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The history of Wyandot county, Ohio
To rescue from a fast engulfing oblivion the authentic events which have transpired in this region during a period of more than one hundred years, to preserve and to do honor to the memory of those who first dwelt within its boundaries, and to present an historical view of the institutions and industries of town and hamlet and township, is the object we have had in purpose in the preparation of this work. It has been our endeavor to glean the facts thoroughly, to present them simply and plainly.
As the table of contents indicates, the work is divided into four parts. Parts First and Second treat briefly the history of the Northwest Territory and the State of Ohio. Parts Third and Fourth are chiefly devoted to Wyandot County. 'The twelve chapters embraced by Part Third, as well as the history of the town of Upper Sandusky found in Part Fourth, have been prepared by Capt. John S. Schenck a gentleman of wide experience in the compilation of local annals. The remainder of Part Fourth, mainly biographical in its contents, has been arranged by a staff of competent, pains- taking writers, and possesses additional value from the fact that each biographical sketch has been submitted for correction and approval before going to press. This department of the work was largely prepared by C. G. Harraman. Part Third contains the general history of the county, and incidentally some fragments of the history of Northwestern Ohio. In Part Fourth, which is supplementary to Part Third, those minor details are pre- served in connection with the township histories, which could not well be given place in the chapters upon a broader class of subjects. In these will be found carefully made records of the early settlements, accounts of churches, schools, etc., and much of incident illustrative of the men and manners of early days.
Returning to the general history, or Part Third, we will remark that within the first pages the effort is frequently made, not only to chronicle facts, but to show their relation as causes and effects in the great chain of events by which a portion of the American wilderness was reclaimed and added to the mighty realm of civilization. In the first few chapters of this part, succeeding Chapter I, a chronological order of arrangement is maintained, as nearly as may be, while in the later ones the topical form is resorted to as more practical and appropriate, and for other reasons which should be obvious to the reader.
Chapter I describes the location, extent, and natural features of the county. Then follows three large chapters which tell the story of the Wyandot Indians, and of other Ohio tribes, from time immemorial to 1843. Under the title "Early Settlements." etc., is given a brief history of the settlement of the county, with a few remarks showing the retarding effects caused by the Wyandot Reserve being located within its borders. Many of the trials of pioneer life are also dwelt upon in the same chapter, and the building of the log cabin, the dress, customs, and occupations of the first settlers are minutely described. A separate chapter is devoted to the civil history of the county, and outlines its formation and organization, the establishment of its courts, refers to notable public transactions, the erection of the county buildings, township divisions, and the results of elections, including also a valuable reference list of county officials, and the representatives of the county in the State and Federal Government. The Bench and Bar, the Medical Profession, the Newspaper Press and Educational Interests like- wise have each separate places in the volume. The chapter styled "Material Progress" embraces a variety of topics, articles upon population, the more important county societies, post offices, productions, etc., and the public improvements in the county, from the days when the "mud road" was the only means of communication and travel down to and including the era of railroad development. The county in the dark days of the rebellion responded to the call for troops in a manner of which her people may ever be proud. For that reason the soldiers* record is given the large space which its importance demands and thus occupies a large chapter.
In conclusion, we add that this work contains the essence of many volumes of pertinent Federal, State, County and Township Archives, of almost complete newspaper tiles, and the invaluable recollections of the best-informed people of the county. Especial acknowledgments are also due to the editors and publishers of newspapers, to the pastors of churches, to county, village and township officials, the members of the bar and medical profession, the officers of public institutions, and the members of various secret orders, all of whom, without a single exception, have responded promptly and most courteously to requests for data. AVe are especially indebted to Hon. John D. Sears, for his able articles on the Newspapers of Upper Sandusky to 1871, and on the "Early Poets and Poetry" of the county, as well as for valuable assistance in other departments of the work. To El. D. Dumm, Esq., we are under many obligations for his well-written Reminiscences, and for his able and earnest co-operation in each and every department of the history; and lastly we acknowledge in a general manner, for their generous assistance, our obligations to Hon. L. A. Brunner, Pietro Cuneo, Hon. Robert McKelly, Hon. Chester R. Mott, Col. Moses H. Kirby, Hon. D. D. Hare, Hon. George W. Beery, J. G. Roberts, Thomas E. Beery, George Harper, and many others who aided materially in the preparation of the History.
Table of Contents
PART I.
HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Geographical Position 19
Early Explorations 20
Discovery of Ohio 32
English Explorations and Settlements 34
American Settlements 59
Division of the Northwest Territory 65
Tecumseh and the War of 1812 69
Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War 73
PART II.
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.
History of Ohio 93
French History 96
Ordinance of 1787, No. 32 105
The War of 1812 122
Banking 126
The Canal System 128
Ohio Land Tracts 129
Improvements 132
State Boundaries 136
Organization of Counties 137
Description of Counties 137
Early Events 137
Governors of Ohio 160
Ancient Works 174
Some General Characteristics 177
Outline Geology of Ohio 179
Ohio's Rank During the War 182
A Brief Mention of Prominent Ohio Generals 191
Some Discussed Subjects 196
Conclusion 200
Comments upon the Ordinance of 1787, from the Statutes of Ohio. Edited by Salmon P. Chase, and Published in the year 1833 204
PART III.
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
CHAPTER I. Geology 215
Location and Extent 215
Natural Features 215
Geological Structure 216
CHAPTER II. Indian Occupancy (from time immemorial to 1782) 224
Legendary Accounts Concerning the Delaware and Iroquois Indians 224
The Shawanese and Eries 230
The Hurons or Wyandots 231
CHAPTER III. Indian Occupancy Continued
(Events from 1782 to 1818) 240
The Equipment of Col. Crawford's Command 241
The Expedition to Upper Sandusky 242
The Battle and Defeat 246
Col. Crawford's Capture 247
Dr. Knight's Narrative of the March, Battle, Capture and Death of Col. Crawford 247
Treaty of 1785 258
Treaty of Greenville, 1795 263
Treaty of 1805 264
Treaty of 1808 264
Treaty of 1817 205
CHAPTER IV. Indian Occupancy Continued
(from 1816-18 to 1843) 274
The Wyandots in 181G 274
John Stewart, the Colored Preacher 274
Rev. James B. Finley Appointed to the Wyandot Mission 278
The Mission School 285
The Delawares Cede Their Lands to the United States 290
The Wyandots Cede Their Reservation to the United States 295
Their Departure for Kansas 299
CHAPTER V. Early Settlements Picture of Pioneer Life 302
First Settlers in the Several Townships 303
A Picture of Pioneer Life 304
CHAPTER VI. Civil History 312
A Glance at This Region Prior to the Formation of Wyandot County 312
Formation, Organization, etc., of Wyandot County 313
Copy of the Act of Congress 317
Public Sale of Town Lots at Upper Sandusky 319
Townships 323
Public Buildings, etc 325
A Few Notable Proceedings of Courts 326
Election Returns Since the Organization of the County 331
Representatives in Congress 348
Slate Senators 348
State Representatives 348
County Officers 348
CHAPTER VII. The Bench and Bar 353
Introductory 353
The Bench 354
Supreme Courts 359
District Courts 359
Court of Common Pleas 360
Some of the Associate Judges 361
The Bar 364
CHAPTER VIII. The Medical Profession 374
Physicians of the County in 1845 375
Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Physicians 376
CHAPTER IX. The Press 378
Upper Sandusky's Journals and Journalists 378
The Wyandott "Telegraph" 376
The "Pioneer" 381
The "Tribune" 383
The "Vindicator" 385
The "Herald" 385
The "Union" 385
The "Pioneer" Changed to the "Republican" 386
The "Chief" 386
Biographical 386
Carey Publications 399
The Carey "Blade" 399
The Carey " Weekly Times" 399
The Nevada "Enterprise" 399
The Sycamore "News" 400
CHAPTER X. Educational Interests Clerical
Profession Early Poets and Poetry 402
Educational Interests 402
Clerical 408
Early Modes of Religious Worship 408
Early Ministers of the Gospel 409
Early Poets and Poetry 410
CHAPTER XI. Material Progress 419
Pojiulatiou 419
The Standing of Townships in 1845 420
Transportation Facilities 421
Post Offices 430
County Agricultural Society 435
CHAPTER XII. The County's Military Record 438
Early Wars 438
The Revolution 438
The War of 1812-15 438
The Mexican War 439
The War of the Rebellion 439
Regimental Histories and Soldiers' Roster 443
PART IV.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
Chapter I. Town of Upper Sandusky 483
Location 483
Original Plan of the Town as Surveyed 483
The Streets and Lots 484
Early White Inhabitants 485
Incorporation of the Town 487
R. D. Dumm's Reminiscences 488
Corporate History 528
Officers of the Town since 1857 529
Banks and Bankers 533
Manufacturing Interests 534
Church Organizations 537
The Wyandot County Bible Society 543
Wyandot Sabbath School Union 544
Oak Hill Cemetery 545
Secret Associations 546
The Public Schools 551
Crane Township 553
Biographical Sketches 355
Chapter II. Antrim Township 673
Biographical Sketches 692
Chapter III. Crawford Township 737
Biographical Sketches 764
Chapter IV. Eden Township 811
Biographical Sketches 815
Chapter V. Jackson Township 832
Biographical Sketches 838
Chapter VI. Marseilles Township 852
Biographical Sketches 860
Chapter VII. Mifflin Township 883
Biographical Sketches 888
Chapter VIII. Pitt Township 897
Biographical Sketches 904
Chapter IX. Richland Township 932
Biographical Sketches 939
Chapter X. Ridge Township 962
Biographical Sketches 966
Chapter XI. Salem Township 974
Biographical Sketches 980
Chapter XII. Sycamore Township 992
Biographical Sketches 1000
Chapter XIII. Tymochtee Township 1029
Biographical Sketches 1040
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When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the "New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern Territory."
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