Wood County, Ohio - The whole text, 1910 (part 3 of 8)

Until very recently only those engaged in the act knew who placed that log in the well. Time has served to cool the Whig blood which was made to boil on account of that outrage, and recently one of the actors in that drama gave us the history of how it was done and the names of those who did it. The parties who did it were Chas. F. Wilson, brother of the late Hon. Eber Wilson; Henry Ewing, Samuel Bucher, who lived in a cabin near the Fort; S. D. Westcott, a well known citizen of Perrysburg, and

John Westcott, of Vaulue, Hancock county. Just how so few men could plant so large a log in a well the reader will be curious to know. A man by the name of Radway lived on a farm about half a mile above the Fort. He had a pair of breachy oxen and was in the habit of turning them upon the commons in their yoke. These cattle were at the Fort and the guerrillas drafted them into the service. Bucher got a log chain, the oxen were hitched to the log and it was drawn into position, the butt at the well and the other end resting upon the embankment. Thus situated the men managed to raise the small end and slide the log into the well.

The Whigs were not discouraged by this little episode, but the logs kept coming in until every township had its representative for the cabin. An eye witness informs us that he never saw so fine a collection of logs. They ranged from 40 to 60 feet in length, were straight as an arrow and smooth as a ramrod. The Whigs were proud of their logs and contemplated the beautiful cabin to be made of them with great satisfaction.

It is singular that the fate of the first log did not operate to warn the Whigs against further raids from the Democratic guerrillas, but they evidently thought the success of the first venture would satisfy their enemies. In this they were deceived, for one dark night some rascals, armed with cross-cut saws, entered the Fort and cut those beautiful logs into old fashioned back logs. To this day it is not known who handled those saws. Like the man who locked his stable door after the horse was stolen, the Whigs now built a bark guard house and hired a man, armed with a shot-gun, to keep watch. Other logs were procured and a huge double cabin was erected, Geo. W. Newton, of Perrysburg, acting in the capacity of master builder, and we believe, John C. Spink, Julius Blinn, Judge Hollister, J. W. Smith and other Whigs of Perrysburg were the leading spirits in this preparatory work for the great convention.

The Fort Meigs demonstration was worthy of the campaign of 1840. In fact, everything considered, it was the most remarkable political gathering ever witnessed in this country. It must be remembered that facilities for travel were very limited at that time, and that Fort Meigs was then a point on the frontier. Notwithstanding these facts, the crowd assembled was estimated at from 40,000 to 60,000 persons. It is safe to say that there were 50,000 peojile at the Fort on the 11th day of June, 1840. They came from all parts of the country, in all manner of conveyances. Capt. Wilkinson, with his Commodore Perry, escorted sixteen steamboats up the river, all loaded to their utmost capacity. Men are said to have sold their last cow to get the means to take them to that convention. Military companies from various cities were present, and a large number of bands furnished music. The processions on the roads leading to Perrysburg were simply immense, while thousands upon tliousands were streaming in for two or three days before the grand demonstration, from all parts of the country. A mock siege occurred on the night of the tenth, and cannonading by the several batteries in attendance is described as having been sublimely grand. Every house and out-house in Perrysburg and Maumee was crowded with weary men who had rode in buggies and wagons hundreds of miles. Thousands slept upon the ground in the woods adjoining the Fort. The wells in the upper portion of Perrysburg were soon pumped dry in relieving the thirst of the multitude. General Harrison was present and while in

Perr3'sburg was the guest of Judge Hollister, who then owned and occupied the residence recently owned by H. E. Peck. In the evening, in response to the calls of a great crowd of people, he appeared upon the grounds in front of the residence and briefly addressed the moiltitude. The General, Tom Ewing and a large number of other distino-uished Whigs

Thus was inaugurated and successfully concluded the greatest political demonstration, all things considered, ever witnessed on this continent.

The Winter Of 1842-43

J. E. Tracy of Toledo, who was an early pioneer of Bowling Green, tells some of the incidents of the memorable hard winter of 1842-3 which is referred to by all the old people as a record breaker unsurpassed since white men planted their cabins in this part of the country.

The autumn of 1842 had been a mild aud delightful one. The mazy Indian summer had hung over the landscape like a protecting curtain from the chill blasts of boreas. On the 25th day of November in the after part of the day, came a change, sudden and severe. First dark, dense clouds overcast the sky; towards night rain fell. This soon changed to sleet, driven by a strong wind and so cold that men caught out with teams on the road had to leave their wagons and walk to keep from freezing. This, later turned to snow which covered the ground heavily in the morning.

That snow, increased in depth from time to time, lay until some time in April, 1843. The ice in the Maumee at Waterville, was frozen solid down to the

The weather at times, in fact much of the time, was extremely cold, though there were no thermometers here then by which to gauge the temperature, as now. The mild autumn had lulled the scattering settlers into neglect and their scanty supplies of vegetables, fruit and corn fodder had been frozen solid in the unheralded storm, no more to be released till the following May. By March the scanty supply of prairie hay began to fail. The poor cattle starved, shivered and froze. Their pitiful bellowing and moans were harrowing to hear. The owners would drive them into the forest where elm and basswood trees were felled and the starving brutes ate the buds and tender twigs. Other owners later, when the ground thawed, dug prairie dock (root of the rosin weed) and fed it to their horses and cattle. Despite all the efforts hundreds of cattle perished and those that survived were mere skeletons. Hogs could get no acorns from under the icy crust and there was no corn to feed them. They crawled into bunches where they were found in the spring frozen solid as rocks. Poultry and small animals, wild and domestic, perished. Squirrels, coon and birds were found frozen in hollow trees and logs, even the muskrat in his icy home. ^

The present winter though unusually severe, would not, though equally as cold as that of 42-3 bear upon us of today as it did upon those scantily prepared pioneers of that time. We have warm houses, clothing and stores of supplies both for man and beast. There can be no comparison. We can never know nor even imagine the terrors of that gloomy period, to those who lived here and shared its hardships.

The unprecedented conditions that exist now in the Maumeo river are only a sample of what dangerous surprises nature's working forces may bring when a certain combination of circumstances exist. Then it is that man's best efforts are set at naught. He is as puny as the fretful ant. His bridge spans are not high enough. His dykes and dams are not strong enough. His granite and steel walls are not proof against the devouring breath of llame and heat. Man's efforts only help to make the destruction gi-eater. The Maumee is hedged and obstructed with piers, docks and earth fillings. The raging torrents armed with l)locks of floating ice only mock at these artificial contrivances of man and sweep them away as if but tinsel or cobwebs. How like the ant hill or the cobweb of the spider are the works of man, in that each alike are only subject to power of destruction.

Had not man planted his cabin here nor disturbed the Maumee we would not be comparing the present winter with that of 42-43 in points of severity and dcstructiveness.

So long as man asserts himself along side of and against nature's modes, which will be as long as he exists, so long must he cope with hard winters, hot summers, drouth, floods and other pleasant and unpleasant manifestations of nature's caprices and whims.

Sage Child Tragedy

VALENTINE SAGE married a fullblooded Indian girl, adopted by and raised in the family of Eev. Isaac Van Tassel, one of the early missionaries to the Indians, on the Maumee. Sometime in 1852-3 their oldest boy named George, aged about thirteen years, took sick and died, which threw him into a despondent state of mind, and he gradually turned his thoughts to religious matters, and would shout, sing and pray alternately in the wildest manner.

Some six months afterward Sage attended a religious revival held by Rev. P. C. Baldwin, at the old Plain Church, and became so wrought up by religious excitement that he would shout and- pray at the top of his voice all the way home irom the church at night.

One stormy, snowy morning in March, during the progress of the meeting he arose quite early and made a fire in the stove, singing loudly all the time. Presently he went to the bed where his wife and child lay and took the cliild, as his wife who was awake- supposed, to the stove to keep it warm while she dressed herself, but she saw him hurry out of doors. She sprang up and ran to the door just in time to see the head of her darling child dashed against a log on the wood pile. She gave an agonizing scream, when he seized the ax and compelled h(^r to go to bed, after which he brought the dead child to her. He sung and shouted and seemed to be entirely happy, while his wife expected every moment that either her own or some of the other children's lives would be next sacrificed. He forbid any of them leaving the house, holding the ax all the time.

Finally the oldest girl escaped from the chamber window and ran to a neighbor's, Mr. John Whitehead, about a half a mile distant. Whitehead hurried down but was threatened his life if he came even in the yard. He saw that he was powerless to relieve the prisoners in the house and that his presence only increased the rage of the madman every moment and rendered the fact of Sage's family more perilous. He hurried away for help and returned shortly after, with, we believe, Henry Huff, S. W. St. John and John Evers, all active and determined men. They came up unobserved by Sage. Two of them made an attempt to hold a parley with him, but he stood in the door brandishing his ax threatening any with death who should attempt to approach. While two of the men attracted his attention from the front, Evers climbed in at the chamber window and down the ladder, and unnoticed by Sage, stole up behind him and clasped him tightly around the waist under the arms. Even with this advantage it was hard to avoid the blows of his ax. His strength seemed superhuman. Some one finally seized him by the throat, and once out of wind they succeeded in tying him and he was sent to the jail at Perrysburg, ne afterward died a raving madman. - C. W. E.

Hollister'S Prairie

ABOUT eight miles southeast of Gilead lay that stretch of low grassy prairie or swamp, as it was most of the year ; only in the very driest of seasons, in mid-summer did it become terra firma, its tall grass, growing from 6 to 10 feet high, and with skirting thickets and forests, furnished a paradise of security for deer and bear. The reports of this prairie, carried by hunters to the settlement at Perrysburg, attracted the attention of the Hollisters, then living there, and they located a cattle ranch with Ralph 0. Keeler as partner and manager of the business. The headquarters of the ranch was on the high ridge Just north of Weston, where the old Keeler homestead house formerly stood. The ridge is now a portion of the Weston cemetery. Soon the Hollisters and Keeler had large droves of cattle, roaming at will over the prairies and through the forests on what was yet all government land. The tall prairie grass furnished ample pasturage, and the sink holes in the prairie, such as the ''Stone Pond" in Plain township, furnished drinking places in the driest of seasons.

Such a scene as the herds on the broad acres of pasturage, viewed from the overlooking ridges, at its best ana most picturesque, might well have tempted the coolest brain to visionary dreams of Arcadian bliss, such dreams as caused the educated and wealthy German, Carl Xil^elung to sink his fortune in the swampy pasture at the northeast side of the prairie, in later years. - Sentinel, 18S1.

About the year 1834-35, began the first white settlement, in what is now known as Milton township, in Wood county, Ohio, Prior to this time it was a howling wilderness; the foot of a white man had scarcely trod on its territory. The wild Indian o-r red man of the forest, the bear, the wolf, the panther and wild cat, held full sway, unmolested by the approach of civilization. About this time there began to be a movement made in some of the eastern counties of Ohio, to go west. The Maumee Valley had its attractions, and the traveler in search of a home had his attention drawn to Wood county by its rich and inexhaustable soil. Landing at Perrysburg, they would wend their way up the Maumee, and striking the mouth of Beaver Creek, a mile below Grand Eapids (then Gilead), they would ascend the creek to explore the rich country before them. The earlier settlers began to locate along the creek in Henry county and soon they began to spread out over more territory.

To tell the story of pioneer life in the wilds of Milton and adjoining townships it may seem strange to some why I should connect Henry county and Liberty townshi]i and associate the names of those at sueli remote distances.

In those days we understood and appreciated that word neighbor. It was not used then in that narrow, contracted sense in which it is used now, but it was born of that higher and prouder philanthropy, as taught in Bible lessons, where a man fell among robbers; so we in the earlier days of our pioneer life in the wilds of Milton and adjoining townships were all neighbors, for miles and miles, and when we met, there was a happy greeting, a cordial and hearty shaking of hands, as though it really meant something.

We had no roads either, we just went zig-zag through me woods, around trees, over and around fallen timber, through the water, fighting the mosquitoes, to a neighbor's with a sack of corn on our backs to grind it on a hand mill, to get corn meal to make johnny cake for the family (it was johnny cake, coon and possum fat), and glad to get that. We had no water mills nearer than Perrysburg, and not much to get ground when we got there. And it took us from four to five days to go and come; the only conveyance was by ox teams and a cart.

Old Billy Hill (as he was familiarly known) had a hand mill, and it was kept going from morning until midnight, people coming from miles and miles around. Dozens of men and women have licen there at one time waiting their turn to get their opportunity to turn the mill, and some times, when so thronged, some would leave their corn and go home to their hungry families, and come again to take their places at the mill. Of course this mill was a rude structure; four upright posts framed together and the stones set in them, and the propelling power was applied by an upright shaft, with an iron spout placed in a thimble in the upper burr, and the top held by passing through a hole in a board, and then two men taking hold of this upright shaft and turning the burr. It was a slow process, but it was the only alternative we had. This was afterward changed, so as to make it more convenient; it was arranged, so four men could take hold of cranks like a grind stone and made to grind much faster. Then we all thought that we had found a paradise.

Going To Mill

The nearest grist mills for the settlers along the Manmee were located at the mouth of the river Raisin in Michigan, where the city of Monroe now is, and at Cold Creek in what was then Huron count}^ - now Erie county, Ohio, near where the village of Castalia now is. The distance in either case being not far from seventy miles, and with the easy going ox teams and the horrible roads, going to mill was a vast undertaking, the Journey often taking ten days or two weeks to perform even if the hungry pioneer did not have to camp out, or hunt work in the neighborhood of the mill, and wait for sufficient water to accumulate in the crazy old dams, to enable the miller to turn out their grist.

Alexander Brown, once worked, logging, at Cold Creek, and then had to turn in and help grind his own grist on Sunday, and even then did not finish before the water gave out, and he was forced to leave a portion of his grist at the mill, the miller promising to grind it and send it to Perrysburg by the first chance. Mr. Brown got his grist in a little over two months all right.

When an expedition was fitted out to go to mill either to the mouth of Raisin river or to Cold Creek, it usually became a neighborhood affair, and was considered a bigger undertaking than a trans-continental journey would now. A "team," consisting of two or three yokes of oxen, would be rigged to a wagon, and the grists of the whole neighborhood be loaded on, with feed for the cattle and a sack of potatoes, coffee pot and frying pan, and other needed camp equipage, and amidst much excitement and great shoutings of "good byes," the expedition would gaily flounder away on their trip of a week or two to mill. For the meat supply of such expeditions, the settlers depended upon the chance of game supply along the route, and usually some noted hunter accompanied the caravan as chief forager, whose unerring rifle would easily, every day, from the woods, supply the meager larder with juicy venison steaks, or a young bear roast.

Sometimes, when the country was flooded, and the rude trails through the forests back to the older settlements were impassable even to a man on horseback, the bread material of our hardy pioneers was prepared as was that of the ancient Hebrews, every family doing its own grinding, in their handmills, or as their Indian neighbors did theirs, in a sort of rude mortar attached to a spring pole, always remembering that among the Indians the ladies manipulated the hominy mill.

The old mill is still hale and heartv, ai.d has good teeth yet for a pioneer of 57 years old. Bushels of buckwheat and corn have met the crushing influence of that old mill, and bolted through a fine meal sieve have furnished "Snap Jack" material that fried in "bar" fat, went far toward nourishing the sinewy arm of the old pioneers when by reason of the impassable condition of roads or the inclement weather, they were prevented from going to mill.

It is a matter of fact that in the Maumee Valley a greater number of battles have been fought, and with greater results than in any similar extent of territory in the Union.

Attacked By Wolves

OA'E night as Mr. Meeker was going home followed by one of his dogs he suddenly heard the howl of a wolf near the trail he was following. This was instantly answered by another wolf and presently a wolf appeared in front of him. The dog slunk close to him. He had no means of defense and so Icnew it was just as safe to go ahead as to turn back. So he walked boldly up to the one in the trail until almost within reach of it when it sprang to one side and joined with two others in the rear, when they all broke out in a deafening, startling chorus of howls. After going a mile or so he came to where a tree had been l)lown down and ran into the top to get a stick. While here, four more wolves joined in the chase, and on taking the trail again they became so fierce and bold and approached so close that several times he succeeded in striking one with his club, after which they would howl and snap their teeth in disappointed rage, but continue to follow him until he arrived on the ridge at the cabin of Howard, who had a great fire in his fire place, the light of which shone through the unchinked cracks and which with two savage dogs finally scared the wolves off. Meeker thinks if he had tripped his foot and fallen they would have all attacked him at once. They were of the large brown species and seemed maddened with hunger. - C. W. E.

Wild Hogs

THE earliest recollections we have from the first settlers all speak of the great numbers of wild hogs that frequented the woods in the Black Swamp. They were more numerous at times than the deer and many years later they were captured in the dense woods north of what is called the "Devil's Hole."

Some of the early settlers claimed that they were not, nor could not be the progeny of the domestic hog, being entirely wild and untamable and fierce of disposition. But we incline to the belief that they were originally strays, or cast offs from the quartermaster's ' department of Hull's or Harrison's army. Perhaps Mad Anthony Wayne and his legion in 1794, after tlio victorv, felt so well that they turned all their hogs loose, if any they had, to devour the Indian cornfields growing along the Maumee. At all events it is known that large droves of hogs were brought in during the war of 1812, and it is not at all unreasonable to suppose this the origin of the \ast herds of wild hogs which roamed the woods many years ago. We refer to this matter in this place in connection with a couple of incidents related by Mr. Meeker.

While in search of some horses one day in company with one of the Deckers, they heard a loud commotion some distance away among the wild hogs. It grew louder and louder until their curiosity led them to cautiously approach the place or as near as they dared, when they spied a wolf on a high fallen log barely out of reach of the infuriated animals, which seemed to have gathered tlu>re by hundreds - at least the ground was covered with them. But the wolf may have seen the men, for he sprang off his perch and was instantly torn to pieces and devoured. The hunters were only able, after the hogs left, to find a small string of his hide.

At another time ]\Ir. jMccker was returning home M'hen he heard the cries of a young pig, which seemed to have been deserted by the rest of the herd and was too weak to get along. Mr. Meeker took it up thinking to take it home with him, when it set up such a squeeling as soon l)rought the whole drove upon him. He heard them coming just in time to drop the pig and hastily climb a small tree as the excited animals gathered beneath him foaming and gnashing their teeth, while several ferocious old l)oars fought with each other for the privilege of gouging the bark off the tree with their tusks. After much iictisy demonstrations and watching the l)risoner for a time they began to drop oft' and finally the siege was entirely raised by the departure of the last hog - a surly old boar, a very patriarch whose large tusks and fierce mien might have well challenged comparison with any dwellers of his kind in the famous Black Swamp. - C. W. E.

The Maumee Country

Before the year 1820, Wood county wa« a part of an indefinite, undivided, unexplored wilderness, known as "Xorthwest Ohio," with its county seat at Bellefontaine, and but few settlements in all the "Black Swamp" of the "Miami of the Lakes." Waynesfield township of liOgan county, included within its limits, all of the present counties of Wood and Hancock, and in that year, 1820, the total tax for all purposes collected in the said township was $139.15. In 1823, on the 28th of May, the township of Waynesfield was divided by the organization of Perrysbvirg township, which included all of the present county of Wood.

time celebrated from one end of the United States to the other, as the most forsaken, desolate and ague-smitten wilderness of tangled forests and inhospitable swamps, only excelled in dreariness and desolation, perhaps, by the great "Dismal Swamp"" of Virginia, or the un- ])enetrated everglades of Florida.

Hull's troops had cut and floundered a passage through this country on their way to the disgraceful surrender at Detroit, in 1812. Mad Anthony Wayne's victorious army, liad 18 years before this, iu 1T91, followed down along the swampy "Miamji of the Lakes"' from Fort Defiance to Fort 3Iiami, to punish the re- I'lactory Indians, and as the soldiers of \V;i\ne. Hull and Harrison dispersed to their homes back in the old colonies, they carried with them their soldier stories of the horrible swamps of the "Miami of the Lakes," as the Maumee river was then called.

See how names are changed, and new words made. The river was by its earliest French settlers, called the Miami, ]-)ronounced by the French "Me-ah-me," and by the cornipted influence of the

Indians' and backwoodsmen's attempts at pronunciation, it became first "Me-awme" and then "Mau-mee" until now as we pronounce the "Mi-am-i" of southern Ohio and the "^'Maumee" of northern Ohio 3'ou wouldn't suspect any blood relation. x\nd as "Maumee" it became a famed locality and went heralded in song and wierd story as the place where "Potatoes they grow small on Mau-mee, on Mau-mee."

But in spite of its drawbacks, and unpleasant natural features, and the unfavorable reports circulated far and wide about the country, the speculating spirit of some of Wayne's soldiers and those of the war of 1812, was attracted to the Maumee Valley by its wonderful game suppl}', and the hopes of a remunerative traffic in furs and peltries with the Indians, and traders; posts were established at several places in the valley immediately after the peace following the war of 1812.

enough settlers were located about Fort Meigs, at the foot of the rapids in the river, to demand a better means of communication with their county seat, Bellefontaine, than was presented by HulFs old trace, in its serpentine wanderings southward through this county; so what is called yet the Wapakoneta road, was petitioned for, granted, surveyed, and work begun on it in 1821. The road led from Fort Meigs along up tlie river on the south side, to near the mouth of Beaver Creek, then followed nearly the course of Beaver Creek, and so en south of Wapakoneta. Then the trade of the Indians at the head of the rapids, attracted settlers along up the river. At that time there were no other white settlers between that point and Fort Defiance, where the town of Defiance now is.

There was quite a good sized Indian village on the Maumee and scattering outlying settlements along up Beaver Creek, and on the sand ridges south from the river, the Indians dwelling in peace and harmony with their white neighbors.

Year after year during the Twenties, white settlers came, and by occasional accessions of other families, the little settlement at the mouth of Bear Creek and at the head of the rapids of the Maumee, grew, until in the spring of 1830, they demanded a township organization for themselves. The reader will please remember that up to this time all of what is now Wood county, was included in one big township called Perrys- Ijurg, which township has been divided and sub-divided since that time.

So in the spring of 1830, the settlers at the head of the rapids and mouth of Beaver Creek and at Bear Rapids or Otsego, petitioned for a new township to be called "Ottawa," and the township was duly created by the county commissioners, but before the time came to elect township officers in the spring of 1831, the name was changed from Ottawa to I Weston.

The township as first organized included all of what is now Weston, Milton, Jackson and the west part of Washington townships, or a strip of land six

The first election ever held in Weston township was on the 4th day of April, 1831, when all of the voters met at the house of Edward Howard, and proceeded to elect themselves, for at that first election there were barely enough voters to intelligently fill the offices. The first ofi&cers were as follows: Trustees, Edward Howard, Wm. Pratt and Emanuel Arnold; treasurer, E. M. Howard; clerk, 11. A. Howard; poor overseers, M. P. Morgan and Jas. Donaldson; constables, Wm. Korth and Wm. Wonderly; fence viewers, Wm. Loughry and Joseph North; Justices of the peace, Alexander Brown and Emanuel Arnold, who did not receive their commissions from the governor until in August of that year.

James Donaldson was also elected road supervisor, and the only road that came under his supervision was the road leading along down the river bank from the settlement to Fort Meigs, which was a poor excuse for a road at that time, being only partially chopped out and not worked at all. For the care of this, the only road in the township, except the Indian trails, Mr. Donaldson, received the princely salary of seventy-five cents.

The only officer who received any salary during the first year was the treasurer, E. M. Howard, who drew, all at one time, seventy-five cents. So for $1.50 Weston township was as peacefully governed as she has ever been since that date, and I find no record of any speculation or defalcation. The Fence Viewers' office in 1831 was almost a sinecure, unless they went to inspect the rude brush fences that surrounded the first clearings. But the settlements were looking up. new people coming in every year, and during the next five years,

We may say then that the village of Weston was not started until in 1854 when the Taylor saw mill was put in operation. Thirty years ago the site of our town was all farm land and used as such. In 1854 Jonathan Crom built his shanty, started a saloon and kept a few groceries. Benjamin West came in 1854, and wishing to get an eligible site for his blacksmith shop, went directly across the street from Crom's saloon, and located his forge just about where Indlekofer's bar stands in his saloon today. His shop was a mere shanty. In 1855 Levi Taylor built the front half of the l)uilding now owned by Ames, and in the fall of that year, put in the first stock of dry goods and groceries that tlie village ever saw.

Many of our older citizens frequently speak of the celebrated missionary, Isaac Van Tassel, one of the pioneer preachers who frequently visited Weston and talked to the few citizens in the little old school house. He was found dead on the Gilead road, about 20 rods west of Avhere Allen Bortell now lives. He was on his way to his home in Plain township, from Gilead. It is not known whether his horse threw him off, or whether he died suddenly of heart disease. It occurred March 2, 1849.

The entire ISTorthwestern territory for some years had but three county organizations. These were Washington, Hamilton and Wayne, the latter embracing Wood countv.

The Pioxeku Attacked By Savages

THE late Hezt'kiah L. Hosmer said, on tlie autlioritv of Peter Xavarre and others, that Pierre Minard, known as Peter ]\lanor. received the news of war from a Delaware named >Sac-a-niane, who in passing through the settlement said :

"I shall go to Owl Creek. I shall kill sonie of the Ijong Knives before 1 come back, and will show you some of their scalps. In ten days after 1 get back all the hostile tribes will hold a council at Maiden : very soon after that, we shall come to this place and kill all the Yankees. You, Manor, are a good Frenchman, and must not tell them what I say."

Sac-a-manc returned, after an absence of six days, and showed Manor three scalps, which he said were those of a family he had jiiur(k']'e(l on Owl Creek. He repeated to Manor in confidence that it was the intention of the Indians to come to the valley in Force suflicient to massacre the Amei-icaii settlers. This intelligence ^lanor communicated to Major S]iaffoi-(l, accdinitaiiicil witli advice t(' leave the valley immediately. The major laughed, and dismissed the subject witli some remark expressive of incredulity, and ^lanor \oft him, promising that >lioidd he Icai'n of any further cause of alai'ui lie would lei him know.

About a montli after iliis conversation, a num by the iiamr of Miller (some accounts say Gordon ). who bad lived many years with the Ottawas. and who was well known to Major S])afl'ord, entered his house in breathless haste, and told him that at no grcali'f distance than Monclova tlu've Mils a hand of fifty Pottawatomies. on the march from their country on the St. .los"|)h i>i\ci-. to join the hostile Indians at Maiden, and take part in the council spoken of by Sac-a-manc. 'I'hev bad plundered and set fire to the huildings at ^lonclova, and would soon he at the foot of the Eapids.

P>ut little time was left to escape. '1 he majoi' with his family and the few settlers that had remained in the valley, hastened immediately to the river, where they dislodged and launched a large liarge. in which some officers had descended the river from Fort Wayne the year before. Kaising a sail made of a bed blanket, they were enabled, by dint of hard rowing and a favorable breeze, to I'ound the point and get under cover of old Fort Miami just as the Indians made their appearance on tln^ bank, where ]\Iaumee City is built, ami before the boat ])assed Eagle Point they saw the tlanu's ascending from the "homes they bad just deserted. This little band of fugitives, favored with fair winds, made a safe ])assage in their crazy craft to the (^uakei- settlement at Milan, where they remained until after the war. Manor says they wt-re ])anic-stricken, and left their horses, cattle, and most of their household goods. Their property was taken by the Indians, who completed their work by burning every dwelling, 1)elonging to an American, in that part of the \alley. This accomplished, they pursued their course to Maiden, to attend the Indian council spoken of by Sac-a-manc.

Not long aftjer Hull's surrender, the French settlers remaining at the foot of the rapids, received a call from a party of sixty Delawares, who arrived there in adA'ance of the main body of the British anny, on their march to Fort Wayne. ^Fanor says that he, with some of his neighbors, was standing in front of Beaugrand's store, at Maumee, when the Indians came nut of the woods - that they drew up in line, and each put his gun i( his sbouldei' and aimed, as if to fire at the little grou]) of settlers. Beaugrand came out and waved a white handker-

( liicf. TIr'V dro})pc'(l tlK'ir inuskcls, aiul approached the ^^tore on a mm, and remained a few minutes. An hour after their departure, ahout 100 British soldiers, and as many Pottawatomies and \\'yandots. came up. Tlieir first inquiry was for guides, ^lanor. fivaii ])rudential motives was seized with su(hleii and severe himeness ; l»ut it wouhl not (h). The oilieer in eonnnand pressed him into ser- Aiee as a guide, and hnne as he seemed, lie was eompelled to eonihiet this eom- ]iany,to xhv head of the rapids. Here his lameness so inei'easi'd. that his ])eTsecutors dismissed liim. and he si't out on Ids return home. At the foot of Pres(pie isle Hill, he met Colonel Klliott, the officer in command of the detachment, and the remainder of the troops and Indians composing it. Elliott examined him closely, and on learning that he had heen employed as a guide, pei'mitted him to go on his way,

The al)()\e dilfers d'oni other accounts as to the time the settlers left the Kapids. Jn this. Mr. Hosmer quotes Manor incoi-reetly. no douht. Hull had news of the declaration of war Julv 2nd. ih' surrendered his army August 16th. From Mr. Hosmer's statement, we wouhl \:: led to helieve that the settlers fled on hearing wai- had heen declared. Mrs. C'reen ami Clark hoth say the flight was :;fter the surrendt'r of H\dl. Their version is douhtless the correct one. In the history of Erie county, incidental mention is nuuh' of ^lajor Spatford heing at tlie mouth of Huron river, with his family, in a Ijoat, about September 1st. The reasonable inference is that he had but recently sailed from the Maumee, that is, ill the latter part of August, after the surrender. The i)robabilities are that in the inqn'mling danger, after Hulks surrendei', the settlers foresaw that they were no longer safe for even a single day: that in the confusion and anxiety of the liour each acted as his hopes or fears impelled him.

Bowling Green

PPOBABLY there has been no more accurate and succinct account of the eai'ly history of Bowling Green, than the Icl lowing, jjcnned by the late C. W. Evers, wliose studious efforts in gathering every i]u-ident connected with the pioneer his- of Wood county, rendered him a ]-elial)le authority in all that pertains to t hat eai'lv jx'riod :

The tii'st time white men came to disturl) the forest solitudes where Bowling (ireen now stands, was in June, 1812, when Hulks army passed here, marching 'Voni Dayton to Detroit.

'Idiat column of troops, preceded by guidt's, scouts and axnien. followed in tui'u hy tlu' ca\alry hatlalion, with its gaudv ])ennons, escorting the commanding geneial with his gaily uniformed >taff retinue, then the infantry, field hands, artillci-y and trains formed a pageant which even to-day would attract all Bowling (ireen to the east side of town, aboui where the T. it 0. C. railvav track liis. That is about on the line the troops held, until lU'ar Kidge >ireet. when they tui'ned a little to the west, coming out on the Maumee nearly opposite Walerville. That was the first \.ai:-on trail thi-oui^-h the interior of Wood county^ and the only one for the two succeeding decades. The land was then owned by the Indians. After the war, in 1817, at a treaty at the foot of the Maumee Eapids, the United States bought the land, at a price slightly less than four cents an acre, and in 1819 sent surveyors liere, which was the second appearance of white men on official business. In 1821 the final surveys were completed and the plats made, 'when the lands were ready for market.

Unfortunately the Black Swamp country, after the war of 1813, had a worse reputation, if possible, than ever; the soldiers and others who had been here, told horrible stories about it. Few buyers of land came - none to the interior of the county. Those who stopped invariably located on or near the river; so that, aside from roving parties of Indian hunters and occasional white furtraders, or the weekly trips of the old Bellefontaine mail carrier, the interior of the county was practically unknown and shunned by settlers for more than a decade after its survey. Prior to the year 1828, Collister Haskins, at Portage, was the only settler between Findlay and the Maumee settlement.

Some few land entries were made in Plain and Center in 1831, but the pioneer entry in the present corporation of Bowling Green, was made October 29, 1832, by Elisha Martindale; the tract, 40 acres in the northwest part of town, lying on both sides of Haskins road or street, is known as the Clinton Fay place. Martindale later bought 120 acres more; he built his cabin where the present Fay house stands, near the great willow tree just west of the road, the following spring, 1833. Careful inquiry has failed to discover evidence of any cabin here prior to that date; Lee Moore, Henry

Walker, Jacob Stoutfer and others came and built in the summer and fall of '33. Alfred Thurstin began his cabin in November, 1833, as did Joseph flollington sr., but so far as known the Martindale cabin was the first, and stood on the first land entry in what is now Bowling Green.

(Without going into all the particulars of the land entries given at that early day and noted by Mr. Evers, we will simply give the names of a few of those who entered land. Among them v/ere Joseph Hollington, Benjamin Eeed, J. M. and Samuel Lamb, Stephen Ward, Thomas Tracy, Henry Walker, Andrew Eace, Jonathan Fay, Eobert Barr, Alfred I'hurstin, Lee Moore, David Hickson and others.)

These few notes from the land entry books, though not including all entries embraced in the present corporation of Bowling Green, neither the names of all purchasers, are yet sufficient to afford the reader some idea of the pioneer real estate men of the town and when they first came. Some, perhaps only one or two^ of all those named bought merely for speculation. Most came in quest of homes. Some tried life here, got tired of it and left. Of those faithful ones who remained to buffet with adversity and fight the battle thr.t was eventually to make a town here, of which they never even dreamed perhaps, most, alas, have passed from this stage of action; their toils and trials have ceased. They did their part bravely and well; their work of subduing the wilderness, begun more than half a century ago, and its results, are before us to-day. Their descendants and successors surely have just cause to remember them with respect and pride. If the story of their humble start in the race and their faithful stewardship to the end, shall inspire us with the ambition and will to do our part as well, then

A glance at the okl land entry books shows the rapid iutlux of settlers from 1833 to 1836 or 1837. That was an era of speculation. Everyone had a mania to buy land, but the money panic and business crash of 1837 brought it to a sudden end. That was a paralytic stroke from which the western country did not entirely recover until the California gold discovery, more than a decade later. Wood county was especially prostrateel. There was nothing here that the people could ^11, not even their homes; but there was most everything in the way of necessities even, to buy. There was in those gloomy years, little to inspire hope; much to thwart and discourage effort.

By the middle of the year 1834 the ridges and higher spots within a radius cf three miles of this place were mostly patented from the government, and in n.'any instances the owner had built and occupied his cabin on his new purchase. This brought the population largely to the west and north, where the most ridges lay. The mail can-ier between Perrysburg and Bellefontaine passed on the old army trail once each week, at first every two weeks, and this group of settlers petitioned for a postoffice in their midst: they were distrustful, however, that Collister Haskins, of Portage, might not approve of the move and went about it a little cautiously. The story of this enterprise incidentally reveals

The civil history of a town is but the biography of its founders and their successors, in which every incident, sometimes the most trivial, has an interest to the dwellers tlierein. Not only the name

Since Bowling Green has become the thriving seat of justice of one of the most prosperous counties in Ohio, inquiry it- often made how it happened that it \^-as so named. For the first time, in print, the story is here told, with the incidents that led to the naming, as told to the writer by two of the pioneers who liad a part in it at the time, and several others personally known to all the circumstances. Bowling Green was christened after, or for the capital town of Warren county, Kentucky, by Joseph Crordon, a veteran mail carrier of the pioneer days here. Of one who performed so important a part for us in our infantile state, we naturally ask. Who was he? In his paper, the Findlay Courier, January 1847, William Mungen wrote editorially of Gordon as follows:

"Joseph Gordon was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th day of January, 1784. In the year 1801, when but 17 years old, he commenced carrying the mail, on horseback, from Ifussellville, Kentucky, via Bowling Green, to Glasgow, a distance of 85 miles, once in two weeks, for which he received $12 per month. In 1802 he took a contract to carry the mail from Shelby ville, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee. In consequence of the route being changed, lie carried the mail only two months. From that time till October, 1804, he carried it from Shelbyville to Kussellville, Ky. In October, 1804, he commenced carrying the mail on liorse-back from AVheeling, Virginia, to George Beymer's in Oiiio, a distance of 50 miles, with a led horse and a heavy mail on cneh. In 1805-6, he carried the mail from Wheeling, through St. Clairsville, Zanesville, and New Lancaster, to Chillicothe. In February, 1823, he commenced on the route between Bellefontaine and Perrvsbin-g', a (listaiiee of 81 miles, tlirough a wilderness, there Ix^ing but one family residing in Hardin county, and hut one postoitiee on tlie rout*-', and that (Eindlay) at tliis [)lae:'. Mr. (iordon was the only contractor on this route from February 7, lH2o, to December 31, 1839. Since 1839, he has carried the mail SL'mi-weekly from Bellefontaine to this place, 55 miles."

Few indeed liavc constitntions suffici^'iitly stroiig to ( inhii'e snch labor for such a length of time. It is to such men a.- Gordon - to oiii' hardy pioneers, who \\ere r;'ady to t'licounter all kinds of toil ajid ])ri\ati()n. that Ohio owes her present slat ' of |)rosperity and advancement. For such men we c^annot but cherish sent'lnents of respect.

Jacob Stouifer's . cabin here was the central ])oint of the new postoffice movement. Heni-y Walker, son-in-law of Stoufi'ei- was to be th? i)ostmaster. The A\alkers and Stouffers occn])ied the same cai)in : it stood on the high ridg,' just east of Main street. ikiI far north of -\lerry avenue.

Uordon on one of his northward trips had stopped at Stou Iter's as was his usual custom, in passing; the petition for the new office was ready, except that the movei's, two or three of whom were present, had not yet agreed upon a name. 1 he old mail carrier wlio stood on the cabin stei)s listening to the discussion, said to Stoutfer, half jestingly, "if you v.ill give nu' a tund)ler of cider EH give you just the name."

^ Stoutfer who had brought out a keg of cider from Columbiana county, filled a glass and handcMJ it to Gordon : the latter briefiy'<'X])laining how a])])ropriate the name he would suggest was to the landsca])e about them, said with a swc^p of his aim, "Here's to the new postoffice of liowling (ireen," swallowed the cider and was in the act of mounting his horse when those present detained him a moment while they could write a name in the ])etiti(Mi. which, sure enough, was the one (Joi'don had suggested.

Till' papei's were soon folded and on th(ir way to Perryshurg for some additional endorseni'.nts, after which thev vere sent to Washington. The office was established March 13, 1834. In 1835, \\'hen Walker sold his place, he and the Stouifers moved over to the west side of Main street, where the office was kept for a time, since which it has had many different locations and masters.

Afterwards in 1855, when the village \\as incorporated, there seemed no good reason why it should not take the same name as the jiostoffice, under which name it had been going in fact since in the early fifties. That is the way Bowling Green came to have its name.

Aside fi'oni school and church work Bowling Green had but little history prior to the time she was inc(n-])orated, that does not ]n-operly come within the purview of the histories of Plain -and Center io\vnslii])s. K'obert ]\Iackey's store enterprise at the .\a])oleon road in the south part of town, intended as the nucleus of the village of Mt. Ararat, never, mider its various proprietors, met expectations. John Hannon in the north end of the strc't, with his tavern and blacksmith sho]) did not attract village neighl)ors about him. When, in 1847, Dr. E. I). IN'ck sent L. C. Locke out here to start a mercantile enterprise, most of the settlers were sure it would be a failure ; the ])i'oi)rietors did not feel sanguine for th" stock was opened on a very small scale in a little room in one corner of a tavern called then White Hall, on the west side of Main just north of the intersection of Lil^erty street, where a hotel calh'd the American House has

Locke soon i'elt encouraged to call on his })artner for larger (juarter^ : then was Mt. Ararat's chance for resurrection; Locke tried to huy out Emerson, Eaton & Co., who were sort of successors to Mackey, though in a newer, hetter building and on the east side of ^lain street. 'J he owners declined to sell and the star of ]\lt. Ararat sank to rise no more. Locke hought an acre of Alfred Thurstin, including that part of the east side of ^iain street from the First Xational Bank south, and taking in the opera liouse, and there huilt a store and residenee under ont> roof: his traide was pros- ])erons. and not h)ng after he was appointed postmaster antl a little later built and operated an asherv, the first manufacturing enterprise begun in the village, if we exce])t Caleb Lord's cabinet shop. Locke had l)y his enterprise practically determined where the center of the village would l)e. Anyone who came in after that, and wanted to go into business, located as near Locke's as he could get.

opens a new chaj)ter - a new era in the history of Bowling (ireen. This circumstance is of greater import to the town than the first casual thought would suggest. Xot in the sense that we expect the town to be a center of vast population or a great commercial or manufacturing center. Its development in these respects rests largely with those who now rule its destiny^their enteri)rise, and)ition and far-sightedness.

The railroad from nortli to sonth. a distance of 30 miles through a rich and largely unoccupied portion of the county, will not only develop a vastly increased trade and make hetter market facilities for the town, hut settle forever its status as the husincss center - capital, of one of the iai'gest and most ])ros]i)erous agricultui'al countii's in Ohio. As sanguine as many of our ])eople felt on this point, it was not settled beyond cavil until this road caiui>. Tliis settles it and the town now stands on solid footing in this respect. It is the ca])ital of a grand and ])opulons county. It is tlic official l\isiness center and is natui'ally the trading' center.

The Bell School House

THE Bell school house was built in 1841, says Joseph R. Tracy, on Section 2(i, Plain township, by John Whitehead, John E. Jenkins, carpenters, and Joseph IL Tracy and other residents assisting. The money was contributed by the leading citizens of the township, who desired to have a house fiu' a private school, as well as for religious purposes. The bell, from which the house took its name, was fonnerly used on the Mission C'liapel on the Maumee river. It was presented to tlii' l)uilders of the school house and placed in a cupola erected for the purpose. A subscription school was carried on for a number of years, after which the house passed into the possession of the common school trustees.

mile to the west. The Methodist class that used to meet there was merged into the church at Bowling Green. The same is true of the Baptist and Congregational adherents. Each became the members of larger churches. Thus the particular necessity of this school buildiJig ceased.

The bell has been the subject of much theorizing as to what became of it. As far as can be learned, it being the property of Isaac Van Tassel, he took possession of it and removed it. Mr. J. R. Judson says it was removed in 1845 on the plea that the belfry was not safe. He says he does not know who had charge of it the next 10 or 12 years, but he is pretty certain that it was placed in the Minton school house in the late 50's. Newton Stearns says it is on the Minton school house and has not been changed. He says he bought the bell for $2 and sold it for $3 to Nate Minton. T. W. Miuton, writing under date of February 1. 1909, says, "In 1870, a new school house was built on his father's farm in Plain township, five miles west of Bowling Green - that his father learned where the old mission bell was and went and bought it for something like $3.00 from a party west of Bowling Green, and if I remember correctly he presented it to the district by placing it on top of the school building and it is there today if it has not been taken down.''

Mr. C. W. Evers once doubted whether the old Mission bell and that on the Minton school house was the same. But after more thorough investigation and the stati'nients of those upon whom he could rely he was less skeptical and admitted till' probability that they were the same. Mr. Evers attended school in the old Bell school house in 1846-7, and had many tender associations in all that pertained to it. In writing of the bell he says : "Its silvery peals swelled up from that little forest-hidden chapel over forest and glade, and bore the glad tidings to the scattered settlers, far and near, that some one would preach, some one would sing, and some one would pray that day at the 'Bell'. That bell was the pioneer evangelist of this kind in Wood county, or for that matter in jSTorthwestem Ohio. It came Anth the \'anguard of Civilization."

Last Of Big Game

IN the Sentinel of November 27, 1884, Mr. Evers gives substantially the story, as told by Wm. Mears and J. G. Balston, of the killing of the last bear ever slain in Wood county:

It was late in the fall of 1858; there was a nice tracking snow on the ground. Wash. G. Avery, who then lived on his farm north of town, was out hunting; had wounded a deer and was following in its track when, about three o'clock in the afternoon he came across a big brown bear poking along in the woods. Mr. Avery thought no more about his deer, but immediately turned his attention to the "bigger game." His gun was a small one, and not just the thing to tackle a bear with, but Wash did not stop to think of that, but pulled up and blazed away. The ball struck the bear in the thigh, inflicting a flesh wound of no consequence, and bruin set off in an easterly direction. Wash went over to Joe Ealston's on Sugar Ridge, and got Joe and

Geo. Walker, who were there visiting, and the three set out in pursuit. They fol- Icwed the trail as far as the McCutehenville road over in Wi'bster, and then, it being late in the night and all hands being tired, they went to the Ten Mile house and stayed until morning. At daylight they were again on the trail, the crowd re-enforced by the addition of Jesse Williams, a harness maker from Pcrrysburg, and a friend of his. They followed the trail to the Ottawa county line, where they found that the bear had taken the back track, crossing the Mc- Ciitchenville road within a mile or so of they had started in the niorning. As they crossed the road, they found that some one else, with a dog had taken the

Jesse Williams said it was old Jake Hedinger, an old hunter who lived in the vicinity; said he knew his track. Away they all started on the dead run, whooping and halloing to Hedinger to stop and wait for them, but he did not stop. They finally heard the dogs and taking a short cut came up with Hedinger. They found where the bear had attempted to climb two different cottonvv'ood trees, Ijut had been pulled down by Hedinger's big dog, and had been obliged to continue his flight by the near approach of the nu^n. He fiiuilly came out and crossed the i)lank ro;id at tlie intersection of Center and Middleton township lines. When the men came out on the plank road Williams and his friend followed the trail after the dogs, and Ralston went down the plank road to watch AAhat was then called the Eudolph road.

Wm. Avery, AVm. Mears, and Benj. Johnson had been hunting that day in east of the John Hood place, north of the bend. Mr. Mears had killed a turkey gobbler that weighed r>r, lbs., and they were returning homeward. Mr. Johnson had left them and gone home, and the others met Jot^ just as he turned off from the plank road, and an explanation ensued, M'hen Mears and Wm. Avery agreed to join the bear hunt. They agreed that the bear which had gone away in west of the road would attempt to get back to the Devil's Hole, and that they had better station themselves along what was known as the Rudolph ditch. Ralston, Mears and Wm. Avery accordingly went over on the ditch. Joe Ralston took up liis station on the ditch-bank, while Wm. Avery stood about 15 rods east of Joe, and Mears about the same distance east 0'' Avery. As it began to get dusk they lieard the dogs coming, yelping at every jump. Pretty soon bruin came in sight of Joe, lumbering along to within a few 3^ards of him, with back bowed up, mouth open and tongue hanging out, looking tired and savage. Joe pulled up his gun - and it snapped. Tried it again, but it was no good-. By this time the bear had passed on to Mr. Avery, who, owing to the gathering darkness could not see to shoot very good. He fired, however, striking the bear in the back, hut not inflicting a serious wound. Now came Mr. Mears' turn. He waited until the bear was within a few fet't of him, and had just cleared a 14-foot ditch at a bound, when he put a half-onnce l)all through his heart. Bruin fell, apparently dead, and the dogs coming u]) at that instant, sailed in, and then immediately sailed out again, for, with his last strength, the bear strack one of them a terrible blow with his paw, knocking him about 20 feet away, whereupon the two dogs set off through the woods, howling as if "the old Nick" was after them.

When they found that the Ijear was dead, jMears, Avery and Ralston set up a shout of triumph which soon brought Wash., Williams and Hedinger to the scene. After a consultation it was decided to take the bear up to Thomas' tavern and there divitle up. They accordingly dragged the carcass through the snow to the place of destination.

Turkey Foot Rock

T 11 111 large boulder called "Turkey Fool Kock"" which lays on the north bank of the Mauniee denotes the point ou the river where Gen. Wayne gained a decisive \ictory over the combined Indian tribes of the Xorthwest, on August 20, 1794. The Indians were principally directed and commanded by Bhie Jacket and Little Turtle, and the tribes engaged included the vShawanese, Miamis, Wyandotts, Pottawattomies, Delawares, Chippewas, Ottawas and a few Senecas and other remnants of tribes. The Wyamlotts, a once powerful tribe lost all their chiefs, nine in number, at that battle, and tradition says that one of the bravest of their clan, called '"I'urkey Foot,'' was slain by Wayne's infuriated followers near this rock and tluit after Wayne, whom the Indians called the "Whirlwind'" was gone, the fvw scattering members of the Wyandott nation re])aired to the s])ot where their beloved chief had fallen and carved the rejjreseiitation of a huge turkey's foot on the rough boulder with their hatciiets. This roughly chiseled turkey's foot is still to be seen, although the rock has been sadly defaced by sacrilegious and disrespectful hands.

The armies of Harmer and St. Clair had been liutcliered and destroyed, and the savages, encouraged by the British agents, were exultant and blood thirstv.

Kut <u) awnging Xeuu'sis was after them at last. The highest tribute paid to Wayne's generalsbi]». was by Little Turtle in a council speech the' Jiight previous to the l)attle, which he was not in favor of. Said he, "the Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps. The night and the da\' are alike to him. During all the time he has bi'cn marching on our villages we lia\c been unable to surprise him. lliink well of it."" But the i-ounsel of Blue lacket who was more Ijloody and precipitate i)re\ailed. I'he Indians were overpowered, out generaled. driven into the river and almost annihilated, and the glad tidings wer>' berabl'd across tlu' Alleghanies in shouts of triumph. I'hat boulder is a mute reminder oi' the battle of Fallen Timber.

I notice in your daily of June 15 that Dr. Dwight Canfield in his review of the battle of Fallen Timber has fallen into the usual mistake of people who wilte about Turkey Foot rock. There is such a ixK-k as we all know, but that there was a "noted Indian chief" named Turkey Foot, as lie stated and as many others have done, 1 deny. I know I am going in the face of a long standing legend - breaking an idol as it were; but it is best, that we get our history of the long ago correct before it is too late.

haps some time in 1830 or possibly earlier when the Indians were still here, by T. M. Coffinberry, called the Forest Eangers, foot note, page - (I have not the book before me, though several of them are owned in Toledo) they will get the facts, regarding Turkey Foot rock. Mr. Coffinberry was a lawyer, lived at Perry sburg, was well educated and mingled, out of curiosity perhaps, much with the Indians, and knew their habits, customs and history quite well.

According to his statement, I give the substance rather than his words, the Indian killed, at or near the big boulder, August 20, 1794, was a sub-chief of the turkey clan of the Wyandott tribe, whose totem or coat of arms or monogram was the imprint of a turkey's foot. Each tribe is divided into more or less clans; the beaver, the muskrat, the eagle, the dog, the bear, or any favorite object may be adopted as the emblem of a clan. A turkey in Wyandott is Massas.

This warrior, killed that day was evidently popular and beloved of his clan for they not only carved the emblem of the clan, a turkey's footprint on the big granite boulder, but always, when passing that way, some of his kin or clan would stop and leave some little tribute of their affection, oftener plug tobacco than anything else.

Thus it was the stone took the name Turkey Foot rock. There was no noted chief of that name.' Xo treaty record with the Indians bears such a name, ^o such name is mentioned in the many fights before Wayne's battle. If he had been a noted warrior, some where his name would appear. It is just a fiction of some of the white men of the later years and witb some has grown into an honest belief as is the case with many other fictions we cling to as truths.

There is a turkey foot rock. It is a land mark denoting the high tide spot of Wayne's battle. Near it a brave of the turkey clan was killed. He was popular and his clansmen cut the clan emblem, the print of a turkey's foot, on the stone and very naturally it has gone by the name Turkey Foot rock. Its chief importance, however, is that it marks the place of one of tbo great battles of the border war period.

The old rock should be cared for and preserved and above all when we take our school history pupils to these historic places we should give them the history straight - unmixed with any fiction or carelessly drawn conclusions formed without due investigation.

Unbroken Forests

AN old pioneer of Perry township, in writing to the Sentinel, says that prior to the year 1830, the southern part of Wood county as far as known was without a living white settler. Its forests of oak, walnut, beech and poplar were primeval in beauty, and teemed with bears, wolves, deer and other animals, while countless multitudes of wild geese and ducks quacked in the tangled undergrowth along the various branches of the Portage.

About the year 1830 solitaiy hunters would come in occasionally and chase a bear or herd of deer, but for the most part it remained an unbroken wilderness, and although speculators and those contemplating actual settlement had entered lands, they were laughed at for their credulity if the}' asserted it would ever be a habitable region. The "Munchausen'' stories of the Black Swamp represented it as being occupied by a species of genii closely allied to mother Eve's joersuader. Black snakes were said to attain constrictor proportions, while the dread rattler was sup])()se(l to hiss forked lightning from every stump and crevice. Gradually, however, these stories became '"old,'' and some adventurous spirits began to talk seriously of making a "clearing."

The cholera which made its first appearance in the Fnited States in 1831, spread north with gi-eat rapidity and dire effects. At the old town of Gallipolis on the Ohio, its ad\'ent was felt and sent many northward, who preferred any hardship to a tussle with tlic^ dread malady.

In the election of '34: the number of voters had increased to twenty-eight, and during the fall aud winter the settlement at tlu' ^reOonuick entry was sufficiently large to warrant James McCormick in sur^'eying a piece of his land and laying it out in lots. He secured the services of Davis, and lots wore laid on the Mc- Cutchenville road, aud the road to Fremont and the streets named Main and Sandusky. Since that time several additions have been made and new streets laid out. McCormick named the town Mill Orove, to wliich has been suffixed West to distinguish it from Mill Grove in jMorgan county. The sale of lots was slow and ))uihling slower.

One of the greatest pests to the raising of any kind of stock were wolves, the forests seemed literally alive with them, and in the winter they were ravenous, attacking every li\'ing animal from a chicken to even the settler himself. Gradually, however, they disappeared, drew deeper into the forest, and it has been many years since the wolf lost his identity in the county. Settlers used different modes to protect their stock from them, the steel trap and chain being veiy effective. jMany daring exploits are related of the old hunters then young men, chuck full of grit. One is worth relating.

George McCormick at tliat time a mere boy, went out one morning to see liis tra]), and found a very large wolf fast luit nidiurt. Now as there were some new settlers just come in, George determined they should have a close view of a live wolf. After considerable planning he succeeded in tying the wolf's mouth and feet. He then very coollv strapped liim on his back and walked home, a distance of OATr a mile.

The Hollingtons

AMOXG the list (.f early settlers of Plain townslii}), may be mentioned Picliard Hollington, who came out to tile ^laumee conntiT in the year 1834. hy tlie lake, and almost directly from Enudand. ilc cntei'cd 4(10 acres of land, endtraeing what is now a fine farm south of Bowling Green. j\Ir. Hollington selected a spot al)out one-fourth of a mile west of the Findlay road as his future abiding place, and in course of time had a fine orchard of apple trees |)lan1e(l from the old Station orchard on the Maumee.

After contracting with a man named McKnight. for the ))uilding of a log house, and hnying two yoke of oxen (the first e\'er owned in the township) he re-

He had a wife and. five children, fonr sous and one danghter. l\ichard, tlie eldest son. then 13 years of age, became a resident of Williams county, this State. Mary became the wife of Hon. (>cta\ius Waters, of Fulton county, .lost'ph was a resident of Bowling (ii'een. William, the youngest of the family, became a resident oF Missouri.

Ambrose, next to the youngest, will be remendiered Ijy many ol' the ])resent day throughout this section of Ohio, as Kev. Ambrose Hollington, who was classed among the most eloquent of ])ulpit orators. His son. Dr. H. I). Hollington, of St. Paul's M. E. church. Toledo, is destined to l)ecome as famed as his father.

Mr. Hollington had in the old country been a tradesman, while his wife, who was a wi'll educated woman, had bt'i'u accustomed to all the comfoi-ts and convenieut-es of lib'. But lirf piano had been Irft across the ocean, and lln' only music she would be likely to hear finmany long months would Ije a medley of uncouth sounds of frogs, mosquitoes, ^ild beasts ;ind birds. Hollington knew nothing of woodcraft, did not know how to rise an ax. in fact with his wife, he was entering upon an undertaking remU'red doidily trying because' of their int'xperience.

After a toilsome journey tbi'ough >wanip> and forests, they ilnally arrived at tlie cabin of -Joseph Mitchell, who bad settled a short time ])revious near the south boundary of the township, and about two miles north of (*ass' Corners, in TjilnTty townshi]). The ]\[itchells had barely got their cabin coverech A ])lace for a door and small window had been cut out. l)ut lumber for a door oi' glass for windows wvw practically out of tlie ([Uestion then, nor bad the cabin even a puncheon tioor, but such as they had the early settlers shared freely with each other, or with the stranger who came among them.

It was hei'e in mid-winter, al'ler the last weary day of their long journey was done, that the Hollingtons l)egan fully to take in the situation. They had reached the goal of their ambition, free America, where every mait is a law unto himself, no kingly power, no lU'cks galled with the yoke of oppivssion. no t'Xcisemen, a land of plenty and unmixed happiness. But alas, how different the pictun^ of fancy and the homely reality.

Mrs. Hollington, of ail the souls gathered there, was the most disheartened and most keeidy realized their disconsobii'.' situation. ()\t'iconK' at hist by her feelings, she sank down on one of the floor sleepers and burst out crying. But her grief was not the grief of despair. It was a transition in her life pilgrimage. This evanescent storm of tears s^'cms to ba\;' washed awav all the weakt'r elemenls of lu'r wonumly nature, and instead of the d.'pendent. timid woman, she becanu' llie strong arm, the jiillar <d' strength in that household: when liei' busband gi'cw despondent, she spoke words of enc(niragement to him. With each new and tiwing vicissitude, !i r (onrag' aios'. No trial seemed too gi-eat foi' liei- foi-tilude. She seemed suddenly to lia\c been imbued with that strength of cbai'acter and tenacity of i)urpose wliicli can surmount e\cry dilticulty. and wbieli in all ages of the woi'ld hamade men lieroes.

Tlu' family remained at Mitchell's about six weeks, ami theii- own house still being incompleted, they moved with what \\'\v articles tluw had. to the cabin of Lee Moore, just in tlie south edge of the present town of Txiwlinu- (irei'u. - ('. IT. A'.

Indian Associates

IX the Seutiuel of Xovember 29, 1883, Mr. Evers says that James Hutchinson, sr., and family, and sons Andrew and James and families, who came from Summit county, Ohio, in April, 1834, were the first settlers within the borders of what is now known as Milton township. The family of Mr. Hutchinson, besides his wife and two married sons, consisted of three daughters. Andrew and wife had twelve children. In James Hutchinson, jr"s, family were only himself and wife.

These families found Milton to be an unbroken forest, the home of the red man and the abiding place of the deer, wolf and bear. Not a tree had been cut in the township, unless by hunters, and ever3"thing was in a state of nature. They came with five yoke of oxen and one span of horses, making their journey from Summit county in ten days; they took what is now the Maumee and Western Reserve road to Perrysburg, then almost bottomless with mud, thirty miles in length and supplied with a tavern to every mile, and one to spare. At times on their journey the wagons would get stuck, compelling them to put all five yoke of oxen to one wagon to pull it out. From Perrysburg they traveled most of the way over what was known as "HulFs Trace" to Lee Moore's place, in the south part of Bowling Green. From there Mr. Moore piloted them by the way of the sand ridge to their future home, and for many a mile they were obliged to cut their way through the woods, step by step.

to work to build a cabin, which they completed in forty-eight hours ready for occupancy, and in which they slept on the second night spent on the premises. This cabin, the first in the township, stood on the farm entered by Mr. Hutchinson, sr.

After getting a good start on this farm each of the sons entered a piece of land and built a cabin for himself. The only associates of these families until the next settlers moved in, were the Indians, who of course, were very numerous. The Indians had a camp for years on the place owned later by Morris Brown and by H. || C. Strow, and after being disturbed there, camped for a long time on the east side of the Van Tassel farm.

The settlers* children and Indian pappooses would play together day after day just as neighbors' children do now. The Indians learned the sports of the whites and vice versa. The Indians lived mostly on hominy and wild game, such as \enison, coon, wood-chuck, 'possum, musk-rat, etc. Andrew Hutchinson states that he had often when visiting their camps, seen large copper kettles (which they obtained from the government) containing perhaps eight or ten fat coon each, mixed with hominy and water, swung over a fire and boiling like a young volcano. The coon would be skinned and quartered, then thrown in the kettle head, feet, claws and all. Mr. Hutchinson relates that his brother James went back to Summit county and married a rather fashionable young lady who came out to the Wood county wilderness to share the trials of the pioneer life with her husband. About the first Sunday she was there they went to visit their neighbors - red neighbors, and of course were invited to stay to dinner. The young Summit county bride took a look into one of the kettles and got a full sniff of the steaming coon pot-pie

Sc'Kaf-Book

Mr. Andrew Hutchiusou, who, with his father and brother were, as before stated, the tirst settlers of the township, is yet living (1883) at Milton Center, and though 74 ye'irs 'i^ld, told us a few days since that he had cleared 12 acres of land the past year. Mr. Hutchinson when young was one of the best hunters in northwestern Ohio. He supplied most of his pioneer neighbors with tlieir meat, such as venison, turkeys and other wild game, and they in turn would work on his farm to pay him for hunting; "Change works" it was called. He was schooled in the art of hunting by the Indians, and hunted with them day after day. In giving him instructions about hunting they would say : '^' White man hunt deer slow, go still. AMien see deer watch him close. Wlien deer look up, white man stop, stand straight; when get close take good aim, fire, and down come deer." He evidently followed their instructions well, as he said he had killed

Some time later Rev. Joseph Badger and family, moved in from near the old '"Missionary Station" and lived on the farm now owned by M. B. Todd. Father Badger was a soldier in the Eevolutionary war, chaplain in a regiment of Harrison's army in the war of 1812 and he was also present at the siege of Fort Meigs, near which place his ashes now repose (the Perry sburg cemetery). He was a man of deep piety, greatly respected by all, kind and generous, was never known to refuse a favor, and would render assistance to an Indian or even a dog. The esteem in which he was held can be aptly illustrated by the following fact. He was on principle opposed to hunting on the Sabbath, as was the custom of many of the hardy, careless pioneers. But they knew Mr. Badger's opposition to the practice and if they chanced to pass near his house on a Sabbath hunt they would always as a matter of respect to his feelings, leave the road and go around his house in the woods and thus escape his observation.

Tinge Of Romance

HORACE CADY was an eastern man and at one time quite wealthy. He lost heavily in a large speculation and as is always the case his position and the prestige of his family among the wealthy social circles of the east diminished with his fortune. He chanced to come west with a friend and while in this county became favorably impressed with it as a refuge for his family from the outside world and settled here in 1832 or '33. Leaving his family he started for South America with the hope of regaining his lost fortune.

"While on his way to Valparaiso, he came across a dashing and spirited young Frenchman of high parentage and wealth who was also on a tour of speculation in Lima, Peru. He became much attached to the young man and after they had been in South America some time, Cadv not makinof anv advancement in liis project and the 3'onng Frenchman losing heavily in his operations, they concluded to return to the I'nited States and Cady invited his friend to accompany him to his home in this county, which he did.

The young Frenchman, with his high ideas and aristocratic notions was not favorably impressed with the country but what was lacking in this was made up by the presence at Cady's home of a fine looking and accomplished daughter to whom he soon become greatly attached and in a short time married and settled for life in Liberty. The young Frenchman was James Bloom and the daughter, Harriet Cad}-, became ^Irs. Harriet Bloom.

Though this story may not l)e correct iji every particular, it in main explains how ]\[r. Bloom came to reside in Liberty. He was evidently never cut oul: for a farmer and the style of life he was compelled to live, in the early days here, failed to bring prosperity. He died al)0ut 1870 at an old age, and his remains now lie in the Liberty township cemetery.

To tell how these first settlers toiled to make comfortable homes of their ^"^farms in the wilderness" of the privations and hardships they endured, of their great distance from family supplies, etc., Avould be simply a re])etition of what has been said of other localities. Two things, however, worihv of mention that used to

Ask any old settler of Liberty to-day about the mosquitoes and he will tell you the swamps along the Portage river in those days bred the best specimens of mosquitoes the world ever saw. They were of the Jumbo type, blessed with long lives, powerful endurance and a l)erseverance equaled only by the settlers themselves. And as the latter sat around their cabin homes on warm, pleasant evenings, their only mode of protection from the ravages of these little perselutors would bo to build a "smudge" and envelop themselves in the smoke arising from the same, like a ham in a smoke house. As a breeder of malarial complaints the Portage had an established reputation. As soon as the summer and fall months rolled past they would bring with them malarial fevers of the most dreaded type and ague in all the stages and forms known. Wliole families would he stricken doM'n at one time and many of them died from the dread complaint. Dr. Eli Manville, father of the late Dr. A. J. Manville, was the first doctor to ])ractice in this community and the way lie fed. quinine to his patients was a caution, but he was a blessing to the comuuinity, saved many lives and is gratefully remembered by his few surviving patients of 70 years ago. - C. W. E.

Miami Of The Lake

records recently, several copies of a Perrysburg newspaper came into view, called "Miami of the Lake." These copies were dated in March and April of 1837 - about 72 years ago. J. H. Mc- Bride was the editor and publisher.

The first page of these numbers is largely made up of literary matter, both jirose and poetry. One article by Judge Story is entitled, "What is to Become of This Cnuntrv?" He refers to the na- tions of the old world - to Greece, Eonie, Italy, Venice, Genoa - one time republics, that have jjassed away. He closes in an impassioned appeal in the following langnage :

"I call npon you, fathers, by the shades of your ancestors, by the dear ashes which repose in this precious soil, by all you hope to be, resist every project of disunion, resist every attempt to fetter your conscience, or smother our public schools, or extinguish your system of public instruction/'

"Life can never be too short, which brings nothing but disgrace and oppression. Death never comes too soon, if necessary, in defense of tlu' lih-rties of our country."

In the number of April 5, 1837. an important discovery is announced - "the greatest since the days of Franklin." James P. Espy, Esq., has ascertained that the weather is regulated by fixed, unalterable laws - easily understood, so that the captain of a vessel may t' 11 wliether there is a storm raging anywhere within 500 miles of him, and how he may direct his course so as to avoid it.

The proceedings of the Ohio legislators in ])oth the senate and house of representatives are given at considerable length, occupying nearly a page. The paper is a four page folio, with six columns to a page.

At the head of the editorial columns delinquent subscribers are stirred up - money is needed, "badly needed." The panic of 1S37 was then spreading over the country, and "the money market at New York was hourly becoming more alarming."

Hon. John Hollister was the representative of' this district, and the district embraced nine northern counties, in which was included some of the most important works of internal improvement in the state. In speaking of Hollister, the editor says: "There has been a straight forward and honorable course adopted and pursued by the representative from this district, in all matters of legislation, which has received the approbation of political enemies as well as political friends."

Jn another editorial the condition of the Western Reserve Road is scored in the severest language. Says the editor, "It is only those who have become stalled in the mud, in endeavoring to Avork their way through this Ohio Golgotha, that can draw a true picture of this stigma upon the character of the state." Again he says: "Teams are not unfre- (juently five days in passing through this section of the road of thirtv-one miles in extent!"

Petitions from many points were presented to the Ohio Legislature for the construction of the Wabash and Erie canal on the southeast side of the Mauniee I'ivei- from Defiance to the lake, which location was never realized.

were steamboats General Jackson and Oliver Newberry from Detroit, with passengers; steamboat Cincinnati from Cleveland, with passengers; also schooner Delphos from Cleveland with pork, flour and merchandise.

During the same time the departures were steamboats General Jackson and Cincinnati for Detroit, with passengers; steamboat Oliver Newberry, for Cleveland and Erie, with passengers, and the schooner Caroline, for Cleveland.

Among the merchants advertising their goods, Woodruff & Spafford, Bussell & Brigham, Beach & Bennett, J. Hollister & Co., Doan & Earl, Oren Clark and Spink & Smith.

Forwarding and Commission merchants of Maumee and Perrysburg, comprise the following firms: John Hollister & Co., and Doan & Earl, of Perrysburg; J. J. Bingham, Forsyth & Hazard, Cook and Kirtland and J. A. Scott, of Maumee. These firms publish their prices at length for storage, wharfage and commissions.

D. Wilkison, Master, advertises that the steamer Commodore Perry will leave Buffalo every Monday evening for Detroit and Perrysburg. Will leave Detroit every Thursday morning and Perrysburg every Thursday afternoon for Buffalo.

of the Board of Public Works advertises that '^sealed proposals will be received at the town of Maumee in Lucas county, Ohio, on the 15th day of May, 1837, for the construction of so much of the line of the Wabash and Erie Canal, as lies between the head of the Eapids of the Maumee River and the eastern termination of said Canal near the town of Manhattan, at the head of the Maumee Bay."

Henry Reed, jr., Horace Sessions,] Henry Bennett, H. C. Stowel & J. D. Brown, J. C. Spink & A. C. Coffinbury, Isaac Stetson and Mason Brayman, the latter located in Buffalo.

There are many points of interest embraced in this relic of two generations ago, and not desiring to prove tedious with further detail, the foregoing is probably sufficient to indicate the activities of the first settlers and business men at Perrysburg and along the Maumee river. - F. J. 0.

Some geologists are of the opinion that Lake Erie, at one time, extended westward as far as the source of the Maumee, citing as evidence the existence of various "moraines" yet plainly visible in that vicinity.

The first school house in the east part of Middleton township was a small log building built by joint contributions of the settlers on Section 24, in 1844, and Mrs. Amelius Robertson, who was then Margery Frazier, just from Glasgow, Scotland, was the first teacher. It was also for some years used as the first church for that community, until a so-|j ciety was organized at Haskins.

The Town Of Benton

THE town of Benton, one of the "hasbeens/' was located a short distance west of Tontogany, and David Hedges was its proprietor. It was laid ont during the best days of Thomas Benton, "Old Bullion" as he was called. Hedges was a Jackson Democrat, and a great admirer of old "Tom," and named the town in his memory.

The building used as Hedges' store was moved away and was afterward used for a barn by Henry Nearing, on the Hedges farm, owned by Morehouse heirs. Mrs. Gen. Commager, of Toledo, was a daughter of Hedges. The stone house on the place was built by him in 1834 or '35. Mr. John Whitehead, now of Tontogany, who had just come on from New Jersey, helped to do the carpenter work. The saw mill at this point did not stand very long.

The Hedges place has a strong claim for priority of settlement in Washington township, though our chronicler has in the recent sketch of the townshi}), given the preference to the Chris Gundy farm located on by Michael Syphcr in the spring of 1830.

In 1819 Samuel Ewing, father of Anthony Ewing, and of the late W. H. Ewing (Uncle Hank, near Hull's Prairie) settled on this place, then called Wolf

Ewing lived here until 1833, when one day while at Eichardson's tavern at Eushte-boo, the same place where Porter shot Kicliardson, Ewing and a man named Ereneli got into an altercation and French struck Ewing in such a manner as to dislocate his neck, killing him instantly. French was imprisoned on charge of murder in the little log jail at Maumee and escaped one night and never was heard of after. - Sentinel, 1883.

Battle Of Grand Rapids

GEN. LIDA of the United States troops gave the following account of a fierce battle with the Indians in the war of 1812, on the site of the present village of Grand Eapids. It was not until 45 years afterwards that he related this account of that battle. He said: our Indian wars occurred just where your little village of Gilead now stands. A company of U. S. troops, of which I was one,, was ordered from Defiance to Fort Meigs. We passed down the nortli bank of the river. About noon on a certain day, we came opposite the island that is in the river there. Our commander chose this as a safe place to rest and eat dinner. About two hours were consumed in this way, and then we made preparations to continue our journey. Equipped as we were with the trappings of soldiers and the necessaries for an extended march our freedom of locomotion was not a little encumbered. We pro- eeeded to cross {lie Hapids to the south bank, but only a Utile over half the distance had been accomplished, when, without a moment's warning, from the top of the bank and beautiful grove over the bottom from the river to the bluff Ix'hind, belched forth a volley of musketry wounding several of our men, but killing none outright. The foes, of course, were Indians, who appeared to be a host in number. They had been lying in close concealment, but after the first discharge could be seen, and 1 remember, to me at least, every tree in the bottom seemed to conceal an Indian. We i^romptly took refuge under cover of the bank before they could load and fire again. The river bank here Mas bluffy and perhaps 15 feet in height. We found immediate })rotection hei'e from the enemy's fire, and began making our way gradually down the river to a ra^ine about SO rods distant, carrying our wounded with us.

"This ravine was a dense thicket of l)]ushwood and larger trees, while, from the high ground to the liver was free from brush; the trees wer.' principally maple and made a beautiful looking^ grove, which for six hours were compelled to turn into a bloody battle field. Before night the dead and dying had been strewn from one end of the bottom to the other. As soon as we had succeeded in establishing ourselves in the shelter of the ravine, we began to be aggressi^-e in our operations, forcing our way up the bottom, keeping ourselves in the protection of every friendly covert afforded by thicket, tree and hollow, and compelled the savage foe to retire from i)lace to ]dace ; driving them steadily up the bottom until we reached ^ point about a hundred or more rods from our place of starting, where two or three mound like knobs with ravines and thickets furnished capital rallying points for the Indians. Taking advantage of this they, with r'doubJLMl t'xertiou. forced us back over all the i,n-ound we had gained. In like manner we must have passed back and forth over the battle ground live or six times during the afternoon. Each time we fell back we were careful to carry our dead and wounded with us - as far as possible - to our rallying point below.