Weston Township (part 14 of 15)

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 progi-ess 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 Ross 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 was made by a little girl in search of cows. At anotlior time the entire iron work of an army wagon was found near the same place.

Scrap-Book 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 l)een 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 natiojial 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 Eico 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 ofiicer 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 distinguislicd 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 yt-ars of solid war, I was still a youugstor 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 Eichmond back 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 Can-oil Hall. Mr. Davis' room, or cell, was on the second floor, and adjoining it was a room occupied by the officer of the guard.

The Pioneer

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, hard 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 duty, sending them back when relieved. One day I offered to exchange my easy chair for one of his for the time being. "Xo !" said he, "these are the ones furnished l)y the authorities for my use, and it might not l)e 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 ])v all right." "No," he said, "don't do it on any. account," and T knew he meant it. Still. I did not feel 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 luy l)ooks and papers, and with hotli hands full. I naid, "Mr. Davis, John has i.ot conu' I'oi' 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 ijito 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 Jolin has brought up another, just keep it, won't you, until I want it." y

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 tlian "one night in bed," as the soldiers say, and the duty vv'as not so hard.

Mrs. Davis joined lier husband and they were assigned a set of officers' (juarters, 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 Avliom 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 tlie doctor said, '"Do you know, Mr.

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

Guy Xearing in his early manhood came to the Maumee country from Cayuga county, X. Y. The date was about the year 181*, and he first located on what is now the Forest Pratt place, Perrysburg. Xearing was a remarkable man in many respects, and is better remembered and oftencr and more kindly spoken of by the early settlers than any one wlio lived on the Maumee.

In ])bysic!il make up he was a num of almost gigantic stature and strength; broad shouldered and l)()ny : be 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 tbc despondent and friendless, and would divide his last piece of corn bread witb tbe needy.

that he possessed a ''rough side," and was given sometimes to fearful ebullitions of temper, and startling profanity, nor tluit 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 Pcrryslnirg after it had become quite a village, attending a circus, an event he never missed if he heard 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 } lulled out between the 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 1i-oubb^ 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 afEairs 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 ISTearing. 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 he filled the bill.

Two years after ISTearing came, his family followed, wife and three children. There were two sons and a daughter. Minerva afterward married Wm. 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 Eiver 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 Mack 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 Inicks 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 haided 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 Eapids, 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. I^earing 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 gi'eat 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.

AGEEEABLE 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 Eeserve, 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 his etfort to pass over to the land flowing 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 Avell 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 efforts 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 Erie Canal a few years later.

Lake Commerce

BETWEEN the years 1838 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 these 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 M^ere taken on keel boats, pirogues and flat boats, and transported to Fort Wayne, and thence distributed to their several destinations. These boats returning brought back furs, skins and dried meats, Avhich were brought to Perrysburg by the teams which had carried goods to the head of the rapids. From 1835 to 1840, tliis Inisiness, together with the emigration

There were between the above dates steam boats enough running from Perrys- Ijurg 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. Clay. The siege was finally abandoned liy Gen. Proctor after 300 men and officers had been killed and wounded. No less than six wagon loads of balls and iinexploded 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 liis 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 ihey discovered there were ten females and four males extended on the floor covered by tlieir own bed cbithes, he and the preacher making tlie 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 opjwsite 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 duck your heads under the clothes while I get 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 over after det-lared to bo 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 fine 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 weait 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 savs: "Dam rascal! Maybe me find liim. 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 Eiver Eouge.

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 Pioneer Scrap-Book: Many Incidents and Reminiscences of the Early History of Wood County, by C. W. Evers, published 1910; 22,107 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 enough settlers were located about Fort Meigs, at the foot of the rapids in the river, to demand a better means of communication with their county seat, Bellefontaine, than was presented by Hull's old trace, in its serpentine wanderings southward through this county; so what is called yet the Wapakoneta road, was petitioned for, granted, surveyed, and work begun on it in 1821. The road led from Fort Meigs along up the river on the south side, to near the mouth of Beaver Creek, then followed nearly the course of Beaver Creek, and so cn south of Wapakoneta. Then the trade of the Indians at the head of the rapids, attracted settlers along up the river. At that time there were no other white settlers between that point and Fort Defiance, where the town of Defiance now is.

There was quite a good sized Indian village on the Maumee and scattering outlying settlements along up Beaver Creek, and on the sand ridges south from the river, the Indians dwelling in peace and harmony with their white neighbors. - all of what is now Wood county, was included in one big township called Perrysburg, 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 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 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

Scrap-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 officers were as follows: Trustees, Edward Howard, Wm. Pratt and Emanuel Arnold; treasurer, R. M. Howard; clerk, R. A. Howard; poor overseers, M. P. Morgan and Jas. Donaldson; constables, Wm. North and Wm. Wonderly; fence viewers, Wm. lLoughry 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, R. 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 Indlekoter's bar stands in his saloon today. His shop was a mere shanty. In 1855 Levi Taylor built the front half of the building now owned by Ames, and in the fall of that year, put in the first stock of dry goods and groceries that the 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 where 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 Northwestern territory for some years had but three county organizations. These were Washington, Hamilton and Wayne, the latter embracing

Attacked By Savages

"T shall go to Owl Creek. I shall kill some of the Long Knives before I come back, and will show you some of their scalps. In ten days after I get back all the hostile tribes will hold a council at Malden; 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-mane returned, after an absence of six days, and showed Manor three scalps, which he said were those of a family he had murdered on Owl Creek. He repeated to Manor in confidence that it was the intention of the Indians to come to the valley in force sufficient to massacre the American settlers. This intelligence Manor communicated to Major Spafford, accompanied with advice tc leave the valley immediately. The major laughed, and dismissed the subject with some remark expressive of incredulity, and Manor left him, promising that should he learn of any further cause of alarm he would let him know.

About a month after this conversation, a man by the name of Miller (some accounts say Gordon), who had lived many years with the Ottawas, and who was well Known to Major Spafford, entered his house in breathless haste, and told him that at no greater distance than Monclova there was a band of fifty Pottawatomies, on the march from their country on the St. Joseph River, to join the hos- tile Indians at Malden, and take part in the council spoken of by Sac-a-mane. They had plundered and set fire to the buildings at Monclova, and would soon be at the foot of the Rapids.

But little time was left to escape. Ihe major 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 barge, in which some officers had descended the river from Fort Wayne the year before. Raising a sail made of a bed blanket, they were enabled, by dint of hard rowing and a favorable breeze, to round the point and get under cover of old Fort Miami just as the Indians made their appearance on the bank, where Maumee City is built, and before the boat passed Eagle Point they saw the flames ascending from the homes they had just deserted. This little band of fugitives, favored with fair winds, made a safe passage in their crazy craft to the Quaker settlement at Milan, where they remained until after the war. Manor says they were panic-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, belonging to an American, in that part of the valley. This accomplished, they pursued their course to Malden, to attend the Indian council spoken of by Sac-a-mance.

Not long after 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 advance of the main body of the British army, on their march to Fort Wayne. Manor says that he, with some of his neighbors, was standing in front of Beaugrand's store, at Maumee, when the Indians came out of the woods - that they drew up in line, and each put his gun to his shoulder and aimed, as if to fire at the little group of settlers. Beaugrand came out and waved a white handker- chief. They dropped their muskets, and approached the store on a run, and re- "mained a few minutes. An hour after their departure, about 100 British soldiers, and as many Pottawatomies and Wyandots, came up. Their first inquiry was for guides. Manor, from prudential motives was seized with sudden and severe lameness; but it would not do. The officer in command pressed him into service as a guide, and lame as he seemed, he was compelled to conduct this company.to the head of the rapids. Here his lameness so increased, that his persecutors dismissed him, and he set out on his return home. At the foot of Presque Isle Hill, he met Colonel Elliott, the officer in command of the detachment, and the remainder of the troops and Indians composing it. Elliott examined him closely, and on learning that he had been employed as a guide, permitted him to go on his way,

Bowling Green

ROBABLY there has been no more accurate and succinct account of the early history of Bowling Green, than the following, penned by the late C. W. Evers, whose studious efforts in gathering every incident connected with the pioneer history of Wood county, rendered him a reliable authority in all that pertains to that early period:

The above differs from other accounts as to the time the settlers left the Rapids. In this, Mr. Hosmer quotes Manor incorrectly, no doubt. Hull had news of the declaration of war July 2nd. He surrendered his army August 16th. From Mr. Hosmer's statement, we would bc led to believe that the settlers fied on hearing war had been declared. Mrs. Creen and Clark both say the flight was after the surrender of Hull. 'Their version is doubtless the correct one. In the history of Erie county, incidental mention is made of Major Spafford being at the mouth of Huron river, with his family, a boat, about September 1st. The reasonable inference is that he had but recently sailed from the Maumee, that is, in the latter. part of August, after the surrender. The probabilities are that in the impending danger, after Hull's surrender, the settlers foresaw that they were no longer safe for even a single day; that in the confusion and anxiety of the hour each acted as his hopes or fears impelled him.

That column of troops, preceded by guides, scouts and axmen, followed in turn by the cavalry battalion, with its gaudy pennons, escorting the commanding general with his gaily uniformed staff retinue, then the infantry, field bands, artillery and trains formed a pageant which even to-day would attract all Bowling Green to the east side of town, about where the T. & O. C. railway track lies. That is about on the line the troops held, until near Ridge street, when they turned a little to the west, coming out on the Maumee nearly opposite Waterville. That was the first wagon trail through the interior of Wood county, and the only one for the two succeeding decades. The land was then owned by the Indians. After the war, in 1817, at a treaty at the foot of the Maumee Rapids, the United States bought the land, at a price slightly less than four cents an acre, and in 1819 sent surveyors here, which was the second appearance of white men on official business. In 1821 the final surveys were completed and the plats made, when the lands were ready fcr market.

Unfortunately the Black Swamp country, after the war of 1812, had a worse reputation, if possible, than ever; the soldiers and others who had been here, told horrible stories about it. Few buyers of land came - none to the interior of the county. Those who. stopped invariably located on or near the river; so that, aside from roving parties of Indian hunters and occasional white furtraders, or the weekly trips of the old Bellefontaine mail carrier, the interior of the county was practically unknown and shunned by settlers for more than a decade after its survey. Prior to the year 1828, Collister Haskins, at Portage, was the only settler between Findlay and the Maumee settlement.

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

The Pioneer

Walker, Jacob Stouffer and others came and built in the summer and fall of ?88. Alfred Thurstin began his cabin in November, 1833, as did Joseph Hollington sr., but so far as known the Martindale cabin was the first, and stood on the first land entry in what is now Bowling Green.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Joseph Gordon was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th day of January, 1784. In the year 1801, when but 17 years old, he commenced carrying the mail, on horseback, from Russellville, Kentucky, via Bowling Green, to Glasgow, a distance of 85 miles, once in two weeks, for which he received $12 per month. In 1802 he took a contract to carry the mail from Shelbyville, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee. In consequence of the route being changed, he carried the mail only two months. From that time till October, 1804, he carried it from Shelbyville to Russellville, Ky. In October, 1804, he commenced carrying the mail on horse-back from Wheeling, Virginia, to George Beymer's in Ohio, a distance of 50 miles, with a led horse and a heavy mail on each. In 1805-6, he carried the mail from Wheeling, through St. Clairsville, Zanesville, and New Lancaster, to Chillieothe. In February, 1823, he commenced on the route between Bellefontaine and Perrysburg, a distance of 81 miles, through a wilderness, there being but one family residing in Hardin county, and but one postoffice on the route, and. that (Findlay) at this place. Mr. Gordon was the only contractor on this route from February 7, 1823, to December 31, 1839: Since 1839, he has carried the mail semi-weekly from Bellefontaine to this place, 55 miles."

Few indeed have constitutions suffciently strong to endure such labor for such a length of time. It is to such men as Gordon - to our hardy pioneers, who were ready to encounter all kinds of-toil and privation, that Ohio owes her present state of prosperity and advancement. For such men we cannot but cherish sentiments of respect.

Jacob Stouffer's cabin here was the central point of the new postoffice movement. Henry Walker, son-in-law of Stouffer was to be the postmaster. The Walkers and Stouffers occupied the same cabin; it stood on the high ridge just east of Main street, not far north: of Merry avenue.

Gordon on one of his northward trips had stopped at Stouffer's as was his usual custom, in passing; the petition for the new office was ready, except that the movers, two or three of whom were present, had not yet agreed upon a name. The old mail carrier who stood on the cabin steps listening to the discussion, said to Stouffer, half jestingly; "if you will give me a tumbler of cider PI give you just the name."

Stouffer who had brought out a keg of cider from Columbiana county, . filled a glass and handed it to Gordon; the latter briefiy explaining how appropriate the name he would suggest was to the landscape about them, said with a sweep of his arm, "Heres to the new postoffice of Bowling Green," swallowed the cider and was in the act of mounting his horse when those present detained him a moment while they could write a name m the petition, which, sure enough, was the one Gordon had suggested.

The papers were soon folded and on their way to Perrysburg for some additional endorsements, after which they were sent to Washington. The office was established March 12, 1834. In 1835, when Walker sold his place, he and the Stouffers moved over to the west side of Main street, where the office was kept for a time, since which it has had many different locations and masters.

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

Aside from school and church work Bowling Green had but little history prior to the time she was incorporated, that does not properly come within the purview of the histories of Plain and Center townships. Robert Mackey's store enterprise at the Napoleon road in the south part of town, intended the nucleus of the village of Mt. Ararat, never, under its various proprietors, met expectations. John Hannon in the north end of the street, with his tavern and blacksmith shop did not' attract village neighbors about him. When, in 1847, Dr. E. D. Peck sent L. C. Locke out here to start a mercantile enterprise, most of the settlers were sure it would be a failure; the proprietors did not feel sanguine for the stock was opened on a very small scale in a little room in one corner of a tavern called then White Hall, on the west side of Main just north of the intersection of Liberty street, where a hotel called the American House has

Locke soon felt encouraged to call on his partner for larger. quarters; then was Mt. Ararat's chance for resurrection; Locke tried to buy out Emerson, Eaton & Co., who were sort of successors to Mackey, though in a newer, better building and on the east side of Main street. The owners declined to sell and the star of Mt. Ararat sank to rise no more. Locke bought an acre of Alfred Thurstin, including that part of the east side of Main street from the First National Bank south, and taking in the opera house, and there built a store and residence under one roof; his trade was prosperous, and not long after he was appointed postmaster and a little later built and operated an ashery, the first manufacturing enterprise begun in the village, if we except Caleb Lord's cabinet shop. Locke had by his enterprise practically determined where the center of the village would be. Anyone who came in af- ` ter that, and wanted to go into business, lecated as near Locke's as he could get.

opens a new chapter - a new era in the history of Bowling Green. This circumstance is of greater import to the town than the first casual thought would suggest. Not in the sense that we expect the town to be a center of vast population or a great commercial or manufacturing center. Its development in these respects rests largely with those who now rule its destiny - their enterprise, ambition and far-sightedness.

The railroad from north to south, a distance of 30 miles through a rich and largely unoccupied portion of the county, will not only develop a vastly increased trade and make better market facilities for the town, but settle forever its status as the business center - capital, of one of the largest and most prosperous agricultural counties in Ohio. As sanguine as many of our people felt on this point, it was not settled beyond cavil until this road came. 'This settles it and the town now stands on solid footing in this respect. It 15 the capital of a grand and populous county. It is the official business center and is naturally the trading center.

The Bell School House

HE- Bell school house was built in 1841, says Joseph R. Tracy, on Section 26, Plain township, by John Whitehead, John E. Jenkins, carpenters, and Joseph R. Tracy and other residents assisting. The money was contributed by the leading citizens of the township, who desired to have a house for a private school, as well as for religious purposes. 'The bell, from which the house took its name, was formerly used on the Mission Chapel on the Maumee river. It was presented to the builders of the school house and placed in a cupola erected for the purpose. A subscription school was, carried on for a number of years, after which the house passed into the possession of the common school trustees. Some time in 1857, the house was destroyed by fire, and another building was | erected for the same purposes about a mile to the west. The Methodist class that used to meet there was merged into the church at Bowling Green. The same is true of the Baptist and Congregational adherents. Each became the members of larger churches. Thus the particular necessity of this school build- Ing ceased.

The bell has been the subject of much theorizing as to what became of it. As far as can be learned, it being the property of Isaac Van Tassel, he took possession of it and removed it. Mr. J. R. Judson says it was removed in 1845 on the plea that the belfry was not safe. He says he does not know who had charge of it the next 10 or 12 years, but he is pretty certain that it was placed in the Minton school house in the late 50's. Newton Stearns says it is on the Minton school house and has not been changed. He says he bought the bell for $2 and sold it for $3 to Nate Minton. T. W. Minton, writing under date of February 1.1909, says, "In 1870, a: new school house was built on his father's farm in Plain township, five miles west of Bowling Green - that his father learned where the old mission bell was and went and bought it for something like $3.00 from a party west of Bowling Green, and if I remember correctly he presented it to the district by placing it on top of the school building and it is there today if it has

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

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

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

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

Wm. Avery, Wm. Mears, and Benj. Johnson had been hunting that day in east of the John Hood place, north of the bend. Mr. Mears had killed a turkey gobbler that weighed 55 lbs., and they were returning homeward. Mr. Johnson had left them and gone home, and the others met Joe just as he turned off from the plank road, and an explanation en- sued, when Mears and Wm. Avery agreed to join the bear hunt. They agreed that the bear which had gone away in west of the road would attempt to get back to the Devil's Hole, and that they had better station themselves along what was known as the Rudolph ditch. Ralston, Mears and Wm. Avery accordingly went over on the ditch. Joe Ralston took up his station on the ditch-bank, while Wm. Avery stood about 15 rods east of Joe, and Mears about the same distance east of Avery. it began to get dusk they heard the dogs coming, yelping at every jump. Pretty soon bruin came in sight of Joe, lumbering along to within a few yards of him, with back bowed up, mouth open and tongue hanging out, looking tired and savage. Joe pulled up his gun - and it snapped. 'Tried it again, but it was no good. By this time the bear had passed on to Mr. Avery, who, owing to the gathering darkness could not see to shoot very good. He fired, however, striking the bear in the back, but not inflicting a serious wound. Now Mr. Mears' turn. He waited until the bear was within a few feet of him, and had just cleared a 14-foot ditch at a bound, when he put a half-ounce ball through his heart. Bruin fell, apparently dead, and the dogs coming up at that instant, sailed in, and then immediately sailed out again, for, with his last terrible blow with his paw, knocking him about 20 feet away, whereupon the two dogs set off through the woods, howling as if "the old Nick" was after them. When they found that the bear was dead, Mears, Avery and Ralston set up a shout of triumph which soon brought Wash., Williams and Hedinger to the scene. After a consultation it was decided to take the bear up to Thomas' tavern and there divide up. They accordingly dragged the carcass through the snow to the place of destination. Arriving at the tavern, those who felt disposed to do so celebrated the occasion by indulging in a little tangle-foot, after which they divided the bear, which weighed about 250 pounds. Wash. took the hide, and the meat was divided among

Turkey Foot Rock

HE large boulder called "Turkey Foot Rock" which lays on the north bank of the Maumee denotes the point on the river where Gen. Wayne gained a decisive victory over the combined Indian tribes of the Northwest, on August 20, 1794. The Indians were principally directed and commanded by Blue Jacket and Little Turtle, and the tribes engaged included the Shawanese, Miamis, Wyandotts, Pottawattomies, Delawares, Chippewas, Ottawas and a few Senecas and other remnants of tribes. The Wyandotts, a once powerful tribe lost all their chiefs, nine in number, at that battle, and tradition says that one of the bravest of their clan, called "Turkey Foot,' was slain by Wayne's infuriated followers near this rock and that after Wayne, whom the Indians called the "Whirlwind" was gone, the few scattering members of the Wyandott nation repaired to the spot where their beloved chief had fallen and: carved the representation of a huge turkey's foot on the rough boulder with their hatchets. This roughly chiseled turkey's foot is still to be seen, although the rock has been sadly defaced by sacrilegious and disrespectful hands.

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

But an avenging Nemesis was after them at last. The highest tribute paid to Wayne's generalship, was by Little Turtle in a council speech the night previous to the battle, which he was not in favor of: Said he, "the Americans are now led by a chief who never sleeps. The night and the day are alike to him. During all the time he has been marching on our yillages we have been unable to surprise him. Think well of it.' But the counsel of Blue Jacket who was more bloody and precipitate prevailed. The Indians were overpowered, out generaled, driven into the river' and almost annihilated, and the glad tidings were heralded across the Alleghanies in shouts of triumph. That boulder is a mute reminder of the battle of Fallen Timber.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unbroken Forests

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

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

The cholera which made its first appearance in the United States in 1831, spread north with great rapidity and dire effects. At the old town of Gallipolis on the Ohio, its advent was felt and sent many northward, who preferred any hardship to a tussle with the dread malady.

In the election of 34 the number of voters had increased to twenty-eight, and during the fall and winter the settlement at the McCormick entry was sufficiently large to warrant James McCormick in surveying a piece of his land and laying it out in lots. He secured the services of Davis, and lots were laid on the Mc- Cutchenyille road, and the road to Fremont and the streets named Main and Sandusky. Since that time several additions have been made and new streets laid

The Hollingtons

MONG the list of early settlers of Plain township, may be mentioned Richard Hollington, who came out to the Maumee country in the year 1834, by the lake, and almost directly from England. He entered 400 acres of out. McCormick named the town Mill Grove, to which has been suffixed West to distinguish it from Mill Grove in Morgan county. The sale of lots was slow and building slower.

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

George McCormick at that time a mere boy, went out one morning to see his trap, and found a very large wolf fast but unhurt. Now as there were some new settlers just come in, George determined they should have a close view of a live wolf. After considerable planning he succeeded in tying the wolf's mouth and feet. He then very coolly strapped him on his back and walked home, a distance of over a mile.

land, embracing what is now a fine farm south of Bowling Green. Mr. Hollington selected a spot about one-fourth of a mile west of the Findlay road his future abiding place, and in course of time had a fine orchard of apple trees planted from the old Station orchard on the Maumee.

After contracting with a man named McKnight, for the building of a log house, and buying two yoke of oxen (the first ever owned in the township) he re-

He had a wife and five children, four sons and one daughter. Richard, the eldest son, then 13 years of age, became a resident of Williams county, this State. Mary became the wife of Hon. Octavius Waters, of Fulton county. Joseph was a resident of Bowling Green. William, the youngest of the family, became a resident of Missouri.

Ambrose, next to the youngest, will be remembered by many of the present day throughout this section of Ohio, as Rev. Ambrose Hollington, who was classed among the most eloquent of pulpit orators. His son, Dr. R. D. Hollington, of St. Paul's M. E. church, Toledo, is destined to become as famed as his father.

Privation and Inexperience - In- due time the Hollingtons arrived at the dock in Perrysburg, where the rough side of life's reality in the Black Swamp, set in.

Mr. Hollington had in the old country been a tradesman, while his wife, who was a well educated woman, had been accustomed to all the comforts and conveniences of life. But her piano had been left across the ocean, and the only music she would be likely to hear for many long months would be a medley of uncouth sounds of frogs, mosquitoes, wild beasts and birds. Hollington knew nothing of woodcraft, did not know how to use an ax, in fact with his wife, he was entering upon an undertaking rendered doubly trying because of their inexperience.

After a toilsome journey through swamps and forests, they finally arrived at the cabin of Joseph Mitchell, who had settled a short time previous near the south boundary of the township, and about two miles north of Cass' Corners, in Liberty township. The Mitchells had barely got their cabin covered. A place for a door and small window had been cut out, but lumber for a door or glass for windows were practically out of the question then, nor had the cabin even a puncheon floor, but such as they had the early settlers shared freely with each other, or with the stranger who came among them,

It was here in mid-winter, after the last weary day of their long journey was done, that the Hollingtons began fully to take in the situation. They had reached the goal of their ambition, free America, where every man is a law unto himself, no kingly power, no necks galled with the yoke of - oppression, no excisemen, a land of plenty and unmixed happiness. But alas, how different the picture of fancy and the homely reality.

Mrs. Hollington, of all the souls gathered there, was the most disheartened and most keenly realized their disconsolate situation. Overcome at last by her feelings, she sank down on one of the floor sleepers and burst out crying. But her grief was not the grief of despair. It was a transition in her life pilgrimage. 'This evanescent storm of tears seems to have washed away all the weaker elements of her womanly nature, and instead of the dependent, timid woman, she became the strong arm, the pillar of strength in that household; when her husband grew despondent, she spoke words of encouragement to him. With each new and trying vicissitude, her courage arose. No trial seemed too ereat for her fortitude. She seemed suddenly to have been imbued with that strength of character and tenacity of purpose which can surmount every difficulty, and which in all ages of the world has made men heroes.

The family remained at Mitchell's about six weeks, and their own house still being incompleted, they moved with what few articles they had, to the cabin of Lee Moore, just in the south edge of the present town of Bowling Green. - C. W. F.

Indian Associates

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

These families found Milton to be an unbroken forest, the home of the red man and the abiding place of the deer, wolf and bear. Not a tree had been cut in the township, unless by hunters, and 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 Reserve road to Perrysburg, then almost bottomless with mud, thirty miles in length and supplied with a tavern to every mile, and one to spare. At times on their journey the wagons would get stuck, compelling them to put all five yoke of oxen to one wagon to pull it out. From Perrysburg they traveled most of the way over what was known as "Hulls Trace" to Lee Moores 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. Hutch-

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, ete. Andrew Hutchinson states that he had often when visiting their camps, seen large copper kettles (which they obtained from the government) containing perhaps eight or ten fat coon each, mixed with hominy and water, swung over a fire and boiling like a young volcano. The coon would be skinned and quartered, then thrown in the kettle head, feet, claws and all. Mr. Hutchinson relates that his brother James went back to Summit county and married a rather fashionable young lady who came out to the Wood county wilderness to share the trials of the pioneer life with her husband. About the first Sunday she was there they went to visit their neighbors - red neighbors, and of course were invited to stay to dinner. The young Summit county bride took a look into one of the kettles and got a full sniff of the steaming coon pot-pie

Mr. Andrew Hutchinson, who, with his father and brother were, as before stated, the first 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 land the past year. Mr. Hutchinson when young was one of the best hunters in northwestern Ohio. He supplied most of his pioneer neighbors with 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 close. When deer look up, white man stop, stand straight; when get

Tinge Of Romance

He lost heavily in a large speculation and as is always the case his position and ` the prestige of his family among the wealthy social circles of the east diminished with his fortune. He chanced to

Some time later Rev. Joseph Badger and family, moved in from near the old "Missionary Station" and lived on the farm now owned by M. B. Todd. Father Badger was a soldier in the 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 Sabbath hunt they would always as a matter of respect to his feelings, leave the road and go around his house in the woods and thus escape his observation.

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 733. Leaving his family he started for South America with the hope of regaining his lost fortune.

While on his way to Valparaiso, he came across a dashing and spirited young Frenchman of high parentage and wealth who was also on a tour of speculation in Lima, Peru. He became much attached to the young man and after they had been in South America some time, Cady not making any advancement in his project and the young Frenchman 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 county, which he did.

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

Though this story may not be correct in every particular, it in main explains how Mr. Bloom came to reside in Liberty. He 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 1870 at an old age, and his remains now he in the Liberty township cemetery.

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

Miami Of The Lake

Ask any old settler of Liberty to-day about the mosquitoes and he will tell you the swamps along the Portage river in those days bred the best specimens of mosquitoes the world ever saw. They were of the Jumbo type, blessed with long lives, powerful endurance and a 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 time and many of them died from the dread complaint. Dr. Eli Manville, father of the late Dr. A. J. Manville, was the first doctor to 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 aco. - 0. W. F.

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 183% - 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?" He refers to the na- tions of the old world - to Greece, Rome, Italy, Venice, Genoa - one time republics, that have passed away. He closes in an impassioned appeal in the following language : ~

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

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

In the number of April 5, 1837, an important discovery is announced - "the greatest since the days of Franklin." James P. Espy, Esq., has ascertained that the weather is regulated by fixed, unalterable laws - easily understood, so that the captain of a vessel may tell 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 - money is 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."

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

In another editorial the condition of the Western Reserve Road is scored in the severest language. Says the editor, "It is only those who have become stalled in the mud, in endeavoring to work their way through this Ohio Golgotha, that can draw a true picture of this stigma upon the character of the state." Again he says: "Teams are not 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 canal on the southeast side of the Maumee river from Defiance to the lake, which location was never realized.

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, Russell & Brigham, Beach & Bennett, J. Hollister & Co., Doan & Earl, Oren Clark and Spink & Smith.

Forwarding and Commission merchants of Maumee and Perrysburg, eomprise 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.

Lhl Flondor

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. O. 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. O.

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.

HE 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 old "Tom," and named the town in his memory.

The building used as Hedges' store was moved away and was afterward used for a barn by Henry Nearing, on the Hedges farm, owned by Morehouse heirs. Mrs. Gen. Commager, of Toledo, was a daughter of Hedges. The stone house on the place was built by him in 1834 or 735. Mr. John Whitehead, now of Tontogany, who had just come on from New Jersey, helped to do the carpenter work. The saw mill at this point did not stand very long.

Battle Of Grand Rapids

EN. LIDA of the United States troops gave the following account of a fierce battle with the Indians in the war of 1812, on the site of the present village of Grand Rapids. It was not until 45 years afterwards that he related this account of that battle. He said: "One of the toughest and most hotly contested little battles ever fought in

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

Ewing lived here until 1823, when one day while at Richardson's tavern àt 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 to dislocate his neck, killing him instantly. French was imprisoned on charge of murder in the little log jail at Maumee and escaped one night and never was heard of after - Sentinel, 1898.