USA > Ohio > A short history of Ohio > Part 3
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Admission of Ohio.
There has been much discussion concerning the exact date of Ohio's admission to the Union, The facts are as follows : On April 30, 1802, Congress passed and enabling act, au- thorizing the people of the territory to framne a State consti-
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tution. The constitution was framed by a convention that met on the Ist, and adjourned on the 29th of November, 1802. Some consider this last as the date of admission, and the great seal of the State bears the date-1802; but the territor- ial government continued until Congress passed an act recognizing the State of Ohio, which received President Jefferson's signature on February 19th, 1803. By this act Ohio was admitted. It provided for the "due execution of the laws of the United States within the State of Ohio." The act declares "that the said State shall be one district, and be called the Ohio district; and a district court shall be held therein, to consist of one judge," etc. On March Ist, 1803, the first General Assembly met at Chillicothe, and the State government went into operation. Edward Tiffin be- came Governor on March 3d, 1803.
The Settlers,
Homes .- The first settlers lived in log cabins. To con- struct these, they had what were called "house-raisings." The neighbors entered heartily into this work, and as whiskey was cheap in those days, it was used freely at these and similar gatherings. A large open fire-place was con- structed in one end of the cabin, and used for both heating and cooking. Wooden pins supplied the place of nails. Boards for floors, shelves, tables, etc., were hewn out of logs with the ax. Door hinges and latches were made of wood, and "the latch string always hung out." Windows were made of oiled paper.
Food .- Every man was a hunter, and the flesh of deer, wild turkey, squirrel, and bear furnished a large portion of his food. The squirrels were so thick that the children had to chase them away from the corn fields. At a later day
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pork took the place of the flesh of wild animals. Corn-bread was the staff of life, and as mills were scarce, it generally took the settler several days to take his "grinding " to mill and return. Mush and milk served for the evening meal. "Johnny-cakes" were frequently baked on a board. A fry- ing-pan, kettle, and " Dutch " oven were the cooking uten- sils of fifty years ago. Stoves and matches had not been in- troduced.
Clothing .- Nearly all of the clothing worn was of home manufacture. Flax was spun, and woven into linen for towels and summer clothing. Wool was carded and spun, and woven into cloth, for clothing. In almost every house could be found a spinning-wheel and loom. Deer skins were much used by men for outer garments. Common cot- ton check was $1 a yard, and five yards were deemed an ample dress pattern. Lucky was the girl who could get such a bridal dress.
Furniture .- Almost every article, such as split-bottomed chairs and stools, was made at home. A ladder or pegs in the wall led to the loft, where the younger members of the family generally slept The buckeye tree was a friend to the pioneer. From its fibers, hats were made, and from its trunk were carved the tray for the delicious "pone " and "Johnny-cake," the venison trencher, the noggin, the spoon, and the huge white bowl for mush and milk.
Frolics .- Dancing and social parties were called "frol- ics." Corn-huskings, barn-raisings, log rollings, and wed- dings were always followed by frolics. There were many "fiddlers," and dancing was much in vogue.
When first settled, Ohio was almost entirely covered with forest. Before corn, potatoes, tobacco, pumpkins, etc., could be planted, a "clearing" must be made. The trees that
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could not be cut down and removed, were "deadened." The "clearings" were added to year by year. At the pres- ent time less than one fourth of Ohio is covered with forest. In early days it was necessary for the farmer to haul his produce to the nearest river port, and exchange it for such things as he needed. Commercial prosperity came only with the introduction of canals and railroads.
Early Towns. 1911992
Gallipolis was laid out in 1791, by French settlers. Manchester was laid out in 1791, by Nathaniel Massie. Hamilton was laid out in 1794, by Israel Ludlow.
Chillicothe was laid out in 1796, by Nathaniel Massie. Steubenville was laid out in 1798.
Springfield was laid out in 1801, by James Demint. Newark was laid out in 1802.
Dayton was laid out in 1795. It was named after Jona- than Dayton, the leader of the settlers. Nineteen settlers arrived, April 1, 1796.
The Government employed Ebenezer Zane to cut out a road, or "trace," through Ohio, from Wheeling to Mays- ville, Kentucky. "Zane's trace" was opened in 1797. He was given three sections for his road-making, and took one where his road crossed the Muskingum, another where it crossed the Hocking, and the third where it crossed the Scioto. He laid out on these tracts, Zanesville in 1799, and Lancaster in 1800, and would have owned the site of Chilli- cothe, had not the bank of the Scioto River been within the Virginia military reservation.
"Whisky was a cheap and popular beverage in the so- called ' good old days,' and it exercised a most harmful in- fluence over several of the young settlements. Chillicothe
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nearly succumbed to it at one time, Zanesville was a heavy sufferer for years, and Lancaster experienced similar diffi- culties.
"Shortly after Lancaster was laid out, and while the stumps still remained in the streets, a few of the settlers_ persisted in drinking heavily, and winding up each night with a frolic or fight. There was no law at that time avail- able, and the better elements determined to take the matter into their own hands.
"A meeting was called, and it was decided that any person who was found intoxicated, should for every such offense be compelled to dig a stump out of the street, or suffer personal chastisement. The result was happy. No one ever cared to dig up a stump again after having had the experience; so, for a time, drinking ceased, and law and order reigned. But this question of intemperance and its solution has proved a pretty 'hard row of stumps,' and it would be a relief if resort could be had to the simple methods of the early settlers."
Cleveland, the "Forest City," was laid out in 1796, and was named after General Moses Cleveland, who had charge of Government surveys in the neighborhood.
Fort Industry was built on the present site of Toledo, in 1 800. Here an Indian treaty was made, July 4, 1805.
Mormons .- In 1832, the Mormons, under the leadership of Joseph Smith, settled at Kirtland, Lake County. They started a bank without a charter, and many people were swindled out of their money. The society declined in num- bers and respectability, and in 1838 removed to Missouri.
Land Grants.
After the Revolution, all of the States surrendered their claims to what is now Ohio, to the general Government,
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except Connecticut and Virginia. The principal land tracts and grants are as follows:
I. Ohio Company's purchase, 1,500,000 acres along the Muskingum.
2. Symmes' purchase, between the Little Miami and the Big Miami Rivers.
3. Western Reserve; Connecticut reserved about 4,000,000 acres of land in Northeastern Ohio. Of this, 500,000 acres, known as "Fire Lands," were donated to sufferers by fire in the Revolution. The remainder was sold for $1,200,000, which became the foundation of her school fund.
4. Virginia Military Land between the Scioto and the Lit- tle Miami Rivers, reserved for bounties to Revolutionary soldiers.
5. The United States Military Reservation in the central part of the State.
6. Congress Lands, sold by the Government to the settlers.
7. Canal Lands, College Lands, the French Grant, and a few others, were small tracts.
8. School lands. One thirty-sixth part of all lands were set apart for educational purposes.
From time to time, treaties were made with the Indians, by which they gave up all claims to Ohio lands.
Blennerhassett.
Herman Blennerhassett, a wealthy and gifted Irishman, built a princely mansion on a beautiful island in the Ohio, near Marietta. This " second paradise " was the general re- sort for all the country round. His beautiful and accom- plished wife reigned the queen of this kingdom of taste and refinement. Into this house Burr came, and induced its owner to become his chief associate in the scheme to found a southern empire. The lovely island was made the chief resort of the conspirators, and many Ohio people aided
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them; but they quickly deserted them when ten boat loads of their supplies were captured on the Muskingum, and four more were seized at Marietta by Government troops. (1806.) Blennerhassett escaped from the island, but was afterwards captured. He was soon released, however, and it is be- lieved that he saw no treasonable design in Burr's expedi- tion. The soldiers sacked the elegant mansion. They be- came drunk, and committed outrages which would have disgraced any band of savages. One of the drunken wretches fired a bullet through the ceiling of the large hall, the ball passing through the chamber near where Mrs. Blennerhassett was sitting with her children. The shrub- bery, flowers, and orchards were ruined. Thus the loveliest spot, perhaps, on the continent, was transformed into a scene of desolation and ruin. Soon after, the dilapidated mansion, with its furniture, fine library, and expensive philosophical apparatus, was destroyed. After years of wandering, Blen- nerhassett died in poverty on the Island of Guernsey. Mrs. Blennerhassett returned to this country, and was petition- ing Congress for remuneration for the loss of her early home, when she died, in 1842.
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Ohio in the War of 1812.
Hull's Surrender .- General William Hull, Governor of · Michigan Territory, started from Dayton, Ohio, with twelve hundred Ohio volunteers and three hundred regulars for the purpose of invading Canada. After advancing into Canada to no purpose, he retreated to Detroit. When the enemy came up, he ordered the white flag ( a table-cloth ) to be dis- played, although his men were anxious to fight and confi- dent of victory. ( August 16, 1812.) He not only surren- dered Detroit, but the whole of Michigan Territory. He was tried by court-martial, and being convicted of cowardice,
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was sentenced to be shot. The President pardoned him on account of his Revolutionary services.
Fort Meigs .- In the beginning of 1813, General Harrison was made commander of the Army of the West, which was concentrating at the head of Lake Erie. General Winches- ter had been stationed at Fort Defiance on the Maumee. General Harrison now erected Fort Meigs on the Maumee Rapids, near old Fort Miami. Here he was attacked by Proctor and Tecumseh. General Clay, with twelve hundred Kentuckians, having come to the rescue, the British and Indians gave up the siege, after treating their captives with the usual barbarities.
Fort Stevenson .- 1813. Proctor besieged Fort Stevenson, at Lower Sandusky ( now Fremont ), garrisoned by only one hundred and fifty men under Major Croghan, a brave young soldier, only twenty-one years of age. Proctor called on the garrison to surrender in order to escape massacre. The heroic Croghan answered, that, when the fort was taken, a massacre would do no harm, for none of its defenders would be left alive. Croghan had but one cannon. By firing it from different places he tried to make the enemy believe that he was well provided with artillery. The British con- cluded to take the fort by storm. Croghan concealed his cannon so as to sweep the ditch through which they had to pass. When the ditch was full of men, he opened fire with deadly effect. The British now retreated after a loss of one hundred and fifty men, while the Americans had but one killed and seven wounded. Croghan was promoted to the rank of colonel, and the ladies of Chillicothe gave him an an elegant sword.
Perry's Victory .- Oliver H. Perry built, with many diffi- culties, a flotilla, consisting of the Lawrence, Niagara, and
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seven smaller vessels, at Erie, Pennsylvania. He then pro- ceeded to Put-in-Bay. Near this place, on September 10th, 1813, Perry, with his fleet of fifty-four guns, defeated Com- modore Barcley with a fleet of sixty-three guns. Perry sent this memorable dispatch to General Harrison: "We have met the enemy, and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." It was the first time in the na- val history of Great Britain that an entire squadron had sur- rendered. A marble monument was erected, in memory of Perry's heroic services, at Cleveland, 1868. A large picture in the capitol at Columbus represents Perry standing erect in the face of a hot fire from the enemy, while he is being rowed, in a small boat, from the Lawrence to the Niagara.
Harrison crossed into Canada and defeated the British at the battle of the Thames. Tecumseh was killed and Proctor fled.
Capitals .- The State capital has been located at the fol- lowing places :
Chillicothe, 1800-1810.
Zanesville,
1810-1812.
Chillicothe, 1812-1816.
Columbus, 1816 to the present.
In 1796, Lucas Sullivant, a young Virginia surveyor, laid out the town of Franklinton on the west bank of the Scioto River, opposite the present site of Columbus. It had a population of 3,000 in 1812.
Columbus is one of the three towns in the United States born a capital. In 1812, Lyne Starling, John Kerr, Alexan- der Mclaughlin, and William Johnson secured the establish- ment of the seat of the State government on the high bank (then covered with forest ), east of the Scioto River, oppo- site Franklinton. They gave to the State a ten-acre square
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for public buildings, and built thereon a state house, peniten- tiary, and other buildings, costing· $50,000, When the leg- islature held its first session in the modest brick state house, in 1816, the rude hamlet contained a population of seven hundred souls. This old capitol building was destroyed by fire in 1855. Governor Morrow laid the corner stone of the present capitol, July 4, 1839. It was completed in 1855. Columbus now has a population of 79,000, and contains among its many public buildings the largest insane asylum in the world, being one mile and a quarter in circumfer- ence.
Boundary Lines.
When Ohio was organized into a Territory in 1800, the western boundary was a "line beginning on the Ohio, op- posite the mouth of the Kentucky River; thence running to Fort Recovery; thence north until it intersects the territorial line between the United States and Canada."
There was much trouble about the northern boundary line. The enabling act under which Ohio was admitted into the Union bounded the proposed State on the north "by an east and west line drawn through the southern extremity of Lake Michigan," and extending easterly "un - til it shall intersect Lake Erie." The ordinance of 1787 represented Lake Michigan far north of its real position, and its size and location had not been ascertained as late as 1812. It was found that the proposed line would pass from five to eight miles south of Lake Erie. Ohio maintained that it was the manifest intention of Congress to make the southern shore of Lake Erie her northern boundary, while Michigan claimed jurisdiction over the lake shore to the Pennsylvania line. Several lines were afterwards surveyed, none of which suited both States. In 1833, a party begin-
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ning a " permanent " survey was attacked by Michigan set- tlers, who sent them away badly beaten. In the same year the governors of both States occupied the disputed territory with small armies. Federal commissioners arrived about this time, and induced the belligerent governors to retire with their men and await the action of Congress. In 1836, Congress decided in favor of Ohio, but gave Michigan what is now her Upper Peninsula. Ohio got what she was con- tending for-the excellent harbor on the Maumee, where To- ledo now stands.
Civil Government of Ohio.
[Compiled from State Documents.]
The present constitution of the State is a revision of the constitution of 1802, that was ratified by the people, June 17, 1851. A new constitution was rejected at the election of 1874.
Elections .- The State and county officers are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Voters-All males, twenty-one years old, native or natura- lized, may vote, provided they have resided one year in the State, thirty days in the county, and twenty days in the township or ward, before the day of election.
Township Government.
I. POWERS OF A TOWNSHIP .-
A township is "a body politic, and corporate, for the pur- pose of enjoying and exercising the rights and privileges conferred upon it by law; it shall be capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, and of receiving and holding real estate by devise or deed; or personal prop- erty for the benefit of the township for any useful purpose."
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2. TIME OF THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. - The first Monday of April.
3. THE TOWNSHIP OFFICERS ARE :-
(a.) The Township Trustees,"who may divide the town- ship into road districts, provide plows and scrapers for working the roads of said districts, may purchase gravel for such roads, may prevent the spread of contagious disease, may establish a pound for cattle, may submit the question of founding a public library and have the care of the same, may purchase hearse and vault for the township, may re- lieve the poor, must settle disputes as to partition fences, open roads that have been viewed favorably, etc. The road district has its own supervisor.
(b.) The Township Treasurer, who pays out township money on order of the clerk, and is treasurer of the board of education.
(c.) The Township Clerk, who must keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the trustees at their meetings, publish an account of the receipts and expenditures of the trustees and board of education, act as clerk of the board of education, record chattel mortgages, etc.
(d.) Constable, his duty being to serve writs and legal proceedings specified by law, make arrests, summon wit- nesses and jurors.
(e.) Assessor, whose duty it is to list and value property in his precinct, and gather certain statistics.
School property and church property are not taxable.
(f.) Board of Education, consisting of the township clerk and the clerks of local boards. Its duties are to levy tax for schools, apportion school funds, build, enlarge, and repair school-houses, adopt a course of study and text-books, em- ploy a superintendent of schools, janitors, etc.
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Each sub-district has its own local board, whose principal duty is to employ a teacher.
(g.) Justices of the Peace, elected every three years and commissioned by the Governor of the State, exercise juris- diction over most of the offenses arising within their re- spective townships. Some of their powers are to adminis- ter oaths, solemnize marriages, acknowledge deeds, mort- gages, and other written instruments, to subpæna witnesses, and compel attendance in cases coming before them, etc.
County Government.
COUNTY OFFICERS ARE :-
I. County Auditor, elected every three years. He is sec- retary of the board of commissioners, certifies all money except taxes into the county treasury, issues warrants on the treasury, keeps an account with the treasurer of receipts and expenditures of the county, transfers lots and land when sold, furnishes blank books to assessors, prepares a tax list, keeps an account with each school district, and ap- portions and distributes school funds, etc.
2. County Treasurer, elected every two years. He re- ceives taxes twice a year, and gives receipts for the same, collects delinquent taxes, pays taxes due the State into the State treasury, must submit to semi-annual examination of his books, must publish at given times a statement of money in the treasury, may advance money collected as tax due school boards and city and village treasurers, etc.
3. County Recorder, elected every three years. His duties are to record deeds, mortgages, plats, leases, powers of at- torneys to sell land, to note on such instruments the time of receipt and record, to keep an alphabetical list of instru- ments recorded, etc.
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4. County Surveyor, elected every three years. He must make a survey of any lands in the county on application of interested parties or by order of the courts.
5. Sheriff, elected every two years. He "shall preserve the public peace, and cause all persons guilty of any breach thereof, within his knowledge or view, to enter into recog- nizance with sureties, for keeping the peace, and appearing at the succeeding term of the Common Pleas of the proper county; and to commit to jail in case of refusal; * * and shall execute all warrants, writs, and other processes to him directed by the proper and lawful authority; and shall at- tend upon all courts of Common Pleas, and the District Court, during their sessions, and the Probate Court when re- quired; and he shall have power to call to his aid, in the ex- ecution of the duties herein, and by law required, such person or persons, or power of the county, as may be neces- sary; and, under the direction and control of the county commissioners, he shall have charge of the court-house," etc.
6. Coroner, elected every two years. He must hold an in- quest over the body of any person dead by violence or ac- cident.
7. Infirmary Directors, elected for a term of three years. They have the care of the county poor.
8. County Commissioners, elected for a term of three years. They must hold four regular sessions annually, must provide a place for holding courts, shall build and repair bridges and approaches thereto, may cause water-courses to be straight- ened, may purchase site for and erect a court-house, and borrow money by issuing bonds for the same or for other county indebtedness, may examine the county treasurer's books, may provide orphans' asylums and children's homes, may act as school board in certain cases, etc.
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9. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, elected for three years. He must keep a complete record of each case tried, unless ordered to the contrary; must report certain criminal statistics to the Secretary of State, must furnish poll books and tally-sheets for elections, must draw, in the presence of the sheriff, the names of the grand and petit jurors, etc.
10. Prosecuting Attorney, elected for two years. He pros- ecutes, in the name of the State, all complaints, suits, and controversies to which the State is a party, collects costs for the State, and its claims against others; is the legal adviser of county officers and boards of education, reports legal sta- tistics to the Attorney General, etc.
II. Probate Judge, a judicial officer, elected for three years. He takes the proof of wills, admits copies of them to record, directs and controls the settlement of the accounts of executors and administrators, appoints and removes guardians, grants marriage licenses, licenses ministers to solemnize marriages, makes inquests respecting lunatic, in- sane, idiotic, and deaf and dumb persons, etc.
12. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, elected for five years, presides over the Court of Common Pleas in the county or counties for which he is elected.
"The Court of Common Pleas shall have original juris- diction in all civil cases where the sum or matter in dispute exceeds the exclusive original jurisdiction of justices of the peace; and appellate jurisdiction from the decision of county commissioners, justices of the peace, and other inferior courts in the proper county, in all civil cases, subject to the relations provided by law. It shall have original jurisdiction of all crimes and offenses, except in cases of minor offenses, the exclusive jurisdiction of which is vested in justices of the peace, or that may be invested in courts inferior to the Common Pleas."
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State Government.
THE OFFICERS OF THE STATE ARE :-
I. The Governor, elected for two years; salary, $8,000. He is the supreme executive power of the State; may re- quire information in writing of the executive officers of the State, shall communicate a message to the General Assembly at every session, may convene it on extraordinary occasions, is commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the State, fills vacancies in State offices, commissions all judges elected under the constitution and laws of the State, justices of the peace, and notaries; may grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, except for treason, and in cases of impeachment ; may surrender fugitives from justice on demand, may appoint staff officers, commissioner of deeds, of railroads and telegraphs, statistics of labor, of fisheries, superintendent of insurance, inspector of mines, State libra- rian, supervisor of public printing, trustees of benevolent institutions; must be present at the count of presidential votes, issue writs for election of Congressmen or members of the General Assembly, may commission or discharge militia officers, call out the militia, etc.
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