USA > Ohio > A history of the state of Ohio, natural and civil > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
HISTORY OF OHIO.
The canal boats, the lake vessels, the steamer of seven hun- dred tons, with its tall masts, its wide expanded sails, with the sailor's "ye up ye o," fill the mind of the spectator, with life and energy.
GRAND RIVER,
Rises in the northwestern part of Trumbull county, and proceeds cautiously along towards the lake, turning, some times to the right and then again to the left hand, a distance of thirty miles, to Austinsburg in Ashtabula county, where its course being arrested in that direction, it turns abruptly off to the westwaard after its repulse at Austinsburg, and runs more rapidly twenty miles farther onward and enters lake Erie, at FAIRPORT. General Painesville, three miles from its mouth, is the largest town, on its banks. Iron ore abounds along its shores, in some places, and a furnace for its manufacture is erected, in its vicinity. Mills are erected on this river at Aus- tinsburg, and at some other places.
Fairport, is as good a port as its name imports, and both sides of the river, at its mouth, are improving. The United States have improved the harbor, which is constantly visited by lake vessels. It is thirty-two miles east of Cleveland.
Thus we have noticed, very briefly indeed, all the principal streams, along lake Erie, within the State of Ohio. The MAUMEE is much the largest-the longest, widest and deepest. 'The Cuyahoga, in size ranks next, and is the best for mills and machinery, moved by water power. It has the most min- eral wealth on its banks, or near them. As to canal naviga- tion, the Cuyahoga has the start of the Maumee, though the scene will be shifted within a few short years, when the Ohio canal, ending at Portsmouth and Cleveland, three hundred and nine miles in length, will be surpassed by the Wabash and Maumee canal, extending from Evansville, near the mouth of the Wabash, quite to lake Erie, at the entrance of the Maumee river, into the lake. The lower end of the Maumee bay, is several miles in width, and this canal mingles its waters with
55
SUMMIT LEVELS.
those of the lake, at Manhattan. If the rivers which descen.1 into the Ohio river, from the same summit level, where the lake rivers originate, are longer than the latter, yet, they are not so useful as mill streams. The rivers descending into the Ohio river, seem to have been intended to produce, by their slug- gishness, a rich alluvial country, where grain would best come to maturity, and the lake rivers, by their great descent and constancy of volume, were designed to furnish a water power, to grind their neighbors' grain, and to manufacture the south- ern minerals into all the articles, that a whole great state shall eventually, and, forever need.
Here, a few remarks on the summit level of all our longer rivers, may not be improper.
LAKE ERIE is five hundred and sixty-five feet above the sur- face of the sea. The summit between Grand river and Mahon- ing is three hundred and forty-two feet above lake Erie-that is the lowest summit, and two hundred and twenty-four feet above the Ohio river at the mouth of the Mahoning.
The summit between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas in Por- tage county, is in a swamp, from which, streams run northerly into the St. Lawrence and southerly into the Mississippi-it is there four hundred and four feet above lake Erie and four hun- dred and twelve feet, above the mouth of the Muskingum, at Marietta.
The summit of Black river of lake Erie, and the Killbuck, a branch of the Muskingum, is three hundred and thirty-seven feet above the lake, and three hundred and sixty-one feet above the mouth of the Muskingum, at Marietta.
The summit between the sources of the Scioto and Sandus- ky rivers, is three hundred and fifty-four feet above the lake, and four hundred and fifty-five feet above low water in the Ohio river at Portsmouth.
The summit between the Maumee and Great Miami rivers is three hundred and fifty-four feet above the lake, and six hun . dred feet above the mouth of the Miami river.
These are the lowest summit levels between the waters of the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence in the state of Ohio. The
56
HISTORY OF OHIO.
highest lands in the state, are along these summits and on the summits between the valleys of the largest rivers-such as the Muskingum, and the Scioto-the latter, and the Little Miami river. Jackson, Highland, Lawrence and Guernsey counties contain as highly elevated grounds as any in the state. The high grounds, on the summits near lake Erie, are swampy and wet; but, in the counties lying in the southern parts of the state, the summits are dry, mountainous, or hilly tracts.
The swampy lands in the state, (excepting those near lake Erie, over which, the lake flows so as to drown them) are mostly underlaid, with blue clay, of such a thickness and compactness, as to prevent the water's descent below it. We except, too, the swampy grounds along the rivers, which are too low to be drained.
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITES.
Those beds of clay, sand, gravel and pebbles which consti- tute so large a portion of the earth's surface along all our riv- ers, which fall into the Ohio river, are called alluvial depo- sites. These substances, which have been disintegrated, by the action of the atmosphere, frost and water, have been transported subsequently by the rivers, and deposited in hori- zontal beds, in valleys, in the beds of streams, or in plains.
These deposites are of a comparatively recent date. Some of them have been deposited within our own memory and others are now forming, under our own observation. They are pe- culiarly interesting, indicating important changes in the earth's surface; and the examination of these deposites, is important " to many classes of men ;- to the farmer, miner and manufact- urer. Their contents are sometimes very valuable, because they often contain beds of clay, which are useful to the brick- maker, the potter and the clothier. Besides peat, they often contain bog-iron ore, and calcareous tufa.
Besides trees, the remains of extinct animals are sometimes found in these deposites. Numerous organic remains, the
57
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITES.
shells of the oyster, and the muscle, the teeth of sharks, and of the elephant, are sometimes found in them. A tusk of the Asiatic elephant, several feet in length, was found on Walnut creek, not many years since, by the late Thomas H. Gibson, M. D. Walnut creek is in the upper part of Pickaway county.
The teeth of the Mastodon were formerly found, along the bed of the Scioto river. A whole skeleton was found north of Lancaster, when the Lancaster laternal canal was digging, four or five years since. Another whole skeleton was found a few years since, near MASSILLON, in alluvial earth. The . remains of the Asiatic elephant were discovered, while the the canal was excavating, a mile or two above Chillicothe.
But, the greatest collection of the bones of all sorts of ex- tinct and non-extinct animals have, been found at Bigbonelick, forty miles, by water, below Cincinnati, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio river. The licks are a few miles from Colonel Robert Piatt's house, situated at the point, where travelers should land from the steamer, if they wish to visit this inte- resting spot.
Of the animals, whose bones have been disinterred, at the Bigbone, are those of the mastodon, of the megalonyx, of the deer of several species, and, even of the common horse! Tons of these remains, have been dug up, and carried away, to all parts of this country, and, to Europe. A nephew of Chief Justice Marshall, we believe, owns the land-JAMES MARSHALL, Esquire.
One of the most stupendous animals of the extinct race, or rather its skeleton, was discovered several years since, in allu- vial earth, below New-Orleans, near the Mississippi river.
About ten years since, its bones were brought to Columbus, and there exhibited, by their owners. This individual of an extinct species of alligator, was at least, when alive, one hun- dred and eighty feet in length, and its body was thirty feet in diameter ! This river-god of the greatest river in the world, as a heathen would say, must have lived in the times of the mastodon, megalonyx and Asiatic elephant, of this region. 8
58
HISTORY OF OHIO.
The skeleton of this ancient and venerable chelonian reptile was found in the ancient alluvion of the Mississippi, and near the mouth of that river.
Of the mastodon, thousands, doubtless of their skeletons repose, in our alluvial deposites, which will be yet discovered. They are all on what was once, the surface of the earth, and are now, from four, to thirty feet below the present sur- face.
The bones have been preserved in many places, by the an- tiseptic nature of the earthy matters which cover them.
Trees are often found imbedded a great many feet below the present surface. Such were found at the junction of the Ohio and Erie canal, with the Ohio river at Portsmouth. Se- veral trees entire, were discovered many feet under the ground, on the surface of which, trees of the very largest growth, had grown up, since this subterranean forest had been buried. Doctor Moss is our authority for the above facts.
Man's works, such as arrow heads, are often found in our alluvial earths. Such an article -an arrow head, was found ninety feet below the surface, while digging a well for the Hon. Jacob Burnet, at Cincinnati. That well was dug on the high plain, where the upper portion of the city stands. That plain is diluvial, not alluvial. The upper level of Cincinnati belongs to the same age, and to the same catastrophe of our globe, that the sandstone of our hilly region does. The cur- rent which moved the sand along in it, being checked in its course, by the hills on the Kentucky side of the river, depos- ited its load here, creating a spot, for one of the most beautiful cities of the west, to stand upon, where the citizens could be high, dry and healthful -forever.
MINERAL SPRINGS.
THE YELLOW SPRINGS.
Nine miles north of Xenia, and the same distance south of Springfield, on the stage road from Columbus to Cincinnati, possess strong medicinal qualities. The water is a chalybeate,
59
MINERAL SPRINGS.
and is resorted to, more and more, annually, by persons in health, as well as by invalids. The accommodations, at the spring3, are as good as could be expected, in a country so new as this. There is a post office there, as well as a tavern, with one hundred guests, frequently, in the summer months. The proprieter has laid out some beautiful gardens on his grounds, and has erected suitable buildings.
THE DELAWARE SPRINGS,
Are in the town of Delaware, twenty-four miles north of Co- lumbus. Here are accommodations for a considerable number of guests. The water in the springs is strongly impregnated with sulphur. This watering place is more and more resorted to, annually, by those who are in pursuit of health or pleasure, or both, at the same time.
There are many chalybeate watering places in the state. There is one at Williamsport, ten miles west of Circleville, on Deer creek. A similar one at Chillicothe, also, is coming into repute. It is situated on an acclivity west of the town. At the spring, a good view of the town is obtained, as well as of the adjacent country, above and below Chillicothe. It belongs to Thomas James, president of the Bank of Chilli- cothe.
PETROLEUM SPRINGS.
Four or five miles above the north line of Washington coun- ty, on a water of Duck creek, and within the limits of Monroe county, petroleum was found by boring for salt water. This Seneca oil, rises about four hundred feet. It is subject to such tremendous explosions of gas, as to force out all the salt water in the well. The sale of the petroleum affords considerable profit, and the article begins to be used in lamps, workshops, and in manufactories. It affords a clear, brisk light, and will be a valuable article for street lamps in our future large cities.
There is a petroleum spring, in Chatauque county, New York,
60
HISTORY OF OHIO.
from which the light house at Portland, is supplied with all the oil, used in that establishment. This spring indicates coal in that region.
There are many other such springs, all over the coal region of this state. Such springs issue from beneath beds of either coal or shale, and, we doubt not, many such springs will be found, in the same region, from which, vast quantities of petro- leum will be obtained. Large quantities of this petroleum are sold in bottles labeled " American Oil," and used for sprains, rheumatism, gout, &c. &c. It has acquired considerable cele- brity, already, and should it fall into the hands of some enter- prising " water doctor," or some, SWAIM, a large fortune, would be realised by the sale of it.
LAKE ERIE, ITS ISLANDS AND MINERALS.
Lake Erie bounds this state, from the western limits of Pennsylvania, in the middle of the lake, extending westward- ly, along to a point in the water, north of Maumee bay. Lake Erie bounds this state, in a direct line, about one hund- red and sixty miles.
The lake itself, is nearly three hundred miles in length, and is one hundred miles in width, in the widest place. Its aver- age breadth, is about fifty miles, and its circumference is at least seven hundred miles, following the various windings of its shores. Its surface occupies, about eight millions of acres of water. It is a beautiful inland sea, and is as useful as it is beautiful. It has many landing places, and, since the United States have begun to improve the harbors, along its southern shore, it has several excellent harbors, for such vessels as nav- igate it. Towards its western end, from Sandusky bay, west- ward, it contains in it, several valuable islands. Their names follow, viz :
Cunningham's island,
Bass island,
The three Sisters, Rocky island,
Put-in-bay island,
Gull island,
Ship island,
Pick pocket island,
61
LAKE ERIE.
Point Pele island,
Bolton's island,
Middle island,
Hen and chickens,
Strontian island,
Turkey island,
Snake island,
Cedar island,
Besides, many islets, when the lake is low.
All these islands are west of the line, which separates the sandstone from the limestone formation,-so they are either underlaid with the latter rock, or some of its kindred miner- als. Some of them contain beautiful sulphate of lime, or crystaline gypsum.
One island contains so much sulphate of Strontian, as to give the whole island the name it bears. In the summer of 1828, while in that region, we procured hundreds of specimens of this mineral, which we brought home, and now describe them, as they lie before us. They occur both massive and regularly crystalized. The crystals are usually four-sided prisms, variously modified, and terminated by two, four or eight sided summits, sometimes compressed into tables.
Its most common form, is an oblique four-sided prism, ter- minated at both ends, by four faces, standing on the edges, at the sides. The crystals are frequently long and slender, col- lected into fascicular groups, whose faces have a strong lustre, but are not transparent, though translucent. Its fracture is foliated and glistening ;- its color varies, but is either, bluish, milk-white, gray or reddish.
Strontian island, is about twenty miles from Sandusky City, and is well worth visiting, by the mineralogist. This lake rises seven feet higher in some years than in others, so that islands one year may be covered with water the next. We have said many of these islands contain gypsum, but, that mineral is found in great abundance under the waters of San- dusky bay, and on the point of land which lies between that bay and the lake. This is a granular gypsum, crystalized, and beautifully variegated by streaks of blue, red and white. Large quanties of this gypsum are dug and carried away, down our canal, as far as Muskingum county. It is used as a cement and as a manure, or stimulant for vegetables; for F
62
HISTORY OF OHIO.
we cannot say which, though we do know, that it acts very beneficially on all sorts of vegetables, in certain soils, though not on others. It acts most beneficially on vegetation, in a sandy soil, and in a time of drowth. We have reason to be- lieve, that this beautiful variety of gypsum, exists in great abundance, on many of the lake islands, far westwardly, all the way possibly, to lake Superior, or even, on the islands of the Superior-itself.
The compact limestone of these islands, so easily approach- ed by vessels, will soon become very valuable, and be trans- ported all along the eastern end of lake Erie, where that rock is not found. The beautiful red cedar, of these islands, too, will be sought for, and transported, to the lake cities and towns, on the southern shore.
It is now one hundred and fifty-seven years since the first white man sailed across lake Erie, in the Griffin. Our har- bors, along lake Erie, are already visited by a mercantile ma- rine, of no little value and importance.
Beginning at the west end of the lake, we have Maumee bay at the entrance of the Maumee into this inland sea. This bay is several miles in width, and deep enough for all the lake vessels. Next to this bay castwardly, is Port Clinton. The next port eastward, is Sandusky bay, which is sheltered from all winds, and is an excellent harbor. There is a light- house here, as in Maumee bay, built and under the control of the United States. Next castwardly, is the mouth of Huron river, where the United States have done much for its harbor. At the mouth of Black river, Congress have expended money very usefully to make a harbor. Next go- ing eastward, we come to Cleveland harbor, where a great deal of lake shipping resorts. This is the mouth of the Cuy- ahoga river, and the end of the Ohio grand canal.
So long ago as August 1834, we counted, twenty-eight canal boats, twelve lake schooners, and four large steamers each averaging four hundred and fifty tons, lying in Cleve- land harbor, at one time. The steam vessels had tall masts, and they carried sails.
63
THE FISHES, ETC.
Our commerce is constantly increasing on this lake, and will increase, annually, for ages yet to come. There is a light house at Cleveland, and there ought to be, A MARINE HOSPITAL, for disabled seamen. Proceeding eastwardly, the distance of thirty miles, we arrive at the harbor of FAIRPORT, where there is a light house, and an increasing commerce. CONNEAUT and ASHTABULA are ports farther eastward. The beforementioned, are the principal ports, in Ohio, on lake Erie, upon which the United States, have wisely expended money, to improve them.
To the officers who have disbursed the public money, at these ports, we are compelled to award our unqualified approba- tion, for the science and skill, industry and enterprise, econ- omy and good management, which they have displayed, in all which they have done, in improving these harbors. We regret that we cannot name them, being ignorant on that point, not knowing even one of them,-but their labors praise them much.
Lake Erie has its land and sea breezes, in summer, and it presents the same boundless prospect to the eye and the same solemn, sublime hum to the ear, in a calm, as the ocean does. In a storm, lake Erie, to all the senses, pre- sents the same aspect as the Atlantic, when swept by a gale of wind. This inland sea is not rivalled by any other, in the world, for beauty or usefulness. Its cities will soon rival the Atlantic ones, in size, commerce and wealth.
THE FISHES, IN OUR RIVERS, PONDS AND LAKES, AND THE DIFFERENT MODES OF TAKING THEM.
When this country was first settled by us, fishes were found in all our waters, in great abundance, but since so many steam boats are employed on the Ohio river, and so many dams have been erected on all our other rivers, these fishes have become scarce and more difficult to take. The kinds usually caught, are black, yellow and white perch; spotted perch, pike, trout, buffaloe, several species of sucker, two species of sturgeon,
64
HISTORY OF OHIO.
one is the shovel nose sturgeon, eels and herrings, (not the eastern herring, but larger,) and taken in nets; garfish, chubs and minnows; catfishes of two species, black and yellow. Along the Ohio and its branches, many fishes are taken in the spring months; by setting what is called, a trot line, where the water is deep and still. The line is usually from forty to sixty yards in length. The middle of it is supported by buoys, while its ends are fastened down, by large stones. To this line, a large number of short lines are fastened, with hooks attached to them well baited, with minnows or craw-fishes. This line is visited morning and evening, or even oftener, by a man, in a canoe, who takes hold of the main line, and pulls himself along by it until he comes to one of these shorter lines, which he pulls up, and takes off its fish, baits it again and so proceeds along the whole length of his main line, taking off the fishes, and rebaiting the hooks. In this manner catfishes are some- times caught, weighing one hundred pounds. When the waters are low, in the summer months, seines, are drawn, and large quantites are taken by them. Pikes are sometimes caught in nets weighing thirty, forty and fifty pounds. There is another method used, in taking fishes which is with a spear; sometimes by torch light. Of this method of fishing, the Indians were extremely fond. The fishes are attracted to the surface of the water, by the light, and the expert spearsman darts his spear into him, and drags him into the skiff or canoe.
In lake Erie, are found all the fishes that we have named, as being in the Ohio, and branches. And in addition to these, there are many others whose names we do not even know. The white fish, of lake Erie, is a valuable fish and a delicious one too. Vast numbers of them are caught in Detroit river with seines. The speckled trout is in lake Erie near Buffaloe. The salmon trout of Michigan, the muskelunge of the Erie, Michigan, Huron and Superior, are valuable fishes, millions of which are taken, salted, barrelled up, and some of them sent down our canal, to the towns along it. But there are not enough caught, nor one half enough for our population. Not a few barrels of shad, mackerel, salmon, as well as dried cod-
65
REPTILES.
fishes, haddock, &c. are annually brought here and sold from the Atlantic cities.
If we cannot now get a full supply, from our rivers, ponds and lakes, what will be our need in twenty five years hence, when our population, in Ohio alone, will exceed, four millions of people? Since our canal is opened between the Ohio river and lake Erie, the fishes of the lake are making their way to- wards the Ohio, while those of the river are traveling towards the lake in the canal.
REPTILES,
Have been, or rather ought have been divided by Naturalists into four ORDERS [viz.] 1. Chelonian, 2. Saurian, 3. Ophidian 4. Batracian. In common language, these animals are, 1. tor- toises and turtles, 2. lizards and crocodiles, 3. serpents, and 4. frogs and salamanders.
These orders are divided into several genera and these are again subdivided into several species. The batracians are divided into nine genera (to wit:) Bufo, Pipa, Hyla, Rana, Sal- amandra, Menopoma, Amphiuma, Siren and Proteus. All the orders and most of the genera, and their species live in this state. We are satisfied that they are imperfectly described by authors, at best, and not a few species are not even known to them. To any one who wishes to examine and describe them, Cincinnati should be visited by him, where he can see them, in Dorfeuille's Museum. Of batracians we have several new species, if not genera. We speak understandingly on this subject, when we say that they are imperfectly described at best. European Naturalists have shown much ignorance of our animals, and the authors of our Atlantic states are about equal- ly ignorant. In a volume like this, intended for common read- ers, we have neither the space for a full view of this subject, nor the inclination to indulge our own taste in pursuing it, into details. We have divided our reptiles as we know that they should be divided and leave it to the young men of Ohio to ex-
F
9
66
HISTORY OF OHIO.
tend their researches into this obscure, and as yet, quite mis- understood subject.
Having said what we have, for scientific readers, we proceed in the common method to treat this matter, in a way, to suit common readers.
We have taken but a few steps into the path of Natural His- tory leading the way and pointing ahead, for the young men of this state, to follow us, and when we stop short, and stand by the way side, we pray them to march forward to the end of the path. Any one of them who feels within his own bosom, that he holds an appointment, to make a correct survey of Na- ture, not from any civil ruler, but from Nature's God, let such an one move onward, and fame and glory will follow his labors. No governor will appoint him, nor Legislature pay him. The Creator will reward him.
We have fresh water clams-(unio) in all our tributaries of the Ohio river, as well as in that river itself. We have strong reasons for believing that this family of shell fishes inhabit all the streams in the Mississippi valley. Thirty or forty years since, this family were divided by conchologists into four species of unio. Since that time one naturalist, makes them three hundred species! We have seen this animal in all the larger streams of the Ohio river; in that stream, in the Wabash, Illi- nois, Missouri, Upper Mississippi, Rock river, Ioway, and Wis- consin rivers, but we believe that every species of this family, existing any where in the western states and Territories, may be found in the Scioto river. We are not among those who be- lieve that natural history gains any thing by multiplying spe- cies of animals, on paper, which have no existence any where else.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.