History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 5

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 5

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Fort Barbee was erected by Colonel Barbee near the west bank of the St. Mary's River, on the site of what afterwards became a Lutheran ceme- tary, in the town of St. Marys.

Fort Jennings was erected by Colonel Jennings' regiment in September, 1812, by order of General Harrison. It was intermediate between St. Marys and Defiance, and was situated in what is now Putnam County.

Fort Dillies was erected in 1792 on the west side of the Ohio, opposite Grave Creek, in what is now Belmont County.

Fort McArthur was built in January, 1813, in Hardin County, at the head of the Scioto River, and on General Hull's road, three miles southwest of the present city of Kenton, and was named after Gen. Duncan McArthur.

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He built two block-houses on the south side of the Scioto, each 20 by 24 feet, connected by a strong blockade, covering an area of near half an acre.

Fort Meigs was erected by General Harrison, February 1, 1813, at the Maumee Rapids, in Wood County, and named by him in honor of Governor Meigs, of Ohio. General Proctor with the British forces, and Tecumseh with the Indians, were defeated at the siege of Fort Meigs. The fort was of an oblong shape, with bastions and block-houses, with two transverses run- ning from one end to the other. It originally covered about 10 acres of ground, but through the action of the elements it rapidly disappeared.

Fort Miami was at the foot of the Maumee Rapids, seven miles from Fort Deposit, and stood on the northwestern bank of the Maumee, near where Maumee City now stands.

Fort Necessity was built June 22, 1812, by Colonel Findlay, on the road from Fort McArthur to Blanchard's Fork, and is situated near what is now the town of Dunkirk, in Hardin County.

Fort Findlay .- A block-house called Fort Findlay was built at Blanch- ard's Fork June 25, 1812.

Fort Ball was erected opposite the site of the present city of Tiffin, on the west bank of the Sandusky River. It was a small stockade with a ditch, occupying about one-third of an acre, and was used principally as a military depot.

CHAPTER II

COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY

Mercer County was erected April 1, 1820, by virtue of an act of the State Legislature for the erection of counties in Northwestern Ohio, which was passed February 12, 1820. This act provides that "all that part of lands lately ceded by the Indians to the United States, which lies within the State of Ohio, shall be and the same is hereby erected into fourteen separate and distinct counties, to be * named as follows: Van Wert, Mercer, Put- nam, Allen, Hancock, Hardin, Crawford, Richland, Seneca, Sandusky, Wood, Henry, Paulding and Williams." Mercer County, according to the provisions of this act, was to include all of ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4, south of Van Wert County to the northern boundaries of counties theretofore organized. The same act also provided that Van Wert and Mercer counties be attached to Darke County until otherwise ordered. Mercer County was subsequently detached, in 1824, and Van Wert, in October, 1837. Mercer County was organized by an act of the Legislature, dated January 2, 1824, Celina being named as the county seat. The county originally contained approximately 576 square miles of land, with 4 townships, but at present its area is 460 square miles, with 14 townships. The Legislature of 1849 carved out the county of Auglaize, and in so doing took a portion of Mercer County from the eastern side. Mercer County was partially compensated for this loss in area by hav- ing set over to it that part of Darke County lying north of its present northern boundary line and south of the old Indian boundary line. The county is bounded on the north by Van Wert County, on the east by Auglaize, on the south by Darke and on the west by the State of Indiana.

GEN. HUGH MERCER.

Mercer County was named in honor of Gen. Hugh Mercer, a distin- guished officer of the Revolution, who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1723 and educated in the university there, where he studied medicine. He

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served as surgeon's mate in the army of Prince Charles Edward, the hero of the civil war of 1745, in the battle of Culloden. In 1746 he came to America and settled. in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, within a few miles of the site of the present town of Mercersburg. In Braddock's expedition, in 1755, as lieutenant-colonel, he commanded a regiment of volunteers. He also took part in the expedition under Col. John Armstrong against Kittanning, 20 miles from Fort Du Quesne, serving under a commission as captain. Upon the capture of Fort Du Quesne by Gen. John Forbes, on November 25, 1758, Captain Mercer was placed in charge with 280 men. He made immediate provision for the securing of that post, which had cost so much blood and

GEN. HUGH MERCER

treasure. A small fortification was thrown up on the bank of the Mononga- hela and named Fort Pitt in honor of the English minister. Col. Hugh Mer- cer was its first commandant. In the Revolutionary struggle he was com- missioned brigadier-general by Congress and took a prominent part until he was mortally wounded on the battle-field of Princeton, January 3, 1777, dy- ing 10 days later. He was buried at Princeton, but his body was afterwards brought to Philadelphia and buried in Christ Churchyard. On November 26, 1840, his remains were disinterred and removed with appropriate honor to the Laurel Hill Cemetery, where a monument was erected by the St. Andrew Society.

POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.

These consist of the 14 townships, viz., Black Creek, Dublin, Union, Center, Jefferson, Franklin, Marion, Granville, Gibson, Recovery, Washing- ton, Liberty, Hopewell and Butler. Of these, Liberty, Black Creek, Dublin, Washington and Union are regularly bounded as congressional townships,

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

six miles square, each containing an area of 36 square miles. The other townships are of different areas, each containing less than a regular township except Marion, which is over large and somewhat disturbed as to sections, as are also Granville, Gibson and Recovery townships, by the course of the old Greenville treaty boundary line. The townships themselves, and the villages within their borders, will be found appropriately treated under the head of "Townships."

WATER COURSES.

The St. Mary's River rises in Auglaize County, passes Mendon in Union township, Rockford in Dublin township, and'thence flows through the north- east corner of Black Creek township into Van Wert County.

The Wabash River rises in the "hog prairie," about four miles south of Fort Recovery, on the county line between Mercer and Darke counties. Thence it flows east through the Cranberry Swamp in Granville township, through the south side of Recovery township, passes by Fort Recovery, thence meandering east of north through Washington township, thence west through the southwest corner of Liberty township into the State of Indiana.

Big Beaver Creek rises in Marion township, flows north through Frank- lin township to Montezuma, through the western part of the Grand Reser- voir at Celina, due west through the northwest corner of Washington town- ship into the south-central part of Liberty township, and there connects with the Wabash River.

Little Beaver Creek rises southwest of Philothea, and empties into the Big Beaver in section 6, Jefferson township.

NATURAL DRAINAGE.

The natural slope of the whole county is toward the north, and the small streams which take their rise between the ridges run uniformly in that direc- tion. Encountering the ridges, they unite to form one stream along the upper or outer side of each ridge, which then flows diagonally across the general slope toward the west or northwest, following the direction of these barriers. Thus the small streams which form the Wabash rise in Darke County or the extreme southern part of Mercer, and run north till they meet the St. John's Ridge, when they are diverted westward. Before the Wabash leaves the county, it crosses this barrier near Fort Recovery, owing, probably, to the very gravelly character and the rolling surface of the drift prevailing in that section, and then follows the natural, direct descent till it meets the Wabash Ridge. This it is not able to pass, but follows it into Indiana. It finally is carried in this way over the great watershed; or, rather, the great

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watershed verges so far north as to appear on the other side of this ridge, allowing the Wabash to join the Ohio toward the south. A number of other streams of Mercer County are in" the same way diverted westward by the Wabash Ridge. On the north of this ridge, the streams have a northerly direction to their union with the St. Mary's, when, with it, they are carried along the southern side of the St. Mary's Ridge till, meeting the St. Joseph, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, their united waters have succeeded in passing the ridge.

SURFACE FEATURES AND SOIL. -

The surface of the whole county is a continuous plain, without undula- tions worthy of mention. The northern part of the county finds drainage through the St. Mary's River, while the central and southern part finds a watershed through the Grand Reservoir (now called "Lake Mercer" by the citizens of Celina ) and its outlet, Big Beaver Creek, this stream flowing west- ward until it enters the Wabash River near the Indiana line. The changes of level in general are due to the inclination of the rocky floor beneath. Gentle undulations and local changes of level are, however, due to the con- dition of the drift deposit. In no county of Northwestern Ohio has that dependence been seen more perfectly exemplified. The whole county is under-) lain by the same member of the Silurian age, except a small area in the north- eastern corner, which does not offer such differences of character as to per- mit unequal erosion by the great glacier. Yet there may be seen crossing the county three successive ridges, or belts of thickening of the drift deposit, which rise from 10 to 25 or 30 feet above the general level. It is only neces- sary to say at this place that they are believed to be glacial moraines, marking periodical resting-places in the retreat of the glacier, which was prolonged southwestward from the great St. Lawrence Valley. In crossing these ridges in a southerly direction, the face of the country is seen to change, not uniformly, but by successive stages, marked by the location of the ridges. That part of the county north of the St. Mary's Ridge is flat, and has a close. often damp, clay soil. That portion between the Wabash and the St. Mary's ridges is also flat, but is characterized by several prairie tracts. It shows very rarely any gravel in the soil or stones on the surface. It is also, strictly, a portion of the Black Swamp, and has all its features. Between the Wabash and the St. John's ridges, the surface has a very noticeably rolling contour, although with some flats. The soil is sometimes gravelly. The color of the clay is somewhat lighter, and in general it is more easily subjected to per- fect artificial drainage. That portion of the county south of the St. John's Ridge is still more gravelly and rolling.

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE.

The only rock seen in outcrop within the limits of Mercer County be- longs to the Guelph phase of the Niagara. These exposures, however, ex- tend over the entire length of the county from north to south, and there can be but little doubt that that rock underlies the greater part of the county. It has not been seen in the eastern portion. Near Fort Recovery, section '19, it is slightly worked and burned for quicklime, and also in Jefferson town- ship, about six miles west of Celina, it is worked and burned for lime. In the case of the lime burned at Fort Recovery the stone is taken from the bed of the Wabash River; while in Jefferson township it is taken from the bed of Big Beaver Creek. It is porous and fossiliferous, in beds of three to six inches. It is generally of a light blue color with spots of a darker blue, weathering buff or white. It makes a white lime of great quickness and strength. The Niagara is again seen in the Wabash, the northwest quarter of section 33, Washington township, and near the same place at the junction of the Totti Creek with the Wabash. It appears again in the Wabash, the northwest quarter of section 22, of the same township. It is also said to have been formerly taken from the Wabash at Monterey for quicklime. In sections 7 and 8, Jefferson township, the Niagara rises near the surface of the drift and is seen in a number of exposures. The stone is here similar to that seen in the Wabash at Fort Recovery. The beds are about three inches in thickness, lenticular, vesicular, fossiliferous, rapidly rusting with peroxide of iron. It finally weathers a light buff. Exposure, about three deep; dip, undistinguishable. On the southwest quarter of section 8, a quarry was opened to the depth of about four feet. On the northwest quarter of section 8, was a quarry in the same beds. The dip is here unmistakable, and about eight degrees to the southwest. The beds are here exposed to the depth of about nine feet, without showing much variation. In the State sur- vey of the Wabash for ditching purposes, the surveyor reports rock struck at 13 different places, in all cases but one covered with alluvium or drift, sometimes to the depth of II feet. As an instance, the fact may be cited that three miles west of Celina lime rock is found almost on a level with the sur- rounding country, yet in the town of Celina and east of it the drift has been penetrated to depth varying from 70 to 80 feet without reaching the under- lying rock. It is said to have a dip to the south. On the northeast quarter of section 32, Liberty township, they have taken stone from the bed of the Wabash. Near the State line they have quarries in the valley of the Wabash, on opposite sides of the stream. It is here of the same character as already described, and belongs to the Guelph phase of the Niagara. This character of the formation prevails as far west at least as New Corydon, in Jay County, Indiana, where it is quarried and burned for lime. It is also met at

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Wilshire, in Van Wert County, where they have burned lime and taken out stone for foundations from the bed of the St. Mary's and of a small stream tributary to it. The dip here can not be made out with certainty. It is a porous and fossiliferous rock, in beds of about three inches, of a light blue color when freshly broken, but which soon weathers buff. On section 8, Dublin township, within the limits of the Godfrey Indian Reserve, a quarry in the river bottoms of the St. Mary's discloses the same character of the Niagara. Pieces which were gathered near the opening are porous, and bleached nearly white. This stone here affords a quicklime of superior quality. Stone was formerly taken from the bed of the St. Mary's River at Mendon. It is believed to be the same as at Rockford.

The Drift .- The characters of this deposit are such as prevail through- out the Black Swamp generally, although much of the southern part of the county is more broken and gravelly. Its chief constituent is clay, which, below 10 or 12 feet, is blue, but to that depth is of a yellowish or light brown color. The original color of the whole was probably blue, the brown or yellow colors being due to oxidation from above. No distinct, constant char- acters, or line of demarcation separating the brown from the blue, indicative of different or successive origins or depositions, have been seen in the county, nor in Northwestern Ohio. On the contrary, the colors have been seen to gradually fade into each other in a great many instances. This clay is usually a compact, unstratified mass, impervious to water and embracing stones and bowlders of all sizes up to several tons weight. At Mercer, in Dublin township, and throughout a radius of four or five miles, it acts as a confining stratum for a number of artesian wells, which flow from the sand at the depth of 35 to 40 feet, the water rising from five to eight feet above the surface. Such wells may be seen near Celina, on the north side of the Big Beaver Creek. It has afforded a great number of bowlders of the Lower Corniferous, some of which have been worked into stone for building. They are met near the surface in ploughing the field. One was worked up on the land of Mr. Petre, which furnished eight of ten wagon-loads of good blocks, suitable for common building purposes. The ridges which cross the county consist of gravel and sand in glacial stratification, usually overspread by a few feet of this clay. The thickness of the drift cannot be stated. A well at Rockford was in the blue clay, at a depth of 60 feet, without water.

MATERIAL RESOURCES.

The soil of Mercer County will necessarily always be the source of its greatest material wealth. It will, however, reach its highest development and yield its greatest revenue only when it has been subjected to thorough artificial drainage, and to careful and skillful tillage. The forest that once

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

covered the soil is now cleared, and beautiful farms dot the county from one end to the other, well drained and in a high state of cultivation; the buildings are of modern structure, up to date in every particular.

THE GRAND RESERVOIR OR LAKE MERCER.

It has been claimed for this reservoir, which supplies the St. Mary's feeder of the Miami Extension Canal ( from which it is situated three miles west), that it is the largest artificial lake on the globe. It is nine miles long, from three to five miles in width, covers an area of 17,600 acres of ground and has an average depth of 10 feet. It is bounded on the north by Jeffer- son township, on the south by Franklin township, on the west by Butler town- ship, Mercer County, and on the east by Auglaize County. One-third of the reservoir is in Auglaize County, and the remaining two-thirds in Mercer County, its western end being in the corporate limits of Celina, the county seat of Mercer County.

The reservoir was commenced in 1837 and completed in 1845, at an expense of $600,000. The west embankment was completed in 1843. The water filled in at the upper end to the depth of several feet, but, as the ground rose gradually to the east, it overflowed for several miles to the depth of a few inches only. The inhabitants, to the number of about 150, fearing that this vast body of water, exposed to the rays of the sun, would, if allowed to remain, produce disease, with spades and shovels made a passage for the water through the enbankment. It cost several thousand dollars to repair it.

From the Mercer County Standard, of April, 1871, we learn the follow- ing facts with regard to Lake Mercer :

"Long before the location of this reservoir, several adventurers bought and settled within the prairie, now forming the reservoir. Among these were Thomas and Joseph Coate, Messrs. Mellinger, Large, Hugh, Miller and others, all on the south side. On the north side were Messrs. Sunday, Crock- ett, Bradley, Judge Linzee, Hollingsworth, Nicholls, Gipson, Hull, Kompf, Pratt and Rev. Asa Steams, all good and true men, and noble specimens of the frontier.

"Mr. Mitchell, an engineer, in 1830 ran the first line around the reser- voir, and Samuel Farrer was the commissioner, who reported to the General Assembly, after they had examined the bank, that it would cost $90,000. Subsequently, in 1837, it was again run by Messrs. Barney and Farrer, com- passing a circumference of 18,000 acres. In the same year all the timber outside the prairie was let for deadening, which was done by the contractors of the several locations. When the left bank was let to Messrs. Giddings, Stepson and Hottsbecker, it was let from a point south of Celina, a distance of 120 rods, at 37 cents per entire yard, and was to be wharfed with good

AUDITORIUM, CHAUTAUQUA GROUNDS. CELINA

SCENE ON MERCER COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS

BOULEVARD ALONG LAKE MERCER ( A public drive of over four miles )

A PIONEER HOME, MERCER COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS ( Erected and owned by Mercer County Pioneer Association)

57.

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white oak planks, two inches thick. Henry L. Johnson, late sheriff of Mercer County, sawed the lumber.

"Justin Hamilton, the member of the Legislature from this county, in- troduced a resolution into that body, which was adopted unanimously, declar- ing, 'that no water should be let into the reservoir before the same should be cleared of timber and the parties paid for this land.' An appropriation of $20,000 was made by the Legislature to pay the owners of the land, but it was squandered by the officers and land speculators.

"When the banks were finished and the water let in, it submerged all but one acre for Mr. Sunday with 34 acres of wheat, 15 for Mrs. Crockett, the whole of Thomas Coate's land, 60 acres with several thousand rails for Judge Holt, of Dayton, who owned a farm two miles east of Celina, 19 acres of Judge Linzee, nearly 40 acres of Abraham Pratt, with all the rails thereto belonging, and the whole of Mellinger's farm except a few acres around the house, besides great damage to others on the south side.

"This outrage on the part of the officers of the State was too much to be borne by the people of Mercer County. Wars have been proclaimed on less pretenses. America declared her independence, and refused to pay a small tax on her tea, which of itself was not oppressive, but it was oppressive in principle, and the people would not be taxed without the consent of their own Legislature. Mercer County followed the example and declared she would not be imposed upon by the authorities of Ohio.

"On May 3, 1843, a meeting was held in Celina, Samuel Ruckman (county commissioner) acting as president. It was unanimously resolved that Benjamin Linzee, Esq., should go to Piqua, the headquarters of the Board of Public Works, and lay their grievances, with an address, before them.' Mr. Linzee, having performed his duty, Messrs. Spencer and Ramsey returned the sneering answer, 'Help yourself, if you can.'

"On May 12th the meeting requested Mr. Linzee to return to Piqua with the answer, that if they did not pay for the land and let off the water, they would cut the bank on the 15th. The reply came back, 'The Piqua Guards will be with you and rout you on that day.' When this response was heard by the people, the muttering around the reservoir was not only loud but deep-every person was excited.

"On the morning of the 15th, by seven o'clock, more than 100 citizens, with shovels, spades and wheelbarrows, were on the spot ready for work. The place selected was the strongest on the bank in the old Beaver channel. The object of the people was not to damage the State, and the dirt was wheeled back on the bank on each side. It employed the men one day and a half before the cutting was complete, and was dug six feet below the level of the water, and a flimsy breastwork was made to hold the water back.

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

VIEW ON THE GRAND RESERVOIR IN 1846. (DRAWN BY HENRY HOWE) From Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio."

When the tools were taken out and all was ready, Samuel Ruckman said, 'Who will start the water?' 'I,' said John Sunday; 'I,' said Henry Linzee; and in a moment the meandering waters were hurtling down 50 yards below the bank. It was six weeks before the water subsided.

"As soon as this was known at headquarters, warrants were issued for the arrest of all who were engaged in the work. Thirty-four of the leaders, comprising all the county officers, judges, sheriff, clerk, auditor, treasurer, deputy treasurer, recorder and surveyor, with merchants, farmers and private citizens, were all arrested and bound over to the next term of court. The grand jury refused to find a bill of misdemeanor, and so the matter ended. It cost the State $17,000 to repair the damages.

"We add the names of those who resisted the oppressive movements of the State in cutting the west bank of the reservoir: Judge Robert Linzee, J. S. Houston, surveyor ; Frank Linzee, clerk of the court; Joseph Carlin, sheriff ; Frederick Schroeder, auditor ; L. D. McMahon, recorder; B. Linzee, deputy treasurer ; Samuel Ruckman, commissioner ; H. Trenary, B. Mowery, Porter Pratt, Elias Miller, M. D. Smith, Mr. Allen (tavern keeper), Eli Dennison, John Sunday and all his family, the Crockett boys, Thomas and Joseph Coate, Britton and son, Abm. Miller, Dr. Beauchamp ( from Monte- zuma), Matthew, Frank, Gray, Ellis, and Hugh Miller, with a hundred others who came through curiosity or some other purpose."

In years past Lake Mercer furnished fish of almost every variety and was the source of a considerable revenue to those who dwelt on its banks, for many thousand barrels of fish, caught in its waters, were shipped to mar- kets many miles distant, always meeting with a ready sale. At the present time, the fish are nearly all gone, but the Game and Fish Commission of the

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History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 5

Author: Scranton, S. S Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 786

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786