Fulton County, Ohio - Chapter 4: Settlement and Organization, 1905

THE pioneer settlement of Fulton county was commenced nearly a score of years before the county, as a separate organization, had an existence. In the early part of the year 1833, Eli Phillips, with his young wife, came to the strip of territory then in dispute between Ohio and the territory of Michigan. Mr. Phillips was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, December 18, 1806, and in early manhood removed to the State of New York. He entered his land in Fulton county, in 1832, and removed here the following year. The deed for the lands he occupied was signed by Andrew Jackson, as president of the United States, and he lived thereon until his death, November 1, 1894. At the time of his settlement here, this region was a dense forest, inhabited by Indians and infested with wolves, wildcats, deer, and other animals; but he lived to see the forest lands almost entirely cleared of their timber, and beautiful, well cleared and excellent producing farms take the place once occupied by timber and marsh in nearly endless extent. Mr. Phillips was a lieutenantcolonel of the Michigan territorial militia during the "Ohio and Michigan war," and was present at the only "battle," in which, however, no one was killed and only a few very badly scared.

Mr. Phillips was soon followed by other pioneers, among the names of whom are found Samuel Stutesman, Butler Richardson, Hiram Fanvell, John Jacoby, Warren Dodge, Benjamin Davis, Chesterfield W. Clemens. George P. Clark, Daniel Berry and his son, Nicholas Berry. D. Barnes, David White. A. H. Jordon, Valentine Winslow and David Severance.

Samuel Stutesman was born in Washington county, Maryland, August 29, 1806. and settled in what is now Fulton county as early as 1833. Butler Richardson was born in Ontario county, New York, June 30, 1806. and settled in Fulton county very soon after Mr. Phillips, in 1834. John Jacoby came, in 1835, and died seven years later, in 1842. Warren Dodge settled in Fulton county, in 1834, coming here from New York, of which state he was a native. Benjamin Davis settled in 1839, and Daniel Berry in 1836, the latter being a native of New Jersey. Dorsey Barnes was born in Washington county, Maryland, September 3, 1808, and entered his farm in German township, in September, 1834. Upon the same date, a party of men raised the first log cabin in German township, owned by Christian Lawver. David White was born in Orleans county, Xew York, October 2, 1818, and was one of the early pioneers of Fulton county, having settled here in 1834. He was a great hunter and game was abundant, but lie found time to clear over one hundred and fifty acres of land and prepare it for cultivation. He served as constable of Amboy township for a number of years.

Amos Hosmer Jordon, another of the old settlers, was bom near Bellows' Falls, Windsor county, Vermont, September 9, 1813. In the year 1830, when he was seventeen years of age, his father's family left the Green Mountain State and removed to Michigan, locating at a point near the present city of Adrian, where Amos lived until he attained his majority. He then came over to the "disputed territory" and commenced the improvement of a quarter section of land, on section twenty-three, near Phillips' Corners. After much hard work in this wild and sparsely settled country, Mr. Jordon succeeded in making a fine farm, and through thrift and energy was quite successful. He became well known and acquainted with the county's people in the year 1851, at which time he was the contracting builder of the first court house at Ottokee. This was during the infant days of Fulton county, and any person then in any manner connected with the events of the time, was an exceedingly important personage. This work Mr. Jordon performed faithfully and well, and at another time lie held the position of district land appraiser for the townships of Pike, Dover and Franklin.

David L. Buler settled in Royal ton township in 1834. He was bom in Switzerland, January 4, 1816. and came to the United States when but three years old, remaining in Xew York city several years, and then came to what is now Fulton county. Jared Hoadly settled in Amboy township in January, 1834. * Chesterfield \V. Clemens was the first settler in Chesterfield township, and he and his family located there, October 6, 1834. One of his six daughters is Mrs. John S. Butler, of Chesterfield township. Hiram Farwcll and wife located in Gorham township, in the fall of 1834; Joseph Bates in Franklin, in 1833; Valentine Winslow in Pike, in the fall of 1833; John W. Harter in Fulton, in May, 1834; William Meeker in Swan Creek, in 1833; Elisha and William Trowbridge in York, early in 1834, and at about the same time, William and John Jones, and William. John and James King located in the same township. William Jones was born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 29, 1816, and died in Fulton county, in 1858. A colony consisting of Nicholas King, Jacob Bender, Christian Lawver, George Meister, Jacob Grundy, Moses Kibler, and Christian Rupp, with their families, and three young men - Jacob Roth. Christian Reigsecker and Michael Figy - the party numbering forty-three in all, arrived in German township and located there, in August, 1834. It seems that every township had a few settlers in 1834, except two - Clinton, which was settled in the fall of 1835, and Dover, where the first settlement was made in the fall of 1836. Elisha Williams was the first settler in Clinton, and William Jones the first in Dover.

The year 1835 witnessed a considerable settlement by other families, most of whom came from the states east of this. They came to build for themselves homes and farms in the new country which was then, among Eastern people, considered to be in the far West, and on the frontier of civilization and settlement; and so it was, at. the time, the now known western country being a vast, uninhabited tract, occupied only by the American Indian and an occasional trader, who had ventured so far from the center of settlement, for the purpose of barter among the tribes that swarmed over the region. Among those who made a settlement here, during the year 1835, are found the names of Charles D. Smith and family, John S. Butler and his father, Asa Butler; Garner Willett, Amaziah Turner, Ammi Richards, Alexander Vaughan. Alanson Briggs, Joseph Cottrell, Erastus Cottrell, Gorham Cottrell, senior, Sardis Cottrell, James Baker, Freeman Coffin, Clement Coffin, Martin Lloyd, Stephen Chaffee, Phillip Clapper, William Lee and others.

Charles D. Smith was born in Orange county. New York, July 24, 1811, and died in Fulton county, October 21. 1858. He was one of the pioneers of Fulton county, having settled here, as stated above, in 1835. He was county treasurer for seven years and filled other offices of trust, being a highly respected and honored citizen. - John S. Butler was born in Wayne county. New York. May 18, 1824, and settled here in 1835, being one of the pioneers of the county. He served as assessor of Chesterfield township for a number of years. Whert only a boy he served as the first mail carrier from Toledo, west to Angola, Indiana.

Garner Willett was born in Somerset county. New Jersey, December 20, 1816, being of English descent on his father's side and. Scotch and Irish on his mothers. He removed with his parents to New York, in 1835, and at the age of nineteen took his rifle on his shoulder and started west. .He visited Adrian. Michigan, and several places in Ohio, led a wandering but rather happy life, viewing the country and killing deer, until 1837, when he bought a farm in Chesterfield township, now Fulton county. When he left his father's home his fortune consisted of thirty-five dollars and his rifle, and the money to purchase his farm was earned by the sweat of his brow, working on the Michigan Southern railroad and Illinois canal. He was present at the organization of Chesterfield township, being one of the pioneers of that locality, and endured many trials and privations. The nearest mill was thirty miles distant, at Tecumseh, Michigan; and the nearest neighbor four miles distant; but the obstacles were overcome, and the old pioneer spent the last days of life in abundance and ease.

Ammi Richards was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1805, and was one of the first settlers of Fulton county, moving into the woods of Fulton township, in 1835. He filled the office of township treasurer several terms and also that of trustee. Alexander Vaughan was one of the pioneers of Fulton township, having settled there in April, 1835, on lands then in the territory of Michigan, or, as will be more clearly understood, on the ''disputed strip." He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, being a native of Westmoreland county, but, at the age of eighteen years, removed to Holmes county, Ohio, and from thence to Fulton, in 1835. He died in 1847. Joseph Cottrell was born in Worthington, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, April 4, 1815, and at an early age settled in what is now Gorham township. He was postmaster at Handy for eleven years, and also filled the office of township treasurer. Gorham Cottrell, Sr., was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1780, and came to what is now Fulton county, in 1835. He entered several hundred acres of land, and, with the assistance of his sons, cleared and improved the same. He became a very influential man, and at the organization of Gorham township it was named in honor of him, he being one of the very first settlers in the township. His death occurred in 1853. His son, Sardis Cottrell, also became a prominent citizen of Gorham township, and filled the positions of township treasurer, school director and supervisor. James Baker was born in Massachusetts, December 24, 1803, removed to New York State, in early manhood, and came to Fulton county in 1835. William Lee was born at West Bloomfield, New York, in June, 1797, and died in Chesterfield township, in 1854. He settled in Michigan, about 1825, and came to Gorhani township, ten years later, where he lived until 1845. He w*as a tanner and currier by trade and upon settling in Gorham became engaged in that business. He was justice of the peace and clerk of Chesterfield township at the time of his death.

In 1835, the "Vistula Road," from Toledo west through the disputed lands, was laid out and built by the government. This thoroughfare has otherwise been known as the "Old Territorial Road," and its construction opened an established route of egress and ingress for the sturdy pioneers of the region, by which they were enabled to convey their products to market, and, returning, carry to their homes such commodities as were needed in the new settlements. It opened, furthermore, into the heart of the country, a route which was easy of access and travel for hundreds of newcomers, who were seeking homes in the land now being rapidly developed and occupied.

There came to the region, in 1836, a number of families, among whom are to be found the names of Ansel H. Henderson, Harlow Butler, John P. Roos, John B. Roos, Asher E. Bird, Sr., John Mc- Laughlin, Daniel Donaldson, John Donaldson, and perhaps others, After the coming of these families, and subsequent to the year 1836, the lands became rapidly taken up and settled. "These early pioneers, the advance guard of a new civilization in the wilderness, were the blood and brains of the Eastern States, which formed the main composition of this growing territory; whose fathers had educated their sons and daughters for the practical work of life, and they have, in turn, left their impress upon the country by their determination, energy, perseverance, thrift, and their stem political integrity and loyalty to government."

The Indians were disposed to be peaceful, observing their promises recently spoken in the treaties made with them. Xo trouble whatever was experienced with them, except when under the excitement induced by the white man's "fire-water," and this very satisfactory condition of peaceful associations continued unbroken until they bade a final adieu to the hunting grounds of their fathers.

The growth and development of the country in this section of the State had, about the year 1850, become so marked, that it was deemed prudent that a new county should be erected out of parts \of the counties in Northwestern Ohio. Furthermore, the county of Lucas embraced a very large tract of territory, and in the more remote portions thereof, especially in the west and southwest, the convenience of the people demanded the erection of a new county. In this locality then, as well as now, resided men of energy, integrity, and determination, who not only felt the necessity of a new county organization in this region, but who saw the great advantage to the country of such a movement in case it could be carried out successfully . Among those who took an active interest in the project may be recorded the names of Nathaniel Leggett, William Hall. A. C. Hough, Stephen Springer, Michael Handv, Mortimer D. Hibbard and a few others. These not only discussed the project, but gave such substantial assistance as finally completed and consummated the work, and made the erection of the county of Fulton not only possible, but an established fact.

Nathaniel Leggett, one of the most useful citizens of Fulton county in that early day, was stricken down bv the grim reaper in the prime of life, during the month of February, 1862. Of his early career but little can be ascertained, but before the formation of Fulton county he resided in that part of it now embraced in Swan Creek township, where he hunted and cleared the land surrounding him, and engaged somewhat in farming. Making the acquaintance of members of the Lucas county bar at Maumee City, he conceived the idea of becoming a lawyer, and with that in view borrowed books of Hosmer Sc Hall, of Maumee City, and in the solitude of the then almost unbroken wilderness of the southeastern part of the county, began and prosecuted his studies, and was admitted to practice early in the fifties. His natural qualifications for business were excellent and he was of valuable sendee to the company then building the "Air Line" railway in assisting to procure the right cf way through Lucas and Fulton counties. He was also treasurer of Fulton county two terms. Together with Messrs. Barber and Sargent he laid out the village of Wausenn. and became the owner of considerable valuable real estate in the village. Being immersed In matters of general business he never found the time, or so adjusted the circumstances of his life as to devote himself exclusively to his chosen profession. He is spoken of by those who knew him best, as of sterling mental qualities and full of energy and ambition. He contracted the disease which culminated in his death in Kentucky, whither he had gone on official business connected with the

Union army. His remains were laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery of Wauseon, his body being the first to be buried therein. A modest memorial stone, placed there by iiis old friend and business associate, Col. E. L. Barber, marks the location of his last earthly home.

As there has been no event of greater importance to the county or its people than that which gave it an existence, it is deemed proper that the essential portions of the enactment which created the county should be given. The act was passed, February 28, 1850, and its first section reads as follows:

"Sec. 1. Be it enacted, etc., That such parts of the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, as are embraced in the boundaries hereinafter described, be, and the same are hereby created into a separate and distinct county, which shall be known by the name of Fulton, to-wit: Beginning on the State line between the States of Ohio and Michigan, at the northeast corner of township nine, south of range four, east of the Michigan meridian ; thence south on the township line to the southeast corner of town ten, south of range four, east, on the Fulton line; thence west on said Fulton line to the northeast corner of town eight, north of range eight, east; thence south to the southeast corner of section number twelve in township six, north of range eight, east ; thence west on seection lines to the southwest corner of section number seven in township six, range five, east, on the county line between the counties of Henry and Williams; thence north on said line to the southeast corner of town seven, north of range four, east; thence north on section lines to the Fulton line; thence west on said Fulton line to the southwest corner of section number eleven, in town ten, south of range one, west of the Michigan meridian: thence north on section lines to said State line; thence easterly with said State line to the place of beginning."

The name "Fulton" is said to have been chosen in honor of Robert Fulton, the eminent inventor and builder of the first steamboat, and not John A. Fulton, the surveyor who ran the Fulton line, as might be naturally inferred. Fulton was the eighty-seventh, and last but one, of the counties organized within the limits of the State, Noble county alone being younger. The original territory of the county, as defined above, has never been changed. Having described the boundaries, the legislature next made provision for the administration of county affairs, by section two of the same act, as follows: All suits, whether of a civil or criminal nature, which shall be pending within those parts of the counties of Lucas, Henrv and Williams, so set off and erected into a new county, previous to the first Monday in April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution within the counties of Lucas, ^Hppj^and Williams, respectively, in the same manner as though the saia county of Fulton had not been erected, and the officers of said bounties, respectively, shall execute all such process as shall be necessary to carry into effect such suits, prosecutions and judgments ; and the collectors of taxes for the counties, respectively, shall collect all taxes that shall be levied and unpaid within the aforesaid portions of their respective counties at the time of the passage of this act.

By section three it was provided: That all justices of the peace and other township officers within those parts of the counties of Lucas, Henry and Williams, which are, by this act, erected into the county of Fulton, shall continue to exercise the functions and discharge the duties of their respective offices until their term of service shall expire, .and until their successors shall be elected and qualified, in the same manner as if they had been elected or commissioned for the county of Fulton ; and all writs and other legal process within the territory hereby erected into the county of Fulton, shall be styled as of the county of Fulton, on and after the ist day of April, 1850.

Sec. 4. The legal voters residing within the limits of the county of Fulton shall, on the first Monday in April, in the year 1850, assemble in their respective townships, at the usual places of holding elections (the voters residing in each of the fractional townships taken from the counties of Henry and Williams, shall assemble in the township immediately adjoining such fractional township and lying towards the center of said county of Fulton), and proceed to elect the different county officers, in the manner prescribed in the act to regulate elections, who shall hold their offices until the next annual election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

The next section provides for the annexing of the fractional townships not taken for the new county, and annexing the same to adjoining townships, or creating new townships out of them, as the commissioners of the counties of Henry and Williams may deem expedient; also, empowering the commissioners of the county of Fulton to annex the fractional parts taken from Henry and Williams counties to the adjoining townships already established within Fulton county, or to erect them into new townships, as, in their judgment, shall seem prudent.

Section six of the act provides that the county of Fulton shall be attached to, and made a part of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Ohio, and the Courts of Common Pleas and Supreme Court of the county of Fulton, shall be holden at some convenient house in the township of Pike, until the permanent seat of justice shall be established within and for said county.

The next section provides, That Laurin Dewey, of Franklin county, Mathias H. Nichols, of Allen county, and John Riley, of Carroll county, be appointed commissioners to fix upon and locate the seat of justice of said new county of Fulton, agreeably to the provisions of the act entitled "an act for the establishment of seats of justice."" the incumbents of which were required to run the gauntlet of popular approval and have their merits passed upon at the ballot box. These elective positions were: auditor, sheriff, recorder, treasurer and board of commissioners. The first election to fill these positions was held "on the first Monday of April," as ordered, and the balloting resulted in the choice of the following gentlemen, who were the first to don the official garments at the behest of vox populi in Fulton county: Auditor, Mortimer D. Hibbard; sheriff, George B. Brown; recorder, Carl C. Allman; treasurer, Nathaniel Leggett; commissioners, William Sutton, Christopher Watkins, and Jonathan Barnes. The first constitution of the State, which was then in force provided for the election of only two county officials - sheriff and coroner - but gave to the Legislature power to create other positions and prescribe the mode of filling them. Associate judges, clerk of courts and the prosecuting attorney were appointive officers at that time, and the following gentlemen were appointed: Associate judges, John Kendall, Alfred C. Hough and Socrates H. Cately; clerk of courts, Samuel Durgin; prosecuting attorney, John A. Read. The burning of the court house, in 1864, and the destruction of the county records, make it impossible to give an authentic history of the early transactions, and the curtain has fallen upon events that doubtless would be of much value in a historical sense.

The establishment of courts of justice, however, and the installation of public officers were naturally the first work attending the organization of Fulton county. It was provided by the act creating the county, that the courts should be held at some convenient house in Pike township, until the seat of justice should be decided upon. In pursuance thereof the associate justices designated the residence of Robert A. Howard is the place for holding courts, and there the first term was held, in 1850. X)wing to. the fact that the transfers of cases to the counties from which Fulton was formed was incomplete, and the further fact that there was but little or no business demanding attention, in lieu of the usual routine, those attending engaged in a game of ball. It is said that on that memorable occasion, such staid and grave personages as Oliver B. Verity, W. A. Bates, Spencer T. Snow, Benjamin Hallet, William Sutton, James, Augustus and William Howard,, and others of equal dignity, but whose names are not recalled, took part in the sport, and thus early was official endorsement given to the national game in Fulton county. Judge Saddler came on horseback to preside gt this first session of court.

The next, and perhaps the most important duty in connection with the organization was that of locating the seat of justice in the newly created county. On meeting for this purpose several sites were recommended to the commissioners - Etna, Fluhart's Comers, Delta, Spring Hill, and a site near the center of the county. After much deliberation and the hearing of arguments from those interested in the various places named, the commissioners decided upon the site nearest the center of the county, in the township of Dover, at a point that then had no distinguishing name. Several cognomens were suggested by persons present, but none seemed to meet with general approval. One of the commissioners, observing Dresden W. H. Howard on the outer line of spectators, asked that gentlemen to suggest a name for the county seat, and the reply came immediately - "Ottokee !" This was the name of a chief among the Ottawa Indians, who formerly inhabited this region, and it was at once declared to be the name of the seat of justice of the county of Fulton.

The question of confirming this point as the county seat was then submitted to a vote of the people of the county, and at the first election, while Ottokee received more votes than any other site, still it had not a majority of the ballots. On the occasion of the second election the town had a clear majority, and became by the will of the people the seat of justice of Fulton county But there had been a marked opposition to its selection, which by no means disappeared after the matter had been settled, and it manifested itself by frequent murmurings of discontent from various quarters. The town of Ottokee was situated in the southeastern part of Dover township, on an elevated tract of land, and as near the geographical center of the county as it well could have been. In fact, the location was well chosen, and had it not been for the building of a railroad through the county, several miles south of the place, it is much doubted whether the seat of justice would not have remained there.

The seat of justice havirig been located at Ottokee, the first requisite in the embryo town was buildings in which to hold court and house the county officials. As. may be readily inferred, the first county buildings were simple and in keeping with their surroundings. The court house was built in 1851; it was a frame structure, two stories high, having a frontage of about forty or fifty feet, and a depth of about eighty feet. The court and jury rooms were on the upper floor, while the offices for the county officials were below. It was a large, commodious and airy building, presenting a very good appearance with a large dome on the top. It was erected by Amos H. Jordon, and was in continuous use until destroyed by fire, in July, 1864.

In 1853, the first jail was built at the county seat. It was an unpretentious, though substantial frame building, lined with heavy, hard wood plank, and thoroughly spiked. Although built of wood, there was never an escape from it on account of its weak construction, and it housed the county's criminals until the seat of justice was removed from Ottokee to Wauseon. Then, for several years, it was used as one of the county infirmary buildings.

The importance of the opening of a railroad was early impressed upon the minds of the enterprising citizens of the county, and about 1846547, a project, originating with the late Ebenezer Lane and others, was undertaken to build a* road from Cleveland or Norwalk, running westward, and crossing the Maumee river at the foot of the rapids, and from thence making its way on a west line to Chicago.

It was known as the Junction railroad and a considerable amount of work was performed on it, including massive stone abutments . for the bridge which was to cross the river to the northern bank at Maumee City. The corporation, in order to facilitate operations west of that point, solicited aid of stock subscriptions by individuals, towns, townships and counties, and succeeded in gathering an amount which aggregated a considerable sum. But another movement was op foot which was destined to defeat the above mentioned project, even if it had, in fact, any prospect of realization. The Southern Michigan & Northern Indiana Railroad Company, realizing the damage it would be to their interests if the Junction enterprise should be successful, resolved upon the construction of an air line westward from Toledo to connect with their main line at Elkhart, Indiana. In 1852, representatives of this company (whose corporate name is now The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern), appeared quietly in the field with a corps of engineers and surveyed the route, asking no aid of stock subscriptions - only right of way and donation of sufficient ground for passenger and freight conveniences.

The first conductor on the road after passenger trains commenced running, in 1856, was David Moore, and the first printed through "Time Table, No. 1," took effect "on Monday, June 8, 1857, at 5 o'clock a. m." The stations named on the table were Toledo, Springfield, Centreville, Delta, Wauseon, Archbold, Stryker, Bryan, Edgerton, Butler, Waterloo, Corunna, Kendallville, Rome, Wawaka, Ligonier, Millersburg, Goshen and Elkhart. Going west, the train left Toledo at 9:00 a. m., and reached Elkhart at 7:10 p. m., making the distance between the two points in a little over nine hours, barring accidental delays. Another train moved from Elkhart on its eastward trip at 9:40 a. m., and was due in Toledo at 6:40 p. m. Trains passed each other at Edgerton, that Station being 64.3 miles west of Toledo, and 68.5 miles east of Elkhart. The trains were decidedly, if not badly, "mixed" - a locomotive, tender, one passenger and one freight car. Two trains, thus formed, made up the entire rolling stock of the road.

It is interesting to make comparison between the service then and that which is given to the people today. Now, one of the least powerful of the many locomotives, which almost hourly pass over the several railroads that thread the county, would draw with ease a train consisting of at least three times the tonnage of all the rolling stock in use on the Air-Line in 1857. Sixteen passenger trains, two fast mail and one fast express, pass over the Lake Shore daily ; and on an average twenty-five through and local freights, with a capacity of 40,000 to 80,000 pounds per car. The Wabash railroad doubtless approaches the above showing in magnitude, and the Detroit Southern and the Fayette branch of the Lake Shore, each has a large and growing business. Two electric railways pass through the county, affording excellent passenger service, and the numerous telegraph and telephone lines have completely annihilated distance in the matter of communication. What marvelous changes in the means of transmitting intelligence have been produced in a period of less than half a century! Today, at any railro&d station in Fulton county, connected with which is a telegraph office, one may transmit a message two thousand miles distant, or even to Europe or the Orient, and, receive to it an answer in less space of time than, a half century ago, would be consumed, by the speediest mode of travel to make the distance from Metaipora to Archbold and return, and, during the January and June floods that then appeared as regularly as the seasons, to communicate with a neighbor ten miles distant. Imagine a pioneer who, about three months after the presidential election of 1832, had received an Eastern letter or newspaper conveying intelligence that Andrew Jackson had been re-elected President of the United States in the preceding November. If the settler is a Jackson man, he dons his hunting shirt and coon-skin cap and sallies forth in search of neighbors of his political faith to communicate the glad tidings, and mingle rejoicings. News of the result of a presidential election would now be known in every considerable city and town in the United States and Europe within twenty-four hours after the close of the polls.

No community in these days can be said to have reached the progressive state until that infallible index to prosperous conditions - a newspaper - makes its periodical visits to an intelligent constituency. But it was not always thus. Fifty years ago, "journalists" were not as plentiful as they are today, and the appetite for printed news was not sufficiently keen to cause one to endure martrydom in attempting to "fill a long-felt want." So, at the time of its organization, Fulton county could not boast of a newspaper within her confines. Some time during the winter of 1851-52, however, a sheet, six-column folio in size, made its appearance in Delta with the expressive title, Fulton County Democrat, under the management of Lewis W. Stum, who continued its publication with varying success for about one year, when the office and paper were sold to Frank Rosenberg. The latter moved the office to Ottokee, the county seat, but a few months later he sold to J. W. Carter and H. B. Bayes. Carter & Bayes continued it some six months, when Carter bought *he interest of his partner and became its sole editor and proprietor. He made an arrangement or lease with one Topliff, who was connected with its editorial department for- a time, but about the spring of the year 1856, the establishment was sold and the plant removed to Morenci, Michigan. The Democrat was, as its name implied, a democratic paper, and the organ of that party, which, during the early days of the county was numerically in the ascendancy.

The second newspaper venture was also made at Delta. At the time of the founding of the Fulton County Democrat, that place was perhaps the most important of any of the small towns of the county, and while the publication of a paper there was not particularly remunerative to its owners, the citizens of the place were much displeased at the sale and removal of the office of the Democrat to Ottokee; and although the latter was the county seat, Delta still held the greater population, and felt entitled to a newspaper publication. This feeling led to the establishment of the Delta Independent Press, under the management of Lewis W. Stum, formerly of the Democrat. Stum continued the paper for some months, when he sold his interest to Martin Butler, and the latter, after a short time, sold to William Stum and James K. Newcomer. . These gentlemen conducted the paper for several years, when Peter James purchased Stum's interest. Under the ownership of Mr. Butler the independent tone of the paper was changed, and it became thenceforth an advocate of democratic principles. It was issued regularly until the early sixties, when for some reason it seemed to gradually decline, and the office was finally closed. The material and stock were removed to Wauseon, and gradually developed into a publication also known* as the Fulton County Democrat, (not the former paper of that name), under the management and control of M. H. Butler. William Aultman, Jr., became connected with its management about this time, and some few weeks later, soldiers, home on a furlough, not liking its tone or appearance, dumped the material into the street and the Democrat at Wauseon ceased to exist.

The second effort to establish a newspaper in Ottokee was made by T. D. Montgomery, who, during the summer of 1856, issued the Signal. It was printed on the same press arid material Which had been used by Mr. Montgomery in the publication of the Star of the West, a paper started in IdontpeHer, Williams county, in 1854. The press, type and other fixtures were brought to Ottokee from Montpelier by wagon, and it may be assumed that difficulties were met with in performing the journey. The Signal was published for something over six months, when it was suspended, the publisher being fully satisfied in the matter of experience. Next in the order of succession, there appeared at Ottokee, under the editorship of Henry McElhiney, a paper called the Democrat. Its first issue appeared in the spring and in the fall it changed owners, H. Day assuming its control. He changed its tone from a Democratic to an independent paper and re-christened it the Fulton County Mirror. Under Mr. Day the paper was published about one year, when the plant was sold and became merged into the Wauseon Sentinel. This ended newspaper life in Ottokee, except for the brief existence of the Monitor, which is mentioned in a succeeding chapter.

The Sentinel, the outgrowth of which is the present Northwestern Republican, was established at Wauseon during the year 1855, by H. B. Bayes and John D. Hunter. In its political tone it was Republican, being the first to advocate the principles of the newlyformed Republican party, in this county. It was, when started, what is known among printers as a six-column folio, in neat dress for the times, and as the organ of Republicanism in the county at once took front rank, notwithstanding the fact that it changed pilots frequently. The paper had been but a short time in operation when Bayes bought the interest of his partner, and for the next two years, or thereabouts, he was its sole proprietor and editor. He then sold it to A. E. Ball, but as editor and publisher the latter was not a success, and he disposed of his interests to E. W. Fuller. Mr. Fuller conducted the paper for something like a year, and then took a partner, John D. Devor of Elkhart, Indiana, who stayed in the office only three months, however, and then sold his interest back to Fuller. On January i, 1858, the name of the paper was changed to the Northwestern Republican, and it was increased in size from a six to a seven-column folio. During the summer of 1858, Mr. Fuller sold a half interest in the paper to J. C. French, and this copartnership relation was maintained for a period of about six months, when Fuller sold his interest to Isaac R. Sherwood, and the firm then became French & Sherwood, editors and publishers. Thus was the Republican managed until the summer of 1861, when Sherwood purchased French's interest and became sole editor and publisher. Isaac R. Sherwood lived in Bryan at this time, also having newspaper interests there. He soon afterwards enlisted in the Union army, as a private soldier in the first Fourteenth regiment, three month's troops; then joined the One Hundred and Eleventh regiment, and rose through the different grades until the insignia of a brigadier general was placed upon his uniform. He then became prominent in civil life, served two terms as Secretary of State, one term in Congress, and in other ways has been identified with public affairs. He is at present a resident of Toledo.

The United States census tells the story of the wonderful progress of Fulton county, between the years 1850 and i860, at least so far as an increase in population is indicative of such movement. In 1850, the enumeration showed 7,780 inhabitants, and in i860, 14,043 - an increase of nearly 100 per cent, in only one decade. A large part of the population of the county is descended from German ancestors, some of whom came as political exiles resulting from the Liberal movement of 1848. This had its inception in the agitation of the question of more liberal rights for the common people and the curtailing of the power of the nobility. Many of the best German families took sides with the people, and because of their interest, and after the tumult subsided in favor of their oppressors, they were exiled from home and sought an asylum in free America. 'But the earliest German settlers of Fulton county came as men seeking to improve their home conditions and occupy a country with unlimited possibilities for future advancement. They were a devout, upright, class of people, who in thankfulness for their deliverance and the prospect of a happy future, sang hymns and devoutly thanked God for the existence of the New World and their safe voyage to it. To these pioneer Germans and their posterity is due a large proportion of the solid, substantial advancement of the country where their homes were made.- Their progress here, and this is characteristic of the nationality everywhere, has been wrought through incessant toil, self-denial, and careful and frugal management. There is little of the speculative in the German mind. Their preference seems to be in the pursuits of agricultural, gardening, mechanical trades, mer- * chandising and manufacturing. Because of their inherent honesty, industry and frugality as a people, they soon achieve success in their various callings.

Speaking of the county in its entirety, however, it may be said that the early settlers were Americans, a large number of them coming from older portions of Ohio, while others migrated here from the more populous and less advantageous localities in states farther east. New York and Pennsylvania furnished a large number of the latter class ; but no matter where they came from, mutual desires and interests made them all akin, and by a silent process of "benevolent assimilation" they were converted into a Fulton county family. Among them there existed very little distinction in worldly circumstances and modes of life - the disparities in conditions that we now observe having been developed gradually with the country, and emphasized by the frowns and smiles of that giddy dame, Fortune. It was neither the indolent nor the opulent, as a general fact, who sought homes in this region, for none but industrious men of moderate means~would care to endure the preliminary privations and encounter the dangers that they knew would attend them while building homes in the almost unbroken wilderness. They came to better their condition in life ; to become land-owners instead of tenants; to rid themselves of a species of landlordism which prevailed in the Eastern States, and to emancipate themselves from a condition of semi-vassalage which threatened a doom of servitude for themselves and children.