HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 583

CHAPTER LVI.

SANDUSKY TOWNSHIP.

ITS PRIMITIVE CONDITION-CRAWFORD'S MARCH-HUNTING GROUND-EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-THE "RIBLET HOUSE"- Mrs. HIBNER AND THE BEAR-ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP-FIRST ELECTION -SCHOOLS -CHURCHES-ORIGIN OF THE SAME.

THE territory now included in Sandusky Township maintained its primitive condition until about 1817, before any permanent white settler made his appearance. The first white men to press the soil of the township so far as is definitely and positively known, were the armed, belted and buckskinned knights under Col. William Crawford, in 1782, as they went silently, swiftly and with grim determination to battle. death and disaster on the Sandusky plains. They halted at Spring Mills over night, and in the morning took a pretty direct course west, crossing the township very near the site of Crestline, but probably a little north of that place, striking the Sandusky River near Leesville. This was a good hunting ground for the Wyandots and Delawares; a chief of the latter tribe, Wingenund, having his camp for many years on the river near Leesville. Col. Crawford was captured near the latter place. This was a beautiful home for these red men the beautiful sparkling little streams, the plains stretching away for many miles, surrounded by deep, dark forests, full of game of every kind, and dotted over by little clumps of trees ; all made a paradise which they were loathe to relinquish, and only relinquished after years of hard fighting and much bloodshed and suffering. The remorseless white man, however, was determined to possess this beautiful country, and. being superior in numerical and I intellectual strength, succeeded.

When the first settlers entered Sandusky Township, it was one of the best hunting grounds in the State. All kinds of wild game was so plenty that the hunter could supply his table with meat almost without stepping outside his cabin door: had it not been for this, they would have suffered greatly for provisions the first two years, as but little could be planted the first year, on account of the difficulty of making an opening in the great woods and before the first crop of corn grew to maturity says Mr. Snyder, one of the earliest settlers, "the squirrels came by hundreds and thousands and took it all."

It is a difficult matter to get the names and locations of the earliest settlers in the township, as nearly all have gone to their long homes or moved away; but the following persons were among the earliest settlers, and it is believed, were the earliest in the township. Some of these settled in what is now Crawford County, but some are known to have settled within the present limits of Sandusky Township, as at present constituted. The first were Christian Snyder and Jacob Fisher, who came in 1817, and settled about two miles southwest of the present town of Crestline. Following these were John Doyle, 1818 ; Joseph Russell 1818; Louis Lyberger, 1819 ; Daniel Miller; 1818 ; Henry Hersner, 1819 and John Reed, 1818. Of these; Louis Lyberger and Henry Hersner are known to have settled within the present limits of Sandusky Township. probably on Section 23. The first settlement, therefore. occurred near the center of the township. The others settled in what is now Crawford County; and

564 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Mr. Snyder says there was not a white settler in the territory now embraced in that county when he came. The first settlement east of them was the Douglas settlement in Springfield Township, and, when they started west from this settlement, on their arrival. they were compelled to cut a road for their teams to the land they had entered. This was the second road cut through the township. the soldiers on their march in 1812 having cut the first through the northern part. This was the only road for many years, but was finally abandoned. A few of these settlers came from Western Pennsylvania, and the remainder from near Steubenville, Ohio.

The early settlers who arrived after those named were Mordecai Harding. Section 36 ; Daniel Riblet came in 1831 and settled on Section 25: John Brookwalter. Section 26; Christopher Pletcher, Section 25: Jacob Haflich 1828, Section 24; George Johnson. Section 13. 1820: --Carson. Section 13: Andrew Taylor. Section 1; Rev. Culler, Section 13: George Walters. Section 12. The Hardings and Snyders were among the first settlers in the south ern part of the township. Daniel Riblet was a prominent man in the township and county was Justice of the Peace eighteen years and served two terms in the Legislature-from 1840 to 1844. He was from Union County. Penn., and died November 6, 1865. For many years, he kept what was well known as the Riblet House, at a point on the Mansfield & Bucyrus road, about half-way between Ontario and Galion. This was a stopping-place for the stages. The house was first built of logs, afterward a frame was added. It is yet standing and is occupied as a dwelling. A post office was established here while the stages were running-one of the first, if not the first in the township; and the militia musters frequently occurred here, making it altogether an important point.

The Snyder family were somewhat remarkable for longevity. Christian dying at ninety-eight. and his wife. Mary M., at one hundred and seven. In Indian trail ran across the township east and west. very close to their house. Mr. Snyder says it was about the width of a sheep-path and many times he has seen parties of Wyandots on this trail. passing along in single file and while thus on the march. He never knew them to speak a word to each other or make the slightest noise. They never disturbed the new settlers, but often divided their venison with them. The Indian, and white settlers both made large quantities of maple sugar every year.

Among the early settlers also was a family by the name of Hibner and the bear story handed down by this family is illustrative of the condition of the township in those early clays. They lived as did everybody in those times in a log house with an immense chimney occupying most of one end. One day, while Mr. Hibner was away from home and Mrs. H. was busy about her work she heard a noise near the chimney and looking around. was horrified to see the great black paw of a bear reaching through an opening beside the chimney. The opening was caused by one of the chimney stones having become loosened and rolled to one side. She had placed her babe upon the floor on a blanket near the fire and the hear was endeavoring to reach it. Fortunately it was beyond its reach. and the mother was very chuck to remove it still further away. Finding his chances for a dinner had disappeared bruin moved away. Many such stories are remembered by these early pioneers but space forbids the mention of them. It is not the paws of a bear that troubles the mother of to-day but croup and kindred diseases, that must have come with civilization, for they were not known in those early days.

The township was organized February 12, 1818 and at that time was twelve miles long from north to south and six miles wide and included Vernon, Jackson, Polk (the two last in

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 568

Crawford County) and what is now left of it. It remained in that shape until March 9, 1845, when it was divided and the north half called Vernon leaving Sandusky six miles square, in which shape it should have been allowed to remain: but when the rage for county seats grew to an uncontrollable extent and Crawford County was formed. February 3, 1845, four tiers of sections from the west side of this township were cut off and handed over to Crawford, having a strip two miles wide remaining of Sandusky. In their cutting and slashing to get the new county two sections immediately south of Sandusky were left unprovided for these were consequently attached to the southern end of it making the township seven miles long from north to south and two miles wide in which condition it has ever since remained. The only town it is East Crestline. It has three railroads the Atlantic & Great Western passing through near its center, and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago and Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, through the northern part. The land is generally gently rolling, all tillable, and very fertile. It was once densely wooded with all species of hard wood, but now contains beautiful and well cultivated farms. There are no streams of size within its limits, though Clear Fork near its sources passes through the southern portion and the headwaters of the Sandusky River through the northern part. There is not sufficient water-power in these for milling purposes consequently there were no water-mills in the township in an early day: the settlers going to Bellville for their grinding. Later two horse-mills were erected one by McQuade in the southern part and one by Snyder further north. Hominy blocks were in general use before this

The first election was held in Mr. Mozier's house, twelve votes being east and John Williams elected Justice of the Peace.

Several years elapsed before an any school or schoolhouse was established. Jacob Dorne was said to have been the first teacher. He taught a "subscription" school of about a dozen scholars. He was an ignorant German, and did little good. Russell's schoolhouse south of the present village of Crestline was one of the earliest if not the earliest in the township.

Mr. Snyder says the third year of their residence in the woods, a terrific windstorm blew down their house and barn and destroyed their growing crops, besides making great havoc in the timber.

Two churches have at present an organized existence within the limits of the township, The first one of these was erected by the Free-Will Baptists, about 1850, Section 36 in the Harding Settlement. It is a small frame church. Harvey Day, Samuel Nestlerode, Mr. Reece and some others were among the first organizers and influential members, this organization went to pieces for some reason, and the church remained unoccupied for some years. In 1877, it was taken possession of by the "Albrights," who organized a church of which Jacob Lohr, Phillip Corman, John Morton and other were the organizers. Rev. Hawks was their first minister. A Sabbath school is connected with tile church, which is kept up the entire year.

The other church called Riblet's Chapel was erected near the old Riblet Tavern about or before 1860, It is a Methodist Episcopal, and cost about $800.

It was erected by the Lutherans and during the first year of its existence; was used by all denominations. In later years however it became exclusively the property of the Methodists. Rev. Coon was one of its first Pastors and a few of its early influential members were Daniel Riblet. Jacob Haflich and John Wein. The Methodists organized about January, 1876. The present Pastor is J. H. Johnson : membership; about thirty. A Sunday school was organized in 1876. John Riblet is Superintendent. with a membership of fifty.

566 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

It looks as if Sandusky should follow the lead of townships north of her and take a slice from Springfield on the east, to compensate her for loss of territory and make her equal in extent to the others. The name Sandusky comes from the Wyandots their Sah-un-dus-kee meaning " clear water"; or their the cold water and their" water within water pools." The latter signification is peculiarly applicable to Sandusky Bay and the extensive marshes on its borders which are intersected in many directions by pools and channels of open water. The French traders. who were on the banks of the Sandusky River years before any other white men. called it Sandusquet.