USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 20
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
ries yet retain impressions of the heroic conflict, and the number is monthly be- coming smaller.
To increase the acreage .of tillable land was a main object of the well-to-do pioneer. He first girdled the trees and cut out the underbrush and logs of a small patch, probably ten acres, for the first season's planting. The next season, if health per- mitted, he more than doubled the "girdle clearing," and began to cut or burn down dead trees standing on the first opening. Those that were hollow or partially de- cayed burned readily, but solid timber hadito be cut. Straight white oak, walnut, and poplar was split into rails for fencing fields under cultivation. Other trees were cut into logs, and when several acres had been thus reduced, a frolic was made, to which all the neighborhood came. Log- rollings were the joy of pioneer life. All work was turned into fun. Heavy lifts were made a contest of strength, and the fatigues of the day were drowned by the contents of well filled jugs. These pleas- ant gatherings, after the logs had all been piled ready for the torch, often terminated. in happy social occasions, in which the wives and sisters figured conspicuously. Dancing was a fashionable amusement, encouraged by the mothers, and greatly enjoyed by all. When the men went to roll their neighbors' logs, their dames and lasses dropped in to help do the cooking, and perchance make a quilt between meals. The men concluded their labor by tri- umphantly carrying the captain on their backs; the women dedicated a quilt by enfolding it around their hostess. The strains of a fiddle brought all together, when night's shadows expelled the day. Round dancing was then unknown, but all the variety of movements may be described as a free and easy, go as you please affair. It was not expulsion from the ball-room to step on a lady's toes,
though such a sad accident rarely hap- pened, for the nimble, though not tender feet, of these pioneer lasses quickly re- bounded from the solid puncheon floor. One thing commendable can be said of the pioneer "French Four " or quadrille; it was performed with hearty enthusiasm. The dancers were lost in their amusement, and joy inspired every step. Beaux swung their partners with a generous hug, and the girls made no peevish objection. Joy- fully the dance went on till howling wolves grew hoarse, and candles melted to their sockets.
Stock was allowed to pasture in the fenceless woods. Every cow was provided with a bell, and every flock of sheep with several. Cattle often ate the poisonous grass, which caused that terrible disease, milk sickness, spoken of at greater length elsewhere in this history. Sheep were penned in a high enclosure every night, to protect them from wolves, which often came to the cabin door. Hogs were marked and turned out to fatten on nuts and acorns. Hogs bred in the woods be- came wild, and sometimes dangerous. It was unsafe to go far from the clearing, ac- companied by a dog, for the sight of that animal arouses all the savage nature of a hog. An old settler assures us that an in- furiated boar was a more dangerous enemy than a bear, or wolf. Every farmer had his stock marked, which the law required him to have recorded in a book of in- dentures kept for the purpose by the town- ship clerk.
No market was accessible to the pio- neers of Sandusky county, where farm products could be exchanged for cash, but furs always commanded the ready money. This circumstance made many of the pio- neers hunters, particularly those in the north part of the county. Soda-ash found a ready cash market, and several kilns in the east part of the county were con-
132
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
structed for its manufacture. Fish filled the streams emptying into the bay and river. Nature thus afforded the otherwise unfavored early settlers a bountiful supply of nutritious meat. The woods also abounded in deer, squirrels, and turkeys. Nature lavished her wealth too bountifully upon Sandusky county ; too much timber and too many animals was the cause of much distress.
As the little spots of sunshine in the long reach of forest grew more numerous and larger, the pioneers began to avail themselves of the advantages of churches and schools. The first schools were kept in private houses, where all the children of the neighborhood came, each contrib- uting a share toward the support of the teachers, which was very little, indeed, but, as a rule, the teachers were as poor as the pay; there were, however, many ex- ceptions to this unfortunate rule. The first school-houses were built by the voluntary efforts of the neighbors. A little council of residents determined on a location, and set a day for raising. All concerned came, and by night the house was under roof. Several holes were cut in the walls, over which greased paper was pasted, which served the purpose of a window, for light alone was needed ; cracks between logs admitted sufficient fresh air. The benches were made of puncheons, and a wide puncheon on each side of the room, fastened to blocks about three feet high, served as a desk. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were the only branches taught. Until 1825 teachers were sup- ported wholly by private subscription. The first school law which gave each township at least one school, supported entirely or in part by taxation and the proceeds of section sixteen, which the ordinance of 1787 set apart for the sup- port of education, was passed in 1825, and went into effect soon after. In 1829
a new law, authorizing the trustees to divide each township into districts, was passed, and was more effectual. Still, in the new communities of. Sandusky county, the tax of three-fourths of a mill on the dollar was insufficient, and private subscription had to be relied upon. The teachers boarded with the scholars, and many of them worked for two shillings a day. The public school system of Ohio was revised and established on a solid basis in 1838, when local authorities were given permis- sion to levy taxes to the amount needed for the liberal support of public instruc- tion.
In 1852 the present school law was passed, since which time educational facil- ities have steadily improved till there is no longer the semblance of an excuse for common ignorance. It is to be regretted that the public library system, once well established, fell to premature decay. It is a melancholy fact that but few people through the country have given any atten- tion to the. collection of books for the use of their children. Libraries breed schol- ars, and scholarship has become a neces- sity in almost every walk of life. The in- difference of people in respect to furnish- ing their children proper reading matter, is shown by the inexcusably reckless man- agement of the excellent library, which the State once furnished to every town- ship. The only public libraries to which the people of the county have access, are those at Fremont and Bellevue.
A gratitying improvement in school- houses is noticeable all over the county. Log structures are no longer to be seen anywhere. Frame buildings took their places, and these, in turn, are fast being displaced by comfortable brick houses. People have lately formed an idea of the value of talent in the school-room, and are paying better wages than formerly. It is needless to say that the standard of
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
common school education is steadily im- proving. The children of the pioneers, now grown frosty with years, esteemed themselves fortunate if they learned to spell, read, write, and cipher as far as the rule of three. Now a common school course prepares a student for any depart- ment of business, or for admission into the higher seminaries of learning. The change in school government during the sixty years of Sandusky county's history, is worthy of mention. Early teachers ruled with the rod rather than the head. Pupils were reduced to obedience by beating out of them their life and spirit. There were a few teachers who practiced humane and sensible methods of government. The names of such are held in grateful remem- brance by the men and women fortunate enough to enjoy their association and instruction.
Nothing is so difficult to reduce to words and express on paper as the moral con- dition of a pioneer community. This subject, as applied to Lower Sandusky, is referred to in other chapters. Throughout the country there were conflicting elements of human nature, but the moral life, taken as a whole, was healthful. Depravity is generally found among the idle and in- different classes. A few such there were, but the country possessed little attraction for them. Sandusky county's pioneers were not, generally speaking, an intellectual class of people. They were hard-working people before they came, and had no time here for anything but hard work. But they had due appreciation of the value of education, and against all adversities of circumstance gave attention to the instruc- tion of their children. Neither were they a Godless people, but heard with interest, and were refreshed by the preaching of a devoted, self-denying, itinerant clergy.
The mission of early preachers was as arduous as the early practice of medicine.
Long rides through a malarial forest, by paths almost untraceable, ministering to the sick at almost every house, and preach- ing in every settlement, was the heaven- ordained calling of a United Brethren or Methodist clergyman. Meetings were at first held in private houses, then school-houses, and finally the little log church made its appearance. The United Brethren and Methodist were the pioneer churches .of Sandusky county. Method- ism was first established at Fremont (then Lower Sandusky), as will be seen by refer- ence to the proper chapter. A preaching station was established in Green Creek township, in 1822, the outgrowth of which is the Clyde Methodist Episcopal church. About 1825 itinerant Methodists began to hold services in Townsend town- ship. A class was afterwards formed there, and in 184c a church was built. It is not known just when Methodist evangelists car- ried the light of religious instruction into Ri- ley. A class was formed there about 1850 .* The Methodist Episcopal church has made little progress in the western town- ships. Washington was made a preaching station as early as 1833, probably earlier. A class was formed a few years afterwards. This was the only pioneer association of that denomination in the Black Swamp region. Recent classes have been formed in Scott and at Gibsonburg.
By far the largest church in the county, both in number of congregations and in membership, is the United Brethren. There are two churches in York, one in Townsend, two in Riley, one at Clyde, one at Green Springs, two in Ballville, four in Jackson, two in Washington, two in Rice, one in Scott, one in Madison, and one in Woodville. +
* See township history.
+A general sketch of the United Brethren church in this county, contributed by J. Burgner, will be found in the chapter on Ballville township.
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
Next to the United Brethren in numer. ical strength, in the country districts, is the Evangelical Association, popularly known as Albrights. This denomination has one church in Townsend, one in Riley, one in Ballville, two in Jackson, one in Fremont, two in Washington, one in Scott, one in Madison, and one in Woodville. The membership, like that of the United Brethren, is almost entirely of people of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The clergy, as in the United Brethren and Methodist, are itinerant, with licensed local preachers for assistants.
Reformed churches are of later organ- ization than those of any of the denom- inations mentioned. Churches have been erected in Fremont, Washington, Jackson, and Woodville townships. There are several preaching stations besides.
The first Catholic churches in the coun- ty were in Fremont and Rice. There are at present two congregations in Fremont, one in Rice, one in Clyde, one in Jackson, and one in Woodville.
The Evangelical Lutheran church came into being in this county in 1836, Adol- phus Konrad being the pioneer preacher. He organized congregations in Fremont and at Woodville. Rev. George Cronnen- wett took charge of the church at Wood- ville in 1841, and Rev. Henry Lang of the church at Fremont in 1843. Both have been indefatigable in their labors ever since. There are six churches in the county, organized as follows: Fremont, Four-mile Point (Sandusky township), Hessville, and Woodville, from 1836 to 1841; Rice, 1843; and Gibsonburg, 1876. A large proportion of the church in Erie county, four miles north of Bellevue, live in this county. There are in the county about three thousand Lutheran members.
Besides these congregations of the more leading and influential denominations having a membership distributed over the
entire county, there are many individual churches. For further details the reader is referred to the accompanying sketches of Fremont, Clyde, Bellevue, and the sev- eral townships.
Fifty years ago people esteemed them- selves fortunate to have the privilege of church service once a month; now a meeting house is within walking distance of every house in the county.
The material advancement of any sec- tion of country depends, in a large degree, upon its natural resources. In this re- spect Sandusky county is more than duly favored, although without mines of iron or coal. The most substantial wealth is fer- tility of soil, and nowhere in Ohio is the soil better adapted to general agriculture. The rich alluvions of the Scioto have long been celebrated, but a comparison of acre- age productions is in favor of the valley of Sandusky Bay. From the time the asper- ities of pioneer life began to soften, and the real natural advantages of the county to stand out in public view, population and wealth have multiplied with surprising ra- pidity. In 1826, in York township, the total valuation (including houses,) of real property was $2,303. The names of fifty- two persons are entered on the duplicate, with personal property amounting to $4,668, of which $1,500 is on merchan- dising.
Excepting Sandusky township, in which the village of Lower Sandusky was then included, Ballville paid more taxes in 1826 than any other township in the county. The total valuation of real estate was $6,133, and personal property, assessed against thirty-seven individuals to the amount of $2,632.
The real estate of Sandusky township in 1826 was valued at $19,095, merchan- dising at $9,313, and other personal prop- erty at $2,416.
At that time no real estate in Riley
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
township was subject to taxation, but the personal valuation was $3,480, $2,440 of which was on cattle alone. The personal valuation of Townsend was $1,488; no real estate was listed.
The valuation of real estate in Green Creek was $819, and of personal prop- erty $3,480.
At this time the west part of the county was a wilderness, untrodden by the asses- sor, or scarcely any one else.
In York, in 1826, there were 26 horses and 266 cattle; in Townsend, 9 horses and 14I cattle; in Green Creek, 22 horses and 175 cattle; in Ballville, 30 horses and 134 cattle; in Riley, 26 horses and 305 cattle.
One year later, in 1827, in York, 3,325 acres were valued at $6,232, or less than two dollars an acre; merchandising at $1,200, and other chattels at $2,640.
Five hundred acres in Townsend were valued at $900, and the personal valuation was $1,240.
In Green Creek, 1,91 1 acres were valued at $4,255; chattel valuation, $1,664.
One hundred and sixty acres in Riley were valued at $240; personal property amounted to $2,800-more than any other township except Sandusky, showing the extent of the stock-raising industry on the prairies in the northern part.
In Ballville, in 1827, 3,510 acres were subject to taxation, valued at $14, 131; valuation of personal property, $1, 152.
In Sandusky township, 5,249 acres were entered on the duplicate at $14,806. The valuation of merchandising had increased to $7,300, and other chattels to $1, 112.
The progress of improvement was most rapid between 1827 and 1840. During that period the Black Swamp was entered and settled. An important element was also added to the population. German emigration to Ohio began about 1830. Sandusky county began to receive these thrifty immigrants about 1835, and for
ten years the influx was quite rapid. They settled chiefly on improved lands in Riley, Rice, Washington, and Woodville town- ships. A few scattering settlements are also to be found in other parts of the county. Germans work hard for their money, and when they have it they save it. The tax valuation of the county is higher by many thousand dollars than it would have been without a substantial German element in the settlement.
It will be seen that there exists on the soil of Sandusky county rather a remark- able mixture of blood-Yankees of almost every type; Pennsylvanians, with all the race mixture in one individual that that term implies; Germans, and French., If the doctrine that cross-breeding is pro- ductive of superiority, surely much may be expected of the county in future gen- erations.
The following statistics show the real estate valuation of the several townships in 1840. Sandusky includes the town of Lower Sandusky: Sandusky, $141,695; Ballville, $81,883; Green Creek, $74,479; Washington, $69,579; York, $64,223; Riley, $58,875; Jackson, $57,259; Town- send, $51,106; Scott, $49,881; Wood- ville, $42, 311; Madison, $27,446; Rice, $23,754.
This shows the rapid development of the Black Swamp townships, which thir- teen years before had a population of less than half a dozen families. Jackson, the settlement of which did not really begin till 1828, takes rank over Townsend, where settlement was made more than ten years before. Washington takes fourth place among the townships. The progress of settlement in Washington was greatly accelerated by the improvement of the pike. The following statistics give a com- parative view of the number and value of horses and cattle in the several townships in 1840. The following showing makes
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
considerable change in the former order of arrangement :
York-Number of horses 268, valuation $10,720; of cattle 600, valuation $4,880.
Sandusky-Number of horses 255, valuation $10,- 200; of cattle 417, valuation $3,336.
Green Creek-Number of horses 198, valuation $7,920; of cattle 511, valuation $4,088.
Ballville-Number of horses 170, valuation $6,800; of cattle 449, valuation $3,892.
Washington-Number of horses 141, valuation $5,- 640; of cattle 442, valuation $3, 536.
Jackson-Number of horses 157, valuation $6, 280; of cattle 353, valuation $2,824.
Townsend-Number of horses 115, valuation $4,- 600; of cattle 361, valuation $2,888.
Scott-Number of horses 98, valuation $3,920; of cattle 429, valuation $3,432.
Riley-Number of horses 79, valuation $3, 120; of cattle 306, valuation $2, 528.
Rice-Number of horses 46, valuation $1, 860; of cattle 204, valuation $1,632.
Woodville-Number of horses 41, valuation $I, - 660; of cattle 180, valuation $1,440.
Madison-Number of horses 31, valuation $1, 240; of cattle 134, valuation $1,072.
The following table shows the valuation as appraised in 1880, including villages and towns:
Real Estate.
Personal Property.
Fremont
$1,303,486
$479,066
Green Creek.
1,217,632
335,830
Washington
1,161,050
211,850
York
110,795
383,040
Jackson
859,030
176,010
Ballville
804,882
178,055
Rilev
709,940
108,646
Woodville.
709,272
284,205
Sandusky
682,796
124,998
Scott.
645,989
105,350
Townsend
624,355
144.365
Madison
451,977
71,915
Rice
381,459
101,524
The population of Sandusky county in 1820 was 852; in 1830, 2,851; in 1840, 10,182; in 1850, 14,305; in 1856, 21,- 429; in 1870, . 25,503, and in 1880, 32,- 063. According to the census of 1880 Sandusky county stands thirty-fifth with respect to population among the counties of the State. In one other respect the county stands somewhat higher when placed in comparison with other counties. During the year 1879 there appeared on
the court docket forty-nine petitions for divorce. This number was exceeded in only fourteen other counties of the State, and in proportion to the population, in not more than half a dozen other counties. Of these forty-nine petitions, twenty-six alleged as the cause, cruelty; sixteen, neglect ; six, adultery; and one, fraud.
The following table shows the relative growth and comparative population of the several townships since 1850. In the last column is given the foreign-born popu- lation in 1870:
1850 1860 1870 1880
Foreign. 1870
Fremont
1464 3510 5455 8451
1072
Green Creek.
1289 3228
3666'4495
374
Washington
1499 1992 2282 2608
366
York.
1811 1619 2094 2319
288
Madison
389
881
985,1856
85
Sandusky
1040 1151 1570 1785
266
Townsend
968 1053
1290 1697
I82
Woodville
1237 1516
1418 1662
412
Ballville
1556 2188
1731 1652
205
Riley
682 1198 1461 1621
274
Jackson
1092 1478
1350 1485
141
Scott
792 1264 1274 1452
90
Rice.
486| 943
927| 930
204
Excepting Sandusky township the above table includes towns and villages. The population of these, severally, as given by the census of 1880, was as follows:
Fremont, 8,451; Clyde, 2,380; Belle vue, 2,169 ;* Green Spring, 720;} Gib- sonburg, 589; Lindsey, 409; Woodville, 406; Helena, III; Burgoon, 110; Roll- ersville, 99; Millersville, 52.
The future of any section of country is always a subject of hazardous speculation. But that Sandusky county is not yet fully developed is apparent to every observer. Some of the older townships outside of town limits are not increasing, and will not increase in population with any great rapidity, for the tendency in settled com- munities is for the farms to grow larger by the natural law of concentration of capital; but the towns are growing
* 737 in Sandusky county, 1,432 in Huron.
+ 389 in Sandusky county, 331 in Seneca.
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HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
larger, and land advancing in value. There are yet in the county large tracts of unimproved land which will in the near future be developed and add largely to wealth and population. In fact, the day is not far distant when the swamps, now only fit for hunting, will be recovered by ditches and dykes, and golden harvests will decorate the fertile soil now despoiled by water. A beginning has already been made - the end is beyond human imag- ination to predict.
Railroads are plowing through the coun- ty in every direction. Towns are spring- ing up in every township, making the products of the soil and the rocks under the soil more valuable. Sandusky county and its towns are yet in their youth - every sign points to a healthy and full growth.
*VOTE OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
The following shows the official vote of Sandusky county since the first guberna- torial election in 1822, to 1880. The vote is for Governor, except when otherwise in- dicated:
1822-Allen Trimble, 118; William W. Irvin, 81 Jeremiah Morrow, 23.
1826-Allen Trimble, 203, Alexander Campbell, 79; John Bigger, 13.
1828-Allen Trimble, 153; John W. Campbell. 64. 1830-Duncan McArthur (National Republican), 181; Robert Lucas (Democrat), 141.
1832-Presidential election, Andrew Jackson (Dem- ocrat), 279; Henry Clay (Whig), 294.
1834-Robert Lucas (Democrat), 383; James Findlay (Whig), 313.
1836-Presidential election, Martin Van Buren (Democrat), 799; William H. Harrison, (Whig), 642.
1838-Wilson Shannon (Democrat), 834; Joseph Vance, (Whig), 724.
1840-Wilson Shannon (Democrat), 930; Thomas Corwin, (Whig), 841.
1842-Wilson Shannon (Democrat), 957; Thomas Corwin (Whig), 738; Leicester King, (Abolition- ist), 7.
1844-David Tod (Democrat), 1198; Mordecai Bartley (Whig), 951; Leicester King, (Abolition- ist), 00*
1846 -- David Tod (Democrat), 961; William Bebb (Whig), 754; Samuel Lewis (Abolitionist), 30.
1848-John W. Weller (Democrat), 1074; Seabury Ford (Whig), 874.
1850-Reuben Wood (Democrat), 1215; William Johnston (Whig), 742.
1851-Reuben Wood (Democrat), 1293; Samuel F. Vinton (Whig), 687; Samuel Lewis (Abolitionist), 2.
1853-William Medill (Democrat), 1417; Nelson Barrere (Whig), 467; Samuel Lewis (Abolitionist), 154.
1855-William Medill (Democrat), 1499; Allen Trimble (Know Nothing), 447; Salmon P. Chase (Republican), 1042.
1856-For Attorney General, C. P. Wolcott (Re- publican), 1450; S. M. Hart (Democrat), 1443; John M. Bush (Know Nothing), 16.
1857-Salmon P. Chase (Republican), 1315; Henry B. Payne (Democrat), 1699; Philip Van Trump, 67.
1858-For Attorney General, C. P. Wolcott (Re- publican), 1237; Durbin Ward (Democrat), 1555.
1859-William Dennison (Republican), 1473; Ru- fus P. Ranney (Democrat), 1822.
1861-David Tod (Republican), 2160; Hugh J. Jewett (Democrat), 1856.
1862-For Secretary of State, Wilson P. Kennon (Republican), 1474; William W. Armstrong (Demo- crat), 1993.
1863-John Brough (Republican), 2571; C. L. Vallandingham (Democrat), 2213.
1864-For Secretary of State, William H. Smith (Republican), 2040; W. W. Armstrong (Democrat), 1917.
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