SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY of Sandusky County [Part 1] *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by LeaAnn leaann1@bellsouth.net February 15, 1999 *************************************************************************** HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO BY HENRY HOWE LL. D. Published 1904 copyright 1888 Sandusky County Sandusky County was formed from an old Indian territory, April 1, 1820. The soil is fertile, and the surface is generally level. The Black Swamp tract covers the western part. Its first settlers were principally of New England origin, since which many have moved in from Pennsylvania and Germany. The principal productions are Indian corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and pork. Area about 440 square miles. in 1887 the acres cultivated were 143,122; in pasture, 19,884; woodland 37,797; lying waste, 3,917; produced in wheat, 732,798 bushels; rye, 20,464; buckwheat 981; oats, 552,467; barley, 11,756; corn, 1,184,723; broom corn, 300 lbs brush; meadow hay, 18,445 tons; clover hay, 12,077; potatoes, 120,055 bushels; butter, 710,7554 lbs.; cheese, 53,200; sorghum, 1,878 gallons; maple syrup, 3,105 gallons; honey, 4,296 lbs.; eggs, 508,110 dozen; grapes, 37,540 lbs.; wine, 593 gallons; sweet potatoes, 655 bushels; apples, 52,203; peaches, 6,146; pears, 1,507; wool, 148,219 lbs.; milk cows owned, 5,481. Ohio mining statistics, 1888. Limestone, 18,600 tons burned for lime, 8,250 cubic feet of dimension stone, 3,526 cubic yards of building stone, 6,353 cubic yards of ballast or macadam. School census, 1888, 9,446; teachers, 287. Miles of railroad track, 141. Townships and census: 1840 1880 Ballville 1,007 1,652 Freemont (city) 8,456 Green Creek 1,186 4,495 Jackson 929 1,485 Madison 316 1,886 Rice 385 949 Riley 426 1,621 Sandusky 1,696 1,785 Scott 684 1,452 Townsend 692 1,697 Washington 1,074 2,608 Woodville 486 1,662 York 1,301 2,319 Population of Sandusky in 1830, 2,851; 1840, 10,184; 1860, 21,429; 1880, 32,057; of whom 22,312 were born on Ohio; 2,247 Pennsylvania; 1,474 New York; 181, Indiana; 140 Virginia; 42 Kentucky; 2,653 German Empire; 569 Ireland; 373 England and Wales; 207 British America; 197 France; 34 Scotland and 5 Norway and Sweden. Census, 1890, 30,617. The signification of the name of this county has frequently been a matter of dispute. John H. James, Esq., the American pioneer, truly says: "I have a note of a conversation with William Walker at Columbus, in 1835-6, at which time he was principal chief of the Wyandotts at Upper Sandusky, in which I asked the meaning of the word Sandusky. He said it meant 'at the cold water', and should be sounded San-doos-tee. He said it 'carried with it the force of a preposition.' The Upper Cold Water and the Lower Cold Water, then, were descriptive Indian names, given long before the presence of the trader Sowdowsky. In the vocabulary of Wyandott words, given by John Johnston, Esq., formerly Indian agent in Ohio, as printed in Archaelogia Americana, vol. 1, page 295, the word water is given 'Sa.un-dus-tee,' in page 297, he gives the name of Sandusky River as Sa, undustee, or water within water pools. This region of country was once a favorite residence of the Indians. Hon. Lewis Cass, in his discourse before the Historical Society of Michigan, delivered September 18, 1829, gives some interesting statements respecting a tribe called "The Neutral Nation." Upon the Sandusky River, and near where the town of Lower Sandusky now stands, lived a band of Wyandotts, called the Neutral nation. They occupied two villages, which were cities of refuge, where those who sought safety never failed to find it. During the long and disastrous contests which preceded and followed the arrival of the Europeans, in which the Iroquois contended for victory, and their enemies for existence, this little band preserved the integrity of their territories and the sacred character of peace-makers. All who met upon their threshold met as friends, for the ground on which they stood was holy. It was beautiful institution, a calm and peaceful island looking out upon a world of waves and tempests. The annexed is a note from the above: The Neutral Nation, so called by Father Seguard, was still in existence two centuries ago, when the French missionaries first reached the upper lakes. The details of their history, and of their character and privileges, are meager and unsatisfactory; and this the more to be regretted, as such a sanctuary among the barbarous tribes is not only a singular institution, but altogether at variance with that reckless spirit of cruelty with which their wars are usually prosecuted. The Wyandott tradition represents them as having separated from the parent stock during the bloody wars between their own tribe and the Iroquois, and having fled to the Sandusky River for safety. That they here erected two forts, within a short distance of each other, and assigned one to the Iroquois and the other to the Wyandotts and their allies, where their was parties might find security and hospitality, whenever they entered their country. Why so unusual a proposition was made and acceded to, tradition does not tell. It is probable, however, that superstition lent its aid to the institution, and that it may have been indebted for its origin to the feasts and dreams and juggling ceremonies which constituted the religion of the aborigines. No other motive was sufficiently powerful to restrain the hand of violence and to counteract the threat of vengeance. An intestine feud finally arose in this Neutral Nation, one party espousing the cause of the Iroquois and the other of their enemies; and like most civil wars, this was prosecuted with relentless fury. Our informant says that, since his recollection, the remains of a red cedar post were yet to be seen, where the prisoners were tied previously to being burned. The informant above alluded to by Gov. Cass we have reason to believe was Major B.F. Stickney, of Toledo, long an Indian agent in this region. That there may have been such a tradition among the Indians we are unable to gainsay, but of its truth we have doubts. Major Stickney, in a lecture (as yet unpublished) delivered Feb. 28, 1845, before the young mens association, of Toledo, says: "The remains of extensive works of defense are now to be seen near Lower Sandusky. The Wyandotts have given me this account of them. At a period of two centuries and a half since, or more, all the Indians west of this point were at war with all the Indians east. Two walled towns were built near each other, and each was inhabited by those of Wyandott origin. They assumed a neutral character, and the Indians at war recognized that character. They might be called two neutral cities. All of the west might enter the western city, and all of the east the eastern. The inhabitants of one city might inform those of the other that was parties were there or had been there, but who they were, or whence they came, or anything more, must not be mentioned. The war parties might remain there in security, taking their own time for departure. At the western town they suffered the warriors to burn their prisoners near it; but the eastern would not. (An old Wyandott informed me that he recollected seeing, when a boy, the remains of a cedar post, or stake, at which they used to burn prisoners.) The French historians tell us that these neutral cities were inhabited, and their neutral character respected, when they first came here. At length a quarrel arose between the two cities, and one destroyed the inhabitants of the other. This put an end to all neutrality." Fremont in 1846 Lower Sandusky (now Freemont), the county- seat, is twenty four miles southwesterly from Sandusky City, and 105 west of north from Columbus. The town stands at the head of navigation on the Sandusky, at the lower rapids, where the Indians had a reservation of two miles square, granted to them by the treaty of Greenville. It is said that at an early day the French had a trading station at this point. Lower Sandusky contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist and 1 Catholic church., 2 newspaper printing offices, 8 grocery and 11 dry goods stores, 1 woollen factory, 1 foundry, and had, in 1840, 1,117 inhabitants, and now has near 2,000. It is a thriving town, and considerable business is carried on. Its commerce is increasing. Small steamers and sail vessels constantly ply from here. The principal articles of export in 1846 were of wheat 90,000 bushels; pork, 560 barrels, ashes, 558 casks; flour, 1,010 barrels; corn, 18,400 bushels; staves, 1,100,000; imports, 1,480 barrels of salt and 250 tons of merchandise. Immediately opposite Lower Sandusky, on the east bank of the river, is the small village of Croghansville, laid out in 1817, which in a general description would be included in the former. A Reminiscence A young man said to me on my original tour, in one of the interior towns, "There is an odd character here you ought to see. He writes humorous verses, is much of a wit, and is deserving of a place in your book." I replied, "Ohio has a good many odd people, and I have not time to give them all a call." The young man eventually moved to Cincinnati, became a member of its literary club, and I was associated with him for years, and learned to love and respect him. He was one of its most popular members, overflowing with good fellowship, cheery, fond of the humorous, and never known to get angry except in indignation at some vile project in view, or some oppressive act committed upon the weak and helpless. In those days there was nobody around to tell him that he was to become three times Governor of Ohio and then the President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes. I now regret I did not see that shrewd character, Judge Elisha W. Howland, that he wanted me to call upon; but I here, at this late date, pay my respects to his memory. Two or three years after my visit the name of the town was changed from Lower Sandusky to Fremont, in honor not of a then political character, but of the great Path Finder over "the Rockies." Mr. Hayes, as the lawyer for the petition, presented it to court, and finished by offering the only remonstrance against the change. This was in the form of humorous versification, consisting of seven verses from Judge Howland, which Mr. Hayes read to the court, and I have no doubt with a gusto. A Remonstrance against a Petition to the County Court of Sandusky to alter the name of Lower Sandusky to that of Fremont, as read to the Court by Mr. R.B. Hayes, Attorney for the Petition. There is a prayer now going round Which I dislike to hear, To change the name of this old town I hold so very dear. They pray the court to alter it, I pray to God they won't; And let it stand Sandusky yet And not John C. Fremont. Sandusky is a pleasant name; 'Tis 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 Sandusky be the theme Of future bards and sages. Won't the old honest SAGUMS' rise, And say to us palefaces, Do you our ancient name despise, And change our resting places? Our fathers slumbered 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! ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====