Delence of Fort Stephenson.-Gallantry of Colonel Croghan, both sides. Proctor again laid siege to the fort on the 22d of May, but with no better success. He then attacked, with his united forces, Fort Stephenson or Sandusky, but Major Croghan, a young and brave officer, who commanded the garrison, so admirably managed the defence, that Proctor raised the siege, and retired to Malden. About this time, Lake Erie became a scene of conflict. A small fleet was collected there, and placed under the command of Commodore Perry. The British also fitted out a small fleet, and on the 10th of September, 1813, a severe naval battle was fought upon the lake, in which the Americans were successful.t * Major Croghan, a young and gallant officer, was placed in command of Fort Stephenson. He received an order that, should the British troops approach in force with cannon, and they could be discovered in time to retreat, he should do so immediately, destroying all the public stores. But Major Croghan, when Proctor advanced "in force, with cannon," took the responsibility of disobeying orders, and defended the fort with his feeble garrison. Indeed, so late did the order arrive that it was out of the question to comply. He immediately despatched an answer to General Harrison, saying: "We have determined to maintain this place, and by Heaven we can." And so they did, and the whole country rang with their praises. Major Croghan is now a colonel in the army, and distinguished himself in the late campaigns in Mexico. †The American fleet consisted of nine small vessels, carrying fifty-five guns; that of the British of six vessels, and sixty-three guns. About four hours after the commeecement of the battle, the British surrendered. Commodore Perry's despatch to General Harrison, on this occasion, was exceedingly laconic: "We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop. O. H. PERRY." On the thirtieth of April, 1802, Congress took preliminary steps for determining the boundary of Ohio, and for its admission into the Union as an independent state. The act passed at that time authorized the call of a convention to form a state constitution. That body assembled at Chilicothe, on the first of November, of the same year; and on the twenty-ninth a constitution was adopted, and signed by the members of the convention. It was not referred to the people for ratification, but through the act of the convention alone, it became the organic law of the state, which, by virtue of its adoption, became one of the sister states of the Union. The boundaries were fixed by Congress in 1803, as follows: "On the east, the Pennsylvania line; on the south, the river Ohio, from its intersection by the same to the mouth of the Great Miami river; on the west, a line drawn due north from the last-named point; and on the north an east and west line drawn through the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, running east, after intersecting the abovementioned north line, until it intersects Lake Erie, or the boundary line between the United States and the British provinces, and thence with the same to the Pennsylvania line." The northern boundary was changed by Congress, in 1836, so as to take in the mouth of the Maumee river, and the Maumee bay. The state is now divided 36 Adams and Allen Counties. into eighty-three counties, all of which are rapidly increasing in wealth and population. We proceed to give a record of their several organizations, a general description of their physical aspect, and their resources, as exhibited by Doubtless the census of 1850 will show an astonthe census of 1840. ishing increase in population, resources, and productions. ADAMS COUNTY. ADAMS is situated in the south part of the state, upon the Ohio river, and contains five hundred and fifty square miles. It was one of the first counties into which the northwestern territory was divided, and was formed in 1797, by proclamation of Governor St. Clair. It was so named in honor of John Adams, who was then president of the United States. The surface is generally hilly and broken, and the soil various. Chiefly watered by Brush creek and its branches. Principal productions are wheat, Indian corn, oats, and pork. Its first settlers were chiefly from Kentucky and Virginia, and a few from Ireland. Its towns and their population in 1840 (the period of the last census) were: Franklin Meigs 1,355 1,068 1,086 Monroe Tiffin. Wayne 832 1,540 916 Winchester 1,121 1,976 Sprigg. Capital.-WEST UNION. In 1840, it had a presbyterian, and a methodist church, a markethouse, a stone courthouse, jail, county offices, eight stores, various mechanic shops, one printing-office, issuing a weekly newspaper, and about five hundred inhabitants. ALLEN COUNTY. ALLEN is situated in the northwest part of the state, on the height of Contains five thousand land between Lake Erie and the Ohio river. five hundred and fifty-four square miles. It was organized in 1820, and was so named in honor of Colonel Allen, who distinguished himself during the war of 1812. It was for a time attached to Mercer county, in a judicial relation. The surface is generally level, and the soil fertile and well adapted to grazing, and the cultivation of grain. Watered by the Auglaize river, and its branches. Principal agricultural produc- wheat, corn, oats, rye, timothy, and flaxseed. Mixed population-many Germans. Its towns and their population, in 1840, Ashland and Ashtabula Counties. 37 Washington .768 401 Capital.-LIMA. It is situated on Ottawa river, twenty miles from its mouth. In 1840 it had three churches, a United States land-office, eight stores, and about six hundred inhabitants. ASHLAND COUNTY. ASHLAND is situated in the north part of the state, and contains about four hundred square miles. It was formed in 1846, from portions of Richland, Wayne, Lorain, and Huron, and was so named after its capi tal, which was laid out in 1816, by William Montgomery. He gave it the name of Ashland in honor of Henry Clay, whose estate near Lexington, Kentucky, bears that name. The surface is generally rolling and hilly, and the soil very fertile. Watered by the Coschocton river. Chief productions are wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, grass, and fruit, all of which are raised in great abundance. The original population were chiefly Pennsylvanians. There having been no census taken since the formation of the county, in 1846, we can only give the population of the towns which were comprised within its present area at that time, but belonging to other counties. The population, in the aggregate, was less than here given, as only a portion of the townships of Monroe, Mifflin, Milton, and Clear Creek, were included in the domain. Clear Creek 1,635 Perry Greene. Mifflin 1,800 €1,861 Hanover Lake. Monroe . Orange 1,840 Vermilion . Capital.-ASHLAND. In 1840 it had six stores, two churches, one methodist and one presbyterian, and seventy dwellings. Population in 1847, about thirteen hundred. lies ASHTABULA COUNTY. ASHTABULA is situated in the northwest part of the state, and contains six hundred and eighty square miles. It was formed from Trumbull and Geauga, in 1807, and derives its name from the Ashtabula river, the signification of which, in the Wyandot language, is Fish. It upon Lake Erie, toward the shores of which the surface is level, but in the interior is undulating. Watered by the Ashtabula and Grand rivers, and by Conneaut creek. The soil is fertile, and produces corn and oats in abundance. The principal articles of exportation are butter and cheese. Its towns and their population, in 1840, were:— 3 |