USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 30
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which takes hold upon their thoughts and imagination has given to the world as great a gift as the Olympian Jove of Phidias or the Madonna of Raphael. And what a subject is here. Adventures which in interest and exhibition of courage and resource equal the fabled Ulysses. deeds which outrank a Hector's prowess, devotion and sacrifice beyond that of a Prometheus, heroism transcending a Thermopylae ; for even I, unskilled in this county's early history. can imagine something of that which took place in the foundation building, in the long journey from distant states, the parting of friends, the long look into the perils of the way, the paths they blazed through the trackless forest, the danger from wild beasts, the weariness, the ambush of Indians. the battle from the wagons, the shrieks of tortured captives, the blazing cabins. the mutilated bodies in the embers. the anguish of bereavement. sickness. the way- side grave, the humble prayer. the battle with the forests, the clear- . ing of the land, the plowing of the foreign soil, the failure of crops and the wasting of the famine. Every foot of soil was won by tears and blood. For us they suffered that we might inherit the promise. Here was enacted scenes at which a world might well have wondered, and which took as much true courage as when the Light Brigade charged at Balaklava.
The following Seneca county soldiers were on board the ill- fated "Sultana" at the time of its terrible disaster : J. M. Feseler, Company B, Forty-ninth Infantry; N. Gregory, Company C, Fifty-fifth Infantry. saved; B. Pease, Company E, Fifty-fifth Infantry; Jacob Rohr, Company H. One Hundred and First In- fantry, saved; E. Sharp, Company E. Fifty-fifth Infantry ; J. A. Shaffer, One Hundred and First Infantry; Lieut. E. J. Squire, One Hundred and First Infantry; S. E. Whyler, Company D, Fifty-fifth Infantry, saved; John Huffey, Forty-ninth Infantry, saved; James M. Phenceie, Forty-ninth Infantry, saved; Albert Miles, Fifty-fifth Infantry, saved; Capt. Taggert, saved.
The "Sultana" was a regular passenger packet, plying be- tween New Orleans and St. Louis, and upon the trip when this disaster occurred was overloaded, having on board a hundred cabin passengers, two companies of infantry under arms and a crew of eighty men, in addition to the twenty-two hundred paroled pris- oners, making about twenty-six hundred persons in all. This was a greater number than a Mississippi boat was expected to carry. The steamer was also heavily freighted with merchandise. The paroled prisoners were enroute to Camp Chase at Columbus, Ohio, for final discharge. They had been confined in rebel prison pens for many months, and were out of health from long confinement, exposure and want of proper food. The war was over and they were on their homeward journey, and expected soon to be in their beloved northland and in the home circle of their friends. After
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repairing a boiler and taking on the paroled prisoners at Vieks- burg, the Sultana resumed its trip up the river. and arrived safely at Memphis, where a stop of several hours was made to unload some freight and take on coal. Soon after the boat again proceeded up the river, and about two hours later-on the morning of April 27th, 1865. when about eight miles above Memphis, one of the boil- ers exploded and the vessel was soon aflame and in a short time was burned to the water's edge. Hundreds of men were thrown into the river by the explosion and others jumped into the water to es- cape steam and fire. The majority of those who remained on board perished in the flames. The eries of the injured and the groans of the dying could be heard above the roar of the conflagration.
This was the greatest steam boat disaster in the annals of his- tory. It was an awful spectacle to behold, for
"Out on the river's rolling tide, Out from the steamer's burning side. Out where the cirele was growing wide Men battling with the waves; And drowning they each other clasped. And writhing in death's closing grasp
They struggle bravely, but at last Sink to watery graves."
The total loss of those on board the Sultana was between eighteen hundred and two thousand persons.
TRUMAN SMITH'S EXPERIENCES.
Mr. Truman Smith writes the following account of his ex- perience in prison pens and upon the ill-fated Sultana ; "I was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania. February 6, 1848. and enlisted in the service of the United States at Gun Plains, Allegan county, Michigan, August 4, 1864, in Company B. Eighth Regiment Michi- gan Cavalry. On the twenty-fourth of November we met the enemy near Henryville. Tennessee. There was but a handful of us against the army of Hood and Forrest. As the firing grew sharp, orders came for us to mount and retreat to the barricade. but my horse was gone.
"I made my escape into the woods with the rebel cavalry in close pursuit. Fortune favored me. There was a small marsh just ahead and I went through the mire and came out on the op- posite side. The rebel cavalry tried to follow me, but the horses mired. I thought I would try and find my regiment. I stayed at the house of a Union man all night, and then started next morn-
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ing for Columbia, Tennessee. On my way I came across a wagon train which I supposed was our own, but it proved to be a rebel train. I rode two miles, and under the pretense of joining a rebel army that was passing, got off. I then went to the house of a Union man who gave me a blanket and some provisions and conducted me to a cave, saying it would not be safe for me to stay at the house as there were so many rebels around.
"I remained there two days and then started for the woods, but was met, not ten feet away, by some rebels. Of course I had to surrender. They took my arms and robbed mne of everything. Then I was taken to their camp. The night was very dark and I slipped past the guard and made my escape, but was soon captured again by a squad of rebel cavalry. They hurried us on until we reached Columbia, where they put us in Fort Misner. There were about 1.700 Union prisoners there. The rebels were on one side of the Duck river, and the Union forces on the other. We remained here several days, until Hood was defeated at Nashville.
"Our rations consisted of corn on the cob, from once to twice a day. We left in December for the Tennessee river. The ground was covered with ice and some of the boys had no shoes on-you could track them from the blood from their feet. We forded streams and camped where night overtook us. We crossed the Tennessee river and here about four hundred escaped.
"The rebels pricked us with bayonets and drove us like cattle to Corinth, Mississippi, where we stayed a day or two and then started for Meridian arriving there on the 25th of December. There were two stockades. one for Union prisoners and one for rebel deserters. A squad of us were put in the latter place. A day or two later we started for Cahaba, reaching there about the 1st of January. We were put in prison with about 3.000 others. Our rations here consisted of about a pint of meal, (ground cob and all) and that mouldy ; once in ten days we would receive about two ounces of meat to the man. This we cut up in bits and made porridge with our meal.
"There was one attempt made to liberate the prisoners worthy of note. The author of the scheme was Captain Hanchett. His idea was to overpower the guards. take their guns and fight our way out. About 1 o'clock a. m., when everything was still and the guards had made their rounds, we heard a ery for help. They had succeeded in capturing the interior guard, but as they made for the door the bar was dropped in place and we were securely trapped. A long struggle ensued before the guards found out the leader of the revolt. They furnished neither rations nor allowed us to build a fire until our leader should be produced. For three Vol. I-18
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days we had nothing to eat and no fire, and then Captain Hanchett gave himself up, saving it was better that he should die than should hundreds, who would surely perish in their famished condition. They took him out, tried him by court martial and sentenced him to be shot. He never gave away those who were associated with him in the plot to liberate the prisoners.
"We remained at Meridian until March. One day an order
came for 300 men to load a boat with wood. We went down the Alabama river about seven miles, when the boat went ashore and we were taken off to load wood. We carried steadily until we had some 200 cords aboard. This occupied the whole day and we then started back to Cahaba. We were permitted to stay on the boat that night. In the morning we were taken to Selma and put
in stockade. We remained there but a few days, when the other prisoners from Cahaba were sent there. We crossed the river the same night and then took the train for Meridian, arriving there just at dark and found ourselves back in the old stockade once more. The following morning we took the train for Jackson, reaching there about night. Now we were nearing our lines, and learned that our troops were near the Black river, less than forty miles. We were several days making the march. What a glorious sight met our eyes when we got there ! On the opposite side floated the stars and stripes. Orders were to go into camp for the night, but I stole away and swam across the river and was once more under the old flag.
"Everything was excitement here. News came of the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee. Everybody was wild with joy and the thought of a speedy return to our homes. Salutes were fired from all the forts. Our joy, however. was of short dura- tion, for on the 14th of April. as we got up in the morning. we found the colors at half mast. It was sometime before we knew the cause, and then we learned that President Lincoln had been assassinated. All thought of home was banished for the time being, and every man swore revenge. Everything was gloomy until about the 24th of April. when word came to get ready to go home. Everybody was ready.
THE SULTANA HORROR, BY A PARTICIPANT.
"It was a short march to Vicksburg, where, lashed to the wharf was the ill-fated steamer 'Sultana' on which a still greater horror was in store for the boys. We numbered about 2.200 from Castle Morgan and Andersonville, the greater part from Castle Morgan. When we boarded the 'Sultana' every foot of her deck was covered with men who had fought starvation, vermin and filth. Memphis was reached without accident and we got off the boat and went to the 'Soldiers' Rest,' where I got something to eat.
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"It was about midnight when the boat again got started up the river, and just after everybody had got settled down to sleep, except those in charge of the boat, there was a crash, and all at once confusion. Someone cried out that the rebels had fired onto us. I thought a shell had exploded near me, but found it was hot steam. I jumped up, threw off the blankets and found that the boat was wrecked. The boilers had exploded and the boat was on fire. I started around to see what the chances were for getting ashore. The fire was burning fast and furious, and men who were buried beneath the wreck were crying for help. When the fire lit up the water, men could be seen in every direction, and also pieces of the wreck.
"The first one of our company that I met after the explosion was Henry Norton. He had lost a bundle of clothes, and swore that he would shoot the man who stole them. I told him he had better let the clothes go, and make up his mind to swim ashore. He said not until he found his clothes. He was an excellent swim- mer and thought he could swim ashore in a few minutes. I left him there and went to look around. I saw that the pilot house was gone and that one stack lay across the deck. The fire was making great head way and men were begging for 'God's sake' to have some one help them. It was getting so hot that I concluded to leave the boat. I looked around for something to hold me up in the water, but could find nothing as we were on the hurricane deck and had slept on the wheel house. The only thing that I could see was an empty pork barrel. and thinking, perhaps, that would hold me, threw it into the water and jumped in after it. At this time I had all my clothes on. My barrel was worthless and sank. I started to swim but found that some one had hold of me and I could not get loose. We had a struggle in the water and I freed myself by giving him my blouse. The night was dark and I could not see which way to go. I swam but a few feet when I found myself with four or five others. It seemed as though we all wanted to get hold of each other. I succeeded in getting the rest of my clothes off, and got rid of my company. It was only a few minutes before someone had hold of me again. This time I came near drowning. I kept getting away from the boat and about an hour after it blew up. I heard some one calling for help. I had a piece of four foot wood that would keep me up nicely.
"I swam towards the comrade and found it was Henry Norton. I gave him the piece of wood and swam away. He must have been chilled through for he was found clinging to the piece of wood. I swam on trying to make the shore. There was a large tree float- ing down the river and on the roots were three or four men. They were singing the 'Star Spangled Banner.'
"As I swam away I heard someone coughing and swam toward
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him. As I came near, he kept swimming away. I called him and asked what regiment he belonged to. IIe asked what I wanted to know for. I told him that I would write to his people in case he drowned, and I should get out. He said I must not come any closer, and we made a bargain that if one should die, and the other get to shore the survivor should write the parents and let them know. We kept swimming until near daylight, when some one cried, 'Halt.'
"We swam toward the shore and as we came closer the com- mand to 'Halt,' was repeated. I replied that we could not, as we were in the water. Finally we got to shore and we were told to get out, but my limbs were so benumbed that I could not. The man came to the water's edge, took me by the arm, and pulled me ashore, but I could not stand on my feet. He called his comrade who was in the tent, and they together picked me up and put me in their bed, and then went back and rescued my comrade. They built a fire and rubbed us and gave us some clothes. After a while we saw a boat coming up the river and we hailed it. It had started to pick up the survivors of the wreck. I was the first and my com- rade the next.
"The first thing after we got on the boat they brought me a tin cup of whisky which I drank. I had got so that I could walk by this time. We kept going up the river, picking up men and making them as comfortable as possible. We picked up about one hundred and started for Memphis, reaching there about eight o'clock. The dock was covered with ladies belonging to the Christian and Sanitary Commissions, who gave us each a pair of drawers and a shirt. I started up town, but at the first block that I came to there was a great crowd and they wanted to know if I was on the boat.
"I said 'yes,' and they gave me a suit of clothes and thirteen dollars in money. From there I went to the 'Soldiers' Rest,' and was afterwards sent to the hospital. I called for paper and wrote a letter home, giving a detailed account of the disaster. Then I became sick and was unconscious. What became of the clothes and money I never knew.
"I was taken care of by Comrade White. My journey to Columbus must have been a tedious one. Here we met several of our regiment, and among them was Charles Seabury, he having his hands and face badly burned from the fire on the boat. We also met Ezra Spencer.
"The exciting events of April. 1865, perhaps account for the fact that the loss of the steamer 'Sultana' and over seventeen hundred passengers. mostly exchanged prisoners of war. finds little place in American history. The idea that the most appall- ing marine disaster that ever occurred in the history of the world
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should pass by almost unnoticed, is strange, but such is the fact, and the majority of the American people today do not know that there ever was such an awful disaster as that of the 'Sultana.'
"On December 30. 1885, at a convention held at Fostoria, Seneca county, there was a committee appointed consisting of A. C. Brown, P. L. Horn. William Fies. A. W. King and G. N. Clinger, to prepare a suitable memorial and present the same to congress. praying for a pension for each survivor of the lost 'Sultana.' "
CHAPTER XII
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
EARLY PREACHERS OF SENECA COUNTY-PIONEER METHODIST SOCIETIES-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES-UNITED BRETHREN AND EVANGELICAL ORGANIZATIONS-ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-REFORMED CHURCHES-ATTICA BAPTIST CHURCH- ATTICA SS. PETER AND PAUL CHURCH-OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANI- ZATIONS-EARLY SCHOOL LAWS-PRESENT SCHOOL LAW AND SYS- TEM-FIRST SCHOOL IN OHIO-EARLY SCHOOLS IN SENECA-POPU- LATION OF SCHOOL AGE.
The pioneer preacher's church was the log cabin or the log cabin school house. His pulpit was a rude table. His horse and saddle bags were his inseparable companions. In the early con- ferences it was customary for the bishop to admonish the preachers to "be kind to their beasts," and truly these itinerant horses shared with their riders in the arduous toil and struggle connected with planting the Gospel. The pioneer preacher's library was a porta- ble affair, consisting of a Bible, hymn book and a few other books, carried in the saddle bags and read on horseback, or by the weird flicker of the pine knot, or tallow candle, in the cabin home of the pioneer.
Among the preachers of an early day who visited Seneca coun- ty were Russel Bigelow, L. B. Gurley and others, all earnest work- ers and forcible speakers. Rev. Russel Bigelow has been described as an orator of divine inspiration, and under his unequaled and soul stirring appeals, people would leave their seats and move as near the speaker as possible, apparently unaware of having changed their places. "Such vast impressions did his sermons make that he always kept his flock awake."
Rev. L. B. Gurley was eloquent and his sermons full of pathos, most convincing and often moving his hearers to tears. He was not only an orator, but he was an artist and poet and brilliant in prose.
The pioneer preacher, with a broad brimmed white hat and round breasted coat, well poised in his saddle, was easily recognized
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as he drew near the log cabin, or the "meeting house," where the congregation was usually in waiting. With saddle bags on his arm, he pressed through the devout worshipers, who would strike up some familiar hymn, making melody in their hearts and melody in their voices. Kneeling and offering a silent prayer. the preacher would then draw from his saddle bags his Bible and hymn book and open services.
The first church in Seneca county was established by the Rev. James Montgomery, in 1819, when he came to the county as sub- agent of the Indians. It has been said that the government had a two-fold object in view in appointing a minister to fill that impor- tant position-that he would administer the affairs honestly, and at the same time teach them Christianity. In the first he was successful, but in the latter he failed. as the Indians would not receive his teachings nor profit by them.
The Methodist Society of Eden township was organized in about 1821. In 1828 they erected a log church building on sec- tion 28, in the Shock neighborhood. Among the early preachers . were : James Wilson, W. Brock. Martin Welch, G. W. Breckin- ridge, J. R. Jewett, Thomas Thompson and William Runnels, all of whom preached in Eden township, prior to 1848. The first class at Melmore was organized by Rev. Thomas Thompson, in Levi Cunningham's shop, no church building being then in exis- tence in the village. The members of this class were William Brown, Rachel Lucretia Arnold Brown, Nancy Cunningham, Maria Coleman, Harriet Hoyt, Martin Welch and Sarah Welch; Martin Welch was the first class leader.
The first Methodist Episcopal church in Melmore was built and dedicated in 1836. by Rev. L. B. Gurley. Thomas Thompson and Philip Wareham were the circuit preachers. Amroy Butter- field, of Melmore, was killed while engaged in assisting to raise this first Methodist church. Some of the early preachers were : Leonard Hill, 1848; Ralph Wilcox and C. Baylor, 1849; W. C. Huestis and N. B. Wilson, 1850; IIenry Warner and George W. Collier, 1851; T. J. Monnett, 1852; L. S. Johnson and W. R. Kis- ler, 1853; W. M. Spafford, 1854; Uri Richards, 1855-56; Ralph Wilcox, 1855.
In 1830 the Rev. John Robinson preached to the Presbyterians of the county, and about this time the first Presbyterian church was founded at Melmore. When the Presbyterian church at Tiffin was organized, in 1831, a number of the members of the Melmore congregation withdrew to unite with the one at Tiffin, it being nearer their homes. During the same year a Presbyterian society was formed at Republic and the Melmore society lost more of its members by them uniting with the one at Republic.
Throughout the early history the preachers named in the
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history of the Tiffin and Republic churches were also identified with this church at Melmore. Among them were : Rev. MeCutchen followed Rev. Thompson ; Revs. A. S. Dunton and John Whipple.
The United Brethern church at Melmore was the first organi- zation of that denomination established in Seneca county. This was in 1834, at the home of Philip Bretz. There were present Samuel Hiestand. Jacob Bowles. John Russell, John Eckert, Jacob Baer, Israel Herrington, D. Mechlin, Orange Strong. William Tracy, Nathan Smith, John Crum. John Alsap, Benjamin Moore, Henry Errett, John Smith, John Fry, Torence Esterly, Ludwick Cramer, James Track, H. Vreimberling. Jacob Crum, Jolm Long and Philip Cramer.
The Evangelical Lutheran church. of Adams township, was reorganized under state law, October 16, 1856, with John Kistler, chairman, and John Bennehoff, secretary, Reuben Bennehoff, Wil- liam Muhn and John Kistler were elected trustees.
The English Evangelical Lutheran church, of Adams town- ship, was incorporated September 14, 1867. On the same day a resolution to build a church on a lot of land purchased from Joseph Neikirk was adopted. The trustees elected were Jacob Neikirk, Samuel Metzger and John Clay. The building committee com- prised H. Whiteman, Joseph Neikirk and D. H. Neikirk. In November, 1868. John Clay, David Wyand and David Smith were elected trustees to represent other societies, to whom the new church was declared open for service.
The church of the Evangelical Association at Melmore is one of the oldest churches in Seneca county.
A United Brethern church at Flat Rock was founded some years later.
St. Michael's church dates its beginning back to 1833, when Rev. F. X. Tschenhens gathered a few Catholic families together and continued his visits for a few years, when Fathers Alig and Malhebouf were appointed his successors. A log building was at first erected for a house of worship. In 1844, the Rev. Sales Brun- ner came, and in 1848 another church building was erected to take the place of the log building. Among the first members were John Adam Perhard Stein, Ch. Krupp, John Host, Hein. Leopold Kuhn, John Westrich, A. Krupp, B. Ramschlag, William Glass- ner, John Glassner and Daniel Neis. Many, if not all, of those pioneer members donated lands for church. school and cemetery.
The Reformed church of Thompson township was organized in 1830, and in 1832 a house of worship was erected on a lot donated by John Heater.
The Zion Reformed church of Thompson township was organ- ized in 1830, and was reorganized under state law in 1860.
St. Jacob's Reformed church of Adams township was founded
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in 1834, by Rev. Conrad, as a Union Reformed and Lutheran church. During the administration of Rev. J. J. Beilhartz a house of worship was erected on land donated by Jacob Gruber.
Salem Reformed church of Adams township was organized by the Rev. F. Rehauser, and a house of worship was built in 1837, on land donated by John German. The original members were Eli Dought, Joseph Kunes, Jacob Britten, Eli Kaishner, John Hen- singer and Andrew Mitower.
The Baptist church at Attica was organized in 1841, with the following members : Nathan Childs. Adam Philo. Russell Wind- ruson, Leonard Gipson, Thomas Rundell. Eliza Childs, Electa Philo, Hannah Windruson. Huda Gipson and Nancy Rundell.
The early pastors were A. Abbott, E. Goodnow, V. R. Wall, Elder L. Mack, F. Freeman, A. C. Lockhart. E. W. Clark, J. Hawker, Reason Lockhart, Robert Lockhart. J. L. Wiley, Frank Lyon, A. Buell, T. Dyall. and E. W. Lyon.
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