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 70
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 70
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Sciences and the arts have even outstripped our most sanguine exper- tations, and we now behold our beloved country, blessed by the fostering band of an overruling Providence, one of the most prosperous, flourish- ing, and powerful nations of the earth.
Examples interest our country in miny directions, for the spark that killed the flame of our revolution has spread its benign influence
over the entire workl. In Europe it has been smothered and kept dowy by bigotry, ignorance, Anpristition, and tyranny, through the most dr. structive wars, occasione by the French Revolution, of thirty years' con- tinuance.
The entire host of tyrants and religious fanaties in the Old World have marshalled themselves against our principle -- they are arrested in Europe -- they sleep Int to arise again with redoubled vigor. When bursting asunder their chains they are destined to overwhelm their tyrants and oppressers throughout the universe.
In their steady march the principles contained in our Declaration of Independence in the New World have fully triumphed, and under the genial influence of our example the republics of Buenos Ayres, Chili, Columbia, Mexico, and Pera, have recently sprung into existence.
The land of the elnldren of the sun is free; the bloody horrors in- flieted by bigoted and mercenary Spain under her Christian Cortez and Pizarro upon the Mexicans and Peruvians have returned upon her d ... voted head; led by the virtnous and patriotic Bolivar, St. Martin. O. Wiggens, Hieras, Lare, and a host of other worthies, the legions of liberty have established their independence.
Kingly tyrants and religious fanaties have received a mortal stab in that portion of the world. The blood of Montezuma, the Incas, and hosts of innocents has cried for vengeance, and the Almighty arm has avenged their injuries.
Already the cry of hberty of conscience has been proclaimed, and may we indulge the pleasing hope that this monstrous struggle will satisfy the civilized nations of the beauties and benefits of self-government, destined to extend throughout the globe.
The day we are assembled to commemorate and the patriots who pro- claimed and established the most perfect system of equal rights and pri- vileges, civilization keeps pace with moral and religious freedom and toleration, and is the most conclusive proof that these States have out- stripped the other quarters of the world. Look at the American female character.
The fairest work of creation here have all the advantages of polite and useful education, and of moral and religious liberty; as wives, mothers, and daughters they hold the rank of equals with their nearest relations, and by their virtues and their goodness are esteemed as the greatest blessing a bountiful Providence coubl bestow on man.
The oration being ended, the people, tothe numberof about seventy five, took their places at the table, which had been loaded with all the liyu- ries the country afforded. and well cooked. Mr. Golden Green, of Shane's Crossing, asked a blessing, and those who were skilled commenced to do the carving. A small roasted pig happening to be in front of one old gentleman, the skin beautifully browned (it was roasted before the fire), he deliberately took off the skin and placed it on his plate. remarking, " Some folks like meat best. and some folks hke skin best : for my part I like skin best," and carved the pig for the rest, no one objecting to his gratifying his taste, and all went off delightfully. After dinner to -', were drank, using what we called metheglin, made from honey. very deli- cious, but not intoxicating. I only remember my father's toast, which was, " The State of Ohio, the first born of the ordinance of 1755. May she lead the van in the canse of freedom and equality until our glorious Declaration shall be fulfilled, and we can with truth . proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof.'" All cheered the sentiment ; then followed many more of like patriotic sentiments. Vy father, brother James, Unele Roswell Riley. J. W. Milligan, Dr. Edsms- ton, Tom Sweeney, and James Hager, with mother and sisters. Ame- lia and Phobe, Mrs. Milligan, Mrs. Boswell Riley. and Mrs. I.T.a. were all good singers. Unele Roswell sang comic songs as well as I ever heard since on the stage. He sang several, and then Perry's Vie- tory and Hull's Surrender, Mrs. Edmiston sang The Meeting of the Waters (Vail of Area). She was a lugkly accomplished musician, and all wound up with Barn's Auld Lang Syne, shaking hands across the table. Those that did not know the words joined in the chorus. . A plank floor had been laid upon seanthing on the ground, and a dance by torchlight wound up the first celebration of the Fourth of July in Van Wert County, Ohio.
The first religious services were held at our house by missionaries, who visited Fort Wayne whenever the Indians were to receive their anne.v. when there were a great many Ilians and traders assembled from all parts of the country. The missionaries were generally Methodists. hit every denomination was invited by my mother to hold meet ings the being a Congregationalist)-one Mr. Antrem, a Methodist proa .. most frequently. He was a large, powerful man, and was considered a revivalist. The Holy Spirit, as he called it, manifested it's saving poster by giving ladies, what they called the jerks, which would commence with a loud greening, and then the head would jerk back and forth, causar their long hair, which they braided, to crack like a whiplash, they jump ing up and down and shouting, while the preacher called on the con te- gation to alternately sing and pray. He would exhort them, toning them that hell was raging just beneath them with fire and brimstone " Yes," said Freshour, " I know it's just under Shane's pranie. Fr . I dug a well last week, and the water was so full of brun-tone and sul, " that they could not use it, and it turned everything black, and caved in.
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HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTHS OHIO.
I don't believe but hell's right under there." To this awful discovery Autres quoted several passages from the Hilde ; read from Dante, John Bunyan, and Milton. Several young women from the prairie jerked until they fell exhausted. frothing at the month, with every herve twitch- ing. They were progonted by Autre to be most powerfully converted; and that appeared to be the uniform working of the Spirit at all his meetings in Ohio, halima, or Kentucky. A Rev. Mr. Melhordle, of Dayton, also preached at our house several times, but without pro inteing any excitement. Ithink he was a Congregationalist.
The first school was kept by my sister Anechatnow Mrs. Dr. W. M. Mur- dock, of Urbana, Ohio). It was held in a little log school house huit on the public square of the town. Her scholars were my sister Phobe, Julia (now Mrs. 1. J. Beach, of Manspielt, Ohio), my brotfor Horatio Sprague (deceased ). mySUR. Boswell Hadley'S circadien-Edward. Wna, Henry, and Sally : Blossom's children, about six, and donation Lewis. The woods stood thick all over the town plat. except around the chins, and we could frequently se deer and wild turkey> by looking out of the window or through the cracks. I think she taught summer and winter of )-27. except during sugar-making the, when all were engszed making maple sugar, We had a very large number of trees, The camp was on the west side of dw river, and about a mile north of Will-hire.
There was a moder of an Indian by Sackacha Shane, the chief's son. They had a gatue that they played called moccasin. A manber of thee- casins were laid as det as possible on the ground ; then they take a bullet in one hand, lift the moccasin, and pass the other, with the bullet under one after another, saying over some words, and leaving the baliet under one of them, and then they guess which one it is under. It is the same as the game we call thimble-rig. Sackacha had been beaten a number of times, and finally the Indian told him he could not play well enough to play with him, he might play with the squaws. This so infu- risted Sachacha that he seized his long knife and stabbed him through the heart. The Indian left a widow, and after a long parley with her and his relations be settled the matter by paying her thirteen ponies, four or five blankets, some silver brooches, and a silver bracelet. Had he not been a chief's son her friends would certainly have killed him.
My father was the first postmaster of Wilshire, and the office was established in 1923. He located the first State roads from St Mary's to Willshire, and also to Fort Wayne, Indiana. and assisted in ofHis them, building bridges, etc. As soon as the lands he had surveyed were offered for sale he purchased seven tracts of land at Wilshire, b. ing the first purchaser. The first piece was a fraction of (2.93) two acres and ninety-three hundredths on the blutf bank of the St. Mary -. just south of Willshire. The patent is No. 1, folio No. 1, and page No. 1, in the Register's office.
The first death was an infant son of Roswell Riley, and he was buried on that tract, which has ever since been used as a burying-ground for the town of Willshine. The second death was Mrs. Philip Fromtner and infant, ten months after her marriage. She was only seventeen years of age and quite beautiful.
A remarkable thing! The first piece ever bought was for a grave-yard for his nephew to be buried in; but so it is.
Captain James Riley, the first settler of Van Wert County, Ohio, with an authentic account of his labors as a Government Surveyor of the Northwest portion of Ohio-his sufferings and losses in his eode crops to open up that country from July, 1819 to 1826-8_compiled from his jurnal and correspondence, by his son William Wiltshire Riley, with noles of memory by the compiler.
Edward Tiffin, Surveyor General of the United States of America, to all who shall see these presents greeting:
Know ye that issuing special trust and confidence in the integrity and ability of Jamwe- Riley, of the State of Ohio, I do make, nominate, and appoint and depate him the said James Riley to be my lawful Deputy Surveyor, and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil the duties of that office according to law, and such instructions as he may receive frota the Surveyor General, and to have and to hold the sail office with all the powers, privileges, and emolinaents to the situe appertining during pleasure.
In testimony whereof I have bereunto set my hand and seal this 23d day of June, 181 ?.
[>EML .. ] EDWARD TIFFIN. Surveyor General.
From the Journal of Captain Riley .- I reached the forests on the St. Mary's River in July. 1-19, and commenced surveying on the hands purchased from the Incluses by treaty of St. Marys in Ists, In Derem- ber, having finished for the season, I went to Washington City and sieht the winter. In May. 1-20. I removed with my fondy to Chillicothe, and in June began again to survey on the Auglaize River, and continued that work on and between the Anglaise and the Maumee rivers until winter. I had. however, in September, 1-20, purchased of the United States at the land offer at Piqua, seven tracts of land at a rapid on the St. Mary's River, called the Deed's Fore Ground, adjoining the In hana
line, and intending to build mills, Fimmediately commenced improving my purchase by creating across the river a dam, and building a lot calin into which I removed with my family (consisting of my wife and five children, viz. James Watson, Amelia Matilda, Phehe Julia, Hora- tio Sprague, and William Will-hire, who was six years and eight months old, in January, 1421, in the midst of a dark wilderness, environed by wolves and beasts of prey, which, with their bowlings frightened sloop from my wife and the children for a time. The nearest human habitat- tion was twelve miles, occupied by a half-breed Indian family, and the nearest path (not a road ), four inites distant.
Here began my labors as the pioneer in earnest. The forest, however, gave way before the strokes of the axe, fires burned around consuming the fallen timber, cut short and rolled into piles by sinewy arme; the limbs and brushwood having already been out, piled, and burned ; rails were made; fences raised to enclose our corn fields from the deer ant beasts of the forests. Another cabin was built, gardens laid off. plowed and planted. A mill-race of one-fourth of a male, twelve feet deep at its head. and twenty feet wide, was dug: a frame saw-mill was built and flied with machinery, and in May of the same year, I went again to my business of surveying at and Bear Fort Defiance, at the junction of the Auglaize and Mamince rivers, and up Tiffin's River, and to the north- ern boundary of Ohio.
In August, 1821, my whole family were taken down with bilions and remittent fevers; no help could be had to attend upon or even get us water from the spring to quench our feverish thirst. Oa the arrival of my son James with a surveying company, we were placed upon heds in a wagon, and conveyed sixty miles to Piqna on the Miami River, through deep forests, mond, and mire, tormented by myrisis of flies, mosquitoes. and other insects that swarmed in that fertile but unsettled region. The settlers generally on our route, which took up five days. were more miserable, if possible, than ourselves, sick and destitute of the neves- sauties of life, could afford us no assistance, and excited our sincere com- miseration. In the month of November the severe frosts destroyed the noxious aflluvia from vegetable putrefaction which lately grew so luxuriently in these level and mar-hy countries. We travelled slowly and frebly back, still occasionally shaking with the agne; our skins resem- bling tanned leather. We found our corn fields clothed with strong food, and by March. 1822, were enabled to resume our occupation.
In 1822 I huilt a two-story frame grist-mill. but by deceit and un-kil- fal management of the builders and millwrights, I was subjected to enormous expenditures.
This year I surveyed the land on both sides of the St. Mary's to Fort Wayne, Indiana, including that important place of trade and deposit, and the lands in Indiana between the St. Marys and Maumee rivers (about twenty townships of six miles square). I laid out a town on my own land, situated at the Rapids of the St. Marys, and called it Will- shire, in honor of my redeemer and friend, William Willshire, of Maga- dore, Africa.
Several families in the course of 1822 came into my neighborhood and settled. But I had to cut roads, build bridges over creeks, and strain every nerve and exert all my faculties and resources to improve the country and procure provisions, the most of which I bad hanted from Dayton, ninety miles, on wagons, for my family and those of my noch- bors, who were destitute. These enormous expenses swallowed all may surveying profits. In the great freshet of 1-25 my mill-dam was carried away, and my property fast destroying. A post-office, however, but been established and the road part aride a mail route.
In Oct. of 1523 1 was elected a member of the General Assembly of Ohio, for the counties of Darke and Shelby, to which counties of Parke the new counties of Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding, and Williams were ju-ticially attached, and I served as a member during the session commencing in December, 1820-4. At that session all the statutory laws of Ohio were revised ; several new counties were granted ; the canal policy and in- ternal improvements promoted, and advances made towards a system of common schools in the State, hitherto neglected. The publie surveying in Ohio being complete 1. the policy of the head of the surveying department deprived me of further business in that line. The frequent breaking and destruction of my millelam and other vexations proved ruinous. From the commencement of my residence in Ohio my health became precarious, every year I was seized with bilious fevers of the most violent type, generally early in July, these continued until the frosts destroyed in October the putrid matter floating in the atmosphere. then nearly at death's door. Dysentery, cramps, and cholic pains would taper off the fevers, so that I was not able to attend much to my business until February of March, and then not with my usual vigor of body. Every member of my kunily suffered extremely from the effects of the climate yearly.
In January, 1826, when stiff feeble with a fever. I was attacked by the influenza on the brain, which deprived me of my reason for some werks, when, by the supporations of my right var, I was relieved ; but the ass. order continued to break at my ear, to swell and break about my throat every few days, until March, having been transferred to the back of the nick, and there caused the most excruciating torments. After having suffered thus for three months, without being able to die down or get
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
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relief, I was removed by water in April to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the benefit of constant medical attendance. The swellings, or ricking pains in the back of my neck, obstinately continued, yet could not be brought to supporate. The swelling bresking about the throat, to- gether with numerous sores, occasioned by the insertion of several skems of silk as setous into different parts of my urek and throat, as many as twelve at a time, kept me in continued torment until July, when my wife and effect son, James Watson Riley, insisted on my being removed by water to New York, where, if I could but live to arrive. they had hopes I might recover by breathing again the pure sea air, to which I had been accustomed. Worn down and emaciated by sickness and dis- tress, lean as an Arab, and, being unable to use my limbs, I could with difficulty be persuaded to submit to the alternative, but at length yielded assent; and my son James, who was eleik of Mercer County, but had left his business, and attended me night and day, during my long-continued illness, in the most feeling and truly affectionate manter, now procured a boat, fitted an awning over it, and placed me on a feather bed on board of her ; when, having taken, as I supposed, a last farewell of my family and my numerous friends, who aided me in my embarkation, with my son and proper attendants on board, we cast of on the first of July, and were accompanied for several miles down the river by the Masonic fraternity, who extended their brotherly kindness as far as possible, and are entitled to my warmest and grateful consid- eration. After a painful passage for me, having been forced to stop and blister my neck on the route, in order to lessen the dreadful effects of the cramps and spa-ms, we reached Fort Meigs, at the Lower Rapuls of the Maumee River, on the 5th. I was placed on board a packet schooner for Detroit, Michigan, on the 6th. Here my son was constrained to leave and return, to attend the sessions of the courts at St. Mary's. I was landed at Detroit on the Sth. A consultation of physicians and surgeons was called. who only recommended and prescribed such reme- dies as might prove sedatives, and advised immediate change of climate as my only chance of recovery.
I was accordingly placed on board the Heury Clay steamboat for Buf- falo, New York ; then on board an elegant canal packet for Albany ; and, again taking a steamboat, arrived at the city of New York on the 24th of July. 1826, when I was carried to the residence of my worthy brother, Asher Riley, by whom I was received with all the kindness and tender- ness my situation required. His house became my home. Himself'and his kind-hearted and amiable wife ( who is sister to General John Wool, of the United States Army ) administered to all my wants and wishes by night and by day. I became the patient of the celebrated Dr. Valentine Mott, Professor of Surgery in Columbia College. His skill and advice were very beneficial, in a few weeks my cramps and spasins having ceased to afflict me. By Dr. Matt's advice I used Dr. Ireland's medi- cated capor bath, so bigly and justly celebrated. In a few applications of this wonderful bath, my skin, which was before yellow, hard, and husky, assumed its former appearance : and perspiration, which had been long checked, or stopped entirely, was resumed; my health fast im- proved ; the stiffness of my joints gradually subsided : my appetite and my flesh increased ; and in November I was able to walk two miles a day. Thus the change of climate has again restored me to comparative health, and the use of my limbs and organs, except the right var. And. althought my section of the State of Olio is now flourishing, and the whole State one of the most fertile and important in the Union, vet as health is the greatest of all blessings, and neither myself nor my family can enjoy that blessing in an interior region. I have since continued, and expect to continue, in New York or its vicinity, and have determined to remove my family from the scenes of so much labor and such continued disasters, sickness, and distress."
It may be added. in conclusion, that he never returned to Ohio, but, in company with Mers. A. C. Rossue & Co., engaged in maritime par- suits, commanding a vessel trading between New York. Gibraltar, and the empire of Morocco, at the port of Magadore, where he went first to pay a visit of gratitude to Mr. William Willshire, who redeemed him from barbarian slavery in 1815, the particulars of which are related in " Riley's Narrative." He died on board his vessel. the brig William Tell. on the 13th of March, 1-10, thirteen days out from New York. bound to Port-au-Prince, of fever ; and after four days, not making port, was buried in the ocean. Thus ended the life of the first settler of Van Wert County, Ohio.
The family removed to New York City in April, Ises.
BIOGRAPHIES. SOLOMON HART7OG
removed from Reading, Pennsylvania, and located upon a half section of wild land which he had entered at the United States Land Office at Lima, January. 1-36. This half section was situated upon the north bank of the St. Marys River. The whole trip from Reading to Will- shire was made in a Pennsylvania or Cone-toga wagons.
His first place in which to shelter his family was a little arrangement erected by himself alone, as he had no neighbors to aal bim. The but
1
he made adjoined the trunk of a large tree that had fallen, and upon one side of this tree. The pole shelter roofed with bark, was need for carsk. ing and other kitchen purposes, and also to afford some protection against the assaults of the winter blasts, which was partly secured by keeping up a brisk fire, and by the hapless family standing upon their feet and constantly changing their position. The Conestoga wagon box had been adjusted on the other side of the log, and utilized as a kaly- ing-room.
After making the best provisions for his family possible, his next object of anxiety was his faithful horses, and after the team had been rested, he made a trip to Shane's prairie, twelve miles above, and bought corn at one dollar per bushel, and a quantity of prairie hay, for which he paid only a very moderate price.
Nightly the new settlers had a serenade by wolves, but the constantly burning fire kept the cowardly bursts from making an attack.
The St. Mary's at this time was an important channel of commerce. connecting the upper towns of the Miami with Fort Wayne, and flat- boats and pirogues were almost constantly, during seasons favorable for navigation, floating on the surface of the water.
On Mr. Hartzog's place, and on the margin of the river bank, was a fine spring, and this was a favorite stopping rendezvous for river men. Thus Mr. Hartzog's place within a year or two, became a sort of trading po-t for not only those who navigated the water, but for Indians, fur traders, and others, who desired to make exchanges.
When Mr. Hartzog removed to the county his family consisted of his wife, one daughter, married to David Smith, and his son Jesse, married to Miss Mary A. Adams, April 1, 1551, of Van Wert. After their removal to this county two daughters and two sons were born. The eldest daughter Leah, married Henry Banta, merchant of Willshire; his son King S., married Miss Polly, daughter of Ephraim Mouldox. Miss Eliza married James C. Casto, and Benjamin Hartzog is a merchant in Van Wert.
Solomon Hartzog, after his settlement in the county, became a large land owner, and accumulated considerable wealth. In the spring of 1849, having lost his wife in 1845, he rented his farm adjoining to the town, and commenced hotel and mercantile business at Willshire, and died in November. 1-48.
King S. Hartzog was a soblier under Capt. Scott, Company K. 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Chicamanga, in which he bore himself gallantly, mysteriously disappeared, and no trace of him has since been discovered.
DR. J. L. HARPER.
the subject of this sketch, was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1-17. When five years of age his father moved to Athens County, Ohio, where he lived till 1833, when he with his older brother started for the State of Michigan. On their way they stopped at Willshire over night, when his brother was taken sick. They remained here some two years, then moved across the State line into Adiums County, Ind. Daring the vin- ters of 1333 and 1834 young Harper carried the mail on horseback from Fort Wayne to St. Marys. A number of trips be carried the mail-lag on foot. The waters being too high to ford with a horse, he would cross the river and streams on fallen timber, In IN12 he returned to Athens County. Here, at the age of twenty-four years. he commenced to go to school and to study medicine. He commenced the practice of menieme in 1854, married Naney Savage in Is54, returned to Pleasant Mills iu 1854. where he has lived till the present time, with the exception of twelve years that he lived in Willshire. They have raised only one child, Flora, the wife of Dayton Stetler, of Pleasant Mills The doctor. although sixty-four years of age, still follows the practice of his profes- sion and oversees his farm.
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