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 13
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But now these sons of the forest are gone ; and truly can the early settlers of this county exclaim that, we are now sur- rounded by a new race of inhabitants. The almost unprece- dented influx of population which has poured in upon us from the east, and the south, has gathered around us a new genera-
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tion, so that we of the " olden time," seem now to live in the midst of strangers! The red men of the forest have disap- peared-the pioneer, shunning the society of the refined and intelligent, has gone to the ultima thule or the " far west," and the squatter has followed his footsteps !
On the 8th day of May, 1820, the commissioners of San- dusky county set off a township, in this county, which inclu- ded all of the land west of a line drawn south to the base-line from the south-east corner of the Seneca reservation, and to which they gave the name of Seneca.
Portions have been taken from this township at various times, to form new ones, so that at present it comprehends the origin- al surveyed township No. 1, in the 14th range, only. The land included within its present limits was surveyed into sec- tions and quarter sections by J. T. Worthington in 1820.
The first election for township officers was held on Mon- day, the Ist day of June, 1820. At the next annual election the following officers were chosen : W. Barney, John Lay, and David Risdon, trustees ; John Eaton, clerk; Benjamin Bar- ney, treasurer; Joseph Keller and David Rice, overseers of the poor ; James Montgomery, Erastus Bowe, and Joel Chaf- fin, supervisors ; P. Wilson, lister ; Asa Pike, appraiser ; Thomas Nicholson, and Abner Pike, fence-viewers ; John Boughton, and Joel Lee, constables. At the state election in the fall of the same year, the whole number of votes polled in Sen- eca township, which comprehended at that time about three- fourths of the whole county, was twenty-six !
In 1830 the population of this township was 369. In 1840, it had augmented to 1,393. It has since steadily and rapidly increased in population and in wealth-numbering among its enterpising farmers, Hon. Henry St. John, Wm. McCormick, Alexander Bowland, John Galbreth, Peter Wickert, Joseph Conaghan, William Kerr, Caleb Brundage, Daniel Hoffman.
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John Yambert, David Foght, William Harmon, Jacob Steib, Benjamin Harmon, John Blair, George Heck, Jacob Wolfe, John Waggoner, James Aiken, James Brinkerhoff, John Crock- er, Jacob Kroh, and many others.
In addition to the other Indian grants made at the treaty held at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, in 1817, there was likewise granted to Catharine Walker, a Wyandot woman, and to John B. Walker, her son, who was wounded in the service of the United States, a section of 640 acres of land, lying mostly within the present limits of this township, and directly west of, and adjoining the tract in Eden township, granted to John Vanmeter, which is owned by Lloyd Norris.
On the 15th day of April, 1845, Henry F. Kastner, Wil- liam Brinkerhoff, and John Campbell, caused to be surveyed on section nineteen, in this township, a town, to which was given the name of Berwick. It was surveyed and platted by Thomas Heming. It contains nine dwellings, two stores, one tavern, one steam saw-mill, one wagon-shop, one shoe-shop, one tailor- shop, and one blacksmith's-shop. Its population is seventy.
Berwick is situated on the Tiffin and Findlay, and on the Bucyrus and Perrysburg state road. It is located also upon the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail-road, nine miles from Tif- fin, the county seat of the county.
On the 7th day of December, 1824, the original surveyed township, No. 2, in the 14th range, was constituted a legal township, and received the name of Hopewell. The first election for township officers was held on Christmas-day of the same year, at the house of Joseph Pool .*
This township was surveyed into sections and quarter sec- tions by J. T. Worthington, in the year 1820. Among the
* There were chosen at this election the following officers: John Rosenberger, John Stoner, and Nathan Cadwallader, trustees ; James Gordon, clerk ; John Storez, treasurer.
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first settlers of this township, were Robert Shippy, John Cha- ney, and Nathan Shippy. In 1830, its population was 549 .- In 1840 it had augmented to 913. Since that time it has rapidly increased in population and wealth ; numbering among its enterprising farmers, A. G. Ingraham, Jacob S. Jennings, John Sleeper, David Cover, James Mathews, John A. Ros- enberger, George Shaul, John Kimes, Henry Creager, Abra- ham Miller, Christian Mussetter, Andrew Wolf, William Rick- ets, William Kimes, John Mowser, John Baughman, A. R. Bachtel, John Anderson, Aaron Ruse, S. Watson, Solomon Ruse, Thomas Elder, John Briner, Philip King, Peter Weav- er, Hiram Hart, Peter Young, and others.
The land in this township is remarkably rich, producing all kinds of grain and grass in abundance. The surface is very level, and well watered.
On the 1st day of February, 1837, George W. Gist sur- veyed on section 17, in this township, a town, to which the proprietor, John Miller, gave the name of Bascom.
This town contains twelve dwellings, one store two taverns, one cabinet-shop, one wagon-shop, one tannery, one black- smith's-shop, and a district school-house. In 1840, its popula- tion was 6. Since that time it has increased to 60.
Bascom is situated on the Tiffin and Defiance state road, six miles from the former place.
On the 6th day of August, 1836, James Durbin surveyed a town on section 16, in this township, to which the proprietor, Samuel Waggoner, gave the name of Hopewell. This town has never been improved.
On the 5th day of March, 1832, by order of the board of commissioners, the original surveyed township, No. 2, in range 13, was constituted a legal township, to be known by the name of Loudon. It was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, in 1820. The first election for township officers was held at
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the house of Benjamin Hartley on the 2d day of April, 1832 .*
Loudon is very well watered, and possesses a rich and fertile soil. In 1840 its population was 763. Since that time it has increased steadily and rapidly in population and importance ; numbering among its enterprising farmers, Samuel Bear, Ja- cob Rumple, Benjamin Stevens, Martin Adams, Benjamin Hart- ley, Abner Wade, Philip Hennessy, Robert Rainy, Jacob Fruth, George Hemming, Peter Ebersole, Henry Sheller, David Youngs, Conrad Rumple, Jacob Kaiser, John Good, Peter T. King, John Rinebolt, Jacob Dillon, Thomas Dillon, Nathan Shippy, and many others.
On the 31st day of August, 1832, Roswell Crocker caused to be surveyed on section 6, in this township, a town, to which was given the name of Rome.
It was surveyed and platted by David Risdon.' Rome is pleasantly situated, and is surrounded by a beautiful country. It contains fifty dwellings, two churches, three stores, two taverns, two steam saw-mills, two tanneries, two steam grist-mills, one warehouse, two cabinet-shops, three shoe-shops, three tailors'- shops, two saddlers'-shops, and five blacksmiths'-shops. There are three physicians, residents of this town-Alonzo Lock- wood, George Patterson, and Simon Bricker.
In 1840 the population was 80. At this time, it is about 300 and is rapidly increasing in population and wealth. Its appearance is pleasant, and there is probably no town in the county, away from the line of the Rail-road, which is more favorably situated for business, than Rome. It is located upon the Lower Sandusky and Fort Findlay state road; upon the
* There were TEN electors present at this election ; the vote for each officer was unan- imous. The following was the successful ticket: Abner Wade, justice of the peace ; John Tennis, clerk : Benjamin Stevens, Peter T. King, and John Rickets, trustees ; Samuel Carbaugh, constable ; Benjamin Hartley, supervisor; Abner Wade and Nathan Shippy, overseers of the poor ; Benjamin Stevens, treasurer ; Nathan Shippy, John Ruse, and John Sheller, fence-viewers.
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Defiance and Tiffin state road ; and upon the Bucyrus and Per- rysburg state road.
It is 22 miles from Lower Sandusky, the county-seat of Sandusky county ; 14} miles from Findlay, county-seat of Hancock county ; 14 from Tiffin, the county-seat of this coun- ty ; 66 miles from Defiance, county-seat of Defiance county ; 36 miles from Bucyrus, county-seat of Crawford county ; 31 miles from Perrysburg, county-seat of Wood county ; 25 miles from Upper Sandusky, county-seat of Wyandot county ; 12 miles from Van Buren, Hancock county ; 10} miles from Springville, this county ; and 80 rods east of the Hancock county line.
On the 6th day of September, 1832, J. Gorsuch caused to be surveyed on section one, in township No. 2, in the 12th range, in Hancock county-and on section six, in Loudon township, this county, a town, to which the proprietor gave the name of Risdon. It was surveyed and platted by Wil- liam L. Henderson, of Hancock county, and David Risdon, of this county. It was thus named, in compliment to the lat- ter gentleman, who is at present, a resident of New Fort Ball.
Among the first settlers of Risdon, were Henry Welch, Jeremiah Mickey and John P. Gordon. It contains 30 dwel- lings, one church, one tavern, three stores, one carding-ma- chine propelled by steam, one steam saw-mill, one foundry, one tannery, one cabinet-shop, one wagon-shop, two shoe-shops, two saddlers'-shops and three blacksmiths'-shops. In 1840, its population was 39. It is now 200. There are two physicians, residents of the place-Marcus Dana, and R. C. Caples. Risdon is a post-town-the present post-master, is William Thomas. The town is pleasantly situated on the bank of the east branch of the Portage river ; and is steadily increasing in population and wealth.
On the 5th day of June, 1832, the commissioners of the 16
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county constituted the original surveyed township, No. 3, in range 14, a legal one, to be known by the name of Liberty .*
The land comprehended within the limits of this township, was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, by J. T. Worthington, in 1820. In 1840 its population was 1,084. Since that time it has steadily and rapidly increased in popula- tion and wealth-numbering among its enterprising farmers, Jonathan Abbott, George Puffenbarger, John Mickels, Jacob Null, Reuben Lott, John Powl, Jacob Fleck, John Shaul, Lewis Fleck, John Baughman, Daniel Lynch, George Feasel, Thomas Huse, Henry Feasel, John Berky, Jacob Sise, Henry Craul, John Sigler, Martin Edwards, Joseph Fry, Barney Zimmer- man, John Beck, Robert Powl, Israel Smith, R. Littler, E. Brooks, Levi Creasy, Orrin Betz, Philip Myers, E. Rogers, Isaac Myers, George Dunbar, Jacob Myers, John Betz, Fred- erick Rosenberger, and many others.
In the north-eastern part of this township, is a tract of land about three miles in length, and three-fourths of a mile in width, remarkably stony. In some places, the lime-stone rock literally covers the ground. In others, it is not so thickly cov- ered, and tolerable crops are raised. The lime-stone, by being exposed to the weather, becomes white, giving to the land a singular appearance. This tract is the more remarkable, as the county in general, is so very free from any thing of the kind.
The balance of the township, is quite level, possessing a rich soil, and producing an abundance of grass, and all kinds of grain. The west branch of Wolf creek passes in a north- easterly direction through this township, upon which several
* At the election for township officers, held April 1st, 1833, the following was the suc- cessful ticket:
John Rosenberger, Evan W. Brook, and Jacob Kime, trustees; John Craun, clerk; Eben Conway, and Nicholas Rumbaugh, constables ; Adam Fleck, Isaac Heartsock. James Hudson, Levi Crissy, and Joseph H. Conway, supervisors.
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saw-mills have been erected. Water runs sufficient, in this stream, to drive these mills over six months of the year.
Middleburg, a town surveyed by David Risdon, on the 8th of September, 1832, is situated on section nine, in this township. It is located on the land of Jacob Kessler, and has never been improved.
On the 12th day of April, 1838, John Betz caused to be surveyed on section three, in this township, a town, to which he gave the name of Betzville. was surveyed and platted by David Risdon, surveyor.
Betzville is pleasantly situated on the south side of the west branch of Wolf creek, and contains seven dwellings, two churches, one cabinet-shop, and one shoe-shop. In 1840, its population was 23. Since that time it has increased to 40.
On the 4th day of December, 1832, the original surveyed township, No. 3, in range 13, was constituted a legal township, and named Jackson. The land comprised within its limits, was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, by J. Glasgow, in 1820. The first election for township officers, was held on the 3d of April, 1833, at the house of Abraham Rinebolt .*
In 1840, the population of this township was 586. Since that time it has rapidly increased. The land is generally very level, and the soil is rich and fertile. Among its enterpris- ing farmers, are Jonas Hampshire, Michael Stahl, Enoch Trumbo, Abraham Rinebolt, C. Foster, George Stoner, John Lambright, Jacob Stahl, Frederick Feble, Henry Swoap, John Lynch, Daniel Swoap, James Robertson, Conrad Myers, Gid- eon Jones, Jacob Kimmel, Henry Huffman, George Stahl,
* The officers chosen at this election, were as follows: Christian Foster, John Stom- baugh and Michael Stahl, trustees ; Henry Huffman and Abraham Rinebolt, supervisors ; Samuel Rinebolt, Andrew Ferrier and Daniel Swoap, overseers of the poor ; Enoch Trumbo, clerk ; Daniel Williams, treasurer ; Joseph Hampshire and Jacob Holinger, fence-viewers.
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John Bear, William Stahl, Isaac Miller, John W. Hollopeter, Mathias Hollopeter, and others.
On the 7th day of December, 1844, Isaiah Hollopeter caused to be surveyed on section seventeen, in this township, a town, to which he gave the name of Rehoboth. It was survey- ed and platted by Thomas Heming.
CHAPTER XIV.
Big-spring township-Springville-Oregon-Productions of the county -- - Conclusion.
On the 6th day of March, 1833, the original surveyed town- ship No. 1, in the 13th range, was constituted a legal town- ship, and received the name of Big-spring. It was thus named from the circumstance of there being a large spring of water within its limits. The first election for township officers was held on the 4th day of April, of the same year .*
Hugh Mulholland, E. Bogart, John Peer, Hiram Bogart, Philip Peer, and Austin Knowlton, were among the first set- tlers of this township. Big-spring was surveyed into sections and quarter sections, by J. Glasgow, in 1820, except that part of the township which was then owned by the Wyandot Indi- ans, and which was surveyed by C. W. Christmas in 1832. The population of Big-spring, according to the census of 1840, . amounted to 925. Since that time it has rapidly increased in population and in wealth, numbering among its enterprising farmers-Jacob Boucher, Peter Lantz, John Jinkins, Isaac De Wit, Frederick Waggoner, Ira Taft, William Blue, Israel Harmas, John Hile, W. Burgess, Nathan L. Huling, George Kline, Austin Knowlton, Peter Wenner, M. Clark, John Wag-
* The officers chosen at this election, were as follows: William Brayton, clerk ; E. Bogart, and Richard Reynolds, trustees ; Hugh Mulholland, treasurer ; Cornelius Bo- gart, Andrew Springer, and Joshua Watson, fence-viewers ; Elijah Brayton and Charles Henderson, overseers of the poor ; Austin Knowlton, constable.
16*
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goner, Francis Etchey, Michael Waggoner, Lewis Shaney, James W. Laughead, William Clark, Sen,, and many others.
The land in Big-spring township is generally level, but the soil is rich, producing all kinds of grain and grass in abun- dance.
At the treaty held at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie, September 28th, 1817, the United States granted to the Wyandot Indians, then residing at Solomon's town, and on Blanchard's fork, sixteen thousand acres of land, which was laid off in a square form, the center being at Big-spring, (now the town of Springville,) on the trailed road from Upper Sandusky to Fort Findlay.
At a supplementary treaty, held September 17th, 1818, with the Indians, a very wise provision was made to protect them from imposition, which had so often been practiced upon them by the avaricious whites. It was stipulated, that all lands granted them by the United States, could not be disposed of except by the consent of the president.
Part of the land in Big-spring township consists of prairie ; and in the southern section is a ridge, which is quite stony. The land is heavy timbered and well watered.
On the 20th of September, 1825, Elijah Brayton, then a resident of Crawford (now Wyandot) county, who resides near Springville, in this township, lost a child, a lad about eight years of age, who has never since been heard of .* It appears that the boy had followed an elder brother and a neigh- boring friend, who were seeking for some cattle that had strayed away, when the little fellow was directed to a house near by, while the others proceeded onward. He followed the path which had been pointed out to him, but a short distance, when. it is supposed he became bewildered, and immediately
* We have the particulars of this event orally, from a sister of the lost child, the wife of David Burns, of Springville ..
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took to the woods. On the return of the others to the house where they expected to find him, they learned to their sur- prise, that he had not been seen. Alarm was immediately given. The inhabitants for many miles around turned out, and the whole country for a considerable distance, in every di- rection was thoroughly searched. The Indians were particu- larly assiduous in their generous endeavors to find the child, but all to no avail.
A large reward was offered to the one who should find him, or any of his remains ; but after many days, as no traces of the little fellow had ever been discovered, the search was finally abandoned. Some imagined he had been torn to pieces by wolves; some, that he had been stolen by the Indians ; while others were of the opinion, that he had died of want in some secluded spot. What became of the unfortunate child, will, in all probability, remain forever unknown !
During this search, Neal McGaffey and other citizens of Fort Ball, who had likewise left their homes upon this occa- sion, encamped for the night upon the site of the present town of Rome, in Loudon township, which was then a dense wil- derness. Being highly pleased with the spot of ground, and the appearance of the woods around, they jocosely called it " Fort McGaffey."
In the month of May, 1834, David Risdon surveyed, on section twenty-nine, in Big-spring township, a town, to which the proprietors, Benjamin and John Jenkins, gave the name of Springville. It was thus named, as there is a large spring of water immediately west of the town. Unlike those in Adams township, the water from this spring, has no traces of sulphur, but is clear, cold, and impregnated with lime. The site of this town, which was formerly an Indian village, is very beautiful. It contains twelve dwellings, two taverns, one wagon-shop, two.blacksmiths'-shops, and two tailors'-shops. In
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
1840, Springville contained thirty-five inhabitants. It has since about doubled. There are two practicing physicians, residents of this town-D. Peters, and George H. Scoles.
Oregon, a town surveyed, February 17th, 1844, on sections thirty-five and thirty-six, in Big-spring township, by R. M. Shoemaker, is situated on the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail- road, ten and a half miles from the county seat of the county. Its proprietors were Erastus H. Cook and D. C. Henderson. Among the first settlers upon the site of this town, were Eli Gehr, Adam Fetter, John Gantz, and Charles Foster.
Oregon contains twenty-three dwellings, one large forward- ing house, one tavern, three stores, one saw-mill, propelled by steam, one cabinet-shop, one tailor-shop, one blacksmith's-shop, two wagon-shops, and two shoe-shops. The post-office at this place is called " Foster's Mill." The first post-master was William White. The office is now held by John Carr. There is a practicing physician, a resident of this place-Sam- uel B. Owens.
The population of this town is over one hundred, and is rapidly increasing, It is three and a half miles from McCutch- enville, and five miles from Carey, in Wyandot county.
It has now been nearly thirteen years, since Big-spring was constituted a legal township, which was the last one organized of the fifteen townships of the county. In 1830 the whole number of inhabitants in the several townships, amounted to 5,148. According to the census of 1840, the population had augmented to 18,128. At the present time it is probably about 22,000.
Seneca, compared with the counties that surround it, is second to none in the fertility of its soil, number of streams, activity, intelligence and morality of its inhabitants, and in the increase of its population.
The staple production of this county is wheat, large quan-
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
tities of which are raised annually, and transported by means of the rail-road, out of the country. The average yield throughout the county, of this grain, may be estimated at about twenty bushels to the acre.
Indian corn is grown in abundance, especially along the margin of the numerous streams, where the soil, consisting of a rich loam, is calculated in a high degree, for its growth. All of the other coarser grains, together with potatoes and other vegetables, are produced in large quantities. Apples, peaches, pears, and other fruit, thrive remarkably in all. parts of the county.
On the 15th of May, 1834, a severe frost destroyed all the fruit, and proved fatal also to the potatoe crop. Wheat was considerably injured, and flour at one time, in Tiffin, was held at fourteen dollars per barrel.
In most parts of the county, the soil is well adapted to the raising of grass, which, however, is sometimes injured by dry weather. In 1838, a year remarkable for the " great drouth," which prevailed in nearly the whole of northern Ohio, the clover crop was a total failure, and corn was likewise much injured. The channels of most of the smaller streams became dry, and many wells failed for the first time.
The farmer, however, relies with a great degree of certainty upon good crops when his grain is well sown, being almost certain to reap an abundant harvest, as the reward for his toils.
Seneca county produces some excellent horses, and many of the farmers have large stocks of cattle. Sheep, also, have . been brought from the east, which produce the finest quality of wool. William Fleet and other enterprising farmers of Eden township, have been actively engaged in this undertaking ; and we can but commend so laudable an enterprise as is the in- troduction of a superior breed of these valuable domestic ani- mals into the county.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Besides those streams which have been described, there are numerous others in the county, some of which are deserving of notice. There are several east of the Sandusky, that fall into this river, below the mouth of Honey creek. The most considerable of these, are Rocky creek-taking its name from the rocky appearance of the bed of its stream-which falls into the river at Tiffin-Tyber creek, which empties into the San- dusky on section seventeen, in Clinton township-Spicer's creek-taking its name from the captive white, before spoken of, which falls into the river near the north-west corner of the "Spicer section," in Pleasant township-and Sugar creek, which empties into the Sandusky on section twenty-two, in the same township.
" At the time of the organization of the county, money was very scarce, as produce would neither sell for it, nor purchase goods. Whiskey was about the only commodity in market. Since then the county has progressed rapidly in every kind of improvement. Indeed, at present, the general sobriety of its inhabitants is truly remarkable, especially when compared with the state of society, in this particular, a few years since. To estimate the condition of morality and Christianity among its inhabitants, we have only to look at the multiplicity of churches. which are now to be found in every township.
What then may not be anticipated from a county that has its whole surface covered with the richest soil ? That has a climate, temperate and healthy, and streams rapid and numer- ous? With so much intelligence, activity, and zeal among its farmers, mechanics, and merchants, with a few years that have passed as a precedent, we may safely conclude that it will still continue to increase in population and wealth, ever ranking among the first, with the counties that surround it, in all that appertains to greatness and importance. Such is ยท the condition-and such are the prospects of SENECA COUNTY.
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