Wood County, Ohio - The whole text, 1910 (part 2 of 8)

When the great meeting was held at Ft. Meigs in 1840, he, with his neighbors cut and hauled a buckeye log as Center township's contribution for the log cabin at the fort. Of dame Phillips, his wife, it may truthfully be said, thai she was a good second to Adam in all his ^Aorthy eiforts. Besides the cares of a large family of children, she often had to feed from meal ground by her own hands in the mill, sold them by Cox, and also found time to do many generous deeds for her sick or otherwise needy neighbors. None went from her door unaided, if it was in her power to afford relief. With this very inadequate sketch of the Cox and Phillips, the two pioneer families of Center, it will now be in order to briefly notice some others, who came early.

These random notes from the land books, comprising but the small fractional part of the original entries and of the names of purchasers, are given here as showing who the first comers were. Most of tliese Imvers named became actual residents on their land. Other early settlers, such as the Lundys, Klopfensteins, Andersons and otliers, not enumerated in the list, no doubt bought their lands of second hands. The chief purpose here is to show who the actual beginners were - a task not so easy after the lapse of three score years, when nearly all the actors

Center township, originally six miles square, was surveyed by Samuel Holmes, deputy U. S. surveyor, in- 1819; that is, the exterior lines were made. In 1831 the sub-divisions were run by S. Bourne.

The county commissioners at their March session, 1835, granted the request for a township organization, under the name of Center, and ordered an election of township officers to 1)0 held, on the first ]\Ionday of April following, at the liome of Adam Phillips. At the time of this action. Center was a part of Portage and had been since June, 1833, prior to whicli time it liad been a part of Middleton, since that township was cut off from Perrysburg. When, in 1846, Webster was created, six sections were set off to that townsliip. In 1844, on petition by tlic residemts therein, the south half of section 31, Middleton, was given to Center. It lies at tlie northwest corner on the Perrysburg road, so that as now constrticted, the township comprises 301,4 sections.

The trails between the settlements, at first mere foot paths, indicated by blazed trees, were gradtially converted into wagon trails, barely passable, by voluntary Utbor among those interested. Some of these trails eventually became permanent highways, since they were usually located on the most favorable ground for the ])urposc. The first object of the newcomer after his cabin was built, was to get into road communication with the market, which in this case was Perrysburg. There lake boats landed regularly in the open season. The first wagon trail in Center, after Hull's trail, was from Cox's cabin up the Portage to Haskins' trading ]dace. The next was the Phillips wagon trail, along the Portage, from Woodville.

A Memorable Fourth

IN commemoratiou of the completion of the new court house, united with the celebration of the national birthday anniversary, the 4th of July, 1894, proved a day that will long be remembered by the thousands who participated. It was a day of oratory. Among other things Mr. A. B. Murphy said:

"It is unique in its history and splendid in its record. It is the parent of many of the counties of Northwestern Ohio. It is rich in soil, rich in intelligence, and rich in patriotic history. It has been the birthplace of ideas that have shaken the continent, and its soil has drank the blood of heroes, and been consecrated by the bones of patriots. It was here that a mighty party had its beginning. It was here that America's greatest leaders assembled in convention, Swing, Harrison and Clay, and Ohio's black son, Tom Corwin, all of them long since sleeping in their graves. The children of this county ought to be taught that it is bounded on the north by Perry's Victory, and on the east by the home of Gibson, and on the south by Fort Findlay, and on the west by the battle ground of Meigs and Miami.

"The man who cannot make an honest living here cannot do so anywhere upon this round globe. This county is greater in extent than any one of those famous states of ancient Greece. It comprises more territory than Christ walked over while on earth, and has more inhabitants than that Sacred City over which He wept. It is greater in resource, and richer in fertility and more splendid in production than the Holy Land seen in the beatific dreams and visions of the prophets, and promised l)y Jclmvnlt to the Hebrew Patriarchs of old. It has been redeemed by sweat and toil from the woods and the water. It has arisen as all things worth having arise, by conflict and sacrifice. Every achievement in this world represents sacrifice somewhere."

"Young men, study more thoroughly the history of your county; ascertain the steps in its great growth; study the precepts that actuated its founders and defenders; let it inculcate in your young minds and hearts a deeper love of country, law and liberty; surely it will instill within you ideas of loyalty and the responsibilities of citizenship, ^lay the summit of that new edifice tower no higher than your worth; may its foundations be no firmer than your convictions and truth ; may the green and fertile soil of this great county, on whose bosom it reposes, and which gi'ows great liarvests, be no richer than your long and lofty labors in the service of your country and mankind. Then are vou assured a fame which, mid the shadows of a century, will suffer no eclipse."

That matchless orator and loyal soldier, Gen. Wm. H. Gibson, graced the occasion with one of his masterly efforts. Among many other good things lie used this language:

"This county was taken from the civil jurisdiction of Logan and at its organization in 1820, its area covered more territory than many of the European kingdoms. It contained less than five hundred people, and in 1830 eleven hundred, in 1840 less than six thousand, and in 1850 scarce ten thousand. For thirty years its progress was slow, and in 1860 the ])opulation was little over seventeen thousand. Though the savages were harmless and the frontiers were not disturl)ed by 'war's dread alarm,' the pioneer settlers in your county were confronted with hardships and privations from which the stoutest hearts might recoil. No portion of Ohio presented such difficulties in its development. The adventurous men who came hither with their families to reclaim the flooded forests and water-soaked prairies, and rear their children, were and are the real heroes, entitled to our gratitude and admiration.

"In war, the imposing pageantry of field evolution, the touch of elbows with comrades and the shout of battle thrill the soldier with confident enthusiasm, and he plunges into the deadly conflict heedless of all danger. But the Wood county pioneer, remote from neighbors, toiling to open a farm in the wilderness and support and educate his children, exhibited a fortitude and heroism sublime for high purposes and manliness. A remnant of those rugged adventurers, who led the way in reclaiming 'the wilderness and solitary places' of ycur county, have been spared to join in this great demonstration and share the festivities of this auspicious day. We greet them as winning heroes, who have earned the gratitude of coming generations!

"With bent forms and blistered hands they planned and toiled, that this county inight be gilded with inviting homes; enriched by abundant harvests, and sentineled with churches and school houses."

The Pittsburg Blues

THE following list of the members of the Pittsburg Blues, obtained through a Patriotic Pennsylvania Society, by the eftorts of Mrs. Ellen Mc- Mahan Gaspers, was published in the Wood County Denuocrat of April 18, 1902. The Democrat says:

At last an authentic list of "The Pittsburg Blues,"' who lie buried at Fort ]\teigs, has been obtained through the efforts of the society known as "The Wives and Daughters of the Boys in Blue,'' of which Mrs. Ellen McMahan Gaspers of Detroit, formerly of Perrysburg, is president. Mrs. Gaspers wrote the mayor of Pittsburg for information as to this list. This letter was referred to Mrs. Felicia R. Johnson, president of the Pennsylvania society, U. S. D., 1812, and vice president of the national society, who secured what the Wives and Daughters of the Boys in Blue consider a priceless list.

It contains the names of volunteers famous as "The Pittsburg Blues," who fought under General Harrison. One of the three burial grounds at Ft. Meigs was assigned to the noted Blues, and there lie buried the remains of those who were killed in battle.

''M}^ own grandfather served under General Croghan and was with him at Fort Stephenson, and I presume at Forr Meigs, so my interest is personal as well as patriotic.

''This societ}^ which I represent, is composed of tbe descendants of the soldiers of 1812, and we will be glad to co-operate with you in any effort to preserve the battlefields tbat liave become resting places of those who preserved the independence of the nation.

"We have a society in Ohio - Mrs. Greves, of Cincinnati, is president. I do not know how they are working as they are rather new in organization, but will M'rite them to help you if needed."

Tins letter is very gratifying to the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical Association, organized for the purpos<^ of preserving tlie historical sites of the Maumee Valley. In this connection it should be said that the Toledo society of the "Daughters of the American Eevolution" is co-operating with the Maunyee Vallev ]-*ioneer and Historical Association in its cftorts to preserve the historical sites of the ]\raumee Valley, and that matters liave now begun to- take definite form. It is now believed that the objects of this association will be accomplisbed.

Petersburg Volunteers

DUKING the preparation of this Pioneer Scraij-Book-, an interesting and valuable letter was received by Wm. Corlett, Secretary of the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical Association, from Wm. M. Jones, Mayor of Petersburg, Virginia, in which the writer gives historical facts concerning a company of Virginia soldiers who fought under General William Henry Harrison in the war of 1813-13, and who were active in the defense of Fort Meigs and the Maumee Valley against the combined

Mayor Jones says that the Virginia company raised in Petersburg to assist in the defense of the Maumee Valley was composed of some of the fiower of that state, and that the city of Petersburg erected a monument to their memory in the local cemetery, consisting of a granite shaft about 15 or 20 feet high, surmounted by a gilt American eagle, and on which is inscribed the following:

"In memory of Captain Richard Mc- Rae, late commander of the Petersburg- Canada volunteers in the war with Great Britain. 1812, a corps who, under the iinflucnce of holy patriotism, in the hour their country's need, leaped from their l)eds and, foregoing domestic comforts and ease, instantly organized and took up the line of march for the Canadian frontier, when, under the supreme command of General Harrison, they met the disciplined armies of their country's enemies, on the fifth day of May, 1813, -and after a hloodv conflict defeated tli(ni. winning for their home the exalted and imperishable appellation of the -('oi-kade City of the Union.' " A second inscription is a? follows:

''Who embarked in the service of tiieir country in the war of 1813 with Great Britain, on the 31st of October, 1813, and consecrated their valor at the battle

"Headquarters District, 17th Oct., 1813. "The term of service for which the Petersburg volunteers were engaged having expired, they are permitted to commence llu'ir march lo \'irginia as soon as they can be transferred to the south, side of the lake, in granting a discharge to this patriotic and gallant corps, the general feels at a loss for words adequate to convey his sense of their exalted merits. Almo.st exclusively composed of individuals who had been nursed in the lap of ease, they have for twelve monthsborne the hardships and privations of military life, in the midst of an inhospitable wilderness, with an alacrity which has been unsurpassed. Their conduct in tlie field has been surpassed by no other corps, and wliilst in camp they have set an example of subordination and respect for military authority to the whole army.

"The general requests Capt. McRae,. his subalterns, non-commissioned officers and privates to accept his warmest thanks, and bids them an affectionate farewell.

Edward Tiffin was the first Governor of Oliio and served from 1803 to 1807. From 1803 to 1810 the seat of government was at Chillicothe; from 1810 to 1812 in Zanesville, and from 1812 to- 1816 in Chillicothe again; Columbus became the capital in 1816.

A man named Samuel Charter, living: on the Foote farm, went to Girty's Island to make sugar. On his return, . somewhere near Defiance he appropriated a grindstone and put it in his pirogue with the sugar. He was followed andhis place searched, but no stone could befound. Many years afterward the stone was fou]ul in a dense thicket about forty rods from his cabin.

Shibnah Spink

Shibnah Sjiink of Perrysburg, was one of the early settlers of the county, whose life has been so largely connected with the general history of this county that a sketcli of the same must prove valuable as a contribution to the history of this secti(«i of the county.

Mr. Spink was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in Feliniar}', 1802, where he remained until 1811, when his father removed to Chautauqua county, New York.

In 1836, young Spink, having grown to manhood, went to Pennsylvania and took a contract on the Pennsylvania Canal, where he remained about two years, at the end of which time he went to Wooster, this State, where he remained until 1832, at which time he came to Perrysburg. At the latter place he opened a dry goods, grocery and hardware store, but the crash of 1836-'37 caught him unprepared for such an emergency and he retired from business. From 1837 to 1850 he was chiefly employed in running a steamboat during the summer and in purchasing furs during the winter.

In the summer of 1834, Mr. Addison Smith, then unmarried, came to Perrysburg to visit his sister, Mrs. Dustin. Mr. Spink's clerk in the store became frightened on account of the number of Indians encamped near the store and left, leaving Mr. Spink alone in his business suffering with the ague. Mr. Smith was in the habit of spending much of his time in the store and when Mr. Spink was too ill to wait upon customers, would go behind the counter and play the role of clerk. Finally he consented to act as clerk for Mr. Spink, and remained in the store several years. In the fall of that year Mr. Smith's sister, Mary A., came to Perrysburg to visit her brother and sister, remaining through the winter and the following summer. During tliis time, the friendship between Miss Smith and Mr. Spink ripened into love, and in the fall of 1835 they were married; and it is seldom that two more congenial spirits spend life together.

In the winter of 1837-38 the old mud pike through the Black Swamp was so completely worn out and so impassable for loaded teams that a movement was made for the construction of a macadamized road from Lower Sandusky (now Fremjont) to Perrysburg. Jessup W. Scott, Capt. David Wilkinson, John C. Spink, and Shibnah Spink, were selected to visit the Legislature at Columbus, and secure such assistance from the State as would insure the construction of the desired and much needed road.

They went in a carriage. As there liad been a fall of snow and the ground was frozen they found the roads good and made the trip to the State Capital in three days. After remaining at Columbus a few days and being satisfied that the measure proposed would pass, Capt. Wilkinson and Shibnah Spink decided to return home, leaving their two companions at Columbus to see the measure through. On the day on which they started for home, the weather became warm and rain set in, rendering the roads almost impassable. On the evening of the sixth day after leaving Columbus, the two lobbyists reached home, in a sadly dilapidated condition, on foot, having left their carriage and baggage eight miiles this side of Lower Sandusky. TJsin^ their blankets for saddles they mounted the horses and rode until they reached Toussaint Creek, which stream they found so swollen that it was impossible to get their horses to the bridge spanning the channel. The whole country was flooded. They put up for the night, and as the weather became cold, and there was little or no current in the A'ast sea of water Ijefore them, ice was formed of such thickness that in the morning it woukl bear a man. They were fully thirteen miles from home and the Captain was a cripple ; but they decided to make the balance of their journey on foot. After breakfast the two men started, but before going far the Captain gave out and they were compelled to hire a boy and pony to bring him in. Mr. Spink walked the entire distance, reaching home with only the whip and the clothes on his back as representatives of the entire outfit of the Columbus party.

Another incident illustrative of pioneer life in this section of the country, occurred at an earlier date than the foregoing one. In the spring of 1833, Mr. Spink started out in search of cows, milk being in demand at Perrysburg. He was gone for three days through the country overcoming many obstacles and making a circuit that now could be accomplished in a few hours.

In 1839 Mr. Spink was in the employ of Judge John Hollister, who at that time owned a line of steamboats which ran between Pen-ysburg and Buffalo, and also transacted a large business as agent for the American Fur Company. Mr. S]nnk Avas master of the General Vance. As there were no railroads in those days, the lakes were the gi-eat commercial highways and boats ran as long as the river was open. On returning from his last trip that fall, after having been absent from his family nearly all of the season, he went into Hollister's store in the evening happy with the thought that he should have a little rest and enjoy the comforts of home, but was told tliat they wanted him to start the next morning for southwestern Indiana in the interest of the fur company - that somebody must go, and that he was the only person who could fill the bill. Hard as was this task and great as was his disappointment, Mr. Spink consented to go, and after remaining with his family over night, he and B. F. Hollister mounted their horses and started on the journey. The distance t) be traveled was four hundred miles, and they made it in eight days, averaging fifty miles per day.

Mr. Spink remained in southern Indiana, buying furs and skins until the first of June, v^hen, being an earnest Whig, he hast-ened to the monster gathering at Ft. Meigs in 1840. Although suffering from ague he made the trip in good time.

In 1850, when General Taylor was President and General G. A. Jones, of Mount Vernon, was U. S. Marshal of Ohio, Mr. Spink was appointed Deputy ^larshal. His duties required him to \-isit every house in the county for the ]»urpose of taking the census. In 1830, v>hen Wood county embraced what is now Lucas county, and also a portion of Fulton county, the entire population was less than 2,090, but in 1850 Mr. Spink found nearly ten thousand persons living within the present limits of this eounty.

In this year Mr. Spink was elected Sheriff of Wood county. The county was strongly Democratic in politics, but his personal popularity secured success. About this time many leading Democrats becajne tinctured with free soil sentiments, and when the Missouri compromise measures were adopted by Congress, manv of them joined with the Whigs, and the count}' finally passed into the hands of the Whigs, and since the organization of the Republican party has been strongly Republican. Mr. Spink contributed largely to these results. An enthusiastic partisan, liberal in his views, and genial in his manners, he was always at work and none could accomplish more. At that time the entire fees of the Sheriff's office for two years did not amount to over $500 - $100 of which was received in cash and the balance mostly was ne\'er collected.

At the next election after his successful canvass for Sheriff, Mr. Spink was nominated for County Treasurer l)y the Whigs. At that time John Bates was the strong wheel-horse of the Wood county Democrats, and he was Mr. Spink's opponent. Bates was treasurer for a number of years and it was believed that he could neither be beaten in convention nor at the polls. Spink was equall}^ strong with the Whigs, and the county was Democratic by about 300 majority. When the votes were counted it was found that Bates had but barely nine majority.

of Treasurer again, tJie Whigs nominated Mr. Spink. The Democrats were a little afraid to put forward John Bates for another trial with Spink, so they nominated Samuel Cliilcote. who, it was suj)- posed, could carry more votes than any other Democrat in the county. Chilcote was in every respect a most worthy man, but Spink beat him and was reelected, serving four years in that office. Plis natural desire to accomlinodate the people, which often led him to advance the taxes for men throughout the count}', and his well known integrity secured for him a degree of popularity with the public which is seldom enjoyed by persons so active in political work and so decided in partisan convictions.

In 1862, under the Internal Revenue laws, Mr. Spink was appointed Deputy Assessor, a position which he filled in a creditable manner for two years, when the office was abolished. After this he turned his attciitidii to farming, until 1871, when he was appointed Superintendent of .the Western Reserve & Maumee Road, a position which he filled for nine montlis, after which he continued his residence in Perrysburg and for many years enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.

A Jail In The Woods

FEW of the dwellers in Wood county today will remember the old wooden jail at Perr}'sburg, indeed, we doubt if there are many who knew of its existence.

It was built many years ago at a cost of and the contractors took part of their pay in Perrysburg town lots at $13 each. It was made of square oak logs, cut mostly on the present corporation limits of Perrysburg and served its purpose as well, and was as much a terror to evil doers as are the costly structures of stone, iron and brick of the present day. Wood county's population was then less than two hundred human souls. The projectors of that jail were no doubt aware of the fact there was but little in the county at that time to steal, and that where there is no temptation there are apt to be fewer rogues. This primitive structure served as a calaboose for the confinement of some of the frisky veteran volunteers in the Michigan war, who at times indulged too freely in Maumee ague medicine and then got boisterous. It was located on Front street near the old Exchange Hotel.

Sheriff John AVebb had charge of the jail, at the time George Porter was imprisoned in it, in 1830; it stood alone in a dense thicket, the brush and timber having been cleared away only far enough to admit the teams tliat liaulcd the jail timbers. The fine macadamized road now known as Front street, was only a tortuous wagon track between trees and stumps. There was no building near except the log court house. Mr. Webb lived in a little house up the river near the bayou nearly or quite half a mile from the jail, and during Porter's imprisonment Mr. Webb carried him his meals to his dismal cell in the thicket three times a day, and at night locked him in his cell and went home. Such an arrangement would not in these jail breaking times be regarded as entirely

In 1823, after the county seat was removed from Maumee, "Uncle" Guy bearing took the contract for removing the little log jail from Maumee for $45. In 1824 Nearing and Hubbell took the contract of building a court house, also for repairing the jail, which was further enlarged in 1826, or '27 by him and Elisha Martindale, though they were not tlie contractors, Wearing at that time being a county commissioner. The jail, as lu-eviously mentioned, was built two stories high, of logs about a foot square, secured at the ends by tenons and mortises with a wooden pin through. The floors were of the same solid square timber. The windows were but little more than long cracks where the halves of two logs had been taken out and perpendicular iron bolts passed through for security. I'here were two dark cells also made of strong solid square timber. The doors wore rude massive wooden structures well spiked with wrought nails and swung on strong iron hinges. The roof, gables and general exterior of the building appeared similar to any hewed log cabin. - C. W. E.

Old Time Tragedy

During the autumn of the year 1845, Summundewat, a Wyandot chief from the Sandusky Plains, with his daughter, her husband, seven ponies, two colts, and five dogs, passed through Portage townsi lip on their way to Turkey foot, Henry county, on their annual fall hunt, and slopped a day or so in Portage township. While here they visited Jacob Eberly's blacksmith shop on the Portage river, one mile below the present village of Portage, for the purpose of getting a knife and hatchet made, and a gun-sight repaired.

In the employ of Eberly was a young man named John Anderson, who was quite intimate with and kept the company of one James Lyons, who lived with his widowed mother, on the middle branch

the Portage. La'oiis, who was considerably okler than x4.nderson, possessed all the elements of character for a desperado of the worst type, and dark suspicions rested on him of counterfeiting and other -deviltries.

The Indians had with them two excellent coon dogs, either of which could scent a coon tree without the trouble of tracking the animal on the ground. During the visits of the Indians at Eberly's shop, Lyons had tried to buy or trade for these dogs, which ho coveted very much, but without success. Lyons and Anderson both visited the camp of Summundewat, and by some means learned that the party had some money.

Shortly after the Indians left for Turkeyfoot, where they were to join another party from the Plains in a hunt. The old chief and his little party had not been gone long, when Lyons and Anderson also left. Not many days after of these men while passing down the river was noticed to have with him Summundewat's coon dogs.

Old Benjamin Cox, who was familiar i\dth Indian habits, and could speak their language, remarked when he saw the dogs that they must have been coaxed away, as no Indian would sell his dogs at the beginning of the hunting season.

Not many days elapsed before a startling rumor reached the settlement that Summundewat, the Indian preacher, and all his party had been murdered, and on the following Sunday, Avhile the few scattering settlers along the river were assembled at quiet worship at a little log school house where now is the town of Portage, a party of Indians accompanied by a white trader from the Plains, and led by a chief called Snake-bones, made their appearance, causing a sensation and no little anxiety among the settlers.

Anderson, who was in the school house, was almost the first man to discover the dusky red men at the door, and divinad their purpose in an instant. He grew deadly pale and shook as if awakening from a dream of horror. The chief singled out the guilty man whom he had never seen before, with that unerring certainty with which a dog tells his master. Anderson was seized and bound. At that same moment, unconscious of las danger (but with a presentiment as he afterward told, that for three days and nights somebody or some shadow was pursuing him), Lyons was one mile below on the river at Jacob Eberly's shop, trying to induce him to shoe his mare, a splendid race mare, the fleetest in the country, which Eberly did not care to do as it was Sunday. Lyons presently left and passed down the river to where Anderson lived, and waited some time for his return, but of course waited in vain.

The settlers after learning of the terrible murder that had been committed, and that the blood-stained perpetrators were from their midst, became excited almost to frenzy. Not only because of the cruel and revolting nature of the tragedy, but because it exposed them to the fury and revenge of the exasperated red men, and as may well be supposed gave every assistance in their power to give the offenders over to the law, in order that their punishment might appease the wrath of the savages.

Snake-bones had learned where Lyons lived and thither he led his party, and with that unerring certainty which had enabled him to follow the footsteps of Lyons and Anderson, from the scene of the tragedy on Turkeyfoot to Haskins settlement throuofh unbroken forests and pathless prairies, and which seems ahiiost an intuition, lie soon revealed in that secluded cabin the evidences of terrible guilt. Mrs. Lyons lay on the bed feigning sickness. The chief made a brief survey of the cabin, and, stooping lifted a puncheon from the floor, and the two coon dogs sprung forth. He lifted the bed clothing and beheld the bloody blankets of the ill-fated Summundewat. The white spectators stood mute and aghast. In another place they found the jerked venison and furs concealed, and near by the ponies. They then retired; a short parley followed, and that night a cordon of pickets guarded that lonely cabin. Twice the two sisters of Lyons attempted to pass that line to warn their guilty brother - twice they were sent back. Long after the shades of night had gathered over all and nothing disturbed the silence except the hum of the beetle or the song of the katydid, a horseman was heard approaching, and the rider, Jim Lyons, all unconscious of danger entered the cabin.

Scarcely had the door closed on his back ere the wary footsteps of the Wyandot chief were heard on the threshold, and all of Lyons efforts to get his favorite race mare were unavailing. She would have distanced all pursurers. She was his tried and trusted friend in case of apprehension or pursuit for crime. No telegraph or railways then to out speed her. But no - he was a prisoner, his wily captors gave him no chance of escape. He was bound hand and foot, and, with Anderson, lodged in the jail at Napoleon, the crime having been committed just within the Henry county line. The jail was a log building, and shortly after, Lyons, Anderson, and an Irishman confined on charge of murder, all escaped. Anderson was afterwards through the influence of friends, induced to give himself up, under promise that he would turn state's evidence. This was done under the belief by the settlers that there was another and third party implicated in the crime, of whose dangerous presence they desired to rid themselves.

And now, reader, would you like to hear a recital of this dark deed of blood which even at this distant day makes one shudder? If so, follow us through the

As has just been stated, suspicion rested on a third party. That man was John Ellsworth, who owned and lived on the farm now belonging to John Z. Smith, in Liberty township. The confession of young Anderson more than confinned their worst suspicion. This Ellsworth, who was a little past the prime of life, was one of the most dangerous men of his time - a man who with a certain class of people could gain a strong influence, capable of strong friendship when it suited his purpose. Though professedly ignorant - so much so that he never while here, was known to write his owai name or read a sentence, and yet he was one of the best educated of mien. It is said that he had, before lie removed to the depths of the Black Swamp, saved himself from the penitentiar}^ on a charge of forgery by proving l)y bribed witnesses that he could neither read nor write, and in this state of ignorance he remained to the world about liim, to the last day of his residence in Wood county.

But long after, when all old scores were outlaw^ed, we hear of his occupying the Judge's bench in one of the Western States, to which he emigrated, and to which position he was elected. He was of fine address and plausible demeanor, yet no man more cunning in devising deep laid plots of deviltry and crime, and at the same time keeping his own skirts clear of the consequences. He was several times apprehended and imprisoned, but each time managed to break jail and get the damaging testimony disposed of, and in somie way escape the law, while those of whom he had made tools would sufEer the severe penalty. In fact he was supposed to be at tlie head of a gang of counterfeitors, horse thieves and robbers. The route of the Indians to Turkeyfoot led a little north of where Ellsworth lived.

But when they reached a point near the Indians he suddenly stopped and said, "Boys, I can go no further. I am already resting under suspicion, and if this job is done, I will be the first man called upon to prove my whereabouts. I will go back and keep watch of matters until you return with the plunder, which is now to be had for the taking." Ellsworth went home and Lyons and Anderson went to the camp of the Indians, where they were well treated. The Indians, said Anderson, seemed to be suspicious of some impending evil. They were wakeful and restless at night, so much so that no opportunity offered to take their lives, until finally on the third day, under pretext of trying to find the other party of Indians, they broke up camp and moved about two miles; well had it been for them had they never stopped until they had found the other ]iarty.

By previous arrangement, Lyons was to kill Summundewat and Anderson was to kill the husband of the woman and then dispatch the woman. The Indians had been broken of their rest so much tliat sleep soon overcame them.

At a prearranged signal, each of the vi'hite men sunk his hatchet in the head of the sleeping men. The poor woman sprang to her feet and implored Anderson's mercy in such pitiful terms, that he hesitated. Humanity had not entirely forsaken his breast; his arm faltered. Said he, I could not strike that woman who had treated us so kindly and never had done me harm. Lyons upbraided him with a terrible oath for being chicken-hearted, and with one blow of his hatchet struck her to the earth never to rise again. They dragged the bodies n short distance and covered them beside i\ log. They then proceeded to gather up the effects of the murdered people, and lastly the ponies, as they were now in finite a hurry to hasten away.

So far all had gone well with them; no human eye was witness to the deed they had done. The depths of the lonely forest far, far from any settlement or habitation, was a fitting and safe place for such a crime. Safe - did we say? - ]^o, not safe. There is an Eye that notes the fall of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head. There is a Power to avenge blood beyond the ken of man. There are witnesses of all our thoughts and actions when we least suspect them. Sometimes it seems as if an overruling Hand directs mute, dumb witnesses to testify.

occurred the circumstance which revealed all. Two colts that were not tethered and that followed the ponies, were very wild and fled at the approach of the white men. They could not be driven or coaxed to follow, but remained about the place whinnying and making a great fuss.

It so happened that the other hunting party from the Plains arrived about this time and passed not far from the place, and the noise made by the colts was heard by them, and the ponies of the Indians answered the call of the colts, and the colts soon after joined and followed them. This was the first intimation to the hunters that they were in the neighborhood of the Summundewat party. Still they heard no guns and saw nothing of them. They felt certain, however, that they could not be far off, since the colts would not otherwise be there.

After a day or so one of the hunters took the trail of the colts, and following back a short distance, came to the deserted camp. He soon became satisfied that there was something wrong and reported at his camp. A number of hunters went with him and they soon found the bodies of the murdered people, and with the pursuits and results as before told. Anderson stated that not far from Ellsworth's house the crafty old villain met them and inquired. What luck? On being told what they had done, he said. How much money? They produced it; he took it, and after looking at it said, "Boys this is no place to count money, we will meet again;" and that was the last they saw or heard of the illgotten gold and silver.

The confession of Anderson implicating Ellsworth intensified public feeling to fever heat, and the officers of the law wore soon after him in hot haste, but they were too late. He had gone. Rewards were offered, and he was handbilled, and finally was discovered and arrested in an out of the way town in one of the western states, but soon made liis escape, and finally after Lyons and Anderson were out of reach, he boldly presented himself for trial, and of course went unconvicted and unpunished.

Anderson told how they made their escape from jail, which was built of solid i square timber. With an iron poker they succeeded, by long perseverance, in burning a log of timber overhead, filling up the marks of their work with bread so as to avoid detection. On the night set for the escape, they discovered that Lyons, who was a large, full built man, could not work his body through the hole in the ceiling, but he had a will equal to the emergency. He sent Anderson through into the loft. Then stripping off all his clothes, he pushed them through, after which he thrust his body into the hole where he stood, as if he had been wedged. Then commanding Ander son to pull up and the Irishman to push up, he went through after much labor J and excruciating torture, leaving a part ' of his skin on the rough, jagged edges of the timber. A

Anderson was last heard of in Indiana, 1 where to all who ever knew him he vanished forever, nor has search or inquiry ever been able to even get the faintest clue to him.

Ellsworth, as before stated, went west and wore the ermine of a judge, whether worthily or unworthily is a question we leave to our readers.

Lyons finally came to the surface in California at a court organized by Judge Lynch, accused of a diabolical murder and robbery. He confessed his guilt, also to his true name, and confessed to having murdered eight men. He was b.ung to the limb of a tree, and his execu- tion closed the chapter of the trio of blood-stained men, who enacted a dark tragedy whicli produced a state of excitement never equalled since civilization began in the "Black Swamp."

In this connection the editor of the Henry County Signal, who was well acquainted witli tlic murdered chief, says : "Summundewat was one of the most enlightened and noble chiefs of the "Wyandot nation, and was not only held in high estimation by his own people, but by all the whites that were acquainted with him as well. He had been converted to the Protestant religion, and was a leading member in the Methodist church of that nation. He was always a firm friend of the whites, and used his endeavors to maintain peace and friendly relations between his people and the Tale Faces' at that day. His murder caused great excitement among the Indians and the whites at his old home, and quite a number of the latter took their guns and assisted in ferreting out the murderers. These men insisted on staying and guarding the prisoners after 1heir arrest, until court convened, fearing that they would be permitted to esca])e. but after some time were prevailed to leave them to the keeping of the jailor, and we know that the escape of Summundewat's murderers was connived at, and permitted bv those who had them in custodv."

Logical Reasons

IT will be remembered that preparations were being made to hold the commemorative centenary of Ohio's admission into the Union, at Toledo instead of Columbus, in 1903. Mr. Evers, at that time gave the following lucid points as to why Toledo should be selected without question :

Toledo is not only the proud metropolis of this section, favored by the proximity of river, bay, lake, islands and numerous railway arteries of travel and commerce, but she is rich in surrounding liistoric associations which inspire patriotic sentiment in the breast of everv

The place where marked events in the story of a nation have transpired - where great acts of heroism, or other noble liuman virtues have been displayed, and have crowned momentous issues with success, always calls forth emotions of admiration.

Who that has visited Bunker Hill, the plains of Yorktown, the tomb at Mt. Yernon, or the sacred precincts of Jerusalem, has not felt this thrill of sentiment? "If such there be, go mark him well." etc.

Almost at Toledo's portals on th(^ high l)ank of the Maumee is the site of Fort ]\'[iami, yet plainh' distinguishable in its martial outlines cf grassy embankments. It was here a paity of old Count Fron- 1< nac's liardy French explorers landed in 1ho winter of 1679-80, and unfurled the I'rench flag - the first symbol of eivilizalion ever planted on Ohio soil.

Anglo-Saxon, France lost, and the tricolor gave place to the cross of St. George; twice since, this same historic spot has bristled with English cannon, contesting the mastery here with the American republic.

Farther away, across the river, but within hearing of Toledo's Sabbath bells, is another memorable landmark - Fort Meigs. Memory's filmy thread, in men yet living, almx)st spans the cleft of time - the short years back, when Ohio's fate hung trembling in the lurid

The misfortunes of war had suddenly transferred the battle ground from the Canada border to the Maumee. The sandy plains, from the Eiver Raisin to the Maumee rapids, had drank the blood of scores and hundreds of patriotic Kentuckians who had hurried to Ohio's aid. The exultant Britons, with their hordos of Indian allies, had advanced and were at the throat of Port Meigs, then garrisoned with a small force under General Harrison. This fort was all that stood between the defenseless settlements of southern Ohio and the infuriated savages. The heroic stand made under an almost incessant cannonade night and day, the unspoken prayers for help, the arrival of a midnight messenger bringing tidings of nearby reinforcements, and the deadly strife that ensued when that force landed fit the fort are among the

Of war's dread annals. The invaders were driven back, Ohio was saved, and the story of Fort Meigs is an inspiration of patriotic sentiment, heightened greatly by a visit there.

The earth work lines, smooth and grass grown, are yet distinct in outline. Its quiet environfhents give scarcely a suggestion now of grim-visaged war that once frowned on its fair brow. As you glance across the beautiful sweep of water, your eye rests on the plain where Dudley's brave men were beaten down and massacred by Tecumseh's insatiate savages; where the diabolical revels of the scalp dance

The waters, as. they sweep past, seem to breathe a sad rhythm - a requiem, as it were, in memory of the heroes there, in -] unmarked graves.

But there are other consecrated grounds here; other mailed warriors were here. There were other tragic events, where the nation's safety hinged upon the martial valor of its patriotic sons.

No ! Then you should ; there is a sulphur spring or well near - very strong. John Oviatt used to say it was here Mad Anthony let loose a big blast of sulphurous profanity because a few of the redskins got away alive. This rock is interesting in several ways. It is large; no relic hunter can carry it off; it marks the place of high tide in the battle of Fallen Timber; and let me say just here what any soldier will see at a glance, who visits this interesting field, thai; the Indians showed soldierly skill in selecting a defensive battle ground. Had not

It is not only a battle ground monument, but is believed to be the rugged and fitting mausoleum of a sub-chief, Mas-Sas-Sa (Wyandot for turkey), of the turkey elan of the Wyandots, who was one of the unlucky fellows who tried to stop Wayne's saldiers that day. The totem, or emblem of his clan was a picture of a turkey's foot or track, which his devoted clansmen afterwards cut in this rock as a memorial to their chief.

Mas-Sas-Sa was not a leading chief, but of all the chieft-ains, red or white, M'hose deeds in war have made the Maumee historic, none other that I know of has a monument.

It is a reproach on the enter}. rise and patriotism of our people, that while we lavish so much on doubtful projects, we neglect to beautify these historic spots and properly commemorate the names of the heroes who came here to deliver the land from savage bondage and from conquest by kings.

The government was weak in resources. Two American armies had been destroyed, and Wayne was leading a third one into the swampy fastnesses of the ]\Iaumee - a

Then, the chosen rendezvous of the allied savages of the northwest, who were aided and goaded on l\v Bi'itish agents and traders. England had advanced from the Canada border and planted her flag and garrison on the Maumee at Miami.

Behind Wayne was the buried skeletons of St. Clair's butchered army, and three feeble settlements on the Ohio from Marietta down, all cooped up in block houses. Blue Jacket and Little Turtle, insolent with victory, had made the Napoleonic decree that no American could come north of tlie Ohio and live. That was Ohio on that eventful August day. Xo wonder the victory Wayne achieved there thrilled the nation witli joy and brought loud acclamations of gratitude

Anthony Wayne was a man of audacious courage, skilled in strategy, prudent in detail as Washington himself, invincible and strong of will as Kleber, impetuous in attack as Murat and profane as Swarrow. He seemed well fitted for the rough and tumble border warfare Washington chose for him.

Another great actor in border drama, Pontiac, the greatest red chieftain of tho north, made his home with his tribe, the Ottawas, on the Maumee just below Toledo, shortly after the collapse of the startling and wide spread conspiracy which he had planned with consummate ability. His kindred lived there many years. His son Ottuso and his widow,

Toledo is, as I just said, the focus |)oint where more of historic interest centers than any point in Ohio. The ])atriotic element love and cherish these associations. It is our duty as loyal citizens to cultivate and encourage patriotism in every way. The rising generation should be taught to feel a pride in the noble deeds and virtues of their ancestors; it makes us all better citizens and nuikes our form of government more enduring. With Toledo's enterprise, her re])utation for generous hospitality and higli standard of social culture, together with her incomparable facilities for handling a crowd and making their stay comfortable, there ought to Ix^ no question of her standing at the head of the list of candidates for the Centennial.

Indians Foiled

troops at every opportunity - hung on their fianks, attacked the rear guard, planned ambuscades and by every stratagem tried to draw the army into their deadly toils as they had done with Harmar and St. Clair, but in every attempt they were foiled. They always met a warm reception whenever or wherever they attacked the American line. - C. W. E.

Pioneer Families

IN October, 1832, Elisha Martindale entered 40 acres of land directly west of and joining the present fair grounds, and put up a stack of wild hay at a point about due west of the floral hall, and on the west side of the present Haskins road, where the great willow tree stood, and long known as tiie Clinton Pay place. That was the first land entry in the present limits of Bowling Green as shown by the records.

In the spring of 1833 Martindale brought his family, and a few household effects out from Maumee, crossing the river on the ice aiid following, much of the way, the old army trail until he reached the cabin of a settler named Wilson on the ridge on the Haskins road, where the family stayed until a cabin could be built, except the two girls, Louisa, Avho later became Mrs. Van Tassel and later Thurstin and Eliza Jane, who married Warren Gunn; tliey were taken over to the Portage settlement and left with a family named -Jaques until the cabin was ready.

Mr. Martindale, who was a man of restless energy, was nothing discouraged to find his stack of prairie hay had gone up in smoke in a l)ig prairie fire late in the fall, started likely by Indians on their hunting excursions, but went right to work and in less than four weeks had a cabin 18x24 with "shake" roof, ready and his family moved in. They got a supply of meat from Wilson, who, with fi hunter named Decker, took their pick from the bands of wild hogs that fattened on nuts and acorns in the vast forests. The girls were brought home, a shelter was made for the cow, a well dug and Bowling Grei^i's pioneer family was settled in their new home. It was paid for and all their own.

Soon after they had got settled the oldest girl, Sally, arrived, bringing with her a gingham dress pattern and other fixings for a dress suit. In a few days William Hecox, a young man from Maumiee, came with a license, and Squire Elijah Huntington, of Perrysburg, on April 15, 1833, solemnized the first marriage in Bowling Green.

The only neighbors, the Wilsons, were invited, also four friends from the mission station on the Maumee. When the young bride left the humble cabin that day on horseback sitting behind her husband on the same horse, there was no rice or second-hand shoes to throw after her; those articles were scarce then.

Other cabins followed among them that of Alfred Thurstin, in the year, 1833, who entered land and built a cabin just east of the present Eeed & Merry block. - C. W. E. in Wood County Tribune.

Sckap-Book Peter Manor

PETER MANOR came to the river to reside in the year 1808. He had been here prior to that time but not to settle, and he had most likely acquired a knowledge of the locality through his connection with some of the French Canadian exploring parties, for at a much earlier period they had made their way up the Maumee river and carried their canoes from the head waters of the Maumee to the Wabash and passed down that river to the Ohio. Manor was adopted by the Indian chief Tondoganie and by the treaty at the foot of the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake, concluded Sept. 29, 1817, his adopted father caused a section of land to be granted to his son. The treaty say< it was granted at the special request of the Ottawas. The ^rant is in these words: "To Sa- wan-debans, or the Yellow Hair or Petar Manor, an adopted son of Tondoganie or the Dog, and at the special request of the Ottawas, out of the tract reserved by the treaty of Detroit, in 1807, about Roche De Boeuf, at the village of the said Dog, a section of land to contain 640 acres, to be located in a square form, on the north side of the Miami at the Wolf Rapid." This land was within the original limits of Wood county.

It was Manor who saved the settlers at the foot of the Rapids from the horhors of massacre by the Indians. He learned of the surrender of Hull from an Indian runner, and that the Indians would come in three days' time and would massacre all the Yankees in the valley.

* * Manor lost no time in making this known to the settlers, and they fled, but not too soon, for they heard the yells of the savages, and saw the smoke of their log houses as they passed down the river in their frail bark. Thus tragically ended the first settlement within the limits of Wood county, and the space A'acated by the destruction of their houses became the theatre of war, always dreadful, but revolting when carried on by a savage foe, and still more so, Avhen those claiming to be Christians, use the savage scal]iing knife.

Little Turtle

IX making the Greenville treaty. Gen. Wayne, who was a pretty skillful, farsighted diplomatist, nearly found his match in some of the Indian chiefs who displayed wonderful tact and crude statesmanship. Especially was this true of Little Turtle, whose skill, tenacity and faithfulness in trying to guard the rights all the tribes, won encomiums even fiom his enemies. It may be further said of this Indian and of his tribe, the Miamis, that after the treaty was signed they always remained faithful friends of the Americans. The same can not be said of some of the other tribes, especially the Shawanees, a portion of whom, under Tecumseh and his brother, turned against the Americans in the war with England in 1813. - C. W. E.

Wapakoneta was the home of Tecumseh and Logan, where their families lived. Logan, the famous Shawanese chief, was a nephew of Tecumseh. his mother being a sister of that distinguished Indian warrior.

Eloquence Of Tecumseh

WHEA^ Proctor began to make preparations to retreat from Maiden, the quick eye of Tecumseh soon detected it. He called his warriors about him and in their behalf addressed Proctor as follows:

"Father, listen to your children ! You have them now all before you. The war before this, our British father gave the hatchet to his red children, when our old chiefs were alive. They are now dead. In that war our father was thrown on liis back by the Americans; and our father took them by the hand without our knowledge; and we are afraid that our father will do so again this time.

"Summer before last when I came forward with my red brethren, and was ready to take up the hatchet in favor of our British father, we were told not to be in a hurry, that he had not yet determined to fight the Americans. Listen ! When war was declared, our father stood up and gave us the tomahawk, and told us that he was then ready to strike the Americans; that he wanted our assistance, and that he would certainly get our land back, which the Americans had taken from us.

"Listen ! When we were last at the Eapids, it is true we gave you little assistance. It is hard to fight people who live like groundhogs. Father, listen ! Our fleet has gone out; we know they have fought; we have heard the great guns; but we know nothing of what has happened to our father with one arm. (Commodore Barclay, who had lost an arm in some previous battle.) Our ships have gone one way, and we are much astonished to see our father tying up every thing and preparing to run away the other, without letting his red childrerL know what his intentions are. You always told us to remain here and take care of our lands. It made our hearts glad to^ hear that was your wish. Our great father, the king, is the head, and you represent him. You always told us you would never draw your foot oft British ground ; but now, father, we see that you are drawing back, and we are sorry to see our father doing so without, seeing the enemy. "\^'e must compare our father's conduct to a fat dog, that carries its tail on its back, but when affrighted, drops it between its legs and runs off. Father, listen I The Americans have not yet defeated us by land; neither are we sure that they have done so by water; we, therefore, wish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance. If they defeat us, we will then retreat with our father.

"At the battle of the Rapids (Wa3nie's) in the last Avar, the Americans certainly defeated us; and when we returned to our father's fort at that place, the gates wore shut against us. We were afraid that it would now be the case; but instead of that, we now see our British father preparing to march out of his garrison. Father, you have not the arms and ammunition which our great father sent for his red children. If you have an idea of going away, give them to lis, and you may go and welcome, for us."

Shortly after the delivery of this speech a considerable body of Indians abandoned General Proctor, and crossed the strait to the American shore. - C. W. E.

Tecumseh Described

You ask me for a description of the celebrated Indian warrior, Tecumseh, from my personal observation.' I answer that I never saw the great chief but once, and then under rather exciting circumstances, but I have a vivid recollection of him from his appearance, and from intercourse with his personal friends, I am possessed of an accurate knowledge of his character.

I was, as you know, one of the prisoners taken at what is known as Dudley's defeat on the banks of the Maumee river, opposite Fort Meigs, early in May, 1813. Tecumseh had fallen upon our rear, and we were compelled to surrender. We were marched down to the old Fort Miami or Maumee, in squads, where a terrible scene awaited us.

The Indians, fully armed with guns, war clubs and tomahawks - to say nothing of scalping knives, had formed themselves into two lines in front of the gateway between which all of us were bound to pass. Many were killed or wounded in running the gauntlet. Shortly after the prisoners had entered, the Indians rushed over the walls and again surrounded us, and raised the war-whoop, at the same time making unmistakable demonstrations of violence. We all expected to be massacred, and the small British guard around us were utterly unable to afford protection. They called loudly for General Proctor and Colonel Elliot to come to our relief. At this critical moment Tecumseh came rushing in, deeply excited, and denounced the murderers of prisoners as cowards.

Thus our lives were spared and we were sent down to the fleet at the mouth of Swan Creek (now Toledo) and from that place across the end of the lake to Huron and paroled.

I shall never forget the noble countenance, gallant bearing and sonorous voice of that remarkable man, while addressing his warriors in our behalf.

He was then between forty and fortyfive years of age. His frame was vigorous and robust, but he was not fat, weighing about one hundred and seventy pounds. Five feet ten inches was his height. He had a high, projecting forehead, and broad, open countenance; and there was something noble and commanding in all his actions. He was brave, liumane and generous, and never allowed a prisoner to be massacred if he could prevent it. At Fort Miami he saved the lives of all of us who had survived running the gauntlet. He afterwards released seven Shawanese belonging to my command, and sent them home on parole. Tecumseh was a Shawanese. His name signified in their language. Shooting Star. x\t the time when I saw him he held the commission of a Brigadier General in the British army. I am satisfied that he deserved all that was said of him by General Cass and Governor Harrison, previous to his death.

The names of the settlers who located within the limits of Wood county, prior to 1810, so far as can be ascertained, are Maj. Amos Spafford, Andrew Race, Thomas Leaming, Halsey W. Leaming, James Carliu, Wm. Carter, George Blalock, James Slawson, Samuel H. Ewing, Jesse Skinner, David Hull, Thomas Dick, William Peters, Ambrose Hickox, Richard Gifford; these all resided within a radins of five miles of the foot of the rapids.

The Pioneee Death Of Tecumseh

GEK GEOEGE SANDERSON, who died in 1871, at Lancaster, Ohio, was with Gen. Harrison in the battle of the river Thames, as a Captain in the regular army. Regarding Tecumseh's death Gen. Sanderson says:

My company shared in the glorious rout of Proctor and his proud army, that result being attained Ijy the victory at tlie river Thames. It was on the memorable day, October o, 1813, that Tecumseh fell. I remember Tecumseh. I saw him a number of times before the war. He was a man of huge frame, powerfully built, and was about six feet two inches in height. I saw his body on the Thames battlefield before it was cold. Whether Colonel Johnson killed liim or not, I cannot say. During the battle all was smoke, noise and confusion. Indeed, I never heard any one speak of Colonel Johnson's having killed Tecumseh until years afterwards. Johnson was a brave man, and was badly wounded in the battle in a very painful part - his knuckles - and also, I think, in the body. He was carried past me on a litter. In the evening on the day of the battle I was appointed by General Harrison to g-uard the Indian prisoners with my company. The location was near a swamp.

As to the report of the Kentuckians having skinned Tecumseh's body, I am personally cognizant that such was the fact. I have seen many contrary reports, but they are untrue. I saw the Kentucky troops in the very act of cutting the skin from the body of the chief. They would cut strips about a half a foot in length iind an inch and a half wide, which would stretch like gum elastic. I saw a piece two inches long, which, when it was dry, could be stretched nearly a foot in length. Til at it was Tecumseh's body which was skinned I have no doubt. I knew him. Besides the Indian prisoners under my charge continually pointed to his body, \\'luch laid close by, and uttered the most Ix'wailing cries at his loss. By noon the day after the battle the body could hardly be recognized, it had so thoroughly been skinned. My men covered it Avith brush and logs, and it was probably eaten by -wolves. Although many officers did not like the conduct of the Kentuckians, they dare not interfere. The troop.^ from that slate were infuriated at the massacre at the river Raisin, and their battle cry was, "Remember the River of Raisin." It WHS only with difficulty that the Indian prisoners could be guarded, so general was the disposition of the Kentuckians to massacre them.

](;, 1808, and died December 25, 1876, at the age of G8. His medical education was o])t^ined at Yale College and Berkshire Medical College, gradiiating from the latter in 1827. He came to the Maumee Valley and settled in Perrysburg in 1834, and at once engaged in the arduous duties of his profession.

terprisos. Among these may be euumerated drugs, merchandise, ship building, hardware, warehousing and fiour-mill. He also built tlie hydraulic canal at Perrysburg.

In all his money-making he turned it to some practical account. He did not keep it for show, nor wear it for ostentation. As soon as earned, it was invested in some useful occupation. There was in his composition but little of the imaginative. Dreams and visionary theories he discarded, and with wonderful tenacity clung to the practical business of the country, and through life kept every dollar employed in active business.

At the election in the spring of 1869, he was elected to Congress to fill tlie vacancy caused by the death of Hon. T. H. Hoag, who had beaten Mr. Ashley the fall before. He was re-elected in the fall of the next year for the full term. At both of these elections, the citizens of Perrysburg testified to the high esteem in which they held him, by largely ignoring party and casting almost the entire vote for him.

"I feel the story of the doctor's life would be incomplete without some account of his noble work during the cholera, which raged with unexampled fatality at Perrysburg in the summer of 1854. Between the 20th of July and the middle of August one hundred and twenty persons died. ]\Iany of the citizens left, and of those who remained, all who did not die were engaged in taking care of the sick and burjdng the dead. Stores wera closed and business suspended. No one came to the suffering town. Even travelers whose route lay through the town went round it. The reality of death stared everv one in the face. At first the terror and excitement among the citizens vvere indescribable, and ail who could sought safety in flight. Some of these indiscreetly advised Dr Peck to go with them, telling him he could not stop the progress of the epidemic, and he was only exposing himself unnecessarily, where his lal)ors would be unavailing, aud in all human probability he would lose his own life without saving others. But amid all the consternation around him, he was cool, although he had greater cause of alarm than any, being constantly exposed. The door of his drug store was left open night and day, and the people helped themselves to such medicines as he would direct them to take, as he met them on his rounds to visit the sick and the dying. At the commencement of the epidemic his partner, Dr. James Kobertson, was among its first victims. This left him alone to contend with this "incomprehensible desttt'oyer single-handed. But he never faltered, nor for a moment quailed before the death-dealing scourge, that was blindly putting forth its unseen power, which killed where it touched. Wearied and worn down by i-onstant fatigue, he nevertheless rallied his powers, and hurried with unfaltering footsteps to each new demand for his aid.

"During those days and nights of terrible anxiety and suffering, lie was almost constantly on the go, in no instance refusing to obey a call, until threatened with inflammation of the brain from loss of sleep. The citizens placed a guard around his house at night, to keep away callers, and allow him a few hours' rest to prepare him for the labors of the coming day.

"His answers to those who sought to induce him to abandon his duty, was: 1 camo to Perrysburg to minister to tlie sick, and I shall not abandon them now when they most need my services. The pliysician's place is at the bedside of the sick and dying, not by the side of roses in gardens of pleasure."

Mahlon Meeker

MAHLON MEEKER, who came to Wood county in 1833, passed away in 1876, aged 78 years. He came from Butler county, where he left his wife and two children, until he should find and locate their future home. In company with Johnston White, a resident of Miltonville, he visited, says the Wood County Sentinel (edited by C. W. Evers), the beautiful wild meadow north of what is now Bowling Green, and discovered, accidentally, a large stool of clover in blossom, the only thing in the tame grass line he had seen since he left Butler county. He called White to him and said: "I am not afraid to trust myself on land that will grow such clover as this." That spear or stool of clover, Mr. ]\Ieeker thought, grew near where he afterward built his barn. That circumstance decided him in his location. He built his cabin there. Afterwards he went to Bucyrus and entered the land for $1.25 per acre, and owned and lived on it to tbe time of his death.

her heart sank within her, and only for her children, she would have prayed God to relieve her from further struggle with a life of discouragement. One night shortly after her arrival and during the absence of her husband, she heard the voice of a woman screaming from a little pole shanty about a quarter of a mile distant where a family named Decker had just moved. She did not dare leave in tlie darkness, but next morning went over and found a dejected looking woman sitting before the fire cracking walnuts, wliile over against the side of her shanty on the puncheon floor, lay hvv husband, Jesse Decker, dead. He had died in convulsions from an overdose of lurpi-ntine taken for some bilious ailment. Mr. Meeker and a man named Howard broke their way through the ice to the Otsego mill with a yoke of oxen, got some rough Itoards and a few nails with which they laade a rough box and hauled Decker's hcdy to the ridge known as Union cemeti ry. and the burial, which was perhaps the first at that place, was conducted without ceremony.

Mr. Marker was an excellent and exemplary citizen, a sincere friend and kind neighbor. Before his death he was the oldest pioneer of Plain township. By his enterprise in early introducing improved varieties of fruit and live stock, he contributed in no small degree to the advancement of the central part of the county and may justly be classed first ninoii"- useful citizens.

NEARLY all the land in Plain township at one time belonged to the government and was subject to entry. Most of the settlers, at first "squatted" on a tract and began improvements, trusting to the future to get the means to enter land. But in too many cases on account of sickness or wet seasons it required their utmost efforts to gain even a tolerable subsistence, let alone getting anything ahead, and many of them lost nil the fruits of their labor by those ghouls of the western frontier, called "land sharks." Mahlon Meeker narrow-

Peter Navarre

There came into the ku-ality a fellow who pretended to be buying cattle. The stranger bought no cattle, however, but in conversation at John Wilson's, where he stopped to feed his horse, he let drop some remark by which Mrs. Wilson at once detected his business. She went at once to the Meekers, and on his return home that night she told him the business of the stranger.

Mr. Meeker Avent to Perrysburg that night, borrowed the money of John Hollister and immediately took an Indian trail for Bucyrus, which was the U. S. land office for this part of the state.

He rode as far as his horse could carry him the first day, then left his horse and footed it all night. He made his entry at the register office and went from there to the receiver's office. On returning shortly afterward to the register's office he was told by the officer that a man had been there only a few minutes after him to enter the same land. In his description Meeker at once recognized the bogus cattle buyer, who was just a little too late. - - C. W^ E.

Grand Rapids

FIKST of the villages laid out in Weston township, was Gilead, now called Grand Eapids. The first or original plat of Gilead was made by J. jST. Graham in 1831. In 1832, Guy ISTearing built a saw mill at Bear Rapids on the Maumee, and with Joshua Chappel, laid out the village of Otsego, which for a time bid fair to outstrip its competitors in growth and importance, but in the progress of human affairs, the village died as did the village of Benton, which David Hedges laid out, about one and a half miles below Otsego.

All travel to and from Gilead, was along the river road to Perrysburg, at the head of navigation on the Maumee river, from which place all goods, provisions, etc., destined for the up-river settlements must be hauled, over the almost impassable roads with ox- teams, and all the peltries accumulated and

In 1828, Alexander Brown and his father-in-law, Jos. North, were the first settlers to move back from the river into tlie dense forests that lay thick and dark between the river and the broad, grassy swamp known as Keeler's prairie. Mr. Brown located a heavily timbered tract of land along Beaver Creek, or as it was also then called, "Minard's Creek," and built the first cabin in a beautiful beech and maple grove. The beautiful bluff banks of Beaver Creek, covered thickly with forests of sugar maple, beech, oak and hickory timber, rapidly attracted the attention of settlers, and ere long Mr. Brown had neighbors on all sides of him.

The first township road petitioned for and located, was the road from Grand Rapids to a little above Potter; where it intersects the Wapakoneta road. It was located in the fall of 1830, and was the first regularly surveyed road leading from the river into the wilderness of the interior. Its length was a little over four miles and all the distance was through the most dense forest imaginable, such as the Maumee country was justly celebrated for along in the "thirties." The Wapakoneta road was not all cleared out yet at this time, so Alexander Brown took a contract to chop the timber out of a portion of the road from Gilead to the Wapakoneta road, and also for ten miles up the "Wapak" road. This furnished employment for a number of the settlers during the winter of 1830 and '31. The first choppers camped on their work. The first camp was near what is known as the John Pugh farm, in the edge of Henry county. There was at this point a deserted Indian village, and in the bark wigwams of the Indians, the choppers found shelter.

The next road laid out in the township was that very accommodating road still in use, called "the Grilead road," which ran about wherever there was dry land enough, and wherever there was a settlement, and finally brought up at Collister Haskins" place, where the Findlay road strikes the Portage river. On the surveyors map of the road made and filed with the commissioners, the place where Ralph 0. Keeler and his herders were camped on the Hollister cattle ranch, was called "HoUister's Prairie.'" This was the first name applied to the Keeler prairie and the settlement which afterwards becanne "New Westfield," Westfield, Taylortown and finally Weston. This road gave great latitude to the engineer who surveyed it, and he followed the "best" route frequently when not really the "nearest," though the old "Gilead road"* is still one of the best roads as well as one of the most used roads and is the nearest route still, from "HoUister's Prairie" to Gilead. It was completed in 1S34. - C. W. E.

An Illustration

TO illustrate the neighborly instinct, and desire to be sociable, felt by all settlers in a new country. Uncle John Gingery tells the following story:

The choppers were at this time camped at Avhat is known as Wilcox's bend, in Beaver Creek. One morning in midwinter found the choppers' camp bedded in a foot of snow, and a stiff blizzard blowing from the northwest. Uncle John, driven out early by the cold, set about kindling up the smouldering camp fire. While engaged at this, he heard away ofi: to the southeast, dim through the quiet of the frosty morning air, the faint, shrill crow of a rooster. Much elated at this evidence of growing civilization, and the proximity of Christian neighbors, he at once set out in the direction indicated by the voice of the rooster, to make the acquaintance of the venturesome owners of the bird; guided by the occasional crowing, he floundered on through the deep snow, over logs and through tangled brushwood, for more than a mile, and at last pulled up at a miserable little settlement of Indians on the banks of Beaver Creek. Uncle John looked about for the rooster, and at length spied him, tied with a piece of bark by the leg to the hut of his red skinned captor. The little fellow crowed as merrily as ever he did in the civilized settlements, from which he had undoubtedly licen stolen by a chicken loving Indian.

Uncle John didn't regret the tramp of over a mile, as the cheerful little bird had taught him a good lesson on making the best of circumstances, and he returned to his camp without disturbing the sleeping braves, but with a strong desire to pummel the red skin that stole the chicken. On his way back to the choppers' camp, Uncle John found that his trail had been crossed by an enormous bears trail, but, unarmed as he was, he was glad not to have a near interview, as at that season of the year, they were apt to be hungry and ferocious.

As their job of chopping was nearly completed, Mr. Gingery and Mr. Brown arranged to visit that locality and have ;1 grand hunt, which they did in February, camping in their old chopping camp, and securing a fine lot of bear pelts, and (-thor game, without injury to themselves, but losing several of their dogs from the too ardent embraces of old bruin. Bear hides were worth from six to seven dolhirs each at Perrvsburg at that time.

Fish And Ague

SOLDIEES who came with Mad Anthony to the Maumee country, never afterward tired of extolling its beauties, its fertility, its fine forests of oak, walnut, poplar and other valuable timber - its rivers swarming with the lovely muscalunge and sturgeon, its myriads of "red horse'" (suckers), the gamey black bass and the fat, lubberly cat fish of such enormous proportions that a single fish made a meal for one of Wayne's cavalry companies at Defiance.

If the few old settlers now left on the ^Laumee were to explain to the present generation the numbers and size of the fish of the early times they would be suspected of having bad memories or of telling professional fisherman's "yarns."

But there were other things about these rivers not so enticing as its fish - its fever and ague. It was not usually fatal, but it was dreadfully uncomfortable. Few escaped it. Wayne's soldiers had it. He dosed them with whisky as his surgeon's reports show, but Mononghahela whisky was no match for Maumee ague in those davs - in fact the fish and ague seemed

The soldiers and early pioneers had two theories about how they got the ague. Some thought it was carried by a malarious poison in the air, arising from decaying vegetation. Others thouglit it got into their systems through the fish tliey ate. Both sides of the question had plenty of advocates and both proved the truth or fallacy of their theor}^ as might be, by having the ague. All had i;. It was no respector of persons.

It was a singular complication or combination of attacks on the human system. The victim begun the ordeal with a feeling of extreme chilliness; lips and finger nails turned blue as if the blood were stagnant. Then greater chilliness followed by shivering and chattering of teeth. By this time the victim, feeling as if every bone in his body would break, had crawled into bed if he was fortunate enough to have one, and call for more cover, shaking meanwhile as if just out of an icy river in a bleak day.

This chilly period lasted from threef|uarters of an hour to one hour or more, and was followed by a raging fever in which the ]iatient constantly called for more water whicli he gulped down by the quart, and still the thirst was unquenched and unquoncliablo.

by a relaxation of the system and the most profuse and exhausting perspiration until the sheets and clothing would be wringing wet, leaving in the clothes a disagreeable odor hard to describe, but always the same. There was no mistaking an "ague sweat" by its odor.

From this "siege" of three or four hours the patient would rise weak and dizzy and go about his or her duties and, as the ague fit only came on in most cases every other day, the patient had some respite in which to recruit a little. Usually in the "off" day the patient would be tormented with almost an uncontrollable hunger. Quinine, when it could be had was the chief antidote. The ague and chill fever as it used to be known, is seldom heard of now. With the cleaning up and drainage of the land it has l^assed away or taken some new form of development in the system. The last general epidemic of ague was in the wet season of 1852. - (7. W. E.

THE stirring events of the early life of one of Maumee's most active and loyal citizens, in his day, Pierre Navarre (Peter Nevarre), should have been preserved, if it had been possible; but being an uneducated man, he was little known after the war closed except by a few of his old and intimate friends.

This energetic young Frenchman, was a favorite scout and runner of General Harrison's and other officers during the war, and was much employed, both before and after the close of the war, in carrying important dispatches for the Government, from Detroit to the settlements at the foot of the Maumee, and also to Fort Wayne, and down the Wabash and as far west as Vincennes and St. Louis. He was employed as Indian interpreter at the councils held on this and the Wabash rivers, as trusty scout sent with notice to the different tribes, when a council was to be held by the agents, or officers of the Government or army; knew all intricacies of the winding Indian trails, that led along the rivers, and across wide prairies from one point to another, and always knew where to find the different hunting parties on their remote hunting grounds.

I met, and afterwards became well acquainted with an old Pottawatomie chief. Captain Billy Colwell, on the upper Missouri, in 1840, who was well acquainted with Navarre. Capt. Colwell was in the immediate command of the Pottawatomies, at the battle of the Thames, and described Peter as one of the most active and dangerous of the scouts of Harrison on that bloody field. The chief attempted several times during the day to get a shot at the wily scout (as he was easily recognized in his highly ornamented suit of buckskin), but at each time was eluded, when the sights of his rifle were almost drawn upon him. Capt. Colwell gave Navarre credit for being the most active on foot and in general movements on a field of battle, that he ever knew. These men met frequently after the war, and became fast friends, being about the same age, both having passed through many of the same stirring scenes of that day.

their long rest. Peter Navarre, lies in the little French burying ground near the mouth of the Maumee, and the old Pottawatomie chief, Capt. Colwell, is taking his last sleep, on the east bank of the Missouri, near Council Bluffs. What an interesting history could have been written of the stirring incidents of the early settlements of this country, in which these men were among the active; but they are gone, and many of the incidents of historic interest are buried with them. - I). W. H. Howard.

The Campaign Of 1840

THE following account of the campaign of 1840, and the monster meeting at Fort Meigs in that year, was written by Mr. C. W. Evers, and published in the Sentinel some years ago :

Perhaps the most remarkable event in the political history of this country, was the campaign of 1840. General Harrison was the Whig candidate for the Presidency in 1836, but suffered defeat. The Whigs \\'ere not discouraged by their repulse in that year, nor did they lose confidence in their leader, whose war record gave him popularity Avith the masses of the people in all sections of the country.

The campaign commenced in 1836 was not permitted to die out. The Whigs kept up their organizations, did not lay down their arms, but fortified their position and made every preparation for a renewal of the conflict in 1840, never for a moment losing confidence in their leader or abating their zeal in his support. The conflict on the part of the great leaders of the two parties was transferred from the stump to the halls of Congress, and there the battle was carried on with a zeal, eloquence and ability unequalled

The Whigs held their National Convention at Philadelphia on the 4th of December, 1839, nearly a year before the election. This showed how earnestly they were enlisted in the fight, and the confidence which inspired their action. They felt that a long campaign would result to their advantage. They had no fear of discussion, no dread of investigation.

A Democratic correspondent of a Baltimore paper, before the campaign of 1843 had fairly opened, made the sneering remark that General Harrison's habits and attainments were well calculated to secure him the highest measure of happiness in a log cabin with an abundant supply of hard cider. The Whigs caught this up and from that lime forward log cabins and hard cider played conspicuous parts in the campaign. Van Buren, the candidate of the Democrats, was held up as a dapper little Imnd-box fop, using gold spoons and having not tlie least sympathy with the great working and producing masses of the people. This was a strong card for the Whigs and they made the most of it. At every convention log cabins were hauled in processions and hard cider was free and plentiful as water. Harrison hailing from the Buckeye State, buckeye l)ushes were used as the Whig emblem, and Imckoves were strung and worn as beads by tbe ladies attending Whig gatherings. The tide set strongly in favor of the Whigs, and even the correspondent of the Baltimore paper who spoke so sneeringly of the capacities and social character of General Harrison, was carried into the current and swept into the Whig party.

The campaign was 02:)ened in Ohio by a monster ratification meeting in Columbus on Washington's birthday, February 22. On the evening of the 21st all W hig residences and business houses in the city were illuminated. The streets were thronged with people from all parts of the State, and it was necessary to open nearly everv house in the then city of six thousand inhabitants to accommodate those who iiad arrived from a distance. The means of traveling were at that time very limited. Canals were closed, there were no railroads, stage coaches could carry but few persons, and the roads were so bad that they could make but slow progress, passengers often being compelled to get out and walk up hills or wliere the roads were particularly bad. But these things did not discourage the zealous Whigs. They hitched up their own learns, hired teams, and sought conveyance to the capital of the state in every conceivable manner, determined to be on hand and participate in the inauguration of that eventful campaign. Not only this, but log cabins of huge dimensions were mounted upon wheels and hauled long distances to the capital. But the most striking feature of that great gathering was the representation of Fort Meigs - being a miniature copy of the Fort in every particular, hauled by six fine horses, it was 28 feet in length, the embankments were six inches high, surmounted by pickets ten inches high. Il was garrisoned by 40 men, contained seven block houses, twelve cannon, and was ill every respect a complete and perf ( ct representation of the Fort at the foot of the rapids of the Maumee river. There were three flag-staffs on the Fort 30 feet high. On one was the inscription, "Fort Meigs, besieged May, 1813"; on another was Harrison's celebrated response to the demand of the British officer for the surrender of the Fort, "Tell General Procter when he gets possession of the Fort he will gain more honor, in the estimation of his King and country, than he would acquire by a thousand capitulations," and on the other was the dying words of the brave Lawrence, "Don't give up the ship."

This miniature fort was made at Perrysburg and hauled from that place to Columbus. John C. Spink was Captain and went through with the Fort and the men. One of the guns on the Fort - a small brass piece - was cast at Toledo. The other guns were of iron and one of them was carried on the Commodore Perry the next season, and while being fired as the boat was coming up the lake on the fourth of July, exploded, severely wounding E. Graham, then the boat's carpenter, but subsequently treasurer of this county and Internal Revenue Assessor.

On the morning of the 22d, the large numbers of people who had collected from a distance from Columbus during the previous day and night, foimed processions on the various roads leading into the capital, and, notwithstanding the rain and mud, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, and by ten o'clock the streets of Columbus were literally filled with the drenched delegations. Numerous military companies and bands were there,- and all marched through the streets in rain and mud, their enthusiasm seemingly heightened by the difficulties under which they were assembled. At that convention, after full consultation, the following resolution was adopted:

Western Xew York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, to celebrate the next anniversar}- of the raising of the siege of Fort Meigs, in June, 1813, on the ground occupied by that Fort/'

The tide had set in so strongly in favor of the Whigs that the Democrats were thrown into confusion. They lost their temper, became demoralized, and those who did not enlist under the Whig banner conducted a guerrilla warfare, merely seeking to annoy the Whigs without securing any decided advantage. The greatest enthusiasm, amounting to almost a degree of wild excitement, pervaded the ranks of the Whigs, and from all parts of the country notes of preparation to attend the Fort Meigs demonstration were heard. Very naturally these indications of the coming gathering of the greatest partisan demonstration ever witnessed in this country excited and cheered the Whigs of Perrysburg and Maumee, encouraging them to the greatest efforts in arranging for the complete success of the important enterprise. The two villages, which were then about the only important places in tlie Maumee Valley, acted in concert, and no one was ever heard to complain of the manner in which they performed their ])art of the work.

It was decided that a huge log cabin should be erected upon the Fort, to be used as a sort of headquarters by General Harrison for reception purposes. One log for thisi cabin was to be furnished by each township in Wood and Lucas coimties. The first log to arrive was brought from the neighborhood of the present village of S wanton. It was a fine stick of timber, about fifty feet in length. Its arrival was the signal for a jollification. The cannon was In'ought and taken to the Fort, followed by three barrels of hard cider. The Whigs of and Perrysburg united in this demonstration, and of course they had a jolly time^ which lasted until in the evening, when many of the men and a host of boys gave evidence of familiarity with these barrels of cider.

After tile Whigs had got over their jubilee, the next day some of them went up to the Fort to take another look at that log which had met with such a warm reception. Judge their surprise when they discovered that the guerrilla Democrats had gone to the Fort in the night and stuck said log into the Fort well. The well was about 50 or 60 feet deep. It was perhaps 15 feet from the top of the well to the water, then there was about fifteen feet of water and the balance was mud. Not only .this, but the said guerrillas had bored a hole in the end of the log which projected out of the well about five feet, then they had got a hickory bush, shaved the end to fit the hole in the log and then planted said bush in the log. The bush was removed but the log could not be lifted out of the ^\ell, and it remains there to this day and is seen by all who visit the Fort. It fitl}' illustrates the style of warfare adopted by the Democrats in ISIO.