USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, from the close of the revolutionary war to July, 1880 > Part 32
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On the 26th day of October, 1805, he was married in Berwick, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, to Jerusha Smith, of that place, and some time thereafter became the owner and editor of the Berwick American, a Democratic weekly newspaper. On the 20th day of No- vember, 1820, he was appointed by President James Monroe, postmaster at Berwick; the commission is signed by Return J. Meigs, Jr., who was then postmaster general.
In 1813, September 7th, Simon Snyder, governor of Pennsylvania. appointed him justice of the peace for the townships of Bloom and Briar Creek, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, " so long as you shall behave yourself well."
Mr. Owen published the first paper, in the English language, in Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, called the Allentown Star. This paper was not a success, and he moved to North Whitehall, in the same county, where he taught school for a time. Before he moved to Allentown he was elected to the senate of Pennsylvania from the Columbia district, where he served two terms, and during which time James Buchanan was also a member. There was an air of aristocracy about Mr. Buchanan that Mr. Owen never admired.
Early in the spring of 1829 he moved, with his family, to Seneca county, where he arrived and settled on Rocky creek, on what is now called the " Huber farm," on the 9th day of May, that year. He put up a little cabin and cleared a few acres for corn, in that spring. Here Mr. Owen lived with his family in the dense forest in a most obscure way, known only by a few of his Pennsylvania relatives and neighbors. The Whigs had the county and everything their own way. In the fall of 1831, a few Democrats in town consulted together upon the propriety of putting a Democratic county ticket in the field. They having no suitable candidate for auditor, Mr. Daniel Dildine, Sr., said there was a man living up Rocky creek who would make a good candidate, whose name was D. E. Owen, and that he was a smart man and a great Dem-
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
ocrat. They nominated him and elected him; the first Democrat elected to any office in Seneca county. He was the second auditor of the county. In 1833 he was re-elected, and while he served in this capacity, on the 27th day of August, 1833, Robert Lucas appointed him receiver of the "Ohio Canal Land office, at Tiffin, Ohio." Moses H. Kirby, the present senator from the district composed of the counties of Seneca, Crawford and Wyandot, was the secretary of state and signed Mr. Owen's commission.
In 1836 Mr. Owen was elected to the senate of Ohio from the sena- torial district composed of the counties of Huron, Sandusky and Seneca. Joseph Howard was the Whig candidate, and one of the most popular men in that party.
On the 27th day of June, 1838, President Van Buren appointed Mr. Owen "Receiver of the public money for the district of lands subject to sale by the treaty with the Wyandot Indians dated April 26, 1836, to serve for four years, from June 25, 1838." Levi Woodbury was then Secretary of the Treasury. Land sales in Crawford county were ordered to take place, under the proclamation of the President, on Monday, the 6th day of August, 1838. On the 28th day of November, 1838, the President ordered another land sale, to take place at Marion, on the 28th day of January following. This last sale was for only two sections, both south of the base line-section 35, cranberry swamp on Broken Sword creek, T. 1, S. R. 1, and N. E. 14 of section 2, T. 2, S. R. 2.
In conformity with the treaty, a certain per cent. of the proceeds of these sales was to be paid to the Wyandots, and the receipts for these dividends, in my possession, have the names of the following chiefs attached :
Ron-ton-dee or Warpole; Dou-wan-tout; Tay-on-dot-to-hach, Punch; Hon-don-yon-wan or Mathias; Day-on-quot or Half King; Manoncue or Thomas ; Tay-arron-tooyea, or Between the Logs ; Widow Harra. haat; Widow Big Sinew; Tay-qua-way; Hays; Black Sheep; Charloe: Summondewat: Tsooshia: Droosrousch; Coon Hawk; Gray Eyes; Bear- skin; Touromee; Squeendehtee; Monture; Old Shawnee: Big Spoon: Cross the Lake; Ronuneay; Big River; Ground Squirrel: Young Cher- okee: Tahautohs: Septemess; Gayamee; Little Chief; Fighter: Tall Charles; Solomon; Taress; Big Arms; Nooshutdomohs; Shreaeohhs: Tauranyehtee ; Peacock ; Curreesaquoh ; Porcupine ; Bob Cherokee : Satrahass: Kay-roo-hoo; White Wing; Half John: St. Peter; Ree-wan- dee-nun-toohk; Hisson; Snakehead; Split-the-logs; Daenundee; John Hicks; Mudeatoe; Soocuhquess; Wasp; Tondee: Yandeenoo; Summen-
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DAVID EVAN OWEN.
turoo; John Baptiste; Soorontooroo; Racer; Big Kittle Child; White Crow, and many others.
One pay roll shows paid to these and others $22,212.
At the first land sales in Marion $57,106.50 were received.
When Mr. Owen resigned the United States Land Office, J. R. Poin- sett, Secretary of War, under date of May 16, 1840, ordered Mr. Owen to deliver over his books, papers and moneys to John Goodin, who was appointed his successor as receiver, and who. receipted in full.
The following table will show the amounts paid into the treasury of the United States from the sale of lands for seven years, viz:
YEAR. AMOUNT.
YEAR.
AMOUNT.
1832
$ 2,623,781
1836
$34,877,179
1833
$ 3,967,781
1837
$ 6,776,236
1834
$ 4,857,600
1838
$ 3,081,939
1835
$14,757,600
After Mr. Owen resigned his office as receiver of the Land Office. he kept a provision store in Tiffin, and was elected justice of the peace several times, which office he held as long as he was able to do public business, and until old age disqualified him for public life. He was a thorough politician, and perfectly at home in an office. He held office nearly all his life, and discharged every duty and trust with marked ability and fidelity: but he had very little idea of practical life outside of an office, and, like most politicians that do not know how to steal, died poor. He knew simply nothing about speculations, or the value of money. He provided and lived well while he had plenty, and when his money was gone he economized from the force of circumstances. He was a popular officer, a generous, liberal man; was strictly moral and scrupulously honest in all his intercourse with his fellow men, and was highly respected. Mrs. Owen died in Tiffin January 7, 1849, aged sixty-two years, nine months and sixteen days. Mr. Owen died Sep- tember 9, 1857, aged eighty-two years, four months and one day. One son and three daughters are still living.
When Mr. Owen resigned the office of receiver of the canal lands Governor Lucas appointed Mr. Timothy Griffith, of Columbus, his successor.
Mr. Owen was a short man, being only about five feet and two inches high; he had a heavy head of dark brown hair, strongly marked fea- tures, light blue eyes; was stoutly built, fleshy, and withall active. He was a great reader, and very interesting in political conversations. He was well acquainted with nearly all the leading politicians of his time.
While Mr. Owen held the office of receiver of the canal lands, at 20
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Tiffin, great quantities of land were sold, and the money paid was all gold and silver. The state had furnished Mr. Owen an iron chest to put his money into; it looked like a block of iron two feet square. When it was full he hired a team to haul it to Columbus.
One time Daniel Dildine, Sr., with his team, and Mr. Owen, on their way to Columbus with the chest, stopped at a hotel in Marion for the night. The hotel was crowded with all sorts of customers, and there was a great deal of carousal going on. What to do with the iron chest they did not know, but were of the opinion that it would not do to take it into the tavern, for it took four men to put it into the wagon Finally they concluded to leave it in the open yard in the open wagon, simply covering it with a little straw. The next morning everything was found all right. Nobody suspected that the two old farmers had $80,000 in gold in that old wagon.
For those who have a curiosity to read the Mohawk Indian, and fur- ther, to preserve a specimen of it from utter oblivion, there is attached hereto the 2d verse of the 6th chapter of St. Mark, followed by a trans- lation of the same into Mohawk :
" And when the Sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the syna- gogne ; and many hearing him were astonished. saying: From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him. that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?"
TRANSLATION.
" Neoni ne onea Wa-aweandadogeaghdane. tahhadaghsawer waghsakorih- honnyea et-hone synagogue; neoui yawetowanea yakott. hoende na-ah. wa-akorigheoaneghragoh, wairongh: Kah oughdenoe tahhawe nekea-ea Ttinikarihhodease? neoni oghna Kamikonghrodea oughte ne roewawyh. ne kinongkeah n'agwagh Kayodeaghferas-hatsde yoyo'deh ne Rasno'nke?
ANDREW LUGENBEEL
Was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1806. On the 11th of September, 1832, he was married to Elizabeth Baltzell, of that county, who was a sister of Thomas Baltzell, formerly living in Seneca town- ship, and of Dr. Kuhn's first wife. Soon after his marriage Mr. Lugen- beel moved to Seneca county, where he resided up to the time of his death. When the writer first got acquainted with Mr. Lugenbeel he was a partner in the mercantile business with Jacob Stern, in Tiffin. About 1834 he bought the land of Joseph Janay, where, in 1836, he built a grist mill on the river bank, a short distance south of town, that has ever since, and until very recently, been known by the familiar name of " Lugenbeel's mill." Mr. Lugenbeel took charge of the mill himself, and soon made it the most popular mill on the river.
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ANDREW LUGENBEEL.
After his appointment as one of the associate judges of the Seneca common pleas, he was familiarly called "Judge Lugenbeel," which title he retained to the time of his death. He took a very active part in public affairs, and was very successful in all his undertakings. He became one of the most popular, as he was certainly one of the most eminent, men in Seneca county. He, was a man of clear views, naturally philosophic in his thoughts, of strong, clear, sound judgment, of polished manners without the least ostentation; a safe counselor, a true friend, kind, benevolent; a man of enlarged views, broad-gauged and generous. He was beloved by his intimate friends and esteemed by all. He was one of the originators of the Seneca county infirmary, and one of its first directors. He held a number of township offices also, and filled the bill wherever he was placed. The writer heard Judge Bowen say, at one time, that amongst all the associate judges in his very large circuit, there was not one the equal of Judge Lugenbeel for sound judgment and capacity.
About 1843 Mrs. Lugenbeel died, and the judge married Miss Jemimah Souder, December 11, 1845. The judge died December 10, 1863, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, without a child, leaving his estate, which was regarded as one of the best accumulations in the county, to his widow, who still survives him, but who seems to be either very indifferent or else knows but little about the judge, or both.
Judge Lugenbeel was about five feet nine inches high; had a fair complexion, very florid face, high forehead, blue, deep-set eyes, clenched lips: his face was always shaved smooth, and he never wore a beard. He was slow and dignified in his conversation, but whatever he said was solid. He never indulged in frivolous talk, and enjoyed con- versation that required deep, sound thinking. He died while the country was in her throes of war, and his memory is fast becoming obliterated; but while he lived he was a true man and a most excellent citizen.
JOHN PITTENGER
Was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 16th day of January, 1778; was the oldest son among twelve children, two sisters being older. He was married to Julia Ann Gibson, at Graceham, in the same county, June 22d, 1817. Mrs. Pittenger was born April 12th, 1801, and is still living, now residing with her eldest living daughter, Mrs. R. R. McMeens, at Sandusky City, Ohio. There were nine children as the fruit of this marriage, five sons and four daughters, five of whom are still living, viz: Mrs. R. R. McMeens, at Sandusky City; J. H. Pitten-
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
ger, attorney-at-law, at Tiffin, Ohio: Mrs. M. E. Stem, at Sandusky City; Mrs. H. S. Kendig, at Tiffin, Ohio, and Charles W. Pittenger, at West Liberty, Ohio.
John Pittenger worked on his father's farm, where he was born, until he was over thirty years of age, and when losing his health he moved to Graceham, a small Moravian village, in Frederick county, where he entered into the mercantile business, and which he continued until he removed to Tiffin with his family, in 1829
He came to Ohio first in 1823 or 1824, passed down to Cincinnati. Sitting on his horse on a hill overlooking the embryo city, he came to the conclusion that there was nothing there to make a city, and rode on down to North Bend, where he thought the prospect was better. From there he passed north through Indiana, crossed the Black Swamp into Seneca county. Here he was pleased with the fine timber and the streams, and concluded to locate here. In the fall of 1825, he sent a stock of goods by wagons from Baltimore, Maryland, and opened the same in the name of J. and B. Pittenger. Benjamin Pittenger is a younger brother, still living, and familiarly known by the name of Judge Pittenger. Leaving his brother Benjamin in charge of the store, he returned to Maryland. The store and building have already been described. The business was thus carried on until 1834. In 1837 Mr. John Pettinger carried on the business in his own name, until 1844 or 1845. In 183: the two brothers started the tannery on Perry street, already mentioned, and conducted the same until they sold it to Flem- ing and Schock, about the year 1839. Mr. Pittenger was an active and industrious man. He carried on a farm on lands he entered in this county. He was constantly employed at something, and when he quit public life he started a nursery on the south side of Market street, on the lot now occupied by the "Turners' Hall" and Mr. John Nuser's residence. Here he busied himself with budding and grafting trees for a number of years.
He became a member of the Methodist church at an early age, and remained a consistent member all his life. His home in Graceham was a general stopping place for ministers of all denomina- tions. Father Purcell, now arch-bishop of Cincinnati, frequently ac- cepted his hospitality when he was at Emmitsburgh. Even after he moved to Tiffin he often entertained Methodist ministers at his house. He crossed the mountains on horseback nine times, between Frederick county, Maryland, and Seneca county, Ohio, upon the same horse-old Major-averaging fifty miles per day. The old horse, which lived till its twenty-sixth year, was a fine racker, but refused to work in harness.
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JOHN PITTENGER.
While Mr. Pittenger was a man full of energy and business, he was quiet and unobtrusive. He was not very talkative; there was no flat- tery or blarney about him. He was sincere and earnest in his dealings with men. He was a large, muscular and bony man, not fleshy, but well built. He had a large head, clear blue eyes, an expressive face, and as the weight of years made their mark upon him his head became bald, his hair and beard white, and his once powerful frame broken down, so that towards the evening of his life he was quite stoop shoul- dered. He was a decided Whig, but never a leader in politics. He died on the 20th day of October, 1857, at the ripe age of seventy-nine years, nine months and four days.
BENJAMIN PITTENGER
Was a younger brother of John Pittenger. He was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 29th day of January, 1798, on a farm, where he was raised. On the 9th day of September, 1825, he was married to Theresa Creeger (already mentioned), and located in Tiffin in Decem- ber of the same year. His wife died here December 8, 1847, at the age of forty-two years, leaving five children. Mr. Pittenger was mar- ried again on the 13th day of December, 1849, to Miss Mary Ann Hunter, who also died August 15, 1877.
Mr. Pittenger was one of the first associate judges of Seneca county, holding that position two terms (fourteen years), and was therefore familiarly known by the name of Judge Pittenger. He never, was very fond of work, and therefore unlike his brother John, who was always busy. The judge was one of the early leaders of the Whig party in the county, and continued thus until that party fought its last battle under General Scott, in 1852; and when, in 1856, the Republican party was organized and John C. Fremont nominated for President, he attached himself to that party, and has voted with it ever since. The judge and his brother John were in partnership in Tiffin, in the mer- cantile trade, and in the tannery already described. They sold the tannery to Fleming and Schoch, in 1839.
Some twenty years ago the judge moved to his farm, about two miles from the city on the Melmore road, where he still resides. He has two sons, both married, and three daughters-Mrs. J. M. Naylor, Mrs. Ed. Naylor and Mrs. Al Buskirk.
Judge Pittenger, in the full vigor of his life, had a very straight car- riage, was about six feet two inches high, had a full head of hair, bushy eye-brows, a long face and rather large nose He resembled General Jackson very much. But the eighty-two years of life that have passed
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over his head, have left it very white, and broken down his physical powers very materially.
The judge was not a man of great force of character, but honorable, dignified, kind and sociable.
JOHN AND LOUISA FIEGE.
There were also many mechanics in Tiffin who failed to make a success. This is a world of cause and effect, and, to a great extent, just as we make it. John Fiege came to Tiffin from Germany in 1834, a cabinet maker by trade. He was a good mechanic, a kind, clever man, and strictly honest in his dealings. He built up a large trade, and accumulated property rapidly. In 1836 he was married to Mary Louisa, oldest daughter of Philip von Blou, who located in Tiffin about that time and soon moved onto a farm in Eden township, where he lived a long time.
Mrs. Fiege was born in Waldmohr in the Bavarian Palatinate, on the 8th day of December, 1813. John Fiege was born in Oedelsheim, in the Electorate of Hesse, July 3, 1811. They had ten children in all, of whom three sons are still living, now familiarly and favorably known as the "Fiege Brothers," carrying on the most extensive furniture and undertaking business in the city. John Fiege was drowned in a mill- race March 31st, 1869. Mrs. Fiege died December 29th, 1874. Both were among the most highly esteemed people in Tiffin.
CHRISTIAN MUELLER AND VALENTINE SCHMIDT
Were brewers and coopers by trade. They came to Tiffin in 1847, from Bavaria. They produced lager beer in 1848, which is thought to have been the first in Ohio. In 1854 they erected a new brewery on River street, and conducted the business together until 1860, when Mr. Mueller bought Mr. Schmidt's interest, and carried on a very extensive business. He turned Schmidt's brewery into a malt house in 1872. Mueller's beer is celebrated all over Ohio and the west.
Mr. Mueller had promised to write out a little history of the brew- eries in Tiffin, but, like so many of our good intentions, it was left undone.
"Christ. Mueller," as he is familiarly called, is a very clever and congenial gentleman of excellent social nature, and a fine conver- sationalist. He is a great lover of music, and was one of the most active among the founders of the "Bruderbund," a German singing association that was organized in 1854, and is still in existence. He has a large family, and with the great industry and energy necessary to
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THE GREAT FIRE.
conduct his very extensive operations, he still preserves his youthful appearance; nor has he lost any of his innate jocular and friendly dis- position. Valentine Schmidt died some fifteen years ago.
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1872.
The greatest losses by fire that Tiffin ever suffered, at any one time, occurred on the 13th of April, 1872. A very full description of it is found in the Tiffin Tribune of the 18th of April, 1872, from which I copy :
TERRIBLE FIRE! TWO SQUARES BURNED OVER ! 70 BUILDINGS DESTROYED ! $90,000 IN PROPERTY BURNT UP! FIRE AN UNRELENTING MASTER!
FULL DETAILS OF THE FIRE OF SATURDAY.
Saturday, April 13, 1872, marks an epoch in the fire history of Tiffin that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed the terrible conflagration. About two o'clock and forty minutes, the alarm of fire was given in the see- ond ward, and in a moment the fire bells of the city were ringing out the loud clamor of danger. During the day the wind had been blowing a gale. from a northwesterly direction, and when the alarm was given it was seem- ingly at its height. The different fire companies hastened to the second ward, together with the citizens generally: nearly everybody started imme- diately in the direction where the fire was supposed to be, with a seeming intuition that there was work to be done that would require the assistance of all.
Upon reaching the ground it was discovered that fire was burning on the roof of Mrs. A. Rawson's house, on Miami street, and the roof of the store occupied by A. MeNeal, on Sandusky street, all connected with each other.
The engines were immediately put to work, one at a cistern near the engine house, and the other nearly opposite MeNeal's store. In a few min- ntes the engine in front of the store had to move from the cistern, after working hard, as the heat was unendurable. The other engine got to work immediately, and was doing good execution, when the water in the cistern gave out. This necessitated a change in these two engines, with their hose, and gave the fire a free field, with but one engine to work on it. The wind seemed to gain in fierceness, and the building was one mass of flames. In the meantime, a large number of citizens had been carrying out and saving all that was possible of the furniture in the house, and goods from the store.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
On the opposite side of Sandusky street, right directly in the face of the wind and fire, the hook and ladder companies and citizens were on the roof of Ogle's store and the dwellings in the rear, busy with buckets of water,to save them. The fire raged higher and fiereer, and these buildings had to be deserted, as the heat was too intense to be endured.
Just at this time, about fifteen minutes after the fire was discovered, the word went aromid like magic that four barus were in flames, and a few rods in the rear and a little north of Ogle's store; so intently was the attention of every one directed to the first building on fire, and saving those near, that these barns were not discovered until every part of them was on fire and the flames were shooting up nearly one hundred feet. This changed the whole face of everything. It was found that the buildings first on fire and those near had to be left to their fate, and attention turned to the saving of prop- erty ahead of the fire. All became dire confusion among those most likely to suffer immediately from the flames. Attempts were made to save the buildings with buckets of water, and removal of furniture began. Women and children were crying with fright, and the owners of property, with pale faces and compressed lips. saw the impossibility of saving their houses.
Scarcely had the fire in the barns above mentioned been discovered, when flames were seen leaping up from Le Baron's stave factory, sixty rods or more distant. This burned fiercely, and the wind from a gale became almost a hurricane. Burning shingles, boards, coals and sparks flew in every direc- tion, and ignited everything they touched. Fires were kindled in every direction; at this time, twenty-five minutes after the first alarm. upwards of fifty buildings were blazing furiously. The flames leaped from building to building; dense volumes of smoke covered the doomed ground, and it seemed that nothing but an interposition of Providence could stay the destruction. In thirty-eight minutes after the fire started. the roof of the house of Mr. Singer, on the east side of Washington street, was nearly burnt off, while everything inflammable between that and McNeal's corner was in flames. It was impossible to keep track of the buildings as they caught fire, for the fire seemed to start in every direction, with the regularity of the ticking of the clock.
Earnest, terrible fighting was done, but the heat was intense and showers of fire so great that the people were helpless in what is now called "the burnt district."
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