HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 75 ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. BY REV. ARTHUR DUMPER. The earliest record of this parish, a little faded bit of paper now preserved in the Firelands Historical Rooms, is dated January 20, 1821, at Norwalk. It declares that a meeting for organizing an Episcopal church was presided over by Platt Benedict, Esq., and that William Gardner was elected clerk. The following gentlemen thereupon enrolled themselves as members and friends of the Protestant Episcopal church : Platt Benedict, Luke Keeler, Amos Woodward, William Gardner, Ami Keeler, William Woodward, Gurdon Woodward, Ezra Sprague, Enos Gilbert, John Keeler, John Boalt, Samuel Sparrow, Asa Sanford, Henry Hurlbut, E. Lane, William Gallup, D. Gibbs and Moses Sowers. The parish was organized under the name, St. Paul's. In the year 1818 the first public religious service in Norwalk was conducted in the log shanty of Platt Benedict. It consisted of the service of the Episcopal church together with the reading of a sermon by a layman. Two years later this congregation was holding services regularly every Lord's day in the court house. The old church building now standing in the rear of the new church was erected in 1835 ; and enlarged first in the rectorship of E. Winthrop and again, in the incumbency of the late Rev. Royal Balcom. The first service of the holy communion was celebrated by the Rev. Roger Searle, February 17, 1822. The first annual parish meeting was held on Easter Monday, 1821. The first Episcopal visitation was that of Bishop Philander Chase, the founder of Kenyon College, on Sunday, August 14, 1825. The succession of ministers who have served the parish is as follows: The Rev. Roger Searle, the Rev. C. P. Bronson, the Rev. John P. Bausman, the Rev. Ephraim Punderson, the Rev. Anson Clarke, the Rev. J. J. Okill, the Rev. Alvon Guion, the Rev. Sabin Hough, the Rev. Edward Winthrop, the Rev. George W. Watson, the Rev. Henry Tullidge, the Rev. William Newton, the Rev. H. H. Morrell, the Rev. Royal B. Balcom, the Rev. Charles S. Ayes and the Rev. Arthur Dumper. Splendid laymen and women, an illustrious line beginning with Platt Benedict, have been and still are identified with St. Paul's church ; names prominent and influential in the founding and upbuilding of the city ; men and women whose labors and virtues live fruitfully after them. The present rector of the parish is the Rev. Arthur Dumper who began his labors here in 1903. In the last few years Benedict Chapel has been enlarged and its interior remodeled for parish house purposes. The cornerstone of the new church, a, stately Gothic structure of stone, was laid on the fifteenth of November, 1908. It will have a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty, and exclusive of furnishings and memorial gifts will cost about fifty thousand dollars. The church is in a flourishing condition with bright prospects for the future. THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. BY MR. L. L. SNOOK. The First Congregational church of Norwalk, Ohio, was organized at the court house in Norwalk, December 19, 1867, under the labors of Rev. A. S. Walsh. 76 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The number of original members was fifty-four, mostly drawn from the "old Congregational church of Bronson township, which was thereby disbanded. For more than three years the infant church was without a sanctuary. A part of this time it worshiped in the court house, and during the remainder was the guest of its sisters, the Protestant Episcopal and Baptist churches, whose hospitality deserves kind remembrance. In 1868 the old hotel known as the Gauff House (standing where the church now stands), was purchased, and thither the prayer meeting, previously held at private houses, was removed. Many a hallowed hour, now tenderly remembered, was passed in those rooms, formerly the scene of drunken revels. Here also the Sunday school was organized. The new church was completed early in 1871 and dedicated February 2nd of that year. The cost of the building and lot was about sixteen thousand dollars, Several thousand dollars' debt remained after the dedication, which proved a heavy and almost insupportable burden for many years. At last, in October, 1878, with the aid of Mr. Edward Kimball, the entire amount was subscribed. and by May 1, 1880, the last dollar was paid and the church has since been free from debt. THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. BY MR. H. S. CLAPP. The Universalist church of Norwalk, Ohio, was organized on the third Sunday in January, 1869, with twenty-seven members. A little more than a year before this time, Dr. H. L. Canfield, who was then preaching in Peru, began holding services in Norwalk, where he thought there was an opportunity to establish a church. From such beginnings, small in every way except the faith and courage of Dr. Canfield, has grown the Universalist church of Norwalk. In April, 1868, a Sunday school was organized with four scholars which was increased to fifty in less than a year. Among the twenty-seven charter members of the church are the names of such well known old time residents of Norwalk as William A. Mack, Frederick Sears, Samuel Wilkinson, Aro D. Clapp, George Gauff, Sterry Cole, Addison Sigourney, Sarah E. Dunbar and Catherine E. Rose. The first officers of the church were Frederick Sears, William A. Mack, A. D. Clapp, b. A. Baker and Frederick Wickham, trustees. Rev. H. L. Canfield, moderator. A. B. Hanna- ford, clerk. Mrs. Hiram Rose, treasurer. W. A. Mack and S. Wilkinson, deacons. When the church was fairly established, steps were taken to build a church edifice but it was not until December, 1872, that the church was completed. On Sunday, December 8th, it was formally dedicated. Since that time, we will let the work of the church speak for itself. ST. PETER'S ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH. BY REV. H. G. SUTTER. Congregation organized in January, 1901, by Rev. W. F. Rose, and served by him until Easter, 1902. From then until Easter, 1907, it was served by Rev. 0. T. F. Tressel. From December, 1907, until now, by Rev. H. G. Sutter Church property purchased and remodeled in 1902. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 77 ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. BY REV. P. J. QUINN. St. Mary’s congregation was organized in the summer of 1856 and its first pastor was Rev. Narcissus Ponchell. Prior to Easter Sunday, 1859, when mass was said for the first time in the newly completed church of St. Mary's, corner of Milan and St. Mary streets, the English speaking Catholics of Norwalk and vicinity chose to worship in St. Alphonsus church of Peru, and later in old St. Peter's Norwalk. The founding of St. Maryls was a great help to Catholics in Norwalk. It put the faith and practices of Catholics in a clearer light. The language of the country was spoken from its pulpit and those outside its fold, whom chance or impulse brought to attend the services, usually went away with a clearer conception of the motives and practices of his fellow Catholic citizens. The congregation grew and prospered until it became necessary to build a larger edifice. A new site was chosen at the corner of State and League streets, which is today graced by one of the most beautiful church edifices in Norwalk. Adjacent to the church stands the new stone parsonage, a type of Norwalk's recent handsome and substantial residences. A parochial school and sisters' house also adorn the property. The pastors who served St. Mary's have been deservedly popular with all classes in Norwalk, being held in high esteem for their piety, prudence, and ability. The following clergymen served at the altar of St. Mary's : Rev. Narcissus Ponchell, 186o; Rev. John Quinn, 1864 ; Rt. Rev. T. P. Thorp, 1868 ; Rev. T. F. Hally, 1884 ; Rev. C. V. Cheveraux, 1897; Rev. Jas. J. Quinn, m00 ; Rev. Francis Malloy, 19o3 ; Rev. P. J. Quinn, present pastor. ST. PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. BY REV. JOHN A. SCHAFFELD. The pioneers in the religious field m the territory now called Huron county, Ohio, of which our beautiful city, Norwalk, is the county seat, were the early French missionary priests. These men, well versed not only in the science of religion, but also of the difficult art of topography, thoroughly explored the immense regions of the Great Lakes. The Huron Indians had attracted the attention of the French priests at Quebec. This tribe was then located a few miles below the site of the present city of Detroit. From Quebec, missionaries were sent out to them, but effected little owing to the roving disposition of this tribe. This roving disposition accounts for the name of our county. For, dissatisfied with their hunting grounds at Detroit, a large part of the tribe pushed along the southern shore of Lake Erie and located at Sandusky Bay, which name owes its origin to the Huron Indian word, "Ootsandooske," meaning, "there the water is pure." From the bay they spread to the south into what now constitutes our county-hence the name, Huron county. The French missionaries followed the Indians in this migration, and worked zealously among them. Their journals state that this particular tribe was of very unsteady habits, being much inclined to intemperance and other excesses. The Rev. Father Potier and the Rev. Father De la Richardie took charge of the 78 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Huron mission. Both of these priests labored in what is now Huron count and where Norwalk now stands. The first Christian religious service held this territory was held' by Father Potier, m 1749, who in that year began h. regular visits to the Indians of this county. From this decidedly humble beginning, the present large and prosperous S Paul's church and congregation have gradually developed. Three churches they built, only in turn to find them too small for their ever increasing numbers. Old St. Peterls, at the west end of Main street, built 1840; New St. Peter's, on Hester street, built 1868; Old St. Paul's, at the corner of Wooster and Monroe streets, built in 1876. Finding that even their third building would no longer answer the demands made upon it by the ever growing congregation, it, was decided to build a monumental building amply large for the future. The result of that determination is the new St. Paul's, the noble, beautiful structure of white limestone and Lake Superior red stone that now graces the corner of Main and Wooster streets. Nor is this all. Urged on by the conviction that education can never be real ,.education unless it educates the heart as well as the mind; that education, divorced from religion, is incomplete ; that the child must be trained in his duties towards God, his country, his parents and his neighbors as thoroughly and as well as in the three R's, this congregation has from the very beginning, built and maintained splendid parochial schools, ever since the year 1858. The present school is the pride of the palish. From it, many of Nor- walk's noblest men and grandest women have graduated. Not only are all the ordinary common school branches taught, but thorough, practical instruction is also given in the commercial branches, bookkeeping, shorthand and typewriting, Added to this, there is an art department, in which drawing, painting in oil and water colors, crayon and pastel work are taught. A complete course in needlework, plain and ornamental, has been established for the girls. The Sisters of Notre Dame, who enjoy a very high reputation as teachers, have charge of St. Paul's school. The art exhibitions of this school, held annually, are noted for their lavish display of truly artistic work. The number of pupils is three hundred and twenty-five. HURON COUNTY HOME FOR THE AGED AND INFIRM. BY GEORGE MORDOFF, EX-SUPERINTENDENT. The old title "Poor House" would seem altogether ridiculous if applied to the modern "County Home" buildings pictured above. At the State Conference of Charities and Corrections, the Huron county institution is looked upon as a model, a fact of which every citizen should feel proud. The modern methods, employed by the management of county institutions, Seek to make better men and women of the inmates, and they are in no sense a retreat for criminals and dissipated characters, as they were once looked upon as being. Sixty or more citizens of Huron county are given a real home— at least as real as institutional methods will permit. Respects for "The Rights of Others" is the governing rule. The land value of Huron county's home is twenty-five thousand, five hundred dollars, consisting of two hundred and four acres. The building value, forty 79 - PHOTOS OF ST. PAUL’S AND ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCHES 80 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 81 three thousand dollars. Live stock value, three thousand, one hundred and forty-six dollars, and other items of inventory bring the total value to seventy-four thousand, three hundred and fifty-nine dollars. The farm produces as follows : Consumed by inmates, produce valued at four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one dollars. Live stock sold, value, three hundred and ninety-eight dollars. Produce sold, eight hundred and eighty- five dollars. Total value of farm products, six thousand and four dollars. NORWALK ACADEMY. In October, 1826, an association of individuals was organized under the name of ''The President, Trustees, etc., of the Norwalk Academy." A three-story brick building was erected on the site of our present high school. In October, 1829, the academy was consolidated with the district schools with John Kennan as principal. In the museum of the Firelands Historical Society may be seen a catalogue of the officers and students of Norwalk academy under date of March 17, 1829. Trustees : Platt Benedict, president, Timothy Baker, Deverett Bradley, William Gallup, Henry Buckingham, Thaddeus B. Sturgess, Obadiah Jenney. John Kennan, principal. Nathan G. Sherman, Levina Lindsey, assistants. NORWALK SEMINARY. On the eleventh of November, 1833, the Norwalk seminary was opened in the Academy building under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church, with Rev. Jonathan E. Chaplin as principal. The seminary burned February 26, 1836: was rebuilt in 1838, and closed in January, 1846, and the whole property sold under execution in favor of the builders. Reopened as Norwalk Institute in August, 1846, under the auspices of the Baptists of Norwalk. NORWALK INSTITUTE. Rev. Jeremiah Hall was the first principal of the "Institute," and was succeeded by A. S. Hutchins, who continued as principal until 1855, when the institute ceased to exist by reason of the Akron School Law providing for graded public schools. NORWALK HIGH SCHOOL. In March, 1855, the school board purchased the brick building occupied by. the Norwalk institute, to be used as a central and high school building for the district. The purchase price was three thousand, five hundred dollars, which embraced the entire square occupied by the present beautiful high school building, a small library and some apparatus. In 1884 the central school building was erected at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars. The first graduate of the high school was Sarah E. Wilkinson in 1861. The largest class graduated is the class of 1905, numbering eighteen young men and sixteen young women. In all two 82 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY hundred and thirty-one young men and three hundred and ninety-five yo women have, been graduated from the Norwalk high school. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HURON COUNTY. BY F. O. RONK, COUNTY AUDITOR. Huron county, Ohio, was organized in 1815 and embraced all the territo now included in Huron and Erie counties, having an area of five hundred the, sand acres. The first session of the county commissioners was held August .1815, at David Abbott's, the county seat then being at Avery or in Wheatborough township near Milan. The first county commissioners were Caleb Charles Parker and Eli S. Barnum. The first county treasurer was Abijah Comstock. Previous to 1816 the nearest postoffice was Huron. In that year Dr. Joseph Pierce was appointed postmaster and a postoffice established at Norwalk in the Benjamin Newcome house located on what is now known as the Asher Cole farm south of the old waterworks. The county seat was transferred to Norwalk in 1818. The voting population in 1818 was fifty-six., The first tax duplicate which included the territory now embraced by Huron and Erie counties was one hundred ninety-two dollars and forty cents. Huron county was divided into Huron 'and Erie counties in 1838. From this primitive beginning, Huron county ha grown to be one of the wealthiest and most progressive counties of the state, Her present population is now about thirty-five thousand with a tax duplicate of five hundred forty-six thousand, five hundred and seventy-two dollars. Sixty miles of modern stone and gravel roads have been constructed and this mileage is being added to rapidly. Nine steam railroads cross the county, several of them having large shops located in this county, bringing their taxable value up to two million, five hundred and forty-eight thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven dollars. Three electric railroads come within the county, with a taxable value of one hundred ninety-one thousand, six hundred and thirty-two dollars. Sixteen substantial banks enjoy the confidence of our citizens who have deposits therein amounting to five million dollars. The old courthouse which was built in 1818 was located on the same ground as the present courthouse. It was rebuilt in 1873 and was thoroughly remodeled in 1908. The old jail, which was built in 1819, occupied the same ground which the Taber block stands. The present building was erected in 1887. THE NORWALK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. BY C. F. JACKSON, PRESIDENT. Inspired by the success of organized effort in the upbuilding of communities the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1908 to strengthen develop the interest of Norwalk and to bring more business to its commercial and industrial enterprises. Through its committees, the manufacturers, the retailers and the financial interests are equally represented. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 83 It is the business of the Chamber of Commerce to develop cooperation. Although its individual members may be competitors in certain lines, that does not prevent cooperation along lines of mutual interest, and so far, harmonious united effort of members and committees has prevailed. It is the purpose of this organization to assist in securing new industries for Norwalk, not by bonuses, but by showing Norwalk's superior advantages, that it is the best location economically for certain lines of manufacture when a superior degree of intelligence, sobriety and thrift is required of its laborers. The Chamber of Commerce believes that it is the duty of influential men of this community to study the signs of the times—to assume the responsibility of the solutions of problems of the day—to devote their energies to the commercial, civic, social and esthetic development of the city-to have as their aim the ideal Norwalk. NORWALK OF TODAY FROM A MUNICIPAL STANDPOINT. BY MAYOR C. P. VENUS. The city of Norwalk with a population of about ten thousand people surrounded by a rich agricultural county, with a conservative, intelligent population, is a surprisingly resourceful municipality and is abundantly able to care for its own under any and all circumstances. Every municipality is judged somewhat by its municipal officers and their administration of its business. Our police and fire departments have always been maintained in such a manner, that for efficiency and high standard, they are recognized as among the best in any city regardless of size. And fibre fact that for nearly a score of years back, almost without exception, the city tax rate has been the lowest of any of the municipal tax levies of the neighboring corporations, speaks for the business methods and judgment of other officers louder than any words here could. The growth of the city is keeping pace with the demands of the day. Many new dwellings have been completed or are in process of construction, and right now the demand for houses to rent is at flood tide, and all modern dwellings offered for rent are immediately occupied. During the past year, several new stores have been added, besides large additions to The Glass Block ; a magnificent hotel, The Avalon, being finished to meet Norwalk’s increasing commercial demands, and when completed this hostelry will be one of the finest between Cleveland and Toledo, a credit to its proprietors and to the Maple City. The new Wheeling & Lake Erie shops are today employing more men than ever before. The A. B. Chase Piano Co: and the Gallup-Ruffing Co. have constructed large additions to their plants. Norwalk is planning and accomplishing for the future, by keeping pace with this steady increase in our business interests. We take a just pride in our water supply, which is wholesome and sufficient for double the present demands. Norwalk has well under way a complete and perfect sewerage system, which includes a disposal plant. Forty thousand dollars was expended last year for new sewers, which are a part of the proposed plant. 84 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY City streets are covered with eleven miles of fine brick pavement, and quite a large amount of pavement is under way which will be completed before the end of 1909. The credit for the wholesome condition of the municipality of Norwalk belongs to our splendid citizenship, in which we all claim a common share. \Our shipping facilities are of the best, having the main lines of the L. S, & M. S. and W. & L. E. Railways, and we are one of the largest traction line centers in the country, over one hundred and twenty-five interurban electric cars in and out of Norwalk every twenty-four hours. Norwalk is an ideal place in which to make one's home. Its natural beauty and high standard of citizenship of which we boast makes an invitation to come to Norwalk almost irresistible to the business man, commercial traveler, mechanic or manufacturer, as well as the man who is able to retire and live out his days with most pleasant. and agreeable surroundings. THE INDIANS OF THE FIRELANDS. The Indians found the prairie and woodlands of the Firelands abounding in game, but many years have elapsed since the last red man hunted within the borders of Huron county. Seneca John was accustomed to hunt in the southern and western parts of Huron county. The early settlers of that region always gave him a cordial welcome, and some of them have placed on record their appreciation of his character. He could speak but little English, but was always friendly to the settlers, and was brave, honest, and trustworthy. Ogontz was better known in the region of Sandusky, which was one of his favorite resorts at certain seasons of the year, for the purpose of fishing and hunting, and that locality was for years known, by reason of this fact, as "Ogontz place." The tragedy which ended the life of each of these hunter and warrior chiefs, illustrates the sanguinary character of their race. Seneca John was accused of witchcraft, and having been condemned by his own tribe, was unhesitatingly slain—his own brother being the executioner. Ogontz, years before his death, had killed, in self defense, a rival chief, and had adopted the latter's son who, even in his boyhood, cherished a desire to avenge his father's death. The boy grew up, and when the opportunity offered, took the life of Ogontz, who had been a second father to him. It is a mystery how, in this northern climate, the Indians obtained the means of living through the winter. Even those tribes who did not despise agricultural tilled the soil in a superficial way, and often had short crops. In such a season, their chief dependence was on fish and game, and even these must at times have failed them. The Indian's daily work was hunting and trapping game, when he was not on the war trail, seeking the scalps of his enemies. According to Seneca John, the hunting grounds were, by agreement, allotted among the tribes, and, doubtless, encroachments on one another's territory and disputes as to boundaries, were the fruitful causes of quarrels and bloodshed. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 85 In the autumn of every year the prairies were burned over, that the abundant deer might be more easily tracked' and hunted over the bare and blackened soil. While the young men were engaged in such pursuits, the other members of the tribes remained at home. The squaws, meanwhile, tied up their little pappooses in bark cradles, which they hung from the limbs of trees, to be rocked by the passing wind while they toiled with sweating faces and aching backs. THE SETTLEMENT OF HURON COUNTY. WRITTEN FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, JUNE 17, 1896, BY I. M. GILLETTE, OF NORWALK. Eighty-seven years ago, there came away from the shores of the Atlantic, in the state of Connecticut, a little party of three men. This adventurous band left home and civilization, faced the perils of a journey of over six hundred miles, and endured the hardships and toils of making a new home in the wilderness of a strange land. About eight weeks from their departure, these pioneers arrived at their destination, in the wilds of the Firelands, now Huron county. In these vast woods the blows of the settler's ax had never resounded ; through their branches the smoke from the settler's cabin had never curled. Here roamed the deer, and the bear; and here the silence of the midnight hour was broken by the howling of the wolf and the whoop of the hostile Indian. They built their cabin and began the clearing of their lands. After awhile others came in, consisting of families of men, women and children. Some of the men were farmers, some were skilled in trades and professions. The women were neat and industrious housewives, and diligent workers at the spinning wheel and the loom. These pioneers began the great work of converting a forest into a home, by felling, trees, building houses and cutting out roads; and all through the season, there was busy work in this wilderness. The primeval forest rang from morn till eve, with the blows of the ax. New clearings opened out, and new log houses rolled up on every hand. And the work has gone happily on to this day. Rustic bedsteads, chairs, tables, and the omnipresent cradle, made their appearance in every house ; and industry and ingenuity soon transformed every log cabin into a home. The winters were safely and comfortably passed by the pioneers. Their fires crackled brightly and the festivities of Christmas time were observed as joyously in this Fireland forest, as in the old far-away home. One great cause of the success of this country was the active help the women rendered their husbands. Every wife was indeed a helpmeet. She not only (lid the housework, but helped her husband in the clearings, amid the blackened stumps and logs. And thus Huron county has ever continued to meet the fondest anticipations of its friends. Its career from the beginmng to this day, has been one of con- 86 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY stant and unceasing growth, development and progress. It has never taken step backward. Those of you who never lived in the backwoods, can have no adequate conception of the vast labor and toil undergone in this wilderness, to create the results which you see all around you. A settler's first years in the woods are a continued fight, hand to hand, with savage nature, for existence. It is pleasant for us today, to look out upon the broad fields, green with the growing crops but do we know, can we calculate, how many blows of the ax, how many d of sweat, have been expended in turning each one of these broad acres of land from forest to farm ? Huron county's story forms an important chapter in the history of Ohio. That story I would love fully to recount to you step by step on this festal day, when she celebrates her eighty-seventh anniversary. I would fain tell of its organization, and that of the townships ; and of the rise and progress of its churches ; the building of its houses of its worship; of schools, and the thorough work they have accomplished ; of the establishment of mills and factories ; how year after year the forest had been felled, and the chopping of blackened stumps have been transformed into smooth fields of waving grain ; how the log cabins have been replaced by substantial and fine residences, large barns, fruitful orchards and bountiful crops. All this I have and much more I would be glad to recite in detail to you, but the sun of this long summer day would set before half could be told, so I will conclude by saying of our pioneer fathers and mothers who sleep in yonder graveyard, that their noble deeds will not be forgotten so long as the history of the Firelands is rehearsed among men. INDIAN HABITS AND CUSTOMS. The Indians were always the allies of the British as against Americans, and as to their treachery and deceit all the white settlers could have attested. They professed to be friendly to the pioneers until about the breaking out of the war with Great Britain, when they joined with the English to destroy the whites. Some of the customs, manners, etc, of the Indians may be of interest here The manners, customs, feats, war parties and daily life of these sons of the forest form interesting chapters in aboriginal history. The character of the Indians was largely the result of their lives. They judged and lived by what the senses dictated. They had names and words for what they could hear, see, feel, taste and smell. They had no conceptions of abstract ideas until they learned such from the whites. Hence their language was very symbolical. They could see the sun in its brightness, they could feel his heat ; hence they compared the actions of a good man to the glory of the sun, and his fervent energy to the heat of that body. The moon in her brightness, the wind in its fury, the clouds in their majesty, or in their slow, graceful motion through a lazy atmosphere; the grace and flight of the deer ; the strength and fury of the bear ; the rush or ripple of water as it coursed along the bed of a river, all gave them words whose expressiveness are a wonder and marvel to this day. They looked on the beautiful river that borders the southern shores of our state. Their cabins or wigwam were of two kinds—circular and parallelogram. The former, the true wigwam HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 87 was in use when the whites came to this country. It was made of a number of straight poles driven firmly into the ground, their upper ends being drawn closely together ; this formed a kind of a skeleton tent. The squaws plaited mats of thongs, bark or grass, in such a manner as to render them impervious to water. These were spread on the poles, beginning at the bottom, and extending upward. A small hole was left for the egress of smoke from the fire kindled in the center of the wigwam. Around this fire, mats or skins were spread, on which the Indians slept at night, and on which they sat during the day. For a door they lifted one end of the mat, and crept in, letting it fall down behind them. These tents were warm and dry, and generally quite free from smoke. Their fuel was nearly always split by the squaws in the fall of the year, and sometimes kept dry by placing it under an inverted birch-bark canoe. These wigwams were easily moved about from place to place, the labor of their destruction and construction being always performed by the squaws-the beasts of burden among all savage nations. The wigwam was very light, and easily carried about. It resembled the tents of today in shape, and was often Superior in point of comfort and protection. The cabins were more substantial affairs, and were built of poles, about the thickness of a small sized telegraph pole, but were of various sizes, and commonly, about twelve or fifteen feet in length. The skin of a fat bear was a great prize to an Indian. It made him an excellent couch on which to sleep, or a cloak to wear. His flesh was supposed to impart bravery to those who ate it, hence when dipped in sweetened bear's fat, it was considered an excellent dish, and one often offered to friends. Venison, prepared the same way, was also considered a dish fit for the most royal visitors ; a hospitality always extended to all who came to the camp, and if not accepted the donor was sure to be offended. They used vessels made of elm bark to carry water in. They would strip the bark in the winter season when it would strip or run, by cutting down the tree, and, with a crooked stick, sharp and broad at one end, peel the bark in wide strips, from which they would construct vessels holding two or three gallons each. They would often make over a hundred of these. They cut a sloping notch in the side of a sugar-tree, stuck a tomahawk into the wood at the end of the notch, and, in the dent thus made, drove a long chip or spile, which conveyed the water to the bark vessels. They generally selected the larger trees for tapping, as they considered the sap from such stronger and productive of more sugar. Their vessels for carrying the sap would hold from three to five gallons each, and sometimes, where a large camp was located and a number of squaws at work: using a half-dozen kettles, great quantities of sugar would be made. When the sugar-water would collect faster than they could boil it, they would make three: or four large troughs," holding more than a hundred gallons each, in which they kept the sap until ready to boil. When the sugar was made, it was . generally mixed with bear's oil or fat, forming a sweet mixture into which they dipped their roasted venison. As cleanliness was not a reigning virtue among the Indians, the cultivated taste of a civilized person would not always fancy the mixture, unless driven to it by hunger. The compound, when made, was generally kept in large bags made of coon skins, or vessels made of bark, The 88 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY former were made by stripping the skin over the body toward the head, tying the holes made by the legs with buckskin cords, and sewing securely the holes of the eyes, ears and mouth. The hair was all removed, and then the bag blown full of air, from a hole in the upper end, and allowed to dry. Bags made in this way would hold whiskey, and were often used for such purposes. When they became saturated they were blown full of air again, the hole plugged, and they were left to dry. Sometimes the head was cut off without stripping the ,skin from it, and the skin of the neck gathered in folds like a purse, below which a string was tied and fastened with a pin. Skin vessels are not indigenous to the natives of America. Corn was their principal crop, and was raised entirely by the squaws. When the season for planting drew near, the women cleared a spot of rich alluvial soil, and dug over the ground in a rude manner with their hoes In planting the corn they followed lines, to a certain extent, thus forming rows each way across the field. When the corn began to grow, they cultivated it with wonderful industry, until it had matured sufficiently for use. PIONEER GATHERINGS. ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT NORWALK OHIO, JUNE 27, 1900, BY A. J. BAUGHMAN, OF MANSFIELD. It may be interesting to the younger as well as to the older class of peopl to recall some of the industrial, social and religious gatherings of the pioneer of Ohio. In the early settlement of the country there were cabin and barn raisings log-rollings, wood-choppings, corn-huskings, and sewing and quilting partie and at such gatherings, utility and amusements were usually blended. Rich and poor then met upon lines of social equality, and the old and the young mingled together in those old-time gatherings. The pioneers were helpful to each other, not only in "raisings" and "rolling, requiring a force of men, but also in other ways. If a settler was incapacitated from work by sickness or other cause, his neighbors set a day and gathered in force and plowed his corn, harvested his grain, or cut his wood for the winter, as the season or occasion required. And when a pig or a calf or a sheep was killed, a piece of the same was sent to the several families in the neighborhood each of whom reciprocated in kind, and in this neighborly way all had fresh meats the greater part of the summer. Corn-huskings were great occasions. Sometimes the corn ears were stripped from the stalks and hauled to a favorable place and put in parallel or semi circular windrows, convenient for the huskers. Moonlight nights were usually for husking-bees, and sometimes bonfire lights were improvised. After ed, captains were selected who chose the men off into two which competed in the work, each trying to finish its row of the winning squad would then be carried around on the men, amid their triumphal cheers, and then the bottle would (miss print on this page leaving the lower left corner blank) 89 - PHOTO - WEST MAIIN STREET, NEW LONDON 90 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 91 Women also attended these pioneer gatherings and sometimes assisted at the husking, but more frequently were engaged in the early evening in quilting or sewing, or in helping to prepare the great supper-feast that was served after the work was done. There was a rule that a young man could kiss a girl for each red ear of corn found at a husking, and it goes without the saying that all the girls were kissed, some of them several times, for it was surprising how many red ears were found— so many, that the number was prima facie evidence that some of the boys went to the huskings with their pockets full of red corn ears. Nearly all the pioneer gatherings wound up after supper with dancing, in which the old joined as well as the young, and when a fiddler could not be obtained, music for the occasion was furnished by some one blowing on a leaf, or by whistling "dancing tunes." The dancing then was more vigorous than artistic, perhaps, for the people were robust in those days, effeminacy not becoming fashionable until later years. The pioneers were industrious people. The situation required that the men must chop and grub and clear the land ere they could plow and sow and reap. And the women had to card and spin and knit and weave and make garments for their families, in addition to their household work. A pioneer minister's wife in telling about her work upon a 'certain occasion, said : "I've made a pair of pants and a bed-tick, and washed and ironed, and baked six pies today." Wool had to be carded into rolls by hand, and after the rolls had been spun into yarn and the yarn woven into flannel, the product of the loom had to be "fulled" into thicker cloth for men's wear. As this was a hand or rather a foot process, it necessitated "fulling" or "kicking" parties. Upon such occasions the web was stretched out loosely on the puncheon floor and held at each end, while men with bared feet sat in rows at the sides and kicked the cloth, while the women poured on warm soapsuds, and the white foam of the suds would often be thrown over both kickers and attendants. Carding and woolen mills and spinning and weaving factories came later, served their purpose and time, but are no more, and now people go to stores and get "hand-me-down" suits without either asking or caring where or how they were made. While there were social amusements in pioneer times religious services were not neglected. As there were but few church buildings then camp meetings were frequently held during the summer season. Camp meeting, trips were enjoyable outings. The roads to the camp grounds often ran by sequestered farm homes and through shady woodlands, where the rays of the sun shimmered charmingly through leafy tree-tops, and the fragrance of the wayside flowers deliciously perfumed the summer air. At the camp, white tents in a semi-circle partly surrounded an amphitheater of seats in front of a pulpit canopied by. trees. The Creator of heaven and earth reared the columns of those camp cathedrals, along whose bough-spanned dome, soft winds whispered and in whose leafy fretwork birds sang. From the mossy floor flowers sent up their perfume life altar incense, and in accord with place and surroundings, the congregation was wont to sing: 92 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY "There seems a voice in every gale, A tongue in every flower, Which tells, 0 Lord, the wondrous tale Of thy Almighty power !" At the camp, visitors were received with cordial greeting, for the campers had the warmth of friendship in their hearts and of Christian zeal in their souls, and their frank manna- and winsome ways were favorable preludes to the services that followed. At these camp meetings some of the worshippers would become quite demonstrative at times, for the personal manifestations, of joy or devotion differ as much as our natures differ. No two persons give expression in the same way to any human emotion. Religion can come to you only in accordance with your nature, and you can respond to it only in the same way. Singing was a prominent feature of care services. It was the old-fashioned singing, without instrumental accompaniment. Singing, such as our dear old mothers sang, and although faulty, perhaps, in note, came from the heart and went to the heart. see singing of today may be more artistically rendered, but it is the old-time songs that comfort us in our sorrow and, sustain us in our trials as they come back to us in hallowed remembrance from the years that are past.- PROGRESS AND CHANGES OF THE TIMES. The pioneers found the country of which Huron is now a part without church, school, market, roads, merchant, mechanic or cultivated acre—if we except a few spots that may have been marked by the rude efforts at tillage by the Indian. Savage beasts and uncivilized men were in deadly conflict throughout the domain of the wilderness. Except when winter withdrew them to their caverns, the earth teemed with venomous and loathsome reptiles. The country was utterly destitute of any of the moral or material resources that bear relation to civilized life. Such, in brief, was its condition when that band of moral heroes, the pioneers, entered the country and grappled with privations and dangers altogether unknown to the generation who now occupy this country, and even to the experience of those who have of late years undertaken the subjugation of the forests west of this. There exists, no analogy between the habits and modes of life of those who were backwoodsmen at the commence- ment of the present century, and those who have peopled the new states and' territories of the west. Here, until the opening of an Atlantic -market by the completion of the New York and Erie canal, in 1825, there had been no sale all produce except for neighborhood consumption ; while westward of this, during the last ten or fifteen years particularly, artificial communications, by means, of canals, turnpikes, or railroads, have advanced, almost with the van of the immigrating column, and agriculture; commerce and manufactures, with all the, happiness they bestow, have been enjoyed, with the exception of brief delays,, by the first populations of the new states and territories. Steam, as an agent of transit alone, has wrought a wonderful revolution in accelerating the dis- HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 93 tribution of population and wealth. The pioneers, of Huron county made their way hither from their former eastern homes by the tedious process of horse and ox teams, and some even on foot, occupying weeks in their journeys. They were the manufacturers of almost everything they used, including their farming implements and the fabrics with which they were clothed. Their food, also, as well as their raiment, was the exclusive production pf their own farms. There were no importations of goods. The modes of pioneer life and their isolation from society did not require imported goods. The early settlers were pioneers and America is the only country which produced pioneers. Other countries were settled by people moving enmasse from one place to another, but here they came singly, each man for himself. In European countries tribes would move in a body and overrun, absorb or extinguish the original inhabitants of a country, dispossess them and Occupy their territory. But in America we had the gradual approach of civilization and the gradual recession of barbarism. When civilization crossed the crest of the Alleghenies, Ohio was looked upon as the garden of the west, and soon various settlements were made in the territory now known as the Buckeye state. Casuists claim that the deer Was made for the thicket, that the thicket was made for the deer, and that both were made for the hunter ; and in further correlations state that the soil was not only intended for those who would cultivate it, but that if the valley produces corn and the hillside grapes, that people suited' to the cultivation of such products take possession of such localities on the theory of the eternal fitness of things. It is different now with persons who remove to the far west, from what it was with the early settlers in Ashland county. Transportation facilities make a trip to the west a quick and easy matter, and stocks of clothing, farming implements, merchandise and provisions' of all kinds can be shipped from the east to the west by railroads, making rapid transits instead of the ox-team trips of the long ago. The privations of Huron county pioneer life were serious situations, compared with those of the early settlers of the west today. No country settled at and prior to the date of the portion which now forms the state of Ohio, ever had but one race of pioneers--the men who penetrated the wilderness, endured all the hardships incident to its subjugation, and transmitted to their successors the comforts and conveniences of a high civilization. When this class of men pass off a given spot, they disappear for all time ; the country which was first redeemed by them will know them nor their like no more forever. We confess to a feeling of veneration for the characters of those men who penetrated the wilderness and inaugurated civilization and its train of blessings n a region where savages and wild beasts had maintained undisputed empire. The scenes through which they passed are suggestive of rich fields for the genius )f the poet and painter, and fields that it is hoped may be hereafter occupied. In days of yore friends. and neighbors could meet together to enjoy themselves, and with hearty good will enter into the spirit of social amusements. The old and young could then spend evening after evening around the fire- ides with pleasure and profit. There was a geniality of manners then, and a orresponding depth of soul, to which modern society is unaccustomed. 94 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY A few years ago, one who had witnessed all the stages of our material development—the gradual redemption from our wilderness condition to our recent full estate of national prosperity—and having himself, by years of industry and economy, gathered about him all the comforts and luxuries of modern life, had an irrepressible longing to be among the men and scenes of by-gone days. He would again become a pioneer in a new country. He sighed particularly for that unbounded hospitality which dissolves— "As wealth accumulates and men decay." He could not, of course, hope to realize those halcyon days except in a new country. He therefore again, old as he was, resolved to sacrifice the comforts and luxuries of his Huron county home—the results of, tire toil of his own hands—and seek a new one in the west. With this view, he traveled over Iowa, Minnesota, etc. There he found the wilderness, true enough, but he could not find the men. The old race was not there. He discovered an utter absence of all the types and shadows of the pioneer times with which he had been familiar in his early manhood. Instead of the matron and maiden decked in home-made tow-cloth and linsey-woolsey, he found hoops, silks, satins, and an exuberance of vanity and pretension. In place of the large-hearted humanity of the days of yore, he found selfishness, and a race for accumulation even more intensified than had developed itself in the modern times among ourselves. Ear beyond the rising tide of population, he found the locomotive and its "train" of vice and social demoralization. Our friend returned .home, well persuaded that no condition of society now exists upon the face of the globe that affords a parallel to the times for which he sighed and with which he was once familiar. EARLY SCHOOLS. For several years after the first settlement, but little attention was paid to educational matters. The teachers were illiterate, and the school-houses were of the rudest style of architecture. The following description of one will illustrate. It was situated on a knoll about four rods from a fine spring of water in the midst of a dense forest. It was constructed of round logs twelve and sixteen feet long, one story high, with a log across the north end placed about four or five feet high from the floor, and about the same distance from the wall, upon which, and against the end wall, was erected a large stick chimney, plastered with mortar, joined to a stone back wall cemented with the same material. The roof was made of clapboards that were held in their places by weight poles, which in turn were held by a small log, notched into the ends of the top end logs, and called a butting pole. Not; nail Was used. Greased paper was used in place of glass for windows. The ground floor was composed of huge puncheons, faced and jointed by some pioneer with his broadaxe, and laid upon large logs placed in as sleepers. The seats were made from small trees, cut into logs of the proper' length and split in two, the bark taken off, and the other side hewn and made smooth; two-inch holes were then bored into the ends and HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 95 middle, into which sticks were placed for legs. Holes were bored into the walls on the west side, and the south ends and large wooden supporters placed therein, upon which were laid boards to write upon ; then, to complete the structure, the door was made by cutting a hole in the southeast corner of the house, five and one-half by three and one-half feet in dimensions ; the same was cased with timber, split, hewn and shaved, and fastened with wooden pins. A scholar thus described his teacher's personal appearance : "He wore linsey-woolsey pants and home-made linen vest, red flannel warmus, cowhide shoes, the sole and upper leather both of his own tanning, together with overshoes made from sheepskin with the wool on." As to his pupils, they came from every direction for two miles each way. Some of them six feet in height, all dressed in homespun from head to foot. The young women were also clad in homespun. The books corresponded with other surroundings. A majority of these youngsters went to work with a will, and soon acquired the rudiments of an education, and matured into excellent men and women. There were always three or four classes in spelling, and this exercise was the last before school was dismissed in the evening. Their old books were conned over year after year until they were worn out and the children grew up to manhood and womanhood, arid never knew, and perhaps do not know to this day, what was in the back part of them. That was the kind of a start many a great man had. These schools cannot be despised when it is remembered that the greatest and best of the nation, including such men as Abraham Lincoln, Edwin M. Stanton, and Stephen A. Douglas, were among the boys who attended them. There was always much competition in the spelling classes as to who should get the "head mark." In the later schools it was the custom that the best speller might stand at the head until he missed, when the one who spelled the word correctly should take his place, and he then stood next to the head ; but they did things differently in the earlier schools ; the head of the class once gained and held until the last spelling at night, the head mark was received and the lucky scholar then took his place at the foot of the class, to again work his way gradually to the head. These classes sometimes contained thirty or forty scholars, and it was something of an undertaking to get from the foot to the head. Spelling-schools were the beauty and glory of school-days. The scholars were always coaxing the teacher to appoint a night for a spelling school, which he usually did for about two nights in a week. THE PIONEER PREACHERS OF THE FIRELANDS A tribute of praise should be given the pioneer preachers of the Firelands. The Methodist ministers were the first on the Firelands of which we find any record. As early as 1811 the Rev. William Gurley preached in Huron county. It has been written that great was the joy when they heard that a preacher had arrived. At that time there was no minister of the gospel within at least forty miles. No sermon had then been heard in our county, and the news soon spread for many miles around. 96 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY A log school house, so recently built, was filled at the hour for worship. was "Indian summer." The manner in which the audience were dressed w striking enough. see men were mostly dressed in tow shirts, linsey coats a hunting shirts and buckskin pantaloons, and moccasins instead of shoes wen extensively worn. Here and there might be seen a vest of spotted fawn-made with the fur out, caps made of the skins of the raccoon and muskrat w worn instead of hats. These articles of dress were all of domes& manufacture, and mostly clumsy and uncouth in appearance. The costume of the ladies almost entirely of home manufacture, except that of those who had rec arrived from the east. A few Indians, attracted by curiosity, were present: th were in their hunting costumes with rifle, tomahawk and knife. The pioneer preacher's church was the log cabin or the log school ho .His pulpit a rude table. His horse and saddle bags were his inseparable companions. In the early conferences it was customary for the bishop to admonish, the preachers to "be kind to their beast," and truly these itinerant horses slim.. with their riders in the arduous toil and struggle connected with planting gospel. The pioneer preacher's library was a portable library, consisting o Bible, hymn book, discipline and a few other books, carried in the saddle b. and read on horseback, or by the weird flicker of the pine knot or tallow-candle in, the cabin of the pioneer. Among the preachers of an early clav who visited the Firelands were ;William Gurley, True Pattie, James McIntyre, Harry O. Sheldon and Russel Bigelow. These pioneer preachers have been described as follows: William Runnels, who always rode the best looking horse on the circuit, and of which animal there was no better judge, was a most interesting and pleasing speaker. Elder Russel Bigelow, his orator, was of divine inspiration and under unequaled and soul stirring appeals I have seen people leave their seats and; as near the pulpit as possible, apparently unaware of changing their plac. "Such vast impressions did his sermons make, he always kept his flock awake.” Rev. L. B. Gurley was eloquent and his sermons full of pathos, most co vincing and often moving to tears. Rev. Harry O. Sheldon was sublime in his eloquence, of noble bearing, with voice musical and penetrating, was the type of a missionary. Rev. William Disbrow, a profound orator and thinker, scholarly and polished, warm of heart and in every way attractive. In 1817 the Ohio conference of Methodists sent the Rev. Alfred Brunson to the Huron,. circuit. He thus describes his journey there: "I was living in Fowler, Trumbull county, Ohio ; it was the first week in January, 1818, that I started for my new (Huron) circuit. "I was clad in homespun, the produce of my wife's industry. My horse and equipage were of the humblest kind. The journey was mostly through a dense forest. I traveled thirty miles before I could find a road leading westwward along the lake shore. Where Elyria now stands there was no bridge and I crossed the river on the ice. My circuit extended from Black river along the Ridge road by where Norwalk now stands, then to the little town of New Haven, and thence by a zigzag course to Sandusky bay and Venice and Portland, now San- HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 97 dusky city, thence through Perkins, east along the lake shore to the place of beginning. I soon formed a four weeks' circuit of twenty-four appointments with two hundred miles of travel." The pioneer preacher, with a broad brimmed white hat and round breasted coat, well posed in his easy saddle, was easily recognized as he drew near the log cabin, or the "meeting house," where the congregation was usually in waiting. With saddle-bags on his arm, he pressed through amid the devout worshipers, who would strike up some favorite hymn, making "melody in their hearts, and melody with their voices." Kneeling and offering a silent prayer, the preacher would first unlace his well bespattered leggings, then draw from the saddle-bags his bible and hymn-book. PIONEER STORIES. The pioneer stories we heard in our youth are enshrined in our hearts and we recall them with pleasure and sorrow alike. Many incidents might be enumerated to show that the paths of the pioneers were not strewn with roses, and many of the comforts which they enjoyed later in life were obtained by persevering exertions, industry, and economy on their part and the people of today can form but an imperfect idea of the privations and hardships endured by the pioneers of Ohio. In the early pioneer time a neighbor at the distance of ten miles was considered near enough for all social purposes. The first work of the newcomer was to select a location, then to cut poles or logs suitable to build a cabin for his family. The dimensions of the structure were according to the size of the family. After the house was completed, the next thing rn order was to clear off a tract of ground for a corn and potato patch. They usually plowed new ground with a shovel-plow, on account of the roots, and the harness for the horses was often made of leather-wood. Corn was ground on a hand mill or pounded in a mortar or hominy block. It was then sieved and the meal or finer portion was used for bread and the coarser for hominy. Their meat was venison, bear and wild turkey, as it was difficult to raise hogs or sheep on account of the wolves and bear, which made pork and mutton scarce. Wolf scalps were worth from four dollars to six dollars a piece, which rendered wolf hunting a paying business. The pioneers were a generous, warmhearted and benevolent people. Although they did not want to see the game driven away by a too rapid settlement of the country, yet when a new settler came, they extended him a cordial welcome. There was social equality then—distinction in society came later. People went miles to assist in house and barn raisings and in log-rollings, while the men were doing this work the women were doing quilting or sewing. Bountiful meals were served at these gatherings, chicken-pot-pie being the principal part of the bill of fare. These pot-pies were usually cooked in big iron kettles out of doors. After the day's work was done, the evening was passed in social amusement—dancing being quite popular. If they had no fiddler, music was furnished by some one singing or whistling "dancing tunes." 98 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Weddings were the great occasions of those days and brought old and young together, the festivities lasting two days. The wedding ceremony took place at the home of the bride and the second day was the "infair" at the home of the groom. Although there were many dangers and great privations in pioneer life, there was happiness, also. In later years, the early settlers often referred to that period as "happy days of primitive simplicity." The pioneers would take hickory bark torches and go a mile or more to call upon a neighbor and enjoy a winter evening in cracking nuts and telling stories, ending with refreshments being served in the form of a hot supper. Cooking utensils were few, and a pot or kettle often had to be used for several purposes in the preparation of a meal. An anecdote will illustrate how prolific the pioneers were in expedients, Neighbors, who lived about two miles apart, with a creek between them, had arranged for a visit on a certain day. When the visiting party got to the stream they saw that the freshet had washed away the foot-log and as they stood in perplexity, wondering how to cross, the neighbors whom they were going to visit, carne with his yoke of oxen and mounting the "near" ox, forded the stream and the woman, Europa-like, sprang upon the back' of the "off" ox and was soon landed in safety upon the other bank of the creek. Another trip and the man was also taken across. Upon their return in the evening the stream was again forded in like manner. Johnny Appleseed was present upon one occasion when an itinerant preacher was holding forth to an audience at the public square in Mansfield. Johnny was lying upon some boards near the outskirt of the crowd, when the preacher, who was speaking against the sin of fashion, exclaimed, "Where is the barefooted Christian traveling to heaven?" Taking the question in a literal sense, Johnny responded, "here he is," and raised his bare feet in the air. Johnny Appleseed's death was in harmony with his unostentatious and blameless life. It is often remarked how beautiful is the Christian's life ; yea, but far more beautiful is the Christian's death! Those who were with Johnny at his last moments, stated that as the end drew near "the fashion of his countenance was altered ;" that a smile wreathed his thin lips as they moved m prayer, and that a halo seemed to crown him with the glory of a saint as he passed "from death unto life," from the life here to the life there. In olden 'time the rich and the poor dressed much alike, the men generally wore hunting shirts and buckskin pants ; the women wore dresses made of linen and flannel goods, spun and woven by their own hands. The school houses were in keeping with the cabins and the times and the pedagogues who instructed the youths in the mysteries of the three R's-"readin," 'ritin' an' 'rithmetic," as the London Alderman put it, was called "master." The scholar whose "ciphering" included the "rule of three" was considered well advanced. There were "puncheon" bench seats and wooden pins were put in the logs at the side of the room, and upon these a board was placed for writing desks and the preparatory course In writing was to make "pot-hooks" and "hangers." There were no classes, except in spelling, as there was no uniformity in the books used 99 - PHOTO OF Y.M.C.A. CHICAGO, OHIO 100 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 101 They pronounced syllables then and when they had learned to read, could read anything, The scholars, old and young, went bare-footed in warm weather and so did the teacher. The school-master carried a long hickory rod as an insignia of his position and with which he often enforced his authority, for the pioneer did not believe in spoiling the child by sparing the rod. While the old-time schools may be looked back to as inferior to those of today, yet they were the schools in which our Calhouns, our Clays and our Websters were educated. Times change and we change with them, but the fount of childhood is perennially fresh and there are little sunburnt, rosy-cheeked boys and girls who now fill our better appointed school rooms, as the children of the past did in their day and generation. Religious services were frequently held at the homes of the settlers, even after houses for public worship had been erected. In the summer time the "threshing floor" of barns were often used as "meeting houses" for Sunday preaching. Camp meetings were also features of that period. In narrating deeds of valor of the pioneers, it is well to state again that the women not only shared the dangers of those troublous times, but often displayed heroism and deeds of daring equal to those of the bravest of the brave. One instance is all I now have space to cite-that of Elizabeth Zane, sister of Colonel Zane. At the siege of Wheeling in 1782 the supply of ammunition became almost exhausted, and it became necessary to renew it from Col. Zane's quarters, forty rods distant, Miss Zane volunteered to accomplish the hazardous feat. She was from Philadelphia, was highly educated and had only a few weeks' experience in border life and warfare. She was young and active, with courage to brave the danger and fortitude to sustain her through it. Brave soldiers stepped forward and insisted that they be sent on the errand, declaring the lady should not undertake such a dangerous exploit. But Miss Zane disdained to weigh the hazard of her own life against that of others and claimed that a woman would not be missed in the defense of the fort, but that every man was needed. The grandeur of her heroism and the eloquence of her appeal to be permitted to serve her country at the last won her case, and as the gate was thrown open, she bounded forth with the buoyancy of hope and in the confidence of success. An account of the adventure says that the Indians startled in amazement and exclaimed "A squaw ! a squaw !" but made no attempt to interrupt or harm her. Arriving safely at her brotherls fortress, she made her errand known, and, getting all the ammunition she should carry, started upon her return trip. But the Indians were no longer passive. They fired volley after volley at her and the bullets riddled her clothing, but her person was unharmed. She reached the fort in safety and by her intrepidity and daring the army was saved. Miss Zane's brother was the founder of Zanesville. The town was laid out in 1799 and was first called Westbourn, a name which it continued to bear until a postoffice was established under the name of Zanesville and the village then took that name. 102 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY HUNTING IN THE EARLY SETTLEMENT. Hunting occupied a large portion of the time of the pioneers. Nearly all were good hunters, and not a few lived almost entirely for many years on the results of the chase. The woods supplied them with the greater amount of their subsistence, and often the whole of it ; it was no uncommon thing for families to live several months without a mouthful of bread of any kind. It frequently happened that tin family went without breakfast until it could be obtained from the woods. The fall and early part of winter was the season for hunting deer, and tin whole of the winter, including part of the spring, for bears and fur-bearing animals It was a customary saying that fur was good during every month, in the name of which the letter reoccurred. As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, and the weather became rainy accompanied with light snow, the pioneer hunter, who had probably worked pretty faithfully on his clearing during the summer, began to feel uneasy about his cabin home ; he longed to be off hunting in the great woods. His cabin, was too warm his feather-bed too soft ; his mind was wholly occupied with the camp and the chase Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in which there was nothing o skill and calculation ; on the contrary, the hunter, before setting out in the morning, was informed by the state of the we ther in what situation he might reasonably expect to find his game ; whether on e bottoms, on the hillsides, or hilltops. I stormy weather the deer always seek the most sheltered places, and the lemon sides of the hills ; in rainy weather, when there was not much wind, they kept the open woods, on high ground. In the early morning, if pleasant, they were abroad, feeding in edges of the prairie or swamp ; at noon they were hiding the thickets. In every situation, it was requisite for the hunter to ascertain th course of the wind, so as to get to leeward of the game ; this he often ascertains by placing his finger in his mouth, holding it there until it became warm, then holding it above his head, and the side that first cooled indicated the direction of th wind. These hunters needed no compass ; the trees, the sun and stars took its plan The bark of an aged tree is much thicker and rougher on the north side than o the south ; and the same may be said of the moss ; it is much thicker and strong( on the north than on the south side of the tree ; hence he could walk freely an carelessly through the woods and always strike the exact point intended, while an but a woodsman would have become bewildered and lost. PIONEER BOYHOOD ON THE FIRELANDS. BY J. O. CUNNINGHAM. Paper read before the Firelands Historical Society, Norwalk, June 27, too and published in the Firelands Pioneer a few months later. I have been asked to come from my home in Illinois to meet the few remaining Pioneers of the Firelands and such of their descendants as may assemble here, the purpose of indulging in reminiscences of the long past, which cover the boy- HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 103 hood days of many of us, and which are a part of the history of this, our boyhood home. Although almost half a century intervenes between the present and the bright morning in August, 1852, when my father, with his two-horse wagon, transported two of his boys, with their trunks, containing their few worldly possessions, to the nearest railroad station, for the purpose of taking the train for a distant state, and thereby, in fact, forever terminating our relations to Huron county as home, yet this visit, and the occasion of it, awakens emotions and recollections shared perhaps by none of you who have yet to sever your connection with the homes of your childhood. "It brings me to my childhood back, As if I trod its very track, And felt its very gladness." But to the story which I am to relate: The eighth day of June, 1833, terminated the journey of two immigrant families, the heads of which were brothers, from an eastern state to the Firelands, in far away Ohio. Such it seemed to those families before they started and to their friends left behind, and such they realized it to be before they had completed their journey. A steam craft on Lake Erie had furnished the transportation to the port of Huron, while, after time spent in prospecting by the heads of the families, ox teams did the remainder of the work of landing the families, of one of which the boy to whose experience you are asked to listen was a member, near the prospective home in the forests of Clarksfield. This journey of twenty-five miles made through Berlin, Florence and Wakeman, to the center of Clarksfield, was not made over the good roads and easy grades now to be found, but over traces of roads then newly cut out or blazed through the forests, with no bridges over many of the streams and no artificial drainage. Those who remember the vile reputation of "Wakeman Woods," of that day, will not be at a loss to fully appreciate the horrors of that journey. No wonder that the young mothers turned their thoughts man} with tearful eyes to the homes they had left. The family did not find a ready-made farm house, of comfortable capacity, with the accompaniments of barn and out houses, orchard and garden in which to rest its weary and travel worn members. It did not find friends who had gone before and who were ready to open hospitable doors to the newcomers and make easy their settlement and welcome their coming. What they did find was an unbroken, heavy forest of beech, maple, walnut, oak and other kinds of timber, such as: bid a mad defiance to the pioneers all over Ohio at the beginning of the century. The kindness of a pioneer family which had preceded this family to the depths of this forest by a few months, gave shelter to the unsheltered for six weeks and until an opening in the forest upon the site of the future home could be made and a house could be erected. This house was, of course, of logs, but care was taken that they should be straight logs, and that they should be nicely notched at the corners and smoothly hewn on the inside, as they were placed in position, so that the new house, though covered only with elm bark at the first, was both presentable and comfortable. Think of it, dear housekeepers, the first fireside of this family, where the mother cooked for many months, was beside a large stump, near the 104 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY door, with no covering over it save that furnished by the native forests left with a purpose. This house being finished (and it is remembered that the particular house had neither closed windows nor door during the first summer, nor until frosts and cold winds of autumn made them necessary), the next thing to be done was with fire and ax and strong arms to drive back the domain of the forest and make room for the field which was to produce the living. This was a slow process and occupied the labors and efforts of years. One of the pioneer preachers herein named, in 1866, thirty-three years after the immigration of the family to Clarksfield, conducted the funeral services of the father, Hiram W. Cunnin ham, and in the biographical notice of the deceased given, said that he had personally chopped, burned and cleared one hundred acres of Clarksfield's heavy timber. Year by year the cleared circle became larger and the demand for cribs and a barn more imperative. The first year of course, yielded no returns for the family support. The limited amount of money brought as a result of the sale of the little farm in York state, was all used up in paying the expense of removal or in making the first payment on the purchased land, so the family must be fed and clothed by some other means, No resources remained other than the hands of the father, which were skilled in carpentry and wood craft of other kinds, and the grinding needs of the immigrant family for many years made the requisitions upon this resource continuous and exacting. So, for several years, and until fruitful fields occupied the space of the primeval forest, the day's work of the father furnished the food of the family from year to year. The boy well remembers the first attempt at corn and wheat raising among the green stumps of a patch just cleared of the timber where no plow could be used, or if used, could live an hour. The corn was planted, not with a check-row corn planter, nor with a hoe, even, but with an ax, which was driven through the roots into the virgin soil a few inches, the corn dropped in and the ground closed over the seed by the foot. No cultivation could be given it other than by chopping out the fire weeds, but the hot sun and the rich soil did the work, and the returns well repaid the effort. In the fall the removal of the corn made way for a seeding of wheat. In this manner the pioneer provided for his table. The satisfaction felt by the pioneer in eating from his first crop, produced under the difficulties here delineated, cannot be well told, even by one who has realized it, any more than it can be realized by one who has not passed through the experience. The capitalist may say to himself, "Soul, thou hast much good laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry," but his satisfaction does not approach the happiness of the pioneer, who, having cleared the forest, has demonstrated his capacity to produce a crop. Being thus established in a home, which for most of the time intervening between the date here given and the legal majority' of the boy in questions was his only home, made better year by year as the means were secured, let us look at the surroundings : Clarksfield had then been settled sixfeen years only, and everything was new, in the town as well as in the adjoining towns. Smith Starr, Benjamin Stiles, Samuel Husted, and possibly some others, had moved "out of the old house into the HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 105 new" frame and plastered house, but other than the very few lived in their pioneer houses, similar to the one above described. The Rowlands, Barnums, Woods, Furlongs, Bissells, Clarks, Grays, Days, Lees, Blackmans, Smiths, Perceys and nearly all of the population of the township had progressed no further than the log-house stage of civilization. These houses were generally built in the most primitive style of architecture of that day, with log gables, roofs held in place by log weight poles, instead of by the use of nails, doors on wooden hinges, with wooden latches, which obeyed the pull on the leathern string from the outside. With puncheon or slab floors and well-chinked and an annual "daubin'," the home could defy the elements without, and by the aid of a fire upon the hearth of the wide fireplace, built of rocks gathered from the fields or from the river bed, supporting a mud and stick chimney, the home was made comfortable at all times. Before these fires were cooked and served the homely meals, and around them were gathered as happy families as now gather around the anthracite fires in the elegant houses which have succeeded these pioneer homes. The clearings were small and mostly confined to the neighborhood of the "Hollow," where the first settlement of the town Was made, or along the roads leading therefrom, and to go to Florence or Norwalk, one must encounter the horrors of the roads, or trails, which served for roads, leading through "Wakeman Woods," or "Townsend Woods," terms which, even at this distance of time, awaken a shudder. The boy remembers a night spent in a mud hole with his parents in the road leading from Norwalk to Clarksfield, about April, 1836, when an almost empty wagon was too much for the team, and it was only after daylight, the next morning, that aid came and enabled us to release ourselves by doubling teams. The good roads now leading to Florence and to Norwalk from Clarksfield, through fruitful fields bordered by beautiful homes, give no intimation of the terrors that awaited the traveler along the same lines sixty-five years since. The only roads that existed in the town of Clarksfield at the period written about, which had the semblance of roads Dr "deserved the name, were those leading north, south and east of the Hollow,. and these were yet much bordered by woods, and in many places were of the very primitive corduroy character. Other roads, or what are now known as public highways, in the town, were not then even "chopped out," with few exceptions, and neighborhood trails across lots and through the woods were permitted by tolerant settlers as favors to those who, like our family, had essayed to settle back from the settlements before then made. It is remembered that the families spoken of only reached their leafy, primeval home, at Clarksfield center, by leaving the main road a half mile east of the Hollow, and by following ax-men, who went before the wagons and cut out a trail. It was many years after this time that the roads were so improved as to be passable for teams and wagons, and not until after 1850, were the roads leading south and west from the center of the town, anything more than trails, once chopped out and partly grown up with briers and other impediments. It was a long time, and only after the roads were bordered by enclosed fields, that they were made passable their entire length, and it was unnecessary for the traveler to make detours here and there to avoid the swamps and swales which so often intruded across the roads. The corduroy period was a long one, and the higher duty of the settler to provide 106 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY himself and family a shelter and food before he found time to make roads, kept these necessary appliances of civilization waiting many years. Bridges over the two confluents of the Vermillion river were then few and of air ephemeral character. The substantial stone and steel structures which now span those beautiful streams, not only command admiration as triumphs of engineering skill, but they serve to bring back recollection of early efforts at bridge building. Where were once long stretches of corduroy passage ways over the black alder swamps, are now seen single stone culverts, which serve to bridge the murky waterway formerly so dreaded by the pioneer. At the period indicated there was no house of worship in the township, nor in any adjoining townships, though worshipers were not wanting ; for no district of country within the nation was more largely settled by religious people than was the tract of country known as the Firelands. The pioneer school houses, the scantily furnished cabins, and the leafy forests were made to do duty as places of religious worship to meet the want of the settlers of which their' self-imposed banishment from older homes had deprived them. Among the most lasting and thrilling recollections of the boy Whose story this is, are those connected with those primitive gatherings. Take the scene of a few settlers gathered up from the scattered settlements, connected only by forest trails, in one of these pioneer log school houses, where the only furniture was that manufactured by the help of an ax, saw-and auger from the outer slab of a saw log ; where the log structure, dedicated to learning and the arts, was made without the use of a nail or article of iron, and was as free from, metals in its construction as was King Solomon's temple ; where one side of the little, room was ' devoted to the fireplace, and its walls made impenetrable to the cold winds by the "chinkin' and the daubin'," but where the hearts of the gathered worshipers were one in sympathy and love to the Maker, and their speaker, a circuit rider or exhorter, fired by the love of souls, in loud and electrifying appeals called upon the sinner and the backslider to repent while the opportunity yet remained; where the effect of these appeals brought the careless and the scoffer to their knees and led wicked men to better lives-these scenes, now no longer to be seen, left impressions upon the beholders not to be forgotten. In the way of religious gatherings of that day, the boy remembers most vividly the camp meetings, now known to the people of this day only in tradition. One in Clarksfield in 1837, one in Wakeman in 1841, and one in Rochester in 1846, came under his observation and will serve as typical of the class. These meetings were generally arranged to come off after haying, late in the summer or early in the fall, when worldly cares were less likely to distract attention. A piece of native forest was chosen, where good drainage with shade and water were to be had. A plat of two or three acres or more was cleared of the underbrush and the ground smoothed and leveled; at one end of the plat was erected the' preachers' tent, facing inward, at the front of which was a stand fop): speakers, under cover. Upon the other three sides were erected tents or cabins to answer for the accommodation of the people. In front of the preachers' stand was an enclosure of seats for from fifty to one hundred people, the enclosure being formed by poles placed upon posts or crotches set in the ground. The purpose of this enclosure was for the accommodation of circles for prayer and for those seeking HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 107 after the light of religious experience, which we might call the anxiops seat, but which the irreverent of those days called the "bull-pen." Beyond this enclosure were seats for hearers, made lacing slabs or planks across supports of logs and timbers, arranged so as to provide aisles leading towards the preachers' stand. To these tents people came from many miles around, bringing beds, furniture and provisions for a week's outing, and here were carried on all the household arts for a comfortable stay. Cooking was-done by open fires in the rear of the tents, and sleeping accommodations made upon piles of clean straw and bed clothing within the apartments of the tents. The tin horn at the preachers' tent served the purpose of a "church going bell," in calling the people from their tents to the general auditorium for the several services, and laggards in the tents met the severe reprimand of the "preacher in charge." Rules were enacted for the government of the encampment and severely enforced. To these gatherings came all sorts of people for all sorts of purposes. Religious exercises and experiences were not the only incentives. There came the gossiper, the curiosity seeker, fun lover and the horse trader. There came the sincere religionist, yearning for the salvation of his neighbor, and there came the irreverent scoffer of things held sacred by the other class. The gatherings were not always characterized by the sanctity that pervades church-going assemblies of this day, but frequently made work for the grand juries. In other cases the disorders created by the irreverent were informally and promptly treated on the grounds to doses of muscular Christianity from an athletic preacher or muscular layman, a remedy swifter than that afforded by the law and generally more effective. It is far easier now to describe the organization and proceedings of such a gathering than to accurately measure the effects upon the participants. The measure of one relates to Time, while the effects of the other can only be known in Eternity. Many who came to scoff and ridicule, left the grounds rejoicing in a new life, and here steps in the religious life were commenced which terminated only in a hopeful death. These school houses and camp meetings produced or furnished the arena of action of such eminent pioneer preachers of the Firelands as Leonard B. Gurley, William B. Disbrow, James McIntire, James A. Kellum, John Mitchell, Adam Poe, James McMahon, Richard Biggs, H. 0. Sheldon, Russell Bigelow, E. R. Jewett, Thomas Barkdull, William C. Pierce, of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Revs. Betts and Streeter, of the Presbyterian church ; Rev. David Marks and Rev. Fairfield, of the Baptist church, as well as many others whose names are remembered by the descendants of the pioneers with reverence. Most of these men were from time to time in the early days guests at the home of the family in question, and the boy remembers of having heard most of them from the pulpit or the desk of the school house. In this connection it may be said that it is probable that Sunday schools were organized and carried on upon the Firelands at an early day, for as early as 1836, at Clarksfield Hollow, a school was in operation, conducted by members of different denominations. I remember being in this school at its beginning for that season; remember that Rev. Streeter was at the head of it, and the lesson of the 108 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY day, which will be found at Matt. III., 1-6, beginning: "In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea." The library in use is remembered for its utter want of adaptation to the needs of children. Instead of being of such a character of matter as children would become interested in, its books treated upon the most severe and sober theological questions, such as children of no time take to. A Sunday school celebration held near Berlin chapel, between Berlinville and Florence, on July 4, in the year 1843, is remembered by this particular boy for the many children it called together from all of the surrounding towns, the pretty address delivered by Mr. Dwight, and particularly for the good things we had to eat CLOTHING OF THE PIONEER. The clothing in which the pioneer boy was clad was not tailor-made, nor was it even hand-me-down, ready-made clothing, but the result of the summer work and the cunning skill of his mother's fingers, which worked early and late. In the spring of each year a crop of flax was sown, and at maturity was pulled, rotted, broken in the flax-brake and hatcheled by the men folks, when it was ready to be carded, spun and woven into cloth, called "tow and linen," for the next year's clothing. So of the wool of the few sheep kept. The price of wool in the markets of the country was not then a burning question as now ; the limited supply was scarcely sufficient for the domestic wants of the families of the pioneer. The supply was either carded into bats at home or carried to the woolen mill and made into "rolls," ready for the spinning wheel. The same mother's hands spun it into yarn ready for the weaver or ready for her winter's knitting into socks. The spun yarn, dyed in butternut or blue dye, sufficed for the "filling," in a web, which was of cotton yarn, and the product was known as "jeans." The weaver's work done, the same mother's nimble fingers cut, fitted and made the tow and linen or the jeans into coats, pants and vests for the boys. As time passed on and the family became more forehanded, which meant, had more sheep and other stuff and something to sell in the market, the cloth was made of all wool and went to the cloth dresser for fulling and dressing, and came home shining like broadcloth. Here came the need of the tailor, who cut the cloth ready for the itinerant sewing woman, and the boy came out in a suit of "fulled cloth," with shining brass buttons. So the work of clothing the boys developed from year to year until maturity enabled him to dress in "store clothes" from his own earnings. It was not always that the last year's suit lasted well until this year's suit made it appearance, in which case the boy, in the interim between the passing away of the former and the coming of the latter, might have passed for Riley's "Raggedy Man." It Must have been during one of these destitute periods that the mother in question, ever alert to the needs of the children, wrote to her mother in the east, in a letter dated November 17, 1839, the original of which came to the hands of your essayist a few years since, and is now preserved with the greatest care, as follows : "We have raised our living this season, and it seems much better than to buy it and not know where it is to come from. Our children are well, but very ragged,—not having any wool of late, we are quite 109 - PHOTO - PUBLIC SCHOOL, NEW LONDON, OHIO 110 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 111 destitute of clothing. You wrote you had sent me some stocking yarn, but I have not received it yet. If I could get it I would make my fingers fly." This letter was sealed with a red wafer. It bears the postmark of Clarksfield. November 29, and is charged with eighteen and three-fourths cents postage. Letters patent of nobility from a sovereign king or emperor would not be prized higher. It gives a phase of family and pioneer history not to be forgotten. It convicts the pioneer boy of once having belonged to a crowd of "very ragged" children, but it brings no blush. Boots and shoes were not brought to the pioneer home ready made and in assortments sure to meet all demands. Hides, taken from animals killed for family supplies of meat, or, more often, hides taken from domestic animals dying from the murrain, were taken to the near by tannery, dressed into leather and were, by the neighboring shoemaker, made up into boots and shoes for the family, with the emphasis upon the word shoes for, as a matter of true history, the pioneer boy in question never possessed the greatly coveted boots until he was permitted to earn them by work for a neighbor, at thirteen years Of age. SCHOOLS. For years after the period of this writing, the settlement in question had no school, and the only school opportunities were obtained by sending the children to neighboring districts, the tenure of which privileges to us outsiders depending upon the demands made by children within the districts. Long tramps through the woods and through swamps spanned by fallen trees only, was the price paid by the children for the instruction received by them. Finally, in the spring of 1840, a truly pioneer school house came to the doors of this family, and its description may be taken as that of pioneer school houses throughout Ohio and the west. It was built, not by direct taxes levied and collected m due course of law, nor by the issue of bonds, as would now be done, perhaps ; but by the combined labors of the men in the district, voluntarily given. On a given day, by appointment, all turned out with axes and teams, and from the contiguous woods cut the logs, hauled them to the site of Bissell's Corners, and within a few days had erected a log building about twenty by twenty-five feet in size. The gables were of logs and the roof of shakes, or boards, as they are sometimes called, rived with a frow from an oak tree, and held in place upon the roof by overlaying each course of the roofing with a heavy weight pole. Openings were cut in the logs, at appropriate places, for the windows and door. At one end a wide fireplace, without jambs, capable of receiving wood six or seven feet in length, was provided. This fireplace was built of boulder stones, picked up in the neighborhood, and served as a foundation for a stick and mud chimney terminating above the roof. In this fireplace were piled large quantities of wood in winter, and the fires served well to heat the room. The door was of rough sawed boards, hung upon wooden hinges and held shut by a wooden latch. The windows, while supplied with sash for glazing, were, as the boy well remembers, only covered with greased paper at the first term of the school, taught in the summer of 1840. Floors of rough sawed lumber were laid. This building, each autumn during its service, had to be daubed with mud 112 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY to keep out the cold. The furniture consisted of benches made without backs, from slabs, or the outer cuts from saw logs, supported by legs driven into auger holes For a writing desk for the larger pupils, a wide board, supported by heavy sticks driven into a log, at the proper height, at one end of the room, did duty. Within such a house as this your pioneer boy and the children of his district were taught from Webster's Elementary Spelling Book, from Murray's English Reader, and from Daboll's Arithmetic, and other antiquated primary books for three months each winter for ten years, beginning with the year 1840. Near by were the woods and the river and the ample play grounds. Let no one waste any sympathy upon these children on account of this apparent dearth of opportunity. The defects in the opportunity are only apparent and made so by a comparison with the schools of the Firelands of today. That district never added a single man or woman to the ranks of illiteracy. Out of one enrollment of thirty-five pupils, now before the writer, more than one-half, after nearly sixty years, are known to be in life. No one of that company ever entered the ranks of the criminal class. So let no one despise these antecedents of this particular boy, for be assured he does not, but glories in them, for from such surroundings came the Lincolns and the Garfields of loved American fame. From out of these humble surroundings, which may be said to be typical school environments of the great majority of schools upon the Firelands in their beginning, came pupils armed with that best of qualifications, self-respect and self-reliance. Came also healthy young men and women, taught in the atmosphere of morality and patriotism, to bless society here and in other states. In this semi-isolated life, cut off from the far-off outer world, its faint echoes hardly touched this particular family. Books were few, and for many months no newspaper visited the circle. From year to year the only changes were the changing seasons. They waited for the spring with eager longing, for it brought the sugar-making season, so loved by the youth ;".it brought with it the flowers, natural to our woods, and unlocked its treasures of life. It may be said with propriety that the schools of the Firelands: from the first, though humble in their pretensions, were fostered by an enlightened and intelligent public sentiment. The pioneer, though poor, and from a poor New England or New York home, was not illiterate. Your pioneer boy, like the school boys of today, improbable as it may appear from the opportunities and surroundings above given, had ambition, and this passion pointed to the Norwalk Seminary, as the object to be attained. His few visits to the county capital, always looked upon with greater favor than a visit to Europe with the Paris exposition as a part of the attraction, would now be viewed, were always more desired by .him, for the reason that he could look upon the seminary .and indulge his fancies as to his future in that temple of learning; but alas for human ambitions, for before the Proper time came the seminary was a thing of the past, and he had to be satisfied with Berea and Oberlin. He is in error who supposes that the poverty of opportunity herein delineated as the lot of the pioneer and his family was an unmixed evil. Poverty in no case is without some compensating benefits.' The honest efforts of him who HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 113 suffers from poverty to overcome its inconveniences, strengthens and builds up his character and renders him stronger for the conflicts of life. The spirit of unrest by which this age and the century from which we are about to pass has been so much influenced, invaded the woods of the Firelands in those years of which we write, and seized upon the boys then as it does now. Here, then, now, and always, as Willis has expressed it, "Ambition seeks the chamber of the gifted boy, And lifts the humble window and comes in." And more than that it has lifted him out of this and other more eastern states, and that boy and his girl are moving beyond the Mississippi. The west is sapping the east of its best material, and if the fathers and mothers of the latter are asking themselves, "Where is my boy tonight?" the answer comes back from the far west, "He is here and is building up empires." AMUSEMENTS. Did the boys of that day have any fun, do you ask ? Certainly. A healthy boy will manufacture his own amusements, if he does not have to work too hard. The boys of those times were mustered into the ranks of labor at an early age say at ten or eleven years of age, and made to contribute to the common weal of the family; yet on rainy days fishing was permissible, when it rained too hard for work. So at night, after having performed all the work during the day that an ingenious father could get from a father unwilling boy, fishing parties were common to the mill ponds. , Husking bees, coon huntings, logging bees, and house or barn raisings, called the young men and boys together. It may seem to the boy of today, who, with his surroundings of a beautiful country home, a farm productive of everything necessary, as well as of many luxuries, where the labors of the farm are so largely performed by machinery, with the facilities for excursions to distant places, and with frequent trips upon the lake; with concerts and lectures and theaters and conventions the year round, that he has all the fun, and that we of sixty years ago must have had only a dull round. Not so. While we combated roots and stumps in the soil, where the boy of today plows with no obstruction, while riding his plow, we had before us the virgin forests, an open book and a museum of unfailing resources of amusement. They furnished the small game, which we delighted to hunt, in abundance. They furnished nuts of every variety, delicious wild fruits and mandrakes and slippery-elm bark. They furnished the materials for his stilts, his dart, his pop-gun, his whistles, and his bows and arrows, as the season for each of these sports came around. Then the boy of long ago had the fun of chopping down little trees, before chopping became a daily task, and of seeing them fall, a pastime of pleasure unalloyed, except by the admonition from his seniors to "cut close to the ground." Then the streams, little and big, now so nearly dried up in summer, ran high all the year round, and never failed to furnish amusements of the rarest kind. In winter the boy sported upon the ice of the river or skated, if he owned the skates, . and in summer he fished or bathed in the water or guided his raft or skiff there- 114 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY on. No delight in the world is so welcome to a boy as to spend half of his time on a warm summer day in the water at his favorite swimming hole. I see it now, at the bend in the river, embowered by a spreading elm tree's shade, made more dense and welcome by the wild grapevine which has year by year clambered up its rugged sides. The noon hour of the school day afforded the time, and the disposition was never wanting. Since that experience, in the long past, the Hoosier poet, who knew the joys of the "Old Swimmin' Hole," as the Clarksfield boy knew it, has put the whole story in poetic dialect : "Oh, the old swimmin' hole. In the happy days of yore, When I ust to lean above it on the old sickamore, My shadder shinin' up at me with such tenderness. But them days is past and gone, and old Time's tuck his toll From the old man come back to the old swimmin' hole." Yes, the old man has come back. He finds the river here, but the locus of t old swimmin' hole has yielded to the shifting sand bank ; the old sycamore has also passed away, as have the boy playmates, without whose presence the visit is almost a blank. The pioneer boy had little money, in fact he hardly saw enough of it to recognize the different denominations of the currency of the day. This was largely due to the fact that there was little money in the country. Business was largely carried on by barter. A pound of butter would buy a pound of cut nails. Two pound of butter would buy a shilling hat. A good horse could be bought for from twenty-five dollars to fifty dollars, and a cow for ten dollars. The little money that cam into the family in big copper cents, sixpences and shillings, for dimes and half-dimes were rarely seen, had to be carefully saved for taxpaying time. In fact the boy had little use for money. Shows rarely came this way, and a part of o religious teachings was to the effect that a show that had a round 'ring in the ten whatever else it may have had, was awfully wicked. The railroads of the of which were corduroy roads, always gave free excursions, .the passenger carrying his own lunch. The gayest of all the year with the boys was the day'known as "Trainin' Day," when the militia of the town were called out for drill. The bright red and blue colors of the privates' and non-commissioned officers' uniforms dazzled the eye the boy ; but the finer uniform of the captain and lieutenants, as they marshaled men to the stirring music of the fife and drum, or by sharp commands put t through the manual of arms, drove his senses into something like a stupor. grand event of the day was when the colonel, if he happened to be a near by dwell. gay in his iridescent garb of gray and gold, galloped upon the parade ground, rounded by his staff, and in thundering tones gave orders to the battalion, w moved the men as a piece of machinery and terrorized and. almost froze the h of the dazed lad from the back woods. The movements of Sherman's army befo Atlanta, or of Grant's in the Wilderness, could not have been more bewildering. Some here will remember the coming through' the county of the straggling recruits for the so-called "patriots' war," the uprising of a few disappointed in Canada, in 1837, with arms and pieces of artillery, as does the writer, and of HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 115 alarm all felt at the prospect of a border war with Great Britain, growing out of the affairs upon the border at Niagara river. These alarms, with the calling out of the enrolled militia in 1846, when men were wanted for the Mexican war, were such as to awaken the martial spirit of the people and to set the boys at school to playing soldier. The presence in Clarksfield of two water gristmills and sawmills at the time this story begins made life there much more desirable at that time. The prime question was to get something to grind. With that the boys had nothing to do and little concern ; but the going to mill upon an ox sled with a little grist of grain, the operation of grinding the grist between the two great stones, the delivery by the dusty miller of the prepared flour or meal, and the great, wide mill pond were matters, once seen, to be told and talked over for a month and never to be forgotten by the boy whose experiences and observations had then been so limited. Later on in life, when his muscles and discretion could be trusted to do the business, the boy was himself made the supercargo of a grist of grain on its way to the mill. The grist was equally divided by the parental hand, one-half in one end of the sack and one-half in the other end, thrown across the horse, and the boy mounted on top, with directions to use care in balancing the grist, and he was dispatched upon the errand. That boy has the most rueful recollections of his experiences of the grist falling from the horse in the woods road, away from help, and of his agonizing tears at the disaster. The grist had to be gotten upon a stump and the unwilling horse led between the stump and a near by tree which kept him from stepping to one side before the status of affairs had been restored, but success only awaited perseverance. The varied business ventures of the later life of that boy, with their adverse turns, bear no comparison to these weeping struggles with the grist in the wilderness. TRANSPORTATION. In the early days of our country hereabouts, the team work was mostly done with oxen, now almost a thmg of the past. Ox teams were used on the farm, for social visits, and for going to church. Your essayist well remembers of many occasions when the whole family went to meeting behind this kind of a team, upon a sled or in an old, squeaky wagon. Indeed, this was the rule among the pioneers sixty years ago, and caused no comment. Before roads for wagons were made, horseback riding for both sexes was most common, and the horse-block before every door afforded the aid for mounting. The animal was often taxed to carry double, and this was the favorite mode with beaus and belles among the pioneers. A farm wagon behind a span of plow horses showed the wealth and luxury of the owner, while the buggy and surrey, now so common, were unknown. POSTAL FACILITIES. The boy well remembers when Clarksfield's mail came but once a week, and then was brought by a post-boy on horseback with a leathern pair of saddle- 116 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY bags as the mail car. When he arrived upon the east hill at the village. to warn Esquire Starr, the postmaster, of his coming, he most vigorously sounded his tin horn, which he carried fastened to his saddle. Mail day, though it brought little of interest to the people, was the day of the week after Sunday. Few newspapers were taken, and letters at eighteen and three-fourths cents or twenty-five cents each, were too costly a luxury to be often indulged in by such a people. The mail carrier often brought news from the outside world of the elections, of wars or rumors of wars, which was passed from mouth to mouth, Now the mail is brought to Clarksfield's dwellers daily from the east to the west and from the west to the east, upon the fast mail trains of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad; and instead of the horn of the mail-boy, is heard the scream of the locomotive engine and the thunderous rumbling of heavy trains of cars, bearing the commerce of the continent. Smith Starr, the first and long time postmaster of the town, who handed out to the boy in question, sixty-five years ago, the Western Christian Advocate, the family paper, sleeps with the neighbors whom he served upon the hill, while the mail is distributed and served to patrons by a woman postmistress, a descendant of Aaron Rowland, another of the pioneers of the town. DEATH AMONG THE PIONEERS. In those pioneer days people died as they do now only oftener and earlier in life; for the hard life of privation most of them lived reduced the average term of life, and the pioneer fell an early victim to the ague or to the fever which followed in its train. As people wore home-made clothing in life, so their dead were encoffined in a home-made, walnut coffin, made to order from an actual measure taken, by the local cabinet maker or by a carpenter, the funeral always awaiting the convenience of the mechanic. The account books of Capt. Samuel Husted, pioneer merchant and first manufacturer of Clarksfield, still preserved, furnish the only vital statistics of the town in the charges made therein for coffins, furnished for the dead among the pioneers. Funerals among the pioneers were always formal affairs. The newest and best farm wagon of the settlement served as the hearse, and not until in the forties did our town furnish a pall for such occasions. A minister, if one could be had, must come, say a prayer and deliver a sermon. If no minister could be had, then some devout layman solemnized the occasion by a prayer. The old hymn beginning, "Hark from the tombs a doleful sound," sung to the tune of China, by uncultured voices, made the solemnity of the occasion almost gloomy;, and always awakened doubts of the reality of the resurrection. The neighbors for miles around turned out and the funeral rites were decorously and solemnly performed. The writer has a vivid recollection of his attendance upon a funeral in Clarksfield, the first that fell under his observation. It was that of a young mother who had yielded up her life m a forest home. The bereaved home was reached from our home by a tramp with mother and a neighbor, through a mile of dense forest. After the ceremony the burial took place upon a knoll in the deep woods HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 117 near by. The sight of the dead mother and of the bereaved little ones made an ngmpression upon the mind of the five-year-old boy which was deep and lasting. The little procession bore the body from the lonely cabin home to the grave where the neighbors filled in the earth and departed. For some years the mound reminded the observer of the departed, but finally all traces of the entombment were eradicated and the affair was forgotten. The place of interment has long since been passed over by the stranger occupant of the farm with no knowledge of the burial. Early burials were in most cases made upon the home farm, for cemeteries were not then established. In a few years, as in the instance above given, these places of burial were forgotten, so that now the plow and the reaper, unknown to the farmer in charge, desecrate the places once sacred to the pioneer. CONCLUSION. The story you have listened to contains nothing startling, and has, I fear, hardly been interesting. It is but a recitation of commonplace affairs, with an antique odor, of which every pioneer boy knows, and perhaps, yes surely, this is all it has to commend it. Be this as it may, the story has its counterpart in the history of every section of our country, which has, with such marvelous celerity, emerged from a wilderness, the dwelling place of the savage, to a densely populated empire of civilization, within the lifetime and recollections of many here. The story begins contemporaneously with the first term of President Jackson, the seventh president, acid runs to that of the twenty-fifth, counted consecutively, and covers one-half of the lifetime of our republic. It has seen the republic doubled and more than doubled in the extent of its territory, and more than quadrupled in its population ; while in material resources and national virility the infant has become the giant of this globe. During this period the last of the men who at the beginning of the story grappled with the wilderness here, has passed to the beyond. The children of the pioneer have in many cases, as in the case of the families most conspicuous in the story, gone to aid in developing other states, so that the only memory of their names is to be gathered from the tombstones in your cemetries. But such is the glory of American life everywhere. JOHNNY APPLESEED. ADDRESS OF A. J. BAUGHMAN AT THE UNVEILING OF THE JOHNNY APPLEsEED MONUMENT AT MANSFIELD, OHIO. John Chapman was born at Springfield, Mass., in the year 1775. Of his early life but little is known, as he was reticent about himself, but his half-sister who came west at a later period, stated that Johnny had, when a boy, shown a fondness for natural scenery and often wandered from home in quest of plants and flowers and that he liked to listen to the birds singing and to gaze at the stars. Chapman's penchant for planting apple seeds and cultivating nurseries caused him to be me called "Appleseed John," which wnif inally changed to "Johnny Appleseed," and by that name he was called and known everywhere. 118 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY The year Chapman came to Ohio has been variously stated, but to say it was one hundred years ago would not be far from the mark. An uncle of the late Roscella Rice lived in Jefferson county when Chapman made his first advent in Ohio, and one day saw a queer-looking craft coming down the Ohio river above Steubenville. It consisted of two canoes lashed together, and its crew was one man-an angular, oddly-dressed person-and when he landed he said his name was Chapman, and that his cargo consisted of sacks of apple seeds and that he intended to plant nurseries. Chapman's first nursery was planted nine miles below Steubenville, up a narrow valley, from the Ohio river, at Brilliant, formerly called Lagrange, opposite Wellsburg, W. Va. After planting a number of nurseries along the river front, he extended his work into the interior of the state—into Richland county—where he made his horde for many years. Chapman was enterprising in his way and planted nurseries in a number of counties, which required him to travel hundreds of miles to visit and cultivate them yearly, as was his custom. His usual price for a tree was "a fip penny-bit," but if the settler hadn't money, Johnny would either give him credit or take old clothes for pay. He generally located his nurseries along streams, planted hngs seeds, surrounded the patch with a brush fence, and when the pioneers came, Johnny had young fruit trees ready for them. He extended his operations to the Maumee country and finally into Indiana, where the last years of his life were spent He revisited Richland county the last time in 1843, and called at my father's, but as I was only five years old at the time I do not remember him. My parents (in about 1827-35) planted two orchards with trees they bought of Johnny, and he often called at their .house, as he was a frequent caller at the homes of the settlers. My grandfather, Capt. James Cunningham, settled in Rngchland county in 1808, and was acquainted with Johnny for many years, and I often heard him tell, in his Irish-witty way, many amusing anecdotes and incidents of Johnny's life and of his peculiar and eccentric ways. Johnny was fairly educated, well read and was polite and attentive in man. ner and was chaste in conversation. His face was pleasant in expresion, and he was kind and generous in disposition. His nature was a deeply religious one, and his life was blameless among his fellow men. He regarded comfort ,more than style and thought it wrong to spend money for clothing to make a fine appearance. He usually wore a broad-brimmed hat. He went barefooted not only in the sun mer, but often in cold weather, and a coffee sack, with neck and armholes cut in it, was worn as a coat. He was about five feet, nine inches in height, rather spale in build was large boned and sinewy. His eyes were blue, but darkened w animation. For a number of years Johnny lived in a little cabin near Perrysville (then in Richland county), but later he wade his home in Mansfield with his half-sister, a Mrs. Groome When upon his journeys "Johnny" usually camped out. He never killed any thing, not even for the purpose of obtaining food. He carried a kit of cooking utensils with him, among which was a mush-pan, which he sometimes wore as a hat When he called at a house, his custom was to lie upon the floor with his kit fort pillow and after conversing with the family a short time, would then read from 119 - PHOTO - GENERAL READING ROOM, PUBLIC LIBRARY, NORWALK 120 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 121 Swedenborgian book or tract, and proceed to explain and extol the religious views he so zealously believed, and whose teachings he so faithfully carried out in his every day life and conversation. His mission was one of peace and good will and he never carried a weapon, not even for self-defense. The Indians regarded him as a great "Medicine Man," and his life seemed to be a charmed one, as neither savage men nor wild beast would harm him. Chapman was not a mendicant. He was never in indigent circumstances, for he sold thousands of nursery trees every year. Had he been avaricious, his estate instead of being worth a few thousand might have been tens of thousands at his death. "Johnny Appleseed's" name was John Chapman—not Jonathan—and this is attested by the muniments of his estate, and also from the fact that he had a half- brother (a deaf mute) whose Christian name was Jonathan. Chapman never married and rumor said that a love affair in the old Bay State was the cause of his living the life of a celibate and recluse. Johnny himself never explained why he led such a singular life except to remark that he had a mission—which was understood to be to plant nurseries and to make converts to the doctrines taught by Emanuel Swedenborg. He died at the home of William Worth in St. Joseph township, Allen county, Indiana, March 11, 1847, and was buried in David Archer's graveyard, a few miles north of Fort Wayne, near the foot of a natural mound. His name is engraved as a cenotaph upon one of the monuments erected in Mifflin township, Ashland county, this state, to the memory of the pioneers. Those monuments were unveiled with imposing ceremony in the presence of over six thousand people September 15, 1882, the seventieth anniversary of the Copus tragedy. During the war of 1812 Chapman often warned the settlers of approaching danger. The following incident is given: When the news spread that Levi Jones had been killed by the Indians and that Wallace Reed and others had probably met the same fate, excitement ran high and the few families which comprised the population of Mansfield sought the protection of the blockhouse, situated on the public square, as it was supposed the savages were coming in force from the north to overrun the country and to murder the settlers. There were no troops at the blockhouse at the time and as an attack was considered imminent, a consultation was held and it was decided to send a messenger to Captain Douglas, at Mt. Vernon, for assistance. But who would undertake the hazardous journey? It was evening, and the rays of the sunset had faded away and the stars were beginning to shine in the darkening sky, and the trip of thirty miles must be made in the night over a new cut road through a wilderness—through a forest infested with wild beasts and hostile Indians. A volunteer was asked for and a tall, lank man said demurely: "I'll go." He was bareheaded, barefooted and was unarmed. His manner was meek and you had to look the second. time into his clear, blue eyes to fully fathom the courage and determination shown in their depths. There was an expression in his countenance such as limners try to portray in their pictures of saints. It is scarcely necessary to state that the volunteer was "Johnny Appleseed" for many of you have heard your fathers tell how unostentatiously "Johnny" stood as "a 122 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY watchman on the walls of Jezreel," to guard and protect the settlers from th savage foes. The journey to Mt. Vernon was a sort of a Paul Revere mission. Unlike Paul's, "Johnny's" was made on foot—barefooted—over, a rough road, but one that in time led to fame. "Johnny" would rap on the doors of the few cabins along the route, warn the settlers of the impending danger and advise them to flee to the blockhouse. "Johnny" arrived safely at Mt. Vernon, aroused the garrison and informed the commandant of his mission. Surely, figuratively speaking, "The dun-deer's hide On fleeter feet was never tied," for so expeditiously was the trip made that at sunrise the next morning troops from Mt. Vernon arrived at the Mansfield blockhouse, accompanied by "Johnny," who had made the round trip of sixty miles between sunset and sunrise. About a week before Chapman's death, while at Fort Wayne, he heard that cattle had broken into his nursery in St. Joseph township and were destroying his trees, and he started on foot to look after his property. The distance was about twenty miles and the fatigue and exposure of the journey were too much for "Johnny's" physical condition, then enfeebled by age ; and at the even-tide he applied at the home of a Mr. Worth for lodging for the night. Mr. Worth was a native Buckeye and had lived in Richland county when a boy and when he learned that his oddly dressed caller was "Johnny Appleseed" gave him a cordial welcome. "Johnny" declined going to the supper table but partook of .a bowl of bread and milk. The day had been cold and raw with occasional flurries of snow, but in the evening the clouds cleared away and the sun shone warm and bright as it sank in the western sky. "Johnny" noticed this beautiful sunset, an augury of the .Spring and flowers so soon to come and sat on the doorstep and gazed with wistful eyes toward the west. Perhaps this herald of the Springtime, the season in which nature is resurrected from the death of Winter, caused him to look with prophetic eyes to the future and contemplate that glorious event of which Christ is the resurrection and the life. Upon re-entering the house, "Johnny" declined the bed offered him for the night, preferring- a quilt and pillow on the floor, but asked permission to hold family worship and read "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven," "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," etc. After he had finished reading the lesson, he said prayers—prayers long remembered by that family. He prayed for all sorts, and conditions of men; that the way of righteousness might be made clear unto them and that saving grace might be freely given to all nations. He asked that the Holy Spirit might guide and govern all who profess and call themselves Christians and that all those who were afflicted in mind, body or estate, might be comforted and relieved, and that all might at last come to the knowledge of the truth and in the world tocome have happiness and everlasting life.• Not' only the words of the prayer; but the pathos of his voice made a deep impression upon those present. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 123 In the morning "Johnny" was found in a high state of fever, pneumonia having developed during the night, and the physician called said he was beyond medical aid, but inquired particularly about his religious belief, and remarked that he had never seen a dying man so perfectly calm, for upon his wan face there was an expression of happiness and upon his pale lips there was a smile of joy, as though he was communing with loved ones who had come to meet him and to soothe his weary spirit in his dying moments. And as his eyes shone with the beautiful light supernal, God touched him with his finger and beckoned him home. Thus ended the life of the man who was not only a hero, but a benefactor as well; and his spirit is now at rest in the Paradise of the Redeemed, and in the fullness of time, clothed again in the old body made anew, will enter into the Father's house in which there are many mansions. In the words of his own faith, his bruised feet will be healed, and he shall walk on the gold-paved streets of the New Jerusalem of which he so eloquently preached. It has been very appropriately said that although years have come and gone since his death, the memory of his good deeds live anew every Springtime in the beauty and fragrance of the blossoms of the apple trees he loved so well. "Johnny Appleseed's" death was in harmony with his unostentatious, blameless life. It is often remarked, "How beautiful is the Christian's life ;" yea, but far more beautiful is the Christian's death, when "the fashion of his countenance is altered," as he passes from the life here to the life beyond. What changes have taken place in the years that have intervened between the "Johnny Appleseed" period and today! It has been said that the lamp of civilization far surpasses that of Aladdin's. Westward the star of empire took its way and changed the forests into fields of grain and the waste places into gardens of flowers, and towns and cities have been built with marvelous handiwork. But in this march of progress, the struggles and hardships of the early settlers must not be forgotten. Let us not only record the history, but the legends of the pioneer period; garner its facts and its fictions ; its tales and traditions and collect even the crumbs that fall from the table of the feast. Today, the events which stirred the souls and tried the courage of the pioneers seem to come out of the dim past and glide as panoramic views before me. A number of the actors in those scenes were of my "kith and kin" who have long since crossed over the river in their journey to the land where Enoch and Elijah are pioneers, while I am left to exclaim : "Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand And the sound of a voice that is still." HOW JAY COOKE FINANCED THE CIVIL WAR. PAPER READ BY JAY COOKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, BEFORE THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AT 1TS MEETING IN SANDUSKY, OCTOBER 3, 1900. COPYRIGHTED 1900. PUBLISHED BY PERMISSION. Mr. President, and Members of the Firelands Historical Society: You must not expect from me on this occasion anything more than a truthful talk upon some subjects your President tells me you will be pleased to listen to 124 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY as coming from one who, although not a member of your society yet, has for long years kept himself informed as to your aims and purposes and who has taken much interest in all you have done. I never delivered a speech in all nip nearly eighty years of life. The largest body I have ever addressed was a male bible class of sometimes one hundred and fifty members which I have conducted each Sabbath for nearly fifty years and yet when I recalled the fact that my dear father, the Hon. Eleutheros Cooke, so frequently in the long ago met with you and addressed you and that your society has numbered and now numbers many, old friends, I could not refuse the invitation to appear before you. My preference would have been, however, to have met and talked with you at the fireside of my own home. Oh, what hours we could have spent together, chatting about the good old times, the old friends, the thousand and one incidents, old customs and experiences and again of the wondrous changes that have taken place, the rapid progress in arts and sciences and inventions in steamships and railroads, and telegraph and telephones. Why a whole year of such talks would hardly suffice to exhaust the infinite sum of the items we would recall from memory's storehouse, even a memory reaching no further backwards than, three score years and ten. My friends, I consider myself. as one of you. I was born near the spot where we are now assembled. I have a perfect recollection of Sandusky when it was but just changing from an Indian village. Old Ogontz many a time has carried me on his shoulders. I named my beautiful home near Philadelphia after this old chief and now the whole country around me for miles has appropriated for their postoffice, railroad station and village the name of Ogontz. My father, I think, built the first stone house down on Columbus avenue, The town was then called Portland, and afterwards Sandusky City and now Sandusky. My first recollection of any public worship was of a Methodist meeting held in a cooper shop on Market street, our seats rough boards placed on kegs. Shortly after this a small frame church was erected by the Methodists near where the courthouse stands. After this a stone church built by the Congregationalists, also a stone church by the Episcopalians and many other societies followed until in time this fair city has become noted as a city of churches. The bay was at certain times covered with ducks and wild geese and swan and the water populous with all kinds of fish. I remember a joke which our rival neighbors used to perpetrate, i. e., that before the Sandusky people could dine or sup they would have to send us boys down to the docks to catch enough fish for a meal. But in fact this whole country was full of game and fish of all kinds, a perfect paradise for hunters and fishermen. Deer and squirrels and prairie chickens and wild turkey, etc., abounded. My father never was a hunter but on one occasion he beat us all in prowess by capturing a couple of dozen of fat wild turkeys without firing a gun. He had a hundred-acre field of corn out on the prairie and had built a spacious corn house in the center. One day, riding over this field after harvest, he noticed a window was open and approaching and looking in discovered a large flock of wild turkeys within and feasting on his corn. He promptly closed the window and captured the whole flock, thus providing a feast for the good old Thanksgiving day then near at hand. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 125 On this same prairie between Bloomingville and Strong's Ridge I have hunted with Judge Caldwell. It was a rare spot for deer and prairie chickens. And now before closing these personal reminiscences I wish to refer to an incident which some of you will no doubt recall. It is this, at one of your meetings in Norwalk long ago my father, who was the orator on that occasion, took from his pocket the very first telegram that had been sent from Philadelphia to Sandusky. He reminded you of past difficulties, particularly in the earlier periods, in the matter of mails and messages from the East and how that frequently letters were days and weeks before reaching their destination and how he held in his hand a message that he had received from his son Jay from Philadelphia in just five minutes from the time his son had written it that very morning. To realize the wondrous change that you and I have witnessed we can recall the time when postage on a letter from Sandusky to Norwalk was twelve and one-half cents and from Boston to Sandusky was twenty-five cents and if the envelope contained an enclosure beside the one sheet the postage was doubled. Why, my dear friends, I myself have paid seventy-five cents on a letter to my sweetheart in Kentucky just because there was so much news in Philadelphia, that it required three sheets to tell it all. You and I remember when tomatoes were called "Love Apples" and were not eaten, considered poisonous. We remember the first soda water fountains, the first daguerreotype, the first steamshngp that crossed the ocean, the first railroad charter obtained in the world and that by my own father in 1826. We all remember the beginning of the road, at first between Sandusky and Bellevue, with a thin English strap rail and cars drawn by a horse. I was present when, about 1835, ground was broken near Foreman's rope walk and a grand celebration held. All the great men of the state were invited. "Old Tippecanoe," the first President Harrison, was there. My father delivered the oration. We had music and a cannon and we boys all marched in the procession. At this time a few other railroad projects had been launched, a few miles of the Baltimore & Ohio, some three miles of the Germantown road, also a piece of the Albany & Schenectady road and a mile in the Quincy granite quarries. But to my father and to the Western Reserve belongs the honor of being the pngoneer in railroad matters. From this small beginning hundreds of thousands of miles of railroad have been constructed, why, my friends, there are today enough finished railroads in the United States alone to reach around the world fully ten times. I have since 1838, when I took up my residence in Philadelphia, almost continually been financiering for railroads. As a member of the great firm of E. W. Clark & Co., and afterwards of the firm of Jay Cooke & Co., I have until recent years been instrumental in the building of nearly all the older railroads of the country. The last of these, the great Northern Pacific railroad, now a triumphant success and which has developed one of the finest portions of this country, where, in 1870, a vast territory was filled with buffalo and Indians, can now be found over six millions of intelligent and energetic farmers and miners and merchants and ranchmen, etc., and many large cities and thriving towns, hundreds of churches, schools and colleges and branch railroads innumerable. 126 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY In fact whether I journey east or west, north or south, I can recall the fact that at some early date our firms financiered the bonds issued by these roads many of which were entirely in our hands at some period of their history. I have always had faith in well managed railroad property. About the only time I ever met Jay Gould was when I asked him to assist in extending the Union Pacific one hundred and seventy-five miles into southern Utah. This he agreed to do. The purpose was to reach the great Horn silver mine at Frisco and it took us just twenty minutes to close the bargain, although the railroad alone cost over two millions of which' the Union Pacific subscribed for one-half. This road was completed in five months. I had, I remember, one other transaction with Mr. Gould, and I found him in each case entirely trustworthy and reliable, and my confidence in his word was so great that we did not even draw up sign any papers. He simply said: "I will do it, go ahead, and I will do part." I suppose it was this association from early youth withVan large financial and commercial transactions that gave me a vast experience and opened my mind and widened my views as to the future of this glorious nation so that at the period of the Mexican war from 1846 to 1849, as a member of the firm of E. W. Clark & Co., I assisted in the negotiation of the government loans required from time to time to carry on that war. Corcoran & Riggs, of Washington, and E. W. Clark & Co., of Philadelphia, took all of those loans. The amount altogether did not exceed sixty or seventy millions. Robert J. Walker was secretary of the treasury at that time and author of the sub-treasury system. I was quite intimate with him, not then, but during the war of the rebelhon. I could tell you of some amusing details as to the manipulation of the Mexican wax loans. Why our firm made more profit out of each of their shares of the ten million awards than I made during the whole period of the war of the rebellion, a period of between four and five years during which, as selling agent of this government, I negotiated all the great loans issued amounting to over two thousand millions of dollars, this sum includes the early issue of temporary loan certificates, loan of 1881, 572o bonds, 10-40 bonds, 7-30 notes, etc., etc. This last loan was for eight hundred and thirty millions and I sold it all within five months, the sales occasionally reaching ten, to fifteen millions a day and one day forty-two millions. It was the closing war loan and before its marvellous sale was concluded the war had ended. I could hell you, if I had time, of how I saved the treasury one hundred millions of dollars and how the success of this loan elevated the credit of this nation to a pinnacle f4 above that of any nation on earth and gave the final blow to the great rebellion. This saving of one hundred millions was acknowledged by all acquaint& with the facts and was originated and carried out successfully -solely by myself the treasury department simply agreeing to my wishes and plans. It was is connection with the vast issue of quartermaster certificates and the 'unwise pro vision made for their redemption which4 instead of distributing the money, I poured into the treasury pro rata upon each outstanding group of certificates paid out the bulk of it in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, leaving the hun dreds of other quartermaster departments frequently for months without funds HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 127 . The consequence was that whilst quartermaster certificates in Philadelphia and the East could be sold when first issued at ten to twelve per cent discount, the discount in Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, etc., was twenty-two to twenty-five per cent, other points thirty to thirty-five per cent, and at Nashville I heard of a sale at fifty per cent discount. Now all this discount together with the doubts and fears created by the want of prompt payment which greatly checked competition added at least one million per. day to the cost of the war and discredited our bonds and gave hopes to the rebels and their sympathizers at the north and in Europe that we would break down financially. I pondered over this fearful situation and devised and executed at once a scheme which within thirty days gave promise of the speedy ending of the war and reduced the discount 01 on all vouchers issued by quartermasters in all parts of the country to not over two to three per cent and in fact the money flowed so rapidly into the treasury that ere long the vouchers were cashed as soon as issued. This, my friends, is the first time I have made any public mention of my services in connection with this marvellous matter. You will wonder how it was accomplished. It was in this way. I called to my office in Philadelphia to confer with me all the large holders of vouchers residing in the eastern cities. These men agreed unanimously and privately to accept my proposition and to keep the plan from publicity in order that the greatest good could be accomplished by its success. These men held about eighty millions of vouchers, all of which were within a few days deposited with me and for which I gave them the current issue of 7-30 notes at oar ; they agreeing to use them as a basis of bank loans until I had closed out the sale of 7-30's for cash. They could borrow twenty-five per cent more on the 7-30's than on the vouchers, and as the 7-30's carried interest they got their loans practically without cost. As these treasury notes were day by day issued in exchange for the quartermaster's certificates, I was thereby able to add from three to ten millions a day to the sum of the public subscriptions which, as I knew it would, created such an increased demand for the notes by the public and even foreign purchasers that the whole eight hundred and thirty millions of this issue were all sold within five short months. All the loans I negotiated went to a large premium. The 7-30 treasury notes after a short period were all funded into long bonds or paid off. I will say here that all the bonds I negotiated for the United States were paid off in gold as advertised and many of them long before they were due and being purchased at a premium by the treasury. I am afraid I am already trespassing upon your time with these details, but you asked me to tell you some of the plans I adopted to win so great a success. I will but hint at a few of them and simply remark that these plans, originating as they did from practical business experience and entire independence of action and freedom from red tape, were such as no official or the government itself could have planned or executed. Take for instance the following: Newspapers and individuals got into the habit of deploring the war and its vicious expenditures. I offset this by quoting the fact that every dollar raised by the loans went right back into the hands of the people and was new and vigorous blood permeating all through the body of the nation and at that time the expense of the war had reached the vast sum of six hundred millions per 128 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY annum. I simply, in addition to the fact as stated above, published statistics showing the importation annually for years past of the best kind of immigrants, mostly from the British Isles and the north of Europe. Such importation averaged over six hundred thousand per annum. The cost of rearing to the average age of those coming here was at least one thousand dollars each. This in addition to the money and goods which each immigrant brought in. These foreign countries were contributing to the United .States without cost to us more than we were expending upon our war besides furnishing us many times the number of those who were killed and wounded and who were ready andi glad to take their places in the ranks. Thus by using the newspapers and pamphlets and circulars to disseminate these facts thoroughly and constantly all over the land I soon dispelled all gloom and brought about a more cheerful condition of pub opinion. Another incident. The Quakers, so numerous in Pennsylvania a many other states, so rich and patriotic, were, as I knew, only held back investing millions in the United States bonds by the thought that the money for war purposes. Their consciences could not be reconciled to helping pay war and bloodshed. How did I manage them ? In this way. I sent for a number of them whom I knew personally and held conferences with them, result of which was that I told them that I was in full sympathy with scruples and had taken measures at Washington to make it possible for then also to subscribe for bonds. I told them that millions of money was required for hospitals and sanitary purposes, the sick and wounded must be cared etc., and that if they subscribed, their money would by especial agreement applied by the treasury department to thus doing good to the suffering soldiers. My proposition was cordially accepted and was widely made known through circulars and the newspapers, telegraph, etc., and soon my Quaker friends be to pour in millions from all parts of the country. Another incident. I ha labor with a class of men who invested only in first mortgages on real estate would not invest in bonds of the United States. I got some of these men to conference and told them that my government bonds were far ahead of th first mortgages ; that in fact, their first mortgages were only second or th mortgages after all. In the first place the tax gatherers of the city and state both have a prior lien. If the owner of the mortgaged property is unable to pay his taxes the holder of the mortgage must do so or see his security glide from him. But above all I made clear to them the fact of the supreme position of the national government not only in the matter of imposition of any amount of taxation but even to the practical possession of every property in the land if its possession should be required to maintain the life of the nation. The nation's claim was first of all and universal confiscation of all property would be resorted to if needed to sustain the nation's life. This is a solemn fact and these men understood it at once, being practical business men, and at once began to pin their money into the best of all, the first lien upon all, the glorious 5-20's and other United States bonds. These true views were disseminated everywhere and greatly increased the volume of subscriptions. I would not for a moment claim all the credit for the wondrous success that attended these vast negotiations which supplied almost wholly from the begin- 129 - PHOTO - CITY HALL, MONROEVILLE 130 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 131 ning to the end the money, the sinews of war during the great rebellion, the most gigantic contest this world has ever seen, but would share it with the host of faithful partners, clerks and assistants we employed and with our own numerous editorial staff and with the whole body of the press and newspapers throughout the land. The latter without exception or any discrimination whether they were north or south, east or west, republican or democratic, or "copperhead," or Protestant or Catholic, with the single exception of the Sunday newspapers, I never paid a dollar to these breakers of the Sabbath, all alike published my advertisements and my special editorial articles. All were fully paid in cash, no discount asked and no commissions deducted by agents. It was a grand feast for the newspapers and the amount I expended during those four or five years reached probably two millions of dollars. Then too the country all the time was flooded with circulars and pamphlets and every possible means vigorously adopted to expand patriotism, to encourage the down-hearted, and to exalt the duty of every one subscribing to the current loans. The officers and soldiers in the camps were fully instructed, and in addition to appeals to them for faithful service they were asked to subscribe and they did subscribe many millions of dollars. It is not too much to say that my efforts to popularize these various loans reached a grandeur of success that the world had never witnessed before; and that whilst our brave officers and soldiers and seamen were fighting great battles. I was confronted all the time with enemies less brave but equally active and strategic and determined, whom with the help of God and of splendid partners and assistants were finally overcome. I was asked during the great war when it seemed that a large portion of our prominent men in the army and navy and in public offices from the president and secretaries down were western men and particularly Ohio men, to explain how this could be. My answer was, so far as Ohio was concerned, that the men now of an age and experience to occupy these positions were the children of those energetic men and women pioneers who settled the Western Reserve and other parts of the noble state. They came from New York, Pennsylvania and New England states mostly, and some Virginians and Marylanders, but the mere fact of coming here and of battling as pioneers had given their offspring sturdy and prominent characters, such as Chase, and the Shermans and Stantons. While I was, of course, more or less intimate with all the public men at Washington during the war yet I found my time so fully engaged that I spent but little of it in their company and, unless for some especial work or consultation connected with the creating and issue of some new loan, I seldom visited Washington. My representatives there were my brother, Governor Henry D. Cooke, and Mr. H. C. Fahnestock, two noble and able men and partners in our house there. I have gone to Washington and conferred with Mr. Chase, Mr. Lincoln, Gen. Grant and Mr. McCulloch, Mr. Fessenden, John Sherman and many others, and all these gentlemen have from time to time visited me at Ogontz, my home near Philadelphia, and Gibraltar, my Western Reserve island home, and I have enjoyed unusual opportunities in conversing with them during and since the war, but will have to reserve these anecdotes and details for some other occasion. They were all noble men ; our nation owes them a debt of gratitude that monu- 132 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY ments and honors cannot repay. I have always felt that in this matter of ma fitted and born for the occasion none but our nation's God could have chosen and sustained those glorious characters who were prominent in those dark days o strife and bloodshed. I will state that this nation stands today just where I prognosticated she wo in due time stand, the most powerful, the richest, the most enlightened, the freest and happiest nation on this earth. We have kept all our promises financially, have seen our whole land aga reunited so that we have no north and no south, and our financial and comme cial credit is greater even than Great Britain. We have been able to borro money at two per cent, in fact have lately paid off a debt bearing only th interest and have lately taken a British loan of twenty-five millions and sent them the gold out of sour superabundance to pay for it and I presume from signs see that we shall loan large sums to Russia before long and perhaps to other powers of Europe. We are kings in the iron, coal, cotton and grain trade. It would require hundreds of pages to record the incidents and efforts accompanying the plans adopted for raising the millions of dollars required month during the war. In fact the experience of past negotiations was no to present ones, and not only in the form and terms of the different loans there a constant variance, but instead of being sold by the treasury depart the most of these gigantic loans were sold to the public through myself as general subscription agent. I thus employing all banks, bankers and other agents were accountable to me direct daily, and by me settlement was made with treasury department. I paid all advertising and appointed all my, own agents. The treasury department had practically but little to do in the matter bey, printing the bonds and receiving and disbursing their proceeds. The wisdom of Mr. Chase, of Mr. Fessenden and Mr. McCulloch as secretaries of the treasu was shown by a non-interference with my plans and the giving me perfect liberty to manage the loans in my own way. I was aided by some of the writers in our land and thus was enabled to introduce and popularize many id. that were adopted and universally believed in. Such for instance as that expenses of war if disbursed in our own borders tends rather to add to the nation vigor and wealth, also that the population was rapidly increasing through immigration, increasing far beyond the loss by war, also that a government bond first lien upon all else and the best security in the world. Remember, my friends, that from 1861 to 1865 practically the bulk of the funds raised through my efforts and the efforts of my firm. We were God chosen. I always thought we were helped and sustained by His Gracious power. When in Washington I met, of course, most of our public men. How fa their names are now, such men as Chase, Lincoln, Sherman, Fessenden, McCulloch and Seward. They were all great men and worthy of our remembrances. I have time to tell you of incidents of deep interest taking place continually in cone tion with these men. Suffice to say such incidents were exciting and worthy the men and the times. During the battle of Gettysburg my office in Philadelphia was crowded subscribers to the loans, and after the battle many citizens whose sons in HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 133 that battle and had been wounded and who had failed to get passes to visit them came to me and said, "Surely we are subscribers to the loans, can't you give us a pass?" I told them I would try, and sat down and wrote a short note to the commander at Gettysburg, which was accepted in every instance, allowing the Philadelphia father to pass to his wounded son. I have always regarded advertising as the great power to be availed of. I disbursed during the five years of war over two millions of dollars in advertising the loans. Now a word in conclusion. cost in commissions and printing and advertising, for instance in Europe and perhaps at times in England reaches two or two and a half per cent. For this guarantee some great banking house like Rothschild's places the loan. I understand that they simply financier it and do not take the risk of a dollar. How different this is from the terms under which Jay Cooke undertook to financier for our treasury. He got but a paltry three-eighths per cent to cover all his advertising and agents of all kinds, and out of this scarcely saved a penny. The whole amount of the outlay by the government during the war for materials, engraving and printing bonds and commissions allowed did not exceed seven and a half millions of dollars. So far as Jay Cooke & Co. were concerned they were left to enjoy the honors of such heroic deeds for they certainly saved nothing else. Since writing the above I have seen an article in the September McClure's magazine. written by the Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, ex-secretary of the treasury, who says, in part : "It is not easy, in this age of comparative freedom and power in financial affairs, to comprehend that in the year 1871 the long established bankers of New York, Amsterdam and London, either declined or neglected the opportunity to negotiate the five per cent coin bonds of the United States upon the basis of their par value. It was in this situation of affairs that Messrs. Jay Cooke & Co. proposed to undertake the sale in London, by subscription, of one hundred and thirty-four million five per cent bonds then unsold. Authority was given to Messrs. Jay Cooke & Co. to proceed with the undertaking, and when the books were closed, September 1st, I was informed that the loan had been taken in full." I may mention in passing that Messrs. Jay Cooke & Co. paid for the bonds as they were delivered, either in coin or in five-twenty bonds. Thus the services of Jay Cooke & Co. were called for long after the close of the war. In conclusion, my dear friends, after thanking you for your patience in listening to so long a story, I would refer to the history of this favored portion of our country and the circumstances which led you to adopt it as your home. This belt of land on the south bank of Lake Erie, including many islands, is called the Firelands of the Western Reserve, granted long ago as compensation for losses and trials and sufferings endured by your fathers and mothers many years ago in Connecticut in the Revolutionary War. A glorious and goodly land was then provided for you by a kindly and beneficent government, but, oh, I would remind you that there is a better land, a land of pure delight which our loved and powerful Saviour has gone to prepare for you, "Sweet fields arrayed in living green and rivers of delight." This coming inheritance is a new 134 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY and Heavenly reserve made ready for all who now hear my voice. The journey thither will not be through dangerous forests and Indian foes or wearisome marches and toilful struggles, but will be to those of you who are looking forward to a future home in that Heavenly reserve, but an instant of transition. You will find there no early or later toil and struggles such as you met within this earthly reserve, but will realize in that Heavenly reserve such peace and rest and joy as we pilgrims of earth cannot conceive of. May we all meet again in that Heavenly Reserve.—From the "Firelands Pioneer." THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The Firelands Historical Society was organized in the court house at Norwalk in June, 1857. It has held annual meetings in Norwalk and numerous quarterly meetings in various portions of Huron and Erie counties since its organization fifty-two years ago. The following is from an address of the Hon. Rush R. Sloane, at the annual meeting of the Firelands Historical Society in 1996: "Nearly half a century has elapsed since the organization of the Firelands Historical Society, which took place in this town of Norwalk, when many of the first settlers of the Firelands were present and participated in that memorable event In the years that have since passed, nearly all of those pioneers have crossed tit great divide. “It is our proud privilege and pleasure to claim the possession and ownership of the only building solely used for historical and archaeological purposes by air organized county society in Ohio. Even the 'Historical and Archaeological Society' of our state has as yet no home for its library and valuable archaeological deposits. While Huron and Erie counties through the agency of this society and many Years of zealous work has now such a home, wherein we can safely deposit in a fireproof museum the authentic records which commemorate the labors and achievement of our ancestors. For all time these collections and such other of like contributions as may come to our society, may be viewed and reviewed by the present and future generations with a gratified pride of worthy ancestry. "In 1857 the pioneers of the two counties of Huron and Erie met at Norwalk and organized 'The Firelands Historical Society,' the chief purpose of which was to collect and preserve in proper form the facts constituting the full history of the `Fire Lands,' and to secure an authentic statement of their resources and productions of all kinds. The society, which has a charter, was not organized for profit, and yet no corporation has ever declared richer or greater dividends. And what has this society done ? Its meetings, quarterly and annual, have been quite regularly held. Its publications, forty-five numbers or volumes, are, in number of pages, exceeding those of any county historical society in Ohio or in the west. These publications devoted to the early history of the Firelands and of the state of Ohio include nearly seven thousand pages of valuable early history, most of which was never in print before and contain full and complete memoirs of thirty-two townships reported by original pioneers in these townships. It has collected valuable books, papers, pamphlets and writings along special lines which cannot now HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 135 duplicated. It has also many 'bound volumes of newspapers, in which both the local, as well as the general history of the state and country is preserved for the use of investigators and historians. Its collection of maps, many made by the original surveyors, will be of great value in settling matters of facts and early land titles. It has a large collection of genealogy which is often consulted for early family hngstory. “The museum collection embraces a large number of Indian relics, nearly all found within the Firelands. The selection embraces rare fossils and petrifactions which possess great interest to the geologist and student, and tend to confirm the theory that the shores of Lake Erie at some remote period extended farther south than they do now. “There are original letters from our early statesmen and warriors, from Generals Washington, Greene and Harrison, from Cass and Chase, from Grant and Sherman, and from many of the present day. "There are guns and pistols, cannon and rifle balls, musket ball and grape shot, powder flasks and pocket books picked up on the battlefields of all the wars in which our country has engaged, and also numerous mementoes of the battle on Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. "During the existence of our society since May, 1857, it has exchanged its publications with a large number of state historical societies, thus spreading broadcast the early and important events of our section of Ohio, both in peace and war, which go far to make up and complete the grand and glorious history of the state of Ohio's century of growth, and which mark its transformation step by step from a wnglderness into its present prosperous condition. "In the society's publications are to be found the able, interesting and eloquent addresses of such pioneer citizens and distinguished men as Eleutheros Cooke, Elisha Whittlesey, E. Lane, Giddings, L. B. Gurley, President R. B. Hayes, General L. V. Bierce, P. N. Schuyler, Clark Waggoner, G. T. Stewart, and many others. These addresses being of great interest and value and never published elsewhere." Every citizen in the Firelands should be interested in preserving a history of the events transpiring within our borders. The only way to do this successfully is to support the Firelands Historical Society in its laudable efforts to carefully preserve and frequently publish these volumes of history, biography and record of passing events. Platt Benedict was the first president of the society, and continued its president until his death, 1866. CONSTITUTION. Art. 1. This society shall be called "The Firelands Historical Society." Art. 2. Its objects are to collect and preserve in proper form, the facts constituting the full history of the "Fire Lands ;" also to obtain and preserve an authentic and general statement of their resources and productions of all kinds. Art. 3. The officers of the society shall consist of a president, five vice-presidents, a treasurer, one recording and two corresponding secretaries. 136 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Art 4. The officers hereof shall be elected annually at the annual meeting, and shall perform the duties usually pertaining to their respective offices. Art. 5. The annual meeting of the society shall be held in Norwalk, on the second Wednesday of June, at no o'clock A. M., of each year hereafter. Art. 6. Any person a resident of the "Fire Lands" may become a member by signing this constitution, and paying into the treasury the sum of twenty-five cents. Art. 7. This constitution may be altered or amended at any annual meeting hereafter, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, The secretary, on being called abroad, was excused by the house, and A. t Stewart, Esq., was chosen to act in his absence. An election of officers was then had, which resulted as follows : President—Platt Benedict. Vice-Presidents—William Parish, Eleutheros Cooke, Zalmuna Phillips, Seth C Parker, and John H. Niles. Treasurer—Charles A. Preston. Recording Secretary—Philip N. Schuyler. Corresponding Secretaries—F. D. Parish and G. T. Stewart. The Firelands society has one of the largest and finest museum collections in the state. It is well cared for and is kept in fire-proof rooms of the Firelands memorial building. PRESENT OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND TRUSTEES OF THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Hon. C. H. Gallup, president, Norwalk, Ohio; Hon. C. P. Wickham, first vice-president, Norwalk, Ohio ; Hon. Thos. M. Sloane, second vice-president, San. dusky, Ohio ; Hon. S. E. Crawford, treasurer, Norwalk, Ohio ; Lucy Strutton, librarian, Norwalk, Ohio; George F. Titus, assistant librarian, Norwalk, Ohio; Dr. A. Sheldon, secretary, Norwalk, Ohio ; Hon. C. H. Gallup, curator of museum Board of Directors and Trustees—The president and secretary ex-officio; W. W. Whiton, Wakeman, Ohio ; Hon. J. F. Laning, Norwalk, Ohio; George F. Titus, Norwalk, Ohio ; G. S. Mordoff, Norwalk, Ohio ; A. S. Prentiss, Norwalk, Ohio. Publishing Committee—Hon. C. H. Gallup, Norwalk, Ohio. Biographer Huron County—Dr. F. E. Weeks, Clarksfield, Ohio. Biographer Erie County—John McKlevy, Sandusky, Ohio. REMEMBER THE PIONEERS. (From a paper written by I. M. Gillett, of Norwalk, and read at a meetngng of the Firelands Pioneer Society.) In the presence of the old men and old ladies, of the Firelands, nearly a century looks down upon us today. And what a century! Never in history has there been such a century, so remarkable in great events as the past one. There has never been such men of brains ; such men of science as have lived in the past one hundred years. These meetings of the pioneers bring up the thought that HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 137 all we enjoy are the work of our forefathers. It is difficult, at this late day to concede or believe all that we owe to them. It was the training that the boys of the Firelands received that made men of muscle and men of brains. The men who were chopping the trees, and clearing the forests made way for the railway, the telegraph, the telephone, and the electric car. I want you all to remember that the best servants make the best men. A pioneer is one that goes to prepare the way. I hardly know whether I am a pioneer or not. My father came here in 1839, with his family of -six children, of which I am the only one that remains, that leaves me here fifty-nine years. Is that long enough to make me a pioneer? We all know that the country lying between the foothills of the Alleghanies and where the prairies break was an interminable forest not many years ago. The roads, the houses, the schoolhouses in the valley and the churches on the hilltops, tell the tale of the work of the pioneers, a brave set of men and women. It required as much courage to face this forest as it did for the Puritans to face King Phillip, the patriots to fight on Bunker Hill, the soldiers to stand in the trench as before Vicksburg, and the veterans to hold the field at Gettysburg. I will not describe those early days. You old ladies and gentlemen can tell about those times. You old pioneers can go back in memory, and you do not need to have your recollection revived by me. You remember the thatched log cabins, the yards full of weeds, and the woods in which the barefooted boy went for the cows before supper. Then you remember how hard it was to pull out the plow after it had sucked under a root. I think that was the hardest thing to do,. excepting to pay taxes. I saw the roads in the woods broaden out under the wheels of the carts in summer and by the sleds in winter. We were a church-going people then. We will not forget the old Methodist preacher who traveled about and asked for a gallon of oats for his horse-no half pecks then. Such people went to church. The church had no ornamental pulpit, no carpeted floor, no cushioned seats, and often our feet rested on andirons. The fathers and mothers were strong, but died sooner than now. Early to bed and early to rise made the life work short. They had little of ideas for riches. They were working for homes ; but without knowing it, they were preparing the way for roads from east to west, for great railways that now span the country and all great improvements. What pleasure there was in the wood-chopping bees, and those house-raisings and huskings. They had the comfort of knowing that the latchstring was always out. There were none but Were welcome to their generous hospitality. As they were raised, so they raised their children. But while these heroic men are honored, we too often fail to remember the struggles of the noble pioneer women, our mothers. Always busy, we never knew when they went to bed, nor when they arose. They cooked for the men working in the woods, with poor material. They made the woolen cloth, spun it, wove it, and ten to one, that they cut the garments at home. Where on earth did they get courage for the work? It was a gift from God. There was nothing wanted that mother could not supply. Praise then the pioneers as you will, but when you come to the mothers, your tongues must be dumb. Talk about your heroes ; if you want to find one never daunted, never 138 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY wanting in courage, take one of these old ladies for a pattern. I hope the day will never come when the old people will not be welcome. THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. BY SADE E. BAUGHMAN, MANSFIELD. Extracts from a poem read at an historical society meeting. Into an unbroken wilderness the early settlers came, Clearing spots for their cabins and searching the forest for game. And they were a hardy race of men, those grand old pioneers, Who came to this unsettled country the fertile land to clear. * * * The women were brave and hardy, sharing dangers with the men, And aided in field labor and their homes they helped defend. We turn to the dear mothers as the needle turns to the pole, And in neither verse nor story have their virtues been half told, * * * And we bless the noble pioneers, whose hands with toil were brown, We will sing their praise through all the land for they deserve renown. They left their homes and scenes of peace for log cabins in the woods, Where dangers lurked at every turn, these men and women good. * * * They are in a land of light and promise we have never seen, Where the streams are golden rivers and the forests ever green. And dear forever be the graves and bright the flowering sod, Where rest the grand old sires who loved their country and their God. AN INTERESTING PAPER. At a meeting of the Firelands Historical Society held in , Norwalk, May 1, 1907, the following interesting paper was read by Mrs. W. A. Ingham, of Oberlin, who as one of the "old girls of Norwalk," was formerly Miss Mary B. Janes, daughter of Rev, John Janes, a Methodist Episcopal minister, who for many years was an honored citizen of Norwalk. "Norwalk—chief city of the Firelands-our childhood home—was always, to us, enchanting ; the wide streets bordered by rows of maples, the sandy soil and emerald turf were lovely in our eyes and yielding to little 'feet. "In '41 my youngef sisters and I were in the primary public schools—Lizzie Higgins our teacher; whose attractive face, drooping curls and gentle manner made her our friend even long after she wedded Hon. J. M. Farr, of the Experiment. Further on, Sarah Mason instructed little folks. "At nine years of age, father and mother wisely placed me in Principal Edward Thomson's large Latin grammar class at the seminary-as a basis of my future discipline in various languages. A small member thereof gained the hearts of teacher and pupils by voluntarily, every morning, filling the wood-box, that the homely, oblong stove might diffuse warmth among us chilly linguists. He was, 139 - PHOTO - MYRTLE AVENUE, CHICAGO, OHIO 140 - BLANK HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 141 then Dave Gray, now, D. S. Gray, a railroad magnate and philanthropist residing in Columbus, Ohio. "Norwalk Seminary was by far the most popular academy of Ohio, and many substantial young men and women attended ; among them Rutherford B. Hayes, Bishop William L. Harris, Governor Charles Foster, General McPherson, Judges Gershom M. Barber, Charles E. Pennewell and George E. Seney. The latter three I remember well, also Representative Francis Le Blond, whose personnel and chapel orations impressed me, an infinitesimal student, in a way altogether grand. "Sarah Gray, Emeline Yocum and Ellen Dunn were intimates. We had a playhouse in the seminary yard ; of course we played 'school.' Our bell was a rusty tin basin, But I recall with pleasure Thirza, Delilah and David Allen, the Dunn boys, the Heath sisters, Julia, Talitha and Irene Pope, Sophia and Cornelia Steele, Lydia, Althea, Ann and Ambrose Beebe, the Bigelow sisters, McDonough and Cinderella Cary, Mary Jane Hoyt, Huldah Seeley, Mary Tillinghast, Sarah Shaffer, Thomas Cooper, E. P. Jones, Ann and Thomas Smith (what dimples Ann had!) who, with her mother, lived in the present Theodore Wooster house ; Sophia Walker-handsome, with a trace of Indian blood ; Jane Cook, who believed in Birney and Third Party—Free Soil, it was then. She died at school, universally mourned : indeed, a long procession seem, now, to pass before me as nameless shadows. "In a short time promotion brought into Latin reader the four Marys : Mary Watrous, Mary Beardsley, Mary Tuttle, Mary Janes ; the fifth member was a bright, genial girl, granddaughter of Platt Benedict-Sarah Gallup—whom I met in after years as the dignified Mrs. Henry Brown. "Another seminary girl, older than we, was the blue-eyed, fair-haired Sarah Williams, who married Darwin Gardner, of Cleveland. "It was a cruel fate that deprived us five girls and boys of our father, Rev. John Janes. He was so witty and wise, so kind and mindful. His untimely taking off is even vet a source of greatest grief; for years I could not see with composure a young girl sharing her father's protection and society. Mother mournfully gathered us about her—baby Johnny in her lap, brother Frank, three years old and recovering from severe illness, and us three sisters. Father's death in 1843 began an era for me ; as oldest child I felt a responsibility and aged beyond my years. The first article ever written by me, appearing in print, were lines on father's taking away, carried to The Reflector office by Rev. Edward Thomson in February, 1843. In the next month I passed my eleventh birthday. "It is interesting to note that The Reflector, aged and honorable, is about to celebrate its seventy-seventh Christmas. The time-honored journal ought to hold a diamond anniversary. "Before the middle of that decade the dear old academy blossomed into the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and into Baldwin Institute, Berea, Ohio. A Christmas tribute should here be paid to a very few who gave of their best years to Norwalk Seminary. Edward Thomson, a skeptical young man of Portsea, England, came to Wooster. Ohio, with his parents, studied medicine in that old town and was converted there. His deep learning, piety and gifts as orator and writer brought him to the head of our leading Methodist institution-from Norwalk to Cincinnati as editor, then president of Ohio Wesleyan. In all these positions he. 142 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY was brilliant, capable and beloved. His successors at Norwalk were Rev. and Mrs. A. Nelson, Rev. and Mrs. Holden Dwight ; all of whom needed only to be known to be forever remembered. "In April, 1846, Rev. Mr. Dwight became principal of Baldwin Institute, but died in his prime the following November, greatly lamented. Theodore D. Shepherd, so long postmaster of the Maple City, was a nephew of Holden Dwight, "Henry Buckingham, Alfred Henry Smith and myself were tutored in Virgil at my home, evenings, by Mr. Curtis, a law student. We lived on Main street; our place being the whole St. Charles Hotel corner plat. Shepherd Patrick had a dry goods store next to us ; Obadiah Jenney kept the Mansion House nearly opposite; in a line with that were Theodore Williams' and the Stoutenburghs' stores, Across a narrow street, at the side, was the Presbyterian church. Mother, shrinking from the remote and almost inaccessible Methodist meeting-house, placed us in the beloved Sunday school, so near our home. Cortland Latimer was superintendent; John R. Osborn a prominent layman, and Rev. A. Newton, pastor. My Sabbath school teacher was Elizabeth Buckingham—a grand woman. The only two class members whom I can define were Belle Scott and Louise Latimer. A small host of town-girls were delightful friends : Harriet and Sarah Buckingham, Cecelia Jenney, who from her early years was a pronounced church woman, Martha and Ann Eliza Mallory, Emma Brown, Sarah Jane, Louise and Caroline Smith, Jane Rule, Cornelia Boalt, Rebecca and Sara Miller, and Laura Tifft, who married Dr. Seth Beckwith. "The names of citizens, wide-wake then, are now chisled in marble and granite. Some of them live again in their children : Wickham, Kennan, Gibbs, Carter, Baker, Benedict, Gallup, Colonel James A. Jones and brothers, surely are honored yet in that community. "I must mention three or four : Rev. Leonard B. Gurley belonged not simply to one church or village ; Huron and Erie counties revered him, for he was orator, artist, poet and brilliant in prose, furnishing most rare contributions to the Firelands Pioneer. Who could forget Hon. and Mrs. S. T. Worcester and the Woosters ? To my childish eyes no mansion, anywhere, seemed so palatial as Richard Vredenburgh's villa in the grove. There was nothing, ever, like those pillars! "I cannot omit Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Strong. Mr. Strong came in 1873 to see mother dying in my Cleveland home, and bade her good-bye. He used to say that she was the most yesterday, today and forever woman he ever knew. "Joel Blackman and wife, pioneers of Florence and later residents of Norwalk, were second parents to me in my beginning of life's career. "It was one of my heart's chief delights, with my little hand in that of Lib Smith, to go out into the country, on the farms of Charles and Caleb Jackson, and the Dounce's not far off. Such apples and nuts, with popcorn, never, before nor since, circulated about a generous hearthstone. "Right here our mother, Mrs. H. B. Janes, shall have her due. Messrs. Boalt and Worcester assisted her in the settlement of our estate. She read the statutes of Ohio, and becoming administratix, secured the respect and confidence of citizens. Father owned property in Akron, Ohio, and there she chose her 'thirds.' It was the one great mistakes of our lives, to sell that valuable plat in Norwalk, and has ever been to us an inextinguishable sorrow. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 143 "Before mother was twenty years of age she and her sister founded the First Methodist Episcopal church of Ann Arbor, Mich., and that is how father invited her to share his life and work. "Mother did all she could for us children before leaving Norwalk. Four of father's nieces-two of whom mother had educated at the seminary, married stirring business men of Sandusky city ; one of them, W. S. Mills, so long editor of the Register. The older of these four gentlemen was Leonard B. Johnson, whose hospitable home in the city and whose island in Sandusky bay, delighted us all. "She had us know Milan, then in its prime, albeit Thomas A. Edison was not yet its most distinguished child. Lyme, Monroeville and especially Bellevue were dear to her. In person and in memory she was devoted to the Firelands—noble New England woman that she was ! "The fact must not be lost sight of that this is a Christmas article. When father died, mother chose a beautiful knoll 'under two great forest trees in St. Paul's church-yard, for the repose of her dead. No more charming spot could be outlined even in Mt. Auburn or Greenwood.. Of course, 'God's acre' endeared us to St. Paul's-the oldest parish of Norwalk—founded in 1820. The sacred edifice itself, within and without, inspired us with awe, especially on Christmas Eve during 'illumination'—the chief anticipation of the whole year. "Let us glance into 'the church' during its earliest Christmas carols. The women singers, we will say, were twelve in number ; six of them married, dressed in black with bishop sleeves, white caps and poke bonnets ; six young ladies arrayed in white, all the sweet faces with woman's crowning glory combed smoothly adown the cheek and over the ear. In their hands, all in a line, is the anthem prepared for the occasion, printed on fly-sheets : " ‘Strike the cymbal, Roll the timbrel.' "And again, " ‘Hosanna in the highest !' "No dim religious light pervades the sanctuary, but an illumination from candelabra of wocd suspended from the ceiling,, perforated and holding in pyramidal shape a host of tallow candles. Across the middle of the eight windows, in a wooden frame, are lighted candles. The interior of the building is grand with festoons of groundpine wound by the young men and maidens of the parish. The supreme moment is when, all the people rising, the rector emerges from the vestry, wearing a white surplice and introducing in solemn tones the ritual, with 'Dearly beloved, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sngns and wickedness.' "I love my prayer-book and the old established church which John Wesley never left, and I always loved to go to St. Paul's, expecting to see in the same places, year in and year out, standing to read the service, Mr. and Mrs. John Gardiner, Theodore Williams, Judge C. B. Stickney and the Chapin girls. "The first rector I can recall, is Mr. O'Kill, a bachelor, who, out of the chancel, was a very social man ; he paid court to the dashing Louise Burgess. "A commanding figure, high in church circles, was Rev. S. A. Bronson, D. D., of Sandusky, pastor of Judge Ebenezer Lane there, also, presumably, of Rush 144 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY Sloane, our president ; he was of a most genial personality and a power in the pulpit, who, in 1807, a babe in his mother's arms, came from Waterbury, Conn., to this Western Reserve, a pioneer of the pioneers. He was well known in St Paul's pulpit, and to the satisfaction of everybody, married the elegant Louise Williams. I remember, also, Rev. Mr. Winthrop and Marion, nor should mention fail of chief vestryman for years—Charles E. Newman. "Ever dear to me and mine will be that church-yard, in whose earth our family dust is absorbed-even though in glory as a cemetery is departed ; in whose enclosure and grass-grown walks only neglect is apparent ; where a horrible silence reigns ; whose acres are untrodden by eager feet and over which no flower-laden hands ever, now, cause the grave to blossom in hope of the final resurrection!" EXECUTION OF TWO INDIANS AT NORWALK. In 1819, two Indians were tried and executed at Norwalk, for murder. Thengr names were Ne-go-sheck and Ne-gon-a-ba, the last of which is said to signify •"one who walks far." The circumstances of their crime and execution we take from the mss. history of the "fire-lands," by the late C. B. Squier, Esq. In the spring of 1816, John Wood of Venice, and George Bishop of Danbury, were trapping for muskrats on the west side of Danbury, in the-vicinity of the "two harbors," so called ; and having collected a few skins, had lain down for the night in their temporary hut. Three straggling Ottawa Indians came, in the course of the night, upon their camp and discovered them sleeping. To obtain their little pittance of furs, etc., they were induced to plan their destruction. After completing their arrangements, the two eldest armed themselves with clubs, singled out their victims, and each, with a well-directed blow upon their heads, dispatched them in an instant. They then forced their youngest companion, Negasow, who had been until then merely a spectator, to beat the bodies with a club, that he might be made to feel that he was a participator in the murder, and so refrain from exposing their crime. After securing whatever was then in the camp that they desired, they took up their line of march for the Maumee, avoiding, as far as possible, the Indian settlements on their course. Wood left a wife to mourn his untimely fate, but Bishop was a single man, Their bodies were found in a day or two by the whites, under such circumstances, that. evinced that they had been murdered by Indians, and a pursuit was forthwith commenced. The Indians living about the mouth of. Portage river, had seen these straggling Indians passing eastward, now suspected them of the crime, and joined the whites in the pursuit. They were overtaken in the neighborhood of the Maumee river, brought back and examined before a magistrate. They confessed their crime and were committed to jail. At the trial the two principals, were sentenced to be hung in June, 1819 ; the younger one was discharged. The county of Huron had at this time no secure jail, and they were closely watched by an armed guard. They nevertheless escaped one dark night. The guard fired and wounded one of them severely in the body, but he continued to run for several miles, till tired and faint with the loss of blood, he lay down, telling his -companion he should die, and urging him to continue on. The wounded man was found after the lapse of two or three days, somewhere in Penn township in a HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 145 dangerous condition, but he soon recovered. The other was recaptured near the Maumee by the Indians, and brought -to Norwalk, where they were both hanged according to sentence. In this transaction, the various Indian tribes evinced a commendable willingness that the laws of the whites should be carried out. Many of them attended the execution, and only requested that the bodies of their comrades should not be disturbed in their graves. The larger part of the Indians that settled on the Firelands were tribes of the powerful Iroquois nation. The Senecas, who were in the habit of passing through the southern part of Huron county, on their way to eastern hunting-grounds, were particularly fierce in appearance, bedecked- in their barbaric garb of feathers and skins, but nevertheless were friendly. On these hunting trips they would trade baskets, trinkets and game with the settlers in exchange for bread, meal or flour. HONOR THE PIONEER MEN AND WOMEN. FROM T. F. HILDRETHS ADDRESS AT A MEETING OF THE FIRELANDS PIONEER SOCIETY. As we recede farther and farther from the days of the pioneers, the lives of those who are still among us have a peculiar interest. These are the last vital lines that bind us to a whole generation that has nearly passed away, and we are left today with but a few of its living representatives. The pioneer of today stands along the track of our civilization, like a weather-beaten finger-board pointing backward to the days of the far-off years. They are among us like the echo of some grand old hymn with which we used to be familiar, but the notes of which became fainter and more indistinct, as we get farther away from the years in which it was sung. In the nature of the case the time can be but a little way off when the last one of these heroic men and women will have gone out from us. Indeed, the pioneer proper-those who first felled the forests, and blazed our highway, and transformed the wilderness into fruitful fields, are nearly all gone. Here and there, there is one left, connecting the life of our pushing, cultured generation, with one whose mode of living and deeds of daring—when told to us-seem more like fiction than reality. If it is beautiful to see childhood holding the wrinkled hand that used to lead it. and steadying the feeble steps that used to guide it, why should not we cherish and honor the memory of those to whose care and economy we owe all we now have. In the history of our pioneers it is eminently true that these have labored and we have entered into their labors. Nowhere can it be more certainly verified "that one soweth and another reapeth." It is according to the plans of God, that the results of every life shall reach beyond the term of its continuance. There is danger, even though we have inherited the wealth produced by their care and economy, that we forget or neglect to crown the pioneers with the honors they so well deserve. 146 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY These annual meetings ought to have the dignity and inspiration of a public holiday in which the people unite to keep in perpetual remembrance the names and heroic deeds of those who so well laid the foundations of our civilization. But few of the brave men and noble women of the pioneer days re among us. The ring of the woodman's ax echoes no more through the aisles o the forest, and the lurid glare of blazing windows no more light up the night-sky, "for the former things have passed away." The log cabins—those most hospitable homes ever builded anywhere, by hands-have yielded to decay, and are superseded by cottages of beauty and homes of wealth. Here and there the old log-house has been spared by the hands that built it, as God has spared the few hardy pioneers who remain among us. The men of today may be better educated for business and our women may be deemed more refined, as society estimates culture; but we shall never have a class of men of more stalwart integrity, nor a womanhood whose characters will shine with greater luster. It is to honor these heroes of the past, whose harvests of good we are now reaping, that we annually gather to repeat the story of their toils and triumphs, and to keep green the memories of those who have passed from labor to repose. We began life with the accumulated advantages secured to us by their sacrifices and economy, and the record of our achievements ought to be more brilliant than theirs. While personal virtue cannot be received among the values we inherit from our ancestors, the tendencies to integrity may be builded into the very foundation of our being. We are standing today in the twilight of receding physical and social conditions, and in the gloaming of a generation of which we may justly be proud to be its descendants. If the histories of the noble pioneers may not be found in our public libraries, we may reproduce them by the exhibition of their transcendent virtues. HUNTING IN PIONEER TIMES. Hunting was an important part of the employment of the early settlers. For some years the woods supplied them with the greater amount of their subsist-' ence, and it was no uncommon thing for families to live several months without, a mouthful of bread. It frequently happened that there was no breakfast till it was obtained from the woods. Fur constituted the people's money ; they had nothing else to give in exchange for rifles, salt and iron, on the other side of the mountains. The fall and early part of the winter was the season for hunting the deer, and the whole of the winter, including part of the spring, for bears and fur-skinned animals. It was a customary saying, that fur was good during every month in which the letter "R" occurs. As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, and the weather became rainy, accompanied with light snows, these men after acting the part of husbandmen as far as the state of warfare permitted, began to feel that they were now hunters and became uneasy at home, their minds being wholly occupied with the camp and chase. HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY - 147 Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in which there was nothing of skill and calculation ; on the contrary, the hunter before he set out in the morning, was informed by the state of the weather where he might reasonably expect to find game, whether on the bottoms, the sides or the tops of the hills. In stormy weather the deer always sought the most sheltered places, and the leeward side of the hills. In rainy weather, when there is not much wind, they kept in the open woods on high ground. In every situation it was requisite for the hunter to ascertain the course of the wind, so as to get the leeward of the game. As it was necessary, too, to know the cardinal points, he had to observe the trees to know them. The bark of an aged tree is thicker and much rougher on the north than on the south side ; and the same may be said of the moss. From morning till night the hunter was on the alert to gain the wind of his game, and approach him without being discovered. If he succeeded in killing a deer he skinned it and hung it up out of the reach of the wolves, and immediately resumed the chase till the close of the evening, when he bent his course towards his camp ; when arrived there he kindled up his fire, and together with his fellow hunter, cooked his supper. A place for a camp was selected as near water as convenient, and a fire was kindled by the side of the largest log that could be procured. The ground was preferred to he rather sideling that the hunters might lie with the feet to the fire, and the head up hill. The common mode of preparing a repast was by sharpening a stick at both ends, and sticking one end in the ground before the fire and the meat on the other end. This stick could be turned round, or the meat on it, as occasion required. Sweeter roast meat than was prepared in this manner no European epicure ever tasted. Bread, when they had flour to make it of, was either baked under the ashes, or the dough rolled in long rolls, and wound round a stick like that prepared for roasting meat, and managed in this way. Scarce any one who has not tried it, can imagine the sweetness of such a meal, in such a place, at such a time. French mustard, or the various condiments used as a substitute for an appetite, are nothing to it. Supper finished, the adventures of the clay furnished tales for the evening, in which the spike-buck, the two and three pronged buck, and the doe, figured to great advantage. Many of the sports of the early settlers of this country were imitation of the exercises and stratagems of hunting and war. One important pastime of the boys-that of imitating the noise of every bird and beast in the wood—was a necessary part of the education on account of its utility under certain circumstances. HURON COUNTY-THEN AND NOW. BY J. H, DONALDSON. READ BEFORE THE FARMER'S INSTITUTE AT GREENWICH, OHIO, FEBRUARY, 8, 1906. Originally Huron county embraced all of the Firelands of five hundred thousand acres of land and was organized by an act of the general assembly of the state 148 - HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY of Ohio, passed February 7, 18o9. The county included all of what is now Erie county except the territory taken from Sandusky county when Erie county was formed. The act of the general assembly of the state of Ohio by which the formation of Erie county was authorized was passed March 16, 1838, twenty-nine years following the passage of the act authorizing the formation of Huron county. The first county seat of Huron county as first organized was Avery, selected by a committee appointed by the legislature on the farm of David Abbott near Milan now within the territory of Erie county. The location of the county seat was not satisfactory to many of the settlers and an effort to have it removed to some other place was made and the legislature was induced on the 26th day of January, 1818, to appoint a committee to investigate the matter and locate the seat of justice at some other place if in their opinion it was best to change. The infant village of Norwalk, scarcely two years old, was the place selected by this committee and the county seat was removed to this place. The county in 1811 had its boundaries changed and took in a large part of what is now Lorain county. Ruggles township belonged to the county until it was transferred to Ashland county February 26, 1846, the time when that county was formed, so that after having had slices taken from all its boundaries it now contains only three hundred three thousand, nine hundred and five acres of land instead of five hundred thousand acres and more, if we include the territory transferred to Lorain county, which it had originally. It is bounded on the north by Erie county, on the east by Lorain and Ashland on the south by Ashland, Richland and Crawford and on the west by Seneca and Sandusky counties. It has nineteen townships, as follows : Wakeman, Clarksfield, New London, Townsend, Hartland, Fitchville, Greenwich, Norwalk, Bronson, Fairfield, Ripley, Ridgefield, Peru, Greenfield, New Haven, Lyme, Sherman, Norwich and Richmond. As the county is now constructed it seems strange that Norwalk, the county seat, should be located so near to the northern boundary. It must be remembered that when the county seat was located at Norwalk, Erie county was then a part of Huron county, and when the division was made the northern boundary came very close to Norwalk. For many years the settlers in the southern and central parts of the county had hopes that the county seat would some day be removed to North Fairfield. And when the Clinton Air Line Railway was in course of construction, bright visions of a magnificent courthouse sprang up before them. But when the railroad project failed their cherished hopes were blasted and their spirits died within them. North Fairfield now has a trolley line and the people are measurably happy. Settlements were made in some of the townships as early as 1810, but it was from that time until 1825 before settlements were made in all of the townships, Ripley and Richmond being the last on the list. Greenwich township was settled in 1817. The first, authentic census of the county I have been able to find was taken by townships in 1827 and shows the county at that time to have a population of nine thousand, one hundred and ten as against a population of thirty-two thousand three hundred and thirty in 1900.