PROPRIETORS NAMES	Horses above 3 yrs. old	Neat cattle above 3 yrs. Id
I. Asa Lake M. Charles McKinnis M. Henry McWhorter P. James Patterson P. Jacob Poe W. Joseph White H. John P. Hamilton G. John Gardner H. John Hunter C. Job Chamberlin S. John Simpson G. John Gardner, Jr. M. Jacob Moreland B. Michael Beck, taken in      from lady M. Philip McKinnis T. Thomas Thompson, taken in from lady M. William Moreland S. Thomas Slight V. Wilson Vance C. Elnathan Cory, given in by Wilson Vance	2 2 2 0 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1	11 4 10 7 5 2 2 4 8 5 1 3 4 2 6 5 3 4 4 15

I certify the above to be a correct list. WILSON VANCE, Lister of Findlay Township, Wood County, Ohio. Endorsed Taxable Property, Findlay Township, 1824. The amount of tax on each animal was fixed by the Auditor, the tax being a specified sum on each, and not a per cent, as at the present day. No animals under three years of age were taxable. The township of Findlay, it will be recollected, embraced the whole county, at this date. In 1826, the records of Wood County—to which we were then attached, comprising one township show that the tax in this county was $56.17. In 1829, the earliest tax list is found, after the independent organization of the county, the value of the taxable property of the county, as returned, was $16,6o1.00, and included in the then townships of Findlay, Delaware and Amanda, the only organized townships in the county, and the assessment included both real and personal property. The tax assessed upon the valuation was $172.44. In 1829, there were 4,775 acres of land subject to taxation in the county, and this was valued at $8,186, not more than an average farm is now worth, or a little over two dollars an acre. Of this taxable land, 2,969 acres were in Findlay; 1,374 in Delaware, and 252 in Amanda Township. Our Amanda Township friends will perhaps be mortified to know that their lands were valued much lower than were the lands in the other townships, and yet it was no doubt some consolation to know that they paid but $4.30 tax on land. In 1829 there was returned by the Assessor ninety-three horses, valued at $3,720.00, and 279 cattle, valued at $3,11$3,720.00, these few illustrations, we may see from what small beginnings the early settlers began life in this new country. In the year 1830, the salary of the County Assessor was fixed at $23.37 1/2, and that of the Auditor at $40.00. On the 3d day of April, 1834, William L. Henderson was appointed appraiser of real estate for Hancock County. The tax levy for 1829 for county purposes, 78 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY was seven and one-half mills on the dollar. For 1830, it was seven mills. For 1831, it was seven mills. For 1832, it was five mills. In 1833, for county purposes, seven and one-quarter mills, and for road purposes, two mills. At a session of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Wood, Hancock being then a part of said county—the court being held at Maumee, in 1820. "Wilson Vance was appointed Surveyor of Wood County." At a session of the same court, held in May, 1822, "Wilson Vance was licensed to keep a tavern in Findlay for one year. The court fixed the price of five dollars per annum." At the October term, 1824, of said court, the following entry was made on the court records : "The Commissioners appointed to establish the seat of justice in the County of Hancock, in the State of Ohio, report that they have selected the town of Findlay, in said County of Hancock, as the most suitable site for the seat of justice of said county, as per their report on file, in the office of the Clerk of this Court." This Commission was appointed under the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly, as follows : "Resolved, By the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that John Owens, of the County of Champaign; Alexander Long, of the County of Logan; Forest Meeker, of the County of Delaware, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners, to locate and fix the seat of justice, in and for the County of Hancock, February 2d, 1824." The following record is found under the date of January, 1825: "Findlay, January II, 1825. This is to certify, that on the second day of September, in the year 1824, Samuel Kepler, of Williams County, and Rachel McKinnis, of Hancock County, were legally joined in marriage by me, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Hancock, and Township of Findlay. Given under my hand, "WILSON VANCE, J. P." This was, undoubtedly, the first marriage in the county. At all events, it is the first of record in both Hancock and Wood Counties. Other early marriages were : September 14th, 1826, Asa M. Lake and Charlotte Greer, by Joshua Hedges, J. P. March 12, 1827, William Moreland and Julia Chamberlain, by Joshua Hedges, J. P. August 24th, 1827, Sampson Dildine and Sarah Highland, by Joshua Hedges, J. P. November 1, 1827, John Gardner and Susan Moreland, by William Hackney, J. P. December 20, 1827, Philip McKinnis and Susan Dukes, by Joshua Hedges, J. P. On the 4th day of June, 1832, Thomas F. Johnson, auditor, resigned, and the commissioners appointed Joseph C. Shannon to fill the vacancy. Johnston, late auditor, was allowed forty dollars for extra services." The commissioners at their December session, in 1834, appointed Parlee Carlin, Recorder of Hancock County, until the next annual election in October. The records are silent as to the cause that made it necessary to appoint a Recorder. The first case of contested elections, of which we have notice, is the records of the county, is indicated in the following notice, which seems to have been served on the Clerk of the Court : "To the Clerk of Hancock County. You are requested to withhold the returns of the election of Union Township, wherein Wenmem Wade was elected Justice of the Peace, and HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 79 the election is contested, and said contest is to be tried on the 13th of September, 1838. WM. ROLLER, Associate Judge." The commissioners of Wood County, at their session in December, 1820, ordered that the "road from Ft. Meigs, or the foot of the rapids of the Maumee of the Lake, to Bellefontaine, be opened." And at their session March 4, 1822, this order was made : "Ordered by the board that the Township of Waynesfield, within the jurisdiction of the County of Wood, be co-extensive with the boundaries of Wood and Hancock and to include the same." June 6, 1826, the commissioners of Wood County, "Ordered that four hundred dollars of the road fund be appropriated to Hancock County, to be expended on the Urbana road, in said county." The first order for printing, so far as the records show, was made at the December session, 1836, of the commissioners, and read thus: "Ordered that Jacob Rosenberg print sixteen hundred county orders, for sixteen dollars, in Hancock County orders,. to be issued when the orders are struck." It appearing that no record of land entries in the county had been kept in any of the county offices, and the county commissioners believing such a record necessary, we find in their proceedings, in 1839, this entry : "It was ordered that some suitable person go to each of the land offices in this Land Office District, and procure a duplicate of all land entered in the county up to this date, with the names of the original enterers, the date of entry, the description, quantity, township and range, was ordered to be set up to the lowest bidder at a public outcry. Whereupon, the same being cried in the presence of the commissioners, it was cried off to Jacob Rosenberg, he being the lowest bidder, for the sum of thirty-nine dollars." We find another order for county printing, this time, June 7, 1842, and in this, as in the former one, the commissioners fix the price. It was "ordered that the auditor of Hancock County, have the receipts and expenditures of said county, published in the Courier, providing he can get it done at the rate of 87Y2 cents per square, in a condensed form; if not, have it posted up as the law provides." About this time we have a recorded specimen of how easy, and how quickly, an officer may resign, when he makes up his mind to do so. "To Aquilla Gilbert, George Shaw and Andrew Ricketts, Commissioners of Hancock County. Gentlemen : I hereby resign to you my office of Auditor of Hancock County, Ohio. you will, therefore now consider said office vacant from this moment. "Yours with respect, "W. L. HENDERSON." As soon as the commissioners could recover from their sudden surprise, and comprehend the full meaning of the letter, they proceeded at once not only to accept the resignation so suddenly thrust upon them, but also to fill the vacancy, which they did by appointing James H. Barr until the first day of March next ensuing. The commissioners, on the third day of March, 1846, authorized Fred Henderson to procure a suitable bell for the court house, the original cost of which should not exceed $250 and have the same placed in the cupola of the court house. In July, 1830, the commissioners "Ordered the sale of cutting out the road—Bellefontaine 80 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY to Perrysburg, and Findlay to Defiance—thirty-two feet wide. All timber twenty inches in circumference to be cut out, and the ground to be cleared of all timber." ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES. Under the old judicial system of the State, administrators of the estates of the deceased persons were appointed by the associate judges of the county, and upon the decease of an individual seized of an estate, it was necessary to call a special session of the court, in order to appoint an administrator. This was certainly very inconvenient, and at this day would be very expensive. The first record we find of such a session of court in this county, was one held on the 19th day of March, 1829, at Findlay, by Judges Huff, McKinnis and Wilson. At that time, William Taylor was appointed administrator of the estate of Hon. John Patterson, deceased. His sureties were Job Chamberlain, Sr., and John Boyd. The whole amount of money coming to the hands of the administrator from the sale of both real and personal property, was $869.50, quite an estate for that early day, and Mr. Patterson was regarded as one of the wealthy men of the county. The administrator was allowed a credit of two dollars, for two days' services as administrator. This was certainly a novel way of getting pay for such services, to say nothing of the very moderate charge made. The attorneys, for procuring the sale of the land, and advising in the settlement of the estate, were allowed five dollars. The first will recorded was probated in March, 1830, and the introduction read as follows : "In the name of God, Amen. I * * * of Hancock County, State of Ohio, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding (praised be God for it), and considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and to the end I may be better prepared to leave this world whenever it may please God to call me home, do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following, (that is to say) first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Creator, praying for free pardon, and remission of all my sins, and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ, my Savior. My body I commit to the earth, at the discretion of my executor hereafter named." Then follows the several items of the will all as properly, and at the same time as specifically expressed, as is the foregoing. Indeed, in looking over the records of the wills of that day, we are impressed with the certainty of the language of every bequest. No ambiguity, no looseness of expression on which a law suit might hinge, no possible chance for litigation and fat fees. No wasting of the estate in determining the intentions of the party, but everything plain and to the point. A FOUL MURDER. A Wyandot Chief, known as Sum-un-duwat—a Christian Indian, brave, generous and kind— honored by his tribe, and respected by the whites for his honesty and bravery, was most foully murdered, with his daughter and her husband, near Napoleon, in Henry County. The event created a most profound sensation, and for some time there seemed to be danger of an outbreak amongst the Indians. The assassins were John Anderson and James Lyons, who lived near Portage, Wood County. Anderson had tried to buy or trade for a favorite dog of the Indians, HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 81 but without success. He made the declaration that he would have the dog before another week had passed. He and Lyons followed the Indians to near Napoleon, where by the direction of one John Ellsworth, who resided about six miles west of Portage, they committed the bloody murder. They got all the money of which Sum-un-du-wat was possessed, which Snake-bone and other chiefs, declared was about six hundred dollars; also, seven ponies, a lot of furs and dogs. They returned to the house of Lyons, a little west of Portage, where they concealed the ponies and all of the dogs, except the favorite one, which Anderson appropriated as his own, and although the dog was seen in his company, no one suspected that he had obtained it by other than fair means. In the excitement after the murder, one of the ponies escaped and wandered to the camp of Snake-bone and his party. On being followed it returned to the place where the murdered Indians lay. The alarm was given, and Snake-b0ne and his party followed the trail to Portage, where they found and arrested Anderson and Lyons. The former was at church in the village. The Indians surrounded the building and captured him as he came out. The prisoners were conducted to Napoleon, where a preliminary examination was had, and the parties were committed to jail, but afterwards made their escape, and were never punished. At the trial Anderson turned States evidence, and related the story of the murder. He stated that they stayed with the party three days before they met with a favorable opportunity to commit the hellish deed. When the Indians arrested Lyons, they found all the dogs belonging to them, under the floor of Lyons' house. The "boys" said that Ellsworth induced them to commit the murder, and after it was done, advised them to let him have the money until the excitement should pass over, and then they would divide. But the old scoundrel took the money and fled the country. Sum-un-du-wat was about sixty years of age. Snake-bone in his endeavors to find the murderers, was three days and nights on the trail, and such were his exertions, that he broke down from their effects, and died shortly after. This murder was but another exhibition of that devilish disposition, possessed by some, to cruelly treat the weak and unprotected, shielding themselves behind a general feeling of hostility towards a particular race. No 0ne could truthfully point to a single act of cruelty or hostility by Sum-un-du-wat towards any white man, on the c0ntrary, he had been the friend of the whites, and had rendered them many valuable services. SIMON GIRTY. One of the most notorious characters of early days in the Northwest, including Hancock County, was the white renegade, Simon Girty. He was born in northwestern Pennsylvania of an intemperate father and an unworthy mother. Simon had three brothers—Thomas, George, and James. Simon, George and James were taken prisoners by the Indians during the French and Indian War, when Simon was about eight years old, Simon was adopted by the "Senecas" and given the name of "Patepacomen." He was one of the white captives surrendered to Colonel Bouquet in 82 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY 1764, but soon after escaped and returned to savage life. In 1774 he took part in Lord Dunmore's War on the side of the Virginians. Here he met Sim0n Kenton and the two young men soon became fast friends. He also became intimately acquainted with Colonel Crawford and was frequently a guest at his hospitable cabin. Girty aspired to a captaincy in the regular army in 1778 but, failing in this, deserted Fort Pitt in company with fourteen others. He immediately inaugerated a reign of terror among the frontier settlers. He represented to the friendly Delawares that the white people intended killing every Indian they met ; that Washington was killed and the Rev0lutionary Army cut to pieces ; that there was no Congress, the British having hung some members and taken the rest to England. The Delawares disbelieved his story and he moved on westward to the Shawanees on the Scioto, to whom the Delaware chiefs sent word not to believe what he told them. Girty now started for Detroit. On his way he was captured by the Wyandots. The Senecas who recognized him, demanded that he be given up to them because, having been their ad0pted son, he had now taken up arms against them. But Leatherlips, the Wyandot chief, ignored their claim to him. The Wyandots finally set him at liberty and he proceeded to Detroit, where Gen. Hamilton, the British commander, gave him a cordial welcome. He was now given work that suited his nature exactly. He was employed at sixteen York shillings a day and sent back to Upper Sandusky to incite and assist the Indians in their border warfare. He soon became a leader among the Wyandots and Shawanees along the head-waters of the Scioto and Sandusky rivers, in their murderous forays into the border settlement. From Pittsburg to Louisville his name carried terror all along the Ohio. Doubtless he led many a helpless victim of the frontier captive along the trails through Hanc0ck County or danced with his dusky companions ar0und the helpless victim burning at the stake. He was present at St. Clair's defeat in 1791 and at the battle of the Fallen Timbers in 1794. After the Treaty of Greenville, he engaged in the Indian trade at Lower Sandusky and later at "Girty's Town" on the site of St. Mary's in Mercer (now Auglaize) County. He then removed to Malden, Canada, where he settled on a farm on the Detroit River where he died in 1818, aged 70 years. For several years before his death he was nearly blind and a complete wreck. "The last time I saw Girty," wrote William Walker, "was in the summer of 1813. From my recollection of his person he was in height five feet six or seven inches; broad across the chest ; strong around; compact limbs, and of fair complexion. To any one scrutinizing him, the conclusion would forcibly impress the observer that Girty was endowed by Nature with great powers of endurance." Spencer, a prisoner among the Indians, gives this vivid description of him : "His dark shaggy hair; his low forehead ; his short flat nose ; his brows contracted and meeting above his short flat nose ; his gray sunken eyes averting the ingenuous gaze ; his lips thin and compressed ; and that dark and sinister expression of his countenance HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 83 —to me seemed the very picture of a villain." JOHNNY APPLESEEDS. This eccentric individual, whose real name was John (or as some say, Jonathan) Chapman, was one of the well known characters in early days. He was a Swedenborgian, acting as a kind of missionary amongst the Indians, and in his perambulations through the wilderness planted the seeds of the different kinds of fruits, so that in many places in the county, there were fruit trees in great numbers and some of them already producing fruit, at its first settlement. He was supposed to be a native of Massachusetts and was regarded as an intelligent, harmless, but slightly demented man! At all times sociable, and full of pleasant story and good advice, after his fashion, he was always made welcome by the pioneers. His personal appearance was as singular as his character. He was a small chubbed man, quick and restless in his motions and conversation. He wore his hair and beard long and had a sparkling black eye. He lived the roughest life and often slept in the woods. He went barefooted, and often travelled miles thr0ugh the snow in that way. Wherever he went he circulated Swedenborgian works. He was careful not to injure any animal, and thought hunting morally wrong. During the coldest weather he refused to wear shoes and upon one occasion, when forced to accept a pair from a kind hearted farmer, he came to Mansfield, which was then but a small village and gave them t0 a poor family who were going west. When he first came to Ohio he accepted the cast off clothing of the settlers, but afterwards became convinced he was getting too- proud and w0rldly and finally he adopted the coffee-sack suit, in which he died. His head was protected from Old Sol's smiles, by a tin pan, which was also used as a culinary utensil, when he was overtaken by hunger in the woods. He believed it a sin to tread upon a worm, or eat flesh of any kind during lent. He was first seen in Ohio in 1801, and with him an old blind horse, drawing in an aged and infirm wagon a quantity of appleseeds. These seeds he planted in Eastern Ohio along the banks of rivers and creeks. Returning to Pennsylvania, Johnny disposed of his steed and equipments and gathering up several bushels of seeds at the cider presses in Western Pennsylvania he started for Ohio with them on his back. For years he kept on in the even tenor of his ways, starting orchards all over this part of the state, but when emigrants from other states began to pour in and take up the land in Ohio, poor Johnny found his occupation gone, and taking up his coffee sack moved into Indiana, where he continued to plant appleseeds for some time, until death overtook him, and he was laid away in a country churchyard a few miles from Ft. Wayne. The following incidents are related as illustrating his eccentricities, as well as his kindness of heart. One cool autumnal night whilst lying by his camp-fire in the woods he observed that the mosquitoes flew into the blaze and were burnt. Johnny thereupon brought water and quenched the fire afterwards saying, "God forbid that I should build a fire f0r my c0mfort that should 84 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY be the means of destroying any of his creatures." At another time he made his camp-fire at the end of a hollow log in which he intended to pass the night, but finding it occupied by a bear and her cubs he removed his fire to the other end and slept in the snow, in the open air rather than to disturb the bear. An itinerant preacher was once holding forth on the public square in Mansfield and exclaimed, "Where is the barefooted Christian travelling to heaven?" Johnny who was lying on his back on some timber, taking the question in its literal sense, raised his bare feet in the air and shouted : "Here he is!" JACOB NEWMAN FREE. A very interesting eccentric character who often visited Hancock County and especially Findlay, commencing in the late fifties and down to 1906 was J. N. Free, or as he called himself, "The Immortal J. N." or "Philosopher." He was born at Chambersburg, Pa., June 19th, 1828, of German parents, his father the Rev. Dr. John W. Free, and his mother, Mary Newman Free, being a cousin to the author of "Lead Kindly Light." The entire family of eight children lived to manhood and womanhood. Seven of them taught school. Mayor John W. Free and Henry N. Free were lawyers of Lexington, Ky., and Col. William Free was a merchant of the same city. The family moved from Pennsylvania and lived several years in Mansfield, Ohio, but later moved to McKutchinsville on a farm of 135 acres about a mile south of the village. Jacob N. was a precocious child and his father crowded him with learning so that he was able to read and write in several different languages when he was nine years old, and graduated when quite young from the Meadville College, Penn. He was a tall, powerfully built man with long hair and a heavy moustache, high prominent cheek bones and a restless maniacal eye that seemed to fairly penetrate the object of his stare. His clothing was shabby and his hair unkept and he had the mien of a restless apprehensive man, rarely remaining long in one place ; his voice was powerful, and he spoke in a style of command, short and positive. His memory, wit and sarcasm knew no bounds and woe to the man upon whom he turned these sharp tools; he fairly picked him up and spit him out, and people who had once been the subject of his ability in that line gave him a wide bearth ! Once or twice a year he would send word in. advance that he would be in Findlay on a certain night and would lecture at the old courthouse ; his subject, that he would "Lift the veil and disseminate the truth." Sometimes he came and sometimes not. If he appeared he would wait on the outside until the audience were seated and there were generally plenty of seats and to spare —when he would enter the house, walk up the aisle in a dignified manner, ascend the platform, reach in his pockets and pull out a couple of Colt revolvers and a couple of pairs of handcuffs and, after slamming them down on the desk before him with some violence, and some offhand remarks about them, would then commence his desultory and incoherent address. HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 85 After the war a favorite theme of his was, "The North thought the South was wrong and the South thought the North was wrong. Both were wrong; both were right." He would wait until the next day to see what the local papers said of his speech the previous evening and seemed to enjoy a severe roasting with more relish than a favorable compliment. He took a copy of the paper with him and was generally burdened with a roll under his arm about the size of a stove pipe. Sometimes the boys in strange towns would tease him by trying to take away his newspapers but he would kindly give them a few pennies, thus making them his fast friends. The story of this harmless mild maniac is as follows : Having studied law and being considered a man of immense ability he was considered a fine catch by the young ladies of his acquaintance. His special attention was attracted to a very beautiful young blonde, and winning her heart she became his fiancee. But young Free was poor and he determined that before he married such a noble lady he would accumulate a small fortune. So at the age of twenty-one he joined the "Forty-niners" in their search for gold in California. He and a partner were successful in the "digging" and soon bought mule teams to transport provisions and other mining supplies to the mines in the interior, hoarding their gold in their shack, and one of the partners staying with it while the other drove the mule team. One day "J. N." returning from his trip found that his partner had departed with the entire treasure, the savings of many days and nights of labor and exposure. Young Free followed the thief to New York where he found that he sold the gold and departed for Europe. Free could not expect to catch him in those days, but put an attachment on the gold, but at the trial, which he conducted with marvelous logic and eloquence he could not prove that the gold was his, as there was no private mark on it ; or, if there had been, it had been removed. Neither could he prove that his share of the gold had been stolen. He lost the trial, he lost his gold, he lost his bride, he lost faith in humanity, he lost his mental balance and became a wanderer throughout the length and breadth of his native land for fifty-six years. But in all this time he paid no carfare or h0tel bill. He w0uld go to the railroad officials and procure a pass on one pretext or another, they being unable to refuse because of his importunity and the uniqueness of the claim upon which his right t0 the favor was based. Some were dated for a trip, some for a year and some for life. Some were given for "Opening the eyes of the blind to the Pearly Gates of Heaven" for "Lifting the Veil of truth" ; as a "Philosopher traveling for the dissemination of knowledge and various other themes ; but always claiming that the people were not ready for him yet, but that when they were he would "lift the pressure." This "Pressure" so frequently spoken of by him, referred to the state of mind or spirit of the one addressed ; whether happy and inclined to lightness and charity (especially towards himself) or melancholy and parsimonious. When sad he advised the lifting of the veil to "let the sunshine in." Once he received a pass by way of a joke 86 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY from a railroad official to walk over the ties from a certain place to another. When the conductor came in to take up the fares "J. N." commenced to walk rapidly from one end of the car to the other. When asked for his fare he presented this paper. "But," said the conductor, "this is not a pass to ride on this car, it is a pass to walk over the ties." "Am I not walking over the ties?" queried "J. N." as he rapidly resumed his walk. The conductor was so paralyzed by his wit and the stern commanding authority, that he did not further insist on the payment of a fare. The same tactics were practiced on the hotel keepers as on the railroad officials. The writer remembers of hearing him telling a story of his stopping at a hotel for three days at two dollars a day ! The landlord not wishing to lose the whole bill thought of a compromise by offering to throw off the half and take three dollars instead of six dollars, the entire amount. "Very charitable," said `J. N.,' and it would be ill-bred in me to not return the favor by throwing off the other half of the bill, I never allow a man to excell me in favors." The landlord had perhaps anticipated something of the kind, retorted by asking "J. N." if he would not partake of a light meal prepared for him in the dining room, to which "J. N." willingly assented. Upon entering the dining room the landlord invited "J. N." to be seated at a small table upon which there were four brightly burning lamps together with a plate, knife, fork, and spoon and a glass of water. For once in his life he was beaten and the "pressure" was heavy on himself. Page upon page might be written of the anecdotes of this strange personage, but the above serves to illustrate his style and manner. Along in the seventies, he and his brother Henry traveled together, selling his lightning calculator, a table he had copyrighted to aid in adding rapidly. Figures could be put down no matter how large or how many and he would write the answer down as fast as his hand could move. "J. N." would get the crowd and Henry sell the calculator. While the ex-confederate president, Jefferson Davis, was confined in a casement of Fortress Monroe, "J. N." called and asked to see him and contrary to all strict orders obtained entrance to the apartment of the noted prisoner. Nothing seemed to please him better than to exhibit the newspapers containing a paragraph that Jefferson Davis had been visited by a lunatic. Thousands of persons in all the states of the union were acquainted with "The Immortal J. N., Philosopher." Many times during his life his death was published in the papers and many were the amusing remarks he made upon seeing and reading them himself. Thus lived and died one of the most notable men of this section. His memory was faultless and if he ever met a person he never forgot his name or his face, but could call him by name and name the place of meeting without mistake, and had he not met with mental infirmity his name might have g0ne down to posterity as one of the intellectual giants of the age. As it is, he is kindly remembered by all who met and became acquainted with him. His death occurred at the State Hospital for the Insane at Toledo, 0., on June 26, 1906, and he was buried at McKutchinsville, Ohio. Peace to the memory of the kind old philosopher. CHAPTER VII. TRANSPORTATION. First Roads and Bridges—Steam Railroads—Electric Roads. The first roads in the county were for years scarcely more than blazed paths through the woods. Very many places would have been utterly impassable had it not been for a system of bridging, then extensively indulged in, known as "corduroy." This was a kind of railroad in which the position of the ties and rails on an ordinary railroad were reversed. That is, the ties were laid lengthwise and the rails crosswise. But as timber was abundant, and not much attention was paid to the smoothness of the road, they were not so very expensive. Among the records of the county for 1829 is found the following, which was presented at the June session of the commissioners : "A petition being presented by sundry citizens of Hancock County, praying for a county road, commencing at the county line at John Smith's farm, running thence a northwesterly direction to John Longs, in Section One, thence to cross Blanchard Fork at or near John J. Hendricks, thence to run down the river to the mouth of the three-mile run, thence to the nearest and best direction to Findlay, which was granted, and John Huff, John J. Hendricks and William Moreland were appointed viewers, and William Taylor, Surveyor." On the 16th of September the commissioners met in special session to receive the report of the viewers of said road. Report received and the road established. This road is the one now known as the Findley and Vanlue road, which crosses the river at the farm of William Wyer. Again in August, 1839, the county commissioners met for the purpose of apportioning the amount of three per cent fund on the several state roads, and the record says : "Whereupon it is agreed on by said commissioners that the aforesaid amount of money appropriated, shall be laid out on the following roads, to-wit : The road leading from Bellefontaine to Perrysburg, and the road leading from Upper Sandusky through Findlay to Defiance, which work is to be performed in cutting out said roads, thirty-two feet wide, all timber twenty inches in diameter, and clearing the ground of all timber." Another petition was presented to the commissioners July 2 I, 1831, "Humbly representing that it would but conduce much to the public convenience if a county road was established between the following points, to-wit : Beginning at the west end of Main Cross Street, in the village of Findlay (at a point where West Street crosses Main Cross Street, - 87 - 88 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY at the residence of Mrs. Dr. Detwiler), thence on the nearest and best route to Solomon Foglesong's improvement on Toway Creek, thence on the nearest and best route in direction of Toway Village (now Ottawa, Putnam County), to the county line." This is now one of the best roads in the county. After these followed the location and opening up of the Tiffin, Port Clinton, New Haven, Lima and other important roads. In fact, for the first ten years after the organization of the county, the principal part of the business of the Board of Commissioners, was to receive petitions for, and confirm reports of reviewers and surveyor of county roads. Such has been the desire of the people, and the acts of the commissioners, that we have now public highways running by and bordering on almost every farm in the county, thus affording to everyone an easy and convenient means of communicating with his neighbors. The "Road from Fort Meigs, or the foot of the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake (Maumee), to Bellefontaine, opened December 11, 1829." This is the road now known as the Perrysburg and Bellefontaine state road, which crosses the county from north to south, and divides it into two almost equal parts. This road was laid out on and near "Hull's Trail." The commissioners of Wood County, on the 6th day of June, 1826, "Ordered that four hundred dollars of the road fund be appropriated for Hancock County, to be expended on the Urbana road in said county." This road was the Perrysburg and Bellefontaine road. BRIDGES. For many years the inhabitants of the county contented themselves by bridging the smaller streams and water courses, wherever abso lutely necessary, and then only with a temporary structure, barely answering the purpose of its building, without a thought of bridging the river. The latter seemed to them so immense an undertaking that no one dared mention such a project. In 1841, when it was seriously contemplated to build a bridge across the river at Findlay, the matter was deemed of so much importance, that this order was made : "Ordered that the auditor instruct the assesors to take the vote of the people as to the propriety of laying a tax of eight hundred dollars for building a bridge across Blanchard River in Findlay." How the voters of the county decided the matter does not appear by the records, but the inference is, that they "seconded the motion," for in March, 1842, the following resolution was passed by the county commissioners : "Resolved, That the auditor receive proposals for building two bridges across Blanchard River, one at Findlay, and the other at the crossing on the Fidlay and New Haven State road (known as the Marvin Bridge), until the first day of April next, agreeable to the plans now in this office, as submitted to the commissioners, one half the pay in January, 1843, and the other half in one year thereafter." On opening the bids, at a special session, January 7, 1843, for the completion of the extension of the bridge across the river at Findlay, it was found that James Robinson was the lowest bidder, and the contract was awarded to him. In the proceedings of the commissioners at a special session in March, 1843, it was "Ordered that the auditor of Hancock County, Ohio, inquire into the cause why the bridge across the Blanchard Fork of the Auglaize River, at Findlay, is not completed agreeable to contract by S. Carinn and H. Eaton, and if HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 89 no good cause is shown, institute a suit against said contractors, and employ counsel if necessary." June I, 1843, the commissioners "Ordered that the auditor of Hancock County enter a suit against the contractors of the bridge at Findlay, by the first of July next, if the same is not by that time finished to the satisfaction of the commissioners." It is fair to presume that the bridge was finished to the "satisfaction of the commissioners," as there is no record of a suit being brought. The bridge was a wooden structure, known as a trestle bridge, the superstructure being supported by wooden trestles, placed, perhaps, twenty feet apart. The finish was of the plainest kind, only ordinary railing, no cover, no paint. In 1850 the contract for a new and better bridge across the Blanchard, was let to Jesse Wheeler, William Klamroth and Edwin B. Vail, for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. It too, was a wooden structure, but of a different plan, not only more pretentious in appearance, but a much more substantial piece of work. It consisted of two spans, being supported at the ends by massive stone abutments, with a pier in the centre, of the same material. The sides were elevated, it being a truss-bridge and inclosed, and the whole covered with a shingle roof. There was a double track for wagons, with a foot path on either side. The bridge when finished and opened for travel, was regarded as a superb piece of work. But in time, this structure wore out, and decayed, and the business and travel of the county demanded a better bridge. One that would not only answer the purpose for which it should be intended, but which would also be an honor to the county, and an ornament to the county seat. In 1873 the old bridge was torn down and the Canton Iron Bridge Company, under contract with the county commissioners erected a substantial iron bridge, at a cost to the county of about thirteen thousand dollars. This bridge erected in 1873 was among the first iron bridges built in the county, and was allowed to do service until 1889 when it was removed to a point about a mile west of Miami Street, and re-erected over the river north of the cemetery. Previous to the building of any of these bridges, the river was crossed by canoes when too high for teams to be driven across. At the March session in 1839, John Byal, Aquilla Gilbert and Daniel Fairchild, commissioners, "Ordered that there be appropriated for building a bridge across Eagle Creek, at what is now called the Upper Ford, or where the Milmore and Findlay State road crosses the creek, the sum of ten dollars, provided, there is a good and sufficient bridge erected thereon before the first day of November next." This bridge was to be built where the Sandusky Street bridge now is. What would our friends in East Findlay, and in the eastern part of the county say to a ten dollar bridge at that place now. But they must remember, that when this order was passed, that the place designated for the bridge, was a considerable distance out in the country. In 1845, the sum of $940 was expended in the county for bridges. Numerous bridges, wooden structures, were built across the river at various times, and were gradually replaced by other and better structures, until now there are not less than thirteen good, substantial bridges spanning the Blanchard river within the limits of the county. Besides these, there are scores of smaller iron and wooden structures spanning the numerous creeks and water courses. The value of these bridges, is quite 90 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY considerable, and their convenience to the population, cannot be estimated. STEAM RAILROADS. On April 26th, 1839, at a special session of the county commissioners it was "Ordered that we, the commissioners, agree to subscribe one hundred shares, amounting to one hundred thousand dollars, to the capital stock of the Bellefontaine and Perrysburg Railroad, and that in our incorporate capacity, we will place our signatures to the books of the company for that amount. JOHN BYAL, DANIEL FAIRCHILD, Commissioners. With all our wealth and population, at the present, no such liberal terms towards any railroad project would be entertained by our commissioners. At the same meeting, for it seems that the commissioners meant business, it was ordered "That we appoint a special commissioner to negotiate the loan on the credit of the county, in the City of New York, or elsewhere, at the rate of interest not to exceed six per cent per annum,'' and it was "Ordered that Parlee Carlin be delegated our special agent, to negotiate the loan of one hundred thousand dollars which we have this day subscribed to the capital of the Bellefontaine and Perrysburg Railroad Company." Thus ends the history of this railroad, so far as this county is concerned. Like an innumerable number of such projects, it ended in talk, and futile resolutions and orders. In 1845 the railroad fever again broke out in the county, and the commissioners went earnestly to work to make some project a success. They were not wholly disappointed, for they set on foot a movement, which finally resulted in the building of the Findlay Branch of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, as it was then called. On the 4th day of March, 1845, George Shaw, Peter George and John Lafferty, commissioners, issued a proclamation to the qualified v0ters of Hancock County to vote at the election of the first Monday of April, 1845, for or against a proposition to subscribe to the capital stock of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad and that the auditor have said proclamation published in three newspapers published in Findlay, until the April election. The returns of said election were made and counted and certified as follows :

	For	Against
Washington Township Amanda Township Jackson Township Cass Township Findlay Township Eagle Township Van Buren Township Union Township Pleasant Township Big Lick Township Delaware Township Marion Township Portage Township Liberty Township Madison Township Orange Township Blanchard Township	6 30 40 31 243 67 6 121 44 55 1 107 65 120 17 102	135 87 50 83 4 39 36 4 2 26 121 5 61 5 64 41 1
Totals	1,055	784

On April 11, 1845, the commissioners, in their corporate capacity subscribed to the capital stock of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company, twelve hundred shares, of HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 91 fifty dollars a share, making in all, the sum of sixty thousand dollars. Wilson Vance, William Taylor, John Patterson and William Henderson were appointed agents to meet with the railroad company, and they were authorized to employ a special messenger to go to Perrysburg to get the bonds printed in a neat manner, at as reasonable a compensation as they could agree upon. On April 22, 1845, the commissioners, in special session, issued bonds for the sum of thirty thousand dollars, payable to the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company, as first payment of sixty thousand dollars subscribed. At the June session of the commissioners, John Ewing and Jacob Barnd were added to the railroad company commissioners. On September 11, 1845, the County Commissioners subscribed three hundred shares, amounting to fifteen thousand dollars, in addition to the sixty thousand dollars already subscribed. At the same time, Squire Carlin was appointed railroad commissioner in place of Jacob Barnd, deceased. On August 19, 1846, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company accepted the subscription of seventy-five thousand dollars, and agreed to build the road. On September 22, 1846, the Commissioners of the County appointed John Ewing, John Patterson and Hiram Smith Commissioners to manage its construction. The road, however, was not completed and put in operation until the latter part of December, 1849. This road, commencing at Findlay, takes a south-easterly course through Findlay, Marion and Amanda. Townships, to Carey, Wyandot County. It crosses the Blanchard River in Marion Township. It is about sixteen miles in length, and was originally constructed on a cheap plan. The iron rails were simply strap iron, as it was termed, laid on stringers, placed lengthwise on the roadbed. In this condition it remained for many years, always paying large dividends to the company, but furnishing very inferior accommodations to the county. Finally, however, by an arrangement entered into, between the officers of the road and the county commissioners, the company agreed to (and did) repair the road, lay the track with "T" rails, and build a passenger house at Findlay. In 1853, at the time the Dayton and Michigan Railroad project was under consideration, it was supposed, and perhaps promised, that Findlay should be one of the points on the route, and our people became enthusiastic over the matter. In July, 1853, the commissioners of the county subscribed one hundred thousand dollars to the capital stock of the company. A preliminary survey was made of the line, and we felt reasonably sure of the road. In this we were disappointed. The management, for some reason, selected a route farther west, missing this county entirely, and thus ended this railroad project, so far as Hancock County was concerned. The road was built on a line farther west, and has proved a paying investment, a good business road, but no more so than it would have been, had the route through our county been chosen. And the road would have been of immense advantage to us. After it was definitely settled that we were not to have the Dayton Michigan road, or about that time, a project to build a road 92 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY from Fremont, in Sandusky County, to Union City, a town on the line of Ohio, and Indiana, by way of Findlay and Lima began to be agitated. Henry Brown, Esq., the editor of the "Hancock Courier," of Findlay, taking the lead in the matter, and setting forth in glowing terms the advantage to be derived from such a line of road. Finally the matter took form and a company was organized and chartered under the name of the "Fremont and Indiana Railroad Company" to construct a road from Fremont, Ohio, to Union City, on the Indiana line, by way of Findlay and Lima. A survey of the route was made, which was decided to be practicable. Subscription books were opened, and stock readily subscribed. The principal stockholders in Findlay were Judge Corey, S. and P. Carlin and Bass Rowson. Judge Corey and Squire Carlin were directors. After much delay, caused by the difficulty in collecting subscriptions, and inability to procure iron, the road was not completed to Findlay until 1861. About this time, the company became embarrassed, and the road was sold. The purchasers organized a new line company, under the name of the "Fremont, Lima & Union Railroad Company," and this company, in 1865, consolidated with the Lake Erie & Pacific Railroad Company, under the name of the Lake Erie & Louisville R. R. Company, but the road was not completed and operated to Lima until about the winter of 1873. From that time until 1878 the road was operated, most of the time being in the hands of the receiver. Some shrewd eastern capitalists seeing the advantage of such a line, bought the road, and at once set themselves to work to develop its resourses. They extended the line from Celina, in Mercer County, Ohio, to Muncie, Indiana, thus making good western connections, also connecting with Chicago. The name of the road was changed to that of Lake Erie & Western, the better to erpress its intentions. Connections were sought and obtained with St. Louis. The road was extended from Frem0nt to Sandusky City, on Lake Erie, and to-day this is regarded as a "Trunk Line," and the business has brought it well up to the front. This road enters the county at Fostoria, in Secti0n 1, Washington Town -ship, then runs in a southwest direction, passing through the townships of Cass, Washingt0n, Marion, Findlay, Liberty, Eagle, Union and Orange, and crossing into Allen County at Bluffton. There is about twenty-five miles of the road in Hancock County, and its business at Findlay and other points, amounts to many thousands of dollars. The citizens of McComb and vicinity, having been several times disappointed in their expectations of the completion of the Continental Road, which had been graded thr0ugh their town, conceived the idea of building a line of roads to intersect the Dayton & Michigan at Deshler, about eight miles distant, went to work earnestly in the matter, and having made satisfactory arrangements with the Dayton & Michigan, organized a company to construct the McComb and Findlay Railroad. The work was pushed rapidly forward, and the road completed in January, 1881. About sixteen miles of this road is in Hancock County. The New York, Chicago & St. Louis com- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 93 pany was incorporated in 1880 to construct a line from Buffalo to Chicago, and having bought up the right of way and graded line of the "Continental Railway," extending from Tiffin, Ohio, to Ft. Wayne, Ind., built the road from Fostoria to Arcadia, where striking the Continental roadbed they followed it through McComb, and westward to Ft. Wayne and on to Chicago. Findlay made an effort to get this road into town, but it passes about four miles to the north, yet all trains are met at Mortimer by the Findlay street car service which delivers passengers from Findlay to Mortimer and vice versa. The McComb, Deshler & Toledo Railroad Company was incorporated June 2, 1879, by a number of McComb citizens, and on November 24, 188o, the first train ran into McComb. Later the branch was extended to Findlay and is now known as the C. H. & D. branch. The Toledo, Columbus & Southern railroad was chartered in May, 1881, and in the winter of 1881-2, the right of way was obtained from Toledo to Findlay. The work was commenced in the summer of 1882. The first rail was laid December 15th, and the first locomotive ran into Bowling Green from Toledo on Christmas day. January 3o, 1883, the connecting rail was laid some fifteen miles north of Findlay in Wood County, which connected Findlay with Toledo. The first through train came over the road from Toledo to Findlay February 7, 1883. The road extended south to Columbus in 1886. The Toledo & Ohio Central, as it is known, extends from Toledo to Corning, via Columbus, Ohio. The Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railroad was chartered March 9, 1881, and during the summer work was commenced. The road from Bluffton to Arlington was completed early in the fall of 1882, and in December the construction train reached Mt. Blanchard. Early in the spring of 1883 it run its trains to Carey. This line is now known as the Northern Ohio. The American Midland Railroad was commenced and constructed through the western part of this county in 1888. Its eastern terminus is Findlay, O., and the western terminus is Ft. Wayne, Ind. About 1902 the road passed into the hands of the C., H. & D., and just recently been purchased by the Baltimore & Ohio system. ELECTRIC ROADS. Findlay and Hancock County now have three electric interurban lines ; the Western Ohio from Lima; the Toledo, Bowlingreen and Southern from Findlay to Toledo via Bowlingreen, and the Toledo, Fostoria & Findlay, from Findlay to Toledo, via Fostoria. With seven points of ingress and egress by steam and three by electric roads Hancock County is fairly well provided for as to transportation of passengers and freight. CHAPTER VIII. THE COUNTY'S MILITARY RECORD. The War of 1812—The Mexican War—The Civil War—Spanish-American War. THE WAR OF 1812. Almost a century has passed since the arrogance of the English government in its dealings with this republic brought on the War of 1812. And though the struggle ended more than five years before the erection of this county, the territory embraced within the limits of the latter was directly affected in the earliest stages of the war. As the consequence of England's arbitrary action in enforcing the "right of search" in impressing American seamen; her restrictions upon commerce, and her instigations of revolt against the United States by the Indians, Congress on the 4th of June, 1812, passed a resolution declaring war against England; on the 17th of the same month the bill passed the senate, and two days afterwards President Madison issued the proclamation. Ohio had been preparing for the conflict, and troops had already begun assembling at Dayton, Springfield, Urbana and other points, in obedience to the call of Governor Meigs. General 'William Hull was appointed to the chief command of the state troops, and on June 16th the army left Urbana on its march toward the Maumee Rapids, Colonel Duncan McA r thur being ordered in advance to open a road through the forest from the Greenville Treaty Line to the Scioto River. Here they erected a fort comprised of two blockhouses and named it Fort McArthur, in honor of the officer whose regiment had opened the road. The rest of the army arrived at the fort June 19th; and on the 21st Colonel James Findlay was ordered to open the road as far as Blanchard's Fork. Proceeding on his mission, he arrived at a point just north of what is now the county line between Hancock and Hardin Counties. Here on account of rain and mud he was compelled to discontinue his march and erect a blockhouse, which was called Fort Necessity. This fort was constructed on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 36, Township 2, south, Range 10 east, Madison Township, now owned by Fannie Isenberger. It has been stated that this fort was erected about half a mile west of the Perrysburg and Bellefontaine state road. However, the government survey of 1819 locates the site of the fort within five chains (twenty rods) of the southwest quarter of Section 36, which is seven-eighths of a mile west of the above mentioned road. From this point Colonel Findlay moved to the Blanchard's Fork, and here erected a - 94 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 95 fort, which was named in honor of that officer. Here the army encamped for some time, while Colonel Findlay proceeded to advance and opened the road as far as the Maumee River. From Fort Necessity what is commonly known as "Hull's Trail," followed the west bank of the east branch of Eagle Creek to near its junction with the west branch, crossing the latter and continuing down the west side of Eagle Creek to Fort Findlay. Here it crossed the river, and thence ran northward, a short distance east of the Perrysburg and Bellefontaine state road, till reaching the highlands south of the middle branch of the Portage river; thence following the course of that stream northward, into what is now Wood County, and thence to the Maumee Rapids. Some pioneer settlers expressed doubt as to Fort Necessity being formed by erecting a Blockhouse, claiming they never heard it mentioned as other than a mud fort. But taking American State papers as authority, there evidently was a blockhouse of some sort erected at that place. General Hull on leaving Fort Findlay, left behind a small garrison under Captain Arthur Thomas, to complete and guard the fort, which was well calculated to successfully resist any ordinary force which might be brought against it. It stood on the south bank of the Blanchard River in Findlay, at what is now the northwest corner of Main and Front Streets, the southeast blockhouse being located on the site of the present Cusac block. The fort consisted of a stockade about ten feet in height, with a two-story blockhouse built of round logs, at each corner. The enclosure was fifty yards square, the entrance or gate being on the east side. A ditch surrounded the stockade, the earth from the excavation having been thrown up against the pickets to give them added strength. The outer walls of the blockhouses projected a short distance from the stockade and the upper story of each extended a few feet over the lower one, thus commanding the approaches from every direction. Each blockhouse was thoroughly loopholed and furnished with one piece of artillery. Within the enclosure a number of cabins for the use of the soldiers were erected along the stockade, the open space in the center being utilized as a parade ground. To guard against surprise from attacks of the enemy the forest was cleared off for a considerable distance on the south, east and west of the fort while the river on the north afforded a clear view. Some pioneer testimony has been formerly published showing some difference of opinion in regard to the number of blockhouses which Fort Findlay originally contained. The earliest settlers, however, testify to having seen three blockhouses in a fair state of preservation and the one at the northwest corner partly destroyed. Later corners noticed only the one standing at the southeast corner of the fort, which was used for some time by Wilson Vance as a stable. There is testimony showing, however, that when Mr. Benjamin Cox came to Fort Findlay, three of the blockhouses were still standing and were occupied by Wyandot Indian families. The probabilities are that the portions of the stockades and blockhouses which were not in existence when some of the later settlers arrived had been torn down and utilized for firewood and in erecting outbuildings. "The passing years have removed and utterly obliterated all traces of Fort Findlay, due no doubt to the rapid progress of civilization. But, 96 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY how sad, to think that where once stood one of the earliest structures which marked the first noble and daring stride toward civil liberty and Christian civilization, not even a wooden headboard is now visible to mark the solemn and sacred ground where died the noblest relic which ever graced the soil of our fair city, not as much on account of any great achievement that had ever been obtained, but from the motive which prompted its erection." In July, 1812, General Edward W. Tupper, of Gallia County, raised a force of i,000 men for six months' service, principally from Gallia, Lawrence and Jackson Counties, who, under orders of General Winchester, rendezvoused at Urbana. From there General Tupper followed Hull's trail to followedr , where he established hwse of supplies, and then marched northward to Fort Findlay. After a much needed rest, his command pushed on to the foot of the Maumee Rapids. The Indians appearing in force on the opposite bank of the Maumee River. Tupper attempted to cross the river and attack them, but the rapidity of the current and the feeble, half-starved condition of his men and horses rendered the attempt a failure. The enemy soon after took the offensive, and, crossing the Maumee, attacked the American camp, but were defeated and driven back with considerable loss. This defeat caused them to retreat hastily to Detroit and Tupper subsequently marched back to Fort Findlay and thence to Fort McArthur. The following anecdote in connection with the Fort, is found in "Howe's Historical Collection :" "About nine o'clock one dark and windy night in the late war, Captain William Oliver, in company with a Kentuckian, left Fort Meigs for Fort Findlay, on an errand of importance, the distance being about thirty-three miles. They had scarcely started on their dreary and perilous journey when they unexpectedly came upon an Indian camp, around the fires of which the Indians were busy cooking their supper. Disturbed by the noise of their approach, the savages sprang up and ran toward them. At this they reined their horses into the branches of a fallen tree. Fortunately the horses, as if conscious of the danger, stood perfectly still and the Indians passed around the tree without making any discovery in the thick darkness. At this juncture Oliver and his companion put spurs to their horses and dashed forward into the woods through which they passed all the way to their point of destination. They arrived safely, but with their clothing completely torn off by the branches and brushes, and their bodies bruised all over by coming in contact with the trees. They had scarcely arrived at the fort when the Indians in pursuit made their appearance, but too late, for their prey had escaped." During the occupation of Fort Findlay, which lasted until the spring of 1815, a man named Thorp kept a small sutler store immediately east of the fort. Soon after the war closed the fort was abandoned, and its garrison returned to peaceful avocations. THE MEXICAN WAR. The direct cause of the Mexican war was the disputed territory lying between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers, Texas, having won its independence, and been admitted into the union, claimed the Rio Grande as the boundary line, while the Mexican authorities disputed this claim, asserting that it was the Nueces river. The United States government proposed to settle the contro- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 97 versy by peaceful negotiations, but Mexico scornfully refused, and made threats of occupying the territory in dispute. To be prepared for any contingency, in March, 1846, General Taylor was ordered to advance to the Rio Grande with a few thousand men, which he had organized at Corpus Christi, near the mouth of the River Nueces. He erected Fort Brown opposite Matamoras, which was accepted by Mexico as a declaration of war, and on the l0th of April, 1846, General Arista, the Mexican commander on the Rio Grande, notified General Taylor that hostilities had begun. On the same day a small force of American cavalry was attacked by the Mexicans on the east side of the Rio Grande, and here occurred the first bloodshed of the war. Hancock County was then very thinly settled and when the call for troops reached this portion of Ohio the quota of the county was full. A company, however, was recruited from Hancock and Putman Counties and offered to the government, which replied that their services were not needed. However, a dozen or more from this county went to the war, but the greater part of them enlisted in outside companies and there being no enumeration returns to show just who went from this county, it is impossible to give a full list of names, but it is known that the following residents of this county enlisted : Allen Royce, H. Jeremiah Yates, Loami Farmer, and Dr. Wm. D. Carlin. Mr. Carlin was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the Fifteenth United States Regulars, April 9, 1847. But the surgeon having other duties which required the most of his time, Mr. Carlin, by active service, though not in name, filled the posi tion of surgeon. His commission was signed by James K. Polk, then president of the United States. The news of the victorious entry of the American Army under Scott into the City of Mexico, on September 14, 1847, which was hailed with patriotic enthusiasm all over the county, in spite of the adverse comment of some of the Whig leaders, who bitterly denounced the war, which they regarded as a party scheme for the extension of slavery. THE CIVIL WAR. The surrender of Fort Sumter, on April 14, 1861, marked the beginning of a new era in the history of our country. It brought to a final and decisive issue the long-vexed questions of State Rights and Slavery and inaugurated a crucial test by which the solidity and perpetuity of the republican form of government was to be definitely ascertained. The tension between the opposing parties in the nation had finally reached the breaking-point; the slender cord of mutual interest snapped, and, with desperate resolution on one side, and firm, resourceful, patriotic purpose on the other, the Titanic struggle was begun. Never since the days of the Revolution were the people of this county, this state, this nation so thoroughly aroused as when the news flashed over the wires of Major Anderson's capitulation. From all sections of the free states, regardless of political affiliations, voices went up with fierce determination to defend and preserve the Union. Volunteer companies sprang into existence as if by magic, and large amounts were contributed by state legislatures, private corporations and individuals to defray the expenses of the coming struggle for national unity, Hancock county was in harmony with 98 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY the patriotic sentiments of the nation and enthusiastic expressions of loyalty to our time-honored flag fell from the lips of old and young. Findlay, being the county seat, was the principal point where public sentiment found outward expression and the action taken here will serve to illustrate the patriotism of the people throughout the county. Early on the morning of April 17, 1861, a few national flags were thrown out to the breeze, the sight of which seemed to kindle a patriotic fire in every heart. Presently a large American banner was suspended across Main Street from the court house to Reed's Hotel. The town soon began to present a lively appearance, and when the band headed by the Stars and Stripes commenced promenading Main Street the martial spirit in many loyal hearts broke forth in cheers. About 10 o'clock a. m., a cannon, owned by the local Democratic organization, was brought forth and accompanied by several hundred citizens on foot and horseback was taken across the river and a salute of thirty-four shots fired in honor of the Union. Enthusiasm was abundant, and party lines were entirely forgotten. Towards noon another large banner was suspended across Main Street, and flags of every size were floating from nearly every business block and numerous private residences. Two liberty poles were raised in the afternoon on the opposite corners of Main and Main Cross Streets and the American flag run up on each. Afterwards other poles were raised from fifty to eighty feet in height and mounted with the Stars and Stripes. On the following afternoon, pursuant to a call issued April 17th, an enthusiastic assemblage of citizens convened at the court house. Edson Goit was made chairman and Philip Ford and S. J. Mills appointed secretaries. Mr. Goit on taking the chair delivered a patriotic speech, which was frequently interrupted by outbursts of applause. He said the government should be sustained at all hazards and the man who in this emergency opposed the execution of the laws should be denounced as a traitor. On motion of J. M. Palmer, a committee consisting of Messrs. Aaron Blackford, J. M. Palmer, A. P. Byal, W. W. Siddall and Israel Green was appointed to draft resolutions expressing the sentiment of the meeting. During the absence of the committee the enthusiasm was kept at fever heat by patriotic soul-stirring and at the same time appropriate music and speeches. The band played Hail Columbia, and the Star Spangled Banner was called for and sung by Messrs. N. Y. Mifford, Dwella M. Stoughton and William Mungen, the vast audience rising and joining in the chorus. Cheers were given after each verse by the assembled multitude till the very building seemed to join in the enthusiastic patriotism of the people and echo back their sentiments. A brief speech was made by James A. Bope, denouncing treason and secession and calling upon all to rally around the flag. Amidst frequent applause William Mungen declared himself "in favor of our country, right or wrong." The time, he said, was now past for party questions, and as a Democrat of the strictest school, he asserted that in the present alarming condition of the country, political questions should be forgotten. William Gribben, who followed, said that armed traitors had conspired together for the destruction of our government, that our national flag had 'been insulted and trampled upon by the enemies of our country, and declared that the honor of the glorious old banner should be up-