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 5
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Blue-licks, where the Indians lay in ambush, and defeated the Kentuckians with great slaughter.
Girty was also at St. Clair's defeat, and led the attack on Colerain.
Dr. Knight, in his narrative of his captivity and burning of Col. Crawford, (see Introduction,) speaks of the cruelty of Si- mon Girty, to the Colonel and himself. Col. Johnston corrob- orates the account of Dr. Knight. In a communication before us, he says : " He was notorious for his cruelty to the whites, who fell into the hands of the Indians. His cruelty to the un- fortunate Crawford, is well known to myself; and although I did not witness the tragedy, I can vouch for the facts of the case, having had them from eye-witnesses. When that brave and unfortunate commander was suffering at the stake by a slow fire, in order to lengthen his misery to the longest possible time, he besought Girty to have him shot, to end his torments, when the monster mocked him by firing powder, without ball, at him.
"Crawford and Girty had been intimately acquainted in the early settlement of Pennsylvania ; I knew a brother of the lat- ter at Pittsburgh, in 1793."
Mr. Daniel M. Workman, now living in Logan county, gave us orally the following, respecting the last years of Girty :- "In 1813," said he, " I went to Malden, and put up at a hotel, kept by a Frenchman. I noticed, in the bar-room, a gray- headed and blind, old man. The landlady, who was his daugh- ter, a woman of about thirty years of age, inquired of me, 'Do you know who that is ?' pointing to the old man. On my replying ' No,' she replied, ' it is Simon Girty !' He had then been blind about four years. In 1815, I returned to Malden, and ascertained that Girty had died a short time previous .-- Simon Kenton informed me that Girty left the whites, because he was not promoted to the command of a battalion. Girty 6*
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was a man of extraordinary strength, power of endurance, courage and sagacity. He was in height about five feet ten in- ches, and strongly made."*
The following account of the Seneca Indians sacrificing two dogs to the Great Spirit, is given by an eye-witness. It hap- pened just before their departure for their new homes.
We rose early, and proceeded directly to the council-house, and though we supposed we were early, the Indians were al- ready-in advance of us.
The first object which arrested our attention, was a pair of the canine species, one of each gender, suspended on a cross ! one on either side thereof. These animals had been strangled -not a bone was broken, nor could a distorted hair be seen !- They were of a beautiful cream color, except a few dark spots on one, naturally, which same spots were put on the other arti- ficially, by the devotees. The Indians are very partial in the selection of dogs entirely white for this occasion, and for which they will give almost any price.
Now for part of the decorations, to which I have already al- luded, and a description of one will suffice for both.
First, a scarlet ribin was tastefully tied just above the nose, and near the eyes another ; next, around the neck, was a white ribin, to which was attached some bulbs, concealed in another white ribin ; this was placed directly under the right ear ; and I suppose it was intended as an amulet, or charm. Then, rib- ins were bound around the fore-legs at the knees, and near the feet-these were red and white alternately. Round the body was a profuse decoration ; then the hind-legs were decorated as the fore ones. Thus were the victims prepared, and thus or- namented for the burnt offering.
While minutely making this examination, I was almost un- conscious of the collection of a large number of Indians, who
* Ohio-its history and antiquities.
V
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were then assembled to offer their sacrifices. Adjacent to the cross, was a large fire, built on a few logs ; and though the snow was several inches deep, they had prepared a sufficient quanti- ty of combustible material, removed the snow from the logs, and placed thereon their fire. I have often regretted that I did not see them light this pile. My own opinion is, they did not use the fire from their council-house; because I think they would have considered that as common-and as this was intended to be a holy service, they no doubt, for this purpose, struck fire from a flint, this being deemed sacred.
It was a clear, beautiful morning, and just as the first rays of the sun were seen in the tops of the towering forest, and its re- flections from the snowy surface, the Indians simultaneously formed a semi-circle enclosing the cross, each flank resting on the aforesaid pile of logs.
Good-hunter, who officiated as high-priest, now appeared, and approached the cross ; arrayed in his pontifical robes, he looked quite respectable.
The Indians being all assembled-I say Indians, for there was not a squaw present, during all this ceremony-at a private signal given by the high-priest, two young chiefs sprang upon the cross, and each taking off one of the victims, brought it down, and presented it on his arms, to the high-priest, who, re- ceiving it with great reverence, in like manner, advanced to the fire, and with a very grave and solemn air, laid it thereon. And this he did with the other-but to which, whether male or fe- male, he gave preference, I did not learn. This done, he reti- red to the cross.
In a devout manner, he now commenced an oration. The tone of his voice was audible, and somewhat chanting. At ev- ery pause in his discourse, he took from a white cloth he held in his left hand, a portion of dried, odoriferous herbs, which he threw on the fire. This was intended as incense. In the mean
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while, his auditory, their eyes on the ground, with grave aspect and in solemn silence, stood motionless, listening attentively to every word he uttered. Thus he proceeded, until the victims were entirly consumed, and the incense exhausted, when he concluded his service-
The oblation now made, and the wrath of the Great Spirit, as they believed, appeased, they again assembled in the coun- cil house, for the purpose of performing a part in their festival, different from any I had yet witnessed. Each Indian, as he entered, seated himself on the floor, thus forming a large cir- cle ; when one of the old chiefs rose, and with that native dig- nity which some Indians possess in a great degree, recounted his exploits as a warrior ; told in how many fights he had been the victor ; the number of scalps he had taken from his ene- mies ; and what, at the head of his braves, he yet intended to do at the "Rocky Mountains ;"' accompanying his narration with energy, warmth, and strong gesticulation. When he en- ded, he received the unanimous applause of the assembled tribe.
This meed of praise was awarded to the chief, by " three times three" articulations, which were properly neither nasal, oral, nor guttural, but rather abdominal.
Thus, many others in the circle, old and young, rose in or- der, and pro forma, delivered themselves of speeches. Among those was Good-hunter ; but he
" Had laid his robes away, His mitre and his vest."
His remarks were not filled with such bombast as some oth- ers ; but brief, modest and appropriate ; in fine, they were such as became a priest of one of the lost ten tribes of Israel.
After all had spoken who wished to speak, the floor was cleared and the dance renewed, in which Indian and squaw uni- ted, with their wonted hilarity and zeal.
Just as the dance ended, an Indian boy ran to me, and with
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fear strongly depicted in his countenance, caught me by the arm, and drew me to the door, pointing with his other hand to- wards something he wished me to observe.
I looked in that direction, and saw the appearance of an In- dian running at full speed to the council-house ; in an instant, he was in it, and literally in the fire, which he took in his hands, and threw fire, coals and hot ashes in various directions through the house, and apparently, all over himself! At his en- trance, the young Indians, much alarmed, had all fled to the further end of the house, where they remained crowded, in great dread of this personification of the Evil Spirit ! After di- verting himself with the fire a few moments, at the expense of the young ones, to their no small joy, he disappeared.
This was an Indian disguised with a hideous false face, hav- ing horns on his head, and his hands and feet protected from the effects of the fire ; and though not a professed " Fire-king," he certainly performed his part to admiration.
During the continuance of this festival, the hospitality of the Senecas was unbounded. In the council-house, and at the res- - idence of Tall Chief, were a number of large, fat bucks, and fat hogs, hanging up, and neatly dressed. Bread, also, of both corn and wheat, in great abundance.
Large kettles of soup ready prepared, in which maple sugar, profusely added, made a prominent ingredient, thus forming a very agreeable saccharine coalescence .. All were invited, and all were made welcome ; indeed, a refusal to partake of their bounty, was deemed disrespectful, if not unfriendly.
I left them in the afternoon enjoying themselves to the full- est extent ; and so far as I could perceive, their pleasure was without alloy. They were eating and drinking ; but on this occasion, no ardent spirits were permitted-dancing and rejoi- cing-caring, and, probably, thinking not of to-morrow.
CHAPTER III.
Erection of counties-The New Purchase-Land Districts-Sale of lands -Seneca county-Roads-Oakley-Sandusky river-Honey creek- Wolf creek-Organization of the county-First annual election.
ON the 12th day of February, 1820, an act was passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, erecting into fourteen separate and distinct counties, all the lands within the state, which, by the late treaty, had been ceded by the Indians to the United States. These lands included the whole of what was called the "New Purchase," and were, soon after the treaty, direct- ed to be surveyed. From the boundary line between this state and Indiana, the surveyor, Mr. Bourne, ran a line due east, until it reached the south-west corner of the Connecticut Reserve, dividing the New Purchase into two parts. This is the base-line, which separates this county from those of Wyan- dot and Crawford. From the Indiana line, which was taken as a meridian, other lines were run parallel to the same, cutting the base-line at right angles, at the distance of every six miles throughout its whole length. These lines, running north and south, are called ranges.
Lines were also run, parallel to the base-line, at the distance of every six miles, both north and south, until they reached the northern and southern extremities of the purchase. As these lines cross the ranges at right angles, the whole is cut into squares of thirty-six miles each, containing thirty-six sec- tions of land. The ranges are numbered progressively east- ward, from the Indiana line, until they strike the western edge
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of the Connecticut Reserve. All of the squares, each one of which constitues a township, are noted by progressive numbers from the base-line, both north and south. All the other lines, except the base-line, were run by Alexander Holmes, who fin- ished his survey, in the fall of 1819. By provisions of the act already mentioned, the ninth of the fourteen counties, to in- clude township one, two, and three, north, in ranges thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen and seventeen, east, was called Seneca.
The county, thus constituted by name and boundary, re- ceived its name from the Seneca tribe of Indians, whose histo- ry has already been given. The county was not organized, until four years afterwards, during which time, it remained at- tached to Sandusky county for judicial purposes. During the summer of 1820, and the spring of 1821, the several town- ships in this county were surveyed into sections and quarter- sections, except the land comprising the Indian grants, which were not surveyed until 1832.
The whole of the New Purchase having been thus divided, a line was drawn north and south, nearly in the center, separa- rating it into two parts, called the Piqua and Delaware land- districts ; the former comprising the western, and the latter, the eastern section. On the 3d of August, 1821, so much of the Delaware land-district as lay north of the base-line, was of- fered to the highest bidder, in the town of Delaware, the mini- mum price being fixed, at ten shillings per acre.
The average purchase price of the land bought in this coun- ty at the sale, was but little higher than that established by law. Very little since has been entered by speculators, so that the population of Seneca county, from its commencement, has been of a permanent and industrious character. Possessing but lit- tle fictitious capital, its increase in population and wealth has been steady and rapid.
Thirty years ago, it was a mighty forest-an unbroken chain
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of wilderness-entirely covered with sturdy oaks, and thrifty hickories, intermingled with numerous other forest trees, such as beech, maple, poplar, black-walnut, sycamore, &c. Upon the bosom of the Sandusky, the wild-fowl reposed in safety, and the deer sported in their native haunts. Along this river and its tributaries, the hungry wolf prowled in search of food; and their hiding-places were in the thickets of the up-land .- Here and there, the smoke ascended from the Indian's wigwam, curling majestically amidst the branches of the towering oak ; while the wily hunter pursued his game along the margin of creeks ; or reposed upon his matted couch, by blazing faggots of the wilderness. Such was Seneca county, thirty years ago !
At that time, there was only one solitary road leading through the county. This was first known as " Bell's road;" having been surveyed by Gen. Bell, of Wooster, as early as the year 1812. It connected Upper and Lower Sandusky, and was opened by a Mr. Meeker. It ran along the western bank of the Sandusky river, and has since been known as the "old ar- my road," from its being the principal thoroughfare for troops and supplies, during the war of 1812. For several years after the close of the war, large quantities of flour and other provis- ions, for the settlements around Lower Sandusky, passed along this road ; and many emigrants from Europe, who had previ- ously landed in Canada, took this course, on their way to the south, making it quite a traveled road, before there was a white settler in the county. In 1821, this road was again surveyed by David Risdon, Esq. and constituted a state road.
In 1820, Israel Herrington surveyed what is at this time known as the " Morrison state road," leading from Croghans- ville to Delaware. It received its name from one of the com- missioners, who was at that time, a resident of Croghansville. This was the first road east of the Sandusky.
In 1822, a road was surveyed by Col. James Kilbourn, lead-
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ing from Sandusky City to Upper Sandusky, and known as the " Kilbourn road." The first teams driven along the line of this road, within the limits of the county, were by Thomas Baker, from New York, and Ezra Brown from the same state ; both of whom, have ever since been residents of the county.
During the month of February, 1820, was established the first post-office in the county, at Oakley. This town had been surveyed some time previous, by Joseph Vance, upon land gran- ted to one Robert Armstrong, an account of whom will be giv- en hereafter. This was the first surveyed and platted town in the county. In 1824, it was again surveyed, by David Risdon, and its name changed to Fort Ball. The gentleman just na- med, was the first post-master, and at the time of his appoint- ment, there was but one mail-rout through the county-which was along the " old army road"-and extended from Columbus to Lower Sandusky.
Sandusky river, the largest stream of water in the county, passes through it, from south to north, dividing it nearly, into two equal parts. It rises in the western part of Richland coun- ty, and after a westerly course of twenty miles, reaches Upper Sandusky, where it changes its course, running northerly, until it reaches the southern boundary of this county. It crosses the line, in the south-east corner of Seneca township, and after de- viating from its northerly direction into Eden township, it again passes into Seneca. Running along the eastern edge of this township, it crosses into Hopewell, almost due north of its en- trance into the county. From Hopewell township, it passes into Clinton, a little below the mouth of Honey creek ; and after pursuing a northerly course in this township, it enters Pleasant. After passing through Pleasant township, it leaves the county, and taking a northerly course, falls into Sandusky Bay, about eighty miles, by the course of the river, from its source. 7
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As to the origin of the name of this river, there are two opinions. By some, it is believed to be a word of French ex- traction, given to the bay and river, by the Indians, in honor of the first French trader who visited the country. In Cham- paigne county, Illinois, there is now living, a man of this name, who claims that one of his ancestors settling at an early period upon the Sandusky, and becoming a great favorite among the Indians, they, as a mark of respect, gave his name (Sowdows- ky) to the river and bay.
By the tradition of aged Indian warriors, given to the late William Henry Harrison in the friendly chat of the wigwam, when he first became acquainted with the north-western tribes, the following appears to be the origin and signification of the word Sandusky. After the naval conflict upon the lake, be- tween the Wyandots and Senecas, mentioned in Chapter I., these conquering bands, having landed at Maumee, followed the lake shore towards the east, passing and giving names to bays, creeks, and rivers, until they arrived at Cold creek, where it enters the Sandusky bay. Being charmed with the springs of clear, cold water in this vicinity, they pitched their tents and engaged in hunting and fishing. By them (the Wyandots) the bay and river was called Sandusky ; meaning in their language, "at the cold water."
"I have a note of conversation," says John H. James, in the American Pioneer, " with William Walker, at Columbus, in 1835-6, at which time, he was principal chief of the Wyandots, at Upper Sandusky, in which I asked the meaning of the word, Sandusky. He said it meant 'at the cold water,' and should be sounded San-doos-tee. He said it 'carried with it, the force of a preposition.' The Upper Cold Water, and the Lower Cold Water, then, were descriptive Indian names, given long before the presence of the trader, Sowdowsky."
In the vocabulary of Wyandot words, given by John Johns-
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ton, Esq., formerly Indian agent in Ohio, as printed in Archæ- logia Americana, Vol. I. p. 295, the word water is given, Sa- un-dus-tce ; and in page 297, he gives the name of Sandusky river, as Sa-undustee, or water within water pools.
The Sandusky, compared with most of our western rivers, is rapid and shallow. It becomes quite low during the summer months ; but in the spring and fall, it generally fills its banks, as also, during the winter months.
The greatest rise of waters ever known in this river, occur- red in January last. In 1821, according to the observations of one Spicer, an Indian captive, who had then lived nearly forty years upon its banks, the water rose that year higher than it had before, since his recollection. In January last, it was con- siderably above the mark of 1821.
In 1819, Paul D. Butler, in the employ of Robert Arm- strong, a sketch of whose life will be given hereafter, erected a saw-mill upon this river, between what are now the towns of New Fort Ball and Tiffin, which was the first mill in the coun- ty. It was a miserable affair, and was soon after demolished. There are, at this time, seven grist-mills, and several saw-mills upon this river within the limits of the county. The land along the Sandusky is very fertile, and as you recede from the river towards the west, it is generally level, and in some places incli- ning to be wet. In the eastern portion of the county, the soil is more clayey.
Honcy creek, the largest tributary of the Sandusky, rises in the New Haven marshes, near the corners of Richland, Craw- ford, Huron, and this county, and passes directly into the latter, in Venice township. Taking a north-westerly course through Venice, it enters the township of Bloom, near its north-east corner. Pursuing a south-westerly direction through Bloom, it passes into Eden township ; and after making a large curve
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in Eden, it leaves the latter township near its north-west cor- ner, and in Hopewell falls into the Sandusky.
The first grist-mill erected in the county was upon this creek, just above the site of the town of Melmore. It was built in 1821, by Ezra and Case Brown. The first grist ground in this mill, was for a Mr. Free, of the township of Bloom. The event was hailed with great joy by the early settlers, as they were now relieved from those long and tedious journeys through the wil- derness, to Upper Sandusky, Monroeville, and Mt. Vernon .- In 1827, another mill was erected upon this stream, by John Kinzer, (an early settler from the state of Pennsylvania, ) a lit- tle below the present village of Melmore. Mr. Kinzer has ev- er since resided upon the banks of this creek-a very intelli- gent man, and much respected citizen. Honey creek receiv- ed its name from the appearance of the water when high, which very much resembles honey .*
Wolf creek, another tributary of the Sandusky, rises in the south-west part of the county, and after passing through Sene- ca, Hopewell, and Liberty townships, it finally falls into the Sandusky river, in Sandusky county, soon after it enters its limits. This stream, running through a level country, is some- what sluggish. It received its name from the circumstance of a great number of wolves formerly inhabiting the swamps near its source, and the thickets around the wet prairies, a little west , of its mouth.
By an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, of the 22d of January, 1824, Seneca was organized into a separate and dis- tinct county. All justices of the peace, and other officers were to continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices un-
* There are several sink-holes in the bed of this stream, into which much of the wa- ter precipitates itself, and many are of the opinion that were these filled, as they say might be done with a limited expense, sufficient water would run the year round, to drive the several mills located upon the creek.
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til their successors should be chosen and qualified according to law.
It was farther provided, that all qualified electors residing in the county, should meet in their respective townships, on the first Monday of April, following, and elect their several offi- cers until the next annual election ; and until others were cho- sen and qualified according to law.
It was also enacted, that all suits and actions, whether of a civil or criminal nature, which had been commenced, should be prosecuted to final judgment and execution ; and all taxes, fines and penalties which were due, should be collected in the same manner as if the act had not been passed.
This act took effect, the first day of April, 1824, and accor- ding to its provisions, elections were held in the townships of Thompson, Seneca, Eden and Clinton, these being the only ones then organized. The county. officers first to be chosen, were a sherif and coroner. For the former office, Agreen In- graham received one hundred and ninety votes-for the latter, Leverett Bradley received two hundred and six, and both were elected.
The first county court was held the 12th of the same month, at Tiffin, in the house at present occupied as a Masonic hall. It continued about thirty minutes ; during which time a county surveyor was appointed ;* and a clerk of the courtt, pro tem. Hon. Ebenezer Lane presided at this court as president judge, and William Cornell, Jaques Hulburd and Mathew Clark were his associates.
On the 12th of October of the same year, the first annual election was held in the county, and the ticket elected was as follows :
Sherif, . · . Agreen Ingraham.
* David Risdon. t Neal McGaffey.
7*
--
--
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Coroner, . Christopher Stone.
Auditor, . David Smith.
Benjamin Whitmore,
Commissioners, 3 Doctor Dunn.
Thomas Boyd, and
During the same year, a prosecuting attorney was appointed by the court of Common Pleas ;* and a treasurer,t by the county commissioners. [For a list of county officers, see Ap- pendix. ]
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