Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-03-19


: country was most beautiful, especiall,
in the Autumn. The great forest linin
: the banks of the river mot washed an,
2 torn as now) only broken in few plac
, es by clearing, wild animals to be seel
, daily, deer and bear frequently swim
! ming the river all went to make al
! scene, the beauty of which beggar
description. Turkeys were so fat tha
, they often fellin while attempting to
fly across. Wolves we did not see ex
cept In trap but heard them nightly
On our first night at home they hOwleC
near our door( made Of q quilDbut per
haps they had no evil intentions
They would chase the deer to the ict
and devour large numbers, and at such
times their bowling was most hideous
The river was not as large by one.
third as it now is. The clearing of the
country, loss of trees along the banks,
greater and more rapid volume of wa.
ter incident to a great drainage system,
may be the cause.
Indians were plentiful. They did
not cOnfine themselves to their hunt
ing grounds, composed of the great
woods of Henry County. l think in
1884 the Indians removed beyond the
Mississippi as the government bought
their reservation. They were reluc-
tant to leave the historic Maumee and
the graves of their fathers with legends
handed down for years-to them most
sacred. And then the country where
they were going was so different; can
we wonder that so many of them hid
when the time arrived to leave? There
was quite number ofthem stayed here
but nearly all disappeared in three or
four years.
took party as late as in 1847 to the
burial ground at the Indian village, and
the little enclosures of painted poles
were still intact. 1 turned away with
moistened eyes from the relics of a tribe
possessing some noble traits, once a
formidable foe, but now vanuuished
before the vanguard of fcivilization.
AT this time all merchandise(inc
ing salt and grind-stones) used at De-
nance and Ft. Wayne, had to be taken
up the river on flat-boats, after being
hauled from Maumee and Perrysburgh
to the head of the Rapids, distance of
lS miles; and then again, hauled around
Flatrock. The mail at this time was
carried on horseback from Maumee and
TT. Wayne, every two weeks.
All stock ran in the woods and what
pork was used had to be shot in the
woods, skinned or singed with a hick-
ory bark fire.
About this time my father walked
from home to Independence, a distance
of 20 miles, carrying sufficient tools TO
make wagon wheel.
The road made by the passage of
Wayne's baggage wagons, from Def
ance to TT. Wayne can be easily traced |
but being generally back from the riv-
er. was not utilized.
The greatest wolf den was about the |
pralries and swamps in Harrison to-,
near where elections are now held, |
They caught great numbers in traps, |
receiving a bounty of $3.50 per scalp, |
Our nearest mill was at Waterville.
2l mil es away. Going to mill was sew
eral days journey, the roads being so
full of stumps that we had to walk and
drive. We would be lucky if we could
bring the gr!st back without waiting a
day or two as the mill was run in
manner.
On one of these trips my shoes gave
out; the weather was bad, mud and
snow mixed to walk through. I went in
debt for my first pair of boots costing $4.
Hauled corn on pole jumper twenty
one miles to pay for them at 81 cents
per bnshel, which required more than
one trip over the road. During 1885
and '36 many families became residents
of Napoleon, and the place assumed
quite business appearance; will not
attempt detailed account of events
and happenings at this time.
Soon very many land seekers or
SPECTATORS were riding on horseback
through the country selecting choice
section of lands. prompted perhaps by
The prospect of an Improvement and
development of the Maumee valley by
,he construction of the Wabash & Erie
Canal, which enterprise was being agi-
,ated and the consummation of which
brought about most wonderful
change and opened up new era in the
history of this part of the State. Not !
Wishing to come in conflict with apy
hing contained in the history of Hen. !.
y and Fulton, either in the matter or
lates will bring this paper to a close.
have not seen the history referred to.
10 not claim to be infalible as to dates Z
lave used them sparingIy in looking :
lown the bista of sixty years on the :
daumee. The mind is so crowded with
memories that found it very difficult =
0 sketch from the picture, incidents \
hat would most Interest those of nv .
contemporaries who may peruse these :
ines. But have tried to note events y
nd describe scenes which impressed -
ae me most, at the times referred too +
id are most vivid in memory.
A few of us of the old pioneers have
cen permitted to step aside for awhile, O
nd the long procession of kind r
ed and friends participants with v
s in these experiences, have
ave passed down the silent valley from h
mr. sight. Shall we be cherre and h
lstained by the hope that when our L
urn shall come to cross the silent riv- Fl
r, we shall enter upon an inheritance h
OF measured by the flight of years %
here all is peace and light and love? b
"There has been much speculation h
bout the origin of the striped pole used h
y BARRIERS, and what it is a sign Of" Il
man. I,
II was reading a paper to-day AMI il
sme across the following explanation n
hich Is one of many: In the middl,. h
ses the BARRIERS were also blood-letters Il
hat is to say, when person required
be bled, a barber andsnot physical
as called upon. Hence, the pole with q
white and a red stripe running along 81