remiss in visiting the school-room-then may we expect that Seneca county will shine bright as a star of the first magnitude in the great constellation of Ohio! and then will her common schools be THE PROUDEST MONUMENTS OF HER GREAT

NESS.

CHAPTER XI.

Adams township-Sulphur Springs-Green Spring-Festival of the Seneca Indians.

On the 6th day of December, 1826, the township of Adams was organized, and made to include all the land in the original surveyed township, No. 3, in the 16th range, except what was then owned by the Seneca tribe of Indians, and one tier of sections on the west side of township No. 3, in the 17th Range, or what is at present Thompson township. Adams. includes at this time, the whole of the original surveyed township No. 3, in range 16. That part not then owned by the Indians, was surveyed into sections, and quarter sections, by Sylvanus Bourne, in 1820; the residue was surveyed in 1832, by C. W. Christmas.

The first township election was held on Monday the 25th day of December, 1826, at the house of Samuel Whiteman.* The soil in this township is remarkably rich, producing all kinds of grain and grass in abundance. The land is heavily timbered, consisting chiefly of oak, walnut, poplar, maple, beech, &c. The surface is usually rolling, and very well watered.

*The ticket elected was as follows: Martin Olds, L. T. Butler, and Thomas Longwith, trustees; Abraham Kine, clerk; Charles Shelby and Samuel Whiteman, overseers of the poor; G. Lee and Samuel Heartsock, fence-viewers; Cyrenus Wright, treasurer; William Myers, William Mead and Francis Evens, supervisors; Moses Pyatt, constable.

In 1830, Adams contained 285 inhabitants. In 1836 the population was estimated at 600. In 1840 it had augmented to 1250. Since that time it has steadily and rapidly increased in population and in wealth, numbering among many others. of its enterprising farmers-Asa Crockett, L. C. Stone, Daniel Rule, Ezra West, James Crockett, E. Smith, Solomon Drown, John Petticord, Enos Mead, John Craig, William Myers, Sen., Samuel Whiteman, (1st,) Reuben Drinkwater, G. Lee, John Kessler, and John Pain.

The greatest natural curiosity in Adams township, is the Sulphur Springs. These are nearly in the middle of section seven, at present owned by Josiah Hedges, proprietor of Tiffin.

The water which issues from the earth in several places, is clear and cold, and strongly impregnated with sulphur. It is not unpleasant to the taste, and possesses the remarkable properties of petrifying substances. Old logs have been taken from the bed of the stream which is formed by these springs, partially turned to stone, and various other substances have been found completely petrified. There is quite a large and steady current proceeding from these springs, which, after a southerly course of about thirty rods, mingles with the waters of Beaver creek.

The generally received opinion with regard to these springs is, that they are formed by the water which sinks into the earth near the north-east corner of the county-in the bed of Honey creek-and in Reed township, and which after a subterranean passage, here breaks forth upon the surface. This of course is

mere conjecture.

Beaver creek, a small stream of this township, passes near these springs, and after receiving the waters of the latter, crosses into Pleasant township, on section twelve. Taking a northerly direction, it leaves the county near the north-east corner of the township. This creek was formerly inhabited by

beavers, as vestiges of their works still remain. From this circumstance, originated the name of Beaver creek.

There are three saw-mills on this stream, above the sulphur springs; and water runs sufficient to drive them over four months of the year.

In 1838, a large flouring-mill was erected on Beaver creek, by Josiah Hedges.* It is just below the spring, in Pleasant township; and unlike other mills of the county, is not in the least affected by dry weather. During some of the summer months, its patrons are generally from all parts of the county, and occasionally from Wood, Hancock, Wyandot, Crawford, and sometimes from Putnam county, eighty miles distant.

In Sandusky county, eighty rods north from the northern boundary line of this county, there are sulphur springs similar to those in Adams. From the color of the water they have received the name of "Green Springs." The water from these springs unites with Beaver creek, after which, the latter takes the name of "Green creek ;" and empties into the Sandusky river, in Sandusky county.

On the 26th day of May, 1839, David Reeves, of Sandusky county, and David Risdon, of Seneca county, surveyed a town on section No. 5, in Adams township, and sections Nos. 31 and 32, in the original surveyed township No. 4, in the 16th range, in Sandusky county, which was named by the proprietor, Jacob Stem, "Green Spring," from the springs before mentioned.

The first settlers of this town were Jacob Stem, Bishop Adams, and Daniel H. Dana. This is a healthy and pleasant town, and contained in 1840, a population of 29. Since that time it has increased to 100. There are 20 dwellings in the place. One store, one foundry, one carriage-shop, one sad

This mill is now owned by Josiah Q. Hedges, a son of Josiah Hedges.

dler's-shop, one tailor's-shop, one cabinet-shop, three shoe-shops, and one blacksmith's-shop.

Green Spring is a post-town-the first post-master was Daniel H. Dana-that office is now held by Robert Smith. There are two practicing physicians, residents of this town-S. T. Finch and Thomas Cochran.

On the 30th day of April, 1846, Thomas Heming surveyed on section 36, in Adams township, a town, to which the proprietor, Daniel Kistler, gave the name of Adamsville. It has never been improved to any extent. In 1833, a town was surveyed on section 7, in this township, by David Risdon, to which the proprietor, Josiah Hedges, gave the name of “Sulphur Spring," from the springs before described, which are near the plat. This town contains but a few houses.

More than half of the present township of Adams, and so much of Pleasant township as lies east of the Sandusky river, together with a portion of Clinton and Scipio townships, formerly belonged to the Seneca Indians. But as we have given a geographical description of most of what was formerly their grant of land, we proceed to a more minute account of that nation, and we cannot better introduce this subject, than by giv ing the following, from the scrap-book of Samuel Crowell, of Lower Sandusky, which was published in the "Sidney Aurora," of 1844, as it relates some interesting facts relative to this nation; but more particularly, as it describes their famous chief, "HARD-HICKORY."

Says the writer :

The SENECAS who roamed those wilds,

In ages long by-gone,

Are now rejoicing in the chase,

Towards the setting sun.

Their sacrifices offer'd up,

And Deity appeas'd