This series of articles is intended to extract the history into a more concise, less verbose document. And, like Mr. Douglass' work, make it available for all to use and read.
It can be maintained,
then, not as a fact or an abstraction, but as a principle entrenched in a sound
and practical philosophy, that nothing can more interest a people or a
community than a history of the times in which they have lived-a reproduction
of the drama in which their fathers were the actors.
With this view I have written a History of Wayne
County, Ohio, from a period long antedating its present organization from its
first settlement to the present time, and before its early annals have become
entirely a myth.
The first article will be my version of his introduction. I have attempted to maintain his original intent, and where possible, have used his exact verbiage.
According to Ben
An Interpretation of Benjamin Douglass'
History of Wayne County, Ohio
Published in 1878
by
Michael Louis Franks
Introduction
A written history of Wayne County, Ohio has long been
desired by citizenry there, as to not fail to record the trials and
tribulations, the triumphs and exaltations of the pioneers who settled this
great land. Putting that history into print is a worthy and honorable endeavor.
With the exception of a brief reference to Wayne County
history in Henry Howe's 1848 "Historical Collections", there has been
no attempt to substantially document the county's history.
In 1852, John Grable, of Paint Township, attempted to write
a county history. For reasons unknown, he did not complete the task. Through
the courtesy of G.W. Fraze, of Paint Township, we have obtained a portion of
Grable's work, and have used it in the preparation of this work.
John P. Jeffries, of Wooster, had spent considerable time
collecting material for a history of Wayne County. But, for reasons only he knows,
he abandoned the endeavor. It is our great fortune to have obtained his
substantial cooperation in the completion of this work.
Thomas Woodland, of Wooster, inspired the creation of a
society with the purpose of publishing a history of the city of Wooster, which
had the approval of many prominent citizens of the town. But for some, it was
felt the history should include the entire county.
The latter proposition was endorsed by prominent citizens of
the day, including John Larwill, Martin Welker, John McBride, Benjamin Eason,
Joseph Downing, Ohio Jones, Angus McDonald, Constant Lake, David Robison, James
Jacobs, John Zimmerman, Thomas Woodland and many others. This was the genesis
of the Wayne County Historical Society. The purpose of the society was now
enlarged and encompassed a much greater assortment of needs. A constitution and
by-laws were adopted, officers under the provisions of the same were chosen and
elected, and a record of it's sessions and general proceedings ordered to be
kept. The concept of committees in the city and various townships collecting
historical data for the publication was thought to be the easiest and most
effective way. When it was adopted, the Secretary of the Society contacted the
various committees with their respective duties.
Ample time was given to the committees to report, but, with
two notable exceptions, the reports were not forthcoming. The collection,
combining and erecting was delegated to the historian and author of the work.
Under the initial arrangement, the historian purpose was to revise, adjust and
systemize for the publication. This unexpected check to the Society's plan was
wholly unsatisfactory. However, though the historian and author was dismayed at
Society's new direction, he elected to proceed. His work now assumed much more
rigorous proportions. As a result, time became cardinal ingredient of the
enterprise, and of this he availed himself, as was his privilege.
Without support, we proceeded to seek out the history of
this great county. Our approach was to avoid obstacles choosing our steps
wisely. It was an unkempt garden we found ourselves in, but there was fruit to
be found. We left no stone unturned in the search for the truth.
A special interest is given to our territorial history to
which the general reader may not be aware. We look at the land grants in the
New World, by James I. of England, to the London and Plymouth Companies, and to
those of Henry IV. of France, as early as 1603, which comprised the lands
between the 40th and 46th degrees north latitude, which includes what is now
the State of Ohio.
A technically complete description of originally established
Wayne County is given, which forms a chapter in the book of incalculable value.
Strange as it may appear, the Act creating Wayne County affords no intelligible
idea of its remarkable boundary.
The organization of the North-western Territory, under the
Ordinance of 1787, is introduced in full, and its line of civil administration
accurately pursued until the admission of Ohio into the Federal Union in 1803.
The topography and geology are carefully considered by John
P. Jeffries, who authored "Natural History of the Human Races." Mr.
Jeffries is highly qualified for the performance of such scientific labor.
Its archeology is discussed at length, and forms a
chapter which can not fail of interest to the student of the pre-historic
period.
Indian ethnology, historical survey of the Delawares,
Wyandots, Shawanese, etc., who inhabited this section, together with
descriptions of the Great Trail leading from Fort Pitt to Fort Sandusky, and
the massacre by Captain Fulkes of the red warriors on the banks of Apple Creek,
all are included in the range of the
work.
The passage of Crawford's army through Clinton
township, and of Beall's forces from Lisbon to Canton, Wooster, and on to the
Huron, and a portion of the same to Fort Meiggs, are defined with reliable
clearness, and viewed in the light of all the circumstances, are rich
discoveries and recoveries from the margins of rapidly fading history. The
earliest settlements of the county, and the characteristics of its first
settlers are grouped succinctly in separate departments. Pioneer life is
portrayed, and the more exciting scenes and situations, in which the
magnificent metamorphosis appears of a brave people, moving from wilderness
misrule and chaos to lofty civilization and grand achievement.
A sketch
of Johnny Appleseed is introduced, more
elaborately written and detailed than any biography yet furnished.
A survey of the
present Wayne County is faithfully reproduced, and the manner, time and date of
its subdivisions into townships recorded. Its organization, the erection of its
first courts, and many particulars thereto relating, receive special
prominence. The laying out of Madison, and finally the establishing of Wooster
as the county seat, together with the vacation of the first named place, is
explained in the almost technical language of the courts. Biographies of
Generals Wayne and Wooster are presented, and the names of the officers of the
city, county, townships and incorporated villages of the county, entrusted with
their civil management, are set forth with the fidelity justified by
the public records.
With the divergent theories of extinct races, or past
peoples, etc., having inhabited the land that is Wayne County, we institute
inquiry, but have no controversy. To have entered in great detail upon this question would have been a fruitless
endeavor, likely to provide any real insight. They "died and made no
sign" beyond ancient mounds and other earthen erections, and lacking any
written history, it is left to us to ponder how a people could partially climb
the ladder to civilization, then lapse into barbarism, or disappear altogether.
Who these people were, where they came from, and their
destiny, investigation has not solved, thus has not yet been positively
written. They belong to that period of prehistoric time, incalculable in
amount, with all the various tribes, form a quite imposing field of study. Whether the true mound-builders or not, we
feel as we contemplate them that they were highly aware, and possibly, superior
beings, of whom nothing remains but earthen structures and antique relics.
It should be
inferred, however, that upon a topic so absorbing and so vitalized with deep
interest we would claim a hearing of facts, but as before indicated, no public
scientific discourse has been indulged and no special theories maintained.
The agricultural possibilities of the county are
presented in a strong light, and a "bird's-eye" view of its cereals, fruits, etc., taken at short and
long range, composes an interesting chapter. A complete history of the city of
Wooster is given, with elaborate sketches of its original proprietors, together with a
full account of the first surveys, names of first settlers, building of first
houses, location of the same, and first architects, construction of first courthouse, jail and churches, with names and
biographies of pioneer judges, lawyers, physicians and clergymen.
The various townships have each a separate history,
including date of organization, where first elections were held, names of
judges of same, and first voters; where first school-houses and churches were
erected ; embracing incidents of "backwoods life, with the
experiences of the bear-hunter and the edge-man of the roaring camp-meeting.
The biographical department can not fail to be
interesting, for history, we are told, "is the essence of innumerable
biographies." Seneca says, "Is it not a more glorious and profitable
employment to write the history of a well ordered life, than to record the usurpations of ambitious princes?" Its object is the crystallization of the
deeds and doings of the fathers; the transferring to the printed page some of
the worthy and good of their living sons. We
would save them from the obscurity, for
which the arm is stretched, to rescue the fathers. Very near unto us
all is forgetfulness. In the wondrous, boundless jostle of things, our lives
and our deaths are soon lost sight of. The panorama is shifted, and the life-bustle of today
is the death-tableau of to-morrow.
"The Fate goes round, and strikes at last where
it has a great while passed by." The record of a humble but well-spent
life is indeed worth the transient
flourish of a pen. Posterity will not be ungrateful for it, and it
should be enlarged into a record for its use. These sketches, in many instances, are
sufficiently elaborate to delineate the more prominent traits of individual character, and are drawn together in open
juxtaposition, irrespective of belief, position or creed. Prior to the
organization of the county, in 1812, we have presented the most authoritative
recollections of our oldest and most intelligent men who have lived in the
county. There is unavoidable discrepancy and indefiniteness in the narration
prior to this date. Our researches
covering this period, at times, were like a struggle
for light in a dark closet.
We regret that the initial year-marks have been
blurred - that Time has blown the sand and dirt over the first foot-prints.
Much previous to the above date, however, has been rescued from oblivion. From
1812 we start abreast with the records, and are able, with few exceptions, to
define the historic past. Our chief aim has been to seize hold of "first
things." for they "have a fascination, because they are first things." It certainly should be the subject of a
profound public regret that the project of preparing such a book has been so
long postponed. Had it been inaugurated in the days and times of Joseph
Larwill, John Sloane, Benjamin Jones, Alexander McBride, Levi Cox, Edward
Avery, Cyrus Spink, Smith Orr, Andrew McMonigal, etc., we would have
experienced little of the difficulty which we have met and with which we have
been perplexed. We have sought to discharge our duty with impartiality,
fidelity and discrimination, uniformly aiming to delineate, with scrupulous
truthfulness, the aspects and features of the subjects upon which we have been
called to pronounce. Nor have we allowed any portion of the work to be burdened
with unimportant details, tedious dissertations, or infested with recitations
to gratify or pamper a perverted or depraved curiosity. It is but due to our
self and to the reader to say, that our work has been performed, at times,
quite demanding of our time, and that much of it has been accomplished while
tending to our families and full-time occupations.
More than this, we but add that our labors have been
more tedious and difficult than was at first imagined, and that our resources
of investigation have been more barren than we anticipated. If we have rescued
from the chasm of the past-the vortex of the dead untenanted years-anything
that will interest the generations of the coming time; if we have saved from oblivion the
memory of a life that illustrated a single virtue, a moral principle, or a
religion in this mad Babylon of the world, then our labor will be compensated.
Whether we have achieved this purpose, others will decide instead of us. We are
less concerned in the verdict than those who render it. The hush of death will have
fallen upon many ears when posterity shall arise and record its judgment.
BEN DOUGLASS.
Wooster, Ohio, June, 1875.
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