Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-06
{ Continued from last sOssk).

Scranton, who il may be said was TO the
manor born, David Gallagher Isaac Knapp
and wife, and lessee S. olmstead and wife,
These are all living, and the actual history
Of either would surpass modern romance
in interest and real value. II is proper 10
say here, that these survivors Of many years
and trials, who spent the Spring and Sum-
mer of life here in those pursuits which
have resulted in bringing our Town and
county into an improved state for US to en-
JOY, are known, respected and widely es-
teemod, and in spite of all the changes
wroughtby fashion and superior advantages
on US. These men and women, in all the
essentials Of human excellence, are still
models for us.
David Gallagher has lived here since
May, 1914. Judge Knapp since Septem-
Der, 1914. Judge Olmsted since 1871
Mrs. Olmsted since 1919, Mrs. Knapp
since 1915, with the exception that Mr.. and
Mrs. Olmsted within this time resided a
few years at Tymochtee, Ohio.
In 1914 Gen. Duncan Macarthur passed
through with Regiment of Cavalry. Da-
vid Gallagher was then Commissary Of the
Fort. He camped in the "burDt bottom"
now Kessler's field.
Of the early settlers at that period who
have died, there are some disconnected re-
miniscences and anecdotes, few of which
may mention as indicative of the peculiar
tiles of life and character at that time.
An eccentric individual by the name Of
Hawkins, the father of our we'll known
Thomas L. Hawkins, occasionally visited
and stayed season in our town about the
years l8I6ll7 and 'le. His dress was of
the fashion of1776. One year he perform
ed the whole journey from Kentucky, where
he resided, to Lower Sandusky, on a short
horned OK, using side saddle tightly girth-
ed on, exciting much curiosity. Sharp fea-
lures, sharp voice, and sharp passionate Ian
guage, were some of his peculiarities. He
was interested with his son Thomas L. in
constructing mill dam across the Sandus-
ky river, where the dam now is near the
Rail Road bridge, and in digging the race
and building the first grist mill already spo-
ken Of The dam was completed, and the
floods of the following Spring came and
threatened destruction to his work, which
the old gentleman watched with great
anxiety. Ice and water were then, as now
no respectors of men or their works. At
last as the old man, with others, were
standing on the bank, the increasing force
of the stream steadily raised the dam, and
it began to move down the stream. The
old man could hold in no longer; an effort
to resign himself to the will of Providence,
III ..I
forth; lifting his hat from his head he ex-
claimed: "The Lord giveth and the Lord
taketh away, blessed be the name of the
Lord, but the Devil take my precious soul
if don't build itup againw
He kept canoe in the mill pond. A
Frenchman one day took the canoe to hunt
ducks, and. after landing it on the opposite
side, left his gun in the canoe and went af-
ter plums. The old man waded the river,
and took the canoe fred off the Frenchman's
gun, and padded for the othershore. Fas-
tening his canoe, he fastened to ESQ. Har-
rington, justice of the peace, and had the
Frenchman summoned, to the tune of $l5
damages for taking one canoe. But the
old man found his match. Frenchy came
and laid in counter claim to same amount,
in about this style: "Mr. Hawkin owe me
for shoot my gun one time for noting, $l5."
The justice suggested that that was pretty
high charge for one load of powder and
shot. "Sacre," said the Frenchman, "sup-
pose he sharge me YER high, sharge him
YER high too, ahal dat not right sare." 1
never heard how the suit terminated, but
the Frenchman started practice which has
been adhered to occasionally in our town
ever since.
The old man missed slabs, occasionally,
from about the saw-mill, and became con
vinced that they went for frewood. He
prepared some by boring, and then loading
them with tremendour charges of powder.
The next morning there was such an explo-
sion, in log cabin near the mill, as to take
the gable end and a part of the end wall
out of it besides frightening and somewhat
injuring the inmates. This was considered
dangerous, and although the man owned up
to stealing the slabs, Hawkins was arrested
for an attempt upon his life. The old man
when arraigned before the justice told all
he had done, and, in justification, said his
slabs were green, and wouldn't burn with
out some powder to help them, and claimed
the right to treat and prepare his own
slabs, just as he pleased, aud if they didn't
/. quit stealing, he would blow them all
to -.
Isaac Knapp came to Sandusky about
the 1st of September, 1914, and carried
the mail that Fall from here TO Fort Meigs
now Perrysburg.
There was then no road, and the travele
was guided by blazes or spots made on th'
trees by hewing with an axe or hatchet-
The route at that time started from here
and led down the river past Mrs. Whitta
ker's, (now Orchards farn) to Muskalung,
Greek, thence up the Greek mile or SC
when it crossed by fording; thence to Port
age River at the point where Elmore nov
stands, thence tortuously to Fort Meigs.-
Hostile Indians prowled through the woods
the only safe places were at or near th
Forts. A short time previous to Judg
Knapp's engagement in this service, th'
mail carrier, man named Munger, haC
been attacked about one mile from For
J, Meigs. Not being seriously wounded, b.
It escaped by leaving his horse and the mai