Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 10: First Meridian-Base Line to Wnsh I Ps - Rang Es Sections Quarter Sections General Survey Organization of Seneca County the, 1880

Chapter 10: First Meridian-Base Line to Wnsh I Ps - Rang Es Sections Quarter Sections General Survey Organization of Seneca County the

FIRST MERIDIAN-BASE LINE TO WNSH I PS - RANG ES SECTIONS QUARTER SECTIONS GENERAL SURVEY ORGANIZATION OF SENECA COUNTY THE OLD COURT HOUSE HOLDING TH E FIRST COURT FI RST ELECTION FIRST MEETING -OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPOINTMENT OF FIRST TREASURER COLLECTOR OF TAXES SURVEYOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ORGANIZATION OF BLOOM, SCIPIO. CLINTON. HOPEWELL, SENECA AND ADAMS TOWNSHIPS BUILDING THE FIRST JAIL RUDOLPHUS DICKINSON REED TOWNSHIP SALE OF THE RESERVATIONS.

1 II I 1 -'. KT< ). the cabins of the early settlers were near the forts of Seneca and Hall, with a tew scattered almiur Koi kv < reek, Honey « reek. Silver creek and in Thompson. The " Illai k Swamp'1 commenced immediately west ot the river: in ta< t. the Sandtisky river was the eastern boundary ol the lllack Swamp.

These settlers were mere squatters. They < oiild buy nol.ind.be cause there was none in market. < 'utsule ot the Indi.in reservation. the title to all the territory was in the I'nited States; and this //,-;-,- piif't'/'iiitt' could not be ottered tor sale until alter a siir\ey thercot was made and reported, in order to enable the ^o\ eminent to make proper <lesi ript ions of tracts, designating ca< h in su< h man tier and \\ ith sin h certainty as to avoid, il possible, all cotunnersy .is to boundary lines. eh .

measuring ranges of five miles each. At the end of the twenty-fourth range he reached the southwest corner of the Connecticut reserve, which is now also the southwest corner of Huron county. From this point a line was drawn north to the lake, and parallel with the west line of Pennsylvania, which formed the western boundary of the Western Reserve. So that all the territory north of this parallel to the lake, and all east of this north line to the state of Pennsylvania, constitutes the Western Reserve; sometimes called the "Connecticut Reserve," and sometimes "the Fire Lands." These lands were reserved by Connecticut for the purpose of paying with them debts the colony owed to revolutionary soldiers, to people who had their property burnt or otherwise destroyed by the British army, etc.. war debts generally.

Let us remember now. that this parallel of forty-one degress north latitude is the southern boundary, and the Iwse line of the Western Reserve : that the ranges on that line are five miles ; that there are twenty-four ranges in all ; and that the townships on the Western Reserve are five miles square.

Soon after the treaty of the Miami of the Lake, already mentioned, the general government ordered all the lands thereby secured to be surveyed. This was then "the new purchase."

Mr. Sylvanus Bourne, under instructions from the general land office of the I'nited States, started a survey from the east line of the state of Indiana on the forty first parallel N. L. This state line, which of course is also the west line of Ohio, he called the first meridian. Running his line on this parallel east, he planted a stake where the end of the sixth mile wa- reached. This made one range, and the first range in his survey. The end ot the seventeenth range brought him within fifty-two chains anil seven links of the southwest corner of the Western Reserve. A line drawn due north, by his compass, cut the west line of the \\cstern Reserve exactly at the northeast corner of Seneca county. There is therelore a strip oi land lying all along and east of tlie seventeenth range, that is not in any range. ^,2.07 long on the south end. running to a point just eighteen miles north. This tract i^ (ailed "the gore." The ranges in the new pun hase are six miles wide - i;x'' - icj. The r,inge-> on the Western Reserve being live miles wide -24\^ 12',: loj plus i jo 222. Theretore the distance trom the state line of Pennsylvania to the state line oi Indiana is two hund red and ;w- nt\ iwn miles and this gore ^2.c~.

From the-e -i\ mile posts, lines were drawn due north, to the north line of ( ihio and to Lake Lrie. and south to the Virginia military land distri' ts. This line thus drawn along the forty first parallel north latitude, being tin- base of operation tor all future surveys, is < ailed the /'.;<v line. The territory between these si\ mile posts is called a range, ami runs north and south from the base line, as at>o\e indicated.

Parallel with this base line, and six miles distant therefrom, other lines were surve\ed. starting from this meridian north and south of the base line, and running east until other surveys were met. The north and south lines, or range lines, thus cut at right angles by the east and west tines, or township lines, formed trai ts of territory, each six miles square, (ailed townships. Kach additional east and west, six mile line, from the base line, adds another township to the number. The town ships, therefore, are numbered from the base line north and south; and townships une north or south means all the townships along the entire length ot the base line, having the base line for the northern or south ern boundary. The next townships north or south arc numbered two. and so on. until Michigan or lake Krie on the north, or some other survey on the south is reached.

In describing a piece of land, therefore, we say, tor example. "Town ship two i > i north, range fifteen - i *> east"; because this is tin- second township north <>| the base line, lying north and ;n range iittcen. < ount ing the ranges irom the meridian as above.

Seneca i mint \ has live range-,, fri mi ;he t hi rteenth to the -e\ enteentli, bo! h mi lusi\ e. and l lire e townships no nh one, t\\ o and three. I here are the ret ore fifteen townships in the - ount\ , the S.mdusk.\ r:\er , utt in^ it trom the south to the nonli into two parts nearlv equal . and the < oiuitv seat be;n_; near the center of the , oiint\, makes Senei a - ountv almost uiiequalied in shape and !>eaut\ b\ an\ .ither io:int\ .n t!ie state.

named are the same as they arc no\v known, and not as established from time to time by county commissioners. The ideographical lines ot the tmvnships were established bv these surveys. It is also to be understood that the Indian reservations were not included in these surveys.

Kach township being six miles square, makes just thirty -six sections. each one mile square, and containing six hundred and forty acres each. The sections are numbered by commencing at the northeast cornei- of the township: running west, brings section six into the northwest corner: the next section south of this is section seven, and running east, brings section twelve immediately south of section one; then calling the section south oi twelve number thirteen, running west and so on. brings section thirty-one into the southwest corner, and section thirty-six into the southeast corner of the township.

The sections were again sub-divided into quarters and halt quarters. with lines at right angles, making it very easy to describe the quarter of a quarter.

It is scarcely possible to conceive ot a plan tor the description ot land for the purposes ot purchase, sale or taxation, more beautiful, eorahicall, or tor business more convenient.

We must also remember that in all these surveys, the Sandusky river having been, by act of Congress, declared a navigable stream, is not included. The surveys run only to low water mark ot the stream, and therefore necessarily and unavoidably create many fractional sections. These surveyors finished their work in iSjo.

There were thm. also, several other Indian reservations, aside from the Seiiei a reservation, vi/: The Armstrong reservation: the M<('nl h>< h reser\ ation ; the Van Meter reservation; the Walker reservations. and a re- i >l about twelve square miles 01 etipy ing the southwest districts- tin- Delaware and the I'i'pi.i land district-*, by a line dtaun north and south through and near the t enter of the new pun h.ise. This placed Seneca county in the 1 >ela\vare land distrii t.

On the ;d day ot' August. iS.-i.the land> in the Delaware land district north ot the base line, were liiM ottered tor sale at Delaware at a minimum price ot one dollar and twenty ii\e < cnts per a< re. I.ar^e quantities ot land in this < oiinty were purchased at these first sales, but very litile ot it abo\e the minimum pri< e.

ISelorc the subject is dismissed, it may be well to state anotlier tail in connection with these surveys, that should be generally understood: "The boundaries ot the general simcys can not be ( handed."

Congress, as early as the vear iNc;. laid down icrtain general prin oiples in regard to the un< han^eablene-s ot the lines and < orncr> established by LM>\ eminent siir*c\"[s, \\hi(h have been < ontinuecl oper.itis e down to the present time, and are still in lull tone. These principles are contained in the second section ot' an a< t entitled "An a< t concerning the mode ot snrve\in_; the public lands ot' the t nited States." approved I'cbruar\ 11. iSo^. and are as follows, to-wit:

1st. All the corners i narked in the surveys returned by Stir\ e\ or-< icnerals. sliall lie estalilished as the proper corners of sections or siih-di\ isions of sections \\hieh they \\ereintended t<> designate: and tin- ciMiiers of half and ijiiarter sections, not marked on said siir\e\s. shall In- placed as nearl\ as possible. fi|iiall\ ilistant from those t\\o corners \\ hich stand mi the sai inline.

The Hoiindarx I .ines act ually run and marked in the siirve\ s returned b) the Sur\i'\ o]--( icneral. shall lie estalilished as the proper lioundarv lines of

Whenever, therefore, questions should arise as to the correct corners and lines of lands, with this knowledge of the law before us. and proper examination of the field notes, where the same are established, great annoyance, heartaches and money may be saved.

If any of the old land-marks of early life in Seneca county shall he omitted or overlooked in this book, it will not be because the writer has not been sufficiently industrious in his efforts to look them up for record. Indeed, sometimes I fear that my persistent inquiries about atlairs of former days among my old pioneer friends, have been burdensome to many of them, and I have no other apology to offer but my earnest purpose to preserve, for the use of their children, a full and faithful record of Seneca county's past.

Very many people in Seneca county perhaps never knew, and others have forgotten, the fact that there was an Indian reservation, containing about twelve square miles, belonging to the Wyandots, in the southwest corner of Big Spring township. This reservation, and another piece of the same lying south of the same and adjoining it, was procured by the I'nited States and brought into market with the Seneca reservation, long before the U'yandots sold their large reservation to the general government. (See chap. III.)

To preserve the time of the sales of these reservations in Seneca count}', 'he proclamation of (ien. lackson, then President ot the I'nited States. is here added, because the fact itself, as well as the time, are both important and historic. And it is also to be remembered, that these sales took place some ten years alter the land sales spoken ol in a tormer < hapter.

Mr. (leorge \V. (list, a very able surveyor, had located in Tiffin a short time before these Indian lands came into market, and to enable the purchasers of these lands to make the proper selections, published a notice in the Si->i,-,-,i I\itri,>t. the only newspaper then published in the count v. ''and of which further notice will be taken hereafter) in the^e words:

Land Ithcii Askks. Look Iikkk

A. M. Strwart, who published the atlas of Sem-i a <nnnt\ sonic si\ \ears aL;o. took Mr. Hut tcriicld's histor\ tor data: ami speaking of earl\ roads, i ojiii-s tin- stor\ of the 1'cll road. I'he\ s.iv that "(irn. Hell, from \\oostcr.sur\c\cdaidad in iSij. \\huh took his name/' There is no iraie tit an\ siirvc\ of Hell's road to be found ainuhen-. and ail there u as i it it. is this: was other obstructions, and bla/ed the trees as they worked along. ThU the surveying they did on this road. A similar road was opened along and near the right bank of the riser, leading from Delaware to Lower Sandusks. These arms- roads answered all practical purposes tor se\'eral years: first for military nioYements. and then for emigrants and settlers. Nor i> it true that Mr. Risdon afterwards surveyed these army roads into state roads: but Mr. Risdon did survey a state road from I'pper Sandusky to Lower Sandusky. in iS^i. without paying any attention to any army road. His survey ran as nearly straight as possible, and scarcely ever touched the army road.

In iS^o. Israel Harrington surveyed the Morrison state road, still known by that name, leading from ( 'roghans\ ille < Lremont ) to Delaware. 'riii> was the first road surveyed and opened in Seneca county, east ot the river, while the road surveyed bs Risdon was the first one \ve>t ot the ris er - both state roads. The Morrison road wa-, named alter one of the commissioners, who located the road.

Colonel lames Kilbourn. a pioneer surveyor, already introduced, surveyed a road leading from Portland, i now Sandusky C'ityj to I'pper Sandu>kv. to which lie gave his own name, in 1X22. It is said that Thoma> llaker and L/ra P.rosvn. two distinguished pioneers, both from the state of New York, were the first settler-, in Seneca county who came on that road.

A historv of the survex ing and opening of the principal roads ol the counts' might be made interesting enough to >ome people, but would not warrant the spare it would necessarily require.

'1 he legislature divided tin- new purchase into toiirteen i ountie^. b\ an act pa^ed on tin: iJth day of I-'ebruary. iXjo. ( »f these, Seneca counts wa-. the ninth in the order named in the art. It wa-- to consist ot toss'iiships. one. two and three, north ot range-- thirteen to seventeen. both inclusive, and to remain a part ol Sand'isky counts, until organi/ed into a counts' with municipal posver-*. bv a tuturr act ot the legislature.

I'. den. the las' township or^ani/ed \>\ the connnissii iners iii Sandusk\ (oiintv. was fixed with its present boundaries in iS_«i. \i/: I', i.. \ 1\.

\\elch. |a;nes Mathers and Henry (.'raw, trustees; Ira Holmes and John Searles. fence-viewers: lohii Searles, treasurer: Hugh Welch and Ira Ho!mc>. appraiser^: Samuel Knap]) and John Welch, supervisors: Thoma> Welch, constable.

Seneca township, at its first election, elected the following ticket, vi/: Wc>t Barney. John Lay, Havid Risdon. trustees: John Keller and I>a\id Rice. overseer> of the poor; lames Montgomery, Krastus Howe and Joel Chapin, supervisors: P. Wilson, lister: Asa I'ike, appraiser; Thoma> Nicholson and Abner Tike, fence-viewers: John Boughton and Joel I .ee. constables.

A lister was an officer whose duty it was to report to the trustees, and afterwards to the county auditor, a list of the able-bodied white male inhabitants liable to perform military duty. For this work he was by law entitled to seventy-five cents per day.

It will be noticed that in these elections no justice of the peace was elected. Sandusky countv exercised judicial power oxer the whole ol Seneca i ounty. until Seneca became established as a county by law.

(Mi ;lu- j;?d day of January. A. 1 >. 1824. the legislature ol ( )hio pas-ed the following act for the organi/ation of Seneca county, in the wonU ami figures following, vi/:

SKC. ij. That all justices of the peace, and other otlicers residing in tlie county nt' Seneca, shall continue to discharge the duties of their respective otlices until their Miccessm> are clmsen and ipialiiied according to law.

SKC. :;. Thai the qualified electors residing in the county of Seneca, shall meet MI their respective townships on the first Monday of April next, and elect their several comit\ otlicers. who shall hold their respective offices until the nc\t annual election, and until others are chosen and qualified according lo law .

Si-:< . I. That all Miits and action-,, whether of civil or criminal nature, which shall ha\e been commenced . ^hall lie prosecuted to final judgment and execution, and all taxes, tines and penalties, which shall have become jn the >a n ie i* i a n i n- r a s if i hi- act had not IHTII passed. t and lie in f i -!-(-(- from and after the first da\ of April .IOSKIM! IM( II AHDSON.

gani/ation of Scipio township. The reason for such organization claimed in the petition is the fact that there were sixfi-en !<-gn/ voters residing in (lie territory composed of Scipio and Reed, and the hoard granted the petition accordingly.

At the same session. Xeal McOaffey presented a petition for the opening ot a county road from the public square in Fort Ball to the public square in Tiffin, across the river by the most suitable ground. On the same day the township of Hopewell was organi/ed. including Lou don. and an election ordered to be held. The trustees to be elected were authorized to take charge of the school lands. Seneca township was then reduced to what now constitutes Seneca and Big Spring.

On the Sth da}' ol December, 1824. the county commissioners cast lots to ascertain how long each was to serve : whereupon it was found that Thomas Boyd was to serve for one year. Benj. Whitmore for two years and Doctor Dunn tor three years. Kver since that time Seneca county has elected but one commissioner each year, except when by death or resignation the election of another became a necessity.

The same day the board rented from (leorge Park his north chamber for a ( ounty clerk and auditor's office, and agreed to pay him one dollar per month for the use of the same. The chamber was a part of Kli Xorris' old tavern. The ground where it stood is now covered by the National Hall block. At the same time Clinton was fixed to its present status, and an election ordered.

William Coincll \va- appointed keeper of the standard measure, the device of the seal to be a circle with the letters therein. "SIN. CO., OHIO." On the sixth day of June. 1825. commissioners were appointed to locate a road in ('rawford township. T. i. S. 1\. i ^ I-'... and tor that purpose met at the house ot |as. \\ hitic ker, on the 6th day ol |uly following. Win. Harp-tcr was" allowed two dollars tor listing S\ camore township; Jesse (iale the same amount tor listing Crawfordt township. It would therefore appear from this, that the commissioners ot Seneca county exercised jurisdiction over Crawford < ounty until it was organi/ed.

Mr. I ledges had built a I wo story frame house on the lot immediately north ot the ' niirt house square, on the place now occupied by the east end <-f 'he Commen ial bank and the office of the .SV^vw Aiiri-rtiser. The si . ( Dud ,tor\ uas used ;is a court room and the lower three rooms tor office-. The first < ourt in Seneca county was held in this trame hoii-e. and that wa- the court house of Sene< a county until the brick i oiiri house was built in i >>}<>.

Spencer in the suit against Mr. Hedges about the brush dam. the most celebrated among the'early cases tried in the county. In May, 1826, Mr. Dickinson resigned his office of prosecuting attorney, and Abel Rawson \vas appointed his successor. In the same month Mr. Dickinson removed to Lower Sandusky. and in i8>y he married the daughter of John Beaugrand. one of the oldest settlers of Lower Sandusky and who at an early day was a partner of Ceneral John L. Hunt, of Maumee City. Mr. I), took great interest in schemes for starting the public works of the state, in which lie occupied a high prominence among his cotemporaries. Among these public enterprises were the Wabash and Lrie Canal and the Western Reserve and Maumee Road. He was a member ot the Hoard ot Public Works from 1836 to 184^. During this period the state of ( )hio suffered great financial embarrassment, and her cred-it ran down to titty per cent, below par. her bonds selling for fifty cents on the dollar. Mr. Dickinson's influence with the leading men of the state and the Legislature, contributed largely in saving the credit of the state and preventing the entire suspension of public improvements.

Mr. Dickinson was elected to Congress in 1846, and re-elected in 1848. He died soon after the commencement of the second term of his service at the city ot \\ ashington in 1841;. on the ^oth da\.of March, at the age of fifty -OIK- years, two months and twenty-two days.

( );i the fourth day ot July. i.s^;. the < onimissioners ot Seiie< a < ountv held an extra session ot the board to re< eive proposal* and bids for the building of a jail in Tittin. lleiijamm \\lnMnore and Dm tor Dunn were present. The bids were opened and the. contract awarded to Lli jah I -"ar^ui'son. he being the lowest bidder, tor the sum of tour hundred and fifty dollars, pa \ able when the work was completed, losiah I ledges was surety on the bond ot Mr. Largurson for the promp compliance with his agreement to periorm the same..

The carh settlers will remember this, the first publii building put up in Seneca i ountv. It stood at the southeast corner ot the present court house square, and was made ot he-wed logs fitted tightly on the top oi e.i< h other, with hewed logs tor the ceiling and heavy oak plank for the floor. The doors were made ot double planks with wagon tires bour.l ,i( ross tin -m tor hinges, and a large padlock on the door. There rooms in this log jail - one on the east side and the oilier on Me. The windows were cross barred \\ith hea\ \ tire iron. ;:h end of the jail was attai lied, a frame building as wide as I'lou: t\M-nt\ tee! . \\i'h a narrow stairway to the garret, and rooms iielow. Ihis iiMine part was intended, a- a residence tor the sherilt, lint was never oc i upied tor that purpose. The j.t'.l'T lived there i M ( asionalh : and final !\ , and nut d tin- old lo- jail was torn down in 1X40 41. m\ old t'ricnd, |olm I :< i1 ->- - upied this tr.uiie part ol tlu- jail t'nr a cabinet shop, and Mar<;'i;- \ <iro||' lised immediately across the street trom the same, on the south side ot Market street.

At the same time. I >et ember sjh, iNj>.and upon the applii ation ut \ureen In^raham, the i ommissioiiers passed. an order b\ wh;< h ail that part ot ('linton towiishiji l\in:4 west ot" the river was a'.tai lied, to Hopewell, tor the reason, undoubtedly, that '.here were no bridges o\er the river and it was theretore more < oiueniciit for the people on the \\est side to uet together and hold their elet tiolls, eti .