ADAMS TOWNSHIP - 475 teen in Clinton and Scipio. For further particulars the reader is referred to the subjoined documents, which explain themselves. On the 25th of October, i843, Henry Niles, George Kline and' Solomon Drown, trustees of Adams, filed 'their petition in the court of common pleas of Seneca county, in which 'they say, that on the 29th of August, 1843, they had posted up nine notices in public places in said township, for a meeting to be held at the late residence of Ebenezer Brown, deceased, on the 3oth of September, 1843, at nine o'clock A. M.; that then and there a vote would be taken for the sale of the west half of section twelve, in said township, in pursuance of an act passed March loth, 1843. The petition says that the meeting was held, and that eighteen persons voted in favor of the sale, that the papers were all legally returned to the auditor, etc. The petition prays for an order to appraise and sell. Thomas R. Ellis, Jacob Souder and Wm. Toll were appointed appraisers. George Heming was the surveyor. The order was issued by C. F. Dreisbach, clerk, and H. C. Russell, deputy clerk. The land was sold for $2,200, and the sale confirmed. (See Chancery Record, vol. 4, p. 421, O. L., vol. 41, p. 142.) Now if Adams has also sold section sixteen, she has for many years enjoyed an advantage over all the other townships in the county, by the interest of the proceeds of the sale of one-half section of land It should be remembered here (and there is no room to speak at large on the subject) that the proceeds of the sales of the school sections sixdteen, were paid into the treasury of the state, and the interest is paid annually back to the townships respectively, for educating the youth. On the 3oth day of January, 1836, the legislature of Ohio passed an act authorizing the sale of section sixteen, in Adams. On the 3d day of April, 1837, another act was passed authorizing the auditors of the respective counties to sell the school sections, after a vote was had for that purpose. Under these two laws Levi Davis, then auditor of Seneca county, in the fall of 1839, sold all the lands in section sixteen, in Adams, made deeds for the same, and paid the money into the state treasury. Thus the matter rested until the session of the legislature of 1845-6, when a joint resolution was passed in these words, viz: PREAMBLE AND JOINT RESOLUTION Relative to the confirmation of the title to section sixteen, township 3 N. R. 16 E. Seneca county. WHEREAS, In the year 1836, section sixteen, in township three, north, in range sixteen east, in Seneca 'county, pursuant to an act of the general asdsembly of the state of Ohio, passed January 30th, 1836, was sold as land 476 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. appropriated by Congress for the use of schools, and full payment has been made by, and deeds executed and delivered to, the purchasers, for the same ;.and, WHEREAS, Doubts have been expressed as to the title of the purchasers, and as to the appropriation of the said lands for the use of schools ; and, WHEREAS, In the year 1845, the west half of section twelve, in the same township, pursuant to an act of the general assembly of Ohio, passed Marc, 10th, 1843, was in like manner sold as lands appropriated for school purposes ; and, WHEREAS, It is believed that all the purchasers of both tracts, purchased in the confident belief that they would acquire a good title by such purchase, and gave fair prices for the land so purchased ; and, WHEREAS, It is presumed that the United States will readily confirm to the inhabitants of such township said section sixteen, and that it was never intended by congress that any larger quantity of land should be appropriated for such township ; therefore, Resolved by the general assembly of the state of Ohio, That our senators and representatives in congress be requested to use their influence to procure the passage of an act of congress, providing for the confirmation of the title of section sixteen, in, said township, to those holding the same by grants from the state of Ohio, and also for the payment of the purchase money of the west half of section twelve into the treasury of the United States, according to the terms of the sale thereof. Resolved, That the, governor be requested to forward copies of the above preamble and resolution to our senators and representatives in congress respectively. ELIAS E. DRAKE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. SEABURY FORD, Speaker of the Senate. JANUARY 17, 1846. It is scarcely necessary to say that the legislature, in passing the foregoing bungling resolution, knew nothing, or cared less, about the treaty of 1831. William Allen and Thomas Corwin were senators from Ohio in congress, and Henry St. John was representative from this district. The subjoined documents will show that the preamble and resolution were received and referred, and the opinion of Benjamin F. Butler, of New York, then attorney general of the United States, obtained. Mr. Polk was elected president of the United States that fall, and the war with Mexico broke out. The matter slept until some six years ago, when the writer, at the request of some parties interested, caused inquiry to be made concerning the subject, upon which the following correspondence took place: ADAMS TOWNSHIP - 477 STATE OF OHIO, AUDITOR OF STATE'S OFFICE, COLUMBUS, September 15th, 1874. Auditor of Seneca County, Tiffin, Ohio : DEAR SIR : Yours of the 14th inst. is at hand. I hand you herewith copies of letters from the Commissioner of the General Land office, dated July 21st, August 10th, and September 2d. Please bear in mind that the question is, by what authority was the land sold for school purposes? There is no doubt that it was so sold in 1836 and 1837. It was erroneously excluded from proclamation of sale of the Seneca reservation November 13th, 1831, and sold as school land in 1836. The governor of Ohio was in 1840, advised that its selection for school purposes was improper, and would not be submitted for the approval of the secretary of the treasury. In 1846, Hon. D. L. Yulee, of the United States senate, in his official capacity, requested information upon the subject. Notwithstanding the question has thus been agitated, it does not appear that during all these years it has been finally disposed of, and I can hardly conceive it possible that the parties interested should be wholly ignorant of what has transpired. It is proper to add that that part of town 3. R. 16, lying outside the bounds of the reservation, was entitled to a half section of school land, and the west half of section 12 was selected therefor in 1826. I am not aware that any additional selections were ever made for the township, which is entitled to a full section of school land. Respectfully, JAMES WILLIAMS, Auditor of State. STATE OF OHIO, AUDITOR OF STATE'S OFFICE, COLUMBUS, September 26th, 1874. Hon. W. Lang, Tiffin, Ohio : DEAR SIR : Yours of the 23d inst., in relation to the sale of section 16, T. 3, N. R. 16 E:, for school purposes, is at hand. There is no question about the lands having beed sold as school land in 1836 and 1837, paid for in full, and deeds executed therefor by the governor. I can send you certified copies of the same, if desired.. I presume, also, that there is no question but what the section should have been sold, with the balance of the reservation, for the benefit of the Indians. That is,, it should have been included in the president's proclamation of sale in 1831, for it appears that the subject of title was brought before the general assembly in 1841, and a preamble and resolutions passed requesting our senators and representatives in congress to procure the passage of an act confirming the title to said section, in said township, etc. (See Ohiolawss, vol. 44, page 298.) The question first to be determined is, did congress take any decisive action under the said resolutions ? It appears that the chairman of the committee (senate) on private lands, did make this case a matter of inquiry at the General Land office, in February, 1846. .It appears, also, that a bill was passed August 8th, 1846, relative to school lands for R. 13 E., T. 1, N. (see United States statutes at large, vol. 9, p. 674,), but from a somewhat careful examination of the United States, statutes at large, vol. 9, 1846-51, I do not find any 478 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY legislation relative to this case. In 1846 William Allen and Thomas Corwin represented this state in the United States senate ; Hon: Columbus Delano, secretary of the interior, represented Knox county, and Henry St. John represented Seneca county in the house of representatives. If the latter at that time did not pursue this case to a final issue, it is probable that it now stands precisely as it did in 1846. If the case remains unsettled, permit me to suggest, that it is properly stated in the preamble and resolutions of January 17, 1846, and a remedy proposed. Such a disposition of it as would give the Indians the same average price per acre as was realized by them from the remainder of the reservation, would be equitable, and I should suppose satisfactory. Truly yours, JAMES WILLIAMS, Auditor of State. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., November 16, 1874. W. Lang, Esq., Tiffin., Ohio : SIR : Your letter of the 9th inst. is received, relative to section 16, T. 3, N. R. 16 E., in Seneca county, .Ohio, and in reply, I have to state that, by the 8th article of the treaty with .the Seneca Indians, dated February 28, 1831, it is stipulated that the land in question SHould be exposed at public sale, to the highest bidder, and hence the proposition of the present claimants of the land, in said section 16, as stated in your letter, to pay $1.25 per acre therefor, being contrary to the express provisions of the treaty, cannot be entertained by this office. Respectfully, S. S. BURDETT, Commissioner. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 21st, 1874. James Williams, Esq., Auditor State of Ohio : SIR; In my communication of the 30th ult., you were advised that "the west half of section 12, T. 3, R. 16 E., situated in Seneca county, Ohio, was 'selected for schools, under the act of May 20th, 1826, in lieu of section 16, then owned by the Seneca Indians ; that prior to the cession to the United States by the Seneca Indians (in their treaty of the 28th of February, 1831,) of the lands bordering on thiS tract, the inhabitants of town 3, N.- R. 16 E., selected other tracts for school purposes, in lieu of said section 16, which was then owned by said Indians, among which selections was the west half of section 12 : that this selection had been approved by the secretary of the treasury on the 12th of January, 1827, and had never been retroceded to the United States ; that section 16, having been ceded by the Indians , it was provided in article 8 of the articles of agreement and convention, made February 28th, 1831, between the Seneca Indians and the United States, that the lands ceded by said Indians SHould be brought into market and sold for their benefit, and that there was no evidence on file in this office to show that said section sixteen has ever been proclaimed for public sale, according to said article 8." It now appears, from a further investigation of this matter, that the whole ADAMS TOWNSHIP - 479 of the lands embraced within the late Seneca reservation, on the Sandusky river, in townships 2, 3 and 4, N. of ranges 1:5 and 16 East, containing 40,000 acres, were sold in accordance with the president's proclamation, dated November 13, 1831, with the exception of the 16th section, which was excluded erroneously by the said proclamation as land reserved for the use of schools. In your communication to this office, of the 30th ult., you state that township 3, having a full section 16, the same has been sold for the use of schools therein, and that it is presumed the west half of section 12, referred to, belongs to some other township. On the 1st of December, 1840, the governor of Ohio was advised by letter from this office that this section 16, by treaty with the Indians, is to be sold for their benefit as other parts of the reserve, and could not, as had been decided by the attorney general of the United States, be set apart for the use of schools, and that under these circumstances, its selection in the present case being considered improper, it was not submitted in the list of school lands for the state of Ohio, for the approval of the secretary of the treasury. On the 4th of February, 1846, this office received a communication from the Hon. D. L. Yulee, chairman of the committee on private lands, United States senate, enclosing certain resolutions of the general assembly of the state of Ohio, in relation to section sixteen, township 3, N. R., sixteen E., in Seneca county, and requesting to be furnished with such facts in reference to the subject as might be useful to the committee, and in reply there dated February 7, 1846, Mr. Yulee was advised that, by treaty, stipulations with the Seneca Indians the sixteenth section in question was to be sold for their benefit as other portions of the tract ceded by them, as per treaty of February 28, 1831, and could not, as had been decided by the attordney general, be set apart for the use of schools. Also that the west half of section twelve, in the same township, had been selected by the inhabitants thereof, in lieu of the sixteenth section prior to the cession to the United States of the latter tract by the Indians, and the selection of said west half of section twelve was approved by the secretary of the treasury January 12, 1827. And also as per article eight of the treaty referred to, all of the lands thereby ceded must be exposed to public sale before they can be entered as otherwise disposed of. The " articles of ,agreement and convention" are, in themselves, clear and unambiguous; there is no exception as to the sixteenth section: It would be an infraction of the treaty and unjust to the Indians to admit any claim on the part of the state to any part of the lands embraced in the cession. The doctrine in such cases is stated in the opinion of Mr. Attorney-General Butler, of March 13, 1836, in the matter of the "location of the Choctaw reservation." (Opinions of attorneys general, volume 3, page 56). The action of this office has heretofore, in similar cases, conformed to the doctrines enunciated in this opinion. No reason is perceived for any contrary course in this case. In view of this recitation of facts and authority, it follows, that in the opinion of this office, the action of the state authorities in appropriating and disposing of said section sixteen for school purposes, illegal and conveyed 480 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. no title to the purchasers, and that said section remains subject to sale under the provisions of the eighth section of said treaty of February 20, 1831. Respectfully,  S. S. BURDETT, Commissioner. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 10, 1874. James Williams, Esq., Auditor State of Ohio: SIR: In the Matter relating to section sixteen, townSHip 3, N. R., 16 E., Seneca county, Ohio, and fully treated of in my communication to you of the 21st ultimo, I have to state that a copy of the above communication was laid before the honorable secretary of the interior on the 24th ultimo to obtain his orders in the Matter of the sale of said section sixteen. The secretary, by letter of the 30th ultimo, in reply to the above, concurred in my opinion that said section sixteen was subject to sale under the provisions of the treaty with the Seneca Indians, made February. 28, 1831, authorized the tract to be sold accordingly. In accordance with the above authority, the register and receiver, at Chillicothe, have this day been instructed to proceed in having the above tract brought into market by publication for the period Of sixty days in two newspapers having the largest circulation, published nearest to the premises. and at the expiration of the above period, to offer the said section, in legal sub-divisions, to the highest bidder for caSH, and not less than $1.25 per acre. Respectfully, S. S. BURDETT, Commissioner. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND. OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 2, 1874. James Williams, Esq., Auditor State of Ohio: SIR: Your letter of 17th ultimo is received, relative to section sixteen, township 3, N. R. 16 E., in Seneca county, Ohio, and in reply thereto, I have to state that on the 31st ultimo, the register and receiver, at Chillicothe, were notified to delay proceedings in the matter of advertising the above section for public sale until further orders. It is not, however, to be understood that this office has changed or modified the views heretofore expressed relative to the status of said sections, and unless adequate reasons for a prolonged suspension are shown, the order to proceed will, at an early day; be issued. Very respectfully, S. S. BURDETT, Commissioner. STATE OF OHIO, AUDITOR OF STATE'S OFFICE, COLUMBUS - 187 County Auditor: Please excuse the hasty scrawl enclosed, which is of value only as showing the attitude of the commissioner in the matter: The resolutions of January 17, 1846, referred to in the correspondence, Will be found in Ohio Laws, volume XLIV., page 298. One would suppose that the matter would have been adjusted on equitable terms at that date. Possibly this was done. ADAMS TOWNSHIP - 481 If not, why was not the land sold for the benefit of the Indians at that date, and an additional half section of land granted the township for school purposes? Respectfully, CHAS. J. WETMORE, Clerk of Land Department.. The organization of Adams, noticed in chapter x., dates from December 6, 1826. It then included a tier of sections from Thompson, the Indians holding the larger portion on the west. The first township election was held on Monday, Christmas day, 25th of December, 1826, at the house of Samuel Whiteman, when the following ticket was elected: Clerk—Abraham Rine. Trustees—Martin Olds, L. T. Butler, Thomas Longwith. Overseers of the Poor—Charles Shelby, Samuel Whiteman. Fence Viewers—G. Lee, Samuel Hartsock. Treasurer—Cyrus Wright. Supervisors—William Myers, William Mead, Francis Evans. Constable—Moses Pyatt.  In 1830 it had a population of 830 inhabitants; in 1840, 1,250; in 1870, 1,537 James Crockett John Kersler, Daniel Rule, Ezra West, James McIntire, John Myers, Nicholas Noel and John Paine were also among the early settlers. 188o the population is 1,624. Adams has a great natural curiosity that has become famous by the " water cure " establishment near Green Springs. It is the spring itself ,which has become celebrated by the excellent medicinal qualities of its water. The Hedges springs are near the middle of section seven, on lands formerly owned by Josiah Hedges. The Green Springs are just across the line in Sandusky county. The water comes out in large quantities, clear and cold, and the volume is neither increased nor diminished by the change of the seasons. The water from Hedges springs, flowing in a southerly direction, enters Beaver creek, flowing through Adams, entering Pleasant in section twelve and turning north, wardly it enters Sandusky county. This creek derived its name from the great number of beavers that were caught along its course. Mr. Hedges built a mill on this creek in Pleasant, which acquired great popularity from the fact that the dry weather in summer never interfered with its operation. It was patronized by people from many other counties, Wood, Hancock, Crawford and Putnam On the 26th day of May, 1839, Jacob Stem secured the services of 'David Reeves and David Risdon, two surveyors; the former from Sandusky county; the latter from Seneca, who surveyed and platted the town of Green Springs; named after the great sulphur springs in the vicinity. The town embraces a part of section five, in Adams, and - 31 - 482 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. part of sections thirty-one and thirty-two in township 4, N. R. 16 in Sandusky county. On the first of January, 1868, a water cure was opened for the reception of patients suffering from diseases of the blood, liver, stomach, kidneys, urinary organs, and all chronic diseases. Many legends are told of the wonderful cures of the water among the Indians, blended of course with their usual superstitions, but, time and space will not admit of repeating them, nor is it the intention of the 'writer to advertise the water cure. Suffice it to say that the cure is well patronized and is a splendid institution. Jacob Stem, Daniel H. Dana and Bishop Adams, with their families, were the first settlers of Green Springs. In 1840 the population of the town was 29, and now numbers some 1,400. It is situated on the Cleveland, Sandusky & Cincinnati railroad; has three Protestant churches and one Roman Catholic Church. Daniel H. Dana was the first postmaster of this place. Another town by the name of Adamsville was surveyed by Thomas Henning, April 30, 1846, Henry Kistter, proprietor. Hedgetown or Sulphur Springs was surveyed and platted in 1833. These towns, together with Lowell, were all failures as towns. Green Springs is now the residence of Judge Hugh Welsh, of whom mention is made elsewhere, and who is one of the oldest inhabitants of Seneca. Mrs. Ingham is the other. Adams is one of the best townships in the county, intellectually, socially and every other way. The soil is rich and the surface rolling. Mr. Daniel Metzger, of Adams, has furnished the writer with the following interesting communication, viz: ADAMS, March 22, 1880. Hon. W. Lang: DEAR SIR: In compliance with your request, I send ,you such statements of Adams township as I have at my command. My father, Henry Metzger, was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and came to Pickaway county in 1812 with his father. He was married in that county to Catherine Wise, whose parents came from Union county, Pennsylvania, and also settled in Pickaway in 1809. In the fall of 1833 moved from Pickaway to this county upon the farm where I now reside, and where he died March 4, 1868. Mother was born in 1794, and if she lives until the 14th day of next. August, will be 86 years old. (Right here, and while recording this, May 18,1880, Mr. Metzger informs me that his mother died this morning.) My father entered this land at the kind office in Bucyrus. His patent is signed by General Jackson. When we moved onto this farm there was not a tree cut on it, except an occasional one by some Nimrod in the chase. On the direct road from our place to Tiffin, there was but one house until we arrived at Thomas R. Ellis', and that was Uriah Egbert's small cabin. The first time we went to Tiffin we had to cut our way through to the Portland road, near Egbert's. Jacob ADAMS TOWNSHIP - 483 Bowerman was another old settler. He came in 1830 from Seneca county, New York. He was born in Pennsylvania and moved to the state of New York when a boy, and married his wife there. Her maiden name was Mary Ritter, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. These old folks lived together as man and wife for 60 years. Bowerman died August 16, 1876, aged 81 years, 6 months and 22 days. His wife died soon after at the age of 78, years, 4 months and 4 days. They lived and died on the farm where they, settled 46 years before. John Bowerman, a brother to Jacob, came in 1831. He had served in the war of 1812 in New York, John Petticord, came to this township in 1830 from Fairfield county, Ohio. John Paine came about the same time from Pickaway county, Ohio, where be was Married to a Miss Lawrence, who 'is still living and in her 90th year, and does her own house-work. Her husband has been dead a number of years., He was a native of New Jersey. John Paine was a soldier in the war of 1812. His widow draws a pension in consequence. William Myers was also one of the first settlers here. He came from Fairfield county, but was born in Virginia. His wife was a Carson and both lived to be very old. There were also four brothers of the Whiteman family among the first settlers here. They came from Pennsylvania. Their names were Samuel, Daniel, Jacob and Abraham. They all lived to a fine old age but are now all dead. Quite a number of our young men went to the war against Michigan in 1835. Those that I remember were Samuel Metzger, William Paine, Solomon Hoppes and Adam Spade. Another old settler lived on the Kilbourne road, northeast of Republic, some four miles. His name was Webb. He kept a small store. He located here about 1823. There are four creeks flowing through this township. Beaver creek enters the township at the southeast corner, running west about two miles, when it turns northwest and takes up the Sulphur Springs and runs north into Sandusky county, and through It to the bay. Sugar creek takes its rise in the north part of Scipio township and enters Adams about one and a half miles from the southwest corner, and taking a northwesterly course crosses the Portland road, near Daniel Rule's, and from there runs westerly into the Sandusky river. Hog run heads in a small prairie on the farm of Nicholas Noel. It is a short stream and enters the Beaver about one mile south of the centre of Adams. Emerson creek rises in the northwest part of Thompson, and taking up the waters of the famous Royer ditch, runs nearly due west and enters the Beaver one mile north of Adams centre. There was good fishing at the mouths' of both these last named creeks in early days. Hoping these minutes may be of interest to you, I remain, respectfully, yours, DANIEL METZGER. JOHN NOEL Was born October 15th, 1777. in Adams county, Pennsylvania. He. was married to Elizabeth Beamer (who was born in the same state, July 21st, 1780,) on the 15th day of June, 1801. They moved to Ohio in 1822, and located near Massilon, Stark county, and in April, 183o, 484 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. located in this township, on the farm where their. son Nicholas now lives, fifty years ago. John Noel and his wife were the parents of fifteen children, seven boys and eight girls, of whom four boys and three girls are still living John Noel died October 29th, 1863, aged eighty-six years and fifteen days. Mrs. Noel died in September, 1847, at the age of sixty seven years, three months and twenty-seven days. DANIEL RULE. The sketch of this veteran pioneer is given in his own words, as nearly as possible: My grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war. He returned from the army and died from an abcess in his side, leaving my father, Albert A., his only child. They lived in he southern part of Pennsylvania, where my father was raised; and where he married Elizabeth Tivens. My parents moved to near Liverpool, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, onto a farm. Here I was born, on the banks of the Susquehanna river. They lived here about nineteen years, and when I was about twelve years old, we moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, and settled on a farm near New Lisbon, in 1816. My father had two children by his first wife, and four by his second. My two sister's, Barbara and Catharine, were married ; the former to Luke Stage, and the other, who was married twice, died, and left two daughters and one son, who live in Illinois. Two years after we moved to Columbiana county, we moved to Bloomfield, in Trumbull county, near Warren. My father had bought a farm here and we settled on that. Here, on the 7th day of June, 1821, I was married to Jane, the daughter of farmer Grosscost, in this township of Bloomfield. I have also a brother, Samuel Rule, making four of us children, two boys and two girls. Samuel lives in Illinois now. In 1824, in the spring, and after my brother Samuel was married, he and his family, with father and mother, moved to Scipio township, in this county, and about six years thereafter they sold out and bought on section thirteen, in Clinton township, where brother Samuel opened a nice farm. Father and Mother lived-with him until they died, but in a separate house. Father died in 1846, and mother two years thereafter. When brother Samuel, father and mother left Trumbull county, I was married and could not go with them that spring, but I followed them to this county in the next fall. Here I bought an eighty acre piece in Scipio, at the land office in Bucyrus. It is the land now owned by Philip Miller. I built a cabin here and cleared about forty-five acres. My family were sickly nearly all the time we lived here, and I sold the place to buy land in Adams. My first purchase in Adams was one hundred and seventy-three acres. When I raised my cabin here I had t6 bring nearly all my help with me from Scipio, there being but very few settlers on the reserve. About. one year after I moved here I bought ninety-seven acres from Joseph Culbertson, and soon after eighty' acres more from Dr. Stevenson. Afterwards I bought ninety-three acres more froth Mr. R. R. Titus, admin- ADAMS TOWNSHIP - 485 istrator of Earl Church, deceased. I let my two sons, Isaac and Byron, have one-half section of this land. I still remain on the old homestead. My wife died on the second, day of December, 1879, aged seventy-seven years, nine months and eighteen days. Since she is gone I feel lost, and as if I were of no account to the world. We had ten children, viz : Lucy, who is the wife of Jeremiah Egbert ; Elizabeth, the widow of Isaac Stillwell ; Samuel, who died in 1850, when twenty-four years.old ; Albert A., who died a few days after Samuel, both of small-pox ; Byron, who married Matilda York, of Clyde, Ohio ; Matilda, who died when six years old ; Mary, wife of David W. Dudrow ; Isaac P.., who was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and died next day ; he was lieutenant of Co. I, 101st regiment O. V. I., and leading his company when he received the wound ; and Daniel C., who married Eleanor, daughter of Earl Church, whose widow is still living. Our youngest, child was still born. Five of my children are still living. My two sons, Byron and Daniel, are living near me, and doing well, arid so are also the daughters I have left. I knew Small Cloud Spicer well. He was a half breed, tall, slender, well proportioned and good looking. He had sandy hair, but dressed like the other Indians. His wife was a Crow, and a clean, pleasant woman. When I came onto the reserve here the white settlers were but few, James Crocket lived on the Watson farm ; Mr. McEwen lived on the McMeens place ; 'Squire Rider raised a cabin' on the place that Jacob Holtz bought afterwards ; Slike Clark lived near the river. I was born October 28, 1801. CHAPTER XXX BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP. BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP-T. 1, N. R. 13 E. THIS township was organized March 6th, 1833, and 'received its name from the big spring of water in the southwest part of the township. The first election was held April 4, 1833, and the following were the officers chosen, viz: Trustees—E. Bogart and Richard Reynolds. Clerk--William Brayton. Treasurer—Hugh Mulholland. Fence Viewers—Cornelius Bogart, Andrew. Springer and Joshua Watson. Overseers of the Poor—Elijah Brayton and Charles Henderson. Constable—Austin Knowlton. Mr. Knowlton is still living, and while he enjoys good health in his old age, is a very pleasant, congenial gentleman. The others of those officers are all dead, I think. In 1840 the township had a population of 925; in 1870 there were 2,224; in 1880 it is 2,048. The above named officers and John Peer, Hiram Bogart, Ph. Peer, J. Luzader, the Young family, the Stiles, and others, were among the early settlers. It will be noticed that the first settlers were American born and no German name is found among them. From 1833 to 1842 a very large number of German and French families came on, and after Mr. Anthony Schindler bought land and located in section twelve, many of his old neighbors from Germany settled round about him. Here he laid out a town and named it after his native town in Germany, New Reigel. The old German settlers were Anthony and Carl Schindler, Joseph Bischof, Joseph, Stephan and Landelin Brosamer, Jacob Kabele, Michael Schon, Nicholas Perl, Nicholas. and Francis Eltig, Peter. Rinehart, Michael Wolly, Nicholas and Francis Etchen, John Wagner, Ignatz Lehnhart, M. Schlachter, John Moes, Joseph Rtes, the Kern family, the Dannenhoeffers, the Schiraks, the Seibenalers, and others. BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP - 487 Among the. French families were the Lafontaines, the Filliatres, the Wernements, F. Collet, J. Mangett, the Gilliaumes, and others. William Tempelman was an original sort of a character. My esteemed old friend, Theodore M. Frink must not be overlooked and a short sketch of his life will be found below. Charles Schindler moved upon the land where he now lives in 1835. He bought a cast iron stove from one Jacob Alexy, in Loudon township about three miles north of where he lives. He started with his team and George Wehrle to get the stove, very early one morning, and after the stove was loaded on the wagon, they had a very slow drive with their ox team through the swales. They stalled many times and when they reached the cabin of Mr. Lafontaine, it was pitch dark and they had to stay all night. They reached home near noon next day. Charles Schindler was born in Hechnigen, Baden, in 1805. The Lawheads, the Bouchers, the Flicks and others were also among the early settlers. The Germans will soon own the whole township. They have everything their own way now to a very great extent, buying out all their old American neighbors and turning Big Spring into one of the most wealthy and prosperous townships in the county. Elijah Brayton, in 1825, lived in Crawford county, which then included Wyandot, and soon after moved to this township. In that year, on the 20th of. September, he lost a little boy, then about eight years old, in the following manner, viz: The child had followed an older brother and a neighbor, who were looking for cattle that were missing, and the little fellow was sent back to the house. He followed the path that had been pointed out to him and was never heard of again. Upon the return of the others, the alarm was given throughout the neighborhood and everybody turned out, even the Indians, and scoured the country far and wide, but without any clue to the missing boy. During this search Neal McGaffey, of Fort Ball, the first clerk of the court of common pleas, and some others, camped all night on the spot that was afterwards included in the town of Risdon and which is now in Fostoria. The town of Springville was surveyed by David Risdon in 1834 for Benjamin and John Jenkins, proprietors. The town never grew much. The spring was once a very powerful one and formed a small lake. The water was very deep, clear and cold. Since the country has been cleared up, the spring has lost much of its former celebrity and would now be noticed no more than any good spring on a farm. The town of Oregon (now Adrian) was surveyed by R. M. Shoemaker, 488 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. on the 17th of February, 1844, on sections 35 and 36, on the Mad River & Lake Erie, now the Cleveland, Sandusky & Cincinnati railroad. Erastus H. Cook and D. C. Henderson were the proprietors. Eli Gehr, Adam Vetter, John Gants and Charles Foster were the first settlers here. The town grew up to its present size within a few years after it was laid out, and stood there ever since. Anthony Schindler, who laid out New Reigel, was a very active, lively and enterprising man. Very soon after the laying out of this town, people settled in and around the town, and put up a log church, which in time gave way to a brick church, and that in its turn to one of the largest and most beautiful Catholic churches in northern Ohio. The town of New Reigel is now settled up by farmers who have become wealthy, and wish to spend their last days at their ease near the church, and a brotherhood and sisterhood of the ' Society of the Precious Blood," who- own very large tracts of land near the town. The sisters officiate as teachers of the youth. Father M.Sales Brunner was the founder of this order, and the first priest in New Reigel. There are about sixty persons in the nunnery at New Reigel at the present time. The land in Big Spring is very rich, and when the prairie in the southwestern part shall be thoroughly drained, as efforts to that end are now being made, Big Spring will be the rich garden spot of the county. There is a stony ridge in the southern part of the township. Among the early settlers should also be mentioned the Boucher families, Peter Lantz, Isaac Dewitt, Frederick Waggoner, Ira Taft, William Blue, Israel Harmas, W. Burgess, Peter Wanner, M. Clark, Louis Schany, William Clark, E. H. Cook, E. Brayton, the Jenkins', Joseph Clapper, John Ellerton, Henry Mulholland and C. Woolford. JOHN YOUNG Settled in the woods about half way between Springville and. New Reigel, in the spring of r833. He came from near Canal Dover, where he hired a four horse team to bring him here It took him three weeks to get here, and the few inhabitants of Springville were about one-half whites, and the others Indians. Here Mr. Young met a man whom he once knew in Stark county, by the name of Jacob Gwyer who offered to pilot Young to his land, and said he lived near Springville, and pretended that he had to go home first to get the number of the section; but instead of going he lingered around, and was seen several times peeping into the big wagon, no doubt watching for a chance to get into the big chest. When Mr. Young told him that it was time to get th e BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP - 489 map, he went away and never returned, but was seen by some hunters sneaking around the camp the following night, dressed in an Indian costume. On the next day Mr. Young moved out onto his land, where the family was left in the woods, and the teamster returned to 'Jenkins' to feed Jenkins kept a sort of trading post at the Spring. To get onto the land was no small job. There was no road that way, and the swales were full of water. Night overtook them before the land was reached. They unhitched, cut some wild grass for the horses, and ate and slept in the wagon. Mr. Young's family consisted of himself, his wife and three small boys. His father and his wife's brother came out here with him to see him get started in the woods. At night the men took turn about in watching. They kept up a large fire, and had a Newfoundland dog with them, who saved their lives, as will soon appear. On the next day they reached the land, about two o'clock, where they hastily unloaded, to give the teamster time to return to Springville to feed his starving horses. The men then put up a very temporary shanty by planting four forks into the ground, upon which poles were laid, and covered\ with clap-boards in a very rude manner. This " Grand Hotel de Young " answered the purpose about ten days, when the other house was ready to move into. Just as the family were about to retire on the first night in this shanty, the big dog sprang out into the darkness, barking very fiercely. He saw a man, and would have taken hold of him had not Mr. Young called him away. Mr. Young thought it was some hunter or friendly Indian that wanted to see the new-comers, but the man walked away, and Mr. Young concluded that it was Gwyer. Mr. Young's horse was let loose, and the cow was driven away that night. This created the fear in Mr. Young's mind that this plan would make the men run after the lost animals next day, and give the villain an opportunity to rob the shanty. There was no money in it, however, for Mr. Young had used it about all to pay for his land! Gwyer some time afterwards confessed the whole plan. The men were on the lookout, and kept themselves well armed. This Jacob Gwyer was afterwards arrested for murdering a man named Boyd, near Bucyrus. When his arrest took place in Detroit, he confessed the murder and several robberies, for which he had never been blamed; also his attempt to rob Samuel Young. Before the day arrived for the execution, he and three horse-thieves made their escape to Ohio, and Gwyer was re-arrested near Dayton, where his wife lived. While there in prison he cut his throat with a knife. 490 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. Samuel Young was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, August 13th, 1794. He was a cooper by trade.. He married Isabella Sutton, November 17th, 1818. He was five feet six inches high, had black hair and deep blue eyes, light complexion short stubby nose, small mouth and chin, and 'vas rather delicate in his features. He spoke some German, and was always very lively in conversation. He was a pleasant and peaceable man and esteemed for his good qualities and christian bearing. He served on juries often and refused several times to serve as a township officer. He died many years ago. Mrs. Young is still living at her home in Adrian. She is now 78 years old and enjoys the love and respect of all her neighbors and especially that of her children and grand-children, who annually gather around her with their smiles and congratulations. Mr. Young was 63 years old when he died here in 1859. Mrs. Young was born December 31, 18o2, and enjoys very good health for a lady of her age. She is the mother of ten children. In those early days a large family was a pride and a glory. The sin and crime of avoiding to have a family, are the children of these later days; sins and crimes that are not punished by law, and against which the church shuts both eyes, but the victims may be counted by the thousands. What will the world come to when this dreadful crime reaches the masses and religion fails in her mission to save? THEODORE M. FRINK, ESQ. Among the few native Americans that live near New Reigel and have not yet sold out to the Germans is Theodore M. Frink, Esq., the subject of this sketch. He was born in West Springfield, Hamden county, Massachusetts, at a place where Holyoke City now stands, on the south bank of the Connecticut river. When about 17 years old he moved with his father to Northampton. On the 25th of April, 1832 he was married to Miss Sabeah Torry, and in May, 1836, he started with his family for the west. For want of any better conveyance they took a canal boat at West Troy for Buffalo, and from there they Came by steamer to Cleveland and then made their way to Ravenna, Portage county, where a brother of his wife then lived. This brother-in-law, Torry, had a son living in Tymochtee, who had come home on a visit. With him Squire Frink came west in October of that year and-bought the land where he still resides. This took about all the money he had, and he made his way back to Ravenna, one hundred and fifty miles, on foot. In Janu- BIG SPRING TOWNSHIP - 491 ary following he bought a yoke of oxen, made a sled, put his wife and goods upon it and started all for Big Spring. Here he opened a farm, where he is now comfortably situated. During is time he has enjoyed the respect and esteem of the good people of Big Spring to such an extent that for eight years he served them as a trustee, and as justice of the peace ever since 1848. What better proof can be required of his good report among his neighbors? There is no man living in the township who stands better in the esteem of citizens than Squire Frink. His good counsel is sought daily and he has the saved many litigations by his good advice. His first Wife died on 3d of February, 1855. He was married to his present Bolden school, July 3, 1862. The Squire remains among his neighbors as one of the and as the years increase, the esteem of the people for his white head grows in proportion. CHAPTER XXXI BLOOM TOWNSHIP. T. 1, N. R. 16 E. IN the preceding chapters the recurrences to Bloom township and is early settlers were so. frequent that very little else seems proper be said in making Up its history. One feature, however, must be admitted by all, viz: that the early settlers here were men of good judgment and great sagacity, when they resolved to drive their stakes for homes. They saw in the near future the grandeur, beauty and agricultural wealth these valleys, in the hands of industry, intelligence and economy, would present to the world Its soil, timbers, building stones, prospects for market, all these and more, were great incentives for the founding of new homes in the forest. A glance at Bloom township now, with its beautiful farms in a high state of cultivation, with large barns, splendid farm houses, fields teeming with rich crops, its pastures enjoyed by excellent stocks of horses, cattle, sheep And hogs; its commodious school houses and churches, etc., give strong proof how well the aim of the pioneer settler was directed when first the tall timbers' fell by the woodsman's axe, along Honey creek and Silver creek, running through the township. Thomas Boyd was one of the earliest settlers here. He came in 1822, and settled on section eleven, where he lived until his death, which occurred November 27th, 1847. Soon after him came also his brother, James Boyd, and his widowed sister, Mrs. Mary Donnell. Mrs. Thomas. Baker is a daughter of James Boyd, and is still living. Her father moved to Iowa, where he died. Thomas Boyd had four sons: James, Jesse, Jefferson and Samuel, of whom Jesse is the only one living. He is a wealthy farmer at Springfield, Ohio. Thomas Boyd was a remarkable man. He was of fair complexion; his hair was thin and white; he had a nervous temperament, and was very active. He was about Six feet high, very raw-boned, and a little stoop-shouldered, very careless about his dress, very talkative, and BLOOM TOWNSHIP -493 possessed of a great quantity of good sense. He belonged to the Presbyterian church, and was very outspoken on the subject of slavery. While he was a pioneer on the frontier, he was also a pioneer in the then young idea of abolitionism. He made war on both the old pardties who could see no constitutional way to get rid of the institution. Nor could the Abolitionists; but with them the system was wrong, and that was enough. The task was not so easy with statesmen, however, who regarded the rights and integrity of states as fixed principles in our form of government. The institution fell, as a result of the rebellion, and we are all Abolitionists now. Arms and " higher law " in deadly conflict sometimes accomplish ends that statesmanship tremblingly abandon. In the, same year Joseph Birnside arrived here from Fairfield county, and settled near the mouth of a little run that puts into Honey creek just a little north of Bloomville, but ascertaining soon that the land had been entered by somebody else (Mr. Reber), he moved into Clinton township, and bought the land just east of the new cemetery, where he lived the rest of his days. In 1823 came also Joseph McClelland and Nehemiah Hadley, who were followed by George Free, Lowell Robinson, John C. Martin and Thomas West, with their families. Mr. Martin and Mrs. West are still, living in Bloom. James Boyd settled on section eight, on the left bank of Honey creek. George Free settled on section. three, near the " Goose Pond," which was a considerable body of water' in a bend of Honey creek. Lowell Robinson settled on section eight.. He died in California. Mr. Robinson was one of the associate judges of Seneca county, a large muscular man, and possessed of a good quantity o1 common sense. He was a good neighbor, and rather popular. His wife was a very small woman, and for some reason or other the two did not live very happily together. One time, while Mr. Robinson was yet associate judge, his wife prosecuted him for assault and battery, and . the Judge was bound over to the court of common pleas. He was indicted by the grand jury, and when the case came up for trial, the Judge had to leave the bench, come down to the trial table, and act the s part of a prisoner. During the trial of the case the testimony disclosed, among other things, the fact that one morning, while the Judge was down upon his knees before a chair, at prayer, with his head down, Mrs. Robinson put a saddle on his back and jumped up on to it. For this he probably struck her. Dr. Graves used to tell a good joke on judge Robinson, sometimes in his company. Judge Robinson had a very large mouth. He came 494 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. to Dr. Graves one day to have a tooth pulled. He sat down on a chair, and when the Doctor came up to him with his turnkey Judge Robinson opened his mouth very wide, and Dr. Graves said to him, " Never mind, Judge, I prefer standing on the outside." Thomas West settled on section three also, but soon sold out to David Roop, and moved on to section ten, where he lived many years, and then sold to Jacob Detwiler, when he moved to Bloomville, where recently he died. Mrs. Donnell bought a piece of land near that of her brother Thomas. Her land had a very fine spring on it; which still bears her name. She sold out and went to Iowa with her brother James. John Seitz, Isaac Rohrer, Levi Neibel, Lyman Robinson, Jacob Meyer, Rufus Kirshner, Henry Perkey, David Crapo, Truman King, James Wilson, Evan Dorsey, John Newman, Lewis Seitz, John Davis, Mr. Jeffries. Mr. Donald and J. C; Hampton are also honored names among the old pioneers. Bloom was organized, as already stated, in June, 1824. In 1830 it already had a population of 389. Between 1830 and 1840 came also David Roop, John. T. Reed, Simon Koller, Benj. Huddle (Hottel), Philip Heilman, David Troxell, Adam Baker, John Fisher, Samuel Gross, Edward Cooley, Henry Andres, James Trail, and Greensberry and Notley. Trail, William and Zeliphant Owen, John Valentine, Henry and Samuel Nestly, Jonas Hostler, D. T Lee, George Showman, Geo: King, Samuel Shaffer, Jacob Hossler, the esquire, and James Wilson, the lawyer. The census of 1840 showed a population of 1,168 souls. In 1870 it was 1,492; in 1880 it is 2,162. At this time (1840) the land In the township was nearly, if not quite all, taken up, and the light of day was rapidly let in upon the ground, while the fields increased in number and proportions. Mr. James Steel, from Pennsylvania, built the first grist mill in the township, on the banks of Silver creek. The Hershbergers turned it into a sawmill sometime after the Koller mill and the Engle mill were put up. The first meeting house in the township was a Presbyterian church, erected in 1834. It was. a small frame building. They held meetings in it before it was plastered; all that spring and summer and in the fall of that year, while it was being plastered. By some unknown cause, it took fire and burned down. Then a brick church was built On the same spot, which answered for many years, until finally it was torn down and the brick used in the construction of the brick church in Bloomville. The old church stood northwest of Bloomville', near the cemetery. The Methodist's built a church soon after on the land owned BLOOM TOWNSHIP - 495 by J. W. Stinchcomb, but it was superceded by the stone church down the creek. The tradition about the two young men naming Silver creek and Honey creek has no historic merit, and is therefore excluded. The name of Bloom is very appropriate. BLOOMVILLE. Philip J. Price, Julius Treat and Thomas T. Treat, in the summer of 1837, laid out a town upon the corners of sections nine, ten, fifteen and sixteen, and called it Bloomville. Simon Koller owned the land on the northwest corner, Edward Cooley on the southeast corner, Price and the Treat brothers on the southwest corner, and Edward Owen on the northwest corner. Mr. Cooley built the first house on the town site, which stood where the Record printing office now is. The Treat brothers built the next house, which was removed several times: and finally occupied by Thomas Treat as a store and postoffice. The Brown brothers bought out Price and Treat's store and continued it for a while. In 1850 the town contained a dozen buildings. Frederick Zimmerman, Conrad Klachr, William Hathaway, Ch. Keller, Jno. Hunsicker, 'Wm. Cooley, Dr. George Weeks, Jonathan Kastner, Jacob Estep, and Jacob Breiner,. with their families, were the inhabitants. Hathaway and Kuntz were . the pioneer shoemakers in the village. Webster had a blacksmith shop on the corner now occupied by the .Hossler block. Dr. Weeks succeeded Dr. Bellville, who, with Dr. Peter J. Smith, were the pioneer physicians. Mr. Keller was the first tailor, and Mr. Klachr the first wagon and carriage makers. Soon after John Seitz, Jr., and William Dewitt opened a store on the corner now known by the name of the " burned district." Mr. Dewitt was afterwards elected county recorder, and died while in office. Mr. Seitz represented Seneca in both branches of the legislature. (See chapter xxvi.) Dr. Weeks entered the war against the rebellion, and became surgeon general in the department of Tennessee. Thomas Dysinger opened the first tavern. The Bloom House was built by Benj. Knopp in 1855 or 1856. Among the enterprising citizens who have helped to build up Bloomville, may be mentioned, Benj. Knopp, Henry Dittenhafer, John Hunsicker, Bliss. Mathias Teach and Henry 'Briner were the first men that enlisted from Bloomville for the war. The location of the Mansfield and Coldwater railroad gave. Bloomville a " fresh, start in the world." Large brick edifices for business and dwelling houses, the general increase in the number of buildings and 496 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. population, the warehouses and factories, show the healthy increase and prosperity of the town. On the 4th of July, 1874, the Rev. Robert Lockhart established the first newspaper here, the Enterprise. He published the paper about three months, when he turned it over to J. N. Lee, who, after a few weeks, sold it to D. W. Fisher, who issued the first paper January 1st, 1875—the Bloomville Banner. The Adams Brothers then became the owners next, and sold to Mr. Kaga, and he again to Mr. Fisher, who, after one issue, sold to W. S. Hammaker, and he, after about eight months, stopped the publication, and sold the institution to the present enterprising and able editor of the Seneca County Record, O. M. Holcomb; Esq., who is making the Record a success. Bloomville was incorporated by a special act of the legislature in 1871. Jacob Hossler, Esq., was elected its first mayor. Several additions have been made to Bloomville during the ten years last past, by Conrad Klachr, Mrs Melinda Lee, Eli Winters and John Krilly. The oar factory, established in 1874, by J D. Wilsey, was quite an important event in the history of the town. The Rey. George R. Brown, Universalist, preached here in 1840. Dr. Jones is the pastor of the M. E. Church, and Rev. J. W. Shaw of the Reformed Church. In 1875 the public schools opened up, under the superintendence of Mr. J. K. Hamilton. The building is a fine two-story edifice, with four rooms, and cost about $7,000. The grain depot of Einsel & Co. added much to the enterprise of the town. (NOTE—I am under obligations to my friend Mr. Holcomb, for his kindness in furnishing me with material and dates.) My reverend and esteemed friend, the venerable Elder Lewis Seitz, was so kind as to furnish the writer with a statement of his early recollections of Bloom township, and the reader will find pleasure in its perusal, I am very sure. It is given here as written, without a word of comment. May its moral lesson be heeded and cherished. RECOLLECTIONS OF PIONEER DAYS IN BLOOM TOWNSHIP. [By Elder Lewis Seitz.] In October, 1825, at the age of twenty-three, with my wife and one child, removed to my present home (on an adjoining farm) in Bloom township. The name of Bloom had been suggested by my brother John just one year before my arrival, and adopted in 1824 at the organization of the township. I came from my native county, Fairfield, into an almost unbroken wilderness of forest trees, with less than a score of settlers in advance of me. BLOOM TOWNSHIP - 497 Nearly all who were here before me had settled along the rich valley of Honey creek. For two or three years before mine was reared, cabins had begun to appear in our wilderness. Among their. occupants I remember Joseph McClellan, James and Thomas Boyd, the Donalds, George Free, Roswell Munsel, Nehemiah Hadley, John Stroh, Lowell Robinson, my brothers John Seitz and Noah. Seitz. J. C. Hampton (who came in 1822 with the Boyds and Donalds, from Ross county,) informs me that he aided in erecting the first cabin put up in the township. This was for my brother Noah, on Silver creek. Hampton made his home for a time with his companions from Ross. Their shelter at first was in a log pen covered with logs split in twain, the under tier being with flat side up, and the top tier covering the cracks with the flat side down. The beds were for the women, on bedsteads, with one post. That is, in one corner of the " pen " two poles were entered in the logs, with the other end in this " post." Baswood bark furnished the " cords." The men slept on the ground, with hickory bark spread down for sheets. Hampton says : " Our first supply of flour was brought by us on horseback from Mansfield, through the woods." I also helped cut out the small timber west and south of Roop's Corners, to make a public road. But to continue with the names of the first settlers: Jacob Rodegeb, Abraham Kagy, John Davis, Edward Sutherland, Christopher Perkey, Bartholomew Stout, John Stinchcomb and Richard Ridgely. Within a very few years after my arrival came also Jacob Webster, the Bixlers, John Pennington, J. T. Reed, John Einsel, Edward Cooley, Samuel Gross, John. Valentine, Gain Robinson, Zelaphel Owen, Joshua Watson, Samuel and Henry Nisley, Lewis and Jacob Spitler. During these early days a wilderness of forest, trees covered the earth, and the first need of the settler was to clear away space enough for a cabin, and then it was "root, hog, or die." While I brought from Fairfield county enough flour to last two years, very few of my contemporaries were thus provided. One season, however, usually sufficed the industrious pioneer to clear a small field and grow bread to do. As for meat, everyone had his gun to supply him with wild turkey or venison, which were abundant. Often, too, as we lay upon our pillow at night, were we saluted with the howl of wolves, apparently at our cabin door. Not only did they make night vocal with their cries, but woe to the sheep or young pigs not well guarded. An occasional bear passed through, but I think none made their home in our township. There were some otter about the marsh near Bloomville. A wild cat was shot within one hundred rods of our cabin. Indians often visited us, generally of the Wyandot tribe, who then had their headquarters. at Upper Sandusky. A few Senecas, from their reserve below Tiffin, straggled hither occasionally. Our red brother was uniformly friendly, and, as a rule, honest, but a tricky one .appeared sometimes. Unlike his white brother of modern times, however, he had not the cheek to attempt a repetition of his trick in the same vicinity. Shamed by that conscience which, as Shakespeare puts it, " makes cowards of us all," his victim seldom saw him again. Mr. N. Hadley was admitted to be the boss hunter and trapper on Honey creek. Mr. Hadley, at a single hunt, brought down seven deer, six of them by torchlight, and the seventh by sunlight in the morning. So Mild. was - 32 - 498 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. Hadley of hunting, that, game getting scarce, he had J. C. Hampton to haul his family and goods (mostly steel traps) to the head of canoe navigation on 'the Scioto, in Hardin county. Here he dug out two large walnut canoes, lashed them side by side, and started for Cairo, on the Mississippi. With one boat wrecked on the raging Scioto, he nevertheless reached Portsmouth With the other, his family walking most of the way. At this point a captain of a steamer bound for Iowa, whither Hadley was going, struck with admiration for a man who would venture his all in a canoe on the Ohio, offered to carry him without charge to his destination. Thus the boss pioneer hunter of Bloom township left Ohio for game in the far west. An encounter of a Wyandot Indian with a pack of hungry wolves in South Bloom is worth recording. He had tracked a wounded deer some distance in the snow, when suddenly he came upon it surrounded by a pack of wolves, making of it a hasty meal. Intent upon having some of the meat himself, he tried to drive the wolves by shooting one of them. This enraged the rest, and they rushed upon him. Backing against a tree, he kept them at bay with his tomahawk,, till hunger overcoming rage, they returned to finish their meal upon the deer. The Indian, convinced that " discretion was the better part of valor," was glad to escape. The pioneer who succeeded best in making a comfortable living, did not make a business of hunting, but chopping and logging and burning was the chief work. Much timber, which to-day would be. valuable in market, was burned on the ground. No where could finer poplar, walnut, blue ash and butternut trees be found than in Bloom township. The first saw mill was built. by Roswell Munsel and the Donalds, on Honey creek, near the present Kaler mill. Soon after John Davis built another mill, a mile further down, where nay first lumber was made. A few years later Abraham Kagy put up a saw mill, and the Steeles a saw and grist mill on Silver creek. It may be well to remind the reader that in those days our water courses furnished power much more steadily and for a greater part of the year. Through the clearing away of fallen timber and general drainage, our creeks gave short lived spirts of water; and then Steele's grist mill could be heard day and night for more than half the year. My first grinding was done at Hedges' mill, just below Tiffin. When we began to have wheat to sell our nearest public market was at Venice or Portland (Sandusky City.) This was so until the pioneer railroad in Ohio made us a market at Republic. In those days neighbors were neighbors, indeed.' Was a cabin to be "raised," logs to be " rolled," or assistance of any kind needed, a simple notice was enough, . A " neighbor " could be' found-at a much greater distance than now. The whisky of those days was not charged with " killing at forty rods " as now, but the " brown jug " or the " barrel " was found in nearly every home, and it was esteemed an indispensable " mechanical power " at " raisings " and " loggings," etc., etc. Our public schools were held at first in cabins like our dwellings, with a huge fire place on one side, with a " stick and mud " chimney on the outside. Religious meetings were held in these " school houses," or in the cabins of the settlers. The Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists were the first to organize societies or churches in Bloom. James Robinson, a Pres, BLOOM TOWNSHIP - 499 byterian clergyman, organized the first church of that name, about the year 1830. On the 27th of May, 1827, the Baptist church, named " Honey Creek," was organized. The " council " was composed of .Elders Thomas Snelson, of Highland county, and Benjamin Caves, of Pickaway, and Deacon John. Hite, of Fairfield. In 1830 the undersigned was chosen pastor of this church and has sustained this relation ever since. As will be noticed, ministers in those early days traveled a great way in the pursuit of their calling. But, not as now, cosily and swiftly in a railway coach, but invariably on horseback, equipped with " saddledbags," with Bible, hymn book, a few " dickeys" (a sort of shirt-front with collar attached), and some provisions, perhaps._ The messenger of " peace and good will," through the cross of Christ,. traveled in all kinds of weather; over all sorts of roads (or no roads through the wilderness). Perhaps, such experiences, if presented to many of our clerical brethren today, as a part of their labors, would lead to some more congenial calling. But it must be remembered that the privations and trials. of pioneer life were shared by all classes, and hence borne the more cheerfully. While we may freely. admit that this generation is enjoying much that is good and desirable' as the fruit of the labors and purposes of their pioneer fathers and mothers, it is a matter of profound regret that the rugged virtues and beautiful friendships could not have been, transmitted with the improved culture, conveniences, comforts and luxuries enjoyed by our children. They are enjoying the material blessings for which their fathers and mothers toiled and dared and suffered. Modern improvements have obviated the necessity for much of the personal effort and deprivation of pioneer life, but when we cease to practice their manly and womanly virtues, all our boasted progress cannot save us from the penalties of violated moral law. Of all, my first neighbors, Abraham Kagy, J. C. Hampton, Mrs. Thomas West and John C. Martin alone remain. The rest have passed to that "bourne from whence no traveler returns." We, too, shall soon pass away, but may He who guides the destinies of men and of nations, bless our childdren and our country with civil and religious liberty, and. every good resulting from the reign of truth and righteousness is the prayer of Yours truly LEWIS SEITZ. WILLIAM DAVIS Says: I am the oldest son of John Davis, who came to Bloom in November, 1824, and settled on section eight, near Honey creek, one and one-half miles west of Bloomville. We came from Perry county, Ohio, and were thirteen days on the road with two wagons, and drove our cows and hogs before us. We had all the meat, flour and whisky we needed for one year. On the following fall father Went back and also to Zanesville to get mill irons for a saw mill; with which he returned, and in company with Mr. Munsel, put up a saw mill on, said section, which was the . first saw mill in the township. He also built the first frame house in the township, now occupied by Rev. John Shauts. Our first grinding was. done at Hunter's mill, carrying the grain and grist on .horseback. Father was an old Methodist from Maryland and helped to build the first church of the township,