CHAPTER IV. INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. First White Settlers—Hull's March—Fort Findlay—Murder of the Thomases—A Pioneer's Letter—Observance of the Golden Rule Among the Pioneers—Mrs. Ebberly's Narrative—First Election Under Independent County Organization—Poll Book of Election and County Officers. According to the most authentic account, the first white settlement in the territory now embraced within the limits of Hancock County, was made at the present site of the town of Findlay, about the year 1815. We have a tradition to the effect, however, that a man by the name of Thorp or Tharp, came here with the soldiers, who occupied Fort Findlay in the War of 1812-15, and remained here after its evacuation, either living alone or with the Indians, but not much is known of him. A young soldier who came to Fort Findlay, by the name of Edward Bright, tiring of the monotony of fort life often wandered through the unbroken forests then covering the entire country, and especially did he take frequent strolls on the higher grounds of what is now Marion Township. Young Bright took a fancy to the land in Section 11 in that township because it was higher and not swampy, as was much of the ground at that time, and he marked the trees in that neighborhood for future selection of a farm. Ten years after, or about 1824, he returned from his home in Fair- field County and entered 160 acres of land in Section 11, moved 0nto it and cleared it up. He was industrious, spending very little for luxuries and none too much for necessaries ; in fact .he ate very simple food and wore scanty clothing. At about the time of the breaking out of the Civil War he bred and sold many fine cattle and sold them at a high price, and people thought him possessed of much gold, but after his death no money was found on his person or about the house, and it was believed at that time, and is to this day that he buried his treasure in the gr0und and never revealed its hiding-place. He was a very quiet man, discreet in his conversation but not discourteous in his manners. In his elderly days he was known as "Uncle Neddie" or "Old Neddie." He never married. His scantily appointed cabin stood on the site of Dr. J. C. Trich's beautiful log cabin about four miles out on the Tiffin road. To Benjamin Cox and his family belongs the honor of being the first white family to settle in this vicinity. Upon their arrival, naught but an unbroken forest, save in the - 50 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 51 immediate vicinity of the old fort, greeted them. Indians and wild beasts roamed the woods, with no neighbors within many days' journey, perhaps. After making this solitude their home for a few years, the family removed to Wood County, where some of them were still living in 1882, though at present no trace of any of them can be discovered. One of the daughters had a knowledge of both the Ottawa and Wyandotte tongues and sometimes acted as interpreter between the whites and the Indians. But the Coxes had not been here long when others, through a spirit of adventure, or restless desire for new scenes, came and formed settlements. Some were attracted by the richness of the soil, or perhaps a greater part by the abundance of game, hunting and trapping wild animals being their main occupation. Or perhaps with imaginations reaching out to the future, they pictured to themselves the exceeding loveliness, and fruitfulness of the land, when redeemed from the wilderness, and were hopefully constrained to make this their abiding place. Thus, by whatever motive actuated, they came and formed settlements, cleared the forests, built themselves cabins, constructed roads such as they were, and laid the foundation deep and permanent, for our present great prosperity and wealth, transmitting to their children a rich and beautiful inheritance. Little did they then think or even dream of the wealth of petroleum and gas laying a quarter of a mile beneath their feet, and which, in its development brought millions of wealth to Hancock and Wood Counties. But even if it had been dis covered, there would not have been the money or facilities to have developed the discovery. HULL'S MARCH. An exciting event occurred about the middle of June, 1812, when the army, under Gen. Hull, left Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, and passed north through the present counties of Logan, Hardin, Hancock and Wood, 0ver what was known during, and after the war, as "Hull's Trail," into Michigan. This army cut a road through the unbroken wilderness, on their route building Fort McArthur, on the Scioto River in Hardin County, and Fort Findlay, on the Blanchard River in Hancock County. In the same summer General Edmund W. Tupper, of Gallia County, enlisted about i,000 men for six months' service, mainly from Gallia, Lawrence and Jackson Counties, who, under orders of General Winchester, marched from Urbana north by "Hull's Trail" t0 the foot of the Maumee Rapids. The enemy attacked Tupper's forces, but were driven off with considerable loss. They returned to Detroit, and the Americans, under Tupper, marched back to Fort McArthur. FORT FINDLAY. The Fort at Findlay was erected by Col. James Findlay, tinder orders from General Hull, and was named in hon0r of the Colonel. It was a stockade of about fifty yards square, with a blockhouse at each corner, and a ditch in front. tI stood on the south side of the Blanchard River, just west of the present iron bridge and was used as a depot for military stores. The Fort was garrisoned by a company under 52 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY the command of Captain Arthur Thomas, who lived at King's Creek, three miles from Urbana. So far as known, there were no battles fought at Findlay, and the garrison duty was, no doubt, monotonous and irksome. After the close of the war, Captain Thomas' company returned to Urbana. On their journey home, the Captain and his son lost their horses, and separated from the rest of the company in search of them. They encamped at the Big Spring, near Solomonstown, about five miles from Bellefontaine, and the next morning were found murdered and scalped. Their bodies were taken to Urbana by a deputation of citizens. In connection with this account of the fate of Captain Thomas, the following letter to D. B. Beardsley, author of a former History of Hancock County 1880, and to which we have already acknowledged our obligations, will prove interesting: MARION, IOWA, Dec. 6, 1875. D. B. Beardsley, Esq. DEAR SIR :-I saw in a sketch of the early history of Hancock County, Ohio, as read by you at the Second Annual Picnic and Reunion of the Pioneers of your county, published in the Findlay Jeffersonian, an account of Captain Arthur Thomas and son, that were killed by the Indians at the Big Springs, some five miles from Bellefontaine, and thinking I might furnish you an item or two, concluded to drop you a line. My father was stationed at a block house called Menary, about two miles northwest from Bellefontaine, there being a small company of soldiers, I think commanded by Lieut. John Kelley. The object seemed to be to guard and keep in bounds some pet Indians that the Government had in care, and was furnishing supplies to through an agent by the name of McPherson. On the morning after the murder of Thomas and his son, the word was brought to the company, and a deputation was sent out after them, among whom was my father (John Rathbun) and when they reached the spot, and found them in the broiling sun, being scalped, and the blood oozing from their heads, he thought it the most sickening sight he ever beheld; and made him declare vengeance against the tawny tribe, pet or no pet. He always said that it was the pets that did the deed, for as they were returning with the men to the block house, three of the half-breeds came in sight armed and painted, contrary to orders. The horsemen took after them, and succeeded in stopping them, but the Commander would not let the Post Guard come up in shooting distance, for he knew there would have been three red-skins less in double quick. The officers let them go with some good promises on their part, not to be found there thus arrayed again. After reaching the block house, they (the Thomases) were put into the hands of the citizens, that conveyed them to their homes and final resting place, as you have it recorded. At Roundhead there was a large village of those pets or friendly Indians, as they were called, and an order was sent out from the Post, to have them come in on a certain day, but the day came and none made their appearance; the second day none. The third day a deputation started after them, but they met them in squads coming in. They were old men, women and children, all the warriors had gone to fight for the British, except a few young men that had charge of affairs. When they reached the village, all had left but one, and he dodged out of sight in a moment's time. About all that was accomplished, was to show that while we were taking care of their families, the warriors were fighting against us. Time passes on, the war ended, and when I reached my fourteenth year, I went to visit an uncle that lived on what was called the Blockhouse farm. The house was in rather a dilapidated condition, the roof off and half the upper story had been removed. It brought to HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 55 mind many incidents that I had heard my father relate thirty-six years ago. I left the place of my nativity and settled in what was called the Black Hawk purchase, or Iowa. Had not been here long before I heard of the Thomas family having settled at Cascade, where the son of a brother of the Captain, and son alluded to, owned a fine mill property, and in the course of some three years I went to his mill, where I saw the whole family, the widow, her son and three or four daughters, all married except the widow. She never married, or at least not to that time. Thomas sold his mill and went further west, and I have lost sight of him. I always like to cherish in memory those who have suffered in their country's cause. But I will close, Yours in Pioneer Friendship, NELSON RATHBUN. The Greers, Lakes, Elders and Hamlins formed a settlement at the present site of Mt. Blanchard, in one of the most beautiful and fertile portions of the county, while Wilson Vance, and Carlin, and Hamilton and Johnston and the Chamberlains, with others, formed the settlement of Findlay and vicinity, and, like the others, were not disappointed in the fertility of the soil or in the natural advantages of the location. The McKinnis, the Poes, the Fishels and other kindred spirits, formed a settlement down the river from Findlay, in a most beautiful part of the county, and it was not long until these families of hardy stalwart men and women were known for their hospitality and bravery. The Moreland, Helms and a few other families formed a settlement in the south part of the county, where they resided many years, generally respected for their honesty and fair dealing. A settlement was formed still further down the river than was the McKinnis settlement, by the Dukes brothers, John, Richard and Lewis, and by the Moffitts, and the Downings, and Groves, and Davis. These men, all farmers, were fortunate in the selection of their lands. and today there is not a richer or more beautiful farming region in northwestern Ohio than is this same Dukes settlement. Todd, and Kalb, and Algire and other families settled at or near the site of the present village of McComb. At this time no one thought of any law but that of doing to others as they would others should do unto them—of dealing honestly with all men, of fulfilling every promise, of redeeming every pledge, of rendering to his neighbor, without hope of fee or reward, that assistance which was necessary—a happy state of society, but which was necessarily succeeded in time by the erection of political divisions and the machinery of organized government. We present here, an interesting account of early days, the narrative of Mrs. Eberly, the daughter of Benjamin Cox, the pioneer already mentioned. The facts she gives were communicated by her to the late D. B. Beardsley, in an interview which he had with her in the summer of 1880, at which time she was residing with her husband about one mile east of Portage in Wood County. MRS. EBERLY'S NARRATIVE. "I am the daughter of Benjamin Cox. and was born in Green County, Ohio, in 18o6, and when about nine years old, my father removed his family to Findlay, in Hancok County. Our family was the first white family to settle in that county. My sister Lydia, born in 1817, was the first white child born in that county. We lived in a hewed-log house, located where the brick residence of the late Wilson Vance now stands, on the south bank of the river, and on the east side of Main street. When Mr. 56 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Vance came to the place, we had to move into a log cabin a little east of the hewed-log house, into which Mr. Vance took his family. "My father was engaged in farming--if the cultivation of a small tract of cleared land surrounding our cabin could be called farming—and keeping a public house. Shortly after we came to the place, Hamilton, Moreland and Slight came. Some other families came in, stayed a short time and then left. For to be candid about it, Findlay was but two or three block houses, and some pickets, the remains of Ft. Findlay, were standing when we came. The Ottawa Indians made frequent visits to the place, as it was stated that they were in some way related to the Wyandots. "Before we left Findlay, the Morelands, Hamiltons, Slights, Chamberlains, Frakes, McKinaises, Simpsons, Vances and Rileys had moved to the county. Hamilton and some others had started a settlement above the town, and Frakes and the McKinnises, below the town. I was at that time too young and too busy to make the acquaintance of many of these persons. But I shall never forget Susy Frakes—as she was called--the wife of Nathan Frakes. Many a day did I spend with them in their cabin on the river side, and I thought Susy the best woman I ever knew, kindhearted, almost to a fault, hospitable and intelligent. "Mrs. Riley was perhaps the first white person who died in the county. She had been sick with the chills and fever and had called in the services of a Mr. Smith, a Kentuckian, who pretended to be a druggist, and who gave her medicine which was so effective that she was soon a corpse. So sudden was her .decease that it was suspected that a mistake had been made, either in the medicine or in its administering. It was said at the time that Smith had forbidden her to drink water, but such was her intense thirst that she prevailed on two little girls who were left to watch with her, to bring her some, of which she drank freely, and very shortly afterwards was found dead. Of course her sudden death was attributed to the drink of water. "I was but a girl when Vance came to Findlay. The first mill in the county was built whilst we were there. Mrs. Vance had gone to Urbana just previous to the birth of their first child, and Mr. Vance's sister, Bridget, came to keep house for him, but had been with him but a short time when she was attacked by the ague. I then went to live with them, and not only cooked for the men who were digging the mill race, and boarded at Vance's, but I even worked in the race. My mother, my sister and myself gathered the stalks of nettles which grew on the river bottoms below the town, from which we stripped fiber enough, that on being dressed like flax was spun and woven into linen to the amount of forty yards, and was made into clothing for the family. "At one time We-ge-hah, or Tree-top-inwater, son of In-op-qua-nah, a Wyandot chief, became sick, and the Indians believed him to be bewitched by a bad spirit, and sent to Towa-town for Big Medicine to exorcise the spirit. My mother did not like the Indians very well, and never went amongst them much. On this occasion, however, when the Indians sent out their invitations for the great powwow, my mother received one. It Was after much persuasion on the part of my father, and with the understanding that I should accompany her, that she finally consented to attend. When we arrived at the place of meeting, which was a log house a little west of where • Judge Cory now lives—Blackford German Block—we found a few Indians assembled. The Big Medicine and his interpreter occupied the center of the room. The lights were extinguished. The tom-tom was beaten and a great noise and hubbub was made. The lights were again set to burning, and after a short silence refreshments were passed around. During this time my mother and myself having been seated in the circle which was formed around the room, clung closely together, not a little frightened at the performance. "The sick man got no better. Big Medicine declared that the young chief was bewitched, and that the witch lived in Browntown, near Detroit, and that the sick man had a bunch of HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 57 hair in his breast, blown there by the witch, and he must cut it out. He went into a tent alone with the young man, and afterwards produced and exhibited a knot of bloody hair which he pretended to have taken from the breast of the sick man. He said, however, that just as likely as not the old witch would find out that he had taken it out, and blow it back again, and if he did the young chief would die. The witch no doubt did so, for the young man died. The disease of which he died was no doubt the consumption. "I am now seventy-four years old. I have seen some very hard times, but I have never seen the time that I was not happy and contended. I have not visited Findlay but once since I left there in 1825, and that was about twenty years ago. There is but one person now residing in Findlay that I remember to have been there during our stay, and that one is Job Chamberlain. When we first came to Wood County, I lived for some time in the family of Squire Carlin, who then resided there." The following is a copy of the poll book, and abstract of the election, held April 7, 1828, in Findlay: FIRST ELECTION. "Poll book of the election held in the Township of Findlay, County of Hancock, on the seventh day of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight. Abram Huff, Wilson Vance, Mordica Hammond, Judges. John C. Wickham, Edmun S. Jones, Clerks for county officers of this election were severally sworn as the law directs, previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices." NUMBER AND NAMES OF ELECTORS. 1. Ephraim Elder 2. Asher Wickham 3. Samuel Sargent 4. Thomas Slight 5. William Hackney 6. John P. Hamilton 7. Henry George 8. Thomas Thompson 9. Joseph Sargent 10. Abram Huff 11. Peter George 12. Amos Beard 13. Mordica Hammond 14. Blueferd Hambleton 15. Don Alonzo Hamlin 16. John Elder 17. Joseph Slight 18. George W. Simkins 19. Miner T. Wickam 20. Nathan Frakes 21. Thomas Wingate 22. Wilson Vance 23. Joseph Johnson 24. Thomas Chester 25. William Wade 26. John C. Wickham 27. Josiah Elder 28. John Huff 29. Jesse Hewitt 30. John Long 31. Daniel Hamblin 32. Sampson Dildine 33. Asa M. Lake 34. Reuben W. Hamblin 35. George Swagart 36. John Jones 37. William Moreland, Jr. 38. John Taylor 39. John Fishel 40. James Beard 41. Godfrey Wolford 42. Edwin S. Jones 43. Selden Blodget 44. Job Chamberlin 45. John Gardiner 46. Robert Macully 47. Jacob Poe 58 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY 48. Ebenezer Wilson 49. Charles D. Smith 50. Robert McKinnis 51. John Shoemaker 52. John Boid 53. Charles McKinnis 54. James Hendricks 55. Abel Tanner 56. Jacob Moreland 57. George Shaw 58. Asa Lake 59. William Grear 60. Squire Carlin 61. Simeon Ransbottom 62. Benjamin Chandler 63. John Tullis 64. James McKinnis 65. William Moreland 66. David Gitchel 67. John Simpson 68. John Travis 69. Joseph Dewitt 70. Philip McKinnis 71. Mathew Reighly 72. Joshua Hedges 73. Reuben Hale 74. Isaac Johnson We do hereby certify that Reubin Hale had votes for Sheriff, 34, and Don Alonzo Hamlin for Sheriff 39. John Boid for Coroner had 3 votes. Isaac Johnson, 34 votes. Thomas Slight, 37 votes. Job Chamberlain had 31 votes for Commissioner. Charles McKinnis had 35 votes. Godfrey Wolford had 74 votes. John P. Hambleton had 41 votes. John Long had 39 votes. Mathew Reighly had 59 votes for Auditor. Joshua Hedges had 57 for Treasurer. John Long had 35 votes for Assessor. William Hackney had 39 votes. ATTEST : ABRAHAM HUFF, WILSON VANCE, MORDICA HAMMOND, Judges of Election. J. C. WICKHAM, E. S. JONES, Clerks. On examining the Poll book of the election for county officers, we do find that the following candidates were elected : DON ALONZO HAMLIN, Sheriff. THOMAS SLIGHT, Coroner. GODFREY WOLFORD, JOHN LONG, JOHN P. HAMBLETON, Commissioners. MATTHEW REIGHLY, Auditor. JOSHUA HEDGES, Treasurer. WILLIAM HACKNEY, Assessor. Clerk and Justices present : WILSON VANCE, Clerk pro tem. JOSHUA HEDGES, WILLIAM HACKNEY, Justices of the Peace. The county was now fully organized and officered and prepared for governmental business. Doubtless the responsibilities of office sat lightly upon these early officials and interfered in but slight degree with their regular avocations. There were no public buildings in the county at that time, but the lack of them was not seriously felt. The people knew where to find their officials, and as the treasurer, who lived in the country, carried his tax duplicate around with him, it is said, he was always ready to receive moneys of the tax payers wherever he chanced to meet them. In this easy and happy manner did Hancock County —named after John Hancock of Revolutionary fame—embark on its long and prosperous voyage. CHAPTER V. TOPOGRAPHICAL. Acreage of the County—Its Boundaries and Surface—The Soil—The River—Jean Jacques Blanchard—"Wild Cat Thicket" —Timber—Marshes—Sand Ridges—Crops—Springs-Benefit of the Limestone Formation—Under Drainage—Fish and Game. Hancock County originally contained 368,64.0 acres of land, but upon the formation of Wyandot County in 1845, 28,000 acres were struck off of Hancock and became a part of the new county. Hancock County is in the northwest part of Ohio, and in what is known as the Maumee Valley. It is bounded on the north by Wood County, on the east by Seneca and Wyandot, on the south by Hardin, and on the west by Putnam. The surface is generally level, and much of it is appropriately called "flat land." The borders of the river and creeks are in many places broken, but in no place can they be said to be hilly. There is enough declination towards the water courses to make drainage easy and cheap, but there are no hills, no swamps, no lakes and no deserts, the entire county being adapted to agricultural purposes. The soil is varied, mostly black loam, mixed with sand on a limestone base. It is in general highly fertile and susceptible of cultivation, being adapted to the production of almost any crop known in the temperate zone. It is just as productive of wheat as of corn, of grass as of vegetables. In most parts of the county it is deep and lasting, and does not require much assistance from fertilizers. The river and creek bottoms, though subject to occasional overflows, are especially productive, whilst the high lands yield scarce less bountiful crops. Hancock County is watered by the Blanchard fork of the Auglaize River, which has its source in Hardin County, and enters this county in the southeastern part, at nearly the center of the south line of Delaware Township, running nearly north through that and Jackson and Amanda, and to near the center of Marion, when from that point it runs in a westerly course through Marion, Findlay, Liberty and Blanchard Townships, to the Putnam County line. By the Shawnees this river was called Sho-po-quo-to-kepe, or Tailor River, from the fact that Blanchard, after whom it was named, was by occupation a tailor. The river formerly furnished sufficient water power for running mills almost the entire year, but as the country has improved, lands became drained, creeks cleared of fallen timber and - 59 - 60 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY other obstructions, the supply of water is only sufficient for such purposes for a few months in the year. Jean Jacques Blanchard, after whom the river was named, was French by nationality, "a tailor by trade, adventurer by disposition and non-communicative about himself from choice." He came from Louisiana in 1770, settled among the Shawnees, married a squaw, reared a family of seven children, and resided upon this stream long prior to the cession of the territory, which it forms, to the United States. He died in 1802, it is supposed on the site of old Fort Findlay. "He spoke Parisian French, is said to have had an intimate acquaintance with Greek and Latin, and had a liberal education. He was a man of all a Frenchman's culture and refinement, and the wonder is what he was doing out in the forsaken wilds of the Northwest Territory, married to a squaw, devoted to twelve little half-breed sons and daughters and plying his trade up and clown the banks of the little river which soon became known as his especial property." He never gave any account of his wanderings, so the historians have accredited him to a Spanish pirate ship which he is supposed to have tired of. No one seems to know how he got to the point east of Dayton, where he first joined the Shawnees in 1770. It is known that he emigrated to -Louisiana in 1760, and was there two years, but the seven years intervening is food for his building of historic theories. One theory is that he fled from his home in France for some offense. It is claimed that he was well skilled in carving and with his curiously wrought tools amused the Indians by his Work in this art. He lived thirty years with his Shawnee wife, and when the Indians emigrated seven of his children were still living. In 1857 part of the tribe with which he identified himself moved to Iowa, Blanchard's son being chief of the division, and to this day there are Indians who trace their genealogy back to the point where Blanchard's sons appeared on the stage of Indian life. In the north part of the county there is a tract of land ranging from one mile to two miles in width, and about ten miles in length from east to west, known as the "wild-cat thicket." It has its beginning in the western part of Portage Township, and crosses Allen and Cass, terminating in the western part of Washington Township. Prior to the settlement of that part of the county this tract of land was covered with a dense undergrowth, the larger timber having all been blown down by a hurricane, it is supposed, which passed over it, no one knows when. Indeed, from its then appearance, the entire body of timber, both large and small, must have been prostrated by the violence of no ordinary storm, and the present growth of timber dates since that period. Many of the older inhabitants well remember the look of desolation which was here presented—trunks of forest trees, decayed and decaying, an almost impenetrable thicket of bushes and wild vines, believed to be inhabited by wild cats, and other dangerous animals. Hence the name of "Wild Cat Thicket." The course of the storm must have been from west to east, as the trunks of the fallen trees lay in that direction, with their tops to the east. The timber consists of the different varieties of the oak, and ash, walnut, poplar, beech, elm, maple—both hard and soft—buckeye, linn, hackberry, honey locust, wild cherry and mulberry. There was a very great quantity of walnut, ash and poplar, which woods are now most valuable, but which at the early settle- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 61 ment were of little or no value except for making rails for fencing. Now no timber grows but is of some value, oftentimes of more value than the land is after the timber has been removed. At the time of the first settlement of the county, it was an unbroken wilderness, densely covered with rank vegetation. A part of what is now Big Lick Township was a wet prairie, covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, but the ground was so wet and soft that it was almost impassable. In Orange Township, there was quite an extensive cranberry marsh, which for years after the settlement of the county, was considered valueless for farming purposes. But as the country became settled, and farms were opened up on the borders of this marsh, making gradual encroachments upon it, the attention of the land owners in the vicinity was called to it, and since then, by a system of drainage under the supervision of the county officials, it has all been reclaimed, and is rich beyond measure. A narrow sand ridge, upon which the Benton Ridge road is located runs southwest from Findlay through the village of Benton Ridge to the Putnam County line. Two sand ridges enter the northeast corner of the county and passing westward unite as one ridge on Section 5, Washington Township, thence runs in a southwesterly direction across Cass, Allen, Portage, and Pleasant Townships, where it is known as Sugar Ridge, because of the large number of sugar trees that once grew upon it. Fostoria, Van Buren and McComb are located on this ridge. Another of these narrow belts enters the northeast corner of Portage Township from Wood County and runs southwest, parallel with and about two miles north of Sugar Ridge. In the geological report of the state these ridges are called "The ancient beaches of Lake Erie." "Limestone Ridge" is an elevated belt of sand and clay underlaid with limestone lying south of the prairie in Biglick Township. It was so named on account of the numerous flakes of limestone found scattered over its surface, probably the result of a great natural upheaval during the first stages of the earth's formation. Wheat is one of the principal crops of Hancock County. Indian corn is produced in all parts of the county and has always been regarded as a standard crop. Oats of a good quality are produced in great quantities. Barley and rye are cultivated to some extent, but not being so readily marketed as wheat, less attention is paid to their raising. Buckwheat of course commands some attention from the farmer, as people could not very well do without their "Buckwheat cakes" for breakfast. Irish and sweet potatoes are easily cultivated, and yield most abundantly. Indeed all kinds of vegetables yield a most bountiful harvest. Fruits of almost all kinds can be found in all parts of the county, especially apples, which are the surest crop. Peaches, although a never failing crop in the early days of the county, may now be considered an almost entire failure. Small fruits are usually a good crop, but occasionally complete failures happen. The county has but few springs, but water of a good quality may be obtained, in most places, by sinking wells from six feet to thirty feet in depth. The water, in consequence of the almost universal pres- 62 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY ence of limestone, is highly impregnated with lime, and is what is called "hard water." The river and creeks furnish an abundance of good limestone, used only, however, for making lime, of which article a very fine quality is produced, and used for building foundation and basement walls, not being of a quality suitable for other building purposes. In some parts of the county farmers meet with difficulty in tilling the soil, in consequence of the cropping out of the limestone -formation. But the perfect adaptati0n of such lands to wheat raising, and the enormous crops pr0duced fully compensate for the extra trouble. Statistics in regard t0 the wealth and prosperity of the county, as a farming and stockraising locality, may be found elsewhere in this volume. Formerly one of the worst drawbacks to the farmers in Hancock County as well as to those in other parts of northwestern Ohio, was the liability to damage by having too much rain drown out their crops. This has been almost entirely eliminated by the system of tiling or under-drainage. This was commenced by the most enterprising farmers about 1870 or 1875 and has grown in favor among the agriculturists from the beginning to the present. The lowest lying land of rich alluvial formation was almost useless until this plan was adopted, but since then it is considered as by far the most profitable land to 0wn. Even the high ground is greatly benefited by the uniform system of tiling and now that all the farmers accept the situation and have tiled their land, it has placed them in a position of independence in regard to wet and dry seasons. The river, formerly supplied the early settlers with an abundance of choice fish, but now by reason of the many obstructions placed in it in the shape of mill-dams, but few fish are caught, and they only of an inferior quality. Wild game was also very abundant, but since the settlement of the county it has almost entirely disappeared. CHAPTER VI. PIONEER DAYS. Early Records—Population—Settlements—Missionaries and Meeting-Houses—Camp-Meetings —First Sermon—Early Schools and Schoolmasters—The Country Shoemaker—Log Rolling— Shooting —Cornhusking—House-Raisings—Threshing—Quilting Bees—Racing and Other Sports—Stores and Taverns—Necessaries of Pioneer Existence—Description of Old Time Tavern—General Muster—Malaria and Milksickness—Taxable Property in 1824—Tax Levies— Findlay Selected as County Seat—The First Marriage—A Contested Election —County Printing—Road-Building—Administration of Estates—A Foul Murder—Simon Girty—Johnny Appleseeds—J. N. Free. Owing to the fact that the early records of Hancock County were kept for the most part in small books, poorly made, or on scraps of paper, poorly preserved, much 0f our early history is lost beyond hope of recovery. Much that was recorded has, by the carelessness of those who had the records in charge, been mutilated to such an extent as to be almost unintelligible, and is thus unavailable for the purposes of the historian. The population of the county in 1828 might be estimated from the vote polled in that year. As we have already seen, the first election held in the county after its separate organization, took place on the first Monday in April, 1828, at which election there were seventy-four votes cast. Now counting the population at five times the number of voters, we have three hundred and seventy as the entire population, which number is no doubt very nearly cor rect. At this date there were perhaps not more than a half dozen settlements in the county—one at Mt. Blanchard, one at Findlay, one at McKinnis, and one perhaps in the south part of the county, with one or two small communities elsewhere. Of course, there were a few families residing at various other points in the county, but they were regarded as a part of one or the other of these principal settlements, for all were neighbors then who lived within a day's journey of each other. In 1830, when the Federal census was taken, there were eight hundred and thirteen persons in the county. Of that number four hundred and fifty-one were white males, and three hundred and fifty-one were white females, and there were three males and six females c0lored. Of the total number, only two hundred and fifty-two were above the age of twenty-one and one hundred and fifty-five miles, and one hun- - 63 - 64 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY dred and forty-seven females, about three-fourths of the entire population were under the age of twenty. In 1880, just fifty years after, the population of the county was twenty-seven thousand three hundred and forty-three. In 1900 it was 41,993. The census of 1830 does not give the number of acres of improved lands, and value of buildings in the county. We may, however, well conclude that but little had been done as yet towards subduing the wilderness, for even a hundred good stalwart pioneers could make but little headway against nature, which had been at work for centuries. Farms or clearings were therefore few and far between, and as to buildings, probably there was not a frame or brick building in the county outside of Findlay. MISSIONARIES AND CHURCHES. "Long before church buildings were erected, the missionary—ever mindful of the Master's work—came, and for the time being the rude cabin of the frontiersman, or the log schoolhouse, were the church edifices, in the advanced settlements. Here too, in these primitive buildings, were held the Sabbath Schools, the meetings of which were as anxiously looked for, and as highly enjoyed as are our more modern schools. Church services were frequently held in woods, under the cool shade of the forest trees, 'God's First Temples.' Such meetings were known as camp meetings, because those attending erected tents in which to reside during the continuance of the meeting. This style of meeting was then a necessity, as there were no buildings of sufficient capacity to hold the congregations, and not ministers enough to supply the different settlements with services, hence, they came together in large bodies, and had the advantage of the ministrations of a number of preachers. "These meetings were conducted with the utmost decorum, with services at stated hours, and rules governing the little community in such a manner that all might enjoy their coining together. This style of service is not practiced to a great extent in this day, for there exists no such necessity as at that early date. With the abundance of houses of worship and ministers of the gospel, the holding of them meets with much disfavor by very many Christian men and women, as they are too generally visited by the wicked who wish to avail themselves of an opportunity of showing their innate cussedness." The first church edifice erected in the county was the "Dukes' Meeting House," in Blanchard Township. It was built and owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The building was hewed of logs, and its dimensions were thirty-two feet long and twenty-eight feet wide. The roof was of clap-boards, a kind of roofing very much in use at that time, and were kept in their places by poles laid on each course of boards. The openings between the logs were chinked with wood, and daubed with mortar, the then prevailing style. The pulpit and seats were of rude construction. The seats were simply benches without backs, and the pulpit of unpainted boards. Many—very many—wh0 in that early day met in that house for worship, have passed away. The pulpit in that old church has HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 65 been occupied by such ministers as Bigelow, Finley, Thompson, Wilson, Gurley, Allen, Heustiss, Conway, Hill, Runnels, Breckenridge, Delany, Biggs and a host of other pioneer Methodists, whose names are familiar, not only in our own county, but all over Western Ohio. Humanity, civilization, good society, and all that goes to make us a great people, owe to these self-sacrificing, earnest, unselfish, devoted servants of their Master, a debt which can never be repaid, except by a practice of the precepts they taught, and in a defense of their memories. As early as the year 1822, the Rev. James Gilruth, a Methodist minister, preached in Findlay. He had left his home in the east and came west for the purpose of entering lands. He first visited the land office at Bucyrus, Ohio, and there obtained a plat of Government lands not taken up in the District. He made his way into Hardin County, passing through old Ft. McArthur. But not being able to suit himself in that region, he turned towards Findlay. After leaving Ft. McArthur, he did not see a dwelling house until his arrival in Findlay, which was in the month of April. As soon as it became known that a preacher had arrived, he was waited upon by some of the citizens, and requested to preach for them. This he readily consented to do, and an appointment was made and circulated to the different settlements. Father Gilruth said he had a very attentive congregation, and as large a one as he could expect, and indeed it was said at the time, by those in attendance, that almost every man and woman in the county was present. This sermon was undoubtedly the first ever preached in the county. It is stated, however, that the late Rev. Adam Poe, also of the Methodist Church, was led to suppose that he preached the first sermon in the county, owing to the following circumstance. He and another minister on their way from the Maumee River to the South, stopped at Findlay over night, and were solicited to preach. Poe consented to do so. They had put up at the tavern kept by Wilson Vance, had their horses cared for and ate their suppers, after which they went to the place of meeting, which was in a log schoolhouse near where the depot of the C. S. & C. "Big 4" Railroad is now located. The two missionaries had but a single dollar between them, and as it would require all of that to pay for their suppers and the care of their horses, and no one inviting them home with them, they slept in the schoolhouse that night, and the next morning, after paying their bill at the tavern, they rode to the next settlement, a distance of several miles, before getting breakfast. It is not at all strange, after such an experience, that Poe and his companion should conclude that they were the first to bring good tidings to this benighted people. EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS. The history of education in Ohio is unique in this respect : That in 1785, before there was a settlement in the territory now comprised within the State, it was provided by Congress, in an ordinance for the survey and sale of the western lands, that section sixteen, or one-thirty-sixth of every township included under the ordinance, should be reserved from sale for the maintenance of public schools within the township. The "Compact of 1787" declared 66 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY that "schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." As these lands were at first only reserved from sale and settlement, no steps were taken by the territorial legislature to apply them to the purpose for which they were set aside. When Ohio was admitted as a State, these reserved school lands (of which there were 740,000 acres) were granted to the State and placed at the disposal of the Legislature. The constitution of 1802, repeating the famous educational clause of the Ordinance of 1787, made it the duty of the Legislature to carry out its intent. It also provided that all schools, academies and colleges founded upon or supported by revenues from the land grants should be open "for the reception of scholars, students and teachers of every grade without any distinction or preference whatever." The Constitution of 1851 goes still farther, and declares in plain terms that the General Assembly shall provide by taxation or otherwise,. "a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the State." What has the State done in fulfillment of these constitutional obligations which it assumed? Nearly all the school lands were sold long ago, and those that have not been sold are held under perpetual lease at an extremely low rental. The money received from the sale of these lands was paid into the State treasury, the State pledging itself to pay six per cent. interest thereon forever, the interest to be distributed annually among the various townships and districts for school purposes. As a matter of fact, the fund itself has been borrowed and spent by the State, and the annual interest the State is obligated to pay is raised by taxation. The fund is now, therefore, merely a fiction of bookkeeping, and represents the legal and moral obligation on the part of the people to tax themselves a certain amount each year for school purposes. The old log schoolhouses, with their rude furniture, have been replaced by accommodations and facilities for securing an education that transcends the wildest dreams of the teachers and pupils of those primitive days. There are few people now left in the county who are old enough to recall these early "temples of learning," and a brief description will doubtless interest the pupils of the present as well as those of coming generations. The early schools were not public schools in any true sense of the word, and not free schools in any sense. Land grants were not yet available, and school taxes were unknown. The schoolhouses were not built by subscription; the neighbors would gather at some point previously agreed upon, and, with axe in hand, the work was soon done. These early structures all belonged to the log-cabin style of architecture. They were fifteen to eighteen feet in width, and twenty-four to twenty-eight feet long, with eaves about ten feet from the ground. The chinks between the logs were filled with clay mortar. The floor was of earth, puncheons, or smooth slabs. Puncheons were logs split and smoothed a little with an axe or hatchet on the flat side. To make a window, a log was cut out, usually the entire length of the building, and the opening thus made was covered with greased paper mounted on sticks. The room, or at least one end of it, was heated from an immense fireplace, and it usually took most of the time of three boys to fill its hungry maw with logs. The furniture consisted principally of rude benches without backs, made by splitting logs in halves, and mounting them, flat side up on four stout HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 67 wooden pins about fifteen inches long. Just under the window, two or three strong pins were driven into a log in a slanting direction; on these pins a long puncheon was fastened, which served as a writing desk for the whole school. There was no blackboard, and no apparatus of even the rudest description to assist the teacher in expounding the lesson. Steel pens were as yet unknown and their place was supplied by goose quills. Reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic constituted the course of study. Text-books were few. The favorite reader, when it could be procured, was the New Testament; Murray's reader was owned by a few, and here and there would be found a copy of the "Columbian Orator;" Webster's Speller was the first used, later, the "Elementary Speller" was introduced. They learned to "figure" from Pike's and Smiley's Arithmetics. When grammar was taught, which was not often, Murray's and Kirkham's grammars were the text-books used. These were the books comprising the primitive outfit of the teacher, while each pupil usually had one or more of them. As there was but little work to do on the farm in mid-winter, a three months' term was taught at that season, so that the boys could attend. The teachers were paid by subscription, and "boarded around," the terms being from one to three dollars per pupil for a term of three months. In those days there was little money with which to pay salaries, as nothing was raised to sell, and gold and bank notes were unknown before the War of 1812. Probably none of these early teachers could measure up to the standards required of the teachers now in our schools ; but, fortunately, the conditions of life in those pioneer days did not call for the educational qualifications that the boys and girls of the rising generation must have to hold their own in the battle of life. After the completion of a rude edifice, the school directors hired perhaps the first man who came along and claimed that he was capable of teaching school. The younger class of rising Americans of that day, like their elders, took pride in the exercise of their muscular force in pugilistic encounters, and not infrequently there occurred a set-to between the teacher and the big boys when he attempted to punish them for infractions of the rules, in which the master generally came out best; for if he did not, he might as well have given up his position at once, for if worsted, from that time on there would be trouble brewing constantly; and in some schools it was necessary in hiring a teacher, to look well to his physical as well as to his intellectual qualifications, for without the former the latter were of little account. "Readin and Ritin and Rithmetic were taught to the tune of a Hickory Stick," and it was considered a wise precaution on the part of those interested to look the master over well and size up his prowess on the first day of the term, so as to compute just how far it would be prudent to tempt him. During the holiday season it was the custom to expect a treat of apples or candy or both from the teacher to the entire scho0l, and if he was negligent or refused to do so, he was barred out of the school room by the large boys, who secured an entrance to the premises by a key or through a window early in the morning, and by securely fastening the door on the inside, would not permit him to enter until the coveted treat was promised. In some 68 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY instances this was carried on for several days in succession, the children returning each day to their homes for that day. At times the teacher arrived on the ground first and obtaining entrance first held the fort. But then the said "big boys," after fastening the door and windows on the outside would climb to the roof and by covering the chimney, would smoke the teacher into submission. But taking it all in all when the teacher showed firmness with kindness, there was abundance of good feeling and a pleasant time was enjoyed. In those days the country schoolmaster ranked next in importance t0 the circuit preacher, and as he went boarding around he was welcome to the best seat by the fire side, and the choicest viands at the table, and was regarded by the patrons of the school as the embodyment of wisd0m, and by the younger members of the family as the embodyment of p0wer, for well they remembered the birch rods sticking up in the walls of the 0ld schoolhouse, and with what expertness he could wield them. The first schoolhouse in Hancock County was built in Findlay, and the first school was taught by John C. Wickham, who was long a resident of the county, THE COUNTRY SHOEMAKER. In early days, owing to the absence of mercantile and manufacturing establishments made it extremely inconvenient, and at times almost impossible to obtain the necessary articles of clothing. A very large portion of the early settlers were engaged in agricultural pursuits, and hence mechan ics and artisans were in demand, and the supply was of the less skillful class. Thus the country shoemaker—and almost every settlement contained one—was a necessary appendage to a well regulated neighborhood. Each farmer or head of a family, would purchase leather enough, both sole and upper, to supply each member of his family with a pair of shoes—g00d heavy waterproof shoes—made for service, rather than for ornament. The shoemaker was then engaged to work up the stock. He had no shop furnished with counters, shelves and drawers, well stored with manufactured wrk, indeed it frequently happened that he had no abiding place, but like the country schoolmaster, boarded around. Going from house to house, he would take his seat by the side of the huge fire-place, and would measure, and cut, and shape, and thus make shoes enough for the whole family. His annual visits were looked for with interest by the little ones who, when he had come, would gather around him, watching with open-eyed wonder, the putting together with wax-end and peg, the homely but serviceable foot-gear. And how they enj0yed his story telling and songs. The coming of the shoemaker was one of the events not to be forgotten. LOG ROLLING. A log rolling was one of the great social events of early days and combined work with pleasure. The pioneer, after he had cut down the trees, and burnt the limbs or "brush" as it was called, cut them into certain lengths, and was then ready for "log rolling," to which all his neighb0rs were HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 69 invited—an invitation that was never refused, unless for valid reasons. When the log rollers had assembled on the ground, they selected two or more of their number as captains, and by choice made by the captains would divide themselves into parties and apportion an equal amount of work to each party. The logs were then rolled into heaps and burned. The party who first cleared their portion of the ground, was declared winner and entitled to a first "smile" from the little brown jug, and a seat at the first table. A clearing with a score or more of men thus engaged in a friendly contest, was rather a lively place. For the same occasion, the good wife would quietly put the patch-work quilt in the frames, and invite the wives and daughters of the log rollers to come in and help her. Thus, while the men and boys were busy in the fields, the women and girls were busy with the needles. After supper, whilst the girls were busy washing the dishes, and setting the house in order, the men found recreation in feats of running, wrestling and jumping. Candles, or the dry hickory bark torch were lit at dark, the country fiddler made his appearance, and taking his seat on a table, tuned up his instrument, when "choose your partners" was in order. The pioneer boys and girls danced to the music of such good old healthy tunes as the Fisher's Horn Pipe, Money Musk, Devil's Dream, Arkansaw Traveler and Colonel Johnson. Whilst the young people were thus engaged, the older ones occupied themselves in smoking and rehearsing the exploits and gallantries of their younger days, occasionally joining in the dance, just to show the young folks how they used to do, you know. But to the still younger ones, the most interesting part of a log-rolling and quilting was the supper, for they were sure to get an extra piece of johnny cake, and a piece of pumpkin pie, after which they were generally willing to go to bed; but willing or unwilling, they went ; as their room was much more desirable than their company, and they were tired out by the uncommon excitement of the day. OTHER PIONEER AMUSEMENTS. Every pioneer was of necessity a hunter, not for amusement alone, but for the reason that much of his subsistence, and his safety, and that of his property depended upon his skill and vigilance with the rifle. Hence it was, that almost every man and boy, and a great many women and girls were accomplished shots. Many a leisure hour did they while away in friendly competition with their trusty rifles, and proud was the champion of his laurels thus honorably won. Among the most pleasant gatherings of these early settlers, were the corn huskings. Sometimes the corn was husked just as it had been cut and shocked in the field. At other times it was gathered in one place, either on a fine grass plot, or on the barn floor. It was usually divided into equal parts, and the husking party was divided into companies tinder captains. The company that first completed its task was declared the victor. When the huskings were held in the barn, the women and children would frequently assist. These husking bees were usually held when the moon was at its full, so that there would be sufficient light. In the meanwhile the women-folk of the party were engaged in cooking and preparing supper for all, consisting of yellow corn cake, juicy venison, luscious turkey, and occasionally a slice or two of bear 70 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY steak. Not unfrequently an entire crop of corn was husked in one night and without expense to the owner, other than furnishing the supper to the workmen. Another source of pleasure, although mixed with hard work were house-raisings. In this, as in log rollings and corn huskings, the participants were divided into companies each under the lead of a captain. To each was assigned the raising of one side and of one end of the cabin. Each of these parties chose two of the most expert ax-men to carry up the corners, as the logs were raised to the proper place. A good deal of skill and a mechanical eye was required by these corner men, as a very slight mistake in making a notch too shallow or too deep or out of a straight line, might loose the whole corner. So expert became many of these men—and they were found in every settlement—that they were enabled to notch and place the logs almost as rapidly as they could be raised to their place on the building. Grain was not thrashed by machinery driven by steam, as now, but was either beaten out by the old fashioned swingle or flail, or tramped out by horses or oxen. When thrashed it was separated from the chaff by a fanning-millconsisting of two men and a linen sheet, the grain being slowly poured from a measure at an elevation, and passed in front of the mill, which was kept constantly in motion the chaff was blown away, the clean grain falling to the floor. The women also had their sport, for quilting bees were no less a source of pleasure and enjoyment to the wives. All the good dames in a neighborhood would assemble around the patchwork quilt and with stitch and gossip while away the time pleasantly, and around the well-ladened tea table exchange reminiscences of their girl-hood days. Athletic sports had a great charm for these backwoodsmen. Running foot-races, jumping, wrestling, pitching quoits or horse shoes, lifting weights and like manly exercises best pleased them. Some of their feats of jumping and racing would do credit to a troup of modern athletes. And the ease with which they could "ring the meg" with a horse shoe at twenty-five or thirty yards was astonishing. With such exercises as these their muscles became hardened, their limbs were developed and their endurance put to the test. Horse racing was also a favorite amusement with some. The swiftness of a race was not regarded as of much moment, but the simple fact that two horses would make a race no matter how slow it was, would be sufficient to draw a crowd and the pleasure in the amusement seemed to be just as keen as if they had been witnessing some of the feats of modern high-flyers. Because of the isolated condition of the settlements and the almost unceasing toil of all, any social gathering was hailed with pleasure and enjoyed to the fullest extent. STORES AND TAVERNS. In the early days the mercantile business was no slight undertaking. Without any of our modern facilities for safe and rapid transportation, all goods 'had to be brought overland from points in the far distant East, principally Philadelphia, at great expense and risk, and it is not strange that we find that many a person who attempted the enterprise was compelled to abandon it after a loss. Naturally the stores were not of the specialized character that they possess, at least in the larger places, today, but HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 71 contained commodities of every variety that could be used in the primitive settlements. The settlers depended, too, on providing themselves with many of the necessities for which we are now accustomed to look to our merchants. There were two commodities which, to most, are almost absolute essentials to existence and which the early settlers had the greatest difficulty in obtaining. These were flour and salt. In consequence we find among the earliest activities of the pioneer, an effort to provide a supply of these articles. Owing to the want of flouring mills in the county, flour and other bread stuffs had to be procured from distant and more favored settlements. Urbana, Perrysburg and Sandusky City were the principal points visited for this purpose. Salt was usually obtained through a process of evaporation by boiling the water from saline springs, a slow and tedious operation which raised the price of the product almost to that of a luxury. Then there were hats, shoes, crockery, hardware, medicines and groceries to he provided. For years money was very scarce, and all business became a system of barter, and goods were exchanged almost exclusively for produce. The trade with Indians was at one time large. They brought cranberries, maple sugar and syrup, pelts and furs, and bought only the finest goods. The women would take only the finest broadcloths for blankets and petticoats, while the men chose the brightest prints for shirts. The ordinary prints which now sell for 8 cents per yard sold then for $i.00, while the higher priced sold for $1.50 per yard. Every store had upon its counter a flask of whiskey with a glass and it was expected that every one who came into the store would avail himself or herself of the hospitality thus set forth. Tobacco was in large demand among the Indians, who made a mixture of tobacco and sumac leaves, calling it `Kinnikinic! " In the early days there was no institution of greater importance, perhaps, than the tavern. The most prominent and influential citizens did not hesitate to engage in the business, and the number of taverns in existence at that time in any locality would now, perhaps, be considered out of proportion to the size of the place. It was a sort of center for all the various activities of the neighborhood. Here the people gathered to exchange their gossip as well as to hear news of the outside world from any chance stranger that happened along. Here all the public gatherings were arranged, all the notices were posted, and court was held, here, in some localities. It was an institution of great importance, just as it is in later times, though in lesser degree, under another name. It was not long after the county began to be settled until we find these hostelries being established in various parts of the county as the need for them arose. The following description of one of these old taverns, though applying to a neighboring county, will answer equally well for the type that prevailed in early days in Hancock County. "The Pioneer Tavern was a few rods southeast of the 'Medicine Water.' It was on the plateau just east of the ridge that lies south of the spring, and terminated near there, some three or four rods onward from the present street. The first house was a double roomed one, with a loft, standing north and south, facing the east, and was built of round logs, `chinked and daubed.' In course of time, a second house, two stories high, was added, built of hewed logs, and placed east and west, at right angles with the south end of the first 72 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY building, with a little space between them. In this space was the well with its curb, and its tall, old-fashioned, but easy-working 'well-sweep.' Around at the southwest of this was the log barn and the blacksmith shop, and a double granary or corn-crib, with a space between for its many purposes, as necessary, indeed, as the kitchen is for household purposes. Here was the grind-stone, the shaving-horse, the hewing block, the tools of all kinds and the pegs for hanging up traps of all sorts. Here the hog was scalded and dressed, the deer, raccoon and 'possum were skinned, and their skins stretched and dried, or tanned. Here also were the nuts cracked and dried. For many reasons it has a bright place in the memories of boyhood. How few know the importance of the pioneer tavern in early days. It was, of course, the place of rest for the weary traveler, whether on foot or on horse. It was many a day before a `dearborn' or a 'dandy-wagon' was known on the road. But it was much more than this and seemed the emporium of everything. It was the market place for all; the hunter with his venison and turkeys; the trapper with his skins and furs; and the knapsack peddler—the pioneer merchant—here gladdened the hearts of all with his 'boughten' wares. At this tavern, too, were all public gatherings called, to arrange for a general hunt, to deal out justice to some transgressor of the unwritten but well known pioneer laws. In fact it was here, at a later period, that the first organized county court was held, with the grand jury in the tavern loft and the petit jury under a neighboring shade tree." GENERAL MUSTER. One of the most important events in pioneer days was the General Muster, it being especially interesting to the younger portion of the population. For months before the annual parade the soldiers were busy in repairing and polishing up their old flint-lock muskets, while the officers were studying up their words of command, and brushing up their regimentals. The farmer, who always had an eye to business on such occasions, was carefully cultivating his mel0ns, and vigilantly watching to protect them from thieves. The thrifty house wife was gathering up the eggs and laying by the butter, for she intends going to town on training day, and with the proceeds of her produce, to buy a little tea for her next quilting, and an extra bit of muslin for a new cap. The grown up girls were busy making dresses, for their beaux had been over and invited them to go to town on muster day, and had offered them a seat on the horse behind them, and the small boys were trying to earn and save all the pennies they could, expecting to invest their savings in ginger-bread and candy. When the long looked for day came, almost the entire population 0f the county might have been found assembled at the county-seat, the place of general rendezvous. Officers in blue coats, brass buttons, red sashes, monstrous epaulets, and broad swords, mounted on the stately plow horse, cav0rting up and down the street, the terror of anxious mothers, in danger themselves of broken necks, and to the admiration of small boys. George Washington in all his glory was never arrayed like one of these militia officers, and we doubt if he ever felt half so important. The men by companies, some armed with rifles, but more with sticks and mullein stalks, marched and counter