USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 41
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 41
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James Madison
Republican
127
1878
Secretary of State.
Milton Barnes
274,120
David R. Paige
270.906
1816.
James Monroe.
Republican
183
Andrew Roy
38,332
Jeremiah N. Robinson.
5,052
589,100
1824
Andrew Jackson
Democrat.
152.899
99
1879
Governor
Charles Foster
336,261
John Q. Adams
Federalist.
105,321
84
Thomas Ewing
319.132
W. H. Crawford
Cau. Democrat i
47,265
41
Gideon T. Stewart
4.145
A. Sanders Piatt ..
9,072
John Hood.
547
1828
Andrew Jackson
Democrat.
650,028 512,158
83
1880.
Secretary of State.
Charles Townsend
362,021
William Lang
343,016
1832
Andrew Jackson.
Democrat.
687,502
219
Charles A. Lloyd
6.786
Ileory Clay
Whig
550,189
49
W'm. H. Doan.
2,515
John Floyd.
Whig
1880
President
James A. Garfield.
375.048
Martin Van Baren
Democrat
771.968
170
W. H. Harrison.
White
(73 |
Neal Dow ..
2,616
Hugh I .. White.
Whig
760,350
144
1881
Governor
Charles Foster
312,735
John W. Bookwalter.
288.330
Abraham R. Ludlow.
16,597
John Seitz
6,330
G23,992
United States Senators from Ohio since its admission into the Union in 1802, with residence and time of service.
John Smith, Hamilton, from 1803 to 1408.
1848
Zachary Taylor.
Whig
1.362,242
163
Lewis Cass.
Democrat
1,223,795
127
Edward Tiffin, Ross, from 1807 to 1809.
2.872 .- 06
1852
Winfield Scott
Whig
1.383,537
42
Franklin Pierce.
Democrat.
1.583,545
234
Stanley Griswold, Cuyahoga, 1809.
John P. Hale,
Free Soil.
157,296
3,142 .- 77
1856
John C. Fremont
Republican
1.341,x12
114
Joseph Kerr, Ross, from 1814 to 1915.
Jaines Buchanan Millard Fillmore
American
873.055
8
Benjamin Ruggles, Belmont, from 1815 to 1833.
1860.
Abraham Lincoln. S. A. Douglas.
Republican
1.857.610
1,80
Ethan Allen Brown, Hamilton, from 1822 to 1825.
J. C. Breckenridge .. . John Bell.
Union ..
590.631
4,676.853
Jacob Burnet, Hamilton, from 1:28 to 1831.
1864
Abraham Lincoln.
Republican
2.223.035
216
G. B. MeClellan
Democrat
1,811,754
4.024.792
1868
U. S. Grant
Republican
3.016.353
214
Horatio Seymour
Democrat.
2,706,631
80
5,724.621
1872
U.S. Grant
Republican
3,597,070
300
Thomas Corwin, Warren, from 1445 to 1851.
Benjamin Franklin Wade, Ashtabula, from 1851 to 1869.
Salmon P. Chase, Hamilton, from 1549 to 1835. 1861.
1876
Rutherford B. Hayes. . Republican
4,033,763
195
Samuel J. Tilden ..
Democrat
4.2~5,992
184
1880
James A. Garfield
Republican
4.450.922
214
Winfield S. Hancock James B. Weaver ...
Democrat .
Grevuback.
307.740
9,20G,530
1
Rufus King
1820.
James Monroe
Opp. Ivote.
218
Henry Clay.
Republican
47,037
37
352.002
178
John Q. Adams
Federalist.
Whig
7
| 1,217,691
James B. Weaver.
6,456
724,941
Daniel Webster.
Whig
Whig
=
: 1,493.205
1840
Martin Van Buren.
Democrat
1.128.303
60
W. H. Harrison.
Whig
1,274.203
234
James G. Biruey
Liberty
7,609
: 2,410,772
1844
James K. Polk
Democrat
1.329,013 1,231,643
170 103
James G. Birney
Liberty.
66,304
1 2,698,608
Thomas Worthington, Ross, from 1503 to 1807, and 1810 to 1814.
Martin Van Buren.
Free Soil
291.378
Return Jonathan Meigs, Washington, from 1808 to ISI0.
Alexander Campbell, Adams, from 1809 to 1813.
Jeremiah Morrow, Warren, from 1813 to 1819.
Democrat
1,834.337
174
William Allen Trimble, Highland, from 1819 to 1821.
Democrat
1,365,976
12
Democrat
847.953
72 39
Thomas Morris, Clermont, from 1833 to 1839. William Allen, Ross, from 1837 to 1849.
- Benjamin Tappan, Jefferson, from 1839 to 1845.
H. Greeley.
Liberal
2.>31.770
1 6.431,149
George Ellis Pugh, Hamilton, from 1855 to ISC1. John Sherman, Kichdand, from 1961 to 1877.
Allen G. Thurman, Franklin, from 1560 to 1981. Stanley Matthews, Hamilton, from 1877 to 1879. George Hunt Pendleton, Hamilton, from 1879 to 1885.
Voter ench received.
Total vote east.
1874.
Secretary of State. William Bell, Jr.
Allen T. Wikoff.
Jobn R. Buchtel.
7,815
467,455
1875.
Governor
Rutherford B. Hayes,
297.817
William Allen ..
292,273
Jay Odell.
2,593
Scattering.
17
1876.
Secretary of State. Milton Barnes
William Bell, Jr.
311,220
E. S. Chapman
1.863
630,939
187G
President
Rutherford B. Hayes. Samuel J. Tikden
330,698
1
G. Clay Smith
1,636
Peter Cooper.
3,057
James B. Walker
Thomas Jefferson
Republican
68
Richard M. Bishop.
271.625
Charles C. Pinckney.
Federalist.
14
James Madison.
Republican
152
Henry A. Thompson
4.836
Charles C. Pinckney
Federalist.
45
83
1.150,325
11
W. S. Hancock.
340,821
714,738
William Wirt
1836
26
W. P. Mangum
Heury Clay
Whir
4.053,967
William Henry Harrison, Hamilton, from 1825 to 1828.
Thomas Ewing, Fairfield, from 1831 to 1837, and 1850 to 1851.
1 8.426.073
155
Year-
Officers to be elected. ;
Names of candidates.
238.406 221,204
592,700
317,856
323,182
669,157
De Witt Clinton.
127-128
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
Population of Ohio by Counties, from 1800 to 1880.
COUNTIES.
1880
1870
1860
1850
1840
1830
1820
1810
1800
Adams
24.004
20,750
20,309
18.883
13.153
12,281
10,40G
9,343
3,432
Allen
31.323
23.623
19.185
12.109
9,079
578
Ashland
23.883
21.933
22.951
23.813
23.724
14,584
5.375
Athens. .
28.451
23.768
21.364
1×.215
19,109
9,787
6,338
2,791
Auglaize
25.443
20 041
17,187
11,338
Belmont.
49,638
39.714
36,398
34.600
30,901
28,627
20,329
11,097
Brown ..
42.570
39.912
35.840
30,789
28,173
27,142
21,746
11,150
C'arroll .
16,416
14.491
15.738
17.6~5
18,108
16.721
12.131
8.479
6,303
Champaign Clarke ..
41,947
32.070
2,300
22.178
16 .- 82
13,114
9,533
Clermont
36.713
34,268
33,03£
30.455
23.106
20,106
15 .- 20
9,965
Clinton.
24.757
21.914
21,461
18.>38
15,719
11,436
8.085
2.674
Columbiana.
48.603
38,299
32,836
33,621
40,373
35,592
22.033
10,878
Crawford
30,583
25,566
23 .~~ 1
18,177
13.152
4,791
6.328
1,459
Darke ..
40,498
32.278
26,009
20.276
13.2c2
6,204
3,717
Defiance.
22.319
15,719
11,456
6,966
22.060
11,504
7,639
2,000
Eric.
32,640
28,188
24.474
18 568
12.599
Fairfield.
34.283
31,138
30.538
30.264
31,924
24.786
16.633
11,361
Favette.
20,364
17.170
15.935
12.720
10.921
8,182
6.316
1,854
Franklin
21.062
17.7-9
14.043
7.781
13,444
9.733
7.098
4,181
Geauga
14.255
14.199
15.817
17,827
17,528
14.601
10,521
5.870
Guernsey
313.315
260.370
216.410
156,844
80.145
52,317
31.764
15,258
14,692
Hancock
27.788
23.847
22.8-6
16.751
9.986
813
Hardin .
27.028
16.714
13,570
8.251
4.59-
210
Harrison.
20,455
18,682
19.110
20.157
20.099
20,916
14.345
Henry.
20,587
14.028
8.901
3.431
2,503
262
Highland
30,277
29,133
27.773
25.751
22.269
16,345
12.308
Hocking.
21.126
17,925
17,057
14,119
9.741
4,008
2,130
Holmes.
20,775
18.177
20.5>9
20.452
18.088
9,135
Huron ..
31,609
28.532
29.616
26,203
23,933
13.341
6.675
Jackson .
23,679
21.739
17,941
12,719
9.744
5.941
3.546
Jefferson
33.018
29.1~8
26.115
29.133
25,030
22,489
18 531
17.260
8,766
Knox
27.450
26.333
27,735
28,-72
29.570
17,089
8,326
2,149
Lake.
16,326
15.935
15,576
11,654
13,719
Lawrence.
39,068
31.3~0
23,249
15,246
9,738
5,367
3.499
Licking
40,45L
35.756
37.011
38,846
35,096
28,869
11,861
3,852
Logan ..
26,208
23.028
20.996
19,162
14.015
6.440
3,181
Lorain
35,525
30.308
29.744
26.06
18,467
5,696
Lucas.
67,388
46.722
25 .~ 31
12.363
9,382
Madison
20.129
15.633
13.015 .
10.015
9,023
6,190
4,790
Mahoning.
42.867
31.001
25,894
23.735
14,765
6.551
Medina
21.45-4
20,092
22,517
1
24.441
18.352
7,560
3,082
32.325
31,463
26.534
17.971
11,452
6,158
4,480
21.808
17.254
14,104
7.712
8,277
1,110
36,178
32.140
29.959
24.999
19,6~8
12,807
8.815
3,94L
Monroc ..
26,197
25,779
25.741
28.351
18.521
8,768
4.615
Montgomery
78.545
64.006
52.230
33.218
31.938
24,362
15,999
7,722
Morgan
20,074
20.363
22,119
28.585
20,852
11,800
5,297
Morrow
19.073
18.583
20.445
20.2-0
44,416
45,049
38,740
29,334
17,824
10,636
Ottawa
19.763
13.364
7,016
3,308
2,248
13.489
8,544
4.945
1.766
1,034
161
28,218
18.453
19.678
20.775
19.344
13,970
8,429
7,124
Pike ...
17,927
15,447
13.643
10.953
7,626
6.024
4.253
2,995
Preble
24,534
21.809
21.820
21.736
19,482
16,291
10,237
3,304
Putnam
23.718
17.081
12,508
7.221
5,189
230
Richland
36.305
32.516
31.158
30.879
41.532
24.006
9.169
15,514
8,540
Sandusky
32,093
25,503
21.429
14.30
10,182
2.851
8.52
Svioto .. .
33.304
29,302
24.297
1
18.428
11.192
8.740
5,705
3,399
Shelby
24,436
20.713
17.193
13.908
12 154
3.671
2,106
Stark
6-4.027
52.50%
42.978
39.578
31.603
26.588
12.40G
2,734
Summit
43.7×8
34.674
27.344
27.1-5
22,560
Trumbull
4.1,852
35.659
30,456
30.490
38.107
26,153
15,512
8.671
1,302
Tascarawas
40,197
33 .- 40
32,463
31.761
25.631
14.29%
8.32×
3.045
Union .
22,371
18.130
16.507
12.201
8.422
3,192
1,996
V'un Wert
23.050
15 .- 23
10.2.14
4.793
1,577
41
Vinton
28.392
26.6-9
26.902
25,560
23.111
21.400
17.837
9.925
Washington.
43,264
40,609
36.264
29.510
20 .- 23
11.7 '1
10.425
5,991
5.427
Wayne
40,075
35.116
32.981
35,-08
23,333
11.933
3,206
Withams
23,-21
20,091
16.633
8,018
4,465
387
..
Wood
34.026
24 596
17.8-6
9,157
5,357
1,102
733
Wyandot
22.401
1
18,553
15,596
11,194
Tutal for the State
3,197,786
2.665,260
2,339,260
1,980,329
1,519,467
0337,903
581,295
230,760
45,365
1
1
20,751
Paulling
Perry
27.353
24.875
23.469
21,206
19.725
16.001
13,149
Portage
27.500
24.741
24,208
24.419
22,965
18,>20
10,095
Ross
40.307
1
37,097
35,071
02.074
27.460
24,004
20.619
36.955
30 -27
30 .- 68
27.101
18,128
5,159
49,612
44.886
21.137
19,949
22.043
17,063
16.297
15,813
7.791
2,917
Greene ..
27.197
23.538
24.474
30.438
27.148
18.036
9,292
3,051
Hamilton
27,380
25,175
23,902
21,817
59.361
42.909
25,049
14,741
10,172
3,486
Fulton.
Gallia
31.348
28.038
26,197
21.946
21,590
11,161
7,086
Coshocton
26.6.40
23,600
25,032
25.674
Cuyahoga ..
196.937
132.010
73,033
45,099
26,506
10,373
13,35€
Butler.
32.726
30,-02
29.958
27.332
22.715
17.667
27.817
24,188
22,698
19.7-2
Ashtabula
37,139
32.517
31.814
9,353
Warren
17.226
15.027
13,631
Pickaway.
20,564
16.184
15.490
12.618
Marion
Meigs.
Mereer
Miami ..
Muskingum Noble
28.124
25,5445
63,019
5,756
1,603
Delaware.
1
1
129-130
الدلا تستمنها = فيشاقة
4
W.T.EXLINE. AUDR CHAS. E. SCHENM HENRY RUMBLE FRED LILLICH | COM'S D J DAVIES
VAN WERT COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
TREAS.
W. S. JONES. SURVEYOR,
W & WOLCOTT, REC'D A T. DAILEY PROB JUDGE
UN MESTER CLERK
N O MEISTAND JNER F
. A J PORTER
HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
INTRODUCTION.
John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert were soldiers of the Revolutionary war, and the three incorruptible patriots who arrested Major Andre. When he found that he was discovered he offered his gold watch and any amount in cash or dry goods to these three sol- diers if, they would permit him to escape. All his offers were rejected with disdain, and they declared that 10.000 guineas or any other sam would be no temptation. It was to their virtue, no less glorious to America, than Arnold's apostacy was disgraceful, that his treason was discovered. Posterity will repeat with reverence their names, and Ohio has named counties to perpetuate their memories. John Paulding died at Strasburg, New York, December 30, 1819, aged 87.
David Williams was a native of Tarrytown, N. Y., but of his life little has been recorded.
Isaac Van Wert resided near Tarrytown, N. Y., and at the time of his death in 1828 was 68 years of age.
As a reward for their virtue and fidelity, Congress, on November 3, 1780, adopted the following preamble and resolution :-
·
Whereas Congress has received information that Jobn Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert, three young volunteer militiamen of the State of New York, did on the 2344 day of September last, intercept Major John Andre, Adjutant-General of the British army, on his return from the American lines, in the character of a spy, and not withstanding the large bribes offered for his release, nobly disdaining to sacrifice their country for the sake of gold, secured and conveyed him to the com- manding officer of the district, whereby the dangerous and traitorous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold was brought to light, the insidious de- signs of the enemy baffled, and the United States rescued from impend- ing danger :
Resolved, That Congress has a high sense of the virtues and patri- otie conduct of the said John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert : in testimony whereof,
Ordered, That each of them receive annually, out of the public trea- sury, two hundred dollars in specie, or an equivalent in the current money of these States, during life, and that the Board of War proenre for each of them a silver medal. on one side of which shall be a shield with this inscription : "Fidelity ;" and on the other the following motto: " Vincit amor Patria,"* and forward them to the Commander-in-Chief, who is requested to present the same, with a copy of this resolution and the thanks of Congress for their fidelity and the eminent service they have rendered their country.
At the burial place of each a marble monument has been erected, while another marks the spot where Andre was arrested.
!
THE COUNTY.
Van Wert County is bounded on the north by Pauldling. cast by Allen, south by Auglaize and Mercer counties, and west by the State of Indiana. The county is divided into twelve townships, named Tully. Union, Hoaglin, Jackson, Washington, Jennings, York, Liberty, Will- shire, Harrison, Pleasant, and Ridge.
The whole face of the country is level, and so was 'naturally wet, which, taken in connection with the heavy forests under which the land was groaning, rendered the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life
!
almost insupportable. A great many of the carly settlers turned their attention to the chase as the only certain method of gaining a subsist. ence. Neither was this a precarious mode of subsistence, for, owing to the variety and abundance of game, hunting and trapping was rewarded by the procurement of the real necessaries of life. Statistics show that by these pursuits a large revenue was derived, and through this alone the settlers were enabled to pay their taxes. The land was a wilderness, requiring years in clearing, and even then the surface water had to In contended with in order to produce a erop. Thus if a field was clear and planted the natural drainage was so poor that the crop must strug. gle slowly along, perhaps to be finally drowned out. Artificial drainage was impracticable. as it must of necessity be purely local. for the wealth of the county would not justify that extensive drainage which later years alone could accomplish. As a result no surplus grain was pro- duced, neither would its production have proved very profitable, owing to the distance from markets and the inferior modes of transportation. This latter must have been accomplished by wagons, and as yet no road- were provided over which a load could be drawn. The old trails opened paths in the direction of two or three of the nearest, yet distant settie- ments. There was thus little at the beginning to induce the settlers tu produce anything beyond a supply for their own necessities, as it must first be attended by great toil, and then, for want of a market, prove unprofitable. Take these conditions anywhere, and development will move slowly under their discouraging induence.
The immediate outlook was unpromising, but the pioneer was made of stuff too hardy and too brave to be discouraged by the hardships of his lot. He had deliberately weighed the matter, and after coming here was not to beco:ne despondent in the presence of the very conditions he had anticipated. He was hardy and industrious, but he could wait as well as work, and the unity of those attributes, labor and continuance. enabled the settler to triumph over nature's wilds, and so wrought that great transformation which produced gardens and fruitful fields from the wild, unbroken, and unpromising wilderness. The pioneer. then, although driven at the first in search of game upon which to subsist. did not allow his confidence in the future to waver, but kept up a war- fare with the forests themselves, clearing a little here and a little there, until he was no longer dependent upon the gun, but substituted the cul- tivation of the soil for the pursuit of game. Such was the condition of things until 1845, when the opening of the Miami Canal Extension. offered transportation facilities to the great markets and stimulated the farmers to greater exertion under a promise of pecuniary reward.
This opened a new era, marked by industry and enterprise, for the very forests became a source of revenue. The timber itself became val- uable, and the farmer, while clearing his land, found the timber valuable enough to more than pay the expense of clearing. So as this source of profit was exhausting, the land was clearing and increasing crops added a new source of profit. The natural result was a fresh impetus to farm. ing, the almost inexhaustible fertility of the soil was realized, and the possessor of 80 or 160 acres looked about him, and with an appreciation of the opportunities afforded to acquire wealth, took courage anew, and putting his hand to the plow, inaugurated that period of agricultural development which has given the county its present prominent rank in the agricultural sections of the State. Development made rapid strides. timber was cleared away, fences constructed, and farming commenced on a larger scale, to be supplemented by that general system of dram. age which still goes forward, reclaiming from the waste of water, farm after farm of land as fertile as the State can boast.
(131 )
. " The Love of Country Conquers."
17
132
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
So great were the productive energies of the county that the canal, with all its facilities, proved insufficient in a short time, and the demands for other methods of transportation became the demands of the hour.
The oatgrowth of this demand was a projected railroad, the necessity and utility of which induced the citizens to embark in the project which resulted in the construction of the "Ohio and Indiana Railroad," across the county from east to west. Through the influence and efforts of Robert Gilliland, R. Conn, J. Gleason, E. R. Wells, Reuben Frisbie, M. Mumaugh, C. P. Edson, P. De Puy and others, the railroad company was induced to locate the road through the county on consideration of the citizens taking stock to the amount of $50,000.
This stock was duly subscribed and the road was completed to Van Wert in 1853. The extra transportation facilities opened the way for manufactories of different kinds, thus introducing a new branch of in- dustry.
Forests faded away as walnut, oak, and poplar timber increased in value, and found a ready market. The value of real estate rose by bounds, until land which was held at from three to four dollars per acre, found ready sale at from ten to fifteen dollars.
Such are the advantages of railroads to a new community, one road stimulating agriculture and manufactories until their increased products create demands for new roads as outlets for a growing surplus of farm and shop productions. But we turn from this feature and these causes of development, as that will be found elaborately treated elsewhere under their proper heads. Let us first consider the natural appearance and indications of the territory aside from any view of material devel- opment. Looking at the country topographically, we find a general slope or dip toward the northeast, in the direction of Lake Erie. The inclination of this dip is an average of about ten feet to the mile. All discoveries indicate the entire submergence of a large portion of North- west Ohio, at some period prior to the historie era. It is an indisput- able fact, everywhere admitted, that this section was embraced within the area of a large lake or inland sea. Beyond this all must yet be left to the domain of conjecture Perhaps the great chain of northern lakes consisted of one body so extended that it embraced this portion of the State that bears such indisputable evidence of subinergence during un- numbered and countless ages. But this trenches upon the subject of geology elsewhere treated at length, and we turn aside with the single observation that Sugar Ridge in this county, and extending away in a northeastward and northwestward direction, undoubtedly served for a certain period as the southern shore-line of the great lake which has finally settled northward and formed into Lake Erie.
MOUNDS.
1
This subject being elaborately treated under the heading, "The Mound Builders," it is only our purpose here to briefly describe what are known as the local " Indian mounds." Two of these were found in this county, the one designated as the "Oliver Stacey," and the other as the " Van Wert" mound.
The Stacey mound, found in Washington Township, was circular in form, seven feet in altitude and twenty-five feet in diameter. Although Judge Stacey would not consent to its examination, it was visited by a party from Van Wert, who, upon opening it, found human bones and some copper implements. The size and general appearance of the bones would refer them back to the race which preceded the Indians in their occupancy of the territory. The copper implements bear out the same idea of construction by the race of Mound Builders.
The Van Wert mound was a small circular construction, occupying the present site of the " De Puy House" in Van Wert. It was opened in 1843 by John Hahn, and found to contain human bones, so far de- eayed, that they crumbled on exposure to the air. When the excavation for the cellar of the hotel was made, this mound was entirely removed. Nothing was then discovered, except some wood ashes and a few crum- bled remains of buman bones.
RELICS.
1
Many relies have been found in the county, especially along Sugar Ridge, but these are all of the minor class, consisting of stone axes, arrow heads, wedges, and other small flint implements and ornaments,
descriptions of which will be found in the chapter relating to the Mound Builders.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
At an early day an Indian was arrested and tried for murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. Rather than undergo this punishment he requested to be shot, which request, of course, could not be granted. He finally asked permission to exercise about the commons before being taken to State prison. Sheriff Kear granted this request, when the chief went the security of the prisoner. In due time he returned to the jail and was afterward taken to the penitentiary, from which he was pardoned in order that he might accompany his tribe to the west. He was probably the first person sent to State prison from this county.
Samuel S. Brown lived about three miles east of Van Wert, having built a cabin here in 1839. On one occasion he went to Shanesville, leaving his wife and five children at home. That evening three drunken Indian- entered the cabin and compelled Mrs. Brown to give them supper. They then danced and sang songs and whooped about in frantic glee, but finally left without harming the family. Mrs. Brown was so frightened. that she locked the doors and watched all night, riffe in hand, determined to receive no more unwelcome intruders, but she was not again molested. Acting upon the suggestions of the occasion, however, she afterward practised with the riffe until she became an expert markswoman.
While hunting "coons" one night, Wm. Davis had an encounter with a large bear. Having reached a hollow tree, which he thought bore evi- dence of having been climbed by a raccoon, he felled the tree and hur- ried to the part which had been broken, upon reaching which he was con- fronted by a large bear, which bounded toward him, uttering a savage growl. Having his axe in hand, he struck the bear a blow which stunned it sufficiently to enable him to retrent a little distance. At this moment his dog rushed upon the bear, but only to receive a blow from the bear's paw, when bruin took flight, leaving Mr. Davis and his dog to pursue their hunt for "coons."
Among the early hunters was John Thatcher, who was also a trader in pelts and furs. While he was on a little trading trip among the Indian camps his wife prepared to perpetrate a practical joke upon him as soon as he would return. So she killed and skinned a large black cat. She then cut the tail from the fur, and in its place attached the tail of a mink taken from one of the mink skins then on hand. She next stretched the hide very nicely, and on the return of her husband told him she had purchased a very nice mink skin, for which she had paid with her own money. Not discovering the trick, Mr. Thatcher paid her three dollars and called it a good bargain.
At one time the Government agent at Fort Wayne employed John Thatcher and another man to carry some money belonging to the gov- ernment to some point from which it could be sent by stage to Wash- ington. The money was packed in boxes and taken by boat up the St. Marys River. They were overtaken by night, between Fort Wayne aut Wilshire, and concluded to camp. About sunset, however, they saw several men hanging about in view, yet apparently trying to evade observation. Being satisfied they were awaiting an opportunity to attack and rob the boat, Thatcher and his companion pushed ahead al a rapid rate a distance of about two miles, where they fastened the boat, which they abandoned and with the money boxes in their arms passel deep in the woods, where they spent the night. thus escaping from the robbers. In the morning they returned to their boat, resumed their way unmolested, and accomplished their mission.
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