From almost every Indian nation,
Had joined the fearless congregation, •
Who after St. Clair 's dread defeat,
Returned to this secure retreat."
President Washington was greatly disap-
pointed in the outcome of the expedition of
General St. Clair, who had been a member
of his former staff. The increased apprehen-
70
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
sion on the frontier is clearly revealed by the
urgent petitions that were continually com-
ing in from the settlers, demanding and
beseeching protection from threatened ma-
raudings. Almost daily fresh and revolting
stories of massacres reached Washington, and
the prospect indeed appeared lugubrious. For
the next expedition unusual care was taken in
the selection of a commander. The man upon
of "Mad Anthony." He had a reputation
for hard fighting, dogged courage, and daring
energy. But in spite of his sobriquet, "Mad
Anthony's" head was always cool. It was also
decided that the men should be trained and
disciplined according to the peculiarity and
difficulty of the service in which they would
be engaged, in order that there might be no
possibility of another repulse even by a larger
MAJOR-GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE
whom the choice finally fell from among nu-
merous candidates in 1792 was Anthony
Wayne, and the result demonstrated the wis-
dom of this choice from among many of the
older commanders. Wayne was not yet fifty
years of age. He was the hero of Stony Point,
where he had forced his way into the citadel
itself at the point of the bayonet. It was this
daredevil feat which had given him the name
aborigine army than had ever before been
assembled. General Wayne at once issued a
proclamation to the settlers that they should
studiously avoid all action that would tend to
anger the Indians.
General Wayne proceeded to Pittsburg to
organize his army, and in December, 1792, the
"Legion of the United States" was assembled
at Legionville, about twenty miles below the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
71
"smoky city." Here they encamped until the
following spring, when they floated down the
Ohio River and landed at Hobson's Choice, a
point not far from Cincinnati. This was so
named "because it was the only ground which
was in any degree calculated for the purpose."
Here they remained several months before
permission was granted to proceed farther
north. During all these months Wayne drilled
both officers and men with unceasing patience.
It is interesting to read the log of this army
in its march through the rich Miami Valley,
now studded with thriving cities and prosper-
ous villages. There were no roads, not even
paths, and the only landmarks to indicate
their journey were such places as "Five-mile
Spring," "Seventeen-mile Tree," "Twenty-
nine Mile Tree," etc. At length they reached
Fort Jefferson.
In April of this year (1793) General Wilk-
inson sent two messengers with a peace mes-
sage to the Miamis of the Maumee, and two
other messengers were dispatched on a like
mission to points farther north. Not one of
these four, all of whom were men of note, re-
turned to civilization, but all of them suffered
violent deaths. Councils were held with the
Indians in 1792 and 1793, at Sandusky, Miami
of the Lake, and the Auglaize. Lengthy de-
bates were indulged in, as well as elaborate
ceremonies. British, Americans, and Indians
all took part. The raidings of the savages
upon the unprotected settlements continued
unabated. The Shawnees were especially im-
placable towards the Americans. Finally Wil-
liam May started out from Fort Hamilton to
treat with the Miamis of the Maumee. As was
expected, he was captured by the Indians, but,
instead of being killed, he was sold as a slave
to the British. After serving them for sev-
eral months in the transportation service be-
tween Detroit and the lowest Maumee rapids,
where Alexander McKee maintained a large
supply house for firearms and ammunition, he
finally succeeded in escaping and made a re-
port to General Wayne at Pittsburg.
From the sworn testimony of Mr. May, it
was learned that there had gathered in the
summer of 1792 by the Maumee River, at the
mouth of the Auglaize, which was then the
headquarters of neighboring tribes, more than
3,000 warriors of many nations, all of whom
were fed with rations supplied by the British
from Detroit. TJiese had been seen by May
himself, and he reported that others were ar-
riving daily. This is said to have been the
largest council of the aborigines ever held in
America.
Up and down the great Maumee,
The Miami of the Lake,
O'er the prairie, through the forest,
Came the warriors of the nations,
Came the Delawares and Miamis,
Came the Ottawas and Hurons,
Came the Senecas and Shawnees,
Came the Iroquois and Chippewas,
Came the savage Pottawatomies,
All the warriors drawn together
By the wampum for a council
At the meeting of the waters,
Of the Maumee and the Auglaize,
With their weapons and their war-gear,
Painted like the leaves of autumn,
Painted like the sky of morning.
It seemed to the British as though they were
nearing a culmination of their hopes and am-
bitions in the formation of a confederation
against the encroachment of the Americans.
There were representatives of tribes so remote
that they carried no guns, but bore spears,
bows, and tomahawks, and were clothed in
buffalo robes instead of blankets. The Seneca
chief, Corn Planter, and several other sachems
of the Six Nations of New York, were present
in the interest of the Americans. Corn Planter
reported that there were present chiefs from
nations so distant that it required a whole
72
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
season to come, and that some twenty-seven
tribes were reported from Canada. "The
whole of them know, ' ' said he, ' ' that we, the
Six Nations, have General Washington by the
hand."
In 1793, President Washington appointed
three commissioners to attend the great coun-
cil which was to be held at the foot of the
lowest rapids of the Maumee, or at Sandusky,
on the 1st of June. For this council runners
had been dispatched even to the remote Creeks
and Cherokees in the South, urging their at-
tendance. They proceeded to Fort Niagara
and from there embarked on a British sloop
and were taken to Detroit, where they re-
mained for several weeks. At this time the
great council was in progress at the foot of
the Maumee Rapids, but these commissioners
were not allowed to attend it. In its place, a
deputation of some twenty Indians, with the
notorious Simon Girty as interpreter, pro-
ceeded to Detroit to see them. They presented
a brief written, communication from the coun-
cil, of which the most important part was
this : "If you seriously design to make a firm
and lasting peace, you will immediately re-
move all your people from our side of the
river" (the Ohio). This was undoubtedly
directly instigated by the British agents. The
commissioners had received reliable informa-
tion that all of the tribes represented at this
council, with the exception of the Shawnees,
Wyandots, Miamis, and Delawares, were fa-
vorable to peace, and that many others were
chafing at the long delays. Owing to these
commissioners not being able to visit the coun-
cil, and probably to unfaithful translations by
the interpreter, which was not an uncommon
occurrence, they were unable to make any
progress. They therefore presented a long
statement and defense of the American set-
tlements on the ground that they were abso-
lutely justified by previous treaties with the
aborigines. As the British still refused to
allow the commissioners to proceed to the
Maumee, they announced that negotiations
were at an end and returned to Fort Erie.
They then reported to General Wayne.
It became the firm conviction of General
Wayne that it was useless to make any fur-
ther delay in his proposed expedition. Al-
though his forces were not so numerous as he
had expected, he decided to advance, and so
left Fort Jefferson. The first blood was shed
near Fort St. Clair, south of Hamilton, where
a detachment was attacked and a number of
men killed. The savages also carried off about
seventy horses. This demonstrated to Wayne
that his advance was likely to be contested
step by step. A little later he established
Fort Greenville, on the present site of the
town of that name, which he named in honor
of his friend of the Revolutionary war, Gen.
Nathaniel Green. This encampment was
about fifty acres in extent, was fortified, and
a part of the army passed the winter at the
stockade. The fixed determination of this
man, known as "Mad Anthony," is shown by
a report in which he says: "The safety of the
Western frontiers, the reputation of the legion,
the dignity and interest of the nation, all for-
bid a retrograde manouvre, or giving up one
inch of ground we now possess, until the en-
emy are compelled to sue for peace." Regu-
lar drill and teaching of the devices known
to backwoods warfare were continued during
the entire winter. A detachment under Maj.
Henry Burbeck was dispatched to the battle-
field of General St. Glair's defeat and in-
structed to erect a fortification there. They
reached the site of this tragedy on Christmas
Day, 1793. The stockade enclosure with
blockhouse erected by them was given the
name of Fort Recovery. A reward was offered
for every human skull discovered, and several
hundred were thus gathered together and
interred.
The Indians were not unobservant of this
steady advance toward their principal re-
treats, and the building of fortifications, and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
73
it is quite possible that a treaty of peace
might have been secured at this time, had it
not been for the continued adverse influence
of the British. The chiefs kept in close com-
munication with the British officials at Detroit
and with M 'Kee, who was in charge of a trad-
ing post and supply station at the rapids,
near the present Village of Mauiiioe. The
British carried to a still further extreme their
nitire disregard of the treaty entered into at
i In- close of the Revolution. They were gradu-
ally changing from passive to active hostility.
able means to avoid the carnage of war, send-
ing at least five different embassies in which
the most generous terms of peace were offered
to the hostile tribes. The British were very
apprehensive lest the lucrative fur trade might
slip away from them, and it was the traders
who were constantly encouraging the authori-
ties in their alliance with the savages.
On the 17th of April, we read as follows,
in a communication from Detroit: "We have
lately had a visit from Governor Simcoe ; he
came from Niagara through the woods.
OLD FLAGSTAFF FROM FORT RECOVERY, MERCER COUNTY — FORT BUILT IN 1793
They informed the Indians that the peace with
the United States was only a temporary truce,
and at its expiration "their great fathers
would unite with them in the war, and drive
the long knives (as they called the Ameri-
cans) from the lands they had so unjustly
usurped from his red children." As a matter
of fact, the Revolutionary War was still con-
tinuing in this territory by and with the con-
nivance of the British authorities. Peace was
frustrated by the secret encouragement of the
British, and their retention of the forts at
Detroit, Niagara, and Mackinac. The United
States Government had exhausted every avail-
* * He has gone to the foot of the
(Maumee) rapids and three companies of
Colonel England's regiment have followed
him to assist in building a fort there." This,
fort was a veritable stronghold, and it was
named Fort Miami. One official wrote that
this fort "put all the Indians here in great
spirits" to resist the Americans. It was sit-
uated on the left bank of the Maumee River,
within the limits of the present Village of
Maumee, which was a long advance into
United States territory. He reported with the
greatest pleasure the rapid growth of the
warlike spirit among the redskins. "This
74
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
step," referring to Fort Miami, said he, "has
given great spirit to the Indians and im-
pressed them with a hope of our ultimately
acting with them and affording a security
for their families, should the enemy pene-
trate to their villages." Guns, gun-locks,
flints, and the other necessities of warfare of
the best design were freely supplied through
this post. Fort Miami received regular re-
ports of the advance of General Wayne 's com-
mand, and the fort was strengthened and
further garrisoned to meet the anticipated
conflict. The Indians reported that the army
marched twice as far in a day as St. Glair's,
that the troops marched in open order ready
for immediate battle, and that the greatest
precaution was exercised at night by breast-
works of fallen trees, etc., to guard against
ambush and surprise.
On the 7th of July, 1794, General Wayne
reported that a few days previously one of
his escorts had been attacked by a numerous
body of the aborigines under the walls of
Fort Recovery, which was followed by a
general assault upon that fort and garrison.
The enemy was quickly repulsed with great
slaughter, but they immediately rallied and
continued the siege for two days, keeping up
a very heavy and constant fire at a respectable
distance. They were ultimately compelled to
retreat, however, at a considerable loss, and
the Upper Lake Indians were so disheartened
that they began to return home. The Ameri-
can casualties were twenty-two killed, thirty
wounded, and three missing. The loss of
horses was very large, for the savages were
very anxious to gain mounts. It was apparent
that the Indians were reinforced by a con-
siderable number of the British ; likewise that
they were armed and equipped with the very
latest style of firearms, and seemed to be pro-
vided with an abundance of ammunition.
"Another strong corroborating fact that there
were British, or British militia in the assault,
is that a number of ounce balls and buckshot
were lodged in the blockhouses and stockades
of the fort."
' ' There was a considerable number of armed
white men in the rear," said General Wayne
in his dispatch, "whom they frequently heard
talk in our language, and encouraging the
savages to persevere in the assault ; their faces
generally blacked." It seems as though the
attack upon Fort Recovery was not a part of
the British and Indian program. The trader
McKee wrote to Detroit as follows :
"(Maumee) Rapids, July 5, 1794.
"Sir: — I send this by a party of Saganas
(Saginaws) who returned yesterday from
Fort Recovery where the whole body of Ab-
origines, except the Delawares who had gone
another route, imprudently attacked the fort
on Monday the 30th of last month, and lost
16 or 17 men besides a good many wounded.
"Everything had been settled prior to their
leaving the fallen timber, and it had been
agreed to confine themselves to take convoys
and attacking at a distance from the
forts, if they should have the address to
entice the enemy out ; but the impetuosity
of the Mackinac Aborigines and their eager-
ness to begin with the nearest, prevailed with
the others to alter their system, the conse-
quences of which from the present appear-
ance of things may most materially injure the
interests of these people.
"The immediate object of the attack was
three hundred pack horses going from this
fort to Fort Greenville, in which the Aborig-
ines completely succeeded, taking and killing
all of them. Captain Elliott writes that they
are immediately to hold a council at the
Glaize in order to try if they can prevail upon
the Lake Aborigines to remain ; but without
provisions, ammunition, &c., being sent to
that place, I conceive it will be extremely dif-
ficult to keep them together.
"With great respect, I have the honor to be
' ' Your obedient and humble servant.
"A. McKEE."
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
75
In the spring General Wayne's forces were
increased by about 1,600 Kentucky cavalry-
men, until the total number of troops under
his immediate command exceeded 3,000.
General Wayne and every man under him
keenly realized that this was to be a momen-
tous campaign. If this third army was de-
feated, the entire country within the
boundaries of the Alleghenies, the Ohio, and
have been drilled in the art of scientific war-
fare, as practiced in Europe, but in physical
power and patient endurance they were abso-
lutely unsurpassed in any country. The army
broke camp at Fort Greenville, on the 28th
of July, 1794, and proceeded by the way of
Fort Recovery. The route led through what
was long known as the Hlack Swamp Country.
It was indeed a tedious progress, for roads had
Th« priclud lm«> show the route of the «rmy ••< 'h« United Mitt* uiufar lk« commind of O.«r«l
W»)nc during the c»mp«i(jn of 1794. aaa Lncampments. 6 Indian Village.*
Th««rmy eonMtUd of » U<ion of r«<ul»r Iron p.- (\ a J.l.ohm.nt of Kentucky Militii.
in ali about 3000.
Th« J<]u«r« figure? <l«nol« the tt turns at
territory beyond the Indian boundary.
Hide by Ihe treaty of 1795.
GENERAL WAYNE'S ROUTE ALONG THE MAUMEE
This is a copy of the original map by Dr. Belknap which is found in the library of Harvard
College. It is the only map of this campaign.
the Mississippi would be completely domi-
nated by the British, and absolutely lost to the
Americans. These men were not knights in
burnished steel on prancing steeds ; they were
not cavalier's sons from baronial halls; they
were not even regularly trained troops; but
they were determined men who were sturdy
and weather-beaten. Most of them had no
regular uniforms, but they wore the indi-
vidual costume of the border. They may not
to be cut, swampy places made passable by
throwing in brush and timber, and streams
bridged with logs. Wayne halted at Girty's
Town long enough to build Fort Adams.
Lieutenant Boyer has left us a detailed ac-
count of this expedition, which is most in-
teresting reading. While marching through
this country, so inhospitable for an army, we
find the following entry :
"The weather still warm — no water except
76
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
in ponds, which nothing but excessive thirst
would induce us to drink. The mosquitos are
very troublesome, and larger than I ever saw.
We are informed there is no water for twelve
miles." On August 3d, he reported that an
accident occurred which came very near end-
ing the existence of the commander-in-chief.
A tree, in falling, struck General Wayne, but
he was not so badly injured as to prevent him
from riding at a slow pace. Another extract
from this diary reads as follows :
"Camp Grand Oglaize, 8th August, 1794.
Proceeded in our march to this place at five
o'clock this morning, and arrived here at the
confluence of the Miami and Oglaize Rivers
at half past ten, being seventy-seven miles
from Fort Recovery. This place far excels
in beauty any in the western country, and
believe equalled by none in the Atlantic
States. Here are vegetables of every kind in
abundance, and we have marched four or five
miles in corn fields down the Oglaize and
there are not less than one thousand acres of
corn round the town. The land is general of
the fir nature.
' ' This country appears well adapted for the
enjoyment of industrious people, who cannot
avoid living in as great luxury as in any
other place throughout the states. Nature
having lent a most bountiful hand 1n the
arrangement of the position, that a man can
send the produce to market in his own boat.
The land level and river navigable, not more
than sixty miles from the lake."
Wayne had planned to surprise the enemy
at the junction of the Auglaize and Maumee,
but a deserter had carried to the savages the
news of the approach of the Americans.
Hence it was that the American commander
found the headquarters of the red men abso-
lutely deserted. Information reached him
here of the assistance that the savages ex-
pected from the garrison at Detroit. At this
point, and on a prominence overlooking the
confluence of the Auglaize and the Maumee,
General Wayne erected a fortress where he
could defy the hostile aborigines and the
British. This was the strongest fortification
constructed by him on this expedition, and
he styled it "an important and formidable
fort." He said this location was "the grand
emporium of the hostile Indians of the west."
Here began a string of Indian towns that
extended along the banks of "the beautiful
Miami of the Lake." This fort was begun on
the 9th of August, and completed on the 17th
of the same month. Thus only eight days
were occupied in its building.
"I defy the English, Indians, and all the
devils in h — 1 to take it, ' ' said General Wayne
after surveying its blockhouses, pickets,
ditches and fascines.
"Then call it Fort Defiance," suggested
General Scott, who chanced at that very in-
stant to be standing at his side.
Hence the name of Fort Defiance affixed
itself to this advance outpost in this wilder-
ness. "Thus Sir," wrote General Wayne to
the secretary of war, "we have gained pos-
session of the grand emporium of the hostile
Indians of the West, without loss of blood.
The margin of those beautiful rivers in the
Miamis of the lake and Auglaize — appear
like one continued village for a number of
miles, both above and below this place; nor
have I ever before beheld such fields of corn
in any part of America from Canada to
Florida."
Upon his return to this place, after his
successful battle with the enemy, Wayne rein-
forced Fort Defiance, as a study of the British
Fort Miami had suggested some improve-
ments. At each of the four angles, there was
a blockhouse. Outside the palisades and the
blockhouse, there was a wall of earth eight
feet thick, which sloped outwards and up-
wards, and was supported on its outer side
by a log wall. A ditch encircled the entire
works, excepting the east side, which was
near the precipitous bank of the Auglaize
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
77
River. The ditch was some fifteen feet wide
and eight feet deep and was protected by
diagonal pickets eleven feet long, secured to
the log walls at intervals of a foot and pro-
jected over the ditch. At one place there was
a falling gate, or drawbridge, which was
raised and lowered by pulleys. There was
also a protected ditch leading to the river, so
dotted with the wigwams and tepees of the
dusky aborigines. The council house echoed
to the voice of many a noted chief. Up and
down the two rivers passed Indians of all
tribes. The waters that are now disturbed
by the sputtering launches then yielded to the
graceful bark canoes propelled by the almost
noiseless paddles of the dusky occupants.
FORT DEFIANCE AS RESTORED
Erected in 1794, it stood at the confluence of the Maumee and Auglaixe rivers — now within
City of Defiance.
that water could be procured from the river
without exposing the carrier to the enemy.
How different is the scene today about the
confluence of the Maumee and the Auglaize.
A little over a century ago trails led through
the woods in every direction to the head-
quarters of the other tribes of this region, —
north, south, east, west, The site where now
stands the City of Defiance, and the fields
which smile with the wheat and the corn, were
With furtive glances into the enclosing thick-
ets and forests for lurking enemy, they sil-
ently glided along. If canoes were loaded
with the deer or the bear, or other trophies of
the chase, then great was the excitement
among young and old. Camp fires were
lighted, pots were set to boiling, and feasting
followed until all were surfeited with food.
A wild halloo indicated the return of a war
party bearing scalps of the slain enemy, and
78
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
then there was dancing and rejoicing among
those encamped in this region that is so peace-
ful in this twentieth century of our Lord.
The outlines of these earth works are still
well maintained.
WAYNE'S SPIES
It was no wonder that the Indians looked
upon Wayne as a "chief who never sleeps."
No detail, no precaution was overlooked in
his plan of campaign. Unlike St. Clair,
General Wayne maintained in his employ
during the whole of his march toward and
down the Maumee Valley, a body of trained
spies and scouts, whom he had selected from
the wild white Indian fighters. These men
had been cradled in frontier cabins, and had
grown to manhood on the very hunting
grounds of the Indians. Some of them had
been captives from childhood among the
aborigines, and knew well the speech, customs,
and habits of these children of the forests.
Many of them were athletes, tall, strong, fleet-
footed, and keen-eyed. They were all skillful
marksmen and absolutely without fear. They
scoured the woods in every direction, and
brought in many captives from whom much
information was secured. To them the yell of
the savage had no terror, for it was only
empty bluster to their minds. They were the
most adventurous and daredevil characters on
the frontier. They not only spoke the
Indians' tongue, but in the arts of woodcraft,
in the methods of frontier war and in hunting,
they generally excelled the Indians them-
selves. These men were the eyes and the ears
of the army — they were invaluable to Wayne.
Their deeds excel in thrilling interest the
imaginations of the novelist.
The most noted of these scouts was William
Wells, the chief. He was a man of great in-
telligence and unfaltering courage. We have
no record of his birth, but he had been cap-
tured when only twelve years of age, while
an inmate of the family of Nathaniel Pope,
in Kentucky. He had spent his early man-
hood among the Miamis, was formally adopted
into the tribe, and had espoused a sister of the
great chief, Little Turtle. (Some accounts
say his daughter.) He was the father of
three daughters and one son, whose descend-
ants live in and around Toledo and Fort
Wayne. One became the wife of Judge Wol-
cott, of Maumee. The Indian name of Wells
was Black Snake. He fought with the Indians
against Harmar and St. Clair, and he now
found himself opposed to his former friends.
For a long time Wells was worried for
fear he may have killed some of his friends
or kindred. He recalled the dim memories
of his childhood home, of his brothers and
his playmates, and sorrow seemed to fill his
soul. The approach of Wayne's army, in
1794, stirred anew conflicting emotions, based
upon indistinct recollections of early ties, of
country and kindred on the one hand, and
existing attachments of wife and children on
the other. He resolved to make his history
known. With true Indian characteristics, the
secret purpose of leaving his adopted nation
was, according to reliable tradition, made
known in a dramatic manner. Taking with
him the war-chief, Little Turtle, to a favorite
spot on the banks of the Maumee, Wells said :
' ' I leave now your nation for my own people.
We have long been friends. We are friends
yet, until the sun reaches a certain height
(which he indicated). From that time we
are enemies. Then, if you wish to kill me, you
may. If I want to kill you, I may." At the
appointed hour, crossing the river, Captain
Wells disappeared in the forest, taking an
easterly direction to strike the trail of
Wayne's army.
The bonds of affection and respect which
had bound these two singular and highly-
gifted men, Wells and Little Turtle, together
were not severed or weakened by this abrupt
declaration. They embraced "and the large
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
79
tears coursed down the sun-bronzed cheeks
of the chieftain, who was unused to mani-
festing emotion." Captain Wells soon after
joined Wayne's army, and, by his intimacy
with the wilderness, and his perfect knowledge
of the Indian haunts, habits, and modes of
Indian warfare, became an invaluable auxil-
iary to the Americans. He served faithfully
and fought bravely through the campaign,
and at the close, when peace had restored
amity between the Indians and the whites,
rejoined his foster-father, the Little Turtle,
their friendship and connection being severed
only by the death of the latter. He settled
a short distance from the confluence of the
St. Mary and St. Joseph rivers, on a stream
since called "Spy River," where the Govern-
ment subsequently granted him a half section
of land. When his body was found among
the slain at Fort Dearborn, in August, 1812,
the Indians are said to have eaten his heart
and drunk his blood, from a superstitious
belief that they should thus imbibe his warlike
endowments, which had been considered by
them as pre-eminent. At any rate, we know
that he served General Wayne faithfully and
well.
The experiences of these scouts form fas-
cinating reading. Some of them are indeed
stranger than fiction. Of these spies, Henry
Miller is another who deserves more than a
passing notice. He and a younger brother,
named Christopher, had been made captives
by the Indians while quite young, and adopted
into an Indian family. He lived with them
until about twenty-four years of age, when,
although he had adopted all their customs,
he began to think of returning to his rela-
tives among the whites. He tried to persuade
his brother to join him, but Christopher loved
the freedom of the forest and refused. Henry
set off alone through the woods, and arrived
safely among his friends in Kentucky.
In June, 1794, while the headquarters of
the army was at Greenville, Wayne dispatched
Wells and his corps, with orders to bring an
Indian into the camp as prisoner. Accord-
ingly, he proceeded cautiously with his little
party through the Indian country. They
crossed the St. Marys and thence to the
Auglaize without encountering any straggling
parties of Indians. In passing up the latter
stream the scouts discovered a smoke, when
they dismounted, tied their horses, and cau-
tiously reconnoitred. They found three
Indians encamped on a high, open piece of
ground, clear of brush or any undergrowth,
rendering it exceedingly difficult to approach
them without being discovered. While recon-
noitering, they discovered not very distant
from the camp a fallen tree. Toward this
shelter they crept forward on their hands and
knees with the caution of the cat, until they
reached it, by which time they were within
seventy or eighty yards of the camp. The
Indians were sitting or standing about the
fire, roasting their venison and having a good
time in general. The plans of the white men
were quickly settled.
"You two," said Robert McClellan,1 who
was almost as swift of foot as a deer, "kill
the two Indians at the left and right, and I
will catch the one in the center. Do not fail
with your shots." Resting the muzzles of
their rifles on a log of the fallen trees, they
aimed for the Indians' hearts.
Bang! went the old flint-lock muskets,
which had been put in prime condition. With
a characteristic whir the bullets sped forward
witih unerring fidelity and penetrated the
throbbing hearts of the two Indians. Hesi-
tating not a single moment, McClellan darted
forward with uplifted tomahawk towards the
astonished Indian still remaining. The latter
i McClellan ' ' was one of the most athletic and active
men on foot that has appeared on this globe. On the
grand parade at Fort Greenville, where the ground
was very little inclined, to show his activity, he leaped
over a road-wagon with the cover stretched over;
the wagon and bows were eight and a half feet high. ' '
His name has since been immortalized in Washington .
Irving 'a "Astoria."
80
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
dashed off down the river, but finding himself
in danger of being headed off if he continued
in that direction, he turned about and made
directly for the river. At that place the
river had a precipitous bank about twenty
feet high, but, without a pause, he sprang off
into the stream and sank to his middle in
the soft mud at its bottom. When McClellan
arrived, he saw his quarry within his grasp.
He instantly leaped upon the painted savage,
became sulky, and refused to converse either
in the Indian tongue or English. When
thoroughly washed and the paint all removed,
he turned out to be a white man; neverthe-
less, he still refused to speak, or to give any
account whatever of himself. Scalping the
two dead Indians, the party set off for head-
quarters.
While jogging along Henry Miller began
to entertain some suspicions that the pris-
THE DEATH or CAPTAIN WELLS**1 Cat-Cuv, Ot- M«. HEALD: i
1812
as he was wallowing and endeavoring to extri-
cate himself from the mire. The Indian drew
his knife, but McClellan was too quick for
him. Raising his tomahawk, he informed the
savage that he would kill him instantly unless
the knife was dropped. The prisoner then
surrendered without any further resistance.
At this juncture Miller's two companions
reached the bank, where they discovered both
pursuer and pursued quietly sticking in the
mud. The prisoner being secure, they lei-
surely selected a place where the bank was
less precipitous and dragged the captive out.
Upon being securely bound, the prisoner
oner might possibly be his brother Christo-
pher, whom he had left with the Indians
many years before. He therefore spurred
his horse alongside of him, and called him by
his Indian name. At the unexpected sound
the captive was startled. He stared around,
and eagerly inquired how he came to know
his name. The mystery was soon elucidated.
There was no longer doubt that the prisoner
was Christopher Miller. It was indeed a
mysterious providence that appeared to have
placed him in such a situation in the camp
that his life was preserved.
When the little band reached Fort Green-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
ville, their prisoner was placed in the guard-
house. Wayne often interrogated him as to
what he knew of the future intentions of the
Indians. Captain Wells, and his brother
Henry, were almost constantly with him, urg-
ing him to abandon the idea of ever again
joining the Indians, and to affiliate with the
whites. For some time he was reserved and
sulky. At length, however, he brightened up
and consented that if they would release him
from his confinement, he would remain among
them. Captain Wells and Henry Miller
urged Wayne to release him. Wayne did so,
with the. observation that should he deceive
them and return to the enemy, they would
be one the stronger. Pleased with his -change
of condition and mounted on a splendid horse,
and otherwise equipped for war, Christopher
Miller joined the company of Wells, and con-
tinued through the war a brave and intrepid
soldier. When on these excursions the scouts
were always mounted on elegant horses, for
they had the pick of the stables, and they
were usually dressed and painted in Indian
style.
"On one of Captain Wells' peregrinations
through the Indian country, as he came to the
bank of the river St. Mary, he discovered a
family of Indians coming up the river in a
canoe. He dismounted, and concealed his
men near the bank of the river, whilst he
went himself to the bank, in open view, and
called to the Indians to come over. As he
was dressed in Indian style, and spoke to them
in their own language, the Indians, not ex-
pecting danger, went across the river. The
moment the canoe struck the shore, Wells
heard the cocks of his comrades' rifles cry,
'nick, nick,' as they prepared to shoot the In-
dians ; but who should be in the canoe but his
Indian father and mother, with their chil-
dren ! As his comrades were coming forward
with their rifles cocked, ready to pour in the
deadly storm upon the devoted Indians, Wells
called to them to hold their hands and desist.
He then informed them who those Indians
were, and solemnly declared, that the man
who would attempt to injure one of them,
would receive a ball in his head. He said to
his men, that 'that family had fed him when
he was hungry, clothed him when he was
naked, and kindly nursed him when sick ; and
in every respect was as kind and affectionate
to him as they were to their own children. '
"Those hardy soldiers approved of the mo-
tives of Captain Wells, in showing lenity to
the enemy. They drew down their rifles and
tomahawks, went to the canoe, and shook
hands with the trembling Indians in the most
friendly manner. Captain Wells assured
them they had nothing to fear from him ; and
after talking with them to dispel their fears,
he said, 'that General Wayne was approaching
with an overwhelming force; that the best
thing the Indians could do was to make peace ;
that the white men did not wish to continue
the war. ' He urged his Indian father for the
future to keep out of the reach of danger.
He then bade them farewell; they appeared
grateful for his clemency. They then pushed
off their canoe, and went down the river as
fast as they could propel her. ' '
On one occasion Wells and his party rode
boldly into an Indian village near Maumee.
Dressed in Indian style, as they were, and
speaking 'the Indian tongue perfectly, their
true character was not suspicioned. Passing
through the village the scouts made captive
an Indian man and woman on horseback.
With the prisoners they then set off for Port
Defiance. Passing by a camp of Indians they
decided to attack it. Tying and gagging their
captives, the scouts boldly rode into the In-
dian encampment with their rifles lying across
the pommels of their saddles. They inquired
about General Wayne's movements and the
Indians freely answered. One Indian was
suspicious, however, and Wells overheard him
speaking to another. Wells gave the precon-
certed signal, and each man fired his rifle
82
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
into the body of an Indian. They then put
spurs to their horses and dashed away. Mc-
Clellan was shot through the shoulder and
Wells through the arm. Nevertheless they
succeeded in reaching Fort Defiance with their
prisoners, and the wounded all recovered.
The real service of this little band of spies
during the campaign exceeded in effective-
ness that of any other corps of equal number
belonging to the army. They brought in at dif-
ferent times not fewer than twenty prisoners,
and they killed more than an equal or greater
number. As they had no rivals in the army,
they aimed in each incursion to outdo their
former exploits. What confidence, what self-
possession was displayed by these men in their
hazardous encounters ! To ride boldly into
the enemy's camp, in full view of their blaz-
ing camp-fires, and enter into conversation
with the savages without betraying the least
appearance of trepidation and confusion, and
openly commence the work of death, proves
how well their souls were steeled against fear.
They had come off unscathed in so many des-
perate conflicts that they became callous to
danger. Furthermore, they thoroughly un-
derstood every trait of the savage character.
General Wayne kept his daring scouts and
spies threading the forests far in advance, and
on either side of his marching troops. They
lurked along the streams and rivers, watch-
ing every movement of the enemy, and har-
ried the hostile bands of savages wherever
found. Occasionally one of these would be
killed or fall into the clutches of the enemy.
At Koche de Bout William May was captured
and was recognized as a former captive who
had escaped. Brickell, who says the captors
knew May, for he had been their prisoner once
before, then briefly relates the sequence. They
told May: "We know you — you speak Indian
language — you not content to live with us;
to-morrow we take you to a tree — (pointing
to a very large burr oak at the edge of the
clearing which was near the British fort) we
will tie you up and make mark on your breast
and we will try what Indian can shoot near-
est it." It so turned out. The next day, the
very day before the battle, the savages bound
May to the tree, made a mark on his breast
and riddled his body with bullets, shooting at
least fifty into him. This ended poor May,
the over-brave scout.
Thus guarding his army with ceaseless vig-
ilance, and deceiving the enemy by cutting
false roads through the forests, Wayne
marched practically without opposition until
he suddenly appeared at the forks of the
Auglaize and Maumee, where there had been
numerous villages of the Indians. From long
association with the French they had acquired
some considerable agricultural skill. Hence
it was that Wayne 's troops found orchards of
the apple and peach, and vast fields of corn
and other vegetables growing here. The corn
was just in the stage of the roasting ear, and
Wayne 's soldiers revelled in the abundance of
fresh food. Wayne sent his men up and down
the river, burning villages and laying waste
the orchards and the corn fields. What had
been before a picture of peace and plenty soon
became a scene of smoking ruin and deso-
lation.
CHAPTER VIII
THE BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS AND ITS RESULTS
From the information received through his
scouts, as well as from his own intuition, Gen-
eral Wayne had become convinced that a con-
flict with the Indians could not be avoided.
He nevertheless decided to send one more
formal offer of peace to the Indian warriors
who were assembled with their British allies
round and about Fort Miami, about forty
miles below. Here the agents of England
were dispensing weapons, ammunition, and
provisions to their red allies. He warned them
not to be misled "by the false promises and
language of the bad white men (British) at
the foot of the rapids." Not awaiting an
answer to his offer of peace, Wayne, after a
week's delay, marched from Fort Defiance
down the river. He left that fort on August
15th, and arrived at Roche de Boeuf three
days later.
Roche de Boeuf (or bout) was a celebrated
landmark among the savage tribes. It is a
massive frowning rock which still rises from
the western edge of the river, about a mile
above the Village of Waterville, where an elec-
tric railroad now crosses the stream. The fol-
lowing legend of the Roche de Boeuf was
related by Peter Manor, the celebrated Indian
scout and guide. Evidences of its truth are
found in the many relics and skeletons found
in this vicinity: "At the time when the plum,
thorn-apple and wild grape were the only
products, and long prior to the advent of the
pale-faces, the Ottawas were camped here, en-
gaged in their games and pastimes, as was
usual when not clad in war-paint and on the
lookout for an enemy. One of the young
tribe, engaged in playing on Roche de Boeuf
(rock in the river), fell over the precipice
and was instantly killed. The dusky husband,
on his return from the council fires, on being
informed of the fate of his prospective suc-
cessor, at once sent the mother in search of
her papoose, by pushing her over the rocky
sides into the shallow waters of the Maumee.
Her next of kin, according to Indian law,
executed the murdering husband, and was in
turn executed by the arrival of the principal
chiefs of the tribe. This sudden outburst cost
the tribe nearly two-thirds of its members,
whose bodies were taken from the river and
buried with full Indian honors the next day."
It was at this rock that Wayne met his
returning peace messenger, with an evasive
answer from the Indians to the effect that if
Wayne would tarry ten days longer, the tribes
would treat with him for peace. Wayne recog-
nized that this was only a savage ruse to se-
cure delay so that more warriors might be
assembled ; hence he resolved to press on with
his army, which now numbered about 3,000
men. Two-thirds of this force were regulars,
both infantry and cavalry, and the other 1,000
were mounted Kentucky riflemen.
Through his spies and Indian captives,
Wayne learned that at least 2,000 braves from
the tribes of the Shawnees, Delawares, Wyan-
dots, Ottawas, Miamis, Pottawatomies, Chip-
pewas, and Iroquois were gathered near Fort
Miami, with their right resting on Swan
Creek. Associated with them were the noto-
83
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
rious trio of renegades, M'Kee, Girty, and
Elliot, together with some seventy white
rangers from Detroit, who were dressed in In-
dian costume and could scarcely be distin-
guished from the savages themselves. The
Indians were under the command of Blue
Jacket, a Shawnee chieftain, and Little Turtle,
the head chief of the Miamis. As a warrior
Little Turtle was fearless but not rash ; shrewd
to plan, bold and energetic to execute. No
LITTLE TURTLE THE INDIAN CHIEF
peril could daunt him, and no emergency could
surprise him. Like Pontiac, he indulged in
gloomy apprehension of the future of his peo-
ple, and had been one of the leaders in the
defeat of both Generals Harmar and St. Clair.
It is said that Little Turtle was averse to
battle, and in council said: "We have beaten
the enemy twice under separate commanders.
We cannot expect the same good fortune
always to attend us. The Americans are now
led by a chief who never sleeps. The night
and the day are alike to him. During all the
time that he has been marching upon our vil-
lages, notwithstanding the watchfulness of
our young men, we have never been able to
surprise him. Think well of it. There is some-
thing whispers me it would be well to listen
to his offers of peace." Blue Jacket leaped
up in the council, however, and silenced Lit-
tle Turtle by accusing him of cowardice.
Little Turtle then replied: "Follow me to
battle."
The Indians swept up through the woods
in long columns and established themselves in
what seemed to them an impregnable position,
on and around Presque Isle Hill, about two
miles above Maumee. Only a year or two
previously a tornado had torn down the forest
trees, interlacing them in such a manner as to
form a secure covert for the savages, and ren-
dering it very difficult for cavalry to operate.
It was also a rainy morning. The Indians
formed in three long lines, their left resting
on' the river, and their right extending some
two miles into the forest at right angles to the
Maumee. Wayne halted at Roche de Boeuf
on the 19th, long enough to construct light
works for the protection of his supplies and
baggage. About 8 o'clock in the morning of
the following day, Wayne marched down the
river farther, realizing that the Indians were
near and that a battle could not be delayed
much longer. As a precaution he sent for-
ward a battalion of the mounted Kentuckians,
with instructions to retreat in feigned confu-
sion as soon as they were fired upon, in order
to draw the Indians out of their covert and
increase their confidence. The order of the
advance, as stated by Wayne in his subsequent
official report, was: "the legion on the right,
its right flank covered by the Miamis (Mau-
mee), one brigade of mounted volunteers on
the left, under Brigadier-General Todd, the
other in the rear, under Brigadier-General
Barbie. A select battalion of mounted volun-
teers moved in front of the legion, commanded
by Major Price, who was directed to keep
sufficiently advanced, so as to give timely no-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tice for the troops in case of action, it being
yet undetermined whether the Indians would
decide for peace or war. ' '
The Kentuckians kept far enough in ad-
vance to give Wayne time to form his troops
in perfect order after the shooting should
begin. After about an hour* march, the Ken-
tuckians received such a hot fire from the
Indians concealed in the woods and high grass
as to compel them to retreat. Wayne immedi-
ately drew up his forces in two lines, placing
one troop of cavalry near the Maumee and
the other farther inland near the right flank.
He then gave orders to his front line to ad-
vance and charge with trailed arms. They
were to rouse the savages from their covert at
the point of the bayonet, to deliver a close
and well-directed fire at their backs, and then
to charge before the Indians had a chance to
reload.
"General Wayne," said Lieut. William H.
Harrison, then an aide on that officer's staff,
just as the attack was ordered, "I'm afraid
you'll get into the fight yourself and forget to
give me the necessary field orders. ' ' He knew
that in the heat of the battle Wayne was apt
to forget that he was the general and not a
soldier.
"Perhaps I may," replied Wayne, "and if
I do, recollect the standing order for the day
is, charge the d — d rascals with the bayonets."
In the face of a deadly fire the American
troops dashed upon the savages among the
fallen trees, and prodded them from their hid-
ing with cold steel. What a sight it was ! A
host of painted and plumed warriors, the very
pick of the western tribes, with their athletic
and agile bodies decked in their gay strap-
pings, with their coarse raven hair hanging
over their shoulders like netted manes, met
their white foes face to face. Each carried his
flint, ready for instant use, while hung over
his shoulders were the straps of the powder
horn and shot-punch. The frontiersmen
among Wayne's troops also carried the deadly
tomahawk and scalping knife, as well as their
dusky opponents. It was truly a tragic tab-
leau here among the fallen timbers that nature
had prepared for this historic event. In the
midst of the noise of shot the Miami of the
Lake tumbled over the rocks that there form
the rapids in gentle rhythm. It is indeed a
landscape upon which Nature had lavished
her charms.
All of the orders of General Wayne were
obeyed with alacrity and promptitude. Such
was the impetuosity of the initial charge that
the Indians and their white allies were driven
from their coverts almost immediately. They
abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed
with terror and dismay. Wayne heaped en-
comiums upon all his officers in his official re-
ports, saying that the bravery and conduct of
every officer merited his highest approbation.
They followed up the fleeing and painted sav-
ages with such swiftness and fury, and poured
such a destructive fire upon their backs, that
but few of the second line of Wayne's forces
arrived in time to participate in the action.
' ' Such was the impetuosity of the first-line of
infantry," reported Wayne, "that the In-
dians, and Canadian militia, and volunteers,
were drove from all their coverts in so short
a time, that, although every possible exertion
was used by the officers of the second line of
the legion, and by Generals Scott, Todd, and
Barbie, of the mounted volunteers, to gain
their proper positions, but part of each could
get up in season to participate in the action,
the enemy being drove, in the course of an
hour, more than two miles, through the thick
woods already mentioned, by less than one-half
their numbers." Many of the Indians en-
deavored to escape by swimming the river, but
they were cut down in the midst of the stream
by the cavalry. The woods were strewn for
miles with dead and wounded savages and the
Canadian rangers. In the course of one hour,
the whole force of the enemy was driven back
more than two miles through the thick woods.
86
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
From every account that we have, it is cer-
tain that the enemy numbered at least 2,000
combatants. The troops actually engaged
against them were less than half that number.
The battle was too brief to be very sanguinary
in its results. The Americans lost thirty-three
killed and about 100 wounded. The death loss
occurred almost entirely at the first fire of the
savages, who took deadly aim as the Americans
swept down upon them. The cavalry gal-
loped boldly among the Indians, leaping their
horses over the fallen logs and dodging in and
was Me-sa-sa, or Turkey-foot, an Ottawa chief,
who lived on Blanchard's Fork of the Au
Glaize River. He was greatly beloved by his
people. His courage was conspicuous. When
he found the line of the dusky warriors giving
way on the foot of Presque Isle Hill, he leaped
upon a small boulder, and by voice and gesture
endeavored to make them stand firm. He al-
most immediately fell, pierced by a musket
ball, and expired by the side of the rock. Long
years afterward, when any of his tribe passed
along the Maumee trail, they would stop at
HISTORIC TURKEY FOOT ROCK ALONG MAUMEE RIVER, BEFORE REMOVED FROM
ORIGINAL LOCATION
out among the trees. They swung their long
sabres with telling effect among the dismayed
and yelling Indians. The loss of the Indians
was far more serious than that of the Ameri-
cans, but the number has never been definitely
reported. At least 100 bodies were found
upon the field, but many of the killed and
wounded were dragged away by their friends.
The Indian tribes were represented as follows :
Wyandots 300, Shawnees 350, Delawares 500,
Miamis 200, Tawas 250. There were also small
bands of other tribes.
"Among the brave warriors in the battle
who was the last to flee before Wayne 's legion,
that rock, and linger a long time with mani-
festations of sorrow. ' ' Peter Navarre used to
say that he had seen men, women, and chil-
dren gather around that rock, place bits of
dried beef, parched peas and corn, and some-
times some cheap trinket upon it, and, calling
frequently upon the name of the beloved Ot-
tawa, weep piteously. They carved many rude
figures of a turkey's foot on the stone, as a
memorial of the lamented Me-sa-sa. The stone
is still there, by the side of the highway at the
foot of Presque Isle Hill, within a few rods
of the swift flowing Maumee, although an
effort was made a few years ago to remove it
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
87
to Toledo. Many of the carvings are still
quite deep and distinct, while others have
been obliterated by the abrasion of the ele-
ments and acts of vandals.
Turkey-foot Rock is limestone, about 5l/z
feet in length and three feet in height. In
allusion to the event which the rock commem-
orates, Andrew Coffinberry, in a poem entitled
"The Forest Ranger, a Poetic Tale of the
Western Wilderness of .1794," thus wrote,
after giving an account of Wayne's progress
up to this time :
"Yet at the foot of red Presque Isle
Brave Me-sa-sa was warring still;
He stood upon a large rough stone,
Still dealing random blows alone ;
But bleeding fast — glazed were his eyes,
And feeble grew his battle-cries ;
Too frail his arm, too dim his sight,
To wield or aim his axe aright ;
As still more frail and faint he grew,
His body on the rock he threw.
As coursed his blood along the ground,
In feeble, low, and hollow sound,
Mingled with frantic peals and strong,
The dying chief poured forth his song. ' '
At the time Captain Campbell was endeav-
oring to turn the left flank of the enemy, three
Indians, being hemmed in by the cavalry and
infantry, plunged into the river and endeav-
ored to swim to the opposite side. Two
negroes of the army, on the opposite bank,
concealed themselves behind a log to inter-
cept them. When within shooting distance,
one of them shot the foremost through the
head. The other two took hold of him to drag
him to shore, when the second negro fired and
killed another. The remaining Indian, being
now in shoal water, endeavored to tow the
dead bodies to the bank. In the meantime the
first negro had reloaded, and, firing upon the
survivor, mortally wounded him. On ap-
proaching them, the negroes judged from their
striking resemblance and devotion that they
were brothers. After scalping them, they let
their bodies float down the stream.
Another circumstance goes to show with
what obstinacy the conflict was maintained by
individuals in both armies. A soldier, who
had become detached a short distance from
the army, met a single Indian in the woods.
The two foes immediately attacked each other,
the soldier with his bayonet, the Indian with
his tomahawk. Two days after they were
found dead. The soldier had his bayonet
imbedded in the body of the Indian; the In-
dian had his tomahawk implanted in the head
of the soldier.
The victorious Americans pursued the flying
savages to the very palisades of Fort Miami.
The Indians evidently expected the British to
throw open the gates of the fortress and admit
them to its protection. To their surprise and
indignation, however, the British basely
abandoned them in the hour of their sore
defeat, and they were obliged to scatter in
the forest for safety from the American
bayonets. The British looked on with ap-
parent unconcern at this humiliation and
defeat of their late allies. That the Indians
were astonished at the lukewarmness of their
white allies, and had regarded the fort as a
place of refuge in case of disaster, was evident
from circumstances. It was voiced in a speech
by Tecumseh in his reproach of General
Proctor after Perry's victory on Lake Erie.
Wayne seriously contemplated storming
Fort Miami, and rode up with his aides to
within a few hundred feet of it, from which
vantage point he surveyed it with his glasses
from all sides. It is said that a gunner had
his piece trained on this spot and was in the
very act of applying the light, when the com-
mandant threatened with uplifted sword to
cut him down instantly if he did not desist.
Independent of its results in bringing on a
88
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
possible war with Great Britain, Wayne knew
that Fort Miami was garrisoned by a force of
450 men and mounted ten pieces of artillery.
Against this he had no suitable armament to
attack a strongly fortified place. He saw
that it would cost the lives of many of his sol-
diers, so he wisely concluded not to sacrifice
his troops and precipitate war between the
two countries by making the attack.
The Americans contented themselves with
proceeding immediately to burn and destroy
all the supplies and buildings without the
The first letters exchanged betwen the two
commanders read as follows:
"Miami (Maumee) River,
August 21st, 1794.
"Sir: — An army of the United States of
America, said to be under your command,
having taken post on the banks of the Miami
for upwards of the last twenty-four hours,
almost within the reach of the guns of this
fort, being a post belonging to His Majesty
the King of Great Britain, occupied by His
REAR OP FORT MIAMI
Built about 1680 by the French and rebuilt by the British, on the Maumee River.
walls of the fort, including the residence of
the trader, Alex M'Kee. While this ravaging
and burning was proceeding, it is said that the
British stood sullenly by their guns with
lighted torches, but not daring to fire, well
knowing what the result would be. Wayne
sent out his cavalry, and they destroyed the
Indian villages for miles up and down the
river. After staying in the vicinity of the
fort for three days, he marched slowly back
to Fort Defiance.
Some interesting correspondence took place
between General Wayne and Major Campbell
during the enactment of the preceding scene.
Majesty's troops, and which I have the honor
to command, it becomes my duty to inform
myself, as speedily as possible, in what light
I am to view your making such near ap-
proaches to this garrison. I have no hesita-
tion, on my part, to say, that I know of no
war existing between Great Britain and
America.
' ' I have the honor to be, sir, with ' great
respect, your most obedient and very humble
servant, WILLIAM CAMPBELL,
"Major 24th Reg't Comd'g a British Post on
the banks of the Miami.
"To Major General Wayne, etc."
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
89
"Camp, on the Banks of the Miami,
August 21st, 1794.
"Sir: — I have received your letter of this
date, requiring from me the motives which
have moved the army under my command to
the position they at present occupy, far within
the acknowledged jurisdiction of the United
States of America. Without questioning the
authority, or the propriety, sir, of your inter-
rogatory, I think I may without breach of
decorum, observe to you, that were you en-
titled to an answer, the most full and satis-
factory one was announced to you from the
muzzles of my small arms, yesterday morning,
in the action against the horde of savages in
the vicinity of your post, which terminated
gloriously to the American arms; but, had it
continued until the Indians, etc., were driven
under the influence of the post and guns you
mention, they would not have much impeded
the progress of the victorious army under my
command, as no such post was established at
the commencement of the present war, be-
tween the Indians and the United States.
"I have the honor to be, sir, with great
respect, your most obedient and very humble
servant, ANTHONY WAYNE.
"Major General, and Commander-in-Chief of
the Federal Army.
"To Major William Campbell, etc."
Jonathan Adler, who was at that time living
with the Indians, has given in a manuscript
left by him the Indian account of the Battle
of Fallen Timbers. It is as follows :
"We remained here (Defiance) about two
weeks, until we heard of the approach of
Wayne, when we packed up our goods and
started for the old English fort at the Mau-
mee rapids. Here we prepared ourselves for
battle and sent the women and children down
NOTE. — According to Mr. Knapp, in his ' ' History of
the Maumee Valley, ' ' Fort Industry, near the mouth
of Swan Creek, was built at this time. This statement
does not seem to be well authenticated, and the fort,
or stockade, was probably not constructed until 1804.
about three miles below the fort ; and as I did
not wish to fight, they sent me to Sandusky,
to inform some Wyandots there of the great
battle that was about to take place. I re-
mained at Sandusky until the battle was
over. The Indians did not wait more than
three or four days, before Wayne made his
appearance at the head of a long prairie on
the river, where he halted, and waited for an
opportunity to suit himself.
"Now the Indians are very curious about
fighting; for when they know they are going
into a battle, they will not eat anything just
previous. They say that if a man is shot in
the body when he is entirely empty, there is
not half as much danger of the ball passing
through the bowels as when they are full.
So they started the first morning without eat-
ing anything, and moving up to the end of
the prairie, ranged themselves in order of
battle at the edge of the timber. There they
waited all day without any food, and at night
returned and partook of their suppers. The
second morning, they again placed themselves
in the same position, and again returned at
night and supped. By this time they had
begun to get weak from eating only once a
day, and concluded they would eat breakfast.
Some were eating, and others, who had
finished, had moved forward to their stations,
when Wayne's army was seen approaching.
Soon as they were within gunshot, the Indians
began firing upon them; but Wayne, making
no halt, rushed on upon them.
"Only a small part of the Indians being
on the ground, they were obliged to give back,
and finding Wayne too strong for them, at-
tempted to retreat. Those who were on the
way heard the noise and sprang to their
assistance. So some were running from and
others to the battle, which created great con-
fusion. In the meantime, the light horse had
gone entirely around, and came in upon their
rear, blowing their horns and closing in upon
them. The Indians now found that they
90
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
were completely surrounded, and all that
could made their escape, and the balance were
all killed, which was no small number. Among
these last, with one or two exceptions were
all the Wyandots that lived at Sandusky at
the time I went to inform them of the ex-
pected battle. The main body of the Indians
were back nearly two miles from the battle-
ground and Wayne had taken them by sur-
prise, and made such a slaughter among them
that they were entirely discouraged, and made
the best of their way to their respective
homes. ' '
Not long after this defeat a trader met a
Miami warrior, who had fled before the ter-
rible onslaught of Wayne's soldiers.
"Why did you run away?" the trader
asked the Indian.
With gestures corresponding to his words,
and endeavoring to represent the effect of the
cannon, the Indian replied:
' ' Pop ! pop ! pop ! — boo ! woo ! woo ! — whish !
whish! boo! woo! — kill twenty Indians one
time — no good, by dam!"
Immediately following the battle of Fallen
Timbers, many of the savages fled to Detroit,
the British headquarters. The following
winter was a time of great suffering among
the aborigines in the Maumee Valley. Their
crops had been destroyed by General Wayne 's
army, so that they were rendered more than
ever dependent upon the British, and they
were not prepared for so great a task. They
remained huddled together along the Maumee
River, near the mouth of Swan Creek, where
much sickness prevailed on account of ex-
posure, scant supplies, and the want of sani-
tary regulations. What few animals they
possessed either died or languished on account
of improper food and care, and were eaten.
Even the dogs suffered the latter fate, and the
Indian is pretty hungry when he will devour
his faithful canine.
General Wayne returned to Fort Defiance
after his great victory, because this was a
safe camping place and afforded plentiful
food for both man and beast. So intent were
the soldiers on foraging that several were
killed or captured by skulking savages. This
led to very stringent regulations. Any soldier
caught half a mile outside the lines of sen-
tinels, without a proper pass, was to be treated
as a deserter, and the sentry permitting a
soldier to go by without this pass was subject
to a punishment of fifty lashes. The soldiers
were much troubled with the fever and ague,
and these ailments caused much distress.
"Fort Defiance 4th September, 1794. The
number of our sick increases daily ; provision
is nearly exhausted ; the whiskey has been out
for some time, which makes the hours pass
heavily to the tune of Roslin Castle, when in
our present situation they ought to go to the
quick step of the merry man down to his
grave. Hard duty and scant allowance will
cause an army to be low spirited, particularly
the want of a little of the wet. * * * If
it was not for the forage we get from the
enemy's fields, the rations would not be suffi-
cient to keep soul and body together."
These statements appear in the diary of
Lieutenant Boyer. He was evidently not of
the "dry" persuasion, for a week later he
writes: "The escort arrived this day about
3 o 'clock, and brought with them two hundred
kegs of flour and nearly two hundred head of
cattle. Captain Preston and Ensigns
Strother, Bowyer and Lewis, joined us this
day with the escort. We received no liquor
by this command, and I fancy we shall not
receive any until we get into winter quarters,
which will make the fatigues of the campaign
appear double, as I am persuaded the troops
would much rather live on half rations of beef
and bread, provided they could obtain their
full rations of whiskey. The vegetables are
as yet in the greatest abundance."
From Fort Defiance a part of General
Wayne's Legion marched to the head of the
Maumee, which place they reached without a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
91
collision with the enemy. Here Colonel Ham-
tramck erected a fort, which he named after
the hero of Fallen Timbers, and which name
it has borne ever since. After a few weeks
there they marched to Greenville by the way
of Fort Recovery and Girty's Town. They
arrived at Greenville on the 2nd of November,
just three months and six days after they had
departed from it on their victorious cam-
paigns.
The effect of Wayne's victory over the
Indians cannot be correctly measured by the
number of savages slain in battle. The results
had convinced them of their inability to wage
successful war against the Americans, when
led by a chief whom they could neither sur-
prise nor defeat. They had seen the hollow-
ness of the English promises of assistance.
When danger approached, they had witnessed
the king's soldiers creep into their fort like
whipped curs and shut their gate on the poor
Indian when he went there for protection,
leaving him to the mercy of Wayne's soldiers.
They had seen their villages burned and their
women and children left destitute for the
winter. Hollow promises of the British did
not allay the pangs of hunger or the pene-
trating chill of the winter. Then it was that
they began to turn their attention toward
peace.
Impatient and murmuring at the failure of
the British to protect and supply them accord-
ing to promise, the Indians turned to the
Americans, who were perfectly willing to pro-
tect them and supply their wants. Communi-
cations from the hostile tribes were encour-
aged by General Wayne and his officers.
Some of the chiefs personally visited Fort
Defiance and Fort Wayne, as well as General
Wayne himself at Greenville. The Wyandots
were probably more solicitous for peace than
any other tribe. One of their chiefs called
upon General Wayne and said: "I live in
Sandusky. We Wyandots now wish for peace
and are determined to bury the hatchet and
scalping knife deep in the ground. We pray
you have pity on us arid leave us a small piece
of land to build a town upon. The Great
Spirit has given land enough for all to live
and hunt upon. We have looked all around
us for a piece to move to and cannot find any.
We want to know your mind. We intend to
build a stockade (on Sandusky River) and
blockhouse to defend ourselves till we hear
from you. We don't know whether we are
right or wrong in doing it, but have pity on
us."
The diplomatic warfare waged by these
untutored aborigine chiefs would have re-
flected credit upon the statesmanship of an
enlightened people. They clung to every vital
principle affecting their interests with the
same desperate tenacity with which they had
fought their last battle at Fallen Timbers.
The diplomacy of General Wayne was so suc-
cessful, however, that on the first of January,
1795, he sent a message to the petitioning
Wyandots at Sandusky that the chiefs of
various other tribes would soon visit him at
Greenville in the interests of peace, and invit-
ing them to join the others. The Delawares
visited Fort Defiance and exchanged a num-
ber of prisoners. As word reached General
Wayne of the great number of Indian chiefs
who were on their way to visit him, a large
council house was constructed at Greenville
for the deliberations. A great quantity of
clothing and other useful articles were ob-
tained for presents, and bountiful supplies
were accumulated for the feeding and enter-
tainment of large numbers. The chiefs began
to arrive the first of June. Each day brought
new additions, and the general council was
opened on June 16th with a goodly attend-
ance. In all more than 1,000 chiefs and
sachems gathered together. The tribes rep-
resented were the Delawares, Wyandots,
Pottawattomies, Shawnees, Chippewas, Miami,
Eel River, Weas, Piankeshaws, Kickapoos, and
Kaskaskias. Half a dozen interpreters were
92
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
THE FIRST SIGNATURES TO THE GREENVILLE TREATY
HISTOBV (3F NORTHWEST OHIO
93
kept busy during the fifty days that the
council lasted. The chiefs complained much
of the bad faith of the eitixens of the
"fifteen fires, " — so called because fifteen guns
were always fired as a salute, one for each
state of the Union.
After smoking the Calumet of Peace, an
oath of accuracy and fidelity was administered
to the interpreters. The flow of oratory was
interminable. A large number of belts and
strings of wampum wen- passed by the various
tribes during the deliberations. Some of these
contained a thousand or more beads of
wampum. As many of these beads represent
a day's work each, their value to the aborig-
ines was very great. The Indians continued
to arrive during all the month of June and
even later. Little Turtle was one of the
slowest to enter into the spirit of the meeting,
but he gradually became one of its warmest
participators, making many addresses. On
the 7th of August, 1795, the famous Treaty
of Greenville was entered into between
General Anthony Wayne and the sachems and
war chiefs of the participating nations. The
boundary lines established by the treaty were
as follows: The general boundary line "be-
tween the lands of the United States and the
lands of the said Indian tribes, shall begin at
the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, and run
thence up the same, to the portage between
that and the Tuscarawas branch of the Mus-
kuiguin ; thence down that branch to the
crossing place, above Fort Lawrence (Laur-
ens) ; thence westerly, to a fork of that
branch of the Great Miami river running into
the Ohio, at or near which fork stood Lora-
mie's store and where commences the portage
between the Miami of the Ohio, and St.
Mary's River, which is a branch of the Miami,
which runs into Lake Erie ; thence a westerly
course to Fort Recovery, which stands on a
branch of the Wabash ; thence, South West-
erly in a direct line of the Ohio, so as to inter-
sect that river, opposite the mouth of the
Kentucke, or Cuttawa river." In order to
facilitate intercourse between the whites and
Indians, the tribes ceded to the United States
several tracts of land, one tract "twelve miles
square, at the British fort on the Miami of
the Lake, at the foot of the rapids." This
reached down into the heart of the present
city of Toledo. "One piece, six miles square,
at the mouth of said river where it empties
in the lake," of which a part is also within
Toledo. "One piece, two miles square, at the
lower rapids of the Sandusky" comprises
practically all of the City of Fremont. "One
piece, two miles square, at the head of the
navigable water or landing on the St. Marys
river, near Girty's Town," was at St. Marys.
"One piece six miles square, at the confluence
of the Auglaize and Miami rivers," where
Fort Defiance now stands, is partly included
within the City of Defiance. "One piece, six
miles square upon Sandusky lake, where a
fort formerly stood," is in Ottawa County.
Other tracts were granted, but they do not
pertain to this history.
"And the said Indian tribes will allow to
the people of the United States a free passage,
by land and by water, as one and the other
shall be found to be convenient, through their
county, along the chain of posts hereinbefore
mentioned; that is to say, from commence-
ment of the portage aforesaid, at or near
Loramie's store, thence along said portage
to the St. Mary's, and down the same to Fort
Wayne, and thence down the Miami to Lake
Erie ; again, from the commencement of the
portage, at or near Loramie's store along the
portage, from thence to the river Auglaize,
and down the same to its junction with the
Miami, at Fort Defiance; again, from the
commencement of the portage aforesaid, to
Sandusky river, and down the same to San-
dusky bay and Lake Erie, and from Sandusky
to the post which shall be taken at or near
the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the
lake ; and from thence to Detroit. * * •
94
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
And the said Indian tribes will also allow to
the people of the United States the free use
of the harbors and mouths of rivers, along
the lake adjoining the Indian lands, for shel-
tering vessels and boats, and liberty to land
their cargoes where necessary for their
safety."
Wayne did not survive long to enjoy the
honor of his victory, for he died a couple of
years later. On his passage down the lake, he
was seized with a violent attack of gout of
the stomach, which terminated in his death
before reaching his destination. One of his
last acts was to receive, as representative of
the United States authority, Fort Miami early
in 1776, when the British government for-
mally surrendered its northern posts in pur-
suance of a treaty negotiated by Chief Justice
Jay. So pleased were the Indians with their
treatment by General Wayne that each of
the more prominent chiefs desired to have the
last word with him. Buck-on-ge-he-las, the
great war chief of the Delawares, seemed to
voice the sentiments of all when he said:
"Your children all well understand the
sense of the Treaty which is now concluded.
We experience daily proofs of your increas-
ing kindness. I hope we may all have sense
enough to enjoy our dawning happiness.
Many of your people are yet among us. I
trust they will be immediately restored. Last
winter our King (Te-ta-boksh-he) came for-
ward to you with two (captives) and when
he returned with your speech to us, we im-
mediately prepared to come forward with the
remainder, which we delivered at Fort De-
fiance. All who know me, know me to be a
man and a warrior, and I now declare that
I will for the future be as true and steady a
friend to the United States as I have hereto-
fore been an active enemy. We have one bad
man among us who, a few days ago, stole
three of your horses; two of them shall this
day be returned to you, and I hope I shall
be able to prevent that young man from doing
any more mischief to our Father the Fifteen
Fires."
The Indians, who almost worshiped per-
sonal bravery, acquired a wholesome respect
for General Wayne. A number of anecdotes
are related about General Wayne in proof of
this, among which is the following: Several
months after the battle of Fallen Timbers a
number of Potawatomie Indians arrived at
Fort Wayne, where they expressed a desire
to see "The Wind," as they called General
Wayne. On being asked for an explanation
of the name, they replied, that at the battle
of the 20th of August, he was exactly like a
hurricane, which drives and tears everything
before it.
CHAPTER IX
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
At the close of 1796 it was estimated that
the number of white people dwelling within
the present limits of the State of Ohio was
about 5,000. Most of these were located along
the Ohio River and its tributaries, and within
fifty miles of that stream. When the Maumee
and Sandusky country was first organized, in
that year, it was made a part of Wayne
County, which included all of Michigan, and
a part of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It
also extended east to the Cuyahoga River.
Detroit was the place for holding court. The
original Wayne County — for it must fee re-
membered that the outlines of this division
were changed several times — was divided into
four townships, of which the northwestern
Ohio basin was in the one named Hamtramck.
Under the provisions of the Ordinance of
1787, a population of "five thousand free male
inhabitants of full age" entitled the territory
to representative government. Accordingly,
Governor St. Clair issued a proclamation call-
ing for an election in December, 1798, for rep-
resentatives to the Territorial Legislature, as
it was estimated that the population of the
entire territory then fulfilled that require-
ment. It was necessary for a voter to be a
freeholder of fifty acres. The first election in
Wayne County was held at Detroit and one
or two other places on the first Monday of
December, according to the proclamation.
The three men elected were Solomon Sibley,
Jacob Visgar, and Charles F. Chabert de Jon-
caire, all of Detroit and vicinity.
The first Territorial Legislature convened at
Cincinnati, on the 16th of September, 1799,
and at once selected ten names of citizens who
were sent to the President of the United States
from whom he was to nominate a legislative
Council, or Senate, for the territory, to be
composed of five members. This was the
inauguration of representative government in
the Northwest Territory, and it made Cincin-
nati the capital of an empire reaching from
the Ohio to the Mississippi, and as large as
modern Texas.
The Lower House consisted of twenty-two
members, of whom seven came from the old
French settlements of Illinois, Michigan, and
Indiana. Neither Northwest Ohio nor the
Western Reserve furnished a single delegate.
The Senate, as finally chosen, consisted of
Jacob Burnett, James Findlay, of Hamilton ;
Robert Oliver, of Washington ; David Vance,
of Jefferson, and Henry Vanderbery, of Knox
counties. The members of the Legislature
were compelled to carry their provisions and
blankets, camp at night, swim their horses
across streams, and penetrate the gloomy for-
ests guided only by blazed trees and the com-
pass. The only roads were bridle paths or
Indian trails. Prior to this time Governor St.
Clair and three associate judges had exercised
all the executive, legislative, and judicial
powers under the Ordinance of 1787. The
governor not only was commander-in-chief of
the military forces, but he appointed all the
magistrates and civil officers and was the chief
executive in the enforcement of law.
William Henry Harrison was selected by
the Legislature as the first delegate, or repre-
sentative, to Congress from the vast territory
95
C FIUST COUNTIES
IN OHIO.
MAP SHOWING DEVELOPMENT OP OHIO
COUNTIES — FROM 1787-1792
MAP OF WAVNE COUNTY
ORGANIZED 179O.
MAP SHOWING DEVELOPMENT OP OHIO
COUNTIES— FROM 1796-1799
"•». OHIO COUNTIES
S 1798.
MAP SHOWING DEVELOPMENT OF
HAMILTON COUNTY, 1792
MAI- SHOWING DEVELOPMENT OP OHIO
COUNTIES, 1799
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
97
northwest of the Ohio River. He received
twelve votes in joint ballot of the two houses,
on the 3d of October, 1799, while Arthur St.
Clair Jr., son of the governor, received ten
votes. He at once proceeded to Philadelphia
and took his seat in Congress, which was in
srssion in that city. No single event of this
period in western history had so far-reaching
and so beneficial an influence in the future
welfare of Ohio as this choice. Harrison at
this time was only twenty -six years of age, but
he had already established an enviable name
for himself in the army. He instituted meas-
ures for the benefit of this territory without
delay, and succeeded in opening up lands in
small tracts of sections and half-sections,
which quickly brought thousands of hardy
and industrious farmers across the Alleghe-
nies. This far-seeing policy gives him claim
to high rank among our great statesmen.
The difficulties attending the organization
and administration of government for so ex-
pansive a territory were immediately recog-
nized. A committee in Congress reported that
there had been but one session of a court hav-
ing jurisdiction over crimes in five years ; and
the immunity which offenders experienced
had attracted to it the vilest and most aban-
doned criminals, and likewise had deterred
useful citizens from making settlements
therein. As a result of this recommendation
all that part of the Northwest Territory lying
to the westward of a line beginning at the
Ohio River, opposite to the mouth of the
Kentucky River, and thence running north,
was eliminated from this jurisdiction and
created into the Territory of Indiana. By
this ordinance Wayne County was reduced to
about one-half of its original size. The first
post road between Cincinnati and Detroit was
established in 1801. For a couple of years,
however, on the north end of this route there
was not a single postoffice, so that the mail
was carried as a military or semi-military ex-
press as formerly. It was in 1801 that the
Tol. I— T
first capitol building for Ohio was built at
Chillicothe, which city had been designated
by Congress as the seat of government. At
the first session of the second general assembly
held there, Wayne County was again repre-
sented by delegates from Detroit.
Prom the very beginning almost the gover-
nor and Legislature clashed. St. Clair stub-
bornly maintained that he alone had the
authority to create new counties and locate
OHIO COUNTIES, 1802
county seats, and in this attitude he ran
counter to the pet projects of some of the
members. It was the clash of autocracy and
democracy. By the time of the second session
of the Legislature, the contest had reached
a white heat. To the arbitrary methods of
Governor St. Clair was due the inauguration
of proceedings to have Ohio admitted as a
state. Failing in their efforts to prevent the
appointment of the governor, Edward Tiffin,
Thomas Worthington, and others set on foot
the movement which finally displaced that
disliked official. These men were adherents
of the party of Jefferson, who came into office
98
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
at this opportune time. Edward Tiffin, a phy-
sician by profession, loomed head and shoul-
ders above all the others. Each party availed
itself of every possible means to further its
interests, but Tiffin assumed the leadership
affected, in order to ascertain their wishes,
that body passed an enabling act in April,
1802, thus ending a five years' struggle for
statehood. There were at that time seven
counties in the entire state. The census of
HON. EDWARD TIFFIN — FIRST GOVERNOR OF OHIO
in the assaults upon the governor, and the
latter discovered in him a foeman worthy his
steel. President Jefferson was anxious for
more republican states, and welcomed the op-
portunity to create another. Congress ap-
proved the proposition and, although there
had never been a vote of the people to be
1800 credited the territory with a population
of 45,028, of whom 3,206 lived in Wayne
County, but Wayne lay mostly in what is now
Michigan.
On the fourth of March, 1802, a convention
of representatives was called to formulate a
constitution for the proposed State of Ohio.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
99
No assembly in any commonwealth ever ap-
proached and performed its (work with a
greater realization of its responsibility than
did this one. In its ranks were men who after-
wards rose to the highest distinction. An ex-
ceedingly democratic constitution was finally
agreed upon and signed with commendable
promptness, the entire session continuing but
twenty-five days. Ohio was admitted into the
galaxy of states on the 19th of February, 1803,
being the seventeenth state in numerical suc-
cession. In reality, it was the first actual ad-
dition to the original colonies. Vermont
(1791) had been detached from New York,
while Kentucky (1792) and Tennessee (1796)
had been carved from territory claimed by
Virginia. Ohio was admitted by virtue of her
rights under the Ordinance of 1787. The ini-
tial election was held on January llth, the
premier Legislature under the constitution
convened at Chillicothe, on the first Tuesday
of March, 1803. Edward Tiffin was elected
the first governor without opposition.
At the beginning of statehood the number
of white settlers resident in the Maumee Val-
ley and the Sandusky Valley was very small.
A few traders and pioneers had established
themselves near the watercourses, but North-
west Ohio had no representation in the Gov-
ernment until after the organization of coun-
ties in April, 1820. Previous to this it was
included in two or three counties at different
times. "Wayne County disappeared with the
old territory. Immediately following state-
hood it became a part of Hamilton County,
but that unit exercised little jurisdiction, if
any, over the settlers, because it was still
aborigine territory. Following statehood the
population of the state, and the southern half
in particular, increased very rapidly. In
1810, the enumeration approached a quarter
of a million. In the northern part even Cleve-
land, the most important and flourishing set-
tlement, was a very small and unimportant
place.
Following the decisive defeat of the Indians
at Fallen Timbers, and the Treaty of Green-
ville closely following, the Indians remained
in comparative quiet for several years, seem-
ingly being satisfied with the annuities paid
to them by the United States Government.
For several years a number of forts were main-
tained in the Maumee Valley. There were
Fort Defiance, Fort Adams, Fort Recovery,
Fort Loramie, and Fort Head of the Auglaize,
each of which was garrisoned by small bodies
of troops, in order to hold the aborigines in
check. Fort Miami was evacuated by the Brit-
ish, in 1796, and turned over to Colonel Ham-
tramck, but a garrison was not maintained
there very long. The report of Hamtramek is
as follows:
' ' Sir : On the 7th instant two small vessels
arrived from Detroit in which I sent a de-
tachment of artillery and infantry consisting
of sixty-five men, together with a number of
cannon with ammunition, &c., &c., the whole
under the command of Captain (Moses) Por-
ter. On the 9th a sloop arrived from Detroit
at Swan Creek, purchased by Captain Henry
De Butts, which carries fifty tons, and which
is now loaded with flour, quarter-master's
stores and troops. That, together with eleven
batteaux which I have, will be sufficient to
take all the troops I have with me, leaving
the remainder of our stores deposited at this
place, which was evacuated on this day, and
where I have left Captain Marschalk and Lieu-
tenant Shanklin with fifty-two men, infantry,
and a corporal and six of artillery, that is, in-
cluding the garrison at the head of the Rap-
ids. I have endowed Fort Miami with one
month's provisions for both the troops and
the Shawanese. The latter, you recollect, you
promised subsistence until the crops were
ripe. The number of the Shawanese is about
one hundred and eighty, besides twenty-six or
thirty Ottawas. I shall embark in two hours,
with all the troops for Detroit. * * •"
Almost at the beginning of the nineteenth
100
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
century a stockade fort was built at the con-
fluence of Swan Creek and the Maumee River.
The exact year is not known, but it was not
later than 1804. Clark Waggoner publishes in
his ' ' History of Lucas County ' ' a letter from
the War Department, which reads as follows:
"A stockade Port was erected about the
year 1800, near the mouth of Swan Creek, on
the Maumee River, and, as near as can be
determined upon what is now Summit Street,
in the City of Toledo, to which was given the
name of Fort Industry. It was at this Fort
that a treaty was held with the Indians, July
4th, 1805, by which the Indian title to the
Fire Lands, (Huron and Erie Counties) was
extinguished, and at which were present Mr.
Charles Jouett, United States Commissioner,
and Chiefs of Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawato-
mie, Shawnee, Muncie and Delaware Indian
tribes."
Fort Industry was placed in charge of
Captain J. Rhea. The remains of this forti-
fication were examined by General John E.
Hunt in his early years, when they were in
good condition and preservation. They were
not entirely obliterated as late as 1836. Many
early settlers had distinct recollections of this
fort, which, in the natural features of the
country, occupied a prominent position on the
bluff, on the site near the south side of Sum-
mit, between Jefferson and Monroe streets.
That a conflict had occurred at Toledo at some
time appears highly probable, from the fact
that early settlers recovered hundreds of bul-
lets from the ground above described. In
the work of grading the streets, human bones
and remains of garments, to which buttons
were attached, were exhumed in considerable
quantities. These circumstances afford almost
conclusive evidence that a sanguinary conflict
had occurred on the plateau now daily trav-
ersed by the busy throngs in the thriving City
of Toledo. In 1805, a treaty was held with
the Indians at Fort Industry. At this con-
ference, there were present chiefs and warriors
of the Wyandots, Ottawa, Chippewa, Dela-
ware, Shawnee, Pottawatomi and Seneca
tribes. By the treaty made here another ad-
justment of the land question was made with
the natives upon the payment of certain sums
of money to them. None of the territory of
Northwest Ohio was included, but the Indians
ceded all of their claims to the Western Re-
serve and the Firelands.
By a treaty effected at Detroit, in 1807, a
number of Indian tribes, the Chippewas, Ot-
tawas, Pottawatomis, and Wyandots, quit-
claimed to the United States all their asser-
tions to the country north of the middle of the
Maumee River, from its mouth to the mouth
of the Auglaize, and thence extending north
as far as Lake Huron. For this territory
they received $10,000 in money and goods,
and an annuity of $2,400. Certain tracts of
land were also reserved for the exclusive use
of the Indians. These reservations within this
territory were six miles square on the north
bank of the Maumee, above Roche De Boeuf,
"to include the village where Tondagame, or
the Dog, now lives." Another reservation
of three miles square included what is known
as Presque Isle, and still another of "four
miles square on the Miami (Maumee) Bay in-
cluding the villages where Meskemau and
Waugau now live." It was furthermore pro-
vided that in the event the reservations could
not be conveniently laid out in squares, they
should be surveyed in parallelograms or other
figures found most practicable to obtain the
area specified in miles.
It was not long after this date until settlers
began to gather at the foot of the Rapids of
the Maumee. This circumstance rendered
roads necessary. As a result, by a treaty with
the Indians at Brownstown, Michigan, in 1808,
a road 120 feet in width was reserved to con-
nect the fort at the Maumee rapids with the
line of the Connecticut Reserve, which is the
old and much traveled road now running from
Perrysburg to Fremont, then called Lower
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
101
Sandusky. It also provided for a tract of
land, for a road only, of 120 feet in width to
run southwardly from what is called Lower
Siiiidnsky to the boundary line established by
the Treaty of Greenville, with the privilege of
taking, at all times, such timber and other ma-
terials from the adjacent lands as may be
necessary for making and keeping in repair
tin- said road, with the bridges that may be
required along the same. " * * * No com-
pensation was granted the Indians in money
or merchandise for these roadways, as they
were desirable and beneficial to the aborigine
nations as well as to the United States," reads
a clause in the cession.
Congress failed to construct the east and
west road, but eventually ceded its rights to
the state. The contract was finally let in
1824, and the road was completed in 1826.
For years it was the main thoroughfare over
which thousands journeyed in their search for
a western paradise. In his search for a land
flowing with milk and honey, the pioneer cer-
tainly was obliged to undergo torture in cross-
ing this "black swamp" country. On the
desert a traveler can stop almost anywhere
and pitch his tent, but here, in certain seasons,
the travelers were wading all day in mud and
water, and could with difficulty discover a dry
place where they might rest their weary limbs.
On this highway, however, there was a tavern
for almost every mile of road between Perrys-
burg and Lower Sandusky. The right to mud
holes was recognized. A young man started
with a wagon and team of mules for Michigan,
with $100 in his pocket. He became mired so
frequently, and was obliged to pay $1 so many
times to people living near the mud holes to
extricate him from his difficulties, that his
money was exhausted long before his journey
had ended. Not discouraged in the least, this
traveler decided that the place to find what
you have lost is right where you have lost
it. He accordingly located near a mud hole,
and remained there until he had earned his
hundred dollars back.
General Harrison, writing to the War De-
partment, says: "An idea can scarcely be
formed of the difficulties with which land
transportation is effected north of the 40th
degree of latitude in this country. The coun-
try beyond that is almost a continual swamp
to the lake. Where the streams run favorable
to your course a small strip of better ground is
generally found, but in crossing from one
river to another the greater part of the way
at this season is covered with water. Such is
actually the situation of that space between
the Sandusky and the Miami Rapids, and
from the best information that I could acquire
whilst I was at Huron the road over it must
be causewayed at least one-half of the way."
Shortly after the opening of the nineteenth
century, reports of many kinds concerning
the activities of Tecumseh commenced to reach
the officials in the Northwest Territory. This
chief's aim seemed to be to repeat the history
of Pontiac, only that, in this case, the con-
spiracy was directed against the Americans
instead of the British. His reputed brother,
Elskwatawa, generally known as The Prophet,
had gained something of notoriety as a sor-
cerer. He began to relate stories of his dreams
and visions, which he claimed were inspired
by the Great Spirit, and these greatly aroused
the aborigines. Tecumseh aimed to unite his
followers with the British, in an effort to drive
the Americans from this territory. Numerous
efforts were made to pacify him, but his own
activities and those of The Prophet continued.
Tecumseh was a son of a Shawnee chieftain,
and he was born in the Shawnee Village of
Piqua, on the banks of the Mad River, in
1768. The name signifies "one who passes
across intervening space from one point to
another," and this well expresses his extraor-
dinary career. He ever evinced a burning
hostility to the Americans. He refused to
102
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
attend the council at Greenville. He likewise
declined to attach his name to that treaty, and
never ceased to denounce it. It was about that
time that he and his followers removed to the
White River, in Indiana, but he continued in
close relations with all the tribes of Northwest
Ohio. At several councils with the Americans,
Tecuniseh exhibited the remarkable power of
oratory for which he became noted. His
brother likewise began to come into promi-
nence among the Indians, among whom he was
known as the "Loud Voice." During the
course of his revelations he said that the
Great Spirit directed the Indians to cast off
the debasing influence of the whites, and re-
turn to the customs of their fathers. His
audiences numbered thousands, and many
were recalled to the neglected and almost for-
gotten practices of their fathers.
The Prophet's Town, as it was called, on
the banks of the Tippecanoe, was visited by
thousands of savages, who were roused to the
highest pitch -of fanaticism. The two brothers
wandered from the everglades of Florida to
the headwaters of the Mississippi, and in
words of greatest eloquence impressed upon
the natives the necessity of united action
against the pale-faced intruders. In 1810
General Harrison summoned Tecumseh and
his followers to Vincennes. Tecumseh rose
to the highest pitch of eloquence, as he vividly
portrayed the wrongs of the red man. A few
months later occurred the victorious battle of
Tippecanoe, during the absence of Tecumseh
among southern tribes. The War of 1812
followed a short time afterwards, and Tecum-
seh allied himself with the British. He fought
bravely and nobly until he fell in the Battle
of the Thames. The voice that had roused the
savages for a final stand against the en-
croachments'of the whites was forever stilled.
With it vanished the hopes of the aborigines
ever to regain their lost hunting grounds in
Northwest Ohio.
Bodies of savages were continually passing
to and from Maiden, the British headquarters
after the evacuation of Detroit, and they al-
ways returned liberally provided with rifles,
powder and lead. One savage was found to
have been given an elegant rifle, twenty-five
pounds of powder, fifty pounds of lead, three
blankets and ten shirts, besides quantities
of clothing and other articles. The British
agent addressed a Miami chief, to whom he
had made a present of goods, as follows: "My
son keep your eyes fixed on me ; my tomahawk
is now up; be you ready, but do not strike
until I give the signal." Capt. John John-
ston, agent of the Fort Wayne Trading Post,
wrote that "since writing you on the 25th
ultimo, about one hundred Sawkeys (Sacs)
have returned from the British agent who
supplied them liberally with everything they
stood in want of. The party received forty-
seven rifles and a number of fusils (flintlock
muskets) with plenty of powder and lead.
This is sending firebrands into the Mississippi
country inasmuch as it will draw numbers of
our Aborigines to the British side in the hope
of being treated with the same liberality. ' '
William Henry Harrison, then governor of
Indiana Territory, was not idle during this
time. He instituted preparations for defense,
and was visited by many of the leaders of
the hostiles. Tecumseh himself came on a
visit to Harrison at Fort Wayne, accompanied
by several hundred followers. He intended
some treachery, but the Americans were too
alert. There were a number of trading agen-
cies in operation in the Northwest Territory
under the auspices of the general government,
of which only one was in Northwest Ohio,
and this was at Sandusky. Meetings of citi-
zens were held at many places in 1811, and
petitions' for protection were forwarded to
the National Government. Governor Harrison
was allowed additional troops, after which he
advanced against the savages and won his
great victory at the battle of Tippecanoe.
This defeat did not stop the depredations
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
103
and isolated murders, so that the whole coun-
try was kept under the gravest apprehension.
We do not have absolute record of many mur-
ders in Northwest Ohio. Captain John John-
ston, however, in a report, stated that three
Americans had been killed at Defiance and
two at Sandusky by the savages. A committee
of Congress reported to that body that the
British had been working among the savages
with the intention of securing them as allies
against the Americans.
Of the movements of Tecumseh, William
Wells wrote from Fort Wayne, on the first of
March, 1812: "In my letter of the 10th
ultimo I informed you that the Aborigine
chief Tecumseh had arrived on the Wabash.
I have now to state to you that it appears he
has determined to raise all the Aborigines he
can, immediately, with intention no doubt
to attack our frontiers. He has sent runners
to raise the Aborigines on the Illinois and the
upper Mississippi; and I am told has gone
himself to hurry on the aid he was promised
by the Cherokees and Creeks. The Prophet's
orator, who is considered the third man in
this hostile band, passed within twelve miles
of this place on the 23rd ultimo with eight
Shawanese, eight Winnebagoes and seven
Kickapoos, in all twenty-four, on their way
as they say to Sandusky, where they expected
to received a quantity of powder and lead
from their father the British. ' '
CHAPTER X
THE DISASTROUS YEAR OF 1812
The war cloud that had been gathering for
several years finally resulted in a formal
declaration of war against Great Britain, on
the 18th of June, 1812. The ostensible reason
assigned was the continued interference with
American trade and the impressing of Ameri-
can seamen into the British service. These
incidents were an attack upon our national
pride, and a humiliation that could not be
endured. But one of the strongest moving
causes -was the encouragement of the savages
in their attacks upon the Americans, and the
continued maintenance of fortified posts upon
American soil. It was in reality a continua-
tion of the Revolutionary War, for hostile
acts had at no time entirely ceased. The neces-
sity of such operations as should wrest from
the enemy the command of the upper lakes
and the northwest frontier at once became
apparent, and was promptly acted upon.
Prom every American living within that terri-
tory came urgent appeals for protection. It
was not fear of the British enemies that
actuated them, but dread of the outrages of
their savage allies.
By reason of her location on the exposed
frontier, the young State of Ohio was placed
in a most trying situation. By virtue of her
position the conflict was destined to be fought
largely within or adjacent to her boundaries,
and especially in Northwest Ohio. Circum-
stances demanded of her the very best both
in men and money. In no respect did she fail,
and Ohio performed more than her full share
in this second conflict with Great Britain,
generally known as the War of 1812. It was
indeed fortunate for Ohio, and the country
as well, that such a vigorous and able man
as Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., occupied the
gubernatorial chair at this period. He was
one of the type of men who did so much to
lay the foundations of the state, and his father
had been one of the original settlers at
Marietta. He had had some military expe-
rience, and was a man of unusually strong
executive power. He lost no time in mobiliz-
ing several regiments of state militia, in which
citizens of the best families enrolled them-
selves. In his promptness and effectiveness
in this respect, he was not equalled by the
governor of any other state.
Governor William Hull, of Michigan Terri-
tory, also a brigadier-general of the United
States Army, was made commander-in-chief
of the Ohio troops. Many protests were filed
against his appointment, although he had a
creditable career in the Revolutionary War.
It was said that he was too old, and too
broken down in body and mind to conduct
such a rigorous campaign. Furthermore, the
people resident there had no confidence in him,
and the Indians were said to despise him.
All of the protests were without effect, how-
ever, for the nomination was confirmed. ' ' On
the very same day it passed the Senate, ' ' says
a report, "the poor, weak, vain old man was
seen in full dress uniform, parading the streets
of Washington, making calls. ' ' A little later,
General Hull arrived at Dayton, the place of
rendezvous, and assumed command of the
volunteer army already assembled there.
Governor Meigs congratulated the men on the
104
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
105
fact that they were to serve under a dis-
tinguished officer of the Revolutionary War,
and one who was especially fitted both by
training and experience to conduct success-
fully just such a campaign as they were
about to enter upon. It was a fact that
Hull had won honors at Stony Point,
fortress, erected in our territory by a foreign
nation in times of peace, and for the express
purpose of exciting the savages to hostility,
and supplying them with the means of con-
ducting a barbarous war, must remind you of
that system of oppression and injustice which
that nation has continually practiced, and
HULL'S TRAIL IN HARDIN COUNTY
but he had now lost his energy of mind and
body. He addressed his troops as follows:
"In marching through a wilderness memor-
able for savage barbarity, you will remember
the causes by which that barbarity have been
heretofore excited. In viewing the ground
stained by the blood of your fellow-citizens,
it will be impossible to suppress the feelings
of indignation. Passing by the ruins of a
which the spirit of an indignant people can
no longer endure."
The army of General Hull moved north-
ward, on June 1st, to Urbana, where it was
joined by another regiment of regulars under
Lieutenant Colonel Miller, a veteran of Tippe-
canoe. The army now numbered approxi-
mately nineteen hundred men. It was the
intention and desire of General Hull to pro-
106
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ceed to Detroit as directly as practicable.
He seemed to doubt that war between the
United States and Great Britain would follow.
The course of the army led through an almost
trackless forest and impassable swamps until
it reached the Maumee River. Ague chills
shook the sturdy frames of the pioneer soldiers,
and the ambuscade of the savage foe was ever
imminent. Danger lurked by the river bank
and on the trail everywhere. As a result
progress was extremely slow. One regiment
was detailed to cut a road through the woods
west and the other at the southeast angle.
Seventy or eighty feet of the enclosure was
composed of a row of log corn-cribs, covered
with a shed roof and sloping inside. A part
of the pickets were of split timber and lapped
at the edges; others were of round logs set
up endways and touching each other. The
rows of huts for the garrison were placed a
few feet from the walls. It was a post of
danger, and must have been an exceedingly
dreary spot. Not a vestige of the fort now
remains, but the graves of sixteen of the garri-
FORT MCARTHUR BURYING GROUND, NEAR KENTOX, HARDIN COUNTY
The boulders seen upon the ground are the headstones of the soldiers' graves
and to build blockhouses, which should be used
as deposit stations, and to protect the line of
communications.
In obedience to orders a road was carved
out of the primeval wilderness from Urbana
to the Scioto River, and there were built two
blockhouses connected by palisades, which
later received the name of Fort McArthur.
The site was about three miles southwest of
Kenton. It was situated in a low, flat place
in the unbroken woods, in a country noted
for its great forests as well as expansive
marshes. The fort enclosed about half an
acre. One of the blockhouses was in the north-
son are located near by. The road cut by this
army, and generally known as Hull's Trail,
was for many years the principal highway
from Bellefontaine to Detroit. Only in one
place can it now be identified by an open lane
through a woods still standing.
When the army arrived at Fort McArthur,
a detachment was sent ahead to cut a road
farther north. Heavy rains had rendered
the morasses adjoining the Blanchard River
almost impassable. Hence it was that the
army was obliged to stop when only sixteen
miles from Fort McArthur, and there erect
another stockade and blockhouse, which was
HISTORY OK .\ORTII\VKST ollln
107
appropriately named Fort Necessity. This
fort was situated near the south line of Han-
cock County, a little bit east of the center.
Here word was brought by Robert Lucas ami
William Denny of increased activity among
the British and Indians, and that their alliance .
bore a threatening attitude. Although war
had been declared at this time, it was several
days afterwards before the news reached the
army. After a few days' delay the army
advanced, and in a three days' march arrived
Colonel Lewis Cass was directed to take his
troops and prepare the road north to the
Maumee. In order to move rapidly, much of
the heavy luggage was stored at Fort Findlay.
After -a few days' march the army arrived at
tin .Maumee, opposite to the field where was
fought the battle of Fallen Timbers. Ford-
ing the rapids the next encampment was near
Fort ^liami. So absolutely imbecillic was
General Hull that when he arrived at the
Maumei', in the latter part of June, he decided
Copyright by A. H. Lineweaver
Looking south from river.
FORT FINDLAY, 1812
Painted by Dr. A. H. Lineweaver, from sketch made in 1879,
supervised by Squire Carlin.
at the Blanchard River. Here an advance
detachment had already nearly completed
another palisade enclosure, 150 feet square,
with a blockhouse at each corner and a ditch
in front. General Hull bestowed upon this
place of refuge the name of Fort Findlay.
The site was within the present City of Find-
lay, and only a few squares north of the court
house. Its service was that of a resting place
and temporary storage of supplies. It was
abandoned late in 1814, but a blockhouse and
a couple of small houses where travelers stop-
ped for the night were still standing a dozen
years after its military character had ended.
to forward his baggage, stores, and sick by
vessel to Detroit. He was warned against this,
but stubbornly refused to heed the advice. He
seemed to treat the probability of war as a
joke. Hence it was that, on the 1st of July,
he embarked his disabled men and most of his
impedimenta on board a packet, which pro-
ceeded down the Maumee bound for Detroit.
Thirty soldiers were detailed to guard the
vessel. It is almost needless to say that it
was captured by a British gunboat when oppo-
site Maiden. He had also sent by it his official
papers and plans of campaign, which were
immediately placed in the hands of General
108
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Brock. These he never ought to have per-
mitted to pass out of his own possession under
any circumstances.
HULL'S SURRENDER
It would not be within the scope of this
history to detail the waverings and cowardice
of General Hull, which has been elaborated
upon so frequently. Suffice it to say that
his troops arrived in Detroit on the 5th of
July. With scarcely a show of resistance,
Detroit was surrendered to the British with
nearly two thousand American soldiers, on the
16th of August. The white flag of surrender
was raised without consulting his officers.
As most of the troops were from Ohio, this
state felt the disgrace and humiliation more
keenly than any of the other commonwealths.
It was an almost irreparable loss, and gave
the British wonderful prestige with the
natives. As a result of his action, Hull was
accused of both treason and cowardice, and
was found guilty of the latter. A popular
song that arose had in it this verse :
"Old Hull, you old traitor,
You outcast of Nature,
May your conscience torment you as long as
you live;
And when old Apollyon
His servants does call on,
May you be ready your service to give."
One interesting incident in connection with
Hull's surrender was furnished by Capt.
Henry Bruch and his company of 230 volun-
teers, with a hundred beef cattle and other
supplies, which had been sent by Governor
Meigs to reinforce the army at Detroit. They
were prevented by the British from ad-
vancing beyond the River Raisin from the
first days of August without relief from
Detroit. General Hull included this force in
his surrender; but when Captain Elliott, son
of the notorious Capt. Matthew Elliott, and his
attendants came to claim this prize, Captain
Brush placed them under arrest and imme-
diately started his command and supplies
southward, and conducted them back to Gov-
ernor Meigs. The surrender of Hull exposed
all Northwest Ohio to incursions of the enemy.
All eyes now turned toward WTilliam Henry
Harrison as the man of the hour. Governor
Scott, of Kentucky, swept aside technicalities
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON
and appointed Harrison to the command of
the state troops raised to wipe out the disgrace
of Hull's surrender. At the head of these
troops Harrison proceeded northward. When
just north of Dayton he received word from
Washington that General Winchester had been
appointed to the chief command, but that he
himself had been raised to the rank of briga-
dier-general. He was disappointed, but his
men were even more chagrined. As immediate
action seemed necessary, and without awaiting
either the arrival or orders of General Win-
chester, Harrison proceeded to the relief of
Fort Wayne, then being besieged by the
IIISTOKV OF NOHTIIWKST OHIO
109
Indians. By this prompt action another
bloody massacre was doubtless averted. Gen-
eral Harrison, under orders from his supe-
riors, lurni'd over his command to Winchester
without a iniirniiir, although it was known
that he had much more experience in Indian
lighting than had his successor. Few men
understood the dusky native of the forests as
did Harrison. General James Winchester
was a Tennesseean, and a Revolutionary offi-
cer, but little known among the frontier men
of this section. In charge of several thousand
troops, most of whom were from Kentucky,
he entered upon an extensive campaign in
Northwest Ohio. He was authorized to call
upon Governor Meigs for re-enforcements.
He soon afterwards requested two regiments
of infantry to join him at the "Rapids of the
Miami of the Lake about the 10th or the 15th
of October next, well clothed for a fall cam-
paign. It is extremely desirous to me that
no time be lost in supplying this requisition.
The cold season is fast approaching, and the
stain on the American character by the sur-
render of Detroit not yet wiped away."
General Winchester dispatched some spies
down the Maumee, but the first detachment,
consisting of five men, was waylaid and killed
by the savages. He advanced cautiously in
order to provide against surprise. He dis-
covered indisputable evidence of the recent
retreat of British troops at one or two places
along the Maumee, not far from Defiance. In
their haste, the British threw one cannon into
the river, which was afterwards recovered and
employed in the campaign. The march along
the Auglaize was made under the most dis-
tressing conditions. The rain descended in
torrents. The flat beach woods were covered
with water, and the horses sank up to their
knees in the mud at almost every step. "From
Loraine on the south to the river St. Mary, and
then to Defiance at the north, was one con-
tinuous swamp knee deep to the pack horses,
and up to the hubs of the wagons." At
times it was impossible to move a wagon with-
out a load. Happy indeed were they who
could find a dry log at night in which a tin-
could be kindled. Many passed the night
sitting in the saddles at the root of trees
against which they leaned, and thus obtained
a little sleep. Fort Jennings was built on this
marsh by Colonel Jennings, as a protection for
supplies. Fort Amanda was also erected by
Colonel Poague, and named by him in honor
of his wife. It was in the usual quadrangular
form, with a blockhouse at each corner.
Late in September, the position of the two
officers was reversed, and General Harrison
was given the supreme command of the North-
western Army. The letter of notification,
which reached him at Piqua, read: "The
President is pleased to assign to you the com-
mand of the Northwestern Army which, in
addition to the regular troops and rangers in
that quarter, will consist of the volunteers and
militia of Kentucky, Ohio, and three thousand
from Virginia and Pennsylvania, making your
whole force ten thousand men. * * * Col-
onel Buford, deputy commissioner at Lexing-
ton, is furnished with funds, and is subject
to your orders. * * * You will command
such means as may be practicable. Exercise
your own discretion, and act in all cases ac-
cording to your own judgment. ' '
When General Harrison received the noti-
fication of his appointment, there were about
3,000 troops at Fort Barbee (St. Marys),
a considerable number of which were cavalry.
The cavalry were under the command of
General Edward "W. Tupper. This army
was at once set in motion for Defiance with
three day's rations. They arrived at Fort
Jennings the first night, notwithstanding a
severe rain, and camped there without tents
until morning. Receiving word here that the
enemy had retreated, a part of the troops were
sent back to Fort Barbee. General Harrison
continued down the Auglaize with his cavalry.
When he reached the camp of General Win-
110
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Chester, he discovered a sad state of affairs,
as one of the Kentucky regiments was on the
verge of mutiny. Its commander reported to
Harrison that he alone could check it. He
ordered a parade of the troops, and addressed
them in his characteristic way. He said that
any troops that wanted to retire could do so,
as he already had soldiers to spare. But he
likewise spoke of the reception that would
await them at home. Their fathers would
order their degenerate sons back to the field
of battle to recover their wounded honor,
while their mothers and sisters would hiss
them from their presence. Under the in-
fluence of this.animated address, the mutinous
Kentuckians soon subsided and gave three
hearty cheers for the popular commander.
General Winchester immediately issued the
following order :
"Camp at Defiance, October 3, 1812.
I have the honor of announcing to this army
the arrival of General Harrison who is duly
authorized by the executive of the Federal
Government to take command of the North-
western Army. This officer is enjoying the
implicit confidence of the States from whose
citizens this army is and will be collected
and, possessing himself great military skill
and reputation, the General is confident in
the behalf that his presence in the army, in
the character of its chief, will be hailed with
unusual approbation.
J. WINCHESTER,
Brig. Gen. U. S. Army."
General Harrison planned a three column
march into the enemy's country. The right
wing of his army was to be composed of three
brigades from Virginia and Pennsylvania, to-
gether with some Ohio troops, and was to
proceed down the Sandusky River. During
their march, they erected Fort Ferree, at
Upper Sandusky, Fort Ball, on the site of Tif-
fin, and Fort Stevenson, at Lower Sandusky.
General Tupper's command was styled the
center, and was to move along Hull's trail by
the way of Forts McArthur, Necessity, and
Findlay. The main command devolved upon
General Winchester, and was known as the
left wing. It included the United States
troops, and six regiments of Ohio and Ken-
tucky militia. These troops were to superin-
tend the transportation of supplies to the new
Fort Winchester, in readiness for the advance
movement, and they were instructed to pos-
sess the corn and other crops that had been
abandoned as soon as possible. General Harri-
son had suggested to General Winchester that
two regiments of infantry be sent southward,
to be near the base of food and clothing sup-
plies, and that General Tupper with all the
cavalry, almost 1,000 in number, should
be sent down the Maumee and beyond the
rapids to disperse any of the enemy found
there. They were to return to Fort Barbee
by way of the Tawa towns, on the Blanchard
River. These orders were never executed.
One reason was the scarcity of powder and
food, which made so long an excursion almost
impossible. Another was the ill feeling be-
tween Generals Winchester and Tupper, and
the weakening of Tupper's force by the with-
drawal of some troops, whose enlistment had
expired. General Tupper was eventually dis-
missed from his command by Winchester,
who gave it to Colonel Allen, under whom the
troops refused to march. Instead of leading
his command down the Maumee River and
then to St. Marys, as he was ordered to do,
General Tupper went directly across country
to Fort McArthur. For this act charges of
insubordination were placed against him, and
his arrest was ordered. At the trial a year
later, he was acquitted.
When the troops under General Winchester
reached the confluence of the Auglaize and
the Maumee rivers, they found Fort Defiance
in ruins. Even had it remained in good condi-
tion, that stockade would have been inadequate
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OII1<»
111
for the larger army which it was now called
upon tu shelter. The entire area embraced
within the palisades of the fort, built by
General Wayne almost a score of years earlier,
would not exceed one-quarter of an acre.
General Harrison, who had by this time joined
the army, drew a plan for a new fort a do/en
times as extensive as Fort Defiance. A force
of men were detailed with axes to cut timber
for the buildings and the palisades. This new
fort was named Fort Winchester by General
Harrison, in deference to the superseded com-
mander. For a considerable length of time,
this fortress was the only obstruction against
the incursions of the British and the Aborigi-
nes in Northwestern Ohio.
Fort Winchester was constructed in a beau-
tiful location along the high and precipitous
west bank of the Auglaize River, about eighty
rods south of Fort Defiance. It was in the
form of a parallelogram, and enclosed three
acres or more of land. There was a strong
two-story blockhouse at each corner, and a
large gate midway on each side with a sentinel
house above. The whole enclosure was sur-
rounded by a strong palisade of logs placed on
end, deep in the ground, snugly matched
together, pointed at the upper ends, and
rising twelve or fifteen feet above ground. A
cellar was excavated under the blockhouse at
the northeast corner, from which an under-
ground passageway was made to the river,
where there was also a barrier of logs in order
to protect the water supply of the garrison. It
fulfilled its mission during the war as an im-
portant stronghold for the defense of the
territory of the upper rivers, as a rendezvous
for troops and, later, for the storing of sup-
plies to be boated down the Maumee River as
necessitated by the advancing troops.
A number of ambuscades by the savages
occurred around Fort Winchester. These gen-
erally happened to soldiers who had strayed
away from the fort either to gather food
or to shoot game. Five soldiers were killed
and scalped while after the wild plums that
were so plentiful. "Some breaches of dis-
cipline were noted, and their punishment
relieved the monotony of camp life. On the
8th October Frederick Jacoby, a young man,
was found asleep while posted as guard. He
was sentenced by court martial to be shot.
A platoon was ordered to take places before
the paraded army and twenty paces from the
prisoner who, blindfolded, was on his knees
preparing for the order to the soldiers to fire.
A great stillness pervaded the army. Just as
the suspense was at its height a courier arrived
with an order from General Winchester saving
his life by changing the sentence. This sen-
tence and scene produced a profound effect
upon the soldiers. It was their first real view
of the sternness of military discipline; and
they recognized its necessity and justness
while in the country of the stealthy and
savage enemy."
The greatest suffering, however, was caused
by the lack of provisions and inadequate
clothing. Fort Winchester was completed on
the 15th of October, 1812. Nevertheless a
large number of the troops continued to camp
outside the enclosure. The longest stay was
made at Camp Number Three, several miles
down the Maumee, for here there was an
abundance of firewood, and the ground was
dry. Of this place, one who was with the
army said: "On the 25th December, 1812,
at sunrise we bade adieu to this memorable
place, Camp Number Three, where lie, the
bones of many a brave man. This place will
live in the recollection of all who suffered
there, and for more reasons than one. There
comes up before the mind the many times the
dead march was heard in the Camp, and the
solemn procession that carried our fellow suf-
ferers to the grave; the many times we were
almost on the point of starvation; and the
many sickening disappointments which were
experienced by the army from day to day, and
from week to week, by the failure of promised
112
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
supplies." Most of the soldiers were pro-
vided only with summer clothing, and it was
well into the winter before any heavier out-
fitting was received. Army life was certainly
deprived of its glamour. The rations were
constantly short. Some days they consisted
only of beef and other days only of flour, or
some hickory nuts which were gathered near
the camp. The absence of salt was also greatly
felt. It is no wonder that sickness increased
because of the inadequate food and the thin
clothing worn by the soldiers. Their weakened
condition rendered the men an easy prey to
pestilence. Three or four deaths a day, with
the constant succession of funeral rites, greatly
depressed the soldiers. Hunger drove many
away from the camp in search of food. The
delay of contractors and the inclemency of
the weather both contributed to delay, so that
a fall campaign against Detroit became abso-
lutely impossible, much to the regret of the
commander-in-chief.
General Harrison, from his headquarters at
Pranklinton, now Columbus, was kept fully
informed, and he in turn advised the depart-
ment, but communications were slow and the
War Department was so demoralized that sup-
plies did not reach this outlying fortress. No
other troops operating in this part of the state
had to endure such hardships as befell this
army in the fall and early winter of 1812.
The difficulties of transportation were so great,
because the mud became almost impassible.
There was one attempt to send food of which
we have an account. This was made by
Captain Robert McAfee, and is reported as
follows :
"About the first of December, Major Bod-
ley, an enterprising officer who was quarter-
master of the Kentucky troops, made an
attempt to send near two hundred barrels of
flour down the River St. Marys in pirogues
to the Left Wing of the army below Defiance.
Previous to this time, the water had rarely
been high enough to venture in a voyage on
these small streams. The flour was now ship-
ped in fifteen or twenty pirogues and canoes,
and placed under the command of Captain
Jordan and Lieutenant Card well, with up-
wards of twenty men. They descended the
river and arrived about a week afterward at
Shane's Crossing upwards of one hundred
miles by water but only twenty by land from
the place where they started. The river was
so narrow, crooked, full of logs, and trees
overhanging the banks, that it was with great
difficulty they eould make any progress. And
now in one freezing night they were com-
pletely ice bound. Lieutenant Cardwell waded
back through the ice and swamps to Fort
Barbee with intelligence of their situation.
Major Bodley returned with him to the flour,
and offered the men extra wages to cut
through the ice and push forwards ; but hav-
ing gained only one mile by two day's labor,
the project was abandoned, and a guard left
with the flour. A few days before Christmas a
temporary thaw took place which enabled
them with much difficulty and suffering to
reach within a few miles of Fort Wayne, where
they were again frozen up. They now aban-
doned the voyage and made sleds on which the
men hauled the flour to the Fort (Wayne)
and left it there!"
General Harrison himself reported to the
Secretary of War as follows: "Obstacles are
almost insuperable ; but they are opposed with
unabated firmness and zeal. * * * I fear
that the expenses of this army will greatly ex-
ceed the calculations of the government. The
prodigious destruction of horses can only be
conceived by those who have been accustomed
to military operations in the wilderness during
the winter season. * * * I did not make
sufficient allowance for the imbecility and in-
experience of the public agents, and the vil-
lainy of the contractors. * * * If the
plan of acquiring the naval superiority upon
the lakes, before the attempt is made on
Maiden or Detroit, should be adopted, I
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
113
would place fifteen hundred men in canton-
ment at the Miami Rapids — Defiance would be
better if the troops had not advanced from
there — retain about one thousand more to be
distributed in different garrisons, accumulate
provisions at St. Marys, 'Tawa Town (Fort
Jennings), Upper Sandusky, Cleveland, and
Presque Isle, and employ the dragoons and
mounted infantry in desultory expeditions
against the Aborigines."
Following a custom of the day captives
were occasionally brought in to give informa-
tion. In one official report to Governor Meigs
I iy ("cncral Tupper we find as follows:
"Camp, near Me Arthur's Block-house.
November 9th, 1812.
Sir : — I have for some time thought a pris-
oner from near the Maumee Rapids would
at this time be of much service, and highly
acceptable to General Harrison. For this pur-
pose, I ordered Captain Hiukton to the
Rapids, with his company of spies, with orders
to take a prisoner if possible. He had just
returned and brought in with him Captain
A. Clark, a British subject, who resides two
miles above Maiden, and was out with a
party of about five hundred Indians and fifty
British, with two gunboats, six bateaux, and
one small schooner at the foot of the Rapids^
to gather in and carry over to Maiden the
corn. Captain Clark had but just arrived
with the van of the detachment. The vessels
and boats had not yet anchored when the
spies surprised him as he advanced a few rods
from the shore to reconnoitre, and brought
him off undiscovered ; and this from a number
of Indians, who were killing hogs and begin-
ning to gather corn. At the same time, several
of Captain Hinkton's spies lay concealed on
the bank within five rods of the place where
some of the first boats were landing. Captain
Hinkton has conducted this business with
great skill and address. Captain Clark was
taken prisoner on the 7th instant, a little be-
fore sun setting. • • •
I am, very respectfully,
Your Excellency's Most obedient servant,
EDWARD W. TUPFER, .
Brigadier Gen. Ohio Quota."
As a result of the information obtained
from Captain Clark, Tupper decided to make
a quick march to the Maumee Rapids. He
started on November 10th along Hull's Trail
with 650 men and a light six-pounder cannon.
The gun they were finally obliged to abandon.
Arriving at the rapids, he decided to send a
part of his troops across and attack the enemy
on the following morning. The men were
obliged to wade through an icy current that
was waist high, and some lost their guns. The
British fled, but the Indians made some iso-
lated attacks and succeeded in killing a few
of the soldiers. Because of scarcity of food,
the commander decided to return to Fort
Me Arthur. As soon as Tupper 's message
reached General Winchester, he selected a
body of almost 400 troops whom he sent
down the river to join those of Tupper. When
their advance scouts reached the camp of
Tupper, they found it deserted and the body
of one slain and scalped American there. All
the signs indicated a hasty retreat. When
these scouts returned, Colonel Lewis decided
to lead his men back to Camp Number Three.
RIVER RAISIN MASSACRE
In January, General Winchester finally
started down the Maumee. This was contrary
to the instructions of General Harrison, who
had ordered him southward to Fort Jennings
in order to protect supplies. Harrison did
not want to make an advance until everything
was ready. In a letter, dated January 8,
1813, he wrote to the secretary of war : ' ' My
plan of operation has been, and now is, to
Vol. I-«
114
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
occupy the Miami Rapids, and to deposit
there as much provisions as possible, to move
from thence with choice detachments of the
army, and with as much provision, artillery
and ammunition as the means of transpor-
tation will allow, make a demonstration
towards Detroit and, by a sudden passage of
the strait upon the ice, an actual investiture
of Maiden. * * * It was my intention to
have assembled at the Rapids from 4,500 to
5,000 men, and to be governed by circum-
stances in forming the detachment with which
I should advance."
On the tenth of January, 1813, General
Winchester reached a point opposite the site
of the battle of Fallen Timbers. He had with
him an army of 1,300 men. Here he estab-
lished an improvised encampment and store-
house. The soldiers were able to gather corn
from the fields, which was boiled whole and
supplied them with some additional food.
Some improvised devices were made to pound
the corn into meal. The enemy were encamped
in considerable numbers around and about the
site of Fort Miami, but they retreated. Sev-
eral hundred men under General Payne were
sent ahead to rout a body of savages said to
be "in an old fortification at Swan Creek,"
but no Indians were discovered there. A num-
ber of messengers arrived at his camp from
Frenchtown (now Monroe) representing the
danger to which the inhabitants were exposed
from the hostility of British and Indians and
almost tearfully begging for protection. These
representations excited the sympathies of the
Americans and turned their attention from
the main object of the campaign, causing them
to overlook to a great extent proper military
precaution.
Col. William Lewis was first dispatched to
the relief of Frenchtown with 550 men, on
January 17th. A few hours later Col. John
Allen followed with 110 men, and overtook
the others at the mouth of the river. March-
ing along the frozen borders of the bay
and lake, they reached there on the after-
noon of the following day. Attacking the
enemy, who were posted in the village, they
gained possession of it after a spirited engage-
ment. Learning that the savages were col-
lecting in force, General Winchester became
alarmed and started from the Maumee rapids
on the 19th with all the troops that he could
detach to the relief of that settlement, in all
about 250 men. They arrived there on the
twentieth instant. Had General Winchester
followed the advice of those wiser than him-
self, a disaster might have been prevented.
Having lived for so many months, however,
in primitive surroundings, after a life of
luxury, he relaxed himself in the good home
of Colonel Navarre, where he was established,
and was not as vigilant as he should have
been. He left his troops in open ground, and
took no precautions against surprise. Peter
Navarre and his brothers, who were acting as
scouts, reported that a large body of British
and Indians were approaching and would
attack him that night. Other information of
a similar nature was brought in, but he was
unmoved by these reports. He seemed to be
under an evil spell. As a result, an attack
was made upon him in the early morning of
the 22nd.
The British and their dusky allies ap-
proached entirely undiscovered. General Win-
chester attempted to rejoin his troops, but was
captured by an Indian and led to Colonel
Proctor. Winchester was pursuaded to order
his troops to surrender, but the gallant Major
Madison refused until the third request was
received. Several hundred of his men were
killed in battle or afterwards massacred, and
the dreaded Indian yell was heard on every
side. The remainder of his troops were taken
prisoners and marched to Amherstburg. Most
of them were afterwards released upon parole.
General Winchester was kept as a prisoner
for more than a year.
Surrender was doubtless induced by the
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OIIlo
115
statement of the British commander that an
Indian massacre could hardly be prevented in
case of continued resistance, and a promise of
help to all the wounded. But the promise was
not kept. Only thirty-three of the Americans
• •scaped death or captivity. This great disaster
at the River Raisin was most lamentable, but
it was not without its good results. "Remcm
ber the Raisin" became a slogan that spurred
many to enlist in the army, and perform
valiant service for their country. It exercised
the same effect upon them as did "Remember
the Alamo," among the Texans.
CHAPTER XI
THE SIEGE OP FORT MEIGS
It had been with the intention of prose-
. cuting a winter campaign for the recovery of
Detroit and the Michigan Territory that Gen-
eral Harrison dispatched General Winchester
to the Maumee Rapids. As soon as the news
of the unauthorized advance toward the River
Raisin by that commander reached General
Harrison, at Upper Sandusky, he apprehended
the threatening danger and hastened to the
Maumee River in advance of his troops. Upon
his arrival at Camp Deposit (Roche de Boeuf),
the day following the disaster, he ordered a
detachment under General Payne to follow
Winchester in order to render any needed aid.
The cold was very severe, however, the road
was covered with snow and filled with miry
places, so that the progress of the troops was
exceedingly slow. They had not proceeded
far until several fugitives were overtaken, who
reported the total defeat of General Winches-
ter's command. A council was quickly held
and the entire body decided to return to Camp
Deposit, excepting a few scouts who were to
render all possible aid to stragglers who were
escaping. At a council held at this post, it
was determined that the position was on the
wrong side of the river, and was too exposed
to be successfully maintained against a power-
ful enemy. The troops therefore set fire to the
blockhouse and retired towards the Portage
River, about half way on the road to Lower
Sandusky, where they fortified a camp and
awaited the advancing reinforcements.
Things had indeed begun to look lugubrious
for the Americans. Thus far all the military
operations in the Northwest had resulted fa-
vorably for the enemy. Mackinac had been
surrendered; General Hull had yielded to
cowardice; there had been a bloody massacre
at Chicago. The efforts of General Harrison
to assemble sufficient troops to attempt the
reconquest of Michigan had already extended
over five fruitless months. The overwhelming
defeat and massacre of American troops at
Frenchtown seemed to be the culmination of
a series of calamitous misfortunes. Of what
had been lost, nothing whatever had been re-
gained. The entire frontier was greatly
alarmed. From every settlement came urgent
and almost pitiful appeals for protection.
The settlers lived in daily fear of the blood-
curdling war cry of the savages, and the man
who left home feared that he would never
again behold his "beloved ones. Here is a
specimen appeal from Dayton to Governor
Meigs, dated February 2, 1813 :
"Since the news reached this place of the
destruction of the left wing of the Northwest-
ern Army under Winchester, the inhabitants
are much alarmed. Many families, even in
this town, are almost on the wing for Ken-
tucky. If the posts at Greenville, are to be
abandoned, this place will be a part of the
frontier in ten days after. The collections of
Indians on our frontiers also heighten the
alarm."
Receiving word through his scouts that
several hundred Indians had gathered on the
north shore of Maumee Bay, General Harri-
son detached 600 soldiers, with one cannon,
and led them in person against the savages.
Upon his approach their camp was abandoned.
116
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST <>III<>
117
Near the lower part of the bay, the horses
drawing the cannon broke through the ice
while pursuing the fleeing enemy. It was only
after great exertion and much suffering from
the severe cold that the submerged gun was
recovered on the following day. The expedi-
tion was abandoned when scouts reported that
the savages had crossed into Canada. General
Harrison wrote to the Secretary of War from
"Headquarters, Foot of the Miami (Maumee)
Rapids, February 11, 1813," as follows:
"Having been joined by General Leftwich
Pennsylvania brigade, and the Ohio brigade
under General Tupper, and a detachment of
regular troops of twelve months volunteers
under command of Colonel Campbell, to march
to this place as soon as possible. * * •
The disposition of the troops for the remain-
der of the winter will be as follows : A battal-
ion of militia lately called out from this State,
with a company of regular troops now at Fort
Winchester will garrison the posts upon the
waters of the Auglaize and St. Mary. The
small blockhouses upon Hull 's trace will have
MEIGS ON THE MAUMEE RIVER
Built in 1812. (From painting on wall of Wood County Court House.)
with his brigade, and a regiment of the Penn-
sylvania quota at the Portage River on the
30th ultimo, I marched thence on the 1st in-
stant and reached this place on the morning
of the 2nd with an effective force of sixteen
hundred men. I have since been joined by a
Kentucky regiment and part of General Tup-
per's Ohio Brigade, which has increased our
number to two thousand non-commissioned
officers and privates. * * I have or-
dered the whole of the troops of the Left Wing
(excepting one company for each of the six
forts in that quarter) the balance of the
a subaltern's command in each. A company
will be placed at Upper Sandusky, and an-
other at Lower Sandusky. All the rest of the
troops will be brought to this place, amount-
ing to from fifteen to eighteen hundred men.
"I am erecting here a pretty strong fort
(Meigs) capable of resisting field artillery at
least. The troops will be placed in a fortified
camp covered on one flank by the fort. This
is the best position that can be taken to cover
the frontier, and the small posts in the rear
of it, and those above it on the Miami (Mau-
mee) and its tributaries. The force placed
118
HISTORY OF NORTHAVEST OHIO
here ought, however, to be strong enough to
encounter any that the enemy may detach
against the forts above. Twenty-five hundred
would not be too many. But, anxious to re-
duce the expenses during the winter within
as narrow bounds as possible I have desired
the Governor of Kentucky not to call out (but
to hold in readiness to march) the fifteen hun-
dred men lately required of him. All the
teams which have been hired for the public
service will be discharged, and those belong-
ing to the public, which are principally oxen,
disposed of in the settlements where forage is
cheaper, and every other arrange'ment made
which will lessen the expenses during the
winter. Attention will still, however, be paid
to the deposit of supplies for the ensuing cam-
paign. Immense supplies of provisions have
been accumulating along the Auglaize River,
and boats and pirogues prepared to bring them
down as soon as the river opens."
The experience of General Harrison in fron-
tier warfare, especially under General Wayne
in this valley, induced him to select as the site
of a fort for this section the high right bank
of the Maumee River, just a short distance
below the lowest fording place and near the
foot of the lowest rapids. The original plan
of this fort embraced something over eight
acres of ground, and the irregular circumfer-
ence of the enclosure measured about 1% miles
in length. At short intervals there were block-
houses and batteries, and between these the
entire space was picketed with timbers fifteen
feet long, from ten to twelve inches in diame-
ter, and placed three feet into the ground. It
was built under the personal supervision of
Captain Eleazer D. "Wood, chief engineer of
the army. The army at this camp at that time
numbered about 1,800 and, as soon as the out-
lines of the fort were decided upon, the differ-
ent branches of labor were assigned to the
various corps in the army.
"To complete the picketing," says Captain
Wood, "to put up eight blockhouses of double
timbers, to elevate four large batteries, to build
all the storehouses and magazines required to
contain the supplies of the army, together
with the ordinary fatigues of the camp, was
an undertaking of no small magnitude. Be-
sides, an immense deal of labor was likewise
required in excavating ditches, making abatis
and clearing away the wood about the camp ;
and all this was done, too, at a time when the
weather was inclement, and the ground so hard
that it could scarcely be opened with the mat-
tock and pickaxe. But in the use of the axe,
mattock, and spade consisted the chief mili-
tary knowledge of our army ; and even that
knowledge, however trifling it may be sup-
posed by some, is of the utmost importance
' in many situations, and in ours was the salva-
tion of the army. So we fell to work, heard
nothing of the enemy, and endeavored to busy
ourselves as soon as possible." It was named
in honor of Governor Meigs.
The spies with General Harrison kept him
pretty well informed concerning the move-
ments of the enemy. When reports reached
him that the British vessels were frozen in the
ice near Maiden, he conceived an audacious
plan for their destruction. A detachment of
more than 200 soldiers and officers, together
with a score or more of friendly Indians,
marched forth from the new fort, with six
days' provisions and combustibles with which
to inflame the vessels. All of these men had
volunteered for the enterprise. General Har-
rison explained to them that it was an under-
taking fraught with peril and privation, but
to those who deported themselves meritori-
ously appropriate reward would be meted
out. They proceeded to the blockhouse which
had been erected at Lower Sandusky. Then,
with sleds and pilots, the expedition started
for the lake. After proceeding about a mile
upon their way, the object of the expedition
was explained to the soldiers and the Indians
by Captain Langham. The project appeared
so hazardous that about twenty of the militia
HISTORY OF NORTH \VKST Olllo
119
and six or seven Indians returned to the fort,
permission for which was given to anyone so
desiring. These remaining descended the river
in sleds, crossed the bay on the ice to the
peninsula, and then marched across it to the
lake, where the islands were plainly in sight.
Here there were more desertions. They pro-
ceeded as far as Middle Bass Island, where
the guides began to express misgivings because
of uncertain weather conditions. When they
reached the lake, however, the success of the
expedition seemed so remote, because of the
thinness of the ice and by reason of the
abounding spies of the enemy, that the expe-
dition was formally abandoned.
General Harrison himself was untiring in
his movements. He was kept busy visiting the
various camps in his work of supervision, for
we find dispatches dated from various head-
quarters. About the first of March word
reached Fort Meigs that General Proctor had
ordered the assembling of the Canada militia
and the Indian allies early in April, prepara-
tory to an attack on Fort Meigs. To encour-
age the Indians, he had assured them of an
easy conquest, and had promised that General
Harrison should be delivered up to Tecumseh
himself. That Indian chief had an unquench-
able hatred for the American commander since
the battle of Tippecanoe. The mode of attack,
so it was reported, would be by constructing
strong batteries on the opposite side of the
river, to be manned by British artillerists,
while the savages would invest the fort on
that side of the river. It was thought that
"a few hours action of the cannon would
smoke the Americans out of the fort into the
hands of the savages," as one of the officers
expressed it.
The forces within Fort Meigs had been
seriously weakened at this time by the ex-
piration of the term of the enlistment of many
of the Virginians and Pennsylvanians, who
had already started for their homes. Not
more than 500 effective soldiers remained. In
fact, it was a very difficult task, because of
the irregularity and short time of the enlist-
ment, to maintain an efficient body of soldiers
and also of supplies owing 1o tlic difficulties
of transportation in the winter season. The
Legislature passed an act adding $7 a month
to the pay of any of 1,500 Kentuckians already
in the service, who would remain until others
were sent to relieve them. General Harrison
was almost discouraged at times, for in one
communication he writes: "I am sorry to
mention the dismay and disinclination to the
service, which appears to prevail in the west-
ern country." General Harrison forwarded
messages to the troops that were known to be
advancing, urging them to hasten as their
presence was badly needed at Fort Meigs. As
soon as the ice broke, advantage was taken of
the high water to transport supplies down the
river to Fort Meigs from the supply depots
farther up on the Maumee and the Auglaize.
Fort Meigs enjoyed comparative quiet for
several weeks, because of the absence of hostile
attacks, and the soldiers gradually became a
little more venturesome. In March, a small
party of soldiers while hunting game near
Fort Miami were shot at by a British recon-
noitering party, and Lieutenant Walker was
killed. Another bullet lodged in a Bible or
hymn-book, carried by a soldier in his breast
pocket, saving him from death or a severe
wound. Intense excitement again arose about
the first of April over a desperate encounter
of about a dozen French volunteers who, while
reconnoitering by boat in the channels about
the large Ewing Island below the fort, were
surprised and violently assailed at close quar-
ters by two boatloads of savages. In the en-
counter that ensued only one Indian escaped
death, but several of the Frenchmen were also
slain, and only three returned unscathed.
The Canadian militia assembled at Sand-
wich on the 7th of April, pursuant to call,
and on the 23d of that month General Proc-
tor's army, consisting of almost 1,000 regu-
120
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
lars and militia, embarked at Maiden on
several vessels and sailed for Fort Meigs, being
convoyed by two gunboats carrying artillery.
The savages, amounting to fully 1,500, crossed
the Detroit River and made their way to the
rendezvous on foot, although a few sailed the
lakes in small boats. The vessels arrived at the
mouth of the Maumee River on the 26th inst.,
and a couple of days later the army landed
near the ruins of Fort Miami, about two miles
below Fort Meigs, and on the opposite side of
the river. General Harrison was kept accu-
rately informed of all these movements
through his scouts. One of these, who was
also employed as a runner, was Peter Navarre.
General Harrison dispatched Navarre with let-
ters to the garrison at both Lower and Upper
Sandusky, and to Governor Meigs, at Urbana,
telling them of the formidable force approach-
ing them.
This enemy did not remain idle long after
their landing, as the following letter to Gov-
ernor Meigs will show :
"To His Excellency Governor Meigs :
"Sir: * * *
"Yesterday the British let loose a part of
their savage allies upon the fort from the
opposite shore, whilst the former were con-
certing plans below. There is little doubt the
enemy intends erecting batteries on the op-
posite shore. No force can reduce the fort.
All are in fine spirits, anxiously waiting a
share of the glory to be acquired over the
British and their savage allies; though one
thing is certain, whilst their forces are so far
superior they cannot be driven from their posi-
tion on the opposite shore. Captain Hamilton,
who was detached with a discovering party
estimated their forces at three thousand — in-
dependent of the Indians lurking in the neigh-
borhood.
"I am now in pursuit of General Clay, and
expect to come up with him today.
"With sentiments of highest respect, I have
the honor to be,
"Your obedient servant,
"William Oliver."
The effective force at Fort Meigs at this
time numbered about 1,100 soldiers, which was
wholly inadequate to cope with such a large,
well trained, and far better equipped army.
General Harrison himself had arrived on the
12th with considerable reinforcements. Most
of the savages immediately crossed the river
and began to invest and harass Fort Meigs
at every possible point, filling the air with
their hideous yells and the firing of musketry
both day and night. For the purpose of pro-
tection the timber had been cleared from the
fort on all sides for about three hundred yards,
with the exception of stumps and an occasional
log. Behind these the savages would advance
at night and sometimes disable a picket. These
wily foes also climbed the trees at the rear of
the fort, from which vantage points they were
finally routed with far greater losses than they
inflicted.1
"Can you," said General Harrison in a
stirring appeal to his troops, "the citizens of
a free country who have taken arms to defend
its rights, think of submitting to an army
composed of mercenary soldiers, reluctant
Canadians goaded to the field by the bayonet,
and of wretched naked savages? Can the
breast of an American soldier, when he cast
his eyes to the opposite shore, the scene of his
country's triumphs over the same foe, be in-
fluenced by any other feelings than the hope
of glory? Is not this army composed of the
same materials as that which fought and con-
quered under the immortal Wayne ? Yes, fel-
i There still stands at. Maumee an old elm tree,
directly opposite Fort Meigs, which is known as tlie
"Old Indian Elm." Tradition says that the savages
perched themselves there, killing and wounding several
of the garrison, and a number of these dusky sharp-
shooters were killed by the soldiers within Fort Meigs.
This tall and aged tree is carefully preserved by the
citizens of the village.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
121
low soldiers, your General sees your counte-
nances beam with the same fire that he wit-
nessed on that glorious occasion ; and, although
it would be the height of presumption to com-
pare himself with that hero, he boasts of be-
ing that hero's pupil. To your posts, then,
fellow citizens, and remember that the eyes
of your country are upon you!"
Having certain knowledge that General
Green Clay with his Kentucky troops was ap-
proaching, General Harrison sent forward
ers named Walker, two others named respec-
tively Paxton and Johnson, also young Black
Fish, a Shawnoese warrior. With the latter
at the helm, the other four engaged with the
rowing, and himself at the bow in charge of
the rifles and ammunition of the party, Combs
pushed off from Defiance, amid cheers and
sad adieus determined to reach Fort Meigs
before daylight, the next morning. The voy-
age was full of danger. Rain was falling
heavily, and the night was intensely black.
OLD INDIAN ELM AT MAUMEE
Captain William Oliver with a message urg-
ing haste. Oliver, with one soldier and one
Indian as attendants, made his way safely to
General Clay and his command of 1,200 men,
part of whom were under Colonel William
Dudley. The news of Harrison's danger had
already reached these commands, and they
had dispatched Leslie Combs and some sol-
diers, together with a Shawnee guide, to in-
form General Harrison of their approach.
' ' Combs and his party began their journey
at Defiance, on the first of May. His com-
panions who were volunteers, were two broth-
They passed the Rapids in safety, but not until
quite late in the morning, when heavy can-
nonading was heard in the direction of the
fort. It was evident that the expected siege
had commenced, and that the perils of the
mission were increased manifold. For a mo-
ment Combs was perplexed. To return would
be prudent, but would expose his courage to
doubts ; to remain until the next night, or pro-
ceed at once, seemed equally hazardous. A
decision was soon made by the brave youth.
'We must go on, boys,' he said; 'and if you
expect the honor of taking coffee with General
122
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Harrison this morning, you must work hard
for it.' He went forward with many misgiv-
ings, for he knew the weakness of the garrison,
and doubted its ability to hold out long.
Great was his satisfaction, therefore, when on
sweeping around Turkey Point, at the last
bend in the river by which the fort was hid-
den from his view, he saw the stripes and stars
waving over the beleaguered camp. Their joy
was evinced by a suppressed shout. Suddenly
a solitary Indian appeared in the edge of the
woods, and a moment afterward a large body
of them were observed in the gray shadows of
the forest, running eagerly to a point below
to cut off Combs and his party from the fort.
The gallant captain attempted to dart by
them on the swift current, when a volley of
bullets from the savages severely wounded
Johnson and Paxton — the former mortally.
The fire was returned with effect, when the
Shawnoese at the helm turned the prow to-
ward the opposite shore. There the voyagers
abandoned the canoe, and with their faces to-
ward Defiance, sought safety in flight. After
vainly attempting to take Johnson and Pax-
ton with them, Combs and Black Fish left
them to become captives, and at the end of
two days and two nights the captain reached
Defiance, whereat General Clay had just ar-
rived. The Walkers were also there, having
fled more swiftly, because unencumbered.
Combs and his dusky companion had suffered
terribly. The former was unable to assume
command of his company, but he went down
the river with the re-enforcements, and took
an active part in the conflict in the vicinity
of Fort Meigs."
The soldiers of the Northwestern Army,
while at Fort Meigs and elsewhere on duty,
frequently beguiled their time by singing pa-
triotic songs. A verse from one of them suf-
ficiently indicates their general character:
"Freemen, no longer bear such slaughter,
Avenge your country's cruel woe,
Arouse and save your wives and daughters,
Arouse, and expel the faithless foe.
Chorus —
Scalps are bought at stated prices,
Maiden pays the price in gold."
Excessive rains hindered the British in
planting their cannon as they wished. At
times as many as 200 men and several oxen
would be engaged in the work of pulling a
single twenty-four-pounder through the mud.
At first the work was carried on only by night,
but a little later, owing to the impatience of
the commander, the work was continued by
day, although some of the men were killed by
shots from Fort Meigs. By the 30th of April
they had completed two batteries nearly op-
posite Fort Meigs. One of these was on the
site of the present Methodist Church, and the
other was on the site of the Presbyterian
Church, in the Village of Maumee. The first
battery contained two twenty-four-pounders,
while the other mounted three howitzers. A
third battery of three twelve-pounders was
afterwards placed, as well as several mortars
in strategic positions. General Harrison or-
dered earthworks to be thrown up to protect
the men from any cannon shots which might
be fired at them from these newly erected
batteries. Thus the shots from the enemies'
cannon were opposed by solid walls of earth
twelve feet high and twenty feet thick at the
base. Behind these ramparts the defenders
were placed, so that they were fairly well pro-
tected from the big (for that day) guns of
the enemy across the river. A few guns were
placed by the British on the fort side, and to
meet this new danger other traverses of earth
•were thrown up. A well was also dug behind
the Grand Traverse, in order to provide a
certain supply of water in case the investment
should become complete. The British fired
almost incessantly with their cannon at Fort
Meigs on the 1st, 2d and 3d of May. Little
HISTORY OK N OUT 1 1 \YKST OHIO
123
damage was done to tin- fort. and the easual-
tics were inconsiderable. Two Americans
were killed on the first day, and one man so
severely wounded that he died of tetanus ten
days later. No fewer than o<)0 halls and shells
were thrown on the first day of the siege, so it
was estimated.
The supply of balls and shells within the
fort was limited, and the defenders replied
only occasionally when a good target offered.
In order to increase the supply a reward of a
gill of whiskey was offered to the soldiers for
every British ball brought in by them of a size
to fit their guns, and delivered to Thomas L.
Hawkins, keeper of the magazine. At night
the soldiers might have been seen outside the
stockade searching around for balls whose lo-
cation they had noticed during the day. It is
said that more than a thousand gills of
whiskey were paid out as rewards. Before
completing their plans, the British constructed
a third battery of three twelve-pounder cannon
on the night of May 1st, located between the
two batteries mentioned above.
One of the militiamen voluntarily stationed
himself on the embankment, and gratuitously
forewarned the Americans of every approach-
ing shot. In this he became so skillful that
he could in almost every case predict the prob-
able destination of the missile. As soon as
the smoke issued from the muzzle of the gun,
he would cry out "shot" or "bomb," as the
case might be. In spite of all the expostula-
tions of his friends, at the danger incurred
by himself, this brave soldier maintained his
post for hour after hour.
Consider the contempt with which a gun-
ner in the Great War of Europe, who fires a
monster that hurls half a ton or more of steel
and explosive for a distance of twenty-five
miles, would look upon these pygmy cannon.
It was about all these guns could do to heave
a six or eight pound ball across the river to
Fort Meigs, a distance of a quarter of a mile.
So leisurely was its flight that this man from
the embankment could gauge the direction and
warn his comrades. It was like a game of ten
pins, with the balls tossed from catapaults in-
stead of hands, and with humans as the tar-
gets. It seems like an absurdity to us today
in the light of modern development in the
matter of man-killing machines.
"Hey, there, bloekhouse number one," the
Miitiuel cried out. Then the boys of that
defence would promptly duck for cover.
"Main battery, look out," would come his
stentorian voice over the palisades. The men
of that battery then had warning to seek shel-
ter and would follow his advice "now for the
meat-house."
"Good bye, old boy, if you will pass by,"
was the greeting to a wild shot that missed the
fort altogether.
But even these leisurely flying iron balls
were deadly, when a human target interposed
in their flight. One day, while he was watch-
ing and jocularly commenting on the course
of the balls, there came a shot that seemed to
defy all the militiaman's calculations. He
could not gauge the angle. He stood motion-
less and perplexed. No word of warning or
jesting arose from his lips. His eyes seemed
transfixed. But the ball was approaching
nearer and nearer, and in an instant he was
swept into eternity. The gunners had hit
their mark. Poor man! he should have con-
sidered that when there was no obliquity in
the issue of the smoke, either to the right or
the left, above or below, the fatal messenger
would travel in the direct line of his vision.
"The aborigines," says Rev. A. M. Lorraine,
who was with the Americans, "climbed up
into the trees, and fired incessantly upon us.
Such was their distance that many of their
balls barely reached us but fell harmless to the
ground. Occasionally they inflicted danger-
ous and even fatal wounds. The number
killed in the fort was small considered the
profusion of powder and ball expended on us.
About eighty were slain, many wounded, and
124
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
several had to suffer amputation of limbs.
The most dangerous duty which we performed
within the precincts of the fort was in cover-
ing the magazine. Previous to this the powder
had been deposited in wagons and these sta-
tioned in the traverse. Here there was no se-
curity against bombs ; it was therefore thought
to be prudent to remove the powder into a
small blockhouse and cover it with earth. The
enemy, judging our designs from our move-
ments, now directed all their shot to this
point (particularly from their twenty-four-
pounder battery-). Many of their balls were
red-hot. Wherever they struck they raised a
cloud of smoke and made a frightful hissing.
An officer passing our quarters said: 'boys,
who will volunteer to cover the magazine?'
Pool-like away several of us went. As soon
as we reached the spot there came a ball and
took off one man 's head. The spades and dirt
flew faster than any of us had before wit-
nessed.
"In the midst of our job a bomb-shell fell
on the roof and, lodging on one of the braces,
it spun round for a moment. Every soldier
fell prostrate on his face and with breathless
horror awaited the vast explosion which we
expected would crown all our earthly suffer-
ings. Only one of all the gang presumed to
reason on the case. He silently argued that,
as the shell had not bursted as quickly as
usual, there might be something wrong in its
arrangement. If it bursted where it was, and
the magazine exploded, there could be no es-
cape ; it was death anyway ; so he sprung to
his feet, seized a boat-hook and, pulling the
hissing missile to the ground and jerking the
smoking match from its socket, discovered that
the shell was filled with inflammable substance,
which, if once ignited, would have wrapped
the whole building in a sheet of flame. This
circumstance added wings to our shovels ; and
we were right glad when the officer said 'that
will do; go to your lines.' '
A white flag approached the fort, and the
bearers asked for a parley. A demand was
then made for the surrender of the fortress by
General Proctor. This was answered by a
prompt refusal. The conversation is reported
as follows :
Major Chambers. — "General Proctor has
directed me to demand the surrender of this
post. He wishes to spare the effusion of
blood."
To this demand General Harrison replied :
"The demand, under present circumstances,
is a most extraordinary one. As General Proc-
tor did not send me a summons to surrender
on his first arrival, I had supposed that he
believed me determined to do my duty. His
present message indicates an opinion of me
that I am at a loss to account for. ' '
Major Chambers then continued: "Gen-
eral Proctor could never think of saying any-
thing to wound your feelings, sir. The char-
acter of General Harrison, as an officer, is
well known. General Proctor's force is very
respectable, and there is with him a larger
body of Indians than has ever before been
embodied."
"I believe I have a very correct idea of
General Proctor's force," said General Harri-
son. "It is not such as to create the least
apprehension for the result of the contest,
whatever shape he may be pleased hereafter
to give to it. Assure the general, however,
that he will never have this post surrendered
to him upon any terms. Should it fall into his
hands, it will be in a manner calculated to do
him more honor, and to give him larger claims
upon the gratitude of his government, than
any capitulation could possibly do."
Things had begun to look dark for the be-
sieged. When Captain Oliver, accompanied
by Maj. David Trimble and fifteen soldiers
who had evaded the encircling savages, arrived
on the night of the 4th with the welcome news
that Gen. Green Clay's command, in eight-
een large flatboats had reached the left bank
of the Maumee at the head of the Grand Rap-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
125
ids, it brought great cheer. The river was so
high that the pilot declined to run the boats
over the rapids at night. Captain Hamilton
with a subaltern and canoe was immediately
dispatched to meet General Clay, and convey
to him this command: "You must detach
about eight hundred men from your brigade,
who will land at a point I (Hamilton) will
show, about one or one and a half miles above
Fort Meigs, and I will conduct them to the
British batteries on the left bank of the river.
They must take possession of the enemy 's can-
non, spike them, cut down the carriages, then
return to their boats and cross over to the
Fort. The balance of your men must land
on the Fort side of the river, opposite the first
landing, and fight their way to the Fort
through the savages. The route they must
take will be pointed out by a subaltern officer
now with me, who will land the canoe on the
right bank of the river to point out the land-
ing for the boats."
General Clay himself remained in charge
of the troops landing on the right bank of
the Maumee. But the subaltern was not at the
rendezvous, and some confusion resulted.
Sorties were made from the garrison to aid
these. They were subjected to a galling fire
from the British infantry and the Indians
under Tecumseh, but safely reached the for-
tress. Another detachment under Colonel Bos-
well landed and drove away the threatening
savages. For their relief General Harrison
dispatched several hundred men under com-
mand of Colonel John Miller, who attacked
the nearest battery and drove away the enemy
four times as numerous. The troops advanced
with loaded but trailed arms. The first fire of
the enemy did little damage, but the Indians
proved to be good marksmen. Then it was
that a charge was ordered, and the enemy fled
with great precipitation. The American
troopers and militia alike covered themselves
with glory in this encounter. Twenty-eight
Americans were killed in this sortie and
twenty-five were wounded. Forty-three pris-
oners were brought back to the fort. It was
one of the bravest incidents of the entire siege.
THE DUDLEY MASSACRE
Had the wise orders of General Harrison
been carried out in full, the terrible massacre
which occurred would have been avoided.
Colonel Dudley executed his task gallantly
and successfully up to the point of the cap-
ture of the batteries, and without the loss of
a man. He reached them unobserved, and the
gunners fled precipitately. The Americans
rushed forward and spiked eleven of the
largest guns, hauling down the enemy's flag.
Great and loud was the applause that reached
them from the fort across the river. But
most of Dudley's troops were unused to war-
fare with the savages. They were extremely
anxious for a combat — and they were Ken-
tuckians. This sometimes meant rashness
rather than prudence in border warfare.
Colonel Dudley had landed with 866 men.
Of these only 170 escaped to Fort Meigs.
Elated with their initial success, and being
fired upon by some of the Indians, the Ken-
tuckians became infuriated and boldly dashed
after their wily opponents without any
thought of an ambuscade. The commands of
Colonel Dudley and warnings from the fort
were alike unheeded by these impetuous south-
erners. They thought that the victory was al-
ready won, and thoughtlessly rushed into the
ambuscade that had been prepared for them
near the site of the old courthouse in the Vil-
lage of Maumee.
' ' They are lost ! they are lost ! ' ' exclaimed
General Harrison, as he saw this move. "Can
I never get men to obey orders ? ' ' He offered
a reward of $1,000 to any man who would
cross the river and apprise Colonel Dudley
of his danger. This duty was promptly un-
dertaken by an officer, but the enemy had
arrived on the opposite bank before he
126
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
could reach it. Many indeed were those
killed, including Colonel Dudley himself, in
the fierce contest that waged for about
three hours. Many more were wounded, and
the others were taken prisoners. Those who
could perambulate were marched towards Fort
Miami. Those who were wounded too badly to
move were immediately slain and scalped by
the savages, and an equally sad fate met those
who were taken to the fort. The Kentuckians
had become demoralized as their commanding
officers were killed and shots reached them
from all sides. The companies became mixed,
and it developed into each man fighting for
himself as best he could in the confusion.
Lieutenant Underwood has left a vivid ac-
count of the battle, from which the following
is taken :
"While passing through a thicket of hazel,
toward the river in forming line of battle, I
saw Colonel Dudley for the last time. He
was greatly excited; he railed at me for not
keeping my men better dressed (in better
line) . I replied that he must perceive from the
situation of the ground, and the obstacles that
we had to encounter, that it was impossible.
When we came within a small distance of the
river we halted. The enemy at this place had
gotten in the rear of our line, formed parallel
with the river, and were firing upon our
troops. Having nothing to do, and being
without orders, we determined to march our
company out and join the combatants. We
did so accordingly. In passing out we fell
on the left of the whole regiment and were
soon engaged in a severe conflict. The Aborig-
ines endeavored to flank and surround us.
We were from time to time ordered to charge.
The orders were passed along the line, our
field officers being on foot. * * * We
made several charges afterwards and drove
the enemy a considerable distance. * * *
At length orders were passed along the lines
directing us to fall back and keep up a re-
treating fire. As soon as this movement was
made the Aborigines were greatly encouraged,
and advanced upon us with the most horrid
yells. Once or twice the officers succeeded in
producing a temporary halt and a fire on the
Aborigines, but the soldiers of the different
companies soon became mixed, confusion en-
sued, and a general rout took place. The
retreating army made its way towards the
batteries, where I supposed we should be
able to form and repel the pursuing Aborigi-
nes. They were now so close in the rear as to
frequently shoot down those who were before
me. * * * In emerging from the woods
into an open piece of ground near the battery
we had taken, and before I knew what had
happened, a soldier seized my sword and said
to me, 'Sir, you are my prisoner!' I looked
before me and saw, with astonishment, the
ground covered with muskets. The soldier
observing my astonishment, said 'your army
has surrendered' and received my sword. He
ordered me to go forward and join the pri-
soners. I did so."
Tecumseh was far more humane than his
white allies. While the bloodthirsty work was
proceeding a thundering voice in the Indian
tongue was heard from the rear, and Tecumseh
was seen approaching as fast as his horse could
carry him. He sprang from his horse, rage
showing in every feature, we are told. Be-
holding two Indians butchering an American,
he brained one with his tomahawk and felled
the other to the earth. He seemed torn with
grief and passion. Seeing Proctor standing
there, he rode up to him.2
2 One of the prisoners has left this picture of
Tecumseh on this occasion: "The celebrated chief
was a noble, dignified personage. He wore an elegant
broadsword, and was dressed in Aborigine costume.
His face was finely proportioned, his nose inclined to
be aquiline, and his eyes displayed none of that savage
and ferocious triumph common to the other Aborigines
on that occasion. He seemed to regard us with un-
moved composure and I thought a beam of mercy
shown in his countenance, tempering the spirit of ven-
geance inherent in his race against the American
people. ' '
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
127
"Why don't yon stop this?" sternly in-
quired the Indian Chief.
Drawing his tomahawk, lie threw himself
I >et ween the Americans and Indians, and dared
an Indian to murder another prisoner. They
were all confounded and immediately desisted.
"Sir," said Proctor, "your Indians cannot
be commanded."
"Begone," said Tecumseh, "you are unfit
to command ; go and put on petticoats. ' '
After this incident, the prisoners were not
further molested. It is certainly convincing
proof that the British authorities did not dis-
courage the inhumanities of their savage
allies, and it is believed that many of the
officers encouraged them in their savagery and
atrocities. Inimical as was Tecumseh toward
the Americans, insatiable as was his hatred of
us, we cannot but admire him as a man. In
personal courage he was excelled by none.
In oratory few were his peers, but in humanity
he stood out in striking contrast to the customs
of his own tribe, one of the most savage of all.
He was never guilty of wanton bloodshed,
and ever used every effort to restrain his fol-
lowers from all deeds of cruelty and torture in
dealing with their captives. All honor to a
chieftain of that kind. In his opposition to
Americans, he was simply endeavoring to
save and protect his own people in their an-
cestral rights, — and this is the measure of
patriotism even among our own people.
A British officer, who took part in the siege,
tells of a visit to the Indian camp on the day
after the massacre. The camp was filled with
the clothing and plunder stripped from the
slaughtered soldiers and officers. The lodges
were adorned with saddles, bridles, and richly
ornamented swords and pistols. Swarthy sav-
ages strutted about in cavalry boots and the
fine uniforms of American officers. The
Indian wolf dogs were gnawing the bones of
the fallen. Everywhere were scalps and the
skins of hands and feet stretched on hoops,
stained on the fleshly side with vermillion,
and drying in the sun.
"As we continued to advance into the heart
of the encampment," says Major Richard-
son, "a scene of a more disgusting nature
arrested our attention. Stopping at the
entrance of a tent occupied by the Minoumini
(Menomeni) tribe we observed them seated
around a large fire over which was suspended
a kettle containing their meal. Each warrior
had a piece of string hanging over the edge
of the vessel, and to this was suspended a food
which, it will be presumed we heard not with-
out loathing, consisted of a part of an Ameri-
can. Any expression of our feelings, as we
declined the invitation they gave us to join in
their repast, would have been resented by the
savages without ceremony ; we had, therefore,
the prudence to excuse ourselves under the
plea that we had already taken our food, and
we hastened to remove from a sight so revolt-
ing to humanity. ' '
Some of the soldiers, who finally escaped
from their captivity, have left us terrible tales
of their treatment by the savages, all of which
was done without a word of protest from the
English officers. The young men were gen-
erally taken by the savages as prisoners back
to their villages, and some of them were never
heard of afterwards by their friends. Most
of them, however, were embarked on board
boats bound for Maiden.
"I saved my watch by concealing the
chain," says Lieutenant Joseph R. Under-
wood, "and it proved of great service to me
afterwards. Having read when a boy Smith 's
narrative of his residence among the Abo-
rigines, my idea of their character was that
they treated those best who appeared the
most fearless. Under this impression, as we
marched down to the old garrison (Fort
Miami) I looked at those whom we met with
all the sternness of countenance I could com-
mand. I soon caught the eye of a stout war-
128
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
rior painted red. He gazed at me with as
much sternness as I did at him until I came
within striking distance, when he gave me a
severe hlow over the nose and cheek-bone with
his wiping stick. I abandoned the notion ac-
quired from Smith, and went on afterwards
with as little display of hauteur and defiance
as possible. On our approach to the old garri-
son the Aborigines formed a line to the left
of the road, there being a perpendicular bank
at the right on the margin of which the road
passed. I perceived that the prisoners were
running the gauntlet and that the Aborigines
were whipping, shooting and tomahawking
the men as they ran by their line. When I
reached the starting place, I dashed off as
fast as I was able, and ran near the muzzles
of their guns, knowing that they would have
to shoot me while I was immediately in front
or let me pass, for to have turned their guns
up or down the lines to shoot me would have
endangered themselves as there was a curve
in their line. In this way I passed without
injury except some strokes over the shoulders
with their gun-sticks. As I entered the ditch
around the garrison the man before me was
shot and fell, and I fell over him. The passage
for a while was stopped by those who fell
over the dead man and me. How many lives
were lost at this place I cannot tell, probably
between twenty and forty. ' '
"We heard frequent guns at the place dur-
ing the whole time the remaining prisoners
were coming in," wrote Leslie Combs. "Some
were wounded severely with war clubs, toma-
hawks; etc. The number who fell after the
surrender was supposed by all to be nearly
equal to the killed in the battle. As soon as
all the surviving prisoners got within the
stockade the whole body of Aborigines, regard-
less of the opposition of our little guard,
rushed in. There seemed to be almost twice
our number of them. Their blood-thirsty
souls were not yet satiated with carnage. One
Aborigine shot three of our men, tomahawked
a fourth, and stripped and scalped them in.
our presence. * * * Then all raised the
war-hoop and commenced loading their guns
* * * Tecumseh, more humane than his
ally and employer (Proctor) generously inter-
fered and prevented further massacre. Col-
onel Elliott then rode slowly in, spoke to the
Aborigines, waved his sword, and all but a
few retired immediately. ' '
The fifth day of May was indeed a sad
day for Fort Meigs. The Dudley massacre
was the third great loss suffered by the Ameri-
can armies of the Northwest in less than a
year after the beginning of the War of 1812.
Harrison said that "excessive ardor * *
always the case when Kentucky militia were
engaged * * * Was the source of all their
misfortunes."
The main body of the savages now with-
drew from the British command, partly be-
cause they were tired of the continued siege,
and partly because their thirst for blood and
butchery was satiated. But Proctor did not
retire until he had dispatched another white
flag, with a demand upon General Harrison
to surrender. The reply was such as to indi-
cate that the demand was considered an
insult. His gunboats were moved up the
Maumee, as near to Fort Meigs as possible.
Because of the withdrawal of his dusky allies
General Proctor felt himself compelled to give
up the siege on the 9th instant and return
with his remaining forces to Amherstburg,
Canada, where he disbanded the militia. Be-
fore finally withdrawing he gave a parting
salute from his gunboats, which killed ten or
a dozen and wounded twice that number.
"However," says one of those present, "we
were glad enough to see them off on any
terms." The British forces are estimated to
have numbered more than 3,000 men. Of
these 600 were British regulars, 800 were
Canadian militia, and 1,800 were Indians.
Harrison's forces at the maximum did not
much exceed 1,000 effective men. This does
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
129
not of course, include those under Colonel
Dudley.
The total loss at the fort during the entire
siege was eighty-one killed and 189 wounded.
The British reported loss of only fifteen killed,
forty-seven wounded, and forty-one taken
prisoners. The men welcomed the relief from
the terrible tension to which they had been
subjected. They were glad to get to the river
and wash themselves up, for there had been
a great scarcity of water within the stockade.
Many had scarcely any clothing left, and that
which they wore was so begrimmed and torn
that they looked more like scarecrows than
human beings.
Of the part taken by his troops, General
Harrison had only words of commendation.
In his reports to the secretary of war, he
described the savages as the most effective
force. A long list of names received special
mention. Among these were General Clay,
-Major Johnson, Captain Wood, Major Ball,
Colonel Mills, Captain Croghan, and many
others. The Pittsburg Blues, the Pittsburg
volunteers, the Kentuckians, and some of the
United States regulars were also given special
praise.
After the enemy had withdrawn, Fort
Meigs was greatly strengthened. The damage
which the British guns had wrought was re-
paired, the British battery mounds were
leveled, while the open space in front was
extended ; better drainage and sanitary con-
veniences were also established, for the lack
of which the garrison had suffered consider-
able sickness. Reinforcements were hurried
forward from Upper Sandusky, while General
Harrison made a tour of the various other
fortresses within his jurisdiction. The extent
of the frontier under his command was indeed
extensive, and it required constant watchful-
ness as well as great executive ability to guard
against invasion and to prevent the advance of
the enemy within it. At Lower Sandusky he
met Governor Meigs, with a strong force of
Ohio volunteers hastening to the relief of
Fort Meigs. General Clay was again
left in charge of Fort Meigs.3
Comparative calm followed the abandon-
ment of the siege of Fort Meigs for a couple
of months. But Harrison was not inactive
during this time. He fully appreciated the
strength of the Indian allies of Britain, and
also realized that Tecumseh was endeavoring
to draw to his support the Indians in North-
west Ohio. Heretofore it had been the Ameri-
can policy not to employ friendly Indians in
its service, except in a few instances. This
policy the Indians could not understand. In
order to clarify the situation, a council was
called at Franklinton (Columbus) on the 21st
of June. The Wyandots, Delawares, Shaw-
nees, and Senecas were represented by fifty
of their chiefs and head men. The most in-
fluential chief present was Tarhe, chief
sachem of the Wyandots, and he became the
spokesman of all tribes present. Harrison
said that the time had come for an expression
of the tribes as to their stand, for the Great
Father wanted no false friends. As a
guarantee of their good intentions, the
friendly tribes should either move into the
settlements, or their warriors should accom-
pany him in the ensuing campaign. To this
proposal all the warriors present unanimously
agreed, asserting that they had long been
anxious for an opportunity to fight for the
Americans. Harrison promised to let them
know when their services were wanted. He
promised to deliver Proctor into their hands
3 In June, 1870, a party of veterans who had served
with the army in the movements about Fort Meigs met
at Perrysburg and Maumee. Fifty-seven years had
passed and these men were now truly veterans. Michael
Morgan, eighty-nine, was the oldest, and Peter Navarre,
eighty-five, was a prominent member of the little com-
pany. Horace Thatcher, sixty-nine, was the youngest.
About half of those present lived in Kentucky. It
was indeed a memorable occasion, and these gray-
haired survivors, many of them with tottering steps,
were made to feel that the citizens of Perrysburg and
Maumee welcomed the survivors of the events of more
than half a century earlier which freed this village
from danger of savages and white enemies as well.
130
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
on condition that they should do no other
harm than to put a petticoat on him. The
satisfactory outcome of this council caused
a spirit of safety and confidence to spread
over this section. Although the tribes were
not called upon to take part in the war, many
of the Indians of their own free will did
accompany Harrison in his later campaigns.
In July General Proctor again headed an
expedition for the mouth of the Maumee. On
the 20th of the month the boats of the enemy
were discovered ascending the Maumee toward
Fort Meigs. With him was an army estimated
to number at least 5,000. The Indians also
began to appear in the neighborhood in
considerable numbers. It is believed that
they were in greater force than ever before.
A picket guard, consisting of a corporal and
ten soldiers, was surprised about 300 yards
from Fort Meigs on the night of their arrival,
and all but three were killed or captured.
Fourteen soldiers, whose term of enlistment
had expired, desired to return home on foot
by way of Fort Winchester. They were
attacked by savages when only a few miles
above the fort, and only two escaped. Re-
inforcements arrived at the fort, which
greatly added to its strength. Among these
were Lieutenant Montjoy, with twenty United
States troops, who reached the fort from the
blockhouse on the Portage River with the loss
of one man. The American force within the
fort was small and numbered only a few
hundred. They were in charge of General
Clay, who immediately sent word to Gen-
eral Harrison at Lower Sandusky. Captain
• McCune, the messenger, made two trips back
and forth between Lower Sandusky and Fort
Meigs, and on the last trip narrowly escaped
capture or death. Harrison said that he was
unable to send additional troops at once, but
advised great precaution against surprise and
ambuscade by the wily enemy.
"On the afternoon of the 25th, Captain
McCune was ordered by Harrison to return
to the fort and inform General Clay of his
situation and intentions. He arrived near
the fort about daybreak 011 the following
morning, having lost his way in the night,
accompanied by James Doolan, a French
Canadian. They were just upon the point of
leaving the forest and entering upon the
cleared ground around the fort, when they
were intercepted by a party of Indians. They
immediately took to the high bank with their
horses, and retreated at full gallop up the
river for several miles, pursued by the Indians,
also mounted, until they came to a deep ra-
vine; putting up from the river in a south-
erly direction they turned upon the river
bottom and continued a short distance, un-
til they found their further progress in that
direction stopped by an impassable swamp.
The Indians, foreseeing their dilemma, from
their knowledge of the country, and expecting
they would naturally follow up the ravine,
galloped thither to head them off. McCune
guessed their intention, and he and his com-
panion turned back upon their own track for
the fort, gaining, by this maneuvre, several
hundred yards upon their pursuers. The
Indians gave a yell of chagrin, and followed
at their utmost speed. Just as they neared
the fort, McCune dashed into a thicket across
his course, on the opposite side of which other
Indians had huddled, awaiting their prey.
When this body of Indians considered them
all but in their possession, again was the
presence of mind of McCune signally dis-
played. He wheeled his horse, followed by
Doolan, made his way out of the thicket by
the passage he had entered, and galloped
around into the open space between them and
the river, where the pursuers were checked
by the fire from the block-house at the western
angle of the fort."
It was probably due to the information
brought by Captain McCune that another
disaster or massacre was averted. Proctor
and Tecumseh had formulated a plan for the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
131
capture of Fort Mcifrs by strategy. A sham
I 'at tic was staged by Tecumseh along the
road toward Lower Sandusky, near enough
so that the noise might be distinctly heard by
the troops in the fort. When the Indian yells,
intermingled with the roar of musketry,
reached the garrison, the men instantly flew
to arms. Thinking that a severe battle was
being fought, the men could hardly be re-
strained from marching out to the defense,
as they supposed, of their gallant commander-
in-chief. This was precisely the purpose of
the enemy. The shooting was intended to
convey the impression to the besieged that an
advancing force of reinforcements was being
attacked by the Indians, thus hoping to draw
out the garrison. General Clay had had too
much experience, however, in Indian warfare,
and refused to be drawn into their plans!
Furthermore, he did not think that Harrison
would come thus unannounced so soon after
the messenger. After several futile attempts
to draw the Americans from their protection,
the enemy departed from Fort Meigs on July
27th, having been in its vicinity less than
two days. After leaving Fort Meigs for the
second time, a part of the British army sailed
around through Lake Erie and up the San-
dusky River to Fort Stephenson, hoping to
find it an easy prey. The result is related in
another chapter, for it is a fascinating story
in itself.
It is rather interesting to read of the
doings about camp in this early day. There
were a number of court martials that we
have a record of for drunkenness and insub-
ordination at Fort Meigs. Herewith are two
froneral orders issued at that fortress that
make interesting reading in this day and age.
The first relates to what was probably the
first official celebration of our national natal
day in this vicinity.
(General Order)
' ' Camp Meigs, July 4, 1813.
"The General commanding announces to the
troops under his command the return of this
day, which gave liberty and independence to
the United States of America; and orders that
a national salute be fired under the superin-
tendence of Captains Gratiot and Cushing.
All the troops reported fit for duty shall
receive an extra gill of whisky. And those
in confinement and those under sentence
attached to their corps, be forthwith released
and order to join their respective corps.
"The General is induced to use this lenience
alone from consideration of the ever memo-
rable day, and flatters himself that in future,
the soldiers under his command will better
appreciate their liberty by a steady adherence
to duty and prompt compliance with the
orders of their officers, by which alone they
are worthy to enjoy the blessings of that
liberty and independence the only real legacy
left us by our fathers.
"All courts martial now constituted in this
camp are hereby dissolved. There will be
fatigue this day.
"ROBERT BUTLER,
"A. Adjt. Gen."
(General Order)
"Camp Meigs, July 8, 1813.
"The commanding General directs that the
old guard, on being released, will march out
of camp and discharge their arms at. a target
placed in some secure position, and as a reward
for those who may excel in shooting, eight gills
of whisky will be given to the nearest shot,
and four gills to the second. The officer of
the guard will cause a return, signed for that
purpose, signifying the names of the men
entitled to the reward.
"By order of G. CLAY, Gen. Com.
"ROBERT BUTLER, A. Adjt. Gen."
CHAPTER XII
THE DEFENSE OP FORT STEPHENSON
"A hundred leagues from Niagara, on the
south side (Lake Erie) is a river called Sandos-
quet, which the Indians of Detroit and Lake
Huron take when going to war with the Flat-
heads and other nations toward Carolina.
They ascend this river Sandosquet two or
three days, after which they make a small
portage of about a quarter of a league. Some
make canoes of elm bark and float down a
small river (Scioto) that empties into the
Ohio. Whoever would wish to reach the Mis-
sissippi easily, would need only to take this
beautiful river or the Sandosquet; he could
travel without any danger of fasting, for all
who have been there have repeatedly assured
me that there is so vast a quantity of buffalo
and of all other animals in the woods along
that beautiful river, they were often obliged
to discharge their guns to clear a passage for
themselves. They say that two thousand men
could easily live there."
Thus writes an anonymous scribe in a re-
port upon the Indians of Canada, in the year
1718. In early maps and writings the name is
variously spelled. In a map published in Lon-
don in 1733, the bay is called "Lake San-
doski. " An Amsterdam cartographer of a
few years earlier designated it as "Lac San-
douske." Early English traders speak of the
river as St. Dusky and St. Sandoske, and there
are still other variations in the spelling. It
was not until about the time of the Revolution
that the modern orthography of the name be-
came fixed. The name is said to be derived
from the term Tsaendoosti, pronounced San-
doos-tee, and the meaning is "it is cold and
fresh," as applied to water, or "at the cold
water. ' '
The beautiful Sandusky River rises in Rich-
land County, and from there flows through
the counties of Crawford, Wyandot, Seneca,
and Sandusky, with many graceful bends until
it finally mingles its waters with those of the
bay of the same name. Although not more
than ninety miles in a direct line, because of
its many meauderings the distance traversed
by the Sandusky is a half greater than a
direct course would be.
It seems almost impossible to believe that
less than 100 years ago, the Valley of the San-
dusky, with its broad and fertile fields, pro-
ductive orchards and sightly woodlands, and
the site of such thriving cities as Fremont,
Tiffin, Upper Sandusky, and Bucyrus, was a
favorite resort of Indians with their primi-
tive agriculture, rude cabins, and picturesque
council fires. Right here at Lower Sandusky
was one of the most important Wyandot vil-
lages. For centuries the red men had their
homes along the banks and swarmed in the
forests and plains of the valley of their be-
loved river, named Junque-in-dundeh, which,
in the Wyandot language, noted for its de-
scriptive character, signifies "at the place of
the hanging haze or mist (smoke)." The
name was not inappropriate when one con-
siders the surrounding forests, prairies, and
marshes, and the burning leaves and grass at
certain seasons of the year. Through this
village passed one of the main Indian trails
from the Ohio country to Detroit. There was
good navigation from here to Detroit and
132
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Canada, and it required only a short portage
not far from Biicyrus from the Sandusky to
the Scioto on their way to the Ohio River,
and from there down to the Mississippi. In
the high waters of spring, this portage did not
exceed half a mile.
Much of what is now marshland at the
mouth of the Sandusky was originally prairie.
It has gradually been inundated, however, un-
til it forms the excellent hunting grounds of
today. The shores of the mainland have re-
ceded as much MS forty rods in places since the
first recorded government surveys, less than
a century ago. It is known that heavy timber
grew a century ago where there are now two or
three feet of water. This has been caused by
the terrific lashings of the nor'easters. Eagle
Island, right at the mouth, contained an area
of 134 acres in 1820, according to a survey of
that date, and was covered with heavy timber,
mostly locust and walnut. Today there is
scarcely an eighth of an acre of dry ground,
and it is indicated only by a few willows.
Peach, Graveyard, and Squaw islands, where
Nicholas and his band sought asylum, would
scarcely furnish enough dry land today on
which to set up their tepees. Many believe
that the real site of Port Sandoski is at least
an eighth of a mile out in the bay, and under
water all the time. In the early days the
muskrat were plentiful and these, together
with the mink and otter, also found here,
furnished much of the medium of exchange.
In the year 1800 one firm shipped 20,000
muskrat hides and 8,000 coon skins. The
former were worth 25 cents each, and the
latter 50 cents per pelt. Thousands of musk-
rats are still caught here each year, but the
mink and marsh raccoon are being rapidly ex-
terminated. The waters are still alive with,
fish, and in the spring and fall many hunters
gather here to shoot the ducks and geese as
they halt on their migrations. Pigeons are
said to have been so plentiful that they dark-
ened the air around their roosting places. Al-
though buffalo were reported near Lake Erie
as- late as 1772, by the first George Croghan, it
is extremely doubtful whether they were in
such numbers as mentioned by the writer
quoted at the beginning of this chapter.
The first foothold established by the white
man in Northwest Ohio was at a site not far
from Port Clinton, and facing Sandusky Bay,
on the Marblehead peninsula. It was on an
old established portage where Indians and
trappers crossed the mile or more of this
peninsula in order to avoid the dangers that
lurked around Marblehead point and the
J
MONUMENT MARKING SITE OF OLD FORT
SANDOSKI, NEAR PORT CLINTON
islands, and it also saved some fifty miles or
more of travel. It is now known as the "de
Lery portage," because of the leader of a
French expedition in 1754, of which journals
have been preserved. This was also one of
the routes utilized by the French on their
way from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi.
They carried their canoes around Niagara
Falls, hugged the south shore of Lake Erie,
and landed near here. Then they ascended
the Sandusky River, and portaged to the Sci-
oto on their southerly journeys.
Fort Sandoski was erected on this spot by
English traders who were conspiring with the
famous Wyandot, Chief Nicholas, to drive the
134
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
French from Detroit and all the upper posts.
Thus it is that memories of French monks and
traders are intertwined with visions of British
redcoats. This was in the year 1745. It is
said to be the first fort erected by white men
in Ohio. The conspiracy of Nicholas, like that
of Pontiac, a little later, failed through the
treachery of one of his followers, who in this
case was a woman. After his defeat Nicholas
destroyed his fort and all his villages, and
removed his warriors and their families to the
Illinois country.
It was in 1748 that old Fort Sandoski was
destroyed, both the English and the Indians
taking their departure. The French re-estab-
lished their fort for a time, and we read from
an old manuscript of an English captive as
follows : ' ' The French go in three days from
Fort Detroit to Fort Sandusky, which is a
small palisaded fort with about twenty men,
situated on the south side of Lake Erie and
was built in the latter end of the year 1750."
The English traders returned soon afterwards,
however, which caused the French to send a
formidable force to establish their possessions
along the south shore of Lake Erie. As a re-
sult, they built Fort Junandat in 1754, on the
opposite side of Sandusky Bay from old Fort
Sandoski.
The fort was reconstructed by the British
in 1751, after the surrender of Quebec, and
was finally destroyed at the outbreak of
Pontiac 's Conspiracy, on May 18, 1763. On
this occasion the fort was burned and the
entire garrison massacred with the exception
of the commandant, Ensign Pauli, as related
elsewhere. There he was given a punishment
which may have been worse than that meted
out to his compatriots, for he was condemned
to marry an Indian squaw. A British relief
expedition arrived at this fort only to dis-
cover the fort destroyed and the garrison
massacred. Captain Dalyell was so incensed
at the horribly disfigured bodies, that he
delayed here long enough to make an excur-
sion into the Indian country and destroyed
the Wyandot camp at the Lower Falls of the
Sandusky (now Fremont).
In the following year Colonel Bradstreet
entered Sandusky Bay and encamped a short
distance west of the portage. The Indians
failed to appear according to promise, and he
proceeded with his troops up to the lower
rapids to the Wyandot village. With this ex-
pedition was Israel Putnam, who afterwards
distinguished himself at Bunker Hill. During
the Revolutionary war Samuel Brady, while
on a scout, was captured near Fremont and
sentenced to death at the stake. On the day
assigned for the execution a large body of
Indians assembled. But the withes with
which he was bound were loosened and he
found that he could free himself. A chief's
squaw was near, so he caught her and threw
her on the burning pile. In the confusion
that followed Brady escaped.
The "de Lery portage" was also used by
General Harrison and his entire army in Sep-
tember, 1813, when he moved his forces from
Fort Seneca. Following his predecessors he
hauled his vessels and supplies over this port-
age. He constructed a fence across the penin-
sula in order to confine the thousands of
horses, cows, et cetera, with his command,
until he should return from his expedition
across the lake. Here they were left guarded
by a few soldiers. After the battle upon the
Thames, the victorious army returned to Port
Clinton, gathered up their horses, and started
upon their homeward journey. The site of
this old fort is now indicated by a pyramidal
monument of boulders, which was dedicated
on May 30, 1912, and on the four sides of
which appear tablets with appropriate histori-
cal inscriptions. It is believed that the exact
site of old Fort Sandoski has been established.
This was due to the painstaking work of
Col. Webb C. Hayes and Charles W. Burrows
in locating and studying the de Lery journals
found in the Laval University, Quebec. In
HISTORY OF NORTH \VKST OHIO
135
one of the journals maps were found, solar
observations, and descriptions of the daily
FORT SANDOSKI
1 748-174* 1750-1761
I781-J783
THE FIRST FORT BITLT BY
WHITE WEN IN OHIO ERECTED
BY BRITISH TRADERS FROM
PENNA. AND VA. IN 1740 UNDER
THE PROTECTION OF THE HURON
CHIEF NICOLAS AND .DESTROYED
BY HIK'.AFTER HIS DEFEAT BY
THE FRENCH IN 1748 PRIOR TO
HIS REMOVAL TO THE ILLINOIS
'COUNTRY
REBUILT BY BRITISH IN 1760 AND
"USURPED BY THE FRENCH IN i7ii"
ACAIN REBUILT BY BRITISH SOLDIERS .
IN 1781 AFTER THE SURRENDER OF '
OUEBEC AND FRENCH "SOVEREIGNTY .
IN AMERICA
AND FINALLY DESTROYED AT THE
OUTBREAK OF PONTIAC'S CONSPI-
RACY 18T" MAY 1783
WHEN THE FORT WAS BURNED THE
ENTIRE GARRISON MASSACRED
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE
COMMANDANT ENSIGN PAULI WHO
• WAS CARRIED OFF A PRISONER TO
PDNTIAC THEN BESIEGING DETROIT
ERECTED BY THE OHIO SOCIETY
COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA
TABLET ON HARRISON-PERRY EMBARKATION
MONUMENT
journeyings of the expedition that seem to
have settled a matter long in doubt. The
monument was placed there by the Ohio
State Archaeological and Historical Society.
From the time that the Caucasian tirst
planted his foot in the lower Sandusky Valley,
it became an important military center, and
every narrative relating to the place is an
enlightening glimpse into the enemy's camp.
At that time the Wyandots had corn fields all
along the river bottom, which were cultivated
by the squaws and boys, each family having
an allotment with no fences separating them.
The plains now covered by the lower part of
the City of Fremont were cleared land when
first seen by white men, and produced corn
season after season. As much of this section
of the state was an almost impenetrable
swamp at certain seasons of the year, the San-
dusky River, like the Maumee, became a com-
mon thoroughfare for all the Indian tribes.
War parties usually came to this point on
foot or in canoes down the river. If captives
were to be taken to the north from the interior,
they were generally brought here and trans-
ported in canoes to points in Detroit or
Canada, where* they were disposed of either
to the French or to the English. Preceding
and following the Revolutionary War, more
captives were brought here than to any other
place in Ohio. Among the famous captives
who passed through here in the custody of the
aborigines were Daniel Boone and Simon
Kenton, in the year 1778. The white savages,
McKee, Elliott, and Simon Girty, likewise
journeyed this way on their journey to De-
troit to join the notorious Hamilton and lead
the red savages in their attacks upon the
settlers.
During the period of the Revolution a party
of negroes were captured by the Indians in
Virginia and brought to the Sandusky River,
where they were held as slaves. They were
placed in charge of a tract of land about
four miles below Fremont, which they culti-
vated for the Indians, and their help no doubt
was very grateful to the squaws. Even to this
day the name "Negro Point," or "Nigger
136
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Bend," is commonly applied to this particular
spot along the river.
At the beginning of the War of 1812, there
was no such place as Fremont. There was a
Government, reservation here known as Lower
Sandusky, which could hardly claim rank as
a civilized town, for it was rather a village
to all that section of the Sandusky River
below an undefined line separating it from
Upper Sandusky. It gradually came to be
applied exclusively, however, to the town
growing up around Fort Stephenson and
within the reservation. In 1829, it was incor-
porated by the Legislature as the "Town of
DANIEL BOONE
of Wyandot Indians than a settlement of
white people. Its history dates from a treaty
entered into at Fort Mclntosh, on the 21st of
January, 1785, when a two-mile tract was
ceded to the United States Government. This
was reaffirmed by the Treaty of Greenville.
It is now comprised within the corporate
limits of Fremont, and has constituted a dis-
tinct military or civil jurisdiction since the
date of the original treaty. The name Lower
Sandusky was sometimes understood to apply
Lower Sandusky," and, just a score of years
later, the name was changed to Fremont. It
is really a matter of regret that this historic
place does not bear a designation connected
in some way with its history. The change
was made in order to avoid confusion over a
name borne in some form or other by several
other places within the state, and just at that
time the name of General Fremont loomed
large upon the horizon.
Fort Stephenson was erected upon a pretty
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
137
knoll overlooking the Sandusky Uivcr, which
is now occupied by the City Hall, the Hirchard
Library, and a monument. It would hardly
be classed as a fort by modern military ex-
perts, for it was nothing more than a feeble
earth works, surrounded by a ditch and stock-
ade, with a little blockhouse at one corner.
and its trilx-s had been confederated through
the genius of the master mind of Tecumseh.
This Indian chieftain was a man of no ordi-
nary power, and he had gathered together
the aboriginal in order to resist any farther
advance of the whites. If a white man, he
would rank high as a patriot. It was to meet
TECUMSEH
which served as a sort of bastion to sweep the
ditch. Its garrison was only a handful of
men, as modern armies go, and its only artil-
lery was a little six-pound gun, which could
hardly be classed as a cannon by the side of a
modern forty-two centimeter monster.
There was at this time no legalized settle-
ment of the Caucasians west of the newly
established Village of Cleveland. The whole
of Northwest Ohio was then Indian territory,
such a condition that Fort Stephenson was
built here at Lower Sandusky, on what was
called the hostile (west) side of the river, so
that a crossing might always be available for
troops. It also promised to be a frontier
place of importance, because of the oppor-
tunity it afforded for trade with the Indians
in times of peace, and a depot of supplies for
interior settlements whenever they might be
formed. It was named after Colonel Stephen-
138
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
son, who at one time commanded the post,
and it is supposed to have been constructed
under his personal supervision in 1822.
Like the usual fort, or stockade, in this
heavily timbered section, the walls of Fort
Stepheuson were made of logs about 18
inches thick and 10 feet or more in height,
some of which were round and others flat 011
one side. These logs were set perpendicularly
iii the earth, each one being crowded close
against its neighbor and sharpened at the top.
The entire enclosure measured about an acre.
When Captain Crogan arrived at Fort
Stephenson, he labored day and night to
place it in a state of defense. He excavated
a ditch several feet deep and about nine feet
wide, throwing the earth against the foot of
the pickets, 'and grading it sharply down to
the bottom of the ditch. A little later the
enclosure was doubled in size and, in order
to prevent the enemy from scaling the walls,
large logs were placed on top of the fort and
so adjusted that the least weight would cause
them to fall from their position upon any one
attempting to climb over.
As heretofore mentioned, Gen. William
Henry Harrison had been placed in command
of all the troops operating in Ohio. His head-
quarters were at Fort Seneca,1 or Seneca
Town, as it is sometimes called, about nine
miles up the river from Fort Stephenson.
As his main stores were kept at Upper San-
dusky, this advantage of nine miles was of
great advantage. General Harrison examined
Fort Stephenson and the surrounding heights,
and seriously considered the question of trans-
ferring the fort to a more commanding emi-
nence on the opposite side of the river.
Captain Croghan expressed his willingness to
make this change, but the order was never
given by Harrison. That General Harrison
did not consider Fort Stepheusou strong
enough to resist an attack of an enemy pro-
vided with what was then considered heavy
artillery was well known.
Harrison expected that if the English at-
tacked at all they would convey their forces
by water from Detroit, and would bring with
them artillery which would make Fort
Stephenson untenable. It was because of this
that he left with Croghan these orders:
"Should the British troops approach you in
force with cannon and you discover them in
time to effect a retreat, you will do so imme-
diately, destroying all the public stores. You
must be aware that an attempt to retreat in
the face of an Indian force would be vain.
Against such an enemy, your garrison would
be safe, however great the number."
In order to facilitate the assembling of his
expected army, General Harrison had pro-
ceeded to Fort Ferree, at what is now known
as Upper Sandusky, from which place he
hoped to be able to take the offensive against
the enemy. His anticipated reinforcements
were so slow in arriving, however, and the
Indians were swarming so thickly in the
woods, that he feared there would be an im-
mediate attack upon either Fort Stephenson
i It was about the 1st of July, 1813, a detachment
of men under the command of General Harrison
erected a stockade upon the west bank of the Sandusky
River, about eight miles above Lower Sandusky. To
this was given the name of Camp Seneca. It was
situated upon a bank about forty feet above the bed
of the river and close to the old army road. It was
built in the form of a square surrounded by pickets
of oak timber a foot in thickness and twelve feet high,
and included about an acre and a half of ground.
Between this stockade and the river were several
springs of water, one of which was inside of the pickets.
A blockhouse was erected at the southwest corner, six-
teen feet high and about twenty-five feet square,
consisted of large logs with port-holes for a cannon
and small arms. There was a projection at the north-
west corner, which was probably used as a magazine,
and there were two small blockhouses at each of the
other corners with port-holes. The timber has long
since disappeared, but traces of the embankments and
ditches can still be found. A marker, with an appro-
priate inscription, has been placed on the site of the
fort, which is within the present limits of the village
called Fort Seneca.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
139
or Fort Seneca.2 lie therefore called a
council of war, consisting of his generala, and
it was the unanimous opinion of these con-
sellors that Fort Stephenson must inevitably
fall in an attack by artillery, and as its reten-
tion did not signify much, the garrison should
be withdrawn and the place destroyed. This
order was dispatched by a messenger accom-
panied by a couple of Indians, but they lost
their way and did not reach Fort Stephenson
until 11 o'clock the next day. As an addi-
tional security, in the event of a disaster, a
small stockade, known as Fort Ball, was con-
structed several miles farther up the river,
the site of which is now within the corporate
limits of Tiffin.
The order of General Harrison reads as
follows: "Immediately on receiving this
letter you will abandon Fort Stephenson,
set fire to it, and repair with your command
this night to headquarters. Cross the river
and come up on the opposite side. If you
should deem and :find it impracticable to
make good your march to this place, take the
road to Huron, and pursue it with the utmost
circumspection and dispatch." When Cro-
ghan received this curt and peremptory com-
mand, belated over night, he felt that a retreat
could not be safely undertaken, for the
Indians were already hovering around the fort
- While General Harrison was at Fort Seneca, he
narrowly escaped being murdered by an Indian. A
number of friendly Indians had joined Harrison's
troops, and among these was one by the name of Blue
Jacket, a Shawnee. He did this with a treacherous
purpose. Before joining the troops, he had communi-
cated his intention of killing the American general,
said he, ' ' even if I was sure that the guard would cut
me into pieces not bigger than my thumb-nail." It
was the good fortune of General Harrison that this
confidant of Blue Jacket was a young Delaware chief
by the name of Beaver, who was also bound to the
general by ties of friendship. The Beaver was in a
quandary, as it was absolutely against the Indian prin-
ciples to betray a confidant. While in a state of in-
decision, Blue Jacket came up to the camp somewhat
intoxicated, and this raised the Beaver to such a state
of indignation that he seized his tomahawk, and, with
one blow, stretched the unfortunate Blue Jacket at
his feet.
in considerable numbers. For this reason, he
sent hack the following answer: "Sir, I have
just received yours of yesterday, ten o'clock
P. M., ordering me to destroy this place and
make good my retreat, which was received
too late to be carried into execution. We
have determined to maintain this place, and
By Heavens ! we can. ' '
The tenor of this reply nearly cost Croghan
his command. General Harrison was ex-
tremely angry, and summoned Croghan before
him at Fort Seneca. At the same time, an-
other officer was placed temporarily in
command. But when the gallant Croghan
appeared at headquarters and made his ex-
planation, the commanding general's wrath
was soon appeased. Croghan explained that
he expected the dispatch would fall into the
enemy's hands, and he wished to impress upon
them the danger of an assault. He again
received orders to destroy the fort, but the
swift approach of the enemy prevented their
execution.8
When Colonel Ball, with a squadron of
about 100 horsemen, was escorting Colonel
Wells, who was on his way to relieve Croghan
of command, he fell in with a body of hostile
savages, and fought what has since been called
Ball's Battle, on the 20th of July. None of
the troops were killed and only one was
3 That Croghan 's ability was fully appreciated is
shown by the following letter from General Har-
rison to Governor Meigs:
Headquarters, Seneca Town, 2d August, 1813.
Dear Sir: The enemy have been, since last even-
ing, before Lower Sandusky, and are battering it
with all their might. Come on, my friend, as quickly
as possible, that we may relieve the brave fellows
who are defending it. I had ordered it to be aban-
doned. The order was not obeyed. I know it will
be defended to the last extremity, for earth does not
hold a set of finer fellows than Croghan and his
officers. I shall expect you tomorrow certainly.
Yours, etc.,
HARRISON.
140
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
wounded, and that slightly. The scene of this
engagement was about ll/2 miles southwest of
of Fremont. An old ash tree used to stand
there upon which were several hacks, sig-
nifying the number of Indians killed at this
spot. The squadron were moving toward the
fort when they were fired upon by the Indians
in ambush. Ball immediately ordered a
charge, and himself struck the first blow.
He darted in between two savages and struck
one down. Before the other could do him
harm, another trooper shot him. Nearly all
the savages, numbering about twenty, were
killed in the encounter, and the forces then
moved without further molestation to Fort
Stephenson, where they arrived late in the
afternoon.
The first sight of the approaching enemy
was on the evening of the 31st of July, 1813.
A reconnoitering party that had been sent to
the shore of the lake discovered enemy ves-
sels approaching. They returned to the fort,
and it was not many hours before the advance
guard of the enemy made their appearance.
There were at least 500 British regulars, vet-
eran troops of European wars, and 1,000 or
2,000 Indians, according to the best reports.
As soon as the Indians appeared on the hill
across the river, they were saluted by a charge
from the six-pounder, which soon caused them
to retire. Shortly after the British gunboats
hove in sight, Indians showed themselves in
every direction, demonstrating that the entire
fort was surrounded, and a retreat was abso-
lutely impossible. The gun was fired a few
times at the gunboats and the shots were re-
turned by the enemy, but without any serious
damage resulting on either side. The British
troops landed about a mile below the fort.
While looking out from his post of obser-
vation Croghan noticed two of the enemy
approaching under a flag of truce. He imme-
diately despatched Ensign Shipp to meet them
and receive the message. The purpose was
correctly divined. What shall the answer be ?
He gazed around at his intrepid little band of
160 men. His eye fell upon old Betsy, as yet
almost untried. He surveyed his surround-
ings. The British were plainly visible down
the river, and he had witnessed their guns
being dragged into strategic positions. The
befeathered heads of the dusky warriors might
be seen dodging here and there at the edge of
the forests. Shall I surrender, or shall I trust
to fate? The gallant Irishman hesitated not.
Ensign Shipp was fully informed of the de-
cision.
"I am instructed by General Proctor to
demand the surrender of the fort," began
Major Chambers after the usual exchange of
courtesies.
Shipp replied that the commandant of the
fort and its garrison were determined to de-
fend it to the last extremity, and that no force,
however great, could induce them to surren-
der. They were resolved to maintain their
post or bury themselves in the ruins.
"But," expostulated Dickson, who accom-
panied Chambers, "General Proctor is anxious
to avoid the effusion of human blood. It
would be a pity for so fine a young man to
fall into the hands of the savages. Our In-
dians cannot be restrained in the event of
success for our arms. Sir! for God's sake,
surrender, and prevent the dreadful massacre
that will be caused by your resistance."
"Sir," was the ensign's reply, "the com-
mander says that when the fort is taken,
there will be no survivors left to massacre. It
will not be given up so long as there is a man
able to resist. ' '
With these words the parley ended, and the
men retired to their respective lines. The
enemy promptly opened fire with their how-
itzer and six-pounders, the firing continuing
throughout the night with little intermission,'
and with little effect as well. The Indians
were in charge of Dickson, but the entire force
was under the command of General Proctor in
person. Tecumseh was stationed on the road
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
141
to Fort Meigs, with a couple of thousand In-
dians for the purpose of intercepting the
reinforcements expected by that route. Dur-
ing the battle Oroghan occasionally fired his
six-pounder, changing its position from time
to time in order to convey the impression that
he had several cannon. As it was producing
very little execution, and in order to preserve
his ammunition, however, he eventually dis-
continued firing the gun. From apparent
sand and flour, and whatever else was avail-
able. Late in the evening of that day, when
the fort was almost completely enveloped by
smoke from the guns, the enemy proceeded to
make an assault. A couple of feints were at-
tempted from the southern angle, but at the
same time a column of several hundred men
was discovered advancing through the smoke
toward the northwestern angle, as anticipated
by Captain Croghan. Tramp, tramp, tramp
ATTACK ON FORT STEPHENSON
indications he decided that the enemy would
attack the fort from the northwest angle.
Hence it was that he removed his six-pounder
to a blockhouse, from which he could cover
this angle. The embrasure thus made was
masked ; the piece was loaded with half a
charge of powder, and a double charge of slugs
and grape shot.
After landing the howitzer and six-pounders
during the night, the British commander
planted them in a point of the woods distant
about 250 yards from the fort. Croghan
promptly strengthened his little fort in that
direction as much as possible with bags of
came the advancing columns of British vet-
erans through the dense smoke of their artil-
lery. It was only when the columns were
quite near that the men could be distinguished
by the besieged. They were then thrown into
confusion by a galling fire of musketry di-
rected towards them from the fort. Colonel
Short, who was at the head of the advaucing
column, soon rallied his men, however, and led
them with commendable bravery to the brink
of the ditch. Pausing for a moment, he leaped
into the ditch and called upon his men to
follow him.
' ' Cut away the pickets, my brave boys, and
142
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
show the d — d Yankees no quarter," Short
shouted, and his words were carried across
the palisades.
In a few minutes the ditch was filled with
men. Then it was that the masked porthole
was opened and the six-pounder, at a distance
of only thirty feet, poured such destruction
upon the closely packed body of "red coats"
that few were fortunate enough to escape.
This brief assault, which lasted about half an
hour, cost the British twenty-seven lives, in-
cluding two officers. Colonel Short, who him-
self had been telling his men to give the
Americans no quarter, fell mortally wounded.
A handkerchief raised on the end of his sword
was a mute appeal for the mercy which he
had a few moments before denied to the
Americans.
A precipitate retreat of the enemy followed
this bloody encounter. The column approach-
ing from the other side was also routed by a
destructive fire. The whole of the attacking
troops then fled into an adjoining woods,
where they were beyond the reach of the guns
of the fortress. The loss of the British and
Indians was 150, including about twenty-six
prisoners, most of them badly wounded. The
casualties of the garrison were one man killed
and seven slightly wounded. The one man
who was killed met his death because of his
recklessness, by reason of his desire to shoot
a red coat. For this purpose he had climbed
on the top of the blockhouse, and, while peer-
ing over to spot his victim, a cannon ball took
off his head.
This long planned and carefully arranged
assault by a powerful enemy lasted less than
an hour. With it the storm cloud which had
been hovering over this section passed north-
ward and westward. At the same time Napo-
leon, at the head of 100,000 men, was
approaching Dresden, where he defeated an
army of the allied forces half again as large.
And yet, here on the banks of the peaceful
Sandusky, not on the famous Elbe, utterly
devoid of the pomp and circumstances of gi-
gantic war, was fought a battle for freedom
and democratic government which meant
more for the world than the battles of Napo-
leon at the contemporaneous period. The
bravery of this American boy and his daunt-
less band exceeded in results for the better-
ment of humanity and the advance of
civilization all the campaigns waged by the
Corsican and his antagonists. Croghan gath-
ered together his gallant little band, uttering
words of praise and grateful thanksgiving.
As darkness had gathered, he feared to open
the gates of the fort because of the lurking
savages.
"Water! Water!" came the pitiful appeal
from the ditch filled with the dead and dying.
But Captain Croghan hesitated to throw open
the gates, not knowing what the enemy might
be planning. At first he contrived to convey
water over the pickets in buckets for their
relief. As the darkness became more intense,
the sounds and confusion of arms died away.
It was not all silence, however, for the cry
of ' ' Water ! ' ' was still heard in the ditch. As
the silence deepened, the groans of the
wounded in the ditch fell upon Croghan 's
ears and aroused his sympathy. He could not
rest. A trench was hastily dug, through which
those of the wounded who were able to crawl
were encouraged to enter the little fort and
their necessities were willingly supplied. Be-
fore daybreak the entire British and Indian
forces began a disorderly retreat. So great
was their haste that they abandoned a sailboat
filled with clothing and military stores, while
some seventy stands of arms and braces of
pistols were gathered about the fort. Their
departure was hastened by apprehension of
an attack by General Harrison from Fort
Seneca, of whose whereabouts they were well
informed. Croghan immediately sent word to
Harrison of his victory and the departure of
the enemy, and it was not long, until Harri-
son himself was on the road to Fort Steph-
HISTORY OF NORTH \VKST OHIO
143
enson. He reached the fort early on the
following morning, with a considerable force
of infantry and dragoons. Finding that Te-
cumseh had retreated to a position near Fort
Meigs, he sent his infantry back to Fort Se-
neca lest that wily chief should attack that
place and intercept the small bodies of rein-
forcements that were approaching.
"It will not be among the least of General
ing that he was a native of Kentucky, and
~was born near Louisville, in 1791. He had
entered the service as a private in 1811, and
had taken an active part in the battle of Tip-
pecanoe. He again distinguished himself in
the memorable siege of Fort Meigs, and in
July, 1813, was placed in command at Fort
Stephenson. He was made inspector general
of the army in 1825, and in that capacity
MEDAL PRESENTED TO GEORGE CROGHAN BY CONGRESS
Proctor's mortifications that he has been
baffled by a youth who has just passed his
twenty-first year, ' ' wrote General Harrison in
his official report. The rank of lieutenant-
colonel was immediately conferred upon
Croghan by the President of the United
States for his courageous defense on this occa-
sion. His gallantry was further acknowl-
edged by a joint resolution of Congress,
approved in February, 1835, and by which he
was ordered to be presented with a gold medal,
and a sword was awarded to each of the
officers under his command. Of the life of
Colonel Croghan very little is known, except-
served with General Taylor in Mexico in the
war with that country. He died in New
Orleans in 1849. In 1906 his remains were
reinterred at Fremont, on the site of old Fort
Stephenson, and his resting-place is marked
by a large block of granite, bearing an ap-
propriate inscription.
The old cannon employed in the defense
of Fort Stephenson was familiarly called
"Betsy" by the soldiers. After the war it
was sent to the Government arsenal at Pitts-
burg, and remained there until about 1851.
At this time some citizens of Fremont con-
ceived the design of procuring the old gun as
144
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
a relic, and restoring it to the place which it
had so greatly aided to defend. One of the
soldiers, who had served with the defending
army, was sent on a search to identify it be-
cause of some peculiar markings. After per-
sistent efforts he succeeded in establishing its
identity, and the gun was ordered to Lower
Sandusky. As there were several Sanduskys,
however, it was sent by mistake to Sandusky
City. The citizens of that city refused to give
it up, and, in order to prevent the Fremont
people from obtaining possession, the gun was
buried under a barn. It was finally uncov-
the greatest respect. Little children now play
around "Old Betsy," the birds frequently lo-
cate their nests within her mouth, and visitors
lay curious hands upon her. She is the only
survivor of that two-days' fight, the only one
left that faced the oncoming veterans under
General Braddock.
"OLD BETSY"
"Hail! thou old friend, of Fort McGee,
Little did I expect again to see,
And hear thy voice of victory,
Thou defender of Ohio!
'OLD BETSEY," THE FAMOUS CANNON USED IN DEFENSE OP FORT STEPHENSON
ered, however, and brought back to its present
resting place. Gen. William H. Gibson, the
silvery-tongued orator of Tiffin, accompanied
the fire department of that city to Fremont,
and delivered a stirring address while clad in
the red shirt and white trousers of that
organization.
At a celebration held on the 2d of August,
1852, Thomas L. Hawkins, a well known Meth-
odist local preacher and the town poet, read
a poem addressed to this cannon, in which it
was referred to as "Old Betsy." This name
has stood by the old cannon ever since, and it
is an appellation which is always applied with
' ' 1 wonder who it was that sought thee,
To victory's ground again hath brought thee
From strangers' hands at length hath caught
thee ;
He is a friend to great Ohio.
"He is surely worthy of applause,
To undertake so good a cause,
Although a pleader of her laws,
And statutes of Ohio.
"What shame thy blockhouse is not standing,
Thy pickets as at first commanding,
Protecting Sandusky 's noble landing,
The frontier of Ohio!
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
145
"Thy pickets, alas! are all unreared.
No faithful sentinel on guard,
Nor band of soldiers well prepared,
Defending great Ohio.
"Where have the upthrown ditches gone,
By British cannon rudely torn ?
Alas! with grass they are o'er grown,
Neglected by Ohio.
"0 tell me where thy chieftains all —
Croghan, Dudley, Miller, Ball,
Some of whom I know did fall
In defending of Ohio.
' ' Canst thou not tell how Proctor swore,
When up yon matted turf he tore,
Which shielded us from guns a score,
He poured upon Ohio?
"And how Tecumseh lay behind you;
With vain attempts he tried to blind you,
And unprepared, he'd find you,
And lead you from Ohio.
"Perhaps like Hamlet's ghost, you've come,
This day to celebrate the fame
Of Croghan 's honored, worthy name,
The hero of Ohio.
"I greet thee! Thou art just in time
To tell of victory most sublime,
Though told in unconnected rhyme;
Thou art welcome in Ohio.
"But since thou canst thyself speak well,
Now let thy thundering voice tell
What bloody carnage then befell
The foes of great Ohio."
(And then she thundered loud.)
CHAPTER XIII
PERRY'S GREAT VICTORY AT PUT-IN-BAY
'U. S. Brig Niagara, off the Western land forces in offensive operations.
Sister, September 10, 1813, 4 P. M.
"Dear General: We have met the enemy
and they are ours — two brigs, one schooner,
and a sloop. Yours with great respect and
esteem.
"OLJVER HAZARD PERRY."
This message sent to General Harrison by
Commodore Perry, only an hour after the
surrender of the British fleet, electrified the
United States. It was penciled on the back
of an old letter spread out on his hat by
that doughty officer. This victory on the
waters of Lake Erie, near the shores of the
island known as Put-in-Bay, was the greatest
naval engagement that has ever taken place
This
important undertaking was entrusted to our
hero, Oliver Hazard Perry, then a navy cap-
tain at Newport, Rhode Island, and only
twenty-eight years of age. It is claimed that
the idea originated with him. He was the son
of Christopher R. Perry, a distinguished
naval officer of the Revolution. His training
from boyhood had been on the sea, and he had
participated in the Tripolitan war. It was
his judgment that Lake Erie was the place
where Great Britain could be struck a severe
blow. Within twenty-four hours after his
order to proceed was received, in February,
1813, he had dispatched a' preliminary detach-
ment of fifty men, and, after a few days, he
on the Great Lakes, and in accomplishment it himself followed. We are informed that
ranks among the most important victories Perry was five weeks on the way, traveling
mostly in sleighs through the wilderness to
Erie, Pennsylvania. There was nothing at
ever achieved by an American naval com-
mander.
I I I < 1 V I .
Elsewhere has been related the bold design Erie out of which vessels could be constructed,
of General Harrison to destroy by explosives
the British fleet as it lay at Maiden, through
excepting an abundance of timber still stand-
ing in the neighboring forests. Shipbuilders,
an expedition conducted by Captain Langham. naval stores, sailors, and ammunition must be
The expedition was abandoned at Middle
Sister Island, because of the threatened
breaking up of the ice. Although the defeat
of General Proctor by Major Croghan de-
stroyed all prospect of British invasion of ful officer.
transported over fearful roads from Albany,
by way of Buffalo, or from Philadelphia, by
the way of Pittsburgh. It was indeed a dis-
couraging situation that confronted the youth-
Ohio, and ended all active land service within
its boundaries, the waters of Lake Erie were
still in the possession of the enemy.
While General Harrison and the officers
under him were achieving their victories in-
land along the Maumee and the Sandusky,
the construction of an American fleet of war
vessels was in process of building at Erie,
Under all these embarrassments, and ham-
pered as he was in every way, by the 1st of
August, 1813, Commodore Perry had provided
a flotilla consisting of the ships Lawrence and
Niagara, of twenty guns each, and seven
smaller vessels, to-wit: the Ariel, of four
guns; the Caledonia, of three; the Scorpion
and Somers, with two guns each, and three of
Pennsylvania, in order to co-operate with the one gun each, named Tigress, Porcupine, and
146
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
147
Trip. In all, he had an offensive battery of
fifty-four guns. While the ships were being
built the enemy frequently appeared off the
harbor and threatened their destruction; but
the shallowness of the waters on the bar —
there being but five feet — prevented their
near approach. The same obstacle, which in-
sured the safety of the ships while building,
eeemed to prevent their becoming of any
service, for the two largest vessels drew
several feet more water than there was on the
bar. The inventive genius of Commodore
Perry, however, whom no ordinary obstacle
seemed to daunt, soon surmounted this diffi-
culty. He placed large scows on each side of
the two largest ships, filled them so as to sink
to the water edge, then attached them to the
ships by strong pieces of timber, and pumped
out the water. The scows thus buoyed up
the ships so that they floated over the bar in
safety. This operation was performed on both
the large ships in the presence of a superior
enemy.
Having gotten his fleet in readiness, Com-
modore Perry promptly proceeded to the head
of Lake Erie and anchored at Put-in-Bay,
opposite to and distant about thirty miles
from Maiden, where the British fleet rested
under the protection of the guns of the fort.
He remained at anchor here several days,
closely watching the movements of the enemy,
and determined to give them battle at the
first favorable opportunity. On August 17th
he was visited by General Harrison, who came
aboard the Lawrence, Perry's flagship. On
the 10th of September, at sunrise, the British
fleet, consisting of one ship of nineteen guns,
one of seventeen, one of thirteen, one of ten,
one of three, and one of one — amounting to
sixty-three in all, and exceeding the Ameri-
cans by ten guns, under the command of
Commodore Barclay, an officer who had seen
service under the great Lord Nelson, appeared
off Put-in-Bay and distant about ten miles.
These vessels in the above order were named
Detroit, Queen Charlotte, Lady Prevost,
Hunter, Little Belt, and Chippewa. Commo-
dore Perry immediately weighed anchor,
having a light breeze from the southwest.
At 10 o'clock the wind changed to the south-
east, which brought the American squadron to
the windward, and gave them the weather-
gauge. Commodore Perry, on board the
Lawrence, then hoisted his ensign, having for
a motto the dying words of Captain Law-
rence, "Don't Give Up the Ship," which was
PERRY'S BATTLE FLAG
received with repeated cheers by the crew.
Before hoisting the ensign, he turned to his
crew and said : ' ' My brave lads, this flag
contains the last words of Captain Lawrence.
Shall I hoist it?" The answer came from
all parts of the ship, " Ay ! ay ! Sir ! " The act
of raising it was met with the hearty cheers
of the men.
Perry formed his line of battle, and started
for the enemy. The British commander at
the same time changed his course and pre-
pared for action. The day was a beautiful
one, without a cloud on the horizon. The
lightness of the wind enabled the hostile
squadrons to approach each other but slowly,
and for two hours the solemn interval of sus-
pense and anxiety which precedes a battle
148
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was prolonged. The order and regularity of
naval discipline heightened the ominous quiet
of the moment. There was no noise to distract
the mind, except at intervals when the shrill
pipings of the boatswain's whistle was heard,
or a murmuring whisper among the men who
stood around their guns with lighted matches.
The sailors were closely watching the move-
ments of the foe, and occasionally stealing a
glance at the countenances of their com-
manders. In this manner the hostile fleets
of the British in long range guns, their fire
was found to be the most destructive. It
was chiefly directed against the flagship
Lawrence, the foremost ship, and the one in
which the commander sailed. Because of this
fact he was induced to make every exertion to
get in close range of the enemy, directing the
other vessels to follow his example. In a
short time every brace and bowline of the
Lawrence was shot away, and she became un-
manageable. In this situation she sustained
PERRY'S VICTORY
From a painting in
gradually neared each other without a gun
being fired.
The American commander, as we have seen,
was young. He had never heard the thunder
of a hostile ship, but he was versed in the
theory of naval war. Endowed with the
courage and enterprise of an American free-
man, he was ready and eager for the contest
with a foe superior in force and experience.
At 11 :45 the enemy opened his fire, as the
British band played the martial air, "Rule
Brittania;" but it was not returned for ten
minutes by the American fleet, because it was
inferior in long range guns. Then the battle
began on both sides. Owing to the superiority
AT PUT-IN-BAY
Ohio State Capitol
the conflict upwards of two hours, within the
range of canister shot, until every gun was
rendered useless, and the greater part of her
crew were either killed or wounded. Perry
himself, assisted "by his chaplain and the
purser, discharged the last shot. Then it was
that Perry conceived the perilous design of
leaving her and passing in an open boat to
the Niagara, as the lightness of the wind had
long prevented her and the lighter vessels
from coming to close action. Fortunately,
one might almost say providentially, at 2 :30
the wind raised and enabled the captain of
the Niagara to bring her up in gallant style.
Perry then entrusted the Lawrence to the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
149
command of Lieutenant Yarnell, and pro-
ceeded toward the Niagara, standing erect in
an open boat bearing his flag with the motto,
"Don't give up the ship." His men, more
careful of his life, pulled him down by main
force from the dangers of the incessant fire
directed at him by the enemy. A number of
guns were fired at it and several oars were
splintered, but no one in it was injured.
Safely landed on board the Niagara, Perry
could look across at the Lawrence, now a mere
wreck. Its decks were streaming with blood
and covered with the mangled bodies and
limbs of those slain in the sanguinary struggle
for supremacy. Nearly the whole of the crew
were either killed or wounded, but the rem-
nant gave them hearty cheers as they saw the
suggestive emblem flung to the breeze on the
Niagara. Perry was greatly agitated, and
expressed his fears to Captain Elliot that the
day was lost because the light wind prevented
the other vessels from approaching nearer to
the enemy. As the breeze again stiffened,
Captain Elliot volunteered to bring up the
other ships. He embarked in a small boat,
exposed to the gunfire of the enemy, and was
thoroughly water soaked from the spray
thrown up by the shots fired at him. He was
uninjured, however, and succeeded in bring-
ing up the remotest vessels so that they could
participate in the final encounter. Protected
by the stouter vessels, they poured in a de-
structive fire of grape and canister, wreaking
the most terrible destruction upon the enemy.
Commodore Perry now scented victory.
Promptly he gave the signal to all the boats
for close action. The small vessels, under the
command of Captain Elliot, set all their sails.
Finding that the Niagara had been only
slightly injured, the commander determined
upon the bold and desperate expedient of
breaking the enemy's line. Accordingly he
bore up and passed the head of three of the
enemy vessels, giving them a raking fire from
his starboard guns, at the same time firing
upon two other ships from his larboard quar-
ter at close range. He raked with destruc-
tive broadsides the Queen Charlotte and the
Detroit. ' ' Having gotten the whole squadron
into action he luffed and laid his ship along-
side of the British commodore. The small
vessels having now got up within good grape
and canister distance on the other quarter,
enclosed the enemy between them and the
Niagara, and in this position kept up a most
destructive fire on both quarters of the British
until every ship struck her colors." The
enemy stood the punishment just as long as
he could.
"Cease firing," came the order from Perry,
as he saw the white flag. "Call away a boat,
and put me on board the Lawrence. I will
receive the surrender there. ' '
The entire engagement lasted about three
hours, and never was a victory more decisive
and complete. It was ascertained that more
prisoners had been taken than there were men
on board the American squadron at the close
of the action. The greatest loss in killed and
wounded was on board the Lawrence, before
the other vessels were brought into action.
Of her crew, twenty-two had been killed and
sixty wounded. At the time her flag was
struck, only a score of men remained on deck
fit for duty. The killed on board all the
other vessels numbered only five, and there
were thirty-six wounded. The British loss
must have been much more considerable.
Commodore Barclay was dangerously
wounded. He had lost one arm in the battle
of Trafalgar, and the other was now rendered
useless by the loss of a part of his shoulder-
blade. He had also received a severe wound
in the hip.
To General Harrison, Perry sent the dis-
patch heretofore given, but to the secretary of
the navy he forwarded the following :
"Sir — It has pleased the Almighty to give
to the arms of the United States a signal vic-
tory over their enemies on this lake. The
British squadron, consisting of two ships, two
brigs, one schooner, and one sloop, have this
150
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
moment surrendered to the force under my
command, after a sharp conflict.
"I have the honor to be, sir,
"Your obedient servant,
"0. H. PERRY."
In his official dispatch, Commodore Perry
speaks in the highest terms of respect and
pity for his wounded antagonist, and requests
permission to grant him an immediate parole.
Of Captain Elliot, the second officer in com-
mand, he says : ' ' That he is already so well-
known to the government that it would be
ing in exact time with the notes of the solemn
dirge — the mournful waving of the flags, the
sound of the minuteguns from all the ships,
the wild and solitary aspect of the place, gave
to these funeral rites a most impressive in-
fluence and formed an affecting contrast with
the terrible conflict of the preceding day.
Then the people of the two squadrons were
engaged in the deadly strife of arms; now
they were associated as brothers to pay the
last tribute of respect to the slain of both
nations. Two American officers, Lieutenant
PERRY 's WILLOW — PUT-IN-BAY
Marks site where some of his men were buried — Tree planted soon after the famous battle.
almost superfluous to speak. In this action
he evinced his characteristic bravery and
judgment, and since the close of it has given
me the most able and essential assistance. ' '
Immediately after the action, the slain of
the crews of both squadrons were committed
to the waters of Lake Erie. On the following
day the funeral obsequies of the American
and British officers who had fallen during the
engagement took place at an opening on the
margin of the bay, in an appropriate and
affecting manner. The crews of both fleets
united in the ceremony. ' ' The stillness of the
weather, the procession of boats, the music —
the slow and regular motion of the oars strik-
Brooks and Midshipman Laub, of the Law-
rence, and three British officers, Captain Fin-
nis and Lieutenant Stoke, of the Charlotte,
and Lieutenant Garland, of the Detroit, lie
interred by the side of each other in this
lonely place on the margin of the lake, a few
paces from the beach."
At the time o'f the engagement, General
Harrison was at his headquarters at Fort
Seneca. A couple of days later, just as he
was about to set out for Lower Sandusky,
filled with anxiety for the fleet because he had
received reports of a terrific cannonading
on the tenth, the short and laconic message of
Commodore Perry reached him. The ex-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
151
hilarating news aroused Lower Sandusky and
Fort Seneca to an uproar of joy. Harrison
immediately set out for Lower Sandusky,
and there he issued orders for the movement
of his troops to the margin of the lake, pre-
paratory to their embarkation for Canada.
Perry's ships conveyed the army to the
Canadian shore, and enabled them to com-
pletely rout the British army, with their
Indian allies, on the 5th of October.
As time passes the victory of Commodore
Perry assumes greater and greater propor-
tions in the eyes of the students of history.
of the heroism displayed as a struggle between
man and man, it deserves to be remembered.
The prowess in the seasoned sailors and the
courage in the raw and unseasoned men from
the shore are worthy of a high place in the
annals of the nation.
One hundred years later a national cele-
bration was held at Put-in-Bay, when there
was dedicated a noble and lofty monument in
commemoration of the great victory of Com-
modore Perry. It was attended by President
Taft and other high officials of the United
States, as well as by notable Canadian dele-
PERBY'S VICTORY MONUMENT, PUT-IN-BAY
This is not because of the numbers of vessels
or men engaged. In the light of modern war-
fare, judged by the standard of the super-
dreadnaught, and its monster guns, it was a
small affair. Nine small sailing vessels on
the one side and six on the other, with prob-
ably 1,000 men all told, the greater part of
whom were not even seamen — such were the
forces that met at Put-in-Bay. One gun from
a modern man-of-war would throw more metal
in one charge than an entire broadside from
the 117 guns of the opposing fleets. It is by
its results that the action must be judged.
It cleared the waters of Lake Erie of hostile
vessels, and rendered possible the invasion
of Canada that followed. Likewise, because
gates, who came here in a spirit of fraternity.
Today an imposing shaft, visible for scores
of miles on every side, stands as a monument
to the heroism and achievement of Commodore
Perry and his gallant sailors. It is indeed
fitting that the simple story of the valor and
the sacrifice of the brave men, who fell in the
great battle on Lake Erie, should thus be per-
petuated in enduring marble and bronze, in
order that the future generations of Ameri-
cans may have kindled afresh in their breasts
the love of our common country and loyalty
to the republic founded by our fathers and
sustained by their sons in the dark hours of
adversity and trial.
CHAPTER XIV
THE RED MEN OF THE FORESTS
While this section of our great country was
only an indistinguishable part of the expan-
sive wilderness beyond the Alleghenies, and
long prior to the coming of his paler rival,
Northwest Ohio was a red man 's paradise. Its
softly swelling prairies, its picturesque
streams, its blue lake, constituted an ideal
home for the savage hunters and warriors.
One vast aud almost continuous forest covered
the greater part of the fertile soil, as the
grass carpets a well-kept lawn. Yet this pro-
lific wilderness, teeming with latent fertility,
was but a hunting ground and a battlefield
for a few fierce tribes of savages. Here and
there, in some open ground, the dusky squaws
turned back the black mould with the crudest
of implements fashioned out of bone and iron,
in which they planted small fields of maize
and beans. Beyond this no other tribute was
demanded from the almost inexhaustible soil
by the ignorant children of the forest, and
nature itself provided their sustenance. It
would seem as if the words of Gitche Manito
were written especially to apply to the red
men residing in Northwest Ohio:
' ' I have given you lands to hunt in,
I have given you streams to fish in,
I have given you bear and bison,
I have given you roe and reindeers,
I have given you brant and beaver,
Filled the marshes full of wild fowl,
Filled the rivers full of fishes;
Why then are you not contented?
Why then will you hunt each other?"
From the watershed near the center of the
state, ample streams ran northward toward
great Lake Erie, and seamed the forest with
their devious windings. They were navigable
for canoes during the entire year, except for
a short winter season, and the portages were
short between these streams and those flow-
ing south, so that the savage could easily
transport his light bark canoe and pack be-
tween them. They clung to these favorite
haunts with the love of patriots, aud the
tenacity of savage despair. One can in imag-
ination see these dusky inhabitants of the
woods stealing their way beneath the shad-
ows of the primeval forest, or silently driving
their canoes under the overarching branches
of the Sandusky, or the Maumee, or the Au-
glaize. If it was a marauding party, the war-
whoop might suddenly break the primeval
solitude, while the warriors would rend the
air with their hideous shouts over the scalps
which they soon snatched from the bleeding
heads of their victims. The crash of falling
forests and the columns of ascending smoke
proclaimed the suie and steady advance of
the white settlers. The sight filled the red
men 's untutored nature with rage and cruelty.
Again and again was the frontier land rav-
aged by the tomahawk, the knife, and the
rifle. The air was darkened by the smoke
of burning homes, where the firebrand had
been applied. The Indians had no forum in
which to try their titles to the land, except
the court of force, which was to them the
tribunal of last resort. It was a trial by wager
152
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
153
of battle, wherein the arguments were made
by the rifle, the tomahawk, and the scalping
knife, and not by the mouthings of paid ad-
vocates.
Nearly all the tribes residing i" Ohio were
of the Algonquin stoek, although the Wyan-
dots ean )>e traced back to the Iroquois. The
total number of Indians residing in Ohio at
the time of the incoming of their successors
was not great, as we reckon numbers today.
At the time of I'ontiac's Conspiracy, it was
they were most numerous one might journey
for days together through the twilight forests
without encountering a single human form.
Large tracts were left in absolute solitude
and inhabited by wild beasts alone. Escaped
captives have traveled from the Lower San-
dusky River to Wheeling or Pittsburg in day-
time without casting eyes upon a single
human being.
There were many Indian tribes resident in
Northwest Ohio. In fact, tribal relations
INDIANS IN CANOES
estimated that 15,000 Indians lived in Ohio,
ulio were capable of putting 3,000 warriors
on the warpath. More than one-half of these
doubtless resided in Northwest Ohio, for none
made their homes along the Ohio River. This
probably conflicts with the prevalent notion
that the forests literally swarmed with sav-
ages. There were a few Indian villages, many
isolated groups of lodges in the forests, which
were the homes of hunters, and narrow trails
that wound their way among the trees and
bushes. So thin and scattered was this native
population, that even in those parts where
were constantly changing among the aborig-
ines. Tribe was giving place to tribe, lan-
guage was yielding to language all over the
country. Immutable as ware the red men
in respect to social and individual develop-
ment, the tribal relations and local haunts
were as transitional as the winds. The Indian
population, which the French found at Mont-
real on their arrival there, had disappeared at
the opening of the next century, and had been
succeeded by an entirely different tribe. The
Hurons, or Wyandots, were scattered during
the French occupation of Canada, through the
154
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
animosity of the Iroquois. The Eries along
the southern shores of Lake Erie had been
exterminated by the same implacable foes.
Thus the tribe that implanted its name upon
our own expansive lake melted away like a
dream. The tribal blood was constantly being
diluted by the adoption of prisoners, whether
white or red. In fact, it was the policy of
many tribes to replenish their losses in war
by adopting the young braves captured from
the enemy. Likewise, the wandering French
were all the savages, the Shawnees bear off
the palm for restlessness, and they were the
equal of any in their undying hostility to the
whites. They had wandered from the waters
of Lake Erie to the warm shores of the Gulf
of Mexico. Prior to that they are known to
have been along the Delaware River. They
were a party to the famous Penn Treaty, held
under the great elm in 1632. Marquette
speaks of meeting them during his missionary
travels in the Northwest.
OLD SHAWNEE COUNCIL, HOUSE NEAR LIMA, BUILT IN 1831
traders and coureurs de bois had left an infu-
sion of the Celtic blood in almost every tribe.
THE SHAWNEES
The Shawanees, Shawanos, or Shawnees
(the latter spelling is adopted in this work),
were a tribe that command considerable atten-
tion in a history of Northwest Ohio. The
French called them Chaouanons. Fearless
and restless, wary and warlike, they were the
vagrants of the trackless forests. La Salle
had been warned of their ferocity by the
Jesuits. They were ever seeking new fields
for conquest or opportunity. Nomadic, as
"From the waters of the northern lakes to
the sandy beach washed by the temperate
tides of the Mexican Gulf — from the Valley
of the Susquehanna to the gloomy cottonwood
forests of the Mississippi — in forests grand
and gloomy with the stately growth of ages —
in the prairie, blossoming with beauty, and
fragrant with the breath of a thousand sweets
— by mountain torrents, or shaded springs, or
widespread plains — the Shawnee sought the
turkey, the deer, and the bison; and, almost
from the landing of the whites at Jamestown,
his favorite game was the cunning and ava-
ricious pale-face."
They were proud and haughty, and consid-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
155
ered themselves superior to the others. The
Sliawnee traditions said that the Creator made
them before any other tribe or people, and that
from them all red men were descended. Their
arrogant pride and warlike ferocity made
them the most formidable of all the nations
with which the white settlers had to contend
in Ohio. They reveled in their prowess and
cunning. When driven from the Carolinas
and Georgia, the Shawnees decided to repos-
sess their former hunting grounds. Instead
of resorting to force, however, they betook
themselves to diplomacy. At a council of
reconciliation, they were given permission to
settle on the lands of the Miamis and Wyan-
dots. They first established themselves along
the Scioto, and later along the Auglaize and
Miami. This matter of ownership was raised
by both the Miamis and Wyandots at the
Greenville Treaty, but the Government gave
the Shawnees equal recognition with the
other tribes.
When the Miamis moved to Indiana, after
the burning of Pickawillany, in 1782, the
Shawnees assumed possession of their aban-
doned towns along the Mad River. Tribes
under Blue Jacket and Blackhoof then estab-
lished themselves at Wapakoneta at the same
time, and others settled at St. Mary's, Lewis-
town, and the mouth of the Auglaize. Skulk-
ing bands were ever harassing the whites along
the Ohio River, and attacking the flatboats of
the settlers. Numerous indeed were the cap-
tives that they brought back. As a famous
council house was located at Wapakoneta,
many of them were brought there. Muni-
tions of war were regularly furnished them
by the British. At least 150 Shawnee war-
riors took part in the defeat of St. Glair. Blue
Jacket lived in his village along the Auglaize
in the style befitting a great chief. At the
Treaty of Greenville, the Shawnees withheld
participation for several weeks through their
obstinacy. When the chiefs finally decided to
join with the other tribes, they were reserved
and haughty. But the warmheartedness of
General Wayne was irresistible. When they
left, Blue Jacket, Blackhoof, and Red Pole
expressed their undying personal regard for
Wayne, and they never again took up arms
against the United States. No more were
scalps offered for sale ; never again were peo-
ple compelled to run the bloody gauntlet, or
be burned at the stake. The Shawnees re-
turned to their former vocations of hunting
and trapping, with an increased cultivation
of the soil. This was, of course, done by the
women, as with the other tribes. The men
lounged about during the summer, when the
skins and furs were not fit for market.
In the fall season nearly all the villagers
commenced making elaborate preparations for
their winter's hunt. When everything was
ready, the whole village, men, women and
children, together with their dogs (of which
they always had a large supply), cats, and
all their ponies, of which they kept great num-
bers, with as much of their furniture as they
could conveniently carry, generally consist-
ing of several brass or copper kettles, some
wooden ladles, bowls, and large spoons, a tom-
ahawk, and each one a large butcher-knife, set
off for the lonely woods. "I have seen many
of these companies moving off in cold
weather," says a pioneer, "among whom were
to be seen the aged, gray-headed grandmother,
the anxious, care-worn and nearly forlorn
mother with her half-naked children, and
often a little infant on her back, fastened to a
board or wrapped in her blanket and held
to her back, with its little naked head to the
cold wind over its mother's shoulder; the
whole company headed by a nimble-footed
and stout-hearted warrior, with his blanket
drawn close around his body, a handkerchief
curiously twisted to a knot, on his head, with
his gun on his shoulder and gun-stick in his
hand, his tomahawk in his belt, which is so
constructed that the poll is his pipe and the
handle the stem, and he carries his tobacco
156
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
in the skin of some little animal, often a pole-
cat skin."
THE OTTAWAS
The Ottawas were a Canadian tribe which
formerly dwelt along the river of that name,
and were also driven from there by the Iro-
quois. Accompanying the Wyandots, with
whom they were on friendly terms, they went
west, only to be again hurled back by the
Sioux. Scattering bands finally found asylum
along an affluent of the Maumee, and there
gave their name to the river since known as
the Auglaize. Indians frequently bestowed
their name upon a river along which they
lived, and the name changed as the tribes
shifted their habitations. The Delawares also
occupied lands with the Wyandots. They
called themselves Lenape, or Leni-Lenape,
meaning, "real men." They were in many
respects a remarkable people. They were gen-
erally peaceable and well disposed toward the
whites and religious teachers. When the Iro-
quois subdued them they "put petticoats on
the men," to use their expression, and made
"women" of them. They were deprived of
all right to make war, change their habitation,
or dispose of their land without the consent of
their overlords. Those found in Northwest
Ohio had fled there to escape the humiliation
of such surroundings.
THE SENEGAS
One of the smaller tribes was the Senecas,
who dwelt along the Lower Sandusky. Prior
to the incoming of the white man, they re-
mained there by the sufferance of the hospi-
table Wyandots. They were also Iroquois, or
Mingoes, and were probably renegades from
that nation. Among them were also a few
Oneidas, Mohawks, and Tuscaroras. By the
treaty of 1817, at the Foot of the Maumee
Rapids, they were granted 30,000 acres on the
east side of the Sandusky, within what is now
in Sandusky and Seneca counties. In the fol-
lowing year they were granted an additional
10,000 acres. These lands they held until
they were ceded to the United States in 1831,
when the tribe removed to Missouri, on the
Xoosho River.
About the beginning of the nineteenth cen-
tury, these "Senecas of the Sandusky," as
they were frequently called, numbered about
400 souls. At this time they were more dis-
sipated than their neighbors, the Wyandots.
Virtue was indeed at a low ebb, for the mar-
riage relation was maintained in name only,
and their free practices led to many quarrels
and difficulties of a serious nature. Their
principal chiefs at that time were Coonstick,
Small Cloud Spicer, Seneca Steel, Hard Hick-
ory, Tall Chief, and Good Hunter. During
the absence of his brothers on a long hunting
trip, about the year 1825, Chief Comstock
died. On the return of Coonstick and Seneca
Steel, richly laden with furs and with many
horses, their younger brother, by name Seneca
John, was the principal chief. The brothers
accused him of witchcraft, and condemned
him to death. Now witchcraft among the
Senecas, as among other Indian tribes, was an
unpardonable sin and punishable only in this
one way. It was frequently a convenient
method of getting rid of an undesirable mem-
ber of the tribe. Now John was a gentle,
peaceable Indian, who was much respected by
the whites. His credit was always good, and
he frequently went security for the more im-
provident members of his tribe.
"I loved my brother Comstock more than
I love the green earth I stand upon," said
Seneca John with rare eloquence. "I would
give myself limb by limb, piecemeal by piece-
meal— I would shed my blood drop by drop,
to restore him to life. ' ' But all his protesta-
tions of innocence and affection for his brother
Comstock were of no avail. His two other
brothers formally pronounced him guilty, and
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
157
declared their determination to be his execu-
tioners. John replied that he was willing to
die, and only wished to live unt.il the next
morning, "to see the sun rise once more."
This request being granted, -John told them
that he should sleep that night on Hard Hick-
ory's porch, which fronted the east, when-
they would find him at sunrise. This hut was
a little north of Greensprings. He chose that
place because he did not wish to he killed in
I lie presence of his wife, and desired that the
done, lie looked around upon the land-
scape and at the rising sun, to take a fare-
well look of a scene that he was never again
to behold, and then told them he was ready
to die. Shane and Coonstick each took him
by the arm, and Steel walked behind. In
tliis uay they conducted him about ten steps
from (lie porch, when Steel struck him with
a tomahawk on the back of the head, felling
him to the ground. Supposing this blow
sufficient, they dragged him under a peach
EXECUTION OP SENECA JOHN IN 1828
chief, Hard Hickory, should witness that he
died like a brave man.
Coonstick and Steel retired for the night
to an old cabin. In the morning, in company
with Shane, another Indian, they proceeded
to the house of Hard Hickory, who related
the incident to General Bush. A little after
MI n rise the chief heard their footsteps upon
the porch, and opened the door just enough
to peep out. He saw John asleep upon his
blanket, while they stood around him. At
length one of them awoke him. He arose
upon his feet and took off a large handerchief,
which was around his head, letting his unusu-
ally long hair fall upon his shoulders. This
tree nearby. In a short time, however, John
revived, the force of the blow having been
broken by his great mass of hair. Knowing
that it was Steel who struck the blow, John,
as he lay, turned his head toward Coonstick,
and said : ' ' Now, brother, do you take your
revenge." This so operated upon the feel-
ings of Coonstick that he interposed to save
him. It so enraged Steel, however, that he
drew his knife and slashed John's throat from
ear to ear. The next day the victim was
buried with the usual Indian ceremonies, not
more than twenty feet from where he fell.
Steel was arrested and tried for the murder
in Sandusky County, and was acquitted.
158
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
When the Seneeas were removed, Coonstick
and Steel demolished the picket fence which
had been around the grave and leveled the
ground, so that not a vestige was left.
THE MIAMIS
Along the Maumee River the dominant-
tribes were the Miarnis. The British called
them Twigtwees, meaning "the cry of the
crane," while Miami was the French desig-
nation. They were one of the most power-
ful tribes of the West, numbering many hun-
dreds of warriors. Members of this tribe were
reported as far distant as Illinois and Wis-
consin. Of his people, Little Turtle, their
famous chief, said: "My fathers kindled the
first fire at Detroit; thence they extended their
lines to the head waters of the Scioto ; thence
to its mouth; thence down the Ohio to the
mouth of the Wabash and thence to Chicago
over Lake Michigan." The tribe gave its
name to three rivers, Big Miami, Little Miami,
and Maumee. They are said to have been
above the average of the aborigines in intelli-
gence and character. They were also credited
with better manners and dispositions than
most of the savages. Their chiefs, also, had a
greater degree of authority over their war-
riors. Their headquarters had formerly been
near Piqua, but about the time of Pontiac's
Conspiracy they settled along the Maumee.
A French traveler, early in the eighteenth
century, wrote of them as follows :
"The Miamis are sixty leagues from Lake
Erie, and number 400, all well formed men,
and well tattooed ; the women are numerous.
They are hard working, and raise a species
of Maize unlike that of our Aborigines at
Detroit. It is white of the same size as the
other, the skin much finer and the meat much
whiter. This Nation is clad in deer and when
a married woman goes with another man, her
husband cuts off her nose and does not see
her any more. This is the only nation that
has such a custom. They love plays and
dances, wherefore they have more occupation.
The women are well clothed, but the men use
scarcely any covering and are tattooed all
over the body."
INDIAN CHARACTERISTICS
"Each Indian," wrote the British agent at
Detroit to the home office, "consumes daily
more than two ordinary men amongst us, and
would be extremely dissatisfied if stinted
when convened for business." Consider the
agent's distress when almost 1,000 had
already arrived for a treaty, and they were
still coming in hungry groups. All those who
had charge of Indian treaties bear witness to
the same characteristics of these aborigines.
They were like grown-up children, and, like
youngsters, they expected to be fed and fed
well. Even Little Turtle, one of the wisest
of the chiefs, and extremely abstemious in
the use of alcoholic spirits, was as uncon-
trolled as his followers in the matter of eat-
ing. As a result of this, he was a great
sufferer from gout in his later days.
The virtues as well as the vices of these
aborigines were those of primitive man. Our
Teutonic ancestors, when they wandered
across the plains of Germany, or our British
forefathers, who perambulated over the hills
and dales of Britain, were not angels, or very
exemplary in their habits. The men spent
their time in hunting and fighting, while the
women performed the household work and
cultivated the fields. In some sections of
Central Europe they have not got over the
latter custom even to this day, and the women
do far more than their full share of toil.
Even so did the savages of North America.
The squaws did all the menial work. But they
had a commendable sen\3 of justice among
themselves, and they were far better before
the white man came in contact with them.
It is no wonder that the squaws, who were
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
159
frequently comely when young, soon lost all
their comeliness and degenerated into smoke-
begrimed, withered, and vicious hags, whose
ugliness and cruelty frequently showed itself
toward the white captives. About the only
actual labor that the warriors would deign to
perform was in the making of bark canoes
or the dug-outs, called piroques, in both of
which they were very proficient. In their
light canoes, covered with birch, elm, or chest-
nut bark, they sailed in safety over the heav-
ing billows of Lake Erie in the stormiest
weather. Before the white man brought
horses, the squaw on land and the canoe on
water were the Indian's beasts of burden.
In infancy the males were generally placed
on boards, and wrapped with a belt of cloth,
or skin, in order to make them straight. In
early life they were stimulated to acts of
courage and activity. The females were shorter
in stature and slower in motion. This may
possibly come from their being brought up
to hard labor and the carrying of heavy bur-
dens. That the men possessed a lively imag-
ination is shown by their speech. One of the
astonishing things was the retentiVeness of the
memory. In a speech made to them, every
point was retained, considered, and answered
distinctly. Their history and traditions were
all preserved in this same way. They were
calm and cool in their deliberations and, when
their minds were once made up, were almost
immovable. They never forgot an act of kind-
ness, and generally sought an opportunity to
repay it. The word "friend" meant much
to them, and they would risk life as well as
property to save a friend.
From the "superior race" the Indians im-
bibed the vices of civilization rather than the
virtues. "Every horror is produced," says
General Harrison, "among these unhappy
people by their intercourse with the whites.
This is so certain that I can at once tell, upon
looking at an Indian whom I chance to meet,
whether he. belongs to a neighboring or more
distant tribe. The latter is generally well
clothed, healthy, and vigorous, the former
half naked, filthy, and enfeebled by intoxica-
tion ; and many of them without arms, except-
ing a knife, which they carry for the most
villainous purposes."
Of the vices received from the civilized
white man, the taste for "firewater" was not
the least. For their own selfish purpose, the
traders cultivated this taste with diabolical
persistency, and the governments of France
and England selfishly permitted and encour-
aged it. But, when the red man's head was
muddled with liquor, he recognized neither
friend nor foe. He did not always consider
the color of the skin, for his befuddled brain
could not distinguish tints. As a result, there
were innumerable murders of his own kin, as
well as of his white friends and enemies. It
has been estimated that fully 500 deaths from
murders and accidents occurred among the
Miamis alone in the decade following the close
of the War of 1812, and most of them were
traceable to liquor. This is the worst condem-
nation that can be brought against the mal-
evolent influenee of the whites. A trader at
Fort Miami reported (1802) that the Indians
were then growing worse year after year.
That spring he said that he had known them
to lay drunk around the trading stations as
much as ten or fifteen days, during which
time scarcely a mouthful of victuals would
be taken.
Many of the Indians chiefs recognized this
evil. The renowned chief, Little Turtle, of
the Miamis, did all that he could to eradicate
this unnatural and depraved appetite. But
the great Wyandot chief, Mononcue, expressed
himself in the following telling words :
"You, my friends, must leave off bringing
your water of death (meaning whisky), and
selling to my people, or we never can live in
peace, for wherever this comes, it brings fire
and death with it; and if you will still give
or sell it to Indians, it will take away all their
160
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
senses; and then, like a mad bear, they may
turn around and kill you, or some of your
squaws and children ; or if you should escape,
they will go home, and be very apt to kill a
wife, a mother, or a child ; for whenever this
mad water gets into a man, it makes murder
boil in his heart, and he, like the wolf, wants
blood all the time, and I believe it makes
you white people as bad as it makes us In-
dians, and you would murder one another
as we do, only that you have laws that put
those people in jail, and sometimes hang them
by the neck, like a dog, till they are dead;
and this makes white people afraid. We have
no such laws yet ; but I hope that by and
by we shall have. But I think they ought
first to hang all people that make and send
this poison abroad, for they do all the mis-
chief. What good can it do to men to make
and send out poison to kill their friends?
Why, this is worse than our Indians, killing
one another with knife and tomahawk. If the
white people would hang them all up that
make it and sell it, they would soon leave it
off, and then the world would have peace.
Now, my white friends, if you love us or your-
selves— if you love peace, I beg that you will
not sell these fire-waters to our poor people;
they are but children, many of them ; and you
know that a child will just as soon take poison
as food."
Little Otter, another famous chief, ex-
pressed himself as follows :
"We know that it makes us foolish, and quar-
relsome, and poor, and that it destroys us, and
has greatly diminished our number ; that we
used to be much happier before it came among
us, and that it would be much better for us
to be entirely without it. We do not know
how to make it; Indians don't know how to
make it, and have nothing to make it of. If
your people did not make it and bring it to
us we should not have it. And if we did not
see it we should not care anything about it.
But when we get a taste of it we love it so
well we do not know how to stop drinking.
Brother, since it is so, why do you not stop
your people from bringing it among us?"
There was a contrast in this respect just as
there is with the whites, and some of the more
virtuous refused to associate with the others
who were dissipated. This class also culti-
vated their little farms with a fair degree of
taste and judgment. Some of them could
cook a comfortable meal, while they made
both butter and a kind of cheese. Many of
them were quite ingenious and natural me-
chanics, with a considerable knowledge of
and an inclination to use tools. One chief
had an assortment of carpenter's tools, which
he kept in neat order, and with which he
made plows, harrows, wagons, bedsteads, ta-
bles, bureaus, etc. He was a frank and con-
scientious man and a good neighbor. When
asked who instructed him in the use of tools,
he replied, no one; then, pointing up to the
sky, he said : "The Great Spirit taught me."
The Indians were just as intemperate in
their eating as in their drinking. When a
hunting party returned home after the long
winter hunt, burdened with large quantities
of bear oil, sugar, dried venison, etc., they
were improvident both in the eating and the
giving away of their spoils. Such a thing as
a regular meal was unknown, but if anyone
visited a house several times in a day, he
would be invited each time to partake of the
best. They were epicureans rather than
stoics, for they never willingly suffered pri-
vations. The Indian would neither forego an
enjoyment nor suffer an inconvenience, if he
could avoid it. After his etiquette, also, it
was impolite to decline food when offered, for
refusal was interpreted as a sign of displeas-
ure or anger. It is not surprising that pro-
visions rapidly disappeared under such
thoughtless improvidences. Through this lack
of foresight they were often reduced to great
distress, and sometimes actually perished from
hunger and exposure, even though they were
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
161
capable of enduring great privation and fa-
tigue. They seem to have believed literally
in the injunction to take no thought for the
morrow. It was not uncommon for the In-
dians to be without sustenance for days at a
time, but they never seemed to profit by such
experiences. At times during the winter,
when hunting was impossible, because of
weather conditions, they were driven by hun-
ger to digging walnuts, hickorynuts, or other
forage from beneath the snow. They were
sometimes compelled to boil the bones thrown
from the feasts of their prosperous days, and
even to gnaw the skins upon which they slept.
Firm believers in witchcraft, as they were,
the Indians generally attributed sickness and
most misfortunes to this cause. As a result,
they were in the habit of murdering those
whom they suspected of practicing it. An
Indian has been known to travel all the way
from the Mississippi to Wapakoneta and shoot
down a person in his cabin, merely on sus-
picion of his being a wizard, and to return
home unmolested. Whenever a person be-
came so sick as to induce his family and
friends to think he was in danger of dissolu-
tion, it was not uncommon for them to place
the victim in the woods alone, with no one
to minister to his wants except a nurse or
medicine man, who generally assisted in hur-
rying on the end. It was most distressing
to see a helpless human being in this situation,
and not be permitted to render assistance.
Seldom indeed was a white man permitted
even a sight of the scene, it being contrary to
the custom for anyone to visit them, except
such as had the medical care. The whole
nation were at liberty to attend all the fu-
nerals, at which there was generally great
lamentation. A chief who died just previous
to their removal from Wapakoneta was buried
in the following manner: "They bored holes
in the lid of his coffin — as is their custom —
over his eyes and mouth, to let the Good Spirit
pass in and out. Over the grave they laid
Vol. I— J 1
presents, etc., with provisions, which they
affirmed the Good Spirit would take him iu
the night. These articles had all disappeared
in the morning, but doubtless by the hand of
an evil spirit clothed in a human body."
The American Indian was and is a polytheist
in his religious belief. The trees, the rocks,
the rivers, the waterfalls, and the mountains
were the abiding places of supernatural be-
ings. The rustling leaves, the marvelous rain-
bow, the rumbling thunder and the flashing
lightning were each either a manifestation or
the embodiment of a power that could be ap-
peased and had better be obeyed than defied.
To his mind even the wild animals of the
forest and the birds of the air were sometimes
possessed of a spirit or influence that de-
manded attention. The untutored red man of
the forest was indeed a child of superstition,
and hence his ceremonies were many. They
were always fantastic, sometimes cruel and
disgusting. His fetishism was one of his most
prominent traits. He was just as primitive
and just as savage in his religion as in his
life — a strange mixture in which the brutal,
the ridiculous, and the sublime were strangely
mingled. His gods all bore the attributes of
his own unrestrained nature. But all tribes
recognized a Great Spirit, a Gitche Manitou,
the Mighty.
The conjurers among the Indians exerted
an abnormal influence. It was this trait of
mind that enabled The Prophet to ingratiate
himself as he did, and stir the tribesmen up
to such a high degree of fanaticism to aid
Tecumseh in his far-reaching plans. The con-
jurers were believed to be possessed of great
skill in medicine, but it was generally a form
of bewitching, or faith cure. Sickness and
failure in hunting were alike attributed to a
supernatural influence. Some of these medi-
cine men had a wonderful reputation, and
were summoned from great distances. The
conjurer would frequently demand a horse,
saddle, and bridle, as well as an abundance
162
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of whisky, as his fee. If the incantations were
a failure, he had only to report that the Great
Spirit killed the subject of his ministrations.
The Indian doctors likewise led in most of the
tribal dances. In many instances these men
occupied a really higher position in the esteem
of the Indians, and exercised a more powerful
influence than the chiefs themselves, for the
chiefs received no emolument and generally
had no authority or power to enforce their
commands. Although the Indians believed
that there was both a benevolent and malevo-
lent spirit, their prayers and sacrifices were
usually offered to the latter. The reason for
this was that the Good Spirit will not injure
his children, but the bad spirit will if he can.
Therefore he must be pacified.
That the Indian was naturally kind-hearted
and hospitable is testified to by nearly all the
early settlers and missionaries. While cruel,
crafty, and treacherous in dealing with ene-
mies, he could be generous, kind, and hospi-
table among friends, and oftentimes magnani-
mous to a foe. Although a savage by nature,
he was not a stranger to the nobler and ten-
derer sentiments common to humanity. He
was not always the aggressor by any means,
for history records no darker or bloodier
crimes than some of those which have been
committed by our own race against the poor
Indians. However much we are disinclined
to recognize their ownership in the soil, in
their own opinion their title was indisputable.
They claimed it by right of might, the sole
arbiter, as the numerous sanguinary wars re-
corded on history's pages bear indisputable
witness. The Indians fought after their own
ideals. But with a white race, the British,
actually offering a bonus for every American
or French scalp brought into their posts, and
feasting the returning war parties upon rich
foods and exciting drinks, the ideas of the
"palefaces" and their ideals must have been
sadly confused in the poor, benighted brain
of the ignorant savage.
The trial of courage, or ordeal of "running
the gauntlet," was one of the most savage
amusements of the Indians. Heckewelder, in
one of his books, describes this trying cere-
mony as follows :
"In the month of April, 1782, when I was
myself a prisoner at Lower Sandusky, wait-
ing for an opportunity to proceed with a
trader to Detroit, — three American prisoners
were brought in by fourteen warriors from
the garrison of Fort Mclntosh. As soon as
they had crossed the Sandusky River, to which
the village lay adjacent, they were told by the
captain of the party to run as hard as they
could to a painted post which was shown to
them. The youngest of the three without a
moment's hesitation immediately started for
it, and reached it fortunately without receiv-
ing a single blow ; the second hesitated for a
moment, just recollecting himself, he also ran
as fast as he could and likewise reached post
unhurt. The third, frightened at seeing so
many men, women and children with weapons
in their hands ready to strike him, kept beg-
ging the captain to spare him, saying that he
was a mason and would build him a fine large
stone house or do any work for him that he
would please.
" 'Run for your life,' cried the chief to
him, 'and don't talk now of building houses.'
But the poor fellow still insisted, begging and
praying to the captain, who at last finding
his exhortations vain and fearing the conse-
quences turned his back upon him and would
not hear him any longer. Our mason now
began to run, but received many a hard blow,
one of which nearly brought him to the
ground, which, if he had fallen would have
decided his fate. He, however, reached the
goal, and not without being sadly bruised and
he was besides bitterly reproached and scoffed
at all around as a vile coward, while the others
were hailed as brave men and received tokens
of universal approbation."
With all their atrocities and foibles, and
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
163
depravities, there is something fascinating
about the Indian's character, as well as some-
thing extremely picturesque. The Indian
preferred to describe a man, a river, or a
town by some prominent quality or feature
rather than a name. Thus all Indian names
described a characteristic. Thus we had
"The man with a pipe in his mouth," and
"That mail with a lame leg." A father was
out hunting early one morning and, emerg-
ing from the dark forest, saw a herd of deer
basking in the morning sun. Hence he gave
liis boy, born that day, the name of "Sun shin-
ing on the deer." Another name was "Star
Road," after what we term the "milky way."
More prosaic names were "Stand in the Wa-
ter" and "Lump on the Head." It must be
remembered, however, that each of these
names had a real significance to the red men.
One could not associate with them long with-
out having a perceptibly growing attachment
for them.
The Indian did not greatly esteem some
of the American customs, for he believed that
his own were better. An aged Indian, who
for many years had spent a great deal of
time among the white people, observed that
the Indians had not only a much easier way
of getting a wife than the paleface, but that
they were also much more certain of getting
a satisfactory one. "For," said he, in his
broken English, "white man court — court —
maybe one whole year — maybe two year, be-
fore he marry. Well, maybe, then he get very
good wife — maybe not, maybe very cross.
Well, now suppose cross; scold as soon as get
awake in the morning! Scold all day! Scold
until sleep — all one, he must keep him ! (The
pronoun in the Indian language has no femi-
nine gender.) White people have law against
throwing away wife, be he ever so cross —
must keep him always (possibly not so true
today). Well, how does Indian do? Indian
when he sees good squaw, which he likes, he
goes to him, puts his forefingers close aside
each other — make two look like one — look
squaw in the face see him smile — which is all
one; he say yes. So he take him home — no
danger he be cross ! No ! No ! Squaw know
very well what Indian do, if he cross. Throw
him away and take another. Squaw love to
eat meat. No husband, no meat. Live happy !
Go to Heaven!" This sentiment probably
does not appeal very strongly to the ex-
tremely modern women of the twentieth
century.
CHAPTER XV
(THE BED MEN OF THE FORESTS— Continued)
The Indian is emphatically the natural man.
It was an easy thing to formulate an Indian
out of a white youth, and sometimes an adult.
Many captives were formally adopted into the
Indian families. Almost invariably they
formed such attachments for their foster par-
ents and relatives that they could scarcely
be induced to return to their own people in
after years. It seemed the most natural thing
in the world to revert to the primitive ways
and customs of their foster parents. The
Indians treated them indulgently, and in
exactly the same way as they did their own
offspring. There was an old white woman
living among the Shawnees, who had been
taken a prisoner when very young. Several
years afterward her friends tried to induce
her to return, but in vain. She had then
become more of a squaw than any other fe-
male in the tribe. Similar instances will be
found along every section of our former
frontier.
John Brickell was captured by the Indians
of Northwest Ohio at the immature age of
nine, and remained with them until he had
reached manhood. In accordance with a
treaty, he was taken to the white encampment
to be delivered over to his own people. Let
me relate the incident in his own language.
"On breaking up of spring, we all went to
Fort Defiance and arriving on the shore oppo-
site, we saluted the fort with a round of
rifles, and they shot a cannon thirteen times
(for the thirteen states). We then encamped
on the spot. On the same day Whingy Poo-
shies told me I must go over to the fort. The
children hung around me, crying, and asked
me if I was going to leave them. I told them
I did not know. When we got over to the
fort and were seated with the officers, Whingy
Pooshies told me to stand up, which I did.
He then arose and addressed me in about
these words: 'My son, these are men the
same color with yourself, and some of your
kin may be here, or they may be a great way
off. You have lived a long time with us. I
call on you to say if I have not been a father
to you; if I have not used you as a father
would a son?
" 'You have used me as well as a father
could use a son,' was the answer.
" 'I am glad you say so. You have lived
long with me; you have hunted for me; but
your treaty says you must be free. If you
choose to go with people of your own color I
have no right to say a word ; but if you choose
to stay with me your people have no right to
speak. Now reflect on it and take your choice
and tell us as soon as you make up your mind. '
"I was silent for a few minutes, in which
time I seemed to think of most everything. I
thought of the children I had just left crying;
I thought of the Indians I was attached to,
and I thought of my people whom I remem-
bered ; and this latter thought predominated,
and I said, 'I will go with my kin.' He then
sank back in tears to his seat. I heartily
joined with him in his tears, parted with him,
and have never seen or heard of him since."
On his return from his captivity, Brickell
settled in Columbus, and became one of her
esteemed citizens. Not every father or foster
164
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
165
father of the Caucasian race treats his son
with such marked affection, or regrets parting
so sincerely as did this simple, unlettered red
man of the wilderness.
Another captive of the Indians in North-
west Ohio was a man named Crow, but whose
real name proved to be Jacob Knisely. He
was stolen by the Wyandots on the Loyal
Hannah, in Pennsylvania, and given to the
Srtiecas, who adopted him. The prisoner was
stated all about the manner of the stealing
of his son, and said he had now visited all
the lodges of the other tribes without success.
.My grandfather had been with the Senecas
so much that he spoke their language quite
fluently. He was one of the few who made
their escape at the massacre of Wyoming.
"They talked a long time. Crow did not
want to talk; denied every recollection of his
white ancestry, and often refused to give any
INDIAN PORTAGE
about two or three years old when he was
thus forcibly abducted. The parents were
away from home at the time, and the older
children were gathering berries, some distance
away. The savages succeeded in escaping
with the child unobserved. An old Seneca
County pioneer speaks of Crow's decision to
remain with his captives as follows:
"When Crow's father came to hunt him
up, he stopped at Crow's, and sent for my
grandfather to come and interpret the con-
versation. Crow could not talk English. So
I went along and heard all that was said. He
answer. Finally Mr. Knisely said to him:
' If you are my son, then your name is Jacob. '
With this Crow jumped up and said, 'That is
my name, and I am your son ; I recollect that,
but I kept it all to myself for fear that some-
body would claim me and take me away.'
Crow then sent up to the Wyandots and had
his foster-mother come down, who corrobo-
rated Mr. Knisely 's version of the stealing of
his child. She was a very old squaw, and
stayed several days, and as long as Mr.
Knisely stayed, to satisfy herself that Crow
would not go back with his father. Mr.
166
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Kniscly tried every way to induce his son to
go back with him to Pennsylvania ; he said
that his wife had been sick some time ; that
she had mourned for her lost child some fifty
years, and would be willing to die if she could
only once more see her dear boy. The scene
was very affecting; but Crow was immovable.
He said he had now a family of his own to
look after and could not go, but promised to
visit his parents some other time. He laughed
heartily over the idea as to how he would look
dressed up like a white man. Mr. Knisely
left one morning, and Crow accompanied his
father as far as Bellevue, where they stayed
together all night. Crow returned next day,
and when the Indians started for their new
homes in the West he went with them. He
never went to see his parents at all. Crow
got his share in the treaties with the Wyan-
dots, as well as with the Senecas, and became
quite well off. Crow's first wife was a full
blood Indian ; his second wife was a daughter
of William Spicer. "
The Indian is an anomalous character, just
as is his white brother. There are many in-
consistencies in his make-up ; but has he more
of these contrarieties than his successor ? The
Russian has a reputation for cruelty and hard-
heartedness almost unsurpassed. And yet,
there is not a kinder dispositioned and more
charitable individual in the world than the
Russian peasant. In that most despotic coun-
try, with autocracy as its cornerstone, we find
the most democratic institution in the world
— the village commune. This is only one of
the paradoxes that one will find among the
Caucasians. Neither the Teuton nor the Latin
nor the Anglo-Saxon is exempt from such
characteristics. The Great War has again res-
urrected the supposedly latent cruelties of
all. Therefore do not expect to find uniform-
ity or conformity among the tribes or the
individuals of the aborigines.
We get a description of the character of
those aborigines who either roamed or dwelt
along the Maumee, and who were very like all
the others of the period, together with the
trials and discouragements attending the ef-
forts of the missionaries among them, from
the few pages that have been preserved of th«
journal kept by Reverend McCurdy, a mis-
sionary along the Maumee :
"They (the aborigines) have been collect-
ing for ten days past (1808) from different
places and tribes, and this is to be the week
of their Great Council. Hundreds more are
yet expected. The plains are now swarming
with them, and they appear to be full of dev-
ilish festivity, although they can scarcely col-
lect as much of any kind of vegetables as will
allay the imperious demands of nature. They
are here almost every hour begging for bread,
milk, meat, melons, or cucumbers ; and if they
can get no better, they will eat a ripe cucum-
ber with as little ceremony as a hungry swine.
And, notwithstanding this state of outward
wretchedness and these mortifying circum-
stances, they are swollen with pride, and will
strut about and talk with an air as super-
cilious as the Great Mogul. Their ceremonies,
also, are -conducted with as much pomposity
as if they were individually Napoleons or
Alexanders.
"Their houses, when they have any, are
wretched huts, almost as dirty as they can be,
and swarming with fleas and lice. Their fur-
niture, a few barks, a tin or brass kettle, a
gun, pipe, knife and tomahawk. Their stock
are principally dogs. Of these they have
large numbers, but they are mere skeletons,
the very picture of distress. These unhappy
people appear to have learned all the vices of
a number of miserable white men, who have
fled to these forests to escape the vengeance
of the law, or to acquire property in a way
almost infinitely worse than that of highway-
men. They are so inured to white men of
this description that it is next to impossible
to make them believe you design to do them
good, or that your object is not eventually to
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
167
cheat, them. It is vain to reason with them.
Their minds (in- too dark to perceive its force,
or their suspicions l>ar them against any fa-
vorable conclusions. Such is their ingrati-
tude, that whilst you load them with favors
they will reproach you to your face, and con-
st rue your benevolent intentions and actions
into intentional fraud or real injury. They
will lie in the most deliberate manner and to
answer any selfish purpose. They will not
bear contradiction, but will take the liberty
to contradict others in the most impudent and
illiberal manner.''
Until the coming of the white man, rela-
tions among the various tribes were of the
most primitive nature. They did not even
have any money. To them wampum served
the purpose of a medium of exchange. But
it was far more than money ; wampum was an
article much in use among many tribes, not
only for ornament and as a badge of wealth
and position, but for the graver purposes of
councils, treaties, and embassies. It might
be used as an invitation to war, or as an
emblem of peace and good will. In ancient
times, it consisted of the small shells of mol-
lusks, or fragments of shells, rudely perfo-
rated and strung together in the form of
cylinders ^8 of an inch or more in diameter,
and from !/4 to Vfc an iQCn in length. This
was done by rubbing them on stones of vary-
ing roughness, and the process required con-
siderable skill as well as a great deal of
patience and time. The strings were generally
somewhat uniform in size. Sections of bones
and the claws and beaks of birds, as well as
teeth, also were used as wampum. More re-
cently, however, it was manufactured by the
white men from the inner portion of certain
marine and fresh-wrater shells. In shape the
grains or beads resembled small pieces of
broken pipe stem, and were of various sizes
and colors, black, purple, and white. When
used for ornament, they were arranged fan-
cifully in necklaces, collars, and embroidery;
but when employed for public purposes, they
were disposed in a great variety of patterns
and devices, which, to the minds of the In-
dians, had all the significance of hieroglyphics.
An Indian orator, at every clause of his
speech, delivered a belt or string of wampum,
varying in size, according to the importance
of what he had said, and with its figures and
coloring so arranged as to perpetuate the re-
membrance of his words. These belts were
carefully stored up like written documents,
and it was generally the office of some old
man in the tribe to interpret their meaning.
When a wampum belt was sent to summon
the tribes to join in war, its color was always
red or black, while the prevailing color of a
peace belt was white. Tobacco was sometimes
used on such occasions as a substitute for wam-
pum, since, in their councils, the Indians are
in the habit of constantly smoking, and to-
bacco is therefore taken as the emblem of
deliberation. With the tobacco, or the belt of
wampum, presents are not infrequently sent
to conciliate the good will of the tribe whose
alliance is sought.
INDIAN CHIEFS
There were many noted chiefs in Northwest
Ohio, and some have been given mention else-
where in this work. One of the most eminent
was Blue Jacket, who led the Indians at the
battle of Fallen Timbers. The American cap-
tive, Oliver M. Spencer, with his captor's
mother, visited Chief Blue Jacket, on the 21st
of July, 1792, at his village on the north bank
of the Maumee, 1% miles below the court-
house of the present City of Defiance. He
afterward wrote of his visit, and of the noted
chief and his visitors, as follows :
"We were kindly received by Waw-paw-
waw-quaw (his captor) whose wife, a very
pleasant and rather pretty woman of twenty-
five, according to custom set before us some
refreshment consisting of dried green corn
168
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
boiled with beans and dried pumpkins, mak-
ing, as I thought, a very excellent dish. After
spending a few hours with his family, we went
to pay our respects to the village chief, the
celebrated Blue Jacket. This chief was the
most noble in appearance of any aborigine I
ever saw. His person, about six feet high,
was finely proportioned, and stout and mus-
cular; his eyes large, bright and piercing;
his forehead high and broad; his nose aqui-
line ; his mouth rather wide ; his countenance
open and intelligent, expressive of firmness
and decision. He was considered one of the
most brave and accomplished of the aborigine
chiefs, second only to Little Turtle and Buck-
on-ge-ha-la, having signalized himself on
many occasions, particularly in the defeats
of Colonel Hardin and General St. Glair. He
held the commission, and received the half
pay, of a brigadier-general from the British
crown.
"On this day, while receiving a visit from
the Snake, chief of a neighboring Shawnee
village, and from Simon Girty, he was dressed
in a scarlet frock coat, richly laced with gold
and confined around his waist with a parti-
colored sash, and in red leggings and mocca-
sins ornamented in the highest style of abo-
rigine fashion. On his shoulders he wore a
pair of gold epauletts and on his arm silver
bracelets, while from his neck hung a massive
silver gorget and a medallion of his majesty
George III. Around his lodge were hung
rifles, war clubs, bows and arrows, and other
implements of war; while the skins of deer,
bear, panther, and otter, spoils of the chase,
furnished pouches for tobacco, and mats for
seats and beds. His wife was a remarkably
fine looking woman. His daughters, much
fairer than the generality of aborigine women,
were quite handsome ; and his two sons, about
eighteen and twenty years old, educated by
the British, were intelligent."
Blue Jacket's home after the Greenville
Treaty was at Wapakoneta. He was engaged
in the liquor traffic for a number of years,
or until about 1825. He and The Prophet
and a few other Shawnees then emigrated to
Missouri and joined the Shawnees there.
Nothing is known of his history after that
time. His son, James Blue Jacket, continued
in the sale of whisky until the removal of the
tribe to the West.
The figure which stands out most promi-
nently on the canvas of Northwest Ohio among
the Indians is Meshekenoghqua, or the Little
Turtle, chief of the Miamis. This name was
not given the chief because of his stature, for
he was nearly six feet in height. As a war-
rior, the Little Turtle was bold, sagacious, and
resourceful, and lie was not only respected
by his people, but their feeling almost ap-
proached veneration. When fully convinced
that all resistance to the encroaching whites
was in vain, Little Turtle brought his nation
to consent to peace and to adopt agricultural
pursuits. Few indeed are the Indian leaders
who accomplished so much in abolishing the
rite of human sacrifice among their people.
He became very popular and highly esteemed
by the whites, among whom he was known as
a man whose word could he depended upon.
Furthermore, he was endowed with unusual
wit, enjoyed good company, and was still
fonder of good eating. During the presi-
dency of Washington he visited that great
man at the capitol, and during his whole life
thereafter spoke of the pleasure which that
visit afforded him.
Col. John Johnson speaks of the Little Tur-
tle in the highest terms. He was, says he, ' ' A
companionable Indian. Little Turtle was a
man of great wit, humor and vivacity, fond
of the company of gentlemen, and delighted
in good eating. When I knew him he had
two wives living with him under the same
roof in the greatest harmony ; one, an old
woman about his own age — fifty — the choice
of his youth, who performed the drudgery
of the house, the other a young and beautiful
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
169
creature of eighteen, who was his favorite;
yet it was never discovered by any one that
the least unkind feeling existed between
them. The Little Turtle used to entertain us
with many of his war adventures." Thirty
years after the Treaty of Greenville he died
at Fort Wayne, of gout ( ! ) , which would
seem a marvelous fact did we not remember
that the Turtle was a high liver, and a gen-
tleman; equally remarkable was it that his
body was borne to the grave with military
honors by his great enemy, the white man.
The muffled drum, the funeral salute, an-
nounced that a great soldier had fallen, and
even enemies paid their mournful tribute to
liis memory. The sun of Indian glory set
with him ; the clouds and shadows, which for
200 .years had gathered around their destiny,
now closed in the starless night of death.
The chief Catahecassa, or Blackhoof, died
at Wapakoneta, shortly previous to their re-
moval, at the alleged age of one hundred and
ten years. Among the celebrated chiefs of
the Shawnees, Blackhoof is entitled to the
highest rank. He was born in Florida, before
the emigration of that tribe to Ohio, and was
old enough to recollect having bathed in the
salt water. He was present with others of
his tribe at the disastrous defeat of Brad-
dock, near Pittsburg, in 1755, and was en-
gaged in all the wars against the whites in
Ohio, from that time until the Treaty of
Greenville in 1795. Far and wide had the
reputation of this great Shawnee warrior
spread among the red men, for his cunning
and sagacity were only equaled by the fierce
and desperate bravery with which he carried
into operation his military plans. Like the
other Shawnee chiefs, he was the unyielding
foe of the white man. He maintained that
no peace should be made nor any negotiation
entered into except on the condition that the
whites should withdraw to the Ohio and re-
cross the mountains, leaving the expansive
plains of the West to the undisputed occu-
pancy of the native tribes. He was the orator
of his tribe during the greater part of his
long life, and was an excellent speaker. The
venerable Colonel Johnston, so frequently
mentioned in these papers, described him as
the most graceful Indian he had ever seen.
Although a stern and uncompromising op-
position to the whites had marked Blackhoof 's
policy through a series of forty years, and
had nerved his arm in a hundred battles, he
became at length convinced of the futility of
an ineffectual strength against a foe so vastly
superior and whose members were increasing
daily. The temporary success of the Indians
in several engagements, previous to the mem-
orable campaign of General Wayne, had kept
alive the expiring hopes of the savages. Their
signal defeat by that gallant officer, however,
convinced the more reflecting of their leaders
of the desperate and futile character of the
struggle. Blackhoof was among those who
decided upon making the best terms possible
with the victorious Americans. Having signed
the treaty of 1795, he continued faithful to
its stipulations during the remainder of his
life. From that day he ceased to be the enemy
of his former adversaries. As he was not one
who could assume a negative and inactive
character, he was transformed into the firm
ally and friend of those against whom his
tomahawk had been raised for so many years
with murderous intent. It was not from sym-
pathy or conviction that he became their
friend, but in obedience to a recognized neces-
sity, and under a belief that submission alone
could save his tribe from destruction. Hav-
ing adopted this policy, his sagacity and sense
of honor alike forbade a recurrence either to
open war or secret hostility.
At the period when Tecumseh and his
brother, The Prophet, commenced their hos-
tile operations against the United States,
Blackhoof was the principal chief of the
Shawnee nation, and possessed all the influ-
ence and authority which are usually attached
170
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to that office. Nevertheless, he continued
faithful to the treaty which he had signed at
Greenville in 1795, and by prudence and judi-
cious counsel prevented the greater part of
his tribe from joining the standard of Tecum-
seh, or engaging on the side of the British in
the War of 1812. In that contest he became
the firm ally of the young republic and, al-
though he took no active part in it, he visited
General Tupper's camp, at Fort Me Arthur.
About 10 o'clock one night, when sitting by
the fire in company with that general and sev-
eral other officers, someone discharged a pistol
through a hole in the wall of the hut and shot
the Shawnee chieftain in the face. The ball
entered the cheek, and finally lodged in his
neck. Blackhoof fell, and for some time was
supposed to be dead, but finally revived and
fully recovered from this painful wound.
Prompt and diligent inquiry was instituted
to discover the author of this cruel and das-
tardly act, but all efforts failed to lead to his
detection. No doubt was entertained that this
attempt at assassination was made by a white
man, who was stimulated, perhaps, by no bet-
ter excuse than the memory of some actual or
imagined wrong inflicted by the unknown
hand of some red savage.
Blaekhoof was opposed to polygamy, and
to the barbarous practice of burning prison-
ers. He is reported to have lived forty years
with one wife, and to have reared a numerous
family of children, who both loved and
esteemed him. His disposition was cheerful,
and his conversation sprightly and agreeable.
In stature he was small, being not more than
5 feet 8 inches in height. He was favored
with good health, and unimpaired eyesight to
the period of his death. This is the testimony
of a contemporaneous writer.
Another of the noted chiefs of the Shawnees
was Pht, which is pronounced Pe-aich-ta.
While the council house at Shawneetown was
being built in 1831, but not completed, his
cabin stood but a few rods northwest of the
new building. Here the chief, after a long
sickness, died, and was buried only a short
time before the removal of the Hog Creek
Indians to Kansas. He was buried near his
cabin in his garden. A large concourse of
Shawnees were present at his funeral, and
many little trinkets were deposited with his
body. After the burial, according to the
ancient custom, the Shawnees slaughtered a
beef, cooked and prepared the meat, and held
a sort, of feast.
Peter Cornstalk, a son of the old chief of
that name, who was at Point Pleasant, is noted
among the Indians of this Northwest Ohio.
He fought in the three great battles of the
Maumee basin, but after that of Fallen Tim-
ber he decided that further resistance was
useless. He and his tribe settled on the east
bank of the Auglaize River, about two miles
below Wapakoneta, where he resided until his
tribe was moved to Kansas by the Govern-
ment. He encouraged the cultivation of the
soil more than any of the other chiefs, and
his people became quite prosperous. When
the Indians removed to the West, he was
eighty-two years of age. There was a tra-
dition in circulation for many years that
Cornstalk died and was buried near Wapa-
koneta, at his old village. As a matter of fact,
he lived until about the year 1845, and was
interred at the Quaker Cemetery, near the
Kansas River.
Among the chiefs of the Senecas, after their
contract with the whites, Hard Hickory was
the leading spirit. He was a leader of no
ordinary caliber, for he was possessed of pol-
ished manners, which are seldom seen in an
Indian. He spoke the French language quite
fluently, and the English in a fairly intelli-
gible way. He was an ardent friend of the
whites, but, by scrupulously adhering to the
custom of his people, he endeared himself to
them as well. The white merchants reposed
implicit trust in him, and whenever Hard
Hickory assumed responsibility for goods pur-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
171
chased, no other security was required. With
all his good traits, however, Hard Hickory
finally lost his reputation as an honest man.
He first became MII i'inl)c//ler and then a liar,
as many white men have done under the same
circumstances, some of whom have lived to
enjoy their ill-gotten gains. An annuity of
$6,000 was due from the State of New York
to certain families of ( 'uyahogas, to which
tribe Hard Hickory belonged. This annuity
had been regularly paid, up to the time of
their removal to the Sandusky region. In
1834 this annuity arrived in the form of a
draft, and Hard Hickory was delegated to
go to Fort Gibson to get the money, together
with George Herrin, the interpreter. After
receiving it, Hard Hickory proposed to Her-
rin a trip to Washington to look after the
business of the tribe.
For a month Hard Hickory and the inter-
preter reveled in all the luxuries and dissipa-
tion of the capital city. When they finally
determined to return home, the Indians re-
quested the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
to reimburse them for the money expended,
which was promptly refused. On arriving
home, the annuity was practically exhausted.
When summoned to make an accounting to
his people, Hard Hickory at first attempted
to say that something was wrong with the
draft which compelled him to go to Washing-
ton, and that the money, all in silver, would
arrive soon. Doubting this rather plausible
statement, they dispatched a messenger to
Fort Gibson to investigate the truth. When
it was learned that the money had been paid,
a solemn council of the tribe was held. Hard
Hickory appeared and confessed his guilt.
The penitent chief threw himself upon the
mercy of his people, offering to surrender all
his horses and other property as an indem-
nity. In spite of this, he was condemned to
die. This fate seemed cruel and unmerited,
ev.-u to the stoical chief. For several days
he confined himself in his house, heavily armed
to resist the execution of the sentence. At
length an Indian by the name of Shane went
to the cabin and besought admittance. As he
was alone, this request was irrantdl. Shane
wore a blanket, and when Hard Hickory held
out his right hand in welcome, Shane drew
a knife and thrust it through the l>ody. He
was then dragged out of doors, where several
other Indians stabbed and tomahawked him.
Thus perished in ignominy a chief who had
acquired the respect of his white neighbors.
One of the most distinguished Delaware
chieftains of Northwest Ohio was Buckonga-
helas, although this name is spelled in various
ways by different writers. He was so active
in the War of 1755 that the government of
Pennsylvania offered a reward of $700 for his
head and that of one other chief. He was
looked upon as "the greatest Delaware war-
rior of his time," according to Heckewelder.
Shortly after the Bouquet's expedition to the
Muskingum, Buckongahelas moved west and
settled on the Maumee River. A little later
he moved up the Auglaize River and located
at Ottawa Town, near Fort Amanda. He and
his tribes participated in the battles against
Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne. He was a
really noble adversary, and it is said that
he took no delight in the shedding of blood.
He had been so much under the influence of
the Moravian ministers that he might almost
be termed a civilized man. In 1792, when
Colonel Hardin, Major Truman, and several
others were sent by President Washington
with a flag of truce to the Indians of the West,
they were captured and all of them mur-
dered excepting William Smalley, who was
conducted to Buckongahelas. This chief
showed him great consideration. He rebuked
the Indians for their atrocities, and protected
Smalley with a guard, so that no harm could
befall him. It is said that the conduct of the
British at the battle of Fallen Timbers
estranged him from the former allies, and
from that time he remained a friend of the
172
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Americans. He was one of the chiefs who
signed the Greenville Treaty, and all treaties
for a decade thereafter until his death, late
in the fall of 1804. At this time he is sup-
posed to have been over one hundred years
old.
INDIAN HONOR
In the pioneer annals of Northwest Ohio
the name of Capt. John Logan, a Shawnee
warrior, should be written in a conspicuous
place. His mother is said to have been a
sister of Tecumseh. When a boy this Shaw-
nee lad had been taken prisoner by some Ken-
tuckians, and had lived for several years with
the family of General Logan. Hence he re-
ceived the name of Logan, to which the title
of "Captain" was eventually attached. For
a time he was sent to school, and was then
given his liberty. Although he returned to
his people, he ever remained a true friend
of the whites who had treated him so kindly.
His Indian name was She-ma-ge-la-be, "the
High Horn." He subsequently rose to the
rank of a civil chief, in his tribe, on account
of his many estimable intellectual and moral
qualities. His personal appearance was com-
manding, being six feet in height, and weigh-
ing near 200 pounds. He kept his followers
loyal to the United States, and fought on their
side with constancy and fidelity.
When General Harrison reached Piqua, on
September 5, 1812, he requested Colonel
Johnson to furnish him some reliable spies.
It was then that Captain Logan entered the
service of the American commander. In No-
vember of that year, Harrison directed Logan
to take a small party of his tribe, and recon-
noitre the country in the direction of the rap-
ids of the Maumee. When near their destina-
tion, the three scouts were met by a body of
the enemy, superior to their own in number,
and compelled to retreat. Logan, Captain
Johnny, and Bright Horn effected their es-
cape to the left wing of the army, then under
the command of General Winchester, who was
duly informed of the circumstances of their
adventure. A thoughtless officer of the Ken-
tucky troops, without the slightest ground for
such a charge, accused Logan of infidelity to
the American cause, and of giving intelli-
gence to the enemy. Wounded to the quick
by this foul accusation, the red man at once
resolved to meet it in a manner that would
leave no doubt as to his loyalty. He called
upon a friend among the troops, and told him
of the imputation that had been cast upon
his reputation. He declared that he would
start from the camp next morning, and either
leave his body bleaching in the woods, or
return with such trophies from the enemy as
would relieve his character from the suspicion
that had been so wantonly cast upon it.
"Accordingly, on the morning of the 22d,"
so runs the account, "he started down the
Maumee, attended by his two faithful com-
panions, Captain Johnny and Bright Horn.
About noon, having stopped for the purpose
of taking rest, they were suddenly surprised
by a party of seven of the enemy, among
whom were young Elliott, a half-breed, hold-
ing a commission in the British service, and
the celebrated Potawatomie chief, Winnemac.
Logan made no resistance, but, with great
presence of mind, extending his hand to Win-
nemac, who was an old acquaintance, pro-
ceeded to inform him that he and his two
companions, tired of the American service,
were just leaving Gen. Winchester's army, for
the purpose of joining the British. Winne-
mac, being familiar with Indian strategy, was
not satisfied with this declaration, but pro-
ceeded to disarm Logan and his comrades,
rades, and placing his party around them, so
as to prevent their escape, started for the
British camp at the foot of the rapids. In the
course of the afternoon Logan's address was
such as to inspire confidence in his sincerity,
and induce Winnemac to restore to him and
his companions their arms. Logan now formed
the plan of attacking his captors on the first
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
173
favorable opportunity, and while marching
along succeeded in communicating the sub-
stance of it to Captain Johnny and Bright
Horn. Their guns being already loaded, they
li;i.d little further preparation to make than
to put bullets into their mouths, to facilitate
the reloading of their arms. In carrying on
this process Captain Johnny, as he afterwards
related, fearing that the man marching by
his side had observed the operation, adroitly
did away the impression by remarking 'Me
chaw heap tobac.'
"The evening being now at hand, the Brit-
ish Indians determined to encamp on the bank
of Turkey foot creek, about twenty miles
from Port Winchester. Confiding in the idea
that Log-an had really deserted the American
service, a part of his captors rambled around
the place of their encampment in search of
blackhaws. They were no sooner out of sight
than Logan gave the signal of attack upon
those who remained behind ; they fired, and
two of the enemy fell dead — the third, being
only wounded, required a second shot to dis-
patch him ; and in the mean time the remain-
der of the party, who were near by, returned
the fire, all of them 'treed.' There being
four of the enemy, and only three of Logan 's
party, the latter could not watch all the move-
ments of their antagonists. During an active
fight, the fourth man of the enemy passed
around until Logan was uncovered by his
tree, and shot him through the body. By this
time Logan's party had wounded two of the
surviving four, which caused them to fall
back. Taking advantage of this state of
things, Captain Johnny mounted Logan, now
suffering the pain of a mortal wound, and
Bright Horn, also wounded, on two of the
enemy's horses, and started them for Win-
chester's camp, which they reached about
midnight. When the news of this gallant
affair had spread through the camp, and espe-
cially after it was known that Logan was mor-
tally wounded, it created a deep and mourn-
ful sensation. No one, it is believed, more
deeply regretted the fatal catastrophe than
the author of the charge upon Logan's integ-
rity, which had led to this unhappy result."
Logan's popularity was very great, and he
was almost universally esteemed in the army
for his fidelity to the American cause, his rec-
ognized bravery, and the nobleness of his
nature. He lived two or three days after
reaching camp, but in extreme bodily agony.
PI is body was borne by the soldiers to Wapa-
koneta, where his family lived, and there he
was buried with mixed military honors and
savage rites. Previous to his death he related
the particulars of this fatal enterprise to a
friend, declaring to him that he prized his
honor more than life. Having now vindicated
his reputation from the imputation cast upon
it, he died satisfied. It would be difficult, in
the history of savage warfare, to point out an
enterprise the execution of which reflects
higher credit upon its authors than does this
incident upon Logan and his two companions.
"Indeed, a spirit even less indomitable, a
sense of honor less acute, and a patriotic de-
votion to a good cause less active than were
manifested by this gallant chieftain of the
woods, might under other circumstances have
well conferred immortality upon his name."
In the treaty of 1817, the grant of land was
made to Logan's family, in the following
words: "To the children of the late Shaw-
nee chief, Captain Logan or Spa-ma-ge-la-be,
who fell in the service of the United States
during the late war, one section of land to
contain six hundred and forty acres on the
east side of the Great Au Glaise River adjoin-
ing the lower line of the grant of ten miles at
Wapakoneta and the said river. ' ' Logan made
the request that the money due him for serv-
ices should be used for the removal of his
family to Kentucky, where his children might
be educated like the whites. The tribe to
which he belonged, however, refused to give
them up. and they disappeared behind the
veil that obscures the fate of the red men of
the forest.
CHAPTER XVI
THE WYANDOTS
When Samuel de Charaplain journeyed
across Canada to Lake Huron, in 1615, he
found numerous villages of the powerful
tribe known to the French as the Hurons.
Along and near Georgian Bay was the ancient
country of this virile tribe. They were a
progressive people for savages, for some of
their towns were fortified in an effective way
against the offensive weapons of that day.
They likewise showed their progressiveness
by cultivating more of the soil than the other
aborigines. This was probably necessary in
a measure, because game was scarcer in the
Huron country than elsewhere. In respect to
the arts of life, they were in advance over the
wandering hunters of the North and West.
Their women made a species of earthen pot
for cooking, wove rush mats for domestic use,
and spun twine from hemp. The surplus
products they bartered with the neighboring
tribes.
The Hurons were divided into several
branches, of which one was known as the
Tionnoulates, or Tobacco Nation, because
they cultivated this plant and trafficked it
among the other tribes. They were not pure
Hurons, but had become confederated with
them. The downfall of the Hurons came
about through the inveterate hostility of the
Iroquois, of which fierce family the Hurons
were also members. After the Hurons had
welcomed the French and adopted many
things from them, and several Jesuit missions
had been established among them, the Iro-
quois tribes, known as the Five Nations, be-
came even more vindictive. War party after
war party made hostile expeditions against
them. Toward their brethren they seemed to
bear:
' ' In their faces stern defiance,
In their hearts the feuds of ages,
The hereditary hatred,
The ancestral threat of vengeance. ' '
It was in the year 1649, in the depth of
winter, that the Iroquois warriors invaded
the country of the Hurons, and stormed their
largest villages. Indiscriminate slaughter fol-
lowed, and the survivors fled in terror.
Finally there was not a single Huron left
alive in their ancient domain. The victors
burned their huts, palisades, and villages.
Some of the refugees sought refuge among
other tribes, especially the Senecas and Eries.
Many were carried off as captives. The To-
bacco Nation held its ground longer than any
other, but they also were compelled at length
to flee. They made their way northward to
the Island of Michilimackinac (Mackinac),
where they were joined by the Ottawas and
some other Algonquins. After several years
they took possession of some islands in Green
Bay, on Lake Michigan. Even here in this
remote place their inveterate enemy followed
them. They migrated west as far as the
Mississippi, but were forced northward by
the hostility of the Sioux, to Lake Superior.
From there they gradually retreated to De-
troit and Sandusky, where they lived under
the name of Wyandots. Thus it appears that
the Wyandots, whose name is so conspicuous
in our Ohio history, are descendants of the
174
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
175
Ancient Hurons. They were the most pow-
erful Indian nation resident in Northwestern
Ohio at the incoming of the white race.
The French name for the Wyandots is per-
petuated in Lake Huron, and in various other
ways. When the French first settled in Can-
ada, it was by their permission. Their tradi-
tions alleged that their war with the Illinois
lasted seventy summers; that it was a severe
conflict, and was characterized by dreadful
scenes of blood and carnage. So far as his-
tory and their traditions inform us, they were
the proprietors of all the country from Mack-
inac to Quebec; from Georgian Bay down to
the Great Miami River; and to the northwest
it extended to Lake Michigan. They were
then a numerous, bold, and warlike people,
and were considered the strongest and oldest
tribe of all the northern Indians. For that
reason they were called the ' ' Grand Fathers. ' '
All the surrounding tribes looked to them
for counsel. Their decisions were respected,
and, in most cases, were final. They bore an
active part on the side of the French in the
war which ended in the subjugation of Can-
ada, and were the most formidable of the
enemies of the British in the conspiracy under
Pontiac.
According to their traditions, when the
whites came, it had been about 200 years since
the nation was divided. Before that time,
one of their most venerable chiefs used to say,
that when the warriors of their nation were
called upon to put each one grain of corn
into a wooden tray that would hold more than
half a bushel, the tray was full and running
over before all had done so. But now, like
many other mighty nations of the days gone
by, they have vanished into the shades of for-
getfulness, and another race, with its teem-
ing millions, is filling up the whole extent
of their vast possessions. Their history, like
themselves, too, is almost extinct. Little is
left to tell of the deeds of valor, or the mighty
achievements of these heroes of the forest
A few only of their children now remain, pent
up on a small reservation, and these are, in
many instances, dwindling away under the
vices of a Christian and civilized people.
The great body of the Wyaudot nation
continued for a long time to occupy a portion
of their old hunting grounds, with their prin-
cipal headquarters in the neighborhood of
Detroit. About the time of the American
conquests, however, this was removed to the
region of the Sandusky River. Here they re-
mained until their final removal west of the
Missouri River, where a small fragment yet
remains. While the Wyandots adhered to-
gether, they were a terror to all the surround-
ing tribes. They assisted in driving the Sacs
and Foxes and the Sioux tribes west of the
"Father of Waters." They also engaged in
long and bloody battles with the Cherokees in
Kentucky. It is well known tfyat the rich lands
of Kentucky and the valley of the Ohio were
never the permanent home of Indian tribes,
but were the common hunting ground of the
southern and northern tribes, which were con-
stantly warring on each other. Each party
hunted there at the greatest hazard. When
William Wells was asked by General Wayne
to go to Sandusky and capture an Indian, he
replied: "I can capture one from any other
tribe, but a Wyandot will never be taken
alive."
At the time of the settlement of North-
west Ohio, the Wyandots were admitted to be
the leading nation among the Indian tribes
of the Northwest. This was not because of
numbers, but for the reason that they were
more intelligent and more civilized in their
manner of life. To them was entrusted the
Grand Calumet, which united the Indians in
that territory into a confederacy for mutual
protection. They were authorized to assemble
the tribes in council, and to kindle the coun-
cil fires. The signature of Tarhe, the Crane,
is the first signature under that of General
Wayne in the Treaty of Greenville. The name
176
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Wyandot is the auglicized form for Owendots,
or Yendats. They were divided into tribes
or totemic clans, and their head chief was
taken from the Deer Tribe until the battle
of Fallen Timbers. This tribe was so deci-
mated at that battle that the chief thereafter
was selected from the Porcupine Tribe. The
descent always followed in the female line.
Thus the far famed Tarhe and his successor,
De-un-quot, were of this tribe, or clan. The
head chief had the power to appoint a council
chief for himself, who was thereupon known
as the "little chief." Each village, as well
as hunting or war party, also had its chief,
and some of them had great influence. If
good and wise men, their advice was usually
taken.
The Wyandots were always a humane and
hospitable nation. This is clearly manifested
in permitting their former enemies to settle
on their lands, when driven back before the
advancing white population. They kindly
received the homeless or exiled Senecas, Cay-
ugas, Mohegans, Mohawks, Delawares, and
Shawnees, and spread a deerskin for them to
sit down upon. They allotted a certain por-
tion of their country, the boundary of which
was designated by certain rivers, or points
on certain lakes, to these outcasts, which was
freely given for their use, without money and
without price. This fact was clearly devel-
oped when the different tribes came to sell
their lands to the Government. The Wyan-
dots pointed out these bounds, and Between-
the-Logs, a distinguished chief, said that the
Senecas on the Sandusky River had no right
to sell their land without the consent of the
Wyandot chiefs, for they at first borrowed it
from them.
Although never behind other tribes in their
wars against the whites, they were far more
merciful toward their prisoners. They not
only saved the lives of most prisoners taken
by them, but they likewise purchased many
captives from other tribes. Thus they became
allied with some of the best families in this
and other states. The Browns, an old Vir-
ginia family, the Zanes, another well-known
family, the Walkers of Tennessee, the Arm-
strongs and Magees, of Pittsburgh, were all
represented in the tribe. Robert Armstrong,
who was one of the best interpreters in Fin-
ley 's time, had been captured near Pittsburgh
when only four years old. He was adopted
into the Turtle Tribe and named 0-no-ran-
do-roh, and married a half-breed squaw.
Like most Indians, the Wyandot warriors
spent their time in hunting and trapping.
Their winter hunting camps were fairly com-
fortable places. They were constructed of
poles closely laid together, and the cracks were
stopped with moss from old logs. The roof
was covered with bark, a hole being left in
the center for the smoke to escape. The fire
was built in the center, while around three
sides were arranged the beds. These were
elevated from the floor a few inches by short
chunks of wood laid on the ground. The
wood was covered with bark upon which skins
were spread, and these were overlaid with
blankets or furs. The beds also served for
seats. The camps were always pitched in bot-
toms, where the pasture was fine for horses
and water convenient. Chickens were taken
with them to these camps for the sake of the
eggs.
Bear hunting was the favorite sport of the
hunting parties. During the winter the bears
were generally hibernating, but one would
occasionally be discovered in a hollow tree.
When they found such a tree, they would ex-
amine the bark to see if one had ascended.
Their keen eyes would soon detect the
scratches of his claws upon the bark. It might
be 30 or 40 feet up to the entrance to his
winter dormitory. A sapling was quickly
felled against the tree and an agile hunter
would ascend. He would then cut a branch
and scrape the tree on the opposite side of the
hole, crying like a young bear. If a bear
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
177
was inside, he would either make a noLse or
romo nut. It' inside and he failed to appear,
a piece of rotten wood would be lighted and
dropped within. This would tire the tree.
It would not be long until Mr. or Mrs. Hear
appeared in great wrath, sneezing and whecx-
ing, and blinded by the smoke. A bullet or
arrow would quickly soothe their troubles.
They were also experts at trapping, and
especially at ensnaring the raccoon. When
other game was difficult to obtain, they sub-
sisted largely on these little furry animals.
"One man will have, perhaps, 300 raccoon
traps, scattered over a country ten miles in
extent. These traps are 'dead falls,' made
of saplings, and set over a log which lies
across some branch or creek, or that is by the
edge of some pond or marshy place. In the
months of February and March the raccoons
travel much, and frequent the ponds for the
purpose of catching frogs. When the raccoon
has taken a frog, he does not eat it immedi-
ately, but will carry it to some clean water
and wash it; then lay it down on the leaves,
and roll it hither and thither with his fore
feet, till it is entirely dead, and then he feasts
on his prey. The hunter generally gets round
all his traps twice a week, and hunts from one
to the other. I have known a hunter to take
from his traps thirty raccoons in two days,
and sometimes they take more. From 300 to
600 is counted a good hunt for one spring,
besides the deer, turkeys, and bears."
The Wyandot territory along the Sandusky
was a region filled with an abundance of the
sugar maple. The Wyandots understood the
art of making sugar from the sap of the
maples, and devoted themselves to this indus-
try for several weeks after the sap began to
run. They fashioned bark troughs, which
held a couple of gallons, for the trees that
they tapped, and larger troughs to hold the
collections. These were shaped like canoes.
They cut a long perpendicular groove, or
notch., in the tree, and at the bottom struck
Vol. T— 12
iii a tomahawk. This made a hole into which
they drove a long chip, down which the sap
flowed into the bark vessel. It was always
the duty of the women to make the sugar, as
well as to stretch the skins. As an instance
of life in a Wyandot camp, Reverend Finley
says:
"The morning was cold, and our course lay
through a deep forest. We rode hard, hoping
to make the camps before night, but such were
the obstructions we met with, from ice and
swamps, that it wras late when we arrived.
Weary with a travel of twenty-five miles or
more through the woods, without a path or a
blazed tree to guide us — and, withal, the day
was cloudy — we were glad to find a camp to
rest in. We were joyfully received by our
friends, and the women and children came
running to welcome us to their society and
fires. It was not long after we were seated
by the fire, till I heard the well-known voice
of Between-the-Logs. I went out of the camp,
and helped down with two fine deer. Soon
we had placed before us a kettle filled with
fat raccoons, boiled whole, after the Indian
style, and a pan of good sugar molasses.
These we asked our heavenly Father to bless,
and then each carved for himself, with a large
butcherknife. I took the hind-quarter of a
raccoon, and holding it by the foot, dipped
the other end in the molasses, and eat it off
with my teeth. Thus I continued dipping
and eating till I had pretty well finished the
fourth part of a large coon. By this time
my appetite began to fail me, and thought it
was a good meal, without bread, hominy, or
salt."
The Wyandot was the last Indian tribe to
be removed from Ohio. It therefore remained
longest on the borders of the incoming white
population. Many of this once noble tribe
therefore sank into degrading vice, becoming
among the worst as well as most ignoble and
worthless of their race. This is not very much
to the credit of the Caucasian, who should
178
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
have protected the weak aborigine and en-
deavored to show him a better life, instead of
trying to exploit him and enrich himself at
the expense of his weaknesses. The tribe num-
bered about 2,200 at the time of the Green-
ville treaty, including the men, women, and
children. From that time until their removal,
almost a half century later, they lost but few
men in battle. It is a fact, nevertheless, that
during these fifty years through drunkenness,
with its accompanying bloody brawls, and
other vices, the tribe was reduced to fewer
than half the original numbers.
The most noted and successful effort to ele-
vate the poor Wyandots to a better life was
through the missionary efforts of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, which maintained a
mission at Upper Sandusky for a number of
years. This mission was begun by John
Stewart, an ignorant mulatto, with a mixture
of Indian blood. Having become converted,
following a long debauch, he resolved to go
out into the wilderness and preach the gospel.
In his wanderings he reached Upper San-
dusky in 1816, and began to preach to the
Wyandots. In this he was aided by William
Walker, the Indian sub-agent. A colored
man, named Jonathan Pointer, living with the
Indians, became his interpreter, and at first
an unwilling one. Stewart was an excellent
singer, and he thus attracted the attention
of the red men, who dearly loved music. At
the first formal meeting, called at Pointer's
house, his audience was one old woman. On
the following day the same woman and an
old chief, named Big Tree, came. The follow-
ing day, which was the Sabbath, the meeting
was called at the council house, and eight or
ten Indians gathered. From this time the
congregation continued to increase, and many
songs were intermixed with the prayer and
exhortations. With this feature the Indians
were delighted. Mrs. William Walker, who
was half Wyandot, and a bright woman,
greatly assisted the struggling missionary in
his efforts at an uplift of a race rapidly be-
coming decadent. Stewart succeeded in awak-
ening an interest among many of the poor
benighted red men. But some of the chiefs
and many of the braves held back, and took
every pains to counteract this new religion,
which was only natural.
At an earlier period the Wyandots had been
under the spiritual instruction of Roman
Catholic priests. Some of the tribe went to
REV. JAMES B. FINLEY,
MISSIONARY TO THE WYANDOTS
Detroit and reported the work of the new
missionary. A priest told them that "none
had the true word of God, or Bible, but the
Catholics. ' ' Stewart was then accused of not
having the true Bible. It was finally agreed
to leave the question with William Walker,
Sr. A time was set when he was to examine
the two books in public. Deep interest was
manifest among the Indians. After some time
spent in the examination, he reported that
Stewart's Bible was a true one, and differed
from the Catholic Bible only in this particu-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
179
lar: One was printed in English and the
other in Latin. By this decision a serious
obstacle to Stewart's work was removed.
When he began work, Stewart was not a
licensed minister, but he was afterwards duly
ordained. The mission was taken over by the
Methodist Episcopal Chureh in August, 1819,
the first Indian mission of that denomination.
Stewart remained with the Wyandots until
his death from tubercular trouble on Decem-
ber 17, 1823. Other religions workers were
sent to assist him, and new converts were con-
tinually gained. Rev. James Montgomery
assisted in the work for a time, until he was
appointed a sub-agent to the Senecas. The
most noted missionary at this station was the
Rev. James B. Finley, who labored there a
number of years, and has left us his experi-
ences and observations in several interesting
books. He was also sub-agent for the Govern-
ment in its management of the secular affairs
of tin' tuition.1
A number of chiefs became converted and
developed into exemplary men. Between-the-
Logs and Mononcue were comparatively early
converts, and became licensed preachers.
They greatly endeared themselves to the
whites with whom they came in contact. One
of the chiefs, Scuteash, gave his testimony in
the following quaint way :
"I have been a great sinner and drunkard,
which made me commit many great crimes,
and the Great Spirit was very angry with me,
K that in here (pointing to his breast) I
always siek. No sleep — no eat — not walk —
drink whisky heap ; but I pray the Great
Spirit to help me quit getting drunk, and for-
give all my sins, and he did do something
for me. I do not know whence it comes, or
whither it goes. (Here he cried out, 'WTaugh!
!' as if shocked by electricity.) Now
1 M r. Finley in his ' ' Life Among the Indians ' '
relates many interesting experiences among the
Wyandots, and reveals many pleasing traits of their
character.
me no more sick — no more drink whisky — no
more get drunk-— me sleep — me eat — no more
bad man — me cry — rne meet you all in our
great Father's house above."
Another chief, De-un-quot, after whom a
village in Wyandot County is named, did not
have so much faith in the new religion.
"The head chief, De-un-quot, and his
party, at one time came on Sabbath to the
council-house, where we held our meetings,
dressed up and painted in real savage Indian
style, with their head bands filled with silver
bobs, their head-dress consisting of feathers
and painted horse hair. The chief had a half
moon of silver on his neck before and several
hangings on his back. He had nose-jewels
and earrings, and many bands of silver on his
arms and legs. Around his ankles hung many
buck-hoofs, to rattle when he walked. His
party were dressed in a similar style. The
likenesses of animals were painted on their
breasts and backs, and snakes on their arms.
When he came in, he addressed the congrega-
tion in Indian style, with a polite compli-
ment; and then taking his seat, struck fire,
took out his pipe, lighted it, and commenced
smoking. Others of his party followed his
example. I knew this was done by way of
opposition, and designed as an insult." Most
of the traders encouraged in every way oppo-
sition to the missionaries. A Christian In-
dian meant an abstainer, and that means loss
of trade.
The Wyandots were very emotional, and
were excellent singers. Some of their mem-
bers were prone to prolixity in speaking, and
"some times," said Mr. Finley, "they had to
choke them off. On one occasion I saw one
of the sisters get very much excited during
one of their meetings, when ' Between-the-
Logs,' an ordained minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, a native Wyandot, struck
up a tune and put her down. Then several
speakers spoke and without interruption.
'Between-the-Logs' followed them, and had
180
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
uttered but a few words, when the squelched
sister, who had a loud, ringing voice, began,
at the top of her register, singing —
"How happy are they
Who their Saviour obey."
" ' Between-the-Logs ' was, fairly drowned
out, aud took his seat, as much overcome by
the merriment as the music."
And yet with all their prejudices, the testi-
mony of the missionaries as to the disposition
of the Wyandots is most favorable. Says Mr.
Finley :
last mouthful, and give almost the last coin-
fort they have, to relieve the suffering. This
1 have often witnessed."
It was in August, 1821, that several of the
chiefs signed a petition requesting that a mis-
sionary school be established among them. For
that purpose they donated a section of land
at a place called "Camp Meigs," because
Governor Meigs had encamped there during
the late war, with the Ohio Militia. There-
upon Reverend Finley was appointed by the
conference a resident missionary and teacher.
Arduous work was ahead of the missionary
REV. FINLEY PREACHING TO THE WYANDOTS
"I do not now recollect that I was ever
insulted by an Indian, drunk or sober, dur-
ing all the time I was with them, nor did any
of them ever manifest any unkindness toward
me. The heathen party did not like my re-
ligion, nor my course in establishing a Church ;
but still I was respected, for I treated all
with kindness and hospitality. Indeed, I do
not believe that there are a people on the
earth, that are more capable of appreciating a
friend, or a kind act done toward them or
theirs, than Indians. Better neighbors, and
a more honest people, I never lived among.
They are peculiarly so to the stranger or to
the sick or distressed. They will divide the
and his helpers before they were ready for
their new duties. A small cabin was built
by their own labors, and one of the old block-
houses was repaired. In addition, religious
services were regularly held. In the summer
of 1823 the mission school was formally
. opened, and was conducted according to the
manual labor system. Here the girls were
taught sewing and spinning and in some in-
stances weaving, where looms were available.
The boys were instructed in agriculture, in
addition to the class work. The children were
all lodged and boarded at the mission house.
They were exceedingly apt at learning. The
boys were at first averse to work, but strate-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
181
gem was brought into use. They were divided
into different groups, and each group was
ur.L'cd to excel the others. By this method the
interest of the scholars was enlisted.
During the year 1823, Col. John Johnston,
United States Indian agent, visited the Wyan-
dots on their reservations. He passed several
clays among them, and at the close of his visit
reported as follows :
"The buildings and improvements of the
establishment are substantial and extensive,
and do this gentleman (Mr. Finley) great
credit. The farm is under excellent fence,
and in fine order ; comprising about one hun-
dred and forty acres, in pasture, corn and
vegetables. There are about fifty acres in
corn, which from present appearances, will
yield 3,000 bushels. It's by much the finest
crop I have seen this year, has been well
worked, and is clear of grass and weeds.
There are twelve acres in potatoes, cabbage,
turnips and garden. Sixty children belong to
the school of which number fifty-one are In-
dians. These children are boarded and lodged
at the mission house. They are orderly and
attentive, comprising every class from the
alphabet to readers in the Bible. I am told
by the teacher that they are apt in learning,
and that he is entirely satisfied with the prog-
ress they have made. They attend with the
family regularly to _the duties of religion.
The meeting house, on the Sabbath, is numer-
ously and devoutly attended. A better con-
gregation in behavior I have not beheld ; and
I believe there can be no doubt, that there are
very many persons, of both sexes, in the
Wyandot nation, who have experienced the
saving effect of the Gospel upon their minds.
Many of the Indians are now settling on
farms, and have comfortable houses and large
fields. A spirit of order, industry and im-
provement appears to prevail with that part
of the nation which has embraced Christian-
ity, and this constitutes a full half of the
population."
The effect of the mission work was really
wonderful upon the Wyandot youths, for they
grew up much better in their habits and man-
ners than their elders. The parents began to
build better log houses, with real brick chim-
neys, and also devoted much more time to
their agriculture. Some families really raised
enough from their little farms to support
them. But lawless whites made a great deal
of trouble. The Indians lost many horses
through white thieves. Although the laws of
the United States forbade any person to pur-
chase an Indian horse without the consent of
the agent, it was always difficult to prove
that the animal was an Indian horse. Finally
a tribal brand was adopted, consisting of a
large O with a W in the middle of it, and this
brand was placed on the left hip of every
horse belonging to the tribe.
It was not until 1824 that the mission
church was erected. At times the council
house was used, and on other occasions the
meetings were held in the schoolhouse, which
was much too small. "On my tour to the
East," says Mr. Finley, "I visited the city
of Washington, in company with the Rev.
David Young. Here I had an interview with
President Monroe, and gave him such infor-
mation as he wished, as to the state of the
mission and Indians in general. I had also
an introduction to John C. Calhoun, Secre-
tary of War. This gentleman took a deep
interest in Indian affairs, and gave me much
satisfactory information respecting the dif-
ferent missions, in progress among the In-
dians ; the amount of money expended on each
establishment, and the probable success. I
made an estimate of the cost of our buildings,
and he gave me the Government's proportion
of the expense, which amounted to $1,333.
I then asked him if it would be improper to
take that money, and build a good church for
the benefit of the nation. His reply was that
I might use it for building a church ; and he
wished it made of strong and durable mate-
182
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
rials, so that it might remain a house of wor-
ship when both of us were no more. This
work was performed, and the house was built
out of good limestone 30x40 feet, and plainly
finished. So these people have had a com-
fortable house to worship God in ever since.
It will stand if not torn down for a century
to come."
This church had greatly fallen into decay
Mononcue, Summundewat, Between-the-Logs,
De-un-quot, and the other braves who slept
their last sleep in the "God's Acre" surround-
ing the stone church.
The Delawares, as well as the Wyandots,
when journeying from their reservations in
search of game, almost invariably stopped at
the houses of the white settlers along their
route. When they came to a white man's
OLD MISSION CHURCH AT UPPER SANDUSKY BEFORE RESTORATION
and was roofless, until the Central Ohio Con-
ference undertook the work of reintegration.
The restored mission building was rededicated
in September, 1889, before a large audience.
Reminiscences were given by Rev. E. C.
Gavett, the only surviving missionary of that
station. A hymn in Wyandot was sung by
"Mother Solomon," who had attended the
mission school as a girl. The work of vandals
and souvenir hunters had almost obliterated
the slabs which marked the resting place of
cabin, they expected to receive the hospitality
of its inmates as freely as of their own tribe.
If such was not the case, the red man was
much offended. They would say "very bad
man, very bad man," in a contemptuous way.
They would never accept a bed to sleep upon.
All that was necessary was to have a good
back-log on the fireplace, and a few extra
pieces of wood near by, if in cold weather,
for them to put on the fire when needed.
They usually carried their blankets, and would
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
183
spread them upon the floor before the fire,
giving no further trouble. Not infrequently
they would leave those who had sheltered
them a saddle of venison, or some other com-
modity which they had to spare. Says an
early pioneer :
' ' We have seen as many as twenty or thirty
in a caravan pass by here, with their hunting
material and equipments packed on their
ponies, all in single file, on their old Sandusky
and Pipetown trail. If we would meet half
a dozen or more of them together, it was sel-
dom that we could induce more than one of
them to say one word in English. One of
them would do all the talking or interpret
for the others. Why they did so, I could not
say. Tommy Vanhorn once related an amus-
ing incident. He had been imbibing a little,
and on his way home met one of those Indians
who could not utter one word of English, but
used the pantomimic language instead — that
of gestures or motions. But it so happened
that while they were thus conveying their
thoughts to each other, Tommy stepped
around to windward of the red man or the
red man got to leeward of Tommy, and his
olfactories not being at fault, inhaled the odor
of Tommy's breath. He straightened up,
looked Tommy square in the face, and lo!
Mr. Indian's colloquial powers were now com-
plete, saying in as good English as Lord Mans-
field ever could have uttered: 'Where you
get whisky ? ' "
In the fall of 1830, a young brave of one of
the Wyandot tribes killed another of the same
nation. The murderer was arrested, tried,
found guilty, and afterwards shot. This af-
fair is best told by the chief, Mononcue, in a
let tor addressed to Mr. Finley, as follows:
"Upper Sandusky, October 29, 1830.
"Dear Sir:—
"One of our young men was killed by
another about two or three weeks ago. The
murdered was John Barnet's half-brother, the
murderer Soo-de-nooks, or Black Chief's son.
The sentence of the chiefs was the perpetual
banishment of the murderer and the confis-
cation of all his property. When the sen-
tence was made known to the nation, there
was a general dissatisfaction ; and the sen-
tence of the chiefs was set aside by the nation.
On Thursday morning, about daylight, he was
arrested and brought before the nation as-
sembled, and his case was tried by all the
men over the age of twenty-one whether he
should live or die. The votes were counted,
and there were 112 in favor of his death, and
twelve in favor of his living. Sentence of
death was accordingly passed against him, and
on the second Friday he was shot by six men
chosen for that purpose — three from the Chris-
tian party and three from the heathen party.
The executioners were Francis Cotter, Lump-
on-the-head, Silas Armstrong, Joe Enos, Soo-
cuh-guess, and Saw-yau-wa-hoy. The execu-
tion was conducted in Indian military style;
and we hope it will be a great warning to
others, and be the means of preventing such
crimes hereafter. I remain, yours affection-
ately " MONONCUE."
It was about 1824 that the project of the
removal of the Wyandots to the West was first
proposed. The news immediately aroused con-
siderable disquietude, until positive assurance
came from the Great Father, at Washington,
that force would not be employed, but the
question would be left to the discretion of the
tribe. Col. John Johnston conducted the final
negotiations, which were concluded at Upper
Sandusky, on the 17th of March, 1842. By
this time the white settlers had completely
encircled the reservations with towns and cul-
tivated fields. The tribe had been reduced to
fewer than 800 persons of all ages and both
sexes. Grey Eyes, an ordained minister, a
devoted and exemplary Christian, was at first
resolutely opposed to the removal. At the
last vote, however, more than two-thirds of
184
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the male population voted for the transposi-
tion. By the terms of the treaty, the tribe
was given 148,000 acres of land opposite Kan-
sas City. In addition they were granted a
permanent annuity of $17,500, together with
a perpetual fund of $500 per annum for edu-
cational purposes, and an immediate appro-
priation of $23,860 to satisfy the debts of
the tribe. By a later treaty the size of the
reservation was reduced, and the annuities
were abolished on the payment of the sum of
$380,000, when they were removed to the
Quapaw reservation in the Indian Territory.
On the 1st day of January, 1879, the number
still maintaining tribal relations was only
260.
The preparations for the departure of the
Wyandots began in the spring of 1843, but
their actual removal took place in July. The
arrangements were made by Chief Jacques.
The final scenes at Upper Sandusky were
filled with pathos. The love of the Wyandots
for their ancestral homes was indeed great.
Frequent councils were held, and religious
worship in the old Mission Church was con-
ducted for weeks prior to the removal. Their
dead were brought from other places and sol-
emnly reinterred in the mission cemetery.
All unmarked graves were dignified by either
a stone or a marker. Squire Grey Eyes, who
was an intelligent and Christian chief, impor-
tuned them as follows:
"He exhorted them to be good Christians,
and to meet him in Heaven. In a most sub-
lime and pathetic manner he discoursed upon
all the familiar objects of a home — no longer
theirs. He bade adieu to the Sandusky, on
whose waters they had paddled their light
bark canoes and in whose pools they had
fished, laved and sported. He saluted in his
farewell the forest and the plains of San-
dusky, where he and his ancestors had hunted,
roved and dwelt for many generations. He
bade farewell to their habitations, where they
had dwelt for many years and where they still
wished to dwell. With mournful strains and
plaintive voice he bade farewell to the graves
of his ancestors, which now they were about to
leave forever, probably to be encroached upon
ere the lapse of many years by the avaricious
tillage of some irreverent white man. Here,
as a savage, untutored Indian, it is probably
Grey Eyes would have stopped, but as a
Christian he closed his valedictory by allud-
ing to an object yet dearer to him ; it was the
church where they had worshipped, the tem-
ple of God, constructed by the good white men
for their use, and within whose walls they had
so often bowed down in reverence under the
ministrations of Finley and his co-laborers."'
One of the chieftains expressed himself in
verse, of which the following is a translation,
in part : —
"Adieu ye loved scenes, which bind me like
chains ;
Where on my grey pony I pranced o'er the
plains,
The deer and the turkey I tracked in the
snow,
But now must I leave all. Alas ! I must go.
Sandusky, Tymocthee, and Brokenswood
streams —
No more shall I see you, except in my dreams.
Farewell to the marshes where cranberries.
grow,
0 'er the great Mississippi, alas ! I must go.
Dear scenes of my childhood, Jn memory blest,
1 must bid you farewell for the far distant
west,
My heart swells with sorrow, my eyes over-
flow,
O'er the great Mississippi, alas! I must go."
The farewells having been said, the long
cavalcade, with the chiefs on horseback and
several hundred on foot, and many wagons
loaded with their effects, began its journey.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
185
Among tlic chiefs were Jacques, Bull Head,
Split-the-Log. Stand-in-the-Water, -Mud
Hater, l,miip~on-the-hca<l. Squire Grey Eyes,
and Porcupine. On' the first day they had
traveled to (Jivissy I'oint, in Ifardin County,
and on tin- seventh day they reached Cincin-
nati. Here they were taken on boats down
the Ohio anil .Mississippi rivers, and up the
.Missouri to their new homes. A few of the
chief's, including the head chief, Jacques, vis-
ited Columbus, where they called upon Gov-
ernor Shannon to thank him for courtesies,
and farewell speeches were delivered. It
was undoubtedly due to the sagacious and
politic way in which the matter was con-
ducted that the removal was made of this
tribe with such an amicable spirit on both
sides. As this last of all the once numerous
Ohio tribes ascended the steamships that were
to convey them from the place of their nativ-
ity, "they seemed to linger, and to turn to
the North as if to bid a last farewell to the
tombs in which they had deposited the re-
mains of their deceased children, and in which
the bones of their fathers had been accumu-
lating and moulding for untold ages." The
number who migrated at this time was 664,
and about 50 journeyed West in the following
year.
Charles Dickens, the English novelist,
stopped overnight at Upper Sandusky when
on his way from Cincinnati to Buffalo in
1842. In his American notes, he writes thus:
" It is a settlement of the Wyandot Aborig-
ines who inhabit this place. Among the com-
pany at breakfast was a mild old gentleman
(Colonel John Johnston) who had been for
many years employed by the United States
Government in conducting negotiations with
the Aborigines, and who had just concluded
a treaty with these people by which they
bound themselves, in consideration of a cer-
tain annual sum, to remove next year to some
laud provided for them west of the Missis-
sippi. He gave me a moving account of their
strong attachment to the familiar scenes of
their infancy, and in particular to the burial-
places of their kindred ; and of their great
reluctance to leave them. He had witnessed
many such removals and always with pain,
though he knew that they departed for their
own good. The question whether this tribe
should go or stay, had been discussed among
them a day or two before in a hut erected for
the purpose, the logs of which still lay upon
the ground before the inn. When the speak-
ing was done the ayes and noes were ranged
on opposite sides, and every male adult votes
in his turn. The moment the result was
known, the minority (a large one) cheerfully
yielded to the rest, and withdrew all kind of
opposition. We met some of these poor
Aborigines afterwards, riding on shaggy
ponies. They were so like the meaner sort of
gypsies, that, if I could have seen any of them
in England I should have concluded as a mat-
ter of course, that they belonged to that wan-
dering and restless people."
One of the greatest chiefs of the Wyandots
was the one known as Tarhe, or the Crane.
His wisdom in council, as well as his bravery
in war, gave him great influence among all
the neighboring tribes. He seems to have
reached the position of head chief of this
nation after the death of Half King, who dis-
appears from history not long after the
disastrous Crawford expedition. His human-
ity was ever marked. In 1790 he recovered
Peggy Fleming from a band of Cherokee
Indians, at Lower Sandusky, thus early show-
ing his humane character. A little earlier
than that he is credited with saving a white
boy from burning at the same place. He is
known to have taken part in the Battle of
Fallen Timbers, where he was wounded.
Shortly afterwards General Wayne addresses
a letter to "Tarhe, and all other Sachems and
Chiefs of Sandusky," in which he promises
to erect a fortification "at the foot of the
rapids at Sandusky" for their protection
186
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
against the Indian allies of the British. This
shows that he was at that time the head chief
of the Wyandots, and as such was the keeper
of the Grand Calumet. It is said that all the
Wyandot chiefs, with the exception of Tarhe,
were killed at Fallen Timbers, and it was
doubtless due to this circumstance that he
succeeded to his exalted position.
"I knew Tarhe well. My acquaintance
with him commenced at the treaty at Green-
ville, in 1795. His tribe was under my super-
intendence in 1810. All the business I trans-
acted with it was through him. I have often
said I never knew a better man.
Tarhe was not only the Grand Sachem of his
tribe, but the acknowledged head of all the
tribes who were engaged in the war with the
United States, which was terminated by the
treaty of Greenville; and in that character
the duplicate of the original treaty, engrossed
on parchment, was committed to his custody,
as had been the Grand Calumet, which was
the symbol of peace.
This is the testimony of General Harrison,
and Harrison was a good judge of Indian
character. Tarhe had accompanied him
throughout his entire Canadian campaign, for
he was a bitter opponent of Tecumseh's war
policy. He was far in advance of most of his
fellows. He was cool, deliberate, and firm.
He was tall and well proportioned, and made
a fine appearance. He was affable and cour-
teous, as well as kind and affectionate. It is
said that all who knew him, whether white or
red, deeply venerated the character of the old
chief. His attainments seem to have been as
a great counselor and wise sachem rather than
as a warrior. This surrounded him with a
peculiar dignity.
Chief Crane died at the Indian village
of Crane Town, near Upper Sandusky, in
November, 1818, being at that time seventy-
six years of age. Of his funeral, Colonel
Johnston speaks as follows :
"I was invited to attend a general council
of all the tribes of Ohio, the Delawares of
Indiana, and the Senecas of New York, at
Upper Sandusky. I found on arriving at that
place a very large attendance. Among the
chiefs was the noted leader and orator Red
Jacket, from Buffalo. The first business done
was the speaker of the nation delivering an
oration on the character of the deceased chief.
Then followed what might be called a monody
or ceremony of mourning and lamentation.
Thus seats were arranged from end to end of
the large council house, about six feet apart.
The head men and the aged took their seats
facing each other, stooping down their heads
almost touching. In this position they re-
mained several hours. Deep, heavy and long
continued groans were commenced at one end
of the row of mourners and were passed
around until all had responded and these
repeated at intervals of a few minutes. The
Indians were all washed and had no paint or
decorations of any kind upon their person,
their countenance and general deportment
denoting the deepest mourning. I had never
witnessed anything of the kind and was told
this ceremony was not performed but upon
the decease of some great man."
CHAPTER XVII
THE PASSING OP THE RED MAN
Prior to the War of 1812, there were com-
paratively few Americans resident in North-
west Ohio, and not a great number of French
or British. On the right bank of the Maumee,
on a site now within the City of Toledo, there
was a French settlement consisting of a num-
ber of families, among which were Peter Na-
varre and his brothers. There were probably
three score of white families living at or near
the foot of the rapids at Maumee. Of these
Amos Spafford was the most prominent, since
he was collector of customs at that port. Some
of these were also French, and Peter Manor,
or Manard, performed valiant service for the
American cause. There were a number of
white traders residing at Defiance, and other
points along the Maumee and Auglaize. The
only considerable settlement along the San-
dusky River was at Fremont, but there were
a few other Caucasian adventurers in that
valley. The entire number, however, was very
inconsiderable. The red man as yet felt no
crowding in the vast domain over which he
hunted.
The American traders and settlers, who had
established themselves within Northwest Ohio,
generally continued in their homes in fancied
security until the surrender of General Hull.
The first intimation that the settlers received
of this catastrophe at Detroit manifested itself
by the appearance of a party of British and
Indians at the foot of the rapids, a few days
after it had occurred. The Indians plundered
the settlers on both sides of the river, and then
departed for Detroit in canoes.
A picture of the consternation that pre-
vailed among the whites is left us by a pioneer
woman :
"All was fright and confusion. We and
most of the others, excepting the soldiers,
gathered what we could handily and left. We
stopped at Blalock's a short time, and there
an Aborigine messenger arrived and told us
to come back as they would not kill us, but
only wanted some of our property. Looking
around until he found Blalock's gun he took
it, went out and got a horse my mother had
ridden to this point, and departed. We went
back and remained three days in which time
the Aborigines were pretty busy in driving off
our live stock (we lost sixteen head) and in
plundering the houses of such as had not come
back. Mr. Guilliam was one who fled leaving
everything behind; and had not the presence
of danger 'filled us with alarm, we would have
been amused to see the Aborigines plundering
his house. The feather beds were brought out,
ripped open and the feathers scattered to the
winds, the ticks alone being deemed valuable.
But our stay was short, only three days, when
the commandant of fche fort informed us that
he would burn the fort and stores and leave,
inviting us to take such of the provisions as
we might need. Consternation again seized
upon us, and we hastily reloaded our wagons
and left. We stayed the first night at a house
eight or ten miles south of the (foot of the)
Rapids. In the Black Swamp the load became
too heavy, and they rolled out a barrel of
flour and a barrel of meat which they had ob-
tained at the fort. Mr. Hopkins, John Car-
ter, Mr. Scribner, and William Race went back
187
188
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the next fall to gather their crops, and they
were all killed by the savages. John Carter
was attacked while in a boat on the river, and
they had quite a hard fight before they got his
scalp."
Three Indian warriors made an incursion
into the interior of the state with hostile
intent. One of these was a Delaware chief,
by the name of Sac-a-manc. The day after
his departure the Frenchman, Peter Manor,
called upon Major Spafford and warned him
of the hostile intentions of the Indians, as
he had received them from Sac-a-manc. The
major was unruffled, and quietly expressed a
determination to remain until the American
army from the interior should reach the rap-
ids. It was only a few days after this conver-
sation that a white man by the name of
Gordon was seen approaching the residence
of Major Spafford in great haste. , Gordon
had been reared among the Indians, but had,
previous to this time, received some favors of
a trifling character from him.
Major Spafford met Gordon in his corn field,
and was informed that a party of about fifty
Pottawatomies, on their way to Maiden, had
taken this route, and in less than two hours
would be at the foot of the rapids. The
major was urged to make his escape immedi-
ately. Most of the families at the foot of the
rapids had already left the valley, after
receiving the intelligence of Hull 's surrender.
The major collected together those that re-
mained in the vicinity. He placed in tolerable
sailing condition an old barge in which some
officers had floated down the river from Fort
Wayne the previous year. Scarcely had they
placed such of their effects as were portable
on board, and rowed down to the bend below
the town, when their ears caught the shouts
of the Indians a short distance above. Find-
ing no Americans here, the Indians passed on
to the Canadian Town of Maiden. The major
and his companions sailed in their rickety
vessel across the lake to the Quaker settle-
ment at Milan, 011 the Huron River, where
they remained in security until the close of
the war.
Sac-a-manc, on his return from the interior
of the state, a few days after this visit of the
war party, exhibited to Manor the scalps of
three persons that he alone had killed during
his absence. After peace was declared, most
of the settlers who had lived along the Lower
Maumee previous to the war returned to their
old possessions. They were accompanied by
friends and former soldiers who sought desir-
able sites for settlement with their families.
They were partly indemnified by the Govern-
ment for their losses a few years afterwards.
Many of them lived in the blockhouses at Fort
Meigs for a while. Contentions arose, how-
ever, regarding the pickets and other timbers
of the fort, and one of the parties to the con-
troversy finally set the remaining ones on fire.
The last settler to be killed by the Indians
was Levi Hull, in 1815. He left the house to
bring the cattle from the woods. Several gun
reports were heard, and a searching party
found his body, dead and scalped, on a spot
within the present limits of Perrysburg. The
settlement of the Maumee Valley was at first
slow, but the ' ' foot of the rapids ' ' and vicinity
was settled long before any of the other sec-
tions. In 1816 the Government sent an agent
to lay out a town at the point on the Miami
of the Lake best calculated for commercial
purposes. After thoroughly sounding the
river from its mouth, he decided upon the
site of Perrysburg. The town was laid out
that year on the United States Reservation,
and named after Commodore Perry by Josiah
Meigs, then comptroller of the treasury. The
lots were offered for sale in the following
spring at the land office in Wooster. From
about this time the encroachment upon the
Indian domain may be said to date, and the
beginning of the end may be recognized in
the famous treaty of that year, held within
gun shot of the newly-established town.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
After the War of 1812, the aborigines, who
had been such valued allies of the British, wore
left in a serious condition. This was especially
true following their decisive defeat at the
Battle of the Thames. As at the close of the
Revolutionary \Viir. they t nnied at once, with
little or no apparent regret for their past.
to the Americans for their support. In this
they were like naughty and spoiled children.
Begging to have their physical cravings sup-
plied, they gathered at Detroit in such great
numbers that they could not be sustained from
the limited supplies on hand. Hence we are
told that they went about the city devouring
rinds of pork, crumbs, bones, and anything
else with nutriment in it that was thrown out
by either the soldiers or the civil population.
Although these children of the forests were
as proud and unbending in their ordinary in-
tercourse with the white people as it was pos-
sible to be, they were as obsequious as the most
abject beggar when seeking food.
Believing that there was a chance to estab-
lish the relations of the Indians and the Amer-
icans on a better basis, because of the very
necessities of the savages, General Harrison
arranged for a treaty council to be held at
Greenville in the year following the close of
the war. The Indians left hostages as a guar-
antee of their good intentions, and agreed to
deliver all the prisoners in their hands at Fort
Wayne. His pacific efforts were so satisfac-
tory that he made a very good impression upon
the red men, so that when he and General
Cass reached Greenville, on July 22, 1814,
several thousand representatives of a number
of different tribes, together with their families,
were assembled there to greet them. On this
occasion, a treaty was entered into between the
Americans, on the one side, and the Wyandots,
Delawares, Shawnees and Senecas, on the
other, by which these tribes engaged to give
their aid to the United States as against Great
Britain and such of the tribes as still continued
hostile. They further obligated themselves to
make no peace with either without the con-
sent of the United States. A large number
of the Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes, and Chip-
pewas, still clung to the tail of the British
lion.
In the year 1816, the number of the aborig-
ines of all ages and both sexes in Northwest
Ohio, together with their location, was re-
ported to the Government as follows : Wyan-
dots, residing by the Sandusky River and its
tributaries, numbered 695 ; of the Shawnees
dwelling by the Auglaize and Miami rivers,
with their principal village at Wapakoneta,
there were 840; the Delawares living by the
headwaters of the Sandusky and Muskingum
rivers numbered 161 ; of the Senecas and
others of the Six Nations having their habita-
tions between Upper and Lower Sandusky, at
and near Seneca Town, only 450 were enu-
merated ; the Ottawas about Maumee Bay and
Lake Erie, and by the Auglaize River, were
estimated at about 450. This would make a
total resident Indian population in Northwest
Ohio at that time of about 2,600.
The condition of the Indians dwelling along
the Maumee River at this time was extremely
miserable.- We have this upon the authority
of Benjamin F. Stickney, who was for a num-
ber of years agent to the Indians of this ter-
ritory, with headquarters at Fort Wayne.
They dwelt in what are generally termed vil-
lages, but, as a rule, they had no uniform place
of residence. During the fall, winter, and
part of the spring, they were scattered in the
woods hunting. Some of them had rude cabins
made of small logs, covered with bark, but
more commonly some poles were stuck in the
ground tied together with plants or strips of
bark, and covered with large sheets of bark or'
some kind of a woven mat.
The great enemy of the Indians, according
to Mr. Stickney and almost every keen ob-
server, was an unsatiable thirst for intoxicat-
ing liquors. This craving in itself would not
amount to much, had there not been depraved
190
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
citizens of the United States eapable and will-
ing of eluding the vigilance of the Govern-
ment and supplying this thirst hy continuing
the sale of liquor among them. When the
supply of grog at home failed, they would
travel any distance to obtain it. There was no
fatigue, no risk, and no expense too great to
obtain it. With many of them the "fire-
water" seemed to be valued higher than life
itself. It was the unalterable policy of the
Government of the United States to keep spir-
ituous liquors from the Indians, but in so
many instances its efforts seemed rendered
absolutely futile by the unscrupulous trader.
Many of the murders by Indians of their
own brethren, as well as of the whites, could
be attributed to the effect of liquor, just as
can the tragedies among the whites today.
But there were white monsters, who were will-
ing to murder or take advantage of the poor
Ted man who was trying to live honestly. One
of these tragedies occurred about 1841, or
1842, in Henry County. Sum-mun-de-wat, a
Wyandot chief and a Christian convert, with
a party of friends left the Wyandot reserva-
tion for their annual hunt in Williams County
to secure raccoon skins, which then brought a
good price. Sum-mun-de-wat with his nephew
and niece passed through Wood County and
had with them two excellent coon dogs. Two
white men, who met the Indians, found that
they had money and tried to buy the dogs.
But an Indian will never part with his dogs.
A day or two afterwards some more of the
Wyandot party coming along discovered the
murdered bodies of their chief and his two
relatives. This murdered chief was one of the
most enlightened and noble chiefs of the Wy-
andots, and was a licensed preacher of the
'Methodist Episcopal Church. The whites
were aroused at the foul deed and arrested
the suspected parties. One of them, Lyons,
was lodged in jail at Napoleon, as the murder
had occurred just within the Henry County
line. The other, Anderson, confessed to as
cold and brutal a murder as was ever con-
ceived. But both men escaped punishment
through the influence of white friends.
As soon as the authority of the United
States was well established in this section
of our state, it became the recognized policy
to narrow the limits of the range of the In-
dians in order to render them less nomadic.
When this was accomplished, it was hoped to
be able to incline them to agricultural pur-
suits. The excluded lands were then opened
to prospective settlers, and it was believed that
the example of industrious farmers would in-
cline the Indians toward the ordinary pursuits
of a civilized community. The larger the num-
ber of settlers, the more secure the frontier
would become. With this purpose in view, a
council was called to meet at the "Foot of the
Rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie," the place
designated undoubtedly being on the left bank
of the river near the site of the present Vil-
lage of Maumee. The date assigned was the
29th of September, 1817. At this time Gens.
Lewis Cass and Duncan McArthur met the
sachems and other chiefs, together with their
accompanying warriors, of the Wyandot,
Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Pottawatomie,
Ottawa, and Chippewa tribes. They were
fully commissioned to negotiate and sign a
treaty upon all matters that were of interest
between the United States and the red men.
They succeeded in negotiating a treaty which,
in importance, ranks second only to the great
Treaty of Greenville, concluded in 1795.
By this treaty, the Wyandots agreed to
forever cede to the United States an immense
area of land, including a large part of the
Maumee and Sandusky basins, which had here-
tofore been claimed by them as hunting
ground. This grant is described as follows in
the treaty :
' ' The Wyandot tribe of Aborigines, in con-
sideration of the stipulations herein made on
the part of the United States, do hereby for-
ever cede to the United States the lands com-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
191
prehemlcd within the following lines and
boundaries : Beginning at a point on the
southern shore of Lake Erie where the pres-
ent Aborigine boundary line intersects the
same, between the mouth of Sandusky Bay
and the mouth of Portage River ; thence, run-
ning south with said line to the line estab-
lished in the year 1795 by the Treaty of Green-
ville which runs from the crossing place above
Fort Laurens to Loramie's store; thence west-
erly with the last mentioned line to the eastern
line of the Reserve at Loramie's Store; thence
with the lines of said Reserve, north and west
to the northwestern corner thereof; thence to
the northwestern corner of the Reserve on the
River St. Mary, at the head of the navigable
waters thereof (site of the present City of St.
Marys) ; thence, east to the western bank of
the St. Mary River aforesaid ; thence, down on
the western bank of the said river to the Re-
serve at Fort Wayne ; thence, with the lines
of the last mentioned Reserve, easterly and
northerly, to the north bank of the said river
to the western line of the land ceded to the
United States by the Treaty of Detroit in the
year 1807 ; thence, with the said line south to
the middle of said Miami (Maumee) River,
opposite the mouth of the Great Au Glaise
River ; thence, down the middle of said Miami
River and easterly with the lines of the tract
ceded to the United States by the Treaty of
Detroit aforesaid ; so far that a south line will
strike the place of beginning. ' '
The other tribes gathered at this council
also released their claim to all the lands within
this territory, with the exception of certain
specified reservations. For these concessions,
the United States agreed to pay to the Wyan-
dot Tribe annually, forever, the sum of $4,000
in specie at Upper Sandusky ; to the Sen-
eca Tribe annually, forever, the sum of $500
in specie at Lower Sandusky ; to the Shawnee
Tribe, the sum of $2,000 at Wapakoneta; to
tlie I'ottau atomies, the sum of $1,300; to the
Ottawas $1,000, and to the Chippewas $1,000
annually for a period of fifteen years, pay-
ments to be made in specie at Detroit. To
the Delawares, the sum of $500 in specie was
to be made at Wapakoneta during the year
1818, but there was no annuity. All of these
payments were in addition to any annuities
granted under the Treaty of Greenville.
The reservations of land granted to these
various tribes are described in this treaty as
follows :
' ' The United States agrees to grant by patent
in fee simple to Do-an-quod, How-o-ner, Ron-
ton-dee, Tau-yau, Rod-ta-yau, Daw-a-tont, Ma-
no-cue, Tau-yau-dau-tau-son, and Hau-dau-u-
waugh, chiefs of the Wyandot tribe, and their
successors in office chiefs of the said tribe for
the use of the persons and for the purposes
mentioned in the annexed schedule, a tract of
land twelve miles square at Upper Sandusky
the center of which shall be the place where
Fort Ferree stands; and also a tract of one
mile square to be located where the chiefs
direct on a cranberry swamp on Broken Sword
Creek and to be held for the use of the tribe.
' ' The United States agrees to grant by pat-
ent in fee simple to Taw-aw-ma-do-yaw, Cap-
tain Harris, Isa-how-mu-say, Joseph Tawgyon,
Captain Smith, Coffee-house, Running-about,
and Wiping-stick, chiefs of the Seneca tribe
and their successors in office chiefs of the said
tribe, for the use of the persons mentioned in
the annexed schedule, a tract of land to con-
tain thirty thousand acres, beginning on the
Sandusky River at the lower corner of the
section granted to William Spicer; thence
down the said river to the east side, with the
meanders thereof at high water mark, to a
point east of the mouth of Wolf Creek ; thence
and from the beginning, east so far that a
north line will include the quantity of thirty
thousand acres aforesaid.
' ' The United States also agrees to grant by
patent in fee simple, to Ca-te-we-ke-sa or Black
Hoof, By-a-se-ka or Wolf, Pom-the or Walker,
She-men-etoo or Big Snake, Otha-wa-keseka or
192
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Yellow Feather, Cha-ka-lo-wah or the Tail's
End, Pemthala or John Perry, Wabepee or
White Color, chiefs of the Shawnee Trihe re-
siding at "Wapakoneta, and their successors in
office of the said tribe residing there, for the
use of the persons mentioned in the annexed
schedule, a tract of land ten miles square the
center of which shall be the council-house at
Wapakoneta.
"The United States also agrees to grant by
patent in fee simple, to Pe-eth-tha or Falling
Tree, and to Onowas-kemo or the Resolute
Man, chiefs of the Shawnee tribe residing on
Hog Creek (the present Ottawa River in Allen
county, Ohio) and their successors in office
chiefs of the said tribe residing there, for the
use of the persons mentioned in the annexed
schedule, a tract of land containing twenty-
five square miles to join the tract granted at
Wapakoneta (spelled Wapaughkonnetta), and
to include the Shawnee settlement on Hog
Creek and to be laid off as nearly as possible
in square form."
The United States also agreed to grant by
patent in fee simple, to Qua-to-we-pee, or Cap-
tain Lewis, She-kagh-ke-la, or Turtle, Ski-
lo-wa, or Robin, chiefs of the Shawnee Tribe
residing at Lewistown; and to Mesomea, or
Civil John, Wa-kaw-us-she-no, or the White
Man, Oquasheno, or Joe, and Willaquasheno,
or When You are Tired Sit Down, certain
lands not within this section of the state.
There was also reserved for the use of the
Ottawa aborigines, but not granted to them,
a tract of land on Blanchard's Fork of the
Great Au Glaize River, to contain five miles
square, "the center of which tract is to be
where the old trace crosses the said Fork
(about the present City of Ottawa) ; and one
other tract to contain three miles square on
the Little Au Glaise River, to include Oqua-
noxa's village." The meaning of the chief's
name was "the ugly fellow," and he indeed
was a troublesome Indian.
The United States likewise agreed to grant,
by patent in fee simple, to Zee-shaw-au, or
James Armstrong, and to Sa-non-do-you-ray-
guaw, or Silas Armstrong, chiefs of the Dela-
ware aborigines living on the Sandusky wa-
ters, and to their successors in office, chiefs
of the said tribe, for the use of the persons
mentioned in the annexed schedule, in the
same manner and subject to the same condi-
tions, provisions and limitations as hereinbe-
fore provided for the lands granted to the
Wyandot, Seneca, and Shawnee aborigines, a
tract of land to contain nine square miles, to
join the tract granted to the Wyandots of
twelve miles square, to be laid off as nearly
in a square form as practicable and to include
Captain Pipe's village. The reservation was
partly in Wyandot and partly in Marion
counties.
Another very interesting section of this
treaty is the grants made to a number of per-
sons who were connected with the savages
either by blood or adoption. Most of these
were former prisoners captured by them, but
who had remained with the tribe and finally
been adopted by them. The United States
agreed to convey the lands designated by pat-
ent in fee simple. All of these are interesting,
and I will quote them briefly : Elizabeth Whit-
aker, who had been taken prisoner by the
Wyandots, was granted 1,280 acres of land
"on the west side of the Sandusky River near
Croghansville, " now Fremont; Robert Arm-
strong, who had been taken prisoner by the
aborigines and had married a Wyandot
woman, was given one section of land on the
west side of the Sandusky River near Fort
Ball, now in Seneca County. The children of
William McCulloch were allowed one section
of land on the west side of the Sandusky
.River, adjoining that of Robert Armstrong.
Upon John Vanmeter, who had been taken
prisoner by the Wyandots, and had married a
Seneca woman, and to his wife's three
brothers, were bestowed 1,000 acres of land
near Honey Creek, Seneca County, and Cath-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
193
erine Walker, a Wyandot woman, and her
son who had been wounded in the service of
the United States, were allotted a section of
land adjoining that of Vanmeter.
Sarah Williams, Joseph Williams, and
Rachel Nugent, the first named having been
taken a prisoner by the Indians, and the others
having a portion of Indian blood in their
veins, were granted a quarter of a section of
land below Croghansville, and at Negro Point.
William Spicer, also a prisoner among the
Indians, and who had married a Seneca
woman, was given a section of land along the
Sandusky River, "at the lower corner of
Spicer 's Cornfield." The late Shawnee chief,
Captain Logan, who had fallen in the service
of the United States, was remembered by the
grant of a section of land on the east side of
the "Great Au Glaise River adjoining the
lower line of the grant of ten miles at Wapa-
koneta on the said river." Saw-En-De-Bans,
or the Yellow Hair, or Peter Minor (Manor),
who was an adopted son of Tondaganie (who
is remembered in the name of the Village of
Tontogany, Wood County), or the Dog, was
granted a section of land to be located in a
square form on the north side of the Miami
(Maumee) at the Wolf Rapids, above Roche
de Boeuf. This is near the Village of Provi-
dence, in Lucas County.
The United States obligated itself to ap-
point an agent for the Wyandots to reside at
Upper Sandusky, and an agent for the Shaw-
nees at Wapakoneta. This agent was to pro-
tect the Indians in their persons and property,
and to manage their intercourse with the
American Government and its citizens. It also
agreed to' erect a saw-mill and a grist-mill and
maintain a blacksmith on the Wyandot Reser-
vation, and a blacksmith at Wapakoneta, for
the Indians there and at Hog Creek and the
Blanchard River. It also specially exempted
all these reservations from taxes of any kind,
so long as they continued to be the property
of the aborigines. It likewise reserved to the
United States the right to construct roads
through any part of the land granted and
reserved by this treaty, and the agent was
authorized to establish taverns and ferries
wherever such became necessary.
When it came time to sign the treaty, so
we are told, all looked toward the mother of
Otusso, the son of Kan-tuck-e-gan, and a di-
rect descendant of Pontiac. He was the last
war chief of the Ottawas remaining along the
Maumee. His mother was a sort of Indian
queen and grand-niece to Pontiac. She was
held in great reverence by the Indians — so
much so, that at the time of this treaty in
1817 (she then being very old and wrinkled
and bent over with age, her hair perfectly
white), no chief would sign the treaty until
she had first consented and made her mark by
touching her fingers to the pen. When the
treaty was agreed upon, the head chiefs and
warriors sat around the inner circle, and the
aged woman had a place among them. The
remaining Indians, with the women and chil-
dren, comprised a crowd outside. The chiefs
sat on seats built under the roof of the council
house, which was open on all sides. The whole
assembly maintained absolute silence. The
chiefs bowed their heads and cast their eyes
to the ground; they waited patiently for the
old woman until she rose, went forward, and
touched the pen to the treaty, after it had
been read to them in her presence. Then fol-
lowed the signatures of all the chiefs.
Some amusing things are told about the
occurrences at this treaty. One Indian was
present who had evidently been bribed by the
British to oppose any treaty that might be
proposed. He made a speech in which he said
that the palefaces had cheated the red men
from their very first landing on this con-
tinent. In a very flowery speech, according
to the Indian standard, he declared that the
first white men who came said they wanted
enough land to put a foot on. They gave the
aborigines an ox for beef, and were to have
Vol. 1—1$
194
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
as much land as the hide would cover. They
then cut the hide into strings, and by that
means secured enough land for a fort. The
next time they wanted more land, they
brought an enormous pile of goods which
they offered for it. They were to receive as
much land as 'a horse could travel around in
a day. In order to cheat the red men, they
had a relay of horses so that each one could
travel at its utmost speed. His speech did
not affect the course of events in the least,
for General Cass ridiculed him in his reply.
It is said that there were 7,000 aborigines
present at this treaty at the foot of the Rapids
of the Maumee, including the women and chil-
dren. It must indeed have been a strange
and curious assemblage. But it was only one
of the many unusual and interesting incidents
that have occurred here.
"Men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever."
These words of Tennyson's "Brook" might
well be the sentiment -of the Maumee. At the
foot of the rapids was a favorite trysting
place for Indians, and it later acquired great
significance with the white men. Treaties
were held there, armies camped round about,
battles were fought in the vicinity, and men
died violent deaths within sound of the sooth-
ing lull of these waters. Birds have billed
and cooed there from times beyond the mem-
ory of man. The Indian snatched his dusky
bride from the tepee of her father, and the
white lover has breathed his fervent words
into willing ears on the grassy banks where the
stillness is broken only by the tumbling flood.
To the river this has signified nothing. White
man or red, French or British, civilized or
savage, lover or warrior, all have been the
same to the spirit of the river. The Maumee
simply flows on from day to day, with no
reckoning of time, but silently reaching out
toward that eternity that is to be.
By this treaty of 1817, the title to most of
the land in the Maumee Basin, and in the San-
dusky Valley as well, was granted to the
United States. Of all the great treaties ever
entered into with the Indians, this one held
at the Maumee Rapids was of the greatest
interest to Northwest Ohio. A line drawn
from Sandusky Bay to the Greenville Treaty
Line, near Mount Gilead, thence westerly
along that line to the Indiana boundary and
north to Michigan, would about embrace the
Ohio land purchased at this council. It has
since been divided into about eighteen coun-
ties. Campaigns had been made and battles
fought, treaty had followed treaty, but each
and all had consigned this land to the sway
of the savage. Almost three decades had
elapsed since the Marietta colony was
planted on the Ohio. Now for the first time
could it be truthfully said that Northwest
Ohio stood on an equality with the rest of
the state, and was practically free from the
fetters and dominance of a race whose in-
terest and habits, customs and mode of life,
were entirely opposed to those of the rest of
the country. Heretofore it had been partially
a blank place on the map, labeled Indian
country and Black Swamp. Its very name
brought a shrug of terror to many. Follow-
ing this treaty the civil jurisdiction of Logan
County, with court at Bellefontaine, became
operative until the organization of counties
in 1820.
A number of additional treaties were made
with the Indians at councils held in various
places, but they are not of great importance
for the purposes of this history, excepting
the one convened at St. Marys, in Auglaize
county, in September, 1818. This was held
at Fort Barbee, the present site of St. Marys,
between the same parties, and some changes
were made by which the Indians were given
much more extensive allotments, because of a
gathering dissatisfaction. Although the
council did not commence until the 20th, the
chiefs and warriors of seven nations began
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
195
to assemble in the latter part of August. This
council lasted until the 6th of October. The
treaty grounds were marked off west from the
old Fort St. Marys. Tents were erected for
the accommodation of the Lewis Cass and
Duncan McArthur, the commissioners repre-
senting the United States. They were accom-
panied by the governors of Ohio, Indiana, and
Michigan, and were escorted by a troop of
Kentucky cavalry. The Indians were en-
camped around and arranged by tribes, of
which there were Wyandots, Senecas, Shaw-
nees, and Ottawas. It was intended to be
supplementary to the one made the previous
year at the Foot of the Rapids of the Maumee.
At St. Marys the Wyandots received a large
increase in land, consisting of two tracts of
56,680 and 16,000 acres respectively. The
latter was for the benefit of those Indians
residing at Solomon's Town, the center of
which was at Big Spring. The Shawnees
received 12,800 additional acres, to be laid off
adjoining the east line of their reservation at
"Wapaghkonetta," while for the joint use of
the Senecas and Shawnees 8,900 acres were
laid off immediately west of the Lewiston
grant. The north half was for the Senecas,
and the south half for the Shawnees. The
Senecas also received 10,000 more acres along
the Sandusky. Additional annuities was
granted as follows : To the Wyandots, $500 ;
to the Shawnees and Senecas, of Lewiston,
$1,000 ; to the Senecas, $500 ; to the Ottawas,
$1,500; all of these were to run "forever."
During the same period Jonathan Jennings.
Lewis Cass, and Benjamin Parker concluded
treaties with the Miamis, Weas, and Potta-
watomies, the great part of which related to
lands in Indiana. All of the tribes made
certain concessions in return for what they
received. The traders did a thriving busi-
ness, and many thousands of dollars worth
of furs were exchanged for rifles, powder,
lead, knives, hatchets, gaudy blankets, to-
bacco, etc. Pony races and ball games were
daily diversions among the Indians, who were
well sustained by the Government. For this
purpose droves of cattle and hogs had been
driven in and great stocks of corn meal, salt,
and sugar laid in ; upon these and the game
brought in by the Indian hunters they fared
sumptuously every day. Smugglers also
secretly supplied them with whiskey, which
caused much trouble. This was the last great
assemblage of Indian nations in Ohio.
The most noted Indian agent in dealing
with the aborigines of Northwest Ohio was
Col. John Johnson. For several years he was
stationed at Fort Wayne, and was then trans-
ferred to old Piqua, a few miles north of the
present Piqua. Here he retained his head-
quarters, until the last Indian tribe had dis-
appeared from the state. He was succeeded
at Fort Wayne by Major Benjamin F. Stick-
ney, who served there many years, and was
afterwards transferred to Fort Miami. The
salary of an Indian agent at that time was
$750 per year, and four military rations per
day. Major Stickney afterwards settled at
Toledo, and was prominent in the early his-
tory of that city. Among other agents, or
sub-agents, were Rev. James Montgomery, for
the Senecas along the Sandusky, and John
Shaw, for the Wyandots at Upper Sandusky.
Official interpreters were stationed at Upper
Sandusky and Wapakoneta.
It was not many years after the treaties
described above until the removals of the
Indians to reservations farther west were
initiated. In 1818 the Miamis ceded a large
part of their lands in the Maumee Valley to
the United States. In fact, at the same treaty
at St. Marys, some of the Delawares agreed
to their removal to a reservation by the James
tributary of the White River, in Missouri.
The Delawares living at Little Sandusky quit-
claimed to the United States their reservation
of three miles square on the 3d of August,
1829, and consented to remove west of the
Mississippi to join those Delawares already
196
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
transferred. In 1829, by a treaty concluded
at Saginaw, the Chippewas ceded to the
United States land claimed by them running
from Michigan to the "mouth of the Great
Auglaize River. ' ' Two years later the Senecas
along the Sandusky River relinquished their
reservations in exchange for lands west of the
Mississippi. Upon payment of all expenses
by the United States, as well as the building
and keeping up of certain improvements, the
Indians were removed in accordance with this
treaty. There were just 510 of them, as mixed
up a mess of humanity as could be found, so
we are told by contemporaneous chroniclers.
A portion of them traveled overland, and the
others journeyed to Cincinnati, where they
proceeded by water down the Ohio.
In 1831 James Gardner, then residing at
Columbus, sent word to the Shawnees that he
would soon visit them to make proposals for
the purchase of their lands. This was the
first intimation that the Shawnees had of such
a contemplated move, and it threw the entire
tribe into a wild state of excitement. A coun-
cil was held, and word was dispatched to him
not to come. But outside influences were now
brought to bear by Gardner. The traders,
who had extended credit to the Indians, were
induced to urge payment, and some of the
weaker chiefs were bribed after first being
made drunk. Gardner made a speech that
lasted two days, in which he absolutely mis-
represented his instructions, and dwelt upon
the conditions that might arise in the event
of their non-compliance.
After he had thus alarmed them in regard
to their present and future condition, in case
they concluded to adhere to their former
resolution of remaining in Ohio, he said he
would not tell them that, in case they would
now sell their land and go west, that their
Great Father, General Jackson, would make
them rich. He told them that there was a
great and rich country laid off for all the
Indians to move to, west of the State of
Missouri, which never would be within any
state or territory of the United States, and
where there was plenty of buffalo, elk and
deer; where they could live well without
working at all.
The tribe was greatly divided in its opin-
ions. But those who had been bribed and
influenced by the traders outnumbered the
others. The dissipated Indians realized that
this would give them a lot of ready money.
The tribe insisted on the payment of all the
debts of its members. The treaty was signed
without being read by Gardner, and he mis-
represented its terms. Finding that they had
been deceived, the Shawnees applied to the
Quakers for help. A committee of the
Friends was appointed for that purpose.
They proceeded to Washington in order to
present the matter to Congress, asking for
relief. For the first time a true copy of the
treaty was exhibited to them by the secretary
of war. They found that the amount the
Shawnees were to receive was $115,000 less
than had been promised for their lands at
Hog Creek and " Wapaghkonnetta. " Be-
cause of the opposition of Congress, only
$30,000 addition was granted then by that
body until 1853, when they received an addi-
tional $66,000. Thus it required twenty
years for the whites to render justice to their
wards, whom they had dispossessed of their
inheritance.
Because Gardner informed the Shawnees
that they would be removed early in the
spring, the Indians disposed of their cattle
and hogs and many other things. As a mat-
ter of fact it was almost a year, and the
Indians meanwhile suffered great privation.
Many came almost to the point of starvation.
Henry Harvey exerted himself vigorously on
their behalf. When the money finally came,
it was transported in ten wooden kegs on
horseback from Piqua. It was disbursed to
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
197
the Indians from Gardner's headquarters, in
the Jones' woods, in the northeastern part
of Wapakoneta.
After receiving their annuity, the Indians
entered upon a round of festivities and dis-
sipation that lasted in most instances until
tlirir money was spent. After recuperating
from their dissipations, they "began making
preparations for their removal to their west-
ern home. They destroyed or buried the prop-
erty they could not sell. David Robb, one of
the commissioners who assisted in their re-
moval, has left an interesting account of the
ceremonies incident to the occasion :
"After we had rendezvoused, preparatory
to %moving, we were detained several weeks
waiting until they had got over their tedious
round of religious ceremonies, some of which
were public and others kept private from us.
One of their first acts was to take away the
fencing from the graves of their fathers, level
them to the surrounding surface, and cover
them so neatly with green sod, that not a
trace of the graves could be seen. Subse-
quently, a few of the chiefs and others visited
their friends at a distance, gave and received
presents from chiefs of other nations at their
headquarters.
"Among the ceremonies above alluded to
was a dance, in which none participated but
the warriors. They threw off all their cloth-
ing but their breechclouts, painted their faces
and naked bodies in a fantastical manner,
covering them with the pictures of snakes
and disagreeable insects and animals, and then
armed with war clubs, commenced dancing,
yelling and frightfully distorting their coun-
tenances; the scene was truly terrific. This
was followed by the dance they usually have
on returning from a battle, in which both
sexes participated. It was a pleasing con-
trast to the other, and was performed in the
night, in a ring, around a large fire. In this
they sang and marched, males and females
promiscuously, in single file around the
blaze. The leader of the band commenced
singing, while all the rest were silent until he
had sung a certain number of words, then the
next in the row commenced with the same,
and the leader began with a new set, and so
on to the end of their chanting. All were
singing at once, but no two the same words.
I was told that part of the words they used
were hallelujah ! It was pleasing to witness
the native modesty and graceful movements
of those young females in this dance.
' ' When their ceremonies were over, they
informed us they were ready to leave. They
then mounted their horses, and such as went
in wagons seated themselves, and set out with
their 'high priest' in front, bearing on his
shoulders 'the ark of the covenant,' which
consisted of a large gourd and the bones of a
deer's leg, tied to its neck. Just previous to
starting, the priest gave a blast of his trumpet,
then moved slowly and solemnly while the
others followed in like manner, until they
were ordered to halt in the evening and cook
supper. The same course was observed
through the whole of the journey. When they
arrived near St. Louis, they lost some of their
number by cholera. The Shawnees who emi-
grated numbered about 700 souls. ' '
It was on the 20th of November, 1832, that
they commenced their journey of 800 miles,
and proceeded as far as Piqua the first day,
where they remained two days to visit the
graves of their ancestors. On the evening
of November 23d they encamped at Hamilton.
After a sojourn of three days at this point,
they departed on their western journey.
They traveled until Christmas of that year,
when they encamped at the junction of the
Kansas and Missouri rivers. They suffered
much on the journey from the severity of the
winter. They immediately commenced the
construction of cabins, and, by the latter part
of February, these were so far completed as
to protect them from the cold western winds.
The Shawnees and Senecas who made the
198
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
winter journeys numbered about 1,100. They
were joined the next spring by the Hog 'Creek
tribe, under the direction of Joseph Parks.
This second contingent fared much better
than those who preceded them, as they had
the advantage of season.
In 1870, in compliance with the stipulations
of a treaty made the previous year, the Shaw-
nees removed from their Kansas reservation
to Indian Territory, where they settled on
unoccupied lands in the Cherokee country,
and thereby became a part of that nation.
Pure-blooded Indians form only a small per
cent of the members. It is estimated that
only about 15, or, at most, 20 per cent of the
Shawnees and Cherokees are of pure Indian
descent at the present time. Even among
those claiming to be Indians are many quarter-
blood and half-bloods.
The Ottawas along the lower Maumee, at
Wolf Rapids and Roche de Boeuf, and also
those by the Auglaize River and Blanchard
River, near the present Town of Ottawa, about
200 in number, gave up their lands and con-
sented to remove to a reservation of 40,000
acres in consideration of an annuity and
presents of blankets, horses, guns, agricul-
tural implements, etc. It was especially
stated that this relinquishment did not in-
clude the square mile of territory previously
granted to Peter Manor, the Yellow Hair. A
three years' lease was also granted to Chief
Wau-be-ga-ka-ke for a section of land adjoin-
ing Peter Manor, and a section and a half
of land below Wolfe Rapids was given to
Muck-qui-ona, or the Bear Skin. A quarter
section each was set off to Hiram Thebault, a
half-breed Ottawa, to William Ottawa, and
to William McNabb, another half-blood.
The last remnant of the once powerful
Ottawa tribe of Indians removed from this
valley to lands beyond the Mississippi in 1838.
They numbered some interesting men among
them. There was Nawash, Ockquenoxy,
Charloe, Ottoke, Petonquet, men of eloquence
who were long remembered by many of our
citizens. Their burying grounds and village-
sites are scattered along both banks of Miami
of the Lakes, from its mouth to Port Defiance.
They left on the steamboat "Commodore
Perry" for Cleveland, on August 21, 1837,
to journey from there by canal to Portsmouth,
and thence by the Ohio and Mississippi to
their new western home. There were about
150 in the party, and a few remained behind
with their white neighbors. A couple of years
later another 100, who had been eking out a
precarious existence, consented to follow the
others, and they were accordingly transported
west by the same route.
The Wyandots of the Big Spring Reserva-
tion, or those of Solomon's Town, ceded their
lands, amounting to about 16,000 acres, to the
United States at a council held at McCutchen-
ville, Wyandot County, on the 19th of Jan-
uary, 1832. James B. Gardner was the
specially appointed commissioner on the part
of the Government. It was stipulated that
when sold the chiefs should be paid in silver
the sum of $1.25 per acre for the land, and
also a fair valuation for all improvements
that had been made. The Indians went to
Huron, in Michigan, or any place that they
might obtain the privilege of settling with
other Indians. Some did in fact join the other
Wyandots on their principal reservation.
Chief Solomon went West with his tribe, but
returned and passed his last days among the
whites. In 1836 the Wyandots reduced their
claims, and, in 1842, they ceded to the United
States all of the remainder of their reserva-
tion and were removed by the Government to
the Indian Territory. With their removal
Ohio was entirely freed from its aborigine
population. The commissioner on the part of
the United States, who had the honor of mak-
ing the last Indian treaty in Ohio was Col.
John Johnston, a state, says Henry Howe,
' ' every foot of whose soil has been fairly pur-
chased by treaties from its original posses-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
199
sors. ' ' The Wyandots left for Kansas in July,
1843.
Considering their numbers and resources,
few races have ever made a better defense, or
acquitted themselves with greater valor, than
did the red men. They had neither the ad-
vantages of the destructive weapons nor the
numerical .strength of their enemies. And yet,
how long and how bloody was the struggle
before they succumbed to the increasing num-
bers of the whites. How reluctantly they
yielded to their new masters ; but at last they
were obliged to submit and be dictated to.
The pleasant hunting grounds, where they
formerly chased the deer and the bear in
Northwest Ohio, have fallen into the posses-
sion of aliens of a different color. The red
man is no more seen stretched before the
sparkling fire along the banks of the Sandusky
or the Maumee. The cheerful notes of his
flute, and the hoarser sound of the turtle
shell, or the tom-tom of his rude drum, no
longer make vocal the groves along their
banks. In his distant home he sits and smokes
his pipe, and heaves a sigh of despair and
helplessness. In strains of sorrowful elo-
quence he relates to his listening children the
glorious deeds of his ancestors, and the hap-
piness of the days in the long ago. Gloom
fills his heart, as he peers into the future, and
seems to see at no great distance the end of
his people. Wrapped in his blanket, he pours
out his pent-up soul in supplications to the
Great Spirit. In that distant world of the
future, he expects to find new and happy
hunting-grounds, apart from the aggressive
white men, whose numbers are as the sands of
the sea.
Some of the Indians, when the removal was
begun, declared that they never would leave
their beloved Maumee Valley. If they could
find no place to stay, they would spend the
rest of their days in walking up and down the
Maumee. mourning over the wretched state
of their people, — so they were reported say-
ing. Using this sentiment as a subject,
Josiah D. Canning communicated to the
"American Pioneer" the following poem:
THE BANKS OF THE MAUMEE
I stood, in a dream, on the banks of Maumee !
Twas autumn, and nature seem'd wrapped
in decay,
The wind, moaning, crept thro' the shivering
tree —
The leaf from the bough drifted slowly
away:
The gray-eagle screamed on the marge of the
stream,
The solitudes answered the bird of the free ;
How lonely and sad was the scene of my
dream,
And mournful the hour, on the banks of
Maumee !
A form passed before me — a vision of one
Who mourned for his nation, his country
and kin;
He walked on the shores, now deserted and
lone,
Where the homes of his tribe, in their glory,
had been ;
And thought after thought o'er his sad spirit
stole,
As wave follows wave o'er the turbulent
sea;
And this lamentation he breathed from his
soul,
O'er the ruins of home, on the banks of
Maumee.
As the hunter, at morn, in the snows of the
wild,
Recalls to his mind the sweet visions of
night ;
When sleep, softly falling, his sorrows be-
guiled,
And opened his eyes in the land of delight —
200 HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
So, backward I muse on the dream of my And I, in the garments of heaviness dress 'd
youth; The last of my tribe, on the banks of
Ye peace-giving hours! 0, where did ye Maumee?
flee!
When the Christian neglected his pages of Ye trees, on whose branches my cradle was
truth, hung,
And the Great Spirit groaned, on the banks Must I yield you a prey to the axe and the
of Maumee ! fire ?
Ye shores, where the chant of the pow-wow
Oppression has lifted his iron-like rod, was sung,
And smitten my people, again and again; Have ye witnessed the light of the council
The white man has said their is justice with expire?
God — Pale ghosts of my fathers, who battled of yore,
Will he hear the poor Aborigine before Is the Great Spirit just in the land where
Him complain? ye be?
Sees he not how His children are worn and While living, dejected I'll wander this shore,
oppress 'd? And join you at last from the banks of
How driven in exile ? — I, can He not see ? Maumee.
CHAPTER XVIII
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS
Just when the first religious teacher set foot
in Northwest Ohio is not well established.
That it was a priest of the Roman Catholic
Church is reasonably certain. La Salle was
always accompanied by priests on his jour-
neys, and his visit may have been the initial
occasion. Many of the earliest priests did not
keep records of their journeys, and for the
lack of these there is many a blank in the his-
tory of pioneer missions.
When Champlain reported that the New
World traversed by him was peopled with sav-
ages, who were "living like brute beasts, with-
out law, without religion, and without God,"
a great religious zeal was awakened among
the Catholic clergy of France. The Gray
Friars, as the Recollects were called, first an-
swered the call. Finding the field too vast
for themselves, the Jesuits were brought to
their aid. Jesuit priests and teachers spread
over all the country of the Great Lakes among
the copper-colored aborigines, preaching
whenever and wherever it was possible. The
Jesuit fathers wrote detailed narratives of
their wanderings and their efforts to carry
the cross to the savages of the wilderness.
These reports are known as the "Jesuit Rela-
tions," and they describe in detail stories of
sufferings and hardships, and occasional in-
stances of martyrdom, which are almost un-
surpassed in the history of the human race.
The Jesuits "illumined the career of New
France with a poetic glamour such as is cast
over no other part of America north of Mex-
ico," says a writer. The "Relations" reveal
much concerning the early history of the abo-
rigines of the old Northwest Territory.
The first recorded instance of missionary
effort within our territory of Northwest Ohio
was in 1749, when the Jesuit fathers, Pierre
Poitier and Joseph de Bonnecamp, undertook
to evangelize the Indians living along the
Vermillion and Sandusky rivers. The earliest
permanent religious chapel within the limits
of Ohio was erected near Sandusky, in 1751,
by Father John de la Richardie, who had
journeyed from Detroit to the southern shore
of Lake Erie. During the exciting period of
Pontiac's Conspiracy, these missionaries were
driven from the Sandusky, and services after-
wards were very irregular. In fact, from
that time until 1795, no positive record is
found of the activities of Catholic missionar-
ies within this section of Ohio. As the "Jesuit
Relations" make no mention of the Sandusky
mission, it is fair to conclude that it was de-
pendent upon one at Detroit. At the time of
the Jesuit pilgrimages, the Ohio country was
so shaken and torn by the Iroquois conflicts
that the Ohio tribes had no settled habita-
tions, and this probably accounts for the lack
of mission efforts among them. In the year
1796, the Rev. Edmund Burke was sent from
Detroit to the Indians living near Fort Miami.
In this neighborhood, and within the limits of
the present Village of Maumee, he constructed
and occupied a log house as his chapel. Here
he resided for a time, ministering to the few
Catholic soldiers in the fort, and endeavoring
to Christianize the Indians in the neighbor-
201
202
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
hood. His efforts met with little success, so
that he remained only about a year. From
that time no priest was stationed in this ter-
ritory for a score of years.
In a letter written by Father Burke from
the "Miainis" to Archbishop Troy, the follow-
ing passage occurs: "I wrote from Quebec,
if I rightly remember, the day before depart-
ure for this country; am now distant about
five hundred leagues from it, on the western
side of Lake Erie, within a few miles of the
Miami fort, lately built by the British govern-
ment. * * * I'm here in the midst of
Indians, all heathens. This day a grand
council was held in my house by the Ottawas,
Chippewas and Pottowatomies. These people
receive a certain quantity of Indian corn from
the government, and I have been appointed
to distribute it. That gives me a consequence
among them which I hope will be useful, as
soon as I can speak .their language, which is
not difficult.
"This (is) the last and most distant parish
inhabited by Catholics on this earth; in it is
neither law, justice nor subjection. You
never meet a man, either Indian or Canadian,
without his gun in his hand and his knife at
his breast. My house is on the banks of a
river which falls into the lake, full of fish and
fowl of all sorts; the finest climate in the
world, and the most fertile lands. * * *
Next summer I go on three hundred leagues
towards Mackina, or Lake Superior, where
there are some Christian Indians, to see if I
can collect them." This letter is dated Feb-
ruary 2, 1796. From this and other indica-
tions it is clear that the time of his sojourn
in this vicinity was from the February of
1795 to the February of 1796, while the allu-
sion to the British fort definitely fixes the
'place. We know, therefore, the exact place
and time of Father Burke 's visit to the In-
dians of Northwestern Ohio.
In the famous treaty at the Foot of the
Maumee Rapids, made in 1817, the following
reference to the Catholic converts is made :
"Some of the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Pot-
tawatomie tribes being attached to the Cath-
olic religion, and believing they may wish
some of their children hereafter educated, do
grant to the rector of the Catholic church of
St. Anne of Detroit for the use of the said
church, and to the corporation of the college
at Detroit for the use of the said college, to
be retained or sold as the said rector and cor-
poration may judge expedient, each one-half
of three sections of land to contain six hun-
dred and forty acres of land on the River
Raisin at a place called Macon, and three sec-
tions of land not yet located, which tracts
were reserved for the use of the said Abo-
rigines by the Treaty of Detroit in 1807. And
the Superintendent of Aborigine Affairs in
the Territory of Michigan (Governor Lewis
Cass) is authorized on the part of the said
Aborigines to select the said tracts of land."
The Friends, or Quakers, early became in-
terested in the Indians of Northwest Ohio.
As early as 1793, a commission from that
religious body started to attend an Indian
council on the lower Maumee River, in com-
pany with the United States commissioners.
They reached Detroit, but did not succeed in
getting any farther. The impressions which
these men gained of the West could not have
been very flattering, for a diary has been left
by them. Nathan Williams, "an intelligent
man especially in Aborigine affairs" in a
friendly way expressed fears to the Friends
while in Detroit, that they would be either
killed or kept as hostages if they ventured
to the council. "And truly," wrote Jacob,
"I am not astonished at his idea, considering
the spectacles of human misery he is almost
daily presented with, and the humours he
hears — where tribes of Aborigine warriors
have so frequently passed with their discon-
solate prisoners, and with poles stuck up in
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
203
front of their canoes, some with fifteen, others
with thirty scalps suspended on them in tro-
phy of their courage and victory." During
their wait of several weeks, the Friends sought
opportunities to preach both to the whites
and the Indians. They met Blue Jacket, the
celebrated Shawnee chief, and he gave them
a very friendly greeting, for, said he, "he had
heard that they were harmless people who did
not fipflit." Concluding that there was no
hope at this time for their work, the Friends
returned to their eastern homes.
In 1798, a belt of wampum, and ten strings
of white beads, with a speech attached, was
sent by a number of Indian chiefs to the
yearly meeting of the Friends held in Balti-
more. Appended to this letter were the names
of Tarlie the Crane, Adam Brown, Mai-i-rai,
or Walk-on-the- Water, and a number of other
chiefs. They invited the Friends to visit the
Wvandots and Delawares at their villages on
the Sandusky River. When the designated
representatives of the Friends arrived at
Upper Sandusky, in the following year, they
found shocking and terrible scenes of drunk-
enness, and were subjected to indignities.
Tarhe himself was not able to meet them for
a day or two because of his intoxicated con-
dition. They were then informed that the
council would not meet for ten days, when
the matter of instruction in religion and agri-
culture would be taken up. Presents were
given and the meeting ended. These men
then returned at once to the East without any
satisfactory result for their long and tedious
journey. Nothing was heard from the Wy-
andots in response to this visit.
In the winter of 1803-4, Tarhe and about
a hundred hunters went to the head waters
of the Mahoning River to hunt bears. Be-
cause of the heavy snow and their own
improvidence, they were reduced to "beggary.
Then it was that they made another appeal
to some Friends living a score of miles dis-
tant. This appeal, written by a white man
in (lie camp, reads in part as follows:
"Brothers, will you please help me to fill my
kettles and my horses' troughs, for I am
afraid my hoi-ses will not be able to carry me
home again. Neighbors, will you please to
give if it is but a handful apiece, and fetch
it out to us, for my horses are not able to
come after it. (Signed) Tarhie." After
their immediate needs were supplied by some
of the nearest Friends, there came another
writing, which was in part as follows:
"Brothers, I want you to know I have got
help from some of my near neighbors.
Brothers, I would be glad to know what
you will do for me, if it is but little.
Brothers, if you cannot come soon, it will do
live and bye, for my belly is now full. * * *
.My Brothers, Quakers, I hope our friendship
will last as long as the world stands. All I
have to say to you now is, that I shall stay
here until two moons are gone. Tarhie."
More food was then supplied to these red
children by the generous hearted Friends.
The good name of the Society of Friends
had spread by degrees to many western tribes.
In 1796 Chief Little Turtle visited Philadel-
phia with Captain William Wells, as inter-
preter, and endeavored to enlist the assistance
of the Friends in civilizing the Miamis living
at Fort Wayne and in its vicinity. No im-
mediate result followed, but the matter was
not dropped. Some agricultural implements
were forwarded, and a letter was received
from the Indians several years afterwards :
"The Little Turtle's Town, (Eel River, In-
diana) Sept. 18, 1803.
"To Evan Thomas, George Ellicott, and
others, Brothers and Friends of our Hearts:
We have received your speech from the hand
of our friend Wm. Wells, with the implements
of husbandry that you were so kind to send
to his eare — all in good order.
"Brothers, it is our wish that the Great
Spirit will enable you to render to your Red
204
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Brethren that service which you appear to
be so desirous of doing them, and which their
women and children are so much in need of.
"Brothers, we will try to use the articles
you have sent us, and if we should want more
we will let you know it.
"Brothers, we are sorry to say that the
minds of our people are not so much inclined
towards the cultivation of the earth as we
could wish them.
"Brothers, our Father, the President of
the United States, has, prevented our traders
from selling liquor to our people, which is the
best thing he could do for his Red Children.
"Brothers, our people appear dissatisfied
because our traders do not, as usual, bring
them liquor and, we believe, will request our
Father to let the traders bring them liquor,
and if he does, your Red Brethren are all lost
forever.
"Brothers, you will see from what we have
said that our prospects are bad at present,
though we hope the Great Spirit will change
the minds of our people and tell them it is
better for them to cultivate the earth than to
drink whiskey.
"Brothers, we hope the Great Spirit will
permit some of you to come and see us, when
you will be able to know whether you can do
anything for us or not.
"Brothers, we delivered you the sentiments
of our hearts when we spoke to you at Balti-
more and shall say nothing more to you at
present. "We now take you by the hand, and
thank you for the articles you were so kind
to send us.
(Signed) "The Little Turtle, Miami Chief.
"The Five Medals, Pottawotami Chief."
At a meeting held in 1804, it was decided
to make a visit to the Miamis, in order to
decide on the best course to follow. Four
men were named as a committee for this visit,
and they made a little more progress than
had any of the other emissaries dispatched to
the Maumee Basin. Philip Dennis was left
with the tribe as a permanent instructor.
This was the first serious effort to instruct the
aborigines of the West in agriculture, and it
was not very successful. When the novelty
had worn away, the warriors refused to work.
In 1802 a deputation of Shawnee chiefs,
including Blackhoof, visited the White
Father at Washington. On their return they
stopped at Philadelphia and renewed their
acquaintance with the Quakers. They were
treated with great kindness, and were given
many presents. Missionaries were sent to
teach them agriculture, and instruct them in
the Christian precepts. But the expenses had
become so great that the work was necessarily
curtailed.
At the close of the War of 1812, the work
of the Friends again commenced among the
Shawnees at Wapakoneta in a permanent
form. A dam was constructed across the
Auglaise River, and a flouring-mill and saw-
mill were erected for their instruction and
benefit in 1819. The expense of building and
operation of the mill was borne by the Society
of Friends, while the corn of the Indians was
ground free of toll. The women soon learned
to bake bread, which was much easier than
pounding hominy. The Indians were fur-
nished with plow irons and taught how to
cultivate corn, beans, pumpkins, etc. Cows
were furnished them, and they were taught
how to use them. As a result of their work,
the aborigines in that neighborhood began to
improve and to build better homes. They
wandered away after game less and less, and
turned to the rearing of domestic animals.
The faithful and devoted Friends worked
diligently and faithfully without compensa-
tion. Many times they divided the last morsel
of food with the needy Indians, whether the
subjects 'of their alms were worthy or un-
worthy. An annual payment of $3,000 did
not keep starvation and want away from these
improvident people. This annuity was lion-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
205
cstly paid them, so lung as .John .Johnston re-
mained as agent, but liis successors were not
always so honest. They taught tlie Bible and
religious ethics by example, as well as by
word, and they instructed in the industrial
arts to as great an extent as possible. A
school in manual training was organized,
which was the first school of its kind in Ohio.
Friend Isaac Harvey moved there in 1819,
and took charge of the work. He was a man
of good judgment and good policy, and got
on very well with his charges. It was not long
until the holdings of the Indians around Wa-
pakoneta numbered 1,200 cattle and as many
hogs, which speaks very well indeed for the
work clone among them.
Much superstition existed among the Shaw-
nees. Soon after Harvey's arrival, it was
aroused to an unwonted pitch by The Pro-
phet, brother of Tecumseh. A half-breed
woman of the tribe, named Polly Butler, was
accused of witchery. One night Harvey was
startled by the hasty visit of Polly, who came
with her child to his house, asking protection
from the Shawnees, who were seeking to put
her to death as a witch. "They kill-ee me!
they kill-ee me!" she cried in terror. They
were taken into the house by Harvey, who at
once strangled a small dog accompanying
them, that it might not betray their where-
abouts. The next day Chief We-os-se-cah, or
Captain Wolf, came and told Harvey about
the occurrences and the resulting excitement,
whereupon Harvey showed him of the sinful-
ness of such proceedings. "We-os-se-cah
went away much disturbed in mind, but soon
returned and, intimating that Harvey knew
the whereabouts of the woman, was told that
she was out of their reach ; and if they did
not abandon her with desire to put her to
death, he would remove his family and aban-
don the mission entirely. We-os-se-cah de-
sired Harvey to go with him to the Council
House, where twenty or more chiefs and head
men, painted and arnn-d were in session. Har-
vey went to the Tinted States Blacksmith, an
important man with the aborigines, on ac-
count of his keeping their guns and knives in
repair, and took him and bis son along as
interpreters. Upon their entering the Coun-
cil House, where some of the Indians were
already in their war paint, Chief We-os-se-cah
commanded the Council 'to be still and hear,'
whereupon he repeated what had transpired
between Harvey and himself, which caused
great commotion.
"Harvey then addressed them in a com-
posed manner through the interpreter, inter-
ceding for the life of the woman who had
been so unjustly sentenced to be put to death.
But seeing them determined to have blood,
he felt resigned and offered himself to be put
to death in her stead ; that he was wholly un-
armed and at their mercy. We-os-se-cah
stepped up, took Harvey by the arm, and de-
clared himself his friend, and called upon the
chiefs to desist, but if they would not, he
would offer his life for the Qua-kee-lee (Qua-
ker) friend. This brave and heroic act of
Harvey, and the equally unexpected offer of
this brave chief checked the tide of hostile
feeling. The chiefs were astonished, but
slowly, one by one, to the number of six or
eight, they came forward, took Harvey by the
hand, and declared friendship. 'Me Qua-ke-
lee friend,' they would say. After a short
discussion among themselves, the Council to
a man, excepting Elskwatawa (The Prophet),
who at this moment sullenly slunk away, came
forward and cheerfully offered their hands
and friendship. They promised if the woman
was restored to her people, that she would be
protected; and they called on the blacksmith
to witness their vow — and he became surety
for its fulfillment. It required considerable
effort to assure the woman of her safety, but
eventually she returned to her dwelling and
was not afterwards molested." This was the
206
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
first successful effort to arrest the custom of
destroying life for witchcraft of which we
have any record.
It was in 1830 that the mission schools came
under the charge of Henry Harvey, who re-
moved with the tribe to the West, and
remained there a number of years. The In-
dians were greatly attached to him and his
family. When he decided to return to the
East, the Indians were greatly affected. Every
day they were visited by some of them. A
large council of the tribe was held to consider
the situation. Finally a delegation of the
leading chiefs came to his house. Let me give
you this scene as described by Mr. Harvey
himself :
"A few days afterward, all the chiefs, ex-
cept George Williams, came early in the morn-
ing to see me. They told us, on their arrival,
that George Williams (a chief) had been sent
a few days before to deliver a message and
bid us farewell, on behalf, and in the name
of the whole nation ; but now they had come
on their own account, as the chiefs, to pass
the day with us, and to talk over all their
old matters with me, as we were going to
leave them, for which they were very sorry,
because we had been with them so much ; but
they supposed we wanted to go to our home,
and our friends and they must give us up.
They then proposed to me that we should
go into the yard to talk, as it was a pleasant
day, and they would spit so much in the
house.
' ' I had their horses put up and fed. There
were about twenty chiefs and counselors pres-
ent. We spent a happy day together, and I
gave them a good dinner. In the afternoon
they saddled their horses, and tied them near
the bars, and then returned to where we had
been sitting. When evening drew near I ob-
served them become very solemn and thought-
ful, and conversing among themselves, about
returning home. Soon they divided some-
thing among themselves that looked like fine
seeds, which John Perry had wrapped in a
cloth.
' ' They then loosened their hair and clothes.
Henry Clay, one of the chiefs, who acted as
interpreter, informed me that they were now
ready to return home. They wanted me to
have everybody but nay wife and children,
to leave the house, and for us to arrange our-
selves in order, according to our ages, so they
could take a last look at each of us, and bid
us farewell. Henry came to the door, looked
in, saw us all standing in order on the floor,
and then returned to the others, when they
came into the house, one after another, ac-
cording to their stations. John Perry came
first. Each one, as he reached the door, put
something into his mouth (the seed I sup-
pose), and chewed it. John Perry first took
my hand, and said 'Farewell, my brother.'
Then taking my wife by the hand, said, 'My
sister, farewell.' Tears streamed down his
aged cheek, as he bid our children adieu, talk-
ing all the time in the Shawnee language.
The others followed in the same way. Some
of them were crying, and trying to talk to
our children as they held them by the hand.
The children cried the whole time, as if they
were parting with one another. The cere-
mony lasted for some time. When they were
through, every one started directly, and
mounted their horses, John Perry leading,
and the others following in order, one after
another, they set off for their homes across
the prairie. Not one looked back, but they
observed the same order as if they were re-
turning from a funeral. This was a solemn
time for us. Here were the celebrated Shaw-
nee chiefs, great men among the Indians,
some of them called in time past brave war-
riors, now here in mourning, in tears, and all
this in sincerity, and for nothing more than
parting with us. They surely did love us. ' '
The courage and faith of the missionaries
who stepped out into the wilderness is truly
wonderful. "With my wife and seven small
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
207
children," says one, "I went into the wilder-
ness to seek an opportunity of preaching
Christ to the Aborigines without a promise
of patronage from any one, looking to Heaven
for help and trusting that God would dispose
the hearts of some, we knew not whom, to
give my family bread while I should give my-
self wholly to the service of the heathen."
The Protestant missionary work was begun
along the Mauniee on or about the year 1802,
when the Rev. D. Bacon, under the auspices
of the Connecticut Missionary Soeiety, visited
this region. With two companions he set out
from Detroit for the Maumee River in a
canoe, and was five days in making the trip.
He found here a good interpreter by the
name of William Dragoo, who had been with
the Indians since he was ten years of age.
Uppn arrival at the mouth of the river, he
found most of the chiefs drunk at a trading
post above, and then concluded to pass on to
Fort Miami, where he stored his belongings.
The next day he returned to the mouth of
the river, where most of the chiefs were still
drunk. Little Otter, the head chief, was a
little more sober than the rest, and he replied
in friendly terms that Mr. Bacon should have
a hearing with the tribe. Owing to the death
of a child, another period of debauch followed,
and the missionary was delayed still longer.
Some tribal dances were taking place among
the Indians on a bluff facing the river. Here
the turf had been removed from a space about
20 by 40 feet in size, in the middle of which
stood a painted pole with a white feather on
the top. Around this pole the conjurers took
their stand, and the dancers whirled about
them. On each side were bark roofs, under
which the weary Indians rested and smoked
tlicir pipes.
A ft or about ten days' delay, Mr. Bacon
secured a hearing for his cause, which he elo-
quently presented. -But he found many objec-
tions. One of the most potent was that they
would subject themselves to the fate of the
Moravians, if they should embrace the new re-
ligion. One objection. >ays he, "I thought to
be much the most important, and the most
difficult to answer. It was this: That they
could not live together so as to receive any
instructions on account of their fighting and
killing one another when intoxicated. Two
had been killed but a few days before at the
trader's above; and I found that they seldom
got together without killing some ; that their
villages there were little more than places of
residence for Fall and Spring, as they were
obliged to be absent in the Winter on account
of hunting, and as they found it necessary
to live apart in the Summer on account of
liquor ; and that the most of them were going
to disperse in a few days for planting, when
they would be from 10 to 15 miles apart, and
not more than two or three families in a place.
To remove this objection, I acknowledged the
difficulty of their living together while they
made such free use of spiritous liquor; and
proposed to them to begin and build a new
village upon this condition, that no one should
be allowed to get drunk in it; that if they
would drink, they should go off and stay till
they had it over, and that if any would not
comply with this law, they should be obliged
to leave the village." Becoming convinced
that any further attempt he then might make
would be fruitless, Mr. Bacon abandoned the
field and journeyed on to Mackinac.
The Presbyterian Church was the next de-
nomination, in order of priority, to send mis-
sionaries into Northwest Ohio. The Synqd of
Virginia made some fragmentary efforts at
missionary effort along the Sandusky among
the Wyandots, but they never really obtained
a foothold in that region or with that tribe.
At the .opening of the nineteenth century, the
Rev. Thomas E. Hughes made two missionary
tours throughout these regions. On one of
these journeys he was accompanied by James
Satterfield, and on the other by Rev. Joseph
Badger. One of these early missionaries, in
208
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
speaking of the Indians on the lower Maumee,
writes as follows :
" .My interpreter advised me to go with him
to see them that evening; and I had a desire
to be present, as I supposed I might acquire
some information that might be useful. But
I thought it would not be prudent to be among
them that night, as I knew some of them were
intoxicated and that such would be apt to be
jealous of me at that time, and that nothing
would be too absurd for their imaginations to
conceive, or too cruel for their hands to per-
form. But as a son of the head chief was
sent early next morning to invite me down, I
went to see them. I had the greater desire
to go as this is their annual conjuration dance
which is celebrated every spring on their re-
turn from hunting, and at no other time in
the year.
"Mr. Anderson, a respectable trader at
Fort Miami, told me that they had been grow-
ing worse every year since he had been ac-
quainted with them, which is six or seven
years; and that they have gone much greater
lengths this year than he has ever known them
before. He assured me that it was a fact that
they had lain drunk this spring as much as
fifteen days at several different traders above
him, and that some of them had gone fifteen
days without tasting a mouthful of victuals
while they were in that condition."
It cannot be said that the Presbyterians
ever gathered unto themselves a very large
following among the Indians of this section.
Their principal station was along the lower
Maumee, about half way between Fort Meigs
and Grand Rapids, then called Gilead. There
the mission owned a farm, a part of which
was a large island, and ministered unto the
Ottawa tribes. Upon this was erected a large
mission house and a commodious school build-
ing. It was established in the year 1822. The
aim of the missionaries was to make the mis-
sion as near self-sustaining as possible, and
to benefit the Indians in every way. The
children were given board and clothing, edu-
cated and trained in farming. The report
of this mission, published by the United
States, in 1824, gives the number of members
of the mission family as twenty-one. Some
taught domestic science, others instructed in
agriculture, while others attempted to instill
book learning and religious truth into their
pupils. It was allowed $300 every six months
from the congressional fund for the civiliza-
tion of the aborigines. The only ordained mis-
sionary for this faith was the Rev. Isaac Van
Tassel, although there were several assistants.
Among these were Leander Sackett, Hannah
Riggs, William Culver, Sidney E. Brewster,
and Sarah Withrow.
The mission church was organized in 1823
with twenty-four persons, nine of whom were
aborigines. All were pledged to abstain from
the use of spirituous liquors. The mission
closed in 1834, when the Indians were removed
to the West. At that time there were thirty-two
pupils in attendance at this school. Fourteen
of these were full-blooded aborigines, and six-
teen of them were recorded as mixed blood. The
records reveal that the whole number which
had been under instruction at this station
during the dozen years of its existence, most
of them for brief periods of time, was ninety-
two. While the aborigines did not antagonize
the missions directly, the general attitude of
the warriors, and the large number of drunks
among them, particularly at the time of the
payment of the annuities, kept up an excite-
ment of blood and evil that greatly detracted
from the quiet influence which the mission-
aries attempted to throw around their pupils
and converts. It was such things as these
that made the work of the Christian mission-
aries one of such great difficulty. White men
and half-breeds would continue to sell the
"firewater" to the Indians, and even bribe
the Indians to keep their children from the
schools. It is thus easy to see how difficult
it was to establish a school among a people
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
209
naturally wild and fierce, and with children
who had never been restrained or had their
freedom interfered with in the least. To ask
them to desert the free woods, abandon their
sports of hunting and fishing, to relinquish
the joy of paddling their canoes, or riding
their horses or running raees, and sit in a
close class-room six hours a day for as many
days of the week, and listen to two long, old-
fashioned Presbyterian sermons on the sev-
enth, was asking a good deal. It is not sur-
prising that the children themselves resented
about thirty souls, and the triumphant deaths
of at least nine of these, who were known to
the missionaries to have died trusting in the
Saviour, liesides much seed sown, the result
of which can only be known in the light of
eternity, was not worth the few thousands
exi>ended there, then might the mission be
called a failure. The Indians were at first
shy and distrustful ; they could not believe
that white people intended them any good.
As they became acquainted, however, they
were very friendly, and never gave us any
OLD MISSION HOUSE, Now TORN DOWN
On the Maumee River in Wood County, two miles above Waterville.
it, even without discouragement from their
natural guardians. Many would leave be-
tween two days, after a few days' experience.
But the missionaries and the teachers per-
sisted, and the attendance gradually in-
creased. Most of those that remained took
to education readily enough, but they ab-
sorbed the religion sparingly and rather
doubtingly.
The widow of Rev. Isaac Van Tassel has
given an account of the mission, from which
I quote the following:
"It has been said that the Maumee .Mission
was a failure. If the hopeful conversion of
Vol. 1—14
trouble by stealing or committing any depre-
dation. They were always grateful for any
favors bestowed on them by the missionaries.
A mother once came to the station to beg
a water-melon for her sick son ; she gratefully
received it, and the next time she called
brought us a quantity of nicely dried whortle-
berries, for which she refused any compensa-
tion ; other similar incidents are within my
recollection. In the fall of 1826 a young In-
dian came to the station, saying that his
friends had all gone for their winter's hunt,
and left him behind, because he was sick and
could not travel; he appeared nearly gone
210
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
•with consumption; he begged to be taken in
and permitted to sleep by the fire in the chil-
dren's room, and to eat what they might leave.
While his strength lasted, he was anxious to
make himself useful, and would cheerfully
offer to do any little chores which he felt able
to do; but he was soon confined to his bed.
He gladly received instruction through the in-
terpreter, and some of the larger boys, who
had hopefully become pious, often prayed with
him. We never carried him a dish of food
or a cup of cold water without receiving his
emphatic 'wawanee, wawanee' (thank, you,
thank you)."
After the close of the mission school, Rev.
Isaac Van Tassel and his wife continued to
live in the buildings for several years, and
conducted a boarding and day school for the
children of the white settlers, who were then
beginning to come in increasingly large num-
bers. The noted Methodist mission to the
Wyandots has been described in the chapter
devoted to that tribe. The Baptist Church
conducted a mission for several years at Fort
Wayne, with Rev. Isaac McCoy as the mis-
sionary in charge. This denomination doubt-
less conducted some religious services within
Northwest Ohio, but no regular mission under
its auspices was ever established here. The
Fort Wayne mission was opened in 1820, with
a school for both white and Indian youths,
and was removed about 100 miles northwest
three years later, at the special request of the
Pottawatomis, who donated a section of land
for its use.
CHAPTER XIX
THE LIFE OF THE PIONEER
"Who are they but the men of toil,
Who cleave the forest down,
And plant, amid the wilderness,
The hamlet and the town."
Do you enjoy romance and tragedy? If
so, you will luxuriate in the early annals of
Northwest Ohio. There is scarcely a foot of
soil in this section which could not relate its
tale of heroic deed or daring adventure. When
the Americans began their incomings, the
greater part of it was nothing more than one
vast wilderness. The "call of the wild" en-
ticed men of roving dispositions and devotees
of adventure in large numbers. These men
delighted in the wild woods and the free
prairie ; they gloried in all the primeval scenes
of nature. The deer, the turkey, the bear,
and the painted savages as well — all possessed
charms for these, restless spirits. Some of
them were attracted by the very troubles and
dangers that repelled others.
The greater part of the Sandusky and
Maumee basins were covered with majestic
forests. Unless one has visited similar scenes,
it is difficult to picture in one's mind the ef-
fect of such scenes. "The most interesting
sight to me, ' ' says a traveler of the early days
along the Sandusky, "was the forest. It now
appeared in all its pristine state and grandeur,
tall, magnificent, boundless. I had been some-
what disappointed in not finding vegetation
develop itself in larger forms in New England
than with us; but there was no place for dis-
appointment here. I shall fail, however, to
give you the impression it makes on one. Did
it arise from height, or figure, or grouping,
it might readily be conveyed to you; but it
arises chiefly from combination. You must
see it pressing on you and overshadowing you
by its silent forms, and at other times spread-
ing itself before you like a natural park; you
must see that all the clearness made by the
human hand bear no higher relation to it than
does a mountain to the globe ; you must travel
in it in solitariness, hour after hour, and day
after day, frequently gazing on it with solemn
pause and looking for some end without find-
ing any, before you can fully understand the
impression. Men say there is nothing in
America to give you the sense of antiquity,
and they mean that, as there are no works of
art to produce this, there can be nothing else.
You can not think that I would depreciate
what they mean to extol ; but I hope you will
sympathize with me when I say that I have
met with nothing among the most venerable
forms of art which impresses you so thoroughly
with the idea of indefinite distance and end-
less continuity of antiquity shrouded in all
its mystery of solitude illimitable and eter-
nal. ' ' Great oaks would arise a hundred feet
and more above you, with a splendid crown of
verdant foliage. The trees formed avenues,
galleries, and recesses in their groupings. At
times they stood before you like the thousand
and one pillars of one vast and imperishable
temple dedicated to the Maker of All Nature.
All that art has done in our finest gothic
structures is but a poor and weak imitation.
211
212
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
' . . . the thick roof
Of green and stirring branches is alive
And musical with birds, that sing and sport
In wantonness of spirit ; while below
The squirrel, witli raised paws and form erect,
Chirps merrily. Throngs of insects in the
shades
Try their thin wings and dunce in the warm
beam
That waked them into life. Even the green
trees
Partake the deep contentment; as they bend
To the soft winds, .the sun from the blue sky
Looks in and sheds a blessing on the scene."
It was amidst such scenes that the immi-
grants began to appear. Some were men who
had pioneered in other sections farther east,
and moved because civilization had begun to
encroach upon them. They came in by twos
and threes. The individual, unable longer to
endure the discomforts of the civilization
which had begun to hamper him, moved out
to enjoy— to him — the comforts and con-
veniences of the wilderness. At first he fre-
quently consisted only of himself, his dog,
and his gun. A little later he probably con-
sisted of himself, several dogs, one wife, and
many children. Still later a neighbor or two
of precisely the same definition was added to
the above named concomitants. Many of the
early pioneers brought with them little but
large families. Some had many chickens, a
few hogs, or a cow, while others had no more
stock than the horse or yoke of oxen that had
brought them on their long and toilsome jour-
ney in their one wagon. Some even came on
foot, carrying their little all on their backs
over the mountains and through the wilder-
ness.
The most prominent and outstanding fea-
ture of the wilderness was the deep solitude.
Those who plunged into the bosom of the for-
est abandoned not only the multisonous hum
of men, but of domesticated life in general.
The silence of the night was interrupted only
by the howl of the wolf, the melancholy moan
of the ill-boding owl, or the frightful shriek
of the stealthy panther. Even the faithful
dog, the only steadfast friend of man among
the brute creation, partook of the universal
silence. The discipline of the master forbade
him to bark or move, 'but in obedience to his
command, and by the aid of his native sagac-
ity, he was soon taught the propriety of obe-
dience to this severe regulation. By day there
was little noise. The gobble of the wild tur-
key or the sound of the woodpecker tapping
the hollow beech tree did much to enliven the
dreary scene, but there were not so many
singing birds as there are today. Many of
them have come in with the clearing of the
forests and civilization in general.
Exiled from society and its comforts, the
situation of the forest adventurers was peril-
ous in the extreme. The bite of a serpent, a
broken limb, a wound of any kind, was a
dreadful calamity. The bed of sickness, with-
out medical aid, and, above all, to be destitute
of the kind attention of a mother, sister, wife,
or other female friend was a situation which
could not be anticipated by the tenant of the
forest with other sentiments than those of
deepest horror. There are no narratives of
more thrilling interest than those which de-
scribe the perils and hairbreadth escapes
which some of the early adventurers in North-
western Ohio encountered. But these were
not the only dangers. There were wild crea-
tures in human form, with dusky skins, who
added to the dangers of the wilderness. Many,
indeed, were the tragedies wrought by these
painted savages of the forests. The farmer
plowing in his field, the wife singing over her
household tasks, the red-cheeked, laughing
children romping through the orchard — these
were the victims of a war whose ferocity and
desolation are hardly equaled in the history
of any land. Armed conflict is the most ter-
rible of all experiences, but there are varieties
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST Oil In
213
even of war. The antagonism of armies is in
itself a spectacle grand to contemplate. The
carnage of the battle is frightful. But the
war which has for its object, not the destruc-
tion of a military force, but the desolation of
the isolated fireside, the outrage of pure wom-
anhood, the embittcrmcnt of helpless child-
hood, is the incarnation of fiendishness. It is
harming the harmless and taking advantage
of the helpless. It is wreaking vengeance
upon innocence. It is the climax of unre-
strained brutality; it is the handiwork of
(lemons themselves.
Picture to yourself, if you can, the frantic,
maddening, and inconsolable grief of a bus-
hand, returning at sunset from wearisome toil
in the primeval forest, to discover the little
cabin home that had represented so much la-
bor only a heap of embers, and to find his
precious wife a mutilated corpse, instead of a
savory supper prepared by her loving hand.
Conceive, if it be possible, the heartrending
anguish of a mother, as she witnesses with
horrified eyes the yelling fiends sink the mur-
derous tomahawk into the skull of her sleep-
ing infant, or, worse yet, beholds her chil-
dren, the joy and pride of all her life, ruth-
lessly torn from her impotent arms, and
carried captive to the distant wigwams of the
savages. Give full play to the imagination
and conjure up a vision, if you are equal to
the task, of the tearful sorrow, the blighting
loneliness of a childish heart, as the little fel-
low, running in innocent glee to summon his
father to the supper, finds the unresponsive
form of his sire stretched beside the half-
chopped log, forever stilled to his supplica-
tions. Take such instances as these, measure
the waves of agony which arise within a single
human heart, then multiply this result by the
hundreds who suffered thus at the time of
which we write. The accumulated sum of
human sorrow will mount up to the firmament
itself.
Some of the prisoners were rescued from
the Indians. Then it was that joy and happi-
ness returned to the desolated homes. Charles
Johnson, a Virginian of some prominence, was
made a prisoner by the Indians on the Ohio
River in 1790, and, with a female prisoner
named Peggy Fleming, was brought to Lower"
Sandusky (Fremont). In a publication by
him, issued in 1827, he says:
' ' When we reached Lower Sandusky a great
degree of consternation prevailed there, pro-
duced by the incidents of the preceding day
and the morning then recently passed. The
Cherokees who had possession of Peggy Flem-
ing had conducted her to a place where they
encamped, within a quarter of a mile from
the town. It was immediately rumored that
they were there with a white female captive.
The traders residing in the town instantly de-
termined to visit the camp of the Cherokees
to see her. Among them was a man whose
name was Whitaker, and who had been car-
ried into captivity from the white settlements
on Fish Creek in Pennsylvania by the Wyan-
dots in his early life and though naturalized
by his captors retained some predilections for
the whites. The influence which he had ac-
quired with his tribe was such that they had
promoted him to the rank of a chief and his
standing with them was high. His business
had led him frequently to Pittsburg, where
the father of Peggy Fleming then kept a tav-
ern in which Whitaker had been accustomed
to lodge and board. As soon as he appeared
he was recognized by the daughter of his old
landlord and she addressed him by name and
earnestly supplicated him to save her from
the grasp of her savage proprietors. Without
hesitation he acceded. Whitaker had won the
sympathy and friendly cooperation of Tarhe,
the principal chief, by the ruse that Peggy
was his sister. Tarhe went immediately to
the camp of the Cherokees and informed them
that their prisoner was the sister of a friend
of his and desired as a favor that they would
make a present to him of Peggy Fleming,
21-1
HISTORY OF NOETHWBST OHIO
whom he wished to restore to her brother, but
they rejected his request. He then proposed
to purchase her; this they also refused with
bitterness, telling hi in that he was no better
than the white people and that he was as
mean as dirt. He was greatly exasperated
and went back to the town and told WMtaker
what had been his reception and declared his
intention to take her from the Cherokees by
force, but fearing such an act might be pro-
ductive of war between his nation and theirs,
down the silver brooches, the value of her ran-
som they bore off the terrified girl to his town
ami delivered her to Whitaker, who after a
few clays sent her disguised to her home at
Pittsburg under the care of two trusty Wyan-
dots."
The narrative proceeds to state that the
Cherokees were so incensed at her rescue that
they entered the town, threatened vengeance,
walking about painted as for war. All the
whites, except Whitaker, who was considered
A RELIC OF THE PIONEER DAYS
he urged Whitaker to raise the necessary sum
for her redemption. Whitaker with the as-
sistance of other traders at the town, imme-
diately made up the requisite amount in silver
brooches. Early next morning, attended by
eight or ten warriors, Tarhe marched out to
the camp of the Cherokees, where they were
found asleep, while their forlorn captive was
securely fastened in a state of utter naked-
ness to a stake and her body painted black,
an indication always decisive that death is
the doom of the captive. Tarhe, with his
knife, cut the cords by which she was bound,
delivered to her her clothing, and after she
was dressed awakened them and throwing
as one of the Wyandots, assembled at night
in the same house, provided with weapons of
defense, continuing together until the next
morning, when the Cherokees disappeared.
BUILDING A HOME
In the earliest settlements the first thing
erected was a blockhouse, and around this
were grouped the rude cabins of the pioneers.
For this reason, a^ number of the primitive
communities were grouped about the military
posts scattered over this section. It was abso-
lutely necessary to have some such shelter and
garrisoned retreat near, since the fierce In-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
215
diaii was ever lurking somewhere in the for-
t-si, ready to scalp and slay the white man
witli whom he was at war. The rifle was ever
uithin reach of the early settler, and the
woman understood how to use it as well as
the man. In the forest it was a constant com-
panion, and at night it remained near the
couch and within easy reach. After the vic-
tory of General Wayne the dangers from the
aborigines greatly lessened, and the pioneer
was able to pursue his course with decreased
external dangers. But the danger had not
entirely disappeared, for, as late as 1815, two
men were tomahawked in their cabin near
Turkey Foot Rock, on the Maumee, and later
in that summer another man was shot and
scalped by the savages on the site of Maumee.
From this time the ax became an even more
potent weapon than the rifle. With its keen
edge the pioneer felled the forest, erected his
domicile, put up his church, and the primitive
mill. Before its sound, and the open spaces
that followed its work of destruction, fled the
fierce wolf and panther, as well as the savage
children of the forest, — escaping into the
gloomy precincts of the more distant wilder-
ness. These pioneers who cleared up the for-
ests were brave men and women. They were
patient and industrious, provident and frugal.
There was no dross, for that had been elimi-
nated in the process of evolution. The vicious
had generally drifted on with the receding
frontier. Those who remained were able to
put their hand either to the helm of state or
the handle of the plow. Many of them had
little education, but they possessed a passion
for learning in the broader sense. They rev-
t-ivnced virtue, were quick to resist oppres-
sion and wrong, and were instilled with a deep
reverence for religion.
When a new immigrant arrived in a com-
munity, the great event of the neighborhood
was the "house-raising." This was a time
for co-operation, and it was an occasion for
making merry. Men ' gathered from miles
around with axes and teams. One party would
formulate themselves into a gang of wood-
choppers. It was their duty to fell the trees
and cut them into the required lengths.
Others "snaked" them by means of teams
and a chain to the selected spot. Here they
were assorted and placed in convenient places
for the builders. One man would search the
nearby woods for a tree from which the clap-
board shingles might be fashioned. It was
necessary that the wood have a straight grain,
and the tree must be of goodly size. The
clapboards were split three or four feet long,
and used without shaving. Another party
would prepare the "puncheons" for the floor.
These were simply logs, with one side hewn
and split with a broad-ax. This spirit of
co-operation was one of the most marked
traits of the pioneers. They were generous
with the little that they possessed, and were
always willing to share with a neighbor. A
man would walk for miles through the woods
to notify a neighbor that a letter awaited him
at the postoffice. Frequently the letter might
have postage unpaid amounting to 25 cents,
and he would not have that amount of money
with him, for even quarters were scarce. He
was ready to go twenty or forty miles for a
doctor when a neighbor's family demanded
such services.
The preliminary work for a new cabin usu-
ally required a day, and the second day was
devoted to the ' ' raising. ' ' The logs were duly
notched and laid one upon the other. One
opening was left for a door, one for a win-
dow, and still another for the broad chimney,
which was built on the outside of the cabin.
Plaster and pieces of wood were employed
to fill in the chinks between the logs, which
not only made it weatherproof, but the white-
ness added to the appearance ; the clapboards
were held down by logs securely fastened.
Not a single nail was used, and wooden pegs
were employed in their stead. Some of these
old cabins may yet be found in use, but most
216
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of those still standing have been abandoned
and remain as relics of a day that has passed.
A crude table, some three-legged stools, and
a primitive platform to answer as a bed, com-
pleted this house in the wilderness. When
glass was not to be obtained, greased paper
admitted a dim light through the solitary
window. Many of the cabins had no win-
or joint of venison was roasted before this
fire, by being suspended and turned from time
to time until thoroughly done. A crane was
there on which a pot was hung for boiling.
Potatoes, both Irish and sweet, were baked in
the ashes. Although the ashes had to be
brushed off, this manner of cooking was bet-
ter than the method in use today. The variety
PIONEER FIREPLACE
dow, so that the only light was secured
through the open door and down the broad
chimney. As these were extremely wide and
frequently low, they would admit as much
light as a small window. A hickory knot or
the great "dip" afforded light. The days
were filled with toil, and light was not needed
long, for the pioneers quickly retired to rest.
The cooking was done by the pioneer women
on the open grate. The chicken or turkey
of food was limited, but it was wholesome.
Corn was a great staple, and was served in
many ways. It was made into hominy or
boiled into mush. It was cooked into corn
pone, or in round balls as corn dodgers. White
bread was indeed a luxury in those days, and,
had it not been for the abundance of game,
the pioneers would have starved for the lack
of meat. As it was, game was so plentiful
that they did not have to go far beyond their
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
217
little clearings Id secure a supply of meat for
the hungry mouths at home. Honey was a
luxury easily obtainable by locating the bee
trees. The hollow trunks sometimes contained
hundreds of pounds of this delicacy. But the
fireplace was most cheerful in winter, when
a great bla/ing fire of logs burned in it. A
string attached to the lateh and threaded
through a small opening in the door enabled
friends without to raise the latch and enter.
•• You will find the latch string out," was the
common form of invitation. This string was
usually kept drawn within, however, in order
to prevent the sudden and unwelcome intru-
sion of foes. The loft of these cabins often
had port-holes for observation and defense,
and it was also used as a place for sleeping,
as the family increased or guests were quar-
tered in the house.
The clearing of the forest was one of the
earliest tasks that confronted the pioneer. Un-
til this was done little could be grown. The
small brush was grubbed out, and the trees
less than a foot in diameter cut down. The
larger trees were "girdled" by an ax, cut-
ting through the bark and sap-wood. The
tree would then put forth no more leaves, so
that it made little shade. To cut down all
the trees and burn them up would have en-
tailed upon the settler untold labor. Amid
such surroundings the first crops were
planted. Dead limbs would soon begin to
drop, but the trees sometimes did not dis-
appear for fifteen or twenty years, and the
trunk would then fall in whichever way the
wind or its own weight would throw it. Great
fires would sometimes arise in this deadened
timber, for the half-rotted bark and sap-wood
were like tinder, and a spark was enough to
initiate a blaze.
Another plan frequently adopted was that
of "slashing." For this work an expert was
always employed. I quote a description from
a pioneer writer :
"The slasher carefully studied his field of
operations to ascertain which side the prevail-
ing winds would strike with the greatest force.
Impending now upon his judgment as to the
width of the strip which lie can surely em-
brace in his 'windrow,' he commences on the
leeward side of the tract, chopping the trees
perhaps half, one-third, or one-fourth off at
the stump, the amount of chip or 'kerf taken
out depending upon the inclination of the
tree. Continuing backward toward the wind-
ward side of the tract, he thus cuts notches of
greater or less depth in all the trees over a
tract of about thirty feet in width, deepening
the notches as he approaches the windward
side of the tract. These notches are cut so that
in falling the trees will incline toward the
middle of the strip. If, upon finishing the
notching of the entire strip, the wind is fa-
vorable, the last large tree selected for a
'starter' is felled against its neighbor, and
so on until a terrific crashing is inaugurated
which commands the instant attention of
every living thing in sight or hearing. The
indescribable crashing may continue for some
minutes, if the tract is a long one. The noise
is appalling, and only equalled by that im-
mense forest. When all is still, a marvelous
change has come over the scene. Where a few
minutes before stood a wide expanse of virgin
forest, a mighty swath has been cut as though
some giant reaper had been mowing the forest
as a farmer does his grain. Rising several
feet above the earth, there appears a pro-
digious abatis, which would arrest the onset
of the mightiest army. In this manner the
slashing progresses, strip by strip, until the
entire tract lays in windrows. The brief time
required to slash a given tract seems incred-
ible to those who are not familiar with this
branch of forest pioneer work. Two slashers
accustomed to working together, will fell more
than double the area of forest that either one
can alone. Good workmen will average about
218
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
one acre per day, if the timber is heavy — and
the heavier the better. Two workmen can in
company slash twenty acres in nine days."
Harvesting and threshing in those days
were laborious tasks. Cradles were used when
possible, for they made a wider swath, but a
sickle was better adapted to cut in and around
the stumps. Threshing was performed with
a flail, and every tenth bushel was the usual
price for this work. The cleaning of the wheat
from the chaff was fully as primitive as the
other processes. It consisted of passing the
wheat and chaff through a coarse sieve or
riddle upon the barn floor, while two persons
took a sheet between them, and, by a particu-
lar flapping of the sheet, produced a breeze
that blew the chaff away. It was very ardu-
ous, but was the only method in use, except
by the larger farmers, who trod out the grain
with horses and cleansed it with a fanning-
mill.
The pigs of the early days were a sort
of a wild beast. The breed was very dif-
ferent from those found on the farms today.
They were active, enterprising, and self-reli-
ant; all they demanded was the undisputed
range of the woods, though they could at all
times be tamed by food. It was their stom-
achs that inveigled them into most of their
tight places, even to the slaughter pen in the
autumn. It was quite common in favorable
seasons for the hogs to become fat enough for
meat in the woods on acorns and nuts, though
it was generally deemed advisable to pen them
up and feed them corn for a few weeks be-
fore butchering. The young ones were always
marked by notches or crops on the ear, each
farmer having some special distinguishing
mark. They were never fattened to weigh
anything like the hogs now raised for market.
The meat was thought to be sweeter when not
fed so highly. They were then nearly like
the wild boar, whose flesh is so very delicate.
They rarely weighed over 100 pounds. In
their habits they were ravenous to an extreme,
and even ferocious. Their voracity knew 110
bounds ; they would kill and devour the young
poultry and lambs on a farm without the
slightest scruples. They were a match for the
fiercest wolf. The most vicious individuals
were the old sows. Sometimes another sow's
brood would make a light meal for her. The
pigs' redeeming virtue was faithfulness to
each other, and they would congregate for
the common defense whenever one of them
was in trouble. Although each farmer had
a special mark for his hogs, in their wild state
they wer? so prolific that many of them were
practically common property. As to those
marked and half wild, some pioneers were
exceedingly short-sighted, and sometimes
failed to recognize the mark on a neighbor's
hog that he had shot.
The women of the pioneer families cer-
tainly earned their keep. They were the fam-
ily doctors. What the pioneer woman did not
know about wormwood and pennyroyal, sassa-
fras, sage, and catnip was not worth knowing.
A plentiful supply of these and many other
herbs was always kept in the loft of the cabin.
They turned the flax and the wool into gar-
ments for wear. One or two grown-up daugh-
ters could dispose of a large supply of these
two materials. The best flax was spun into a
firm thread, of which skirts and like garments
were made. The wool was spun into an aver-
age grade for cloth and flannel. A mixed
cloth, called "linsey, " was manufactured with
a linen warp and woolen filling. This mate-
rial was generally worn by the women and
children. A young woman always considered
her wardrobe well supplied when she had a
new "linsey" for the winter. When new it
was worn to meetin', to singin' school and
the "frolics," as most social occasions were
termed. There were few homes that did not
have a loom and weave at least the coarser
fabrics for clothing. If a woman owned one
calico dress for special occasions, she was con-
sidered a finely dressed lady.
SPINNING WHEEL, FOB WOOL AND FLAX
PIONEER FRYING PAN.
BED WARMING PAN AND TIN LANTERN.
(Courtesy of S. V. Orth.)
FOOT WARMER.
OLD-TIME HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS.
1. Shaving Horse and Drawing Knife. 2. Sugar Trough. 3. Pack Saddle.
4. Flail. 5. Lard Lamp. 6. Candle Moulds. 7. Tallow Candle and Stick.
H. Snuffers. 9. Flax Hatchel. 10. Hand Wool Cards. 11. Splint Broom.
220
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
DUTY AND PLEASURE
"They rocked their children," says Mr.
Finley in his autobiography, "in sugar trough
or pack-saddle. The cooking utensils consisted
of a pot, Dutch oven, skillet, frying pan,
wooden trays, and trenchers, and boards made
smooth and clean. The table was made of a
broad slab. And with these fixtures, there
never was a heartier, happier, more hospitable
or cheerful people. Their interests were one,
and their dependence on each other was indis-
pensable, and all things were common. Thus,
united, they lived as one family. They gen-
erally married early in life — the men from
eighteen to twenty-one, and the girls from
sixteen to twenty. The difficulties of com-
mencing the world were not so great; and, as
both parties were contented to begin with
nothing, there was no looking out for for-
tunes, or the expectation of living without
labor. Their affections were personal and sin-
cere, which constituted a chief part of their
domestic happiness, and endeared them to
home. The sparkling log-fire in the back-
woods cabin, the gambols of half a dozen
cheerful, healthy children, and the smiles of
the happy wife and mother made an earthly
paradise.
"Nothing could excite more hilarity than
a backwoods wedding. Most generally, all
the neighborhood for miles around were in-
vited ; and if it was in the winter, there would
be a log-heap or two somewhere near the
cabin. Around these fires the men assembled
with their rifles ; the women in the cabin ; and
if there was a fiddler in the neighborhood, he
must be present at an hour stated. The par-
son, if one could be had, if not, the Justice of
the Peace, called the assembly together, then
the couple to be married. After the ceremony
was over, and all had wished the happy pair
much joy, then, if it could be had, the bottle
passed round; the men then went some to
shooting at a mark, some to throwing the
tomahawk, others to hopping and jumping,
throwing the rail or shoulder-stone, others
to running foot-races; the women were
employed in cooking. When dinner was
ready, the guests all partook of the very
best venison, bear-meat, roast turkeys, etc.
This being over, the dance commences, and
if there is no room in the cabin the com-
pany repair to or near one of the log fires;
there they dance till night, and then they
mostly return home; yet many of the young
people stay, and perhaps dance all night on
a rough puncheon floor, till the moccasins are
worn through. The next day is the infair;
the same scenes are again enacted, when the
newly-married pair single off to a cabin built
for themselves, without twenty dollars' worth
of property to begin the world with, and live
more happily than those who roll in wealth
and fortune."
The arrival of a family in a neighborhood
occasioned eager inquiry by the young men
as to whether there were any marriageable
daughters of the number. The demand was
in excess of the supply. The same maiden
had sometimes several suitors; and this in-
volved the delicate matter of rejection as well
as choice. Sometimes the girls were betrothed
before leaving home, and a knowledge of this
fact caused disappointment. The parties dif-
fered little in fortune, and none in rank.
First impressions of love resulted in marriage,
and a family establishment cost only a little
labor.
The shoes worn in pioneer days would not
grace the parlors of the twentieth century.
The young ladies of today would not be
caught on the street with their feet encased
in such creations. Every farmer would pur-
chase enough leather, both sole and uppers, to
supply each member of his family with a pair
of good, heavy, waterproof shoes, which were
made for service rather than ornamentation.
The peripatetic shoemaker was then engaged
to work up the stock. Like the schoolmaster,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
221
lie frequently boa r< led around. Journeying
from house to house, he would take his seat
by the huge fireplace; there he would meas-
ure, cut, and shape shoes for the entire family.
His annual visits were anticipated with anx-
ious interest, especially by the little ones, to
whom his processes were wonderful.
All was not dreariness in the life of the
pioneers — far from it. They had their joys
as well as hardships, and they entered into
the social spirit far more rapturously than
much of the surfeited society of today. When
a new cabin was completed, there was always
a "house-warming." The neighbors who had
helped in its construction again gathered, but
not for toil on this occasion. Now there was
feasting and dancing that inflamed the blood
and quickened the spirits. Cupid was busy
at such scenes and the "husking bees" which
followed the fall harvesting. At the "husk-
ing bee" the ears of corn were pulled from
the stalks and heaped on a great pile in the
barnyard. On the evening of the "bee" two
captains were elected, and these captains
chose the men until none were left. The pile
was then divided as evenly as possible by a
pole, and the work was entered into with
great and almost feverish earnestness. While
the men were husking the corn, the women
were preparing the feast that was to follow.
The husking finished, the men appeared with
ravenous appetites. Each red ear entitled the
husker to a kiss from the damsel he chose, and
two more "red ears" generally followed its
bestowal. "But," says a frank and honest
pioneer, "I never knew it to be necessary to
produce a red ear to secure a kiss where there
was a disposition either to give or take one."
Singing schools were very popular in pio-
neer days. They would not take exalted rank
today, for the methods of instruction were of
the crudest, and the only music taught was
from the church hymnal. But they gave an
occasion for young men and women to meet
and commingle. The girls usually arrived
with their brothers, or family friends, but it
was generally understood that they would
welcome tlie company of the proper young
man home. In this way acquaintances which
developed into matrimonial matches were
made. Quilting and weaving parties, sewing
and spinning parties also provided means of
social intercourse and gossip, for the pioneer
women were strictly human. Many other op-
portunities for gatherings occurred, during
which time all cares and troubles were left
behind in the locked doors of the one-rooined
log cabins.
One thing much in demand in pioneer days
was whisky, of which there were sure to be
one or more distilleries in each neighborhood.
.Mist of these were small concerns, and their
capacity would probably not exceed a barrel
a day. But that was enough for a small set-
tlement. The usual exchange was a gallon of
whisky for a bushel of corn or rye. When the
jug was empty, a boy would be dispatched,
perched on a horse together with a bag of
grain, to the still-house, and sometimes his
orders were urgent. The rugged pioneers
were not particular as to the age of the liquor,
and frequently drank it the same day that it
was made. At "raisings," "huskings," and
like affairs, the jug was an indispensable ad-
junct. It was a sign of hospitality, and the
approved manner of taking it was from the
mouth of the jug — in that way each man
imbibed as much as he wanted. The women
would sometimes take it sweetened and re-
duced to toddy. Total abstinence was very
uncommon among these men of the early
days. It was considered as one of the neces-
sities of life — a sort of panacea for all its ills,
good both in sickness and in health.
It is almost impossible for those of this gen-
eration to conceive how universal the drink-
ing habit was among the pioneers. Even in
the armies, whisky was generally a part of
the daily rations. A chaplain of a regiment
of the Continental army complained that the
222
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
men were not punctual at morning prayers.
"Oh, I'll fix that," said the colonel. So he
issued an order that the liquor ration would
hereafter be given out at the close of morning
prayers. It worked like a miracle ; not a man
was thereafter missing.
LEARNING
The early schoolhouses were generally make-
shift arrangements. Any old abandoned
building would sometimes be pressed into serv-
ice for that purpose. An old pioneer has left
us the following description of the Ohio school
of an early day :
"The building was a low log cabin, with
a clapboard roof, but indifferently lighted;
all the light of heaven found in this cabin
came in through apertures made on each side
of the logs, and these were covered with oiled
paper, to keep out the cold air, while they
admitted the dull rays. The seats or benches
were of hewn timber, resting upon upright
posts placed on the ground to keep them from
being overturned by the mischievous lads who
sat upon them. In the center was a large
stool between which and the back part of the
building stood a small desk without lock or
key, made of rough plank, over which a plane
never had passed, and behind the desk sat
Professor Glass."
One end of these rude schoolhouses was an
immense fireplace, and it usually took the time
of two or three boys to fill its cavernous maw
with logs on a cold, blustery day. Just under
a window two or three strong pieces were
driven into a log in a slanting direction, and
on these pins a long puncheon was fastened,
which served as a writing-desk for the entire
school. There was no such thing as a black-
board, and no apparatus of even the rudest
description to assist the teacher in explaining
the lesson. Text books were few, and the New
Testament was one of the favorite readers.
Webster's arithmetic enlightened these back-
woods children in the art of "figgers. " The
term for the year usually lasted about three
months. Pugilistic encounters were not infre-
quent, for the big boys took pride in their
muscular strength. Hence it was sometimes
necessary in employing a teacher to consider
his physical as well as his intellectual qualifi-
cations and fitness.
The parents themselves were frequently ex-
tremely illiterate. The mother, who read with
the greatest difficulty herself, would labor-
iously instill the rudiments of spelling in her
little flock as they grew up, using any old
book that happened to be available. The
backwoods teachers of this day were of a class
by themselves. The directors usually hired
the first man who came along and claimed to
be competent. Usually little above a tramp,
oftentimes addicted to drink, they were more
often well informed for -the times, earnest and
capable. They would "get up" a school by
passing around from house to house an article
of agreement, proposing to teach certain
branches upon certain terms, payable partly
in money and party in produce. During the
school term, which lasted from ten to fifteen
weeks, the teacher "boarded round" in the
neighborhood homes. He was regarded as a
sort of pensioner on the bounty of the people,
whose presence was tolerated because it could
not be helped. Nevertheless, he was usually
fed on the choicest viands. The teacher might
have been a lank and lean specimen of that
genus homo, and may have gazed gravely over
his spectacles with an assumed look of wis-
dom, yet he nevertheless enforced discipline
with a real serviceable rod, and implanted
into his pupils a knowledge of the three
"R's" with an iron hand. Grammar and
geography were not taught in the common
schools for many years afterwards. The paper
used was unruled foolscap. Hence every boy
was armed with a wooden ruler, and a pencil
made of crude lead. With these the paper
was ruled to any desired width. Pens were
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
223
fashioned out of quills, and the cutting of
a ffood pen was an essential part of the art
of writing. Ink was frequently made from
oak and maple bark, with a little copperas
added. One of the efficient and frequently
enforced means of discipline was the thrash-
ing, and every schoolmaster was well prac-
ticed in the accomplishment. Amid such sur-
roundings, and under such a head, began the
comprehensive school system that we now en-
joy in the great commonwealth of Ohio.
"Readin' and Writin' and 'Rithmetic were
taught to the tune of the Hickory Stick."
RELIGION
There was a very decided element of rev-
erence and religion in the pioneer. He may
have been a little crude in his religious views
and practices, as in other things, but he usu-
ally attended church on a Sunday morning.
.Many thought nothing of walking five miles
to meeting, and 'then returning a mile or two
out of the way for the sake of company. In-
side the church was a great fireplace, in which
a rousing fire blazed most cheerfully on a
frosty morning. The sermon was usually
lengthy, and of a stern and puritanical na-
ture. If it was night and the sky dark, the
people lighted themselves to and fro from the
rnoetin ' house with long strips of hickory bark.
These improvised torches were held aloft and
brightened occasionally by striking against a
tree to remove the ashes. Presbyterianism
was quite strong in most neighborhoods, espe-
cially among the Scotch and Scotch-Irish, but
they had separated into several branches on
minor matters of Biblical interpretation.
Some were "General Assembly" Presbyte-
rians, and others were Covenanters. Some
used the longer, and others adapted the
shorter catechism. But all were Calvinists,
and the principal point of difference was over
the singing of hymns or the Psalms of David.
The Methodists waxed strong and gained many
Presbyterian converts. Many and contentious
were the fiery discussions concerning the free-
dom of the will and the doctrine of predes-
tination. These controversies were as unend-
ing as they were fruitless, and they frequently
resulted in anything rather than a feeling of
genuine charity and good will.
The climax of religious excitement was
reached at the camp meetings and the revival
services. The camp meeting brought together
everybody in the neighborhood — believers and
unbelievers alike. It was as picturesque an
occasion as it was serious. The people threw
their whole souls into it. It was a real camp
meeting in those days, for the people actually
lived in tents or improvised huts on the
grounds for a week or two. The exhorter
would address his congregation, who were sit-
ting on log benches all around him, in a clam-
orous voice. The hymns were vigorously sung,
and it would not be long until there was
shouting, jerking, screaming, and leaping, as
someone in the audience "got religion." The
various emotions manifested were an interest-
ing psychological study. The camp meeting
doubtless served to elevate the moral standard
of the pioneer communities, and did much to
repress and hold in check the lawless element
in the neighborhoods. The father of W. D.
Howells says : "I shall never forget the ter-
ror with which the 'exercises' inspired me.
At the first prayer I knelt down with the
others; while the tone of supplication of the
man who prayed waxed louder and louder.
I knew that amen was said at the end of a
prayer; and as I was shaking till my knees
rattled on the floor with fear, I thought those
around me were likewise affected, and were
crying amen as an inducement for the brother
to stop, when in fact they were only encourag-
ing him. I regarded it as an awful time, and
was very thankful when he said amen. ' ' Rev.
James B. Finley, himself a pioneer preacher
of great force, describes some of the camp
meeting scenes as follows :
224
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
"Immediately before they became totally
powerless, they were sometimes seized with
a general tremor, and often uttered several
piercing shrieks in the moment of falling. Men
and women never fell when under this jerking
exercise till they became exhausted. Some
were unable to stand, and yet had the use of
their hands and could converse with com-
panions. Othere were unable to speak. The
pulse became weak and they drew a difficult
breath about once a minute. In many in-
stances they became cold. Breathing, pulsa-
tion, and all signs of life forsook them for
hours; yet I never heard of one who died
in this condition, and I have conversed with
persons who have laid in this situation for
many hours, and they have uniformly testified
that they had no pain, and that they had the
entire use of their reason and powers of mind.
Prom this it appears that their falling was
neither common fainting nor a nervous affec-
tion. Indeed, this strange work appears to
have taken every possible turn to baffle the
conjectures and philosophizing of those who
were unwilling to acknowledge it was the work
of God. Persons have fallen on their way
home from meeting, some after they had ar-
rived at home, others while pursuing their
common business on their farms, and others
when they were attending to family or secret
devotions. . Number of thoughtless, careless
sinners have fallen as suddenly as if struck by
lightning."
Times have greatly changed since the days
of which we now write. The long string of
covered wagons, frequently fifty in one line,
loaded with grain for Lake Erie, each with
bed and lunch box, which slowly and patiently
toiled over the long distance, with its night
encampment, its camp fires, and pleasant
group of story-tellers, has disappeared. They
are now known only by tradition and through
historic narrative. The old-fashioned store
with its scant stock of staples, with its handy
whisky bottle and inviting tin cup, with its
quaint salesman who had few words and wore
a plain dress, who asked fearful prices for
antiquated fashions, has disappeared and
is seen no more. Great business establish-
ments with plate glass windows, filled with
expensive and fashionable goods, with fault-
lessly dressed clerks, sometimes ornamented
with diamonds, have taken their place. Tow-
ering churches have replaced the primitive
houses of worship. Fashionable balls have
been substituted for the simple "huskings."
In everything there has been change, and the
expenses have more than kept pace with the
innovations. The cost of the modern machine
would have shocked the old-timer and driven
him to suicide.
A QUEER INDUSTRY
The famous Black Swamp, which covered
most of Northwest Ohio, was a source of much
discomfort to the early immigrants. Those
already on the ground, however, were not
altogether without the business instinct.
Among the cultivated industries of that timf
in certain localities was the furnishing of
relief to travelers, chiefly emigrants, whose
teams were frequently stalled in the succes-
sive "mud-holes." So common had this be-
come that some landlords sometimes provided
themselves with extra yokes of oxen, with
which to extend the needed assistance. This
business came to be so far systematized that
the rights of settlers to the ' ' mud-hole ' ' near-
est them were mutually recognized. It was
told that on a time a certain tavern-keeper,
who had long held undisputed possession of a
particularly fine "mud-hole," which he had
cultivated with special care for the profit it
brought him, sold his stand when preparing
to leave the country. Regarding his interest
in the "hole" as a franchise too valuable to
be abandoned, he finally disposed of it, and
claimed his right thereto, to a neighbor for
the sum of $5, being probably the only case
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
225
on record of the sale of a "mud-hole" for use
as such. This instinct has not entirely passed
away, for the writer has known of mud-holes
that have been diligently cultivated for the
unwary automobile driver within this twen-
tieth century of the Christian era.
THE MAUMEE PIONEERS
Written by Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood, for
the reunion of the Maumee Valley Pioneers,
held in Toledo, February 22, 1880.
Come friends, around this festal board,
Where peace and plenty smile
And memories in each bosom stored
Are quickening the while;
Come, let your hearts go back again,
With more of joy than tears,
Unto that sturdy race of men,
The Maumee Pioneers.
Let others tell the tales of Dee,
The Danube and the Don,
The Rhine that ripples to the sea,
The Iser rolling on ; —
New England's glades and palisades,
Virginia's vaunted years, —
"We'll tell of sturdier men and maids,
The Maumee Pioneers.
We'll tell how came the brave La Salle.
Two hundred years ago,
To list St. Mary's madrigal,
Responsive to St. Joe;
To speak the vows that woke the trance
Of long unfruitful years,
And give to Frontenac and France
The Maumee Pioneers.
Of Couthemanche whose lonely fort
A century before,
Stood guard where Fort Miami's port
Heard British cannon roar;
Vol. 1—15 '
How stripped Perrot the faggot sees
Flash through Miami's jeers,
'Till save the swift Outagamis,
The Maumee Pioneers.
I mind me in those bloody days
Of Foxes, Sacs and Sioux,
Of Miamis and Ottawas,
And Iroquois and Pous,
An Indian woman 'tis we see
Before her Priest in tears;
Her prayers have saved from massacre
The Maumee Pioneers.
Our feet are on historic ground.
The very streets we tread
Re-echo to a solemn sound
Above the shroudless dead.
Now French, now British we define,
Now red ally appears, —
They form a vast and shadowy line,
The Maumee Pioneers.
Here sleeps the braves of Pontiac,
There Harmar's hosts go down,
And bold "Mad Anthony" brings back
The knights of old renown;
Three Harrison's battalions glance
Along the burnt frontiers,
And in the trail of arms advance
The Maumee Pioneers.
Fort Meigs and Fort Miami show
A sweet and solemn truce,
And old Fort Industry I trow
Has met a nobler use;
So we above our leveled graves,
Across the flood of years,
May name with once dishonored braves
The Maumee Pioneers.
For valor's not of any race,
And right of grace has none,
If Wayne is given a hero's place,
Tecumseh 'a fame is won ;
226
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
If Wells be praised for warlike deeds
That wring the heart with tears,
Then Simon Girty's fealty leads
The Maumee Pioneers.
The days of bow and spear are fled,
Of tent and bark tepee,
The ax is ringing in their stead,
The woodman zones his tree;
And where the Indian village stood
The cabin chinked appears,
And white-haired children scour the wood,-
The Maumee Pioneers.
They fight no barbed and painted foe,
They run no gauntlet where
The Indian tomahawk is slow
A captured foe to spare;
They fly no cruel massacre
Of plundering buccaneers;
But deadlier foes they stricken see,
The Maumee Pioneers.
They fought the famine and the cold,
They conquered field and flood,
They drove the murrain from the fold,
The fever from the blood ;
Their triumphs blossom in the vales,
And blush along the piers,
And fleck the lake with snowy sails,
The Maumee Pioneers.
The wind is up, the sails are spread,
The gales of traffic blow ;
The Yankee comes with level head,
The Teuton sure and slow;
The thrifty Scot, the Irish true,—
And Quaker grace appears
A wholesome leaven running through
The Maumee Pioneers.
0 free born sires! from whom there runs
A tide of valor through
The hearts of sons ' remotest sons !
0 wives, and daughters true ! —
Who toil and spin, and spin and pray,
And hiding homesick tears
Keep heart and hope that crown to-day
The Maumee Pioneers!
Blow soft above their lowly grave,
0 North wind swift and keen !
And South wind that the lily waves
Keep aye their grasses green !
0 Spirit of the Centuries!
Blow on his heart who hears,
And wake to fragrant memories
The Maumee Pioneers !
CHAPTER XX
THE TERRIBLE TOLEDO TUQ-OF-WAR
There is nothing that will so arouse the
combativeness of an individual as the belief
that some one is infringing on the boundaries
of his individual and exclusive domain. This
lias been proved many times by the bloody
scrimmages which have taken place between
adjoining owners, over the location of a seem-
ingly unimportant line fence. In the litiga-
tion that has followed in the courts, both par-
ties have exhausted themselves and all their
available resources in an attempt to decide
the ownership of a few square rods of ground.
In the end even the victor has been the loser.
The same bellicose spirit was aroused in the
State of Ohio and the Territory of Michigan
by an imbroglio over the sovereignty of a strip
of ground extending from the Maumee River
to the western boundary of Ohio. This dis-
puted land was eight miles in width at Toledo,
and five miles broad at the western boundary.
The problem was recognized as early as 1802,
when the first constitution of Ohio was
formed. Congress should have settled the
question at that time, as it was well within
the power of that body, but like many others
it was neglected. As Ohio and Michigan
increased in wealth and political importance,
however, the factious boundary question be-
gan to protrude itself upon" the horizon in a
threatening manner. Toledo was the chief
cause and Lucas County was the chief result
of this dissension.
Many are today inclined to smile at what
is known as the Toledo War. They are not
aware that it was for a time a matter of such
moment that bloody encounters between
armed forces of the state on one hand, and the
territory on the other, were barely avoided.
Since the Federal Government was bound to
protect every just claim of Michigan, it might
have developed into a situation where Ohio
and the United States would have been the
opposing belligerents. In its final analysis,
such was really the status. It was the most
serious boundary question that has occurred
in the Northwest. The question arose through
a previous grant in which one of the lines of
demarkation began at "a line drawn East and
West, through the southerly extreme of Lake
Michigan." The old maps were not very
accurate, for the latitude and longitude had
not been well established, and the uncertainty
was caused by inaccurate knowledge as to
where the exact southern boundary of Lake
Michigan lay. The original intention was that
the boundary should be a line due east from
the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan, but
it was already becoming known that Lake
Michigan extended farther south than was
formerly believed.
In the act of Congress, granting to Ohio the
right to form a constitution, the northern
boundary was described as follows: "On the
north by an east and west line drawn through
the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan, run-
ning east after intersecting the due north line
from the mouth of the Great Miami, until it
shall intersect Lake Erie, or the territorial
line, and thence with the same through Lake
Erie to the Pennsylvania line."
The State Constitution, formed under said
authority, declared the northern boundary of
227
228
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the state to be "an East and West line, drawn River), then, and in that case, with the assent
through the Southerly extreme of Lake Michi- of Congress, the Northern boundary of this
gan, running East, until it shall intersect State shall be established by, and extending
Lake Erie, or the Territorial line; to, a direct line running from the Southern
r. 1 <• K
mi^^^f*^^^M^^^ **P^\ WHW^PWo'* , NT ,• . L-L«C.
Courtesy of Robert B. Dakln
MAP MADE IN 1834
Only known map in existence showing Toledo in Michigan. Lucas, Defiance and Wyandot
counties were not yet erected. Many other changes have occurred since then.
"Provided, That if the Southerly bend or
extreme of Lake Michigan should extend so
far South, that a line drawn due East from
it would not intersect Lake Erie, or if it
should intersect Lake Erie East of the mouth
of the Miami of the Lake (the Maumee
extremity of Lake Michigan to the most North-
erly Cape of the Miami (Maumee) Bay, after
intersecting the due North line from the
mouth of the Great Miami River."
The Ohio Constitution was approved by
Congress as prepared by the convention. It
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
229
was not many years after the adoption of the
Constitution of 1802 that official notice is
recorded of the disputed claims which gave
all of the site of the present City of Toledo,
with its wonderful harbor,' to Michigan. This
is shown by the following letter to Governor
Meigs : —
"MIAMI RAPIDS, January 23, 1812.
"SiR: It appears to be the general wish
of the people in this settlement (which con-
sists of about 50 families), to have the laws
of the State of Ohio extended over them, as
we consider ourselves clearly within the lim-
its of said State. The few who object, are
those who hold offices under the Governor of
Michigan, and are determined to enforce their
laws. This is considered by a great majority
of the inhabitants as usurpation of power
which they are under no obligation to adhere
to. If no adjustment should take place, I
fear the contention will ere long become
serious. Sir, will you have the goodness to
inform the people here, whether there has
been any understanding between the State of
Ohio and the Governor of Michigan on the
subject of jurisdiction, together with your
advice. I am sir, with high esteem,
"Your obedient servant,
"AMOS SPAFFORD,
"Collector of Port Miami."
The question undoubtedly became dormant
for a while because of the war which followed
between England and the United States, in
which many important actions and events
occurred in this vicinity. In 1821 the matter
arose when the assessor of Waynesfield Town-
ship, Wood County, undertook to list for taxa-
tion the property in this disputed region.
But the few settlers were then so busy felling
the forests and making a living that they
paid little attention to it. Two years later
the matter was officially called to the atten-
tion of the Federal Government, and the sub-
ject was agitated from time to time for a
number of years. It was seen that the line, as
designated by Congress, was an impossible
one, .for it would have divided several of the
lake counties east of Cleveland, and have left
part of that lake front outside of Ohio. This
eventuality certainly was not intended. Two
lines had been surveyed. One of these, which
laid off the northern boundary of the state
practically as it is today, was known as the
Harris Line ; the other, which more nearly
conformed to the claims of Michigan, was
called the Fulton Line. William Harris had
made his survey in 1817, under appointment
of Governor Cass, of Michigan. As he had
been provided with a copy of the Ohio Con-
stitution, and had followed its provision, his
report caused much ill feeling in that terri-
tory. In 1819 President Monroe commis-
sioned John Fulton to make the survey, and
his line, following the Ordinance of 1787, was
just as displeasing to Ohio.
The mooted problem was brought to a head
by the prospect of securing the location of
the terminus of the Miami and Erie Canal.
Toledo naturally offered the most desirable
terminus for the canal, but the thought of Ohio
constructing so expensive an undertaking,
and turning its traffic into a Michigan port,
was not to be entertained. Maumee City and
Perrysburg were not worried. They both de-
clared that the proper finality was there.
But the year-old-city of Toledo was wide
awake. The advantage of a canal in those
days was of inestimable advantage in build-
ing up a town. This in a measure explains
the excessive zeal manifested by these early
Toledoahs. Unless under the jurisdiction of
Ohio, they felt there was no canal for -them.
A public meeting was held in Toledo, in 1834,
and the majority of those present expressed
themselves in favor of the jurisdiction of
Ohio. A petition to that effect was signed and
forwarded to the executive of the state.
230
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Sentiment was not unanimous, for the fol-
lowing letter was sent to Governor Mason :
"Monroe, March 12, 1835.
"To Hon. Stevens T. Mason,
"Acting Governor of Michigan Territory:
"We, the citizens of the Township of Port
Lawrence, County of Monroe, Territory of
Michigan, conceive ourselves (by force of cir-
cumstances) in duty bound to apply for a
special act of the place appointed for holding
our Township meetings (elections). By a
vote of the last Town meeting (1834) our
meeting of this year must be held at Toledo,
on the Maumee River. We apprehend trou-
ble, and perhaps a riot may be the conse-
quence of thus holding the meeting in the
heart of the very hot-bed of disaffection.
"We therefore pray your Excellency and
the Legislative Council to aid us in our en-
deavors to keep the peace and sustain our
claims to the soil as part of the Territory of
Michigan, by an act removing the place for
the Town meeting from Toledo to the School-
house on Ten-Mile Creek Prairie, to be held
on the — day of April, in preference to the
usual day and place appointed.
"J. V. D. Sutphen,
"Coleman I. Keeler,
"Cyrus Fisher,
"Samuel Hemmenway.
' ' Delegates from Port Lawrence to the County
Convention at Monroe."
Because of the urgent demands from the
citizens of Toledo, Governor Lucas made the
boundary question the subject of a special
message to the Legislature. That body passed
an act extending the northern boundaries of
the counties of Wood, Henry, and Williams
to the Harris Line. That part west of the
Maumee River was created into Sylvania
Township, and that part east into Port Law-
rence Township. The authorities of Michigan
had previously exercised jurisdiction over the
territory lying between the two lines, although
Wood County had attempted to collect taxes
within those limits. Under this act three
commissioners were designated to resurvey
and mark the Harris Line.
The legislative council of Michigan rashly
passed an act called "The Pains and Penal-
ties Act, ' ' which provided severe penalties for
anyone within the limits of the territory who
should acknowledge any other sovereignty. A
challenge followed when an election was
ordered in the disputed strip by the Ohio
authorities. Benjamin F. Stickney, Platt
Card, and John T. Baldwin acted as judges
of this election, which caused excitement to
run very high. Michigan at once retaliated
by appointing officials who were instructed to
enforce "The Pains and Penalties Act."
These acts of the Legislature of Ohio and
of Governor Lucas evidently aroused the gov-
ernor of Michigan, as is clearly indicated by
the following letter to his military officer:
Executive Office, Detroit, March 9, 1835.
Sir: — You will herewith receive the copy
of a letter just received from Columbus. You
now perceive that a collision between Ohio and
Michigan is inevitable, and will therefore
be prepared to meet the crisis. The Governor
of Ohio has issued a proclamation, but I have
neither received it nor have I been able to
learn its tendency. You will use every exer-
tion to obtain the earliest information of the
military movements of our adversary, as I
shall assume the responsibility of sending
you such arms, etc., as may be necessary for
your successful operation, without waiting for
an order from the Secretary of War, so soon
as Ohio is properly in the field. Till then I
am compelled to await the direction of the
War Department.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
STEVENS T. MASON.
General Jos. W. Brown.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
231
Governor Lucas came to Toledo, accom-
panied by liis shit)' ;iinl his boundary commis-
sioners. Gen. .Toll n Hell, of Lower Sandusky,
who was in command of the seventeenth divi-
sion of the Ohio militia, had under him a vol-
untary force of about 600 men, fully armed
and equipped. This force went in camp at
old Port Miami, and there awaited the orders
of the governor.
In order to enlist recruits, General Hell sent
a drummer, named Odle, to Perrysburg, be-
lieving that the best way to stir up the requi-
site enthusiasm. Accompanied by a man
carrying a flag, Odle marched up and down
the streets of that village, beating his drum
with the greatest vigor. The courthouse was
on his route, and court was in session. The
judge ordered the sheriff to stop the noise.
The drummer said he was under orders to
"drum for recruits for the war," and that he
should not stop until assured that the court
had more authority than had his office. Even
while replying he did not stop his beating.
Odle was arrested and Captain Scott sum-
moned. Scott replied that Governor Lucas
was at Spafford's Exchange Hotel, and had
sanctioned the course. Judge Higgins ordered
the captain and drummer to jail. Captain
Scott said that when the state was invaded
the military authority was paramount, and
that he would declare martial law if the im-
prisonment was made, and arrest the court.
The outcome was that the judge simply con-
tinued the case at hand, and Odle resumed his
drumming more vigorously than ever. As a
result, the number of recruits was greatly
increased.
General Brown, in command of the Michi-
gan forces, issued orders to the militia of
Michigan stating that if there is an officer
"who hesitates to stake life, fortune and
honor in the struggle now before us, he is
required promptly to tender his resignation.
We are determined to repel with force
whatever strength the State of Ohio may
attempt to bring into our Territory to sustain
her usurpation." He had under his com-
mand a body estimated from 800 to 1,200 men,
ready to resist any advance of the Ohio au-
thorities to run the boundary line or do any-
thing upon the disputed territory. With him
was Governor Mason. The two executives
eyed each other (at a safe distance) like pugi-
lists preparing for battle. The "Pains and
Penalties Act" of the Legislative Council of
Michigan provided a fine of $1,000 and five
years' imprisonment for any person other
than United States or Michigan officials to
exercise or attempt to exercise any official
authority in the disputed territory. Both par-
ties were in a belligerent attitude, and the
excitement was most intense. A couple of
commissioners from the President of the
United States, Richard Bush, of Pennsylva-
nia, and Colonel Howard, of Michigan,
arrived, and used their personal influence to
stop all warlike demonstration. This confer-
ence was held on the 7th of April, 1835. The
commissioners submitted the two following
propositions for the assent of both parties:
"1st. That the Harris Line should be run
and re-marked, pursuant to the act of the last
session of the Legislature of Ohio without
interruption.
"2nd. The civil elections under the laws
of Ohio having taken place throughout the
disputed territory, that the people residing
upon it should be left to their own judgment,
obeying the one jurisdiction or the other, as
they may prefer, without molestation from the
authorities of Ohio or Michigan until the close
of the next session of Congress.
To this armistice Governor Lucas assented,
but Governor Mason refused to acquiesce,
insisting that he could not honorably compro-
mise the rights of his people. Believing that
no obstruction would be placed in the way of
making the survey, Governor Lucas permitted
his commissioners to proceed upon their work
and disbanded his military. Things did not
232
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
run smoothly, as is shown by report dated
May 1, 1835, of which the following is a copy
in part :
"During our progress we have been con-
stantly threatened by the authorities of Mich-
igan, and spies from the territory, for the
purpose of watching our movements and ascer-
taining our actual strength were almost daily
among us. On Saturday evening, the 25th
ult., after having performed a laborious day's
service, your commissioners, together with
their party, retired to the distance of about
one mile south of the line, in Henry County,
within the State of Ohio, where we thought
to have rested quietly and peaceably enjoy
the blessings of the Sabbath — and especially
not being engaged on the line, we thought our-
selves secure for the day. But contrary to
our expectations, at about twelve o'clock in
the day, an armed force of about fifty or sixty
men hove in sight, within musket shot of us,
all mounted upon horses, well armed with
muskets and under the command of General
Brown of Michigan. Your commissioners
observing the great superiority of force, hav-
ing but five armed men among us, who had
been employed to keep a lookout and as hunt-
ers for the party, thought it prudent to retire,
and so advised our men. Your commissioners
with several of their party, made good their
retreat to this place. But, sir, we are under
the painful necessity of relating that nine of
our men, who did not leave the ground in time
after being fired upon by the enemy, from
thirty to fifty shots, were taken prisoners and
carried away into the interior of the country.
Those who were taken were as follows,
to-wit : — Colonels Hawkins, Scott and Gould,
Major Rice, Captain Biggerstaff and Messrs.
Ellsworth, Fletcher, Moale and Rickets. We
are happy to learn that our party did not
fire a gun in turn and that no one was
wounded, although a ball from the enemy
passed through the clothing of one of our
men."
Major Stickney sent the following letter to
the editor of the Toledo Gazette, dated April
13, 1835 :
* * * " On the morning of the 9th, then
on my return home, I was met by some gen-
tlemen some 14 miles from Toledo, with the
intelligence that a band of ruffians of 30 or
more, had at dead of night come to my house
from Monroe, and in a ferocious manner
demolished the door leading to the principal
avenue of my house and seized a gentleman
(Mr. Naaman Goodsell), bore him off and
treated his lady and daughter (the only
females in the house), with brutish violence,
notwithstanding I had exhorted all to exer-
cise moderation. * * * When my daughter
gave out the cry of 'murder,' she was seized
by the throat and shaken with monstrous vio-
lence, and the prints of a man 's hand in pur-
ple were' strongly marked, with many other
contusions. Mrs. Goodsell exhibited marks of
violence also. This Michigan banditti pro-
ceeded likewise to the sleeping apartment of
another gentleman (Mr. George McKay),
burst in the door, seizing him in bed ; and as
the first salutation, one of the villains at-
tempted to gouge out one of his eyes with a
thumb * * * After two days of Court-mock-
ery at Monroe, these gentlemen were admitted
to bail.
"On the 10th, it was reported that an
armed force was assembling under General
Brown, to march to Toledo, and take as pris-
oners such as accepted office under Ohio
(about a dozen). On the llth, they arrived
in force, about 200 strong, armed with mus-
kets and bayonets. The officers of Ohio having
been lulled into security by assurances of the
Commissioners of the United States (Messrs.
Rush and Howard), were not prepared for
defense, and retired, giving them full space
for the display of their gasconading, which
was exhibited in pulling down the flag of
Ohio, and dragging it through the streets at
the tail of a horse, with other similar acts.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
233
"Cyrus Holloway, of Sylvania Township
(one of the first Commissioners of Lucas
County), a very good man, was elected Jus-
tice of the Peace, under the laws of Ohio, and
with others was spotted for vengeance. Ap-
prehending that Michigan officers were after
him, he took to the woods, hiding for several
days in a sugar-camp shanty. He being a
pious man, some of his partisan friends, fond
of the marvelous, reported that Providence
had wrought a miracle in his behalf; that lit-
tle robins daily went to his house, there got
food and took it to him during his seclusion
in the forest. Many believed this, and ac-
cepted it as strong proof of the justness of
the claim of Ohio to the disputed territory.
The miraculous part of the story had a very
slight foundation in the fact, that Mr. Hollo-
way's children, who daily carried food to their
father, had a pet robin, and usually took it
with them on such visits; hence, the robin-
story."
In addition to the outrages upon the sur-
veying party, there were numerous assaults
upon individuals. Throughout the entire
spring and summer, Toledo was the center of
incessant excitement. Each incursion of
Michigan officials for the purpose of making
new arrests was the occasion for renewed ex-
citement. Attempts were made by Wood
County to arrest Michigan partisans, but the
proposed victims somehow would get advance
information and remain out of sight. Major
Stickney went to Monroe on the Detroit
steamer to pay some social calls. He was
there arrested and imprisoned for acting as
a judge in an Ohio election. He was consid-
ered an important prisoner, and many gibes
were made concerning him. The military
spirit was rife, and one of the popular say-
ings at Monroe during his imprisonment was
the one stated at Toledo, which referred to
their despoiling his garden. It was in the
form of the following toast: "Here's to
Major Stickney 's potatoes and onions — we
drafted their tops and their bottoms volun-
teered." He wrote to Governor Lucas:
"Here I am, peeping through the grates
of a loathsome prison, for the monstrous crime
of having acted as the Judge of an election
within the State of Ohio. From what took
place the other day at Port Miami, at a con-
ference between yourself and the Commission-
ers of the United States wherein we had the
honor of being present, we were led to believe
that a truce at least would be the result. In
this we were again deceived. I left my resi-
dence in Toledo in company with a lady and
gentleman, from the interior of Ohio, to visit
my friend A. E. Wing, of Monroe, and others,
conceiving that respect for the ordinary visits
of hospitality would have been sufficient for
my protection under such circumstances. But
vindictiveness is carried to such extremes, that
all the better feelings of man are buried in
the common rubbish. The officer who first
took me, treated me in a very uncivil manner ;
dragging me about as a criminal through the
streets of Monroe, notwithstanding there are
a number of exceptions to this virulent mass."
Mr. N. Goodsell was also aroused from
peaceful sleep in the middle of the night by
a body of men, who demanded admittance. If
not admitted, they informed Mr. Goodsell
that the door would be broken down. He
says:
"My journey was rendered unpleasant by
the insolence of some of the party, and my
life jeopardized by being obliged to ride upon
a horse without a bridle, which horse being
urged from behind became frightened and ran
with me until I jumped from him. I arrived
at Monroe, and was detained there until next
day, as they refused me any bail from day to
day. I was taken before the Grand Jury,
then in session, and questioned concerning our
meeting the officers, etc., etc. During the sec-
ond day a large military force, or posse, was
raised, armed and started for Toledo. After
they had gone nearly long enough to have
234
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
reached Toledo, I was admitted to bail, and
returned — passed the force on the road — in-
quired of the Sheriff whether that was to be
considered an armed force or a Sheriff's posse.
He answered that he considered it a posse at
that time, but it was so arranged that it might
Jbe either — as circumstances should require ;
that General Brown and aide were along, who
would act in case they assumed a military
force."
The Legislature of Ohio was convened in
extra session by Governor Lucas "to prevent
the forcible abduction of citizens of Ohio."
The members were greatly aroused by the
illegal arrests, and passed an act providing
heavy penalties for any attempted forcible
abduction of a citizen of Ohio. The offense
was made punishable by imprisonment in the
penitentiary for not less than three, nor more
than seven years. In spite of all this, a posse
of about 250 armed men again visited Toledo,
on July 18th, and made seven or eight
arrests, chiefly for individual grievances.
This posse also committed several overt acts,
among which was damage to a newspaper
office. The office of the Toledo Gazette was
visited by a posse bearing muskets. The door
was demolished and a "pi" made of the type
already set for the next issue. "We have
barely enough type and materials saved from
the outrages, we are about to relate, to lay
the particulars before the public," said the
Gazette in its next issue. Public sentiment in
Michigan was kept in as belligerent a state
as possible.
An act was also passed by the Ohio Legis-
lature to create the new County of Lucas out
of the northern part of "Wood County, to
embrace the disputed territory, together with
a portion of the northwestern corner of San-
dusky County. Of this county, Toledo was
made the temporary seat of justice. Three
hundred thousand dollars was appropriated
out of the public treasury, and the governor
was authorized to borrow on the credit of the
state $300,000 more to carry out the laws in
regard to the northern boundary. Governor
Lucas called upon the division commander of
this state to report as soon as possible the
number of men in each division who would
volunteer to sustain him in enforcing the laws
over the disputed territory. Fifteen of these
divisions reported over 100,000 men ready to
volunteer. These proceedings on the part of
Ohio greatly exasperated the authorities of
Michigan. They dared the Ohio "million"
to enter the disputed ground, and "welcomed
them to hospitable graves." Prosecution of
citizens within this territory for holding
offices under the laws of Ohio were prosecuted
with greater vigor than ever. For a time the
Monroe officials were kept busy. Most of the
inhabitants of that village were employed in
the sheriff's posse making arrests in Toledo.
The commencement of one suit would lay the
foundation for many others. There are few
towns in the United States in which the citi-
zens have suffered as much for their alle-
giance to a state as did those of Toledo.
The Detroit Free Press of August 26, 1835,
has the following items :
THE OHIO CONTROVERSY — The Legislative
Council yesterday had this subject under
consideration. They have made an appro-
priation of $315,000, to meet any emergency
which may arise, and we learn that every
arrangement will be made to afford a warm
reception to any partisan of the "million"
of Ohio, that may visit our borders. Mich-
igan defends her soil and her rights, and
we would wish our fellow-citizens of Ohio to
recollect that "thrice armed is he who hath
his quarrel just."
WAR ! WAR ! ! — Orders have been issued
for volunteers to rendezvous at Mulholland's
in the County of Monroe, on the 1st of Sep-
tember next, for the purpose of resisting the
military encroachments of Ohio. The Terri-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
235
tory, it is expected, will be on the alert, and
we understand services will be accepted from
all quarters.
The latter movement evidently had refer-
ence to preventing the holding of the court at
Toledo, September 7th. On the 8th of June,
Governor Lucas called an extra session of the
Legislature and delivered a message, of which
the following is a part :
"It appears to me the honor and faith of
the State is pledged, in the most solemn man-
ner, to protect these people in their rights,
and to defend them against all outrages.
They claim to be citizens of Ohio. The Legis-
lature by a solemn act has declared them to
be such, and has required them to obey the
laws of Ohio, which, as good citizens, they
have done, and for which they have been per-
secuted, prosecuted, assaulted, arrested, ab-
ducted and imprisoned. Some of them have
been driven from their homes in dread and
terror, while others are menaced by the au-
thorities of Michigan. These things have
been all done within the constitutional bound-
aries of the State of Ohio, where our laws
have been directed to be enforced. Are we
not under as great an obligation to command
respect and obedience to our laws adjoining
our northern boundary as in any other part
of the State ? Are not the inhabitants of Port
Lawrence, on the Maumee Bay, as much
entitled to our protection as the citizens of
Cincinnati, on the Ohio river? I feel con-
vinced they are equally as much. Our com-
missioner appointed in obedience to the act
of the 23d of February, while in discharge of
the duty assigned them, were assaulted while
resting on the Sabbath day, by an armed force
from Michigan. Some of the hands were fired
on, others arrested, and one Colonel Fletcher
is now incarcerated in Tecumseh, and for
what? Is it for crime? No; but for faith-
fully discharging his duty, as a good citizen
of Ohio, in obedience to our laws."
The loyal citizens of Toledo were "getting
discouraged having no arms, nor succor sent
them, which they construed to neglect. It
was difficult to comfort them." The mix-up
is shown by an old copy of the Toledo Gazette,
published in "Toledo, Wood County, Ohio."
in which there is an administrator's notice of
"the estate of John Babcock, late of Toledo,
in the County of Monroe, and the Territory
of Michigan," as well as other official notices
of the same purport.
There was no cessation in the arrests, and
imprisonments in the Monroe jail continued.
The most noted of these is the attempt to
arrest Two Stickney, and a man by the name
of McKay.
Territory of Michigan,]
Ma
Monroe County,
"Personally came before Albert Bennett, a
Justice of the Peace within and for the county
aforesaid, Lyman Hurd, who being duly
sworn, said that on the 15th day of July,
1835, this deponent who is a constable within
the county aforesaid, went to Toledo in said
county, for the purpose of executing a war-
rant against Geo. McKay in behalf of the
United States.
"This deponent was accompanied by Joseph
Wood, deputy sheriff of said county. Said
Wood had in his hands a warrant against Two
Stickney. This deponent and said Wood went
into the tavern of J. B. Davis, in the village
of Toledo, where they found said Stickney
and McKay. This deponent informed Mc-
Kay that he had a warrant for him. and there
attempted to arrest McKay. The latter then
sprang and caught a chair, and told this
deponent that unless he desisted, he would
split him down. This deponent saw McKay
have a dirk in his hand. At the time this
deponent was attempting to arrest McKay.
Mr. Wood attempted to arrest Stickney.
Wood laid his hand on Stickney 's shoulder,
236
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and took him by his collar, and after Wood
and Stickney had scuffled for a short time, this
deponent saw Stickney draw a dirk out of
the left side of Wood, and exclaim, "There,
damn you, you have got it now. ' ' This depo-
nent then saw Wood let go from Stickney and
put his hand upon his side, apparently in
distress, and went to the door. This deponent
asked Wood if he was stabbed. Wood said,
very faintly, that he was. This deponent then
went with Wood to Ira Smith's tavern. A
physician thought it doubtful whether Wood
Recovered. This deponent thinks there were
from six to eight persons present at the time
this deponent and Wood were attempting to
arrest McKay and Stickney. None of them
interfered. At the time Wood informed Stick-
ney that he had a precept against him.
Stickney asked Wood whether his precept
was issued under the authority of Ohio or
Michigan. When Wood showed him the war-
rant, Stickney said he should not be taken ;
but if it was under Ohio, he would go.
"This deponent thinks that at the time
Wood was stabbed it was between three and
four o'clock in the afternoon, and this depo-
nent remained there about three hours. Be-
fore this deponent left the inhabitants of
Toledo, to the number of forty or fifty, col-
lected at Davis' tavern. This deponent was
advised, for his own safety to leave the place,
and also by the advice of Wood, he returned
to Monroe, without having executed his pre-
cept. And further deponent saith not.
"Lyman Hurd.
"Subscribed and sworn to before me, this
sixteenth day of July, one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-five.
"Albert Bennett, J. P."
The proceedings of this case were reported
by Governor Mason to President Jackson, who
realized that it was necessary to take some
action in order to prevent serious trouble.
Governor Lucas himself soon conferred with
the President on the subject of the boundary
difficulties. The result of this mission was
the urgent plea of the President for the mu-
tual suspension of all action by both parties,
until the matter could finally be settled by
Congress, and that no prosecutions be com-
menced for any violations of the acts.
Court had been ordered to be held in
Toledo, the county seat of the new County of
Lucas, and the Michigan authorities were
determined to prevent it. For this purpose
the Detroit militia arrived in Monroe on the
evening of September 5th. Together with
volunteers, these forces rendezvoused near
Toledo, and marched into that city on the 6th.
Their numbers was variously estimated at
from 800 to 1,200, and they were led in per-
son by Governor Mason and General Brown.
The associate judge had assembled at the Vil-
lage of Maumee, ten miles distant, with
Colonel Van Fleet and 100 soldiers sent by
Governor Lucas for their protection ; but wise
peace counsels prevailed, and Ohio won the
victory without shedding a drop of valiant
Michigan blood. Strategy was adopted instead.
As September 7th was the day set for holding
the court, it was decided that the day began
at midnight, and, as no hour was specified,
one hour was as good as another.
At 1 o'clock in the night, the officers accom-
panied by the colonel and twenty soldiers,
each carrying two cavalry pistols, started on
horseback down the Maumee. They arrived
about three and went quietly to the school-
house by Washington street, which was then
"well out of town." About 3 o'clock, the
judges opened the court. The three associated
judges were Jonathan H. Jerome, Baxter
Bowman, and William Wilson. They ap-
pointed a clerk and three commissioners for
the new County of Lucas. They transacted
a little other necessary business and, no fur-
ther business appearing before said court, it
adjourned in due form. The clerk's minutes,
hastily written on loose sheets of paper, were
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
237
deposited in his hat according to the custom
of men in those days. All present then hastily
started through the woods up the Maumee
River to the town of the same name. In their
haste the clerk's hat was knocked from his
head as a result of coining in contact with the
limb of a tree. Not a little apprehension was
experienced until the scattered papers, con-
taining the invaluable minutes of the court,
were found. The entire session had been held
between two days. All arrived safely at Mau-
mee City, clearly outside the disputed terri-
tory, but yet within Lucas County, where
Michigan civil officers or troops dare not pur-
sue. Here the first victory was quietly en-
joyed, and plans matured for complete dis-
comfiture of the enemy. Colonel Van Fleet
signalized their success by firing two salutes.
This is the account that appeared in the
Michigan Sentinel, published at Monroe, un-
der date of September 12, 1835 :
"WOLVERINES OP MICHIGAN! — In anticipa-
tion of the proposed organization of the
Court of Ohio at Toledo, and the approach
of Lucas's 'Million,' Acting Governor Mason
made a large requisition on the brave Wolver-
ines of Michigan; and on Saturday last (Sep-
tember 5th) they approached our Town under
arms by hundreds, from the Counties of
Monroe, Wayne, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Oak-
land, Macomb and St. Joseph. The whole
body entered the disputed territory on Mon-
day, accompanied by Governor Mason, Gen-
erals Brown and Haskall and Colonels Davis,
Wing and others, to the number of 1,200 to
1,500, and encamped on the plains of Toledo.
Governor Lucas did not make his appearance.
The Court is said to have been held at the
dead of night, by learned Judges dressed in
disguise; and the insurgents of Toledo pre-
cipitately fled from the scene of action."
The Michigan authorities continued to make
trouble, but the success of the above strategy
practically closed the contest. An order came
from Washington removing Governor Mason
from the office of chief executive of the Terri-
tory of Michigan, because of his excessive zeal
for its rights. His secretary, John S. Homer,
immediately became the acting governor. On
the 15th of June, 1836, Michigan was admit-
ted into the Union, with her southern bound-
ary next to Ohio limited to the Harris Line.
The disputed territory was given to Ohio. As
compensation for her loss, Michigan was
awarded the northern peninsula, with its rich
beds of mineral ore, which has proven to be
a most valuable possession. Ten days later
a notable celebration was held in the old Man-
sion House, in Toledo, at which many dis-
tinguished guests were present. Guns were
fired, bells were rung, and a procession was
formed which marched around the old school-
house in which the memorable session of court
was held. The position of Governor Lucas
made him a national figure, and when he
retired from office, it was with the good will
of both friend and adversary. He was recog-
nized as a faithful public servant. He after-
wards became territorial governor of Iowa,
and spent the later years of his life in that
state.
Thus it was that the angry strife, which
for a time threatened a sanguinary war, was
happily settled, and fraternal relations have
ever since existed between the authorities of
Ohio and Michigan. The Ohio Legislature in
1846 passed an act appropriating $300 to
compensate Major Stickney for damage to
property and for the time he passed in prison
at Monroe. Michigan afterwards bestowed
$50 upon Lewis E. Bailey, for the loss of a
horse while in the service of the territorial
militia. The people of both states immedi-
ately took the matter good naturedly, and
treated the whole affair as a joke. Songs were
sung, of which a couple of verses of the Mich-
igan "War Song" are as follows:
238
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Old Lucas gave his order all for to hold a
Court,
And Stevens Thomas Mason, he thought he'd
have some sport.
He called upon the Wolverines, and asked
them for to go
To meet this rebel Lucas, his Court to over-
throw.
appeared, and the exact location was unknown.
By act of the Legislature of Ohio a new sur-
vey was made, and this new pillar set up with
appropriate inscription. On this occasion
there were present Governor Frank B. Willis,
of Ohio, and Governor Woodbridge N. Ferris,
of Michigan. Each governor made a felicitous
speech in harmony with the occasion.
GOVERNOR WILLIS OP OHIO (RIGHT) AND GOVERNOR FERRIS OF MICHIGAN
Shaking hands at dedication of the new Ohio-Michigan boundary terminus, Nov. 24, 1915.
Our independent companies were ordered for
the march,
Our officers were ready, all stiffened up with
starch :
On nimble-footed coursers our officers did
ride,
With each a pair of pistols and sword hung
by his side.
The last chapter in this controversy was
written when, on the 24th of November, 1915,
a new boundary post was placed on the east-
ern end of this line, which was disputed for
so many years. The old demarcation had dis-
It is befitting to close this chapter with
the words of another muse, written in 1835 :
YOUNG TOLEDO! RISE TO FAME!
Mart of the Western World should claim
Homage of all the ports around —
Her wealth and power know no bound ;
More mighty far than ancient Rome,
Stand by inherent power alone.
But oh! methinks I see them dashing;
Hear pistols pop ! and swords a-clashing !
While first to last many oppose,
With eyes plucked out or bloody nose ;
Whose horrid threatening or grimace
Convince they'll die or keep their place.
CHAPTER XXI
THE PREHISTORIC AGE
It is not possible within the limits of this
work to treat of the geology of Northwest
Ohio in detail, nor can it be discussed tech-
nically by one who is not a trained geologist.
All that can be related in this chapter is just
enough to briefly outline the subject and to
stimulate, if possible, an impetus for further
reading upon the subject. In this section
occurs the largest area of level country in the
State of Ohio, the region of the old lake bed.
In a broad area, reaching from Ottawa and
Lucas counties southwest to Paulding, Van
Wert, and Defiance counties, the change in
elevation frequently does not exceed a foot to
the mile. In no part of Northwest Ohio are
there hills of any magnitude, but certain sec-
tions are slightly rolling, and there are points
where the elevation is several hundred feet
above the level of Lake Erie.
The historic period of this region is very
short in the chronology of the earth, in com-
parison with the great length of time covered
by the geological ages. Whether these periods
occupied 50,000,000 or 60,000,000 years is of
very little interest to us, for whichever state-
ment is accepted, the length of years is suffi-
ciently impressive for our minds. In very
early geological ages, the Gulf of Mexico
extended to this region. The greatest influence
in the conformation of the topography of this
vast level area of land occurred during the
glacial periods. It is quite probable that prior
to this time Northwest Ohio may not have
differed greatly from the hilly region of the
southeastern section of our state. Immense
glaciers formed somewhere in the upper re-
gions of Canada, and moved down slowly
toward the South. Neither trees, rocks, nor
any natural obstruction permanently impeded
their movement. The glaciers scooped out the
basin of Lake Erie and, when they reached
what is now Northwest Ohio, the general
movement was in a southwesterly direction.
The fact of these glacial movements is estab-
lished in a number of ways. On Kelley's
Island there are the most remarkable glacier
grooves that are found in Ohio. In some
places the boulders which were imbedded in
the glaciers cut grooves in the limestone rocks
that abounded there to a depth of as much as
two feet. The same groovings, although not
so deep, are found on many of the rocks along
the lake shore at Marblehead and Lakeside,
in Ottawa County. To a geologist these
grooves speak as audibly as do the tracks of
an elephant to the hunter.
The glacial age is also further proved by
great boulders which are scattered over this
region, and which are entirely dissimilar to
the natural rocks produced here. One of these
is known as the Harrison Boulder, lying a few
miles southwest of Fremont. This is a species
of granite known to come from the highlands
of Canada, north of Lake Erie, said to be the
oldest land in the world. The age of this
particular rock is estimated by geologists to
be from 25,000,000 to 150,000,000 years. It
was transported here, however, not more than
10,000 or 12,000 years ago. In size it is
13 feet long, 10 feet wide, and about 7 feet
thick, of which one-half is out of the ground.
It would weigh probably eighty tons, and has
239
240
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
withstood the influence of climate all these
years. The place of its origin is several hun-
dred miles distant, in the Labrador or Hudson
Bay region, and it could have been transported
in no other way than by a glacier. There are
many other smaller boulders scattered over
Maumee and Sandusky region. The rocks of
this region are much younger, and were depos-
ited when this was the bottom of the sea, so
that they became filled with sea shells and
shell fish and a vast accumulation of marine
deposits. The superficial deposits all belong
to the glacial age.
Another evidence of the movements of gla-
ciers across Northwest Ohio is in the terminal
moraines, which are found in several places.
It has been estimated that the thickness of
the glacier over Lake Erie was about 11,000
feet. It is known from watching the move-
ments of the glaciers of today in the Alps, as
well as in Alaska and other places, that these
great masses of ice and snow move almost as
a semi-fluid substance. Their progress is ex-
ceedingly slow, but they are just as sure as
they are slow. They freeze onto rocks and
never let go, but carry them along. The an-
nual movements of glaciers which have been
observed range from 130 to 330 feet in a
single year. These glacial movements cut off
the top of mountains, filled up the valleys,
aud made the surface of Northwest Ohio what
it is today. They were like huge planes in
their effect, leveling the high points, pushing
everything breakable and movable before
them, crushing and grinding the softer rocks.
In many places the depth of the deposit ex-
ceeds 100 feet. The rocks, which were thus
exposed to the air, frost, and water, were de-
composed and formed the very rich soil of
this section, one of the richest in existence.
As the surface was in places a little uneven,
and in some places even depressed, it left the
swamps which used to be so numerous, but
most of which have been drained at this time.
The term moraine is given to a ridge of
ground up or transported material which is
left by a glacier. The moraine marks where
the front of the glacier rested, for it was the
front that had gathered up most -of the detri-
tus. The glaciers in their movements gathered
up rocks and soil, which were gradually
ground up, so that a fair proportion of the
mass of the glacier was sometimes made up
of this material. At times the glaciers were
halted in their movements for periods which
might have covered centuries, and the surface
being exposed to a warmer climate gradually
melted, and the detritus which had been gath-
ered up was deposited in ridges which can be
still plainly distinguished. There are three or
four of these moraines, either wholly or partly
in Northwest Ohio, which are in a cup shape,
with the bottom of the cup projecting toward
the southwest. All of them are nearly par-
allel. The approach is generally so gradual
that it is scarcely perceptible to the traveler.
The first of these is known as the Defiance
Moraine, which extends northward and east-
ward from Defiance. The next one is known
as the St. Joseph-St. Marys Moraine, because
it follows these two rivers, with the apex near
Fort Wayne, Indiana. The third one is only
a few miles distant from this, and extends in
the same general direction. A fourth, known
as Salamonie Moraine, is still a little farther
distant, and crosses the southern boundary of
Northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery and Ken-
ton. The many little lakes in Northern Indi-
ana were caused by the irregular deposition
of the glacial detritus, leaving ridges and de-
pressions which became filled with water.
The glaciers have exercised the greatest
influence in determining the flow of the water,
and the direction of the streams. Although
the entire basin at one time may have drained
into Lake Erie, with the onward movement
of the glaciers the outlet in this direction was
obstructed. It then became necessary for the
water to seek an outlet in another direction,
and so the streams which flow to the southwest
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
241
were formed. At one time a great lake cov-
ered the central portion of this region. It is
known to geologists as Maumee Glacial Lake,
which was crescent in shape, and lay between
the Defiance Moraine and the St. Joseph-St.
Marys Moraine. It drained through the
Tymochtee gap into the Scioto River, and
through the Wabash. Another of these glacial
lakes, known as Whittlesey, was found between
the Defiance Moraine and Lake Erie, and was
really a later stage of the water. The numer-
ous sand ridges, which are found running
across Northwest Ohio in different directions,
were the successive shores of Lake Erie as it
gradually receded to its present dimensions.
Near Fort Wayne there is a broad channel,
easily distinguished, which formerly connected
the Wabash River and the Maumee, through
which the pent-up water found its outlet to
the Gulf of Mexico. As the lake level de-
clined, the waters of the rivers St. Joseph and
St. Marys followed the receding lake, thus
originating and forming the Maumee River.
PREHISTORIC MAN
There have been many speculations and
theories advanced regarding the length of time
that man has existed. Many evidences of pre-
historic man are found in Ohio. The oldest
of these have been discovered in Southern
Ohio, for during a long period it was impos-
sible for the human race to live north of the
upper lake ridge, which passes through Belle-
vue, Tiffin, Fostoria, and Van Wert, where
the former shore is marked by a sand ridge.
At that time the whole region between that
ridge and the lake was covered with a body of
water estimated to be from 50 to 100 feet in
depth. At a later period, as the water level
fell, it is quite likely that the races then exist-
ing followed up the retreating waters, and
established their temporary habitations.
There are remains of a prehistoric popula-
tion, which are evidence by enclosures and
Vol. I— II
mounds found along both the Sandusky and
the Maumee rivers. Two of these enclosures
were located where Fremont now stands, their
sites being well authenticated. Others were
at a somewhat greater distance. Most of the
outlines have now been obliterated, and there
is nothing whatever to establish their an-
tiquity. One of these was in a circular form,
enclosing several acres of ground, with gate-
like openings. Some rudely shaped knives
and other crude tools, together with stone
axes, flint arrow heads and rude pottery, have
been found, which have evidence of great
age, because they have been discovered near
the fossil remains of animals known to exist
shortly following the glacial period. Al-
though the Maumee River Basin was prob-
ably never the headquarters of so great a
number of early peoples as Southern Ohio, yet
it was no doubt a thoroughfare of travel for
pre-historic people, and they erected low
conical mounds above the bodies of certain of
their dead.
Dr. Charles E. Slocum' states in his "His-
tory of the Maumee River Basin" that there
are more than fifty mounds and earthworks in
this basin that can probably be classed as the
work of prehistoric men. Their situation is
on high ground in small groups and widely
scattered. Some twenty of these mounds have
been located in De Kalb and Steuben counties,
Indiana. The remains of the mastodon have
been found there, one of them at a depth of
four feet in blue clay. The bones of the
mastodon have also been found in Northwest
Ohio, near Bucyrus. In Auglaize County
parts of eight of these prehistoric monsters
have been discovered, and the most perfect
one of all was unearthed a few miles south-
east of Wauseon. Several of the mounds have
been identified on the south bank of the Mau-
mee, near Antwerp, and one not far from De-
fiance. This last mentioned mound was about
four feet above the surrounding land, and
about thirty feet in diameter. It was covered
242
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
with oak trees about twenty inches in diam-
eter. Upon opening the mound, a small quan-
tity of bony fragments were found, which
readily crumpled between the fingers on being
handled. Human teeth of large size were also
unearthed. There are two mounds along the
Maumee River, just above the City of Toledo.
In one of these a pick-shaped amulet was un-
earthed, which was eighteen inches in length.
Several also have been identified along the
Auglaize River, near Dupont, in Putnam
County, and also near Defiance. In one of
these the decaying bones of eight or ten per-
sons in sitting posture were discovered. Not
far from Wauseon as many as eleven mounds
of small size are reported, arranged in some-
what of an elliptical form. A few human
bones, some charcoal, and a few indifferent
articles of slate were the result of the work
of investigators.
Doctor Slocum further states that there are
three prehistoric circles and four semi-circles
in the Maumee River Basin. One of these,
with a diameter of- about 200 feet is in De
Kalb County, Indiana, and another near
Hamilton, Indiana. This latter is known as
the mystic circle, with a diameter of sixty-
eight yards, and averages between three and
four feet in height. A third is in a bend of
the River St. Joseph, in Allen County, Indi-
ana. Three semi-circles were found along the
lower Maumee River. The first of these was
observed between the years 1837 and 1846,
and is mentioned in a book published in 1848,
which was the first volume of the Smithsonian
contributions. This account reads as follows :
"This work is situated on the right bank of
the Maumee River, two miles above Toledo, in
"Wood County, Ohio. The water of the river
is here deep and still, and of the lake level;
the bluff is about 35 feet high. Since the work
was built, the current has undermined a por-
tion, and parts of the embankment are to be
seen on the slips. The country for miles in all
directions is flat and wet, and is heavily tim-
bered, as is the space in and around this
inclosure. The walls, measuring from the
bottoms of the ditches, are from three to four
feet high. They are not of uniform dimen-
sions throughout their extent ; and as there is
no ditch elsewhere, it is presumable that the
work was abandoned before it was finished.
Nothing can be more plain than that most of
the remains in Northern Ohio are military
works. There have not yet been found any
remnants of the timber in the walls ; yet it is
very safe to presume that palisades were
planted on them, and that wood posts and
gates were erected at the passages left in the
embankments and ditches. All the positions
are contiguous to water; and there is no
higher land in their vicinity from which they
might in any degree be commanded. Of the
works bordering on the shore of Lake Erie,
through the State of Ohio, there are none but
may have been intended for defense ; although
in some of them the design is not perfectly
manifest. They form a line from Conneaut
to Toledo, at a distance of from three to five
miles from the lake, and all stand upon or
near the principal rivers. * * * The most
natural inference with respect to the north-
ern cordon of work is, that they formed a
well-occupied line, constructed either to pro-
tect the advance of a nation landing from
the lake and moving southward for conquest ;
or a line of resistance for people inhabiting
these shores and pressed upon by their south-
ern neighbors."
A little below the one just mentioned is
another semi-circle. It is just a little above
the Fassett Street Bridge, in Toledo. When
originally surveyed, it was a little less than
two feet above the surface, and had a diam-
eter of 387 feet, with an irregular curve.
Both of them have been obliterated in the
onward march of improvements. A third was
situated on the south bank of Swan Creek, a
short distance above its entrance into the Mau-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO 243
mee River. It has been practically obliterated about these enclosures. They do not give us
by the grading of streets, but its diameter was any definite knowledge of those who con-
about 400 feet. A few pieces of pottery and structed the earth works nor of their early
stone implements have been found in and occupancy.
CHAPTER XXII
DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
LAKE AND RIVER
It was but natural that the pioneer settlers
of Northwest Ohio, where the roads were
almost impassable for a good part of the year,
should turn to the water facilities afforded by
the two great rivers, Sandusky and Maumee,
and expansive Lake Erie for their earliest
transportation. We are unable to compile a
complete history of the first navigation on the
lake, because of the absence of records, but
enough data has been furnished us from the
recollections of the pioneers to give a fairly
accurate account of it.
The first craft regularly plying on the Mau-
mee River, so far as is known, was the schooner
Black Snake, with Jacob Wilkinson as its cap-
tain. Its initial trip was made in May, 1815,
and on board of it was also the captain's
nephew, David Wilkinson, who afterwards
became so prominent in river and lake navi-
gation. This boat was of about twenty tons
burden, and David Wilkinson sailed the lakes
continuously from 1815 to 1850. In a state-
ment made many years afterwards, he says:
"She sailed from Cleveland, her load being
chiefly immigrant families and their effects.
Part of these were landed at the River Raisin,
and part at Fort Meigs. Among those stop-
ping at the Raisin, were Mr. Mulholland and
family — the same gentleman who afterwards
became noted as a hotel-keeper at Vienna
(Erie) on the road to Monroe from Toledo.
On the vessel 's return, she took for cargo ord-
nance and military stores from Fort Meigs
to Detroit. Captain Jacob Wilkinson con-
tinued to run this Vessel, occasionally making
trips to the Maumee, until September, 1816,
when he moved his family and made his resi-
dence at Orleans, a village laid out between
Fort Meigs and the River." Another of the
early vessels trading on the Maumee River
was the schooner Leopard, slightly larger than
the Black Snake, and commanded by Capt.
John T. Baldwin. Captain Baldwin came
here with the Leopard in 1816, bringing with
him his family. He stopped at Orleans, or
Fort Meigs, and remained there for about a
year, when he removed to Put-in-Bay.
The custom house at Maumee City (district
of Miami) was not opened until 1818. Ac-
cording to the record of the boats taken out
prior to this, the Black Snake is given first
place, and the second was the schooner Sally,
of seven tons, with Capt. William Pratt.
Others of the very early vessels were the
Saucy Jane, with Jacob Wilkinson as her cap-
tain; the Walter, under Capt. Amos Reed;
the Happy Return, and the Wapoghkonnetta,
in command of Capt. Isaac Richardson. The
first vessel completed on the Maumee River is
believed to have been the sloop Miami, which
was launched at Perrysburg in 1810 by Capt.
Anderson Martin. This vessel was captured
by the British during the War of 1812, but
was subsequently recaptured at the time of
Perry's victory, and helped to carry the
American soldiers on their expedition into
Canada. Both Perrysburg and Maumee be-
came important as shipbuilding centers. In
1843 the first boat run by a screw propellor
was constructed at Perrysburg. It was called
244
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
245
the Sampson, and was a vessel of 250 tons
capacity. Six years later the first steam
barge, called the Petrel, was built in Toledo.
It must be remembered that in the early
ihiys the Sandusky River was also important
for navigation. Fremont was at the head
of navigation on this river, and regular lines
of boats went up and down between that port
and Sandusky, as well as more remote points.
.Many vessels were constructed from the fine
oak trees growing in the forests along the
river's banks. As early, as 1816 the sloop
Nautilus was built there. In 1830 we read
that "The new steamboat, Ohio, intended for
river and lake trade was launched at Lower
Sandusky on the 29th of May." The industry
grew so rapidly that shipbuilding may be said
to have been one of the earlier and thriving
industries of Lower Sandusky. A dozen or
more lake boats have laid in port there load-
ing and discharging freight. By far the most,
interesting vessel that ever sailed out of Fre-
mont harbor was the Pegasus. In 1819
Thomas L. Hawkins and Elisha \V. Rowland
constructed this horseboat, for so it literally
was. It consisted of two large canoes, side
by side, separated by a platform large enough
to carry a superstructure of machinery, a
large amount of freight and several passen-
gers. The machinery was run by four horses,
which in turn worked paddles on each side of
the boat. The Pegasus aimed to make three
trips a week from Lower Sandusky to Port-
land, as Sandusky was then called. The pas-
sage of forty miles constituted a good day's
work under the most favorable circumstances.
She continued to run until June 29, 1824,
when a severe storm damaged her beyond re-
pair. The first trip was made on May 6, 1822,
and she carried a cargo of "tobacco, fish and
passengers." The same inventive genius of
Mr. Hawkins also devised and constructed a
ferry boat, propelled by paddle wheels which
were driven by dog power, after the style of
an old churn. This queer craft carried pas-
across the river at Fremont before a
bridge had been provided for.
It was not long after the establishment of
the custom house at Maumee until regular
communication began on Lake Erie with the
first steamboat. This was built at Black Rock,
below Buffalo, and was lost on the 4th of July,
in the year 1818. It was a vessel of about
300 tons burden, and was named Walk-
in-the-Water, after an Indian chief of the
Wyandot tribe, residing along the Detroit
River. It moved in the water at the rate of
from eight to ten miles per hour, which was
a wonderful speed for that period. The exact
date of its first trip is not certainly known,
but it is supposed to have been in September.
In the Cleveland Register of November 3,
1818, the following notice appears:
"The Steamboat Walk-in-the-Water left
Buffalo for Detroit on the 10th of October,
having on board 100 passengers. The facility
with which she moves over our Lake, warrants
us in saying that she will be of utility not only
to the proprietors, but also to the public. She
offers us a safe, sure and speedy conveyance for
all our surplus produce to distant markets.
She works as well in a storm as any vessel on
the Lakes, and answers the most sanguine
expectations of the proprietors."
The history of the Walk-in-the-Water has
a peculiar interest to those living along the
Maumee River. It was built primarily, so we
are informed upon good authority, to run
between Buffalo and the foot of the Maumee
Rapids. Its builders, Mclntyre and Stewart,
of Albany, New York, purchased a tract of
land below Perrysburg, which included the
site of Fgrt Meigs, and laid out there a town
which was designed for a great commercial
metropolis, and which was given the signifi-
cant name of Orleans of the North, to dis-
tinguish it from New Orleans, at the mouth
of the Mississippi. As the site of what was
then considered the head of navigation on
the Maumee, and the western extremity of
246
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Lake Erie, the situation was promising. The
promoters planned to establish a line of steam-
ers on the lakes, with Orleans as the western
terminus. It was soon found that they had
overestimated the commercial advantages of
the site, since it was found upon trial that the
Walk-in-the-Water could not reach it. She
drew so much water that the vessel was
obliged to stop at the mouth of Swan Creek,
the site of the present City of Toledo.
The Walk-in-the- Water was in service for
three years, and during that time visited To-
ledo and Fremont. On June 10, 1820, she
carried the first excursion party to the upper
lakes. On her last trip she left Black Rock
on November 6, 182^, with seventy-five pas-
sengers and a large quantity of merchandise.
The weather was at that time calm. When
about six miles out, however, the wind in-
creased and Captain Rogers returned to Buf-
falo Bay. The violence of the storm continu-
ally increased, and the night was intensely
dark, so that the vessel began dragging her
anchors. The water deepened in the hold in
spite of the greatest exertion with the pumps.
She went ashore on a sandy beach, but the
passengers were safely landed after many
thrilling experiences. They were compelled
to stay on the island where they had landed
for two days before they were transferred to
the mainland and returned to Buffalo. The
keel was broken in two or three pieces, and
the entire hull so shattered that its further
use was impossible and the vessel was aban-
doned. Mr. Williams, the last surviving pas-
senger, gave the following account of the dis-
aster :
"The WalJc-in-t he- Water on that, last voy-
age left Black Rock in the afternoon of a dull,
cloudy day. As she cast off her tow-line and
moved unaided into the broad waters of Lake
Erie, there was no anticipation of the terrible
gale we were soon to encounter. The boat had
a full complement of passengers, and a full
cargo of goods, mostly for Western merchants,
one of whom, Mr. Palmer, of Detroit, was on
board with his bride. There was also a com-
pany of Missionaries, several of whom were
ladies, on their way to some Western Indian
tribe. As the winds rose, friends grouped them-
selves together, and as the storm grew more
and more furious, there was great terror among
them. The Missionaries sang hymns and de-
voted themselves to soothing the terrified. We
lay tossed of the tempest, the big seas sweep-
ing over us all the long night. Just as the
first gleam of daylight appeared our anchor
began to drag. Captain Miller seeing the
impossibility of saving the Steamer, ordered
her beached. With skilled seamanship she
was sent broadside on. A rope stretched from
boat to beach, and the passengers were fer-
ried to shore in the small boat. They reached
it drenched and exhausted, but all saved."
The first serious lake disaster in this region
was the loss of the schooner Sylph, Capt.
Harry Haskin, in May, 1824. She sailed from
Sandusky about noon of May 12th for De-
troit, with two barrels of whisky, a few
wooden dishes, and three passengers, beside
the captain's brother, Charles Haskin. A
severe storm from the northwest arose in the
afternoon. Nothing was heard of the vessel
until the 14th, when two men reached San-
dusky in a skiff, with the intelligence that the
Sylph had been wrecked on North Bass Island,
and all on board lost.
The second steamer to reach Maumee was
probably the Enterprise, in the year 1823.
Before the opening of the Wabash and Erie
Canal communication between Fort Wayne
and the lower Maumee was by means of water
and stage. A canal boat that had been changed
to steam power was brought to the Maumee
in 1833, bearing the appropriate name of Phe-
nomenon. She passed up the Maumee to Fort
Wayne, and the people there called her ' ' quite
a large, elegant boat." A generous welcome
was accorded, and a general public dance held
on board. In June, 1837, there appeared the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
247
announcement that the steamboat General
Wayne, under command of Capt. H. C. Wil-
liams, "would leave the head of the Rapids
every day at one p. m. for the Flat Rock,
whore there would be coaches and teams to
convey passengers and freight to Defiance."
Passengers leaving Maumee City and Perrys-
burg in the morning were able to reach
Defiance the same day. There was also, accord-
ing to announcement, a boat for passengers
or freight which left Defiance every Friday
for Fort Wayne, making the journey in three
days. During high water a steamboat ran
between the head of the rapids and Fort
Wayne, but this was impossible in midsum-
mer. Rapid travel was not expected in those
days, for the quickest passage made by any
sail vessel between Sandusky and Buffalo up
to 1822 was thirty-four hours. By that time
the schooner Erie began to make the trip and
reduced the time by six hours.
"THE STEAMBOAT SUN
"C. K. Bennett, Master.
' ' Will make her trips this season as follows :
Will leave Manhattan every morning at 7
o'clock; Toledo at 8; Maumee City and Per-
rysburg at half-past 10; Toledo at 2 P. M.
and Maumee and Perrysburg at 5 o'clock
and arrive at Manhattan at 7 P. M.
"April 25, 1838."
This was the published announcement of
the first steamboat plying exclusively between
the towns on the Maumee River. As may be
noticed, the boat made only about five miles
an hour. The business of running a steamer
on the Maumee River, three-quarters of a cen-
tury ago, was a rather hazardous task; at
least the managers of this line found it so.
Because of the general business collapse of
1837, there was a state of financial distress all
over this section of the country. Cash was a
very scarce article, and as a result the manag-
ers of this line, as well as many another busi-
ness concern, found themselves compelled to
resort to scrip for the payment of their bills.
This scrip circulated as cash, and was a great
help to the business transactions. The unfor-
tunate part of it was that many of those who
issued the scrip never took the trouble, or else
found it impossible, to redeem it. The owners
of this line, however, redeemed all of their obli-
gations. In the same year the steamboat An-
drew Jackson, with Shibnah Spink as its man-
ager, commenced running between Perrysburg
and Manhattan, making stops at Maumee, Or-
leans, and Upper and Lower Toledo, and
completing two trips each day. In 1839 there
was advertised a full line of steamboats from
Detroit to Perrysburg and Maumee City, with
the vessels Oliver, Newbury, and Erie, and
making stops at Toledo, Manhattan, Monroe,
Brest, Maiden, and Gibraltar. They left Per-
rysburg at 7:30 in the morning, and arrived
at Detroit at 4 in the afternoon. Steamers
continued in the local run between Maumee
and Perrysburg and Toledo for almost half
a century. With the completion of several
railroads and electric lines, the competition
became too strong, and they were compelled
to succumb. On several occasions since then
an attempt has been made to revive the river
traffic, because of the marvelous beauty of
the scenery, but in each instance the pro-
moters have been compelled to abandon it
because of lack of patronage.
A curious incident in our history in the
development of steam navigation on the water
is an act by the Legislature of Ohio prohibit-
ing any boat or water craft from receiving or
landing any passengers from steamboats
within the limits of Ohio. The reason for this
was that since Robert L. Livingston and Rob-
ert Fulton had been granted by the State of
New York the exclusive right of navigation
in the waters of Lake Erie by steam power, a
great deal of trouble immediately arose. Since
there were no improved harbors on Lake Erie,
the steamboats were compelled to employ
248
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
small boats to land their passengers and
freight. As the state could not prevent the
navigation of the steamboats of New York on
Lake Erie, it could prevent the smaller boats
from plying between Ohio ports and these ves-
sels at anchor. It was not many years after
the application of steam to lake transporta-
tion that the movement of vessels began to
reach large proportions. The Lake Erie
Steamboat Line was organized in 1827, and
had four vessels. They made tri-weekly trips
between Buffalo and Detroit, stopping at in-
termediate ports. The Blade of January 31,
1838, said :
"A comparison of the number of arrivals
on our wharves in 1836 and 1837, will show
an increased measure of prosperity during the
past year. In 1836 the number of arrivals,
exclusive of small Steamboats that ply daily
between this place and Detroit was 601, as
follows : Steamboats, 330, and 271 schooners.
In 1837, excluding the small boats again from
the computation, the number was 959 ; of
which 756 were Steamboats and 203 schoon-
ers. Of the Steamboat arrivals, 270 were from
Buffalo direct, 401 from Buffalo via Detroit,
and 85 direct from Cleveland. When it was
recollected that Toledo dates her existence
from June, 1834, we think we may safely state,
without arrogance or boasting, that no point
in the West can show a like rapid increase in
her commerce."
The combination of boat and vessel own-
ers began to appear early in Lake Erie.
Hence in 1839 we find the Consolidation
Steamboat Company in existence, and its ex-
press purpose was to protect the owners of
steamboats on the lakes from the effects of
competition by fixing prices at this time. A
daily line of steamboats was established be-
tween Buffalo and Toledo in 1839. Passen-
gers traveled ' ' the entire distance from Toledo
to New York in three days and fifteen hours,"
which was really astonishing at that period.
The editor of the Blade, in expressing his
approval of this speed, said : ' ' One coiild
hardly wish to travel 770 miles in a less pe-
riod." He certainly would open his eyes in
astonishment if he knew that express trains
have made the trip in fifteen hours, and even
less. When coal came into use as fuel on the
steamers, it was found that their speed was
greatly increased, for it supplied the neces-
sary power much better than wood, which had
formerly been employed. In the spring of
1841 there were already fifty steamboats ply-
ing on the lakes. Of these, six were in use
on the line running between Buffalo and
Toledo.
It is neither necessary nor advisable to con-
tinue the history of lake navigation down to
the present time, with all its many and rad-
ical changes. Instead of the small craft that
were used in the early days, we find monster
leviathans which rival the ocean steamers in
size and speed, and which ply the waters of
Lake Erie as well as its connecting lakes in
all directions. The steamer Walk-in-the-
Water w'ould look very small if placed by the
side of the monster freight or passenger res-
sels of today. The development and enlarge-
ment of the steamers closely followed the
improvement of the harbors. The entrance to
the Maumee was impeded by sandbars, which
made it impossible for deep drafted vessels
to enter for many years.
From a survey of 1824, we copy the follow-
ing:
"Soundings were taken of the Maumee
River and Bay, from the foot of the Rapids to
Turtle Island, off the North Cape of the Bay.
At the point where it is proposed to erect the
dam suggested, there is a rock bottom with
6-1/, feet of water. Below this rock the water
increases in a short time to eight and nine
feet. At a point between that of Swan Creek,
a mile above Grassy Point, about eight feet of
water is found, and on the bar in the Bay,
8Vo to 9 feet."
Although appropriation had been made for
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
249
the improvement of lake harbors at San-
dusky, Huron, .Milan, and other points along
Lake Erie earlier, it was not until 1835 that
any appropriation was made for the Mau-
inee. At this time a small sum of $700 was
granted by Congress for placing buoys in the
hay. No steps wen- actually taken to deepen
or improve the entrance to the Maumee River
until 1866, although measures had been
adopted to develop the Monroe Harbor thirty-
one years before, and at Huron forty years
earlier. One reason probably was that until
that year the natural depth of the water per-
mitted the vessels, or most of them at least,
to enter the river. With the increasing draft
of ships, however, additional water was found
neeessary. It was then deemed necessary to
deepen the channel to 14 feet, and broaden
it to 120 feet. Prom that depth it has been
greatly deepened and improved, as well as
straightened, until it now has a uniform depth
of 23 feet up to the Toledo docks and a width
of 400 feet. Toledo now affords the very best
harbor and the most extensive dockage facili-
ties- of any port on Lake Erie. A new light-
house, officially called Toledo Harbor Light,
was completed in 1904, and is one of the most
modern lights on the Great Lakes. Ships of
the greatest capacity are now built in the
extensive shipyards at Toledo, by the side of
which the early vessels were mere dwarfs.
The first lighthouses provided for Lake
Erie were those at Fairport, and on the penin-
sula in Sandusky Bay, in the year 1826. This
latter was the predecessor of the lighthouse
now at Marblehead. The first lighthouse au-
thorized for the Maumee Channel was the one
at Turtle Island. This island was purchased
of the Government in 1827 at public sale at
Monroe, Michigan, and was again sold to the
United States a few years later by Edward
Bissell for the sum of $300. It then contained
a little over six acres, and the original light-
house was erected there in 1831. By this
time, however, the size had been greatly re-
duced, and it was estimated at about two
acres. Since then it has been greatly washed
away. Although attempts have been made
to protect the little oasis from the washing
of the storms, it probably is a scant acre in
extent at this time. The lighthouse was aban-
doned several years ago.
THE CANALS
We scarcely appreciate in this day of rapid
transit the condition that confronted the pio-
neer. It must be remembered that nearly all
exchange was by barter. Except in a few
simple household articles, there was prac-
tically no manufacturing. The population
for many years was almost wholly rural. In
1822 wheat was selling at 25 cents a bushel,
and corn at half that price. Eggs were 4
cents a dozen, and chickens sold at 5 cents
each. Everything purchased brought a high
price, because the cost of carriage was so great.
It was only as cheaper transportation devel-
oped that conditions improved. It was the
construction of canals that first bettered con-
ditions. The men who originally espoused
this cause met with very little encouragement
in the' beginning, but they were far-seeing and
continued their efforts in the face of every
discouragement and obstacle. It was neces-
sary for them first to convince a scattered pop-
ulation of poor landowners that in order to
make valuable their undeveloped treasure in
land, it was first necessary to burden them-
selves with heavy taxes, but that eventually
the markets would be brought to their very
doors. It seemed almost a hopeless task, but
the men back of it were endowed with cour-
age and ability as well as foresight.
The father of the canal system of this coun-
try was undoubtedly DeWitt Clinton, of New
York, who began to agitate the subject in the
latter part of the eighteenth century. The
completion of the New York and Erie Canal
in 1825 aroused great interest in the subject,
250
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and stimulated Ohio in her efforts to secure
better transportation upon Lake Erie and the
Ohio River. Prior to this day Governor
Thomas "Worth infrt on had recommended to the
Legislature the building of a canal across
the state. Two years later Governor Ethan
Allen Brown also advised such action, and a
resolution was passed providing for three
canal commissioners, who should employ an
engineer and assistants to make a survey —
provided that the United States would donate
lands along the line of the canal to aid in its
construction.
The first project that attracted attention
Stickney, then Indian agent at Fort Wayne,
had published a letter in the Western Spy, of
Cincinnati, in which he used the following
language :
"Of course it would be a small expense of
labor to connect the waters of these two
Rivers by a Canal that would be passable at
the lowest water. Those Rivers will be the
great thoroughfare between the Lakes and the
Mississippi ; and, of course, will constitute an
uninterrupted navigation from the Bay of St.
Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, except the
short portage at the Falls of Niagara."
A series of dams was then projected along
OLD CANAL BOAT
was for a short canal to connect Fort Wayne,
to which place the Maumee was considered
navigable, with the Little River, a tributary
of the Wabash, the entire distance being a
little less than seven miles. As early as 1818,
Capt. James Riley, a government surveyor
of Van Wert County, said :
"In high stages of water a portage of only
6 miles carries merchandise from the head of
the Maumee into navigable waters of the Wa-
bash (and vice versa) from whence, floating
with the current, it may go either to supply
the wants of the interior country or proceed
South to New Orleans or North to Lake Erie.
The Little Wabash rises in a swamp, which
might supply water sufficient for purpose of
Canal navigation."
A year previous to this Maj. Benjamin F.
the Maumee to raise the level during times of
low water. When surveys were made across
the state, the lines followed the rivers. Thus
one line was surveyed up the Maumee and
Auglaize, and down the Loramie and Greater
Miami. Another was up the Scioto and down
the Sandusky, and also up the Cuyahoga and
down the Tuscarawas and Muskingum. When
the board reported in favor of the Cuyahoga
River, from Cleveland, probably because the
population was more numerous there, a serious
protest arose from the friends of the Maumee
and Sandusky route, and more particularly
the latter. In 1824 both routes were sur-
veyed for a second canal, and a favorable
report made of that via the Maumee. The
commissioners reported the distance from the
foot of the Maumee Rapids to the Ohio River
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
251
as 265% miles, with 25 Vi miles additional as
necessary feeders. The altitude of the sum-
mit was given as 378 feet above Lake Erie
and 511 4/10 feet above the Ohio River, and
the estimated cost was less than that of the
Cuyahoga route.
Work was authorized on the canal route
between Dayton and Cincinnati on the 4th of
February, 1825, and a few months later the
contracts were let for the first twenty miles.
Work had already begun on the Cleveland
and Portsmouth route. The section of the
Miami and Erie Canal from Cincinnati to
Dayton was completed in 1829, but the locks
connecting it with the Ohio River were not
yet finished. Congress granted to the State
of Ohio to aid this canal "a quantity of land
equal to one-half of five Sections in width on
each side of said canal between Dayton and
the Maumee River at the mouth of the Au-
glaize (Defiance), so far as the same shall be
located through the public land, and reserv-
ing each alternate Section of land unsold to
the United States to be selected by the Com-
missioner of the General Land Office under
the direction of the President of the United
States; and which land so reserved to the
United States shall not be sold for less than
$2.50 per acre." This act, like all others for
canals, required that the canal should always
remain a public highway, free to the United
States from tolls or other charges. Work was
to begin within five years, and the canal was
to be completed within twenty years from the
date of the act. At this same date Congress
further granted to Ohio 500,000 acres of land
to pay the debts of and to complete the
canals — those commenced to be completed
within seven years.
Owing to the difficulties arising from the
Toledo War, and the conflicting claims of the
various villages at the mouth of the Maumee,
contracts were not let for the northern end
until May, 1837. All sorts of arguments were
brought to bear upon the commissioners by
all the villages from Manhattan to Maumee
City. Many of them seem ludicrous in the
light of modern development. For instance,
the Maumee advocates dwell upon the inabil-
ity to bridge the Maumee with safety and
without danger to navigation at her lower
rivals. The canal commissioners had met at
Perrysburg in the previous year, and agreed
to grant canal connection to each of the claim-
ants. This decision was confirmed by Gov-
ernor Lucas. As early as 1823, Indiana offi-
cials had begun a movement to connect the
navigation of the Wabash and the Maumee
A PICTURESQUE OLD LOCK ON THE MIAMI
AND ERIE CANAL
with Lake Erie. The Ohio portion of this
canal is only eighteen miles in length. Con-
gress authorized Indiana to mark a route
through the public lands, and a right-of-way
was secured from the Miami Indians through
their lands. Congress granted each alternate
section of land to Indiana to aid in the work.
It became evident that the proposed work was
greater than had been anticipated. The short
canal to connect the Maumee with the Little
River was seen to be inefficient, for it became
evident that the Maumee River could not be
depended upon for navigation above Defiance.
It was then determined to connect the Wabash
and Erie Canal with the Miami and Erie
Canal at a point named Junction, in Pauld-
252
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ing County. To harmonize the work of the
joint section, W. Talmadge was appointed
commissioner for Ohio, and Jeremiah Sulli-
van was named for Indiana. Ground on this
project was formally broken at Fort Wayne,
on February 22, 1832. A great dam was con-
structed across the River St. Joseph, six miles
above Fort Wayne, which is the highest dam
in the Maumee River basin. Six Mile Reser-
voir was built in Paulding County as a feeder,
being so named from Six Mile Creek. In 1835
the canal was completed to Huntington, and
in 1841 it had reached Lafayette.
Because of the sparse settlements in North-
ern Ohio, and the scarcity of money as well,
Ohio did not urge the completion of the
northern part of the Miami and Erie Canal
fast enough to suit Indiana, and the people
of that state became greatly dissatisfied. It
was not until the spring of 1837 that a con-
tract was let for the canal from Manhattan
to the head of the rapids of the Maumee (now
Grand Rapids), and in the fall of the same
year contracts were placed for the canal from
the Grand Rapids to the Indiana state line
in eighty-nine sections. Contractors gathered
together about 2,000 laborers and began to
pay them in Michigan ' ' wild cat ' ' bills, which
they had borrowed. The financial panic of
that year crippled the contractors in their
financial plans, so that they were not able to
pay the laborers their wages for months. The
excessive prices of provisions, which had to
be transported for long distances, the high
price of labor, and considerable sickness
among the men rendered the work very slow.
The different policy followed by the con-
tractors upon the question of intoxicating
liquors is shown in the following:
"In this connection it may be proper to
state, that the matter of 'prohibition' as to
the use of intoxicating liquors, became a prac-
tical question with contractors on the Canal.
This was specially so with those on the sec-
tions 'in rear of the Town,' (now between
the Court House and the High School build-
ing) who issued the order that no man in
the use of liquors should have employment at
their hands. The result was, that while the
men on other jobs where liquors were used,
suffered much from sickness, those above
named were almost wholly without such ex-
perience.
"During the construction of the Reservoir
in Paulding County, about 1842, a different
policy was adopted. What were termed 'jig-
gers,' were dealt out to laborers before each
meal. The men passed under a rope, one at
a time, and received 12 ounces of whiskey
each. At about 9 :30 A. M., and 4 :30 P. M.,
like supplies were taken to the men at their
work. Such were deemed necessary from the
character of the water there used. ' '
From Defiance to the state line it was found
necessary to construct the locks of wood, be-
cause of the want of stone. Of these there are
many, six being within Defiance alone. For
fifteen months the contractors on the canal
did not receive a single dollar from the state,
and there was due them half a million dollars.
In Indiana a white paper scrip was issued
by the state, and based upon canal lands,
which was generally called "white dog," and
another colored scrip issued upon another sec-
tion west of Lafayette was called ' ' blue dog, ' '
while fractional currency was known as ' ' blue
pup." Much of this paper was about worn
out from usage before it was finally redeemed.
The canals were opened to traffic from To-
ledo to Fort Wayne on the 8th of May, 1843.
The first boat to pass to Lafayette was the
Albert S. White, with Capt. Sirus Belden as
the master. She was greeted all along the
way with great joy. In Toledo a dinner was
given at the Ohio House in honor of the cap-
tain and his crew. A lighter packet fitted
for passengers soon followed under Capt. Wil-
liam Dale. At a canal opening celebration on
the 4th of July, representatives were present
at Fort Wayne from Toledo, Detroit, Cleve-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
253
land, and many other places. Gen. Lewis
('ass delivered the principal address. There
u.-is still further delay in the construction of
the .Miami and Krie Canal south of the Junc-
tion, and the first boat from Cincinnati did
not reach Toledo until June 27, 1845. Aimer
L. Backus was appointed canal collector at
Maun City in 1844. The canals now were
recognized as the cheapest, easiest, and safest
mode of communication and transportation.
They soon developed into great thoroughfares,
not only for freight but also for passengers.
P>y 1847 the boats in use numbered several
hundred, and the canal tolls exceeded $60,000.
In the following year almost 4,000 canal boats
cleared from Toledo. Millions of dollars
worth of produce were transported each year
by them. Many of the laborers who had
worked upon the canals remained and bought
lands upon which they settled. Numerous
sawing, flouring, and other mills located along
them, and the work of clearing the forests
began in earnest. Logs and firewood were
alike transported to the markets. A number
of great charcoal burners were established in
Paulding County, with iron furnaces in con-
nection. These industries, and the wood chop-
ping incidental thereto, gave employment to
several hundred laborers. Passenger boats
became quite numerous, and some of them
were well fitted for the convenience of trav-
elers. The sleeping berths for first-class pas-
sengers were arranged on each side of the
upper cabin, generally in two rows, one above
the other, but occasionally in three rows.
Hammocks and cots were provided for the
surplus passengers, and many would sleep on
the deck. They were drawn by from two to
six horses, according to the size of the boat
and the load. They were generally kept on
a trot by the driver, who rode the saddle of
the left rear horse. In this way a speed of
from six to eight miles an hour was attained.
Relays of horses were sometimes carried on
the boat, but generally they were stationed at
convenient points. The journey from Toledo
to Lafayette' was about 242 miles, and was
advertised to be made in fifty-six hours. The
rate of fare was generally 3 cents a mile on the
packets, and one-half cent less on the freight
boats, which also carried passengers. Meals
and lodging were included in these rates for
the longer distances. Thirty-five to forty pas-
sengers was considered a good load, but double
this number would not be turned away. The
time required between Toledo and Cincinnati
was four days and five nights, which was con-
sidered very good time. Much of the time was
taken up in passing through the numerous
locks, which averaged more than one hour.
The trip is now made in a few hours by train.
The largest boat on the canal for a long
time was the Harry of the West, which was
brought from the New York and Erie Canal in
1844 by Capt. Edwin Avery. The first canaJ
steamboat, the Niagara, was built in 1845 for
Samuel Doyle, but was not a success. It
arrived in Toledo September 24, 1849. The
Scarecrow was more successful. It had as
the propelling power a small portable engine,
from the flywheel of which a belt extended
down to a pulley in the stern, to which a
3-foot propeller-wheel was attached. Objec-
tions were raised to the use of steamboats on
account of the commotion of the water caused
by the propeller to the detriment of the canal
banks, and to other boats. It was not unusual
at this time for fifty or sixty boats to accumu-
late in Toledo, unloading and reloading at
the wharves and grain elevators. The locks
connecting the canal with the Maumee River
at Manhattan were abandoned in 1864, and
nearly four miles were dropped a few years
later. The side cut with its six locks leading
to the Maumee River at Maumee were also
relinquished, so that the only connection now
existing with the Maumee River is through
Swan Creek. A long and bitter fight for trade
ensued between the canals and railroads, with
the latter as final victors. Rates for freight
254
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
were cut whenever there was direct competi-
tion. The canal commission undertook to pre-
vent railroads from crossing the canals. The
Indiana portion of the Wabash and Erie
Canal was abandoned long ago. The section
from the state line to Junction has not been
used since 1886. The Miami and Erie Canal
is still kept open, and new locks were con-
structed at a great expense only a few years
ago. But a boat is now a rarity, and its only
use is in furnishing water power to a few
establishments. Its days of real usefulness
are seemingly ended, and its entire abandon-
ment cannot be far distant in the future.
To supply the water for the canal, the Lor-
amie Reservoir, produced by a dam across
Loramie Creek, near Minster, was constructed.
This supplies water for what is termed the
Summit level. This reservoir is seven miles
long and much narrower, but covers 1,800
acres of land. The Lewistown Reservoir was
constructed to supply the canal southward.
Most of the water for the northern end of
the canal was derived from the Grand Reser-
voir, produced by a dam about four miles
long and from 10 to 25 feet high, across the
valley of Big Beaver Creek, a tributary of
the Wabash, south of Celina. This reservoir
is about nine miles long and from two to four
miles wide, the east end having a retaining
wall about two miles long. It covers about
twenty-seven square miles, or 17,000 acres,
and has been called the largest of artificial
lakes. A number of settlers had already
located on this land, and many serious con-
troversies arose before their claims were ad-
judicated. So great was the indignation at
what was considered the injustice shown them,
that the dam was cut and a serious overflow
resulted. Then an adjustment followed. This
reservoir still remains, and many of the limbs
of the trees still protrude above its surface.
Many oil wells have also been sunk beneath
its surface. The Grand Reservoir is greatly
resorted to each year by fishermen, who come
from long distances to angle for the finny
tribe sporting themselves in its waters.
THE PIONEER RAILROADS
Transportation by land in Northwestern
Ohio, where swampy conditions prevailed over
the greater portion, was a serious matter. In
the muddy season, it was next to impossible.
Benoni Adams, who carried the mail from
Lower Sandusky to Monroe in 1809, usually
required two weeks for the round trip. Much
of the journey was made on foot, and it was
frequently necessary to construct small rafts
to cross the swollen streams. To alleviate this
condition, an era of plank roads swept over
the country in the '40s and '50s. The canals
had been of great service, but their immediate
territory was limited. The financial returns
looked promising, based upon the experience
of similar roads in the East. Timber was
abundant in every section, so that the cost of
construction would be low. The newspapers
everywhere encouraged their construction.
As a result many projects were soon begun
and pushed to completion. Townships and
towns everywhere voted generous subsidies.
Liberal tolls were charged, of which the fol-
lowing is a fair example : A loaded two-horse
wagon, 2 cents per mile, and half that if
empty; single carriage, 1 cent per mile and
double carriages 2 cents; a horse and rider
were taxed a cent for each mile. But settlers
were scarce and through travel was not heavy,
and even these refused to pay any toll except
when the roads were bad.
It is said that profanity reached its highest
range in the days of plank roads. There were
cases where an angry driver managed to get a
hitch on the toll-gate and drag it a mile or
two down the road. The court records reveal
many cases for the "malicious destruction of
property," the property in question being
the toll-gate. The jurors could not refuse a
verdict for the company, but, being of sym-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
255
pathetic mind, usually fixed the damages at
1 cent. As a result the financial returns were
unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the planks de-
cayed faster than was expected. Hence some
of the plank roads never were renewed, others
were kept in a poor condition of repair, and
all of them disappeared in a couple of dec-
ades. By this time the railroads had prac-
tically monopolized the inland transportation
trade.
The pioneer railway west of the Alleghenies
was built and operated by Toledo enterprise.
tion of them." An amendment to this act,
passed the 26th of March, 1835, provided that
when "the road shall have paid the cost of
building the same, and expenses of keeping
the same in repair, and seven per cent on all
moneys expended as aforesaid, the said road
shall become the property of the Territory,
or State, and shall become a free road except
sufficient toll to keep the same in repair. ' ' A
subsequent act terminated the road at Adrian.
Many members of the Legislative Council
viewed the proposition as "a mere financial
OLDTIME STAGE COACH
Its inception was about the time of the unit-
ing of the two embryo towns on the Maumee
River. At this time there was no railroad
west of the Alleghenies. It was projected in
the winter of 1832-33 by Dr. Samuel 0. Corn-
stock, of Toledo. It was incorporated with
the name Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad by an
art of the Legislative Council of the Territory
of Michigan, passed the 22nd of April, 1835,
and endowed with perpetual succession "to
build a railroad from Port Lawrence (now
Toledo) through Adrian to some point on the
Kalamazoo River ; to transport, take and carry
property and persons upon the same, by the
power and force of steam, animals, or of any
mechanical or other power, or any combina-
object out of which could come no harm (to
Michigan Territory) and it would greatly
please the Comstocks of Toledo, one of whom
was a member of that Council. ' ' Stephen B.
Comstock and Benjamin F. Stickney were
among the charter members.
The original plan of the Erie and Kala-
mazoo railroad promoters was to use oak rails,
4 inches square, and the cars to be drawn by
horses. "The financing of this enterprise
proved a work of great difficulty. The con-
struction was begun with this idea, but had
not proceeded far until it was decided to use
an iron track and employ steam power. It
was found that the wear on the green oak
rails in transporting material for construe-
256
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tion was so great that an iron covering was
ncivssary. Tlu> iron was procured. It was
what is known as the "strap rail," 21/;. inches
wide and r'N of an inch thick, and was spiked
to the wooden rail. The road was ready for
business during the fall of 1836, just a decade
after the first American railroad was opened
at Boston. The ears were at first drawn by
horses. The initial locomotive reached Toledo
in June, 1837. It had been brought by water
all the way from Philadelphia, via New York,
then by the Hudson River, through the Erie
Canal, and across the lake. It was number
eighty of the Baldwin Locomotive Works,
which will now turn out many more than that
in a single day. Compared with the gigantic
locomotives of today, it was a pigmy, and
there was absolutely no protection on it for
the engineer. Soon after the first engine was
received, a new "Pleasure Car" was added
to the road's equipment, which was of a
rather fanciful character. It was divided into
four compartments, three to accommodate
eight passengers each on seats facing each
other, while the fourth compartment was a
small space between the wheels for baggage.
It was about the size of a street car of a quar-
ter of a century ago. In October, 1837, the
railroad was awarded the contract for carry-
ing the United States mails, the first mail
contract awarded by the Government west of
the Alleghenies, and little by little it came
into favor with the general public. The first
woman passenger on the road was Mrs. Cla-
rissa Harroun, of Sylvania. The two locomo-
tives of the road owned by the Erie & Kala-
mazoo were named the "Toledo" and the
"Adrian."
Since the charter of the Erie & Kalamazoo
Railway provided for a line extending from
Toledo to the 'head waters of the Kalamazoo
River, it was therefore called the Erie & Kala-
mazoo Railroad, although it never reached its
northerly terminus. The difficulty in finan-
cing this operation is shown by the fact that
only about 5 per cent of the authorized shares
of stock a few years afterwards remained in
the names of the original stockholders. The
greater part of them had been hypothecated
with creditors. Since it had been built with-
out the use of much real money, from the out-
set it was largely in debt. A bank had been
organized to finance the railroad, under the
name of the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad Bank,
but, as this institution was likewise without
capital, it eventually became a burden rather
than a support. It was only a few years until
the unpaid bills accumulated and the cred-
itors forced the surrender of the property;
then it was that the enterprise began to be-
come valuable. The most active man in the
prosecution of this project was Edward Bis-
sell, one of Toledo's earliest and ablest busi-
ness pioneers. In May, 1849, the road was
leased in perpetuity to the Michigan Southern
Railroad Company, and in 1869 it became part
of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail-
road, which is now merged with the New
York Central lines.
Considering the absolute want of experience
in financing and constructing a railroad, it
must be conceded that the construction and
equipment of thirty-three miles of railway at
this time, by managers who were themselves
almost moneyless, was a very creditable un-
dertaking. For the first year the track of the
Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad terminated at
Monroe and Water streets, in Toledo. The
original railroad office was a small building
14 by 20 feet in size, which had been built
for a barber shop in that neighborhood. In
1837 the track was extended along Water
Street to the foot of La Grange, by building
on piles throughout this entire distance, and
in some places it was as much as 200 feet from
what was then the shore of the river. The
depot was at a later time located at the foot
of Cherry Street, as a sort of compromise site
between the two rival sections of the town.
The first announcement of the running time
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
257
of the Erie & Kalauiazoo Railroad appeared
in the Toledo Blade of May 16, 1837, and was
as follows:
To EMIGRANTS AND TRAVELERS
The Eric and Kalamazoo Railroad is now in
full operation between
TOLEDO AND ADRIAN
During the ensuing season trains of cars
will run daily to Adrian, there connecting
with a line of stages for the West, Michigan
City, Chicago and Wisconsin Territory.
Emigrants and others destined for Indiana,
Illinois and Western Michigan
Wru., SAVE Two DAYS
and the corresponding expense, by taking this
route in preference to the more lengthened,
tedious and expensive route heretofore trav-
eled. All baggage at the risk of the owners.
Edward Bissell,
W. P. Daniels,
George Crane,
Commissioners Erie & Kalamazoo R. R. Co.
A. Hughes,
Superintendent Western Stage Co.
Buffalo, Detroit, and other papers on the
Lakes will please publish this notice to the
amount of $5.00, and send their bills to the
Agent.
It will be seen that no time is named for the
departure and arrival of trains. The reason
for this was the very essential one that the
running time was most uncertain. Accidents
frequently occurred because there was no bal-
last. The soil on which the ties were laid was
unstable and slippery after rains. With the
springing of the wooden rails there would
come a breaking or loosening of the nails, and
the ends of the strap iron would curl up so
high as to pierce the car, and even to endanger
the safety of the passengers. The rate of fare
by "the Pleasure Car" was 5 shillings (50
Vol. 1—17
cents) from Toledo to Whiteford (Sylvania),
and between Toledo and Adrian it was $1.50,
with a right to carry fifty pounds of baggage
free for each seat. In the second year of its
operation these rates were increased by 50
per cent. Freight was 50 cents per hundred
pounds for certain articles and less for others.
The newspapers of the day rejoiced greatly
over the completion of this railroad, for it
saved passengers the trouble of wallowing
through the mud for a couple of days during
the rainy season on their way either to Detroit
or Chicago. The Toledo Blade, in speaking
of the first locomotive, which replaced the
horses, says as follows : "Its celerity has not
yet been fully tested, but it is ascertained
that it can move at a rate exceeding twenty
miles per hour. At present it makes a trip
and a half (between Toledo and Adrian) in
twenty-four hours." A little later it was
deemed worthy to state that "the Locomotive
came in from Adrian with six cars attached,
in the short space of one hour and forty min-
utes, including stops." When the directors
of the road authorized the sale in 1842, the
rolling stock consisted of the two locomotives
above mentioned, together with their tenders,
two passenger cars, nine freight cars, and one
stake car.
The Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad was
the first railroad project to be incorporated in
Ohio. This was in 1832, and the purpose was
to construct an iron highway from Dayton to
Sandusky, by way of Springfield, the motive
power to be horses. Work was begun at the
north end in 1835, and a portion of the road
was in operation in 1838. It was completed
in 1844. When the Little Miami Railway was
built from Cincinnati to Springfield in 1846,
the two lines constituted the first through rail
connection between Lake Erie and the Ohio
River, a distance of 211 miles. This road was
purchased by the Big Four Railroad, and is
now a part of the New York Central Lines.
A curious reminder of this early railroad is
258
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the following notice which appeared in a
Tiffin newspaper :
RAILROAD NOTICE
The undersigned, Commissioners of Seneca
County, for the Mad River & Erie R. R., will
open books for subscription of stock for said
road in Tiffin, Seneca County, on the fourth
day of October, 1832, at the residence of Eli
Norris.
Henry Cronise,
Josiah Hedges.
many towns along its route, and a greater
prosperity began almost immediately.
One of the curious incidents in the railway
history of this section was the formation of
the Ohio Railroad project. It was chartered
in 1836, and was authorized to build a road
on piles driven into the ground from a suita-
ble point in Ashtabula County westward to
Manhattan (Toledo). The road was to be
constructed of piles driven into the ground
by a pile-driving machine. On these piles
were to be placed cross-ties and timbers for
FIRST RAILROAD IN NORTHWEST OHIO
Erie & Kalamazoo Railway opened for business between Adrian and Toledo in fall of 1836.
Three years later the first sod was cut for
this road in Sandusky by Gen. William Henry
Harrison, assisted by Governor Vance. It
was an occasion of great rejoicing. The first
locomotive, named the "Sandusky," arrived
at Sandusky in 1838 by water, and was used
in the construction of the road. By the fall
of that year the road had reached Bellevue,
and the first train was run to that village.
It consisted of a small passenger car, and a
still smaller freight car. The first locomotive
entered Tiffin in 1841. The completion of this
road to Dayton in 1851 brought a new era to
the strap rails of iron. The building of the
road was begun in 1839, and the first pile was
driven at Fremont on June 19th of that year.
The contractors and laborers were paid in
paper scrip, which was largely issued in frac-
tions of a dollar, and this scrip soon became
the circulating medium of the country along
the line of the proposed railway. The Lower
Sandusky Whig, of July 11, 1840, has the
following news item :
' ' From Lower Sandusky the pile driver has
advanced into the very heart of the famed
Black Swamps, to the distance of nine miles,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
250
and is driving from 500 to 600 feet daily.
The company is receiving proposals for the
timber and mason work of the immense bridge
across the Sandusky River and Valley; im-
mense it is — being near a half mile in length
from bank to bank, and about forty feet in
height."
The main work of the pile driving was be-
gun at Brooklyn, near Cleveland, and also at
Manhattan. When the financial crash of 1840
came on, the whole project utterly collapsed
and was never revived. Nearly every man in
this section of the country had become the
possessor of some of the scrip issued by the
company, which was never redeemed.
In the late '40s and early '50s the era of
railroad construction really began in Ohio.
By 1851 the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad
was running through Crestline and Galion in
Northwestern Ohio. In 1850 the Ohio & Indi-
ana Railroad was incorporated to build from
"near Seltzer's Tavern in Richland County,
thence to Bucyrus, to Upper Sandusky," and
to Fort Wayne, connecting with the Ohio &
Pennsylvania at the first-named place. The
counties along the route voted large sums to
purchase stock. Bucyrus was for a number
of years the location of the general offices, and
several of the officers resided there. In 1852
the contract was let for the grading of the
road from Crestline to Upper Sandusky. In
the following spring the work was pushed rap-
idly, and the first train reached Bucyrus on
August 31, 1853. It was quickly finished
across the state, and became known as the
1'ittslmrg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad,
now an important part of the Pennsylvania
System.
The Northern Indiana Railroad was origi-
nally projected as early as 1835. With spas-
modic efforts it was kept alive until 1849,
when it passed into other hands, then pro-
moting a road called the Michigan Southern
West. As a result the first train passed over
these two roads from Toledo to Chicago on
May 22, 1852. Three years later the two
roads were consolidated. The initial train
from Cleveland arrived in Toledo, December
20, 1852, over the Toledo, Norwalk & Cleve-
land Railroad. Like other roads of this
period it was built largely by the subscrip-
tions of towns along its route. Toledo gave
$50,000; Fremont, $40,000; Bellevue, $20,-
000; Norwalk, $54,000; and Oberlin, $15,000.
It was afterwards consolidated with a rival
project known as the Cleveland & Toledo Rail-
road. These roads are now all consolidated
with the New York Central Lines.
The project of a direct railway from
Toledo through the Wabash Valley was first
given definite form in 1852. In that year a
convention of delegates along the proposed
route was held in Toledo. The Toledo & Illi-
nois Railroad Company was organized to
build the line to the Ohio boundary in Paul-
ding County, and other companies to construct
the rest of the line in the various states. They
were finally consolidated as the Toledo, Wa-
bash & Western Railway. The road was com-
pleted from Toledo to Fort Wayne in July,
1855, and it became a strong competitor of the
canal. It has since been known as the Wabash
Railroad. The Dayton & Michigan Railroad
was built in 1859 from Dayton to Toledo, and
eventually became known as the Cincinnati,
Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. The original
charter authorized a railroad from at or near
Dayton, via Sidney and Lima and Toledo to
a point on the Michigan state line in the direc-
tion of Detroit. The Baltimore & Ohio was
not built through this section of our state
until 1873. Columbus and Toledo did not
have direct connection until the completion
of the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo
Railway in 1876.
The Fremont & Indiana Railroad was incor-
porated, in 1853. It was planned to build a
road from Fremont through Fostoria (then
called Rome), Findlay and other towns to the
Indiana line. The track reached Fostoria in
260
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1859, and train service was begun. In the
following year it was extended to Findlay,
and insolvency overtook it. After many vicis-
situdes and several changes of name, it became
the Lake Erie & Western Railway. By 1863
the Atlantic & Great Western Railway (now
the Erie) had reached Galion, and in the fol-
lowing year was finished to Dayton. It was
popularly known as the "Broad Gauge," be-
cause its rails were six feet apart. The rails
were standardized in 1880.
Since the days of the early railroads the
laying of the parallel iron rails through this
section of our state has continued at a rapid
pace. They stretch out in every direction over
its comparatively level surface. There were
no mountains to make difficult the engineering
problem. Today it is a distance of only a
few miles from any point to a railroad station
where both passengers and freight will be re-
ceived. Toledo has become the third largest
railroad center in the United States. About
a quarter of a century ago, an era of inter-
urban electric lines began. In many instances
they have paralleled the older carriers and
have rendered the matter of transportation
still more convenient, because they have made
practically every cross road a stopping place.
In other instances they have opened up new
territory, so that today no section of our vast
republic, of equal area, is better provided in
the matter of transportation lines than is
Northwest Ohio.
CHAPTER XXIII
NORTHWEST OHIO IN THE WARS
The part taken by Northwest Ohio in the
various wars in which our country has been
engaged has been most creditable. Although
there were no residents of this section, so far
as we know, who enlisted in the Revolutionary
War, hundreds of former revolutionary sol-
diers afterwards settled in Northwest Ohio and
developed into the most exemplary citizens.
Thus it is that one will find the graves of
these veterans of that almost unprecedented
struggle for independence scattered all over
this part of our great state in the various
burial grounds. There is probably not one of
the twenty counties that does not harbor the
sacred remains of one or more of those who
took part in that sanguinary contest.
In the War of 1812 there were a number of
enlistments from among the few settlers who
had already established themselves here on
the outpost of civilization. It was this war
to a great extent that opened up the eyes of
the rest of the Union to the great opportuni-
ties of the Northwestern Territory, and espe-
cially of the Ohio country. The soldiers who
served under Harrison and his subordinate
commanders were so impressed with the great
possibilities that awaited the lands bordering
the Maumee and Sandusky rivers that they
decided to establish their homes here. Hence
it is that the first real migration of settlers
toward Northwest Ohio began in the years
immediately succeeding the close of the second
conflict with Great Britain. The records of
the enlistments are so vague and uncertain
that it is impossible to give any correct esti-
mate of the number who enlisted in this war
from this section, and even of those who
settled here after that conflict was over. The
number, however, would probably run into
the thousands.
The next sanguinary conflict in which the
United States became engaged with a foreign
country was the Mexican War, which lasted
from 1846-48. The various county histories
do not give much more light upon this event
of more recent date than of the previous
wars. The reason doubtless is that the great
Civil War, which followed so closely, over-
shadows it so much in importance. There is
probably not a county of the twenty subdi-
visions included in our territory which did not
furnish recruits for service in Mexico. No
complete regiments were raised, but the enlist-
ments were generally scattered throughout the
various United States regiments in the regular
services. A body of volunteers was gathered
together at Upper Sandusky, who called them-
selves the "South Rangers," and was com-
manded by Capt. John Caldwell. They
marched from Upper Sandusky to Cincinnati,
and were stationed at Camp Washington for
a time. The company was disbanded, but a
few of the men joined other companies and
saw service in our neighboring republic.
Capt. Edwin B. Bradley, of Sandusky
County, recruited Company F, First Regi-
ment, Ohio Infantry. Of the eighty-three
men enlisted by him, about one-third came
from his home county and the others from
adjoining counties. Mr. Bradley was chosen
captain, John D. Beaugrand first lieutenant,
Charles P. Cook second lieutenant, and
261
262
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Benjamin P. Keyes, Enos S. Q. Osborn, and
Henry S. Crumerine sergeants. This com-
pany was mustered into service at Cincinnati
in June, 1846, and served under General
Taylor. It was mustered out of service a year
later. In the spring of 1847 Samuel Thomp-
son, of Lower Sandusky, and a veteran of the
War of 1812, recruited a full company from
Sandusky County. The men were mustered
into service as Company C, Fourth Regiment,
Ohio Infantry. The officers of this company
were: Samuel Thompson, captain; George
M. Tillotson, first lieutenant; Isaac Swank,
orderly sergeant ; Thomas Pinkerton, Michael
Wegstein, James R. Francisco, sergeants;
John Williams, John M. Crowell, Benjamin
Myers, and Edward Leppelman, corporals;
Grant Forgerson and Charles Everett, musi-
cians. This company proceeded to Mexico and
saw service under General Scott. It was
mustered out in July, 1848. Casper Metz, of
Auglaize County, was a first lieutenant in
Company E, Fourth Regiment, Ohio Infantry.
Company F, of the Third Regiment, was re-
cruited at Tiffin, and James F. Chapman was
elected its captain.
One company was raised in the Maumee
Valley, which was known as the "new regu-
lars." It was designated as Company B,
Fifteenth Regiment, United States Infantry.
The captain of this company was Daniel
Chase, of Manhattan. The first lieutenant was
Mr. Goodloe, and the second lieutenant was
J. W. Wiley, of Defiance. This company left
Toledo for the field on the 18th of May, 1847,
and was escorted to the steamboat by the
Toledo Guards. Captain Chase was presented
with a sword by Judge Myron H. Tilden.
Little is known of the service of this com-
pany, but what is known is creditable to both
men and officers. Lieutenant Wiley was
court martialed and dismissed from the
service for fighting a duel with a brother
officer. Lieutenant Goodloe was killed in
battle, and Captain Wiley returned home
after the war. The company participated in
all the battles around the City of Mexico, and
suffered severe losses.
THE CIVIL WAR
The part taken by Northwest Ohio in the
Civil War is a most creditable one. Every
one of the twenty counties was aflame with
patriotic sentiment. Men in the flower of
their youth, the full strength of manhood,
or the ripeness of age, left family, home and
friends in answer to their country's call.
Many there were who never returned.
Their bones rest at Fredericksburg and An-
tietam, at Gettysburg and Stone River, at
Vicksburg and the Wilderness, or fill some
unknown grave that marks the site of a deadly
prison pen that was more fatal than the field
of battle. Many a one who said goodbye to
the departed soldier little dreamed that the
parting was forever. Although time has
softened and soothed the first pangs, the grief
and emptiness is always there and will be until
they meet in the world beyond where there
shall be no parting.
Fort Sumter was fired upon the 12th of
April, 1861, and two days afterwards Presi-
dent Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 volun-
teers. Within a few days political meetings
were held in practically every section of
Northwest Ohio, at which patriotic speeches
were made where the sentiment was expressed
by both speakers and audience that they would
stand by the Union, no matter how great
might be the cost in blood. On the 16th of
April, 1861, only four days after Fort Sumter
was fired upon, a large and enthusiastic body
of men convened at the court house in Marion.
After the delivery of a number of speeches,
enthusiasm reached a high pitch. On the fol-
lowing day a hand bill, stating that an attempt
would be made to raise a company of volun-
teers from this county, was issued. In the
evening twenty-six men enrolled their names
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
263
for the war. On the following day a rousing
meeting was held in Bueyrus. Stirring ran
lutions were adopted that "The Union Must
and Shall be Preserved." Volunteers were
called for and seventeen men signed ihe mus-
ter roll. On the 24th, a company, which
became Company C, 8th Ohio, departed for
Cleveland. On the 15th, an assemblage and
the survivors again re-enlisted, and the regi-
ment was tilled up with new recruits.
On tin- l")tli of April, only three days after
tin- assault upon Fort Sumter, a call was issued
at Toledo for patriots to gather that evening
at the Union Depot, This call was signed by
several score of the prominent citizens of
Toledo. Speeches were delivered by J. B.
COMPANY K, FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
First Company to go to Civil War from Marion County (Taken on public
square in Marion).
citizens convened at the court house in Findlay
and seventy-two men enlisted for service. The
Fifteenth Ohio Infantry was one of the first
to respond to the call for three-months service,
and several of its companies were recruited
from this section. Its organization was com-
pleted on the fourth of May. At the end of
its brief service, the men almost unanimously
resolved to re-enlist. In 1864 the majority of
Steedman and H. S. Cummager, both of whom
later became generals, and by Morrison R.
Waite, who was afterwards Supreme Jus-
tice of the United States. Burning resolutions
were adopted, and the patriotism of those pres-
ent was thoroughly aroused. Three days
later the Toledo Blade said: "The work of
enlistment is progressing here actively, and
the enthusiasm is more general and deeper
264
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
than at any former time." The recruited men
were already being drilled at the Armory,
then known as Philharmonic Hall. John B.
Steedman was one of the very first to volun-
teer his personal services, offering to raise a
full regiment in ten days ; and he was success-
ful in his efforts. By April 24th "The North-
west Ohio Regiment," as it was at first
designated, was ordered by him to proceed
on the following morning for rendezvous at
Cleveland. D. H. Nye was detailed as quarter-
master. At 7 A. M., the companies were to
form on Magnolia and Superior streets, as
follows: 1. Toledo Guards, Captain Kings-
bury, ninety-seven men; 2. Toledo Company,
Captain Este, 124 men; 3. Bryan Company,
Captain Fisher, 115 men; 4. Defiance Com-
pany, Captain Sprague, 103 men; 5. Stryker
Company, Captain E. D. Bradley, 123 men;
6. Napoleon Company, Captain Crawford, 125
men; 7. Antwerp Company, Captain Snock,
ninety-seven men ; 8. Wauseon Company, Cap-
tain Barber, 116 men ; 9. Waterville Company,
Captain Dodd, 102 men ; 10. Toledo Company,
Captain Kirk, 114 men; Total, 1,116 men.
Gen. Chas. W. Hill acted as adjutant, assis-
ted by Gen. C. B. Phillips and Lieut. J. W.
Fuller. The foregoing order was carried out.
The Blade said of the occasion: "Never has
our city experienced such a day, as the present.
At early dawn, the people from the country
began to arrive in immense crowds, and the
firing of cannon aroused our own citizens
from their slumbers, and by 9 o'clock there
must have been 10,000 people on the streets.
At the railroad depot the scene was truly
grand. The crowd filled the entire space
devoted to passenger trains, but after ener-
getic effort by the police, a passage was made
and the troops, in sections, marched to the
cars. The regiment numbered 1,058 men, all
told, composed mainly of young men. At 8
a. m. religious services had been conducted
on the parade ground by Rev. H. B. Wai-
bridge, of Trinity Episcopal Church. Much
disappointment was felt by the Waynesfield
Guards, Lieutenant R. B. Mitchell, com-
manding, that the offer of that Company has
not been accepted by the President." At
Cleveland, regimental officers were chosen,
as follows : colonel, J. B. Steedman ; lieuten-
ant-colonel, Geo. P. Este; major, Paul Ed-
wards. Geo. W. Kirk succeeded Captain
Edwards, in command of his company, as did
Lieutenant van Blessing supersede Captain
Este. Upon organization at Camp Taylor,
Cleveland, the Northwestern Regiment became
the Fourteenth Ohio. It left camp for Mar-
ietta, via Columbus, on May 22nd, where it
arrived on the 24th.
It was not long until the active work of
recruiting was progressing throughout all of
this section of the state. Companies were
being forme'd in almost every town of any
size, and several regiments were recruited
almost wholly from the counties within this
district. The enlistments at first were for the
three months service, under the call of Presi-
dent Lincoln for 75,000 men, but the later
enlistments were all for the full term of three
years. At the end of the first year, the number
of enlistments from the counties of Northwest
Ohio were as follows: Allen, 776; Auglaize,
565; Crawford, 448; Defiance, 410; Fulton,
654; Hancock, 747; Hardin, 694; Henry, 526!
Lucas, 1,108; Marion, 579; Mercer, 556; Ot-
tawa, 325 ; Paulding, 254 ; Putnam, 337 ; San-
dusky, 789; Seneca, 938; Van Wert, 361;
Williams, 682; Wood, 740; and Wyandot,
759.
Under Governor Tod the work of raising
the army regiments was assigned to districts
in order to popularize it so that neighbors and
acquaintances would be associated together
in the same companies. According to the
arrangements of districts, Mercer County con-
tributed to the Ninety-fifth Regiment. The
Ninety-ninth was composed in part of com-
panies from Mercer, Auglaize, Hardin, Allen,
Van Wert, Putnam, and Hancock, the only
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST Oil In
265
outside county being Shelby. This regiment
had its remle/vous at Camp Lima. Seventeen
hundred men were recruited for it, of whom
700 were transferred to the One Hundred
Eighteenth. The One Hundredth Regiment
was raised entirely within this section, from
the counties of Paulding, Defiance, Henry,
Wood, Sandusky, Williams, Fulton, Lucas and
Ottawa. Its rendezvous was at Camp Toledo.
The One Hundred First Regiment was formed
from the counties of Wyandot, Crawford,
Seneca, Huron, and Erie, and rendezvoused
at Monroeville. Recruits for the One Hun-
dred Tenth were raised in Paulding, Defiance,
Henry, Wood, Sandusky, Williams, Fulton,
Lucas, and Ottawa, with their assembling
point at Toledo. A company from Marion
was added to the One Hundred Twenty-
first, while Wyandot, Crawford, and Seneca
each made large contributions to the One
Hundred Twenty-third. The famous Forty-
ninth Regiment, of which General Gibson
was commander, was raised in Seneca and
adjoining counties. The rendezvous was es-
tablished at Camp Noble, near Tiffin. Eight
of its officers were killed in battle, and twenty
wounded. The same may be said of the
Seventy-second, raised by General Buckland.
The Eighty-second Regiment was mustered in-
to service at Kenton. The Sixty-eighth was
composed largely of volunteers from Fulton,
Williams, Paulding, and Defiance counties.
This command rendezvoused at Napoleon, in
the latter part of 1861. The Fifty-seventh
Regiment was organized at Findlay, in Sep-
tember, 1861. In the following year the One
Hundred and Eleventh Infantry was organ-
ized at Toledo, and was entirely a Northwest
Ohio command. It was made up of men from
Wood, Lucas, Sandusky, Fulton, Williams,
and Defiance counties. This record is not
intended to be complete. It is rather given
herewith to show that our own part of the
great commonwealth of Ohio did its full share
in contributing of its best blood for the preser-
vation of the Union. To give a complete
record of its service would require far more
space than can be alloted to the subject, and
it can not well be disintegrated from the rest
of the state in the war, because the regiments
were generally composed of companies from
other sections as well.
For four long years this drain upon the
manhood of the country continued. There
were probably no battles or skirmishes of the
war in which soldiers from Northwest Ohio
had no part, for some of its citizens were en-
listed in practically all of the more than 200
Ohio regiments, as well as in some of other
states or in the regular army. In Sandusky
County it is said that the total enlistments
during the entire period of the war numbered
almost seventy per cent of the eligible male
population. These men served in more than
120 different regiments or independent organi-
zations. The proportion in many of the
other counties probably was equal to that
of Sandusky. The whole number enlisted
from the outbreak of the war to the 1st of
September, 1862, is as follows : Allen, 1,411 ;
Auglaize, 1,102; Crawford, 1,161; Fulton,
931; Defiance, 813; Hancock, 1,260; Hardin,
1,197; Henry, 704; Lucas, 2,143 ; Marion, 929;
Mercer, 814; Ottawa, 575; Paulding, 458;
Putnam, 869 ; Sandusky, 1,403 ; Seneca, 2,001 ;
Van Wert, 685; Williams, 975; Wood, 1,487;
and Wyandot, 1,304.
Northwest Ohio contributed a number of
notable names to the list of eminent com-
manders with which Ohio is credited. Of the
major-generals, our section claims James B.
McPherson and James B. Steedman. Of
those brevetted with that rank at the close of
the war, there are Rutherford B: Hayes,
Charles W. Hill, and John W. Fuller. Among
the brigadier-generals, we find Ralph B. Buck-
land. In addition, the following officers were
brevetted with that high rank : Henry S. Com-
266
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
mager, William H. Gibson, Isaac M. Kirby,
John C. Lee, Araericus V. Rice, Patrick Slevin,
and Isaac R. Sherwood.
JAMES BIRDSEYE MCPHERSON
The soldier of highest military rank in the
Civil War, who emanated from Northwest
Ohio, was Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, of
Clyde. Little did the citizens of that village
who saw a sunny-faced, cheerful, and studious
boy running about the streets, imagine that
he was eventually to be one of the real heroes
of the conflict brought about by slavery. He
was greatly attached to his family and neigh-
bors, all of whom admired him. It was in
battle, however, when every muscle and every
tissue was in action, that the real heroic quali-
ties of McPherson shown out at the best. He
entered West Point at the age of nineteen, and
graduated in the class which contained Sco-
field, Still, Tyler, Hood, and afterwards Sheri-
dan. He has been adopted as one of our
national heroes, while his deeds and fame are
sung not only in this section of the country,
but throughout every state of the union. No
name is held in more affectionate remem-
brance by the people of Ohio than that of
General McPherson. He died before his full
capabilities had been realized, and he was the
only Ohio officer of equal rank who fell dur-
ing the four years of the Civil War.
The future general was born at Clyde, on
the 14th of November, 1828. His youth was
comparatively uneventful, but he was every-
where looked upon as upright and trust-
worthy, and his friends were almost as nu-
merous as his acquaintances. An appointment
to West Point, at the age of nineteen, opened
up the door of opportunity. At that institu-
tion he soon took high rank. "We looked
upon him," Professor Mahan wrote, "as one
among the ablest men sent forth from the
institution, being remarkable for the clearness
and prompt working of his mental powers.
His conduct was of an exceptionable char-
acter. These endowments he carried with him
in the performance of his duties as an engineer
officer, winning the confidence of his supe-
riors, as a most reliable man. His brilliant
after-career in the field surprised no one who
had known him intimately. ' ' He taught there
for a year and then became engaged in
engineering work. At the outbreak of the war
he never hesitated over his own allegiance, but
decided to stand by the Union. He was then
just thirty-two years of age. His first promo-
tion was to a lieutenant-colonelcy of volunteers
with General Halleck. He was a member of
the unfortunate expedition which ended at
Pittsburg Landing, but no criticism fell upon
him for that blunder. When Halleck was sum-
moned to Washington, McPherson was pro-
moted to the rank of brigadier-general of
volunteers. He was sent by Grant to the aid
of Rosecrans at Corinth. Because of a success-
ful attack at Hatchie, he was advanced to the
rank of major-general. Soon afterwards he
was assigned to the command of the right wing
of the Army of the Tennessee, and showed
real ability in the management of his troops.
He joined Grant in the advance upon Vicks-
burg. His services here raised him highly in
the estimate of his superiors. In the spring
of 1864 he removed his headquarters to Hunts-
ville, Alabama, and shortly afterwards em-
barked on his last campaign. He had an
active part in the Atlantic campaign. While
riding with an orderly towards a battle that
had been begun with the enemy, he was
mortally wounded in an ambuscade, on the
22d of July. The full account of the death
of General McPherson was written by General
Sherman on the day after his death, when the
sounds of battle still thundered in his ear, and
when his heart was torn by the loss of a com-
rade and friend whom he loved. It reads in
part as follows :
HISTORY OP NORTIIW.KST nllln
267
"Headquarters Military Division of the Mis-
sissippi.
"In the tjel«l near Atlanta, Ga., July 2:!nl.
1864.
"General L. Thomas.
"Adjutant-general, United States Array.
'•Washington, D. C.
"General: — It is my painful duty to report
that Brigadier General James B. McPherson,
United States Army. M a jor-General of Volun-
teers and Commander of the Army of the
Tennessee, was killed about noon yesterday.
At the time of the fatal shot, he was on horse-
back, placing his troops in position, near the
city of Atlanta, and was passing a cross-road
from a moving column toward the flank of
troops that had already been established on
the line. He had quitted me but a few
moments before, and was on his way to see in
person to the execution of my orders. About
the time of the sad event, the enemy had ral-
lied from his entrenchments of Atlanta, and
by a circuit, got to the left and rear of this
very battle, so that General McPherson fell
in battle, booted and spurred as the gallant
and heroic gentleman should wish ; not his
loss alone, but the country's and the army
will mourn his death and cherish his mem-
ory as that of one who, though comparatively
young, had risen by his merit and ability to
the command of one of the best armies which
the nation had called into existence, to vin-
dicate her honor.
"History tells of but few who so blended
the grace and gentleness of the friend with
the dignity, courage, faith and manliness of
the soldier. * * *
"I am with respect,
"W. T. SHERMAN,
"Major General Commanding."
On the 22d of July, 1881, in the presence
of a concourse of 15,000 people, there was
unveiled in the cemetery at Clyde a monu-
ment to the most distinguished soldier fur-
nished by Northwest Ohio. This was the
monument dedicated to Gen. James Mirdseye
McPherson, who was a major-general of
volunteers and commander of the Army of
the Tennessee. This monument is an excep-
tional piece of art, with a pedestal of granite,
and a figure of bronze nine feet in height,
which represents the commander in full mili-
tary uniform with sword, belt, and hat. The
left hand holds a field glass, while the right
hand and arm are extended as though pointing
to where the battle rages fiercest. It occupies
a knoll in McPherson Cemetery, where the
hero with his father and mother and two
brothers lie, and which once formed a portion
of the homestead of the McPherson family,
where the general was born. The dedicatory
oration was delivered by Gen. M. F. Force,
and formal addresses were delivered by Gen.
W. E. Strong and Gen. W. T. Sherman. These
speakers were followed by addresses by
Generals Gibson, Hazen, Leggett, Belknap,
and Keifer. General Sherman delivered a
splendid eulogy upon the deceased hero.
"You knew," said General Sherman, "his
genial, hearty nature, his attachment to his
family and neighbors, but you could not see
the man as I have seen him, in danger, in
battle, when every muscle and every tissue
was in full action, when the heroic qualities
shown out as a star in the darkest night. ' '
JAMES BLAIR STEEDMAN
One of the noted commanders of the Civil
War, in whom we are greatly interested, was
James Blair Steedman. General Steedman
was a Pennsylvania!! by birth, having been
born July 29, 1817. At the age of fifteen, he
became an apprentice in the office of a news-
paper, and followed that occupation for a
considerable time. It was such duties that
brought him first to Northwest Ohio in 1838,
where he became the publisher of the North-
western Democrat, at Napoleon. From that
268
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
he drifted into contracting and finally into
politics. His first public office was as a mem-
ber of the Ohio Legislature, in 1841. He
joined the forty-niners in an overland trip
to California, and was elected a member of
the board of public works, upon his return.
It is his military service that keeps his mem-
ory ever green. He held the office of major-
general of the Fifth Division, Ohio Militia,
at the breaking out of the Civil War. Im-
mediately after the firing upon Fort Sumter,
he co-operated in raising and organizing the
Fourteenth Ohio Regiment, of which he was
the chosen colonel. Within three days after
his appointment as colonel, he had the regi-
ment ready for the field, and nine days after
the firing on Sumter, he took it from Toledo
to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, where it was
drilled and fully organized. He remained
with that regiment until promoted and made
a brigadier-general in 1862. He received
special recognition from General Buell for
his services in the battle at Perryville, Ken-
tucky. During the Tullahoma campaign, he
commanded a division, and was complimented
by General Thomas. At Winchester he com-
manded a division. He relieved the officers
by a timely and successful march on the
second day of the battle of Chickamauga. In
this battle General Steedman's conduct was
the subject of general admiration — the officers
and soldiers of the army being his warmest
eulogists. He was shortly after, "for dis-
tinguished and gallant services on the field, ' '
made major-general of volunteers. He also
took an active part in the Atlanta campaign,
and was assigned as a commander of the
"District of the Etowah," when General Sher-
man began his march to the sea. It was his
duty to protect Sherman's communications.
When General Sherman started on his
"March to the Sea," he left General Steed-
man in command of the "District of the Eto-
wah," to tear up the railroad, burn the bridges
south of Dayton, and support General Thomas,
if Hood attacked Nashville. In the battle of
Nashville General Steedman commanded the
left wing of the army, and brought on the
engagement, attacking the enemy 's .right and
carrying his first line of works early in the-
first day's fight. In all his actions he was
noted for his energy and gallantry, and at
times for signally valuable services. He was
a bold, energetic fighter, and his voice was
always for fight. He never belonged to the
school of delaying generals. His troops had
unbounded confidence in and admiration for
him. Personally he was warm-hearted and
generous, careless as to appearances, and often
neglectful of his own interests; hearty in his
ways, with the free-and-easy manners of the
people among whom he grew up.
After the close of the Civil War, General
Steedman was assigned as military commander
of the State of Georgia, a position which he
resigned in about a year to accept that of
internal revenue collector for the New Orleans
district. Among other offices held by him was
that of member of the state constitutional con-
vention, member of the Ohio Senate, and,
lastly, chief of the Toledo police. He died on
the 8th of October, 1883. At his death Wil-
liam J. Finlay, of Toledo, for many years an
intimate friend of General Steedman, proposed
to erect a monument to his memory in Toledo,
at the corner of Summit and St. Clair streets.
The city council set apart the ground for this
purpose, and changed its name to Finlay
Place. The monument is made of Vermont
marble, and contains appropriate inscriptions
on the several sides. Surmounting the shaft
is a bronze statue of the general, somewhat
larger than life size, and represents him as
dismounted, with field glass in hand. The
public ceremonies of unveiling the monument
took place on the 26th of May, 1887.
JOHN W. FULLER
John W. Fuller, a resident of Toledo, be-
came a brigadier-general of volunteers in the
Union army. He was born in Cambridge,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST Olllo
269
England, in 1826, the son of a I'.aptist minis-
ter. He was brought to the United States by
his father at the age of seven years. Just
prior to the Civil War, lie removed to Toledo
and engaged in the hook trade. He had pre-
viously taken a lively interest in military mat-
ters. At the breaking out of the war, he
promptly enlisted and was appointed a briga-
dier-general by Governor Dennison, and was
made chief of staff. His previous experience
proved invaluable. He served at first in \\'e>i
Virginia, where he received high praise from
his superior officers. Upon their recommenda-
tion, he was appointed colonel of the Twenty-
seventh Ohio Infantry on its organization.
From a disorganized mass of 2,000 men, he
quickly worked out an effective regiment,
which served for the full period of three years.
He took part in the campaign against the
Confederate General Price, and also served
under Gen. John Poke, during which service
he displayed great bravery. He, was assigned
to the command of the "Ohio Brigade," com-
posed of the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-seventh,
Forty-third, and Sixty-third Ohio regiments,
which he led in the hotly contested battle of
luka, Mississippi, in 1862.
General Fuller distinguished himself in the
battle of Corinth, where he broke through the
Confederate lines, and was personally thanked
by General Rosecrans. In the spring of 1864,
his brigade was assigned to the Army of the
Tennessee, and Colonel Fuller was promoted
to the command of a division. He had already
taken part in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw
Mountain, Snake Creek Gap, and other en-
gagements. He captured Decatur, Alabama.
In an engagement with General Hardy's
troops, Fuller's division began the historic
battle of Atlanta. At one time his column
gave way, when Fuller himself seized the flag
of the Twenty-seventh and advanced toward
the enemy, making motions with his saber
that he wished his lines formed. His example
was contagious. For his valor and skill on
this oeeasiini. lie reeeiveil promotion to the
rank of brigadier-general. His brigade after-
ward took part in the famous march to the
sea. Upon being mustered out in 1865, he
was brevetted major-general of volunteers
"for gallant and meritorious service." He re-
turned to Toledo and engaged in business, and
also served as collector of the port. He died
on March 12, 1891.
CHARLES W. HILL
General Hill was a Yankee by birth, and
hailed from Vermont. At an early age he
came to the Western Reserve. He was born
on the 7th of July, 1812. Early in 1836 he
came to Toledo and took a position as clerk
in a store. Not finding this occupation con-
genial, he turned his attention to law, and
began its practice as a member of the firm of
Tilden and Hill. As a lawyer his position
was an enviable one, for he was recognized as
one of the foremost members of the Maumee
Valley bar. He early showed a tendency for
military affairs, and became captain of the
Toledo Guards in 1840. A couple of years
later, he was appointed brigadier-general of
the Ohio Militia. At the outbreak of the war
he was named as a brigadier-general by Gover-
nor Dennison, and served in West Virginia
under General McClellan. Here he was as-
signed a long line to defend with an inade-
quate force. Because of this fact, and the
lack of co-operation from the commanding of-
ficer, some things happened which interfered
with the advancement of General Hill. Blame
was placed upon him by General McClellan.
On the expiration of the term of service of
the Ohio troops in West Virginia, in 1861,
General Hill was assigned as commandant at
Camp Chase, Columbus. Here he assisted in
the instruction of volunteer officers in matters
of tactics and general discipline. He also filled
the office of adjutant-general of Ohio, under
Governor Tod. During his service there, no
270
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
less than 310 regiments and battalions of state
militia were organized. He worked so hard
that his health was undermined. His services
continued at Columbus until 1863, when his
command was sent to Johnson's Island for
garrison service. He was also given full
authority over the lake frontier region in that
neighborhood. He filled this position with
great credit. His West Virginia record was
finally cleared up and, in 1865, he received
the commission of brigadier-general, and was
brevetted as major general. At the close of
the war he returned to Toledo, where he re-
sumed the practice of his profession. His
most important work in later years was in
connection with the public schools of Toledo.
WILLIAM HARVEY GIBSON
William Harvey Gibson is the best known
commander whose home was in Northwest
Ohio. He was born on the 16th of May, 1821,
in Jefferson County, Ohio. During the same
year his parents removed to Seneca County,
where he made his home during his entire life.
He studied law and was very successful, espe-
cially as a trial lawyer, for which his wit
and ready tongue especially fitted him. His
greatest opportunity in life came when the
call was issued for volunteers to serve in
putting down the rebellion. After he had
received a commission from Governor Denni-
son to raise a regiment, Mr. Gibson at once
set to work in securing the enlistment of men.
On the 25th of July, 1861, he caused to be
published the following poster :
"To ARMS, To ARMS.
"RALLY TO OUR FLAG. RUSH TO THE FIELD.
"Are we cowards that we must yield to
traitors ? Are we worthy sons of heroic sires ?
Come one, come all. Let us march as our
forefathers marched, to defend the only
Democratic Republic on earth.
"Impelled by the events of the past week,
and assured from Washington that a regiment
will be accepted, if enrolled and tendered, I
have resolved, to organize The Buckeye
Guards in northern Ohio.
"Let us, as patriotic citizens of adjoining
counties, form a regiment that shall be an
honor to the state, the exploits -of which, in
defense of constitutional liberty, shall be re-
counted with pride by ourselves and our chil-
dren. The command of the heroic Steedman
was organized in this way, and now at the
close of three months' service, they return
crowned with glory, to receive the homage of
a grateful country. * * *
"July 25, 1861. W. H. Gibson."
This regiment was accepted by the war de-
partment a few days afterwards, and Mr.
Gibson was named as colonel. The regiment
became known as the famous Forty -ninth. At
the battle of ^Shiloh, he handled his regiment
so successfully as to win special praise from
General Sherman, who complimented him for
"performing the most difficult but finest
movement he ever witnessed on a field of bat-
tle." During the years of the war he com-
manded his brigade and division the greater
part of the time, and was repeatedly recog-
nized by his superiors for promotion, and, at
his retirement, was filling the position of
brigadier-general. It is said that it was the
opposition of one man only at Washington
that kept him from receiving the stars of
a major-general. At the close of the war, he
returned to Tiffin and continued the practice
of the law. In 1879 he was appointed adju-
tant-general of the state, which office he filled
very satisfactorily.
Immediately after General Gibson's deathf
on November 22, 1894, a movement was begun
at Tiffin to secure the erection of a monument
to the memory of the old hero. His reputation
had become nation wide, for his oratory made
his services upon the stump in great demand
HISTOHV OF N'ORTHWEST olllo
271
from one ocean to the other. At soldiers'
gatherings lie WHS always welcome, and on
every other occasion. He was also in his lat-
ter years a minister of the .Methodist Church,
and frequently preached. The project of a
monument was fathered principally by the
William H. Gihson Post, of Tiffin. It was not
an easy matter to collect the amount of money
necessary to erect a monument that would
fittingly commemorate such a hero as General
(iilison, but the post kept at the work energet-
of President MeKinley over the casket of
Gibson, when the martyred President said:
"General Gibson once said to me, 'I would
place the flag of my country just beneath the
cross. That,' he said, 'is high enough for
it!'"
RALPH P. BUCKLAND
('en. Ralph P. Hiickland was born in 1812,
and had his home at Fremont. When the call
ically until success crowned its efforts. The
admirers of General Gibson all over the coun-
try were solicited, and the Ohio Legislature
voted the sum of $10,000 to be used in the
erection of this monument. Contributions
came from almost every section of our coun-
try, and many G. A. R. posts made liberal
subscriptions. The monument is a massive
pile of granite upon graceful lines, stately
and beautiful in contour. The base is twenty
f«et square, and the entire structure is a little
over twenty-seven feet in height. There are
four large bronze tablets, one on each side,
each of which bears an appropriate inscrip-
tion. On the pedestal in raised characters
there appears a quotation from the speech
for troops was issued in 1861, he was author-
ized by the governor to raise a regiment to be
known as the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. The call was cheerfully responded
to, and a few months later the regiment was
sufficiently strong for organization. In Feb-
ruary, 1862, it left Camp Chase and reported
to General Sherman, then in Kentucky.
Several companies were recruited almost
wholly from Sandusky County, and the others
from nearby counties. Mr. Buckland was
named as colonel, and a year later was pro-
moted to the rank of brigadier-general. His
regiment took part in the battle at Pittsburg
Landing, and distinguished itself in hand
fighting. He took part in the Tallahatchee
272
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
expedition, and in the series of battles before
Vicksburg. When the rebels were driven into
their fortification General Buckland walked
at the head of his command, and led each regi-
ment to its proper position, while shot and
shell fell thick about him. One of the color
bearers having faltered in moving forward
to his designated position, General Buckland
took the colors in his own hand and planted
them on the line which he wished the regiment
to maintain. During the siege he was always
active and vigilant, and was at times much ex-
posed. One day, while he was standing within
twelve inches of an artillery officer, a ball
passed between their faces; at another time,
while he was examining the works in front of
his command, a minie ball struck the body of
a tree just above his head, and fell at his feet.
He picked it up and remarked that he would
keep that, as it seemed to be intended for him.
He was in command of the post of Memphis
for almost a year. At this time he was elected
to Congress, and resigned from the army.
ISAAC R. SHERWOOD
Isaac R. Sherwood was born on the 13th of
August, 1835. He was educated at Antioch
College, and at the Ohio Law School in Cleve-
land. He has had a most distinguished career,
both in civil and military life. He entered
the army on the 18th of April, 1861, and
served as a private for four months in "West
Virginia. He received his earliest commission
as first lieutenant, in the Eleventh Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry, and was then appointed ad-
jutant, which position he filled during the
Buell campaign in Kentucky. Early in 1863
he was promoted from adjutant to major, and
participated in Morgan's campaign, as well
as that of East Tennessee. About a year later
he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-
colonel, and from that time until the close of
the war was constantly in command of the
regiment. He was engaged in a number of
famous battles of the Civil War, including
those of Resaca, Burnt Hickory, Pine Moun-
tain, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain,
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Duck River, and
others.
"For gallant and meritorious services'' at
the battle of Resaca he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general of volunteers, to
date from February 27, 1865. At the close
of the Civil War he resigned his commission
and left the service. Since that time he has
held a number of responsible positions in
civil life. He was secretary of state of Ohio
from 1869 to 1873, and was a member of the
Forty-third Congress, from the Sixth Ohio
District. He was elected a member of the
Sixtieth Congress, and has served in all the
succeeding congresses up to the present time
from the Ninth Ohio District.
Henry S. Commager had his home in Lucas
County. He abandoned the law and was
commissioned captain of the Sixty-seventh
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on November 10,
1861. In the following year he was respec-
tively promoted to the rank of major and lieu-
tenant-colonel, and before the close of the war
was colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-
fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was bre-
vetted brigadier-general, to date from the 27th
of February, 1865.
Isaac Minor Kirby lived in Wyandot
County, and enlisted early in the Civil War,
and was made captain of the Fifteenth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. He served with that regi-
ment until May, 1862, when he resigned and
raised a company for the One Hundred and
First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was again
elected captain, and joined Buell's army, after
which was promoted to major. After the
battle of Stone River, in which the command-
ing officer was killed, Major Kirby succeeded
to the command of a brigade, and was recom-
mended by his friends for promotion. He
finally received a commission as brevet briga-
dier-general.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
273
Americus V. Rice entered the service in the
early stage of the war as captain of the
Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the
three-months' service. After the expiration
of this term of enlistment, he re-enlisted and
was commissioned captain of the Fifty-sev-
enth regiment. In 1862 he was promoted to
lieutenant-colonel, and in the following year
to colonel of the regiment. He was brevetted
hrigadier-general to date from the 31st of
May, 1865. His home was at Ottawa,
Patrick Slevin was commissioned lieuten-
ant-colonel of the One Hundredth Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry August 8, 1862. In the fol-
lowing year he was promoted to colonel, and
at the close of the war was brevetted brig-
dier-general from March 13, 1865. He was
honorably discharged from the service, No-
vember 30, 1864. He died in Toledo.
JOHNSON'S ISLAND
Three miles north of Sandusky, in her land-
locked harbor, lies Johnson's Island, in Otta-
wa County. It is nearly a mile long, and was
originally covered with heavy timber. It was
a favorite resort of the Indians from up river,
who came here in fishing season and also when
they had prisoners to torture. The first owner
was E. W. Bull, and it was called Bull's
Island. In 1852 it was purchased by L. B.
Johnson, and the name was changed to John-
son's Island. At one time, about the year
1811, an attempt was made to found a town
here, and steps were taken to lay out village
lots. Although the custom house of the port
was established there, this attempt proved
abortive and was abandoned.
In 1861 Johnson 's Island was leased by the
National Government as a depot for Con-
federate prisoners. The necessary buildings
were erected, and the first prisoners were in-
stalled in April, 1862. Company A, Koffman
I'.attalioii, was at first assigned to guard duty,
and it was replaced by the full regiment of the
Vol. 1—18
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry. The number of those confined
here constantly changed, 3,000 being the most
detained there at any one time, but the records
show a total of over 15,000. Owing to the sup-
posed security of the place, the prisoners were
Confederate officers. So considerate was their
treatment that their wants were said to have
been better supplied than those of the Union
soldiers guarding them. It was considerate
even to the point of indulgence. The prison-
ers were all confined within an enclosure of
about eighteen acres surrounded by a stock-
ade eighteen feet high, made of plank, with a
platform near the top, about four feet wide,
where the sentinels walked. At the east and
west side was a blockhouse with small brass
cannon. At one side was a small earthwork,
which mounted a few guns and was called
Fort Hill. The Michigan, the only United
States vessel on the lakes, was stationed at
Johnson's Island as guard. The cemetery
reveals the fact that many ended their days
on the island, and neat headstones have been
placed at the last resting place of each fol-
lower of the Stars and Bars. On Memorial
Day the Grand Army of the Republic posts
decorate these graves just as they do those who
wore the blue.
In September, 1864, the Confederates took
advantage of the prevailing gloom among the
Unionists to set on foot a gigantic scheme for
the release of the Confederate prisoners in the
Northwest. Camp Douglas, near Chicago,
harbored 8,000 prisoners ; Camp Chase, at Co-
lumbus, confined an equal number ; Camp Mor-
ton, near Indianapolis, sheltered 4,000 prison-
ers; and Johnson's Island contained about
2,400 officers. These prisons were the ob-
jective points of conspiracy. The time chosen
was after the Democratic National Convention
had just declared the war a failure. The plan
was for a great body of soldiers, officered from
Johnson's Island, to burn Sandusky, Cleve-
land, and other coast cities. The Michigan
1274
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was to be captured and co-operate with those
on land. John Yates Beall, a Virginian of
wealth and education, was the prime mover
in the conspiracy. They were to seize horses
and hurry south, raiding the country, and
join the rebels in Virginia. A Confederate
captain, Cole by name, who had been posing
as a rich oil man from Titusville, and figuring
largely in social circles in Sandusky, was en-
trusted with this task.
On the 19th of September, the steamer
been extorted from the passengers, they were
put ashore. The two steamers were lashed
together and set sail for Sandusky. After a
few miles the Island Queen was sunk, while
the Parsons cruised about the bay awaiting
the signal from accomplices on the Michigan.
That part of the plot, however, had failed.
Cole had invited the officers of the Michigan to
a wine supper on that evening. The wine was
drugged, but Cole performed his work in such
a bungling manner that the suspicions of the
UNITED STATES PRISON QUARTERS ON JOHNSON'S ISLAND
Philo Parsons, plying between Detroit and the
islands, was boarded on the Canadian shore
by a couple of dozen of men bringing with
them an old trunk. Off Kelley's Island, the
officer in command of the boat was confronted
by a quartet of men with revolvers. The old
trunk, filled with arms, was then opened, the
whole party armed therefrom, and the boat
taken over, with Beall at the head. At Middle
Bass Island the Island Queen, a boat plying
among the islands, came alongside to exchange
passengers. She was boarded by the conspira-
tors and captured. The engineer refusing to
obey was shot through the cheek. After an
oath of secrecy for twenty-four hours had
officers were aroused, and he was arrested on
suspicion. After waiting vainly for the sig-
nal that failed to come, Beall and his com-
rades on board the Parsons suspected the situ-
ation, and fled to the Canadian shore. There
the boat was scuttled, the conspirators escaped
and disbanded, and Cole managed to notify
his accomplices in Sandusky so that they
escaped arrest. He was confined for a time
on board the Michigan, and later at Fort
Lafayette. After the war he was released.
Beall, "the pirate of Lake Erie," the prime
mover in the conspiracy, who with his forces
waited in the Parsons outside the bay, was
afterwards captured near Niagara and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
275
charged with being a spy. He was found
guilty and hung on Governor's Island, on the
24th of February, 1865.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
For twenty years prior to the Civil War,
anti-slavery sentiment was strong throughout
Northwest Ohio. The people did not approve
of the fugitive slave acts by which runaway
slaves must be returned to their owners. Ohio
offered the shortest route from the slave states
south of the Ohio River to Canada, where
the institution of slavery was not recognized.
As a result, our state became traversed by
secret highways over which escaping slaves
sought freedom. There were several routes
across Northwest Ohio. Leesville and Tiro,
in Crawford County, were both stations on
the line. Many were taken northward to the
mouth of the Maumec, and a number of prom-
inent Toledo citizens aided in their escape;
others secured freedom through the port of
Xamliisky. Maumec and Sylvania figured
prominently in the work of the underground
railroad. A commoner route was farther east.
Delaware, Olx'rlin, and other towns, where the
sentiment in favor of the blacks was strongest,
attracted most. It is difficult if not impos-
sible to find a record of any slave being re-
turned to his master in this entire section,
although hundreds of the black race passed
through it. Many negroes were successfully
conducted on their way to freedom by varied
and devious routes.
Several of the underground routes, accord-
ing to the Marion County History, ran through
Marion County. Joseph Morris, Allen Mc-
Neal, and Thomas J. Anderson each con-
ducted a station. The method of operation
was to receive the escaped slave into their
liomes, conceal him during the day, and carry
him to the next station in the following night.
Sometimes it was necessary to conceal the
slave several days at a time. Joseph Morris
was a Quaker, and both his basement and
attic contained small apartments so cunningly
devised that strangers searching the place
could not find them. Allen McNeal was a
noted abolitionist of that day.
The most noted incident in Marion County
was the celebrated trial involving the liberty
of Black Bill, alias Mitchell, alias Anderson,
an alleged slave. He came to the county in
the fall of 1838, working as a butcher, barber,
and common laborer and, by his ability to
play the fiddle and banjo, and "call" at
dances, soon made himself indispensable in
the village. About the middle of July, 1839,
eight citizens of Kanawha Court House, Vir-
ginia, appeared in Marion and claimed Black
Bill as the runaway slave of Adnah Van Bib-
ber. He was arrested under the Ohio statute,
as a "fugitive from service or labor," on a
warrant issued by John Vartran, justice of
the peace. He was committed to jail to await
trial ; but Black Bill had many sympathizers.
The case was called to bar on August 26th be-
fore Ozias Bowen, the presiding judge, and
Thomas J. Anderson and George Gray, his as-
sociates. The courtroom was filled to over-
flowing. The Virginians were armed with
bowie-knives and pistols, which they flour-
ished in order to intimidate the negro's
friends. General Rowe represented the plain-
tiff, while Cooper K. Watson and James H.
Godman defended the prisoner. The negro
himself was not permitted to testify. A news-
paper of that day gives the following account :
"Tuesday evening last (August 27th) pre-
sented a scene of confusion and excitement
never before witnessed in our peaceful vil-
lage. It appears that a negro, well known to
our citizens by the name of Bill, was sometime
since taken up as a runaway slave from Vir-
ginia, and lodged in the jail of this county for
trial. On Monday, the day set for his trial,
we discovered an unusual number of persons
assembled to hear the result. The house was
crowded to overflowing. The witnesses were
276
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
examined and counsel hoard. The judge, how-
ever, reserved his decision till the following
morning. A great mass of people assembled.
At ten o'clock A. M., the court was called
(the house was literally crowded) to hear the
decision of the judge which occupied at least
40 minutes in delivering, during which the
greatest order prevailed, but as soon as the
Hon. 0. Bowen had finished, by declaring the
prisoner free, all was confusion, riot and dis-
order. As soon as the decision was ended the
pretended owners seized the prisoner; the by-
standers resisted, and endeavored to rescue
him, declaring him to be free, and desiring
them to let him run at large. But the Virgin-
ians still maintained their possession by force,
and presented pistols, bowie-knives, dirks etc.,
threatening the lives of all those who would
lay hands on them, or the negro — and all this
in open court. Our citizens, and friends from
the country, stood out in defense of their
trampled and insulted laws, which were thus
set at defiance.
"In this scene of confusion, the negro was
taken down stairs, and dragged by his captors
through the streets. Those who forced him
onward were armed with pistols, bowie-knives
and daggers. At this unusual and horrible
sight, the populace became enraged, and at-
tacked them with stones, and whatever missiles
they could get hold of. They at length suc-
ceeded in getting him into one of our justice 's
offices (the office of John Bartram, J. P.) and
there guarded him as stated for a new trial.
Before the door of the office, the excited multi-
tude assembled, demanding justice and the
negro, but all of no avail. The entrance was
guarded with pistols and bowie-knives. At
this time the sheriff arrived and begged to
be heard and requested the mob to disperse,
but this also was of no effect. At length a cry
for the public arms was heard, the arsenal was
broken open and the arms obtained, which
presented a horrible spectacle. The excited
populace under arms still demanded entrance,
which was refused. All the orders of the
sheriff and the court to restore order seemed
to be of no effect. Pistols and bowie-knives
were all the law."
The testimony revealed that Black Bill had
once been owned by John Lewis, a cousin of
the plaintiff; hence the court held that own-
ership had not been proved. The negro
escaped, however, and spent his first night in
the swamp, near Marion, when he made his
way to the house of Reuben Benedict and was
secreted in his garret. His next stopping
place was a Quaker settlement, two miles north
of Fredericktown ; his third halt was at the
Quaker town of Greenwich. He finally
reached Oberlin, from whence he was escorted
to Canada. The court caused the arrest of
the citizens for contempt of court. Each of
the parties was released upon giving bond
in the sum of $600, except Van Bibber and
Francis Bower. Van Bibber was kept in con-
finement only a few hours, but Bower was
held for almost a week. Four of the men
were found guilty of contempt, and fined $15
and costs, but the fine was remitted on the
payment of costs which amounted to 40 cents
for the quartette.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
When President McKinley, on April 23,
1898, issued his proclamation calling for vol-
unteers to the number of 125,000, Ohio im-
mediately sprang to the front and offered
more than her full quota. Excitement ran
supreme throughout Northwest Ohio, and in
all the towns where companies of the National
Guard were located enthusiasm was high.
The enlisted men were all anxious to get into
the service, and wanted to be sent immediately
to Cuba in order to bring peace and freedom
to that sorely distracted country. It revealed
that the spirit of patriotism which animated
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
277
the fathers and grandfathers of the present
generation had not lessened or abated in the
slightest degree.
Eleven of the twelve companies of the
Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with head-
quarters at Cincinnati, were enlisted from
Northwest Ohio. It was mustered into ser-
vice for the War with Spain, on the 10th of
May, 1898. Its strength for the war was
50 officers, 1,284 enlisted men, and the regi-
ment was commanded by Colonel Julius A.
Kuert during war operations. It was sta-
tioned at Chickamauga, Georgia; Knoxville,
Tennessee; and Macon, Georgia. The casual-
ties during the entire campaign were the death
of fourteen men. It was mustered out of
service at Macon, Georgia, on February 10,
1899, but did not see any foreign service. Of
this regiment Company A came from Findlay,
and the local designation was the Findlay
Guard. At the outbreak of the Spanish-
American War, it was mustered in at Colum-
bus as Company A, Second Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. Tillman S. Lafferty was the cap-
tain. Company B was enlisted at Upper San-
dusky, and it entered service with James W.
Marston as captain. Company C of the same
regiment came from Lima, and had long been
known as the Melancthon Light Guards, and
afterwards as the Lima City Guard. Its cap-
tain was Frank M. Bell. Company D was
organized early in 1898 at Van Wert. Ed-
ward S. Mathias was the captain of this com-
pany, Robert Webster was first lieutenant, and
Elias W. March, second lieutenant. Company
E was organized in Tiffin. At the time it was
mustered into national service, Lorenzo D.
(iiisscr was the captain. Companies G and I
were both enlisted from Kenton. J. Guy
Deming was captain of the former, and Henry
J. May of the latter. Captain May was
afterwards succeeded by Albert S. Clucker.
Bloomdale was the home of Company H, with
Archie M. Fassig as the captain. Company K
hailed from North Baltimore, and was under
the command of W. J. White. Company L of
this regiment was organized at Wapakoneta,
and was mustered into service under this des-
ignation. Of this company John G. Hoegner
was the captain, Charles 0. Brokaw the first
lieutenant, and Roy E. Layton was the second
lieutenant. Paulding was the home of Com-
pany M, with Samuel W. Ennis as its cap-
tain.
The headquarters of the Sixth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry were at Toledo. Four compa-
nies of this regiment were located in Toledo,
and the others were scattered throughout other
counties in this section of the state. Only
one company, B, of Sandusky, was outside
this territory. It had heretofore been known
as the Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio National
Guard, but was mustered into service as the
Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on
the 25th of April, 1898, and was mustered
into the war with Spain on the 12th of May,
following. The strength of the regiment for
the war was 49 officers and 1,299 enlisted men.
During the entire war operations, it was
commanded by colonel (now general) Wil-
liam V. MeMaken. Sanford B. Stanbery,
George P. Parker, and William E. Gillett
were the majors, and Park L. Myers was sur-
geon, with the rank of major. The late
Thomas J. Harbaugh was the chaplain. The
regiment was first stationed at Chickamauga,
Georgia, then at Knoxville, Tennessee, and
afterwards at Charleston, South Carolina. It
was finally dispatched to the district of Santa
Clara, Cuba, but did not arrive there until
after the declaration of peace. The casual-
ties during the campaign were the death of
twenty-one men. It was mustered out of ser-
vice at Augusta, Georgia, on the 12th of May,
1899. The companies, their location, and cap-
tains were as follows : A of Toledo, Jacob M.
Weir; C of Toledo, John A. Gekle; D of Fos-
toria, Franklin P. Gulp ; E of Bryan, Charles
L. Langel ; F of Napoleon, Joseph A. Musser ;
G of Wauseon, John A. Weier ; H of Toledo,
278
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Lloyd W. Howard; I of Clyde, William E.
Gillett and afterwards Edward W. Rydman;
K of Fremont, Louis E. Foulke ; L of Toledo,
Frank I. Howells; M. of Defiance, James F.
Crandall.
One company of the Eighth Regiment, Ohio
National Guard, was located within North-
west Ohio. This was Company A, of Bucyrus ;
Marquis A. Charlton was captain. This regi-
ment had its headquarters at Wooster. It
was mustered into service for the war with
Spain, on the 13th of May, 1898, as the Eighth
Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Its
strength for the war was 49 officers and 1,288
enlisted men. It was commanded during all
the war operations by Col. Curtis V. Hard.
Edward Vollrath, of Bucyrus, was one of the
majors. During the war it was stationed for
a time at Camp Alger, Virginia. It was
among the regiments dispatched to Cuba, and
reached Santiago just too late to take part in
the siege, but performed duty at various places
in Cuba until its return to Montauk Point,
Long Island, in a greatly enfeebled condition,
owing to disease. During its service four
officers and sixty-eight men died. The regi-
ment was mustered out at Wooster, on the 21st
of November, 1898.
The headquarters of the Fourth Regiment
were at Columbus. It was formerly the Four-
teenth Regiment, Ohio National Guard. Its
strength for the war was 49 officers and 1,319
enlisted men. It was commanded by Colonel
Alonzo B. Coit during the war operations. It
was first stationed at Chickamauga and after-
wards at Porto Rico, where it engaged in some
of the skirmishes incidental to that invasion.
The regiment lost twenty-six men, and was
mustered out of service January 20, 1899.
Company G, with Fred W. Peters as its cap-
tain, came from Marion. Companies D, G,
and H, of the Tenth Regiment, came from To-
ledo. Company D was made up of the First
Ohio Light Artillery. Companies G and H
formerly were the first and second division of
the naval reserves. Finding no opportunity
to enter the service either as artillery or in
the naval branch, these companies enlisted as
infantry. Company D was commanded by
Hazen B. Norton, Company G by Myer Ge-
leerd, and Company H by Arthur W. S.
Irvine. Arlington U. Betts, of Toledo, was one
of the majors. The strength of the regiment
was 46 officers and 1,280 enlisted men. It was
first stationed at Camp Meade, Pennsylvania,
and afterwards at Camp Mackenzie, Georgia.
Its casualties were twenty-three men until
mustered out at Augusta, Georgia, on the 23d
of March, 1899. Webb C. Hayes served as
major in Roosevelt's Regiment of Rough Rid-
ers during the entire war.
In the cemetery at Clyde, not far from the
remains of General McPherson, lies all that
is mortal of George Burton Meek, who was
the first American-born sailor to die in the
war which had for its object the freeing of
Cuba. He was a sailor on board the torpedo
boat Winslow, and was killed in action at
Cardenas, Cuba, on the llth of May, 1898.
The father received the following letter iu
1898:
"Washington, D. C., August 24.
"John Meek, Esq.:
"Dear Sir: Some months ago a Cuban
gentleman, who signs himself Cambreis, from
the City of Mexico, sent General Tomas Es-
trado Palma. of New York, an order for
$100.00 to be given to the wife, children or
parents of the first American-born sailor who
should die in the war to free Cuba. I have
just now been informed that your son, George
B. Meek, fireman of the first class on board the
torpedo boat Wiuslow, was the first hero to
shed his blood for the independence of our
unfortunate and downtrodden people.
"I beg to enclose you the check, entrusted
to my care, this a proof of the gratitude of
the Cubans for their friends and allies, the
Americans.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
279
"Please acknowledge receipt of the same
in duplicate.
"Yours very respectfully,
GONZALO DE QUESADO,
"Charge d 'Affaires of the Republic of Cuba."
It was felt that a suitable monument should
be erected over the grave of George Burton
Meek, and the Ohio Legislature made an ap-
propriation for this purpose. This monument,
which is surmounted by a full length figure,
was unveiled on the llth of May, 1916, the
eighteenth anniversary of his death. Governor
Willis and his staff, the Sixth Ohio Infantry,
and many patriotic organizations took part in
the impressive ceremonies.
Lucas County furnished to the nation one
of the most heroic figures of the Spanish-
American War, as well as of the Philippine
war, in the person of Henry W. Lawton. He
was born in Lucas County, on the 17th of
March, 1843, and served with credit during
the Civil War, after which he entered the
regular army. lie was commissioned a briga-
dier-general, in May, 1898, and commanded
the second division of the Fifth Army Corps
in Cuba, where he served in the first battle
of the war at El Caney. He was promoted
to major-general, and was in command at
Santiago after the surrender. In December,
1898, he was transferred to the command of
an army corps in the Philippines. On these
islands he greatly distinguished himself in a
number of engagements, until killed in the
battle at San Mateo, Luzon, on the 19th of
December, 1899. As an evidence of the re-
gard in which he was held by the public at
large, the sum of $100,000 was raised by pub-
lic subscription and presented to his widow.
CHAPTER XXIV
NORTHWEST OHIO IN THE STATE AND NATION
Northwest Ohio has produced many men
who have become eminent in the political life
of both the state and the nation. At the head
of this list must be placed the name of
Rutherford Birchard Hayes, the nineteenth
president of the United States. Morrison
Remick Waite became the seventh chief justice
of our nation, a position second in importance
under our form of government to the presi-
dency alone. Two United States senators
have been chosen from this section of the
state — Calvin Stewart Brice and Warren G.
Harding. Of the long line of governors of
Ohio, Northwest Ohio has sent three of her
sons to Columbus. The first of these was
Rutherford Birchard Hayes, and he has been
followed by Charles Foster and Frank B. Wil-
lis. After a term as governor of Ohio, Jacob
D. Cox made his home for several years in
Toledo, and represented that district in Con-
gress for a term. Robert Kingston Scott lived
the greater part of his adult life in Henry
County. After the Civil War he was sent to
South Carolina, of which state he became a
resident. He served two terms as governor
of the state and then returned to Napoleon.
James M. Ashley, long active in public affairs,
was appointed territorial governor of Mon-
tana. Of the many residents of this section
who have distinguished themselves as state
officials, members of Congress, and other posi-
tions of trust, it is impossible to make men-
tion in this chapter, for the reason that they
are so numerous, but an account will be found
in the various county chapters.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
Northwest Ohio contributed to the nation
its nineteenth President, in the person of
Rutherford Birchard Hayes. This chief execu-
tive of the United States was born on the
4th of October, 1822, at Delaware, Ohio. The
father had died before the birth of Ruther-
ford, so that the mother was left with a small
family upon her hands and a very meager
income to support them. Through the kind-
ness of an uncle, this ambitious youth was
enabled to secure a college education, which
he greatly desired. From his earliest youth he
had an aptitude for books and learning that
was unusual. At the age of sixteen he entered
Kenyon College, from which he graduated
with the highest honors, although the young-
est in the class. He was marked among his
associates, according to a college mate, "for
great common sense in his personal conduct,
never uttered a profane word, and behaved al-
ways like a considerate, mature man. ' ' After
graduating from Kenyon, Mr. Hayes studied
law in a law office for a time, and also attended
the Harvard Law College, after which he was
admitted to the Ohio bar before the Supreme
Court of the state, then sitting at Marietta.
Rutherford B. Hayes opened an office at.
Fremont for the practice of the law in 1845,
and thus became a resident of this section of
the state for the first time. He formed a
partnership with Ralph P. Buckland, which
continued until the removal of Mr. Hayes to
Cincinnati, in the year 1849, where he antici-
280
IIISToiiY <)K NORTHWEST OHIO
281
pated an enlarged Held of usefulness. It was
not long until the new addition to the Cincin-
nati bar attracted attention as a lawyer in
that growing city. lie was chosen city solic-
itor by the City Council of Cincinnati, in
April, 1859, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of the regularly elected incumbent. In
the following spring he was elected to that
position, and filled the office of corporation
counsel for three years, during which time he
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES OP FREMONT
Nineteenth President of the United States.
discharged his duties with rare honesty and
fidelity.
From the formation of the republican party,
.Mr. Hayes was one of its ardent followers.
1 1 is opposition to slavery was very marked,
and he so expressed himself in vigorous terms
in many speeches and writings. The Civil
V'iir had scarcely broken out when Mr. Hayes
enlisted, and he was promptly made major of
the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Shortly afterwards he was appointed by
General Rosecrans as judge advocate of
the Department of Ohio, and was again
promoted to the rank of lieutenant-col-
onel in the same year of his enlist-
ment. As a soldier Colonel Hayes proved
himself to be a gallant as well as a model
officer, and was a leader who not only in-
spired the confidence, but also the friend-
ship and love of his men. One of his men
said of him: "A braver or better man was
not in the army. lie had an abundance of
grit. If he had a fault, it was that in a
battle he was too eager. On a long dusty
march, I could always tell Colonel Hayes'
horse, as it was always loaded with the guns
and knapsacks of the boys who were giving
out, the Colonel himself walking by its side,
no matter how great the heat." No emer-
gencies ever came upon him that he was not
equal to. West Point graduates looked upon
him as one of the very best officers in the
volunteer service. At South Mountain, Cloud
Mountain, Winchester, Berry ville, Fisher's
Hill, and at Cedar Creek, he exhibited un-
usual power of military skill, as well as the
highest bravery. After General Sheridan had
observed his work on the field of Cedar Creek,
he rushed up to the modest colonel of the
Twenty-third, and, grasping him by the hand,
said: "Colonel from this day forward you
will be a Brigadier-General. ' ' Ten days later
the commission arrived. In 1865 he was
brevetted a major-general for "gallant and
distinguished services." He was four times
wounded in battle, and from the effects of
one wound he never fully recovered.
The work of General Hayes upon the
battlefield directed the attention of the
people of his home district towards him, so
that he was nominated for the position of
member of Congress. He did not take any
part in the campaign, for he was still in active
service, but accepted the call of his citizens as
a duty that could not be overlooked. The re-
sult of the campaign was his triumphant elec-
tion. He took his seat on the 4th of December,
1865. During the long struggle over the
282
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
momentous question of reconstruction between
Congress and President Johnson, Hayes voted
with his o\vn party from first to last, be-
cause he conscientiously believed it to be in
the right. He was elected to a second term
by a still larger majority than at the first
election. This term had not been ended when
he was nominated for the high office of gov-
ernor of Ohio by the republican state con-
vention. This nomination was promptly ac-
cepted, and General Hayes resigned from
his seat in Congress in order to make a vigor-
ous campaign. For two months the contest
was waged with rousing enthusiasm. He
traveled over a great part of the state making
speeches. The effectiveness of his canvass was
shown by his election, although by a com-
paratively small plurality. The Legislature
chosen had a democratic majority, which
shows the general trend of political sentiment
at the time. He was inaugurated governor of
Ohio on January 13, 1868. At the end of his
first term he was unanimously renominated as
his own successor, and once more elected. He
was an ardent advocate of the bill to grant
freedom to the negro. The platform on which
he was elected favored negro suffrage "on
the broad platform of impartial manhood suf-
frage. ' ' At the opening of the campaign this
proposition was very unpopular, and it was
defeated at the election by a decisive vote.
The passing of the Fifteenth Amendment gave
him great pleasure. Only his own vigorous
endorsement forced a ratification by a major-
ity of one in the Senate and of two in the
House. Few governors have left behind a
record of more faithful service to the state
than did Governor Hayes.
At the end of his second term as governor,
Mr. Hayes was renominated by his old con-
stituents for Congress, but the reaction against
the republicans was so strong that he was
defeated. Then it was that he returned to his
old home at Fremont because of the death of
his uncle, Sardis Birchard, who had made him
heir to a considerable fortune. When the
republican state convention met at Columbus,
in 1875, it was felt that an unusually strong
man must be nominated for the head of the
ticket. All eyes were soon turned toward Fre-
mont, where General Hayes was living in
quiet retirement. He did not encourage the
use of his name, but, when the convention
assembled, almost three-fourths of the mem-
bers were for the ex-governor. His nomina-
tion was then made unanimously amidst great
excitement, despite his protests and refusals
by wire. The campaign was filled with un-
usual excitement, because of the agitation over
the money question. In spite of the demand
for increased greenback currency, General
Hayes made his campaign upon the basis of
sound currency. He refused to yield his ideas
in this respect, in spite of the urgent requests
of many of the politicians, who had become
greatly alarmed. When the votes were
counted, it was found that he had carried the
state by a safe majority over all candidates.
This contest made him a national character.
At various stages in his career, the name of
General Hayes had been suggested for the
presidency. At each mention he invariably
replied that he was not a candidate for any
office, and that he preferred to retire at the
expiration of his gubernatorial term. The
state convention of the republicans for 1876
pledged its support to Rutherford B. Hayes,
and presented his name as a candidate for
the nomination for president. It was found
that Governor Hayes was the first choice of
nearly every delegate in the other states for
the second place, and was their second choice
for the first place at the national convention.
His dignified attitude won for him many
friends. His name was presented by ex-
Governor Noyes. On the first ballot he re-
ceived only sixty-one votes. During the
succeeding ballots, there was a slow but sure
advance in favor of Ohio's favorite son. On
the sixth he stood second to James G. Elaine.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
The seventh ballot gave him the coveted pri/e.
His nomination was received amidst great
excitement with joy and delight. The demo-
crats named Samuel J. Tilden, of New York.
The campaign and its results have become
one of the most noted incidents in the history
of our country. Tilden made no pretensions
to oratory, and declined to go upon the stump.
His consummate political skill was applied to
the personal direction of his own campaign.
When the press reports began to come in
of the election, it became the general belief
that Mr. Tilden had been elected. Then it
was that Senator Zachariah Chandler sent
over the land the famous despatch, which has
become historic : ' ' Rutherford B. Hayes has
received 185 electoral votes and is elected."
He claimed South Carolina, Louisiana, and
Florida for Hayes. These three states be-
came the pivotal points in the determination
of the election. There was scarcely a news-
paper that did not take sides, and general
business was practically suspended. The re-
turning boards reported that the electoral
votes of these three states had been legally
given to Hayes and Wheeler. The matter was
placed before Congress for decision, and the
famous Electoral Commission, consisting of
five members of the House of Representatives,
five members of the Senate, and five of the
Supreme Court Justices, was appointed.
These men rendered their decision by a
vote of eight to seven in favor of the republi-
can candidate. The division was on strict
party lines. The report was not made until
March 1st, only three days before the expira-
tion of the term of office of President Grant.
During the long days of suspense Governor
Hayes remained at Columbus, quietly attend-
ing to his duties as governor of the state. He
did and said nothing that could be considered
in any way an attempt to influence the deci-
sion of the tribunal. When he left Columbus
for Washington, on March 1st, he said: "I
understand very well the uncertainty of
public affairs at Washington. I understand
very well that possibly next week I may be
with you again to resume my place in the
Governor's office and as your fellow-citizen.
But I also understand that it is my duty to
be at Washington prepared to assume another
position, higher and more responsible and
with more difficult duties." The inaugura-
tion occurred on Monday, March 5th, the 4th
having fallen on Sunday. As a matter of pre-
caution General Hayes received the oath of
office from Chief Justice Waite on Sunday,
in order to avoid any possible legal conflic-
tions that might be attempted because of the
excitement that prevailed. He was the first
president elected from Ohio since William
Henry Harrison, in 1840.
From the very beginning of the administra-
tion of President Hayes, it became evident
that the new chief executive was determined to
change the policy of his predecessor in some
respects. This was particularly true with
reference to the states lately in rebellion. He
had decided to withdraw from the south
military protection to the colored people,
and to place the white population of the
reconstructed states upon their good faith
and their honor as to the political rights of
all citizens. He entered into office under great
embarrassment, because of the bitter personal
opposition of all the democrats. The republi-
cans were not yet ready to endorse his liberal
attitude toward the South, and as a result,
many of them became lukewarm. The result
of his policy, however, in the permanent paci-
fication of the Southern States, showed itself
in after years as one of the very wisest
of the policies pursued by President Hayes.
His termination of military control in that
section was an act of patriotism that did much
to unite the country and eradicate the dis-
tinction between North and South. The cabi-
net appoint«d by President Hayes was a
creditable one, and was noted for the few
changes that occurred in it. The money ques-
284
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tion also came up for legislation, and upon
this subject President Hayes took a most
determined stand. Likewise the question of
the restriction of Chinese immigration arose,
and the restriction bill as passed by Congress
was vetoed by the President. Whatever ques-
tion came up, it was found that President
Hayes had firm convictions, and was con-
scientious in the way by which he reached his
conclusions.
When accepting the nomination for the
presidency, Governor Hayes had stated that
he would not under any circumstances be a
candidate for a second term. This pledge was
carried out, and no effort was made either by
himself or his friends to secure the election
of delegates pledged to him. When the con-
vention met at Chicago, in 1880, President
Hayes was not among the avowed candidates,
and his name was not presented for nomina-
tion. The convention, however, passed the
following endorsement of his administration:
"That the purity and patriotism which
characterized the earlier career of Rutherford
B. Hayes in peace and war, and which guided
the thoughts of our immediate predecessors
to him for a Presidential candidate, have
continued to inspire him in his career as chief
executive, and that history will accord to
his administration the honors which are due
an efficient, just and courteous discharge of
the public business, and will honor his inter-
position between the people and proposed
partisan laws."
Upon the inauguration of General Garfield
as President, Rutherford Birchard Hayes
gladly and quietly relinquished the office,
and retired to his home in Fremont, Ohio.
He had married, in 1852, Lucy W. Webb, a
daughter of a physician living in Chillicothe.
She was a woman of unusual character and
strength of mind, and made a lasting impres-
sion upon the country as the first lady of the
land. Her strength of character was shown
in the fact that she banished wine from the
table of the White House, something that has
never been done before or since. Ex-Presi-
dent Hayes declined many opportunities for
the exercise of public trusts, and accepted
only such matters of religious or educational
nature, or of public interest, as appealed to
his sympathies. He served as a trustee for
colleges from a sense of public duty, and took
a deep interest in the local affairs of his home
and neighborhood. He absolutely avoided all
suggestions looking toward his taking any part
in politics. He passed away on the 17th of
January, 1893, at his home in Fremont, which
has since been turned over to the state by
his son, Webb C. Hayes.
MORRISON REMICK WAITE
Toledo and Northwestern Ohio take a par-
donable pride in their distinguished contri-
bution to the Supreme Court of the United
States. Of all the men who have reached the
position of Chief Justice, none deserve a
higher position in the annals of the nation
than does Morrison Remick Waite, the seventh
in succession. Mr. Waite was descended from
a line of distinguished ancestry. His father,
Henry Matson Waite, 'was a graduate of
Yale, and, after filling several other political
positions, was appointed associate judge of the
Supreme Court, of Errors of Connecticut. He
was afterward unanimously elected by the
Legislature of that state to the chief justice-
ship of the state. This position he held until
he reached the constitutional age limit of
seventy years, when he retired.
Morrison R. Waite was born at Lyme, Con-
necticut, on the 29th of November, 1816. He
graduated at Yale University, in the class of
1837, and among his classmates were enumer-
ated several men who afterwards achieved
national reputation, including William M.
Evarts and Samuel J. Tilden. After his
graduation he selected the law as his life pro-
fession. He commenced the reading of law
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
285
in his father's office, but, accepting the view-
then so prevalent in the eastern states, that
a wider and more hopeful field of activity pre-
sented itself in the "far West," he left his
home town in October, 1838, with the Maumee
Valley as his destination. He settled in Mau-
mee City, then the most prominent town in
that valley, and renewed his law studies in
the office of Samuel M. Young, who had pre-
ceded him by a few years to that promising
MORRISON R. WAITE OF TOLEDO
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the United States.
village. Upon* his admission to the bar, in
1839, the firm of Young and Waite was im-
mediately formed, in which the junior member
took upon himself his full share of the work
of the firm. This included much travel
by horseback, and other severe labor in attend-
ance upon courts in the inland counties,
and in the collection of claims against debtors,
who were widely scattered throughout the
backwood settlements, and the other miscel-
laneous business which naturally fell to a legal
firm in a sparsely settled country. Mr. Waite
continued the practice of law in Maumee City
until the county seat was removed to Toledo,
when the firm opened up an office in that
town. He continued the practice of the law
with Mr. Young, until his partner retired in
1856, at which time he admitted into partner-
ship his brother Richard, and the firm of M.
R. and R. Waite was formed which continued
for a period of eighteen years.
That Mr. Waite was not negligent in the
duties that befell him, either in the political
or civil life of the community, is conclusively
shown by the records which have been pre-
served for us. From early life he had clear
and positive conviction upon public questions.
As early as 1844 we find that he was selected
as one of the speakers for the whigs, who
inserted a notice in the papers expressing their
willingness and readiness upon proper notice
to meet the champions of the democratic party
in public discussion. A couple of years
earlier we find his name signed as a member
of the Whig Central Committee to a circular
attacking the "gerrymander," which had just
been foisted upon the community by a
democratic legislative body. He followed the
fortunes and vicissitudes of the whig party
until it was finally merged with the republi-
can party in 1856. In 1846 he was the
nominee of that party for Congress, having
been nominated at a county convention held
at Swanton. Although he polled a largo
vote in his own county, he failed in the elec-
tion. Three years later, however, he was
elected to the Ohio Legislature, where he
served with distinction. That Mr. Waite
was not overly ambitious politically, but was
willing to serve his community even in smaller
ways, is demonstrated by the fact that we
find him in 1852 as a member of the Board
of Aldermen. On August llth of that year,
Alderman M. R. Waite introduced "an or-
dinance requiring each place in which liquors
were sold to be closed on Sunday," which
286
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
regulation was unanimously passed by that
body.
In 1862 oMiirred one of the most memor-
able political campaigns in Northwestern
Ohio. This was in the second year of the
Rebellion, and the chief cause of special inter-
est was a division in sentiment in regard to
the war policy of the government with
respect to slavery. One aggressive faction
advocated that the abolition of slavery should
be made an end to be sought in the prosecu-
tion of the war. The other faction, composed
of republicans and war democrats, believed
that the only proper aim should be to defend
the Union from disintegration by the suppres-
sion of the Rebellion, leaving slavery to take
its chances with the political exigencies and
natural results of the war. As an exponent
of the latter view, Mr. Waite accepted the
nomination in opposition to James M. Ashley,
who was elected over him. In Toledo, Mr.
Waite received a large majority of the votes,
and in the county his plurality was con-
siderable, so that he was given a large popular
endorsement. Upon the refusal of Hocking
H. Hunter, who had been nominated for a
seat on the Ohio Supreme Bench in 1863, to
accept the tender, Governor Brough offered
the position to Mr. Waite, by whom it was
also declined.
The reputation of Morrison R. Waite as
a sound and able lawyer, as well as a
conscientious and conservative citizen, had
reached far beyond his own section of the
state. When President Grant, in December,
1871, selected him as one of the counsel for
the United States in the arbitration at Ge-
neva, Switzerland, which was called to settle
what was known as the "Alabama Claims"
of this government against Great Britain,
Mr. Waite was far less known than his
associates. Because of his special qualities
of unwearying industry and unusual ability,
in research and argument, his presentations of
the question of Great Britain's liability in
permitting Confederate war steamers to ob-
tain supplies in British ports for hostilities
against American shipping commanded such
marked attention, both from that tribunal and
from the world, that the close of this trial
found his reputation second to none. He
returned to Toledo with honors and distinc-
tion, but quietly resumed the practice of the
law. He was elected without opposition as a
member of the Constitutional Convention of
1873, and upon the assembling of that body
was chosen as its president.
It was while this deliberative body was in
session at Cincinnati, in January, 1874, that
the name of Mr. Waite was sent to the United
States Senate by President Grant, naming him
for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to
succeed Salmon P. Chase. A couple of other
names had been rejected by that body, but
his nomination was unanimously approved.
This happened just a year after his own ad-
mission to the practice in that distinguished
tribunal. His assignment was received by
the members of the convention and by the
citizens of Toledo with marks of unusual ap-
proval, both the bar and laity of his home
city expressing their gratification at his selec-
tion. He left Toledo on the 13th of February,
and assumed his office on the 4th of March
following, after taking the prescribed oath.
The excessive labor demanded by his position
in research and study of authorities and
principles was met by him with energy and
ability, and his services received general
approbation. The words of a member of
that court, after his own resignation from that
tribunal, are herewith quoted :
"From the day of his entrance into office
as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he has
been indefatigable in the discharge of its great
duties; patient, industrious, and able. His
administrative ability is remarkable. None of
his predecessors more steadily and wisely
superintended the Court, or more carefully
observed all that is necessary to its working.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
287
Nothing under his administration has been
neglected or overlooked. He has written many
of the most important decisions of the Court."
At one time Chief Justice Waite was talked
of for the presidency, but he discouraged all
such suggestions. He preferred the atmos-
phere of the court, and gave to it the most
conscientious devotion possible. He served as
Chief Justice a little more than fourteen years,
and died at Washington on the 23d of
March, 1888, almost a half century after his
admission to the bar of Ohio. His religious
convictions were clear and positive, and for
more than forty years he had been an
active vestryman in the Protestant Episcopal
Church. His interest in whatever concerned
the moral and material well-being of his fel-
lowmen was shown on many occasions. His
private character was pure and noble.
CALVIN STEWART BRICE
The career of United States Senator Brice
is another illustration of the fallacy of the
saying that ministers' sons seldom turn out
well. Calvin Stewart Brice was the son of
William Kirkpatrick Brice, a Presbyterian
minister. For many years he was prominent
in the state and nation as a lawyer, a rail-
road promoter, and political leader. He was
born at Denmark, Ohio, on the 17th of Sep-
tember, 1845. Three year later the family
removed to Columbus Grove, where the youth
spent his boyhood up to his early teens, under
the home care of his mother, a woman of
much intellectual force and charm of charac-
ter, and under the scholarly instruction of
his father. He then entered the preparatory
academy of Miami University, situated at
Oxford, Ohio. His studies were interrupted
by the outbreak of the Civil War, in which
he made three separate enlistments. One of
these was shortly after entering college, when
he joined a university company, which was
stationed for a time at Camp Jackson, near
Columbus. He returned to college in the fall,
and then enlisted in Company A, Eighty-
sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which one
of his professors was captain, and spent a
summer in campaigning in West Virginia.
He returned to the university and graduated
in June, 1863. After teaching for a few
months in the public schools of Lima, and
clerking for a time in the auditor's office of
the county, he recruited a company in July,
CALVIN S. BRICE OF LIMA
United States Senator from Ohio, 1891-97
1864, and received a commission as captain
of Company E, One Hundred Eightieth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. With this company he
served until the end of the war, and was then
promoted for meritorious service to the
rank of lieutenant colonel, although never
mustered in.
In the fall of 1865, young Brice went to
Ann Arbor, where he pursued his law studies
in the University of Michigan, and, in the
following year, was admitted to practice at
the bar of Ohio and in the Federal courts. He
formed a partnership with James Irvine, of
288
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Lima, and followed his vocation in that town
for a dozen years with very marked success.
Had he continued in the legal profession, he
would undoubtedly have become one of the
foremost lawyers of a state noted for its
legal ability. His natural ability and devo-
tion to the interests of his clients would
certainly have met with their natural and
merited reward. The call of business seemed
to outweigh the lure of law in Calvin S. Brice,
and his activities were gradually turned into
that channel. It was through his law con-
nections that he first became interested in
the railroad business. He entered the legal
department of the old Lake Erie & Louisville
Railroad, which afterwards became the Lake
Erie and Western. He became a stockholder
in this railroad, and played a prominent part
in its development. His success in this under-
taking led him into a still greater enterprise,
which was the promotion of the great Nickel
Plate Railroad. He carried through this pro-
ject so successfully that it made him a man
of wealth, as well as a figure of national
importance and interest. From that time he
became connected with numerous other rail-
roads, and was for several years active in the
development of the iron highways of the
Southern states. His railway interest did not
prevent him from taking a .part in other
fields of investment and development in his
home town, as well as being active in its social
life. He became connected with banking
interests, organized and managed the gas
light company, and had many other invest-
ments in Lima. He was also active in the
management of financial institutions in our
eastern metropolis, where, in the midst of the
nation's greatest financiers, the opinion of
Lima's financier and statesman was greatly
sought after.
During the visit of Li Hung Chang, the
eminent Chinese statesman, to the United
States, Mr. Brice became interested in the
Orient. Mr. Chang is said to have become
attracted to Mr. Brice, because he was able to
answer his questions, which were very many
indeed, in a clearer and more concise way
than anybody else. As a matter of fact, Sena-
tor Brice is said to have been one of the best
informed men about localities that could be
found anywhere. As a result, the Chinese
sought to interest him in railway enterprise
in China, and Mr. Brice did attempt to organ-
ize a syndicate of fifty persons, each of whom
should subscribe $5,000 for the purpose of a
preliminary survey for a railroad in China.
It was not long until the project was over-
subscribed, and Mr. Brice was able to select
his own associates. It was one of the wealthi-
est syndicates ever gathered together for any
business enterprise. Both London and Paris
bankers were included in its personnel. Had
these two men lived, a great Chinese railroad
might have been the outcome of the negotia-
tions, but both of them died before there was
time to realize their comprehensive plans.
Mr. Brice was always an ardent and earnest
democrat in politics, and for many years was
conspicuous and influential in the councils of
his party. In 1888 he was a delegate at large
from Ohio to the Democratic National Con-
vention, and, as chairman of the campaign
committee, conducted the party campaign of
that year. In the following year he was
elected chairman of the Democratic National
Committee. It was only natural that his
prominence in politics and business made Mr.
Brice the logical choice of his party for the
office of United States Senator for Ohio. He
was duly elected by the Ohio Legislature, and'
served one full term in the United States
Senate, covering the period from 1891 to 1897.
In that office he exerted unusual influence
among his associates, and served on a number
of important committees. He was a member
of the "steering committee," one of the very
important committees of that great body.
His business experience and the keen quality
of his mind, as well as his caution and con-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
289
servatism, made his judgment highly prized
and his advice much sought after.
Calvin S. Brice commenced life as a poor
boy, with only a sound constitution, and per-
haps an extra supply of the American grit
as his inheritance. He was not an orator,
but he had a habit of direct speaking, in
which he could express a great deal of sound
common sense and logic in a few words. It
is said that he never failed to answer a letter
promptly and with directness. This habit
made and kept for him many friends, and he
never forgot a friend. His scholarship and
interest in education made him a trustee of
Miami University, and an evidence of his
generosity can be seen on its campus today.
Brice Hall, named in his honor, was largely a
result of his own benefactions. He died in
New York, on the 15th of December, 1898.
WARREN G. HARDING
The second United States Senator furnished
by Northwest Ohio to the state and the nation
is Warren G. Harding, of Marion. Senator
Harding was born in Corsica, Morrow County,
Ohio, on the 2d of November, 1865. He never
had the advantage of a thorough college edu-
cation, but received his advanced schooling
at the Ohio Central College, of Iberia. Any-
one who has ever heard Senator Harding
speak, or has read his writings, would know
that he has imbibed a very thorough educa-
tion in the practical affairs of life. He is a
product of the newspaper office, in which busi-
ness he became engaged at the early age of
nineteen. In 1884, in company with a couple
of his associates, he purchased the Marion
Star, a publication which up to that time had
never been a profitable enterprise. The part-
ners soon retired, but Mr. Harding remained
with the paper until the yearly balance was
placed upon the credit side of the ledger.
During all the succeeding years, he has re-
mained as the head of the Star, and has made
Vol. I— II
it one of the most important and influential
newspapers published in the smaller cities
of the state. He has always conducted it as
a vigorous Republican organ.
It was only natural that Mr. Harding
should gradually drift into politics, as has
been the case with so many editors. His first
public office was an election to the Ohio Senate,
in the year 1900. His record was unusually
conspicuous in that legislative body, and he
W. G. HARDING
was always found on the practical side of the
important matters that were brought up for
discussion and action. In 1902 he was re-
elected to the same body, serving four years in
all as a state senator. So conspicuous was his
service to the state and to the party, that he
was nominated in 1903 for the office of lieu-
tenant-governor of Ohio. At the election fol-
lowing, he was duly elected, and served one
term in this position. In 1910, he was named
as the republican standard-bearer for the high
office of governor of the state, for which posi-
tion he made a vigorous campaign. The trend
290
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of the state, however, was against the repub-
lican candidates, and he went down to defeat
with all of his associates. With this defeat,
however, Mr. Harding did not disappear from
public life. He remained active in the coun-
cils of his party, and his name was frequently
mentioned for positions of influence and
power. When the problem of electing a new
senator from Ohio presented itself to the
Legislature, the name of Warren G. Harding
met with little opposition. By the vote of that
body, he was chosen as one of the two United
States senators for the term beginning in
1915, and extending to 1921. He early took
an advanced position in the conservative Sen-
ate, and had unusual attention shown to him
for a new member of that body. His counsel
was sought and his advice received with due
consideration by members who had seen much
longer service. The esteem in which he is
held by the leaders of the republican party
is shown when he was chosen as the presiding
officer of the Republican National Convention,
held at Chicago, in June, 1916. This posi-
tion he filled with great dignity, and his
speech before the convention was recognized
as one of the strongest utterances of that
heated political meeting.
CHARLES FOSTER
One of the most prominent men in public
life in Ohio for many years was Charles
Foster, of Fostoria. He was the son of Charles
W. Foster, one of the founders of that thriv-
ing city. The future chief executive of the
state was born near Tiffin, Ohio, on the 12th
of April, 1828. His education was derived
from the common schools of his home neighbor-
ood, and at the academy of Norwalk. He early
entered business life for, at the age of twenty,
we find him associated with his father under
the firm name of Charles W. Foster & Com-
pany. This firm were merchants, but banking
was also a specialty with them. From that
time until the end of his life, we find Charles
Foster prominently associated in the business
life of Fostoria, and, until financial disaster
overtook him in his later years, he partici-
pated in almost every business enterprise of
practically every nature in that growing town.
This was particularly true after the gas and
oil discoveries in that vicinity.
The initial entrance of Charles Foster into
political life was in the year 1870, when he
CHARLES FOSTER
Governor of Ohio, 1880-84
was elected a member of the Forty-second
Congress by a good majority. The fact that
he was chosen from a strong democratic dis-
trict brought this new member from the Buck-
eye State into prominence immediately in that
distinguished legislative body. He soon occu-
pied a much more prominent position than
many who had been members for several
terms. His natural political sagacity and
shrewd political sense enabled him to fill with
noteworthy ability positions upon some of the
most important committees in the House. So
satisfactory were his services to his constitu-
ents, that he was re-elected to the Forty-third,
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
291
Forty-fourth, and Forty-fifth congresses. Al-
though the outlines of his district were
changed, he was still able to win these suc-
cessive elections from his constituents. He
was finally defeated as a candidate for the
fifth term. This reversal ended his member-
ship in the National House of Representatives,
but it did not close his political career.
In 1879 the republican leaders determined
to prosecute a vigorous effort to wrest Ohio
from the democrats. For a decade the elec-
tions had been extremely close, and the demo-
cratic state ticket had been successful three
times. In at least two of the other elections
the republican majorities were very meager.
The democratic convention declined to renomi-
nate Governor Bishop, and named as its can-
didate Gen. James Ewing, of Lancaster, a
member of a very distinguished family in the
state. The republicans named Charles Foster,
the Fostoria merchant. His opponents in de-
rision spoke of him as "Calico Charlie," but
the republicans welcomed this appellation. It
had a real democratic and popular ring to it.
Ladies even donned calico dresses in order to
show their preference. In this campaign Mr.
Foster applied all the practical business prin-
ciples for which he had become noted. Not an
orator in any sense of the word, his addresses
were nevertheless direct and appealed to the
average man. Nothing was overlooked in the
campaign, and every section of the state was
visited. He was a gifted master of details,
and introduced into the political campaign the
system of polling the voters before election,
in order to get an estimate of the probabili-
ties of the outcome. He was a firm believer in
organization, and introduced practical busi-
ness methods into the entire work of his polit-
ical campaign. His forces were organized al-
most like an army, and workers were hired
in the closer precincts in order to do effective
work. To Mr. Foster politics was a business,
and he applied to it the same methods as he
would to a mercantile enterprise.
The result of the election of 1879 was that
Charles Foster was chosen governor by a sub-
stantial majority. During his two terms as
chief executive of Ohio, Governor Foster
brought to bear upon state affairs the same
business rules and integrity that he exercised
in his private enterprises. The result was
that his administration was noted for its eco-
nomical management and honest dealing, all
of which reflected great credit upon the gov-
ernor. He was the first executive of the
state to urge and secure the taxing of the
liquor traffic in Ohio, and through his efforts
the Pond Law was passed. The liquor prob-
lem was generally considered a very unsafe
question to attack at that time, but Governor
Foster believed that it should be, and was able
to force through legislation on the subject.
The opposition was well entrenched, and bold
in its demands, and it required considerable
courage to thus openly attack it. But courage
was a quality with which Charles Foster was
abundantly supplied.
Governor Foster had a very prominent part
in the convention that nominated James A.
Garfield for the presidency, in 1880. It was
generally believed at the time that he would
be given one of the cabinet positions, but polit-
ical expediency did not seem to warrant this.
In March, 1891, he was named as secretary
of the treasury by President Benjamin Har-
rison, and successfully administered the ardu-
ous demands of that office until the end of the
Harrison administration. He was gifted with
strong common sense and a personal generos-
ity, and his intuition was quick to recognize
the expediency of political measures and the
strength of political parties. With a genial
and democratic disposition, he was popular
with all who knew him, both in his own party
and among those of the opposition. After
retiring from the office of secretary of the
treasury, Governor Foster held no further
political position. It was during that period
that business reverses overtook him during a
292
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
severe financial panic. He continued to busy
himself with business affairs until his death on
the 9th day of January, 1904.
FRANK B. WILLIS
The election of Prank B. Willis to the office
of governor of Ohio, completed the trio of
worthy chief executives of the great State of
Ohio that have been contributed by the north-
western section of the commonwealth. Mr.
Willis was born at Lewis Center, Ohio, on the
28th of December, 1871. He was educated
at the Ohio Northern University, of Ada, from
which he graduated. The year following his
graduation, he became a member of the faculty
of that institution, holding the chair of history
and economics. He filled this position for a
dozen years, but, after his admission to the
bar in 1906, he became a professor of law in
the same institution.
Governor Willis has always been a republi-
can, as were his two predecessors from this
section of Ohio. He was always interested in
politics, and his first opportunity for a polit-
ical career came when he was elected as a dele-
gate to the county convention. Although not
a candidate for any office, the delegates to
that convention insisted upon nominating him
for the Legislature. Although the county was
democratic, Mr. Willis determined to make
every possible effort to win the election. Suc-
cess crowned his efforts, and he served two
terms in the Ohio House of Representatives.
His record in the Legislature was excellent.
Although a party man, he would not yield to
questionable bossism. Up to this time he had
been Satisfied to follow the profession of teach-
ing, but the political field seemed to open up a
wider opportunity. Thus it was that he finally
became a candidate for the congressional nomi-
nation from his home district. Undaunted by
one defeat in an attempt to secure the coveted
prize, he continued, and after three unsuc-
cessful efforts finally became the nominee of
his party for Congress at the first congres-
sional primary. At the election following, he
was easily elected. His first term in Congress
ingratiated him among his constituents, and
he was elected to the second term, serving
in both the Sixty -second and Sixty-third con-
gresses from the Eighth Ohio District. He
was one of the two republicans elected from
Ohio to the last named Congress. He took an
active part in Congress, and was placed on a
number of very important committees.
It was while still a member of Congress that
the call came to lead what seemed to be a hope-
less fight for a republican victory in Ohio.
Always a fighter, Mr. Willis conducted an ag-
gressive campaign, and visited within four
weeks eighty-one of the eighty-eight counties
of the state, making an average of a dozen
speeches a day. The campaign of 1914 will
long be remembered as an intensely bitter one.
The strong hand of his predecessor in shaping
legislation, and in practically changing the
administration of the affairs of the state,
added to the intensity of the feeling. The
result of the election was the choice of Frank
B. Willis as governor by the electors. Gover-
nor Willis brought into the office a strong and
vigorous personality, a mind filled with honest
and pure motives, and a natural ability that
measures up with his distinguished predeces-
sors. It is too early, and is not wise, to pass
judgment on an administration that is so
recent, and about which opinion is sure to be
divided because of the varying party affili-
ations. Governor Willis has become a national
character, and is recognized as one of the
ablest men of the state. His powers as an
orator are recognized everyhere, and he is
considered one of the most effective public
speakers in the state. He is gifted with a
commanding presence, and a voice that fills
the largest hall. As a man he is exceedingly
democratic in manner, and delights to mingle
with the people. At the Republican National
Convention of 1916, he presented the name of
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
293
Senator Theodore E. Burton for the office of
president in a masterly address. In the No-
vember election of that year, he was defeated
for a second term in the presidential land-
slide, Init cjiiiir within a few thousand votes of
the coveted prize. It was only the overwhelm-
ing presidential vote that carried his oppo-
nent to victory.
ROBERT KINGSTON SCOTT
Robert Kingston Scott was for many years
one of Henry County's most conspicuous and
prominent citizens. As a pioneer, physician,
soldier, and statesman, he won success and
high honors, and no man has ever shed more
luster and renown upon the community than
did he. Governor Scott was born in Arm-
strong County, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of
July, 1826. His first years were passed under
the parental roof, and his early education was
acquired in the public schools. In 1841 he
joined a sister, then living in Stark County,
Ohio. After pursuing his studies for a time
in the common schools, he began teaching. At
this time he took up the reading of medicine,
and later attended Starling Medical College,
at Columbus. He was drawn to California
during the gold excitement, and spent a year
in seeking for the precious metal on that coast.
On his return trip, he visited many places of
interest in Mexico and South America. While
passing through Henry County, Doctor Scott
was prevailed upon by friends to locate in
the Village of Florida, where he began the
active practice of medicine. During the fol-
lowing five years he met with distinct suc-
cess, and clearly demonstrated his talent and
skill in the treatment of diseases. At the end
of that period, however, he engaged in mer-
chandising, and, in 1860, he removed to Napo-
leon.
At the breaking out of the Civil War, Doc-
tor Scott disposed of his business interests,
devoting all of his time and a considerable
portion of his means in recruiting and sending
to the front several companies of soldiers. In
the organization of both the Fourteenth and
Thirty-eighth regiments he bore an active
part. He traveled throughout the county
and vicinity, recruiting men and perfecting
the organization. Later he began recruiting
the Sixty-eighth Regiment, which was com-
posed mainly of Henry County men. In this
work he was acting under orders from Gover-
nor Dennison. Upon the organization of the
regiment, he was offered a commission as
colonel of the same, but declined, accepting,
however, a commission as lieutenant-colonel.
Soon afterwards Colonel Scott succeeded to the
command of the regiment, continuing as such
until the fall of Vicksburg. He had now
earned and received a commission as brigadier-
general of volunteers, the commission bearing
date of December 12, 1863. In March, 1865,
he was brevetted major-general.
In December, 1865, General Scott was
ordered by the secretary of war to report to
Gen. 0. 0. Howard, at Washington, and he
was thence sent to relieve General Saxton at
Charleston, South Carolina, as commissioner
of freedmen, refugees, and abandoned lands.
He entered upon the discharge of these duties
on the first day of the year 1866, and dis-
charged these important responsibilities with
the highest credit to himself. He succeeded
in winning the good will and genuine respect
of both whites and blacks. At the request
of the people generally of the Palmetto State,
General Scott was not mustered out of the
service at the time determined upon by the
Washington authorities, but was continued
in his position until July, 1868, when he re-
signed. Having gained a residence in the
state by reason of his prolonged stay there
on official business, General Scott was, in 1868,
placed in nomination by the republican state
convention for the office of governor, and, at
the ensuing election, he was chosen to that
office by a large majority. In 1870 he was
294
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
re-elected to the same high position. For a
period of six years after retiring from the
gubernatorial chair, General Scott continued
to reside in South Carolina, but in 1878 he
returned with his family to Napoleon, Ohio,
and took up the management of his large real
estate interests. Governor Scott's death oc-
curred in Napoleon on the 12th of August,
1900.
JAMES MANSFIELD ASHLEY
For many years James Mansfield Ashley
was one of the most prominent citizens of To-
ledo and, in fact, of all Northwest Ohio. He
was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the
24th of November, 1822. Soon afterwards the
family removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where
the boyhood days of Mr. Ashley were spent.
When only fourteen years of age he ran away
from home, and secured employment as a
cabin boy, and later as clerk, upon an Ohio
River steamboat. During the time on the
river, which was at the formative period of
his life, he witnessed the darkest side of the
slave traffic, and developed then an utter
abhorrence for the entire iniquitous system.
So strong was this feeling that he resolved
to do all in his power to stamp out this curse
at the earliest possible moment. He often
used to assist runaway slaves in escaping from
their bondage, which, at that time was a
criminal offense, and an extremely dangerous
one in a pro-slavery region.
When a young man Mr. Ashley began the
publication of a newspaper at Portsmouth,
called the Democratic Enquirer, which he was
obliged to dispose of for lack of necessary capi-
tal. In 1851 he removed to Toledo, where he
established a wholesale drug store. His in-
terest in politics at this time was intense. In
1854 he assisted in the establishment of the
republican party in the Toledo district, and
attended an important convention called by
the leaders of this party at Pittsburgh, a
couple of years later. He was a delegate to
the National Republican Convention at Phila-
delphia, at which John C. Fremont was nomi-
nated as the standard bearer. In a speech
during this campaign, he said : ' ' Conspira-
tors are at this very hour laying broad and
deep the conditions which are certain to ulti-
mate in a revolution of fire and blood that
must either result in the destruction of this
union and government or in the abolition of
slavery. ' '
James Mansfield Ashley first entered polit-
ical life as the republican candidate for Con-
gress from the Toledo District, in 1858. He
was elected and served in this legislative body
for ten successive years. He soon became rec-
ognized as a leader in republican councils, and
as an uncompromising abolitionist. His voice
was ever heard on behalf of the downtrodden
black man. During the first session of Con-
gress, after the election of President Lincoln,
he introduced a bill providing for the abolition
of slavery in the District of Columbia, but
this bill, because of its extremely radical fea-
tures, met with little support. In the following
year, he assisted in drawing and introducing
another bill less drastic in its provisions, which
was passed. On December 14, 1862, he intro-
duced a proposition to amend the Constitution
of the United States by abolishing slavery.
This measure was finally passed on June 15,
1864, and largely through the persistent ef-
forts of Mr. Ashley in securing support from
the representatives. He began the impeach-
ment proceedings against President Johnson,
in 1867, by charging him with usurpation of
power and violation of the laws of the United
States by corruptly using the appointing,
pardoning, and veto power of the executive.
He also at that time introduced an amendment
to the Constitution, providing for the election
of the President by the direct vote of the
people.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
295
As chairman of the Congressional Commit-
tee ou Territories, Mr. Ashley rendered effect-
ive service in establishing, naming, and
organizing the territories of Idaho, Arizona,
and Montana. He was defeated for re-election
to Congress in 1868 and, in the following
year, was made territorial governor of Mon-
tana by President Grant, being the third
governor of that territory. Owing to a dis-
agreement with the President, Mr. Ashley was
removed within a year. This virtually marked
his retirement from political life, and he de-
voted his later years to the promotion of a
railway, which was successfully accomplished.
Although a candidate for Congress after-
wards, he was not successful in being elected.
He died on the 16th of September, 1896, at
Toledo.
CHAPTER XXV
NORTHWEST OHIO IN LITERATURE
It cannot be said that Northwest Ohio has
contributed any distinctive literature to the
nation, for it requires some striking physical
characteristics or a peculiar population to
bring out such a form of writing. In other
words, it has not produced a Bret Harte, or
a writer of his type. Mountainous districts,
such as those of Tennessee and Kentucky,
some peculiar regions bordering on the sea,
such as the Labrador coast, and even the
monotonous prairie will frequently bring out
a class of writers who are inspired by some
endemic idea which is suggested by their sur-
roundings. Northwest Ohio has none of these
singular and- distinctive characteristics, and
yet it has produced writers who have con-
tributed noteworthy productions to the lit-
erary wealth of the nation. They have been
interpreters of life in its deepest and most
universal aspects. Thedr writings have not
been in any one particular line, but have
ranged from the humorous to the serious, from
philosophy to fiction, and from history to
romance.
In Northwest Ohio there has been a mass
of material printed. Every county has had
its writer, and almost every community has
had a citizen who has published a story, a
poem, a religious or political document, in
either pamphlet or book form. Many of these
have considerable merit, but their field of
circulation has been limited. It has been
utterly impossible to attempt to gather a com-
plete list of these publications. The aim has
been in so far as possible to note those writers
whose productions have gained more than
local recognition, and which might fairly be
classed as literature in the broad sense. Of
the writings and writers of the early days,
little is known. Their works have generally
disappeared, or they are represented only by
a few scattered copies here and there. The
fame of the writers has been covered by the
cobwebs of a half century or more, and it is
almost impossible at this time to gather up
the broken threads and treat of the matter
intelligently.
Northwest Ohio cannot lay claim to any
great poet, and yet much poetry, or at least
rhyme, has been produced. One of our
earliest writers was the Rev. Leonard B. Gur-
ley, a pioneer poet and preacher. He was the
presiding elder of the Maumee District,
Michigan Conference, of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. He is credited with the author-
ship of the first original poem that was pub-
lished in this section of the state. His work
is scarcely known today but, in the early
days, his verse was much read and admired.
He lived at times in several of the counties
of this section, and a few of his effusions
reveal a real poetic genius.
' ' Count ' ' Andrew Coffinberry published, in
1842, "The Forest Rangers," a tale of the
northwest wilderness of 1794. It recounts
the march of Anthony Wayne in his campaign
through Northwest Ohio and his famous vic-
tory over the Indians at Fallen Timbers.'
Although the poem cannot claim high rank
for its versification, it is permeated with the
aroma of the rivers and forests, and the wild
free life of that day. It is divided into seven
296
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
297
cantos, as follows: "The Capture, The Nar-
ration, The March, The Hazard, The Rescue,
The Preparation, and The Conclusion." The
principal character is a typical forest ranger
of that period, who is seeking a captive maid.
This gives a basis for the romance that runs
through the long poem. Very few copies of
t h is poem are known to exist. Mr. Coffinberry
was a famous lawyer of those days, and lived
for many years at Perrysburg, afterwards re-
moving to Pindlay.
Kate Brownlee Sherwood penned some
poems that reflect real genius. She had a
distinctive literary turn of mind. For years
she was the editor of the woman's depart-
ment in The National Tribune. In addition
to many occasional poems, published in
periodicals, she was the author of two pub-
lished volumes. "Camp Fire and Memorial
Poems" received wide recognition. A later
volume was entitled "Dreams of the Ages, A
Poem of Columbia, 1893."
Lucy Elliott Keeler is a native of Fremont,
and received her education in the public
schools of that city. She is gifted as a writer,
and has furnished many contributions to the
leading magazines of the country. For years
she was an editorial writer for the Youth's
Companion. In 1904 she published "If I
Were a Girl Again," which ran through
several editions, and a few years later she
published "If I Were a Boy." In addition
she has written several monographs of local
history, and numerous contributions to the
Ohio Archaeological and Historical Journal.
Estelle Avery Sharpe, also of Fremont, is the
author of a work in three volumes, which is
entitled "Foundation Stones of a Successful
Career; Conversational Lessons on Social
Ethics for Home and School."
Emily St. John Bouton is one of the best
known women writers of this section of the
state. For many years she was the house-
hold editor of the Toledo Blade, also con-
tributing to magazines. She is the author of
"Health and Beauty," "Social Etiquette,"
"Life's Gateways," and "Th* l-ife Joyful."
Wilbur G. Ziegler first engaged in the prac-
tice of law, but exhibited considerable ability
in literature. He was first associated in the
editorial work of a "History of Sandusky
County," published in 1882. Mr. Ziegler
was also the joint author of a work entitled
"The Heart of the Alleghenies," which was
published in 1883. Soon afterwards he re-
moved to San Francisco, and Jias written
several books since that time. The most suc-
cessful of his publications has been "The
Story of the Great Disaster," published in
1906, which was an account of the memorable
earthquake at San Francisco.
Alfred H. Welch was a native of Fostoria,
who died while a professor of English litera-
ture at the Ohio State University. He was
the author of a series of school books and
other publications. Besides the series of
school text books, he wrote "The Conflict of
the Ages," "The Development of English
Literature and Language," and "Man and
His Relations." He was ever a great lover
of nature, and this taste is revealed in his
writings.
Horace Newton Allen, for many years a
resident of Korea, and United States Minister
to that country from 1901 to 1905, is a
leading authority upon that ancient kingdom.
He has written several volumes dealing with
the history or life of Korea and the Koreans.
The first of these published works was
"Korean Tales," which appeared in 1889.
This was followed by "Chronological Index
of Foreign Relations of Korea, from Begin-
ning of Christian Era to Twentieth Cen-
tury." "Korea— Fact and Fiction," and
"Things Korean" are the two latest volumes
from the pen of Doctor Allen.
H. S. Knapp was well known a few decades
ago throughout all the Maumee Valley. He
was engaged in newspaper work in a number
of different towns in this part of our state,
298
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
and assisted in the preparation of several
county histories. His most important work
was a "History of the Maumee Valley,"
which is one of the standard works treating
of that historical and romantic region.
One of the best known and most popular
writers of children's stories in the United
States today is Josephine Scribner Gates, of
Toledo. Her productions have been un-
usually well received, and through the urgent
demands of the publishers one book after an-
other has been issued from the press. The
titles of her numerous books are as follows:
"The Story of Live Dolls," "More About
Live Dolls," "Story of the Lost Doll,"
"Story of Three Dolls," "Live Dolls' House
Party," "Little Red, White and Blue,"
"Live Dolls' Busy Days," "Live Dolls' Play
Days," "The April Fool Doll," "The Live
Dolls' Party Days," "Sunshine Annie,"
"Little Girl Blue," "Tommy Sweet Tooth,"
''Live Dolls in Fairyland," "Live Dolls in
Wonderland," "Little Girl Blue Plays 'I
Spy'," "One Day in Betty's Life," "The
Land of Delight," "Nanette and the Bad
Monkey, " " Nanette Goes to Visit Her Grand-
mother," "Captain Billie Leads the War to
the Land of I Don't Want To."
DAVID Ross LOCKE
The most noted writer that Northwest
Ohio has produced, and one whose name
was known all over the civilized world,
wherever the English language is read, dur-
ing and after the Civil War, was David
Ross Locke. There are many today who are
familiar with his writings, but who would
not recognize this name. They know him only
by the famous pen name assumed by him, as
Petroleum V. Nasby. Mr. Locke was born
in the State of New York in 1833. From his
father he had inherited a strong sense of
liberty, and a determined opposition to every-
thing that savored of shackles. His expe-
rience in early life was a varied one. Learn-
ing the trade of a printer, he became one of
the wandering members of that profession.
During this time he visited practically every
large city in the country, earning his living
at times as a printer, and on other occasions
as a reporter or writer upon the newspapers.
His reward was in experience rather than in
money remuneration, but this experience was
of incalculable value to him in the after years.
During these wanderings he traveled over the
Southern States, and his experiences there
only deepened the anti-slavery sentiments in-
herited from his father. He learned to hate
everything connected with that institution.
Mr. Locke's first experience in practical
business was when he and a partner estab-
lished the Advertiser, at Plymouth, Ohio.
This enterprise was a success, and four years
afterwards he removed to Bucyrus, taking
charge of the Journal in that city. It was
here that he initiated the reputation which
later made him one of the leading literary
lights of the country. He wrote a series of
weekly stories for six years, some of which
were weird and pathetic, while others were
tragic and startling. All of them, however,
illustrated certain social phases of life. The
scenes were laid in and around Bucyrus, with
realistic descriptions of scenery and some-
times of personages. The Confederate Cross
(X) Roads, which soon became so well known,
was originally located in a small village a
few miles north of Bucyrus. These stories
were widely copied, and many of them found
their way into the leading newspapers of the
day. Some strayed to England, and were
also translated into French and German. It
is believed that Tennyson secured his plot of
Enoch Arden from one of Locke's sketches.
The beginning of the Civil War found him
the editor and proprietor of a weekly paper
published at Findlay, called the Jeffersonian.
Here it was that he received the inspiration
for the famous Nasby letters, which made
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
299
him not only a national but an international
character. He wished to enlist in the war,
hut the governor told him he could do more
at home lighting with his pen than upon the
field. The popularity of the Nasby letters
created a demand for the presence of the
author upon the lecture platform, and he lec-
tured in all the principal cities of the North,
where he never failed to draw a crowded
house and to evoke prolonged applause. He
exercised much influence in moulding public
opinion in upholding the hands of President
Lincoln. He afterwards attacked the policy
of President Johnson just as strongly as he
had sustained that of the martyred president.
President Lincoln offered Mr. Locke any
position that he might name, but he refused
the offer. President Grant tendered him an
attractive diplomatic appointment, which he
again declined, not having the slightest desire
for public office of any kind. In 1865 he re-
moved to Toledo, and took charge of the
Toledo Blade. He then built up the weekly
Blade, which acquired a circulation from
coast to coast. His literary productions in-
cluded several successful stories, a number of
books and pamphlets, and many poems, all of
which were more or less popular with the
reading public. The famous Nasby letters
were issued in book form under the title of
"Divers Views, Opinions and Prophecies of
Yours Truly." Among his books were
"Eckoes from Kentucky," "The Morals of
Abou Ben Adhem," "The Struggles of Petro-
leum V. Nasby," "Moral History of Amer-
ica's Life Struggle," "Swinging Round the
Circle," "Paper City," and "Hannah
Jane." In the spring of 1881 Mr. Locke
wont to Europe and traveled for two years,
during which time he visited many of the
countries of that continent. His impressions
wore published in a book which he called
"Nasby in Exile." This work has been
classed with the famous volume of Mark
Twain, entitled "Innocents Abroad." It is
filled with shrewd observations, and running
through it is a splendid vein of humor. He
died in Toledo in the year 1888.
BRAND WHITLOCK
The name of Brand Whitlock as an author
and public character has extended far be-
yond the boundaries of the United States.
He is also a product of the newspaper offices,
as his early training was in the position of
a reporter on Toledo newspapers. Upon ar-
riving at his majority he went to Chicago,
where he became a reporter and political
writer for the Chicago Herald. As a part
of his duties he reported political meet-
ings and the proceedings of the Illinois
Legislature, and in that way was intro-
duced into political life. His first position
was in the office of the Secretary of State, at
Springfield. During this time he read law
and returned to Toledo after admission to the
bar, where he engaged in the practice of that
profession. The literary instinct, however,
could not be downed, so that Mr. Whitlock
continued writing articles for newspapers and
short stories for the magazines. His first
book, "The Thirteenth District," made its
appearance in 1902, and was one of the very
successful political novels of that period.
The reputation created by this book brought
other demands for the work of his pen.
Hence it was that the premier volume was
followed by "Her Infinite Variety" and
"The Happy Average," both of these works
being published in the year 1904. These
novels were widely read, but the "Turn of
the Balance," which followed, created some-
what of a sensation in certain circles, because
of its attacks upon certain established insti-
tutions, and especially the treatment of crim-
inals in prisons. It is a strong indictment of
the legal procedure in the American courts
in the punishment of crime. Always a great
admirer of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Whitlock
300
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
contributed to the Beacon Biography Series
a "Life of Abraham Lincoln." Two volumes
of short stories have been published, entitled
the "Gold Brick" and "The Pall Guy."
These stories had appeared in the standard
magazines previously, where they had been
well received. A monograph "On the En-
•forcement of Law in Cities" was published in
book form in 1913. In 1914 appeared an
autobiography, entitled "Forty Years of It."
Mr. Whitlock's pronounced and radical
political views brought him into political
prominence. Upon the death of Samuel M.
Jones, who had been mayor of Toledo for
several terms, Mr. Whitlock became the logi-
cal successor of that leader, and was elected
mayor of that city in November, 1905, to
which office he was three times re-elected. In
December, 1913, he was appointed United
States Minister to Belgium by President Wil-
son. The succeeding events in the history of
that unfortunate kingdom brought Mr. Whit-
lock into international prominence. He be-
came the official representative not only of the
United States to this conquered nation, but
also represented the interests of all the bellig-
erent nations opposed to Germany, and, in
the course of his duties, has had the oppor-
tunity to render some extraordinary services
which have given him wide publicity.
CHARLES ELIHU SLOCUM
Charles Elihu Slocum has contributed a
number of noteworthy volumes to the litera-
ture of the country. In fact, there are few
writers in Northwest Ohio whose name ap-
pears on the title page of so many volumes.
He was born in the State of New York in
1841, and studied medicine both in this coun-
try and in Europe. He practiced his profes-
sion in Defiance for many years, and was also
an instructor in the Cleveland College of Phy-
sicians and Surgeons for several years. He
is probably best known in this section of the
country for his "History of the Maumee
Basin," published in 1905. To the prepara-
tion of this volume he devoted much research
and a great amount of time, all of which is
shown in the published work. A few years
later there appeared the "History of the Ohio
Country Between the Years 1783 and 1815,"
another historical treatise which has found
its way generally into the public libraries.
Doctor Slocum was a great student of gene-
alogy, and was the author of a "History of
the Slocums, Slocombs and Slocumbs of
America," which appeared in 1908. "Fran-
cis Slocum the Captive" and "Life and Ser-
vices of Major-General Henry W. Slocum,"
are the other volumes written by him relating
to the memoirs of the Slocum family. Another
of Doctor Slocum 's works is entitled "To-
bacco and its Deleterious Effects." He was
an industrious and painstaking writer, and his
work was only halted by his death in 1915, at
Toledo.
CONSUL WILTSHIRE BUTTERFIELD
Northwest Ohio claims an interest in Con-
sul Willshire Butterfield, the famous his-
torian. Although a native of Oswego County,
New York, his father's family removed to
Melmore, Seneca County, in 1834, when Con-
sul was ten years of age. In 1848 he pub-
lished a "History of Seneca County," which
is a very valuable work. He began his pro-
fessional life as a lawyer, but quit the practice
of law to devote his time to the literary call-
ing. He prepared and published a number
of county histories. In 1873, while practicing
law in Bucyrus, he wrote "An Historical Ac-
count of the Campaign against Sandusky.
under Colonel William Crawford, in 1782."
This work is considered the standard story
of one of the most thrilling expeditions of
the struggle for American independence. He
afterwards published a "History of the
Girtys," which is the most complete and au-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
301
thentic record of the careers of that famous
t'iimily of renegades. In this work he aimed
to dispel what he considered to be erroneous
ideas that had grown up concerning these no-
torious brothers. His later years were spent
in the West, where he also prepared a number
of historical studies. Among his other pub-
lished works were "The Washington Craw-
ford Letters," "Discovery of the Northwest
in Ifi.'i4 by John Nicolet," "The Washington-
Irvine Correspondence," and many local his-
tories. For a number of years he did editorial
work on the "Magazine of Western History."
Although not wielding so graphic a pen as
Parkman in describing the American Indian
and the pioneer character, he had a pleasing
style and went to the greatest pains to be ac-
curate and absolutely reliable. He labored
hard and almost without reward, for his works
were not of the peculiar character that
brought large sales. He wrote rather for the
love of writing.
NEVIN 0. WiNTER.1
A chapter on the more important of those
writers in Northwestern Ohio who have made
noteworthy contributions to literature would
not be complete without referring to the
author of this work. It is perhaps most fit-
ting that any reference to him and his works
should be written by one who has known his
entire life, and on whose paper he first com-
menced his career as a writer.
Born in Crawford County, he early re-
moved to Bucyrus, attended the schools here,
and commenced life as a reporter on the Eve-
ning Telegraph. Desiring a wider field, he
took his first trip abroad, and, like Bayard
Taylor, more than half a century ago, left
the beaten paths of travel, visiting the quaint
and picturesque out-of-the-way places of Eng-
1 Contributed by John E. Hopley, of Bucyrus,
editor of the Evening Telegraph, and herewith in-
serted in the chapter "Northwest Ohio in Litera-
ture." The publishers.
land, France, and Spain, and his interesting
letters were published in his home paper and
others of the larger cities. He later removed
to Toledo and was admitted to the bar. On a
vacation trip Mr. Winter visited Mexico, and,
as on his first journey to Europe, studied the
habits and customs of the people, and wrote
his first work, "Mexico and Her People of
Today," blending with his history the deli-
cate touch which personal observation and
study of surroundings only can give. This
work was issued in 1907, and was an unusual
success. Requests were made by the publish-
ers for other works similar to Mexico, and in
the same way he wrote "Guatemala and Her
People of Today," a couple of years later.
This work added to his reputation, and he
essayed a trip to South America. Following
this appeared "Brazil and Her People of To-
day," "Argentina and Her People of Today,"
and "Chili and Her People of Today." His
next long journey was to Europe, and there
followed "The Russian Empire of Today and
Yesterday," and "Poland of Today and Yes-
terday." In his first trip to Mexico he be-
came interested in the opportunity offered for
a work on the Lone Star State, and, after an
extended stay there, studying the habits and
customs of that great state, wrote "Texas,
the Marvelous."
All of the works of Mr. Winter have had
most successful sales, several having been re-
published in England, and a Japanese society
has requested the privilege of translating the
manuscript of "Mexico and Her People of
Today ' ' into their language. In the past few
years his work on Mexico has perhaps been the
most read book upon that country, and has
.been much used as a work of reference and
study by clubs. He has delivered a number
of addresses on the countries of which he has
written before societies desiring an exact
understanding of conditions there. His works
not alone give the history of the country, but
they depict the life and the customs, the
302 HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
amusements and the characteristics of the peo- self, but the writer is confident that it has
pie as they are today. His last work, ' ' His- been written with the same accuracy, the same
tory of Northwest Ohio, ' ' is before you, and thorough study and research, that he has given
you who have read it must judge it for your- to his previous work.
CHAPTER XXVI
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
When the pioneers invaded the forests and
prairies of Northwest Ohio, they brought with
them the Bible and the Christian Church.
These pioneer men and women, who came from
the settlements beyond the Alleghanies, were
adherents of many religious faiths, but they
held religion above denominational lines. As
the settlers were few in any community, they
generally rallied around the first minister who
appeared and conducted services. Catholics
and Protestants even forgot their differences,
worshipping together at times, and they
jointly contributed to the erection of churches.
When towns were platted, the proprietors fre-
quently provided free sites for two or three
churches. Sometimes the denominations were
specified, and again they were to be given to
the first societies completing! an organization
in the community.
Although priests of the Roman Catholic
faith doubtless conducted the first religious
services in this section of the state, the early
immigrants were almost wholly Protestant,
and the earliest churches were erected by
Protestant denominations. The great major-
ity of the pioneers were connected with one
religious organization or another. Whereas
today in our cities many persons consider it a
terrible exertion to go a few blocks to church,
unless the weather conditions are most favor-
able, the pioneer men and women would jour-
ney many miles on foot through the pathless
woods to hear preaching of the word of God.
Then they would sit quietly and listen atten-
tively to a discourse that lasted an hour and a
half or more, while today the congregation
grows restless if the sermon exceeds half an
hour in length.
Loud "amens" would be heard from the
hearers at preaching services, and in times of
religious excitement persons would frequently
be seized with the ' ' jerks, ' ' or would fall pros-
trate on the church floor and lie there immov-
able for hours. Some would talk in unknown
tongues, while others, naturally diffident and
retiring by nature, would raise their voices in
public meetings and preach sermons. These
phenomena of religious excitement were
peculiarly characteristic of the early days, and
the cause of it has never been satisfactorily
explained to the lay mind. When these mani-
festations occurred at services, and especially
during revivals, the cause may easily be attrib-
uted to religious excitement, but many in-
stances are recorded where people who had not
attended church, and were not even interested
in the meetings, would suddenly fall senseless
in the road or woods, wherever they happened
to be. No lives were ever lost and no serious
injuries suffered, but the manifestations were
most marvelous and almost inexplicable. This
is a phenomenon that is no more witnessed
even in the most backwoods community.
In most communities, it was ministers of
the Methodist Episcopal Church who were
earliest on the ground, although one of the
earliest sermons in Northwest Ohio was
preached by Rev. Joseph Badger, a Presby-
terian missionary, at Lower Sandusky, in the
year 1806. He lived at that time in a cabin
on the site of Port Stephenson. He was one
of the earliest and best known of the pioneer
303
304
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
preachers in the Western Reserve. He was
intensely interested in his work, but some-
times had barely enough to subsist upon. For
a time his salary was only six dollars a week.
While at Lower Sandusky he was working
under the Massachusetts Missionary Society.
The backwoods circuit rider would suddenly
appear in a new community and seek an
opportunity to hold services. As a rule he
was welcomed into the home of any pioneer,
whether a church member or not, and every
facility was afforded him for preaching ser-
vices. If no larger building was available, the
home of some pioneer was thrown open and
word sent to the entire neighborhood. If the
weather was warm and pleasant, the services
would be conducted out in the groves, which
were God's first temples.
The ministers who served the pioneer con-
gregations of Northwest Ohio deserve a high
place on the tablet of fame. It was a love of
souls and not the small emolument received
by them that drew them 011 in their labors in
the wilderness. Rev. Elnathan C. Gavitt, a
Methodist circuit rider, relates his experiences
as follows: "At that day it was the policy
of the church to hunt up all the white settle-
ments and carry the gospel to them. Emigra-
tion to Northern Ohio had commenced, the
Maumee Valley was fast filling up, and hence
our missionary work was not wholly confined
to the Indians, but extended over a large terri-
tory now included in the following counties :
Crawford, Marion, Hardin, Auglaize, Allen,
Van Wert, Hancock, Putnam, Paulding, De-
fiance, Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Henry, Wood,
Ottawa, and several appointments within the
bounds of Sandusky and Seneca. Traveling
most of the time without roads or bridges,
fording streams or swimming our horses, and
sometimes lodging in the wilderness, preach-
ing from two to three times a day, and all this
had to be accomplished every four weeks, so
as to reach the mission at Upper Sandusky by
Saturday night, as one of the missionaries had
to remain until the other returned, to super-
intend the house, farm and school, having
from sixty to eighty children to be provided
for. Let others think as they may as to Chris-
tianity and the gospel ministry, it was the love
of souls, the moral and religious improvement
of these new settlements that prompted the
ministers to make the sacrifices they did, and
not the love of fame or wealth. My colleague,
being a married man, was allowed a salary of
$200 per year ; but being a single man, I was
only allowed $100 ; but this amount was not to
come from the Indians, but must be secured
from the whites ; and each member was ex-
pected to pay 25 cents per quarter, which was
called quarterage. The country being new
and the people poor, the minister generally
received about one-half his salary. The first
five years of my itineracy I did not receive
more than $40 or $50 per year, and much of
this was in such articles as they could con-
veniently spare. However, it was customary
for all the membership to pay something ac-
cording to their ability, but such families as
were destitute of means were cheerfully ex-
cused, providing they kept on hand a good
supply of yellow-legged chickens ! ' '
The Presbyterian Church closely followed
the Methodists in Northwest Ohio. Many
societies of this denomination were organized
in the thirties. In a few instances they pre-
ceded the Methodist congregations. The first
church in Bucyrus was of the Presbyterian
faith. In 1833 a society of thirty-three mem-
bers in that village, which was unusually large
for that day, petitioned for admission into
the Columbus Presbytery. In that same year
the first Presbyterian societies were formed in
Toledo and Lima. In that year, or possibly
earlier, a society was organized in Melmore,
Seneca County, by Rev. John Robinson, one
of the earliest preachers in the wilds of Seneca.
The congregation in Findlay claims to date
from 1830, but a church was not built until
six years later. Societies followed in Kenton
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
305
and Defiance in the year 1836 and 1887 re-
spectively. Within a decade tin; I'rcsliyti-rians
were represented in practically all the coun-
ties of Northwest Ohio.
The earliest Congregational society is doubt-
less the one now known as the First Congrega-
tion Church of Toledo. This is said to be the
first regular church organization in that city.
It was originally known at "The First Presby-
terian Church," when organized in 1833. A
few persons desiring to have religious services
met at the home of Samuel I. Keeler in the
early part of that year, and a society of seven
members was enrolled by Rev. Mr. Warriner,
of Monroe, Michigan. In 1841 the form of
government was changed to the Congrega-
tional. Three years later the church was regu-
larly incorporated under the state laws. The
earliest building occupied by this society was
dedicated in 1838, but never owned by that
body. Because of financial distress it was sold
by the sheriff and purchased by the newly-
organized Roman Catholic Society. It is still
in use by them as a school building. This
mother church of Congregationalism has
grown and developed into one of the strongest
societies not only of Northwest Ohio, but of
the entire state, and occupies a magnificent
church home. This denomination now num-
bers many churches scattered over this section
of our commonwealth.
The earliest record that has been seen of the
organization of a Baptist Church is a society
of twenty-six members, which were banded to-
gether at Lima in 1834. Upon petition it was
admitted into the Mad River Association.
Four years later a congregation was gathered
together at Bucyrus. After services the en-
tire congregation repaired to the Sandusky
River, where four persons were baptized.
From that time Baptist societies began to be
organized throughout Northwest Ohio. It
was not until 1853, however, that definite
steps were taken toward the organization of a
Baptist Church at Toledo.
Vol. I— JO
The First Protestant Episcopal Church was
organized at Maumee, as early as 1837, and
Rev. B. H. Hickox was the earliest pastor.
One year later a society was formed at Man-
hattan. In 1840 services were conducted by
Bishop Mcllvain in the old Presbyterian
Church in Toledo. The first house of worship
was not erected until five years afterwards. A
site was donated by the proprietors of the
town, which is still occupied by Trinity
Church. Toledo is now the residence of the
coadjutor bishop of the Cleveland^ diocese.
There are now many Episcopalian churches
throughout this section of our commonwealth
and this society, like its sister denominations,
is constantly growing in numbers and in-
fluence.
NOTE. — It has been found impractical to attempt
to formulate a connected history of all the denomina-
tions represented in Northwest Ohio. The history of
many individual churches will be found in the county
chapters. A more extended account is given of the
Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches,
the two earliest and most numerous religious bodies
in our section of the state.
METHODISM AND METHODISTS
REV. ELWOOD 0. CRIST, D. D., DEFIANCE
Northwest Ohio is historic ground for Meth-
odism. It was within this section of our great
state that the first missionary work under the
auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church
was undertaken by John Stewart among the
AVyandot Indians, at Upper Sandusky. It
was in the year 1816 that Stewart began his
work with that tribe of aborigines, and it was
not long afterwards that his work came under
the control of this church. In fact, it was his
wonderful success that inspired in no small
degree the missionary work of this great re-
ligious body. The Methodist Episcopal
Church was among the first to answer the call
for religious teachers among the pioneers of
the Northwestern Territory, and the first
Methodist sermon preached within Ohio was
306
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
probably at Warrentown, in Jefferson County,
in the year 1787, by the Rev. George Callahan.
The first Methodist society organized within
the state was at Columbia, now Cincinnati,
when the Rev. John Kobler, of Kentucky,
crossed the Ohio River and organized a class
of twenty-one persons in that settlement. All
of the preaching places to begin with were in
the cabins of the backwoods settlers. The
premier house of worship was a log meeting-
house at Scioto Brush Creek, which was built
by the Rev. Henry Smith in 1800.
Just when the first Methodist service was
conducted in Northwest Ohio is uncertain, but
it was probably not until the early years of the
nineteenth century. We have a record of the
organizing of a "class" at Fremont, in the
year 1820, by the Rev. James Montgomery.
President Monroe had appointed Mr. Mont-
gomery the first agent to the Seneca Indians.
The Indians bestowed upon him the name of
Kuckoo-Wassa, or "New Acorn." He was a
local preacher, and preached almost constantly
in connection with his official duties. The
church at Upper Sandusky was organized not
many years after the establishment of the
mission of the Indians. Methodism had its in-
ception in Findlay when Adam Poe preached
the first sermon in that place, in the year
1829. This was also the earliest sermon ever
preached in that city. Doctor Poe was at that
time the presiding elder connected with the
Wyandot Mission, at Upper Sandusky. He
reached Fort Findlay, as it was then called,
on Saturday night, an absolute stranger with
only 37 cents in his pockets. He rode his
horse up to the hotel and gave instructions
that it should be taken care of. He then went
to the schoolhouse, which was also used as a
courthouse, and made a fire. He put two
benches together, which he used as a bed for
that night. In the morning he went out and
informed the people whom he met that he
would preach in the schoolhouse at 10 o'clock.
Many came to hear him, and, at the close of
his service, a kindly lady of the congregation
invited the preacher to her home for dinner.
She then learned that he had had neither sup-
per nor breakfast.
The experience of Doctor Poe is a fair sam-
ple of many of the early experiences of the
pioneer preachers who traversed Northwest
Ohio when it was still a wilderness. In addi-
tion to such trivial inconveniences, they had to
endure the trials of the Black Swamp and the
danger of the ' ' shakes, ' ' as the ague was called.
A regular Methodist class was not organized in
Findlay until 1832. Itinerant preachers were
holding services in the cabins and primitive
schoolhousesi in the neighborhood of Bowling
Green in the early '20s. In Wapakoneta,
the Methodist denomination organized a
"class" and erected a church in the year 1834.
This building was for a time used both for
school purposes and as a courthouse, as well
as for religious services by other denomina-
tions. Rev. William Sprague, of the1 Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, preached the first
sermon at Defiance, of which we have a certain
record, in 1832. A couple of years later a
church built of logs was dedicated on that
historic site.
The first church in the Maumee Valley was
organized at Perrygburg, when John P. Kent
and P. B. Morrey proclaimed the gospel there,
on or about the year 1820. A permanent soci-
ety was soon afterwards organized. The Spaf-
ford's home was long known as Methodist
headquarters. A church was built in 1836,
which is still in use, although it has been re-
modeled several times. The first service in
the immediate vicinity of Toledo was at a set-
tlement then known as Ten Mile Creek, which
was later called Tremainsville, and is now
known as West Toledo. The preachers in the
year 1823 were Billings 0. Plympton and
Elias Pettee. This was before Toledo was even
platted. The first "class" was formed in the
house of Eli Hubbard in that settlement, and it
numbered about eight members. This
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
307
"class," however, developed into the Tre-
mainesville Church, now known as Colling-
wood. The first sermon preached in Toledo
proper was by the Rev. Elnathan C. Gavitt, in
the year 1832. It was delivered in a ware-
house standing on the bank of the river.
"Here the last week of October" said he, "I
preached from Genesis 19:17 to twelve
persons, most of whom were women." The
first. Methodist Church in Toledo was organ-
ized in 1836, in that part of the city now
known as Lower Town. A church was built
there which was afterwards purchased by the
German Methodists in 1850. This church
building is still in existence, and is now lo-
cated on an alley between Erie and Ontario
streets. In this building the Methodists of
Toledo continued to worship for a number of
years.
All of Ohio was at first included in what was
termed the Ohio District, and the first confer-
ence was held at Chillicothe, in the year 1807,
with Bishop Asbury presiding. Five years
later the extensive Ohio Conference was or-
ganized, which included much more than our
own state, and in 1836 the Michigan Confer-
ence was formed to which was set off this sec-
tion of the state. Four years later it fell
within the North Ohio Conference. In 1856
Delaware Conference was formed, and this
was held in Lima, Ohio, but four years later
the name was changed to Central Ohio Confer-
ence, which name it continued to retain for
more than half a century. This conference
included all of Northwest Ohio, with the ex-
ception of a few counties on the eastern bor-
der, which remained within the North Ohio
Conference draws many serious students,
ence. William L. Harris, afterwards bishop,
was the first secretary of the Delaware, or
Central Ohio Conference. When organized
it contained ninety-eight preachers with sixty-
seven pastoral charges. The highest salary
paid at that time was $600, for that was the
amount received by the pastor of what is now
St. Paul's Church, in Toledo. The presiding
elders received about $400 each. When it was
joined with the Cincinnati Conference, under
the name of the West Ohio Conference, in
1913, the number of pastoral charges had in-
creased to 180 and the number of preachers
to 263. The number of members had in-
creased in proportion, and the salaries had
grown greatly during that time. The last
session of the Central Ohio Conference as
such was held at Kenton, September 25-30,
1912, and the first session of the new confer-
ence at Urbana in the following year. At that
time N. B. C. Love, Loring C. Webster, An-
drew J. Frisbie, and Joshua M. Longfellow
were the only surviving charter members, all
of them then past the age of four-score years.
Northwest Ohio Methodism has been inter-
ested in furthering many benevolent enter-
prises. One of these, which performs great
service to a suffering humanity, is the Flower
Deaconess Home and Hospital, in Toledo.
This institution was organized in the year
1907. It was founded by the late Stevens W.
Flower, one of the leading business men of
Toledo, who donated his home, which was a
very valuable one, with about two acres of
ground, and $20,000 in cash to the Central
Ohio Conference to establish the Flower Hos-
pital and Mrs. Elian B. Flower Deaconess
Home, as a memorial for himself and wife.
The amount of money invested has been
greatly increased since that time, and several
new buildings have been constructed until
now this is one of the leading hospitals in
Toledo. It is supported by the West Ohio
Conference, the successor of the Central Ohio
Conference. The first building with room for
twenty-five beds was formally opened in
1910. The second unit was thrown open to
the public three years later, and the capacity
was thus more than doubled. Dr. Sidney Dix
Foster has been chief of staff since the open-
ing of the hospital. The superintendents have
been Rev. E. O. Crist, Rev. E. E. McCammon,
308
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
and Rev. G. A. Reeder. Under the direction
of a wise and progressive board of trustees,
these gifts have been judiciously invested for
the relief of suffering mankind and for the
cause of human progress. Hundreds of pa-
tients have found health and rest within its
hospitable walls. There is a training school
for nurses in connection with the hospital,
with a full three years course of study, which
affords an opportunity for young women to
secure the very best training for that calling.
The Flower Home for Girls is another
splendid institution in Toledo, owned and
operated by The Flower Deaconess Home and
Hospital Corporation, which was given by the
same generous donor, Stevens W. Flower.
Here the Methodist deaconesses gather to-
gether young girls coming into the city as
strangers to make their own way, or needy
homeless girls of the city, and they are shel-
tered and assisted in getting suitable employ-
ment and homes.
One of the best known enterprises of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Northwest
Ohio is the resort at Lakeside, Ohio, which
began as a camp meeting association. Its lo-
cation is in a forest on a level site with an
expansive lake view. The nearest prominent
visible object is Kelley's Island, which rises
from the water four miles farther out in the
lake. The first meeting held there on the
banks of the blue Lake Erie was in a grove, in
the year 1873. At that meeting the Rev.
Joseph Ayers, a veteran preacher, was chosen
as superintendent of the meeting. The Rev.
Harry 0. Sheldon, a pioneer minister then
advanced in years, preached the sermon under
a large oak tree which stood at the south end
of the present auditorium. The spirit of the
primitive camp meeting was noticeably mani-
fest and dominant in this gathering. The
Central Ohio Conference and the North Ohio
Conference assumed joint ownership of the
enterprise in a meeting held at Clyde in the
following year. The grounds were dedicated
and the first meeting held that year. Year
after year camp meeting was conducted there,
with which the Central German Conference
united its efforts. Buildings were erected as
the institution demanded, and the grounds
were beautified in every way. At times the
financial proposition was a serious one, and it
went into the hands of a receiver at one time.
With better management the finances im-
proved, and the Chautauqua branch of the
association was extended so that the crowds
became larger and larger. The annual Bible
Conference draws many serious students.
Today it is the most valued of the Chautauqua
associations conducted within the State of
Ohio. Upon the grounds several hundred cot-
tages have been built in which many families
reside for several months each year. Many
of the representatives of the best platform
talent in the country are heard at Lakeside
each summer. It is conducted upon the
highest moral and broadest religious basis.
In educational work the Methodists have
been active in Northwest Ohio, as well as in
other lines. In the year 1861 a proposition
from the town council of Maumee to establish
a seminary in that village was accepted. The
seminary was known as the Central Ohio Con-
ference Seminary. The old courthouse and
grounds were turned over to the Methodist
Episcopal Church, to be used forever for edu-
cational purposes. Everything at that time
augured well for a school of useful and honor-
able character. The first principal of the
seminary was John W. Hiett, and Russel
Bigelow Pope was his assistant. On account
of the absence of many young men, who had
enlisted into the service of their country dur-
ing the Civil War, the seminary was closed
during the year 1864. It was again opened
for a year or two, after which it was finally
abandoned for the lack of patronage. The
property remained in the possession of the
conference until 1881, when it was transferred
back to the Village of Maumee. During the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
309
existence of the seminary, the Neely House in
Maumee, which is still in use, was utilized as
a boarding house for the students. The old
courthouse, which is still standing although
rapidly falling to decay, was used as the semi-
nary, and the classes were held in it. Al-
though this institution did not last, it afforded
an opportunity for many young men and
women to prepare themselves for teaching and
preaching which they might otherwise never
have obtained.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The history of the Catholic Church in North-
west Ohio synchronizes with the earliest secu-
lar history of this region. It begins when
Ohio was still a part of that vast territory
east of the Alleghenies claimed by France un-
der the name of Louisiana. This enormous
province, stretching southward to the Gulf of
Mexico and westward as far as the Rockies,
was then under the ecclesiastical jurisdicton
of the See of Quebec, Canada. The southern
shore of Lake Erie was a portion of the or-
dinary route traversed by the great Jesuit
missionaries and French trading explorers of
the seventeenth century, on their way from
Quebec to the upper Great Lakes. French set-
tlers gradually entered this region from De-
troit, and, as early as 1680, a French fort was
built on the Maumee. The entire locality, with
all its trails and waterways, must have been
familiar to the early Jesuit missioners to the
Hurons.
The first of the bishops of Quebec to exer-
cise episcopal functions in this vicinity was
the Rt. Rev. Henri-Marie Dubreuil de Pont-
briand, D. D. He was the sixth bishop of
Quebec and presided over that diocese from
April 9, 1741, till his death on June 8,
1760. This prelate administered confirma-
Note — This historical sketch was prepared by
Monsignor John T. O'Connell and Rev. Dr. G. B.
0 "Toole.
tion at Detroit, and directed the Jesuit Pro-
vincial at -Quebec to send missionaries into this
territory. Among the missionaries of the So-
ciety of Jesus sent by the Provincial from
Quebec, three are conspicuous for their con-
nection with the early history of Northwestern
Ohio. Their names were : Pierre-Joseph de
Bonnecamps, S. J., Pierre Poitier, S. J., and
John De la Richardie.
Father Pierre-Joseph de Bonnecamps was
the first priest to celebrate mass in Southern
Ohio (1749), at a place near the Miami River.
When he returned northward with Celeron's
company from the expedition to the Ohio
River, he embarked on Lake Erie for Detroit
at the mouth of the Maumee (Miami of the
Lake), October 5, 1749. Father Armand De la
Richardie, like Father Poitier, was sent by his
superior at Quebec to the Hurons of the French
Louisiana. Somewhat discouraged at the mea-
ger results of his efforts, he returned to Que-
bec. Two years later, however, he resumed
the unpromising task of converting the heathen
Hurons of Ohio. In 1751 he succeeded in
persuading about sixty Wyandots to settle per-
manently at Sandusky Bay. It was here, in
the same year, that Father De la Richardie
had a log chapel constructed for the Wyan-
dots. This was the first permanent church
edifice erected within the boundaries of the
present State of Ohio. Two years previous,
however, to the arrival of Father De la Rich-
ardie, the region about Sandusky Bay had
been visited by another famous Jesuit mis-
sionary to the Hurons. This was Father
Pierre Poitier, who there offered the first mass
celebrated in Northern Ohio. He had been
sent in 1749 by the Jesuit Provincial of Que-
bec to evangelize the Huron tribes located near
Detroit. He soon became very proficient in
their language, and was the author of a Huron
grammar. He established a mission at Bois
Blanc Island, which, however, he was forced
to abandon after five years of heroic toil and
sacrifice, owing to hostility on the part of
310
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
some of the heathen Indians. Undaunted by
this disappointment, he soon resumed his
labors among the roving, shiftless, intemper-
ate Hurons. It was in following a portion of
one of these wandering Huron tribes that he
came to Sandusky Bay. This venerable and
intrepid priest gallantly stuck to his post until
the end. He died at Sandwich, Ontario, on
July 16, 1781. With him perished the last of
those grand historic figures, the Jesuit mis-
sionaries of the Northwest.
On July 21, 1773, the Jesuit Order was sup-
pressed by Clement XIV. Henceforth, as
death gradually thinned the ranks of the gal-
lant few who remained in the mission fields of
North America, no more "black robes" came
from France to replace them. Their once
flourishing missions fell into decay, until,
with the death of Father Poitier in 1781, they
became a mere matter of history. Thereafter,
the Indians and scattered settlers received only
such scant and occasional attendance as the
priests attached to the French military posts
in Michigan and Canada were able to give
them ; yet, even after the beginning of the
nineteenth Century, the Catholic Indians were
still wont to journey thither from great dis-
tances for their baptisms and marriages.
One interesting document was discovered
in 1887 by John Gilmary Shea, which, to quote
that able historian's words, "fills a gap be-
tween the retirement of the Jesuits from their
Sandusky mission and the coming of Father
Fenwick to Ohio." This document is a let-
ter from Rev. Edmund Burke to Archbishop
Troy, of Dublin. From it we learn that Fa-
ther Burke, an Irish priest, afterwards a
bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Nova Scotia,
sojourned for a time (1795-1796), at the Brit-
ish Fort. Miami on the banks of the Maumee,
as a missioner to the Indians of Northwest
Ohio, and enjoyed the unique distinction of
being the last priest of the Diocese of Quebec,
and the first English-speaking priest in Ohio.
Saddened at the desolate condition of the once
thriving Indian missions of the Jesuits, he be-
came desirous of doing something to remedy
the situation. Accordingly, he wrote to Arch-
bishop Troy, of Dublin, requesting him to
bring the matter to the attention of the Sacred
Congregation of the Propaganda at Rome.
The Archbishop must have complied with
his request, since Bishop Hubert of Que-
bec received a letter on the subject from
Cardinal Antonelli. The result was that
Rev. Edmund Burke was appointed by the
former prelate Vicar General of Upper Can-
ada. Bishop Hubert recommended to his espe-
cial care the French mission at Monroe
(Frenchtown). There Father Burke dedi-
cated a church to St. Anthony of Padua. In
his missionary work among the Indians, he was
encouraged by the English authorities, who
were then desirous of utilizing the influence of
Catholic priests over the Indians.
The Rev. John Carroll was appointed bishop
of Baltimore, with jurisdiction over all the
territory possessed by this nation, in the year
1790. But, as the British continued to hold
various military posts in Michigan and North-
western Ohio, under flimsy pretexts, this en-
tire region became disputed territory, with a
resultant uncertainty as to whether it fell
under the jurisdiction of Quebec or that of
Baltimore. Father Burke alludes to this in the
letter written from the 'Miamis' to Archbishop
Troy, in February, 1795, in which he says:
"Here the limit of jurisdiction is uncertain
and unsettled, the very parish in which I live
may be a subject of dispute between the
Bishop of Quebec and the Bishop of Baltimore,
tho' it be distant 4 or 5 hundred leagues
from either." This dispute was settled in
favor of Baltimore, when the English finally
evacuated Detroit and the Northwestern terri-
tory in 1796. When they withdrew into Can-
ada, Father Burke went with them. His de-
parture marks the close of the First, or Mis-
sionary, Period in the history of Catholicity
in Northwest Ohio.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
311
Just previous to Father Burke 's sojourn in
Northern Ohio, a colony of French Catholics
had been established within the limits of the
state, at Gallipolis and Marietta. The first
immigrants, 139 in number, left Havre on
May 26, 1790. They were followed by other
contingents. In the same year, a Papal decree
erected this settlement into "the Prefecture
Apostolic of the Scioto." When the French
colonists attempted to take possession of the
land, which had been fraudulently sold them
by the Ohio Land Company, they found that
they had been grossly deceived by the Ameri-
can promoters of the scheme, and that the
land in question was still occupied by the
Indians, who refused to relinquish it, except
on condition of a second purchase. Even after
rebuying the land, however, the French immi-
grants were not suffered to possess it in peace.
Threatened by the Indians, they appealed to
Congress for aid. Thereupon, General St.
Clair was sent against the hostile Indians, only
to meet, in 1791, with a most disastrous defeat
which resulted in the massacre of nearly one-
half of his command. This decided the fate
of the unfortunate French colony. The immi-
grants, who had not returned to France dur-
ing first sad days of disappointment, now dis-
persed to the four winds.
In 1792, Wayne's victories having retrieved
the defeat of St. Clair and broken the power
of the hostile Indians, Bishop Carroll sent the
Sulpitian Fathers, who had recently taken
refuge in America from the fury of the French
Revolution, into the Northwest Territory.
One of their number was the Rev. Benedict
Joseph Flaget, future bishop of Bardstown,
Ky. Arriving from Baltimore at Pittsburgh,
he met General Wayne, who gave him a let-
ter of introduction to Gen. George Rogers
Clark which secured for the priest the latter 's
strong friendship. General Clark conducted
him with a military escort to Vincennes. This
priest was soon to replace Bishop Carroll in
episcopal jurisdiction over the Northwest Ter-
ritory. With the coming of Father Flaget
and his fellow Sulpitians, the second chapter
of events in the history of Catholic Ohio
opens; for, though Bishop Carroll had been
invested, since 1790, with episcopal juris-
diction over the entire Northwest Territory,
it was not until the arrival of these Sulpitian
priests from France, that he was able to pro-
vide for the spiritual needs of the scattered
Catholics dwelling therein.
Although the suppression of the Jesuits in
1773 led to the withdrawal of nearly all their
missionaries, and the consequent disintegra-
tion of their Indian missions along the shore
of Lake Erie and the banks of the Portage,
Sandusky and Vermillion rivers, nevertheless
traces of their self-sacrificing labors lingered
long after the dawn of the Second, or Pioneer
Period, in the history of Catholicity in North-
western Ohio. Protestant settlers testify that
the Wyandots still clung to their crucifixes
and rosaries at the beginning of the nine-
teenth century, and even as late as 1823,
Bishop Fenwick, in a letter to Father Stephen
Badin, speaks of Catholic Indians from the
Seneca River, who crossed to Maiden and
Sandwich, in Canada, for their marriages and
baptisms.
With the storming of the Bastille, on' July 14,
1789, the Reign of Terror began in unhappy
France. The Catholic clergy were among the
number of those who were singled out for
especial vengeance on the part of the revolu-
tionists. Hundreds of them perished by fire
and by the guillotine. Those who escaped
were obliged to seek refuge in exile. Among
these exiles was, as we have seen, the
young Sulpitian priest, Father Benedict
Joseph Flaget, who arrived at Baltimore on
March 26, 1792. In the same year, Father
Gabriel Richard, likewise a Sulpitian and a
refugee from the French Revolution, was sent
by Bishop Carroll to the French settlements
in Michigan. He became resident pastor at
Detroit in 1801. In 1804 he was joined by
312
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
another Sulpitian priest, the Rev. John Dilhet,
who took charge of Raisin River mission. This
latter parish extended "from Sandusky to St.
Joseph's River, on Lake Michigan, extending
as far south as Fort Wayne." It included,
therefore, practically the whole of Northwest
Ohio.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Purchase of 1803
had prepared a new burden for the aged
Bishop of Baltimore. Despite his appeal to
the Holy See to be spared this additional re-
sponsibility, Pius VII saw fit, on September 1,
1805, to appoint Bishop Carroll Administrator
Apostolic of Louisiana and the Floridas. Re-
lief came, however, on April 8, 1808, when
two Bulls were issued by the same pope,
the first dividing the diocese of Baltimore,
and erecting four new sees, those, namely,
of New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Bards-
town (Ky.) ; the second appointing the suffra-
gan bishops and raising Bishop Carroll to the
rank of Archbishop, with metropolitan juris-
diction over the newly-erected dioceses. The
Diocese of Bardstown (now Louisville), Ken-
tucky, comprised, besides Kentucky and Ten-
nessee, the states of Ohio, Michigan and
Wisconsin. By the terms of the Papal Bull,
the Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget was appointed
its first bishop. He received episcopal conse-
cration, at the hands of Archbishop Carroll,
on November 4, 1810, but it was not until
May 11, 1811, that he left Baltimore to take
charge of his vast diocese. On his way thither
he met the Dominican missioner, Father Ed-
ward Fenwick, at Pittsburgh. It was he who
subsequently accompanied Bishop Flaget,
upon the latter 's first visit to Ohio. Bishop
Flaget had assigned Ohio to Father Fenwiek
as his field of labor in 1812, but the Domin-
ican friar did not visit this state until 1814.
Meanwhile the War of 1812 broke out,
and Father Gabriel Richard's strong and
unswerving loyalty to the American cause
led to his arrest and imprisonment by the
British, when Hull surrendered Detroit to
them at the very outset of the war. After
Croghan's famous victory at Fort Stephenson,
settlers began to flock to Lower Sandusky, at-
tracted partly by the abundance of game and
partly by the natural beauty of the scenery,
for both of which Lower Sandusky was re-
markable. By 1816 the number of those who
had settled there had reached the two-hundred
mark. Among them were three brothers,
Joseph, Anthony, and Peter Momenay. They
were French Catholics, who had fled thither
from Detroit to escape the cruelty of the
Indians. Returning to Detroit after an ab-
sence of seven years, they succeeded in inter-
esting John B. Beaugrand, a Catholic mer-
chant of that city, in the Lower Sandusky
settlement. The latter paid a visit to the place
in 1822, and was so taken with the enterprise
that, with his wife and seven children, he
settled permanently there the following year.
At his invitation, Father Gabriel Richard
came from Detroit to Lower Sandusky in
March of the same year, and celebrated Mass
in Beaugrand 's two-story house, which was
located a short distance to the east of the pres-
ent Wheeling & Lake Erie Station. There were
other groups, too, of French settlers in North-
western Ohio, which Father Gabriel Richard
attended. One was a settlement of sixteen
families at the mouth of the Maumee ; another
was located six or eight miles to the north of
the former, near the site of Perry's victory.
In the latter place Father Richard dedicated
a small church on Low Sunday of 1821. In
those days, as the Rev. Gabriel Richard in-
dicates, the district "de la Bai Miamy" was
considered as one with St. Antoine, on the
Raisin River (Monroe), which latter place
Father Richard had attended as a mission from
Detroit as early as 1806. The dependence of
this portion of Ohio on the Raisin River mis-
sion is better understood if we bear in mind
the fact that for a long time the territory of
Michigan laid claim to lands in which Toledo
is now situated.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
313
Father Fenwick, who is rightly styled "the
Apostle of Ohio," was a native of Maryland,
who in his youth had taken the white habit of
St. Dominic at Bornheim in Belgium. When
that country was overrun by the revolutionary
armies of France, he was seized and thrown
into prison. 1 1 is claim, however, to American
citi/ciishlp secured his release. He returned
to America with the intention of founding
there a branch of his Order. Bishop Flaget, as
we have seen, gave him Ohio as his field of
labor in 1812. Catholic settlers had begun
about that time to drift into Ohio from Mary-
land and Pennsylvania. Later these were
joined by immigrants from Ireland, and soon
small congregations began to spring up in
Columbiana, Stark and Wayne Counties. It
was among these scattered Catholics that
Father Fenwick and his fellow Dominicans
labored zealously to lay the foundations of
Catholicity in the great State of Ohio.
Under their auspices, in the year 1820, the
first brick church in Northern Ohio was
erected at Dungannon, under the title of St.
Paul's. Bishop Flaget having meanwhile
petitioned Rome for a division of the Diocese
of Bardstown, his request was granted on
June 19, 1821, by a Papal decree, which erected
the new diocese of Cincinnati. Father Ed-
ward Fenwick was appointed its first bishop,
and was consecrated at Bardstown in 1822.
The Diocese of Cincinnati comprised at that
time the states of Ohio, Michigan, and Wis-
consin.
The same year that Cincinnati became a
separate diocese, the name of an Indian vil-
lage, till then called "Head of the Waters,"
located in Lucas County on the banks of the
Maumee, just opposite the present site of
Grand Rapids, was changed to that of "Prov-
idence," a name which the locality still re-
tains, although the town itself was destroyed
by fire in 1854. The Indians still lived in this
village as late as 1820. In 1832 it was settled
by Irish immigrants, and was attended by the
priests stationed at St. Mary's, Tiffin. St.
Mary's at Tiffin is the oldest Catholic parish
in Northwest Ohio. Its history begins in 1823,
when James Doherty and William Arnold
settled with their families in the vicinity of
that town. Bishop Fenwick visited the place,
on his way to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1827.
The bishop was accompanied by the famous
pioneer priest, Father Ignatius Mullon, whom
he left behind at Tiffin. Father Mullon re-
mained there until the following Sunday,
when he preached in the courthouse. In 1829
Bishop Fenwick visited Tiffin a second time.
On this occasion he purchased from Josiah
Hedges, the founder of the town, a one-acre
lot for a church and churchyard. The original
church was built on this site, which is the
present abandoned cemetery in the rear of the
Ursuline Convent. In 1831, Bishop Fenwick
appointed Father Edmund Quinn first resi-
dent pastor of Tiffin. On May 15th of the
same year Father Quinn said mass there for
the first time in the house of John Julien,
located in the outskirts of the said town. In
1832 a small brick church was begun on the
site purchased by Bishop Fenwick. No serv-
ices, however, were held therein until Easter
of 1833, when it was used for the first time.
It was completed and dedicated to Our Lady,
Help of Christians in 1836. For some time
Father Quinn had for his assistant here the
Rev. E. Thienpont, another famous pioneer
priest. From Tiffin as a center they attended
the various missions of Northwest Ohio, such
as Lower Sandusky (Fremont), McCutchens-
ville, Providence, Maumee, etc. It was at the
last-named place that Father Quinn caught
the malarial fever of which he died, September
15. 1835, at St. Mary's, in Auglaize County.
He was one of the many victims of the noto-
rious "Maumee fever."
Another old mission of those days was at
La Prairie, located about eight miles from Port
Clinton. It was settled by French-Canadians
in 1822. In 1823 mass was offered up for the
314
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
first time in the log cabin of a settler by the
Rev. Gabriel Richard. In 1841 a log chapel
was erected by these pioneer Catholics, which
was dedicated to St. Philomena by Bishop
Purcell, and served the purpose of a place
of worship for twenty-five years. In recent
years this mission has been abandoned owing
to the decrease of the congregation.
It had been Bishop Penwick's plan to es-
tablish a line of churches at Hamilton, Ur-
bana, Tiffin, and Port Clinton, extending from
Cincinnati to Lake Erie, thus connecting his
episcopal city with the Great Lakes by a chain
of Catholic congregations. It was in fulfil-
ment of this design that he erected St. Mary's
parish, Tiffin, but he did not live to carry out
the plan in regard to Port Clinton. When the
First Provincial Council of Baltimore was
convened at Baltimore, Md., on October 4,
1829, Bishop Fenwick was one of the six pre-
lates who participated therein. On his return
from Baltimore he undertook another visita-
tion of the northern portion of his diocese.
The fatal cholera plague was then rampant
in the Northwest. The Bishop, having con-
tracted the disease, was taken ill at Wooster,
where he died at noon, on September 26, 1832.
He was preceded to the grave by the Rev.
Gabriel Richard, of Detroit, who likewise fell
a victim to the cholera, and whose death oc-
curred just a fortnight previous to that of
the bishop. Father Richard was one of the
most devoted and tireless missionaries of the
Northwest, where he spent forty years of his
life in unremitting toil and heroic sac-
rifices for others. He established at De-
troit the first printing press in that sec-
tion of the United States, began the first paper,
the Michigan Essay, and in 1823 was sent to
Congress to represent his district. He was
first Catholic priest to serve in this capacity.
By the establishment of the Diocese of
Detroit, on March 8, 1833, Michigan and
Wisconsin were removed from the jurisdiction
of the see of Cincinnati. In the same year the
Rev. John Baptist Purcell was appointed to
succeed Bishop Fenwick, as second bishop of
Cincinnati. Born at Mallow, Ireland, February
26, 1300, of pious parents, he received all the
educational advantages accessible to a Catholic
child during the penal days in Ireland. To ob-
tain a college education, however, he was forced
to leave his native land, and to come to the
United States. On June 20, 1820, he entered
Mount St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, with
the intention of fitting himself for the priest-
hood. On March 1, 1824, he sailed for Europe,
where he completed his studies with the Sul-
pitian Fathers at Issy and Paris. On May 26,
1826, he was ordained a priest at Paris by
Archbishop de Quelen. In the fall of the
following year he returned to America, and
became a professor at Mount St. Mary's Col-
lege. Later he was made president of that
institution. After receiving the appointment
as bishop of Cincinnati, he was consecrated in
the Baltimore Cathedral by Archbishop Whit-
field on October 13, 1833. Soon after he set
out to Wheeling from Baltimore by stage, and
made the journey from that point to Cincin-
nati by steamboat. He reached Cincinnati on
November 14, 1833, and was installed as
bishop by the Rt. Rev. Benedict-Joseph
Flaget, of Bardstown. Bishop Purcell was
a man of great learning, wide influence
and remarkable popularity. He continued
to exercise episcopal jurisdiction over North-
ern Ohio until Cleveland became a separate
diocese, on April 23, 1847. At the time of his
accession there was but one parish with a res-
ident pastor in Northwest Ohio. The build-
ing of the waterways, however, along the line
of the Maumee River from the Ohio and the
Wabash opened this territory to German and
Irish immigrants, attracted thither by the op-
portunities of labor and farming. This large
influx of immigrants necessitated the erection
of churches and the founding of numerous
parishes, missions, and stations in practically
all of the counties of Northern Ohio. When
Bishop Purcell paid his first visit to Northwest
Ohio in 1834, he found St. Mary's Church at
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
315
Tiffin still unfinished. It was on the occasion
of this visit that a Catholic gentleman named
William Arnold ceded to the Bishop a 23/±-
acre lot for church property at McCutchen-
villc, in Wyandotte County.
In August, 1833, Father Wm. J. Horst-
mann, a native of Prussia, left the Father-
land for America accompanied by eight young
men. In 1834 he acquired from the Govern-
ment a certain tract of land in Putnam
County, with a view to establishing thereon a
colony of German Catholic immigrants. The
present town of Glandorf and the rural vicin-
ity constitute a monument to the enterprising
zeal and energy of this learned and devoted
priest. Father Horstmann said mass there
for the first time on Easter Sunday, 1834. A
log church was built in 1837 and dedicated
to St. John the Baptist. The following year
a log schoolhouse was erected, in which Father
Horstmann himself became the first teacher.
The growth of Glandorf settlement was rapid.
Another early Catholic settlement is that
of New Riegel, formerly known as Wolf's
Creek. When German Catholic settlers began
to gather there in 1833, the whole region was
covered with dense forests. They were visited
in 1833 by the Redemptorist Father F. X.
Tschenhens, who later attended the place from
Peru, in Huron County, where he was then
stationed. Under his direction, in 1839, a log
church was built on the property now
occupied by the present church edifices.
After 1839 it was attended from St. Mary's,
Tiffin. Such was the origin of this flourish-
ing German parish in the southeastern cor-
ner of Seneca County. In December of 1844
the Very Rev. F. S. Brunner, first provincial
of the Sanguinist Fathers in this country, was
placed in charge of the New Riegel parish by
Bishop Purcell. The Sanguinists, who are
still in charge of this parish, established a
mission house there, and, somewhat later, a
convent was built there for the Sanguinist
Sisters.
Upon Father Quinn's demise in 1835, his
assistant Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont retained
charge of St. Mary's, Tiffin, until 1836.
Thenceforth, until 1839 St. Mary's was at-
tended by the Redemptorist Fathers from
Peru, in Huron County. At the time of
Bishop Purcell 's second visit to Tiffin in 1836,
Father F. X. Tschenhens, C. S. S. R., was in
charge of the parish. Two notable pioneer
priests accompanied the Bishop on that occa-
sion, the Rev. Stephen T. Badin and the Rev.
H. D. Juncker (afterward the Bishop of
Alton). The entries in the old baptismal reg-
ister of St. Mary's for August 21st, 24th, and
28th, of the year 1836, are in the handwriting
and bear the signature of Bishop Purcell, in-
dicating that the bishop himself administered
the sacrament of baptism during the days of
his second visitation.
In 1835, Father Tschenhens came to Bucy-
rus, Crawford County, from Peru, to gather
together the scattered Catholics in this vicin-
ity and minister to their spiritual needs. In
1844 the Sanguinists from Thompson replaced
the Redemptorists from Peru. Mass was said
in private houses until after the outbreak of
the Civil War. In 1862, however, the Cath-
olics of the town purchased a deserted Pres-
byterian meeting-house, had it moved to a
lot which they had bought on Mary Street,
and fitted the same for a place of Catholic
worship.
The spiritual needs of the Catholics in
Maumee were first looked after by the priests
stationed at St. Mary's, Tiffin. In 1835 the
Rev. Emmanuel Thienpont visited Maumee.
The same year it was likewise visited by
Father Quinn, the pastor of St. Mary's. In
1838 Father Thienpont paid another visit to
Maumee to minister to the spiritual neces-
sities of the Catholic population. From 1839
to 1841 Maumee was attended from St. Mary's
parish at Tiffin by the Rev. Joseph McNamee
and his assistant, the Rev. Projectus J. Mache-
boeuf (afterwards Bishop of Denver). In the
spring of 1841 Father McNamee purchased a
316
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
partly-finished frame meeting-house from the
Episcopalians, which was converted into a
Catholic church, and dedicated to St. Joseph.
The same year this mission at Maumee was
taken in charge by the Rev. Amadeus Rappe,
who continued to attend it until 1847. In
1846 his assistant, the Rev. Louis de Goes-
briand (afterwards Bishop of Burlington,
Vermont) was associated with Father Rappe
in the care of this mission, and after 1847 was
in exclusive charge thereof. The first resident
pastor was the Rev. Sebastian Sanner, ap-
pointed in 1849.
The City of Toledo was incorporated in the
year 1836, and was designated, the same year,
as the northern terminus of the newly-located
Wabash and Erie Canal, for which the con-
tract was let the year following. The contrac-
tors made every effort to secure laborers, and
a large number of Irish immigrants came
thither in response to the urgent invitation of
the former. Bishop Purcell, accordingly, sent
Father Emmanuel Thienpont thither from
Dayton, where the latter was then stationed,
to look after the souls of these immigrant
laborers. Father Edward Collins succeeded
him in 1838. From 1839 to 1841 Toledo was
attended from Tiffin by the Rev. P. J. Mache-
boeuf, assistant, and the Rev. Joseph McNamee,
pastor at St. Mary's. In 1841 the first resi-
dent pastor was appointed in the person of
Rev. Amadeus Rappe.
Lower Sandusky (Fremont) was visited sev-
eral times between the years 1826 and 1831
by Bishop Fenwick, in company with the Rev.
S. T. Badin. In 1834 it was visited by Bishop
Purcell. Between the years 1834 and 1837 it
was attended by Father Tschenhens, C. SS.
R., from Peru, and also by the Rev. Emmanuel
Thienpont from Tiffin. In the year 1838,
however, Pease's Hall was rented and fitted
up as an improvised church by the Rev.
P. J. Maeheboeuf, in which use it con-
tinued until ]843. In 1841 a site was
secured on State Street. The building of a
plain frame church was begun in the fall of
1843. In the May of 1844, Father Maeheboeuf
said mass therein for the first time, although
the church was still unfinished. The mission
comprised at that time only thirty families.
From February, 1846, it was attended by the
Rev. Amadeus Rappe from Toledo, under
whom the church was completed. It was dedi-
cated to St. Ann by Bishop Purcell on June
8, 1846. In September, 1839, St. Mary's
parish, Tiffin, passed from the charge of the
Redemptorist Fathers to that of the Rev.
Joseph McNamee, who was then appointed res-
ident pastor. As the latter 's health was
somewhat poor, he was given an assistant in
the person of the Rev. Projectus J. Maehe-
boeuf. In 1845 the German Catholics at Tiffin
separated from St. Mary's to form a distinct
congregation under the title of St. Joseph's
Parish. In 1850 St. Mary's was attended by
the Sanguinist Fathers from New Riegel. In
1851 the Rev. Louis Molon, then resident pas-
tor of St. Mary's, established the parochial
school. In 1854 the location of St. Mary's
was changed to present site by the Rev.
Michael 0 'Sullivan. The old brick church,
now used as an auditorium, was begun in 1856.
It was consecrated during the second year of
the Civil War by Bishop Rappe. During the
incumbency of the present pastor, Rev. Thos.
F. Conlan, this old church has been super-
ceded by the beautiful stone structure now in
use.
In the year 1840 Bishop Purcell, accom-
panied by the Rev. John Martin Henni (after-
wards Archbishop of Milwaukee), paid another
visit to Northwestern Ohio. On this occasion
he visited Fort Findlay, in Hancock County,
Ottawa, Fort Jennings, Kalida, Glandorf, and
Lima, in Allen County, ministering every-
where to the spiritual needs of the scattered
Catholics in those localities. In the same year
two famous pioneer priests came to America
from France. Their names were Rev.
Amadeus Rappe and Rev. Louis de Goesbriand.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Bishop Purccll sent the former at once to
Chillicothe to learn English at the home of an
eminent convert in that city, Mr. Marshall
Anderson. The following year (1841) the
bishop appointed him first resident pastor of
Toledo, where he began the organization of St.
Francis de Sales', which is now the cathedral
parish of that city. Bishop Macheboeuf,
speaking in his memoirs, of the days when he
was a missionary priest in the region of the
Maumee Valley, thus describes the newly-in-
corporated town as it appeared, when Father
Rappe entered upon his pastorate: "Toledo
. . . was then a real mud hole on the banks
of the Maumee. It comprised a few frame
houses, some log cabins, swamps, ponds of
muddy water, and worse yet, a number of per-
sons sick from the Maumee fever. There were
a very few Catholic families and five or six
single men. I said mass for eight or ten per-
sons in the frame shanty of a poor Canadian.
As they knew a few families along the river
and in the country, I remained at Toledo a
few days to give them a chance to hear mass
and go to confession. But there being no
suitable house I spent some time looking for
a room large enough. I found this over a
little drug-store. As Toledo was the town
which had the best prospects for future growth
and permanency we rented that room, called
a 'hall', and made up some kind of an altar
with dry goods boxes. A few yards of colored
calico served as an antependium. In my later
visits I found a few benches and two brass
candlesticks. It was the first 'church' of good
Father Rappe, when in 1841 he was sent there
from Chillicothe."
It was in 1842, in the month of November,
that Father Rappe purchased a Presbyterian
meeting-house at the corner of Cherry and
Superior Streets, in the City of Toledo. This
he converted into a Catholic church, thus put-
ting an end to shanties, cabins, stores, and halls
as places of worship. The year 1844 saw the be-
ginnings of Catholic congregations at Delphos
in Allen County and at Defiance in Defiance
County. The Rev. John Otto Breideik was
the founder of the Catholic settlement at Del-
phos, while the Rev. Amadeus Rappe built tlir
first church (a frame structure) at Defiance
in the year 1844, upon a lot donated by Mr.
II. G. Phillips. This church was dedicated to
St. John the Evangelist. In the same year
the Sanguinist Provincial, Very Rev. Francis
de Sales Brunner established a mission at New
Washington, in Crawford County, though no
church was built there until 1846.
In 1845 Toledo was made the terminus of a
second waterway, known as the Miami and
Erie Canal. This brought thither a new in-
flux of immigrants, greatly increasing the
cares of the already overburdened pastor of
St. Francis de Sales'. He had taken up his
residence in the basement of the church. In
1845 he partitioned off a portion of this base-
ment to serve as a parochial school, which he
began in the fall of that year, with the aid of
five Notre Dame Sisters from Cincinnati.
These sisters, who had but recently come from
Namur, Belgium, to Cincinnati, fearlessly
braved the terrors of the ' ' Maumee fever, ' ' in
order to break the bread of Christian doctrine
for God's little ones. Leaving Cincinnati in
September, they embarked for Toledo on a
canal boat. On their arrival in this town,
after a tedious journey of two days and two
nights, they found Bishop Purcell and Father
Rappe on hand to welcome them to the new
and not very encouraging scene of their future
labors. Two frame houses on the corner of
Cherry and Erie streets had been purchased
to serve as an improvised convent, and here,
on the site now occupied by the present Ursu-
line Convent, these Notre Dame Sisters took
up their residence. But the insupportable
climatic conditions and the ravages of disease
gradually undermined their health. One novice
and one sister died of the fatal "Maumee
fever." The name of the latter, whose re-
mains still rest in the old St. Francis de Sales'
318
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Cemetery, was in religion Sister Xavier. Dis-
mayed at these untoward results, the Superior-
ess at Cincinnati withdrew her sisters from
Toledo in July, 1848. Four years later their
place was taken by the present Ursuline com-
munity, which came to Toledo from Cleveland
on December 12, 1854, and took possession of
the property vacated by the Notre Dame Sis-
ters of Namur.
Between 1838 and 1846 the "Maumee fever"
raged with fatal virulence throughout the
Maumee Valley, taking fearful toll of life
among the unfortunate immigrants engaged
in the construction of the canals and other
forms of labor, and greatly checking the
hitherto promising growth of the new town of
Toledo. Bishop de Goesbriand, in his "Recol-
lections", thus pictures the ravages wrought
by the climate and various epidemics in that
unsanitary locality, during the years 1846 and
1847, when he was acting as assistant to the
Rev. Amadeus Rappe : ' ' The Maumee Valley
at this time was literally a land which
devoured its inhabitants. The Maumee
fever spared no one; the disease slowly but
surely undermined the strongest constitutions,
and there was not an old man to be seen in all
that country. . . . From 1841, until the
beginning of 1846, Father Rappe attended
alone to the spiritual wants of the Catholics
living along the Maumee Canal and River,
from Toledo to Indiana, and as far south as
Section Ten, in Putnam County. His labors
and privations must have been extraordinary.
. . . One priest could not attend to all the
work, and it was in January, 1846, that I came
to Toledo by direction of the bishop of Cin-
cinnati. ... At certain seasons it was
impossible to meet one healthy-looking person,
and frequently entire families were sick and
unable to help one another. Apart from the
terrible fever, we were occasionally visited by
such epidemics as erysipelas, and towards the
end of 1847 we saw the ship-fever-stricken im-
migrants land on the docks to die among
strangers after a few hours. ' '
At Poplar Ridge (now New Bavaria), in
Henry County, Father Rappe had established
a station as early as 1843, which he continued
to attend from Toledo until the spring of
1847, when he was relieved of this charge by
his assistant Rev. Louis de Goesbriand. The
latter purchased the present church grounds
in September, 1847, and built thereon a log
chapel. Poplar Ridge continued as a mission
of St. Francis de Sales' Church, Toledo, until
1850. After that it was attended from St.
John 's, Defiance. It became a separate parish
in 1861.
On April 23, 1847, the northern coun-
ties of the State of Ohio were detached
from the Diocese of Cincinnati to form the
new Diocese of Cleveland. The Rev. Amadeus
Rappe, then pastor of St. Francis de Sales,
was appointed its first bishop, and was conse-
crated at Cincinnati by Bishop Purcell on
October 10, 1847. These events mark the close
of the Second or Pioneer Period in the history
of Catholicity in Northwest Ohio, and the com-
mencement of the Third, or Middle Period.
Henceforth the growth of the Catholic church
in this region is so rapid, the events so crowded
and their sequence so complicated, that we can
give, in a sketch of this size, only the outstand-
ing features and more conspicuous events.
St. Rose's Congregation, Perrysburg, Wood
County, dates from 1861. The year following
its establishment a Universalist Church in
that town was purchased and furnished as a
Catholic place of worship. It was attended
from Maumee, until the congregation received
its first resident pastor, Rev. Charles Griss,
who was appointed by Bishop Rappe in 1865.
The growth of Catholicity was especially no-
ticeable in Toledo. The rapid increase of the
Catholic population was greatly promoted by
a steady influx of Poles and Hungarians after
1870. In the fall of 1874 the Rev. V. Lewan-
dowski came thither from Poland, and set
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
319
about organizing a parish. In January, 1876,
property was acquired and the congregation
of St. Hed wig's organized. There are at pres-
ent in the City of Toledo four Polish parishes,
each possessing its parochial school ; one Hun-
garian parish (St. Stephen's) with its paro-
chial school ; and one Slovak congregation.
Besides these there are two other Polish
parishes in Northwestern Ohio, namely
St. Mary Magdalene's Parish, Rossford, and
the recently-erected St. Casimir's Parish at
Fremont, in Sandusky County. Among the
priests prominent in Toledo during this period
of development were : the Rt. Rev. F. M. Boff,
who became pastor of St. Francis de Sales'
in 1859, who in 1872 was made Vicar-
General of Cleveland, and who held the
unique distinction of having served as ad-
ministrator of that diocese not less than
six times in a period of forty years. Father
Edward Hanin, who organized St. Pat-
rick's Parish, Toledo, in 1862, who was ad-
ministrator of the Diocese of Cleveland from
the resignation of Bishop Rappe to the ap-
pointment of Bishop Gilmour, and who in his
old age erected the present splendid Gothic
edifice of St. Patrick's, Toledo, one of the fin-
est church buildings of the Middle West ; and
the Rev. Patrick F. Quigley, of St. Francis
de Sales parish, an ardent advocate and de-
fender of the Parochial Schools.
The bishops of Cleveland, who presided over
Northern Ohio during the third or middle
period were: the Rt. Rev. Amadeus Rappe,
who organized the Diocese of Cleveland and
established its diocesan seminary ; Bishop
Richard Gilmour, D. D., whose splendid and
efficient work in behalf of the Catholic Paro-
chial School has made him a figure of national
prominence ; Rt. Rev. Ignatius F. Horstmann,
D. D., who, when appointed Bishop of Cleve-
land, was chancellor of the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia. With the death of this last pre-
late the Third or Middle Period comes to its
conclusion, and the Fourth or Present Period
in the history of the Catholic Church of North-
western Ohio begins. Toledo had now some
twenty parishes within its limits.
The commercial advantages of the city and
the numerical strength of its Catholic popula-
tion had long since attracted attention to
Toledo; and, on the demise of Bishop Horst-
mann, the bishops of the Province of Cincin-
nati recommended to the Holy See the division
of the Diocese of Cleveland. Their petition
was favorably considered, and Toledo was
named the seat of the new diocese, and St.
Francis de Sales' designated as its cathedral
church. Rt. Rev. John P. Farrelly, D. D., who
had been consecrated Bishop of Cleveland, was
appointed temporary administrator. Rt. Rev.
Bishop Schrembs, who was appointed first
bishop, was born at Wuzelhofen, near Ratis-
bon, Bavaria, March 12, 1866. He came to the
United States in 1877. He completed his
course of humanities when but sixteen years
of age at St. Vincent's College, near Pitts-
burgh. After a few years spent in teaching, he
was accepted by Bishop Richter as a student
for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, and entered
the Seminary ef Montreal in 1884. On June
29, 1889, Rev. Joseph Schrembs was ordained
priest in the Cathedral of Grand Rapids. He
was successively assistant and pastor of St.
Mary 's Church, West Bay City, and was trans-
ferred to St. Mary's, Grand Rapids, in Octo-
ber, 1900. In 1903 he was appointed vicar
general of the diocese, and was named Do-
mestic Prelate, January, 1906. Meanwhile he
had brought about the establishment of a Cath-
olic High School at Grand Rapids. On Febru-
ary 22, 1911, he was consecrated titular Bishop
of Sophene and auxiliary to the Bishop of
Grand Rapids. He at once espoused the cause
of workmen in their difficulties with their em-
ployers in the furniture factories, skilfully
averted a panic, and contributed much towards
bringing about an agreement. On August 11,
1911. he was transferred to the See of Toledo.
A notable demonstration marked his entry into
:J2()
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the city on Sunday, October 1, and on October
4 he was installed in the cathedral church.
The new Diocese of Toledo, erected April
15, 1910, comprises sixteen counties of North-
west Ohio, namely Crawford, Wyandot, Han-
cock, Allen, and Van Wert counties, and ter-
ritory west of the eastern boundaries of
Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca and Crawford
counties. Bishop Schrembs has proved him-
self an organizer of great ability, and, under
his administration, Catholicity during the last
five years has made remarkable progress in
Northwestern Ohio. The following statistics,
taken from the latest (1917) issue of the
"Catholic Directory," indicate not only the
flourishing condition of the new Diocese of
Toledo but also the unimpeded development
in a religious way of that vast territory which,
for a more correct history, we have been forced
to consider:
Bishop i
Priests 163
Seminarians . 34
College (Boys) , j
Academies (Girls) 3
Parish Schools .74
(Pupils, 16,242)
Orphanages
(Inmates, 447)
Hospitals 2
Homes for Aged 2
Catholic Population of Diocese 106,715
The estimate of population is very conserva-
tive and, if anything, short of the actual num-
ber of Catholics in the sixteen counties enumer-
ated. Under the direction and influence of an
energetic bishop the steady increase in parishes,
schools and institutions for the relief of suffer-
ing humanity is above the ratio of advance in
the general census; and, with the City of
Toledo destined by its natural and relative
position to become one of the great municipal
centers of the United States, it needs no pro-
phetic vision to disclose a prospect in North-
west Ohio as fair as any that awaits the most
renowned of the territorial jurisdictions of the
Catholic Church in America.
CHAPTER XXVII
EDUCATIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONS
Northwest Ohio has not lagged behind the
rest of the state in providing opportunities for
the youth to secure higher education than
that provided by the public schools. In this
respect the various religious denominations
here, as elsewhere, have led the way. There
is one municipal university and one normal
school in this section of our state, but all
of the other institutions for higher learning
are under the control of one of the many
religious denominations found in our midst.
This is only natural and as it should be. Re-
ligion and education have always gone hand
in hand. It has ever been the province of
religion to unshackle the mind as well as the
body. To develop the intellect, therefore, and
to endeavor to lead the youth to a higher
standard of thinking and living is the lofty
duty that has been assumed by all religious
bodies.
HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY
The oldest educational institution of North-
west Ohio is Heidelberg University, located at
Tiffin. It dates back from the middle of the
nineteenth century, a period in which many
of our leading denominational schools of Ohio
were established. At that time the Ohio
Synod of the Reformed Church deemed itself
strong enough to support a college of its own.
In 1848, an offer was made to establish a col-
lege in Columbus, but the movement was
afterwards transferred to Tarlton. The cit-
izens of that village became deeply interested
in the proposition, and ten acres of ground,
together with a liberal cash subscription, were
Vol. I— 21
donated ; but the Town of Tarlton as the loca-
tion for a classical school and theological
seminary did not appeal to the church in gen-
eral. It seemed to many that Northwestern
Ohio offered the most promising opportunity
and the widest field for an educational center.
Through the active efforts of the members
in Seneca County, where the Reformed Church
was one of the leading and strongest denomi-
nations, a favorable proposition was made by
the citizens of Tiffin which was presented to
the committee of the Ohio Synod at Navarre,
in September, 1850. At this synod it was
decided to accept the offer of the citizens of
Tiffin, and locate both the college and the
seminary in that town. The name of Heidel-
berg is said to have been adopted upon the
suggestion of Rev. Henry Williard. Work
was promptly begun in Tiffin, on the 18th of
November, 1850, in rooms rented for the pur-
pose, and with an enrollment of only seven
students. Before the close of the first year,
this number had increased to 149. The head
master of the school was Prof. Reuben Good,
and with him was associated Rev. J. H. Good,
who was also editor of some of the church
publications. Rev. S. S. Rickly, who taught
in the public schools of Tiffin, having fol-
lowed the college there, also deserves honor-
able mention for the work he rendered the
growing institution, almost without compen-
sation. The college campus consisting of five
acres was purchased from Josiah Hedges, and
was conveyed to the president and board of
trustees for the sum of $1,000. The corner-
stone of the first building was laid by Maj.
Louis Baltzell, president of the board of
321
322
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
trustees, and it was completed in 1853. It
contained not only the recitation rooms, but
dormitory accommodations for the men as
well. At that time comparatively few people
lived in the eastern part of the town, and a
dense forest stretched for miles in all direc-
tions save one. During a rainy day the streets
on "College Hill" were almost impassable,
since no walks had as yet been constructed.
The campus has since been enlarged to more
than twenty acres by gift and purchase of
lands adjoining the original acquisition. A
number of splendid buildings have been added
to the equipment of Heidelberg, so that now
there are ten in all. In 1871 a president's
residence was erected, and two years later a
three-story boarding-hall was constructed.
The large university hall at the intersection
of East Market and West Perry streets was
dedicated in June, 1886. The gymnasium,
containing also the museum, was completed
in the fall of 1893. Williard Hall, named in
honor of Rev. Dr. Geo. Williard, a former
president, a hall of residence for the women,
was dedicated in 1907. Miss Jane Addams,
America's most famous woman, delivered the
address of dedication. Since then there have
been erected on the campus the new Carnegie
Library through the generosity of Andrew
Carnegie ; the new Science Hall, which is the
splendid gift of Mrs. Delia Shawhan Laird;
and Keller Cottage, the gift of Miss Sarah
J. Keller.
In the earlier history of Heidelberg College,
the study and use of the German language
received particular attention. A chair of
German and German literature was estab-
lished by the Ohio Synod, and the Goethean
Literary Society was organized, in which all
the proceedings were conducted in the Ger-
man language. The purpose of this depart-
ment was to train young men for service in
the Reformed Church in the Middle West,
where many of the members still use the Teu-
tonic tongue. As a result, many young men
came to Heidelberg from the territory of the
German synods, and from German and Swiss
homes. A large part of the library likewise
consisted of classical and theological German
works. During the presidency of Rev. Dr.
Williard a change was gradually made with
reference to the German language. Greater
prominence was given to the use of English
in all departments, and as a result the influx
of German students lessened.
By action of the board of trustees in 1890,
the charter of the institution was changed
from Heidelberg College to Heidelberg Uni-
versity. A movement began at once, which
had for its slogan a "Greater Heidelberg."
Friends came to the help of the institution.
Rev. Dr. John A. Peters became president and
served eleven years. Rev. Dr. Charles E. Mil-
ler has been at the head of the institution
since the year 1902. Heidelberg Theological
Seminary was located side by side with the
college in 1850. During all the years down
to 1908 this institution had a generous body
of students, and graduated many men to the
ministry for service in the Reformed Church.
By that time, however, the Ursinus School in
Philadelphia found it necessary to withdraw
from Philadelphia, and then it was decided
to consolidate the Ursinus and the Heidelberg
seminaries into one institution. This was
done, and the combined school was located at
Dayton. This removal did not in any way
effect Heidelberg University, which has gone
forward in an ever increasing field of useful-
ness, and with a large body of students drawn
from the very best homes in Northwestern
Ohio and other sections of our country. The
faculty now numbers more than thirty teach-
ers and professors.
OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY
In tne latter part of the '60s, Henry S.
Lehr, a young pedagogue from Eastern Ohio,
wended his way westward to the Village of
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
323
Johnstown, now called Ada. He secured em-
ployment as a teacher in the Union Schools,
but almost from the very first also maintained
a private normal school. It was on April 9,
1866, that Mr. Lehr began what proved to be
his life work. His particular methods of
instruction, his spirit of enthusiasm and help-
fulness, his keen appreciation of the practical
in education, brought many students and
prospective teachers under his instruction.
He dreamed of founding a great normal
school, in which plainness and inexpensiveness
should be one of the dominent characteristics,
and toward this end he directed his untiring
energy. His thought ended at last in action,
and assumed a definite form in the year
1870-71. A large three-story brick building
was erected in the latter year through public
subscription, and the Northwestern Ohio Nor-
mal School was formally opened, "for the
instruction and training of teachers in the
science of education, the art of teaching, and
the best methods of governing schools. ' ' When
the first catalogue was issued, in 1871, it
showed only two instructors in addition to the
president. These were J. G. Park and B. F.
Niesz. Professor Lehr taught thirteen classes,
beginning at 4 A. M.
In the fall of 1875 the Northwestern Nor-
mal, which had been established in Fostoria,
was consolidated with this institution. The
curriculum was also gradually broadened, and
new department schools were added. In 1885
the name of the school was changed to the
Ohio Normal University, but the plan and
management, and principles and methods in
normal instruction, remained the same. New
departments still were added from time to
time. It remained under private manage-
ment until September, 1898, when the propri-
etors of the school sold it to the Central Ohio
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
for $24,000, with the proviso that Professor
Lehr remain at the head of the faculty for
three years. Dr. Leroy A. Belt was made
president of the board of conference trustees.
With the new administration a change in the
several departmental schools and their plan
of control followed. The institution was then
chartered under the name of the Ohio North-
ern University, thus preserving the old initials
—0. N. U. The university possesses a tract
of land, less than two blocks from the campus,
containing sixty acres of rich productive soil
under cultivation. Upon this it is intended to
erect buildings for a college of agriculture at
some time in the future. Here it is planned to
train young men and women in practical agri-
culture, and to show them how independence,
culture, social development, and a free life
may be realized in the rural districts as well
as in the city. Rev. Leroy A. Belt was elected
the first president of the university under the
new control. Rev. Albert E. Smith followed
him in 1905, and is still the head of the insti-
tution. Many improvements have been made,
and the faculty now comprises some thirty
professors and instructors. On the campus
still stands the old Normal Hall, endeared to
so many students in the early and struggling
days of the institution. In 1915 the new Lehr
Memorial Building was erected, which is a
great and much needed addition to the equip-
ment of the institution. From the halls of
0. N. U. have gone forth hundreds of young
men and young women, who will be found in
all walks of life. In the political life of the
state her sons will be found in every depart-
ment. In the ranks of the teaching profession,
her graduates will be found occupying posi-
tions in the front ranks. In every way the
Ohio Northern University is one of the best
known educational institutions in our state,
and few have a greater body of former stu-
dents scattered over our commonwealth.
TOLEDO UNIVERSITY
Toledo University had its inception in a gift
by Jessup W. Scott and Susan Scott, his wife,
324
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
in 1872, of 160 acres of land located at Adams
Township, adjacent to the city, to the "Toledo
University of Arts and Trades," an incorpo-
ration created for that purpose. ' ' Estimated
in value at $80,000 in trust for the promotion
of education in the Arts and Trades and re-
lated Science, in addition to what is furnished
by the public Schools of the City," is the re-
cital in the deed of gift. The design of the
donors is as follows : "To establish an institu-
tion for the promotion of knowledge in the
Arts and Trades and the related Sciences, by
means of lectures and oral instruction; of
models and representative works of arts ; of
cabinets of minerals ; of museums, instructive
of the mechanic arts; and of whatsoever else
may serve to furnish Artists and Artisans
with the best facilities for a high culture in
their respective occupations, in addition to
what are furnished by the Public Schools of
the City. Also, to furnish instruction in the
use of phonographic characters, and to aid
their introduction into more general use, by
writing and printing. And also, to encourage
health giving, invigorating recreations."
The original trustees of the proposed insti-
tution, as named by the deed, were Jessup W.
Scott, William H. Scott, Frank J. Scott,
Maurice A. Scott, Richard Mott, Sarah R. L.
Williams, William H. Raymond, Albert E.
Macomber, Charles W. Hill, and ex-officio,
the mayor and the superintendent of the
schools of Toledo, and the governor of the
State of Ohio. By a subsequent amendatory
deed the Toledo University of Arts and Trades
was released from some of the original condi-
tions imposed in the first deed, so that the
trust fund might be used to advance educa-
tion in the arts and trades, in connection with
any municipal or state fund or system of pub-
lic education. After the death of Jessup W.
Scott, in 1874, his widow and their three sons
carried out the known wishes of their father
by executing a joint conveyance to the trustees
of the university of real property in the city
estimated to be worth $50,000.
The first school was opened in a building at
the corner of Adams and Tenth streets, which
was known as Raymond Hall, and was pur-
chased with funds donated by William H.
Raymond. For a number of years the institu-
tion was conducted as a separate school. In
1884 the trustees of Toledo University of Arts
and Trades resolved to make and tender the
entire university property to the City of To-
ledo, on condition that the municipality would
assume the trust. The property was formally
presented to the common council and accepted
by a resolution adopted a few weeks later, by
which "Toledo University" was established.
The inauguration of the Manual Training
School followed, and a small tax was levied for
its support. In 1885 the trustees succeeded
in disposing of some of the property given it,
and with the proceeds erected a wing at the
east end of the high school building, which was
known as the Scott Manual Training School.
This building was formally opened at an edu-
cational convention held on the 4th and 5th
of December, 1885, at which many prominent
speakers of national reputation were present
and delivered addresses. Here instruction
was given in various trades, and afterwards
a domestic science department was added, as
it was felt that girls should have the same
privileges of special instructions as the boys.
A number of years after the establishment
and successful operation of the Scott Manual
Training School, the board of trustees decided
that the bequest was intended for the estab-
lishment of a real university, and at once
began to lay their plans on this line. Long
and expensive litigation followed between the
trustees of the university, the members of the
board of education, and the city council. The
result of this litigation in the end was all in
favor of the trustees of the university. They
succeeded in having their title to the Scott
bequest, and one or two other gifts that had
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
been made, established, and the board of edu-
cation was compelled to recognize their claims.
As ji result, the board of education purchased
the building formerly occupied by the school
upon payment of a small sum of money and
the deed to the trustees of the old Illinois
public school building, located on Illinois
Street. Since that time this building has been
the home of this university. The city council
first recognized the institution as a municipal
university in 1909, when a small levy yielding
$2,500 was granted for the use of the board
upon the general duplicate of the city. The
aggressive policy of the trustees of the uni-
versity succeeded in winning public support,
until the annual appropriation has been raised
to more than $100,000. The old Toledo Med-
ical College, which had been in existence for
many years, was united with the university
and made a part of it, as was also the Toledo
Conservatory of Music, a private institution
which had been running for a number of
years. Other departments have been added,
until now there are a number of schools united
with Toledo University. It is at the present
time one of the very few municipal universi-
ties within the United States, of which the
most conspicuous example is the University
of Cincinnati. It is chartered by the Legis-
lature to grant all the collegiate degrees
which any institution is permitted to confer.
A. Monroe Stowe is the president of the in-
stitution at the present time.
FINDLAY COLLEGE
Among the more recent additions to the
higher educational institutions of Northwest
Ohio is Findlay College. It is under the
auspices of the Church of God. While the
establishment of a college by this denomina-
tion had been contemplated for many years,
the initial movement looking to that end took
definite shape in a resolution introduced at
the General Eldership, held at Findlay in
1881. That body authorized the Comniitt<-.-
on Education to take the proper steps to form
an incorporation, and to select a location for
the proposed institution. Findlay was chosen
as the most appropriate site for the college,
and on January 23, 1882, articles of incorpo-
ration were filed with the secretary of state
for "Findlay College," which was the name
adopted. The incorporators were Jeremiah
M. Carvell, Robert L. Byrnes, Isaac Schrader,
Tobias Koegle, Jacob M. Cassel, Anderson C.
Heck, John C. Strickler, and George F. Pen-
dleton, the four last mentioned being citizens
of Hancock County. February 8, 1882, the
articles of incorporation were signed, and the
board of trustees organized by electing Isaac
Frazer as its president. Eli G. De Wolfe was
chosen secretary, and E. P. Jones, the treas-
urer. The first annual meeting of the board
was held at Findlay, on June 21, 1882, when
a permanent organization was effected.
The site selected for Findlay College was
a ten-acre tract lying about one mile north
of the courthouse, situated on the west side
of Main Street, and surrounded on all sides
by streets of generous width. This ground
was deeded to the Findlay College, on June
23, 1882, the same being paid for by private
donations from the people in that vicinity.
On the 18th of October. 1882, the board met
for the purpose of considering plans for a
college building. Tho architect was directed
to prepare complete plans and specifications
and sealed proposals for the erection of the
main building. The contract was finally let
June 20, 1883. On Sunday, the 25th day of
May, 1884, the corner stone was laid with
imposing ceremonies, in the presence of a large
number of people. The college was not com-
pleted until late in the year 1886, but not-
withstanding this fact the college was opened
Wednesday, September 1, 1886, with very
appropriate ceremony, and started off with
nearly 100 pupils enrolled. This institution
of education is now considered one of the
326
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
efficient colleges in the state, and is equipped
with an excellent staff of instructors. Dr.
William Harris Guyor has served as president
of Findlay College since May, 1913.
BLUFFTON COLLEGE AND MENNONITE
SEMINARY
One of the many educational institutions
in Northwestern Ohio that deserves special
attention is Bluffton College and Mennonite
Seminary, located at Bluffton. Under the
present name the institution is comparatively
new, having been established under this title
and board of management only since January,
1914. It is the outgrowth of the older Cen-
tral Mennonite College of Bluffton, however,
which has a goodly list of alumni and former
students. It is a standard college in the schol-
astic sense of that term, with faculty, endow-
ment, buildings, and all the facilities required
leading up to the generally recognized degrees
of the bachelor and master grades. As now
organized, the institution is recognized by and
is officially a higher school of learning for the
various branches of the Mennonite Church in
America, including the Old Mennonite,
General Conference of Mennonite, Mennonite
Brethren in Christ, Central Illinois Conference
of Mennonite, Defenseless Mennonite, and any
other branches of the church that may wish
to co-operate. The old Central Mennonite
College was founded by the Middle District
Conference of Mennonites. The matter had
been discussed for a number of years, and the
subject took definite shape as early as 1894. In
1898 Bluffton was decided upon as the loca-
tion for such a school, and a board of nine
trustees was elected. In 1899, a constitution
was adopted, and the trustees were authorized
to erect necessary buildings and make prepa-
rations for opening the school. The corner-
stone of the original building was laid on the
19th of June, 1900, and the building was dedi-
cated in the same year. The school was
opened November 5th, with an enrollment of
twenty students, 'but courses only in the
academic, normal, music, and commercial
departments were given during the first year.
The first college work was done in the winter
of 1903, and the first course in the Bible
School was opened in the fall of 1904. In
1911, a department of agriculture was estab-
lished and also a department of art.
The movement leading up to the present
college organization was started by the lead-
ers in education work of the several branches
of the Mennonite Church. It was decided that
the success of the undertaking could be best
accomplished by the co-operation of a num-
ber of branches of the church. At a meeting
held at Warsaw, Indiana, May 29, 1913, at-
tended by representatives of the Mennonite
Brethren in Christ, the Defenseless Mennon-
ites, the Central Illinois Conference of Men-
nonites, the Old Mennonites, and the General
Conference Mennonites, the following resolu-
tion was passed : ' ' Resolved that it is the sense
of this meeting that an institution be estab-
lished, representing the various branches of
the Mennpnite church, giving the under-grad-
uate and the graduate work of a standard col-
lege (courses leading to the A. B. and A. H.
degrees), the theological and Biblical work
of a standard seminary and courses in music
aiming at the thorough development of the
musical ability of our people and meeting the
needs of our churches." At that meeting a
board of fifteen directors was appointed, three
from each of the Mennonite bodies repre-
sented.
The board at a subsequent meeting unani-
mously decided that the proposed school
should be established in connection with Bluff-
ton College, at Bluffton. The name adopted
was Bluffton College and Mennonite Semi-
nary. In 1914, the Central Mennonite Col-
lege was formally transferred and became
the Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary.
Since then other buildings have been added
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to the campus, which comprises a tract of
rolling land of thirty acres, covered in places
with a natural forest of oak, elm, beech, buck-
eye, maple and other trees. The picturesque
feature of the grounds is the little stream
known as Riley Creek. Bluff ton College and
Mennonite Seminary started with the equip-
ment of the old Central College. The build-
ings comprised a College Hall, a three-story
building, including the chapel ; Science Hall,
a four-story structure, devoted largely to agri-
cultural science laboratories, and domestic
science department ; Ropp Hall is also a four-
story building, the two upper floors being
used as a women 's dormitory, the second floor
as reception and other rooms, while the first
floor and basement comprise the dining hall
and kitchen. There is also a men's dormitory
and music hall.
ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY
The Roman Catholic Church maintains
several institutions of learning in Northwest
Ohio, but the only one of collegiate rank is
St. John's University, at Toledo. Since its
founding more than fifteen years ago, St.
John's University has more than justified in
its proofs and results as a school of higher
training for Catholic youth the expectations
of its promoters. It is now one of the lead-
ing Catholic schools and academies of the
State of Ohio. It is under the direction of
the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, and its
president is Rev. John A. Weiand, S. J. Its
doors were first opened to students in Sep-
tember, 1898. It was incorporated May 22,
1900, as St. John's College, but subsequently
the original charter was amended and the
purposes of the institution were extended.
This amended charter went into effect August
29, 1903, and the name was changed to St.
John's University. At the same time the
power of granting the various degrees granted
by similar colleges and institutions of the
United States was ratified by the secretary
of state.
At the present time St. John's College,
whose buildings ;md r,-iininis ;nv on Superior
Street near Walnut, in the City of Toledo,
offers a number of courses, and has splendid
facilities for carrying out its work. The de-
partments are academic, a higher school of
commerce, and a full collegiate department.
It also maintains a law department which
offers a full course leading to the degree of
bachelor of laws. The college library is a
choice collection of more than 2,500 volumes,
all accessible to the students free of charge.
Another special feature of the University is a
well-equipped meteorological observatory.
DEFIANCE COLLEGE
The beginning of an institution for higher
learning at Defiance dates from the year 1850,
when the Defiance Female Seminary was
incorporated by an act of the General As-
sembly of Ohio. This act provided that the
trustees might select two full sections of un-
sold Wabash and Erie and Miami and Erie
Canal lands in Defiance and Paulding coun-
ties, the funds arising from their sale to be
used in establishing the proposed institution.
This land was sold and, together with other
small donations, was permitted to accumulate
until 1884, when a larger three-story building
was erected on a well-wooded campus about a
mile north of old Fort Defiance. There seems
to have been no definite plan at this time for
the building, and its equipments were leased
to various persons who conducted schools of
varied types and with varying degrees of
success. This institution was locally known
at that time as Defiance College, although its
charter had never been changed.
Under the presidency of Dr. John R. H.
Latchaw, an effort was made to interest the
Christian Church in the educational oppor-
tunity at Defiance, with the view that the in-
328
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
stitution might be turned over to that
denomination. Upon the resignation of
Doctor Latchaw, the trustees of the Defiance
Female Seminary felt that something should
be done immediately. Through Professor Mc-
Reynolds, dean of the college, a proposition
was made to the Ohio State Christian Associa-
tion, in 1902, offering to transfer the owner-
ship and control of the institution to that
association, if an endowment of $30,000 was
raised, one-third of which was subscribed by
citizens of Defiance. Professor McReynolds
was elected president of the existing institu-
tion, and the building with its equipment was
leased to him, while an effort was being made
by the Ohio State Christian Association to
raise the required endowment. Within less
than a year the endowment had been raised.
The charter was amended, changing the name
to Defiance College, and opening the doors to
the students of both sexes. The original trus-
tees resigned, and the vacancies were filled by
persons acceptable to the new management.
At the time of the transfer of the college to
the Christian Church, there was but one
building, and only a small number of students.
A vigorous campaign was at once begun to
increase both the number of students and the
financial endowment. Trowbridge Hall, a
dormitory for women, was the first new build-
ing to be constructed, and it was named in
honor of Lyman P. Trowbridge, the principal
donor. A year after its completion this build-
ing was seriously damaged by fire, but was
quickly restored and almost doubled in size.
In 1907 a movement was inaugurated to
move the Christian Biblical Institute, a theo-
logical institution of the Christian Church
located at Stanfordville, New York, to the
campus of Defiance College. This institution-
had a long and honorable history, but was
somewhat removed from the center of the
activity of that church. The removal was
made in September, 1907, and a new building,
called Weston Hall, was erected in the fol-
lowing year for its accommodation. This
building provided an auditorium and gym-
nasium, and a Y. M. C. A. hall. The two
institutions co-operated in their work, and
students were permitted to carry work in
both. In 1910 the association of the two in-
stitutions was made still closer by the election
of President McReynolds as the head of both
institutions, succeeding the venerable Dr. John
B. Weston, who had been president of the
institute for many years.
Since the establishment of Defiance College
at Defiance, there have been many additions
to its endowment and also to its working force.
The Sutphen Memorial Home for the presi-
dent stands as a memorial to Judge Silas T.
Sutphen, who contributed largely of his time
and influence during his life. The funds for
the erection of this home were donated by his
heirs. The largest gift in the history of the
institution was received in 1909 from Mrs.
Ardella B. Engle, who endowed the Anna B.
Sisson Chair of Presidency as a memorial to
her sister. Sisson Hall, which is the most
attractive building on the campus, also stands
as a memorial to this giver. It is a dormitory
for men. Fortunately for Defiance College,
its growth and advance has been the result of
the co-operation of many persons of limited
means, rather than a few who have been able
to give princely sums. Whenever pressing
needs have become manifest, some one has
arisen with the spirit of giving and ability to
provide sufficient means to meet this need.
The board of trustees of the Francis Asbury
Palmer Fund have made generous appropria-
tions toward the current expense fund for a
number of years. Dr. Chas. E. Slocum con-
tributed to the college a large collection of
specimens valuable to geologists, biologists,
and antiquarians. These have been placed in
a special room prepared for the purpose.
The Christian Biblical Institute and De-
fiance College were formally merged in a new
corporation under the latter name, in June,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
329
1916. Seven of the trustees are named by the
Ohio State Christian Association, and an equal
number are designated by the American
Christian Convention, the highest corporate
body of the Christian Church in the United
States and Canada. The endowment funds
formerly held by the Christian Biblical Insti-
tute are kept intact to further the work of
the Divinity School. The growth of Defiance
College has been steady and permanent in
character. Whereas in 1902 there were only
thirty-three students, the annual enrollment
now exceeds 600. During the same period the
faculty has grown from four to more than
two score. In place of one dilapidated build-
ing, there are now five splendid and well
equipped buildings on the campus, with an-
other, to be known as Tenzer Science Hall, to
be erected immediately. The institution has
ever emphasized the importance of high in-
tellectual standing, of wholesome Christian
ideals, with careful guarding of the student
discipline, and with the purpose of making it
possible for the student of moderate means to
secure a college training.
I
STATE NORMAL COLLEGE
A few years ago the educational authorities
of Ohio felt the serious need of improving the
public school system of the state. As one step
in the solution of this problem, it was decided
to establish normal schools for the training of
teachers. In 1910 the General Assembly
passed an act authorizing the governor to
appoint a commission to locate two normal
schools in the state. One of these was to be
situated in Northeast Ohio, and the other in
Northwest Ohio. After viewing a number of
prospective sites, the commission appointed
for this purpose chose Bowling Green as the
location of the school for Northwest Ohio. A
board of trustees was appointed by the gov-
ernor, which was organized on the 30th of
June, 1911, and a few months later Prof. H.
B. Williams was elected the president of the
college.
The campus of the State Normal College, at
Bowling Green, contains 82y2 acres, ami
affords ample space for agricultural experi-
ments, school gardens, and nature study ex-
cursions. The buildings are not far from the
center of the city and are easily accessible.
A general building plan was at once adopted
by the board of trustees, and the first build-
ing to be erected was the administration
building, which includes an auditorium, a
gymnasium, and the offices, and is the central
feature. The next appropriation from the
state was devoted to the construction of a
dormitory for women, a science building, and
a heating plant, and a later appropriation was
made for the erection of a training school
building.
The State Normal College was opened in
temporary quarters on the 15th of Septem-
ber, 1914, with a faculty of fifteen members,
including four critic teachers. The dormi-
tory for women, with accommodation for 100,
was opened at the beginning of the summer
session of June, 1915, but the administration
building was not completed until September
of that year, and the heating plant was ready
for service in that autumn. The science
building was ready for occupancy in 1916,
and affords every modern convenience for the
teaching of agriculture, science, and indus-
trial arts. The training school building was
begun in the same year, but not completed
until 1917. This is to be a model elementary
school building, provided with all the equip-
ment for the newer school activities. With
this equipment the school is prepared to oc-
cupy the field for which it was created by the
General Assembly. The initial enrollment of
the normal college was 158, and during the
first year more than 300 students took ad-
vantage of the opportunities offered by the
institution. Since then the enrollment has
increased very largely, and for the year 1915-
330
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1916 more than 400 students were enrolled in
the regular classes, with a graduating class of
fifty-one, and the summer school had upon its
rolls more than 600 students. In addition to
this there are large extension classes of non-
resident students, in which teachers of this
section of the state are taking instructions
under the college faculty. To take care of
the increased duties, the faculty has been
doubled. A number of different courses are
conducted. Among these are a one-year pro-
fessional course for college graduates, a four-
year course leading to the Bachelor of Science
in Education degree, the only degree con-
ferred, a two-year diploma course for grade
teachers in city and village schools, a two-
year diploma course for rural districts, and
a two-year diploma course for teachers in
agriculture, industrial arts, home economics,
and music. Three model rural schools are
maintained by the normal college for student
teaching and observation. These are at Bowl-
ing Green, West Hope in Henry County, and
at Wapakoneta. It is intended to add addi-
tional ones at other places.
TOLEDO STATE HOSPITAL
The state institution for the insane at
Toledo is famous among similar institutions
in the country, because of the novel lines upon
which it was constructed. It was in 1883 that
the urgent necessity for an additional hospital
for the accommodation of insane patients was
deemed necessary, because there were at least
100 of these unfortunates who were detained
in the jails and county infirmaries of the state,
since the regular hospitals for their treatment
and detention were already overflowing. At
that time advanced thinkers were beginning to
agitate a more humane treatment for the in-
sane, in which there would be less restraint
than had heretofore been accorded them. It
was also believed that the administration and
upkeep could be greatly reduced. Charles
Foster, then governor of Ohio, became greatly
interested in the subject of public charities,
and became convinced that an insane hospital,
built on the cottage plan, would be preferable
to the older system. In April, 1883, the Ohio
Legislature provided for a commission whose
duty it was to decide upon a plan by which
additional provision for accommodation and
care of the insane should be made. In this
act it was provided that 650 patients should
be accommodated.
The commission was composed of Governor
Foster, General Brinkerhoff, Secretary of
State Newman, Auditor Ogilvie, and Attor-
ney-General Hollingsworth. Doctor Byers,
of the Board of State Charities, was made the
secretary of the commission. The location
was not fixed by the General Assembly, but,
after a careful examination of the proposed
sites, the commission decided upon Toledo. A
tract of 150 acres of land was donated by the
authorities of Lucas County, and upon this
site the hospital was located. After visiting
the Kankakee, "Illinois, and a number of other
state hospitals for the insane, the commission
decided to adopt the cottage plan. This was
to include one large dining room for males
and another one for females, as it was believed
this plan was most conducive to the success
of the new departure in treatment, as well as
in economy of operation. It was decided to
utilize 100 acres of the ground for park and
construction purposes, and to locate the build-
ings in the form of a parallelogram. In con-
struction of the buildings, it was aimed to
eliminate as far as possible the prison-like
appearance so prevalent in the older hospitals.
Kindness was to be substituted for force in
the treatment of the inmates, and amuse-
ments were provided for the patients to take
the place of restraints so far as possible. The
grounds are now ornamented with a half-
dozen small lakes, more than 1,000 trees and
shrubs, and several miles of gravel roads.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
331
They have been developed into a beautiful
park of real artistic merit.
The first board of trustees consisted of the
following members : George L. Johnson, John
W. Fuller, of the City of Toledo ; William E.
Haynes, of Fremont; John W. Nelson, of
Bryan; and Robert G. Pennington, of Tiffin.
The board proceeded with the erection of the
buildings, and the work of construction ex-
tended over about four years. It was noj
until 1888 that the hospital was opened for
the reception of patients, and several hundred
inmates were immediately admitted to its care.
Dr. Henry A. Tobey was named as the first
superintendent of the institution. From the
beginning it became manifest that the new
idea in practice for treatment of the insane
was a success, and the reputation of the Toledo
State Hospital has became world wide. The
cottage plan and modern methods of treat-
ment have illustrated their superiority over
the old method of a single large building, and
it has been proved that there is greater
economy in the matter of maintenance. The
average number of patients now accommo-
dated by the Toledo State Hospital is 1,815.
Doctor Tobey proved himself to be a man
unusually well fitted for the duties involving
upon him, and he remained in charge of the
hospital until early in the year 1906. He was
succeeded by Dr. George R. Love, who had
been assistant physician at the hospital for a
number of years under his predecessor.
Doctor Love has administered the duties de-
volving upon him as the administrative head
of so great an institution unusually well, and
the reputation of this institution for the care
of unfortunates stands in the very front rank
of similar institutions. The institution was
originally planned to accommodate 1,000
patients. In the past twenty-five years it has
practically doubled, and in the next ten years
will likely have 2,000 patients under its care.
The Toledo State Hospital takes care of all
the insane in twenty-two counties of North-
wi-stcrn Ohio.
LIMA STATE HOSPITAL FOR CRIMINAL INSANK
The erection of a hospital in the State of
Ohio for the care of insane criminals, or per-
sons of dangerous tendencies confined in other
hospitals, was definitely decided upon by an
act passed on the 2d day of April, 1906, by
the Legislature of Ohio. The statute pro-
vided for seven distinct classes to be confined
here, as follows : Persons who became insane
while in the penitentiary and state reforma-
tory; dangerous insane persons now in other
state hospitals ; persons accused of crime but
not indicted because of insanity ; persons in-
dicted but found to be insane; persons ac-
quitted because of insanity ; persons adjudged
to be insane who were previously convicted
of crime; such other insane persons as may
be directed by law.
The first step taken towards the establish-
ment of this hospital was in 1904, when an act
was passed by the General Assembly authoriz-
ing the governor to appoint a committee of
five to report a suitable site for a new hos-
pital for the insane. Although Ohio already
had five institutions for the insane, in addi-
tion to the homes for epileptics and feeble-
minded, these institutions had long been
inadequate to care for the demands constantly
being made upon them. Governor Herrick
appointed as the five members of this com-
mission the following gentlemen : A. H. Judy,
of Greenville ; Dr. A. B. Smith, of Wellington ;
Dr. E. LeFevre, of Marietta ; C. J. Manix, of
Cleveland; and Walter B. Richie, of Lima.
This commission consisted of three republicans
and two democrats. The matter was imme-
diately taken up by the energetic people of
Lima, and it was determined that the location
of the hospital would be a good thing for that
city. It was undoubtedly due to the splendid
efforts of Mr. Richie, their fellow townsman,
332
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
that the commission in its report to the Legis-
lature recommended Lima as the site for this
new hospital to be erected, in preference to
a half dozen competitors.
A short time after the act of 1904 was
passed, Governor Pattison appointed a
"Board of Commissioners for the erection of
the Lima State Hospital." The members of
this commission were Dr. John E. Russell, of
Mount Vernon ; Dr. M. F. Hussey, of Sidney ;
Judge Martin J. Burke, of Marion ; George
E. Whitney, of Marysville; Frank W. Pur-
mort, of Van Wert; and S. A. Hoskins, of
Wapakoneta. Mr. Hoskins was made chair-
man, and Mr. Whitney secretary of the com-
mission. Before the duties of the commission
were ended, Mr. Purmort and Doctor Russell
died, and Governor Harris appointed Dr.
Joseph A. Hall, of Cincinnati, and I. N. Bien,
of Van Wert, as their successors. The com-
mission visited the institution at Ionia, Michi-
gan, the one at Bridgewater, Massachusetts,
and also the New York hospitals at Mattea-
wan and Dannemore, and the St. Elizabeth
Hospital for the insane at Washington.
Almost two years were consumed by the com-
mitte in devising the best method of pro-
cedure. In the resulting plans of the com-
mission, the ' Lima institution was modeled
more upon the plan of the Matteawan Hos-
pital than any other in existence, but it is
believed that many improvements were made
over that famous institution.
The above named institutions are practi-
cally the only institutions for the specific care
of criminal insane, a matter which deserves
more consideration every year as our popula-
tion increases. Frank E. Packard, of Colum-
bus, was secured as the architect to draft the
new buildings planned. They are arranged
to surround a rectangular court, 250 by 500
feet in dimensions. Each building, or group,
to be built radiating from this court is known
as a pavilion, and each group has its own
court for the benefit of patients in that pa-
vjlion, which is used as an exercise court. The
buildings are planned to secure as much ven-
tilation and sunlight as possible. The entire
institution is built of reinforced concrete,
made in such a way that the entire group of
buildings constitute a monolith. The concrete
is faced with brick, and the entire group of
buildings is so constructed as to be absolutely
fireproof, as the use of wood has been elimi-
nated in every way possible.
The State Hospital for the Criminal Insane,
as it is known, is located on a square mile of
land, about two miles from Lima. It was
opened late in the year 1915, and in a few
months the number of patients transferred
over from other institutions numbered 700.
It has a capacity of 800, and can be extended
to accommodate 1,200 inmates. The physician
in charge at the opening was Dr. Charles H.
Clark, with Dr. John H. Berry as first assist-
ant, and Dr. William H. Bonvorn as his second
assistant. There were also sixty-two male
attendants and twenty female attendants,
with more than sixty additional men and
women employed in the various departments
of the institution.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE METROPOLIS OF NORTHWEST OHIO
No portion of Ohio Jias passed through so
many governmental changes as has that part
of Lucas County which comprises the site of
Toledo. We find that since the coming of the
European this locality has experienced a
series of mutations in sovereignty numbering
at least nineteen. The shadowy claim of
Spain was followed by an actual occupation
by France and Great Britain, and it was
included in the great Northwestern Terri-
tory for a number of years after the American
Republic was born. It has been claimed by
Michigan, was an integral part of the Terri-
tory of Indiana, and, since its inclusion in
the State of Ohio, has been included in
several county jurisdictions. It narrowly
escaped being a part of the State of Metro-
potamia, as proposed by Thomas Jefferson in
1784. Civil government for this county began
with the organization of the County of Wayne
in the proclamation of Governor St. Clair, of
the Northwestern Territory, in 1796. This
was the third county so created in that great
expanse of wilderness. It is true, however,
that for a score of years, following this procla-
mation, there was practically no such thing as
an organized civil government. When Logan
County was formed, in 1805, there was only
a semblance of civil authority, for it was
practically an Indian country over which the
officials of Logan County exercised little juris-
diction.
With all its territorial changes, Toledo is
not an old city. Compared with its namesake,
the majestic old Castillian capital on the high
banks of the Tagus, with its reminiscences of
the Moor and the Orient, the western Toledo
is still almost in its swaddling clothes. Many
of the principal events that find a place in this
narrative are within the memory of many
persons still living. Some of the citizens, now
in their ripened age, paddled canoes and
skated on the present sites of some of our
loftiest buildings. They caught frogs in the
stagnant pools that marked the spots where
great banking institutions and busy stores
now serve the citizens of the city. In the
space of the biblical three score and ten, they
have witnessed the marvellous growth of
their home town from a village of 2,000, as
it was in 1846, to a teeming community of
250,000, as it is seventy years later. In 1836
Toledo had fewer than 100 inhabitants, and
in 1850 there were barely 3,000 Toledoans.
In the next decade it increased 10,000, but
from that time the growth has been steady,
and at times very rapid. The first city direc-
tory, issued in 1858, contained only 116 pages
of names, with an average of twenty names to
a page. The total number of names was about
2,300, with a Tremainesville (West Toledo)
supplement of eighteen names.
No name is more notable among the early
settlers of this vicinity than is that of Peter
Navarre. He was born at Detroit in 1785.
With his brother Robert he erected a cabin
near the mouth of the Maumee, on the east
side of the river, and this continued to be
his residence during the greater part of his
life. He was conversant with two or three
of the Indian tongues in addition to the
Canadian French, which he spoke freely. In
his bearing he was indeed gentlemanly. In
woodcraft and Indian habits he was very
333
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HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
335
skilled, ;mtl \v;is employed for some time in
purchasing furs of the Indians for a Detroit
house. When the War of 1812 broke out, he
and his three brothers, Robert, Alexis, and
Jaquot, tendered their services to General
Hull. After the surrender of that officer, they
were paroled and at once entered upon an
active career for the United States. A reward
of $1,000 was :it one time offered for Peter's
head or scalp. He acted as a scout for General
Harrison, and he himself said that the worst
night he ever spent was as a bearer of a dis-
patch from General Harrison, then at Fort
Meigs, to Fort Stephenson, because of a great
rainfall and terrific thunderstorm. Peter and
one of his brothers also carried the dispatch
from General Harrison to Commodore Perry,
instructing him to engage the enemy's fleet
as soon as possible. He lived to a very great
age, and died in East Toledo March 20, 1874,
in his eighty-ninth year. By a special act of
Congress he was granted a pension in his late
days, which made him fairly comfortable. A
monument has been erected to his memory in
Toledo by popular subscription.
Prominent among the very early settlers
were John T. Baldwin and his family, con-
sisting of his wife, four sons, and a daughter.
They reached this valley shortly after the
close of the War of 1812. It required ten
days for the vessel 011 which they sailed to
come here from Cleveland by the way of De-
troit. They first went to the settlement below
Fort Meigs, then called "Orleans of the
North. ' ' They returned to their home in New
York after a few years, but later came back
to this vicinity, settling in an old log ware-
house at the foot of Monroe Street, in Port
Lawrence. At a later period the family re-
moved to Grassy Point, now generally known
as the "Middle Ground." Mr. Baldwin kept
very accurate accounts, and from these we
learn many things regarding the prices in
those early days. It cost $5.50 to transport
a passenger from Miami to Detroit in 1818.
Butter was worth 31*4 cents, beefsteak 10
cents, bread 12i/2 cents a loaf, and salt sold
for $8 a barrel. Originally laborers were
paid $25 per month and board, while sailors
drew the same wage.
In 1823 there was, according to Mr. Bald-
win's son, two log warehouses at the foot of
Monroe Street, a small frame house on Perry
Street, and a log house on Superior Street, on
the site of the present police station, and
another hewed log house on Summit Street,
near Jefferson. In the house on Perry Street
lived Joseph Prentice, and in it was born
Frederick Prentice, believed to be the first
white child born in Port Lawrence, on Dec-
ember 22, 1822. He lived until 1915, to the
ripe old age of ninety-three. The Superior
Street cabin was occupied by Joseph Trom-
bley. William Wilson dwelt for a time in the
one on Summit Street. The remains of Fort
Industry were then to be seen on that
thoroughfare, with some of the pickets of the
fortifications still existing. Down the river
farther was the brick dwelling of Major
Stickney, the only residence in what after-
wards became "Lower Town," or Vistula.
Maj. Benjamin F. Stickney, according to his
own story, left Washington March 8, 1812,
under appointment as Indian agent at Fort
Wayne. For a time he held the highly hon-
orable position of poundmaster for Port
Lawrence Township, Monroe County, Michi-
gan Territory, to which he had been duly
elected. At this election, held May 27, 1827,
the following voters cast their ballots : John
T. Baldwin, J. V. D. Sutphen, Noah A. Whit-
ney, John G. Forbs, Daniel Murray, Tibbals
Baldwin, John Walworth, Eli Hubbard, Cole-
man I. Keeler, Wm. Wilson, Alvin Evans,
John Roop, Cyrus Fisher, Wm. Mills, B. F.
Stickney, John Baldwin, Seneca Allen, Amos
Wait, Wm. Wilkerson, Wm. Sibley, Amasa
Bishop, Charles Richards, Jesse Mills, Joseph
Prentice, Henry Phillips, Ebenezer Ward,
Thos. P. Whitney, Wm. Holmes and Jacob
'336
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Navarre. A half dozen or more houses had
been built further back from the river, within
the present limits of Toledo. In one of these
lived Noah A. Whitney, while Coleman I.
Kecler occupied another. The five Navarre
brothers had their cabins across the river.
John Baldwin and Cyrus Fisher opened the
first store, and the business continued for a
number of years as John Baldwin & Company.
Mrs. Fannie L. Allen, wife of Seneca Allen,
came here with her husband in 1816. At that
time the principal village of the Ottawas was
located at Manhattan. Of the site of Toledo
in the early days, she said: "I well remem-
ber the beautiful road leading from Vistula
to this Indian Village. It was winding, and
shaded by magnificent trees. We frequently
rode thither with Major Stickney in his one-
horse wagon ; and as we passed through the
Village, the little Indians would run out
calling him 'Father! Father!' which would
please him amazingly. What is now chiefly
the track of Summit Street, formed then a
most charming ride through a delightful
forest. The banks of the River were bold,
high bluffs, and the graceful little fawns and
flocks of wild turkeys often crossed our path
as we were riding, and disappeared in the
woods. I had two fawns for my especial
playmates — each having a bell attached to its
neck, and they were daily companions in my
rambles through the woods. The streets of
Vistula bear the names originally given them
— myself naming Lagrange, in memory of the
home in France, of Lafayette. Major Stick-
ney gave Summit Street its name; and Cap-
tain Allen suggested the names of all the
others. The Indians were uniformly kind and
hospitable,"
Among the interesting items of municipal
expenditures in the early days are the sum
of $23.42 paid in 1828 for "destroying black
birds," and in 1832 a bounty of $2.50 each
was voted for wolf scalps. In 1831 fifty -nine
votes were cast in Port Lawrence Township,
all of which is now in Toledo, as at present
constituted, and two years later the number
had increased to seventy. For the first time
the names of Sanford L. Collins and Oliver
Stevens now appear. The last election held
in this township, under the authority of
Michigan, took place in a schoolhouse on Ten
Mile Creek Prairie, in 1835. Horace
Thatcher and Stephen Haughton voted at this
time. The last recorded action under the
same authority was the laying out of a road
between Tremainesville (West Toledo) and
Toledo. This road is now Cherry Street.
Among the interesting laws of this period,
passed by the territorial council of Michigan,
and which was in force in Toledo, is the
following :
"Be it enacted by the General Legislative
council of the Territory, That any Justice of
the Peace, on conviction may sentence any
vagrant, lewd, idle or disorderly persons,
stubborn servants, common night-walkers,
pilferers, or any other persons wanton or
licentious in speech, indecent behavior, com-
mon raiders or brawlers, such as neglect their
calling or employment, misspend what they
earn, and do not provide for themselves or
their families to be whipped not exceeding ten
stripes, or to be delivered over to the Con-
stable, to be employed out for the best wages
that can be procured, the proceeds of which
to be applied to the use of the poor of the
County."
PORT LAWRENCE AND VISTULA
Under the treaty of Greenville a reserva-
tion of twelve miles square, "at the British
fort on the Miami of the lake at the Foot of
the Rapids, ' ' was created. This tract included
the mouth of Swan Creek, and ' ' river tracts ' '
one and two were the original site of the City
of Toledo. Under an act of Congress these
lands were surveyed into tracts numbered
from one up, which were sold at public auc-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
337
tion in February, 1817, at Wooster, Ohio.
Two companies were organized for the pur-
pose of buying the lands at this sale. One of
these was the "Baum Company," and the
other was the "Pratt Company." Both com-
panies sought the lands at the mouth of Swan
Creek. These companies consisted of William
Oliver, Martin Baum, Jacob Burnet, William
C. Schenck, John Pratt, Robert Pratt, William
N. Worthington, and others. In order to avoid
competition, however, in bidding, the two
interests joined forces in purchasing these
tracts. They purchased 974 acres, at a price
of $76.06 an acre. The purchasers were duly
organized under the name of Port Lawrence
Company, which immediately formulated
plans for laying out the town to be called
Port Lawrence. The north line of the river
tract, on which Port Lawrence was located,
commenced at a point on the river near Lynn
Street and ran directly west, crossing Madison
near Ontario. Martin Baum was appointed
as general agent for the proprietors, and for
the general management of the property he
appointed William Oliver as his attorney, to
attend to the sale of the lands and laying out
the town. Among the instructions given to
Oliver were the following : In running the
streets and the division of lots, it is not the
wish of the proprietor that interest or con-
venience should be sacrificed to form ; that
the growth of the place should be retarded
by a useless adherence to any particular
figure, or to any fanciful uniformity of
squares.
The number of the lots was to be from
300 to 500, and with a few exceptions they
were to be 60 by 120 in size. "The prin-
cipal or central street should be at least 160
feet wide, and the others from 80 to 100 feet.
Let there be three lots, each 120 feet square,
set off for public uses, Churches, Schools, etc. ;
and one, 240 feet square, for Court House
and Jail. There should be one or two suit-
able lots out of the Town for burying
grounds." At the sale, which took place on
September 20, 1817, seventy-nine lots were
sold. Among the purchasers were Samuel H.
Ewing, Aurora Spafford, Seneca Allen, John
E. Hunt, Robert A. Forsyth, Allen Reed and
Truman Reed, of-"Maumee Rapids," and B.
F. Stickney, of Fort Wayne. The condition
of the town is well expressed in a letter from
Benjamin Rathbun, of New York, written in
1870:
"I was once where Toledo now is. It was
in the Spring of 1817, while a portion of it
was being surveyed for Village lots. I then
took up the first lot ever sold in Toledo as a
Village lot. The title of the Company failing
for non-payment of their purchase, of course,
I lost my lot. I have never been at Toledo
since I left in August, 1818. At that time
there was not a dwelling house there. A man
by the name of Henderson built a log and
stone house on the bank and partly over the
water, just below the mouth of what was then
known as Swan Creek ; and there was a French
cabin on the 'Flats,' near Swan Creek, for
the Indians to get rum in. These were all
the buildings Toledo could boast of in 1818.
My own family (consisting of Mrs. Rathbun
and 'one son), and Major Keeler's family,
occupied Henderson 's log and stone warehouse
while we were there."
Martin Baum subsequently erected a two-
story log warehouse on one of the lots near
the mouth of the Swan Creek. This notable
event was duly celebrated by all the settlers
of the Lower Maumee regions at the "log
raising." To this "frolic" came the Hunts,
the Forsyths, the Conants, the Spaffords, and
the other pioneer settlers. It was a general
turnout and drew participants from far-away
Monroe. Two French fiddlers supplied the
necessary inspiration for the dancers. As only
one-fourth of the purchase price had been
paid in cash, the purchasers defaulted on the
later payments, and thus practically surren-
dered the property with the few improve-
338
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ments that had been made. Congress passed
a special act allowing the purchasers to retain
a part of their purchase for the initial pay-
ment, upon their surrendering the balance.
Under this arrangement all their purchase
was relinquished excepting, the lots already
sold. Several changes in ownership took
place, but arrangements were finally settled
and steps were taken toward the settlement
of the Town of Port Lawrence. Little was
done, however, during this first effort to build
a city on the Lower Maumee. A letter from
Horatio Conant, of Fort Meigs, to a United
States senator pays his compliments to the
embryo town, under date of "9th February,
1822."
"I understand it is in contemplation to so
alter the route of the great Eastern mail to
Detroit, that it shall not pass this place, but
go by Port Lawrence, nine miles below, on
the Maumee River. Also, to remove the port
of entry to Port Lawrence. And also, I pre-
sume, from a motion of Mr. Sibley, to open a
road under the provisions of the Brownstown
treaty, not from Sandusky (now Fremont) to
Fort Meigs, according to the terms of said
treaty, but from Sandusky to Port Lawrence.
"Respecting Port Lawrence, there is 'not,
nor has there been, for years, nor is there
likely to -be, more than three English families,
including all within three miles of the place ;
and whatever public business is done there,
must be done by one man, who is already
Indian Agent and Justice of the Peace for
Michigan. The distance proposed to be saved
by altering the route of the mail, ought not
to come in competition with the increased risk
in crossing the Maumee River, which in that
place is very wide, and open to the unbroken
surges of Lake Erie. The same objection will
lie with increased weight, against opening a
military road to cross the River there. It
might as well cross the mouth of the bay, or
any other part of Lake Erie.
"If there was any business done at the
place, or was likely to be, I should not so
much object to the Customs Collector's office
being removed there ; but at present I should
esteem it ridiculous to entertain the idea."
The Port Lawrence Company was resur-
rected and a new plat prepared in December,
1832, of which proper record was made in
Monroe County, Michigan Territory. This
plat covered the territory east and west from
Jefferson to Washington Street, and from
Superior to the river, but the streets were
differently named. Summit Street was called
Erie, St. Clair was designated as Ontario, and
Superior was named Huron. There were
about seventy-two parcels in the plat, and
the first sale of lots took place on June 13,
1833. Thus it is seen that early Toledo
centered around the mouth of Swan Creek.
The price paid for the first lot was $25.00, and
the purchaser was John Baldwin, afterwards
a leading merchant and one of the first asso-
ciate judges of the county. This sale was for
cash, which was unusual for the transactions
of that period. In several cases sales were
conditioned upon improvements being made
by the purchaser. One of these was that the
purchaser erect "a good building eighteen
by twenty-four feet to be painted" another
purchaser was to erect "a good two story
house," and a third obligated himself to con-
struct "two good houses and paint white."
S. B. Comstock acted as agent of the purchas-
ers for a while, and Andrew Palmer succeeded
him.
In 1835, the Port Lawrence Company was
dissolved, and the stockholders of the "Vil-
lage of Toledo" divided their holdings into
separate ownership. Among these were Wil-
liam Oliver, Micajah F. Williams, Philander
Raymond, Charles W. Lynde, Isaac S. Smith,
John B. Ma«y, Hirami Pratt, William E.
Porter Taylor, Edward Bissell, Andrew
Palmer, and Steven B. Comstock. Two lots
were set aside for school buildings, and two
more for the first two religious societies that
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
339
should complete houses of worship. Land to
the amount of five acres was reserved for
county purposes. Lot 335 was voted to Mrs.
Harriet Daniels, wife of Munson H. Daniels,
"as a complimentary present on the occasion
of hers being the first marriage at Toledo."
Several lots were set aside for a hotel to be
built jointly by the proprietors. Sixteen
tickets, representing parts of equal value,
were placed in a hat and were then drawn by
Two Stickney, second son of Major Stiekney,
which were delivered to the parties in an
order agreed upon.1
In 1832, having become satisfied that the
Port Lawrence enterprise would not be suc-
cessful, because of the lack of energy among
the promoters, Major Stickney withdrew from
this enterprise, devoting his attention to a
project farther down the river on lands
owned by himself. In October of that year,
he made a contract with Samuel Allen, of
Lockport, New York, under which improve-
ments were to be made, and Allen was to have
one-half of the land in consideration of certain
expenditures made by him. Allen failing to
do his part, in the following year Stickney
entered into an arrangement with Otis Hath-
away, from the same place. As the result a
town and plat was located below Port Lawr-
ence, which was named Vistula. Lewis
Godard, of Detroit, agreed that if certain
lots were given him he would establish a
store at that place. This he did, using for
that purpose an old blockhouse built about
1817. A grand ball was given in honor of the
new enterprise in the old log warehouse at
the mouth of Swan Creek, then occupied by
the Baldwins, at which participated residents
of all the surrounding settlements as far as
Monroe and Perrysburg. The upper story
i Major Stickney was nothing if not original. He
adopted a ]>lan by which there would be no delay or
controversy over the naming of his sons. His first
born bore the designation of One, and his second
passes into history as Two. We have no record of
any others.
was utilized for the dance, as it was the only
building fitted for such an affair. The store
was placed in charge of Sanford L. Collins,
who had also been employed in Detroit, and
who thus associated himself with the future
history of Toledo.
Edward Bissell, of Lockport, was drawn to
the West by Major Stickney. To improve
the dock facilities, he placed some docking
along the river from Lagrange to Elm streets.
His business sagacity and enterprise at once
gave life and stimulus to Vistula, so that large
sums of money (for that day) were expended
for roads and other improvements necessary
for ambitious towns. Settlers began to arrive,
and a sale of lots was held December 19, 1833.
During the next couple of years many lots
were disposed of, and the remaining lots were
then divided among the stockholders, among
whom were Benjamin F. Stickney, Edward
Bissell, Isaac S. Smith, I. S. Macy, Hiram
Pratt, W. F. P. Taylor, Robert Hicks, Henry
W. Hicks, and others. A majority of the
sales were consummated upon condition that
the purchaser should make improvements,
most of them to be dwelling houses of various
sizes, from 16 by 20 feet and upwards. In
some instances it was provided that the pur-
chasers should "build in the course of the
summer," or "build within three months —
brick." The stipulated cost ranged from
$100 to $3,000.
RIVAL TOWNS
The paramount question along the Lower
Maumee for many years was the question of
the terminus of the projected canal. It was
felt that its location would be the logical site
for a great commercial city. A number of
Buffalo parties became so convinced of this
that they purchased a large tract of land at
the mouth of the river. Among the owners
were Jacob A. Barker, H. N. Holt, Charles
Townsend, Sheldon Thompson, John W.
Clark, Stephen G. Austin, George C. and
340
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Platt Card. All of these joint owners were
residents of Buffalo, excepting the Cards, who
lived on the land. In October, 1835, these men
organized the "Maumee Land and Railroad
Company," and the Town of Manhattan was
then platted. They built a large hotel, which
was opened in 1836, and constructed spacious
docks and warehouses. The same men pur-
chased land on the east side of the river and
organized the East Manhattan Laud Com-
pany, which purchased lands of Wa-sa-on, Ot-
to-kee, Kee-tuck-ee, Wa-sa-on-quette, and
other Ottawa Indians, which had been granted
to them by treaty in 1833, as well as of the
Navarres. Here was located an early French
settlement, possibly as early as 1808, and ad-
joining was a village of the Ottawa Indians,
which had been there since the days of Pon-
tiac, whose family lived there as early as 1683.
The prospects of Manhattan appeared so good
that the capital stock of the company was
raised to $2,000,000. For a number of years
the warehouses did a flourishing business. The
Buffalo owners were shippers, owning numer-
ous steamers, and they made Manhattan their
main terminus. From here they went up the
river to Maumee, without even stopping at
Toledo. The upper town gradually forged to
the front, however, and the docks of Manhat-
tan were finally abandoned.
Tremainesville began in 1823, when the
Wilkinsons arrived and settled there, al-
though there were some earlier settlers in the
neighborhood, including William Sibley, Eli
Hubbard, and Major Keeler. Dexter Fisher,
with his wife and sons, came in 1825, and he
became the first tavern and store keeper when
he built a large blockhouse in 1829. This
emporium was a great convenience to the
settlers and travelers. It became a mecca for
Indian trade. Calvin Tremaine came in the
fall of 1832, and the little town took its name
from him. The postmaster, Cyrus Fisher, re-
signed and Tremaine was appointed to that
position. Tremainesville was a famous place
during the Toledo War, as it was the camping
place of the Michigan troops. The first plat
was made in 1854 by Philip I. Philips. West
Toledo postoffice was established here in
1879, with J. M. Lycan as postmaster. When
West Toledo was formally annexed to Toledo,
in the spring of 1916, Solomon Wilkinson, who
came here in 1823, was still living at the age
of ninety-four. He had thus been an eyewit-
ness to all the changes herein related.
Auburndale is another village that has been
absorbed by its growing neighbor. It was
platted in 1873, and the plat contained 171
lots. This was so successful that an addition
was laid out in the following year. This name
is still used generally in referring to that
section of the metropolis.
It appears that in the management of each
of the rival towns of Port Lawrence and Vis-
tula, the proprietors were compelled to expend
considerable sums of money for objects which
were of common benefit. In the case of Port
Lawrence, this was for the provision of stage
and mail connections with the outside world,
and the opening up of the roads to the sur-
rounding country. It was necessary to sub-
sidize some of these stage lines in order to
have them stop at Port Lawrence, for the
regular route from Tremainesville to Maumee
City passed about l^ miles west of Port
Lawrence, along Detroit Avenue. This was
indeed a humiliation not to be borne. The
joint expenditures of the two towns for
stages exceeded $4,000. The rivalry of the
towns of Manhattan on one side, and Maumee
and Perrysburg on the other, soon convinced
the proprietors that their interests and for-
tunes were so closely identified that it would
be better to join forces. The up-river towns
made Manhattan the object of their special
attention, while Manhattan's sympathies were
all in favor of the towns at the "Foot of the
Rapids, ' ' the term used to designate those two
small settlements. The steamboat captains
could not even see Toledo with their glasses,
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
341
except when summoned there to receive
freight. An arrangement was at length con-
cluded to consolidate the two towns under the
common name of Toledo, a designation sug-
gested by James Irvine Brown.
EARLY TOLEDO
The experience of the two villages in fight-
ing a common battle with the outside world
overcame all local jealousies, and the corporate
union was formed in 1833. This step did not
come any too soon, but with the union there
came strength. So many towns were being
promoted that an era of land speculation
arose. This is shown by the large numbers of
delinquent lands advertised for sale. The
high water mark was reached in 1840. The
list in that year of Toledo alone covers 1%
pages in the Blade, and contained 1,000 prices
of property. The county list spread over ten
pages. This included town lots in Manhat-
tan, Maumee City, Miami City, Waterville,
Sylvania, Whiteford, and Lucas City. The
present site of the courthouse was sold for
$2.51, unpaid taxes. Almost the entire plat
of Manhattan, which consisted of more than
5,000 lots, was offered for sale. The list was
so long that it taxed the typographical re-
sources of the Blade. When the stock of fig-
ures ran out, they spelled the numbers out,
as "ten," etc. Lucas City comprised what is
now known as Ironville. Oregon Village con-
tributed a few lots. It was on the east side,
near Fassett Street Station. Marengo was
between Miami City and Toledo. East Ma-
rengo was almost opposite Marengo. All of
these paper towns were advertised as the
"head of navigation." Most of them have
now passed out of the memory of those living.
Lucas City was laid out in the spring of
1836. The first announcement of its existence
consisted of the following advertisement,
which appeared in the Toledo Gazette :
" LUCAS CITY LOTS
"The undersigned offer for sale about 1,500
lots on this important site. It stands at the
mouth of the Maumee River, near its junc-
tion with Lake Erie. The back country IB
wide and rich, and the channel which passes
has been acknowledged by experienced navi-
gators to be deep and broad enough for vessels
of the largest tonnage. The establishment of
Roads and Canals, as well as other public
works, which are projected within its neigh-
borhood, gives it extraordinary and marked
advantages. The public attention seems to be
directed to this important point, as the great
object to the speculator or actual settler.
"The City lots may be secured upon the
most advantageous terms, upon application to
"WILLABD SMITH,
"E. C. HART,
"GEO. HUMPHREY,
"Trustees.
"Lucas, May 6, 1836.
"N. B. — The local advantages of the place
may be ascertained by applying to the Masters
of Vessels and Steamboats, who ply upon this
track."
Toledo did not grow or improve rapidly.
As late as 1850, Summit Street was the only
thoroughfare connecting "Lower Town" and
"Upper Town." The only improvement was
a plank walk on the westerly side. There was
a bluff on Summit, called "The Hog's Back,"
the highest point of which was at Jefferson. A
roadway had been graded through this, and
on the highest point was the National Hotel.
A block farther down was a two-story build-
ing, midway between the two towns, which
was the compromise postoffice. In rainy
weather landslides from the overhanging bluff
made the sidewalk a very uncertain means
of communication. In 1852, a contributor to
the Blade gave to the world a poem, of which
a few stanzas read as follows :
342
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
"Napoleon crossed the Alps, his high emprise
Won him a deathless name; but not a steep
Of all the peaks he crossed, so hard to rise
As Summit Street, beneath whose lowest deep
There is a depth no mortal ever scanned,
A gloomy deep of mud, devoid of sand. ' '
Away from the river, and across "The
Hog's Back," was a depression, or water
course, which was generally known as Mud
Creek. Many squatters lived in small squalid
shacks in a part of this depression known as
"Smoky Hollow."
The only part of Toledo that was really
attractive in the early days was the higher
westerly land, which was covered by magnifi-
cent forest trees, many of which still stand.
Much of the present business section was low
ground, covered during the greater part of
the year by the waters of Mud Creek. In the
spring the sluggish waters and pools were alive
with the little amphibious creatures which
gave to Toledo its name of "frogtown," a
designation still sometimes heard. In 1840 the
council declared the building of a sidewalk
along Monroe Street to be inexpedient because
of the condition of the treasury, as the con-
struction of the Summit Street walk had de-
pleted the municipal finances. This was the
first deficiency in Toledo's treasury, but not
the last by any means.
EARLY INDUSTRIES
The first brick manufactured in Toledo
were made by Peter H. Shaw and E. Babcock.
Babcock had a contract with the proprietors
of the town for 1,500,000 brick, which he did
not complete because of his death. Edward
Bissell built a saw-mill on Summit Street be-
tween Elm and Chestnut, in 1834. In 1835
Frederic Prentice constructed a saw-mill on
the East Side. The first foundry in Toledo
was built where the present Lagrange Street
School is located. In 1838 a mill for grinding
grain was erected at the foot of Elm Street,
and in March, 1839, the first grist of thirty-
two bushels of wheat was satisfactorily ground
in fifty-five minutes. The same engine was
used when not grinding wheat for running
the saw-mill adjoining. These mills passed in
later years into the hands of William H. Ray-
mond, who operated them until they were
burned. In 1851 Wason & Co. commenced
making cars by assembling the parts which
they purchased elsewhere. Field & Wilming-
ton in 1853 started the first car works for the
entire manufacture of cars. The business was
later acquired by The Toledo Car Works and
continued until 1872, when the operation
ceased. In 1851, Calvin Bronson came to To-
ledo and established The Bronson Tobacco
Works. In 1865 he paid the Government
$750,322 as the Government tax on his manu-
facturing product. His first factory was at
the foot of Lagrange, on Water Street, be-
tween Madison and Jefferson streets, where
he built a block five stories high, and eighty
feet front, and running through to Water
Street.
The beginning of the vast industrial system
of Toledo was indeed primitive. When Ed-
ward Bissell built his small saw-mill, it was
considered a great enterprise. Little indus-
tries almost gave the town a boom. But a com-
parison of these small manufacturing plants
with the gigantic concerns of today reveals
their real insignificance. Most of the big in-
dustries of today have been a matter of grad-
ual growth. The Milburn Wagon Works Com-
pany was for years the largest and one of the
best known of our industrial concerns. In the
early days of the bicycle business, Toledo was
the real center of that industry. Many con-
cerns were engaged in the manufacture either
of the accessories or equipment, and hundreds
of thousands of bicycles, bearing the name of
Toledo, were scattered at home and across the
Seven Seas. The Lozier factory was the largest
of these. The immense plant of this concern
passed to the Pope Manufacturing Company,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
343
and it placed on the market one of the first
successful automobiles, called the Pope-Toledo.
When this concern failed, the factory was pur-
chased by John N. Willys, one of the geniuses
of the automobile world. Today, The Willys-
Overland plant is probably the largest automo-
bile factory in the world. When Edward Ford
came here in a quiet and unobtrusive way,
about the beginning of this century, few
dreamed that his establishment would result
in one of the very greatest plate glass fac-
tories in the world. It has also resulted in
the upholding of Rossford, a live and hustling
suburb of Toledo, which it immediately
adjoins.
The first goods offered for sale in Toledo, to
white and red men alike, were by John Bald-
win and Cyrus Fisher in the year 1823, at the
old log warehouse at the mouth of Swan
Creek. The first building erected for strictly
mercantile purposes was located at the corner
of Summit and Lagrange streets. It was built
in the summer of 1832 by Sanford L. Collins
for Lewis Godard and Elkanah Briggs. A
third store was opened up in the same year
in Tremainesville by Ebenezer Fisher. A. K.
Gibson and Company were among the first
dealers in groceries and provisions on Summit
Street, between Monroe and Perry. In 1836
Valentine H. Ketcham commenced business in
Toledo in general merchandising. In 1840 he
was joined by Joseph K. Secor as a clerk, and
the partnership of Ketcham and Secor resulted
later. In 1854 Mr. Ketcham retired, and the
firm of Secor, Berdan and Company arose
with the entrance of Peter F. Berdan and
George Secor. This firm gradually drifted
into the exclusive wholesale grocery trade and,
although the personnel of the partnership
changed, the old firm name remained for more
than half a century, when the name Secor was
dropped from the title.
The first postoffice within what is now To-
ledo was established at Tremainesville. It
bore the name of Port Lawrence, and Cyrus
Fisher was the postmaster. The mail was car-
ried three times a week on horseback between
Detroit and Lower Sandusky. Shortly after
the villages of Port Lawrence and Vistula were
consolidated, under the name of Toledo, the
postoffice was located on the corner of Oak
(now Jackson) and Summit streets, Oak being
the line between the two villages. It was then
an isolated and rather desolate looking build-
ing, standing entirely alone. The nearest
structure was the log dwelling of William
Andrews, a block below, which was surrounded
by a "worm" rail fence enclosing about half
an acre. In bad weather it was quite an
undertaking to get from either end of the
town to the postoffice. Stephen B. Comstock
was named as the first postmaster. Prior to
that time he had been in charge of the office
at Port Lawrence, while Theodore Bissell and
Junius Flagg had filled the responsible posi-
tion of postmaster at Vistula. Comstock was
succeeded in 1836 by Emery D. Potter. A few
years afterwards the postoffice was moved up
the river a couple of blocks to near Madison
Avenue. There it remained until the first
Government building was completed at the
corner of Madison and St. Clair streets, in
1853. As the city grew, and the demands for
enlarged quarters for postoffice and other gov-
ernmental offices increased, a new building
became indispensable. Then the old structure
was demolished, and the present building at
the old site erected. It was then believed that
this building would answer all demands for
the succeeding half century. In considerably
less than half that time it became necessary to
purchase a new site farther out from the busi-
ness center, where the magnificent, and in
many respects model, postoffice building was
begun, which was completed and occupied in
the year 1911, on December 10th.
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS
Political questions made their appearance
at an early day in Toledo. At first the con-
344
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
flicting interests of the rival towns of Man-
hattan, Toledo, and Maumee City rather
overshadowed all other subjects. In city elec-
tions, it was primarily the contest between
Lower Town and Upper Town that was the
dominant issue. At the initial election for
mayor, Lower Town was the victor. Never-
theless, we have a record of both whig and
democratic meetings as early as 1837. As a
result of the election this year John Patter-
son (whig) was elected senator, and Curtis
Bates (democrat) representative. John Ber-
dan, elected that same year, was the first
mayor under the charter. George H. Rich
was city clerk, and D. 0. Morton was chosen
city attorney. The next mayors in succession
were Hezekiah D. Mason, Myron H. Tilden,
George B. Way, Richard Mott, and Emery D.
Potter. Several ferries were established by
ordinance. The rates were I2y2 cents for each
person, and double that amount for a man and
a horse. The early city dads were rather puri-
tanical, for an ordinance passed by the first
council prohibited, under severe penalties,
"ball, nine or ten pin alleys; also billiards,
roulette, or any other table or instrument or
device used or to be used for the purpose of
gaming or gambling." In 1838 the city was
divided into three wards. The first liquor
legislation was passed in 1838 to prevent "the
selling of spirituous liquors in small measures
by stores and grog-shops in the City." In
that year a "three cent ferry" was established
across Swan Creek, at Superior Street, so
that 3 cent fares early came into existence.
In the following year there was provided "a
contingent fund of $80 to defray the expenses
in preventing removal" of the county seat to
Maumee. Toledo was advanced to the grade
of a city of the first class in 1867, and C. A.
King was chosen mayor at the first election fol-
lowing. In 1916 another new charter, under
the centralized Federal plan, went into effect,
with Charles M. Milroy as the city's executive.
The political history of Toledo has been
unique in many ways. It has been injected
into national prominence by the success of
various independent movements brought about
by conditions for which political bosses were
responsible. When Samuel M. Jones was a
candidate for renomination to the office of
mayor, in 1899, he was defeated through the
machinations of the party bosses. Encouraged
by his ardent supporters, Mayor Jones became
a candidate as an independent and was elected.
So strongly was his personality ingratiated
upon the voters, and so bitter was the opposi-
tion to the political ring then dominating the
political horizon, that he was re-elected as an
independent in 1901 and 1903 by tremendous
majorities. His name and fame spread all
over the country, because of his unique meth-
ods of campaigning, and by reason of the fact
that there was a growing revolt everywhere
against the pernicious activity of party leaders
and political bosses in municipal affairs. He
accepted an independent nomination for gov-
ernor and made a vigorous campaign. His
defeat was inevitable, but the influence of the
campaign was lasting. It taught independence
to the voters all over the state, rural as well
as urban. He died on the 12th of July, 1904,
while serving his fourth term as mayor.
The struggle for political independence did
not perish with the death of its leader. It was
kept alive by the efforts of the traction com-
pany to secure a new franchise on favorable
terms. An organized movement sprang into
existence, which became known as "Indepen-
dent Voters. ' ' Although no executive was to be
elected, this organization placed in the field a
complete list of nominations for the city coun-
cil and other municipal offices. The traction
situation became more tense as election day
approached. The city council was stormed by
a ' ' petition in boots, ' ' led by Johnston Thurs-
ton, on the night of October 24, 1904, when
it was feared that the ordinance would be
passed. "Let Franchise Alone" was the bat-
tle cry of the 600 citizens who joined in this
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
346
assault upon the legislative chambers. The
council did leave it alone. The result of the
election was a victory of the new political
movement.
The mayoralty campaign of 1905 was one
of intense activity. The success of the inde-
pendent movement in the previous year drew
to it strong and virile leaders, and gave it
increased prestige. For its standard bearer,
Brand Whitlock was nominated for the office
of mayor. A complete municipal and county
ticket was placed in the field. Oratory flowed
all over the city and into the remotest pre-
cincts of the county in great tidal waves. The
leaders of the old parties fought with the
courage of despair. When the results of elec-
tion day were known, it was found that Mr.
Whitlock had been elected, and with him were
a complete roster of independent officials. The
county victory was not quite so complete, but
several important county offices were filled
with independents. The independent move-
ment continued in its ascendancy in municipal
affairs for almost a decade. Mr. Whitlock
was three times re-elected to the office of
mayor, and at each election the other offices
were generally filled with followers of the in-
dependent movement. Although the inde-
pendent voters' organization has formally
disappeared, its effects are still plainly evident
in the independence of the voters from party
affiliations. Remedial measures were forced
through the Legislature, and a new munici-
pal charter can be traced directly to the inde-
pendence of the voters of Toledo.
EARLY TAVERNS
"Tavern by John Baldwin." This was the
sign placed on a log warehouse near the mouth
of Swan Creek in 1828. The same building
had been used as a hostelry for two years pre-
vious by his father for the chance wayfarer.
When Toledo was formed, the Eagle Tavern
made its appearance in Lower Town. A little
later the Mansion House was opened to the
public in the same neighborhood, with J.
Baron Davis as landlord. This house was the
public headquarters during tin- Toledo War.
In spite of its name it was nothing more than
a small frame building. The National Hotel
and the American Hotel appeared next in his-
torical order, the latter especially being rather
a pretentious hostelry. The Toledo House was
the first pretentious hotel in Upper Town, at
the corner of Summit and Perry streets, and
was opened in 1837. J. Blin and Company
were the proprietors. A few years later an-
other story was added and imposing wooden
columns placed in front, and it was re-named
the Indiana House. The new proprietor was
Robert N. Lawton. Thayer's Exchange was
prominent about the middle of the last cen-
tury. The construction of the Oliver House
in 1853 marked a new era in the history of
the growing city. It was indeed an imposing
structure for those days, and is still standing.
At its opening a large and fashionable as-
semblage gathered. De Witt C. Baker was the
first lessee. Owing to the shifting of the
business center, the Oliver House ceased exist-
ence as a hotel, and the rooms are rented to
tenants who dwell there. When the Toledo,
Norwalk and Cleveland Railroad entered the
"Middle Grounds" in 1853, this move' was
followed by the establishment of the Island
House. It provided both depot and hotel ac-
commodations. The first landlord was Ros-
well P. Ainger. This house continued until
the depot was again moved in 1887. The
famous Boody House, named after Azariah
Boody, and which has entertained several
presidents and other distinguished guests,
was completed in 1872. It, too, is obliged to
give way in the forward march of the city.
Among the curious regulations at one time
adopted is the following, enacted by the city
council on October 23, 1841:
" That no person should ' act as a runner for
any Hotel, Tavern, Stage, Steam or Canal Boat
within the limits of Toledo, ' except as licensed
346
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
for such purpose; and that 'any orderly,
reputable white male inhabitant of the State'
might be so licensed, upon payment of 75
cents, and depositing a bond in the sum of
$50, for his good behavior — but one person to
be licensed for each Hotel, Tavern, etc. ' '
Runners were to wear a band or place
leather indicating the party which he repre-
sented. He was to conduct himself with deco-
rum when on duty, placing himself in such
position that the name of the party repre-
sented by him should be plainly seen on his
badge, and "there to remain until called for
by some person or persons desiring his serv-
ice." He was not to "run down or discredit
any Hotel, Tavern, Stage, Steam or Canal
Boat ; nor to make any disorderly, obscene or
boisterous language, nor engage in any quar-
rels, broils, wrestling or fisticuffs with other
Runners of whatever description."
CHURCHES
Although mission work had been under-
taken in the Maumee Valley as early as 1802,
it was many years afterward before any regu-
lar work was begun by any denomination. The
advance work of a permanent religious char-
acter in Lucas County was made by the
Methodist Episcopal Church. This denomina-
tion seemed to be more aggressive than the
others, and rallied about it the early pioneers,
many of whom had formerly affiliated with
other sects. In this way religious privileges
were maintained until increased population
warranted the establishment of other churches.
Just who preached the first sermon within the
present limits of Toledo, and even where, is
a matter of dispute. Rev. Elnathan C. Gavitt
believes that he was the first preacher here,
and that he preached the initial sermon some-
where near the Monroe Street Church. Others
claim that the Rev. Billings 0. Plympton, or
Elias Pattee, conducted the first services here
while passing through between Detroit and
Northern Ohio.
Among the members of the first Methodist
congregation, formed in 1833, were Noah
Whitney and wife, Amasa Bishop, Eli Hub-
bard, and Mary and Sarah Keeler. The
preacher was Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher. What
is known as a "class" had been organized as
early as 1826, but the one just mentioned was
the first regular congregation. "The first
Class known to have been organized in this
region was in 1826. The circumstances of
the event are given as follows: Mr. Baugh-
nian, in passing, found Eli Hubbard, one of
the earliest and most prominent of the
pioneers of this section, at work in the woods,
and asked him if there was an opening there-
abouts to preach the Gospel. Mr. Hubbard
told him that his house was open for such
purpose. His dwelling was of logs, and was
located near the Tremainesville bridge over
Ten Mile Creek, or Ottawa River. It con-
sisted of one small room with two beds. There
Mr. Baughman preached, and there were
formed a Class, which consisted of John,
Samuel and Sophronia Horton, William Wil-
kison and wife, Mrs. Maria Whitney, and
Miss Mary Keeler, daughter of Major Cole-
man I. Keeler. Mr. Wilkison was made the
Class Leader."
The cause of Methodism was greatly in-
debted to Mrs. Whitney for the support it
received in this congregation. It was largely
through her influence and efforts that her
own large family connection became active
and useful members of the church, and her
labors also were instrumental in rallying many
of the other settlers to that cause. The second
church was organized in 1836, and a small
building constructed on Huron Street. In
1843 the society had a membership of seventy.
By 1850 the congregation had grown to such
an extent that a larger edifice and more
eligible location became necessary. In 1851
this congregation purchased the property at
the corner of Superior and Madison streets,
where St. Paul's M. E. Church was built.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
347
The society paid $800 for the lot. Sixty years
later the same lot was sold for $300,000 to the
Northern National Bank.
What is now known as the First Congrega-
tional Church of Toledo had its origin in the
First Presbyterian Church, which was organ-
ized in 1833 by Rev. Mr. Warriner, of Mon-
roe. The elders were Samuel I. Keeler,
Merriam Fox, and Sylvester Brown. In 1841,
under the Rev. Geo. R. Haswell, the church
chiiii -red its form of government from Presby-
terian to Congregational. A short time after-
furnished mainly by Ileman Walbridge and
Edward Bissell. It was dedicated in 1838,
but was never owned by the congregation.
A house of worship was erected on a lot do-
nated by the proprietors of the Port Lawr-
ence town plat, the site of the Old First aban-
doned a few years ago. It was only 45 by 70
feet in size. When the matter of building
this house of worship was decided upon, an
offer was made also for another site at the
corner of Adams and Huron streets. This
latter was found in such a wild state that it
OLDEST CHURCH BUILDING IN TOLEDO
Formerly a Presbyterian Church, now a Catholic parochial school
wards a part of the congregation withdrew
and returned to Presbyterian worship, but
they were again united in 1844 as the First
Congregational Church. In the following year
the church was admitted to the Maumee Pres-
bytery, under an arrangement by which the
Congregational churches were admitted to
such organizations, although retaining their
own peculiar form of government. At this
time the church had thirty-three members.
The first building occupied was a frame struc-
ture at the corner of Cherry and Superior
streets. The money to build this church was
was not even considered. To get to it the
committee were compelled to pick their way
over logs and bogs surrounded by standing
water, and there was not enough land above
water upon which to build a church. Summit
was the nearest improved street. Hence it
was that this site was at once given up and
the other chosen. The building was destroyed
by fire in 1861, but was rebuilt in a much
better way. The longest pastorate of this
church was that of Rev. William W. Williams,
who was called in 1853 and served the church
continuously until his resignation in 1897, a
348
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
period of forty-four years. He died in the
following year. Three vigorous churches
have branched out from the Old First. It
has now been united with the Central Con-
gregational Church, and occupies one of the
most splendid churches in Congregationalism,
the new edifice being dedicated in 1916, under
the pastorate of Rev. Allen A. Stockdale. The
First Congregational Church of Oregon
Township, organized in 1849, became the
Second Congregational Church a score of
years later.
The first Protestant Episcopal Church in
Lucas County was St. Paul's, which was
organized in Maumee City in 1837, with the
Rev. B. H. Hickox as the first clergyman in
charge. The second was in Manhattan, a
year later. In 1840 Bishop Mcllvaine con-
ducted services here in the old Presbyterian
Church. The small society was served for a
while from Maumee by Rev. Joseph S. Large,
but arrangements were made soon afterwards
for the erection of Trinity Church. The first
edifice of this congregation was built in Janu-
ary, 1845, and consecrated in the November
following. Rev. D. J. Burger was elected
rector, at a salary of $500. The building, was
of wood, and occupied the site of the present
sanctuary at the corner of Adams and St.
Clair streets. The site of this church was
donated to the Trinity society by the Ameri-
can Land Company, in July, 1844, upon a con-
dition that the society erect thereon a building
for a church, and forever occupy the premises
for a church and parsonage and for no other
purpose whatever. Rev. Henry B. Walbridge
began a pastorate in 1848, and served the
society for twenty years. In a letter long
afterwards he spoke of Toledo as he first saw
it, as follows:
"I doubt if the very worst conditioned
streets in the newest quarters of your rapidly
growing, widespreading City can afford the
beholder an approximate idea of the forbid-
ding aspect of its chief avenue in 1848. From
Adams almost to Monroe on Summit street,
now fronted on either side with large and
elegant structures, and entirely occupied with
mercantile buildings, was banked on both
sides with walls of clay varying in height from
5 to 20 feet, and looked very much like the
channel of an abandoned ship-canal. On the
Northerly side there tipped up by the pres-
sure of scooping slides of its clay rampart,
to an angle, at all times inconvenient, and
on a wet day often putting uncareful pedes-
trians through acrobatic exercises more amus-
ing to the beholders, than satisfactory to the
performers. The roadway for the spring and
fall and sometimes for most of the winter
season, was very much like the puddling pit
of an old fashioned brick yard, severely chal-
lenging the courage of a strong team, and
sometimes compelling the inglorious surren-
der of a half loaded cart to the sovereign
majesty of mud."
Although priests undoubtedly visited this
locality and conducted services at an earlier
date, the first steps taken toward the forma-
tion of a Roman Catholic society was in 1841
by Father Amadeus Rappe. This priest had
recently come to this county from France, at
the request of Archbishop Purcell, of Cin-
cinnati, and as soon as he had familiarized
himself enough with the English language, for
which purpose he had been sent to Chillicothe,
was assigned to Toledo. Tiffin at that time
was the nearest place in Ohio that had a resi-
dent priest, for Catholics were not numerous
among the earliest settlers. The building of
the canal brought an influx of members of
that denomination. The intemperance among
them made him a determined foe against the
evils of convivial habits. The "parish limits"
of Father Rappe extended from Toledo to the
Indiana state line, and as far south as Allen
County. It was indeed an uninviting field.
His labors, privations, and difficulties were
truly trying, but he was filled with missionary
zeal and labored faithfully among his people.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
349
He served this immense territory alone for five
years. The permanent organization estab-
lished by him was named St. Francis De Sales.
By day and night he diligently labored. He
purchased the building formerly occupied by
the Presbyterian Church, at the corner of
Cherry and Superior streets, for the new con-
gregation. This building was of wood, and,
when the new church was built, it was re-
moved to the rear and occupied as a school
building. The first baptism, of which record
is now preserved, was of James, son of Thomas
David and Catherine Commerford. An in-
teresting item in connection with his history
is that the City Council in 1847 voted Father
Rappe the sum of $50 for ringing the city
bell three times a day during the preceding
year. When the Cleveland diocese was
formed, Father Rappe was consecrated as its
bishop. He was succeeded by Father Phillip
Foley in 1848. .In the early days the Catholic
population was composed of Irish, German,
and French nationalities, with the former
largely predominating. As these different
nationalities increased, they were organized
into separate societies. The first was that of
St. Mary's for the Germans in 1854. Father
Evrard, the first priest, was often himself
seen wheeling brick, sand, and mortar during
the work of construction. At the end of eight
years of toil and embarrassment the edifice
was completed.
The oldest existing organization of the Pres-
byterian faith is the First Presbyterian
Church. In 1854 the Maumee Presbytery
appointed a special committee for the purpose
of effecting an organization. A church was
organized with twenty-seven members, and
the Rev. J. M. Baird served it for a time.
For three or four years services were sus-
pended, and then Rev. Edwin B. Raffen-
sperger came to Toledo and commenced his
labors with a revival in 1859. The church,
known as the Bethel, on Lynn Street, was
leased and occupied for a decade. The society
then purchased a lot at the corner of Huron
and Orange streets, in 1865, where the corner-
stone of a house of worship was laid three
years later. The building was dedicated in
1874, under the pastorate of Rev. Henry M.
MacCracken. The Westminster Church had
already been organized as a second society,
but it has now been united with the other as
the First-Westminster Church. The first
definite step taken toward the organization of
the Baptist Church was in 1853, when a few
members of that denomination assembled at
the residence of Henry J. Hayes, on St. Clair
Street, for the purpose of prayer and con-
ference. A society was organized that same
year with eighteen members, at the home of
Dr. Wm. C. Scott. The Rev. E. F. Platt was
formally called to the pastorate. The first
place of worship was at Union Hall, on Sum-
mit Street. In the following year a site for
a church was purchased on Huron Street, near
Cherry, where the First Baptist Church still
stands and serves a large congregation. The
building was erected in 1855. At that time
it was by far the most imposing church build-
ing in this city of 9,000 inhabitants. The
oldest church of the Lutheran denomination
is Salem, on Huron Street. This was organ-
ized as early as 1845. Today there is scarcely
a religious denomination to be found in the
United States that is not represented by a
society in Toledo.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
Masonry was the first of the many fraternal
organizations to be introduced into the Mau-
mee Valley. Army Lodge, No. 24, Free and
Accepted Masons held meetings in Fort
Meigs from 1813 until its abandonment in
1815. Two years later a dispensation for
Northern Light Lodge, No. 401, at Waynes-
field, was granted by the Grand Lodge of
Ohio. This lodge was within the present Vil-
lage of Maumee. Of the forty families scat-
tered between Waterville and the present city
350
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
limits of Toledo, five men were members of
the Masonic order. The dispensation named
Almond Gibbs as the worshipful master, the
other members being William Griffith, Charles
Gunn, D. J. Thurston, and James Adams.
The charter of this lodge was granted the
21st of December, 1818. Seneca Allen was
the first applicant for the degrees. Owing to
the great anti-Masonic excitement, this lodge
held no meetings for about eighteen years,
beginning in 1827. Upon petition of Andrew
Young, in 1845, the charter was renewed, and
meetings were again resumed. The first
Masonic lodge to be organized in Toledo was
Toledo Lodge, No. 144, in the year 1847.
Levi S. Lownsbury was the first presiding
officer, and J. Landman was the secretary.
In 1853 a second society, known as Rubicon
Lodge, No. 237, was granted a dispensation
and I. H. Timpany was the first worshipful
master. A third organization was Sanford
L. Collins Lodge, No. 396, which was organ-
ized in 1867. Fort Meigs chapter of Royal
Arch Masons was first instituted in Perrys-
burg, in 1846. It remained there for four
years, when the growing importance of Toledo
induced the members to remove the chapter
to the larger city. Hezekiah L. Hosmer was
the first presiding officer. Toledo Com-
mandery, Knights Templar, was organized by
dispensation in 1847. W. L. Harris was
elected the first eminent commander, and the
first knight created was Hezekiah L. Hosmer.
Since the early days of Masonry, the organ-
ization has grown rapidly, and many new
chapters of the various Masonic bodies have
come into existence until, at the present time,
Toledo is noted as a strong center of Masonry.
This body owns a splendid temple, which is
used for its meetings and social functions.
Wapaukonica Lodge, No. 38, of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, was insti-
tuted in 1845, with eight charter members.
L. Watkins was elected the first noble grand,
and C. G. Keeler was chosen secretary. Rob-
ert Bloom Lodge, No. 14, arose in 1869, with
sixteen charter members, and it was followed
three years later by Maumee Valley Lodge,
No. 515. The Patriarchs Militant entered
Toledo in 1886 with the formation of Canton
Imperial, No. 22, of which M. Bartlett was
made commandant. The first lodge of the
Knights of Pythias to be organized in Toledo
was Toledo Lodge, No. 20, which was insti-
tuted in 1869. Today nearly every fraternal
order is represented in this city, and several
own splendid buildings for their social and
fraternal meetings.
SCHOOLS
"The first public movement in this section
in behalf of Common School Education, con-
sisted of a meeting of the friends of that
cause, held at the Presbyterian Church, in
Perrysburg, November 17, 1837, which was
called to order by Henry Bennett, when S. R.
Austin was made president, and P. H. Crow-
ell, of Maumee city, secretary. The president
stated the object of the meeting to be the
improvement of common schools in the Mau-
mee Valley, by elevating the standard of
their character; when Messrs. Hickox, Henry
Darling and S. R. Austin were appointed a
committee on resolutions. The afternoon
meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Mr.
Jones of Maumee City." The name of the
organization then was the "Educational
Society of the Maumee Valley;" its object,
"To improve the condition of Common
Schools, and to elevate the standard of edu-
cation by disseminating information on the
subject, and adopting such other measures
as may be deemed advisable and conducive to
these objects. The officers chosen were:
President, Dr. H. Conant, of Maumee City;
Vice Presidents, John Evans, Defiance ; Hazael
Strong, Napoleon; Jessup W. Scott, Miami;
Andrew Coffinbury, Perrysburg, and Pierre
M. Irving, Toledo. Recording Secretary, S.
R. Austin. Treasurer, John Webb, Perrys-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
351
burg." Thus writes Mr. Waggoner in his
"History of Toledo and Lucas County."
The first official record found pertaining to
public schools in Toledo is on the 18th of
October, 1836, when the trustees of Port
Lawrence Township laid it off in sixteen
school districts. James M. Whitney was town-
ship clerk at the time. In the following year
the schools of the Village of Toledo were
committed to the municipal government, and
Berdan, Samuel E. Scott, and Oliver Stevens
were named by the village council as school
directors. A school was opened for girls under
the age of fifteen and boys under eight years
of age, in a room over a tailor shop on La-
grange Street. This was the pioneer charity
school in the city. In that fall there were
taught ten girls gratuitously in addition to a
number at greatly reduced fees. They were
also furnished with books and clothing. The
> i • - • : •
I illill
TOLEDO'S MAGNIFICENT MUSEUM OF ART
the council then divided the city into three
school districts. The first woman teacher, if
not the very first teacher, in Toledo, was Miss
Harriet Wright, a niece of Governor Silas
Wright of New York, who taught a school in
the frame building in which the first court was
held. A very imperfect record has come down
to us of the early schools, and perhaps most
of them did not deserve immortality. In
1839, an advertisement appeared for "a gen-
tleman qualified to take charge of a limited
number of scholars. ' ' In that same year John
council gradually began to be more liberal
toward the schools, and a small tax was levied
in 1842 for school purposes for white children
only. Prior to that time each pupil was
obliged to pay certain fees, the school district
furnishing only the building.
In December, 1847, there were in Toledo
four schools, with 100 pupils each. One of the
prizes in that year was awarded to Zebulon
C. Pheatt for excellency in penmanship. The
first board of education consisted of the fol-
lowing persons: Ira L. Clark (president),
352
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Decius \Vadsworth, Simeon Fitch, Jr., John
B. Freeman, Samuel B. Scott, and Morgan L.
Collins. There were three small buildings,
valued at $1,500, devoted to school purposes.
There was no furniture fit for use, and there
was no money in the treasury with which to
purchase better. A high school was first
erected in 1853, which was a comparatively
small building, three stories in height, and
built of stone and brick. A tower was pro-
vided with a large clock, and above this was
a bell weighing more than two tons, with the
inscription on one of the sides: "Toledo
High School, May 1st, 1854, " and on the other,
"to Learning's Fount the Youth I call." The
first superintendent of the public schools of
Toledo was the Rev. Anson Smythe, who had
been for several years pastor of the First
Congregational Church. He remained in
charge of the schools until February, 1856.
Upon him fell the work of the organizing the
new system of education. In this he was ex-
ceptionally sucessful. Mr. Smythe afterward
served with credit as state commissioner of
common schools, and as superintendent of the
public schools of Cleveland. He was suc-
ceeded by John Eaton, Jr., who served until
the beginning of the Civil War, when he re-
signed to accept a position as chaplain of the
Twenty-Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. His successor was Moses T. Brown.
The schools have grown and expanded so
greatly that forty buildings, most of them
large and commodious, are devoted to school
purposes, and more than 800 teachers com-
prise the staff of instructors in the various
departments. The beautiful Jessup W. Scott
and Morrison R. Waite high schools are the
admiration of all who have visited them, and
they are justly the pride of the entire city.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Association," under a charter granted by the
Legislature, the declared object of which was
to establish "a lyceum and public library in
Toledo." The constitution had on it the
signatures of sixty-six men, most of whom
became prominent in the future growth of
the city. In 1845 there were 500 volumes in
its library, and ten periodicals were kept on
file. In 1864, during the acrimonious contest
between Lincoln and McClellan, politics were
injected into the organization, and the Mc-
Clellan followers elected a ticket of candidates
made up wholly of democrats. The majority
of the members withdrew and organized the
Toledo Library Association, and then pro-
ceeded to start a new library. Charles A. King
was elected president, and rooms were rented
in the second story of the building on the
northwest corner of Summit and Madison
streets, torn down in the onward march of
improvements in 1916. After a few years the
old association proposed to turn its books over
to the new, and this proposition was accepted
in 1867. All the books, amounting to 4,800
volumes, and some property, were given to
the Toledo Public Library, chartered by the
Legislature in 1873, by which the city was
authorized to make an annual levy for its sup-
port. The old quarters were retained until the
present main library building was erected and
occupied in 1890. Much credit is due to Mrs.
Frances D. Germain, who was connected with
the library for twenty-eight years, and for
almost ten of which she was the librarian.
Five new branch libraries have just been
erected from funds granted by Andrew Car-
negie, and the public library facilities in
Toledo are now equal to those of any city of
its size. The number of volumes now on the
shelves is far in excess of 100,000.
BANKS
In 1838 there was organized in the young The earliest bank in Toledo was the Bank
Village of Toledo "The Toledo Young Men's of Manhattan, with a charter from the Michi-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
gan State Legislature, bearing date of March
25, 1836. In a case carried to the Supreme
Court of Ohio, in which the bank sought to
collect an indebtedness claimed of the late
James Myers, the legal existence of the insti-
tution was questioned. That tribunal decided
that the bank never had a legal existence, and
was not authorized to transact business, since
the charter purported to be issued by a body
calling itself the Legislature of the "State
of Michigan," which at that time had no ex-
istence, because there was no such state until
almost 'a year later. Furthermore, it was held
"That Manhattan never was under the juris-
diction of Michigan, and that securities given
to an unauthorized bank are void." And yet
at one time this bank claimed assets of more
than $100,000. W. A. Chamberlain was then
the cashier.
Prentiss and Dow opened the first banking
house in Toledo in 1843, and the firm later
became H. P: Esty and Company. It was a
brokers' and exchange bank. Two years later
two chartered banks were opened up— the
Commercial Bank and Bank of Toledo. The
capital of each was $100,000. Their charters
were filed in the recorder's office on the same
day. William Rattle, of Cuyhoga Falls, was
president of the Bank of Toledo, and Charles
R. Miller was cashier. This bank was subse-
quently sold to S. M. Young, M. R. Waite,
and others, who organized it as the Toledo
National Bank in 1864. This bank went into
liquidation in 1890. The Commercial Bank
lasted less than a decade. In 1851 John Poag
and Valentine H. Ketcham commenced a pri-
vate banking business under the name of Poag
and Ketcham. In the following year John
Berdan was admitted to the partnership, and
the name became Ketcham, Berdan and Com-
pany. The firm continued in business until
1863, when it was merged with the First Na-
tional Bank. V. H. Ketcham was its first
official head, remaining as such until his death,
and John Berdan was its first cashier.
Yol. 1— IS
The Marine Bank was established by E.
Parmalee in the year 1860 but soon closed its
doors, the depositors being paid in full.
George W. Davis was determined to reorgan-
ize the institution, and so purchased the assets.
The Marine Bank then developed into a sound
financial institution. In 1864 it became the
Second National Bank, with Mr. Davis as its
first president. He remained as such until
his death in 1904, and Nehemiah Waterman
was its first cashier. In 1907, it was consoli-
dated with the Merchant's National Bank,
organized in 1871, and this institution now
owns and occupies the most conspicuous build-
ing in the city. The Northern National Bank
has also passed its first half century of exist-
ence. It was organized in 1864 by Matthew
Shoemaker and several associates. He was
elected the first president, and E. T. Morti-
mer the first cashier. In 1916 it moved into
its beautiful and imposing new building.
Keeler, Holcomb and Company began the
banking business in 1870, the partners being
Salmon H. Keeler and Horace H. Holcomb.
Twenty-one years later it was chartered as
the Holcomb National Bank. In 1907 it was
absorbed by the National Bank of Commerce,
which had succeeded the Ketcham National
Bank, organized in 1888. It is now one of
our powerful financial institutions.
The savings banks are generally of much
later origin. The Toledo Savings Institution
was organized in 1868. Richard Mott was
the first president, and A. E. Macomber filled
the position of cashier. Since then it has
become The Toledo Savings Bank and Trust
Company. It was in 1868, also, that the
Northwestern Savings Depository began busi-
ness, with T. H. Walbridge as its president
and*E. H. Van Hoesen as its secretary and
treasurer. It was merged with the above in-
stitution in 1875. The Merchants and Clerks
Savings Institution was organized in 1870.
Matthew Shoemaker became the first presi-
dent, and Oliver S. Bond the first secretary.
354
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Other banks and the dates of their organiza-
tion are as follows : The Union Savings Bank
(1888) ; The Home Savings (1892) ; The Ohio
Savings Bank and Trust Company (1896) ;
The Commercial Savings Bank and Trust
Company (1899) ; The Continental Trust and
Savings Bank Company (1901) ; The Dime
Savings Bank Company (1900) ; The Security
Savings Bank and Trust Company (1898) ;
The Market Savings Bank (1902) ; The Peo-
ples State Savings Bank (1909) ; The Spitzer-
Rorick Trust & Savings Bank Company, and
The Guardian Trust and Savings Bank
(1914).
CHANGES
Changes in Toledo have been many, and
some of them have come swiftly. In the early
'50s the principal residences in Upper Town
were on Monroe Street, while in Lower Town
they were on Lagrange Street. Not long
afterwards the fashionable center for homes
was the block bounded by Jefferson, St. Glair,
Madison, and Superior streets. The most
prominent and wealthy families of that day
had their homes there. The encroachment
of business gradually drove the residences
below Cherry Street, and as far as Elm.
Shortly afterwards some important residences
sprang up along Summit Street, and facing
the river. Palatial buildings, with a broad
expanse of lawn, gave this section an aristo-
cratic appearance. The building of railroads
and erection of coal docks along the river
front forced another migration. This time
the chosen sites were Jefferson and Madison
avenues. But business relentlessly pursued
the home owner, and another mutation has
followed. Now they are scattered farther
west, and many have transferred their perma-
nent domiciles to suburban neighborhoods.
In the early days, the citizens depended
entirely upon ferries to cross the Maumee.
As the eastern side of the city grew, however,
the lack of communication was felt. When
the proposition of building a bridge was first
broached, the business men of the city op-
posed it because it would obstruct navigation,
which was then considered the life of the
municipality. A meeting of the Board of
Trade, held in 1864, adopted burning resolu-
tions, saying that a bridge was "fraught with
great dangers to the safe and easy navigation
of the river, embarrassing to the commercial
prosperity of the city ; ' ' etc. As permission
to build the bridge had been granted, the
issue became an exciting one. The opponents
went down to defeat with noisy clamor. The
first bridge was completed in 1865, and was
operated as a toll bridge until 1872. It was
then purchased by the city, but was swept
away by the ice in the winter of 1882-3. Then
it was that the old Cherry Street Bridge, now
the Ash-Cousaul Bridge, was built in 1841.
The splendid new concrete bridge, one of the
finest in the country, wasjopened to the public
in the year 1914. The Fassett Street Bridge
completes the trio of bridges for foot and
vehicle traffic between the two sections of the
city.
The first street railway was organized in
1860, and was called The Toledo Street Rail-
road Company. In the following year it
received from the city council a franchise
to construct and operate a line on Summit
Street from Manhattan to Perry Street, then
across the Swan Creek Bridge at that point
and out Broadway. In 1869 the Adams Street
Railway Company came into existence, and
built a line from Summit to Bancroft over
Adams and Ashland, and on out Collingwood
to its junction with Cherry. In 1873, a
company was organized, known as'The Monroe
Street Railroad Company, for a railroad out
that street to Auburn. All of these were
horse car lines, and they were the humble
beginning of the vast traction transportation
which now extends over our entire city.
From its early days Toledo has taken an
important position in the grain trade. For
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
355
many years it was one of the most important
points for the shipment of wheat in the
I'nited States, and was known as the greatest
winter wheat market in the country. It has
also taken premier position in the clover seed
market, and the price of that commodity has
frequently been dictated in Toledo. The first
movement resulting in an organization that
might be called a Board of Trade in Toledo
was in 1849. On June 7th, of that year, a
meeting of the forwarders, commission men,
and produce dealers was held at the "steam
elevators" of Brownlee, Pendleton & Co. At
this meeting Matthew Brown, Jr., was the
chairman, and Edward B. Brown, the secre-
tary. As a result of this meeting an organ-
ization arose, which was called the Board of
Trade of Toledo, and the price of membership
was fixed at $2.00. Denison B. Smith was
elected the first president of this organiza-
tion, and steps were at once taken for procur-
ing "a telegraph report of Buffalo and New
York markets at 12 o'clock each day." On
April 23, 1851, another meeting of the for-
warders, commission men, and dealers was
called, and an organization effected, of which
Matthew Brown, Jr., was the president. This
organization seems to have expired with the
same year. A third Board of Trade was
established in 1861, and Truman H. Hoag
was elected the president. This body con-
tinued down until 1876, when it was decided
that a closer and more efficient organization
was advisable. Hence it was that in that year
the Toledo Produce Exchange came into exist-
ence, and has continued until the present day.
Henry D. Walbridge was the first president
of the produce exchange, and C. T. Wales was
the secretary. This organization has had an
important part in developing the grain in-
dustry in Toledo.
"Dear city of the shaded streets, beside the
saltless sea,
Catullus sang of Sirmio, and I will sing of
thee,
The river front, the ships, the roofs a-shimmer
in the sun,
The happy doorstep gossiping when summer
days are done!
And then the night, the tropic night, the sud-
den cooling rain,
The scurry of a thousand feet, the slamming
of the pane ;
And when the thunder dies away, above the
gleaming street,
The maples murmur melodies, the stars are
shining sweet.
"I love thee in the April dawn, when dew is
on the ground,
I love the wakening of life, the carnival of
sound,
The cable-cars and factories, the heaps of
ruddy ore,
The schooners heading for the bay, the long
retreating shore,
The autumn winds, the rain of leaves, the
winter's drifting snow —
But best of all, the summer nights when voices
murmur low;
And far beyond the balconies and laughter
floating faint,
The frog's eternal orchestra begins the old
complaint. ' '
CHAPTER XXIX
ALLEN COUNTY
EZEKIEL OWEN, LIMA
Allen County is one of the fourteen cpun-
ties created out of the lands ceded by the
Indians in the treaty at the Foot of the
Rapids of the Miami (Maumee). It was
named after Colonel Allen, one of the noted
officers of the War of 1812. In the first or-
ganization of the county, it was attached to
Mercer County for judicial purposes, and for
this reason much of the early general history
of the county is the same as that of Mercer.
It was not separately organized until the year
1831. At that time there were only about 600
residents within the county, a little over 400
square miles in area, and at the present time
the population approximates 80,000. There
are thirteen townships in the county.
Allen County is a very fertile agricultural
section, and lies just south of what was called
the Black Swamp. There are several streams
that flow within the county, including the
Auglaize and Ottawa rivers, the latter famil-
iarly called Hog Creek. Ottawa River and
"Hog Creek" are the same stream. For
generations it has been known only as "Hog
Creek," and few know that it was ever called
the "Ottawa River," but this is its true name.
Many versions are given as to the origin of
the name "Hog Creek," the one generally
credited being as follows: In 1786 a British
Indian agent by the name of McKee was, dur-
ing the incursions of General Logan in that
year, obliged to flee with all his property.
He took along his swine, and had them driven
to the stream, where they remained, running
wild in the woods. The Indians discovered
them and named the stream "Koshko Sepe,"
or Hog River. The stream has its source in
the great marsh in Hardin County, and up to
the time that marsh was drained and con-
verted into farm land the stream was worthy
of mention. Since the drainage of the marsh,
it depends for its water supply on lands along
its course. It runs through Lima. In the
early days it was a pretty little stream, in
which many fish were caught.
The first white man who lived within the
boundaries of Allen County is supposed to
have been Francis Deuchoquette, a French-
man, of whom more extended mention is made
in the chapter upon Auglaize County. The
Initial point in the history of the settlement
of Allen County must be known as Fort
Amanda. Here, in 1812, a fort was estab-
lished and liberally garrisoned. The fort was
built on the west bank of the Auglaize River.
It was a supply fort in the chain that reached
through the state and included Fort Recov-
ery, in Mercer County, Fort Wayne, now the
city of the same name in Indiana, Fort De-
fiance, on the Maumee, and on north. There
does not appear to have been any fighting
around this fort, though seventy-eight graves
in the cemetery nearby mark the last resting
place of as many soldiers who died while in
garrison at the fort. In 1815 a marble shaft,
erected by the State of Ohio, was dedicated
on the site of the old fort. Here the first post-
office in this part of the state was established,
and in 1829 C. C. Marshall began carrying
mail, making regular trips from Piqua to
Defiance, a distance of about ninety-five miles.
Andrew Russell opened the first farm in
356
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
357
Allen County, near Fort Amanda, in 1817,
and lived there till his death in 1828. His
daughter, the first white child born in Allen
County, was born possibly in that same year.
She fell in love with the young mail carrier,
Charles C. Marshall, and later they were mar-
ried. Another early resident was Alisolom
Brown, who settled where Lima is now lo-
time tli.-s, early piom-ers arrived, and there
was a settlement of them at an Indian village
called Shaunectown. This village was in what
is now Shawnee Township, and the site of the
Cou my Children's Home. This township, or
more strictly speaking, a tract of land on Hog
('reek, containing twenty-five square miles,
had in 1817 been created an Indian reserva-
LAST COUNCIL HOUSE OP THE SHAWNEE INDIANS IN ALLEN COUNTY,
OHIO
In use by them in 1830, when tribe was removed to a new reser-
vation in the west. It was occupied for many years by the early
settlers. Located in Shawnee Township, four miles southwest of
Lima, Ohio. The building was demolished about 1880.
cated, and his daughter, Maria Mitchell
Brown, was the first child born in what is
now Lima. Samuel McClure settled on the
banks of Hog Creek, about five miles north-
east of where Lima is now located, in about
1825. He lived on the same farm until his
death a half a century later. At that time
there were only a very few settlers within the
limits of the county. His first neighbor was
Joseph Ward, who afterwards erected what
was known as Ward's Mill.
The Indians were still numerous at the
tion and granted by a treaty, in fee simple, to
•Te-aitch-ta" (Pht), or "Falling Tree," and
Conwaskemo, "The Resolute Man," chiefs of
the Shawnee tribes residing on Hog Creek.
Pht was the last chief of his tribe on Hog
Creek, and under him the last council house
of the tribe was built. It was a substantial
log hcuse. and stood until recent years. In
1831 the Shawnees took up their march to-
ward the setting sun, and about the same
time Pht died, and was buried near his cabin
on the banks of Hog Creek. The whites lived
358
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
upon good terms with their red neighbors as
a rule, and many of these early settlers had
a great admiration for Pht, the old Indian
chief. They looked upon him as a man who
would make his mark in any community, and
in any nationality. Around his cabin, which
stood near the council house, the warriors in
their prime used to gather and plot against
their foes, both white and red.
Quilna was the business man of the tribe,
and most of the business with the whites was
transacted through him. To many of the
early settlers the name of Quilna was a house-
hold word. To his business qualities were
added great kindness of heart, and a sincere
regard for the white people. He would sac-
rifice himself in any way to benefit his new
neighbors, of a different race.
Christopher Wood, a Kentuckian, who had
been a scout in the American service for sev-
eral years, and a soldier of the War of 1812,
came to the county in 1824, accompanied by
his two sons, Joseph and Albert, and his son-
in-law, Benjamin Dolph. On reaching the
county they remained one night at the cabin
of Pht, and purchased corn and potatoes for
seed from that Indian chieftain. The Indians
assisted the Woods in raising their cabin. In
1829 Mr. Wood was appointed one of the com-
missioners to locate the seat of justice for
Allen County. He was the first justice of the
peace, served as an associate judge of the
Common Pleas Court, and subsequently filled
a number of offices of trust. The first Sun-
day school in the county was organized at his
home. Theodore E. Cunningham and his
father, Dr. William Cunningham, came in
1832. The former developed into a promi-
nent lawyer and held several political offices.
Daniel Musser arrived in 1833 from Pennsyl-
vania, and became one of the early tavern
keepers. He also operated the earliest tan-
nery.
William Chenowith, a Virginian and a rev-
olutionary soldier, entered a quarter section
of land in 1831, and brought his family in the
following year. He raised a cabin on the
bank of Lost Creek. After passing his eight-
ieth birthday, he could still split a hundred
rails in a day. Samuel Baxter settled in
Amanda Township with his two sons in 1828.
James Baxter, a son, arrived in the following
year. He was familiarly known in after years
as "Uncle Jimmy." John Goode is credited
with building the first cabin in Auglaize
Township. Griffith John settled in German
Township in 1831, and raised a family con-
sisting of eight daughters and four sons. He
became one of the largest land owners in the
county.' Ezekiel, Joseph, and Emanuel Hover
were early settlers in Shawnee Township,
reaching there in 1832. They purchased some
of the Indian lands, and their descendants
still dwell in the same neighborhood. John
and Jacob Ridenour, young married men, and
David Ridenour, a bachelor, came from Perry
County and settled a mile south of Lima on
lands that the families have continued to oc-
cupy to this day.
The history of the Welsh settlement of
Gonier dates from 1833. In that year Thomas
Watkins, James Nicholas, and David Roberts
came in wagons from Paddy's Run, in Butler
County. They built for themselves cabins
where Gomer now stands. In the following
year there were several additions to the little
settlement of families, named Jones, Evans,
Griffiths, Morgan, etc. It was not long after
this until religious services were held in the
Welsh tongue. For a time the Sunday school
was held in Rowland Jones' log cabin, and
prayer meetings were conducted at the cabin
of Thomas Watkins. Religious services were
conducted after this fashion for several years,
and it was not until 1837 that the first ser-
mon was preached by Rev. John W. Thomas.
In 1841 a log church was erected, of which
Joseph Griffiths, Sr., and John Stephens were
chosen as deacons. The first pastor was Rev.
D. W. Jones, in 1848. The community con-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
359
tinned to grow by I he incoming of fresh
Welsh sdtlrrs. and the Welsh Congi-ena
tional Clmreli of Cambria has always been an
important institution in its midst. The ser-
mi.ns are still delivered in the Welsh lan-
guage.
When the county was oftirially organi/ed
1
ALLEN CorxTY's FIRST COURT HOUSE,
LIMA. BUILT IN 1832
in 1831, James S. Daniel, John G. Wood, and
Samuel Stewart were the first county commis-
sioners. The first Court of Common Pleas
for Allen County was held in a log cabin, the
residence of James S. Daniel, near the cross-
ing of Hog Creek, at the end of East Market
Street, in May, 1833. Hon. George B. Holt,
of Dayton, was the president judge, while
Christopher Wood, James Crozier, and Wil-
liam Watt were his associates on the bench.
John Ward was appointed clerk, and Henry
Lippinoott sheritl', while Patrick I), (iomle,
of Montgomery County, was named a special
prosecuting attorney for the court. Holt was
succeeded in 1838 by Judge Helfenstein, and
he in turn was followed by Judge E. D. Pot-
ter, of Toledo, in the following year.
The earliest members of the bar who prac-
ticed law in the new County of Allen w>,.
not residents of that county. So we find that
the first prosecuting attorney of the county
was. Patrick Games Goode, who was at that
time a member of the Sidney bar. He was
a lawyer, politician, and preacher. He had
been interested in Sunday school work before
he came to Lima. He was afterwards elected
to Congress for the district which extended
from Dayton to Toledo. Likewise, he was
elected presiding judge in 1844 of the judicial
district in which Allen County was located.
After retiring from this position he joined the
Methodist Conference, and preached until the
time of his death. He was a splendid classical
scholar, and a great lover of the best of books.
Hamilton Davison has the distinction of
being Lima's first resident attorney, having
settled here in 1832. He was a fine counselor
and a cultivated gentleman, and was very
active in furthering the interests of the new
town. One of the most brilliant lawyers of
the early days of the county was Mathias H.
Nichols. He came to the town in 1845, work-
ing here as a printer for a time, and finally
brought out the paper called the Argus. He
was sent to Congress at the early age of
twenty-seven years, by the democrats, and
then was elected a second time on an inde-
pendent ticket. The third time he was
elected as a republican, and was defeated for
a fourth term by only seventy-two votes.
After leaving Congress, he resumed the prac-
tice of the law until the breaking out of the
Civil War, in which he enlisted. Death cut
his career short at the early age of thirty-
seven years. Col. Lester Bliss was admitted
360
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to the bar at Marion and immediately came
to Lima, where he practiced for a number
of years. He served as prosecuting attorney
of the county for one term, and was also
elected to the Legislature. He was the first
representative of the county in that body un-
der the new constitution. He enlisted during
the Civil War, and, after retiring from the
service, moved to Delphos, of which village
he became the first mayor. He declined the
nomination for lieutenant governor at one
time.
Benjamin F. Metcalf is generally consid-
ered as one of the very greatest of Allen
County's lawyers. He began life as a tailor,
and studied law while following that pursuit.
With a book propped up before him, he
stitched and studied at the same time. Mr.
Metcalf was a lawyer for many years in Ka-
lida, Putnam County, and from there went
to Delphos, Allen County, then called Section
Ten, on the Miami and Erie Extension Canal,
where in 1845 he started a newspaper., and
three years later was elected to the Ohio State
Legislature. He was elected to the Common
Pleas bench in 1851, and soon afterwards
moved to Lima, where he resided until his
death. He was distinguished for his remark-
able ability in disposing of legal questions
upon what he called "original principles,"
rather than upon precedents. Thomas M.
Robb had some experience in newspaper work
before coming to Lima, where he was admitted
to the bar in 1853. He immediately formed
a partnership with C. N. Lamison, which part-
nership continued until he was elected pro-
bate judge in 1856. He served in the Legis-
lature, and was at one time mayor of the city.
For a time he edited the Argus and the Peo-
ple's Press. James Mackenzie, a Scotchman
by birth, had the unusual distinction of serv-
ing as prosecuting attorney for three separate
counties, Henry, Putnam, and Allen. He
served for a number of years on the Com-
mon Pleas bench. He was noted for his
strong anti-slavery views, and as one of the
ablest editors Allen County ever had. Among
the other lawyers of the earlier days were
Isaiah S. Pillars, who was elected attorney-
general of Ohio in 1877; Theodore E. Cun-
ningham, a man of unsullied reputation;
Charles N. Lamison, who served two terms
in Congress with marked ability; Charles M.
Hughes, who filled a number of official posi-
tions ; Jacob S. Conklin, and James S. Daniels.
In the year 1866 there came to Lima a
young lawyer, who formed a partnership with
James Irvine. For a dozen years he pursued
his profession in this growing town with con-
siderable success. At last he became inter-
ested in railroad affairs, and transferred his
activities to that important business. His first
railroad connection was with the legal depart-
ment of the old Lake Erie and Louisville
Road, in which he became a stockholder. He
next played a very important part in the
Nickel Plate Railroad. His success with this
railroad made Calvin S. Brice a national fig-
ure and a millionaire. James L. Price also
deserves a place among the most noted mem-
bers of the Allen County bar. In 1883 he
came to Lima and entered into partnership
with Judge George W. Overmyer. Before
that time he had served as prosecuting attor-
ney for Carroll County, and also for Van
Wert County. In 1894 he was elected circuit
judge as a republican in a strong democratic
district. In 1901 he was elected a member of
the Supreme Court, which position he filled
with great dignity and distinction, and died
while serving on that bench.
Dr. William Cunningham came to Lima in
1832 and resided here until his death, a dec-
ade afterwards. In the following year Dr.
William McHenry settled in the embryo vil-
lage, and made this city his home until his
decease more than half a century later. Dr.
Samuel Black, who was also one of Lima's
early teachers, practiced medicine here in the
early '30s, but afterwards removed to Put-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
361
iiani County. Dr. S. D. Anderson and Dr.
William Kinley were also among the pioneer
physicians. Dr. W. H. Harper came to Lima
in 1845, and in the early years of his practice
covered a very wide territory. Dr. Samuel
Sanford arrived a year later, and for- a few
years conducted a drug store. After that he
began the practice of medicine, which he con-
tinued for more than two score of years. Dr.
K'obert W. Thrift was for many years one of
the most prominent physicians of the county.
He came to Kalida in 1847, and practiced
there for a number of years. He served with
distinction during the Civil War, and after
that opened an office for the practice of his
profession in Lima. For a number of years
he filled a chair in the Fort Wayne Medical
College. Dr. Newton Sager was one of the
pioneer physicians at Lafayette, in this
county. He began practicing in 1843, and
was well known among the early settlers of
almost the entire county. Dr. C. A. Evans
came to Delphos in 1850, and was identified
with the practice in that village for many
years. He afterwards drifted into the pro-
motion business, and was identified with the
building of several railroads. He served as
mayor of that village for several terms.
Among the other physicians of the early days
were Dr. P. H. Brooks, who resided in Lima ;
Dr. Brice Blair, who settled in Jackson Town-
ship ; and Dr. John Davis, who had his office
in Gomer.
CHURCHES
Lima is a city of churches. The scores of
houses of worship extend a sincere and cor-
dial welcome to all who come within the gates
of the city. There is scarcely a creed or a
religious denomination of any strength in this
country which is not represented by its own
house of worship in the city. These churches
date back to the early days of the village
called Lima. The First Presbysterian Church
of Lima was organized August 1. 1M>:{, l>y
Rev. Thomas Clark and R«-v. .lames ('uimint:
ham. John Jameson arid Alexander llratty
were chosen elders of the small congregation.
A few months after its organi/ation a small
brick church was built on Wot Him Stn-rt,
which was used until 1845, when it was re-
placed by a frame building at the corner
of Elizabeth and Spring streets. In 1855 a
number of members withdrew and organize. I
a second Presbyterian Church, called the
••\ew School." Under Rev. T. P. Johnson,
in the year 1864, a second separation occurred,
which resulted in the formation of the Cen-
tral Presbyterian Church. This new congre-
gation erected a house of worship on North
Main Street. When, in 1872, the three
churches were all united, the old church at
the corner of Spring and Elizabeth was aban-
doned, and the Main Street building used. In
1878 the church at the corner of West Mar-
ket and West streets was constructed, under
the pastorate of Rev. I. G. Hall, in which the
church, since then known as the Market Street
Presbyterian Church, has worshiped. In 1875
a new Presbyterian congregation, now the
Olivet Presbyterian Church, was organized
by the Lima Presbytery. The ruling elders
of this new congregation were J. W. Waters,
James Harper, and John Cunningham. Their
first edifice was erected on South Main Street
in 1878, under the pastorate of Rev. A. B.
Campbell. Their present splendid ichurch
was dedicated on January 27, 1884, at the
corner of Kibly and Elizabeth streets.
The first Methodist Episcopal class in Lima
was gathered together in October, 1833, by
John Alexander and James W. Finley, mis-
sionaries of the St. Mary's Mission, although
services had been held there earlier. The first
services -of the congregation were conducted
by Rev. Jesse Pryor in the old log courthouse.
Mr. Pryor is also believed to have performed
the first marriage ceremony in Lima, when he
united in matrimony James Saxon and a Miss
362
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Jones. The first quarterly services were con-
ducted by Rev. James Finley and Rev. John
Alexander. About 1837 a frame church was
built at the corner of Union and Market
streets, and the church became known as
Trinity. This was replaced in 1852 by a
larger building, and this in its turn gave way
to a still more commodious structure at the
corner of Market and Elizabeth streets, in
1871, which was dedicated by Bishop Foster.
Under the pastorate of Rev Thomas H. Camp-
bell a new site was purchased on the corner
of Market and West streets and a fine stone
edifice erected, which is one of the most com-
plete churches in Northwestern Ohio. It was
dedicated on the 17th of March,- 1912, by
Bishop W. F. McDowell. At the present time
there are four additional Methodist churches
in Lima. Of these, Grace Church was organ-
ized in 1879. Grace Church is now one of
the strongest churches in the city, and has
just completed a modern church structure,
with provisions for everything in modern
church work. Epworth Church dates from
1894. The Second Street congregation is a
still more recent body, and the St. Paul's
African Methodist Episcopal Church was or-
ganized in 1862.
The First Baptist Church in Lima was
organized in 1834 with twenty-six members.
Rev. William Chaffee was the first pastor,
and it was admitted into Mad River Associa-
tion in the same year. Services were at first
held in the courthouse, until a small house of
worship was completed. In 1855 a larger
church was erected, which was dedicated to
the worship of God in the following year.
More than twenty pastors have ministered to
this church. In 1912 the beautiful and com-
modious new structure now occupied was for-
mally dedicated to the worship of the Al-
mighty. The South Lima Baptist Church was
organized in 1896, with a membership of
twenty-two persons, who withdrew from the
older organization for the purpose of building
up a new society in a growing section of the
city. The Second Baptist Church, for colored .
members, was formed a quarter of a century
ago, and is in a flourishing condition.
As early as 1830 Father Stallo, a mission-
ary of Cincinnati, visited the Catholics of this
neighborhood. The first mass, however, was
read at the home of Mr. O'Connell by a San-
guinist father in 1846. People came many
miles to take part in this holy sacrifice. It
was not until the building of the first Catholic
Church in the fifties that the Catholic popu-
lation very largely increased. The first
church was built in 1858, through the efforts
of Father Kreusch, and it was named St.
Rose, in honor of America's first canonized
saint. As a labor of love, the windows and
door frames were made b.y John Boebel, one
of the original members. Rev. Patrick Hen-
neberry and Rev. Michael Prendergast were
among the early priests who ministered to the
congregation. The first resident pastor was
appointed in 1861, in the person of Rev. Ed-
ward J. Murphy. The present church was
dedicated in the year 1872, when Rev. A. R.
Sidley was the pastor. St. John's Catholic
Church, on South Main Street, was started
by Rev. F. G. Rupert in 1901. The corner-
stone of their church was laid by Bishop J.
F. Horstman in that same year, before a very
large concourse of people. A new building
is now in course of erection.
Zion's English Evangelical Lutheran
Church dates from 1854, when a number of
persons of this faith, under leadership of
Rev. Paul G. Stierwalt, gathered together to
organize a congregation. The second congre-
gation, called St. Paul's, was organized in the
early '70s and now has a large membership.
The German Reformed Church was organized
by a number of Germans living in Lima in
1860, and Calvary English Reformed about
1885. Christ's Protestant Episcopal Church
was formed in 1887, with forty-two members.
The Wayne Street Church of Christ came
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
863
into existence in 1869, and the first pastor
was 1,'ev. (i. .M. Kemp. Tliis church recently
<• reded a <-iniiiiio(li(iiis building on West North
Street, and changed its name to Central
Church of Christ. The Spring Street Lu-
ll],.ran Church, now the First Evangelical
Lutheran, was organized about 1885, and has
a neat elmrdi at (lie corner of Spring and
Price streets. The First Christian Church, a
thriving organization, is located at the corner
of Elm and West streets. Other churches are
the Tinted Brethren (1880), First Congrega-
tional (1887), Christian Science, and Temple
Beth Israel.
THE PRESS
The first publication to disseminate news in
lama was a small weekly paper called the
Herald, which was edited by Messrs. Ilollister
and Bennett, and was issued before the town
was five years old. It did not receive much
support, so that the Herald and its publishers
soon disappeared from the village. In 1841
Thomas Smith came to the town and started
a paper, which did not last long. lie soon
sold his office to Milton Gillett and Abelard
Guthrie, who began the Porcupine. Mr.
Guthrie was an able but very eccentric man,
who had many idiosyncrasies. He went west
and became very prominent in the early trou-
bles in Kansas. In 1843 George W. Andrews
purchased the office of the Porcupine, and
changed its name to the Lima Argus. This
paper soon became a leading advocate of dem-
ocratic principles in Northwest Ohio. In 1845
Mr. Andrews disposed of his plant to Mathias
H. Nichols. When Mr. Nichols was elected
to Congress, he sold the Argus to T. E. Cun-
ningham and William C. Tompkins, who pub-
lished it until 1854, when Mr. Cunningham was
succeeded by Thomas M. Robb. Mr. Robb
changed the name to the Allen County Demo-
crat. Later the paper- was sold to James
Mackenzie (mentioned heretofore), who
changed the name to The National. After
the Lincoln campaign in 1860, he sold the
paper to David S. Fisher, who di;inired the
name back to the Allen County Democrat.
The Democrat was sold to Mr. Fisher, and it
came into the possession of II. B. Kelly in
1874, and was conducted by him until his
death, in 1881. The Democrat was variously
owned until 1889, when it consolidated with
the Daily Annex.
In 1843 Edward Marrott and Hamilton
Davison established the Lima Reporter, a
whig paper. This paper lived but three or
four years, so that the Argus again became
the only publication in Lima. Sydenham
Shaffer began the Gazette in 1854, and in the
following year it was disposed of to the Par-
menter brothers. Harvey Parmenter soon
retired, leaving this paper in the hands of
his brother Cornelius. With the exception,
of a year or two, Cornelius continued the pub-
lication of the paper alone until 1872, when
Cal Edmiston became his partner for a short
time. W. A. Campbell purchased the plant
in 1885, and a couple of years later admitted
H. D. Campbell to partnership. Under this
management the Gazette was a successful and
profitable publication, and in March, 1887,
came the Daily Gazette, under the manage-
ment of F. T., W. A. and H. D. Campbell.
From its inception the paper was first reliably
whig, and then republican.
In 1870, A. B. Coe and H. L. Medsker, two
boys, came into possession of an old army
printing press and a small quantity of type.
With it they did odd jobs of printing, and in
1874 they published a paper called The Sun.
It did not acquire much of a circulation, and
it was sold to Reverend Lockhard, who used
it to propagate his own religious views. In
1876 it was bought by J. C. Edmiston, who
changed the name to The Moon. He an-
nounced that the Sun had set, but that the
Moon had risen. In the following year he
sold it to the Campbell brothers, when the
364
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
name was changed to the Republican. In
1880 the paper passed into hands of Charles
L. Long & Company. The publication was
made a daily in 1882, and in 1891 was con-
solidated with the Ca/ette as the Republican-
Gazette.
The Weekly Democratic Times made its ap-
pearance in 1879, with 0. B. Selfridge, Jr.,
and E. B. Halladay as the proprietors. In
1884 the daily Times was established, with
Mr. Selfridge as the editor. Five years later
the Times was consolidated with the Allen
County Democrat, and the present name of
Times-Democrat was adopted. The Lima
Daily News is a non-partisan evening paper,
founded by a Mr. D'Armand in 1897. In the
following year it was purchased by E. W.
Jackson and J. R. Finnell, and is now issued
by a stock company. The Volksblatt was the
first German paper of Allen County, and was
'established by A. Zwanzig in 1876. It sur-
vived only four issues. The Courier was then
founded by George Feltz in 1877, and re-
mained in his possession until 1890, when it
was purchased by Adolph Weixelbaum, and
is now a part of the Lima Daily News plant.
Before the days of banks in Lima, the
United States Land Office served as a deposi-
tory for money among the early settlers. At
a later date, the store of King & Company
acted in this capacity, and always kept a large
amount of money on hand with which it
would cash checks. The first bank was a very
modest affair, and was known as Leighton,
Hurd & Jacob's Bank, and was established in
the early '50s. A few years later Mr. Leigh-
ton retired, but the business was continued
until about 1859. The National Deposit Bank
was organized and opened for business under
the direction of Shelby Taylor, Benjamin C.
Faurot, and George H. Hackedorn. In 1867
this institution became the Allen County
Bank, and at a later period the name was
changed to the Lima National Bank, which for
many years was one of the leading financial
institutions of the state. The Exchange Bank
was started shortly after the war, by N.
Tucker. This was succeeded by the Farmers
Savings Bank, with J. B. Roberts as president
and Mr. Tucker as the cashier. The Davis
Bank was a private bank started shortly after
the war, and was afterwards bought by Baxter
Bros. & Company, and has since been operated
as the City Bank of Lima. It was purchased
by Thornton T. Mitchell, who for more than
a third of a century remained as its president,
and his sons are now the owners.
The Citizens Bank of Lima was the early
name of the banking institution which in 1872
was changed to the First National Bank. This
is the oldest financial institution in the city
today. The leading spirit in this organization
was the late Senator Calvin S. Brice, who
remained an officer and director until his
death. Goldsmith and Kalb's Bank was estab-
lished in 1894. Four years later it was con-
verted into the American National Bank,
which was finally liquidated and succeeded by
the Bank of Lima. It afterwards sold out to
the Ohio National Bank. The Ohio National
Bank began business about 1888, and has con-
tinued actively in business from that date.
About ten years ago it became the Old Na-
tional Bank. The Metropolitan Bank is one
of the later banking institutions, and was
chartered in 1890. The Commercial Bank
opened for business in 1895, and its first pres-
ident was Dr. Samuel A. Baxter. The Com-
mercial Bank a few years ago was taken over
by a company and its name changed to the
German-American Bank, with George Feltz
as cashier, and it so continues. The Lima
Trust Company, which is a banking institu-
tion in the fullest sense of the word, opened
a store for business in 1903. All of the banks
of Lima are strong and conservative institu-
tions, which have aided much in the develop-
ment of the city.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
365
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES
Lima was only a small village, with a few
hundred inhabitants, when a dispensation was
granted for the organization of a Masonic
lodge there. This was Lima Lodge, No. 205,
Free and Accepted Masons. Orrin Curtis was
the first worshipful master, and John H.
Meily was the secretary. The first persons to
have the degree conferred upon them were
Samuel Sanford and Napoleon B. Howard,
who were business partners. Garrett Wykoff
Lodge, No. 585, was organized in 1900, with
Davis J. Cable as the worshipful master. It
was named in commemoration of an old and
honored Mason of Lima. Lima Chapter, No.
49, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered in
1852. Lima Council, No. 20, Royal and Select
Masters, originated in the formal way in 1854.
Ely Bond was the thrice illustrious master,
and D. H. Anderson deputy master. Shaw-
nee Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templar,
was granted its dispensation in 1855, with
Ely Bond as the eminent commander. Be-
cause of the growth of Masonry, it became
almost necessary to have special quarters.
For this purpose, ground was broken early in
the year 1900 for the Masonic Temple, which
is now one of the ornamental public buildings
of the city.
The Odd Fellows entered Lima not long
after the Masons. Allen Lodge, No. 223, was in-
stituted in 1853. Ely Bond was the first noble
grand, and J. J. Knox was the original record-
ing secretary. In 1874 some of the members
withdrew and organized the Lima Lodge, No.
581. In 1890 a third lodge was organized, which
is known as Solar Lodge, No. 783. It was in
1875 that the Knights of Pythias formally en-
tered Lima. The first initiates were John F.
Hauenstein and John N. Hutchison. In 1881
the Uniform Rank was organized, which for
many years was an important feature of the
lodge. The enthusiasm and zeal of the Lima
Pythians kept it in great prominence through-
out Ohio. It is probably more closely iden-
tilied with that order than any other city,
save Washington only. None were more
active than Walter B. Richie, who has filled
all the offices in the order up to the position
of supreme chancellor, which position he occu-
pied for the period of two years. When a
revision of the ritual of the order was in con-
templation, Mr. Richie began the prepara-
tion. For four years he labored upon its
preparation. The ritual as prepared by him
was exemplified before the Supreme Lodge by
a team from Lima Lodge in 1892, and was
adopted without the change of a single word,
by an almost unanimous vote. One thousand
dollars was appropriated to pay the expenses
of the team. Justus H. Rathbone, the founder
of the order, was taken sick while on a lec-
turing trip, and died in Lima. The order
now has 400 members in the city.
Lima Lodge, No. 162, of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, was organized in
1892. Walter B. Richie was the first exalted
ruler, and T. C. Robinson the first secretary.
The lodge has steadily grown, until it now
numbers several hundred and occupies a
splendid new building as its home. The
Grand Army of the Republic is represented
by Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, which was
organized in 1882. Seventeen comrades en-
rolled themselves as charter members, and
Owen Francis was elected the first com-
mander. The post has associated with it the
Woman's Relief Corps, Sons of Veterans,
Spanish War Veterans, Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic, Daughters of Veterans,
etc. A thriving circle of Daughters of the
Revolution is also in active existence. Among
the other fraternal organizations in the city
are the Knights of Maccabees (1893), the
Modern Woodmen of America (1895),
Knights of Columbus (1899), American In-
surance Union, Woodmen of the World, Loyal
Order of Moose, organized in 1910, and now
366
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
numbering a membership of nearly 1,000, the
Eagles, and Catholic Knights of Ohio.
OIL INDUSTRY
For many years the oil industry has been
an important one in Allen County. It has
contributed much toward the upbuilding of
the City of Lima. The driller began his first
work in the count}' in the spring of 1885,
upon the ground of the Lima Straw Board
Works, under the energetic direction of Ben-
jamin C. Faurot. When the drill struck the
famous Trenton rock without finding any
great supply of gas, there was great disap-
pointment. The well was shot, and immedi-
ately began to yield more than 200 barrels
of oil. The news of this discovery spread over
the country quickly, and men came from all
directions to investigate. A number of Lima
gentlemen immediately formed an organiza-
tion, under the name of the Citizens Gas
Company, the object of which was to make
further investigation of the prospect for oil
and gas. They put down a second well, which
was still larger than the first, as it proved to
be a forty or forty-five barrel pumping well.
The story • of the oil industry in Lima and
vicinity from this time reads like romance.
Within almost a decade the industry had de-
veloped until it spread over a large section
of Northwest Ohio. Lima remained the head-
quarters of the oil industry, for the Standard
Oil Company established its headquarters in
that city. A refinery was built, which em-
ployed hundreds of men, and distributed thou-
sands of dollars in wages every month. For
many years the Lima field, as it is called, stood
second to the Pennsylvania field in the pro-
duction of high grade oil. Several hundred
million barrels of petroleum have been pro-
duced within that field since its first discovery
in 1885. The maximum production was
reached in the year 1904, when more than
24,000,000 barrels of petroleum were pro-
duced. From that time it has gradually
decreased. The Solar Refining Company is
one of the leading industrial enterprises of
the City of Lima, and an important factor in
its prosperity. The Buckeye Pipe Line Com-
pany owns and occupies a handsome building
exclusively for its own offices. The Manhat-
tan Oil Company, an independent company,
OIL TANK FIRE NEAR LIMA
formerly held large interests in this vicinity,
but long since went out of existence.
LIMA
Lima was selected as the seat of justice for
Allen County on March 3, 1831. The com-
mission which selected the site was composed
of Christopher Wood, of Allen County; Jus-
tin Hamilton, of Mercer, and Adam Barber,
of Putnam. It was surveyed in the following
month by Justin Hamilton, the county sur-
veyor of Allen County. Patrick G. Goode
acted as godfather for the new settlement, and
he named it Lima after the ancient capital of
Peru. At first there was a dispute as to the
HISTORY OF NORTH WKST OHIO
367
pronunciation, for h«' wished it pronounced
"Le-ma" after the Spanish fasliion. but his
opponents ruled, and it lias been pronounced
Lima after our English fashion ever since. It
is said that he never could i|iiite forget this
out. The side price ;i Venr_'c< I aliollt >!!."> each.
One whole block was purchased by Doctor
Cunningham for $•!<). ">, a very small sum,
even for those days.
In the winter of ls:{}-,r>, the Tinted States
THY. FIRST COURT HOUSE IN ALI.EN COUNTY
At Lima, Built in 1831-32, and Used Till 1840. Logs Covered with
Weatherboard.
contrariness. The state had given to the
county a quarter section of land to be laid
off in lots, which were to be sold at auction.
Christopher Wood was named as the director
to supervise the sale of these lots, which oc-
curred a few months after the town was laid
Land Office was removed from Wapakoneta
to Lima, and with it there came as receiver,
Charles William Blackburn. With a splen-
did military career to his credit, General
Blackburn was a conspicuous figure in the
entire settlement. He had assisted in the
368
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
building of Fort Mi-igs, and had led an expe-
dition to the relief of General Winchester at
Frenchtown, but arrived too late to prevent
the massacre that followed that officer's sur-
render. He was a man of splendid physical
power and of an imposing appearance, for he
was more than six feet in height, and weighed
over 300 pounds. His position was one of
great responsibility in those days, for he han-
dled large sums of silver and gold without the
convenience of a modern safe in which to
place this wealth. All of the coin had to be
transported to Columbus by wagon. General
Blackburn was a military enthusiast. As a
result, the general muster of those days was
a great occasion. The most conspicuous of all
would be General Blackburn, sitting upon a
horse like a cavalier of old, and looking like
the general-in-chief of a large army with his
plume and spurs. He was elected to the
Legislature from this district. He finally
Tnoved from Lima to Allentown, where he died
in 1858, and was buried at Lima with military
honors.
The first dry goods merchant in the village
was James Peltier, who kept a stock of goods
in a cabin as early as 1828, for Carlin and
Company of Findlay. Three years later he
purchased the stock and began business on his
own account. In 1833 he disposed of his stock
to Henry Lippincott. Another early mer-
chant was Charles Baker, who, with his
brother-in-law, J. M. Anderson, established
the firm of Anderson and Baker. Rev. James
Anderson had been a missionary to the In-
dians. Adgate Hoover also conducted one of
the pioneer stores. The public square in those
days is said to have been a mud hole so deep
that it was at times almost impossible for a
team of horses to draw an empty wagon across
it. The first hotel was opened by John P.
Mitchell, on the corner of Market and Main
streets. Another early boniface was John
Bashore, who was the seventh man to take
up his abode in the settlement, to which he
brought his family in 1832. He kept a hotel
here for many years.
Richard Metheany was prominent in Lima's
early days. His first public position was that
of clerk of the courts, about 1844. From that
time until his death in 1879 he remained in
positions that were more or less public. He
took an active part in promoting the Ohio
and Indiana Railroad. He filled the offices
of county auditor, mayor, member of school
board, and justice of the peace. John Meily
came to Lima in 1845. His first office was
township clerk, at a salary of $8 per year.
Later he was elected county clerk. His eldest
daughter, Olivia, became the wife of Calvin
S. Brice.
The Town of Lima was officially organized
on March 29, 1842, with Henry DeVilliers
Williams as its first mayor. Dr. William
McHenry had been elected recorder (clerk),
and Amos Clutter was the earliest marshal.
The trustees were John Alexander, Jr., Sam-
uel Black, Hamilton Davison, Thomas K.
Jacobs, and Daniel D. Thompkins. Mr. Wil-
liams was a college graduate, and became one
of Lima 's most prominent pioneers. He came
to that settlement by the way of Toledo in
1835, bringing with him his family. He had
already served a term as county auditor, be-
fore his election to the office of mayor, and he
also had been for a time a justice of the peace.
Mr. Williams was a unique character. Dressed
in buckskin breeches, loose shirt, and fur cap,
with a pack of dogs at his heels, he tramped
the country over. He was a great huntsman,
and had a penchant for swapping arms,
horses, and other property. He was a gen-
erous-hearted, reckless, easy-going man, who
would divide his last morsel with one in need.
He was a great raconteur, and would sit for
hours relating1 some of his experiences.
As mayor, Mr. Williams introduced his own
peculiar views of what constituted the work
of "Blind Goddess." South of town there
lived a strapping big fellow, by the name of
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
369
Ixidenour, who was as powerful as he was
massive. He came to town one clay and, in
the course of his travels, ran across a little
fellow who wanted some fun at his expense.
Ridenour ordered him to shut up, and as he
was slow in complying with the command, he
picked him up and set him down in the mid-
dle of a mud puddle. Ridenour was arrested
and brought before the mayor, charged with
disorderly conduct. When he pleaded guilty,
his Honor gave him a severe lecture on his
violation of the law, and fined him $5, after
which lie said: "Now, Jacob, for having ad-
ministered a well-merited punishment to a
bully, I will allow you $5.25, and here is the
change." Colonel Williams met with a tragic
death. He and Daniel Musser, Jr., were al-
most inseparable, and on one of their excur-
sions to Marion for some fruit trees, Mr. Wil-
liams purchased at Kenton a dog which he
very much admired. In handling it, he was
bitten on the hand. Some weeks later he was
attacked with hydrophobia, and, with all the
attendant horrors of that malady, died De-
cember 19, 1846.
Another man very prominent in the up-
building of Lima was Thomas K. Jacobs. He
came to the village in 1838 and followed
tailoring for several years. From that he
drifted into general merchandise, and finally
into real estate. In this he was eminently
successful. He platted several additions,
which were put upon the market from time
to time, and it is said that nearly the whole
of East Lima passed through his hands. No
one in Lima has ever handled so much real
estate as did Mr. Jacobs. He served the
county as treasurer for ten years, represented
it in the Legislature, and served as quarter-
master during the Civil War.
Benjamin C. Faurot, a farmer's son, came
to Lima and engaged first in the livery busi-
ness. During the war he turned his knowl-
edge of horses to good account by purchasing
horses for the Government. In this way he
laid the foundation of a large fortune. He
then entered the banking business. He built
the opera house, acquired the city's first street
railway, and became interested in manufac-
turing. He then branched out into the build-
ing of a railroad, the Columbus and Lake
.Michigan Railway, which marked the begin-
ning of his financial reverses. All of his great
fortune finally escaped from his grasp.
Nevertheless, Lima owed much to his enter-
prise and farsightedness, and his memory is
still cherished by her citizens.
The first Court of Common Pleas for Allen
County was held August 31, 1831, in James
S. Daniels' cabin, which stood near the pres-
ent Market Street bridge. The next year a
courthouse was built just below the southeast
corner of the square. In 1840 a contract for
a new brick courthouse was let to Orlando
Boughton, of Wooster, Ohio, and was finished
in 1842. This building stood where the Cin-
cinnati Block now stands, and for more than
forty years served the purpose of both court-
house and county jail. The cornerstone of
the present courthouse was laid July 4, 1882,
and the building was formally opened in the
fall of 1884. It cost, with the adjacent stone
jail, $350,000.
The first schoolmaster of Lima was John
Ward, a Virginian. In 1830 he moved with
his family to Allen County, and began the
arduous task of making a farm in an un-
broken forest. He taught school near where
Hawke's mill later stood, in the winter of
1831-32. In the following spring, several
of his pupils came and paid their tuition by
clearing ground and making fence rails.
From the date of the survey of Lima, he took
an active part in that settlement, and was
appointed the first clerk of the court upon
the organization of the county in 1831. He
himself had received but three months' school-
ing, but had educated himself afterwards so
that he was able to secure a school certificate.
He taught school in the old courthouse for a
370
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
time. Another early schoolmaster was John
Cunningham, who taught, in 1832. One of
the very best teachers of the early days was
Joseph H. Richardson, who came to the
county in 1836. He was a relative of Andrew
Jackson, and his wife was kin to James Mad-
ison. He entered land in the county, upon
which he built a log schoolhouse, and in
which he taught for several years. He was
a self-made, and to a great extent self-edu-
cated man. He was a born politician, and
took an active part in many of the early cam-
paigns. He himself served as county auditor
and as clerk of the courts. One of the ward
schools has been named in his honor.
Free schools were first established in 1850,
and the town was divided into three districts.
The Lima Academy was opened in 1852, with
Rev. James Campbell as the principal. It
was a successful institution, and was patron-
ized by Lima's best citizens. The academy
continued until 1856, when the union schools
were organized. Mr. Wilhelm was the first
superintendent of the union schools, and the
first board of education was composed of W.
H. C. Mitchell, William E. Lee, and Mathias
H. Nichols. William A. Shaw was then the
superintendent. The first class was gradu-
ated on the 3d of June, 1864, and consisted
of three young ladies. These graduates were
Mary Watt, Fidelia Bennett, and Josie Cun-
ningham. In 1865 there was but one grad-
uate, and for the next two years there were
none who completed the course. The schools
began to grow rapidly about 1872, when a
new building was erected, and this process
has continued until Lima now has a dozen or
more school buildings, and an ever-increasing
demand for more.
As Lima developed from a village into a
city, the need of a city hospital became evi-
dent. In 1894 a movement was started to
build a hospital, and a play was given to raise
the funds, but this movement proved abortive.
The idea did not die, however, and three years
later, the Pastor's Union of the city vigor-
ously took up the proposition. A committee
was appointed to confer with the Allen
County Medical Society, and a joint com-
mittees to prepare the necessary preliminaries
to develop the project. A mass meeting was
called in one of the churches, which was
largely attended. As a result, a hospital so-
ciety was organized at this meeting, and com-
mittee to prepare the necessary preliminaries
were appointed. The Lima City Hospital
Society was the name adopted. In the fol-
lowing year the Overmyer property, on East
Market Street, was purchased and the build-
ing remodeled to suit the needs of a hospital.
The name finally adopted was the Lima Hos-
pital Society, and the building was opened in
April, 1899. From the beginning the hospital
has been run on strictly non-sectarian lines,
and every religious society in the city has
given the hospital its earnest support. A levy
was made for the hospital in 1899 by the city
council, and this has been continued each
year. In 1901 a new building was erected
upon the same lot, which greatly increased
the hospital's capacity. A training school for
nurses was opened up in connection with the
hospital in 1902, and a class of nurses has
graduated each year.
The public library idea in Lima had its
origin in a reading club, composed of both
men and women, which was organized many
years ago. .As soon as the public library
movement gained headway over the country,
this club began to agitate the proposition of
a public library in the Town of Lima. A
committee, consisting of Judge James Mac-
kenzie, Olivia Meily, and Martha Richardson,
was appointed "to proceed in the matter as
they saw fit and proper. ' ' Subscriptions and
books were solicited, and a number of gen-
erous contributions were made. Although
this movement was not successful, its influ-
ence was not wholly lost. The Chautauqua
movement increased the demand for library
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
facilities. A library association was formed,
with I. S. Motter as its president. This sec-
ond library movement also failed. The books
that had been gathered were placed under the
management and care of the Young Men's
Christian Association, until a public library
should bo established. The third and success-
ful movement was begun in the fall of 1900.
A number of clubs became active in its in-
terest. Among the women, Mrs. 0. W. Smith
was especially active, and among the men,
Herbert L. Brice did most to further the
project. This movement was thoroughly or-
ganized, and a library was established, with
Medora Freeman as the librarian. It was
opened to the public on September 21, 1901,
with less than 2,000 volumes ready for circu-
lation. It was soon found that larger and
better quarters were necessary, and negotia-
tions were begun with Andrew Carnegie for
a new building. He offered to provide the
sum of $30,000 for a library if the people of
Lima would furnish a site and guarantee 10
per cent of this amount annually for its main-
tenance. A splendid lot was purchased close
to the heart of the city, and the beautiful
building erected which is now in use.
Lima is a city of manufacturing. One of
the oldest and probably the largest manufac-
turing institution is the Lima Locomotive and
Machine Company, which dates from 1860.
In this year it was started in a very small
way and under adverse circumstances. It now
covers many acres of ground with its many
buildings and yards, and turns out hundreds
of railroad locomotives each and every year.
The Deisel-Wemmer Company is one of the
largest cigar manufacturing concerns in the
United States. It manufactures the "San
Felice" cigar, which is sold everywhere.
Henry Deisel, together with Henry G. and
William J. Wemmer, began business in 1890
as a partnership. Their success was remark-
able from the start, and it has at times been
almost impossible to keep up with the demand
for their products. The company now oper-
ates a number of branches in other cities.
The Gram-Bernstein Motor Car Company and
the Garford Truck Company are large con-
cerns that manufacture motor trucks, which
are shipped all over the world. The Lima
Steel Casting Company is a thriving institu-
tion. The East Iron and Machinery Works,
manufacturing asphalt paving machines and
other machinery, Cincinnati, Hamilton and
Dayton, and Lake Erie and Western Railway
shops, and a host of other activities give work
to thousands of men.
VILLAGES
The little Town of Amanda was platted in
1832 by Samuel Washburn, but never devel-
oped into anything, and exists only in mem-
ory. Westminster is a thriving village
platted by Alexander Creps in 1834, on the
Auglaize. Allentown was laid out by George
Povenmire and William Myers in 1835.
Elida was placed on the map in 1852 by
Griffith John. It was incorporated in 1878.
It has a number of stores, and there are four
churches. Lafayette was incorporated in
1868, with M. C. Mumaugh as mayor. It has
always had a reputation for the high char-
acter of its citizenship. West Cairo was laid
out by Jacob Miller in 1848, and was incor-
porated in 1875. Beaver Dam dates from
1853, and owes its existence to Frederick
Shull.
Bluff ton is a prosperous city about half way
between Findlay and Lima. It is the home
of a Mennonite college. It was named after
a town in Indiana. The first settler here was
Joseph Deford, who built a log cabin in 1833.
The first merchant was D. L. Roble. The
town was platted in 1838 in nineteen lots, by
Mr. Deford. At that time it was given the
name of Shannon. In 1850 a dozen families
resided in Shannon. It was in 1861 that the
village was incorporated as Bluffton. J. S.
372
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Powell was elected as the first mayor, and
E. H. Edsal the initial clerk. The growth of
the town began with the building of the Lake
Erie and Western Railroad in 1872. The pop-
ulation now numbers 2,000. The Bluffton
Times was established in 1872 by P. R. Bailey.
The Times was succeeded by the Standard,
and it in turn by the News. The News passed
from existence, and for several years Bluffton
had no paper, but in 1875 N. W. Cunning-
ham, a young newspaper man from Lima,
resurrected the News and made it a success,
and for nearly twenty-five years was its
editor. A second paper, the Leader, was pub-
lished for a time, but it soon merged with the
News. It is indeed a village of churches, with
its eight active organizations. The First Na-
tional Bank and the Commercial Bank are
both thriving institutions. There are also a
number of prosperous manufacturing enter-
prises.
Spencerville was platted in 1845 by Dayton
parties, in the southwestern part of the
county. It was not formally incorporated
until 1867, and J. C. Campbell was chosen as
the first mayor. The canal gave the first com-
munication .to the village, but two railroads
now add to its facilities. Gas and oil have
greatly increased the prosperity of the town,
and at least doubled the population. There
are seven religious societies in the village.
Two prosperous banks are doing business, the
Citizens Bank and the Farmers Bank. The
Journal-News is a weekly newspaper with a
a large circulation.
Delphos is the largest town in the county
outside of Lima, but it is given extended men-
tion in the chapter devoted to Van Wert
County.
CHAPTER XXX
AUGLAIZE COUNTY
C. W. WILLIAMSON, WAPAKONETA
Auglaize County is indeed historic ground.
It was for a long period one of the favorite
hunting grounds of the Miamis and Wyan-
dots. After these tribes gave their consent
to the Shawnees to locate in their midst, it
became the home of many of the warriors of
this tribe. Their little villages were scattered
over the county along the St. Marys and the
Auglaize rivers. During the French occupa-
tion of Northwestern Ohio, several French
traders established their headquarters on the
west bank of Auglaize River, about half a
mile north of Wapakoneta. They built a
stockade, enclosing about an acre of ground,
within which a number of cabins were erected
by them. This stockade has been called Fort
Auglaize. The traders residing there received
their goods by boat from Detroit, and other
French posts on the lake border. They were
transported up the Maumee to the mouth of
the Auglaize, and then up that river to the
trading station. For a considerable time an
extensive trade was carried on with the Indi-
ans in the center of the state. It was aban-
doned after the Battle of Fallen Timbers, but
this location could be outlined for many years
afterwards by a few pickets yet standing, even
after the time that the Indians were removed.
During the War of 1812, and in September
of that year, Fort Amanda was platted by
Col. Thomas Poague. He was ordered to clear
the timber and construct a wagon road from
the St. Marys River to Defiance, and he
erected a fort on the west bank of the Auglaize
River, which he named Fort Amanda in honor
of his wife. This fort was also a stockade in
rectangular form, enclosing about !*/£ acres
of ground. The pickets were driven four feet
into the ground, and extended above the
ground about eleven feet. At each corner
stood a two-story blockhouse, which projected
out several feet beyond the pickets. The one
intended for the officers' headquarters was
the largest, and was located at the southeast
corner of the enclosure. In the center was a
large two-story building, the upper floor of
which was used as a hospital and the lower
story as a storage room. A large well near
the center of the enclosure furnished an abun-
dance of good water. After the erection of
this stockade, Fort Amanda became the base
of supplies for the armies located in the
Maumee Valley. The office of the paymaster
of the army, John Smith, was located here
during the war, and many of General Har-
rison's orders were dispatched from Fort
Amanda.
In the spring of 1813 the hospital was
filled with sick and wounded soldiers, who
had been brought here from the battlefields
along the Maumee River. Rev. Samuel Shan-
non, an army chaplain, was one of those in
charge of the .hospital. Dr. Samuel Lewis
was the physician in charge. He was obliged
to administer to the needs of the sick and
wounded at Wapakoneta and St. Marys, as
well as Fort Amanda, so great was the short-
age of army surgeons. The soldiers who died
in the hospital were buried on the west bank
of the river, near the fort, but the records of
373
374
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
those buried have been lost. Many flatboats
were built here during that year. One group
of men were detailed to select the trees, and
another to cut them down ; the duty of a third
company was to saw them into the proper
pieces, while still another company manufac-
tured them into flatboats to carry supplies and
wounded men up and down the river. It is
said that seventy-five boats were constructed
here in the spring of 1813 alone. This fort
also served as an assembly place for scouts
and dispatch carriers, and for officers travel-
ing from the southern part of the state to the
battlefields in the north. At the close of the
war the blockhouses were unoccupied for sev-
eral years, and then they were taken posses-
sion of by settlers arriving in that vicinity.
Among those who occupied these blockhouses
were Peter Diltz, with his family; Andrew
Russell and his family ; and William Van Aus-
dall, with his family. Mr. Diltz came from
Dayton in 1817 and moved into the small
blockhouse at the northeast corner. Mr. Rus-
sell pre-empted the largest one in the same
year, and here he passed away five years later.
Mr. Van Ausdall took possession of the store-
house, and occupied it for a few months until
he completed a log house. Church services
of the Methodist denomination were frequently
held in one of the blockhouses.
During the War of 1812 St. Marys became
a headquarters of General Harrison's army
for quite a period, and was also one of the
depots for the provisions of the armies in the
northwestern part of Ohio. Fort Amanda
enjoyed water transportation down the Aug-
laize to the lake, while the St. Marys gave
a route of transportation to the head of the
Maumee. The old Fort St. Marys was platted
by a detachment of Wayne's forces, who came
here from Greenville about 1784 and 1785.
Henry Howe, in his historical collections of
Ohio, says as follows: "The Old Fort, St.
Marys, built by Wayne, stood in the village
of St. Marys on the west bank of the river,
on the land now owned by Christian Benner,
about 80 rods S. E. of Rickley Tavern." For
many years it was commanded by Capt. John
Whistler. He is said to have been able to
recruit more men and perform more work
than any other officer in the army. When
Harrison established a depot here, it was in-
tended to be the principal depot for the
storage of the supplies for the armies along
the Maumee. The accumulation of cattle,
horses, and other army stores was so great
that additional storage buildings were needed,
and a place was built to protect the live stock.
Two blockhouses were built, one within Fort
St. Marys and the other a little south. The
latter was surrounded by the usual stockade.
The spring located near where the Fountain
Hotel now stands furnished an abundance of
pure water. When the buildings of the depot
were completed, the stockade was given the
name of Fort Barbee, in honor of the colonel.
Capt. Joel Collins was detailed to cut a road
along the old army trace from Loraine to
St. Marys, a detail which he accomplished
in eight days.
The difficulties that army officers encoun-
tered were almost insuperable at times. A
captain in Harrison's army leaves the follow-
ing graphic account: "The roads were bad
beyond description ; none but those who have
actually seen the state of the country, seem
ever to have formed a correct estimate of the
difficulties to be encountered. The road from
Loramie's blockhouse to the St. Marys and
thence to Defiance, was one continuous swamp,
knee deep to pack horses and up to the hubs
of the wagons. It was found impossible in
some instances to get even the empty wagons
along and many were left sticking in the mire
and ravines, the wagoners being glad to get
off with the horses alive. Sometimes the
quartermaster, taking advantage of a tempo-
rary freeze, would send off a convoy of provi-
sions, which would be swamped by a thaw
before it reached its destination. The only
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST Oil in
persons who could be procured to act as pack-
horse drivers wore generally the most worth-
less creatures in society, who took care neither
of the horses nor the goods with which they
were intrusted. The horses of course were
soon broken down, and many of the packs
lost. The teams hired to haul were also com-
monly valued so high on coming into service,
that the owners were willing to drive them to
debility and death, with a view to get the
price." This same land is now made to smile
under the skilled hand of the farmer, and the
Black Swamp, of which Auglaize County is
at the southern end, no longer has terrors
for either man or beast.
Auglaize County was a great game county,
which probably accounts for its popularity
with the Indians. William Craft, who came
there with his father in 1833, wrote as fol-
lows : ' ' Wild game of all kinds was plentiful
at that time. I have seen as many as forty
deer in a drove. Wild turkeys were so plenti-
ful that they had to be driven from the corn
fields to prevent them from destroying the
corn shocks. James Coleman, a neighbor of
ours, was a great hunter. He used to catch
turkeys in rail-pen traps, catching as many
as half a dozen at a time. My brother Ed
and I used to go after the cattle, and we often
found them in the midst of a flock of turkeys.
The turkeys were so tame that we frequently
tried to drive them into the Indian shanties.
Ed used to be a good runner. I remember to
have seen him run after a gobler, the fowl
keeping just far enough ahead of him to avoid
being overtaken."
Dr. George W. Holbrook was born in New
York, but came to Wapakoneta in 1834, being
one of the pioneer physicians. Several years
before the county was created he drafted a
map of the County of Auglaize, and persisted
until it was actually created. To him more
than anyone else the success of the movement
was due. He served in the Ohio House of
Representatives for two terms, and was ever
a highly respected citizen. One of the hardy
pioneers of the county was Judge John Ann-
strong, who settled at the army post of St.
Marys in 1818. He became the master spirit
of the community. His son, David, engaged
in the transportation business with his cousin,
William Armstrong, and served a term as
auditor of Mercer County. He was succeeded
in that office by William, who was elected
several times.
Jacob Ice, who arrived in 1828, also bears
witness to the abundance of game: "I have,
in my time, killed more than a hundred deer,
and of turkeys I decline to make an estimate
of the number, as it would appear incredible
to the reader of to-day. Wild animals and
wild birds were so numerous as to become a
great pest to the pioneer. The corn crop was
the most important one raised in the new
country, and required great care and vigilance
to prevent its being consumed by the inhabi-
tants of the forest. As soon as the young corn
began to come up, two most acute and active
enemies began to pull it up. They were crows
and squirrels. The crows would alight on any
part of the field; the squirrels attacked the
outside rows. It was my special business to
arise at early dawn and patrol the field with
dog and gun, and by much noise to frighten
away the varmints. The vigilance required
for three or four weeks after the corn was
planted had to be renewed in August, when
the roasting-ears began to develop. At that
time the raccoon and opossum would enter the
field at night, tear down the stalks, and de-
vour the green corn. Coon and opossum
hunts were of nightly occurrence during roast-
ing ear season."
The County of Auglaize was established by
an act of the Legislature, passed February 14,
1848. It was provided that the seat of justice
should be fixed "at the town of Wapaukon-
netta, or at the town of St. Marys, as the
qualified electors of said county prefer; and
said electors were authorized to express that
376
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
preference by indorsing on their tickets at
the next annual October election after said
noncompliance, the words, 'seat of justice Wa-
paukonnetta' or 'seat of justice St. Marys,'
as their choice may be." The county as out-
lined consists of a little less than 400 square
miles, which is about an average size. The
greater part of it was taken from Mercer
County, of which St. Marys had been the
county seat, but portions were taken from
Allen, Logan, Darke, Shelby, and Van Wert.
It is on the great dividing ridge between the
headquarters of the Ohio River and Lake Erie.
St. Marys was the oldest town in the county,
and had been for a number of years the county
seat of Mercer County. The first campaign
was a hotly contested one. There were charges
of corruption and trickery freely made, all of
which seemed to have no foundation. One
speaker went so far as to say : "You may rake
and scrape hell from one end to the other, and
you cannot find a meaner place, or a meaner
set of men, than are to be found in Wapako-
neta. " This statement nearly caused a riot.
St. Marys had fully expected the honor of
becoming the county capital, because the set-
tlement was more numerous in this vicinity,
but some of the citizens of Wapakoneta were
very energetic and eager to place the honor in
their town. In this they were successful.
At the election, George W. Holbrook, David
Simpson, and G. Goode were elected asso-
ciate judges, the latter being the president.
Hugh T. Rinehart, John M. Dress, and Shad-
rach Montgomery were elected to the office
of county commissioners. Marmaduke "W.
Smith was elected to the office of auditor;
John Rickley, county treasurer ; Thomas Nich-
ols, county clerk; John Elliot, sheriff; Simon
Drescher, recorder ; Samuel R. Mott, prosecut-
ing attorney; A. S. Bennett, coroner; and
Dominicus Plaitz, surveyor. The commission-
ers held their first meeting on April 10, 1848,
at which time the bonds of the newly elected
officers were filed and the officers were sworn
into their respective offices. A contract was
entered into for the use of the Methodist
Episcopal Church for the purpose of holding
court, in return for which they were to fur-
nish the seats and pulpit at a cost not to ex-
ceed $50.
A little delay was experienced in the county
business, because the transcripts of records
had not yet arrived from Celina. The first
bill approved was one of Mr. Mott, the prose-
cuting attorney, of $10. As this was to com-
pensate the county's legal adviser for two
days' work in examining bonds, etc., the prac-
tice of law was not very remunerative at that
time. John Ferguson was allowed $1.25 for
bringing some transcripts over from Mercer
County. The first duties of the county com-
missioners, as shown by the records of their
meetings, seems to have been in the creation
of townships and the location of roads. The
Town of Wapakoneta had bonded itself in
the sum of $5,000, to be paid to the commis-
sioners of the county for the erection of the
necessary buildings for the business of the
county. The first bond was not approved, but
a second bond, presented on April 12, 1848,
was approved and ordered to be filed. This
bond was signed by George W. Holbrook, R. J.
Skinner, John Elliot, William Craft, Sr.,
James Elliott, John C. Bothe, Jeremiah Ayers,
Michael Dumbruff, George Emch, and An-
thony Roth. This is probably a good list of
the responsible citizens of the village in that
day. The first payment of $1,000 on the bond
was made on that same day. At the regular
election in October, political excitement ran
high. The democratic and whig candidates
were both active in their struggle for offices,
and many political meetings were held. Sam-
uel R. Mott was sent as the first representative
to the Legislature, and George W. Andrews
succeeded him as prosecuting attorney.
Otherwise there was no change in the person-
nel of the county officials. At the lot cast by
the commissioners for length of terms, Shad-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
:J77
rach Montgomery secured the long term, and
Hugh T. Rinehart received the two-year term.
John M. Dress had to be content with a single
year, because chance had not cast her favors
upon him.
In 1850 bids were received for the erection
of a courthouse, and G. \V. Andrews ;md Com-
pany were found to be the lowest bidders.
COURT HOUSE, WAPAKONETA
They finally withdrew their bid, however, and
the contract was let to Sabert Scott and James
Elliott, who were the next lowest bidders. At
the same time the contract for the jail was let
to George W. Holbrook. The erection of these
buildings was accomplished without incident,
and the contractors received their pay
promptly. In May, 1851, the first term of
court was held in the new courthouse, but the
county officials had occupied their offices a
few months earlier. This answered the pur-
pose of the county, however, until the year
1893, when a law was passed under which the
county was authorized to build a new court-
house. As a result of this action, the present
massive courthouse of Berea sandstone was
built, and was turned over to the county in
December, 1894. It is a splendid structure
and cost $250,000.
THE CANAL WAR
The building of the Miami and Erie Canal
was a great event in Auglaize County. Hun-
dreds of men were employed for several years
in the building of the canal and the great St.
Marys Reservoir, which was the feeder for this
waterway. Boarding shanties were erected at
St. Marys and other convenient places along
the line, and as many as 1,700 men were en-
gaged on the embankments of the reservoir at
one time. Bishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, came
up and said mass in two main camps. It was
said that each communicant contributed $1
to defray the expenses of the bishop.
A highly dramatic incident occurred after
the reservoir was completed. All of the land
included within its banks had not been pur-
chased, because of a dispute as to price. It
was understood that the water would not be
turned in until the claims were all settled. In
spite of protests, however, the water was
turned in and great damage resulted. The
history of this trouble is given in the Mercer
County Standard, as follows:
"When the banks were finished and the
water let in, it submerged all but one acre for
Mr. Sunday, with thirty-four acres of wheat;
fifteen acres for Mrs. Crockett; the whole of
Thomas Coate's; sixty acres with several thou-
sand rails for Judge Holt, of Dayton, who
owned a farm two miles east of Celina ; nine-
teen acres for Judge Linzee; nearly forty
acres for Abraham Pratt, with all the rails
378
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
thereto belonging; and the whole of Mel-
linger 's except a few acres around the house,
besides great damage to others on the south
side too numerous to enumerate here.
"This outrage on the part of the officers of
the State was too much to be borne by the
gritty bloods of Mercer County. Wars have
been proclaimed on less pretenses. America
declared her independence and refused to pay
a small tax on her tea, which of itself was not
oppressive, but was oppressive in principle,
and the people would not be taxed without
the consent of their own Legislature. Mercer
County followed the example and declared
that she would not be imposed upon by the
thieving birds of Ohio.
"On the 3d of May, 1843, a meeting was
held in Celina, Samuel Ruckman, county com-
missioner, acting as president. It was resolved
that Benjamin Linzee, Esq., should go to
Piqua, the head of the Board of Public Works,
and lay our grievances and an address before
them. Spencer and Ransom returned a sneer-
ing answer : ' Help yourselves if you can. ' On
the 12th of May the meeting sent Linzee back
with the declaration that if they did not pay
us for our lands and let off the water, that we
would cut the bank on the 15th. The reply
came back: 'The Piqua Guards will be with
you and rout you on that day.' The mutter-
ing thunder around the reservoir was not only
loud, but deep — every person was excited. On
the morning of the 15th, by 7 o'clock, more
than one hundred people, with shovels, spades
and wheelbarrows, were on the spot, ready
for work. The place selected was the strong-
est one on the bank, in the old Beaver channel.
Our object was not to damage the State ; and
the dirt was wheeled back on the bank on each
side. It employed the men one day and a half
before the cutting was completed ; it was dug
six feet below the level of the water back.
When the tools were taken out and all ready,
Samuel Ruckman said: 'Who will start the
water?' 'I,' said John S., 'I', said Henry L.,
and in a moment the meandering waters were
hurling down fifty yards below the bank. It
was six weeks before the water subsided.
"As soon as this was known at headquar-
ters, warrants were issued for the arrest of
all who assisted in the work. Thirty-four of
the leaders, comprising all the county officers,
judges, sheriff, clerks, auditor, treasurer, his
deputy, recorder and surveyor, merchants
and farmers, were arrested and bound over to
the next term of court. A foolish idea, for
the court assisted in the work. But the grand
jury refused to find a bill of misdemeanor,
and so the matter rested. It cost the State
$17,000 to repair the damages."
The first term of the Court of Common
Pleas, in Auglaize County, was held in the
old Methodist Church, at Wapakoneta, in
May, 1848. The president judge on this occa-
sion was Patrick G. Goode, and with him on
the bench sat the associate judges, George
W. Holbrook, David Simpson, and John Mc-
Lean. The district of the president judge at
that period in our state was most extensive.
Judge Goode presided over a territory includ-
ing several counties, and reaching to the
Michigan line. He served for two terms, and
declined a third. Under the constitution of
1851, a new district was erected, which was
much smaller than the former. Benjamin F.
Metcalf was elected judge for this district in
1851. He was the first judge to be elected to
preside over the courts of this county, as the
former incumbents were appointed to that
office. Judge Metcalf was succeeded by Wil-
liam Lawrence, who served for a number of
years, when he resigned to accept an election
to Congress. Judge Metcalf was not only
well versed in the intricacies of the law, but
also had those social graces, including the
gift of conversation, that made him a favorite
both with the members of the bar and with
his constituents in general. Many stories are
told of the quickness of his wit. Among the
other distinguished judges who have presided
HISTORY OK NORTHWEST OHIO
over the courts of Auglai/e ('(unity were
James Mackenzie, a Scotchman, who had had
quite a varied career, and Edwin M. I'liclps,
who arrived in St. Marys on foot in March,
1835, and was one of the earliest lawyers in
the county. It was then a town with about
twenty log houses. He served two terms in
the Ohio Legislature, and tilled the office of
common pleas judge for ten years.
CHURCHES
The ministers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church began their work in Aiiglaize County
long before its organization as a separate
county. Rev. Robert Finley, the father of
Rev. J. B. Finley, the missionary to the Wy-
andot Indians, preached in a number of
places in the county in the latter part of the
'20s. He organized classes at St. Marys, at
Fort Amanda, and at other places in the
county. The first Methodist Church in St.
Marys was organized as early as 1825 by Mr.
Finley. The circuit in the early days con-
sisted of classes at Celina, Shane's Crossing,
Wiltshire, St. Marys, Fort Amanda, and Lima.
This was known at that time as the Celina
Mission Circuit. The first services at St.
Marys were held in an old log church located
in the southwestern part of the village. After
the erection of the courthouse for Mercer
County, services were held in the courtroom
for a number of years, until a frame building
was built for the congregation. The lot for
the church at Wapakoneta was donated by a
Mr. Perrine, of Dayton, and the largest con-
tributor was James Elliott. This plain build-
ing served the congregation for thirty years,
when a larger and more commodious building
was built. Owing to the growth of the con-
gregation, both in members and wealth, a
splendid new church edifice was erected a few
years ago. The class was organized in 1833,
and the members were James Elliott and fam-
ily, Robert McCullough and wife, Joseph Mil-
ler and wife, Abraham Alspaugh and wife,
Martin Barr, and a .Mr. (iray.
Auglaize County is a strong center for those
of the Catholic faith. The pioneer residents
of St. Marys were nearly all Catholics, for
Jesuit traders had established a store there
very soon after the treaty at Greenville. Lit-
tle is positively known about the history of.
Catholicism in the county prior to 1831, but
the first priest who held services in St. Marys
was Father Horstman, a German priest, who
came here occasionally to celebrate mass in
the homes of the pioneer Catholics. In 1833
a church was built at Petersburg and dedi-
cated to S.S. Peter and Paul, at which the
Catholics at Wapakoneta attended services,
and it was not until 1839 that a frame church
was erected in the county seat of Auglaize
County. The first resident priest in that
parish was Rev. Ansberry Herbrist, who
came to Wapakoneta in the early part of 1857.
Under his pastorate the present church build-
ing was erected by the congregation, and is
known as St. Joseph's Church. A small
church was erected in St. Marys in 1850,
which has since been supplanted by a larger
and more imposing edifice.
As early as 1833 a mission church was es-
tablished at Stallotown, as it was then called,
and which is now known as Minster. This
congregation was also first served by Father
Horstman. The services were first held at
the home of Mr. Voltke. A log church was
built here soon afterwards, 40x60 feet in
size, and answered the needs of the congrega-
tion for almost a score of years. When the
name of the town was changed from Stallo-
town to Minster, the congregation became
known as St. Augustine 's Church. Among the
early priests that served the congregation
were Fathers Joseph Brand and H. D. Junker.
This church is served by the Fathers of the
Order of the Most Precious Blood. The first
priest of this order to take charge of the
parish was Father Salesius Brunner, and he
380
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was succeeded by Father John Vandenbroeck,
under whose supervision the present church
edifice, with the exception of the towers, was
built.
There are many other religious societies
now represented in the county. The Presby-
terians organized a church in St. Marys in
1848, and in Wapakoneta in 1854. The former
was organized by Rev. J. L. Bellville, and the
latter by Rev. W. C. Hollyday. St. Paul's
German Lutheran Church, of Wapakoneta,
was erected in 1848, although it was two years
later before the organization was completed.
Rev. During was the first pastor in charge.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Wapa-
koneta, was established in 1857 at a meeting
held in the old Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. A. F. Hill was the pastor, and Joshua
Shawber and George H. Dapper were cho'sen
elders. Immediate steps were taken toward
the building of a church. It was dedicated in
1860.
The discovery of oil and gas at Lima and
Findlay had its reflex influence in Auglaize.
There is not a township in the county where
experimental wells have not been sunk. The
first well was drilled at Wapakoneta in 1885,
but it was not completed because of inability
to penetrate the rock. This futile effort was
followed by a well at St. Marys, where a flow
of gas was reached. Oil in small quantities
followed. Considerable excitement followed
this success, and other vrells followed. In
1877 an immense gas gusher was discovered,
with a production of more than 2,000,000
cubic feet per day, at a depth of only 1,138
feet. St. Marys and Wapakoneta were both
supplied with gas from this and other wells.
Great oil pools were found at Cridersville
also. Although never reaching the wealth of
the Findlay and Lima fields, the wells of the
county were very profitable and there is still
a considerable production.
WAPAKONETA
Wa-pa-ko-ne-ta — what a musical name it is !
With this example in mind, it seems all the
more regretable that our cities have been
named after cities of the old world, most of
which are prosaic and absolutely meaningless.
There is some doubt as to the real origin of
the name which the county seat of Auglaize
County bears. John Johnson, who was the
Indian agent in this territory for so many
years, says that it was named after an Indian
chief who was somewhat club footed, to which
the name Wapakoneta has reference. Henry
Harvey, the Quaker missionary, stated that
it was named after an ancient and distin-
guished woman of the Shawnee Tribe. A
number of years ago the grave of Wapakoneta
was opened, and in it were found porcelain
and glass beads and other Ornaments worn
by Indian women. From this fact it may be
concluded that the statement of Mr. Harvey is
the correct explanation of the word.
There were only a few adventurous traders
and Government agents who lived at Wapako-
neta prior to 1812. During that year the In-
dians who professed friendliness toward the
Americans, mustering about 6,000, were com-
pelled to assemble around the agency at Piqua,
and were there maintained at the expense of
the Government until the close of the war in
1814, after which they returned to their for-
mer locations.
During the war troops were several times
encamped on the site of the present town, and
General Harrison himself lodged a number of
times in a log cabin which was used here as
officers' quarters. A small troop was main-
tained here to intercept British emissaries,
and also to keep an eye on the movements of
the Shawnees. Shortly afterwards George C.
Johnston, who was a licensed trader, built a
store on the present site of the Wapakoneta
Wheel Factory, and other traders shortly
afterwards appeared to trade with the aborigi-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
381
nes. The mission of the Quakers was estab-
lished in 1810 by Isaac and Henry Harvey,
and their efforts are described elsewhere. Capt.
John Elliott was appointed the Government
blacksmith, and removed to the village in the
following year. The blacksmith was an impor-
tant personage on an Indian reservation, for
it was his duty to repair firearms, make axes,
chains, nails, hinges, hoes, and other articles
for their use. One of the early traders was
Peter Hammel, who came here about 1815, and
built a log cabin in which he kept a store. He
sold intoxicating liquors, groceries, hardware,
and dry goods. He married the daughter of
Francis Duchouquet, the interpreter, after
whom the township in which Wapakoneta is
situated, was named.
Francis Duchouquet, a noted Indian inter-
preter, was the son of a half-blood French
trader, who was engaged in trade with the
Indians of Northern Ohio and Southern
Michigan during the occupancy of that region
by the French. He was born near Presque
Isle in 1751. After reaching manhood he
engaged in the fur trade, in which business
he visited nearly all the tribes of Ohio and
Indiana territories. In his trips to Central
Ohio he wooed and married a beautiful Shaw-
nee maiden. After his marriage he lived on
Mad River until the Indians were driven
from that locality by General Clark. When
the Shawnees moved to Wapakoneta, he ac-
companied them, and erected a dwelling
house and other buildings, on the north bank
of the Auglaize River, near what is known
at the present day as the Joseph Neff resi-
dence. Here he continued to reside until his
death, which occurred in the fall of 1831.
Duchouquet 's time was so engrossed with
business that he did not participate in the
wars of Western Ohio, further than to act
as interpreter on important occasions. While
on a trading expedition among the Delaware
Indians in 1782, he visited a village near the
present site of Crawfordville, and witnessed
the torture and death of Colonel Crawford.
It has been claimed that DudioiKjuet joined
in the intercession made to save the life of
Crawford. Duchouquet 's description of the
horrible scene agreed in every respect with
the one given by Doctor Knight. He was
never known, on any occasion, to participate
in any of the savage cruelties practiced by
the Indians on their captives. Although so
closely related by blood to the Indians, his
sympathies were always with the captive,
and where it was possible he rendered him
assistance.
At the treaty of Greenville, Duchouquet
was summoned to act as interpreter. He
again served as interpreter in 1817 in the
treaty at the foot of the rapids of the Miami.
A third time he served in the treaty held at
St. Marys in 1818. His residence became a
house of entertainment, where traders and
explorers were always sure of a welcome and
accommodation. His weakness was a fond-
ness for intoxicating liquor, which grew upon
him as age advanced. Under its influence, he
amused himself by shooting at a mark. The
citizens of the village usually gave him a wide
berth on these occasions. When the commit-
tee was appointed by the Shawnees to proceed
to Washington in 1831 to petition the Presi-
dent to order a new treaty, Douchouquet ac-
companied them as far as Cumberland, where
he became sick, and was left in charge of at-
tendants at a hotel, but died and was buried
before the return of the committee.
As soon as the Indians were removed to the
West in 1832, the land in this vicinity was
opened up to buyers. Settlers came in very
rapidly, as a land office had been opened up
in the settlement on the 26th of December,
1832. Several sections of land were imme-
diately taken by prospective settlers. Among
these were James B. Gardner, Joseph Barnett,
Peter Aughenbaugh, and Jonathan K. Wiles,
who jointly entered several hundred acres.
Robert Skinner and William Van Horn
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
entered 686 acres. The Town of Wapakoneta
was surveyed by John Jackson, the county
surveyor of Allen County, in 1833, for the
above named Gardner, Barnett, Aughenbaugh,
and Wiles. Sixty-two lots were staked off on
this occasion. One of the earliest settlers to
erect a cabin here was Jeremiah Ayers, who
had constructed a cabin a couple of years
prior to the platting of the town. At that
time white settlers were so scarce that Indians
were employed to raise the buildings. He
afterwards removed the cabin to the rear of
his lot and erected a two-story frame build-
ing, which was known as the Wapakoneta
House. It was a commodious building for
those days, and maintained the leading posi-
tion among hotels for a third of a century.
He also conducted a distillery, which produced
the greater part of the whisky consumed in
the county for a quarter of a century. In
every way he was one of the town's most
active and enterprising citizens. Other early
settlers were William Paten, a carpenter,
Jonathan Fore, a carpenter, and Jacob
Thatcher, a hunter. Isaac Nicholas kept store
there for a number of years in the early days.
The Quaker Mission had been removed a
few miles from Wapakoneta in 1825, because
of the actions of some of the whites. After
its abandonment it was occupied by Capt.
John Elliott, and afterwards by his son,
James. The old Indian council house had
been erected in the year 1783 and situated
within the village. It was a one-story log
building, about 30 by 40 feet in dimensions.
It had originally been covered with bark, but
was afterwards remodeled with clapboards.
After the Indians removed it was re-roofed,
and used as a residence by W. A. Van Horn.
Mr. Van Horn and James Elliott developed
quite a rivalry in appropriating the Indian
ponies roaming in the forest. As soon as
captured, the pony was branded V or E,
according to which one claimed him. There
were several Indian cemeteries on the site of
the present Town of Wapakoneta. Before
the Indians moved they leveled all the graves,
and removed all traces of their location. As
a result many skeletons have been unearthed
in the digging of the sewers and the making
of other excavations even within recent years.
As a rule each tribe had its own burial ground,
and this accounts for the fact that there were
several of these small burial places located so
close together.
Wapakoneta was incorporated by an act of
the Legislature in 1849. The early records
have been lost, and the first mayor of which
we have record was J. S. Williams, who filled
that office in 1853. He was succeeded by I. F.
Copies.
ST. MARYS
The first permanently settled section of
Auglaize County was around and about the
trading post of St. Marys. Girty's Town, as
the trading post of James Girty was known,
was located here. Wayne passed through
here on his famous campaign. A score of
white persons were dwelling there by 1820,
and the township was organized four years
later. Prior to that time there is nothing of
historic interest to record. In the same year
it was selected as the county seat of Mercer
County, a position it held until 1840, when
it was removed to Celina, the present seat of
justice. The first term of court was held
there in 1824 by Joseph H. Crane, the presi-
dent judge. In 1828 a two-story frame court-
house was erected at a cost of less than $300,
according to official records. Likewise a jail
was provided for the malefactors and those
charged with crimes.
One of the interesting characters of the
early days at St. Marys was "Old Charley
Murray," as he was generally called. He
arrived a number of years before 1812, but
the exact date is unknown. An Irish trader,
he brought his goods from Detroit, and gen-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OIllo
erally on packhorses. "Old Charley" had
an Indian wife lint, as prosperity found him,
he married a white woman. Then there was
trouble in camp. The Indian spouse proposed
that eaeh should take a rifle and go out into
the woods to hunt and shoot at each other.
She went, and he followed for a distance.
He then sneaked back. Becoming aware of
the trick she immediately went to his cabin
and prepared to shoot him, and did wound
him in the shoulder. It cost him $300 to
purchase peace, and then she bothered him
no more. Murray, together with John Mc-
Corkle and William A. Houston, entered
several hundred acres of land, and in 1823
laid out the Town of St. Marys.
St. Marys is the oldest town in the county,
and is situated on the St. Marys River, near
the junction of the three streams which unite
to form this water. The plat was recorded
in the recorder's office at Greenville, on
August 26, 1823. It was acknowledged before
John Ingraharn, a justice of the peace. Among
the early purchasers of lots were James Lord,
Leander Houston, James Miller, John Mam-
ing, and Christian Benner. It consisted of
sixty-eight lots. The town has a splendid loca-
tion, being surrounded by fertile farming
lands. It grew very slowly until the build-
•ing of the Miami and Erie Canal in 1838.
Since the discovery of oil in 1886, it has
grown quite rapidly. In 1903, it was ad-
vanced to a city of the second class.
Most of the early records of St. Marys are
lost, or at least incomplete. Stacy Taylor
was mayor in 1836, and Dr. N. T. Noble was
the first mayor after St. Marys acquired the
dignity of a city. James Lard taught school
here for several years after the town was
platted, but it was a private school in which
the scholars paid. In 1831-2 James Watson
Riley performed the three-fold duties of
teacher, county clerk, and county surveyor.
After the village schools were reorganized, in
1853, A. Rodgers was the first principal.
William Sawyer was a noted citixen in the
earlier days of St. Marys. Before locating
here in 1843, he had already served several
terms in the Ohio (ieneral .Wembly from
Montgomery County. The next year after
coining here he was elected to Congress, and
served in that body during the term of Presi-
dent Polk. He was again elected to the Ohio
House of Representatives, and was appointed
by President Buchanan as receiver for the
land office for the Otter Tail District of Min-
nesota. During the last seven years of his
life he filled the office of mayor and justice
of the peace. He died in 1877.
St. Marys was the home in later years of
August Willieh, who died in 1878. He made
a notable record as a commanding officer in
the German army during the revolution in
Germany, in 1849. He commanded a popular
assault against the Town Hall in Cologne.
When a republic was declared in Baden, he
was tendered the supreme command of the
armies of the revolutionists. When defeated,
he and his followers sought refuge in France.
In 1853 he came to the United States, and was
for a time editor of the German Republic, of
Cincinnati. On the breaking out of the Civil
war, he enlisted in the Ninth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry which he helped to drill. He dis-
tinguished himself in the service in the Army
of Cumberland. A memorable exploit at
Shiloh won for him a commission as briga-
dier-general. At Stone River he was taken
prisoner; at Chickamauga he held Thomas'
right; at Missionary Ridge he was in the
forefront in storming the rebel works. As
the close of the war he was breveted major-
general.
"In 1867 he was elected auditor of Hamil-
ton county ; after the expiration of his term
in 1869 he revisited Germany, and again took
up the study of his youth, philosophy, at the
University of Berlin. His request to enter
the army in the French-German war of 1870
was not granted, and he returned to his
384
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
adopted country, making his home in St.
Marys, Ohio, with his old friend, Major
Charles Hipp, and many other pleasant and
congenial friends.
"In those few years he was a prominent
figure in all social circles, hailed by every
child in town, and died January 23, 1878,
from paralysis of the heart, followed to his
grave in the beautiful Elmwood Cemetery by
three companies of State militia, delegations
from the Ninth Ohio and Thirty-second Indi-
ana Volunteers, the children of the schools,
and a vast concourse of sorrowing friends."
VILLAGES
Cridersville was platted in 1859 by Ephraim
Crider, and named after him. The first dry
goods store was opened by John Murdock in
1858, but he has had a number of successors.
It is now unimportant as a village. The early
records have been lost. The first mayor of
which we have a record was David Sharks,
who filled that office in 1880. He was suc-
ceeded by C. S. Fasig. Cridersville has been
quite prosperous since the discovery of oil,
as it is situated in the Lima field.
Waynesfield was platted in 1848 by E. G.
Atkinson. The first building erected was a
log house for Mr. Atkinson. The whole tract
of ten acres had been purchased by him for
a two year old colt, a cow, and a set of har-
ness. The next building was intended for a
postoffice which had been established. The
mail for this route, extending from Kenton
to St. Marys, was carried on foot. Mr. Atkin-
son was appointed the first postmaster.
Doctor Seaman soon afterwards settled in the
village with his wife and two children. Henry
Payne, a colored man, was quite prominent
among the early settlers.
Minster is an old town founded by Germans
in the '30s. A stock association was formed,
and Francis Joseph Statter made agent for
the syndicate. He entered the land and platted
it, but died before the deeds were given. The
town still preserves its German nationality,
and is a strong Catholic community. For a
number of years the settlement was known
as Stallotown, but, in 1836, it was changed to
Minster. John M. Dress was the first mayor,
being elected in 1839, and I. H. Gosman served
with him as village clerk. The construction
of the canal brought prosperity to Minster.
Most of the employes there were Germans,
and many made enough money in the four
years of its construction to purchase farms
for themselves. This many of them did in
that neighborhood.
Buckland Village was platted by Josiah
Clawson and John H. Cochenour in 1872, but
was at first known as White Feather, after
an Indian village in the neighborhood. It
was incorporated in 1892, and W. G. Brorein
was the first mayor. St. Johns occupies the
site of Blackhoof Town. I* was platted by
Daniel Bitter and John Rogers, in 1835.
Other small villages in the county are Unopo-
lis, Moulton, New Knoxville and Geyer.
CHAPTER XXXI
CRAWFORD COUNTY
JOHN E. HOPLEY, BUCYHUS
Previous to the War of 1812 there was no
white settler in Crawford County. The In-
dians occupied the entire territory, and they
had villages or camps in various parts of the
county. There was a village of the Delawares
near the present site of Leesville, and there
was also a Wyandot village within what is
now the corporate limits of Galion. A few
of the rude huts or wigwams were still there
when the first settlers arrived. There were
several other places within the county which
had at one time been the site of Indian vil-
lages, or camping places, for the early settlers
found land cleared in several spots which
had been used for the raising of corn, and on
which a few fruit trees were growing. There
were several sites of temporary camps along
the banks of the streams which were occupied
during their annual hunts, and near New
Washington there were camps that were occu-
pied during the cranberry season. Where
the public square is now located in Bucyrus,
there was a maple grove where the Indians
camped during the maple sugar season, and
the early settlers upon their arrival made use
of the little shelters that the Indians had
erected at these temporary dwelling places,
until they could construct a log hut for them-
selves.
The celebrated Sandusky Plains in Craw-
ford County reached from the southernmost
line of the county north almost to what is
now the right-of-way of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and extended from about the cen-
ter of Whetstone Township west to the river.
West and north of the river the county was
Tot I— 15
385
practically all forests, where it was necessary
to cut a way through the trees to make a
road. During the War of 1812, many detach-
ments of American troops passed through this
county on their way to join the forces of Gen-
eral Harrison at Fort Ferree, which was at
Upper Sandusky. From the few accounts
that we have, the roads must have been in a
terrible condition. It took one supply train
two weeks to make the trip from Mansfield
to Upper Sandusky, a distance of forty-three
miles. The ground had not yet frozen, and
it required a desperate effort at times to extri-
cate the heavily laden army wagons from the
muck. One early surveyor wrote of the county :
"I have traveled the woods for seven years,
but never saw so hideous a place as this."
In some places he had to use either a log or
a boat to make his way about. The Plains,
and so they are still called, were also con-
sidered very unhealthy, for disease lurked
in the swampy ground. Many an early set-
tler abandoned his cabin, leaving behind a few
unmarked graves of those of his family who
died before he could quit such an unhealthy
region. When Abraham Monnett reached
Crawford County, in 1833, he said that on
the Plains he could count at least forty aban-
doned cabins of settlers who had given up
the hopeless fight. One of the difficulties was
to secure good drinking water, for the surface
water seemed so strongly impregnated with
copperas that it was not only disagreeable to
the taste, but was also unhealthful. This was
Crawford County in its crude state, before
the hand of civilization had touched it.
386
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
It was not until 1805 that any of Crawford
County was opened for settlement. By the
treaty signed at Fort Industry, on July 4,
1805, between the United States and the
Wyandots and other Indian tribes, the east-
ern seven miles of Crawford County were
thrown open to settlers. On September 30,
1817, with a supplemental treaty on Septem-
ber 17, 1818, all of Crawford was made avail-
able for homesteaders, excepting a strip
nearly five miles wide and twelve miles deep,
which was a part of a reservation of twelve
by seventeen miles still reserved to the In-
dians. This five-mile strip was purchased
from the Wyandots in 1835, and all of the
present County of Crawford was then open
to the Caucasian.
After the treaty of 1805, the four eastern
miles were a part of Fairfield County, and
west of that it was within Franklin County.
In 1808, when Delaware and Knox counties
were erected, the eastern part was attached
to Knox and the western to Delaware. In
1813 Richland County was set off, and the
four-mile eastern strip became a part of the
new County of Richland. After purchasing
practically all of the Northwestern Ohio
from the Indians in 1817, the Legislature, on
February 12, 1820, created from this new pur-
chase fourteen counties by enactment, and
one of them was Crawford. It was named
after Colonel Crawford, who was burned at
the stake by the Delaware Indians in the
northwestern part of the new county in 1782.
It then extended west from the Richland
County line for thirty-three miles, and was
eighteen miles deep, giving it an area of
almost 600 square miles.
On March 7, 1842, the whole of the Wyan-
dot reservation yet remaining, consisting of
144 square miles, was purchased of the tribe,
and the last foot of soil owned by the abo-
rigines in the State of Ohio became the prop-
erty of the United States Government. On
February 3, 1845, the Ohio Legislature cre-
ated Wyandot County, and Crawford was
reduced to its present size, yielding to Wyan-
dot a tract sixteen miles wide and eighteen
deep. It received from Richland a strip four
miles wide on the east, and from Marion a
strip two miles deep on the south, making the
county a trifle over 400 square miles in size.
Shortly after the closing of the second war
with Great Britain, some adventurers settled
in the northeastern section of the present
county, and there erected small cabins. The
principal occupation of these men was that
of hunting and trapping, and they made their
living from the skins and furs that they
caught. The first white man to build a real
cabin for himself in the county was Jedediah
Morehead. He came with his wife and a large
family of children, and erected his primitive
cabin on a narrow neck of land on the bank
of Honey Creek, in the northeastern part of
the county, then a part of Richland. This
place was convenient to the marshes, where
he trapped the beaver and the otter, which
were the most valuable furs in those days.
Just when Mr. Morehead arrived is not
known, but it is certain that he was there in
1815. He was a "squatter," and never en-
tered any land. He was frequently absent
for weeks at a time on hunting expeditions,
and his business was exclusively that of hunt-
ing and trapping. He cleared no land and,
when the vanguard of pioneers reached his
neighborhood, he moved farther west with his
family; but the site of his first cabin is still
known as Morehead 's Point. The first land
owner was John Pettigon, who was a soldier
of the War of 1812. He purchased a small
tract of land in Auburn Township, on which
he constructed a small cabin, probably about
1814, and moved into it with his family. Like
Morehead, he devoted his time to hunting
and trapping, and his rifle was the support
of his family. The sale of furs procured for
him the necessaries of life which the forest
did not furnish. He would carry his furs on
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
his liack to Huron, and exchange them there
for ammunition, salt, and flour. His princi-
pal associates were the Indian hunters, and
he likewise left for the more unsettled west-
ern regions when the pioneers began to en-
croach upon his domain. These men would
not stand the smoke of another man's cabin
within their sight.
The first bona fide pioneer reached Craw-
ford in 1815. In the fall of that year Wil-
liam Green came from Massachusetts, and en-
tered a quarter section of land in the north-
eastern part of the county. He built his little
log cabin in the woods and then returned to
Licking County, where he had left his wife
and children with relatives. The entire fam-
ily then came to the new home in the spring
of 1816. They immediately commenced the
work of clearing the land, and gathered their
first crop in the fall of that year. Some of
his descendants yet live in that same neigh-
borhood, and still own a part of the land he
entered. Jacob CoykendalL settled in the
same neighborhood during the year 1816. Mr.
Coykendall became active in the affairs of the
township, and established a saw and grist-mill
on a little stream in that neighborhood, which
is still known as Coykendall Run. William
Cole and Charles Morrow also arrived in that
township only a few months later. Resolved
White, a lineal descendant of Peregrine
White, the first Pilgrim child (born in New
England, December 16, 1620), located near
Tiro, in 1819. George Byers was one of the
early settlers in the county, and built a cabin
near the site of the little Village of West Lib-
erty in 1817 or 1818. He did some farming,
but also devoted a great deal of his time to
hunting and trapping. In one winter he se-
cured 100 mink, besides many coons and a
number of beaver in the swampy regions near
his home. When Joseph Russel entered some
land about a mile south of the present Town
of Crestline, the entire tract was a dense for-
est. John Doyle soon afterward took up a
tract of land near him.
In 1816, Jacob Fisher settled on some hind
within the present Township of Jefferson.
He bought the land for $1.25 per acre, and
arrived in a two-horse wagon with his wife
and eight children. He put up a cabin of
unhewn logs, about 18 or 20 feet in length,
in which the entire family lived. About the
same time Westall Ridgley also arrived in
a wagon with his wife and eight children,
four sons and four daughters, all of whom
were grown. He was well-to-do for those
days, and brought a number of cattle and hogs
with him. He built a large cabin, and was
one of the prominent men in the early affairs
of the county. With a grown-up family, he
was able to make progress faster than the
average pioneer with small children, although
his boys are said to have preferred to spend
their time hunting with the Indians rather
than farm or clear the forest, while the girls
were his helpers on the farm.
Christian Snyder arrived in 1817 with a
family consisting of a wife and eleven chil-
dren, and purchased a quarter of a section
of land. They drove through from Pennsyl-
vania in a two-horse wagon, and Snyder left
his family at Mansfield while he came ahead
on foot to prepare a habitation. His home
was north of Galion, and it took him many
days to travel from Mansfield to this new
home, because of the necessity of cutting down
the small trees in order to make a road pass-
able for a wagon. The family arrived before
the house was completed, and they were
obliged to spend their first night in the open
air. Before morning several inches of snow
had been added to their covering. The In-
dians soon made a friendly call and left veni-
son for the newcomers, in order to show that
they were welcome. John Adrian arrived in
1818, and was the first Frenchman to make
a home in the county. He did very little in
the way of clearing his land, but started the
388
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
first distillery. He was a man of tremendous
strength, and it is reported of him that he
could pick up a barrel of whisky and take
his drink from the bunghole. It was prob-
ably because of the frequency of this act that
he became his own best customer, so that the
distillery proved unprofitable. At that time
whisky was sold for only $7 a barrel.
The first homeseekers at Galion were Ben-
jamin Leveridge and his two sons, James and
Nathaniel. They reached there in 1817. Na-
thaniel built a cabin on what is now the public
square, while the homes of his brother and
father were not far distant. Benjamin Shar-
roek came in 1818, and built himself a tempo-
rary cabin in the western part of the City of
Galion. Here his family lived for a while,
during which time he walked every day to
his land a few miles south. There he built
a cabin on the banks of the Whetstone, to
which he removed his family, and afterwards
established a saw and grist mill as well as a
distillery. He became one of the prominent
men of that section. On the 19th of Decem-
ber, 1819, there walked into what is now
Galion a man with his axe and a rifle over
his shoulder. This man was Asa Hosford,
and he became the father of that city. He
was accompanied by his brother Horace, who
erected a blacksmith shop, which was of great
importance in those days. Asa built a saw
and grist-mill southwest of Galion, which is
still known as Hosford's Mill. Some of the
large logs were of walnut and poplar, and are
as solid and substantial today as when first
put in. A few of the original fixtures are
still in use in this old pioneer mill. Disberry
Johnson was one of the noted pioneers of the
county. His arrival greatly swelled the pop-
tilation. His wife had died, leaving him a
widower with six children, and he prudently
married a widow with six children, in order
to avoid family controversy. By this mar-
riage there were an even half-dozen more
little Johnsons. When Johnson decided to
move to Crawford County, one of his daugh-
ters had already married, and there were
nineteen in the cavalcade which reached here
in 1819. He served as justice of the peace
for many years, and died in 1868, at the ad-
vanced age of 104, leaving many descendants
all over the country. Samuel Knisely set-
tled in Sandusky Township in 1819, and since
that date the Kniselys have been very promi-
nent in the county. In October, 1819, Samuel
Norton was the first settler on what was
known as the new purchase, settling on the
present site at Bucyrus. With him were his
wife and six children, his brother-in-law, with
his wife and six children, and an adopted
daughter, and Seth Holmes, a soldier of the
War of 1812, as guide and teamster.
In 1831 Abigail Dunlap, who had recently
been left a widow with several children, mi-
grated westward by journeying overland.
She settled in the northwestern part of the
present county. Her four sous, John, James,
Samuel and Daniel, became among the sub-
stantial pioneers of the county. Daniel, the
grandfather of the editor-in-chief of this
work, lived to the matured age of eighty-six,
and loved to relate reminiscences of the early
days. On three different occasions he walked
back to his old home in Southwestern Penn-
sylvania, a distance of 600 or 700 miles. In
his late years he would walk a couple of miles
to Benton rather than trouble to have a horse
hitched up for him. It was just such deter-
mination, a spirit that was never daunted by
obstacles or the prospect of toil, that enabled
all the pioneers to conquer the forest and its
terrors.
When the eastern five miles of the Wyan-
dot reservation were purchased from the In-
dians in 1837, it opened all of the present
Crawford County to settlement. This land
was sold at a public sale in Marion by the
United States. A syndicate of capitalists was
formed which purchased several hundred
acres with the intention of founding a town
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
that should be the county seat. It was called
the Osceola Company, after the famous In-
dian chief, Osceola. A village was laid out in
this tract, upon the bank of Brokensword
Creek, in Tod Township, and named Osceola,
since changed to Oceola. It was almost in the
center of the Crawford County of that day.
With a prospective future before it, the town
was planned on an elaborate scale, with
broad streets and a large public square. When
the lots were sold, they brought good prices.
Before the village had gained much headway,
however, the Legislature created the County
of Wyandot, and Osceola was left just a mile
from the western boundary of Crawford.
One of the first townships erected in Craw-
ford County, by the Delaware County Com-
missioners, was the Township of Crawford,
which embraced a part of what is now Craw-
ford and also a part of Wyandot County. In
this township the first election of the new
county was held on April 1, 1821, at the home
of Henry Lish, who operated a ferry across
the Tymochtee. There were just thirteen
voters present, and fourteen offices to fill, so
that Elijah Brayton was given two offices.
Another early township settled was Bucyrus.
One of the last acts of the Delaware commis-
sioners was when they created the Township
of Whetstone, almost as it exists today. The
first taxes were levied in 1821, when the com-
missioners imposed a tax of 30 cents each
upon horses and 10 cents each upon cattle,
which was the limit allowed by law at that
time. .
In 1823 the Legislature passed an act au-
thorizing Marion County to elect officers, and
transferred Crawford County to its jurisdic-
tion, while a part of the northwestern part of
the county was placed under the legal juris-
diction of Seneca County. In 1824 the first
election of officials was held in Marion
County, and Crawford was given one of the
commissioners. His name was Enoch B. Mer-
ritnan. At this time the total vote of the two
counties for the office of governor was only
380. There were but two townships in Craw-
ford County that cast any votes. As near as
can be ascertained, Crawford County cast
about 115 of this number, about one-half of
whom lived in Bucyrus. Mr. Merriman re-
signed as commissioner and was succeeded by
Zachariali Welsh, who lived in the Wyandot
part of Crawford County. In 1825 he was
succeeded by Zalmon Rowse, who was elected
to this office.
The early settlers of Bucyrus made strenu-
ous efforts to have a new county organized, to
be called Bucyrus, as the village of Bucyrus
was in the eastern part of the new county.
Failing in this, they brought pressure to bear
upon the Legislature to organize the county,
and make Bucyrus the county seat. This act
organizing the county was passed on Jan-
uary 31, 1826, but the matter of the county
seat was left to the voters. Bucyrus at that
time was far from the center of the county.
An election of officers was ordered, with the
proviso that the commissioners elected should
select a temporary county seat. This made
the election of commissioners a very im-
portant one to the village of Bucyrus. At
this time two-thirds of the population were
in the eastern part of the county, and they
naturally favored Bucyrus. When the first
county election was held, on April 1, 1826,
Bucyrus was awake to her interests. The
men elected were John H. Magers, Thomas
McClure, and George Poe, all of them from
the eastern part of the county. Hugh Mc-
Cracken, sheriff, James Martin, auditor, and
John McClure, surveyor, were the other
elected officials. John Morrison was appoint-
ed the first treasurer of the county, and
Zalmon Rowse, clerk of the courts.
The newly-elected commissioners held their
first meeting at Bucyrus, and promptly
selected that town as the county seat. As the
early records were destroyed by fire, in 1831,
when the jail was burned, the proceedings of
390
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
these commissioners have been lost. One of
the first things transacted, however, was the
dividing1 of the new territory into townships.
The lines of the townships as selected by them
have been changed on several occasions. As
tin' county seat had only been selected tem-
porarily, the people of BUCJTUS did not feel
disposed to erect a courthouse. It did, how-
ever, build a jail, doubtless because it was
necessary. It was the only county building at
that time. Court was held in the cabin of
Abel Carey. Ebenezer Lane, of Norwalk, was
the presiding judge, and the associate judges
were E. B. Merriman, John Carey, and John
B. French. Court was' also held in a school-
house which had been erected. Court days
at that time were great days in Bucyrus, and
people came in from all over the country
to see what might happen.
In 1830, the Legislature appointed three
commissioners to visit Crawford County, and
recommend a site for the permanent county
seat. The census of 1830 gave Crawford a
population of 4,778, of which two-thirds were
in the eastern part. Bueyrus had a popula-
tion of three hundred and McCutchensville,
now in Wyandot County, was a dozen or more
larger. The commissioners in pursuance of
their duties came to the county, and were
entertained by the citizens of Bucyrus in a
most hospitable way. Several lots were of-
fered as free sites for the public buildings,
and the commissioners, probably under prop-
er stimulation, selected Bucyrus. A contract
was soon afterwards let for the erection of a
courthouse to Zalmon Rowse. It was built
of brick on the site of the present county
building. It was painted white, as an emblem
of the purity of the justice to be adminis-
tered there. The old log jail, which was de-
stroyed by fire in 1831, by a lunatic confined
there, was replaced at first by a temporary jail,
built as cheaply as possible. In 1838 a propo-
sition was submitted to the people for a new
jail, which was authorized. This building was
constructed of brick, across the street from the
present courthouse to the east. It was two
stories in height. This little brick jail did
duty for nearly twenty years. It harbored
many an unfortunate debtor, for at that time
a man could be imprisoned for debt.
The most exciting political campaign in the
early days of Crawford County was the one
of 1840, when William Henry Harrison and
Martin Van Buren were the opposing candi-
dates. It was the first political "tidal wave"
that ever swept over the country. During the
campaign many passed through Bucyrus on
their way to the great demonstration at Fort
Meigs. Among these travelers was no less a
personage than Harrison himself. He came
over the "Pike" from Columbus and stopped
at the Union Hotel, then kept by Samuel Nor-
ton, and spent the night there. The court-
house was crowded with those who gathered
to hear him, and the meeting was presided
over by Josiah Scott, who was then a rising
young lawyer in Bucyrus. This was the first
President who ever visited Crawford County.
During this campaign Richard M. Johnson,
the democratic candidate for vice president,
also visited Bucyrus.
Crawford County has not fared especially
well with regard to state officials. In 1830
Moses H. Kirby of this county was appointed
secretary of state, and held that office for
three years. Several decades passed, how-
ever, before another man from this county
was recognized by the commonwealth. Ebe-
nezer B. Finley served as adjutant-general
under appointment of Governor Hoadley
from 1884 to 1886. Frank S. Monnett was
elected attorney-general, and served in that
office from 1896 to 1900. Mr. Monnett
achieved a great deal of publicity through his
prosecution of the Standard Oil Company.
During that same period Charles W. Mc-
Cracken held the office of canal commissioner,
under appointment of Governor Bushnell. In
1910 Sylvanus Strode was elected to the office
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
391
of dairy and food commissioner. It is only
proper to include Jo.siah Scott, who was
elerted a judge of the Supreme Court in 1856.
Judge Scott came to Crawford County in
is^lt, but removed to Butler County in 1850,
ami was elected from the latter county. At
the expiration of his judgeship he returned
to Crawford County, and in 1876 was ap-
pointed a member of the Supreme Court Com-
mission, serving in that position for three
years. Judge Scott is known as one of the
ablest representatives who has ever served on
the highest court of our state. William
Crosby, a newspaper man, was appointed
United States consul at Talcahuano, Chili, in
1S45, by President Polk. In 1898 President
McKinley appointed John E. Hopley United
States consul at Southampton, England, and
in 1903 he was promoted to the consulate at
Montevideo, Uruguay, where he served two
years.
LAW AND MEDICINE
The first presiding judge of court held in
Crawford County was Ebenezer Lane, of Nor-
walk. He was succeeded on the bench of the
Common Pleas Court by David Higgins, also
of Norwalk, who held this office from 1830 to
1837. In the early days, there were few law-
yers in a little town, and a retinue of attor-
neys followed the judge from town to town.
The first court was held in the residence of
Louis Gary, and the jury was sent to an
upstairs room for its deliberations. Zalmon
Rowse served as the first resident clerk of the
courts, which, prior to 1850, was an appointive
office. As the early records were lost in the
fire heretofore mentioned, the first court rec-
ord in existence is for the July term of 1832,
when the Supreme Court held a session in
Bucyrus. The judges heard eight cases. The
securing of a jury was not an easy matter in
those early days, and the records show a num-
ber of instances in which men were fined for
ignoring the summons. The county was
.sparsely settled, and tin; fanners were busy,
so that the sheriff's hands were full. The
story is told of one of these early counties,
when the judge asked the sheriff on the sec-
ond day of court whether the jury was full
yet. He replied: "Not quite full yet, Judge.
I have eleven men locked up in jail, and my
dogs and deputies are after the twelfth man."
The court in those early days granted
licenses to ministers to solemnize marriages.
Harrison Jones, of the Church of Christ, was
granted such authority in 1834. In the fol-
lowing year John David and John Smith, of
the United Brethren in Christ, were also au-
thorized to perform marriages. In 1836
Charles Edward Van Voorhis, of the Church
of Christ, and Frederick G. Maschkop, of the
German Reformed, were likewise granted this
authority. Robert Reid and Stephen Brink-
man were granted the first naturalization
papers in Crawford County, in 1836, of which
there is any record. In 1834 we have a record
of David Chute being granted a license to
keep a tavern, for the sum of $8. Aaron M.
Decker and John Luke were also licensed to
keep a tavern, upon the payment of $5 each.
Abraham Hahn, of Bucyrus, received the
same permission, but his location must have
been considerably more desirable, for he was
charged $10.
In the July term of 1836, the docket con-
tains the entry: "Franklin Adams admitted
to the bar." For seventy years Mr. Adams
was a practitioner at the Crawford County
bar. The only public office he ever held was
that of prosecuting attorney, appointed in
1838 to succeed George Sweeney, elected to
Congress, and being elected to the office for
three terms. He died in 1908. Isaac H.
Allen was one of the earliest, if not the
earliest, lawyers who made his home in Bucy-
rus. He died in Bucyrus in 1828. Josiah
Scott, of whom mention has heretofore been
made, was an eloquent advocate, as well as
392
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
an able and learned lawyer and jurist. One
of his first cases, after his arrival in 1829 was
before Squire James Stewart, who lived two
miles east of Bucyrus. He walked out and
back, and then asked his client, Charles Bacon,
whether he thought $1.50 was too much for
his services. Bacon thought that it was not,
but was several years in liquidating the debt.
Scott was a great friend of the Indians, who
called him Big Head, for he wore a number
eight hat. He used to take part in their
sports, and in almost all of their litigation
acted as their attorney. One of the Indians
named a son Josiah Scott, and this copper-
colored Josiah Scott accompanied the tribe
when they removed to the West. When the
Toledo War broke out over the boundary be-
tween Ohio and Michigan, Mr. Scott raised
a company, but it was never called into serv-
ice. At one time he represented the county
in the Legislature.
George Sweeney came to Bucyrus in 1830,
and practiced law in the Crawford capital for
almost half a century. He was elected pros-
ecuting attorney in 1838, and served as a
member of Congress from this district from
1839 to 1843. John Smith arrived in 1832,
and at first kept a dry goods store. At a later
period he was elected justice of the peace,
and from that drifted into the practice of the
law. John M. Armstrong, who was partly of
Indian blood, practiced law here for several
years in the early days, but removed west
when the Wyandot tribe was transferred.
Lawrence W. Hall arrived in the spring of
1844. He was soon afterwards elected prose-
cuting attorney, and served as a judge of the
Common Pleas Court, as well as a member of
the National House of Representatives from
1857 to 1859. Josiah S. Plants began his busi-
ness career as a shoemaker. While at work in
that occupation he kept a law book at his side,
from which he studied. He was admitted to
the bar, and afterwards served as a judge of
the Common Pleas Court for five years just
prior to his death in 1863.
Among the lawyers of more recent years
who achieved success and practiced many
years at the Crawford County bar, Stephen
R. Harris was noted. He opened an office in
Bucyrus as a partner of Josiah Scott, in 1849.
In 1895 he was elected to Congress, serving
one term, and died in 1905, at the age of
eighty-two years. Jacob Scroggs came to
Bucyrus with his father in 1839, and was
elected mayor for several terms. He was
always active in every public affair until the
time of his death. Ebenezer B. Finley located
in Bucyrus in 1859, but was not admitted to
the bar until a couple of years later. He
served in Congress from 1877 to 1881, and
distinguished himself by several speeches. He
served as adjutant-general of the state under
Governor Hoadley, and also was appointed
circuit judge to fill a vacancy. Thomas Beer
began the practice of law in Bucyrus in 1862.
In the following year he was elected a mem-
ber of the Legislature, and served for two
terms. His most distinguished service was on
the bench. He was first appointed in 1874 as
district judge, and served in that capacity
continuously until 1893, and was ever looked
upon as a man of fine judicial temperament.
The first physician in the county was in
all probability a Doctor Rhodes, who came
to Bucyrus in 1822, a few months after the
platting of the village. Dr. Willis Merriman
arrived there in 1827 and practiced medicine
for several years, but finally deserted medi-
cine for business. Dr. Andrew Hetich was
one of the early physicians, and practiced
there for a quarter of a century. Dr. A. M.
Jones came to Bucyrus in 1835 and followed
medicine for a decade, after which he engaged
in manufacturing. Dr. Robert T. Johnson,
coming in 1845, finally engaged in the book
and drug business. Dr. John Atwood was
one of the early physicians in Galion. Among
others were J. Steefel, N. E. Hackedorn, and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
393
Charles L. Coyle. Dr. J. N. Ritchie began
the practice of medicine in Oceola as early
as 1847, and was known for many miles
around.
Tire PRESS
It is claimed that the first printing press
was brought to Crawford County by William
J. McGill, in the year 1829. He contemplated
establishing a Jackson paper, but only one
number was issued. The second attempt at
journalism was made by William Crosby, who
obtained possession of the old McGill press
and issued the first number of the Western
Journal and Bucyrus Advertiser on Septem-
ber 1, 1831, and a copy of the paper dated
November 30, 1833, is framed and hanging in
the office of the Bucyrus Journal, the oldest
paper now published in the county. It was
a small four page paper, of four columns to
the page, and was issued for several years.
The name was afterwards changed to the
Bucyrus Journal. Crosby sold the printing
plant to Charles P. West, who published for
about a year the People's Press and the Peo-
ple's Advocate, both of which aimed to be
neutral in politics. The first number of the
Ohio Intelligencer appeared about 1836, and
it was also conducted as a neutral newspaper,
so far as politics was concerned. The name
of the firm publishing it was D. R. Lightner
& Company. The Intelligencer was discon-
tinued, and Caldwell and Lightner started the
Crawford Republican, a democratic paper.
As money was scarce in those days, we find
an advertisement in this paper as follows:
"Wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats, pork, beef and
candles will be received on subscription at this
office." In the summer or fall of 1838, a new
whig paper, the Bucyrus Democrat, was estab-
lished by John Shrenk. This paper was con-
tinued for several years, but was finally com-
pelled to yield up the ghost. This was the
first paper published in Crawford County in
opposition to the democratic party.
Thomas J. Orr and John White came to
Bucyrus in 1840, and began the Democratic
Republican. Partnership was soon dissolved,
but the business was continued for several
years by Mr. Orr. The paper was not issued
very regularly, owing to the carelessness of the
editor. For this reason, the dissatisfied demo-
crats secured an editor for a new paper, to
be called the Peoples Forum, in the spring of
1845, a bound copy of the second volume
being owned by the writer of this chapter.
This paper was started by J. R. Knapp, Jr.,
of Marion, and it has been published ever
since, although under many different propri-
etors. The second proprietor was Mordecai
P. Bean. Under the ownership of John R.
Clymer, this paper was first printed by steam
power in 1871, and was issued semi-weekly.
Maj. J. H. Williston purchased the paper
in 1878, and published it for a number of
years. During this time he served as state
senator for this district for two terms. It is
now published by the Bucyrus Publishing
Company, of which L. M. Smith is the presi-
dent and general manager. Major Williston
attempted in 1880 to start a daily, but it was
discontinued after four months as an unprof-
itable enterprise. In 1886 the Daily Critic
was established by the Holbrook brothers, and
published for a few years and discontinued.
The Daily Forum was begun by the Holbrooks
on March 2, 1891, and it has had a prosperous
existence ever since.
Near the close of 1852, subscription papers
were circulated throughout the county for a
whig paper, and the first number of the Bucy-
rus Journal was issued January 1, 1853.
When the republican party was organized, a
couple of years later, the editor, J. A. Crevier,
warmly espoused the new party. Since then,
under its different proprietors, the Journal
has always advocated the principles of the
republican party. One of the noted editors
of this paper was David R. Locke, and it was
in the columns of this paper that the first of
394
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the Nasby satirical articles was published, on
December 13, 1860, and the first of the letters
signed P. V. Nasby was published in that-
paper in 1861. In 1867 the Journal was pur-
chased by John Hopley, formerly superin-
tendent of the schools, and it has remained in
the Hopley family from that time until the
present. John Hopley continued at the head
of the Journal until his death, but during the
later years several of his sons were associated
with him. On October 17, 1887, the Evening
Telegraph was started as the "organ of the
Young Men 's Republican Club. ' ' It was un-
der the management of John E. Hopley, and
M. V. Longworth was the city editor. Nevin
0. Winter was at one time a reporter on the
paper and, when he made his first trip to for-
eign lands, his first letters were published in
its columns. After the election that followed
its establishment, John E. Hopley decided to
make the venture a permanent one, as a daily,
because it had met with favor, and it has been
published regularly since that date. John
Hopley was appointed postmaster at Bucyrus
on two different occasions, serving in all dur-
ing three presidential terms. John E. Hop-
ley was appointed United States consul at
Southampton, England, in 1888, and was
transferred from there to Montevideo. James
R. Hopley was appointed postmaster by Presi-
dent Taft, in 1910, and served for four years.
John Hopley died in 1904, at the advanced
age of eighty -three years. During his connec-
tion with the Journal he obtained a national
reputation for the soundness of his views on
great questions, and often was able to help his
political party associates by his contributions
of planks in party platforms.
In 1881 Thomas P. Hopley started a small
paper, which was called the Temperance Bal-
lot. He was an ardent prohibitionist, and
began this paper during the campaign. It
gained many friends, and he continued to
publish it under the name of the Crawford
County News. In 1893 he sold it to A. J.
Hazlett, who changed it into a democratic
paper. He served as the editor for a number
of years, and was elected a member of the
Ohio Legislature in 1895, serving two terms.
In 1901 the News was consolidated with the
Crawford County Forum, as the News-
Forum. Two German pape/s have been pub-
lished in Bucyrus. The first of these was the
Crawford County Demokrat, established in
1855. This was continued for a number of
years, but finally ceased publication. The
first number of the Deutsche Courier was pub-
lished in 1875, and it still appears regularly.
Several other publications have appeared for
short periods at different times.
In 1855 John W. Putnam looked upon
Galion as a promising field for a newspaper.
He removed to Galion and, in connection with
Dr. D. Abger, issued the first paper in that
city, which was called the Galion Weekly
Train. The name was later changed to the
Galion Weekly Times. In 1856, when polit-
ical excitement was high, Jacob Riblet pur-
chased the paper and made it a democratic
organ, under the name of the Galion District
Democrat. It was not a financial success, how-
ever, and he soon disposed of it to Andrew
Poe. In 1864 this paper was purchased by
the Matthias brothers. H. S. Z. Matthias took
the editorial charge, and dropped the word
District from the title. This paper suc-
cumbed, but Mr. Matthias entered the news-
paper field again as publisher of the Weekly
Review, which was independent in politics.
In 1871 the plant was sold, and the title again
changed to the Galion Democrat, but issued as
a republican paper. The color of politics
changed back and forth several times. The
Galion Sun was established in 1872, as an
independent weekly newspaper. In 1888 the
Public Spirit was presented to the public by
Ed G. Slough as an independent newspaper.
It was issued as a daily, and was the first
daily to be published in Galion. The Review
and the Sun were combined as the Sun-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OIIlo
895
Review, and the daily, which had been changed
to the Leader, was also taken over liy tin- same
company. J. W. Cupp was the owner for sev-
eral years, and, when lie was appointed post-
master, it was managed by Charles !•'. .Monroe
for a time. The Sun-Review finally ceased
publication, Imt the Loader still flourishes.
Tn 1876 a campaign paper was established un-
der the name of the Republican Free Press.
In less than two years it was purchased by S.
G. Cummings & Company, and the name
changed to the Galion Inquirer, which has
been published ever since as a democratic
paper. H. S. Z. Matthias was the editor for
many years, and also served as county re-
corder.
Crestline was not platted until 1852, and
a newspaper was started about a year later
by Adam Billow. The paper was called the
Express, but it soon ceased publication. For
a number of years the village was without a
newspaper, but in 1869 the first number of
the Crestline Advocate appeared. It was a
success from the start, and has never ceased
publication since that date. Several attempts
by competing publishers have been failures.
Among these were the Crestline Democrat and
the Crestline Vidette, which enjoyed pop-
ularity for a season, but both were soon com-
pelled to succumb. The New Washington
Herald was established many years ago, and
is still published. Tiro at one time enjoyed a
newspaper, which was called the American,
but the population did not seem sufficient to
make a newspaper a profitable enterprise and
it was discontinued. In 1911, however, W. Z.
Davis commenced the publication of the Tiro
Word, and it has continued ever since.
BUCYRUS
Much speculation has been indulged in over
the origin of the name of the county seat of
Crawford County. That it was named by Col.
James Kilbourne there is no question. The
daughters of Samuel Norton always held that
the colonel was a great admirer of Cyrus the
Great, and named the place after that distin-
guished warrior, prefixing the name with the
pronunciation of the first syllable of the word
"beautiful," as he regarded the country
Bucynis as very beautiful. Judge Josiali
Scott and Franklin Adams, his associates dur-
ing his frequent visits to Bucyrus, were
equally positive that he told them the name
came from the Egyptian City of Busiris, and
was suggested to him by the lines in Book
First of Milton's "Paradise Lost":
' ' When with fierce winds Orion armed,
Hath vexed the Red Sea Coast, whose waves
o 'erthrew
Busiris and his Memphian chivalry."
In 1812 the writer of this chapter wrote a
history of Crawford County, and searched
every record possible to solve this long dis-
puted question. He found that in the Gaz-
etteer of Ohio, issued by John Kilbourne in
1825, under a description of the various
towns, the name "Busiris" was given, and
after it the words "see Bucyrus," and under
this latter name the statistics of the village
were given. The postoffice department estab-
lished an office in the village in 1824, and
on their records carried the name "Busiris,
alias Bucyrus." In 1829 their records were
changed to the present spelling. It is hard
to conceive how a nephew of the colonel could
get the name "Busiris" in his gazetteer, or
how the United States Government could get
the same "Busiris" on their records if it were
not named after the Egyptian city. Another
stumbling block to strangers is the pronun-
ciation. It is pronounced almost as the Egyp-
tian town is spelled, with the accent on the
second syllable — Bu-si'-ris.
Samuel Norton, with a party of seventeen
persons besides himself, reached Bucyrus in
October, 1819. On arriving here an old
wigwam made of small saplings was found
396
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
standing in the woods in what is now the
courthouse yard. The pioneers occupied this
building for three days, while the three men
in the party constructed an humble log cabin
on the south bank of the Sandusky. This
new cabin and the wigwam, and the wagons
which had brought them overland, accom-
modated the emigrants until each family
was able to construct a home for it-
self. This party consisted of Mary Norton,
wife of Samuel; his three daughters, Louisa,
Bucyrus. An important event occurred when
a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton
on February 13, 1820. In the spring of 1820
some settlers arrived by 'the name of Sears,
who lived for a time here and then moved
away. David Baclle and his two sons, Michael
and David, Jr., and his son-in-law, John Ens-
ley, were the next arrivals. Following these
came Daniel McMichael and James Young,
with their families.
It was during 1820 that Col. James Kil-
SCIOTO TRAIL (ROAD TO RIGHT) AT BUCYRUS
Catherine, and Elizabeth, and his three sons,
Rensselaer, Warren, and Waldo ; Albigence
Bucklin (a brother of Mrs. Norton), with his
wife and six children, Esther, Cynthia, Aus-
tin, Elizabeth, Almeda, and Pitt, and an
adopted daughter, Polly. The eighteenth per-
son was Seth Holmes, who had accompanied
the party as teamster and guide. At this time
these pioneers were ten miles from the near-
est settlement, which was near the present
site of Galion. The land about Bucyrus had
not yet been entered for sale, but it was soon
opened up for settlement. Mr. Norton went
to Delaware on horseback to visit the land
office at that place. He entered 400 acres of
what is now the central part of the City of
bourne drifted north from Columbus in his
work of making a preliminary survey of a
road from Columbus to Lake Erie, following
the old Scioto trail of the Indians, which had
been used by them for a hundred years. At
that time a road extended from Columbus to
a little beyond Delaware, near the Greenville
Treaty Line. When the land north of this
line was opened to settlement, arrangements
were made to extend the road to the lake.
Colonel Kilbourne, with his surveyor's in-
stinct, recognized the excellent location of the
Norton land as a site for a town on the new
highway. Mr. Norton at first did not favor
this move, because he wanted the land for
farming purposes, and thought it was too
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
397
good a farm to spoil by being laid out into
town lots. Colonel Kilbourne returned the
following year, and by that time -Mr. Norton
had agreed to permit his land to be platted
into town lots. To this end he and Norton
entered into a solemn covenant, by the terms
of which Kilbourne was to receive a one-
fourth interest in the new town for his serv-
ices. The plat was recorded in the recorder's
office at Delaware, February 11, 1822. It did
not cover a great extent of area, but occupied
what is now the central portion of the city.
It contained 176 lots, and ground was then
set aside for both a courthouse and jail, as
well as for school purposes. The streets were
generally named after members of the Norton
family, although the owner modestly omitted
naming one after himself. A lot sale was
held in April, when a large crowd was pres-
ent, although a few lots had been disposed of
earlier. Colonel Kilbourne himself was the
auctioneer, and during the sale sang for the
first time the ' ' Song of Bucyrus, ' ' written by
him, of which three verses are as follows:
' ' Ye men of spirit, ardent souls,
Whose hearts are firm and hands are
strong,
Whom generous enterprise controls,
Attend ! and truth shall guide my song.
I'll tell you how Bucyrus, now
Just rising like the star of morn
Surrounded stands by fertile lands,
On clear Sandusky's rural bourn.
"In these wide regions, known to fame
Which freedom proudly calls her own ;
Where free-born men the heathen tame,
And spurning kings — despise a throne.
No lands more blest in all the west,
Are seen whichever way you turn,
Than those around Bucyrus found
On clear Sandusky's rural bourn.
"First Norton and the Beadles came,
With friends, (an enterprising band),
Young and McMichael, men of fame,
Soon joined the others, hand in hand;
By various plans, t' improve the lands,
They early rise with every morn,
Near where the town Bucyrus stands,
All on Sandusky's rural bourn."
This song has been sung many times since.
Colonel Kilbourne was a hale fellow well met,
and a few brandies and egg nogs would never
fail to bring this song from him on request.
A part of what is now the public square did
not sell for several years afterwards, for it
was considered too far from the center of the
town. In 1826, the "Ohio Gazetteer" speaks
of Bucyrus as "a lively post town," and then
says it is "the seat of justice for the county,
has two stores and several mechanics. ' ' Hence
Bucyrus early acquired the reputation of be-
ing a "hustling" town. Judge Merriman, as
he was generally known, had the monopoly
for a time of exchanging goods with both
whites and Indians for deerskins, furs, honey,
ginseng, cranberries, and other articles. It
was not an elaborate establishment, and the
business was mostly in trade, for there was
very little cash in circulation. The whole
stock would not inventory more than $50.
Abel Gary built the first grist-mill in the new
village, along the Sandusky River, and it was
run by water power, for which he constructed
a small dam. Ichabod Rogers started a tav-
ern in the village in 1823, and Conrad Rhodes
also opened up a hostelry. Joseph McComb
was the first physician of whom we have a
record. Samuel Norton started a little tan-
nery on the banks of the Sandusky, in order
to tan enough leather for the family shoes.
William Early was the first real estate dealer,
and an early justice of the peace.
Lewis Gary, one of the early settlers, was
a Quaker, and the Indians were great ad-
mirers of him. While they were inveterate
398
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
thieves and laid hands on practically every-
thing lying around loose, they never stole any-
thing from Gary. He tanned leather during
the day and made shoes in the evening. Un-
like the moderns, the Indians liked Gary's
shoes because they squeaked. They always
asked for a pair that "talked," as they termed
it. When John Modervvell arrived in 1827,
he built a carding-mill, the first in the city.
It did a large business for many years. In
1830 he was elected county sheriff. James
and John McCracken came in 1825, and James
was the first mayor of the village in 1833;
both were prominent and useful citizens in
the community. George Lauck arrived in
1826, and ran a tavern until he was elected
county treasurer in 1837, which office he filled
for several terms. Bucyrus was a popular
place for trade with the Indians, as the Gov-
ernment gave them an annual allowance.
Money was plentiful for a few days after pay
day, and, as they could not secure liquor at
all places, they were willing to pay any price
for it where it could be obtained. There
were several places in Bucyrus where they
were able to purchase liquor, and the early
court records show many instances of fines for
selling liquors to the Indians. One of these
was the Old Roger's Tavern, which seemed
to be a headquarters for this class of business.
When the pike road was completed, about
1834, Mr. Norton built a two-story brick
building which he used as a hotel. When the
hotel was opened, Colonel Kilbourne was pres-
ent to assist his old friend in the house warm-
ing. General Harrison was a guest at this
hotel when he was candidate for president,
and it was the whig headquarters in the early
days, while the democratic headquarters were
at the National Hotel. Samuel Picking was
also one of the early landlords. His tavern
was called the Spread Eagle, but because of
the crude painting on the sign, was generally
dubbed "The Buzzard." The first marriage
of which we have a record was when Mary
Inman became the wife of Samuel Carl. The
bride herself tacked the necessary notice to
a big tree. When the hour for the wedding
arrived, the justice of the peace had tarried
too long at the wine to read the service. An
accommodating school teacher assisted him,
and the knot was legally tied.
It is claimed that the first religious services
in Bucyrus were held as early as 1821, when
a Rev. Mr. Bacon made occasional visits to the
village and preached to the settlers in their
cabins. Rev. Jacob Hooper also preached oc-
casionally in Bucyrus, and some believe that
he delivered the first sermon in the village
under a large oak tree, about where the Penn-
sylvania Station now stands. He was ap-
pointed by the Methodist Conference to take
charge of the Scioto Circuit, to which Bucy-
rus was attached. His circuit covered 700
miles, and he managed to get around to each
station about once in eight weeks. About
1830 a large revival occurred under the Meth-
odist preachers, which brought many acces-
sions to the society, the services being held in
an unfinished hotel which was then under
process of erection, now the Deal House. In
1822 Rev. Thomas McCleary had charge of
the circuit, and he traveled all the way from
Delaware to Bucyrus, to Mansfield, and to
Plymouth in his work. As the settlers in-
creased, these circuits were reduced in size.
John 0. and William Blowers, brothers, were
also two of the early ministers of the Metho-
dist denomination in this county. Samuel
Norton sold to the trustees of the Methodist
Episcopal Church a lot in 1831, which was the
site of the old church abandoned a number of
years ago, but still used in business. Elder
Poe, son of the great Indian fighter, preached
the dedicatory service.
Prior to 1825 the Presbyterians also held
services in the homes of the members of the
congregation or in the groves. Rev. William
Matthew frequently preached to them. Among
the early ministers were Shab Jenks and Rob-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
309
ert Lee. Mr. Lee is said to have been the
first suited minister to be assigned to Bucy-
rus. At first the services \\i-n: very irregular,
but a congregation was organized in 1833, and
a request was made for admittance to the Co-
lumbus Presbytery by thirty-three petition-
ers. Their first building, a small frame struc-
ture, was erected in 1839, on the present site
of the church, and on a lot which was deeded
to the trustees by Samuel Norton. William
Hutchinson was the first pastor in the new
church, and served it for nine years. A brick
church was erected in 1860. William M. Reid
served as superintendent of the Sunday school
for a quarter of a century. In 1829 the Evan-
gelical Lutherans met at the little brick school-
house and organized a congregation, with
David Shuh as minister. He served as pastor
for two years, and was succeeded by Rev.
John Stough, and he in turn was succeeded
by F. I. Erth. In 1835 this congregation
bought a lot at the corner of Walnut and
Mansfield streets, and constructed a small
church. Both the German and English Lu-
theran congregations occupied this church as
one congregation for a time. In 1842, how-
ever, the German members disposed of their
interest, but continued to occupy the building
with their English brethren until 1857, when
they erected a church of their own, and the
English also erected a church on their present
site. The German Lutheran is now one of the
largest congregations in the city.
The first meeting to organize a Baptist
Church was held at the home of William Kelly
in 1838. The first sermon was preached to
the new congregation by Elder William Ste-
vens, and at its conclusion all repaired to the
Sandusky River, where the ordinance of bap-
tism was administered to four persons. These
persons were William Wagers, his wife and
daughter Margaret, and Sovena Norton. Rev.
Thomas Stevens was selected as the first pas-
tor, but the financial resources of the congre-
gation were too low to engage him to come
once a month. Newton and Samuel Wads-
worth were among the early pastors, but the
first regular minister was Jacob Thorpe, who
received a call in October, 1841, which he ac-
cepted. A one-story frame building was built
on a lot on South Walnut Street, which had
been purchased for $100. In 1837 the first
mass was celebrated for the Roman Catholics
by Rev. F. X. Tschenhous. This mass was
said at the residence of Dr. Joseph Boehler,
and services were continued every month or
two for several years at his residence. In
1849, when Catholic families had become
more numerous, Bucyrus was made a regular
mission, and was served by priests from other
towns. In 1860 the old frame Presbyterian
Church was purchased and the building re-
moved to the present lot. The church was
there dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe in
1861, and Father Uerhart Kleck preached the
sermon and celebrated the initial mass. A
regular parish priest was not assigned until
several years later. A number of other
churches have since entered the field, and a
permanent Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion was established when Mrs. E. R. Kears-
ley presented the society with a fine brick
residence.
Bucyrus was organized as a village in 1833,
and James McCracken was elected the first
mayor. He was followed by John Moderwell
and Peter Worst. In 1886 Bucyrus became a
city, and was divided into wards. The post-
office was established in 1824, when Lewis
Gary was named as its postmaster, which office
he filled for five years. At first the settlers
received their mail from Delaware. Gary was
a victim of Jackson's policy "to the victors
belong the spoils," and he was removed in
favor of Henry St. John, who held it for
eight years. The first school was taught in
Bucyrus in the year 1832, and in a little log
cabin on the banks of the river. It was taught
by William Blowers, who later became a Meth-
odist minister. It was not a free school, for
400
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the pupils were charged $1.50 for a term of
three months. Among those known to have
attended this school were Elizabeth Norton,
who married Dr. A. M. Jones, and Horace
Rowse. Sarah Gary taught a school in Bucy-
rus in 1824, the schoolroom being the second
story of her father's cabin. When Bucyrus
was selected as the county seat, in 1832, the
authorities decided that the village ought to
own its own schoolhouse. A lot was donated
by Mr. Norton for this purpose, and a build-
ing was purchased. Bucyrus now had the
first schoolhouse that was the property of the
village. Israel Booth was the first superin-
tendent of the schools after they were fully
organized, and he began his services in 1850.
The Bucyrus Bank was the first banking
institution established, with Paul I. Hetich as
president and George Quinby as cashier. In
1856 it was reorganized as the Exchange
Bank. George Quinby was the president, and
Gerard Reynolds the cashier, while James
Gormley began work as teller. The People's
Deposit Bank was organized by James A.
Gormley in 1859, and has been in business
ever since. Five years later it was reorgan-
ized as the First National Bank. In 1881 the
Monnett Bank was opened for business. All
the stockholders except one were sons or sons-
in-law of Abraham Monnett. E. B. Monnett
was the first president, and M. W. Monnett
cashier. It afterward became the Bucyrus
City Bank. In 1878 the Crawford County
Bank commenced business. Abraham Mon-
nett was president, and George W. Hull vice
president. This bank became the Second Na-
tional Bank in later years. The Farmers and
Citizens Banking and Savings Company is
the latest banking institution to enter the
field. It was organized in 1907.
The first railroad train reached Bucyrus on
August 21, 1853, and the Forum had the fol-
lowing account :
"The first passenger train on the Ohio and
Indiana Railroad arrived at this place last
Wednesday evening (Aug. 31) on which, ac-
cording to previous arrangement, our Pitts-
burg friends made us a visit. A committee,
consisting of Dr. W. Merriman, president of
the Ohio and Indiana Railroad Company, Gen.
S. Myers, Col. G. P. Seal, Capt. John Miller
and M. P. Bean, received the party at Crest-
line and came down with them. On arriving
here the committee of arrangements con-
ducted them to the American and National,
where sumptuous suppers were in waiting.
After supper the party were conducted to
Sims New Hall where a table was prepared,
filled with eatables and drinkables (on the
temperance principle of course). Dr. Merri-
man then welcomed them to the hospitalities
of our town, and was replied to by Gen. Rob-
inson, president of the Ohio and Pennsylvania
road. Speeches were also made by Mr. Robr
erts, chief engineer of the Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania, John Larwill, Esq., of Wooster, Judge
Leith, of Wyandot, Mr. Straughan, chief en-
gineer of the Ohio and Indiana and others.
The speeches were not lengthy, but well-
timed and to the point. The party remained
over night, leaving early next morning. Our
citizens having been invited to take a ride to
Pittsburg, quite a number of gentlemen and
ladies went out with them to that place."
Dr. Willis Merriman, of Bucyrus, was at
that time and for several years later, presi-
dent of the road ; six of the seven directors
were citizens of Bucyrus, the seventh being
from Upper Sandusky. The road had been
promoted and built from Crestline to Fort
Wayne through the enterprise and push of
Bucyrus citizens, and was one of the most
wonderful enterprises ever put through by
a village, which the census of 1850 gave as
containing only 704 people.
GALION
Of some of the early settlers on the site of
Galion, mention has already been made. When
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
401
the first houses had been erected, the diminu-
tive settlement began to be known as Leve-
riclge's. The beginning of Galion can be
dated from the arrival of the Hosfords in
1820. William Hosford and his two sons,
Asa and Horace, settled a half mile east of
Leveridge's, and this place was soon known
as 1 1 os ford's settlement, for the three of them
went into business there at "The Corners."
Asa was the real genius of the family, and of
the settlement as well. In times of emergency
and depression, everybody looked to him.
For sixty years every interest of the place
had in him the warmest supporter. When
the first postoffice was established here in
1825, Horace Hosford was the postmaster.
The first office was in Hosford 's blacksmith
shop at "The Corners," as the village was
generally called. The petitioners asked that
the office be named Goshen, but that name had
already -been appropriated. The postmaster
general suggested Galion, and so it became.
The origin of the word is not known, for
there was no other known town of that des-
ignation. Hosford was succeeded a few years
later by Calvin T. Donovan, and he in turn
by Michael Ruhl. Early records at Wash-
ington refer to the postoffice at Galion as in
Richland County, as it was up to 1845.
When John Ruhl arrived from Pennsyl-
vania with his wife and five sons and a daugh-
ter, a wealthy man for those days, he pur-
chased much of the land where the site of
Galion now stands. He had the idea that
this land would make an excellent site for a
town. A curious item in the deed from Sam-
uel Brown to Ruhl is the following: "and
Sarah Brown is to have stuff for a new frock
when she signs the writing." Perhaps she
had objected to the deed in some way. A sur-
veyor was sent for, and the present Town of
Galion was laid out by Michael and Jacob
Ruhl in 1831. There were about thirty-five
lots in this original plat, and every one fronted
on the main street. In 1833 a second addition
Vol. I— 36
was laid out, east of the original plat, but all
of these lots also faced on the main street,
with a few exceptions. There was now a
rivalry between the two little towns that had
been laid out. "The Corners" still had the
trade. Ruhl's settlement finally won the con-
test. The first business industry established
was a distillery, which was introduced by
Nathan Merriman in 1834. Here the settlers
disposed of their goods and purchased whisky.
The first steam engine was introduced by
Isaac Criley, when he started a carding-mill.
Galion remained nothing more than a country
village until 1850, when a railroad was pro-
jected through the city. It began to grow
when the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincin-
nati Railroad reached there in 1851. In 1840,
when Joel Todd was elected as the first mayor,
it was small ; there were two taverns, three
stores, and a few shops. Nine years later the
population numbered less than 400. By 1870
it had outstripped Bucyrus, and retained the
lead for a third of a century.
The first religious services of which we have
a record were held at the cabin of Benjamin
Leverige. In 1820 a tall, raw-boned man ap-
peared, who was dressed very much as a
hunter of those days, and he immediately
started to sing a hymn, in which the audience
joined. Then he knelt and prayed and talked
for over half an hour. This man was Ben-
jamin Sharrock, who lived only a few miles
distant. He was a Methodist, but not an or-
dained minister. A large frame barn belong-
ing to George Wood and Asa Hosford was fre-
quently used for religious service, as it was
the largest building in the neighborhood. In
summer services were conducted in the open
air. One of the early traveling preachers
here was Russel Bigelow, who traveled this
circuit for the Methodists. A Presbyterian
minister by the name of Matthews was the
first man to receive pay for his services. He
was given the sum of $15 a year. When Rev.
F. J. Ruth reached Galion in 1831, in the
402
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
interest of the German Lutheran Church, he
found a rough crowd which gave him to un-
derstand that there was no opening for him.
When the Ruhls heard of this, they went to
Mansfield and persuaded him to return. This
was the beginning of that denomination here.
Rev. John Stough was the first pastor. The
Roman Catholics did not enter this field until
1854, when a congregation was organized by
Father Matthias Kreusch.
The first schoolhouse erected was in 1822.
It was of logs, and the entire settlement as-
sisted. David Gill first taught the three
"R's" here in the subscription school. It
was not until 1847 that a regular school sys-
tem was organized in Galion. The splendid
central building was built in 1867, when J.
C. Hartzler was superintendent of the schools.
Since then several ward buildings have been
found necessary and a new high school is
being erected. The first superintendent of
the schools was David Kerr.
CRESTLINE
The nucleus of Crestline was the Village
of Livingston. The plat of this village was
recorded in the recorder's office at Bucyrus
on February 17, 1851, by Van Rensallaer
Livingston. The Government established a
postoffice and Mr. Livingston was appointed
the postmaster. The office was in the general
store of Thomas C. Hall. When the Ohio
and Indiana Road was finished, it promised
to be a thriving village. Then it was that C.
J. Straughan purchased a farm at the junc-
tion of it and the Cleveland, Columbus and
Cincinnati Railroad, and laid out a new town,
which was named Crest Line. He filed the
plat of the new town in the recorder's office in
1852. Crest Line had the advantage of the
Union Depot, and it soon outgrew Livingston
in population and business. The postoffice
was removed to the new town, and the name
became one word instead of two. As time
went on the two towns grew together, and
today there is no dividing line between the
two. David Ogden was the first mayor, being
elected in 1858, immediately after its incor-
poration. As the junction point of two im-
portant railroads, the town grew rapidly.
From its start, Crestline was a great railroad
center, and shops were located there employ-
ing hundreds of men. It became a division
point, also, so the train crews laid over at
this town.
On June 23, 1853, the editor of the Bucy-
rus Journal visited Crestline, and wrote of it
as follows:
"Crestline and Livingston are located at
the place where the Ohio & Indiana and the
Ohio & Pennsylvania roads unite with the
one town, so recognized. Here can be seen
that great feature of American enterprise a
city in the wilderness. Houses are erecting
on all sides, and hundreds of laborers and
mechanics are busily engaged in pushing the
present improvements to completion. It will
surprise many to learn what's doing in this
clearing for clearing it is, as, except what
have been grubbed out, the stumps are still
standing on all sides. The ticket office and
building for the accommodation of the trav-
elers is just finished. The building partakes
somewhat of an oriental style of architecture,
is 30 feet wide and 80 feet long. It contains
a ticket office, a baggage-room, and a large
salon for the accommodation of passengers
waiting for the cars. The salon is abundantly
supplied with lounges or settees, tables and
chairs. It also contains a fine clock and a
large water cooler."
VILLAGES
In 1833 the plat of a new town to be called
New Washington was filed with the county
recorder. A short distance away was West
Liberty, just four days older. West Liberty
was platted in 1835, and before the coming
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
403
of railroads was a rival of Bucyrus in the
volume of its business. Up to 1850 it was a
far more important point than Galion, and
the Village of Crestline at that date was not
yet in existence. For a long time there was a
spirited rivalry between the two towns, but
NYw Washington proved the stronger. The
growth of New Washington was steady, even
if slow. The first merchant was a man named
Hussey, who was drowned in Lake Erie. Vol-
ncy Powers opened up the second store. By
1840 the population had increased to about
fifty souls. The first postmaster of which we
have a record was John A. Sheetz, and he
was succeeded by George Donnenwirth, who
was one of the substantial citizens of the early
days. The construction of the Mansfield,
Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad gave
quite an increase to the growth of the town.
It was incorporated in 1873, and Matthias
Kibler was elected the first mayor. Today it
is a thriving and prosperous town, with a
number of stores, a bank, and a newspaper.
Tiro is a new town, platted in 1874, as it
did not appear until the railroad was com-
pleted. There had been an old village platted
in 1835, named De Kalb, a half mile to the
south, but the location of a railroad station
brought the settlement there. A town was plat-
ted there, and the postoffice was transferred
to the new town. Ira Van Tilberg was named
postmaster of Tiro in 1874, and the De Kalb
postoffice was discontinued. Tiro was incor-
porated in 1890, and Charles McConnell was
elected mayor.
There are several other villages in the
county. New Winchester dates from 1835,
and was named after Winchester, Virginia.
North Robinson was made a postoffice in 1854,
and it was named after J. B. Robinson, who
had built a sawmill there to furnish ties for
the Ohio and Indiana Railroad. A town was
afterwards platted. Sulphur Spring was
platted as early as 1833, by John Slifer. It
was then called Annapolis. Both names are
still used in common parlance. A postoffice
was established there in 1846, and it was
called Sulphur Spring, on account of a large
sulphur spring near there. An "s" was later
added to the name. Chatfield is an old set-
tlement, laid out in 1840, but it grew greatly
only after the railroad was completed there.
Benton was laid out in 1841 by George
Bender and John Hazlett. It was named after
Senator Thomas Benton, of Missouri, of whom
Hazlett was a great admirer. Previous to this
time a postoffice had been established there
and named Poplar. The village has always
carried those two names. It has a charming
location on a bluff of the Sycamore Creek.
When the town was started, there was a black-
smith shop there, run by Daniel Beal, which
was a great gathering place. Benton was at
one time incorporated, and was probably the
smallest settlement ever burdened with the
responsibilities of a village government.
Alvin Williams was elected mayor, and he was
succeeded by Joseph Pitezal. Among the
postmasters of this village, and one of the
prominent merchants for many years, was
Adam R. Winter, father of the editor of this
work. The pioneers of this neighborhood were
mostly men from New England and the East,
and the Bible was found in nearly every
home.
Plankton is a small town two miles north
of Benton, on the Northern Ohio Railroad,
and Lemert is two miles south, on the Toledo
and Ohio Central Railroad. Lykens is a small
town in the northern part of the county.
Wingert 's Corners is a village in the northern
part of the county. Wingert 's Corners, so
named after William Wingert, is an old vil-
lage, but the postoffice is named Brokensword.
It is noted as the original of "Confederate
X Roads," of the Nasby satirical letters.
Leesville assumed its name from the family
of Lees living there. It was laid out by Rev.
Robert Lee in 1829.
CHAPTER XXXII
DEFIANCE COUNTY
Because of its beautiful and convenient
location at the mouth of three rivers, the site
of Defiance was the first place to be occupied
by whites within the present county of the
same name. It was also the location of trad-
ing posts for the Indians as soon as the whites
commenced to infiltrate into the Maumee Val-
ley. The French traders began to establish
their little stores here in the latter part of
the seventeenth century, and the English
traders located themselves there during the
first half of the eighteenth century. Oliver
M. Spencer, who was for a time a captive of
the Shawnees, describes the settlement exist-
ing at this place in the year 1792, which was
two years before the coming of General
Wayne 's army, as follows :
' ' Extending from the Maumee a quarter of
a mile up the Auglaize, about two hundred
yards in width, was an open space on the west
and south of which were oak woods with hazel
undergrowth. Within this opening, a few
hundred yards above the point on the steep
high bank of the Auglaize, were five or six
cabins and log houses inhabited principally
by traders with the Aborigines. The most
northerly, a large hewed log house divided
below into three apartments, was occupied as
a warehouse, store, and dwelling by George
Ironside, the most wealthy and influential of
the traders on the point. Next to his were the
houses of Pirault (Pero) a French baker, and
M'Kenzie a Scot who, in addition to mer-
chandizing followed the occupation of a silver-
smith, exchanging with the Aborigines his
brooches, eardrops, and other silver ornaments
at an enormous profit, for skins. Still farther
up were several other families of French and
English, and two American prisoners, Henry
Ball a soldier taken at St. Clair's defeat, and
his wife Polly Meadows captured at the same
time — were allowed to live here and by labor
to pay their masters the price of their ransom,
he by boating to the (lower) rapids of the
Maumee, and she by washing and sewing.
Fronting the house of Ironside and about fifty
yards from the bank (of the Auglaize), was a
small stockade enclosing two hewed log
houses, one of which was occupied by James
Girty the other occasionally by M'Kee and
Eliott, British Aborigine Agents living at
Detroit."
American traders also visited Defiance and
tarried there for a period during the time of
the garrison of Fort Defiance, but no perma-
nent settlement was attempted then. The
British practically controlled the Maumee,
and were most influential among the aborig-
ines up to within a few miles of Fort Wayne
until the arrival of the Army of the North-
west, at the beginning of the War of 1812.
Up to this time the traders and their families
in this neighborhood were mostly, if not all,
of British and French blood. After this war
a number of soldiers, who had served in the
neighborhood of Forts Winchester and De-
fiance, and along the Maumee, returned to the
confluence of the Auglaize and the Maumee
and established themselves there. These
earliest settlers first occupied the buildings of
Fort Winchester, after that stockade had been
abandoned by the departing army. The
buildings of fort thus served a most excellent
purpose after they were no longer needed in
404
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
406
war. They were used as such as long as they
remained in a fit condition for occupancy.
After that the best of the timbers were em-
ployed in the construction of log buildings in
the neighborhood, while the poorer ones served
to dispel the winter cold by furnishing a ready
supply of fuel.
Among the first, if not the very first, real
settlers who established themselves in the
neighborhood of Port Defiance were two
brothers, by the name of John and William
Preston, who had seen service in the War of
and built the first saw and flour mill in this
part of Ohio, at Brunersberg, in 1822. He
became one of the first three associate judges
of Williams County. James Partee located
along the Tiffin River. William Travis, who
became one of the prominent early settlers of
Defiance, first visited the town in 1819 and
brought the first wagon to the settlement. He
was advised to take it apart at St. Marys, on
account of the poor road, and ship it by boat
from there to Fort Wayne and then down the
Maumee to its destination. The oxen and
DEFIANCE COLLEGE BUILDINGS
1812. William Preston became the first
sheriff in this part of Ohio and finally re-
moved to Williams County, where he died
about the year 1828. His brother had passed
away several years earlier. His surname is
perpetuated at Defiance in the name of an
island and also of a small creek. At the same
time there arrived James Partee, John Plum-
mer, John Perkins, and Montgomery Ebons.
All of these men occupied for a long or short
period some one of the abandoned buildings
of Fort Winchester. John Perkins came from
near Chillicothe, and dwelt for some years
at the place known as Camp Number Three.
He surveyed this land for the United States,
horses were driven by land along the old
military road, and carried part of the goods
on their backs. John Driver, who was a
silversmith, came here accompanied by his
brother, Thomas, who settled on a farm a few
miles up the Maumee about the same time.
At that time there were five French traders
who occupied cabins near Fort Defiance. One
of these was Peter Lombard, and the names
of the others are not now known. John and
George Hollister established a store at the
top of the bluff, on the north side of the
Maumee, and they continued in business there
for a number of years. For a time the busi-
ness was conducted for them by Peter Bellaire
406
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and George Lantz. In the year 1820, the
Village of Defiance contained three stores
and about 100 white people.
Robert Shirley brought his family from
Ross County to Defiance in the spring of
1821, and he was among the very last to
occupy one of the buildings of Fort Win-
chester. He became a very prominent citizen,
and his sons, James, Elias, and Robert, settled
on farms about the Auglaize River, where
some of their descendants still live. Among
the other early settlers along the river were
Samuel Kepler, who located east of Defiance
in 1821, and Joshua Hilton, who built a cabin
two miles west of that village in the follow-
ing year. Thomas and Parmenas Wasson
came in the year 1822, and the former settled
upon a farm and raised a large family. John
and Forman Evans, and their cousin, Pierce
Evans arrived in 1823, and took a prominent
part in the development of the county. John
was generally known as "Doctor" and opened
up a general store not long after his arrival,
where he frequently dispensed medicine to
the sick. Montgomery Evans, possibly a dis-
tant relative, became a trader with the abori-
gines, as well as a farmer and dealer in real
estate. Moses Heatley settled near Blodgett
Island in 1824, while in the following year
there came David and Isaac Hull, Timothy S.
Smith, James Craig, and Robert Watson. In
1827 there arrived Payne C. Parker, who con-
ducted a general store for a decade and a
half. Because he sold medicine, he was also
generally called "Doctor."
When Williams County was organized for
self Government, in 1824, Defiance was chosen
as the seat of government by an act of the
Legislature in January of the following year.
Prior to that for several years it had been a
part of Wood County, and was included
within Auglaize Township. The first two jus-
tices of the peace were John Perkins and Wil-
liam Preston. To Williams were attached for
governmental purposes the counties of Henry,
Paulding, and Putnam. As a consideration
for its selection as the permanent county seat,
the proprietor of Defiance agreed to deed to
the county one-third of all the lots in the town
and to build a jail. These conditions were
complied with. The first Court of Common
Pleas for this county was held in that village
on April 5, 1824, in the second story of Ben-
jamin Leavell's store. Ebenezer Lane was
the presiding judge, and his associates on the
bench were Robert Shirley, John Perkins, and
Pierce Evans. At this first session John Evans
was appointed clerk, and he filed a bond for
$2,000 signed by Forman and Pierce Evans
and Moses Rice as sureties. At the second
session of these judges, in the following May,
John Evans was appointed recorder of the
county, while Timothy S. Smith was given the
position of auditor. William Preston was
permitted to call himself sheriff, and Samuel
Vance was named as assessor. John Camon
was the first person to declare his intention to
become a citizen of the United States. The
first marriage license was issued to Carver
Gunn and Mary Ann Scribner, who were mar-
ried December 24, 1824, by Charles Gunn,
J. P. The first will admitted to probate was
that of James Jolly.
Among the items of the business transacted
at this session of the court, we find that Ben-
jamin Leavell was licensed to sell merchandise
for a year upon the payment of the sum of
$10 into the county treasury. For adding
$1.50 more to this contribution he was licensed
to operate a ferry across the Maumee River
for a period of twelve months. George Lantz
was given permission to operate a ferry across
the Maumee at a different location for the
small sum of $1. The prescribed schedule of
charges of ferriage was as follows: One per-
son could be transported for G1/^ cents, while
a man and a horse cost three times this
amount. A loaded wagon and team cost $1,
a four-wheeled carriage and team 75 cents,
a loaded cart with the team 50 cents, an empty
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
407
cart and team, a sleigh, or sled with the team,
371/2 cents. Cattle cost four cents per head,
while hogs and sheep were hauled for half
this sum. Enoch Buck was fined $1 and the
costs for maintaining a ferry across tho Mau-
mee without a license. Isaac Hull was also
authorized to sell merchandise for $10, and
Samuel Lantz was authorized to dispense
liquor at his cabin upon the payment of $10.
Charles W. Ewing became the first prosecutor
of the county, being allowed a fee of $10,
and Jesse Hilton had the distinction of being
named as a justice of the peace. The grand
jury was composed of William Hunter, Tim-
othy T. Smith, Arthur Burras, George Lantz,
John Hilton, Forman Evans, Montgomery
Evans, Thomas Driver, Benjamin Mulligan,
James Shirely, Jonathan Merithan, Thomas
Warren, Theophilus Hilton, Hugh Evans, and
Daniel Brannan.
Cyrus Hunter, Charles Gunn, and Benja-
min Leavell were the first county commis-
sioners of Williams County. Their first
formal session of which we have record was
held December 6, 1824, in the same room
as the court had met. It was determined that
the members should serve one, two, and three
respective years in the order that their names
appear above. They authorized a road along
the north side of the Maumee to the east line
of Henry County, and William Preston, John
Evans, and Arthur Burrows were appointed
the viewers of this road, which John Perkins
was authorized from the Indiana line, along
this line was certified to the commissioners of
Wood County in 1822. Defiance Township
was carved out of Auglaize in the same year.
In 1825 William Semans was appointed treas-
urer of the county. In that same year John
Blair was the lowest bidder for the collection
of taxes, his bid being 6 per cent. A road
was authorized from the Indiana line, along
the north side of the Maumee, ' ' to cross Bean
Creek (Tiffin River) at or near Perkins' Mill
<the present Brunersburg) , and thence to the
ford of the Maumee River at Defiance oppo-
site Jolly's Tannery in said town."
At the June session of the county commis-
sioners in 1825 it was ordered that a jail built
of hewed logs should be erected. The dimen-
sions of this county bastile were ordered to
"be twenty-six by eighteen feet, nine feet be-
tween floors, with a partition of the same
dimensions as the walls and two grate win-
dows, eighteen by ten inches, with five iron
bars to each window." For several months
the court was held in the second story of Mr.
Leavell 's store room, which stood on the banks
of the Maumee, just north of the fort grounds.
About 1828 a brick courthouse was constructed
of modest dimensions, which served this pur-
pose until the county seat was removed to
Bryan, after which the building was sold by
the county commissioners.
FORMATION OP DEFIANCE COUNTY
After the settlement of the Toledo War,
which added considerable territory to Wil-
liams County, Defiance was situated so near
to one end of the county that the question of
removal of the county seat began to be serious.
Numerous settlers were entering the north end
of the county, and villages were already being
platted, nearly all of which aspired to the
honor of becoming the county capital. In
1839 the question of removing the county seat
was submitted to the voters, and it was car-
ried by a good majority. Commissioners, con-
sisting of Joseph Burns, of Coshocton
County, Joseph McCutcheon, of Crawford
County, and James Curtis, of Perry County,
were appointed to locate the county seat. In
1846 Bryan, the site of which was then cov-
ered with a dense wilderness, was selected,
because of its being practically the center of
the county. To say that the citizens of De-
fiance were agitated is expressing their real
feelings mildly. A new county was at once
talked of. A petition of remonstrance was
408
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
brought about and signed by the citizens gen-
erally. As it was a democratic Legislature
that had passed the act complained of, this
remonstrance was presented to a whig Legis-
lature, and a bill organizing a new county to
be called Defiance was passed on March 4,
1845.
The greater part of the new county was de-
tached from Williams County, but portions
were also taken from Henry and Paulding
counties. Great was the rejoicing at Defiance,
and a celebration in honor of the new county
was held at old Fort Defiance on the 13th of
March. Notwithstanding the high waters and
bad roads, the people thronged to the celebra-
tion in which bonfires and speeches and danc-
ing had a very important part. Judge Pierce
Evans was the presiding officer. All efforts
on the part of Williams County to have the
latest action of the Legislature repealed failed.
The first term of court in Defiance County
was held in a brick schoolhouse on Wayne
Street. Patrick H. Goode was the presiding
judge, and with him were associated Andrew
C. Bigelow and William 0. Ensign. James S.
Greer, Lyman Langdon, and Jonas Colby were
appointed county commissioners. Edwin
Phelps was named as auditor. A special elec-
tion was called for county officers on April
15th. Proceedings were at once initiated to
provide a new courthouse, and, within a very
short time, a brick edifice was completed on
the site of the present courthouse. It was not
an expensive building, but in its day was
looked upon as a handsome and very creditable
structure. The courtroom was located on the
first floor, while the county officials had their
offices on the second floor. It would not be
considered a very attractive or suitable build-
ing when compared with the present court-
house, which has replaced this earlier struc-
ture.
The first lawyer who presided over court
at Defiance was Ebenezer Lane, who held
court at some time or another in nearly every
part of Northwest Ohio. He was succeeded
by Judge Higgins, and he in turn by Ozias
Bowen. Emery D. Potter then took up the
work, and held the office until his election to
Congress, at which time he resigned from the
bench. Legal work in the early courts was
conducted by lawyers who traveled the cir-
cuit with the judges. Of the conditions con-
fronting the pioneer judge, Judge Higgins
wrote: "We had been attending Court at
Findlay. Our Circuit route from that town
was first to Defiance, and from there to Per-
rysburg. A countryman agreed to take our
horses directly through the Black Swamp to
Perrysburg. We purchased a canoe (the good
pirogue Jurisprudence) and taking with us
our saddles, bridles, and baggage, proposed to
descend the Blanchard and Auglaize rivers
to Defiance. Our company consisted of Ro-
dolphus Dickinson, J. C. Spink, "Count' (An-
drew) Coffinberry, myself, and a countryman
whose name I forgot. The voyage was a dis-
mal one to Defiance, through an unsettled
wilderness of some sixty miles. Its loneliness
was only broken by the intervening Aborigine
settlement at the Ottawa village, where we
were hailed and cheered lustily by the 'Tawa
Aborigines as would be a foreign warship in
the port of New York. From Defiance we
descended the Maumee to Perrysburg where
we found all well. In descending the Maumee
we came near running into the rapids where
we would probably have been swamped ; but
we were hailed from the shore and warned of
our danger."
The first record that we have of an attorney
living at Defiance is in a letter written by
James L. Gage, in which he says: "I opened
a law office in the winter of 1826 in Defiance,
Williams County. I think the first in Wil-
liams County. It was an upper room in the
inn of Benjamin Leavell, an upright man in
whose excellent family I boarded. He was
one of the proprietors of the town. My office
was also my bedroom and, on public days, it
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
409
was also the bedroom of many others. Land
and lots were far more abundant than dwel-
lings. * * * In 1826 I paid the whole of
the Williams County state tax with wolf-scalp
certificates, and drew a heavy percentage be-
sides from the state treasury in payment of the
balance due the wolf hunters of Williams
County for wolves killed that year within the
limits of the county."
Thomas W. Powell has left us the follow-
ing interesting description of a lawyer's life
in those days: "Judge Lane's circuit of the
common pleas then included the whole of the
northwestern part of the state, including the
counties of Huron, Richland, Delaware and
Union, being fully one-fourth of the state.
He was very punctual in attending the courts
of Perrysburg and Defiance, Gage and my-
self always accompanied him ; and they were
frequently attended by other lawyers from
other parts of the country. Those excursions
from Perrysburg to Defiance in attending
the courts there were enjoyed with rare pleas-
ure and attended with considerable excite-
ment. We usually made the trip on horse-
back, but frequently when the river was in
a high stage of water we would procure a canoe
at Defiance and make our way back by water.
We frequently took two days to make the
trip, and then would make Prairie Damasque
our halfway stopping place over night, at
the house of Judge Vance, a brother of Gov.
Vance, of Ohio. * * * At that time Defi-
ance consisted only of a few houses, such as
would be found at a new town of the smaller
dimensions. A warehouse on the bank of the
river afforded a court house, and the house
of Mr. Leavell afforded us a hotel, yet the
term there was attended with interest and
pleasure."
The first lawyer to establish himself perma-
nently at Defiance was doubtless Horace Ses-
sions, who reached there in 1833 and followed
the law practice for many years. For a time
he had no competitors. He became known
throughout the entire Maumee Valley for his
high moral qualities and professional attain-
ments. He was without means and worked in
the county offices, and taught in the district
schools to aid his support. Two of the early
lawyers were brothers. These were William
and John Beaston Semans. John did not
engage in the practice of law here for any
great length of time, but followed newspaper
work for a time, and also interested himself
in mercantile business. He was very inde-
pendent and absolutely fearless. He adopted
for his newspaper the motto: "While I have
Liberty to write, I will write for Liberty."
William also engaged in mercantile business
with his brother for a time, but followed the
law far more than his brother. He came to
Defiance in 1826 to visit his sister, and was
prevailed upon to teach a winter term of
school. He followed teaching and the work of
brick masonry for several years, and then
studied law with Amos Evans, being admitted
to the practice in 1835. He was a partner of
Andrew Coffinberry, of Maumee City, for a
time, and afterwards removed to Lafayette,
Indiana, and from there went to Kansas,
where he became active in the movement to
make that state free. Curtis Bates located
here about 1836. Soon afterwards he was
elected to the Ohio Senate, but his election was
successfully contested on the ground that he
had not been a resident of the state for the
prescribed period. A new election was
ordered, but by that time the required period
had elapsed and he was chosen by an increased
majority. He afterwards removed to Des
Moines, Iowa. William C. Holgate arrived
next and' hung out his shingle as an attorney.
He practiced law there for about half a cen-
tury. Samuel H. Greenlee was an early prac-
titioner at the Defiance bar. Erastus H. Le-
land came to the county about 1841, and prac-
ticed law at Defiance for many years. He
represented the county in the Legislature for
one session, where he took a prominent part.
410
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
He enlisted in the Civil War, and was com-
pelled to retire from active business after his
service in the army. Among others of the
early legal lights were Hamilton Davison,
George W. B. Evans, John M. Stilwell, George
B. Way, and William Sheffield.
DEFIANCE
Although, as we have seen, there was a set-
tlement at Defiance since the last part of the
eighteenth century, it did not officially ap-
pear as a town until in November, 1822. At
that time the village of Fort Defiance was
platted by Benjamin Leavell, of Piqua, and
Horatio G. Phillips, of Dayton. The plat
was acknowledged on the 18th of April, 1823,
before Charles Gunn, justice of the peace,
and duly recorded in Wood County. This
plat embraced 150 lots, and was located at the
confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers.
The square on which the courthouse now
stands was reserved by the proprietors unless
the town should become a county seat, and, as
the plat expressed it, "forever continue to
be," when it was to be used for public build-
ings. The grounds on which the old fort
was located were also dedicated to the public
on the same conditions. It is now known as
Fort Defiance Park. One square was granted
to the Methodist Church for a house of wor-
ship and burying ground, and another square
was allotted to the Presbyterian Church for
the same purposes. Mr. Phillips was an ex-
tensive land holder at Dayton, but never be-
came a resident of Defiance. Mr. Leavell did
remove to the new town and established the
first inn, and also the first store to supply the
wants of the white settlers. He erected a
modest frame building in the village in the
year that the town was platted, but after-
wards sold his holdings to Curtis Holgate, of
Utica, New York, and returned with his family
to Piqua.
An incident in the early history of Defiance
that has been handed down to posterity is as
follows: "There were lying about the vil-
lage sundry empty bombshells and a few can-
non balls. When the fort here was evacuated
some of the ammunition, bombshells and can-
non balls were thrown into the river. A part
of these balls and shells were discovered by
the early settlers and fished out. They were
thrown upon the bank at Defiance, where every
one who wanted one took it, and the remainder
were kicked about as things of no value and
as matters of idle curiosity and remark. One
day, a loafing party amused themselves in
picking the fuse out of three shells, when one
of them thought it would be a good specula-
tion to apply a coal of fire to it. He did so,
and the fierceness with which it commenced
burning suggested to them that they did not
occupy an eminently safe place from which
to witness the final result ; so they took a short
recess, some over the bank and others behind
stumps. They put off, pretty badly scared,
and had barely reached their places of retreat
before the shell exploded, manifesting a very
destructive power. One piece struck Mr.
Leavell 's house, some eight or ten rods dis-
tant, leaving an indentation that demanded
the aid of the carpenter; another struck a
store, near the place of explosion, with still
greater force, but no person was hurt."
A postoffice was first established at Defiance
in 1821, on the north side of the Maumee, and
was kept by Timothy S. Smith in his resi-
dence. A year later a small frame building,
about 10 by 12 feet square, was erected near
the fort expressly for a postoffice. The mail
route at that time extended from Piqua to
Perrysburg, a distance of almost 200 miles,
passing through St. Marys and Fort Wayne
to Defiance, and then from Defiance to Water-
ville, and on to Perrysburg. The carrier,
whose name was Thomas Driver, made a
round trip every two weeks. At first the
postoffice was known as Fort Defiance, but in
1824 the word "fort" was dropped. Mr.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
411
Smith continued to serve the office until 1825,
when Isaac Hull Jr. was appointed as his
successor.
In the early days Defiance was a very im-
portant point, for several routes of travel
converged here. This made the business of
catering to travelers an important one. As
early as 1823, Dr. John Evans erected a build-
ing that was large for that day, and which
answered both for a store and a hotel. C. C.
Waterhouse became the proprietor, of this
hostelry, and ran a four-horse stage in con-
nection with it to Maumee City. He gave
it the name of "The Pavillion." He built
a barn sufficiently large to accommodate six-
teen horses, in which not a nail or a scrap of
iron was used in its construction. Wooden
pins were employed to take the place of nails,
and even the hinges and latches were made
of wood. The clapboards were weighted down
by poles. About 1827 or 1828, Payne C. Par-
ker erected a store and hotel, in which he
conducted business for several years. Under
Lyam Langdon, a later owner, it took the
name of "The Exchange," and was conducted
as a hotel until it was burned about 1852.
About 1836 the "Clinton House" was built
by Amos Evans. During the time of the
building of the canal it did a thriving busi-
ness. The "Grey House" was built in about
the same year as the "Clinton," and, a few
years later, the "Washington Hotel" was
ready to cater to the traveling public.
The village of Defiance was incorporated in
January, 1836. At the first election, held in
April of that year, John Lewis was elected
mayor. The trustees chosen at this election
were James Hudson, Jonas Colby, Amos Ev-
ans, Horace Sessions, and Jacob Kniss. In
the book of minutes the first entry, which is
signed by Foreman Evans, as associate judge,
recites that John Lewis had appeared before
him and taken the required oath of office as
mayor of the village. Mr. Sessions, who had
been elected a trustee, declined to serve, and
John Oliver was appointed in his place. When
the council met on the 7th of May, E. S.
Perkins, who had been elected recorder
(clerk), having been found ineligible because
of insufficient residence, George W. Crawford
was appointed in his place, and Amos Evans
acted as the recorder of that meeting. John
Hilton was appointed the village marshal by
that body, and E. C. Case was named as as-
sessor. Alfred Pur cell was selected as the
village treasurer. The recorder's fees were
fixed at "ten cents for every one hundred
words of writing performed for the Council,
except for transcribing copies, where he
should receive only eight cents." The first
ordinance of the town showed that these early
citizens were anxious to preserve its historic
relics. This act provided "that any person or
persons destroying the public point lying in
the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize
rivers, either by shooting, chopping or digging,
or in any way or manner whatever upon con-
viction of which before the Mayor, shall be
subject to a fine." Before the end of his first
year as mayor, Mr. Lewis resigned and Doctor
Crawford was appointed to succeed him. At
the regular election in the following year,
C. C. Waterhouse was chosen as mayor. The
trustees elected were S. S. Sprague, John
Oliver, Amos Evans, Jacob Kniss, and Ben-
jamin Brubacher. The third mayor was
Charles V. Royce.
It can not be said that the village of De-
fiance grew very rapidly. In 1840 the in-
habitants numbered less than 300. It was in
this year that the county seat was moved to
Bryan, and the future looked very dark. Most
of the site was still covered with small timber
and underbrush. The buildings were simply
set up on wooden blocks. The principal busi-
ness was the trade in furs. When the canal
was completed in 1842, there was a notable
impetus and a new growth arose. By 1848 the
village contained 2 churches, 5 business estab-
lishments, and at least 700 inhabitants.
412
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
The Town of Defiance itself has never been
subject to real estate speculation to any great
degree, but several projects of rival towns
in the immediate vicinity have been agitated.
At one time, because of the uncertainty of
the location of the canal, John Hollister, who
owned land just east of Defiance, platted the
said land which he named East Defiance.
The plat was on a large scale, and was
boomed greatly for a time. The final lo-
cation of the canal, however, dispelled the
hopes of the promoter, and East Defiance
was heard of no more. About the same time
some speculators imagined there was a good
site for a town just above Defiance, and an
extensive survey of land was made. This
town was named West Defiance, but it also
has been lost sight of in the succeeding years.
On the north side of the river another settle-
ment was platted, named North Defiance, and
a part of this plat is still upon the county
duplicate. At one time the town of Bruners-
burg, on Tiffin River, a couple of miles above
Defiance, was a vigorous rival of Defiance
itself. The only grist-mill in that section of
the state was located there. A couple of dams
were built in order to provide power for the
factories, which it was planned would be lo-
cated there. A steamboat was built, bridges
were constructed, and the lands on the other
side of the Tiffin River for miles were platted
into settlements. One town, named Lowell,
had 1,000 lots and paper streets with high-
sounding names. Detroit was also supposed to
have as good a future as its older rival on the
Detroit River. The towns have been forgot-
ten, and even the town of Brunersburg, once
so prosperous, is but a very small village. A
Philadelphia company purchased a large tract
of land on the Auglaize River, about four
miles above Defiance, and spent a considerable
amount of money on the project. Their plans
comprehended mills and a manufacturing
town. A dam was constructed and a saw-
mill built to furnish the lumber for the im-
provements that were expected. This project
was likewise abandoned, like the others men-
tioned, either for the want of money or lack
of buyers of lots.
It was not long after the incorporation of
Defiance until a newspaper was projected.
The name of this periodical was the Defiance
Banner, and it was published in the interest
of the whigs. The editor was John B. Semans,
who was an attorney as well as a printer. The
first number was issued on the 5th of August,
1838. As the first newspaper in this region of
Ohio, it was ably edited and deserved a better
fate. The following year, the Barometer ap-
peared upon the horizon, and was issued from
the same office, with the same editor, but was
a smaller sheet. This publication was sold at
the end of nine months to G. W. Wood, of
Fort Wayne, who began the publication of the
Times. The North-Western made its bow to
the public in 1843, under the ownership of
J. B. Steedman & Company, and was edited
by H. S. Knapp, also editor of the Kalida
Venture. This paper was democratic in poli-
tics, and lasted for only about a year, when
the materials were removed to Logansport,
Indiana. This was succeeded by the Defiance
Democrat. The first number of this journal
was issued in the next year, and the editor
was A. H. Palmer. He brought his materials
from Toledo, and sold out the office in the
following year to Samuel Yearick. He dis-
posed of an interest in the paper to J. W.
Wiley, and it was issued under the firm name
of Yearick & Wiley. In 1849 the office was
disposed of to J. J. Greene, who published the
Democrat until 1873, when it was purchased
by Elmer White and W. G. Blymyer. From
the same office is issued a daily, called the
Crescent-News.
In 1849 a second publication, called the
Defiance Banner, supporting the whig party,
was begun by R. R. Thrall. This paper lasted
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
41:5
for about three years, and was succeeded by
the Defiance Star several years later. This
paper was started to support the principles
of the republican party during the campaign
for the election of General Fremont. The
name was afterwards changed to the Defiance
Republican. In 1862 the Defiance Constitu-
tion appeared under the management of W.
R. Carr. In 1867 the Weekly Express, re-
publican in politics, appeared with Francis
Brooks as the editor and proprietor. A daily
edition is now issued also. The Union
School Chronicle made its first appearance in
1868, but only a few numbers were issued.
In 1878 the Defiance National, a greenback
publication, was begun, but survived only a
few months. It was succeeded by the Green-
back Era, the name of which afterwards
changed to the Dollar Era. In 1879 the
Daily Era was begun, but it was printed only
twice a week in spite of its name. The Daily
Era lasted less than a year. The Democratic
Ledger was begun by Frank J. and Charles
W. Mains in 1879, but was published for only
eight weeks. Other publications that ap-
peared for a short time were the Monthly
Herald, published by J. F. Deatrick, an in-
surance paper, and the Defiance Daily Demo-
crat, which was published for a short time
in 1879. Das Kirchen Blatt, a German
Lutheran paper, first appeared in 1879, with
H. Deindorfer as the editor. The Kirchliche
Zeitschrift, another Lutheran publication, also
appeared in the same year with the same edi-
tor. The Weekly Herold is a German news-
paper that was begun by H. and J. Deindorfer
in 1881.
Rev. William Simmons, of Xenia, preached
in the private home of Mr. Leavell, one
of the town proprietors, soon after the town
was platted. Rev. William Sprague was also
an early preacher here. In 1826 Rev. Efias
Pettit became the first regularly appointed
Methodist minister to this village. In that
same year he organized a small society. A
log church was built in 18:54, which was after-
wards sold to the German Reformed con-
gregation. In 1834 the first Sunday School
was organi/rd, with four officials and teachers,
and only twenty-three scholars. Defiance was
a part of a circuit until 1857 when it was
made a station, and Rev. A. B. Poe became the
first resident minister. The congregation is
known as St. Paul's. A second church was
erected in 1853, but by 1872 the prosperity
of the church demanded a still more com-
modious building and the present commodious
edifice arose.
The first movement toward the organization
of a Presbyterian Church in Defiance was
made in 1837. A public meeting was called
in that year, of which N. B. Adams was made
the chairman. A committee, consisting of
George W. Crawford, Benjamin Brubacher,
and G. C. Mudgett, was appointed. Little
was done toward organizing this society for
a number of weeks, when a meeting was held
by Rev. B. Stowe, and the names of prospec-
tive members obtained. Late in the year the
church was formally organized by the adop-
tion of the Presbyterian form of government,
and the election of elders. Nathaniel B.
Adams and Curtis Tolgate were chosen as
the elders, and Sereno Lyman was selected
as the clerk. Religious services were at first
held in the courthouse, and the church was
under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Stowe
for a year or two, during which it enjoyed a
fair degree of prosperity. He resigned in
1839 on account of ill health. The second
pastoral leader was Rev. E. R. Tucker, and he
remained for a score of years. For a time
the congregation worshipped in the hotel,
called the "Grey House," but a modest church
was finally erected.
Mass was first held in Defiance in the house
of Timothy Fitzpatrick in 1841, by Father
Rappe. Only one other Catholic family at
that time lived there. Father Rappe visited
Defiance every year until he was elected
414
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Bishop of Cleveland. In 1850 Defiance was
made the center of a mission district, and
Father Foliere was appointed the first resident
pastor, and he remained there about two
years. In 1845 a lot was donated to the
society, and a small frame church erected. It
was not until about 1850 that Catholic fami-
lies began to move into Defiance, and the
society became prosperous. In 1873 a second
congregation, known as Our Lady of Per-
petual Help, was organized, the members
withdrawing from St. John the Evangelist
Church, because the parish had become too
large. A building committee was appointed,
a site selected and a new church built.
In the fall of 1845, the Rev. August F.
Knape, of Fort Wayne, came to Defiance
County. He was called frequently to Defiance
to preach to the few German Lutherans living
there, but a regular church society had not yet
been organized. A constitution was drawn up
and signed by the Lutherans, and a society or-
ganized. The congregation convened for the
first time in August, 1859, at which meeting
twenty-one members were present. Christian
Hess, Martin Vieback, Valentine Stork, and
Edward Kornbaum were elected the elders.
From this time the congregation continually
grew in numbers, and in 1851 Rev. Adam Det-
zer was elected as the pastor. He accepted the
call, and the congregation entered upon a pros-
perous existence from that time. The first
church was completed in 1854, being a small
building. It is known as the German Evangel-
ical Lutheran St. John's congregation, and
adheres to the Augsburg Confession. The
German Evangelical Reformed St. John's
Church was organized by Rev. J. 0. Accola,
in 1861, at the courthouse. The German
Methodist society dates from 1850, and was
organized by itinerant ministers. The First
Baptist Church was instituted by Rev. James
French, a Baptist missionary. He held a
series of meetings here in 1846, which resulted
in the formation of the society.
HlCKSVILLE
The Hicks Land Company was a concern
that at one time owned large tracts of land
in Defiance County. This land was all entered
in the name of Isaac S. Smith and Henry W.
Hicks, the latter being a member of the
firm of Samuel Hicks and Sons, shipping mer-
chants of New York. This firm erected mills
at a site named Hicksville. A town was laid
out about 1836 by John A. Bryan, Henry W.
Hicks, and Isaac S. Smith. The work was
done by Mellar A. Smith, then the deputy sur-
veyor of the county. Alfred P. Edgerton,
a young bookkeeper with the Hicks concern,
was sent out to look after the property. He
proved to be the right man in the right place,
and remained until the last of the land was
disposed of. He served in the Legislature,
and was also elected to Congress. The pur-
pose of laying out the town undoubtedly was
to enhance the value of the land of the own-
ers, so that they might dispose of it upon
favorable terms. At that time there were
only two cabins on the site, both of which
had been erected by the company. One was
occupied by Daniel Comstock, and the other
by Robert Bowles. During that year and
the following a number of new homes were
built and one or two small stores opened up.
As some one said : ' ' There were neither pro--
visions nor money here and nothing but'timber
and debts everywhere around."
As the law permitted the establishment of
a postoffice, wherever the receipts might be
justified by it, the postoffice was established
here with A. P. Edgerton as the first post-
master. This office was served once in two
weeks from Cranesville. The first sermon in
the village was preached by Rev. Joseph Mil-
ler, in the winter of 1837, at the log cabin
occupied by Ransom Osborne. The Village of
Hicksville was duly incorporated in the year
1871. At the first election held, Thomas C.
Kinmont was elected mayor, and after serv-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
415
iii«,' two terms he was succeeded by James
E. Coulter. Two newspapers, the News and
the Tribune, are published in this village.
VILLAGES
The Village of Delaware Bend was laid
out by W. D. Hill and Company in 1874.
About fifty houses were built and the prosr
pects of the new town looked bright, but it
has not grown greatly. Farmer Center was
platted by John Norway, and still remains a
small village. Ayersville was named in honor
of Joseph Ayers. A postoffice was established
there as early as 1849. Mark Center arose
upon the construction of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad in 1875. It was laid out by
Frederick Ilarmening, Joseph Kyle, and A.
M. Anderson. Independence was platted as
early as 1838, by Foreman Evans, of Defiance.
An addition was made by Edward Hughes.
At one time it was prosperous, but is smaller
today than several decades ago. Evansport
was fathered by Jacob Cay and Albert G.
and Amos Evans, in 1835. It is today a pros-
perous little country village. Georgetown
made its appearance on the map in 1846, when
a plat of twenty-eight lots was recorded by
George Ridenour.
CHAPTER XXXIII
FULTON COUNTY
THOMAS MIKESELL, WAUSEON
Fulton County was one of the latest of the
counties in Northwestern Ohio in its creation.
Most of them had their origin about 1820, but
Fulton did not have an existence until thirty
years later. About the middle of the last cen-
tury the growth of this section of the state
became so marked, that it was deemed best
that a new county should be erected out of
parts of the adjoining counties. The western
part of Lucas County was very remote from
the county seat, the roads were fearful, and
the convenience of the inhabitants of the
western portion seemed to demand the organ-
ization of a new county. At any rate, there
presided in that section men of energy and
determination who were able to impress upon
those in authority the idea that such a move
was necessary. It was due to their efforts that
the project was carried out successfully.
Among those behind the movement may be
recorded the names of Nathaniel Legget, Wil-
liam Hall, A. C. Hough, Stephen Springer,
Michael Handy, and Mortimer D. Hibbard.
These men gave substantial assistance to the
movement until it was completed.
The legislation passed by the Ohio Legis-
lature by which Fulton County was created,
reads as follows: —
"Sec. 1. Be it enacted, etc., That such
parts of the counties of Lucas, Henry and
"Williams, as are embraced in the boundaries
hereinafter described be, and the same are
hereby created into a separate and distinct
county, which shall be known by the name of
Fulton, to-wit: Beginning on the State line
between the States of Ohio and Michigan, at
northeast corner of township nine, south of
range four, east of the Michigan meridian ;
thence south on the township line to the south-
east corner of town ten, south of range four,
east, on the Fulton, line ; thence west on said
Fulton line to the northeast corner of town
eight north of range eight, east ; thence south
to the southeast corner of section number
twelve in township six, north of range eight,
east ; thence west on section lines to the south-
west corner of section number seven in town-
ship six, range five, east, on the county line
between the counties of Henry and Williams ;
thence north on said line to the southeast cor-
ner of town seven, north of range four east ;
thence west on said township line to the south-
west corner of section number thirty-five, in
said town seven, north of range four, east ;
thence north on the section lines to the Ful-
ton line; thence west on said Fulton line to
the southwest corner of section number eleven,
in town ten, south of range one, west of the
Michigan meridian ; thence north on section
lines to said State line; thence easterly with
said State line to the place of beginning."
It was on the 28th day of February, 1850,
that the boundaries of Fulton County were
adjusted, and provision was made for the
administration of its affairs as a separate or-
ganization. It was provided that all suits
pending in the counties of Lucas, Henry, and
Williams should be prosecuted to a conclusion
in those counties the same as if Fulton had
not been created. Elections were held on the
first Monday in April at the usual places of
voting. It was attached to the Thirteenth
416
J11STOKY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
417
.Judicial District of the state. The new
county was named after Robert Fulton, the
inventor of the steamboat.
The northern part of Fulton County, like
that of Lucas and Williams, was a part of
Michigan until after the Toledo War. The
people living there did their legal business and
paid their taxes at Adrian, the county seat
of Lenawee County. The land office of this
survey was at Monroe, near the mouth of the
River Raisin. Settlers had begun to come
into this territory in the early '30s. To Eli
Phillips is doubtless due the honor of being
the first settler within the county. He entered
a tract of land at Phillips' Corners in 1832.
To this land he brought his wife and erected
a cabin in the following year. A number of
other pioneers came to the county in the same
year. Among these were Valentine Winslow,
who located in Pike Township, and William
Meeker, who established his home in Swan-
creek Township. Into Amboy Township there
came Jared Hoadley, Alvah, Aaron and David
Steadman, Frank O'Neil, Charles and Wil-
liam Blain, John and Joseph Roop, and Al-
fred Qilson. The next few years brought
settlers into every township. Among these
were George, Adam, Thomas and James W.
Mikesell, and George Mikesell, Jr.
One of the earliest settlers in the county,
and the first settler in Chesterfield township,
was Chesterfield demons, a New Yorker.
He was married, and already had a growing
family when he came to what is now Fulton
County, on the 6th day of October, 1834.
This was a part of Lenawee County, Michi-
gan, at that time, and was an almost undis-
turbed wilderness. He was possessed of little
of this world's goods, but he and his family
had willing hands, a stout heart, and an
earnest desire to make a home. He died in
1842, and his widow subsequently married
Samuel Gillis.
When the first mail route was established
from Toledo to Lima, Indiana, in 1836, a dis-
tance of 110 miles, there was but oue post-
office lietween the two terminal points. The
mail was carried twice a week over this old
•'territorial road," and for a long distance
west of .Morrnci the road lay through a con-
tinuous strip of unbroken forest. John S.
Butler began as mail carrier over this route
at the age of eleven years, and carried the
mail twice a week for a number of years. On
one of these trips he was chased by wolves for
several miles, much to his terror. Harlow
Butler, who reached here in 1835, was seized
and taken prisoner during the Toledo War,
but was soon released. He returned with his
family the following year and settled upon
lands in this county.
In the year 1835, Garner Willett, a youth
of nineteen, wandered through here on a deer
hunting and prospecting expedition. Four
years later, in company with his father, David
Willett, and family, he located in the county.
Deer were very plentiful in these forests and
provided the pioneers with much of their
sustenance. Dogs were a great aid to the
hunter in stalking his quarry. The sagacity
of the hunting dog is well known, and many
instances have been related as proof of it.
One of these interesting incidents was told
by William Mikesell, of the county. In the
early '40s he was the owner of a common dog,
of no particular breed, called "Ring," be-
cause of a white ring around his neck. One
morning before daylight he went out to hunt
for a deer, taking the dog along. He stopped
at one of the deer trails, and, just as it was
coming light, a deer appeared. He fired at
it, and the animal turned and ran the other
way. After following the tracks for some
distance, Mr. Mikesell concluded that he had
not hit it, and so returned home. The dog
did not return, however, until about 9 o 'clock.
He at once tried to attract Mrs. Mikesell 'a
attention by going to the door, and then start-
ing toward the woods. This action he re-
peated several times, and finally picked up
418
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
a leg bone of a deer and started with that.
She thereupon called her husband from the
field where he was at work. Learning of the
dog's strange actions, he took his gun and fol-
lowed. The dog led his master directly to the
place where the dead deer lay. When about
forty rods from the place the dog started on
the run, and treed a wildcat that was eating
at the carcass. The hunter shot the wildcat,
and thus had a double trophy for the morn-
ing's hunt.
One of the first settlers in the western part
of the county was Joseph Bates, who arrived
about 1833. At one time, as emigrants began
to move through here, he kept a tavern called
"J. Bates' Inn." For two or three years
before he moved here, Mr. Bates had spent the
winters in hunting and trapping through this
region. After settling here, a large part of
his time was devoted to the same occupation.
Samantha Crandall was one of the earliest
school teachers. It was about the year 1836
that she conducted a private school for a
number of neighboring families. Isaac Day,
when on his way home from the land office,
in 1835, was kept up in a tree all night by a
pack of howling wolves. The township called
German was largely settled by German set-
tlers. Among these were Moses Kibbler,
Jacob Bender, George Meister, Jacob Green-
day, George Meister, Christian Lauber, Henry
and Jacob Roth, and Christian Reigsker. A
little later came Henry and John Lutes, who
were both doctors and preachers. The col-
ony numbered more than forty, most of whom
were from Millhauser, a small town in Swit-
zerland. As they had just come from the old
country, and were unused to pioneer life in
the wilderness, their early trials were indeed
almost discouraging.
Jared Hoadly, who was the first resident
settler in Amboy Township, entered his land
in the month of July, 1833, and brought his
family in the fall of the same year. He lived
in the county for a number of years, and dur-
ing that time was a very prominent man
among the pioneers. He was prosperous in
his business ventures, and his home was the
asylum of the distressed and unfortunate at
all times. At that time it was necessary to
journey to Tecumseh, Michigan, through the
woods and swamps and over unbridged creeks,
in order to get to a mill. It often required
three or four days to make this trip with the
slow ox teams. Mr. Hoadley at a later period
moved into Michigan with his family.
When Charles and William Blain came to
Pulton County, in 1833, they traveled on foot
from Toledo to the place which they had
selected for their home. Each of them raised
large families, and Charles Blain reached a
very advanced age. Their mother, Sarah
Blain, lived to the age of one hundred and
four years. William Jones, who was gener-
ally known as "Long Bill," arrived in 1836.
The first cabin in which he lived was only
14 by 16 feet in size. At the raising there
were only two white men, one boy, and two
Indians to assist. The Indians were always
ready to assist on these occasions, especially
if the whisky bottle was passed around occa-
sionally. This was a much stronger induce-
ment than money. The whites who assisted
were William Jones and Aaron Little, and
Jacob Boyers was the boy. The raising was
done on Sunday, as there was no time for rest
in the wilderness until a shelter was provided.
Mr. Jones sometimes preached for the Disci-
ples, as there were a few of that faith at that
time in the county.
The most important duty arising after
Pulton County was created, was that of lo-
cating the seat of justice. At the meeting
assembled for this purpose, several sites were
recommended to the commissioners, who
were Laurin Dewey, of Franklin County,
Mathias H. Nichols, of Allen County, and
John Riley, of Carroll County. Several sites
were recommended, among which were Etna,
Delta, Spring Hill, and Pluhart's Corners.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
419
After much deliberation, and the hearing of
arguments by those interested in the various
places, the commissioners decided upon the
site which seemed the most central, in the
Township of Dover. At this time this loca-
tion had no distinguishing name. Several
names were suggested by those present, but
none seemed to meet with general approval.
One of the commissioners asked one of the
spectators, Dresden W. H. Howard, to sug-
gest a name. He mentioned Ottokee, which
was the name of one of the Ottawa chiefs,
who had roamed over this territory for many
years. This name was immediately chosen
for the new seat of justice for the County
of Pulton.
At the first election the site of Ottokee
received a plurality, but not a majority of
the ballots. At the second election, which be-
came necessary, the town received a clear ma-
jority, and thus became the regularly chosen
county capital by the choice of the electors.
The opposition had not died down by any
means, for rumblings of discontent continued
to be heard at frequent intervals. The loca-
tion was well chosen, and the county seat
would probably never have been changed, had
it not been for the building of the railroad
several miles to the south. In 1851 the first
courthouse was built. It was a frame struc-
ture, two stories in height, and about 40 by 80
feet in size. The court and jury rooms were
on the upper floor, while the offices for the
county officials were situated on the ground
floor. It was built by Amos H. Jordan, and
cost about $5,000 or $6,000. The building was
airy and commodious, and was surmounted
by a large dome. In 1853 the first jail was
built at the county seat. It was a substantial
frame building, lined with heavy planks, and
thoroughly spiked. Although built of wood,
there never was an escape, excepting two pris-
oners who got out through the door which was
left unlocked by reason of the carelessness of
the watchman. The sheriff's residence was
connected with the jail.
The act of creating the county provided
that court should be held at some convenient
house in Pike Township, until the permanent
seat of justice was established. In accordance
with this the associate judges, John Kendall,
A. C. Hough, and William Parmalee, desig-
nated the residence of Robert A. Howard as
the place for holding this court. At the first
term held here in 1850, as there was little
business to be transacted, those in attendance
entered into a game of ball for a diversion.
Judge Saddler came on horseback to preside
at the court, and his associate judges on this
occasion were Socrates H. Cately, Abraham
Flickinger, and William Parmalee. As soon
as the courthouse was completed, the courts
were held at Ottokee. This new town contin-
ued to hold the county buildings for a number
of years, while the place grew in population
and value.
Soon after the railroad was completed a
few miles to the south, the question of removal
was violently agitated. In 1863 Wauseon
made an attempt, under the act of the Legis-
lature, to have the transfer made to itself.
On a submission of the proposition to the
people, however, it was defeated. The citi-
zens of Delta were not sleeping during this
time, and they made an energetic effort to
have the seat of justice transferred to their
town. This was submitted to the vote of the
people in 1864, and also was overwhelmed by
a large majority. During this time of agita-
tion over the removal of the county seat, the
courthouse building at Ottokee was destroyed
by fire; with it went all the county records
and other valuable material in the offices of
the county officials. The building was only
partially insured. A new brick structure was
erected for -the courthouse, and a separate
building for the county officials on land ad-
joining. These plain but substantial build-
ings answered the needs of the county for
420
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
several years. As the use of the railroad
increased, the inconvenience of the location
of Ottokee for the transaction of public busi-
ness was recognized.
Because of their location on the railroad,
both Wauseon and Delta were rapidly increas-
ing in population. In 1869 the question of
removing the seat of justice from Ottokee to
Wauseon was submitted to the voters at a
special election. On this occasion the propo-
sition carried, but with a condition that the
citizens of Wauseon should subscribe the stun
of $5,000, to be paid to the county commis-
sioners, and used as a part of a building fund.
On the 19th day of January, 1870, Isaac
Springer, the trustee of this fund, put into
the hands of the commissioners, Joseph Ely,
Alfred B. Gunn, and Milton 0. McCaskey,
the required sum and lots were deeded to the
commissioners as the site for the county
buildings. A contract was then let for the
courthouse, and the building still stands as an
ornament to the city. It was built by Alex-
ander Voss and H. B. Ensman.
Although Ottokee ceased to be the county
seat of Fulton County in the year 1871, the
jail was maintained there for four years
longer. As the buildings at Ottokee were still
the property of the county, and the number
of indigent persons had increased, it was de-
cided to use these buildings and purchase
surrounding land for the establishment of a
county infirmary, as a home for aged, de-
crepit, and indigent persons. The buildings
were turned over to the infirmary directors,
and are still used for that purpose. The first
directors were James Riddle, Robert Lewis,
and 0. A. Cobb. The first stock of goods
brought to Ottokee was the property of
Hoziah Day. The next merchants in the vil-
lage were Ezra Wilcox, George Marks, and
Ransom Reynolds. The first hotel was owned
by William Jones, and he was followed by
Henry Taylor. A second hotel was opened
by Ezra Wilcox, who afterward sold it to
David Fairchilds. A brick factory was estab-
lished by Eben French, who was familiarly
known as "Old Man French," near Spring
Hill. He put up a store where he made all
kinds of pottery, which was peddled through
the county as early as 1846. He also made
brick in small quantities, and manufactured
the first tile ever made in the county.
The only attorneys residing in Fulton
County, at its creation, were Amos Hill,
Lucius H. Upham and Reuben C. Lemmon.
They came there about the same time.
Mr. Upham had practiced law at Wooster for
a number of years before he removed to the
county. About the time of its organization
he was elected to the Legislature of Ohio, and
served a term in the House of Representa-
tives. His district comprised both Lucas and
Fulton counties. Amos Hill had studied law
at Bryan, and was admitted to the bar just
a few months previous to the organization of
Fulton County. He resided at Ottokee, until
the county seat was removed to Wauseon, to
which place he followed the seat of justice.
He also served two terms in the House of
Representatives, a position which he filled
with fidelity and ability. Mr. Lemmon was
admitted to the bar at Tiffin, and then came
to Fulton County. For a time he practiced
at Maumee City, as a partner of Henry S.
Commager. He afterward removed to Toledo,
where he became one of the able judges of the
Common Pleas Court.
Michael Handy was Fulton County's sec-
ond prosecuting attorney, having succeeded
John H. Reid to that office in 1852, the same
year that he was admitted to the bar. He was
then forty years of age. Previous to that
time he had been both farmer and school
teacher. Nathaniel Leggett was also one of
the earliest members of the bar of Fulton
County. He resided in Fulton County be-
fore it was set off as a separate organization,
and helped to clear some of the land. Having
made the acquaintance of some members of
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
L21
the bar of Lucas County, he conceived the
idea of studying law himself. He borrowed
some legal works, and perused them in the
solitude of the wilderness. He practiced law
with distinction, and filled the office of county
treasurer for two terms. He also helped in
laying out the Village of Wauseon, and ac-
quired a considerable property.
Moses R. Brailey came West in 1837, in
which year he had attained his legal major-
ity. After practicing for a number of years
in Norwalk, he came to the new County of
Fulton in 1857, and opened up a law office.
Here he quickly became interested in politics,
and in the following year he was elected
prosecuting attorney, an office which he had
also filled in Huron County. He enlisted in
the army, and had an honorable career for a
number of years. His first commission was
as captain of Company F, Thirty-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted from
one office to another, and when he was dis-
charged for disability, in 1864, was breveted
brigadier-general. He afterward was ap-
pointed pay agent for the State of Ohio, with
headquarters at Columbus. In this position
he collected and distributed several millions
of money without losing a cent. He also
assisted in the organization and equipment of
eleven regiments of Ohio troops for the field.
In 1865, he was elected comptroller of the
state treasury, which office he filled for two
terms. In 1872 he returned to Fulton
County, and there resumed the practice of his
profession \intil overtaken by the infirmities
of age. He passed away in 1888.
Sydenham Shaffer was the son of a Metho-
dist clergyman. He filled a number of
municipal offices, including that of mayor
of Wauseon. William H. Handy, a son of
Michael Handy, was for many years one of
the leading lights of Fulton County, and was
honored by election to the position of judge
of the Common Pleas Court. His home is
now in Ottawa. William W. Touvelle was
admitted to the bar in 1868, and immediately
located in Fulton County. Mr. Touvelle
entered with energy and xeal upon the prac-
tice of law, but at the same time kept up the
study of general literature. He was also very
effective as a public speaker. He was elected
prosecuting attorney for two terms, which
office he filled very ably. He was also ap-
pointed by President MeKinley as United
States consul at Belfast, Ireland, a consular
appointment of great responsibility. He filled
this position for a number of years, almost
up to the time of his death.
One of the earliest physicians in Fulton
County was William Holland, who came to
Fulton in 1842. Although almost eighty
years of age when he reached this county, he
still practiced medicine, even after he had
to be carried to and from his house in a
vehicle, because of infirmity. William Hyde,
an Englishman by birth, reached this county
in 1847. He bought a farm and had a large
practice, which increased to such an extent
that he gave up farming and moved first to
Spring Hill, and then to Wauseon. James J.
Kittredge came to Chesterfield, in 1846. His
first professional call was upon the family of
James Taylor. He afterward moved to
Morenci. N. W. Jewell moved to the vicinity
of Spring Hill, which was then in Lucas
County, in 1842. Seven years afterward he
began the practice of medicine for himself,
although not yet a graduate physician. He
determined to secure a medical education, but
his desire was delayed for some time because
of lack of funds. He came back to Wauseon
in 1856, and opened an office. He had also
studied dentistry, as followed in that day, and
practiced dentistry for a number of years,
along with medicine and surgery. He finally
gave up dentistry, and devoted himself exclu-
sively to the practice of medicine. W. A.
Scott, Estell H. Rorick, and Josiah Hibbard
Bennett are also among the early physicians
who deserve mention. Doctor Bennett first
422
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
practiced in Defiance County, but came to
Wauseon in 1863. He was a member of the
International Medical Congress, which con-
vened in London, England, in 1881.
NEWSPAPERS
Of the early papers published in Fulton
County, no complete record exists. It is be-
lieved that the village of Delta, at that time
the most important town in the county, can
lay claim to the distinction of having given
to the reading public the pioneer newspaper
of the county. This was the Fulton County
Democrat, which was published during the
winter of 1851-2 by Lewis W. Stum, who con-
tinued its publication for about a year. It
was then sold to Mr. Rosenberg, who removed
the office to Ottokee, and a few months later
sold it to J. W. Carter and H. B. Bayes.
Mr. Bayes shortly afterward became sole
editor and proprietor of this publication. In
1856, the establishment was sold and the plant
removed to Morenci, Michigan. It was, as its
name implies, a democratic paper, and the
organ of that party during its brief career.
When the Democrat was removed to Otto-
kee, the Delta Independent Press was estab-
lished under the management of Lewis M.
Stum, who had also founded its predecessor.
He continued the publication for a few
months, when it was disposed of to Martin
Butler. Under the ownership of Mr. Butler,
the tone of the paper was changed, and it
became an advocate of the democratic princi-
ples. It was issued regularly down to about
the time of the war, when the office was finally
closed, and the material and stock moved to
Wauseon. Here it gradually developed into
the Fulton County Democrat, the same name
as the former paper, but an entirely different
publication. It was under the management
and control of M. H. Butler, but William
Aultman, Jr., was later connected with the
management. It is said that at one time,
when a number of soldiers were home on a
furlough, they dumped the material of the
Democrat into the street because they did not
like its tone, and the Democrat then ceased to
exist. Similar incidents occurred in many
towns during those troublous years, for the
soldiers fresh from the battlefields could not
brook any anti-war sentiment at home.
A short time after the original Democrat
was removed to Morenci, a new paper, called
the Signal, was started in Ottokee, under the
ownership of B. F. Montgomery. It lived
only about six months, when the office was
moved to Montpelier. The Democrat next ap-
peared in Ottokee, with Henry McElhiney as
editor. When it changed editors, and H. Day
came into control, he changed the publication
from a democratic to an independent paper.
It was renamed the Fulton County Mirror.
This paper continued for about a year, when
it was merged with the Wauseon Sentinel.
This was the last paper issued in Ottokee,
with the exception of the Monitor, which ap-
peared for a short time with H. B. Bayes as
editor. It was then sold to the Northwestern
Republican, at Wauseon. That paper was
then owned by James H. Sherwood, who had
recently purchased it from his brother, Isaac
R. Sherwood. It soon had the largest circu-
lation in the county. The late M. P. Brewer,
of Bowling Green, was at one time a part
owner in the Northwestern.
The Fulton County Union was started in
Wauseon by J. C. French, but it lasted only
a short period. The Sentinel was first given
to the public in the year 1855 by H. B. Bayes
and John D. Hunter, as an opposition paper
to the Northwestern Republican. It was
finally purchased by the paper it was intended
to destroy. The Republican was the first pub-
lication to advocate the principles of the
newly-formed republican party in this
county. It at once took the front rank among
publications, although the changes of editors
were numerous. In 1858 the name of the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
4.1:1
paper was changed to the Northwestern Re-
publican, and from that day to the present
time it has appeared regularly, but the word
"Northwestern" was dropped from the title
a few years ago. J. H. Sherwood and sons
are still the publishers. Der Deutsche
Gazette had a brief existence in the year 1886,
under the ownership of Voll and Howe. The
Democratic Expositor was established in 1875,
by W. H. Handy, as the organ of the demo-
cratic party in the county. A couple of years
later it passed into the hands of J. C. Boll-
meyer, who was its sole editor and publisher
until his death in 1898. Since then there have
been several changes in the ownership. The
Fulton County Tribune was the outgrowth of
a divided sentiment in the ranks of the repub-
licans. The founders were Albert B. Smith
and J. H. Fluhart. It is published in Wau-
seon and has had a number of different
owners.
The Delta Avalanche made its appearance
in 1876, under the ownership of E. L. Waltz.
Its political policy was independent. It was
afterward sold to Col. Albert B. Smith. With
this transfer of ownership it also changed its
politics by becoming a republican paper.
When it was afterward sold to W. 0. Knapp,
the Avalanche was again changed to a demo-
cratic journal. The Delta Atlas was estab-
lished in 1886 by C. R. P. and E. L. Waltz,
as an independent family newspaper. In
1887 the office was destroyed by fire, but, with
commendable energy, a new outfit was pur-
chased and the business continued with very
little interruption. C. R. P. Waltz has been
the editor from the date of the first issue.
The Fayette Record was established in
1876, by W. A. Baker. It was afterward pur-
chased by 0. M. Holcomb and M. Lewis, who
published it for several years. The plant was
destroyed by a conflagration in 1880, but was
shortly afterward established again. The
Fayette Review was established in 1901, and
a few years ago absorbed the Record. This
paper has enjoyed an abundant degree of
prosperity. The Swanton Enterprise was
founded in 1886, by H. S. Bassett, and is an
independent journal. A few months after
its first issue, Charles H. Rowland became
connected in its publication. It is now owned
by Mrs. Albert Hochstrasser. The Archbold
Herald made its appearance in the year 1886,
under the management of the Taylor Broth-
ers, at Archbold. For a number of years it
had a rather hard struggle for existence, but
finally managed to establish itself on a sub-
stantial basis. In 1898 it was absorbed by the
Archbold Advocate, established in 1897. For
a number of years the Advocate has been
under the management of E. E. Hallett. The
Archbold Buckeye is published there also, the
first issue appearing in August, 1905. Meta-
mora also supports a newspaper, founded in
1866, and known as the Metamora Record.
The Lyons Herald nourished for a few years
and then disappeared below the horizon. It
has been succeeded by the Lyons Journal,
established in 1913. The present editor is
H. D. Mesiter.
TORNADOES
Fulton County has been visited by a num-
ber of those perilous meteorological phenom-
ena called tornadoes. Their existence before
white settlers came was proved by the ' ' wind-
falls" of timber, as they were called. A sec-
tion of the woods would have no standing
timber, and the ground might be covered with
fallen trees. The first actual record that we
have of a tornado is in 1834, when one passed
across what is now York Township. The track
it left was about three-fourths of a mile wide
and six miles long. Over this area the wind
caused a tremendous destruction of the tim-
ber. In 1844, another tornado cut a road
about one-half a mile wide and three miles long
through German Township. Sound white oak
and walnut trees, three feet in diameter, were
424
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
twisted off or torn out by the roots. Eight
years later a similar storm, dropped down
along Bean Creek, and caused destruction over
an area similar in size and shape. A still
more destructive aerial monster struck the
county in 1856. The house and part of the
barn of Nathaniel Jones were destroyed by
the fury of the wind. It caught William
Tedrow. who was on horseback, turning both
him and his mount completely around, and
then dropped them both in the road. Several
houses were also unroofed. This wind storm
was accompanied by a heavy rain. In 1864,
1867, 1880, and 1886, there were destructive
storms in sections of the county.
The last of these terrible visitors, with the
exception of one on May 17, 1894, was on the
2nd of May, 1887.
' ' It first descended about three miles south-
west of Wauseon, at the barn of Dr. D. W.
Hollister. It did not get low enough to demol-
ish it, but lifted it clear from the foundation
and swelled the sides out like a barrel. It
passed over the house without damaging it.
About half a mile north of here it struck the
brick schoolhouse at the cross roads. This was
completely demolished, the east, west and
north, and bottom of south walls being blown
outward by the instant expansion of the air
inside the house when the tornado removed
the pressure from the outside. The top of
the south wall fell inward, and the roof was
thrown from three to thirty rods to the north-
west. The joists were dropped at the north
end of the floor, falling on two boys, one of
whom Benton Gasche, was killed, and the
other seriously injured. There were fifteen
persons in the house at the time and the
teacher and six of the children were hurt,
besides the one killed. The tornado at this
point was less than forty feet wide. From
the schoolhouse it began to raise, and passed
over Isaac Springer's barn, shaking it vio-
lently. A little further on it turned to the
northeast, passing over Wauseon high enough
not to do much damage."
Fulton County is 669 feet above sea level
at the southeast corner, and rises gradually
to the northwest until the elevation is 810 feet
in Chesterfield township. It is drained in the
northeast part by the Ottawa River, which
empties into Lake Erie. The southeastern
portion flows through Swan Creek, Bad Creek,
and Turkey Foot Creek into the Maumee
River. All the northwestern part of the
county finds its way by way of Bean Creek
(or Tiffin River) and its branches into the
Maumee River. Bean Creek in former days
was a very crooked stream, which after heavy
rains overflowed the level country on both
sides a distance of four or five miles wide. It
has now been straightened by means of great
ditches so that the water quickly runs off.
An early government map represents Tiffin
River as a navigable stream to the point
where the ' ' Old Fulton Line ' ' crosses it. At
this point, the head of navigation according
to the map, some New York speculators lo-
cated and platted the City of Amsterdam and
sold many lots to investors. They represented
that steamboats ascended the river to the
docks, and exhibited drawings to that effect.
Some of these buyers came west to view their
lots, and they found only a vast wilderness.
They engaged S. B. Darby to row them to the
place, but were greatly disappointed when
they found no city.
WAUSEON
Fortunate are we that another aboriginal
name is preserved in the name of the county
seat of Fulton County. Litchfield, the origi-
nal designation, is far more prosaic than
Wauseon, which was the name of a noted
Indian chieftain of the Ottawa tribe that
dwelt along the Maumee. Wauseon sprang
into existence with the approach of the new
railroad then pushing its parallel lines of
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
125
iron rails toward the setting sun. It was in-
1 ended by those in charge of the construction
to name the stations along the line of the new
railroad after the directors of the company,
Mini there were two Litchfields who were direc-
tors. A little later it was decided by the citi-
zens to change the name of the town, and
Wauseon was suggested. Its spelling is said
to be incorrect, and the natural pronunciation
does not correspond with the original Indian
sound. It is a musical name, however, and
far more appropriate as well as distinctive
than the names which have been given to
most of the Ohio cities.
Wauseon is not an old town, and cannot
trace its history to pioneer days. The village
was laid out in the year 1854 by Epaphras L.
Barber, John H. Sargent, Nathaniel Leggett,
and William Hall. At that time the railroad,
now known as the Air Line Division of Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern, had just been
extended far enough west of the City of
Toledo to reach this site. It was then known
as the Southern Michigan & Northern Indi-
ana Railroad. Unlike most of the early rail-
roads, no local help was asked by this com-
pany, and the corporation paid all of its own
expenses for construction. Mr. Barber was
at that time one of the civil engineers en-
gaged in the survey and construction of the
road, and a resident of the City of Cleveland,
as also was John H. Sargent. Learning that
a station would be established here, a quarter
section of land was purchased by this syndi-
cate from Thomas Bayes, and platted, and
this nucleus of the present town is known as
the original plat of Wauseon. The price paid
for the land by the purchaser was $16.00 per
acre, and the entire parcel was practically
in a wild state. It was necessary for the axe
and the torch to be applied before the tract
was made suitable for habitation. Other land
in the neighborhood was offered for $6 or
$8 an acre, and even at that price buyers
were not plentiful. The home of Mr. Bayes
at that time was a primitive log house. ;md it
was the only dwelling-house situated on tin-
land where the thriving county seat was des-
tined to arise.
The streets in the new village were laid out
at right angles, as was customary, and tin-
principal business thoroughfare was made 100
feet in width. It was named Fulton Street,
but whether as a mark of esteem for Robert
Fulton, the inventor of steamboats, or in
honor of the surveyor Fulton, whose boun-
dary line gave rise to the Toledo War, is not
positively known. The streets running one
way were named after our great men. Those
extending in the opposite direction were des-
ignated after the species of trees abounding
in the surrounding forests. A number of dif-
ferent additions have been added to the origi-
nal plat, in the years that have succeeded, for
Wauseon has had a continuous and steady
growth up to the present day.
Wauseon was incorporated in 1859. The
early records have been unfortunately burned,
so that it is impossible to give a correct list
of the early officials. The first mayor of the
village was Nathaniel Leggett, and among the
early mayors were E. L. Barber, N. W. Jewell,
Anson Huntington, and Andrew J. Knapp.
The first house built on the site of Wauseon,
after it had been laid out, was erected by
E. L. Hayes. It stood on a site now covered
with business blocks, and was a two-story
frame structure. The upper floor was occu-
pied by the family, and the lower floor was
used as a general country store. William N.
Hunt, who came from Massachusetts, con-
structed the first brick residence for his own
home. The first tavern in Wauseon was built
by John Williams, in the first year of its
existence. It was a frame building, and the
settlers gathered from miles around for the
"raising bee." It was situated at the corner
of Beech and Fulton streets, and was at first
called the Estelle House. The first landlords
were W. E. and D. 0. Livermore. In the
426
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
course of a few years the name of the house
was changed to the Clinton House, and then
to the Sherman House. For a number of
years it was the leading hostelry of the
county. Another hotel, the second in order,
was run for a considerable period by George
M. Hawes, and became a very popular place
among the traveling public. It was known as
the Wauseon House.
The Bank of Wauseon was started in 1863,
by E. L. Barber. When Naaman Merrill be-
came a partner, the firm was known as Barber
& Merrill. A number of years later, when
E. S. Callendar was admitted to the firm, the
name became Barber, Merrill & Company.
The bank was continued as a private bank
until 1904, when it was incorporated as the
Wauseon Bank & Trust Company. On April
20, 1908, the bank closed its doors. The fail-
ure of the bank was a great blow to the finan-
cial interests of the town. In 1889 the
Peoples Bank was started by some of the
business men of the town. It has since been
incorporated as the Peoples State Bank, and
is a flourishing institution with large re-
sources. The First National Bank was organ-
ized in 1904. It has also been well received
and has a large list of depositors.
The first church building in the Village of
Wauseon was the Methodist Episcopal. It
was a wooden house, which was situated at the
corner of Fulton and Elm streets, and was
dedicated in the year 1857 by Rev. Thomas
Barkdull, who was a presiding elder of that
denomination. Occasional services had been
held in the neighborhood by Methodist min-
isters for a score of years prior to this time.
Rev. Uriah Spencer, a retired minister, had
settled about 2l/2 miles west of Wauseon, in
1835, and frequently preached to the pioneers.
Traveling ministers, known as "circuit-
riders," visited the neighborhood and held
service in the cabins, barns, and schoolhouses,
whenever opportunity offered. A class was
organized near Wauseon in 1838. In the win-
ter of 1858-9, a great revival was held by
Rev. W. W. Winters, during which there were
many accessions to the church. A new brick
structure was erected by the congregation in
1874, and was dedicated in the following year,
the finest in the village at the time, which is
still in use. A fine pipe organ was installed
a few years ago, and an addition was built in
1913. Conspicuous among the early Metho-
dist clergymen, who have been stationed at
Wauseon, are the Revs. Charles G. Ferris,
John R. Colgan, E. A. Berry, N. B. C. Love,
C. H. Priddy, James H. Fitzwater, J. W.
Donnan, W. W. Lance, and 0. P. Hoffman.
When Father J. G. Vogt came to Wauseon,
in 1865, there were very few Catholic families
living here. Through his labors, and those
who followed him, however, a small congre-
gation was built up and a house of worship
procured. In 1874 the Roman Catholic
society purchased the old Methodist Church
and moved it to Clinton Street, where it be-
came known as St. Caspar's Church. Some
years later this building was destroyed by
fire, and then a fine church was erected at the
corner of Jefferson and Clinton streets. The
Disciples, or Christian Church, was organized
here in 1862, although no house of worship
was erected until two years later. The first
pastor was the Rev. L. Berry Smith, and he
was succeeded by the Rev. L. L. Carpenter.
Mr. Carpenter was an active citizen of the
county, as well as a religious minister, and
served two terms as treasurer of the county.
One of the noted ministers who served this
church was Rev. John M. Atwater. The First
Baptist Church was organized in 1864, but a
house of worship was not erected until 1868.
The Rev. George Leonard and Rev. Homer
Eddy were the first two pastors of this
denomination.
A Congregational society dates back to the
year 1856. A number of the early settlers of
Wauseon were from the land of Puritanism,
and were instrumental in organizing the Con-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
427
gregational society. Their first church was
erected in 1861, on the corner of South Fulton
and Cherry streets. It was a frame building
and was used until 1904. In that year the
congregation built a splendid brick structure
at a different location. The Evangelical Asso-
ciation organized a society in 1895, and the
same year a substantial frame house of wor-
ship was erected. The Lutherans have an
organization in the city which occupies a fine
brick church, completed in 1915. Because
John Miller wanted a church of the United
Brethren faith, he erected a small house of
worship at his own expense. It was called
Miller's Chapel. This was in 1874. Five
years later the congregation had grown to
such an extent that a good brick edifice was
erected by the members. It was dedicated
in August, 1880, by Bishop Weaver, of
Westerville.
The first schoolhouse in Wauseon was
erected in 1854, and Miss Zeraida Scott was
the teacher. Two years later a better frame
building, containing two rooms, was built,
which was used for many years. A large brick
building was erected in 1868, on Monroe
Street, near Monumental Park. As the vil-
lage has grown, the schools have kept pace
and are maintained at a high standard.
The "Wauseon Hospital Association was or-
ganized in 1903, by the physicians of the
county. The hospital occupies a large brick
building. The first president was Dr. P. J.
Lenhart, and the first secretary was Dr. A. J.
Murback. The nucleus of a public library
originated in 1875 when the Citizens Library
Association was organized. It was a number
of years before a permanent location was
secured in the courthouse. In 1904 Andrew
Carnegie gave the sum of $7,500, with which
sum an attractive building was erected. It
now contains about 5,000 volumes. The first
librarian was Miss Eva Boughton, but there
have been several changes.'
Wauseon contains a number of manufac-
t iii-iii-,' institutions. One of the most impor-
tant is the Van Camp Packing Company, a
milk condi'iisiiis.' plant. Milk is hauled many
miles to this factory and the sum paid to
farmers each year is very large. It has suc-
ceeded all the small creameries and cheese
factories. The Superior Iron Works is
another flourishing industry and does a large
business in manufacturing castings.
DELTA
About eight miles east of Wauseon lies the
Village of Delta, the second largest municipal-
ity in the county. It is also said to be the
oldest town in the county. Like Wauseon, it
is situated in a rich agricultural country. In
the last few years the dairy interests have
been extended, because of the establishment
of a factory for the condensing of milk by the
Van Camp Packing Company. This factory
has assisted in bringing prosperity to the vil-
lage, and to the neighborhood in general as
well.
Delta was not platted by speculators, but
seemed to grow without any particular effort
on the part of any person or persons. In
1838, there were only two families living on
the bank of the creek where Delta now stands.
These settlers were James McQuilling and
G. B. Lewis. Both men were farmers. Mc-
Quilling also ran a small sawmill, and Lewis
afterward opened up a temperance tavern, a'
rare occurrence in those days. He was a very
religious man, and it almost taxed his scruples
to keep a little tobacco for sale to his custom-
ers. There was always preaching at his house
on Sunday. Hence it. was that his home was
at one and the same time a dwelling, a tavern,
a store, and a church. This was really the
beginning of business in Delta. But there
have been many additions to the business
world of Delta since that day. The village
now supports a number of splendid stores.
A Mr. Kenyon built the first frame house, and
428
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
then along came George Wood with his family
in 1839. James Trowbridge opened up the
first store. The next, merchant was Eli Kitts,
who came from Maumee City. The first birth,
of which we have a record, was that of Mary
Augusta Wood, who was born in October,
1841. She lived to see the little settlement
grow into a prosperous town. The earliest
marriage was that of William Spencer to Miss
Emily Donaldson, in 1837. The first election
for township officials was held at York Center,
on the 30th day of June, 1836, when township
officers were chosen. The Presbyterians or-
ganized the first church at Delta, and built
their home on Adrian Street at a very early
date.
In 1868 Dr. William Ramsey and David C.
Teeple established the first bank in Delta, and
it was called the Bank of Delta. At a later
date Doctor Ramsey became sole owner, and
his son, W. E. Ramsey, was cashier. This
bank closed its doors in 1907. The Farmers
National Bank was opened for business in
1901. Thirteen years later it was reorganized
under the state banking laws as the Farmers
State Bank. A third banking institution, the
Peoples Savings Bank, is a prosperous bank
that dates from 1906.
OTHER VILLAGES
Swanton is situated near the eastern line
of the county, only a short distance from the
Lucas County line. When Nicholas P. Berry
and Miss Catharine Burgstuff, the first couple
to be joined in matrimony in this township,
went to Maumee City to be married in 1834,
things were very different from what they
are today. Their return trip, which was their
only wedding journey, was in a lumber wagon
over crooked roads and logs, through creeks
without bridges, and around swamps. James
C. Vaughn was the first white child born in
the neighborhood, in the year 1835. The post-
office was established in 1854. Joseph H. Mil-
ler was one of the early merchants of the
place, and conducted a store for many years.
William Geyser began business in Swanton
immediately after being discharged from ser-
vice in the Civil war. Before the days of the
railroad, Mr. Starr kept a tavern, which was
called the "Farmer's Inn," and there was
also a second hostelry owned by John T.
Teachworth. It was not uncommon for three
or four canvas-covered wagons, loaded with
emigrants, to be accommodated in one of
these taverns over night, so that a hotel then
was probably more profitable than today.
Swanton has now grown into a thriving vil-
lage, and is a brisk business center. It has
one bank, The Farmers and Merchants De-
posit Company, which was established in 1901.
In 1839, a postoffice was established in
Fulton County with the name of Forham. It
was located at the home of Erastus Cottrell,
and he was the first postmaster. The name
was afterward changed to Fayette. It is situ-
ated on a branch of the Lake Shore Railroad,
and also on the Toledo & Western Electric
line. Henry Boyd opened a general store here
as early as 1852, and he was the first mer-
chant. A few years later Rensallaer S.
Humphrey and Dr. Joseph 0. Allen built and
began to operate a steam grist-mill and saw-
mill. A planing-mill was built here in 1871
by John S. Butler. In 1872, Fayette was in-
corporated. The village has always had an
excellent reputation for the high character
of its citizens, and it has furnished the
county with many excellent officials. The
Fayette Normal, Music and Business College
was established there in 1881, and conducted
until 1892, when it was removed to Wauseon.
Then it became the Wauseon Normal and
Collegiate Institute, but was discontinued
after a decade. The Fayette Normal is an
educational institution still maintained in the
village. The Bank of Fayette was established
about 1880 and continued in business until
1913. The business was then taken over by
HISTORY OF NORTH WKST oillo
129
the Fayette State Savings I'.ank. The latter
l)atik began business in 1906.
Archbold sprang into existence in 1855,
immediately after the building of the railroad.
It is now an incorporated village with a flour-
ishing trade. It is near the western limit of
the county. It has two banks, The Fanners
and Merchants Bank established in 1897, and
the Peoples State Bank, organized in 1907.
Lyons was formerly called Moray's Corners.
Its history begins with the building of the
plank road in 1850. Since that time it has
enjoyed a steady growth until the present day.
The Lyons Commercial Bank was established
in 1911. Metamora is an old town. Hezekiah
Culver sold goods here as early as 1848, and
a grist-mill had been built there two or tin-.-.
years earlier. One of the original proprietors
was Jonathan Sauuders, and his descendant-,
still live in the village. There is a Methodist
society, which was organized in the year IK- I
The first church building was erected a do/' n
years later. The United Brethren denomina-
tion also have a church in Metamora. This
village has two banks, the Farmers and Mer-
chants Bank, and the Home Savings Bank,
both established in 1901. Pettisville is an-
other village of the county. It supports the
Pettisville Savings Bank, organized in 1909.
CHAPTER XXXIV
HANCOCK COUNTY
JACOB A. KIMMEL, M. D., FINDLAY
Like all of Northwestern Ohio Hancock
County was Indian territory. Two or three
different tribes claimed hunting rights within
its boundaries. Several thousand acres of the
Wyandot reservation were situated within the
county, and in Big Lick Township. This
tract was for the use of the Wyandots resid-
ing in Solomon's Town, situated on the fork
of the Blanchard River. This land was pur-
chased from the Indians by the Government
in 1831. Big Lick Township was a favorite
hunting resort, because the numerous sulphur
springs in one section were a great resort for
deer, and was therefore known as a "deer
lick." Hunters, both white and red, were
accustomed to waylay these denizens of the
forests on their way to or from the springs.
The Ottawas also had a small village on the
site of Findlay, which stretched along the
river within the present limits of the city.
According to tradition there were two
Indian villages within the County of Hancock,
and both were located on the banks of the
Blanchard River. As late as 1815 there were
eight or ten families of friendly Wyandots
living around and in the blockhouses of Fort
Findlay. "They were a temperate, fine-look-
ing people and friendly to the first settlers."
This is the testimony of a pioneer. They
tilled two fields, one above and the other
below the fort, on the south bank of the river.
Kuqua was the chief, and one of his sons,
Tree-top-in-the-Water, died in a cabin west
of the fort before the Indians removed to Big
Spring reservation. Six or seven miles down
the river, the Wyandots had another village
called Indian Green. This was a clearing sev-
eral miles square which had apparently been
under cultivation for a considerable time,
since an orchard of plum trees was found near
a part of the clearing occupied by a grave-
yard. A white man named Ellison robbed
these graves of the jewels, which had been
placed there to enable the dead braves to pur-
chase a clear title to their share of plunder
in the happy hunting grounds. When the
Indians discovered the deprecable work of
this pale-faced miscreant, they made it so
warm for him that he was obliged to leave the
neighborhood immediately. It is also claimed
by many that there was an Indian village on
the site of Mount Blanchard. This may pos-
sibly be true, for there were Indians living in
that vicinity as late as 1838. They were
probably the surviving remnants of some of
the tribes who at different times held sway
over this vast wilderness. Now there is no
vestige of the former inhabitants of the
county, and their habitations, except as some
weapon or ornament is uncovered from earth
and falls into the hands of the modern relic
hunter.
Hancock County lies within what is known
as the Maumee Valley. Its surface is gener-
ally level, and much of it might appropri-
ately be called flat land. In Orange Town-
ship there was a great cranberry marsh
before drainage ditches were dug and in
some other parts there are large tracts that
were formerly wet and soft throughout almost
430
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
431
the entire year. Tlic county is watered by the
fork of the Auglaixc Kiver known as the
Blanchard, which has its source in Ilardin
County. By the Shawnees this river w;is
called Sho-po-quo-to-kepe, or Tailor River,
from the fact that Mr. Blanchard, after whom
it was named, was by occupation a tailor.
The volume of this river was sufficient in
earlier days to furnish water power for a
number of mills throughout almost the entire
year. As the timber has been destroyed and
the lands drained, the supply of water is
much less reliable than formerly.
lie was a man with all a Frenchman's culture
and refinement, and the wonder is what he was
doing out in the forsaken wilds of the North-
west Territory, married to a squaw, devoted to
twelve little half-breed sons and daughters,
and plying his trade up and down the banks
of the little river which soon became known
as his especial property."
Blanchard never gave any account of his
wanderings. As a consequence the historians
have accredited him to a Spanish pirate ship,
which he is supposed to have tired of. No
one seems to know how he got to the point
SITE OF FORT FINDLAY ON THE BLANCHARD RIVER — BUILT IN 1812
Jean Jacques Blanchard was a Frenchman
by birth. He was "a tailor by trade, adven-
turer by disposition, and non-communicative
about himself from choice." He came from
Louisiana in 1770 and settled among the
Shawnees. He married a squaw, and resided
upon this stream long prior to the cession of
the territory of which it forms a part to the
United States, rearing a family of seven chil-
dren. He died in 1802, and the place of his
death is supposed to be on the site of old Fort
Findlay. "He spoke Parisian French, is said
to have had an intimate acquaintance with
Greek and Latin, and had a liberal education.
east of Dayton, where he first joined the
Shawnees in 1770. It is known that he emi-
grated to Louisiana in 1760, and remained
there two years, but the seven years inter-
vening has provided abundant room for the
building of many fanciful theories. It is
claimed that he was well skilled in carving,
and with his curiously wrought tools amused
the Indians by his work in this art. He lived
thirty years with his Shawnee wife, and, when
the Indians emigrated, seven of his children
were still living. In 1857 part of the tribe,
with which he had identified himself, moved
to Iowa, one of Blanchard 'e sons being chief
432
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of the division. To this day there are Indians
who trace their genealogy back to the point
where Blanchard and his sons appear on the
stage of their tribal life.
According to the best accounts handed
down to us, the first settlement in the terri-
tory now embraced within the boundaries of
Hancock County was made at the present site
of the Town of Findlay, about the year 1815.
It was natural that the settlers would locate
near a stockade, such as was Fort Findlay at
this time, immediately after the close of the
War of 1812. It is claimed that a man by the
name of Thorp, or Tharp, who came to this
section with the soldiers of General Hull,
remained here with Indians for his compan-
ions after its evacuation by the American
troops. Edward Bright, a young soldier who
«ame to Fort Findlay during the war, re-
turned in the year 1824 and entered a quarter
of a section of land, which he cleared up and
lived upon. He had taken a fancy to this land
while quartered here as a soldier. He was an
industrious man, who spent very little for the
luxuries of life, and even deprived himself
of what most of us would term necessities. He
ate very simple food, and wore the scantiest
of clothing. In his elderly days he was known
as "Uncle Neddie," or "Old Neddie." He
was a very quiet man, discreet in his conversa-
tion, and had never married. Because he had
sold many cattle at a high price at the out-
break of the Civil War, he was generally
believed by his neighbors to be the possessor
of much gold. After his death, however, no
money was found either upon his person or
about the house, a scantily appointed cabin,
and it was believed then, and is even to this
day a matter of tradition, that he had buried
his treasure in the ground. Sufficient it is to
say that no one has ever yet discovered the
hiding-place of his wealth, if it ever existed.
When Benjamin Cox and his family settled
in this vicinity, about the year 1815, there was
nothing but an unbroken forest to greet them,
save about the old fort. Indians and wild
beasts roamed freely about in the woods.
After making their home in the solitude of
this county for a few years, the family re-
moved to Wood County, where some of the
descendants still live. One of the daughters
had acquired a knowledge of both the Ottawa
and Wyandot tongues, and sometimes acted
as interpreter between the whites and the
Indians. It was not long, however, until the
spirit of adventure and longing for new scenes
brought a number of additional settlers from
other states, and little communities were
formed. The foundations were then laid for
the prosperity and development that has fol-
lowed. Little indeed did these early settlers
think of the wealth of petroleum and gas then
lying beneath their feet at a distance of less
than a quarter of a mile. In their ignorance,
these early pioneers parted with the posses-
sions upon which they had toiled for years
at hard labor for the paltry sum of two or
three dollars for an acre,— land which after-
ward brought as many thousands of dollars
an acre in the time of the oil and gas boom.
So far as is known there were no battles
fought at Findlay, but there were of course
isolated skirmishes between the whites and the
Indians whom they dispossessed, and the
county has had its share of pioneer tragedies.
An interesting account of the early days
about Findlay is given by Mrs. Eberly, a
daughter of Benjamin Cox. The account is
taken from the "History of Hancock County"
by J. A. Kimmell, the language of the relator
being given :
"I am the daughter of Benjamin Cox, and
was born in Green County, Ohio, in 1806, and
when about nine years old, my father removed
his family to Findlay, in Hancock County.
Our family was the first white family to settle
in that county. My sister Lydia, born in
1817, was the first white child born in that
county. We lived in a hewed-log house,
located where the brick residence of the late
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Wilson Vance now stands, on the south bank
of the river, and on the east side of Main
Street. When Mr. Vance came to the place,
we had to move into a log cabin a little east
of the hewed-log house, into which Mr. Vance
took his family.
' ' My father was engaged in farming — if the
cultivation of a small tract of cleared land
surrounding our cabin could be called farm-
ing— and keeping a public house. Shortly
after we came to the place, Hamilton, More-
land and Slight came. Some other families
came in, stayed a short time and then left.
For to be candid about it, Findlay was but
two or three block houses, and some pickets,
the remains of Ft. Findlay, were standing
when we came. The Ottawa Indians made
frequent visits to the place, as it was stated
that they were in some way related to the
Wyandots.
"Before we left Findlay, the Morelands,
Hamiltons, Slights, Chamberlains, Frakes,
McKinnises, Simpsons, Vances and Rileys had
moved to the county. Hamilton and some
others had started a settlement above the
town, and Frakes and the McKinnises, below
the town. I was at that time too young and
too busy to make the acquaintance of many
of these persons. But I shall never forget
Susy Frakes — as she was called — the wife of
Nathan Frakes. Many a day did I spend with
them in their cabin on the river side, and I
thought Susy the best woman I ever knew,
kind-hearted, almost to a fault, hospitable
and intelligent.
"Mrs. Riley was perhaps the first white
person who died in the county. She had been
sick with the chills and fever and had called
in the services of a Mr. Smith, a Kentuckian,
who pretended to be a druggist, and who gave
her medicine which was so effective that
she was soon a corpse. So sudden was her
decease that it was suspected that a mistake
had been made, either in the medicine or in
its administering. It was said at the time
that Smith had forbidden her to drink water,
but such was her intense thirst that she pre-
vailed on two little girls who were left to
watch with her, to bring her some, of which
she drank freely and very shortly afterward
was found dead. Of course her sudden death
was attributed to the drink of water.
"I was but a girl when Vance came to
Findlay. The first mill in the county was
built whilst we were there. Mrs. Vance had
gone to Urbana just previous to the birth of
their first child, and Mr. Vance's sister,
Bridget, came to keep house for him, but had
been with him but a short time when she was
attacked by the ague. I then went to live
with them, and not only cooked for the men
who were digging the mill race, and boarded
at Vance's, but I even worked in the race.
My mother, my sister and myself gathered
the stalks of nettles which grew on the river
bottoms below the town, from which we
stripped fiber enough, that on being dressed
like flax was spun and woven into linen to the
amount of forty yards, and was made into
clothing for the family.
"At one time We-ge-hah, or Tree-top-in-
water, son, of In-op-qua-nah, a Wyandot
chief, became sick, and the Indians believed
him to be bewitched by a bad spirit, and sent
to Tawa-town for Big Medicine to exorcise the
spirit. My mother did not like the Indians
very well, and never went amongst them
much. On this occasion, however, when the
Indians sent out their invitations for the great
pow-wow, my mother received one. It was
after much persuasion on the part of my
father, and with the understanding that I
should accompany her, that she finally con-
sented to attend. When we arrived at the
place of meeting, which was a log house a
a little west of where Judge Cory now lives —
Blackford German Block — we found a few
Indians assembled. The Big Medicine and
his interpreter occupied the center of the
room. The lights were extinguished. The
434
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
tom-tom was beaten and a great noise and
hubbub was made. The lights were again set
to burning, and after a short silence refresh-
ments were passed around. During this time
my mother and myself having been seated in
the circle which was formed around the room,
clung closely together, not a little frightened
at the performance."
CIVIL HISTORY
On the 12th of February, 1820, the Gen-
eral Assembly of Ohio passed an act for the
creation of certain new counties, among which
was Hancock County. The part that has ref-
erence to Hancock County reads as follows:
"Fifth to include Townships One and Two,
north of the forty-first degree of north lati-
tude (base line) and One and Two south of
the same line, in the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh
and Twelfth Ranges from east to west, and to
be known by the name of Hancock county."
It was further provided by this act that Han-
cock County should be attached to the County
of Wood, with the seat of government at
Perrysburg. The commissioners of ,Wood
County, in 1822, ordered that the Township
of Waynesfield should be co-extensive with
the boundaries of Wood and Hancock coun-
ties. The Hancock portion was set off in the
following year as an independent township,
by the name of Findlay, and an election was
ordered to be held on the first day of July at
the house of Wilson Vance. Of this election
there is no record, but there is a record of an
election April 5, 1824, at which eighteen votes
were cast. Job Chamberlin, Wilson Vance,
and Jacob Poe were elected trustees. John
Hunter and John Gardner were chosen for
the distinguished office of fence-viewers.
Robert McKinnis and William Moreland be-
came overseers of the poor. There were
scarcely enough voters to pass around among
the offices, for we find that Wilson Vance was
also selected for the important office of asses-
sor. The amount of tax for the year 1826 was
only $56.12. It was not long until a separate
county organization became necessary, be-
cause of the rapid increase of settlers. Hence
it was that the General Assembly passed an
act on the 21st day of January, 1838, "to
Organize the County of Hancock." A part
of this act reads as follows : —
"Sec. 1. That the county of Hancock as
heretofore laid off, and the same shall be and
is hereby organized into a separate and dis-
tinct county, and suits and prosecutions which
shall be pending, and all crimes which shall
have been committed within said county of
Hancock previous to its organization, shall be
prosecuted to final judgment and execution
within the county of Wood, in the same man-
ner they would have been had the county of
Hancock not been organized ; and the sheriff,
coroner and constables of Wood County shall
execute within the county of Hancock such
process as shall be necessary to carry into
effect such suits, prosecutions and judgments ;
and the treasurer of Wood County shall col-
lect all such taxes as shall have been levied
and imposed within the county of Hancock
previous to the taking effect of this act."
This act was to take effect from the first day
of March, and the whole history of the county
begins with that date. In accordance with
its provisions, the voters of the county held
an election in Findlay at which seventy-four
votes were cast. The officers elected were as
follows: Don Alonzo Hamlin, sheriff; Thomas
Slight, coroner; Matthew Reighly, auditor;
Joshua Hedges, treasurer; William Hacknes,
assessor; Godfrey Wolford, John Long, and
John P. Hamilton, commissioners. The
county, named after John Hancock of Revo-
lutionary fame, was now fully organized and
prepared, for governmental business. The
responsibilities of office sat lightly upon these
early officials, and their duties interfered very
little with their regular vocations. Although
there were no public buildings, the lack of
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
135
them was not greatly felt. The people knew
where to find their officials, and that was suffi-
cient. The treasurer carried his tax duplicate
around with him in his pocket, and was thus
ready to receive the monies of the taxpayers
whenever he should chance to meet them. In
order to make correct surveys for the town-
ships to be created, and to locate the land
exactly, a base line was established along the
forty-first parallel of north latitude, which
line ran directly through the center of Han-
cock County, and thus divided the county
into two parts, north and south. The town-
ships were numbered north and south of this
line. It was a number of years before the
townships were outlined as they exist today,
and the original names given them have in
certain instances also been changed.
At the time that Hancock County was defi-
nitely established, there were probably fewer
than 400 inhabitants, judging by the number
of votes cast in the first election. At this
early day there were perhaps no more than
half a dozen settlements in the entire county ;
one of these was at Mount Blanchard, one at
Findlay, and one at McKinnis, with two or
three small communities in other sections.
There were also a few families residing by
themselves in isolated places. Everyone was
counted a neighbor who lived within a day's
journey. In 1830, when the first census was
taken, there were 813 persons in the county.
Of this number 451 were white males and 351
white females, while there were 3 males and
6 females of colored blood. About three-
fourths of this number were under age. In
1880, just fifty years afterward, the popula-
tion of the county had increased to 27,343.
The census of 1830 does not give the number
of acres of improved lands, nor the value of
the buildings in the county, but it is safe to
conclude that but little had been done toward
the subduing of the wilderness. Farms or
clearings were few and far between, and it is
doubtful if there was a frame or brick build-
ing in the county outside of the little settle-
ment of Findlay. The pioneers could make
only slow headway against unconquered
nature with their few and primitive rude
tools.
The first church edifice erected in the
county was the "Duke's Meeting House," in
Blanchard Township. It was a building of
hewed logs, 32 by 28 feet in size, and was
built and owned by the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The pulpit and seats were of the
rudest construction. The seats were simply
benches without backs, and the pulpit was of
unpainted boards. And yet, in such a simple
structure, the people could draw just as close to
their Creator as is possible in the finest cathe-
dral. The voices of Finley, Thompson, Wil-
son, Gurley, and a host of other pioneer
Methodists were heard in the "Duke's Meet-
ing House." But ministers of the gospel pre-
ceded the churches by many years. If no
hospitable home was opened up, God's first
temples, the primeval woods, were always
available. When the Rev. James Gilruth
preached here, in the year 1822, he did not
see a dwelling house on his journey from Fort
McArthur to Findlay. As soon as he arrived
he was requested to preach, and consented to
do so. It is said that almost every man and
woman in the county was present at this ser-
vice. It is very different today, with the
elegant churches that we have, which are
provided with cushioned seats and warmed to
a comfortable temperature. With all these
advantages, however, only a small proportion
of the people can be induced to attend the
services.
The first schoolhouse in Hancock County
was also built in Findlay, and the first ses-
sion of the school was taught by John C.
Wickham, who was then a resident of the
county. The tavern in the early days was a
center for the various activities of the neigh-
borhood. The people gathered here to ex-
change their gossip, as well as to hear news
436
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
of the outside world from any chance stranger
that happened along. Here many public
gatherings were arranged, and all of the pub-
lic notices were posted.
' ' The Pioneer Tavern was a few rods south
east of the 'Medicine Water.' It was on the
plateau just east of the ridge that lies south
of the spring, and terminated near there, some
three or four rods onward from the present
street. The first house was a double roomed
one, with a loft, standing north and south,
facing the east, and was built of round logs,
'chinked and daubed.' In course of time, a
second house, two stories high, was added,
built of hewed logs, and placed east and west,
at right angles with the south end of the first
building, with a little space between them. In
this space was the well with its curb, and its
tall, old-fashioned, but easy-working 'well-
sweep. ' Around at the southwest of this was
the log barn and the blacksmith shop, and a
double granary or corn-crib, with a space
between for its many purposes, as necessary,
indeed, as the kitchen is for household pur-
poses. Here was the grind-stone, the shaving-
horse, the hewing block, the tools of all kinds
and the pegs for hanging up traps of all sorts.
Here the hog was scalded and dressed, the
deer, raccoon and 'possum were skinned, and
their skins stretched and dried, or tanned.
Here also were the nuts cracked and dried.
For many reasons it has a bright place in
the memories of boyhood. How few know the
importance of the pioneer tavern in early
days. It was, of course, the place of rest for
the weary traveler, whether on foot or on
horse. It was many a day before a ' dear-
born' or a ' dandy -wagon ' was known on the
road. But it was much more than this and
seemed the emporium of everything. It was
the market place for all ; the hunter with his
venison and turkeys; the trapper with his
skins and furs ; and the knapsack peddler —
the pioneer merchant — here gladdened the
hearts of all with his 'boughten' wares. At
this tavern, too, were all public gatherings
called, to arrange for a general hunt, to deal
out justice to some transgressor of the unwrit-
ten but well known pioneer laws. In fact it
was here, at a later period, that the first
organized county court was held, with the
grand jury in the tavern loft and the petit
jury under a neighboring shade tree."
One of the events of great importance, and
especially to the youth, was the General
Muster. For this annual parade the soldiers
were busy for days in repairing and polishing
up their old flintlock muskets, while the offi-
cers studied up the words of command and
pressed up their uniforms. The young ladies
industriously added to their wardrobe, for
their gentlemen friends were sure to be there.
In many instances the beau invited his best
girl to a seat on the horse behind him on the
way to the Muster. When the great day
arrived, practically the whole population
would be found on the grounds. The officers
would strut around in their blue coats, with
brass buttons and monstrous epaulets con-
spicuously showing. The men were marched
by companies, some of them armed with rifles,
and all would march in ways that would not
be approved at West Point. Among the early
companies were the Findlay Rangers, under
the command of Captain Lape. These rangers
were dressed in uniforms of green, profusely
trimmed with yellow tape. There were also
the Van Buren Rangers, commanded by
Colonel Wall, with uniforms of green trimmed
with red. In other companies every man was
clothed according to his taste and his ability.
The cavalry company, known as "Light
Horse" company, commanded by Capt. John
Byal, was to boys the very acme of military
glory. Other sports indulged in at the Muster
were running, jumping, wrestling, pitching
horseshoes, etc. Sometimes fights resulted
from too much drinking, and bloody noses
would be visible.
The first marriage performed within Han-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
437
cock County, of which we have a record, was
the one in which Samuel Kepler, of Williams
County, and Rachael McKinnis, of Hancock
County, were legally joined in matrimony, by
William Vance, Justice of the Peace, on the
llth day of January, 1825. Nearly all of
these early marriages were performed by the
justice of the peace, for the reason that a resi-
dent minister, authorized to perform marriage
ceremonies, was not to be found. The second
marriage was that of Asa M. Lake and Char-
lotte Green, by Joshua Hedges, J. P. In 1824,
the commissioners appointed for that purpose
made an entry upon the court records that
they had established the seat of justice in the
Town of Findlay, as the most suitable site for
that location. The first record that we have
of a session of court was one held on the 19th
day of March, 1829, by Judges Huff, McKin-
nis, and Wilson. The first contested election
took place in 1838, when the election of Wade
as justice of the peace was protested. In
1846 the commissioners authorized Fred Hen-
derson to procure a suitable bell to be placed
in the cupola of the courthouse at a cost not
exceeding $250. The first estate administered
was that of Hon. John Patterson, and William
Taylor was appointed administrator of this
estate in 1829. The assets amounted to less
than $1,000, but that was considered very
good in those days, for Mr. Patterson was
looked upon as one of the wealthy men of the
county. Conditions have changed wonder-
fully since that time. The administrator was
allowed $2 for two days' services in settling
up the estate, and the attorneys were granted
$5 — which is certainly a record for economy
in administration.
The first roads in the county were scarcely
more than blazed paths through the woods.
Many places would have been utterly impassa-
ble, had it not been for the system of "cordu-
roy." As timber was abundant this great
waste, as it seems to us, was not noticed. The
early records of the county commissioners
contain much legislation upon this important
subject. The road from Findlay to Van
Buren was one of the early roads. Concerning
it, we find as follows on their records of 1829 :
"A petition being presented by sundry citi-
zens of Hancock County, praying for a county
road, commencing at the county line at John
Smith 's farm, running thence a northwesterly
direction to John Longs, in Section One,
thence to cross Blanchard Fork at or near
John J. Hendricks, thence to run down the
river to the mouth of the three-mile run,
thence to the nearest and best direction to
Findlay, which was granted, and John Huff,
John J. Hendricks and William Moreland
were appointed viewers, and William Taylor,
Surveyor. ' '
A couple of years later it was decided to
build a road by the most direct route to
"Toway Village," now Ottawa, and this is
now one of the best roads in the county. The
"Road from. Fort Meigs, or the foot of the
Rapids of the Miami of the Lake (Maumee)
to Belief ontaine, " was one of the early high-
ways. It is known as the Perrysburg and
Bellefontaine State Road, and almost bisects
the county from north to south. It was laid
out on or near "Hull's Trail." It was many
years before an attempt was made to bridge
the Blanchard River. Finally the matter was
put to a vote of the people, and the contract
was let in 1843 for a bridge over that stream
at Findlay. This first bridge was a trestle
structure of the simplest type. In 1850 this
was replaced by a covered bridge of a type
common in those days, but which has almost
disappeared.
' ' On April 26th, 1839, at a special session of
the county commissioners it was 'Ordered
that we, the commissioners, agree to subscribe
one hundred shares, amounting to one hundred
thousand dollars, to the capital stock of the
Bellefontaine and Perrysburg Railroad, and
that in our incorporate capacity, we will place
438
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
our signatures to the books of the company
for that amount.'
John Byal,
Daniel Fairchild,
Commissioners."
This was certainly a liberal offer for that
day. This railroad was never completed. The
railroad fever again broke out in 1845, when
a movement was then set on foot, which re-
sulted in the building of the Findlay branch
of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad. By
a vote of the people, the commissioners were
authorized to subscribe for 1,200 shares of
the capital stock, with a par value of $60,000.
This subscription was afterward increased to
$75,000. The road was not completed and
put into operation until December, 1849.
This is the railroad branch that runs to Carey,
and is about sixteen miles in length. As
originally constructed the rails were simply
strap iron laid on stringers placed length-
wise on the roadbed. The hopes of the Find-
layites were again raised in 1853, at the pros-
pect of having the old Dayton & Michigan
Railroad built through their little city. Great
was their disappointment when it was located
on a route several miles farther west.
The first will recorded was one probated in
March, 1830, and the introduction of which
reads as follows : —
"In the name of God, Amen. I * * *
of Hancock County, State of Ohio, being sick
and weak in body, but of sound mind, mem-
ory and understanding (praised be God for
it), and considering the certainty of death,
and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and
to the end I may be better prepared to leave
this work whenever it may please God to call
me home, do therefore make and declare this
my last will and testament in manner follow-
ing, (that is to say) first and principally I
commend my soul into the hands of Almighty
God, my Creator, praying for free pardon,
and remission of all my sins, and to enjoy
everlasting happiness in the Heavenly King-
dom through Jesus Christ, my Savior. My
body I commit to the earth at the discretion
of my executor hereafter named."
When Hancock County became a settled
and distinct county, three of her citizens were
honored with the appointment of associate
judges. These were Abraham Huff, Robert
McKinnis, and Ebenezer Wilson. The first
court was held on March 14, 1828, with all of
these judges present. William Vance was
elected clerk pro tern by a vote of two to one.
Judge McKinnis came to Hancock County in
1822, and at once became one of the leading
men. Not only was he himself noted, but his
sons Charles, Phillip, James, and John were
also men who stood high in the eyes of the
early settlers of that vicinity. Charles was
one of the first commissioners of the county,
a position which at that time was one of
unusual importance. All of the affairs of the
new county were in process of settlement, and
conflicting interests were at work in the
placing the public buildings and adjustment
of other public business that needed looking
after. Judge Wilson came to this county in
1826, and he filled the office of associate judge
for fourteen years, which was longer than any
of his associates. Of Judge Huff very little
is known, except that he was an honorable
man and endowed with good sense. During
this first year of the Common Pleas Court,
Anthony Casad, of Bellefontaine, was ap-
pointed prosecuting attorney for the term of
one year, at a salary of $40. It was also
ordered that the clerk be paid the sum of $10
per year in two installments. He served in
this capacity for seven years, and received for
his services the magnificent sum of $70.
The first grand jury was composed of the
following named persons: Joseph DeWitt,
John P. Hamilton, Jacob Poe, Asa Lake,
Charles McKinnis, Reuben Hales, Mordecai
Hammond, William Wade, John Boyd, Henry
George, William Moreland, James McKinnis,
HISTORY OF NORTH WlvST OHIO
439
William Taylor, Edwin S. Jones, and John
C. Widdiam. The foreman was William Tay-
lor. The first petit jury summoned was as
follows: John Beard, Joseph Johnson, John
Huff, William Morelaiid, Jr., John Tullis,
John J. Hendricks, Thomas Thompson, James
IVttis. As there was no business for a jury,
they were discharged without the panel being
filled. The first case on the civil docket was
one brought by Robert Elder and wife against
Asa Lake and wife, claiming damages of $500.
Judgment was rendered for the defendants,
and the plaintiffs were ordered to pay the
costs, taxed at $2.22. In 1835, Robert L.
Strother and John W. Baldwin succeeded
Judges Huff and McKinnis.
Edson Goit was the first resident lawyer in
Findlay, and was born in Oswego County,
New York. In 1827 he left his early home
and traveled across Ohio, stopping at the Vil-
lage of Fremont. Here he studied law and
was admitted to its practice. Learning that
Findlay, the new county seat of Hancock
County, had no lawyer, he at once concluded
to come there and cast his fortunes. Travel-
ing on foot from Tiffin, he reached Findlay on
the third day of his journey. This was in
August, 1832, and in the following month he
was appointed prosecuting attorney. This
was not a lucrative office in those days. Busi-
ness was so poor that he taught school for a
while in order to have sufficient money to pay
his board. He was married to Miss Jane
Patterson, a young lady of the village.
Arnold Merriam was the second lawyer to
make his home in Findlay. He arrived there
in the spring of 1835, but remained in Findlay
only a few years. The third lawyer was John
H. Morrison, who was one of the best known
members of the pioneer bar. He first prac-
ticed in Bucyrus, where he filled the office of
prosecuting attorney and county treasurer,
and located in Findlay in the fall of 1836.
Among the other early members of the bar
were Jacob Barnd, Judge Hall, who was also
carpenter and preacher, Charles W. O'Neal,
and Abel T. Parker. James M. and Charles
S. Coffinberry, sons of Andrew Coffinberry,
known as the "Count," were also prominent
among the early legal advisers. James after-
ward removed to Cleveland, where he became
quite prominent. The count himself passed
the last few years of his life in Findlay. He
was possessed of considerable literary talent,
as well as legal ability.
The earliest permanent physician in the
county was Dr. Bass Rawson, who came to
Findlay in 1829. There were at that time
only twelve white inhabitants in the settle-
ment. He practiced there for over sixty
years. A German physician, Dr. Charles
Desterlin, arrived at Findlay in 1836, and
followed his profession until his death more
than half a century later. He served one
term in the Legislature. Dr. William H.
Baldwin antedated Doctor Desterlin by four
years. He rose to a high position in his
chosen work. Neither distance nor the diffi-
culties of travel deterred this faithful physi-
cian in ministering to the sick. He died in
1868. Dr. William D. Carlin graduated in
medicine in 1843 and immediately began its
practice. He served as surgeon during the
Mexican War, where he acquitted himself with
distinction. Among the other early physi-
cians worthy of note were Dr. Anson Hurd,
Dr. Lorenzo Fermin and Dr. William D.
Detwiler.
It was in the year 1830 that the county
commissioners decided to build a jail. It was
ordered that this jail should be "sixteen feet
wide and twenty-four feet long, with a parti-
tion in the center. The timber to be white
oak, twelve inches square, with two doors and
three windows." This jail was built on the
public square. It seems that this location was
not pleasing to many of the citizens, for a
few months later a petition was presented by
sundry citizens praying for its removal. The
prisoners used to amuse themselves by burn-
4-10
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ing down the door, or removing the iron bars
from the windows, and, after escaping, report
themselves to the sheriff, who would conduct
them back to the place whence they came.
Previous to 1831 the courts were held in a
little log schoolhouse. In that year, however,
the county commissioners ordered an adver-
tisement to be posted asking for bids for the
construction of a frame building, 24 by 36
feet, and two stories high. The lower story
was to have a hall, or entry, 8 feet wide
through the center, with good partitions on
either side through the center. A good sub-
stantial flight of stairs was to be put up in
this entry. All except the front was to be
weather-boarded with black walnut — a great
waste of a good timber now so valuable. The
bids were opened on the 16th of January,
1832, and two proposals were presented. One
proposal for the sum of $700 was accepted.
This building was erected on the southwest
corner of Main and Crawford streets, and
was used as a courthouse, schoolhouse, and
church, until a new brick structure was com-
pleted in 1841. The religious societies using
it were charged 75 cents each per month.
The old building was afterwards remodeled
and used for many years as a hotel.
On the 10th of November, 1836, the first
issue of the first newspaper in Hancock
County was handed out to the citizens of the
small hamlet of Findlay. This paper was the
Hancock Courier, which is older than the City
of Findlay by a couple of years. At that
time it was an 18x26-inch sheet. The nearest
paper mill was at Delaware, and there was
no means of transportation save by wagons
over muddy and sometimes impassable roads.
In the second year, in an effort to cover more
territory, the name of this paper was length-
ened to the Findlay Courier and Hancock
and Putnam Democratic Shield. In 1841 the
name was changed again to the Hancock
Courier, which it has ever since retained. It
was established by Jacob Rosenberg, who had
recently arrived in the city. Three years later
it was purchased by Henry Bishop, who
edited and published it for a number of years.
The next proprietor was William Mungen.
Since that time it has had many owners and
editors. Lewis Glessner edited the paper
from 1866 to 1879 continuously. The Daily
Courier was established in March, 1887, by
G. and Fred Glessner, and the latter served
as manager and editor for a dozen years.
In 1889 the company was incorporated, and
was amalgamated with the Findlay Union.
The first whig paper published in the
county was the Hancock Republican, and it
was established by Arnold F. Merriam in Jan-
uary, 1838. It had only a brief existence,
dying in about one year from lack of patron-
age. The Hancock Farmer was started by
Jacob Rosenberg, in 1842, as a democratic
paper. It was afterwards consolidated with
the Courier. The Western Herald made its
bow to the public in January, 1845, with John
T. Ford at the helm, and was also a whig
paper. In the same year it passed into the
control of James M. Coffinberry, who changed
the name to the Findlay Herald. The Han-
cock Whig was established by Robert Coulter
in 1848, and the name was afterwards changed
to The Hancock Journal by his successor,
George C. Lyon. This paper passed out of
existence in 1852. The Home Companion
was born in 1854, and was promoted as a
reform publication by Samuel A. Spear. It
advocated reform in the liquor laws. The
name was afterwards changed to The Han-
cock Jeffersonian, and was for a time edited
by David R. Locke, who published some of
the original "Nasby Papers" in this publica-
tion. On April 1, 1870, this paper was issued
as The Findlay Jeffersonian. It also has a
weekly edition, -which was started in 1880.
The Reporter was started in 1872 by C. G.
and J. K. Barnd as a literary paper, but lasted
only about five years under two or three
names. Das Ohio Volksblatt began publica-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
441
tion in 1877, with Adolpli G. Zwanzig as edi-
tor. It lasted only about a year, when the
plant was sold for the benefit of the creditors.
The Findlay Weekly Republican made its
appearance in 1879, under the ownership of
J. N. Beelman and James E. Griswold. The
of her republican paper was not considered as
sufficiently "stalwart" to the radical members
of that party. It has had a number of noted
editors. A company was finally formed, and
the Evening Jeffersonian was published in
connection with the Republican. The Find-
lay Star also had a brief existence as a daily.
The Findlay Wochenblatt, a German weekly,
was established in 1886. The Findlay Union
was also published in Findlay as an independ-
ent paper for a while. Of other papers in
the county, there are the McComb Record,
which was started in 1894, and the McComb
Herald, which was organized a number of
years earlier. The Mount Blanchard Jour-
nal is published in Mount Blanchard, and the
Arcadia News appears from that village.
Arlington is also the possessor of a news-
paper.
FINDLAY
Findlay was first laid out in the year 1821
by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Cory. It was
replatted in 1829, and the plat of that year
contained 156 lots, of about 50 by 200 feet in
size. This original plat was in what is now
the central portion of the city, and covered
less than one square mile in area. Thirty-nine
lots were donated to the county commission-
ers in trust, to be sold and the proceeds to
be used in the construction of county build-
ings. The public square was donated for the
benefit of the town, and it so remains. Main
Street was laid out 100 feet in width. The
first frame house in the town was built by
Squire Carlin, and was situated on the south-
west corner of Main and Front streets. The
second frame building was constructed by
William Taylor, who occupied it as a dwell-
ing, a hotel, and dry goods store. The town
was then a straggling village of log huts.
Benjamin Cox was the first tavern keeper.
There was very little business, excepting
some trading with the Indians, and now and
then the entertainment of a lonely traveler.
East Findlay was laid out in 1847 by Jan
H. Wilson. This comprises that part of the
city lying east of Eagle Creek, which is
spanned by three bridges. North Findlay,
as it is known, although it never had a sepa-
rate existence, is that part of the municipal-
ity on the north side of the river. This was
laid out in the year 1854 by William Taylor,
one of the first settlers of the county.
The City of Findlay was incorporated on
March 17, 1838, under an act passed by the
Legislature. This act was at one time re-
pealed, but the repealing act was itself
repealed, so that the original act incorporating
the town remained in force. Among the early
mayors were John Adams, W. L. Henderson,
Abraham Younkin, 0. A. Ogden, N. Y. Mem-
ford, Josiah S. Powell, and Jacob Carr.
In the early days of Hancock County the
principal denominations represented were the
Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Lu-
theran. Of these four, the Baptists were the
last to organize, in 1857, and no church was
built until 1888. The first Methodist Church
was established in the '30s. A church was
built on East Main Street, and it was served
by a circuit rider. Soon afterwards it became
a station with its own preacher. The Pres-
byterian Church was organized in 1830, with
Rev. Peter Monfort as pastor; William Cowan
and Ebenezer Wilson were the first ruling
elders. This is said to be the oldest Presby-
terian Church in this part of Ohio. The first
house of worship was erected in 1836, and
was used for twenty-one years. At that time
a new church was erected on the northeast
corner of Main and Hardin streets. In 1900
a new church was erected on the corner of
442
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Main and Lincoln streets. The longest pas-
torate was that of Rev. H. H. Holliday, which
extended from 1842 to 1854. The Lutheran
w;is the third denomination to enter the field,
for regular services were begun in 1839,
although a permanent organization was not
effected until seven years later. St. Michael's
Roman Catholic Church was organized in
1851. At that time a small frame building
was erected. Priests had occasionally visited
Findlay before that time and held services
there.
Hancock Lodge, No. 73, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, was instituted August 15,
1846, and it was legally incorporated in the
following year. The installation services were
held in the second floor of Jonathan Parker's
carpenter shop. At that time fraternal orders
were neither so popular nor so well under-
stood as they are today. The order grew,
however, and the number of its members has
greatly increased. It has been the parent of
several other lodges of Odd Fellows through-
out the county. One of the members, now
deceased, who deserves special mention, was
Rev. H. H. Holliday. He was a member for
over fifty years, during thirty of which he
was chaplain, and seldom missed a session
during that long period.
Masonry in Findlay dates from 1852, when
a meeting was held in the hall of the Odd
Fellows, on the evening of January 16th.
Abraham Youngkin presided as worshipful
master, and a dispensation for a lodge in Find-
lay was read in open lodge. At this meeting
Thomas McKee made application to become
a member by demit. At the second meeting,
held on the 24th instant, a full corps of officers
was elected. The charter bears the date of
October 22, 1852. In 1854 a chapter of Royal
Arch Masons was instituted, and James A.
Kellman was appointed high priest. Interest
was so great in the new order that daily
meetings were held for some time. During
the Civil War the meetings were discontinued,
but they were begun as soon as peace was
effected. Commandery was installed in 1889,
and the first Knight Templar created was Sir
James Wilson. This attempt failed, but a
new dispensation was granted January 22,
1890, and Findlay Commandery, U. D., was
fully organized.
There are many other fraternal orders in
Findlay. The Elks instituted their lodge in
1888. The lodge, Xo. 75, has a very large
membership. The Tribe of Ben Hur dates
from 1895, when it was organized with thirty
charter members. The Grand Army of the
Republic is represented by two posts, the First
Post and Stoker Post.
Findlay has some splendid banking institu-
tions. The First National was founded in
June, 1863, with E. P. Jones as president
and Charles E. Niles as cashier. When Mr.
Jones died in 1894, he was succeede.d by
Mr. Niles, who filled the position until his
own death. The Buckeye National was organ-
ized in 1886 and has been very successful.
The Commercial Bank and Savings Company
was incorporated in 1900 under the state
banking laws. The American National Bank
opened for business in 1887, having been
organized by the late Judge Jacob F. Burket,
who was its first president. The City Bank-
ing Company was incorporated in 1897. It
succeeded to the business of the City Bank
of Findlay, a private bank organized ten years
earlier by Peter Hossler and some associates.
The most noted period in the history of
Findlay is the marvelous development that
followed the discovery of gas and oil. The
furore created by this discovery increased a
village of 4,000 inhabitants to a city of 21,000
population within a very short time. As early
as 1836, Mr. Richard Wade, in digging a well,
had found water at a depth of ten feet, which
had a strong flavoring of gas, and had to be
abandoned on that account. He carried this
gas through a wooden box, to the end of which
he attached a piece of iron tubing, and used
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST Oil lit
to light the gas emanating from it in order to
exhibit the phenomenon to his neighbors and
visitors. A couple of years later Daniel Pos-
ter, in putting down a well, struck such a
strung vein of gas at the depth of eight feet
that he was compelled to suspend operations.
He utilized the gas by means of tubing in an
open fireplace. This was the first time that
natural gas was ever employed in a practical
way in this country.
Dr. Charles Osterlin became interested in
the subject of natural gas, and to him much
is due for the discovery of gas and oil deposits.
The people at first thought he was crazy. He
called the attention of the state geologists to
the phenomenon, but they did not encourage
him. In 1884 he decided to organize a pros-
pecting company. After many discourage-
ments, the company was finally organized as
"The Findlay Natural Gas Company." Work
was soon afterwards commenced, and the first
vein of gas was struck at a depth of 314 feet,
the second at 516 feet, and the third at 618
feet. Oil was found at 718 feet, and the gen-
eral bed of gas at 1,092 feet, although they
drilled several hundred feet further. The
gas was piped into the city, and its use became
a reality. The success of this well caused
many other derricks to loom up in all direc-
tions. The town began to show signs of fever-
ish activity. Speculators appeared from every
direction, and syndicates were formed. Sev-
eral other large wells were discovered, but
the climax was not reached until the morning
of January 20, 1886, when the great Karg
well broke forth with the tremendous roar
caused by the escape of 20,000,000 cubic feet
of gas. It was several days before this flow
of gas was brought under control and the
great torch lighted. A bright, fiery flame
shot upward toward the sky to a height of
fully 100 feet, and the roaring sound could
be heard for a distance of five miles. The
light of the flame was visible for a distance of
fifty miles on a cloudy night. Manufactur-
ing establishments began to locate in Findlay,
until it became one of the largest manufac-
turing cities in the state in certain line>.
*.lu ne 8, 9, and 10, 1887, were probably the
three greatest days that Findlay has ever wit-
nessed in all her history. During those days
was celebrated the anniversary of the first
application of natural gas to the mechanical
arts. On the first day a large procession,
headed by five enormous bands, funned to lay
the cornerstone of a new rolling mill. For
this event the immense crowd of people was
augmented by citizens who came in from all
directions to see the wonderful sights of the
gas city. Eighteen arches spanned the streets,
each with half a dozen flambeau flames ema-
nating forth, and in addition there were thou-
sands of burners on the buildings and along
the streets. To this was added the roar and
flames of a dozen gas gushers. When the gas
began to wane, oil took its place, and great
wealth has been added to the capital of Han-
cock County.
VILLAGES
Van Buren was laid out by George Ens-
minger and John Trout, in December, 1833.
The town was originally designed in the form
of a cross, with an open square in the center,
after the style of Spanish towns. The coming
of the railroad brought new life to Van
Buren, until now it is one of the pleasantest
and busiest little towns in the county. It
was incorporated in June, 1866, upon the peti-
tion of thirty of its citizens. Daniel Frick
was its first mayor, and a postoffice was estab-
lished there as early as 1836. McComb was
laid out in 1847, and was first known as Pleas-
antville. It is the largest town in the county,
outside of Findlay, and has grown to be a
place of considerable importance. It was
incorporated in 1858, and the name was at
that time changed to McComb. The first
mayor was William Chapman. Mount Blanch-
444
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ard was incorporated in 1865, and Dr. John
Foster was the first mayor. A postoffice had
been established as early as 1834, with John
P. Gordan as postmaster. Vanlue was laid
out by William Vanlue, in 1847, and the town
was named in his honor. It was incorporated
in 1867, and Elisha Brown was elected mayor.
Arcadia was platted in July, 1855, by David
and Ambrose Peters. It was incorporated in
1859, at which time George W. Kimmell was
elected mayor and Dr. G. B. Spahr clerk.
The postoffice was established there in 1859,
with A. W. Frederick as postmaster. Arling-
ton dates from 1854, when it was dedicated
by Robert Hurd. It originally contained only
seventeen lots, but a number of additions have
since been added. The postoffice was estab-
lished in 1846, with Dr. B. Beach as postmas-
ter. The town was incorporated in 1892, and
James Huff was the first mayor. A small
portion of Fostoria lies in Hancock County.
This part was originally known as Risdon,
and was laid out by John Gorsuch. After an
existence of about thirty-five years, Risdon
was united with the other village, known as
Rome, and the new town was named Fostoria,
in honor of its eminent townsman, Charles
W. Foster.
CHAPTER XXXV
HARDIN COUNTY
GEORGE E. CRANE, KENTON
Tlie territory now included within Hardin
county has not so many bloody pages in her
early history as some of the other counties in
Northwestern Ohio. Indians were plentiful,
however, and they were not always peaceful,
so that there were doubtless many tragic
incidents which took place in the early set-
tlement of the county and which have never
become a part of the written records. Tradi-
tion locates the spot where Doctor Knight
escaped from his captors at the crossing of
the Scioto, below the old Shawnce trail and
near the present village of Pfeiffer, an
account of which is given elsewhere. Simon
Kenton, for whom the county seat was named,
also had many adventures in the woods of the
county long before the State of Ohio was
carved out of the wilderness.
"While a prisoner of the Indians he spent a
night at Grassy Point, a spot just south of
Kenton, in the lodge of the great Mingo Chief
Logan. In spite of the wrongs that he had
suffered at the hands of the whites, Logan was
touched by the story of Kenton and sent sev-
eral of his men to intercede for the prisoner
at Upper Sandusky. At Roundhead there
was an Indian village in 1800, and Round-
head, the celebrated chief, lived there where
he had his fields of corn and his herds of
swine from which he and his followers
obtained a part of their living. One of the
most important forts erected by General Hull
on his march to the North was Fort McAr-
thur, named after Gen. Duncan McArthur,
afterwards governor of Ohio. It was he who
went ahead of the main army and cut the
road which it was to follow. At first this
pathway through the forest was designated as
McArthur 's Road, but it afterwards became
known as Hull's Trail. At one place in the
county it can still be identified. Capt. Robert
McClelland was in charge of the stockade
during the war, and he proved to be an effi-
cient officer. Soldiers were kept stationed at
the fort for a few years after the close of the
War of 1812.
A number of skirmishes took place between
the Indians and soldiers in the neighborhood
of Fort McArthur. On one occasion a soldier
who had ventured outside the stockade was
fired upon and mortally wounded by an
Indian in ambush. Sixteen graves mark the
last resting place of the soldiers who fell here,
during the war, but the names and the dates
of their passing away have been lost to pos-
terity. In January, 1913, Blackhoof, the
Shawnee chief, visited the fort and was
treacherously fired upon by some white scoun-
drel. The cowardly miscreant was never dis-
covered, and serious trouble was only averted
by a prompt disavowal of the deed.
There are very few reliable and trust-
worthy accounts of settlers locating within the
county prior to 1820. There was doubtless a
class of wandering adventurers who stationed
themselves here for a longer or shorter period,
but who fled at the very first sign of approach-
ing civilization. The very fact that a stock-
ade was in the neighborhood would invite such
characters. It is known that the representa-
tives of the various fur companies sent their
men into the unbroken forests of this region
445
446
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to purchase the skins of wild animals, and
some of these established little temporary
posts here and there for the convenience of
trappers and hunters both white and red.
One of these companies was the Hollister Fur
Company, which did a thriving business. One
of their agents was Harvey Buckminster, who
acted as their representative in the '30s, and
purchased many thousands of dollars worth
of pelts for his employers. The McKees did
was probably the first white child born in
Hardin county. Mary Hale, the mother, died
shortly after this, and was buried close to the
fort in a walnut canoe made by the Indians.
It was a very sickly location, and it is proba-
bly true that many of the settlers who first
came there died within a short time, or quickly
left the vicinity because of its unhealthiness.
No one knows what became of the Hale fam-
ily after the death of the wife and mother,
BUCKMINSTER TAVERN
a thriving trade at a still earlier date in this
vicinity.
The opening of the military road by Gen-
eral Hull, and the establishment of Fort
McArthur, was the inducement for many set-
tlers passing through here from the southern
part of the state to the Maumee country.
There were doubtless a number of "squat-
ters" who settled in cabins near the fort or
along the Trail, but the only family of which
there is now an authentic account at this early
date is that of Alfred Hale. He seems to have
been one of those roving settlers who kept
just ahead of the van of civilization. He
came with his family to the vicinity of the
fort in 1817, and lived there for several years.
One son, Jonas, was born there in 1819, and
but that uncertain informer, called tradition,
says that they moved farther West — toward
the setting sun.
Peter C. McArthur, who made his way
through the forests from Ross County to
Hardin in 1818, in company with Daniel
Campbell, became the first permanent settler
in the country. He and his companion cleared
some land and erected primitive cabins, in-
tending to return with their families as soon
as everything was in readiness to receive them.
Because of threatened trouble with the
Indians at that time, the McArthurs and
Campbells deemed it unwise to move to their
new possessions at once. In 1822, however,
the entire McArthur family arrived at their
new home, and the Campbell family came
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
H7
with them. In a few years Daniel Campbell
became despondent because of the death of
some of his children and went back to the old
neighborhood, leaving the McArthurs as the
only settlers in that part of the country. The
Campbells returned a few years later, and
their children intermarried with other settlers
of the neighborhood. Both of these two pio-
neer families were sturdy Scotch pioneers,
and fine specimens of the men and women
who roni|iiered the wilderness. Allen F. Mc-
Artlinr was brought into being in September,
1824, and was the first white child born in the
county after it was organized. Several of the
family have been closely identified with the
history of the county.
Moses Dudley was one of the early settlers
of the county, and his name has been bestowed
upon one of the townships. He came into the
unbroken wilderness about 1825 on a search
for a location in which to establish a home.
He subsequently brought his family and set-
tled on land in that township. Judge
William McCloud, who was said to be a
mighty hunter, reached the county in 1828.
It was his wife who suggested the name of
Kenton for the county seat. Mr. McCloud
was the first associate judge of the county.
James M. Candler, a minister of the Disciple
faith, arrived from Virginia in 1829. He was
active in organizing societies of that denomi-
nation. Charles Cessna located on land along
the old Hull Trail in 1830. He was doubtless
the first settler in the township that now bears
his name. A little town named Peru was
once platted on his land and some lots sold,
but the selection of Kenton as the county seat
kept the little village from growing, and it
finally reverted to farm land. Grassy Point
was also a favorite neighborhood with the
early settlers, for there was cleared land here
which had been cultivated by the aborigines.
Harvey Buckminster kept a tavern here for
a number of years to entertain the travelers
who were constantly passing.
Roundhead is the earliest village in the
county, and is almost a decade older than the
county seat. It was laid out by Jonathan
Carter in 1824, and was named after the
famous Indian chief of that name. A couple
of years later it already possessed a mill and
a tavern or two. The mill was owned by John
.Mahan, and it was a rude affair with hickory
bark for a belt and "nigger heads" for mill-
stones, and although this primitive outfit did
little more than crack the corn brought by
the pioneers, it saved a long trip to Cherokee
or West Liberty. John Moore and a man
named Livingstone kept inns in the village,
and Alexander Thomson established -a general
store. A couple of miles away Samuel Tidd
had a little blacksmith shop, which was a very
necessary business in the early days. Matthew
Mahan was elected the first justice of the peace
in the county. Jonathan Carter was the first
treasurer of the county. Today Roundhead
is a thriving country village of 300 or 400
inhabitants.
About the year 1835 a steady stream of
settlers began to pour into the county.
Mrs. Sophia Banning proceeded bravely into
the woods in 1836 to claim the land her hus-
band had bought a few months before, but
which he did not live to enjoy. Jacob Kim-
berlin erected the first sawmill of which we
have a record in 1837, on the bank of the
river, and supplied the pioneers of that day
with rough lumber. When George Hackett
built a little water-mill on Hog Creek, the
settlers were greatly elated, but he soon after-
wards discontinued business. It was in 1836
that the first real schoolhouse was built. It
was a log cabin located near where the ' ' white
schoolhouse" now stands. In the same year
another schoolhouse was established on the
David Kellogg farm in Pleasant Township,
with Rachel Kellogg as teacher.
One of the landmarks of the early days was
the old Wheeler tavern, which was near the
old Shawnee Ford. It was on the stage route
448
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
from Upper Sandusky to Bellefontaine. This
historic old house, which still stands in a good
state of preservation, has sheltered many nota-
ble guests. The owner has aimed to preserve
the old hostelry in its original condition.
Several of the rooms are large enough for five
or six beds to be set up, and the entire house
is built along generous lines. It is said that
Charles Dickens once stopped here, but this
that were in the county prior to that date
were obliged to transact their public business
in Bellefontaine, which necessitated a tedious
and oftentimes perilous journey through the
forests. In 1830 the Legislature sent a com-
mittee, consisting of Ira Page, Abner Snoddy,
and Edward Morgan, to choose a site for the
county seat. This committee reported that
they had agreed upon a tract of land on the
OLD WHEELER TAVERN
fact is not definitely established. Henry Clay,
General Harrison, and other leading public
men of the early days were guests at the
Wheeler tavern, as well as many others of
prominence during the years in which it
catered to the travelers.
Hardin County was organized in 1820 by a
special act of the Legislature of Ohio. It was
named after the gallant Col. John H. Hardin,
of Virginia, who served with great distinction
in the Revolutionary and the Indian wars.
For several years the new county was attached
to Logan County, but its separate existence
began on February 12, 1833. The few settlers
north bank of the Scioto River, near the cen-
ter of the county, and about two miles from
McArthur. Thereupon George and Jacob
Houser and Lemuel Wilmoth offered to do-
nate forty acres of land for the benefit of the
new town, and the site was changed to the
present location. In the autumn of the year
these lands were sold at public auction, and
the town immediately began to grow. The
county seat was named in honor of Simon
Kenton, the noted Indian fighter. The new
county was made up of Virginia Military
Lands, which were situated on the south side
of the Scioto River, while those on the north
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
449
side were Congress Lands. The Military
Lands were not in as great favor as the Con-
gress Lands, because of the difficulty in secur-
ing good titles. When the first county elec-
tion was held at Jonathan Carter's cabin, in
Roundhead Township, on April 1, 1833, just
sixty-three votes were cast. It is probable
that this represented almost the entire adult
male population of that period, although it
is quite possible that some of the pioneers,
like their descendants, did not take the trou-
ble to vote.
a third one at the home of James Hill. Thus
it will be seen that the Methodists were the
pioneer church builders in the county. The
Free Will Baptists were also early in the
field. Elder David Dudley formed a society
of seven members in Dudley Township in
1834. The faithful members were William
and .Mary Salmon, John and Jane Marks, Asa
Davis and wife, and Mrs. Gardner. In tha
same year the Pisgah Methodist congregation
of seventeen members was instituted.
The first term of the Court of Common
OLD WHEELER TAVERN (SECOND VIEW)
A little company of settlers met at the home
of Donald McArthur, and organized a Metho-
dist "class." The members of this little
society were Rebecca Campbell, Donald Mc-
Arthur and wife, William and Jane Given,
James D. Lay, Margaret McArthur, Jonathan
and Nancy Carter, and John McArthur and
his wife. Some of these were Presbyterians,
but they were so anxious to have a church in
the vicinity that they could overlook denomi-
national differences. This was doubtless the
first religious organization in the county. The
members met at the various cabins in the
neighborhood until their first church was
erected in 1840. Another early "class" was
organized at the cabin of James Bowdle, and
Pleas of Hardin County was held at Fort
McArthur, on March 8, 1833. On the 14th
of April, following, the court began the initial
session at the new county seat. At that
time there were no resident attorneys in the
county, but the cases were generally con-
ducted by lawyers from adjoining counties,
who traveled from county to county with the
migratory judges. William Bayles filled the
office of prosecuting attorney from 1833 to
1836, and he was succeeded by Hiram McCart-
ney, who served for a year. He was followed
by John Lawrence, a brother of Judge Wil-
liam Lawrence, of Marysville, who arrived
about 1834 and continued in practice until his
death seven years later. He was the first resi-
450
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
dent attorney of the county. The second legal
light was Andrew Dodds, who came in 1835,
and was elected to the office of prosecuting
attorney in 1839. He was also chosen for
county treasurer, after which he removed to
Texas. Edwin Fischer was the next lawyer
in chronological order to practice in the
county, and he remained here almost until
the opening of the Civil War, when lie retired
to his farm within the county. He was elected
a member of the Legislature in 1839. He is
said to have kept a pack of hounds, and en-
joyed the sport of the chase even more than
the pursuit of law, for wild game was still
plentiful at this time.
E. G. Spellman reached Ken ton from Ma-
rion in the spring of 1842, and practiced law
in the county for about five years. He was
elected clerk of the courts for several terms,
and also served in the Legislature. Benjamin
M. Penn, a brilliant but eccentric lawyer,
came here from Batavia in 1844, and remained
for several years. He went to California dur-
ing the gold excitement and spent his last
days on that coast. Bradley Camp arrived
about the same time from Zanesville, and
remained here until his death in 1850. Wil-
liam L. Walker located in Kenton in 1847,
and filled several political positions, among
which were prosecuting attorney, presidential
elector, and mayor of Kenton. As a presiden-
tial elector he cast the vote of his district for
Lincoln. Among others of the early lawyers
were Edward Stillings, an able and energetic,
follower of Blackstone; R. J. Allison, who
remained but a short time ; James Bayne, who
was the first probate judge of Hardin County ;
David Thompson, who distinguished himself
in the Civil War; and two brothers, Justus
C. and Hiram Stevens. Hiram afterwards
removed to Kansas, where he was elected dis-
trict judge.
Col. Luther M. Strong came here from
Seneca County. He is one of three Hardin
County men who have served in the National
Congress. He served two terms in that legis-
lative body. Prior to that he had served in
the Ohio Senate and upon the common pleas
bench. Frank B. Willis was admitted to Con-
gress in 1906, and was a teacher of law in
the Ohio Northern University when elected
to Congress in 1911. Before his term had
expired, he was elevated to the high office of
governor of Ohio. He is known for his schol-
arly attainments and oratorical ability all
over the state, in most parts of which he has
spoken. Charles C. Lemert began the prac-
tice of law in Kenton in 1887. He was ex-
ecutive clerk to Governor Nash, and after-
wards was insurance commissioner for Ohio.
Samuel D. Fess, now president of Antioch
College, and member of Congress, was for
several years a member of the county bar.
It was not long after Kenton was selected
as the county seat that two physicians, named
Clark and Blodgett, located in the embryo
town. Neither remained there long, but Doctor
Clark was also one of the pioneer school
teachers, for in this way he added to his
meager earnings as a pioneer physician. Prior
to 1840 only three physicians located in Ken-
ton. Of these men, Dr. Usher P. Leighton
might properly be called the "father" of
the medical practice in Hardin County. He
was a native of Maine, and practiced contin-
uously in Kenton from March, 1836, until his
death in 1878. Few men were so well known
as Doctor Leighton, and in the early days
his practice extended over a wide territory.
He was a good financier, also, and succeeded
in gathering together a fair share of this
world 's goods. Doctor Watt opened his office
in the fall of 1839. During his residence he
was recognized as a good physician, and con-
tinued actively in practice until within a few
years of his death in 1876.
After 1840 physicians began to come in
larger numbers. Some of them remained
only a few years, while others continued per-
manently. Dr. W. W. Durbin located in the
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
451
county about 1840, but removed to Kenton a
couple of years later. He had the reputation
of being a very good doctor. Dr. J. A.
Rogers arrived in 1843, and continued in the
practice of his profession for more than a
do/.en years, after which he engaged in the
drug business. Dr. A. W. Munson reached
Kenton in 1838, but did not begin the prac-
tice of medicine until six years later. He left
the county for a few years, but afterwards
returned to Kenton and continued the prac-
tice there until his death in 1904. The period
of his active duties then covered a period of
almost six decades. Dr. W. H. Philips, who
located in Kenton in 1854, served as army
surgeon from 1862 to 1864, and was after-
wards surgeon-general of the state.
The first newspaper in Hardin County was
established to champion the cause of the whig
party, organized less than a decade earlier.
This was the Hardin Intelligencer, the first
issue of which was issued October 7, 1843.
Negotiations had been entered into with John
Shrenk, the owner of a press at Bucyrus. He
hauled his press here by wagon, and set it
up in a log building owned by Alexander
Thompson. It was published by John and
Martin Shrenk for a few months. The demo-
crats then felt the need of a paper to be
published in their own interest, and resolved
to purchase a press, since they were unable
to find an owner willing to take the chance.
A subscription paper was circulated, and a
small press purchased in Columbus "on
time." The first paper issued from this press
appeared in August, 1844, and was called the
Hardin Democrat. It was edited and published
by Mathias Nichols, who was an uncompro-
mising adherent of that political faith.
When James K. Polk was elected president
in 1844, Mr. Shrenk was much disappointed,
and soon afterwards removed his press to
Upper Sandusky. Some of the whig leaders
purchased another press in Cincinnati, which
was transported overland, and F. W. Murray,
of Columbus, was secured as editor of the
new paper, which was named The Weekly
News and Hardin County Republican. This
paper did not prove to be a financial success
and it was necessary to secure a new editor.
James S. Robinson, then a youth of nineteen
years, living in Tiffin, assumed the responsi-
bility, and came here to take charge of the
paper, the name of which was changed to the
Kenton Republican. The first issue of this
publication appeared January 19, 1847. Mr.
Robinson announced that the paper would
advocate the principles of the whig party,
and would be a "journal of news, politics,
science, education, morals, literature, agricul-
ture, and markets." He adopted the motto
"Be just and fear not." In the following
year the names of "Watt and Leighton"
appear as the proprietors of this paper, and
the following motto was proclaimed at the
masthead : ' ' Aim to do your duty, and man-
kind will give you credit where you fail."
Dr. U. P. Leighton finally became sole editor,
but Mr. Robinson again assumed charge of
the paper only a few months later. Mr. Rob-
inson continued with the paper, which was
changed to the Hardin County Republican,
until the Civil War broke out, when he en-
listed in the army. At the close he was bre-
vetted major general. He held several polit-
ical offices, the most notable of which was
member of Congress, to .which he was elected
in 1880, and served two terms.
During 1847 there was no democratic paper
in the county, although the press was still
owned by the democratic leaders. As a result
of this apathy, the whigs elected eight of the
ten county officers in that year. Politics is
very closely woven with the history of the
early county papers. In 1848 a paper was
issued on this press by William Pepper, called
the Kenton Herald, but the publication was
rather intermittent. In 1851 Charles Warner
and J. B. Atkinson secured the press, and
issued a paper called the Democratic Exposi-
452
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tor. Because the whigs carried the county,
the Expositor ceased publication. Then it
was that Will Tomlinson came in 1853, to
bolster up the followers of Jefferson, and
started a paper which he called the Nor 'wester,
and with it battled for the cause of democ-
racy. Ezra Williams, of Richland County,
sold his farm and moved to Kenton in Au-
gust, 1854, and purchased the press. He
secured the service of Alexander S. Ramsey
as editor. A year later Mr. Williams himself
undertook the editorial work, and changed
the name of the paper to the Western Courier.
In the following year the name was again
altered, to the Kenton Democrat and Courier,
and Mr. Ramsey took charge of the editorial
department. Once more the democratic organ
ceased publication.
The first number of the Hardin County
Democrat was given to the public in 1857. It
was owned by J. E. Mumford and Justus C.
Stevens, but the periodical did not have any
easy road. It passed through several hands
until it came into possession of A. S. Ramsey
in the following year. Several changes of
ownership followed before it definitely sus-
pended in 1863, when Colonel Pike was ed-
itor. Colonel Ramsey, who had retired from
the army, again purchased the plant. Still
failure followed, and the name was changed
to the Democratic Advocate. Then it was
that Daniel Flanagan entered the field and
purchased the Advocate. For the first time,
success came to the democratic organ. He
remained in control for a number of years
and sold it to David S. Fisher. Again the
name of Hardin County Democrat was
restored. A daily edition was established in
October, 1892. Daniel Flanagan again came
into the ownership and remained as its head
until his death, when he was succeeded by
his son, Curran E. Flanagan.
After the war the Kenton Republican
drifted into the hands of Lester T. Hunt and
W. W. Miller. Mr. Miller remained with it
until his death in 1880. It was then sold to
George W. Rutledge, who transferred a half
interest to Ellis L. Millar. Mr. Millar finally
purchased the entire plant, and in 1892 issued
the Daily Republican for the first time. After
passing through the hands of Gen. James C.
Howe, it became the property of William M.
Beckman.
The Kenton Daily News was the first daily
in the county seat. It succeeded The Kenton
News and The Graphic, both weeklies. It was
founded by Mr. Beckman and Harry Edsell,
and it was independent in politics. For six
years it was published, and was then consoli-
dated with the Republican. Two weeklies are
now issued from the plant. One is the Graphic-
News, and the other the Hardin County Re-
publican. For several years George E. Crane
was a partner of Mr. Beckman, but his inter-
est was disposed of to Frank B. Wilson.
Mr. Beckman 's stock was sold to Charles D.
Kelley and Forest F. Tipton. These three
men then organized The Kenton Republican
Company.
Other papers in Hardin County are The
Ada Record (1872), The Forest Review
(1874), The Forest Advertiser (1907), The
Dunkirk Standard (1875), The University
Herald, of Ada (1885), The Mount Victory
Observer (1886), and The Alger Gazette
(1900).
The first bank of Hardin County was
opened up by Giles Copelin, about the year
1850, in the rear room of the second story
of a frame building in Kenton. The name
given this private banking institution was the
Hardin County Bank. A few years after-
wards he was succeeded by his brother, How-
ard Copelin, but it was not long until the
business was closed and the bank removed
from the town. The next bank to begin oper-
ations in Kenton was organized by William
Carey, David Thompson, and Joseph Kin-
near, in the year 1853. Mr. Kinnear first
retired, and was followed by Mr. Thompson,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
but the business was continued by Mr. Carey
under the name of the Kenton Bank. Such
high interest was paid for deposits, however,
that the bank lost money and failed in 1875.
The Bank of Exchange and Deposit was or-
ganized by Joseph Kinnear and B. F. Kin-
near, John F. Henkel, and David Thompson
in 1866. This bank continued until 1874,
when it also failed from the same cause as
its rival. Isaac G. and Granville S. Williams
opened a bank in 1868, under the business
iijiine of I. G. Williams and Son. With some
changes of ownership, this bank continued as
the Williams Bank until 1875, in which year
it was disposed of to the Hardin County Bank.
When the Bank of Exchange and Deposit
failed, its assets were purchased by a group
of capitalists and the Citizens Bank was or-
ganized, with Lewis Merriman as president,
and Augustus Traeger as cashier. This bank
was disposed of to the Kenton Savings Bank.
The Farmers and Mechanics Bank was
established February 12, 1875, with J. C. Ste-
vens as its president, and R. L. Miller as its
cashier. This bank discontinued business in
1885. The Hardin Savings Bank was organ-
ized in 1875, and its first officers were Joseph
Paulucci, president, and James Espy, cashier.
The Kenton Savings Bank was incorporated
in the same year. Lewis Merriman was its
president, and Solomon Kraner was its cashier.
This bank has been very prosperous from the
time of its opening for business, and has paid
a dividend to its stockholders each year dur-
ing its existence. The First National Bank
of Kenton began business in 1881, and was
the first bank in the county to take advantage
of the federal banking laws. It purchased
the assets of the Hardin Savings Bank.
Joseph Paulucci was the first president, and
H. W. Gramlich the first cashier. In a cou-
ple of months James Young succeeded Pau-
lucci as the head of the institution. This bank
has been in business from the time of its
organization until today, and is recognized as
a conservative and valuable banking institu-
tion. The Kenton National Bank was organ-
i/i-d in 1886. Asher Letson was elected presi-
dent, and Curtis Wilkin was chosen cashier.
Like its competitors in business, the Kenton
National Bank has been and is doing1 a very
successful banking business. The latest entry
in the banking field in Kenton is the Commer-
cial Bank, which began business November
1, 1904. John S. Rice was made its president,
and W. J. Ochs its cashier.
The First National Bank of Forest was
incorporated in 1904. W. T. Gemmill was
chosen president of the bank, and W. T. Rob-
inson its cashier. Although the bank is not
an old one in years, it has become a very
important institution in the community in
which it is located. The Hardin County
Bank, a private banking institution, was
opened at Forest in 1888. In 1903 it was
incorporated under the name of the Hardin
County Bank Company. Morris Meyer was
elected president, and Mrs. Morris Meyer the
cashier. In 1898 William Witcraft and Alex-
ander Wallace formed a partnership in the
banking business, under the name of the
Mount Victory Bank, which was located in
that village. It continued in business under
this style as a private bank until 1904, when
it was incorporated under the same name.
William Witcraft was made president of the
new institution, and H. E. Dickinson the cash-
ier. The Mount Victory Savings Bank is a
thriving institution, and began business in
1906. The Ridgeway Banking Company was
incorporated in 1903. John Brungard was
its first president, and 0. E. Perry its first
cashier. In 1875 John Woodruff, Sr., began
a banking business at Dunkirk, under the
name of Woodruff's Bank, of which institu-
tion he was the sole owner. This was con-
tinued until 1903, when the Woodruff Na-
tional Bank was organized and took over the
business of the other concern. John Wood-
ruff, Sr., was elected president, and Irvin
454
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Woodruff cashier. The First National Bank
of Dunkirk began business in 1903, with S. A.
Hagerman as president, and M. A. Boyer as
cashier. In 1906 the Alger Savings Bank
was organized. Alexander Carmen was elected
president of the bank, and M. D. McCoubrey
cashier.
William and Edmund Carey, of Kenton,
together with Peter and Nathan Ahlefeld,
opened the Bank of Ada in 1872. After the
retirement of the Careys, a couple of years
later, the name was changed to the Citizens
Bank, with Peter and Nathan Ahlefeld as its
owners. A few years later Nathan Ahlefeld
retired, and the business was continued by
his partner until 1893, when it failed, but
the creditors were all paid in full. The Ada
Savings Bank was organized in 1893, with
Justin Brewer as its president and James
Bastable as its cashier. This bank continued
until 1900, when it was organized as the First
National Bank of Ada. Justin Brewer was
elected president of the new institution, and
Clyde Sharp cashier. William L. Rees and
I. McJunkin opened up the Exchange Bank
at Ada in 1872: This bank failed in 1883.
E. E. Bauman began a banking business in
the same quarters in the following year, and
continued for a little more than one year,
when he closed out the business because it
proved unprofitable. The Liberty Bank was
organized in 1902 at Ada, with William Guy-
ton as its president and N. R. Park its cashier.
All of these banks in Hardin County, of
which six are national and seven state organ-
izations, are doing a profitable business, and
are important institutions in their respective
communities.
The Hardin County Pioneer Association
was organized in 1868 for the purpose of
keeping alive the history of the pioneer times
in the county. At first no member was admit-
ted who had settled in the county later than
1838, but this rule was afterwards modified
to take in later pioneers. The first meeting
of the association was held at the courthouse
on July 4, 1868, at which addresses were made
by many prominent pioneers who related tales
of life in tlie woods. Of the charter members
of this association, few are now surviving, but
the organization is still maintained and its
meetings are filled with interest. During the
summer of 1889 the members of the associa-
tion brought logs to the county fair grounds,
each member contributing a single log. With
these contributions a genuine old pioneer
cabin, with chimney, fireplace, and all its
accessories, was erected and pioneer day was
celebrated at the annual fair. The pioneers
brought with them their old spinning wheels,
cooking utensils, furniture, etc., and furnished
the cabin complete. It was dedicated with
proper ceremonies and the famous orator,
Gen. W. H. Gibson, delivered the speech of
the day. Other short addresses were given
by Col. W. F. Cessna and Dr. A. W. Munson.
KENTON
Kenton was laid out by Charles W. Steven-
son and William Furney, and the plat sent
to Columbus for record in May or June, 1833.
The sale of lots took place in October of the
same year, although a few homes were already
constructed before that date. John and Wil-
liam Dinwiddie lived in one of these with
their mother and sisters. At the time the
village was surveyed there were only three or
four cabins standing on the site. The public
square was covered with trees, and there were
a number of low and swampy spots which
bred an abundance of malaria. There was no
cleared land in the vicinity of the embryo
village, but corn and vegetables were planted
as soon as clearings were made, in order to
furnish sustenance for those who had settled
there. John W. Williams opened a tavern
in a cabin on one corner of the square. Wil-
liam Furney celebrated the Fourth of July
of the first year of this village by moving into
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
-i:,:,
a new cabin, which had just been erected. In
IH.'if) David Goodwin purchased the tavern,
and kept what was for many years the prin-
cipal inn of the village. Here men who
worked on public improvements were accom-
modated, and here also the political speakers
were entertained when they came to address
public meetings. Within a few years cabins
began to spring up in every direction, and
by 1840 all but twenty of the original 154
lots in the site had been sold, and some new
additions to the town had been added.
The first wedding in Kenton was that of
Joseph McEntyre and Rebecca Pine, who
were joined in matrimony by Squire George
Houser. William Carey arrived in 1833 and
opened a store in a log cabin. William Fur-
ney also kept a store in connection with his
tavern, and John Sheeler had a stock of mer-
chandise. Samuel Mentzer started a general
store in 1876, and Robert Truman installed
a boot and shoe store about the same time.
Other merchants in various lines came in as
the town began to grow. For many years
John Kaiser made hats for the settlers, while
Samuel Campbell fashioned their shoes.
Daniel Barren opened up a tannery at an
early day. Emi P. Hurd was the village
blacksmith for a number of years. The de-
scendants of many of these pioneer tradesmen
still live in and are engaged in business in
Kenton. The postoffice was first kept at Fort
Me Arthur, but was removed to Kenton in
1834, and Alexander Thompson was appointed
postmaster. The office was kept in the home
of Eri Strong, who was the deputy postmas-
ter, and his son Kenton was the first child
born in the village. The name of Judge Alex-
ander Thompson, who came in the year 1833,
with his six small children, is closely asso-
ciated with the pioneer history of the county.
As there were no houses in the village, the
family lived for a time at Fort McArthur,
but shortly afterwards moved to Kenton. He
was one of the first judges of the county. The
first mayor of Kenton, after the incorporation
in 184'), was William .Jackson, ami lie was
succeeded by E. G. Spellman.
The jail is said to have been the first public
building constructed in the new county. It
was a double log house, erected on the pub-
lic square in 1833, and was in size about 18
by 24 feet. It contained two rooms, one for
the male prisoners and one for the female
prisoners. This primitive structure was re-
placed in 1855 by a brick building, erected
on the site of the present jail. This was
thought at that time to be a very creditable
institution, but a more modern jail was con-
structed in the year 1886, which is still in use.
The courthouse was begun in 1834, on the
east side of the public square. It was a little
brick building, only 30 by 40 feet in size, and
was completed in the following year. There
was a hall down the middle of the building,
with rooms on each side, and the second story
was occupied as a courtroom. Although the
pioneers were generally law abiding, yet the
courts were not idle in this primitive place of
justice. This building was used until it was
destroyed by fire on March 4, 1853. The loss
of the building itself was great enough, but
the destruction of records was still more
lamentable, for it was impossible to replace
them. Just a month after the fire the citizens
of the county voted on the proposition to erect
a new courthouse, and the result was almost
unanimous. The contract was let, and the
contractors agreed to have the new building
ready for occupancy one year from the date
of its beginning. Owing to a number of de-
lays, it was not completed in the specified
time. The building is two stories in height,
the courtroom being located on the second
floor, and the county offices on the first. This
building, erected more than three score of
years ago, has been replaced by a handsome
building of Bedford limestone in the Italian
Renaissance style, dedicated in 1915.
The Hardin County Armory was built in
456
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1894. It is one of the best public buildings
in the county, and has proved to be of great
convenience to the county. The armory is of
goodly size, and several of the county officials
formerly had their offices in it. When it was
dedicated, on April 15, 1895, a grand mili-
tary ball was held, at which Governor Mc-
Kinley and his staff were present. It is now
occupied by the Hardin County Athletic Club.
The Village of Kenton was not a year old
when the first school was established in a
small cabin. This original temple of educa-
tion was soon outgrown and a larger cabin
was utilized, but it was still of the primitive
log construction of the early days. In 1842
a site for a permanent school building was
purchased by the members of the school
board, which then consisted of David Goodin,
Samuel Watt, and David Ross, and two small
frame structures were quickly erected. The
first instructors in this building were James
Holmes and Chauncey Drumm, who taught
school at a salary of $10 each per month.
This would not go far in the present era of
high prices. It was not long until these
buildings were inadequate for the growing
school population, and it was necessary to
rent rooms in other sections of the village.
The real history of education, however, begins
with the installation of the union school sys-
tem in the year 1856, when the town was
bonded for the sum of $10,000 to erect a new
brick building for the schools. This building
was a familiar landmark for several genera-
tions, and was a three-story building with a
dozen rooms. In 1899 this building, known
as the Old Central Building, was completely
destroyed by fire, but a new and modern
building was commenced on the same site
within the same year. There are now several
ward schools in the city to accommodate the
children of school age. The first superintend-
ent of the school was Mr. Littlefield, who held
that position during the year 1856-7, and lie
was succeeded by J. L. Bull, who also served
for one year.
The first religious organization in Kenton
had its beginning in the little cabin built by
George II. Houser, on the north bank of the
Scioto River. In this cabin eight pioneers met
and formed the society, which is now known
as the First Methodist Church. During a
revival in 1835, by Reverend Flemming, who
was the first Methodist preacher in the vil-
lage, the membership was largely increased.
The first regular meeting-house constructed
was a small frame building, erected in 1839,
on the same lot as the log schoolhouse then
in use. This building was used until 1852,
when a brick edifice was erected and dedicated
to the worship of God. Then it was that Rev.
John S. Kalb was made the first resident min-
ister, for prior to that time Kenton was only
a station on a circuit. This church under-
went several modifications, and was finally
destroyed by fire in 1890. Shortly afterwards
the present site at the corner of Main and
North streets was purchased, and a new build-
ing of brown stone begun, which is a splendid
type of church architecture.
It was in 1836 that the first Presbyterian
society was organized in Kenton, with Eri
Strong and Reading Hineline as its elders.
It was given the name of the First Presbyte-
rian Church of Kenton. Rev. J. B. Clark
took charge of the society as its first stated
supply in 1838, and remained here for sev-
eral years. During that time Isaac Matthews,
Solomon Adams, and Hugh Pugh were elected
additional elders. The meetings in these days
were alternated between the old courthouse
and the frame school building of that day.
Steps for the erection of a church building
were taken in 1843, and within a few months
a frame edifice had been erected. It had a
steeple and a bell, and at the time of its
erection was the finest public building in Ken-
ton. This church was replaced by a more
commodious structure in 1864, under Rev. H.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
457
B. Peairs, which was dedicated in the year
1867. In 1881 a disastrous fire occurred,
which destroyed the building, and the con-
gregation was left homeless. For a time serv-
ices were held in the vacant Baptist Church
of that day, but a splendid new church was
completed in 1886, which is still occupied by
the congregation.
The Associate Reform Church of Kenton
was organized by Rev. James Gamble in 1840,
under the direction of the Springfield Pres-
bytery. The Associate Church of Kenton was
formed in the following year by Rev. Samuel
Wilson, under the auspices of the Miami
Presbytery. Each denomination maintained
its own house of worship for several years.
With the union of the two denominations at
Pittsburgh, in 1858, these congregations were
united into one under the leadership of Rev.
Benjamin Waddle. Rev. Mr. Waddle served
as the honored pastor of this church until
his death in 1879. His services were not con-
fined to his parish, but he was a pastor of
the community at large. He was held in the
highest esteem by the members of all denomi-
nations, wherever he was known. He took
part in every movement that promised good
for the community. He represented the county
in the Ohio Legislature for one term, and
made a splendid record in that body. Shortly
after his death the citizens of the county
erected a monument over his resting place in
the beautiful Grove Cemetery, which stands
as a living memorial to the worth of the man.
The present church was erected in 1891.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
was organized about 1838 by Reverend Fuhr-
mann, of Springfield, and a couple of years
later Reverend Tanke came as the first regu-
lar pastor. A small church was erected at the
corner of Carroll and Wayne streets in 1844,
which served the congregation until 1877,
when it was enlarged and remodeled at con-
siderable cost. The First Baptist Church
dates from 1850, when Rev. A. L. Hay came
to take charge of the small congregation. A
couple of years later the first church was
erected on the site of the present building.
During its early years the society had many
hardships, and at times was without a pastor.
Under the pastorate of Rev. Thomas J. Shep-
pard, the society greatly prospered, and the
membership increased to such an extent that
the beautiful brick structure still in use was
erected. It was dedicated in November, 1890.
The first Episcopal clergyman to visit Kenton
was Reverend Doctor McElroy, but the date
of his visit is uncertain. A Church Guild was
organized in 1876 by Rev. A. B. Nicholas, who
came from Bellefontaine to hold services.
The name St. Paul 's was adopted for the con-
gregation. The services were held at first in
a public hall, but in 1877 a lot was purchased.
A log house standing upon this lot was
changed into a chapel where, for the first
time, the little congregation worshiped in its
own church. In 1882 the present site was
purchased, and a new church erected. Meet-
ings of those of the Disciple faith were con-
ducted in the county prior to the year 1854
by various preachers of that denomination.
In 1854 Elder Calvin Smith came to Kenton,
and instituted steps to organize a congrega-
tion in the town. A small building was com-
pleted within that same year and dedicated.
The first resident pastor, who devoted his
full time to this church, was Elder William
Dowling, who was called as pastor in 1872.
The congregation is now large and prosper-
ous, and occupies a new building which was
erected in the early '80s, under the pastorate
of Rev. W. J. Lahman.
Although priests had occasionally visited
Kenton earlier, it was not until 1862 that reg-
ular services were established by the Society
of the Most Precious Blood, of Minster, in
Auglaize County. Four years later Rev. N.
R. Young arrived as the first resident priest
of the town. Various private dwellings and
halls were used as the places of worship until
458
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
the present structure was begun in 1862, of
which the cornerstone was laid by Archbishop
Purcell. Two years later this building was
dedicated by the same high church official.
In 1871 Rev. Anthony S. Siebenfoercher took
charge of the work, and most of the history
of the Catholic Church in Kenton was made
during his long and successful pastorate,
which lasted until 1905, when he retired from
active work. He lived to see the feeble con-
gregation increase many fold in number and
in influence in the community.
It was during the pastorate of Father Sie-
benfoercher that Antonio Hospital, named in
his honor, was erected. He was not only the
founder, but the chief benefactor of this char-
itable and beneficial institution. Its begin-
ning in 1897 was very modest, for there were
but nine rooms in the institution. Prom that
small beginning it has grown to its present
proportions, and it is today a credit to the
city in every way. It is now housed in a sub-
stantial brick building, completed in 1907,
at which time it was dedicated by Rev. Henry
Moeller, Archbishop of Cincinnati. This
added twenty-five rooms to the institution.
As early as 1853 there was an organization
in Kenton known as the Kenton Library As-
sociation, which was formed for the purpose
of eventually establishing a public library in
the growing city, and for the purpose of
bringing to the city noted men as lecturers.
No active steps were taken to establish a
library until 1886, when a committee of the
leading citizens of the city was held to dis-
cuss plans for installing a library. A few
months later a room was opened with a mod-
est supply of good books, and a charter was
secured for the Kenton Library Association.
The first funds were solicited from citizens,
and occasionally entertainments were given to
add new books to the shelves. An appeal was
finally made to Andrew Carnegie for funds
to erect a library building, and a donation
of $20,000 was secured. Work was then be-
gun upon the present beautiful building on
North Detroit Street, the site of which was
the gift of Lewis Merriman. At that time
this lot was valued at $10,000. The building
is one of which a much larger city might well
be proud, and it is furnished in a manner
wholly befitting its use.
When Masonry entered Hardin County
there was no lodge nearer than Marion.
Neither Lima nor Findlay as yet had estab-
lished a lodge of this order, and its introduc-
tion into Kenton was due to two enthusiastic
members, John Stevens, Jr., and Dr. John A.
Rogers. It was on the 17th day of June, 1848,
that a dispensation was granted for the estab-
lishment of a lodge in Kenton, and shortly
afterwards a charter was granted to Latham
Lodge, No. 154. John A. Rogers lived to cele-
brate the sixtieth anniversary of the estab-
lishment of Latham Lodge. The first wor-
shipful master of the lodge was Abner Root,
and he was succeeded by James Mumford,
who died in office. The first lodge room was
located in the second story of the building at
the corner of Franklin and Market streets,
and rented quarters were occupied until the
Masonic Temple Association was organized
and a brick residence purchased in 1902. A
dispensation was granted to the petitioners
in 1869 for a chapter of the Royal Arch Ma-
sons. A few months later a charter was issued
to the Scioto Chapter, No. 119, and a short
time afterwards the chapter was properly
installed, with eleven charter members.
Robert Bruce Lodge, No. 101, Knights of
Pythias, was instituted September 4, 1876.
W. J. Niblock was elected P. C., and the first
C. C. of the lodge was A. B. Johnson. There
were thirty-seven members in the original
charter list, but the lodge has grown and pros-
pered until it is one of the leading secret
orders of the city. For a score of years there
was a rival lodge known as Pythian Lodge,
No. 164, but the two were finally consoli-
dated in 1903, and the consolidated lodge is
known as Pythian Lodge, No. 101. In 1846
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
159
the first effort was made to start a lodge of
the Odd Fellows, and in the same year a
charter was granted for such a society. In
the following year Amicitia Lodge, No. 79,
was instituted, with Jeremiah MacLene as
N. G., and S. G. Donald as V. G. of the new
organization. Kenton Lodge, No. 157, Be-
nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was
organized February 27, 1890. Joseph Tim-
mons was elected exalted ruler, and Hugh L.
Runkle the esteemed leading knight. The
lodge is in a flourishing condition, and has
always been one of the leading social organ-
izations in the city since its founding.
ADA
Ada is the second town of importance in
Hardin County, and is situated in the center
of Liberty Township. This section of the
county was settled in the early '30s, when
Marshall Candler came into it from Allen
County. In the first election, held in 1837,
there were eleven votes cast in that township.
William Mitchell, a resident of Fort Wayne,
bought a quarter of section of land that is
now largely covered by the Village of Ada.
When S. N. Johnson located a sawmill here
in 1853, the Town of Ada seemed to spring
into life. The shipment of lumber, staves, and
heading over the new railroad developed an
industry which employed a number of work-
men. It was in 1853 that Mr. Johnson laid
out a part of the town, which then bore his
name, Johnstown, and a postoffice was estab-
lished in the same year. It was afterwards
changed by the postoffice department to Ada,
because there was another Johnstown in the
state. The early buildings were scattered
around the depot. The village was incorpo-
rated in 1861, and H. H. Gilbert was elected
the first mayor.
Ada received her first real impetus in 1872,
when Professor Lehr established the normal
school here that afterwards turned into the
great university, which is described elsewhere.
The Ada Record was launched, and the vil-
lage emerged from its ehrysalis state. The
progress of the village has been steady since
that time, and it now enjoys many of the
advantages of a city. One of our noted men
is said to have called it the "biggest little
town" that he ever saw. Ada has always
been ndted for its moral and mental culture.
It is said that more of its people regularly
attend church than many other towns of twice
its size in the state. The Methodist Episco-
pal Church is one of the finest stone churches
in Northwest Ohio. When the famous Mur-
phy movement swept over the country in 1876,
great meetings were held here, at which hun-
dreds signed the pledge. The temperance
sentiment has always been strong, and on
three different occasions Ada has voted "dry"
by large majorities. There are six flourish-
ing churches, of which the Presbyterian is
the oldest.
FOREST
The Town of Forest was laid out and
platted by John A. Gormley in 1855, along
the newly constructed railroad, now a part
of the Pennsylvania system. It is the third
town in size in the county, was incorporated
in 1865, and has since been under the village
government. It was at first badly handi-
capped by Patterson, at that time a flourish-
ing village, but Patterson has dwindled while
Forest has continued to grow. Two railroads
have contributed to its prosperity. The Pres-
byterian Church was organized in 1849 by
Reverend Clark, and services were held for a
time in the barn of David Warner, a couple
of miles south of the village. At that time
the membership was small and scattered, and
services were conducted only when a minister
could be procured. When Forest was begun,
the church was moved to the new village,
although a part of the congregation withdrew
460
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and established a church in Patterson. The
Methodist Episcopal Church was organized
in the year 1859, and the first pastor was
Lorenzo Dow Rodgers. A church was built
in 1864, and this original building has been
replaced by a large and finer edifice. The
Methodist Protestant Society dates from 1869,
when the Rev. C. S. Evans formally organ-
ized it. For a time services were held in the
schoolhouse, but this new church was dedi-
cated in 1871. The Baptist Society is the
latest church to be organized in Forest, and
their present church was erected in 1904.
The Rev. Samuel Fasig was the first pastor.
DUNKIRK
Dunkirk, like several of the other towns of
the county, owes its success to the construc-
tion of the Ohio and Indiana Railroad. The
original plat was recorded in 1852, and con-
sisted of twenty-six lots. Robert D. Miller
surveyed the site for Hugh D. Miller, the pro-
prietor, and it was named after the town of
the same name in New York. A number of
additions have since been added to the orig-.
inal plat. The first family to move into the
town was George Kinser, and he was followed
by John Watters. Renatus Gum opened a
small store in the spring of 1852, where he
sold tea, coffee, tobacco, and whisky. He also
sold the first dry goods in the village. A little
later he changed his occupation, and opened
up a hotel called the Green House. He was
succeeded in the business of selling merchan-
dise by William Porterfield. The first child
born in the village was Anderson K. Watters,
who was born in 1851. Moses Louther was
the first pedagogue in the new settlement, and
the earliest religious society was the United
Brethren, organized in 1859.
Dunkirk was incorporated in 1868, and has
ever since been a prosperous business center.
At that time it had but 250 inhabitants, but
its present size is about four times that num-
ber. The postoffice at Dunkirk was estab-
lished during the administration of President
Pierce, and W. S. Wiles was appointed the
first postmaster. The Dunkirk Standard was
established by G. N. Kingsbury in 1909.
There are five religious societies in the village,
as follows: Wesleyan Methodist (1877),
Seventh Day Adventist (1899), Church of
Christ (1895), United Brethren (1860), and
Methodist Episcopal (1835).
OTHER VILLAGES
Mount Victory was surveyed by Ezra Dille,
the county surveyor, for Robert D. Millar, in
1851. At that time there was a single cabin
on the townsite, but the construction of the
railroad brought several other inhabitants.
Thomas McCall became one of the earliest,
if not the earliest, merchants in the village,
and Jefferson Babcock kept the first inn. The
first postmaster was David Ellis, and Doctor
Converse had the honor of being the first phy-
sician in the settlement.
The Village of Alger was platted in 1882,
and was incorporated in 1896. It was orig-
inally named Jagger, after Elias Jagger, who
owned lands on which the town was located.
It was afterwards changed to Alger, in honor
of Hon. Russel A. Alger, of Michigan. The
Town of McGuffey was laid out in 1890, and
named in honor of John McGuffey. In 1896
it was incorporated. Ridgeway is a pleasant
little town on the extreme southern boundary
of the county, and was located on land owned
by William Boggs and Samuel McCulley in
1856. It was named after the family which
had originally owned the land. The town was
incorporated under the name of West Ridge-
way in 1858. The first house was occupied
by Abner Snoddy, and his first neighbor was
Gorham Bunker. Dola was originally called
North Washington when it was platted in
1852 by A. Landis and Judy Shaw. The name
was changed in 1907. Other villages in the
county are Grant, Hepburn, Foraker, Hun-
tersville, Silver Creek, and Silverton.
CHAPTER XXXVI
HENRY COUNTY
CHARLES E. REYNOLDS, NAPOLEON
Traversed as it is by the historic Maumee
River, Henry County has an important place
in the history of Northwestern Ohio. The In-
dians were familiar with its territory, and
their moccasined feet threaded its wooded for-
ests, while their bark canoes sailed over its
wafers. The French traders and trappers
were probably the first white men who vis-
ited Henry County, and the hunters settled
themselves along its banks for temporary
periods while they were searching for the
game which furnished them a livelihood.
These men did nothing to subdue nature. The
rifle and the dog were generally their only
companions ; the hunt and the trap were their
only means of support. Finally came the
man with the ax, and in his footsteps followed
the saw-mill. The monster oaks were now
felled and rafted to Montreal and Quebec,
and then across the Atlantic, where they were
converted into vessels to ply the storming
seas.
No great battles occurred within Henry
County in the conquest of this land from the
red men, but the American armed forces
passed through it many times on their way
to and fro between Fort Defiance and the
lower rapids of the Miami of the Lake. They
established their bivouacs along or near the
river, while their scouts made their way
ahead of the troops searching for signs of the
enemy, in order to prevent an ambuscade
which might prove disastrous to the army.
A part of Henry County was the last of the
hunting grounds of the Indians in this sec-
tion. The reservation of the Ottawa Indians
included a part of this county, and they re-
mained there until finally removed to their
western homes. There were three chiefs of
this tribe in the latter days, who were named
Oxinoxica, Wauseon, and Myo, and they
ranked in the order named. Myo was a small
but exceedingly wise and very cunning In-
dian. He died on the Maumee, and his skull
was preserved for many years by Dr. L. L.
Patrick, one of the pioneer physicians who
had the courage to combat malaria and the
"shakes" along the Maumee.
The settlement of Henry County was a lit-
tle later than the region immediately sur-
rounding Fort Miami. In the year 1830,
when the first inventory of the inhabitants
was made, the census takers were able to find
only 260 persons, young and old, in the county
as it was then constituted, which was much
larger in area than it is at the present time.
From these facts it is probably fair to pre-
sume that a decade prior there was not to
exceed a dozen families in the county, and
probably not more than fifty or sixty white
inhabitants.
One of the earliest, if not the earliest, set-
tlements within what is now Henry County
was located at or near Damascus, and a few
miles below Napoleon. There resided here in
the earliest days of which we have a record
of white settlers, John Patrick, farmer and
Indian trader ; ' ' Sammy ' ' and David Bowers,
who were traders and farmers; Elisha Scrib-
ner, Charles Bucklin and his father, Squire
Bucklin, Richard Gunn, Carver Gunn, and
Osman Gunn, all of them fanners ; Judge Cory,
461
462
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
who was the oldest farmer in the village, and
Samuel Vance, brother of Governor Vance,
•who occupied himself as an Indian fur trader
in addition to farming. Others settling there
were David DeLong and his sons, Jefferson
and Nicholas. These men, together with their
families, made up what was for those days
quite a settlement. The origin of the name
is somewhat obscure, but it is believed to be
a corruption of the name Prairie du Masque,
from Lower Sandusky, wild game was still
plentiful. There were fourteen in the emi-
grant train of two families. For some time
they were obliged to camp in regular Indian
style. They erected cabins near Girty 's Island.
Mr. Scofield was elected a trustee at the first
township election in Flat Rock Township.
Samuel Vance erected a double log house on
the banks of the Maumee, somewhere in the
'20s, and suspended a sign in front of it an-
' WHEN THE FROST Is ON THE PUMPKIN AND THE FODDER 's IN THE SHOCK ' '
a name given it by some early French adven-
turers.
Of the early settlers who came a little bit
later than those just named, Hazael Strong
was one of the most prominent. He came
from Vermont, in the year 1833, and served
as the first auditor of the county, having been
appointed to that position by the associate
judges at the time the county was organized.
He held the office until his successor was
elected at the first general election. Mr.
Strong also filled the office of county recorder,
county surveyor, and clerk of the court, a
position which -he held for fourteen years.
When Jared and Susanna Seofield reached
what is now Henry County, after a laborious
overland journey through the Black Swamp
nouncing "accommodation for man and
beast." The cellar of this primitive hostelry
still remains near the Town of Damascus.
John Shasteen came with his parents in
1826, while the footprints of the savages were
still fresh in the sands. He became a man
of great influence in the community during
a long and useful life. John Powell perma-
nently located in the county in the year 1835.
When Mr. Powell settled in the county, Napo-
leon consisted of only a log house, which was
owned by a man of the name of Andrews.
Several log houses were added to the place
during the summer in which he arrived. He
held many political positions, among which
were township clerk, county auditor, justice
of the peace, and associate judge, a position
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
463
which lie filled for one term. Mr. Powell was
elected to the office of county commissioner
for three terms. He first began business in
Napoleon as a shoemaker, but later drifted
into merchandise, and from that to the posi-
tion of landlord of a tavern.
When Edwin Scribner reached Henry
County, as a lad of eight years, in 1816, there
was not at that time a road in the county
other than Indian trails. To obtain flour and
meal it was necessary to carry the wheat to
the mill at Monroe, Michigan. When a lad
of only thirteen years of age, he rode on
horseback and alone to Greenville, and
brought back with him a bundle of rolls of
wool to be spun and woven into clothing for
the family. He erected the first saw-mill in
Henry County, on what is known as Dry
Creek. George Stout came to Napoleon in the
autumn of 1834. He purchased a town lot,
and built the second log cabin in the place.
While he lived here he erected a public house,
or tavern, into which his family moved a few
months later. This was opened for the enter-
tainment of guests as soon as it could be made
ready. The first two or three terms of the
Common Pleas Court were held in the dining
room of this hotel, and the first grand jury
slept in the haymow in the barn. For a dis-
tance of fifteen miles from the river on both
sides the county was a vast and unbroken
wilderness.
It was in the early part of the year 1820
that Henry County, along with several other
of the counties of Northwestern Ohio, was offi-
cially set off as a subdivision. A recent treaty
with the Indians had left at the disposal of
the authorities a large amount of land which,
for the better administration of affairs, it was
deemed best to erect into counties. This
county was so named in honor of Patrick
Henry, the distinguished statesman of colo-
nial days, whose eloquent voice was so often
heard in upholding the cause of the strug-
gling American colonies in the days of their
infancy. At that time there was probably
not a sufficient number of residents in the
county to fill the public offices. It "was pro-
vided, however, by this act that Henry, with
four other counties, was to be attached to
Wood County until otherwise directed by law.
The temporary seat of justice was then at
Maumee. It was not until 1823 that there
were enough people to organize a township,
and then the entire county was formed into
one township, called Damascus. Henry
County continued in this position for four
years, when an act was passed in 1824 pro-
viding that Williams County should be organ-
ized, and that Henry, Putnam, and Paulding
counties should be attached to Williams for
judicial purposes. It was further ordered
that the legal electors of this county should
meet and hold an election for the public offi-
cials on the 1st of April, "who shall hold
their several offices until the next annual elec-
tion." It was provided that court for these
counties should be held at Defiance, then in
the County of Williams, until otherwise pro-
vided by law. Thus it was that for a time
Defiance became the seat of justice for Henry
County.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
It was in the year 1834 that Henry County
was organized as an entirely independent
county, with its own corps of county officials,
and the right to hold courts within its own
boundaries. No longer was it dependent on
any of its neighbors. The outlines of the
county have been changed since then on sev-
eral occasions. When Lucas County was set
off, Henry County was called upon to sur-
render a portion of her territory in the for-
mation of this new unit. Again in 1845,
Henry County was compelled to yield a por-
tion of territory in the formation of Defiance
County, and in 1850 another portion was ap-
propriated in the creation of Fulton County,.
464
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
thus further diminishing its territory. So
sparse was the population then that ten coun-
ties, including Henry, Lucas and Williams,
were entitled to only a single representative
in the Legislature.
When Henry County was regularly organ-
ized, three commissioners, not residents of the
county, were appointed in accordance with
an act passed, upon whom fell the duty of
locating the seat of justice. In the pursuance
of this duty, these commissioners visited the
county, viewed the several locations, heard the
"pros and cons," and finally fixed the seat of
justice at the little town of Napoleon. The
next necessary proceeding was the selection
of county officials, who were to hold their
respective offices until the general election in
October following. These initial officials of
the county, to whom fell the duty of intro-
ducing home government into the county,
were Pierce Evans, Reuben Waite, and David
J. Corry, associate judges; Newton Evans,
clerk of the courts; Xenophen Mead, Amos
Cole and Allen Brougher, county commission-
ers; Hazael Strong, auditor; Israel White,
treasurer; Elkanch Husted, sheriff; William
Bower, coroner; Frederick Lord, prosecuting
attorney. When the election was held a few
months later, all of these officers were re-
elected with a single exception. Samuel
Bowers was elected to the office of sheriff in
place of Mr. Husted, who had removed from
the county. The total number of votes cast
at this election was ninety-seven. The first
term of court was held at the tavern of George
Stout, a short distance north of the river, and
was presided over by Judge David Higgins,
who came up the river on horseback for that
purpose. The early records of the courts and
the county officials were destroyed by fire
when the frame courthouse was burned in
1847, and there are no records of the early
county proceedings available for the historian.
One of the first duties of the commissioners
was the necessity of providing a proper place
for the holding of court, and for the admin-
istration of the affairs of the county. For
this purpose George Stout erected an addition
to his tavern by agreement with the commis-
sioners. As a court was held but twice a year,
and then only for a few days at a time, the
landlord enjoyed undisputed possession of the
room the rest of the year. After court had
adjourned it was customary to hold an old-
fashioned country dance in which the officials,
tenants, litigants, and witnesses took part.
The log courthouse answered the needs of the
county for several years, where justice was
administered to all, but a larger and more
adequate building at length became necessary
as the county grew more populous.
The first frame courthouse was erected in
1844, near the site of the present building.
It was a plain, two-story structure, with the
court rooms on the upper floor, while the
offices of the county officials were on the lower
floor. It was built by Michael Shuman at a
cost of $2,000. A log jail was at first in use
for prisoners and offenders against the law
in general, but it finally became necessary to
erect a more substantial and secure place of
confinement. The most noted escape from this
jail was that of a white man who had mur-
dered three unoffending Indians. For a while
the prisoners were taken to Maumee City for
confinement, but in the new courthouse a jail
was provided in the basement which answered
the purpose. An incendiary fire destroyed
this second courthouse, and none of the rec-
ords were saved excepting a few of the tax
duplicates. This was indeed a serious loss to
a new and struggling county. Another court-
house was needed at once, but it was delayed
for some time because of the agitation for the
removal of the county seat. Damascus and
Florida were both bidders for the prize. The
fight raged over the election of the county
commissioners, in whom the power of removal
of situation rested. The commissioners took
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
465
the following action on the 7th of March,
1848:
"Whereas, the subject of erecting public
buildings for the county of Henry is being
agitated in different parts of the county at
this time; and whereas, a majority of the peo-
ple of the county are opposed to the erection
of such buildings, or any contract for the
same, until the subject of the removal of the
'
one building, which was a plain structure,
two stories high, and built for convenience
and practical utility rather than ornamenta-
tion. The room for the incarceration of crim-
inals was on the lower portion, which was
protected on the sides by heavy stone walls.
Another building was constructed for the
county officials. This courthouse was in turn
destroyed by tire in 1879. Then it was that
i •-
I
HENRY COUNTY OLD COURT HOUSE
Built in 1850, destroyed by fire in 1879. (Compliments of J. B. Hudson, Napoleon, 0.)
county seat shall have been fairly and fully
canvassed by the people at the next annual
election, and their wishes acted upon by the
Legislature at its next session; therefore,
• ' Resolved, that the subject of erecting, con-
tracting for or constructing public buildings
for Henry county, be postponed until after
the rising of the next General Assembly."
The matter was finally settled, however, in
1849. Two town lots were donated by the
proprietors of the town and were added to
the grounds formerly owned, and new build-
ings were erected. In due course of time a
jail and temple of justice were combined in
Vol. 1—80
the present courthouse, which is the pride of
Napoleon, was constructed for county use in
1880-2. It stands on a slight elevation, which
makes the building visible for many miles
over the level surrounding country. It is
built of brick, with Berea sandstone trim-
mings. A square tower, surmounted by a
figure of justice, rises to a height of 150 feet
above the ground. A separate building was
also erected to serve as a jail and a residence
for the sheriff.
"In the year 1852, those holding office un-
der the county government were as follows:
Probate judge, Harvey Allen; clerk of the
466
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
courts, A. H. Tyler ; auditor, William J. Jack-
son ; sheriff, Daniel Yarnell ; treasurer, George
Stebbins ; prosecuting attorney, Edward Shef-
field ; recorder, A. Craig ; county surveyor,
Paul P. Doud ; county commissioners, David
Harley, D. F. Welsted, Charles Hornung."
David Higgins served as the first president
judge of the County of Henry after its forma-
tion, and with him were associated David J.
Cory, Reuben Waite, and Pierce Evans.
Frederick Lord was appointed to act as pros-
ecuting attorney. J. N. Evans was clerk, and
E. Husted, sheriff. Judge Higgins was suc-
ceeded in 1837 by Ozias Bowen, who held
courts here for several years. Bowen was aft-
erwards elected to the State Supreme Court.
When the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit was cre-
ated, in 1839, Emery D. Potter was elected to
the office of presiding judge and continued to
hold court in this county for five years, when
he resigned to take a seat in Congress, to which
body he had just been elected. Judge Potter
was succeeded by Myron H. Tilden, who after-
wards became president of the Cincinnati
Law School.
When the District Court was organized,
Frederick Lord and William H. Berry were
the only attorneys living in the county. Mr.
Berry succeeded Mr. Lord as prosecutor, and
he was succeeded in turn by James G. Haley,
the third attorney, who was admitted to the
bar in 1840. He also served 'in the Legisla-
ture and as probate judge. Nearly all of
these early attorneys served their turn as pros-
ecuting attorney of the county. James Mc-
Kenzie located here for a while, and after-
wards drifted into the newspaper work at Ka-
lida. Edward and William Scheffield settled
in Napoleon about the year 1841, and began
the practice of law. The former rose to a
position of commanding influence at the bar.
Ebenezer Lathrop was also one of the early
pioneer lawyers, and in addition there were
a number of circuit riders, as they were called,
who followed the courts around and practiced
at Napoleon as well as elsewhere.
When the state was divided into nine com-
mon pleas districts, in 1852, John M. Palmer
was elected judge in the subdivision in which
Henry County was located. His first term of
court was commenced on the 24th day of May,
1852. Alexander S. Latty, of Paulding
County, succeeded him, and served for twenty
years. Selwyn N. Owen, of Williams County,
afterwards a member of the Supreme Court
of the state, was one of the judges who pre-
sided over this court. Michael Donnelly was
admitted to the bar in 1880. He was first
chosen to the Common Pleas bench, but in
November, 1905, was elected one of the cir-
cuit judges. This was merged in the Court
of Appeals, and on this bench he served very
acceptably until his death in 1915. Harvey
Allen was the first probate judge of the
county. He was elected in 1851, and took
charge of his office in February of the fol-
lowing year. He was succeeded by Thomas
C. Morrison, who also served for a number
of years in that court. Mr. Morrison was edi-
tor of the Northwest, and had been admitted
to the bar, although he had never practiced
law. When he died in 1864, William M.
Beckman was appointed by the governor to
fill the vacancy. Justin H. Tyler arrived in
Napoleon in 1852, and lived here until his
death in 1910. During the years of his active
practice he was one of the most prominent
men at the Henry County bar, and filled a
number of the offices to the entire satisfac-
tion of his constituents. Sinclair M. Hague
came to Henry County in 1859 and located
in Napoleon, and was followed in the succeed-
ing year by James A. Parker.
There are many other attorneys who came
to Napoleon in later years, who achieved emi-
nence in their profession and have been hon-
ored by their fellow citizens. William W.
Campbell has served his constituents as pros-
ecuting attorney, and was elected to the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
467
United States Congress. D. D. Donavin like-
wise was honored by election to that high leg-
islative body. Both of these members of the
Henry County bar filled this position with
honor to themselves and credit to the com-
munity.
There is little record remaining of the pio-
neer physicians of Henry County. Dr. Wil-
liam B. Barry was probably the first physician
of Napoleon, but he afterwards practiced law
and became prominent in the community,
holding several positions of trust. Dr. Harris
Harvey came from the State of New York
and practiced here for a number of years,
after which he emigrated to the West. The
name of Dr. Lorenzo L. Patrick was very
familiar to the early families of the Maumee
Valley. He was practicing here as early as
1836, and was prominent in all the affairs of
town and county. Dr. Jonathan P. Evans
resided in Richland Township, but had a large
practice all, over the county. Doctor Bamber
came to Napoleon about the year 1840 and
enjoyed a considerable progress here until his
removal east. Among other early physicians
of the county were Drs. E. M. McCann, Asa
II. Tyler, 0. H. Tyler, Henry McHenry, Dr.
E. B. Harrison, and Gibbons Parry.
Robert K. Scott came to Henry County in
1851, and began the practice of medicine at
Florida. After five years he drifted into the
mercantile business. He entered into the
service of the county in 1861 as major of the
Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and retired
from that service as major-general. After the
war he was sent to South Carolina as commis-
sioner of freedmen, refugees, and abandoned
lands. Having gained a reputation in that
state, he was placed in nomination by the
republican state convention for the office of
governor in 1868, and was elected by a large
majority. Two years later he was re-elected
to that high office. In 1878 he returned to
Napoleon, and remained there until his death
in 1900.
One of the potent influences in promoting
the agricultural interests of Henry County is
the organization known as the Patrons of 1 1 us
bandry, which at one time had a very large
membership among the farmers. It not only
stimulated scientific tillage of the soil, but also
gave a standing and dignity to the farmer's
vocation. In 1883 a small fair was held under
its auspices in the hall of Harrison Grange,
at which farmers made exhibits of their choic-
est products. In the following year the Henry
County Grange Fair was duly instituted and
a board of ten directors selected. John Gar-
ster was elected president, and E. M. Holli-
peter was chosen secretary. Grounds were
leased four miles east of Napoleon, and appro-
priate buildings erected. The ensuing fair was
a great success, and it has been repeated each
year since that date. In a few years the name
was changed to the Henry County Farmers'
Association, but it is now known as the Henry
County Agricultural Fair.
NAPOLEON
When Napoleon became the county seat, in
1835, there were only a few residents, who
had been attracted by the beauty of the loca-
tion and the fertility of the soil. It had the
appearance of a crossroads settlement, with
its several log cabins in close proximity to
each other. According to the best informa-
tion, the first log dwelling was erected either
by Mr. Huston or Mr. Andrew. A little later
George Stout constructed a similar edifice,
which he opened for the benefit of the travel-
ing public, and he then became the earliest
landlord of the settlement. These early citizens
were of the energetic type, however, who later
worked diligently and unceasingly for the
town and its welfare. In addition to those
already mentioned in this chapter, Henry
Leonard, or, as he was generally known,
"General" Leonard, was one of the promi-
nent. He was a tavern keeper, and his
468
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tavern was liberally patronized, for it was
a place of resort for all. John Glass had
a more pretentious home than his neighbors,
for it was a frame building. He was a
man-of-all-work, for he could butcher an
animal, build a stone wall or chimney, or
turn his hand to almost any kind of employ-
ment. He was one of the first county officers,
having been elected treasurer, and made a
good official. John Mann was another of the
town pioneers. He was a blacksmith and gun-
smith by trade, but was also handy at almost
anything that he attempted. Judging from
the demands for the service of Mr. Mann, one
would think that the gun of the average In-
dian was always getting out of repair.
Around his house almost any day there were
half a dozen or more Indians waiting to have
their guns "fixed up." He was popular
among the natives and the whites as well. He
had served with General Harrison at the siege
of Port Meigs, during which time of trial' he
had a good record.
Alex Craig, generally known as Judge
Craig, kept one of the more pretentious houses
of the town. He was a tailor by trade, but
he was elected sheriff of the county for a cou-
ple of terms, and served as associate judge,
from which service he received his title. After
retiring from his office, he was made recorder
of the county. By industry and economy he
acquired a fair competency. John Powell
was one of the earlier merchants, and a man
of more than ordinary intelligence. He served
as county auditor and associate judge. Ha-
zael Strong, auditor, surveyor, and county
clerk, came there in 1834 and figured promi-
nently in the community. He filled the office
of county clerk for a period of about fifteen
years. James Magell, a successful business
man, was also very prominent in the early
days of Napoleon. One of the early residents
of the village, and one who was highly es-
teemed by the inhabitants, was James B.
Steedman, better known as General Steed-
man. He came here in the early days of the
county as a contractor. He knew everybody,
and everybody knew him. If Mr. Steedman
once met a person, he never forgot the face.
He did not live here many years, but he used
to return frequently to renew his acquaint-
ances. He was a good business man and made
money. He married Sarah Miranda Stiles,
a popular young lady of this village. While
living there he was elected a member of the
Ohio Legislature, when the district included
eight counties. As a legislator he earned an
honorable distinction as an able member of
that body.
Napolon was laid out by Horatio G. Phil-
lip, Benjamin Leavell, and Elnathan Cory, in
the year 1834. The survey was made by Mil-
ler Arrowsmith, and the certificate was ac-
knowledged before William Leonard, justice
of the peace, on October 15, 1834. Why it
was so named, no one has ever satisfactorily
explained. It was originally intended to lay
out this town farther down the river, at a
place now known as "Goosetown," and on
lower land, but a rise cf the waters of the
river changed their plans. The original plat
contained only a small portion of the present
site of Napoleon, as it covered only twelve
blocks in each of which there were eight lots,
excepting on the south side of Front Street,
which was laid out into twelve lots. The whole
number of lots was only 112. The lots were
freely disposed of. Since then the limits have
been extended several times to meet the grow-
ing needs of the community, although it has
never had any spasmodic development.
It was a number of years before the Vil-
lage of Napoleon had any corporate existence,
and it was simply part of the township of
the same name. Its officials were those of the
township. The village began to grow quite
rapidly two or three years after its establish-
ment, and especially after work began on the
Miami and Erie Canal. Soon after 1850, the
residents of the town began to feel the neces-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
46!)
sity of a corporate existence, as the village
had assumed considerable proportions and
had a sufficient population. The subject was
discussed for a year or two, and in the early
part of 1853 action was taken leading to that
end. This was delayed for several years
because of agitation over a change of the name
from Napoleon, which did not suit the major-
ity of the inhabitants, to Henry. They wanted
something "more expressive of things Ameri-
can. ' ' A petition was presented to the county
commissioners, as follows :
"To the commissioners of Henry county.
The undersigned, legal voters of the town of
Napoleon, respectfully ask your honorable
body to incorporate the following territory,
to wit: Northeast fractional quarter, con-
taining 116.93 acres; northeast fractional
south half, 82.24 ; east half northwest quarter,
80 acres; west fractional south half, 75.44;
west half, northwest quarter, 80; containing
four hundred and thirty-four and sixty-one
hundredths acres, and being all in section
thirteen, in township number five, north of
range number six east, (sec. 13, T. 5, R. 6E.).
Said territory to be incorporated into a vil-
lage, and to be called 'Henry.' for a more
particular description of which territory, and
the relative position thereof, you are referred
to the accompanying plat, showing that por-
tion of section thirteen north of the Maumee
River proposed to be included in said limits
of incorporation. We also state that Dr. Lo-
renzo Patrick is fully authorized to act in
behalf of the petitioners in prosecuting this
petition. Napoleon, 0., Fev. 28, 1853.
(Signed) W. J. Jackson, L. L. Patrick, Wm.
C. Brownell, W. H. Moe, George Stebbins,
John Glass, John Powell, Enoch L. Mann,
J. P. Rowen, Isaac Lightcap, John McCartney,
Paul P. Doud, Thomas Yarnell, A. Craig, D.
M. McCann, Alph M. Hollabaugh, William
Dodd (out of the limit), W. H. Mallory, Har-
rison V. Conway, James 0. Caldwell, Henry
N. Low, Josiah Pearce, J. W. Steward, James
Armstrong, Thomas Harrett, G. C. Eastman,
Adam Howk, Israel Strole (not a resident),
J. II. Tyler, Jr. Glass, A. H. Tyler, S. R. Mr-
Bane, Isaac Van Horn, II. D. Taylor, George
McCann."
The proposition also met with a determined
opposition, which was led by Augustin Pil-
liod, himself a Frenchman. The petition was
allowed, but the friends of the name Napoleon
were not dismayed. When election day came
around at which city officials were to be
chosen, they made such a demonstration that
the election could not proceed. Proceedings
were stopped and the meeting was adjourned
for a year. The newspaper, Northwest, had
even dropped Napoleon and substituted Henry
in its headline. The excitement passed away,
but the incorporation of the county seat was
delayed for a decade. It was not until the
year 1863 that a petition signed by 150 per-
sons, residents and tax payers, asking for in-
corporation, was filed with the commissioners
of Henry County. On the 2d of June of
that year, it was incorporated as a village with
the name of Napoleon. As soon as the organi-
zation was completed, an election was ordered
to elect officers to administer the affairs of
the village. Justin H. Tyler was elected the
first mayor, and Ransom C. Reynolds was
chosen recorder. George W. Waterman,
Henry Kahlo, Daniel Yarnell, and George
Bogart composed the first elected council.
Napoleon has frequently, by action of munic-
ipal authorities, enlarged its corporate limits,
so that at the present time it covers a much
greater area than it did in 1863. One addi-
tion on the south side of the Maumee River
is still known as South Napoleon.
Prior to 1870, the village possessed no fire
apparatus whatever. There was not a volun-
teer or other organization for the fighting of
fires, and there was not even so much as a
bucket brigade. At the first alarm of fire,
however, the whole city stood ready to render
such assistance as was possible, and there was
470
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
no lack of volunteers on hand, with a plenti-
ful supply of pails and buckets. It was not
until a serious conflagration in 1869, that the
matter of fire protection was given serious
thought. In the following year a small tax
was assessed, and a fire engine was purchased.
The first engineer of the steamer purchased
was J. B. Reno, and he was succeeded by
George Flenner. The first chief of the depart-
ment was Oscar E. Barnes. With the instal-
lation of a waterworks system in 1899, the
effectiveness of this department was much
increased, and modern equipment has replaced
the antiquated apparatus of the earlier days.
The building now used by the fire department
was built in 1875 by George Lightheiser, and
is a substantial three-story building. The
rear rooms also answer for the city bastile,
while the upper rooms house the municipal
offices.
A futile attempt was made to start a news-
paper in Napoleon in 1845 by Martin
Schrunk, who issued a small paper called the
Journal. It was whig in politics but did not
last long. On the 8th day of September, 1852,
the first permanent newspaper appeared in
Napoleon. It was christened the Northwest,
and was issued by Alpheas M. Hollabaugh.
It was a small paper and carried less than a
column of advertisements. It had no circula-
tion worth mentioning. After a couple of
years the Northwest fell into the hands of
Thomas S. C. Morrison. After the death of
Mr. Morrison, in 1864, the Northwest was sus-
pended for a few weeks, but was revived by
John M. Haag. Under this management it
soon became a most influential factor in the
life of the community. In 1869 the paper
passed into the hands of Coughlin and Hub-
bard, and was enlarged. In 1875 it became
the property of Luther L. Orwig, and it has
remained with this family until this date.
The News, a rival paper, published by W. E.
Decker, was purchased and the publication is
now known as the Northwest-News. It long
filled the position of one of the leading coun-
try journals of this section of the state, and
has done much to formulate and direct the
policy of the democratic party in this section.
In 1859 fire destroyed the plant. The type
metal was collected and taken to a foundry,
where it was cast into cannon. In firing it at
a celebration, this cannon seriously mutilated
five or six men. At a political meeting at
Chroninger's schoolhouse it exploded, but for-
tunately caused no serious injuries on this
occasion.
In 1854 the Star appeared in Napoleon as
a whig paper. It proved to be only transi-
tory, however, and scintillated for only about
a year. L. H. Bigelow issued the Republican
in the year 1865. It was printed in Toledo,
but likewise soon succumbed, since the repub-
licans were so greatly in the minority. The
Signal made its appearance in the following
year, with George W. Redway as editor. It
was such a vigorous republican organ that it
attracted the party patronage. Mr. Redway
sold it to J. S. Foulke and D. B. Ainger, the
latter finally becoming sole owner. Mr. Foulke
purchased the complete plant again in 1873,
and published the Signal for a number of
years. It then passed into the hands of H.
M. Wisler for a time, and later to J. P. Bel-
knap. It is still published, and has great
influence in the community. The first Ger-
man paper published in the county was the
Democratischer Wegweiser. It was estab-
lished by J. M. Haag, then of the Northwest,
in 1867. It was edited by John M. Evers,
and continued for about a year. Der Henry
County Demokrat was started in 1885 by C.
W. Benty & Co., with Mr. Benty as editor.
It has reached a very satisfactory circulation
among the German-speaking population. It
is now known as Der Deutsche Demokrat.
The present owner is 0. K. Evers.
Like all primitive villages, education at
Napoleon began in a very humble way. A
little log building that stood near Craig's old
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
471
tavern was first utilized for the instruction
of the youth. It did not take a large build-
ing in those days. School was held here as
early as 1837. The teacher was Miss Mary
Whipple. The building was poorly arranged
for a schoolhouse, but it was better than none
and served the purpose for a short time. A
number of those who became prominent in the
village in later days attended school here.
When the schools were finally organized, in
1858, the six school directors elected were Wil-
liam Dodd, John Powell, J. A. Stout, W. J.
Jackson, H. McHenry, and Justin H. Tyler.
These men constituted the first board of edu-
cation. Charles Horr was employed as the
first teacher of the high school, at a salary of
$50 per month. The Misses S. S. Powell and
H. E. Reynolds were engaged as primary
teachers at $18 per month. The first union
school building erected was destroyed by fire,
but shortly afterward a three-story brick
building was erected, which is still in use.
When South Napoleon was added to the mu-
nicipality, a fine school building was erected
in 1884 to accommodate the students of that
section.
Napoleon is well supplied with religious
edifices. When Bishop Rappe visited Napo-
leon, in 1856, he found about eight Catholic
families, whom he encouraged to build a little
church. The most of these members were
poor in this world's goods, and had large fam-
ilies to support by their daily labor. Hence
they were able to spare little of their hard
earnings in the building of a church. It was
then that a liberal-hearted Frenchman, Au-
gustine Pilliod, took the matter in hand, and,
with the assistance of some other families, a
small building 24 by 30 was built, and named
St. Augustine Church. The entire building
did not cost more than $500, which was in-
deed a humble beginning. For a time this
congregation was served by Rev. F. Wester-
holt, who lived in Defiance, and he was suc-
ceeded by. Rev. A. J. Hoeffel. As the congre-
gation had considerably increased, the first
resident pastor was assigned here in 1864, in
the person of Rev. P. J. Carroll. Under his
administration an addition was added to the
original church which almost doubled its size,
and a tower built, which was paid for by John
H. Vocke. At the same time a little frame
schoolhouse was put up for the parochial
schools, which were placed in charge of the
pastor's sister, Ellen Carroll. A splendid new
church was begun in 1880, which was dedi-
cated with an appropriate and impressive
ceremony on the 17th of June, 1883. The
extreme height from the ground to the gilded
cross is 175 feet. Rev. M. Putz came to this
church in 1870, and has faithfully served the
congregation since that time.
The Lutheran Church is represented in
Napoleon by a strong and aggressive congre-
gation, known as St. Paul's. Its influence
throughout the community has been very
great, and many of the leading families have
been connected with it. Its history dates
from 1856, when a meeting was held under
the auspices of Rev. P. Ruprecht. For a num-
ber of years prior to this date occasional
services had been held in private houses by
Lutheran ministers who came from other
towns. In 1855 a number of services were
conducted by Rev. Mr. Koenig in Goosetown.
The first minister called was Rev. A. W.
Bergt, and he served the congregation for
eight years. An old building was utilized
until 1864, after which the courthouse and
the Episcopal Church were used. Reverend
Dulitz served St. Paul's Church for a dozen
years, and Rev. A. F. Fisher for fourteen
years. During the latter 's pastorate a parochial
school was established and a building erected
for its use. Under the pastorate of Rev. The-
odore A. Saupert a splendid new edifice was
erected, which was dedicated in 1905. St.
Paul 's Church is in a healthy condition, with
a large and growing congregation. The Ger-
man Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel Church
472
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
was organized in 1883 by Rev. Louis Dam-
mann. It has enjoyed a healthy growth, and
is one of the influential religious bodies of
the city.
The First Presbyterian Church was organ-
ized June 15, 1861, largely through the efforts
of James A. Parker, who was elected its first
elder. The congregation met for this purpose
in the courthouse, where a sermon was
preached by Rev. E. B. Ragensberger. A
committee on organization, consisting of this
minister and D. L. Anderson, was appointed.
The society was immediately organized, and
met at several places until a church home was
erected. When nearly completed, this edifice
was almost wholly destroyed by a severe
storm, but the debris was immediately cleared
away and a brick edifice begun on the same
site. The first pastor of the church was Rev.
D. K. Richardson, who was chosen by the con-
gregation in 1864, and served for four years.
He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Edgar, and
then came Rev. J. P. Lloyd. In the year
1900 the present splendid edifice was com-
pleted and dedicated to the worship of the
Almighty. It has been pronounced one of the
finest and most complete houses of worship in
this section of the state.
Services of the Methodist Episcopal Church
were held in Napoleon as early as 1835, when
Rev. Austin Coleman came to Napoleon and
began to preach. He conducted services in
the homes of the people, and in the tavern
kept by Judge Craig. A union Sunday school
was organized, which was attended by prac-
tically everyone who was religiously inclined.
Napoleon was made the head of the circuit
in 1854, and the Rev. Ambrose Hollington
was appointed to the charge. The other ap-
pointments served by him were Florida, Hart-
man's, and Texas, nearby villages. It was
under the labors of Rev. G. W. Miller that the
first Methodist Episcopal Church was built
in Napoleon. The presiding elder at that time
was E. C. Gabbit, and it was he who dedi-
cated the church in the spring of 1860. This
was a frame building which stood on the cor-
ner of Washington and Webster streets. In
1868 Rev. N. B. C. Love was appointed, and
Napoleon was made a station, with the undi-
vided efforts of the pastor. Rev. S. L. Rob-
erts served the congregation both as pastor
and presiding elder for several years. A fine
new brick church was dedicated in 1898, on
the same lots that had been occupied by the
old church. The sermon was preached by the
late Bishop C. C. McCabe.
Napoleon Lodge, No. 256, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, was chartered in 1855, with
only eight members. This number was barely
sufficient to fill the necessary offices. G. R.
McBane served as the first W. M., and Harvey
Allen was chosen the first secretary. Since
that time the lodge has had a long and pros-
perous history. Haley Chapter, No. 136, Royal
Arch Masons, dates its history from 1871,
when a charter was granted to a body of
petitioners. Jonathan S. Norton filled the
office of eminent high priest, and Charles E.
Reynolds was captain of the host. The Odd
Fellows have an organization in the town,
which is Napoleon Lodge, No. 260, and was
instituted in 1855, at Florida, but, after five
years, it was removed to Napoleon. Maumee
Valley Encampment, No. 177, was organized
in 1870 with seven charter members. Napo-
leon Lodge, No. 929, Benevolent Protective
Order of Elks, was organized under dispensa-
tion in 1904. James P. Ragan was the first
exalted ruler. M. R. Waite Lodge, No. 284,
Knights of Pythias, dates back from 1888.
Choate Post, No. 66, Grand Army of the Re-
public, was named in honor of Col. William
A. Choate, at one time a distinguished mem-
ber of the Henry County bar. It was organ-
ized in 1881. The first post commander was
L. G. Randall; senior vice commander, Otto
Honeck ; junior vice commander, L. Y. Rich-
ards; adjutant, C. E. Reynolds. This was
formerly one of the most flourishing Grand
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
473
Army posts in Northwestern Ohio, but the
organixation of other posts in surrounding
towns and villages drew from its membership.
It may properly be termed the mother post
of a half dozen nearby posts.
The original First National Bank of Napo-
leon was incorporated in 1872. The initial
officers were E. S. Blair, president, and A.
D. Tourtillot, cashier. The charter was finally
given up and the ownership passed through
several hands. For a time it was known as
J. C. Sauer & Co. Then came the Citizens
Bank, a private concern, also, which finally
became the Citizens State Bank in 1904, but
has since gone out of business. The second
institution to be called the First National
Bank began business in September, 1897. The
first officials were D. Meekisori, president, and
J. S. Bailey, cashier. It immediately sprang
into popularity, and soon acquired a fair
share of the banking business of the commu-
nity. There are two additional banks in
Napoleon. The Napoleon State Bank was
organized in 1908, and the Commercial State
Bank began business in 1913. Both are pros-
perous institutions, and are doing a thriving
business.
Because of its almost unparalleled agricul-
tural resources, Napoleon was for a long time
dependent for its prosperity upon the prod-
ucts of the soil. With the exception of flour
and lumber, little attention was paid to indus-
tries in the early days. The first flouring mill
was established as early as 1850, by John
Reiter, who operated his mill until his death
in 1871. This original mill has passed through
several hands and new and improved ma-
chinery installed on several occasions. John
Powell and Hazael Strong constructed a saw-
mill near the river in 1843, and operated it
with success for several years. Since then
many manufacturing establishments have
been added to the city's industrial life. The
Heller-Aller Company is a large establish-
ment which is known all over the country. It
manufactures engines, pumps, tanks and
other supplies for windmills. It has become
a center for the manufacture of pulp plaster.
One company manufactures the Morning Star
engines and threshers. By the introduction
of those various industries the commercial life
of the town has been greatly increased, and
a considerable degree of prosperity has fol-
lowed.
OTHER VILLAGES
The Village of Deshler was named in recog-
nition of John H. Deshler, who was a large
land owner in the neighborhood. It was laid
out and platted by Frederick H. Short for
himself and as a trustee for a syndicate. The
plat was recorded August 23, 1873, and con-
sisted of 200 lots, with two public squares.
Several additions have since been added.
The village was incorporated in 1876, the year
of the Centennial, and has become a live busi-
ness center. There are several churches and
societies and splendid schools. The Deshler
Flag, a weekly journal, established in 1876
by J. M. Lockhart, is published in the village.
Liberty Center is also a flourishing village
in Henry County. It was the second village
in the county to become incorporated. It was
in 1863 that Alpheas Buchanan first conceived
the idea of establishing a trading point where
Liberty Center is now located. He recorded
a small plat on the 4th of June, 1863, to which
several additions have been made, by Calvin
C. Young, E. T. Coon, G. P. Parish, Ward
Woodward, Orle Buchanan, and Daniel Ehr-
good. It has now become a flourishing vil-
lage with several churches, many business
houses, and some small manufacturers. The
Liberty Press, a weekly newspaper, is pub-
lished in the village. It was established in
1881 by Rev. J. L. Bushbridge. It is the home
of four good church congregations, and prides
itself on its graded schools, which are unusu-
ally efficient for a village of its size.
474
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
MeClure is situated in what is left of Da-
mascus Township, which originally included
the entire county. It was platted by John
MeClure in 1880. This original plat con-
tained but twenty-eight lots, but several addi-
tions have been made. The village was
incorporated in 1886. The first substantial
building was erected in 1880 by Thomas W.
Darbin for the purpose of carrying on a mer-
chandising business. In the same year An-
drew Johnson erected a commodious hotel.
The MeClure Trio was founded by J. A. Ran-
dolph. Florida is one of the oldest and pos-
sibly the oldest village in the county. Adam
Stout, Lyman Back, and Jared McCarty were
the first merchants in the place. In the palmy
days of the canal, Florida did a flourishing
business, but the railroads took away its pres-
tige, for they went a few miles on either side.
Napoleon, on one side, and Defiance on the
other, then absorbed most of the business. It
has a very pleasant location along the Maumee.
Dr. John L. Watson and Dr. George W. Pat-
terson were pioneer physicians who located
here. The first postoffice was established in
1842, and Dr. George W. Patterson was ap-
pointed as postmaster. He was succeeded by
Lyman Back.
Holgate arose when the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad was constructed through the county.
Andrew J. Weaver began business there in
1873, and platted the village the same year
that the first trains were run. Newton S.
Cole opened a store there with a large stock
of goods in the following year. The Holgate
Times is a weekly newspaper published here.
It was established in 1881 by William John-
son. Texas is an old village that has greatly
dwindled in importance. It was founded in
1849 by James Durbin. It was at one time
an important trading post, and a formidable
rival of Napoleon for the county seat. Ham-
ler was named in honor of John Hamler. It
was platted in 1875 by Hon. William D. Hill,
of Defiance. It has become a flourishing vil-
lage. Malinta, Colton, Ridgwell, Corners,
Elery, Gratton, New Bavaria, Pleasant Bend,
and Okalona are other small villages in the
county.
CHAPTER XXXVII
LUCAS COUNTY
Although civil government for the territory
now comprised within Lucas County nomi-
nally began with the organization of the
County of Wayne, in 1796, as a matter of fact
there was practically no civil administration
until the extinguishment of the Indian titles
a score of years later. With the exception
of the two reservations of six miles square
and twelve miles square, the title all rested
with the aborigines. For that reason it was
not subject to the sway of white officials.
The first officer exercising a real civil au-
thority in Lucas County, and, in fact, in the
entire Maumee Valley, was Amos Spafford,
collector of customs for the District of Miami,
who was appointed by President Madison in
1810. The collector's office was at Maumee,
and the Government should certainly have
ordered an official investigation of his expense
account for the year 1814. His rent for office
amounted to $10 ; his fuel and stationary cost
$15.75 ; and his fees were $2.50, a total charge
to the Government for that year of $28.25.
The first postoffice established between the
River Raisin (Monroe, Michigan) and Lower
Sandusky (Fremont), and between the Mau-
mee Bay and the present City of Chicago,
was located at Maumee, immediately opposite
Fort Meigs, which was built subsequently.
Amos Spafford was likewise the first postmas-
ter, and his commission bore the date of June
9, 1810. In 1816 Almon Gibbs was the post-
master at that point, and his pay for that
year was the munificent sum of $14.28. Offi-
cial positions could not have been in great
demand in that day, unless honor meant more
than enrichment.
EARLY SETTLERS
The few settlers then residing in this vicin-
ity suffered severely upon the breaking out
of the War of 1812 from the Indian depre-
dations, and after the close of that war they
presented claims to the Government for such
losses. Among the items for which compen-
sation was asked was one from James Carlin
of $110 for a cabin which was burned
for a blacksmith shop burned, and $30 for a
two-year-old colt, which had been taken by
the Wyandot Indians. Oliver Armstrong also
claimed $60 for a horse stolen from him.
Besides these bills, there were losses for barns,
outhouses, clothing, and crops that had been
burned. In all, the claims of these settlers
aggregated between $4,000 and $5,000.
Aft«r a considerable delay the damages
were at last awarded the claimants. Some
of the claims were for property seized by
United States troops for their necessities.
Most of the settlers were driven from this
neighborhood and remained away until the
close of hostilities. When they returned every-
thing had been destroyed, and they were
obliged to begin life over again. For build-
ing material they greedily seized upon the
few hulks of the transports that had been
employed by the Government, as well as the
pickets and the blockhouses at Fort Meigs.
The struggle for the possession of these became
active and somewhat bitter. It was finally
ended by an incendiary who applied a torch
at night to the fort, by which the buildings
were almost entirely destroyed. As a result,
the destitute settlers were obliged to go to
475
476
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the forest for their building material, with no
other weapon than the axe for providing their
necessities.
The first known white settlers in Lucas
County, and, for that matter, in the Maumee
Valley, were Gabriel Godfrey and Jean Bap-
tiste Beaugrand, who established a trading
post at the foot of the Maumee Rapids about
1790. A number of other French settlers
came here from Monroe not long afterwards.
Col. John Anderson engaged in business as a
trader and farmer in the vicinity of Fort
Miami in 1806. Others locating there about
that time were Andrew and William Race,
three families named Ewing, and William
Carter. When James Carlin, a blacksmith,
and his son, Squire, settled here about 1807,
there were probably six American families
living near the Maumee Rapids. David Hull
resided at Maumee, where he kept a tavern
with the aid of his sister. Near the mouth
of the Maumee River, and opposite Manhat-
tan, a small French settlement was estab-
lished about that same year near a village of
the Ottawa Indians, which had existed for a
long time. By the opening of the War of
1812, more than sixty families of Caucasian
blood had settled in this vicinity.
Peter Manor was a representative of the
French trader, and came to Maumee about
1812. He opened up a trading house within
the present village, and began to trade with
the various Indians along the lower Maumee.
The site of his store was on the trail always
traveled by them up and down the river, and
to Detroit. On more than one occasion dur-
ing the War of 1812 he showed his friendship
for the white settlers living on both sides of
the river. In one instance, elsewhere men-
tioned, he saved many lives by warning of a
visitation of the Pottawatomies, who were on
the war path. In saving the lives of others,
he lost his own buildings and crops, because
the Indians rightfully believed that he had
warned the other whites, and thus prevented
them from securing some scalps. For several
years he and his family were the only per-
manent white settlers established in that
neighborhood. He was adopted into and made
a chief among the Ottawas. He afterwards
founded the Town of Providence, which was
at one time a flourishing village. Fire and
cholera destroyed the town and its inhabi-
tants in 1850-2, until now little is left. His
remains lie on the farm granted him in a
treaty with the Indians, at their special
request.
Francis Manor, a son of Peter, relates his
recollections as follows in "Waggoner's His-
tory":
"I was born in Maumee, on the 18th May,
1812. About this time war between the United
States and the British and Indians com-
menced, and my father removed his family to
Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) for safety
and protection. But that point, too, was soon
deemed insecure, and he removed to Upper
Sandusky (40 miles South), where he con-
tinued to reside until hostilities were over.
As soon as it was considered safe, we returned
to Maumee and moved up the River to Provi-
dence, January 1, 1816, where I have resided
ever since, knowing no other place as my
home. My earliest recollections are of Ottawa
Indians, with whom I was familiar until they
left their Reservation in 1857. About the
only impression that I retain, and the most
prominent feature in their character, was
their love for strong drink, which made sav-
age drunken carousals very frequent. When
unmolested, they were in the main harmless
and peaceable, and gave the whites no trou-
ble. From the time of our locating in Provi-
dence until their removal, I remember no
instance in which fear was had on their ac-
count, except in the year 1832 when some
believed that an Indian outbreak was about
to occur, and considerable excitement pre-
vailed along the Maumee. It took but a few
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
477
days, though, to allay the fears, as the report
was plainly false."
James Thomas was one of the early adven-
turers who reached this county as early ;is
1S17. 1ft1 walked from Brighton, New York,
to the .Maurnee, the journey requiring fifteen
days of hard travel. Few would attempt such
an undertaking today over our splendid roads.
There was at that time no improved highway
west of Buffalo, and no kind of a road other
with its seat of justice at Hdlefontaine. At
the same time there was created the Township
of \Vaynesticlil, the tirst civil township formed
north of the .Maumee Kiver. It was named
in honor of General Wayne, and the desiirna
lion included the "field" wherein lie had
achieved his ineiiioralile victory. It embraced
a soil filled with historic interest, and satu-
rated with the Mood of the earlj' defenders
of the nation. At first this township was
A QUIET REACH OP THE MAUMEE
than a rude trail for much of the distance.
There was only one house standing between
Lower Sandusky and the Maumee River, and
that was a log shanty along the Portage River.
It was used only by an arrangement with the
carrier who transported the mail between
Lower Sandusky and Toledo. Seneca Allen
and his family came here in 1816 and located
near Waterville, where Mr. Allen opened a
small trading post for the Indians. A few
years later they removed down to Orleans of
the North (Fort Meigs), where there were
then about a half dozen families. At a still
later date they migrated to Port Lawrence.
Upon the conclusion of the treaty at the
foot of the Rapids of the Maumee in 1817,
the County of Logan was formally organized,
included within Logan County, but it after-
wards passed to Wood, and then to Lucas.
Thus it has been a civil division of three coun-
ties. A number of changes have been made
in its boundaries, but it has never ceased to
exist as a separate organization. It is now
co-extensive with the Village of Maumee. In
1820 a number of counties were formed out of
Logan County, including the County of Wood,
within which was the greater part of the pres-
ent Lucas County.
The first court to convene in the valley
of the Maumee was held at Maumee City on
May 3, 1820, and that place became the tem-
porary seat of justice. This court was com-
posed of the President Judge George Todd
(father of Governor David Todd), and the as-
478
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
sociate judges were Dr. Horatio Conant, Peter
G. Oliver, and Samuel Vance. For the grand
jury it required a goodly share of the inhabi-
tants. The first session of the Board of Com-
missioners of "Wood County assembled on
April 12th, in Almon Gibb's store building in
ganized, and the claim of Mars Nearing for
erecting the new courthouse at Perrysburg
was allowed. The population of the County
of Wood at this time was less than 1,000,
which is proof that the county was very thinly
settled.
OLD LUCAS COUNTY COURT HOUSE AT MAUMEE
Maumee. The commissioners were Samuel H.
Ewing, David Hubbell, and John Pray. The
commissioners appointed William Pratt as
county treasurer. C. G. McCurdy was then
the prosecuting attorney, and Seneca Allen
was county auditor. Mr. Gibbs was paid $40
for the use of his store for one year. On
March 19, 1823, the county seat was removed
from Maumee to Perrysburg, and the commis-
sioners met at that place on March 19, 1823,
for the purpose of preparing suitable county
buildings. Several new townships were or-
Port Lawrence Township, which at that
time included about one-half of the present
Lucas County, was organized as a township
of Monroe County, Michigan, on May 27,
1827. It embraced two road districts. An
interesting item of the history of this period
is that Benjamin F. Stickney, who figures so
conspicuously in our early history, held the
honorable position of pound master. Noah
A. Whitney was assessor, while John Wai-
worth and Coleman I. Keeler were overseers
of the poor. At the first township election,
HISTORY OF NOKTHWKST Oillo
479
which was that of Wayncsfield, only twenty-
five votes were cast, and among these early
voters are a number of the names prominent
in our early history. It took place at the
house of Aurora Spafford. On July 27th, the
annual territorial election was held, when
Austin E. Wing, of Monroe, was chosen dele-
gate to Congress. The last election held in
the township under authority of Michigan
was in April, 1835, at the schoolhouse on Ten-
Mile-Creek Prairie. The last recorded action
under that authority was the laying out of
the Tremainesville and Toledo Road, now
known as Cherry Street.
The early settlers either did not stand very
high in intelligence, or else a poet of the prim-
itive days slandered the neighborhood ter-
ribly, for he wrote :
"On Maumee, on Maumee,
Potatoes they grow small;
They roast them in the fire,
And eat them — tops and all. ' '
This section was also on the edge of the
Black Swamp and so this same muse immor-
talizes the early sufferings of the pioneers, a
condition which fortunately has passed away :
"On Maumee, on Maumee,
'Tis ague in the fall ;
The fit will shake them so,
It rocks the house and all."
The first building used for a courthouse in
the newly organized Lucas County was the
schoolhouse on Erie Street, between Monroe
and "Washington, in the City of Toledo. This
was the memorable session held at night for
strategic reasons. Here the courts continued
to be held for about a year, when they re-
moved to the building at the northwest corner
of Summit and Monroe streets. Here an auc-
tioneer's license was granted to Munson H.
Daniels for $5, and Mortimer H. Williams
was given permission to keep a tavern for $15.
Alva D. Wilkinson secured the right to oper-
ate a ferry across the river opposite the Toledo
House. A number of declarations of citizen-
ship were filed by British subjects. Rev.
Orin Mitchel, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was the first minister authorized to
solemnize marriages. At the fourth term of
court (1837) thirteen different parties were
indicted for the unlawful sale of liquor,
among whom was one of the judges of the
court (not a lawyer). At this session John
Leybourne received the first naturalization
papers ever issued in the county.
The experience of early officials is well
shown in the following :
"An incident in Mr. Young's experience
while Auditor of the County, will illustrate
something of the condition of the roads and
the means of travel at that early date. In
the Winter of 1836-7, that gentleman found it
necessary to visit Toledo (then the County-
Seat), for the purpose of making the annual
settlement with the County Treasurer (San-
ford L. Collins). The only direct road from
Maumee City (Mr. Young's residence) to To-
ledo, was a bridlepath, lying along the West
bank of the Maumee River. On the way Del-
aware Creek had to be crossed, and, as result
of rains and a thaw, that stream was full to
its banks, with a strong current. It was too
deep for wading, and the only recourse left
was for Mr. Young to dismount and employ
his faithful horse in towing him across. To
this end, he obtained a log large enough for
a float. Driving his horse into the stream
ahead, he placed himself on the log and took
hold of the animal's tail, when he was towed
in safety to the other side. The extreme
chilliness of the water made the trip anything
but agreeable, but as no injury was caused
thereby, he regarded the transit an entire suc-
cess. ' '
The contrast of the situation at that time,
with the beautiful River Road, the Wabash
and the Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City
Railways, and three electric lines which now
480
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
connect Toledo and the Maumee City of for-
mer days, can be duly appreciated by those
who were compelled to employ the early
facilities.
The first board of county commissioners
of Lucas County consisted of John Baldwin,
Robert Gower, and Cyrus Holloway. The
other initial officials were Samuel M. Young,
auditor; Eli Ilubbard, treasurer; and Fred-
erick Wright, recorder. The first session of
the county legislative board was held at To-
ledo on the 14th of September, 1835, Hollo-
way being absent.
At the second session of the board, October
12, 1835, "it being deemed expedient and
absolutely necessary for the well-being and
the enjoyment of the rights of citizens of this
State, that that part of the County of Lucas,
known as 'the disputed territory,' and lying
North of what is known as the 'Fulton line,'
be annexed, for Township purposes, to the
Township of Waynesfield, " it was resolved,
that that part of Lucas County known as Port
Lawrence Township, be annexed to the Town-
ship of Waynesfield, for all civil purposes,
and that the electors of the same have equal
rights and privileges at the then ensuing elec-
tion as did other electors of Waynesfield
Township ; whereupon it was directed that
notice be given to the electors of Port Law-
rence that they should vote at Maumee City,
and thus have "the privilege of voting, with-
out the interference of the Michigan authori-
ties. " At a session held on the following day,
Port Lawrence was restored to its former
status, as the Michigan authorities had agreed
to abide by the action of Congress on the
boundary question. For the one election, how-
ever, Toledo citizens were obliged to go to
Maumee to vote.
In a few months Samuel Barrett succeeded
Cyrus Holloway as commissioner. Amasa
Bishop, John and Matthias Van Fleet, Aaron
H. Doolittle, and John Pray were named
among others as viewers of new roads to be
established. Providence Township was organ-
i/cd, with the first election to be held at the
home of Peter Manor. Springfield Township,
with an election at the home of William Ford,
soon followed. Many new roads were acted
upon, some only by way of surveys, while
appropriations were being made for the im-
provement of others. In 1836 William P.
Daniels succeeded John Baldwin as commis-
sioner, the latter having been elected asso-
ciate judge. In 1838 William P. Daniels and
Eli Hubbard were appointed a committee to
purchase a ' ' County Poor Farm, ' ' so that pov-
erty must have appeared early.
It was resolved to erect a courthouse on
"Court House Square," near the old Oliver
House, "said building to be the size and ar-
rangements of the Ashtabula County Court-
House. " For such a structure the propri-
etors of the City of Toledo had bound them-
selves to contribute $20,000. In the same
year the new jail was accepted, and an appro-
priation of $25,000 made for the new building.
In 1843, under the law to levy a tax upon
lawyers and physicians "according to their
annual income," Morrison R. Waite was as-
sessed $4, and Jessup W. Scott $1. Many
more items of interest to those interested in
historical facts are reported by Clark Wag-
goner in his "History of Toledo and Lucas
County, ' ' but there is not space to recite them
in the present work.
In June, 1840, the county seat of Lucas
County was removed to Maumee City, and
that village became the seat of justice,
through the action of the commissioners
selected by the Legislature. In that year the
contract was let for the erection of the county
buildings, and in the year following, on the
8th of October, the new building was accepted.
This building remained in use until the re-
moval of the county seat back to Toledo, under
a vote held in October, 1852. In 1858 it was
sold, including the land, for $360. As the
Maumee building had been built largely
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
481
through contributions made by the residents
of that village, they asked for the return to
them of the sums that they had paid. Under
the advice of the attorney-general of Ohio,
this was done, and the amount returned
totaled almost $10,000. That sum was paid in
the amounts stated, to the following named
persons : Dr. Oscar White, $100 ; James Wol-
cott, $100; J. E. Hunt, $3,000; George Rich-
ardson, $100; J. H. Bronson, $100; William
St. Clair, $100; John Hale, $50; James W.
Converse, $50; Young & Waite, $259.41;
Thomas Clark 2d, $552.58; Andrew Young,
$100; A. H. E wing's Estate, $2,000; D. F.
Cook, $201; George B. Knaggs, $100; James
H. Forsyth, $40; R. A. Forsyth, $500; Ho-
ratio Conant, $132; Horace Waite, $250; C.
C. P. Hunt, $100; Isaac Hull, $250; Samuel
Wagner, $25. This list is of interest, as show-
ing who were the enterprising citizens to
whom Maumee was largely indebted for the
county seat for twelve years. This old struc-
ture still stands in Maumee.
One of the conditions of the removal of the
county seat to Toledo was that accommoda-
tions for a courthouse and jail be furnished,
and a bond of $20,000 to fulfill this condition
was required. This was given by the city
and twenty-eight citizens of the county. The
names of these citizens are as follows : H. D.
Mason, Matt Johnson, William Baker, Ezra
Bliss, J. H. Whitaker, T. H. Hough, S. Lins-
ley, Thomas Watkins, Jr., George W. Scott,
Hez L. Hosmer, V. H. Ketcham, James Myers,
C. A. King, Valentine Wall, John P. Free-
man, L. T. Thayer, Simeon Fitch, Jr., Daniel
Segur, Daniel McBain, Sanford L. Collins,
C. W. Hill, John U. Pease, James White, H.
D. Warren, D. C. Morton, Edson Allen, Ira
L. Clark. For temporary use the city leased
a building on Summit Street, north of Cherry,
which was known as the Duell block, the rent
for which was $700 per year. The election of
1852, by which the county seat was changed,
excited great interest, and about 3,500 votes
were cast. It overshadowed the election of a
president in that year. The bitterness be-
tween Toledo and Maumee was intense. The
courthouse constructed was built on the pres-
ent site of the building, but soon proved inade-
quate. For many years a new building was
discussed, and in the year 1886 authority was
secured from the Legislature by which the
county commissioners were authorized to ex-
pend $500,000 for such a purpose. It was not
until 1892 that all opposition was removed
and the work actively begun. The corner-
stone was laid September 3, 1893. A beau-
tiful park surrounds this majestic building,
and a monument to President McKinley
adorns the principal approach.
The first jail was the residence of Sheriff
C. G. Shaw. At a meeting of the commis-
sioners, held in 1837, this was declared to be
the official bastile. Soon thereafterwards a
building 20 by 30 feet, one story high, and
with three cells to be built of planks, was
authorized. This was to be jointly owned
by the city and county for the confinement
of prisoners, and was located near the corner
of Summit and Cherry streets. This was used
until the removal of the seat of justice to
Maumee. When the county seat meandered
back to Toledo, a brick building was erected
on the present Court House Square. This was
replaced by a new structure in 1856, which
was used until the completion of the present
stone structure, and there were several sensa-
tional jail deliveries during that time.
At the "midnight session" of court held
on September 7, 1835, the president judge,
David Higgins, was not present. He arrived
in Toledo for the first time on the 27th of
April, 1836, and was met by his three asso-
ciates, J. H. Jerome, Baxter Bowman, and
William Wilson. Court was opened in the
most formal manner. Little business was
transacted at this initial session. John Wil-
son was indicted for petit larceny and found
guilty. The sheriff, Cornelius G. Shaw, was
482
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
fined $160 for failure to bring in the body of
one Henry Morgan, a defendant in an action
of assumpsit. Andrew Coffinbury was ap-
pointed prosecuting attorney.
There was no session of the Supreme Court
held in Lucas County until 1838, when Judges
Ebenezer Lane and Frederick Grimke con-
ducted a short term at Toledo.
LAW AND MEDICINE
Of the early lawyers in Lucas County, it is
almost impossible to obtain a correct list in
chronological order. ' At one time there were
more followers of Blackstone dwelling in Mau-
mee City than there were in Toledo. Among
those who lived in the former place were
David Higgins, John M. May, Nathan Rath-
bone, Henry C. Stowell, Horace F. Waite,
Samuel M. Young, Henry S. Commager,
Morrison R. Waite, and Daniel F. Cook.
Hezekiah D. Mason came to Toledo about
1835 and, although a well-educated lawyer
with experience, he did not engage in prac-
tice here. Caleb F. Abbott opened an office
late in that year, and Richard Cooke began
practice in the following spring. A few
months afterwards he formed a partnership
with George B. Way. Mr. Way was a very
eloquent man, who could fill the courtroom
with a flood of eloquence, frequently carrying
both the jurors and the court with his per-
suasive words. After such a burst of energy
he was very likely to desert his office and law
books for a time, in order to give himself up to
indolence or to literary and artistic study, of
which he was very fond. He afterwards left
Toledo, in 1846, having been both mayor and
councilman of the city. He went to Defiance,
where he practiced for a time. Here he was
elected a president judge of the Common
Ple'as Court for the district, and continued
in this office until that position was abolished
by the new constitution. One of the famous
lawyers of the early days was Andrew Cof-
finbury, who bore throughout his life the title
of ' ' Count, ' ' and is mentioned in several other
chapters. He was a man of rare attainments,
and also was exceedingly popular. About
1839 he removed to Perrysburg, where he
entered into a partnership with his son,
James, the latter maintaining the firm 's prac-
tice at Maumee City. James was elected pros-
ecuting attorney for this county in that same
year, an office which he held for several years,
after which he removed to Findlay. Emery
D. Potter reached Toledo in the winter of
1834-5, and soon became prominent in the
community. He was postmaster, member of
the Legislature, president judge, mayor of
Toledo, and member of Congress. He lived
to celebrate the sixtieth year of his coming
to Toledo, the metropolis of the Maumee.
Lucas County has always been distinguished
for the ability of its lawyers. Even in the
early days, it had many distinguished names
on its list of practitioners. Daniel 0. Mor-
ton was one of the leaders. With a magnifi-
cent physique and an imposing appearance,
added to his thorough knowledge of the law,
he was indeed a formidable opponent. He
was wedded to politics, however, and his great
delight was a political encounter. He filled
a number of political offices. He was ap-
pointed by President Pierce as United States
attorney for Ohio, a position which he filled
for several years with distinction and ability.
Although a democrat, he was a strong union
man, and fought every attempt to favor the
secessionists. Charles W. Hill was a man of
untiring industry, and was therefore very suc-
cessful. He served during the Civil War, and
also filled the office of attorney-general of
Ohio. John Fitch was a terror to the crim-
inal classes during his years as prosecuting
attorney. He was a keen and skillful lawyer,
and left no loophole for escape. He was one
of the early elected judges.
In 1838 two young men came from Nor-
walk and announced in a card their intention
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to practice law in Toledo. These men were
.(dim R. Osbornc and Myron II. Tilden, and
the firm name was Tilden and Osborne. Mr.
Osborne did not remain long, at that time, but
.Mr. Tilden continued his home in Toledo. In
1856 Mr. Osborne returned, and occupied a
high position at the bar until his death at an
advanced age. In 1839 Mr. Tilden was elected
to the city council, and in the following year
to the office of mayor, a position which he
filled for four years. In 1843 he was chosen
president judge of this Common Pleas Dis-
trict, a position which he filled for four years.
In 1850 he removed to Cincinnati, where he
continued in practice with a number of dif-
ferent associates. He was elected to the Su-
perior Court of Cincinnati in 1873. In 1873
the firm of Noah A. Swayne and Benjamin I.
Brown began the practice of law in Toledo.
Mr. Swayne was then living in Columbus, and
Mr. Brown looked after the Toledo end of
the business. Mr. Swayne afterwards was
appointed associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States, and became known
over the entire country as an able lawyer and
an upright judge. It is not generally known
that Thomas M. Cooley, who afterwards dis-
tinguished himself to such a degree in the
Supreme Court of Michigan, and as an author
of legal books, was practicing here in the '50s.
At one time he was a candidate for judge of
the Common Pleas Court of this district.
Edward Bissell, a son of the Edward Bissell
who was so prominent in the early history
of Toledo, began the practice of law in Toledo
in 1849, after serving as a volunteer in the
Mexican War. He became one of the leading
and most successful lawyers at the Toledo bar.
Among other attorneys of earlier days who
deserve mention are Caleb F. Abbott, a pains-
taking lawyer and lover of politics, Henry
Bennett, a gentleman of the old school, and
Charles M. Dorr. Henry S. Commager came
to Toledo in 1852 from Maumee City. He
served with credit throughout the Civil War.
He died in Galveston, Texas, while acting as
an internal revenue collector. William Baker
carnc to Toledo in 1844, and practiced law
here with ability and distinction until his
death just a half century later. Hiram Wai-
bridge studied law with .Jnd^e Tild.-ii, and
practiced here for several years, during which
time he was commissioned brigadier-general
of Ohio militia. He moved to New York,
where he became very prominent in public
affairs and achieved a national reputation.
In later years came Charles Kent, one of the
very able lawyers of the county, and Charles
H. Scribner, who served with such distin-
guished ability on the Circuit bench.
A number of members of the Lucas County
bar have distinguished themselves in national
and state affairs. The name which stands out
above all is that of Morrison R. Waite, who
was appointed by President Grant as chief
justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States. He is given extended mention else-
where. John C. Lee, one of the prominent
members of the early bar, served as lieuten-
ant governor in 1868 and 1872. Jacob D.
Cox, who lived here for a time, filled one term
as governor of Ohio. John H. Doyle was
appointed a member of the Supreme Court
of Ohio by Governor Foster, a position which
he filled with ability. Ulysses G. Denman
was elected to the office of attorney-general of
Ohio. Charles H. Graves, former!}' of Oak
Harbor, was elected secretary of state for
Ohio, and re-elected again to the same office.
Brand Whitlock has achieved international
fame as United States minister to Belgium
during the Great War. When a separate Fed-
eral District Court was established in Toledo
in 1910, John M. Killits, then of Bryan, was
appointed to that position by President Taft,
and is the present incumbent.
Because of the large membership of the
Lucas County bar, it is impossible to make
mention of the living members, except in the
few instances just given. The same is true
484
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of deceased practitioners in recent years, save
in the case of those who were honored with
high positions. George R. Haines came to
Toledo in 1854, and made this city his home
until his death in 1908. On the organization
of the Circuit Court in 1884, he was elected
a member of that body, and served continu-
ously until death removed him from earthly
activity. One of his finest traits was his uni-
form kindness to and consideration for young
practitioners. Reuben C. Lemmon served on
the Common Pleas bench for twenty years,
longer than any other occupant of that bench
in the county. Isaac P. Pugsley served with
distinguished ability for eighteen years, and
refused to accept a nomination for another
term. Joshua R. Seney, Charles Pratt, Gil-
bert Harmon, and John P. Kumler were also
honored occupants of the Common Pleas
bench. Irwin I. Millard served on the Pro-
bate bench for twelve years, a length of serv-
ice unequaled in this county. Richard Waite,
a brother of Morrison R., was elected Probate
judge for one term, a position filled by him
with great dignity and ability.
Several citizens of Lucas County, not mem-
bers of the bar, have occupied high positions
in the state and nation. James M. Ashley,
after serving conspicuously in Congress, was
appointed by President Grant as territorial
governor of Montana. James Myers was lieu-
tenant governor of Ohio from 1854 to 1856.
The county has furnished two .members of the
board of public works. Gen. James B. Steed-
man entered upon his duties in 1852, and
served for four years. Abner L. Backus was
a member of that board from 1858 to 1861.
Dr. Horace N. Allen was United States min-
ister to Korea from 1901-5, and rendered con-
spicuous service during those years. Samuel
S. Knabenshue has been in the consular serv-
ice for a number of years. He was first sta-
tioned at Belfast, Ireland, and is now located
at Tientsin, China. Clement Carpenter was
first secretary of the legation at Santiago,
Chili, and served as charge d'affaires for a
short period. The following have been
representatives in Congress: From 1843 to
1845, and 1849 to 1851, Emery D. Potter;
1855 to 1859, Richard Mott; 1859 to 1869,
James M. Ashley ; 1869 to February 5, 1870,
Truman II. Hoag; 1875 to 1877, Frank H.
Hurd ; 1881 to 1883, James M. Ritchie ; 1883
to 1885, Frank H. Hurd ; 1885 to 1889, Jacob
Romeis; 1893 to 1895, Byron F. Ritchie; 1895
to 1907, James H. Southard; 1907 to 1918,
Isaac R. Sherwood, present incumbent.
The early physicians in Lucas County did
not have a sinecure in their occupation, if we
are to believe the statements of the contempo-
raneous writers. A couple of verses from an
article published in the Maumee Express, of
November 24, 1838, elucidate this feature of
life in the Maumee Valley at that time :
"I know it's not right to swear and curse,
For it puts no money in the purse ;
Besides, it only makes one worse,
To curse and to swear.
"But when a-body's shivering and shaking,
Os DENTES chattering, os humani aching,
The spinal pillar twisting and breaking,
Who can forbear?"
The first physician in this region, of whom
we have accurate knowledge, was a Doctor
Barton. Of him little is known, except that
he located at the rapids of the Maumee in the
early part of the nineteenth century. Dr.
Horatio Conant was the second physician to
establish himself within what is now Lucas
County, and he arrived in 1816. For a year
he engaged in business, and then commenced
the practice of medicine, which he afterwards
followed, except when occupied with public
affairs. His professional visits extended as
far as Defiance, and, on one occasion at least,
event to Fort Wayne, it being necessary to
make this entire trip on horseback. Dr. Wai-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ter Coltori arrived at Mauinee in 182:5, when
a very few houses marked the site, and re-
mained there for about four years. He then
moved to Monroe, Michigan. Dr. Oscar White
(•nine to Maumee City and formed a partner-
ship with Doctor Conant in 1829. Thirty years
later he removed to Toledo, where he spent
his remaining years. In all, he gave over fifty
years of liis life to the pioneers in the Mau-
mee Valley. Dr. J. V. D. Sutphen came to
Toledo in 1825, and erected a dwelling house
in which he began the practice of his profes-
sion, lie remained here until the time of the
Toledo War. In his controversy he espoused
the cause of Michigan, and was so badly cha-
grained at the outcome that he removed from
the city. Dr. John Fassett came to the vil-
lage of Vistula in 1832, and entered eighty
acres of land. He afterwards located him-
self on the east side of the river, near the
present terminal of the Cherry Street Bridge,
and practiced medicine there for many years.
Dr. Welcome Pray was a New Yorker by
birth. Shortly after receiving his diploma he
came West, and selected the Village of Water-
ville for his home. Here he continued to
reside, and practiced medicine for more than
half a century.
Dr. James L. Chase reached Lucas County
in 1836, and stopped at Manhattan. He began
to practice medicine in that locality and con-
tinued there for nearly forty years, when he
removed to Toledo. Dr. William W. Jones
came to Toledo immediately after his gradua-
tion in 1849. He also became prominently
identified with its activities, and served for
six years as mayor of the City of Toledo.
Among other practicing physicians of the
early days of Toledo were Drs. Harvey Bur-
ritt, Jacob Clark, John Mosher, Horace Green,
Blakesley H. Bush, Alexander Anderson, Hor-
ace A. Ackley. Manly Bostwick, Charles Mc-
Lean, B. S. Woodworth, William St. Clair,
Calvin Smith, Isaac N. Hazlett, and Franz
J. Klauser. Doctor Klauser served as United
States consul at Amsterdam, Holland, t'rciu
1861 to 1863. Dr. Arthur F. Bissell was the
founder of the Homeopathic School in To-
ledo. He came to this city in 1848, and at
once entered upon a successful professional
career.
In the spring of 1878 the Toledo School of
Medicine was organized. It was intended to
provide preliminary instruction for those
seeking admission to medical colleges. It was
opened in March, and continued for twenty
weeks. In 1882 a charter for a medical col-
lege was petitioned for under the name of the
Northwestern Ohio Medical College. A col-
lege building was located on Lagrange Street
and classes were graduated every spring after
its organization until 1892, when the college
was suspended. The Toledo Medical College
was organized in 1882, and a charter obtained
for it. Ten years later a new building at the
corner of Page and Cherry streets was com-
pleted, and there the medical college had its
home for many years. In 1905 it became a
department of Toledo University. Many phy-
sicians have gone forth from these halls who
have made themselves useful and prominent
in the cities and communities in which they
have located. The last class was graduated
in 1914. It was then decided to continue the
department as an institution to cover only
the first two years of the prescribed medical
course, and to discontinue the granting of the
degree of doctor of medicine.
THE PRESS
The first newspaper published in Maumee
Valley was the Miami of the Lake, which was
begun at Perrysburg, December 11, 1833, by
Jessup W. Scott and Henry Darling. In Ihe
following year James Irvine Browne came to
Toledo under an arrangement with some local
parties to conduct a newspaper. He was a
man of education and refinement, but the
delays and troubles of the pioneer editor were
486
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
many. No suitable building could be found,
and there was a warm contest between Upper
and Lower Town for the location of the news-
paper. After several months the material
arrived and a compromise site was selected
on Lagrange Street, near Summit, and about
the 15th of August the initial number of the
Toledo Herald appeared, the first paper in
Lucas County. It was a very creditable sheet
in both contents and appearance. Mr. Browne
set up his own type, worked his own press,
and had not even a "devil" to assist him.
Only three or four numbers, however, were
issued, as the editor was taken sick, which
put a quietus on the entire establishment. Not
long after the paper was revived under the
name of the Toledo Gazette. Its early issues
were very irregular, for a number appeared
only about two weeks out of every three. The
subscription list was small, and the chief sup-
port arose from the real estate advertisements
of the various promoters. Mr. Browne was
the first editor of this paper, and was suc-
ceeded in a few months by Samuel Allen.
Captain Allen had been prominently identi-
fied with the early efforts to build up Toledo
for several years. He had erected the first
wharf at Vistula. His materials were pur-
chased in 1836, and removed to Hartford, a
town then in what is now Ottawa County,
and were later removed to Lower Sandusky.
The next paper established at Toledo was
the Blade, in the year 1836. Abel W. Pair-
banks and S. S. Willard were the publishers,
but Mr. Fairbanks soon became the sole pro-
prietor. This paper ardently supported Gen-
eral Harrison for President. In 1842 Edward
A. Graves appeared as sole publisher, with
David McBain as editor. It was an event of
great interest when the first issue of the Tri-
Weekly Blade appeared in 1846. For ten
years the weekly had a hard struggle for bare
existence, but the proprietors managed to issue
it regularly. A little later these early trou-
bles seemed to have passed away. A number
of able contributors added much to its suc-
cess. For several years Jessup W. Scott filled
the position of editor. The Daily Blade ap-
peared in 1848 as a small sheet, and this was
also an event of great importance. At that
time Hezekiah L. Hosmer was the editor. In
1856 Clark Waggoner became one of the pro-
prietors of the Blade. He was the editor and
author of the very complete and comprehen-
sive "History of Toledo and Lucas County."
He had had considerable newspaper experi-
ence before coming to Toledo, and continued
as editor of the Blade for about ten years.
The most noted editor was David R. Locke
(Petroleum V. Nasby), who first became asso-
ciated with it as a partner of the firm of A.
D. Pelton & Co., the publishers. The firm
was changed to Miller, Locke & Co., and
again to Locke & Jones. Mr. Locke finally
became sole proprietor, and continued to pub-
lish the paper until his death in 1888. It is
still owned by his family. It is interesting
to know that in 1850 the local and town sub-
scriptions to the daily edition numbered 109,
to the tri-weekly 24, and the weekly 67. A
few copies were of course sent out of the city.
In 1839 there were published within what
is now Lucas County, the Express at Maumee
City, and the Advertiser at Manhattan, in
addition to the Blade. The Advertiser was
established in 1836 by Benjamin F. Smead,
before that town was a year old. It was
started practically without subscriptions, but
acquired a position of real influence during
the five or six years of its existence. The
next newspaper in order was the Toledo Reg-
ister, which made its appearance September
14, 1841, with Charles I. Scott as editor and
publisher. It was the first democratic publi-
cation. Mr. Scott continued to publish the
paper until 1843, when it was sold to Garret
D. Palmer, who changed the name to the
Toledo Herald. In the following year it sus-
pended publication, and was never revived.
The reason for this suspension, as given by
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
4*7
the proprietor, was "on account of the gen-
eral apathy of the Democrats of the District."
Another Gazette had a brief existence. Tin-
Toledo Commercial Republican made its bow
to the public as a daily and weekly in .March,
1849. The editor was Charles R, Miller. It
was known as a "Free Democratic" publica-
tion, and continued for a couple of years with
Charles R. Miller as editor. In 1858 it sus-
pended, and was revived again in 1862 as the
Toledo Commercial by J. A. Boyd and C. H.
Coy, with Josiah Riley as editor. At one time
it was owned by Isaac R. Sherwood and asso-
ciates. Clark Waggoner and Ralph H. Wag-
goner conducted this newspaper for several
years. In 1880 the name of the paper was
changed to the Toledo Telegram, and was pub-
lished as such for about three years by J. B.
Battelle. This is the paper that is now known
as the Toledo Times. In 1876 H. S. Chapin
started the Toledo Evening Bee, which was
published under that title for a number of
years. For several years it was edited by
Flavius J. Ohlinger, one of the best-known
newspaper men in Northwestern Ohio. The
Toledo News was introduced to Toledo at a
still later period, and these two were consoli-
dated under the name of the News-Bee, which
is its present title. It is now owned by the
Scripps-McRae Syndicate. The Toledo Jour-
nal was established as a weekly in 1868, and
was later issued as a Sunday paper, but finally
passed out of existence.
Many other publications are issued in To-
ledo. The Toledo Express dates from 1854,
when it first appeared as the Ohio Staats-
zeitung. The daily edition has been published
since 1871. A. A. Paryski established the
Gwiazda, a Polish semi-weekly paper, in 1887.
Two years later the name was changed to the
Ameryka. It is now known as the Ameryka-
Echo, and is issued in both a weekly and a
daily edition. In addition there are a legal
daily, several religious and fraternal publi-
cations, and papers in foreign languages. Only
two papers are published in the county out-
side of Toledo — one each at Maiimee and
Sylvania.
At a meeting of eitix.ens of Lucas County
held in Swanton, November 1:5, 1849, a county
agricultural society was organized. Sant'ord
L. Collins was elected its president, and .lohn
G. Klinck its secretary. It was called the
Lucas and Fulton Agricultural Society, and
the first fair was held in 1850. The premiums
were mostly subscriptions to agricultural
papers. In 1854 the word Fulton was dropped,
and Joel W. Kelsey was elected the president.
In 1877 the grounds were turned over to the
Tri-State Fair Association, which had just
been organized. L. S. Baumgardner was pres-
ident of this association, T. P. Brown vice
president, and E. W. E. Koch secretary. The
first fair under this management was held in
that year. For many years its annual fair
was a great event in Northwest Ohio, but it
finally closed out and county fairs have again
taken its place.
THE PIONEER ASSOCIATION
Although a desire for organized action had
been manifested for many years among the
survivors of the early settlers, no definite
step toward the formation of a pioneer asso-
ciation was taken until the spring of 1864.
At that time a call was issued for a gathering
of pioneers at Toledo on May 7th. At this
meeting Judge E. D. Potter was called upon
to preside, and Henry Burnett was appointed
secretary. Jessup W. Scott, Sanford L. Col-
lins, and Richard Mott were appointed a com-
mittee to prepare a constitution. Peter Na-
varre, the oldest living resident of the Mau-
mee Valley, addressed the meeting, and he
was declared president. Dr. Horatio Conaut,
Nathaniel B. Blinn, and Dr. Oscar White were
named as vice presidents. E. D. Potter,
Samuel B. Scott, and Noah A. Whitney were
selected as trustees. J. M. Comstock was
made treasurer.
488
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
In 1865 a meeting was held in Toledo, with
Mayor Brigham presiding. At this meeting
Brice Hilton, of Defiance, was elected a vice
president, and Mr. Brigham a trustee. A com-
mittee of one from each county were ap-
pointed, to gather and present facts and relics
connected with the early history of the Mau-
mee Valley, to-wit:
Williard V. Way, of Wood County; Dr.
Oscar White, of Lucas; John Powell, of
Henry ; Dr. Jonas Colby, of Defiance ; William
A. Stevens, of Williams; George Skinner, of
Putnam ; Robert A. Howard, of Fulton ; Ho-
ratio N. Curtis, of Paulding; and James Wat-
son Riley, of Mercer.
Since the original organization of the Mau-
mee Valley Pioneer Association, meetings
have been held almost every year. It is
now known as the Maumee Valley Pioneer
and Historical Association. One by one the
original pioneers have departed for the bourne
whence none return, but their children have
kept the spirit of patriotism and love of his-
torical association alive. In some instances
the present representation is of the third gen-
eration. A number of the annual meetings
have been held at Perrysburg, and some have
been convened at more distant Defiance. As
early as 1880 resolutions were adopted urging
Congress to purchase the site of Fort Meigs
and make such improvements as would be con-
sistent with its history. Through persistent
efforts an appropriation was finally made by
the Ohio Legislature, and the old battlefield
purchased. A splendid shaft has been erected
to mark the site of the old fort — for all of
which this society must be given full credit.
It is its purpose to erect other memorials on
historic sites, and thus preserve for future
generations the history of the storied Valley
of the Maumee.
MAUMEE
One of the first records filed in the record-
er's office of Wood County was a plat of Mau-
mee City, in August, 1818. It was prepared
by A. I. Wheeler for John E. Hunt, and con-
sisted of 109 large lots. Three lots were set
aside for public buildings, and two others were
donated for church and school purposes. This
plat was acknowledged before Seneca Allen,
a justice of the peace for the County of Lo-
gan, who resided at Orleans, just below Fort
Meigs. Not long afterwards a deed was
recorded from Aurora Spafford to David Hull
for one of the lots, with a consideration of
$400. A postoffice had already been estab-
lished there. The City of Maumee was incor-
porated in March, 1838, and an election was
held on the 26th of that month. Robert A.
Forsythe was elected the first mayor against
John E. Hunt, his opponent, by a vote of two
to one. When the city council met, James
Wolcott was elected its president, and Daniel
Cook was selected as the village treasurer;
Henry Reed, Jr., was made recorder, and F.
E. Kirtland, marshal. At this time one of the
first councilmen was George B. Knaggs, son
of Whitmore Knaggs, a noted Indian inter-
preter, who spoke six or seven Indian dialects
fluently. Maumee City was looked upon as
the most promising place in the entire Mau-
mee Valley. The first settlers here were very
enterprising, and spared no effort to make
Maumee City a real city in fact.
The small size of the vessels in the early
days contributed to the success of the up-river
towns. Before 1830 the only craft were small
sailing vessels, with an occasional steamer.
The most noted of the vessels. in those days
were the Leopard and the Eagle. These boats
could easily reach Perrysburg and Maumee.
For Fort Wayne and other Indiana points,
goods were unloaded at Perrysburg, hauled
thence to Providence (Grand Rapids) by
wagons, and there loaded on "keel boats"
propelled by poles. A curious reminder of
that day is the record of a meeting of the
merchants of Fort Wayne to "secure them-
selves from oppression by a combination of
HISTORY OF NORTIIWEST OHIO
489
the forwarding merchants of Maumee and
Perrysburg. " This proves that the trust idea
is not entirely a new one. Many boats were
built at Maumee.
The early citizens of the two towns at the
"Rapids of the Maumee" equaled in sagacity
and enterprise their rivals of Toledo. A large
warehouse was built at Miami, a mile below
Maumee, in 1836, and this place was hailed
as the coming commercial point. In fact,
there were many "coming" places. By 1841
partner finally came to Toledo. The advan-
tage once gained has never been lost, and com-
merce to the "foot of the rapids" soon ceased
entirely. At one time a petition was seriously
circulated asking the Legislature to construct
a canal from Manhattan to Maumee, to be
connected with Perrysburg by an aqueduct.
In justification of this petition, these peti-
tioners alleged that they had purchased their
property from the state at a high price, be-
lieving it to be the head of navigation, and
FORT MIAMI, NEAR MAUMEE, AS IT APPEARS TODAY
Miami had a thriving business in receiving
and forwarding merchandise. Denison B.
Smith and James H. Hazard were moving
factors, and they took much trade from Per-
rysburg. It was not until the opening of the
canal in 1843 that the superior advantages of
Toledo as a shipping point began to be dem-
onstrated. As the size of the vessels increased,
the tortuous and narrow channel leading to
Maumee began to be more and more trouble-
some. Vessels drawing more than 6 feet of
water could not be sure of passing Rock Bar.
When the draught of vessels had increased to
double that depth, the enterprising and help-
ful business men gave up the struggle and
moved down the river. Mr. Smith and his
now the Legislature should make good that
claim.
The name of Maumee was afterwards
changed to South Toledo in 1871, bat sixteen
years later again resumed Maumee, dropping
the word "City." At one time it more than
rivaled Toledo. It had many newspapers in
its early days. It has the unusual distinction
of having been the county seat of two coun-
ties, Wood and Lucas. The first court held
in the Maumee Valley was also held there.
The Methodist Church was organized in 1834,
by a "class" meeting at the house of James
Jackson, who was the Indian agent at the
place. The Presbyterian Church was organ-
ized in 1820, and the Episcopal Church sev-
490
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
eral years later. The Wolcott Building, built
by James Wolcott, one of the pioneers of
Maumee Valley, in 1834-6, still stands. It
was built of hewed logs, now sided over, and
is two stories in height. Mrs. Wolcott was
a daughter of Little Turtle. From early
times Maumee had a number of rivals on this
side of the river, as well as Perrysburg, di-
' rectly opposite. Marengo was surveyed and
located toward Toledo, but was closed out by
order of court in 1838. Still nearer was the
Village of Miami, which was a vigorous rival
for a while, but its site is included within the
corporate limits of Maumee. The plat for the
site of Vinton was at one time prepared to be
located near Swan Creek. On the opposite
side of the river were Oregon, East Marengo,
and Austerlitz.
WATERVILLE
The first actual settlement made in or
around Waterville was about a mile and a
half above the village, when Isaac Richardson
located there in 1814. His farm afterwards
was known as ' ' Roche de Boeuf farm. ' ' Gil-
bert Underwood arrived two years later, and
in 1818 John Pray came with his wife and
four children from Madison County, and be-
came one of the most energetic settlers. The
first business was opened by Mr. Richardson
when he became the boniface. His hotel was
a double log house, and he continued to run a
tavern for a dozen years or more, when he
was shot and killed by George Porter, a some-
what notorious character. Porter was after-
wards hung at Perrysburg, this being the first
legal execution in Northwest Ohio. John
Pray opened the Columbian House, and also
became the first postmaster, there being at
that time a weekly mail between Defiance and
Toledo. It was the water power, however,
which had brought Mr. Pray to Waterville,
and he erected a grist-mill on Granger Island,
which he purchased from the Government,
and ran it with water power. This was the
first real grist-mill on the lower Maumee. He
afterwards introduced machinery for carding
wool and dressing hemp, and also added a dis-
tillery. He held a number of public offices,
and lived to the good ripe age of eighty-nine.
About a mile and a half north of the present
village, a mill was built by Adams, Hunt &
Co., known as the "Old Red Ox Mill" because
oxen were its motive power. It was used in
grinding coarse feed. The building was after-
wards overhauled and used as a schoolhouse.
The first township officers were elected in
1831, at which time William Meeker, James
C. Adams, and Jonas Cleveland were chosen
trustees. At another election in the same
year, John Vanfleet and Daniel Larkins were
made justices of the peace. The Methodist
Episcopal Church was organized in the year
1834. The first preacher was Rev. Elam Day,
but his congregation at that time was very
small. In 1837 a Presbyterian society was
organized with ten members. A schoolhouse
was built in the village as early as 1834,
which shows that these early settlers were in-
terested in education. The Village of Water-
ville was platted in February, 1830, and now
stands as the second existing plat in Lucas
County. It was platted by John Pray, who
then removed his mills here, and the falls
there were generally known as Fray's Falls.
The original plat consisted of fifty lots, most
of which contained a quarter of an acre. Six
years later an addition was platted by D. B.
Bruin, D. M. Wilson, and James and Gabriel
0. Kinney. Among the early merchants were
Philip Cripliver, Leander Sackett, and Jona-
than Hungerford. 'The earliest physicians
were Paris and Welcome Pray.
Whitehouse, which is within the same town-
ship as Waterville, was not laid out until
1864, when the Wabash Railroad was built
through there. It has from the first been a
railroad station, which has made it a point
of considerable local interest in furnishing
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
491
a market for (lie fanners in that vicinity. It
was named after Edward Whitchouse, a stock-
holder of the railroad, who also owned the
land on which the village was located. A sort
of settlement with a church and postoffice,
had gradually grown up there before the
advent of rail communication. The postoffice
was established in 1858, with Alexander Walp
as the postmaster. A. J. Eldridge opened up
the first store.
SYLVANIA
Sylvania acquired its name from the beau-
tiful forests which used to exist there. This
timber has now generally disappeared, and
well-cultivated farms have taken its place.
The development of this township began
about the year 1832, when a log house was
built by Gen. David White within the present
Village of Sylvania, and on the north bank of
the Ottawa River. He became the commu-
nity's most energetic citizen. Another early
settler was Judge William Wilson. He was
one of the judges of the "Midnight Court"
held in Toledo. The first white child born in
the township was Libbe Bancroft, in the year
1834. General White himself erected the first
schoolhouse in Sylvania, a small building, 18
by 24 feet, which was also used as a meeting
house. When the Erie and Kalamazoo Rail-
road was built there, the track ran so close to
the building that the running of the cars
annoyed the general, and the building was
removed to the opposite side of the town. We
have a record of a town meeting held in 1838,
when Pliny Lathrop, Andrew Printup, and
Elijah Rice were elected trustees. John Har-
roun, Elkanah Briggs, and Benjamin Joy
were given the important office of fence view-
ers. At this election ninety-one votes were
cast, which shows that there were a good many
settlers at that time. At a town meeting held
in the same year, Pliny Lathrop and John N.
Pease were elected justices of the peace.
The original plat of what is now Sylvailiu
was named Whitefonl. On July 11, l^
David White recorded the plat of Whiteford.
In the following year Judge Wilson, William
F. Denney, D. D. Harris, and L. W. Allen
employed Samuel Divine, then county sur-
veyor, to lay out Sylvania, on the west side
of Division Street, which included the Wilson
and White lauds. This plat was acknowl-
edged before C. D. Wing, J. P., July 13, 1836.
The business part of the town grew up in
Sylvania, and the two settlements were united
into a corporation in 1867, as the Village of
Sylvania. The first mayor of the incorpo-
rated village was James W. Clark, and Wil-
liam Bryan was the clerk. The Sylvania
High School Company was incorporated for
educational purposes in 1844, at the residence
of John U. Pease. The Congregational Church
of Sylvania was first organized as the First
Presbyterian Church, of the Town of White-
ford. At a meeting held at the schoolhouse,
November 8, 1834, a very respectable congre-
gation was soon built up, and this church has
always been influential in the community. At
a later time it adopted the Congregational
form of government, and has since been
known as the First Congregational Church
of Sylvania. The first deacons of this new
organization were Jedediah Jessup and Elijah
Rice. As might be expected, Gen. David
White was an influential factor of this church
and was a permanent member of it during all
his life. His temperance views were very pro-
nounced. Hence it was that the church of
his choice established a rule of total absti-
nence from all intoxicating liquors as a con-
dition of membership. This was rather un-
usual in a day when at least moderate drink-
ing was almost universal. A class of the
Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in
1834, and a building was "built in the woods"
for their accommodation.
Holland was platted in 1863 by Robert
Clark. It was at first known by the name
492
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of Hardy, but four years later the name was
changed to Holland. The original postoffice
was kept by James Dean on the Toledo Plank
Road, three miles west of the present village,
in a hotel conducted by him. Monclova,
although smaller, is much older. It dates
from 1836, when Hezekiah Hubbell and 0.
H. Beatty undertook to plat a village. A post-
office was established there in 1854, with Ben-
jamin Barnes as postmaster.
PROVIDENCE
At the beginning of the War of 1812, prob-
ably 1,000 Indians lived in the neighborhood
of Providence. Here was the Village of Ton-
dagamie, the Dog. Providence at one time-
was a lively place. The first store was erected
in 1835 by A. B. Mead, which was followed by
the erection of two more business houses soon
after by J. B. Abele and Neptune Nearing,
respectively. In the same year the postoffice
was established, with John Berlin as postmas-
ter. A Mr. Phillips built the first hotel.
The original plat had eighty lots and five
streets. Providence had all the evidence of
commercial growth of a thriving village.
Stores, hotels, and warehouses were rapidly
constructed to supply the demands of busi-
ness. It became the stopping place for
traders and travelers on their way to the
great West. To accommodate these travelers,
as early as 1840 five hotels had been built
in Providence, while four general stores
did a lucrative business. Another source of
prosperity was the trade in fur and timber,
found in abundance in the surrounding coun-
try. An extensive fire in 1846 destroyed the
principal business portion of the village,
which never was rebuilt. The cholera scourge
of 1854 was particularly severe in Providence,
a large portion of the population dying of this
disease. After this period lots began to be
vacated; and today, where once was a thriv-
ing village, is nothing but farming lands. The
only structure remaining of the original build-
ings is a portion of a brick residence now
occupied by Elias Oberly, formerly the resi-
dence of Peter Manor.
Of all the points along the Maumee River,
Providence Village had the reputation of
being a very bad place, and this reputation
perhaps was not undeserved. Fights and
drunken carousals were of frequent occur-
rence, while, if the opinion of those familiar
with its history during the period of its great-
est prosperity is to be believed, it was the
resort of criminal classes from not only along
the Maumee, but from the State of Michigan
as well.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
MARION COUNTY
J. WILBUR JACOBY, MARION
When the Greenville Treaty was consum-
mated, in 1795, both the whites and the
Indians believed that the line running east-
ward from Greenville would for many years
mark the limits of the oncoming civilization.
So aggressive was the pioneer movement,
however, that before Ohio had completed its
fifth year as a state, the resolute settler had
reached this artificial barrier and stood ready
at the first opportunity to possess the land
beyond. This historic treaty line, commonly
known as the Indian Boundary, passes
through Marion County, and forms a part of
its southern demarcation. North of it were
the lands of the Wyandot, Delaware, Shaw-
nee, Ottawa, Miami, and Seneca Indians. The
two former tribes camped, hunted, and fished
along the Sandusky, Scioto, and Whetstone
rivers.
At the time the first white settler crossed
the Greenville Treaty Line, and took up their
homes in the unbroken forest, they found the
Delaware and Wyandot Indians camping,
hunting and trapping along all the streams of
the county. They were never confined to their
reservations, but lead a wandering life, sim-
ply making the reservations their home. The
author has heard his grandparents speak
many times of parties of Delawares, often as
many as fifty in a party, camping on the pres-
ent site of the brick schoolhouse on the west
bank of the Olentangy, just north of the
Jacoby Bridge, and on the northwest quarter
of section thirty in Richland Township.
Another favorite camping-place in the same
township was on the south bank of the Olen-
tangy River, on the northwest quarter of sec-
tion thirty.
At the famous treaty at the "Foot of the
Rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie (Mau-
mee)," in 1817, a small reservation "to con-
tain nine square miles to join the tract
granted to the Wyandots of twelve miles
square, to be laid off as nearly in a square
form as practicable, and to include Captain
Pipe's Village," was allotted to the Delawares.
A part of this grant was included within
Marion County, its southern boundary being
nine miles north of the City of Marion.
When the first permanent settlers reached the
county, they found these Indians occupying
this reservation. It was not until August 3,
1829, that this land was ceded by treaty to
the United States for the sum of $3,000 in
money and a large reservation west of the
Missouri River, not far from Kansas City.
This treaty was concluded at Little Sandusky,
and it was not long afterwards until the mem-
bers of the tribe began their journey toward
the setting sun.
That portion of the county south of the
Indian Boundary began to be settled as early
as 1806 by the Watts, Brundiges, and Drakes,
and remained a part of Delaware County until
it was attached to Marion County by the
Legislature in 1845. The Indian lands north
of the treaty line were not thrown open to
settlement until 1820. It was a very common
sight with these early pioneers to see both
Delawares and Wyandots in the Village of
Marion, whither they came to dispose of their
pelts, moccasins, game, cranberries, etc. They
493
494
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
were well behaved, except when drunk, and
then they might be seen riding their ponies
up and down the main street at breakneck
speed, and whooping like the genuine savages
that they were supposed to be. Captain
Pipe, Jr., son of the old Captain Pipe, who
burned Captain Crawford, used to come with
his people occasionally. Like the others, he
also loved the firewater of the palefaces.
Solomon Johnnycake, husband of Sally Wil-
liams, a quarter blood, was also well known
among the settlers. Both of these Indians
journeyed west with their tribe. A bad
Indian named Nickles was shot and killed by
Benjamin Sharrock, of this county. This
Indian had threatened several times to kill
Sharrock and a couple of his neighbors.
It was in February, 1820, that Marion
County was created, and it was named in
honor of the celebrated Revolutionary gen-
eral Francis Marion. The county then in-
cluded about 140,000 more acres of land than
it does today. As a matter of fact, it has
undergone many mutations. At one time it
was divided between Wayne and Washington
counties, under the territorial government.
After statehood the southern portion was in-
cluded in Fairfield County. In 1803 it be-
came a part of Franklin County, and six years
later it was set off to Delaware. In this rela-
tionship it remained until the separate divi-
sion was formed. It was three years later
before the county was fully organized, and
then Crawford County was attached to it
for judicial purposes. In 1845 Marion was
obliged to yield some of its territory to form
the newly-created county of Wyandot, and
the same process was applied in 1848 for the
benefit of Morrow. As a slight compensation
on this occasion, Delaware was obliged to
sacrifice a part of Waldo and Prospect town-
ships to Marion.
One factor that operated to bring about a
speedy settlement of the county after its or-
ganization was the Old Military Road from
Perrysburg to Lower Sandusky. This historic
roadway was ceded to the United States by a
treaty made at Brownstown, Michigan, on
November 25, 1808, with the Chippewas, Ot-
tawas, Pottawatomies, Wyandots, and Shaw-
nees, and is described elsewhere. By the same
treaty a strip of land 120 feet wide, for a
roadway only, settlements being barred, was
ceded from Lower Sandusky (Fremont) south
to the Indian boundary line. This latter road
followed up the Sandusky River, passed just
west of Tiffin, and through Upper Sandusky
and Marion. Through Marion County the
road followed, in its general course, the
Marion and Upper Sandusky, and Marion
and Delaware pikes. Early in the War of
1812 General Harrison caused a roadway
forty feet wide to be cut through the wilder-
ness along the line of this grant, and this
became the chief route over which were
moved to the frontier those troops that were
assembled at Chillicothe, then the capital of
the state, as well as the great highway over
which artillery and supplies were forwarded
to the Army of the Northwest. This Military
Road at once became, and remains to this day,
the principal thoroughfare in the county.
When the territory north of the Greenville
Treaty Line was thrown open to settlement,
the lands made accessible by this pioneer road
were first appropriated. At convenient inter-
vals along the way was located the indis-
pensable tavern, where information was
freely given to each new arrival, and liquid
refreshments were regularly served to the
hardy and thirsty emigrant.
A few settlers had located in Marion
County prior to the War of 1812. Nathaniel
Brundige and Nathaniel Wyatt, Sr., estab-
lished themselves in the southern portion, near
Waldo, in 1806. They were New Yorkers,
but had lived for a number of years in Vir-
ginia. Ruth Wyatt, born in 1807, was prob-
ably the first white child born within the
county. Capt. William S. Drake joined the
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
195
little settlement in 1807, and entered a quar-
ter section of land at $2.50 per acre. These
earliest pioneers \vere soon joined by other
adventurous spirits. But the first general
knowledge of Marion County by the white
man was acquired during the second war with
Great Britain. Many of those who afterward
became its first settlers, and the progenitors
of distinguished families and substantial for-
tunes, had been soldiers in the western cam-
paigns of that conflict. Among the number
were Eber Baker, the founder of Marion ;
George H. Busby, the first treasurer and clerk
of the county, and later its first resident con-
gressman ; Ile/t'kiah Gorton, its first auditor ;
Josiah Copeland, its pioneer stonequarryman ;
Dr. George Holloway, a pioneer physician;
and Henry Worline, who built the first saw-
mill in the county. Altogether, more than
forty of the soldiers of the War of 1812, in
the prime of life, and sixteen veterans of the
Revolution, in their declining years, chose
Marion County for their homes.
Another important factor that made for
the county's speedy settlement was the fact
that it lay next to the Indian boundary line,
with Delaware and Knox counties to the
south, both of which had been thrown open to
settlement twenty-five years earlier. Un-
doubtedly the most enterprising and far
sighted citizens of these border counties had,
with dog and gun, many times during the six
years following the War of 1812, explored the
wilderness which covered the south half of
the county and the broad prairie lying be-
yond. In fact, soon after the war closed,
"squatters" began to appropriate the high-
est and choicest spots of the county, so that
when the lands were placed on the market
the purchasers of land titles, in frequent in-
stances, found the lands already occupied.
It was on the 15th of August, 1820, that the
first lands in Marion County, north of the
Indian boundary, were offered for sale. From
that date the march of emigration, so long
held back by this artificial barrier, was spon-
laneoiis and steady. There \\MS no lighting
with the Indians, but there was an abundance
of hard and stern toil, attended with much
suffering from malaria and ague, resulting
from the damp lands and decaying vegeta-
tion. But the emigrants arrived in ever in-
creasing numbers, most of them traveling by
way of Delaware, Ohio. They came from
Franklin, Ross, Delaware, Fairfield, Knox,
and Licking counties; from Kentucky and
Virginia; from New York and the New En-
gland States; from far off Maine came the
founder of Marion ; and, lastly and most
numerously, they came in the old emigrant
wagons from Pennsylvania — plain, simple,
Dutch stock, young and vigorous, with small
wealth and large families, to hew a future
home out of the virgin forest. This blending
of American provincials in Marion County
was not by chance. It is one of the few coun-
ties of Ohio that includes within its limits
United States Military, Virginia Military, and
Congress lands. In Marion the currents of
Ohio's many streams of emigration met and
commingled.
Marion County's pioneers were almost ex-
clusively native-born Americans. Most of
them had settled first in some one of the older
counties to the south or east; but, thinking
opportunities better in a new county, they had
moved on with the eager homeseekers into the
wilderness. Beginning with 1830, emigrants
began to arrive from Germany. The accre-
tion in population from 1830 to 1840 was re-
markable. It increased during this decade
from 6,558 to 14,795. This German emigra-
tion continued for twenty years, many of the
emigrants having taken part in the revolu-
tionary movements in the Fatherland. Dur-
ing the two decades from 1850 to 1870, large
numbers also began to infiltrate into the
county from Ireland. Since 1890 to the pres-
ent time the growth in population is almost
entirely American, generally from adjoining
496
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
counties, with numerous arrivals from Italy,
who find employment in track maintenance
with the railroad companies whose lines enter
the city.
The population of Marion County by
decades, beginning with 1830, follows : 1830,
6,551; 1840, 14,765; 1850, 12,618; 1860,
15,490; 1870, 16,184; 1880, 26,565; 1890,
24,727 ; 1900, 28,678. The population of the
county at this time is undoubtedly in excess
of 33,971. The loss in population between
1840 and 1850 resulted from the organization
of Wyandot and Morrow counties during this
period, at which time considerable territory
was detached from Marion County to con-
tribute to the foundation of these two new
counties.
The Plains, covered with high, coarse grass
and interspersed with islands of timber, made
a safe shelter and home for prairie hens, sand-
hill cranes, owls, wild geese, ducks, and tur-
keys. They abounded in foxes, squirrels and
rattlesnakes, and were the favorite hunting-
grounds of the Indians. Cultivation has
almost obliterated all traces of the boundaries
of these natural meadows, but the soil, which
is deep, black and rich, will always mark their
location and respond bountifully for years to
the touch of the husbandman. An interest-
ing account of the Indian "ring hunt" in the
Plains is given by Col. James Smith, in his
account of his life and travels during his
captivity with the Indians. This hunt took
place in 1757, not far from the present site of
the Village of Morral, and near the present
line of demarcation between Marion and
Crawford counties.
"When we came to this place," (writes
Smith, "we met with some Ottawa hunters,
and agreed with them to take what they called
a ring hunt, in partnership. We waited until
we expected rain was near falling, to extin-
guish the fire, and then we kindled a large
circle in the prairie. At this time, or before
the bucks began to run, a great number of
deer lay concealed in the grass in the day,
and moved about in the night ; but, as the fire
burned in toward the center of the circle, the
deer fled before the fire ; the Indians scattered
also at some distance before the fire, and shot
them down at every opportunity, which was
very frequent, especially as the circle became
small. When we came to divide the deer,
there were above ten to each hunter, which
were all killed in a few hours. The rain did
not come on that night to put out the outside
circle of fire, and, as the wind arose, it ex-
tended through the whole prairie which was
about fifty miles, in some places near twenty
in breadth." This custom of burning over
the prairie to secure the game that was in
hiding, undoubtedly had much to do with the
wide extent and timberless character of the
Plains.
Some of the early court records of the
county throw side lights on the troubles inci-
dent to frontier life among the Indians.
They were prone to theft and bloody assaults.
As their agent and protector, the Rev. J. B.
Finley, the pioneer Methodist minister and
missionary, often appeared in their behalf.
One of the most common defenses made was
that, being the ward of the United States Gov-
ernment and not a citizen, the Indian could
not sue or be sued, and consequently was
without standing in court. Ignorance was
also frequently interposed as a sort of plea
in justification.
POLITICAL HISTORY
The first step toward the location of the
county seat was taken when the General
Assembly, on January 28, 1822, passed the
following resolution : ' ' Resolved by the Gen-
eral Assembly of the State of Ohio, that Isaac
Minor of Madison County, Thomas Hurford
of Stark County, and Cyrus Spink of Wayne
County, be and are hereby appointed com-
missioners to fix the permanent seat of justice
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
4f)7
in the county of Marion." Previous to this
date Claridon had been platted by James Kil-
hoiirii, of Columbus, in 1820, and in 1822
Eber Baker and Alexander Holmes laid out
their town plat, naming it "Marion." Byron
Kilbourn, a non-resident, had laid out a
paper town called Bellevernon, five miles east
of Marion, where the Mount. Vernon Road,
now the Claridon Pike, erosses the Columbus
and Sandusky Turnpike, now generally
known as the "Mud Pike." When the com-
missioners arrived to inspect the proposed
locations, they found a vigorous contest on
between the proprietors of Claridon, Belle-
vernon, Marion, the settlers at Big Island, and
Isaac Mouser, who resided about two miles
north of Marion. After being "wined and
dined" by the citizens in the respective locali-
ties, the award was made in favor of Marion.
It is said that this decision was made "on
account of the ease with which water could
be obtained on Eber Baker's land."
The act organizing Marion County went
into effect May 1, 1824. The election for
county officers was held two days later, the
new officials to hold office until the next regu-
lar election. Benjamin Hillman was elected
sheriff, Hezekiah Gorton was chosen auditor,
Charles Stuart won the office of coroner, and
the first commissioners were Enoch B. Merri-
man, Matthew Merritt, and Amos C. Wilson.
Mr. Gorton had come to Marion County in
1821, and proved to be a very popular official.
He served eight years as auditor, and was
also elected to the State Senate.
The first meeting of the county commis-
sioners was held June 7, 1824, with the entire
board present. At this session a county road
was established, and a new township, called
Grand, was set off. At the conclusion of the
meeting the "Commissioners adjourned till
tomorrow morning sunrise," as the records
relate. On the following day additional roads
were laid out, other townships created, and a
jail ordered built. In October John Page
Vol. 1—32
succeeded Matthew Merritt as commissioner.
the other two being re-elected. They met on
Monday. December 6th, and appointed Men-
jamin Davis a keeper of weights and meas-
ures. The salaries of the county officials were
fixed as follows: county clerk, .$35 per year;
prosecuting attorney, $40 per year; sheriff,
$35 per year. The salary was certainly not
high enough to warrant much of a prelimin-
ary campaign. Samuel Holmes served as the
first county surveyor, from 1824, and George
H. Busby had the honor of being the first
recorder. These officials were appointed by
the Common Pleas Court.
Reuben Smith was appointed county treas-
urer by the first board of commissioners, and
was allowed 3 per cent of taxes collected as his
fees. The levy was placed at the limit, which
was "on all horses, mares, mules, and asses,
three years old and upwards, thirty cents
per year; on all neat cattle, three years old
and upwards, ten cents ; and on all other prop-
erty, a sum not exceeding one-half of one per
cent, on the appraised value thereof." The
county was on the same date divided into four
collection districts, as follows: No. 1 — Green
Camp, Pleasant, Richland, and Morven town-
ships, Henry Peters, collector; No. 2 — Scott,
Washington, Claridon, and Canaan town-
ships, James Lambert, collector; No. 3 — Big
Island, Salt Rock, Center (now Marion and
Grand Prairie townships), Benjamin Hill-
man, collector; No. 4 — Bucyrus, Sandusky,
and Whetstone townships (in Crawford
County but attached to Marion County),
Charles Merriman, collector. These collectors
were to receive 6 per cent for their services.
The first recorded deed to lands in this
county was a conveyance from Alexander
Holmes and Naomi, his wife, to William
Caldwell, dated February 19, 1823, for thirty-
four acres on a portion of which the Susque-
hanna Silk Mills are now located. The con-
sideration paid was $50. The deed was wit-
nessed before Eber Baker and Benjamin
498
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Davis, filed for record June 2, 1824, and re-
corded the following day by George H. Busby,
recorder pro tempore.
The first session of the Common Pleas Court
held in Marion County was a special term,
which commenced on May 7, 1824. William
Holmes, Jacob Idleman, and David H. Beards-
ley, the associate judges, occupied the bench.
They selected George H. Busby as temporary
clerk until an election could be held. At this
election Mr. Busby was chosen, and received
the appointment. Major Busby, as he was
generally known, was one of the notable char-
acters of the early days of the county. Prob-
ably no one in the county has had such a record
for office holding as Major Busby. He served
as clerk of the courts continuously for a dozen
years, during which time he also acted as
county recorder. Formerly a whig, he after-
wards joined the democratic party, because
of his pronounced pro-slavery views. The
county, which had formerly been whig, began
to swing over to the democratic column, be-
cause a part of the territory had been severed
in the formation of new counties, and also
because of the influx of the German settlers,
who were mostly democrats. In 1851 he was
elected to the United States Congress, and
became one of the prominent members of that
body. He was especially noted for his punc-
tuality and regularity of attendance. Fol-
lowing this, he was defeated for several offices,
but in 1866 was elected probate judge, the
last political office held by him.
The first regular term of the Common
Pleas Court began on September 23, 1824,
with Ebenezer Lane as president judge, and
with him were the associate judges before
mentioned. As there was no resident attor-
ney in the county, Milo D. Pettibone, of Del-
aware, was appointed prosecuting attorney.
The first case on the docket was entitled the
' ' State vs. Eber Baker. ' ' In this indictment,
Mr. Baker, who was the founder of Marion,
was charged with selling "One pint of
whiskey to one David A. Town, to be drank
at the place where sold, to-wit : at the house
of said Eber Baker." Mr. Baker plead
guilty, when arraigned, and was fined $1 and
costs. The first and second civil cases were
for slander, a convincing proof that the pio-
neers had no better control of their tongues
than their descendants. In the year 1825,
there were seventeen cases on the docket.
Four of these were for slander, three for sell-
ing spiritous liquors without a license, two
for larceny, and three for stealing hogs. The
latter was a common offense, for the hogs
were a wild, razor-backed variety, where the
ownership was determined by the particular
style of cut on the ear of the animal. The
remaining five cases were appeals from jus-
tices' courts. The first session of the Supreme
Court was held in Marion, on August 8, 1825,
by President Judge Jacob Burnett, and Asso-
ciate Judge Charles R. Sherman. By the
Constitution of 1851, the Supreme Court
ceased its wandering, and all the judges be-
came elective. Under this change, the first
Common Pleas judge elected for the district
in which Marion County was located was
Lawrence W. Hall, of Bucyrus.
LAW AND MEDICINE
The first resident lawyer of Marion was
Charles L. Boalt, who began practicing law
here in 1826. He was a very successful law-
yer, remaining here about a dozen years, after
which he removed to Norwalk. He was the
first prosecuting attorney chosen from the
county. An interesting incident in connec-
tion with his residence in Marion County was
an indictment charging that "in a certain tav-
ern there and then kept by one Edward Ken-
nedy, a licensed tavern-keeper, he did then
and there unlawfully play with one James H.
Holmes at a certain unlawful game with cards,
commonly denominated brag, not a game of
athletic exercise." The case was tried before
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
499
a jury, and the defendant acquitted. He was
succeeded in the office of prosecuting attorney
by Joseph R. Swan, the author of "Swan's
Treatise," which has frequently been termed
the "Lawyer's Bible." Gen. James H. God-
man began practicing law in the county in
1828, a few months before he became of legal
age. He married Ann S. Davis, daughter of
Benjamin Davis, a tavern-keeper. He served
as prosecuting attorney of the county on two
different occasions, and also in both houses
of the Ohio Legislative. At the outbreak of
the Civil War, he recruited a company and
was elected captain. After the war he was
brevetted brigadier-general. In 1864 he was
elected auditor of state, which office he filled
for eight years. He is said to have been the
best jury lawyer at the bar prior to the war.
Oxias Bowen was admitted to the bar in
1828, and came to Marion in the same year.
In 1830, in 1835, and again in 1861 he was
elected prosecuting attorney. In 1830 he was
selected for the office of president judge by the
Legislature, which office he held for fourteen
years. As such he presided in practically
every county in Northwest Ohio. In 1856 he
was appointed supreme judge by Governor
Chase, and then elected to that high office by
the people. He was a presidential elector in
1860, and cast his vote for Lincoln. He has
been considered by many to be the greatest
lawyer that Marion County has produced. He
was considered the best informed lawyer of
his day in Central Ohio, and he helped to lay
the foundation of much of our present juris-
prudence.
George Rowe began the practice of law in
Marion about 1838. Like most of the early
attorneys, he served his apprenticeship in the
office of the prosecuting attorney. He fol-
lowed the forty-niners to California, where he
acquired considerable riches, all of which were
subsequently lost. Almeron Wheat came to
Marion in the '30s and, after serving a term
as prosecuting attorney, removed to Indiana.
Cooper K. Watson, a Kentuckian, came to
Marion about 1839. He was noted for his
very pronounced anti-slavery sentiments, and
for his defense of Black Bill, which was fol-
lowed by subsequent contempt proceedings
and indictments against the Virginians. He
was a man of striking appearance and a forci-
ble stump speaker. After practicing a num-
ber of years in Marion, he removed to Tiffin,
where he was elected to Congress as a whig.
After the Civil War, he removed to Norwalk,
and was there elevated to the office of Com-
mon Pleas judge. Among the other early law-
yers of the county who deserve mention were
Elias G. Spelman, leader of the mob that res-
cued Black Bill ; Peleg Bunker, who mistook
noise for eloquence ; Bradford R. Durfee, who
was one of the leading members of the Marion
bar for a score of years preceding the Civil
War; and John J. Williams, who opened the
Marion Academy. Of the later members of
the bar, William Z. Davis achieved distinction.
He was admitted to the bar in 1862 and prac-
ticed law continuously until his elevation to
the bench of the Supreme Court of Ohio, in
1900, which office he filled with great distinc-
tion for a dozen years.
The first physician to locate in Marion
County was Dr. Ebenezer Ballentine. With
his sons he settled one mile north of Marion.
Because of his age. he practiced medicine but
little, and his death occurred three years after
his arrival. Dr. Alson Norton was probably
the first active practitioner in the county. He
settled at Radnor in 1820, in Delaware
County, and then moved over the line into
Marion County. His practice brought him into
every part of the county, and he was fre-
quently obliged to make many long trips on
horseback through the trackless forest and over
the unbroken prairie. He became the first
coroner of the county, and also filled the office
of associate judge of the Common Pleas Court.
Dr. George Miller, a IVnnsylvanian, located
at Marion in 1824, but survived only three
500
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
years. Dr. Joseph Billings located here in
1824, but his death occurred in less than a
year. Dr. Simeon A. Conch, a fellow student,
took up Doctor Billings' practice, and also
married the girl, a Miss Holmes, to whom
Doctor Billings had been engaged. He also
died within two years after his arrival. The
early deaths of these pioneer physicians was
undoubtedly due, in part at least, to the hard-
ships which they were compelled to undergo.
The first seven doctors who located in Marion
passed away in less than three years after
their arrival, with a single notable exception.
Only those with the most rugged constitutions
survived.
The first physician to withstand the hard-
ships and exposure of the times was Dr. George
Holloway, who came in 1825. He was very
successful, and soon acquired a large prac-
tice. His specialties were billiousness, which
he treated with heroic doses of calomel, usu-
ally forty grains, and the "trembles," or
' ' milk sickness, ' ' which was even more dreaded
than the malaria. There was something in
the marshy soil that seemed to give cattle a
disease, which was imparted to those who
used either meat or dairy products. He con-
tinued in practice until the time of his death,
in 1867, at the matured age of eighty-five
years. Dr. Basil Holmes located at Marion
in 1825, and practiced a few years, after which
he removed to Delaware, Ohio. He was one
of Marion's early postmasters. Dr. William
H. Reid practiced here for about three years,
prior to his death in the early '30s. Dr. J.
Livingston reached here in 1832, and was fol-
lowed a year later by Dr. William C. Johnson,
and they practiced here in the county for
many years in partnership. Dr. John C. Nor-
ton, a graduate of Yale; Dr. H. A. True,
who afterwards became a successful banker;
and Dr. T. B. Fisher, who probably saw the
longest continuous service, were also among
the early practitioners in the county. In addi-
tion to attending to a very large practice for
many long years, Doctor Fisher served a term
in each of the houses of the Ohio Legisla-
ture, and was mayor of the city for two terms.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
The Methodists were probably the first
religious society to begin work within the
boundaries of Marion County. The first
"class" was formed at Jacob Idleman's house,
six miles south of the City of Marion. It
consisted of Jacob Idleman and his wife,
Christian Staley and his wife, and their four
children. It was organized by a local preacher
named Steward, in April, 1820. Regular
preaching was given to this class, and all
others who might gather for the meetings,
by Reverend Bacon, the preacher in charge
of the Delaware Circuit. A church was built
on the Idleman farm in 1823. It was a very
simple structure of hewed logs, with clapboard
roof and rough benches for seats, and was the
first religious edifice in the county. It was
during the pastorate of Rev. Erastus Felton
that a class was organized in Marion, com-
posed of John Ashbaugh and wife, Benjamin
Williams, with his wife and two daughters,
Sarah Hillman, and Henry Peters. The Ma-
rion Circuit was formed in 1826, with Rev.
James Gilruth the preacher in charge. It was
a large one, embracing Bucyrus, Little San-
dusky, Little Wyandot, Rayl's Corners, and
Judge Idleman's. In 1831 the Methodists
began to build their first "meeting house,"
which stood near the entrance to the Old
Marion Cemetery. It was completed in 1834,
and was used as a place of worship for ten
years. When the Rev. Henry E. Pilcher held
a protracted meeting in Marion, during the
winter of 1842 and 1843, the conversions were
so numerous that it became necessary to seek
larger quarters. A new church was then
begun, and completed in 1845. It was a two-
story stone structure. This building after-
wards became the first permanent home of the
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
501
Catholic congregation, and was also used for
a while by the Huber factory. Marion became
a station about this time, and Rev. Mr. Pil-
cher was the first minister. There are now
two English Methodist and one German Meth-
odist congregations in the city. The splendid
Epworth Church was dedicated in 1891, and
has one of the largest congregations in the
old Central Ohio Conference.
The Free Baptist Church was the first so-
ciety organized in the City of Marion. This
was in 1824, in the brick schoolhouse of that
day on Prospect Street. The first members
were Hezekiah Gorton, a Mrs. Higgins, Mr.
and Mrs. Smith, Alvin and Betsy Priest, John
and Betsy Tompkins, and a few others. The
early ministers were the Rev. D. Dudley,
Rev. S. Bradford, Rev. A. Hatch, and Rev. J.
Wallace. Rev. Isaac Datson held a revival in
the barn of Jacob Ulsh, in 1841, and in the
following year a frame church was built on
Mount Vernon Avenue. This building still
stands, but is not used as a church. Under
the pastorate of the Rev. George W. Baker,
in 1850, the church was moved farther up
town. A fine brick church was completed in
1867, which served the congregation for more
than a third of a century.
The early citizens of Marion, who were
members of the Presbyterian faith, were com-
pelled to attend services at Delaware, Lib-
erty, or Radnor. The first meeting held in
Marion was in 1828, in the old brick school-
house heretofore mentioned. The ministers
present were Rev. Henry Van Deman and
Rev. Ahab Jenks. The church was organized
with forty-six members, September 9, 1828,
and in the same year a charter was granted
to it, The first elders were Joseph Noyd,
Schubael W. Knapp, and Adam Uncapher.
The first communion was administered in the
grove near the schoolhouse, because the build-
ing was too small to accommodate the com-
municants. A small brick building was erected
in 1834, which served the congregation for a
number of years. A windstorm finally took
off the roof in 1849, and another brirk struc-
ture was erected soon afterwards. In 1896
the congregation completed the church at the
corner of Prospect and Church streets.
There were few Catholics in Marion, prior
to 1849. The first Catholic service of which
we have a record was celebrated in the village
in 1849, by Father Burgess. Services were
held in the homes of different Catholics for a
number of years by priests from adjoining
towns. The first permanent place of worship
was the old stone Methodist Church, which
was purchased by the society. Father Gro-
gan was the second priest to hold services in
the village. The first resident pastor was
Father McSweeney, who served from 1854 to
1859. It was not until 1866 that the society
had the undivided services of a priest, and in
this year Father Mackey was assigned to the
congregation. The land upon which the new
parochial school stands was donated to the
congregation in 1853, by Timothy Fahey. The
present church is Gothic in style, built of
white sandstone at a cost of $75,000, and was
completed in 1895.
A small class of the United Brethren in
Christ was organized at the home of John
Gruber in 1837, and from this has grown a
strong congregation. The first Christian
Church was formed at Letimberville in 1840,
with sixteen members, by Rev. Jackson Dow-
ling. A church of the denomination was first
built at Marion in 1880. In 1835 a Lutheran
society was organized in Richland Township,
in connection with the German Reformed
Church. A log church was erected on land
donated by John Jacoby, Jr. The parish of
St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church was
organized April 25, 1849, in Marion. The
last religious society to enter Marion is the
First Church of Christ, Scientist, which held
its first meeting in 1895. A fine Young Men's
Christian Association Building has been built
502
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
for the use of this splendid organization of
young men.
The schools were a matter of slow growth.
The Marion Academy for a number of years
filled a great need. It was opened in 1840,
with John J. Williams in charge. John A.
Dunlap, the Presbyterian minister, was also
one of the instructors. There were thirty-five
students enrolled during the first term. The
tuition was low and the students greatly
increased the following year, but it was not
use on January 1, 1902. It is on a farm of
sixty acres, 21/2 miles south of Marion. It
was an absolute gift of the donor, and is under
the management of four trustees appointed
by the county commissioners. The Old La-
dies' Home is within the City of Marion. It
is a strictly charitable institution, supported
by endowment and donations. It was opened
on March 23, 1905. The building was' built
and equipped by Mr. Waddell. He was born
in 1829 within the county. He became a suc-
NEW HIGH SCHOOL, MARION
a financial success. When the union schools
were organized in 1851, John Bartram, John
R. Knapp, Sr., John J. Williams, R. Patte,
B. W. Williams, and W. W. Concklin were
elected the first school board. Mr. Bartram
was chosen as the first president. The firs*
principal employed was W. L. Terrill. His
term of services was one year, "if he and the
board, could so long agree." He did remain
for five years, when he was succeeded by G.
H. Hampson.
Two institutions of which the county is
proud are the Marion County Children's
Home and the Old Ladies' Home, both of
which are due to the generosity of Benjamin
Waddell. The former was opened for public
cessful trader, and accumulated a comfortable
fortune. His memory will ever be cherished
because of his gifts for the benefit of helpless
youth and the equally helpless old age.
THE PRESS
Marion is blessed with excellent newspa-
pers. The oldest one now in existence is the
Marion Mirror. This publication began as
the Marion Democratic Mirror on June 4,
1842, three-quarters of a century ago.
Ever since that time it has left its impress
upon Marion affairs, and has maintained its
devotion to the cause of democracy. It has
had a number of distinguished editors.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
503
Among these are Thomas H. Hodder, James
K. Newcomer, George B. Christian, L. A.
Brunner, Robert Dunn, and Dr. J. W.
Thatcher. The founders of the paper were
John R. and Russel A. Knapp. During the
succeeding ten years there were a number of
changes in both owners and editors. The
daily edition of this paper was launched in
1890, with R. R. Bartram as the moving spirit.
The Mirror absorbed the Dollar Democrat,
which was started by Ned Thatcher, formerly
of the Mirror. The Democrat did not succeed
in gaining sufficient patronage to make it a
success.
The Marion Star also had a number of
predecessors. Among these were The Eagle,
fourfded by J. W. and S. R. Durable; the
Saturday Morning Visitor, and the Freeman 's
Banner, which was edited by Cooper K. Wat-
son in the early '40s. • Following the Eagle
came the Independent, which was succeeded
by the Transcript, and it was absorbed by the
Star in 1906. The Star began in 1877, being
the second country daily paper to be estab-
lished in Ohio. Some amateur printers had
dabbled with a paper, called the Daily Pebble,
and then Willis and Harry Hume indulged
in their boyish longings by issuing the Star
from a job press. Samuel Hume, the father,
considered the idea of making a serious ven-
ture in the daily field. It was then that
Marion 's Star began to shine. It was sold to
Demster and Harding in 1884. In a month
the office was closed through financial trou-
bles, and it had so many changes during that
year that no one knew who would be the pub-
lisher on the next day. In November of that
year, it passed into the hands of Warren G.
Harding, F. M. Warwick, and J. A. Sickle,
who incorporated the Star Publishing Com-
pany. Both Sickle and Warwick retired
within a year, but Mr. Harding has continued
his connection with the paper during all the
succeeding years, and has conducted it as a
vigorous republican organ. At the present
time he is one of the United States senators
from Ohio.
The Marion Deutsche Presse is a German
weekly publication of Marion. Its present
owner, Richard Horn, came to Marion from
Cleveland and founded the publication Au-
gust 21, 1890. The Presse has a generous cir-
culation among the Germans in Marion and
adjoining counties.
For forty years newspapers have been suc-
cessfully published in Caledonia, La Rue, and
Prospect. The Caledonia Enterprise suc-
ceeded the Argus, established in 1875 by Will
H. Warner. The La Rue News dates from
1876. It was founded by Glemming and
Tritt. The Prospect Monitor first was given
to the public in 1875. It was begun by A.
M. Vaughn, who probably started more vil-
lage papers than almost anyone else in this
section of the state. The original Monitor
failed, and was succeeded by the Advocate.
This paper went the same road of failure,
when the Monitor was given life by H. R.
Clowes, and is still published regularly.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES
Both the city and county of Marion are
well supplied with fraternal societies. The
first lodge of Master Masons was organized
under a dispensation, dated July 18, 1840.
The lodge was opened in the office of the
county auditor, on the evening of September
18th of that year. John G. Bruce was the
first presiding officer. The charter for Marion
Lodge, No. 70, Free and Ancient Masons, was
granted October 21, 1841. John Bartram was
then elected to the office of W. M. By a fire
in 1877 the chapter and council lost prac-
tically all its lodge effects and records. The
Marion Commandery, No. 36, Knights Tem-
plar, was organized in 1880, with thirty-three
members. T. B. Fisher was the first E. C.
Its present membership now exceeds 300. The
masonic bodies now occupy the beautiful Ma-
504
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
sonic Temple, for which the corner stone was
laid with appropriate ceremonies on Novem-
ber 20, 1901.
Kosciusko Lodge, No. 58, Independent Or-
der of Odd Fellows, was instituted March 4,
1846. The first officers were George W. Howe,
N. G. ; T. P. Wallace, V. G. ; R. F. Gray, sec-
retary. Mizpah Encampment was organized
under dispensation in 1851, and now has a
large membership. Canby Lodge, No. 51,
of Marion, Knights of Pythias, was organized
April 24, 1874. It is the oldest lodge of this
order in the county, and one of the strongest
in the state. A. C. Bowen was the first C. C.
of the lodge. Marion Lodge separated from
the parent organization in 1890. The Marion
Commandery, No. 17, Uniform Rank, was in-
stituted May 25, 1882, with W. C. Rapp as
captain. The Marion Lodge of Elks, No. 32,
was organized September 14, 1885, and is now
a strong and active society, with a member-
ship of over 500. In 1914 the Elks completed
and removed into a temple on State Street
costing $100,000. There are many other fra-
ternal organizations, including the Grand
Army of the Republic, Knights of Colum-
bus, Knights of St. John, Woodmen of the
World, Modern Woodmen of America, Na-
tional Union, etc.
MARION
Just who was the first white settler within
the present limits of Marion is unknown.
John and Ebenezer Ballentine, who reached
here in the fall of 1820, found a double log
cabin which was occupied by two squatters,
John Chandler and Edmund Hanford. These
two men left shortly after the arrival of the
Ballentines. There was also a man, whose
name was Wright, that had settled near by.
When Eber Baker, the founder of Marion,
arrived on or about March 4, 1821, he found
the Ballentines, Alexander Berry, and Calvin
Barnett living there. He immediately took
possession of the cabin, which had formerly
been occupied by Chandler and Hanford, and
in this building kept the first tavern in the
village. Berry had just entered a quarter
section of land, embracing what was after-
wards called Gospel Hill. William Samuel
and James Holmes came to this settlement in
the same year as Mr. Ballentine. These men
were brothers of Alexander Holmes, one of
the proprietors of the town afterwards laid
out, although he never became a resident of
the place. It is said that Eber Baker came
here as his agent, and it was undoubtedly due
to him that the county seat of the county was
located at Marion. Benjamin Davis was also
one of the early settlers, and his daughter,
Minerva Marion, was the first white girl born
in the village.
It was a little more than a year after Eber
Baker arrived, that he- and Alexander Holmes
acknowledged the town plat of Marion. It
was filed for record with the recorder of Dela-
ware County, on April 18, 1822. On this
plat the ground now occupied by the court-
house was designated as "public ground,"
and was donated by the proprietors for the
exclusive purpose of public buildings. Two
other lots were granted to the county to dis-
pose of as they might see fit. Two lots were
given for churches, and another two lots were
set aside for schools. On the same day the
two proprietors executed a bond for $800 to
the treasurer of Marion County, which recites
that the "county seat has been located this
day" on land owned by them, and contains
the condition that they shall furnish and de-
liver on the ' ' Public Grounds ' ' for the public
buildings, including courthouse, jail, etc.,
$400 worth of good merchantable and neces-
sary material for the erection of the public
buildings, within four months after being
notified by the treasurer. Thus a town was
created, although there was only one house
and a cleared patch of ground of perhaps five
or six acres on the site. When the commis-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
506
sinners appointed for the purpose officially
located the county seat at Marion, there was
great jollification, and the enthusiasm of the
l'.-\v inhabitants knew no bounds. Not having
any cannon on hand, they bored holes in sev-
eral large oak trees with a 2-inch auger. Into
these holes they placed charges of powder,
and then ignited them. Some of the trees
were shattered to fragments by the explo-
sions.
As towns were incorporated by a special
act of the Legislature, under the old consti-
tution of the state, an act incorporating the
town was passed February 22, 1830. This act
provided for an election to be held in March,
for the purpose of choosing a mayor, recorder,
and five trustees. These officials constituted
the town council and, under the laws as they
stood at that time, a fine of $3 was placed
upon any person who refused to take an office
in the corporation. In these later years such
a fine is not necessary. The recorder filled the
duties of the official known as city clerk today.
The tax duplicate was made up by him, and
delivered to the marshal for collection. For
his services in making the collections, the
marshal received 6 per cent of all moneys put
into the treasury. Mount Vernon, Troy, and
Centerville were all incorporated in the same
year as was Marion.
The first election under the act was held on
the 15th day of March, 1830, at the court-
house. George Holloway and Benjamin Wil-
liams were the judges of the election, and
George H. Busby clerk. The election resulted
in the selection of Nathan Peters as mayor,
Benjamin Davis as recorder, and Benjamin
Williams, Eber Baker, Samuel Calvert, David
Jenkins, and Edward Smith as trustees. The
first business of the council as entered in the
record is as follows : ' ' Henry Peters, present,
pleaded to be excused from serving as mar-
shal, on account of his brother Nathan being
mayor. J. A. Pomeroy was appointed to the
office of marshal in place of Henry Peters."
To show that Marion did not immediately
Irap into prominence and prosperity, the Leg-
islature repealed the charter of the Town of
.Marion, in 1843, because the business of tin-
village did not justify the expense of the
organization. So little interest was mani-
fested in the town affairs that in an entire
year there had been not a single entry made
in the journal of council proceedings. Four
years later, however, the demand for a village
government had increased to such an extent
that Marion was again incorporated by a spe-
cial act of the Legislature, on February 8,
1847. In 1890 the village council passed a
resolution to submit the question of the ad-
vancement of the village to a city of the sec-
ond class to a vote. This resolution was
carried by a large majority, and Marion
became a city of the fourth grade of the
second class in that same year. By this time
the city had grown greatly through the inclu-
sion of several additions, and the population
numbered almost 8,000. John S. Dudley was
the first mayor under the city government.
The first public building erected in Marion
was a "house in the town of Marion for the
use of a Court, School and Meeting house."
Eber Baker, Dr. George Miller, and Adam
Unchaper were appointed to superintend its
construction. It was a brick building, and
for a number of years was the only available
building for court, school, and church serv-
ices. In 1828 the commissioners decided
to provide themselves and their county
officials with a more suitable home. In 1831
they let the building of the courthouse to
Solomon Beller, the lowest bidder, for the
sum of $5,779. Bonds were issued for the
payment of the cost. The building was ac-
cepted on the 3rd day of September, 1833. It
was then completed, with a few trifling ex-
ceptions. This courthouse was of brick, with
a large portico in front. It was two stories
high, with a courtroom and the treasurer's
office below. The last term of court held in
506
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
this building was on February 3, 1883, when
it was demolished to make room for the splen-
did new building. For half a century its
walls had echoed to the voices of some of the
most eminent practitioners at the Ohio bar.
On June 10, 1824, the board of county com-
missioners decided to erect a log jail. On the
following day Eber Baker contracted to build
the jail, and deed a lot for the site, for which
he was to receive $400. This old jail was
torn down in 1842, and a new stone jail built
on the same site. This was two stories high,
and it is said that the principal occupants of
it were horse thieves, who did a thriving busi-
ness in this part of Ohio in the early days.
This jail was built near the present building,
which is both a jail and sheriff's residence.
In 1878, the Town Council of Marion erected
a town hall, 35 by 80 feet in dimensions and
two stories high, on the corner of Church and
Prospect streets.
The first postmaster of Marion was John
Ballantine, who was appointed in 1821. He
was succeeded by William Holmes in the next
year, and in 1825 Eber Baker was appointed
postmaster. The story is told of Dr. Robert
Holmes, also one of the early postmasters,
that he always wore a high silk hat, and car-
ried the letters around in it, which he deliv-
ered as he made his rounds to his patients.
He delivered an average of five letters a day,
and the recipient of the letter paid the post-
age at so much an ounce. The postal business
has grown so greatly since that time that the
Government has erected a fine building for its
exclusive use.
Prior to 1840, there were no banks in the
county. The most of the banking was done
at Delaware, though Sandusky was a strong
competitor, because the greater part of the
grain raised in the county was hauled to that
port for shipment. In 1840, J. S. Reed,
Dr. H. A. True, and R. H. Johnson organized
a private bank, with a capital of $30,000,
under the firm name of J. S. Reed & Co.,
of which J. S. Reed became president and
Dr. H. A. True cashier. Three years later
this bank was organized under the name of
the Marion County Bank, a name retained
to this day by its successor.
In 1851 the Bank of Marion was organized
by Judge Ozias Bowen and his associates.
This bank is still doing business, and is known
now as the Marion National Bank. Twenty
years later Timothy Fahey started a private
bank, with a capital of $12,000. This bank
grew, and in 1893 became the Fahey Banking
Company. After thirty more years of finan-
cial growth, or in 1901, the City National
Bank came into existence, and three years
later the Marion Savings Bank was estab-
lished. From their very organization, the
business methods of these financial institu-
tions have been such as to commend them to
the public. Through the most severe financial
panics of the country, these institutions have
passed without the least shadow of suspicion
as to their solvency, and, in times of the city 's
greatest prosperity, they are found amply able
to accommodate the large demands which are
incident to the continued and successful oper-
ation of numerous large manufacturing plants.
Marion has grown very rapidly in the past
quarter of a century. The founder of this
new and greater Marion was Edward Huber.
He was born September 1, 1837, of German
extraction. He first learned the blacksmith's
trade, and very early in life began to develop
marked skill in designing and manufacturing
numerous useful articles. One of his inven-
tions was a revolving wooden hay rake. In
casting about for a suitable site to manufac-
ture this article, and hearing that wood was
plentiful in this region, he journeyed from his
home in Indiana to Marion in 1865, with the
result that a company was formed in the same
year to manufacture the rake. This was only
the beginning of a long list of valuable inven-
tions and local enterprises to his credit. There
is scarcely a manufacturing industry in Ma-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
507
rion that has not, in its beginning, received
his financial and moral support. He was a
rare and generous man, a liberal and con-
siderate employer, and in all things relating
to civic matters a thoughtful and patriotic
citizen. His death on August 26, 1904, was
an irreparable loss to the community, which
his energy and inventive genius had converted
from a country village into a city of many
diverse business and manufacturing enter-
prises.
The Huber Manufacturing Company grew
into a great industry, and Marion began to
attract attention as a manufacturing center..
It succeeded the old partnership of Huber,
Gunn & Company. The company manufac-
tures threshing machinery of many kinds, to-
gether with their accessories, and traction
engines for motor power. Its plant covers
thirty acres, and a number of branch houses
are maintained. The Marion Steam Shovel
Company has attracted wide attention. It is
one of the largest factories manufacturing
steam shovels, dredges, placer mining outfits,
etc. Its plant covers forty acres of land. H.
M. Barnhard and George W. King were the
original inventors of this machinery, and both
located in Marion because of the encourage-
ment of Mr. Huber. The company was incor-
porated in 1884, when the construction of two
shovels was begun.
Although containing no mineral wealth,
Marion County has been very fortunate in its
beds of fine limestone. These deposits were
known and utilized in pioneer days. The first
man to turn toward the stone deposits on a
commercial basis was Josiah S. Copeland,
about the year 1839. He was a resident of
Zanesville, but came here and opened up a
quarry with a force of men in that year.
This original quarry is now filled up. Mr.
Copeland also burned lime, and sold both lime
and building stone. This industry has now
been developed on an extensive scale, and
employs several hundred men. The products
are shipped to a dozen different states.
VILLAGES
In the early days, there was a little town
called Big Island, in the township of that
name. For many years after the county seat
was removed to Marion, the enterprising citi-
zens of Big Island endeavored to have the
county capital removed there. The efforts
were not wholly abandoned until the court-
house was built in 1832. At that time there
were but three stores and two taverns in Big
Island. It was a favorite rendezvous on mili-
tary muster day. This event was usually held
on Saturday afternoon, and was accompanied
by much drinking and the resulting fighting.
On one occasion, on Christmas day, it is said
that thirteen fights were in full swing at the
same time.
As early as August 25, 1821, a town was
laid out near the whetstone on the land of
Joshua B. Bears, being platted and surveyed
by Col. James Kilbourn, and by him given
the beautiful and historic name of Claridon.
At the time it was thought that it would be
a suitable location for the county seat, owing
to the fact that it was at that time very nearly
the center of the county. With this in view,
it was laid out in ' ' magnificent style, ' ' cover-
ing some 102 acres of land. In the center of
the town a large square was donated for a site
for county buildings and a park, otherwise
to be used for buildings for literary purposes.
The avenues were 99 feet wide, and the streets
66 feet. It was the first town laid out in the
county and thrived until Marion was selected
as the county seat.
Caledonia was surveyed and platted on
April 11, 1834, by Samuel Holmes, for the
proprietors, John Parcel and William F. Far-
rington. Each of these men had conducted a
small store for several years previously at
that place. The first practicing physician to
508
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
locate in the settlement was Doctor Disbrough.
There was no municipal government in Cale-
donia for almost forty years. In 1873 a peti-
tion was presented to the county commission-
ers, stating that the village contained more
than 500 inhabitants, and asking that it be
incorporated as a village. This petition was
granted. Two railroads pass through the vil-
lage, and there are three churches — Metho-
dist, Presbyterian, and Universalist.
La Rue was platted in 1851 by William La
Rue. The occasion of the platting was that
the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad had
just been surveyed through there. The right
of way was donated by Mr. La Rue through
his land, and a generous subscription made
as well, and in return the company agreed to
stop all trains at La Rue and establish a
watering place at that point. The first store
was established in the same year by Henry C.
Seigler, and in the following year Horace
Roberts opened up the Union House. It is a
thriving village of about 1,000 inhabitants,
and was incorporated many years ago.
Prospect is situated on the left bank of the
Scioto River. It was surveyed by Christian
Gast in 1835, and was first named Middletown.
The name was changed on petition of the citi-
zens in 1876, because there were several other
towns named Middletown. A small stream
running through Prospect is called Battle
Run, because of a skirmish between the In-
dians and some settlers in 1820. No one was
hurt, but one Indian, who had been knocked
down, was considerably bruised. By the
terms of truce the Indian agreed to give his
assailant a saddle of venison, and the white
man promised a load of pumpkins. The pipe
of peace was then passed around. The popu-
lation of Prospect is now about 1,000.
Other villages in Marion County are Waldo,
incorporated in 1845 ; Morral, incorporated in
1904; Green Camp, incorporated in 1875; and
the unincorporated villages of Martel and
Agosta.
CHAPTER XXXIX
MERCER COUNTY
JAMES K. CARLIN, CELINA
In historic interest Mercer County pos-
sesses matter of rare value. It was on this soil
that General St. Clair suffered his disastrous
defeat at the hands of the Indians, on the
banks of the Wabash River, and only a few
miles from its source. Within its borders
other sanguinary skirmishes have taken place
between the white men and the red men, and
the blood-curdling war cry of the Indians has
been echoed and re-echoed many times in the
primeval forests which once covered the
county.
Fort Recovery was erected on the site of
St. Clair 's defeat by Gen. Anthony Wayne, in
December, 1793. The village of that name now
is a monument to the defeat of St. Clair and
the victory of Wayne. On the 30th of Au-
gust, 1851, a mass meeting of the citizens of
Mercer and adjoining counties was held to
make arrangements to partake in the solemni-
ties of the reinterment of the remains of
those who fell on the battlefield of Fort Re-
covery. While General Wayne was occupying
the fort he offered a reward for the collection
of the remains of the soldiers who had per-
ished there. Several hundred skulls were col-
lected and placed in a grave within the walls
of the stockade. The remains of these were
discovered in 1838, soon after the Town of
Fort Recovery was laid out. These bones were
reburied in the village cemetery. In July,
1851, while searching for bullets on the site
of the old battlefield, John S. Rhodes and
David J. Rook discovered a human skull in
one of the streets of the town adjacent to
the ground upon which the fort stood, in the
northwestern part of the village. A search
was made which resulted in the finding of the
skeletons of some sixty persons in a fair state
of preservation. On the 10th of September,
1851, the exercises took place, to which a
general invitation had been extended to the
surviving soldiers of this and other states
who had participated in the campaign of
Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne, and several
thousand persons gathered for the occasion
from Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. The
bones were placed in thirteen large black wal-
nut coffins, and placed in the burial ground
at the south side of the village. The number
of coffins was placed at thirteen because there
were thirteen states in the union at the time
the battle was fought and because, in all
human probability, every state was repre-
sented in that battle.
"We handled a number," says the Standard
of that date, "that had been perforated by
a bullet, and had also a gash — smoothly cut
by the tomahawk; and, in different parts,
marks made by a sharp instrument were dis-
cernible, said by old soldiers present to have
been produced by the scalping knife. We saw
a number of relics that were found on and
near the battlefield, such as a sword, iron and
lead balls, knives, ramrods, etc. The sword
was about three feet long, and had a heavy
brass guard around the hilt. The blade, on
the edge and back, and the guard, bore evi-
dent marks of a desperate conflict, being
literally cut in gaps and gashes." The pro-
cession was a column a mile long and under
the direction of Gen. James Watson Riley,
509
510
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and an oration was delivered by Bellamy
Storer, of Cincinnati. In 1891 a centennial
celebration was held at Fort Recovery in com-
memoration of the battle of the 4th of No-
vember, 100 years earlier. A number of
distinguished men were present and addressed
the gathering. On this occasion the remains
of the soldiers who had been buried in the old
Thomas Parrott, who built a cabin on the
banks of Twelve-Mile Creek. Mr. Coil laid out
a town in the following year, which was named
Coiltown, and which competed with St. Marys
and Shanesville for the seat of justice in
1824. Justin Hamilton reached the county
in 1823, and soon became prominent in its
affairs. He became one of the earliest justices
FORT RECOVERY MONUMENT
cemetery in 1851 were again removed to a plot
of ground specially purchased for that pur-
pose, where a monument was erected by Con-
gress in 1910.
Isaiah Duncan reached Mercer County in
1818, and settled near the present Town of
Mendon. One of the very earliest pioneers
in Mercer County was Michael Harner, who
arrived here in 1819. The year 1822 marks
the arrival of Andrew Coil and his son-in-law,
of the peace, and also served as county sur-
veyor, member of the Legislature, and asso-
ciate judge. William B. Hedges and John T.
Greaves conducted an Indian trading post for
many years. John Simison was one of the
first settlers at Fort Recovery in 1817. He
farmed and his sons hunted. A few years
afterwards Peter Studebaker established him-
self in the same neighborhood and married a
daughter of Mr. Simison. A still later arrival,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
511
John G. Blake, held the office of justice of
the peace for twenty-one years. A third
pioneer there was Samuel McDowell.
"Samuel McDowell enlisted in the service
of the United States in 1791, and was of Gen-
eral Butler's regiment at the disastrous defeat
of St. Clair. When the retreat was sounded,
all that could rushed pell-mell on the back
track in shameful confusion. McDowell was
among those who covered the retreat, and
kept the enemy in check. A horse came dash-
ing by, which he caught, and seeing a soldier
limping along, assisted him to mount, by which
he soon gained the front, and thus saved his
life. Many years afterwards, as McDowell
was traveling, and had registered his name in
the tavern in which he was to tarry for the
night, a stranger, who by accident saw it,
and that he was from Recovery, Ohio, entered
into conversation with him, and soon found
he was the generous soldier who assisted him
to escape the savage massacre. The surprise
was mutual. The stranger took him to his
house and made him a present of a splendid
suit of clothes, which McDowell always wore
on the anniversary of that day, and the 4th
of July. McDowell lived to be over eighty
years of age, and died near Recovery. ' ' David
and Obed Beardsley were also among the
pioneers; Henry Lipps was a later comer.
He helped to lay out the town and became a
member of the Legislature. Dr. J. S. Fair
was probably the earliest physician. Henry
Bernard and James Rover, Henry and Ber-
nard Bruns, and Henry Beckman were promi-
nent among the pioneers and their descendants
are still prominent in the county, and espec-
ially in the neighborhood of St. Henry.
The settlers for a number of years were
few and far between. The arrivals began to
be more numerous in the thirties. Rev. Tim-
othy Hawkins was one of the earliest settlers
in Liberty Township, and assisted in building
the first church in the county. This was the
old Bethel Church on Eight-Mile Creek. Rev.
James Drury, who came in 1838, was possibly
the first Baptist minister in the county. Rob-
ert Linzee located on a farm near Celina, in
1834. In his lifetime he donated the site for
a school building. The deed is in his own
handwriting, and recites that the title is con-
veyed for that purpose "as long as water
runs and wood grows." When James Duncan
and Sara Roebuck decided to get married, they
walked all the way to Wapakoneta in order
to have the ceremony performed by Rev. Isaac
Harvey. What is said to have been the earliest
grist-mill in the county was built by David
Anderson on the Wabash River, not far from
Fort Recovery in 1830. The stone was quar-
ried and dressed by William McDowell. One
of the earliest flour mills on the St. Marys
River was erected by John Rhodes. John
Oswald built one of the earliest steam mills
at Recovery prior to the Civil War. On
Chickasaw Creek Samuel Gray, Charles Bot-
kin, and John Miller were in the van.
The early settlers had a keen sense of
humour, and loved to play jokes as well as
their descendants. The following incidents
are taken froin Knapp's History of the Mau-
mee Valley: "Fire hunting was a profitable
sport, either for fish or deer. At night, the
deer would gather in the river to stamp and
splash water on themselves to keep off the
mosquitoes and gnats, and when a light came
along, they would stand gazing at it until the
hunter approached close enough to shoot them
down. Newcomers, of course wanted fresh
meat, and these adepts in the art of fire hunt-
ing by torchlight, would agree to show them
for a certain sum, to be paid that night in
whisky how it was done. They would gener-
ally supply the tyros with an old worthless
boat or canoe, where they could be seated,
while their instructors would have a pirogue
large enough to hold themselves and several
deer. All ready — off they would start, flam-
beau in hand. They were most always success-
ful, as game was plenty. When they wished
512
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to return home, they would kindly tell the
newcomers that where they were the river had
a large bayou and island, and for them to
keep down the main stream, while they would
make a little excursion, and would soon fall
in with them below. On, on, the newcomers
would go, hearing nothing of their comrades,
and daylight generally found them some
twenty miles from home, and the next day
they had the fun of footing it back. This
was called 'initiating' the new settlers in
the art of fire hunting. Doctor Pulltoggle,
as he was nicknamed, loved to be bell-wether
on all public days and occasions, and to make
the oration on the 4th of July. Colonel Hed-
ges disliked him, and on more than one occa-
sion outwitted him. On a certain 4th of
July, he was chosen orator — a stand for the
speaker was erected, and seats constructed for
the accommodation of the people. Hedges
tied a string to a fresh coon skin, and gave a
boy a quarter to drag it across the speaker's
stand, and around on the seats. The meeting
was largely attended, and the Declaration of
Independence read, when the speaker arose
with all self-assurance to make a big display.
Hedges then let loose thirty-two hounds, and
they instinctively took the trail of the coon
skin, and such screams and ' getting up stairs
you never did see!' The meeting was dis-
solved, and the wrath of the speaker had no
bounds. ' '
The history of Mercer County dates from
1820, its formation being coeval with fourteen
other counties. At that time it was still a
wilderness, where the Indians had full sway
only a few years earlier, and only a few
hardy pioneers had settled within its bound-
aries. At Fort Recovery and at Shane's
Crossing there was quite a trading post. The
St. Marys River at that time provided a
means for the transportation of goods and
merchandise from the settlements in the older
sections of the country. It was on the route
from the neighborhood of Cincinnati to Fort
Wayne, and only a very short portage was
required when the streams were filled with
water. Over 1,116 persons were enumerated
in 1830, when the first census was taken. The
transformation of the county since that time
has been marvelous. The wilderness of the
days long past has become an agricultural
paradise, and Mercer County now boasts of
as fine farms and as good school houses as
any part of our state. For a long time the
greatest drawback of the county was the lack
of improved roads, and it was not until
1880 that any advance was begun in this line.
Since that time a great many pikes have been
constructed, until the present time the county
has the best highways in Northwestern Ohio,
including many miles of brick and concrete
roads.
Mercer County was named in honor of
General Hugh Mercer, a distinguished officer
of the Revolution. He was commissioned a
brigadier-general by Congress, and took a
prominent part in the operations against the
British forces until he fell mortally wounded
on the battlefield of Princeton. When first
organized, the county was attached to Darke
for judicial purposes. It was detached from
Darke in 1824, and then officially organized,
with St. Marys as the county seat. In 1849
a part of the county was detached in order to
form Auglaize County, but a part of Darke
was added to it as a measure of compensation.
As now constituted there are fourteen town-
ships in the county, as follows : Black Creek,
Dublin, Union, Center, Jefferson, Franklin,
Marion, Granville, Gibson, Recovery, Wash-
ington, Liberty, Hopewell, and Butler.
The Grand Reservoir or, as it is sometimes
called, Lake Mercer, is mostly situated in
Mercer County. It is from three to five miles
in width, and almost ten miles in length, the
western end reaching the corporate limits of
Celina. It contains 17,000 acres. This reser-
voir was begun in 1837 and completed in
1845. Long before the location of this reser-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
513
voir, several adventurers had settled within
the prairie which then formed its site. Some
of the exciting events that occurred during
the construction of the reservoir and immed-
iately afterwards are related under the chap-
ter devoted to Auglaize County. The lake is
today a popular resort and place for rec-
reation.
An interesting incident of the county's his-
tory is that connected with the colonization
of negroes in the thirties. Augustus Wattles,
a native of Connecticut, had become interested
in the colored population of Cincinnati, who
were shut off from every avenue of mental
and moral improvement. He decided to move
them to the country for an experiment. Land
was purchased in the south end of this county
in 1835 and several hundred former slaves
were scattered through the townships of Mar-
ion, Granville, and Franklin. Mr. Wattles
accompanied the negroes and purchased a
farm for himself in the northwest corner of
Marion Township, upon which a school was
established for the education of the blacks.
Aid was given the enterprise by the trustees
of the estate of Samuel Emlen, of New Jersey,
and the school became known as the Emlen
Institute. The school, or institute, was on the
present site of the buildings of St. Charles
Catholic Seminary, at Carthagena, the home
of the Society of the Most Precious Blood
Fathers, and one of the largest schools for the
education of priests in the state.
This influx of the Wattles negroes was ob-
jected to by the whites, and a number of small
disturbances arose. These reached a climax
in June, 1846, when word reached the neigh-
borhood of the coming of some 400 more
negroes. The whites then organized, includ-
ing residents of both Mercer and Auglaize
Bounties. Silas Young was made captain, and
Samuel Grunden, vice captain, both of this
county; Judge Benjamin Linzee, of Wapa-
koneta, was chosen as secretary. This was the
opposition that met the Randolph slaves at
Vol. 1—38
Bremen. In the neighborhood of Carthagena,
Marion Township, on and near the site of the
former Emlen Institute, now reside the only
negroes living in the county. Of the many
who were settled in this territory between the
years of 1835 and 1846, but a couple of do/.>n
families remain. In July, 1866, quite a dele-
gation of the blacks left this country for
Liberia, South Africa. Among this number
was Thomas Dillon, one of the best educated
negroes of the Emlen Institute, who, a couple
of years after reaching Liberia, was elected
president of that little colored republic, serv-
ing for a number of years.
The records in the office of the county clerk
are interesting reading, as they record certifi-
cates which record is known as the "record
of free blacks. ' ' Every negro who was manu-
mitted in any way in the South was given a
certificate of that fact, and these certificates
were recorded in this way in order to avoid
any legal proceedings against the negroes who
had been slaves. One of the records of free
negroes reads as follows :
"John Harper, of Randolph County, North
Carolina, made his will December 2, 1850,
admitted to probate May, 1851, manumitting
his faithful and obedient servants, Francis,
Julie, Sylvanie, Sandy and Little Harry, and
such issue as may be born of either of them,
and to go to some of the free States ; requiring
some of his nephews, J. H. and R. G. Lindsay,
to see that the slaves be permitted to have
and use the following property devised for
them : —
"To Harry, $250, his saddle, bridle, and
martingale, with his mattress and wearing ap-
parel.
"To Kitty, his feather bed, bedstead, and
furniture in the lower room, one side saddle,
one loom and his stock of bees.
"To his servant York, $100; also to York,
Julie, James, Condie, and Sylva each a feather
bed, bedstead, and necessary furniture. Harry
to get his choice of two horses, and Kitty his
514
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
wife two cows and calves, and $500 in money
to be invested for their benefit; and if Harry,
Kitty and their children go to Liberia or sonic
of the free States, then Harry is to get the
horses, and Kitty the cow and also $500; but
in case of Kitty's death, to lie divided among
her children.
"Mr. Harper also provided that if any of
the white legatees of his will oppose the eman-
cipation of his slaves, he or she shall receive
no portion of his estate, but that share to
be divided among the others; and if all of the
legatees opposed, then one-half of his estate
goes to the. American Bible Society, and the
other half to the Colonization Society. He
also provided for the other slaves that man
and wife should not be separated.
"Entered November 1, 1854.
"H. F. JUNEMAN, Clerk."
The first commissioners of the county were
Lucas Van Ansdall, Ansel Blossom, and
Thomas Scott, and they held their initial ses-
sion at St. Marys on April 17, 1824. Samuel
Hanson, the deputy treasurer appointed by
them, agreed to collect all the taxes in Mercer
and Van Wert counties for $5. When John
P. Hedges, the first treasurer, retired in 1825,
the auditor was "directed to issue an order
in favor of the said John P. Hedges for
two dollars and ninety-one cents, being his
legal percentage on seventy-two dollars and
seventy-five cents, received and paid over by
W. B. Hedges for John P. Hedges." The
first term of the common pleas court was held
at St. Marys, in February, 1825. Joseph H.
Crane was the presiding judge, and his asso-
ciates were James Wolcott, Thomas Scott, and
Joseph Greer. The only case on the docket
was the chancery suit entitled Samuel Dungan
vs. Edmund Gilbert. There is not to be found
a state case upon the calendar until several
years after the organization of the county —
the very light docket exhibiting only business
now coming before the Probate Court, and at
some terms a chancery case or two. This
only speaks well for the early citizens of the
county. The first court was held in Celina in
1840. William L. Helfenstein presided, and
his associates were Judges Linzee, Hays, and
Parks.
The first courthouse of the county was a
frame structure, 20x24 feet in dimensions
and two stories high, and located at St. .Marys.
It was built in 1829 by W. McCluney. The
price paid was $291.49, which included the
price of the lot, valued at $40. The furniture
cost $57.371/2, which shows the minuteness
with which these records were kept. Previous
to the completion of this building the Court
of Common Pleas had held sessions in the
tavern of John Pickerell, to whom the com-
missioners at one time allowed $5.00 for the
use of the room. In 1839 the commissioners
and auditor met to select thirty-four lots
donated by the proprietors of Celina to aid
in the erection of public buildings. The first
twenty of these lots were sold for a little
over $600. The commissioners then con-
tracted with Samuel Hunter and John
McGee for the erection of a new courthouse
in that town. It was not many years until
this building was outgrown, and in 1866 the
commissioners resolved to erect a still larger
courthouse to be three stories in height. The
contract was awarded to R. G. Blake and F.
C. Le Blond. In 1825 the first jail was built
by Aza Hinkle at St. Marys, for which he was
given five lots in the village and $150 in cash.
A second jail was erected in 1842 at Celina
by Gustavus Darnold. The present jail was
built in 1875, and combines the sheriff's resi-
dence with the confinement place for prison-
ers.
TRe first officers of the county in the various
offices were as follows: auditor, William B.
Hedges, 1824 ; clerk of courts, James Watson
Riley, 1824; prosecuting attorney, W. L.
Thomas, 1824; treasurer, J. P. Hedges, 1824;
sheriff, H. W. Hinkle, 1825; recorder, James
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
:, ] :,
Watson Riloy, 1825; surveyor, Justin Hamil-
ton, 1S27; c-oroner, L. I). MeMahon, 1837;
prohatr judge, W. L. Blocher, 1852; hoard of
infirmary directors, Thomas Upton, G. W.
Hosier, and B. F. Smvalde, 1863. Mercer
County bus senl two of its citizens to Con-
gress. Francis C. Le Blond served from 1863
to 1867, and W. E. Tou Velle was elected in
the fall of 1906, both of Celina. It was repre-
sented in the Constitutional Convention of
1871 hy Thomas J. Godfrey, of Celina, and in
the last Constitutional Convention by Henry
C. Fox, of Coldwater.
Mercer County Methodism had its begin-
ning about the year 1829 in a camp meeting
held at St. Marys, then the county seat. There
were a number of conversions at this meet-
ing, which was under the charge of Rev.
Robert Finley, assisted by William H. Raper
and John P. Wright. The work of the mission
was then extended westward to Twelve-Mile
Creek and Shane's Prairie and Willshire.
Some of the appointments were a day's jour-
ney apart, and the minister was compelled to
carry subsistence for himself and his horse.
The work was then called St. Marys Mission,
Maumee District, Ohio Conference. In 1832
a society was formed at or near the mouth
of Twelve-Mile Creek in a log schoolhouse, the
members being Israel Forbes and wife, Samuel
Hanson and wife, Joseph Rider and wife, and
George Parrott. This is believed to be the
first "class" formed in what is now Mercer
County, and Rev. Jesse Pryor was the mis-
sionary. In 1838 the appointments were St.
Marys, Mercer, Shanesville, Harpers, Will-
shire, Van Wert, Sugar Ridge, Tomlinson's,
Pring's, Goefford's, Duck Creek, Mendon,
Eight-Mile (now Bethel) and Roebuck 's, and
was called "St. Marys Mission, Michigan
Conference. ' '
A large society was shortly afterwards
formed in the vicinity now known as Bethel.
Abel Wright was the first leader, and James
Wright the exhorter. In 1833 Rev. James
Finley and Rev. John Alexander were the
missionaries. The class in Celina was organ-
ized in 1838 by Rev. George Armstrong and
Reverend Mr. Vincent. Its members were
Eben Foster and wife, .Junes Fiist.-r. William
Allen and his wife, Mrs. McMahon, Christian
Maurer and wife, Levi Dibble and wife, and
Ira Foster and wife, with Ira Foster as class
leader. The first church built was the Old
Bethel Church, and a church built in Celina
was begun in the same year of 18U9. In 1853
St. Marys was made a station and the CYlina
circuit was formed, and Rev. Gersham Lease
was the minister. Even at this time a part of
the support of the minister came from the
parent society. In the succeeding years the
work was divided a number of times, as the
various appointments became stronger and the
membership more numerous. The original St.
Paul's Church was built in 1856, but it was
replaced by the present edifice in 1892.
Owing to the large number of Germans
settling in Mercer County, the Roman Catholic
Church has become very strong and has a
number of edifices scattered over the south
end of the county. Catholicism was first
introduced in the village of Minster, which is
now in Auglaize County. The history of the
church here is closely connected up with that of
the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood,
and the priests of that order have generally
organized and supplied the churches in the
county. One of the first churches of the
Catholic congregations in the county was St.
John's Church, in the town of that name.
It was established as early as 1837, and now
occupies a beautiful edifice that was erected in
1888. St. Rose's Church, in Marion Town-
ship, a couple of miles west, was established
in the same year. St. Joseph "s Church is a few
miles distant from Fort Recovery, and is one
of the earliest churches in the county. It was
organized a year later than the two just men-
tioned, the first priest being Rev. John Her-
zog. St. Henry's Church was established a
516
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
few years later, and its first priest was Father
Bartels. The splendid new church now in
use was dedicated on the 25th of July, 1897.
St. Anthony 's Church, at Padua, was founded
by the Fathers of the Host Precious Blood, the
first priest being Rev. Joseph Albrecht, who
held the first service at the house of John Stel-
zer. St. Mary's Church at Cassella dates from
1847. A plot of ground was afterwards se-
cured, on which a strong frame building was
constructed, which served as a church until the
new brick edifice was built, under the pastor-
ate of Rev. Peter Herberthur. Another
church of the same name is located at Philo-
thea, which was established in 1851. St. Se-
bastian Church, at Sebastian, was established
in 1852. The pioneers of this congregation
were Adam Gerlach, John Will, and B. Frohn-
ing. St. Aloysius Church, near Carthagena,
was first organized about 1856.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
at Celina, now the largest congregation in the
county, was established in the spring of 1864.
The first Catholic services held in Celina were
conducted by missionaries of the Most Precious
Blood Society at the home of Joseph Zender,
in 1861. Three years later a little brick
church was built under the pastorate of Rev.
Father Bernard Dickman, the congregation
consisting of seven families. In 1880 an addi-
tion was added, and six years later the present
parochial school buildings were erected. In
the spring of 1903 the present church was
dedicated under the pastorate of the very
Rev. George Hindelang, C. P. P. S., pres-
ent provincial of the Society of the Most
Precious Blood. It is one of the largest and
finest decorated Catholic edifices in the state.
Other Catholic churches in the county are
St. Wendelin's, at Wendelin; St. Peter's
Church, in Recovery Township ; St. Francis
Church, at Cranberry Prairie; Holy Trinity
Church, at Coldwater; St. Paul's Church, at
Sharpsburg; St. Bernard's Church, at Burket-
ville; Church of Mary Help of Christians, at
Fort Recovery; and the Church of the Most
Precious Blood, at Chickasaw.
In 1859 the Society of the Most Precious
Blood secured the old negro industrial school,
known as the Emlen Institute, at Carthagena,
in the northwestern corner of Marion Town-
ship, together with an extensive tract of land.
Suitable buildings were at once erected, and
in September, 1860, the seminary was opened.
At present many large brick buildings and
a beautiful chapel constitute the home of the
society known as St. Charles Seminary. In
1884, the society acquired an extensive tract
of land near Burkettsville, where buildings
were erected and a novitiate for lay brothers
was opened. This is known as the St. Marys
Novitiate.
CELINA
The name of the county seat of Mercer
County was bestowed upon it by James Wat-
son Riley, one of the original proprietors.
Because of its particular location on the edge
of the reservoir, he named it after the town
of Selina, of New York, situated at the head
of Onondaga Lake, but changed the spelling
in order to avoid any confusion which might
result from the similarity of the names. The
associates of Mr. Riley in the platting of the
town were Rufus Wilson Stearns, Robert Lin-
zee 2d, and Peter Aughenbaugh. The sur-
veying was done by Mr. Riley, who was a
deputy surveyor. A public square was dedi-
cated for public use, and a lot was donated to
the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and Presby-
terian churches "to be used for no other pur-
pose." The plat was acknowledged in 1834
by the proprietors before Associate Judge
Stacey Taylor. They "severally acknowl-
edged that they have given the name of Ce-
lina; that the within plat and the descrip-
tion are accurate ; and that in addition there-
to they will give three acres of land near
said town for a burial grounds on some eligible
situation free to all denominations."
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
517
Mr. Riley's life was a long and eventful
one, and his name will be found identified in
many ways with Mercer and the adjoining
counties. He helped in locating Van Wert,
Paulding, and Celina, the seats of justice of
three different counties. To clear the site
of timber, a "chopping bee" was arranged.
Of this occasion, W. Willshire Riley, brother
of the founder, says:
"I fixed a day in November and issued
nearly 100 invitations to a chopping 'bee.'
hotels for those who came the day before.
The day arrived — a beautiful Indian summer
day — and with it came about 70 experienced
choppers to Celina, with axes sharp and glis-
tening, reminding one of the descriptions of
the axes of the ancient headsmen. The woods-
men divided into companies of from 15 to 20,
under a leader who selected trees in rows,
so that by cutting them off and moving in this
manner to the east side, the last row was
allowed to fall against the others, causing them
WEST SIDE PUBLIC AND CELINA PUBIJC HIGH SCHOOL
Those at a great distance came on the day
preceding the ' bee, ' and were provided for as
well as our accommodations would warrant.
On the day of the 'bee' all were to be pro-
vided with refreshments, consisting of eggnog,
sandwiches and doughnuts, and a grand sup-
per in the new brick building, then floored
and roofed, but yet unfinished. After supper
a dance was to be given. As part of the prep-
arations I sent to Fort Recovery for musi-
cians, and to Piqua for two barrels of whiskey,
six dozen tin cups, and the same number of
plates, knives and forks, spoons and tin pails.
Venison, turkeys, pigs and chickens were pro-
cured, and all the ladies engaged to do the
cooking. Arrangements were made at the
all to fall with a thunder-crash, at intervals
of about an hour. Eggnog was served in tin
pails, with all the sandwiches and doughnuts
desired. A barrel of whiskey was used, al-
though a few of those present used coffee
alone."
At this time the site of the new town wae
heavily timbered, and the mud was tramped
knee deep by the teams engaged in the exca-
vations of the work of public and private
buildings in the new town.
Celina was incorporated as a village, on the
2d of June, 1860. The first mayor elected was
Dr. Joseph N. Hetzler, and he was succeeded
by T. G. Tou Velle, and he was succeeded in
turn by Philo Le Blond. The first town
518
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
council consisted of four members, who were
Adam Baker, John Luck, John M. Pohlman,
and S. S. Snyder. The first postmaster of the
town was Samuel Ruckman.
The first newspaper in Celina was dated the
fourth of August, 1848. There appeared on
the first page the names of J. S. Millard,
printer, and L. G. Smith, publisher. A
couple of years later the paper fell into the
hands of W. L. Blocher and S. S. Snyder,
and was published by this firm under the
name of the Western Standard for four
years. A. P. J. Snyder came to Celina in
1851, first working in the office as composi-
tor, and then he bought the interest of Judge
Blocher. He finally became the sole owner of
the newspaper, which is still published and
known as the Mercer County Standard. In
1905, the publication of the Daily Standard
was begun in connection with the weekly, and
this marked a new era in local newspaper
enterprises. The Standard is one of the oldest
newspaper plants in Northwest Ohio, and has
always been loyal to the upbuilding of Celina
and Mercer County. The Western Democrat
was established in 1874, with D. J. Callen as
the editor. It finally came into the possession
of J. E. Blizzard in 1876, and the name was
changed to Mercer County Observer. This
paper is the one republican newspaper in the
county. The Bote is a weekly German paper,
and was established in 1883 by William Stel-
zer. The Democrat, a weekly, was established
by Carlin and Phillips in 1895.
The Shakespeare Club of Celina is to be
credited with the establishment of the library
here. This club invited all those whom they
thought would be interested in a library move-
ment to meet together during the year 1897.
A lecture course was promoted from which the
surplus funds were to be expended for books.
A book shower was afterwards given in Riley's
Hall, and the books thus obtained became the
nucleus of the first library in Celina. The
library was maintained through the efforts
of the Shakespeare Club for a time. The
History Club of Celina took an interest in
the movement to provide a library building.
It was decided to ask Andrew Carnegie for
assistance. This movement was finally a
suocess, and funds were provided by Mr.
Carnegie for the erection of the building now
in use.
Masonry made its entry in Celina in 1853,
when a petition was presented to the grand
master of Ohio. The first meeting was held
during that same year in a hall prepared for
the occasion. Smith H. Clark was the first
worshipful master, and William Hunter was
the secretary. This lodge is known as Celina
Lodge Free and Accepted Masons No. 241. A
dispensation was granted in 1869 for the estab-
lishment of a chapter of the Royal Arch Ma-
sons. When instituted this chapter became
known as Celina Chapter No. 120. Joseph N.
Hetzler was the first presiding officer and
James H. Day was the secretary. Celina
Chapter No. 91, order of the Eastern Star, was
granted a charter in 1896. The first officers
of the chapter were Susan A. Riley, worthy
matron and Tennie Zay.
Celina Lodge No. 399, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, was constituted at Celina in
1867 by John A. Lee, grand master of Ohio.
Celina Encampment No. 231, and Queen Re-
becca Lodge No. 245, are also chapters of this
order that are located in Celina. Celina
Lodge No. 129, Knights of Pythias, was organ-
ized and instituted on the 8th day of Septem-
ber, 1881. The original officers were John
W. McKee, past master ; John W. Loree, chan-
celor commander, and J. P. McAfee, keeper
of records and seals. A chapter of Pythian
sisters was organized in 1903. Le Blond
Lodge No. 171, Grand Army of the Republic
dated from 1881. D. J. Roop was the first
commander of the order.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
519
ROCKFORD
Rockford is the oldest settlement in the
county, and one of the oldest in Northwest
Ohio. It antedates any of the surrounding
county seats. Under the name of Shanes-
ville, it had the distinction of being the seat
of justice of the county for a time. It is
situated on the south bank of the St. Marys
River, near the site of the old Indian village
called Old Town. The town was settled as
early as 1819, and even prior to this date a
trading post had been established here by
Anthony Madore, a Frenchman. The Town
of Shanesville, as it was known, was laid out
by Anthony Shane on land granted to him by
the United States Government. It was platted
and surveyed in June, 1820, and the plat
acknowledged before John Beers, a justice
of the peace of Darke County. Shane was
a half breed Indian, and remained here until
the removal of the Shawnees to Kansas. The
name as given to the postoffice was Shane's
Crossing. When the town was first incorpo-
rated, in 1866, it was given the name of
Shane's Crossing. The reason for this name
was that it was the old home of Anthony
Shane, and the place where General Wayne
crossed the river. This name clung to the
village until it was changed by a decree of
court to Rockford, in 1890. From the first
the growth of the town was slow, but in recent
years it has increased more rapidly. George
F. Borchers, a German by birth, was one of
the prominent citizens in the years before and
during the Civil War. He served as post-
master for eighteen years, and also as justice
of the peace and mayor for many years.
At the first election held in the incorporated
Village of Shane's Crossing, forty-four votes
were cast. P. F. Robinson was the successful
candidate for mayor. C. W. Alexander was
elected clerk. N. C. McGraven was chosen as
treasurer, and H. F. Holbrook as marshal.
The council elected were Henry Van Tilburg,
Davis Guy, Lewis Fulman, C. R. Hintz, and
Joshua Van Fleet. The Rockford Free Press,
a weekly newspaper, now known as the Rock-
ford Press, was established in 1883 by D. < '.
Kinder.
ST. HENRY
St. Henry is another thriving and prosper-
ous village of Mercer County. It was laid out
by Henry Romer in 1837. H. Burns built the
second cabin and started a blacksmith busi-
ness, which in later years grew to be an im-
portant place in the town. The village was
incorporated. It is surrounded by fine agri-
cultural country, and is a trading place for
a considerable district.
MENDON
In 1834 Justin Hamilton and Thomas Par-
rot laid out the town of Guilford, on the south
bank of the St. Marys River. The proprie-
tors soon afterwards changed the name to
Mendon. For years the chief features of the
town were a schoolhouse, a store, and a horse-
mill. The village was incorporated in 1881.
L. A. Barber was elected the first mayor, and
J. H. Moore the first clerk. The councilmen
were A. H. Lininger, F. S. Collins, J. W.
Murlin, John Bevan, and Joseph Hesser.
FORT RECOVERY
The Town of Fort Recovery is laid out on
the site of the old fort of the same name. It
was platted by David Beardslee in 1836. It
was incorporated in 1858, under the name of
Recovery, upon the petition of fifty citizens,
and is the oldest village corporated in the
county. The Wabash River flows through the
northern part of the village. In 1887 a great
gas well was struck here, which was named
the "Mad Anthony."
520
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
OTHER VILLAGES
i
Neptune has a history that dates back to
1837. Its founder was William Bonafield,
one of the pioneers who entered land there
about 1827. He laid out the town and en-
gaged in the hotel business, his hostelry being
known as the "Half-way House." He was a
carpenter by trade and also followed that
occupation. Jason and Atwater Hall settled
in the village soon afterwards and built homes.
Then there came "Doc" Keyser, who spent a
long life in Neptune. The fact that the old
Fort Wayne road passed through here made
it a good trading point in the early days. It
formerly possessed a postoffice, but none is
found there today. Mercer was laid out by
Bernard Brewster in 1833. It is one of the
oldest towns in the county, but has never
grown greatly. St. Joseph was laid out in
1861 by Archbishop Purcell. At one time it
supported a small store and grocery, but its
main feature today is the St. Joseph's Catho-
lic Church, one of the oldest churches of that
denomination in the county.
Burkettsville dates from 1876, when it was
platted by Bernard Romer Jr., Edward Frum-
mel, William Sutherland, and Jackson Galder.
It was incorporated in 1901. Chickasaw was
laid out in 1838 by John Nutter and James
Brooks. It did not progress rapidly at first,
and was not incorporated until 1890. Maria
Stein is the name of a thriving village of seve-
ral inhabitants. Montezuma dates from 1835.
It was incorporated in 1894, and its first mayor
was William A. Lacey. Coldwater was laid
out by William A. 0. Munsell in 1859. It was
duly incorporated as a village in 1883.
CHAPTER XL
OTTAWA COUNTY
SCOTT STAHL, PORT CLINTON
The name "Ottawa" was given to this
county from the tribe of Indians who had
their home on the banks of the Maumee, and
whose hunting ground embraced this county,
as well as other adjacent territory. The word
is of Indian origin, and signifies "trader."
The surface of the county is generally level
and, excepting that portion known as the
"Peninsula," lies almost wholly within the
Black Swamp. It is small in comparison with
some other counties but, as it is rich in
material wealth, it is also rich in historic inci-
dent of the character that is authentic as well
as that which exists in tradition. A small
portion of the eastern part, comprising the
Township of Danbury and nearly all of
Catawba Island, lies within what is generally
known as the ' ' Fire Lands. ' ' This was land
that was given to citizens of Connecticut as
compensation for damages which they had
sustained by reason of property destroyed in
British raids. Five hundred thousand acres
were set off for that purpose at the extreme
western end of! the Connecticut Western Re-
serve. Each person obtained an undivided
interest in proportion to the value of his prop-
erty destroyed, as estimated by a committee
appointed by the Connecticut Legislature and
stated in pounds, shillings, and pence. It was
afterwards apportioned in severalty, by lot, in
the most peculiar fashion.
It will be observed that this grant, which
was in the nature of a pension given to com-
pensate for sacrifices made in the Revolution-
ary War, was granted in that part of the ter-
ritory belonging to Connecticut most distant
from home and from the then settled part of
the country. All that part of the Western
Reserve not thus granted to the "sufferers"
was granted by the state to a corporation,
known as The Connecticut Land Company,
and a curious dispute arose between the "suf-
ferers" and The Connecticut Land Company
over the location of the eastern boundary of
the "sufferers" land. The Connecticut Land
Company insisted that Sandusky Bay should
be estimated as land. If this had been done,
the western line of the Connecticut Land
Company's grant would have been located
farther west than it was. The "sufferers" in-
sisted that this should not be done, and the
dispute was finally settled in an agreement by
which Sandusky Bay was estimated as water,
but The Harbors, which lie on the northern
shore, were included as land. This is an early
record of an odd claim. It is hard to see, now,
how it could ever have been contended that
Sandusky Bay is land, and it illustrates the
value of compromise, because it is not possible
to see how The Harbors could be considered
as land any more than could Sandusky Bay,
as they are covered with water from one to
four feet in depth, and are actually navigable
to some extent. The granting of title in this
way to land covered with navigable water has
been productive of some queer litigation, and
has resulted in the Supreme Court of Ohio
laying down rules of property that one would
not believe would be necessary in Ohio.
Ottawa County was created on the 6th day
of March, 1840, from portion detached from
Sandusky, Erie, and Lucas counties into a
521
522
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
new subdivision. The first session of the
county commissioners was held at Port Clin-
ton, April 13, 1840, at which Ezekiel Rice and
William Gill were present. James Kingham
filled the office of clerk on this occasion. The
other officials at this time were James King-
ham, auditor; Cyrus Moore, treasurer; Wil-
liam B. Craighill, appraiser; Eli Vogelsang,
assessor; and Henry J. Miller, sheriff. All of
those officials filed their bond. The first term
of court was held at Port Clinton, on April
5, 1840, by Associate Judges Samuel Hollins-
head, Roger Kirk, Samuel and Galbraith
Stewart. The clerk was Stanton H. Brown.
The principal business transaction at this ses-
sion of the court was the naturalization of
several foreigners. The lawyers1 who trans-
acted business at several of the early terms of
court were John L. Green, R. P. Bucklaud, W.
F. Sloan, Spink & Hosmer, Charles L. Boalt,
Joseph M. Root, George Reber, William W.
Ainer, Parish & Saddler, J. H. Magruder,
Lucas S. Beecher, Pitt Cooke, and Homer
Everett. Most of these lawyers came from
Fremont or Sandusky.
The record of the early settlers of the
county is very incomplete, but exists with tol-
erable accuracy in the traditions of the county.
Along the shores of the lake, including The
Harbors, there were in the early days of the
county wide stretches of marshland, back of
which the land was heavily wooded. The
marshes and the woods were the home of vast
numbers of fur-bearing animals, and along the
edge of the marshes there settled in early
times many persons of French Canadian
descent. These early settlers found a liveli-
hood, in part, in hunting and trapping these
fur-bearing animals, and their descendants
aided in clearing up the territory. One of the
creeks of the county is called The Tousaint, a
name in keeping with the descendants of the
people who first located near its mouth. These
early settlers had all of the characteristics
that many of the late writers of Canadian
stories have wound into pleasant books. The
term "Tousangers" has long been a local
name for the residents of this district. These
"Tousangers" furnish a curious link between
the hardships of the early day and the easier
means of livelihood of the present generation.
"De Mushrat," to a large extent, furnished
a means of sustenance to these people long
before it became a sort of luxury served at
the muskrat suppers given by the many
societies in the cities along the shores of Lake
Erie.
There is a curious story told of a campaign
for mayor of Port Clinton, between two citi-
zens of that town after many Germans had
located there. One candidate, of German
descent, invited his opponent to meet with the
Germans. Limburger cheese was served in the
way of refreshment. The opponent, who was
of French descent, could not eat limburger
cheese and he was loudly jeered. It appeared
that his chances of election were lost indeed.
But, an evening or two afterwards, the
opposing candidate invited the man of Ger-
man descent to another party at which the
citizens of French descent were present, and
muskrat was served. Here the German was
in as great difficulty as the Frenchman was at
the first party, because he could not eat musk-
rat, and he was as loudly jeered by the musk-
rat eaters. And, as those who could eat
muskrat outnumbered the citizens who could
not, the German, with his limburger cheese
method of campaign, was sorely defeated at
the election. The citizens of this county of
this blood have kept pace with the develop-
ment of the country and constitute a rough,'
honorable and important part of the citizen-
ship of the county.
A great many of the citizens of the county
find themselves located there because of an
incident that happened to their forefathers.
A boat which was taking a large number of
people of Scotch blood from Buffalo to Chi-
cago was wrecked and cast upon the shores
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
near Port Clinton. Being nnalilc to go far-
ther, they set themselves about adjusting their
affairs to meet the conditions surrounding
them. They loeated at or near Port Clinton,
purchased land and cleared it, and they and
their descendants have accomplished much in
the development of the county.
Among the persons cast there at that time
was Jane MeRitcliie. who was horn in Scot-
land. She lived to a Y.T.V ripe old a ire, and
was generally known as "Grandma Mc-
peninsula M\veen the Indians and a party of
American soldiers on the 29th of September,
1812. One of those who took part was Joshua
R. Giddings. Later, Giddings returned and
caused a monument to be erected on the site
of this skirmish to commemorate this historic
event. It is located near a spring close to the
road "around the horn," and is an object of
interest at this time to automobilists who take
that beautiful drive.
An interesting trial that took place during
ALONG THE PICTURESQUE SHORE op LAKE ERIE
Ritchie." She endured all the hardships of
an early settler, performing those various
acts of kindness which one in that situation
finds it possible to do. She attended the sick
and cared for the suffering, when care was
not easy to obtain, and was, indeed, one of
those remarkably pure and good women with
the strong character that only this kind of
hardship can develop. She died a few years
ago with the respect and affection of an entire
community. After 1849, the emigration from
Germany was considerable, and much of the
older population of the county is of that
origin.
The first trial of arms in the War of 1812
in Ohio, occurred in two skirmishes on the
the Civil War involved the question of recog-
nition of the Confederate States as a govern-
ment de facto. It resulted from the arrest of
Bennet G. Burley. Burley was tried in the
Common Pleas Court at Fort Clinton on the
charge of robbery in forcibly taking the watch
of W. 0. Ashley, the clerk of the steamer
Philo Parsons. In bar of these proceed-
ings was pleaded the fact that the defendant
was the authorized agent and acting under
the direction of the Confederate Government
in all that he did, and that he did nothing
not warranted by the laws and usages of war.
Judge John Fitch, presiding, held that the
Confederate States were, at the time named,
a government de facto, exercising sovereignty ;
524
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
being in a state of war with the Federal
Government, the defendant could not be held
amenable under the civil laws for acts per-
formed under the authority of the Confeder-
ate Government. The court, however, held
that in case the jury should believe that the
taking of Ashley "s watch was for the personal
benefit of the defendant, and not in the in-
terest of the Confederate Government, he was
punishable under the state laws. The result
was a disagreement of the jury, which stood
eight for guilty and four for his discharge.
Burley escaped from the jail after the dis-
agreement of the jury. James P. Latimore
was, at that time, sheriff of the county, and he
was unable to retake his prisoner. Burley
stayed for a few days with a farmer living in
Bay Township, a few miles west of Port Clin-
ton. This farmer, whose name was William
Mulcahy, put him on horseback and went with
him to Detroit. Mulcahy later returned home
leading the horse which Burley had ridden to
Detroit. After reaching Canada, Burley
wrote to Sheriff Latimore and requested him
to send Burley some books which he had left
at the jail, and sent Latimore some money to
pay for certain expenses which the sheriff had
paid for Burley. The escape of Burley was
without fault of the sheriff, but Mr. Latimore
says that he was a most congenial and interest-
ing gentleman. Later Burley became a war
correspondent for one of the great London
dailies.
A very interesting section of the mainland
of Ottawa County is what is known as the
"Peninsula." This comprises a little more
than thirty square miles in area, lying between
Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay, all being in
Danbury Township, in which Lakeside is
located. Nearly all of Catawba Island Town-
ship, before the organization of Erie or Ot-
tawa counties, constituted a part of the terri-
tory of Huron County. In the earlier days
these two townships were known as Penin-
sular Township, in Huron County, and later
the name was changed to Danbury Township,
in Huron County. This name was given after
the name of the Town of Danbury, in Connec-
ticut. The Peninsula is one of the most pic-
turesque sections of Northwest Ohio. There
is no more beautiful drive than what is known
as "around the horn." The road is near, or
in sight of, the open water for almost the
entire distance, and the glimpses obtained of
the blue waters of the lake and bay are most
fascinating. Johnson's Island and Kelly's
Island, Put-in-Bay, and the City of Sandusky
are clearly visible upon a- bright day, and
there is an ever varying change to the scenery
without even a trace of monotony. The light-
house and life-saving station at Marblehead
are favorite spots with all visitors.
The soil and the climate, because of the
presence of such a large body of water, is
favorable to the cultivation of peaches, which
has become the chief product of the territory,
and the richest fruits are produced in large
quantities. A million bushels of peaches are
harvested and shipped annually from the
eastern end of Ottawa County. The farmers
in that section have grown rich and they live
in beautiful homes, surrounded with all the
conveniences that the genius of the age has
produced.
Catawba Island, as it is called, is really a
part of the "Peninsula," and is entitled to
the name "island" only because it is nearly
severed from the mainland by a narrow stream
of water, and what is known as The Harbors.
There is, however, the supposition in support
of the name "island," that the Portage River
once ran beyond Port Clinton and emptied
into what is called West Harbor, thus separat-
ing Catawba Island from the mainland.
To the student of geology, there is no part
of Ohio more interesting or more filled with
revelation of the ages that have gone by than
the Peninsula. Along the shore of the lake, es-
pecially near Lakeside and Marblehead, and
on Kelly's Island, directly opposite, the glacier
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
525
groovings are plainly visible. The action of
the waves here has washed off the soil which
once covered them, and its indications of a
period millions of years in the past are opened
up to us for our inspection as evidence of the
truth of the story related to us by our geolo-
gists. The rock here is very hard limestone,
which stands the weather well, so that the
glacier murks are much better preserved than
in other localities. The ice movements also
were longer continued and more powerful than
in some other localities. On Kelly's Island
the deepest grooves may be seen, where there
are furrows several inches and sometimes two
feet in depth, running for many rods in one
direction. The direction of all the grooves is
generally a little south of west, or nearly that
of the longest diameter of the lake, showing
that for a time the ice moved in that direc-
tion. Here also and in the quarries will be
found such a multitude of remains of the crus-
tacea as delights the eye of geologists. Al-
though these shores and imprints on the shore
mean little to the unscientific mind, to the
trained scientists they are eloquent and speak
a language that can be understood. Nowhere
in Ohio are richer limestone quarries found
than in and around Marblehead town. Mil-
lions of dollars worth of stone have been quar-
ried, which have been used either in building
or in the preparation of lime, and the short
railroad which connects these quarries with
the main line of the New York Central is one
of the best paying railroads in the United
States. This is due principally to the great
amount of stone and lime products that are
transported over it. At Gypsum, there are
large beds of gypsum, which is so largely used
in the preparation of plaster. The discovery
of these underlying beds has been the source
of great wealth.
Situated a distance of a few miles from the
mainland, is a group of islands that is some-
times known as the "Wine Islands." A num-
ber of these islands form what is known as
Put-in-Bay Township, in Ottawa County. The
largest of these is"South Bass Island," which
is generally known as Put-in-Bay, and com-
prises an area of about 1,500 acres. "Middle
Bass" and "North Bass" islands are not far
from Put-in-Bay. "Rattle Snake Island"
includes about sixty acres, and "Sugar
Island" is about one-half as great. "Green
Island" is still smaller, being about twenty
acres in extent. "Green Island" belongs to
the United States Government, and there is
located thereon a lighthouse. There are other
smaller islands.
Put-in-Bay Island is the most noted because
of the conflict which took place near its- shores,
and which is described elsewhere. It is gen-
erally understood that Commodore Perry gave
the name "Put-in-Bay" to this island, but it
is a fact that there are deeds on record in Ohio
being an earlier date than the conflict in
which Commodore Perry defeated the British,
and which refer to this island at Put-in-Bay
Island.
Until 1854 the islands were very sparsely
settled. In that year J. D. Rivera, a Spaniard
of New York, having become favorably im-
pressed with the natural attractions offered
here, purchased Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass, Bal-
last, Sugar, and Gibraltar at a cost of $44,000.
His first efforts were turned towards convert-
ing Put-in-Bay into a sheep ranch, and at one
time he had a herd of 2,000 sheep on the
island. These were gradually disposed of,
however, and the island developed into a fruit
farm. In 1858 Mr. Rivera, in conjunction
with Phillip Vroman, L. Harms, and Lawrence
Miller, began the cultivation of the vine. Their
success was so great that others followed their
example, until the principal industry soon
became the growing of grapes, which has con-
tinued until this day. The quality of the soil,
natural drainage, and the climatic influence
surroundings the islands especially favors the
growing of fruits, and the grape has proved
itself to be most valuable. At least one-third
526
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of the grape product of the state, and perhaps
one-half of the wine, is credited to Ottawa
County. The varieties of grapes grown are
generally the Catawba, Delaware, and Con-
cord.
Put-in-Bay was at one time the most famous
summer resort of Lake Erie. Visitors came
here by the thousands from Cleveland, Toledo,
and Detroit, and cities far inland to spend a
day or several days on this island. When
Hotel Victory was completed, it was consid-
Another interesting island, just a short dis-
tance out from Put-in-Bay, is a rock island
known as Gibraltar. It lies at the mouth of
the indentation which forms Put-in-Bay har-
bor, and is not more than an eighth of an mile
from the shore. Perry 's fleet sailed from here
to engage the enemy. It is a vast rock which
rises about forty-five feet above the lake.
During the War of 1812, this island was forti-
fied, and in more recent years it has been noted
as the home of Jay Cooke, the famous finan-
-
4sM
PUT-IN-BAY, FROM PERRY MONUMENT
ered the finest summer hotel of the day, and
many notable conventions were held within it.
The development of Cedar Point, near San-
dusky, which was more accessible for excur-
sionists from inland towns, gradually took
away the prestige which had formerly been
held by the island. It is still a popular place
and supports a number of prosperous hotels,
but it is not resorted to by so many thousands
as two or three decades ago. One of the
natural curiosities of Put-in-Bay is what is
known as Perry 's Cave, a subterranean cavern
that is quite a subject of interest. It is 200
feet long, 100 feet wide, and has an average
height of seven feet. At the farther end is a
lake whose pure and limpid waters are said to
extend to depths unknown.
cier of civil war times, who built a spacious
castelated residence upon it. There is some-
thing romantic about the idea of owning an
entire island, and this fact has probably shed
additional romance upon Gibraltar. Mr.
Cooke made it his summer home for many
years, and took great pleasure in entertaining
his friends and neighbors on it. It was some-
times the humble rather than the noble that
he chose to entertain. We are told that it was
his habit to invite ten Christian ministers at
one time, and entertain them for two weeks.
In the ten would be included two ministers
from each of five different denominations, and
he would generally choose the men who had
small salaries rather than those from the
prominent pulpits. When the men departed,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
527
he would pass over chocks to them to make
good their expenses to and fro. He probably
played wiser than he knew in thus mingling
the ministers from different denominations,
because it enabled these men who were work-
ing in the same cause, but along different lines,
to form a more charitable opinion of those
who represented other denominations.
Mr. Cooke also erected a monument to the
memory of Perry, with an appropriate in-
scription, and near it stands some mounted
cannon, trophies of his great victory. There
is also a lookout tower which gives a splendid
outlook over the surrounding islands. This
rock of Gibraltar has its curiosities. The for-
mation being limestone, and one side a perpen-
dicular bluff, it has under it a cave into which
a boat can go; it is called "Lovers Cave."
Another is the "Needle's Eye," an arched
passageway formed by an overhanging rock
and another coming up from the bottom of the
lake. One spot on the overhanging bluff is
called "Perry's Lookout," where Perry was
wont to station a sentinel to watch for the
British fleet. Early one morning he discov-
ered it near the Canada shores, whereupon he
hoisted his anchors, sailed out of the bay and
met them, much to their sorrow.
The development of the lime manufacture
and the production of gypsum deposits fur-
nish a very interesting item in the history of
Ottawa County. The lime and stone plant of
the Kelley Island Lime and Transport Com-
pany, at Marblehead, is an immense plant
which once furnished employment for a very
large number of men ; but the company has
installed the latest appliances and machinery
and kept pace perfectly with the scientific
development of the industry and, though large
numbers of men are still employed, there are
not so many as heretofore. The company
owns large areas of valuable stone land, and
it ships its products from Marblehead to Dan-
bury, there connecting with the New York
Central Railroad Lines. The company's in-
terests at Marblehead are valuable. Its pres-
ent plant resulted from the purchase of several
smaller plants. This company also nuns an
immense quarry near Clay Center, in the
western part of Ottawa County. This quarry
is known as its "White Rock" plant. Here is
manufactured large quantities of hydratfd
lime, and this plant is probably the largest
lime plant in the world. The MarMehead
OLD LIGHTHOUSE AT MARBLEHEAD
quarry produces vast quantities of lime,
crushed stone, and flux stone.
John A. Kling, of Cleveland, Ohio, presi-
dent of the Kelley Island Lime and Stone
Company, has introduced in the operation of
these plants many valuable and humane prin-
ciples in the treatment of his employees, and
in connection therewith is inspired with a
spirit of interest in the lives and happiness of
his men and their welfare. It would be a good
thing for the country if the heads of such
large institutions, in general, had executive
ability, and at the same time the simple thor-
ough going humanity of Mr. Kling.
Gypsum has been produced in the county
from a period earlier than 1838. It exists at
a depth of about thirty or forty feet. Until
528
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
recent years, it was quarried, the earth above
it being stripped from the underlying gypsum.
But about 1900, Alexander Forrester, of
Cleveland, Ohio, sank a shaft and began min-
ing of gypsum, since which time large and
valuable mines have been developed. As the
surface of the territory is so flat, and there has
not until the mining of this gypsum been any
mines conducted in Northwestern Ohio, it is
rather curious that one of the important ques-
tions touching the title to mineral deposits
should be tested in the Supreme Court of Ohio
in a case from Ottawa County.
Port Clinton, the county seat, was organized
about 1827 by Cincinnati capitalists, while it
constituted a part of Sandusky County. It
is situated on a beautiful bay, just south of
Put-in-Bay Island, and at the mouth of the
Portage River. It has a fairly good harbor,
which is under the supervision of the Federal
Government. It is said that Port Clinton is
the greatest fresh water fishing center in the
world, and many carloads of fish are shipped
from Port Clinton annually. Other towns
in the county are Oak Harbor, Genoa, and
Elmore. Lakeside is a Chautauqua resort,
under the control of the Methodist Church,
and here many resort each year for recreation.
For many years a contest existed between
Oak Harbor and Port Clinton over the loca-
tion of the county seat. Port Clinton wanted
to keep it, and Oak Harbor wanted to secure
it. In the winter of 1897 and 1898, citizens of
Oak Harbor endeavored to secure the passage
of a bill in the Legislature of Ohio submitting
the question of moving the county seat to
Oak Harbor to the voters of the county. Citi-
zens of Port Clinton, of course, fought this
before the Legislature, and were aided by the
Elmore and Genoa citizens to a very great
extent. This fight created much bitterness in
the county, which was slow in dying out, but
which has at this time entirely disappeared.
Committees of the Legislature visited both
places, and many of the citizens of the county
spent weeks and months at Columbus lobby-
ing for and against the measure. The bill did
not pass, but there was submitted to the voters
the question of building a new courthouse at
Port Clinton, and this carried at the polls.
The new courthouse was built. It is a beauti-
ful structure located in the center of one of the
squares in the town. The ground around it is
beautifully landscaped, and it is as pleasantly
surrounded as any public building could be.
The building of this courthouse settled for-
ever this county seat question, and it is more
firmly established by the building of an elec-
tric railroad, leading from Toledo, through
Genoa, Elmore, Oak Harbor, and Port Clinton,
to Lakeside and Marblehead. The citizens of
the county are thus conveniently connected
with each other by an easy means of communi-
cation, so that instead of requiring a day to
go from Port Clinton to Elmore or Genoa to
transact an hour's business, the citizens of
Port Clinton can go and return in a few hours,
and the citizens of the western end of the
county can go to Port Clinton to pay their
taxes or for other business and return in a
half day or less.
Much attention has been paid in the last
few 'years to the improvement of the roads of
the county, and it will not be many years until
all of the roads of the county are made with
macadam or cement and brick. Located near
Port Clinton, along the shore of Lake Erie,
in what is known as Erie Township, is the
state rifle range, commonly called "Camp
Perry." It is a beautiful and level tract of
land, consisting of about 500 acres, and is
owned by the State of Ohio. It is said to be
an ideal rifle range. The shore consists of a
long sandy beach, which slopes gradually out
into the deep water and furnishes excellent
bathing. The state has improved and equipped
this range in an excellent way. In the north-
eastern corner of the range a small tract of
land is owned by the Ohio Rifle Association,
and on this is constructed a large club house,
which is conducted in a most excellent manner.
CIIAI'TKK XL I
PAULD1NG COUNTY
NELSON R. WEBSTER, PAULDINO
The County of Paulding is traversed both
by the Maumee and the Auglaize rivers,
which make it indeed historic ground. Al-
though no battles occurred within its bound-
aries, so far as we know, it no doubt had its
full share of isolated tragedies which have
never been written by the pen of the histor-
ian. It could not be otherwise than that the
incoming settlers should at some place or
another come into a clash with the red men,
who looked upon them as intruders. The
armies of Generals St. Clair and Wayne
passed within the border of the county, and
may have had some skirmishes there. A
small stockade, called Fort Brown, was built
at the confluence of the Big and Little Au-
glaize rivers in 1812, and it was occupied for
a time by detachments from General Harri-
son 's army. The stockade was soon abandoned,
and all trace of it has now disappeared. The
only reminder of its existence is in the name
of a township.
The largest Indian village ever located
within the county was that of Charloe, which
was situated on a beautiful site upon the left
bank of the Auglaize. It was near the center
of an Indian reserve, of four miles square,
which was known as Oquanoxa's reserve.
Here dwelt the chieftain of that name with
several hundred Indians, who were a portion
of the Ottawa tribe. The reservation was sold
in 1820, when the chief and his followers took
up their line of inarch toward the retiring
sun. When the first settlers arrived, there
were several small bands of Indians who dwelt
along the Auglaize or the Maumee, and the
Vol. I— 54
names of some of them, such as the Totigose,
Saucy Jack, Big Yankee Jim, Draf Jim, P.
Ashway, Pokcshaw, and Wapacanaugh were
familiar names. These Indians were generally
peaceable and kindly disposed toward the
settlers, excepting when under the influence
of the firewater brought by the civilized race.
Following the custom of the early settlers
in nearly every section of our country, the
earliest pioneers built their simple homes
along the banks of the streams. This was but
natural for, in addition to the beauty of the
location, the stream provided good fishing and
good hunting as well as an easy means of
communication to other settlements. The
first white settler in the county was Shadrach
Hudson, who arrived in the year 1819. He
came from Miami County and built a log
house on the right bank of the Auglaize River,
about half a mile east of the present Village
of Junction. It was in the usual style, being
constructed of square logs, was two stories in
height, and had a huge fire-place in one end.
He had been a soldier with General St. Clair,
and participated in the battle where that
general was defeated by the Indians. It com-
manded a splendid view both up and down
the river. He had also served in the Ameri-
can army during the War of 1812, and was
so impressed with the fertility and natural
beauty of this site that he decided to make-
it his home. Mr. Hudson and his wife lived
a. life of piety, and daily gathered their large
family around the family altar. They were
very hospitable, and entertained many a
stranger who chanced to pass that way.
529
530
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Isaac Carey came in the autumn of the same
year and settled near Mr. Hudson. In his
cabin was born Daniel Clark Carey, who
brought the distinction of being the first white
child known to have been born within the
limits of the county. He lived to a good old
age and served the county in the position of
probate judge, and in other offices of public
trust. Nathan Shirley came in 1823 and
Thomas Romine two years later, both of them
choosing farms along the Auglaize. In the
latter year settlement on the Maumee began.
In that year, or about that time, there came to
the county Dennison Hughes, William Banks,
David Applegate, William Gordon, Reason V.
Spurrier, and H. M. Curtis. These pioneers
established the first settlement in the northern
part of the county. Robert Hakes was an
early pioneer who lived to a happy old age.
Robert Barnhill was the first man to settle in
Blue Creek Township. Jonathan Ball pene-
trated the forests of what is now Benton Town-
ship, and built the first cabin there. Oliver
Crane was a prominent early settler, and a
township bears his name. A postoffice also
bore the name of Cranesville for a long time,
but it has long since disappeared. James
Hinton was an early "squatter" in Carryall
Township, but David Applegate bears the dis-
tinction of being the earliest actual settler.
William H. Snook, ST., and William N. Snook
came to the county in 1834, and their de-
scendants have been prominent and useful
citizens of the community. William Gordon
built a small cabin along the Maumee in
1826, and preceded nil other settlers in
Emerald Township. This township was given
its name because a number of the sons of
Erin settled within its boundaries. There
was no settler in what now constitutes Latty
Township until Edward L. Himmell built a
cabin there in 1853. When the first election
was held three years later, only nine votes
were recorded. There was not a postoffice in
the township until 1873. when Gilbert's Mills
was established, but it has since been aban-
doned.
Settlers did not come to Paulding County so
rapidly as to some other sections of the North-
western part of Ohio. In fact, it was one of
the very last counties to become thoroughly
settled and, after the timber had disappeared
from the larger portion of some of the
counties, Paulding was still largely covered
with the primeval forests. In 1828 Joseph
Mellinger started a settlement on the Little
Auglaize, and was shortly afterwards followed
by William Harrell, Benjamin Kniss, and
Dimitt Mackerel. Most of these early settlers
came from the southern counties of the state.
In 1835 two brothers by the name of John
and William Moss, natives of England, began
to improve farms on the banks of Blue Creek.
A few months later Robert Barnhill and Jos-
eph Reed also constructed cabins along this
stream and began the battle with the forest.
In 1851, when the first election was held
here, when Jackson Township was created,
only ten votes were cast. William Moss was
elected both clerk and justice of the peace.
Plat Rock Settlement was established by
Thomas Wentworth, who was a native of the
State of Maine. He left the pine covered
hills of his native state to establish a home
in Paulding County in the year 1835. It was
a long and tedious journey for himself and
his family to the farm which he carved out
of the forest near the Village of Payne.
Christian Shroufe located near Oakwood in
1826, and was the first settler in Brown Town-
ship. For a decade he had scarcely any
neighbors. At an election held in 1830, only
thirty votes were cast in a territory equalling
almost a third of the county. At this election
Dr. John Kingery was chosen as justice of the
peace. Pierce Evans erected a grist-mill on
the Little Auglaize in 1834, but it was washed
away not long afterward. John D. Carlton
was one of the very earliest teachers in the
county, for he began to instruct the youth as
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
581
early as 1834, in an unoccupied cabin near
Charloe. Another early teacher was Mrs.
Caroline Merchant, who taught about fifteen
pupils in her own cabin. She taught because
of the love of the work rather than for the
small remuneration received.
The primitivcncss of elections in the early
days is well illustrated by the following inci-
dent: "An election was held at the house of
John Northup, the ballot-box being Mr.
Northup's old possum skin cap. Dana Colum-
bia, of Junction, was a candidate for the office
of county commissioner; but after the ballot-
ing had proceeded for some length of time,
a horseman arrived post-haste, and by speak-
ing so derogatorily of the character 'of Mr.
Columbia, and by so emphatically declaring
that he was not a suitable person for the office,
he so influenced several of the voters as to
cause them to want to change their votes.
After some parleying with the judges and
clerks, it was decided to begin the election
over again. Accordingly the old 'possum'
skin cap was turned upside down, the tickets
already cast emptied out and thrown away,
and a new ballot taken." This was certainly
a wide departure from the Australian system
of balloting, but it resulted in the defeat of
Mr. Columbia, and the illegality of the pro-
ceeding was never tested.
The early pioneers of Paulding County were
a religious people. Whenever it was possible
religious services were held. The oldest Sun-
day School in the county is the one known
as Charloe Union Sunday School. This was
organized in 1841 by C. B. West, who held the
superintendency for several years, and was
then succeeded by David C. Carey. He. in
turn was followed by Dwight C. Blakesly.
These three men served as superintendents
of this Sunday School during the first half
century of its existence, with the exception
of two periods of only a few months each,
during which time Eli Day and Martin Myers
filled the office of superintendent. This is a
record that it would be hard to duplicate in
this section of our statf.
It was not until after the opening of the
Miami and Erie and the Walmsh ami Hrie
canals that settlers began to come to Paulding
County in very great numbers. Some of th-
workmen who had been employed in the con-
struction work remained here or came short ly
afterward, and others settled upon the farms
or worked in the industries that followed tin-
canal. The Village of Junction, which was
laid out in 1842, and so named because it
was established at the junction of the two
canals, at one time promised to be a flourish-
ing town. It was flourishing in fact for a
number of years, and prosperity seemed so
imminent that some moved from Port Wayne,
believing that it promised to have a better
future. Daily lines of packets ran along both
canals, and many passengers were trans-
ferred at this point. This made the business
of the two or three hotels located there a pros-
perous one. There were also several large
well-stocked dry goods stores and grocery
stores, and three large warehouses were
erected for the storage of grain. Frederick
Ruffner built a flouring-mill there in 1865,
which was run by water power furnished by
the canal. William K. Daggett had erected
a saw-mill in the neighborhood a score of years
earlier. A postoffice was established at Junc-
tion in 1842, and John Mason, Sr., was named
as postmaster. The canal collector's office
was located there, and there were at least a
half dozen places where liquid refreshments
were disposed of. The wharfs were generally
lined with canal boats, which were loading
and unloading grain and other freight, and
all this activity gave the embryo city the
appearance of a very busy place. As com-
merce found other channels than the canals, »
decay began to settle upon the once thriving
village. At the present time it has a forlorn
appearance, for the warehouses were burned
and many of the old buildings fell in the
532
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
decay, so that it might almost appear to be
the original' town that suggested to Goldsmith
the celebrated poem of "The Deserted Vil-
lage."
Paulding County was named after John
Paulding, who was one of the captors of
Major Andre. It was created by an Act of
the Legislature in 1820, along with most of
the counties in Northwest Ohio. Although
formally given a name and a habitation, so
to speak, it was without any real existence for
a number of years. Crane Township was or-
ganized in 1825, Carryall in 1829, and Brown
in 1830. The county was attached to Williams
County for judicial purposes, with the county
seat at Defiance. To Defiance they were
obliged to go to pay taxes and attend court.
Since then a number of changes have been
made in its boundaries, and the present
Paulding County is much smaller than as
originally created by the Legislature. The
base line established by Sylvanus Brown,
which forms the south line of Seneca County
and bisects Hancock County, is also the south-
ern boundary of Paulding.
After the organization of the county, the
first county seat was located at New Roches-
ter, in the fall of 1839. This village was
situated on the south bank of the Maumee
River, about a mile north of the Village of
Cecil, and was at that time the largest and
most flourishing village in the county. It was
laid out in 1835 by Dr. John Evans, Robert
Clemmer, Rev. N. L. Thomas, and Rev. Joseph
Miller. Rev. Mr. Thomas built the first
house in the village, and Isaac Savage was the
second person to erect a home there. When
the county seat was located there the village
contained thirty or forty families, had three
hotels, as many general stores, a couple of
blacksmith shops, and was on the line of daily
stage service between Toledo and Fort Wayne.
The county seat was removed within a little
more than a year and the buildings, which
were simply structures made of logs, have
now all fallen into decay. A log schoolhouse
was the last building to mark the spot of the
first county seat of Paulding County, but
even that has disappeared. No vestige of the
Town of New Rochester now remains, and the
fanner plants his crops where the busy streets
once existed.
The second county seat of the county was
at Charloe. This village was laid out by Ben-
jamin Hollister for the especial purpose of a
county seat, and was pleasantly located on a
commanding bluff along the Auglaize River.
It had been the site of a little Indian town,
and received its name from the chief known
as Charloe Peter. The Indians raised corn
on the rich bottom land opposite the village.
Their cemetery was just north of the town,
and silver brooches, pipes, and other trinkets
have frequently been exhumed from the
graves. The county seat remained at Charloe
until 1851, when it was removed to Paulding.
A native poet expressed the result of this re-
moval in the following lines :
"When Paulding a shire town was made,
And thither folks began to wade,
Then Charloe 's flower began to fade,
And drooped, and died, and away was laid."
A courthouse had been built at Charloe by
B. F. Hollister, who had agreed to do this in
case that a county seat should be located
there. There ha'd been no courthouse at
New Rochester, and the only term ever held
there was in a room over the store of Gen.
H. N. Curtis. The county offices were located
in private buildings wherever accommodation
could be found. This first courthouse at
Charloe was small, being only about 30
by 40 feet in size and two stories in height.
It was built of brick on a solid stone founda-
tion. On the first floor there were six rooms
which accommodated the county offices, and
on the second floor was the court room finished
and furnished in black walnut. This building
was presented to the county commissioners on
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the condition that it should he the property of
the county so long as the county seat remained
at Charloe. When the county seat was re-
moved to Paulding, it reverted to the heirs of
Mr. Hollister, but as they were already
wealthy they did not churn the properly. £j
a result it was used for schools, church, elec-
tions, balls, and every other sort of public
gathering, while the otlices were occupied as
residences by anyone who might choose to do
so. It became everybody's building and no-
The second courthouse was erected in
Pauldintr. in the year 1852. It was an awk-
ward and badly proportioned building, about
the size of the one that had been abandoned
at Cbarloe. anil the court room was readied
by an outside stairway in the rear. When this
building was burned in 1868, few tears were
shed over its ruin. The only serious loss was
that of some valuable documents which were
consumed by the flames. A third courtliou^
was soon afterwards erected on the site, at
COURT HOUSE, PAULDING
body's building. When a new schoolhouse
was built, the old courthouse was practically
abandoned to the owls and bats, and year by
year fell more and more into decay.
"Ah, sad indeed, old house, hast been thy lot,
In thine old age uncared for and forgot;
To silent dust thou'rt crumbling unbemoaned,
And sadder yet, by old-time friends dis-
owned.
For many years thou wast fair Charloe 's
pride,
And little dreamed of ills that now betide ;
Within thy walls hast stood full many a pio-
neer.
Is there none now to drop for thee a tear!"
a cost of only $2,000. Another long one-story
building was constructed at the same time for
the county officers. Although this latest court-
house was somewhat of an improvement over
its immediate predecessor, the citizens of the
county were glad when a new building was
erected in 1888, after permission was secured
from the Legislature to bond the county. A
number of courthouses were visited by the
building committee, and the one at Adrian,
Michigan, was taken as the model. The corner
stone of this building was laid by the Masonic
lodge on December 21, 1886, with elaborate
ceremonies. The building as its stands today
is a very substantial structure, neat in appear-
534
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
ance, and well adapted to the use for which
it was intended.
The first jail in the county was a small
brick building in Charloe that was constructed
in 1842. It was not a very substantial build-
ing, and crumbled away soon after the county
seat was removed. To the credit of the early
settlers, it is said that this jail seldom had an
occupant. The second jail was erected in the
courtyard at Paulding shortly after that vil-
lage became the county seat. It was built of
hewed logs closely fit together. The doors
were of huge planks, heavily spiked and
riveted together, and some of the cells were
lined with heavy pieces of sheet iron for addi-
tional security. Despite these precautions,
escapes were frequent from this bastille, so
that a new and more substantial jail was
erected in 1874.
In a list of initial officers of Paulding
County, we find that Andrew Clemmler served
the county as its premier auditor. The first
man whose official duty it was to arrest the
malefactors and preserve the peace as sheriff
of the county was Andrew J. Smith, who was
appointed to that position. Matthew Flem-
ming was the first man elected to that im-
portant office. Gen. Horatio N. Curtis had
the honor of being the first county clerk, as
well as the original recorder of the county.
The first treasurer was William Gordon, while
Ezra J. Smith was the first man to be elected
probate judge of the county after that office
was established by the Legislature. The ori-
ginal Board of County Commissioners con-
sisted of Christian Shroufe, John Kingery,
and Thomas Banks. All of these officers were
representative men of the county during the
time in which they served their constituents.
When a county board of school examiners
was established, the first board was composed
of J. 0. Shannon, S. N. Webb, and H. A.
Brown.
LAW AND MEDICINE
When Paulding County was organized in
1839, Nathan Eaton, Gilman C. Mudgett, and
John Hudson were appointed associate judges.
The associate judges were men chosen for
their sterling worth, honesty, and moral integ-
rity, rather than for their knowledge of the
law, for but few of them possessed any legal
ability. Regarding this fact, an amusing inci-
dent is told as follows: "Robert McCreary, or
'Bob' McCreary, as he was familiarly called,
a waggish sort of a genius who resided in
Paulding, attended the court room one morn-
ing in the early fifties, and looking up to
where the presiding judge and the three
associates sat, he shrugged his shoulders and
smilingly said: 'Ah, a thousand judges on
the bench this morning!' 'Why, how is
that, Bob?' some one said. 'Why, one and
three cyphers, doesn 't that make a thousand ? '
The point was quickly seen, and a general
titter ran through the court room as the re-
sult of witticism. ' '
When the first court was held in the spring
of 1840, at New Rochester, it was presided
over by Emery D. Potter, of Toledo, as the
presiding judge. As there were no lawyers
living in the county at the time, Edwin Phelps,
of Defiance, was appointed prosecuting attor-
ney. No records have been preserved of the
early sessions. It was not long after the loca-
tion of the county seat at Charloe that D. N.
Harrington, John W. Ayres, John D. Carl-
ton, and Alexander S. Latty located in that
village, and tacked up the usual shingles an-
nouncing that they were prepared to practice
law. When the county seat was removed to
Paulding, these men followed, and from that
time Paulding has been the home of the great
majority of the attorneys living within the
county. When the offices of associate judge
was abolished by the amendment to the
Constitution, Alexander S. Latty served as
the first common pleas judge, and continued
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
in that office for a score of years. He was a
wise and upright judge, and his final retire-
ment was a matter of his own choice and not
the decree of the electors. He was a native
of Ireland, but emigrated to America at an
early age, settling first at Montreal. At a
later period he came to New York State, and
then turned his face toward the West and
sought a home in the forests of Northwestern
Ohio. This was about the year 1837, and he
immediately became prominent because of his
native talents and indefatigable industries.
After retiring from the bench, he made his
home at Defiance.
One of the very first physicians who prac-
ticed medicine in the county, and the first
of whom we have definite knowledge, was Dr.
Richard Allison, who accompanied General
Wayne in his memorable march down the Aug-
laize. He was the surgeon-general of the ex-
pedition, but was never a resident of the
county. Some of the pioneer physicians of the
county were Dr. John Kingery, Dr. Royal B.
Cooper, Doctor Marcellus, and Dr. B. B.
Woodcock. Doctor Kingery was not only a
physician, but a farmer and a shoemaker as
well. From an old account book left by him
is taken the following entry:
December 4th, A. D. 1845,
John Kretzinger to John Kingery, Dr.
Making one pair fine shoes .. 62^ cents
To one-half bushel turnips . . 10 cents
To one bushel potatoes 25 cents
To medical attention $1.00
From another entry in the same book, we
find that John Bowers was indebted to John
Kingery in the sum of $5 for filling one
"waggon" wheel and "sitting" a tire. This
physician with the many accomplishments re-
sided on the opposite side of the Auglaize
River from old Fort Brown, and died about
the year 1854. Doctor Cooper was a man who
was very careless in his office, but was re-
garded as a good physician. He practiced
medicine in the county for fifteen or twenty
years until his death in 1860. Bleeding was
a very common remedy in those days, and the
lancet was found in the "pill-box" of every
physician. Twenty-live cents was charged for
"tapping a vein," and for "sitting up all
night" at the bedside of a patient the charge
was $1.00. For a long ride to visit patients
25 cents a mile might be charged. They were
also the dentists, and yanked out teeth at
"two bits" each. Their principal remedies
were Glauber's salt, dragon's blood, balsam of
Peru, bitter apple, melopodium, Huxham's
mixture, and other obsolete remedies. Dr.
Elijah J. Brown practiced medicine in the
county for a half century or more. Doctor
Olds settled in Charloe in 1852, and there be-
gan the practice of medicine. One of his
favorite prescriptions was large doses of calo-
mel, and so many of his patients were salivated
that the people ceased to employ him. As a
result a popular song arose, which was fre-
quently heard in the neighborhood. Two of
these verses that have been preserved for us
ran as follows:
"Said Dr. Olds unto the wife,
' Bring me clean paper, spoon and knife ;
I 'm sure your husband can 't get well,
Without a dose of calomel.'
Chorus : —
Calomel, calomel,
Without a dose of calomel.
The husband turned himself in bed,
And to his wife he feebly said:
' 0 let me bid this world farewell,
Without one dose of calomel.'
Chorus : —
Calomel, calomel,
Without one dose of calomel."
536
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
PRESS AND PULPIT
The first newspaper to be published in
Paulding County was named The Age of
Progress, and it was established in 1853. It
was published in the Village of Paulding by
P. W. Hardesty. It survived but a few
months, when the plant was sold to Alexander
S. Latty, who started a periodical which he
called The Democrat. After a year or two
the paper was sold to J. D. Baker, who
changed the name to the Republican. After
publishing it for about a year, and not meet-
ing with the welcome that he anticipated, the
press was removed to Defiance. In the sum-
mer of 1856, John W. Ayres and Ezra J.
Smith purchased the material for a printing
office, and gave to the public the Paulding
Eagle, which had for its editor Fielding S.
Cable. This paper was afterwards sold to
Joseph 0. Shannon, who conducted it for a
year or two, when the Eagle quietly folded its
pinions and sank to rest. The next periodical
to make its appearance was the Paulding In-
dependent, the first copy of which was issued
November 10, 1859, with S. R. Brown as its
publisher and editor. The valedictory num-
ber of this paper was issued four years later.
One week after the demise of the Independent
appeared the Paulding Press, under the own-
ership of Daniel Hixon and Fielding S. Cable.
After a time the publication again changed
hands and appeared under the name of Rural
Ohioan, and under this title it appeared for
several years. Thomas Emery and Wesley A.
Savage then purchased the material and issued
the Paulding Plain Dealer, which continued
until 1874, when the plant was removed from
the county.
In the year 1869, Joseph Cable began the
publication of the Review in Antwerp, but
soon removed the establishment to Paulding.
The name was shortly afterwards changed to
the Paulding Journal. After passing through
several hands this paper came into the owner-
ship of George W. Potter, who founded the
Paulding Democrat, in 1874, and a couple of
years later it passed into the hands of George
P. Hardy and Peter Becker. After several
intervening ownerships the paper came into
possession of Ralph D. Webster in January,
1879. Mr. Webster continued as its editor and
proprietor until 1884, when he was elected to
the office of county auditor. He then leased
it to his brother, Nelson R. Webster. After
retiring from office Mr. Webster again took
charge of the paper, but sold it shortly after-
wards to Frank J. Mains. It has since been
purchased by Nelson R. Webster, who is the
present owner and editor. The Paulding
Register was begun in 1876, with Messrs.
Fisher and Keller as its editors and proprie-
tors. Mr. Fisher soon retired, and Mr. Keller
remained in charge until the paper suspended
a year later. The material was then pur-
chased and merged with the Democrat.
Will E. Osborne in 1866 founded the Ant-
werp Gazette, which he published in that vil-
lage for a dozen years, when it was removed
to Paulding, and the name changed to the
Paulding County Gazette. In 1882 the office
was purchased by James R. Conner, who pub-
lished it for a year, and it finally came into
the possession of A. C. Banks, who continued
it until 1887, when the business passed into
the hands of an assignee. It was finally sold
to Andrew Durfey, and the name changed to
the Paulding County Republican. After
about a year the plant was purchased by J. R.
Ross. The Paulding News was founded in
1891 by Fred W. French and James R.
Thomas. The Free Press is the only German
paper ever published in the county, and it
was edited for a number of years by Joseph
Silverberg.
The Antwerp Banner was started in that
village in the year 1879 by R. S. Murphy.
It suspended publication a couple of years
later, and the material was sold. In 1882 a
Mr. Williamson began the publishing of the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Antwerp Standard, which was shortly after-
wards sold to B. B. Banks and A. N. Smith.
W. E. Osborne purchased the material of the
Standard and issued the Antwerp Argus, with
E. A. Budd as the associate editor. N. H.
Osborne was then admitted into the partner-
ship, and it was conducted by them for a
number of years, when the plant was leased
and finally purchased by John F. Lusk. The
first number of the Oakwood Sentinel was
issued in 1889 by C. F. Carey. After only a
few weeks' ownership, he sold the paper to
Frank A. Hakes, who finally removed the ma-
terial to Wisconsin and began the publishing
of a paper in that state. Mr. Carey purchased
a new plant and continued the publication of
the Sentinel for a year, but it was finally sold
to J. L. Lomer in the summer of 1890. Sher-
man Mott began the publication of the Scott
Messenger in the village of that name. He
sold it to Charles 0. Grimm, who in turn dis-
posed of it to M. A. Kirschner. The first
newspaper published at Payne was the Star,
of which the initial number was issued in
1883. It did not prove to be a star of the
first magnitude, for it soon ceased to twinkle.
Then it was that the Payne Independent arose
upon the horizon, with W. C. B. Harrison as
editor and proprietor. As this paper was not
well supported, the proprietor moved the
plant to Hicksville. The third newspaper
founded was the Review, issued in 1885 by
W. J. Johnson.
Methodism was early upon the ground of
Paulding County. As early as 1830 Rev. J. J.
Hill, pastor of the St. Mary's Circuit, estab-
lished an appointment in Brown Township,
and in the year 1831 he began to preach at the
settlement known as Milligans. St. Mary's
Circuit at that time included about 300 miles
of travel. It took the minister four weeks
to encompass it. The first society organized
with the regular preaching was established at
Junction in 1849. When the Town of Pauld-
ing was laid out, the Northern Ohio Confer-
ence gave $90 for the Pauldin-r Mis-inn, and
John S. Shaw was appointed tin- pastor in
charge. It was by him that tin- society was
organized in the Village of Paulding. For
a few years it was included in the Toledo dis-
trict, with Rev. David Gray as the presiding
elder, and the church was allowed $100 from
the conference. Among the very early preach-
ers were Enoch Longsworth, John I'riildy,
Moses Hebbard, and Josiah Adams. In 1859
it was included in the Antwerp Circuit, with
Rev. David Bulle as the preacher. It did
not become the head of a circuit of its own
until 1861, and this did not last very long.
In 1887 Paulding became a station and has
remained as such ever since. St. Paul's
Church in Payne is the outgrowth of a class
organized in 1864 by Rev. John Brakefield.
It was the second church organized in that
village. The chartered members of this so-
ciety were Louis Stillwell and wife, A. P.
Hardesty and wife, Anna H. and Jonathan
Snellingberger, and Caroline Christopher.
This small class formed the nucleus of the
congregation of today. The first services were
held in the Wiltsie schoolhouse, a couple of
miles northeast of the village. The present
church was dedicated in 1885 by Rev. David
Rutledge.
The Bethel Christian Church was organized
in a schoolhouse in Auglaize Township in
1858, by Elders John Gillespie and John
Bushong. This territory was then included
in the Auglaize Conference, but it was trans-
ferred to the Maumee Conference as soon as
it was organized. These were afterwards con-
solidated in the Northwestern Ohio Christian
Conference. The charter members of this
church were fourteen, and their names were
as follows : John and Rachael Rickner, John,
Susanna, and Ichabod Gillespie, A. J. and
Elizabeth Frederick, Thomas and Jemimah
Graham, D. P. W. Rains, William and Nancy
Smith, Jacob and Rosanna Eitmaer. A hewed
log church, small in size, was built in the
538
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
same year and used as a place of worship for
a number of years, when a new frame church
was erected. Rev. John Gillespie served the
congregation for eleven years, and Reverend
Bushong for a year. John II. McCague held
the office of deacon and clerk for many years.
Flat Rock society of this denomination was
organized by Elder E. Leavitt in 1877 with
fifteen members. There are also a number of
churches of other denominations in the county,
including Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Roman
Catholic.
A number of United Brethren societies were
early organized in the county. At Clark 's Cor-
ners a congregation was gathered in 1846 by
David Landis in an old log cabin. In the fol-
lowing year another company met at McCor-
mick's Corners with nine members. In 1850 a
society was gathered together as a result of
meetings held at the house of Deliverance
Brown. Rev. Abram Shingledecker was an ac-
tive minister of this denomination and organ-
ized several churches. One of these was in
Blue Creek Township, in the year 1850. As
a direct result of the efforts of these early
ministers and members, there are today several
United Brethren churches within the county.
INDUSTRIES
In the early years of the county, the ex-
tensive forest products furnished the chief
source of wealth. Among the early manu-
facturing industries, that of making staves,
railroad ties, and the chopping of cord wood,
were the most important. These industries
began with the opening of the canal. The
staves were made of white, red, and burr oak,
and barrels were greatly in demand. The
timber was sawed with a crosscut saw, the
power being furnished by the muscle of the
workmen. It was then split with a maul and
riven into staves with a frow and mallet.
A canal boat would stop wherever there was
a pile ready for shipment. Not much con-
sideration was paid to the rights of property,
and the stave cutters cut timber for many
years without regard for the ownership of
the land. Many thousands of hoop-poles were
shipped from here, which had been cut in
this way. Following this period of the hoop-
poles and hand-made staves, there came the
shipment of timber, about 1856. None of the
counties of Northwestern Ohio furnished
more or better timbers for shipping than did
Paulding County. It was mostly carried on
by Canadian capital and Canadian workmen.
The trees were cut down, hewed square, and
hauled to the nearest water, down which they
were floated to Toledo. At first the best of
oak could be purchased for 2 cents a foot.
At Toledo the timber was loaded on the lake
vessels and taken to Quebec, from whence it
was shipped to London or Liverpool. Millions
of feet were shipped in this way. At one
time there was a blast furnace at Antwerp
and another one at Paulding, invited here
by the abundance of wood for charcoal, and
the ore for these vessels was transported by
water through the canal. These furnaces
were built in the sixties, and furnished em-
ployment for hundreds of men, and they con-
verted thousands of cords of wood into char-
coal. Next came the period of the elm
industry, from which hoops and staves were
made. This began about the year 1880, al-
though much of the elm timber had been
shipped before that day.
The first oil well drilled in the county was
at Paulding by the Paulding Oil and Gas
Company, in the summer of 1887. Both gas
and oil was obtained, but not in paying quanti-
ties. The news of the discovery of oil and
gas, even in small quantities, flew like wild-
fire, and the greatest excitement prevailed for
a time. Lots in the town doubled in value
within a few hours. The gas maintained from
the well was set on fire and flamed up to a
height of twenty feet or more. Drilling was
continued, and a number of wells were found
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
which yielded oil in commercial volume. The
well known as the Lamb well, six miles west of
Paulding, yielded the hest results, and had a
capacity of about twenty barrels of oil per
day.
RESERVOIK WAR
The Reservoir war furnished an exciting
chapter in the history of Paulding County.
Six Mile Reservoir had always caused con-
siderable trouble through overflow, but the
farmers stood it as long as the canal was in
operation. Upon the abandonment of the
Wabash and Erie end, they became dissatis-
fied. Protests not bringing the desired relief,
the citizens of Antwerp and vicinity deter-
mined to take the matter into their own
hands when the Legislature failed to pass
the bill championed by them. A mysterious
body, afterwards known as "Dynamiters,"
arose. On the night of April 25, 1887, a
loud explosion was heard in the vicinity of
the reservoir. It was then learned that the
few guards on duty had been overpowered
by a large force of masked men, and that the
bulkhead of the reservoir had been blown
out, together with three locks. The news flew
like wildfire. The following telegram was
sent to Governor Foraker :
"Two hundred men marched on the canal
in a body, captured the guards and held them
in confinement until daylight. They worked
all night on the front and rear of the reservoir,
cutting the ground enough to let the water
out. Then they poured coal oil on the lock
and the keeper's house, burning it up. One
hundred more men went to Tate's and the
other remaining lock, blowing them up with
dynamite. The people of Defiance and Pauld-
ing counties call on you to protect the state
property. ' '
Troops were immediately dispatched to the
scene, in all fifty-three enlisted men and nine
officers. When they arrived there was no
•enemy" in sight, and not a gun was fired.
The purpose of the dynamiters was aceom-
plished, for the damage was never fully
restored. After remaining on the scene about
a week, the troops were reealled. The only
casualty was one soldier, who accidentally -,hot
himself, and died from the wound. The
Legislature finally passed a bill abandoning
the reservoir and the lands were .Mild. Wheat
and corn now grow where the waters once
stood, and which had become only a dismal
and desolate swamp.
PAULDING
It was in the year 1849, as the story runs,
that a party of men in Van Wert were dis-
cussing the probable future of Northwestern
Ohio. One of them passed the remark that
the county seat of Paulding was not located
where it should be, and would probably be
changed at some time. A shrewd speculator
who heard the remark decided that he would
hasten this change, and make a profit out of
it for himself. Accordingly, he purchased
lands near the geographical center of the
county, and the Village of Paulding was laid
out in 1850 by George March. A postoffice
was established in the same year, and Mr.
Hickerson was named as the original post-
master. It was then in the midst of a dense
forest, and several miles from any human
dwelling. Through judicious manipulation
the county seat was located there only a few
months afterwards. The entire business had
been conducted so quietly that the people at
Charloe did not realize the impending calamity
until it had already happened. All efforts
to take the county seat away from Paulding
were futile. The change was doubtless a
good thing for the county, since its location
is as good as could be chosen, even if it was
started as a speculation scheme. A few log
cabins were hastily constructed for the county
offices and officials. The first house was built
540
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
by Elias Shafer, and in his cabin two terms
of court were held before the new county
buildings were completed.
The first frame residence erected in Pauld-
ing was the Exchange Hotel, which was built
by Isaiah Richards. The Paulding House,
another hotel, was soon erected by John
Crosson, and a number of private residences
were likewise built, one of which was for
Judge Latty. There were no rich people in
this village, and everybody lived extremely
modestly. The first merchant in the village
was Elias Shafer, who opened a small general
store in the front part of his dwelling in 1857.
He also constructed a small grist-mill at the
foot of what is now South Main Street. It
was a small frame building, and was equipped
with one set of burrs. Portions of the old dam
may still be recognized. Soon afterwards
Dr. A. P. Meng opened a combined dry goods
and grocery store, and he was followed soon
afterwards by V. V. Pursel and Joseph Coup-
land. The early development of Paulding was
exceedingly slow. It was so slow, indeed, that
after a score of years the population was less
than 500. It did not develop, in fact, until
the decade following 1880, when several addi-
tions were added to the plat of the village.
This condition is not strange, however, when
one considers its isolated and wooded situa-
tion, and the absolute lack of improved roads
across its swampy soil. It was incorporated
on the 12th of April, 1873, with A. H. Selden
as the first mayor. W. A. Savage was the
clerk, and Alonzo H. Selden, Thomas Emery,
and Peter Kemler were the first trustees. The
first city council was composed of M. C.
Powell, George W. Remage, V. V. Pursel,
Joseph Coupland, Warren Baldwin, and
Thomas B. Holland. The city hall was erected
in 1883, and the building provides accommo-
dation for the fire department, as well as the
city officials. The first banking institution
was established by George W. Potter in 1874,
and it was named Potter's Bank. The Pauld-
ing Deposit Bank came into existence in 1887
through the efforts of C. H. Allen and W. H.
Mohr.
The first schoolhouse of Paulding was a
small one-story frame building, which stood
on the southwest corner of the courthouse
square. It was built in 1853 and used for
school purposes for about sixteen years, when
it was superseded by a better building. This
second building was afterwards sold to the
United Brethren Church, and a fine two-
story brick schoolhouse was constructed in
1884.
ANTWERP
Antwerp is situated along the Wabash
Railroad, about four miles east of the Indiana
state line. It is situated in a pleasant loca-
tion on the bank of the Maumee River, and
in the midst of a fertile farming region. The
plat was laid out in 1841 by Gen. Horatio N.
Curtis, and was surveyed by W. Wilshire
Riley. Since the original platting of the
town, there have been several additions to its
boundaries. The business portion was orig-
inally located along the canal, where wharves,
warehouses, hotels, and business houses were
erected. In fact, it was the coming of the
canal that brought Antwerp into existence.
On the building of the railroad, however, the
village began to move northward, and the
business section was changed. For many
years Antwerp was the metropolis of the
county, but was finally superseded by Pauld-
ing, so that it is now the second village in size
and importance. For a long period John J.
Shirley was one of the merchants of the place,
and erected the first brick business room.
The first factory to be established was the
Antwerp Stave Company, about 1860. It
manufactured staves and heading.
PAYNE
In 1858 a postoffice was established at the
home of Adam Snellenberger, which was
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OH Hi
041
called Payne. It was afterwards removed to
Malottville, but the name of Payne was re-
tained by the postal department. The present
Town of Payne owes its location to W. C.
Hedges, of Tiffin. During the time that the
"Continental" Railroad was being graded,
Mr. Hedges laid out several towns along this
line. Among these were Oakwood, Hedges,
and Payne, in this county. The original plat
was made in 1872 by Mr. Hedges, and the sur-
vey was made by Noah Ely, who was at that
time the county surveyor. The place at first
bore the dignified name of Flatrock City.
Additions were made to the village by James
Malott and Peter Lehman, and the name was
changed from Flatrock to Malottville. The
village did not begin to grow until the Nickel
Plate Railroad was built there. At this time
Gen. W. II. Gibson, of Tiffin, made an addi-
tion to the town, and built several business
rooms. The village was incorporated in 1883,
under the name of Payne, and from that time
it had a slow and steady growth. It is the
third village in size in the county. In 1887
a disastrous fire visited the village, which
swept away an entire block of frame build-
ings, thus causing a great loss to the citizens.
Another disastrous fire occurred in 1891, in
which five business houses were laid in ashes.
As a result the village has built up a fire
department to safeguard against another dis-
aster of the same kind. A number of fac-
tories have brought a considerable degree of
prosperity to the village.
VILLAGES
The Village of St. Andrews was laid out by
•lames M. and Alexander Mather in 1850, and
named after the patron saint of Scotland.
Newberg followed in the following year
through the efforts of David Sh river and
Leonard Kimmel. These towns have since
been absorbed by Melrose. Oakwood had its
beginning in 1872, through the efforts of
William C. Hedges. A postoffice had already
been located here. Both Melrose and Oak-
wood are now incorporated. Smiley is a small
station on the Nickel Plate Railroad. Brough-
ton is likewise a small village, possessing a
postoffice and business places. Grove Hill is
another small village in another part of the
county. It was laid out in 1887, and was
named after Grover Cleveland. Latty was laid
out in 1882 by Judge Latty and Wrexham
Lewis. A portion of the village was at first
called Wrexham, but it was all finally incor-
porated as Latty. Holcombeville was an in-
dustrious place not far from Paulding during
the stave factory period. Briceton, and Worst -
ville, arose through the location of stave mills,
around which grew up settlements.
Haviland is an incorporated village, which
had its origin and growth dating from the
building of the Findlay, Ft. Wayne and
Western Railroad, now known as the Cincin-
nati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad. Man-
dale, a village near the east line of the county,
was laid out and had a career as a stave manu-
facturing point for a number of years.
CHAPTER XLII
PUTNAM COUNTY
GEORGE D. KINDER, OTTAWA
Putnam County was the site of one of the
reservations of the Ottawa Indians, granted
to that tribe by the treaty at the Foot of the
Rapids of the Maumee. This treaty stipu-
lated that "There shall be reserved for the
use of Ottawa Indians, but not granted to
them a tract of land on Blanchard's fork of
the Great Auglaize river, to contain five
square miles, the center of which tract is to
be where the old trail crosses the said fork."
The village of the Ottawa Indians, which was
generally known as Tawa Village, and which
consisted of some twenty-five shacks, or cabins,
most of which simply consisted of a few poles
set in the ground and covered with bark,
was located on both banks of Tawa Run, and
on the site of the present county seat of Put-
nam County. The original spelling of the
name of this village is said to have been
Tauwas, and it is known to have been in exist-
ence as far back as the middle of the eight-
eenth century, for it was visited by French
missionaries and fur traders about that time.
The principal trace, which ran from Wapa-
koneta to the Rapids of the Maumee, crossed
the Blanchard River near where the river
bridge on the road to Columbus Grove now
stands. Tawa Village was practically the cen-
ter of the reservation of five miles square.
The most pretentious cabin in the village at
the time of the removal of the Indians was
the council house, which was constructed of
logs, and located on what is now Walnut
Street, in Ottawa. The trading cabin of Dear-
dorf and Freede, fur traders, was the next
cabin in size. It was also used by the early
French missionaries as a place in which to
hold religious services. A crude altar occu-
pied the east part of the building, and, at a
window in one end a lamp was kept burning
for years at all hours. It was for this reason
that the Indians and early travelers generally
spoke of it as "The Light House." The
Indians had cleared about five acres of land
in the river bottom immediately west of their
village, on which they used to raise corn. This
tract and another of about one acre was prac-
tically all the land that the tribe cultivated.
During the later years of the tribe on this
reservation, Pe-ton-i-quet was recognized as
their chief. In their conversations, however,
the Indians usually spoke of him as their half-
chief. In explanation of this, they said that
Pe-ton-i-quet had a twin-brother, who was
also a chief, and although this twin-brother
had been killed, the remaining twin could only
be a half-chief. The white men who met
Pe-ton-i-quet spoke favorable of him, and said
that he was1 not only sober in his habits, but
honest in his dealings and kind in his disposi-
tion. He was not a full-blood Indian, his
father being a Frenchman. When the re-
moval was made, he and several others refused
to accompany Colonel Hollister to their new
home, but they all followed their kindred
towards the declining sun a year or two after-
wards.
Among the Ottawa Indians of this reserva-
tion was one called Tom. Tom was the most
worthless vagabond known to exist among all
the tribes of the Ottawas. He was a thief and
an habitual drunkard, too lazy even to hunt
542
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
cr fish. He had Ji wonderful thirst for strong
li(|uor; being drunk was his normal condition,
being sober the exception. Tom, when on an
extra bipr drunk, celebrated the occasion by
whipping his squaw. The squaws, to even up
with him, furnished him an extra amount of
"red liquor," which made him helplessly
drunk. While in this condition they caught
him, took him down along the river bank and,
after divesting him of all his clothing, tied
him to a log and left him all night to the
mercy of the mosquitoes. It is said that next
morning Tom was scarcely recognizable by
any of his companions. This bit of squaw
justice worked to the full satisfaction of the
squaws, and ever afterward, when Tom be-
came abusive, all they had to do was to "buzz"
like a mosquito and he fully understood their
meaning. Tom went West with the other
Indians of his tribe, who were very anxious to
leave him behind, and tried many plans to
consummate their desire.
During the War of 1812, General Harrison
erected a fort on the Auglaize River, which
he named Fort Jennings, in honor of Colonel
Jennings. The location of this fort is where
the village of that name now stands. It was
established as a base for supplies, and as an
intermediate post between Fort Recovery and
Fort Defiance. (Colonel Jennings, with three
regiments of militia, was stationed there for
some time, while awaiting troops which had
been detained by flood conditions. During
this waiting period, detachments were dis-
patched down the Auglaize, and up the
Blanchard River and Hog Creek, to investi-
gate the situation among the Indians, for the
Ottawas were not regarded as very friendly
to our Government. On one of these expedi-
tions, a detachment reached the Tawa Vil-
lage and remained there for several days. As
the Indians had departed and carried off all
their property, the most of the village was
burned. The town of Fort Jennings, which
was at one time noted for tin- manufacture of
corn whiskey, was incorporated in 1881.
The first white family to reside in Putnam
County was that of Henry Leaf, who built a
cabin on the south side of the I'.lanehanl
River. A little later he removed from there
and erected a primitive dwelling on the
Auglaize River, at the junction of the Blan-
chard, at which place he was living in 1824.
Although a white man, he could scarcely be
considered a resident of the county, for he
lived with the Indians and removed with tin-in
to the West in their final migration. In 1824
David Murphey came down the Blanchard
River with his family in a canoe from Fort
Findlay. He landed at the mouth of that
stream, and there he raised a cabin of poles.
He has the honor of being the first permanent
white settler in the county. His wife was the
first person buried in the cemetery at Kalida,
and the remains of her husband were depos-
ited at her side upon his death. During the
same year Silas, Thomas, and Jack McClish
established themselves a mile below Murphey,
on the west side of the Auglaize. William
Howen settled three miles south, and William
Patten fourteen miles to the south in the same
year.
Otho Crawfis and his wife were early set-
tlers in what is now Blanchard Township.
The first election of the township was held at
his home. Joseph Hickerson, who was elected
clerk, was delegated to carry the retnrns to
Defiance, then the county seat. While there
he took the oath of his office, and on his return
swore in all the other officials. His son,
Martin, was the first white child born in that
section of the county. Elias Wallen reached
the county in 1822 and located in Jackson
Township, where he became the first perma-
nent settler. Robert Wallen settled in Perry
Township in 1819, it is believed, and became
the first pioneer in that neighborhood. In
1828 an election was held in that township at
the home of Sebastian Shroufe. Not long
544
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
after William Turner established his home in
Pleasant Township, twin daughters came to
brighten his home. They were given the good
biblical names of Martha and Rebecca. Re-
ligious services were held in the same town-
ship at the home of John Bogart in 1834.
Christian Bucher, one of the early German
settlers in Riley Township, lived to pass the
century mark. The first election was held
there in April, 1834, at the cabin of Thomas
Gray, at which J. D. Walmsley was elected
justice of the peace. Robert Martin and Solo-
mon Sprague established themselves in Sugar
Creek Township on Hog Creek in the year
1828. Two years later Benjamin, Jacob,
George, Samuel, and William Clevenger
reached the little settlement and built the
Clevenger mill. In 1834 this township polled
thirty-four votes in the election for governor.
Obed Martin was the first township magis-
trate. Abraham Baughman was the first man
to brave the malaria and ague of Van Buren
Township in 1835. In 1843, when the first
election was held, there were just an even
dozen votes cast, barely enough to fill the
offices. Of the dozen it is said that three were
not bona fide residents of the township at that
time.
From the organization of the county the
only means of transportation was by wagon,
the nearest market point being Lower San-
dusky, now Fremont. The commonest con-
veyance at that time was the piroque, which
passed down the rivers and streams of the
county to Defiance and thence to Maumee
City or Perrysburg. The canal, which was
completed in 1845, afforded an outlet for ship-
ments from the western part of the county,
but was of no great value then, as for many
months in the year the roads were so bad that
the canal could not be reached. The construc-
tion of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad
through the central part of the county, in
1859, afforded the first means of shipment by
rail, which was of very great importance to
the county at large, and is so at the present
time. The construction of seven other rail-
roads since that time have filled the wants of
the people of the county.
In the spring of 1833, Michael Neuen-
schwander, who was a native of Alsace, to-
gether with his son John, came west to seek
a new home in a new land. Having learned
that Putnam County was a rich county, where
land could be purchased cheap, they came di-
rectly here and selected two quarter sections.
They then proceeded to the Government Land
Office at Piqua, and entered this land. The
father cleared up his quarter section, and
occupied it until his death, forty-five years
later. Returning to their former home in
Wayne County, Mr. Neuenschwander brought
the remaining members of the family and
their household goods to Putnam County,
making the trip in eleven days. At that time
there were only a few neighbors, and these
were Thomas Grey, John Sigafoose, Christo-
. pher Miller, and John Stout. In the fall of
1834, four additional families joined the set-
tlement. These were Christian Suter, who
was afterwards the minister of the congrega-
tion, Dorse Amstutz, Christian Bucher, and
John Moser. In 1853 a large number of fam-
ilies arrived from Switzerland and Alsace,
among them being the Steiners, Schumachers,
Basingers, Lugibills, Geigers, and others.
The hardships of these pioneers were many
indeed. It was necessary at first to go to
Sandusky over a road that was scarcely more
than a cowpath to procure flour for the house-
hold. It was considered a great boon when
this household necessity could finally be pur-
chased at Lima. Two of the sons of Mr. Neu-
enschwander returned to Wayne County to
secure their brides. They had one horse be-
tween them, and the two women might have
ridden this animal alternately. Daniel's wife,
however, was not used to riding horseback,
and preferred to walk the entire distance. In
this way these two honeymoon couples passed
HISTORY OK NOIJTHWKST OHIO
545
tin- happy days of their early wedded life on
the way to the new home that awaited their
occupancy in the wilderness.
The prevailing religion iu this community
is the Mennonite, and the preaching is gener-
ally in the German language, while the schools
are taught in both the German and English
languages. The members as a rule are indus-
trious, economical, law-abiding, and pious. A
few still adhere to the peculiar garb and
ancient practice of the sect, but the younger
meiiilicrs are moving along with the changes
of time, while the older members still guard
vigorously against all innovations. They are
very much opposed to secret societies, and
have thus far been successful in keeping their
members out of such organizations. The old
congregations have generally elected their
preachers so far by lot, and they usually have
from two to four. Their deacons are chosen
in the same way, and for life, whether they
prove to be competent or not. The sect is now
divided in four different denominations,
which differ somewhat on minor practice and
belief.
The general contour of Putnam County is
flat, but there are numerous small streams
that drain it, while a complex but thorough
system of surface drainage has made it possi-
ble to cultivate nearly all the soil. The
Auglaize drains practically all the county.
The Ottawa River, formerly known as Hog
Creek, and the Blanchard River also course
through the county. Sugar Creek derived its
designation because its banks were lined with
sugar maple trees. Riley Creek was formerly
known as Deer Creek, because of the abun-
dance of these little animals. Jennings Creek
was named in honor of Colonel Jennings.
Plum Creek was given its title because of the
number of plum trees growing along its banks.
Leatherwood bushes grew along the stream
which bears that name, and Cranberry Creek
received its cognomen for the same cause, for
Vol. I— 35
the succulent cranberry was common upon its
luniks.
I 'ut na in County was set off by the Legis-
lature by the a.-t of February 12. 1820. At
that time it contained nearly 600 square miles,
but goodly portions have since been separated
to add to other fonutio,. It was not until
fourteen years later that the county was for-
mally organized and permitted to take its
place as an independent political district. At
the first election, held in 1834, only 163 votes
were cast. William Cochran, Henry Morris,
and Silas McClish were named by the gov-
ernor as associate judges of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas. These men were charged with the
duty of formally organizing the county.
Pursuant to instructions they met on May 8,
1834, at the house of Abraham Sarber, in
Kalida, and took the first steps in starting
the county machinery. After being sworn in
as provided by law, they proceeded to the
organization of the county by appointing
Daniel W. Gray as clerk of the court, and
Amos Evans as prosecuting attorney. Thomas
Grey, William Priddy, and Samuel Myers
were named as county commissioners. An
election was then ordered on the 31st of the
same month, for the purpose of electing a
sheriff and coroner.
For some unknown reason the county seat
had been definitely located in 1829, five years
before the county was organized, at Kalida.
The reason was, probably, that this site was
the center of population of the county, as it
was outlined at that time. It was located near
the confluence of Plum and Sugar creeks.
After the organization of the county, the com-
missioners purchased some land, which was
laid off into lots, and which the town director
was ordered to dispose of at the best possible
prices. The money thus obtained was to be
employed in the erection of a courthouse and
jail. A frame courthouse was then erected,
as well as a jail of heavy timbers, to accom-
modate the offenders against the laws. Prior
546
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to that time court had been held at the home
of Abraham Sarber. In 1839 these primitive
structures were replaced by substantial brick
buildings, which remained in use until 1864,
when the courthouse was destroyed by fire.
Two years later an election was held to decide
the location of the county seat for the future.
At this election 3,154 votes were cast, and
Ottawa was the successful competitor by a
majority of 672 votes. The citizens of Ottawa
deposited $15,000 with the county commis-
sioners to guarantee the erection of a court-
house.
An interesting incident of the early days is
revealed by a notice in the Kalida Venture in
1845. At that time postmasters were gener-
ally chosen at a public meeting of the ad-
herents of the party in power.
POSTOPFICE MEETING
"In pursuance to notice heretofore given
the Democratic citizens transacting their busi-
ness through the Postoffice at Kalida met at
the office of Ben Metcalf and proceeded to
nominate a suitable person to be recommended
to the Postmaster General to fill the vacancy
in the Postoffice at Kalida to be occasioned by
the resignation of M. M. Gillett the present
incumbent ;
"Which resulted on the fifth balloting, in
the choice of Winchton Risley.
"On motion the meeting adjourned with-
out day, March 22nd, 1845. Stephen White,
Chairman. Ben Metcalf, Secretary."
When the first court was convened in Put-
nam County, in 1834, the court appointed
Amos Evans to fill the office of prosecuting
attorney. One of the first acts of the court
was the granting of a tavern license to Arthur
E. Martin, for the Town of Kalida, for which
privilege he was to produce the receipt of the
treasurer of five dollars. William Cochran
was also permitted a license to maintain a
tavern at his residence in Jennings Township
on the same terms. When the first session of
the court was held at the new courthouse in
Kalida in April, 1835, George B. Holt was the
president judge. The first case that came up
before the court was that of Joshua Waggon-
seller vs. Jacob Deweese, an action in chan-
cery. At one of the early sessions, Isaac
McHenry, aged seventy-two years, came into
court and made a declaration in order to
obtain the pension granted to soldiers of the
Revolutionary War. When the first grand
jury reported, it presented six indictments,
of which four were for selling liquor without
a license.
As the early records of the county were
destroyed by fire, it is impossible to give a
correct list of the early attorneys and the
dates at which they came to the county.
Originally the majority of the lawyers lived
in Kalida, the first county seat, and when the
seat of justice was removed to Ottawa, prac-
tically all of them followed to the new county
capital. Where formerly a number of attor-
neys practiced in Kalida, there is now only
one in that village. Among the early attor-
neys, we can list the following names: J. B.
Woodruff, T. J. Logan, D. I. Brown, Richard
Lameson, Charles A. Wright, Azariah Budd,
Day Pugh, James R. Linn, James Anderson,
Ely Holmes, Josiah Gallup, C. J. Swan, H. P.
Knowles, John Buchanan, Stansberry Sutton,
Joseph Foltz, J. J. Moore, F. H. Gillette,
A. A. Skinner, W. L. Berge, John Norris,
J. N. Palmer, Benjamin Metcalf, N. W. Ogan,
Elam Day, and Sidney Sanders. When the
Circuit Court was organized in 1884, John J.
Moore, of Ottawa, was elected one of the three
judges on that bench. John M. Sheets, after
serving a short time on the Common Pleas
Bench, was elected to the office of attorney
general of Ohio, in 1900, which position he
filled for two consecutive terms.
Americus V. Rice was one of Putnam
County's distinguished citizens, and had the
honor of rising to the highest military rank
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
547
of any one in the county. He entered that
great conflict in 1861 and remained in the
service until its close, when he was breveted
brigadier-general for distinguished services.
In 1874 he was elected to Congress, and
served two terms in that body. In 1894 he
was appointed pension agent at Columbus,
and filled that position for a number of years.
He subsequently went to Washington, and
was connected with the pension office for a
number of years until his death.
The Kalida Venture was the first newspaper
in Putnam County, and it was well named,
for it was indeed a venturesome undertaking.
The editor was Francis Gillette, who at the
same time eked out a precarious livelihood by
practicing law in the county seat. The pub-
lication passed through a number of different
ownerships, and none of the editors seemed to
have made very much money out of it. It
was in this early day that the paper came into
the possession of Horace K. Knapp, who after-
wards wrote the interesting "History of the
Maumee Valley." He sold it to James Mc-
Kenzie, also a lawyer of Kalida, who added
editorial duties to his legal practice. He
owned the publication for almost a decade,
and was succeeded by Luther Wolf and after-
wards by John Dixon, who remained the
owner until the county seat was removed to
Ottawa. He then removed his plant to Ot-
tawa, and his paper appeared for a time
under the name of the Citizen, and soon after-
wards it breathed its last sigh. The change
was too great a shock for its slight vitality.
The Kalida Sentinel was established in
1865 by Elam Daym and was a democratic
paper. Soon afterwards Luther Wolf pur-
chased the unprofitable publication, and he
passed it on to Levi G. Lee, by whom it was
moved to Ottawa and consolidated with the
Putnam County Sentinel in 1864. The many
changes of ownership are an indication that
the enterprise was not a financial success.
The Sentinel was also removed to Ottawa and
rechristened the Putnam County Sentinel, a
name which it has borne for half a century.
M. G. Gillette was the owner at that time, and
he took in as partners Stevens Godfrey and
Leonard Miller. In 1867 the Sentinel passed
into the ownership of George D. Kinder, who
continued as editor and proprietor for more
than a third of a century. During his long
connection with the Sentinel he built up a
newspaper, which ranked high among the
periodicals of the state. Mr. Kinder retired
in 1900 and the paper passed into the hands
of a stock company, which has remained in
charge since that time. Since 1913 A. P.
Sandles, who is well known over the state, has
been the managing editor of the paper.
Mr. Kinder still retains his chair in the office,
and has been associated with the paper nearly
ever since that time. Few men in the state
have been connected with the active news-
paper business longer than has Mr. Kinder.
Der Demokrat was established in Ottawa by
C. W. Bente, who remained in charge until
1890, when he sold it to Henry Halterman.
A few years later Mr. Halterman disposed of
the paper to H. L. Rauh. The Ottawa Tele-
gram was established by John McElroy dur-
ing the Civil War, but lived only a short
time. Mr. McElroy afterwards did newspa-
per work in Toledo, and is now editor of the
National Tribune, of Washington, D. C. The
Ottawa Gazette was established in 1881 by
C. L'H. Long, who disposed of it to George
Bassett after a few years. It then passed
through the ownership of Hoffa and Vale.
C. P. Godfrey, J. H. Letcher, and E. B.
Walkup, the latter continuing as owner until
1913, when it was purchased by a stock com-
pany. It is now owned by W. J. Swisher, who
is its editor.
The Leipsic Free Press was given to the
public in 1878 by W. W. Smith, who remained
as the editor and proprietor until his death
in 1912. It is now managed by his son, George
F. Smith. The Leipsic Tribune was founded
548
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
in 1891 by Pratt Kline. The Kalida Record
was established in the '90s by E. J. Bolerjack,
and he was succeeded by the present owner
and editor, W. N. Curtiss. The Pandora
Times was established in 1899 by J. R.
Swaney. Two years later it was purchased
by A. J. Stevens, who later disposed 'of it to
D; B. Basinger, who is now its owner and
editor. The Continental Union-News was
started a number of years ago, and is now
owned by J. H. Hartman. The Ottoville Tri-
County News was established in 1906 by
Mr. Fluhart, but it finally ceased publication
in 1910. Soon afterwards the first number
of the Ottoville Leader was published by C. V.
Wannemacher. He afterwards disposed of
the plant to W. N. Curtiss, who removed the
plant to Kalida and installed it with the
Kalida Record. At the present time Otto-
ville is without a paper. The Columbus
Grove Vidette was started by W. C. Tingle
in the year 1874, and was published by him
for a number of years until his death. It
is now the only paper published in Columbus
Grove, and W. H. Holdeman is its present
editor and publisher. Since then two other
papers have been started in that place, but
were published for a short time only.
The only national bank in Putnam County
is the First National of Ottawa, which was
organized in 1903. D. N. Powell was the first
president, and William Annesser was the ear-
liest cashier. The Bank of Ottawa was origi-
nally organized as a private bank, and con-
tinued to operate as such for a number of
years, after which it was incorporated under
the laws of Ohio as a state bank. The first
officers were Dr. W. F. Reed, president ; and
W. H. Harper, cashier. This is the oldest
bank in Putnam County, and also the largest
in the amount of its deposits. The Continen-
tal Bank was established in 1890, with the
following officers : J. H. Edwards, president ;
and I. N. Bushing, cashier. It has never been
incorporated, and has always done a success-
ful business. The Farmers State and Savings
Bank of Continental is a new concern, having
been organized in 1913. It began business
with C. E. Wright as president, and C. R.
Blauvelt as its cashier. The Bank of Leipsic
began business in 1888. It is also a private
banking institution, in which the Edwards
family of that village are the largest stock-
holders. J. H. Edwards is the president, and
T. D. Rosenberger the cashier. The Exchange
Bank of Columbus Grove was established in
1873 by Simon Mapel and several associates.
Their interests were purchased about twenty
years later by Wilson Martin and J. M. Craw-
ford. The bank passed through several own-
erships until its incorporation in 1914. The
Peoples Bank of Columbus Grove was organ-
ized in 1892. The first officers elected were
Christian Basinger, president; and G. W.
Core, the cashier. The Peoples Bank of
Kalida dates from 1899. The Farmers Bank-
ing Company of Pandora was organized in
1900. The Ottoville Banking Company began
business in 1903. The first officers were C. J.
Wannemacher, president; and T. J. Maehl-
man, cashier. The Belrnore Banking Com-
pany had its beginning in 1907. C. G. Ben-
nett was elected the first president of the
institution, and C. R. Blauvelt was selected as
its cashier.
CHURCHES
The first Methodist organization of which
we have a record in Putnam County was the
one at Gilboa, which was organized in 1833,
with Samuel Hall and wife, Moses Williams
and wife, Sarah Crawfus, Louisa Guisinger,
G. W. Montgomery, and Samuel McDonald
as the charter members. It was at first con-
nected with the McComb circuit, but later
became the head of the circuit, and in 1911
was made a station. A Methodist class was
organized two miles south of Columbus Grove
at the home of Philip Hopper, Sr., in October,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
]8.'W. His house continued to be a preaching
plan- until 1853, when services were held in
:i M-lmulliousf, and later in a public hall in
Columbus Grove. A lot was finally donated
to the congregation by Father Hooper, and a
frame church was erected. This building an-
swered the needs of the congregation until
1891, when the present brick building was
constructed under the pastorate of Rev. Alex-
ander Harmount. Until 1868 Columbus
Grove was simply an appointment on a cir-
cuit, but at that time it was made a separate
church. The first class was organized under
the pastorate of Elmer Day. From a small
beginning this church has grown in three-
quarters of a century to a thriving congrega-
tion, and a new church is now being erected.
The Methodists entered Leipsic in 1870, and
for a number of years conducted their services
in the schoolhouse and in other churches in
the village. The first building was erected in
1884, under the pastorate of Rev. J. S. G.
Reeder. The present beautiful edifice was
dedicated in 1896. The Methodist congrega-
tion was organized in Ottawa in 1855 under
the Rev. John A. Shannon, and a brick build-
ing was erected in 1858. This building was
in use until 1900, when a new church was
dedicated to the services of Almighty God by
Bishop David H. Moore. Other churches of
this denomination in the county are found at
Continental, which dates from 189'5, North
Creek, Clover Dale, and Dupont.
The oldest Presbyterian Church in the
county is located at Columbus Grove. It was
organized on September 9, 1836, with the
following charter members: Samuel, Anna,
Elizabeth, and William McComb, Adam
Turner, Joseph and Eleanor Belford, Joseph.
Hannah, and Martha Nichols, Joe. Jane, and
Martha Combs, and Jane Pier. A log church
was constructed to accommodate this loyal
band of Presbyterians, until a more preten-
tious building could be erected. As the set-
tlers came in the congregation began to grow
and become prosperous, so that a frame build-
ing was contrni-tril for in 1851, which was
dedicated in the same yar under the pas-
torate of Rev. William K. Hrioe. This was
replaced by the present beautiful structure in
1902. The congregation is one of the largest
among the Protestant societies in the county.
1'rcsbyterianism made its appearance in
Kalida in 1845, when fifteen members of that
faith met and organized. The first services
were held in private homes and in the old
courthouse, until the frame building for their
use was completed in 1852. This building is
still standing, and has the honor of being the
oldest church built within the limits of Put-
nam County. Although it is known that a
society was organized some years earlier, the
records have been burned. The church build-
ing, which is still in use. was erected in 1873
in a central location. During the pastorate
of the Rev. David Demster and Rev. Harry
C. Cunningham the church reached its maxi-
mu:a of prosperity.
St. John's I'nitcd Brethren Church of
Columbus Grove had its heninning in the
year 1858, and was organized by Rev. Daniel
Glancy. The first temple of worship was
erected in 1860. A church of this denomina-
tion is found at Continental (1888), Wister-
man (1884) and Cascade (1885). The only
Congregational Church is at Vaughansville,
and was organized in 1889. In the same vil-
lage is a Christian Church, which dates from
1850. Another Christian Church was organ-
ized in 1860, which is known as the Ottawa
River Christian Church. There is a Lutheran
Church at Continental; a Dunkard Church
and several other Protestant societies are
scattered over the county.
The first Catholic place of worship in Put-
nam County was erected for Father Horst-
man at Glandorf, and he celebrated the first
mass in it on Easter Sunday, in the year
1834. It was a small house, built of hewed
logs, which served both as a residence for the
550
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
priest and a chapel for the small congrega-
tion. Only a couple of years later the little
colony of sturdy Germans had increased, so
that a new place of worship was necessitated.
Another log structure covered with split
weatherboards was dedicated in 1837 as St.
John the Baptist Church. In that same year
a schoolhouse was built, in which the priest
also taught the children. Father Horstman
continued to serve the congregation until his
death in 1843, when Father Bohne took charge
and began the work by erecting a brick
church. This building was dedicated in 1848.
The Sanguinist Fathers were soon afterwards
placed in charge of the parish, and in the
fall of the year 1848 a convent was estab-
lished. The present church was dedicated by
Bishop Gilmour in 1878. It is of bright
Gothic architecture, with a spire 225 feet in
height. In 1838 Father Tunker, pastor of
the Dayton church, attended the mission of
Fort Jennings, and two years later the Cath-
olics and Protestants united and built a log
house to serve for church and school purposes.
This very unusual arrangement remained in
effect over fourteen years. Rev. Harry Herzog
was appointed the first resident pastor in
1850, but remained less than a year, when
Father Bohne became the resident priest in
1851. He made arrangements to build a new
brick church. This was erected in 1854, and
dedicated to St. Joseph. Although a plain
building, without architectural adornment, it
served its purpose until the erection of the
present beautiful structure under Father
Heidegger, in the fall of 1882. The Catholics
at Kalida were identified with the Glandorf
congregation for a number of years, but, be-
cause of the removal of the county seat, the
plans for a separate church were delayed for
a long period, and the congregation was
served by priests from neighboring charges.
The cornerstone of the present church was
laid on June 16, 1870, and the church was
dedicated in the same year to St. Michael.
A few years later it was placed in charge of
the Sanguinist Fathers, of Glandorf, and the
first one of its order to serve it was Rev.
Rochus Schuly. A school building has since
been erected, which is served by four Sisters
of Divine Providence.
In 1861 Mathias Muller, of Ottawa, donated
an acre of ground as a site for a Catholic
Church. The resident citizens of that faith
petitioned Bishop Rappe for permission to
build a church, and a subscription was author-
ized. The building was completed in 1872
and dedicated by Bishop Gilmour, and was
placed under the patronage of the apostles,
SS. Peter and Paul. The church is a small
but handsome structure, and possesses a very
fine pipe organ. The children of the parish
are taught by the Sanguinist Sisters. Otto-
ville is indebted for its splendid Catholic
society to the generosity of Father John Otto
Bredeick, of Delphos. He purchased forty
acres of land and laid it out in town lots.
The best ones were set aside for church pur-
poses, and the rest were sold, the proceeds
being used for the benefit of the church.
When he died, the work was continued by
Rev. F. Westerholtz, and in the fall of 1860
the foundation of the new church was blessed.
This was a frame structure, and named the
Immaculate Conception Church. The region
around Ottoville induced many German Cath-
olic farmers to settle there, with the result
that the parish grew rapidly. Under the
charge of Father Michael Muller, the erection
of a new church was begun, which was dedi-
cated in 1888. It has two towers, 180 feet
tall, and the entire structure is of a very
tasty architecture.
St. Mary's Church at Leipsic dates back to
1873, when a few Catholics settled in this
community, and were served by Rev. Henry
Kaempfer, of New Cleveland. The first
church was erected under this priest in 1876,
and a larger church, also of frame, was blessed
in 1891. A Catholic Church was organized at
IIISTOUY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
551
Miller City in 1886, by R«-v. Joseph Rosen-
berg. Two lots were presented to the society
by Nichols Noirot, and in the following year
work was begun on the building. The church
was placed under the patronage of St. Nicho-
las. A brick church was blessed by Bishop
Horstman in 1!H>0. The Holy Family Church,
of New Cleveland, was organized as a mission
in 1861 by Rev. Sebastian Ganther. A two-
acre tract was donated by John Weis as a site
for a church and parsonage. The church was
built in the fall of the same year, and it was
greatly enlarged in 1881 and still further
enlarged in 1916. The first resident pastor
was Rev. Charles Barbier, who was appointed
to take charge of the congregation in 1873.
There are also Catholic missions in North
Creek and Cloverdale.
Putnam County has its full share of frater-
nal orders. The Masons are represented at
Ottawa, Kalida, Continental, and Columbus
Grove, the Kalida lodge being the oldest in
the county. Ottawa Lodge, No. 325, Free and
Accepted Masons was chartered in 1860, with
a small membership. The numbers have
gradually increased since that time, until it
is now a very nourishing lodge. Rufus Put-
nam Lodge, No. 364, of the same order, was
chartered at Columbus Grove in 1866, with
ten charter members. The first Worshipful
Master was Orren Curtis. A chapter of the
Royal Arch Masons, known as Ottawa Chap-
ter, No. 115, was instituted in Ottawa in
1869. The first High Priest was J. L'H. Long.
Putnam Council, No. 69, Royal and Select
Master, was chartered in 1879, at Ottawa. The
Odd Fellows are represented by a number of
different bodies in the county. Blanchard
Lodge is the oldest one in the county, and was
instituted in 1855, at Ottawa. Gilboa Lodge,
No. 459, was chartered in 1870, in that vil-
lage. The original records were destroyed in
1875 by a fire, and a new charter was granted
in the following year. Leipsic Lodge, No. 536,
dates from 1872, when it was organized with
l<-n charter members. Dupmit L-.dsri' came
into existence in ISSU jt, that village. Town-
wood Lodge was instituted in 1902. Colum-
bus Grove Lodge was granted its charter in
1870. Leipsic Encampment of the 1'atriarchs
Militant was chartered in 1877, with sixteen
chartered members, and is the only lodge of
this order of Odd Fellowship in the county.
The citizens of Putnam County pride them-
selves on their interest in education. Prob-
ably no county in the state has been more
fully organized under the recent laws grant-
ing expanded educational facilities than has
this county. The county has now been fully
organized under the new laws by which a
county board of education is elected, and a
county superintendent of schools selected to
look after the entire rural public school sys-
tem. George D. Keinath was elected in 1914
as the first county superintendent. The
county has been fully subdivided into dis-
tricts, each with its own district superin-
tendent. There are as many high schools in
the county as there are towns large enough to
demand and support such a facility for educa-
tion. These schools are provided with ade-
quate buildings to supply the facilities needed
and desired. Thus we find splendid high
schools at Ottawa, Columbus Grove, Leipsic.
Pandora, and Vaughnsville. One of the insti-
tutions of education worth mentioning is that
which is known as Crawfis College. Through
the will of John Crawfis, a wealthy and dis-
tinguished citizen of Blanchard Township,
the citizens of Putnam County were afforded
a means of instituting a high school for the
purpose of providing a higher education in
the rural districts. He bequeathed to his
township the sum of $25,000 to be used in the
erection of a college. The work on this struc-
ture was begun in the year 1888. It was
christened Crawfis College, in honor of the
donor who made its erection possible. Dur-
ing the year following, two dormitories were
built for the accommodation of students.
552
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
With its buildings and equipment, and the
splendid faculty in charge, this institution
furnishes one of the most complete public
schools in the state for providing higher edu-
cation for the students of a community. It
ranks today as a first grade high school, and
this date. In June of the year 1834, Messrs.
Aughenbaugh and Barnett laid out the ham-
let of Ottawa, which name was bestowed on
it in honor of the tribe of red men that had
formerly resided there. John and David Cox,
C. T. Pomeroy, William Galbreath, Michael
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, OTTAWA
is under the management of the county dis-
trict school board.
OTTAWA
In the early part of the year 1833, almost
immediately after the Ottawa Indians had
been removed to the west, a few white families
came to what had been until that time the
Tawa Town, although a few Indians still
remained there for six or seven years after
Row, Samuel Runyan. and a Mr. Williams,
together with their families, were about the
only settlers, and constituted practically the
entire citizenship for several years. The
hamlet gradually although almost imper-
ceptibly grew, however, with the incoming of
sturdy and honest settlers, who were destined
to be the bulwark of the village that finally
arose on this site. The Indian tepee was re-
placed by the cabin of the white man.
Michael Row built the first cabin on the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OIII<»
site of Ottawa in May, 1834. This primitive
log hut served as tin- first tavern, and became
known as a public house to all who had occa-
sion to visit this section of the state for many
years. Many of the eminent men of Ohio of
that day gathered around this festive board at
one time and another and drank the hard
cider, or still more potent whisky, which the
genial proprietor served to his guests. Row
maintained this tavern until his death, and the
old building, built more than four-score years
town was John Cox, who opened a general
store in 1835. In the same year Dr. ('. I*.
Pomeroy arrived and began tin: practice »i'
medicine, and to him belongs the distin-
guished honor of being the real pioneer phy-
sician in the village. Doctor Godfrey came in
the following year and studied under Doctor
Pomeroy. A rude log structure devoted to
school purposes was erected in 1836, the pio-
neer teacher being 1'riscilln Cninpton. who
afterwards married Isaac McCracken, of
PUTNAM COUNTY COURT HOUSE, OTTAWA
ago. is still standing, being occupied as a
marble works. It would not be recogni/ed
today, however, as the logs were boarded over
in 1867. It was not long after the erection
of this house until William Williams built the
first frame building in the new village. The
postoffice was established in 1847, and was at
first called Buckeye. This was rendered
necessary at that time, because there was
another postoffice by the name of Ottawa in
the state. Buckeye continued to be the desig-
nation of the postoffice until 1862, when the
name was changed through the efforts of
Dr. C. M. Godfrey, who had been the first
postmaster. The earliest merchant in the
Kalida. Today there are three excellent
school buildings. The I'nited Brethren in
Christ was the earliest religious society to
erect a church building in the new settlement.
Stimulated by the prospect of a railroad,
Ottawa began to grow in the later '50s, and
several additions were added to the town.
When the railroad from Dayton to Toledo
was completed, in 1859, the event was cele-
brated in a manner befitting such an impor-
tant occasion. This day may be taken as the
commencement of a new era in the history
of Ottawa, for from this time the citizens
deliberately began to plan to have the county
seat removed from Kalida. Seven years later
554
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
success crowned their efforts. It was incor-
porated in February, 1861, and J. B. Fruchey
was elected the first mayor. It was not until
the county seat was finally removed in 1866
that the village began to assume respectable
proportions. After that matter was finally
settled the lawyers, the county officials, and
many of the best people of Kalida moved to
the new county seat, and during the succeed-
ness. It is a three-story Bedford stone struc-
ture, fireproof, and is provided with modern
conveniences and an elevator to provide access
to the different floors. The first jail in Ottawa
was erected in 1869, and was used until re-
placed by the present structure in 1900.
At the present time Ottawa is principally
an agricultural town, depending largely upon
the trade of the surrounding country for its
WATER WORKS AND PARK, OTTAWA
ing four years the population of Ottawa was
almost doubled. A newspaper was launched
the year previous, in the town, and many new
business enterprises were quickly established.
The first courthouse in Ottawa was com-
pleted, and court held in it in the year 1868,
although court had been held in the town for
a year previous. This first palace of justice
was a brick structure, and worthy of the
period in which it was erected. A new court-
house has since been constructed, which is as
fine as any similar structure in a county seat
in the state, and has been fully equipped for
the transaction of the necessary county busi-
support. With three steam railroads, how-
ever, and one of the best electric lines in the
state, the transportation facilities equal those
of any similar country town. Water works
were completed in 1904, and the fire depart-
ment has been motorized. In 1911 the hopes
of the citizens were greatly aroused by the
prospect of a capacious sugar-beet factory.
Some promoters visited the town and agreed
to erect a plant costing $250,000, in the
event that the citizens would donate the
site and guarantee the raising of 1,000
acres of beets the first year. The site
was furnished as agreed, the beets were
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
555
planted, and the company erected a mammoth
building to house this plant. It was erected
in time to handle the 1912 crop of beets.
During the first season 1,500,000 pounds of
sugar were manufactured, and this produc-
tion was increased by a third in the second
year. For sonic inexplicable reason the plant
was closed down at the end of the second sea-
son, and has remained deserted ever since.
During its operation this plant furnished
employment for many helpers at good wages,
and Ottawa enjoyed unparalleled prosperity.
Another large plant was also built to take
care of the by-products of the factory, but
from necessity this concern has been a loss to
the community as well as the owner.
It would not seem possible that the meek-
looking Blanchard River could wreak destruc-
tion in Ottawa. But such was the case in
March, 1913. The town was swept by the
angry raging flood, and many thousands of
dollars' worth of property were destroyed.
Fortunately no lives were lost. Scores of
homes were deserted, however, and a cry for
help went over the county. All the railways
were paralyzed and boats were lacking. The
situation developed a great and commendable
spirit of help and cooperation. Farmers
brought in wagon loads of supplies of food
and fuel. Lives were risked to save others.
Those living there will never forget the
flood-swept appearance of Ottawa on a Sun-
day morning, when wreckage debris of all
kinds, washouts, and a hundred other inci-
dents showed the power of water when swelled
into a raging torrent.
COLUMBUS GROVE
The Village of Columbus Grove was laid
out in December, 1842, by Capt. Frederick
Fruchey. It was surveyed and platted for
the proprietor by Benjamin Dunning. As
Captain Fruchey and a number of the other
settlers had come from Columbus, and the site
of this town had been a famous sugar grove
with the Indians, the present designation was
bestowed upon it. John Mumea erected the
first home in Columbus Grove, which was a
humble log dwelling. Samuel Sterling built
the first frame building, and also erected the
premier brick structure in the community.
The earliest manufacturing establishment was
an ashery and pottery, which was built and
operated by the Durfey brothers. They
turned out black salts and pearl ash, and in
the pottery line they manufactured crocks,
jugs, and other common earthen wares. James
Pier opened up a tavern which contained five
rooms. Shelden Guthrie established a small
supply store in 1843, in which he exchanged
goods for furs, as there was very little cash
in circulation even in that day. Theodore
Kunneke arrived in the village in 1853 and
built a sawmill for Jonathan Brice, to which
was added at a later period a mill to grind
corn and buckwheat.
The Village of Columbus Grove was incor-
porated in 1864 by John J. Baker and some
associates. This was five years after the first
train on the Dayton & Michigan Railroad ran
through the town. The Pittsburg, Akron &
Western, now the Northern Ohio, was con-
structed in 1882, and the Lima Northern be-
gan running trains in 1895. The first officers
were David Jones, mayor, and S. B. McHenry,
the village clerk. Columbus Grove is situated
in a very rich agricultural country, and holds
the reputation of being one of the largest ship-
ping centers for live stock in the county.
LEIPSIC
The Village of Leipsic was laid out by John
E. Creighton in 1857, and the village at first
bore the name of this founder. The reason
for the establishment of the village was the
prospect of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad,
in the year 1859, at which time the greater
part of the land was an almost impenetrable
556
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
forest. By the construction of the railroad
an outlet was offered for the timber and other
products, so that settlers began to appear in
the neighborhood. The early settlers were
J. B. Swartz, Wellington Hurd, David Mc-
Clung, C. W. Askam, and Al Tingle, some of
them with their families. In 1860 S. and
W. P. Young and D. G. Leffer settled there
with their families. These men and others
who followed them within the course of
a few years established the Village of Leipsic
on the map, and made it a thriving set-
tlement. At that time West Leipsic, imme-
diately adjoining, was the larger settlement.
When the Nickel Plate Railroad was built,
which now passes through Leipsic, John E.
Creighton laid out a town at the crossing of
it and the Dayton & Michigan, and named it
Creightontown. This town has now been ab-
sorbed by Leipsic. One of the potent factors
of the prosperity of this section, and one
which gave an impetus to this settlement, was
the Buckeye Stave Company, which operated
a large plant in Leipsic. This company was
organized in 1886 by a number of citizens of
Leipsic, and at one time controlled a dozen
stave factories. The fortunes of a number of
the citizens of the village were made in this
business. It is said to be the largest concern
of its kind in the world.
PANDORA
It was in 1836 that John Stoud laid out the
Town of Columbia, in Putnam County. He
had previously erected a grist-mill on Riley
Creek, which was one of the first flour mills
in the country. The new town was situated
about half-way between the county seat of
Hancock and the old county seat of Putnam
County, so that for many yeaxs it was the
stopping-place of lawyers and judges while
traveling on the circuit in the early days of
the courts. The tavern was kept by Henry
Kilheffer, and many stories are told of the
lively times that occurred at the old hostelry.
The name was afterwards changed to Pendle-
ton, and in 1850 a new plat was prepared by
Brice W. Viers. At that time Henry Kil-
heffer owned the only store. In 1853 he laid
out East Pendleton, which was surveyed by
Henry Blosser, at that time county surveyor.
No railroads reached this settlement until in
1882, when the narrow gauge railroad known
as the Pittsburg, Akron and Western was
built into the town. At this time the name
was again changed to Pandora, and this des-
ignation has remained ever since that time.
It was incorporated in 1892. It is certain
that the rich farm lands and splendid homes
surrounding Pandora are the equal of any
section of the state. The farms were gen-
erally settled by the Mennonites, whose faith
forbids quarreling and litigation.
The greatest agent in benefiting Pandora
has been the overall factory, which is known
as the Pandora Manufacturing Company. It
was organized in 1901 by some enterprising
citizens, and the business was begun in that
same year with six sewing machines. A little
old woolen mill was first used as the factory,
in which these first machines were installed.
Success met the business at the very start,
and some outside investors added additional
capital to the company. The old building
was burned, and a fine new factory building
constructed in 1903. It became the largest
manufacturing plant in Putnam County, and
the value of its product mounted up into the
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
It was a great blow to this community when
this company failed early in 1917.
OTHER VILLAGES
Gilboa was laid out in 1837. The first house
was built by Nelson McCallister. In 1839
Edward Mercer started a general store and
Benjamin Stewart opened a tavern. It had
the most rapid growth of any town in the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
567
county, and for a decade or more was tin;
most thriving community in the county. An
epidemic of cholera in 1S4S brought great
devastation among the population. The town
Uras incorporated in 1SJS. No railroad reached
the village until 1888, and this fact permitted
the other towns to overtake and surpass their
hustling rival.
Kalida was platted in 1834. The first lot
was sold to Moses Lee, who erected the first
house. In the same year Sheldon (iuthrie put
up a habitation for himself, which was sided
with clapboards. The town was first incor-
porated in 1839. This form of government
proved too burdensome even for a county seat,
so that it was repealed by the Legislature
upon request in 1847. A decade later articles
of incorporation were again taken out. The
growth of Kalida was slow but steady until
the county seat was removed to Ottawa. This
gave the village a blow from which it is now
slowly recovering.
Continental, at first called Marice City, was
platted in 1888 by George Skinner for Gen.
A. V. Rice. At that date the surrounding
land was an almost unbroken wilderness and
swamp. James Sullivan opened up the first
store in the settlement. The town was incor-
porated in the same year, and Polk Berbage
was elected mayor. The name was officially
changed to Continental in 1899. It is today
a prosperous town. Belmore was first called
Montgomeryville, when it was platted by Wes-
ley G. Montgomery in 1862. About the year
1868 the name was changed to Belmore, as
this was the n;ime that had been given to the
postotlic,.. It was incorporated in 1 ss-_', ;m,l
the tirst elected mayor was 0. Judson.
West Leipsic was laid out in ls.">2 l>\ John
W. IVekenpaiigh. The first house had l.i-en
built by John Shakely a couple «\ )reUV pn-
viously. It was incorporated in ISK'J. with
li. Ilaskell as the mayor. Ottovillc dates
from 184"), when the land was platted by KV\
John Otto Bredeick, of Delphos. It was incor-
porated in 1890, with Joseph Wannemaehi-r
as its mayor. It is today a thriving little
community. Glandorf owes its location to
Rev. Father Horstman, a native of Prussia.
He was instrumental in bringing a colony of
Germans here, who settled in the timber and
built log cabins for their homes. The town
was laid out with one long street, after the
custom of the fatherland. Although the set-
tlement dates from 1834, there is no record of
a survey until 1877. It was duly incorpo-
rated in 1891, and William Altdkruse became
the first mayor. It was for years a great
boot and shoe center, and had many small
industries. Miller City was platted in 1882
by Aaron Overbeck, and dedicated under the
name of St. Nicholas by Nicholas Noriot and
Nicholas Miller, the proprietors. It was in-
corporated under its present name in 1890.
Dupont is a small town which dates from
1877, and was incorporated in 1888. With the
failure of the timber, the settlement grad-
ually dwindled. Cloverdale harks back to
1891. The postoffice was at first named Dru-
cilla. Cloverdale was incorporated in 1902.
CHAPTER XLIII
SANDUSKY COUNTY
BASIL MEEK, FEEMONT
On January 21, 1785, a treaty was made
at Fort Mclntosh with the Ohio Indians, the
Wyandots, Delawares, and Ottawas joining
therein. It denned the boundaries of these
tribes, and reserved to the United States cer-
tain lands as sites for military posts, among
which was a two-mile-square tract, at the
foot of the lower rapids of the Sandusky
River. This treaty was not satisfactory to
the western tribes, and they continued hostile
to the Americans. Four years later, on Janu-
ary 9, 1789, a treaty was effected by Governor
St. Clair at Fort Harmar, substantially reaf-
firming that made at Fort Mclntosh, the Chip-
pewas and Pottawatomies joining with the
three tribes above named. Other hostile tribes
refused to assent to the terms of the treaty.
The treaties of 1785 and 1789 were never
fully carried out, on account of the continued
hostility of the principal western tribes, which
had not joined in their making. Finally, by
the treaty of Greenville, August 3, 1795, all
disputes were settled and a boundary line
was established, known as the Greenville Line,
which defined the territories of the Indians.
The two-mile-square reservation was reaf-
firmed by this treaty. This tract was the first
soil owned by the United States in what aft-
erwards became Sandusky County. The next
acquisition was by the treaty at Brownstown,
in 1808, whereby the Maumee and Western
Reserve Turnpike lands, a tract 120 feet wide
for a road, and all the land within one mile on
each side of the road, was granted to the
United States. At the same time a strip of
land 120 feet wide was set aside for a road,
to run south from Lower Sandusky to the
Greenville treaty line. By the treaty at the
foot of the Maumee Rapids, in 1817, the title
of the Indians to all the lands in this region
was ceded to the United States, certain reser-
vations being excepted. About ten thousand
acres of the Seneca Reservation was in San-
dusky County, situated in Ballville and
Green Creek townships. In 1831 it was ceded
back to the United States.
The first record in civil government appears
April 29, 1811, when the regions known as
Upper and Lower Sandusky were attached to
Radnor Township, Delaware County, for civil
purposes, and they thus remained until 1815.
On August 1, 1815, a township, named Lower
Sandusky, was formed by the commissioners
of Huron County, to which county this ter-
ritory was then attached for civil purposes.
This township embraced all of the limits of
the present County of Sandusky, together
with what is now Seneca, Ottawa, and parts
of Lucas and Erie counties. The Huron
County commissioners formed the Township
of Croghan from that of Lower Sandusky on
May 18, 1819, to include all the country east
of the Sandusky River that lies west of the
present west line of Huron County, and north
of parallel forty -one.
Sandusky County was created by the Leg-
islature on February 12, 1820, and comprised
at first all the territory embraced within the
limits of both Lower Sandusky and Croghan
townships, excluding only what is now Seneca
County, but including that county for judi-
cial purposes. The entire population did not
558
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
559
exceed 1,000 souls. At the first elec-
tion for county officers, held April 3, 1820,
175 votes were cast. The county seat was tem-
porarily fixed in Croghansville, in the Town-
ship of Croghan, and court was held in the
house of Morris A. Newman until May 23,
1822, when the seat of justice was permanently
located in what was then called the "Town
of Sandusky," on the west side of the river.
In 1829 the villages on both sides of the river
were by the Legislature incorporated into one
village, to be named the "Town of Lower
Sandusky."
The first election within what finally became
Sandusky County was held by Huron County,
in Lower Sandusky Township, in 1815, when
a full complement of township officers were
elected. The voters numbered fewer than
thirty. When the property was appraised in
1816, only eight houses were listed, and these
were given only low values. By 1820 the
number had increased to twenty-one. At that
time Sandusky Township included all the
lands west of the river, and Croghan em-
braced all east of that stream. Within the
next few years several other townships were
set off by the board of county commissioners.
At the time of the heroic defense of Fort
Stephenson, there were but few white inhabi-
tants along the lower courses of the Sandusky
River. No land had as yet been opened up
for sale, but a number of "squatters" were
found at various places on the Indian reser-
vations. The earliest white settler of whom
we have definite record is James Whitaker.
He came to this section, as a prisoner, about
1780, having been captured near Fort Pitt.
The inscription on his tomb relates that he
died in 1804, in the forty-eighth year of his
age, which would make the date of his birth
in the year 1756. He was brought here as a
captive of the Wyandots, and was married to
Elizabeth Foulks, who was also a captive,
some time prior to May 20, 1783. Both cap-
tives lived contentedly and happily, having
adopted the manners mid customs of their
Indian hosts. When these two adopted chil-
dren of the forests met, they decided to marry.
This union seemed to please the savages, ami
they set off to them a tract of choice land for
their use.
Prior to the discovery of the letters of Brit-
ish traders at Lower Sandusky, hereinafter
given, it was believed that Whitaker and his
wife had been married at Detroit, but no rec-
ord of such marriage could be found. In one
of these letters William Arundel writes to his
agent, Thomas Williams, at Detroit, referring
to Whitaker: "He has married a white pris-
oner girl lately • • *. Mr. Robins mar-
ried them." Robins was a British trader lo-
cated at Lower Sandusky. His authority to
perform the marriage ceremony does not
appear. The subsequent domestic life of
Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker, however, clearly
shows that the marriage was regarded as real
and sacred. On May 20, 1783, we find Whit-
aker writing to Williams, in an order for
things to be sent, these words: "White
Beaver Hatt for my Wife." They were the
earliest Caucasian settlers in Northwest Ohio,
and probably the first in the state.
In 1791 Daniel Covers was captured and
taken to Lower Sandusky, at which he says
there was a large Indian village. He records
the fact that his captors moved down the
river and stopped a short time at the house
of a Mr. Whitaker, an Indian trader, who had
a white wife, who had been taken a prisoner
in childhood from West Virginia, and adopted
in the Wyandot tribe. Whitaker is said to
have been, for a time at least, an influential
Wyandot chief and follower of Tarhe the
Crane. One authority claims that he fought
with that tribe at the defeat of St. Clair, and
again at Fallen Timbers. As a trader he was
very successful, and amassed a comfortable
fortune in traffic with the aboriginies.
James Whitaker and his wife became the
parents of eight children, whose names, and
560
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
their order of birth, are as follows : Isaac,
Elizabeth, James, Mary, Charlotte, Rachel,
Nancy, and George. Mary, born in 1790, was
married in 1809 to George Shanon, and they
lived in a log cabin on the Whitaker reserva-
tion until after the birth of their first child.
To them twelve children were born. Eliza-
beth Whitaker survived her husband many
years, and continued to occupy the same land
on which she and her husband first settled
after their marriage. In the treaty made with
the Indians at the foot of the Rapids of the
Maumee, elsewhere quoted, a grant of land
was made to her by the specific request of the
Indians. A deed was executed to her by the
Government in 1822 for these lands, which
contained the restriction that she should not
convey the same to others without permission
from the President of the United States. This
permission she obtained from President Mon-
roe, and in 1823, for the consideration named
in the deed of $1,200, conveyed the whole
tract to her son, George Whitaker.
That Lower Sandusky was an important
place, from about the time of the achievement
of American independence, is proved by con-
siderable correspondence that has been pre-
served. These letters, passing between British
traders stationed there and their agents at
Detroit, afford us interesting glimpses of the
life of these days. In them will be found ref-
erences to the famous Mohawk chief, Joseph
Brant, and the infamous trio of renegades,
Simon Girty, McKee, and Elliott.
"Sandusky, 25th July, 1772.
"Sir.
"We have sent you by Mr. Mercer one pack
of Beaver in which we think there is 93 Ib.
of Good and 16 Ib not so Good also 9 Good
others the prices are as follows the Good
Beaver 9/ the other 6/ others 22/ if you please
to Take the Pack at those Rates its yours
otherwise Mr. Mercer has orders to stow it up
Till we Come up to Detroit which we expect
will be in the Latter end of Sept. the value
of the Pack is fifty five Pounds eleven shil-
lings which you will Cr our acct for if you
Take it.
"We are Sir your Hble. Servt.
"Boyle & Williams"
"To Mr. Thos. Williams.
"Arundal to Thos. Williams, Detroit.
"Lower Sandusky 14th April 1782.
"Sir
"I was favored with yrs pr the Sergt and
with regard to the Horses, will Make it known
to Mr. Dawson pr the first oppty altho I have
heard they are not to be Purchased from S.
Gerty whose Comrade is the Proprietor.
"The Horse Cantuc I have never Rec 'd from
Whitaker as he lost him. But I have heard
of him and sent an Indian for him who is
not yet returned You'l in Case he'd not yet
take Notice as they May take him to Detroit.
"I am Yr hble Servt.
"E. Arundel."
Arundal to Thos. Williams, Detroit.
"Sandusky 24th April 1782.
Sir. You'l please Receive the Packs as Men-
tioned I Could not head the two Boats in at
prest as we are under the necessity of Keep-
ing one hera in Case of Danger from the
enemy to cut and Run upon the first Notice
of their approach, the Peltry has not come
from the Shawnee country nor will be all here
until the Latter end Next Month Its thought
there will be a quantity, the reason its not
here is the roads was impractible this Winter
and the woods all Burnt in the fall so thers
no food for the horses.
"Whitaker begs you'll be so good as to send
him 8 Galls of Rum & Charge it to him as he
expects to be in he'll pay you then You'l
please send the two Hd flour and two pounds
Boheatea
' ' The News of the place here is pr the Pris-
nrs Brot in the Spring & from Different parts
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
561
is that great preparations are making to Come
against the Indian Country * * The
Defeat of Lord Cornwallis to the Southwd
by the F. & A. has given them a notion & its
resolved on the French Fleet to Come round
Quebec and the A by the way of Lake Cham-
plain. • * • Wm. Arundel"
"Vou'l please send a Good oyl'd Cloth for
if \ve have to run we will want it.
"From Arundal & Dawson."
"May 23 1782.
Sir Inclosed you have a Draft on Mr. Ma-
comb for 32., 11., 3 which when paid please
place to our Credit and oblige
"Yr. Hble Servt
"A. & Dawson."
"Jas Whitaker would be Much obliged to
.Mr. Williams to send him a Kegg full of Rum
& One Hund-Flour for which he'll pay him
the first time he goes to the Fort. Sandusky
23rd May 1782."
Robins to
"Sandusky 23rd July 1782.
"Sir I suppose you have the affair of Mr.
Kays to Transact send you in care of James
Snowden twenty -six packs of Peltry the Qual-
ity you will se by the Inclosed Invoice and I
think they are Tolerable good kind for San-
dusky.
"We should be glad to know Wheth'r you
will have up a Large Quantity of Indian goods
this Summer and if Agreeable to you we
would take one out-fitt from you this Fall as
you have Some Connections here and we are
Connected at the Upper Town and the Shaw-
nee Town so that all the Trade from this
place would come into your hand, this makes
130 packs we have sent on this Summer. Mr.
McCormick is in the Campaign of Captn.
Caldwell. I have no more to trouble you with
from this quarter.
"I remain Sir your most obedient humble
Servant
"Obediah Robins-"
Vol. I— S6
"To Thos Williams Lmv.-r Sandusky 20th Aug
1782.
"Sir: I rccd from Wm. Dawson the other
day a small Horse Load Peltry with an order
for Goods & Silver Works Su«Mr &c he says
ther's a great deal of it made at the' < 'lianney
Town he has not seen the Captn McKee Cald-
well or Elliott since his arrival there as they
with 20 Riflemen Indian officers and 100 In-
dians were gone to Cantuc Town.
"Capt. Brant told him that Elliot said he'd
stand to his bargain.
"W. Arundel."
In a letter August 21, 1782, Arundal orders
things sent forward to Elliott, and says:
"add
"4 ps Good Stroud extraordinary
"4 Doz Scalp 'g Knives
"2 Doz pr Scissors, the Rangers by Captn
Caldwells Letter will be here in 6 or 7 days
as this party of Indians are arrived from them
at whose request I lend the Boat and send
Jno. Dumford in her"
Arundel to Thomas Williams and &
"Gentlemen —
"Please send 6 Galls Rum & let me know
the price as its for Dawson
"W'hitaker would be obliged to you if you'd
please send him the same Quantity and Charge
to his acct-Directing the Kegg for him he has
married a white prisoner Girl lately with the
above intends to get her entirely clear from
the Indians Mr Robins Married them
"I am with Compts to Mrs. Wms Gentlemen
your Hble Servt
"Wm. Arundel."
Whitaker to Thos Williams, Detroit.
"Sandusky 20 May 1783.
"Sir I shall be glad you will send 1 Kegg
of Rum 4 Gallons and 1 and 2 Gallons 1 White
562
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Beaver Hatt for my Wife and 2 Black Beaver
Hatts 1 Ib Bohea Tea the Tea you sent Mr.
Dawson to the Shawney Town Rec % only
the tea please charge Mr. Dawson & C
"I am Sir your humble Servt
"J. Whitaker."
Dawson to Thos. Williams, Detroit.
"Sir I shall be glad you would send 50.00
of Bal on Bar Lead I have been under the
necessity of Borrowing a trifle of Simon Girty
as he is a Man that I should not want to dis-
appoint in Paying Please send it if possible
this Day and herewith Goods and interest for
the Money.
' ' My Compls to Mrs. Williams
"William Dawson."
The early settlers of Sandusky County, ex-
cepting those on the old military reservation
at Lower Sandusky and the French refugee
families, were mostly eastern people who had
temporarily located in the "fire lands."
When land east of the reserve land was sell-
ing at prices ranging from $2 to $4 per acre,
more desirable land was being placed on the
market along the Sandusky at a dollar and
a quarter an acre. Thus it happened that the
eastern part of the county was first settled.
It was about 1818 that the advance guard
of the pioneer army that was to follow made
its appearance within the confines of this
county, and at the incipient Village of Lower'
Sandusky. The pioneers first sought out a
dry spot in the trackless wilderness, cut out
roads just wide enough to pass through, and
erected temporary cabins. The fame and the
fertility of the Sandusky Valley soon reached
New York, and the large covered wagons in
which the settlers usually traveled began to
arrive, while others utilized the lake transpor-
tation. These first arrivals took possession
of the hills near the river, because the lower
land was swamp for a great part of the year.
The western part of the county was included
in the famous Black Swamp, of which mention
is made elsewhere. This was viewed for many
years with an eye of despair, and abandoned
to the wolves and frogs. With those who did
finally locate there, it was a case of the sur-
vival of the strongest. Only those excelling
in bravery, sturdiness, and determination con-
tinued the battle against the wilderness and
the water to a successful issue. Fever and
ague added to their trials, for the "shakes"
was a regular visitor. The rapid development
of the county did not begin until near the
close of 1830.
Among the earliest settlers was David Gal-
lagher, who came to Lower Sandusky in the
year 1810, at the age of twenty. He did
picket duty in the army at Fort Meigs at the
time of the siege, and was also a commissary
at Fort Stephenson in the following year. At
the close of the War of 1812, he engaged in
trade, most of his business at that time being
with the Indians, who were still numerous.
A store occupied by him is said to have been
the second frame structure in the town. He
accumulated property rapidly, and became
one of the wealthy men of Lower Sandusky.
Jeremiah Everett, a Massachusetts youth,
came to Ohio in the year 1812 with the inten-
tion of settling on the Western Reserve, which
was then attracting many pioneers in search
of cheap land. In the spring of 1815, he
started for Lower Sandusky with one Aden
Breed. They came overland to Ogontz Place,
now Sandusky City, and there transferred
their belongings to a large canoe in which they
made the voyage up the Sandusky Bay and
River to Lower Sandusky. With the aid of
some hospitable pioneers, they erected a log
house in that settlement. For a time Jere-
miah was engaged by the Government to carry
the mail from Lower Sandusky to Fort Meigs.
This trip was made once each week, when it
was possible to do so, but frequently a trip
was necessarily omitted on account of the high
streams and impassable swamps. In perform-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
563
ing these duties he frequently encountered
great difficulties and dangers. Few of the
pioneers were endowed with better intellec-
tual and conversational powers than was
Judge Everett. He retained the respect and
confidence of all his acquaintances in a re-
markable degree. He held the office of justice
of peace for many years, and was the first
citizen of Sandusky County to be elected a
member of the General Assembly. He was an
associate judge of the county for several years.
In January, 1813, about twenty refugee
French families came to Lower Sandusky
from the mouth of the Maumee in order to be
under the protection of the troops at Fort
Stephenson. They had fled to the Maumee
from Monroe, Michigan, following the surren-
der of Detroit by General Hull, to escape from
hostile savages. They were given headquar-
ters at the fort barracks during the winter,
and in the spring occupied cabins near the
fort, ready to flee to the enclosure when hos-
tile savages threatened. Among the more
prominent of these refugees were Joseph
Cavalier and wife, with a young son, Albert
R. On August 1st, the day preceding the
memorable defense of the fort, these families,
except Joseph Cavalier and his wife, who
had died in the fort, were sent to Upper San-
dusky for safety. While on the way they
heard the sound of the cannon in the battle
at the fort. At the close of the war they
were moved back in Government wagons, and
settled along Mud Creek, in what is now Rice
Township, forming what was known as the
French Settlement in that region. The mem-
bers included the Cavaliers, De Mars, Bis-
netts, Jacos, La Points, Momenies, and others.
Albert R. Cavalier married Eliza Momeny in
1828, and became the progenitor of a large
number of descendants.
Samuel Hollingshead arrived in Sandusky
in 1819 from Newark, Ohio, and settled at
Lower Sandusky. As he was a good mechanic,
he found plenty to do as a gunsmith for the
Indians. A little later he moved to a farm
near the mouth of the Portage River, \vh.-iv
he farmed and did work in his shop. At that
time he had many Indians for his neighbors.
On one occasion, when he returned from the
field, he found five Indians at his cabin. Tin y
had been threatening to steal the babe held
in his wife's arms. In a scuffle he almost
scalped one of them by a blow on the head,
but all finally departed. The lack of grist-
mills at that time was a serious inconven-
ience to farmers. From the home of Mr. Hol-
lingshead, it was necessary to go either to
Lower Sandusky or to Castalia to the mill.
One pioneer is said to have spent three weeks
in journeying from Elmore to the mill at
Lower Sandusky and return.
Philander Rexford was brought by his par-
ents and grandparents to Ohio and, after one
or two changes, the family settled where Cas-
talia is now located in 1813. In the first year
after his arrival, while the men were out plow-
ing, and the women and children of the neigh-
borhood were gathered at one house, the In-
dians made an attack and carried off all the
goods of any value that they could find. A
Mrs. Snow, who was unable to travel, and
three small children, were killed by them, and
some others were taken prisoners to Detroit,
where they were turned over to the British and
held until after Perry's victory on Lake Erie.
When they were released, Mr. Rexford settled
at Lower Sandusky in 1815.
Among the other early and noteworthy set-
tlers were Jonas Smith, a county commis-
sioner, justice of the peace, and sheriff.
Reuben Rice came here to what was then
called the "Far West" in 1823. At that time
there were but two white families along the
Portage River, where he selected a farm.
Judge William Caldwell arrived at Lower
Sandusky in 1828. Paul Tew came with his
parents in 1816, and later filled several pub-
lic offices. Mrs. Sarah Lance, James Snyder,
Casper Remsburg, Rev. Jacob Rowlus, John
564
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Linebaugh, Lysander C. Ball, and Mrs. Eliza
Justice were also among the early pioneers.
Many interesting sketches of the pioneers are
given in the "Twentieth Century History of
Sandusky County," by Basil Meek.
One of the unique personalities of the early
days at Fremont is Thomas L. Hawkins. He
is not only an interesting character, but a
very original one. He was a soldier, preacher,
poet, and mechanic, and seems to have been
able to turn his hand to almost anything. He
had served in the War of 1812, and had taken
part in the battle at Lundy's Lane. He was
the keeper of the magazine at Fort Meigs dur-
ing that famous siege, and was one of the
original Kentucky Company which purchased
the land along the Sandusky River and platted
the Village of Sandusky. At the October
election of 1816, Hawkins' name appears
among the thirty-three registered voters. As
an evidence of his mechanical skill, he, to-
gether with his partner, constructed a remark-
able craft called the Pegasus. This con-
sisted of two large canoes placed side by side,
and large enough to carry a superstructure
of machinery as well as a considerable amount
of freight and a few passengers. The ma-
chinery was of the treadmill type, and was
worked by four horses. It aimed to. make
three trips a week to Portland, which is now
Sandusky City. The journey of forty miles
was a good day's work for the Pegasus,
which continued to run for several years until
a severe storm damaged her beyond repair.
Hawkins was a Methodist, and preached very
frequently in his later years. He wrote many
poems, and at one time published a book
called "Public Miscellany and World's Cen-
ter." In this was included "an exposition
of the Wiles of the Devil, more especially in
the manifestations of clairvoyance, demon-
ology, mesmerism, or what is more fashion-
ably called the Science of Animal Magne-
tism. ' ' One of the most popular of his poems
was that known as "Betsy Croghan."
The mortal remains of fifteen soldiers of
the American Revolution rest in the soil of
Sandusky County. Among the many de-
parted heroes of our several wars, whose mor-
tal remains fill honored graves in Sandusky
County, arc Harrington and Stevens, who
fought at Bunker Hill (1775), the former of
whom was also in the French and Indian war;
Waggoner and Burkett, members of General
Washington's Life Guard, the latter also tak-
MAJOR GENERAL JAMKS B. McPiiEKsox
ing a part at the siege of Yorktown (1781) ;
Croghan, the defender of Fort Stephenson
(1813), reinterred from Locust Grove, Ken-
tucky, in 1906; Thompson, wounded in the
battle at Lundy's Lane (1814) ; McPherson,
killed in the battle at Atlanta, July 22, 1864,
the highest Union officer in rank killed in the
Civil war; Buckland, the hero of Shiloh;
Hayes, governor of Ohio, major general in the
Civil war, and nineteenth President of the
United States; and George Burton Meek,
killed in battle at Cardenas, Cuba, May 16,
1898, the first American-born sailor to give
his life to make Cuba free.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
The Sandusky County Pioneer and Histor-
ical Association was formed in 1874, and has,
with few exceptions, held well attended annual
picnic meetings ever since. Its objects are to
brinp: together at stated meetings the pioneer
si-tilers of Sandusky County who still sur-
vive, to renew the friendships of the past, to
perpetuate and cherish the remembrances of
the persons and scenes connected with the
first settlement of the county, and to collect
and preserve interesting facts, traditions,
anecdotes, printed and manuscript matters,
relics, curiosities, and, in short, whatever may
tend to illustrate the history and condition
of the inhabitants of the Sandusky Valley
before and after its settlement by the whites.
Its activities are being published in pamphlet
form in annual Year Books. Its first presi-
dent was Homer Everett, and first secretary,
Rutherford B. Hayes. It is regularly incor-
porated.
The two incipient villages of Sandusky and
Croghansville were rivals for the location of
the seat of justice of Sandusky County. As
heretofore mentioned, the Legislature estab-
lished the county seat temporarily at Cro-
ghansville, and named commissioners to select
the permanent location. Charles R. Sherman
(father of Gen. W. T. Sherman), Nehemiah
King, and Edward Payne were the commis-
sioners. During the time that the county cap-
ital was at Croghansville, the inhabitants of
the town on the other side of the river were
very active in their efforts to capture the prize.
As an inducement, grounds were offered for
the public building, and money, as well as
labor and materials, were proffered for the
location of the necessary structures. Eighteen
hundred dollars in all were subscribed, of
which two persons, Cyrus Hulbard and Mar-
tin Baum, each gave $400 in cash, materials,
and labor, and offered building sites. They
were large owners of real estate in the vil-
lage, and were very anxious to have the com-
missioners select their town, for it meant an
increase in value.
As soon as the commissioners made their
report, in which Siiiulusky was selected, the
Common Pleas Court moved across the river
to a log sehoolhouse on or near the site of the
present central school building. In this well
located primitive structure, both the Common
Pleas and the Supreme courts were held for a
decade, until a regular courthouse building
was erected. Although the contract was let
for the building of this courthouse soon after
Sandusky was chosen, it is an historical fact
that the edifice was not completed for a period
of nearly ten years. There were many delays
and fatalities during its construction, and the
partially completed building was eventually
moved to a different lot. The building was
not accepted for use until June 5, 1833, when
the record shows its acceptance. It was a
very plain frame building of two stories.
Croghansville did not lose out entirely, for
in 1829 the two villages were incorporated by
an act of the Legislature as the "Town of
Lower Sandusky." But with this act Cro-
ghansville became extinct as a name.
When the name of Lower Sandusky was
changed to Fremont in 1849, there were objec-
tions to the change of name. Judge Howland,
representing the opposers, presented a remon-
strance in rhyme, of which the following is a
part:
"Sandusky is a pleasant name;
'Tis short and easy spoken ;
Descending to us by a chain
That never should be broken.
Then let us hand it down the stream
Of Time to After ages,
And Sandusky be the theme
Of Future bards and sages."
When Erie County was formed in 1838, a
small area of Sandusky County, in the north-
east part and along the bay, was detached and
566
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
added to the new political division. Like-
wise, when Ottawa County was created in
1840, the most of its area was taken from
Sandusky. While Sandusky County was
within the jurisdiction of Huron County, we
have the record of a trial at Norwalk of three
Indians, by the names of Negosheek, Negonevy
and Negossum, who were charged with killing
two white trappers by the names of John
Wood and George Bishop, on the Portage
River, near the present site of Oak Harbor,
then in Lower Sandusky Township. These
two men journeyed up this river to trap coon,
and had with them a number of guns and
ponies, and considerable fur. Another Indian,
who found the bodies of these murdered men,
revealed the crime and gave a clue to the
murderers. A squad of volunteers was
raised, who went to the camp of the In-
dians and demanded the murderers. The
Indians were arrested and taken to Nor-
walk, properly handcuffed, and were chained
to the floor in a hatter's shop. They slipped
their hands through the cuffs, an easy
thing for an Indian to do, and escaped.
Two of them managed to reach the tribe and
were surrendered, but the third remained un-
discovered for a number of days. He had
been wounded, however, and was finally cap-
tured in an almost starved condition. The
three were tried, and the youngest, a lad of
about 17 years, turned state's evidence. He
was acquitted by the jury, but the two others
were found guilty and sentenced to be hung.
Trouble was anticipated, but the sentence was
finally executed, the Indians making no dis-
turbance. Perhaps it was because careful
precautions had been taken. A juror in the
case was Josiah Rumery, of Lower Sandusky,
who in 1821 was auditor of Sandusky County.
The first term of the Common Pleas Court
of Sandusky County was held in Croghans-
ville, on May 8, 1820. The Hon. George Todd
was the presiding judge. Israel Harrington,
Alexander Morrison, and David Harrold were
the associate judges. The court was duly
opened by proclamation by Sheriff Willis E.
Brown. Of the seven indictments rendered
by the first grand jury, three were against
persons charged with selling liquor to Indians.
The first term of court lasted but three days,
as there were no trials either before the court
or jury. One of the indictments was against
Almeron Sands for assault and battery on the
body of Calvin Leesen. Sands plead guilty,
and was sentenced to pay a fine of $15. This
was the first indictment returned and the first
fine entered in this court. At this time the
court fixed the rates for ferriage across the
Sandusky River at 6l/i cents for every person,
and double that amount for a man and one
horse, while a wagon and one horse cost 25
cents. At the next term of court, in the fol-
lowing year, George Kemp, a subject of Great
Britain, was admitted to citizenship, and was
the first person to be naturalized in this
county. Thomas L. Hawkins was granted a
license to maintain a ferry across the river
between the two villages on the payment of
the sum of $1. This term lasted four days.
The first jury trial in the county was in May,
1822. The case was the State of Ohio vs.
Sally Wolcott, who was indicted for burning
a house owned by Moses Nichols. To the
credit of the defendant, the jury returned a
verdict of "not guilty," and she was dis-
charged. All the proceedings of the court,
from May 8, 1820 to March 24, 1824, are
recorded in Journal 1, a book six by eight
inches, containing 260 pages.
Indians of the Seneca Reservation were fre-
quently parties in cases both criminal and
civil, in the early courts. The matter of ad-
ministering an oath upon the Indians, which
would be binding to their consciences, was a
troublesome one. In one case of replevin for
a colt or pony, which an Indian claimed as
his own, it was solved in this rather original
way. Judge Lane, who was presiding, through
an interpreter, questioned Chief George as
HISTORY OK .\OKTHWEST OHIO
567
follows: "Do you believe the Great Spirit
will punish you it' you tell a lie about the
horse?" Chief George replied with consider-
able warmth: "Me tell no lie for any man's
horse. ' ' Whereupon Judge ' Lane called all
four of the Indian witnesses up and admin-
istered to them the following oath: "You
and each of you do believe that the Great
Spirit will punish each one of you, if you tell
a lie about the ownership of the horse in dis-
pute between the Indian and the white man."
For the first few years after the organiza-
tion of the county, the legal business was con-
ducted mostly by lawyers from other places.
They traveled with the judges from circuit
to circuit. Benjamin E. Drake settled at
Lower Sandusky in 1817, and was the first
lawyer to locate there. In 1822 the name of
Harvey J. Harmon begins to appear on the
court docket. He was a man of ability and
did much of the legal business of the county,
besides filling several official positions. In-
crease Graves came about the same time, and
was elected prosecuting attorney soon after-
wards. Rudolph Dickinson followed Graves
in that office. Hiram R. Pettibone, Samuel
Treat, William W. Culver, William W. Ain-
ger, and Ralph P. Buckland were also promi-
nent members of the early bar. The subse-
quently distinguished Rutherford Birchard
Hayes began the practice of law at Lower
Sandusky in 1845, and formed a partnership
with Ralph P. Buckland in the following year.
Later he located in Cincinnati, where he re-
sided until 1874, when he returned to Fre-
mont, and took up his abode at Spiegel Grove,
which had been devised to him by his uncle,
Sardis Birchard.
The oil industry has been very important
in Sandusky County. When natural gas was
first discovered at Findlay, in 1884, it was
only natural that prospecting should follow
in this adjoining county. Fremont led the
way and discovered gas. But the principal
producing territory has been found in the
western tier of townships. The first oil was
found at <;ilisonl>ur<r. and flowed fifty barrels
IM -r day. This was in 1**7. and di-vrlopment
followed rapidly after that date. In all, more
than 4,000 wells have been sunk. The best
one was found on the farm of Benjamin Jones,
near Gibsonburg, and started with a flow of
20,000 barrels! For the first thirty days it
produced a little better than 7,000 barrels a
day, and during its existence made the own-
ers a fortune.
The first printing press was introduced into
Lower Sandusky the year that village was
born. The Lower Sandusky Gazette made its
bow to the public in July, 1829, with David
Smith as editor and printer, and probably
"devil" as well. It was a small paper, and
its life was nearly as abbreviated, for it ceased
the struggle for existence after a year and a
half. A few years later (1837) saw the Lower
Sandusky Times given to the public by Alvin
G. White. Clark Waggoner, afterwards of
Toledo, purchased the plant a couple of years
later and changed the name to Lower San-
dusky Whig. The first number bore the date
May 4, 1839. The Whig was an ardent sup-
porter of "Old Tippecanoe" in that famous
campaign. The carriers of this paper earned
the munificent sum of 18% cents each and
every week. But hard times still pursued
publishers. Waggoner gave up, and the name
of the paper was again changed to the Lower
Sandusky Telegraph by John Schrenk. In
1852 it became the Lower Sandusky Freeman.
This ended the unhappy career of the pioneer
newspaper, for the Freeman was discontinued
in a few months.
The Sandusky County Democrat entered
the field in 1837, and was published continu-
ously under various editors until 1856, when
it discontinued publication. The plant was
sold to Isaac M. Keeler, who owned The Fre-
mont Journal, established by him in 1853.
The Fremont Journal was born a whig, and
did valiant service for that party. It has
568
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
been published continuously ever since its
establishment, and has always followed the
fortunes of the republican party. It is now
published as a semi-weekly by Hamilton and
Maxwell. The Democratic Messenger was
established in 1856 by J. D. Botefur, and un-
der various ownerships has been continued
until the present time. The Fremont Courier,
a German paper, was founded in 1859, and is
still issued regularly. The Clyde Enterprise
made its initial bow on March 21, 1878. It
had four predecessors of brief duration. They
were the Times (1868), News (1868), Inde-
pendent (1870), and Review (1873). The
Bellevue Gazette has about half a century of
history back of it, and the Woodville News
entered the newspaper field in 1894. Among
other papers in the county are The Gibson-
burg Derrick and The Greenspring Echo,
neither of which lay claim to great age.
FREMONT
The claim of Fremont to distinction is well
set forth in the following historical tablet
placed in the two railroad stations of this
city:
FREMONT.
County Seat of Sandusky County,
Ohio.
The JUNQUINDUNDEH of the Indians,
and the LOWER SANDUSKY of the Revolu-
tionary War and the
War of 1812.
An old NEUTRAL, TOWN of the ERIES
used as a refuge on the destruction of
the HURON confederacy by the IROQUOIS
in 1650.
Westermost point reached by the
BRITISH AND COLONIAL TROOPS from New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut under
ISRAEL PUTNAM in BRADSTREET'S Expe-
dition against Pontiac in 1764.
A BRITISH POST established here
during the REVOLUTIONARY War.
DANIEL BOONE, SIMON KENTON, the
Moravians HECKEWELDER AND ZIESBERGER,
and over 1000 whites held here as PRIS-
ONERS by the Indians.
FORT STEPHENSON built in 1812, and
gallantly defended by Major GEORGE CRO-
GHAN, 17th U. S. Infantry, with 160 men,
against 2000 British and Indians under
PROCTOR and TECUMSEII, Aug. 1st and
2d, 1813.
SPIEGEL GROVE, the home of Ruther-
ford B. HAYES, 19th President of the
United States.
Previous to the year 1830 there are no vil-
lage records to be found, and it is not known
whether any were kept or not. In that year
John Bell was elected as the first mayor. Since
that time many men distinguished in the his-
tory of the city that has since grown up have
held that office. John Bell, the first mayor,
was again elected to that office almost forty
years later, the first mayor after Fremont
became a city. The first school house in what
is now Fremont was erected about the year
1816, on the site of the present high school
building, and near Fort Stephenson. At that
time the fort was still standing, and in as good
condition as on the day of the wonderful
victory of Major Croghan. It was a humble
building of rough and unhewn logs, which
were cut from surrounding trees and hastily
put together by the joint efforts of the early
settlers. As there was no glass, oil paper was
used, and the seats upon which the children
were to sit were of the most primitive con-
struction. A year later this building was
replaced on this same site by one built with
hewn logs, which had some such improvement
as glass windows and a blazing fireplace at
one end. This schoolhouse remained standing
until 1834, at which time it was burned down
because a cholera patient had died in it a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST Olllu
569
short time previously. In its stead a new
building was erected containing at first one
room, to which another was eventually added.
Tliis building did service for about twenty
years, when a schoolhouse was erected on the
east side of the river, and these two supplied
the citizens of the city for a number of years.
The first graduate; from the high school was
Eliza Hushnell, who received her diploma in
June, 1867. There have been in all about
nine hundred graduates.
The first sermon that was preached at Lower
Sandusky, of which we have a record, was in
hers in the society, which embraced the region
up and down the Sandusky River. In 1823
an earnest priest came all the way from De-
troit to say mass to a little gathering of
French Catholics in their rude eahin at Lower
Saiiilusky. His stay was only for a few days.
and no priest came here again for three years.
From that time on the settlement was occa-
sionally visited, and among those holding
service was Bishop Fenwick. A hall was u>ed
for a time, then a turner shop, until the first
little church was built and dedicated in 1844.
It was named St. Ann's, and the congregation
FREMONT IN 1846
the year 1806, by Rev. Joseph Badger, a Pres-
byterian missionary to the Indians here. He
lived in a cabin on the present site of Fort
Stephenson. As usual in the early settlements
in Ohio, the Methodist Episcopal denomina-
tion was early on the ground. The first pre-
liminary organization at Lower Sandusky,
which was known as "class," was formed by
Rev. James Montgomery in 1820. There was
only one member besides himself, his wife,
and his daughter, but the class gradually
increased until it became a respectable con-
gregation. This society was at first supplied
from Huron County. In 1823 the Lower San-
dusky Circuit was formed, with the Rev.
Benaja Boardman as the preacher in charge.
At that time there were ninety-seven mem-
at that time numbered about thirty families.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church was formed in
1856. Both are flourishing congregations.
Among the early settlers in and around
Lower Sandusky were many from Pennsyl-
vania and from Germany, and these settlers
were generally members of the Lutheran or
the Reform societies. It seems to have been
the custom in those days for these two con-
gregations to join in the erection of a church
building, and to worship together, either by
common services or to hold services on alter-
nate Sabbaths. Although these denomina-
tions held services for a number of years prior,
they did not own an edifice until they jointly
purchased the old courthouse in 1843, and
the German Reform Society was organized.
570
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
A Lutheran minister was first in the field hold-
ing regular services, and this society was later
organized under the name of St. John's Lu-
theran Congregation. A few years later the
Reform members of the congregation with-
drew and organized as the First Reform
Church, the word German having been omit-
ted. The First Presbyterian Church was or-
ganized November 30, 1833, in what was at
that time the courthouse. St. Paul's Epis-
copal Church dates from 1842. All of these
denominations have since progressed and oc-
cupy substantial church edifices. A number
of other denominations have also entered the
field, and have prosperous congregations,
among which are the Evangelical, Grace Lu-
theran, St. Mark's Lutheran, Memorial United
Brethren, Second Presbyterian, Progressive
Brethren, and Christian Science.
Fremont has the honor of the location of
the second national bank organized in Ohio
and the fifth in the United States. This was
in 1863, and the private bank of Birchard,
Miller & Company, which had been in opera-
tion for a dozen years, was merged with it.
Sardis Birchard was its first president, and
Anson H. Miller, cashier. Mr. Miller con-
tinued with the bank until his death in 1905,
serving as president during the last year.
The Fremont Savings Bank was incorporated
in 1882 under the banking laws of Ohio, and
it has been a prosperous institution. The Co-
lonial Savings Bank & Trust Company entered
the banking field in 1904. The Crogan Bank
& Savings Company was organized in 1888.
Lower Sandusky (Fremont) was an impor-
tant lake port in the early days, feeing at the
head of navigation of the Sandusky River.
As many as fourteen lake vessels have been
in this port loading and discharging freight
at one time. Many vessels were built in the
yards here. As the railroads extended, how-
ever, and the size of the lake vessels increased,
the marine shipping became less and less.
The steamer Young Reindeer was the last
passenger steamer to make weekly trips to
Sandusky, and that was in 1877. Since that
time there has been very little even of freight
traffic on the river. Since the introduction
of motor boats, and there are scores now
owned in Fremont, the river is once again a
scene of animation. One of the early roads
laid out was the Morrison State Road, in
1820, to connect Croghansville with Delaware
County. A little later the Maumee and West-
ern Reserve Road was begun. Regular coaches
were soon operated on this road, but only in
dry weather could their regularity be de-
pended upon. This road was the first one
to be improved by macadamizing. The first
bridge across the Sandusky was constructed
in 1828, of heavy white oak timbers. In 1849
a plank road was built to Fostoria, and was
much used until the railroad was completed a
decade later.
The Sandusky, the beloved river of the
Wyandot Indian tribes, enters Sandusky
County from the south, about midway east
and west on the south boundary line, and
flows in a general northeasterly direction en-
tirely across the county, a distance of twenty-
seven miles, following the channel with its
many graceful meanders amid alternating pic-
turesque slopes and widening plains to where
its waters mingle with the waters of Sandusky
Bay. At the point where the river enters the
county, the water level is about 60 feet higher
than at the foot of the lower rapids in Fre-
mont. From there to its mouth the fall is so
gradual that the current is barely susceptible.1
i Fremont, Ohio, April 17, 1916.
Mr. Basil Meek,
Fremont, Ohio.
Dear Sir:
In answer to yours of April 13th will say, that your
statement in regard to the levels of the Sandusky
Eiver are very good and in my opinion state the
approximate levels very closely.
Trusting I may be of further assistance to you, I am,
Yours very truly,
WM. F. SCHEPPLIN,
County Highway Superintendent.
HISTORY OK \M|;TH \YKST «UIH>
r.Tl
Its principal tributaries in the county art-
Green, Bark, and South creeks on the east,
and Wolfe, Muskallonge, and Mud Creeks on
the west. Aloii£ its banks and islands are
most of the scenes connected with the early
history of the county and of the Sandusky
Valley, which are given extended mention in
the narrative history.
FLOOD OF 1913
On numerous occasions the Sandusky River
has caused considerable damage at Fremont
and the other towns along its banks. In Feb-
ruary, 1833, occurred what is said to have
been the greatest flood ever yet known along
the river. The ground was frozen and cov-
ered with deep snow, when several successive
days of heavy rain set in and melted the snow.
The combined waters from the rain and snow
were constantly precipitated into the frozen
stream. An ice gorge was formed by the
broken ice coming down from the upper part
of the river, where the first thawing occurred,
and the water overflowed on the lower part
of the village of Lower Sandusky so that the
homes were filled with water and ice, and great
suffering was caused among the inhabitants.
The bridge, which had been built a few years
previously, was lifted from its foundation
and carried down the river quite a distance.
In 1883, just half a century later, a similar
condition arose, and another disastrous flood
occurred on February 3rd. The river flowed
with a mighty current down through Front
Street. On this occasion probably 500 homes
in the flats were surrounded by the flood, and
at least 2,000 people were rendered homeless.
Many of the people were rescued with the
greatest difficulty. Although the loss of lives
was only three, yet the damage to property
ran up in the tens of thousands of dollars.
On January 22, 1904, another flood occurred
which was similar to the ones just mentioned,
and was quite as disastrous to the property
and homes, hut no lives were lost in tin-
flow. The flood was repeated on l-Ybruary
7th, and water reached almost as high a stage
as in the month previous. Incredible as it
may seem, on March 2nd of the same year a
third flood came, which again caiiM-d con-
siderable damage.
The latest and worst flood in the history of
Fremont happened in 1913. On March 23rd,
24th, and 25th, a rainfall exceeding 7 inches
fell in Sandusky County, and in the head-
waters of the Sandusky River the precipita-
tion exceeded 8 inches. There was no ice in
the river. The river rose rapidly, and by
the 27th it exceeded the -previous highest
stage by four feet, indicating on the gauge in
Fremont a depth twenty-one feet five inches.
All the low lands on both sides of the river,
which contain more than one-third of the
area of the city, and include the principal
business places as well as about six hundred
residences, were covered by a mighty rushing
torrent of waters. More than fifty homes
were either totally destroyed or rendered un-
inhabitable. Houses were removed from
foundations and carried into the streets; the
contents of many homes were swept away;
hundreds of occupants were marooned in great
peril for two days and nights before help could
reach them. Had it not been for the aid of
life-saving boat crews from Toledo, Sandusky
City, and Port Clinton, co-operating with the
city's rescue force, many lives would have
been lost. As it was, only three perished, one
of whom was Capt. Isaac Floro, of the Port
Clinton crew, who was drowned by the cap-
sizing of his boat while in rescue work. Along
the main business streets the destructive
waters rushed, entering the stores, factories,
hotels, and other places of business from four
to seven feet in depth, and doing enormous
damage to contents as well as injury to rooms
and buildings. The low lands throughout the
county were inundated, nearly all bridges
were destroyed, and the roads greatly injured.
572
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Along the river much soil was washed from
tin- surface and carried away, aggregating
many acres, and much live stock was drowned.
The Tindall bridge was swept away, and the
great retaining wall at the Ballville dam was
destroyed. The damage in city and county
has been placed, by a conservative estimate,
at $1,000,000 at the lowest figure.
CLYDE
When Jesse Benton "squatted" upon a
tract of land, which is now within the cor-
porate limits of Clyde, he had the distinction
of becoming the' real pioneer in that place.
He was not the first settler in the neighbor-
hood, however, for a few stragglers had pre-
ceded him along the ridges in that vicinity.
For a long time there was a doubt about the
origin of the name. The early plats are
recorded as "an addition to Centerville. "
The controversy regarding the name was at
last settled in 1852, at a meeting held at
Whitcher's Hotel. This was attended by per-
haps fifteen citizens, and a number of names
were suggested. Mr. O. P. Woodward, who
had been a resident of Clyde, New York, pro-
posed that name, and it was finally adopted.
Among the first persons to embark in the
building up of this place was William Mc-
Pherson, who was a blacksmith by trade. He
was the father of Gen. James B. McPherson.
He opened up a shop soon after the pike was
graded, and did a thriving business in his
line for a number of years, later engaging in
the dry goods trade. A two-story hewed log
structure, which was built on the pike, was
long known as Hamer's Corner, because it
was built and owned by William Hamer.
With the increase of emigration, which was
constantly passing from the East to the West,
the business of entertaining travelers was very
remunerative in the early days.
The public library of Clyde originated with
the board of education. In 1903 it was, by
a resolution of the school board, made accessi-
ble to all the inhabitants of the school dis-
trict. As the library volumes increased, the
necessity of a special building was felt and
the matter was taken up with Andrew Car-
negie. As a result a gift of $10,000 was made
by him and the present building was erected
in 1905. The number of volumes now exceed
5,000.
The first church to be organized in Clyde
was the Methodist, in the year 1821. The
"class" at that time numbered six members,
but a revival occurred a few years later, after
which the number was greatly increased.
From that time Clyde has gradually grown
into a live and active business center, and
numbers about 3,000 inhabitants.
GIBSONBURG
The founder of Gibsonburg was William H.
Gibson, of Tiffin. After the railroad had been
surveyed through here, General Gibson pur-
chased a tract of ninety-eight acres of land.
In the early part of August, 1871, forty acres
of this land was surveyed into town lots.
Associated with him in the building of the
town were T. D. Stevenson and J. F. Yeast-
ing. A postoffice was immediately estab-
lished, and Mr. Stevenson was commissioned
as the first postmaster. A schoolhouse was
built shortly afterward, and the Evangelical
society constructed the first church of bass-
wood logs, which occupied the site where the
bank building now stands. The village was
incorporated, in the spring of 1880, and J.
Kininger was elected as mayor. The original
log schoolhouse has been replaced by a mod-
ern school building, and the old religious
society, which built the old basswood church,
has erected a more modern building. Other
denominations have come in, many fraternal
organizations have been established, business
has spread, waterworks and electric light have
been added to the municipal improvements,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
until Gibsonburg has grown into a lively little
place of more than 2,000 people.
BELLEVUE
Bellevue has the distinction of lying in two
counties. As a part of it is found within
Sandusky County, it becomes a part of our
history. The first postoffice here was known
;is York Cross Roads, and the village was
called Amsden's Corners, after T. C. Atns-
den. its first iinTchant. After the completion
of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad to
this place, the present name was adopted,
which means "the beautiful view" — a name
which is indeed appropriate because of its
elevation and surrounding country. On the
Sandusky County part is the highest land in
the county, being 751 feet above sea level.
According to the best authority, Mark Hop-
kins was the first settler, coming here in
1815, and Elnathan George, the second set-
tler, arrived in 1816. The town was incor-
porated by an act of the Legislature on Janu-
ary 25, 1851, and at the first election Abra-
ham Leiter was chosen as mayor. Bellevue
is a city, and now contains about 6,000 popu-
lation. It is a busy place, but the greater
number of its factories, business houses,
churches, and schools lie on the Huron County
side.
VILLAGES
There are several other smaller villages that
lie in Sandusky County. Greenspring is the
largest one of these. It lies on the dividing
line between Sandusky and Seneca counties,
at the crossing of the Big Four and Nickel
Plate railroads. This name is due to the min-
eral springs near the village, and at which
a sanitarium is conducted. Lindsey is west-
erly of Fremont, and contains about 700 in-
habitants. The village was originally platted
by B. F. Roberts and E. B. Phillips, in 1853.
These men named the town Washington, but
it was later incorporated under the name of
Lindsey. The postoffice was at first called
Loose, and William Overmyer was the first
post master. Hessville is a small village west
»t' Fremont, and is located on the Lake Shore
Electric Railroad. The name of Cashtown
was first -,'iven to it, because the merchants of
that town paid out more cash for produce than
did the dealers at any other trading points.
It derived its name from the prominence of
the Hess family living in that neighborhood,
but the postoffice was known as Black Swamp
until recent times.
SPIEGEL GROVE
Spiegel Grove, the home of Gen. Rutherford
B. Hayes, nineteenth President of the United
States, having become the property of his son,
Col. Webb C. Hayes, has been given by
Colonel Hayes to the State of Ohio, for the
use and benefit of the Ohio State Archaeologi-
cal and Historical Society to be, under the
conditions in the deeds contained, forever
maintained as a state park, and as a memorial
to his parents, Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy
Webb Hayes. This munificent and patriotic
gift unites Spiegel Grove in historic interest
and in the nation's regard with Mount Ver-
non, Monticello, the Hermitage, Montpelier,
and Springfield, memorial homes of former
chief executives.
This beautiful estate consists of twenty-five
acres of land within the City of Fremont,
finely wooded with stately native forest trees
of the variety common to this latitude. To
these native trees were added by General
Hayes many others of a historic character,
among which are willows grown from slips
taken from St. Helena and Mount Vernon,
as mementoes of Napoleon and Washington ;
oaks developed from acorns of Charter Oak,
at Hartford, and tulips from Mountpelier.
The Hayes Mansion is a large and substantial
574
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
two-story, plain brick structure, with a ver-
anda eighty feet long and fourteen feet wide,
extending across the front of the entire build-
ing. It is surrounded on the easterly and
southerly sides by extensive lawns, within
which are many fine large oaks, elms, hicko-
ries, and maples, some of which have been
named after distinguished guests and visitors.
Among these are the Chief Justice Waite Oak,
the General Sherman Elm, the Garfield Ma-
ple, the Cleveland Hickory, the McKinley
Oaks in a group, and the Taft and Admiral
Clark Oaks.
Since the transfer of the property to the
state, Colonel Hayes has erected three beau-
tiful split-boulder gateways at the three prin-
cipal entrances, two of them marked by enor-
mous Rodman guns, named in honor of the
two military heroes, Gen. William Henry Har-
rison and Gen. James B. McPherson, with
tablets descriptive of the important military
events which had local interest to Sandusky
County in the Old French War, Pontiac's
Conspiracy, the War of 1812, the war with
Mexico, and the war for the Union. The
main entrance is at the • Buckland gateway,
at the northeasterly angle, named after
Gen. R. P. Buckland a pioneer citizen of
Sandusky County and a distinguished soldier
in the war for the Union. From this entrance
the chief drive follows the Old Sandusky-
Scioto Trail of the Indians and French from
Lake Erie to the Ohio River, later known as
the Harrison Military Trail, of the War of
1812, along which General Harrison moved
his troops to Fort Stephenson preparatory
to his invasion of Canada after Croghan's
victory and that of Perry on Lake Erie. It
passes near, and is the approach to Cemetery
Knoll, where repose the remains of Ruther-
ford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, re-
cently transferred to this beautiful spot from
Oakwood Cemetery by Colonel Hayes and
where the monument, which was designed and
erected at Oakwood by General Hayes in his
lifetime, has been placed. This road leaves
the grove by the Harrison gateway.
The final conveyance to the state covers all
the remainder of the premises not included in
the two previous instruments executed for cer-
tain portions thereof, and also the personal
property which belonged to Rutherford B.
Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, or either of
them, located in the Grove or elsewhere in the
City of Fremont, Ohio, and declares :
«* * * ever since the death of Ruther-
ford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, it has
been the desire of their children to place
Spiegel Grove, which was for many years their
home, into such hands, and under such condi-
tions, as would make it a fitting memorial
from their children to a beloved father and
mother. In partial accomplishment of this
desire, the said Grantor has heretofore, con-
veyed to the State of Ohio portions of the
aforesaid Spiegel Grove, which portions so
conveyed are to be held by the State of Ohio
for the use and benefit of the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society, so long
as the premises shall be maintained as a State
Park, in which the Old French and Indian
Trail along the Sandusky-Scioto Water Course
from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, later known
as the Harrison Military Trail of the War of
1812, shall be preserved in its present location
and maintained as a park drive, together with
the park drives in the above premises, sub-
stantially as now located, and in which the
trees, shrubs and flowers now growing in said
Park and Spiegel Grove shall be preserved and
cared for, and together with other trees, shrubs
and flowers as may hereafter be planted in
said Park and Spiegel Grove, shall be marked
with their scientific and common names, so
as to be instructive and interesting to visitors.
In order to completely carry out the inten-
tions of said Grantor, so that ultimately all
of Spiegel Grove may be held and used for
the purpose aforesaid, and the residence
therein preserved in its original condition, as
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
575
a typical American home of the last half of
the Nineteenth Century, and used for resi-
dential purposes only, the said Grantor has
executed and delivered this conveyance sub-
ject to the following covenants and condi-
tions :
"First: That the said Ohio State Archao-
logical and Historical Society shall secure the
erection upon that part of Spiegel Grove,
heretofore conveyed to the State of Ohio, for
a State Park, a suitable fire-proof building,
Reference Library and Museum of the Ohio
State Archaeological and Historical Society,
and the construction and declaration of the
said building shall be in the nature of a
memorial also to soldiers, sailors and pioneers
of Sandusky County, and suitable memorial
tablets, busts and decorations indicative of
the historical events and patriotic citizenships
of Sandusky County, shall be placed in and
on said building and said building shall for-
ever remain open to the public, under proper
SPIEGEL GROVE MANSION
Former residence of President Hayes at Fremont — now the property of the state.
on the site reserved opposite the Jefferson
Street entrance, for the purpose of preserving
and forever keeping in Spiegel Grove, all
papers, books and manuscripts left by the
said Rutherford B. Hayes, together with such
articles and property formerly belonging to
the said Rutherford B. Hayes, as are now
loaned to or stored with the Birchard Library
Association, or elsewhere in Fremont, Ohio,
including also such articles and property of
the Grantor as may have been loaned or stored
by the said Grantor with the Western Reserve
Historical Society of Cleveland, Ohio, or the
Birchard Library Association of Fremont,
Ohio, which shall be in the form of a Branch
rules and regulations to be hereafter made by
said Society.
' ' Second : Any conveyance of the described
premises shall reserve to the said Grantor,
during his life-time and to his nominee ap-
pointed as hereinafter provided, and to the
remaining Grantees and to their nominees,
as hereinafter appointed, after said Grantor's
death, the right of occupying the residence
now located upon the premises. No person,
except a husband or a wife of the above named
Grantees, shall be nominated or given the
right of occupying said residence in this man-
ner aforesaid unless he or she shall be a lineal
descendant of the said Rutherford B. Hayes
576
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and Lucy Webb Hayes. If at any time there
shall be no one living situated in the manner
aforesaid to occupy said residence, then the
Trustees of the Ohio State Archaeological and
Historical Society shall have the right to
select a lineal descendant of the said Ruther-
ford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes to use
and occupy said residence ; but said residence
shall never be occupied or used for any other
than residential purposes, only, to the end of
preserving it in its original condition as a
typical home of the last half of the Nineteenth
Century. The foregoing matter contained in
the second paragraph shall not preclude the
occupancy of a suitable portion of said resi-
dence by a caretaker during the absence of
those who by the terms of this paragraph are
given the right of occupancy in said home."
This last condition was made solely to em-
phasize the fact that the residence is never
to be used for any other than residential pur-
poses, and to insure that it shall be kept as
a typical American home of the last half of
the nineteenth century.
The Memorial Library Building is now
completed and occupied. It is a beautiful
three-story structure of sandstone and mar-
ble, and is located in one of the most attrac-
tive sections of this natural grove of historic
trees. The entrance brings one directly into
the stately and impressive rotunda, on either
side of which are the two libraries which con-
tain the valuable collection of Americana,
owned by the late President Hayes. In these
rooms is also an exhibit of articles possessing
a personal relation to the lives of Rutherford
B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, and in the
west library hang copies of the well-known
Huntington portraits of the late President and
his wife, the originals of which are in the
White House. The basement of the building
has been reserved for a museum more general
in character than the upper rooms, and con-
tains not only those things which possess some
significant relation to the Hayes family, but
also other articles of special historic interest
to Fremont and Sandusky County, together
with curios and souvenirs from all over the
world. Located as it is in one of the most
historic parts of Northwestern Ohio, the
building stands as a permanent memorial to
one of Ohio's most beloved sons and an insti-
tution in which for many years to come may
be preserved the mementoes and relics of the
past.
Since the original gift of the Spiegel Grove
property, and the appropriation by the Legis-
lature of $50,000 toward the building, Colonel
Hayes has expended an equal amount in cash
on the memorial and residence buildings, the
gateways, care and improvements of the prop-
erty which, with the value of the personal
and real estate, makes a total gift by Colonel
Hayes of $250,000.
At the reception in October, 1915, at the
Grove, in honor of the successful campaign to
raise $200,000 for the Memorial Hospital of
Sandusky County, Prof. G. Frederick Wright,
president of the Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical Society, in part said :
"The citizens of Fremont and vicinity have
great reason to congratulate themselves upon
the accomplishments which have this day been
brought to pass in their midst.
"First, through the generosity of Mrs.
Webb C. Hayes, who has contributed $100,-
000, and that of numerous others, whose gifts
great and small have raised an equal amount,
you are assured of a Hospital costing $150,-
000 with an endowment of $50,000.
"Secondly, of scarcely less value to the
citizens of this town and indeed of the State
and the Nation, is the gift which I am permit-
ted to announce, by Colonel Webb C. Hayes,
for an endowment of the Hayes Memorial
Library, the income of which is to 'be used in
the purchase of historical material in the line
of the rare collections of books in the library
of the late President Hayes, now on the
shelves of the beautiful fire-proof building
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
577
erected by the State as a memorial to your
most distinguished citizen.
' ' It was the original intention of Mrs. Hayes
to give an endowment of $50,000 to the Hayes
Memorial library, but at Colonel Hayes' sug-
gestion, she first offered it for an endowment
of a hospital on conditions which have been
satisfactorily met, as a result of the recent
campaign, and now Colonel Hayes has carried
out by his own gift of $50,000 the original
intention of Mrs. Hayes.
"Fortunate indeed, is a community which
has a husband and wife each of whom is not
only able but willing to give $100,000, the
one for a Memorial Museum and Park, and
the other for a Memorial Hospital, both in
honor to beloved parents. ' '
The Memorial Library Building was
formally dedicated on the 30th day of May,
1916. The exercises were presided over by
Professor Wright. Governor Frank B.
Willis was present and delivered an address.
Senator Atlee Pomerene also addressed the
large crowd present, and Secretary of War
Newton Baker came as the official representa-
tive of President Woodrow Wilson, who was
unable to be present. The principal historical
address was allotted to Charles Richard Wil-
liams, the official biographer of President
Hayes. It was an able historical account of
the life of the former President, his great
work as chief executive of the state and na-
tion, and the lofty ideals by which he was ever
actuated. A number of civic and patriotic
societies also took a part in the ceremonies.
The day was a gathering of notables that
made memorable the dedicatory exercises.
VoL I— 3T
CHAPTER XLIV
SENECA COUNTY
REV. FRANCIS L. HULTGEN, TIFFIN
The territory now included within Seneca
County is historic ground. For generations
it was a favorite hunting ground for the
aboriginal inhabitants of the forests. The
woods resounded with the whoops of the
painted savages, and the banks of the streams
echoed the light splashes of the paddles of
their canoes. The Wyandots were undisputed
in their claims to this land, but, with their
natural hospitality, this tribe welcomed the
outcasts and renegades from more eastern
tribes. To these exiles was allotted what is
now included within the boundaries of this
county. They were known as Senecas, but
there were few real Senecas among them.
Cayugas predominated, but there were also
Onandagas, Tuscarawas, Oneidas, Mohawks,
and a few Wyandots.
Fort Seneca was erected by General Harri-
son in 1813, as a part of his line of communi-
cations between Lower Sandusky and Frank-
linton (Columbus). From here he could fall
back upon Upper Sandusky, or pass by a
secret route to the relief of Fort Meigs. While
Captain Croghan was winning laurels at Fort
Stephenson, General Harrison remained at
Fort Seneca, with about 800 troops. For this
he has been greatly criticized, but his judg-
ment was undoubtedly right. It was abso-
lutely necessary to avoid all possibility of a
flanking movement by Tecumseh and his fol-
lowers. The Senecas were loyal to the Ameri-
cans. One of their chiefs, just prior to the
assault, carried a message from Harrison to
Croghan. When the chief, then a young man,
arrived near the fort he cursed the Americans
in the most approved style, in order to throw
off all suspicion. When he saw that the coast
was clear, and that he was himself unobserved,
he approached the fort, peeped through the
pickets, wrapped the paper with his handker-
chief into a ball, and threw it over the pickets
into the yard. Lounging around under the
bushes a little while, he observed his handker-
chief, in the same form, fly over the pickets
again, falling outside. It contained an an-
swer from Major Croghan to General Harri-
son. With this Wipingstick made his way
through the forest to Fort Seneca, and re-
ported to General Harrison the same night.
This was the evening before the battle, which
was fought on the 2d day of August, 1813.
Wipingstick was a man of many noble traits
of character, and was an intimate friend of
several of the early white settlers. Fort Sen-
eca was finally sold by the Government to
Jacques Hulburt and Shepherd Patrick. The
former was one of the early associate judges
of the county.
A large part of Seneca County was granted
to the Senecas by the treaty at the Foot of
the Rapids of the Miami, in 1817. There were
present at this conference, on the part of the
Senecas, Chiefs Takawinadoaw, Captain Har-
ris, Isahowmasaw, Joseph Tawgyou, Captain
Smith, Coffeehouse, Running-about, and Wip-
ingstick. In this year 30,000 acres was allot-
ted to them on the east side of and adjoining
the Sandusky River, and in the following year
an additional 10,000 acres was allotted to the
mixed tribe known as Senecas, contiguous to
the former grant on the south. The south-
578
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
579
west corner of Big Spring Township was in-
cluded in the Wyandot reservation of about
twelve square miles, known as the Big Spring
Reservation.
By virtue of the treaty with the Senecas, the
United States was obliged to establish an
agency near the reservation, to provide for
the wants of the tribe, and to assist in carry-
ing out the provisions of the treaty. The
Rev. James Montgomery was appointed agent
and, on the 19th of November, he brought his
family to Fort Seneca and established his
home in the old blockhouse. Prior to this
time he had preached for several years as a
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and had also served as commissary for the
army, under appointment of Governor Meigs.
The family lived in this structure for seven
years, when he built a large cabin close by,
where he afterwards dwelt with his family to
the time of his death, which occurred on the
1st day of June, 1830. During his residence
here, whenever the duties of his office as In-
dian agent would admit of it, he attended to
his ministerial duties, and became generally
respected and beloved by all who had an op-
portunity to enjoy his acquaintance. He was
possessed of a noble, manly character, and was
kind, generous, and hospitable. The latch-
string of his door was always out. Ministers,
lawyers, surveyors, Indians and whites made
Mr. Montgomery's house a stopping place.
The Indians called him Kucko-wassa, or New
Acorn. He was but fifty-four years old when
he died. The Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, a Metho-
dist Episcopal preacher, preached his funeral
sermon from the text : "Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord." All the chiefs and
braves of the Senecas attended his funeral.
He was buried in the cemetery near the fort.
He had eleven children — two sons and nine
daughters.
At this time — 1819— there were only five
white families living between Fort Seneca and
Fort Ball. These were William Harris,
Abner Pike, the Widow Shippy, a family
by the name of Dumond, and an old man
named McXutt. Shortly after \v;m Is i Inn-
came into the neighborhood Benjamin Barney,
Anson Gray, and Joel Chapin. Anson Gray
afterwards married Jane, daughter of Wil-
liam Harris. Caleb Rice and Daniel Rice
were also early settlers, and the latter was
the first justice of the peace in the neigh-
borhood. Caleb Rice was a millwright, and
built a mill for the Senecas at Green Creek.
He was a bad financier and was constantly
involved in lawsuits. Willard Francis and
Ezra Sprague, brothers, lived together in a
small log cabin. This is almost a complete
enumeration of the white settlers prior to the
land sales at which the Indian lands were dis-
posed of by the Government. The roads then
were fearful. There was but one big highway
that could be dignified with such a name, and
that ran on the east side of the Sandusky, and
is still known as the Marion State Road. There
was no such a thing as a bridge within the
county as late as 1833. Neighbors on oppo-
site sides of rivers and creeks made a way to
cross the stream by felling a tree across it,
which served as a foot-log. Some of the early
settlers occupied log cabins which had been
abandoned by the Indians when they removed
to the reservation. In these cabins they lived
as best they could, until the land sales were
held, at which definite tracts could be pur-
chased.
One of the pioneers of these days speaks of
the lack of mills as follows: "Our greatest
privation was want of mills. Our nearest mill
was at Cold Creek, about twenty-four miles
distant, and without a direct road leading to
it. The difficulties in some cases were very
trying. For example : Mr. Barney and Dan-
iel Rice arranged for a trip to mill, each
with a team of oxen and wagon. As they had
to cross the river, the grain was hauled there,
unloaded and ferried across; then the wagon
ferried over, and afterwards the team swam
580
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
over, when they could reload, hitch and pro-
ceed. This was in April, 1821. After having
their grain ground, and on their homeward
route, they were overtaken by a snow storm.
The snow was damp, and fell to the depth
of a foot, rendering the road almost impass-
able, and so weighed the bushes down over
them, that they were compelled to abandon
their wagons, and with much difficulty suc-
ceeded in reaching home with their oxen."
William Spicer was one of the earliest white
inhabitants of Seneca County, but his coming
was involuntary. He had dwelt along the
Sandusky for forty years before the settlers
came, and already had a grown family of
half-breed children. He had been captured
when very young, during an Indian raid in
Pennsylvania, and little is known of his his-
tory. The names of his children were John,
James, Small Cloud, and Little Town, and
there was one daughter, who married another
white captive named Crow. He was friendly
to the early white settlers, and, as he had cat-
tle, horses, and hogs in large numbers, he was
able to be of inestimable service. He fre-
quently furnished horses and oxen to them in
their farming. "He was a good neighbor,
ever ready and willing to help the needy.
People often borrowed his horses and oxen to
go to the mill. ' ' This is the testimony of an
early settler.
Spicer was the victim of the first robbery
of which we have a record. He lived in a
cabin on a hill on the west bank of the San-
dusky, about four miles south of Fort Seneca.
It was generally known that he had consider-
able gold and silver about his cabin, for he
had many things to market. It was generally
believed that the amount was as much as
$6,000 to $7,000, but as Spicer himself could
not count, the exact amount is not known.
William Rollins, a carpenter of the neighbor-
hood, came to his cabin one afternoon and
demanded his money. When this was refused,
Rollins struck him and knocked him sense-
less. Before his senses left him, Spicer heard
others enter, but he did not recognize them.
When he recovered, his money and visitors
were gone. As soon as the news got abroad,
the neighbors turned out to help Spicer. A
man by the name of Downing lived on the
top of the hill, some three miles north of Tiffin,
in a cabin near the river. The constable,
Mr. Papineau, in company with Benjamin
Barney, came to Downing 's house and sat
down to talk a while about the robbery. A
little girl of the family innocently remarked
to these men that ' ' My papa put something
nice under there," pointing to the hearth-
stone. Raising the hearth-stone, they found
over $500 in silver under it. They then
arrested Downing. Some $600 more, also in
silver, was found in the spring, which was
supposed to have been put there by Rollins,
who had struck Spicer, and who was also
arrested soon after. Downing managed to
escape from the constable, and was never
heard of afterwards in the neighborhood.
Judge Fitch also found some money, sup-
posed to be Spicer 's, in a ravine near the
river. This sum was also over $500. All
this money was promptly restored to Spicer.
Several men were arrested for the crime, but
Rollins was the only one convicted. He was
sentenced to the. penitentiary, but was par-
doned by the governor, Spicer himself signing
the petition. Two of Spicer 's boys, Small
Cloud and Little Town, went west with the
tribe, as they preferred the primitive life of
the savages to that of the whites.
The Indians were generally inoffensive, ex-
cept when drunk, but there were exceptions.
One of these was Peter Pork, who was re-
ported to have perpetrated at least eight mur-
ders. He had killed one Indian just prior to
the incident here related. He was a Cayuga,
almost a giant in size, and the terror of the
neighborhood. The Indians obtained much
liquor at the place of Benazah Parker, at the
Village of McNutt's Corners, now Fort Sen-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
eca. One night in October, 1829, the rounders
were having a high time at Parker's, when
Parker finally refused him more whisky. Pork
became angry and stabbed Parker in the side.
Dropping the knife, he then ran home. Be-
cause he stuck his scalping knife into a crack
near the bed, his squaw knew that something
was wrong. When Pork was asleep, she
pulled it out and put a wooden one in its
place. By this act she undoubtedly saved a
human life. When a posse of settlers came
to his cabin during the night, he jumped up
and grabbed the wooden knife. It was only
after a hard struggle that he was subdued.
They put him on a horse and tied his feet
together under the horse, to prevent escape.
On the way to Tiffin, Pork said to his escort,
"To-morrow me die," thinking that he would
be executed. They put him into the old
hewed-log jail of that day in Tiffin. He was
duly tried, with Judge Lane presiding, and
was sent to the penitentiary for a term of
three years. When the Senecas left for the
West he was pardoned, and went with his
tribe. The sentence was made light from the
fact that Parker had often violated the law
in selling whisky to the Indians, and was thus
considered a very undesirable citizen. Parker
lived some fifteen months after he was
stabbed, and died from the effects of the
wound, as it was generally supposed.
There was a great deal of sickness amongst
the Senecas in 1822, and many died. They
believed themselves bewitched, and, holding
a council on the subject, condemned four poor
old squaws to be tomahawked for witchcraft.
It was an easy way to get rid of an undesir-
able member of the tribe, or someone who
had become a burden. The latter was prob-
ably the case with these poor victims. On the
following day these squaws went to Lower
Sandusky and purchased whisky. When they
came back they got gloriously drunk, and then
said they were ready. They told the execu-
tioner to "cut-away." One Indian, whose
name was Jim Sky, killed them all as calmly
as if killing so many hogs. Another poor old
squaw, wife of an Indian known as George
Washington, was condemned to die for
witchery. She was found ;it the hominy block
pounding corn, and was killed without any
ceremony. Her husband stood by and
watched the crime without protest. The
Senecas were noted among the missionaries
as an exceedingly superstitious people.
It was in the year 1820 that William Harris
brought his wife and several children to Sen-
eca County from Pennsylvania. He was a
gunsmith by trade, and put up a small shop
not far from Fort Seneca, like most of the
earliest settlers. This was a profitable busi-
ness in those days, for the guns of the Indians
were always getting out of order. Soon after
arriving, one of his daughters, Minerva, was
married to Benjamin Barney, a neighboring
settler. The ceremony was performed by
David Smith, of Fort Ball, a justice of the
peace, and he obligingly played the fiddle for
the dance that followed. The dance was on
a "puncheon" floor. This was solid aild sub-
stantial, but not very well adapted to "trip
the light fantastic." At least it would not
be considered so today by modern society folk.
Another daughter, Tabitha, was married there
to a Mr. Culver by Rev. James Montgomery,
who had been elected a justice of the peace.
One of the beautiful sections of the county
is adjoining Honey Creek, along the banks of
which, near Melmore, the editor-in-chief lived
for a time as a youth. It is the largest affluent
of the Sandusky on its right bank. To people
born and bred along this stream, it has a
peculiar charm. Here came many of the very
earliest settlers in the county. Peter Bever
located along that stream, with a family of
thirteen children, in 1823. The prospects of
that time were not flattering. Micajah Heaton
moved there in 1829, and located less than a
mile south of Melmore. He afterwards be-
came a justice of the peace. Samuel S. Mar-
582
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
tin arrived in the same year, although he had
purchased his land several years earlier. For
years he was a "squire," and no one ever
gave his decisions greater thought than did
Squire Martin. The Penningtons, Bretses,
Downses, Kagys, and many others sought
homes in the neighborhood of beautiful Honey
Creek.
Soon after the treaty at the Miami of the
Lake, already mentioned, the general Gov-
ernment ordered all the lands thereby secured
to be surveyed. This was then "the new pur-
chase. ' ' Mr. Sylvanus Bourne started a sur-
vey from the west line of Ohio, which he
called the first meridian. Running his line
on this parallel east, he planted a stake where
the end of the sixth mile was reached. This
made one range, and the first range in his
survey. The end of the seventeenth range
brought him within fifty-two chains and seven
links of the southwest corner of the Western
Reserve. A line drawn due north, by his
compass, cut the west line of the Western
Reserve exactly at the northeast corner of
Seneca County. There is therefore a strip of
land lying all along and east of the seven-
teenth range that is not in any range, 52.07
chains along on the south end, running to a
point just eighteen miles north. This tract is
called "the gore."
J. Glasgow, Price F. Kellogg, James T.
Worthington, and Sylvania Bourne surveyed
the land in Seneca County. All the land not
protected by special reservations was then
offered for sale at the land office, at Dela-
ware, at $1.25 per acre, and very little brought
a higher figure. Large quantities were sold
at this price. Some of the land was not opened
up to white occupancy until 1832, after the
last aborigine had left. These tracts were the
McCulloch Reservation, the Van Meter Reser-
vation, and the Walker Reservation. They
were surveyed in 1832 by J. W. Christmas,
and then offered to purchasers.
Here is a copy of one of the notices pub-
lished in the Seneca Patriot concerning the
sale of lands : ' ' The subscriber has on hand a
quantity of plats, and descriptions of the sec-
tions and lines of the Seneca and Big Spring
reservations. Persons going on either of the
said reserves, will find them of much advan-
tage. They are made from the original field
notes of C. W. Christmas, Esq., District Sur-
"Geo. W. Gist, Surveyor."
In 1820 Israel Harrington surveyed the
Morrison State Road, still known by that
name, leading from Croghansville (Fremont)
to Delaware. This was the first road surveyed
and opened in Seneca County, east of the
river, while the road surveyed by Risdon
was the first one west of the river — both state
roads. The Morrison Road was named after
one of the commissioners, who located the
road. Col. James Kilbourne, a pioneer sur-
veyor, already introduced, surveyed a road
leading from Portland (now Sandusky City)
to Upper Sandusky, to which he gave his own
name, in 1822. This is the same man who
laid out the Town of Bucyrus. It is said that
Thomas Baker and Ezra Brown, two distin-
guished pioneers, both from the State of New
York, were the first settlers in Seneca County
who came over that road.
Wolves were very plentiful in Seneca
County in the early days. In 1827 the com-
missioners ordered an extra bounty on wolf
scalps of $2, in addition to the $5 paid by
the state. It was almost impossible to keep
poultry, hogs, or sheep. Their howling made
the night hideous. The greater number of
wolves that were killed were caught in traps
made expressly for wolves. Those that were
shot were comparatively few. The ingenious
trapper was the most successful man to get
the premiums on scalps. Some of these trap-
pers in Hancock, Wood, Sandusky, Huron,
and Crawford, living near the county line,
when they found a wolf in the trap, in making
the morning rounds, would strike the wolf
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
588
over the head with a club. This would stun
and disable, but not kill him. Then they would
hitch a horse or an ox to a sled and haul
wolf and trap into Seneca County, and there
finish killing the wolf. This was done so that
the trapper could make an affidavit that the
wolf was killed in Seneca. This county paid
for many a scalp that was caught in some
other county. There was money in it. The
result was that in the course of a few years
the wolves became very scarce. Along towards
the year 1840, scarcely any scalps were pre-
sented for premium.
Seneca County was established in 1820, and
was named after the Indian tribe residing
within it. For administrative purposes it
was attached to Sandusky County, with the
seat of government at Lower Sandusky. The
commissioners of that county located four
townships within its borders from time to
time. These were Thompson, Seneca, Clin-
ton, and Eden. The first election was held
May 5, 1820, at the house of Joseph Par-
menter, in Thompson Township. The second
was at the house of John Searles, in Eden
Township. The successful ticket at this elec-
tion in Eden Township was: David Clark,
township clerk ; John Welch, James Mathers,
and Henry Craw, trustees; Ira Holmes and
John Searles, fence viewers; John Searles,
treasurer; Hugh Welch and Ira Holmes, ap-
praisers; Samuel Knapp and John Welch,
supervisors; Thomas Welch, constable.
By 1824 the population had increased suffi-
ciently for Seneca to have its own organiza-
tion. The Legislature accordingly passed an
enabling act, on the 22d of January of that
year. In conformity with the foregoing act,
notice in writing was posted up in the sev-
eral (four) townships in the county, for the
holding of the election. The only officers to
be chosen at this election were a sheriff, three
commissioners, and a coroner. For sheriff,
Agreen Ingraham received 190 votes, while
Levertt Bradley received 206 for coroner.
Both were elected. At the same time William
Clark, Jesse S. Olmstead, and Henjamin \\Vt-
more were also elected as county com mi-
ers, to serve until the next annual election in
October.
On the 7th day of June, 1824, the board
of commissioners organized and held their
first session. The first business in order \MI-,
the hearing of a petition presented by Rollin
Moller, praying for the location of a Mad.
The petitions for four other roads were heard
at the same session. New officers were elected
in October. On the 8th day of December,
1824, the county commissioners cast lots to
ascertain how long each was to serve. It was
found that Thomas Boyd was to serve for one
year, Benjamin Whitmore for two years, and
Doctor Dunn received the long term of three
years. Ever since that time Seneca County
has elected but one commissioner each year,
except when by death or resignation the
election of another became a necessity. On
this same day the board rented from George
Park rooms for the county clerk and auditor.
They agreed to pay him one dollar a month
for their use — which proves that exorbitant
rents were not in vogue in those days.
On the 6th day of June, 1825, commission-
ers were appointed to locate a road in Craw-
ford Township, and for that purpose met at
the house of James Whitaker, on the 6th day
of July following. Mr. Hedges had built a
two-story frame house on the lot immediately
north of the courthouse square. The second
story was used as a courtroom, and the lower
three rooms for offices. The first court in
Seneca County was held in this frame house,
and that was the courthouse of Seneca County
until the brick courthouse was built in 1836.
In this humble way did Seneca County
start on its way as a separate unit of our
commonwealth. On the 4th day of July, 1825,
the commissioners of Seneca County held an
extra session of the board to receive proposals
and bids for the building of a jail in Tiffin.
584
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Benjamin Whitmore and Doctor Dunn were
present. The bids were opened and the con-
tract awarded to Elijah Ferguson, he being
the lowest bidder. The contract price was
$450, payable when the work was completed.
It stood at the southeast corner of the present
courthouse square, and was made of hewed
logs, fitted tightly on the top of each other,
with hewed logs for the ceiling, and heavy oak
plank for the floor. The doors were made of
double planks, with wagon tires bolted across
them for hinges, and a large padlock on the
door. There were two rooms in this log jail-
one on the east side, and the other on the
west side. The windows were cross-barred
with heavy tire iron. To the south end of the
jail was attached a frame building as wide as
the jail (about 20 feet), with a narrow stair-
way to the garret, and two small rooms below.
This frame part was intended as a residence
for the sheriff, but was never occupied for
that purpose.
For want of a courthouse, the county offi-
cers furnished their own rooms, and presented
their rent bills to the commissioners for al-
lowance. The Methodist Church, which was
the largest building in town, was utilized for
a time. From $9 to $12 was paid as
rent for each session of the court. In 1823
John Baugher and Calvin Bradley were ap-
pointed a committee to visit a number of coun-
ties and view their county buildings. They
were allowed $93.80 for their little jaunt. In
the following year it was ordered that a court-
house be built of brick. After the usual pre-
liminaries, a contract was entered into with
the above John Baugher. The commissioners
were John Seitz, John Crum, and Nicholas
Goetchnis. The building was completed and
accepted August 19, 1836, according to an
entry on their docket. It was burned five
years later and left a mass of ruins. Richard
Williams, who had his law office in the build-
ing, lost his entire law library. Fortunately,
most of the records were saved, except those
of the treasurer's office, which were all lost in
the conflagration. The Tiffin Gazette, in its
issue of May 29, 1841, says as follows:
"Our village, which has hitherto been ex-
empt from calamity by fire, has at last been
robbed of its most splendid ornament by this
destructive agent. Our late beautiful court-
house is now a heap of ruins. It was discov-
ered to be on fire between two and three
o'clock Sunday morning last, by which time
the flames had made such progress that it was
impossible to arrest them by any means the
citizens had at command. The result was the
total destruction of the building. Total we
say, for, although a large portion of the walls
are yet standing, it will not, we think, be
found expedient to allow them to remain as
part of the new edifice. The courthouse con-
tained the offices of the recorder, treasurer,
auditor, sheriff, clerk of court, and grand jury
room, which was occupied by Messrs. Cowdery
and Wilson."
The commissioners acted promptly, and a
contract for a new building was let within
two months to John Baugher. They were able
to use some of the old walls, which were still
standing. In a little over a year the county
again had a court house of which it was proud,
and this building answered the needs of the
growing county for many years. In 1866 an
addition was built at the east end, with fire-
proof vaults for the officials. A splendid new
courthouse, erected in 1884, has since replaced
this venerable structure.
LAW AND MEDICINE
The first court was held in Seneca County
at Tiffin on the 12th day of April, 1824. Ebe-
nezer Lane, who was the presiding judge, had
a circuit which embraced almost the entire
northwestern section of Ohio. Sitting with
him on the bench on this occasion were the
associate judges, William Cornell, Jacques
Hulburt, and Matthew Clark. Neal McGaffey
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
686
officiated as clerk, and Agreen Ingraham per-
formed the duties of sheriff. The court lasted
for about half an hour, and then adjourned
for lack of business. Under the old constitu-
tion the clerks were appointed by the judges
of the court, while the judges themselves were
chosen by the Legislature for a term of seven
years. The first session of the Supreme Court,
which in the olden days traveled from county
to county, was held at Tiffin on the 28th day
of July, 1826, before Jacob Burnett and
Charles R. Sherman. David Higgins suc-
ceeded Judge Lane on the Common Pleas
bench, and he was followed by Ozias Bowen,
of Marion.
The first lawyer, who settled in Fort Ball,
was R. Dickinson, and the second attorney to
make his home in Tiffin was Able Rawson.
Mr. Dickinson had read law in Columbus, and
located at Fort Ball the same year of the
county organization. He was the first pros-
ecuting attorney, and his name is identified
with practically all the earliest cases. He
only remained here about two years, after
which he removed to the then more promising
town of Lower Sandusky. Mr. Rawson was a
Massachusetts man, and was crippled because
of illness in youth. Handicapped as he was
in this way, he managed to secure a very good
education, and was admitted to the practice
of the law. On a journey west he taught
school for several months in Wayne and
Huron counties, and in 1825 made his first
visit to Tiffin. This village at that time con-
sisted of only a dozen families dwelling in
rude cabins. As there was no hotel in Tiffin,
he forded the river and stopped at a tavern
in Fort Ball. In the following year he re-
turned to Fort Ball, with less than $10 in
money, and a law library consisting of the
first volume of "Swift's Digest" and of
"Chitty's Pleading." He opened an office in
a small brick building, the first brick building
to be erected in the county. In the same year
he was appointed prosecuting attorney to suc-
ceed Rodolphus Dickinson, and retained that
office for seven years. He served as deputy
agent for the Tinted States Land Office for
a time. He also filled the office of county
recorder. Joshua Seney was one of the pio-
neer lawyers of Tiffin. Having been raised
in the lap of wealth and luxury, he knew
little about either labor or the value of money.
He preferred the excitement of politics to the
hard labor of a law office. In this he was not
selfish, for he was just as free to work for a
friend as for himself. He served as clerk of
the Supreme Court, and treasurer of Seneca
County. He is said to have written the finest
hand of any lawyer who lived in Tiffin. His
three sons all became lawyers of note. One
of these, George, remained in Tiffin, another,
Joshua Seney, removed to Toledo, and the
third son, Henry, began his career in Kenton.
All of them were elected to high judicial
positions by their constituents.
Luther A. Hall, who reached Tiffin in the
spring of 1833, was at first employed as a
clerk in the recorder's office at 50 cents per
day. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law
College in 1841, and began the practice of
his profession in Tiffin. In 1856 he was
elected prosecuting attorney of Seneca County,
and also served as assessor of the revenue dur-
ing the war period. Oliver Cowdery was a
noted lawyer and advocate of the early days
in Tiffin. He came to Ohio when a very young
man, and studied law at Painesville. For a
time he was associated with the Mormons, and
is said to have had more to do with the pro-
duction of the Mormon bible than almost any-
one else. His testimony is inserted in that
bible as to the "Golden Plates." He opposed
polygamy, however, because it was contrary
to the principles of Christianity and the spirit
of free institutions. This drew him into con-
flict with the other leaders, and he was com-
pelled to flee for his life, leaving his wife and
two children behind. Abandoning the Mor-
mon faith, he moved to Tiffin in the year 1840.
586
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Probably the most prominent of the early
doctors of Seneca County was Ely Dresbach.
Although born in Pennsylvania, he was
brought by his parents to Ohio at a very early
age. He studied medicine at Circleville, and
also attended a course of lectures at the Med-
ical College of Ohio. It was then that he
decided to come to Port Ball. His office in
that place was a small, one-story brick build-
ing. In a few years he crossed over the river
to Tiffin, where he practiced medicine as long
as he was able. In the practice of medicine,
as it was done in those days, Doctor Dresbach
took high rank. Vigorous as his constitution
was, it had its limits of endurance. Over-
tasked by the arduous duties of the pioneer
physician, which involved many hard trips
and loss of necessary rest, his life was cut
short, and he died April 14, 1853. He had
never married. The immense concourse of
people that attended his funeral was an evi-
dence of the high regard and deep affection
held for him in the community.
Dr. Robert C. J. Carey located in Port Ball
about the same time as Doctor Dresbach, and
the two formed a partnership of the practice.
He was considered a very good physician, but
lived only a few years after locating at Port
Ball. Another of the early physicians in
Tiffin was Dr. Henry Kuhn, who took a very
active part in the development of the town
and country. He was a Marylander, and
graduated with the highest honors from the
University of Maryland in 1825. He came
to Seneca County about 1831, when the pres-
ent site was nearly all covered with timber.
He immediately divided the practice with
Doctors Dresbach and Carey, who had pre-
ceded him. He was frequently called upon
to visit the Wyandot Indians, and was highly
esteemed by the chiefs. Whenever these In-
dians visited Tiffin, they would call on the
doctor at his little frame office for a chat.
He earned money enough in his profession
to become one of the wealthiest men in the
vicinity. His goodness of heart was such,
however, that he would loan money to or
become security for almost anybody who
asked the favor. He passed away in 1878.
Dr. James Fisher began the practice of medi-
cine in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and came
to Tiffin in 1832, with his partner, Dr. Thomas
Boyer. He kept a drug store at an early date,
practiced medicine, speculated in lands, and
was also postmaster for a time. He removed
to Missouri for a time, but afterwards re-
turned to Tiffin. Doctor Boyer was also a
skillful physician, but he died three years
after he located at Tiffin.
PRESS AND PULPIT
The first newspaper established in Seneca
County was the Seneca Patriot. It was
printed on a press which is said to have been
the first printing press brought to Ohio. The
first number was issued August 4, 1832. Its
motto was, "Constitutional Rights, Repub-
lican Institutions, and Union Forever." The
paper came out very irregularly. Sometimes
the editor was out of paper, and again there
was no ink in the establishment. Further-
more, the patronage was not very great, and
the principal source of revenue came from
official notices. As the Patriot was the only
paper in the county, the editor, Elisha Brown,
undertook to please and satisfy all. He pro-
posed to devote a certain space to articles
suitable to the ideas of each party. The
whigs first became dissatisfied, and blamed
him for partiality. Others were not pleased,
and he finally was compelled to announce him-
self in favor of Andrew Jackson and the dem-
ocratic party. When Mr. Brown died, his
son, J. H. Brown, continued the paper for
a short time, and the entire establishment was
then sold to Alonzo Rawson. He made his
bow to the public with the Independent
Chronicle and Seneca Advertiser. As he in-
clined toward the whigs, the leading demo-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
587
crats determined to buy him out. It was
then that Josiah P. Reed purchased the office
and good will, and issued the first number of
the Tiffin Gazette and Seneca Advertiser. In
November, 1835, it became the organ of the
democracy. A couple of years later, Luther
A. Hall purchased the outfit, and the word
Advertiser was dropped from the title. He
in turn sold it to Samuel A. Griswold, when
it again became a whig organ.
When the memorable campaign of 1840
came on, the democrats found themselves
without a newspaper. A subscription was
raised, an outfit purchased, and the Van
Burenite was given to the public. A year
later this paper was discontinued, and the
Seneca Advertiser succeeded it. This was
owned by John G. Breslin, who conducted it
for a dozen years. Thus the Advertiser was
the first newspaper to really gain a foothold
in the growing community. It has been pub-
lished from that day to this continuously, but
with several changes of owners and editors.
It is now published also as a daily. When
John Michael Myers died, in 1909, one of the
most conspicuous figures in Ohio journalism
passed away. He had the distinction of being
the oldest Ohio editor in the harness, for he
had wielded the editorial pen for almost half
a century. In 1845 the first number of the
Whig Standard was issued, with George L.
Horton as editor. He conducted the paper
for several years, when it passed on to Abra-
ham Laubach. In 1855 W. C. Gray became
the editor, and the name was changed to the
Tiffin Tribune. In 1868 this paper was pur-
chased by Charles N. Locke and Otis T.
Locke, and it continued under the firm name of
Locke & Bro., and later as 0. T. Locke & Son.
When the whig party merged over into the
republican party, the Tribune followed, and
it has ever since been the organ of the repub-
lican party in Seneca County. The Daily
Tribune and Herald was established in 1886.
The Evening Herald was established in 1877,
as a daily, with 11. C. Keppel as proprietor
and W. H. Keppel as editor. Tin- Tiffin Q*
zette issued its first number in April, 1878, as
a weekly family newspaper. The editor was
Charles L. Zahm, and he sold it to tin- Tiffin
News, tin- first number of which was issued
April 3, 1880.
In 1848 the first copy of the Seneca Adler
made its appearance, with William Lang as
editor and John G. Breslin as publisher. This
was the first German paper to be issued in
that county. Mr. Breslin was shortly after-
wards elected a member of the General Assem-
bly of Ohio. The second German newspaper
was the Unsere Flagge, under the manage-
ment of J. M. .1 ;ili MI. A third paper, the Tiffin
Presse, made its appearance in 1871, as a dem-
ocratic organ. It has always been an influ-
ential paper among the German element of
the community. Eight years ago the able
editor, Mr. Weichselbaum, retired from busi-
ness. He sold his interest to a Fremont gen-
tleman, M. C. Vollmer, who has consolidated
the Tiffin Presse with the Fremont Courier,
and it is now printed in Fremont. German
immigration has long ago stopped in these
counties, and the old German settlers have
since died out, and few of their children or
grandchildren are able to read the German
paper. So naturally these once so influential
papers go out of existence.
The Fostoria Democrat was founded in
1875 and is still published as a weekly. From
the same plant is issued a daily, and it is now
owned by Roscoe Carle. Two former papers
of Fostoria, the Review and the Dispatch, are
now published as the Review-Dispatch, a
weekly publication. The Daily Review is also
published by the same owners, of which J. P.
De Wolf has been editor for the past twenty
years.
In the early days religious services took
place at the hospitable cabin of some settler
of the county. The people came to the serv-
ices regardless of the denomination to which
588
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
the minister belonged. It was supposed that
each family was affiliated with some church —
and it generally was. Atheists and unbeliev-
ers in general were few. As those of each
belief were few, they freely and cheerfully
helped each other. If one society started to
build an edifice, all in the neighborhood cheer-
full joined in the labor of assisting, and con-
tributed of their means as well. It showed
a broad benevolence and charity, which we
cannot but admire in these pioneers.
In 1831 a small brick chapel was erected
in Tiffin, which was used as the first Roman
Catholic Church in Tiffin. Patrick Kinney,
Phillip Hennesey, and another of their coun-
trymen from the "ould sod" became person-
ally responsible for the building expense.
This was on the site of the present Catholic
cemetery. Its little bell was the first church
bell in the county, and its music made a
cheerful echo in the woods which then
abounded. This chapel was dedicated on the
7th of January, 1837, although services had
previously been held in it. It was not dedi-
cated earlier, however, because it had not been
entirely paid for. This society, now known
as St. Mary's, was organized as early as Sep-
tember, 1829. Father Edmund Quinn, a ven-
erable priest, came to the congregation in
1833, and remained in charge of it until his
death a couple of years later. He was suc-
ceeded by Father F. X. Tschenhens, who reg-
ularly visited the Catholic flock of Tiffin and
vicinity. The next resident pastor was Rev.
Joseph McNamee, who remained in charge of
the parish till 1847, and was succeeded by
Rev. Maurice Howard and Rev. M. 0 'Sulli-
van. The latter found the out-of-the-way
location of the church unsuitable to the wants
of the congregation, and therefore secured
two lots on the corner of Miami and Franklin
streets, on the west side of the river. On
these lots he built a brick church 46 by 100
feet ; he also bought the present bell, weighing
3,800 pounds, and fitted up a parochial resi-
dence. Opposition arising in the congrega-
tion on account of the change of site induced
Father M. 0 'Sullivan to resign. He was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Michael Healy, who resided in
Tiffin till 1904, when he died at the age of
eighty-one years, having been pastor of St.
Mary 's for forty-six years. He was succeeded
by the present pastor, Rev. T. F. Conlon, who
at once erected the magnificent stone church
on South Sandusky Street, for which his ven-
erable predecessor, Father M. Healy, had col-
lected for many years.
Up to 1845, the German and English speak-
ing Catholics had worshipped together. At
that time the German members secured per-
mission to organize a separate congregation.
They numbered then from thirty to forty
families. For several years the congregation
was served by priests who came from New
Riegel. In 1852 the Rev. L. Molon, the pastor
of St. Mary's Church, was also appointed
pastor of the German congregation, and held
separate services for them. A few months
later, Rev. J. B. Uhlman arrived from Ger-
many, and was appointed pastor of the young
and flourishing German congregation. A par-
sonage was then built for the pastor. He was
succeeded by Rev. Joseph L. Bihn, who served
the congregation for seventeen years. The
present church building was commenced in
1860, and consecrated two years later by
Bishop J. M. Young. Its architecture is pure
Gothic. Even today it is the most conspicu-
ous building in Tiffin, and its beautiful and
graceful spire is the first object which attracts
the attention of those who visit or pass
through the city. Four bells peal forth their
harmonious notes from the lofty belfry; and
the church organ is one of the largest and best
in Northern Ohio.
Father Joseph Bihn resigned in 1873 the
pastorate of St. Joseph's Church and retired
to his orphan asylum, which he had founded
in 1867. He died there in 1895, surrounded
by his many orphans, to whom he had been a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
589
father for years. This home is still in a flour-
ishing condition, sheltering 140 orphans. It
is self-supporting and, as the delegates to the
State Convention of Charities and Correc-
tions declared at their recent meeting in Tiffin,
"The most homelike Home between here and
New York." He was succeeded by the Rev.
Charles Evrard, who was much beloved by
his people and the citizens of Tiffin. In the
same year two brothers, the Revs. Martin and
John Puetz, were appointed to administer to
the spiritual wants of the large congregation.
These pastors made many changes and im-
provements. The present brick school build-
ing was erected in 1894. Father Martin Puetz
died in 1897, and his brother followed him in
death in 1902. At the beginning of 1903 the
present pastor, Rev. Francis L. Hultgen, took
charge of the congregation, which is consid-
ered one of the large and flourishing parishes
in Northwestern Ohio. Parochial schools
were established in the spring of 1853, and
have been maintained ever since. In 1865 the
Ursuline Sisters came from Cleveland to Tiffin
and formed a new convent. They also estab-
lished an academy for young ladies, and took
charge of the parochial schools of both congre-
gations. Three years later another commu-
nity was established near the limits of the
city by Rev. Joseph Bihn. It was placed
under the care of Franciscan Sisters of the
Third Order. This is known as the "Citizens'
Hospital and Orphan Asylum."
The first church of the Methodist Episcopal
denomination was built on the bank of Honey
Creek, near Melmore, in 1828. It was a very
unimposing building, but served the needs of
a pioneer congregation. Rev. James Mont-
gomery used to preach here occasionally, and
also the Rev. Thomas Thompson, who was one
of the early and beloved divines of the pioneer
days. The Rev. James Finley also preached
in this local church, as well as in private
houses. The first presiding elder was Rev.
James McMahon, who came to Tiffin in 1823,
and preached in the old brick church that
stood on Market Street. Hi- was succeeded
by Rev. Russel Bigelow, a pioneer pulpit
orator of great power. The congregation,
which occupies a splendid church, is known as
St. Paul's. The Methodist Protestant Society
was formed in 1837, and its present edifice
was erected in 1872.
In the early days there were two small
Methodist charges in what is now Fostoria —
one at Rome and another at Risdon. The
Methodists were the first to settle in this part
of the county. The first sermon was preached
by Rev. Andrew Hollopetor in 1832. In the
following year the first log church was erected
in Risdon. Then Rome wanted a church, and
one was built there. They were in a ciivuit
with several other churches, known as Risdon
Circuit. They were united in 1851, under the
pastorate of Rev. George W. Collier. A small
frame building was built for the united con-
gregation about midway between the two
towns. The present splendid building was
erected in 1883. In 1887 there was a great
revival in this church, under the pastorate
of Rev. T. C. Reade, at which there were 500
conversions.
The First Presbyterian Church is one of
the oldest religious institutions in Tiffin. It
was organized about the 1st of July, 1837, by
members who withdrew from the church at
Melmore, which had been built earlier. In
1834 the society was chartered as the First
Presbyterian Church of Tiffin. The board
of trustees named were Milton Jennings,
Peter Marsh, and Allen Campbell. One of
the earliest preachers of this denomination
in the wilds of Seneca was Rev. John Robin-
son, who served as the spiritual leader of this
congregation for two or three years. He was
succeeded by Rev. John McCutchen, who was
considered a revivalist of great power. Its
present home dates from the year 1871.
Owing to the large German element in
Seneca County, the Reformed Church has be-
590
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
come very strong. There are more than a
dozen churches in the county belonging to
that denomination. A church of this faith
will be found in almost every township in the
county. The German Evangelical St. John's
Church of Tiffin was organized in 1836. It
was called "The United German Evangelical
Lutheran and German Evangelical Reformed
St. John's Congregation." The Rev. Adam
Adolph Conrad was its first pastor, and served
the congregation very acceptably for a num-
ber of years. In addition he served nine other
congregations, including one in Lower San-
dusky. With his frail body, his labors were
too severe, and he passed away at a very early
age. Rev. J. J. Beilharz then took charge of
the congregation, and served them for twelve
years. The first meeting house of this congre-
gation was a hewed log building, which stood
on the same spot as their present edifice. It
was built in 1836, and served the congrega-
tion for twenty-one years. The First Re-
formed Church Society was organized in 1833,
when Rev. John L. Sanders, of Maryland, was
invited to become their pastor. The consis-
tory was authorized to purchase ground for a
church edifice, to be built of brick'. It was
purchased from Josiah Hedges for the sum
of $250, in 1834. Immediate steps were taken
to build the proposed church. The second
minister of this congregation was Reverend
Rahauser, who preached in both the German
and English languages. He was followed by
Rev. Donald Kroh, who was installed as pas-
tor in 1841. Up to this time the members of
the congregation had been obliged to sit on
slab benches, but it was then provided with
pews, which made it a much more comfortable
place of worship.
TIFFIN
It was in 1813 that Col. James V. Ball
reached the site of what is now the City of
Tiffin, with the intention of building a small
stockade as a protection for the army road
that passed through here. A large spring of
excellent cold water on the left bank of the
Sandusky River attracted his attention, and
so the stockade was built on this spot. It was
named Fort Ball, in honor of the commander.
This camp was built as a temporary place of
security in case of necessity, and as a maga-
zine for supplies. It was built of large stakes,
a foot in thickness, fixed in the ground with
old bayonets driven through them horizon-
tally near the tops. There were three block-
houses which faced the river, and there was
room in the interior for about 500 men. On
a number of occasions troops were quartered
here, but it was never a permanent fort.
It was on the 18th of November, 1817, that
the first white settler, Erastus Bowe, arrived
at Camp Ball, where some men had already
erected for him a double log house within
the limits of the camp. Here Mr. Bowe kept
a tavern, which was the first in the county.
It was the only house within the present
limits of Tiffin, when the Town of Oakley was
surveyed and platted. It was located on what
was known as the Armstrong section, an even
square mile of land, which had been granted
to Robert Armstrong by the treaty at the
Rapids of the Miami. Mr. Armstrong was a
captive of the Wyandots, and it was granted
to him for his services as interpreter. The
patent deed from the United States to Arm-
strong was dated October 12, 1823. On the
29th of the same month he sold 400 acres of
it to Jesse Spencer for $3,000. The plat of
Oakley included the old stockade of Fort
Ball. It was not much of a town, even on
paper, and no record was even made of the
plat. The only buildings it ever contained
were the Bowe tavern, and a cabin of David
Smith. A postoffice was located here, and
David Risdon was the first postmaster in the
county. It is said of Mr. Risdon that while
he was postmaster he used to go fishing occa-
sionally, carrying the mail matter with him
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OH ID
591
in liis hat. People were so anxious for their
mail that they could not wait for his return,
and would follow him along the river. The
traveling postoffice would then be taken from
his hat, while he looked for papers and let-
ters. Then- was but one mail route through
the county at that time, and that extended
from Columbus to Lower Sandnsky along the
army road. In 1824 the Town of Fort Ball
Spencer came here frmn Perry County,
Ohio, where he formerly lived. It seems thai
the locality and the people here failed to meet
the approbation of Mr. Spencer, and lie with-
drew his company and his interest from the
county soon after his sale to Mr. Hedges.
Fort Ball had the honor of having Ely D res-
bach, the tirst physician, and Rodolphus Dick-
inson, the first lawyer, in Seneca County.
POSTOFFICE, TIFFIN
was surveyed by Mr. Risdon, and it included
all of the plat of Oakley.
Jesse Spencer had a brief but stormy career
on the site of Tiffin. In less than two years
from the time Mr. Spencer purchased the
part of the Armstrong section, as above stated,
he laid out Oakley, then Fort Ball, built the
brush dam that caused so much trouble, and
the saw-mill, became involved in about two
dozen lawsuits, had a half dozen knock-downs,
sold his town, brush dam, and saw-mill to Mr.
Hedges, and shook the dust of Seneca County
from his feet. The deed from Spencer to
Hedges for Fort Ball is dated June 16, 1825.
In this deed Spencer reserved to himself some
in-lots and out-lots of his town of Fort
Spencer.
Milton McNeal was probably the earliest mer-
chant, and he put up the first frame building
on that side of the river. It was used both
for a store and his residence.
The first dam across the Sandusky was
built by Mr. Spencer, and it ran the first saw-
mill on that river. It was located within the
present limits of Tiffin. Its destruction was
the cause of the initial lawsuit and jury trial
in the county. The petition is an interesting
souvenir of the pleadings of those days. A
part of it reads as follows: "That the said
Hedges, on the 1st day of May, A. D. 1823,
and at divers others days, and times between
that day and before the commencement of this
action, with force and arms, etc., broke and
entered a certain close of the said Jesse Spen-
592
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
cer, situate, lying and being in the township
of Seneca, in the county of Seneca, aforesaid,
and then and there pulled down, prosecuted
and destroyed a great part, to- wit: forty
perches of a certain mill-dam of the said Jesse
Spencer, of great value, to-wit: of the value
of two hundred dollars; and, also, then and
there, tore down and dug up great quantities,
to-wit: one thousand wagon loads of stone,
from off the said close and dam of the said
Jesse Spencer, to-wit: to the further value of
three hundred dollars, and then and there
took and carried away, and converted the
same to his, the said Josiah Hedges' own use."
The case was continued until the April
term, 1825, when it was tried to the follow-
ing jury, viz. : James Mathers, Jesse Gale,
John C. Donnel, William Poncannon, Smith
Kentfield, Peter Yeaky, Ezekiel Sampson,
Samuel Scothorn, James Outright, Ezra
Brown, Jacob S. Jennings, and Elisha Clark,
"who upon their oaths do say that the said
defendant is guilty in manner and form etc.,
and we do assess the plaintiff's damages by
reason thereof, at $8.00. ' ' The court entered
up judgment for that sum. The costs were
$26.75. This ended the first lawsuit and jury-
trial in Seneca Common Pleas.
Josiah Hedges located a mill on Rocky
Creek, the right bank of the river, opposite
to Fort Ball. To lessen the value of Hedges'
property, an action was brought against him
for the overflow of land caused by the dam,
which gave water power for his mill. By
threatening to remove his mill, Mr. Hedges
gained the good will of the neighborhood and
added to the influence of his own little settle-
ment. It stood near where Circular and
Market streets now intersect. This was built
in 1826. Lumber was in such demand for the
growing settlement that the mill was run
night, and day for a time. It was managed
by Joseph Janey. The dam backed up the
water some distance, and a memorable suit
was brought several years afterwards to de-
clare it a nuisance because, in summer time,
the water was covered with a green scum.
At the trial all the physicians in the neighbor-
hood were witnesses on one side or the other.
One doctor said that ' ' miasma could be noticed
in the air when it was quiet, early in the
morning, by sunrise, in the form of a fine,
blue streak interwoven with fog. ' '
Bitter was the rivalry between these two
little settlements on the opposite sides of the
Sandusky River. Each one was striving to
secure the location of the county seat. So
bitter was the feeling that the inhabitants
sometimes came to blows about it. The
greater part of settlers were on the Fort Ball
side, and the lawyers, doctors, and merchants,
all living on that side, were arrayed against
Tiffin. In spite of all this, Hedges won out,
and Tiffin became the county seat. Three
commissioners had been appointed for this
purpose. They were Messrs. Herford, Miner,
and Cyrus Spink. These gentlemen arrived
on the 25th of March, 1822. At that time
there were about six cabins in Tiffin. The
Fort Ballites were much chagrined, but were
obliged to make the best of the situation.
Mr. Hedges finally purchased Fort Ball from
Mr. Spencer, and from that time it was known
as New Fort Ball, until it finally merged into
and became a part of the City of Tiffin. Be-
fore this, however, Mr. Hedges had a taste of
justice, and was confined for a short time in
his own courthouse as a punishment for
knocking down his rival, Mr. Spencer. New
Fort Ball was surveyed and platted in 1837.
There is no trace left of the few cabins
that first marked the place called Tiffin. On
the 28th of November, 1821, the plat was
recorded in the recorder's office of Sandusky
County. It was surveyed by Gen. James
Hedges, of Mansfield, brother of the pro-
prietor, Josiah Hedges. For ten years no
change was made, but at the end of this first
decade a new addition was surveyed and
platted. The first improvement was made
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
593
in the new town in the following year. Henry
Welch, .John .Mini, ;m<l two men named Wetz
mid Drennon, were given lots with the condi-
tion that cabins should be built and occupied.
This condition was complied with in each
instance. James Spink, of Wooster, came
here in March, 1822, and brought with him
a stock of goods. In the following winter his
store was broken open and robbed of nearly
all its contents. This so discouraged Mr.
Spink that he left the new town in disgust.
The beginning of this new town was due
to the wonderful energy and industry of
Josiah Hedges. He was a splendid specimen
of manhood, over six feet in height. He was
a man of good judgment, but few words. He
came to Fort Ball in 1820, and immediately
decided to enter land on the opposite side of
the river. He platted his new town and the
first stick was cut on the plat in 1822, at a
place near the courthouse. The place con-
tinued to grow until, in 1828, the land office
was removed here from Delaware. Mr.
Hedges lived to see his town become a very
respectable place. He was honored by elec-
tion to the House of Representatives. He left
a numerous family, and a number of his de-
scendants still live in Tiffin. He died in 1858,
at the age of eighty years.
Tiffin was incorporated in 1835 by an act
of the Legislature. It numbered less than
1,000 people at the time. Nobody seemed to
care much for a town government, for no
election was held until the following year.
The following notice was then published in
the Tiffin Gazette:
' ' CORPORATION ELECTION
i
. "Notice is hereby given that an election
will be held at the house of Eli Norris, on
Wednesday, the 29th inst., for the purpose
of electing officers in conformity to the pro-
VoL 1—38
visions of the act incorporating the towu of
Tiffin.
"George W. Gist. George I'ark.
••Nicholas Geothius. M. D. Cadwallader
"M. M. Mason.
"Charles Lewis.
'John Baughcr.
'June 18, 1836."
Joel Stone.
J. \V. Miller.
David Heck.
At this election Dr. II. Kuhn was elected
the first mayor of the town. In 1*44 the pop-
ulation was only 728 by the federal census.
Fort Ball was incorporated in 1849, and Jacob
Flaugher was chosen as the first magistrate.
No other election was held, for the merging
of the two towns followed soon afterwards.
William Lang became the initial mayor of the
united towns in 1850.
The lack of a bridge was a great incon-
venience at first, for the postoffice was at Fort
Ball. George Park ran a ferry for a number
of years with a dugout boat, the fare being
two cents. One man would go over and bring
the mail over for the entire neighborhood.
In the fall of 1833, Mr. Hedges contracted
with Reuben Williams to build a wooden
bridge across the Sandusky River, on Wash-
ington Street. It was a number of months
before it was fitted for the accommodation of
foot passengers. Mr. Hedges also built an-
other bridge at the same place, which was
the first toll bridge that Tiffin ever had. He
employed a colored man to collect toll. This
was a great convenience, but the idea of pay-
ing toll annoyed the farmers, as well as the
merchants in Tiffin, and a plan was formed
to have a free bridge constructed at the west
end of Market Street. A subscription list
was circulated, and the requisite amount sub-
scribed. There was great rejoicing in Tiffin
when this free bridge was opened in 1837.
The old toll bridge soon became a free bridge,
also, as a matter of necessity. The free bridge
had been covered with a roof, and this made
it a very dark place at night, so that women
594
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
were afraid to cross unless accompanied.
Lanterns were finally placed at each end on
dark nights to relieve the gloom. The toll
bridge was washed away by a freshet in 1847,
and the free bridge followed from the same
cause in 1854.
When Calvin Bradley built the Western
Exchange Hotel in 1836, it was looked upon
as a hazardous enterprise. The stage office
was also there. When the roads were muddy,
it was a difficult place to reach. Many a time
the driver, with his four horses, was com-
pelled to stop two or three times on his way
up the little hill to the hotel on Washington
Street. In 1833 there came to Tiffin Rezin
W. Shawhan, who opened a store with goods
purchased on credit. A natural aptitude for
business and untiring industry brought him
success. In later years he traveled much, and
continued the education which had been un-
satisfactory in his early years. As prosperity
came to him, he invested his money in busi-
ness blocks, and to him was due much of the
prosperity and development of the city.
One of the early settlers in Tiffin was
Henry Lang, who came from Germany with
his family in 1833. It took them five months
to travel from Baltimore to Tiffin by water
and rail. He had been a forester, so always
dressed in green broadcloth and a cap of the
same color, the dress of a forester in the
fatherland. His son, William Lang, first en-
tered a cabinet shop, and then read law with
Joshua Seney and Mr. Cowdrey. He served
as prosecuting attorney, and was the first pro-
bate judge of the county. He filled two
terms in the State Senate during the war
period. He also became the first mayor of
Tiffin, and the first president of the school
board. He wrote and published a history of
Seneca County, in 1880, which is considered
the standard historical record of the county.
The first schoolhouse of Tiffin was a little
brick building, which had room for about
sixty scholars. Here religious services were
also frequently held until churches were built.
The first school directors of Clinton Town-
ship, within which Tiffin is situated, were
George Donaldson, Jacob Plane, and Richard
Smith. The earliest teacher was Benjamin
Crockett, who taught for several years. The
little brick building gave place to a two-story
structure in 1844. There were four rooms
in the building. When the union schools were
organized in 1850, the school board consisted
of William Lang, William D. Searles, George
Knupp, A. C. Baldwin, W. H. Keilholts, and
William H. Gibson. Rev. R. R. Bement was
employed to superintend the schools during
the winter only, and then S. S. Rickley was
elected the first superintendent.
One of the institutions of which Tiffin is
proud is the National Orphans' Home, of the
Junior Order United American Mechanics,
which was established in 1890. It is located
just north of the city, adjoining Riverview
Park. This home was established for the pur-
pose of protecting, comforting, and educating
the deceased members of the Junior Order
United American Mechanics, and is wholly
supported by the members of the order. The
citizens of Tiffin have been very liberal in
their gifts to this home.
THE FLOOD OP 1913
One of the saddest chapters in the history
of Tiffin is the story of Tiffin's flood in 1913.
Many a time the Sandusky River had risen
above its normal height and flooded the low-
lands, like in 1883 and 1906, but never in
the memory of Seneca County's people did it
rise to such a height or cause such disasters.
The torrential rains began in the morning
of Easter Sunday, March 23d, as people were
worshiping in their respective churches, cele-
brating the feast of the risen Savior. Few
noticed the ominous clouds ; the city was gay
and happy, dreaming of the springtime of
the year. The rain kept on pouring during
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
.vc,
the whole day, its volume increasing dur-
ing the night. In the morning the fire chief
issued orders to the people of Mechanicsburg
to vacate their homes, but few responded. The
people did not believe the water would rise
much higher, and remained in their homes
along the river until it was too late. Near
the bend of the river above Market Street,
the flood had risen to a height of thirty feet.
Logs, houses, and barns were swept down the
river and piled up against the bridges. The
river channel became a seething, raging whirl-
pool.
By Monday noon the waterworks bridge
was carried away; half an hour later the
Perry Street bridge followed. In just three
hours the six steel bridges over the Sandusky
were washed away. Night came, and still the
unceasing rain poured down in torrents. The
people along the river were entrapped in their
houses ; escape was now impossible. The angry
water lapped against the frame walls. All
lights were out in the city, and in the awful
darkness a number of houses were lifted off
their foundations and wrecked in the wild
floods. Numbers were rescued across the roofs
of the houses. Nineteen of our own people
found their death in the waves of the swollen
stream. The George Klingshin family lost
twelve members, mother, children, and rela-
tives, all perishing in the flood. Their cries
for help were heard, their signals of distress
wore understood, but no rescuing boat dared
approach them in the maddening river. That
terrible night of March 25th will ever be a
night of terror for the eye-witnesses of Tif-
fin's flood. Men stood across the swollen
stream. During those three days 500 people
were made homeless, the bodies of the drowned
were found five or six miles down the river.
On one day nine of the flood victims were
buried from St. Joseph's Church. Six hearses
pulled up before the church and nine caskets
were carried up the main aisle, a mother with
eight of her children. The sight of this sad
funeral added to the grief of the stricken
community. A beautiful monument of white
Carrara marble, imported from Italy, marks
the resting place of fourteen of Tiffin's flood
victims, all buried together in St. Joseph's
Cemetery.
The homeless were sheltered with friends
throughout the city, and in some homes as
many as seven families were living. Provi-
sions were sent in from neighboring towns,
Chicago Junction sending the first relief.
Provisions and clothing came in from Fos-
toria, Bloomville, Toledo, and Sycamore. The
Auditorium was fitted up as a lunch room.
The Commercial Club of Chicago sent in
money and bedding. The Red Cross Society
did noble work. Many deeds of heroism were
performed by the rescuing parties. Charity
and human kindness helped greatly to relieve
the distress of the flood sufferers. Many who
had lost all that they possessed, their homes
and furniture, were still glad to know that
their beloved ones were saved from the flood.
"Tiffin," as the Tribune editor reported on
March 21, 1913, "is not a doomed city. She
may be staggering under the heavy blow dealt
her by the great flood, but she will resume her
normal condition." And this she has done.
At the present date, Tiffin still bears the scars
inflicted by the flood, but much has been re-
built and beautified. Five concrete bridges
replace the former steel ones. The river chan-
nel has been widened, while the banks have
been freed of buildings and laid out as a park.
FOSTORIA
Loudon Township, in which is situated Fos-
toria, was organized within its present boun-
daries in 1831. No election was ordered,
however, until Charles W. Foster filed a peti-
tion in 1834 stating that there were twenty
electors in the township. The election was
held on the 4th of March. Abner Wade
was elected justice of the peace; John Ten-
596
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
nis, clerk, and Benjamin Stevens, Peter F.
King, and John Rickels, trustees. Nathan
Shippy, John Reese, and John Shiller were
chosen fence viewers. It required about a
third of the entire body of electors to fill the
various offices.
In 1832 a town was laid out by Roswell
Crocker, which he called Rome. The plat
was surveyed by David Risdou. In 1840 there
was a population of eighty, and a decade later
it had climbed to 300. It was located at the
junction of three main highways. These were
the Fort Findlay and Lower Sandusky State
Road, the Defiance and Tiffin State Road, and
the Perrysburg and McCutcEensville Road.
Rome was incorporated in 1851. A few days
after the platting of Rome, J. Gorsuch platted
another town, which he named Risdon, after
the surveyor whose name is mentioned so fre-
quently in the early annals of the county.
Henry Welch, Jeremiah Mickey, and John P.
Gordon were the first settlers there. By 1850
it had a population of about 200. There were
then a score and a half of dwellings, a tav-
ern, three stores, and several small factories.
Randall Hale and Samuel Laird conducted
early taverns in these settlements. R. C.
Caples was the earliest regularly appointed
postmaster at Risdon, being named in 1840.
In those days the mail was carried from
Bucyrus and Perrysburg, with a weekly trip
from each point.
The two towns of Rome and Risdon became
rivals, but in 1854 they were united, and the
new town was named Fostoria, after Charles
W. Foster, father of Governor Foster. On
the 2d day of September, 1853, a petition was
signed by William Braden, Thomas Brian, H.
I. Vosburgh, W. Weaver, A. S. Bement, E. F.
Robinson, C. H. Bonnell, John 0. Albert,
Reuben Brian, I. M. Coe, John Wilson, George
Gear, Lyman Kittel, Daniel Free, Abr. Metz,
Robert Doke, E. Bement, E. W. Thomas, D.
D. Miller, H. W. Cole, James Lewis, Umphrey
England, and John M. Stewart, who ap-
pointed William Braden to act in their be-
half, directed to the commissioners of Seneca
County, praying that the west half of the
northwest quarter of section six, in Loudon
Township may be attached to Rome. The
order was granted on the 2d day of January,
1854, and Rome and Risdon thereby became
one town. The early settlers of this township
were far-sighted men, and saw the great pos-
sibilities of the future in this rich agricultural
section.
Charles W. Foster was born in Massachu-
setts, but came to Seneca County in 1826 to
see Laura Crocker, whose father had arrived
a couple of years earlier. A year later they
were married, and Foster worked for his
father-in-law for two years. He then moved
to a farm north of Tiffin. Disposing of his
land, he returned to Rome and opened up a
store in a cabin with Mr. Crocker, under the
firm name of Foster & Crocker. This was
on the site of the present Foster Block. The
business grew rapidly, and Mr. Crocker with-
drew ten years later. He continued the estab-
lishment until his son Charles was old enough
to enter business, when the firm became Fos-
ter & Son. The younger Foster brought into
the business splendid natural ability, together
with a good business training. This house of
Foster has contributed to every enterprise
that has helped to build up this thriving
town. The elder Foster aided in establishing
many another worthy man in business by
extending credit where the future outlook was
very uncertain. He lived to see his son be-
come governor of our great state.
The Fostoria of today is a, live commercial
town. It has unusually good railroad facili-
ties, for five important railroads offer their
facilities for traffic, and in addition there are
three electric lines to aid in the accommoda-
tion of travel and traffic. It has become a
great distributing center for grain and stock,
and possesses one of the largest flour mills in
the state. For a time the city enjoyed great
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
597
prosperity from the discovery of gas and oil,
but in later years the production of these
commodities in the immediate neighborhood
has greatly diminished.
The old Fostoria Academy, established in
1858 by Rev. William C. Turner, is still fresh
in the minds of many. It flourished until the
breaking out of the Civil war robbed the insti-
tution of its students. In 1875 a determined
effort was made to revive the academy by an
association of business men. Then it was that
the Findlay Conference of the United Breth-
ren Church undertook the task, upon the
promise of the donation of a site and a sum
•of money. The conference was never able to
raise its share of the money, but buildings
were erected and the institution had a goodly
number of students for a period of years.
The cornerstone was laid in 1879, and Prof.
W. L. Jackson was the first principal. The
buildings were finally destroyed by fire and
its activities thus ended.
VILLAGES
In early days the township in which Mel-
more is situated was the most populous sec-
tion of the county. When the Kilbourne
Road crossed Honey Creek, a truly pictur-
esque site, Colonel Kilbourne in 1824 sur-
veyed and platted a town he called Melmore.
Kilbourne composed and used to sing a song
of praise for the child of his fancy. The first
verse is as follows:
"Where honey-dews from the mild heaven,
Distil on the foliage below—
Where Honey creek's waters are given
T' enrich the sweet vales as they flow —
Where playful the heart-cheering breeze
Sweeps o'er the sweet bosom of flowers; —
There Melmore is seen through the trees
With fragrance and health in her bowers."
Case Brown was the principal proprietor
of Melmore. The first house was erected by
John C. Jones in 1828. Buckley Hutrhins
was named postmaster of the village, lin-
early promises were favorable, for six years
after its platting, .Melmore had 137 inhabi-
tants. Today it is not much greater. At one
time it was quite a trading post, and its citi-
zens were very enterprising. There was great
excitement in 1836 over the prospect of con-
structing a railroad to run from Melmore to
Republic, to connect with the Mad River
Road.
Phillip J. Price, Julius Treet, and Thomas
T. Treet laid out a town in 1837, which they
called Bloomville. Edward Cooley, who also
owned a part of the site, built the first house.
The village contained a dozen buildings in
1850. Conrad Klaehr was the first wagon and
carriage maker. A store was conducted by
John Seitz, Jr., and William Dewitt, who was
afterwards elected county recorder. Mr.
Seitz also entered politics and served in both
houses of the Legislature. Thomas Dysinger
conducted the pioneer tavern in the commu-
nity. Bloomville received a fresh start when
the Mansfield and Coldwater Railroad was
completed. Rev. Robert Lockhart established
the Enterprise, the first newspaper, in 1874.
The name was afterwards changed to the
Bloomville Banner by D. W. Fisher. 0. M.
Holcomb finally purchased the plant and es-
tablished the Seneca County Record and
edited the paper for many years. Bloomville
was incorporated in 1871, and Jacob Hossler
was elected the first mayor.
Attica is situated on the old Columbus and
Sandusky Turnpike. It was laid out in 1833,
by William and Samuel Miller, two brothers,
who came here from Pennsylvania. It was
surveyed by Samuel Risdon. It was named
after a town in New York. Ezra Gilbert was
the first postmaster and also the earliest land-
lord. The village was incorporated in 1850.
At the first election John L. La Moreaux was
chosen mayor, and Samuel Miller received the
office of clerk. A Presbyterian Church was
598
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
organized the same year as the platting of the
town, by Rev. E. Conger. Two years later
the Methodists gathered together a small class.
In 1842 the Baptists organized a church with
nine members. Rev. S. M. Mack was the first
regular pastor. The famous springs from
which Greensprings obtains its name are lo-
cated in Seneca County. The town is partly
located in Sandusky County, under which it
is described. Bettsville was surveyed and
platted in 1838 by John Betts. It was incor-
porated in 1882, and M. Heffner was chosen
as the first mayor. New Riegel is a newer
town and was not surveyed until 1850, for
Anthony Schindler. It was incorporated in
1881. It is principally a Catholic settlement,
and has a monastery, convent, and church of
the Most Precious Blood. Republic was orig-
inally called Scipio Center, and dates from
.1834. It is now incorporated. Other villages
in the county are Bascom, Berwick, and
Adrian.
CHAPTER XLV
VAN WERT COUNTY
It was three farm boys, serving in the Con-
tinental army who achieved notoriety by the
capture of Major Andre, the British officer
who had negotiated with Benedict Arnold for
the surrender of West Point. These boys
were Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding, and
David Williams. They were all Dutch youths,
and could not speak English very well. These
three boys were seated among some bushes by
the roadside, playing cards, when suddenly
they saw a man approaching on a large brown
horse, which, as they afterwards noted, was
branded near the shoulders, "U. S. A." As
the horseman neared them these three soldiers
cocked their muskets and aimed at the rider,
who immediately checked his horse.
"Gentlemen, I hope you are of our party,"
said Major Andre.
"What party?" asked Paulding.
"The lower party," answered the British
officer.
"We are," rejoined Paulding.
"I am a British officer," explained Andre.
"I have been up the country on particular
business and do not wish to be detained a
single moment."
"We are Americans," replied Paulding.
"God bless your soul," was the quick re-
tort. "A man must do anything to get along.
I am a Continental officer going down to
Dobbs' Ferry to get information from below."
Andre then presented a pass issued to him
by General Arnold under the assumed name
of John Anderson. But these Dutch boys
were not so easily fooled. They compelled
him to dismount, and then searched him.
Finding nothing compromising in his cloth-
ing, they finally compelled him to take off
hie boots. It was then that the prisoner
began to pale. In the left boot were found
three half-sheets of written paper, enveloped
in a half-sheet marked "Contents West
Point." This convinced these soldiers that
the man in their hands was a spy. Declining
all efforts of Major Andre for his release, for
which he finally offered as much as 10,000
guineas ($50,000) and as large a quantity of
dry goods as they wished, they delivered him
to the nearest military station, New Castle,
twelve miles distant. Two of his captors,
Paulding and Van Wart, were present when
he was later hung. It was to commemorate
the names of these men that the three neigh-
boring counties of Van Wert, Paulding and
Williams received their designation.
The early settlers of Van Wert County
found numerous bands of Indians still roam-
ing there, whose camping grounds were upon
the ridges running through the county. One
of these was Sugar Ridge, which traverses
the county in a northwesterly direction. It
was not long, however, after the white men
began to come in, that the Indians were
crowded from their favorite camping places
and turned their faces towards the setting
sun, never again to return. When planting
their crops the settlers found many Indian
relics, such as flint arrow-heads, stone ham-
mers, stone tomahawks, stone pestles for
pounding and grinding corn, and occasionally
an Indian grave or burial place. In one of
the graves, found on the Ridge Road by Oliver
Stacy, articles of greater variety and value
than those usually found were unearthed.
600
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Because of this circumstance it was concluded
that this must have been the grave of an
Indian chief. Among these articles were a
fine steel tomahawk, a gun barrel, some silver
ornaments, and a small copper kettle contain-
ing a few English silver coins. There was
another burial place on the William Martin
farm where a grave contained the bodies of
two Indians. It is related that these red
braves, because of their love for the same
Indian maiden, fought a duel with knives.
Their left wrists were first securely bound
together, and in this way they contested until
both fell in a dying condition. An orchard
of apple trees, said to have been planted by
"Johnny Appleseed, " once covered the site
of this duel.
One of the early settlers of Van Wert
County, a man who had encountered many
exciting experiences as a sea rover, was Capt.
James Riley, who founded the town of Will-
shire, the first capital of the county, in 1822.
He was born in the town of Middletown, Con-
necticut, on the 17th of October, 1777. At
an early age he turned to the sea, and passed
through all the grades on board ship from
cabin boy to cook, and finally served as chief
mate on a number of different vessels. He
was a man in excess of six feet in height, and
was well proportioned. In 1815 he had charge
of a vessel which left New Orleans and pro-
ceeded to Gibraltar. There he took on a
cargo of brandies and wines and set sail, in-
tending to return by the way of Cape Verde
Islands. Owing to foggy weather, the ship
was wrecked on the coast of Africa. There
the crew were captured by native negroes,
and robbed of all their possessions that had
value. Proceeding to sea again in a leaky
boat, they were compelled to land once more.
Bad luck was still with them, for, encounter-
ing a band of Arabs, Riley and the men with
him were reduced to a condition of actual
slavery. Riley himself became the property
of an Arab named Sidi Hamet. The hard-
ships that he was compelled to undergo were
almost unbearable. He succeeded in making
his master believe that the ransom which his
friends were willing to pay was worth more
than his services. He managed to send word
to some English people at Magadore, who
ransomed the members of the party for the
sum of 920 "hard dollars." They were safely
delivered to William Willshire, the money
paid, and the party succeeded in reaching
the American shores again.
Concluding that life at sea was a little too
risky in those days, Mr. Riley learned the pro-
fession of civil engineer. He was appointed
a surveyor by Edward Tiffin, and was sent to
the region of St. Marys, in 1819, to survey
the lands that had been recently purchased
from the Indians. Returning to Connecticut,
he moved his family to Chillicothe in a two-
horse wagon. They were six weeks on their
way from Connecticut. He left his family
there for a time while he surveyed the lands
between the Auglaize and Maumee rivers. He
surveyed the lands at Willshire and brought
his family there in 1821. He had secured
some land there and also had erected a small
mill. He was elected a member of the Ohio
Legislature in 1823. In 1830 the call of the
sea was too strong to resist, so that he made
a number of voyages between the United
States and the African shores. In 1840 he
left New York in his brig "William Tell"
for St. Thomas, in the West Indies, and died
at sea. Riley is just one example of the pic-
turesque and sometirnes rough characters who
were drawn to Ohio, and several of whom
reached Van Wert County. His town of
Willshire, named in honor of his English ben-
efactor, promised at that early day to make a
thriving village, but the railroads and the
canals drew the settlers to other centers.
Ansel Blossom was another of the early set-
tlers of Van Wert County, coming from
Maine. When he arrived at Willshire, he
worked for Captain Riley at a dollar a day
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OH In
601
and board until there was due him $100, with
which he entered eighty acres of land. He
erected a log cabin and moved upon the prop-
erty, and immediately commenced the work
of clearing. His wife's name was Mercy, and
they became the parents of a large family.
To make sure that his sons should become
great, in name at least, they were named
after the prominent men of that time.
Thus it is that they bore the names of Ho-
ratio Gates, Edward Preble, Ira Allen, Ben-
jamin Franklin, Smith Mathias, James Mon-
roe, and John Quincy Adams. Mr. Blossom
officiated at the first, wedding in Van Wert
County, when he joined in matrimony Phil-
lip Froutner and a Miss Bolenbaugh. He
had been elected justice of the peace just a
week before by the aid of his own vote. The
wedding had been postponed for a week,
awaiting his qualification, for otherwise the
parties would have been obliged to go to St.
Marys or Fort Wayne. A second postpone-
ment of a few days was occasioned by an
unfortunate accident. Seeing a polecat
quietly drinking milk from a pan, Squire
Blossom struck it with a shovel. The result
was he was blinded for a week, and it was
that long before his best clothes were pre-
sentable.
The Gillilands were early settlers in Van
Wert County, coming from Pennsylvania.
James G. Gilliland walked from Gettysburg
to Fort Wayne and back, on a prospecting
tour in 1833. He returned with his mother,
his brothers, and sisters, and his own family
in 1834, and entered land in Ridge Township.
At that time the settlers were obliged to go
to Fort Wayne to have their grain ground.
The nearest neighbors lived fifteen miles away,
and a number of Wyandot Indians were still
located in the neighborhood. Most of them
were very friendly, and one would occasion-
ally spend the night at the Gilliland home.
James Gilliland and his brother Adam cut the
first road from the Auglaize to the vicinity of
Van Wert. They followed an Indian trail,
and it took them three days to make the trip.
One of the sons of James G. (Jillilnml wa»
Thaddeus Stephen Gilliland, who was born
in 1834. Until his death at an advanced age,
he was closely identified with everything con-
nected with the growth of the city lie was
the author of a "History of Van Wert
County," which has been the source of much
of the material of this historical chapter upon
the county.
Game was very plentiful in the early days,
and the pioneers filled their larders from ite
pursuit. Wolves were numerous, also, but the
bounty was worth more than the carcass. "At
an early day two boys, Norman Fish and Wil-
liam Evans, were out hunting. Coming to a
hollow log in what was called the 'Frisbie
deadening' (now known as the McMillen
farm), they heard something in it, and young
Fish concluded he would crawl in and investi-
gate. Taking his gun with him, he had gone
some distance when he saw two bright eyes.
He fired, and then went forward and caught
hold of some animal's foot, and pulled it
out, only to find it a full-grown wolf. He
went in again with the same result, and again
the third time, bringing out a wolf each time
—one black and two grays. This proved a
good day's work for the boys — $4 for each
scalp, besides the pelt."
Joseph Gleason was one of the prominent
early settlers. With his wife and three chil-
dren he came to the county in 1837. At
first he located at what is known as Pott's
Corners. After his election to the office of
county recorder, he removed to Van Wert.
A double one-storied log cabin served for the
purpose of a court house. At that time the
village consisted of hardly a dozen cabins.
Being very popular with the pioneers, Mr.
Gleason had official honors heaped upon him.
He served as justice of the peace for many
years, and the rulings of Squire Gleason were
generally sustained by the higher courts. His
602
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
wife, Harriet, was also a woman of strong
character, and she was a helpmate in the true
sense of the word. Both lived to a ripe old
age, and they left a family of several chil-
dren, who have been prominent in Van Wert
affairs.
It was at Wiltshire that the first celebra-
tion of the Fourth of July occurred, in the
year 1825. The ceremonies were held under
the giant trees of the forest, and the food
supplied included bear, venison, and wild tur-
key. The oration was delivered by Captain
Riley, and it was indeed eloquent and pa-
triotic. The first religious services in the
county were also held at the Riley home in
Wiltshire. The preacher, a Mr. Antrim, was
one of those early exhorters who preached that
Hades was raging just beneath them with real
fire and brimstone. Wiltshire is the home of
the oldest Baptist church in the Auglaize As-
sociation, as the society was organized in
1837. Henry Reichard established a dry
goods store there in 1836, and a tavern was
opened up two or three years later by Wil-
liam Case. The first school in the county was
taught by Ansel Blossom in a one-story log
house used for a postoffice, and afterwards
for both court house and jail. This school was
opened January 1, 1836, with six pupils.
Among the early marriages were those of Jo-
siah Clark and Alice Kettle, by William Mor-
man, J. P., and that of Peter Hurt and Mary
German, by Joseph Gleason, J. P.
Although Van Wert County was formed in
1820, from lands purchased of the Indians
at a treaty in 1818, made at Wapakoneta, it
was not organized until 1835, and the first
meeting of the commissioners was held on the
24th day of April in that year, at Willshire,
the temporary county seat. There were only
two commissioners at that time, Jesse Atkin-
son and Joshua Goodwin. They examined
their own credentials and found them correct.
Ansel Blossom was appointed special clerk
for the session. As the assessor elected was
not a resident of the county, they appointed
John Keith to fill the vacancy until the next
election. The second session of the board
was not held until 1837, when the same two
commissioners were present. Daniel D. Cross,
presenting his certificate of election as auditor,
executed a bond for the sum of $2,000, and
entered upon his duties. The oath of office
was administered to William Case, as county
treasurer, and William Priddy took his seat
as the third commissioner. It was ordered
that the auditor keep the treasurer's bond,
and that the treasurer have custody of the
auditor's bond. The absence of a newspaper
is shown by the following order:
"Ordered that whenever it becomes neces-
sary to advertise any matter in the public
paper and as there is none printed in the
county, the same may be done by posting up
written notices, in each township within the
County, by the Auditor thereof."
In the succeeding election Joseph Johnson,
Henry Reichard, and William H. Purdy were
chosen commissioners — all new men. It re-
quired several settlements with Mercer County
to adjust their respective interests after Van
Wert County established an independent gov-
ernment. Almost a thousand dollars was due
the new county from various funds, which
was a large sum in those days. Eli Compton
became the second treasurer of the county,
and gave a satisfactory bond. Among the
pioneers were some honest men, for an entry
on the commissioners' books reads as follows:
"Convened at eight o'clock, Dec. 4th, 1838,
Washington Mark came forward and acknowl-
edged that nine eighty-acre lots of land owned
by him were taxable and were not returned
by the Auditor of State for assessment and
the Commissioners assessed them at two dol-
lars and fifty cents per acre. ' '
Settlers did not come in very rapidly to
Van Wert County, because of the swampy
condition of the land. In 1840, only 298 votes
were cast for Governor in the entire county.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
603
In 1843-4 it was not uncommon to see a dozen
to twenty teams in a string hitched to the old
Virginia "schooners" on their way to the
West. All of these were bound for the new
State of Indiana. It grieved the hearts of
the citizens of Van Wert County to behold
these emigrants pass them by and travel a
hundred miles or more farther to homes, when
they were wanted so badly here. A society
was organized to induce these travelers to
locate in Van Wert County. The members of
the organization were urged to get into con-
versation with these "movers," and explain
to them the advantages of settling here. Many
arguments were used, but few of them had an
effect. In the fall of 1844, eighty-three
wagons were counted in one day bound for
the West. Two or three years later, the string
of those returning was almost as great. The
"chills" had taken hold of whole families,
and after two years of trouble they had given
up the fight in despair. Many of the resi-
dents in Van Wert County would also have
returned to their former homes if they could
have disposed of their land for enough to take
them back. In fact, many of those who urged
the "movers" so strongly had this very pur-
pose in view.
The first term of the Court of Common
Pleas for Van Wert County was held in Will-
shire, May 11, 1838, William L. Helfenstein
officiating as presiding judge. Joshua Wat-
kins, Oliver Stacy, and Benjamin Griffin were
the associate judges. George B. Holt, of
Dayton, was appointed prosecuting attorney
for the term, and was immediately inducted
into office. The following persons composed
the grand jury: Daniel D. Cross, James
Major, Peter Frysinger, Jacob M. Harter,
Robert Gilliland, Washington Mark, Peter
Bolenbaugh, John Keith, David King, John
F. Dodds, Ezra F. Parent, Eli Compton, John
Pool, Thomas C. Miller, and Henry Myers.
The court appointed Daniel D. Cross as fore-
man of the jury. At this term Daniel Cook
was indicted for selling liquor without a
license ; he plead guilty, and was fined $5 and
costs. Samuel Maddox, who was indicted for
assault and battery, also acknowledged his
guilt and received the same extremely mod-
erate fine. John F. Dodds and Nash Mark
were appointed school examiners. Mr. Holt
was allowed $25 for his services as prosecutor
during this term of court.
After the new State Constitution was
adopted, and the office of associate judge was
abolished, John M. Palmer was the first judge
of the new Common Pleas Court in Van Wert
County. He was succeeded in 1856 by Alex-
ander S. Latty. Wlifii the Probate Court
was organized as a separate court, in 1852,
W. H. Ramsey was elected as probate judge.
Before that time the probate work had been
performed by the Common Pleas judges. Of
the resident lawyers of Van Wert County,
James Madison Barr was the premier practi-
tioner, coming to Van Wert in 1842. He
served as prosecuting attorney for the next
three years, and practiced in the courts of the
surrounding counties, to which he traveled on
a handsome little Indian pony named "Se-
lim." WTilliam E. Rose was probably the sec-
ond attorney, and he was practicing here in
the year 1845. S. E. Brown served as prose-
cuting attorney in the '40s, but afterwards
removed to the West. R. C. Spears came to
Van Wert in 1844, and practiced here for a
number of years. He married Louisa Spear,
so that by her marriage she only added one
letter to her name. Charles P. Edson and
Perin C. Depuy organized a partnership in
Van Wert in 1846 for the practice of law.
Depuy left for California in a few years,
where he acquired quite a fortune. He re-
turned to Van Wert and, when he died, left
a large part of his fortune to the School
Board of Van Wert for the education of the
poor. A. W. Rose, Robert Encil, and James
W. Steel were also among the attorneys of the
early days.
604
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Dr. P. J. Hines was the first physician to
settle in Van Wert. He had studied medicine
in "Washington, D. C., and came to Van Wert
in 1838. In addition to attending to a large
medical practice, he served as county auditor,
a member of the Ohio Legislature, and post-
master of the town of Van Wert. Before
Doctor Hines settled here, Dr. William Mc-
Henry, of Lima, was frequently called to Van
Wert. Thirty miles on horseback, and over
bad roads, did not deter the pioneer physician
from ministering to the sick and helpless.
Dr. John W. Lennox came to Van Wert in
the early '40s. He had a large practice
throughout the county, often traveling twenty
miles on horseback to see a patient. He
rode day and night, and is said to have main-
tained such a gait that few could keep pace
with him. Among other early physicians
were Dr. James Burson, who came in 1842,
and was elected county treasurer; Dr. John
Q. Adams, who finally removed to the West;
and Dr. C. W. Boland.
The Grange has had an important influence
in Van Wert County, as it has in many other
agricultural counties. The first society was
organized in the autumn of 1873. While the
primary object was to study the science of
farming and horticulture, yet the Grange
assumed a much wider field. For the first
time farmers were really formed into a com-
pact organization, and their influence could
be felt in any direction in which they threw
it. The Grangers thus became the leading
spirits in many legislative matters in which
they were interested. They threw their weight
in favor of road improvement, a most impor-
tant subject in a county where better roads
were so much needed. The Grange had a
social side, which also meant much for those
living in rural communities, and filled a much
needed want among the agriculturalists. Its
motto, "Faith, Hope, and Fidelity," was
indeed an inspiring one. In many instances
it started a generous rivalry between neigh-
boring farmers, or nearby neighborhoods,
resulting in much improvement of the homes
and surroundings.
VAN WERT
The first plat of Van Wert was made and
filed in Mercer County, on the 26th day of
May, 1835. In this plat there were 78 lots
lying between Water and Jackson streets, and
between Cherry and Jefferson streets. A
couple of years later, an additional plat was
filed in the same county, comprising 246 lots,
and which is known as the "Original Plat of
Van Wert." By this plat, a so-called "Com-
mons" was dedicated to the public out of
which the beautiful parks have since been
created. There are three distinct parks,
which is very unusual for a city the size of
Van Wert. It was certainly a wise foresight
on the part of the donors. By this plat all of
the odd numbers of lots from numbers one to
seventy-seven, excepting only lot three, were
dedicated to the use of the County of Van
Wert forever, by the owners, James Watson
Riley, Peter Aughenbaugh, and George
Marsh. A sale of these lots was held in the
following year, and most of them were sold.
These lots were given to the commissioners
for the benefit of the county, upon the con-
dition that the seat of justice for the county
should be fixed at the Town of Van Wert.
As this requirement had been officially com-
plied with, the transfer of the county offices
from Wiltshire to the present county seat was
made. When the offices were moved it was a
simple matter, and the officers had little diffi-
culty in transporting all their books and pa-
pers in a pair of saddlebags. The recorder
carried his records on foot over the sixteen
intervening miles, wrapped up in a bandanna
handkerchief. The various offices were at
first scattered over the village, each officer
using his own home for the transaction of
his duties. In 1838 a contract was let to Jesse
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
605
King to build a jail for the sum of $483. This
building was of logs hewed on four sides, and
notched so that they fitted close together.
Three months later the commissioners ac-
cepted the jail, with the deduction of $45
from the contract price. In modern public
contracts the price always has a habit of
growing instead of decreasing.
The first building erected in Van Wert for
a residence was occupied by John F. Dodds.
Hi1 was appointed county auditor in 1837, to
fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of
Daniel D. Cross, and this brought him to the
county seat. He also served as a road com-
missioner. There has been some question as
to who opened the first general store in Van
Wert. The earliest official record that we
have of such an enterprise is when the county
treasurer was ordered, in 1838, to collect 3 per
cent on the capital of Samuel M. Clark, who
was engaged in merchandising in Van Wert.
Mr. Clark also started the first blacksmith
shop in Van Wert in the following year, and
at one time was the keeper of a tavern. He
built a double log house for his own residence,
and a small one-story frame building in which
he kept his stock of dry goods. At the time
of the first sale of lots, Clark was registered
as a resident of Allen County. Adam Nimon,
formerly of Bucyrus, and Thomas R. Mott
also built one of the earliest log buildings in
the embryo village, and installed a general
store. They were succeeded in 1842 by Wal-
ter Buckingham, who brought a stock of gro-
ceries, dry goods, and hardware from Mans-
field. Robert and James Gilliland were
likewise among the earliest merchants of Van
Wert.
Compared with the business houses of
today, these little pioneer stores carried very
small stocks, usually of the most actively sell-
ing goods. Tobacco was one of the most essen-
tial articles and, if the stock of one merchant
became exhausted, all of his customers imme-
diately made a dash for the store that still
had a supply of "dog leg," as it was usually
called. Sometimes those merchants who had
purchased liberally wen: almost compelled t.>
share with their competitors. .lames and
William A. Clark opened up the first shoe
store in a log building not far from where the
courthouse now stands. This store remains
in the Clark family to this day.
When Daniel Cook arrived in Van Wert,
he started a tavern in a log house 18 by 24
feet in size, which he gave the name of the
Eagle Tavern. It flourished for a number of
years under several different managers.
While it was owned by Joseph Gleason, the
name was changed to the American House.
In 1870 this building was torn down and a
brick hotel erected in its place, which was
known as the Commercial House. Another
tavern was started by Samuel M. Clark, who
nailed a sign on the trunk of a hickory tree,
which read "The Other Tavern Kept by
Samuel M. Clark." This tavern did a flour-
ishing business, even though it was small, for
it was only 18 by 20 feet in dimension.
The first sawmill was run by James Wat-
son Riley, under a contract which he made
with the county commissioners, when the
county seat was located there. The second
one was operated by a man by the name of
Stage, who also had a grist-mill in connection,
run by water power, in which corn was ground
when there was enough water to run the mill.
The early sawmills manufactured the timber
which was used in the building up of the
growing village. The saws were of the up-
right, or "muley" type, and it was some time
before the circular saw took their place. The
original tannery was erected by John F.
Gabby, but it did not prove a financial success.
A second tannery was built by John Un-
capher, which was more successful. When
new processes of tanning hides were discov-
ered, the old-fashioned tanneries became
unprofitable, and they finally disappeared.
The last tannery was operated by John
606
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Malick. The original shoemaker in this neigh-
borhood was Isaac Dougherty. The pioneer
shoemakers journeyed from house to house in
the fall of the year and made up the shoes
for the family. Of this type was John Roach,
who came to Van Wert about the same time as
Dougherty. As early as 1841, W. H. Brown
opened up a cabinet shop, and in the follow-
ing year Abel R. Strother began the manufac-
ture of wagons. The Shaffer brothers, with
the good old Biblical names of Isaiah and
Joshua, opened up a shop as wheelwrights,
thus introducing another new industry into
the village. Of these two men, an old pioneer
writes :
"Two strikingly familiar figures were the
brothers Joshua and Isaiah Shaffer, of tempo-
rary residence in early Van Wert, where they
first worked at repairing wagons. Soon tiring
of that, they took up wild land in Hoaglin
township. They were twins, I think, or as
near alike as twins, both being of the same
build, of medium height, very dark, and each
wearing a full beard, black as jet, as were
their long, unkempt locks. I think they
farmed in partnership, their team consisting
of a yoke of black bulls, which were broken to
ride; hence it was quite a common sight to
see the Shaffer brothers ride into the village
'Bullback,' as unconcerned as you please,
their slouch hats turned up fore and aft most
comically. Like most of their class, the Shaf-
fer brothers only remained a few years in the
vicinity of Van Wert. Having cleared a few
acres, thus making their holdings more desir-
able than wild land, they sold out for enough
to take them and their families farther West,
where the same routine was probably fol-
lowed, they being virtually members of the
advance guard of the army of civilization
which was gradually taking the place of the
aboriginal tribes of the forest."
The experiences of the early settlers in Van
Wert were similar to those of the pioneers in
other settlements. Nevertheless, one never
tires of reading the exciting and romantic
incidents of the pioneer life of our grand-
fathers and great-grandfathers. When C. W.
Goss and a companion started out with a
cross-cut saw to cut some timbers for the
building of a new house, they found two cub
bears killing the chickens near a neighbor's
house, which they quickly despatched. When
an old she bear and a cub appeared, one of
the boys ran, but the other got a neighbor
and started on a hunt. The cub disappeared
in some way, and the man and the boy fol-
lowed the old bear for the greater part of the
day, but she succeeded in escaping. When
Van Wert was in its natural state in these
early days, the mud was about a foot deep.
Many indeed are the experiences related by
the pioneers of the trouble that was occasioned
by this mud, as all the roads and the trails
were well nigh impassable.
Van Wert was incorporated under an act
passed by the General Assembly in 1848.
John W. Conn, P. Jacob Hines, and Robert
Gilliland were authorized to put up in three
public places in the town a notice to the elec-
tors that there would be an election held at
the courthouse, on Saturday, the 13th day of
May, 1848. James M. Barr and Isaac Dough-
erty acted as judges at the election, and E. G.
Jones served as clerk. Richard C. Spears was
elected mayor, E. G. Jones, recorder, and
J. G. Van Valkerberg, Reuben Frisbie, Wil-
liam R. Kear, Walter Buckingham, and
Hiram Campbell were chosen as trustees.
The next mayors in the order of their election,
down to the Civil War, were Charles P. Ed-
son, John W. Conn, W. C. Gallaher, George
L. Jacobs, and Davis Johnson.
The first newspaper was started in Van
Wert by George E. Burson, in 1844. It was
called the Van Wert Patriot. The second
paper which made its appearance was pub-
lished by William Moneysmith, and was
named the Bugle. This paper drifted into
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
607
the hands of Conn and 0. W. Rose, and the
name was changed to the National American.
For a time this same paper was known as the
Ohio Weekly Bulletin, and, in 1859, it was
changed to the Van Wert Bulletin by William
C. Scott, who was editor and proprietor. In
1865 J. H. Foster became the editor, and the
paper has been in his family continuously to
the present time. In 1873, a daily edition of
the Bulletin was also started, which had a
Very satisfactory circulation. The Weekly
Bulletin continued until 1895, when it was
changed to a semi-weekly paper. Thus it is
that this paper has never been suspended for
a day from its first appearance in 1844, which
is a very unusual experience for a newspaper
in these early towns. It has been republican
in politics ever since that party was organized
as the champion of free territories and free
speech.
The Watchman was started by William
Moneysmith in 1854. He was succeeded as
editor by H. S. Knapp, who was generally
known as the "fighting editor." In 1857 the
publication again changed hands, and it was
renamed the Weekly Constitution. This in
turn was succeeded in 1865 by the Van Wert
Times, under the ownership of Moneysmith
and Tucker. W. H. Clymer became the owner
in 1870. A daily edition of this paper was
given to the public in 1904, and is still pub-
lished. The Times has always been democratic
in politics. The Press was established in 1874,
and was published for a time by J. A. Mc-
Conahay, but was finally discontinued. The
Morning Star was issued for a time, as a spir-
itual paper, but it expired after a short
struggle for existence. The Van Wert Repub-
lican was started April 26, 1883, by Milton
B. Evers. It is also republican in politics, as
the name indicates, and has a large circula-
tion throughout the county.
The First National Bank of Van Wert was
opened for business on February 25, 1863,
with a capital stock of $60,000. The first offi-
cers were Charles Emerson, who served as
president, and Andrew S. Hurt, who filled the
office of cashier. The Van Wert National
Bank was incorporated in March, 1882, and
succeeded the private bank of Emerson, Mar-
ble & Company. The Peoples Savings Bank
commenced business in 1903. The success of
these banking institutions speaks well for the
prosperity of Van Wert and the county. Two
successful insurance companies are also lo-
cated in Van Wert. One of these, The Van
Wert County Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
pany, was incorporated in 1876. The name
was afterward changed to The Central Manu-
facturers Mutual Insurance Company. It
does a general business throughout the United
States. The other is The Farmers Mutual
Aid Association of Van Wert County. This
company was organized especially to in-
sure farm property, and it has been very
successful.
It was about 1840 that the first "class" of
the Methodist Episcopal Church was gath-
ered together by Smith Hill. It numbered
just an even half dozen. There was no regu-
lar preacher, but some of the pioneers called
themselves exhorters and preached occasion-
ally. The courthouse was at first used by the
Methodists as their place of worship. It was
under the pastorate of Rev. John Graham
that a new church was inaugurated, in the
year 1845. The original trustees were Abel
R. Strother, Abraham Zimmerman, Theophi-
lus W. King, Samuel S. Brown, and James
M. Young. The contract for the erection of
a frame church was awarded to James H.
Long. The timber was hauled upon the
ground, and work begun in the summer of
1847. The building was not plastered, and
was seated with rough boards to accommodate
the congregation. In this condition it was
used for several years as the house of worship
by all denominations. Mr. Graham was suc-
ceeded by Rev. John S. Kalb, and he in turn
by Rev. James Albright.
608
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
The First Presbyterian Church in Van
Wert was organized by Rev. John N.
Nevins, under the authority of the Miami
Presbytery, on June 10, 1843. It was or-
ganized in the courthouse, and the member-
ship numbered twelve persons. After its
organization, the members proceeded to elect
an elder, and their choice fell upon Joseph
Hattery. The first infants to be baptized in
this church were Hugh, son of Robert Thomp-
son, and Sarah Samantha, daughter of
Mrs. Sarah Wells. As Rev. Mr. Nevins found
himself unable to remain in Van Wert, John
Elliott was invited to serve the church one-
half of his time. As compensation he was
promised $100 a year in produce. This call
was accepted by him, and he served as the
pastor for a year. By this time the number
of communicants had increased to twenty-
three. For several years there was no regular
pastor, but in 1851 Rev. Richard Graham was
called to the pulpit, and he was succeeded by
Rev. Thomas Elcock. For a time the Presby-
terians shared with the Methodists the new
church, which the latter had built, for in
those days all the church congregations were
small, and they helped each other and shared
church privileges very freely.
There is a record of the organization of a
Baptist church of four members in Van Wert
as early as 1847. In 1850 there were twelve
members, with Elder J. G. Volkenburg as
pastor in charge. This congregation was not
fully organized until 1853, and the first regu-
lar pastor was Rev. D. D. Johnson, under
whom only ten members are reported. The
history of the church is a story of serious
struggles against many difficulties. For a
score of years the congregation had no house
of worship, its meetings being held in private
homes and the schoolhouse, or in other avail-
able places. At the end of that time, the
church purchased a schoolhouse, in the west
part of the town, and fitted it up for a place
of worship. Elder A. Larue was the pastor.
The succeeding years have brought much
greater prosperity to this congregation, until
now it is one of the leading denominations in
the City of Van Wert.
The Catholics of Van Wert were first sup-
plied from Delphos as a mission, beginning in
1867. In that year, the Rev. F. Westerholt
paid his first pastoral visit to Van Wert. He
continued his visits for several months, and
was succeeded by the Rev. A. I. Hoeffel, who
served the communicants for about seven
years. A small frame building was fitted up
as the temporary chapel, which soon proved
too small for the congregation. A brick
church was constructed in 1874, and was in
use until 1915, when a fine new church of the
Mission type was completed.
The first school in Van Wert was taught by
E. R. Wells, in the courthouse. Relief Morse
was tne first lady teacher, she having taught
in the shop of the Shaffer brothers. The first
building dedicated to school purposes was a
hewed log building. It was used as such until
1853 when two frame buildings, each of two
stories, were built. One of these was located
in the east end of the town, and the other in
the western part. A good natured rivalry
existed between the two schools, and spelling
contests were common.
One of the institutions to which the citizens
of Van Wert point with pride is the Bruin-
back Library. Several ladies of Van Wert
had organized a library society in 1890, which
had been incorporated as the Van Wert Li-
brary Association. Any person who contribu-
ted $3 each year was permitted to share in
the use of the library. When the Will of
John Sanford Brumback was made public, it
was found that he had provided for the gift
to the people of Van Wert County of a build-
ing in which to maintain forever a free public
library. The provision of his will reads as
follows :
"It is my will and desire that my said dear
wife and children expend sufficient of my
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
500
estate willed to them in items one and two to
carry out my wishes known to them by the
erection and gift of a library building, some-
thing after the plans and designs I have had
prepared for that purpose: provided, and
this item is upon the express condition that
rny said wife and children can make arrange-
ments satisfactory to them with the city of
Van Wert, or if they desire and think best,
with Van Wert county, for a location for said
building and the maintenance of the library
to be placed therein."
John Sanford Brumback came to Van Wert
in 1862, with a very small capital, but in the
prime of a vigorous manhood, and for more
than a third of a century his life was linked
with the growth and history of the town and
county. He was first a dry goods merchant,
and then a stove manufacturer, and after-
ward was one of the principal promoters of
the Cincinnati Northern Railroad. In later
years his interests were chiefly centered in the
banking and insurance business. His heart
was philanthropic, and he felt that he should
do something for his fellow citizens among
whom, he had prospered. He could think of
no way in which so much good could come to
the general public as through a public library,
freely open to all. It is to the credit of his
children and widow that they faithfully car-
ried out his will, even though it was left
entirely optional on their part.
The unique provision of his will was the
suggestion of a county library. Up to this
time no such institution had been established,
or so far as known even thought of. Its
inauguration was not accomplished without
much effort and many discouragements. It
was necessary for his son, Hon. Orville S.
Brumback, an attorney of Toledo, to present
to the Legislature a bill which permitted the
county commissioners to bind the county to
maintain a library by taxation. The farmers
of the county, through their Granges, de-
clared almost unanimously in favor of such a
library, and the measure finally became a law
in April, 1898. In that same year, the county
commissioners took the necessary action, and
the Van Wert Library Association turned
over to the Brumback Library all its books,
some 1,600 in number. The Brumback heirs
agreed to construct and furnish complete,
ready for use, a stone building in one of the
parks of the City of Van Wert. The county
agreed to forever maintain the library by an
annual levy. It was provided that the Brum-
back Library should be managed by a non-
partisan board of seven trustees, three to be
appointed by the county commissioners, two
by the Ladies' Library Association, and two
by the Brumback heirs. The ceremony of lay-
ing the corner-stone occurred in July, 1899,
and on the first day of the new century the
new building was dedicated. It opened with
about 5,000 books on its shelves, in charge of
Miss Ella L. Smith as librarian, and today
it numbers about 28,000 volumes. As a county
library the Brumback Library has attracted
attention all over the country, and a number
of other libraries have taken it as an example.
It is indeed a splendid monument to one of
Van Wert's most distinguished citizens.
The county unit in Van Wert County is
emphasized to as great an extent as in any
other county in the United States. At the
present time three other county institutions
are being erected, which are quite worthy of
mention. George H. Marsh, an elderly resi-
dent of large means, is providing the funds
for a county Young Women 's Christian Asso-
ciation building and a county hospital. The
former will be the first county building for
a Young Women's Christian Association in
the United States. Lot, building, and equip-
ment will represent an outlay of over $100,-
000. The hospital, fully equipped, together
with a nurses' home will, when completed,
represent the expenditure of an equal amount
610
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of money. A county Young Men's Christian
Association building was provided for in the
will of John Strandler, who died in 1914.
This building is being erected in a large park,
which was purchased with money given for
the most part by a large number of Van Wert
citizens. The larger gifts were $10,000 given
by the Woodruff heirs, $5,000 given in the
name of the late Priscilla Buckingham, and a
lot, building and $500 given by Earl Gleason.
DELPHOS
Delphos has the distinction of being situ-
ated in two counties. The Miami and Erie
Canal divides it into two quite equal portions.
The part east of this canal lies in Allen
County, and the part west is within Van Wert
County. In 1840, when the first vote was
taken in Washington Township, only ten votes
were cast, and Thomas W. Bowdle was elected
Y. W. C. A., VAN WEKT
When all three of these institutions are ready
to begin operations, a work will be accom-
plished in Van Wert County whose impor-
tance cannot be overestimated.
The philanthropic spirit of the citizenship
of Van Wert County is also worthy of men-
tion. Aside from the benefactions already
noted, reference should be made to a $25,000
endowment for the County Hospital, an en-
dowed instructorship in the Van Wert High
School, and a Poor Fund Endowment, all pro-
vided by John Strandler. A large sum of
money was also left by Marvin Woodruff for
the erection of a Lutheran Church, and a con-
siderable sum of money was bequeathed the
Methodist Church by the Krout estate.
justice of the peace. The first plat of the
town was made by Ferdinand Bredeick, on
the west side of the canal, and the Rev. John
Otto Bredeick, coming a couple of years later,
laid out the addition on the east side of the
canal. He was a Roman Catholic priest, and
reserved a large plat of ground for church
purposes. He gave this as a free gift. For
a number of years, this settlement was known
as East Bredeick and West Bredeick, and then
there were a couple of other little settlements,
which were known respectively as Section Ten
and Howard Town, the two former being set-
tled by Germans and the other two by
English-speaking people. It was finally de-
cided to adopt one name for the four settle-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
611
inrtits and, after a meeting called for that
purpose, the name Del pirns was su^fsted by
Father Bredeick, and it was adopted. From
that time all jealousy ceased, and all citizens
began to work for the common good. To this
harmonious action may be credited the growth
of the settlement.
Delphos was incorporated in 1851, and the
first election was held on March 3rd, of that
year, at which Col. Lester Bliss was elected
mayor, and Smith Talbott, recorder. N.
White, J. P. Cowan, J. P. Murphy, and Theo-
dore Wrocklage were chosen the first council-
men. Much of the growth may also be at-
tributed to the liberal views held by Father
Bredeick. Although brought up under the
narrow, old-country standards, he adopted in
the broadest and most liberal manner Ameri-
can views, and encouraged those of all
nationalities and all faiths to settle there.
He was as ready to assist one as another, and
gave a lot to the Presbyterians on which to
build a church. He said he did not want a
Catholic town, as that would make the people
selfish and narrow. He wanted all classes
and all creeds to commingle.
The postoffice occupied a small room built
on a platform of the lock between the gates
of the canal, on the Van Wert County side.
Amos Clutter was the postmaster in 1847.
The first hotel was opened in the spring of
1845. It was built by Morgan Savage, and
was named Traveler's Rest. The second was
built by James Graver, in the same year, and
was called the Ohio House.
One of the interesting incidents of early
history is told about a pioneer druggist:
' ' Joseph Hunt owned a drug store, and made
a contract with a firm of chemists to take all
the slippery-elm bark he could furnish in a
given time. He bought all he could contract
for, and, as all the ridges had an abundance
of red elm, he soon had many tons. When
he commenced shipping carload after carload,
the firm saw they were swamped and called
a halt, while lie still had many carloads on
hand. The matter was finally settled by the
contract being cancelled, with full payment
to Mr. Hunt for the bark on hand."
The first newspaper in Delphos was issued
by Benjamin Meti-alf, in 1849, and was called
the Section Ten Budget. It existed for about
one year, and was followed by Hhe Delphos
Oracle, edited by Noah Huber. This expired
in 1854, but the Northwestern Republican,
with S. E. Brown as editor, was established
in the same year. This paper lived only about
a year, and the settlement was without a
paper until 1869, when the Herald made its
appearance, with D. II. Tolan as editor. In
1877 the Courant was established, with E. B.
Walkup as editor. It was first started as a
weekly, but was later made a tri-weekly, and
finally became a semi-weekly.
When the Ohio & Indiana Railroad, now
a part of the Pennsylvania Company's main
line, was built in 1854, much of the iron for
its construction was brought down by the
canal from Toledo. Two boats, the "Seneca
Chief" and "Damsel," transported the
greater part of it. A locomotive, called the
"Lima," was also brought down by the canal
and used in the construction work. The Del-
phos & Indianapolis Railroad was opened in
1875, and was completed to Toledo three years
later. It is now known as the Toledo, St.
Louis & Western Railroad. This was at
first a narrow guage railroad, but the track
was afterward standardized.
To Father Bredeick was due the building
up of the first Roman Catholic congregation.
He gave to it the splendid site now occupied
by its church edifice. A log chapel first served
the small town, but a more pretentious church
was begun in 1846. The second pastor of the
congregation was Rev. F. Westerholt. In
that same year the Methodists held their first
services, in the cabin of R. M. Petticord, at
which five persons were present. Rev. John
Graham officiated as minister. When E. N.
612
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Marlen, an ordained minister, came to Sec-
tion Ten in 1848, he agitated the building of
a church. A couple of years later the founda-
tion stone was laid. The Presbyterian Church
was organized about the same time by
Rev. Richard Graham. The congregation was
very small, and a church edifice was not begun
for almost a score of years, as the congrega-
tion had been decimated, first by a scourge
of cholera and afterward by the Civil War.
VILLAGES
One of the interesting places in Van Wert
County is Venedocia. This village, and the
county for miles around, is a Welsh settle-
ment. Their fine farms and splendid homes
are monuments to their industry and good
management. The first Welsh settlers were
William Bebb, Thomas Morris, and Richard
Jervis, coming there in 1848. Religious ser-
vices were held in one of the log cabins in the
Welsh language, on the very first Sunday
after their arrival. This custom has been con-
tinued during all the succeeding years. Sev-
eral churches have been built since that time.
These Welsh people are fond of both sermons
and song. The Venedocia Male Chorus has a
national reputation, and has won many prizes
in many states. It owns its own building,
which is known as "Cambrian Hall. " Evans,
Jones, Lloyd, Williams, Morgan, and Hughes
are common names in and around Venedocia.
Ohio City was laid out by J. S. Brumback,
and by him named Enterprise. Because of
the confusion resulting from another town
of the same name in the state, the name
was changed. It is not a large place, but it
is prosperous because of the oil field in the
vicinity. The first oil was discovered there in
1902, and a number of gushers were struck
within a short time. Middlepoint lies about
half-way between Van Wert and Delphos. An
immense stone quarry gives employment to
many men. The village was incorporated in
1874, and William Foster was the first mayor.
A school known as the Western Ohio Normal
School was formerly located in Middlepoint.
One of the best, as well as largest, towns of
the county is Convoy, which lies about seven
miles west of Van Wert. Convoy is sur-
rounded by good land, and the residents of the
contiguous territory, many of them Germans,
have made the village through their trade one
of the most prosperous for its size in North-
western Ohio. Other villages in the county
that have not been mentioned are Scott, half
of which lies in Paulding County, and which
in the early days of the county 'a history, when
the country was heavily timbered, was a very
active town in the timber industry. Wren,
a village of about 300, is located in the South-
western part of the county, and Elgin, a vil-
lage of 150, lies in the Southeastern part of
the county.
Dixon is a little village on the Ohio and
Indiana state line, and about half the inhab-
itants reside on either side of the boundary.
This fact has probably interfered with its
growth, as it precluded incorporation.
CHAPTER XLVI
WILLIAMS COUNTY
CHARLES A. BOWERSOX, BRYAN
AVilliams is in the extreme northwestern
county of the great State of Ohio. When it
was created, in 1820, the entire county con-
sisted of heavy timber, and much of the soil
was extremely swampy. Because of these
conditions, settlements were not made there
as early as along the Maumee River, which
furnished the means of transportation when
the roads were impassable. In natural re-
sources no county in the state exceeds it, for,
with the exception of a small lake and the
watercourses, there is scarcely a waste acre in
the county today.
It was not until the railroads penetrated
Williams County that the population began
to increase to any great extent. The first iron
highway projected was one which was pro-
moted by Judge Ebenezer Lane, and a num-
ber of associates, to build a line from Cleve-
land or Norwalk west toward Chicago, cross-
ing the Maumee River at the foot of the
rapids. This was known as the Junction
Railroad, and a considerable amount of work
was performed on it, including some massive
stone abutments for the bridge which was to
cross the river at Maumee City. The com-
pany solicited subscriptions from individuals,
towns, townships, and counties, and succeeded
in securing a large amount of pledges. Wil-
liams County was asked to contribute $100,000
towards the purchasing of stock, in considera-
tion of the road passing through the county.
The election was ordered for the 6th day of
April, 1852. In the same year the Southern
Michigan and Northern Indiana Railroad
Company, which already had constructed a
part of its line, quietly appeared in the field
and surveyed a route across the county with-
out asking any financial aid, requesting only
the right of way and donation of sufficient
ground for passenger and freight depots. The
securing of the right of way was placed in the
hands of E. Poster, of Bryan, and he suc-
ceeded in his efforts. By the year 1857,
through trains were running from Toledo to
Elkhart.
Although squatters and hunters doubtless
had established themselves for at least a tem-
porary residence in the enmity at an earlier
day, James Guthrie, who is believed to have
been the first real pioneer, arrived in 1827.
Although a fanner, lie \v;is obliged for a num-
ber of years to depend largely upon his skill
as a hunter. A daughter of Mr. Guthrie was
the first white child horn within the present
limits of Williams County. It was not long
after Mr. Guthrie arrived until John Perkins
settled there. An early pioneer of the county
was Samuel Holton, who settled on Fish Creek
about 1827. Many believe that he preceded
Mr. Guthrie, but the honor of priority has
never been absolutely settled. Mr. Holton
erected a saw-mill and small grist-mill on the
.banks of the creek as neighbors began to
locate near him.
When the Widow Fee reached this neigh-
borhood with several marriageable daughters,
it was a real godsend for the bachelors.
Samuel and John Hollenbeck each took one
to wife, and William Bender married a third.
When George Bible settled near Montpelier
in 1834, there was not a white settler in that
township. An Indian camp was located on
the site of that town. The pioneer did not
613
614
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
reach Madison Township until 1838. In that
year Cyrus Barrett came with a numerous
family and erected a primitive log cabin.
Rev. Thomas J. Prettyman, a Methodist local
preacher, settled in the county in 1831 and
became a leading man in the community. He
was much in demand among the pioneers.
Jabez Jones reached the county in 1834, and
was probably the first elected justice of the
peace in the county. He lived to a very
advanced age. Albert Opdycke, generally
known as "Pap" Opdycke, was one of the
hardy pioneers. He was a very religious man,
and his home was at all times open to the
itinerant preachers. In 1833 Mrs. Mary
Leonard, a widow lady, came with her family.
She was accompanied by her three sons-in-
law, James Overleas, John Heckman, and
Sebastian Prance. Four cabins soon arose in
the midst of the primeval woods. Mr. France
was an elder in the Dunkard Church and con-
ducted the first religious service in Center
Township.
In 1833 Judge John Perkins, with his sons,
Isaac and Garrett, and son-in-law, John
Plummer, together with John Moas, George
Lantz, Henry Jones and a Mr. Hood, came
from Brunersburg and established themselves
on Beaver Creek. They named their little
colony Pulaski. Judge Perkins built there a
grist and saw-mill (which is believed to be
the first of the kind erected within the
county). This settlement never had a town
organization, although there was a postoffice
and the elections were held there. Judge
Parker came from Defiance in 1836 to trade
with the Indians. He laid out a village
which he named Denmark, and he brought in
the first stock of goods. In 1840 it had be-
came quite a village. Nothing is now left to
indicate that the village was ever in exist-
ence. Judge Parker was the first and only
postmaster that Denmark ever had. Another
town that has disappeared was West Buffalo,
founded by John D. Martin in 1836. Only
four lots were ever sold. The village was
finally surrendered to farm land. A grist-
mill was built on the river, west of the little
village, which has long since disappeared. In
the same year Montgomery Evans, Nathan
Shirley, and Thomas Warren employed a sur-
veyor and laid out the Town of Freedom. It
was intended to be the future county seat.
The division of the county and the rival Town
of Center defeated these hopes and the village
was abandoned.
In the extreme northwest part of Williams
County, and the State of Ohio as well, is
Northwest Township. In this township is a
little body of water known as Nettle Lake. Of
this neighborhood, the county history says :
In the vicinity of Nettle Lake, on every side
of it, are some eight or ten earthworks erected
by an unknown race called Mound-Builders,
probably more than 1,000 years ago. It is
quite generally, though erroneously, believed
that these earthworks were the work of the
Indians ; but archaeologists are of the opinion
that the mounds have a higher antiquity, and
that they were erected by the Mound-builders,
who might have been the remote ancestors of
the Indian tribes, though this is disputed by
many eminent scholars in this department of
historic research. On section 23 are a few
of the mounds, two of them being of unusual
size for this section of the state. The greater
number have been opened in past years by
curious and inexperienced persons, who failed
to properly notice features which are con-
sidered highly important by archaeological
students. In almost every instance, human
bones were unearthed, as was also charcoal,
sometimes in considerable quantity. Copper
implements, such as arrow and spear heads,
were taken from several of the mounds, and
in one was( found a piece of mica six or eight
inches square, and about an inch thick. In
several instances, it was definitely ascertained
that many individuals were buried in the
same mound. The Indians had no knowledge,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
615
traditionary or otherwise, concerning these
people, save what was derived from their
works, the same character of knowledge which
we have.
In the extreme northwestern township of
the county, and not more than forty rods
from the state line of Indiana, there settled
a man by the name of Aaron Burr Goodwin,
whose life was filled with mystery and
romance. He was a man of splendid educa-
tion, and was an excellent surveyor, and for
many years had been an Indian trader in the
three states that here join. He was brave,
but was possessed of a violent temper, which
when once aroused raged like a veritable con-
flagration. In his dealings with the Indians
and with the whites, he was wholly unscrupu-
lous. He appeared in this township about the
year 1837, and his family consisted of two
orphan children, a boy and a girl, whom he
had adopted. He was an expert gunsmith,
and derived considerable revenue from the
Indians for repairing their guns, which always
seemed to be out of repair. He kept a stock
of powder and lead, tobacco and calico, and
a plentiful supply of whisky as well. He
encouraged the Indians to drink the firewater
because, when they were drunk, it was easier
to drive a hard bargain with them. Although
he had many altercations with the red men,
he always managed to escape without serious
harm to himself.
No county in Ohio is more replete with
stories of hunting experiences. Bear and
deer were especially plentiful, as well as rac-
coon and the smaller animals. The Wyandots
used to go there every winter on hunting ex-
peditions. Bruin was especially fond of
young pig, and the pioneer would frequently
be aroused at night by a commotion in the
vicinity of his pig pen. Then it was that the
pioneer would construct a bear trap for his
nocturnal visitor. This was generally a
"dead-fall," constructed somewhat after the
following fashion :
A log about a foot in diameter was fastened
upon the ground at a suitable place, and
wooden pins were driven into liol.-s bored on
the upper side, after which the upper ends of
the pins were sharpened. Another log, fully
as large, was partly suspended over the lower
one, and provided on the lower side with
sharpened pins, as above described. A trig-
ger was made and baited with a portion of a
dead hog, and arranged in such a manner that
the bear must stand directly over the lower
log and under the upper to secure the meat.
To get the bait the bear must necessarily pull
the trigger, which would cause the upper log
to fall, thus pinning the animal like a vise
between the two logs, and piercing it with the
sharp pins. The trap worked like a charm,
and when examined at the proper time, the
bear would be found dead between the logs,
pierced through and through by the pins.
John Gillet had an interesting and rather
exciting experience near Mill Creek, which
has gained historical mention in the history of
the county.
"I had known for some time by the signs
that there was a nest of cub bears somewhere
in the neighborhood, so one day I concluded
that I would put in my time finding them,
as a party in Adrian wanted a pair to send
over to Baltimore to a friend who was fond
of outlandish pets. You see, it was along
about the first of September, and pretty warm
at that, and after walking up and down the
creek, I began to get pretty tired; so I sat
down by the side of a smooth stump, about
twelve or fourteen feet high, to rest. I hadn 't
been there more than a minute until I heard
something inside the stump, and soon made
out that it was a couple of cub bears playing
with one another. I looked on all sides of the
stump to find an opening, but none was to
be seen. Then I happened to notice the marks
of claws up the side of the stump, and I under-
stood it. The hole went in at the top. I set
my gun against a bush, up-ended the branch
616
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
of a tree, and was soon at the top of the
stump, looking in at the two cubs, which were
about the size of fullgrown rat dogs. I was
so excited that I jumped down into the stump
and grabbed the cubs. They at first began
to squeal, and then turned on me for fight.
But they were small enough to handle, and in
a minute or two I had their mouths tied so
they could not bite, and their feet fastened
so they could not scratch.
"I knew that the old bear would be along
pretty soon and make it hot for me if she
found me in the nest; so I swung the young-
sters into my buckskin belt, preparatory to
getting out.
"Get out? Did I get out? Land of love!
It makes me shiver to think of it yet. I could
no more get out of that stump that I could
fly. The hollow was bell-shaped, larger at
the bottom than at the top — so large, in fact,
that I could not put my back against one side
and my feet and hands against the other, and
crawl up, as rabbits and other animals climb
up, inside of hollow trees. In no way could
I get up a foot. There were no sticks inside
to help me up, and I made up my mind I
had to die certain. About the time I came
to this conclusion, I heard the old bear
clumbing up the outside of the stump. With
only my hunting-knife as a means of defense,
and in such close quarters, you may possibly
imagine the state of my feelings. The old
bear was not more than half a minute, at the
outside, climbing up the stump ; but it seemed
like a month, at least. I thought of all my
sins a dozen times over. At last she reached
the top, but she didn't seem to suspect my
presence at all, as she turned around and be-
gan slowly descending, tail foremost. I felt
as though my last hour had come, and I began
to think serious about lying down and letting
the bear kill me, so as to get out of my misery
as quickly as possible.
"Suddenly an idea struck me, and despair
gave way to hope. I drew out my hunting-
knife and stood on tiptoe. When the bear was
about seven feet from the bottom of the hol-
low, I fastened on her tail with my left hand
with a vise-like grip, and with my right hand
drove my hunting-knife to the hilt in her
haunch, at the same time yelling like a whole
tribe of Indians. What did she do? Well,
you should have seen the performance. She
did not stop to reflect a moment, but shot out
at the stop of the stump like a bullet out of a
gun. I held on until we struck the ground.
Then the old bear went like lightning into
the brush and was out of sight in half a
minute. I took the cubs to Adrian the next
day and got five dollars apiece for them, and
in those times five dollars were as good as
fifty dollars are now."
Like the neighboring counties, Williams had
its origin in 1820, through an Act of the
General Assembly. At first it was a part of
Wood County, with the county seat at Maumee
City, and then for a number of years the seat
of justice was located at Defiance. Proceed-
ings of that period have been set forth in the
chapter devoted to Defiance County. When
Williams County was first organized as an
independent county, it had civil jurisdiction
over territory that now constitutes six pros-
perous counties, with the county seat at
Defiance. It was not until 1840 that the seat
of justice was removed to a site in the central
portion of the county, which was named
Bryan. The county commissioners at this
time were Oney Rice, Jr., Payne C. Parker,
and Albert Opdyke. Almost the first business
taken up by this board were several petitions
for county roads. If anything was needed in
the county, it was roads that would be pass-
able at all seasons of the year. A number of
roads were soon authorized and work was be-
gun upon them, but it was many years before
they could be called good roads. The money
allotted to the county for roads had hereto-
fore been expended on the older sections of the
county.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
617
At a session of the commissioners, held on
the 14th of February, 1842, it was ordered
that a court house be erected in the center of
the public square in the Town of Bryan. The
board ordered that a plan, which had been
drawn by H. Daniels for a building 53 by
8iy2 feet, should be adopted by the board for
the new palace of justice. Those insisting
upon having Bryan chosen as the county seat
had promised, and had given bond for an
amount of money equaling $8,500, to erect
off the above named lot 1137, with iiiMructiuns
to have the same done as soon as possil>l. . '
At a later session the board allowed John
McDowell the sum of $525 for the material
and building of the jail, and E. (!. Leland
$7 for clearing off the jail lot.
The first term of court held in Bryan was
on the 10th day of April, 1841. Emery D.
Potter was the presiding judge, and with
him sat Jonas Colby and William D. Hay-
maker as associate judges. John Drake was
COURT HOUSE, BRYAN
the county building. There seemed to be a
difference of opinion as to the construction of
the bond, and it finally became necessary
for the county to sue to recover upon it. At
a special session in July, 1841, the board con-
sidered "in lot No. 137, in the town of
Bryan, in said county, the proper and most
suitable situation for the erection of said jail,
and selected the same for that purpose, for
which a bond was given by John A. Bryan,
for himself, and William Trevitt, to the Com-
missioners of Williams county, and their suc-
cessors in office." It was also recorded that
Erastus H. Leland was appointed "a special
Commissioner to sell at public auction to the
lowest responsible bidder, the job of clearing
the sheriff, and Edwin Phelps served as clerk.
The sheriff having returned the venire for the
grand jury, the following persons answered
to their name, to-wit : Horace Hilton, John
Bowdle, James Partee, Jacob Kniss, Zacha-
riah Hart, William Travis, Francis Lough-
head, Daniel Wyatt, George W. Durbin and
Jacob Dillman. Isaiah Ackley, Amos Stod-
dard, Seth Stinson, Frederick Miser, and
Jacob G. Wilden were summoned from among
the by-standers as talesmen, and thereupon
the court appointed Jaeob Dillman foreman
of the jury, who were duly impaneled, sworn,
and charged. At this term, twelve indict-
ments were returned by the grand jury. Four
of these were for selling liquor, three for
618
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
assault and battery, three for gambling, one
for an assault on a constable, and one for an
affray. Four petitions for naturalization
were heard. At a term of court in Septem-
ber of the following year, the same presiding
judge was on the bench, and with him as asso-
ciates were Reuben B. James, William D.
Haymaker, and Jonathan B. Taylor. At the
June term in 1845, a part of the court itself
seems to have become involved in trouble.
E. H. Leland, the prosecuting attorney, was
indicted for gambling, and Judge Thomas
Kent had to face an indictment for assault
and battery. It is only just to both of these
officials to say that upon trial they were duly
acquitted. Not much is known about the early
bar of the county. In 1837, the only names
credited to Williams County were Curtis
Bates, Horace Sessions, and William Semans.
William C. Holgate, who afterwards became a
successful lawyer and served as prosecuting
attorney of the county, was at this time a law
student in the office of Mr. Sessions at De-
fiance. In 1842 the names of lawyers upon
the tax list included the following: William
Semans, William Carter, Horace Sessions,
William C. Holgate, George B. Evans, Edwin
Phelps, E. H. Leland, and George L. Higgins.
In 1844, the following names appear upon the
bar docket as residents of Bryan : Leland,
Blakeslee, Case, Foster, Joshua Dobbs, Huyck,
and James Welsh. Joshua Dobbs was the
first man to be elected probate judge under
the Constitution of 1850. One of the most
noted men that the Williams County bar has
produced was Selwyn N. Owen, who served
several terms on the Common Pleas Bench
and sat with distinction upon the Ohio Su-
preme Court.
THE PRESS
The early press of Williams County were
located at Defiance, and have been noted in
the chapter devoted to Defiance County. The
first journalistic enterprise within the pres-
ent limits of Williams County was in 1845,
when Thomas H. Blaker issued from Bryan
the North-Western, a democratic paper. Ow-
ing to the fatal disease, known as lack of pa-
tronage, which overtook so many of the pio-
neer journals, the North-Western had an ex-
tremely short life. In the following year, J. W.
Wiley attempted to resurrect the deceased
newspaper, and named his paper the Williams
County Democrat. In the same year he en-
listed in the Mexican War, and the paper
ceased publication. In 1847, an eccentric
gentleman by the name of William A. Hunter
removed his family to Bryan, and resurrected
the democratic organ. Because of the county
seat conflict between Bryan and West Unity,
he transferred his printing material to the
latter place, and with T. S. C. Morrison
started the Equal Rights, a Free-Soil demo-
cratic organ. Judge Joshua Dobbs began
the publication of a democratic newspaper
at Montpelier in 1852, and its career was also
very brief. The next effort to establish a
democratic paper was made by Robert N.
Patterson. He named his paper the Bryan
Democrat, and the first number was published
April 30, 1863. During the next nineteen
years it continued under the same manage-
ment and only three weeks publication were
missed, and there was a good excuse on each
of these occasions. The Bryan Democrat was
the first successful newspaper started in the
county. The Williams County Gazette was
established by Isaac R. Sherwood in 1857,
with J. Palmiter as the editor. For a couple
of years the paper was continued by these
two men, when Mr. Sherwood was succeeded
by L. E. Rumrill. The name of the paper
was changed at the same time to the Wil-
liams County Leader. Mr. Sherwood returned
to the paper, and continued its publication
until the Rebellion broke out. Although he
enlisted in the army, the publication of the
Leader was continued by J. H. and I. R.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
619
Sherwood. The Republican Standard was be-
gun about the year 1857, and was published
by Starr and Spencer. The name itself indi-
cates the politics of the publication. Alvan
Spencer's name appeared as editor, but he dis-
posed of his interest to I. R. Sherwood. In,
1868, Robert N. Traber became the editor.
The name of this paper was finally changed
to the Bryan Press in 1869. At this time
Gen. C. P. Hayes was the editor and proprie-
tor. In 1877 C. A. Bowersox was the editor,
and S. Gillis, the business manager.
The Fountain City Argus appeared in 1876.
It was a democratic paper, but it lasted only
about three years, when the plant was dis-
posed of. As a partisan democratic journal
it achieved prominence, but its financial re-
turns were not great. The Buckeye Vidette
made its appearance, with J. W. Northup as
the editor in 1880. This paper was the organ
of the greenback party. In 1879, the first
number of the Border Alliance made its
appearance, with C. H. De Witt as the edi-
tor. The name was shortly changed to the
Pioneer Alliance, and finally the name Pioneer
was dropped. This paper was republican in
politics, but the name was afterwards changed
to the Tri-State Alliance, because of its circu-
lation in the three states. The first newspaper
printed in Montpelier was called the Eagle,
and was the organ of the Spiritualists, and it
lasted only a few issues. The second publica-
tion was the Star of the West, a neutral
newspaper, devoted to local interests. This
was established in 1855 by T. D. Montgomery,
but it lasted for less than a year. Notwith-
standing the disastrous experiences of its
predecessors, the Montpelier Enterprise was
established in 1880 by Ford and Smalley.
An interesting incident in connection with
the war history of the county is shown by an
advertisement which appeared in the Leader
in 1863 :
\V\NTKD ( 'i
Two brave, gay and festive young soldiers,
who have lately been man-hing through mud
and rain after Skedaddle Bragg, have become
mud-bound near the mountains, and hence
have got the blues. So, accordingly they chal-
lenge Uncle Sara's fair nieces to write on love,
fun and the consequences, as they are bound
after the Union of States is secured to settle
down in the Union with some fair girl who is
noble and true.
Correspondence from Brady and Pulaski
Townships preferred.
Address —
WILLIAM BLAIR OR HARRY TOBIAS.
Company II, Second Ohio Volunteer Cav-
alry, Second Brigade, Third Division, Army
of the Cumberland.
BRYAN
It wes the first Monday of December, 1839
that three commissioners were appointed by a
joint resolution of the General Assembly to
locate the seat of justice for Williams County.
These commissioners were Joseph Burns, of
Coschocton ; James Culbertson, of Perry, and
Joseph McCutchen, of Crawford County.
As Defiance was a border town and difficult
to reach from the interior, it was felt that a
more central site should be chosen. There
were already towns in Williams County, no-
tably at Williams Center and Pulaski, and
both of these places were candidates for the
county seat. John A. Bryan, of Columbus,
then the auditor of the state, had donated
ground to the county in consideration that the
seat of justice be permanently established upon
it. It was in his honor that the town was
named Bryan by Miller Arrowsmith, the civil
engineer, who had been employed to survey
and plat the town. The surveyors were
obliged to live in tents during their work.
Two of the streets, Main and High, were laid
620
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
out 100 feet in width, which makes them very
imposing thoroughfares. The public square
and two lots were donated to the county for
public buildings. The plat was received for
record by the county recorder on the 24th of
September, 1840.
At the time that Bryan was selected as the
county seat, there stood upon the site as fine
a growth of timber as could be found any-
where in Northwest Ohio. In the clearing
of the site not a tree of the original growth
was permitted to stand. Volney Crocker had
the contract for clearing the public square,
and every tree planted there by nature was
doomed to perish. To provide a habitation
for himself during the time that he was en-
gaged in the work of cutting down the timber,
Mr. Crocker built a rude shanty which was
the first building upon the site of Bryan. The
first permanent cabin was constructed by
Daniel Wyatt at one side of the square. Not
long afterwards another home was constructed
by John Kaufman. Many people were at-
tracted to the town that had been located in
the wilderness, and came there with the ex-
pectation of making it their home. Many
were repelled, however, by the primitiveness
of the surroundings, and quickly left. The
inhabitants of the towns that had been dis-
appointed said many discouraging things
about the new capital of the county, and did
all they could to prevent its growth. The dis-
covery of a number of artesian wells for
which certain virtues were claimed gave the
town a wider reputation and added many to
the population. The first marriage solemnized
in Bryan was in September, 1842, when An-
drew J. Tressler and Oleva Kent, daughter
of Dr. Thomas Kent, were joined in matri-
mony. A little log building at one side of
the square served as the pioneer school build-
ing, and in it the education of the youth was
begun by Miss Harriet Powell and then by
A. J. Tressler. Mr. .Tressler was paid the
generous sum of $15 per month for three
months' instruction.
In the fall of 1841 William Yates removed
from Wayne County with his wife and ten
children and a stock of goods. The entire
outfit was transported from Defiance to Bryan
in wagons drawn by ox teams, and it required
three days to cover the intervening distance
of only eighteen miles. It was not long after
the county seat was removed to Bryan that
the need of a public hostlery was felt, as
transient visitors began to be numerous. The
first attempt to supply this need was by
Thomas Shorthill, who built a public house on
Main Street. Thomas McCurdy and John
McDowell also opened up hotels for the ac-
commodation of visitors. Even then it was
necessary when court was held at Bryan for
private homes to be opened up for the enter-
tainment of the lawyers and their clients, wit-
nesses, jurymen, and others, whose business re-
quired them to attend court. The first frame
public house and the first one of any real im-
portance was built by Daniel Langel upon one
side of the courthouse square. At the depth
of only sixty feet he struck a vein of flowing
water, which forced itself in the house with-
out the need of a pump. The first manufac-
turing enterprise was established by Jacob
Youse, when he built a tannery in 1842 which
he occupied for a number of years.
It was not until 1849 that Bryan had be-
come a settlement of enough importance to
demand incorporation. In that year it was
duly organized as a village, and an election
of officials was ordered. This was held on
June 15, 1849. The total number of votes
cast was only forty -two. Charles Case was
elected mayor, and John Will recorder. The
trustees elected were Jacob Youse, William
Yates, E. Foster, Thomas Serrels, and Jacob
Over. The trustees appointed John K. Mor-
row as marshal, and Benjamin Schmachten-
berger as treasurer.
HISTORY OK NOKTIINVKST
The first religious society or«rani/ed in
Bryan was the Methodist F.pix-opal Church.
In the fall of 1840 Zara Norton organized a
class in the embryo town, ami the first preach-
ing was conducted at the hotel of Thomas
Shorthill. The members of this original class
were Thomas and Elizabeth Shorthill. .Mary
Kaufman, and James Shorthill. In the fol-
lowing year William Yates and his wife moved
to Bryan, and brought with them their letters
of membership. The congregation finally
moved from the hotel to the old courthouse,
and continued their meetings until the school-
house was built and occupied that building
until the first church was erected in 1853. A
splendid new edifice replaced the original
structure in 1895. For a while this society
was a part of a circuit which included Bean
Creek and Pulaski, and one appointment in
Indiana. In all there were sixteen preaching
places on the circuit. The first regular minis-
ters on this circuit were Rev. Henry Warner
and Rev. Austin Coleman. In the condition of
the roads at that time, the duties of the minis-
ter were arduous enough to tax the strength of
the strongest man.
In compliance with a notice previously
given, a meeting was held at Bryan in June,
1854, for the purpose of organizing a Presby-
terian Church. After a sermon by Rev. J. M.
Crabb, the following members were received :
Alexander Connin and his wife, Sarah Con-
nin, John and Harriet Kelley, James and
Sarah Allen, Jeannette Grim, Isabella M. Og-
den, and William II. Ogden. Mr. Ogden and
Mr. Kelley were chosen the ruling elders,
while Alexander Connin and Mr. Allen were
elected to the office of deacon. The first new
member to be received in the congregation
was Miss Julia Hamilton. This society was
incorporated in 1856, as the Presbyterian
Church and Society Old School, but the name
was finally changed to the First Presbyterian
Church and Society of Bryan. Rev. D. S.
Anderson was the first <•!., • r-.'x man. ami his
ministry continued for a number of •
Up to 1871 the society was dependent in part
for its support upon the Home Missionary
Society, but since that time it has been self-
sustaining.
The German Kvanirelieal Lutheran St.
Paul's Church dates from 1*»!1. when the so-
ciety was organized with a membership of
eighteen persons. The pastor ua> l{cv. Her
mann Schmidt, of the Ohio Synod. A few years
later a movement was set on foot to erect a
church edifice, and a small building was con-
structed upon lots donated by Alfred P. Ed-
gerton. An English Lutheran Church was
founded in February, 1875. The first pastor
of the church was Rev. F. A. Mat this. It
began with a membership of an even dozen,
but the numbers have greatly increased since
that time.
The church known as the Universalist is
quite strong in Williams County. The first
Universalist Church of Bryan was organized
in 1870 by Rev. J. F. Rice, with a membership
of twenty-one. Mr. Rice preached for a
number of years, and it was greatly due to his
untiring industry and unwavering zeal that
the church owes not only its existence but
its splendid success. The church edifice was
erected in 1876, and is a commodious brick
structure that still answers the needs of the
congregation.
MONTPELIEE
The second town in importance and size
in Williams County is Montpelier. The origi-
nal survey of this town was made by Thomas
Ogle in 1845, and for three years it remained
a comparatively unimportant village. The
first merchant to engage in business was C. W.
Mallory, who opened up a general merchan-
dize store. Dr. A. L. Snyder, who located
there in 1854. was the first resident physician.
622
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Montpelier was incorporated in 1875. At the
election held in that same year J. D. Kriebel
was elected mayor, Jacob Leu clerk, John
Allen treasurer, and Jesse Blue, marshal. The
real growth of the town began with the open-
ing of the Detroit division of the "Wabash
Railway in 1881. This at once opened up a
market for the products of the region of
which Montpelier is the center, and also has
brought a great many railroad men to the
town who have made their homes there.
WEST UNITY
West Unity was laid out in the year 1842
by John Rings, who at that time owned the
greater part of the land upon which the town
was located. It was named after Unity, Penn-
sylvania, the birthplace of Mr. Rings. The
growth of West Unity was fairly rapid for
that time, and it soon became quite a village.
The first lot in the plat was sold for $40, and
a frame building was erected upon it by
Henry Kline which he used as a residence.
Jeremiah Cline was one of the first inhabi-
tants. The first store building was erected
by a Mr. Hasting in which he installed a
general store. A saw-mill was constructed by
John Rings and Mr. Baker, which burned
down about a year after it was erected. W. S.
McGarah was the first landlord in the village.
Many of the first events cling around the
name of John Rings. He was the first justice
of the peace, and the original postmaster of
the town. His daughter Susan was the first
child born in the settlement. The first man
to administer to the sufferings of the com-
munity was Dr. T. W. Hall. West Unity was
incorporated in the year 1866. At the election
held in the month of February the following
officers were elected : Mayor, H. H. Peppard ;
clerk, C. W. Skinner ; members of the council,
Dr. G. W. Finck, Dr. J. M. Runnion, J. M.
Webb, George R. and J. Kline. E. S. Davies
was afterwards chosen as the treasurer, and
Alfred Stoner as the marshal. The credit of
organizing the first Masonic lodge in Williams
County belongs to West Unity. This was in
1849, and W. A. Hunter was the first worship-
ful master. The first man to join the order
was H. H. Peppard.
PIONEER
The enterprising village of Pioneer was lo-
cated on land which had been entered by
James A. Rogers, about the year 1840. He
employed two young men by the name of P. W.
Norris and Owen McCarty to clear ten acres
for him. One of these men erected a small
log shanty. There was not another house
within several miles of the place. In the suc-
ceeding years a number of other settlers estab-
lished themselves in the place, of whom Si-
lander Johnson was one of the earliest, and a
postoffice was established there in 1851, of
which Mr. Norris was made the postmaster. A
couple of years later he employed a surveyor
to lay out a plat, consisting of twenty-four
lots, which he named Pioneer after the post-
office. This was the origin of the town which
lies so near the border of Michigan. Joseph
Rogers brought in the first stock of goods in
1854. Andy Irvin erected the Pioneer Ho-
tel in 1854, and G. R. Joy opened up another
inn later in the same year. The village was
incorporated in 1876 upon a petition signed
by seventy-four citizens. In the following
year an election was held to fill the municipal
offices. The result was that William Siddall
became the first mayor. H. S. Shoemaker
was elected clerk, and with him in the ad-
ministration of the village affairs were as-
sociated Emery Sidley as marshal, and Henry
Harley as the treasurer. The councilmen
were Martin Perkey, E. H. Kenrick, George
Young, G. R. Joy, Simeon Durbin, and A. D.
Ewan. The total number of votes cast at this
•
election were one hundred and seventeen.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST Oil In
STRYKEK
Stryker was laid out by John A. Sargeant
and E. L. Barber in the fall of 1853. It was
named after John Stryker, who was an officer
of the Air Line Railroad, then being con-
structed. In the same year Chester Blinn and
William Letcher started a small store in the
village and continued in business for a num-
ber of years. In the following year a saw-mill
was constructed by C. L. Chase for the firm
of Wiilter Haywood and Company, of Fitch-
burg, Massachusetts. This mill did an im-
mense business in the county for a consider-
able period. Among the earliest physicians
were Dr. Blaker, Dr. C. P. Willard, and
Dr. Hubbard. The village was incorporated
in 1863. The records of the village re-
vealed the fact that John Barnhart made
oath before Lemuel Allen, a justice of the
peace, that he "set up" notices calling at-
tention to the fact that an election would be
held on the 24th day of August, 1863, for
the purpose of electing village officers. At this
election ninety-one votes were cast. William
Sheridan, Jr., received forty-seven votes, as
compared with E. D. Bradley 's forty-four
votes for mayor. John S. Kingsland received
the majority for the office of recorder (clerk).
The councilmen chosen were John Barnhart,
S. N. Webb, E. P. Willard, C. E. Woodworth,
C. C. Stubbs, and D. C. Clover. N. B. Mc-
Grew was sworn in as marshal and 0. G.
Smith as the treasurer after they had been
elected to this office by the council.
OTHER VILLAGES
In 1850 there were only three families liv-
ing on the present site of Edon. These were
Henry Stuller, John Garwood, and Thomas
Smith. When Andrew Sheline came, he
erected a small steam saw-mill. A Mr. Huber
conducted the first mercantile business in the
settlement. In the '60s Mr. Sheline and
Joseph Allomoiifr established a woolen fac-
tory which did a large business for a number
of years and helped to build up the town.
Edon was first platted in 1867 and named
Weston. In 1874 it was incorporat^l and the
name changed to Edon. Erastus Hoadley
was elected mayor. Robert Rhees was chosen
clerk. Andrew Sheline, Jonathan Burke,
.1. I'. Riimmcl. H. S. Him-. .1. NY. Tlmmas, and
Eli Sheline were the first couin-ilnicn.
Edgerton is a pleasant little village on the
west bank of the St. Joseph River. Its streets
are wide and shady. The village was incor-
porated many years ago. At one time it
boasted a newspaper, called the Edgerton
Weekly, which was afterwards changed to the
Herald and then to the Earth. The first ser-
mon preached there was by Rev. Elijah Stod-
dard, about the year 1836, in a small log house.
West Jefferson was laid out by Jonathan
Tressler, George Dorshiner, Elias R. Brown,
and Jonathan Gilbert. It has never passed
beyond the dignity of a small village.
Blakeslee was started on the branch of the
Wabash Railroad, running from Detroit to St.
Louis. It is located in Florence Township. It
began about 1873 and was named after Schuy-
ler Blakeslee, the well known attorney of
Bryan. It had a thriving saw-mill at one
time, which has been abandoned on account
of a scarcity of timber. It is incorporated,
and is a thriving village of several stores.
Kunkle is a village started by John Kunkle,
and is located on the Wabash Railroad. It is
a thriving village, having a bank, good stores,
churches, good school, and other business
enterprises. Columbia is a pleasant village
in Northwest Township, in the northwest part
of the county. It was started many years
ago, and has its physicians, school, church,
and stores. Recently an interurban railroad
has reached the village and given it a new
impetus. It is a very pleasant little town,
and a bank is now located there. Cooney is
a country town in the same township, having
HISTOKY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
a good store, church, a grange hall, and is a
very thriving place. Bridgewater Center is
of considerable age, has a store, a church, a
schoolhouse, but has never had much growth.
It is located in one of the best townships in
the county, that of Bridgewater. Alvordton
is a thriving village located at the junction
of the Cincinnati Northern Railroad and the
Wabash Railroad. At one time it had a thriv-
ing saw-mill and other timber manufacturing
interests, which have quit operation. It has
good stores, an excellent bank, and a good
hotel operated by H. D. Alvord, who started
the town. There are in Williams County a
number of good country stores doing a thriv-
ing business, and which continue to prosper,
although the towns get the greater part of the
trade.
THE FIRE-BUGS
Williams county has furnished one of the
most dramatic incidents in the local history
of Northwest Ohio in recent years. The
pages of the dime novel do not contain a
deeper laid scheme or more cunningly devised
plots to defraud individuals and corporations
out of almost fabulous sums of money than
was disclosed in the investigation of the his-
tory of the fire-bugs, whose headquarters were
in this county. The ramifications of this gang
of criminals were not confined to Williams
County, but they extended east through Ful-
ton into Lucas County, and even into the con-
tiguous counties of Michigan and Indiana.
The gang numbered more than a score of men,
many of whom lived a Dr. Jekyl and Mr.
Hyde existence on a monumental scale. They
plied honorable trades during the day, and
blossomed out as incendiaries at night. In-
cendiarism was placed upon a commercial
basis, and it was an easy matter to hire a
member of the gang to burn a building for
a sum varying from $10 to $600. So bold had
this gang become in its more than a quarter
of a century existence, that many neighbor-
hoods were practically terrorized. It was
not always greed or avarice that induced the
burning of a building, but revenge was also
.one of the causes, and to it were offered as
sacrifices, homes, stores and barns. Practi-
cally no one in certain sections escaped from
a visitation of this band of criminals. Ene-
mies were punished and friends were re-
warded by the same simple code of ethics, with
the flaming torch as its symbol.
The gang of fire-bugs was organized in 1874
in a modest way. Its operations were so suc-
cessful, however, that new members were ad-
ded to the band from time to time. Some of
them occupied prominent positions in the
social and business world. Screened by posi-
tion and wealth, the gang plied its nefarious
calling unmolested and the crime of arson was
reduced to a science. The insurance compa-
nies were the legitimate, or illegitimate, prey
of the fire-bugs, and it is claimed that they
were mulcted to the extent of almost $1,500,-
000, all lost from fires started by members of
this gang. In all these years of their opera-
tions, marked by charred blackened ruins
everywhere, the real members of the gang were
never once suspected.
At length the losses became so great that
the Legislature of the state was appealed to
by the insurance corporations to create a state
fire-marshal department, and this was finally
done. The results of the investigation of the
agents of this department were startling. Men
of power and influence, who had never been
under the slightest suspicion, were shown to
be the brains of the organization. It was the
confessions of Jack Page that resulted in the
unearthing of the gang. He was himself a
confessed fire-bug, but it developed that he
was only a tool in the hands of those who
possessed more brains. Had a bolt of lightning
shot from a clear sky and stricken scores of
persons, it could not have caused more sur-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
prise than did the grand jury report in Wil-
liams County during the May term of court,
in the year 1903. At its first sitting this jury
rendered indictments against thirty-one well
known residents of the county, charging them
either directly with arson or with aiding and
abetting in the defrauding of insurance com-
panies. With the confession of Jack Page as a
guide for their work, the fire marshals were
able to collect facts corroborating his story,
and these facts when presented to the grand
juries of Williams and other counties resulted
in the indictments and subsequent convictions
which freed the citizens of Williams and ad-
joining counties from the menace of the fire-
bugs.
The vengeance of the law was swift and
mighty. Ed Gaudern was the county prose-
cutor of Williams County, upon whose shoul-
ders rested the responsibility of the sensational
disclosures. He was assisted in the prosecu-
tion of the case by John M. KilliU, now
United States district judge of this district,
and Charles A. Bowersox, now judge of the
common pleas court, each of whom rendered
valuable service. Many of the members of the
gang were sent to the penitentiary as a result
of the prosecution, and some only escaped that
fate by self destruction. A number fled from
the county and were not apprehended for a
number of years, when they were brought
back and forced to trial. A few of those
guilty undoubtedly escaped, but the prosecu-
tion of those upon whom suspicion fell and the
long terms of imprisonment served to rid
Northwest Ohio of this great menace.
Vol. 1—40
CHAPTER XLVII
WOOD COUNTY
D. K. HOLLENBECK, PERRYSBURG
It was on the 12th of February, 1820, that
"Wood County was born and joined the sister-
hood of counties in the growing State of Ohio.
The beginning was modest, but the expecta-
tions were doubtless great. Because of the
swampy ground, which was long a drawback,
it may be that the gallant soldier, Captain
Wood, who was General Harrison's chief engi-
neer at Fort Meigs, and who helped to de-
fend that post in 1812, and for whom Wood
County was named, did not feel very highly
complimented at the distinction thus thrust
upon him. Were it possible that he could rise
up from beside the marble shaft erected to
his memory on the Hudson, at West Point,
and view this land now touched by the magic
wand of three generations, he would not be
ashamed of his progressive and prosperous
namesake.
The act creating Wood County brought
into existence fourteen counties. That part of
the act relating to Wood reads : ' ' That all that
part of the lands lately ceded by the Indians
to the United States, which lies within this
State, shall be erected into fourteen counties
to be bounded and named as follows : No. 11,
to include all of ranges nine, ten, eleven and
twelve north of the second township north in
said ranges, and to run north with the same
to the State line, and to be known by the name
of Wood. ' ' This included the present County
of Lucas, with the exception of two small frag-
ments that were taken from the counties of
Henry and Ottawa. The two counties re-
mained united until by act of the Legislature,
passed June 20, 1835, the County of Lucas
was formed with initial county seat at Mau-
mee City (now Maumee).
In the formation of Lucas County, all that
part of Wood then lying north of the Maumee
River was severed from the original County
of Wood, the channel of the river thereby be-
coming the boundary between the two coun-
ties. By the act providing for the original
organization of Wood County, the counties of
Hancock, Henry, Putnam, Paulding, and Wil-
liams were attached to it until otherwise pro-
vided by law. At their meeting on the 4th
day of March, 1822, the county commissioners
organized the county and the territory at-
tached to its jurisdiction into two townships,
Waynesfield and Auglaize. The Township of
Waynesfield was made co-extensive with the
counties of Wood and Hancock, and the Town-
ship of Auglaize included the counties of Wil-
liams, Putnam, Henry, and Paulding.
Maumee City remained the seat of justice
for Wood County, the courts being held at
that place, and the other county business
being there transacted, from the organization
of the county in the year 1820, until the year
1823. It was at Maumee that the original
board of commissioners, consisting of Daniel
Hubbell, John Pray, and W. H. Ewing, held
their opening meeting, and made the first page
of the official records of the county. Because
the settlements on the south side of the Mau-
mee River had grown so rapidly, the commis-
sioners passed an act, on the 28th of May,
1823, which ordered that so much of the Town-
626
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
827
ship of Waynesfield as is included in the
County of Wood, and lying on the south side
of the Maumee River, be set off and organized
into a township by the name of Perrysburg;
and that the election of township officers be
held on the 19th day of June, 1823, at the
house of Samuel Spafford, in said township.
This order organizing all of the County of
Wood south of the Maumee River into a town-
ship rendered the reorganization of a town-
ship for Hancock County, which up to this
time had been a part of Waynesfield Town-
ship, necessary, and accordingly the commis-
sioners organized it into a separate township
by the name of Findlay. Henry County,
which by a former order had been included
within Auglaize Township, was erected into a
separate township under the designation of
Damascus.
In 1816 the United States Government sent
out Alexander Bourne to locate a townsite at
the foot of the Maumee Rapids. This agent
chose the present site of Perrysburg. Joseph
Wampter and William Brookfield, deputy
United States surveyors, then laid out the
town. The act provided that "so much of
the tract of land, of twelve miles square, at
the British fort, of the Miami of the Lake,
at the Foot of the Rapids, ceded by the Wyan-
dots and other Indian tribes, to the United
States, by the Treaty of Greenville, August 3,
1795, shall, under the direction of the sur-
veyor-general, be laid off into town lots, streets
and avemies, and into out-lots, in such manner
and of such dimensions, as he may think
proper. The tract so to be laid off shall not
exceed the quantity of land contained in two
entire sections, nor the town lots, one-quarter
of an acre each." Major Spafford gave the
town its name upon the suggestion of Josiah
Mcigs, the land commissioner. The manner of
the selection of Perrysburg gave the town con-
siderable prestige. Orleans of the North was
platted below Fort Meigs by Dr. J. B. Stew-
art and J. L. Lovett. It was intended to be
the leading port of Lake Erie. In 1818 Man
mee arose on the opposite side of the river.
In the early days there was a bitter triangu-
lar fight among Perrysburg and Orleans and
Maumee City. At the session of the Ohio
Legislature, in the winter of 1821-22, Charles
R. Sherman (father of Senator and General
Sherman), Edward Paine, Jr., and Nehemiah
King were appointed commissioners to fix the
permanent location of the county seat of Wood
County. At the May term of court in Mau-
mee, 1822, the report of these commissioners,
a copy of which had been placed on file with
the clerk, was read in open court, and the
language of the journal is as follows : " It ap-
pears that the town of Perrysburg in said
county of Wood, was selected as the moat
proper place as a seat of justice for said
county of Wood, the said town of Perrysburg
being as near the center of said county of
Wood, as to situation, extent of population,
quality of land and convenience and interest
of the inhabitants of said county of Wood, as
was possible, the commissioners aforesaid des-
ignate in lot No. 387, as the most proper site
for the court house of said county of Wood."
It must not for a moment be supposed that
Maumee surrendered up this coveted prize
without a protest, or that Orleans looked on
with an approving smile. Both towns op-
posed the selection with every possible influ-
ence, but Perrysburg had a powerful ally.
Just at this critical juncture, the United
States gave some friendly aid to her protege.
In May, 1822, Congress enacted a law vesting
the title to all unsold lots and outlets in Per-
rysburg in the commissioners of Wood County,
on condition that the county seat should be
permanently located there. The net proceeds
of the sale of the lots were to be used in erect-
ing public buildings. There was a consider-
able number of these lots unsold, and the gift
proved of incalculable benefit to the county in
its early poverty, in providing a jail and court-
house without much expense to the tax payers.
628
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
The first meeting of the county commis-
sioners in Perrysburg, as shown by their
journal, was on the 3d of March, 1823, nearly
ten months after the decision had been made.
The commissioners at this time were Hiram P.
Barlow, Samuel Spafford, and John Pray.
The minutes of the proceedings in Maumee,
during almost three years, reveal only a light
amount of routine work. They had con-
structed a log jail, and had taken some steps
looking to the establishment of roads. Their
record for the entire time covers only about
twenty pages. The auditor, Ambrose Rice,
received $29.75 for his services for the year
ending March 4, 1822. Thomas W. Powell,
then prosecuting attorney, was appointed
auditor for the year 1823, and filled both
offices, receiving an allowance of $30 for his
services as auditor, which was 25 cents more
than Rice got. The first official act of the
first commissioners was to appoint William
Pratt as county treasurer. The next was to
purchase on credit a record book at a cost of
$4.50, an evidence of the poverty of the
county. There was not so much as a nickel
in the treasury. The entire population of
the large county did not exceed 600 or 700
people of all ages.
Between the years 1828 and 1840 there was
transacted at Perrysburg as large a volume of
commercial business as at any port on Lake
Erie, excepting Buffalo and Cleveland. This
business was transacted chiefly through the
forwarding and commission houses of Hollis-
ter & Smith, and Bingham & Co. Through
these houses nearly all the goods consigned to
Northern Indiana, and a large portion of
Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan, were
forwarded by teams from Perrysburg to the
head of the rapids of the Maumee River,
where they were taken on keel boats, piroques,
and flatboats and transported to Fort Wayne,
and thence distributed to their several desti-
nations. These boats on their return carried
back furs, skins, and dried meats, which were
brought to Perrysburg by the teams which had
carried goods to the head of the rapids. From
1835 to 1840, this business, together with the
immigration which came to this port by wa-
ter, afforded a very lucrative business for
nearly all the schooners and steamboats in the
service.
" Spafford 's Exchange," established in
1822-23, by Samuel Spafford, was carried on
after his death on January 1, 1825, by his
widow, and later by Aurora Spafford, and
was the most prominent hotel between Buffalo
and St. Louis, and the only frame public house
between Buffalo and St. Louis. Mr. Spafford
continued as landlord of this hotel to the time
of his death, in 1854. The old register of
" Spafford 's Exchange" is filled with the
names of many prominent people, but that of
Gen. William H. Harrison, the candidate for
the presidency in 1840, was not recorded, as
he was a guest of John Hollister. On June
11, 1840, no less than 473 guests registered
in this house. It was here that James Bloom,
of Liberty, shortly after his return from South
America, and while on his wedding trip, gave
a select party, offering bank bills to his guests
to light their cigars with. The reputation of
the liquors kept at the "Exchange" was bet-
ter than that of most any other house.
In those days a hotel was not complete with-
out a bell to call the guests to their meals,
swung on the top of the building. After con-
siderable inquiry Mr. Spafford heard of a man
in Detroit who cast bells. Although Detroit
was quite a remote point, as distance was then
calculated, Spafford had to have a bell, and
he finally made his way thither to have it
cast. The bellman was found and the job
undertaken, but when the foundry endeavored
to make the cast, it was discovered that there
was not metal enough. Here was a dilemma,
but Spafford was equal to the emergency. He
took thirty-six Spanish dollars and threw them
into the molten mass, and the bell was his.
With his treasure, worth almost its weight in
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST 0111"
gold, Spafford returned to Perrysburg and
hung the bell up in a tree in his yard, so that
it might be investigated by the curious. The
Indians, who were then quite plentiful in and
about Perrysburg, were caught by the novel
attraction. They climbed the tree where the
bell was hung, keeping it ringing day and
night until the thing became an intolerable
nuisance. Spafford had about concluded to
take it down, when the Indians relieved him
by stealing the bell and carrying it away.
This act made Spafford furious, and he de-
termined to recover it if it cost him his life.
Securing the services of Sam Brady, an old
scout who had killed a score or more of In-
dians, and Frank McCallister, they started
toward Upper Sandusky. They traveled three
days and nights, and on the morning of the
•fourth day, while they were eating breakfast,
they heard the bell in the distance. Hastily fin-
ishing their meal they hurried in the direction
from whence the sound came, and soon beheld
a sight that was laughable in the extreme.
The Indians had tied the bell around the neck
of a pony, and the whole tribe, bucks, squaws,
and youngsters, armed with hickory switches,
were running the poor animal around an open
space at the top of its speed, meanwhile yelling
like demons as an accompaniment to the furi-
ous ringing of the bell. Spafford and his com-
panions made a charge on the crowd, and soon
succeeded in driving the pony away from the
village, where they could secure the bell with-
out trouble. They reached home safely
without being pursued or having any fight
with the Indians. The bell was taken back
to Perrysburg, where it remained for many
years, performing the mission for which it
was cast.
The bell finally found its way into the pos-
session of the landlord of a hotel at Elmore,
where it filled its wonted mission for several
years. Its next travel was eastward, and it
was finally located at Berlin, Maryland. A
number of ladies of Perrysburg banded them-
selves together to se.-un- the return of the
historic old bell. After appejilin;.' <" Hi'1 '-ivi<:
i.itii.ns in vjiin, these ladies purchased the
bell and removed it to its former home in time
for the centennial celebration of 1916, win-re
it is now peacefully resting from its travels.
To Maj. Amos Spafford, who was appointed
collector of the Port of Miami in 1810, proba-
bly belongs the honor of having been the first
permanent occupant and owner of land in
what is now "Wood County — the original pio-
neer. Although the collector's office of the
Port of Miami and the postoffice were on the
north side of the river, the major built his
cabin on the south side, just above where Fort
Meigs was afterward located. Like the other
settlers, he became a squatter. He was the
first civil officer in this part of Ohio. His first
quarterly report shows that the exports of
skins and furs for that period amounted to
$5,610.85, and that $30 worth of bears' grease
was also sent out from Miami.
The close of the War of 1812 found this
locality a scene of desolation. Ashes and
charred cinders marked the places where
cabins once stood. Fresh mounds of earth
showed where the dead, who strove and bled
there, now slept. It was not until the spring
of 1815 that the scattered fragments of the
Maumee settlements began to return. John
Carter and John Race led the van and built a
cabin near Turkey Foot Rock. Amos Spafford
came and constructed a rude cabin out of some
old abandoned scows. In that year the fort
was formally abandoned. Lieut. Almon Qibbs,
who had been in charge, resigned from the
army and crossed to the other side of the
river, where he opened up a store, taking the
postoffice with him. Seneca Allen, who became
the first resident justice of the peace, arrived
in 1816. On the same vessel there came Jacob
Wilkinson and Elijah, Charles, and Christo-
pher Green, each with his family. All of
these located on the north side of the river.
The first marriage celebrated in the county
630
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was that of Aurora Spafford and Mrs. Mary
Jones by Charles Green, J. P. They had been
obliged to wait several weeks for that official
to receive his commission.
Seneca Allen finally moved to the south
side of the Maumee River and settled near
Port Meigs. Jacob Wilkinson also built a
A SCENIC ROAD IN NORTHWEST OHIO
cabin there. An incident occurred there which
reminded the Wilkinsons that their new home
was not above high-water mark. One night
the water rose in their cabin, and they had to
scramble up the ladder to the loft, from which
they were rescued by boatmen. In the con-
fusion the baby, in the cradle, had been for-
gotten. It was found, fast asleep, floating
about on the water. Its "crib," as they are
called nowadays, was, luckily, the half of a
hollow log, with boards nailed on each end,
and nearly water tight. Wilson and Joseph
Vance opened up a trader 's store in the spring
of 1817 for their brother, Joseph Vance, after-
wards governor of Ohio. This was the pioneer
store in what is now Wood County. The Hoi-
listers opened up a store shortly afterwards.
David Hull was the pioneer boniface and his
daughter, Almira Hull, has the proud distinc-
tion of being the first white child born in the
county. Thomas McGrath, Ephraim and
Thomas Learning, lived for a time on the
present site of Perrysburg. Victor Jennison
taught school in the fort settlement in the win-
ter of 1816-17.
The first grant made by Congress for lands
lying within the present limits of Wood
County, was on April 26, 1816, as follows:
"That Amos Spafford, collector of the Dis-
trict and Port of Miami, shall have the right
of pre-emption to 160 acres of land, to include
his improvements, situated within the limits of
the reserve of twelve miles square, at the
Rapids of Miami of Lake Erie, the bounda-
ries of which shall be designated under the
direction of the Secretary of the Treasury;
which tract of land shall be granted to him,
at the same price, and on the same terms and
conditions for which the other public lands
are sold at private sale. ' '
This tract of land lies on the Maumee River,
west of the Town of Perrysburg, adjoining
"Port Meigs," and is known as " Spafford 's
Grant." At this period the only land in
Wood County, to which the Indian title had
been extinguished, was the twelve-mile-square
reserve, ceded to the United States by the In-
dians at the Treaty of Greenville, but as yet
none of this land had been offered at public
sale by the Government.
Benjamin Cox was the first settler in Cen-
ter Township. He built a cabin near the
Portage River in 1827. His son, Joseph, made
the first land entry in that township. Henry
Shaw was probably the earliest settler in the
neighborhood of North Baltimore. He after-
wards removed to Indiana, where he was
elected to the Legislature. In 1822 Thomas
Howard and his sons, Edward and Robert, to-
gether with their wives and children, settled
at the Grand Rapids, where they erected three
cabins on the north bank of the Maumee.
They were the only neighbors until William
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
631
Pratt and Joseph Keith appeared upon the
scene.
Shibnah Spink, who came to Perrysburg in
1832, was one of the prominent pioneers.
Here he conducted a general store for a num-
ber of years, and then drifted to the lake.
The condition of the roads in those days is
well illustrated by his experience in the win-
ter of 1837-38, when he, in company with sev-
eral others, went to Columbus to further a
movement for the macadamizing of the Lower
Sandusky road. They made the journey in a
carriage. As there had been a fall of snow,
and the ground was frozen hard, they found
the roads good and made the trip to the state
capital in three days. After remaining at
Columbus a few days, and being satisfied that
the measure proposed would pass, Captain
Wilkinson and Mr. Spink decided to return
home, leaving their two companions at Colum-
bus to see the measure through. On the day
that they started for home, the weather mod-
erated and rain set in, rendering the roads
almost impassable. On the evening of the
sixth day after leaving Columbus, the two
lobbyists reached home in a sadly dilapidated
condition, on foot, having abandoned their
carriage and baggage eight miles west of
Lower Sandusky. .Using their blankets for
saddles, they mounted the horses and rode
until they reached Roussaint Creek, which
stream they found so swollen that it was im-
possible to get their horses to the bridge span-
ning the channel. The whole country was
flooded. They put up for the night, and, as
the weather became cold, and there was little
or no current in the vast sea of water before
them, ice was formed of such thickness that in
the morning it would bear a man. They were
fully thirteen miles from home, and Captain
Wilkinson was a cripple. Nevertheless they
decided to make the balance of their journey
on foot. After breakfast the two men started,
but before proceeding far the captain gave out
and they were compelled to hire a boy and
pony to bring him in. Mr. Spink walked the
remaining distance.
Another incident, illustrative of pioneer life
in this section of the country, occurred at an
earlier date than the foregoing one. In the
spring of 1833 Mr. Spink started out in search
of his cows, milk being in great demand at
Perrysburg. He was absent for three days
while wandering through the country, over-
coming many obstacles, and making a circuit
that now could be accomplished in a few hours.
Mr. Spink was elected sheriff of Wood County,
and also served as its treasurer.
Elisha Martindels, who entered forty acres
of land in 1832, was the first person to pre-
empt land within the present limits of Bowl-
ing Green. In the following spring he brought
his family to their new home. A little cabin
18 by 24 feet in dimensions was erected. His
eldest daughter was married to William He-
cox by Squire Elijah Huntingdon, of Perrys-
burg, on April 15, 1833. This was the first
marriage solemnized in Bowling Green. The
bride mounted a horse behind her husband,
and the only wedding journey of the happy
couple was to another cabin a few miles away.
Here is the way an early pioneer speaks of
his experience of the early days:
"We had no roads either, we just went zig-
zag through the woods, around trees, over and
around fallen timber, through the water, fight-
ing the mosquitoes, to a neighbor's with a sack
of corn on our backs to grind it on a hand mill,
to get corn meal to make johnny cake for the
family (it was johnny cake, coon and possum
fat) and glad to get that. We had no water
mills nearer than Perrysburg, and not much
to get ground when we got there. And it took
us from four to five days to go and come ; the
only conveyance was by ox teams and a cart.
Old Billy Hill (as he was familiarly known)
had a hand mill, and it was kept going from
morning until midnight, people coming from
miles and miles around. Dozens of men and
women have been there at one time waiting
632
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
their turn to get their opportunity to turn
the mill and sometimes when so thronged,
some would leave their corn and go home to
their hungry families, and come again to take
their place at the mill. Of course this mill
was a rude structure; four upright posts
framed together and the stones set in them,
and the propelling power was applied by an
upright shaft, with an iron spout placed in
a thimble in the upper burr, and the top held
by passing through a hole in a board and
then two men taking hold of this upright shaft
and turning the burr. It was a slow process,
but it was the only alternative we had. This
was afterward changed, so as to make it more
convenient ; it was arranged so four men could
take hold of cranks like a grind stone and
made to grind much faster. Then we all
thought that we had found a paradise. ' '
Henry Dubbs was the first settler in the
west part of Liberty Township. He came
from Ashland County and entered the land
upon which he built his home. He had one
son, Lewis, and two daughters : Ann, who
married Ebenezer Donaldson, of Grand
Rapids, and Sarah, who married Daniel Bar-
ton, of Milton Township. Mr. Dubbs and his
son, Lewis, were tanners by trade, and soon
after their arrival built a tannery on their
lands, probably the first in the county, and
did a large and successful business. Lewis
Dubbs was justice of the peace for twenty-
seven years. He was prominent in advancing
the best interests of the early settlement, and
a leader in all public improvements. He was
educated, kind, and generous, and his name
is remembered with respect by those who
know him.
Guy Nearing in his early manhood came to
the Maumee country from Cayuga County,
New York, about the year 1817, and located
at Perrysburg. Nearing was a remarkable
man in many respects, and kindly remembered
and frequently spoken of by the early settlers.
In physical make-up he was a man of almost
gigantic stature and strength, and his power
of endurance was something wonderful. He
was a sort of local Hercules of that day, and
a terror to the Indians, great and small. Two
years after Nearing came, his family, consist-
ing of a wife and three children, followed.
There were two sons and a daughter. Nep-
tune Nearing, one of the sons, settled at an
early day on the ridge and prairie three miles
west of Bowling Green. In the latter part of
1825, Nearing took a contract to build five
miles of the Maumee and Western Reserve
pike, which he did not complete till 1827. In
1823, when the county seat was moved from
Maumee to Perrysburg, there was not much to
move except the little log calaboose, but Near-
ing hauled it over. In 1824 he helped to build
for Wood County its first courthouse, a little
log structure located on Front Street, Perrys-
burg. When he and Elisha Martindale built
a new log jail, near the courthouse, they took
their pay in part in two lots at $12.00 each.
He died at an advanced age in 1840.
The first court in Wood County was held in
the second story of Almon Gibbs' store, in
Maumee City. At a meeting of the county
commissioners, on March 3, 1823, a contract
was awarded to Daniel Hubbell and Guy
Nearing for a courthouse to cost $895. In the
same month, at a special session, Daniel Hub-
bell was awarded $48 for moving the log jail
over from Maumee, and the auditor was
authorized to spend a sum not to exceed $25
for its repairs. Authority was given to the
auditor to advertise and sell 105 lots to pay
for the courthouse, at a minimum price of
$20 each. In 1837, a second courthouse at
Perrysburg was built by the commissioners.
This building was in the Roman-Doric style,
and was 50 by 70 feet in dimensions. The
specifications provided that "the foundation
be stone and the roof be similar to that of
the Universalist church building with the
'cupaloe' on the end of the house." This
building was constructed of brick, and was
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
6:!3
not completed until 1843. It was used until
1870, and was burned three years later. The
city hall was then constructed on the site.
The third courthouse was erected at Bowling
Green, when the county seat was removed to
that town. It was used until 1895, in which
year the cornerstone of the splendid new
temple of justice was placed on the 4th of
July with impressive ceremonies. In 1828
another jail was authorized, which was not
completed until the close of 1848. This build-
ing was in use until the seat of justice was
removed to Bowling Green. At that time a
jail was ordered to be built in that town, witli
a provision that the stone, iron and other
material of the old jail at Perrysburg should
be used in the new one.
LAW AND MEDICINE
The first attorney whose name appears on
the court records is C. J. McCurdy, and he
was also the initial prosecuting attorney of
the county. Among the early attorneys were
Thomas W. Powell, John C. Spink, Isaac Stet-
son, Henry C. Stowell, Hezekiah L. Hosmer,
and Willard V. Way. Mr. Hosmer was after-
wards named as chief justice of Montana.
John C. Spink was known throughout the
entire valley as a "good lawyer and the soul
of honor. ' ' He was the first mayor of Perrys-
burg. ' ' Count ' ' Coffinberry was a noted char-
acter and has been mentioned in several chap-
ters. Asher Cook was the first probate judge
of the county. James Murray, afterwards
attorney general of Ohio, practiced here for
a few years. Francis Hollenback came to
Perrysburg in 1847, and practiced there until
his death, almost half a century later.
One of the best known of the early lawyers,
and who became the second prosecuting at-
torney, was Thomas W. Powell, who was born
in South Wales in 1797. In 1802 he came
with his parents to America, and settled in
Utica, New York. During the war with Great
Britain, although thru a mere youth, he drove
his father's team with the baggage of a regi-
ment to Sacketts Harbor. In 1814 he was
appointed by the military authorities to carry
dispatches to Plattsburg, and at the close of
that battle entered the town with dispatches
for General McCombs. In the year 1819 he
came to Ohio and studied law in the office of
James W. Lathrop, at Canton, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in the following year. He
removed to Perrysburg, where he filled suc-
cessively several official positions. In the dis-
charge of his official duties he was noted for
his probity and industry, as well as his ability.
In 1830 he removed to Delaware, where he
resided until his death.
Willard V. Way was born in Otsego County,
New York, in 1807. After graduating at
Union College, he read law for a time, after
which he removed to Painesville, Ohio. He
finished his law studies there and located in
Perrysburg in the year 1834. Though not an
eloquent jury lawyer, Mr. Way attained the
reputation of being an excellent and safe
counselor. He held several county offices,
among others that of auditor, and in every
position he occupied he showed both care and
ability. He was a politician of considerable
foresight and sagacity, and did more probably
than any other man to build up the demo-
cratic party in Wood County. He was of a
literary turn of mind, and took a great in-
terest in educational matters and the pioneer
history of the Maumee Valley. He wrote
and published a pamphlet giving a history of
the "Ohio-Michigan War," which was an
amusing and rather interesting account of the
state boundary line contest. In his will the
Union School of Perrysburg was given $5,000
in perpetuity, the interest of which is to go
toward defraying the college expense of some
well recommended graduate of said schools.
His homestead and six village lots were given
to the town for a public park. The balance
of the proceeds of the estate were to be used
634
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
in the purchase of a lot and the construction
of a suitable building for a library and the
purchase of books in such manner as the town
council may think best, but for no other pur-
pose. The splendid Way Library stands as a
memorial to this public spirited man.
Henry W. Dodge was born February 4,
1830, in Onondaga County, New York. He
received his early education in his native
town, and at the age of sixteen was sent to the
St. John's College, New York City. He came
to Perrysburg in 1852 and finished his law
studies with the firm of Spink & Murray,
being admitted to the bar in 1855. Upon
the death of Mr. Spink, Mr. Dodge became a
partner of James Murray, which partnership
continued until Mr. Murray's election as
attorney general of Ohio, in 1859. In 1877
Mr. Dodge was elected judge of the common
pleas court, holding this position for a term
of ten years with marked distinction.
Leaving out of consideration the military
surgeons who accompanied General Hull, or
those with General Harrison, the honor of
being the pioneer physician is accorded to
Doctor Barton, who located at the foot of the
rapids about 1814 or 1815. For four or five
years he administered to the reds and whites
impartially, and with little regard to re-
muneration. He was still there when Doctor
Conant arrived in 1816 and when Dr. J.
Thurstin reached there in the following year.
Dr. Walter Colton began his practice in the
year 1823, and remained for about four years,
when he removed to Monroe. Dr. William
Wood, who located at Perrysburg in 1828,
became the first resident physician within
the present county.
Dr. Erasmus D. Peck settled at Perrysburg
in 1834, and entered upon the arduous duties
of his profession. In addition to his work as
physician, he was interested in a number of
business enterprises. In 1869 he was elected
to the United States Congress, which office
he filled with honor to himself and his con-
stituents. His most sublime work, however,
was during the terrible cholera scourge in
the summer of 1854.
"Between the 20th of July and the middle
of August one hundred and twenty persons
died. Many of the citizens left, and of those
who remained, all who did not die were en-
gaged in taking care of the sick and burying
the dead. Stores were closed and business
suspended. No one came to the suffering
town. Even travelers whose route lay
through the town went round it. The reality
of death stared everyone in the face. At first
the terror and excitement among the citizens
were indescribable, and all who could sought
safety in flight. The door of his drug store
was left open night and day and the people
helped themselves * * * At the com-
mencement of the epidemic his partner,
Dr. James Robertson, was among its first
victims. This left him alone to contend
with this incomprehensive destroyer single-
handed. But he never faltered, nor for a
moment quailed before the death-dealing
scourge, that was blindly putting forth its
unseen power, which killed where it touched.
Wearied and worn down by constant fatigue,
he nevertheless rallied his powers, and hurried
with unfaltering footsteps to each new demand
for his aid.
"During those days and night of terrible
anxiety and suffering, he was almost con-
stantly on the go, in no instance refusing to
obey a call, until threatened with inflamma-
tion of the brain from loss of sleep. The
citizens placed a guard around his house at
night to keep away callers, and allow him a
few hours' rest to prepare him for the labors
of the coming day. His answers to those who
sought to induce him to abandon his duty,
was: 'I came to Perrysburg to minister to
the sick, and I shall not abandon them now,
when they most need my services. The phy-
sicians' place is at the .bedside of the sick
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and dying, not by the side of roses in gardens
of pleasure.' '
THE PRESS
The earliest newspaper published in Wood
County, and in the Maumee Valley, was the
Miami of the Lake, by Jessup W. Scott and
Henry Darling. The first number of this
paper was issued December 11, 1833, but it
was sold a few months later to J. Austin Scott.
The paper continued to be published until
the 10th of March, when the name was changed
to the Perrysburg Star, and later the Perrys-
burg Journal. It was started as a whig paper
and so continued until the fall of 1854, when
the republican party drove the old whig party
from the field. The Journal became an advo-
cate of the principles of the republican party,
which it continues to maintain. It is one of
the oldest publications in this section of the
state.
The next paper issued in Wood County was
the Wood County Packet, of Perrysburg.
This paper was democratic in politics, and it
was said to have been ably conducted during
the brief period while it existed. It was
started in the year 1838 or 1839, and col-
lapsed in the year 1841, immediately after
the memorable hard cider and coon stick cam-
paign. Soon after another democratic paper
started at Perrysburg, about the year 1847,
called The Democrat, but there remains noth-
ing from which its history can be learned.
Albert D. Wright commenced the publication
of the Northwestern Democrat, a democratic
paper, as its name indicates. The first issue
of this paper was on the 22d of May, 1852, and
Mr. Wright continued the publication until
his death by cholera in the summer of 1854.
At the resumption of business after the
cholera, the publication of the Northwestern
Democrat was resumed. The name was after-
wards changed to the Maumee Valley Demo-
crat, with Lewis C. Stumm as publisher. It
continued to be published under that name
until 1857, when the name was again i-hanp-il
to The Democrat, until for want of support
its publication ceased. In the year 1862 Th.-
Independent was started at Perrysburg, and
continued to be published here until it was
removed to Toledo, and the name was changed
to the Democratic Record. The Buckeye
Granger, a paper sufficiently indicate by its
name, was started at Perrysburg on the 10th
of November, 1874, for the purpose of advo-
cating the principles and advancing the
interests of the "Grangers." It was neutral
in politics, but finally became the democratic
organ of the county, continuing as such until
its collapse.
The contest between Perrysburg and Bowl-
ing Green in the year 1866, over the removal
of the county seat, called into existence the
Advocate at Bowling Green, the publication of
which was discontinued in a short time after
the election in that year. Its motto was "Be
Just and Fear Not," and the editor was Frank
C. Colley. In January, 1867, the first number
of The Sentinel was issued, and subsequently
the name was changed to the Wood County
Sentinel. This paper from the beginning
advocated the principles of the republican
party. C. W. Evers was editor for a number
of years, as also was the late M. P. Brewer.
The Daily Sentinel was first issued in 1874.
In the fall of 1874 J. D. Baker commenced
the publication of the Wood County Demo-
crat, but discontinued after about four
months and sold the press to Bowling Green
parties, who began the publication of the
Wood County News in May, 1875. This paper
had a lively existence until in November, after
the election, when the News was merged with
the Sentinel, and was numbered among the
things that have been. The Wood County
Tribune was established in 1889, with C.
Van Tassel as editor. Three years later The
Evening Tribune, a daily, made its appear-
ance. The Sentinel and Tribune are now
636
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
combined as the Sentinel-Tribune. The Wood
County Democrat is also published in Bowling
Green.
The Weston Avalanche was first published
on the 3d of June, 1875, and the publication
continued for a few months, when it ceased,
and shortly after the Weston Free Press was
started to take its place. Then followed the
Westou Reporter and The Weston Herald,
the last named being still published. The
New Baltimore Enterprise was commenced in
1875, but it did not last long. In 1884 the
North Baltimore Beacon appeared upon the
horizon, with A. II. Balsley and Company as
the publishers, and still sheds its beacon light.
The Times was removed from Bairdstown to
North Baltimore, and is still published. The
Bloomdale Derrick appeared during the oil
excitement in 1888. The Pemberville Inde-
pendent was first published in 1876, and two
years later the Pemberville Brick Block was
given to the public. The Pemberville Re-
porter was established in 1885, and was suc-
ceeded by the Wood County Index. This
paper in turn yielded the field to the Pem-
berville Leader, which still appears regularly.
Newspapers are also published at Grand
Rapids, Cygnet, Tontogany, Prairie Depot,
and Bradner.
Other papers that have had a brief exist-
ence in Bowling Green were the Bowling
Green Journal, the Wood County Republican,
the Bowling Green News, the Wood County
Agitator, The Reporter, the Wood County
Gazette, the Daily Gazette, the Wood County
News, and the Wood County Free Press.
On,
Many of the residents of this portion of
Ohio well remember the intense excitement
in the '80s following the discovery of oil in
Wood County. Pen cannot describe the wild,
feverish unrest and anxiety that prevailed
among all citizens. Investors and speculators
were attracted to the county by hundreds. It
was the day of the gusher. W'hile oil was
struck in different counties in Northwest
Ohio, Wood County, in the heart of the Black
Swamp, proved to be the greatest oil center
on the continent for a time. It was not
equaled then even in Pennsylvania. Oil was
found in no less than sixteen townships, indi-
cating that hundreds of feet beneath was a
vast lake of oil. Prices for land went sky-
ward. Farms that previously could have been
purchased for from $10 to $50 an acre could
not be had for less than hundreds of dollars
per acre. One farmer who had a tract of
fifty acres, which he would have gladly dis-
posed of at $50 an acre before that discovery,
declared he would not sell under $30,000, and
he didn't even care for that. Values went to
a high level throughout the county and, al-
though there has been a decline from the high
standard of that period, they are maintained
today at a high level, when compared with
prices before the oil period. More than half
of the oil workers in the Wood County field
came from Pennsylvania, and were experts
in the business. They not only came them-
selves, but brought their household goods,
their families, and all the property that they
had. It is because of this fact that the county
is dotted everywhere with little and big towns.
There are more villages within its borders
than any other of the twenty counties in
Northwest Ohio.
The first oil field to develop within the
county was at North Baltimore, in December,
1886. After the drill penetrated the Trenton
rock without any signs of oil, the owner and
drillers were about to give up the search in
despair. It was finally decided to go down
another 100 or 200 feet. At last oil answered
the drill and an attempt to plug the hole was
unsuccessful. Thousands of barrels flowed out
over the surrounding land. It was a 600
barrel well and maintained its production for
a considerable time. This was the first well
of any importance drilled in the county, and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
o n
in 1887 four pushers were completed, yielding
1,200, 4,800, 15,000, and 800 barrels, respec-
tively. Two trushers in 1888 gave 3,000 and
1,250 barrels. Eight gushers in 1889 yielded
27,100 barrels. In 1890 one gusher gave 600
barrels. Nearly a score of wells drilled in
1891 yielded 7,300 barrels. In 1892 twenty
gushers .yielded 36,600 barrels. In 1893 there
were recorded twenty-two gushers yielding
16,000 barrels. In 1894 four gushers pro-
duced 3,300 barrels. Several gushers were
struck in 1895 that poured forth 4,000 barrels.
Other gushers were recorded in the years
1896, 1897, and 1898, with an average produc-
tion of 500 barrels each. In 1901 a 1,200
barrel producer was drilled in Liberty Town-
ship. These figures are taken from the oil
reports as given in the newspapers at that
time. Hundreds of other gushers too
numerous to mention were completed through-
out Wood County, making it one of the
wealthiest counties in the state. At the pres-
ent time the production of oil has greatly
decreased, but it is still an important industry.
The entire county is covered by a network of
main and district pipe lines.
FORT MEIGS MONUMENT
After a long fight the Ohio Legislature was
induced, in 1906, to appropriate the sum of
$25,000, to erect a shaft on the site of Fort
Meigs to commemorate the memory of the
brave heroes who died in the defense of that
fortress. Especial honor is due to the Maumee
Valley Pioneer and Historical Society for its
untiring efforts. The members wanted an ap-
propriate monument to mark the limit of
British victories, and of her encroachment
upon American territory. A commission,
consisting of John L. Pray, of Toledo, Charles
W. Shoemaker, of Waterville, and J. B. Wil-
son, of Bowling Green, was appointed. The
ground on which the monument stands was
then purchased. The 1st of September, 1908,
will lnnvr I"' remembered by the citi/.r:
Northwest Ohio. On that day the U-aiitiful
tM'anitf monument that now MirmoimN
Meigs was dedicated with inspirini:
monies. The mmient rises to the height of
82 feet, and has been erected in memory <>f
the dead of Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania,
and Virginia, who fell in the battle around
I
MONUMENT
Fort Meigs. On two sides of the big shaft
are bronze inscriptions, and on the others are
phrases in raised granite letters. All four tell
of the deeds of these men who fought and bled
to save their country from the English, and
who were buried on the Fort Meigs grounds,
on which the monument stands.
There is nothing extravagant about the
Fort Meigs Monument, and no carved figures
surround it. It is a simple, magnificent stone
column. It is symbolic of the patriotic spirit
of the people of today, and of their great
love and gratitude for the hardy men of the
War of 1812, who, by their bravery and death,
made it possible to erect a shaft in their
memory on United States soil, instead of on
638
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
a possession of Great Britain. The obelisk
is 66 feet in height. Prom the base it tapers
from 6 feet square to 4 feet square near the
top. At the tip it has been cut to a perfect
point. Early, on the afternoon of the day of
dedication, Governor Harris, of Ohio, and his
party arrived, when a salute of seventeen guns
was thundered from the field pieces of Bat-
tery B, under command of Capt. Grant S.
Taylor. When the bunting which draped the
newly-completed monument was drawn by the
hand of David Robinson, Jr., whose father
was a soldier at the siege of Fort Meigs, four
guns of the battery belched forth another
salute, and the band burst into patriotic music,
which was almost drowned by the cheers from
the thousands who had assembled.
BOWLING GREEN
A great deal of speculation has been in-
dulged in as to the origin of the name Bowling
Green. It was named after the town of that
name in Kentucky, by Joseph Gordon, who
carried the mail from Bellefontaine to Perrys-
burg. At that time there was but one family
along the route in Hardin County, and only
one postoffice on the way, and that was at
Findlay. A move was set on foot to establish
a new postoffice at Bowling Green. Jacob
Stouffer's cabin here was the central point of
the new postoffice movement. Henry Walker,
son-in-law of Stouffer, was to be the post-
master. The Walkers and Stouffers occupied
a cabin which stood on the high ridge just
east of Main Street. Gordon on one of his
northward trips had stopped at Stouffer's, as
was his usual custom in passing. The petition
for the new office was ready, except that the
customers had not yet agreed upon a name.
The old mail carrier who stood on the cabin
steps listening to the discussion, said to
Stouffer, half jestingly, "if you will give me
a tumbler of cider I '11 give you just the name. ' '
Stouffer filled a glass, and handed it to Gor-
don. The latter, briefly explaining how appro-
priate the name he would suggest was to the
landscape about them, said, with a sweep of
his arm : ' ' Here 's to the new postoffice of
Bowling Green. ' ' Those present detained him
a moment until they could write the name in
the petition.
The papers were soon on their way^to Per-
rysburg for some additional endorsements,
after which they were sent to Washington.
The office was established March 12, 1834. In
1835, when Walker sold his place, he and the
Stouffers moved over to the west side of Main
Street, where the office was kept for a time,
since which it has had many different locations
and masters. When the village was incorpo-
rated, there seemed no good reason why it
should not take the same name as the post-
office, under which name it had been going in
fact since in the early '50s.
There were not many settlers in Bowling
Green at this time. Robert Mackey had a
store at the Napoleon Road, which he intended
as the nucleus of a village to be called Mount
Ararat. John Hannon had a tavern in an-
other direction. Then it was that L. C. Locke
was sent here to open up a store. He tried to
buy the store at Mount Ararat, but failed —
then that town disappeared from history.
Locke purchased another site and built a
building, which answered for both residence
and store. This was in what is now the central
part of the city. His trade rapidly grew.
The. Locke store soon passed the primitive
stage and drew custom for many miles in each
direction. He established an ashery on a large
scale, which gave employment to a number of
men. He exchanged merchandise for farm
products, and thus became a forwarding agent
as well as a merchant. To his enterprise and
business acumen was due much of the growth
of Bowling Green. He also served for a time
as postmaster of the village.
The attempt to remove the county seat
from Perrysburg to Bowling Green caused a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ten years' struggle. The feeling was intense,
and there was bitter denunciation on both
sides during the contest. It began in 1865,
and was not definitely and permanently set-
tled until in the fall of 1875. The first elec-
tion on the proposition was held in 1866, and
resulted in favor of the removal from Perrys-
burg to Bowling Green. The citizens of Bowl-
ing Green entered into a bond to build as good
a courthouse and jail at Bowling Green as
those at Perrysburg were at the time they
were built, on condition that the material of
the old building at Perrysburg, and the lots
on which they stood should be given to them.
If the conditions were fulfilled, the county
seat was not to be taxed for either courthouse
or jail.
Those interested in the removal proceeded
in good faith to carry out their pledge. When
they were ready, they made complete arrange-
ments to transport the old material from Per-
rysburg to Bowling Green. They were then
prevented by the court, which had been in-
voked by those opposed to the removal, and
they never received one cent from the sale of
the property of the county at Perrysburg.
Thus this condition, on which the bond hinged
was not available. Judge Phelps, probate
judge, removed his office from Perrysburg
as soon as the courthouse at Bowling Green
was ready, transacting business there a year
or more before the other offices followed.
The year following the completion of the
new courthouse, it was destroyed by fire.
After considerable litigation an enabling act
was secured to give the people another oppor-
tunity to vote on the removal question, this
time to take the county offices back to Perrys-
burg. The Perrysburg interests had rebuilt
their courthouse most substantially, and in
better condition than ever, and the vote on
removal was again taken on the 12th of Oc-
tober, 1875. The election resulted in a large
vote throughout the county. It was indeed
an extraordinarily large vote, but the vote
in Perrysburg capped the climax. The ballot
box, when opened, revealed the number of
ballots cast in favor of removal was 3,016,
while 1,000 would have been large. The vote
on governor at that election was very close
and, when Ezra S. Dodd, of Toledo, heard of
Perrysburg 's vote, he at once sent a telegram
to John G. Thompson, chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Executive Committee, asking:
"Would l.QOO from Wood be of any good!"
That telegram has now become quite a familiar
phrase in politics. The vote of Perrysburg
was thrown out without much ceremony, and
the vote against removal proved to be a large
and unmistakable majority. Thus ended that
memorable struggle.
Bowling Green was incorporated in the year
1855 as a village. Doctor Lamb was the initial
mayor. The records of the first decade have
been destroyed, so that it is impossible to give
a complete list of the first officials. In 1866
E. H. Hull was clerk, Doctor Cargo treasurer,
and A. Walker was marshal. The council-
men were William Calihan, J. V. Owens, A.
Ordway, G. J. Rogers, and Lucius Boughton.
N. R. Harrington was elected the first city
solicitor in 1888, when the office was created.
The Bowling Green Railroad Company was
organized in 1874 to give the village rail con-
nection with the outside world. Although
opinion was divided, it was decided to build
a line to Tontogany to connect with the D. &
M. Ry. Right of way was donated, as well as
much labor. Many subscriptions were made
by individuals. Discarded rails were pur-
chased and an aged locomotive, called "Old
Huldah," was secured. The road was opened
for business in 1875. The engine was not
very reliable, but with careful coaxing it an-
swered the needs of the line and managed to
make trips fairly regularly. From the start
the road met expenses. In 1886 it was con-
solidated with the Cincinnati, Hamilton and
Dayton Railroad, now the property of the
Baltimore and Ohio system.
640
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
NORTH BALTIMORE
A small settlement existed on the site of
the present North Baltimore from early days.
A grist-mill had been constructed there in
1834, by Thomas Whitelock, but nothing was
done towards the building of a town until the
construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road. It was in 1874 that the plat of the
village was recorded by B. L. Peters, the
owner. The first brick house in the village
was erected by John Schatzel, in 1874. About
the same time a hotel was conducted by Wil-
liam Witten. The village was at first known
as New Baltimore, but had scarcely risen
above the dignity of a hamlet until the name
was changed to North Baltimore. When the
postoffice was established there, Lincoln P.
Hudson was named as the postmaster. A peti-
tion of eighty-one residents was filed in 1875,
asking for incorporation as a village. This
petition was granted by the commissioners in
the following year. The first mayor of the
city was B. L. Peters. The initial clerk was
William T. Thomas.
PEMBEBVILLE
The first white settler in the vicinity of
Pemberville was Asahel Powers, in the '30s. A
saw-mill existed there as early as 1836, which
was resorted to by the pioneers for many miles
around. It was a simple upright mill, and
stood on the banks of the Portage River.
This mill was afterwards bought by James
Pember, and it was he who caused the original
survey of the town to be made in 1854, by
S. H. Bell. This little plat was divided into
twenty-six lots, and it was named after the
owner. Charles Stabler had established a
general store here a few years previously, and
remained in business for almost a third of a
century. The second merchant was Ira Banks,
who afterwards removed to Weston. Before
the platting of the town, a little settlement
was known as "The Forks." The establish-
ment of a stave factory gave employment to
a number of men, and the town began to grow.
When the postoffice was established there,
Hiram Pember was named as the postmaster.
A petition for incorporation was presented in
1876, and almost immediately an equally
strong remonstrance was submitted to the
county commissioners. The petition was
granted, however, and the village was ordered
to be organized. The first officers elected
were George M. Bell, mayor; 0. E. Hyde,
clerk; and Silas Ralston, marshal. The first
school building was "raised at The Forks"
in 1835 by the neighborhood. Almyra Web-
ster taught the first class during the summer
for a salary of $1 a week, and a permit to
"board around."
PRAIRIE DEPOT
The ground on which the Village of Prairie
Depot now stands was surveyed in 1836, by
John Bailey and Henry Buchtel. In that same
year Michael Brackley and T. F. Frisbie built
a log cabin in which they placed a stock of
general merchandise. About the same time
Michael Hanline erected a larger log house,
in which he conducted a tavern. As there
were other postoffices near the town, an office
was not established here for some time, but
when established it was given the name of
Prairie Depot. This was in spite of the fact
that the town was then known as Freeport,
and as such it was incorporated in 1836. The
first mayor of the town was W. R. Brandt.
GRAND RAPIDS
One of the old towns in Wood County was
Gilead, on the banks of the Maumee. It is
now known as Grand Rapids. The original
plat of Gilead was made by J. B. Graham
in 1831. In 1855 a number of persons met in
Toledo and passed a resolution ' ' that the Mau-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
641
mee River and Maumee Bay be hereafter
known as the Grand Rapids River and Grand
Rapids Bay. ' ' The local press of the "Grand
Rapids Valley" was requested to publish this
action. The chairman of the meeting was
S. J. Kuder, and the secretary was W. M.
Scott. Public sentiment did not approve the
change, and the only action resulting was the
substitution of that name for Gilead. In 1832
Guy Nearing built a saw-mill at Bear Rapids,
on the Maumee, and, with Joshua Chappel,
laid out the Village of Otsego, which for a
time bid fair to outstrip its competitors in
growth and importance, but, in the progress
of human affairs, the village died as did the
Village of Benton, which David Hedges laid
out, about V/z miles below Otsego.
In 1828 Alexander Brown and his father-
in-law, Jos. North, were the first settlers to
move back from the river into the dense for-
ests that lay thick and dark between the river
and the broad, grassy swamp known as
Keeler 's Prairie. Mr. Brown located a heavily
timbered tract of land along Beaver Creek, or,
as it was also then called, "Minard's Creek,"
and built the first cabin in a beautiful beech
and maple grove. The beautiful bluff banks
of Beaver Creek, covered thickly with forests
of sugar maple, beech, oak, and hickory tim-
ber, rapidly attracted the attention of settlers,
and ere long Mr. Brown had neighbors on all
sides of him.
Grand Rapids (Gilead) was surveyed in
1833 for John A. Graham. The first merchant
was Nicholas Gee, who opened a store in a log
building in that same year. Mr. Graham built
a mill-race and a dam to run a saw and grist-
mill. The village was incorporated in 1855
as Grand Rapids. Emanuel Arnold was
elected to the office of mayor, A. C. Davis was
chosen at the same time as clerk. The first
postoffice, established in 1832, was known as
Weston, with Edward Howard as postmaster.
In 1868 it was changed from Gilead to Grand
Rapids.
WESTON
Weston Township was created in 1831. The
first election ever held in Weston Township
was on the 4th day of April, 1831, when all of
the voters met at the house of Edward
Howard, and proceeded to elect themselves,
for at that first election there were barely
enough intelligent voters to fill the offices. The
first officers were as follows : trustees, Edward
Howard, Wm. Pratt and Emanuel Arnold;
treasurer, R. M. Howard; clerk, R. A.
Howard; poor overseers, M. P. Morgan and
Jas. Donaldson; constables, Wm. North and
Wra. Wonderly ; fence viewers, Wm. Loughry
and Joseph North ; justices of the peace, Alex-
ander Brown and Emanuel Arnold. James
Donaldson was also elected road supervisor,
and the only road that came under his super-
vision was the road leading along down the
river bank from the settlement to Fort Meigs,
which was a poor excuse of a road at that
time, being only partially chopped out and not
worked at all. For the care of this, the only
road in the township, except the Indian trails,
Mr. Donaldson received the princely salary of
75 cents. The only other officer who received
any salary during the first year was the treas-
urer, R. M. Howard, who drew 75 cents. So
for $1.50 Weston Township was as peacefully
governed during its first year as she has ever
been since that date.
The Village of Weston was not started un-
til in 1854, when the Taylor saw-mill began
operations. Half a century ago the site of
the town was all farm land, and used as such.
In 1854 Jonathan Crom built his shanty,
started a saloon, and kept a few groceries.
Benjamin West came in 1854, and located his
forge across the street. His shop was a mere
shanty. In 1855 Levi Taylor built a build-
ing, and, in the fall of that year, put in the
first stock of dry goods and groceries. The
village received railroad facilities in 1873.
Sanford Baldwin was elected mayor in the
Vol. I— 11
642
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
same year, and Frank M. Young was chosen
clerk.
VILLAGES
The original Town of Bradner was sur-
veyed in 1875 by John Bradner and Ross
Crocker, of Postoria, and H. G. Caldwell, of
the village. They purchased thirty-four acres,
and named the town in honor of Mr. Brad-
ner. After the survey of the village, J. G.
and David Stephens established a grocery
store, and Mr. Caldwell opened a hotel. The
postoffice was established in 1877, with T. H.
Peters as the postmaster. With the discovery
of oil, the town began to grow. It was incor-
porated in 1889, upon the petition of forty-
one residents, and at the first election the
following year, J. E. Furste was elected
mayor. The first clerk was Jonathan E. Ladd.
The earliest settlement in the neighborhood
of Risingsun was in 1834, when Benjamin
Wollam built a pole shanty there with the aid
of an Indian. George Strause constructed the
first frame building there in 1849, and in 1866
William Shoup opened up a small store. The
place was first known as St. Elms, and then
it was designated by the residents as Coon
Town. It was finally given the name of Ris-
ing Sun, and is now spelled as one word,
Risingsun. The village was surveyed in 1876.
It became vested with the dignity of an incor-
porated village in 1879, and E. P. Day was
chosen as the first mayor. The office of clerk
was held by Ray Gilmore.
Second only to Perrysburg in its beginning
as a trading point was the Village of Portage.
As early as 1829 Collister Haskins built a log
cabin there, in which he installed goods for
trading purposes. For a number of years his
dealings were principally with the Indians.
The white settlers gradually began to come
into the neighborhood, however, and the little
settlement increased. For a number of years
it was a very primitive settlement. The vil-
lage was not incorporated until 1857, when a
petition signed by thirty persons was pre-
sented to the county commissioners. This
petition was granted, and an election ordered.
At this election James McFadden was chosen
as the first mayor, and I. M. VanGorder as the
first clerk.
Bloomdale arose with the building of Bal-
timore and Ohio Railroad. At that time the
old postoffice of Bloom was transferred to the
new town, in the year 1877. The village was
incorporated in 1887, and A. B. Probert was
elected mayor. M. G. Snyder was the first
clerk. R. A. Emerson was the initial post-
master. Bairdstown was platted in 1874 by
Josiah Baird. It was incorporated in 1881,
and Levi Kistler had the distinction of being
chosen the mayor. Serving with him were
A. B. Frankfathers, marshal, and M. C.
Briggs, clerk. Cygnet was surveyed in 1883,
and was named Pleasant View. An addition
was surveyed for Horace S. Walbridge, which
was named Cygnet. Reuben Carey was named
postmaster of the town. The first house was
erected by Reuben Carey. When the village
was incorporated, E. A. Guy was elected
mayor. The first meeting of the council was
held July 29, 1889. Not far distant is Jerry
City, which dates from 1861. It was formerly
known as Stulltown, in honor of an early
pioneer. It was next called Shiloh, and the
present name was bestowed upon it in honor
of Jerry Nestlerode, of Fostoria. The village
was incorporated in 1875, and T. C. McEwen
was the earliest mayor.
Hoytville dates from 1873, when G. B. Mills
and William Hoyt caused it to be surveyed.
It was incorporated in 1886, upon the peti-
tion of fifty-six residents. The initial mayor
of the village was Miner Wadsworth. Mill-
bury was platted in 1864. A postoffice had
earlier been established here and named Mill-
bury, after a Massachusetts village. George
Hewitt was the official in charge. The village
was duly incorporated in 1874, and A. P.
Meng became the first mayor. Hull Prairie
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
643
and Haskins are very close together. The for-
mer is the older settlement, but Haskins has
proved to be the more vigorous. It was in-
corporated in 1869, and its first executive was
Hezekiah N. Rush. Milton Center was plat-
ted by Andrew Hutchinson and Lewis Dubbs,
in 1857. It was then surrounded by marsh
land. Twelve years later it reached the dig-
nity of an incorporated village, with F. C.
Taft as its mayor. Custar was originally
known as Lewisburg, when it was surveyed in
1865. The saw-mill of Daniel Scheuren, the
largest in the country, drew a large force of
workmen here. It was from the start prac-
tically a German hamlet. In 1881 it secured
incorporation, and G. P. Thompson was the
first mayor.
West Millgrove was carved out of the wil-
derness in 1835, and is still today a very quiet
littk- hamlet. Its original name was simply
Millgrove, when surveyed for James and
Rachel McCormick. It was duly incorporated
in 1874. The first mayor was J. H. Moffett,
who served for a dozen years. Charles Hollo-
peter first held the office of village clerk. The
settlement of Tontogany is credited to Samuel
Hamilton, who came from New York in 1830.
The town site was surveyed for Willard V.
Way and E. D. Peck in 1855, and named in
honor of the Indian chief of that name. It
was duly incorporated in 1874, and J. Patchen
was chosen mayor at the first election. With
him were elected T. Klussman as clerk and
William Crom as the peace officer.
CHAPTER XL VIII
WYANDOT COUNTY
CYRUS D. HARE, UPPER SANDUSKY
The large reservation which was set off to
members of the Wyandot tribe in the treaty
at the Foot of the Rapids of the Miami, in
1817, occupied the central portion of Wyan-
dot County. Hence it was that the early
white settlements began upon the outskirts
of this county, in a direction distant from
seven to ten miles from Port Perree, which was
situated where the Town of Upper Sandusky
is now located. There were only a very few
real settlers in the county prior to 1820, with
the exception of a few "squatters" who had
located near the reservation lines. These men
were adventurers, who came chiefly for the
purpose of trading with the Indians, and
gathering into their own coffers the greater
portion of the annuity moneys paid by the Gov-
ernment to the red men, giving them in ex-
change poor whisky, cheap white calicoes,
brass trinkets, etc.
Wyandot County is indeed historic ground.
Both Delawares and Wyandots lived along the
streams and hunted freely through the for-
ests and over the prairies. The most noted
spot is that where Colonel Crawford was
burned in 1782. The exact-site is not known, but
it was not far from the Indian village of the
Delawares, known as Captain Pipe 's town. A
monument has been erected to the unfortunate
hero near the place where his horrible death
was inflicted. It was set up on a high bank,
south of the Tymochtee, in 1877. This memo-
rial was made possible through the energetic
efforts of the Wyandot Pioneer Association,
and was dedicated in the presence of an audi-
ence of 8,000 persons. Col. M. H. Kirby pre-
sided on this occasion, and Curtis Berry, Jr.,
acted as secretary. Prayer was offered by
Rev. R. C. Colmery and Rev. John S. Sher-
rard, then of Bucyrus, who was a grandson
of John Sherrard, a member of the Crawford
expedition. A thrilling address was delivered
by Gen. William H. Gibson, of Tiffin. The
shaft is of Berea sandstone, 8^2 feet in height.
One of the inscriptions reads as follows : "In
memory of Colonel Crawford, who was burnt
by the Indians in this valley June 11, A. D.
1782." The other inscription states that it
was "Erected by the Pioneer Association of
Wyandot County August 3, 1877." It was
indeed a memorable occasion, and many of
the old pioneers were present to share in the
honors of the occasion and recount their tales
of the scenes and hardships of the early days
in the wilds of Wyandot. Many of them
ranged in ages from seventy to ninety years.
The original settlers of the county were
chiefly of English and German origin. In
the early years the English elements largely
predominated, but at the present time it is
probable that the German people and their
descendants are in the ascendency. One of
the very first white men of whom we have a
record in the county was Ebenezer Roseberry,
who was a somewhat noted hunter and fron-
tier sportsman. When Anthony Bowsher
reached the county in the neighborhood of
Little Sandusky, in the spring of 1819, he
found Roseberry already there, and said that
he had been there for some two or three years,
644
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
646
and during that time had placed his private
mark upon scores of the wild hogs that roamed
the forests. Major Bowsher, as he was lat-
terly called, built a small cabin and began
to improve his tract of land. About 1828 he
erected a large building in which he con-
ducted a hotel and store. He constructed a
race track, and for many years Bowsherville
was a favorite rendezvous of sportsmen in this
and adjoining counties. John Wilson, Walter
Woolsey, Ora Bellis, William and Samuel
Morral, and Nehamiah Staley were also among
the earliest settlers here.
Little Sandusky, originally an Indian vil-
lage, gradually grew into an important set-
tlement. The first house in the settlement
was built by John Wilson in 1820. In the
same year another cabin was erected by Wal-
ter Woolsey, and a store was conducted there
by Ora Bellis. The first white child born in
the village was Henrietta, daughter of Joseph
and Chlorine Wilson, on May 27, 1822. The
village was regularly platted in 1830, by Dr.
Stephen Fowler, John Wilson, and Walter
Woolsey. Doctor Fowler was an unusually
able physician for the pioneer days, and he
had a large practice over a wide territory.
Cornelius Wilson built a large store here in
1830, which he conducted for fifteen years.
For a time Little Sandusky was a very pros-
perous trading settlement. A daily line of
stages ran from Columbus to Detroit, and its
outlook for future greatness was most flatter-
ing. The construction of railroads, none of
which touched the village, destroyed its pros-
pects, and so Little Sandusky has remained a
small but exceedingly proud village.
Another favorite settlement among the
early settlers was along the Tymochtee. The
first white settler there of whom we have rec-
ord was Henry Lish, who came about 1816,
or the year following. In the earliest days
of the settlement, he established a Government
ferry across that stream. It was at his home
that the first election was held in the county,
on the 1st day of April, 1821, when it was
still a part of Crawford. Michael Brackley,
who sat in both houses of the Legislature, was
also a very early settler. Ira Arkeus and
Joseph Chaffee opened up the very first tav-
erns. Peter Baum, William Combs, Levi
Baum, John Taylor, and John Bogart, and a
number of others located themselves in what
is now Belle Vernon. From 1820 to 1835 very
many settlers established themselves in this
neighborhood. James Whittaker opened up
the first store at Tymochtee, and Samuel Ke-
nan also kept a hotel in that settlement for
many years. The first saw and grist-mill was
erected by Elijah Brayton. The first white
child born was Ralph Lish, son of Henry Lish.
The premier schoolhouse was located on the
land of Jehu Berry, and its first schoolmaster
was John A. Morrison.
John Beam was one of the early settlers at
McCutchensville. The village began its offi-
cial existence in 1829, when it was laid out by
Dr. G. W. Sampson, for Col. Joseph Mc-
Cutchen, after whom it was named. Doctor
Sampson erected the first building in the vil-
lage. The first store was established by Aaron
Welsh. One of the early names was James
Wright, who had spent many years as a cap-
tive of the Indians, and for whom he had
worked as a silversmith. McCutchensville be-
came an important village in the early days.
When this section was a part of Crawford
County, it was a strong rival of Bucyrus for
the location of the seat of justice of that
county. It then actually had more inhabi-
tants than its successful competitor, and the
white man's town of Upper Sandusky had not
been born. Today it is a prosperous village,
but has never attained great proportions.
In the year 1821 Samuel Harper settled in
the neighborhood of Sycamore, and built the
first log cabin in that vicinity. His sons,
William, James, Samuel G., and George, and
three daughters came with him. The father,
a native of the Emerald Isle, had served as
646
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and had
been wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill.
He died in October, 1821, but his sons re-
mained, and some of their descendants still
live there. Alexander Morrow came with Har-
per, and Peter Baum, Sr.. arrived about fif-
teen days later. With Baum came Daniel
Walters, who afterwards married one of his
daughters. Ichabod Myron, Rufus Merri-
man, John Eyestone, George Kisor, and many
others came stringing along within a period
of two or three years. A little later came
Jacob Hershberger, Samuel Caughey, Levi
Pennington, Adam Coon, and quite a number
of others. The first saw-mill was established
by William Griffith in 1830. The first elec-
tion was held at the home of George Kisor,
near Petersburg (Deunquat), in 1822, when
a full board of township officers was elected.
The first marriage was that of Daniel Walters
and Susannah Baum, and they were the par-
ents of twins, Susannah and Barbara, the
first white children born in that vicinity.
George Harper started the first store to sup-
ply the early settlers with merchandise.
John Kirby came to the county in 1819,
and settled near Wyandot, where he reared
a large family of children. Jacob Coon ar-
rived in the same year in that neighborhood.
Col. M. H. Kirby reached there in 1820, and
became one of the wealthiest and most promi-
nent citizens. John Kirby was the first mer-
chant of Wyandot Village, which was just
outside the reservation line. Asa Lake and
Nehemiah Early reached the county in 1819,
and settled between the Big Spring and
Wyandot reservations. They were men of
families and took up government land.
Daniel Hodges built the first brick house near
Crawfordsville in 1821. Christopher Baker
followed the old Harrison Trail from Dela-
ware and reached this locality in 1822. John
Carey, generally known as Judge Carey, lo-
cated there a little later, but soon acquired
great prominence in the county, and at one
time represented the district in Congress.
The territory now included within Wyan-
dot County was originally a part of several
of the adjoining counties. Prom the setting
aside of the reservation in 1817 until the for-
mation of counties in 1820, there was very
little civil administration in the county. A
part of it was included in Crawford, Hancock,
Hardin, and Marion counties. Although none
of the territory was within what is now Seneca
County, the northern part was for a time
placed within that county for judicial pur-
poses only. When the first election was held
in 1821, at the home of Henry Lish, Ira Ar-
nold and Seth Crocker acted as clerks of the
election, while John Gordon, James Richards,
and James Whitehead served as judges.
There were thirteen legal voters present. The
result was that Ira Arnold was elected clerk;
John Gordon, James Richards and Ichabod
Merriman, trustees; Elijah Brayton and Ru-
fus Merriman, appraisers; Elijah Brayton,
lister ; Thomas Leeper, treasurer ; Phillip Pier
and Henry Lish, supervisors; Myron Merri-
man and James Whitehead, fence viewers;
Isaac Walker, constable; Syrpien Stephen,
justice of the peace. The election must have
been a happy one, because everyone of the
legal voters was able to secure an office for
himself.
The county did not settle rapidly until after
the Indians were removed in 1843, and the In-
dian lands were opened up to the white settlers
by an act of the Legislature, approved Febru-
ary 3, 1845, and entitled "An act to erect the
new county of Wyandott and alter the bound-
aries of the county of Crawford," was passed.
In accordance with this act, on the 7th of April,
1845, the legal voters of the county assem-
bled in their respective townships, at the
places designated for holding elections, and
proceeded to vote for the various persons
named to fill the county offices. There were
in the aggregate 1,289 ballots cast. As a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
result of the election, the following officers
were declared elected: William Griffith,
Stephen Fowler, and Ethan Terry, county
commissioners; Abner Jurey, treasurer; Sam-
uel M. Worth, auditor; Loriu A. Pease,
sheriff; John A. Morrison, recorder; Albert
Bixby, coroner; Azaria Root, surveyor; and
Chester R. Mott, prosecuting attorney. Of
these newly elected officials, four were classed
as whigs, and the remainder as democrats.
These gentlemen at once attached their signa-
tures to the required oath of office, filed their
bonds of indemnity, and within two weeks
were prepared for the transaction of public
business in such apartments as the new and
primitive town afforded. For a long time the
spelling of the name of the county was uncer-
tain. It was written as Wyandot, Wyandott,
and Wyandotte. Soon after the organization
the spelling Wyandot was legally adopted and
entered upon the records.
Among other items of business transacted
on the day of the first meeting of the com-
missioners, on April 16th, was the following:
"Resolved, That the proposition of Moses
H. Kirby to transfer his possessory right to
the Indian Council House at Upper Sandusky,
to the county of Wyandot be accepted, and
the Auditor authorized to issue an order in
favor of Col. Kirby for $30 in full payment
of his interest in said house.
"Resolved, That the different officers of
Wyandot County be authorized to obtain the
necessary cheap furniture for the use of their
respective offices, and present their bill to the
Board of Commissioners at the June session.
"Resolved, That the Auditor of Wyandot
County is hereby authorized to procure the
necessary abstracts from the tax duplicates
of Crawford, Marion, Hardin and Hancock
Counties, and that he procure, if need be, the
services of the Auditors of the said counties
respectively to assist him in obtaining the
same.
"Resolved, That the Auditor cause such re-
pairs to IK- inndc upon the upper part of tlit«
Council House as will be required for the
accommodation of the county »ili . IN."
A few days later the following proceed! HITS
were had :
"Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County, Ohio,
"April 29, 1845.
"The Commissioners of Wyandot County
this day met, and after a due consideration of
the proposition for the establishment of the
seat of justice of Wyandot County at tin-
town of Upper Sandusky, adopted the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions:
"Whereas the Congress of the United
States by an act approved the 26th day of
February, A. D. 1845, have granted to the
Commissioners of Wyandot County, one-third
part of the inlots of the said town of Upper
Sandusky, upon the condition that the said
Commissioners should permanently locate and
fix the seat of justice of said county at the
said town of Upper Sandusky.
"Be It Therefore Resolved, That the
seat of justice of said county of Wyandot
be and hereby is permanently located and
fixed at the town of Upper Sandusky.
"Resolved, That the Register and Re-
ceiver of the Land Office at Upper Sandusky
be requested to advise the Board of Commis-
sioners of Wyandot County what lot or lots
in the town of Upper Sandusky embrace valu-
able improvements made by this Indian
agency at Upper Sandusky."
As the county seat was now legally located
at the Town of Upper Sandusky, it was de-
cided to hold a sale of the lots granted to
the county commissioners by the act of Con-
gress. It was therefore ordered that 200
copies of sale bills be printed, and that the
notice be published in the Ohio Statesman,
The Ohio State Journal, and the Wyandot
Telegraph. A copy of the sale bill is as fol-
lows:
"The Commissioners of Wyandot County
will offer the following valuable town prop-
648
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
erty for sale at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, upon
the 20th, 21st and 22d days of August next,
to wit: The in and out lots, in the town of
Upper Sandusky vested in the said Commis-
sioners by act of Congress approved February
26, 1845, being every third of the in and out
lots selected by alternate and progressive
numbers, amounting to 126 inlots and seventy-
two outlets.
"Upper Sandusky, a town laid out by the
General Government, is delightfully situated
on the Sandusky River, near the center of the
Wyandot Reserve, and the seat of justice of
the new county of Wyandot has been perma-
nently fixed at said town.
"Terms of Sale: One-fourth of the pur-
chase money required in hand, the balance in
three equal annual installments, secured by
notes bearing interest."
The commissioners then adjourned to the
llth of August, for the purpose of appraising
the lots. On this date the board of commis-
sioners met and the lots were priced from
$25 to $500, and a little later the terms of sale
were agreed upon. The sale commenced at
10:30 o'clock a. m. on the 20th of August,
1845, and continued for three days. David
Bishop, of Seneca County, acted as auc-
tioneer. The total value of the lots sold dur-
ing these three days amounted to a little over
$10,000. Some of the lots were forfeited by
the purchasers because of non-payment of the
purchase money and were afterwards sold to
other parties, a number of them many years
later. In all, the officials of the county
received in cash for lots sold in Upper San-
dusky more than $15,000. In other words, the
Government of the United States had donated
to the County of Wyandot an amount suf-
ficient to purchase the sites and to construct
the first courthouse and jail.
The old council house did not long suffice
for the needs of the county, nor did the small
blockhouse, known as the Indian Jail, long
answer the needs of a county bastile. In the
autumn of 1845 it was determined to build a
county jail for the incarceration of malefac-
tors. Contractors and builders were notified
through the press to send in sealed proposals
for the construction of this building. On the
30th of October of that year, the commission-
TIIE OLD INDIAN JAIL AT UPPER SANDUSKY
ers opened the bids, and the contract was
awarded to John McCurdy, who was the low-
est bidder. His bid was evidently too low,
for the commissioners awarded him an addi-
tional sum of $500 above the contract price.
' ' Ordered that the north bed-room in the back
part of the jail, upstairs, be appropriated for
the use of the Recorder for an office. That the
Auditor be authorized to purchase stove and
pipe for the use of the same and that he en-
gage Judge McCurdy to finish the room in a
suitable manner for said purpose." Thus
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
read the minutes of the commissioners'
meeting.
On the 4th day of January, 1846, the county
commissioners took the first step for the erec-
tion of a courthouse. The commissioners were
authorized to insert notices in several papers
offering $50 for the best draft and specifica-
tions for a courthouse building to cost from
$6,000 to $9,000. In September of that year
the commissioners gave the contract for build-
ing the county building to William Young
for the sum of $7,000, and to be completed a
year later. Because of delays in the contract,
it was several years before the building was
finally completed by the third contractor en-
gaged. It was not finished until 1850, when
the commissioners then authorized the auditor
to sell the council house for the sum of $250.
The present magnificent courthouse was com-
pleted in 1900 at a cost of $200,000, and it is
one of the finest in Northwest Ohio.
In 1870 the Wyandot County Infirmary was
established in its present location. The first
directors were A. N. Vanorsdall, Tilman Bal-
liet, and George Harper. Prior to that time
the poor were "farmed out" after a heartless
form of procedure. A splendid farm was
purchased and commodious buildings erected
to take care of the county's unfortunates.
The first court held in the county was a
special term, on April 8, 1845. The members
of it were the associate judges, Abel Renick,
William Brown, and George W. Leith, and it
was held in the office of Moses H. Kirby. Guy
C. Worth was appointed clerk of courts pro
tern. At another session held a few days
later, Moses H. Kirby, Dr. Joseph Mason, and
John D". Sears were named as county school
examiners for a period of three years. The
first regular session of the Court of Common
Pleas of Wyandot County began July 1, 1845,
in the council house, and was presided over
by Judge Ozias Bowen, of Marion. He con-
tinued to preside over this court until the
change brought about the adoption of the new
constitution in 1851. At a meeting of the
bar of the county, held at the close of the
November term in 1851, resolutions were
passed expressive of the esteem in which the
members of the bar held the judicial sen-ice
and character of Judge Bowen. Judge Law-
rence W. Hall succeeded Judge Bowen on
the bench, and began his first term of court
in the county in March, 1852.
The first case brought before the court was
one brought by Peter B. Beidler against Aza-
riah Root to contest the latter's election to
the office of surveyor. The court decided
against the contestant. A number of indict-
ments were returned against persons for keep-
ing gaming houses, taverns without licenses,
nine-pin alleys, etc. A number of licenses
were granted to sell liquors at $2 each.
Judge Hall was the first resident attorney
at Upper Sandusky of whom we have a rec-
ord. He established an office for the practice
of law in that village as early as the year
1843, and remained some three or four years.
The old inhabitants remembered him as a
rather eccentric character, but a hard worker
in the cause of his clients, and a man who
could pour forth in the ears of the judge and
jury a stream of persuasive, grandiloquent
eloquence. Many interesting incidents in
connection with his cases have been related.
One of his speeches ended with the following
outburst of eloquence, if it may so be called :
"The gentlemen may roar like a salamander,
but my positions are adamantine and must
prevail." In another instance, in which he was
attacking the opposing counsel with withering
sarcasm, he used the following language:
"Why your honor! He's a mere circum-
stance, a fabric, and rutabaga." The most
striking quotation is the following from an
address to a jury in which he referred to the
opposing counsel: "Gentlemen of the jury,
you may put one foot upon Hercules, and the
other upon Jupiter, and lay your telescope
astraddle of the sun, and gaze over this wide
650
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
creation, and you can't find as mean a man
as John Smith."
Chester R. Mott was another of the early
attorneys of Wyandot County. He was a
Pennsylvanian, had studied law at Erie, and
practiced there for several years until he re-
moved to Upper Sandusky in the spring of
1844. He assisted in the organization of the
county, and served as its first prosecuting at-
torney. He was also elected to the office of
county auditor for two terms, and represented
the district in the Legislature. In later years
he was elected judge of the Common Pleas
Court and mayor of Upper Sandusky. Moses
H. Kirby was born in Virginia, but came to
Highland County, Ohio, in his early years.
He filled several political positions in that
county, and had been secretary of state for
three years before he came to Upper Sandusky
as the receiver of the United States Land Of-
fice, established there upon the opening up of
the reservation. He was afterwards elected to
the office of probate judge, and represented
the district in the State Senate. John D.
Sears was admitted to the bar in 1844, and
in March of the following year settled in the
Town of Upper Sandusky, which was then a
hamlet of less than a dozen buildings of all
classes. Office had no allurement for him,
but he continued to practice law exclusively,
until in later years he gave more of his atten-
tion to his own business affairs. The only
offices he ever held was a member of the State
Constitutional Convention of 1873, in which
he was recognized as one of the ablest mem-
bers, and a term as mayor of Upper Sandusky.
He was one of the oldest of the surviving mem-
bers of the pioneers, and continued in active
business until his death in 1912.
Robert McKelly is one of the early lawyers
whose name stands out conspicuously in the
history of the county. He came to Upper
Sandusky in 1845 from Bucyrus to assume
a position as register in the United States
Land Office. He became the first probate
judge of the county under the new constitu-
tion, and also filled several other political
offices. Peter A. Tyler lived at McCutchens-
ville before coming to Upper Sandusky in
1852. He enlisted in the army during the
Civil War and had a creditable record.
Shortly after the war he became involved in
an altercation at Bucyrus in which he was
shot, and died shortly afterward from the in-
jury. George W. Beery, Sr., formed a part-
nership with Aaron Lyle for the practice of
law in Upper Sandusky in 1847. He became
one of the active and substantial citizens of
the county. Colonel Lyle did not remain
there long, but was drawn to California by the
gold excitement, and died en route to that
destination. Among the prominent lawyers of
more recent years were Darius D. Hare, who
filled a number of political offices, including
an election to Congress. During the war he
served in the signal corps, and began his study
of law after the close of that conflict. Allen
Smalley was also a veteran of the war. He
served several terms on the Common Pleas
bench. Both of these men have now passed
from the scene of their earthly activities.
The records of the early physicians are not
so readily accessible as those of the lawyers.
Dr. Stephen Fowler was one of the first
physicians to locate within the limits of the
county, and lived near Little Sandusky, on
the "Plains." He removed to this neighbor-
hood in the year 1827, and intended to aban-
don the practice of his profession. He could
not resist the opportunity to alleviate the dis-
tress of his neighbors, however, and hence
again began the practice of medicine and fol-
lowed this occupation until his own life
ended. Wyandot had its full share of bodily
ills in those days. He was elected to the
Legislature, and was also one of the first
county commissioners. Dr. George W. Samp-
son settled along the Tymochtee in 1828, and
at once commenced the practice of medicine.
A couple of years later he removed to
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
McCutchensville, where he remained until his
death. At that time there were no roads and
he was compelled to follow Indian trails in
his practice, which extended to Melmore in
one direction, to Little Sandusky in another,
and even beyond Findlay and Tiffin. He was
often compelled to ride sixty or seventy miles
in a single day in his visits to his patients.
He practiced a great deal among the Indians,
and despite the rigorous experiences of his
early days, he lived to a good old age. He
had great success in treating the "milk sick-
ness" and the "trembles." Dr. James McCon-
nell became a resident of Upper Sandusky in
1845. His services were in great demand, and
he practiced there for a quarter of a century.
"Within two weeks after the County of
Wyandot was created, the Wyandot Tele-
graph, the first newspaper, was established
in the county seat. The editor and proprietor
was John Shrenk, and the politics were whig.
"Terms of subscription, $1.50 per annum, if
paid in four weeks from the time of subscrip-
tion ; otherwise, $2.00 will be charged. ' ' This
notice appeared on the editorial page. It
was a small newspaper, as compared with
those published in the county seat today, but
it filled a want in the community. It was
published in the old Indian council house
until that building was taken possession of
for county purposes. The whigs evidently
did not rally to support of the paper, for it
finally disappeared from sight after a brief
existence. "Without warning, it was cut off
in the very flower of its youth. The election
of the complete democratic ticket probably
had something to do with its demise, and the
effort to spell Wyandot with two "t's" was
a handicap. The Democratic Pioneer was
begun on the 29th of August, 1845. It had
nothing to boast of in the way of literary
matter, for much of the English and gram-
mar would not be approved by a college pro-
fessor. The editor of this paper was William
F. Giles. He speaks of his defunct contem-
porary in the following choice language:
"The thing that decamped from this place,
and took up his abode in Napoleon, Henry
County, and is issuing a little filthy sheet, a
said to be doing great service to the democ-
racy of that county, and the democrats art-
returning their thanks to him. Good. We
hope our friends in those regions will give
him plenty of rope, and the consequence will
be seen." One attempt was made to mob him
because of something he had written. This
attempt upon the liberty of the press created
a great furor in those days. It continued un-
der the management of Mr. Giles for a couple
of years when it was sold to Josiah Smith and
Elijah Giles, who continued the publication
under the name of J. Smith and E. Giles.
When W. F. Giles returned from California
in 1853, he regained control of the paper,
but changed the name to the Wyandot
Pioneer.
In 1848 James S. Fouke and Co., issued
the first number of the Wyandot Tribune,
a whig paper. In less than a year, however,
he published a valedictory, as follows : ' ' The
patronage of the office is not sufficient to meet
our engagements, and hence the necessity of
our leaving." At the same time he an-
nounced the transfer of the paper to A. C.
Hulburd whom he introduced as "A young
man deserving the patronage of the whig
party." Mr. Hulburd formed a partnership
with M. R. Gould. The paper was continued
by this firm for a couple of years, and it then
suspended publication in order to collect out-
standing accounts.
When the Pioneer was transferred to
William Appleton, in 1854, the democratic
party was left without an organ. The Pio-
neer became the republican organ hence-
forth and, after several changes, it finally
passed into the hands of Pietro Cuneo in 1866.
A few years later the name was changed to
the Wyandot County Republican. He was
a gifted newspaper man, and made his pub-
652
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
lication a financial success. It has remained
in his family since that time. Mr. Cuneo
served as United States Consul at Milan,
Italy, for a period, to which office he was ap-
pointed by President McKinley. Thus he
went back to his native land as one of the
accredited representatives of his adopted
country. He came here as a penniless im-
migrant, and succeeded in acquiring a com-
fortable competency.
To aid the cause of democracy, Robert D.
Dumm began the publication of the Demo-
cratic Vindicator. At the close of the first
volume the new paper passed under the
editorial control of M. W. Dennison, who
conducted it for a few years, and then the
Vindicator ceased to vindicate. There
were still left over, however, men who had a
liking for printer's ink, and the first number
of the Democratic Union was given to the
public, of which Mr. Jones finally became the
sole editor. In 1858 it passed into the control
of Robert D. Dumm. In 1868 Mr. Dumm left
the Union and was succeeded by E. Zim-
merman, and it then became the property of
Louis A. Brunner, who continued in charge
for several years. Mr. Dumm then returned
to this paper, and purchased a one-half in-
terest of Mr. Brunner. Again he retired, but
purchased an interest in 1879, and it was pub-
lished by the Dumm family until absorbed
by; the Republican. The combined paper
is now known as the Union-Republican
and is issued tri-weekly. Sherman A. Cuneo,
son of Pietro Cuneo, is at present the editor
and publisher. The Weekly Chief was
established in 1876 by H. A. Tracht, then a
youth of fourteen years. This was discon-
tinued for a time, but it was resurrected in
1879. This paper is now issued as a daily.
Other newspapers in the county are the
Carey Times, established by Frank T.
Tripp, Jr., in 1873. It succeeded an earlier
paper, the Carey Blade. The Nevada Enter-
prise was first issued by Rev. A. B. Kirtland
in 1872. It was published for a long time by
Joseph M. Wilcox alone, and is now .owned
by Wilcox and Holmes. The name has been
.changed to the Nevada News. The Sycamore
News was founded in 1880 by S. W. Holmes
and Son. It is an independent family news-
paper, which has a good country circulation.
UPPER SANDUSKY
Upper Sandusky occupies a pleasant and
almost romantic site on the high banks of the
Sandusky River. It was not the location of
the original village of the Wyandot Indians.
When the reservation was set off, however, in
the year 1817, the Indian village was moved
four miles south to what is now the site of the
county seat of Wyandot County. Fort Ferree
had been built here by troops under General
Harrison, and was occupied a number of times
by that commander, and several hundred
troops were maintained here at times during
the War of 1812. It consisted of the usual
stockade of that day, made of split and round
timbers, with blockhouses at the corners, and
enclosed a spring. As the Wyandots were
friendly, it was not considered necessary to
maintain a strong force here, and it was prin-
cipally used as a headquarters for the com-
mander. When Main Street was macadam-
ized, remains of soldiers were disinterred, as
was evidenced by the brass buttons bearing
the letters "U. S." stamped upon them; and
some rosettes of leather with the American
eagle in brass as a center piece. Several
thousand Pennsylvania and Kentucky troops
were at one time stationed here, but they en-
camped on the old mission farm, at what was
called Camp Meigs.
The Walker store dated from about 1825.
The proprietor, William Walker, was a quar-
ter-blood Wyandot, and he was a man highly
esteemed among the tribe. It was still known
as the Walker store after the whites came,
but the proprietor was then John Walker, a
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
white man. The old house of William
Walker, at the corner of Walker and Fourth
streets, built in the '20s, is still standing
and used as a dwelling. It is really a stand-
ing monument to historic Upper Sandusky.
Near the corner of Wyandot Avenue and
Fourth Street once stood a double log build-
ing, two stories in height, which was known
as the Garrett Tavern. The wife of Garrett
was a sister of William Walker. This was
the only hostelry in the village during the
Indian occupation. It was on what was
known as the Overland stage route, and the
"Yo-ho" of the driver's horn wakened the
echoes of the village on the arrival and de-
parture of the stage. Travelers for the west
came to Sandusky by boat and then took the
Harrison Military Road, passing through
here, for Columbus and Cincinnati. Charles
Dickens passed through here on his way to
Sandusky in 1842, and tarried over night. He
writes of it in his "American Notes," as fol-
lows :
"Between 10 and 11 o'clock at night, a
few feeble lights appeared in the distance, and
Upper Sandusky lay before us. They were
gone to bed at the Log Inn, which was the
only house of entertainment in the place, but
soon answered our knocking and got some
tea for us, in a sort of kitchen or common
room, tapestried with old newspapers pasted
on the walls. The bed chamber to which my
wife and I were shown was a large, low,
ghostly room, with a quantity of withered
branches on the hearth, and two doors with-
out any fastening, opposite to each other,
both opening on the black night and wild
country, and so contrived that one of them
always blew the other open, a novelty in
domestic architecture which I do not remem-
ber to have seen before, and at which I was
somewhat disconcerted, to have forced upon
my attention after getting into bed, as I had
a considerable sum in gold for our traveling
expenses in my dressing case. Some of the
luggage, however, piled against the panels
soon settled the difficulty. My Boston film. I
clinil.cil up to soniewh.-iv in the roof, where
another guest was already snoring hugely.
But being bitten beyond his power of endur-
ance, he turned out again and fled for shelter
to the coach, which was airing itself in front
of the house — and lay there shivering until
morning. Nor was it possible to warm him
up when he came out, by means of a glass of
brandy, for in Indian villages, the Legisla-
ture, with a very good and wise intention
forbids the sale of spirits by tavern keepers.
The precaution, however, is inefficacious, for
the Indian never fails to procure liquor of a
worse kind at a dearer price from traveling
peddlers."
The old mission church and burial ground
still remain as historic relics of the days
gone by. When the Wyandote sold their
reservation they reserved one acre, which had
been their burial ground, and two acres con-
taining the church. At the last council held
before this departure, the chiefs formally
committed these to the Methodist Episcopal
Church to be taken care of. The church
formally accepted the trust, and appointed
trustees to take charge of the two-acre tract.
The old burial ground was entirely neglected.
When the mission church was abandoned for
services, because too far out, it too suffered
neglect and sank into a ruined condition. The
neat stone monuments marking the resting-
places of the tribe became almost indistin-
guishable. A squatter took possession and
made it a pasture lot, and attempted to claim
ownership through adverse possession. The
grounds were finally rescued from such almost
criminal neglect, and the old mission church
has been restored as an almost priceless relic
of an age that has disappeared with the
changes of time.
The first council house of the Wyandots
was erected about 1878, and consisted of split
plank set up between uprights, while the top
was covered with bark stripped from trees.
654
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
This was replaced in 1830 by a more preten-
tious building, two stories in height, and
about 18x24 feet in size. Each floor consisted
of a single room. The material for the build-
ing had been prepared at the Indian sawmill,
three miles northeast of the village. Its last
use was as a schoolhouse, and while employed
in that capacity, in 1851, the old relic was
destroyed by fire. The Indian jail was a
small and compact structure, built of squared
timbers and was also two stories high, the
lower of which was very low. Within its walls
many a red recalcitrant and criminal was con-
fined. It also has disappeared in the onward
march of events.
There were few white settlers here, except-
ing some traders and missionaries, until after
the Indians were removed west of the Missouri
River. Hence it is that the history of the
town really begins with the year 1843, when
this site was surveyed and platted under the
provisions of an act of Congress. This marks
the transition from Indian occupation to
Caucasian settlement. The original survey
of the town was made by Louis Classon in
1843, and was recorded in that year. By a
wise provision of the platters, the original
streets were made unusually wide, which gives
the town a very attractive appearance today.
It was not long after the departure of the
Indians that their old haunts were occupied
by a number of permanent settlers. The cab-
ins of the red men soon sheltered people of a
paler color. The old cabin of Sum-mun-de-
wat was moved from its original location, but
is still occupied. The United States Land
Office was removed from Lima to Upper
Sandusky in October of that year, with Moses
H. Kirby as receiver, and Abner Root as reg-
ister. When these officials arrived, they found
that Andrew and Purdy McElvain and Joseph
Chaffee had preceded them. Purdy McElvain
had been here for a number of years as United
States land agent. Andrew was the pro-
prietor of a big log tavern.
Col. Andrew McElvain was commissioned
the first postmaster of the village. The new
officials established their office in the old coun-
cil house, and a lively boom began for the new
town after it had been chosen as the county
seat. In their anxiety to secure good loca-
tions, lawyers, merchants, doctors, hotel
keepers, artisans, speculators, etc., hastened
to Upper Sandusky by the score, and hun-
dreds of town lots had been sold before the
close of that year. The prices paid were pro-
portionably high for that day. Some
brought as much as $400 or $500. It
was not long until piles of all kinds of build-
ing material were heaped upon the ground,
and each day witnessed an increase of men
and teams employed in its delivery. Stone
was easily obtained from the old mission
quarry, located in the Sandusky River. At
that time walnut lumber, now almost price-
less, was generally used for siding and finish-
ing lumber. Ash and oak were employed for
the flooring and shingles.
Within a year, four lawyers, Moses H.
Kirby, Chester R. Mott, John D. Sears, and
William K. Wear, and two doctors, Dr. Joseph
Mason and Dr. David Watson, had settled iu
Upper Sandusky. James Boyd, a colored
man, had also appeared on the scene. David
Ayres & Company had become identified with
the business community as merchants. Thomas
Miller began the business of manufacturing
saddles, harness, and other leather goods.
Joseph MeCutcheon opened up a stock of
general merchandise. Henry Zimmerman, Sr.,
inaugurated the Blue Ball Hotel, which then
became the headquarters for the overland
stage. Robert Taggert soon took his place in
the business life of the community as a grocer
and baker. Two newspapers had been estab-
lished within the same period, and the village
had a population of from 300 to 400.
There was a great rivalry between the mer-
chants in the old part of the town and in the
new center, but the newer merchants were
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
generally the more aggressive, and they con-
trolled the village organization. An ordi-
nance, published August 5, 1848, established
twelve feet as the width of sidewalks on busi-
ness streets, allowing four feet to merchants
and mechanics to display wares. This was
amended, September 9, 1848, authorizing fif-
teen feet in width on Sandusky Avenue, re-
pealing so much of previous ordinance as
applied thereto. To offset the big spring at
the old center they established public wells,
walled with brick, and furnished with log
drinking troughs, at the courthouse and other
sites. They painted their store fronts in
varied colors. Their stores were known by
names as the ' ' Regulator, " " Emporium, ' ' etc.
Any and all means were used to draw and
hold interest in the new business center.
A letter written by Joseph McCutchen, on
Christmas Day, 1846, spoke of the village as
follows :
"In the first place, in relation to Upper
Sandusky. It has improved beyond the most
extravagant calculations. It is but a little
over a year ago since that General Govern-
ment sold the town lots and land, and now
some 800 inhabitants reside there. There are
six dry goods stores — three too many — about
the same number of groceries, four hotels,
mechanical shops of various kinds, and the
town is still improving.
"The county is also settling with an excel-
lent class of farmers. The public buildings
are in rapid progress. The jail is almost com-
pleted; it is by far the best looking jail I
have seen ; it is made of stone and brick. The
brick is the best specimen I have ever seen in
Ohio. The stone for the doors and windows
are beautiful white limestone, brought from
Marion County. The builder is Judge
McCurdy, from Findlay, Hancock County.
Although he will, in a few days, have seen
seventy-four winters, he is one of the most
enterprising men of his age I ever saw. If
he is spared a few weeks longer, the job will
be finished in a masterly style. He guts l.y
$500 too little for the building.
"The courthouse has been contracted for at
$7,000.00 by a Mr. Young, from Logan
County. It is to be a magnificent building.
The donation from the General Government,
if judiciously managed, will pay every dol-
lar of expense of the public buildings, or
nearly so, without taxing the people a dollar.
I hope it may do it, as you are well aware I
have labored three years with Congress, to
have the donation matter accomplished."
Upper Sandusky was incorporated in the
year 1848 by a special act of the Legislature.
Notwithstanding it was the county seat, and
an incorporated village, the town moved along
in a slow and uneventful way after the first
boom was over. At the first election for
corporate officers, William W. Bates wag
chosen mayor and Jacob Juvenall, recorder,
although the official records have been lost.
William Bivens, the second mayor, was a
shoemaker, and a man who could scarcely read
and write. Many ludicrous incidents of his
career as city executive have been related.
When the Ohio and Indiana Railway, now the
Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad,
reached there in 1854, many new business
houses were opened up and the population
rapidly increased for a time.
The earliest religious society to be active in
working in Wyandot County was the Meth-
odist Episcopal organization, which built the
mission at Upper Sandusky, and which is de-
scribed elsewhere. The Methodist Episcopal
Church of Upper Sandusky, the successor to
the Mission, was organized in the autumn of
1845. Before the Wyandots left, a class of
white people had regular prayer and class
meetings and an occasional sermon in English
by one of the missionaries or a traveling
minister. The following men were elected
members of the board of trustees: Andrew
M. Anderson, Guy C. Worth, James B. Alden,
Alexander Armstrong, Joseph Cover, Alex-
656
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
ander Voluntine, and William Myers. At a
meeting of the trustees, lield in 1846, it was
resolved to circulate a paper soliciting sub-
scriptions for the erection of a church build-
ing. It was decided to "build a house of
worship of plank, ten foot story, three fifteen-
light windows, of 10x12 glass, on each side,
and two windows in front with one door in
the center of the front end of said building."
This house was completed probably in 1847.
Prior to this time the society had occupied
the old mission church, which in some way
had been retained by the United States, and
was therefore no longer Methodist property.
This old church was used until 1859, when a
new church edifice was finished. At that
time it was the finest building in the village.
This house of worship answered the needs
of the congregation until 1898, when the pres-
ent beautiful stone building was completed.
The First Presbyterian Church was or-
ganized with seven members at a meeting
held in the old mission church in 1845, by
Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, of Bucyrus. Prior
to that time Presbyterian services had been
held at irregular intervals. A small frame
house of worship was built in 1847, and oc-
cupied until a brick church was erected in
1866. The original members were Mr. and
Mrs. Goodman, Mr. and Mrs. Searls, Mr.
Taggert, Mrs. Letitia McCutcheon, and
Reverend McCain. The first English Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church was organized by
Rev. Jacob Schaner, at a meeting held at
the house of George C. Wolford, on the 5th
of January, 1849. Prior to that time a meet-
ing of the members of this denomination had
been held at the old Indian council house.
Fourteen members originally signed the
church constitution, but the number was soon
increased to thirty-five. Among them were
George C. Wolford and wife, Samuel Smith
and wife, Daniel Sterner, wife and three chil-
dren, Samuel, Josiah and Ephraim Miller,
and Mrs. Doctor Watson. The first church,
which was a brick structure, was built in 1851.
This was used by the congregation until 1879,
when the present edifice was finished. The
Trinity Reformed Church was organized in
1852, and the first minister of that denomina-
tion to serve it was Rev. August Winter.
A handsome new edifice was dedicated in 1912
by Bishop S. P. Spreng, for the Trinity Evan-
gelical Church. Other Protestant societies in
the town are the German Evangelical Luther-
an, the Episcopal, and Universalist.
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Congregation
dates from the year 1857, when a dozen Cath-
olic families banded together under the direc-
tion of the Sanguinist Fathers, of New Riegel,
formed a small but spirited mission in Upper
Sandusky. Most of the members were Ger-
mans, but there were a few Irish families.
Steps were immediately taken for the erec-
tion of a brick chapel, and it was not long
until the building was ready for use. The
council at that time was composed of John
Gaa, Anthony Christen, and Frank Keller.
For a number of years the congregation was
served by priests from New Riegel. It was
not until 1865 that the congregation had a
resident minister. The first priest who served
them in this capacity was Rev. B. A.
Quinn, who remained only two months, when
he was succeeded by Rev. G. A. Spier-
ings. In the fall of 1873 the building of a
splendid new church was begun, but it was
not completed until 1880, in which year it
was dedicated. From the very beginning of
the organization of this church a parochial
school has been maintained, sometimes at a
very great sacrifice of the members.
The union schools of Upper Sandusky date
from December, 1854. At that time they were
opened with Frederick Mott as superintend-
ent. The other teachers were Elizabeth Mott,
Rebecca Zimmerman, and Delia Chaffee. The
building in use was 40x50 feet in size and
contained four rooms. An addition was made
to this building in 1866. The present sub-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIu
t,.r)T
st initial high school was erected in 18«^-.'5,
and two ward buildings are also in use at
this time. Prior to 1854 the schools were
privately conducted. Among these teachers
were: Rev. Charles Thayer, Sarah I lushes.
.Mary Harper, and Charles Culver.
The earliest fraternal order established in
I pper Sandusky was Wyandot Lodge, No.
1101, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in
1848. John D. Sears was the first presiding
officer. Warpole Lodge, No. 176, Free and
Accepted Masons, was organized in October,
1850, with Joseph McCutcheon as worshipful
master. Col. M. H. Kirby was the second
master, and continued in that position for a
score of years. The Royal Arcanum was in-
stituted in 1879, with George G. Bowman as
regent. The Knights of Honor was instituted
in 1877, with Adam Kail as dictator. Rob-
bins Post, No. 91, Grand Army of the Repub-
lic, was organized in 1880, and J. F. Rieser
was the commander. The Knights of Pythias
came in 1883, and Robert Carey was the first
council commander.
Upper Sandusky 's earliest bank was estab-
lished in 1854 by George Harper, David
Ayers, James G. Roberts, John D. Sears, and
William C. Hedges, under the firm name of
Harper, Ayres, Roberts & Company. It was
a private institution and ceased operations in
1859. In 1860, Sylvester Watson established
the Exchange Bank, which existed for three
years, and was then merged into the First
National Bank. It has operated under its
original charter since 1863. The first officers
were Thomas V. Reber, president; and Syl-
vester Watson, cashier. The Wyandot County
Bank was organized in 1867. The original
stockholders were L. B. Harris, I. H. Beery,
T. E. Beery, J. A. Maxwell, and George W.
Beery. Mr. Beery served as president for
many years. R. R. McKee opened up a pri-
vate bank in 1860, which later became the
Central Bank. This bank failed in 1884, with
great losses by the depositors. Since that
time two new institutions have entered tin-
banking field. The Commercial National
Bank was organized in 1900. The Citi/en-,
Savings Bank began business in 1907. All
of these banking institutions are doing a
flourishing business and greatly aid the- busi-
ness of the community.
CAREY
Carey is the second town of importance in
Wyandot County. It derives its name from
the Judge John Carey, who was president of
the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Rail-
road, when that road was built. The village
was laid out by R. M. Shuler and W. M
Buell, in 1843. These gentlemen owned laud
in the neighborhood, and were anxious to
have a town established there. It was thus
platted a couple of years before the organiza-
tion of Wyandot County. In the same year
in which the town was founded, John Houck
erected a frame building in which he kept
a hotel, the first business of that kind or
any kind in the village. It was a quaint old
structure, which did service for half a cen-
tury thereafter. The first and pioneer mer-
chant of Carey was W. M. Buell, who erected
a frame store room and began business with
a stock of general merchandise. R. W. Reed.
McDonaugh M. Carey, and H. J. Starr, under
the firm name of Reed, Carey & Company,
established the second business enterprise in
the place. Within a short period, Jones Park,
McDowell and Baker, and' John E. James,
established stores dealing in general mercan-
tile business. The first grocery store was
opened up by David Straw, with a capital of
less than fifty dollars. He continued in busi-
ness many years, and finally became one of
the wealthiest men in the county. The old
Carey Mills were erected in 1846 by Enos
and William Wonder, and it was the second
mill in the county.
Since her humble beginning, Carey has
658
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
made rapid strides in the field of progress,
and is today a live and progressive town.
It has banks, several churches, and many
fraternal orders. The development of the
"muck" land surrounding it has brought it
agricultural prosperity. A quarter of a cen-
tury ago this land was considered as hardly
worth its taxes. It was looked upon as a great
waste and practically worthless. Since that
time it has been drained, and has been found
especially adapted for celery and onions.
More than two hundred carloads of the
odoriferous onions are shipped each year from
here, and the value of the land exceeds that
of the land first utilized. All of this land
is tributary to Carey and is a valuable asset.
Five religious organizations are represented
in Carey. These are the United Brethren,
United Evangelical, Methodist Episcopal,
English Lutheran, and Roman Catholic. The
latter, which is known as Our Lady of Con-
solation, is noted as a place of pilgrimage.
This dates from 1874, when a shrine was
dedicated to the Virgin as a place of refuge
and prayer. Father Gloden had vowed that
the first church he should build should be
dedicated to the "Consoler of the afflicted."
He obtained a replica of the famous image
of Luxembourg. A solemn procession of 1,000
accompanied the image from Berwick to
Carey, and to the recitation of prayers and
singing of hymns it was carried over the in-
tervening seven miles on May 24, 1875. This
inaugurated the shrine and the pilgrimages.
This was formally approved by Pope Leo
XIII, and the church was endowed with in-
dulgences and other spiritual privileges.
Many miraculous cures are reported among
the pilgrims at the annual season of pilgrim-
age and shrine.
NEVADA
The Village of Nevada is situated in the
eastern part of the county. It was given its
designation after the state of the same name,
which was attracting considerable attention
about the time the original town was platted
in 1852. The streets are all laid out with a
generous width, which adds to the attractive-
ness of the village. The founders of the
village were Jonathan Ayres and George Gar-
rett, and the surveyor was J. H. Williams.
Garrett was a man of mixed blood, Indian
and white. There was nothing promising
about the embryo village platted in the woods,
but the coming of the railroad, now known as
the Pennsylvania, brought life and prosperity.
At the time of the1 platting there were only
three houses on the site. In these dwelt Lair
Miller, James McLaughlin, and Samuel Elli-
son. William McJunkins had the honor of
being the pioneer merchant, and he erected
the first business room in 1853. It was a
goodly-sized frame structure. He was both
postmaster and station agent for a number
of years. The second store room was erected
by Mr. Ayers, which was also a frame build-
ing. William Fredregill conducted both a
grocery and saloon. J. L. Cook and William
F. Goodbread were also among the pioneer
merchants. Other business enterprises fol-
lowed as the population in and around Nevada
increased. B. Hopp established the Commer-
cial Hotel in 1862, and the Kerr House was
built by Robert Kerr in 1882. For many
years it has been a leading commercial center,
and farmers come for long distances to do
their trading in Nevada. It possesses some
small factories and two banks.
Nevada was incorporated, and the first
election held in 1866. The man who first
filled the mayor's chair was W. R. DeJean.
The original councilmen were E. R. Welsh,
William McJunkins, John Tudlope, C. P.
Hopp, and C. F. Hoffman. The Nevada
Deposit Bank was organized by W. L. Blair
in 1873, and he has remained at the head of
it ever since that date. It was at first incor-
porated, but is now conducted as a private
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST oil In
bank. The Farmers and Merchants Bank was
organized in 1907.
Five religious societies are found in the
town. The Evangelical Lutheran Church was
erected in 1859. Members of the United
Brethren Church held their first meeting in
the barn of James McLaughlin in May, 1857,
and organized a society three years later. A
church was not built, however, until 1875. As
early as 1859, meetings of the Methodist Epis-
copal denomination were held, and a church
building was built in 1867. A fine new edifice
was dedicated in 1906. The Presbyterian
society was organized in 1858, and their edi-
fice built in 1876. Two elders of the Advent
Christian faith came in 1867 and organized a
society after conducting a revival.
SYCAMORE
The Village of Sycamore, situated in the
northeastern part of the county, derived its
name from the creek that flows through its
corporate limits. Sycamore Creek rises in
Crawford County, and flows northwesterly
through this township on its way to the San-
dusky River. The creek doubtless derives its
name from the sycamore trees that grow along
its banks. When the Taylor mill was built
a short distance from the village, in 1843, it
was considered a wonderful institution. Prior
to that the settlers were obliged to go to the
old Indian mill, near Upper Sandusky, to
have their grinding done. The mill has since
been removed to the village, and is now oper-
ated by steam power. In 1834 the first church
was built in the township, on the line adjoin-
ing Crawford County. This was the Ebenezer
Methodist Episcopal Church, of Pipetown. It
was a small frame building. A larger church
replaced this more primitive building in 1853,
and is still standing. The society is inactive,
however, as the members have transferred
their membership to the surrounding villages,
and especially to Sycamore. Many of the
njr their last sleep
adjoining the old
early ]ii<ni.-.-rs arc
in the "(MMI'S A- n
'•hurch.
Syamuiv \vas laill nllt ill 1M2, while it
was still a part of Crawford County. This
was the part known as Old Sycamore, on thi
north side of tli- <-i.-.-k. Across the cre.-k a
Aln.b STONE KK<>.\I OLD INDIAN Mn.i.. I'IM-KK
SANDUSKY
Typical of the crude mill of the early days.
new town began to arise, which was called
"new town." When the Ohio Central Rail
road was completed, this new section began to
grow rapidly. Many farmers moved in, some
small manufacturing enterprises were opened
up, and the village was transformed from an
ordinary country hamlet into a live town.
The village was incorporated in 1884, and its
first mayor was Benjamin Culver. B. E.
Martin was elected corporation clerk at the
same time. Water works were erected, elec-
tric lighting installed, and many other im-
provements have been added. It has always
been considered a good trading center. The
Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren, and
660
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
German Reform denominations each have
churches in Sycamore. The Masons, Odd Fel-
lows, and Grand Army of the Republic also
have active lodges in the village. The failure
of the Peoples Bank in 1913, which had been
established and conducted by George A. Klahr
as a private bank, was a serious blow, for it
entailed a loss of more than half a million
of dollars. Nearly every one in the commu-
nity was a loser by this almost unprecedented
failure through slack business methods. A
new bank was at once organized with sufficient
resources, and financial confidence has again
been restored.
OTHER VILLAGES
About the year 1827 Garrett Fitzgerald
located in the southwestern part of the county,
and entered eighty acres of land. He laid
out a small town, which he called Burlington.
In the following years Josiah Robinson
platted a rival town on an adjoining section,
which he named Marseilles. The intervening
strip of land was finally added to the plat by
C. Merriman, and the entire village became
known as Marseilles. Mr. Fitzgerald erected
the first log house, and the earliest store was
opened by Merriman and Terry. A railroad
has never reached the village, so that it has
not grown rapidly.
The Village of Harpster, originally known
as Fowler, in honor of C. R. Fowler, was
founded in 1876 by David Harpster and John
Wood, who owned the land upon which the
village was established. It was finally named
after David Harpster, who was long known
as the "wool king." The town plat was re-
corded in 1877, and the first house was erected
by William H. Parkins. Mr. Harpster him-
self established the first store, in conjunction
with Cyrus Sears, in a brick building erected
by him. The firm of Harpster and Sears con-
tinued for a number of years. A grist-mill
was also erected by Mr. Harpster, which was
a great convenience for the community, and
he likewise organized the Harpster Bank,
with J. L. Lewis as cashier.
Kirby was laid out in 1854. It was named
after the proprietor, Moses H. Kirby. It has
never grown very greatly, but is prosperous
and is surrounded by a fine agricultural and
stock-raising district. The Town of Lovell
was platted by Lovell B. Harris, when the
Hocking Valley Railroad was constructed. A
postoffice was established at the same time.
The Town of Whartonsburg was laid out in
1848 by Samuel Rathbun. The first house
was built by N. DePew, and the first store
by James E. James, who was also the first
postmaster. It is now called Wharton. Other
villages in the county are Mexico, Bellever-
non, Deunquat, also known as Petersburg,
Little Sandusky, Wyandot, and Crawford.
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