Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-03-02
Sc OU r TOW N ="

By searching records; conversation with
Mrs. Rachael Scranton, widow of James A.
Scranton, decd, Jesse S. Omsled and Isaac
Knapp, beth of whom have been Associate
Judges rcounty-and the latter mem
Der of the General Assembly of the State
of Ohio-and the Hon. John Bell, the man
uscript writings ofthe late DR.. Daniel Brain
ard kindly furnished 10y his worthy and
excellent widow, and from my own rccol-
lection, gather the following facts about
our town and some of its inhabitants.
Our town, now called Frcmont-formerly
Lower Sandusky-and still earlier known
as Sandusky-is two miles square at the
foot of the Rapids of the Sandusky river
Two miles square, though small part of
the whole world, is a theatre sufficiently
large for many men, woman and children
to act upon,-and to do much that is evil
and much good. To present also many in
teresliug phases Of human nature, and pc
cuiarities of custom and character, haSty
notice of the events in and relating to this
spot, and the persons who acted the drama
Of real life upon it, will be presented to you
this and tomorrow evenings, as q poor re-
ward for your liberaIty to the Rescue Hook
and Ladder Company, of Fremont.
1t should be noticed and said that the
method this Company have taken to obtain
necessary material aid, is most ingeniously
useful. The plan of obtaining the means of
being useful to tho public, by encouraging
taste for intellectual improvement in our
town, is highly commendable, and shows
that while they are willing TO start from
shop, counter or any engagement, or spring
from the couch of repose into darkness and
storm, periing life often, to save our homes
from the devouring element, they are also
engaged in promoting our social and intel
lectual advancement-lhus making one
benefit to US the parent of another Surely
so good and ingenious a plan deserves hearty
; encouragement from every inhabitant ofoul
town.
; A notice Of the circumstances which con
tributed to fI this boundry of two mile,
square, may properly be mentioned. This
whole region of country belonged to th'
!. Indians. They had a peculiar title-not {
parchment granted for so much money
signed and sealed by human hands-but +
license or permit to occupy, given by th'
permanent owner of all lands-the Lord o
Lords and King of Kings. When the In
dian's title to his land was disputed he liti
gated and tried it-not in the Court Hous
but in hand to hand conflict with the Ell
4, envy; not by words and dull Incompetent
y sibe logc-buL with the sharp arrow an
knife or glttering tomahawk; he employe
no Attorney but sent these convincing al
q guments with his own right arm. A tria
of title was had between these proprietor
d and one Anthony Wayne--sometimes cal
ed Mad Anthony--on the banks ofthe Mar
d, NEE river, on the Sd day of July, l794
!. !. where Mad Anthony's logic proved irrcsis
able. / allude to the battle of the allie
- Timbers, very important and nterestin
), event, in what is called the Indian war
After thus convincing the Indians, they me
. Gen. Wayne at his Head Quarters {
Grecnvile, now in Dark county, and b
IN treaty ceeded to the United States certai
tracts of land. The first and last clauses
this treaty, which is isdenominated the Greer
&c &c Vile Treaty, are interesting and explanation
ar upon this subject. The first clause reaC
H' thus:
be "To put an end to destructive war,
settle all controversies, and to restore ha
= mony and friendly intercourse betwec
the United States and Indian tribes, Al
thony Wayne, Major General, commando
Nv the army of the United States, and so
he Commissioner for the good purposes abo'
nd mentioned; and the said tribes of Indian
/ by their Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors, m
u together at Greenville, the Head Quartz
y of tho said army, have agreed on the folio
ing articles, which when ratified by Il
President, with the advice and consent
the Senate of the United States, shall
- binding on them and the said Indian tribes
be Then follows the cession to the Ur
m m ted States of fifteen different tracts of Ian
zee designed and selected by Gen. Wayne
iHir Ii, military posts, in the then territory Mort
of west of the river Ohio; and also the rig
tn of way from post to post. Amongst ii
; lands ceded by this treaty is tract twel
= miles square on the Maumee river, and
tract two miles square at tho foot Of Il
ny Rapids ofth Sandusky river; then com
Il, the concluding clause Of the treaty in Il
following words:
"a, SIN testimony whereof the said Anthor
Wayne and the Sachems and War Chic
of the before mentioned Nations and Trib