History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 63

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882 > Part 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The chiefs of the Senecas were singularly honest and honorable in their business transactions. They were abiding in their faith that no Indian could enter the happy hunting ground who left debts be-

hind. We believe, however, that purer promptings made these pagans honest. The Socratic death of Seneca John, told elsewhere, shows that he, at least, was a man of lofty character and capable of high moral convictions. The Senecas and Ottawas traded here till 1832. The Wyandots made occasional visits till they . moved away in 1842. Of Seneca John, who was murdered by his brothers, Coon-stick and Steele, an account of which is given in the chapter relating to Ballville township, Mr. Everett, who knew him well, says:

He was a man of remarkable power of mind, and head chief of the Senecas. When any difficult matter was presented in council Seneca John was looked to by all as the right man to solve and explain it; and, as the Indians said, he always made crooked things straight. At the age of about forty-five years his remarkable mind, with a brave heart, fine person and manly demeanor, had given him unbounded influence over his tribe.

A VILLAGE NIGHT.

While Lower Sandusky sixty years ago was a spot busy with enterprise and traffic, a forest oppressive in its shade, and deep gloom extended on all sides, wild beasts made night hideous and dangerous, and at times in their midnight prowlings ran through the village. Wolves were the boldest of all wild animals, and were often alarming to the settlers. They in-habit almost all unsettled districts; climate has little effect upon them. From Mexico to Hudson's Bay the primitive forest echoed with their howls. Like the Indians they receded before white settlement, but kept up a prolonged and an- noying border war.

The primitive village of Lower San-dusky was especially troubled with

these obnoxious animals. The packs driven from eastern and southern counties took refuge in Northwestern Ohio, adding greatly to the number already here. To the Indian wolves could do little injury,

406

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

and were of no value. They consequently escaped the primitive hunters, being left to roam the woods at will and multiply rapidly. The bear was a choice mark, and in consequence they were more numerous around this Indian camping ground, and soon disappeared after white settlers broke the stretch of forest. Wolves are naturally thievish. Neither in town nor in country, during the period under consideration, were young cattle, hogs, or sheep safe outside of secure stables. Dr. Brainard, an old resident of the village, remarks in his manuscripts that their hunger and rapacity knew no bounds, and fearing their ferocity,, and knowing their peculiar and exquisite taste for sheep, for many years settlers did not attempt to keep this useful animal. They would very often prowl through the village after night, to secure some more delicious repast. This is shown by an incident. A man living on the first street from the main one, one evening being in a paroxysm of chill and fever, recollecting that his horse, in the stable across the street nearly opposite, had not been fed his grain, requested his wife to carry his accustomed allowance to him. She being an accommodating partner in hard times, readily consented. She had proceeded about half way when a gang of wolves made an assault. Being yet young and active, you may conclude she was not long in retracing her steps; fear lent wings to her speed, the wolves close to her heels when she shut the door against them. They being thus foiled and disappointed, appeared to be in great rage, set unrepeated and tremendous howls, and seemed unwilling to depart. In a few minutes, however, as the people had not yet retired to rest, nearly all the male part assembled at the scene of this wild confusion, armed with such weapons as they in the moment could most easily grasp. The common

enemy, seeing they would be overpowered by numbers, fled, and all again was quiet, except their distant howls, which still sounded upon the ear. This is one of many similar attacks that occurred in our village during the hours of night. The only serious consequence of this was the husband being told by his affectionate wife that, sick or well, he would there-after feed his own horse for all her.

THE FIRST THEATRE.

Thomas L. Hawkins, the village miller, was one of those useful men in a small community to whom we apply the phrase "universal genius." He was a mechanic and a landscape painter, a poet and a philosopher, a preacher and a stage actor. As master of the village theatre, three of his many faculties were called into exercise. He painted the scenery for the stage, wrote the prologue, and performed difficult and important parts. The Lower Sandusky theatre was formally opened in 1819, by Goldsmith's play, "She Stoops to Conquer," acted by the young men of the village. Mr. Hawkins wrote a prologue, in which he predicted the introduction of railroads, steamboats, and telegraphs. He also hints at the town's general bad reputation for wickedness, and then proceeds to preach a sermon in verse. Here is the prologue in full: Sandusky Theatre, of tender age,

Now makes its first appearance on the stage.

Lord! what a crowd! I blush for what? These are but men,

And fellow mortals every soul within.

Then, first, my friends,-for friends you surely are,

As foes and critics have no business here,

Yet, should they come, their astonished sense shall burn

To find how youths in Lower Sandusky learn.

But you, my friends, on your good sense

I call, Oh, pray excuse our imperfections all.

Your uneasy seats-on poles and wooden pins May try your patience ere the play begins.

Our paper scenes, and flimsy curtains new,

May make you think our actors flimsy too.

Not so. I hope, and hope you'll hope with me;

407

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

'Tis all I crave,-the exhibition's free. "That's false! I paid before I entered here!" You did? But 'twas to pay the music, sir. What, free?" says one. "Upon my soul I thought These painted scenes, these candles bought!" They truly were, and dearly paid for, too; Yet we live in hopes to get that pay from you. For, if our youths should now be blessed with skill, We'll force you here, though much against your will. Our time and talents we will devote to you; You cannot wish to take our money too? "Oh!" cries the foe, "I see your whole intent; I've long wished to know what the deuce you meant. You think, by painting, pasting, rhyming, jokes, E'en to make money from us poor folks!" Not so, good sirs; let me begin again; Lend but your patience, I'll not long detain. Long has our place with crimson dies been stained, And counterfeiters' residences gained; Both far and near our character been lost, In the life of Spicer and death of poor La Coste. But now, thank God! a happy change succeeds; (With painful hearts we face those wicked deeds.) 'Tis time, good sirs, those actions to despise, Since all around our tender offspring rise. In their blest lives let us re-live again A life of virtue, freed from conscious pain. Those are the pillars of expected state; As life declines, they will our souls elate. In future days, when snug on yonder rise Their once loved parents, freed from toil, lies, In senates they, as statesmen bright, will stand, While arts and science roll at their command; Thy sons shall then in fond remembrance tell, And bless the sires that tutored them to spell. Blessed be the mart, that friend, who taught me first From science's page, undaunted, to rehearse To stand, regardless of the critic's sneer, And boldly speak, nor mortal face to fear. With thoughts like these, we anticipate delight; 'Tis this alone which brings us here to-night. Dear fathers, mothers, guardians, tutors too, Oh, what a task, good heavens! devolves on you. Look forward then, anticipate with joy, What prospects burst upon your infant boy! Behold yon wide, uncultivated plain, From ocean's wave to ocean's wave again; Where silence reigns, nor human face is found All nature sleeps secure from human sound; Where bounds the deer, pursued by savage cries, Shall adventurous man with villages arise. Town after town and State on State unfurled, 'Tit the proud Pacific hails a new-born world. When solitude sits with time and age grown gray, The arts shall flourish, e'en like the blaze of day. Hammers shall ring, and the anvil's lab'ring peal Shall cheer the maid that hums the spinning-wheel. Those hidden ores that line Superior Bay Shall quit their beds and shine in upland day;

While o'er its tide sail after sail shall bend, And with proud cars of fire and steam contend. Rivers that have rolled since time itself began Shall lend their aid to bear adventurous man; While through the groves, uncultivated plains, They extend their arms, and meet with arms again. To unite their forks, oh! wonderful to tell! The upthrown earth bespeaks the proud canal! With spreading sail, then merchantmen may go From Hudson's mouth through States to Mexico. The fluted railroad, with bars above, below, Thus man may speed a hundred miles a day, And leave the bird a lingering on the way. The speaking-tube, concealed beneath the ground, All news convey to distant seats around. These, fathers, these might cause e'en stones to speak, And thoughts like these might entertain a week; But I too long have trespassed on your time, Strove to explain, in disconnected rhyme, Why we those scenes and exhibitions plan; Instruct the youth to thoughts and acts of man. Perhaps from these, to fill us with surprise, Some Newton, Milton, Washington may rise. I here would close, but, mixed among you all, The old bachelor sits, on whom I'm forced to call. In joys like those which sires anticipate, You have no share, nor can you, -'tis too late; But if youthful strength there still remains in one, Who wishes to live immortal in a son, Rouse from your stupor! awake your torpid brain! And quick the heart of some fair maid obtain! A bright example for you we set to-night; Four happy souls we shortly will unite. To prepare for these, good-night, I won't intrude, But soon return in woman's attitude.

Such was the prologue recited before the play opened. In a literary sense it is, of course, crude, but it has the high merit of being suited to the occasion.

The play, considering conditions, was very well produced, and its reproduction on several occasions, and the presentation of other plays from time to time, gave a wholesome spice to village life. The hint at the slab benches, with pins protruding through them, and at the paper scenes and flimsy curtains, gives an interior view of the hall, which was the first place of public entertainment in the village.

LAW AND ORDER.

This is a delicate topic. It would be perverting the truth of history to represent the village from which this city has grown

408

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY

as a moral paradise, and at the same time we are inclined to think there was no more depravity here than at other frontier trading posts. The leading citizens were not of the class lauded for piety, yet they were good people who, by example and executive action, endeavored to support law and order in society. But, being the leading village of Northwestern Ohio, it is not strange that a full share of knaves and villains made their temporary home here. There were petty thieves, common swindlers, and a few of that class, one of whom, on a certain occasion, declared that he be-longed to a society "for the transportation of horses and improving the currency." How much _counterfeiting was done here no man knows nor ever will know; the expeditious method "for transporting horses" made the town somewhat celebrated. Evil report went out from here more than from other frontier posts because Lower Sandusky was made a well-known place by its precedence in trade.

Very few of the village's were close Sabbath observers. This is almost uni- versally the rule of pioneer settlements. Those people who have persuaded them- selves that the commandment setting apart a day of rest has been downtrodden by constant violation in these latter years, and that the world is daily becoming more Godless, will find in the history of Ohio communities, with hut few exceptions, a refutation of their opinions. In Lower Sandusky, sixty years ago, a few of the residents observed the Sabbath, but a weekly day of rest, and worship, and thanksgiving was not on the calendar of the business men or an influential proportion of the citizens. Now, as a rule, the Sabbath is observed; disregard is the exception. When Rev. Jacob Bowlus, an ardent Methodist, came here in 1822, he was very unpopular. The account given by his son, at a pioneer meeting a few

years ago, is full of interest, for it reflects not only the moral status of the village at that time, but also the impolitic method of the preacher in his hasty zeal to reform the place in which he was a very new resident. People then, as now, became indignant at interference with their private affairs, especially so when interference touched their method of living. Mr. Bowlus, in his address in 1878, said:

I was with father when he came here in 1822. The first Sabbath after our arrival he thought it was his duty as a minister of the Gospel to use his influence to have the Sabbath properly observed. He went around town and told the people what he came here for-to live among them and have them live as Christian people. He went from house to house and from store to store, and induced the people to close their places of business and observe the Sabbath. Previous to that, Sunday had been to them like any other day. They did probably more business on Sunday than on other days. It is true, however, that some permitted smuggling goods through the back doors. Father noticed this, and talked to them about it frequently, but did not succeed in preventing the practice altogether.

Several families were considered pretty rough folks. Among them, some of you remember old Mr. Dew and family. A man lived with this old man Dew named Sanford Maines. Father met him down in the village after Sabbath was over, and said to him: "Is your name Sanford Maines?" He told him it was. "They tell me," said father, "you are a set of horse thieves, and I warn you to take care." "What!" exclaimed Maines, apparently surprised. Father repeated the same words and passed on. The next night father's buggy was hauled back of where the court-house now stands, where there was a thicket of hazel bushes. A chip fire was started and the vehicle burned up. Many such instances occurred in those days. It was a wild country indeed.

The forefathers of our city occasionally inflicted summary punishment upon those who trespassed upon the laws of society. One characteristic instance is remembered: A man by the name of Avery, some time during the year 1820, stole an axe. He was arrested, and, there being no jail to confine him in till he could be tried, the citizens decided to take him down to a locust tree about where the Fremont & Indiana railroad engine house now stands, and give him a sound thrashing. They

409

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

tied him up to the tree and gave him one hundred lashes, well laid on. After being released he swam the river, and never came back.

The practice of stealing firewood is shown by the records of the village justice, to be a very old one. An eccentric old man by the name of Hawkins, father of the miller, poet, preacher and actor, spent a portion of the time from 1816 to 1820 in Lower Sandusky. He was interested in the mill with his son, Thomas L. Hawkins, and occasionally missed slabs from the log yard. Being convinced that they went for firewood, he prepared some slabs by boring, and then loading them with tremendous charges of powder. The next morning there was such an explosion, in a log-cabin near the mill, as to take the gable end and a part of the end wall out of it, besides frightening and somewhat injuring the inmates. This was considered dangerous, and although the man owned up to stealing the slabs, Hawkins was arrested for an attempt upon his life. The old man, when arraigned before the justice, told all he had done, and, in justification, said his slabs were green, and wouldn't burn without some powder to help them, and he prepared his own slabs just as he pleased, and if they didn't quit stealing, he blow them all to

Hawkins was a party to another novel lawsuit of the period. He kept a canoe in the mill pond. A Frenchman one day took the canoe to hunt ducks, and after landing it on the other side, left his gun in the canoe; and went after plums. The old man waded the river, and took the canoe, fired off the Frenchman's gun, and paddled for the other shore. Fastening his canoe, he hastened to Esquire Harrington, a justice of the peace, and had the Frenchman summoned, to the tune of fifteen dollars damages for taking one canoe. But the old man found his match,

Frenchy came, and laid in a counterclaim to same amount, in about this style: "Mr. Hawkin owe me for shoot my gun one time for noting, fifteen dollars." The justice suggested that that was a pretty high charge for one load of powder and shot. "Sacre," said the Frenchman, "suppose he sharge me ver' high, I sharge him ver' high, too, aha ! dat not right, sare."

Whatever may have been the reputation inflicted upon the town by a coterie of rakes, outlaws and swindlers who were not citizens but only transient sojourners, there was much virtue here. People were generally hospitable and generous, honest in dealing with each other, and united heartily in the amenities, and sympathized with each other in the asperities of border life.

POSTAL FACILITIES.

We are unable to say just when postal facilities were provided for Lower San- dusky, but it is altogether probable that military routes were established in the winter of 1812-13 when the stockade was built. After the war a post office was established, and according to our best in-formation Morris A. Newman was commissioned postmaster. Three mail routes were established-one up the river through Fort

to Seneca to Delaware, another east Norwalk, and a third west to Fort Meigs. During the war mail-carriers were in great personal danger. Some of the Indians were hostile, and the mail-bag was a tempting object of plunder. The first mail-carrier of whom we have any personal knowledge, was a man named Munger, whose route was from here to Fort Meigs. One mile from the fort he was attacked by a party of Indians, but made his escape with but slight wounds, leaving the mail-bag and his horse to the red robbers. The thick woods and swamp sheltered him while he travelled four days, as he supposed toward Fort Stephenson.

410

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

At the termini of his route he was supposed to be dead, or taken captive, but on the fifth day he made his appearance at Lower Sandusky, having wandered as far north as Port Clinton on the lake shore.

During the early stages of the war it was, sometimes necessary to give the mail- carriers a military escort. This was the mission of Colonel Ball's detail when attacked by a party of Indians about one mile south of Fort Stephenson, in 1813, a full account of which is given elsewhere.

It is difficult to realize the perils and hardships of the early mail-carriers. The most difficult and dangerous route was from here to Perrysburg (Fort Meigs). There was no road, and the carrier was guided by blazes or scars made on the trees. The route was from Lower Sandusky down the river through the Whittaker farm, to where two large white oaks were blazed. These two trees were solid guides pointing to the thick, swampy forest westward. Muskellunge was forded some distance from the mouth, and from there to the site of Elmore was a tortuous path, at places scarcely wide enough for a horse to pass through. From the Portage River at Elmore, a crooked path led to Fort Meigs. After leaving Mrs. Whit- taker's, there was not an inhabitant on the whole route. After Munger had been robbed, it was difficult to get any one to travel this route. In spring or winter time, when the ice was breaking, the journey could be performed only on foot. Isaac Knapp, a young man of distinguished bravery, who had located here in 1814, undertook the perilous contract. He associated with himself his lion-hearted brother Walter, who carried it some of the time, Walter being selected chiefly on account of his lightness of body, and consequent ability to walk lightly over their ice or frozen crust, which would break through with a heavy man or horse, and make

progress extremely difficult. It .needed the Knapp sort of spirit to travel this lonely path during that dangerous period. One day, just before leaving Fort Meigs, Isaac Knapp saw from the fort two men who had just, started out, waylaid and murdered by a, party of Indians. With this terrible scene fresh on his mind, he, a few hours afterward, shouldered the mail-bag, and set off into the forest. By a devious route he evaded the watching red- skins, and safely performed the journey.

The Knapps had hearts for any fate. Isaac became a highly esteemed citizen of the town, and an associate judge of the county. Walter also located here in later years, where he raised a, family and died. These two brothers were the, heroes of a romantic adventure which illustrates. their character, and proves their fitness for the public service performed during times which tried men's souls:

Shortly after the War of 1812 closed, Walter Knapp, for speaking disrespectfully of the British Government, was arrested and imprisoned in Sandwich, Upper Canada, a town opposite Detroit. The crime charged to him was punishable by fine, and his brothers James and Isaac prepared to pay the fine, and went to Detroit to await the trial of Walter; pay his fine for him and bring him away. The court sat at Sandwich at this time, but, contrary to usage, the trial of Walter was not brought on, and the court adjourned leaving him in jail where he might stay another year. The brothers, James and Isaac, therefore resolved on rescuing him, for he was badly treated, and might die before trial day. They found friends enough in Detroit who were willing to go over and assist in the enterprise, but upon consultation-it was thought best for only two to go over, as that number would not excite suspicion. At about 10 o'clock at night Isaac applied to the ferryman for the use of his canoe for three hours to go to Spring Wells, a place on the American side, but the suspicious Frenchman refused to let him have it until he promised three dollars for its use, and left ninety dollars as a pledge for its safe return inside of three hours. It was a good-sized pine canoe, light, and easily propelled.

At a little after to o'clock that night Isaac Knapp left the American shore at Detroit. They selected a landing place on the Canada side under a high bank near a church, whose steeple towered up visible in

411

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

the gloomy sky. After landing and securing their canoe the brothers proceeded a, mile through the streets to the jail, which they intended to enter, with the aid of saws, through a window. All was dark and quiet. - The work at the window was commenced but a little while when the saw broke. They then tried the front door of the jail, and found it locked and immovable, and impregnable. They then proceeded to the rear of the jail yard, which was enclosed with pickets twelve feet high, set in the ground. A strip of scantling was spiked to the pickets about ten feet from the ground to hold them parallel at the top. By a run and a leap they found they could reach and hold to the scantling. After throwing over a sledge- hammer, which they anticipated would be necessary for their purpose, they leaped the pickets and went to the back door of the jail hall. This door was not locked. They had learned from one McDonald, a tavern keeper in Detroit, the plan of the jail, and where the jailor hung the keys. The prison was on one side of the hall, and the room right opposite the jail door was occupied by the jailor and his family, and behind the door of the jailor's room hung the prison keys. Walter was awake, and James went to the prison door and whispered to his brother, who informed him where the keys hung, and that the largest key was the one to his door. James entered the jailor's apartment into perfect darkness, and began feeling for the keys, but was some time in finding the largest one. Isaac stood in the door of the room. James, in fumbling for the keys, unfortunately knocked a large bunch of heavy keys from their suspension, which fell rattling like a log-chain upon the floor, rousing the jailor, who instantly sprang to his feet and exclaimed: "What in the name of God is that? Who's here?" Isaac Knapp, guided by the sound, sprang directly in front of the jailor as he stood at the bedside, and said, in a low, determined voice, "Not a word, sir. We have come for a prisoner; we must have him; and if you utter one word of alarm I will dispatch you in a mo- ment!" At this the jailor's wife and children were terrified, but the same command, backed by the command of the jailor himself, to save his life, soon quieted them. Meantime the key was found, and James and Walter were at the door of the jailor's apartment saying: "We are here." Isaac followed the sound and reached the door, joined his brothers, and proceeded to scale the pickets at a different point and over into an alley. As they were going through the yard, which was planted with potatoes, Walter lost his bundle of clothes, and began to search for them. Just then the jailor gave the shout for alarm, and they heard numerous voices at the front door of the jail. There was no time for hunting old clothes in the dark, and James whispered "come," and instantly they scaled the pickets. Isaac seized Walter by the collar, and with a bound threw him over to James, and with another scaled the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 63

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: