Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 1: Topography and Natural History, 1886

SENECA COUNTY is bounded on the north by Sandusky, on the east by Huron, on the south by Crawford and AVyandot, and on the west Ijy \\'ood and Hancock Counties, emlnacing tifteen original siu'veyed townships, extending north from the parallel of latitude 41° north to latitude 41° 18', and east h'om the west line of Range 18, east of longitude west of Washington, D. C, 7 oC, the principal meridian, to the east line of Range 17, east of longitude west 7° Sty. or over 540 square miles. The population, according to the census of ISSO. was 30,1147. Imtthe estimate for LSiSo. based on school statistics, places the numlier of inhabitants at 41,000 or 75. 'J2 inhabitants per square mile.

The altitude at Benvick is 34.") feet above the level of Lake Erie: at Republic. 30N feet; at Lodi. in Reed Township. 282 feet, and at Tiffin. 183 feet. Geologists claim that Attica is the highest point in the county.

The Sandusky River enters the county in Section 36. Seneca Township; winds east into Section 31. Eden Township; thence west into Seneca Township, flowing north by east through the southeastern sections of Hopewell Township, the city of Tiffin, the northwestei-n sections of Clinton Township, and, entering Pleasant Township, flows on in its tortuous channel, leaving that township in Section 5. The Sandusky River is associated with much of the early history of Ohio. Along its lianks thi> beginnings of many little commonwealths were made, but today those beginnings have almost disappeared, to give place to the many im]iortant cities, beautiful villages and pleasant farm homes which grace its valley and terraces.

Honey Creek, a name endeared to hundreds of old settlers. Lidians and half-breeds, has its head-waters in Hm-on County, and flows through "S'enice, Bloom and Eden Townships, entering the Sandusky in Section 3fi, Hopewell Township. This creek is fed by numerous streams, all, like the parent river, contriljuting to the wealth of one of the most fertile tracts in all Ohio, Silver Creek, which may be called a native of Bloom Townshiji, is one of Honey Creek's principal feeders, entering the latter almost on the Eden Township line. The ])lateau on Section 20, Eden Township, is lifty-eight feet above the summer level (jf Honey Creek.

Rock Creek has its head-waters in Section 33. Reed Township, flows north into Section 17. joins other streams, and thence enters the lake on the Beeghley farm, in Section 18. Reed Township; thence runs southwest through Republic, to Section 10, Eden Township, where it takes a northw-esterly course, to join the

Sanduskj', east of Washington Street bridge, at Tiffin. In the history of the townships and of Tiffin City, many references are made to this little river.

Sugar Creek, in its coiu'se through Section 27, Pleasant Township, flows 42 J- feet below its plateau. Wolf Creek rises in Seneca Township, flows northeast through Hopewell, Liberty and Pleasant Townships, and leaves the county in Section 6, Pleasant. This creek drains a very large area, being the reservoir, so to speak, of the numerous little creeks in Hopewell and Liberty Townships. Harrison Creek and the western fork of Wolf Creek rise in Loudon Township, and flow north thi'ough Jackson and Liberty Townships, entering the main stream below Bettsville. Risdon Creek and tribxitaries flow north through the western sections of Jackson Township, and, with Little Portage Creek, afford good drainage. There are hundreds of small streams (many of which, like that on the Coleman fann in Seneca Township, never fi-eeze up) to be found in the county, to which names have never been given; in fact, every section may be said to claim some water-right, thus bestowing upon the land a high value.

Along the Sandusky and other large streams the face of the country is somewhat broken, the ten-ace in Section 24, Seneca Township, being 03^ feet above summer level, but outside the river valleys proper the land may be said to be slightly rolling, escef)t in Thompson Township, which is marked by decidedly rolling lands. Even the Big Spring marsh, so long barren, has been brought under cultivation. In ten of the fifteen townships, which make up the county, there is an abundance of large hardwood timber of almost every species.

Totrnships and Cities. - The fifteen townships, into which the coimty is divided, are named as follows, vrith the niunber of original siu'veyed township and range:

Tiffin, the comity seat, is a beautiful city, most conveniently situate, and replete in everything which wealth and intelligence suggests. The main part of the city of Fostoria is in this county, and like her older and greater sister Tiffin, is one of the most pleasant and business-like towns in noiihwestern Ohio.

Postal Towns. - The postal towns of the county in 18S5 are Adrian, Alvada, Amsden, Angus, Attica, Bascom, Berwick, Bettsville, Bloom^-ille, Carrothers, Cromer's, Flat Rock, Fort Seneca, Fostoria, Frank, Green Spring, Kansas, Melmore, Morris, New Riegel, Old Fort, Omar, Reedtown, Republic, Rockaway, St. Stephen, Siam, Tiffin, Watson, West Lodi. The pav attached to these offices, in 1884, ranged fi-om $4.38 to $2,200, viz. : Angus, "$4.38; Old Fort, $34.37; Cromer's, $42.91; Amsden. $48.08: Fort Seneca. $8r).77; Kansas, $207.79; Bettsrille, $384.70; Fostoria, $1,900; Tiffin, $2,200. Owing to the reduction in postage, the value of many of the offices to the incumbents has been lessened. The new settlement on the Nickel Plate Railroad, named Eer, was established as a postal town in September, 1885.

Scattered throughoitt the county are a ntrmber of small settlements, many of which cannot, however, take on the dignity of vUlages for some years. Others consist of a few houses grouped around a post office. These tiny settlements will, no doubt, spring into activity and request the futiu'e historian to record them as villages or cities before m;iny decades. So early as 1844 a few of these haml(>ts aimed at importance. Then came the central cities and the mining stamjiedes, and an age intervened; then came the war, when the graces and amenities of civilized life were ignored for the "signal-sonnd of strife" and " 'battle' smaguiiiceutly-stern array.'" A large delegation was taken fi-om each village to serve in all branches of the new industries the tirst year of the struggle, and each succeeding levA' gradually drained the vicinity of very much of the enterprise and public spirit which had come in and manifested its presence by works in former years. As a consecpience, improvements for the period between the firing npon Fort Sumtei- and the siuTender at Appomattox were neither immerous, costly nor architecturally elaborate. The same is to be remembered with reference to the advent of citizens at that time, neith(>r were they niuuerons nor valuable, save, of coui-se, in exceptional instances. The ^^llage, as will be readily conceded, escaped remarkal)le growth or development; but as years grow apace they give some evidence of advancement.

Geology. - Political lines have a most sujireme disregard for geological lioundaries; but the county in this respect is a part of a vast territory which has been mor(> or less carefiilly es])li)r(>d and its obvious characteristics noted. The townships of Pleasant, Liberty. Jackson, Hopewell (in the northerly ])art), and Loudon (in the northwesterly part), show the Niagara system above the drift; sand-formations and healthy looking l)oulder rock. Over the greater area of these townships the rock and sand are covered by a di'ift material. A complete knowledge of the history of a single pebble composing this di'ift would give its possessor more knowledge of geology than is now extant in the wide world. East of the Sandusky River (the same territory which, in 1820, was attached to Sandusky County under the name of Seneca Township) the outcrop of the Niagara rock is a phenomenon. The State geologist, in his tirst report on this county, says: " The eastern part of the county is considerably more elevated than the middle and western, and the siu'face is characterized at once by longer and more consideralile undulations, which have the form, very often, of ridges evenly covered by thift, I'unning about northeast and sovithwest. * * * There are still, even in the eastern part of the county, flat tracts where the di'ainage is so slow that the washings from hill sides have leveled iip the lower gi'ounds wth alluvial and marshy accumulations. In such cases the elevated drift knolls are gfravelly, and show occasional boulders; but in the level tract, which has been filled, no boulders, or even stones of any kind, can be seen.

The Niagara limestone, in Pleasant Township, foimd in the bed of Wait Creek and on Section 10, shows a northeast dip, and a variable dip on Section 20. Below the dam, in the Sandusky, near Fort Seneca, a remarkaVile hard or flinty lilue stone, presumably of the Niagara conformation, was quamed some years ago. and has since been used for macadamizing and other purposes. On Spicer Creek, Section 28, Pleasant Townshij). a more pronounced Niagara limestone exists.

In the extreme southeastern corner of Jackson Township, in a tributary of Wolf Creek, there is an exposure of limestone, and also along the railroad on Section 22. Also in the old town of Risdon, and north of it along the county line, the Niagara stone shows itself. The lime mannfactiu'ed at Fostoria is equal to that of S[)ringtield or Carey.

The outcrop in Ho]iewell Townshij) is decided in Sections 22 and 1<). and by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at liascom. The immense boulders and beds of Niagara above Tiffin, in the Sandusky River, also belong to the outcrop in this township.

In Liberty Township, on Section 4, this rock outcrops, dijiping gi'adually west. Along Wolf Creek there are several siu'face showings of this rock, and in almost eveiy part of the township it may be considered as merely covered by the drift. In the southern tier of sections this stone is quarried and extensively iLsed in housebuilding, bridges, lime manufacture and macadamizing. Alx)ut the year 1^70, George King's house was constraeted of this rock.

In Clinton Township the river may be said to act the part of the old quai'iyman. For centiu'ies the Sandusky has been carving an undei channel for its waters until, in IS'i-j. man came to its help. Along the fi-ont of old Fort Ball, now in Tiffin City, the Niagara or rather Guelph stone shows itself very distinctly. In fact the whole north bank of the river may be considered a rock, extending from the summer level of the river up the terrace about sixty feet in depth, with an exposiu-e of about eighteen feet, dipping from five to ten degrees southwest. The main showing of waterlime is found at this point. A jiuiction of the Niagara and waterlime formations occiu-s within Tiffin City, above Washington Street bridge.

In Section 22, Hopewell; Section 23, Seneca: and Section 29. Clinton: waterlime is exposed, while in many other townships it appears in beds of creeks.

The lower corniferous outcrop appears in Scipio, Bloom, Eden and Adams, while the upper corniferous gives good exposiu-es in Thompson and Bloom Townships, where extensive quarries are worked.

The economical geology is rejiresented by numerous stone quarries, deposits of bog-iron ore, brick clay and pottery clay. The red brick, manufactured in almost every division of the cotmty, are of excellent <]uality, but wanting in some cases that regular, tradesmanlike finish, which have won for foreign manufactm-ers a large trade. This bui'ned clay, when pulverized and mixed with other products, such as bone and sand, makes a cement equally as dural)le as Portland cement and far less expensive. The tile industry of Seneca has made much greater advances toward perfection than the older brick-making industry, and for this reason the product of sewer and drainage tile, pottery, etc. . has grown very large. A reference to the pages of local history will point out many of, if not all, the various workers in the field of economical geology.

Wella and Sjjn'ngs. - A\"ells for domestic use are generally obtained in the loose gravel within the di-ift. or in that sheet of gravel and sand which very often is the lowest part of the tli-ift. As in Ottawa County such wells are often artesian, and show the source of their water in the mineral impurities it contains. The waters of the mineral spring at Green Spring and of the spring in Section 7, Adams Township, issue fi-om the rock, which, although exposed at no point within six miles, is ]irol)al)ly the Niagara limestone. Wells, also, which do not reach the bottom of the drift, are sometimes supplied by slow seejiage from the hardpan, or by penetrating some of the sand or gravel beds contained within the di-ift. Wells from such higher beds of gravel are common outside the area of the Black Swamp. Within that tract such beds of gravel are more rarely met with, above that lying on the rocky conformations. The medicinal qualities of the water at Green Spring are so marked as to induce the investment of considerable capital in a Water Ciu-e establishment. The analysis made by O. N. Stoddard, of ]\Iiami University, Ohio, is published by the proprietors.

The Big Spriiif;. in the soiithwestein part of the cotmt)', was known in early days as the Lime Spring. Unlike the northern waters (Adams) the waters of Big Sjiring do not show even a particle of sulphur.

Gas UV/As. - Gas wells in Ohio, exhaustless fountains of carburetted hydrogen gas, have come into prominence only within the last fifteen years, although evidences of inexhaustible supply were manifest fi'om the beginning of settlement. It was known that the Chinese had for centiuies utilized natiu-al gas in their workshops and homes, but not tuitil about a half centiuy ago was this knowledge applied in the United States, when a Fredonia, N. Y. , enterprise introduced it. Since that time many localities in Pennsylvania and Ohio have searched for and found this great light and heat giver, and in 1884-85 local enterprise at Findlay, Fostoria, Bowling Green and other places has brought this hidden wealth to the doors of Seneca County, leaving little doubt of its extension throughout the county with a few years.

Prof. Edward Orton, in his paper on oil wells in Ohio, says: "The wells begin in the Niagara limestone, or in the waterlime. The di'ill goes through 300 to 40() feet of nearly iinbroken sheets of solid rock. Below this the red shales of the Medina group come in, ranging from fifty to 200 feet in thickness. The Hudson Eiver group, next below, consists of about 400 feet of calcareous shales, gray or blue, and highly fossiliferous. The fossils are found distinct enough for identification in the di-illings. The brown or black Utica shale follows next in order. It is 250 to 300 feet thick. It has but few fossils, but these few are characteristic. The gas 'sand' or 'oil sand' of the driller comes next. The Pennsylvania driller knows no rock but a sand-stone as an oil or gas producer, and so this soiu'ce of gas goes by the name of sand-stone. Analyses of four samples of the rock from Findlay, Fostoria, Lima and Bowling Green, all agree in proving the rock to be an impiu-e limestone, of a different tj-pe from any in the Ohio scale. It is clearly the Trenton limestone of the Eastern States and of Canada. It has been diilled into for 400 feet in several wells, but the gas all comes from its upper surface. No gain has been made by going deeper in any case yet. though several thousand dollars have been spent in this way in different localities. Toipedoes have been used with good effect in several wells. The gas comes to the surface with fair pressure when released, but with little of the explosive violence of the gi'eat wells of Pennsylvania. These latter are at least twenty times as strong as the strongest of the Findlay wells. The relations of the gas territoi-j- to the Cincinnati arch are a matter of interest. Newbeny located the arch too far to the eastward, as it now appears. He thought the islands of Lake Erie were carried on top of the arch, but this is thirty or forty miles out of the way. No determination was possible until these drillings were made, and the niuuber is far too small to allow any accurate and final determination. The facts so far obtained show Findlay to be on the highest part of the arch. Taking the gas-bearing rock as our guide, we find it at the following named places and depth below the ocean level: Findlay, 310; Bowling Green, 387; Lima, 440; Fostoria, 471; Fremont, fiOO. The fact that the two points where gas is most abundant are found on the highest portions of the lower limestone will be noticed. The axis seems to be bearing about north and must pass near Toledo, instead of through the islands. The effect of the arch is, however, problematical. Even two swallows do not make a summer. Gas may be found away fi'om the arch in some of the wells now going down, in which case the deductions drawn fi-om the first facts wordd immediately lose their value. Drilling is sure to go forward rapidly in the State, and by means of it we shall learn very much in regard to the structure of the arch that we could not otherwise know. After a little geology can begin to predict. Already one ^conclusion of much economic value seems fairly well established. It is this: When the Trenton limestone is reached and penetrated twenty or thirty feet, if no reward is found, the drilling would best be abandoned. Oil is found at Lima and at Findlay. The oil is of the usual type of limestone oils, viz. : Thirty-six degrees gravity, black, rather low in lubricating quality and somewhat offensive in odor. It is ' be twixt and between, ' being neither well adapted to refining nor to lubricating purposes, but, if found in quantity, may prove a source of value. As to the quantity, no conclusions are as yet fairly deducible. About 200 barrels are reported from the Lima well. The geological facts as to the occurrence of the oil and gas are very interesting and important. Our siipplies elsewhere through the State nearly all come from the Berea Grit, but the new horizon lies 2,500 feet below, and, moreover, is a limestone. Its supplies must therefore lie derived from animal life, while the sujjplies of the Berea Grit are derived from the vegetable matters of the black shale. It appears that gas and oil both are rendered characteristic by the source fi'om which they come.

The well di-illed at South Fostoria, to a depth of 1,775 feet, was not a success. The history of this enterprise is given in the history of Fostoria. The proposed well at Tiffin is only a matter of history so far as the projectors of the enterprise are concerned.

Zoology. - There was a time when deer were lulled by the fii-st settlers of Tiffin and Fort Ball, within the limits of their villages. The bear, wild hog, wolverine and wolf, were all here; while the reptile species claimed many and venomoiis representatives. Indeed blue-racers may still be found in this part of Ohio, while garter-snakes are still niimeroiis. In July, 1883, foiu- or five blue-racers had been killed in the northern part of Jackson Township. Sandusky County. The county was at one time a favorite camjiing ground for seahawks and eagles. It is related that some years before the Senecas left the comity, a hawk carried off a pajapoose that was left by its Indian mother in a grove which then stood on the south bank of the river, near "Washington Street bridge. In June, 1882, Daniel Misner, living on the Aikens farm, five miles southwest of Tiffin, shot a bald eagle which measiu'ed seven feet from tip to tip, killing it with a charge of number six shot, at a distance of fifty yards. In February, 1885, Philip R. Fox, living three and one-half miles soiitheast of Fostoria, detected a large bald eagle in the act of carrying away a good sized lamb. He procui-ed his gun and shot the eagle at a distance of fifty feet' in the air, and brought him down, together with his mutton.

In the Indian times, the rivers and streams of the county were teeming with fish. As settlement advanced, the finny tribe decreased, and ultimately faded away in the general ruin which fell upon animals of the woods and waters of the wilderness. New species have, however, taken the place of the fish of pioneer times, and now inhabit the rivers and streams. In Pleasant Township, the breeding of German carp may be classed among the industries.

Botany. - It is as unnecessary as it is difficult to name the trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs and flora of this county. Every plant and flower known in this latitude floiu-ishes throughout the length and breadth of Seneca Coimty, whUe many exotics may be brought, and are broitght, to perfection in the homes of the peoislo. Many wild flowers, kuown only to the pioneers, have disappeared for ever, hundreds of new ones having usiu'ped their place even within the pioneer period.

Hoi-ticiiltiu-e is well represented, the orchards and ^neyards of the coimty being among the tii'st in the northern part of Ohio. In 1S24 the first t)rchard of the county was set oiit in Clinton Township l)y John Keller; but prior to this many wild trees offered abundance of fruit to the Indians and pi(jueers.

Clintatohtgi). - It has been stated by very many old settlers of Ohio, that the winter of lSS-lr-!S5, and indeed the summer of 1885, reached the very limit of the lowest temperature of the resjiective seasons. History, however, does not bear out the statf>meut; for about the beginning of the j)ioneer period of the county, the wild animals were frozen in their tracks, and vegetation killed. Since that time the climate of this latitude has not varied very much in the case of Seneca. Atmosj)heric phenomena were rare indeed, and those appalling outbursts of natiu'e which have devastated towns, villages and farm houses in other counties, are unheard of here.

The fiost of May 15, 1834, destroyed all the fi'iiit crop and potato croj), together with more than one-half the wheat crop. Later that year, flour, in the Tiffin marJcet, was quoted at Sl-t per baiTel.

The di'ought of 1S3S resulted in destroying the grain crop, and reducing the corn crop to the amount of seed sown. A great hail storm swept over the county in May, 1839. This part of Ohio may be said to have escaped the fi-ost of September, 1885.

Arrhaolocji/. - The archseologist must be forever a speculator; for, notwithstanding the researches of the ethnologists of the world, and particularly of oiu' own searchers, the origin of the vase, mound, stone hatchets, flint aiTowheads, and all the rude adjuncts of prehistoric life, remains unsettled. While some ol the mounds are doubtless very ancient, others, similar in character and equally interesting, have certainly been built up since the advent of Euro])eans. A string of sleigh bells much corroded, but still capable of tinkling, was found among the flint and bone implements in a mound in Tennessee, whilst in ^lississijipi, at the point where De Soto is supposed to have tan'ied, a Spanish coat of arms in silver, one blade of a pair of scissors, and other articles of Euro]iean manufactiu'e were ftjund in positions which indicated that they were bm'ied by the original builders of the moimds. In a Georgia mound two copper plates were found, uj)on which were stamped tigiu'es resembling the sculptures ujion the Central American ruins. The workmanship is vastly superior to that displayed on the articles of potterv", stone and bone found in the mounds, and their origin and piu-pose are not yet explainable. Aside from these plates nothing has been found to indicate a connection between the Mound-Builders and the Aztecs or the Pueblos, while on the other hand, there appears many reasons for not going beyond the Cherokees, and their fellow red men of the Ohio and Mississipj)i Valley, to find the origin of these ciu'ioxis erections. The juu-jwse of the mounds still remains in some cases a mysteiy, but in oth<>rs they are known to have Ik'i'u made sometimes for burial places, and sometimes as foundations for Indian villages secmo fi'ora the floods to which the low lands were periodically subjected.

The old fortifications on Honey Creek, in Eden Township, near the 3Iohawk Eoad, embrace an area of about two acres. They are attributed to the military genius of the Fishermen, or Eries, in their war with the Iroquois invaders; but there is nothing in history or archreology to warrant a statement that the Eries were the builders. That the position was defended since the introduction of the shot-gun or rifle is told by the fact that leaden bidlets of eveiy size have been fonnd in the vicinity. Joseph Swigart, passing thi'ough Honey Creek in ISl'J, stopped at the spring abont a mile northwest of the present village of Bloom ville, and, while there, noticed two circular stone works, each about 100 yards south fi'om the spring. A well-beaten path led from the spring to the entrance of each work. The spring and each work formed a corner of a perfect triangle. Stone hammers, flints, etc., have been found there. There were remains of the walls as late as 1830, when they were removed, and burned for lime.

In 1850 a f(>w of the ancient mounds in Pleasant Township were opened; although for years prior to this date several small mounds were plowed over, and bones, potteiy, and other relics of a past age. brought to light. The explorations of 1850 resulted in the discoveiy of a number of burned sand-clay pitchers, pipes, a stone pitcher, and .other curios, many of which are still to be seen in the county. Among the collections of fossils, rocks, boulders and curios in the county, that of the editor of the Fostoria Democrat is considered the best. The fossil remains foiind in connection with the rocks of this county, and particularly with the limestone confoiTuation, comprise the Lithostrotion mammiiUare, the L.Iongiconicum the CijathophrjUum, fungites, and the Syringopori'. all belonging to the Pohjpi class. The only evidence of the Echinodermata is fiu'nished by the remains of the common species. The Bryozoa class is rej)resented in the limestone by no less than seven species; the Brachiopoda by eighteen species; the Lamellibranchiata by six species; the Trilobites by two very distinct species, showing the tails. The remains of fish and rejjtiles are very common. Human remains are imcommon in the strata, though in other parts they have been found mysteriously commingled with some of the first formations. In all the townships east of the Sandusky there are hillocks visible, none of which have been explored systematically, if at all. Throughout the county, relies of the aborigines have been found; stone and clay pipes, volcanic glass spear-heads, arrow heads, and in some instances copper articles have been brought to light, all in evidence of the fact that a people dwelt h^re long before the immigration of the Indians, who inhabited the Sandusky countrv when the first settlers arrived.