TO the writer of ardent imagination and zealous in multiplying words for the purpose of interesting those who skim over the chronicles of past times merely for relaxation and amusement, Scott township would be an interesting field. That this was the scene of some criminal episode of more than ordinary consequence was clearly indicated to the present writer by the peculiar manner of a quartette of old settlers during 'his first interview. About some persons and places they talked in circumlocutions and carried on private consultations in a low whisper. From their disconnected talk nothing could be gleaned, except that there was something to find out. We do not belong to that class of imaginative narrators who seek only to interest. It is the purpose of this history to trace the development of the county from a wilderness, which blotted the map of our fair State, to portray the changes in men and manners, effected by the progress of knowledge, the vicissitudes of events, and the influence of situation. But the rare prospect of finding a condiment to give zest to the ordinarily flat detail of local history made us inquisitive.

Before proceeding further it will be necessary, in order that a certain conventional arrangement may be preserved, to give some idea of the "lay of the ground," and a detailed account of the settlement. It will offend no one if the reader skips the pages covering this last topic. Description and biography in local history are respectively like sleep and work in human life; both are imposed by contingencies founded in the nature of things.

This rambling preface, it is hoped, is sufficient to tire the reader into a desire to take a view of Scott.

Madison township on the north, Jackson on the east, Seneca county on the south, and Wood county on the west bound a township six miles square, containing more acres of marsh and prairie land than is embraced by any other township in Sandusky county. The limestone ridges of Madison barely touch Scott along the northern boundary. The streams which we have been talking about ever since coming into the Black Swamp, all, except Portage River and Muskallonge, have their sources in the prairies of this township.

Furthest to the south and partly in Seneca county, is the Tauwa prairie, embracing an area of about three sections and eliptical in form, the longest axis being in a northeast and southwest direction. Running almost parallel with Tauwa and separated from it by a strip of woodland, is the largest treeless tract in the township. It is named from the creek which is fed by its numerous springs — Mud Creek prairie. Directly north, and almost circular in form, is a pond like depression of more than a section named Miller prairie as a compliment to an early settler on its border. The source of Sugar Creek was an eliptical marsh two miles in its longest axis and one mile in its shortest. We say the source was a marsh, for at the time we write farmers are threshing immense crops of wheat taken from the fertile surface of this once useless swamp, uninhabited except by snakes, frogs, and turtles, which grew to frightful size. We were told credulous people, who believe everything they see in print, may skip this paragraph) we were told — and snake stories have been believed since the time of Eve's misfortune — that in this swail, about the year 1841, was captured the monster snake of the county. A hunter wading in grass almost to his head, just high enough above the wavy surface to fire deadly shot at ducks chased from their secluded retreats, heard a surging noise at some distance in his path, his eyes met those of a mortal enemy. The snake's forked tongue vibrated angrily in a frightful mouth raised above the grass. The barrel of the hunter's faithful gun soon contained a heavy charge of buck shot. Having taken careful aim he fired, dispatching two balls to the centre of the monster's head, and a third knocking out one eye. The writhing squirm and roll of death followed. The snake measured eighteen feet eleven and one half inches long and three feet nine inches and a quarter at the "belt." Careful examination showed him to be thirty-three years old. The neighborhood was of course somewhat aroused, and a congregation of men around the dead body determined upon a dissection. It was a happy thought, for within that serpent's skin was contained a part of a human skeleton and a small packet containing needles, buttons, and other notions. It will be seen by reference to the chapter on Woodville that a peddler was once mysteriously missing from the hotel at that village. That murderer of fair fame, suspicion, was destroying the honest name of two or three worthy pioneers, but this story cleared the atmosphere of scandal by making known the last chapter of the life of the Woodville peddler. The snake also contained half a bushel of bogus coins and a machine for making them. It further contained the pocketbook of a man from the East who had come to the township to buy land, and whose boots the next morning were found hanging on a tree.

We concluded right here in the progress of the telling of this remarkable story to give it to our readers just as it came to us. We spoke above of the indirect way the old settlers of Scott have of telling the history of their township, and this is undoubtedly an allegory invented by a churlish wag, for the purpose of giving us a glimpse at the deeds of darkness and devilment of times past. We hope to be forgiven for this diversion, but it seems proper before closing this volume, which commits to immortal type the best recollections of the best-posted living pioneers, for the recorder to give a specimen of his varied experience in making the collection. This is our only snake story. Its meaning will be more clear before reaching the conclusion of the chapter.

One of the large Wood county prairies touches the western limits of Scott and is drained by a ditch running toward the northeast, which is mentioned in the preceding chapter on Madison.

All these prairies seem to have been small lakes, or rather large ponds. Exuberant vegetation decaying year after year, gradually filled them up until they became marshes, which was their condition when settlers first penetrated the heavy timber lands adjoining. They remained in this comparatively useless condition until the commissioners of the county took one of the most important steps in the history of public improvements.

It would not be desirable to follow through the construction of all the large drains which have transformed useless marshes into fields of inexhaustible fertility. That subject has already been touched in a previous chapter on public improvements.

It was out of a contingency arising in Scott township that the law regulating the manner of constructing ditches was changed in 1879. The former law gave the county commissioners power to order the construction of ditches, so many rods being assigned to each property holder in proportion to the amount of benefit, in the estimation of the board, he would derive therefrom. This system in Scott proved impracticable, for each farmer, having assigned a certain portion to construct, and the time within certain limits being optional, chose his own convenient season. It often happened that the upper part of a long drain was excavated first, thus opening the marsh and throwing the overflow upon the lands below. Another difficulty lay in the fact that it is impossible to secure satisfactory work when unharmonious, unskilled, and often unwilling hands have to be depended upon for its accomplishment. However, unpracticable as it was, at least a half dozen useful drains were made according to its provisions. But the drainage was not sufficient to completely accomplish the desired object, the entire recovery of the prairie marshes. The flow of water from the Seneca county marshes no doubt increased the necessity for more and larger outlets. A new law was passed by the Legislature in 1879, "which overcomes the difficulty mentioned above, though deemed somewhat tyrannical by the farmers of Scott. Under this law the commissioners ordered the construction of a ditch. The contract for the whole work is given to the lowest bidder, and the cost assessed on the property benefited in due proportion. Under this law several of the largest ditches have been constructed. Land, twenty years ago covered with water, is now producing forty bushels of wheat to the acre. The croak of the bullfrog is seldom heard in the land, and even mosquitoes have abandoned this once favorite watering place. These superfluous pests abounded in unimaginable numbers, and were of monstrous size, before the country was cleared and swamps drained. An old settler of simple habits and consequently not given to the prevalent vice of exaggeration, told the writer with religious sincerity, that when he came to the township, in 1832, swarms of these insects hovered over the distracted land in such numbers that the sun at times became invisible and the horridly monotonous, ceaseless song of these hungry millions, smothered and made imperceptible the barking of dogs and the ring of cow-bells, the melancholy chorus of wolves being the only sound which rose above the din. Mosquitoes then were hungry, voracious creatures, with infinite capacity. It was impossible to keep them off children. It is known that one child was actually bitten to death, and Mrs. Samuel Sprout has informed us that when one of her children died, lumps, caused by the poisonous "sinker," covered its whole head, despite the most careful watching. Scott was not the only place cursed in this way. The whole Black Swamp swarmed with them, but the marshes of Scott were summer resorts during dry weather.

We have several times in the course of this history commented on the qualities of the wolf In this last chapter the reader may be interested in Dr. Thomson's experience with the howlers of the wilderness. The wolf is in many respects an eccentric sort of an animal. He delights to live on the border of civilization, where the wild seclusion of dense forest furnishes a home on one side, and settlers' sheep, chickens, etc., occasionally furnish a choice morsel of domestic meat, on the other. The wolf is a noisy, boisterous animal, but has little courage unless driven to it by hunger. Inability to foresee events makes him an early victim of strategy. A common method of trapping practiced by pioneers of all climes is to build an enclosure of pickets, in which the sheep are driven at night. On one side are piled logs on the outside almost as high as the enclosure, which gives the wolf an easy entrance to the sheep; but once there he finds himself in an uncomfortably close place, becomes frightened and forgets to do what he came for — kill the sheep. Four or five wolves have been captured in that way in one night.

As hinted above, a hungry wolf will tackle anything, and Dr. Thomson had good reason to be frightened on the night of a memorable ride into Wood county. It was soon after he began practice here, in 1844. Roads then, especially westward, were in a deplorable condition. The bottom, where there was one, consisted of logs of irregular size thrown in cross ways, and almost swimming in the water, so that if a horse stepped between the logs a serious accident was liable to happen. Over a road of this kind, and through a roadway just wide enough to permit two teams to pass. Dr. Thomson was riding one moonlight night. The horse was stepping carefully from one log to another, lighted by the moon, which was then at full, and sent her light in rays parallel to the direction of the roadway. While the plucky young doctor, the son of a Congressman, and bred in a clime somewhat more congenial, was rather enjoying the romantic beauty of the situation, the angry owl of a wolf quickened aesthetic reverie into a fever of excitement. An answer came from the other side, and soon the underbrush began to rattle. To hurry at first seemed impossible, but the horse, with increasing danger, became more and more impatient, until at last he leaped at full gallop over the perilous corduroy. The ground trembled at every leap, while the snarling, hungry beasts showed their red tongues in the moon-lighted roadway behind. The life of the rider depended upon the surefootedness of his noble animal, for the slightest misstep would make him the prey of wild beasts. At length "hope saw a star." A clearing opened out and a welcoming light shone from the cabin window. The doctor's face even yet turns pale when he tells this experience and thinks of that perilous ride over shaking logs.

THE SETTLEMENT.

The settlement of Scott began about 1828 or 1829, and Colonel Merrit Scott was without doubt the first settler. He had been in General Harrison's army during the War of 1812, and had, perhaps, cast a designing eye over this wilderness while out on the campaign. Mr. Scott lived to old age, and raised a family of sons and daughters. He was a very respectable man, and the naming of the township was a deserved compliment to one who had the resolution to begin the improvement of its fertile lands. He was a native of Kentucky. No land was entered in Scott township until the year 1830. The dates given in the following table, showing the original proprietorship of the township, give the time of listment for taxation. Lands were entered five years before, but exempt from taxation. The table will show, in a few instances, that the same lot was entered twice, which often happened also in other townships. Proprietors became discouraged and relinquished their claims, thus throwing the land back again upon the market.

Entries recorded in 1835 are as follows:   

Entries recorded in 1836 are:

Entries are recorded in 1837 as follows:

 1The following entries are recorded in 1838:

 Entries recorded in 1839 are as follows:

Entries are recorded in 1840 as follows:

 The records of 1847 show the following entries:

 In 1848 is recorded:

 In 1852 are recorded:

In 1854 were recorded:

The last entries are recorded in 1856:

Scott was followed closely by Samuel Biggerstaff, who settled on section twelve, and after several years residence in the township, removed to Wood county and is now living in Minnesota. He and Mr. Plantz are the only two men living who voted at the first election in Scott.

It is not possible to give the names of all the early settlers, for many of them remained but a short time and deserve no place in a history of this county for they never accomplished anything in the way of improving the county or building up its institutions.

Henry Roller, one of the earliest settlers, and senior proprietor of the projected village which bears his name, removed to Scott from Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1832. He lived in the township until his death, in 1850. The family consisted of several children, four of whom are living: Elisha T., Nebraska; Shedrick B., Columbiana county, Ohio; Mary (Clary), Wood county, and Susan Breakfield, Michigan. Mr. Roller was a native of Tennessee. He enlisted in the War of 1812, in Captain Gilbert's command, and assisted to cut the first road from the Huron River to Fort Stevenson. He received his discharge from service on Christmas, 1812.

Wilson Teters came from Columbiana county with Roller and settled on the adjoining quarter.

The first settler on Tauwa prairie was Samuel Miller, a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Scott at an early period of the settlement. He is yet living but is no longer engaged on the farm.

The first settled preacher in the township was Jeremiah Brown. He came to Scott from Muskingum county. After remaining here a number of years he moved to Illinois, where he died.

M. L. Smith came to Scott in 1832 and is yet a resident of the township.

Lewis Jennings settled in the west part of the township in 1832. He was the first settler on the prairie, which has taken his name. The prairie lies mostly in Wood county. Joseph H. is the only one of the sons yet living.

Jacob Rinehart came from Pennsylvania in the year 1832, and settled in Scott township. He remained here one year and then moved to Jackson, his present residence.

James Baker settled south of Rollersville. The first grave in the township was on his place. A further account of the funeral will be found in the proper connection.

C. C. Barney, the first justice of the peace, lived on the present Wright farm at Greenesburg. He sold to Greene and Ryder, the proprietors of the town.

James Donnel, a native of Ireland, made an early settlement here, where he died. His son James is station agent at Helena.

Three old settlers, when asked who Patrick Byrne was, answered: "He was a fine Irishman." He settled in the northern part of the township, and acquired the reputation of being an industrious worker and excellent citizen. He sold his place in 1840, and in company with Jesse Johnson, a tenant, or more properly a hired man, started for the West, but was the victim of a fatal accident at the Rock River, Illinois. A hand was driving the stock across the stream, but in an attempt to swim the current, became exhausted, and sank. Byrne, seeing the man's peril, leaped into the stream, and succeeded in grasping the drowning man, who seized both of Byrne's arms with a death grip. Both sank, and were drowned.

The Ballard family came from Rhode Island, and settled in Scott soon after the first settlement of the township. They were factory men in the East. One of them kept tavern in Rollersville for a number of years. They finally removed to Iowa. Albin Ballard is now living in Michigan.

The most extensive land-owner in the township was George R. Lewis. He never lived in Scott, but entered extensive tracts for speculative purposes. He donated to Western Reserve college a tract of several hundred acres.

John Harpster came to Scott about 1833. He was a native of Pennsylvania. He settled on the Ludwig farm. He removed from here to the eastern part of the county.

George N. Snyder settled in this township at a very early date. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1808. In 1834 he married Mary Harmon, a native of Vermont, who died in 1870, leaving five children: Elizabeth, Scott; Merrit L., Fremont; Harvey J., Kansas; Mary E. (Boor), Scott; and Sarah E. (Cessna), Scott. Mr. Snyder married for his second wife, Mrs. Nancy Houston, widow of Alexander Houston, by whom he had twelve children.

Philip and Diadama Hathaway were natives of Assonett, Massachusetts. In 1832 they moved to Ohio and located in Scott township. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Philo W., resides in Fostoria, Wood county; Gardner D., in Scott township; Mrs. Eunice W. Eaton, at Rollersville, and Mrs. Anna Rice, in Townsend. Two children died in Massachusetts — Philip and Dudley. Mr. Hathaway died in 1844, aged forty-nine; Mrs. Hathaway in 1848, aged fifty-one.

Jacob Kuntz was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1793. He married Rowena Rhode in 1810, and came to Ohio in 1833. He entered a quarter section of land in Scott, on which he settled and has lived ever since. He is the only one of the first voters yet living in the township. He is the oldest man in the township. Of a family of ten children, seven are living.

Philip Miller, with his wife Matilda Howe, came to Scott in 1833. Mr. Miller died in 1873, having been the father of thirteen children, six of whom are living.

Abraham Unger and Sarah Snyder Unger emigrated from Berks county, Pennsylvania, and settled first in Marion county. In 1823 they settled in the north part of Scott township. Mr. Unger died in Indiana in 1876; his wife had died seven years before. The family consisted of six children, two of whom are living in this county — Joel and Mrs. Peter Kimmerling.

Daniel Long, father of the Longs of this county, was a native of Maryland. He came to Ohio in 181 2, and settled in Guernsey county, Ohio, where he lived until 1834, when he came to the Black Swamp, settling in Seneca county just south of Scott township, where he died in 1865 at the advanced age of ninety-two years. The family consisted of ten boys and two girls. Seven children are yet living. Two of the sons — David and Wesley — died in the army. Three — Samuel, John, and Michael — are preachers, and have travelled the United Brethren circuits of this county. A more extended biography of the last-named will be found in a previous chapter. Charles Long was the first settler in the southeast corner of the township, where his widow still lives. Charles was soon followed to the county by his brother-in-law, Samuel Sprout, the husband of Nancy Long. John Long, one of the first settled preachers of this part of the county, is now living in Wood county; he once owned a farm bordering on Tauwa prairie. Benjamin lives on the homestead in Seneca county.

Samuel Sprout removed from Pennsylvania to Guernsey county in 1816. He married, in Guernsey county, Nancy Long, and in 1834 came to Scott, settling at the west border of Tauwa prairie. His children living are: Margaret (Doll), John, Samuel, Marion, Caroline (Downing), Jane (Hays), Calista (Hippie).  

Michael Seltzer was one of those characters whom everybody knows, for the people of the whole neighborhood were called upon to pity him, both on account of imbecility of mind and poverty of purse. The poor fellow became a Mormon, then a pauper, and finally died in Jackson township in an open field. He never liked to work, but in these days of culture, that could not be called an eccentricity.

Andrew Roush and family left their improvements here and removed to Michigan. It will be noticed that many of the settlers here made Michigan the objective point of second immigration. There was at one time what was known as the Michigan fever, caused by malarious reports about the unbounded fertility of soil and healthfulness of climate. It is safe to say that those who remained to improve the Black Swamp country were wiser than those who were lured by Michigan stories, for no agricultural tract in the country has grown in value more rapidly than this swamp.

John Spade had a cooper-shop near the centre of the township, probably the first manufacturing industry in the township. The timber in this region made excellent staves, being thrifty, straight, and close-grained.

Ezekiel Abernathy, an early settler of Scott, removed from here to York, and from there to Iowa, where he now lives.

No man worked harder and accomplished more for Scott than Hon. Benjamin Inman. He was a native of New Jersey, born in 181 7. He came to the county in 1832, and in 1834 settled in Scott township, his residence for more than forty years. He was elected county commissioner in i860, and held the office twelve years. During that period the ditching movement was inaugurated, and carried forward with vigor. Mr. Inman was personally interested in these public improvements, and used his influence enthusiastically, both as an official and a citizen. Mr. Inman was elected to a seat in the House of Representatives, from this county, in 1873.

Jacob Havley removed from Mansfield, Ohio, to Scott. He was the father of a family of fourteen children. He died a few years since, a highly esteemed old gentleman.

Prominent among the settlers of 1835, and one who has given his life to the improvement of the township, is Elisha Moore. He was born in Columbiana county in 1809. In 1829 he married, in his native county, Phebe Smith, who has been a faithful helpmeet. Their family consisted of six children — D. W., Charity, Martha, Rachel, Elvina (Shively), and Minerva, all of whom are dead except Rachel and Elvina.

It is really gratifying to a young man to observe the conscious, though unexpressed pride of an active pioneer who has seen the wilderness gradually transformed. A talk with such a man will convince the meanest skeptic that the self-consciousness of having added to the world's wealth, material or moral, is a reward worth living and working for.

Reuben McDaniels, a native of New Hampshire, came to Ohio and settled in this township in 1833. The following year he married Joanna C. Nye, by whom he had a family of five children. Mr. McDaniels has taken special interest in educational affairs.

William Wright, with his family, came from New York to Scott in 1836. He died about 1855. His sons are Martin, Louis, and Solomon. Martin has been in mercantile business in Greenesburg for more than twenty years. Solomon is in business at Millersville.

John Ellsworth is one of the men whose name causes shy glances and winks among his old neighbors. He could not read, but was naturally a bright fellow. He left the country rather hastily on one occasion, much to the disappointment of the sheriff of Wood county. But let the report of a man's evil deeds decay with his bones. Wickedness is born of the flesh and 3.should perish with the body. When a man dies he shuffles off these mortal sins, and history has no business to make a monument of them. It is given to us as mater of history, however, that bogus coins have been plowed up on this old farm.

James Crandall came to Scott about 1837. He was taken away by the California fever, and never returned.

David Solomon should have been mentioned before. He has been one of the old standbys in the United Brethren church of the south side. He came to the township in 1836, and is yet living, though in feeble health.

Frederick Bowser was born in Pennsylvania in 1824. He married Margaret Fickes in 1848, and settled in Scott township in 1856. Mr. Bowser died in 1871. The family consisted of seven children, five of whom are living, viz: George, Scott township; Jacob, Madison; Barbara, Alice, and Maggie, Scott township.

The Wyant family came to Scott township at an early date, probably about 1831. The father, George Wyant, moved to Seneca county and died there. Of his children, Eli was a carpenter, and worked several years at his trade in Scott and Jackson. He died in Farmington, Missouri. Abraham remained in Scott township some years. He now resides in St. Joseph county, Michigan. Mary is the wife of Isaac Harley, of Scott. R. K. Wyant, one of the sons who was very well known in this county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. He taught thirty-four terms of school in Sandusky county, and was a minister of the gospel a number of years. He married Sarah Sprout, who died in 1866. Mr. Wyant died in 1880.

The surviving representatives of this family are: John W., Madison township; S. I., Scott; Ellen (Underwood), Wood county; Irene (Smith), Washington township; E. F., Scott, and William R., Wood county.

Henry and Elizabeth Buchtel settled in this township in 1837, and resided here a number of years. They were from Pennsylvania. Mr. Buchtel went to Kansas and died there. Eight of his children are now living: George, Fostoria; Elizabeth (Smith), Republic; Esther (Hartman), Wood county; Jemima (Callahan), Wood county; Mary (Cook), Freeport; Alfred, Kansas, and Malinda (Evans), Scott.

James Evans settled in the township in 1837. He was born in Massachusetts in 1808. He married Hannah C. Dean, a native of the same State. The family consisted of nine children, three of whom are living — George D. and Joseph, in Scott, and Everett, in Bradner. Mr. Evans died in 1864. His wife survived him twelve years. G. D. Evans occupies the homestead. He was four years old when his parents came to the county. He married, in 1856, Malinda Buchtel. Anson Clark is the only child.  

Joseph Metzger emigrated from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, and settled in the eastern part of the township.

We have now sketched the early settlement of the township. But there are a few others, although settlers of a later date, who deserve mention in this connection, on account of their representative character as citizens.

W. W. Peck was born in Connecticut in 1800. In 181 1 he went to New York, and in 1827 married Lima Cole, of Albany. In 1830 he removed to Cortland county, where he remained ten years, and then came to Ohio, settling in Scott township. He now lives in Madison. The family consists of four children — Nelson and Catharine (Spade), this county; Jason Lee, Kansas; and William, on the homestead.

Add Bair was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1825. He lived there till 1847, when he married Theresa Fay and moved to Scott township. His first wife died in 1849. The following year he married for his second wife Maria Baker. The family consists of ten children, nine of whom are living — O. W., Miami county; E. E., Kansas; Frank G., Mary E., Rosa M., Grant, Ella E., Charles D., and C. Foster, Scott township.

William A. Gregg was born in New Hampshire in 1825. He married Elsie Foster in 1852, and settled in Scott township the same year. The following year Mrs. Gregg died, leaving one child, Frank, who lives in Michigan. In 1854 Mr. Gregg married for his second wife Harriet Hanline, who has given birth to nine children, viz: Charles, lives in Illinois; Elsie (Peterson), Wood county; Hattie, Sadie, William D., Lettie, Schuyler, Grace, and Roscoe.

John Houtz was born in Pennsylvania in 1801. His family came to Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1808. He married, first, Catharine Houtz, of Washington township, who died in 1843. In 1847 he married, for his second wife, Elizabeth Boyer, and soon after moved to this township, where he died in 1881. The family consisted of six children — Mary E. (Phister), Wood county; Cornelius, Scott; Zachariah, Scott; Elizabeth (Tyson), Wood county; John, Washington township; and Sarah (Tyson), Scott. Cornelius, second child of John Houtz, was born in 1848. He married Mary Benton in 1872, and has one child — Jessie M.

John E. McIntire was born in Reed township in 1851. He married, in 1872, Elizabeth Jane Nevils, who was born in 1850. They had four children, three of whom are living — Lillie D., John O., and Henry H. Mr. McIntire is the oldest of the six children of James and Catharine McIntire, of Seneca county.

John Ernst was born in Pennsylvania in 1833. In 1860 he married Hester Noble, also a native of Pennsylvania. In 1865 they came to Ohio and settled in Scott township. Their family consists of seven children — Lillie Amanda(Homerer), Susannah, Savilla, Arabella, Ara, Hettie May. and an infant daughter. By trade Mr. Ernst is a carpenter.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

On the 4th of March, 1833, there were more than twenty voters in Scott, as is shown by a petition presented to the commissioners on that date praying for the erection of a new township, to be named and known as Scott, and to comprise the territory included in the original surveyed township number four, range thirteen. This petition was presented by Lewis Jennings, at whose house the first election was held on the first Monday of April of that year.

At this election Lewis Jennings was elected clerk, and C. C. Barney justice of the peace. S. D. Palmer and Samuel Bickerstaff were two of the three first trustees. Lewis Jennings, at the next election, became justice, and held the office a number of years. There are but two of the voters at the first election living — Jacob Plantz and Samuel Bickerstaff — the former being the only one living in the township.

CHURCHES.

The United Brethren were the first to establish their form of worship in this township. In most parts of Ohio, Methodist missionaries first preached in the rural and new settlements, but here the prize of vigilance belongs to the United Brethren.

Canaan class is the oldest. Meetings were held in the south part of the township as early as 1834, the first preachers being Revs. Beaver, Moore, and Davis, the last being known as "John Davis, the hatter." Daniel Long and avid Solomon organized the first class, David Solomon being class leader for more than thirty years. A meeting-house was built in 1867. The present membership is thirty.

The Evangelicals organized a class at an early period of the settlement. Among the first members were John Roush, John Harpster, John Orwig, Isaac Miller, Mr. Hartman, and perhaps a few others. Meetings were held in school-houses until 1870, when a church was built by public subscription. There are about thirty members.

Sandusky class, United Brethren, was formed about 1845, by D. P. Hulbert, and was composed of Henry Orwig, L. M. Smith, and David Vandersall, with their families. The class is at present composed of twenty-two members. Meetings are held in school-houses and in residences.  

Methodism has had an existence in the township for a great many years. Mount Zion class was formed, and a meeting-house was built, in 1872, near Greenesburg.

The Congregational church at Rollersville was formed in 1842, through the efforts of Rev. M. P. Fay, who continued to minister to the congregation until 1878. The first members were: John Miller and wife, Philip Miller and wife, Mr. Jewett, Sylvester Merrick and wife, James Merrick and wife, Angus Campbell and wife, Mrs. Reuben McDaniels, George N. Snyder and wife, Williston Merrick and wife, and Mr. Harrison and wife. Of these first members, Mrs. McDaniels is the only one yet living in the community. Rev. Mr. Hadley succeeded Mr. Fay to the pastorate. In 1880 Rev. Mr. Preston became pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Thompson. The house of worship in Rollersville was built in 1860.

There are a number of families belonging to the Disciple church who meet for worship at residences and school-houses, and are ministered to by itinerant preachers. They are not a regularly organized body.

GREENESBURG.

This village is one of the oldest west of the Sandusky River. It was laid out by John L. Green, who, in partnership with Ryder, opened the first store in 1836. About this time a road was built to Fremont, and the village was supposed to have a future. But the fondest hopes of the wisest men are often never realized. Certain it is that the reality of the village of Greenesburg has never been realized except on paper. But a surveyor is unable to make a town. Natural advantages, business tact, and enterprise are required. The projectors of several towns will find this out, if they have not already learned it. Millersville is an example to the point.

John L. Green failed in business in 1840 and then began the study of law. His career is noticed in the chapter relating to the Bar.

The first postmaster at Greenesburg was James Russel. He was succeeded by D. G. Tinney, and he in turn by Martin Wright, who held the office until 1873, when an office was established at Millersville and the office at Greenesburg cancelled.

Martin Wright has been the store-keeper for more than twenty years.

ROLLERSVILLE.

Rollersville is situated on the township line between Madison and Scott. The Scott side was laid out by Henry Roller! and Wilson Teeters; the north part, lying in Madison, was laid out by William Whitford and Luther Chase. James Evans proposed the name which was adopted as a compliment to the oldest of the four proprietors.

Jeremiah N. King opened the first store, but the woodland village consisted chiefly of taverns. Jonathan Fought built the first one. This was a log house one and one-half stories high and eighteen by twenty-four feet in the clear. It stood on lot sixty-three.

The second tavern was built by Alvin Ballard. It was a two-story log house of commodious size.

The third tavern was built by Barringer, and stood on the lot now occupied by the Congregational church. It was one story high, contained one room and was sixteen by twenty feet in size. How would you like to stay all night in that house? The whisky trade gave spirit to village life in those days of hard work and unrestrained revelry. The average consumption of whisky per week was one barrel. Considering the fact that the population was then comparatively sparse, we must conclude that there were some hard drinkers in that community.

An idea of the value of property in those days of cheap whiskey can be formed from the following incidents: Barringer met Sheriff Crow riding in the streets of Fremont one day, and proposed to trade his tavern stand for the horse. Crow knowing the infirmities of the horse, accepted the proposition, and a few days after visited his purchase. He was somewhat disappointed, however, when he found that he had been under a misapprehension, supposing that Barringer occupied the two-story house. But log houses at that time were of little value.

The first building in the village was built by William Whitford.

The first postmaster was David Smith. Dr. Thomson was postmaster from 1847 till 1862; Daniel Baker till 1874; William Herriff till 1875; S. P. Hathaway till 1876, and D. B. Baker has filled the position since that time.

D. B. Baker conducts the only general store. There are two saloons, a blacksmith shop and wagon maker's shop, a church, school-house, and about twenty dwellings. The hotels have gone down.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician in Scott was Dr. William Durbin. He located in Rollersville in 1834, and continued in practice three years. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania Medical College and is now practicing in Mahoning county, Ohio.

John B. Chamberlain, a graduate of Quebec Medical College, was the next local doctor; he had been previously located in Fremont. He had been a surgeon in the War of 1812. He left Scott about 1848 and went to St. Clair, Michigan, where he died in 1852.

J. C. Thomson, with one exception, is the oldest active practitioner in the county. His father, John Thomson, was born in Ireland. He studied medicine in Washington, Pennsylvania, and began practice in New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1807.

He married a daughter of Joseph Patterson, a Presbyterian clergyman, of Pennsylvania. Dr. Thomson was in Congress ten years, being elected first during Jackson's administration. He represented Columbiana county in the Legislature sixteen years. Dr. J. C. Thomson was born in 1822. In 1839 he entered a drug store in New Lisbon, Ohio, and two years later began the study of medicine at Mansfield, Ohio, which he pursued three years, including a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. He began practice in Scott, in 1844. His extensive practice and the confidence of the public are sufficient testimonials of his worth. His standing as a citizen is shown by repeated elections to local trusts. He was justice of the peace from 1853 for a period of twenty-seven years. Dr. Thomson married, in 1845, Jane Roller, who died in 1847. In 1848 he married for his second wife Avis P. Hathaway, daughter of N. P. Hathaway. Three children are living — Anna P. (Inman), John, and Helen M. Dr. Thomson holds membership in Masonry in Tiffin commandery, Fremont chapter, and Brainard lodge; in Odd fellowship, in Helena lodge, Thomson encampment, and Rebecca lodge; Knights of Honor, in William Whitford lodge. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland, in 1869.

Dr. Charles A. Roush had an office at Rollersville, and practiced from 1848 till 1854. He is now practicing in Toledo.

Dr. John B. Ginn was a physician of worth at Greenesburg. He had a large practice. He died at Greenesburg in 1856.

SOCIETY.

William Whitford lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 948, was instituted by H. R. Shomo, March 11, 1878. The name was conferred as a compliment to one of the original proprietors of the village. The charter members were: Dr. J. C. Thomson, Dr. E. R. Sage, R. A. Foregrave, William H. Aldrich, Edwin Aldrich, W. H. Campbell, J. E. Dean, Adam Bair, G. D. Evans, Josiah Fairbank, J. M. Gam, Theodore Munz, L. A. Mitchell, William Peck, S. R. Heberling, H. C. Green, John Hutchinson, G. D. Hathaway, Charles D. Inman, H. W. King, Joseph M. Jones, George W. Miller, and R. C. Thomas.

The past dictators, in their order, have been: Dr. J. C. Thomson, E. R. Sage, J. M. Garn, George N. Miller, Charles D. Inman, J. Fairbank, W. H. Campbell, and R. A. Foregrave. The lodge is in a prosperous condition, all the members taking an enthusiastic part in its business, and cheerfully meeting its demands. Dr. J. C. Thomson took the lead in the organization, and infused into it his characteristic enthusiasm.

EARLY FUNERALS.

Life is a frost of cold felicitie,

And death the thaw of all our vanitie.

                         [T. B., 1580.

The sacredness of the tomb commands a reverent approach to a description of early funeral customs. The mention of death brings a crowd of the saddest but sweetest recollections. The sight of a grave refreshes mournful memories of some dear friend's departing. Of all the truly simple usages imposed upon the pioneer of this region by natural conditions, none more solemnly impressive ever existed than their funeral customs. The scene of a woodland funeral at fifty years distance is picturesque, even poetical. We can only give the outlines, the imagination must supply the coloring of the picture.

In this part of the county underbrush and marsh grass covered the ground, shaded by large trees, making it difficult for even a footman to find a way through, except where nature had thrown up ridges and seemingly provided passage-ways. Along these ridges, densely timbered, ran "cowpaths," no roads having yet been cut out. The first burial in Scott took place at a very early period of the settlement. The deceased had been a veteran of the Revolution, and lived about two miles west of the line, in Wood county. A path led from the house of mourning across the marsh and prairie, and along the ridge, to an elevated spot on the tract now known as the Minkly farm, in Scott. The few settlers for miles around all gathered at the house and performed the funeral rites. Then six strong men volunteered to consign the body to the elements from which it had come. The path leading to the burial place was, at places, so narrow that two men could not walk abreast. Single and alone, they started on the mournful journey, bearing upon their shoulders all that was mortal of him whose spirit had gone to the home of the brave and honest. One man going before explored the path, four bore the precious load, while the sixth followed ready to afford relief. Thus the sad, silent company moved along over swamps bridged with logs, between impenetrable growths of underbrush, and into a more accessible upland forest. At last the open grave was reached. Overshadowed by oak, and elm, and maple, this silent, lone grave was bathed in the perfume of wild flowers and shrubs, and a choir of wild birds pensively chanted while the earth was swallowing its own. Cold clay, unsoftened by the loving tears of mourners, rattled against the rough box coffin. Soon this gap in the earth's fair bosom was closed. The burial company scattered to their homes, and even the name of the brave soldier who imperilled his life for our liberties, is now forgotten. A man's faults fare better than his name, for they die and are buried with his body, but his name, after a time, sinks into obscurity, and at last perishes without the rights of Christian funeral. This grave was the beginning of a public cemetery.

The largest cemetery in the township is located on the Metzger farm in the eastern part. The Vernon family's were the first graves here. No roads led to this lot for a number of years, the bodies being carried to the grave through the woods. It was, indeed, a task to be a pall-bearer in those days. Neither was it an easy task to dig a grave, for roots seemed to begrudge enough ground. It will be inferred that muddy roads, scanty food, uncomfortable houses, severe labor, and the torture of wolves howling, and mosquitoes biting did not complete the catalogue of pioneer hardships. Even Christian burial was accomplished with great difficulty.

MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.

One of the settlers on the prairie at an early date was a good fellow on general principles, but he had a keen eye for business, and was not burdened with over-sensitive susceptibilities. The Senecas made a custom of camping annually on the ridge, just south of the prairie in Seneca county. One season a squaw died during the encampment, and was buried after the manner of the Senecas. The Indians, out of respect, at once abandoned their sports at the place of burial, having first invoked the blessing of the Great Spirit. But the prairie settler was not the man to allow reverence for lifeless bodies to stand in the way of making a few dollars. The shades of night had no sooner enveloped the grave than with pick and shovel he was at work. Log after log which had been carefully laid to protect the body from contact with profane earth, was removed until at last the body, dressed in a fancy hunting skirt, could be removed. The shrine formed by savage but conscientious hands, and blessed by pagan rituals, was desecrated and robbed of its own. Taking the body on his back, the grave pilferer started for his cabin through the still and black forest, carrying the stiff, cold, clammy body on his back. After travelling a mile shut off from all the world by dense woods, he emerged into the moon-lighted prairie, through which lay the remainder of the journey. Painful ending, indeed, it was. In full view were the glassy eyes half closed in death, and ghastly features of his stolen burden. But a hard heart assisted him to the end, where the corpse was boxed, taken to Lower Sandusky and sold.

In a few years after, the central figure of this strange affair sold his farm and left the township.

The first school-house in the township was built near Greenesburg in 1834. The second school was on the farm now owned by Mrs. Charles Long. Jacob Sprout was the first teacher in this part of the township.

Considerable excitement was caused in the north part of the township by the finding of the remains of the body of a man, torn to pieces by wolves. A pair of boots were found on a tree near by, which were supposed to belong to a man who had been in the country a few days looking for land. His sudden disappearance confirmed this opinion, but the circumstances of his death were involved in mystery, and gave rise to considerable suspicion.

The reader is charged against forming an opinion prejudicial to the fair fame of Scott township. It is a community of enterprising, law-abiding citizens. The early settlers were generally a good class of people, but a few were not; but these, like pomace from cider, have been worked off, and the quality improved by their presence. There used to be a good deal of stealing going on in this part of the county. Hams and wheat were in especial danger. An old wheat thief once gave his experience to a highly esteemed citizen of the township, under promise never to reveal the name. Thieves are proverbially smart, and these country thieves were no exception to the rule, as is shown by the strategic methods adopted. The retired thief to whom we have referred said in substance:

A dark night was always selected. Let me tell you: never try to steal near home. Go where you are not known. We always took a team hitched to a wagon, and drove eight or ten miles. The party generally consisted of two men and one woman, or a man dressed in woman's clothes. We chose a place close to the road. It is much safer than a place back from the road, for, you see, the plan won't work back from the road. Well, when we came to the place, we drive as close to the house as the road will take us, there stop. Leaving the woman in the wagon to hold the horses, we go to the barn and sack the grain. If any body comes out or noise is made, there the woman is in the wagon, and nobody is so dumb or impolite as to ask her any questions. We get the wheat sacked, load it in the wagon, and drive off. That is the last of it till next morning, when the wheat is gone, and we are away off. Oh, it's no danger to steal if you work it right.

The old man is probably right in his last statement. This is a unique method, however, and seems to have been peculiarly the property of Sandusky and Wood counties.

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.

That the love of money is the root of sin, is a doctrine as old as the Bible. Another old axiom is, "The way to make money is to make it." The history of Scott township shows that this doctrine was literally believed in by a coterie of sharp and ambitious men. No event ever occurred in the western part of the county which created such general excitement and so much anxiety as the arrest of Jacob Weaver, in 1840, on a warrant charging him with coining counterfeit money. His supposed associates were prominent men in the community, but Weaver was the only person proved guilty by legal processes, and in consequence will have to stand the brunt of our description of the whole affair. This, too, is in harmony with the actual facts of the case, for, in reality, he was the willing tool of abler and shrewder men.

A fire in the woods often attracted the attention of settlers late at night, but for a time nothing was thought of what the phenomenon meant. But after a time people began to grow suspicious and watched. Certain individuals were found often absent from home and “what was going on down in the woods" became a question which honest folks asked each other in whispers. One day fragments of metal and a molder's ladle were found near the pile of ashes. The discovery of several quarter and half dollar pieces of suspicious composition began to define conjecture, and increased, but quiet vigilance followed.

At last sufficient evidence was accumulated to justify legal proceedings. Noah Jennings placed in the hands of Sheriff Everett a warrant for the arrest of Jacob Weaver. The day was disagreeable and steady rain set in toward evening. The utmost quiet was prerequisite to the success of the enterprise. Sheriff Everett chose as deputies Noah Jennings, who knew every crook and turn of the roads; Levi Parish, a brave, muscular young fellow of more than average size and strength, and two other young men. These four constituted the sheriff's body guard. They planned to reach the house of their victim just after daylight in the morning, that hour being the only certain time of finding him in the house and at the same time affording no possibility of escape in the darkness of the earlier hours of the night. The sheriff and his deputies quietly left Lower Sandusky just after dark. Rain was falling thick and fast; the roads were a sheet of water and mud; ebony blackness seemed to oppress the earth, indeed everything conspired to make the expedition successful.

Jennings took the lead, the others following single file in close succession to prevent being lost in the darkness. The south road, then a mere path through the woods, was chosen for secrecy. The horses carried their speechless riders, keeping time in their pace with the long-drawn hours of that awful night. Toward morning the rain ceased. The eastern sky gave signs of approaching day just as the officers came in sight of the house wherein the miserable tool of that wicked conspiracy was peacefully sleeping, little dreaming that such a night would be chosen by the officers of the law for his arrest. The sheriff, with his deputies, tarried in the woods till light dispelled the darkness which had completely concealed their well-timed ride. The time for action came. A man stood on guard at each corner of the house while the sheriff roused the family, entered the house, and quietly made the arrest of the unsuspecting victim of his warrant. A diligent search followed for the wicked tools, which proved fruitless until the boards of the barn floor were overturned, where was found a large leathern bag filled with pieces of metal carefully worked to the size of the larger silver coins in general circulation. These were exhibited to the jury at the trial of the case.

Weaver was tried, convicted of coining counterfeit money, and sentenced to the penitentiary. There was no direct evidence against any one else, but one who claims to know says the facts would show even more to have been implicated than were suspected. But it is better to cover up faults rather than parade them; consequently we close the chapter against suspicions.

The method of manufacturing these spurious coins has come to light. The metal was moulded to the exact size of some common piece — quarter dollar, half dollar, or dollar, A die was then set on each side and pressed into the metal by means of screws resting against trees for resistance.

The money was passed in considerable quantities, and could scarcely be detected by the inexperienced from genuine coin. In some parts of Scott farmers even yet occasionally plow up a piece of the bogus money. From this circumstance Scott has been named "the bogus township."

Source:  History of Sandusky County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographies of Prominent Citizens and Pioneers, by H. Z. Williams & Bro., Homer Everett, (c) 1882, pp. 807-823