History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

William Fraker settled in Fulton county in 1835, and is now a resident of section eighteen in Clinton township. He was born in Ohio in 1822, and has been very successful in all his business relations. He is a farmer and has a family of eight children. His parents were from Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania.

These men, by the light of hickory torches, perambulated the forests at night to hold a social chat with the new adventurer, and give them and each other encouragement in their new forest homes. All these men did hunting as well as clearing away the forest. This sport gave to the men of early times a sort of fascination not enjoyed by the later day adventurer. This following was necessary to provide means of subsistence from the wild game of the for- est, more especially the deer, and for their untiring labor for each other, and the aid those forerunners gave to all who later sought homes in the wilderness, their memory is cherished with kindness by the living few who were acquaint- ed with them and their works.

Mrs. Mary Mikesell, the wife of Adam Mikesell, who, of the 1836 pioneers,

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passed away in 1860, was the daughter of William Jones, who settled in York township in 1834. She is really the oldest settler upon the territory of Clin- ton township. She became a resident of Clinton by her marriage with Adam Mikesell, September 12, 1837, and remained a resident up to her death, March II, 1887. Mary Mikesell was among the few very early settlers of the county, coming to York township in May, 1834. She remained to see nearly all the first settlers pass away and the growth of a new generation, and the full devel- opment of what was once a wilderness. What wonderful changes she has wit- nessed in the seventy-two years of her life !

After the first two years of the advance guard in this wilderness home, there commenced a rapid influx of settlers to Clinton township, to whom van- tage ground was given by the assistance of the first dwellers and workers, but they 'soon became used to the toils of a frontiersman's life. They soon devel- oped a push and energy which made up the intellectual fabric of the township. They were such men as Joseph Wells, James C. Cornell, Thomas Mckibbin, Jacob First, Robert McClarren, John Newcomer, John A. Clark, Jacob Funk, James Pease, John Hartman, George Beal, Jacob Miley, Matthias Miley, Joseph L. Royce, L. T. Morris, James Dunbar, Asa Young, John J. Clark, Shipman Losier, John Linfoot, William Harrison, Samuel P. Willey, St. Bernard Geer, David Gorsuch, Nathaniel Gorsuch, William Hill, David Cantlebury, Jesse Pocock, Israel Pocock, Meek Bayes, Jonas Batdorf, Jerome Shaw, Ford Lyon, Henry B. Williams, Anthony B. Robinson and many others who came to the township to make for themselves and families a home. Many of these men are living to-day, and by the fruits of their labor the world may judge, and the reason of their success in life is manifest to all.

The prominent land owners of Clinton, at the present date, who have given, and do still give, character to the industry of the township are, Perry Murphy, William Campbell and Henry Pike, section 7, town 7 north, range 6 east ; Charles Kimmerer, section 8; William Tedrow, Joseph D. Aldrich and John J. Clark on section 9; Jacob Figgey and Walter S. Brigham on section 10; Joel Brigham and L. T. Morris on section 11 ; Allen Shadle and Richard Sha- dle on section 12; Frank Blizard, William Harrison, John Losure and Samuel Losure on section 13; Thomas Mikesell and Riley McMannus on section 14; George D. Newcomer and Christopher H. Losure on section 15 ; Robert E. Skeels, section 16; William Drennan, Ephraim Gorsuch and Reasin Campbell's heirs on section 17 ; William Fraker, 18; George Fraker, John A. Clark, Jacob Miley, section 19; Conrad Hartman, 20; C. W. Becker on 21; Stephen Bayes, Thomas Bayes and Angelo Blake on 22 ; Westley Blake, Anthony B. Robinson, Jackson Stough, section 27; M. H. Hayes, 26; John Hartman, William Patterson, Robert Dunham, section 28; J. Bayes, 29 ; George Valen- tine, 30 ; Philip Upp, 28 ; Charles A. Burr, 26 ; Elijah Burr, 25 ; Fred. Remeo, 32 ; Mathias Miley, Andy Genter, 33 ; William B. Cunningham, William H

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Gasche, 34; Thomas Frazier, James C. Scott, 35; John M. Williams, Henry Yeager, H. Scott, 36; George Edgar, section I, town 6, north, range 6 east ; David Pontius, F. Serrick, Jacob Funk, section 2; Stephen Funk, William Croninger, section 3 ; Jonathan Croninger, Thomas Turney, section 4; John Leatherman, William Zigler, section 5; Christ. Fry, Christ. Rupp, section 6; William Fink, Samuel Miller, section 7 ; John Merilet, J. Walfogle, section 8; J. L. Cramer, William Hoffmire, section 9; Oliver Harmon, Daniel Harmon, section 10; Jerry Williams, section II ; Samuel B. McLain, section 12. At this period of our history the spirit of the people soon began to show itself in desires to emulate the eastern home. A competition prevailed and increased as the forest"gave way to the woodman's ax ; farms were rapidly cleared, and the rich soil gave to them the assurance of their desires and an early develop- ment of the country, and their labor shows in the high state of prosperity which it has attained at the present time. When looking back through the long vista of time and viewing their country's growth, it should swell every heart with pride for the magnificent labor of these early sons of toil. These noble white pioneers who filled the country like the rising tide of the incoming sea, have given to another generation a country which they should ever love and reverence.

Reminiscences .- Avery Lamb settled on the township line, upon the York township side, but owning property in Clinton, in which part of his buildings were situated. He was always fully identified with the business and society of Clinton township. He came in June, 1836, and says "that neighbors were not nearer than from three to four miles in those first days. Indians were plenty, roaming the forest, and it was generally from them that we learned of new im- migrants located somewhere in the wilderness territory. At that time letter postage from long distances, was twenty-five cents; calico was from two to three shillings per yard ; bleached muslin thirty-one cents per yard. Any in- dividual calamity was the occasion of public regret through the entire circle of our acquaintance, and the sufferers received all necessary aid. All whom we knew were neighbors for the first ten years. Our hearts, our hands and our doors were open to all. The religion of those days was the overflow of a thankful heart, and all were happy, and of necessity could fight obstacles a mountain high."

John H. Williams, in his remembrance of those early days, says : " In the spring following his coming to the township, in December, 1835, he cleared two and one-half acres, sowed it to spring wheat and harvested twenty-five bush- els at that time. There were no roads in the country, but by cutting away some underbrush they could move around from neighbor to neighbor, with an ox team. Always had plenty of company in the woods in the early days,- land hunters and Indians. Very often the first pioneer's cabin presented an in- teresting appearance to the beholder, and was worthy of the artist's pen. Beds

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and everything were brought into requisition and were spread all over the floor of the cabin at night, to accommodate the land hunters, often several families combined. These cabins often contained more company than many of the first- class hotels of the present time. Sometimes the Indians would stay for the night. The rifle had to be brought in play during the day to obtain meat for the coming meals."

C. H. Losure, Isaac Tedrow, Thomas, Wright and William Bayes, with the Mikesells and a few settlers of York township who were residents of the terri- tory at earlier dates, gave to the pioneer life very social times. They were in- vited to log-cabin raising very often, nearly every day in the week except Sun- day, which was always a day of social intercourse with the new-comers. Neighbors were often assisted who lived from five to ten miles away, oftener than we do in these days with our neighbors in sight. Winter evenings were usually spent in going to singing and spelling schools, generally at Spring Hill, but often at Uncle Bob Howard's in Pike township, at Delta, at Wright's school-house, or to Ridgeville. We had as much sport in our younger days, and enjoyed ourselves fully as well as the people of to-day, with all their mod- ern methods of amusement ; and we slept as sweetly and soundly as the more modern people. The early settlers from this quarter west and north, usually went to Canandaigua, Mich., to mill, and sometimes to Medina, Adrian and Palmyra, all in Lenawee county, Mich. At some seasons of the year they would go to Maumee, Waterville or Texas, upon the Maumee, and to Bruners- burg, using three or four days to make the trip.

In all these trips the nights were very dreary, caused by their darkness. We often started from these points after the commencement of nightfall, and trav- eled all night, and in the thick timber often lost our way, but in the "oak openings," as they were known, the light was generally better. We always had plenty of music in those long nights of our journey homeward, and reached the cabin at various hours of the morning. This music we did not always enjoy, especially when alone. In these dark forests at night might be seen the driver holding on to the end of the yoke, and the cattle making their own way, and if undisturbed all would reach home in safety. John H. Williams further says when he began work for himself he chopped heavy timber at $4 per acre, and got for chopping four foot wood twenty-five cents per cord, and at that figure made from seventy-five to eighty-seven cents per day. At the end of his first year of hard work he had earned nearly money enough to pay for eighty acres of land, which was purchased for $215 money down, and he lives upon it to- day. Wheat at this time was selling for thirty cents per bushel ; corn, nine cents ; number one horses $40, and all other things the product of pioneer labor, in proportion. In his tavern bills (as then called), prices for supper, lodg- ing and breakfast, from twenty-five to thirty-five cents. Forty to forty-five miles a day was the common footing distance for able-bodied men. Indians

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were very numerous at this period ; they hunted in the winter, and made sugar in the spring. In the summer they usually returned to the river, or took to the openings near Spring Hill, or Winameg, and there raised some corn and vege- tables. For hoes the Indian would find the proper limb on a tree suitable for a handle, and then chop in above and below the limb, and split therefrom a block and hew it down sharp, which made a very good hoe for digging and hoeing corn.

The young man of the later period says it is hard times, they cannot get work; they think that chopping eighteen inch wood at thirty-seven cents per cord is a starvation price. Listen ! these early men cut four foot wood at twenty-five cents, and were glad to get that. Cowhide boots sold at $3.25 ; calico, twenty to twenty-five cents per yard ; flour usually from from $8 to $10 per barrel, and sometimes have paid as high as $14. Now let the present race talk of hard times with all the increased industries overspreading this country, and the chance for a cheap farm of " Uncle Sam " in the west. "We of that age thought we had good times, and no reason can be given of a valid nature why the people to-day should not have better times, and a more staunch pros- perity. Wolves, Indian horse-bells and owls were the chief music of the night, and Indian war-whoops and the crack of the rifle in the day-time ; these were the most interesting features of the wild woods, and none ever thought of dan- ger no more from the Indian than the white man. The Indian method of sugar making was to take green elm bark, about eighteen inches long, and shave the ends down thin, and gather them together about level with the sides, making a trough that would hold about a half pailful of sap. Their store troughs were made in the same manner. This labor was all done by the squaws ; they chop the wood, dress the deer, coon and all other animals. An Indian was rarely found doing any work except to hunt. He would come to the camp, sit and smoke his pipe and get through time until the hunt. Some of the squaws were very handy with the needle, as much so as the best experts, among the whites in dress-making. Their wigwams, as they called their shanties, were generally made of poles and covered with bark peeled from elm trees, and they were as comfortable as the white man's cabin."

Now a word in defense of local history, as Gath said in his letter, " Local history indeed, is the only true and genuine history of a country." There are a great many historical facts connected with the settlement of any town or county always worth preserving. "It is this local history that is true and genuine, because those who gather up the facts are right on the' ground, and having a narrow field, can glean it thoroughly." This should be an important thought to the reader in discussing value and authenticity.

Now before dismissing this part of the sketch of the early pioneers let this thought be penned from the historian (Verity), as the general impressions made upon his mind while gathering facts of history. These early men seem to have

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been noble men, born for such a time, and for the purpose of stepping forth upon our frontiers. They were possessed of courage and ambition far above the average man, and through this spirit they always overcame every obstacle that presented itself, and the wilderness yielded to their vigor and determina- tion.

Many of this race of brave adventurers have lived to see the wilderness, once the abode of the red man, howling wolves, bear and nimble deer, swept away, and thus by his steadfast energy and personal exertion has finally suc- ceeded in owning a fair share of the land as his patrimony in the township. Many of them still living look back to the "old times " with painful longing to live them over again.

Population .- The growth of this township was very slow after the few first years of its settlement, and it was not revived again until 1850, since which its growth has been rapid. The principal enlargement was caused by the build- ing of the Northern Indiana and Michigan Southern Railway through the township, and now called the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. The population in 1880 was 1,813. The estimated population at the present is about 2,300, and this exclusive of the population of Wauseon. This is now the shire town of the county and has been since 1871. It contains one large and populous village named " Wauseon," after an Indian chief who once trod the soil of the county, and who was about the last of the Pottawatomie chiefs of the Maumee Valley. Wauseon was laid out on the 13th day of March, 1854. The proprietors of the town were Epaphras L. Barber, Nathaniel Leg- gett, J. H. Sargent and William H. Hall. The first building was erected in this town April 4, 1854. The first train of cars passed through the place on the Air Line road, so called, on the 20th day of July, 1854, at which time the population of the village numbered fifteen persons. It was incorporated June 13, 1857, three years after its beginning.

The commissioners of approval were Stephen Haughton, Joseph Ely and George Taft. The place " Ottokee " was the county seat of Fulton county at that date. In 1860 the population of Wauseon was 350 persons; in 1880 it contained 1,902 inhabitants, being an average increase of seventy-eight per- sons each year. It is estimated to now contain about 2,500.

Industries .- Clinton township has had but little more than the agricultural developments upon which it could grow and increase. The first saw- mill was erected at Lena, by Jerome Shaw, and in after years was burned. It was re- built by Ford Lyon, but is now a thing of the past. The township never had mills of any other kind until the laying out of Wauseon, to which point all the subsequent industries of the township have centered. In 1866 Amasa B. Verity opened the first brick kiln in the township, and then made the brick used in the residence of Colonel D. W. H. Howard, at Wauseon.

Schools .- The first school taught was by Erastus Briggs. It was held in the cabin first put up by Elisha Williams. The present number of school dis-

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tricts of the township is twelve, added to which is one special joint district at Pettisville, the school-house being located in Clinton township. Other than these there is one graded school in the village of Wauseon. All districts are provided with substantial, well-built structures.

Births .- The first birth of a white child in this township was Charles G. Williams, born October 13, 1836.

Churches .- Rev. Spencer preached at the cabin of Elisha Huntington one Sunday in October, 1836, he being the first traveling preacher here. He was of the order of Disciples, followers of Alexander Campbell. A class of this faith was soon formed at the cabin of Elisha Williams. Other societies were in time organized in the township, and the first church of any denomination was erected at Pettisville, by the Baptist Society. Other societies are Olive Branch of the U. B. order; Bethel Church, otherwise called the Christian Union ; the Hartman Church, called the Evangelical Church of the Evangel- ical Association, founded in 1872 and situated two miles west of the village of Wauseon, and the Reformed German Church at Pettysville, upon the Clinton side of said village.

Agriculture .- The agricultural power of this township at present date may be of interest to the readers as it presents some of the most promising of in- dustries. The township, in the year 1886, had 3,523 acres of wheat upon the ground, and the harvest showed 65,944 bushels; oats, 1,332 acres, bushels raised, 60,645 ; corn, 2,813 acres, bushels raised 92,340 ; meadow, 1,555 acres, tons of hay 1,562 ; clover, 1,017 acres, tons of clover 1, 112 ; clover seed, num- ber of bushels 896; potatoes, 72 acres, bushels raised 8,890; number of pounds of butter 60,800 ; number of dozens of eggs produced 52,805 ; acres of orchard, 528, bushels of apples 25,940 ; pounds of wool, 29,965.

The township is solely an agricultural community and the marketing of all its products is chiefly made at Wauseon, the market town for at least one-half of the county.

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