HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 575 a typical American home of the last half of the Nineteenth Century, and, used for residential purposes only, the said Grantor has executed and delivered this conveyance subject to the following covenants and conditions : "First : That the said Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society shall secure the erection upon that part of Spiegel Grove, heretofore conveyed to the State of Ohio, for a State Park, a suitable fire-proof building, on the site reserved opposite the Jefferson Street entrance, for the purpose of preserving and forever keeping in Spiegel Grove, all papers, books and manuscripts left by the said Rutherford B. Hayes, together with such articles and property formerly belonging to the said Rutherford B. Hayes, as are now loaned to or stored with the Birchard Library Association, or elsewhere in Fremont, Ohio, including also such articles and property of the Grantor as may have been loaned or stored by the said Grantor with the Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, Ohio, or the Birchard Library Association of Fremont, Ohio, which shall be in the form of a Branch Reference Library and Museum of the Ohio State Archeological and Historical Society, and the construction and declaration of the said building shall be in the nature of a memorial also to soldiers, sailors and pioneers of Sandusky County, and suitable memorial tablets, busts and decorations indicative of the historical events and patriotic citizenships of Sandusky County, shall be placed in and on said building and said building shall forever remain open to the public, under proper rules and regulations to be hereafter made by said Society. "Second : Any conveyance of the described premises shall reserve to the said Grantor, during his life-time and to his nominee appointed as hereinafter provided, and to the remaining Grantees and to their nominees, as hereinafter appointed, after said Grantor's death, the right of occupying the residence now located upon the premises. No person, except a husband or a wife of the above named Grantees, shall be nominated or given the right of occupying said residence in this manner aforesaid unless he or she shall be a lineal descendant of the said Rutherford B. Hayes 576 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO and Lucy Webb Hayes. If at any time there shall be no one living situated in the manner aforesaid to occupy said residence, then the Trustees of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society shall have the right to select a lineal descendant of the said Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes to use and occupy said residence ; but said residence shall never be occupied or used for any other than residential purposes, only, to the end of preserving it in its original condition as a typical home of the last half of the Nineteenth Century. The foregoing matter contained in the second paragraph shall not preclude the occupancy of a suitable portion of said residence by a caretaker during the absence of those who by the terms of this paragraph are given the right of occupancy in said home." This last condition was made solely to emphasize the fact that the residence is never to be used for any other than residential purposes, and to insure that it shall be kept as a typical American home of the last half of the nineteenth century. The Memorial Library Building is now completed and occupied. It is a beautiful three-story structure of sandstone and marble, and is located in one of the most attractive sections of this natural grove of historic trees. The entrance brings one directly into the stately and impressive rotunda, on either side of which are the two libraries which contain the valuable collection of Americana, owned by the late President Hayes. In these rooms is also an exhibit of articles possessing a personal relation to the lives of Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, and in the west library hang copies of the well-known Huntington portraits of the late President and his wife, the originals of which are in the White House. The basement of the building has been reserved for a museum more general in character than the upper rooms, and contains not only those things which possess some significant relation to the Hayes family, but also other articles of special historic interest to Fremont anal Sandusky County, together with curios and souvenirs from all over the world. Located as it is in one of the most historic parts of Northwestern Ohio, the building stands as a permanent memorial to one of Ohio's most beloved sons and an institution in which for many years to come may be preserved the mementoes and relics of the past. Since the original gift of the Spiegel Grove property, and the appropriation by the Legislature of $50,000 toward the building, Colonel Hayes has expended an equal amount in cash on the memorial and residence buildings, the gateways, care and improvements of the property which, with the value of the personal and real estate, makes a total gift by Colonel Hayes of $250,000. At the reception in October, 1915, at the Grove, in honor of the successful campaign to raise $200,000 for the Memorial Hospital of Sandusky County, Prof. G. Frederick Wright, president of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, in part said: "The citizens of Fremont and vicinity have great reason to congratulate themselves upon the accomplishments which have this- day been brought to pass in their midst. "First, through the generosity of Mrs. Webb C. Hayes, who has contributed $100,000, and that of numerous others, whose gifts great and small have raised an equal amount, you are assured of a Hospital costing $150,000 with an endowment of $50,000. "Secondly, of scarcely less value to the citizens of this town and indeed of the State and the Nation, is the gift which I am permitted to announce, by Colonel Webb C. Hayes, for an endowment of the Hayes Memorial Library, the income of which is to !be used in the purchase of historical material in the line of the rare collections of books in the library of the late President Hayes, now on the shelves of the beautiful fire-proof building HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 577 erected by the State as a memorial to your most distinguished citizen. "It was the original intention of Mrs. Hayes to give an endowment of $50,000 to the Hayes Memorial library, but at Colonel Hayes' sug- gestion, she first offered it for an endowment of a hospital on conditions which have been satisfactorily met, as a result of the recent campaign, and now Colonel Hayes has carried out by his own gift of $50,000 the original intention of Mrs. Hayes. "Fortunate indeed, is a community which has a husband and wife each of whom is not only able but willing to give $100,000, the one for a Memorial Museum and Park, and the other for a Memorial Hospital, both in honor to beloved parents." The Memorial Library Building was formally dedicated on the 30th day of May, 1916. The exercises were presided over by Professor Wright. Governor Frank B. Willis was present and delivered an address. Senator Atlee Pomerene also addressed the large crowd present, and Secretary of War Newton Baker came as the official representative of President Woodrow Wilson, who was unable to be present. The principal historical address was allotted to Charles Richard Williams, the official biographer of President Hayes. It was an able historical account of the life of the former President, his great work as chief executive of the state and nation, and the lofty ideals by which he was ever actuated. A number of civic and patriotic societies also took a part in the ceremonies. The day was a gathering of notables that made memorable the dedicatory exercises. Vol. I-37 CHAPTER XLIV SENECA COUNTY REV. FRANCIS L. HULTGEN, TIFFIN The territory now included within Seneca County is historic ground. For generations it was a favorite hunting ground for the aboriginal inhabitants of the forests. The woods resounded with the whoops of the painted savages, and the banks of the streams echoed the light splashes of the paddles of their canoes. The Wyandots were undisputed in their claims to this land, but, with their natural hospitality, this tribe welcomed the outcasts and renegades from more eastern tribes. To these exiles was allotted what is now included within the boundaries of this county. They were known as Senecas, but there were few real Senecas among them. Cayugas predominated, but there were also Onandagas, Tuscarawas, Oneidas, Mohawks, and a few Wyandots. Fort Seneca was erected by General Harrison in 1813, as a part of his line of communications between Lower Sandusky and Franklinton (Columbus). From here he could fall back upon Upper' Sandusky, or pass by a secret route to the relief of Fort Meigs. While Captain Croghan was winning laurels at Fort Stephenson, General Harrison remained at Fort Seneca, with about 800 troops. For this he has been greatly criticized, but his judgment was undoubtedly right. It was absolutely necessary to avoid all possibility of a flanking movement by Tecumseh and his followers. The Senecas were loyal to the Americans. One of their chiefs, just prior to the assault, carried a message from Harrison to Croghan. When the chief, then a young man, arrived near the fort he cursed the Americans in the most approved style, in order to throw off all suspicion. When he saw that the coast was clear, and that he was himself unobserved, he approached the fart, peeped through the pickets, wrapped the paper with his handkerchief into a ball, and threw it over the-pickets into the yard. Lounging around under the bushes a little while, he observed his handkerchief, in the same form, fly over the pickets again, falling outside. It contained an answer from Major Croghan to General Harrison. With this Wipingstick made his way through the forest to Fort Seneca, and reported to General Harrison the same night. This was the evening before the battle, which was fought on the 2d day of August, 1813. Wipingstick was a man of many noble traits of character, and was an intimate friend of several of the early white settlers. Fort Seneca was finally sold by the Government to Jacques Hulburt and Shepherd Patrick. The former was one of the early associate judges of the county. A large part of Seneca County was granted to the Senecas by the treaty at the Foot of the Rapids of the Miami, in 1817. There were present at this conference, on the part of the Senecas, Chiefs Takawinadoaw, Captain Harris, Isahowmasaw, Joseph Tawgyou, Captain Smith, Coffeehouse, Running-about, and Wipingstick. In this year 30,000 acres was allotted to them on the east side of and adjoining the Sandusky River, and in the following year an additional 10,000 acres was allotted to the mixed tribe known as Senecas, contiguous to the former grant on the south. The south- - 578 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 579 west corner of Big Spring Township was included in the Wyandot reservation of about twelve square miles, known as the Big Spring Reservation. By virtue of the treaty with the Senecas, the United States was obliged to establish an agency near the reservation, to provide for the wants of the tribe, and to assist in carrying out the provisions of the treaty. The Rev. James Montgomery was appointed agent and, on the 19th of November, he brought his family to Fort Seneca and established his home in the old blockhouse. Prior to this time he had preached for several years as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had also served as commissary for the army, under appointment of Governor Meigs. The family lived in this structure for seven years, when he built a large cabin close by, where he afterwards dwelt with his family to the time of his death, which occurred on the 1st day of June, 1830. During his residence here, whenever the duties of his office as Indian agent would admit of it, he attended to his ministerial duties, and became generally respected and beloved by all who had an opportunity to enjoy .his acquaintance. He was possessed of a noble, manly character, and was kind, generous, and hospitable. The latchstring of his door was always out. Ministers, lawyers, surveyors, Indians and whites made Mr. Montgomery's house a stopping place. The Indians called him Kucko-wassa, or New Acorn. He was but fifty-four years old when he died. The Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, a Methodist Episcopal preacher, preached his funeral sermon from the text : "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." All the chiefs and braves of the Senecas attended his funeral. He was buried in the cemetery near the fort. He had eleven children—two sons and nine daughters. At this time-1819—there were only five white families living between Fort Seneca and Fort Ball. These were William Harris, Abner Pike, the Widow Shippy, a family by the name of Dumond, and an old man named McNutt. Shortly afterwards there came into the neighborhood Benjamin Barney, Anson Gray, and Joel Chapin. Anson Gray afterwards married Jane, daughter of William Harris. Caleb Rice and Daniel Rice were also early settlers, and the latter was the first justice of the peace in the neighborhood. Caleb Rice was a millwright, and built a mill for the Senecas at Green Creek. He was a bad financier and was constantly involved in lawsuits. Willard Francis and Ezra Sprague, brothers, lived together in a small log cabin. This is almost a complete enumeration of the white settlers prior to the land sales at which the Indian lands were disposed of by the Government. The roads then were fearful. There was but one big highway that could be dignified with such a name, and that ran on the east side of the Sandusky, and is still known as the Marion State Road. There was no such a thing as a bridge within the county as late as 1833. Neighbors on opposite sides of rivers and creeks made a way to cross the stream by felling a tree across it, which served as a foot-log. Some of the early settlers occupied log cabins which had been abandoned by the Indians when they removed to the reservation. In these cabins they lived as best they could, until the land sales were held, at which definite tracts could be purchased. One of the pioneers of these days speaks of the lack of mills as follows : "Our greatest privation was want of mills. Our nearest mill was at Cold Creek, about twenty-four miles distant, and without a direct road leading to it. The difficulties in some cases were very trying. For example : Mr. Barney and Daniel Rice arranged for a trip to mill, each with a team of oxen and wagon. As they had to cross the river, the grain was hauled there, unloaded and ferried across; then the wagon ferried over, and afterwards the team swam 580 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO over, when they could reload, hitch and proceed. This was in April, 1821. After having their grain ground, and on their homeward route, they were overtaken by a snow storm. The snow was damp, and fell to the depth of a foot, rendering the road almost impassable, and so weighed the bushes down over them, that they were compelled to abandon their wagons, and with much difficulty succeeded in reaching home with their oxen." William Spicer was one of the earliest white inhabitants of Seneca County, but his coming was involuntary. He had dwelt along the Sandusky for forty years before the settlers came, and already had a grown family of half-breed children. He had been captured when very young, during an Indian raid in Pennsylvania, and little is known of his history. The names of his children were John, James, Small Cloud, and Little Town, and there was one daughter, who married another white captive named Crow. He was friendly to the early white settlers, and, as he had cattle, horses, and hogs in large numbers, he was able to be of inestimable service. He frequently furnished horses and oxen to them in their farming. "He was a good neighbor, ever ready and willing to help the needy. People often borrowed his horses and oxen to go to the mill." This is the testimony of an early settler. Spicer was the victim of the first robbery of which we have a record. He lived in a cabin on a hill on the west bank of the Sandusky, about four miles south of Fort Seneca. It was generally known that he had considerable gold and silver about his cabin, for he had many things to market. It was generally believed that the amount was as much as $6,000 to $7,000, but as Spicer himself could not count, the exact amount is not known. William Rollins, a carpenter of the neighborhood, came to his cabin one afternoon and demanded his money. When this was refused, Rollins struck him and knocked him sense less. Before his senses left him, Spicer heard others enter, but he did not recognize them. When he recovered, his money and visitors were gone. As soon as the news got abroad, the neighbors turned out to help Spicer. A man by the name of Downing lived on the top of the hill, some three miles north of Tiffin, in a cabin near the river. The constable, Mr. Papineau, in company with Benjamin Barney, came to Downing's house and sat down to talk a while about the robbery. A little girl of the family innocently remarked to these men that "My papa put something nice under there," pointing to the hearthstone. Raising the hearth-stone, they found over $500 in silver under it. They then arrested Downing. Some $600 more, also in silver, was found in the spring, which was supposed to have been put there by Rollins, who had struck Spicer, and who was also arrested soon after. Downing managed to escape from the constable, and was never heard of afterwards in the neighborhood. Judge Fitch also found some money, supposed to be Spicer's, in a ravine near the river. This sum was also over $500. All this money was promptly restored to Spicer. Several men were arrested for the crime, but Rollins was the only one convicted. He was sentenced to the penitentiary, but was pardoned by the governor, Spicer himself signing the petition. Two of Spicer's boys, Small Cloud and Little Town, went west with the tribe, as they preferred the primitive life of the savages to that of the whites. The Indians were generally inoffensive, except when drunk, but there were exceptions. One of these was Peter Pork, who was reported to have perpetrated at least eight murders. He had killed one Indian just prior to the incident here related. He was a Cayuga, almost a giant in size, and the terror of the neighborhood. The Indians obtained much liquor at the place of Benazah Parker, at the Village of McNutt's Corners, now Fort Sen- HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 581 eca. One night in October, 1829, the rounders were having a high time at Parker's, when Parker finally refused him more whisky. Pork became angry and stabbed Parker in the side. Dropping the knife, he then ran home. Because he stuck his scalping knife into a crack near the bed, his squaw knew that something was wrong. When Pork was asleep, she pulled it out and put a wooden one in its place. By this act she undoubtedly saved a human life. When a posse of settlers came to his cabin during the night, he jumped up and grabbed the wooden knife. It was only after a hard struggle that he was subdued. They put him on a horse and tied his feet together under the horse, to prevent escape. On the way to Tiffin, Pork said to his escort, " To-morrow me die," thinking that he would be executed. They put him into the old hewed-log jail of that day in Tiffin. He was duly tried, with Judge Lane presiding, and was sent to the penitentiary for a term of three years. When the Senecas left for the West he was pardoned, and went with his tribe. The sentence was made light from the fact that Parker had often violated the law in selling whisky to the Indians, and was thus considered a very undesirable citizen. Parker lived some fifteen months after he was stabbed, and died from the effects of the wound, as it was generally supposed. There was a great deal of sickness amongst the Senecas in 1822, and many died. They believed themselves bewitched, and, holding a council on the subject, condemned four poor old squaws to be tomahawked for witchcraft. It was an easy way to get rid of an undesirable member of the tribe, or someone who had become a burden. The latter was probably the case with these poor victims. On the following day these squaws went to Lower Sandusky and purchased whisky. When they came back they got gloriously drunk, and then said they were ready. They told the executioner to "cut-away." One Indian, whose name was Jim Sky, killed them all as calmly as if killing so many hogs. Another poor old squaw, wife of an Indian known as George Washington, was condemned: to die for witchery. She was found at the hominy block pounding corn, and was killed without any ceremony. Her husband stood by and watched the crime without protest. The Senecas were noted among the missionaries as an exceedingly superstitious people. It was in the year 1820 that William Harris brought his wife and several children to Seneca County from Pennsylvania. He was a gunsmith by trade, and put up a small shop not far from Fort Seneca, like most of the earliest settlers. This was a profitable business in those days, for the guns of the Indians were always getting out of order. Soon after arriving, one of his daughters, Minerva, was married to Benjamin Barney, a neighboring settler. The ceremony was performed by David Smith, of Fort Ball, a justice of the peace, and he obligingly played the fiddle for the dance that followed. The dance was on a "puncheon" floor. This was solid and substantial, but not very well adapted to " trip the light fantastic." At least it would not be considered so today by modern society folk. Another daughter, Tabitha, was married there to a Mr. Culver by Rev. James Montgomery, who had been elected a justice of the peace. One of the beautiful sections of the county is adjoining Honey Creek, along the banks of which, near Melmore, the editor-in-chief lived for a time as a youth. It is the largest affluent of the Sandusky on its right bank. To people born and bred along this stream, it has a peculiar charm. Here came many of the very earliest settlers in the county. Peter Bever located along that stream, with a family of thirteen children, in 1823. The prospects of that time were not flattering. Micajah Heaton moved there in 1829, and located less than a mile south of Melmore. He afterwards became a justice of the peace. Samuel S. Mar- 582 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO tin arrived in the same year, although he had purchased his land several years earlier. For years he was a "squire," and no one ever gave his decisions greater thought than did Squire Martin. The Penningtons, Bretses, Downses, Kagys, and many others sought homes in the neighborhood of beautiful Honey Creek. Soon after the treaty at the Miami of the Lake, already mentioned, the general Government ordered all the lands thereby secured to be surveyed. This was then "the new purchase." Mr. Sylvanus Bourne started a survey from the west line of Ohio, which he called the first meridian. Running his line on this parallel east, he planted a stake where the end of the sixth mile was reached. This made one range, and the first range in his survey. The end of the seventeenth range brought him within fifty-two chains and seven links of the southwest corner of the Western Reserve. A line drawn due north, by his compass, cut the west line of the Western Reserve exactly at the northeast corner of Seneca County. There is therefore a strip of land lying all along and east of the seventeenth range that is not in any range, 52.07 chains along on the south end, running to a point just eighteen miles north. This tract is called "the gore." J. Glasgow, Price F. Kellogg, James T. Worthington, and Sylvania Bourne surveyed the land in Seneca County. All the land not protected by special reservations was then offered for sale at the land office, at Delaware, at $1.25 per acre, and very little brought a higher figure. Large quantities were sold at this price. Some of the land was not opened up to white occupancy until 1832, after the last aborigine had left. These tracts were the McCulloch Reservation, the Van Meter Reservation, and the Walker Reservation. They were surveyed in 1832 by J. W. Christmas, and then offered to purchasers. Here is a copy of one of the notices published in the Seneca Patriot concerning the sale of lands : "The subscriber has on hand a quantity of plats, and descriptions of the sections and lines of the Seneca and Big Spring reservations. Persons going on either of the said reserves, will find them of much advantage. They are made from the original field notes of C. W. Christmas, Esq., District Surveyor. " Geo. W. Gist, Surveyor." In 1820 Israel Harrington surveyed the Morrison State Road, still known by that name, leading from Croghansville (Fremont) to Delaware. This was the first road surveyed and opened in Seneca County, east of the river, while the road surveyed by Risdon was the first one west of the river—both state roads. The Morrison Road was named after one of the commissioners, who located the road. Col. James Kilbourne, a pioneer surveyor, already introduced, surveyed a road leading from Portland (now Sandusky City) to Upper Sandusky, to which he gave his own name, in 1822. This is the same man who laid out the Town of Bucyrus. It is said that Thomas Baker and Ezra Brown, two distinguished pioneers, both from the State of New York, were the first settlers in Seneca County who came over that road. Wolves were very plentiful in Seneca County in the early days. In 1827 the commissioners ordered an extra bounty on wolf scalps of $2, in addition to the $5 paid by the state. It was almost impossible to keep poultry, hogs, or sheep. Their howling made the night hideous. The greater number of wolves that were killed were caught in traps made expressly for wolves. Those that were shot were comparatively few. The ingenious trapper was the most successful man to get the premiums on scalps. Some of these trappers in Hancock, Wood, Sandusky, Huron, and Crawford, living near the county line, when they found a wolf in the trap, in making the morning rounds, would strike the wolf HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 583 over the head with a club. This would stun and disable, but not kill him. Then they would hitch a horse or an ox to a sled and haul wolf and trap into Seneca County, and there finish killing the wolf. This was done so that the trapper could make an affidavit that the wolf was killed in Seneca. This county paid for many a scalp that was caught in some other county. There was money in it. The result was that in the course of a few years the wolves became very scarce. Along towards the year 1840, scarcely any scalps were presented for premium. Seneca County was established in 1820, and was named after the Indian tribe residing within it. For administrative purposes it was attached to Sandusky County, with the seat of government at Lower Sandusky. The commissioners of that county located four townships within its borders from time to time. These were Thompson, Seneca, Clinton, and Eden. The first election was held May 5, 1820, at the house of Joseph Parmenter, in Thompson Township. The second was at the house of John Searles, in Eden Township. The successful ticket at this election in Eden Township was: David Clark, township clerk ; John Welch, James Mathers, and Henry Craw, trustees; Ira Holmes and John Searles, fence viewers; John Searles, treasurer ; Hugh Welch and Ira Holmes, appraisers ; Samuel Knapp and John Welch, supervisors ; Thomas Welch, constable. By 1824 the population had increased sufficiently for Seneca to have its own organization. The Legislature accordingly passed an enabling act, on the 22d of January of that year. In conformity with the foregoing act, notice in writing was posted up in the several (four) townships in the county, for the holding of the election. The only officers to be chosen at this election were a sheriff, three commissioners, and a coroner. For sheriff, Agreen Ingraham received 190 votes, while Levertt Bradley received 206 for coroner. Both were elected. At the same time William Clark, Jesse S. Olmstead, and Benjamin Wetmore were also elected as county commissioners, to serve until the next annual election in October. On the 7th day of June, 1824, the board of commissioners organized and held their first session. The first business in order was the hearing of a petition presented by Rollin Moller, praying for the location of a road. The petitions for four other roads were heard at the same session. New officers were elected in October. On the 8th day of December, 1824, the county commissioners cast lots to ascertain how long each was to serve. It was found that Thomas Boyd was to serve for one year, Benjamin Whitmore for two years, and Doctor Dunn received the long term of three years. Ever since that time Seneca County has elected but one commissioner each year, except when by death or resignation the election of another became a necessity. On this same day the board rented from George Park rooms for the county clerk and auditor. They agreed to pay him one dollar a month for their use—which proves that exorbitant rents were not in vogue in those days. On the 6th day of June, 1825, commissioners were appointed to locate a road in Crawford Township, and for that purpose met at the house of James Whitaker, on the 6th day of July following. Mr. Hedges had built a two-story frame house on the lot immediately north of the courthouse square. The second story was used as a courtroom, and the lower three rooms for offices. The first court in Seneca County was held in this frame house, and that was the courthouse of Seneca County until the brick courthouse was built in 1836. In this humble way did Seneca County start on its way as a separate unit of our commonwealth. On the 4th day of July, 1825, the commissioners of Seneca County held an extra session of the board to receive proposals and bids for the building of a jail in Tiffin. 584 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO Benjamin Whitmore and Doctor Dunn were present. The bids were opened and the contract awarded to Elijah Ferguson, he being the lowest bidder. The contract price was $450, payable when the work was completed. It stood at the southeast corner of the present courthouse square, and was made of hewed logs, fitted tightly on the top of each other, with hewed logs for the ceiling, and heavy oak plank for the floor. The doors were made of double planks, with wagon tires bolted across them for hinges, and a large padlock on the door. There were two rooms in this log jail—one on the east side, and the other on the west side. The windows were cross-barred with heavy tire iron. To the south end of the jail was attached a frame building as wide as the jail (about 20 feet), with a narrow stairway to the garret, and two small rooms below. This frame part was intended as a residence for the sheriff, but was never occupied for that purpose. For want of a courthouse, the county officers furnished their own rooms, and presented their rent bills to the commissioners for allowance. The Methodist Church, which was the largest building in town, was utilized for a time. From $9 to $12 was paid as rent for each session of the court. In 1823 John Baugher and Calvin Bradley were appointed a committee to visit a number of counties and view their county buildings. They were allowed $93.80 for their little jaunt. In the following year it was ordered that a courthouse be built of brick. After the usual preliminaries, a contract was entered into with the above John Baugher. The commissioners were John Seitz, John Crum, and Nicholas Goetchnis. The building was completed and accepted August 19, 1836, according to an entry on their docket. It was burned five years later and left a mass of ruins. Richard Williams, who had his law office in the building, lost his entire law library. Fortunately, most of the records were saved, except those of the treasurer's office, which were all lost in the conflagration. The Tiffin Gazette, in its issue of May 29, 1841, says as follows : " Our village, which has hitherto been exempt from calamity by fire, has at last been robbed of its most splendid ornament by this destructive agent. Our late beautiful courthouse is now a heap of ruins. It was discovered to be on fire between two and three o'clock Sunday morning last, by which time the flames had made such progress that it was impossible to arrest them by any means the citizens had at command. The result was the total destruction of the building. Total we say, for, although a large portion of the walls are yet standing, it will not, we think, be found expedient to allow them to remain as part of the new edifice. The courthouse contained the offices of the recorder, treasurer, auditor, sheriff, clerk of court, and grand jury room, which was occupied by Messrs. Cowdery and Wilson." The commissioners acted promptly, and a contract for a new building was let within two months to John Baugher. They were able to use some of the old walls, which were still standing. In a little over a year the county again had a court house of which it was proud, and this building answered the needs of the growing county for many years. In 1866 an addition was built at the east end, with fireproof vaults for the officials. A splendid new courthouse, erected in 1884, has since replaced this venerable structure. LAW AND MEDICINE The first court was held in Seneca County at Tiffin on the 12th day of April, 1824. Ebenezer Lane, who was the presiding judge, had a circuit which embraced almost the entire northwestern section of Ohio. Sitting with him on the bench on this occasion were the associate judges, William Cornell, Jacques Hulburt, and Matthew Clark. Neal McGaffey HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 585 officiated as clerk, and Agreen Ingraham performed the duties of sheriff. The court lasted for about half an hour, and then adjourned for lack of business. Under the old constitution the clerks were appointed by the judges of the court, while the judges themselves were chosen by the Legislature for a term of seven years. The first session of. the Supreme Court, which in the olden days traveled from county to county, was held at Tiffin on the 28th day of July, 1826, before Jacob Burnett and Charles R. Sherman. David Higgins succeeded Judge Lane on the Common Pleas bench, and he was followed by Ozias Bowen, of Marion. The first lawyer, who settled in Fort Ball, was R. Dickinson, and the second attorney to make his home in Tiffin was Able Rawson. Mr. Dickinson had read law in Columbus, and located at Fort Ball the same year of the county organization. He was the first prosecuting attorney, and his name is identified with practically all the earliest cases. He only remained here about two years, after which he removed to the then more promising town of Lower Sandusky. Mr. Rawson was a Massachusetts man, and was crippled because of illness in youth. Handicapped as he was in this way, he managed to secure a very good education, and was admitted to the practice of the law. On a journey west he taught school for several months in Wayne and Huron counties, and in 1825 made his first visit to Tiffin. This village at that time consisted of only a dozen families dwelling in rude cabins. As there was no hotel in Tiffin, he forded the river and stopped at a tavern in Fort Ball. In the following year he returned to Fort Ball, with less than $10 in money, and a law library consisting of the first volume of "Swift's Digest" and of "Chitty's Pleading." He opened an office in a small brick building, the first brick building to be erected in the county. In the same year he was appointed prosecuting attorney to succeed Rodolphus Dickinson, and retained that office for seven years. He served as deputy agent for the United States Land Office for a time. He also filled the office of county recorder. Joshua Seney was one of the pioneer lawyers of Tiffin. Having been raised in the lap of wealth and luxury, he knew little about either labor or the value of money. He preferred the excitement of politics to the hard labor of a law office. In this he was not selfish, for he was just as free to work for a friend as for himself. He served as clerk of the Supreme Court, and treasurer of Seneca County. He is said to have written the finest hand of any lawyer who lived in Tiffin. His three sons all became lawyers of note. One of these, George, remained in Tiffin, another, Joshua Seney, removed to Toledo, and the third son, Henry, began his career in Kenton. All of them were elected to high judicial positions by their constituents. Luther A. Hall, who reached Tiffin in the spring of 1833, was at first employed as a clerk in the recorder's office at 50 cents per day. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law College in 1841, and began the practice of his profession in Tiffin. In 1856 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Seneca County, and also served as assessor of the revenue during the war period. Oliver Cowdery was a noted lawyer and advocate of the early days in Tiffin. He came to Ohio when a very young man, and studied law at Painesville. For a time he was associated with the Mormons, and is said to have had more to do with the production of the Mormon bible than almost anyone else. His testimony is inserted in that bible as to the "Golden Plates." He opposed polygamy, however, because it was contrary to the principles of Christianity and the spirit of free institutions. This drew him into conflict with the other leaders, and he was compelled to flee for his life, leaving his wife and two children behind. Abandoning the Mormon faith, he moved to Tiffin in the year 1840. 586 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO Probably the most prominent of the early doctors of Seneca County was Ely Dresbach. Although born in Pennsylvania, he was brought by his parents to Ohio at a very early age. He studied medicine at Circleville, and also attended a course of lectures at the Medical College of Ohio. It was then that he decided to come to Fort Ball. His office in that place was a small, one-story brick building. In a few years he crossed over the river to Tiffin, where he practiced medicine as long as he was able. In the practice of medicine, as it was done in those days, Doctor Dresbach took high rank. Vigorous as his constitution was, it had its limits of endurance. Over-tasked by the arduous duties of the pioneer physician, which involved many hard trips and loss of necessary rest, his life was cut short, and he died April 14, 1853. He had never married. The immense concourse of people that attended his funeral was an evidence of the high regard and deep affection held for him in the community. Dr. Robert C. J. Carey located in Fort Ball about the same time as Doctor Dresbach, and the two formed a partnership of the practice. He was considered a very good physician, but lived only a few years after locating at Fort Ball. Another of the early physicians in Tiffin was Dr. Henry Kuhn, who took a very active part in the 'development of the town and country. He was a Marylander, and graduated with the highest honors from the University of Maryland in 1825. He came to Seneca County about 1831, when the present site was nearly all covered with timber. He immediately divided the practice with Doctors Dresbach and Carey, who had preceded him. He was frequently called upon to visit the Wyandot Indians, and was highly esteemed by the chiefs. Whenever these Indians visited Tiffin, they would call on the doctor at his little frame office for a chat. He earned money enough in his profession to become one of the wealthiest men in the vicinity. His goodness of heart was such, however, that he would loan money to or become security for almost anybody who asked the favor. He passed away in 1878. Dr. James Fisher began the practice of medicine in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and came to Tiffin in 1832, with his partner, Dr. Thomas Boyer. He kept a drug store at an early date, practiced medicine, speculated in lands, and was also postmaster for a time. He removed to Missouri for a time, but afterwards returned to Tiffin. Doctor Boyer was also a skillful physician, but he died three years after he located at Tiffin. PRESS AND PULPIT The first newspaper established in Seneca County was the Seneca Patriot. It was printed on a press which is said to have been the first printing press brought to Ohio. The first number was issued August 4, 1832. Its motto was, " Constitutional Rights, Republican Institutions, and Union Forever." The paper came out very irregularly. Sometimes the editor was out of paper, and again there was no ink in the establishment. Furthermore, the patronage was not very great, and the principal source of revenue came from official notices. As the Patriot was the only paper in the county, the editor, Elisha Brown, undertook to please and satisfy all. He proposed to devote a certain space to articles suitable to the ideas of each party. The whigs first became dissatisfied, and blamed him for partiality. Others were not pleased, and he finally was compelled to announce himself in favor of Andrew Jackson and the democratic party. When Mr. Brown died, his son, J. H. Brown, continued the paper for a short time, and the entire establishment was then sold to Alonzo Rawson. He made his bow to the public with the Independent Chronicle and Seneca Advertiser. As he inclined toward the whigs, the leading demo- HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 587 crats determined to buy him out. It was then that Josiah F. Reed purchased the office and good will, and issued the first number of the Tiffin Gazette and Seneca Advertiser. In November, 1835, it became the organ of the democracy. A couple of years later, Luther A. Hall purchased the outfit, and the word Advertiser was dropped from the title. He in turn sold it to Samuel A. Griswold, when it again became a whig organ. When the memorable campaign of 184a came on, the democrats found themselves without a newspaper. A subscription was raised, an outfit purchased, and the Van Burenite was given to the public. A year later this paper was discontinued, and the Seneca Advertiser succeeded it. This was owned by John G. Breslin, who conducted it for a dozen years. Thus the Advertiser was the first newspaper to really gain a foothold in the growing community. It has been published from that day to this continuously, but with several changes of owners and editors. It is now published also as a daily. When John Michael Myers died, in 1909, one of the most conspicuous figures in Ohio journalism passed away. He had the distinction of being the oldest Ohio editor in the harness, for he had wielded the editorial pen for almost half a century. In 1845 the first number of the Whig Standard was issued, with George L. Horton as editor. He conducted the paper for several years, when it passed on to Abraham Laubach. In 1855 W. C. Gray became the editor, and the name was changed to the Tiffin Tribune. In 1868 this paper was purchased by Charles N. Locke and Otis T. Locke, and it continued under the firm name of Locke & Bro., and later as 0. T. Locke & Son. When the whig party merged over into the republican party, the Tribune followed, and it has ever since been the organ of the republican party in Seneca County. The Daily Tribune and Herald was established in 1886. The Evening Herald was established in 1877, as a daily, with H. C. Keppel as proprietor and W. H. Keppel as editor. The Tiffin Gazette issued its first number in April, 1878, as a weekly family newspaper. The editor was Charles L. Zahm, and he sold it to the Tiffin News, the first number of which was issued April 3, 1880. In 1848 the first copy of the Seneca Adler made its appearance, with William Lang as editor and John G. Breslin as publisher. This was the first German paper to be issued in that county. Mr. Breslin was shortly afterwards elected a member of the General Assembly of Ohio. The second German newspaper was the Unsere Flagge, under the management of J. M. Jahm. A third paper, the Tiffin Presse, made its appearance in 1871, as a democratic organ. It has always been an influential paper among the German element of the community. Eight years ago the able editor, Mr. Weichselbaum, retired from business. He sold his interest to a Fremont gentleman, M. C. Vollmer, who has consolidated the Tiffin Presse with the Fremont Courier, and it is now printed in Fremont. German immigration has long ago stopped in these counties, and the old German settlers have since died out, and few of their children or grandchildren are able to read the German paper. So naturally these once so influential papers go out of existence. The Fostoria Democrat was founded in 1875 and is still published as a weekly. From the same plant is issued a daily, and it is now owned by Roscoe Carle. Two former papers of Fostoria, the Review and the Dispatch, are now published as the Review-Dispatch, a weekly publication. The Daily Review is also published by the same owners, of which J. P. De Wolf has been editor for the past twenty years. In the early days religious services took place at the hospitable cabin of some settler of the county. The people came to the services regardless of the denomination to which 588 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO the minister belonged. It was supposed that each family was affiliated with some church—and it generally was. Atheists and unbelievers in general were few. As those of each belief were few, they freely and cheerfully helped each other. If one society started to build an edifice, all in the neighborhood cheer-full joined in the labor of assisting, and contributed of their means as well. It showed a broad benevolence and charity, which we cannot but admire in these pioneers. In 1831 a small brick chapel was erected in Tiffin, which was used as the first Roman Catholic Church in Tiffin. Patrick Kinney, Phillip Hennesey, and another of their countrymen from the "ould sod" became personally responsible for the building expense. This was on the site of the present Catholic cemetery. Its little bell was the first church bell in the county, and its music made a cheerful echo in the woods which then abounded. This chapel was dedicated on the 7th of January, 1837, although services had previously been held in it. It was not dedicated earlier, however, because it had not been entirely paid for. This society, now known as St. Mary's, was organized as early as September, 1829. Father Edmund Quinn, a venerable priest, came to the congregation in 1833, and remained in charge of it until his death a couple of years later. He was succeeded by Father F. X. Tschenhens, who regularly visited the Catholic flock of Tiffin and vicinity. The next resident pastor was Rev. Joseph McNamee, who remained in charge of the parish till 1847, and was succeeded by Rev. Maurice Howard and Rev. M. O'Sullivan. The latter found the out-of-the-way location of the church unsuitable to the wants of the congregation, and therefore secured two lots on the corner of Miami and Franklin streets, on the west side of the river. On these lots he built a brick church 46 by 100 feet ; he also bought the present bell, weighing 3,800 pounds, and fitted up a parochial resi dence. Opposition arising in the congregation on account of the change of site induced Father M. O'Sullivan to resign. He was succeeded by Rev. Michael Healy, who resided in Tiffin till 1904, when hc died at the age of eighty-one years, having been pastor of St. Mary's for forty-six years. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. T. F. Conlon, who at once erected the magnificent stone church on South Sandusky Street, for which his venerable predecessor, Father M. Healy, had collected for many years. Up to 1845, the German and English speaking Catholics had worshipped together. At that time the German members secured permission to organize a separate congregation. They numbered then from thirty to forty families. For several years the congregation was served by priests who came from New Riegel. In 1852 the Rev. L. Molon, the pastor of St. Mary's Church, was also appointed pastor of the German congregation, and held separate services for them. A few months later, Rev. J. B. Uhlman arrived from Germany, and was appointcd pastor of the young and flourishing German congregation. A parsonage was then built for the pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph L. Bihn, who served the congregation for seventeen years. The present church building was commenced in 1860, and consecrated two years later by Bishop J. M. Young. Its architecture is pure Gothic. Even today it is the most conspicuous building in Tiffin, and its beautiful and graceful spire is the first object which attracts the attention of those who visit or pass through the city. Four bells peal forth their harmonious notes from the lofty belfry ; and the church organ is one of the largest and best in Northern Ohio. Father Joseph Bihn resigned in 1873 the pastorate of St. Joseph 's Church and retired to his orphan asylum, which he had founded in 1867. He died there in 1895, surrounded by his many orphans, to whom he had been a HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 589 father for years. This home is still in a flourishing condition, sheltering 140 orphans. It is self-supporting and, as the delegates to the State Convention of Charities and Corrections declared at their recent meeting in Tiffin, "The most homelike Home between here and New York." He was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Evrard, who was much beloved by his people and the citizens of Tiffin. In the same year two brothers, the Revs. Martin and John Puetz, were appointed to administer to the spiritual wants of the large congregation. These pastors made many changes and improvements. The present brick school building was erected in 1894. Father Martin Puetz died in 1897, and his brother followed him in death in 1902. At the beginning of 1903 the present pastor, Rev. Francis L. Hultgen, took charge of the congregation, which is considered one of the large and flourishing parishes in Northwestern Ohio. Parochial schools were established in the spring of 1853, and have been maintained ever since. In 1865 the Ursuline Sisters came from Cleveland to Tiffin and formed a new convent. They also established an academy for young ladies, and took charge of the parochial schools of both congregations. Three years later another community was established near the limits of the city by Rev. Joseph Bihn. It was placed under the care of Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order. This is known as the "Citizens' Hospital and Orphan Asylum." The first church of the Methodist Episcopal denomination was built on the bank of Honey Creek, near Melmore, in 1828. It was a very unimposing building, but served the needs of a pioneer congregation. Rev. James Montgomery used to preach here occasionally, and also the Rev. Thomas Thompson, who was one of the early and beloved divines of the pioneer days. The Rev. James Finley also preached in this local church, as well as in private houses. The first presiding elder was Rev. James McMahon, who came to Tiffin in 1823, and preached in the old brick church that stood on Market Street. He was Succeeded by Rev. Russel Bigelow, a pioneer pulpit orator of great power. The congregation, which occupies a splendid church, is known as St. Paul's. The Methodist Protestant Society was formed in 1837, and its present edifice was erected in 1872. In the early days there were two small Methodist charges in what is now Fostoria—one at Rome and another at Risdon. The Methodists were the first to settle in this part of the county. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Andrew Hollopeter in 1832. In the following year the first log church was erected in Risdon. Then Rome wanted a church, and one was built there. They were in a circuit with several other churches, known as Risdon Circuit. They were united in 1851, under the pastorate of Rev. George W. Collier. A small frame building was built for the united congregation about midway between the two towns. The present splendid building was erected in 1883. In 1887 there was a great revival in this church, under the pastorate of Rev. T. C. Reade, at which there were 500 conversions. The First Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest religious institutions in Tiffin. It was organized about the 1st of July, 1837, by members who withdrew from the church at Melmore, which had been built earlier. In 1834 the society was chartered as the First Presbyterian Church of Tiffin. The board of trustees named were Milton Jennings, Peter Marsh, and Allen Campbell. One of the earliest preachers of this denomination in the wilds of Seneca was Rev. John Robinson, who served as the spiritual leader of this congregation for two or three years. He was succeeded by Rev. John McCutchen, who was considered a revivalist of great power. Its present home dates from the year 1871. Owing to the large German element in Seneca County, the Reformed Church has be- 590 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO come very strong. There are more than a dozen churches in the county belonging to that denomination. A church of this faith will be found in almost every township in the county. The German Evangelical St. John's Church of Tiffin was organized in 1836. It was called " The United German Evangelical Lutheran and German Evangelical Reformed St. John's Congregation." The Rev. Adam Adolph Conrad was its first pastor, and served the congregation very acceptably for a number of years. In addition he served nine other congregations, including one in Lower Sandusky. With his frail body, his labors were too severe, and he passed away at a very early age. Rev. J. J. Beilharz then took charge of the congregation, and served them for twelve years. The first meeting house of this congregation was a hewed log building, which stood on the same spot as their present edifice. It was built in 1836, and served the congregation for twenty-one years. The First Reformed Church Society was organized in 1833, when Rev. John L. Sanders, of Maryland, was invited to become their pastor. The consistory was authorized to purchase ground for a church edifice, to be built of brick. It was purchased from Josiah Hedges for the sum of $250, in 1834. Immediate steps were taken to build the proposed church. The second minister of this congregation was Reverend Rahauser, who preached in both the German and English languages. He was followed by Rev. Donald Kroh, who was installed as pastor in 1841. Up to this time the members of the congregation had been obliged to sit on slab benches, but it was then provided with pews, which made it a much more comfortable place of worship. TIFFIN It was in 1813 that Col. James V. Ball reached the site of what is now the City of Tiffin, with the intention of building a small stockade as a protection for the army road that passed through here. A large spring of excellent cold water on the left bank of the Sandusky River attracted his attention, and so the stockade was built on this spot. It was named Fort Ball, in honor of the commander. This camp was built as a temporary place of security in case of necessity, and as a magazine for supplies. It was built of large stakes, a foot in thickness, fixed in the ground with old bayonets driven through them horizontally near the tops. There were three blockhouses which faced the river, and there was room in the interior for about 500 men. On a number of occasions troops were quartered here, but it was never a permanent fort. It was on the 18th of November, 1817, that the first white settler, Erastus Bowe, arrived at Camp Ball, where some men had already erected for him a double log house. within the limits of the camp. Here Mr. Bowe kept a tavern, which was the first in the county. It was the only house within the present limits of Tiffin, when the Town of Oakley was surveyed and platted. It was located on what was known as the Armstrong section, an even square mile of land, which had been granted to Robert Armstrong by the treaty at the Rapids of the Miami. Mr. Armstrong was a captive of the Wyandots, and it was granted to him for his services as interpreter. The patent deed from the United States to Armstrong was dated October 12, 1823. On the 29th of the same month he sold 400 acres of it to Jesse Spencer for $3,000. The plat of Oakley included the old stockade of Fort Ball. It was not much of a town, even on paper, and no record was even made of the plat. The only buildings it ever contained were the Bowe tavern, and a cabin of David Smith. A postoffice was located here, and David Risdon was the first postmaster in the county. It is said of Mr. Risdon that while he was postmaster he used to go fishing occasionally, carrying the mail matter with him HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 591 in his hat. People were so anxious for their mail that they could not wait for his return, and would follow him along the river. The traveling postoffice would then be taken from his hat, while he looked for papers and letters. There was but one mail route through the county at that time, and that extended from Columbus to Lower Sandusky along the army road. In 1824 the Town of Fort Ball was surveyed by Mr. Risdon, and it included all of the plat of Oakley. Jesse Spencer had a brief but stormy career on the site of Tiffin. In less than two years from the time Mr. Spencer purchased the part of the Armstrong section, as above stated, he laid out Oakley, then Fort Ball, built the brush dam that caused so much trouble, and the saw-mill, became involved in about two dozen lawsuits, had a half dozen knock-downs, sold his town, brush dam, and saw-mill to Mr. Hedges, and shook the dust of Seneca County from his feet. The deed from Spencer to Hedges for Fort Ball is dated June 16, 1825. In this deed Spencer reserved to himself some in-lots and out-lots of his town of Fort Spencer. Spencer came here from Perry County, Ohio, where he formerly lived. It seems that the locality and the people here failed to meet the approbation of Mr. Spencer, and he withdrew his company and his interest from the county soon after his sale to Mr. Hedges. Fort Ball had the honor of having Ely Dresbach, the first physician, and Rodolphus Dickinson, the first lawyer, in Seneca County. Milton McNeal was probably the earliest merchant, and he put up the first frame building on that side of the river. It was used both for a store and his residence. The first dam across the Sandusky was built by Mr. Spencer, and it ran the first sawmill on that river. It was located within the-present limits of Tiffin. Its destruction was the cause of the initial lawsuit and jury trial in the county. The petition is an interesting souvenir of the pleadings of those days. A part of it reads as follows: "That the said Hedges, on the 1st day of May, A. D. 1823, and at divers others days, and times between that day and before the commencement of this action, with force and arms, etc., broke and entered a certain close of the said Jesse Spen- 592 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO cer, situate, lying and being in the township of Seneca, in the county of Seneca, aforesaid, and then and there pulled down, prosecuted and destroyed a great part, to-wit: forty perches of a certain mill-dam of the said Jesse Spencer, of great value, to-wit : of the value of two hundred dollars; and, also, then and there, tore down and dug up great quantities, to-wit : one thousand wagon loads of stone, from off the said close and dam of the said Jesse Spencer, to-wit: to the further value of three hundred dollars, and then and there took and carried away, and converted the same to his, the said Josiah Hedges' own use." The case was continued until the April term, 1825, when it was tried to the following jury, viz. : James Mathers, Jesse Gale, John C. Donnel, William Foncannon, Smith Kentfield, Peter Yeaky, Ezekiel Sampson, Samuel Scothorn, James Cutright, Ezra Brown, Jacob S. Jennings, and Elisha Clark, "who upon their oaths do say that the said defendant is guilty in manner and form etc., and we do assess the plaintiff's damages by reason thereof, at $8.00." The court entered up judgment for that sum. The costs were $26.75. This ended the first lawsuit and jury trial in Seneca Common Pleas. Josiah Hedges located a mill on Rocky Creek, the right bank of the river, opposite to Fort Ball. To lessen the value of Hedges' property, an action was brought against him for the overflow of land caused by the dam, which gave water power for his mill. By threatening to remove his mill, Mr. Hedges gained the good will of the neighborhood and added to the influence of his own little settlement. It stood near where Circular and Market streets now intersect. This was built in 1826. Lumber was in such demand for the growing settlement that the mill was run night and day for a time. It was managed by Joseph Janey. The dam backed up the water some distance, and a memorable suit was brought several years afterwards to de- dare it a nuisance because, in summer time, the water was covered with a green scum. At the trial all the physicians in the neighbor. hood were witnesses on one side or the other. One doctor said that "miasma could be noticed in the air when it was quiet, early in the morning, by sunrise, in the form of a fine, blue streak interwoven with fog." Bitter was the rivalry between these two little settlements on the opposite sides of the Sandusky River. Each one was striving to secure the location of the county seat. So bitter was the feeling that the inhabitants sometimes came to blows about it. The greater part of settlers were on the Fort Ball side, and the lawyers, doctors, and merchants, all living on that side, were arrayed against Tiffin. In spite of all this, Hedges won out, and Tiffin became the county seat. Three commissioners had been appointed for this purpose. They were Messrs. Herford, Miner, and Cyrus Spink. These gentlemen arrived on the 25th of March, 1822. At that time there were about six cabins in Tiffin. The Fort Ballites were much chagrined, but were obliged to make the best of the situation. Mr. Hedges finally purchased Fort Ball from Mr. Spencer, and from that ,time it was known as New Fort Ball, until it finally merged into and became a part of the City of Tiffin. Before this, however, Mr. Hedges had a taste of justice, and was confined for a short time in his own courthouse as a punishment for knocking down his rival, Mr. Spencer. New Fort Ball was surveyed and platted in 1837. There is no trace left of the few cabins that first marked the place called Tiffin. On the 28th of November, 1821, the plat was recorded in the recorder's office of Sandusky County. It was surveyed by Gen. James Hedges, of Mansfield, brother of the proprietor, Josiah Hedges. For ten years no change was made, but at the end of this first decade a new addition was surveyed and platted. The first improvement was made HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 593 in the new town in the following year. Henry Welch, John Mim, and two men named Wetz and Drennon, were given lots with the condition that cabins should be built and occupied. This condition was complied with in each instance. James Spink, of Wooster, came here in March, 1822, and brought with him a stock of goods. In the following winter his store was broken open and robbed of nearly all its contents. This so discouraged Mr. Spink that he left the new town in disgust. The beginning of this new town was due to the wonderful energy and industry of Josiah Hedges. He was a splendid specimen of manhood, over six feet in height. He was a man of good judgment, but few words. He came to Fort Ball, in 1820, and immediately decided to enter land on the opposite side of the river. He platted his new town and the first stick was cut on the plat in 1822, at a place near the courthouse. The place continued to grow until, in 1828, the land office was removed here from Delaware. Mr. Hedges lived to see his town become a very respectable place. He was honored by election to the House of Representatives. He left a numerous family, and a number of his descendants still live in Tiffin. He died in 1858, at the age of eighty years. Tiffin was incorporated in 1835 by an act of the Legislature. It numbered less than 1,000 people at the time. Nobody seemed to care much for a town government, for no election was held until the following year. The following notice was then published in the Tiffin Gazette: " CORPORATION ELECTION "Notice is hereby given that an election will be held at the house of Eli Norris, on Wednesday, the 29th inst., for the purpose of electing officers in conformity to the pro- Vol. I-38 visions of the act incorporating the town of Tiffin. " George W. Gist “ George Park. " Nicholas Geothius. “ M. D. Cadwallader. " M. M. Mason. “ Joel Stone. " Charles Lewis. “ J. W. Miller. "John Baugher. “ David Beck. "June 18, 1836." At this election Dr. H. Kuhn was elected the first mayor of the town. In 1844 the population was only 728 by the federal census. Fort Ball was incorporated in 1849, and Jacob Flaugher was chosen as the first magistrate. No other election was held, for the merging of the two towns followed soon afterwards. William Lang became the initial mayor of the united towns in 1850. The lack of a bridge was a great inconvenience at first, for the postoffice was at Fort Ball. George Park ran a ferry for a number of years with a dugout boat, the fare being two cents. One man would go over and bring the mail over for the entire neighborhood. In the fall of 1833, Mr. Hedges contracted with Reuben Williams to build a wooden bridge across the Sandusky River, on Washington Street. It was a number of months before it was fitted for the accommodation of foot passengers. Mr. Hedges also built another bridge at the same place, which was the first toll bridge that Tiffin ever had. He employed a colored man to collect toll. This was a great convenience, but the idea of paying toll annoyed the farmers, as well as the merchants in Tiffin, and a plan was formed to have a free bridge constructed at the west end of Market Street. A subscription list was circulated, and the requisite amount subscribed. There was great rejoicing in Tiffin when this free bridge was opened in 1837. The old toll bridge soon became a free bridge, also, as a matter of necessity. The free bridge had been covered with a roof, and this made it a very dark place at night, so that women 594 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO were afraid to cross unless accompanied. Lanterns were finally placed at each end on dark nights to relieve the gloom. The toll bridge was washed away by a freshet in 1847, and the free bridge followed from the same cause in 1854. When Calvin Bradley built the Western Exchange Hotel in 1836, it was looked upon as a hazardous enterprise. The stage office was also there. When the roads were muddy, it was a difficult place to reach. Many a time the driver, with his four horses, was compelled to stop two or three times on his way up the little hill to the hotel on Washington Street. In 1833 there came to Tiffin Rezin W. Shawhan, who opened a store with goods purchased on credit. A natural aptitude for business and untiring industry brought him success. In later years he traveled much, and continued the education which had been unsatisfactory in his early years. As prosperity came to him, he invested his money in business blocks, and to him was due much of the prosperity and development of the city. One of the early settlers in Tiffin was Henry Lang, who came from Germany with his family in 1833. It took them five months to travel from Baltimore to Tiffin by water and rail. He had been a forester, so always dressed in green broadcloth and a cap of the same color, the dress of a forester in the fatherland. His son, William Lang, first entered a cabinet shop, and then read law with Joshua Seney and Mr. Cowdrey. He served as prosecuting attorney, and was the first probate judge of the county. He filled two terms in the State Senate during the war period. He also became the first mayor of Tiffin, and the first president of the school board. He wrote and published a history of Seneca County, in 1880, which is considered the standard historical record of the county. The first schoolhouse of Tiffin was a little brick building, which had room for about sixty scholars. Here religious services were also frequently held until churches were built. The first school directors of Clinton Township, within which Tiffin is situated, were George Donaldson, Jacob Plane, and Richard Smith. The earliest teacher was Benjamin Crockett, who taught for several years. The little brick building gave place to a two-story structure in 1844. There were four rooms in the building. When the union schools were organized in 1850, the school board consisted of William Lang, William D. Searles, George Knupp, A. C. Baldwin, W. H. Keilholts, and William H. Gibson. Rev. R. R. Bement was employed to superintend the schools during the winter only, and then S. S. Rickley was elected the first superintendent. One of the institutions of which Tiffin is proud is the National Orphans' Home, of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, which was established in 1890. It is located just north of the city, adjoining Riverview Park. This home was established for the purpose of protecting, comforting, and educating the deceased members of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and is wholly supported by the members of the order. The citizens of Tiffin have been very liberal in their gifts to this home. THE FLOOD OF 1913 One of the saddest chapters in the history of Tiffin is the story of Tiffin's flood in 1913. Many a time the Sandusky River had risen above its normal height and flooded the lowlands, like in 1883 and 1906, but never in the memory of Seneca County's people did it rise to such a height or cause such disasters. The torrential rains began in the morning of Easter Sunday, March 23d, as people were worshiping in their respective churches, celebrating the feast of the risen Savior. Few noticed the ominous clouds ; the city was gay and happy, dreaming of the springtime of the year. The rain kept on pouring during HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 595 the whole day, its volume increasing during the night. In the morning the fire chief issued orders to the people of Mechanicsburg to vacate their homes, but few responded. The people did not believe the water would rise much higher, and remained in their homes along the river until it was too late. Near the bend of the river above Market Street, the flood had risen to a. height of thirty feet. Logs, houses, and barns were swept down the river and piled up against the bridges. The river channel became a seething, raging whirlpool. By Monday noon the waterworks bridge was carried away ; half an hour later the Perry Street bridge followed. In just three hours the six steel bridges over the Sandusky were washed away. Night came, and still the unceasing rain poured down in torrents. The people along the river were entrapped in their houses ; escape was now impossible. The angry water lapped against the frame walls. All lights were out in the city, and in the awful darkness a number of houses were lifted of their foundations and wrecked in the wild floods. Numbers were rescued across the roofs of the houses. Nineteen of our own people found their death in the waves of the swollen stream. The George Klingshin family lost twelve members, mother, children, and relatives, all perishing in the flood. Their cries for help were heard, their signals' of distress were understood, but no rescuing boat dared approach them in the maddening river. That terrible night of March 25th will ever be a night of terror for the eye-witnesses of Tiffin's flood. Men stood across the swollen stream. During those three days 500 people were made homeless, the bodies of the drowned were found five or six miles down the river. On one day nine of the flood victims were buried from St. Joseph's Church. Six hearses pulled up before the church and nine caskets were carried up the main aisle, a mother with eight of her children. The sight of this sad funeral added to the grief of the stricken community. A beautiful monument of white Carrara marble, imported from Italy, marks the resting place of fourteen of Tiffin's flood victims, all buried together in St. Joseph's Cemetery. The homeless were sheltered with friends throughout the city, and in some homes as many as seven families were living. Provisions were sent in from neighboring towns, Chicago Junction sending the first relief. Provisions' and clothing came in from Fostoria, Bloomville, Toledo, and Sycamore. The Auditorium was fitted up as a lunch room. The Commercial Club of Chicago sent in money and bedding. The Red Cross Society did noble work. Many deeds of heroism were performed by the rescuing parties. Charity and human kindness helped greatly to relieve the distress of the flood sufferers. Many who had lost all that they possessed, their homes and furniture, were still glad to know that their beloved ones were saved from the flood. "Tiffin," as the Tribune editor reported on March 21, 1913, "is not a doomed city. She may be staggering under the heavy blow dealt her by the great flood, but she will resume her normal condition." And this she has done. At the present date, Tiffin still bears the scars inflicted by the flood, but much. has been rebuilt and beautified. Five concrete bridges replace the former steel ones. The river channel has been widened, while the banks have been freed of buildings and laid out as a park. FOSTORIA Loudon Township, in which is situated Fostoria, was organized within its present boundaries in 1831. No election was ordered, however, until Charles W. Foster filed a petition in 1834 stating that there were twenty electors in the township. The election was held on the 4th of March. Abner Wade was elected justice of the peace ; John Ten- 596 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO nis, clerk, and Benjamin Stevens, Peter F. King, and John Rickels, trustees. Nathan Shippy, John Reese, and John Shiller were chosen fence viewers. It required about a third of the entire body of electors to fill the various offices. In 1832 a town was laid out by Roswell Crocker, which he called Rome. The plat was surveyed by David Risdon. In 1840 there was a population of eighty, and a decade later it had climbed to 300. It was located at the junction of three main highways. These were the Fort Findlay and Lower Sandusky State Road, the Defiance and Tiffin State Road, and -the Perrysburg and McCutchensville Road. Rome was incorporated in 1851. A few days after the platting of Rome, J. Gorsuch platted another town, which he named Risdon, after the surveyor whose name is mentioned so frequently in the early annals of the county. Henry Welch, Jeremiah Mickey, and John P. Gordon were the first settlers there. By 1850 it had a population of about 200. There were then a score and a half of dwellings, a tavern, three stores, and several small factories. Randall Hale and Samuel Laird conducted early taverns in these settlements. R. C. Caples was the earliest regularly appointed postmaster at Risdon, being named in 1840. In those days the mail was carried from Bucyrus and Perrysburg, with a weekly trip from each point. The two towns of Rome and Risdon became rivals, 'but in 1854 they were united, and the new town was named Fostoria, after Charles W. Foster, father of Governor Foster. On the 2d day of September, 1853, a Petition was signed by William Braden, Thomas Brian, H. I. Vosburgh, W. Weaver, A. S. Bement, E. F. Robinson, C. H. Bonnell, John 0. Albert, Reuben Brian, I. M. Coe, John Wilson, George Gear, Lyman Kittel, Daniel Free, Abr. Metz, Robert Doke, E. Bement, E. W. Thomas, D. D: Miller, H. W. Cole, James Lewis, Umphrey England, and John M. Stewart, who ap pointed William Braden to act in their behalf, directed to the commissioners of Seneca County, praying that the west half of the northwest quarter of section six, in Loudon Township may be attached to Rome. The order was granted on the 2d day of January, 1854, and Rome and Risdon thereby became one town. The early settlers of this township were far-sighted men, and saw the great possibilities of the future in this rich agricultural section. Charles W. Foster was born in Massachusetts, but came to Seneca County in 1826 to see Laura Crocker, whose father had' arrived a couple of years earlier. A year later they were married, and Foster worked for his father-in-law for two years. He then moved to a farm north of Tiffin. Disposing of his land, he returned to Rome and opened up a store in a cabin with Mr. Crocker, under the firm name of Foster & Crocker. This was on the site of the present Foster Block. The business grew rapidly, and Mr. Crocker withdrew ten years later. He continued .the establishment until his son Charles was old enough to enter business, when the firm became Foster & Son. The younger Foster brought into the business splendid natural ability, together with a good business training. This house of Foster has contributed to every enterprise that has helped to build up this thriving town. The elder Foster aided in establishing many another worthy man in business by extending credit where the future outlook was very uncertain. He lived to see his son become governor of our great state. The Fostoria of today is a live commercial town. It has unusually good railroad facilities, for five important railroads offer their facilities for traffic, and in addition there are three electric lines to aid in the accommodation of travel and traffic. It has become a great distributing center for grain and stock, and possesses one of the largest flour mills in the state. For a time the city enjoyed great HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 597 prosperity from the discovery of gas and oil, but in later years the production of these commodities in the immediate neighborhood has greatly diminished. The old Fostoria Academy, established in 1858 by Rev. William C. Turner, is still fresh in the minds of many. It flourished until the breaking out of the Civil war robbed the institution of its students. In 1875 a determined effort was made to revive the academy by an association of business men. Then it was that the Findlay Conference of the United Brethren Church undertook the task, upon the promise of the donation of a site and a sum of money. The conference was never able to raise its share of the money, but buildings were erected and the institution had a goodly number of students for a period of years. The cornerstone was laid in 1879, and Prof. W. L. Jackson was the first principal. The buildings were finally destroyed by fire and its activities thus ended. VILLAGES In early days the township in which Mel-more is situated was the most populous section of the county. When the Kilbourne Road crossed Honey Creek, a truly picturesque site, Colonel Kilbourne in 1824 surveyed and platted a town he called Melmore. Kilbourne composed and used to sing a song of praise for the child of his fancy. The first verse is as follows : "Where honey-dews from the mild heaven, Distil on the foliage below- Where Honey creek's waters are given T' enrich the sweet vales as they flow— Where playful the heart-cheering breeze Sweeps o'er the sweet bosom of flowers ;-- There Melmore is seen through the trees With fragrance and health in her bowers." Case Brown was the principal proprietor of Melmore. The first house was erected by John C. Jones in 1828. Buckley Hutchins was named postmaster of the village. The early promises were favorable, for six years after its platting, Melmore had 137 inhabitants. Today it is not much greater. At one time it was quite a trading post, and its citizens were very enterprising. There was great excitement in 1836 over the prospect of constructing a railroad to run from Melmore to Republic, to connect with the Mad River Road. Phillip J. Price, Julius Treet, and Thomas T. Treet laid out a town in 1837, which they called Bloomville. Edward Cooley, who also owned a part of the site, built the first house. The village contained a dozen buildings in 1850. Conrad Klaehr was the first wagon and carriage maker. A store was conducted by John Seitz, Jr., and William Dewitt, who was afterwards elected county recorder. Mr. Seitz also entered politics and served in both houses of the Legislature. Thomas Dysinger conducted the pioneer tavern in the community. Bloomville received a fresh start when the Mansfield and Coldwater Railroad was completed. Rev. Robert Lockhart established the Enterprise, the first newspaper, in 1874. The name was afterwards changed to the Bloomville Banner by D. W. Fisher. 0. M. Holcomb finally purchased the plant and established the Seneca County Record and edited the paper for many years. Bloomville was incorporated in 1871, and Jacob Hossler was elected the first mayor. Attica is situated on the old Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike. It was laid out in 1833, by William and Samuel Miller, two brothers, who came here from Pennsylvania. It was surveyed by Samuel Risdon. It was named after a town in New York. Ezra Gilbert was the first postmaster and also the earliest landlord. The village was incorporated in 1850. At the first election John L. La Moreaux was chosen mayor, and Samuel Miller received the office of clerk. A Presbyterian Church was 598 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO organized the same year as the platting of the town, by Rev. E. Conger. Two years later the Methodists gathered together a small class. In 1842 the Baptists organized a church with nine members. Rev. S. M. Mack was the first regular pastor. The famous springs from which Greensprings obtains its name are located in Seneca County. The town is partly located in Sandusky County, under which it is described. Bettsville was surveyed and platted in 1838 by John Betts. It was incorporated in 1882, and M. Heffner was chosen as the first mayor. New Riegel is a newer town and was not surveyed until 1850, for Anthony Schindler. It was incorporated in 1881. It is principally a Catholic settlement, and has a monastery, convent, and church of the Most Precious Blood. Republic was originally called Scipio Center, and dates from 1834. It is now incorporated. Other villages in the county are Bascom, Berwick, and Adrian. CHAPTER XLV VAN WERT COUNTY It was three farm boys, serving in the Continental army who achieved notoriety by the capture of Major Andre, the British officer who had negotiated with Benedict Arnold for the surrender of West Point. These boys were Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding, and David Williams. They were all Dutch youths, and could not speak English very well. These three boys were seated among some bushes by the roadside, playing cards, when suddenly they saw a man approaching on a large brown horse, which, as they afterwards noted, was branded near the shoulders, "U. S. A." As the horseman neared them these three soldiers cocked their muskets and aimed at the rider, who immediately checked his horse. "Gentlemen, I hope you are of our party," said Major Andre. "What party?" asked Paulding. "The lower party," answered the British officer. "We are," rejoined Paulding. "I am a British officer," explained Andre. "I have been up the country on particular business and do not wish to be detained a single moment." "We are Americans," replied Paulding. "God bless your soul," was the quick retort. "A man must do anything to get along. I am a Continental officer going down to Dobbs' Ferry to get information from below." Andre then presented a pass issued to him by General Arnold under the assumed name of John Anderson. But these Dutch boys were not so easily fooled. They compelled him to dismount, and then searched him. Finding nothing compromising in his clothing, they finally compelled him to take off his boots. It was then that the prisoner began to pale. In the left boot were found three half-sheets of written paper, enveloped in a half-sheet marked "Contents West Point." This convinced these soldiers that the man in their hands was a spy. Declining all efforts of Major Andre for his release, for which he finally offered as much as 10,000 guineas ($50,000) and as large a quantity of dry goods as they wished, they delivered him to the nearest military station, New Castle, twelve miles. distant. Two of his captors, Paulding and Van Wart, were present when he was later hung. It was to commemorate the names of these men that the three neighboring counties of Van Wert, Paulding and Williams received their designation. The early settlers of Van Wert County found numerous bands of Indians still roaming there, whose camping grounds were upon the ridges running through the county. One of these was Sugar Ridge, which traverses the county in a northwesterly direction. It was not long, however, after the white men began to come in, that the Indians were crowded from their favorite camping places and turned their faces towards the setting sun, never again to return. When planting their crops the settlers found many Indian relics, such as flint arrow-heads, stone hammers, stone tomahawks, stone pestles for pounding and grinding corn, and occasionally an Indian grave or burial place. In one of the graves, found on the Ridge Road by Oliver Stacy, articles of greater variety and value than those usually found were unearthed. - 599 -