USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 47
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" Very little has yet been done in Ohio toward renewing or increasing our forests. E. E. Barney, of Dayton, has made some interesting experi- ments, and collected valuable facts in regard to the catalpa and its cultivation." Messrs. Storrs & Har- rison, of Painesville, have made a specialty of the raising of chestnut seedlings, and can furnish them in large quantities, and at very cheap rates; and, generally, there is a growing interest in all matters pertaining to forest culture throughout the State. It is often a matter of boasting that there is no waste land in the State, that it is all susceptible of cultivation. But if one-fourth of the surface was occupied by hills and mountains, so rocky and precipitous as to repel all attempts at their cultivation, and compel their reservation for forests alone, our future would be much more secure. The extensive ' barrens' in many of the Southern States, supporting a meager forest growth, with a soil so sterile that it will not pay for clearing
275
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
and fencing, serve important climatic purposes, and tend to secure the perpetual value of the ard- ble lands. Apparently better favored, we will suffer irremediable loss if we are unwilling to devote a fair percentage of our ' good lands' to the growth of forests."
The seasons, like many other things, run in cycles-not always of the same duration-but observation extending over the last forty years has satisfied any close observer, that dry, or moderately dry periods, continue not longer, usually, than seven years. The earth, that is called inanimate, has many of the characteristics of the animated being. It cannot run much more than seven years and maintain its reputation for cleanliness and health- fulness, without having a bath ; and, the bath being ordered, the rains descend, until the big, rounded form of old Mother Earth has had a good washing and cleansing from the impurities that accumulate.
The year 1828 was a flood year (we are told, it was before our day), so was 1835-36, as also 1844. In the month of June of the latter year, if the traditions be true, there was more water upon the face of the earth, in the Western country, than ever known since the days of Noah's flood. Again, in 1851, much water fell; the next wet spell was some seven or eight years later. The years 1867 and 1868, ending in the spring of 1869, were very wet years in the West and South- west. The last wet spell began in July, 1876. It being the centennial year, there was a high old time, drowning out all the corn on the lowlands, and keeping up the spree for two years.
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Having said something of the periodic theory, it has been further observed that when the dry periods occur in the Eastern Continent, we have our wet seasons in the Western Continent, and vice versa. During the past two or three years, when we were so flooded with water that we would have been glad to have given some of it away, there have been fearful famines in portions of Asia and other sections of the world, produced by the want of the rain that fell where it was not wanted. The change has set in which will most probably reverse this order. Thus, it may be observed that Mother Earth, in taking her bath, washes but one side at a time, and it may be further observed that the law of compensation is ever asserting itself in the adjustment of nature's divine order, by action and re-action, which is the safety-valve of the universe.
Planets move in cycles, also, making revolutions in regular periods of time, as do the seasons too.
The tides are periodic, and many of the malarial diseases are periodic, as the doctors (wiseacres that they are) will tell you. There are numerous and gorgeously grand geysers in the Territory of Wyoming, spouting forth immense volumes of water-hot, cold and tepid-to the height of the tallest treetops, and all of them are perfectly periodic-some long and some short-but all prompt and regular in their own time, like the breathing of animals.
The earth has many of the characteristics of an animal. The rise and fall of the tide once every twelve hours is but the respiration of the huge an- imal upon which we live ; the great rivers of water that have their internal passway, as well as those that flow upon the surface, are only the arteries and the veins that supply the life blood to the animal; the great mountain range that extends the whole length of the globe from north to south is only the backbone of the animal; the mountains that swell up from the body of the earth are but moles and warts upon that body ; the great fountain of oil that lies in the bowels of the earth is what the plain-spoken butcher would call "gut-fat ; " the thunders that roll across the vaulted heavens are but the electric sparks that snap and fly from the Thomas cat's back; the shrubs and trees that grow upon the globe are but the hairs and bristles that cover and clothe the body of the great animal ; the mutterings and rumblings of the earthquake are only the eructations and disturbances in poor earth's bowels ; and the opening of the huge crater, vomiting forth fire, ashes, stones, and red-hot lava, what is that but the discharge of an overloaded and disordered stomach, that may have taken in too much unwholesome food, or, perhaps, too much- strong drink ? Now, who shall say that the earth is not as much an animal as it is a vegetable or mineral substance? and who can maintain that the myriads of animals that creep, crawl, leap and fly over the earth's surface, and the millions of men standing erect upon that same ground, are anything more than parasites that feed and fatten upon the body and blood of this same good old Mother Earth ?
The results of meteorological observations, found on the following page, may be of some interest to the reader. They were made at Urbana, latitude 40° 6' north, longitude 84° 43' west, for the year 1878, by Milo G. Williams, in accordance with the methods adopted by the Smithsonian Institu- tion, the hours of observation being 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M.
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276
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
MEAN DEGREE OF FORCE OF THE WINDS AND COURSE FROM WHICH THEY COME FOR THE YEAR.
1878.
Force.
N.
N. E.
E.
S. E.
S.
S. W.
W.
N. W.
Calm.
January
1.69
4
1
11
4
14
15
7
6
31
February
1.54
3
12
2
8
8
6
7
38
March
2.15
3
3
4
7
16
15
11
8
26
April
1 96
6
2
4
9
9
20
8
6
26
May
1.97
1
4
1
10
7
17
14
3
36
June
1.43
3
4
3
1
13
17
6
8
34
July
1.11
6
2
2
2
3.
14
11
3
50
August
1.11
5
1
3
2
2
11
11
4
54
September
1.01
6
3
1
3
10
10
5
4
48
October
1.59
2
3
2
1
3
18
14
8
42
November
1.81
2
1
3
1
9
6
16
6
46
December.
1.38
2
3
1
6
4
10
21
4
42
Means and summaries.
1.51
43
39
35
49
98
161
130
67
473
MEAN DEGREE OF CLOUDS AND THE COURSE FROM WHICH THEY COME FOR THE YEAR.
1878.
Degree.
N.
N. E.
E
S. E.
S.
s W.
W.
N. W.
Doubt- ful.
Clear.
January
7.02
2
2
3
5
7
18
4
31
21
February
6.42
3
2
1
1
2
7
14
4
22
28
March.
6.00
3
1
4
7
25
12
17
24
April
7.02
5
3
2
1
10
12
23
5
14
15
May
6.04
4
2
4
1
1
3
7
25
6
8
34
July
4.37
7
3
2
6
8
23
1
12
31
August.
4.89
4
7
1
1
2
6
29
14
3
26
September
3.85
10
1
1
6
11
9
2
11
39
October
4.02
4
1
3
10
22
5
9
39
November
5.37-
4
2
5
1
27
7
14
30
December.
7.83
3
1
4
2
26 -
4
39
15
Means and summaries.
5.65
50
22
13
9
52
91
268
67
200
323
1
SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
1878.
Minimum temperature.
Maximum temperature.
Mean of the coldest day.
Warmest day.
Mean of warmest day.
Mean temperature of the
Minimum of the barom-
Maximum of the barom-
Mean barometer of the
Number of days of snow.
Quantity of enow.
Number of daye of rain.
Quantity of rainfall.
No. of daye wholly cloudy.
Number of daye fair.
Number of days clear.
Thunder.
January
10
7 53
18
7 .50 20 45.00 29.87 28.42 29.85 28.850
February
2
4 60
21 4 12.00 21 53.00 2.64 28.18 29.21 28.770
4
2.35|
4
2.53
7
91
4
1
March
18
25 70
29 25 27.50 9 63.25 45.80 28.27 29.09 28.792
1
15
3.65
2
11
2
2
April
30
7 82
22 6 45.50 23 67.75 57.77 28.29 28.95 28.642
7
3.20
9
13
1
4
May
32
13 85
2 12 46.50
2 72.75 60.88 28.55 29.00 28.783
11
3.28
8
12
3
June
47
6 91
30 22 53.75 29 80.50 66. 78 28.32 29.05 28.784
8
3.79
3
14 5
4
July
23 92
17 22 66.75 17 82.50 76.17 28.37 29.02 28.790
7
6.16
21
3
7
August
53
26|89
4 26 65.75
9 78.75 72.54 28.61 28.89 28.750
10
5.27
17
4
8
September
41 22, 28 84 7, 8 27 52.25 20 77.00 64.48 28.52 29.25 28.925
8
3.33
1
14
7
October
23
28 80
1 831.00
1 71.00 51.99 28.64 29.15 28.870
1 .50
9 2.85
1
12
1
November
22
2,30 63
6 30 30.50
6 57.50 41.29 28.19 29.22 28.851
1 .35
8
2.26 3
14
4
December
12
24 45
9|24
1.50
1 41.25 23.79 28.19 29.33 28.848 10 16.23
4 3.66
7
8
2
..
Means and summaries
52.00 28.38 29.29 28.804 24 39.20 98 44.04 47 154 42|31
@
0
=-
.
1
month.
eter.
eter.
month.
28
3
20
21
June.
4.93
1
Day.
Coldest day.
Day.
7 19.77 7 4.06
6
9 2 0
..
52
1
8
...
.
2
13
O
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
277
CHAPTER IX.
WAR HISTORY-THE REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE-WAR OF 1812-THE MEXICAN WAR-WAR OF THE REBELLION-SOME DISTINGUISHED MEN AND SOLDIERS.
" Of all the men Whom day's departing heam saw hlooming there, In proud and vigorous health ; of all the hearts That heat with anxious life at sunset there, How few survive, how few are beating now ! All is deep silence, like the fearful calm That slumbers in the storm's portentous pause ; Save when the frantic wail of widowed love Comes shuddering on the blast, or the faint moan With which some soul bursts from the frame of clay Wrapt round its struggling powers."-Shelley.
T THE patriotism of Delaware County is above re- proach ; the bravery of her sons has been tested on hundreds of battle-fields. Many of the early settlers of the county were soldiers in our great struggle for independence, and some, perhaps, had fought in the old French and Indian war. These wars, however, occurred long before there were any settlements made in Delaware County. The close of the Revolutionary war found the weak and feeble Government bankrupt, and the soldiers who had fought for liberty were forced to accept Western lands in payment for long years of military service. This brought many pioneers to the great wilderness of the West, and particularly to Ohio, where large bodies of lands are still designated as " United States Military Lands " and " Virginia Military Lands." These were lands set apart for the benefit of Revolution- ary soldiers, by the United States Government. The best years of the lives of these old soldiers had been spent fighting for their country. Peace found them broken down in spirit and in body, and many of them in fortune, and, when a home and lands were offered them in the West, there remained no other alternative but to accept, and, like the poor Indian himself, move on toward the setting sun. Such was the noble and warlike stock from whom sprang the majority of the present generation of Delaware County.
The Revolutionary war, and the causes which led to it, are familiar to every school-boy in the country, and hence require no special notice in this work. The early wars of our country are familiar as household words, and are merely men- tioned in this connection as a prelude to one, "the
half of which has not yet been told," and much of which, perhaps, will never be written-the great rebellion. To it, and the country's par- ticipation in it, we shall have more to say in this chapter.
In the war of 1812, and the Indian wars of that period, Delaware County, comprising then but a population of a few hundreds, came forward with the same lofty spirit of patriotism which has ever since . pervaded her sons, and which characterized their Revolutionary sires. There were some who had been present at the surrender of Cornwallis, and others who had been with Gates and Greene in the South, while many others were descendants of such heroic stock; and, when the tocsin of war sounded, and the roar of the British lion was again heard in the land, like the clans of Rod- erick Dhu, who assembled for battle at the " cir- cling o'er " of the " fiery cross " --
"Fast as the fatal symbol flies,
In arms the huts and hamlets rise ; From winding glen, from upland brown, They poured each hardy tenant down.
The fisherman forsook the strand, The swarthy smith took dirk and brand, With changed cheer the mower hlithe
Left in the half-cut swath his scythe ; The herds without a keeper strayed, The plow was in mid-furrow stayed "-
they took down their old flint-lock fowling- pieces and hastened to offer themselves for the de- fense of their country. Many enlisted upon their arrival in the county as emigrants, even before they had found shelter for their families, and others were drafted into the service while on their way to their destined place of settlement. The whole number who served in the army from this county during the war, cannot, after this long lapse of time, be given, but comprised most all of the able- bodied men. A company of cavalry was raised in the county, of which Elias Murray was Captain, and James W. Crawford, the father of Col. Craw- ford, of Delaware, was a Lieutenant, and did duty for some time; while several regiments, or portions of regiments, of infantry, were recruited; and, upon special alarms, the militia was called out to defend
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C
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
278
the settlements. As a matter of some interest to our modern soldiers, we give the following abstract from the Quartermaster's Department during this war. Rations-14 pounds of beef; & pounds of pork ; 13 ounces of bread or flour; 1 gill of whisky. At the rate of 2 quarts of salt, 4 quarts of vin- egar, 4 pounds of soap and 12 pounds of candles to every 100 rations. And from the Paymaster's Department: Colonel, $75 per month, 5 rations and $12 for forage; Major, $50 per month and 3 rations; Captain, $40 and 3 rations; First Lieutenant, $30 and 2 rations; Second Lieuten- ant, $20 and 2 rations ; Ensign, $20 and 2 rations; Sergeant Major, $9; Second Master Sergeant, $9; other Sergeants, $8; Corporals, $7; musi- cians, $6; and privates, $6 per month.
The old military road Gen. Harrison made in his march to Fort Meigs, or Fort Sandusky, passes through the county and through the city of Del- aware. Through the latter, it is known as Sandusky street, in consequence of its northern terminus. There is also a legend to the effect that Harrison's army spent the winter in Delaware during the 1812 campaign, but how true we can- not say. However, the quiet and peaceable citi- zens of Delaware, as they witness the "Joy Guards" performing their harmless evolutions on the streets, cannot, without considerable effort, re- call the presence of a hostile army in their city, eagerly panting for war, and of-
" Red battle
With blood-red tresses deepening in the sun, And death-shot glowing in his fiery hands."
If Gen. Harrison did encamp in Delaware through the winter of 1813-14, the matter will be brought to light by our township historian, and given the prominence that such an historical occurrence nat- urally demands.
Capt. William Drake, a resident of the county, recruited a company of mounted men in the north part, and, for a period, performed active service. He is still remembered from a circumstance known in history as " Drake's Defeat," and to omit it would detract from the interest of our work. We quote from Howe : " After Hull's surrender, Capt. William Drake formed a company of rangers to protect the frontier from marauding bands of In- dians who then had nothing to restrain them ; and, when Lower Sandusky was threatened with attack, this company with alacrity obeyed the call to march to its defense. They encamped the first night a few miles beyond the outskirts of the settle- ment. In those days, the Captain was a great
wag, and naturally very fond of sport, and, being withal desirous of testing the courage of his men, after they had all got asleep, he slipped into the bushes at some distance, and, discharging his gun, rushed towards the camp yelling " Indians ! In- dians!" with all his might. The sentinels, sup- posing the alarm to proceed from one of their number, joined in the cry, and ran to quarters ; the men sprang to their feet in complete confusion, and the courageous attempted to form on the ground designated the night before in case of at- tack ; but the First Lieutenant, thinking there was more safety in depending upon legs than arms, took to his heels and dashed into the woods. Seeing the consternation and impending disgrace of his company, the Captain quickly proclaimed the hoax and ordered a halt, but the Lieutenant's frightened imagination converted every sound into Indian yells and the sanguinary war-whoop, and the louder the Captain shouted, the faster he ran, till the sounds sank away in the distance, and he supposed the Captain and his adherents had suc- cumbed to the tomahawk and the scalping-knife. Supposing he had been asleep a few minutes only, he took the moon for his guide, and flew for home. Having had time to gain the western horizon, she led him in the wrong direction ; and, after breaking down saplings, and running through the woods and brush some ten miles, he reached Radnor settlement just at daybreak, bareheaded, and with his garments flowing in a thousand streamers. The people roused hurriedly from their slumber, and, horrified with his report that the whole company was massacred but him who alone had escaped, began a general and rapid flight. Each conveyed the tidings to his neighbor, and just after sunrise they came rushing through Delaware, mostly on horseback, many in wagons, and some on foot, presenting all those grotesque appearances that frontier settlers naturally would, supposing the Indians close in their rear. Many anecdotes are told, amusing now to us who cannot realize their feelings, that exhibit the varied hues of trepida- tion characterizing different persons, and also show that there is no difference between real and sup- posed danger-and yet those actuated by the latter seldom receive the sympathies of their fellows. One family, named Penry, drove so fast that they bounced a little boy, two or three years old, out of the wagon, near Delaware, and did not miss him until they had gone five or six miles on their why to Worthington, and then upon consultation concluded it was too late to recover him amid such imminent
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281
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
danger, and so yielded him up as a painful sacrifice ! But the little fellow found protection from others, and is now (1848) living in the western part of the county. One woman, in the confusion of hurry- ing off, forgot her babe till after starting, and ran back to get it, but, being peculiarly absent minded, she caught up a stick of wood from the chimney corner, and hastened off, leaving her babe again quietly sleeping in the cradle ! A large portion of the people fled to Worthington and Franklin- ton, and some kept on to Chillicothe. In Dela- ware, the men who could be spared from convey- ing away their families, or who had none, rallied for defense, and sent scouts to Norton to reconnoi- ter, where they found the people quietly engaged in their ordinary avocations, having received a message from the Captain ; but it was too late to save the other settlements from a precipitous flight. Upon the whole, it was quite an injury to the county, as a large amount of produce was lost from the intrusion of cattle, and the want of hands to harvest it; many of the people being slow in returning, and some never did. Capt. Drake, with his company, marched on to Sandusky, to execute the duty assigned to him, without know- ing the effect produced in his rear." Drake was afterward Associate Judge, and filled various other offices in the county. He was a man highly re- spected, hospitable, running over with good humor, and a strong love for anecdote and fun. He was censured somewhat for his joke in this case, and never wholly forgiveo, perhaps, by some of those who suffered most in the general stampede caused by his penchant for fun and frolic.
But our space will not allow us to follow the course of our soldiers through all the trials and triumphs of this war. With the following extract from a chronicle of the time, we will pass on to other matters and events: " Defeat, disaster, and disgrace marked its opening scenes ; but the latter events of the contest were a series of splendid achievements. Croghan's gallant defense of Fort Stephenson ; Perry's victory upon Lake Erie ; the total defeat, by Harrison, of the allied British and savages under Proctor and Tecumseh, on the Thames, and the great closing triumph of Jackson at New Orleans, reflected the most brilliant luster upon the American arms. In every vicissitude of this contest, the conduct of Ohio was eminently patriotic and honorable. When the necessities of the National Government compelled Congress to resort to a direct tax, Ohio, for successive years, cheerfully assumed and promptly paid her quota
out of her State Treasury. Her sons volunteered with alacrity their services in the field; and no troops more patiently endured hardship or per- formed better service. Hardly a battle was fought in the Northwest, in which some of these brave citizen soldiers did not seal their devotion to their country with their blood." And what is true, and to the honor and credit of the soldiers of the State, is equally true of the soldiers of the county, and that is glory enough.
After the war of 1812 and the Indian wars ac- companying it, the people of Delaware County were no more disturbed until the Mexican war. The circumstances which led to this little unpleas- antness resulted from the admission of Texas into the American Union. The "Lone Star State" had been a province of Mexico, but had " seceded," and for years its citizens had been carrying on a kind of guerrilla warfare with the "mother coun- try " with varying results. But, in 1836, a battle was fought at San Jacinto, at which Santa Anna, then Dictator of Mexico, was captured, and his whole army either killed or made prisoners. Santa Anna was held in strict confinement, and finally in- duced to sign a treaty acknowledging the inde- pendeuce of Texas. But, in violation of the treaty and of every principle of honor, the Republic of Mexico treated Texas and the Texans just as she had previously done. From this time on, petitions were frequently presented to the United States, asking admission into the Union. But Mexico, through sheer spite, endeavored to prevent the admission of Texas, by constantly declaring that her reception would be regarded as a sufficient cause for a declaration of war, thinking, perhaps, that this would serve to intimidate the United States. In the Presidential canvass of 1844, be- tween' Clay and Polk, the annexation of Texas was one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk, whose party favored the admission of Texas, being elected, this was taken as a public declaration on the subject. After this, Congress had no hesitancy in granting the petition of Texas, and on the 1st of March, 1845, formally received her into the sisterhood of States. Mexico at once, in her indignation, broke off all diplomatic relations with the United States, calling home her minister immediately, which was a clear decla- ration of war-and war soon followed. Con- gress passed an act authorizing the President to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers, and appropriating $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war.
282
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
As the war feeling swept over the country like an epidemic, the people of Delaware County caught the spirit, and their patriotism was aroused to the highest pitch of excitement. The old State Mil- itia law was then in force, which required the en- rollment of all able-bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, for military duty. Under this law Gen. Hinton commanded a brigade, which consisted of one battalion of artillery, one squadron of light dragoons, one battalion of in- fantry, and one regiment of riflemen. Imbued with the war fever, he called out his brigade and went into camp for three days at Delaware,* for the purpose of drill, and of considering the war question. The war news was thoroughly discussed, and, finally, a long preamble and a string of pa- triotic resolutions were adopted amid the clanging of arms and the roar of artillery. After a pre- amble consisting of a number of whereases, in which Mexican outrages are fully set forth ; it was
Resolved. That we. as citizen soldiers, assembled together with arms in our hands, bound to defend our country, its interest and its honor, do hereby tender our services to the President of the United States, and hold ourselves in readiness, at his command, for the defense of our country, the execution of its laws, and the maintenance of the honor and dignity of the nation. Resolved, That we sustain the President in his inaug- ural address, as to the Oregon question, t etc.
Resolved, That these proceedings be signed by all the commanding and staff officers of the brigade, in their official capacity ; and that it be published in the Olen- tungy Gazette, Ohio Statesman and Ohio State Journal.
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