Sandusky Township (part 6 of 57)

We look before us and see the tottering aged leaning on their staffs in the feebleness of old age - behind us the youths flushed with the promised future before them - in the _ rear comes the babe in his mother's arms. Our lives are represented by a moving panorama, each incident passing before our view delighting us for the time then vanishing from our sight, and he who does not look and learn must indeed be a very indifferent ob- Human life is made up of see and with which we come in contact as we are borne swiftly down the long incline plane of years, each per: forming its mission, accomplishing its purpose, amusing us for a time, and then dropping below the horizon of our sight as the close of this life has been beautifully portrayed by some forgotten writer. We approach the end, the canvass with its picture stands still, the curtain drops, the lights are put out, the bell rings out its knell, and the vision is lost in the lowering darkness, silence reigns and all of this world is finished in the sleep, the forgetfulness, the unsensibility of the tomb, and the pioneer sleeps and rests from his labors, except the immortal part.

After the secretary's report, Dr. McCune came forward with a poetical composition, which he prefaced thus: "Before commencing my little ad. dress proper, I want to say that the incident Gen. Buckland related of the pioneer boys playing with the pipes and tobacco reminds me of one. Half a dozen little boys of the olden time got to playing with an old musket, and each one prided himself on loading it very nicely, and each one put in it a load, and when they got six charges in they werea little afraid to fire it off. The mother heard the little fears, and not knowing that they had put in so many charges, she says: 'Boys, you are a set of cowards; give me the musket.' They handed it to her and she fired. It was a bad musket to kick anyhow, and the old lady got badly kicked. One of the boys said: 'Never mind, mother, there are five more charges in there yet.' "

"Tt is not necessary to say that I am not prepared for you will find it out before I get half through. I listened with a great deal of attention to General Buckland's recital and I must say that of many of the incidents he told I had some very good recollections. There was one thing however that the general did not mention, perhaps his modesty for- bade it. He has been not only a pioneer settler, but a pioneer soldier. He was among the first in our late war when the services of men were needed. Of this I have some personal knowledge though I did not enlist myself, I had a son in the army who was also in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. I was there with Mr. Luckey, Dr. Rawson and_ several others who went as volunteer nurses. We found the general on the battlefield and everybody spoke highly of his laurels. He is certainly an honor to your town and to the legal profession. His speech today reminded me of one little incident that occurred at the old tavern that Judge Knapp kept. I think I was there several times during the session of court when that old frame court house stood on the brink of the hill and when there was not another building within sight of it on the high ground here. At that time Ottawa county was not yet formed. Sandusky county extended to the lake except on the Fulton line and that was in Wood county, and was part of the disputed ground between Michigan and Ohio. Mr. Wm. B. Craighill was then generally called the Ottawa Chief because he was very tall of legs though short in body, while on the contrary, Judge Hollinshead and Mr. Pool were men of more body, but very short legs.

Mr. Hollinshead bet that Mr. Pool was the tallest man in the hotel. Al most every man bet against Hollinshead. He said he would bet the price of a cow. They went to measure the men as they stood, but Hollinshead objected. He said that is not the way to measure men, that is the way to measure legs. He then had the men sit down flat on the floor and measured from the floor to the top of their heads. There was hardly anything left of Mr. Craighill after his legs were left out and Pool's body was found to be six inches the longer. Hollinshead, of course, won his bet and got a nice mess of milk.

About this time, 1835, Hon. John Bell took a hand in driving out the Wolverines from Toledo. I had just moved to Toledo and Mr. Higgins was then our acting judge. Governor Mason, of Michigan, came over with an army of Wolverines and they pitched their tents on Stickney's farm, which is now a part of Toledo. About six hundred Ohio men were posted at Perrysburg. The hostile troops did not come any nearer together than Toledo and Perrysburg except some scouting parties. A few of our men were taken prisoners and carried to Tecumseh, Michigan. Among _ these was Major Robert S. Rice, the father of four of our distinguished citizens. The Michigan men had several cannons with them with which they used to make demonstrations.

The governor of Ohio issued a proclamation that there was to be court held in Toledo at the Indiana house, which was mentioned by General Buckland this forenoon. It was about the only house of any size there at that time, and stood on the banks of Swan Creek. The governor had appointed Judge Conant to preside in Lucas county which had been formed out of the disputed territory. His party came down from Perrysburg for that purpose in row boats and canoes to the mouth of Swan Creek, and tn the morning before the Michigan army woke up, the sheriff called court at the Indiana House and Judge Conant had the docket read and an entry made that court had been called, some cases heard and court adjourned. They then retreated back to Swan Creek. The Michigan men got wind of their doings on the disputed territory and went for them but got there too late. The quarrel was afterward settled by congress and General Jackson, who gave Ohio all she claimed. Sandusky county furnished the principal soldiers in the Toledo war.

My father's family came to Baltimore, Md., in 1810, where I was born the same year. We afterwards moved to Lancaster and came here in 1834. If I was not born here it was not my fault. I had no choice. I have been in this region and along the Maumee river ever since 1834. In 1838 I settled in Ottawa county where I had bought land in 1836. In 1840 Ottawa county was detached from Sandusky. I think Sandusky was first organized in 1820 and included what are now Seneca and Ottawa. I moved into was on the committee when I was admitted to the bar. That is about all I recollect of it now. I left home today about noon and came on the Wheeling road, and when I came to the court house and saw the carriages hitched here I thought of the time when I first came to the old wooden court house and saw the teams hitched there with hickory bark and basswood bark and the ponies covered with Indian blankets and furnished with basswood stirrups. What a difference between the modé¢s of conveyance then and now! It was then a day's travel to go from Oak Harbor to Fremont. There was not a bridge between here and the lake. It was either swim or ford. I think there was one bridge near the mouth of Mud creek but the country was inundated so much that you had to wade knee deep to get to the bridge. Between here and Oak Harbor was an unbroken forest. Between here and Toledo there was only an Indian trail, and a man generally had to take his bread and butter with him, if he had any, and his horse feed if he traveled in the winter, and expect to ford the rivers. Now it takes only thirty-five minutes to come here from Oak Harbor, and an hour from Toledo. It is within the memory of us pioneers now living that all this happened. I was here a year ago and had the pleasure of meeting you and I am pleased to see so many of you still living and in good health. I thank you for your attention.

The president stated that during the flood last winter there was some difficulty in comparing it with the preceding ones, especially that in 1831. High water marks should be preserved for future reference.

On motion of Gen. Buckland it was resolved: That the president, with such three other persons as he may appoint, shall take this matter of high water marks into consideration, the president to act as chairman.

the lakes. There is undoubtedly a periodical rise and fall of the lakes . and they are also affected by the clearing up of the forests. By ascertaining the years when high waters occurred we may arrive at some conclusion as to the periodicity of the rise and fall.

The president then said, ""'We have been deprived of music today and will introduce a kind of substitute in an old song to be sung by Mrs. John Anderson. I think John and his wife are coming in at the door now.

Just then an aged gentleman and lady dressed in costumes of ye olden time entered the room and came tottering to some easy chairs facing the audience where the lady sang in a touching and tender manner the old familiar song, "John Anderson, My Jo," the gentleman nodding his approval in a thoughtful and loving manner, and each very deliberately taking a pinch of snuff between the stanzas. Their disguise was perfect and their acting so well done as to move many to tears. The parties were Dr. McCune and Miss ; The president said, in , introducing them, that the hat worn by Mr. Anderson was first worn by James Birdsey, father of N. P. Birdsey, and greatgrandfather of Mrs, I. E. Amsden; that the black stockings was part of the wedding suit of the same and they have now descended to Mrs. N. B. Amsden. The log cabin flag handkerchief, also worn by him in 1840. The neck-stock was the contribution of our old pioneer, Doctor Rawson, whom we all delight to honor and who has weathered the storms of seventy-nine winters and yet today his back is as straight as an arrow, and his smile tender and loving as a youth's.

The president next presented for inspection the military coat worn by Judge Isaac Knapp, who was a sol: dier in the war of 1812, and in the Mexican war, where he wore this coat as a lieutenant. The coat is sacredly kept by his family, and is

There was also shown an old lock found near Mr. Lay's farm, on the Butternut ridge, the history of which is unknown. Specimens of rocks, stones, flints, Indian axes, pipes, etc., were also exhibited.

Dr. Rawson arose and said, "I think I would like to speak to the younger members of this society, I mean 'those younger girls under three score years and ten. I will detain you but a minute. I have some more evidence to show the progress of this country - and it is only a sample of what the whole of the town and country grew to. In 1837 there was a judgment against Cyrus Hurlburd, and the sheriff levied upon a certain town lot near where the new house of Mr. Doneyson now stands. Gen. Bell and some others were called on to appraise the lot and on their oaths they returned the appraisement at one dollar. The sheriff tried to sell it but could find no buyer. After one year's time the postmaster bought it at his own offer for fifty cents. That same lot now is worth more than a thousand dollars. This happened about a year after I came to this town. You young folks may want to know how it happened that I didn't bid it in before I let it be sold for fifty cents; I will tell you | hadn't the money and couldn't get it! We pay one dollar to have a deed recorded, and the man who got that lot did not have his deed of it recorded for twenty years. I suppose he had not the money. I got the deed into my hands and had it recorded. You may see by this that some of the best real estate men of this county could not at that time buy the lot for one dollar.

Mr. N. R. Tucker was next called on and spoke as follows: There are a great many older people and earlier settlers here than I am who could speak and whom I should be glad to hear rather than to speak myself. I came to this country in 1839, a boy sixteen years old. I commenced the struggle of life with you when times were hard and when it was almost impossible to get a cent of money. They had the cholera in this town before I came and strange to say that was the occasion of my coming here. A blacksmith by the name of Howland died here of cholera who left some land to which his brother fell heir, and he met my father at Sacketts Harbor and they traded land. My father was a shoemaker in York state, St. Lawrence county. After I got old enough to study I got what little education I could there in the woods where there was not another family nearer than eight miles of us. I studied mostly at night by the light of tallow candles and of hemlock knots.

"T read much about Ohio and began to talk to my father about going there as our country was very backward and a farmer could raise nothing but corn and only a little of that. I was naturally intended for a farmer and finally induced my father to go west. He came as far as Sackett's Harbor where he found this Howland and traded his fifty acres of land for a lot of land five miles below Fremont on the river. We had just means enough to get here, arriving on the 8th of June, 1839. Father and I commenced work at fifty cents a day. After working about a month we began to get the ague and bilious fever. Dr. Rawson used to come to see us. We were soon all sick so that there was not one able to hand the others a drink of water. Many of our neighbors were in the same predicament. But we suffered and struggled through and have helped to make this country what it is, one of the best in the land. We are often blessed with good crops here when in other places they are poor. We have come the nearest to a failure this year, but have passed the worst and things begin to look better. My first team was a couple of calves, for which I gave twelve days' work. I broke them and they made a good team. My father used to go around shoemaking, as he was able, among the neighbors, working often only a part of a day at a time, and I used to go and fetch provisions and other supplies." said: "I am not a public speaker. I came here in June, 1833, and settled in the woods. We had bad roads as you all know. There were only two school districts in Ballville township, one on the west and one on the east side of the river, the Tyndall and the Babione schools. We lived three miles from the schoolhouse. There were only five householders in our district all of whom are gone except Peter Strohl and myself. We had a hewed log schoolhouse covered with clapboards nailed down. They were usually fastened down by weight poles laid across, but we wanted to time came for school we had not a door nor a window cut out, so we thought we would hold a meeting outside, but the majority decided to go in, and we all climbed up the logs and went in at the gable end, and held our meeting inside. I was elected director, but I didn't have to spend much money to get the office. I next went to Pameter's saw mill and picked up a few slabs and bored holes in them with a two-inch auger and put in legs and so made benches and by boring holes in the logs along the wall and driving in pins on which I laid boards, I made writing benches. There is where our children went to school. We have struggled through so far. I have been very fortunate so far as my family is concerned. I raised six children, all of whom are living, as far as I know. After a while I was elected county commissioner. The old court house then stood on the brink of the hill, Ezekiel Rice and Paul Tew were the other commissioners in the year 1839. There was quite a dispute about the location of the court house, some wanting it on the west and others on the east side of the river. Old Mr. Brush owned the land down the hill and he wanted it on this side and we finally located it on his land down here in the woods. Others made fun of us for doing so. Judge Bell, Paul Tew and I built the court house by contract with Judge Knapp. About that time Ottawa county was detached from Sandusky. When we had to form a new township down the river we named it after Ezekiel Rice. His widow is present with us today and takes great interest in these meetings."

Mr. Everett then said: "I wish to express to you the pleasure I have in being with you today. It shows an interest in the events that are passing. Many people are passing away and it is worth while to chronicle events so that posterity may have them to read. Another object is to meet each other once more, exchange kindly greetings, mingle our social qualities and thus heighten the enjoyment of the old pioneers. I am anxious to have the society become permanent and continue to gather facts. I am glad to see so many of you here and I hope to see you and many more on our coming anniversary. I find the ladies are quite as useful as the gentlemen in preserving a history of the times, and we hope they will help us. A thousand things are passing away. We should write from the memory of the old men and women, things that never can be got hold of again. We must catch them as they fly and the time to do it is now."

A fine, large bouquet having been placed on the stand, Mr. Everett asked who did it and for what purpose. Aunt Betsy Rice reluctantly admitted she did and that it was to be given to the oldest lady present. On inquiry Mrs. Edith Engler, aged 82, was found to be the oldest and received the bouquet. Mr. Everett, after conducting her to the stand, said: "This is Edith Engler who has lived among us a long time, raised a family, lived a useful life and was a most excellent pioneer in the early

Rev. I. Swander was next introduced and said: 'My mother told me I was a baby pioneer in 1833 on the right bank of the Sandusky, in Seneca county. I hope in the future to have the privilege of mingling with you on occasions similar to this and telling you some things I heard from my mother and grandfather who were more venerable pioneers than myself.

The members of the society which includes all persons who settled in the county before the year 1840, are requested to meet at the Birchard Library in Fremont, Ohio, on Saturday, August 2, 1884, at 3 o'clock P. M., for the election of officers for the ensu-. ing year and for the transaction of any other business which may come before the meeting.

The annual business meeting of the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society was held at Birchard Library, in Fremont, O., last Saturday, August 2, 1884. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved. On motion the old officers of the society were re-elected for the ensuing year, as follows: President, Homer Everett; vice president, Dr. L. Q. Rawson; treasurer, Dr. J. W. Wilson; secretary, I. H. Burgoon.

The Annual Reunion and Picnic Held September 4, 1884 Verbatim Report of the Proceedings by Jacob Burgner, Stenographer The annual reunion and picnic of the Sandusky County Pioneer and

The weather for several weeks had been very dry and hot but a gentle moonlit shower of rain in the early morning had laid the dust and cooled the air and thus favored the coming of the pioneers, while the refreshing breeze which passed through the open windows of the court room made their session one of comfort and satisfaction.

A well arranged program had been prepared by the efficient president and secretary of the society in which the speeches, narratives, presentation of relics, etc. were freely interspersed with old-fashioned, soulstirring vocal music under the direction of Prof. Q. L. Dickinson, assisted by Messrs. C. R. McCulloch, John G. Fitch, Henry Lesher, DeWitt Krebs, Miss Juliette Caldwell, Miss Fannie G. McCulloch, Mrs. H. G. Stahl, Mrs. S. P. Keeler, Mrs. McDaniels, Miss Josephine McCulloch and Mrs. F. W. Darst.

"Pioneers: I greet you this morning and welcome you to this meeting in great thankfulness to our Heayenly Father that so many of us have been 'spared to meet again, to shake hands and greet each other. Quite a number of those who used to meet with us have passed away, and this reminds us of the good old hymn:

At the request of the president the Rev. H. Lang, of the Evangelical Lutheran church, conducted devotional exercises. He read and lined the hymn "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand," which was sung with spirit by the choir, after which he requested the pioneers to be seated while he read the nineteenth psalm.

"O, Thou great and infinite source of our being and of all our blessings; Thou art the Maker of our bodies and the Father of our spirits. We bless Thee that Thou hast thoughts of mercy and love towards our race, whom in Thine infinite wisdom Thou didst create in Thine own image and likeness and to whom Thou didst give rule and authority over this world. Thou didst make man to go forth and subdue the earth and have dominion over the fowls of the air, the fish of the sea, and over every creeping thing that moveth on the face of the earth, Thou didst give us the earth with all its productive power and 'didst make of it a home, a beautiful home for us. We bless Thee that the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places and that Thou hast given us a most bountiful heritage. We bless Thee for Thy providence, that has been tender and kind in caring for us in infancy and childhood, and up through youth and manhood to riper age; and now that a number of us are returning to childhood again, with declining health and strength, and are approaching the close of our earthly probation, we pray that Thou wouldst be with us again even to the end. We bless Thee that we have been permitted to come here again to a reunion. Some of our number have fallen asleep, we trust have fallen as the Christian hero falls, and are now mingling with kindred spirits before the throne of God, and perhaps are looking down upon us with joy and gladness. O, Thou great Source of joy and gladness, come and fill these hearts with joy unspeakable; and as these fathers and mothers look over the history of the past fifty, sixty or seventy years, we pray that Thy blessing may be upon them. Strengthen their hearts, bind them together with strong ties who have been associated together as pioneers for upwards of forty years. They have seen fruitful fields and vineyards, towns and cities, take the place of the wilderness wherein was only the abode of the savage.

"O, God, we pray that Thou will bless the devotions of the hour and bless those who shall speak to us today. Bless these aged ones. Before we meet again some of them may be called away to join those on the other side. We bless Thee that Thy family is one in Him after whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named. While a part of the family have crossed the flood, others are still this side of the Jordan. We bless Thee for the Christian's hope. We bless Thee for the Bible, and that Thou hast therein unveiled the things that were unseen. Give us strong faith in Providence, strong faith in Christ, the Redeemer of our race, strong faith in Almighty God and in his promises which shall ere long be fulfilled. Accept the worship of the hour, and let Thy presence so influence thought and affection and contemplation and our mingling together, that we shall feel that we are better and stronger in all the elements of manhood when we shall go away in the evening from this place. Be our God and guide until we meet again. And we pray that when life's history is finished, its battles fought and toils ended, we - may rest in peace and quietness before Thy throne in Glory; and to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be endless praises. Amen."

After the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" by the choir the president said: "The next thing in order is the reading of the minutes of the meeting held about a year ago. At that time we employed a stenographer and got a very faithful record of all that was said and done. It would take some time to rehearse it here, and if the meeting will take my assurance and that of the Secretary that it is a faithful record, in plain print, ready to be put away in the archives of the society, we might save time to dispense with the reading."

On motion of I. H. Burgoon a vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Jacob Burgner for his stenographic report of the last meeting, and also to the Democratic Messenger for its faithful printing of the same.

The choir then sang "Invitation," after which the president announced that the hour for dinner had arrived. He also urged all to come up promptly to the afternoon meeting and be ready and willing to take an active part in the exercises that we might do something worthy of record to be read by our posterity a hundred years to come.

The pioneers at once proceeded to take their lunch, some in the court room and others in the shade of the trees in the court house yard, where a long table had been set for that purpose. Everybody seemed to have a good time.

The total number of years of the ages of those who died were 3,275 and the average of each person was 76 years, which is a greater average than any which has been shown since the organization or during the history of the society. The general average heretofore has been about 72 years.

There are a few among this number who do not properly belong to the pioneer class, but the greater number are among the early comers, and a few of them date back to the days of the first settlers and to the time when Fort Stephenson, on yonder hill, was to be seen as Major Croghan left it after his victory over the British and their Indian allies. Of those Mrs. Gallagher came in 1813, Mrs. Ball in 1816, and Mrs. Hmerson in 1821.

Thus, annually, the pioneers are passing away peacefully to their rest, and let us hope, to their reward. How fast the anniversaries come. How swiftly the short twelve months glide silently by, carrying away in their folds ceaseless and endless changes. Some of those who were with us last year are not here today, and some who are here today may not be with us next year. They may have crossed the river and entered the great beyond before our next gathering.

and playthings, or the great national holiday, the Fourth of July, with its noise of firecrackers and fun. What happy recollections the most of us have of those early childhood days, although our playthings and sports were of the rudest kind. At fifteen a happy, romping boy, with no care! Perhaps nothing has ever occurred to cloud the young life; with no thought of the morrow or of the weary years of toil. hardships, trials and tribulations which may be in store for him! O, happy days of childhood! Parents, try to make them pleasant and to keep your children to be children as long as possible and thus continue in the footprints of our fathers. Let the same magic words be spoken by us as were spoken by our fathers and by their fathers and their fathers before them, and which will be spoken by the wise of the generation following us: 'For we are the same our fathers have been. We see the same sights our fathers have seen. We view the same stream and see the same sun. And run the same course our fathers have run."

We often forget the toils and worry of the day and wander back to the old home, made dear by daily incidents which ever dwell in our memories, and there from the old log cabin door we fancy we see and hear the voice of our angel mother singing some old familiar hymn of praise to Him who rules alike on land and sea. There are none of us who cannot appreciate the following pathetic description of the old home, from the pen of Dr. Everett, one of our former eminent statesmen, and in early life an eloquent Unitarian preacher. He says:

"They have gone to their last home! but he can trace their footsteps over the scenes of his daily labor. The roof which shelters him was reared by those to whom he owes his being. Some interesting domestic tradition is connected with every inclosure. The favorite tree was planted by his father's hand. He sported in boyhood beside the brook which still winds through the meadow; through the field lies the path to the village school of other days. /He still hears from the open window the voice of the Sabbath bell which called his father to the throne of God; and near at hand is the place where his parents were laid to rest, where, when his time shall come, he shall be laid by his children. These are the feelings of 'the owners of the soil. Words cannot paint them; they flow out of the deepest fountains of the heart; they are the life-spring of a fresh, healthy and genial national character."

If you wander back in memory to the old home, you will often recall the teachings of your Christian parents; and though you may stray far away from the path of true manhood the memories of the voices of those loved ones in the old home, long since stilled in death, will have much to do in weaning you back to duty and the right.

Mrs. J. D. Muchmore next presented to the society a hymn book once owned by her father, John G. Rideout, which is about one hundred years old.

There was also shown and read by the president the first subscription for the support of the preaching of the Gospel by the Presbyterian ministry:

"Whereas, The Rev. Enoch Conger proposes to discharge ministerial duties in this place and its vicinity during a part of the present year; We, the undersigned, therefore pledge ourselves to pay to Jaques Hulburd, of Lower Sandusky, semi-annually, the sums set opposite to our respective names for the support of his ministry.

The above was in the handwriting of Samuel Crowell. The subscribers were: Samuel Crowell, $5; Mary Crowell, $2; Mrs. Wilson, $2; Alexander G. Ross, $1.50; Joseph Cookson, $4.

Mr. Everett said "That it may not seem a very important event to some, nor this a very important paper, but in time they will be important from their connection with the history of the church. Samuel Crowell was my instructor for two winters and he gave me all the instruction in English grammar that I ever had, and I feel it a privilege to mention his name here today. He was my friend and my teacher, and the leader of the church in 1835."

Mr. I. M. Keeler then presented to the association a copy of the Fremont Journal containing an account of the fiftieth anniversary or semi-centennial of the Presbyterian church in Fre. mont, Ohio, as reported by J. Burgner, stenographer.

Mrs. , of Elmore, presente an old-fashioned footstove, consisting of a square sheet-iron box perforated on the sides, in which hot bricks were formerly placed to keep the feet warm at church and perhaps when sleigh riding.

Mr. Isaac Trask, of Clyde, presented a bullet and shot mold of the olden time for casting buckshot, in which 10 larger and 12 smaller bullets could be run at one casting. The process was explained by Mr. C. Waggoner.

"T came to Lower Sandusky on the 17th day of May, 1835, at 3 o'clock P. M., and stayed at the house of David Deal. Next day went west to John Overmyer's, where Kuhn's now live. There was an old house built by Columbus Wilson, near by, into which we moved, and we stayed there until the first of October, when we moved into the house that my brother occupied, east of the Four Mile House. The pike was then a mud hole from one end to the other. My folks once sent me to town to get some crocks of Robert S. Rice, who was then a potter, the father of Drs. Jeb wands Roser hice, cL Sot sour crocks, put them into a bag and slung them over my shoulder and started for home. On the way I met a very deep mud hole that reached clear across the pike. I thought there was a solid spot in the middle and in crossing stepped on it and went down into the deep mud and water. I won't tell you how I looked but I lost all my crocks.

"My friend, Mr. Everett, our president, was the first man who handed me a letter after I came here from the Keystone state. I heard the Rev. H. Lang and also Rev. Cronewett preach their first sermons in the Black Swamp, in the house of John Overmyer. Mr. Cronewett was a very tall man and as the house was rather low he had to get his head between two logs above in order to stand up straight. He preached two sermons and then went to Woodville.

"In those days we had to go through a good many trials and privations. I think if the young folks nowadays had to do what we did they would not stay over night. I would not believe the pioneer's stories about trials if I had not experienced them myself. One day I started home from town and came to where there was a Ssaddle lying near a log heap. I walked around to see what was the matter and there lay Dr. Stilwell sick and shaking with the ague; but, as you see, he weathered it through.

"It does me good to have Pioneer Picnic day come round every year. I prize it more highly than the Fourth of July. I am now 65 years of age. In the year 1863 I went to visit my old home in Pennsylvania. It looked natural, but I thought the hills looked. a good deal higher than they ever did before.

"Our schools in those days were much like the churches. Our little stone schoolhouse called the Rearick schoolhouse, was built in 1847, or about the time of the Mexican war, for I know that I dismissed school to let the scholars go down to see the soldiers. The schoolhouses were not fixed as nice as they are now. They had slabs or planks with legs in the ends for seats, and planks laid on pins driven into the wall, for desks. Our young people now would sneer at such a schoolhouse. But we had more genuine friendship then than

The choir then sang "I Long for the Cooling Stream," after which the president requested others to relate their experience in the early settlement of the country.

"I came here in 1835. We stayed over night on the hill, on the east side of the river. On Monday morning we came down to Lower Sandusky where my wife did some trading and then in company with Daniel Baker we went to Scott township. We had five yoke of cattle between us and we hitched them to a wagon and got out on the pike eight miles that day to the house of a man named Robbins. It rained all day. As we had no stable room we poured our oats on the ground for the oxen to eat. We then went to where Gibsonburg now is. I left my wagon at Mr. Roller's. We were there about two weeks. I put up a log shanty near Roller's. I cut the logs and drew them together. J had to go several miles to get men enough to raise the shanty. I put on a clapboard roof and with an ax cut out holes for a door and window and put in one tier of plank for a floor; one-half of the house had only a ground floor. I bored holes in the logs and drove in pins to serve as hooks. I got my tools of Mr. Roller. I next made bedsteads in the corners by boring holes in the logs and putting in poles which came together at the inner corner and which rested on only one leg. I then came on Sunday to Lower Sandusky to get something to eat. I had only $10.50. I stopped at a tavern kept by Mr. Vallette, and to save money I lay in the wagon all night. He charged me two shillings. After getting a supply of provisions I went home. I always took my ax along when I went to mill to cut my way through the woods or mud holes. I bought 80 acres of land in 1834, at $1.25 per acre, and other land afterwards which was improved for $20 per acre. I now own 100 acres worth $100 per acre. I do not now own the land that I entered. I gave it to my son. The first eight years I used to have a spell of the ague. My wife was here twenty years before she had it. We had two doctors from Fremont, Dr. Doe and Dr. Frank Williams. One charged $5, and the other Si

"If it is in order I will speak to you as I am told that I am the oldest man present. I am in my ninetieth year, several months; and I bless God for the privilege I enjoy with you my brethren and sisters. I call you all brethren and sisters for we are such, God has pronounced us such, and I feel that we are such; and my advice should be to this congregation that we speak short and speak to the point, and speak just what is in our hearts. We are God's people and I trust He will engage us what to say and what to do. I feel that I have been striving to serve God these many years. Sixty odd years ago, God, for Christ's sake, pardoned my sins, and today I feel that I am His and He is mine. And now my brethren, if we want a good meeting let us speak short and to the point. Biessed be God, for He has done wonders for us, and He will bless us still if we give our hearts to Him. May He bless us and save us eternally."

"Fathers and Mothers: What few words I may have to speak shall be spoken loudly that the more aged may hear. I am not a pioneer, for no fault of my own. I was born a little too late for your history. I have no very interesting scraps of history to relate, and such as I might be able to relate I have received not by observation and experience as you have, called upon as you were to bear the burden and the heat of the day in pioneer life. What I am possessed of has come to my _ knowledge through what I learned from the stammering tongues of my aged father and mother who are now in the silent grave. It stirs my heart with the buoyancy of hope when I reflect that their tongues and those of all other pioneers who have gone before

"T became a pioneer fifty years ago in the Sandusky country at the tender age of six weeks, and if I have no right to claim any place in that army that is now passing over to the country of our best friend I claim to belong at least to the light infantry corps. Fifty-one years ago, in the state of New Jersey, we knew nothing of Sandusky county. It was the Sandusky country to us. We used to get letters from there by paying twenty-five cents postage which was worth as much as two bushels of buckwheat which was regarded as the staff of life in that sweet potato commonwealth, that sand heaped state of the American Union.

"T could speak to you more freely if I were a member of your association, or of an association which might with propriety be called into existence and to be known as 'The Sons and Daughters cf Pioneer Fathers and Mothers.'

'Tf the Sons of Veterans, whose sires went to defend this glorious inheritance of ours in the late civil struggle can be associated together and known as a society of the Sons of Veterans to perpetuate and keep sacred the memory of what their fathers did in battle and on the tented field, why should not we, if we love our pioneer fathers and mothers equally well and appreciate the victory which they gained in their battle - not against erring brethren - but against mosquitoes, fever and ague, corduroy roads. Indians and swamps? I suggest this then and shall be ready

"Our fathers are passing away and I can not conceive of any better way to continue the good offices of this society than by organizing a "Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Fathers and Mothers." In this way we might properly perpetuate in ourselves their existence and carry forward their plans in a manner that would reflect credit upon the past, improve the fleeting moments of the present, and throw rays of light and hope upon the future towards which we are hastening. May we all, after having numbered our days here, be numbered among the pioneers in a better land among God's saints forever.

By request, the choir sang "Cousin Jedediah" again to the amusement of the pioneers, after which the president said he would like to hear from Dr. Bushnell, of Cleveland, as he was one of the early helpers in the organization of this society, and having been absent two years we should be glad to hear from him.

"IT came here with no expectation and certainly no promise to say anything. I came for the purpose of being here, and I am very glad this afternoon that I am here. In this matter of pioneership I feel as if I were a rambler in the world, and I do not know where I have a right to speak as a pioneer. It is true that I was born in a log cabin. (Everett: That will answer for your initiation.)

It is true that when I was a child the door was made of plank and a leather string fastened to the latch hung on the outside. Does that make any difference? (Everett: That is better.)

'It is true that at night I could hear the wolves howl. Does. that make any difference? It is true that I used to hunt woodchucks and raccoons and possums. Does that make any difference? It is true that I could start up a wild deer and fetch him down with a rifle. Does that make any difference? (Everett: That's good!)

"Well, then, I may go on. When I was eight years of age I could thrash with a flail without hitting my head or shoulders. I could thrash around the floor with my father like a man. Does that make any difference? There are few boys, eight years old, nowadays that can do it. Does that make any difference? (Everett: That's very good.)

"T have a notion to bring in some of those who won't speak. Some have not the courage to speak. Here is a gentleman who lived forty-nine years in the Black Swamp and never lost forty-nine meals. Does that make any difference? (Laughter.)

"IT want to say a few words about that foot-stove. Mr. Morgan one day came into my shop and saw my mother's footstool. Says he, 'What's that?' Says I, 'That's a foot-stove.' I told him it was a foot-stove. Says he, 'A what? A w-h-a-t?' I then explained it to him. I beg leave to correct you. I never knew of a box footstove like that for warming feet being used on a Sleigh ride. The young folks don't care a farthing. for a stove when they go sleigh riding. They sit close enough on the seat to keep warm. (Laughter.) This foot-stove was carried to church when there were no stoves in the churches. Indeed we had no churches - we only had meeting houses: The old ladies used to use them in the meeting houses to keep their feet warm during the long sermons.

"T have felt disqualified to speak today. Day before yesterday I preached a sermon at the funeral of my predecessor who commenced where I labored before I came here in 1858. When I was 100 miles away in a little cabin he prepared for college in that place. That makes me feel as if I was a youngster, and that I had no right to speak at a pioneer meeting.

tavern. A Mr. Waterman, formerly a hardware merchant here, told me he had done it. I was riding on the cars towards Cleveland one time when a gentleman came and told me this fork in the road and asked a man which road he should take to Bellevue. 'Ju-just t-ake which you please and before you go half a mile you will wish you had took the _ other. (Laughter.) Those times were well covered by a story told in Knox county. A man there, in a new country, was traveling along and towards and he wanted to know where to spend the night. He came to a guideboard but could not read it as it was getting dusk. He climbed a small tree near by and read it, and it said, 'No More Road!' (Laughter.) I was traveling through the woods one time when I feared the same thing would happen to me. I looked for the guideboard which would say, 'No more road.'

"I do not think it hurts these old gentlemen and ladies to laugh a little, and I think as we go on in life we ought to be cheerful; and though I know this is not a religious occasion I think that the exercises that suggestive of the fact that as we approach the end of this life we are not satisfied to be continually referring to what has gone by, as if everything that interests us has gone by, but there is something ahead of us.

"Well, now, I lived in this place twenty-five and a half years right out of the strength of my manhood. Whether I accomplished anything here or shall be remembered or enter into the life of people younger than i 4k, "cannotw say. But while I was here I attended many of the

January 1 and April 1, I added the ages of five old people who died and found their average to be 81 years. I officiated at the funeral of Samuel Crowell, and of Mr. Winters, father of Bruce Winters, county treasurer, whom you recently mourned; also of Benjamin Inman and many others. Perhaps there are not a half a dozen burial places, large or small, in Sandusky county where I have not been with mourners to carry departed ones to the grave. The very woof of my active life has been woven with the people ot Sandusky county. I have been acquainted with a great many other people, and my brethren of the United Brethren denomination in appointing one of their Sunday school meetings sent me a program of the exercises in which I was to take part. They didn't ask me whether I would speak and yet they had me on their program; as I usually was on terms traversed the county over from east to west, from north to south, hot or cold, wet or dry; sometimes to attend weddings, sometimes funerals, social occasions, Sunday schools, picnics. Well, I do not know, I guess IJ have not said anything and I will not now say any more. I threatened if I made a speech I wouldn't say anything and I have inflicted my threat upon you."

The choir then sang "New Jerusalem" in a masterly manner, after which the president said: '"I think now I can get a few words 'from a patriarch in this community who helped organize this society. We may not all be together again and we will hear now from Dr. Rawson:

"Now, do you wish me to begin with 'Ladies and Gentlemen,' or 'Comrades'? I think that is the way. The old soldiers all talk in that kind of a way. (Laughter.) That old president asked me just to come to talk a few words. When I commenced practicing medicine he was a school boy. He's got old by this time. He's an old fellow! I have not got much to say, but to begin is (Laughter.) The reason he got me up, he told me he wanted to have some man up here for the people to look at. Some handsome man. I think that they got satisfied. I got along very well with that, I think. Well, the next thing is, I have heard a good many orators talking here. Now, I am full of oratory! I was born an orator! But I have kept it fastened up tight - bound right up. I have not let that oratory out for eighty years! If I should happen to let it out I would put all others in the shade. So I will stop. I won't let that oratory out today. Perhaps next year I may. If I do it will come out with a _ burst! (Laughter.) Well, that is all on that point. I have heard a great deal said about old things in early days. I only came down here because our president said, 'You come down and let them get a good look at you, they want to see a handsome man." 1 didn't come here to make a speech at all, and I ain't going into that early history; if I did I would spend an hour, and I can't afford to spend more than two minutes. I must relate one incident which convinced me that we are not too old to learn. Even doctors sometimes forget more than they learn. Today I hadean old friend to dinner with me, and he told me some of my experience. He said I was once his family physician. He didn't praise me and he didn't find fault with me, but finally in the course of human events, which was thirty or forty years ago, he concluded to trade off the old doctor and get another. He got another, and a good doctor, who did him a great deal of good and he was glad he made the trade. He was pleased that he got that root and herb doctor, Dr. Rice.

The president then related a little incident in regard to Dr. Wilson. One John Overmyer, who was a farmer, went into partnership with Samuel Overmyer in a store on the brick corner across from where the Wheeling depot now is. One day John was standing near the corner with a Mr. Taylor when he saw two young doctors getting on their fine horses on which were new saddles and saddle bags and starting off on a gailop. He said in a low voice: "Misther Taylor, Misther Taylor, do you see them two men over there? Do you know who them is? The one on that bay horse is Dr. Stilwell, the one on that sorrel horse is Dr. Wilson from Pennsylvaney. That Dr. Wilson ish a shmart man. I knowed his daddy in Pennsylvaney!"

"After your general invitation and when speakers become so scarce that there is nobody to say a word I may say a few words. (Everett: Go on.)

"Well, Mr. Chairman: Doctor Wilson says that I can't make a speech, and I do not rise because I think I can. I am not here to make a speech and I can say but little else than to express my respect for the audience before me and my gratification at their being here and at such ages as they are before me. I have a respect for any one who by a long residence in this region has assisted, for years, in an humble way, or in any way, to make of this country what it is, because my recollection goes back to the time when there was no such country as this. It came to this condition by a slow progress, and every man and woman who has lived to help make it what it is, is entitled to respect. We are met here to congratulate each other and to fellowship each other. The growth of such a country as this has not been the growth of a day. It was by the cutting down of one tree at a time and "letting the stumps rot out and making improvements as best we could. We now have grand farming lands and fine homes and all of us have had a little to do with it, at any rate those who have been here a considerable length of time. But it must not be thought that to the men who could take the ax and chop down the tree alone is the credit due for all that has been done. It is true that farmers had to resort to all manner of shifts in order to get along. I havea picture in my mind now of a clearing west of .Hessville, where in riding along, I saw an opening near a log cabin of perhaps three or four acres. Some of the trees had been cut down and some had been girdled and left standing. There I saw a man and his wife dragging brush to harrow in the seed which they had sown.

"Just the other day there was a lady at my house, who in recalling a speech that Gen. Buckland made a year ago, in which he spoke of his coming to their house one time late in the evening and of their entertaining him as their guest in a cabin house in Woodville, said that they had to send off half a mile to get coffee for the general for breakfast.

"I wish to make this impression on the minds of all. We are all losing memories of events and facts, and in order for this society to accomplish the objects for which it is organized, I feel that the members wherever they can should give their contributions. Fortunately now we are favored with a stenographer who puts everything on paper that is said or done here and his record will be ere long incorporated into the history of the county. Now, I feel that this ought to stimulate every man and woman to contribute those facts which will enable us to compare the past with the future, in regard to education, mode of life, health, occupations and a thousand and one things which will be of interest. Put them on record so that future generations may know what existed in Fremont in 1884."

"I think our president has made one mistake. He has called on all the big guns first, the doctors and divines. to make their great speeches. It throws a damper on us farmers, but it did not scare me." c Gossard: "I was born a_ pioneer, in a log cabin. I remember the time Gen. Harrison ran for president. As my folks could not afford a cradle I was rocked in a sugar trough. They had no door to their cabin. The wolves used to come and howl so at night that our folks had to blow a horn and shoot off guns to keep them away. I came to this county fiftytwo years ago. There are only two present here that I saw then, Dr. Raw: son and Homer Everett. Dr. Rawson knows something about Scott township. We all lived in log cabins. Our improvements have now gone far beyond our expectations. The people fifty years ago could not anticipate such a sight as we now see every: where. I lived on the borders of Mud Creek Prairie. I have often crossed it on the ice, and now it is lined with farm buildings of the best quality. What has done it? Enterprise! We ean feel proud of our situation now."

"Mr. President: There is one feature of these proceedings that 1! am glad to recognize and that is the employment of a stenographer. This I admire. I think it is the most valuable of all the agencies which such a society can employ, a stenographer who can take down from the lips of those who speak and make a nermanent record of what is said; not that all of it cam be used, but it is a fund to draw from for the future. Many of the store-houses of memory now so valuable are lying unknown and unappreciated by those who own them. How important then when this memory is in shape to be drawn upon that it be made available for the future, and how readily it may be done, through this instrumentality. I remember and can cite an instance in which it might and should have been used. Gen. John E. Hunt, a pioneer of pioneers, of Toledo, probably one of the very earliest of the children of the white face who ever saw the Maumee Valley, whose memory was retentive, whose observation had been strict and intelligent and whose mind was a perfect store-house of knowledge and experience. I talked with him of the importance of em. ploying a stenographer and talking and telling his story to him and haying it written out that it might be made available. He promised to do it. He wrote a good deal with his own pen, but how weak it is for an old man to draw upon his memory in that way, scarcely making a scratch upon the great store-house. Before he had complied with his promise Gen. Hunt died. His memory is lost to earth forever. Nothing is left but what is picked up here and there. Now I make these remarks from my own observation and experience, and I think this society can use of their means for nothing else so profitably as to have a _ stenographer at every meeting. And, another thing; there are old people who can not go to these meetings, they can not endure the ride, or the long confinement, and these people might be seen at their homes by the stenog- and put on record. I arose chiefly to commend this feature of your work and to urge upon the organization the importance of not only retaining it, but annually making it more efficient."

"T would like to add to this that every aged person should write down himself or herself, on a piece of paper, the dates connected with his family history, the births, marriages, deaths, removals, etc., so that other people can have access to it in case of need. I never had this impressed upon me so forcibly as when I was called upon to preach the funeral of Dr. Newton, of Norwalk. His wife asked me to prepare a funeral sermon and she brought me a sheet of paper on which Dr. Newton had made a record of dates. She said: 'I told Mr. Newton a few years ago that he might die some time, perhaps unexpectedly, and there might be some dates that some of us would like to know.' There I had all the dates I wanted right before me and they have gone into print before this. He had done the things he had been requested to do. Now let me beseech these old ladies and gentlemen not to allow their modesty to let them neglect these things, and remember that though now these things seem unimportant they will be a _ great gratification to their children in time to come.

Everett: "I think Mr. Waggoner's remarks are very true, but they will not be appreciated until some persons have canvassed the country for materials for history. They will then search in vain for facts which have faded from the memories or passed away with the old and were never known to the young. I am glad he has urged upon this society the em. ployment of a stenographer. I may say in reply that Mr. Burgner and I have had serious conversation on the subject of his visiting old persons to secure their histories."

"T think Mr. Burgner, the stenographer, was very poorly paid by merely thanking him for what he did. His report extended through five issues of the Messenger, and must have taken a good deal of work. The gentleman deserves more_ substantial pay. He is willing to work and to do his work faithfully, and you should do your part in seeing that he is paid." :

Everett: "Several were speaking about holding a contribution for this purpose. We have a treasurer here, Dr. Wilson, and if any of you want to do anything for Mr, Burgner, just drop something into Dr. Wilson's wallet. We will not pass the hat." hymn they have just sung? It brings many things to my recollection. That hymn I first heard sung in Lower Sandusky. I tried to learn it. I don't think I learned it very thoroughly, but I learned it and often heard it sung. It carries me back to a very tender and grateful recollection. I first heard it sung in the old stone schoolhouse on the top of the hill where now stands your high school building. It was sung by a class under instructions by Mr. F. Whitman in 1839 and 1840. It was sung by voices, many of whom have ceased on earth, but it will be recollected by all who survive, and I wish all of you could have heard it then. It was sung by a choir most of them constituting the choir of the Presbyterian church, of which Rev. Ferris Fitch was pastor,

"I am glad that I am so honored today. I am glad that among that choir was one that first learned the sound of human voice in Christian worship from that pastor whose son he is and is one of your choir today, Mr. John Fitch. I am glad that the wife of that pastor is here. I feel that I could not permit the occasion to pass without expressing my appre: ciation of it."

Rev. H. Lang said: "It has been customary to present a bouquet annually to the oldest pioneer present at our picnic. This time it comes from our old friend, Basil Meek, clerk of courts, and as far as I know Father Jacob Bowlus is the oldest one present, being past 90, and I now present it to him."

Father Bowlus accepted the splendid bouquet with a trembling hand and seemed so charmed by its beauty that he gazed upon it in thoughtful silence.

Passing Away

are almost every week being gathered by the great harvester, Death. Every time we announce the death of one of the fathers or mothers of the early times of this vicinity, the thought comes to us, have the opportunities been improved to get from these persons, from their own mouths, a history of their early experiences in the settlement of this region. The Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Association, at its last annual meeting, through its secretary, I. H. Burgoon, called particular attention to this matter. We now allude to it that these old men and women may be solicited to write down their early experiences; or, that the sons or daughters interview the old folks. All those old scenes, facts, incidents, experiences, social life, births, deaths, and weddings should be gleaned now. After a little it will be impossible to gather them, and the history of this section will be so much poorer. A little ten cent pass book could be filled with a hundred or more of such interesting items. Mr. Burgoon will furnish anyone with such a pass book for that purpose, who will ask him for it. "Gather up the crumbs, that nothing be lost." Gather them now.

Indian Narrative

In the library of the Historical Society is a diary of the "Daily employment of Quintus F. Atkins, while on a mission with the Rev. Mr. Joseph Badger to the Wyandot Indians, inhabiting the Sandusky River." It extends from April 1, 1806, to August 14, 1807, and is a very interesting picture of daily life on the Sandusky river at an early day.

In 1798-9 war with France seemed imminent, and the United States raised an army in which young Atkins enlisted and was stationed at New Haven. The war cloud passing away, he commenced moving west - first, to the "Genesee country," and in October, 1802, to "New Connecticut," settling in Morgan, Ashtabula county. In 1805 he carried the mail on the Cleveland and Detroit route. This was done on foot, carrying the mail on his back. The labor was not easy, but his journal shows that constant hard work was to him no drudgery. On the 22d of February, 1804, he married Miss Sarah Wright, daughter of Captain John Wright, of Morgan.

In the spring of 1806, Mr. and Mrs. Atkins were engaged as assistants to Rev. Joseph Badger, missionary to the Northwestern Indians, and their daily life appears in the journal. Judge Atkins lived to an honorable old age, happy in his descendants. Driven from his station by fever and ague, he returned to Morgan. He was lieutenant in the war of 1812. In 1816, sheriff of Ashtabula county. In 1820, county auditor, then a new office. In 1824, superintendent of the "Maumee Road," then to be built by the state from the avails of land granted by congress for that purpose. The road was completed in 1826. In 1835-6 he was agent of the Arcole Furnace Company, of Madison, Lake county, Ohio.

In 1839, Mr. Atkins removed to the farm in Brooklyn, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, of his son-in-law, the late Hon. Edward Wade, of Cleveland. While here, he became _ associate judge of Cuyahoga county, holding the office until by change of the Ohio constitution the office was abolished. He died at the residence of his sonin-law, Frederick Judson, Esq., Hast Cleveland, on the 23rd of January, 1859. He was an active and useful member of the Presbyterian church - an early anti-slavery leader; active and successful in addressing meetings, personal arguments, and with his pen. In his later days he wrote much valuable historical matter containing pioneer life in Northeastern Ohio, sketches of road making in Central New York, volunteer service about Huron River and Sandusky Bay in 1812, and many others. He had twelve children, ten of whom lived to maturity. One son, Captain A. R. H. Atkins, in 1876, was in Chicago. The rest were daughters, one of whom, Sarah (after the wife of Hon. Edward Wade) was born among the Indians on the Sandusky.

His children and _ grandchildren make a very numerous clan, engaged in nearly all professions and active business with success and vigor. One cannot but think in examining the list that they have all received a rich inheritance of the very vigorous, bodily and mental strength which he himself possessed.

From April 1, 1806, to the 29th of the same month, Mr. Atkins labored with Mr. Badger, building a boat and making preparations. On the 29th they took the boat as far as Mr. Ambrose Humphrey's mill where they unloaded and took the boat around the dam. They reached the dam May 2d, on the 3rd they put out and with a "fair wind and kind Providence" they sailed thirty-six miles to the Cuyahoga. After several detentions by head winds and storms, on the 14th they rowed up the Saundusky River to Mrs. Whittaker's where they unloaded and had family prayers, having with them an Indian convert named Barnett. 'This was three miles below the rapids. On the 17th, on returning from very suceessful fishing at the rapids, he heard Crane, a Wyandot Chief, make a speech expressing his pleasure in granting permission to work their land to get food, and hoping they would dwell together in peace. Mr. Atkins had already got timber for a plow. On the 19th Cephas Case and Henry caught and salted a _ barrel of fish at the rapids.

The missionary work after this seems to have been splitting and laying up rails on the land allotted them by the Indians, plowing for the Indians and occasionally talking when he could (he not understanding the Indian tongue). He felt that he would give all that he was worth to be able to talk with Barnett in his own language. The plowing in the Indian cornfields covered many days. The close of the month they made a tent of bark, on the 28th they split one hundred and four rails in the forenoon, and in the afternoon finished the tent. Thursday, the 29th, tyey drew logs for a house for a Wyandot named Boldsow. The 30th they finished the log business and in the afternoon plowed in the Indian cornfield for a white woman, taken when a child, and in habits and dress no way different from the Indians. Saturday, the 31st, plowed in the Indian cornfield in the morning and in the afternoon made a bedstead, dug a spring, etc.

Sunday, attended a meeting at Barnett's house, in the Wyandot village, situated on the Sandusky River at the foot of the rapids. Monday, June 2, plowed for Big Arms, a Wyandot, on the island at the foot of the rapids. Tuesday, June 3, plowed for the Wasp and Polly, both of them belonging to the Wyandot tribe. Wednesday, June 4, plowed for Snow, a Wyandot, and David, one of the Mohawk tribe. The plowing continued, although by the 7th they commenced plowing occasionally on the society's land; the Indians, men, women and children, joined in planting their own land, and on the 13th, a number on the missionary ground as well, though on Saturday, the 14th, the Indians spent the principal part of the day in dancing to their God. In the evening, while we were attending family worship, "they began to dance and whoop," which made Mr. Atkins make the reflection how blessed were we that we could worship God in the ordinances of his own appointment.

Mr. Badger had an interpreter and the Indians danced to their own God. The next Sunday also Mr. Badger preached, while the Indians danced to their God in the forenoon. Saturday, July 12, helped Boldsow finish sawing his shingle timber (the shingles were split). In the afternoon went with Mrs. Atkins over to the village to see the Indians perform a dance appointed for the purpose of restoring Long Legs to health, who lay dangerously sick of nervous fever. At first Longhouse, the prophet, rose, took a bunch of herbs that to appear- ance had been bruised and dried, and cast it upon the fire. He stood in a fixed position until the smoke had nearly all ascended, he then sat on the ground, smoked his pipe, sat still, then arose and made a short speech, which Mr. Atkins supposed to tell what the Great Spirit had told them to do. At its close he cast his eyes upward, then pointed to an Indian who then sat on a blanket spread in the center of the house for the musician. The Indian then took a tortoise shell which appeared to have shot in it, and began to sing a melancholy air keeping time with the shell. In about ten minutes he suddenly raised his voice and began a tune less solemn, beating more vehemently with the shell, upon which the Indians began to dance at first but few, supposed by Mr. Atkins to be the relatives of the sick man, but before conclusion all were engaged, even those so old as to be obliged to walk round the circle, for the Indians always dance in a circle. After seeing them carry on in their savage manner until he was satisfied Mr. Atkins returned home, amazed that they should think dancing and hallooing would cure the sick.

Sunday Mr. Atkins was over. "Long Legs" was very sick, but the "Longhousians" were shut up conjuring over a person said to be dead, but likely fainted on account of poison given him by some wicked person Sunday, July 27. A messenger came to the village from the governor at Detroit.. The Indians spent the forenoon in dancing, and about noon were ready. The speech imparted the regard the governor and president held for them and the wish that they might attend to agriculture and forsake their heathen practices. Mr. Badger had been to Detroit, and fol. lowed in a discourse showing them the folly of so much time in, dancing and the iniquity of their manner of worship. Having finished what he was directed to say by the governor, he left the long house and preached at Barnett's. Sunday, August 3, there was a sick man at Mr. Whittaker's who had charge of the goods for a store for government to be kept at Sandusky. The next day Mr. Atkins agreed with Mr. Badger to go home to New Connecticut, if he had no more ague, with which he had been much troubled. August 10, he escaped the ague and next day started for Morgan, Ashtabula county, with Robert Giles, a black man whom they found at Cleveland when they first went up. They encamped two miles west of the Huron river. The next morning at 8, reached Fleming, who appears elsewhere to be a French trader stationed upon that river. They found the Vermillion fordable, water being about to the middle of the horse. At the Black River they found three canoes of Ottawa Indians who séu them across in a canoe. The niganot of Wednesday, the 13th, he stopped at Major Spafford's in Cleveland. The next day he reached Grand River, and stayed with General Payne, with whom he bargained for a barrel of pork, free from heads or legs, for $25. The next day he reached Hull Smith's store in Austinburg, where he laid in a supply of rum, Jesuit's bark, and rhubarb (for the ague). The next day he reached home after an absence of four years and found his parents well.

Wednesday, the 20th, he attended election of military officers at the house of Daniel Sterling. Stephen Brown was captain, John Henderson lieutenant, and Truman Beach ensign. September i6th, he logged who paid him in homemade cloth for a pair of trousers. He soon returned to the mission and records, November 17, the arrival of Mr. Badger, and his son Lucius, with a pair of oxen for missionary use. On the 25th Mr. Badger started for the Upper Towu. December 1, he caught an opossum. December 2, he discovered William Lane and Mr. Badger with two other men from Chillicothe, coming with stock given by people of that and adjacent towns for the support of the mission. 'There were fifteen head of horned cattle and twenty-one hogs - a liberal contribution for the support of a preached gospel among the Wyandots that made our friend wish he might be more faithful in his station, in which it is evident from the diary he was already very industrious and faithful.

January 25, 1807, they caught a wolf in a trap they had made, and February 19, he built one S. W. of the house in which he soon records another. February 10, he assisted Mr. Waterman in copying a bill of articles for the factory, buying some powder of Mr. Whittaker. Mr. Waterman, being the United States Factor and the Factory seems to have been in the vicinity of Mr. Whittaker's. March 9, he enclosed to Mr. Badger a copy of Mr. Patterson's complaint to the governor against Mr. Badger and the governor's letter to Mr. Badger on the subject of the difficulties at Sandusky. March 20, he got out for Morgan again; at Green Creek he was overtaken by the mail and Mr. Abbot from Detroit. They found the Huron fordable at the Rapids, and rode down on the east side of Mr. Burrell's. The next day they crossed the Black water (Black River) and the 22d, Sunday, rode to the Cuyahoga and crossed it in a flat. On arriving in Ashtabula county, Mr. Badger and himself seem to have built a boat again as upon the first journey. Thursday, April 15, he heard the bad news of the death of Sylvester Wilcox, killed in an instant by the fall of a tree. Saturday, the 18th, Mr. Badger preached the funeral sermon from the text "Be Still and Know that I am God." In the latter part of May he was back, spending his time about equally plowing for the Indians and working at the schoolhouse. Sunday, the 31st, Mr. Badger preached in the council house the funeral sermon of Throwthe-Sand, a Wyandot. June 6, he rode down to Mr. Whittaker's, bought two buckskins for $2. June 21, a Shawnee chief and two warriors, his attendants, took dinner with him, and in the afternoon Mr. Badger preached at the schoolhouse. July 22, he hewed plank for benches in the and the next day did something at hewing down the inside of the building, a work that took him some time. July 30, he got in a log for chinking the schoolhouse, and in the afternoon pulled flax for a while. Monday, August 3, he adzed off the floor and the next day finished the door. The shingles were split. The journal ends the 14th of August, 1807, with a dose of jalap and calomel which was one only of many doses recorded in this volume. '

Even Mr. Atkins' stout frame was severely tried by the hard labors and constant exposure of this missionary field, and Mr. Badger records that he was very feeble.

The Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society held its annual reunion and picnic in the Court House, in Fremont, on Saturday, September 5, 1885. A drizzling rain in the early part of the forenoon indicated an unpleasant day, but a gentle breeze springing up soon drove away the mists and rendered the remainder of the day very enjoyable. At about half-past ten o'clock a goodly number of pioneers had gathered at the court room and exchanged friendly greetings.

The secretary, Mr. I. H. Burgoon, called the meeting to order and stated that on account of ill health, Hon. Homer Everett, president of the association, would not be present. On motion of Rey. H. Lang, Gen. R. B. Hayes was elected chairman.

On taking the chair Gen. Hayes said: Ladies and Gentlemen: While the friends are gathering, it is suggested that the secretary take the names of pioneers present. Mr. Burgoon, will you have the face to ask the names?

Gen. Hayes: It is a peculiarity of reporters to be modest, as most of us know; and Mr. Burgner really possesses that trait; but he is an excellent reporter and furnished an admirable report of the speech of Gen. Cox, at the late unveiling. We hope that the pioneers will aid him by responding promptly in giving their

Gen. Hayes: If you will allow me to proceed in this position, in front of the stand, on a level with you, I shall like it better. I like to be as near the people I preside over as I conveniently can be.

It is certainly a great pleasure to meet so many of the pioneers of this county here today. Indeed it is quite unexpected. I did not suppose that we should have so many present as we have.' The threatening aspect of the weather this morning was against us. In addition the inevitable is constantly before us - the diminishing of our number by death, from year to year.

Those persons who were present at the organization of our original society will recollect that in July, 1874, under the then rule as to who were pioneers, we could count about four hundred as members. The rule then was, that all who came here in 1830, or prior to that time, should be considered pioneers. The list was made as full as could be, conveniently. Our loss has been, since then, from twenty to forty, and sometimes more than forty, annually; so that if we had adhered to the rule of 1830, our society would nearly all have gone. Yet there are some present who were here prior to 1830. I have seen the list that our secretary has gathered, and we have those here who came before 1820, a few before

1812. Though the number is growing less the interest in these meetings need not diminish. The fact that there are but few adds value and interest to those who remain. We may say of the pioneers as was said in classical times of the Syvillian leaves, "They increase in value as they diminish in number." It is very gratifying to be ranked among the pioneers of Sandusky county. Without detaining you with more remarks we now call upon the choir.

Rev. H. Lang, of the Lutheran church, then read selections of Scripture suitable to the occasion, arranging the passages under the following heads:

Almighty Father, we thank thee for thy matchless goodness, thy care, and the compassion which thou hast exercised towards us in the past. Through thy abundant mercy and goodness we are permitted to meet in this another coming together. We pray that this may be a profitable meeting. As thou hast guided us, lo, these many years, until our heads have been silvered over with the frosts of many winters, we trust that we have lived to some purpose, and that the world has been bettered by our living here.

Let thy blessings rest upon us today in this, our annual meeting. May we all be bettered by being here, and on going away realize that it has been good for us spiritually as well as temporally.

May our love be increased one toward another, and also toward our Father in Heaven. Guide us in the way everlasting. When our work is done, save us all in the Great Redeemer. :

The chair then called for the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. The secretary stated that they had been published in full in the newspapers, and were too lengthy to be read. As there were no changes of the constitution at the last meeting nor anything of importance to be attended to, the reading was dispensed with by common consent.

The chairman then said: It is remembered, I suppose, by all persons present that the date of pioneership is now 1845. It is hoped that all who were in the county prior to that time will be interested in uniting with the society, we desire to finish, now, whatever formal business is to be done, with the idea that after dinner we shall feel more like conversation and enjoying the other exercises. All of our race-(and I do not specify any particular race, for we are of almost all nationalities), think well of dinner as a social institution. The faculty of interesting conversation is very much improved by a cup of good coffee and a good lunch: Therefore, after dinner, if it is agreeable to the assembly, we shall call upon friends, ladies and gentlemen, to converse with us, with the desire that it shall be indeed a friendly reunion of the early settlers of the county. We shall call upon the gentleman who has lived longest in this county to speak first. If there is any one present who was here before the war of 1812 we shall call on him first. If there is none we shall come down to more recent times. We hope that those who are older will feel assurel that they can talk to us freely and we wish to have the benefit of their cross-examination.

of the Soldiers' Monument the question was asked, where did the cannon stand during the battle of Fort Stephenson? Was it at the northeast corner and fired west, or was it on the southwest corner and fired north? It seemed to be agreed that the attack was at the northwest angle. There are persons. present who were here so soon after the battle that the account of those who were actors in it may be, by their aid, freshly related.

We perhaps ought to modify our arrangement a little so that the one who came farthest to meet us shall speak first. Such an one is Mr. Philander Rexford who came from the state of New York. He as a boy was here in 1815. He has come farthest to see us and his mind is clear and his recollection very distinct. How long did it take you, Mr. Rexford, to get from the settled regions of the east to this country?

Hayes: Mr. Rexford is quite sure that the cannon was placed in the northeast corner of the fort and fired west. That is a common belief, but some have it the other way. And so of many other interesting matters.

The choir then sang "Songs of Zion,' after which Mr. Hayes said, "Tt is now almost twelve o'clock and the only thing to be done is to make a full list of the pioneers, their names, places of residence and date of coming into the county. As to the coming together after dinner I suppose one o'ciock will be convenient. If any one has a different hour, please suggest it.

Dinner being next in order, several large tables were set in the court room loaded with good things taken from the well-filled baskets of the pioneers and their friends, and all partook of a bounteous dinner with joke and repartee. The gentlemanly sheriff, Mr. C. F. Pohlman, Jr., furnished plenty of hot water for the tea and coffee and brought in chairs for the convenience of the pioneers.

The chairman having then arrived took charge of the meeting and called for the reading of the secretary's report. Mr. I. H. Burgoon then read his report as follows:

The different township assessors of Sandusky county return the names and occupations of 55 persons who died during the year, from April 1, 1884, to April 1, 1885.

Of this number 12 died between the ages of 60 and 70 23 died between the ages of 70 and 80 18 died between the ages of 80 and 90 2 died between the ages of 90 and 100

There were 30 males and 25 females, averaging 76 years each. Included in this list we find the names of about 30 pioneers, 17 males and 13 females, whose ages average 77 years.

And included in this list are: Mrs. Harriet M. Norton, Archibald Richards, Mrs. Margaret Shaw, John Riddell, Dr. Louis Gessner, Henry Bauman, J. N. Smith, Jacob Bowlus, Mrs. Henry Shirey, Mrs. Laura Wilson, Mrs. Henry A. Sanford, Mrs. Mary Babione, Mrs. Maria Porter, Mother Nolan, Peter Reed, Judge Adolphus Kramer, Barnhardt Kline, Jacob Heberling, Rev. Israel Smith, Moses Boggs, Mrs. Albert Binkley.

Only a few of our early pioneers of the first grade are left, and in view of the fact that they are passing rapidly away without any record of their lives I would suggest that some person be named in each township of the county to report all the names of the old settlers, and to get a biographical sketch from them while living, and to keep a record of any who may die during the year, reporting the same to the secretary at our next annual meeting. Such biographies and incidents to be preserved and published in book form in the course of time.

On motion of Dr. Jas. Wilson, the secretary was authorized to appoint some person in each township to secure the biographies of pioneers of the first class and report at or before our next meeting,

The chairman, then seeing an old, heavy, rusty, harrow tooth lying on the stand before him, took it up with a merry twinkle in his eye and said: "T find one of the old pioneers here which can not talk for itself. Will some one speak for it? It is about an inch and a half thick! The harrow teeth of old times corresponded with the people; there were not so many of them but they were bigger." (Laughter. ) \

Mr. D. C. Sherrard explained that the drag-tooth was found by Joha Tyndall on the farm of D. C. Sherrard, in Fulton county, Ohio, and was used by Thomas Gleason forty-five years ago. It is now presented to the society to be kept among the old relics in Birchard Library.

A small, hand flax-hatchel was also shown, which consisted of a board with sharp nails fastened in it, close together in a manner of a large curry-comb. It had been formerly used in combing out the chips of flax after it had passed through the brakes. Dr. T. Stilwell was called on to explain the method of using it but he said "it explains itself." Rev. H. Lang then took up the hatchel and some flax and said "I would be glad if some of these old ladies or gentlemen who used to stand behind a flax hatchel would explain the use of it. In my home it was used in cleaning hemp and flax after they had passed the flax-brakes. I used to hear the remark common in those days, in regard to large mouthed people, that they" had mouths as large as a flaxbreak. After the stems of the dried flax were broken they were run through this hatchel and then through a finer one until all the chips were cleaned out and the flax ready to be

Mr. Cavalier presented: a number of arrow heads and other relics of the "stone age" which reminded one of the perils the pioneers were exposed to from the savages in the early days.

Mr. Isaac Trask, of Green Creek, brought in a small, well executed log cabin, an imitation of those built in the time of the Harrison campaign in 1840, and which were for many years celebrated in song together with hard cider and the genuine hospitality of the pioneers who always kept the latch string hanging outside their doors as a sign of good will to their neighbors.

The choir then sang a cheering song while the chairman busied himself in seeing that seats were found for the crowd that was coming in. Quiet being restored, Gen. Hayes said: This morning I spoke of a possible order of calling out the friends to speak this afternoon which ran about this way: that we would try to call those who were here longest ago, and those who had come farthest to meet us. We are fortunate in having one here who dates, possibly not to the earliest period of any persor present, but who is from a distance. I allude to Mr. Philander Rexford, who was brought as a child to the west, in 1811, and came into this country in 1815. He was then old enough to observe and recollect what he saw and heard. We shall be very glad indeed to hear from him; and I understand, from some conversation with him, that he is.not at all likely to be embarrassed by questions, should any one wish to ask them. Mr. Rexford, allow me to introduce you to the pioneers and their friends. (Cheers.)