USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 5
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SALT SECTIONS.
In the early history of the Northwest Territory salt was a commodity hard to secure and necessarily high in price. Congress reserved every place where it was thought salt could be obtained and in this way helped the settlers to get salt at least expense. In Ohio an entire township within the present county of Jackson was reserved, as well as about four thousand acres in Delaware county. In 1824 Congress relinquished its claim in favor of Ohio.
THE ZANE SECTIONS.
Ebenezer Zane, one of the most prominent of the men in the early his- tory of the state, was granted three sections by Congress in 1796 in return for his services in opening a road from Wheeling to Maysville. These three sections were located at Zanesville, Chillicothe and Lancaster. Isaac Zane was granted three sections in Champaign county by Congress for valuable service to the colonies during the Revolution. Isaac Zane had been cap- tured by the Indians when a small boy and spent the major portion of his life with them, and his influence with the Indians was such that he proved to be of great assistance to the colonies in handling them.
THE MINISTERIAL LANDS.
These lands have been previously mentioned and were reserved only in two grants, those of the Ohio Land Company and the Symmes Purchase.
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The grants to both set aside section twenty-nine of each township for religious purposes.
SCHOOL SECTIONS.
Provisions for public schools were made in all states created by the United States after the adoption of the constitution. The Ordinance of 1787 had made specific mention of the value of schools and a wise Congress set aside section sixteen of every township, which was surveyed into town- ships six miles square. The United States military lands were surveyed into. townships, five miles square, but Congress reserved one thirty-sixth of the whole area for school purposes. There are no reservations in the Connecti- cut Reserve and Virginia Military District for school purposes, but Congress made up for this by setting aside an amount equivalent to one thirty-sixth of the area in each tract from other lands belonging to the United States. As a matter of fact, one thirty-sixth of the whole state was reserved for school purposes as well as three townships for universities.
OHIO POLITICS.
The politics .of Ohio presents many interesting features, but this brief summary can do little more than indicate the more important landmarks in the political history of the state. The first governor of the Northwest Terri- tory, Arthur St. Clair, was an ardent Federalist and undoubtedly his pro- nounced political views had something to do with his removal from the office on November 22, 1802. From that time until 1836 the Democratic party, or the Republican or Democratic-Republican, as it was at first called, controlled the state, and it was not until William Henry Harrison, a "favorite son," became a candidate for the presidency, that the Whigs were able to break the strength of the Democratic party of the state. In 1836, 1840 and 1844 the Whigs carried the state for the President. The panic of 1837, the popularity of Harrison and the Texas question were largely determining factors in the success of the Whigs. The Democrats regained sufficient power in 1848 to carry the state again, and repeated their victory in 1852. In 1856 John C. Fremont carried the state for the newly organized Republican party and since that year there has been only one Democratic electoral vote in the state of Ohio. In 1892 Grover Cleveland received one of Ohio's twenty- three electoral votes, but with this exception the state has cast a solid Republican vote for President every year since 1856. Ohio has furnished five Presidents of the United States : William Henry Harrison, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, William Mckinley and William H. Taft.
PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
years of their tenure and their politics, is given at this point for reference : large majorities. A complete list of the governors of the state, with the it has had eight Democratic governors and has frequently elected them by While the state has been registering Republican votes for the President,
Democratic-Rep. Democratic-Rep. Democratic-Rep. Democratic-Rep. Democratic-Ret: Democratic-Rep. Democratic-Rep. Democratic-Rep. Politics
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Whig Democrat National Republican
Democrat
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Democrat
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Republican
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Republican Republican
Republican Democrat
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Tenure.
18II-14 1809-11 1807-09 1803-07
1822-23 1819-22 1815-19 1814-15
1823-27
1827-31
1831-33
1833-37
1837-39
1839-4I
1841-43
1843-44
1844-45
1845-47
1847-49
1849-5I
1851-53
1853-56 1856-60
I862-64 I860-62
1864-65
1 865-66
1 866-68 1868-72
1872-74
1874-76
1876-77
1877-78
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Robert Lucas
Wilson Shannon Joseph Vance
Thomas Corwin
Wilson Shannon
Thomas W. Bartley (acting)
Mordecai Bartley
Seabury Ford William Bebb
William Medill (acting, 1853) Reuben Wood
Charles Anderson (acting) John Brough David Tod William Dennison, Jr. Salmon P. Chase
Rutherford B. Hayes Jacob D. Cox
Edward F. Noyes
Thomas L. Young Rutherford B. Hayes William Allen
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Duncan McArthur Allen Trimble Jeremiah Morrow Allen Trimble (acting) Ethan Allen Brown Thomas Worthington Othniel Looker (acting) Return Jonathan Meigs Samuel Huntington Thomas Kirker (acting) Edward Tiffin Governor.
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Governor.
Tenure.
Politics.
Richard M. Bishop
1878-80
Democrat
Charles Foster
I 880-84
Republican
George Hoadley
I884-86
1 Democrat
Joseph Benson Foraker
1886-90
Republican
James E. Campbell
1890-92
William Mckinley
1892-96
Republican
Asa S. Bushnell
1896-00
Republican
George K. Nash
1900-04
1 Republican
Myron T. Herrick
1904-06
1 1 Republican
John M. Patterson (died in office)
1906
1 Democrat
Andrew Litner Harris
1906-09
Republican
Judson Harmon
_1909-13
Democrat
James M. Cox
1913-15
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Frank B. Willis
1915 --
Republican
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The political history of Ohio can not be dismissed without reference to the amendments incorporated in the new constitution in 1912 which have made the constitution practically a new instrument of government. The general tendency of the thirty-three amendments is to make a freer expression of democracy through the medium of the initiative and referendum, direct pri- maries and home rule for cities. A workmen's compensation law was enacted which provides for compulsory contributions to an insurance fund by the employers of the state. Many changes were made in providing for improve- ments in social and industrial conditions. Ohio now has a constitution which is sufficiently flexible to allow changes to be made by amendment with- out the trouble of a constitutional convention.
BOUNDARY LINES.
The state boundaries of Ohio have been the cause for most animated discussions, not only in regard to state limits but county and township lines as well. In 1817, and again in 1834, a severe controversy arose over the boundary between Ohio and Michigan which was settled only after violent demonstrations and government interference.
In primitive times the geographical position, extent and surface diversi- ties were but meagerly comprehended. In truth, it may be asserted they could not have been more at variance with actual facts had they been laid out "haphazard." The Ordinance of 1787 represented Lake Michigan far north
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
of its real position, and even as late as 1812 its size and location had not been definitely ascertained. During that year Amos Spafford addressed a clear, comprehensive letter to the governor of Ohio relative to the boundary lines between Michigan and Ohio. Several lines of survey were laid out as the first course, but either Michigan or Ohio expressed disapproval in every case. This dispute came to a climax in 1835 when the party beginning a "perma- nent" survey began at the northwest corner of the state and was attacked by a force of Michigan settlers who sent them away badly routed and beaten. No effort was made to return to the work until the state and various parties had weighed the subject, and finally the interposition of the government became necessary. A settlement resulted in the establishment of the present boundary line between the two states, Michigan being pacified with the grant of a large tract in the northern peninsula.
Ohio is situated between the 38° 25' and 42" north latitude, and 80° 30' and 84° 50' west longitude from Greenwich, or 3º 30' and 7" 50' west from Washington. From north to south it extends over two hundred and ten miles, and from east to west two hundred and twenty miles-com- prising thirty-nine thousand nine hundred and sixty-four square miles.
The state is generally higher than the Ohio river. In the southern counties the surface is greatly diversified by the inequalities produced by the excavating power of the Ohio river and its tributaries. The greater por- tion of the state was originally covered with timber, although in the central and northwestern sections some prairies were found. The crest or watershed between the waters of Lake Erie and those of the Ohio is less elevated than in New York or Pennsylvania. Sailing upon the Ohio the country appears to be mountainous, bluffs rising to the height of two hundred and fifty to six hundred feet above the bed of the river. Ascending the tributaries of the Ohio, these precipitous hills gradually lessen until they are resolved into gentle undulations and toward the sources of these streams the land becomes low and level.
Although Ohio has no inland lakes of importance, it possesses a favor- able river system which gives the state a convenient water transportation. The lake on the northern boundary, and the Ohio river on the south afford convenient outlets by water to important points. The means of communica- tion and transportation are superior in every respect, and are constantly being increased by railroad and electric lines.
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ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES AND EARLY EVENTS.
Adams county was named in honor of John Adams, the second Presi- dent of the United States. Governor St. Clair proclaimed it a county on July 10, 1797. The Virginia Military Tract included this section, and the first settlement made within its boundaries was in this county in 1790-91, between the Scioto and Little Miami, at Manchester, by Gen. Nathaniel Massie. In this town was held the first court of the county. West Union, the present county seat, was laid out by the Honorable Thomas Kirker. It occupies the summit of a high ridge. The surface of this county is hilly and broken, and the eastern part is not fertile. It produces corn, wheat and oats. Its hills are composed of aluminous shale.
Ashland county, one of the finest agricultural sections, was formed February 26, 1846. Wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, grass and fruit are raised. Ashland is its county seat and was laid out by William Montgomery in 1816. It was called Uniontown for several years. Daniel Carter raised the first cabin within the county limits in 181 I.
Auglaize county was formed in February, 1848, from Allen and Mercer counties. Wapakoneta is its county seat. Auglaize is a great agricultural county, producing all the kinds of grain raised in Ohio.
Allen county was formed from the Indian territory April 1, 1820. Lima is its county seat. In Allen county are some of the greatest gas and oil fields in the United States, and the section is also very rich in agriculture.
Ashtabula county was created June 7, 1807, and was organized January 22, 18II. The surface is level near the lake, while the remainder is undu- lating. The soil is mostly clay. This was the first county settled on the Western Reserve and also the earliest in northern Ohio. On the 4th of July, 1796, the first surveying party arrived at the mouth of Conneaut creek. Judge James Kingsbury was the first who wintered there with his family. He was the first man to use a sickle in the first wheat field in the Western Re- serve. Their child was the first born on the Western Reserve and was starved to death. The first regular settlement was at Harpersfield in 1798. Jefferson is the county seat. Ashtabula is pleasantly situated on the river, with a fine harbor two and a half miles from the village. The first church on the Western Reserve was founded at Austinburg in 1801.
Athens county was formed from Washington March 1, 1805. It pro- duces wheat, corn, oats and tobacco. The surface is hilly and broken, with rich bottom lands between. Coal, iron ore and salt add materially to its com-
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mercial value. Athens, its county seat, is situated on the Hocking river. Ohio University, the first college founded in the state, is located here.
Brown county was formed March I, 1818, from Adams and Clermont. It produces wheat, corn, rye and oats. The southern part is prolific in grain, while the northern is adapted to grazing purposes. The surface is undulating, with the exception of the Ohio river hills. Over this county Tecumseh once held sway. Georgetown, the county seat, was laid out in 1819. Ripley is- the largest business town in the county.
Belmont county was created by Governor St. Clair September 7, 1801. It produces large crops of wheat, oats, corn and tobacco. It is a picturesque tract of country, and was one of the pioneers in the early settled portions. In 1790 Fort Dillie was erected on the west side of the Ohio. Baker's Fort was a mile below the mouth of the Captina. Many desperate Indian battles were fought within the limits of this county, and the famous Indian scout, Lewis Wetzel, roamed over the region. Saint Clairsville is the county seat, situated on the elevation of land, in a fertile district. Captain Kirkwood and Eliza- beth Zane, of historic fame, were early pioneers here.
Butler county was formed in 1803 from Hamilton. It is within the blue limestone formation, and one of the most fertile sections of Ohio. Ham- ilton, the county seat, is situated on the Great Miami. Its hydraulic works furnish superior water power. Rossville, on the opposite side of the Miami, is a large mercantile town. St. Clair passed through this county on his Indian campaigns in 1791, building Fort Hamilton on the Miami.
Champaign county was formed March 1, 1805, from Greene and Frank- lin. It is drained by Mad river and its tributaries. The soil is fertile, and produces wheat, corn, barley, hay, while beef and wool add to the general wealth. Urbana, the county seat, was laid out in 1805, by Col. William Ward. He was the chief owner of the land and donated many lots to the county under condition that their proceeds be devoted to public improvements. Joseph Vance and George Fithian were the first settlers. The Methodists built the first church in 1807. The main army of Hull concentrated at this point before setting out for Detroit. Many Indian councils were called here and Tecumseh was located for a time near Deer creek.
Carroll county was formed from Columbiana in 1832-33. It produces wheat, oats and corn, and valuable coal and iron. The surface is hilly. Car- rollton is its county seat.
Clark county was formed March 1, 1817, from Champaign, Madison and Green. Its second settlement was at Kreb's Station in 1796. It is highly cultivated, well watered and very fertile. Tecumseh, the old Indian
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PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO.
warrior, was born at the ancient Indian village of Piqua, on the Mad river on the site of New Boston. Piqua was destroyed by Gen. George Rogers Clark. Skeletons, beads, gun barrels, tomahawks, kettles, etc., have been found in the vicinity. Springfield, the county seat, is situated on the national road. It has convenient transportation facilities, is handsomely laid out, and is noted for its cultured citizens. It is near Mad river and Buck creek runs through it.
Clinton county was formed in 1810. Its surface is undulating, in some parts hilly, and the soil fertile. The county was settled in 1798-99. Wil- mington is the county seat, and was laid out in 1810. The first log house was built by William Hobsin. Clinton county is rich in agriculture and is noted for its macadamized roads.
Clermont county was the eighth formed in the Northwest Territory by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, December 9, 1800. The soil is exceed- ingly rich, and the surface is broken and, near the Ohio, hilly. Wheat, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, tobacco, barley, buckwheat and rye form the main crops. Batavia, its county seat, is situated on the Little Miami river and was laid out in 1820 by George Ely.
Columbiana county was formed March 25, 1803, from Jefferson and Washington. Its soil is very fertile, producing wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. It is wealthy in mineral deposits, coal, iron ore, lime and freestone being abundant. Its water-lime stone is of superior quality. It was settled in 1797. Lisbon is the county seat. The first paper mill in Ohio was erected in this county, on Little Beaver creek, by John Coulter and John Bever.
Coshocton county was organized April 1, 1811. Hills and valleys alter- nate along the Muskingum river. Coal and iron ore add to its general im- portance. Coshocton, the county seat, is built on four wide, natural terraces, at the junction of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding.
Cuyahoga county was formed June 7, 1807, from Geauga county. Near the lake the soil is sandy, while a clayey loam may be found elsewhere. As early as 1775 there was a French settlement within the boundaries of Cuya- hoga. In 1786 a Moravian missionary came to the present site of Cleve- land and settled in an abandoned village of the Ottawas. Circumstances pre- vented a permanent settlement, and the British tacitly took possession, even remaining upon the lake shores after the Revolution. The first permanent settlement was made at Cleveland in 1796. Job V. Stiles and family and Edward Paine passed the first winter there, their log cabin standing where the Commercial Bank is now located. Rodolphus Edwards and Na- thaniel Doane settled here. In 1813 the town was a depot of supplies and a
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rendezvous for troops engaged in the war. Cleveland, the county seat, is situated at the northern termination of the Old Ohio canal on the lake shore. In 1814 it was incorporated as a village, and in 1836 as a city. Its elevation is about a hundred feet above the lake. Ohio City is another important town nearly opposite Cleveland on the Cuyahoga. It was incorporated in 1836.
Crawford county was formed April 1, 1820, from the old Indian Terri- tory. The entire county is adapted to grazing. The soil is generally com- posed of rich vegetable loam and in some parts the subsoil is clay mixed with lime. Rich beds of shell marl have been discovered. Bucyrus, the county seat, was laid out February II, 1822, by Samuel Norton and James Kil- bourn, original owners of the land. The first settler in the town proper was Samuel Norton. Crawford's sulphur springs are located nine miles from Bucyrus. The water is impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen and deposits a reddish-purple sediment. In its nature the water is a cathartic, and is diuretic and diaphoretic in its effect. The Annapolis Sulphur Springs is clear and has gained considerable fame by its curative qualities. Opposite Bucyrus is a chalybeate spring of tonic qualities.
Darke county was organized in March, 1817, from Miami county. In this county occurred the lamentable defeat of St. Clair, and the treaty of Greenville. Greenville, the county seat, was laid out August 10, 1808, by Robert Gray and John Dover. In December, 1793, Wayne built Fort Green- ville on this spot, which covered about the same extent as the present town.
Delaware county was formed February 10, 1808, from Franklin. Dela- ware, the county seat, was laid out in the spring of 1808, by Moses Byxbe. Because of its rich soil, Delaware is an important agricultural county. The historic streams, the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, run through the county a long distance.
Defiance county was created March 4, 1845, from Williams, Henry and Paulding. The Maumee, Tiffin and Auglaize flow through it. The county is now one of the largest producers of sugar beets in Ohio. Defiance, the county seat, is situated on the Maumee. It was laid out in 1822 by B. Level and H. Phillips. A large Indian settlement occupied its site in very early times. Wayne arrived here August 8, 1794, captured the place, finding about one thousand acres of corn, peach and apple orchards and vegetables of all varieties. Here he built Fort Defiance.
Erie county was formed in 1838 from Huron and Sandusky. The soil is alluvial and yields large crops of wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. It pos- sesses inexhaustible quarries of limestone and freestone. The Erie tribe is said to have once occupied the land and were extirpated by the Iroquois. As
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early as 1754, the French had built settlements here. In 1764 the county was overrun by Pontiac, who came here with warlike demonstrations, but made peace with the whites. Erie was included in the "Fire lands" of the Western Reserve. Sandusky City is the county seat and was laid out in 1817, then termed Portland. At that time it contained two log huts. The town is finely situated and is based upon an inexhaustible quarry of the finest limestone. In the "patriot war" with the Canadians, this city was the rendezvous for the "patriots."
Franklin county was formed April 30, 1803, from Ross. It was in early times occupied by the Wyandot Indians. Its first white settlement was made in 1797 by Robert Armstrong and others. Franklinton was laid out in 1797 by Lucas Sullivant. Worthington was settled by the Scioto Company in 1801. Colonel Kilbourn, who was interested in the work, constructed the first map of Ohio during his exploration by uniting sectional diagrams. Columbus, the capital of the state, is also the county seat of Franklin county. In 1810 the sessions of the Legislature were held at Chillicothe, in 1811 and 1812 at Zanesville, removing again to Chillicothe, and in 1816, being located at Columbus. The town was laid out during the spring of 1812. A penitentiary was erected in 1813 and the state house was built in 1814. It was incorpor- ated as "the borough of Columbus" February 10, 1816. The city charter was granted March 3, 1834. It is beautifully located on the east bank of the Scioto. The Ohio Lunatic Asylum, the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Blind and the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb are located at Columbus.
Fairfield county was formed by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, December 9, 1800. The soil is varied, being in some parts exceedingly rich, and in others very sterile. Lancaster, the county seat, was laid out by Ebenezer Zane in 1800. In 1797 he opened the road known as "Zane's Trace," from Wheeling to Limestone-now Maysville. It passed through Lancaster at a fording about three hundred yards below the present turnpike bridge.
Fayette county was formed from Ross and Highland in 1810. Wash- ington, its county seat, was laid out in 1810. Colonel Stewart was active in the interests of this section and his memory is sacredly revered. Jesse Milli- kan was prominent in early public affairs. Fayette is one of the richest agri- cultural counties in the state and is especially noted for the raising of fine horses.
Fulton county, bordering on Michigan, was organized in 1850. It is 5
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drained by Bean creek and other small affluents of the Maumee river. The surface is nearly level and the soil fertile. Wauseon is the county seat.
Guernsey county was organized in March, 1810. It produces wheat, corn and oats. Cambridge is the county seat and was laid out in June, 1806. Mr. Graham was the first settler on the site of the town and his was the only dwelling between Lancaster and Wheeling. The first cannel coal found in the county was discovered near Mill's creek.
Greene county was formed May 1, 1803, from Hamilton and Ross. It produces wheat, corn, rye, grass seed, oats, barley, sheep and swine. The Shawnee town was on the Little Miami and was visited by Capt. Thomas Bullitt in 1773. When Daniel Boone was captured in 1778, he was brought to this town and escaped the following year. General Clark invaded this county and the Indians reduced the town to ashes. Xenia, the county seat, was laid off in the forest in 1803 by Joseph C. Vance. The first cabin was erected in April, 1804, by John Marshall. The Rev. James Fowler built the first hewed-log cabin. David A. Sanders, built the first frame house. Nine miles north of the town on the Little Miami river are the Yellow Springs, which are impregnated with sulphur.
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