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CHAPTER XI
GROTON TOWNSHIP
This township Avas originally known as Wheatsborough, after a Mr.
Wheat who owned the greater portion of it. The name was afterward
changed at the request of some of the inhabitants.
The surface is level; about one-half being prairie, while the northern
portion was covered with scrubby timber. The soil of the southern half
is black muck, with a sprinkling of sand; while the northern portion has
a limestone soil, with a substratum of limestone suitable for building
purposes. A small stream runs through the township, rising in Lyme
and floAving in a northeasterly direction to Oxford. The Indians gave
it the name of Pipe Creek because of a soft stone suitable for making
pipes found along its banks. In former times a lime kiln was operated
here, but was discontinued, and now the limestone is sent elsewhere to
be burned, several kilns being supplied by it.
Wild animals formerly abounded here as elsewhere on the Firelands,
and elderly residents used to tell of the time when wolves, deer, wildcats,
foxes, wild turkeys, raccoons and prairie chickens were hunted and killed.
A Mr. Rash, in an old record, gives, a vivid word-picture of the method
by Avhich the natives used to attempt to catch wild turkeys.
"To see about one hundred Indians surround the same number of
Avild turkeys, to see the turkeys fly without one of them being killed,
and to hear the outlandish gutteral ejaculations of the exasperated redskins,
Avishing the turkeys Avere in a place decidedly remote from the
happy hunting-grounds Avas very funny to the spectators."
The Indians of this toAvnship Avere mostly members of the Seneca
tribe, and in many respects differed from the Wyandots and neighboring
tribes. The Senecas were one of the tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy,
and noted like them for the Avisdom and simplicity of character which
has given them a place in history. Alatrons Avere represented in their
public councils, and exercised a veto influence in questions of peace and
Avar, Avhile the orators, Red Jacket, of the Senecas; Logan, of the Cayugas,
and Shenandoah, of the Oneidas, who are historical characters, gave
proof of the eloquence that distinguished this people.
Groton ToAvnship is No. 5, range 24, and is bounded on the
north by Alargaretta, south by Lyme, in Huron County, east by Oxford,
and west by the toAvnships of York and ToAvnsend, in Sandusky County.
The folloAving is a list of the original proprietors and those AVIIO by inheritance
or othenvise came into possession of the original claims: '
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