USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 79
USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 79
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The first Sunday school in the township was held by Allen Johnson, at his house, in 1825, the pupils being Edward and Benjamin Green, Barnard Johnson, Louisa Johnson and Sarah Palmer. Mr. Johnson's assistants were Ebenezer Osborne and Zetta Green.
EARLY SCHOOL.
The first school in the township was taught in a little log building, a short distance south of the center. The building served the double purpose of school house and place of worship for many years. Samuel Palmer taught the first school here in the year 1824, his pupils being from the families of Rundel and Abijah Palmer, Charles Lyon, Abraham Mead, Gilbert Martin and Joseph Washburne.
The township has at present the nsual district schools, and there is at Clinton a union school.
PHYSICIANS.
The first physician who settled in the township, was Dr. William M. Ladd who arrived in the spring of 1822, and made his home at the cabin of Abraham Mead. He soon achieved quite a reputation for ability in his profession, and had a ride which extended over half a dozen or more townships. Ile was a man of fine constitution and well qualified mentally as well as physically to lead the life of a pioneer man of medicine. He passed through many hardships, sel- dom slept undisturbed through a whole night, made long rides in all kinds of weather and over all kinds of roads or trails. When the Cleveland and Columbus Railroad was completed, he removed to New London where he died in 1853.
Dr. S. W. Baker came to Fitchville before Dr. Ladd's departure, and went into partnership with him. Dr. Timothy Gibson who began practice about 1840, remained until 1856, and was very successful. He removed to Norwalk. Dr. D. D. Vanrecton who came later, had also an extensive practice. He was followed by Doctors Charles Chamberlain, Kester,
334
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
now of New London; Gregg, G. W. Nobles and others who remained for short periods. The last named was a partner for a time of Dr. M. E. Laugh- len, the present senior physician of Fitchville. Dr. Laughlen came into the township when a boy, with his parents; attended the Cleveland and Cincinnati colleges, and began practice here in 1850. In part- nership with Dr. Gibson, Dr. Nobles and others, and alone he has had an experience of nearly thirty years of professional duty. He belongs to the Electic school. Dr. J. F. Wickham, of the same school, came to the township in 1878.
CLINTON INCORPORATION.
Clinton village was laid out in 1832, upon the land of Abraham Mead, Joseph Washburne, Runde] Palmer, Dr. Ladd and Nathan Palmer, and a few years later-the time can not be definitely stated ·be- cause of the loss of the records-the village was in- corporated by act of the legislature, and officers reg- nlarly elected. The first mayor was Rundel Palmer. Owing to the lack of interest and to the deterioration of the village, the corporation government was allowed to lapse once or twice, but has been most of the time in effect, and is at present. The officers elected in 1878 were: Philo Pierce, mayor; H. S. Green, treasurer; W. A. Smith, recorder: S. W. Curtiss, John Hickok, H. Palmer, C. B. Lamplin, M. E. Lamplin, Frank Jones, council: Sherman Knowlton, marshal.
HOTELS.
The first tavern built in the township, was the Clinton House, which was named after the incorpo- rated village of Clinton. It was built in 1833, by Hiram A. Curtiss. It was a frame building, of fair size, two stories in height. This was, for a number of years, the only place for the entertainment of the wayfarer and the stranger, and was well patronized. After Curtiss, Hiram Odell was, for a time, the land- lord of this house, and he gave place to Union White and his brother Daniel.
A few years after the building of the Clinton House, probably in 1837 or '38, Union and Daniel White, erected the large hotel since known as the Mansion House.
The Fountain House was built by Rundel Palmer for a dwelling house, but was converted into a hotel and conducted as such by his sons Isaac and Nathan for five years.
J. C. Curtis built the next hotel, the present resi- dence of his son, S. W. Curtis, and was its proprietor for a number of years. This house was known as Washington IIall.
All of these buildings are still standing, but not one of them is in use as a hotel. During the best days of the village three of them were open for the convenience of travelers.
There is at present a comfortable and cheery, but unpretentious, hotel in Fitchville, which bears the
old name Washington Hall, and of which R. Mitchell is "mine host." Mr. Mitchell, an old gentleman, who well knows what a traveler likes, from many years of journeying upon the road, and also from extensive experience as landlord, came to Fitchville in 1850; was host at the Mansion and the Fountain Hotels for a number of years, and since 1860 has been cheering the coming and speeding the parting guest at his present stand.
BUSINESS HOUSES, EARLY AND LATE.
In the fall of 1830, Union White came into the township, erected a small building, and opened a store, which was the first in the township. His stock was from the store of Buckingham & Sturgis of Nor- walk, who had an interest in the business. In the spring of 1832, their interest was purchased by J. C. Curtiss, and the firm name became White & Curtiss. The first purchase of goods by this firm was in New York, and they were transported by the Hudson river, New York and Erie canal, and Lake Erie, to Huron, from which point they were hauled in wagons to Fitchville, at an expense of from three to four or five shillings per hundred weight. From New York City to Huron the transportation cost from one dollar and fifty cents to two dollars per hundred. The goods bought were of the kinds for which it was known there would be a ready market, such as staple groce- ries, and the commonest kinds of calico, sheeting, etc. Brown sheeting was sold at from twenty to twenty- five cents per yard: calico from two to four shillings, and satinet from six to four shillings. Iron was eight cents per pound; nails from nine to twelve cents; tea from ten to fourteen shillings; pepper, four shillings; coffee, two; loaf sugar from two to two and sixpence, and whisky from four to five shillings per gallon. There being but little money in circulation these ar- ticles were very generally paid for in deer, coon and muskrat skins and black salts, which were made from ashes by almost every family. Messrs. White & Curtiss bought these salts in large quantities, and manufac- tured them into pearlash, which they sent to the east- ern market. In 1835 the firm dissolved partnership, and cach member built a good commodious store, and began business alone. They both continued in busi- ness for many years, from time to time enlarging their stocks as patronage increased. Both were ener- getic, go-a-head men, and they made Fitchville the principal trading point in the southeastern part of the county. Since the establishment of these stores, both during their continuance and after their propri- ctors had gone out of business, many men have been engaged in mercantile enterprises in Fitchville, and in the most prosperous days of the village there were as many as five dry goods and grocery stores, all doing a good, paying business. Among those who have been longest and most prominently identified with the business of the place were: Hall & Roberts. B. S. Mitchell, R. Fox, D. White, Reynolds & Beckwith, and E. E. Lyon.
MRS. PHILIP HAWXHURST.
PHILIP HAWXHURST.
RESIDENCE OF PHILIP HAWXHURST, FITCHVILLE. HURON CO., O.
335
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
There are at present three good stores-those of C. C. Green & Son, S. W. Curtiss & Son, and L. Lyons.
GRIST AND SAW. MILLS.
The first mill, of which any information is given, was a very primitive one, which was in existence in 1825, and was the property of J. N. Pickard. It was a simple but ingeniously constructed substitute for the grinding apparatus in common use at that time in older settlements. Instead of the nether mill stone of proverbial hardness, there was a large and solid oak stump, so hollowed out on top as to contain a half bushel or more of corn. Suspended over this from a spring pole there was a heavy wooden pestle with which the miller, by main strength, crushed the corn that his few neighbors brought him to be converted into coarse meal. Whenever one of the old settlers became too fastidions to live upon cracked corn, he had to go a considerable distance to obtain finer meal or flour. They often went to the Cold Creek mill, and others at an equally great distance.
In 1838. however, the people were supplied with good flour and other mill products at home. During that year a large mill was built upon the Vermillion river near the center by Stephen Pomeroy and Reuben Fox, at an expense of nearly ten thousand dollars, and for a number of years these men made flour for the eastern market as well as for home consumption, and had the reputation of mannfacturing an excellent article. They did a large business, but their enter- prise was not a very profitable one, because of the constant outlay necessary to repair and keep in good condition the dam and race, which were frequently injured by floods. This mill passed into the hands of Belden Scott, then became the property of Ira Scott, after that of Strong & Graves, and was bought from them by H. F. Palmer, who in turn sold it to Mr. Stevens. The present proprietor is H. F. Crow, who rents the mill to Ford & Summerton, who operate it.
A saw mill was built as early as 1830 by the Palm- ers-William. Rundel and Samnel-near the center, and a few years later Seeley, Lyon and Amos built one upon the river about two miles north of the cen- ter. Large quantities of Inmber were turned out by these two mills for from five to seven dollars per thousand feet. Both of these mills were abandoned many years ago. The only saw mill in the township at present is one a few rods south of the center of Clinton village, which was built in 1856 by R. S. Miles, its present owner. It was operated successive- ly by Schuyler Marshall, D. D. Wood and D. Palmer. The power is steam.
PRESENT MANUFACTURING.
Besides the flouring and saw mills above spoken of, the manufacturing interests of Fitchville are unim- portant. The people look back with regret to the time when, besides the mills, there was an establish- ment for carding wool and dressing cloth, an exten-
sive tannery, and some other industrial concerns. The town now has a cabinet making shop, run by John Abbott, a wagon shop, by Henry Freeman, the ashery, built by J. C. Curtiss and now owned by Daniel Sheldon, and a cheese factory-last, but not least. This is the property of E. L. Tucker. The building, which stands by the side of the flouring mill, was built by him in 1867. The factory was in operation two years, and then work was suspended for five years. In 1875, the manufacture of cheese and butter was again commenced, and since then has been successfully carried on. Four hundred and fifty to five hundred cows are milked for this factory during each season, lasting from the first of April to the first of December, and about one hundred thou- sand pounds of cheese is manufactured each year. Besides this, about twenty thousand pounds of butter is made annually. The products of the factory are principally sold in Cincinnati.
CEMETERIES.
The principal cemetery of Fitchville, which occu- pies the summit and slope of a gently rising hill, upon the Norwalk road, in the north part of Clinton incorporation, was laid out about 1826, or the follow- ing year. Alvah Palmer, who died in 1827, was the first person buried there, and Louisa Green the second. The land was owned by Abraham Mead, and was bought by the township. This burial place, where rest many of those pioneers and early settlers of Fitchville who have passed over to the "silent ma- jority," includes abont three acres of land. Another cemetery, first used as a private burial place, is upon the McKillip farm-lot thirty-seven, section three. It was deeded to the township by Austin Ward. One of the earliest burials was in lot nine, section two, where there is now a small burying ground. Dr. Pickard's remains were interred there about the year 1825.
Before the present cemetery upon the Norwalk road was set apart for nse, a number of burials were made in a little inclosure at the junction of the Norwalk road with the north and south road, in what afterwards became Clinton. When the village had commenced to grow, the remains interred here were removed to the larger cemetery then established.
POSTAL MATTERS.
Before the people of Fitchville had a post office of their own, they were obliged to go to Norwalk for their mail matter. About the year 1828 the first post office was established in the township, and Rundel Palmer commissioned as postmaster. He kept the office in his dwelling house. The present postmaster is S. W. Curtiss. A post office was established at the north settlement, npon the Norwalk road, about the year 1837. and maintained for a few years. Henry Morgan was postmaster. The first mail that was carried through Fitchville was from some point east to Tiffin.
336
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
ROADS-STAGE LINE.
A number of the first settlers made their homes upon the line of the north and south center road, and this was the first route of travel upon which any la- bor was bestowed in the township. The next was the road running east and west through the center. The road from Wooster to Norwalk was laid out in 1826, but there was scarcely any improvement made upon it until 1832, and it was by no means easy of travel. The route most traveled by the early resi- dents of Fitchville, when they wished to go to Nor- walk or beyond, was a trail which led from Abijah Palmer's, in a northwesterly direction, to a point about a mile west of Olena, and thence westerly to the old State road, which passes through the center of Fairfield and Bronson townships. When the Nor- walk and Wooster road was improved, it was done by the labor of persons who made the lowest bids for the jobs, and they were paid from a fund made up by a large number of personal subscriptions. About six hundred dollars were raised, and nearly the whole of that amount was expended upon that part of the highway lying between Norwalk and Fitchville. Samuel Palmer cut the timber upon about three miles of this road. The road became the principal thor- onghfare for the people of Richland, Holmes, and portions of Wayne and Knox connties to carry their produce over to Huron and other points, where there was a market for it.
The enterprise of running a line of stages through from Wooster to Norwalk was undertaken at this time by Union White, J. C. Curtiss, and an Ashland man. They commenced by running a two-horse hack each way twice a week, but afterwards a four- horse stage coach was put on the route by a man named Myers, to whom was also given a contract for carrying the mail. In 1834, and for many years after, the people had the satisfaction of seeing this heavy stage, often well loaded with passengers, dash swiftly or wallow slowly, as the case might be, through the settlement.
FITCHVILLE GRANGE, NO. 550,
was organized February 9, 1874, with thirty-nine charter members. Following is a list of the first officers: Phillip Hawxhurst, master; Preston Palmer, overseer; U. B. Thomas, lecturer; Hialmer Griffin, steward; S. W. Curtiss, assistant steward; Charles Kimberly, chaplain; R. C. Johnson, treasurer; E. E.
Lyon, secretary; S. B. Palmer, gate keeper; Mrs. P. Hawxhurst, Ceres; Mrs. Charles Kimberley, Pomona; Mrs. U. B. Thomas, Flora.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SAMSON AND PHILIP HAWXHURST.
were from New York State, and the son was born there in 1829. Samson Hawxhurst came to Ohio in 1834, and purchased land upon which, a year later, when he removed his family, he made his home. He first lived in a log house which he built himself, and although he had been a carpenter by trade, he easily became accustomed to the life of a pioneer farmer when he came to Fitchville, and ever since has fol- lowed that occupation. He is still living at the age of seventy-four years, an honored denizen of Fitch- ville township.
Philip Hawxhurst married in 1854, the 4th of May, his first wife, Julia A., daughter of Martin Den- man, and four children were the offspring of this union, of whom only one is living, Bell M., who was born blind, and now at the age of nineteen years, in spite of her great affliction and disadvantage, is still cheerful and happy, and enjoys the benefits of a finely cultivated mind. The mother of this child died September 11, 1867, and in 1870-June 7th-Mr. Hawxhurst took as his second wife, the widow of G. Webster, nee Mary Weekes, daughter of Joseph Weekes. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hawxhurst with a view of their residence are to be seen upon another page of this work.
Mr. Hawxhurst is living at present, in a new house npon the old farm purchased by his father in 1833, and is one of the leading men of his neighborhood, taking a prominent part in the affairs of the township and in church and society. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1855, and has since been one of its most active as well as consistent members, and has for a number of years held the office of steward.
He is a republican in politics, and during the war, was in the hundred days' service, serving as a sergeant.
GREENWICH.
PHYSICAL FEATURES AND SOIL.
GREENWICH township, known originally as town number one, range twenty-one, is bounded upon the north by Fitchville; east by Ruggles, Ashland county; south by Ashland and Richland counties; and west by Ripley. Its surface is low and quite level for the most part, though, in some places, it is slightly uneven. The principal streams are the east and west branches of the Vermillion river. The for- mer flows through the northeast corner of the town- ship; the latter, formed by the union of the two streams, enters upon the south line, and thence flows north into Ripley. It again enters the township near the intersection of the east and west center and the Ripley town line road, and from thence flows north- erly and diagonally across the third section, and, re- ceiving the added volume of water from a number of small streams that drain a large portion of the town- ship, becomes, by the time it reaches the north line, a water-course of considerable size. The soil is a rich clay loam, very valuable to the agriculturist. There is no waste land in the township, as the low places are easily drained.
ORIGINAL OWNERS.
For an explanation of the following table the reader is referred to the history of Wakeman township:
GREENWICH, TOWN NUMBER ONE, RANGE TWENTY- ONE.
CLASSIFICATION No. 1, SECTION 1.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't classed.
Titus Mead
95
5
Titus Mead
95
8. 5
2
Andrew Mead
36
0
0
Andrew Mead =
36
0
0
Benjamin Hobby
34
13
0
11
Ebenezer Hobby
39
11
11
Bezaleel Brown
67
15
8
Levi, Nathaniel and Bezaleel Brown
67
15
Thomas Hobby
69
19
3
Jabez M. and Heze- kiah Hobby
69
19
5
John Mead
162
9
9
Amy. Molly, Eliza- beth Allen, Willie
Peter and Zachariah M. Mead
138
19
Peter Mead, Jr.
41
1
10
Peter Mead
41
4
10
Walter Butler
2
0
0
=
O
0
Hannah Hays
1
13
3
1
13
3
David Hallock
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
£
8
d
55
6
Noah & Jonas Mead 13
8 1-1
10
3
12
3
3
17
3
Rev. Isaac Lewis
5
1
0
..
=
10
0
Hannah Lockwood 29
1
10
..
44
8
10
0
Timothy Ferris
16
10
0
=
=
10
1
10
Puck Ferriss
6
10
0
Noah & Jonas Mead, also 1 Bronson Noah & Jonas Mead
0
Sarah Hoyt
3
18
0
..
=
6
4
Abagail Mead
6
0
0
0
6
9
=
18
1
1
Footing of Classification No. 1, €1,344 2
CLASSIFICATION NO. 2, SECTION 2.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss,
Classified by.
An't Classed.
Isaac Anderson
41
10
016
Isaac Anderson Uriah Field
11
10
016
Mary Austin
3
3
7
3
3
John Dunn
15
0
0
15
0
1 0 701
Uriah Field
212
15
1
212
15
Joshna Franklin
26
16
1
..
26
16
1
Joseph Ferris
0
0
7
0
0
Jabez Holmes
5
0
44
46
44
14
7
Ebenezer Howe
13
12
4
=
6
0
0
Hannah Lockwood 29
4
4
10
0
4
10
0
Hannah Mead
2
15
0
Charles Mead
4
10
Daniel Ogden
115
15
9
4
50
16
10
Joseph Palmer
100
11
Sarah Parsons
5
16
1
5
16
4
Oliver Sherwood
10
0
0
D
Jeremiah and John W. Palmer
9
9
9
=
4
10
0
William Town
3
3
0
1
19
1
Oliver Tomkins
7
14
6
44
7
14
6
John Weeks
14
5
Allen, William and
129
2
3
Thomas Clapp
333
17
7
Thomas Clapp
333
17
7
Francis Nash
648
7
5
Daniel Purdy
323
3
7
Hannan Ritch
9
0
John Mackey, Jr.
g
0
1
6
Eliphalet Mead, Jr.
95
16
6
-
12
1016
Footing of Classification No. 2, £1,344
CLASSIFICATION NO. 3, SECTION 3.
Original Grantees.
Am't Loss.
Classified by.
Am't Classed.
Jonas Mead
20
1
1
Noah & Jonas Mead 20
=
86
12
0
Peter Husted
86
8
11
=
14
86
11
Ebenezer Holmes
9
6
=
64
9
14
9
Ebenezer Howe
13
1
2
..
41 65
16
6
John Betts
303
16
0
Johiel Mead, Jr. Calvin Mead
303
16
0
Johiel Mead
5
12
10
Johiel Mead
5
12
10
Eliphalet Mead
5
2
=
5
85
0
0
Benjamin Mead
11
5
111
5
Jabez Sherwood
47
3
16
17
3
19
Job Iceland
4
68
14
David Husted
68
11
4
Nathaniel Inger soll 59
14
15
14
=
112
14
6
Hannah Close
38
15
11
0
11
9
0
11
James Lyon
58
12
9
13
1
3
10
9
James Lyon, Jr.
10
0
7
10
0
Cobb Lyon, Jr.
29
Reuben Merritt
25
7
g
14
*10
0
Nathaniel Mead 3rd 18
3
5
18
3
5
Hannah Mead
15
0
5
18
1
17
7
016
Eliphalet Mead
95
10
6
Footing of Classification No. 3, £1,344
7
0
6
16
1
0
=
..
-
-
10
0
Sam'l Rundel
1
6
17
15
6
Silas Mead, Jr., and
Abner
62
-2
0
Samuel Ask
11
18
5
11
0
-
Sibbel Mead
86
12
0
Elizabeth Mead
13
14
9
=
13
11
0
0
Nehemiah Mead
55
6
65
16
6
Johiel and Eliphalet Mead
85
0
05554147661151 0 1 6 G 5 7
16 Benjamin Sherwood 47 3 Gilbert Lyon Uriah Field
59
16
7
Stephen Davis
31
13
5
=
11
0
0
Ebenezer Hobby
39
11
15
7
Jerimiab Mead, Jr. 92
John Addington
10
0
0
John Addington Peter Mead, Esq.
138
19
15
=
15
0
Abraham Knapp
228
16
5
Justus Sacket
16
5
Deliverauce Mead
39
0
3
Rol't, Eph., Jabez and Zenos
18
Mathew Mead
61
12
8
Richard Mead
61
12
Deliverance and Jared Mead
200
0
0
3 Jared, Robert, Eph., Jabez and Zenos 200 Richard Mead
0
0
Stephen Palmer
Joseph Hobby, Jr.
Ezekiel Lockwood
9
13
1
7947
6
16
10
Silas Mead
62
0
6
0
Justus Sacket
Nehemiab Mead
W'm. Johnson
Gould John Selleck 13
19
Shubael Rundel
9
12
6
=
5
9
Anna Ingersoll
14
15
1
John Mead
162
(337)
43
S.
1
7
38
15
11
Heth Peck
9
James Peck Committee
46
19
1
4
1
Elizabeth Ingersoll
16
Anna Ingersoll
112
Ezekiel Lockwood
& Mehitable Seth 126
7
Jeremiah Mead, Jr. 92
10
31
9
0
0
Thomas Studwell
6
4
15
0
Jerusha Mead
0
4
7
7
8
Jesse Sullen
6
8
6
0
0
10
11
4
7
Martin McDonald
32
10
2
12
4
Mills Hobby
0
0
Nath'l Raynolds, Jr. 10
10
0
8
10
0
John Clapp, Jr.
129
2
Charles Knapp
11
..
1
7
0
£
8
d
3
8.
1
7286 6
3
5
Gilbert Lyon
12
5
Charles Brundage
Joseph Ferris
11
20
g
Ebenezer Mead
15
1
15
0
1
5
1
0
10
0
d.
8
d.
5
0
Reuben Holmes
10
100
11
10
0 00
John Clapp
4
11
Thomas Seym ur
8
d.
15
CLASSIFICATION No. 4, SECTION 4.
d
18
Nath'l Raynolds
13
9
0
1016
338
HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
£
d
James Brown
15
5
Noah & Jonas Mead, also Sam'l Middle- brook
0
4
1
William Hubbart
16
2
2
0
=
3
2
Denham Palmer
0
6
.
Ebenezer Whelpley
1
8
1
Daniel Darrow
19
4
1
Eph., Jabez & Zenos Mead
8 13
10
fi
Joseph Hobby, Jr.
31
9
0
Ezekiel Knapp
25
5
10
17
9
Joseph Lockwood
30
19
2
290 0 9
Ebenezer Mead
5
18
4
=
3
15
5
John Town
15
4
1
19
5
Rob't, Eph., Jabez and Zenos Mead ..
19
5
Francis Wilmot
6
0
0
6
0
0
Deliverance Mead
39
0
3
John Gregg
213
8
Richard, Rob't, Eph- raim, Jabez and Zenos Mead ..
95
16
11
Amos Mead. Dr.
180
4
Richard Mead 180
Daniel and Joshua Smith
218
12
6
Jared Mead & Nath'l Hibbert
218
12
6
Daniel Smith
76
3
Jared Mead
Jared Mead
69
0
سكر { ح محبو
Nath'l Hibbert
149
4
Nath'l Hibbert
3
2
6
3
6
Jonathan & Ambrose
18
1
4
9
Footing of Classification No. 4, £1,344
0
BEFORE THE WHITE MAN.
Greenwich was, undoubtedly, at an early day. covered with a heavy forest, in which the oak and other hard timber trees predominated, as the remains of fallen monarchs of the woods indicated to the first settlers. though back as far as anything is known of the county, most of the trees were beeches, maple and other varieties of soft woods. Although the forest abonnded in game, the Indians, it is supposed, did not come here with the intention of following the hunt, but the locality was a favorite one for maple sugar making, and they frequently pursued this calling, the nearest approach to anything like an active, industrial occupation that ever received their attention. The Indians had temporary camping places in various parts of what is now Greenwich, where they resorted in the spring and remained until the flow of sap, in the sugar maples, had ceased. They made troughs to receive the sap from the bark of beech trees, and evaporated it in small kettles, most of the labor be- ing performed by the squaws. Farther east, in the Black river vicinity, were the favorite hunting grounds of the red-men who belonged to the great tribe, a portion of which made its headquarters around Upper Sandusky. They journeyed every year to these hunting grounds, and the paths they trod were still visible, only a few years since, in the northern part of this township. As they always fol- lowed the same trail, and invariably passed in single file, a depression of the earth was caused, which was very easily noticeable. Strange is it that we look at the time when the first settlers came into the forest as so long ago, and here we have-or had until very recently-the foot path of a race of beings who have been literally crowded from their old haunts into a wilder west, and who have well nigh passed out of existence as a people.
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