USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
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Gc 977.101 H39a 309615
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 2774
HISTORY
OF
HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES
OHIO
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS
EDITED BY
LEWIS CASS ALDRICH
GC 977,101 H390
SYRACUSE, N. Y. D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS 1888
PRESS OF D. MASON & CO., 63 WEST WATER ST., SYRACUSE, N. Y.
309615
INTRODUCTION.
H ISTORY is a statement of fact, clearly and concisely written, without in- ferences or personal opinions. One of the most satisfactory features of such a work, both to the writer and to the reader, is accuracy of statements and dates of occurring events. In this the historian always largely depends and relies upon the official records of the county-a part of the subject treated ; and the absence of such records places him in the somewhat em- barrassing position of being compelled to omit certain important facts, or else to say that they occurred at " about " such a time.
In the preparation of this volume, and in the department relating to each of the counties, the writer was at once confronted with the fact that he must proceed without early official records. Twice in the history of Henry county has its court-house been destroyed by fire, and, upon the occasion of the first of these events its records, almost entire, were consumed. Likewise the court- house at Ottokee, the seat of justice of Fulton county for some years, was burned, and with it were destroyed all records. But, notwithstanding these unfortunate conditions, the compiler has been able to furnish a reasonably ac- curate statement of history by virtue of the kind and ever-ready assistance of men whose word and memory are almost equal to any record. It is, therefore, the province and purpose of these introductory pages to acknowledge and make manifest the obligations of the editor and the publishers of this volume to those who have so generously contributed in every way to make the work not only a success, but possible of accomplishment.
Among the early chapters, those relating to the Indian occupation of this region, will be found the contribution of Colonel Howard, a resident of Wina- meg, but who also maintains a domicile at Wauseon. Then, in the same de- partment-the general history, will be found chapters from the pen of Judge Haag, who is acknowledged to be by far the most versatile writer of Henry
6
INTRODUCTION.
county. To his willing labor, also, are we indebted for the Bench and Bar, the Press, and several township chapters. To the judge's son, Jackson D. Haag, are due the thanks of the editor for the history of the several townships, Ridge- ville, Freedom and Washington, of Henry county. The name of James E. Scofield heads two chapters relating, respectively, to the townships Flat Rock and Pleasant. In the military history of this county we here acknowledge the services of Captain C. E. Reynolds, he having contributed important material for the same relating to the Sixty-eighth Regiment; and, in the same chapter, the muster roll of that regiment is furnished through the courtesy of Elmer A. Palmer, esq., now of the adjutant-general's office at Columbus. The geolog- ical chapter, and that of Napoleon township as well, are written by Dr. Hunter.
For the chapters which comprise the history of Fulton county acknowl- edgments are made to the following persons: To Hon. Oliver B. Verity, for the chapters on Land Titles, Amboy, Chesterfield, Clinton, Dover, Franklin, Fulton, German, Gorham, Pike, Royalton and York townships; to L. M. Murphy, esq., for the chapters on the Bench and Bar, the village of Wauseon and Swan Creek township; to Hon. Moses R. Brailey (since deceased), for the military history; to Josiah H. Bennett, M. D., for the medical sketches; to Thomas Mikesell, for a valuable meteorological record; to Hon. John C. Rorick, for the recollections of pioneer life.
And finally, to the people at large of both counties, who, by their generous support, have enabled the publishers to produce this Memorial History; to each and every one who has by word or act contributed to the work of the historian, and lightened the burden of his duty, are due sincere thanks from him and from the publishers.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF CHAPTER EXPLANATORY OF THIS VOLUME AND ITS SUB- DIVISIONS
.. . 17
CHAPTER II.
Commencement of the Indian Occupation of the Country East of the Mississippi - Orig- inal Occupants - The Lenni Lenapes - The Mengwe -The Allegwi - Ancient Tradi- tion -- The Conflict - The Lenapes and Mengwe Victorious - Their Occupation of the Whole Eastern Country 18
CHAPTER III.
From the Close of the Revolution Down to the Time of the Removal of the Last of the Indian Tribes from the Valley - Names and Characteristics of the Tribes of the Valley - The Part Taken by Them in the Wars - Their Final Removal - Incidents .. 22
CHAPTER IV.
HISTORY OF THE SOIL AND JURISDICTION.
Province of Louisiana - French Claim - British Claim -Cession of France to England - Cession by England to the Colonies -Cesssion by the States to the United States - Extinguishment of Indian Titles - Organization as to Territory - Admission as a State - Organization of Counties - Township Organization
12
8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
HISTORY OF THE ADVENTURES, INVASION, IMMIGRATION AND SETTLE- MENT BY THE WHITES. 37
CHAPTER VI.
Early Settlers of the Maumee Valley Recalled - The Names of Many of Them, and Some Incidents Concerning Them. 43
CHAPTER VII.
Erection of Henry County - The Act Creating It - Other Counties Erected at the Same Time - Original Boundaries-Subsequent Reductions to Form Other Counties - Geographical Location and Present Boundaries - Events Incident to Its Complete Organization - Locating the County_ Seat - Napoleon Designated - First County Officers - First Court - The Old Log Court-House - The First Frame Court-House -- Its Burning - The Records Destroyed- The First Brick Court-House - Its Destruction - The Present Court-House and Jail - County Civil List 47
CHAPTER VIII.
Historical Incidents and Localities Connected with Henry County - Simon Girty - A Tale of the Early War - Logan's Fidelity Proved - The Black Swamp - Killing of Four Indians. 55
CHAPTER IX.
A GENERAL TOPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL VIEW OF HENRY COUNTY; ITS CIVIL DIVISIONS. . .
62
CHAPTER X.
GEOLOGY OF HENRY COUNTY 65
9
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
The Titles to Lands of Ohio - Original Claimants - Extinguishment of Indian Titles - Surveys in this Region. 70
CHAPTER XII.
HENRY COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65
.. 76
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BENCH AND BAR. 140
CHAPTER XIV.
THE HENRY COUNTY PRESS 156
CHAPTER XV.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
. . . 162
CHAPTER XVI.
HISTORY OF THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF NAPOLEON -THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF HENRY COUNTY. 166
CHAPTER XVII.
HISTORY OF BARTLOW TOWNSHIP
199
CHAPTER XVIII.
HISTORY OF DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP. 203
2
IO
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIX.
HISTORY OF FLAT ROCK TOWNSHIP .. . .. .. 208
CHAPTER XX.
HISTORY OF FREEDOM TOWNSHIP.
227
CHAPTER XXI.
HISTORY OF HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
230
CHAPTER XXII.
HISTORY OF LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
..
..
235
CHAPTER XXIII.
HISTORY OF MARION TOWNSHIP
239
CHAPTER XXIV.
HISTORY OF MONROE TOWNSHIP
243
CHAPTER XXV.
HISTORY OF NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP
248
CHAPTER XXVI.
HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. 264
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HISTORY OF RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP. ....... 270
CHAPTER XXVIII.
HISTORY OF RIDGEVILLE TOWNSHIP. 273
CHAPTER XXIX.
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 277
CHAPTER XXX.
THE ORGANIZATION OF FULTON COUNTY.
Erection of Fulton County - Act Creating It - Fixing the Seat of Justice - Naming It - The First Court-House - First Term of Court Held in Pike Township - The First Jail- Propositions to Change the County Seat - Burning of the Court-House at Ottokee - New Court-House Erected - Removal of County Seat to Wauseon - The New Court-House - The Jail - The Infirmary - List of County Officials. .. . 285
CHAPTER XXXI.
Geographical Location of Fulton County- Boundaries - Position of Townships - Streams - Topography - Ditching and Draining. 293
CHAPTER XXXII.
GEOLOGY OF FULTON COUNTY 296
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Showing Titles, Grants and Surveys, Native and Foreign, to the Soil of Fulton County ... 302
12
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
METEOROLOGY OF FULTON COUNTY .. . . 316
CHAPTER XXXV.
Early Settlement North of the Fulton Line- Recollections of Pioneer Life . .. . . 327
CHAPTER XXXVI.
SOCIETIES OF THE COUNTY.
331
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Military History of Fulton County - Early Militia Organizations ..
334
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE BENCH AND BAR OF FULTON COUNTY. .. 387
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
....... 403
CHAPTER XL.
THE PRESS OF FULTON COUNTY.
. ... 411
CHAPTER XLI.
HISTORY OF THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF WAUSEON, THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF FULTON COUNTY 420
13
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLII.
HISTORY OF AMBOY TOWNSHIP.
434
CHAPTER XLIII.
HISTORY OF CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP. . .. 144
CHAPTER XLIV.
IIISTORY OF CLINTON TOWNSHIP
....... 455
CHAPTER XLV.
HISTORY OF DOVER TOWNSHIP.
465
CHAPTER XLVI.
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
475
CHAPTER XLVII.
HISTORY OF FULTON TOWNSHIP
. . .. 429
CHAPTER XLVIII.
HISTORY OF GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
. .. 506
CHAPTER XLIX.
HISTORY OF GORHAM TOWNSHIP.
516
14
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER L.
HISTORY OF PIKE TOWNSHIP . 528
CHAPTER LI.
HISTORY OF ROYALTON TOWNSHIP 540
CHAPTER LII.
HISTORY OF SWAN CREEK TOWNSHIP
551
CHAPTER LIII.
HISTORY OF YORK TOWNSHIP. 562
CHAPTER LIV.
BIOGRAPHICAL 573
BRIEF PERSONALS 643
I5
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Allen, Hon. Charles L. 573
Ayers, David 599
Jordan, Amos H. 619
Barber, Col. E. L. 575
Kilpatrick, Mrs. Mary I. 628
Bassett, Dr. L. A 624
Kelley, William C. 592
Briggs, Frank. 576
Miller, Joseph H. 621
Brown, Hon. Levi W 610
Murbach, Andrew J., M. D. 623
Canfield, Heman A. 612
Rorick, Hon. John C. 603
Deyo, Hon. Albert 613
Rorick, Hon. E. H. 629
Ely, Lafayette G. 610
Robinson, Anthony B. 594
Finney, Dr. S. B 618
Scott, Hon. Robert K. 606
Groschner, Hon. H. C. 625
Scofield, James E 632
Haag, Hon. John M 578
Scofield, John N
596
Haag, Samuel C. 586
Scribner, A. B. 633
Hagar, William D. 601
Thompson, Abraham B. 597
Trowbridge, Lyman
635
Handy, William H. 587
Tyler, Hon. John H. 636
Hollister, D. W., M. D. 589
Vaughan, James C. 639
Verity, Hon. O. B.
640
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Allen, Hon. Charles L. facing 524
Ayers, David. facing 470
Barber, Col. E. L. facing 338
Bassett, Dr. L. A. facing 492
Briggs, Frank facing 568
Brown, Hon. Levi W facing 610
Canfield, Heman A _facing 520
Deyo, Hon. Albert. facing 452
Ely, Lafayette G. facing 484
Finney, Dr. S. B. facing 618
Hamler, John. 590
Hornung, Charles
627
Howard, Hon. D. W. H. 58 I
16
CONTENTS.
Haag, Hon. John M. facing 152
Haag, Samuel C. facing 586
Hagar, William D. facing 600
Hamler, John facing 240
Handy, William H. facing 396
Scott, Hon. Robert R.
facing 96
Hollister, D. W., M. D facing 404
Scofield, James E.
facing 208
Hornung, Charles. facing 266
Scofield, John N facing 274
Jordan, Amos H. facing 448
Scribner, A. B. facing 180
Kilpatrick, Mrs. Mary I. facing 628
Thompson, Abraham B.
facing 564
Kelley, William C. facing 398
Trowbridge, Lyman facing 172
Miller, Joseph H.
facing 502
Tyler, Hon. John H.
facing 262
Murbach, Andrew J., M. D. facing 514
Rorick, Hon. John C. facing 424
Rorick, Hon. E. H. facing 526
Robinson, Anthony B. facing 594
HISTORY
OF
HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF CHAPTER EXPLANATORY OF THIS VOLUME AND ITS SUBDIVISIONS.
F OR an intelligent and proper narration of the events which it is the pur- pose and province of this work to record, it has been found necessary that the work should be arranged in three general divisions, or departments, and each department again divided into chapters.
The first department contains all that pertains to the two counties, Henry and Fulton, that may be said to be common to both of them, and will be found recorded in the earlier chapters, numbers two, three, four, five and six, bring- ing the subject down to the time of the erection or formation of Henry county, in the year 1820. These chapters relate in the main to the Indian occupation and history, with the fifth, the early settlers of the Maumee Valley prior to and about the time the county was brought into existence. Following these chapters will be found the history of Henry, the senior of the two counties. Henry county was formed in the year 1820, while its fellow in this volume, Fulton, was not given an existence until some thirty years later.
Again, the departments relating especially to the counties will be found subdivided and arranged in two departments each; the first treating of sub- jects having a general extent over the county, and not of such character as to identify them with any particular township or locality, and of themselves form the general history of each county.
3
18
HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
By comparing the chapters in the general history of the counties there will be found similar subjects treated in each, but these have been carefully pre- pared by different writers, and while the subject matter in the general remarks will be found the same, and the same conclusion arrived at, the variable style of presenting them will be found interesting and instructive to the reader.
It will be discovered, too, that each township in each county is written sep- arately, some longer and some shorter, according to the importance of each, or the volume of history that each is found to possess.
Generally any county cannot be said to possess any history prior to its formation, and a narrative of its events would naturally commence with that formation ; but notwithstanding this, the territory now embraced within the boundaries of Henry and Fulton counties had a history long before such form- ation was made, or even contemplated, and that history embraced the whole Maumee Valley, of which valley the county of Henry forms an integral part, although but few, if any, of the stirring events of the valley can be said to have been enacted within the borders of what now constitutes that county ; therefore, it may truthfully be said that the history of Henry and Fulton coun- ties is auxiliary to that of the whole Maumee Valley, auxiliary to but not co- extensive with it. Nevertheless, in an intelligent narrative of the events of this locality the history of the whole valley must be included.
CHAPTER II.
Commencement of the Indian Occupation of the Country East of the Mississippi-Original Occupants-The Lenni Lenapes-The Mengwi-The Allegwi-Ancient Tradition -- The Con- flict-The Lenapes and Mengwe Victorious-Their Occupation of the whole Eastern Country.
W HEN the first European adventurers visited this country they found the whole land occupied by a tribe, or rather a nation, of Indians, calling themselves Lenni Lenapes, meaning original people. Their possessions reached from the Hudson River on the east, throughout the whole country west from that, including the larger rivers of Pennsylvania, the Delaware, Susquehanna, Allegheny, Ohio, Juniata, Schuylkill, and the streams of Ohio as well, even as far south as the Carolinas. Their seat of government was on the Delaware River, and from this fact they were known to the whites as the Delawares. Their sub tribes, that scattered over this vast domain, were subjects of and paid allegiance to the sachems and chiefs at the seat of government, although each tribe was known by a different name suited to the locality in which they respectively lived.
19
GENERAL HISTORY.
Among them, and with their old antagonists, the Iroquois, for hundreds of years there lived a tradition, handed down from generation to generation ; but it is well enough to remark that the story has not in any regard been enlarged upon by younger generations ; it has remained the same, told in the same simple manner, although without fixed date, and no names except those of the tribes or nations engaged. The story, or tradition, is so pure and natural that it seems like a reality, and to call it a tradition seems an unworthy charge and a gross perversion of Indian character and Indian nature.
Sometime during the fourteenth century, as the story goes, there came to the west bank of the Mississippi River, each journeying eastward, two nations of Indians called respectively the Lenni Lenapes and the Mengwe. Neither knew of the journey of the other, nor had they any former acquaintance. Their first meeting was upon the river. They found the country bordering on the river to be in possession of a numerous fierce and warlike nation of Indians calling themselves the Allegwi, who claimed all the territory for hundreds of miles around and apparently were possessed of sufficient force to maintain that claim. The emigrants sent messengers with presents to the chiefs and sachems of the Allegwi, and asked of them permission to cross the river and settle in their country. After a council of those in authority the request was refused, but permission was given that the Lenapes and Mengwe might cross the river and journey to the country far east and beyond the lands claimed by the Al- legwi. The embarkation was at once commenced and thousands crossed the river, when, either deceived as to the number of the emigrants and fearing them, or with malice in their hearts, the Allegwi fell upon them with great force and slaughtered many, driving them into the forests and scattering them far and wide. After a time each of the journeying nations was gathered and all united as a common people, and returning, attacked the Allegwi, beat them in a long and terrific battle and drove them from the country to the far south.
The victorious forces now resumed their journey eastward, but with little feelings of friendship, for the Lenapes declared that the brunt of the battle fell upon them, and that the Mengwe hung in the rear and fought but little. After their journey had ended, these nations never had friendly relations, but lived aloof from each other, and finally became engaged in war, which ended in the entire subjugation of Lenni Lenape, or Delaware country, by the powerful Five Nations, who were, or claimed to be, descended from the Mengwe.
The Lenni Lenapes, as has been stated, settled in the country of the rivers and running streams, while the Mengwe took the country bordering on the lakes, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The former were far more numerous, but were peaceful and content to live at peace ; while the latter, although less in number, were quarrelsome and inclined to warfare. They were wary and crafty, not satisfied with beating an enemy, but sought to anni- hilate all against whom they waged war. This people, from about the middle
20
HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
of the seventeenth century down to the time of the last treaty between the whites and the Indians, were the acknowledged rulers of our whole country ; and although they were variously known as the Iroquois Confederacy, the Five, and subsequently, the Six Nations, and by other names as well, they were, nevertheless, the same people, and inasmuch as they were the conquerors and rulers of the country in this region, and carried on their depredations in this locality, an extended account of their origin and existence, as well as their system of government (for it was a perfect one), will be appropriate in this place. And although there are no well authenticated accounts of Indian his- tory single to the counties of Fulton and Henry, until many years later, the history of the Iroquois Confederacy, or Five Nations, will serve to prepare the mind of the reader for such events as are to follow in succeeding chapters, bringing the subject down to a time within the memory of man.
THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY.
It should be stated at the outset that the name Iroquois was never applied by the confederates to themselves. It was first used by the French, and its meaning is veiled in obscurity. The men of the Five Nations (afterwards the Six Nations) called themselves " Hedonosaunee," which means, literally, "They form a cabin," describing in this expressive manner the close union that existed among them. The Indian name just quoted is more liberally and commonly rendered "The people of the long house," which is more fully de- scriptive of the confederacy, though not quite so accurate a translation.
The central and unique characteristic of the Iroquois league was not the bare fact of five separate tribes being confederated together, for such unions have been frequent among civilized and half-civilized peoples, though little known among the savages of America. The feature that distinguished the people of the Long House from all other confederacies, and which, at the same time bound together all these ferocious warriors as with a living chain, was the system of clans extending throughout all the different tribes.
Although this clan system has been treated of in many works, there are doubtless thousands of readers who have often heard of the warlike success and outward greatness of the Iroquois Confederacy, but are not acquainted with the inner league which was its distinguishing characteristic, and without which it would in all probability have met, at an early day, the fate of other similar alliances.
The word clan has been adopted as the most convenient one to designate the peculiar artificial families about to be described ; but the Iroquois clan was widely different from the Scottish one, all the members of which owed undi- vided allegiance to a single chief, for whom they were ready to fight against all the world ; yet "clan " is a much better word than " tribe," which is some- times used, since that is the designation usually applied to a single Indian nation.
21
GENERAL HISTORY.
The people of the Iroquois Confederacy were divided into eight clans, the names of which were as follows : Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron, and Hawk. Accounts differ, some declaring that every clan extended through all the tribes, and others that only the Wolf, Bear, and Turtle clans did so, the rest being restricted to a lesser number of tribes. It is certain, however, that each tribe-Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas or Sen- ecas-contained parts of the three clans named, and of several of the others.
Each clan formed a large artificial family, modeled on the natural family. All the members, no matter how widely separated among the tribes, were con- sidered as brothers and sisters to each other, and were forbidden to intermarry. This prohibition was strictly enforced by public opinion.
The nations of Indians that formed this confederacy were the Onondagas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, and Senecas. All the clans being taught from earliest infancy that they belonged to the same family, a bond of the strongest kind was created throughout the confederacy. The Oneida, of the Wolf clan, had no sooner appeared among the Cayugas than they claimed him as their special guest, and admitted him to their most confidential intimacy. The Sen- ecas, of the Turtle clan, might wander to the country of the Mohawks, at the farthest extremity of the Long House, and he had a claim upon his brother Turtle, which they would not dream of repudiating. If, at any time, there appeared a tendency toward conflict between the different tribes, it was in- stantly checked by the thought that, if persisted in, the hand of the Heron must be lifted against his brother Heron, the hatchet of the Bear might be buried in the brain of his kinsman Bear, and so potent was the feeling, that for at least two hundred years, and until the power of the league was broken by overwhelming outside force, there was no serious dissension between the tribes of the Iroquois.
Such then was the bond that bound together this nation in common broth- erhood, and made them a most powerful league, sufficiently strong to prevail against every enemy, nor were they slow in availing themselves of their might. Additions to their strength were made from various sources, notice- ably in the accession of the Tuscaroras, by which the Five Nations became the Six Nations ; but this last acquisition was made after the grand conquest of the Iroquois over the whole country.
First, they overthrew the Kahquahs and the Eries, and then went forth " conquering and to conquer." This was probably the day of their greatest glory. Having supplied themselves with the arms of the white man they smote with direst vengeance whomsoever of their own race as were so unfor- tunate as to provoke their wrath.
On the Susquehannas, the Delaware, the Ohio, the Allegheny, even to the Mississippi in the west and the Potomac and Savannah in the south, the Iro- quois bore their conquering arms, filling alike with terror the dwellers on the
22
HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
plains of Illinois, and in the glades of the Carolinas. They strode over the bones of the slaughtered Kahquahs to new conquests on the great lakes beyond, even to the foaming cascades of Michillimacinac, and to the shores of the mighty Superior. They inflicted such terrible defeat upon the Hurons, despite the alliance of the latter with the French, that many of the conquered nation sought safety on the frozen borders of Hudson's Bay. The peaceful, though numerous Lenni Lenapes, fell an easy prey to their united attack, and the land of the Delawares passed into the hands of the confederates. In short they triumphed everywhere and stayed only before the steady approach of the sturdy white-faced pioneer, and even he was, for a time, held at bay by these fierce confederates.
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