County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 51

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

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THE POTTAWATOMIES.

Previous to about the year 1843, members of the above tribe habit- ually encamped temporarily in the vicinity of Nettle Lake, around which, in the swamps, almost every species of wild game could be found. On the old Knight homestead, just north of the lake, was a spot where the Indians had assembled at certain seasons for many years. Wigwams of bark and poles had been constructed, which survived the intervals of non- occupancy, and were soon made tenantable for the Indians by coverings of.skins and fresh supplies of basswood bark. Any abundance of fine fish inhabited the lake, and afforded an excellent variation in the limited food for the Indian. Along the shores of the lake, finding a home in the swamps, minks and otters dwelt ; and, it is said by Thomas Knight, a few beavers also were there. The township was one unbroken forest of heavy timber, except in the southwestern part, where, on the sandy soil, were a few oak openings. Considerable swampy land was to be seen, more than at present, as the ax of the husbandman has remorselessly leveled scores of acres of magnificent natural forests, and the rays of the sun, unchecked by the natural covering of the soil, have drank up the superficial waters. Not a road was to be seen, but here and there, through- out the tangled wildwood, old and well-traveled Indian trails wound

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around on the higher lands, centering at the permanent and temporary villages. Hundreds of deer wandered through the township, browsing on the rich verdure of grass and bush. Packs of ravenous wolves infested the woods, chasing down deer or other inoffensive animals, and filling the affrighted air of night with their wild and discordant music. Panthers and catamounts were sometimes heard at night, uttering their peculiar and terrifying cries. Bears were frequently seen, walking the kings of the woods. Nothing human was to be found, save the few bands of In- dians who were almost as wild as their daily companions, the beasts. Dangerous and venomous reptiles inhabited every acre of land, and all was silence and solitude. This was the Northwest Township of forty-five years ago. Goodwin was the first man to herald a change, but soon after him came

THE SECOND SETTLER.

In September, 1838, James Knight, with his sons Thomas, Philip, Samuel, James and Joshua, established himself in a rude log cabin about eighty rods north of Nettle Lake. He was a professional hunter, but soon after his arrival became afflicted with white swelling in the hip, which rendered him almost helpless, and from which he never fully re- covered. Much of the care of the family fell upon Thomas, who became one of the most expert hunters and trappers ever in the township. At that period, an experienced hunter and trapper could make five times as much money as he could who turned his attention to farming. Deer skins sold quite readily at $1 each; bear skins at from $3 to $8 ; and the furs of the mink, otter or raccoon, at from 50 cents to $5. These facts caused the Knight boys to spend almost their entire time in the wonder- fully exciting sport of hunting, trapping and fishing. They carried flint- lock rifles, and always went armed with huge knives. The lake was a great resort for deer, which came there in the night to drink. The boys spent many a night upon the lake hunting these animals. That was a strange place to hunt deer, but the old settler will readily understand what it means. A canoe was made of some large log, and provided with oars. A large beeswax candle was made, and fastened in a socket on the bow of the canoe. Just back of it, a large piece of bark was fastened upright in such a manner as to conceal the occupants of the boat. When darkness had descended, two of the boys, thoroughly armed, would enter the canoe, and silently and slowly row along the margin of the lake. Deer that had come to drink would stand motionless in the edge of the water, staring, apparently fascinated, at the light, until the canoe would almost touch them. It was an easy matter then for the hunters from their concealment to shoot the deer. In this manner. five or six were killed in a single evening by Thomas and Philip Knight, and doubtless

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by others of the first settlers. One evening, while thus engaged, Thomas shot and wounded a very large buck, which ran up the bank a few yards and stopped. The canoe was darted to the shore, and Thomas sprang out and up the bank after the wounded animal. He came to it almost immediately, and instantly seized it by the antlers ; but the animal made a lunge, pinning the hunter fast against a tree. He shouted for help, but ere his brother could arrive, the wounded buck fell upon the ground in the agonies of death. The wound had been mortal. Thomas became an expert trapper of raccoon and mink. He used an ingenious wooden trap which held the animals securely. The most money he made in any one day through his prowess as a hunter and trapper was $11.50, as follows :

A BEAR STORY.

One day Thomas Knight went out to inspect his pole traps, which had been set for raccoon. He had many in the woods near his father's cabin, and expected to bring in five or six skins that morning. While he was walking along in 'the direction of his destination, he suddenly heard quite a noise off at one side, and looking in that direction saw what at the first glance appeared to be an Indian pony. Nothing but the back of the animal was visible above the intervening clump of bushes, and without thinking much about the subject, the hunter continued his walk. A moment later he glanced around for the second time, and was aston- ished and somewhat frightened to see walking directly toward him the largest bear he had ever before encountered. The animal was some dis- tance away, and had not yet observed the hunter, as it was moving al- most directly toward him. Knight instantly concealed himself and ex- amined the priming of his rifle, and, finding it all right, anxiously awaited the re-appearance of the bear. A minute later it came leisurely along, and when it had approached within easy rifle shot, the hunter took care- ful aim, and pulled the trigger. The sharp report was followed by a ter- rific growling and tearing of the leaves and bushes, and the hunter began loading with his utmost dispatch to be in readiness, if necessary, for a second shot. About the time the loading was finished the noise ceased, and, when Knight looked out, he saw the huge animal lying motionless on the ground. The bear proved to be one of the largest of its kind, and was found to weigh almost five hundred pounds. When alive, it had stood at least three feet in height, and was a formidable animal for a hunter to encounter. The rifle ball-a heavy one-had struck a vital part, and it was lucky for Knight that it had done so. The skin sold for $8, and, when to this amount the value of the skins of the raccoons he caught dur- ing the day was added, the total footed up to $11.50. The fore paw of this bear was taken to Columbus, Ohio, and for many years could be seen

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in a museum in that city. Mr. Knight contracted to clear ten acres of timber land for some man just across the line in Indiana, for which he was to receive as payment a large fine sow-the prospective mother of a numerous family. While cutting on this tract of timber one day, he sud- denly heard his sow, off some distance in the woods, begin to squeal in the greatest distress, and, surmising the cause, he seized his rifle and started at his best pace in the direction whence the sounds proceeded. He soon reached the spot, and beheld a scene which roused every fiber of courage and passion within him. A large, savage-looking bear had seized his sow, and was tearing her in pieces alive. A great rent had been torn in the tender flesh near the loin ; and when the enraged owner reached the spot, panting, on the run, the bear angrily raised its head with a furious growl, showing two rows of gleaming teeth, discolored with blood. With- out a moment's hesitation, the enraged owner raised his rifle to his eye and fired, and a half ounce of lead went crashing through the brain of the bear, entering at the eye and emerging at the base of the skull. The huge animal released its hold and dropped upon the ground, and after a few feeble kicks, lay motionless and dead. The unfortunate sow was 80 mangled that she died soon afterward. Such scenes were often enacted in early years, and many incidents of a similar nature might be related. There was scarcely an early family that did not have swine killed by bears.

THE WAY TO TRAP A BEAR.

One evening, when the country was new, Mrs. Aldis Johnson, then a little girl, the daughter of Mr. Myers, who lived just across the line in Michigan, was sent a short distance to bring up the cows which were in sight. She soon returned with the animals, and reported that she had seen a bear ; but her folks thought she must be mistaken, and paid little heed to her statements. That night a great commotion among their swine con- vinced her folks that the little girl had not been mistaken, and when the morning dawned, and search was instituted, the half-eaten carcass of a hog was found in the woods where the squealing had been heard. It was con- cluded to build a " dead-fall " trap to catch the bear if possible, and, accord- ingly, H. C. Johnson, brother of Aldis, proceeded to construct one after the following fashion : A log about a foot in diameter was fastened upon the ground at a suitable place, and wooden pins were driven into holes bored on the upper side, after which the upper ends of the pins were sharpened. Another log fully as large was partly suspended over the lower one, and pro- vided on the lower side with sharpened pins as above described. A trig- ger was made and baited with a portion of the dead hog, and arranged in such a manner that the bear must stand directly over the lower log and under the upper to secure the meat. To get the bait the bear must nec-

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essarily pull the trigger, which would cause the upper log to fall, thus pinning the animal like a vise between the two logs, and piercing it with the sharp pins. The trap was fully prepared and left to perform its work. It worked like a charm, and when examined, at the proper time, the bear which had returned, as was expected, for another feast from the carcass of the hog, was found dead between the logs, pierced through and through by the pins.

AN UNFORTUNATE AND LAMENTED OCCURRENCE.

About thirty-eight years ago, two young men, Phillip Knight and John Crum, entered a canoe on Nettle Lake for the purpose of spending a few hours in hunting and fishing. Time passed away, but they failed to return, though no uneasiness was felt by their friends, as it was well known that the young men were abundantly able to take care of them- selves in the woods. Something over a day passed, but still no serious misgivings were entertained by the relatives of the boys. The second day of their departure, Thomas Knight, having occasion to pass along the lake, discovered, greatly to his alarm, the canoe, in which the boys had ventured out, floating bottom upward in the murky water. The boat was brought to land, and, when the circumstances became known to the friends of the boys, it was thought that possibly they had been drowned, and search was immediately instituted to ascertain if such was the case. After about an hour of sounding and dredging the bodies of both were recovered. From appearances they had been dead some time; but the cause of their death has never been, and, in the nature of things, will never be, unrav- eled. Both boys were bright, manly, and well known, and their un- timely and melancholy death was widely and bitterly lamented.

FURTHER EVENTS OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.

A few families arrived in the township for permanent settlement in 1839, 1840 and 1841, among them being those of William H. Billings, Ozias Billings, Thomas Whaley, John Whaley, Hiram Russell, Johnson Butler, Richard Parish, Asa Parish, Adolphus Rogers and George Mat- thews. After 1841, the settlers came in quite rapidly. The Whaleys, Billingees, Russells, Rogerses, and soon after several families of John- sons, and others established themselves in the northwestern part near what afterward became Billingstown. The western part was much more attractive and inviting in early years than any other portion of the town- ship. The soil was sandy, and was tolerably free from those marshy and unhealthful appearances which were so uncomfortably suggestive of fevers, ague, and their kindred ills. These facts caused the bulk of the early settlers to locate the western part, though scattering families were located, in 1843, in other portions. Early settlers had but little time to

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spend in idleness or play. The question of successful life in the back- woods was a staggering one, and required unflinching hardihood and reso- lution to be met and overcome. Mills and stores were miles away, and the distance was rendered practicably double by the bottomless condition of the roads and the want of bridges. Sometimes a week would be spent in going to town, to Defiance, or to some distant village in Michigan or Indiana ; after the return the ox or horse teams would be so harassed by the journey as to be unfit for work for many days. And even when the settlers went to the villages, the price of all supplies or commodities was so exorbitant as to be almost wholly beyond the reach of the settler's purse. Grain and other farm productions were scarcely worth hauling to market for the mere pittance they brought ; and the almost total absence of money and the spiritless condition of the demand for farm supplies, com- pelled the settlers to forego, not merely all commercial luxuries, but too often the actual necessities of life. They were thus forced to rely almost wholly upon their home productions to sustain life. Pork and wild game were the meats; corn and wheat, ground often at home, and by hand, were the breads; and the hide of the deer, and linen, and (later) woolen, with the supply of clothing brought into the woods, were the clothes. Wild honey was abundant in the woods, and was often candied and of the finest quality. Maple sugar was easily obtained. Tea and coffee were rarities, their substitutes being barks, herbs and grains. In this manner the early settlers lived and labored. All subjected themselves to the severest labor to elear the farms and fit them for remunerative cultivation. Women and men worked day and night, chopping and burning, and the results of their unceasing toil are the splendid farms and homes of to-day.

CATALOGUE OF EARLY SETTLERS.

It is impossible to give the names of all the early settlers in the town- ship, as many remained but a short period, and their names have slipped the memory, and do not occur on the tax duplicates of the county. Those who paid tax on personal property for the year 1845 were James Burke, William H. Billings, J. B. Butler, O. M. Billings, A. C. Johnson, Aldis Johnson, George Matthews, John Maybee, William McLain, William Phelps, Adolphus Rogers, James Whaley, Washington Whaley, Thomas F. Whaley, Thomas Whaley, Richard Parish, Daniel Smith and Anson Smith. At this time, there were five horses and seventy-three cattle in the township. The settlers went to Defiance the greater portion of the time to do their trading, but often they went north to some of the larger towns in Southern Michigan, or to Lima, Ind.

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MILLING INTERESTS.

No grist-mill, not even a corn-cracker, so far as known, was ever erected and operated in North West Township. Almost all the early families obtained their flour at Martin & Depew's Mill, in southern Flor- ence, and those that did not were compelled to go nearly twice as far be- fore finding another. The most of what little lumber that was brought in was obtained at New Buffalo also, as a small village had been laid out there in 1836 by Martin & Depew, who had erected a grist-mill and a saw-mill. Probably the first saw-mill constructed and operated in the township was built, between 1840 and 1845, by Richard and Jacob Parish. and located on Nettle Creek, above the lake, on the farm now owned by H. Waldron. It was a small, rude affair, with an up-and-down saw, set in motion by water that moved so sluggishly that, it is averred by old set- tlers, the sawyer could set the mill in operation on a large log, and take a nap before his services would again be required. The mill was conducted during the wet months for a few years, and was then abandoned, and has long since been almost forgotten even by the old settlers. Although this mill sawed but little, still it supplied the demand for four or five miles around, which is not saying very much. The second saw-mill, a much better one, was erected on Nettle Creek, below the lake, in about 1845, by Daniel Smith and Alpheus Petty. Smith had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and during the remainder of his life was a pensioner of Uncle Sam. The mill was located at the outlet of a large natural pond, and an easy and excellent water-power was secured by means of a dam. The mill, under different forms, managements and structures, is yet in exist- ence, though the appearance of rapid portable mills has stolen the patron- age of the older and slower. Thus it has ever been, the young and quick taking the place of the old and slow. During the early history of the township, this saw-mill was one of the most, if not the most, important industrial features within its limits. Settlers, after the earliest ones, pre- ferred to locate near mills, stores, etc., that many of the privations of life in the backwoods might be avoided, and therefore this mill was one in- ducement for emigrants in search of homes to locate near it. During its more active career, it sawed enormous quantities of lumber. Two of the earlier owners were Adam Crum and Robert Russell. George Kint bas owned it since not far from 1850. No steam has been used as a motor in this mill. A steam saw-mill was built during the early part of the last war by Alfred Gamber, and located about forty rods east of the Columbia schoolhouse. It passed to Ford and to several others, and was finally re- moved about ten years ago. About twelve years ago, Mr. Casebeer built a steam saw-mill in the western part. It passed to Robbins and Brown. It is yet owned by the family of Robbins. The Spielman steam-mill was

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built about five years ago. At the center of the township, Mr. Taylor has a saw-mill, a tile factory, a shingle mill and a small brick kiln. He is doing, in these various pursuits, an extensive business.

STORES, POST OFFICES, ASHERIES, ETC.

The first mail route that passed across the township started from Pulaski ; thence passed to Eagle Creek, in Superior Township ; thence to Spring Lake, in Florence; thence to Northwest and thence on north ward to Hillsdale, Mich. It was established by Congressional enactment in 1843, and the office of " Northwest" was located at the house of William H. Billings, in the northwest corner of the township. Jabez Perkins is said to have been the first carrier over this route. He traveled on horseback, and was always loaded down with articles which the necessities of the settlers along the route required. Billings was, of course, Postmaster at Northwest. In about the year 1846, Mr. Billings opened a small store on his farm. He slowly increased his stock until it was probably worth about $3,000, and continued selling some fifteen years. A small village, named Billingstown, in his honor, sprang up around him. S. B. Braman, a blacksmith, built his shop there quite early. Whitney Foster, an ex- cellent blacksmith and a well-known and respected citizen, worked at his trade there for a number of years, but lately has been at Columbia. Israel Shook is the Vulcan there at present. Charles Hall and Orin Fenton suc- ceeded Billings in the mercantile trade, but they retired after a few months and were followed by Jacob Kintigh, who, for many years, kept a well-pat- ronized country store. No goods are for sale at present. The post office "Northwest " has been changed to various residences until at present it is located at the store of E. W. & E. F. Welch, in the northern part, S. W. Houtz being the Postmaster. This store was opened about five years ago, but about three and a half years later the Welch brothers ob- tained it in a trade. They have for sale a fine general assortment of goods valued at $2,000. The brothers deal largely in produce, and have a wagon on the road six months of the year. Jacob Shake conducted & cooper shop at Billingstown for a short period, some ten years ago. The steam saw-mill in the northeastern part, near the Winebrennarian Church, was built by Ezra Welch some ten years ago. At his death it passed to Joseph Esterline, and is yet owned by him. Joseph Strayer had an in- terest in the mill for a time. Jacob Kintigh built an ashery at " Kin- tightown" in about the year 1854, and at the same time began selling from a small stock of goods he placed in his dwelling. For the first few years his goods were weighed with steelyards ; but, after about 1856 or 1857, when his small store-building was erected, he had a much larger stock of goods, and much better means for weighing the same. He did

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a thriving business. Citizens without money could take their ashes to him and get goods from his store in exchange. This was a great accom- modation to the neighborhood. Mr. Kintigh manufactured a large quan- tity of fine pearl-ash, which was carted to Defiance, where it found a ready sale to Brice Hilton and others. His son, George, succeeded him in the mercantile trade in about 1866, while the father, as above stated, opened another store at Billingstown. At the death of George, some eight years ago, his brother Cyrus secured the store, but some time later sold to his father. Kintightown has had no store for the past three years. Dr. James Steward was located there for a short time some twenty years ago. Aaron Shinn was the first blacksmith there, and Mr. Butts the second.

FORMATION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND FIRST ELECTION.

On the 80th of March, 1835, the territory embraced within the town- ship limits became, by the action of the County Commissioners, a part of St. Joseph Township. At that time the boundary difficulty between Ohio and Michigan was in full blast, and, while Ohio claimed the township with the remainder of the disputed land, and the Commissioners of Will- iams ordered its attachment to St. Joseph and its creation, Michigan like- wise claimed the land, and attached it to the territory on the north. In 1836, the township became, definitely, the property of Ohio, but at that time not a settler, so far as known, resided within its limits. In 1837, Florence Township was created, and comprised the present townships of Florence, Superior, Bridgewater and Northwest. In March, 1839, Bridgewater was created, and comprised the present townships of Bridge- water and Northwest. At last, in December, 1840, upon the petition of William H. Billings and others, the Board of Commissioners ordered the creation of a new township, to be called "Northwest," by reason of its being in the extreme northwest corner of the county and State, to be composed of the present territory, and an election was ordered held at the residence of Adolphus Rogers, on the second Monday in January, 1841. Since this action, the boundary has not been changed. It has been stated (upon what authority the writer cannot tell) that the first township officers were as follows: Adolphus Rogers and William H. Billings, Justices of the Peace; J. C. Whaley, Treasurer ; T. F. Whaley, Constable; William H. Billings, Clerk ; Thomas Whaley, William H. Billings and Adolphus Rogers, Trustees. Thomas Knight says that, at the Presidential election in 1844, only eleven votes were polled in the township, nine of them being Democratic. It is highly probable that, while Northwest was attached to Bridgewater, some of the officers of the combined townships were chosen from what is now Northwest. The facts in this particular cannot be learned, although in the past it has

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been quite currently stated that, at one time (possibly at the election last referred to), William H. Billings held every office in the township except that of Constableship.

PRE-HISTORIC OCCUPATION OF NORTHWEST TOWNSHIP.

In the vicinity of Nettle Lake, on every side of it, are some eight or ten earthworks erected by an unknown race called Mound-Builders, probably more than a thousand years ago. It is quite generally, though erroneously, believed that these earthworks (mounds being one of them) were the work of the Indians ; but archaeologists are of the opinion that the mounds have a higher antiquity, and that they were erected by the Mound-Builders, who might have been the remote ancestors of the Indian tribes, though this is disputed by many eminent scholars in this depart- ment of historic research. On Section 23 are a few of the mounds, two of them being of unusual size for this section of the State. The greater number has been opened in past years by curious and inexperienced per- sons, who failed to properly notice features which are considered highly important by archaeological students. In almost every instance, human bones were unearthed, as was also charcoal, sometimes in considerable quantity. Copper implements, such as arrow and spear heads, were taken from several of the mounds, and in one was found a piece of mica six or eight inches square, and about an inch thick. In several instances, it was definitely ascertained that many individuals were buried in the same mound. The Indians had no knowledge, traditionary or otherwise, concerning these people, save what was derived from their works, the same character of knowledge which we have. If the Mound-Builders were the ancestors of the Indians, such fact was unknown and unsuspected by the latter tribe. Indians never buried their dead in mounds like those referred to, neither did they erect altars where animals and human beings were immolated to secure the favor of the Great Spirit, and afterward cover such altars with a mound of earth. These, and many other im- portant considerations lead the majority of students of antiquity to the opinion that the Mound-Builders were a distinct race of people, and that they inhabited a large portion of America several thousand years ago.

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County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 51

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885