USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 18
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SOME GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS.
Ohio, as a State, is renowned as an agricultural section. Its variety, quality and quantity of productions cannot be surpassed by any State in the Union. Its commercial importance ranks proudly in the galaxy of opulent and industrious States composing this Union. Her natural resources are prolific, and all improve- ments which could be instituted by the ingenuity of mankind have been added.
From a quarter to a third of its area is hilly and broken. About the head- waters of the Muskingum and Scioto, and between the Scioto and the two Miami Rivers, are wide prairies ; some of them are elevated and dry, with fertile soil, although they are frequently termed "barrens." In other parts, they are low and marshy, producing coarse, rank grass, which grows to a height of five feet in some places.
The State is most fortunate in timber wealth, having large quantities of black walnut, oak of different varieties, maple, hickory, birch, several kinds of
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beech, poplar, sycamore, papaw, several kinds of ash, cherry, whitewood and buckeye.
The summers are usually warm, and the winters are mild, considering the latitude of the State. Near Lake Erie, the winters are severe, corresponding with sections in a line with that locality. Snow falls in sufficient quantities in the northern part to afford several weeks of fine sleighing. In the southern portion, the snowstorms are not frequent, and the fall rarely remains long on the ground.
The climate is generally healthy, with the exception of small tracts lying near the marshes and stagnant waters.
The Ohio River washes the southern border of the State, and is navigable for steamboats of a large size, the entire length of its course. From Pitts- burgh to its mouth, measuring it meanderings, it is 908 miles long. Its current is gentle, having no falls except at Louisville, Ky., where the descent is twenty- two and a half feet in two miles. A canal obviates this obstruction.
The Muskingum is the largest river that flows entirely within the State. It is formed by the junction of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding Rivers, and enters the Ohio at Marietta One hundred miles of its length is navigable.
The Scioto is the second river in magnitude, is about 200 miles long, and flows into the Ohio at Portsmouth. It affords navigation 130 miles of its length. The Great Miami is a rapid river, in the western part of the State, and is 100 miles long. The Little Miami is seventy miles in length, and enters the Ohio seven miles from Cincinnati.
The Maumee rises in Indiana, flows through the northwestern part of the State, and enters Lake Erie at Maumee Bay. It affords navigation as far as Perrysburg, eighteen miles from the lake, and above the rapids, it is again nav- igable.
The Sandusky rises in the northern part of the State, is eighty miles long, and flows into Lake Erie, via Sandusky Bay.
Lake Erie washes 150 miles of the northern boundary. The State has sev- eral fine harbors, the Maumee and Sandusky Bays being the largest.
We have, in tracing the record of the earlier counties, given the educational inter- ests as exemplified by different institutions. We have also given the canal system of the State, in previous pages. The Governor is elected every two years, by the people. The Senators are chosen biennially, and are apportioned according to the male population over twenty-one years of age. The Judges of the Supreme and other courts are elected by the joint ballot of the Legislature, for the term of seven years.
During the early settlement of Ohio, perfect social equality existed among the settlers. The line of demarkation that was drawn was a separation of the good from the bad. Log-rollings and cabin-raisings were mutual affairs. Their sport usually consisted of shooting, rowing and hunting. Hunting shirts and buckskin pants were in the fashion, while the women dressed in coarse material.
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woven by their own hands. A common American cotton check was con- sidered a magnificent addition to one's toilet. In those times, however, the material was $1 per yard, instead of the shilling of to-day. But five yards was then a large "pattern," instead of the twenty-five of 1880. In cooking utensils, the pot, pan and frying-pan constituted an elegant outfit. A few plain clishes were added for table use. Stools and benches were the rule, although a few wealthy families indulged in splint-bottom chairs. The cabin floors were rough, and in many cases the green sward formed the carpet. Goods were very expensive, and flour was considered a great luxury. Goods were brought by horses and mules from Detroit, or by wagon from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and then down the Ohio. Coarse calicoes were $1 per yard ; tea $2 to $3 per pound; coffec 75 cents; whisky, from $1 to $2 per gallon, and salt, $5 to $6 per barrel. In those towns where Indian trade constituted a desirable interest, a bottle was set at each end of the counter-a gratuitous offering to their red friends.
OUTLINE GEOLOGY OF OHIO.
Should we group the rocks of Ohio, according to their lithological characters, we should give five distinct divisions. They are marked by difference in appear- ance, hardness, color and composition :
1-Limestone.
2-Black shale.
3-Fine-grained sandstone.
4-Conglomerate.
5-Coal series.
They are all stratified and sedimentary. They are nearly horizontal. The lowest one visible, in a physical as well as a geological sense, is "blue lime- ¿tone."
The bed of the Ohio River near Cincinnati is 133 feet below the level of Lake Erie. The strata incline in all directions from the southwestern angle of the State. In Scioto County may be seen the outcropping edges of all these rocks. They sink at this point in the direction south 801° east ; easterly at the rate of 374% feet per mile. The cliff limestone, the upper stratum of the lime- stone deposit, is 600 feet above the river at Cincinnati ; at West Union, in Adams County, it is only 350 feet above the same level.
The finely grained sandstone found on the summit of the hills east of Brush Creek and west of the Scioto sinks to the base of the hills, and appears beneatlı the conglomerate, near the Little Scioto. Although the rock formations are the same in all parts of the State, in the same order, their thickness, mass and dip, are quite different.
Chillicothe, Reynoldsburg, Mansfield, Newburg, Waverly and Rockville, are situated near the western border of the " fine-grained limestone." Its outcrop forms a continuous and crooked line from the Ohio River to Lake Erie. In the southwest portion of the State is the "blue limestone," occupying a circular
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space from West Union via Dayton, to the State line. The conglomerate is to the east of the given towns, bending around from Cuyahoga Falls to Burton, in Geauga County, and then eastward into Pennsylvania. Near this outcrop are the coal-bearing rocks which occupy the east and southeastern portions of Ohio. From Rockville to Chillicothe, the course is north, about 10° east, and nearly corresponds with the line of outcrop of the fine-grained sandstone for an equal distance. The dip at Rockville, given by Charles Whittlesey, is 802°, almost at a right angle, and at the rate of 37 feet per mile.
At Chillicothe, the other end of the line, the general dip is south 70° east, 30 feet to the mile, the line curving eastward and the dip line to the southward. This is the universal law.
The northern boundary of the great coal fields passes through Meadville, in Pennsylvania, and turning south arrives at Portage Summit, on the summit of the Alleghanies, 2,500 feet above the ocean level. It then plunges rapidly to the westward. From the Alleghanies to the southwest, through Pennsylvania, Virginia and Tennessee, sweeps this great coal basin.
Much of the county of Medina is conglomerate upon the surface, but the streams, especially the South Branch of the Rocky River, set through this sur- face stratum, and reach the fine-grained sandstone. This is the case with Rocky, Chagrin, Cuyahoga and Grand Rivers-also Conneaut and Ashtabula Creeks. This sandstone and the shale extend up the narrow valleys of these streams and their tributaries. Between these strata is a mass of coarse-grained sandstone, without pebbles, which furnishes the grindstones for which Ohio is noted. In Lorain County, the coarse sandstone grit nearly displaces the fine- grained sandstone and red shale, thickening at Elyria to the black shale. South of this point, the grindstone grit, red shale and ash-colored shale vary in thick- ness. The town of Chillicothe, the village of Newburg, and a point in the west line of Crawford County, are all situated on the " black shale."
Dr. Locke gives the dip, at Montgomery and Miami Counties, at north 14°, east, six feet to the mile ; at Columbus, Whitelesey gives it, 81º 52' east, 22,73, feet to the mile. The fine-grained sandstone at Newburg is not over eighty feet in thickness ; at Jacktown and Reynoldsburg, 500; at Waverly 250 to. 300 feet, and at Brush Creek, Adams County, 343 feet. The black shale is 251 feet thick at Brush Creek; at Alum Creek, 250 to 300 feet thick ; in Craw- ford County, about 250 feet thick. The conglomerate in Jackson County is 200 feet thick ; at Cuyahoga Falls, 100 to 120 feet ; at Burton, Geauga County, 300 feet. The great limestone formation is divided into several numbers. At Cincinnati, at the bed of the river, there is:
1-A blue limestone and slaty marlite.
2-Dun-colored marl and layers of lime rock.
3-Blue marl and layers of blue limestone.
4-Marl and bands of limestone, with immense numbers of shells at the surface.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.
In Adams County, the detailed section is thus :
1-Blue limestone and marl.
2-Blue marl.
3-Flinty limestone.
4-Blue marl.
5-Cliff limestone.
The coal-fields of Ohio are composed of alternate beds of coarse-grained sandstone, clay shales, layers of ironstone, thin beds of limestone and numer- ous strata of coal. The coal region abounds in iron. From Jacktown to Con- cord, in Muskingum County, there are eight beds of coal, and seven strata of limestone. The distance between these two points is forty-two miles. From Freedom, in Portage County, to Poland, in Trumbull County, a distance of thirty-five miles, there are five distinct strata. Among them are distributed thin beds of limestone, and many beds of iron ore. The greater mass of coal and iron measures is composed of sandstone and shale. The beds of sandstone are from ten to twenty or eighty feet thick. Of shale, five to fifty feet thick. The strata of coal and iron are comparatively thin. A stratum of coal three feet thick can be worked to advantage. One four feet thick is called a good mine, few of them averaging five. Coal strata are found from six to ten and eleven feet. There are four beds of coal, and three of limestone, in Lawrence and Scioto Counties. There are also eight beds of ore, and new ones are con- stantly being discovered. The ore is from four to twelve inches thick, occasion- ally being two feet. The calcareous ore rests upon the second bed of limestone, from the bottom, and is very rich.
The most prominent fossils are trees, plants and stems of the coal-bearing rocks, shells and corals and crustaceæ of the limestone, and the timber, leaves and dirt-beds of the "drift "-the earthy covering of the rocks, which varies from nothing to 200 feet. Bowlders, or " lost rocks," are strewn over the State. They are evidently transported from some remote section, being fragments of primitive rock, granite, gneiss and hornblende rock, which do not exist in Ohio, nor within 400 miles of the State, in any direction. In the Lake Supe- rior region we find similar specimens.
The superficial deposits of Ohio are arranged into four geological formations :
1-The ancient drift, resting upon the rocks of the State.
2-The Lake Erie marl and sand deposits.
3-The drift occupying the valleys of large streams, such as the Great Miami, the Ohio and Scioto.
4-The bowlders.
The ancient drift of Ohio is meager in shell deposits. It is not, therefore, decided whether it be of salt-water origin or fresh water.
It has, at the bottom, blue clay, with gravel-stones of primitive or sedimen- tary rocks, containing carbonate of lime. The yellow clay is found second. Above that, sand and gravel, less stratified, containing more pebbles of the
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.
sedimentary rocks, such as limestone and stone, iron ore, coal and shale. The lower layer contains logs, trees, leaves, sticks and vines.
The Lake Erie section, or "Lake Erie deposits," may be classed in the following order :
1-From the lake level upward, fine, blue, marly sand-forty-five to sixty feet.
2-Coarse, gray, water-washed sand-ten to twenty feet.
3-Coarse sand and gravel, not well stratified, to surface-twenty to fifty feet.
Stratum first dissolves in water. It contains carbonate of lime, magnesia, iron, alumina, silex, sulphur, and some decomposed leaves, plants and sticks. Some pebbles are found. In contact with the water, quicksand is formed.
The Hickory Plains, at the forks of the Great Miami and White Water, and also between Kilgore's Mill and New Richmond, are the results of heavy dilu- vial currents.
In presenting these formations of the State, we have quoted from the experi- ence and conclusions of Charles Whittlesey, eminent as a geologist, ard who was a member of the Ohio Geological Corps.
OHIO'S RANK DURING THE WAR.
The patriotism of this State has been stanch, unswerving and bold, ever since a first settlement laid its corner-stone in the great Western wilder- ness. Its decisive measures, its earnest action, its noble constancy, have earned the laurels that designate it "a watchword for the nation." In the year 1860, Ohio had a population of 2,343,739. Its contribution of soldiers to the great conflict that was soon to surge over the land in scarlet terror, was apportioned 310,000 men. In less than twenty-four hours after the President's proclama- tion and call for troops, the Senate had matured and carried a bill through, appropriating $1,000,000 for the purpose of placing the State on a war footing. The influences of party sentiments were forgotten, and united, the State unfurled the flag of patriotism. Before the bombardment of old Fort Sumter has fairly ceased its echoes, twenty companies were offered the Governor for immediate service. When the surrender was verified, the excitement was tumultuous. Militia officers telegraphed their willingness to receive prompt orders, all over the State. The President of Kenyon College-President Andrews-tendered his services by enlisting in the ranks. Indeed, three months before the outbreak of the war, he had expressed his readiness to the Governor to engage in service should there be occasion. He was the first citi- zen to make this offer.
The Cleveland Grays, the Rover Guards, the State Fencibles, the Dayton Light Guards, the Governor's Guards, the Columbus Videttes and the Guthrie Grays-the best drilled and celebrated militia in the State-telegraphed to Columbus for orders. Chillicothe, Portsmouth and Circleville offered money and troops. Canton, Xenia, Lebanon, Lancaster, Springfield, Cincinnati,
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ONIIO.
Dayton, Cleveland, Toledo and other towns urged their assistance upon the State. Columbus began to look like a great army field. The troops were stationed wherever they could find quarters, and food in sufficient quantities was hard to procure. The Governor soon established a camp at Miamiville, convenient to Cincinnati. He intended to appoint Irvin McDowell, of the staff of Lieut. Gen. Scott, to the leading command, but the friends of Capt. McClellan became enthusiastic and appealed to the Governor, who decided to investigate his case. Being satisfied, he desired Capt. McClellan to come up to Columbus. But that officer was busy and sent Capt. Pope, of the regular army, in his stead. This gentleman did not suit Gov. Dennison. The friends of Mcclellan again set forth the high qualities of this officer, and Gov. Dennison sent an earnest request for an interview, which was granted, and resulted in the appointment of the officer as Major General of the Ohio militia. Directly thereafter, he received an invitation to take command of the Pennsylvania troops, but Ohio could not spare so valuable a leader.
For three-years troops were soon called out, and their Generals were to be appointed by the President. Gov. Dennison advised at once with the War Department at Washington, and McClellan received his appointment as Major General in the regular army.
Cincinnati and Louisville became alarmed lest Kentucky should espouse the Confederate cause, and those cities thus be left insecure against the inroads of a cruel foe. Four hundred and thirty-six miles of Ohio bordered Slave States. Kentucky and West Virginia were to be kept in check, but the Governor pro- claimed that not only should the border of Ohio be protected, but even beyond that would the State press the enemy. Marietta was garrisoned, and other river points rendered impregnable. On the 20th of May, 1861, official dispatches affirmed that troops were approaching Wheeling under the proclamation of Letcher. Their intention was to route the convention at Wheeling.
Military orders were instantly given. Col. Steedman and his troops crossed at Marietta and crushed the disturbance at Parkersburg-swept into the country along the railroad, built bridges, etc. Col. Irvine crossed at Wheeling and united with a regiment of loyal Virginians. At the juncture of the two tracks at Grafton, the columns met, but the rebels had retreated in mad haste. The loyal troops followed, and, at Philippi, fought the first little skirmish of the war. The great railway lines were secured, and the Wheeling convention protected, and West Virginia partially secured for the Union.
After preliminary arrangements, McClellan's forces moved in two columns upon the enemy at Laurel Hill. One remained in front, under Gen. Morris, while the other, under his own command, pushed around to Huttonsville, in their rear. Gen. Morris carried his orders through promptly, but Mcclellan was late. Rosecrans was left with Mcclellan's advance to fight the battle of Rich Mountain, unaided. Garnett being alarmed at the defeat of his outpost, retreated. McClellan was not in time to intercept him, but Morris continued
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the chase. Steedman overtook the rear-guard of Garnett's army at Carrick's Ford, where a sharp skirmish ensued, Garnett himself falling. The scattered portions of the rebel army escaped, and West Virginia was again free from armed rebels-and was the gift of Ohio through her State militia to the nation at the beginning of the war.
At this period, Gen. McClellan was called to Washington. Gen. Rose- crans succeeded him, and the three-years troops left in the field after the dis- banding of the three-months men, barely sufficed to hold the country. He telegraphed Gov. Dennison to supply him immediately with re-enforcements, the request being made on the 8th of August. Already had the Confederate lead- ers realized the loss they had sustained in Western Virginia, and had dispatched their most valued General, Robert E. Lee, to regain the territory. Rosecrans again wrote: "If you, Governor of Indiana and Governor of Michigan, will lend your efforts to get me quickly 50,000 men, in addition to my present force, I think a blow can be struck which will save fighting the rifled-cannon batteries at Manassas. Lee is certainly at Cheat Mountain. Send all troops you can to Grafton." Five days thereafter, all the available troops in the West were dispatched to Fremont, Mo., and the plans of Rosecrans were foiled.
Heavy re-enforcements had been sent to the column in Kanawha Valley under Gen. Cox. He became alarmed, and telegraphed to Gov. Dennison. Rosecrans again appealed to Gov. Dennison, that he might be aided in march- ing across the country against Floyd and Wise to Cox's relief, "I want to catch Floyd while Cox holds him in front."
The response was immediate and effective. He was enabled to employ twenty-three Ohio regiments in clearing his department from rebels, securing the country and guarding the exposed railroads. With this achievement, the direct relation of the State administrations with the conduct and methods of campaigns terminated. The General Government had settled down to a sys- tem. Ohio was busy organizing and equipping regiments, caring for the sick and wounded, and sustaining her home strength.
Gov. Dennison's staff officers were tendered better positions in the national service. Camps Dennison and Chase, one at Cincinnati and the other at Columbus, were controlled by the United States authorities. A laboratory was established at Columbus for the supply of ammunition. During the fall and early winter, the Ohio troops suffered in Western Virginia. The people of their native State responded with blankets, clothing and other supplies.
In January, 1862, David A. Tod entered upon the duties of Governor. The first feature of his administration was to care for the wounded at home, sent from Pittsburg Landing. A regular system was inaugurated to supply stores and clothing to the suffering at home and in the field. Agencies were established, and the great and good work was found to be most efficacious in alleviating the wretchedness consequent upon fearful battles. A. B. Lyman
10
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had charge of affairs in Cincinnati, and Royal Taylor held the same position in Louisville. J. C. Wetmore was stationed at Washington, F. W. Bingham at Memphis, Weston Flint at Cairo and St. Louis. Thus the care which Ohio extended over her troops at home and in the battle-field, furnished a practical example to other States, and was the foundation of that commendable system all over the Union. Stonewall Jackson's sudden advent in the valley created the greatest consternation lest the safety of the capital be jeopardized, and the War Department called for more troops. Gov. Tod immediately issued a proclamation, and the people, never shrinking, responded heartily. At Cleve- land a large meeting was held, and 250 men enlisted, including 27 out of 32 students attending the law school. Fire bells rang out the alarm at Zanesville, a meeting was convened at 10 in the morning, and by 3 in the afternoon, 300 men had enlisted. Court was adjourned sine die, and the Judge announced that he and the lawyers were about to enter into military ranks. Only three unmarried men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-three were left in the town of Putnam. Five thousand volunteers reported at Camp Chase within two days after the proclamation.
Again in June, the President called for troops, followed by yet another call. Under these calls, Ohio was to raise 74,000 men. The draft system was advised to hasten and facilitate filling regiments. It has always been a repul- sive measure. To save sections from this proceeding, enormous sums were offered to induce men to volunteer, and thus fill the quota.
Counties, townships, towns and individuals, all made bids and urged the rapid enlistment of troops. The result was, that the regiments were filled rap- idly, but not in sufficient numbers to prevent the draft. Twenty thousand four hundred and twenty-seven men were yet lacking, and the draft was ordered, September 15. At the close of the year, Ohio was ahead of her calls. Late in the fall, the prospect was disheartening. The peninsula campaign had failed. The Army of Northern Virginia had been hurled back nearly to Washington. The rebels had invaded Maryland ; Cincinnati and Louisville were threatened, and the President had declared his intention to abolish slavery, as a war meas- ure. During the first part of 1862, artillery, stores and supplies were carried away mysteriously, from the Ohio border ; then little squads ventured over the river to plunder more openly, or to burn a bridge or two. The rebel bands came swooping down upon isolated supply trains, sending insolent roundabout messages regarding their next day's intentions. Then came invasions of our lines near Nashville, capture of squads of guards within sight of camp, the seizure of Gallatin. After Mitchell had entered Northern Alabama, all manner of depre- dations were committed before his very eyes. These were attributed to John Morgan's Kentucky cavalry. He and his men, by the middle of 1862, were as active and dangerous as Lee or Beauregard and their troops. Morgan was a native of Alabama, but had lived in Kentucky since boyhood. His father was large slave-owner, who lived in the center of the "Blue Grass Country." His
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life had been one of wild dissipation, adventure and recklessness, although in his own family he had the name of being most considerate. The men who fol- lowed him were accustomed to a dare-devil life. They formed and independent band, and dashed madly into the conflict, wherever and whenever inclination prompted. Ohio had just raised troops to send East, to assist in the overthrow of Stonewell Jackson. She had overcome her discouragements over failures, for the prospects were brightening. Beauregard had evacuated Corinth ; Mem- phis had fallen ; Buell was moving toward Chattanooga ; Mitchell's troops held Northern Tennessee and Northern Alabama ; Kentucky was virtually in the keeping of the home guards and State military board. And now, here was Morgan, creating confusion in Kentucky by his furious raids ! On the 11th of July, the little post of Tompkinsville fell. He issued a call for the Kentuckians to rise in a body. He marched toward Lexington, and the southern border of Ohio was again in danger. Cincinnati was greatly excited. Aid was sent to Lexington and home guards were ready for duty. Morgan was not prominent for a day or so, but he was not idle. By the 9th of July, he held possession of Tompkinsville and Glasgow; by the 11th, of Lebanon. On the 13th, he entered Harraldsburg; Monday morning he was within fifteen miles of Frank- fort. He had marched nearly 400 miles in eight days. Going on, toward Lexington, he captured the telegraph operator at Midway, and his messages also ! He was now aware of the plans of the Union armies at Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati and Frankfort. In the name of the operator, he sent word that Morgan was driving in the pickets at Frankfort! Now that he had thrown his foes off guard, he rested his men a couple of days. He decided to let Lexington alone, and swept down on Cynthiana, routing a few hundred loyal Kentucky cavalrymen, capturing the gun and 420 prisoners, and nearly 300 horses. Then he was off to Paris; he marched through Winchester, Richmond, Crab Orchard and Somerset, and again crossed the Cumberland River. He started with 900 men and returned with 1,200, having captured and paroled nearly as many, besides destroying all the Government arms and stores in seven- teen towns. The excitement continued in Cincinnati. Two regiments were hastily formed, for emergencies; known as Cincinnati Reserves. Morgan's raid did not reach the city, but it demonstrated to the rebel forces what might be accomplished in the " Blue Grass " region. July and August were passed in gloom. Bragg and Buell were both watchful, and Chattanooga had not been taken. Lexington was again menaced, a battle fought, and was finally deserted because it could not be held.
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