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F499 S26 R66 1855
ANDUSKY
1855.
CITY DIRECTORY
Howes R_ 431 kcal
d.E. Davis June 6 th 1855 XI
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SANDUSKY IN 1855.
CITY GUIDE
AND
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
BY W. D. ROOT.
FIRST ANNUAL ISSUE.
e prairie starting In a ·1 howling wolf from their lairs, and amid the loud tran Il hoon resound through
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SANDUSKY : STEAM PRESS OF BILL, COOKE & CO., REGISTER OFFICE. 1855.
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ENTERED According to the Act of Congress, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-five, by W. D. ROOT, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Northern District of Ohio.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF SANDUSKY .*
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PRIOR to the year 1679, the extensive region of country lying on the Southern Shore of Lake Erie, seems to have been entirely un- known, and even down to 1750, we know but little of this forest wilderness except from maps; the inaccuracy of which intreg d to the geographical position of the country, shows it to have been still unexplored by the pioneer of civilization.
As far as history, or tradition, reaches the past, we find the wood- land shores, and verdant Isles, of our beautiful bay, to have been the favorite residence of the Indians. Here in his native haunt and ele- ment, undisturbed by the white man, and enjoying his highest ambition-for the hunting scenes and sports, incident to savage life, the Indian dwelt. He built his wigwam upon the shores of our bay, and navigated its waters with his bark canoe; the grounds where our dwellings now stand, were the theatre of his action-here he followed the deer on its track-chased the buffalo and elk in their flight across the prairie-starting in his thundering course, the preying panther, and howling wolf from their lairs, and amid the loud trampling of horse and buffalo, making his shrill whoop resound through air and forest wilds.
The first distinct Indian nation living upon the shores of our bay, were the Eries, (Erige or Cat nation,) from whence the Lake derives its name; they were exterminated in the year 1655 by the Iroquois or
*For the incidents and historical recollections in these sketches, we have con- sulted BANCROFT, PARKMAN, HOWE, TAYLOR, and Western Annals.
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Five Nations, who merely occupied the country as a hunting ground until 1750, when the Wyandotts and Ottawas gradually came in from the upper country, and made a permanent settlement. The French were the first European visitors, and the first navigation of Lake Erie, was attempted by the adventurous and unfortunate La Salle. In the Spring of 1679, the "Griffin," a barque of 60 tons burden, was launched at the mouth of Tonawanda Creek, and received her outfit, for a fur expedition, by her commander La Salle; and on the 7th of August, sailed up Lake Erie, St. Clair, and Huron, to Macinac; and thence over Lake Michi- gan, to Green Bay, where she arrived on the 27th. Here she loaded with furs, and on the 18th of September,, set sail for Buffal .. Creek, intending to unload and return the following Spring; but unfortunate- ly, was lost before reaching her destination; nor was she ever heard front till within a few years, when the rotten remains of an ancient vessel, were found on the Southeastern shore of Lake Erie, and from her peculiar construction, was identified as the ill-fated Griffin. Near . the middle of the 17th century, some English traders settled on the present site of Venice, and there built a stockade, which they occupied until the year 1750, when the French came in, drove the English from their possessions and built "Fort Junandat," (a probable corrup- tion of Wyandott,) afterwards called "Fort Sandusky." Though some doubts exist as to the exact location of this Fort,. yet tradition suffi- ciently establishes its site at Venice. The French occupied the Fort until 1760, when it was again surrendered to the English; and in May, 1763, was captured and burnt during Pontiac's conspiracy.
In June, following, Captain Dalzell, on a coastwise voyage from Niagara to the relief of Detroit with a force of 280 men, stopped at Sandusky, burnt the fields of standing corn, and the Wyandott village at Castalia; then marched his men northward to Detroit and relieved the garrison at that place.
Sandusky Bay at this time was called "Lac-San-dou-ske," (Lake Sandusky) "Lac" signifying Lake, and "San-dou-ske" meaning "at the cold water." The opinion commonly entertained that Sandusky derived
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its name from the trader Sowdowsky, is quite erroneous; as the "Upper Cold Water" and "Lower Cold Water" were descriptive In- dian names given long before the presence of this trader in these parts, besides we find the name to have existed on maps published early in the 18th century; and in 1744 Charlevoix in his history of New France, gives the name as Chianouske; and John Johnson, Esq., formerly In- dian Agent in Ohio, in his vocabulary of Wyandott words, gives the name of Sandusky river, as Saundustee, or water within water pools.
During the Revolutionary war, the inhabitants through this region, particularly at New London, Fairfield and Norwalk, suffered extremely from fire occasioned by the English; and in 1792 the State of Con- necticut, in consideration of this, donated to these sufferers all the land embraced in the counties of Erie and Huron and a small part of Otta- wa, being a tract of country of about 781 square miles, or 500,000 acres, and was afterwards called the "Fire Lands," the name origina- ting from the above circumstances. These lands were the most West- erly part of what was formerly known as the "Connecticut Western Reserve," a territory lying on the Northeast quarter of the State, ex- tending 120 miles from East to. West, and on an average 50 miles from North to South, embracing about 3,800,000 acres, and granted to the State of Connecticut in the year 1662, by King Charles II, of England, in pursuance to an example of his brother Kings of granting to their subjects distant and foreign regions. The tract embraced in the Fire Lands was surveyed into townships of about five miles square each, these townships subdivided into four sections, and these quarter townships again subdivided, by private surveys, into lots of from fifty to five hundred acres each, to suit individual purchasers.
*"The largest sufferers, and consequently those who held the largest interest. in the Fire Lands, purchased the rights of many who held smaller interests. The proprietors of the Fire Lands, anxious that their new territory should be settled, offered strong inducements for persons to settle in this then unknows region. But aside from the ordinary difficulties attending a new settlement, the Indian title to the Western part of the Reserve was not then extinguished ; but by a treaty held at Fort Industry, on the Maumee, in July, 1805, this object was
*MSS. of C. B. Squier, Esq.
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accomplished, and the East line of the Indian territory was established on the West line of the Reserve. The proprietors of the Fire Lands were deeply interested in this treaty, upon the result of which depended their ability to possess and settle their lands. Consequently the Hon. Isaac Mills, secretary of the company, with others interested, left Connecticut to be present at these negotiations. Cleveland was the first point designated for holding the treaty; but upon their arrival it was ascertained that the influence of the British agents among the Indians was so great as to occasion them to refuse to treat with the agents of the United States, unless they would come into their own territory on the Miami of the Lakes, as the Maumee was then termed. Having arrived at the Maumee, they found several agents of the British Government among the Indians using every possible effort to prevent any negotiation whatever, and it was fifteen or twenty days before they could bring them to any reasonable terms.
"It is quite difficult to ascertain who the first settlers were upon the Fire Lands. As early, if not prior to the organization of the State, several persons had squatted upon the lands, at the mouths of the streams and near the shore of the Lake; led a hunter's life, and trafficked with the Indians. But they were a race of wanderers, and gradually disappeared before the regular progress of the settlements. Those devoted Missionaries, the Moravians, made a settlement as early as 1790 on Huron river, about two miles below Milan, on the Hathaway farm. They afterwards settled at Milan. The first regular settlers upon the Fire Lands, were Col. Jerard Ward, who came in the spring of 1808, and Almon Ruggles and Jabez Wright, in the autumn succeeding. Ere the close of the next year, quite a number of families had settled in the townships of Huron, Florence, Berlin, Oxford, Margaretta, Portland and Vermillion. These early settlers generally erected the ordinary log cabin, but others of a wandering character built bark huts, which were made by driving a post at each of the four corners, and one higher between each of the two end corners, in the middle, to support the roof, which were connected together by a ridge pole. Layers of bark were wound around the sides of the posts, each upper layer lapping the one beneath, to shed rain. The roof was barked over, strips being bent across from one eave over the ridge pole to the other, and secured by poles on them. The occupants of these bark huts were squatters, and lived principally by hunting. They were the semi-civilized race, that usually preceeds the more substantial pioneer in the western wilderness.
" For two or three years previous to the late war, the inhabitants were so iso- Isted from other settlements that no supplies could be had, and there was much suffering from want of food and clothing. At times whole families subsisted for weeks together, on nothing but parched and pounded corn, with a very · scanty supply of wild meat. Indeed there was not a family in the Fire Lands, between 1809 and 1815 who did not keenly feel the want of both food and clothing. Wild meat, it is true, could usually be procured; but living on this alone, would much enfeeble and disease any one but an Indian or a hunter, ac-
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customed to it for years. For even several years after the war, redcoon caps, with the fur outside, and deerskin jackets and pantaloons, were almost univer- sally worn. The doerskin pantaloons could not be very well tanned, and when dried after being wet, were hard and inflexible-when thrown upon the floor, they bounded and rattled like tin kettles. A man on a cold winter's morning, drawing on a pair, was in about as comfortable a position as if thrusting his limbs into a couple of frosty stove pipes. To add to the trials of the early set- tlers, it soon became very sickly, and remained so for several years.
"The following is but die of the many touching scenes of privation and dis- tress that might be related. A young man with his family settled not far from Huron river, building his cabin in the thick woods, distant from any other settlement. During the summer, he cleared a small patch, and in the fall, be- came sick and died. . Soon after, a hunter on his way home, passing by the clearing, saw everything still about the cabin, mistrusted all was not right and knocked at the door to enquire. Opening the door, he was startled by the appearance of the woman sitting by the fire, pale, emaciated, and holding a puny, sickly babe ! He immediately inquired their health. She burst into tears and was unable to answer. The hunter stood for a moment aghast at the scene. The woman recovering from her gush of sorrow, at length raised her head and pointed towards the bed, saying , there is my little Edward-I. expect he is dying-and here is my babe so sick I cannot lay it down; I am so fee- ble I.can scarcely remain in my chair, and my husband lies buried beside the cabin !' and then as if frantic by the fearful recital, she exclaimed in a tone of the deepest anguish, 'Oh ! that I was back to my own country, where I could fall into the arms of my mother !' Tears of sympathy rolled down the weather- beaten cheeks of the iron framed hunter, and he rapidly walked away for -sa sistance. It was a touching scene.
"A majority of the inhabitants at this period, were of upright characters; bold, daring, and somewhat restless, but generous minded. Although enduring great privations, much happiness fell to the kind of life they were leading. One of them says: 'When I look back upon the first few years of our residence here, I am led to exclaim, Oh ! happy days of primitive simplicity ! What little aristocratic feeling one might have brought with him, was soon quelled, for we found ourselves equally dependent upon each other, and we enjoyed our win- ter evenings around our blazing hearths in our log huts, cracking nuts, feeling as well, aye, much better than has fallen to our lot since the distinctions, and animosities consequent upon the acquisition of wealth, have crept in among us.' Another pioneer says : 'In illustration of that old saw,
"'Man wants but little here below, Nor wants that little long,"
: 1 relate the following: A year or two after we arrived a visit was got up by the ladies, in order to call in a neighboring family, who lived a little out of the common way. The hostess was very much pleased to see them, and immedi-
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diately commenced preparing the usual treat on such occasions-a cup of tea and its accompaniments. As she had bat one fire-proof vessel in the house, an old broken kettle, it must of course, take some time. In the first place, some pork was tried out in the kettle to get lard. Secondly, some cakes were made and fried in it. Thirdly, some short cakes were made and baked in it. Fourthly, it was used as a bucket to draw water. Fifthly, the water was heat- ed in it, and Sixthly, and lastly, the tea was put in, and a very sociable dish of tea they had. In those good old times, perfectly fresh to my recollection, the young men asked nothing better than buckskin pant loons to go a courting in. and the young ladies were not too proud to go to meeting barefoot.'
"The following little anecdote, illustrates the intrepidity of a lady indulging her social feelings. A gentleman settled with his family about two miles west of Vermillion river, without a neighbor near him. Soon after a man and wife settled on the opposite side of the river, three miles distant; the lady on the west side was very anxious to visit her stranger neighbor on the east, and sent her a message setting a day when she should make her a visit, and at the time appointed went down to the river to cross with her husband, but found it so swollen by recent rains, as to render it impossible to cross on foot. There was no canoe or horse in that part of the country. The obstacle was apparently in- surmountable. Fortunately the man on the other side, was fertile in expedients; he yoked up his oxen, anticipating the event, and arrived at the river, just as the others were about to leave. Springing upon the back of one of the oxen, he rode him across the river, and when he had reached the west bank, the lady. Europa like, as fearlessly sprang on the back of the other ox, and they were both borne across the river, and safely landed on the other bank; and when she had concluded her visit, returned in the same manner. The lady still lives in the same spot and is noted for her goodness of heart and cultivated mannen."
During the early settlement of the Fire Lands, the land-holders injudiciously raised the price of land expecting to find among the tide of emigration West, plenty of purchasers and a ready sale. But in this they were disappointed. Instead of settlers locating farms in this section, they chose rather to go farther, and occupy land belonging to the general government, at $1,25 per acre, in quality as good as any to be found in the Fire Lands. Besides, most of those living here had bought their lands on credit, and being unable to pay for them, on account of hard times and scarcity of money, consequently, had to leave their improvements, and migrate farther west; thus causing the settlements to languish somewhat at this period. In the year 1810, John Garrison erected a log cabin on the present site of the building
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now occupied by Bernhard Esch, as a shoe store; at which place a trading post was established. Sandusky was at this time called "Ogontz Place," so named from a distinguished Indian Chief of the Ottawa tribe, educated and sent here by some missionary society in Canada. Ogontz on his arrival, joined his tribe, and received at their hands, the most flattering attentions and highest favors in their power to bestow. But this was not of long continuance. The prosperity and pre eminence of Ogontz, begat in his rival chiefs feelings of ani- mosity and hatred, and one became so exasperated as to determine to take his life. And for an opportunity he had not long to wait. A short time after, the two chiefs met at a trading post on Huron river, about two miles from its mouth; a contest ensued; but the chief was overpowered and shared the fate he had destined for Ogontz. Soon after this occurrence the son of the slain chief, was, out of sympathy adopted by Ogontz, to bring up as his own. The Indian boy, know- ing the circumstances connected with his father's death, did not forget it, and a few years after avenged his father's blood, by killing Ogontz. In the spring of 1812, prior to the commencement of the war, the Indians became troublesome, and at times were hostile, so that the citizens of the county assembled at Huron to form a company for protection against these continued hostilities; and while there, news came that two men, one Michael Gibbs and another named Buell, living about one mile south of Sandusky, (on or near the present road to the cemetery,) had been massacred the night before. A body of twenty were sent to the spot. The men were found lying dead a little distance from each other. On examination, there was found buried in the skull of Gibbs, part of a "spontoon," which was identified by Al- fred Ruggles, a blacksmith, as the same which he had made a short time previous, for an Indian by the name of Semo. The men being acquainted with the Indian and his residence, started in pursuit of him. Having got on his track, they pursued him as far as Portage river, and arrived there just in time to see him disappear in the woods on the opposite side. A trader living near the river, by the name of
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Van Wormer, informed the party that an Indian by the name of Omeek had been in the company of Semo for some months, and might be found up the river a short distance, and proposed that the men conceal themselves while he went up the river, to Omeek, and decoy him down under the pretence of hiring him to work. The plan was carried out, and succeeded. Omeek was seized, taken to Cleveland, tried, found guilty, and hung. Semo was taken soon after, but made his escape. A reward of one hundred dollars was offered for his body, dead or alive. His tribe not wishing to screen so dreaded a foe of the whites, and anxious to obtain the prize money ;- captured him in the vicinity of Maumee bay and returned to deliver him up. On their way back, and while encamped for the night, Semo, knowing the fate of Omeek, and anticipating a similar one, were he taken to Cleveland, seized a gun, placed the muzzle of it under his chin, and with his toe firing it, the charge passed through his head, killing him instantly.
Hostilities from the Indians still continued. During the same spring, another, and perhaps one of the most barbarous massacres occuring before or since, took place at the head of Cold Creek. There were living there at this time the families of D. P. Snow, Butler and Putnam, and a girl named Page, all of whom were captured by. the Indians. Snow had erected on Cold Creek, a grist-mill, in which he usually kept corn; the Indians being aware of this, would come in the, night and carry much of it away. To break up this stealth of the Indians, Snow devised a plan, by laying the boards of the floor, leading from the embankment to the mill in such a way, that when trod on they would give way, and let the Indians through. The Indians being caught in this trap a few times, were so exasperated as to plan vengeance on the whole settlement, and accordingly, one morning, before the usual time of rising, concealed themselves among the bushes that grew on the bank along the Creek. The men, Mr. Snow, Put- nam and Butler, had for several days been cultivating a piece of corn about one mile distant, and on the above morning, not anticipating
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any trouble from the Indians, started as usual for their place of work. As soon as they were out of sight, the Indians approached the cabins. The women were much terrified; but escape. was impossible, and re- sistance useless. One little boy, seeing the Indians surrounding their house, and being old enough to understand their hostile intentions from the manner of their approach, crawled into the tall grass by the fence like a quail. The little fellow was however discovered by one of the Indians, and pulled out. Mrs. Snow being in a delicate condition at the time, which rendered her unable to travel on foot any distance, · was butchered on the spot, also her children, three or four in number: the rest were secured as prisoners and taken to Malden, in Canada, but were released or purchased by the whites a few months after.
In the ensuing fall soon after Hull's surrender at Detroit, thirty men formed themselves into a company of "Rangers," under the com- mand of Capt. Cotton, to stand as guard at the block-house at Huron, and scout through the country as circumstances might require; each to furnish his own hosre and equipments. On a bright, clear morning, shortly after the formation of the company, large numbers of Indians were seen in the vicinity of Bull's Island. They were, as was after- wards ascertained, a powerful tribe from the West, known as the "Pottawatomies." After paddling about in their canoes for a while, . all at once disappeared. The company of Rangers, anxious for a skirmish, got their boats ready and started in pursuit of them. . Sup- posing the Indians to be on the Peninsula, made directly for that point, passing through the opening to the Lake, and to the east of Bull's Island. Having reached the Peninsula and made their boats fast, they started through the woods in search of the enemy; but find- ing no trace of them after reaching the "Harbors," a distance of four or five miles, turned about for a retreat. In the mean time, the In- dians being concealed on Bull's Island, had watched the movements of the whites, and as soon as they saw them disappear in the woods on the Peninsula, jumped into their canoes, and paddled over to where the boats were made fast. After cutting them to pieces with their
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