Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 45

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006

USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I > Part 45

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).

A Lonely Boy .- For the first year I was a lonely boy. My brother George, eleven years older than I, was too much of a man to be my companion, and my sisters could not be with me, generally, in the woods and among the rocks and caves ; but a small spaniel dog, almost as intelligent as a boy, was always with me.

His First Books .- I was the reader of the family, but we had few books ! I remember but one beside " Watts' Psalms and Hymns" that a child could read-" The Vicar of Wake- field," which was almost committed to mem- ory ; the poetry which it contained entirely. Our first neighbor was Cart. Benj. Brown, who had been an officer in the Revolutionary war. He was a man of strong intellect, with- out much culture. He told me many anec- dotes of the war which interested me, gave me an account of Dr. Jenner's then recent discovery of the kine pox as a preventive of the small pox, better than I have ever yet read in any written treatise, and I remember it better than any account I have since read. He lent me a book-one number of a peri- odical called the "Athenian Oracle "-some- thing like our modern " Notes and Queries," from which, however, I learned but little. I found, too, a companion in his son John, four years my senior, still enjoying sound health in his ripe old age.

In 1801 some one of my father's family being ill, Dr. Baker, who lived at Waterford, some eighteen miles distant, was called ir.

He took notice of me as a reading boy, and told me he had a book he would lend me if I would come for it. I got leave of my father and went, the little spaniel being my travelling companion.

The book was a translation of Virgil, the Bucolics and Georgies torn out, but the Æneid perfect. I have not happened to meet with the translation since, and do not know whose it was. The opening lines, as I remember them, were-

" Arms and the man I sing who first from Troy

Came to the Italian and Lavinian shores, Exiled by fate, much tossed by land and sea, By power divine and cruel Juno's rage ; Much, too, in war he suffered, till he reared A city, and to the Latium brought his gods- Hence sprung his Latin progeny, the kings Of Alba, and the walls of towering Rome."

When I returned home with my book, and for some weeks after, my father had hands employed in clearing a new field. On Sun- days and at leisure hours I read to them, and never had a more attentive audience. At that point in the narrative where Æneas dis- closes to Dido his purpose of leaving her, and tells her of the vision of Mercury bearing the mandate of Jove, one of the men sprang to his feet, declared he did not believe a word of that-he had got tired of her, and it was all a made up story as an excuse to be off, and it was a - shame after what she had done for him. So the reputation of ÆEneas suffered by that day's reading.

Our next neighbors were Ephraim Cutler, Silvanus Ames, William Brown, a married son of the Captain ; and four or five miles dis- tant, Nathan Woodbury, George Wolf and Christopher Herrold; and about the same time, or a little later, Silas Dean, a rich old bachelor, Martin Boyles, and John and Samuel McCune. Mr. Cutler and my father purchased "Morse's Geography," the first edition, about 1800, for his oldest son Charles

and myself; it in effect became my book, as Charles never used it, and I studied it most intently. By this, with such explanations as my father gave me, I acquired quite a com- petent knowledge of geography, and some. thing of general history.

The Coon-Skin Library .- About this time the neighbors in our and the surrounding set- tlements met and agreed to purchase books and to make a common library. They were all poor and subscriptions small, but they raised in all about $100. All my accumu- lated wealth, ten coon-skins, went into the fund, and Squire Sam Brown, of Sunday creek, who was going to Boston, was charged with the purchase. After an absence of many weeks he brought the books to Capt. Ben Brown's in a sack on a pack-horse. I was present at the untying of the sack and pouring out of the treasure. There were about sixty volumes, I think, and well se- lected ; the library of the Vatican was nothing to it, and there never was a library better

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· ATHENS COUNTY.

read. This with occasional additions fur- nished me with reading while I remained at home.

Early Teachers .- We were quite fortunate in our schools. Moses Everitt, a graduate of Yale, but an intemperate young man, who had been banished by his friends, was our first teacher ; after him, Charles Cutler, a brother of Ephraim, and also a graduate of Yale. They were learned young men and faithful to their voeation. They boarded alternate weeks with their scholars, and made the winter even- ings pleasant and instructive. After Barrows' inill was built at the mouth of Federal creek, I, being the mill boy, used to take my two- horse loads of grain in the evening, have my grist ground, and take it home in the morning. There was an eccentric person living near the mill whose name was Jones-we called him Doctor ; he was always dressed in deerskin, . day. his principal vocation being hunting, and I always found him in the evening, in cool weather, lying with his feet to the fire. He was a scholar, banished no doubt for intem- peranee ; he had books, and finding my fancy for them had me read to him while he lay drying his feet. He was fond of poetry, and did something to correet my pronunciation and prosody. Thus the excessive use of alcohol was the indireet means of furnishing me with school-teachers.

Works in the Kanawha Salines. - My father entertained the impression that I would one day be a scholar, though quite unable to lend me any pecuniary aid. I grew up with the same impression until, in my nineteenth year, I almost abandoned hope. On reflection, however, I determined to make one effort to earn the means to procure an education. Having got the summer's work well disposed of, I asked of my father leave to go for a few months and try my fortune. He consented and I set out on foot the next morning, made my way through the woods to the Ohio, got on a keel boat as a hand at small wages, and in about a week landed at Kanawha sa- lines. I engaged and went to work at once, and in three months satisfied myself that I could earn money slowly but surely, and on my return home in December, 1809, I went to Athens and spent three months there as a student, by way of testing my capacity. I left the academy in the spring with a suffi- eiently high opinion of myself, and returned to Kanawha to earn money to complete my education. This year I was successful, paid off some debts which troubled my father, and returned home and spent the winter with some new books which had accumulated in the library, which, with my father's aid, I read to much advantage.

Enters College .- I went to Kanawha the third year, and after a severe summer's labor I returned home with about $600 in money, but sick and exhausted. Instead, however, of sending for a physician, I got "Don Quixote" from the library and laughed my- self well in about ten days. I then went to Athens, entered as a regular student and con- tinued my studies there till the spring of 1815,

when I left, a pretty good though irregular scholar. During my academie term I went to Gallipolis and taught school a quarter and studied French. I found my funds likely to fall short and went a fourth time to Kanawha, where in six weeks I earned $150, which I thought would suffice, and returned to my studies ; after two years rest the severe labor in the salines went hard with me.

Studies Law .- After finishing my studies at Athens I read " Blackstone's Commenta- ries " at home, and in July, 1815, went to Lancaster to study law. A. B. Walker, then a boy of about fifteen years, accompanied me to Laneaster to bring back my horse, and I remained and studied law with Gen. Beecher. I was admitted to the bar in August, 1816, after fourteen months very diligent study- the first six months about sixteen hours a

Law Experiences .- I made my first speech at Circleville the November following. Gen. Beecher first gave me a slander case to prepare and study ; I spent much time with it, but time wasted, as the cause was continued the first day of court. He then gave me a case of contract, chiefly in depositions, which I studied diligently, but that was also con- tinued ; a few minutes afterward a case was called, and Gen. Beecher told me that was ready-the jury was sworn, witnesses called, and the cause went on. In the examination of one of the witnesses I thought I discovered an important fact not noticed by either counsel, and I asked leave to cross-examine further. [ elieited the fact which was decisive of the case. This gave me confidence. I argued the cause closely and well, and was abundantly con- gratulated by the members of the bar present.

My next attempt was in Laneaster. Mr. Sherman, father of the General, asked me to argue a cause of his which gave room for some diseussion. I had short notice, but was quite successful, and the eause being appealed Mr. Sherman sent his client to employ me with him. I had as yet got no fees, and my funds were very low. This November I at- tended the Athens court. I had nothing to do there, but met an old neighbor, Elisha Alderman, who wanted me to go to Marietta to defend his brother, a boy, who was to be tried for larceny. It was out of my intended beat, but I wanted business and fees and agreed to go for $25, of which I received $10 in hand. I have had several fees since of $10,000 and upwards, but never one of which I felt the value, or in truth as valuable to me, as this. I went, tried my boy, and he was convicted, but the court granted me a new trial. On my way to Marietta at the next term I thought of a ground of excluding the evidenee, which had escaped me on the first trial. It was not obvious, but sound. I took it, excluded the evidence and acquitted my client. This caused a sensation. I was employed at once in twelve penitentiary cases, under indictment at that term, for making and passing counterfeit money, horse-stealing and perjury. As a professional man, my fortune was thus briefly made.

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ATHENS COUNTY ..

EDWARD R. AMES, the distinguished Methodist Bishop, was born in Ames, in 1806. In youth he had access to the Coon Skin library, studied two or three years at the University at Athens, supporting himself in the meanwhile by teaching. He joined the Methodists, went to Lebanon, III., where he opened a high school which eventually grew into McKendree College. In 1830 he was licensed to preach. In 1840 he was elected corresponding secretary of the Missionary Society for the South and West. This was before the days of railroads and travelling slow and difficult ; during the four years that he filled it he travelled some 25,000 miles ; on one tour he passed over the entire frontier line from Lake Superior to Texas, camping out almost the whole route and part of the time almost destitute of pro- visions.

During the greater part of his adult life Bishop Ames resided in Indiana. Hr died in Baltimore in 1879. He was the first Methodist Bishop to visit the Pacific coast. During the civil war he rendered important service too as a member of several commissions.

He possessed extraordinary capacity for business, was of great physical endur- ance and one of the most eloquent preachers in the Methodist Church.

NELSONVILLE, sixty-two miles sontheast of Columbus, on the Hocking Valley Canal, on the C. H. V. & T. R. R. Newspapers : Valley Register, Independent, J. A. Tullis, editor and publisher ; News, Independent, T. E. Wells, editor and publisher. Churches : 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Christian, 1 Colored Bap- tist and 1 Colored Methodist. Banks : Merchants' & Miners', Chas. Robbins, president, Chas. A. Cable, cashier.

Manufactures and Employees .- Nelsonville Planing Mill Co., building material, 10 hands ; Nelsonville Machine Co., steam engines, machinery, etc., 24; Kreig & Son, doors, sash, etc. ; Steenrod & Poston, flour and feed ; Fremmel & Barrman, leather.

Nelsonville is one of the largest and most important coal-mining centres in the State. The Nelsonville bed is one of the most valuable in Ohio, from its superior quality and its proximity to canal and railroad facilities. The thickness of the vein averages about six feet. Population in 1880, 3,095. School census in 1886, 1,555 ; F. S. Coultrap, superintendent. Nelsonville was laid out in 1818 and named after Mr. Daniel Nelson, who owned the land on which the town is situated.

ALBANY, nine miles south of Athens, on the T. & O. R. R., is a notable tem- perance town in the centre of a fine grazing and wool-producing region. The At- wood Institute is located here, also the Enterprise Academy for colored students. Newspapers : Echo, Independent, D. A. R. Mckinstry, editor. Churches : 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Free Will Baptist, 1 Cumberland Presbyterian, 1 African Methodist Episcopal. Population in 1880, 469. School census in 1886, 142 ; Lester C. Cottrill, superintendent. An important feature is the Wells Library, containing 2,000 volumes, endowed by the late Henry Wells. Coolville had, in 1880, 323 inhabitants.

BUCHTEL is on the C. & H. V. R. R., in the northwest part of the county. Population in 1880, 417.

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AUGLAIZE COUNTY.

AUGLAIZE.

AUGLAIZE COUNTY was formed in 1848 from portions of Allen, Logan, Darke, Shelby, Mercer and Van Wert counties. It is at the southern termination of the Black Swamp district, and occupies the great dividing ridge between the head, waters of Lake Erie and Ohio river. Only the northwestern part possesses the peculiar characteristics of the "Black Swamp;" by ditching the greater part has been brought under cultivation. The Mercer county reservoir, a great artificial lake of 17,500 acres and an average of ten feet in depth, is partly in this courty ; it abounds with fish, ducks and geese. The population is largely of German origin. It contains 400 square miles. In 1885 the acres cultivated were 131,205 ; in pasture, 14,997 ; woodland, 60,842; lying waste, 1,346 ; produced in wheat, 594,538 bushels; in corn, 1,330,471; barley, 18,795; tobacco, 7,600 pounds. School census in 1886, 9,566 ; teachers, 140. It has 39 miles of railroad.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1850.

1880.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1850. 309

1880.

Clay,

840

1,346

Noble,

1,303

Duchouquet,

905

4,971

Pusheta,

1,008

1,456

German,

1,470

2,239

Saint Mary's,

693

3,147

Goshen,

336

796

Salem,

400

1,160

Jackson,

1,991

Union,

1,008

1,590

Logan,

336

1,206

Washington,

688

1,515

Moulton,

450

1,436

Wayne,

672

1,288

Population in 1850 was 11,341 ; in 1860, 17,187; in 1880, 25,444, of whom 21,040 were Ohio-born.

In this county three specimens of the mastodon have been discovered as stated in historical sketch in the County Atlas-first, in 1870 in Clay township ; second, in 1874 also in Clay ; third, in 1878 in Washington. The mastodon differed from the elephant in being somewhat larger and thicker though in general not unlike it. Cuvier called it mastodon from the form of its teeth ; the name is from two Greek words signifying "nipple teeth." The bones of the mastodon have been discovered over a large part of the United States and Canada ; the bones of a hundred have been discovered at Big Bone Lick, Ky., and probably as many in different parts of this State.

The parts of skeleton No. 1 show it to have been an animal about fourteen feet high, eighteen feet long and with tusks probably twenty-seven feet. It was found while excavating a ditch through Muchinippi swamp eight feet from the surface, which for the first third was peat and the rest marly clay. The bones were discovered in a posture natural to an animal sinking in the mire. It is supposed it lost its life within 500 or 1,000 years after the deposition of the drift in which the marsh deposits rest. The remains of No. 2 were found in the same swamp. Only a few relics of No. 3 have been discovered. The ground being boggy there it is supposed that all the remainder of the skeleton awaits only search for its recovery, and in good preservation.

After the remnant of the powerful and noble tribe of Shawnee Indians were' driven from Piqua, by General George Rogers Clark, which was in 1780, they settled a town here, which they called Wapaghkonetta, and the site of the now county-seat. Early in the century there was at the place a fine orchard, which from its being planted in regular order was supposed to have been the work of Frenchmen settled among the Indians. By the treaty at the Maumee rapids, in 1817, the Shawnees were given a reservation of ten miles square in this county, within which was their council-house at Wapakoneta, and also a tract of twenty- five square miles, which included their settlement on Hog creek ; by the treaty of

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AUGLAIZE COUNTY.

the succeeding year, made at St. Mary's, 12,800 acres adjoining the east line of the Wapakoneta reserve were added.

From the year 1796 till the formation of the State constitution, Judge Burnet, of Cincinnati, attended court regularly at Marietta and Detroit, the last of which was then the seat of justice for Wayne county.

The jaunts between these remote places, through a wilderness, were attended with exposure, fatigue and hazard, and were usually performed on horseback, in parties of two or three or more. On one of these occasions, while halting at Wapakoneta, he witnessed a game of ball among the people, of which he has given this interesting narrative :

Blue Jacket, the war-chief, who com- manded the Shawnees in the battle of 1794, at Maumee, resided in the village, but was absent. We were, however, received with kindness by the old village chief, Buck- ingelas.

When we went to his lodge he was giving audience to a deputation of chiefs from some western tribes. We took seats at his request till the conference was finished, and the strings of wampum were disposed of. He gave us no intimation of the subject-matter of the conference, and of course we could not, with propriety, ask for it.

Indians playing Football .- In a little time he called in some of his young men, and re- quested them to get up a game of football for our amusement. A purse of trinkets was soon made up, and the whole village, male and female, were on the lawn. At these games the men played against the women, and it was a rule that the former were not to touch the ball with their hands on penalty of forfeiting the purse ; while the latter had the privilege of picking it up, running with, and throwing it as far as they could. When a squaw had the ball the men were allowed to catch and shake her, and even throw her on the ground, if necessary, to extricate the ball from her hand, but they were not allowed to touch or move it, except by their feet. At the opposite extremes of the lawn, which was a beautiful plain, thickly set with blue grass, stakes were erected, about six feet apart-the contending parties arrayed themselves in front of these stakes ; the men on the one side, and the women on the other. The party which succeeded in driving the ball through the stakes, at the goal of their opponents, were proclaimed victors, and received the purse.

All things being ready the old chief went to the centre of the lawn and threw up the ball, making an exclamation, in the Shawnee lan- guage, which we did not understand. He immediately retired, and the contest began. The parties seemed to be fairly matched, as to numbers, having about a hundred on a side.

The game lasted more than an hour with great animation, but was finally decided in favor of the ladies, by the power of an her- culean squaw, who got the ball and in spite of the men who seized her to shake it from her uplifted hand, held it firmly, dragging them along, till she was sufficiently near the goal to throw it through the stakes. The young squaws were the most active of their party, and, of course, most frequently caught the ball. When they did so it was amusing to see the strife between them and the young Indians, who immediately seized them, and always succeeded in rescuing the ball, though sometimes they could not effect their object till their female competitors were thrown on the grass. When the contending parties had retired from the field of strife it was pleasant to see the feelings of exultation depicted in the faces of the victors ; whose joy was mani- festly enhanced by the fact, that their victory was won in the presence of white men, whom they supposed to be highly distinguished, and of great power in their nation. This was a natural conclusion for them to draw, as they knew we were journeying to Detroit for the purpose of holding the general court ; which, they supposed, controlled and governed the nation. We spent the night very pleasantly among them, and in the morning resumed our journey.

In August, 1831, treaties were made with the Senecas of Lewiston and the Shawnecs of Wapakoneta, by James Gardiner, Esq., and Col. John M'Elvain, special commissioners appointed for this purpose, by which the Indians consented to give up their land and remove beyond the Mississippi. The Shawnees had at this time about 66,000 acres in this county, and in conjunction with the Senecas about 40,300 acres at Lewiston. The Indians were removed to the Indian Territory on Kansas river, in the Far West, in September, 1832, D. M. Workman and David Robb being the agents for their removal. The removal of the Indians opened the country to the settlement of the whites. Therefore in 1833 the present town of Wapakoneta was platted ; the original proprietors were Robert J. Skin- ner, Thomas B. Van Horne, Joseph Barnett, Jonathan K. Wilds and Peter

295

AUGLAIZE COUNTY.

Augenbaugh. Up to this time from early in the century the Friends had a mis- sion bere among the Indians.

WAPAKONETA, the county-seat, seventy-five miles northwest of Columbus, is on the C. H. & D. R. R. It is situated within the oil and gas belt, both of which have been struck in considerable quantities. The surrounding country is a rich agricultural district, and there is much manufacturing done in wooden articles. More churns, it is claimed, are made here than in any other place in the country. County officers in 1888 : Probate Judge, John McLain ; Clerk of Court, James A. Nichols; Sheriff, Wm. Schulenberg ; Prosecuting Attorney, Cyrenius A. Lay- ton ; Auditor, Wm. F. Torrance ; Treasurer, Colby C. Pepple ; Recorder, John J. Connaughton ; Surveyor, John B. Walsh ; Coroner, F. C. Hunter ; Commissioners, Henry Koop, George van Oss, John Reichelderfer.

Newspapers : Auglaize Republican, Republican, W. J. McMurray, editor ; Auglaize County Democrat, Demoerat, Fred. B. Kampf, editor. Churches : 1 English Lutheran, 1 Evangelist German Protestant, 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Catholic, 1 German Lutheran. Banks : First National, L. N. Blume, presi-

Will. E. Potter, Photo., Wapakoneta, 1887. CENTRAL VIEW IN WAPAKONETA.

dent ; C. F. Herbst, cashier ; People's National, F. Fritsch, president, F. J. McFarland, cashier.

Manufactures and Employees .- Stenger & Frank, flour, etc .; Wapakoneta Bending Co., spokes and rims, 50 hands; J. Gately, lumber ; Theodore Dickman, builders' wood-work ; Rupp & Winemiller, lumber; Wapakoneta Churn & Handle Co., churns and handles, 47 ; M. Brown & Co., washing machines, etc., 29 ; Swink Bros. & Co., furniture, etc., 17; C. Fisher, flour, etc., 7; Wapakoneta Spoke & Wheel Co., wheels and spokes, 50 .- State Report 1887.

Population in 1880, 2,765. School census in 1886, 1,261 ; J. L. Carson, super- intendent.

TRAVELLING NOTES.

A pleasant name for a place is desirable. Every inhabitant unconsciously derives from it a benefit ; it is a happy association. This is proved by the reverse. What interest could we take in a people who lived in " Hard Scrabble " or "Swineville ?"" Wapakonet:

enjoys the distinction of having, with possibly a single exception-"Pataskala "- the most original and musical name in the State. The word has the flavor of antiquity ; this en- hances the charm, carries the mind back to the red man and the wilderness.

Col John Johnston, agent among the

THE HILLS OF OHIO.

From "The Key of the West," by ALEX. AULD.

1. The hills of O - hi - o, how sweet - ly they rise,

In the beau - ty of

na - ture to

blend with the

skies ;

With

fair a - zure out - line, and tall

an - cient trees,

O - hi - o, my country,

I love

thee for these.

2. The homes of Ohio, free, fortuned, and fair, Full many hearts treasure a sister's love there ; E'en more than thy hill-sides or streamlets they please, Ohio, my country, I love thee for these.

3. God shield thee, Ohio, dear land of my birth, And thy children that wander afar o'er the earth ; My country thou art, where'er my lot's cast, Take thou to thy bosom my ashes at last.

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297

AUGLAIZE COUNTY.

Indians, appointed by Jefferson, thus wrote me in 1846: "Wapagh-ko-netta-this is the true Indian orthography. It was named after an Indian chief long since dead, but who survived years after my intercourse com- menced with the Shawanocse. The chief was somewhat club-footed, and the word has reference, I think, to that circumstance, although its full import I never could dis- cover. For many years prior to 1829 I had my Indian headquarters at Wapagh-ko-netta. The business of the agency of the Shawano- ese, Wyandots, Senecas, and Delawares was transacted there."

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 45

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 1006

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006