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 7
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"All that part of Indiana territory which lies north of a line drawn east from the southerly bend of Lake Michigan, and until it .shall intersect Lake Erie and east of a line drawn from said southerly bend through the middle of said lake to its northern ex- tremity, and thence due north to the northern extremity of the United States."
Substantially re-affirming the original boundary contained in the act authorizing the territory of Ohio to form a state govern- ment.
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In 1835 the people, who had settled in the Maumee country, became clamorous for the extension of the Ohio canal from Piqua north, and Toledo was made the point of terminus of the canal. Then the Toledo people saw the point and came to the conclusion that they lived in the wrong state; that it would be to their interest to be Buckeyes. The canal changed their allegiance. Now Gover- nor Lucas was urged to extend the laws of Ohio over this territory in question. On the 23rd of February, 1835, the legislature of Ohio passed an act extending the northern boundaries of the counties of Wood, Henry and Williams to the Harris line.
The Fulton line was the south line and the Harris line the north line of this disputed tract, and Michigan had hitherto ex- tended her territorial jurisdiction to the Fulton line as the southern boundary of Michigan. Wood county had, however. previously levied taxes up to the Harris line, but the people refused to pay them and that ended it.
The possession of the harbor at the mouth of Swan creek was
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then made the burning point, and the talk about "legal rights" was the order of the day.
It is quite unnecessary to add that the inhabitants of both states were wild with excitement. The two governors had, by special messages to their respective legislatures, so committed themselves that a trial by battle seemed the only alternative; and Governor Lucas determined to move upon Toledo with all his force at once.
Columbus was not without its participants in this cruel war. This village was stirred to its young foundations with excitement. and the young men of that time, clerks, lawyers, doctors-every- body was enthused with the gory intention of wiping out the blot on the fair escutheon of Ohio.
In the meantime, matters in Michigan were becoming much complicated. The territory organized for a state government by adopting a constitution, electing Mason as governor of that state choosing United States senators, etc. All this was done under the ordinance of 1787. which provided that where the population of a territory exceeded sixty thousand (and Michigan was nearly a hundred thousand by this time) they had a right to at once form a state government and apply for admission to the Union. So far, so good; but we know no state has a right to demand ad- mission. It was therefore not probable that congress would grant Michigan's request so long as the boundary line question was un- solved, particularly as it was known that the president was dis- pleased with the action of Governor Mason in regard to the con-
troversy. In August the president removed Mason as acting governor, and appointed John S. Horner to supersede him. Hor- ner was so unpopular that his appointment was in name only, as the inhabitants of Michigan refused to let him act. Mason con- tinued in authority until the great and glorious victory of Ohio in holding court in Toledo, by which she definitely established her jurisdiction over the newly formed county of Lucas.
As it approached the time appointed to hold court, the judges began to quake and tremble. Toledo was held by twelve hundred blood thirsty Michiganders. What show would the judiciary have against such an array with its train of artillery ? Governor Lucas had sent one hundred men under Colonel Van Fleet to protect the court. The judges were a trifle uncertain about the odds in case of conflict, but the valiant Colonel had his plans perfected. In- terrupting the complaints of the judges, he said: "If you are women go home; if you are men, do your duty as judges of the court. I will do mine. Leave the matter entirely to me; I will be responsible for your safety and insure the accomplishment of your object. But if otherwise, I can give you no assurance." The judges overpowered by this martial reply, placed their dignity and honor in his keeping ..
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We borrow a vivid account of this most strategic military movement from a pamphlet by Hon. W. V. Way, of Perrysburg, Ohio: "He, Colonel Van Fleet, told the judges that September 7th would commence immediately after midnight, and that there was no hour specifed in the law when the court should be opened. Governor Lucas wants the court held so that by its record he can show to the world that he has executed the laws of Ohio over the disputed territory, in spite of the vapouring threats of Governor Mason. If we furnish him that record, we shall accomplish all that is required. Be prepared to mount your horses to start for Toledo at precisely one o'clock A. M., I will be ready with an escort to protect you.
"At the hour named, the judges and officers of court were promptly in the saddle. Colonel Van Fleet was ready with his twenty men mounted and completely armed. Each man had a rifle in addition to his cavalry pistols. They proceeded to Toledo, reaching there about three o'clock A. M., and went to the school house that stood near where Washington Street crosses the canal, and opened court in due form of law. Junius Flagg acted sheriff. The proceedings were hastily written on loose paper, and deposited in the clerk's hat. When the court adjourned, the officers and escort went to the tavern, then kept by Munson H. Daniels, not far from where the American House now stands kept by J. Langderfer, registered their names and took a drink all round; while filling their glasses for a second drink, a mischievous wag ran into the tavern and reported that a strong force of Michigan men were close by, coming to arrest them. They dropped their glasses, spilling the liquor they intended to have drunk. and sprang for their horses with all possible haste, leaving their bills to be settled at a more leisure time. As they had accomplished the work in- tended, speed was of more value than valor in this retreat.
"It was then discovered that the clerk had lost his hat con- taining the court journal. It was one of those high, bell crown hats, then fashionable, and had capacity sufficient to hold a great many papers. Having succeeded in holding court so well, and then losing the papers was indeed too provoking and to have them fall into the hands of the enemy was still worse. They fully be- lieved that they were pursued, vet to lose the papers, was enough to arouse the courage of any soldier. Colonel Van Fleet's courage had not forsaken him. With him was to will was to do. He ordered the clerk to dismount and with two guards, to feel his way back carefully in search of the papers, while the balance would keep watch to cover retreat. HIe cautioned them to make no noise, and if discovered, to conceal themselves. The hat was found with the papers. The party reported no enemy in sight. The state of Ohio had triumphed. The record was made up from the papers, and signed, 'J. II. Jerome, associate judge.'
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"Colonel Van Fleet was so rejoiced at the recovery of the papers that he ordered two salutes to be fired on the spot. The party proceeded to Maumee at leisure and reached the town a little after daylight.
"While the court was in session. Colonel Wing was stationed in town with one hundred men to arrest the judges if they should undortake to hold court. Finding that there was no further use for his army, General Brown repaired to Monroe and disbanded them.
"It seems that this Mr. Shaler did not take charge of the office of governor of the Michigan territory, and that John S. Horner became Mason's successor, and was the acting governor with whom Governor Lucas afterwards had a lengthly correspondence. and which resulted in the discontinuance of the prosecutions, except the T. Stickney case for the stabbing of Wood, deputy sheriff. Governor Horner made a requistion upon Governor Lucas for him. but Governor Lucas refused to give him up, claiming that the of- fense had been committed on Ohio soil, and that therefore the courts of Michigan had no jurisdiction over him.
"Public sentiment settled down in favor of Ohio, and 'peace was again restored to the border.' The boundary commissioners resumed the work on the line in November and finished it without molestation. At the next session of congress on the 15th of June, 1836, Michigan was admitted into the Union, with the Harris line for her southern boundary, and the disputed territory was thus given to Ohio.
"In closing this paper I take the liberty of making a quotation from the witty book of a former Ohio congressman, (Hon. S. S. Cox).
"'A Search for Winter Sunbeams.' in which, while at Toledo in Spain, he musingly draws a comparison between that Toledo and Toledo, Ohio: 'Old Toledo was the subject of many a fray. bloody and bitter as your Maumee Valley war, when mad Anthony Wayne waged his Indian warfare. and as New Toledo was, when, as disputed ground in the "Wolverine War" between Ohio and Michigan, she witnessed the destruction of watermelons and corn whisky. The sweat which then flowed. and the feathers which were then ruined. are known to the old inhabitants of Ohio. Then I was a youth, but I have the recollection of hearing valiant colonels in my own native Muskingum hills, addressing the militia drawn up around them in hollow squares, inspiring them to rescue the realm of quinine and hoop-poles from the grasp of the insatiate Michiganders ! The recollection makes my heart tremble. Ah! That was a war, whose adventures no Cid has dared vet to cele- brate ! The passions then engendered even yet vibrate in the cornstalks of the Maumee valley ! A remarkable war! When
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soldiers retreated before a foe not pursuing and ran through almost impassable swamps, guided by the battle fires of their own flaming eyes. The dead and wounded of that war were never counted. Both sides fought for a boundary line and both ran that line with the same exactitude and compass. Their lines were both straight. I said I was a boy then ; but the tympanum of my ear even now at this distance and age echoes to the rataplan of that sanguinary war.
" 'Finally, we cannot but feel that the solution of the boundary question by congress was a happy one, in view of its later results. Although when proposed, it most obviously favored Ohio, yet time in its changes has brought about an equitable distribution of spoils. Had Michigan's claims been favored, she would have lost that in- valuable territory which has become a great source of wealth to her, and is destined in the future to yield even an hundred-fold more. Whether the beautiful city of Toledo would have ever risen to her present proud position, it is impossible to speculate upon ; but looking back over the actual results of the Boundary war, Ohio and Michigan can clasp hands and say, "It has resulted wisely for us both." ' "
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CHAPTER IV
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND SURVEY
SURVEY OF "NEW PURCHASE"-DETAILS OF THE SURVEY-IN- DIAN RESERVATION NOT SURVEYED-SANDUSKY RIVER NOT INCLUDED -THE TWO LAND DISTRICTS-COUNTY ORGANIZED-CONDITION OF THE COUNTY-STREAMS AND WATER POWERS-STATUS OF THE PEOPLE-SENECA COUNTY SEAT-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-COURT HOUSES AND JAILS-COUNTY INFIRMARY-COUNTY .OFFICIALS- PROPERTY VALUATIONS AND TAX RATE-TAX LIMIT LAW-POPU- LATION UNDER TWENTY-ONE-TELEPHONE VALUATION-SENECA COUNTY'S FERTILITY.
Seneca county compares favorably with the counties that sur- round it, and is second to none in the fertility of its soil, number of streams, activity, intelligence and morality of its inhabitants, and in the increase of its population. It contains fifteen town- ships, its area being divided nearly equally, north and south, by the Sandusky river.
The staple production of this county is wheat, large quantities . of which are raised annually. Corn is grown in abundance, especially along the numerous streams, where the soil is a rich loam. Other grains and vegetables are produced in large quan- tities.
On February 12th, 1820, an act was passed by the legislature, erecting into fourteen counties all the lands within Ohio, 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 surveyed. From the boundary line between Ohio and Indiana a line was run due east until it reached the southwest corner of the Connecticut Reserve, dividing the "New Purchase" into two parts. This was called the base line and separated Seneca county from Wyandot and Crawford. From the Indiana line, which was taken as a meri- dian, other lines were run parallel to the same, cutting the base- line into right angles, at the distance of every six miles. These lines run north and south and are called ranges. Lines were also
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run, parallel to the base line, at the distance of every six miles north and south until they reach the northern and southern ex- tremities of the purchase. As these lines eross the range lines at right angles, the whole is eut into squares of thirty-six miles each, containing thirty-six sections of land. and are numbered pro- gressively eastward, from the Indiana line until they strike the western edge of the Western Reserve.
In 1820, outside of the Indian reservation. the title to all the territory was in the United States; and the New Purchase could not be offered for sale until after a survey thereof was made and reported, in order to enable the government to make proper de- scriptions of tracts, designating each in such manner and with such certainty as to avoid, if possible, all controversy as to boun- dary lines, etc.
During all this time the squatters of Seneca county explored and prospected. making selections of localities at or near which they intended to buy, as soon as the lands were offered for sale. They built their huts wherever they pleased ; fished and hunted. Some made small openings to raise vegetables, taking their chances for the improvements falling into the hands of somebody else ; others that lived near any of these reservations. farmed the lands of some of the Indians on shares. Thus the squatters were em- ploved making themselves comfortable, raising stock and getting ready to open farms for themselves.
The survey of the Western Reserve was started at a point on the west line of Pennsylvania, where the forty-fist degree of north latitude crosses the same. The surveyor then followed this parallel due west, measuring ranges of five miles each. At the end of the twenty-fourth range he reached the southwest corner of the Con- neetieut reserve, which is now also the southwest corner of Huron county. From this point a line was drawn north to the lake, and parallel with the west line of Pennsylvania. which formed the western boundary of the Western Reserve. So that all the terri- tory north of this parallel to the lake, and all east of this north line to the state of Pennsylvania, constitutes the Western Reserve ; sometimes called the "Connecticut Reserve." and sometimes "the Fire Lands." These lands were reserved by Connecticut for the purpose of paying with them debts the colony owed to revolutionary soldiers, to people who had their property burnt or otherwise destroyed by the British army, ete., war debts generally.
Let us remember now, that this parallel of forty-one degrees north latitude is the southern boundary. and the base line of the Western Reserve; that the ranges on that line are five miles; that there are twenty-four ranges in all; and that the townships on the Western Reserve are five miles square.
Soon after the treaty of the Miami of the Lake, already men-
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tioned. the general government ordered all the lands thereby se- cured to be surveyed. This was then "the new purchase."
DETAILS OF THE SURVEY.
Sylvanus Bourne. under instructions from the general land office of the United States, started a survey from the east line of the state of Indiana on the forty-first parallel. This state line, which of course is also the west line of Ohio, he called the first meridian. Running his line on this parallel east, he planted a stake where the end of the sixth mile was reached. This made one range, and the first range in his survey. The end of the seven- teenth range brought him within fifty-two chains and seven links of the southwest corner of the Western Reserve. A line drawn due north, by his compass, cut the west line of the Western Reserve exactly at the northeast corner of Seneca county. There is there- fore a strip of land lying all along and east of the seventeenth range, that is not in any range, 52.07 long on the south end, run- ning to a point just eighteen miles north. This tract is called "the gore." The ranges in the New Purchase are six miles wide- 17x6=102. The ranges on the Western Reserve being five miles wide -- 24x5=120; 102 plus 120=222. Therefore the distance from the state line of Pennsylvania to the state line of Indiana is 222 miles and this gore. 52.07 miles.
From these six mile posts. lines were drawn due north to the north line of Ohio and to Lake Erie. and south to the Virginia military land districts. This line thus drawn along the forty- first parallel north latitude, being the base of operation for all future surveys, is called the base line. £ The territory between these six-mile posts is called a range. and runs north and south from the base line, as above indicated.
Parallel with this base line. and six miles distant therefrom. other lines were surveyed, starting from this meridian north and south of the base line, and running east until other surveys were met. The north and south lines. or range lines, thus cut at right angles by the east and west lines. or township lines. formed tracts of territory, each six miles square, called townships. Each addi- tional east and west, six mile line, from the base line, adds another township to the number. The townships, therefore, are numbered from the base line north and south; and townships one north or south means all the townships along the entire length of the base line, having the base line for the northern or southern boundary. The next townships north or south are numbered two, and so on, until Michigan or Lake Erie on the north, or some other survey on the south is reached.
In describing a piece of land, therefore, we say, for example, Vol. I-4
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"Township two (2) north, range fifteen (15) east"; because this is the second township north of the base line, lying north and in range fifteen, counting the ranges from the meridian as above.
A Mr. Holmes assisted Mr. Bourne in the survey of the range and township lines.
Four gentlemen were appointed by the commissioner of the general land office, to survey and sub-divide Seneca county into sections, quarter and half quarter sections. They were J. Glas- gow, Price F. Kellogg, James T. Worthington and Sylvanus . Bourne.
Seneca county has five ranges, from the thirteenth to the seventeenth, both inclusive, and three townships north-one, two and three, named the same as they are now known, and not as es- tablished from time to time by county commissioners. The geo- graphical lines of the townships were established by these surveys.
It is to be understood that the Indian reservations were not included in these surveys. Each township being six miles square, makes just thirty-six sections, each one mile square, and contain- ing six hundred and forty acres each. The sections are numbered by commencing at the northeast corner of the township; running west, brings section six into the northwest corner; the next section south of this is section seven, and running east, brings section twelve immediately south of section one; then calling the section south of twelve number thirteen, running west and so on, brings section thirty-one into the southwest corner, and section thirty- six into the southeast corner of the township.
The sections were again sub-divided into quarters and half quarters with lines at right angles, making it very easy to describe the quarter of a quarter.
It is scarcely possible to conceive of a plan for the description of land for the purposes of purchase, sale or taxation, more beauti- ful, geographically, or for business more convenient.
In the survey of the entire northwest, this order was strictly adhered to.
We must also remember that in all these surveys, the Sandusky river having been, by act of congress, declared a navigable stream. is not included. The surveys run only to low water mark of the stream, and therefore necessarily and unavoidably create many fractional sections. These surveyors finished their work in 1820.
There were then, also several other Indian reservations, aside from the Seneca reservation, viz: The Armstrong reservation; the McCulloch reservation; the Van Meter reservation; the Walker reservations, and a reservation of about twelve square miles occupy- ing the southwest corner of the county, belonging to the Wyandots. These reserves were not surveyed, and not offered for sale until after the last Indian had gone, when, in 1832, a Mr. J. W. Christmas
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surveyed them all. Thereupon these reserve lands were brought into market also.
This new purchase thereupon was laid off and divided into two land districts-the Delaware and the Piqua land districts, by a line drawn north and south through and near the center of the new purchase. This placed Seneca county in the Delaware land district.
On the 3rd day.of August, 1821, the lands in the Delaware land district north of the base line, were first offered for sale at Delaware at a minimum price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Large quantities of land in this county were pur- chased at these first sales, but very little of it above the minimum price.
Very few people had come as far as the Sandusky river before the land sales, as the sales of the government lands were called. The Senecas, as has already been stated, owned 40,000 acres, most- ly in the present limits of Seneca county, and the Wyandots twelve miles square immediately south of the Senecas, which tracts, of course, were not in market. Some men left their families in the settlements and came to the Sandusky valley on foot or on horse- back, on a sort of an exploring expedition, prospecting and looking up tracts that suited them, to then return and bring the family, or go to Delaware, make an entry, and then return and start with the family. Before the land sales, however, and up to the year 1820, a very few families had located between these reservations.
During the month of February, 1820, was established the first postoffice in the county, at Oakley. This town had been surveyed some time previous. by Joseph Vance, upon land granted to Robert Armstrong. This was the first surveyed and platted town in the county. In 1824 it was again surveyed and its name changed to
Fort Ball. This survey was made by David Risdon, who was the first postmaster, and at the time of his appointment, there was but one mail route through the county, which was along the old army road, and extended from Columbus to Lower Sandusky.
In 1822, a road was surveyed by Colonel James Kilbourn, lead- 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 two men from the East who became residents of the county later.
By an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, of the twenty -- second of January, 1824, Seneca was organized as a separate and distinct county. This act took effect the first day of April, 1824, and according to its provisions, elections were held in the town- ships of Thompson, Seneca. Eden and Clinton, these being the only ones then organized. The county officers first to be chosen were a sheriff and a coroner. For the former office, Agreen Ingraham
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
received one hundred and ninety votes; for the latter, Leverett Bradley received two hundred and six. both being elected.
The first county court was held on the 12th of the saine month, at Tiffin, in the building later occupied as a Masonic hall. The session of the court continued thirty minutes, during which time a county surveyor was appointed-David Risdon; and a clerk of the court pro ten-Neal MeGaffey. Hon. Ebenezer Lane presided at this court as president judge, and William Cornell, Jacques 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 fol- lows: Sheriff, Agreen Ingraham; Coroner, Christopher Stone; Auditor, David Smith; Commissioners, Benjamin Whitmore, Thomas Boyd and Dr. Dunn. During the same year, a prose- cuting attorney was appointed by the court of common pleas- Rodolphus Dickinson. A treasurer was appointed by the com- missioners-Milton McNeal.
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