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 44

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088


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 44


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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In 1880 there were 3,168 farms; 247,031 acres of improved lands, valued at $21.513,612; farming implements valued at $563,961; value of live stock, $1,428,339; cost of building and repairing fences (in 1879), $74,294; estimated value of all farm productions in 1879, $2,825,399.


The crop and produce statistics of Seneca County, for 1884, are set forth as follows: Acres of wheat, 65, 118-product of crop of 1883, 520,037 bushels; cost of commercial fertilizers, $234; acres of rye, 321 (about 3,200 bushels); acres of buckwheat, 134-product, 1,088 bushels; oats, 19,551 acres-product, about 700,000 bushels; barley, 558 acres-product, 11,558 bushels; corn, 38, 263 acres-product, 911, 418 bushels; broomcorn, 15 pounds; meadow, 20,874 acres; hay, 24,542 tons; clover, 16,397 acres; hay, 17,557 tons; seed. 14,519 bushels; plowed under for manure, 845 acres: flax, 94 acres-product, 879 bushels of seed; potatoes, 1, 728 acres-product, 208,610 bushels; tobacco, 20 pounds; milk sold for family use, 19,200 gallons; home-made butter, 760, 536 pounds; cheese, 80 pounds; sorghum, 58 acres-90 pounds sugar and 3,537 gallons of syrup; maple sugar, 3,537 pounds and 7, 130 gallons of syrup; bee hives, 2,064; pounds of honey, 26,122; eggs, 401,574 dozens; acres of vineyards, 14-pounds of grapes, 21,235; gallons of wine, 367; sweet potatoes, 3 acres-454 bushels; orchards, 5,989 acres; bushels of apples, 93,683, of peaches, 161, of pears, 1,183, of cherries, 35, of plums, 16; acres of land owned and cultivated, 199- 698-in pasture, 27,044, in woodland, 60,708, waste, 1,140; total acreage, 288- 590; wool shorn in 1883, 325,907 pounds; milch cows, 8,298; dogs, 2,273; sheep killed by dogs, 398, injured, 261; animals died from disease, hogs, 2,081, sheep, 1,338, cattle, 297, and horses, 170.


The following is an abstract of the personal property, moneys and credits in Seneca County, as returned by the assessors and equalized by the city and county boards for the year 1885:


AB Mcclelland


395


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.


No


TOWNSHIPS AND PRECINCTS.


Horses.


Cattle.


Mules.


Sheep.


Hogs.


Carriages.


Other Pers'n'l Prop- erty.


No.


Val.


No.


Val.


No.


Val.


No.


Val.


No.


Val.


No.


Val.


1 Adams


407


$22055


750


$11450


7


$335


5891


$8810


1703


$4220


109


$2130


$14235


2 Green Spring


77


3810


125


1611


2


100


1030


1795


235


554


13


565


1621


3 Big Spring ..


596


32295


1093


14010


9


390


1756


2765


2799


5400


176


4215


24025


4 Bloom


534


22260


1177


11040


18


735


7521


11785


1714


4240


30


1090


26105


5 Clinton


603


30555


1274


16255


3


120


4253


5885


1907


5650


296


6440


28185


6 Eden ..


624


30930


1491


17165


6


370


6700


11530


2402


5995


159


5815


35145


7| Hopewell


511


25000


1065


14260


4


200


922.


1470


2207


4270


129


2705


22540


8 Jackson


646


33105


1421


16542


10


475


1805


2810


2235


5608


167


6400


22980


9 Liberty


752


37294


1512


15708


305


1516


2293


2738


6049


149


3715


24541


10 Loudon


524


28915


1026


16450


10


550


1385


2540


1404


3440


70


2485


19460


11 Fostoria


210


12515


116


1960


4


160


71


165


139


420


137


5615


31900


12 Pleasant


531


26705


1002


12335


4


180


4281


6540


1980


4825


131


3530


21990


13 Reed


636


29945


1260


16015


11


425


7226


11980.


1646


4055


222


4540


19450


14 Scipio.


660


35250


1171


13840


11


450


11542


18330


1678


4405


210


6130


26315


15 Seneca


644


36980


1285


17252


7


320


2024


3467


2593


6421


129


3180


29054


16 Thompson.


667


31540


1195


14620


7


405


1043


2065


2149


5257


248


4760


23268


17 Venice


799


40255


1437


17285


11


665


8070


12855


2321


6205


191


6750


23815


18 Tiffin


518


23522


300


4808


32


1060


4


5


363


857


421


15365


105719


Totals


9939 $502931


18700 $232606


163


$7245 67040 $107095


Manu- factur- ers' Stock.


Value Value of of Moneys Credits.


Money Inv'st'd in Bonds, Etc.


Total Value, Except Dogs.


Dogs.


No.


Val.


No.


Val.


1 Adams


55


$625


29


$755


$


$ $1655


$11245


$52075


$120640


125


2 Green Spring ...


16


248


14


690


8579


1730


3225


7572


32100


14


3 Big Spring.


17


195


17


555


3365


220


1335


86845


175660


141


4 Bloom


49


735


62


1500


20140


3315


1230


161805


265980


133


5 Clinton


83


955


40


1225


25


1075


104250


20910


221530


123


6 Eden


49


675


40


1215


1095


3130


7295


79120


199480


105


8 Jackson


73


970


50


1755


300


1875


10550


59325


162695


167


9 Liberty


64


704


73


1807


14050


2780


12420


65844


187510


171


11 Fostoria


147


3242


96


6650


11540


200


15438


27225


74710


1200


296170


173


12 Pleasant


10


170


38


965


2500


2550


8890


65345


8750


165280


98


13 Reed.


61


725


43


1365


5750


5125


65935


250


165560


140


14 Scipio


115


1555


77


3440


12620


5305


8680


74370


210620


152


15 Seneca


59


474


45


1380


882


2300


2450


3730


105500


197870


178


17 Venice


132


1865


77


2620


32030


10320


8173


165747


328590


152


18 Tiffin


260


5572


212


13000


165132


3575


25416


44109


116109


3450


527720


168


Totals


1343


$20245


990


$41067||


$384748


$3775


$85534 $463542 $1177677


$34310 $3724575


2615


Following is the assessors' returns of the wheat crop of 1884-85.


TOWNSHIPS, WARD AND PRECINCTS.


Acres sown 1884.


Bushels produced 1884.


Acres sown 1885.


Adams.


Green Spring Vil.


456


6,829


480


Big Spring.


4,482


59,778


4,349


Bloom


3,661


55,029


3,5724


Clinton.


3,869


53,246


4,514


Eden.


4,220


78,164


4,466


Hopewell


4,468


63,888


4,632


Jackson. .


3,792


47,745


3,792


Liberty, South Precinct.


2,933


37,094


3,132


Liberty, North Precinct.


1,216


15,247


1,364


Loudon


3,888


55,059


4,042


Pleasant.


4,379


59,523


4,376


Reed.


3,174


44,926


3,225


Scipio


4,673


68,148


4,703


Thompson.


6,234


125,405


3,338


Venice


3,319₺


49,774


3,831


Tiffin-Third Ward.


30


525


Totals.


61,437₺


907,616


60,533}


No


TOWNSHIPS AND PRECINCTS.


Watches.


Pianos and Organs.


Mer- chants' Stock, ---


Value Listed as Banker, Etc.


No. of


7 Hopewell.


38


450


24


590|


940


1400


69145


142970


201


10| Loudon


18


315


13


350


2050


72125


63060


166450


202


16 Thompson


97


770


40


1205


3,605


50,184


3,585


3,038


37,052


3,132


Seneca


32213


$77871


2987


$85430


$500348


7


-


148680


172


3980


396


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.


NEW STRUCTURES.


Below we give the number of new buildings returned by the assessors in 1885, giving the aggregate values as returned. These values are likely to be changed somewhat by the city and county boards of equalization:


TOWNSHIPS, WARDS AND PRECINCTS.


No.


Value.


Adams.


6


$ 1,485


Big Spring.


17


3,300


Bloom.


9


3,975


Clinton.


8


2,325


Eden.


4


2,600


Fostoria.


43


19,225


Green Spring


5


1,935


Hopewell.


11


2,975


Liberty-Bettsville


7


1,375


Pleasant.


6


990


Reed


3


400


Scipio.


16


4,675


Seneca.


8


1,280


Thompson


8


3,440


Venice.


11


6,200


Tiffin-First Ward.


7


3,625


-Second "


9


12,440


-Third


6


1,525


-Fourth .€


2


800


-Fifth


14


8,175


Totals


212


$87,895


BIRTHS AND DEATHS.


Report of the births and deaths in Seneca County, for the year ending March 31, 1885.


BIRTHS.


DEATHS.


TOWNSHIP, WARDS AND PRECINCTS.


Male.


Female.


Total.


Male.


Female.


Total.


Adams.


18


4


22


8


2


10


Green Spring


3


2


5


1


1


Big Spring.


25


27


52


12


11


23


Bloom.


29


23


52


12


11


23


Clinton.


14


24


38


6


10


16


Eden. .


12


19


31


23


16


39


Hopewell.


26


29


55


10


5


15


Jackson. .


12


12


24


5


10


15


Liberty, South Precinct.


23


4


27


6


6


12


Liberty, North Precinct.


10


6


16


5


4


9


Loudon.


17


11


28


4


6


10


Fostoria.


17


17


34


14


17


31


Pleasant.


7


8


15


2


3


5


Seneca.


25


18


43


12


9


21


Thompson.


15


27


42


15


9


24


Venice.


22


27


49


11


6


17


Tiffin-First


Ward.


1


5


6


5


5


-Second


13


7


20


7


6


13


-Third


18


10


28


15


5


20


66


-Fourth


13


10


23


8


6


14


-Fifth


7


13


20


4


2


6


Totals.


368


339


707


199


160


359


9


Scipio.


23


18


41


11


10


21


Reed.


18


18


36


3


6


Jackson. .


9


2.950


Liberty-South Precinct.


3


2,200


Loudon


397


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.


THE ASSESSORS.


Table showing the time occupied by the assessors, the assistance received, and compensation allowed in 1885.


TOWNSHIPS, PRECINCTS, WARDS AND ASSESSORS.


Days occupied.


Days assistance.


Compensation.


Adams, E. B. Williams.


30


3


$ 66 00


Green Spring, D. K. Hill


19


38 00


Big Spring, Peter Goshe.


30


9


78 00


Bloom, S. S. Lehman. ..


32


6


76 00


Clinton, M. L. Woodside


37


9


92 00


Eden, R. A. Cole.


28


19


94 00


Hopewell, Namon C. Knight.


28


5


66 00


Jackson, Jacob W. Good ..


21


42 00


Liberty, South Precinct, George Schuster.


33


8


82 00


Loudon, John J. Peter. .


37


11


96 00


Fostoria, W. H. H. Leech


36


7


86 00


Pleasant, Lewis Shannon.


28


5


66 00


Reed, James Decker.


30


6


72 00


Scipio, Alva Jones.


30


15


90 00


Seneca, Joseph W. Parks.


31


5


72 00


Thompson, Jacob Greulich.


31


5


72 00


Tiffin-First Ward, P. H. Ryan.


37


9


92 00


-Second


David Bowersox.


31


10


82 00


-Third


John Silvers ..


41


-


82 00


-Fourth


Frank Cornely


43}


87 00


-Fifth


Nicholas Haffey.


36


10


92 00


Totals


727₺ 152


$1759 00


36


10


92 00


Liberty, North Precinct, Amon Frees.


22


44 00


Venice, J. T. Myers.


The uninterrupted prosperity and success which have attended the various branches of enterprise and industry in the county from its earliest settlement to the present day, the change from an almost unbroken wilderness to a rich and populous county in a brief space of time, naturally lead the mind to con- templations of deep interest and inquiry, with regard to the condition which the progressive energies of its people will work out in its future. We have only to examine the resources of wealth which the county naturally presents for improvement-the strength, skill and aptitude of the people to lay hold of natural advantages and convert them to the most profitable form, in order justly to appreciate the energies which have been put forth by the early set- tlers and the new, the results of which are so attractive to the traveler. It should be borne in mind that the county was not settled' by capitalists, bringing large amounts of money to expend in subduing and cultivating new lands, but almost exclusively by men who were unable to purchase farms in the old States-whose physical and mental energies constituted their funded wealth. This was the capital invested in the settlement and improvement of the county -a currency not subject to fluctuations. The pioneers were men of independ- ent minds and efforts, whose activities were controlled by the dictates of their own judgments. The bosom of the earth, teeming with fertility, was spread out before them, and it is to their labors that we must look for the beginnings of nearly all of the wealth of the county. It is universally admitted that the surest index of the progressive energies of an agricultural community is dis-


398


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.


covered in the condition of homes, farms and society; their light of science to illuminate and invigorate the natural powers, facilities of communication which tend to develop the social nature of man, and bring into visibility the various interests by which he is connected with society; as these are appreciated, culti- vated and brought into constant use, the vital energies, the enduring strength and substantial wealth of a community are advanced. If we adopt this gen- eral rule in the county and take the condition of its public institutions as a criterion of its advancement in intelligence and wealth, we shall find that it has few rivals. While acknowledging all the labors, all the intelligent work of the pioneer settler, the new-comer must not be forgotten. Among the men and women who settled in Seneca County since the close of her pioneer period are many who have spread around them the blessings and benefits of well directed enterprise in all branches, whether manufacturing or commercial, educational, religious or social. No county in the Union, of an equal number of inhabitants, can look back to a fairer moral record, or point out a greater proportion of inhabitants engaged in health and wealth-giving labors.


CHAPTER XIV.


ADAMS TOWNSHIP.


A DAMS TOWNSHIP, or original surveyed Township 3 north, Range 16 east, was surveyed outside the boundaries of the Indian Reservation, by Sylvanus Bourne, in 1820, and, after the last treaty of cession by the Indians, the remainder was surveyed by C. W. Christmas, in 1832.


The outcrop of the lower corniferous conformation on the southeast corner of Section 34, and the several exposures of this and other rocks made by quarrymen. together with the numerous brick and tile yards visible throughout the township, convey at once an idea of the geological value of the township, viewed from an economical stand-point. The State geologist, writing in 1873, makes mention of the Sulphur Spring. He says: "The greatest natural cu- riosity in Adams Township is the Sulphur Spring. This is nearly in the middle of Section 7, on land formerly owned by Josiah Hedges, the original proprie- tor of Tiffin. This spring is a natural rising of water impregnated with all the ingredients which are contained in the spring of the famous water cure, situated in the town, Green Spring, of which further mention hereafter. The spring in question issues from the earth, and is cold and refreshing, and not unpleasant to the taste. Many petrified substances are found in the bed of this spring. The current flowing from it is large and steady, no drought having any apparent effect in diminishing the supply. After a southerly course of almost thirty rods, it mingles with the waters of Beaver Creek." Just north of the county line is the great Sulphur Spring, referred to in the chapter on geology, as well as in the sketch of Green Spring.


The creeks of the township are known as Sugar Creek, watering the south- western sections, and Beaver Creek, which may be said to drain the whole town- ship. This latter stream rises in Section 36, flows west to the Scipio Bend, thence in a general course northwest to Grove's Lake, on Section 7, passing south of the Great Sulphur Springs, in the southeast quarter of that Section, then through Sections 12 and 1, Pleasant Township, to the north line of the county ..


399


ADAMS TOWNSHIP.


The eastern fork of Beaver Creek rises in Thompson Township, flows generally westward, and enters the main creek on the line of Sections 9 and 16, Adams Township. A small creek courses through the extreme northeastern part of the township, while a few rivulets, or small spring creeks, are found almost in every section. The name, Beaver Creek, is derived from the fact that it was a favorite camping resort of the beavers, long before the Senecas came to this district. On this creek, just west of the township line, Josiah Hedges had a grist-mill erected in 1838.


The township has a rolling surface, is very fertile, and is inhabited by a good class of citizens. The population in 1830 was only 830; in 1880 it increased to 1,624, and is now estimated, including Green Spring Village, at 2,000 in- habitants.


Railroads are represented in the township by the Indiana, Bloomington & Western and the "Nickel Plate," the former an old friend of its northwestern corner, the latter a new friend, equipped after the fashion of modern days.


Organic and Official .- The township, as established December 6, 1826, com- prised Township 3, Range 16, and the western tier of sections in Township 3, Range 17; minus the lands of the Seneca Indians, to which the Indian grant was added in 1832. The first election was held at Samuel Whiteman's house, December 25, 1826, when Martin Olds, L. T. Butler and Thomas Longwith were elected trustees; Charles Shelby and Thomas Whiteman, overseers of the poor: G. Lee and Samuel Hartsock, fence viewers; Cyrenius Wright, treasurer; William Myers, William Mead and Francis Evans, supervisors, and Moses Pyatt, constable.


Twelve years after the organization of Adams Township, on December 6. 1838, a petition was presented to the commissioners, asking for the establish- ment of a new township, out of Adams and Pleasant, to be named Sulphur Springs. This petition was not granted.


1827. Record partially destroyed: Samuel Whiteman, justice of peace.


1828. Martin Olds, William Mead, Samuel Whiteman, trustees; Abram Rine, clerk.


1829. Lyman Amsden, Thomas Webb, Samuel Whiteman, trustees; Abram Rine, clerk. 1830. Samuel Elder. Samuel Whiteman, Lyman Amsden, trustees; Abram Rine, clerk; Samuel Whiteman and Martin Olds, justices.


1831. Same trustees; W. Mead, John Paine, M. Olds, trustees of school laws.


1832. Same trustees and clerk.


1833. Samuel Elder, Jacob Rine, Lyman Amsden, trustees; Abram Rine and Zimri Butler, justices: Samuel Whiteman, clerk.


1834. John Bebe, Samuel Elder, Abram Rine, trustees; Samuel White- man, clerk.


1835. James C. Hocket, D. H. Dana, Abram Rine, trustees; E. D. Fol- let. clerk; Ira Phelps, justice. 1836. John Paine, E. Smith, James Crockett, trustees; E. D. Follet, clerk.


1837. John Petticord, S. Whiteman, John Paine, trustees: A. Crockett, clerk.


1838. D. H. Dana, John Craig, John Petticord, trustees; S. Whiteman, clerk; E. D. Bradley, justice.


On May 5, of this year, the township was laid off into school districts.


1839. D. B. Lee, John Petticord. John Waters, trustees; I. W. Small. clerk.


400


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.


1840. James Crockett, Samuel Whiteman, J. A. Watrous, trustees; I. W. Small, clerk.


1841. Earl Church, Samuel Whiteman, J. A. Wartrous, trustees; I. W. Small, clerk.


1842.


George Kline, John Guisbert, John Petticord, trustees; J. W.


Payne, clerk.


1843. George Kline, Ephraim Porter, John Petticord, trustees; Abram Rine, clerk.


1844. George Kline, Ephraim Porter, Reuben Drinkwater, trustees; I. W. Small, clerk.


1845. Jacob Bogart, Isaac Smith, Abram Rine, trustees; James Paine, clerk.


The persons over eighteen and under twenty-one years of age in the town- ship, in 1845, numbered twenty-seven, over twenty-one and under forty-five, sixty-one.


1846. Nicholas Noel and Isaac W. Small were elected justices; Abram Rine, H. Neikirk and D. B. Lee, trustees; L. C. Stone, clerk.


1847. A. M. Stem, Ezra West, Abram Rine, trustees; L. C. Stone, clerk.


1848. D. B. Lee, Ezra West, Abram Rine, trustees: L. C. Stone, clerk; John W. Payne, justice.


1849. Same trustees; George Kline, clerk.


1850. R. B. Alexander, A. G. Whiteman, D. Petticord, trustees; James Collins, clerk.


1851. D. H. Patterson, D. Petticord, A. G. Whiteman, trustees; Isaac Stillwell, clerk.


1852. Levi Coup, D. H. Patterson, A. G. Whiteman, trustees; R. B. Mead, clerk.


1853. Levi Coup, William Jordan, A. G. Whiteman, trustees; D. H. Pat- terson, clerk.


1854. Abner Nims, William Jordan, A. G. Whiteman, trustees; Isaac Still- well, clerk.


1855. Samuel Hunter, Abner Nims, W. Jordan, trustees; J. B. Buck, justice; A. G. Whiteman, clerk.


1856-57. Samuel Myers, J. W. Payne, James Crockett, trustees; Joel Bar- ber, clerk.


1858. N. Noel, D. Hartsock, J. Crockett, trustees; Horace Hall, justice; George K. Kline, clerk.


1859. N. West, J. T. Kistler, Henry Metzger, trustees; D. H. Patterson, clerk.


1860. Isaac Stillwell, J. T. Kistler, Henry Metzger, trustees; H. White- man, justice; Isaac Stillwell, clerk.


1861-62. A. G. Whiteman, W. C. Myers, I. Stillwell, trustees; Horace Hall, D. H. Patterson, justices; J. Goodin, clerk.


1863. D. Petticord. A. G. Whiteman, James Crockett, trustees; J. Goodin, clerk.


1864. Monroe Kistler, D. Petticord, Thomas Almond, trustees; J. S. Brown, Isaac Stillwell, justices; P. H. Myers, clerk.


1865. J. S. Myers, Thomas Almond, H. P. Whiteman, trustees; Daniel Metzger, justice; P. H. Myers, clerk.


1866. Same trustees; Humphrey Whiteman, justice.


1867. James Paine, John Wales, Jr., J. S. Myers, trustees; P. H. Myers, clerk.


1868. Peter Coffman. P. S. Myers, James Paine, trustees; W. P. Myers, clerk.


401


ADAMS TOWNSHIP.


1869. S. H. Smith, Humphrey Whiteman, Thomas Almond, trustees; Jacob Bonnell, clerk.


1870. J. McIntire, M. H. Hensinger, H. Hoeltzell, trustees; J. S. Myers, clerk.


1871. Same trustees; John Summers, justice; J. S. Myers, clerk.


1872. B. F. Pontius, H. Hoeltzell, James McIntire, trustees; W. J. Payne, clerk.


1873. F. S. Mohr, M. Kistler, Sol. Reiter, trustees; John S. Myers, clerk.


1874. J. J. Miller, F. S. Mohr, Jesse Paine, trustees; John S. Myers, clerk.


1875. John Guisbert, J. J. Miller, W. H. Groves, trustees; Wilson Pon- tius, clerk.


1876. John Westerhouse, John Guisbert, W. M. Engler, trustees; John Gibbons, clerk.


1877. J. S. Myers, John Guisbert, H. Detterman, trustees; John Gib- bons, clerk.


1878. Monroe Lee, John Guisbert, Edward Nims, trustees; James Drinkwater, clerk.


1879. A. McHasser, M. Kistler, S. Detterman, trustees; Daniel Metzger, John S. Myers, justices; James Drinkwater, clerk.


1880. W. J. Johnson, S. Detterman, Monroe Kistler, trustees; J. C. Metzger, clerk.


1881. W. J. Payne, M. Kistler, Frank Crockett, trustees; R. K. Will- iams, justice; J. C. Metzger, clerk.


1882. Frank Crockett, W. J. Payne, E. B. Williams, trustees; W. J. Merchant, A. Kistler, justices; J. C. Metzger, clerk.


1883. Michael Schriner, J. H. Westerhouse, H. Harrison, trustees; William Engler, clerk.


1884. C. D. Holtz, J. H. Westerhouse, M. Schriner, trustees; R. K. Williams, justice; William Engler, clerk.


1SS5. D. W. Whiteman, George W. Fitz, C. D. Holtz, trustees; William Engler clerk; D. J. Myers, Walter Merchant, justices.


The township and school boards of Adams, have generally attached great importance to economical administration. Notwithstanding this feature of the township's official life the roads are well made, the schoolhouses are numer- ous and substantial, and all those minute details which mark the progress of each little commonwealth of the county are observed.


School Lands .- September 30, 1843, a meeting of the citizens of Adams Township was held to vote on the question of selling school lands- the west half of Section 12. George Kline, Solomon Drown and L. C. Stewart, judges, and T. W. Small and James Paine, clerks, conducted the election. The number of votes polled was eighteen, all in favor of the sale of school lands. On May 14, 1845, John T. Kistler purchased the west half of northwest quarter of Section 12; Isaac Parker, the east half of the northwest quarter; John Kistler, the west half of the southwest quarter, and Isaac Parker, the east half of the southwest quarter. The entire tract brought $2,780, and the sale was con- ducted under order of chancery on appraisement of Thomas R. Ellis, Jacob Souder and William Toll, and on the Heming survey. (Record of School Lands in Auditor's office. ) The sale of school lands in Adams Township has been attended with some peculiar features. For years after the township was established there was no Section 16 acknowledged, as that sec- tion was within the Seneca Indian Reservation, and consequently without the reach of all parties, save the Indians, for whom it was reserved. Under


402


HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.


the treaty of Washington, negotiated February 28, 1831, the tribe ceded their 40,000 acres, and in November, 1832, the tract was offered for sale-the school section excepted. Prior to this, however, in 1826, the west half of Section 12 was granted to Adams in lieu of Section 16. Nothing was done toward the sale of half-Section 12 until May 14, 1845. Eleven years before this, and under authority of an act approved January 30, 1836, all Section 16 was granted to the township for school purposes, and its sale was soon after effected, thus giving Adams one section and a half, or 320 acres more than should be apportioned. In 1846 an effort was made to rectify this error, but the subject was dropped until recent years, when it was re-opened under the title of "Andrew Jackson's Mistake."


Pioneers of Adams Township .- The settlement of the township was effected without the noise and bustle which marked the occupation of the older town- ships of Seneca. This was due to the fact that it was not a wilderness in the sense that the country west of the Sandusky was; but a well-trailed land, partly surveyed, and adjacent to the old settlements. In all other respects the work of the pioneer did not differ in quantity or quality from the earlier settlers of Venice or Big Spring, Thompson or Liberty, Reed or Loudon Townships. It is true that the romance of life among the Indians of the great Sulphur Spring region, and the pleasures which the neighborhood of natural phenomena or curiosity bring, were present to lighten, as it were, the load of care by with- drawing attention from ordinary life among the great trees, and lending it to the wonderful in nature. In the following sketches several prominent pioneers are named; while the greater number of pioneers and old settlers find mention in the personal history of Adams Township, and in the chapters of the general history.


Samuel and Elizabeth (Kating) Bartlett, natives of Main, grandparents of Robert M. Bartlett, of Adams Township, settled in this county in 1826, where they died. Oliver L. Bartlett, their son, the father of Robert M., began farm life in this county at an early day, and married, in 1844, Hannah E. Warner, of Virginia, whose mother, when a widow, came about 1833, with her family, to this county, where she died. .... George R. Bosworth, a native of Vermont, born in 1800, came with his family to Adams Township in 1834. .... Jacob Bowerman settled in the township in 1830. died in August, 1876. . ... John Bowerman settled in the township in 1831; served in the war of 1812.


Elijah and Catharine Brown, parents of Mrs. Edward Crockett, of Adams Township, formerly of Scipio Township, (former a native of Maryland, latter of Perry County, Ohio, ) came to the county in 1842. .... Warren Brown, born in New Hampshire, in 1814, came, in 1839, from Pennsylvania with his par- ents, Solomon and Fanny (Dennis) Brown to this county (where the latter both died), and settled in Adams Township.




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