The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-12

ed in summer with gorgeous hoWers
Of all hues. were renovated by annual
autumnal fires kindled by the In
dians. Game Of all kinds was super
abuz i4st. including divers species
OF squirrels and countless foeks of
wild turkeys and other fowls highly
esteemed for food. DelIeiOus FISH, such
as the princely muskelunge, the pike,
bass and white fish, sportively darted
and rollicked along IN the streams.
The furs Of various animals were es-
pscially attractive for domestic nse
and their commercial value The
cranberry thriged luxuriantly in the
marshes; and the strawberry. raspber-
~. blackberry and Ehortleberry grew
exuberantly here and there in the
soak openings and upon the Prairies
and along the borders of Indian i'm
provements. The plum, crab apple
and grape hourished on the fertile
deelivities and bottoms along the
margins Of the streams The lobelia,
eentian. boneset and various herbs
less. potent grew spontaneously; and
were deemed invaluable By the ma
tiyes. and afterwards highly appre-
ciated. in unprofessional hands, for
4 their medicinal qualities. A variety
of indigenous fruits, among the most
prominent Of which were the hazel
nut, butternut, beechnut and shag
bark. contributed bOunteously, not
only tn the support Of wild game but.
in the beginning Of settlements, like
manna to the Israelites, towards the
sustenanee of domestic fowls and
the swine Of emigrants.
The surface of the country was roll
ling, inclined to level, with much
sameness of contbur and general ap-
pcarancc. 4 considerable portion of
it, although high, was so uniform and,
In its primeyal state, so covered with
water most Of the time, intercepted in
its egress by fallen timber, as to OBJ
tain the booriSh sObriquct of BLACK
Swamp. Nevertheless the lofty for
ests which grew aud Aourishcd even
thereto stately magni6cence stamp
cd conviction on the mind Of every
adventurer penetrating it that these
level aud apparently swampy lands
were susceptible of easy drainage
aud also that the ridges of ofoutcroppiDg
limestone iDtcusectiug them and not
uufrequeutly covered with buticrnut,
poplar. black walnut aud cherry de-
monstrstcd their natural dryDess aud
adaptation, in an eminent degree, to
the most profitable agricultural pur-
poses. For the soil, consisting of 4
deep, friable loan or black mold, was
uuderlaid with substratum of yellow
clay, imbued with large quantities of
fertilizing ingredients and must, it
could not be doubted, when subjected
to cultivation, become exceedingly
productive. Limestone prevailed al
most everywhere; and sandstone,
slate aud gypsum in certain localities.
Good water was abundant, ard along
the streams in general, and the San
dusky river, in particular, there was
a suficiency Of water-p power for mills
and manufacturing purposes. Springs
were not infrequent and where de-
fcient, an ample supply of pure and
wholesome water was easily attainable
by the digging Of wells.
The climate was more genial and
temperate than in the same latitude
east of the Allegheny mountains.
This may perhaps have been caused,
partially at least, by the proximity of
Lake Erie, and the diffusiveness of its
vast evaporations, and in part, prior
to the drainage and improvement of
the country, by the constant and vide
spread exhalations from the extensive
forests covering it, if not in q measure
by its remoteness and protection from
the cold northeastern gales of the At,
lantic. Be this however as it may,
there can be ne doubt that while the
earth was protected from the rays of
vertical sun and the chilly blasts
and frosts of winter by fallen leaves,
; and a dense overshadowing forest con-
stantly emitting its widespread vapor-
izatiohs, the atmosphere was more
humid and the climate more temper
ate, although less salubrious than af-
terwards, as at the present time, when
deprived by drainage ofits surface
waters and exposed to the influence
of the winds and solar heat. At all
events such it was, halmy and seduc-
tive at the period to which [ refer.
Everything, soil, climate, locality,
timber, game, water, stone, and the
assurance of prospective products, in
profusion, combined t) make the
country attractive to civilization. Such
was northwestern Ohio as originally
outspread and robed by the power
and munifcence of the all-wise Gre
ator; and such it was while in the
possession of the natives who for ages
had roamed over it without advancing
a single step towards the attainment of
intellectual culture, or the domestic
comforts of civilization or social life
The Indians, after the memorable vic
tory Of Gen. Anthony Wayne over
them at the foot Of the rapids of Mau-
NEE river, August 10th, 1894, pune
I tiljoUsly continued the observance of
good faith towards the government
ard people of the United States until
stimulated, about 1909 or 1910 to re.
newed acgressioDs upon the border
/ pioneers by the hucksters and emissa-
ries of Great Britain.
These aud other national wrongs
became SO provocative and insolent
that the United States resolved to sub
nit all differences between her and
her rival to the arbitrament Of arms !;
and on the 18th day of June, 1872,
she accordingly declared war against
Great Britain, in which many of these
disafected Indians participated and
contributed their services in her be-
half. Nolc mark that the country
around and adjacent to the western
end of Lake Erie became the theater
of many battles and the scene of
ceaseless military maneuvers and op-
erations. The army was consequent>
ly compelled, during the three years
of the war, again and again, to trav-
erse this region of country; bivouac
upon it and become familiar with its
adaptation to agricultural purposes.
It's vast superiority, in these respects,
over the eastern and southern States
did not nor could escape their Obser
walton. It's convenient access by way
of the Lakes especially attracted their
attention, and by some artificial con-
Meeting link between these Lakes and
the Hudson, which had been then al
ready agitated, an outlet for the future
products Of the soil was assured By
reference to the map it could be rea-
sonably anticipated that the time was
not distant when another outlet to the
Ohio river would open southern
I market and conseduentlV create an