USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 31
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This was the first case of this character brought against a citizen of San- dusky, upon a cause of action arising in Erie county, and becomes importan: from its very nature, and will prove doubly interesting to the thousands of friends that hold the victim of the prosecution in such kindly remembrance. The names of the slaves, the value of whom was sued for, were Jane Garrison and Harrison Garrison.
The case has but one fellow, that is, an action brought against a resident of Sandusky, and this was the case of Lewis F. Weimer against Rush R. Sloane, then a young and active practicing attorney of the city. But this dif- fers in some respects from that just quoted, and was brought under a mor: recent act of Congress, procured to become a law through the great power of southern chivalry, and by which the value of a slave was fixed at $1,000, re- gardless of physical condition, age, or actual value. The names of the slaves that were aided in their escape were George Bracken, Emily Bracken, Ellen Bracken, Robert Pritt, Matilda Pritt, Eliza Pritt, and Thomas Pritt. The action of Weimer against Sloane was brought to recover the value of three of these, and, for the events at the time that led to the suit we have recourse to the testimony of Major Foster M. Follett, one of the witnesses for the defendant, although the evidence offered by the plaintiff was somewhat different.
" Mr. Follett, sworn : ' Was mayor of Sandusky city October 20, 1852. heard a noise in the street ; the crowd came into the office; was writing at the time ; knew there were slaves there; negroes were seated in the room ; paid no attention but kept on writing, with back to negroes ; after some time, Rice (Oliver Rice the marshal at the time) came in and laid the papers on my desk : . did not look at the papers. Mr. Bill asked what I was going to do. I replied that I had no jurisdiction; think he did not speak to Patton (the slave catcher). or Patton to him ; after some time Rice came to my desk and I handed the papers to him, but Rice asked if I had examined them, and I said I had not. after which I went towards the door.
"'The defendant (Sloane) then came in, turned around and said, " By what authority are these persons held in custody? Are there any papers to shon why they are held here ?" Think Patton said Rice had the papers. Defend- ant then said, "Colored citizens, I see no authority for detaining your colored
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friends." The negroes and crowd then went out, after which Patton said to Sloane, "Here's the papers ; those slaves are mine and I will hold you respon- sible." There was not much noise or excitement.'"
These slaves had arrived in Sandusky on the evening of October 20, 1852, the day on which these events occurred, and were immediately taken on board the steamboat Arrow, that lay at the wharf. The slave-catcher, Patton, saw them on the boat and at once called upon Oliver Rice and others to arrest and take them into custody, which was done. They were then taken before Mayor Follett that the ownership might be proved ; and it was during the early part of the proceedings in the mayor's office that some colored men had gone for Mr. Sloane to engage him to appear in their defense.
To a person unacquainted with the arbitrary laws then in force regarding fugitive slaves, it would seem that the part taken by Mr. Sloane after his ar- rival, formed a very flimsy foundation upon which to base an action. But the reader must bear in mind that that law was enacted by Congress at a time when the Southern people held absolute sway in the legislative halls of Congress, and by their controlling strength could and did pass measures wholly in their favor, however tyrannical and oppressive they may have been to others.
The section of the act under which the slaves were detained provided, "That where a person held to service or labor in any State or Territory of the United States, has heretofore, or shall hereafter escape into another State or Territory of the United States, the person or persons to whom such service or labor may be due, or his, her, or their agent or attorney, duly authorized by power of attorney in writing, acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal officer or court, of the State or Territory in which the same may be exe- cuted, may pursue and reclaim such fugitive person, either by procuring a war- rant from some one of the courts, judges or commissioners aforesaid, of the proper circuit, district or county, for the apprehension of such fugitive ; or by seizing and arresting such fugitive, where the same can be done without pro- cess; and by taking or causing such person to be taken before such court, judge, or commissioners," etc.
It was by the authority of this act that these slaves were detained, and it was on account of the part taken by Mr. Sloane in the proceedings before Mayor Follett that he was summoned to answer in damages in the United States court. The trial resulted in a verdict against the defendant in the amount of three thousand dollars, one thousand dollars for each slave claimed to be owned by Weimer. This judgment and costs Mr. Sloane paid in full.
Another suit growing out of the same transaction was brought against him by Charles M. Gibbons, but through a defect in the paper the action was dis- missed.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XX.
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SANDUSKY .* THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF ERIE COUNTY.
TO attempt the production of an original chronological history of the City of Sandusky would be out of the question. Various historians, both local and non-resident, to the number of nearly a score, have made an effort in this direction, and, in some few instances, with a fair measure of success ; so that for a writer upon the ground to-day, there seems but very little opportunity for enlargement upon things and events of the last quarter of a century, and no room whatever for any additional revelations regarding the happenings of an earlier period. At best the modern writer can but revise, classify, and per- haps paraphrase that which has already been made patent through the labors of early historians. And, peradventure, there may be revealed some events that have been heretofore overlooked or considered unworthy a place in history, and thus it may be possible that a satisfactory record be made that shall be of some substantial use and benefit to the present and future generations of this county.
The writer of modern times finds the most satisfaction in the fact of being able to give to the public something before unknown, or to settle conflicting opinions, or to give a new and satisfactory version of misunderstood things. Yet in the present case there seems no avenue of escape by these subterfuges, and we must look the facts squarely in the face, scan, and if possible, criticise past works, still depend upon them for truth, then sift and separate the good history from the bad, and present the former to the reader, clearly and in the most in- telligent manner possible, and finally, ask the most kindly indulgence and for- bearance of the reader for not having been able to provide new, startling and wonderful historic revelations. So much by way of explanation-not apology.
It has not been deemed advisable for the purposes of this chapter to restate or re-narrate the events of the Indian occupation of the lands now comprised by the corporate limits of this city, but to commence this subject at a time within the memory of man, referring the reader to the earlier chapters of this volume for such knowledge as may be sought concerning the savages whose different tribes held jointly and in severalty the country which we now occupy.
* The point, Sandusky, first became so named from the beautiful bay on the shore of which it is situate. The bay was known to the Indians as a lake - a small lake of cold water, and from that the name " Lac Sandouske " was applied. This name, however, partakes largely vi the French accent, and is believed to be of French origin The Jesuits carried on their labors through this region generally, but of them we have no reliable, ancient record ; and it is quite probable that the Indians adopted, as nearly as possible. the name the French had given. The name was first mentioned, so far as we have knowledge, in 1708, at which time the Iroquois Indians destroyed a village of the Eries on "Conti Lake."
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Ir a Simprove
28!
THE CITY OF SANDUSKY.
The territory now included within the city limits of Sandusky formed a very small portion of the historic " firelands," which was donated to the inhab- itants of certain towns of Connecticut to compensate them for losses sustained at the hands of the British soldiers during the Revolution ; and that donation was made before the Indian claims to the land had been extinguished. No at- tempt at permanent white settlement could, of course, be made until that title was acquired. And it is a fact that the survey and partition were not per- formed until after the treaty by which the occupants relinquished their claim of title.
After these preliminaries had been satisfactorily settled, the whites came to the region and found on the site of the city a "lone" cabin, presided over and occupied by an Indian named "Ogontz," and from this occupant the town, if such it might be called, received its first name.
OGONTZ PLACE.
From all authority it appears that this chieftain was the acknowledged ruler of the town, and the Indians who then occupied the locality. The cabin of Ogontz was situate at a point some ten or fifteen rods from the bay shore, be- tween what are now known as Columbus avenue and Wayne street, about in rear of the building standing between the Moss National and the Second Na- tional Banks.
Authorities differ, however, on the subject of the location of the chief's cabin, but from the best information obtainable, it is thought the spot indicated is about correct.
Ogontz, like all rulers of high degree, had a history ; and inasmuch as he was in a manner identified with the past of this city, it will not be considered too much out of place to make some mention of his life and tragic death, as the same was sketched by one of the pioneers of ISI0, and now a resident of Perkins township, from which sketch we copy almost literally :
Ogontz .- " His life and somewhat romantic death have been written with varying testimony. He was captured near the head of Lake Huron, about the middle of the last century, by some Jesuit missionaries, and taken to Quebec when he was but a small lad. He was sent to a missionary school, was bap- tized in the name of Ogontz, and was taught the English and French lan- guages. He graduated with the highest honors, and was sent back as a mis- sionary to his own people. During the latter part of the eighteenth century he came to Sandusky and settled with the Ottawa Indians, on the southern shore of the bay, then a beautiful plain, dotted over with Indian wigwams, burr oaks, and clusters of hawthorns.
"In the year 1805, John Fleming came from Canada, and settled on the east bank of the Huron River, three miles from the lake, where he established a small trading post, exchanging ammunition and other commodities for furs.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Ogontz and Fleming soon became acquainted and their friendship continus: until the death of the former.
" In the summer of 1808, a number of Indians, with their chief and Ogontz assembled at Fleming's for a yearly sacrifice. The chief, with the others, be- came intoxicated and quarrelsome. The chief had been jealous of Ogontz f - some time, on account of his steady and sober habits and the popularity 1 .. had gained among other Indians ; and fearing he might be chosen their chi. over him, soon got into a quarrel with Ogontz. A deadly conflict ensued i :: which Ogontz slew his antagonist.
"The next day he was arrested and tried for murder, Fleming acting ?. judge. He was honorably acquitted, and the same day he was chosen chief over the tribe. As Ogontz had no children of his own, he adopted the only son of the slain chief, who was but a small boy. He inherited that spirit ( revenge that is generally found in the Indian character. As soon as he br came a young man he watched his opportunity, and one day, while they wer on a hunting excursion, near Perrysburg, he shot his adopted father, assumed the title of chief and ruled the tribe. Thus fell the learned Ogontz, one of thi - most noble sons of the forest that ever trod the soil of the Sandusky plains.
" Young Ogontz's career as chief was short, for he soon became a habitu. drunkard and died in the year 1822."
" His name," continues the same writer, concerning Ogontz, " will never be forgotten by those at Sandusky. His wigwam was on the bay shore at the foot of Wayne street. His favorite retreat from the piercing sun in midsum- mer day was in a little cluster of hawthorns near the foot of Columbus avenue Beneath this shade was a beautiful stone chair formed by the hand of nature Here the chief reclined for hours, smoking his pipe or watching the breeze- ruffled waters of the broad bay as they glistened in the sunlight, or gazing a: the foaming and dashing waves of the lake beyond."
Such, then, was the location and situation during the early years of the present century ; a situation real as well as fanciful, although the latter lends an additional charm to the scene.
Ogontz's Place was the name by which this locality was known and desig- nated until the efforts of Zalmon Wildman changed it to the less romantic. though more appropriate-Portland.
The first attempt at settlement by the whites, at what was known as Ogontz's Place, was made in the year 1810, by one John Garrison and family He was a former resident of New York State, and came to this region in quest of a home. Not many, however, ventured into this locality at that time There were loud and ominous threatenings of war The Indian occupants were still friendly to the British, and the latter were continually urging the sav - ages to deeds of violence against all colonists. The storm-cloud of war a: length broke, and until after the year 1815 had passed, settlement was danger- ous.
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THE CITY OF SANDUSKY.
John Garrison came to Ogontz's Place, as has been stated, to make a home. He brought a stock of goods to exchange for furs, and to supply the whites that then chanced to live in the country. He was the intended victim of a murderous Indian named Semo, but the designs of the latter were frustrated by the outbreak of the war, causing Garrison to return to New York State. The Indian, however, with an accomplice, murdered Michael Gibbs, a trapper, living on Pipe Creek. This occurred while a party of rangers were at Huron, for defensive purposes, and when the news reached them Semo was tracked and captured and subsequently hanged. His companion in crime was an In- dian named Omeek, and he being afterward taken, killed himself.
Few of the Connecticut sufferers occupied the lands donated them. Their interests were purchased by others, who became known under the style of "Proprietors," and it was by the extensive purchase of sufferers' claims that Zalmon acquired title to the large body of land whereon stands a part of San- dusky.
(Zalmon Wildman was born at Danbury, Conn., in the year 1774, and died December 10, 1835. . He, with his brother, Seymour Wildman, were hatters at Danbury. From 1808 until 1835, Zalmon Wildman was postmaster at Danbury, and from 1817 to 1824 he was associate judge of the county court of Fairfield county. He first came to the fireland in 1810, on horseback. Here he had several thousand acres of land which he acquired by purchasing suffer- ers' certificates, Judge Wildman was never a resident of Ohio, although he frequently visited this locality, looking after his land interests. In 1833 he subscribed $15,000 toward the construction of the Mad River Railroad, and paid it in full. Upon his death his son, Frederick S. Wildman, and his son- in-law, Nathan Starr, were appointed administrators of his estate. They also subscribed a large tract of land to the building of the railroad, taking stock.or scrip of the company in payment, but never realized anything from the stock.)
Mr. Wildman unquestionably saw that this locality was destined to become a city of some considerable magnitude, and with this belief strongly impressed upon him, in the year 1816 he laid out and caused to be platted the town of
PORTLAND.
Up to this time the town had been, it is generally conceded, known as Ogontz's Place, and this belief seems to be well founded, taking the declara- tions of Zalmon Wildman as authority.
Mr. Wildman acquired title to a large body of land in this immediate vi- cinity by the purchase of sufferers' rights. This surveyed township was but a fraction of a whole township lying north of Perkins, or rather, north of town number six in range twenty-three, and between town six and the bay.
It has been generally understood that Mr. Wildman, in the year 1816, laid out and platted his lands here, or at least a part of them, and gave to the place
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
the name of "Portland." This may be true, and the belief is in a measure verified by referring to the map itself (on record), which is drawn under the title of Portland. The signification of this name becomes clear by simply di- viding the syllables thus, " Port-land ;" the first, Port, meaning a harbor, and by adding the suffix land, we have the meaning: land upon a harbor, or. more clearly, land located upon a harbor, or adjoining a harbor.
Portland, as a town, had a very brief existence, in fact, even if it had any One thing is sure, and that is, that the town was known as Portland for some time, but whether such was its name as a truth, and whether that name was given it by Mr. Wildman, or those acting for him and under his direction, is a question susceptible of argument. Custom, prevailing opinion and tradition. all say that it was named Portland, and so named honestly. This we shall not contradict, nor shall we make an attempt to disprove it, but if we take the county records as a standard authority (and in preparing this work great de- pendence is placed on the records), it will be found that the name of " San- dusky City " was given the place by Zalmon Wildman, on the 17th day of August, 1816, by his dedication, which was follows :
" The within town plat is situated on the south shore of Sandusky Bay, on the ground formerly known by the name of Ogontz Place."
" A store is now erected on the southwesterly side of lot number six, on the easterly side of Main street."
" The foregoing town plat, by the name of 'Sandusky City,' I allow shall be subject to and governed by the same laws that other town plats are in this State. ZALMON WILDMAN. [Seal.]
" HURON, August 17, 1816.
" Signed, sealed and acknowledged before Jabez Wright, associate judge."
From this instrument it seems clear that, at the above date, Zalmon Wild. man laid out the town of Sandusky City. The article also states that the same is situated on the "ground formerly known by the name of Ogontz Place."
Well, Portland or Sandusky City, which ever it may have been, comprised four separate blocks of land, two large and two small, and contained in a !! sixty lots. The streets were : Commerce on the east, State (in the dedication called Main) in the center, and Mechanic on the west. These run north and south. Water street had an east and west direction and separated the small blocks from the larger. State street separated the larger blocks, and also the smaller.
There was but one store at that time on the tract, situated at the corner of State (or Main) and Water streets.
There seems to have been at this time, or very soon afterward, a claim in- terposed to the effect that Zalmon Wildman was not the rightful owner of this whole tract. And just here it may be stated, parenthetically perhaps, that
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THE CITY OF SANDUSKY.
conflicting claims of title to the lands of Sandusky City was the greatest ob- struction or obstacle in the way of its early growth ; an obstacle that was not finally removed until after the year 1840; and by that time her sister cities, Cleveland on the east, and Toledo on the west, had a decided advantage over her in point of early and substantial settlement and internal improvement. This was one, and but one, of the many causes that seriously retarded San- dusky's growth at a time when enterprise and harmonious action were most needed for her future welfare. But to return. In explanation of this conflict of claims to. title is, may be remarked, that Mr. Wildman and Isaac Mills, the latter interposing the claim, made an amicable adjustment of their existing difficulties, which, in the year 1818, resulted in the platting and laying out of the more extensive tract of land whereon, in part, now stands the city of San- dusky. And here another actor appears upon the scene, in the person of George Hoadley, the ancestor of the late Governer of the State of Ohio. As to how he acquired an interest in these lands the record does not show, but it was unquestionably a lawful and valid title, else it had not been made. The dedication made by these three men appears upon the records as follows :
"The city of Sandusky is situated on the south shore of Sandusky Bay, about three miles from the entrance into said bay, on the portion lying between town number six in the twenty-third range and the said bay.
"The above and within (referring to the map accompanying the instru- ment) is a true and accurate map or plat of the city of Sandusky. The streets east and west are : Water street, which is four and one- half rods in width ; Market street is five rods ; Washington street is six rods; Adams street is five rods; Jefferson, Madison and Monroe are four rods; Wayne and Jackson are each five rods; and all the other streets running northerly and southerly, to - gether with Poplar and Elm streets, are each four rods in width. Columbus, Huron and Miami avenues are each six rods wide. The two open spaces on Market street, marked B.B., are appropriated as and for public market grounds, and forever to remain for that purpose and for no other.
"Washington Square is hereby appropriated as and for a Public Ground, Parade and Walk, and is never to be obstructed, except that part of it included in lines marked A.A., which is hereby appropriated for public building for re- ligious, literary, State, county and city purposes, but no jail or State's prison is ever to be erected thereon.
"The Columbus, Miami and Huron Parks are also hereby appropriated as and for public areas as walks ; as are also the three small areas or triangles on the Miami and Huron avenues, which are never to be obstructed in any way whatever.
"The city and outlots which are for sale are all numbered by progressive numbers, according to the within map or plat, and each lot, except the water lots and the lots on the Huron and Miami avenues, are five rods in front, on
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
the street, and extend back twelve rods, except where the Market place is an ! the curve of Water street, together with Washington Row, do prevent ; an : the water lots are all two rods in front on Water street, and extend northerly into the bay to the channel water thereof.
" The open and public slips to the water from Water street are as follows. viz .: On the Columbus avenue, ten rods in width; on Wayne and Jackson streets, nine rods, and on all other streets eight rods in width, and so to remain forever.
"The land on which the city of Sandusky is laid is owned by Zalmon Wildman, three-quarter parts thereof, and by Isaac Mills and George Hoadley, one- quarter part thereof, undivided and in common.
" Dated the 5th of June, 1818.
ZALMON WILDMAN, " By his attorney, Isaac Mills, " GEORGE HOADLEY, " By his attorney, I. Mills, " ISAAC MILLS."
Thus was the city of Sandusky laid out and its streets, areas and public places dedicated to the common use ; and thus have they, with slight altera- tions, remained to the present day.
This was the first really substantial step in the direction of a municipa' organization, although it was some six years after this that Sandusky aspired to any municipal existence independent of the adjoining country of which: it until then formed a part.
The worthy and generous proprietors seemed, even at that early day, tn be possessed of the belief that this was destined to become a city of much im- portance, and with this end in view made liberal provision of land for the pur- pose of buildings-State, county and city ; also for religious, literary, educa- tional and other uses. How thoroughly this provision was utilized is atteste .: by the many substantial, and in some cases elegant structures that now ador !! the square. To be sure the proprietory control of the city in later years fe. into the hands of a few persons who seemed not to be imbued with the same spirit of enterprise, the same progressive disposition, or the same ardent desire to improve, build up and populate, as actuated ;Messrs. Wildman, Mills and Hoadley, and that lack of energy and thrift, coupled with a desire for specula- tion and money getting, lost to Sandusky many people and many of the aux iliaries of prosperity. That same spirit, or lack of public spirit, nearly caused a change in the location of the county seat, and were it not for the efforts (: certain individuals, other than the controlling element of that day, that chan; would have been made. There was, however, among the proprietors som who were earnest in the work for the welfare of the town, but their interes .. were not considered; their counsel and advice was not followed ; they were a minority, and soon sold out. But this state of affairs did not exist unt .
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