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It is not our province in a volume of this
description, to delineate the chronology of prehistoric epochs, or to
dwell at length upon those topics pertaining to the scientific causes
which tended to the formation of a continent, undiscovered for centuries,
by the wisdom and energy of those making a history of the Old World, by
the advancement of enlightenment in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Naturally, the geological formation of the State of Ohio cannot be entirely
separated from facts relative to the strata, which, in remote ages accumulated
one layer above the other, and finally constituted a "built-up"
America, from a vast sea. The action of this huge body of water washed
sediment and whatever came in its way upon primitive rocks, which were
subjected to frequent and repeated submersions, emerging as the water
subsided, thus leaving a stratum or layer to solidify and mark its number
in the series—a system of growth repeated in trees of the forest—in
those discernible rings that count so many years. The southeastern part
of North America emerging a second time from the Silurian Sea, which extended
west to the Rocky Mountains and north to the primitive hills of British
America, a succession of rock-bound, salt-water lakes remained. These
covered a large portion of the continent, and their water evaporating,
organic and mineral matter remained to solidify. This thick stratum has
been designated by geologists as the water-lime layer. This constitutes
the upper layer of rock in the larger portion of the west half of Ohio.
In other sections it forms the bed rock.
Following the lime-rock deposit, must have been more frequent sweeps
of the great sea, since the layers are comparatively thin, proving a more
speedy change. During this scientific rising and falling of the sea, other
actions were taking place, such as volcanic and other influences which
displaced the regularity of the strata, and occasionally came out in an
upheaval or a regular perpendicular dip. A disturbance of this character
formed the low mountain range extending from the highlands of Canada to
the southern boundary of Tennessee. This "bulge" is supposed
to be the consequence of the cooling of the earth and the pressure of
the oceans on either side of the continent. Geologists designate this
as the Cincinnati arch. This forms a separation between the coal fields
of the Alleghanies and those of Illinois.
Passing over several periods, we reach the glacial, during which the
topography of the continent was considerably modified, and which is among
the latest epochs of geology, though exceedingly remote as compared with
human
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history. Previously, a torrid heat prevailed the entire Northern
hemisphere. Now the temperature of the frigid zone crept southward until
it reached Cincinnati. A vast field of ice, perhaps hundreds of feet thick,
extended from the north pole to this point. As this glacial rigor came southward,
the flow of the St. Lawrence River was stopped, and the surplus water of
the great lake basin was turned into the Ohio and Mississippi. This glacial
sea was by no means stationary even after its southern limit had been reached.
It possessed the properties of a solid and a fluid. Its action was slow
but powerful, grinding mountains to powder and forming great valleys and
basins. Separating into two glacial portions, one moved toward the watershed
north of the Ohio River; and, continuing westerly, it hollowed out the basin
of Lake Erie and crushed the apex of the Cincinnati arch. From this point,
it turned southward and swept with a regular course through the Maumee and
Miami Valleys to the Ohio River. The southern border constantly melting,
and flowing toward the Gulf of Mexico, the great field was pressed forward
by the accumulations of ice in the northern latitudes. Thus for ages, this
powerful force was fitting the earth for the habitation of man. The surface
was leveled, huge rocks broken and reduced to pebbles, sand, clay, etc.,
other soil and surface-material— while the debris was embedded at
the bottom. In some sections, as the ice melted and freed the bowlders and
rocks, the lighter material was swept away. The glacier moving forward,
and the forces proving an "equilibrium," the edge of this ice-field
was held in a solid stronghold, and the material thus deposited forms a
ridge, called by geologists "terminal moraine," first exemplified
in Ohio by the "Black Swamp," in the Maumee Valley.
The most extreme rigor of this period beginning to wane, the ice of the
Maumee and Miami Valleys began to move slowly forward, toward the north,
reaching the points now termed Hudson, Mich.; Fort Wayne, Ind., and Kenton,
Ohio—reaching somewhat further south than Lima and Van Wert. The
edge of the glacier was defined in outline by the present western border
of Lake Erie, and parallel with it. Climatic influences "acting and
counteracting," the glacial force was concentrated, the Maumee Valley
being subjected to a grinding process, and a deposit of material going
on, which now forms the boundary of the "Black Swamp." As our
readers are aware, the waters of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's meet at
Fort Wayne, and their united waters form the Maumee; thence the turn is
northwest, and, wearing an outlet through the ridge, it reaches the head
of Lake Erie.
The torrid zone yet gaining the ascendency, the ice-fields continuing
their reverse motion, and retreating toward the north, the basin of the
great lakes was formed; and the blocks of ice melting therein, a vast
sea of fresh water was formed, which gradually overflowed a portion of
Canada and Michigan. But the St. Lawrence, that important outlet, was
under the restraint of an ice blockade, and the surplus water of the fresh
sea was turned into the Ohio and and Mississippi. |
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Later, mountains of ice-float were drifted from the north
by winds and currents, into temperate latitudes, and melting, deposited
rocks, stones and general debris. Following the iceberg-drift, came the
permanent elevation above the ocean-level. The St. Lawrence outlet was formed.
The inland sea was assuming its division into lakes. The united waters of
Erie and Huron flowed through the "Wabash Valley and into the Ohio,
until, through some agency, that section was dry, and the lakes drained
in another direction. The action of the glacial period in the Erie basin
vicinity created what is known as the "Niagara limestone," by
grinding upper strata and drifting the debris elsewhere. This seems to have
occurred at intervals, exposures being made in Seneca, Sandusky and Wood
Counties, and beneath the axis of the Cincinnati arch. Oriskany limestone
is also available in another stratum, which has been brought to the surface.
Again, there is a carboniferous stratum of limestone, and along the Maumee
is a thin exposure of the Hamilton limestone and shale.
A glacier having both fluid and solid properties, it will readily be
comprehended that obdurate projections of rock resisted its action, and
created currents in other directions, for its forces. When this specified
epoch had ceased to be, Ohio was a rough, irregular and crude mixture
of ridges and knobs and pinnacles, which were "leveled up "
and finished by iceberg-drift and inland-sea deposits. This settled and
accumulated, and the work of hundreds of years produced a beautiful surface,
its inequalities overcome, the water having receded and " terra firma"
remaining. A deep bed of clay, sufficiently compact to hold the germs
of organic matter, and sufficiently porous to absorb moisture, was especially
adapted to encourage the growth of vegetation. These seeds had been brought
by the winds and waves and natural agencies, and now began to produce
plants and shrubs, which withered to enrich the soil, after scattering
broadcast seeds that would again perpetuate verdure. Worms, land crabs
and burrowing animals assisted in the creation of soil, while the buffalo,
deer and bear followed, as soon as forestry appeared. Decomposed foliage
and fallen timber aided in the great work of preparing the present State
of Ohio for the habitation of man. Prairie, marsh, forest, rivers and
lakes were formed, which, in turn, were modified and prepared for a grand
destiny by other influences.
In glancing over the compiled histories of Ohio, those containing details
of her early struggles, afflictions and triumphs, we are especially impressed
with its near and sympathetic relation with the great Northwest, and the
republic of the United States of America. From the early years when white
men built their rude cabins in the then tangled wilderness, to the opulent
and magnificent present of this united nation, Ohio has been stanch, loyal
and earnest, both in action and principle.
We shall endeavor to trace the history of the State concisely and accurately,
according to the data given by the most reliable historians. We are obliged
to glean the prominent events only, our space being limited, compared
with the multitudinous interests connected with this important part of
the United States. |