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 9
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The huge copper box, containing mementoes of the times, which was placed within the stone, was put in position by the Masons and contains the following: Copies of all the newspapers published in the county; historical sketches and names of officers and members of the following churches and societies: Tiffin Lodge. No. 77 (F. & A. M.) ; Methodist Episcopal church. Trinity Episcopal church. First Evangelical church. Presbyterian church. First Baptist church. St. Mary's Catholic church. Tiffin Public schools, Tiffin Lodge Knights of Pythias. Knights of St. George, St. Patrick's (F. A. & B. A.). Heidelberg college, Seneca County Medical Society, Tiffin Turner Society. Pickwick Lodge (K. of P.), Grace Reform church, Tiffin Zouaves. Ebenezer Evangelical church, Tiffin fire de- partment, Tiffin Bruderbund Society, Isaac P. Rule Post and Leander Stem Post (G. A. R.), Eureka Lodge ( Prudential Order of America). First Reformed church, Kansas Lodge, Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. Bloonville G. A. R., Electric Light Company, and rolls of the following I. O. O. F. lodges: Green Springs, Venice Lodge. Adrian Lodge (No. 494). Wyandot Lodge (No. 141), and Fostoria Lodge (No. 317).
The court house is of light colored stone, three stories high, and is beautiful in design and elegant in finish. It is surrounded by an attractive. well-kept lawn, and on each side of the front entrance is a mounted cannon bearing the inscription : "Captured by Sher- man's army, December 13, 1864, at Fort McAllister. Ga., and pre- sented to Seneca county by W. H. Gibson Post, No. 31, G. A. R., of
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
Tiffin, O., July 4, 1800." Near the southwest corner of this court house square is the famous Gibson monument, a description of which is fully given in another chapter. A figure representing the goddess of justice surmounts this magnificent structure, being placed in position May 26, 1885.
The Seneca county infirmary is located in Eden township, upon a tract of two hundred and fifty-three acres of land on the ' Melmore road, about two and one-half miles south of Tiffin. The land was bought in 1855, and in 1856 the first buildings were erected. N. N. Speilman had the contract for the brick work, and Myers and Toner the carpenter and joiner work. The work was let in conformity with a notice the county commissioners caused to be published in the Tiffin Tribune and Seneca Advertiser, on the 30th of January, 1856. David Burns, Isaac Stillwell and James Boyd were the commissioners. The work was accepted September 19, 1856, and orders were drawn for the payment of the same. The first directors of the infirmary were Andrew Lugenbeel, John Kerr and Daniel Brown, who appointed Harrison McClelland the first superintendent of the infirmary and farm.
The average number of inmates is about seventy-five. Edward L. Yale is the superintendent. and the board of directors is com- posed of the following gentlemen : D. H. Good, Samuel Dreitzler and Jacob Staib. A recent grand jury reports that they find the main building in a poor state of repair, condition delapidated, cellar damp, and the entire building more or less unsanitary. They recommend using the one modern building as a nucleus, new build- ings be erected, on the cottage plan. from year to year, so that in a short time the old building can be dismantled.
In the earlier days. before county infirmaries were built. each township was obliged to take care of its own paupers. One of the duties of the trustees was to "sell the paupers," that was to let to the lowest bidder the contract for boarding each pauper for the year. Very often the man who bid off a pauper made up by scanty food and clothing for the low price which he received for board, and the treatment of the unfortunate ones was much less humane than by the modern method.
Infirmaries, homes and other public institutions for caring for the unfortunate show an advanced state of civilization, and our poor are no longer called paupers, nor ordered out of a township.
The old title "Poor House" would seem altogether ridiculous if applied to the "County Home" of today. The modern methods employed in the management of the county institutions of the present time. seek to make better men and women of the inmates and to give them a real home, so far at least as institutional methods will permit.
From the report of the Seneca County Infirmary directors for
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64
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
the past year the following compilation is made : It shows that there is one more male in the institution than there was last year. On the first of September, 1910, there were seventy inmates there, fifty males and twenty females. During the year past there were one hundred and thirty-three cared for. of which ninety-eight were males and thirty-five females. Of the fifty-five discharged during the year, forty-one were males and fourteen were females. At the close of the last fiscal year, eleven females and ten males in the in- stitution were unable to read or write. Of the seventy inmates. forty-five were over sixty years of age, twenty-three were between sixteen and sixty, one between the age of three and sixteen and one was under three.
Following are the Seneca county officials :
Auditor-R. R. Bour : incoming. J. H. Lennartz. Clerk-Francis R. Mann ; incoming, George N. Young. Treasurer-W. M. Shaffer.
SENECA COUNTY INFIRMARY.
Surveyor-Chas. J. Peters; incoming. Henry B. Puffenberge
Coroner-Edward Lepper.
Sheriff-Philip H. Reif.
Probate Judge-George M. Hoke.
Prosecuting Attorney-Harry P. Black.
County Commissioners-F. J. Fry-incoming. Nicholas Wall; Nicholas Wall-incoming. John M. Fry; C. D. Holtz-incoming. John W. Cook.
Infirmary Directors-D. H. Good, Samuel Dreitzler. Jacob Staib, Edward L. Yale, Supt. Infirmary three miles south of city on Melmore Road.
Justices of the Peace: Adams Township-W. M. Clay, Re- public; C. G. Robinson. Greenspring.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
Big Spring-Isaac W. Cline, Adrian; Louis Ridenour, New Riegel; C. D. Chilcoat, Alvada.
Bloom-Fred J. Gillam, Bloomville; J. F. Walker. Bloomville. Clinton-S. J. Patterson. Tiffin : Charles Deppen, Tiffin.
Eden-Orville Downs. Melmore.
Jackson-Pliny Trumbo, Amsden; J. C. Yoder, Longley.
Liberty-E. L. MeDole. Kansas: John Robertson, Bettsville.
Loudon-John R. Bradner, Fostoria ; T. P. Johnston, Fostoria. Reed-James L. Lake, Omar; Hiram Heppler. West Lodi. Scipio-Aaron Kistler, Republic.
Seneca-John Clabaugh, MeCutchenville; Julius Smith, Tiffin.
Thompson-M. Geiger, Greenspring ; John J. Krupp, Bellevue. Venice-R. T. Hearson, Attica ; Jas. F. Clements, Carrothers. Township Clerks : Adams Township-Wm. Birdsall, Green- spring.
Big Spring-Joseph Wetzel, New Riegel.
Bloom-Frank F. Weidaw. Bloomville.
Clinton-Harvey Hunter, Tiffin.
Eden-George Herbst. Melmore.
Hopewell-Wm. Martin, Tiffin.
Jackson-W. A. Mowery, Fostoria.
Liberty-Grant Lott, Kansas, R. 2.
Loudon-John Dreitzler, Fostoria.
Pleasant-L. II. Miller, Old Fort.
Reed-Anthony Phillips. Bellevue. Scipio -- P. B. Pettys. Republic.
Seneca-H. V. Heimrich, Tiffin.
Thompson-I. E. Rine, Tiffin.
Venice-William Uhle, Attica.
PROPERTY VALUATION AND TAX RATES.
The county auditor has furnished the following figures show- ing the comparative valuation and tax rate of the taxing districts of the county for the years 1909 and 1911 :
Taxing Districts
Valuation Tax Rate
1909.
1909.
Adams
$ 918,830.00
1.94
Adams attached to Pleasant School district
47,410.00
2.15
Adams attached to Green Spring School dis.
37,270.00
2.64
Green Spring Corporation
149,570.00
4.34
Big Spring
867,000.00
1.38
Adrian School District
92,530.00
3.62
Big Spring attached to New Riegel School dis. Vol. I-5
44,790.00
1.62
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
New Riegel corporation
$ 95,620.00
1.82
Bloom
918,610.00
1.92
Bloom attached to Reed School district
20,790.00
1.98
Bloom attached to Bloomville School district
23,630.00
3.15
Bloomville Corporation
206,940.00
4.14
Clinton
1,000,880.00
1.72
Clinton attached to Tiffin School district
126,510.00
2.10
Eden
874,220.00
2.26
Eden attached. to Seneca School district
28,470.00
2.14
Hopewell
1,049,330.00
1.90
Hopewell attached to Liberty School district
new. dist.
2.09
Hopewell attached to Tiffin School district
40,700.00
2.40
Jackson
1,293,930.00
1.22
Jackson attached to Fostoria School district
60,760.00
2.02
Liberty
1,135,390.00
2.02
Liberty attached to Bettsville School district
48,560.00
2.56
Bettsville Corporation
110,290.00
3.06
Loudon
1,012,860.00
2.08
Loudon attached to Fostoria School district
90,320.00
2.94
Fostoria City in Loudon
2,375,710.00
4.00
Fostoria City in Jackson
196,330.00
3.94
Pleasant
919,060.00
2.04
Pleasant attached to Liberty School district
19,660.00
1.80
Old Fort School district
171,920.00
2.14
Reed
888,680.00
1.70
Reed attached to Venice School district
28,280.00
1.88
Scipio
816,390.00
1.84
Scipio attached to Reed School district
22,590.00
1.76
Scipio attached to Republic School district
39,920.00
2.32
Republic Corporation
141,790.00
2.74
Seneca
940,340.00
1.90
Tymochtee School district
54,470.00
1.74
Thompson
839,190.00
1.70
Separate School District No. 1
115,460.00
1,26
Venice
864,020.00
2.04
Venice attached to Reed School district
15,390.00
1.86
Carrothers School district
127,780.00
2.04
Venice attached to Attica School district
49,270.00
2.48
Attica Corporation
248,630.00
3.74
Tiffin City in Clinton township
4,189,670.00
3.96
Tiffin City in Hopewell township
130,700.00
3.94
Taxing Districts
Valuation Tax Rate
1911.
1911.
Adams
$
2,060,520.00
.86
Adams attached to Pleasant School district
96,750.00
1.05
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
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Adams attached to Green Spring School dist. $ 78,740.00
1.26
Green Spring Corporation
400,610.00 1.39
Big Spring
2,390,850.00 .50
Adrian School district
234,660.00
1.42
Big Spring attached to New Riegel School dist. 118,020.00
.61
New Riegel Corporation
372.580.00 .52
Bloom
2,010,150.00
.87
Bloom attached to Reed School district
37,850.00
1.09
Bloom attached to Bloomville School district
56,130.00
1.50
Bloomville Corporation
579,180.00
1.48
Clinton
2,334,550.00
.74
Clinton attached to Tiffin School district Eden
1,962,120.00
1.00
Eden attached to Seneca School district
61,980.00
.98
Hopewell
2,583,010.00
.77
Hopewell attached to Liberty School district
27,060.00
.76
Hopewell attached to Tiffin School district
84,640.00
1.15
Jackson
2,866,100.00
.55
Jackson attached to Fostoria School district
122,180.00
1.00
Liberty
2,884,620.00
.79
Liberty attached to Bettsville School district
123,950.00
1.00
Bettsville Corporation
268,430.00
1.26
Loudon
2,599,070.00
.81
Loudon attached to Fostoria School district
155,780.00
1.70
Fostoria City in Loudon
5,905,210.00
1.63
Fostoria City in Jackson
507,360.00
1.57
Pleasant
2,145,770.00
.87
Pleasant attached to Liberty
48,120.00
.73
Old Fort School district
435,720.00
.84
Reed
2,037,310.00
.74
Reed attached to Venice School district
67,040.00
.79
Scipio
1,819,520.00
.82
Scipio attached to Reed
45,990.00
.86
Scipio attached to Republic School district
88,470.00
1.04
Republic Corporation
314,770.00
1.23
Seneca
2,358,870.00
.75
Tymochtee School district
148,050.00
.64
Thompson
2,031,410.00
.70
Separate School district No. 1.
292,560.00
.49
Venice
2,013.260.00
.87
Venice attached to Reed School district
37,190.00
.77
Carrothers School district
308,810.00
.84
Venice attached to Attica School district
116,910.00
1.04
Attica Corporation
627,920.00
1.48
Tiffin City in Clinton
10,241,880.00
1.61
Tiffin City in Hopewell
329,780.00
1.56
314,050.00
.84
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
To fully understand these tables the following statement issued by the auditor is appended.
1. Taxing authorities have the power to levy a tax sufficient to provide for sinking fund and interest purpose. which have been permitted by the consent and vote of the people, for building school houses, road and other improvements.
2. The maximum rate of taxes for general purpose, for state. county, township, school, etc .. shall not exceed in any one year ten mills (or one cent) on the dollar of the tax valuation of the tax- able property of the county.
3. If in any year such rate of ten mills (one cent) on each dollar will not produce an amount equal, if necessary. to the aggre- gate amount of taxes levied in each taxing district in the year 1909, such rate may be increased to the extent necessary to produce such aggregate amount of taxes of the year 1909, but in no case shall it exceed fifteen mills (one and one-half cents) on each dollar, this is exclusive of levies for sinking fund and interest purpose. This rule must be followed for the years 1911-1912 and any year there- after.
4. The intent and purpose of this act is to provide that an increase in the total valuation of all taxable property in the several taxing distriets shall not increase the total amount of taxes now levied over the year 1909, except to the amount of the additions provided for interest and sinking fund purpose, which has or will be levied, upon the vote and consent of the people.
Continuation of auditor's statement and explanation : "The instructions to appraise all property at its full value was ordered by the tax commission of Ohio and was made necessary in order to meet the conditions that result from the new appraisement and tax limit laws passed by the last general assembly. Had our ap- praisers, appraised all property under the old rule, at about one- third of its true value, such valuation would not have produced enough revenue to support our schools. etc., under the new tax limit law.
"The new valuations made by our appraisers will not increase our taxes, but will in time reduce them for the reason that hun- dreds of thousands of dollars heretofore concealed on account of the high tax rate (caused by a low valuation) will now gradually come forth, for no one will now have the excuse to conceal his money. credits and other property on account of the high tax rate. for the new tax rate will be so low in each taxing district that individuals and others who have been in the habit of concealing such property, because of the high rate will now list the same. As this property heretofore concealed comes forth, our taxes will decrease accord-
ingly. In many instances as will be seen by the following table of tax rates, etc., the tax rate under a low valuation was so high that it exceeded the rate of interest received. The result was a concealment of moneys. credits and other property every time the assessor called. The new tax limit law will in time stop all this.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
"In a few instances some of us may have more taxes to pay than we did, for the reason that the appraisment of 1909 had a great many unequal valuations. Some were too low, others too high, wherever this occurred, the property valued too low will have a slight increase, where the same was too high there will be a de- crease. Such conditions have now been reduced to a minimum. Any one who thinks his or her property is valued too high in ac- cordance with his neighbor's should make application to the several boards of revision for adjustment. However a perfect valuation is an impossibility.
"The new appraisement of the real estate appears to be about two and one-half times higher than the old valuations. I have increased the value of personal property at the rate of one and one- half times higher than for the year 1909. This may be a little low or high as the case may be. which would slightly increase or decrease the new levies given herewith, but on the average I think my computations are correct. The rates given here for both old and new valuations cover state, county, school and all other taxes, in- cluding sinking fund and interest purposes.
"The valuations given here are as returned by the appraisers and as equalized by the county board of equalization for townships and villages. The changes which will be made by the board of equalization for the cities of Fostoria and Tiffin have not been deducted or added, as these boards have not completed their work. The boards of Fostoria and Tiffin cannot reduce the amount given here, they may increase the same. in such case the rate given here for said cities would be reduced. To compute your taxes, multiply the tax value of your property by the tax rate given above, which will give you the amount of taxes on your property for one year.
"It is with pleasure I give the above information and trust it will enable all tax-payers to more fully understand the new rules used at the appraisement just completed, under the new laws passed by the last general assembly."
TELEPHONE VALUATION.
For the Year 1909.
Central Union Telephone Co.
$ 66,660.00
United States Telephone Co.
4,090.00
Green Spring Telephone & Electric Co.
4,660.00
Flat Rock Telephone Co.
700.00
Carey Electric Telephone Co.
190.00
Bascom Mutual Telephone Co.
430.00
Seneca Telephone Co.
1,200.00
Farmers' Telephone Co., (Bloomville)
9,600.00
Citizens' Telephone & Message Co .. (Fostoria)
16,825.00
Farmers' Mutual Telephone Co., (Ft. Seneca)
1,180.00
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
Melmore Mutual Telephone Co.
$ 160.00
New Riegel Mutual Telephone Co. 1,040.00
Old Fort Mutual Telephone Co.
1,180.00
Sycamore Telephone Co.
1,740.00
Tiffin Consolidated Telephone Co.
20,010.00
Ohio Telephone & Telegraph Co.
13,830.00
For the Year 1910.
Central Union Telephone Co.
$45,190.00
United States Telephone Co.
5,445.00
Green Spring Telephone & Electric Co.
6,770.00
Flat Rock Telephone Co. .
865.00
Carey Electric Telephone Co.
276.00
Carey Farmers' Telephone Co.
302.00
Bascom Mutual Telephone Co.
470.00
Seneca Telephone Co.
2,292.00
Farmers' Telephone Co., (Bloomville)
12,807.00
Citizens' Telephone & Message Co., (Fostoria)
17,481.00
Farmers' Mutual Telephone Co., (Ft. Seneca)
1,425.00
Melmore Mutual Telephone Co.
280.00
New Riegel Mutual Telephone Co.
1,450.00
Old Fort Mutual Telephone Co.
1,728.00
Sycamore Telephone Co.
1,881.00
Tiffin Consolidated Telephone Co.
35,510.00
Local Telephone Company (Bellevue)
7,629.00
Ohio Telephone & Telegraph Co.
19,135.00
The soil of Seneca county is well adapted to the growing of corn, wheat, clover and alfalfa. The old theory that only a limited supply of soil fertility was stored in the earth and would soon become exhausted does not hold good in Seneca, for its richness seems inexhaustible. There are different elements of soil fertility in different kinds of soil. Some are richer in one element and may lack some of the other elements. They vary in different farms. What is lacking in the soil can be supplied artificially. Thorough tillage will increase fertility. But Seneca county being on the edge of what was once known as the Black Swamp has a deep soil and exhaustless fertility.
But little information as to the value of land is obtainable, for little farm land is sold or offered for sale, as the owners are loth to part with them. A farm on the Portland road near Tiffin, recently sold at a large price. Most of the land in the county would sell for $100, or more, per acre. The farms are usually small, ranging from 50 to 100 acres, with occasionally one of 200 acres or larger. Many of the farmers have permanent pastures, although the land so
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
used might be easily tilled .. The farm work is usually done by the farmers themselves, with the assistance of their boys, but when outside help is employed they are treated nicely and are well cared for. Seneca county farmers have learned the advisability of using good seed.
A new era in farming seems to be dawning. and the extension of the agricultural school is the direct result of some advanced ideas by thinking men. It is found that it is impossible for the average farmer to attend an agricultural college, and hence the extension school is brought to his very door. These schools are proving very satisfactory.
Ohio is a rich agricultural state. Great crops of wheat, corn, oats, barley, hay, potatoes and orchard and garden products are raised. The state also produces large quantities of flax and tobacco and its immense forests of hard-wood furnish great quantities of most valuable lumber used in the manufacture of furniture and agricultural implements.
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CHAPTER V
SWEEPING PIONEER PICTURES
"IN PIONEER TIMES." BY THE AUTHOR-THE IMPROVED LOG CABIN-THE FARMER'S BOY-AMUSEMENTS OF THE PIONEER BOY- PIONEER GATHERINGS-THE INDUSTRIES-RELIGIOUS SERVICES- JOHNNY CAKE AND HOMINY-PIONEERS AND THEIR TROUBLES-THE SCARCITY. OF MONEY-MALARIAL DISEASES-TROUBLES MADE THEM NEIGHBORLY-WELCOME TO EMIGRANTS-"SENECA COUNTY NEAR- ING HER CENTENNIAL," BY SADE E. BAUGHMAN-"TALES OF PIONEER DAYS," BY JESSE E. BOGAART -- " REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER LIFE," BY A SENECA COUNTY PIONEER.
In the following chapter are grouped a number of contribu- tions to the pioneer history of Seneca county which cover so much literary ground that, as the saying goes. they are in "a class by themselves." They may be said to form the rich background to matters which, in after pages. are brought into the foreground and presented in detail.
IN PIONEER TIMES.
(By the Author.)
The houses in which the pioneers of Seneca county lived have been often described; their form and proportions and general ap- pearance have been repeatedly impressed upon the mind of the student of history. They were built of round logs with the bark on, and side chimneys of mud and sticks, puncheon floors, clap- board roof, with and without a loft or second floor, and all put to- gether without a nail or particle of iron from top to bottom. These buildings stood many a year after the original inhabitants moved into better quarters. They served for stables, sheep pens, hay houses, pig pens, smith shops, hen houses, loom shops. school houses etc. Some of them are vet standing in this county, and occupied, to some extent, in some portions of the county as dwellings.
A second grade of log cabin, built later, was quite an improve- ment on the first, being made of hewn logs, with sawed lumber for
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
floor and window frames and doors. Glass also took the place of paper windows of the old cabin ; nails were also sparingly used in these better cabins. It was sometimes built near the old one and connected with it by a covered porch. When nails were first used, for a few years a pound of them was exchanged for a bushel of wheat. They were a precious article, and were made by hand on a blacksmith's anvil out of odds and ends of old worn out sickles, scythes, broken clevis pins, links of chains. broken horse shoes, etc .. all welded together to eke out the nail rods from which they were forged. The first cabins were often erected ready for occupation in a single day. In an emergency. the pioneers collected together, often going eight or ten miles to a cabin raising, and in the great woods, where not a tree had been felled or a stone turned, begin with dawn the erection of a cabin.
Three or four wise builders would set the corner stones, lay with the square and level the first round of logs; two men with axes would cut the trees and logs; one with his team of oxen, a "lizzard" and a log cabin would "snake" them in; two more with axes, cross-cut saw and frow would make the clapboards; two more with axes, cross-cut saw and broad-axe would hew out the pun- cheons and flatten the upper side of the sleepers and joists. Four skillful axemen would carry up the corners, and the remainder with skids, and forks or hand spikes would roll up the logs.
As soon as the joists were laid on, the cross-cut was brought from the woods, and two men went to work cutting out the door and chimney place; and while the corner men were building up the attic and putting on the roof, the carpenters and masons of the day were putting down the puncheons, laying the hearth and building the chimney high enough to keep out the beasts, wild or tame. In one corner at a distance of six feet from one wall, and four from the other the bed post was placed-only one being needed. A hole was bored in the puncheon floor for the purpose of setting this post in (which was usually a stick with a crotch or fork in the upper end) or if an augur was not at hand a hole was cut in the puncheon floor and the fork sharpened and driven into the ground beneath ; rails were laid from this fork to the wall, and usually nice, straight hickory poles formed the bottom, upon which straw or leaves were placed and the blanket put on. This made a comfortable spring bed and was easily changed and at a little later time, say from 1830 to 1840, the pioneers were living a little easier. Their farms were partially cleared, many of them were living in hewed log houses and many in frame, and even brick houses. Most of them
had barns and innumerable out houses. They generally had cat- tle, horses, sheep, hogs and poultry, and were living in compara- tive comfort. Their neighbors were near and always dear. Their
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
schools and churches had improved somewhat, yet even at this late day there are hundreds of log school houses and churches.
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