History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 62

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USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882 > Part 62

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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

from the wooden chimneys of isolated cabins. The plowman's song was heard in the valley below, and toward the south and west, skirting cornfields, the sparkling river hurried over a bed of rock. Beyond, a steep, at some places, precipitous bluff intercepted the view. Such were the surroundings of the site chosen for a city.

That the location was deemed one of promise is indicated by the fact that a reservation was made by Congress of one lot for a ship-yard. At the time of the survey a boat was being built on the west side of the river, by the firm of Wilson & Disbrow. Surrounded by excellent inland timber, and the facilities for floating vessels to the lake being remarkably good, there was no reason why ship building should not become an important enterprise. War experience had taught the Government the necessity of having in the West secure facilities for recruiting an inland navy.

Excepting the ship-yard the town of Croghanville was held for sale by in- and out-lots, under the direction of the land commissioner. It was expected that a city, in fact, would soon cover this picturesque elevation, regularly laid off in streets. and squares. But a rival, almost within a stone's throw, changed the expected course of affairs and left Croghanville for many years with an existence only on paper.

THE KENTUCKY COMPANY.

Among the inhabitants of the reservation in 1817 were a number of men of good business capacity and keen foresight, who were able to command a limited amount of capital. Who they were and their characteristics as citizens and men, will be told subsequently. The Kentucky Company was formed June 9, 1817, and was composed of the following members: Israel Harrington, Thomas L. Hawkins, Ephraim Johnson, Morris A. Newman,

William Andrews, David Gallagher, Aaron Forgerson, Randall Jerome, Thomas. E. Boswell, John Drury, Joseph Mominne, Joseph Rumery, John A. de La Cost, John Baptiste Mominne, and John Anderson. All became residents of the town they founded except Boswell and Anderson, the former being a Kentucky gentleman of means, who was afterwards associated in business with Thomas L. Hawkins, but never became a citizen.

The reservation was originally surveyed into lots forty rods wide, facing upon the river, and numbered from north to south. The Kentucky Company appointed, in June, 1817, Israel Harrington, Thomas L. Hawkins, and Ephraim Johnson, agents of the company to attend to the land sales at Delaware and purchase lots (or ranges, as they are known in the old records) eight and nine, which include all that part of the present city lying west of the river between parallels intersecting the river near the turnpike bridge and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad bridge. The conditions of the sale provided that a percentage should be paid down and the balance in annual payments; that, in case of failure to pay, the land should revert to the United States. It was the policy of the Kentucky Company to divide their lands proportionately to the stock subscribed, and to give to each member a separate title of ownership, thus making each individual responsible for future payments. This was a wise

arrangement, for subsequent records show that much of the purchased tract reverted in consequence of non-payment. The causes of this are hinted at in a poem written by one of the associates, from which we shall presently quote. The tract was looked upon as especially eligible for a town, and it seems there were many bidders, each determined to have a piece. Mr. Thomas L. Hawkins, in his poetical reminiscence, says:

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Where now Sandusky rolls her lovely tide Few years since no human footsteps glide; One dark, dense forest for the bounding roe From Lake Erie to the pleasant Ohio; Where silence reigned with her old magic spell, Broken only by the wolf's or savage yell; One spot was marked for Virtue's soft retreat, Where Proctor's legions met a sore defeat; Where the young Croghan won a deathless fame, Implanted honors on Sandusky's name. And oh' ye warriors, venerate the dead, Nor fear in danger's path to take the lead; Shrink not, I say, at threats of Mexico, But for your country's glory go meet them, go. This great achievement rang throughout the land, For this favored spot Congress took a stand; In their wise council ventured to declare That in '17 should be sold two miles square; That in war's event they on arms relied, A conspicuous place should be fortified. Now what rushing to the public sale! All emulous, tract too small, some must fail; Great speculators, ready to cut a dash, O'erbid each other, and felt the want of cash. Yet, keeping in view their first great intent, Each got a piece, advancing small per cent. Blessed their stars! weather superbly fine! Per acre a hundred and fifty dollars for lot number nine! Oh! do you doubt your simple, plain narrator, And say no man would buy thus in a state of nature? Yet so it was, and they so deemed them blessed, Establishing emporium of the West. Did they misjudge? Do they stand convicted? Or is Sandusky what they then predicted?

This poem from which we have extracted was written in 1845. It is not probable that Mr. Hawkins foresaw the completion of a grand trunk line of railroad and other great public enterprises which have built a city of the second class from the small village which he knew and of which he wrote. But we return to the Kentucky Company. The purchased tract, lots eight and nine, was carved into town lots and equitably divided among the shareholders. The first town plat of "Sandusky" was made, and recorded at Norwalk in December, 1817, attested by the following names: Thomas L. Hawkins, for self and Thomas E. Boswell; Morris A. Newman; William Oliver, for self and company; Israel Harrington, for self and L. E. P .; Josiah Rumery.

The lots were appraised by commissioners for the purpose of distribution among the proprietors. They considered the land, even though it was in a state of nature, very valuable. For instance, the mill lot containing one acre was appraised at three hundred dollars. We will now cross the river to

CROGHANVILLE.

The original village was laid off in out- lots and in-lots, after the manner so suc- cessfully adopted in the founding of towns during the early settlement of Ohio. One lot in each block of sixteen lots and two out- lots, containing about sixteen acres, were set apart for the support of public instruction; one large lot lying on the east bank .of the river in the north part of the survey was reserved for a ship-yard. A large number of the village lots were purchased by Alexander Morrison, a very respectable citizen who lived on that side of the river for many years, and who filled with honor various local and county offices. Morris A. Newman, one of the proprietors of Sandusky, purchased a tract of lots in Croghanville, and erected a frame house in which he kept tavern. A school-house was erected on that side, in which also the first courts were held. After the seat of justice was removed to the west side of the river, Newman closed his tavern, but for many years resided in the house. With the exception of these and a few other scattering houses, Croghanville remained a common, without fences, and even the stakes which marked the streets and lots of the prospective city rotted away. In 1830, when Lower Sandusky which had become a flourishing village, incorporated, it included with-in its limits was the platted village. Thus Croghanville, which had never existed in fact, passed out of existence even in name.

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LOWER SANDUSKY SIXTY YEARS AGO.

We mean by this heading, Lower San- dusky in the days of its incipiency. The town was always peculiar in its character, made so not only by being an emporium of trade, but a number of eccentric and brainy men gave interest to every street meeting and bar room gathering.

The first frame house was erected by Israel Harrington in the year 1815. It stood near the corner of Croghan and Front streets, on the ground now occupied by the stores of Lewis Leppelman and Philip Dorr. The building, when first erected, was unique in appearance. There were no saw-mills, and the builder brought by water lumber only for the frame. The weather-boarding was, there- fore, made of split white oak shingles, or clapboards. These were afterwards re-moved and sawed boards took their place. Mr. Everett, in a lecture delivered many years ago, remarks: "A frame house at that time was a great curiosity in this part of the country, and Harrington's tavern was for some time the centre of attraction." The bar was handy and whisky cheap. The villagers made the tavern a frequent place of resort. The travelling public had to be depended upon for news, and loquacious emigrants and traders de-tailed events and at times most astonishing stories. In this tavern took place many events of revelry and joy, not un- mingled with the inspiration of spirits.

The second frame house was the store building of J. S. and G. G. Olmstead, fully described in another chapter.

The third frame building was built by Cyrus and Jaques Hulburd, on Front street, and was used for a store. This building was erected in 1817.

William Andrews built the fourth frame house in 1818 or 1819. It was three stories in height, and stood on the present site of June's foundry. In the third story

of this building the Masonic lodge met.

The fifth frame building is yet standing, and is one of the two oldest structures in the city, now known as the Peach House. It was built about 1821 by Nicholas Whittinger. In the upper story was a hall in which Hawkins' theater gave entertainments.

The oldest house yet standing was also the first brick house in the town. For half a century it has been the Beaugrand residence. It was built about 1819 by a man named Williamson, who never be-came a citizen, nor paid his building bills.

The next brick building was erected by Josiah Rumery about 1820, on the hill just south of the old Catholic church. It was removed in 1857.

Besides these frame and brick houses, there were about thirty cabins scattered over the tract now covered by substantial blocks and handsome dwellings.

The buildings of the fort were sold in 1818. These block-houses had been useful resorts and stopping places for emigrants until houses could be built. One block-house was occupied by three families for a short time just after the war closed.

One of the families who stopped in the fort before making permanent settlement was the Braytons. The capture and life of the eldest son, Matthew, is an episode in the early history of this region. The following is Doctor Daniel Brainard's account:

Mr. Brayton, who lived in this village, moved to the country some time during the year 1824 or 1825, for the purpose of farming more largely. On the 10th of September, 1825, his eldest son, a boy of about fifteen years, and a younger one of about seven years named Matthew, started at evening when the sun was half an hour high, to hunt the cows. Not finding them in their usual range, the oldest told his brother Matthew he had better return to the house, as they might be some distance off, and he himself would find them. On getting upon a log they both thought they could see the opening on their father's farm, and Matthew cheerfully left his brother to return. Some short time after dark the oldest brother

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drove home the cows, when he was asked by his mother "Where is Matthew?" He told the facts, which much alarmed and disturbed the parents. A communication was immediately made to several of their nearest neighbors who turned out and helped to hunt for the boy till morning without effect. A general alarm was then given along the river for forty miles, and to all the settlements on the west side, for it was on the west Brayton lived. The whole people, or all who could leave home, became at once anxious about the fate of the boy, and showed their sympathy for the parents by joining in the task of hunting him. The weather was quite mild, and high hopes were entertained of their being able to find him alive. On the first morning after his absence, the place where the brothers had parted was carefully examined. He was barefooted and could be tracked a short distance towards home, then in a more westerly direction till the hardness of the ground admitted no further impression. It was now the third day when the grand turnout took place. The neighboring Indian villages had been looked to. Many of them in a very kind manner joined in the hunt. As it was thought that all persons, and more especially children, would soon become wild or partially deranged, and would hide or flee on hearing their name called, or the sound of a horn or voice, they thought it advisable to form two extensive wings at some distance apart, to penetrate the wilderness in perfect order, and meet at some given point, then circling in smaller and smaller compass till they would all come together in the centre, that if he was encircled he could not escape. This, no doubt, was a rational plan, but unsuccessful. Many persons in the hunt imagined they had seen under logs, or in thickets, where the child might have bedded in leaves, etc., yet no certain trace could be found. The pursuit was continued daily and unremittingly till the 10th of December, when some gave out from fatigue, and their places were supplied by others. Such was the anxiety of all to afford some relief to the almost distracted parents. If they could find the dead body, or some part of his clothing. it would mitigate their grief, even if they had proof he had been devoured by wolves, and that his sufferings were at an end. But no such consolation; not a foot trace could be discovered; the whole wilderness and settlement had been thoroughly searched from the Sandusky to the Maumee in width, and as much as fifty miles in length, and principally in the manner described, when further pursuit was abandoned in despair.

From that day to this, the fine, active, promising little Matthew Brayton has never been heard of. The mystery will never be solved in this world. Two or three journeys have been made to the far distant tribes of Indians to the West and beyond the Mississippi for the purpose of discovery, believing it possible that some straggling Indians might have come across him, and taken him to some remote tribe. No

comments need be made on the unhappy affair, or the affliction of the parents, brothers, and sisters; they can better be conceived than told. However, with regard to Matthew's fate, I am myself of the opinion that if the wolves had killed him, some part of his clothing and some portion of his body would have been found. My conclusion is that he wandered till life was nearly spent by want of food and excessive fatigue; that in this exhausted state he laid him-self down in some secret place and perished-though his death has been more generally ascribed to the wolves.

Such is the account of the late Dr. Brainard, of the loss of Matthew Brayton, and the extensive search made for him by his friends and neighbors. It was not the Doctor's lot to live to see Matthew, after thirty-four years captivity among the In- dians, return to his parents, and thus to clear up all doubts as to his fate. None would have rejoiced more with the family than he, for, undoubtedly, he had often seen Matthew, and dandled him upon his knee, for he was born in this town.

The Sandusky River was, in the early history of Lower Sandusky, of great commercial and economic value. The settlers produced a surplus of corn and pork, but these articles of food were at first not exchangeable for groceries and wearing apparel. Flour was also a scarce article, and salt was almost impossible to obtain, except occasionally when a schooner ascended the river from Portland (now Sandusky). But in the village there was a man of enterprise and remarkable inventive genius, whose name we have mentioned and shall frequently have occasion to mention again. Lieutenant Thomas L. Hawkins was ever alive to the interests of the settlement, and his ingenious method for facilitating trade with Port-land, for the accommodation of immigrants, is worthy of minute description.

The boat constructed by Mr. Hawkins consisted of two large canoes placed at a proper distance apart, on which were placed a platform sufficiently large to carry the

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superstructure of machinery, a large amount of freight, and several passengers. The machinery consisted of a four-horse power, by which was turned wheels or paddles at each side of the boat. When freights were light only two horses were used. The boat was propelled in this way with facility, making trips when-ever the demands of trade or travel required. This craft was built in 1819, and during the following three or four years made many rounds trips without any serious accident, though occasionally an in- cident relieved the monotony of tedious journeys. On one occasion a refractory horse made a successful attempt to escape his dreary work. He broke his halter and leaped over the railing, plunging head first into the water, and in that precarious situation hung until cut loose. He then swam triumphantly to the shore, "to the great delight and satisfaction of the whole crew."*

Hawkins' boat was built the same year the first steamer navigated Lake Erie. The horse power boat brought goods, groceries, and salt, and carried away furs, flour and pork. Lower Sandusky being the most southern market of the lake, be-came the trading emporium of a large part of Northern Ohio. Fish, which at times literally filled the river, gave Lower Sandusky a prestige in the trade with, southern farmers. They brought their flour and pork here in exchange for fish, which cost practically nothing, for, as an old manuscript remarks, "every spring the pickerel and white bass were found in such multitudes lying (apparently waiting to be caught) all along the rapids, that it was often found quite impossible to ride a horse across the ford till much exertion was made to drive them away to make room for his feet."* Did we not know the author of this statement to be

*Dr. Brainard's Manuscript.

a man of sincere truthfulness, it might be accredited to Munchausonism. The tes- timony of many others confirms the state- ment. Such was the trade in fish that every spring many of the villagers became fishers and fish packers. From the middle of March till early in June other business was practically laid aside. Shanties were built on the river bank, and as often as they cast their nets they drew forth fish in abundance. Early in spring time suckers were drawn forth; next came red horse. Pickerel was the choice quality, which came third during the season; and last, but in greatest numbers, were brought up out of the water white bass. The sight of these fishers at work was really an interesting one. A law required that all the offal should be buried. For violation of this law criminal proceedings were frequently brought. At the first term of court, held in May, 1820, three indictments were found on the charge of causing nuisance. Fines for this offence were from one to twenty dollars. In the board shanties those in the business kept salt, barrels and salted fish. Outside was a long scaffold or table of convenient height, on one side of which the men engaged at dressing stood, and on the other was a long trench in which the offal dropped and was buried. Fish-dressing was a trade which required a quick hand and accurate eye to learn. By the side of the dresser stood a barrel in which live fish were poured from the seine. They were seldom given time to die a natural death, but while yet fluttering were caught in the left hand of the dresser, thrown upon the board, when one cut of the knife severed the head and sent it flying into the trench. One more cut opened the back, and a single scrape sent the entrails into the trench. A barrel for the purpose received the dressed fish, and the operation, which required but a few seconds, was repeated.

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Barrels of fish were in this way dressed and salted down. Some men became notorious for their expertness. David Grant and John S. Tyler were known as leaders and masters of their trade.

As soon as roads became passable in spring time, the scattered little village filled with teams from southern counties. Till long into the autumn the road from Urbana, Dayton, and Franklinton was thronged by great covered wagons, drawn by four, six, and sometimes eight horses. Coming down they were weighted with flour, linsey cloth, dried fruit, bacon, and other articles such as in older settled communities were produced. Here they bartered their commodities for fish, salt, and leather, often leaving much cash, occasionally their tavern and whiskey bills. It is said that a marching army is greatly supported by display of uniform and music. Even horses catch the inspiration of display and are enabled to bear extra- ordinary fatigue. On the same principle the old-time teamster surrounded his business with attractive paraphernalia and glittering pretension. There was something animating in a street scene, as we picture it on the imagination from a description be-fore us. The horses were large and well trained. No elaboration was spared to make their strong gearing handsome. Broad straps and fancy housings, and an arch of small bells jingling at every step, gave the animal a proud consciousness of being an object of attention. The teamster, almost always a jolly fellow, occupied a saddle on the near wheel horse. In one hand he swung a long whip, which cracked with pistol shrillness whenever a horse was indisposed to pull his share. The other hand held a single line, guiding six horses over roads which, to our untrained eyes, would seem impassable for two. The accuracy attained by the teamster in whip craft is remarkable. It was

an old-time hotel amusement to test each other's teamstership by snuffing with a whip- lash a tallow candle, at a distance of twenty feet; the driver who outened the flame or missed the candle altogether was ruled out. We have heard tell of teamsters able to pick off with a whip-lash a horse-fly without hurting the animal on which it was sitting. The full-freighted wagon, arched over with canvas, was the driver's dwelling place as well as store-house. The typical teamster was jolly and full of good nature. Nothing would ruffle his cheerful temper except inability to procure feed for his horses. He was willing to endure hardship for himself, but that the horses in which he took an affectionate pride should suffer from hunger, was more than his manly heart could stand. These traders "made our roads, bad as they were, vocal and cheerful, and presented an animating spectacle." During the early life of the village the arrivals and departures of these teams, -sometimes one alone, but frequently consisting of a train of five or six- was of daily occurrence, and the tavern nightly rang with the merry laugh of self- contented, fun-loving teamsters.

Such was the beginning of trade in Lower Sandusky, and such were daily village scenes during the summer for a great many years. A decade later wheat and stave wagons crowded homely Front street, and oftentimes blockaded the way. Indians, from the beginning, made Lower Sandusky their principal trading point. The Senecas, and kindred tribes from the neighboring reservation, traded here exclusively, and the Wyandots of Upper Sandusky often visited and traded with the white man at this ancient seat of their tribe. What change a quarter of a century had made in the condition of this heroic tribe, whose dominion for more than a century had been acknowledged by all the West. Wayne's expedition was

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the arrow which struck deep into the body of Indian power, and its deadly effect pen- etrated the heart. Did the Wyandots who came here to trade ever picture the village home and corn-fields, the gauntlet track and the council fire of their heroic ancestors? We know that they were familiar with the history of their tribe, and we have a right to suppose that, as they sat upon store benches or reclined upon the smooth sod of the common, drawing from homely pipes dense mouthfuls of smoke, consciousness of humiliation and degeneracy oppressed them. Little more than a quarter of a century before, their tribe headed a confederacy which defeated two American armies; but the spot lighted by the council fire, around which these great campaigns were planned, was now the scene of busy traffic and trade.

It is a pleasure to record the fact that the Indians who came to Lower Sandusky were treated with becoming courtesy. Scarcely a day passed without the appearance of some of them, bringing furs, venison or sugar to exchange for tobacco, pork, ammunition, blankets and calico. A balance was usually due the merchants, which was paid from the annuities. Once a quarter the head chiefs of the Senecas came to Lower Sandusky to transact tribal business and draw their annuity. The Olmsted firm transacted their business, and it is remembered that Hard Hickory, Coonstick, Tall Chief, Crow, Seneca John, and others, being detained late by business, often remained in the store all night. They slept on blankets with their feet towards the fire, the thought of theft or dishonesty never entering their honest heads.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 62

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