Weston Township (part 12 of 15)

The Pioneee Indian Associates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tinge Of Romance

HORACE CAD'S was an eastern man and at, oik; time quite wealthy. Me lost heavily in a large speculation and as is always the case his position and the prestige of his family among the wealthy social circles of the east diminished with his fortune. He chanced to come west with a friend and while in this county became favorably impressed with it as a refuge for his family from the outside world and settled here in 1832 or '.'53. Leaving his family he started for South America with the hope of regaining his lost fortune.

Frenchman of high parentage and wealth who was also on a lour of speculation in Lima, Peru. He became much attached to the young man and after they had been in South America some time, Cady not making anv advancement in losing heavily in his operations, they concluded to return to the United States and Cady invited his friend to accompany him to his home in this count}', which he did.

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

Though this story may not be correct in every particular, it. in main explains how Mr. Bloom came to reside in Liberty, lie was evidently never cut out for a farmer and the style of life he was compelled to live, in the early days here, failed to bring prosperity. He died about is; ii at an old age, and his remains now lie in the Liberty township cemetery.

To tell how these first settlers toiled to make comfortable homes of their "farms in the wilderness" of the privations ami hardships they endured, of their great distance from family supplies, etc., would be simply a repetition of what has been said of other localities. Two things, however, worthy of mention that used to

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

Miami Of The Lake

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

The first page of these numbers is largely made up of literary matter, both prose and poetry. One article by Judge Story is entitled. "What, is to Become of This Country?" ITe refers to the na-

Scbap-Book

Hone of the old world - to (Jreece, Rome, Italy, Venice, Genoa - one time republics, that have passed away. He doses in an impassioned appeal in the following language:

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

"Life can never be too short, which brings nothing but disgrace and oppression. Death never comes too soon, if necessary, in defense of the liberties of our country/'

In the number of April 5, L837, an important discovery is announced - "the greatesl since the days of Franklin. James P. Espy, Esq., has ascertained that the weather i- regulated by fixed, unalterable laws - easily understood, so that the captain of a vessel may I'll whether there is a storm raging anywhere within 500 miles of him, and how he may direct his course so as to avoid it.

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

At the head of the editorial columns delinquent subscribers are stirred up - needed, "badly needed." The panic of 1837 was then spreading over the country, and "the money market at New York was hourly becoming more alarming."

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

In another editorial the condition of the Western Reserve Road is scored in the severest language. Says the editor, I' is only those who have become stalled in the mud, in endeavoring to work their way through this Ohio Golgotha, that can draw a true picture of this stigma upon the character of the state." Again he Bays: "Teams are not unfrequently five days in passing through this section of the road of thirty-one miles in extent!"

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

The Pioxeer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Town Of Benton

THE town of Benton, one of the "hasbeens," was located a short distance west of Tontogany, and David Hedges was its proprietor. It was laid out during the best days of Thomas Benton, "Old Bullion" as he was called. Hedges was a Jackson Democrat, and a great admirer of aid "Tom/5 and named the town in his memory.

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

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

In lsi!) Samuel Ewing, father of Anihon\ Ewing, ami of (lie late W. H. Ewing (Uncle Hank, near Hull's Prairie) settled on this place, then called Wolf Rapids.

Ewing lived here until L823, when one day while at Richardson's tavern at Rushte-boo, the same place where Porter shot Richardson, Ewing and a man named French got into an altercation and French struck Ewing in such a manner as lo dislocate his neck, killing him instantly. French was imprisoned on charge of murder in the little log jail at Maumee and escaped one night and never was heard of after. - Sentinel, 1888.

Battle Of Grand Rapids

GEN. L1DA of the Dmted States troops gave the following account of a fierce battle with the Indians in the war of 1812, on the site of the present village of Grand Rapids. It was not unlil I-"' yea r> afterwards that he related this account of that battle. He said : oui- Indian wars occurred just where your little village of Gilead now stands. A company of U. S. troops, of which I was one, was ordered from Defiance to Fort .Meigs. We passed down the north bank of the river. About noon on a certain da}r, we came opposite the island that is in the river there. Our commander chose this as a safe place to rest and eal dinner. About two hours were consumed in this way, and then we made preparations to continue our journey. Equipped as we were with the trappings of soldiers and the necessaries for an extended march our freedom of locomotion was not a little encumbered. We pro- ceeded to cross the Rapids to the Bouth bank, bul only a little over half the distance had been accomplished, when, without a moment's warning, from the top of tlui bank and beautiful grove over the bottom from the river to the bluff behind, belched forth a volley <>f musketry wounding several of our men, but killing Qone outright. The foes, of course, were Indians, who appeared to be a host in number. They had been lying in close concealment, but after the first discharge could be seen, and 1 remember, to me at least, everj tree in the bottom seemed to conceal an Indian. We promptly took refuge under rover of the bank before they could load and fire again. The river bank here was bluffy and perhaps 15 feet in height. VVe found immediate protection hen" from the enemy's fire, and began making our way gradually down the river to a ravine about 80 rods distant, carrying our wounded with us.

"This ravine was a dense thicket of brushwood and larger trees, while, from the high ground to the river was free from brush: the trees were principally maple and made a beautiful looking grove, which for six hours we were compelled to turn into a bloody battle field. Before night the dead and dying had been strewn from one end o( the bottom to the other. A- soon as we had succeeded in establishing ourselves in the shelter o( the ravine, we began to be aggressive in our operations, forcing our way up the bottom, keeping ourselves in the protection of every friendly covert afforded by thicket, tree and hollow, and compelled the savage foe to retire from place to place; driving them steadily up the bottom until we reached -1 point about a hundred or more rods from our place o( starting, where two or three mound like knobs with ravines and thickets furnished capital rallying points for the Indians. Taking advantage of this they, with redoubled exertion, forced us back over all the ground we had gained. In like manner we must have passed back and forth over the battle ground five or six nine- during the afternoon. Each time we fell back we

"On that hotly contested ground many met in hand to hand encounter, at short intervals throughout the entire afternoon. Amid the sharp crack of rifles came the battle shout o( the whites, the warhoop o( the savage, and the death yell! No one can realize the horrible and bloodeurdling sensation produced l>\ the death yell o( an Indian, except, one who has seen and heard for himself. The groans o( wounded and dying, ami that green bottom land grow, all this, eonies up before me to-day, as vividly as they were produced in that battle on the lonely banks o( the Maumee over forty-five years ago, and I say again it was a battle well worthy of the name. L had been in a dozen battles ami skirmishes before that, and several after, but none were as active and fierce, in contest; so tenacious and stubborn in holding every advantage* considering the number of combatants engaged ami length of time fought incessantly. The soldiers numbered about one hundred and twenty-rive and o( the Indians, no doubt, they were double that many. The dosing act in this forest tragedy occurred, as dusk was coming on, by our force driving the Indians to the bluffs before mentioned. We then retired t<> our ravine to watch the night through. The Indians did not follow us, and during night for some reason, withdrew from the vicinity entirely, leaving us to bury our dead and go on our way unmolested."

In the course o( narrating this bloody encounter, Gen. Lida became quite absorbed with the memories of the past Evidently this incident of all others in his life impressed him the most. He had been a soldier under Wayne and seen much of Indian warfare.

Mercer Settlement

the Mercer family to come to Wood county, and arrived here at the age of 19, in March 1834- He started out as a mere boy from hie horn'- in Columbiana county, to seek his fortune in the wilderness of western Ohio. All he brought with him was his "knapsack" and gun, and monej enough to enter a small piece of land. He was nine days on his journey of 300 miles, and spent his first night in Wood county at the house of ael Powers, the first settler at the "forks"" in Freedom township, and from there went to his brother, George Mercer, in Liberty, who had at this time been here about a year. Jt is needless to say it required pluck for a mere boy to start out alone, on foot, to make a long journey into an unknown and aluninhabited wild 'hrough

Young Mercer immediately on his arrival located land in Section 14, of Liberty, and set out in a day or two, again on foot, for Bucyrus, a dists 00 miles, to enter the land at tne land office. He left the bouse of Collister Haskins about 10 o'clock one cloudy March day, intending to reach Fostoria, then called Rome, that night. After he had proceeded on his journey about five miles, e way of an Indian trail leading in a southeasterly direction, he heard a queer noise in the woods off to one side of the trail, and being curious as to its - proceeded to inv< - - tnd

After dispersing the battle of t'-. he turned to find the trail he had left, but much 10 his dismay he- was unable to find it. He wandered about for some time and soon became confused and lost. After a time he struck a e meandering of which he aimlessly followed until about dark, when the welcome sound of a cow bell struck bis ear Follow the sound he ame upon a cow, and

-u going to the little hut he found a man and woman just prepai abandon their home in the wilder the next morning. Mercer asked for something t< . tent for the night, and was inform"'! they hadn't "a bit/- in the house to eat," but that he might remain over night, which he did. next morning he got his bearings, and struck for Piorne which he reached that afternoon, wlwj e something to th<- first nourishment he had had - his departure from Haskins' about thirty hours before. From Rome lie proceeded to Bucyrus. entered his land and returned again on fo

The Pioneer

The following fall he went back to Columbiana county for bis father (Win. Mercer) and mother, who returned with him, accompanied by bis sister Lucretia, and brothers Abram and Charles. They all took up their abode in the cabin he had built the previous spring. They drove through with them a herd of 40 cattle, probably the largest number ever brougbt to the county up to that time. They, however, had much difficulty in keeping the cattle through that winter, a number of which strayed away and never were found. Thus began the Mercer settlement in Liberty. - C. W. E.

MANY of the residents of this portion of Ohio well remember the intense excitement twenty-live years ago in the eighties upon the discovery of oil in Wood county. Pen cannot describe the wild, feverish unrest and anxiety that prevailed among all citizens. Investors and speculators were attracted to the county by hundreds. It was the day of the gusher. While oil was struck in different counties in Northwestern Ohio, Wood county, in the heart of the Black Swamp proved to be the "King Bee" - the greatest oil producing county in the history of crude oil probably on the continent at that time. No county equaled it then even in Pennsylvania. Oil was found in no less than sixteen townships, indicating that hundreds of feet beneath us was a vast lake of oil.

In those days Bloom, Henry, Liberty, Portage and Jackson townships were regarded as gusher territory, while remarkable producers were also found in Plain, Middleton, Montgomery, Freedom and Perry townships. Prices for land went skyward. Farms that previously could have been purchased for $10 to $25 and $50 an acre, could not be touched for less than hundreds of dollars per acre. One incident may suffice to show this. One farmer who had a tract of 50 acres, who would have gladly disposed of his farm at $50 an acre, declared he would not sell under $30,000 and he didn't care for that. This is not an isolated instance, but there were many of the same kind. Siich was the excitement at that time that it was difficult to secure land at any price. Values went to a high level throughout the county, although in the passage of years, there has been a decline from the high standard of that period, yet they are maintained today at a high level, when compared with prices before the oil period, and that bigb level is normal and will so continue. More than half of the oil producers in the Wood county field came from Pennsylvania, experts in the business. They not only came themselves, but brought their household goods, their families, and all the property they had; they have settled in the* towns; they have become permanent, residents and tax payers; they are helping build up the towns and are increasing the duplicates with refineries, their pipe lines and all of their property, which would not be there a moment if it were not for the oil development. They have added to the wealth of the state - it is difficult to say how much, but an ex-auditor of Wood claims that in this county alone these producers increase the value on the tax duplicate of more

There were in those early days many gushers. One developed at itammansburg in December of 1886 will suffice as a sample of those spouters. William Carothers, an experienced driller, had the contract for sinking the well and the work was in charge of C. Ash. They drilled 400 feet through lime stone and 7 70 feet through slate. At this point they struck the Trenton rock, and said Mr. Ash, "we drilled in this awhile and had about given up getting anything. We were losing hope every minute and Monday afternoon, the 6th, at 5 o'clock, we were just 30 feet in the Trenton when we heard a noise in the well which began to till. We stopped the drill and were hardly out of the way when the oil spouted up over the derrick and 85 feet in the air. We quickly put the tire out under the boiler and withdrew from the field. The flow was so continuous that we were not able to get our tools out until Thursday.

A representative of the Sentinel visited the gusher when it had been flowing for four days at intervals averaging about 18 minutes, and he says it seemed surely that if there was one there were 4,000 barrels of oil running on the ground. A wagon path in the woods was nearly a foot deep in oil, which run each way for many rods from the well. A half acre of land was covered with it, and a man walking a log made a misstep onto the ground and went over his boot top. The derrick and surrounding trees were dripping with the crude material and the men at work were covered with it.

This was the first well of any importance drilled in the county, and in 188? four gushers were completed, yielding 1,200, I.S00, 1,500 and 800 barrels respectively. Two gushers in 1888 gave 3,000 and 1,250 barrels. Eight gushers in 1889 vielded 27,100 barrels. In 1890 one gusher gave 600 barrels. .Nearly a score of wells drilled in 1891 yielded 7,300 barrels. In 1892 twenty gushers yielded 36,600 barrels. In L893 there were recorded 22 gushers yielding 16,000 barrels. In 1894 four gushers yielded 3,300 barrels. Several gushers were recorded in 1895 yielding 4,000 barrels. Other gushers were .recorded in the years 1896, 1897 and 1898, yielding an average of 500 barrels each. In 1901 a 1,200 barrel producer was drilled in Liberty township. These figures are taken from the oil reports as given in the newspapers at that time. Hundreds of other gushers too numerous to mention were completed throughout Wood county, making it one of the wealthiest counties in the state.

Since then the oil industry has continued to be a paying one. Here is what an old oil expert says with regard to the future of Wood county: "With the richest land, with inexhaustible soil, with a county agriculturally standing at the head, and add to it the natural gas advantages which is bound to bring manufacturing, and oil with the attendant business outgrowing therefrom - I say, with all these things taken into consideration, I know of no spot in America with a brighter future. Eeal estate in any event is bound to boom and good results follow from what has already taken place."

The earliest tradition has it that at one time there was a continuous water route from the Lakes to the Mississippi, navigable for canoes with the exception of a "portage" about nine miles across at the head of the Maumee, and that this "portage" was owned or controlled by an Indian woman who exacted tribute for all goods that were transferred across

The Pioneer Early School Days

MANY there are who may yet remember something of the educational facilities sixty or seventy years ago. Then they knew nothing of the grades in schools. The settlers were few in number, their wants were few and these were bountifully supplied. The benches were crude, seats had no backs, and yet there was little or no complaint, as they knew of nothing better in the way of conveniences. Pupils were compelled to trudge through brush and mud and cold from one to three miles or more.

The average wage paid to the teacher then was $10 a month of 26 days, and three months was about the Limit of the contract. Included probably in the contract was that of "boarding 'round," as was the custom in those days.

One of the customs of that time was to bar the school master out of the house, and keep him out until he yielded to the demands of the scholars to treat them to apples, candies, raisins, or such luxuries as could then be had.

Gov. Foster in speaking of those early days, himself a teacher in that early day, says that James Pillars, who afterwards graced the bench for ten years, as the Common Pleas Judge of this judicial district, when a young man contracted to teach a school for ten dollars per month, of twenty-six days; one-half to be paid in cash, and the other half in provisions.

In those days the great feature of our schools was the attention given to spelling. It is seriously doubted whether the schools of the present day can produce so much excellence in spelling as did those of that day. One-fourth of the time, probably, was devoted to spelling exercises, and in addition, at least one night of each week was devoted to what was known as spelling matches. These were attended by the besl spellers from the neighboring schools. The highest ambition of the pupil was to be the best speller in school.

In an address on those early days, the late Gov. Foster says that he is perfectly safe in saying that he attended spelling school three nights out of a week, during the three months of school for several years - visiting alternately three different school houses. He believed that his sister, Emily, was the best speller of all, and she was under twelve years of age. The larger scholars used to carry her on their backs as they went to the different schools on foot, the only way of going to these meetings. The Governor relates this incident in his boyhood school days. "1 remember of going one night, to the Kiser school house, through the woods the most of the way, and alone, to attend a spelling match. I broke through the ice, and was wet up to my knees when I reached the place; yet 1 do not think I ever felt better repaid for a day's work than I did over my success on that occasion, for I spelled down the entire school."

Those good old days are only reminiscences now in the dim and distant past. "Good "Id days" may be said deliberately and seriously without exaggeration, for it is very doubtful if any of the pupils of the present day experience more delight and genuine pleasure in any equal number of days at the present time.

At the meeting of the Commissioners, May 5, 1820, Attorney McCurdy presented an order of Court for $20, his compensation as prosecuting attorney of Wood county, for the May term of 1820.

Henry Dubbs

HENRY DUBBS was the first settler in the west part of Liberty township. He came from Ashland county and entered the land upon which he built his home. He had one son Lewis, now deceased, and two daughters, Ann, who married Ebenezer Donaldson of Grand

Mr. Dubbs and his son Lewis, were tanners by trade and soon after their arrival, built a tannery on their lands, probably the first in the county, and did a large and successful business.

Lewis Dubbs was Justice of the Peace in Liberty for 27 years. He was prominent in advancing the best interests of the early settlement and a leader in public improvements; educated, kind and generous, and his name is remembered with respect by those who know him. - C. W. E.

Mail Route

AS this northwestern part of Ohio began to be opened up a mail route was established on March 12, 1829, between Perrysburg and Bellefontaine, and the first post office in the interior of Wood county was located where Portage now is, with Collister Haskins for postmaster. Soon after this Haskins built a log store on the south bank of the Portage river and stocked it with goods best adapted to his customers, a majority of

Thus it will be seen that Haskins was not only the first resident of Liberty township, but also established the first store in Portage, and might be called the founder of the only village in Liberty township. This store was probably the third regular trading point started in Wood county, others being at Perrysburg and Grand Rapids.

The first mail carrier on the route above mentioned was James Gordon who carried the mail on horseback, made one trip a week each way and usually arrived at Haskins at noon where he took his dinner. - G. W. E.

Indian Skeleton

IN the spring of 1879, a skeleton was exhumed five miles west of Bowling Green, by brick yard men, who were engaged in excavating sand for their yard on the top of a somewhat noted sand

In the Sentinel Mr. Evers says this skeleton is supposed to be the remains of an Indian, or some other human of giant stature. He had been buried with his head to the west. Between his legs sat a two gallon brass kettle in a good state of preservation excepting the bottom, which is partially gone. Inside this kettle set a small iron kettle which is nearly consumed by rust, except the bail.

The Pioxeeb

Near the side of the skeleton lay a rusteaten tomahawk, scalping knife and a flint steel for lighting fire, also a stone smoke pipe. The bones, of which but few if any are missing, even to the toe and finger bones, arc in an excellent state of preservation and indicate by their size that they were once the mechanism of a powerful man. The skull on which still clings some frizzy substance like hair, is one which phrenologists would say indicated the Indian to have been no common fellow in his tribe. It is a well-shaped, large skull for an Indian, 1 hough the prominent cheek bones and low forehead are distinctly recognizable. The fellow had, in his day, an excellent set of teeth - small, sound and evenly set, though well worn and only two missing out of the two and thirty. One ami had. in his lifetime, been broken and the bone had knit together very clumsily, deforming the arm by a great bulge and erook. In the back of his skull is a small hole, but whether this hole had anything to do with his taking off, is an uncertainty.

Mr. Avery says from the best information he can get from the old settlers, the grave has been there not less than 45 years, that is, no burial has taken place there since the neighborhood was settled. He also thinks that the grave was not less than four feet deep originally, something not usual in Indian burials.

Sliut.-nok, on which this grave was found, is. or was before its surface was disturbed by the plow, the highest sand mound in Wood county. How it came to bear this name, none of the old settlers seem to know, though the belief has been current and has been handed down from generation to generation that it bore the name of a chief of one of the fragmentary tribes inhabiting the Maumee country after Anthony Wayne broke Their power in 1794. There are others who have been led to believe this spot was the burial place of a chief whose name it bore. But why a chief or any other influential man in his tribe should be buried -in this then lonely place when the burial ground was only a few miles away on the Maumee, we cannot understand.

There is another story that comes to us more directly from an early chronicler, who was once connected with the Indian mission at the Station Island. He states that the Indians avoided the place under the superstitious belief that the Great Spirit had set its seal of displeasure - a curse upon the place for some sin committed by his children, the secret of which was hidden beneath the grassy surface of the mound.

In this connection a story is circulated that the chief Tondoganie had a daughter either his own or an adopted daughter - a beautiful girl who was loved by a young Indian of the Shawanee tribe, and of noble birth, but whose tribe had dwindled down to only a fragment, so that he had lost his greatness in the eyes of the chief Tondoganie, who looked upon him with disfavor. The young Indian's love was reciprocated by the girl, and was a secret between them. Her lover's home was at Sandusky plains along with the great chief Black Hoof or Tarhe, but he often made visits to the Maumee ostensibly to fish, but for no other purpose than to see the dark eyed maiden. This secret love was detected by the quick perceptions of the chief, and with flashing eye and angry voice, he pointed the young man to the plains and told him to GO and never return. Both the lovers knew the penalty of disobeying.

The girl secretly stole away and followed her lover in the direction of his home until they reached a high mound, the highest perhaps in the county, on the north side of what is now known ;is the Keeler Prairie, when she hade him farewell, and watched his receding form until he passed from her sight forever. The heart broken girl returned to her father's wigwam, but fell into a despondent state of mind and could not be roused. She would be missed at times for days and nights together, and some of Tondoganie's runners reported to him that she was wont to stand on the high mound looking to the south chanting a mournful song. Finally she was missed and came back no more and a superstition prevailed that in the darkness of night the figure of an Indian girl with her blanket about her shoulders, could be seen on the mound and that strange sounds as of some one singing a funeral dirge could be heard echoing in the grove below. The mound has ever since gone

The same authority for the above account, stated that Tondoganie's anger was such because of the love of the girl against his wish, that he called upon some of the young men of his band to rid him of the cause. These young men stealthily dogged the movements of the girl until they discovered the place where she met her lover, whom they waylaid, murdered and buried in the mound, and on the final disappearance of the girl the chief forbid his tribe from visiting the place which only brought him memories of remorse and sorrow.

Such is one of the stories handed down from mouth to ear and which may have lost many details of what was a tragic romance, or it may, as is often the case, have gained much by repetition.

A Fierce Battle

IT may not be generally known that the site of the present town of Perrysburg was once the scene of a fierce battle between the Indians and Americans, but such is the fact. The news of the cowardly surrender of Gen. Hull at Detroit in August, 1812, spread like the wind throughout Ohio, and struck the frontier settlers with dismay. It aroused the people from their lethargy, and showed the government the necessity of greater activity and skill in the conduct of the war. In the fall of 1812, General Tupper, of Gallia county, raised 1,000 men, mainly from the counties of Gallia,

Lawrence, Jackson, and marched to the foot of the rapids of the Maumee river. From Urbana they followed Hull's trail. As they approached the river the Indians appeared on the opposite bank. Tupper endeavored to cross the river in the night, but owing to the rapid current and the inexperience of his men, he failed and went into camp on the ground where Perrysburg now stands. The enemy soon after collected a superior force, and attacked him in his camp but after a short, sharp engagement, they were defeated with considerable loss and returned to Detroit. The Americans fell back on Fort McArthur.

The Dread Cholera

IiN October, 1835, says a correspondent of the Sentinel in 1877, 0. Diver entered 80 acres one-half mile south of Mill Grove, this being undoubtedly the Last entry near Mill Grove.

About this time the cholera made its appearance at Rome (now Fostoria) and Risdon in Seneca county, but few died. However, its advent sent terror to the hearts of the settlers in Terry, who with or without - Tor they were often without - quinine, could battle the "shakes" from July to late in September, and without a physician would successfully cope with the malarial fevers that followed.

Cholera, however, the very word itself made the boldest quake. Dr. John Kinnaman a graduate of Philadelphia College was the first practicing physician. He was a young man highly educated and a lover of his profession. His coming was hailed with delight by the settlers. He located about two miles south of Mill Grove. A very large walnut stump served him for a laboratory, drug repository and general reception room. He laid out a town at this point and named it Royalton, but it died in its infancy shortly after the demise of its founder.

Dr. Kinnaman's patients were scattered over the entire southern part of the county, and his indefatigability in riding was wonderful and denoted a man of iron nerve. Many times in riding he would cut down a tree, hitch his horse to one of its branches and let him browse until his patient was out of danger, often from eight to ten hours.

The following is an instance of this man's nerve and ability in his profession. Swane a settler of Perry was hurt by the falling of a tree. In a few days it was found necessary to amputate the leg. Dr. Kinnaman was sent for and arrived. Without any assistance and with no surgical implements but a razor and old saw, the Doctor amputated the limb neatly and speedily, and the man got well.

Passed Away

THE first settlers of Washington township, found here the remnants of a once powerful tribe of Indians. Their old men and warriors had listened to the counsels and obeyed the commands of their great Chief Tondoganie. Their wigwams were in the belt of timber which skirted the river; and the broad prairie which has become so fertile under skillful cultivation, afforded them hunting grounds and space for the young warrior to practice himself in imaginary battles to improve his skill in an art which fortunately, he has never since had an opportunity to practice.

The river and creek furnished them with fish, and on the flowery banks they passed a happy, indolent life. They were the remnants of a race which according to the laws of nature, had had its time on earth, and in obedience to that inexorable law, they were fast yielding to those who were to succeed them and here they lived to meet and see the mighty race of men who were to take their places. For ages they have lived

They were a race governed by instinct; they made no advance in agriculture, commerce or the arts. The son made his canoe and armed himself with the bow and arrow as his father had done, as mechanically and with as little improvemenl as the young robin builds its nest in imitation of the parent bird. Their time had come; their race was doomed; and here on the banks of this beautiful stream, where the dark eyed Indian maiden had taught the young chief to love her, a fairer maiden was to take her place and by the graces of a purer virtue, teach a noble heart to love her.

A Summer Of Gloom

OLDER citizens will undoubtedly remember the fatal summer of 1854. It was indeed a summer of sorrow and gloom. This was not only true of Northern Ohio, but of Northern Indiana as well. Not a village between Buffalo ami Chicago that did not furnish its quota of suffering and death from the malarial poison that impregnated the very atmosphere, spreading intermittent and typhoid fevers, as well as that dreaded scourge, cholera. These afflictions became epidemic, and in some localities there were not enough persons well to take care of the sick.

Take Goshen, Indiana, population 1,500 then. For two months there was a funeral daily, sometimes two or three. Not a family escaped affliction. Two cabinet sbops were busy night and day making coffins, and physicians had mighty little rest from their strenuous labors.

Probably no town suffered like Perrysburg. The scourge started, it seems from a ball thai was held on the night of the Itli of duly, when the first case of cholera made its appearance, and from that time until the 19th of August following there were 117 deaths - at least that is the number buried in Fort Meigs cemetery, and there may have been many more. Among that number are included Albert D. Wright, editor of the Northwestern Democrat, Dr. James Robertson, Dr. Frederick, Jarvis Spafford, John J. Spink, and many others. The deaths were startling in their suddenness and sadness. The epidemic was one of great virulence. So great were the ravages of this terrible visitation at that place, that it put a check upon business of every kind, no paper was issued and no other business transacted for seven weeks or longer, excepting that of caring for the sick and the burial of the dead. Ineluded among those who passed away were some of the most active business men of the place. Dr. E. D. Peck and Dr. James Robertson were on duty night and day, the latter falling a victim to the scourge in the very midst of his strenuous labors. Two-thirds of the residents fled from the town, leaving a comparative few to fight the dread epidemic. Among those noble men and women, aside from the physicians may be mentioned Joshua Chappel, Seth Bruce, N. H. Callard, Mrs. A. E. Frederick and Mrs. Amelia Perrin, who were volunteer nurses during the terrible calamity. There may have been a few others, but we have not their names. All these have passed away, but they nobly performed their duty during their life's span. Perrysburg was indeed **a deserted village/' Grand Rapids fared but little better, with a score or more of cases and a number of deaths, the disease beginning like Perrysburg at a llh of duly ball. Never perhaps in the history of the cholera were its ravages so fatal as in Perrysburg, and never did the few who remained meet death with more resolution or endure suffering with greater fortitude.

Seth Bruce made coffins in the hall of the log court house and no victim was buried without a coffin being furnished. Only one person of all that number died alone, a young man who had a room in a tenement house. He breathed his last before the return of his attendant, who had gone for medicine. The women were patient and heroic in their care for the sick, and there were brave, noble men who remained and stood beside them in the terrible conflict.

The physical condition of the inhabitants, reduced by fever and ague, and their systems poisoned by well water rather than by miasmatic exhalations, left them an easy prey to the ravages of ihis sweeping epidemic.

THEKE is no question of the fact that much of the superiority of the agricultural products of Wood county has been due to the stimulating influences exerted by the Agricultural Society. It has lifted the science of agriculture to a higher plane. It has brought forth observation, comparison, thought and efforts on the part of the farmer as well as those interested in mechanics and arts. Each one learns something of value from a competitor, while it is apparent that there has been much of benefit from the results of combined effort.

Middleton township, at an early period in the history of the county, contained a number of intelligent and enterprising citizens. In these respects, it surpassed any other township in the county, and it was natural that the movement for the organization of a County Agricultural Society should originate there. On the 26th day of April, 1851, a meeting of the farmers and mechanics of the township was held, at which David Creps presided and 11. H. Pain acted as Sec^ retary. The object of the movement was stated to be the promotion of the interests of farmers and mechanics, and it was decided to call a mass meeting of the people of the county at Bowling Green, on the second Monday of June, 1851.

In addition to the President and Secretary, the following citizens of Middleton township signed the call for the mass meeting, viz; David Whitney, Henry Sarvis, Henry Hood, James Mc- Ginness, Francis E. Meagley, Patrick Mcisaac, Robert Clark, Wm. Ewing, John Hood and Martin Byers. The call was subsequently signed by the following persons: E. Huntington, John Bates, John Brownsberger, David Ladd, ' J. Spafford, James Hood, Asher Cook, James Hall, John Groves, Joseph A. Creps, Gabriel Yount, Henry Crook, L. F. Pobertson, Amelius Eobertson, James W. Frazer, and John Taylor.

in Bowling Green, when Emelius Wood was chosen chairman and Aslier Cook Secretary. J. K. Tracy, Henry Hood, Patrick Mclsaac, James Bloom and Geo. Powers, were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the Wood County Agricultural Society. David Whitney, John Bates, X. L>. Blum and S. W. St. John were appointed a committee, to nominate officers for the following year. Thomas Jolly, L. C. Lock, and Henry Groves, were appointed a committee to "procure suitable persons to address the meeting and explain the objects of the contemplated organization.'' In the afternoon, in response to the request of the last named committee, the meeting was addressed by Messrs. Elliott, Cook and Bloom. The committee for that purpose reported a constitution, made up of 12 articles, which was adopted and signed by 56 persons, who became members of the society.

Then a series of by-laws were adopted. The following persons were appointed a committee in each township to collect statistical information to be reported to the Secretary of the Society:

This was an important work, but there is no evidence that any of the committees were ever heard from in an official capacity. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: President,

Aside from the fact that a meeting was held on the 26th of July, 1851, to arrange for holding the first Fair, and also the fact that the Fair for 1852 is designated as the "second Fair," there is no recorded evidence that a Fair was held in 1851, nor is there any record of the place where it was held, though probably the first County Fair was held at Bowling Green.

The foregoing facts respecting the organization of the Society are quite complete, except the almost total omission of reference to the first Fair, in which the people of to-day would feel a lively interest. Subsequent Fairs were ignored by the Society's secretaries with equal care, and the points of real interest are thus largely omitted. The second Fair was held at Perrysburg, the third was held at Bowling Green, the fourth and fifth at Portageville, and the sixth and seventh at Bowling Green. At the seventh annual meeting of the Society, the board elected for the ensuing year was authorized to "procure suitable grounds for the Annual Fair and permanently locate the same."

At a meeting held in July, 1858, a vote was taken upon the permanent location of the Fair, when Bowling Green received five votes and Portageville two votes. The next Fair was held at Bowling Green, but the permanent location of the Fair was not satisfactory to rival villages. Portageville inaugurated an independent Fair, and in 1860 the County Society held their Fair at Perrysburg.

Subsequently, perhaps in 1865 or 1866, the Society purchased grounds at Tontogany and permanently located the Fair at that point. This result grew out of the county seal contest and is understood to have been brought about by Perrysburg in the hope that it might result to the disadvantage of Bowling Green. The latter village naturally felt resentful and organized an Independent Society, but it proved a losing operation and was soon abandoned.

Space will not permit further record of the Society's history here, but it may not be improper to mention the fact that the fairs of Wood county have compared favorably with any exhibitions of a similar character in the state. With the richest of soil in the hands of intelligent and enterprising farmers, the products of Wood county have excited the pride of citizens of the county and commanded the admiration of strangers. At state fairs, Wood county lias carried off tier full share of premiums, and seldom fails in a competition with other localities where she has a fair chance.

In addition to this piece of ancient history it may be said that this Society has grown and expanded with the years and its exhibitions hold their own in popularity and are visited by hundreds throughout the State. It stands in the van of all similar exhibitions in Northwestern Ohio.

Within a few years past the needle work, art and educational exhibits have proven to be a strong feature and have attracted the interests of thousands of visitors. The erection of buildings and other equipment are added from year to year, and this expansion can not fail to give added interest to all classes of our people, and thus keep pace with the progress and prosperity of all. Under the stimulus of the great and instructive exhibitions, such as have been given, new ideas are brought out, new sciences developed and better and more profitable methods learned, and we will go on in the march of progress until we of to-day will be as far behind in comparison as

An Historical Crisis

As a pivotal point in the war of 1812, no battle was of greater importance than the battle of Ft. Meigs. Had Gen. Harrison been compelled to surrender, the battle of the Thames would never have been won. Perry's conflict on Lake Erie would never have been fought, the whole Northwest would have been in the hands of the British and Indians, and the frontiers along the whole continent would not have been safe for an hour against the attacks of the wily savages. Gen. Jackson might have been defeated at New Orleans, the British under Prevost and Eoss might have won at Ogdensburg, or captured Baltimore. Gen. Brown and Gen. Scott might have lost Lundy's Lane, and still the defeats would have left the nation safe. But the capture of Ft. Meigs by Gen. Proctor would have lighted the torch all over the Northwest. It would have made the British masters of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. It would have enabled the allies to push on to the foot of the Alleghanies and even the Eastern states would not have been proof against the attacks of Proctor and his savages. Fort Meigs is indeed historic ground.

Hull's trace through Wood county was designated many years ago by the discovery of a large pile of gun barrels, locks, flints and bayonets near Portage. The discovery Avas made by a little girl in search of cows. At another time the entire iron work of an army wagon was found near the same place.

The Maumee Pioneers

Written by Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood for the Reunion of the Maumee Valley Pioneers, Held in Toledo, February 22, 1880, and Recited by Mrs. Elizabeth Mansfield Irving

But The Shot Missed

On a clear, bright morning in the early spring of 1813, writes a pioneer chronicler, Gen. Harrison was standing on the earth works of Ft. Meigs. As he stood there his eye rested on scenes which have since become famous in the history of the state and nation. In the clear sunlight every foot of ground for miles around was visible. At his feet flowed the rapids and to the southward the river was lost behind the hills. Forests stretched away in every direction. Through an opening among the trees an Indian chief and a companion were seen. A sentry fired and the parties disappeared. Had the aim been more true and the arm of the sentry been more steady a vast amount of bloodshed and cruelty might have been averted, for that Indian chief was the notorious Tecumseh, his companion - the hated Proctor.

At one time during the siege of Fort Meigs the ammunition was nearly all gone, and Gen. Harrison offered a gill of whisky to any man who would bring in a cannon ball from outside the fort. The soldiers kept a score to see who would bring in the most, and in this manner cannon balls were obtained only to throw them over at the British batteries.

COLONEL SELDEN ALLEN DAY and his talented wife, Helen H. Gardener, will be remembered by many cf the citizens of Bowling Green, as they visited Wood county several years since, when the accomplished lady gave a lecture. As writer, author and speaker, she is widely known on account of the many books she has published of a semi-medical nature along the line of heredity. They are written in such form and language as to make them understood and appreciated by the general reader. Her success is demonstrated by the fact that the products of her pen, put out partly as fiction, occupy the reference shelves of Cornell university and other scientific libraries of national reputation. All this has required much earnest study on the part of this earnest writer, to whose work is attached more than a literary value.

No less interest attaches to Colonel Day than to his talented wife and he is known from the Atlantic to the Pacific seaboard, where he commanded Fort Mason, San Francisco, for four years. His military career began in 1861, when he raised a volunteer company at the first call for troops, serving continuously in the field until the close of the war and was finally made captain for "gallant and meritorious service during the war." Colonel Day's record in the war with Spain was also notably brilliant. He commanded the first troops that entered Porto Rico and on July 28, 1898, ran up the American flag on the custom house, the first American flag raised over the island possessions. In addition to his career as a soldier, Colonel Day is the

Mr. Day chanced to be the first officer of the prison guard at Fort Monroe, when Jefferson Davis was brought there a prisoner after the close of the war. Notwithstanding the account of Ben Perley Poore of the distinguished prisoner being put in irons, the experience of Col. Day, while he was in charge of Mr. Davis, shows that the prisoner was of a most tractable and gentlemanly disposition. Here are extracts from a letter written by Colonel Day in February, 1890, from Fort Schuyler, New York:

An article in a New York paper headed "Grateful to his Guard," alludes to kindness on my part to the distinguished prisoner, the late Jefferson Davis, while he was confined at Fort Monroe. While I did my duty as best I could I disclaim now, as I did then, the idea of kindness in doing what any man ought to have done for another whom the fortunes of war had placed in his keeping. The kindness in the case was rather the other way. Although I had seen four years of solid war, I was still a youngster in the service, while his experience included the entire range of promotion from West Point cadet to Secretary of War, and extended from the fall of Richmond hack to and through the war with Mexico.

It so happened that I was the first officer of the prison guard, detailed from the regulars when we came to Fort Monroe after the close of the war, and of course I took charge of the State prisoners, Messrs. Davis and Clay. This was after their removal from the casemates to Carroll Hall. Mr. Davis' room, or cell, was on the second floor, and adjoining it was a room occupied by the officer of the guard.

volunteer, trudging along on the march under the weight of knapsack and gun, joined in the chorus: "We'll hang Jeff Davis on a sour apple tree," yet, when brought face to face and introduced to him by the officer, whom I relieved as his custodian, I need hardly say I recognized a gentleman and treated him accordingly. This was the sum total of my kindness to him. No one could have been more particular or careful that the orders governing the prison should be carried out than was the prisoner himself.

One little incident may serve to show how delicately the prisoner had to be dealt with. His cell was scantily furnished with only an iron single bedstead, a hospital mattress, a small table or stand, bucket, bowl and pitcher, and two straight-backed, bard wooden kitchen chairs - one for the prisoner and the other for any visitor he might have; and the visitors were few and far between. We, officers of the guard, used to have our easy rocking chairs brought from our quarters (nine were in the same building) to sit in during our hours of duly, sending them hack when relieved. One day I offered to exchange my, easy chair for one of his for the time being. "No!" said he, "these are the ones furnished by the authorities for my use, and it might not be right to exchange them." "Oh.*" said I. "if need be I will speak to the General about it, and 1 have no doubt it will be all right." "No," he said, "don't do it on any account/5 and I knew he meant it. Still, I did not fee] quite easy in my rocking chair, seeing him sitting bolt upright. reading day after day on his hard seat. One evening as I was about leaving, my colored servant had not come up, as was usual, to take away my things, so gathering up my books and papers, and with both hands full, I said, "Mr. Davis, John has not come for my things, won't you be kind enough to take charge of my chair until I send for it." "Certainly," said he, and emptying one of my hands into the other, I dragged it into his room, came out, closed the door and bade him "good evening," just as my relief entered the outer room. The next night when I came on guard again, the prisoner was standing at the grating looking out, pipe in hand, and said after greeting, "I have your chair here." "Oh, yes!" said I, looking over my shoulder into my room, "but I see John has brought up another, just keep it, won't you, until I want it."

After Mr. Davis was given the parole of the fort, all was changed for him, as well as for us of the garrison. We officers then got more than "one night in bed," as the soldiers say. and the duty was not so hard.

Mrs, Davis joined her husband and they were assigned a set of officers' quarters, which by the way, included his old "prison cell." and they lived like "white folk." With Mrs. Davis came their little daughter ("Pi" we called her then), now "Miss Winnie," or the "Daughter of the Confederacy," as she is sometimes spoken of. With them also for a time was Mrs. Davis' sister, Miss Maggie Howell, all of whom made a sunny addition to the social life of the garrison in a quiet and becoming way, and they changed the atmosphere for Mr. Davis in many respects.

I could fill a volume of reminiscences and incidents connected with our involuntary intimacy during Mr. Davis' imprisonment, at Fort Monroe, but I will mention only one more in closing this letter. Mr. Davis had a grim sense of the humorous under all circumstances. On one occasion Doctor Craven, who had been the post surgeon and attended Mr.

Davis during his severe illness in the casemates, came back to Fort Monroe on a visit, and called upon the prisoner in his cell. In the course of conversation the doctor said, "Do you know, Mr.

1A the Sentinel of December 20, 1883, Mr. Evers gave an extended account of "'Uncle" Guy Nearing, as he was called by the early settlers, and "Nawash" by the Indians, from which we clip the following:

Guy Nearing in his early manhood came to the Maumee country from Cayuga county, X. Y. The date was about the year 1817, and he first located on what is now the Forest Pratt place, Perrysburg. Nearing was a remarkable man in many respects, and is better remembered and of tencr and more kindly spoken of by the early settlers than any one who lived on the Maumee.

In physical make up lie was a man of almost gigantic stature and strength; broad shouldered and bony; he scarcely knew his own strength, and his power of endurance was something wonderful. He was a sort of local Hercules of that day. and a terror to the Indians, great and small. His qualities of head and heart were no less marked than his physical powers. He inherently loved and trusted his fellow men. He had great big bumps of generosity, and benevolence. He always had a cheering word for the despondent and friendless, and would divide bis last piece of corn bread witb the needy.

that he possessed a "rough side," and was given sometimes to fearful ebullitions of temper, and startling profanity, nor that he was averse occasionally to having a good time, when, more than at any other time he prided himself on his athletic powers, and feats of great strength.

One day he was in Perrysburg after it had become quite a village, attending a circus, an event he never missed if he hea I'd of it in time. He was leaning against the cage in which was a large zebra and the keeper cautioned the spectators lest the animal which was vicious, should kick some of them. In an instant Uncle Guy thrust his hand into the cage and seized the zebra's hind leg which he p tilled out between ttie bars and held with one hand in spite of the animal's wild struggles. Guy would have done the same with a young lion only that the keeper prevented him.

Though rather slow to anger he was like most of that kind of persons very wrathy when he did get warmed up. It is told of him that the little toe on one of his feet had a habit of getting on top of the next toe and the friction of the boot kept it constantly sore. In a fit of anger one day he jerked off his boot, seized a chisel and mallet and off went the offending tor. to trouble him no more.

kind-hearted sympathetic man. If a stranger moving in, needed help to get his wagon out of the mud, Guy would take his team and assist him without pay or thanks. If a newcomer wanted to find land for a home, Guy would leave his own affairs and go with him, board him besides, accepting no compensation, especially from the poor. If the pioneer needed help to raise his log cabin, Guy would take his men and go and help him. Anything he had or could do was always at the command of a needy neighbor or stranger. Such a man was "Uncle" Guy Nearing. He was fitted by all his physical and mental qualities for a leading and useful man amid the rugged vicissitudes incident to pioneer life, and well hr filled the bill.

Two years after Fearing came, his family followed, wife and three children. There were two sons and a daughter. Minerva afterward married Win. Ewing. Neptune Nearing, one of the sons, father of G. C. Nearing, now of Bowling Green, settled at an early day on the ridge and prairie three miles west of Bowling Green, or where the town now is.

Another son, Henry, who is well known and respected in the north part of the county, and who in stature and appearance, much resembles his father, lives now near White House, Lucas county.

Nearing's cabin was on the route followed by the Indians in passing up and down the river. The red men, while unusually quite peaceful, got fire water down at Hollister's trading post sometimes and some of the bucks were a trifle ugly. A big buck of some prowess and athletic pretensions who frequently, when tipsy, would boast of blood-thirsty deeds he had perpetrated on white men at the massacre at River Raisin, one day entered

Nearing's cabin where he saw no one in the room but a couple of women, and drew his hunting knife and began to talk Indian and make murderous flourishes. The women were terrified, as the old buck had a satanic gleam in his eye which was threatening to behold. They concealed their terror as well as they could until one of them on some pretext slipped out and told "Uncle" Guy, who was making an ax handle in a shed near by. Guy was angry in a minute, and seizing a big black whip, he went round to the door and pulled the buck out, and between the sounds of the terrific blows of the whip on old Nawash's breech clout and his hideous screams, there was a small bedlam there for a little while. An account of the incident soon went up and down the river and reached the other Indians. This buck was a sort of revengeful fellow and some of Guy's neighbors did not know but he might try to retaliate, but he was too much humilated, and in a day or so came back and shook hands with Uncle Guy and said, "Me bad Injun ! me good now." Pointing to Nearing he said "You big Nawash." After that Nearing was nicknamed "Big Nawash," and quarrelsome Indian buck's never troubled his family again.

In the latter part of 1825 Nearing took a contract to build five miles of the Maumee and Western Reserve pike, which he did not complete till 1827, and at about the same time he took five miles of the Maumee and Monroe pike.

In 1823 when the county seat was moved from Maumee to Perrysburg, there was not much to move except the little log calaboose. This, Nearing hauled over for which, and the rebuilding, he received $45.

In 1824 he helped to build for Wood county its first court house, a little log structure located on Front street, Perrysburg, but torn down some years ago. In

On Christmas day 1829, Uncle Guy with his men and teams, went to Bear Rapids, since called Otsego, and built a cabin on the hill, to board and lodge his help in. He had previously bought GO acres of land there, of the Mason estate. Stickney had also built a cabin near there, to prospect for free stone, and expected to open a grind stone quarry.

By New Near's day, 1830, all was in readiness, and next day all hands began work on timber for a dam. The winter was mild and dry, and the river low. By May Xearing had a dam in, and a saw mill in operation, and by the middle of June a grist mill with one run of stone, and by September a second run of stone with bolting facilities. This was a great help and convenience to the pioneers, and people patronized the mill from a distance of 20 to 30 miles, bearing owned the mill until the spring of 1833, when he sold it to a New Yorker named Asa Gilbert, and the mill went by the name of Gilbert's mill. Later Gilbert sold to a man named Flanders, who lost the mill by a great freshet. Flanders rebuilt it and a little later the mill passed into the hands of Samuel Clymer, who owned it until the freshets finally destroyed both mill and dam and it was never rebuilt. The ' old mill, the builders, and owners have all passed away and the town of Otsego, a name once familiar to all the early settlers, is a thing of the past and exists like many of the noble race of hardy men and women of that early day only in memory.

AGREEABLE to the treaty of Brownstown in 1808, the Indian tribes ceded a tract of land for a road 120 feet wide from the foot of the Maumee Rapids to the western line of the Connecticut Reserve, and all the land within one mile of said road on each side thereof for the purpose of establishing settlements along the same. By an act of Congress December 11, 1811, the President was authorized to appoint three commissioners to survey and mark the road. It seems this work was not satisfactory. Hence Congress passed an act

Nothing, however, seemed to have been done, for February 28, 1823, Congress passed an act granting to the State of Ohio all the land for this purpose obtained by the treaty of Brownstown. By an act of the Legislature, the State of Ohio accepted the grant made to her by the last recited act of Congress, and at once set about building the road.

In locating this road it was so laid out as to pass through Perrysburg and Lower Sandusky. The contracts were let and work commenced in the year 1824, but the road was not completed until the year 1826, if, indeed, such a road could be called completed, but such as it was, it was accepted and for years served as the thoroughfare over which the

It would be difficult to describe this worst of all roads, and the agony bordering on despair to which the emigrant was reduced in Ids effort to pass over to the land Sowing with milk and honey beyond. It is said nature is equal to all emergencies, and it proved so here. On the desert the caravan may stop at any point and pitch their tents, but travelers wading all day in mud and water, require a place of rest for the night, where they can dry as well as rest their weary limbs. On the route of this road, their wants in this respect were well supplied, for there was a tavern to each mile of the distance between Perrysburg and Lower Sandusky, and travelers were sometimes compelled to stay two nights at the same tavern, notwithstanding the most vigorous ell'orts to proceed. Things remained in this situation until the year 1838 when the state commenced to macadamize the road, which was completed in the year 1841, and from that time to the present has been one of the best roads in Ohio. From this period the real prosperity of Wood county began, and was materially aided by the completion of the Wabash and Eric Canal a few years later.

Lake Commerce

BETWEEN the years 1828 and 1810 there was transacted at Perrysburg as large a commercial business as any port on Lake Erie, excepting Buffalo and Cleveland. This business was transacted chiefly through the forwarding and commission houses of Hollister & Smith, and Bingham & Co. Through i he>c houses nearly all the goods consigned to Northern Indiana, and a large portion of Northwestern Ohio, and Southern Michigan were forwarded by teams from Perrysburg, to the head of the rapids of the Maumee river, where they were taken on keel boats, pirogues and flat boats, and transported to Fort Wayne, and thence distributed to their several destinations. These boats returning brought hack furs, skins and dried meats, which were brought to Perrysburg by the teams which had carried goods to the head of the rapids. From 1835 to 1840, this business, together with the emigration

There were between the above dates steam boats enough running from Perrysburg to Buffalo, to form a daily line had they been so arranged, besides many schooners, as the steamers could not carry all the freight offering for this port. In addition to the above, there was a daily line of steam boats running between Perrysburg and Detroit. It may be asked, what has become of this commerce? The answer is, it still exists, but the headquarters have been removed, and other modes of transit have driven the steam boats and vessels from the river.

The last siege of Ft, Meigs lasted about eight days and was most obstinately resisted by Gen. (day. The siege was finally abandoned by Gen. Proctor after 'i00 men and officers had been killed and wounded. No less than six wagon loads of balls and un exploded shells were picked up and utilized by the Americans.

An Amusing Incident

Among the earliest lawyers residing in Wood county may be named John C. Spink and Willard V. Way. The latter mentions in his notes a ludicrous incident that occurred to Spink when on his way from Wooster to Perrysburg to commence the practice of law. As showing the condition of travel through the Black Swamp, and its inconveniences of transit it is worthy of note. It was on this occasion that he made his first or maiden speech as a lawyer.

Spink was on his way in company with a young preacher, who like himself, had left his home for the first time. He stated that the roads were simply terrible, being like a sea of mud and water. At that time many immigrants were moving from the eastern parts of Ohio to places further west. It was frequently the case that they could not advance with their wagons more than two or three miles a day, and they would return at night to the same tavern they had left in the morning. Spink and the preacher had left what is now Fremont in the morning and reached a small log tavern at Sugar Creek a few miles west late in the evening. They found the house crowded with moving families, with apparently no room for them to find a bed. At that time there were only two beds in the house. They could not well return neither could they advance with the chance of getting better accommodation, as they would have to flounder in the mud. The landlord, however, was equal to the emergency. He did not want to lose two guests so prominent as the lawyer and the preacher and assured them that he would give them a good bed. They took their supper and on getting into the sitting room found that the movers had all disappeared. How this had been done they could not tell. That, however, was soon revealed. They were shown to the only spare bed in the house which was Located on the off side from the door, and they discovered there were ten females and four males extended on the floor covered by their own bed clothes, he and the preacher making the number sixteen in what was but a small room. They picked their way through the sleepers as best they could, when getting to the bed side they found just Light enough from the burning wood in the fire place opposite them as to show everything in the room. It appeared to them as if all eyes were upon them, and they were at a loss to know how they could get into bed. The preacher suggested to Spink that he would take off his coat and that he Spink should hold it as a screen between them and the floor occupants. That was speedily done, the preacher jumped into bed on the off side and covered himself up, and left Spink in the lurch. This took him by surprise - he was at a loss what to do. He could not go to bed with his clothes on him as they were wet and covered with mud. He concluded that as a lawyer he should have to make his living by his wits, and he might as well begin then and there as at any time, and make a speech, yes, a maiden speech, supposing that they were as wide awake as himself. His speech was brief and to the point, he said:

"Ladies, this is my bed, and there is nothing to screen me from your observation while I get into it. This is my first introduction to a new country life, and probably it is yours, as you appear to be moving, I will therefore take it as a great favor if you will kindly dink your heads under the clothes while I gel into bed." All heads were instantly covered, he got into bed and concluded that he had made a great fool of himself, for they were all of them asleep, and he had waked them up by his speech. This he ever after declared to be his maiden speech as a lawyer.

criminal lawyer, his reputation extending throughout the northwest. The late James Murray of Sidney, Ex- Attorney General of Ohio, was a student at law with him. Spink died in 1853, in the zenith of his fame.

Recovering A Stolen Horse

In July, 1812, my brother bought a very tine horse, which had been driven with the army from Dayton. It was a large, elegant dapple grey, and he rode it acting as the aid of Gen. Hull at the surrender. Soon after the British took the town the Indians stole the horse, saddle and bridle from my brother's stable. He went to the store next morning looking very much down at the loss of his fine horse. There he met Jack Brandy. Jake says. -'Harry Hunt, what's the matter with you ? You have a very long face this morning." Says my brother: "Jack, the Indians have stolen my big horse !" Jack says : "Dam rascal ! Maybe me find him. Give me some money, some meat and some bread." My brother gave him $5 in silver and what else he wanted. Jack mounted his pony and started up the River Rouge.

trail, and discovered that one of their horses had large iron shoes. He followed the track and that evening camped with the party. After eating, they wanted to know where he was going. He said he was directed to go to Chicago to call the Indians in to fight the Long Knives. They told him they had a very fine American horse. Jack says, "My horse is tired. If he is a good horse maybe in the morning me swap with you," and added, shaking his silver in his pouch, "and give some boot." In the morning, after an" early breakfast, Jack told them to put the saddle and bridle on the horse. "Well me try him, see if he is a good horse." He mounted, and it was the last they saw of Jack or the horse. We were standing in front of my brother's store about sundown the next day, when we saw an Indian coming up the road on horseback. It proved to be Jack on my brother's grey horse. When he jumped off and delivered him to my brother, he said, "Harry Hunt, you see now, Jack Brandy can't lie."

Source changes here: from Many Incidents and Reminiscences of the Early History of Wood County, Together with Some of the Historic Events of the Maumee Valley Contained in This Pioneer Scrap-book, Have Been Collected from the Papers and Material of the Late C.W. Evers As Gathered, by Evers, C. W. (Charles W.), published 1910; 22,427 words in this source stream.

Weston Township

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

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

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

Sceap-Book

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pioxeku Attacked By Savages

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

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

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

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

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

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