History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 45

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > 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).

After the Browns George Jackson carried on a small store for about five years. Samuel Martin started a general store about 1856, but having continued it with indifferent success for six or eight years, he discontinued it. James Drake built an ashery as early as 1845. which was located on Sycamore creek, near the south- ern limits of the town and here he manufact- ured as much as fifteen tons of potash per an- num, for a number of years. He finally sold it to Anson Drake, who continued it on an even more extensive scale. Another ashery

was built by Jacob Hodge on the bank of the creek and carried on for about six years.

There was a tannery in Lykens as early as 1846. It was built by Jerry Jolly, who carried on the business for about ten years, doing good work, and then sold out to Ephraim Adams, who continued it for five years, when it was

abandoned. A man named Cummins had a blacksmith shop in the village as early as 1838 and was followed in the same line of business by a Mr. Madison. In 1847 a saw-mill was erected on Sycamore creek, in the village, by Peter Howenstein. He did good work and continued the business for about fifteen years. when he sold out. The mill was owned for a while by Eli Winters. The first resident physi- cian in Lykens was Dr. James Dodge, who re- mained, however, only five or six years. After him Dr. Harmon practiced for a few years and then removed; Dr. Ritchie came in 1856, but died at the end of four years.

Previous to the establishment of the post office in 1844, the mail was brought from Mel- more, in Seneca county, and later, from Por- tersville. William Hank carried it once a week for many years until finally a post office was established at Lykens on March 18, 1844, with J. T. Drake as postmaster. He was succeeded by Anson Brown, Jan. 6, 1846; Jeremiah Jol- ley, Sept. 1, 1852; James Winters, June 3, 1854; Eli Winters, July 2, 1856; G. B. Van- fleet, Oct. 23, 1856; Ephraim Adams, Nov. 13, 1856; J. M. Richey, July II, 1861 : John H. Barron, Feb. 4, 1867; William Kohl, July 13, 1871; James T. Carbin, Aug. 12, 1889; Jacob Brown, Aug. 8, 1893; Gust V. Harer, June 6, 1894; James T. Carbin, May 6, 1898; H. B. Tippin, June 13, 1900; M. L. Aurand, Feb. 26, 1909: C. A. Michner, Jan. 28, 1910.

In 1837 Sidney Holt was one of the proni- inent men in Lykens township, and he de- cided he would like to have a post office for the convenience of himself and his neighbors. Congressman Hunter of Huron county who then represented this district, was a personal friend of Holt's and the office was easily se- cured, and was named Holt's corners, Sidney Holt being appointed the postmaster on July 10, 1837. The office was established in Holt's residence, but Mr. Holt soon tired of the re- sponsibilities of office, he could secure no neighbor willing to undertake the job, and after

297

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

running it for a little over a month it was dis- ley and Comfort Waller. The families of continued on Aug. 18, 1837.

What is thought to have been the first school- house in the township was built about two miles west of the village of Lykens, near the farm of Eli Winters, in 1834, the people gen- erally uniting in its erection. Isabel Hall was the first to teach school in this building. This school was supported by subscription and the attendance was large enough to make the teach- er's remuneration come to about $10 a month. Other early teachers in this school were a man named Andrews and Miss Lucinda Warren. After being in use many years this building was subsequently replaced by a better one at a cost of $500. The Ransom Schoolhouse, a log building, was built in 1836. In a few years it was replaced by a small frame building, and this in turn by the building known as the "Frog-pond Schoolhouse." In 1840 a school- house was erected about a mile north of Ly- kens village. The village itself had no school building until 1851, the village children at- tending the one about a quarter of a mile north of town, which had been erected many years before. Section 29 had a log school building as early as 1838; in 1854 it was re- placed by a frame building, and the latter was used until 1880, when a large brick school- house was built at a cost of $1,600, which is still in use. In the southeast corner of the township a cabin for school purposes was erected in 1840 and has since been replaced by two or more others. Spelling schools and singing schools were among the educational diversions of early days. David Spittler taught one of the latter during the winter months for many years. Many amusing incidents are doubtless stored away in the minds of the few survivors who attended these schools, and could they all be gathered together and pub- lished would make interesting reading for the present generation.

The pioneers settlers in Lykens attended church in Seneca county, but after the popula- tion of the township had been increased in 1832 by a large German immigration, it was deemed advisable to erect churches nearer home. The Free Will Baptists in that year began holding meetings in the cabins of the settlers. Among their earliest ministers were Seth and Benjamin Parker, Rev. James Ash-

Comfort Waller, David Hill, William Swalley and Lewis Warren were among the first active members of the organization. In 1842 this society erected a church on the farm of Com- fort Waller. This church, which was the first in the township, was a low frame building, with clapboard seats fastened to poles laid length- wise of the house. The pulpit was of planed poplar lumber, and the building was furnished with a large fire-place. It was used for many years and was then superseded by a new build- ing, which was erected at a cost of $1,200.

Among the early Presbyterians in Lykens township was Solomon Seery, at whose home meetings were held about 1834, as well as in the cabins of others of that faith. A society was gradually formed, which was visited for a number of years, at regular intervals, by Rev. Mr. Tracy, a circuit rider, who traveled over several counties. After the society had continued on this basis for a number of years, receiving gradual accessions, a church was built at Seery Corners, which has since been known as the Seery church. It was a small frame building, with seats and pulpit of rough poplar lumber, and without paint or varnish. It was superseded by a new building in 1870. This society was built up and placed on a firm footing, both with respect to finance and mem- bership bv Rev. Mr. Lillibridge, a well known and particularly effective preacher of those days, who labored with the congregation for many years.

In 1850 the German Lutherans and the mem- bers of the German Reformed church organ- ized a society in the northwestern part, their first meetings being held in a schoolhouse and later in a barn belonging to John Klaes. The barn being destroyed by lightning, the meet- ings were transferred to Mr. Klaes' house, and were there continued until the summer of 1852, when a small brick church was erected. The first minister was Rev. John Bentz, his immediate successors being Rev. William Veiler, Rev. Elias Keller and Rev. John Win- ter. During Mr. Winter's pastorate, in 1859, the congregation divided, a separate church being erected by the Reformers in close prox- imity to the old one. Two years later the old church was abandoned by the Lutherans. The Reformed congregation has had a steady

298

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

growth and is one of the strongest church or- ganizations in the township. A burial ground was here long before the establishment of the church as in the graveyard is the first recorded burial in the township that of Samuel Huddle, little son of Benjamin Huddle, who died June 27, 1832.

The Lutherans residing in the southern part of Lykens, for many years attended a church of that denomination which was erected at an early day in the northern part of Holmes town- ship.

About 1890 the Pittsburg, Akron and West- ern was extended from Cary through Lykens township. It follows a half section line through the township, and passes half a mile south of the village of Lykens. A station was erected, and a store was started at the station

with two or three industries, the most impor- tant being the bending works and a grain ware- house. An attempt was made to take the main body of the town to the station but it never materialized, and even the store was abandoned.

In 1872 a lodge of Odd Fellows was organ- ized at Lykens with fifteen members. It more than doubled in membership, and when the railroad came the lodge room was moved to the building at the station. This proved so in- convenient for the members that the lodge was finally discontinued.

The fine quarries west of the town were worked for many years, and when the era of pike building was commenced they again be- came useful in the furnishing of the stone for much of the road improvements in that section.

CHAPTER XVIII

POLK TOWNSHIP

Origin of Polk-Home of Wingemund-Military Road-Indian Population- Johnny Cake and His Wife-Indian Burying-Ground-An Abducted Child-Drainage and Soil- Organization of the Township-First Election-Early Settlers-The Cranberry Indus- try-A Strange Recognition-Early Names of Galion-Rev. James Dunlap's Narra- tive-Early Mills, Taverns and Distilleries-Churches and Schools-Cemeteries-Jus- tices of the Peace.

Fresh from the fountains of the wood A rivulet of the valley came, And glided on for many a rood, Flushed with the morning's ruddy flame. I looked; the widening vale betrayed A pool that shone like burnished steel, Where the bright valley stream was stayed To turn the miller's ponderous wheel. -JOHN HOWARD BRYANT.

Polk township which occupies a strip of ter- ritory extending seven miles east and west, and three miles north and south, in the southeast corner of Crawford county, was at one time, like Vernon and Jackson, a part of Sandusky township, Richland county. The latter was surveyed in 1807 by Maxfield Ludlow. It was first erected as one of the western townships of Richland county, and was 12 miles deep and six wide. At this time the territory was inhabited almost entirely by the Delaware and Wyandot Indians, who yet lingered in their ancient haunts, loath to retreat before the in- vading hosts of the palefaces. Of the whites, however, there were few before the year 1817. In this township was the home of Wingenund, and here occurred the capture of Col. Craw- ford. To the Indian mind the land was an ideal abiding-place, and it was one of their favorite hunting and fishing grounds. It was heavily timbered with every variety of stately tree; intersected by clear sparkling streams, having their source in the purest springs, and abounded with game of various kinds. But the wave of civilization kept rolling steadily westward. In 1812 the soldiers cut a road through the town-

ship, which passed north of the Olentangy, near the present site of Galion. In the southern part another road had been cut by the Penn- sylvania militia, and when the settlers began arriving half a dozen years later these high- ways of progress rapidly multiplied; over them came rumbling in ever increasing numbers the ox-drawn wagons of the pioneers, and the Red Man knew that the hour of his departure was at hand. He had fought his fight and lost. With sad heart he turned his back on the land of his fathers, and with his face to the setting sun, set out with reluctant steps to the more distant wilderness of the possession of which his rapacious white brother was not yet ready · to deprive him.

Some of these Indians had adopted Eng- lish family names. Among them were the Walkers, Williamses, Armstrongs, Dowdys, etc. One of them, well known among the earliest settlers, rejoiced in the appelation of Solomon Johnny Cake. He was a fine looking, good natured and friendly hunter of superb physical proportions and had for a wife a woman who was three-fourths white. Her mother was a Castleman, and had been captured in eastern Ohio by the Indians after the Revo- lution and adopted into an Indian family living on the Sandusky. She married Abraham Wil- liams, a half-breed Indian, and the fruit of this union was a beautiful daughter named Sally, who became the wife of Johnny Cake. Sally and his children frequently accompanied him on

299

300

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

his hunting excursions. He usually constructed. was gone. The frantic mother gave the alarm; a neat bark wigwam to protect his squaw and children from the storms and exposure of the forest, while he ranged the woods in search of game. He sometimes exchanged venison for side pork with the pioneers, and frequently met parties who had a curiosity to see Sallie, and the children. Sally was regarded as a very apt housekeeper, and preferred as far as pos- sible to imitate the whites.

Johnny Cake was a prominent man in his tribe, renowned for council and courage, and in 1823 had accompanied an exploring expedi- tion to the Far West, beyond the Mississippi. He and his wife accompanied the Wyandots when they removed from their reservation in this county in 1843. Three of his grandsons served in the War of the Rebellion, enlisting at Wyandot, Kan. He was very friendly with the white men, whose superiority he seemed to recognize, though grieving for the approaching doom of his race.

On the north banks of the Olentangy, just west of Union street was an Indian burying ground, which was used by the Red men until their departure from this vicinity. After they were gone some young men opened the graves with the hope of finding treasure, but found nothing to repay them for their trouble. The field was subsequently cultivated and the graves plowed level and it is now covered with resi- dences. Sometimes strange Indians from the lake region visited the settlements. Previous to 1820, when there were not more than twenty- five settlers in the township, a party of this kind made their appearance. Several of these went to the home of Benjamin Sharrock and tried to negotiate for the purchase of a young girl, whom they wanted to adopt into their tribe. Of course Mr. Sharrock declined to be a party to any such arrangement. A few days later the Indians went away and about the same time a little girl about four years old, the child of a settler named John Dunmeyer, who lived about a mile southwest of the pres- ent site of Galion, was found to be missing. She had been with her mother in the woods, the latter being engaged in boiling sugar water, and, thinking it time for her to be in the house, the mother had taken her little daughter to the fence, lifted her over it and told her to go into the cabin. When she returned the child

a party was formed who searched the woods for three days and nights, and finally dragged the creek, but the child was never found. It. was supposed that she had been abducted by the Indians and taken to Canada, but her fate for- ever remained a mystery. The fact that such crimes, and worse if worse could be, were not unfrequently committed by the Indians, miti- gates to a large extent the feelings of pity and compunction that one might otherwise enter- tain for the fate of the Red Man in being driven from his ancient hunting grounds and reduced to a few miserable tribal remnants lo- cated in far western states under the ever- watchful eye of the Government. Though they were in many cases, undoubtedly deprived of their lands by trickery or force, and had just cause for complaint against the whites, it must be remembered that there is scarcely a square yard of land in any civilized country the title to which has not, at some time or other, been derived in the same manner, namely, by the right of the strongest. The Indians held their lands by the same title, having in the first place driven out or exterminated that mysterious race who held the land before them, and who them- selves may have obtained their title in a similar manner; and after the Indians had gained possession of the continent they fought among themselves for territory and deprived each other of their possessions without compunc- tion. That they, themselves, should have been finally ousted by the palefaces may after all have been only a sort of retributive justice. "To the victor belong the spoils" has been the motto of every conqueror since the world began and, though it may not be in accord with the precepts of Christianity, it has had much to do with promoting the cause of civilization and making the world what it is today, and de- monstrate the undeniable fact of "the survival of the fittest."

Indians traveled this section in early days in large numbers. It was on their route from the cranberry marshes, and loaded down with these berries they passed through to Mansfield, where they disposed of them. Again, bands of them went through with their skins and furs, and bark baskets made by the squaws which found a ready sale at Mansfield, and in the sugar seasons two of the baskets were

301

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

strapped together, placed across their horses, and each basket containing about fifty pounds of maple sugar was conveyed to the market, where they exchanged it for the supplies they needed. The Wyandots made Mansfield their principal market until about 1835, when their trading was removed to Bucyrus and Marion.

They always traveled through the woods single file, and when settlers or hunters met a band of half a dozen or more, only one of the Indians would do any talking, and it was al- most an impossibility to induce any one except the spokesman to say a word in English. Neither would they talk English except when necessary. One day Tommy Vanhorn, a Marion county hunter, who was returning home from a day in the woods, met one of these Indians who could not understand a word of English, and they were both compelled to talk in pantomime, to express their ideas. Vanhorn had taken one or more drinks during his day's hunting and in the course of his sign language conversation with the Indian, happened to get on the windward side of him, and the Indian's nose being in better working order than his tongue, he caught the fragrance of the hunt- er's breath. He promptly straightened up, took an interest in matters, and looking Van- horn squarely in the face, inquired in the best of English-"Where you get whisky?"

Polk township lies upon the very summit of the crest or ridge which separates the valley of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence river from that of the Ohio. Thus it happens that, among the numerous springs which are found within its borders, there are two, but a few rods apart, the waters from one of which wend their tortuous way down the northern slope to Lake Erie, mingle with the foaming torrent which plunges headlong to lower depths in the stupendous cataract of Niagara, traverse the length of Lake Ontario, pursue their winding course among the beautiful "Thousand Is- lands" of the St. Lawrence until they finally rest in the bosom of the broad Atlantic. Those of the other meander here and there, as if un- certain which way to take, but gradually, in obedience to Nature's law, assume a more southerly course, unite with the waters of the Ohio, then with those of the majestic "Father of Waters," flow peacefully past the once shot- battered heights of Vicksburg, and many an-

other spot famous in our country's history, past the busy wharves and cotton-laden steamers of the Queen City of the South, and through gloomy lagoons overhung with the moss-cov- ered branches of the cypress, until they emerge into the warm and sunlit waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The land of Polk township, though high, is generally level, having a natural tendency to retain the water, on account of which, before artificial drainage was resorted to, it had the appearance of being wet and swampy. The timber consisted mostly of oak, beech, maple, elm, black walnut and ash. The soil, formed chiefly in primitive times by vast glacial de- posits of drift, sand and gravel, mixed with iron and clay, is rich and admirably adapted to cultivation. It is watered chiefly by the Olen- tangy river, which meanders in a general westerly direction through the whole length of the township. All along its valley are out- croppings of sandstone belonging to the Wa- verly group, which were quarried in the early days for building purposes and for years have been one of the profitable industries of the township. This river, which waters the bot- tom lands of the whole township, had, in for- mer days before the forests had been cleared from its banks, a stream of greater volume than at present and was far more picturesque. In early days numerous mills were erected upon its banks. The western part of the town- ship is eminently adapted to grazing purposes, on account of the variety and luxuriance of the grasses.

Sandusky township was organized on July 12, 1818, as a part of Richland county. The territory it then contained was twelve miles long by six wide, including within its limits the present townships of Vernon, and Jackson and a part of Jefferson and Polk. While a part of Richland county, the northern half was taken from it and called Vernon township, thus reducing its territory to six miles square. Changes were being constantly made in boun- dary lines of townships and counties and in the creation of new townships, counties and county seats throughout the state, and when Wyandot county was erected on Feb. 3, 1845, four tiers of sections were taken from the west side of Sandusky township, Richland county, and annexed to Crawford county. Then, to

302

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

the west side of this tier of four sections was added what was known as the "three-mile strip." On the south was added a strip one mile wide from Marion county. From the territory thus formed a strip of land three miles north and south and seven miles east and west was taken from the south side and named Polk township, which, as still consti- tuted, is bounded on the north by Jackson and Jefferson townships, on the east by Richland county, on the south by Morrow county, and on the west by Whetstone township.

There was much dissatisfaction for a time on the part of those farmers residing in that part of Polk that had been taken from Richland county. While citizens of Richland they had been taxed to pay for the erection of its pub- lic buildings, and now that, against their will, they had become citizens of another and poorer county the public buildings of which were small, and which had not yet been paid for, they objected to this additional taxation. After considerable agitation of the subject, not un- accompanied by threats of violence, they at last sent Asa Hosford to the State capital as a lobby representative, empowered to look after their interests. He did not accomplish all that was expected, but through their Rich- land county representative, Isaac Hetrick, the Legislature was induced to pass an enactment whereby the residents of that part of the new township, which had formerly been in Rich- land county, were released from the payment of taxes upon the county buildings of Crawford. As there was practically no opposition to this enactment, Mr. Hosford asked that the same favor be shown to those residing in the strip which had been taken from Marion county. But the representative of Crawford county, John Carey, objected, stating that the citizens of the southern strip had not asked for any ex- emption and the matter was dropped.

Polk township was named after President Polk, in whose term of office it was created. The resolution of the county commissioners which gave it existence read as follows :

March 6, 1845-Board met pursuant to adjournment. Present, full board. Resolution-This day it was re- solved by the Commissioners of Crawford County that the following fractional townships, taken from the coun- ties of Richland and Marion, according to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed Febru- ary third (3d), 1845, to erect the new county of Wyan-

dot, and alter the boundaries of Crawford, was organ- ized into separate townships, to wit: All that part taken from the county of Richland, and being Town- ship twenty (20) north, Range twenty (20) west, and all that part taken from Township nineteen (19), with Range twenty (20), and all that part taken from the county of Marion, and being in Township fifteen (15) with Range twenty-one (21) be, and the same is hereby, organized into a separate township by the name of Polk, and that the County Auditor be and is hereby author- ized to cause notice to be given to the said township of the foregoing organization and alteration, according to the statute of Ohio in such case made and provided. JOHN CLEMENTS, HAMILTON KERR, SAMUEL LEE.

Attest: O. WILLIAMS, County Auditor.

The first election in the new township was held April 7th, 1845, with Isaac Criley, Joshua Canon and Phares Jackson, judges, and Sol- omon P. Nave and Samuel R. Canon, clerks. This election was held only to fill vacancies caused by the separation, the Sandusky town- ship officers having been previously elected, and some of them being in the Polk township part, Abraham Underwood, the Justice of the Peace, being one of them. Those duly elected and qualified on this occasion were as follows: Trustees-Asa Hosford, Samuel P. Lee, Bartholomew Reed, Jr .; Clerk-Peter Cress; Treasurer-John S. Davis; Assessor-Samuel R. Cannon; Constables-John A. Loneus, Joseph Kimmel; Supervisors-Eri Hosford, Joseph Diddy, Edward Cooper, David Thrush, William White, A. C. Jackson, Frederic Tay- lor, Jacob Stinebaugh, John Ashcroft, William L. Dille, Bart Reed, Sr., Andrew Reed, A. S. Caton, Phillip Ichorn, Phillip Zimmermaker, Isaac Nayer.

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.

History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 45

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302