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 48
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brush and vegetation so dense that you could not see ten feet ahead, especially in the bottoms-then you can form some idea of the wilds of Seneca county in 1823.
"We settled about five and a half miles south of Tiffin, and about three miles northwest of Melmore. Both towns were very small villages, then built of log cabins. We had no neighbors nearer than Melmore and Tiffin, except Jacob Price, who lived about one mile south of us. and Ruel Loomis, who lived about the same distance northeast of us, on school section sixteen.
"About half way between us and Tiffin was the village of Mohawk Indians, who were quite friendly, and visited us very frequently. Indeed, they became quite troublesome after we had lived here a few years. for they made their friendship a source of annoyance by their constant and persistent begging. They wanted white bread every time they came, and that was very often. Some- times whole squads came, together with their guns, bows and arrows, then women and children, and wanted white bread for all of them. At begging the Indian seems to have no conscience for either frequency or quantity.
"The second year after we came here we cleared a field of bottom land about half a mile down the creek from our house. Be- tween this field and our house was very thick woods, and as I was going to the bottom field one day alone, I espied an Indian coming around a little curve in the path, and supposing he had not dis- covered me, (and I being a little timid lad of about eleven years) my first thought was to get out of his way, so I stepped to one side and laid down behind a large oak log. expecting the Indian to pass by without noticing me. But the first thing I knew he looked over the log and exclaimed 'Cooh !' and laughed heartily. I was deeply mortified, but my fear was all gone.
A few days after this one of these Indians, Isaac Brandt by name, came to our house with two little axes he had had made by a black- smith in Melmore for his two boys-he said-and asked me to turn the grindstone for him to grind the little axes. I had turned grindstone before to sharpen axes forged out by blacksmiths, and as they were all very thick at the edge, I did not crave the job. I made all sorts of excuses, and told him that my father would whip me for leaving my work and turn the grindstone for him a half day, and all that. Brandt replied : 'Tell fodder Indian here ; grind axe ; had to shove.' So I turned for him until he was done In the meantime he tried to teach me Indian, but I concluded that it cost more than it come to. But to present me with some com- pensation when the grinding was done he took my hand and shook it heartily, thanking me for the service.
"At that time it was an easy matter to raise grain and vege- tables where the land was clear, but the great trouble was to save
الوافلورا
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them. Squirrels, chipmonks and other vermin were so abundant that they would devour a field of corn almost entirely, being sur- rounded by thick woods and weeds. We used to have dead-falls for every fence corner, and some one of the family had to go around the field with a gun nearly all the time at certain seasons. I remember well that during the warm weather, such was the stench from the carcasses of dead vermin, that it became nearly unbearable.
"Game was plenty in those days, and when meat was wanted it was easily procured by killing some deer, turkey. or other game. Honey creek and the Sandusky river were teeming with fish, some of them of enormous size. When we wanted fish, we took our poles and lines to some eddy in the creek or river and caught fish behind some boulder or log. where they seemed quite tame. Creeping up to them quietly, we often caught them with the hand. In the winter when the ice was thick enough to bear a person. we cut holes in the ice and caught them with snares made of horse hair. tied to a stick. The loop was passed over the head and caught them behind the gills.
"We were not annoyed with ravenous animals, except wolves. These, however, were quite numerous for a few years. Sometimes they would run our stock into the barnyard after night, and annoy them until the dogs made their appearance, when they would scamper."
Hopewell township was organized in December, 1824. The first election was held on Christmas day, the same year, at the house of Joseph Pool. Joseph Rosenberger. John Stover and Nathan Cadwallader were elected as trustees; James Gordon. clerk ; John Stoner, treasurer. Robert and John Shippy and John Chaney were early settlers.
Hopewell is a wealthy township. The soil is very fertile and the drainage is yearly improving it.
Agreen Ingraham, Jacob S. Jennings. John Sleeper, David Cover, James Mathews. John Baughman, Peter Lonsway, Peter Young, Aaron Ruse, C. Weikert, Thomas Elder. Philip King, Joseph Ogle, Thomas Rickets and others were also among the early settlers here.
The road that runs from Tiffin to Fostoria was surveyed along a ridge and on the highest ground that runs east and west through this township. Along on this ridge and on the banks of the Wolf creeks the first settlements were made. The east branch of Wolf creek runs longitudinal with the river in its general course. Near the southwest corner of section 1 another branch puts into it from the west. Near the north line of section 23 another branch of Wolf creek puts into this east branch.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad enters the township in the northwest corner of section 18, runs southeast across the township,
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and enters Tiffin in section 24. The western part of Clinton town- ship formed a part of Hopewell for some years.
The soil of Hopewell is fertile, and the surface just sufficiently rolling to admit of easy drainage and cultivation.
The Sandusky river flows through the southeastern sections and Honey creek enters the river in section 36. Wolf creek has a fork of its system in almost every section south of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, where it forms into two streams, which flow in a northeastern course to section 1, and there forms one of the forks of the main stream.
A road was laid out along the face of the terrace on the west bank of the Sandusky, by order of General Harrison, and under the direction of General Bell; James Meeker and a few men from Wooster underbrushed this road in 1813. At this time the Indian trail was well beaten, as if traveled over for centuries. while west- ward, stretching into the recesses of the wilderness were numerous paths made by hunters, or the wild animals in the pursuit of which the wilder hunters passed their years. This was Hopewell in 1820, and, with the exception of the surveyor's lines made that year, the description applies to 1822-23. when the first settlers came.
Joseph Ogle came to Tiffin on the 15th of June, 1824, and very soon thereafter bought from James Aiken the southwest quarter of section 23. When he landed in Tiffin he rented a cabin from Mr. A. Ingraham, and underbrushed a road to his land on Wolf creek. Mr. Ogle's family was the third family that landed in Tiffin after the organization of this county. George Park, Horton Howard and David Bishop were here. Thomas Loyd also, who was then a single man. Mr. Hedges brought on his family about that time. Eben Mills had about thirty acres cleared on land near Mr. Ogle, which he leased to Ogle on shares. During this year Ogle built a cabin on his land and moved into it in 1826, in April, and cleared a few acres that year.
Mr. Ogle helped to build the first school house in this township. It was put up on the southeast quarter of the school section, some two and one-half miles from the Ogle place. Sprague and Charles Chaney split the puncheon for the floor. Mr. Chenowith and John Chaney built the stick chimney. Abraham Miller and Joseph Ogle put up the desks and benches. These were constructed in this manner: Two-inch auger holes were bored into the logs along the sides and sticks driven into them about two feet long. Loose elap-
· boards were laid onto these sticks, and the desk was done. The seats were puncheon benches. Mr. Chenowith was the first school- master in the township, and taught in this school house. Reading, writing and spelling constituted a full course.
When Mr. Ogle came here. two years before the Hart family, Bartholomew Shaull and John A. Rosenberg lived further down the
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creek. Nathan Cadwallader lived up the creek, in section 34. The Daughertys were also here then.
When Mr. Ogle settled on Wolf creek they lived on corn, which they could get no nearer than Upper Sandusky. He and his son, Thomas, rode horseback to the plains, and bought to bags full of corn, each rider having a bag before him. The trip took two days. Upon their return the corn was taken to Moore's mill, near Lower Sandusky, to be ground into meal, which took two days more. Upon their return from the mill they had three bushels of meal, less the toll.
A village named Hopewell was platted by James Durbin in 1836, for Samuel Waggoner, on the southern part of the northeast quarter of section 16. Later the village of Bascom flanked the old town and today Hopewell is not in existence.
Steinersville is another old town which has vanished into the past. The village was laid out on section 25. It was platted by G. H. Heming for Henry H. Steiner, in 1852.
Jackson township was organized on the 4th day of December, 1832, and the first election of officers was held April 3, 1833, at the home of Abraham Rinebolt. On the 7th day of December, 1844, Isaiah Hollopeter caused to be surveyed on section 17 in Jackson township a town to which he gave the name of Rehoboth. The set- tlement was known as the village of the Mission church, but never prospered and is not now on the map. It was surveyed and platted by Thomas Heming.
The swales in this township hindered the progress of the settle- ment for several years, but by judicious ditching the surface water was led away, and Jackson township today is one of the best town- ships in Seneca county, and its soil is very productive. Harrison creek is one of the tributaries of Wolf creek.
In 1832 a large body of Indians camped in Jackson township and engaged in their favorite pursuit of hunting game. They killed eleven bears, and one hundred and seven deer, besides a large quantity of other game. A pioneer related that when they wished to get rid of the Indians they tried to get them in debt, for when they once got an Indian indebted to them he would not call again.
Upon one occasion, in the fall of 1832. the Indians had been to Gordan's place and imbibed freely of fire-water, and getting their bottles filled started for their camp. four miles distant. They had to pass the cabin of Mr. Nestlerode, on what was then known as the island and often bears that name yet. They stopped, as they had been in the habit of doing before, but were drunk. There were some six or seven in the company. When they arrived at Mr. Vol. I-30
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Nestlerode's cabin, they were too drunk to get off their ponies, but Mr. and Mrs. Nestlerode assisted them to dismount. When they entered the cabin, they commenced upsetting chairs, tables and everything that came in their way. They were feeling up for the floor when a general fight ensued between the whole party, except the chief, Thomas Koon, who was sober. £ Their scalping knives and tomahawks were brought into use, and the family were fright- ened; the children treed under the beds. But Mr. Nestlerode, by order of the chief, took the knives, tomahawks and guns from them, and their bottles of fire-water also. But the chief feared trouble when they reached their camp, and probably fearing they might return, asked Mr. Nestlerode to hand each Indian his bottle of fire- water; which was done, and then assisting them on their ponies, they again started for their camp, but had proceeded but a short distance when one of the party became rather top-heavy, and tumbled off. His companions halted, built him a fire, and left him. and proceeded to their camp. The Indian who had been left. returned to Mr. Nestlerode's the next morning with his clothes badly burned, and when asked what was the matter, replied : "Indian too much drunk; Indian take too much fire-water; Indian sleep close big fire ; fire much burn Indian, but white man get Indian drunk, then cheat Indian much." .
On the next day each Indian returned alone for his property, that Mr. Nestlerode had taken from him while drunk. Mrs. Nestlerode was very anxious to get rid of them as soon as possible, so when the first Indian came she brought out all the knives. toma- hawks and guns, but he only took what belonged to him, and when each one came he could only be induced to take his own property.
Some parts of Jackson are rolling and gently undulating. but the larger portion was overflown by Wolf creek and exceedingly undesirable on that account. The settlers entered the dry and best parts and the wet portions could find no purchasers for many years. Even so late as the close of the Mexican war, there were lands in Jackson upon which A. Rank, a Mexican soldier, located his land warrant. This was the last piece of public land sold in the county.
The railroad systems represented in the township are the Lake Erie & Western, the Columbus. Hocking Valley & Toledo. the "Nickel Plate" and the Ohio Central. The township is watered by Wolf creek in its southeastern sections, and by Harrison creek, a northern tributary of Wolf creek, in its western and northern sections. For years subsequent to settlement these creeks gave to the township a marshy character. which tended to its depreciation. Modern times have confined the waters of the creeks to proper channels and converted a swampy wilderness into a land of beauti ful farms.
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This township, though the last in the county to receive settlers. ranks today among the first in point of agricultural product, num- ber of inhabitants and general wealth.
Iler is in the southeastern corner of Jackson township. and is a station on the "Nickel Plate" railroad. It was founded in 1885.
Amsden, on the southeast quarter of section 14, a station on the Lake Erie & Western railroad, dates back to the construction of that road.
Trumbo was the name given to a postoffice in the southern part of the township.
CHAPTER XXII.
TOWNSHIP ANNALS
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP-KANSAS VILLAGE AND OTHER TOWNS- LOUDON AND PLEASANT TOWNSHIPS-REED TOWNSHIP-T. M. KEL- LEY'S RECOLLECTIONS-LODI. OMER AND REEDTOWN-SCIPIO TOWN- SHIP-SENECA TOWNSHIP-THE JACOB STRAIB SKETCH-MCCUTCH- ENVILLE AND BERWICK-THOMPSON TOWNSHIP-VILLAGES, PAST AND PRESENT-VENICE TOWNSHIP-FORD'S HISTORICAL ADDRESS- ATTICA VILLAGE INCORPORATED-CARROTHERS AND CAROLINE.
The township histories are continued in this chapter, their alphabetical arrangement being still adhered to. It will therefore be understood that the division is arbitrary, rather than logical or historic, and is made chiefly because the chapter sub-heads would occupy too much space if the histories were all published in one chapter.
Liberty township was legally constituted on the 5th day of June, 1832.
The first election took place April 1, 1833, when the following persons were elected as township officers: Trustees, John Rosen- berger, Evan W. Brook, Jacob Kaine; clerk, John Craun; con- stables, Eben Conway and Nicholas Rumbaugh; supervisors, Adam Fleck, Isaac Hartsock, James Hudson, Levi Crissey and Joseph S. Conway.
It had previously been surveyed and was known as township number 3 in range 14. This township was surveyed into sections and quarter sections by J. T. Worthington in 1820. Among its early settlers may be mentioned John Baughman, Jacob Myers. Jonathan Abbott, George Puffenbarger, John Michels, Jacob Null and Jacob Fleck.
In the northeastern part of this township was a tract of land three miles in length, and three-fourths of a mile in width, remark- ably stony. At the time of the survey the lime stone rock liter- ally covered the ground in some places. At other places it was not so thickly covered and fairly good crops were raised. The
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lime stone by being exposed to the weather, became white, giving the land a singular appearance. This tract was more remarkable. as the county in general is very free from anything of the kind.
The balance of the township is quite level, with a rich soil and very productive. The west branch of Wolf creek passes in a northeasterly direction through this township. upon which several saw mills were built at an early date in the settlement, with water runs sufficient to drive these mills at least six months in the year.
Frederick Rosenberger built the first saw mill in the township in 1829, and in 1831 added the first grist mill in Liberty. The same year he assisted in building the first school house, which was located on the line between sections 7 and 8.
John Baughman was one of the early settlers in Liberty town- ship, and was elected township trustee in 1866.
The Toledo division of the Pennsylvania lines of railroad runs north by west through the township. passing through Bettsville, the "Nickel Plate" railroad runs across the township, and the Lake Erie & Western cuts across the northwestern corner, passing through Kansas.
Kansas village is in the northwestern part of Liberty town- ship, and is a station on the Lake Erie & Western railroad. The village was platted in 1855, and is located in one of the finest farming districts in the county. Its growth has been steady and it is now one of the most business-like places in that part of the state for a town of its size. It is an important point for numerous · lumber industries.
Cromers is a small station on the Pennsylvania line of rail- road, five miles northwest of Tiffin. A postoffice was established there in 1875.
Maple Grove was formerly called Linden, and a postoffice was established there in 1874. It is a station at the crossing of the Toledo division of the Pennsylvania lines and the "Nickel' Plate" railroad.
Carlin was surveyed by W. B. Gaw February 7. 1859, for James Justin. The location was on west half of north half of southwest quarter of section 5. township 3 north. range 14.
Angus Postoffice was established in 1883 by J. W. Angus, who established the "Nickle Plate" Station. Jacob Flack was the first resident where this settlement now is. Angus, after whom the station is named, settled here in 1862.
In 1832 there was a village platted on section 9 in Liberty ship and was named Middleburg. but it saw its balmy days in 1837-38 and has now lapsed into the past.
Loudon township was surveyed in 1820, but for some years after settlers were slow to seek homes in the Wolf creek wilderness,
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although the sale of lands began in 1821. Loudon is one of the western tier of townships of Seneca county. Although it was sur- veyed in 1820, it was not organized as a township until 1832, on the 5th day of March.
The first township election for Loudon was held April 1, 1832, when Abner Wade was elected justice; Benjamin Stevens, Peter F. King and John Ricketts, trustees; John Tennis, clerk; Samuel Carbaugh, constable; Benjamin Hartley. supervisor ; Abner Wade and Nathan' Shippey. overseers of the poor; Benjamin Stevens. treasurer; Nathan Shippy, John Kase and John Shellars, fence viewers.
In 1833 the trustees and clerk were re-elected, and Peter Ever- sole was chosen treasurer. The township was districted for school purposes this year.
In March, 1834, the township was set off into road districts. Charles W. Foster was elected clerk and justice of the peace, while the treasurer and trustees were re-elected. School trustees were elected for the first time this year.
Among the first settlers were Abner Wade, John Tennis. Benja- min Stevens. Peter T. King. John Rickets, Samuel Carbaugh. Ben- jamin Hartley, Nathan Shippy. John Reese. John Shiller, Samuel Bear, Jacob Rumple, Martin Adams, Philip Hennessy. Robert Rainey. Jacob Fruth. George Heming. Peter Ebersole, Henry Sheller, David Young, Conrad Rumple. Jacob Kaiser. John Good. John Reinbolt. Jacob Dillon, Thos. Dillon. the Peter families, Jacob Mergenthaler and the Fishers.
When the pioneers first came to the township. Indians inhabited the country and made daily calls at the cabins of their new white neighbors. The bear and wolf were also frequent visitors, and following them came the ague-the most unwelcome. troublesome and injurious visitor of pioneer days.
A very small area of the township presents a broken surface ; but rolling lands are common. In general it is a slightly undulat- ing plain, possessing a soil well adapted to the growth of cereals and esculent roots. Wolf creek and its tributaries appear to beg for supply sources throughout the township. These streams are found rambling around everywhere within its bound, if we except the immediate neighborhood of the Fostoria divide. All the heads of the west fork of this meandering creek may be said to find a home here in sections 7. 18 and 29, forming a stream at the north- east corner of section 17. and flowing thence northeast, entering Jackson township. in section 35. Harrison creek heads in two creeks on sections 33 and 34, which flow north to section 14, where they form one stream. This flows north by east, leaving the township just east of the west line of section 1. One of the prin- cipal tributaries of the main stream of Wolf creek rises near the
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south line of the township in its southeast quarter, flows through sections 35, 36, 25 and 24, and enters Hopewell in section 19 of that township.
Pleasant township was organized on the 6th day of June, 1831, and while the Seneca Indians were yet roaming over it.
The Sandusky river courses through the western part of the township in great meanderings of nearly twelve miles along its shores. East of Fort Seneca it takes a due east course more than one mile; then taking a horse shoe bend to the southeast. turns north, running more than one mile along the section line between sections 15 and 16. In section 9 it turns due west three-quarters of a mile, and northwest, leaving the large, rich bottom lands of Samuel Ludwig on the right bank. These bottom lands in Pleas- ant have made, and forever will make this township justly cele- brated. The uplands are rich in soil, but the bottoms are inexhaustible in fertility.
Up to 1854 there was not a bridge across the Sandusky river within this township. In 1848 the want of a safe means of com- munication between the two parts into which the river divides the township became very apparent; for, on April 3, 1848, two men, Figgins and Stackhouse, were drowned while chossing the river in a boat, while their companions. Shannon and Watson, had a very close call. barely saving themselves. Six years after the bridge on section 9 was constructed and called "Clark's Bridge." owing to the fact that Calvin Clark, then commissioner, cast his whole influence with his northern neighbors, against a majority who desired the location to be at or near Pool's Mill.
In 1870 the Watson bridge was constructed across the river on section 21. and was used up to June, 1875. when a heavy storm carried it off and sent it floating down the river.
In 1876 the bridge at Pool's Mill. so long desired. was con- structed, and as this was done in opposition to the friends of the Watson bridge, petition after petition was presented to the com- missioners asking for the erection of a bridge on the old Watson bridge abutments.
The first settlers in what now constitutes Pleasant township were William Spicer, to whom the Spicer section in Pleasant town- ship was granted by the treaty of Miami of Lake Erie (patented January 18, 1822). and he may be termed the first white settler here. For forty years previous to 1819 he resided among the Indians of the Sandusky. and grew in wealth among them. Benja- min and West Barney came to the county in 1818 and settled here in 1819.
On the 14th of January. 1836. Erastus Bowe and Vincent Bell caused to be surveyed on the corners of sections 19 and 20, in this township, a town to which they gave the name of Fort Seneca. It
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is situated six and a half miles north of Tiffin and eleven miles south of Fremont on the Columbus state road. Strangers in Seneca county must distinguish between this town of Fort Seneca and the old fort; they are of the same name, but distinet places, more than two miles apart.
There never was a fort at the town of Fort Seneca, the old fort or military post of 1813 being further down the river, about two miles.
Prior to 1836 the location was known as "MeNutt's." and subsequently as "Swope's Corners." . Prior to 1830 Benajah Park kept a tavern here, the same in which he was wounded by Peter Pork, and in which he died in January. 1830.
The town of Sulphur Springs was laid out. but the date of platting the original town cannot be ascertained. Whatever prospects existed. in 1834, for the establishment of a village at this point, were destroyed during the period of depression which followed in 1837. In 1838 the Hedges flour mill was built on Beaver creek below the Pleasant township spring, and must be considered the first of that class of mills in all this district. al- though the township claimed small grist mills and even a dis- tillery before the IIedges mill was erected.
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