USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County : Containing a detailed narrative of the principal events that have occured since its first settlement down to the present time > Part 11
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
The Ordinance of 1787, provided that " religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the
* Each township that has disposed of its school-section, draws interest upon a certain proportion of the proceeds annually, which is applied for the payment of teachers in the several school districts throughout the township.
{For statistics, see Appendix.]
148
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." In the previous Ordinance of 1785, regulating the sale of lands in the west, section number 16, of every township was reserved " for the maintenance of public schools within the said township." And the Constitution of Ohio, using the words of the Ordinance of 1787, says, " that schools and the means of instruction, shall be forever encoura- ged by legislative provision."
In accordance with the feelings shown in these several claus- es, the governors of Ohio always mentioned the subject of ed- ucation with great respect, in their messages ; but nothing was done to make it general. It was supposed that people would not willingly be taxed, to educate the children of their poor neighbors ; not so much because they failed to perceive the ne- cessity that exists for all to be educated, in order that the com- monwealth may be safe and prosperous ; but because a vast number, that lived in Ohio, still doubted whether Ohio would be their ultimate abiding-place. They came to the west to make money rather than to find a home, and did not care to help to educate those whose want of education they might nev- er feel.
Such was the state of things, until about the year 1816, at which time several persons in Cincinnati, who knew the bene- fits of a free-school system, united, and commenced a corres- pondence with different portions of the state. Their ideas be- ing warmly responded to, by the dwellers in the Ohio com- pany's purchase, and the Western Reserve more particularly, committees of correspondence were appointed in the different sections, and various means were resorted to, to call the atten- tion of the public to the subject ; among the most efficient of which was the publication of an Education Almanac, at Cin- cinnati. This work was edited by Nathan Guilford, a lawyer
149
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
of that place, who had from the first taken a deep interest in the matter.
For seven or eight years this gentleman and his associates la- bored silently and ceaselessly to diffuse their sentiments, before any attempt was made to bring the subject into the legislature. At length, in 1824, it having been ascertained that a strong feel- ing existed in favor of a common school system through the eastern and north-eastern parts of the state, and it being also known, that the western men who were then bringing forward their canal schemes, wished to secure the assistance of their less immediately benefited fellow-citizens, it was thought to be a favorable time to bring the free-shcool proposition forward; the understanding being, that, as neither the friends of canals, nor those of schools, were strong enough by themselves to carry their project, each should assist the other.
This understanding, which was rather implied than express- ed, has led some to say, that the free-school system was attained by "log-rolling ;" which saying, though true in one sense, is not to be understood in the sense that refers to individual soli- citation and promise. On this occasion Cincinnati sent to the senate, Mr. Guilford, whose avowed and main object in thus entering public life, was to help on the accomplishment of his favorite project, and to that he devoted himself during the ses- sion. Many thought his toils useless ; some of the leading men said the measure was unconstitutional, unwise, and against popular feeling entirely ; but they proved false prophets, as it was carried by a very large vote, and became a popular measure.
The Rev. Manasseh Cutler, one of the leading directors of the Ohio company, stood by the side of the chief projector of the school law at the bar of the house of representatives when the final vote was taken upon it, and, as the speaker announced the result, the old man raised his hands and uttered the words of 13*
150
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Simeon: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word ; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!" It was a touching and true tribute.
Mr. Guilford, having brought about the particular good which he had in view, became a private citizen again, setting to the common political aspirants of the country, an example well worthy of their consideration.
Praise for his devotion to so noble a cause, would be here misplaced, but no one can doubt, looking only to the object he effected, that his name will ever be remembered with those of the great benefactors of Ohio and the west .*
The act of that year imposed a general tax upon property, of half a mill upon the dollar, for the support of schools, and provided for their establishment in every township. It after- wards underwent several alterations, and in 1831, was super- seded by another and better law upon the same subject. To this latter were made several amendments; when in 1838 an- other general revision took place. Since that time, several ad- ditions and alterations have been made, but the general features of the law of 183S still remain in force.
That the common schools of this county are not equal to those in the eastern states, or even to the older counties in this state, is not surprising. Our county is new, and its inhabitants have not had the time, with an age of twenty-four years only, to mature its institutions. But we are looking forward to the time when the sun of science shall rise higher above the hori- zon-when the public schools of our county will be the pride of every citizen.
Aside from the obstacles arising from the defective school system of the state, there are those which retard the onward progress of popular education, and which might be removed
* North American Review.
151
HISTORY OF BENECA COUNTY.
in every county, were the subject well understood, and the blessings of education rightly appreciated. We will mention a few only.
1. Neglect of parents and guardians to visit the school- room. There is no class of men who need greater support and encouragement than teachers, and yet none receive less. It is not strange that they should contract errors, for none proffer sympathy or counsel ; nor is it strange that they become disheart- ened, and sluggishly and faithlessly discharge their duties, for no kind voice beckons them on to diligence and duty. No agent in any other employment would be so neglected by his principal ; and yet what vocation ought to command such strict and affectionate supervision as that of the teacher ? The inju- rious consequences, however, of this inattention to schools, at- tach with the greatest power to the pupils. A child cannot be supposed to have any adequate or enlarged views of duty, in- dustry or learning, when parents exhibit an almost total indif- ference to their condition or progress. Did a parent exhibit as much indifference to his flocks and herds, as he frequently manifests in regard to the education of his children, he would be regarded as improvident and injudicious.
Dews, sunshine, and rain, are not more needed for the growth of plants in the vegetable kingdom, than are the genial influen- ces of sympathy and co-operation in giving prosperity and beauty to the more interesting plants to be found in the nurse- ries of our country's hope and glory .*
2. Employing incompetent teachers. The importance and responsibility of the office of teacher-says Emerson-are sadly undervalued. A very common impression is, that any person of tolerable character, who has been through a school, and acquired the elements of the branches taught, is qualified.
*The secretary of state's report, 1848.
152
HISTORY OF BENECA COUNTY.
to teach; as if the art of teaching were nothing more than pouring into the mind of another what has been poured into ours ; as if there were no such thing as mind to act upon, habits to form, or character to influence. The prevailing opinions in regard to the art are such as the common sense of mankind and the experience of centuries has shown to be ab- surd as to every other art and pursuit of civilized life. To be qualified to discourse upon our moral and religious duties, a man must be educated by years of study ; to be able to ad- minister to the body in disease, he must be educated by careful examination of the body in health and disease, and of the ef- fects produced on it by external agents ; to be able to make out a conveyance of property, or to draw a writ, he must be edu- cated ; to navigate ships, he must be educated by years of ser- vice before the mast, or on the quarter-deck ; to transfer the products of the earth, or of art, from the producer to the con- sumer, he must be educated ; to make a hat or coat, he must be educated by years of apprenticeship ; to make a plow he must be educated ; to make a nail or a shoe for a horse or an ox he must be educated ; but to prepare a man to do all these things; to train the body in its most tender years, according to the laws of health, so that it shall be strong, to resist disease ; to fill the mind with useful knowledge, to educate it to compre- hend all the relations of society, to bring out all its powers in- to full and harmonious action ; to educate the moral nature, in which the very sentiment of duty resides, that it may be fitted for an honorable and worthy fulfillment of the public and pri- vate offices of life ; to do all this is supposed to require no study, no apprenticeship, no preparation ..
So long then as the business of an instructor is not consider- ed in its true light, as one of the highest, noblest, and most use- ful employments on earth-so long as the compensation is very
153
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
low -- will the people of this county labor under the disadvan- tages of a depressed state of popular education.
3. The use of old and dilapidated school-houses. We do not look for deep religious feeling, in a community who occupy good dwelling-houses, but are content to worship in poor and neglected churches ; nor do we expect great rever- ence for Christianity, from children, if the sanctuary to which they are carried on Sunday, is old and dilapidated-disfigured by abuse-without paint-its windows broken-and not a shrub, or tree, or square yard of verdure in its neighborhood.
The school-house is dedicated to education, as the house of worship is to religion. In one case, as in the other, the state of the edifice indicates the regard which its builders and guar- dians have for the object to which they have devoted it. Nor this only. The condition and aspect of the building, with its appendages and surrounding landscape, are inseparably associ- ated in a child's mind, with his first day at school, and his first thoughts about education. Is it well, then, that these earliest, most lasting, and most controlling associations, should be char- ced with so much that is offensive ? Is it to be expected, that the youthful mind can regard that as the cause, next to religion, most important of all others, which is upheld and promoted in such buildings as the district school-house usually is ? Among the most comfortless and wretched tene- ments, which the pupil ever enters, he thinks of it with repug- nance ; the task which it imposes, he dreads ; and he at length takes his leave of it-as of a prison, from which he is but too happy to escape.
When parents are no longer indifferent about the welfare of their schools-when they desire no longer to hire those teach- ers whose only recommend is, that they will teach " cheap "- when they do not fail to examine their children at home with regard to their progress at schools-when they are no longer
154
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
remiss in visiting the school-room-then may we expect that Seneca county will shine bright as a star of the first magni- tude in the great constellation of Ohio! and then will her common schools be THE PROUDEST MONUMENTS OF HER GREAT- NESS.
CHAPTER XI.
Adams township-Suphur springs-Green Spring-Festival of the Sen- eca Indians.
On the 6th day of December, 1826, the township of Adams was organized, and made to include all the land in the ori- ginal surveyed township, No. 3, in the 16th range, except what was then owned by the Seneca tribe of Indians, and one tier of sections on the west side of township No. 3, in the 17th Range, or what is at present Thompson township. Adams includes at this time, the whole of the original surveyed town- ship No. 3, in range 16. That part not then owned by the In- dians, was surveyed into sections, and quarter sections, by Syl- vanus Bourne, in 1820; the residue was surveyed in 1832, by C. W. Christmas.
The first township election was held on Monday the 25th day of December, 1826, at the house of Samuel Whiteman .* The soil in this township is remarkably rich, producing all kinds of grain and grass in abundance. The land is heavily timbered, consisting chiefly of oak, walnut, poplar, maple, beech, &c. The surface is usually rolling, and very well watered.
* The ticket elected was as follows: Martin Olis, L. T. Butler, and Thomas Long- with, trustees ; Abraham Kine, clerk ; Charles Sbelby and Samuel Whiteman, over- seers of the poor ; G. Lee and Samuel Heartsock, fence-viewers; Cyrenus Wright, treas- urer ; William Myers, William Mead and Francis Evens, supervisors ; Moses Pyatt, constable.
.
156
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
In 1830, Adams contained 285 inhabitants. In 1836 the . population was estimated at 600. In 1840 it had augmented to 1250. Since that time it has steadily and rapidly increased in population and in wealth, numbering among many others of its enterprising farmers-Asa Crockett, L. C. Stone, Dan- iel Rule, Ezra West, James Crockett, E. Smith, Solomon Drown, John Petticord, Enos Mead, John Craig, William My- ers, Sen., Samuel Whiteman, (1st,) Reuben Drinkwater, G. Lee, John Kessler, and John Pain.
The greatest natural curiosity in Adams township, is the Sul- phur Springs. These are nearly in the middle of section seven, at present owned by Josiah Hedges, proprietor of Tiffin.
The water which issues from the earth in several places, is clear and cold, and strongly impregnated with sulphur. It is not unpleasant to the taste, and possesses the remarkable prop- erties of petrifying substances. Old logs have been taken from the bed of the stream which is formed by these springs, partially turned to stone, and various other substances have been found completely petrified. There is quite a large and steady current proceeding from these springs, which, after a souther- ly course of about thirty rods, mingles with the waters of Bea- ver creek.
The generally received opinion with regard to these springs is, that they are formed by the water which sinks into the earth near the north-east corner of the county-in the bed of Honey creek-and in Reed township, and which after a subterranean passage, here breaks forth upon the surface. This of course is mere conjecture. .
Beaver creek, a small stream of this township, passes near these springs, and after receiving the waters of the latter, crosses into Pleasant township, on section twelve. Taking a northerly direction, it leaves the county near the north-east cor- ner of the township. This creek was formerly inhabited by
157
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
beavers, as vestiges of their works still remain. From this circumstance, originated the name of Beaver creek.
There are three saw-mills on this stream, above the sulphur springs ; and water runs sufficient to drive them over four months of the year.
In 1838, a large flouring-mill was erected on Beaver creek, by Josiah Hedges .* It is just below the spring, in Pleasant township ; and unlike other mills of the county, is not in the least affected by dry weather. During some of the summer months, its patrons are generally from all parts of the county, and occasionally from Wood, Hancock, Wyandot, Crawford, and sometimes from Putnam county, eighty miles distant.
In Sandusky county, eighty rods north from the northern boundary line of this county, there are sulphur springs similar to those in Adams. From the color of the water they have re- ceived the name of " Green Springs." The water from these springs unites with Beaver creek, after which, the latter takes the name of " Green creek ;" and empties into the Sandusky river, in Sandusky county.
On the 26th day of May, 1839, David Reeves, of Sandusky county, and David Risdon, of Seneca county, surveyed a town on section No. 5, in Adams township, and sections Nos. 31 and 32, in the original surveyed township No. 4, in the 16th range, in Sandusky county, which was named by the proprie- tor, Jacob Stem, " Green Spring," from the springs before mentioned.
The first settlers of this town were Jacob Stem, Bishop Adams, and Daniel H. Dana. This is a healthy and pleasant town, and contained in 1840, a population of 29. Since that time it has increased to 100. There are 20 dwellings in the place. One store, one foundry, one carriage-shop, one sad-
* This mill is now owned by Josiah Q. Hedges, a son of Josiah Hedges.
14
158
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
dler's-shop, one tailor's-shop, one cabinet-shop, three shoe-shops, and one blacksmith's-shop.
Green Spring is a post-town-the first post-master was Dan- iel H. Dana-that office is now held by Robert Smith. There are two practicing physicians, residents of this town-S. T. Finch and Thomas Cochran.
On the 30th day of April, 1846, Thomas Heming surveyed on section 36, in Adams township, a town, to which the pro- prietor, Daniel Kistler, gave the name of Adamsville. It has never been improved to any extent. In 1833, a town was sur- veyed on section 7, in this township, by David Risdon, to which the proprietor, Josiah Hedges, gave the name of "Sul- phur Spring," from the springs before described, which are near the plat. This town contains but a few houses.
More than half of the present township of Adams, and so much of Pleasant township as lies east of the Sandusky river, together with a portion of Clinton and Scipio townships, for- merly belonged to the Seneca Indians. But as we have given a geographical description of most of what was formerly their grant of land, we proceed to a more minute account of that na- tion, and we cannot better introduce this subject, than by giv- ing the following, from the scrap-book of Samuel Crowell, of Lower Sandusky, which was published in the " Sidney Auro- ra," of 1844, as it relates some interesting facts relative to this nation ; but more particularly, as it describes their famous chief, " HARD-HICKORY."
Says the writer :
The SENECAS who roamed those wilds, In ages long by-gone, Are now rejoicing in the chase, Towards the setting sun.
Their sacrifices offer'd up. And Deity appeas'd-
159
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Their " Father-land" they left in peace, With their exchange well pleased.
On the first day of February, some fourteen years since, I witnessed an interesting, and to me, a novel religious ceremony of the Seneca tribe of Indians, then occupying that portion of territory now comprising a part of the counties of Seneca and Sandusky, Ohio, familiarly known to the inhabitants of this re- gion, as the " Seneca Reservation."
The fact that this nation had recently ceded this Reserve to the United States, and were about to commemorate, for the last time in this country, this annual festival, previous to their emi- gration to the Rocky Mountains, contributed not a little to add to it an unusual degree of interest.
To those acquainted with the characteristic trait of the red men, it is unnecessary to remark, that there is a reservedness attached to them, peculiarly their own ; but, especially, when about to celebrate this annual festival, they seem, so far at least as the pale-faces are concerned, to shroud their designs in im- penetrable secrecy.
And the festival of which I now speak, might have been, as many others of similar character were, observed by themselves with due solemnity, and without the knowledge or interference of their white neighbors, but that the general poverty and reck- less improvidence of the Senecas were proverbial : And those were the causes which awakened the suspicions of the inquisi- tive Yankees. "
In order, therefore, that the approaching festival, as it was in- tended to be the last of those observances here, should not lack in any thing necessary to make it imposing, and impress a perma- nent recollection of Sandusky on the minds of their rising race, no effort was spared, and no fatigue regarded, that would tend to promote this object. Thus for some time previous to the pe- riod of which I am now speaking, by the unerring aim of the
V
160
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Seneca rifle, the antlers, with the body of many a tall and stately buck, fell prostrate; and in crowds the Indians now came into Lower Sandusky, with their venison and their skins ; and the squaws, with their painted baskets and moccasins, not as heretofore, to barter for necessaries, but chiefly for orna- ments.
The principal head men, or chiefs of the Senecas, were " Good-hunter," "Hard-hickory," and "Tall Chief; there were also some sub or half-chiefs; among those of the latter rank, Benjamin F. Warner,* a white, or half-breed, had con- siderable influence.
In this, as in other nations, civilized as well as savage, though there may be several men of apparent equal rank, yet there is usually one, who either by artificial, or universally ac- knowledged talent, directs in a great measure, the destinies of the nation, and such, among the Senecas, was "HARD-HICK- ORY."
To a mind of no ordinary grade, he added, from his inter- course with the whites, a polish of manner, seldom seen in an Indian. The French language, he spoke fluently, and the En- glish, intelligibly. Scrupulously adhering to the costume of his people, and retaining many of their habits, this chief was much endeared to them : while on the other hand, his urbani- ty, and for an Indian, he possessed, as already observed, a large share of the suaviter in modo ; his intelligence, his ardent at- tachment to the whites-and above all, his strict integrity in bu- siness transactions, obtained for him, and deservedly, the res- pect and confidence of all with whom he traded. Such was
* Warner was a white man, and had previously been a fireman on one of the steam- boats that plied between Buffalo and Green Bay. On one of the downward trips, he per- suaded an Indian woman that was traveling to New York, to elope with him. They came to the Seneca nation, and were adopted by them.
161
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
the trust the merchants of Lower Sandusky reposed in this chief, that when an indigent Indian came to ask for goods on credit, if Hard-hickory would say he would see the sum paid, no more was required. Thus his word passed current with, and current for, the whole nation.
And as in the mind of man there is something intuitive, better known, than defined, by which instinctively, as it were, we find in the bosom of another, a response to our own feel- ings ; so in the present case, this noble Indian soon discovered in the late OBED DICKINSON,* a merchant of Lower Sandusky, a generous, confiding, and elevated mind, whose honorable vi- brations beat in unison with his own.
To Mr. D. therefore, he made known the time when they would celebrate their festival, by sacrificing their dogs, &c., and cordially invited him to attend as a guest, and if so disposed, to bring a friend with him.
Correctly supposing that I never had an opportunity of witnessing this religious rite, Mr. D. kindly requested me to accompany him to their council house, on Green creek, in that part of this county included in the present township of Green creek. On giving me the invitation, Mr. D. remarked, that by taking a present in our hand, we would probably, be made the more welcome. In accordance, therefore, with this suggestion, we took with us a quantity of loaf sugar and to- bacco.
It was some time in the afternoon when we arrived, and im- mediately thereafter, we were ushered into the council house with demonstrations of public joy and marked respect.
As soon as seated, we gave our presents to Hard-hickory, who rising, held one of them up, and pointing to Mr. D., ad- dressed the Indians in an audible voice, in their own tongue ; then holding up the other, he pointed to me, repeating to them
* Brother of Hon. R. Dickinson.
14*
162
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
what he had before said-this done, he turned to us and said :
" You stay here as long as you want; nobody hurt you." Confiding in the assurances of this chief, I hung up my valise, in which were some important papers, for I was then on my way further east, attending to my official duties as sherif of this county, and felt perfectly at home.
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.