Seneca Township (part 3 of 60)

As soon as this invasion of the territory of Ohio was known, Governor Meigs called upon the militia of the state to repel the enemy. The appeal was promptly and nobly responded to, but the abandonment of the siege of Fort Meigs, and the gallant defense of Fort Stephenson, rendered their services unnecessary. When the militia were disbanded, without an opportunity of meeting the foe, or being employed in the main expedition against Canada, there was much discontent among them. To allay this feeling. General Harrison met them at Upper Sandusky ; and, through the governor, made known the reasons for their being disbanded. These were, mainly, that to retain in camp all the Ohio troops then embodied, was impossible, as the embarkation on the lake could not be effected under fifteen or eighteen days, and so large a force, even for a short time, would consume the provisions provided for the support of the campaign. The delay in moving upon Canada arose from a cause which General Harrison could not then publicly explain, lest it should reach the enemy. Under the plan of the campaign, he was not to cross the lake until he had the full co-operation of Commodore Perry's fleet. The period when this could be obtained, was uncertain. Under such circumstances, the retention of so large a body of militia, in camp, would have defeated the plan of the campaign. At the same time, the commander-in-chief bore his testimony to the fact, that the exertions made by Governor Meigs to assemble the militia, and the promptitude with which the call had been met, was truly astonishing, and reflected the highest credit on the state. - Some of the disbanded officers, however, met together, notwithstanding this explanation, and in a moment of popular discontent, passed resolutions to the effect, that they were greatly disappointed in not being kept in service, and that there was something mysterious in the conduct of General Harrison. - The cool reflection of these officers, and a subsequent knowledge of the whole plan of the campaign, have long since caused them to regret their course on this occasion ; and, to admit with a frankness honorable to their character, that they had done great injustice to the commander-in-chief.

Active preparations for the expedition against Upper Canada were now making. The call by General Harrison, on the governor of Kentucky, for volunteers, was promptly responded to, by the venerable Shelby, who, in a patriotic appeal to the people of that state, appointed the 31st of August for the rendezvous of the troops at Newport. Public attention was now directed with great intenseness, to the rival fleets on Lake Erie. About the 2d of August, the vessels under Commodore

Perry were finally equipped. On the 5th, General Harrison visited the fleet, and furnished the commander with a company of soldiers, to act as marines, who were afterwards acknowledged to have performed a valuable service. Col. Johnson, with his mounted regiment, was recalled from Kentucky to the frontiers. Every exertion was made along the whole line from Cleveland to Fort Meigs, to hasten on the stores, while Governor Shelby was steadily advancing with a strong body of mounted men towards the scene of action. In the midst of these active preparations, in which the energy of the commander-in-chief was everywhere perceptible, he received, on the 12th of September, at Seneca, a note in which Commodore Perry says :

This important and glorious news spread, with the rapidity of an electric shock, throughout the whole line of the army, and as it reached the various detachments, pressing on to the shore of the lake, it quickened their speed, and awakened a burning desire to achieve a victory equally brilliant, over the enemy under Proctor.

On the 20th, the embarkation commenced from the mouth of Portage river. On the 26th, the army reached the Middle Sister - having touched at Put-in-bay, where a general order of debarkation, of march and of battle, was issued by the commander-in-chief, which, for lucid minuteness and military acumen, has been pronounced by competent judges, to be unsurpassed in its kind. On the morning of the 27th, the final embarkation of the army commenced, in sixteen vessels, and upwards of eighty boats. The sun shone in all his autumnal beauty, and a gentle breeze hastened on the ships to that shore, on which it was anticipated the banner of our country would have to be planted, amid the thunder of British arms, and the yells of ferocious Indians. While moving over the bosom of the lake - every eye enchanted with the magnificence of the scene, and every heart panting for the coming opportunity of avenging their country's wrongs - the beloved commander-inchief caused the following address to bo delivered to his army :

"The general entreats his brave troops to remember, that they are the sons of sires whose fame is immortal ; that they are to fight for the rights of their insulted country^ while their opponents combat for the unjust pretensions of a master. - Kentuckians ! remember the River Raisin ; but remember it only whilst victory is suspended. The i*evenge of a soldier cannot be gratified upon a fallen enemy."

When this stirring appeal was read, on each vessel, and in each boat, the shouts of "Harrison and victory," rose, successively, from an army of freemen, and went booming over the rippling waters. The landing was effected at four o'clock, with a celerity and an order, as remarkable as the spectacle was beautiful and grand ; and, about sun-down, the army entered Maiden in triumph, heralded by the national air of "Yankee Doodle."*

Chapter Viii

While Gen. Harrison was at Camp Seneca, he narrowly escaped being murdered by an Indian. It appears that the friendly Indians of the Delaware, Shawanese, and Seneca tribes had been invited to join him. A number had accepted the invitation, and had reached Seneca before the arrival of the Kentucky troops. All the chiefs, and no doubt the greater part of the warriors, were favorable to the American cause j but before their departure fi'om their towns, a wretch had insinuated himself among them, with the intention of assassinating the commanding general. He belonged to the Shawanese tribe, and bore the name of Blue Jacket, but was not the celebrated Blue Jacket, who signed the treaty of Greenville with Gen. Wayne. He had formerly resided at the town of Wapakonetta : he had, however, been absent for a considerable time, and had returned but a few days before the warriors of that town set out to join the American army.

He informed the chiefs, that he had been hunting on the Wabash, and at his request, he was suffered to join the party which were about to march to Seneca. Upon their arrival at Mc Arthur's block-house, they halted and encamped for the pur-

Before their arrival at that place, Blue Jacket had communicated to a friend of his, (a Shawanese warrior,) his intention to kill the American general, and requested his assistance ; this his friend declined, and endeavored to dissuade him from attempting it, assuring him that it could not be done without the certain sacrifice of his own life, as he had been at the American camp, and knew that there was always a guard around the general's quarters, who were on duty day and night.

Blue Jacket replied, that he was determined to execute his intention at any risk - " that he would kill the general, if he was sure that his guards would cut him in pieces not bigger than his thumb-nail."

No people on earth are more faithful in keeping secrets than the Indians, but each warrior has a friend, from whom he will conceal nothing. Luckily for General Harrison, the friend of the confidant of Blue Jacket was a young Delaware chief, named Beaver, who was also bound to the general by the ties of friendship. He was the son of a Delaware wai^chief of the same name, who had, with others, been put to death by his own tribe, on the charge of practicing sorcery.

General Harrison had been on terms of friendship with the father, and had patronized his orphan boy, at that time ten or twelve years of age. He had now arrived to manhood, and was considered among the most promising warriorsof his tribe: to this young chief, the friend of Blue Jacket revealed the fatal secret. The Beaver was placed by this communication in an embarrassing situation, for should he disclose what he had heard, he betrayed his friend, than which nothing could be more repugnant to the feelings and principles of an Indian warrior. Should he not disclose it, consequences equal, or even more to be deprecated, were likely to ensue. The assas- sination of a friend, the friend of his father, whose life he was bound to defend, or whose death to avenge, by the same principle of fidelity and honor which forbid the disclosure.

While he was yet hesitating, Blue Jacket came up to the Delaware camp somewhat intoxicated, vociferating vengeance upon Colonel McPherson, who had just turned him out of his house, and whom he declared he would put to death for the insult he had received. The sight of the traitor raised the indignation, and aroused the resentment of the Beaver, to the highest pitch. He seized his tomahawk, and advancing towards the culprit, " You must be a great warrior," said he, " you will not only kill this white man, for serving you as you deserve, but you will also murder our father, the American chief, and bring disgrace and mischief upon us all. But you shall do neither - I will serve you as I would a mad dog."

A furious blow from the tomahawk of the Beaver stretched the unfortunate Blue Jacket at his feet, and a second terminated his existence ; *' there," said he, to some Shawanese, who were present, " take him to the camp of his tribe, and tell them who has done the deed."

The Shawanese were far from resenting it ; they applauded the conduct of the Beaver, and i-ejoiced at their happy escape from the ignominy which the accomplishment of Blue Jacket's design would have brought upon them.

At the great treaty which was held at Greenville, in 181.^, Gen. Cass, one of the commissioners, related the wliole of the transaction to the assembled chiefs, and after thanking the Beaver in the name of the United States, for having saved the life of their general, he caused a handsome present to be made him out of the goods which he had sent for the purpose of the treaty-

Tippecanoe Shawanese, and therefore could have no personal resentment against the general. There is little doubt that he came from Maiden when he arrived at Wapakonetta, and that he came for the express purpose of attempting the life of the general ; but whether he was instigated to it by any other person or persons, or had conceived the idea himself, has never been ascertained.*

On the 20th of November, 1819, Jame-s Montgomery, a native of Pennsylvania, but then a resident of the south part of this state, having been appointed as agent of the Seneca Indians, settled in this county within the limits of Camp Seneca, where the Indians had erected him a log house, which woes covered with bark, with puncheon for a floor,

Mr. Montgomery remained agent for the Indians, and lived near the camp until his death, M^hich occurred the first of June, 1830. Mr. M. was a worthy citizen, and greatly beloved by the Indians. When he first came to the county, there were hut five families between his residence and Oaklev, now New Fort Ball,

Pleasant township was organized the 6th of June, 1831. - Among its first settlers, were John Chaney, Nathan Shippey, and Caleb Rice, none of whom are now residents of the township. The name, Pleasant, was suggested by James Gordon, one of the county commissioners at the time. This township, lying upon both sides of the Sandusky, contains more bottom land than any other in the county, Among its enterprising farmers, are Lorenzo Abbott, Isaac I. Dumond, Benjamin Tomb, John Claggett, Uriah Egbert, M. B. Fry, Vincent Bell, Daniel V. Flummerfelt, I). H. Jop, M. M. Titus, G. Sheats, and others.

Bell caused to be surveyed on the corners of sections nineteen and twenty in this township, a town, to which they gave the name of "jPor/ Seneca.^^ This place, (formerly known in the vicinity as " Swope's Corners,") was surveyed and platted by David Risdon, county surveyoi*, and contains fifty-seven inlots. It received its name from the stockade before mentioned, which was about three miles below the town.

It is situated within 60 rods of the Sandusky river, upon the Columbus state-road, six miles and a half from Tiffin, and eleven from Lower Sandusky. Its population is one hundred. It is a post-town, containing twenty dwelling-houses, one Methodist Episcopal church, one tavern, one store, one district schoolhouse, two blacksmith's-shops, three shoe-shops, one tailor-shop and one cabinet-shop. There is also a physician located in this town-^Dr. F. M. Bell.

On the 4th of October, 1829, Benajah Parker, a resident of what is now Fort Seneca, in Pleasant township, was stabbed by an Indian of the Seneca nation, named Peter Pork. It appears that the Indian, who had been drinking, called at Parker's house, and asked for whiskey. Angry words ensued on its being refused, and while Parker was attempting to force the Indian out of doors, the latter drew a knife, and with a backhanded stroke, inflicted a dangerous wound in the side of the former. Parker lingered for several months and died.

Peter Pork, as soon as he had committed the deed, fled to his cabin and prepared to defend himself. Having placed his tomahawk under his bed, and his knife in the wall at the head, he laid down to sleep. He was a stalwart Indian - the whole tribe standing in awe of him. The neighbors in the vicinity soon assembled near his house, and while asleep, they secured his tomahawk and knife, tie was then awakened - ^but not until after a severe contest, was he secured and placed in confinement.

On the 28th of April, 1830, he was tried by the court of common pleas of this county, and- found guilty of '-stabbing with intent to kill." He was sentenced to three years' confinement in the penitentiary.

At the treaty of the Miami of Lake Erie, the United States granted to one William Spicer, a white man, who had been captured at the age of five, by the Wyandot Indians, and had ever since lived among them, a section of 640 acres of land, situated on the east bank of the Sandusky river, within the present limits of Pleasant township. This tract, generally known as the " Spicer section," is now owned principally by Benjamin Tomb, formerly of the state of Pennsylvania.

Spicer was captured in Pennsylvania, and to the day of his death was, as to his habits, manners and language, a perfect Lidian. When the country was first settled by the whites, he had resided upon the Sandusky forty years. His history is but little known. Pie was taken by the Wyandots, to the banks of the Ohio river, and used by them as a decoy to bring boatmen to the shore, that chanced to be passing upon the stream. Tying him to a tree near the water's edge, they would compel him to utter the most plaintive tones, as if he wished to be relieved from his unfortunate and perishing condition, while the savages lay in ambush, ready to fall upon the unsuspecting victims of Indian cunning and duplicity. Many thus fell a prey to savage cruelty, though it is to be presumed that Spicer was compelled to act as he did.

On the 5th day of April, 1822, Noah Seitz, from Fairfield county, settled upon the north-east quarter of section twenty, in what is now the township of Bloom. This was the^r^^ settlement within its limits. Mr. Seitz sold out soon after, to Edward Sutherland, and removed to Eden township, upon the banks of Honey creek, just above the present village of Melmore, where he still resides.

In the spring of the same year, Thomas Boyd, Sen., from Ross county, with his sister, Mrs. Mary Donnel, came to this township. At the Delaware land-sales, he purchased land upon which he afterwards resided, until his death, which occurred November 27th, 1847. " Mr. Boyd was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, and son of Major Boyd, who under General Washington contributed a gallant share in achieving the liberty of the nation. Mr. B. emigrated in an early day to the state of Ohio, which he adopted as his future home, and ever afterwards manifested the most ardent attachment to her best interests."

The same year - 1822 - Joseph McClelland and James Boyd settled upon Honey creek, in Bloom township, and were soon after followed by Abram Kagy, Lowell Robinson and Nehemiah Hadley. The next year, John Seitz, Geo. Free, and Jacob Bretz, became citizens of this township, and permanent residents of the county.

On the 7th day of June, 1824, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, for the organization of townships Nos. one and tioo in range sixteen. The organization was perfected accordingly, including the present townships of Bloom, Scipio, Reed and Venice. The name Bloom, was suggested by John Seitz ; and though adopted for its brevity, it may not be deemed altogether inappropriate ; as the wilderness at that time presented a scene of surpassing beauty - the garden of nature in fullest hloom.

The population of this township, in 1830, amounted to 389. According to the census of 1840, it had increased to 1168. - The soil is remarkably fertile, there being scarcely an acre of indifferent land within its limits. It is probably not exceeded in this respect, by any other township in the county.

In 1822, Harry Blackman, from Genessee county, New York, settled in this township, at the place since known as "Blackman's Corners." Here he resided sixteen years; and is at present a resident of Eden township. At these " Corners," on the Kilbourn road, a town was surveyed by James Durbin, county surveyor, in 1830, which by the proprietor, Dr. James Fisher, was called Elizabethtown. It has never flourished - containing, at the present time, six dwelling-houses, a blacksmith's shop, one carriage-shop and a tavern.

In 1837, Philip J., Price, Julius Treat, and Thomas.T. Treat Esq., caused to be laid out, on the Marion state-road, five miles south of the- town of Republic, and upon the school section (16) in this township, a town, to which they gave the name of '^ Bloomville.^^' It has a post-office - ^^Thomas T. Treat, from Aurora, Erie county. New York, being, post-master.

In 1840, its population was 13.. It has since increased to 60. The town contains twelve dwelling-houses, three shoeshops, one tailor-shop, two blacksmith's-shops, one carriageshop, one store and two physicians - Dr. Bellville, of the regular practice, and Peter J. Smith, Thompsonian.

Silver creeky a tributary of Honey creek, rises in Crawford county, and passes into Bloom township near its south-east corner, (sec. 36.) After pursuing a north-westerly course, it falls into Honey creek, just after entering the township of Eden. - There are three saw-mills and a grist'miW upon this stream, and water sufficient to drive them moi^ than three months of

*Mr. Seitz passed through thia county during the last war, in company with twenty others, with wagons loaded with clothing for t^c aqldicrs at Fort St«phenson, where they arrived, three week* after Jls gallant defense by Col. Croghan.

the year. Three young men traveling from Mansfield to Tiffin, at an early day, gave name to this stream. Striking it, near its source, and being delighted with the transparency of its waters, they agreed that it should be 'called '' Silver creek.''^ They followed its downward course to its junction with another stream, to which, from the peculiar resemblance in the color of its waters to that of honey, they gave the name of " Honey creek." [See Chap. III.]

Soon after the land-sales at Delaware, in 1821, William Anway, from Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, settled in what is now Scipio township. He may be considered the first settler ; although at the time, two families were located upon the school section (16) who soon after, left the county. The late i\Ir. Laughery was the first that purchased land in this township.

Among the oldest settlers in this township, besides those just mentioned, were C. T. Westbrook, John Wright, Adam Hance, Abram Spencer, Isaac Nichols, Messrs. Stephens and Osbprn, and Timothy P. Roberts. The gentleman last mentioned, settled here in May, 1824, and erected the first frame dwellingliouse in the township, the one in which he now resides.

Scipio was surveyed into sections and quarter-sections, by Silvanus Bourne, in 1820 ; except a small portion, which belonged to the Seneca Indians, and which was surveyed by C. W. Christmas, in 1832.

On the 6th day of December, 1824, a petition was presented to the commissioners of the county, praying for the organization of the second township in the sixteenth range, to be known by the name of " Scipio." It had, at that time, sixteen qualified electors. The township was organized accoi*dingly, and included, at the time, the whole of the present township of Reed.*

The first annual election was held on Christmas-day, of the same year. The number of votes polled amounted to seventeen - thirteen of those voting, receiving offices ; leavingybw?* only, as the " sovereign people.''''*

Through the energy of its inhabitants, Scipio has now become one of the first townships in the county. Its progress was somewhat retarded at an early day, on account of an insufficient supply of water ; but this defect has been overcome by the ingenious contrivances and perseverance of its inhabitants. Although there is not a stream of water in the township large enough to propel a mill, yet there are several, as well as factories and machine-shops, in active operation, by the aid of steam.

In 1834, General Sidney Smith (now Sea) caused to be surveyed, in this township, upon the adjoining corners of sections fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one and twenty-two, a town to which he gave the name of " Republic.''^ It was surveyed and platted by R. M. Shoemaker. The greater part of the land upon which it is situated, was entered at Delaware, by Messrs. Adam Hance and John Wright, in the year 1822 - the former entering the east, and the latter the west part. The first dwelling-house erected upon the site of this town, was of hewed logs, and was built by John Wright, near the spot where a house has since been erected, which is at present occupied by Mr. Gale, as a store.

*The following was the successful ticket - William B. Mathewson, clerk; John Wright, Seth F. Foster, and Jonathan Nichols, trustees ; Adam Hance, and Joseph Osborne, overseers of the poor ; William Stephens, and Ezekiel Sampson, fence-viewers ; William Anway, jun., lister ; William An way, treasurer ; Cornelius T. Westbrook, and Morrison McMilhn, conetables -, John Anway and E. H. Brown, supervisors.

place until the yeax" 1838. Upon the completion of the Railroad from Sandusky City, in 1841, to this town, it received an impetus which it still retains, and is now, as to wealth, population and business, the second town in the county. Republic contains one Universalist church, erected in 1845, at an expense of two thousand dollars ; one Methodist Episcopal church, erected in 1846, at a cost of two thousand three hundred dollars ; and one^ Presbyterian church, erected in 1847, at an expense of about two. thousand four hundred dollars.

It contains also, nine stores, one apothecary,, one silversmith, one furnace, a steam saw and grist-mill, one carding-machine, two forwarding houses, one district school-house, three shoeshops, two cabinet-shops, two tin-shops, four tailor-shops,, two carriage-shops, four blacksmith's-shops one bakery, and one hatshop. Its population is about 1100.

There are in this town a Masonic chapter, a Ibd'ge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, (No. 40,) a division of the Sons of Temperance, (No. 170,) and a Temple of Honor.

There was formerly in this town, as in the township, a scarcity of water, which considerably retarded its early progress ; but three public wells have been recently dug by the Messrs. Davis,, (natives of England,) to the depth of sixty-five feet. - Owing to the peculiar quality of the earth, considerable skill was required to complete them. Good water is now obtained in abundance;

The general appearance' of Republic, is prepossessing and pleasant. It is a healthy village, while its growth has been more rapid thaa any other town in the county, and bids fair to. exceed what a few years ago, were the expectations of the mosfc sanguine.

There are six physicians located in this town - William C. Cole, William L. Hamilton,, F. S. Kendall, J. S. Sparks, J. Ball, and Dr. Pierce. There is also one attorney-at-law resi-

The Seneca County Academy, a spacious brick edifice, is located a little east of this town, in the center of a beautiful plain, containing about four acres of ground, partially surrounded by a pleasant grove. The building has accommodations sufficient for three hundred pupils, and presents an imposing appearance. The act incorporating this academy was passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, March 4th, 1836. [See Appendix.]

The members of the corporation met and organized, February 8th, 1844. The capital stock of the institution amounts to three thousand dollars, and is divided into three hundred shares of ten dollars each, the principal part of which was taken in Scipio township.

The stock-holders, at their first meeting, elected nine trustees - William C. Cole, Evan Dorsey, and John McConaghy, for three years; Timothy P. Roberts, Charles Lamkin, and James H. Benham, for two years ; and Zephaniah Hathaway, William Toll, and David D. Ogden, for one year. At the expiration of one year, Josiah Roop, Alfred Johnson, and Zephaniah Hathaway were elected for three years, to fill the vacancies which had then occurred. February 2d, 1846, Sylvester H. Lamkin, Robert R. McKee, and Joshua Maynard, were elected for the ensuing three years.

The president and secretary are elected annually, by the trustees. The treasurer is elected by the stockholders, for the term of three years.

The board elected Timothy P. Roberts, first president, but having sold his share in the stock, his office became vacant ; whereupon, Josiah Roop was elected to fill the vacancy. Joshua Maynard, M. D., has since been twice elected president, and still continues in that office. William C. Cole, became first secretary, serving until the first Monday of February, 1847, when he was succeeded by Josiah Roop, the present incumbent. Edson T. Sdckney, was the first treasurer, and has since continued in ofiice.

The academy commenced operations November 10th, 1845, S. W. Shepard, principal; Miss Sarah Jane Thayer, preceptress, and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Baxter, teacher of music. Mr. Shepard studied his preparatory course in the state of Vermont, and graduated with the degree of A. B. at the Ohio University. Three years after, the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by the same institution. He is still principal of the academy.

A primary department was established in this institution, in the winter of 1847, under the charge of Miss Amelia E. Root, as teacher. Miss A. Pearce is at present conducting the same. The whole number of pupils that have attended this institution since its commencement, up to the present time, is four hundred and thirty-two.

county set off a township in this county, to which they gave the name of Thompson. It extended, also, into the former county ; and its boundaries, as defined by the commissioners at that time, were as follow : " Beginning at the north-east corner of the Seneca reservation ; running thence north, to the present trailed road from Croghansville to Strong's settlement ; thence east, until it shall intersect the Fire-lands ; thence south, with said line to the base-line ; thence west, along said line, until a line due north will strike the place of beginning." This tract comprehended, besides a portion of Sandusky county, nearly half of this county east of the Sandusky river. - Thompson includes at this time the original surveyed township. No. 3, in the 17th range, and the fractional township, No. 3, in the 18th Range.

The^r5^ township election was held on the 6th day of May, 1820, at the house of Joseph Parmenter. The first settlers in this township were William and Nathan Whitney, Joseph Parmenter, Horace Purdy, David Underbill, James Whitmore,

;p James Underbill, Eli Whitney,' Jasper Underbill, Benjamin Clark, Solomon Dimmick, Benjamin Murray, A. H. Twiss, and others - several of whom are still residents.

There were several squatters upon the land of the United States within the limits of Thompson ; but owing to the scarcity of water at that time, most of them left the county.

The population of this township, in 1830, amounted to 362. In 1840, it had augmented to 1404. It is now steadily and rapidly increasing in population and wealth, ranking as one of the first townships in the county. The soil is remarkably fertile, and the face of the country beautifully undulating. The appearance of many of the farms - their farm-houses and extensive barns, indicate the intelligence, activity, and wealth of its farmers - among whom are John Bunn, Samuel Steward, Jacob Bunn, Jacob Karn, John Reyer, Daniel Close, M. Good, Jacob Decker, John Heter, Peter Dewalt, William Heter, Solomon Dimmick, A. H. Twiss, and many others.

Thompson is settled principally by people from the state of Pennsylvania, and immigrants from Germany. Of the latter, there is a large settlement in the south-eastern section of the township, which is rapidly increasing. They are Roman Catholics, and have established a Nunnery, which contains, according to the best information we could obtain, twenty-four brothers and fifty-nine Sisters of Charity.

The greater part of Thompson rests upon a bed of limestone rock, which is from two to twelve feet below the surface. This bed is usually loose, and the seams in the rock form the numerous "sink-holes," which are seen in all parts of the township. Of these, two are worthy of notice. Into one, a stream called " Sink creek" precipitates itself, and entirely disappears. Many years ago, a saw-mill was erected, just above the sink, upon this stream, and is still in operation, with sufficient water to drive it over three months of the year. To the west of this, is another sink, where a small stream also disappears, upon which a saw-mill has likewise been erected. During the occurrence of the greatest floods, these sinks are too

But by far the greatest object of interest in this township, is the " Thompson Cave^ The entrance to this remarkable place is about ten rods from the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad ; near the south end of the east half, of the northwest quarter, of section one ; which is almost in the extreme north-east corner of the county. It is situated upon the land owned by Mason Kinney, one and a half miles from Bellevue, and three-fourths of a mile from Lewisville, in this township.

The discovery of the cave is generally attributed to George and Henry Hassan. It was probably first explored by Lyman and Asa Strong. As early as the year 1815, it was known to the settlers upon the Fire Lands, and was then much frequented by hunters, for the purpose of killing rattle-snakes, which were found here in great numbers. From this circumstance, it was called the " jRattle-snake' s Den.'^^ But these poisonous reptiles have long since disappeared.

The mouth of this cave is a space of about six feet in length, and three in width. Upon examining the land in the immediate vicinity, it appears that about five acres, from some unknown cause, have sunk several feet. Some have conjectured, that the lime-stone rocks once rested upon a bed of soap-stone, which was washed away in time, leaving a cavity, into which the whole mass above was precipitated, causing a wide seam in the rocks, which constitutes the cave. That there has been a great convulsion of the earth in this vicinity, is almost certain ; for, as you descend into the cave, it is discovered that on one side, the strata of the rocks are nearly horizontal ; while on the other side, they are inclining at an angle of about forty degrees.

about thirty feet, the light from above is obstructed, below which, darkness forever reigns, unless driven away by the lights of the curious, who are exploring the wonders of this silent and gloomy place. After a descent of about forty feet, a large space is opened ; and here, as the eye surveys the lofty ceiling, and penetrates the recesses around, the mind is peculiarly impressed with the awful grandeur and magnificence of the scene.

Proceeding onward, water is observed dripping from the rocks above, which is found upon examination, to be impregnated with sulphur, and not disagreeable to the taste. Beneath, are discovered the tracks of harmless animals, that roam about in places inaccessible to man ; while over head, hats are seen suspended from the rocks, apparently lifeless ; but when brought to the sun, they soon recover, and immediately direct their course to the cave.

After a descent of nearly two hundred feet, the passage is interrupted by a stream of pure, cold water, which is very pleasant to the taste, and has a slow current to the north-ward. This stream rises during the wettest portions of the year, about eighty feet, and again recedes upon the recurrence of dry weather. In 1844, a year remarkable for rains, the water rose in the cave one hundred and seventy feet, or within thirty feet of the surface of the earth. When at its minimum height, the stream presents only a few feet of surface ; but its bottom has never been reached.

This cave is certainly an object of interest to all who admire the works of nature, or delight in subterranean wonders ; and were the rocks excavated around the mouth, so as to render the ingress less tedious, it would doubtless be visited by thousands. [ See " note " at the end of this chapter.]

in Thompson township, to which was given the mame of Letvisville, from a town of the same name in the state of Pennsylvania. The proprietors were George Schoch, Jr., Jacob Korner and Frederick Harpster.

Lewisville is pleasantly situated upon the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, and is rapidly improving. The country around is delightful, descending in nearly every direction from the town. The post-office is called Flat Rock.

It is one mile west of the Huron county line - one and onefourth miles south of the Sandusky county line ; twenty-one miles from Tiffin ; twelve miles from Republic ; fifteen miles from Norwalk, the county seat of Fluron county; eighteen miles from Sandusky City ; and three and a half miles south-west from Bellevue, Sandusky county. Its population is 80. It contains eighteen dwellings, one store, one cabinet-shop, one tailor-shop, two shoe-shops, three blacksmith's-shops, one saddler's-shop and one carriage-shop. There are two practicing physicians, residents of this town - Joseph Myers and Henry L. Harris.

On the 18th day of January, 1825, Setli Reed and George Raymond, from Steuben county. New York, settled upon section twenty-four, in what is now the township of Reed. These gentlemen entered land at the Delaware land-office, and were the j^r5^ settlers within the limits of the township. They were followed soon after by Edward Cassety and Elijah Reed. In a short time, Tornis Cronkite, Thomas Bennit, Samuel Scothorn and Isaac Bennit, became permanent residents of the township.*

*On the 9th day of March; 1827, two young men left their homes in this township, and crossed oyer in^o Norwich, Huron county, upon a hunting excursion. Discovering a flock of wild turkeys, they secreted themselves, and commenced calling them, according to the usual method adopted by hunters. While thus engaged, a neighbor, who was in the vicinity, unknown to either of them, was deceived by the noise, and cautiously approaching the spot, and discovering what was supposed to be a turkey, he immediately fired' The next moment he discovered he had shot his neighbor. There he sat, the blood running down his side, when it was found upon examination, tliat the ball had struck hiiu

Reed was constituted a legal township on the 5th day of December, 1826 ; and was thus named in compliment to Seih Reed^ one of its earliest settlers. The first township election was held at the house of this gentleman, on the first day of the year following.

The face of the land in this township is generally undulating, and its soil very fertile. There are no mill-streams within its limits ; although there are three saw-mills in active operation by the aid of steam. In 1830, the population of Reed was 264. According to the census of 1840, it had increased to 1214. There are several sink-holes within its limits, as in Thompson township.

Among the enterprising farmers of this township, are Matthew Clark, Thomas Bennit, A. C. Baker, Benjamin Sanford, John B. Schuyler, Jacob Cole, William P. White, Henry Ryno, Levi Reed, James Harrison, W. H. Cronkite, John Clark, John Hover and others. Reed is steadily and rapidly increasing both in population and wealth.

On the 4th day of January, 1838, John Terry and Catharine Beard caused to be laid out on sections five and six, in this township, a town, to which was given the name of ^^Lodi.''- It was surveyed and platted by James Durbin, county surveyor. Lodi is a post-town - the first post-master was Lyman White, the present incumbent.

_The population of this town is 80. It contains fourteen dwellings, one Baptist church, one forwarding house, two hotels, two stores, one tannery, one steam saw-mill, one grocery, just behind the ear, apparently passing through the same. He was conveyed to his liome, and medical assistance procured as soon as possible. It was then found upon a closer examination, that the wound was not fatal, and after three months suffering he recovered.

This, it must he acknowledged was a very narrow escape from an untimely grave; and it is to be presumed, that the incidents of that day still remain vivid in the memories of those men; and will thus continue, coeval with their existence.

one cabinet-shop, two wagon-shops, two tailors'-shops, two blacksmiths'-shops, and two shoe-shops. There is one practicing physician, Robert P. Frazer, a resident of the place. Lodi is situated upon the Mad River and Lake Erie Rail-road, five miles from Republic, and fourteen from Tiffin.

On the 1st day of June, 1829, Ezra Gilbert presented a petition to the commissioners of this county from the citizens of the original surveyed township No. 1, in the 17th range, praying for its organization into a legal township, to be known by the name of Venice. It was organized accordingly ; but included the fractional township in range 18. The Jir si township election was held June 13th, 1829.*

Among the earliest settlers of this township, were Cornelius G'ilmore, Ezra Gilbert, Henry Speaker, Samuel Halsted, Governeur Edwards, John Wallet, David Kemp, Jacob Cook, Andrew More, William McPherson, Johnson Ford, Philip Muck and James McKibben.

The population of Venice in 1840, was 1222. Since that time, its increase has been gradual and rapid. The early progress of this township was somewhat retarded, on BCGoimt of its wet appearance at an early day. But since the land has been cleared, it is found' to be- of excellent soil, and well adaptted to the growth of wheat and most other grains.

Among others of its enterprising farmers, are George Ringel, Thomas Bennett, David Ringel, Capt. J. Miller, Andrew More, James McKibben,, Samuel Shade, James D. Stephens, John McKibben, Henry Myers, (tailor,) Z. Bretz and James McKibben, Sen.

J The ticket elected was as follows: Philip E. Bronson, township clerk; Thomas West, Ezra Gilbert, Moses Smith, trustees; James Halsted, treasurer; Henry Speaker. Ehsha Fair, overseers of the poor; Cornelius Gilmore, Ezra Gilbert, fence-viewers: VVarren Blakesly, constable. %

*The following song was composed on May-day, following the survey of this town, by the colonel, who has often sung it with great glee at his numerous "jollifications."

Caroline

As poets, have sung of their masculine towns. Where rivers are flowing and pleasure abounds, The muse I invoke, on the entrance of May, To sing of sweet "Caroline," blooming and gay.

Where the forest is cleft, by the hands that were strong, And the Sandusky turnpike, extending along - Erect in the midst of the richest of lands, On the borders of Honey creek, smihng she stands.

Here, roads are concentred and travelers come. And here may the stranger repose at his home; Improvements extend, and the laboring hand, Of various artisans, rise in demand.

Here, mandrakes and violets spreading around. And the high tulip-poplars are shading the ground, There, meadows and fields, 'mid the forests are seen, Presenting their verdure in bright living green.

Approaching the scene, and when viewing it near, The gods of the waters enamored appear; And linger a while in their course as they flow, Before they descend to the rock-lands below.

When settlements spread, came the good Doctor Pearse, But no one was sickly, and none on the hearse: He quit of necessity - and just the same fate, By just the same causes, took off Doctor Bate.

Here Dutchmen, and Scotchmen, and Yorkers unite - And with Yankees and Irishmen, pull aicay right - W ith long pullf and strong pvU, compacted they stand - And by pulling together, success they command.

Caroline is situated on the south bank of Honey creek, upon the Sandusky City and Columbus turnpike. The first settler upon the town plat was Cornelius Gilmore, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled here in the winter of 1830.

On the 1st of April of the same year, Andrew More settled in this town, where he resided until his death, which occurred August 6th, 1846. On the 17th of June, 1830, James McKibben moved to this town, and has ever since been a resident of the place. AX that time there were only fifteen families in Venice township. Caroline contains sixteen dwellings, one tavern, one store, one large tannery, one district school-house, three shoe-shops, one blacksmith-shop and one carriage-shop. In 1840 its population was 27. It is now nearly a hundred, and is gradually increasing.

McPherson of Caroline pleases as well As any McPhersou, that Scotland can tell; Hanna, Stephenson, Willoughby, Bennett, aspire. McKibben, the merchant, and Gilbert, the squire.

Now last, but not least, sing we Heaven's last gift - Whose cares and whose smiles give to man the best lift - TheJF beauties of person, and character shine, To honor their sex, ^uA our sweet Caroline.

from the state of Pennsylvania, caused to be surveyed on section ten, in Venice township, a town, to which they gave the name of " Attica.''^ It was surveyed and platted by David Risdon, county surveyor. It received its name from the post-office, which was established here prior to its survey. The name " Attica " was given to the post-offica by Ezra Gilbert, one of the first settlers on the plat, from a town of the- same name in the state of New York, where he had formerly resided. Among the other first settlers of Attica, were Samuel Halsted, of New York, and the Messrs. Millers, v/ho are still residents of the place. The first public house was opened by Ezra Gilbert - the first store^ by Nathan Merriman, since deceased. In 1836, Attica contained twenty dwellings, and a population of 100. In 1840, the increase in population was 1.8 over th© number in 1836. It contains at this time, forty dwellings,, and a population of 200. There are in this town, one Presbyterian church, three stores, two hotels, one steam saw and grist-mill, one grocery, a district school-house, one foundry, two cabinet-shops, two tailor's-shops, three shoe-shops, three blacksmith and three carriage-shops. There are three practic-. ing physicians, residents of this town - Benjamin F. Freeman, Calvin Jones, and Benjamin Vannatta^ John L. La Marcux, attorney-at-lavv, is also a resident of the place. 'V\ie first postmaster in Attica was Ezra Gilbert. The office is now held by H. B. Cain.

Attica is situated upon the Sandusky City and Columbus turnpike, 77 miles from the latter, and 28 miles south from the former place. The main traveled road, from Fort Findlay through Tiffin, passes through this place to New Plaven, Huron county, Wooster, &c. Attica is 22 miles south-west from Nor walk, the county seat of Huron county ; 18 miles from Monroe ville ; 12 miles west from New Haven ; 18 north from Bucyrus, Crawford county ; 14 east from Melmore ; and 16 miles from Tin.ffi Attica is a healthy and vigorous town, surrounded by beautiful farms, and is gradually increasing both in population and wealth.

Note. The following communication, published in the Sandusky Clarion, August 17th, 1844, though somewhat of a digression from the history of the county, will be read with interest, as the subterranean passages in the eastern portion of this county have given rise to much speculation.

Messrs, Editors - I have seen, going the rounds of the papers, as a "singular phenomenon," the flowing of the water from a well about 11 miles from this place. Singular, I think it is not, and new I know it not to be. Neither, as represented, did it commence " all at once to flow," for it was known to be rising many days before it commenced overflowing, and had been daily watched. Some days it rose a little, and some days it fell a little, until the last violent rain, when it commenced running over.

But perhaps you will better understand the subject, if I give you the result of my observations, and what I have learned concerning the subterraneous waters of that region, for the last quarter of a century.

Cold Creek, probably the principal out-let of the water, rises in Margaretta township, about three and a half miles from Sandusky Bay, (and at an elevation of 50 feet above Lake Erie,) into which it flows, in a northerly direction, and in that distance supplies the water for four large flouring mills.

The spring that the creek flows from, was originally about an acre in extent ; but by damming it close to the head, the course of the water was changed under ground, so as to divert a part of it, which again burst out at about two hundred rods distant, from a great depth in the earth, forming a hole about ten feet across, which was afterwards partially surrounded by a circu- iar dam, with the intention of forcing the water back to the old creek; but as the water icould not run up hill, the dam was extended, and a canal dug, uniting the springs in one level. The new spring is now about one hundred feet across, bowlshaped, and from 40 to 60 feet deep, with the water so clear that a person looking from a boat on its surface, can see small objects floating at the bottom, and seem themselves to be floating in the air.

These springs rise less than two miles from the western boundary of the "Fire Lands," which is also our county line west, within which distance another rises, called the " Rockwell spring," which flows west into Sandusky county, and supplies water to a saw-mill.

The water that supplies these springs is supposed to come from the extensive swamps and marshes that lie from 25 to 30 miles in a southern direction, and about five miles north of the dividing ridge that separates the waters flowing into the Ohio river and those flowing into Lake Erie at this point, and at rather a gradual elevation of about 400 feet above the level of the lake.

From Cold Creek to these swamps, there is strong evidence of large quantities of water running under the surface of the earth. The first is about 50 rods from the head of the creek, where the breaking out of a few stone at the bottom of a small ledge, exposed a large and deep stream of water, constantly running, the bottom of which cannot be reached at 20 feet, in a slanting direction, and the surface can be seen ten feet wide. At another place, some tv/o miles south, water can always be obtained by sinking a bottle from 40 to 60 feet in the crevices of the rock. Then again, about five miles south from Cold Creek, is a dishing prairie, of from one to two hundred acres in extent, which, after a series of rainy seasons, fills, by the water rising from its bottom, through the alluvial soil that forms the surface of the prairie. Then about one mile further south, is a similar prairie, from the south side of which, at about ten feet elevation from its bottom is the "flowing well." The first account of the flowing of this prairie, reaches back about 27 years. A man who had settled on the north bank for the purpose of cultivating the lands below, which he found ready for the plow, was in the night alarmed by a loud report, and the shaking of the earth, and upon going to the door of his cabin, he heard a sound as of running water. Upon going towards the spot from whence the sound proceeded, he found the water rushing from the surface of the earth with tremendous force, on the south bank of the prairie, in a volume larger than a hogshead, which continued to flow until the prairie was filled, and the water ran ofl" from the north-east side of the basin. After this the prairie filled, several diflerent seasons, through the alluvial soil on its sides and bottom, but not always so as to run over, until about 12 years ago, when the " flowing well " burst out about 60 rods east of the first one. After it had ceased flowing, a man living near, thought to follow the water as it settled down, so as to have a well, it being diflicult to find water in this neighborhood. After digging about 18 feet in a perpendicular direction, the course diverged to the westward, in a descending direction, about as much further; then after removing the rubbish about 20 feet further, in a perpendicular direction, it was abandoned, at a distance of about 50 feet from the surface of the earth. Since that time, water could always be found at the bottom, in the spring of the year. Eight years ago it overflowed again, since which time there has occasionally been high water in it during a wet season, and it once rose to within a few feet of the top ; but never ran over until the present season, when it filled the prairie to the extent of about 75 acres, floating off" the fences and destroying the crops. It lasted about ten days, when it ceased flowing, and ran back, so that the prairie was dry within a week, notwithstanding the bottom of the basin is eight feet below where the water was drained to the well - the water settling away through the soil at the bottom.

While the water was at its highest point at this time, the family upon the farm where the "flowing well " is situated, heard a loud report in the night, which seemed to come from the earth, during a thunder-storm. In the morning, it was found to have come from the "blowing out" of another hole, about three-quarters of a mile, in a north-westerly direction, from which the water was flowing in a stream as large as a hogshead. Around all the "blowholes," as they are called, the broken lime-stone is scattered for many feet, thrown out by the force of the water when it first burst out.

From this spot, for ten miles or more, towards the dividing ridge, the face of the country is indented in numerous places, with flowing prairies and " sink-holes," from a few rods to many acres in extent. Many of the "sink-holes" are mere bowl-shaped depressions of the surface, occasioned, probably during periods of high water, by the wasting away of the earth below, into the cavernous region, through some crevice in the compact lime-stone immediately beneath. I am led to this conclusion, from the fact, that in some places, wells have been dug into the compact lirne-stone, that have furnished water until some dry season, when it has become low, and in blasting for more, they have broke through into the loose lime-stone, and lost what they had.

Others of the sink-holes have openings at the bottom, through which the water rises, in a wet season, whilst through the bottoms of others the surplus water from the surface of the country runs ofl". Advantage has been taken of some of these depressions to form the pond of a saw-mill near Bellevue, that runs from two to four months in the spring of the year, carried by water that is accumulated from the draining of a large tract of country above, which, after supplying the mil], runs off through a "sink-hole."

I think, if it were not for the "sink-holes" to carry off the water, in many places the country would be full of ponds and swamps, rendering it unhealthy. The citizens of Bellevue have been compelled, this season, for the second time, to drain a pond caused by the overflowing of a " sink-hole."

About two miles, still south of Bellevue, there is an opening into the cavernous lime-stone, that can be traversed above two hundred feet, at the extremity of which runs a large stream of water, at more than 130 feet from the surface of the earth, and this season the cavern was filled to within from twenty to thirty feet of the surface.

A few miles still further south, is a sunken prairie, in the bottom of which stands a black- walnut tree, that holds a railcut eighteen inches through^ among its branches, more than 20 feet from the ground, floated there when the water was at that height.

A man, well known to myself, had a team of three yoke of cattle, plowing in the spring. When it commenced raining, he stopped his work, and turned his cattle loose in the field. The rain proved to be a long storm, lasting several days. - When it held up, and the cattle were sought for, one of them was missing, supposed by the owner to have jumped the fence and strayed ofl*, until, more than three weeks afterwards the ox was found in the lot, where he had settled down through the soil into a crevice of the rock below, with nothing but his head and shoulders out. He was taken out, and lived, with no other injury than the loss of hair from the buried part. Another

I will further state, that when some parts of the country I have been describing, were first settled, they were very much infested with rattlesnakes, (although they are now rarely found,) which were sometimes found early in the spring, in large numbers, upon the surface of the earth, nearly in their torpid state, driven from the rocks below, by the rising of the water, before the sun was sufficiently powerful to warm them into active life.

I have written so much morc than I intended when I commenced, that I will fmish by adding that, notwithstanding the immense quantity of water in the country above, Cold Creek is never affected by the rising or falling of the water, six inches. Yours, respectfuilv. W.

By an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, the sehool-sections in the townships of Eden, Clinton, Seneca and Scipio, were appraised, several years since, at their actual value, and permanently leased for ninety-nine years, the interest of which was to be paid annually.

Since that time, they have been sold, together with the schoolsections in each of the other townships of the county, except those of Big Spring, Loudon, Liberty, and a portion of the section in Hopewell township. I'he school-section in Adams, at that time was owned by the Seneca tribe of Indians ; but since their removal to the west, it has been appraised and sold.*

As there is a general interest manifested at the present day, with regard to the subject of popular education ; and as the present condition of the common schools of this county, is not very dissimilarto that of most of the other counties of the state, we have appended a sketch of the origin and progress of the free-school system in Ohio.

* Each township that has disposed of its school-section, draws interest upon a certain proportion of the proceeds annually, which is applied for the payment of teachers in the several school districts throughout the township, happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." In the previous Ordinance of 1785, regulating the sale of lands in the west, section number 16, of every township was reserved " for the maintenance of public schools within the said township." And the Constitution of Ohio, using the words of the Ordinance of 1787, says, " that schools and the means of instruction, shall be forever encouraged by legislative provision."

In accordance with the feelings shown in these several clauses, the governors of Ohio always mentioned the subject of education with great respect, in their messages ; but nothing was done to make it general. It was supposed that people would not willingly be taxed, to educate the children of their poor neighbors ; not so much because they failed to perceive the necessity that exists for all to be educated, in order that the commonwealth may be safe and prosperous ; but because a vast number, that lived in Ohio, still doubted whether Ohio would be their ultimate abiding-place. They came to the west to make money rather than to find a home, and did not care to help to educate those whose want of education they might never feel.

Such was the state of things, until about the year 1816, at which time several persons in Cincinnati, who knew the benefits of a free-school system, united, and commenced a correspondence with different portions of the state. Their ideas being warmly responded to, by the dwellers in the Ohio company's purchase, and the Western Reserve more particularly, committees of correspondence were appointed in the difierent sections, and various means were resorted to, to call the attention of the public to the subject ; among the most efficient of which was the publication of an Education Almanac, at Cincinnati. This work was edited by Nathan Guilford, a lawyer

For seven or eight years this gentleman and his associates labored silently and ceaselessly to diffuse their sentiments, before any attempt was made to bring the subject into the legislature. At length, in 1824, it having been ascertained that a strong feeling existed in favor of a common school system through the eastern and north-eastern parts of the state, and it being also known, that the western men who were then bringing forward their canal schemes, wished to secure the assistance of their less immediately benefited fellow-citizens, it was thought to be a favorable time to bring the free-shcool proposition forward; the understanding being, that, as neither the friends of canals, nor those of schools, were strong enough by themselves to carry their project, each should assist the other.

This -understanding, which was rather implied than expressed, has led some to say, that the free-school system was attained by " log-rolling ;" which saying, though true in one sense, is not to be understood in the sense that refers to individual solicitation and promise. On this occasion Cincinnati sent to the senate, Mr. Guilford, whose avowed and main object in thus entering public life, was to help on the accomplishment of his favorite project, and to that he devoted himself during the session. Many thought his toils useless ; some of the leading men said the measure was unconstitutional, unwise, and against popular feeling entirely ; but they proved false prophets, as it was carried by a very large vote, and became a popular measure.

Simeon: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word ; for mine ej^es have seen thy salvation!" It was a touching and true tribute.

Mr. Guilford, having brought about the particular good which he had in view, became a private citizen again, setting to the common political aspirants of the country, an example well worthy of their consideration.

Praise for his devotion to so noble a cause, would be here misplaced, but no one can doubt, looking only to the object he effected, that his name will ever be remembered with those of the great benefactors of Ohio and the west.*

The act of that year imposed a general tax upon property, of half a mill upon the dollar, for the support of schools, and provided for their establishment in every township. It afterwards underwent several alterations, and in 1831, was superseded by another and better law upon the same subject. To this latter were made several amendments ; when in 1838 another general revision took place. Since that time, several additions and alterations have been made, but the general features of the law of 183S still remain in force.

That the common schools of this county are not equal to those in the eastern states, or even to the older counties in this state, is not surprising. Our county is new, and its inhabitants have not had the time, with an age of twenty-four years only, to mature its institutions. But we aro looking forward to the time when the sun of science shall rise higher above the horizon - when the public schools of our county will be the pride of every citizen.

Aside from the obstacles arising from the defective school system of the state, there are those which retard the onward progress of popular education, and which might be removed

1. Neglect of parents and guardians to visit the schoolroom. There is no class of men who need greater support and encouragement than teachers, and yet none receive less. It is not strange that they should contract errors, for none proffer sympathy or counsel ; nor is it strange that they become disheartened, and sluggishly and faithlessly discharge their duties, for no kind voice beckons them on to diligence and duty. No agent in any other employment would be so neglected by his principal ; and yet what vocation ought to command such strict and affectionate supervision as that of the teacher ? The injurious consequences, however, of this inattention to schools, attach with the greatest power to the pupils. A child cannot be supposed to have any adequate or enlarged views of duty, industry or learning, when parents exhibit an almost total indifference to their condition or progress. Did a parent exhibit as much indifference to his flocks and herds, as he frequently manifests in regard to the education of his children, he would be regarded as improvident and injudicious.

Dews, sunshine, and rain, are not more needed for the growth of plants in the vegetable kingdom, than are the genial influences of sympathy and co-operation in giving prosperity and beauty to the more interesting plants to be found in the nurseries of our country's hope and glory.*

2_. Employing incompetent teacliers. The importance and responsibility of the office of teacher - says Emerson - are sadly undervalued. A very common impression is, that any person of tolerable character, who has been through a school, and acquired the elements of the branches taught, is qualified.

to teach ; as if the art of teaching were nothing more than pouring into the mind of another what has been poured into ours ; as if there were no such thing as mind to act upon, habits to form, or character to influence. The prevailing opinions in regard to the art are such as the common sense of mankind and the experience of centuries has shown to be absurd as to every other art and pursuit of civilized life. To be qualified to discourse upon our moral and religious duties, a man must be educated by years of study ; to be able to administer to the body in disease, he must be educated by careful examination of the body in health and disease, and of the effects produced on it by external agents ; to be able to make out a conveyance of property, or to draw a writ, he must be educated ; to navigate ships, he must be educated by years of service before the mast, or on the quarter-deck ; to transfer the products of the earth, or of art, from the producer to the consumer, he must be educated ; to make a hat or coat, he must be educated by years of apprenticeship ; to make a plow he must be educated : to make a nail or a shoe for a horse or an ox he must be educated ; hut to prepare a man to do all these things; to train the body in its most tender years, according to the laws of health, so that it shall be strong, to resist disease ; to fill the mind with useful knowledge, to educate it to comprehend all the relations of society, to bring out all its powers into full and harmonious action ; to educate the moral nature, in which the very sentiment of duty resides, that it may be fitted for an honorable and worthy fulfillment of the public and private offices of life ; to do all this is supposed to require no study, no apprenticeship, no preparation.

So long then as the business of an instructor is not considered in its true light, as one of the highest, noblest, and most useful employments on earth - so long as the compensation is very

3. The use of old and dilapidated school-houses. We do not look for deep religious feeling, in a community who occupy good dwelling-houses, but are content to worship in poor and neglected churches ; nor do we expect great "reverence for Christianity, from children, if the sanctuary to which they are carried on Sunday, is old and dilapidated - disfigured by abuse---without paint - its windows broken - and not a shrub, or tree, or square yard of verdure in its neighborhood.

The school-house is dedicated to education, as the house of worship is to religion. In one case, as in the other, the state of the edifice indicates the regard which its builders and guardians have for the object to which they have devoted it. Nor this only. The condition and aspect of the building, with its appendages and surrounding landscape, are inseparably associated in a child's mind, with his first day at school, and his first thoughts about education. Is it well, then, that these earliest, most lasting, and most controlling associations, should be charced with so much that is offensive ?- Is it to be expected, that the youthful mind can regard that as the cause, next to religion, most important of all others, which is upheld and promoted in such buildings as the district school-house usually is ? Among the most comfortless and wretched tenements, which the pupil ever enters, he thinks of it with repugnance ; the task which it imposes, he dreads ; and he at length takes his leave of it - as of a prison, from which he is but too happy to escape.

When parents are no longer indifferent about the welfare of their schools - when they desire no longer to hire those teachers whose only recommend is, that they will teach " cheap " - when they do not fail to examine their children at home with regard to their progress at schools - when they are no longer

154 HISTORY OF SENfEGA COUNTYremiss in visiting the school-room - then may we expect that Seneca county will shine bright as a star of the first magnitude in the great constellation of Ohio ! and then will her coimnon schools he the proudest monuments of her greatness.

Chapter Xi

On the 6th day of December, 1826, the township of Adams was organized, and made to include all the land in the original surveyed township, No. 3, in the 16th range, except ^^hat was then owned by the Seneca tribe of Indians, and one tier of sections on the west side of township No. 3, in the 17th Range, or what is at present Thompson township. Adams includes at this time, the whole of the original surveyed township No. 3, in range 16. That paj'tnot then owned by the Indians, was surveyed into sections, and quarter sections, by Sylvanus Bourne, in 1820 ; the residue was surveyed in 1832, by C. W. Christmas.

The first township election was held on Monday the 25th day of December, 1826, at the house of Samuel Whiteman.* The soil in this township is remarkably rich, producing all kinds of grain and grass in abundance. The land is heavily timbered, consisting chiefly of oak, walnut, poplar, maple, beech, &c. The surface is usually rolling, and very well watered.

* The ticket elected -w-aa as follows; Mailin Olos, L. T. Butler, and Thomas Long- -vvith, trustees ; Abraham Kine, clerk -, Charles Shelby and Samuel Whiteman, overseers of the poor -, G. Lee and Samuel Heartsock, fence-vie-vvers; Cyrenus Wright, treasurer -, William Myerp, William Mead and Francis Evens, supervisor? ; Moses Pyatt, constable.

In 1830, Adams contained 285 inhabitants. In 1836 the population was estimated at 600. In 1840 it had augmented to 1250. Since that time it has steadily and rapidly increased in population and in wealth, numbering among many others of its enterprising farmers - Asa Crockett, L. C. Stone, Daniel Rule, Ezra West, James Crockett, E. Smith, Solomon Drown, John Petticord, Enos Mead, John Craig, William Myers, Sen., Samuel Whiteman, (1st,) Reuben Drinkwater, G. Lee, John Kessler, and John Pain.

The greatest natural curiosity in Adams townsliip, is the Sulphur Springs. These are nearly in the middle of section seven, at present owned by Josiah Hedges, proprietor of Tiffin.

The water which issues from the earth in several places, is clear and cold, and strongly impregnated with sulphur. It is not unpleasant to the taste, and possesses the remarkable properties of petrifying substances. Old logs have been taken from the bed of the stream which is formed by these springs, partially turned to stone, and various other substances have been found completely petrified. There is quite a large and sf-eady current proceeding from these springs, which, after a southerly course of about thirty rods, mingles with the waters of Beaver creek.

The generally received opinion with regard to these springs is, that they are formed by the water which sinks into the earth near the north-east corner of the county - in the bed of Honey creek - and in Reed township, and which after a subterranean passage, here breaks forth upon the surface. This of course is mere conjecture.

Beaver creek, a small stream of this township, passes near these springs, and after receiving the waters of the latter, crosses into Pleasant township, on section twelve. Taking a northerly direction, it leaves the county near the north-east corner of the township. This creek was formerly inhabit-ed by

In 1838, a large flouring-mill was erected on Beaver creek, by Josiah Hedges.* It is just below the spring, in Pleasant township ; and unlike other mills of the county, is not in the least affected by dry weather. During some of the summer months, its patrons are generally from all parts of the county, and occasionally from Wood, Hancock, Wyandot, Crawford^ and sometimes from Putnam county, eighty miles distant.

In Sandusky county, eighty rods north from the northern boundary line of this county, there are sulphur springs similar to those in Adams. From the color of the water they have received the name of " Green Springs." The water from these springs unites with Beaver creek, after ^vhich, the latter takes the name of " Green creek ;" and empties into the Sandusky river, in Sandusky county.

On the 26th day of May, 1839, David Reeves, of Sandusky county, and David Risdon, of Seneca countyj surveyed a town on section No. 5, in Adams township, and sections Nos. 31 and 32, in the original surveyed township No. 4, in the 16 th range, in Sandusky county, which was named by the proprietor, Jacob Stem, " Green Spring," from the springs before mentioned.

The first settlers of this town were Jacob Stfem, Bishop Adams, and Daniel H. Dana. This is a healthy and pleasant town, and contained in 1840, a population of 29. Since that time it has increased to 100. There are 20 dwellings in the place. One store, one foundry, one carriage-shop, one sad-

Green Spring is a post-town - the first post-master was Daniel H. Dana - ^that office is now held by Robert Smith. There are two practicing physicians, residents of this town- - S. T. Finch and Thomas Cochran.

On the 30th day of April, 1846, Thomas Heming surveyed on section 36, in Adams township, a town, to which the proprietor, Daniel Kistler, gave the name of Adamsville. It has never been improved to any extent. In 1833, a town was surveyed on section 7, in this township, by David Risdon, to which the proprietor, Josiah Hedges, gave the name of " Sulphur Spring," from the springs before described, which are near the plat. This town contains but a few houses.

More than half of the present township of Adams, and so much of Pleasant township as lies east of the Sandusky river, together with a portion of Clinton and Scipio townships, for-. merly belonged to the Seneca Indians. But as we have given a geographical description of most of what was formerly their grant of land, we proceed to a more minute account of that nation, and we cannot better introduce this subject, than by giving the following, from the scrap-book of Samuel Crowell, of Lower Sandusky, which was published in the " Sidney Aurora," of 1844, as it relates some interesting facts relative to this nation ; but more particularly) as it describes their famous chief, '* Hard-hickory."

On the first day of February, some fourteen years since, I witnessed an interesting, and to me, a novel religious ceremony of the Seneca tribe of Indians, then occupying that portion of territory now comprising a part of the counties of Seneca and 1/ Sandusky, Ohio, familiarly known to the inhabitants of this region, as the "Seneca Reservation."

The fact that this nation had recently ceded this Reserve to the United States, and were about to commemorate, for the last time in this country^ this annual festival, previous to their emigration to the Rocky Mountains, contributed not a little to add to it an unusual degree of interest.

To those acquainted with the characteristic trait of the red men, it is unnecessary to remark, that there is a reservedness attached to them, peculiarly their own ; but, especially, when about to celebrate this annual festival, they seem, so far at least as the pale-faces are concerned, to shroud their designs in impenetrable secrecy.

And the festival of which I now speak, might have been, as many others of similar character were, observed by themselves with due solemnity, and without the knowledge or interference of their white neighbors, but that the general poverty and reckless improvidence of the Senecas were proverbial : And those were the causes which awakened the suspicions of the inquisitive Yankees.

In order, therefore, that the approaching festival, as it was intended to be the last of those observances here, siiould not lack in any thing necessary to make it imposing, and impress a permanent recollection of Sandusky on the minds of their rising race, no effort was spared, and no fatigue regarded, that would tend to promote this object. Thus for some time previous to the period of which I am now speaking, by the unerring aim of the

Seneca rifle, the antlers, with the body of many a tsJl and stately buck, fell prostrate ; and in crowds the Indians now came into Lower Sandusky, with their venison and their skins ; and the squaws, with their painted baskets and moccasins, not as heretofoi'e, to barter for necessaries^ but chiefly for orna^ ments.

The principal head men, or chiefs of the Senecas, were ''^ Good-hunter y"* ^^ Hard-hickory^''^ and ^'Tall Chief; there were also some sub or AaZf-chiefs ; among those of the latter rank, Benjainin F. Warner^* a white, or half-breed, had considerable influence.

In this, as in other nations, civilized as well as savage, though there may be several men of apparent equal rank, yet there is usually one, who either by artificial, or universally acknowledged talent, directs in a great measure, the destinies of the nation, and such, among the Senecas, was " Hard-hickory."

To a mind of no ordinary grade, he added, from his intercourse with the whites, a polish of manner, seldom seen in an Indian. The French language, he spoke fluently, and the English, intelligibly. Scrupulously adhering to the costume of his people, and retaining many of their habits, this chief was much endeared to them : while on the other hand, his urbanity, and for an Indian, he possessed, as already observed, a large share of the suaviter in modo ; his intelligence, his ardent attachment to the whites - and above all, his strict integrity in business transactions, obtained for him, and deservedly, the respect and confidence of all with whom he traded. Such was

* Warner was a white man, and had previously been a fireman on one of the steamboats that plied between Buffalo and Green Bay. On one of the downward trips, he persuaded an Indian woman that was traveling to New York, to elope with hira. They came to the Seneca nation, and were adopted by them.

the trust the merchants of Lower Sandusky reposed in this chief, that when an indigent Indian came to ask for goods on credit, if Hard-hickory would say he would see the sum paid, no more was required. Thus his word passed current with, and current for, the whole nation.

And as in the mind of man there is something intuitive, better known, than defined, by which instinctively, as it were, we find in the bosom of another, a response to our own feelings ; so in the present case, this noble Indian soon discovered in the late Obed Dickinson,* a merchant of Lower Sandusky, a generous, confiding, and elevated mind, whose honorable vibrations beat in unison with his own.

To Mr. D. therefore, he made known the time when they would celebrate their festival, by sacrificing their dogs, &c., and cordially invited him to attend as a guest ^ and if so disposed, to bring a friend with him.

Correctly supposing that I never had an opportunity of witnessing this religious rite, Mr. D. kindly requested me to accompany him to their council house, on Green creek, in that part of this county included in the present township of Green creek. On giving me the invitation, Mr. D. remarked, that by taking a present in our hand, we would probably, be made the more welcome. In accordance, therefore, with this suggestion, we took with us a quantity of loaf sugar and tobacco.

It was some time in the afternoon when we arrived, and immediately thereafter, we were ushered into the council house with demonstrations of public joy and marked respect.

As soon as seated, we gave our presents to Hard-hickory, who rising, held one of them up, and pointing to Mr. D., addressed the Indians in an audible voice, in their own tongue ; then holding up the other, he pointed to me, repeating to them

"You stay here as long as you want; nobody hurt you." Confiding in the assurances of this chief, 1 hungup my valise, in which were some important papers, for I was then on my way further east, attending to my official duties as sherif of this county, and felt perfectly at home.

To the inhabitants of this section of Ohio, a minute description of the council house, would be deemed unnecessary. Suffice it to say, that its dimensions were perhaps, sixty by twenty.five feet ; a place in the center for the fire, and corresponding therewith, an aperture was left on the roof for the smoke to ascend.

Contiguous to the fire-place were two upright posts, four or five feet apart; between these posts, a board fourteen or fifteen inches broad, was firmly fastened ; and over this board the skin of a deer was stretched very tight. On a seat near this board, sat a blind Indian, with a gourd in his hand, in which were beans or corn - with this he beat time for the dancers. Such was the musician, and such the music.

The dancing had commenced previous to our arrival and was continued with little intermission for several successive days and nights. An effort by me to describe their manner of dancing, would be fruitless. I have witnessed dancing assemblies in populous cities of the east, among the refined classes of society - but having seen nothing like this, I must therefore, pronounce it sui generis. I was .strongly solicited by some of the chiefs to unite with them in the dance ; I, however, declined the intended honor - but gave to one of them my cane, as a proxy^ with which he seemed much delighted. Several of their white neighbors, both male and female, entered the ring.

There was on this occasion a splendid display of ornament. Those who have seen the members of a certain society, in their most prosperous days, march in procession, in honor of their patron saint, decorated with the badges and insignia of their Order, may have some conception of the dress and ornamental decoration of those head men while engaged in the dance.

I will select " Unume Plurihus.'" Their doctor, as he was called, wore very long hair, and from the nape of his neck, to the termination of his cue, there was a continuous line of pieces of silver - the upper one being larger than a dollar, and the lower one less than a half dime.

Some of the more inferior Indians were stuck over with baubles, and hung round with strings. Many of them wore small bells tied round their ancles ; and those who could not afford bells had deer hoofs in place thereof: these made a jingling sound as they put down their feet in the dance.

The squaws also exhibited themselves to the best advantage. Several of them were splendidly attired and decorated. Their dresses were chiefly o£siIk, of various colors, and some of them were of good old fashioned queen'' s gray. These dresses were not "cut," as our fair belles would say, a la mode - but they were cut and made after their own fashion ; that is, not so long as to conceal the scarlet hose covering their ancles, their small feet, or their moccasins, which were so ingeniously beaded, and manufactured by their own olive hands.

Nor must I omit saying, that the sobriety and correct demeanor of the Indians, and the modest deportment of the squaws merited the highest commendation.

At the commencement of each dance, or to borrow our own phraseology, each "set dance," a chief first rose, and began to sing the word " Yah-ho-wah !" with a slow, sonorous and strong sxjllaUc emphasis, keeping time with his feet, and advancing round the house ; directly another rose, and then in regular succession, one after the other, rising and singing the same word and falling in the rear, until all the Indians had joined in the dance ; next, the squaws, at a respectful distance in the rear, in the same manner, by seniority, rose and united in the dance and the song. Now the step was quicker, and the pronunciation more rapid - all singing and all dancing, while Jim, the blind musician, struck harder and faster with his gourd on the undressed deer skin ; thus they continued the same dance for more than one hour, without cessation !

The Indian boys who did not join in the dance, amused themselves the meanwhile, discharging heavy loaded muskets through the aperture in the roof, the reverberations of which were almost deafening. Taken altogether, to the eye and the ear of a stranger, it seemed like frantic festivity.

Tall Chief, who was confined to his bed by indisposition, felt it so much his duty to join in the dance with his people, that he actually left his bed, notwithstanding it was mid- winter, came to the council house, and took part in the dance as long as he was able to stand.

About the " noon of night," Hard-hickory invited Mr. D. and myself to accept of a bed at his residence ; to this proposition we readily assented. Here we were hospitably provided for, and entertained in a style which I little anticipated. Even among many of our white inhabitants, at this early day, a curtained bed was a species of luxury not often enjoyed - such was the bed we occupied.

Shortly after our arrival at the house of this chief, Mr. D. retired ; not so with our friendly host and myself - while sitting near a clean brick hearth, before a cheerful fire, Hardhickory unbosomed himself to me unreservedly. Mr. D. was asleep, and the chief and I were the only persons then in the house.

Hard-hickory, among other things, told me it was owing chiefly to him that this feast was now celebrated ; that it was in part to appease the anger of the Good Spirit, in consequence

History Op Seneca Coctnty

" He dreamed he was fleeing from an enemy - it was, he supposed, something supernatural^ perhaps an evil spirit ; that after it had pursued him a long time, and for a great distance, and every effort to escape from it seemed impossible, as it was now just at his heels, and he almost exhausted ; at this perilous time he saw a large water, to which he made with all his remaining strength, and at the very instant when he expected each bound to be his last, he beheld, to his joy, a caiioe, near ihe shore ; this appeared as his last hope ; breathless, and faint, he threw himself into it, and that moment, of its own accord^ quick as an arrow from the bow, it shot from the shore leaving his pursuer on the beach."

While relating this circumstance to me, which he did with earnestness, trepidation, and alarm, strongly expressed in his countenance, he took from his bosom something neatly and very carefully enclosed in several distinct folds of buck-skin. This he began to unrol, laying each piece by itself, and on opening the last, there was enclosed therein, a canoe in miniature.

On handing it to me to look at, he remarked that no other person save himself and me, had ever seen it, and that, as a memento, he would wear it in his bosom as " long as he lived."

The night now being far advanced, he pointed to the bed, and told me to sleep there ; but that he must go to the council house to the dance, for his people would not like it, if he would stay away, and wishing me good night, he withdrew.

Chapter Xii

An annuity of sixteen hundred dollars was due, from the state of New York, for a limited number of years, to certain families of Cayugas, of which Hard-hickory's, was one, and previous to their removal, was regularly paid to them at their old home, upon the Sandusky river.* By an arrangement with the government in their treaty at Washington, that annuity was to be forwarded to them, at their new home, on the Neosho, through the hands of the government agents.

In the year 1834, a draft, for the sum due them from the state of New York, was forwarded and received by them ; and in order to make a distribution of the money amongst those entitled to receive it, it was necessary to have the draft cashed, for which purpose Hard-hickory, with George Herrin, for interpreter, were delegated to go to Fort Gibson. They went - sold their draft, and received the money.

Hard-hickory then proposed to Herrin, a trip to Washington city to see after the business of the tribe, relative to the sale of their lands in Ohio. Said he, "let us go while we have this money ; it will make no difference to our people, as our great father, the president, will pay us back all the money

* For this statement relative to the death of Hard-hickory, I am indebted to Henry C, Brish. He received it personally, from Smali-cloud-Spicer, a chief of the Senccas, in the year 1836, we spend in going there, and returning home, as he did when we went to make our treaty." So off they started for Washington. For more than a month they revelled in all the luxuries and dissipation of that city, until they were tired of them, when they determined to return to their homes. They then requested the commissioner of Indian affairs to reimburse the amount they had expended, and furnish means for their return, which could not be complied with.

On arriving at home, their money was nearly gone. Hickory was then called before his people to give an account of himself. He stated that there was something wrong about the draft, and he had to go to Washington to arrange it - that the president said it should all be made right, and they would get the money soon, all in silver.

Doubting this statement, they sent a messenger to Fort Gibson, to ascertain the truth. He reported, on his return, that Hickory had drawn the money for the draft, and consequently, the chief's statement to the contrary, was false. A solemn council was called, before which he was summoned to appear, and this he did accordingly. To the charge of falsehood he plead guilty, and attempted not to palliate the ofiense or to justify it, but threw himself upon the mercy of his people, offering at the same time, to surrender all his horses and other property, as an indemnity for the money spent, which would have been sufficient, or nearly so, to have satisfied the amount. For several days the council went on, and some were for saving his life ; but a large majority were against him. He had betrayed his trust, and dishonored his high station as a chief At length the verdict came that Hard-hickory was sentenced to die.

If Hickory had stood forth before his people, and asserted at once the truth of the matter, he would have preserved his honor ; and from my knowledge of the tribe to which he be-

In hopes that they would come to terms, and spare him ; and believing that no one would attempt to kill him in the presence of his wife, who was much respected by the tribe, he confined himself to his house, heavily armed. For several days and nights, his house was surrounded. At length the notorious Shane, (who was one of the murderers of Seneca John,) volunteered to kill him in his house. Shane, having just returned from the Cherokee country, went that night to the house of Hickory, who was his uncle, and rapped at the door. Hickory recognized his voice, and supposed he would have one friend who would try to save him.

On being assured that no one accompanied him, Hickory directed his wife to unbar the door, and let him in, which she did. Shane wore a blanket, and approached Hickory in the middle of the room, holding out his left hand, whilst his right was under his blanket, holding the handle of a long knife. Hickory held out his right hand to Shane, and as soon as their hands were grasped, Shane drew his knife, and stabbed Hickory through the body, and then dragged him out of doors, where several Indians stabbed and tomahawked him I Thus perished the renowned chief, Hard-hickory, with the seal of falsehood^ stamped upon his hitherto unblemish'ed name^

In the previous chapter, mention was made of Benjamin F. Warner. Judging from the dress of that individual - says Mr. Brish - which was entirely Indian, and the fact that he was al^ most constantly with Hard-hickory, and other chiefs, of whom he was a great favorite, my friend, Samuel Crowell, might readily have supposed, that he was part Indian, as well as a sui-chief - such, however, was not the case. He neither spoke their language at that time, nor had a drop of Indian blood in him - he was a Yankee.

Ben, was a good fellow, as will be shown by a circumstance, which I will hereafter relate. He came among the Senecas but a short time previous to their removal to their new homes, having, for a wife, a Mohican woman, from Green Bay, whose name was Betsey Kon-ke-pot, and was adopted with his wife and child into the Seneca tribe, and in common with them, drew a proportion of the annuity money due from the government. He became a sort of Major Domo of the tribe, making their bargains, and adjusting their settlements of business transactions with their white neighbors. If a horse was missing, Ben. could track him with unerring precision, till he found him. He could stock a gun or a plow, build a house, tan a skin, in short was always ready for sport, or work, and withal, remarkable for sobriet}'-.

He emigrated with the Senecas. His wife died on the journey soon after crossing the Mississippi river, and Ben, with his child, went on with the tribe to their new homes upon the Neosho.