History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 76

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 76

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After much inquiry and search, the writer of this chapter has recovered from old records, in the possession of Hon. J. E. Cory, the fol- lowing, which is received too late to insert in its proper connection, and which explains itself:

"At an election held at the house of Palmer Hulse, in Auburn Township, on the 2d day of

April, 1821, agreeable to an order of the County Commissioners, the following persons were elected township officers: Jacob Coyken- dall, Clerk; Samuel Hanna, Levi Bodley and Michael Gisson, Trustees; David Cummins, Treasurer; James Gardner and David Cum- mins, Overseers of the Poor; Adam Aumend and Charles Dewitt, Fence Viewers; James C.

Coykendall and Lester and Jesse Bodley, Appraisers; Adam Aumend, Jr., Constable; Michael Gisson, William Cole, William Laugh- erty and William Garrison, Supervisors. The above officers were severally elected and qual- ified according to law. Jacob Coykendall, Township Clerk."

A reasonable inference from this is that these officers were the first elected, as the elec- tion was held pursuant to an order of the County Commissioners. From the same rec- ords is also taken the following:

"Jacob Coykendall's commission as Justice of the Peace bears date July 14, 1821. He was qualified Aug. 29, same year, and gave bond September 7, 1821; James Coykendall and James Gardner, bondsmen."

The second township election was held at the house of Jacob Coykendall, on the 1st of April, 1822; the third, at the house of Aaron B. Howe, April 7, 1823.

When the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad was established in the county, a station called De Kalb was located in Auburn Township. J. D. Brown secured the services of the County Surveyor, and laid out forty lots on his land where the station was located, from the central part of the west part of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 22, Range 20 west. In November, 1878, John Hilborn made an addition of eight lots to the town. The post office at De Kalb, in Vernon Township, was transferred to the station, and Ira Van Tilburg was appointed Postmaster, an office he yet holds. I. and B.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

S. Van Tilburg were the first to bring a stock of goods to the town. They began in 1872: and, the following year, erected the building they now occupy, moving their stock of goods in as soon as the room was completed. They have a general assortment of goods, valued at about $10,000. They are also engaged in buying grain, at the rate of over $100,000 worth per annum. William Flavin began with a general assortment of drugs in 1876; but two years later he sold his stock to D. G. Jeffrey, who, at present, has drugs valued at $1,600. J. D. Brown began in 1878 with a stock of groceries worth $8,000, and two years later Davis & Mitchell engaged in the same occupation, with goods valued at $5,000. C. McConnell has a notion store, and Misses Crall & Owens supply the neighborhood with female apparel.

In August, 1879, E. R. Wilcox, Grand Master of the State Lodge of Odd-Fellows organized Tiro Lodge, No. 688, in the vil lage, there being but seven charter mem- bers, as follows: Daniel Howe, Cornelius Fox, E. E. Ashley, S. W. Jeffrey, J. R. Hall, Lewis Williams and Matthew Irwin. The first offi- cers elected were: S. W. Jeffrey, N. G .; J. R. Hall, V. G .; Cornelius Fox, Secretary; E. E. Ashley, Treasurer. The lodge is doing well, and has a present membership of thirty. The members have a comfortable hall, and the present officers are: E. E. Ashley, N. G .: Lewis Wing, V. G .; J. O. Davis, Recording Secre- tary; Daniel Howe, Corresponding Secretary ; G. M. Jeffrey, Treasurer. Although the village is yet in its infancy, it is doing a livelier and more extensive business than any other town in the county of equal or less population, and its energy and trade are permanent.

About a quarter of a mile north of Tiro, a half-dozen or more families began to congre- gate in about 1845. A blacksmith located there, and, soon afterward, a carpenter and a

cooper. No lots were laid out, and yet, to all appearances, a village was beginning to spring up. People soon began to speak of the loca- tion as Mechanicsburg, a name suggested by the occupation of the people. In 1856, Jon- athan Davis and William Crouse built a frame grist-mill in the village (if the term may be indulged in), which, after running about four years. was taken to another locality. The village is not a village, and yet it is a village. No stores have honored it with their presence. Coykendall & Ladow built a saw-mill in the southeastern part, on Coykendall Creek, as early as 1836. After a few years, it was burned down, but was immediately rebuilt. and the mill continued in operation until a few years ago, having changed hands many times. Though first operated by water-power, steam was afterward employed, and the mill, in its time, was one of the best ever in the township. William Ewing also built and operated a saw-mill on the same creek, begin- ning about 1840, and continuing nearly twenty years, when the mill was abandoned. Each of these mills sawed for either forty cents per hundred feet, or one-half the logs delivered in good order at the mill.

According to the best accounts, the first schoolhouse was built on Robert Cook's farm, in 1821. It was a round-log structure, with clapboard roof, door, floor, desks and seats, and its external appearance was not inviting to the ragged pioneer children. A large fire- place, capable of taking in a log of almost any dimensions, occupied one end of the room: and a small table was provided at the other to establish for the teacher a permanent position, from which to pronounce decrees, issue com- mands, and administer condign punishment to offending pupils. The clapboard ceiling was so low that a tall man's head was sure to get severely bumped unless care was taken to stoop low when walking about in the room.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

A large, quaint chimney, built of a combina- tion of innumerable and mysterious materials, graced the exterior of one end of the build- ing; and the four insignificant apertures slanderously denominated " windows " admit- ted half-sufficient light for a judicious use of the pupils' eyes. A man named Talford was the first teacher. He taught during the win- ter of 1821-22, and had some fifteen scholars. There was nothing in the external appearance of Mr. Talford to excite curiosity or appre- hension, and yet, when he spoke, his voice is said to have been like distant thunder. He had a fair education, was a good disciplina- rian and a competent instructor. He taught what was known as a "loud school," which may be understood as one where the scholars studied at the pitch best suited to their voices. Notwithstanding the din and confusion pre- vailing in the room at all times, the stentorian voice of the teacher could be easily heard, imparting instruction and issuing orders. A year or two after the erection of the Cook Schoolhouse, another was built on the Ham- mond farm. It resembled the other in both external and internal appearance. The year before its erection, school had been taught by a young lady named Mary Wilcox, in a rude cabin that had been designed for a dwelling. The seats in the schoolhouse were of clap- boards that had been split out of wood having a crooked grain. Mr. Morse, then a boy of about five years of age, was assigned a seat at the end of one of the long benches, where the plank was turned up at an angle of about twenty degrees from the horizontal line. Here he was compelled to sit hour after hour, undorgoing excruciating tortures, while learn- ing his letters. It was easy enough to occupy the seat for a short time without discomfort; but, when day after day brought no relief from the position, it became tiresome and distress- ing. Erastus Sawyer and Daniel W. Ross

were early teachers' in this house. Rodol- phus Morse was teaching in 1824, when the house caught fire and burned to the ground, consuming the scholars' books and slates. The remainder of the term was taught in a cabin standing near the school building. Mr. Morse was a good teacher, and taught many of the early schools. A school building was erected on the farm of J. Willford, as early as 1824, a young man named John Webber being the first teacher. Webber was a wild, reckless young fellow, and many thought him incapable of imparting proper instruction to the scholars. He had conducted the school with success for about a month, when Mr. Laugherty, the Director, provoked beyond endurance by some act of the teacher, went to the schoolhouse while school was in session, and ordered Webber to leave the room and not come back, as his services would no longer be required. The teacher instantly saw that it was useless to attempt to argue the point, as the fiat of the Director was omnipotent; so, controlling his disappointment and anger as best he could, he made preparations to obey the command, and, having reached the door. turned, and, it is said, relieve.l his pent-up passion and bade adieu to the school, as fol- lows:

" Farewell schoolroom, farewell school; Farewell Laugherty, you d-d old fool."

Two other schoolhouses were built prior to 1825, one located on the farm of Adam Au- mend, and the other on that of Jesse Ladow. A number of years afterward one was built in the northwest corner, and soon the township was supplied with abundant schoolhouses. The citizens have taken a strong interest in educational advancement. This becomes ap- parent from the fact, among others, that there are nine schoolhouses in the township at pres- ent. These are found to be too many for the attendance of scholars. It is proper to notice

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

in this connection that the citizens have a commodious town hall, which is located near the center of the township. It was built before the last war.

The early church history of the township is almost wholly lost in the shadows of the past, and many interesting incidents and dates relating thereto have faded from the memory of the oldest settlers. The Methodists and Baptists were the first to organize religious societies. Meetings began to be held in the cabins, and the services of local ministers, from Northern Richland County and elsewhere, and of circuit-riders, were secured, as early as 1818. It was not long ere the propriety of building log churches was freely discussed by members of the above denominations. As was desired, this led to the erection of two round- log churches, one for the Methodists and one for the Baptists, the churches being built as early as 1821. The buildings were both low, uninviting structures, judging from their external appearance, although the interior was commodious and cheerful when the great fire-places were glowing with heat, and the settlers assembled to renew their devotions. These buildings were used but a few years, as the members soon became too numerous to be comfortably accommodated, and, moreover, the members desired a more imposing temple in which to worship. However, before these denominations erected new churches, the Pres- byterians, Winebrennarians, English Lnther- ans, and, perhaps, others, organized societies and began to worship God in their character- istic way. No churches were built by these denominations until after 1830. The Meth- odist society mentioned above continued to thrive until about 1830, when Rev. Thomas Millard came to the township from Pennsylva- nia, and entered a tract of land, upon a por- tion of which the "Good-Will " Methodist Church stands. He was a strong churchman,

with a resolution for the advancement of Christianity that could not be diverted nor checked. He at once took the lead of the Methodist Church, and did more than any other man in early years to increase the mem- bership and interest. He gave two acres of his land to the church, with the understanding that a building was to be erected thereon. A frame church was accordingly erected. in about 1835, on the two acres, and Mr. Millard, who expended as much labor and money as any other man, was employed as the first officiating minister. Under this good shep- herd the flock multiplied, and did much good. The old church was vacated in 1868, when the present building was erected on the same two acres, at a cost of about $1,500. The early organization of the Baptist society was not as perfect as the Methodist organization. It almost ceased to exist in 1830. but an unex- pected increase in the membership gave it additional impetus, and, in about 1540. they erected a small frame church on Section 16, which was occupied until 1879, when a new one, costing $2.500, was erected. Deacon Howe was one of the leading spirits in this church in early years. and much of its pros- perity in after years was due to his influence and guidance. The Rev. Mr. Wolf was the founder of the Presbyterian organization in the township. This good man had come into the wilderness years before the first settle- ment, as a missionary among the Indians. He had dedicated his life to the cause of relig- ion, and his will in his course in life was as inflexible as iron. He became the founder of many of the Presbyterian Churches in North- ern Ohio, and was a man whose purity of life was unquestioned. His ultimate fate is unknown. The Methodists have a church in the southern part called "Pleasant Grove Church." The society was not organized until about 1850. Soon afterward, their church

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

was built, at a cost of about $1,500. A Methodist Church was built in the northern part as early as 1835, which building was afterward sold to the Winebrennarians. This denomination, known as the Church of God, has since owned the building. The United Brethren have a neat little church in the southern part, near Tiro. Their present church was built in 1878, at a cost of about $1,600; but, many years before the building of their church, these humble people were found worshiping in the township. A few

years ago, when the German Catholics at New Washington divided their congregation, those living in Auburn Township and vicinity, erected a large, fine church, a half-mile north of Waynesburg. It is the largest church building in the township, and cost about $4,- 000 (including the parsonage). The church is frame, and was completed in 1879. The school and church systems of Auburn are not surpassed by any other country township in the county, and the citizens are almost wholly of English descent.

CHAPTER XVII.

SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP-EARLY ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT-INDIAN AND OTHER INCIDENTS -INDUSTRIES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

T THE territory comprising this township was surveyed in 1807 by Maxfield Lud- low. It was part of that extensive tract of land lying south of the Connecticut Reserve, and cast of the land known, after 1820, as the New Purchase. When this tract of land was surveyed, a narrow strip, three miles wide, was left over, lying next east of the New Purchase, and was called the "Three Mile Strip." It was properly surveyed into frac- tional townships, six miles long north and south, by three miles wide. Years before the land of the New Purchase was thrown into market, scores of brave pioneers, regardless of threatened hostilities from the Indians, had "squatted" along its eastern border, design- ing to perfect their title to their farms when the land became marketable, as sooner or later it must. This was a wanton encroach- ment upon the rights of the Indian tribes, and a violation of treaties by subjects of the United States. But the pioneers had no apparent sympathy for the red man, seemingly believing that he had no rights which the

pale-face was bound to respect. Large num bers poured into the Indian reserves, and, afterward, before the land had been ceded to the Government by the Indians, when com- plaints were made of Indian depredations, no redress could be obtained, as the settlers were trespassers upon the Indian lands. In 1820, when the country was thrown open to settlement, hundreds of "squatters" flocked to the land offices to secure the farms upon which they had been living, in many cases, ten or twelve years. Endless disputes arose regarding titles, which were only settled by the lapse of time, or by Territorial courts, authorized to adjudicate disputed questions. Rarely a case occurred where the " squatter," delaying to enter his land for several years after 1820, found himself supplanted by another pioneer, who had secured the land which the former had endured so much to im- prove. This was a serious hardship, and the "squatter " had no recourse but to give up the land and locate elsewhere.

Sandusky Township derives its name from

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

the Sandusky River, which takes a serpentine course across the southwestern corner. This river enters Section 36, coming from the south, and takes a northwestern course through Sections 36, 35, 26 and 27, flowing, when leaving the township, in a southwestern direc- tion. Lost Creek, flowing from Vernon Town- ship, enters Section 24, and unites with San- dusky River near the center of Section 26. These streams, together with several small tributaries, form a complete drainage of the southern half of the township. Broken Sword Creek, a winding branch of the San- dusky River, flows from Vernon into the north- ern part, entering Section 1, thence crossing Sections 12, 11, 10, and finally leaving the township from Section 3. Its tributaries drain all the northern half except the extreme northern line, where branches of Honey Creek convey the water to Lake Erie by way of the Huron River. The drainage of this division of the county is excellent, although there is one depressed portion, comprising about three hundred acres, lying in Section 1. This swampy tract of land, known as "Bear Marsh," is noticeably depressed below the sur- rounding country, and, in early times, when shaded by heavy woods, was covered with water the year round. Since the forest has been removed, and the streams draining the marsh have been cleared of fallen timber, the water has been evaporated, or conveyed into Broken Sword Creek; and, although the marsh is yet wet and unproductive, it affords fine pasture land, and is thus used. The surface of the whole township is beautiful and roll- ing, especially so along the incline which forms the valley of Broken Sword Creek. The northern elevations are gentle, while along the valley of the Sandusky the hills are often precipitous, rendering cultivation on the sides impossible. Considerable coarse gravel and fragmentary bowlders, belonging to the

drift deposits, are found on the surface. There have been no extensive quarries in the township, although an abundance of Waverly sandstone may be found underlying the heavy beds of drift in the southern part, and has been taken out in small quantities on the farms of David Wert and Frederick Beech. Con- siderable dark brown slate, or shale, is ex- posed on Sandusky River, but to which form- ation it belongs is uncertain.

The date of the original creation of San- dusky Township has been lost. The township was, at first, much larger than it is at present; but, on the 2d of June, 1835, a division was made, as is shown by the following extract, taken from the County Commissioner's report of that date:

"This day came David Reed and filed a petition, praying that some relief may be given to the inhabitants of Sandusky Town- ship, stating that the township is twelve miles in length and three in breadth, and requesting the Commissioners to divide and alter said township and the adjoining townships, so that it may be more convenient. Whereupon the Commissioners ordered that all the original surveyed fractional Township 16, Range 21, commonly called the south end of Sandusky Township, and the east tier of fractional sec- tions in Township 3, Range 17 (Whetstone Township), viz., Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, and Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 17, Range 21, are hereby organized into a sepa- rate township, to be designated and known by the name of Jackson. And it is further ordered, that all the original surveyed frac- tional Township 17, Range 21, except Sections 34, 35 and 36, called the northern end of Sandusky Township, and the east tier of sec- tions of Township 2, Range 17 (Liberty Town- ship), viz., Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, and Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 18, Range 21 (Cranberry Township), shall consti-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

tute a separate township, and remain and be known by the name and title of Sandusky Township."

The most interesting physical feature in the township is the gas and medicinal springs on the farm of Joseph Knisely. Samuel Knisely, the pioneer, who came to the town- ship in 1819, was, perhaps, the first white man to discover the springs, and, foreseeing their valne, not only then, but in subsequent years, purchased the land from which they flow. They are located in the northern half of the southwest quarter of Section 26. There are eleven springs within an area of four rods, and the owner maintains that chemical analy- sis shows that each one possesses a virtue not found in either of the others. The water of nearly all has been analyzed, and the united springs are found to contain sulphureted hydrogen gas, carbureted hyrogen gas, sul- phur, iron, potassium, sodium, magnesium, cal- cium. traces of siliceous and other matter and traces of sulphuric and phosphoric acids. These springs are located in a small basin on a little rill that flows into Sandusky River. Scattered along the creek above them are as many as twelve others, and a singular feature connected with some of these, is, that they contain no traces of sulphur. The Knisely Springs are all highly impregnated with sul- phur. and, in some instances. a sulphurous pre- cipitate is deposited after the water has left the spring. From one of them an unpleasant- smelling gas is incessantly bubbling at the rate of about 100 cubic feet per day. This gas is lighter than air, is highly inflammable, burning with a light yellow flame, and is evi- dently carbureted hyrogen gas, doubtless con- taining impurities. Some years ago, a large funnel ending in a tube, was placed upon the surface of the water, so as to collect the gas, which was conveyed by caoutchouc tubing to the residence of Mr. Knisely, about 100 feet dis-

tant, where it was burned steadily for over two years. It gave a clear, steady yellow light, with occasional fine scintillations, evidently caused by burning particles of carbon in the flame. One of the springs is very valuable and inter- esting on account of its medicinal properties. A stone box four feet deep, with the same length and width, is sunk over it almost to the top of the box, and up through an orifice in the bottom, the spring water bubbles as clear as crystal. The water is four feet deep, and, seemingly, possesses a slight magnifying power, as objects at the bottom can be seen as plainly as in the open air. The bottom of the box is thickly covered with a beautiful purple sediment of a chalybeate character. The water is a mild cathartic, and possesses valuable diu- retic and diaphoretic properties. It is asserted by the owner that animals live but a few min- utes in this water. Its properties are not fully known, but several very obstinate cases of skin diseases have been cured. In one instance, a man named Marr, emaciated, and almost on the verge of the grave, from what appeared to be consumption, came there to try the vir- tues of the water. In four months he gained sixty or seventy pounds in weight, and left the springs, grateful for his restoration to health. The springs have been neglected in the past, but a movement is on foot, having some of the wealthy citizens of Bucyrus, Galion and Crest- line at its head, to erect suitable buildings at the springs, and to give their full value and virtue to invalids. About forty rods south- east of Mr. Knisely's residence, is a section of land several rods square, from which large quantities of inflammable gas are continuously escaping into the atmosphere. The intention is to utilize this gas in the buildings that are to be erected.

The early records of Sandusky Township were consumed when a portion of the county records were burned many years ago. The

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

date of the creation of the township, and the names of its first officers, together with other valuable records, are inaccessible, if known. Thus, those interesting items are necessarily omitted from the history of the township. The first white settler in Sandusky Township is unknown or forgotten. That there was such an individual, no one will deny, and that he lived in the township at quite an early day is proven by a limited amount of evidence. Prior to 1820, but a few settlers had appeared, but, after that date, and previous to 1830, al- most or quite all the land was taken up. The flow of emigration into this and adjoining townships, came from the eastern and southern portions of Richland County, which locality had been first settled about 1808. As the set- tlements were formed and land became dearer, settlers departed for newer localities, where land was cheaper, in order to secure as much as possible with the means at their disposal. Two men are known to have lived in Sandusky in 1818. There were Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Ridgely, the former very likely locating on Sec- tion 22, and the latter on Section 14. When they first came to this division of the county, or whence they came, are unknown events, which all effort has failed to unravel. Each had a number of acres cleared in 1818, and the weight of evidence is in favor of their having located there in about 1816. This, however, is conjecture. Each had a family, which in a great degree was supported by the rifle and traps of the husband and father. Mr. Ridgely had quite a large family of boys and girls, the former being indolent and spending their time loitering round the Indian camps in the neighborhood. The girls were blessed with dispositions of an opposite nature, being bright, active, and industrious. It is said the girls were very much ashamed of the sloth of their brothers, and would frequently go out into the field with hoes or plows, leaving the

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 76

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034