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 9
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
While he was yet hesitating, Blue Jacket came up to the Delaware camp somewhat intoxicated, vociferating vengeance upon Colonel McPherson, who had just turned him out of his house, and whom he declared he would put to death for the in- sult he had received. The sight of the traitor raised the indig- nation, and aroused the resentment of the Beaver, to the high- est pitch. He seized his tomahawk, and advancing towards the culprit, " You must be a great warrior," said he, " you will not only kill this white man, for serving you as you deserve, but you will also murder our father, the American chief, and bring disgrace and mischief upon us all. But you shall do nei- ther-I will serve you as I would a mad dog."
A furious blow from the tomahawk of the Beaver stretched the unfortunate Blue Jacket at his feet, and a second termina- ted his existence ; " there," said he, to some Shawanese, who were present, " take him to the camp of his tribe, and tell them who has done the deed."
The Shawanese were far from resenting it ; they applauded the conduct of the Beaver, and rejoiced at their happy escape from the ignominy which the accomplishment of Blue Jacket's design would have brought upon them.
At the great treaty which was held at Greenville, in 1815, Gen. Cass, one of the commissioners, related the whole of the transaction to the assembled chiefs, and after thanking the Bea- ver in the name of the United States, for having saved the life of their general, he caused a handsome present to be made him out of the goods which he had sent for the purpose of the trea- ty.
It is impossible to say what was the motive of Blue Jacket, to attempt the life of General Harrison : he was not one of the
121
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Tippecanoe Shawanese, and therefore could have no personal resentment against the general. There is little doubt that he came from Malden when he arrived at Wapakonetta, and that he came for the express purpose of attempting the life of the general ; but whether he was instigated to it by any other per- son or persons, or had conceived the idea himself, has never been ascertained. *
On the 20th of November, 1819, James Montgomery, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, but then a resident of the south part of this state, having been appointed as agent of the Seneca Indi- ans, settled in this county within the limits of Camp Seneca, where the Indians had erected him a log house, which was cov- ered with bark, with puncheon for a floor.
Mr. Montgomery remained agent for the Indians, and lived near the camp until his death, which occurred the first of June, 1830. Mr. M. was a worthy citizen, and greatly beloved by the Indians. When he first came to the county, there were but five families between his residence and Oakley, now New Fort Ball.
Pleasant township was organized the 6th of June, 1831 .- Among its first settlers, were John Chaney, Nathan Shippey, and Caleb Rice, none of whom are now residents of the town- ship. The name, Pleasant, was suggested by James Gordon, one of the county commissioners at the time. This township, lying upon both sides of the Sandusky, contains more bottom land than any other in the county, Among its enterprising farmers, are Lorenzo Abbott, Isaac I. Dumond, Benjamin Tomb, John Claggett, Uriah Egbert, M. B. Fry, Vincent Bell, Daniel V. Flummerfelt, D. H. Jop, M. M. Titus, G. Sheats, and others.
On the 14th of January, 1836, Erastus Bowe and Vincent
* Memoirs of Harrison.
11
-
122
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Bell caused to be surveyed on the corners of sections nineteen and twenty in this township, a town, to which they gave the name of " Fort Seneca." This place, (formerly known in the vicinity as " Swope's Corners,") was surveyed and platted by David Risdon, county surveyor, and contains fifty-seven in- lots. It received its name from the stockade before mention- ed, which was about three miles below the town.
It is situated within 60 rods of the Sandusky river, upon the Columbus state-road, six miles and a half from Tiffin, and elev- en from Lower Sandusky. Its population is one hundred. It is a post-town, containing twenty dwelling-houses, one Metho- dist Episcopal church, one tavern, one store, one district school- house, two blacksmith's-shops, three shoe-shops, one tailor-shop and one cabinet-shop. There is also a physician located in this town-Dr. F. M. Bell.
On the 4th of October, 1829, Benajah Parker, a resident of what is now Fort Seneca, in Pleasant township, was stabbed by an Indian of the Seneca nation, named Peter Pork. It ap- pears that the Indian, who had been drinking, called at Park- er's house, and asked for whiskey. Angry words ensued on its being refused, and while Parker was attempting to force the Indian out of doors, the latter drew a knife, and with a back- handed stroke, inflicted a dangerous wound in the side of the former. Parker lingered for several months and died.
Peter Pork, as soon as he had committed the deed, fled to his cabin and prepared to defend himself. Having placed his tom- ahawk under his bed, and his knife in the wall at the head, he laid down to sleep. He was a stalwart Indian-the whole tribe standing in awe of him. The neighbors in the vicinity soon assembled near his house, and while asleep, they secured his tomahawk and knife. He was then awakened-but not until after a severe contest, was he secured and placed in confine- ment.
123
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
On the 28th of April, 1830, he was tried by the court of common pleas of this county, and found guilty of "stabbing with intent to kill." He was sentenced to three years' confine- ment in the penitentiary.
At the treaty of the Miami of Lake Erie, the United States granted to one William Spicer, a white man, who had been captured at the age of five, by the Wyandot Indians, and had ever since lived among them, a section of 640 acres of land, situated on the east bank of the Sandusky river, within the present limits of Pleasant township. This tract, generally known as the "Spicer section," is now owned principally by Benjamin Tomb, formerly of the state of Pennsylvania.
Spicer was captured in Pennsylvania, and to the day of his death was, as to his habits, manners and language, a perfect In- dian. When the country was first settled by the whites, he had resided upon the Sandusky forty years. His history is but little known. He was taken by the Wyandots, to the banks of the Ohio river, and used by them as a decoy to bring boat- men to the shore, that chanced to be passing upon the stream. Tying him to a tree near the water's edge, they would compel him to utter the most plaintive tones, as if he wished to be re- lieved from his unfortunate and perishing condition, while the savages lay in ambush, ready to fall upon the unsuspecting vic- tims of Indian cunning and duplicity. Many thus fell a prey to savage cruelty, though it is to be presumed that Spicer was compelled to act as he did.
On the 5th day of April, 1822, Noah Seitz, from Fairfield county, settled upon the north-east quarter of section twenty, in what is now the township of Bloom. This was the first settle- ment within its limits. Mr. Seitz sold out soon after, to Ed- ward Sutherland, and removed to Eden township, upon the banks of Honey creek, just above the present village of Mel- more, where he still resides.
124
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
In the spring of the same year, Thomas Boyd, Sen., from Ross county, with his sister, Mrs. Mary Donnel, came to this township. At the Delaware land-sales, he purchased land up- on which he afterwards resided, until his death, which occur- red November 27th, 1847. " Mr. Boyd was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, and son of Major Boyd, who under Gen- eral Washington contributed a gallant share in achieving the liberty of the nation. Mr. B. emigrated in an early day to the state of Ohio, which he adopted as his future home, and ever afterwards manifested the most ardent attachment to her best interests."
The same year-1822-Joseph McClelland and James Boyd settled upon Honey creek, in Bloom township, and were soon after followed by Abram Kagy, Lowell Robinson and Nehe- miah Hadley. The next year, John Seitz, Geo. Free, and Ja- cob Bretz, became citizens of this township, and permanent residents of the county.
On the 7th day of June, 1824, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, for the organization of townships Nos. one and two in range sixteen. The organiza- tion was perfected accordingly, including the present town- ships of Bloom, Scipio, Reed and Venice. The name Bloom, was suggested by John Seitz ; and though adopted for its brev- ity, it may not be deemed altogether inappropriate ; as the wil- derness at that time presented a scene of surpassing beauty- the garden of nature in fullest bloom.
The population of this township, in 1830, amounted to 389. According to the census of 1840, it had increased to 1168. --- The soil is remarkably fertile, there being scarcely an acre of indifferent land within its limits. It is probably not exceeded in this respect, by any other township in the county.
Among its enterprising farmers, are Lowell Robinson, Jo- seph McClelland, David Roop, John T. Reid, Simon Keller,
125
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Lewis Seitz, John Seitz,* Benjamin Huddle, Philip Heilman, David Troxel, William Roberts, Isaac Rohrer, Levi Neibel, Adam Baker, Jacob Myers, Oliver L. Robinson, and many others.
In 1822, Harry Blackman, from Genessee county, New York, settled in this township, at the place since known as " Blackman's Corners." Here he resided sixteen years ; and is at present a resident of Eden township. At these "Cor- ners," on the Kilbourn road, a town was surveyed by James Durbin, county surveyor, in 1830, which by the proprietor, Dr. James Fisher, was called Elizabethtown. It has never flourished-containing, at the present time, six dwelling-hous- es, a blacksmith's shop, one carriage-shop and a tavern.
In 1837, Philip J. Price, Julius Treat, and Thomas. T. Treat Esq., caused to be laid out, on the Marion state-road, five miles south of the town of Republic, and upon the school section (16) in this township, a town, to which they gave the name of " Bloomville.". It has a post-office-Thomas T. Treat, from Aurora, Erie county, New York, being post-master.
In 1840, its population was 13. It has since increased to 60. The town contains twelve dwelling-houses, three shoe- shops, one tailor-shop, two blacksmith's-shops, one carriage- shop, one store and two physicians-Dr. Bellville, of the reg- ular practice, and Peter J. Smith, Thompsonian.
Silver creek, a tributary of Honey creek, rises in Crawford county, and passes into Bloom township near its south-east cor- ner, (sec. 36.) After pursuing a north-westerly course, it falls into Honey creek, just after entering the township of Eden .- There are three saw-mills and a grist-mill upon this stream, and water sufficient to drive them more than three months of
* Mr. Seitz passed through this county during the. last war, in company with twenty others, with wagons loaded with clothing for the soldiers at Fort Stephenson, where they arrived, three weeks after its gallant defense by Col. Croghan.
11*
126
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
the year. Three young men traveling from Mansfield to Tif- fin, at an early day, gave name to this stream. Striking it, near its source, and being delighted with the transparency of its waters, they agreed that it should be'called " Silver creek." They followed its downward course to its junction with anoth- er stream, to which, from the peculiar resemblance in the col- or of its waters to that of honey, they gave the name of " Hon- ey creek." . [See Chap. III. ]
Soon after the land-sales at Delaware, in 1821, William An- way, from Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, settled in what is now Scipio township. He may be considered the first set- tler ; although at the time, two families were located upon the school section (16) who soon after, left the county. The late Mr. Laughery was the first that purchased land in this township.
Among the oldest settlers in this township, besides those just mentioned, were C. T. Westbrook, John Wright, Adam Hance, Abram Spencer, Isaac Nichols, Messrs. Stephens and Osborn, and Timothy P. Roberts. The gentleman last mentioned, set- tled here in May, 1824, and erected the first frame dwelling- house in the township, the one in which he now resides.
Scipio was surveyed into sections and quarter-sections, by Silvanus Bourne, in 1820 ; except a small portion, which be- longed to the Seneca Indians, and which was surveyed by C. W. Christmas, in 1832.
On the 6th day of December, 1824, a petition was present- ed to the commissioners of the county, praying for the organ- ization of the second township in the sixteenth range, to be known by the name of "Scipio." It had, at that time, sixteen qualified electors. The township was organized accordingly, and included, at the time, the whole of the present township of Reed .*
* The name was given to this township by Mr. Anway, after the township he left, in the state of New York.
127
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
The first annual election was held on Christmas-day, of the same year. The number of votes polled amounted to seven- teen-thirteen of those voting, receiving offices ; leaving four only, as the " sovereign people."*
Through the energy of its inhabitants, Scipio has now be- come one of the first townships in the county. Its progress was somewhat retarded at an early day, on account of an in- sufficient supply of water ; but this defect has been overcome by the ingenious contrivances and perseverance of its inhabi- tants. Although there is not a stream of water in the town- ship large enough to propel a mill, yet there are several, as well as factories and machine-shops, in active operation, by the aid of steam.
The population of Scipio, according to the census of 1840, was 1556. Since that time, it has rapidly increased in num- bers and in wealth.
In 1834, General Sidney Smith (now Sea) caused to be sur- veyed, in this township, upon the adjoining corners of sections fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one and twenty-two, a town to which he gave the name of " Republic." It was surveyed and platted by R. M. Shoemaker. The greater part of the land upon which it is situated, was entered at Delaware, by Messrs. Adam Hance and John Wright, in the year 1822-the former entering the east, and the latter the west part. The first dwelling-house erected upon the site of this town, was of hewed logs, and was built by John Wright, near the spot where a house has since been erected, which is at present occupied by Mr. Gale, as a store.
But very little was done towards the improvement of the
* The following was the successful ticket-William B. Mathewson, clerk ; John Wright, Seth F. Foster, and Jonathan Nichols, trustees ; Adam Hance, and Joseph Os- borne, overseers of the poor ; William Stephens, and Ezekiel Sampson, fence-viewers ; William Anway, jun., lister ; William Anway, treasurer ; Cornelius T. Westbrook, and Morrison McMillan, constables ; John Anway and E. H. Brown, supervisors.
128
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
place until the year 1838. Upon the completion of the Rail- road from Sandusky City, in 1841, to this town, it received an impetus which it still retains, and is now, as to wealth, popula- tion and business, the second town in the county. Republic contains one Universalist church, erected in 1845, at an ex- pense of two thousand dollars ; one Methodist Episcopal church, erected in 1846, at a cost of two thousand three hundred dol- lars ; and one Presbyterian church, erected in 1847, at an ex- pense of about two thousand four hundred dollars.
It contains also, nine stores, one apothecary, one silversmith, one furnace, a steam saw and grist-mill, one carding-machine, two forwarding houses, one district school-house, three shoe- shops, two cabinet-shops, two tin-shops, four tailor-shops, two carriage-shops, four blacksmith's-shops one bakery, and one hat- shop. Its population is about 1100.
There are in this town a Masonic chapter, a lodge of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, (No. 40,) a division of the Sons of Temperance, (No. 170,) and a Temple of Honor.
There was formerly in this town, as in the township, a scar- city of water, which considerably retarded its early progress ; but three public wells have been recently dug by the Messrs. Davis, (natives of England,) to the depth of sixty-five feet .- Owing to the peculiar quality of the earth, considerable skill was required to complete them. Good water is now obtain -. ed in abundance.
The general appearance of Republic, is prepossessing and pleasant. It is a healthy village, while its growth has been more rapid than any other town in the county, and bids fair to. exceed what a few years ago, were the expectations of the most sanguine.
There are six physicians located in this town-William C. Cole, William L. Hamilton, F. S. Kendall, J. S. Sparks, J. Ball, and Dr. Pierce. There is also one attorney-at-law resi-
129
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
dent of the place, William W. Culver, formerly from the state of New York.
The Seneca County Academy, a spacious brick edifice, is lo- cated a little east of this town, in the center of a beautiful plain, containing about four acres of ground, partially surrounded by a pleasant grove. The building has accommodations suffi- cient for three hundred pupils, and presents an imposing ap- pearance. The act incorporating this academy was passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, March 4th, 1836. [See Ap- pendix. ]
The members of the corporation met and organized, Febru- ary 8th, 1844. The capital stock of the institution amounts to three thousand dollars, and is divided into three hundred shares of ten dollars each, the principal part of which was ta- ken in Scipio township.
The stock-holders, at their first meeting, elected nine trus- tees-William C. Cole, Evan Dorsey, and John McConaghy, for three years; Timothy P. Roberts, Charles Lamkin, and James H. Benham, for two years ; and Zephaniah Hathaway, William Toll, and David D. Ogden, for one year. At the ex- piration of one year, Josiah Roop, Alfred Johnson, and Zeph- aniah Hathaway were elected for three years, to fill the vacan- cies which had then occurred. February 2d, 1846, Sylvester H. Lamkin, Robert R. McKee, and Joshua Maynard, were elected for the ensuing three years.
The president and secretary are elected annually, by the trustees. The treasurer is elected by the stockholders, for the term of three years.
The board elected Timothy P. Roberts, first president, but having sold his share in the stock, his office became vacant ; whereupon, Josiah Roop was elected to fill the vacancy. Josh- ua Maynard, M. D., has since been twice elected president, and still continues in that office. William C. Cole, became first
130
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
secretary, serving until the first Monday of February, 1847, when he was succeeded by Josiah Roop, the present incum- bent. Edson T. Stickney, was the first treasurer, and has since continued in office.
The academy commenced operations November 10th, 1845, S. W. Shepard, principal; Miss Sarah Jane Thayer, precep- tress, and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Baxter, teacher of music. Mr. Shepard studied his preparatory course in the state of Vermont, and graduated with the degree of A. B. at the Ohio Universi- ty. Three years after, the degree of A. M. was conferred up- on him by the same institution. He is still principal of the academy.
On the 1st of July last, a Miss Curtis was employed as pre- ceptress, and teacher of music and drawing, which station she still occupies.
A primary department was established in this institution, in the winter of 1847, under the charge of Miss Amelia E. Root, as teacher. Miss A. Pearce is at present conducting the same. The whole number of pupils that have attended this institution since its commencement, up to the present time, is four hundred and thirty-two.
-
CHAPTER IX.
Thompson Township-Sink-holes-Cave-Lewisville-Reed Township -Lodi-Venice Township-Caroline-Attica.
ON the 25th of April, 1820, the commissioners of Sandusky county set off a township in this county, to which they gave the name of Thompson. It extended, also, into the former county ; and its boundaries, as defined by the commissioners at that time, were as follow : "Beginning at the north-east corner of the Seneca reservation ; running thence north, to the pres- ent trailed road from Croghansville to Strong's settlement ; thence east, until it shall intersect the Fire-lands ; thence south, with said line to the base-line ; thence west, along said line, until a line due north will strike the place of beginning." This tract comprehended, besides a portion of Sandusky coun- ty, nearly half of this county east of the Sandusky river .--- Thompson includes at this time the original surveyed township, No. 3, in the 17th range, and the fractional township, No. 3, in the 18th Range.
The first township election was held on the 6th day of May, 1820, at the house of Joseph Parmenter. The first settlers in this township were William and Nathan Whitney, Joseph Par- menter, Horace Purdy, David Underhill, James Whitmore, James Underhill, Eli Whitney, Jasper Underhill, Benjamin Clark, Solomon Dimmick, Benjamin Murray, A. H. Twiss, and others-several of whom are still residents.
-
132
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
There were several squatters upon the land of the United States within the limits of Thompson ; but owing to the scar- city of water at that time, most of them left the county.
The population of this township, in 1830, amounted to 362. In 1840, it had augmented to 1404. It is now steadily and rapidly increasing in population and wealth, ranking as one of the first townships in the county. The soil is remarkably fer- tile, and the face of the country beautifully undulating. The appearance of many of the farms-their farm-houses and ex- tensive barns, indicate the intelligence, activity, and wealth of its farmers-among whom are John Bunn, Samuel Steward, Jacob Bunn, Jacob Karn, John Reyer, Daniel Close, M. Good, Jacob Decker, John Heter, Peter Dewalt, William Heter, Sol- omon Dimmick, A. H. Twiss, and many others.
Thompson is settled principally by people from the state of Pennsylvania, and immigrants from Germany. Of the latter, there is a large settlement in the south-eastern section of the township, which is rapidly increasing. They are Roman Cath- olics, and have established a Nunnery, which contains, accord- ing to the best information we could obtain, twenty-four broth- ers and fifty-nine Sisters of Charity.
The greater part of Thompson rests upon a bed of lime- stone rock, which is from two to twelve feet below the surface. 'This bed is usually loose, and the seams in the rock form the numerous "sink-holes," which are seen in all parts of the township. Of these, two are worthy of notice. Into one, a stream called " Sink creek" precipitates itself, and entirely dis- appears. Many years ago, a saw-mill was erected, just above the sink, upon this stream, and is still in operation, with suffi- cient water to drive it over three months of the year. To the west of this, is another sink, where a small stream also disap- pears, upon which a saw-mill has likewise been erected. Du- ring the occurrence of the greatest floods, these sinks are too
133
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
small to receive the waters from above, in consequence of which an overflow is caused, inundating considerable of the country beyond.
But by far the greatest object of interest in this township, is the " Thompson Cave." The entrance to this remarkable place is about ten rods from the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad ; near the south end of the east half, of the north- west quarter, of section one; which is almost in the extreme north-east corner of the county. It is situated upon the land owned by Mason Kinney, one and a half miles from Bellevue, and three-fourths of a mile from Lewisville, in this township.
The discovery of the cave is generally attributed to George and Henry Hassan. It was probably first explored by Lyman and Asa Strong. As early as the year 1815, it was known to the settlers upon the Fire Lands, and was then much frequent- ed by hunters, for the purpose of killing rattle-snakes, which were found here in great numbers. From this circumstance, it was called the " Rattle-snake's Den." But these poisonous reptiles have long since disappeared.
The mouth of this cave is a space of about six feet in length, and three in width. Upon examining the land in the imme- diate vicinity, it appears that about five acres, from some un- known cause, have sunk several feet. Some have conjectured, that the lime-stone rocks once rested upon a bed of soap-stone, which was washed away in time, leaving a cavity, into which the whole mass above was precipitated, causing a wide seam in the rocks, which constitutes the cave. That there has been a great convulsion of the earth in this vicinity, is almost certain ; for, as you descend into the cave, it is discovered that on one side, the strata of the rocks are nearly horizontal ; while on the other side, they are inclining at an angle of about forty degrees.
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.