USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 47
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TO -
They tell me, love, they tell me, That thou art sadly changed, That from the one that lived for thee Thy heart is now estranged.
They tell me of thy baseness, To send a sickening dart, In thoughtless ease and trifling mood, Into a trusting heart.
But this heart will never cherish One bitter thought of you, But live to love thy memory, Of time when thou was't true
Thou was't not false-O! no. Not ever false as now, Once truth was pictured in thine eye, And stamped upon thy brow.
And though thou'st proved, basely false, And played a traitor's part, Methinks that still an honor's gleam Must nestle in thine heart.
They tell me to forget thee, And that at pleasure's shrine I may lose in oblivion, The love which still is thine.
The following beautiful and expressive poem was written by Frank E. Dumm, who has gained considerable distinction as an elocutionist, and a very brilliant writer for one of his years. He was born in Upper Sandusky August 22, 1862, and is a son of R. D. Dumm, editor of the Wyandot Union:
417
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
LENA'S MOTHER.
DECLAMATION.
Where is your mother? Come, Lena dear, Stand close by my side, first wipe off that tear. In a land far away-beautiful land- A maiden there lived-child, give me your hand- A blithe, happy maid, who played all day long, So sweet was her smile and bright was her song, That the boatmen who passed on the river below Would silence their oars e'er turning to go. The easel-bowed trav'ler would slacken his pace To gaze on the gems that shone in her face ; And turn as he passed to imprint on his mind The beauty and light he was leaving behind.
So fair was this maiden, my Lena, child, So innocent, artless, so undefiled, That the country lads with much emotion, Spoke the burden of their heart's devotion ;
But she loved one, and only one, and he ! Well, Lena, child, he was somewhat like me.
She used to sing a plaintive song, so sweet, It mocked the river's rippling feet ; It was a mellow, mother's lullaby ; I'll sing it child, if you'll come nigh :
LULLABY.
Slumber as sweet as the breath of the roses, Close Lena's lids, protect Lena's sleep, For man never knows what the morrow proposes, What snares on the land, what rocks in the deep ; Sleep, Lena, sleep, Angels will keep Ever by thee, Ever nigh thee, And lead you through dreamland's beautiful highways- Mansions and bowers and woodlands and by-ways- Sleep, Lena, sleep.
DECLAMATION. .
Sweet lullaby. how it brings back to me The time, child, when you sat on my knee, With your soft white hands clasped closely in mine- A look on your face that was half divine ; And with tears in my eyes and drooping head, I gazed on the patient face of the dead.
How sweet to my soul came that lullaby, And lightened the grief of both you and I- Sleep, Lena, sleep, Angels will keep Ever nigh you, Ever by you ; The smile on her face, the light in her eye, Spoke thro' the soul that ascended on high.
Come, child, we'll sing your mother's lullaby, And softly, child, for her spirit is nigh ; Sweetly, too, and let a tear dim the eye- Sweet, mellow,. Lena's mother's lullaby.
(Repeat Lullaby.)
418
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Heard you not, Lena, child, the voice that long Has been lost to our joys, echo the song ? Or heard you not flowers sighing to me From a grassy mound, far over the sea ? Nor felt you the dread of silence that fell On the mystic life, o'er the magic spell That bears each token of life's fitful ways, To the souls that revel in sun-lit days ? Heard you not a step so soft and light, Falling as sweetly as rays of bright Golden sunbeams, and then gliding away- Leaving a shadow 'mid shadows to play ? That was your mother, Lena, watching nigh So softly echoing our lullaby.
LULLABY.
Slumber as soft as the breath of the roses, Close Lena's lid's, protect Lena's sleep, For man never knows what the morrow proposes, What snares on the land, what rocks in the deep. Sleep, Lena, sleep, Angels will keep Ever by thee, Ever nigh thee, And lead you through dreamland's beautiful highways, Mansions and bowers and woodlands and by-ways- Sleep, Lena, sleep.
419
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI. MATERIAL PROGRESS.
POPULATION OF TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS BY DECADES-THE STANDING OF TOWNSHIPS IN 1845-TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES-INDIAN TRAILS -- WAGON ROADS-RAILROADS-POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS-STATSITICS FOR THE YEAR 1882-COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
TN the endeavor to show the gradual progress of the county of Wyandot during the past forty years (likewise its present resources), and for reasons which should be obvious to the general reader, we have here arranged under one general heading sundry topics, each of which, if treated independently, would not furnish sufficient material to form separate chapters.
POPULATION.
Wyandot County began its existence in the spring of 1845, with about 5,000 white inhabitants; that its progress has been rapid with respect to population, is clearly shown by the following tabulated statement, which has been compiled with much care from the United States census reports:
YEARS.
TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES.
1880.
1870.
1860.
1850.
Antrim Township, including the following villages.
1928
1061
1245
756
Nevada* Village (part of). (See Eden Townsbip.)
790
Wyandot Village ..
130
Crane Township, including the following villages.
5032
3876
2877
1544
Upper Sandusky Village
3545
2564
1599
783
Mononcue Village.
50
2213
1860
1626
1301
Crawford Township, including the following villages . Carey Village.
1148
692
Crawfordsville Village
61
Eden Township, including the following villages.
1793
1423
1247
643
Edenville Village
50
Little York Village
50
Jackson Township, including the village of Kirby
1331
771
603
395
Kirby Village
294
603
693
539
Mifflin Township.
1455
866
870
570
1268
991
957
886
Pitt Township, including the following villages Fowler City Village
126
Little Sandusky Village
182
Richland Township, including the village of Wharton Wharton Village
1676
1271
1014
599
Ridge Township.
639
584
583
501
Salem Township
1548
1103
1070
738
Sycamore Township, including the following village.
1058
850
937
880
Sycamore Village
272
Tymochtee Township, including the following villages.
1620
1631
1874
1817
Belle Vernon Village
112
Mccutchenville Village
230
Mexico Village
115
Tymochtee Village
38
Total population by decades.
22401
18553
15596
11169
....
...
..
840
Marseilles Township, including the village of Marseilles Marseilles Village ...
278
251
...
* Total population of the village of Nevada, in 1880, lying in Antrim and Eden Townships, 1,036.
399
Nevada* Village (part of). (See Antrim Township).
246
420
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
THE STANDING OF TOWNSHIPS IN 1845.
Antrim-Number of tax-payers assessed for personal property, 75; acres of land, 8,6032; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $25,995; value of town lots, including buildings, $738; horses, in number, 134; value, $5,- 360; cattle, in number, 238; value, $1,904; merchants capital, and money at interest, $501; pleasure carriages, in number, 1; value, $40; total amount of taxable property, $33,639; State tax, $335.47; county tax, $218.65; road tax, $50.45.
Crane-Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 57; horses in number, 85; value, $3,400; cattle, in number, 100; value, $800; mer- chant's capital, and money at interest, $1,950; pleasure carriages, in num- ber, 2; value, $100; total amount of taxable property, $6,250; State tax, $43.75; county and school tax, $40.62; poor tax, $31.25; road tax, $9.37; total amount of taxes assessed, $125.
Crawford -- Number of tax payers assessed for personal property, 165; acres of land, 17,830; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $38,868; value of town lots, including buildings, $2,288; horses, in number, 252; value, $10,080; cattle, in number, 690; value, $5,520; merchant's capital and money at interest, $2,185; pleasure carriages, in number, 9; value, $480; total amount of taxable property, $59,421; State tax, $415.94; coun- ty and school tax, $386.23; road tax, $89.13; total amount of taxes assessed, $891.31.
Eden-Number of tax-payers assessed for personal property, 18; acres of land, 2,704; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $8,452; horses, in number, 26; value, $1,040; cattle, in number, 56; value, $448; pleasure carriages, in number, 2; value, $105; total amount of taxable property, $10,045; State tax, $70.31; county and school tax, $65.29; road tax, $15.06; total amount of taxes assessed, $150.67.
Jackson-Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 48; acres of land, 15,686; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $20,352; horses, in number, 65; value of same, $2,600; cattle, in number, 145; value of same, $1,160; total amount of taxable property, $24,112; State tax, $168.78; county and school tax, $156,72; road tax, $36.16; total amount of taxes levied, $361.68.
Mifflin-Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 60; acres of land, 6,162; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $12,392; horses, in number, 86; value, $3,440; cattle, in number, 169; value, $1,352; merchant's capital and money at interest, $114; total amount of taxable property, $17,298; State tax, $121.08; county and school tax, $112.43; road tax, $25.94.
Marseilles-Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 86; acres of land, 14,460; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $34,- 496; value of town lots, including buildings, $2,889; horses, in number, 126; value, $5,040; cattle, in number, 304; value, $2,432; merchants' cap- ital and money at interest, $7,925; pleasure carriages, in number, 2; value, $140; total amount of taxable property, $52,522; State tax, $367.65; coun- ty and school tax, $341.39; road tax, $78.78; total amount of taxes levied, $787.83.
Pitt .- Number of tax payers assessed for personal property, 121; acres of land, 9,936; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $28,694; value of town lots, including buildings, $2,110; horses in number, 200; value, $8,000; cattle in number, 425; value, $3,400; merchants' capital and money at interest, $4,490; pleasure carriages in number, 6; value, $450; total
421
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
amount of taxable property, $47, 144; State tax, $300; county and school tax, $306.43; road tax, $70.71; total amount of taxes assessed, $707.16.
Richland .- Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 62; acres of land, 17,279; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $30,959; value of town lots, including buildings, $36; horses in number, 79; value, $3,160; cattle in number, 165; value, $1,320; merchants' capital and money at interest, $139; total amount of taxable property, $35,614; State tax, $249.29; county and school tax, $231.49; township tax, $35.61; road tax, 124.64; total amount of taxes levied, $641.05.
Ridge. - Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 67; acres of land, 9,678; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $18,328; value of town lots, including buildings, $133; horses in number, 107; value of same, $4,280; cattle in number, 161; value of same, $1,288; pleasure carriages in number, 1; value $40; total amount of taxable property, $24, - 069; State tax, $168,48; county and school tax, $156.44; road tax, $36.10; total amount of taxes levied, $361.03.
Salem .- Number of inhabitants assessed for personal property, 34; acres of land, 5,114; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $9,420; horses in number, 53; value, $2,120; cattle in number, 131; value, $1,048; total amount of taxable property, $12,588; State tax, $88.11; county and school tax, $81.82; road tax, $18.88; total amount of taxes levied, $188.82.
Sycamore .- Number of tax payers assessed for personal property, 123; acres of land, 13,372; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $36,380; horses in number, 230; value, $9,200; cattle in number, 446; value, $3,568; merchants' capital and money at interest, $200; pleasure carriages in num- ber, 10; value, $535; total amount of taxable property, $49,903; State tax, $349.32; county and school tax, $324.36; township tax, $49.90; road tax, $74.85; total amount of taxes assessed, $798.44.
Tymochtee .- Number of tax payers assessed for personal property, 260; acres of land, 17,180; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $47,518; value of town lots, including buildings, $8,272; horses in number, 387; value, $15,460; cattle in number, 636; value, $5,088; merchants' capital and money at interest, $7,919; pleasure carriages in number, 16; value, $873; total amount of taxable property, $85,150; State tax, $596.05; county and school tax, $553.47; township tax, $42.57; road tax, $127.72; total amount of taxes levied, $1,319.82}.
Grand Summary .- Number of inhabitants assessed for personal prop- erty, 1,176; acres of land, 138,005; value of lands, including houses, mills, etc., $310,954; value of town lots,* including buildings, $16, - 066; horses in number, 1,830; value of same, $73,200; cattle in number, 3,366; value of same, $29,328; merchants' capital and money at inter- est, $25,444; pleasure carriages in number, 49; value of same, $2,763; total amount of taxable property, $457, 755; State tax, $3,204.28}; county and school tax, $2,975.40; township tax, $128.09; poor tax, $31.25; road tax, $757.86; total amount of taxes levied in 1845, $7,096.89}.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
Indian Trails .- The first white men to visit this region-the Indian traders, and the equally adventurous hunters and trappers-found their way from stream to stream, from prairie to prairie, and from one valley to another by following the trails or paths then in use by the Indians.
* This summary does not include the town lots, etc., in the town of Upper Sandusky, nor the lands and value thereof in Crane Township, which were not mentioned in the assessment of 1845.
422
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
The latter certainly displayed much astuteness, or, if we may use the term, engineering skill, in the choice of their routes of travel, for the same paths were pursued by the traders with their pack-horse trains. Next they were followed by the rude military roads hewed out by the axmen and pioneers attached to the American armies under Gen. Harrison and others during the war of 1812-15. Next came the highways, constructed under State au- thority. Then followed the ordinary wagon roads, and lastly, the railways of the present day.
At this late day, and with no authentic evidence as a guide, it is impos- sible to describe the route of the various trails which led through this imme- diate region during its occupation by the Indians. It is a well-authenticated fact, however, that, from time immemorial, the Wyandots and other Indians used a broad and well-defined trail, which in its course northward from the head-waters of the Scioto River to Sandusky Bay, led directly over the site of the present town of Upper Sandusky. Another favorite route with the aborigines, termed the "Old War Trace," intersected the trail just mentioned at Upper Sandusky, and thence led off in a southeasterly course through the present towns of Caledonia, Mount Gilead, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon, down Old Creek to White Woman River. Doubtless many other minor trails crossed and led into the broad paths above referred to, but, as before intimated, it is now an impracticable task to even attempt to describe them.
Wagon Roads, Ferries, etc .- Without a doubt, the first attempt at road- making by the whites in the territory now embraced by Wyandot County, took place during the year 1812. This route, called the " Old War Road," was cut out by Gen Harrison's soldiers, and passed in a nearly north and south direction through Upper Sandusky and the central part of the pres- ent county. Some years after the close of the war of 1812-15, and by a treaty stipulation with the Wyandot Indians, a State road was marked out and somewhat improved, which led from Delaware to Upper Sandusky, and thence on to Lake Erie, via the towns now known as Tiffin, Fremont, etc. This road became well established, and for many years was the chief high- way leading into this region. However, as the country settled up, public highways became indispensable, and they were slowly and gradually made, simultaneously with the building of the log cabin residences and the development of farms.
A number of roads were authorized to be laid out in this region by the authorities of Marion, Crawford, Hancock and Hardin Counties before the organization of Wyandot County. Since that time a large number of others have been opened, and a vast sum of money, in the aggregate, appro- priated to improve them. Yet the county cannot yet boast of a mile of turnpike or macadamized road, and as a result of the peculiar character of the soil, the ordinary highways during certain seasons of the year are well- high impassable.
By turning to the court records it is ascertained that in 1847 Joseph T. Torrey was denied the right to maintain a ferry over the Tymochtee Creek, on the State road leading from Upper to Lower Sandusky. In July of that year, however, Jacob Bugh and Daniel F. Hodge, under the firm name of Bugh & Hodge, were granted the privilege of keeping and maintaining for one year "a ferry over the Sandusky River where the road crosses the said river, east of Mccutchenville;" and at November term, 1848, Michael Noel and Cornelius Shaw were granted a license for one year to keep and main- tain a ferry " at a point on the Tymochtee Creek, where the road leading from Upper Sandusky to McCutchenville crosses said creek."
John Leider
425
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Railroads .- Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway Com- pany .- The corporate history and the changes which have led to this title, are briefly stated as follows: By a special charter, granted January 5, 1832 (O. L. 15), the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company was incorporated and vested with the right to construct a railway from Dayton via Spring- field, Urbana, Bellefontaine, to or near Upper Sandusky. Tiffin and Lower Sandusky, to Sandusky, Huron County; also to construct branches to the seats of justice of any county through which the road may be located.
Thereafter the following legislation furthering the interests of the cor- poration was had on the several dates specified:
An act to authorize a loan of credit of the State of $200,000 to the said company, approved March 14, 1836 (34 O. L., 570).
An act to authorize the Commissioners of Logan County to subscribe for $25,000 of the capital stock of the company, approved December 19, 1836 (35, O. L., 7).
An act to authorize the Commissioners of Hardin County to subscribe $30,000 to the capital stock of the company, and, in case the railroad is lo- cated through the town of Kenton, to make a donation to the company of any lots owned by the county in or near Kenton; approved March 16, 1839 (37 O. L., 343).
An act to authorize the Commissioners of Hancock County to subscribe to the capital stock of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company the sum of $60,000, or such sum as shall be sufficient to construct a railway or branch from the main track of said railway to the town of Findlay, and to pay such subscription; authorizes the said Commissioners to issue the bonds of the said county, bearing interest at not over six per cent per annum, pay . able to said railroad company, or any other person or body corporate, no bond so issued to be for a less sum than $1,000; approved February 19, 1845 (43 O. L., 109).
Under the last-mentioned act, and the authority of the charter of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company, the Findlay Branch Railroad was built from Carey, Wyandot County, on the main line, to Findlay, the county seat of Hancock County, a distance of 15.54 miles, and has ever since been operated and held as a part of the Mad River & Lake Erie Rail- road.
On the 6th of February, 1847 (45 O. L., 65), an act was passed author- izing the town of Springfield to subscribe $20,000 to the stock of the com- pany, to be applied to construction between Springfield and Dayton; and two days later another act was passed (see 45 O. L., 87) authorizing the Commissioners of Clark County to subscribe, on behalf of said county, not exceeding $25,000 to the capital stock of the Mad River & Lake Erie Rail- road Company, payment therefor to be made by transferring to it certifi- cates to an equal amount of stock heretofore subscribed by said Commis- sioners in, behalf of said county, to the capital stock of the Little Miami Railroad Company.
In the spring of 1847, an effort was made in Wyandot County to secure railway connections with the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad. Thus on the 21st of April, 1847, at a railroad meeting held in Upper Sandusky, for the purpose of inaugurating a movement looking to the building of a branch railroad from Upper Sandusky to connect with the railroad above mentioned, Dr. James McConnell was elected President; David Ayres, Vice President; and Samuel M. Worth, Secretary. Robert McKelly, Esq., then stated tbe object of the meeting. Whereupon Henry Peters, Moses H. Kirby, Robert
13
426
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
McKelly, John McCurdy and Samuel M. Worth were appointed a commit- tee to ascertain the terms by which a railroad could be constructed from Upper Sandusky to intersect the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad. How- ever, it appears that in view of certain difficulties attending the construc- tion of the proposed branch railroad, and the fact that the building of an east and west trunk line to pass through Upper Sandusky was already being agitated, all further efforts regarding the branch road were abandoned.
The Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company located and constructed its road from Tiffin to Sandusky by way of Bellevue. In 1851, the Sandusky City & Indiana Railroad Company, which was chartered by act of Febru- ary 28 of that year (49 O. L., 434), proceeded to build a road from Tiffin to Sandusky via Clyde, and this route being deemed more favorable than the other, on December 1, 1854, the last-named company leased this road for the term of ninety-nine years, renewable forever, to the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Company, which has since operated the same as a part of its line, ultimately abandoning the other route. The organization of the San- dusky City & Indiana Railroad Company is kept up for the purpose of perpetuating the lease, the interest of the companies being identical, and the road having been built in the interest of and with means furnished by the Mad River & Lake Erie Company, one person acting as President of both corporations.
On the 1st of June, 1854, the company leased the road of the Springfield & Columbus Railroad Company for the term of fifteen years, agreeing to stock and run the same out of the proceeds, paying first the operating ex- penses; second, the interest on the $150,000 outstanding bonds of the Springfield & Columbus Company, and the balance to the lessor.
Subsequently, by a decree of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, of date February 23, 1858, the name of the Mad River & Lake Erie Rail- road Company was changed to Sandusky, Dayton & Cincinnati Railroad Company. See Record of Corporations, office of Secretary of State, No. 1, p. 446. At that time the road was in full operation on that part of the line passing through Wyandot County.
On the 4th of February, 1865, a bill was filed by the trustee of one of the mortgages, covering the entire property, in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, against the company for foreclosure of mortgage and sale of the property ; and on the 13th of October following, O. Follett was appointed Receiver and Special Master Commissioner in the case, who operated the road under the orders of the court.
While the suit was pending, various parties interested entered into an agreement for a capitalization of the stock and debts of the company, a sale of the road, and a re-organization under the proceedings for foreclosure; and in pursuance of this arrangement an order was issued by the court to sell the entire property, including the rights and franchises of the company, which, accordingly, on the 5th of January, 1866, was sold by the Receiver and Master Commissioner to three Trustees, who purchased the same in trust for the benefit of the parties to the agreement of capitalization, which in- cluded nearly all the persons representing the stock and various classes of debt.
On the 2d of July, 1866, the certificate of re-organization, under the name of the Sandusky & Cincinnati Railroad Company, was filed in the office of the Secretary of State. See Record of Corporations No. 3, p. 518.
This company, on the 8th of October, 1866, leased its road and property for the term of ninety-nine years, renewable forever, to the Cincinnati,
427
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Dayton & Eastern Railroad Company, but by mutual agreement of the two companies, January 9, 1868, the lease was surrendered to the Sandusky & Cincinnati Railroad Company.
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