CHAPTER XXV.

FREMONT CONTINUED.

Civil Government.

THE first organization of local government on the soil of Sandusky county followed in consequence of an order directing the erection of the township of Sandusky, in August, 18 t 5. The first page of the record has been torn out of the musty old book and is destroyed. On the cover of the book is written in a large, clear hand:

This book was presented by Israel Harrington, esquire, to the township of Sandusky for the purpose of keeping the records of said township.

August 15, 1815.

For seventeen years this book, containing less than two hundred pages, is the only record of the township.

Israel Harrington was the first justice of the peace. The other officers elected August 15 were : Isaac Lee, clerk; Isaac Lee and William Ford, fence viewers; Jeremiah Everett, Randall Jerome, and Israel Harrington, trustees; William Andrews and Morris A. Newman, overseers of the poor; David Gallagher, treasurer; Henry Disbrow and Charles B. Fitch, appraisers of property; Thoda A. Rexford and William Hoddy, constables.

At the succeeding election, held October to, 1815, twenty-eight votes were .cast. The following was the poll:

William Andrews, Thoda A. Rexford, Daniel McFarland, Asa Stodard, William Ford, Israel Harrington, Elisha Harrington, Randall Jerome, Jeremiah Everett, Moses Nichols, Anthony Arndt, Joseph Done, Obediah Morton, Jonathan Jerome, Joel Thomas, Thomas D. Knapp, Peleg Cooley, Antoine Laurent, Isaac Lee, Joseph Mominne, Charles B. Fitch, John M. Clung, Henry Disbrow, James Whittaker, Nathaniel Camp, Samuel Avery, Peter Menare, Lewis de Leonard.

There seemed to be great unanimity at this election. None of the candidates voted for or received less than twenty-six votes, and four of them received the full twenty-eight. Partisan bitterness was not yet born and an election was much like a council of friends. It seems, too, that it was a council in which all were pretty much of one mind.

The first appraisement of property was made by Charles B. Fitch and Daniel Hill, May 23, 1816. Only eight houses were appraised, as follows: Morris A. Newman, one, $250; Muses Nichols, one, $100; Israel Harrington, one, $300; Aaron Forgerson, one, $200; Randall Jerome, three, $450; Thomas Brown, one, $150.

At the October election of 1816 thirty-three votes were cast. Since very few of the citizens whose names are given lived beyond the present corporate limits of the present city of Fremont, we give the poll as a census of the cluster of homes about old Fort Stephenson, just beginning to assume the appearance of a village:

Joseph Harris, William Andrews, T.A. Rexford, Obediah Norton, William Avery, Moses Nichols, Almeron Sands, Daniel McFarland, Samuel Avery, Jonathan Jerome, W. S. Drake, Charles B. Fitch, Jeremiah Everett, Daniel Hill, Thomas D. Knapp, Israel Harrington, William Downs, David Gallagher, Hugh B. McKner, Thomas Brown, Aaron Forgerson, Joshua Davies, Ruel Louis, John Payne, Morris

414 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

A. Newman, Peleg Cooley, John Robinson, John Cooley, Thomas L. Hawkins, Thomas Forgerson, Holsey Forgerson, Aaron Willis, and John W. Tyler.

We give one more list of elections of Sandusky township, taken from the records of the October election of the year 1826: Samuel Treat, James A. Scranton, John Downs, Esbon Husted, Thomas Gallagher, Richard Sears, Asa Bliss, Giles Thompson, Jacob Bowlus, Jesse S. Olmsted, James Fuller, Casper Remsberg, Francis Call, Mahlon Thomas, Jonathan Holcomb, Jacob Nyce, Ammi Williams, Phineas Ball, David Bowlus, Jacob Melius, William McClelland, Elisha B. Johnson, Francis A. Wally, Merrit Scott, John Wolcott, Cyrus Hulburd, Thomas Hawkins, William Dew, Rodolphus Dickinson, George Shannon, Abram Bark, Harvery J. Harman, George Jackson, George J. Whitaker, Moses Wilson, John W Tyler, William Knapp, Jacob Bowlus, jr., Charles Cole, John McLaughlin, Thomas Bonner, Michael Egan, Leonard Kider, Charles Runnels, Warren Waterman, William Suthorn, Peter Bellow, Eldridge A. Bristol, John Culbertson, John Andrews, Joel Van Doren, James P. Stephenson, Ferdinand Wilson, Joseph Mominne, David Grant, Abram Van Doren, Andrew Baker, Joseph Hall, Thomas Ware, William Ware, Benjamin Bailey, L. C. Ball, Joseph Connel, John Woods, Ezra Williams, Elisha W. Howland, Calvin Seager, David Gallagher, William Baker, Elisha Thompson, Daniel Brainard, Daniel Brainard, jr., Thomas Holcomb, Aaron Loveland, McKinsey Mowery, Abner Loveland, and Thomas White.

By 1831 the number of votes in the township had increased to one hundred and forty-six.

Previous to 1830 there was no corporate government for the village, which had now changed the name Sandusky for that of Lower Sandusky. Sandusky township had exercised exclusive jurisdiction over the village. By special act of the Legislature, passed February 11, 1830, so much of the reservation as is included in the surveyed township number five, range fifteen, was set apart and granted the powers and privileges of a corporate town, under the statutes of the State. The complement of the two miles square reservation, being a strip about three-quarters of a mile wide off the south side, continued under the jurisdiction of Baliville township exclusively. In 1856 the corporate limits were so extended as to include this strip, making the town of Fremont co-extensive with the ancient and historic reservation. John Bell was elected first mayor.

CIVIL ROSTER.

Previous to 1843 the records of the town are lost. The mayors of Lower Sandusky, elected in the spring of each year, were: John Bell, 1830; R. P. Buckland, 1843;* John Bell, 1844; Cornelius Letscher, 1845 and 1846; Chester Edgerton, 1847; L. C. Ball, 1848; J. G. B. Downs, 1849. That year the name of the town was changed to Fremont. At the expense of repetition we give the full council for each year:

1850—Brice J. Bartlet, mayor; C. R. McCulloch, recorder; LaQ. Rawson, John R. Pease, C. O. Tillotson, James Hufford,. Samuel Wilson, trustees.

1851—B. J. Bartlett, mayor, Alvin Coles, recorder; James Parks, Thomas Pinkerton, Frank Bell, Christian Doncyson, John P. Haynes, trustees.

1852-B. J. Bartlett, mayor ; Thomas P. Finefrock, recorder; William Herbster, Christian Doncyson, Isaac Sharp, O. L. Nims, J. F. R. Sebring, trustees.

1853 — A. B. Taylor, mayor; T. P. Finefrock, recorder; Christian Doncyson,

*From 1830 to 1843 unknown,

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 415

O. L. Nims, Isaac Sharp, J. F. R. Sebring, M. Wegsson, trustees.

1854—A. J. Hale, mayor; Charles L. Glick, recorder; Thomas Pinkerton, J. F. R. Sebring, George C. Canfield, R. C. McCulloch, William E. Haynes, trustees.

1855—B. J. Bartlett, mayor; Charles L. Glick, recorder; Thomas Pinkerton, J. F. R. Sebring, G. C. Canfield, C. R. McCulloch, William E. Haynes, trustees.

1856—B. J. Bartlett, mayor; E. M. Hulburd, recorder; R. P. Buckland, S. Thompson, Jesse S. Van Ness, J. F. R. Sebring, Ira Smith, trustees.

1857—John R. Pease, mayor; Nat Haynes, recorder; H. Cleland, C. Doncyson, Casper Smith, W. Beaugrand, John Joseph, trustees.

1858—John L. Green, mayor; Oscar Ball, recorder; S. M. Ellenwood, C. Doncyson, Casper Smith, Joseph Stuber, Daniel Capper, trustees.

1859 — Stephen Buckland, mayor; J. R. Bartlett, recorder; W. N. Morgan, Andrew Morehouse, Theodore Clapp, Detleff Thompson, Samuel Thompson, trustees.

1860—James Justice, mayor; Joseph R. Bartlett, recorder; Thomas Kelly, F. J. Geibel, Nat Haynes, Philip Dorr, Thomas Pinkerton, trustees.

1861—Daniel L. June, mayor; D. W. Krebs, recorder; G. M. Tillotson, O. A. Roberts, Ira Smith, Joseph Chapman, Creighton Thompson, trustees.

1862—John M. Kline, mayor; D. W. Krebs, recorder; O. A. Roberts, D. Capper, Bryan O'Connor, C. Hodes, A. Bennett, trustees.

1863—John M. Kline, mayor; D. W. Krebs, recorder; O. A. Roberts, Bryan 0. Connor, D. Capper, Casper Hodes, Aaron Bennett, trustees.

1864 — LaQuinio Rawson, mayor; D. W. Krebs, recorder; D. Garvin, John Koons, Isaac Dryfoos, J. S. Van Ness, Charles Thompson, trustees.

1865—Homer Everett, mayor; D. W. Krebs, recorder; Fred Fabing, A. J. Harris, Oscar Ball, Charles Thompson, George Williams, trustees.

1866—John Bell, mayor; E. F. Dickinson, recorder; Ambrose Ochs, J. Stierwatt, William E. Haynes, Thomas Kelly, F. G. Geibel, trustees.

The number of trustees in 1867 was increased to six, and one of their own number was chosen president. Previous to 1867 it was the duty of the mayor to act as president of the council. We give below the names of members of the council as they appear on the roll, the president always being named first:

1867—John Bell, mayor; F. Wilmer, recorder; Jacob D. Botefur, Betts, Brush, Ochs, Quitter, and Keller, trustees.

1868—John Bell, mayor; F. Wilmer, recorder; C. H. Bell, Betts, Botefur, Brush, Engler, and Quitter, trustees.

1869—Jesse S. Van Ness, mayor: J. S. Van Valhenburgh, recorder; Charles H. Bell, Betts, Gores, Haynes, Horn, and Sheldon, trustees.

1870-J. S. Van Ness, mayor; J. S. Van Valhenburgh, recorder; Paul Gores, Botefur, Kridler, McArdle, Haynes, and Sheldon, trustees.

1871—E. F. Dickinson, mayor; George J. Krebs, recorder; James Kridler, Sheldon, Haynes, Thompson, McArdle, and Botefur, trustees.

1872—E. F. Dickinson, mayor; George J. Krebs, recorder; James Kridler, Haynes, Sheldon, Thompson, Stuber and Geibel, trustees.

1873—E. F. Dickinson, mayor; F. J. Geibel, jr., recorder; F. J. Geibel, Stuber, Kridler, Greiner, Fabing, and Bauman, trustees.

1874—E. F. Dickinson, mayor; F. J. Geibel, jr., recorder, resigned, F. J. Smith

416 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

appointed to fill vacancy; George W. Gurst, Fabing, Greiner, Elderkin, Heider, and Bauman, trustees.

1875—E. F. Dickinson, mayor; H. B. Smith, recorder; J. P. Elderkin, jr., Fabing, Greiner, Bauman, Gurst, and Heider, trustees.

1876—E. F. Dickinson, mayor; W. W. Stine, recorder; A. Young, Bauman, Fabing, Greiner, Dickinson, and McCulloch, trustees.

1877—Jesse S. Van Ness, mayor; W. W. Stine, recorder; C. K. McCulloch, Dickinson, Young, Sheldon, Haynes, and Parks, trustees.

1878—Jesse S. Van Ness, mayor; W. B. Kridler, recorder; James Parks, Haynes, Sheldon, Kridler, Reinick, West, Meng, and Thompson, trustees.

1879-C. H. Bell, mayor; W. B. Kridler, recorder; S. P. Meng, Butman, Geibel, Johnson, Kridler, Parks, Thompson, and West, trustees.

1880-Charles H. Bell, mayor; W. B. Kridler, recorder; F. J. Geibel, West, Baker, Loudensleger, Johnson, Bauman, Moos, and Butman, trustees.

1881—Jesse S. Van Ness, mayor, (deceased in July, E. Loudensleger appointed to fill vacancy); W. B. Kridler, recorder; E. Loudensleger,* J. V. Beery (vice president), Geibel, West, Baker, Price, Moos, and French, trustees.

One more change of local government remains to be spoken of. The township jurisdiction of Sandusky township extended over the city until 1878, when, by act of the county commissioners, a new township, to be called Fremont, was erected. The boundaries of the township are co-extensive with those of the city.

NAME OF THE CITY.

As has already been seen, the first name of the capital city of the county was

*Appointed mayor in place of J. S. Van Ness, deceased.

Sandusky. The postoffice was entered as Lower Sandusky, and by 1830, when the incorporating act was passed, Lower Sandusky had become the commonly accepted name. There was, however, endless confusion in the mail service and among business men, caused by the number of posts along the river bearing the same name with but slight modifications. There were Upper Sandusky, Little Sandusky, Middle Sandusky, Lower Sandusky, and Sandusky City. It was felt, therefore, not only expedient, but a business necessity, that the name should be changed. The town was already giving promise of that rapid growth which has since been fulfilled. What the new name should be was a matter, therefore, of no little interest and discussion. Croghanville was the natural choice of a certain class of citizens who delight to recall the past and memorialize great deeds and heroic characters. This, too, was the name of the original village surveyed under authority of the United States as early as 1816.

But there were practical business men who foresaw the difficulties which would follow the adoption of the historic name. Croghanville was a hard name to spell, and, should it be adopted, was almost certain to be the cause of many orthographical blunders.

Discussion materialized into action in 1849. A name, at that time, in every newspaper, in almost every mouth, was John Charles Fremont. Our interest in events of local history and admiration of heroic conduct compels us to regret that the town did not receive the name of the officer who made the ground over which it has spread, a place of National interest. In the firmament of history, brightened by many lustrous names, Colonel Fremont appears not as a brilliant star, but as a permanent light. His useful explorations and discoveries in the far West, were valua-

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 417

ble contributions to geographical science, and gave a powerful impetus to the settlement and development of California.

John Charles Fremont was born in Georgia, entered Charleston college at the age of fifteen, and was noted for mathematical genius. Before the completion of his course he became infatuated with a West India girl, whose raven locks and soft, black eyes interfered sadly with his studies. He was expelled from college. His first employment was as private teacher of mathematics, and in 1833 the situation of instructor in mathematics on a United States sloop of war was given him. He was subsequently given a professorship of mathematics in the navy, and a few years later was employed in the survey of several Southern railroads. In 1838 he was commissioned second lieutenant and placed on the corps of topographical engineers. While compiling a series of reports in Washington, in 1840, he made the acquaintance of Miss Jesse Benton, daughter of Colonel Thomas H. Benton, then a leader of his party in the United States Senate. The lady was only fifteen years old, but youth is no barrier to love. Colonel Benton, taking advantage of his influence, had the young officer peremptorily ordered on an exploring expedilion to the Des Moines River. Returning the following year, Fremont claimed his betrothed, whom he secretly married.

Fremont made the first systematic exploration of the Rocky mountains, one of the highest peaks of which bears his name. His reports were of great value, as furnishing information about overland routes to California, and setting forth the mineral resources of that region.

During the troubles with Mexico, Colonel Fremont's services were of great value, in protecting American settlers in California, and ultimately in expelling Mexican authority from the Territory. In 1847 he bought an estate in California, on which he determined to settle. In 1849 the State was admitted to the Union, and as a mark of appreciation of his services as an explorer, and for having secured the annexation of the Territory to the United States, Colonel Fremont was elected by his State to represent her in the United States Senate. A cast of lots gave Fremont the short term of three years. While he occupied a seat in the Senate, California interests received his close attention. He was author of the most important legislation relating to her early interests. He took a decided stand against the extension of slavery, which lost him a re-election to the Senate. His ideas concerning the "peculiar institution" conformed to the principles upon which the Republican party was established, and he became the party's first Presidential candidate. In a letter to the convention he said:

I heartily concur in all movements having for their object to repair the mischiefs arising from violation of good faith in the repeal of the Missouri compromise. I am opposed to slavery in the abstract and upon principle, sustained and made habitual by long settled convictions. While I feel inflexable in the belief that it ought not to be interfered with where it exists, under the shield of State sovereignty, I am as inflexibly opposed to its extension on this continent beyond its present limits.

This was the platform on which the spirited campaign of 1856 was fought. Buchanan received one hundred and seventy-four votes from nineteen States, while Fremont received one hundred and-fourteen votes from eleven States.

Colonel Fremont, in 1858, removed to California, where he became identified with important measures of public improvement, but suffered financial misfortune. In recognition of the high political station to which he attained, he was appointed to the Governorship of Arizona Territory, in which office he served one term.

418 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

We have now sketched briefly the career of the man in honor of whom the county seat was named—a man who enjoyed immense popularity while in the zenith of his career, and a man, too, who left the impress of his life upon an important section of our country.

About the only opposition to changing the name of the town was made by Judge Howland, who was always odd. While the subject was under discussion he wrote the following poem:

There is a prayer now going round,

     Which I dislike to hear.

To change the name of this old town,

     Which I hold very dear.

They pray the court to alter it,

     I pray to God they won't;

But let it stand Sandusky yet.

     And not J. C. Fremont.

Sandusky is a pleasant name,

     “T’is short and easy spoken,

Descending to us by a chain

     That never should be broken.

Then let us hand it down the stream

     Of time, to after ages,

And Lower Sandusky be the theme

     Of future bards and sages.

Won't the old honest sachems rise

     And say to us pale faces :

"Do you our ancient name despise,

     And change our resting places?"

" Our fathers fathers slumber here ;

     Their spirits cry: 'Oh don't

Alter the name to us so dear,

     And substitute Fremont.' "

Therefore my prayer shall still remain

     Until my voice grows husky

Oh ! change the people, not the name,

     Of my old home, Sandusky.

SURVEYS.

Fremont now embraces several different surveys or plats;

First. Croghanville, laid out and surveyed by Lieutenant Wormley, United States surveyor, in 1816, and held for sale by in-and out-lots, the title still being in the General Government. Then it was expected that a city, fort, and shipyard would soon be built on that elevated and beautiful site.

Second. Sandusky, the first survey on the east side of the river, made, or dedicated and acknowledged, December 6, 1817, by Thomas L. Hawkins, Thomas Boswell, Morris A. Newman, Israel Harlington, and Josiah Rumery.

Third. The survey made by Quintius Atkins, in 1825. This was a survey of the unsold and reverted tracts and lots in two miles square, into in- and out-lots, to be sold for the purpose of constructing the Western Reserve and Maumee Road. At this time the east side of the river, along the turnpike, called Easttown ; the lots along the river above and about the warehouses, Northtown; and the lots about the shipyard and around the late residence of Dr. M. E. Rawson, called Middletown; a number of lots in the vicinity of McArdale's new planing mill and sash factory, called the Triangular Survey, were made.

Fourth. The Brush survey, including that part of town where the courthouse and the Episcopal Church now stand, dedicated by Platt Brush, Platt Brush, jr., Samuel Brush, and John 1'. Brush, April 4, 1840.

Fifth. Dickinson and Birchard's addition to the town of Lower Sandusky, including the lots along the turnpike, on the hill, on the west side of the river, dedicated September 6, 1840, by Rodolphus Dickinson, Sardis Birchard, and Richard Sears.

These are the chief surveys made in the town, though a number of others have since been made. To mention them all would be tedious. These several surveys made it expedient to renumber the whole city, which has been done, and each added plat has been numbered in the same series. The whole of two miles square is platted and numbered, either in in- or out lots.