USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 6
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Geauga county was formed in 1805 from Trumbull. It is situated at the head of Chargrine, Cuyahoga and a part of Grand rivers, on high ground and is subjected to snow storms more frequently than any other part of the reserve. Its first settlement was made in 1798 at Burton. Chardon is four- teen miles from Lake Erie and is six hundred feet above it. It was laid out as the county seat in 1808.
Gallia county was formed April 30, 1803, from Washington. The .sur- face is generally broken. Its first settlement was made in 1791 by a French colony at Gallipolis. This colony was sent out under the auspices of the- Scioto Company. This town is now the county seat.
Hamilton county was the second established in the Northwest Terri- tory by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, January 2, 1790. Its surface is generally rolling. It produces the ordinary farm products and a great variety of fruits and vegetables for the Cincinnati market. This county was the second settled in Ohio and the first within the Symmes Purchase. Settlers arrived at the spot now occupied by Cincinnati and three or four log cabins were erected. Gen. Arthur St. Clair arrived here in January, 1790. The army of Wayne encamped here later, at Fort Washington. Mr. Maxwell established, in 1793, the Sentinel of the Northwestern Territory, the first newspaper printed north of the Ohio river. In 1796 Edward Freeman be- came its proprietor and changed the name to Freeman's Journal. January
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II, 1794, two keel-boats sailed from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, making regu- lar trips every four weeks. In 1801 the first sea vessel built at Marietta came down the Ohio. Cincinnati, the county seat, was incorporated January 2, 1802. It was chartered as a city in 1819. The city is beautifully laid out and delightfully situated. Its public buildings are elegant and substantial, includ- ing the court house and many literary and charitable institutions.
Cincinnati is a large manufacturing city and possesses fine water-power facilities. It communicates with the world by means of the Ohio river, rail- ways and electric lines. North Bend is another prominent town in this county, having been the residence of Gen. William H. Harrison' and the site of his burial place. The town was of considerable importance in the early settlement of the state. About thirty yards from Harrison's tomb is the grave of Judge Symmes.
Hancock county was formed April 1, 1820. The surface is level and its soil is fertile. Blanchard's Fork waters the central and southern part of the county. Findlay, the county seat, was laid out by ex-Governor Joseph Vance and Elnathan Corry in 1821. It was relaid in 1829. William Vance settled there in the fall of 1821. Hancock county has extensive gas and oil fields.
Hardin county was formed April 1, 1820, from the old Indian Terri- tory. A portion of the surface is level and the remainder undulating. Fort McArthur was built on the Scioto river but proved a weak stockade. Kenton is the county seat, situated on the Scioto river.
Harrison county was formed from Jefferson and Tuscarawas, January I, 1814. The surface is hilly, abounding in coal and limestone. Its soil is clayey. In April, 1799, Alexander Henderson and family settled in this county, and at the same time Daniel Peterson and his family resided at the forks of Short creek. The early settlers were much annoyed by Indians and wild beasts. Cadiz is the county seat and was laid out in 1803 and 1804 by Messrs. Briggs and Beatty.
Henry county was formed from the old Indian Territory April 1, 1820. Indian corn, oats, potatoes and maple sugar constitute the main products. The county is well supplied with running streams and the soil is unusually rich. The soil is superior for grain. Fruit thrives and all varieties of vege- tables are produced in large quantities. Simon Girty, notorious for his wicked career, resided in this county. Girty led the attack on Fort Henry in September, 1777. He demanded the surrender of the fort, and menaced its inmates with an Indian massacre in case of refusal. The action began, but the fort gained the victory. He led a ferocious band of Indians and com-
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mitted the most fiendish atrocities. Napoleon, the county seat, is situated on the Maumee river.
Highland county was formed in May, 1805, from Ross, Adams and Clermont. It is a wealthy, productive county. Its first settlement began in 1801, at New Market by Oliver Ross, Robert Keeston, George W. Barrere, Bernard Weyer and others. Simon Kenton made a trace through this county in early times. Hillsboro is the county seat and was laid out in 1807 by David Hays on the land of Benjamin Ellicott. It is situated on the dividing ridge between the Miami and Scioto. The Hillsboro Academy was founded in 1827.
Hocking county was formed March 1, 1818, from Ross, Athens and Fairfield. Its surface is broken and hilly, but is level and fertile beside the streams. The Wyandots once occupied this tract and built a large town herein. In 1798 a few white families ventured to settle. Logan is its county seat and is situated on the Hocking river.
Holmes county was formed from Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne January 20, 1824. The southwestern portion is broken. Thomas Butler was the first settler in 1810. Millersburg is the county seat and was laid out in 1830. This is an excellent agricultural county.
Huron county was organized in 1815. Norwalk is the county seat.
Jackson county was organized March, 1816. The country is rich in minerals and abounds in coal and iron ore. Jackson, the county seat, was laid out in 1817. The old Scioto salt works were among the first worked in Ohio by the whites. Prior to this period the Indians came some distance to this section to make salt. When Daniel Boone was a prisoner he spent some time at these works.
Jefferson county was proclaimed by Governor St. Clair July 29, 1797, and was the fifth county established in Ohio. Its resources in coal are also extensive. The surface is hilly and the soil fertile, producing wheat, corn and oats. The old "Mingo" town was on the present farms of Jeremiah Hallock and Daniel Potter. The troops of Colonel Williamson ren- dezvoused at this point when they set out in their cruel Moravian campaign and also the troops of Colonel Crawford, when they started on the campaign against the Sandusky Indians. Here Logan, the powerful and manly chief of the Mingo nation, once resided. He took no active part in the old French war, which closed in 1760, except that of a peacemaker. He was a stanch friend of the whites until the abominable and unprovoked murder of his father, brother and sister, which occurred in 1774 near the Yellow creek. He then raised the battle cry and sought revenge.
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However, Logan was remarkably magnanimous toward prisoners who fell into his hands. The year 1793 was the last spent in Indian warfare in Jefferson county. Fort Steuben was erected on the present site of Steuben- ville, the county seat, in 1789. It was constructed of block-houses, with palisade fences and was dismantled during Wayne's campaign. Bezaleel Wells and Hon. James Ross laid the town out in 1798. It was incorporated February 14, 1805. It was situated upon an elevated plain. In 1814 Messrs. Wells and Dickerson built a woolen manufactory and introduced Merino sheep to the county.
Knox county was formed March 1, 1808, from Fairfield. It is drained by the Vernon river. Mount Vernon was laid out in 1805. The early settlers found two wells on the Vernon river built of hammered stone, neatly laid, and near by was a salt-lick. Their direct origin remains a mystery. Gilman Bryant, in 1807, opened the first store in Mount Vernon. The Indians came to Mount Vernon in large numbers for the purpose of trading in furs and cranberries. Each Saturday the settlers worked on the streets, extracting stumps and improving the highway. The first settler north of the place was N. M. Young, who built his cabin in 1803. Mount Vernon is now the county seat, beautifully situated on Vernon river. Kenyon College is located at Gambier. This institution was established under the auspices of Bishop Chase in July, 1826, in the center of a four-thousand-acre tract belonging to Kenyon College. It was chartered as a theological seminary.
Lucas county is of comparatively recent origin. This county is situated in the Maumee valley, which was the great arena of historical events. The frightful battle of Wayne's campaign, where the Indians found the British to be traitors, was fought near Fort Miami in this county. Maumee City was laid out in 1817 by Major William Oliver and others. It is situated on the Maumee at the head of navigation. The surface is one hundred feet above the water level. This town, with Perrysburg, its neighbor, is exceedingly picturesque and was in early times frequented by the Indians. The French had a trading post at this point in 1680, and in 1794 the British Fort Miami was built. Toledo, the county seat, is on the left bank of the Maumee and covers the site of a stockade fort, known as Fort Industry, erected in 1800. An Indian treaty was concluded here July 4, 1805, by which the Indians re- linquished all rights to the "fire lands." In 1832 Capt. Samuel Allen gave an impetus to the place and Major Stickney also became interested in its ad- vancement. Speculation in lots began in 1834. The Wabash & Erie canal interest arose in 1836. Mr. Mason and Edward Bissel added their energies to assist the growth of the town. It was incorporated as a city in 1836. It
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was the center of the military operations in the "Ohio and Michigan war," known as the "boundary conflict."
Lorain county was formed from Huron, Cuyahoga and Medina on December 26, 1822. The soil is generally fertile and the surface level. A curious relic has been found in this county, bearing the date of 1533. Elyria is the county seat and was laid out in 1817. The first settler was Heman Ely. Oberlin is situated about eight miles southwest of Elyria. Oberlin College has attained a wide reputation.
Logan county was formed March 1, 1817. The surface is broken and hilly near the Mad river, but is generally level. The Shawnee Indians were destroyed in 1786 by a body of Kentuckians under Gen. Benjamin Logan. The whites surprised the towns. However, they returned after the work of destruction had been completed and for many years frequented the section. On the site of Zanesfield was a Wyandot village. By the treaty of September 29, 1817, the Senecas and Shawnees held a reservation around Lewistown. April 6, 1832, they vacated this right and removed west. Isaac Zane was born about the year 1753 and was, while a boy, captured and afterward adopted by the Wyandots. Attaining the age of manhood, he had no desire to return to his people. He married a Wyandot woman, who was half French. After the treaty of Greenville he bought one thousand eight hun- dred acres on the site of Zanesfield, where he lived until the year 1816, when he died. lamented by all his friends. Logan county was settled about the year 1806. During the War of 1812 it was a rendezvous for friendly Indians. Bellefontaine, the county seat, was laid out March 18, 1820, on land owned by John Tulles and William Powell. Joseph Gordon built a cabin and An- thony Ballard erected the first frame dwelling. Gen. Simon Kenton is buried at the head of Mad river, five miles from Bellefontaine. He died April 29, 1836, aged eighty-one years and twenty-six days. This remarkable man came west to Kentucky in 1771. He probably encountered more thrilling escapes than any other man of his time. In 1778 he was captured and suf- fered extreme cruelties and was ransomed by the British. He soon recovered his robust health and escaped from Detroit the following spring. He settled in Urbana in 1802. He was commissioned brigadier-general of the militia and in the War of 1812 joined General Harrison's army. In the year 1820 he removed to Mad river. General Vance and Judge Burnet secured him a pension of twenty dollars a month.
Licking county was formed from Fairfield March I, 1808. The surface is generally level, diversified by slight hills in the eastern portion. Coal and iron ore of good quality add to the wealth of the county. Newark is the
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county seat, and is situated at the confluence of the three principal branches of the Licking. In 1801 it was laid out by Gen. William C. Schenk, George W. Burnet and John M. Cummings, who owned this military section of four thousand acres. In 1802 Samuel Elliott and Samuel Parr built hewed-log houses. The picturesque "Narrows of the Licking" are in the eastern part of the county. Within the county are ancient fortifications, the most noted in the state of Ohio, containing about three hundred acres. The engineering is of the best and the works have frequently been visited by European scientists. The breastworks are lined with old trees and the trenches are now great canals.
Lawrence county was organized March 1, 1816. There are many high and abrupt hills in this section, which abound in sand and freestone. It is rich in minerals and the most important section of Ohio for iron manufac- ture. Coal is abundant and white clay exists in the western part suitable for pottery purposes. The county was settled in 1797 by the Dutch and Irish. The iron region extends through the west part of this county. Ironton is the county seat.
Lake county was formed from Geauga and Cuyahoga March 6, 1840. The soil is good and the surface rolling. As early as 1799 a settlement was formed at Mentor. Painesville, the county seat, is situated on Grand river in a beautiful valley. Painesville was laid out by Henry Champion in 1805. At Fairport the first warehouse in this section and probably the first on the lake, was built by Abraham Skinner in 1803. This town has a fine harbor and has a light-house and beacon. Kirtland, southwest from Painesville, was, in 1834, the headquarters of the Mormons. At that time they numbered about three thousand. The old Mormon temple is of rough stone, plastered over, colored blue, and marked to imitate regular courses of masonry.
Madison county was organized in March, 1810. The surface is gener- ally level. Jonathan Alder was much interested in the settlement of the county. Captured when a child, he had lived with the Indians many years and had formed a lasting affection for them, and he married a squaw. He became dissatisfied with his Indian wife and this caused hin to look up his own family. He succeeded through the assistance of John Moore. He left his Indian wife and joined his people.
This county was first settled in 1795. Benjamin Springer made a clear- ing and built a cabin. Joshua Ewing brought four sheep to this place and the Indians exhibited great astonishment over these strange animals. When the hostilities of 1812 began, the British offered inducements to the Indians to join them and they consulted Alder regarding the best policy to adopt. He advised them to preserve neutrality until a later period, which they did, and
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eventually became firm friends of the Americans. London is the county seat and was laid out in 1810-II by Patrick McLane.
Marion county was organized March 1, 1824. The soil is fertile and. produces extensive farm crops. The Delaware Indians once held a reserva- tion here and conceded their claims August 3, 1829, and then removed west. of the Mississippi. Marion, the county seat, was laid out in 1821 by Eber Baker and Alexander Holmes. General Harrison marched through this sec- tion during his campaign.
Mahoning county was formed in 1846 from Trumbull and Columbiana. The surface is rolling and the soil generally fertile. Bituminous coal and iron are found in large quantities. Col. James Hillman came to the Western Reserve in 1786. The settlement of the county went forward. Youngstown is the county seat.
Medina county was formed from the Western Reserve February 12, 1812. The surface is rolling and the soil is fertile, producing fine agricul- tural products. The first trail through the county was made by George Poe, Joseph H. Larwell and Roswell M. Mason. The first settlement was made by Joseph Harris in 1811. He was soon joined by the Burr Brothers. Medina is the county seat.
Meigs county was formed from Gallia and Athens April 1, 1819. The general character of the soil is clayey, producing large quantities of wheat, oats, corn, hay and potatoes. Pomeroy, the county seat, is situated under a lofty hill, surrounded by picturesque scenery. Nathaniel Clark was the first settler of the county. He arrived in 1816. The first coal mine opened in Pomeroy was in 1819 by David Bradshaw.
Mercer county was formed from the Indian Territory in 1820. The sur- face is generally flat. St. Clair's battle was fought on the boundary line be- tween this and Darke county. Lewis Cass and Duncan McArthur made a treaty on St. Mary's with the Wyandots, Shawnees and Ottawas in 1818. The odious Simon Girty lived at one time at St. Mary's. Wayne built St. Mary's fort on the. west bank of the river. John Whistler was the last com- mander of the fort. The largest artificial lake in the world, so it is asserted, is formed by the reservoir supplying the St. Mary's feeder of the Miami Ex- tension Canal. It is about nine miles long and from two to four broad. Celina is the county seat.
Miami county was formed January 16, 1807, from Montgomery. It abounds in excellent limestone and possesses remarkable water-power facili- ties. Its agricultural products rank high in quality and quantity. John Knoop came into this section about the year 1797 and its first settlement
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began about this time. Troy, the county seat, is situated upon the Great Miami. Piqua is the largest city in the county.
Monroe county was formed January 29, 1813, from Belmont, Wash- ington and Guernsey. A portion of its surface is abrupt and hilly. Large quantities of tobacco are raised. Iron ore and coal abound. The valleys of the streams are very narrow, bounded by rough hills. In some places are natural rock grottoes. The first settlement was made in 1799 near the mouth of the Sunfish. At this time wolves were numerous and caused much alarm. Volney entered this county but was not prepossessed in its favor. One town- ship was settled by the Swiss. Woodsfield is the county seat.
Montgomery county was formed from Ross and Hamilton May I, 1803. The soil is fertile and its agricultural products are most excellent. Quarries of grayish-white limestone are found east of the Miami. Dayton is the county seat, situated on the Great Miami at the mouth of Mad river. A company was formed in 1788, but Indian wars prevented settlement. After Wayne's treaty in 1795, a new company was formed. It advanced rapidly between the years 1812 and 1820. The beginning of the Miami canal re- newed its prosperity in 1827. The first canal-boat from Cincinnati arrived at Dayton on the 25th of January, 1829. The first one arrived from Lake Erie in June, 1845. Col. Robert Patterson came to Dayton in 1804. At one time he owned Lexington, Kentucky, and about one-third of Cincinnati.
Morgan county was organized in 1818, March I. The surface is hilly and the soil strong and fertile, producing wheat, corn, oats and tobacco. Pork is a prolific product and considerable salt is made. The first settlement . was made in 1790 on the Muskingum. McConnelsville is the county seat. Mr. Ayres made the first attempt to produce salt in 1817.
Morrow county was organized in 1848. It is drained by the Vernon river, which rises in it, by the East Branch of the Olentangy or Whetstone river, and by Walnut creek. The surface is undulating and the soil fertile. The staple products are corn, wheat, oats, hay, wool and butter. Mount Gilead, the county seat, is situated on the East Branch of the Olentangy river.
Muskingum county was formed from Washington and Fairfield. The surface is rolling or hilly. It produces wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, tobacco, wool and pork. Large quantities of bituminous coal are found. Salt is made in large quantities-the fine being obtained from a stratum of whitish sandstone. The Wyandots, Delawares, Senecas and Shawnees Indians once inhabited this section. An Indian town occupied the site of. Duncan's Falls. A large Shawnee town was located near Dresden. Zanesville is the county
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seat, situated opposite the mouth of the Licking. It was laid out in 1799 by Mr. Zane and Mr. McIntire. This is one of the principal towns in the state.
Noble county, organized in 1851, is drained by Seneca, Duck and Wills creeks. The surface is undulating and a large part of it is covered with for- ests. The soil is fertile. Among its mineral resources are limestone, coal and petroleum. Near Caldwell, the county seat, are found iron ore, coal and salt.
Ottawa county was formed from Erie, Sandusky and Lucas March 6, 1840. It was very thinly settled before 1830. Extensive plaster beds exist on the peninsula, which extends into Lake Erie. It has also large lime- stone quarries, which are extensively worked. The very first trial at arms upon the soil of Ohio, during the War of 1812, occurred upon this peninsula. Port Clinton, the county seat, was laid out in 1827.
Perry county was formed from Washington, Fairfield and Muskingum March 1, 1817. Fine tobacco is raised in large quantities. Wheat, corn, oats, hay, cattle, pork and wool add to the general wealth. This county was first settled in 1801. The first settler was Christian Binckley, who built the first cabin in the county, about five miles west of Somerset, near the present county line. New Lexington is the county seat.
Paulding county was formed from old Indian Territory August 1, 1820. It is very rich in agriculture and produces corn, wheat, sugar beets and oats. Paulding is the county seat.
Pickaway county was formed from Fairfield, Ross and Franklin January 12, 1810. The county has woodland, barren, plain and prairie. The barrens were covered by shrub oaks and when cleared are adapted to the raising of corn and oats. The Pickaway plains are three and a half miles west of Cir- cleville and this tract is said to contain the richest land in Ohio. Here, in the olden times, burned the great council fires of the red man. Here the allied tribes met General Lewis, who fought the battle of Point Pleasant. Dun- more's campaign was terminated on these plains. It was at the Chillicothe towns, after Dunmore's treaty, that Logan delivered his famous speech. Circleville, the county seat, is situated on the Scioto river and the Ohio canal. It was laid out in 1810 by Daniel Dresbach. It is situated on the site of ancient fortifications.
Portage county was formed June 7, 1807, from Trumbull. It is a wealthy, thriving section. It also produces wheat, corn, oats, barley, buck- wheat, rye, butter and wool. Ravenna is the county seat and was originally settled by the Hon. Benjamin Tappen in June, 1799. In 1806 an unpleasant difficulty arose between the settlers and a camp of Indians in Deerfield,
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caused by a horse trade between a white man and an Indian. David Daniels settled on the site of Palmyra in 1799.
Pike county was organized in 1815. The surface is generally hilly, which abounds with freestone, which is exported in large quantities for build- ing purposes. Rich bottom lands extend along the Scioto and its tributaries. John Nolan and the three Chenoweth brothers settled on the Pee Pee prairie about 1796. Piketown, the former county seat, was laid out about 1814. Waverly, the present county seat, is situated on the Scioto river.
Preble county was formed March 1, 1808, from Montgomery and But- ler. The soil is varied. Eaton, the county seat, was laid out in 1806, by William Bruce, who owned the land. An overflowing well of strong sulphur water is near the town, while directly beside it is a limestone quarry. Holder- man's quarry is about two miles distant, from which is obtained a beautifully clouded gray stone. Fort St. Clair was built near Eaton in the winter of 1791-92. General Harrison was an ensign at the time and commanded a guard every other night for three weeks during the building. The severe battle of November 6, 1792, was fought under its very guns. Little Turtle, a distinguished chief of the Miamis, roamed over this county for a time. He was witty, brave and earnest and, although engaged in several severe con- tests with the whites, he was inclined toward peace. But when his warriors cried for war he led them bravely.
Putnam county was formed April 1, 1820, from old Indian Territory. The soil is fertile, its principal productions being wheat, corn, potatoes and oats. Kalida, once the county seat, was laid out in 1834. Ottawa is the county seat.
Ross county was formed August 20, 1798, by the proclamation of Governor St. Clair and was the ninth county formed in the Northwest Territory. The Scioto river and Paint creek run through it, bordered with fertile lands. It exports cattle and hogs. The Rev. Robert W. Finley, in 1794, addressed a letter of inquiry to Col. Nathaniel Massie, as many of his associates had designed settling in the new state. This resulted in packing their several effects and setting out. A trivial Indian encounter was the only interruption they met with on their way. After Wayne's treaty, Colonel Massie and many of these early explorers met again and formed a settle- ment-in 1796-at the mouth of Paint creek. In August of this year, Chilli- cothe was laid out by Colonel Massie in a dense forest. He donated lots to the early settlers. A ferry was established over the Scioto and the opening of Zane's trace assisted the progress of settlement. Chillicothe, the county seat, is situated on the Scioto. Its site is thirty feet above the river. In
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