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BIOGRAPHIES
(Source: History of Northwestern Ohio & Auglaize County
- by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905)
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JACOB ICE
was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, July 4, 1818, and is
a son of Jacob Ice, who served in the War of 1812.
The father of Jacob Ice, Sr., was a veteran in the
Revolutionary War. The members of this family have always
been ready to serve their country in its hour of need. The
subject of this sketch was a veteran in the Civil War.
The Ice family moved from Pickaway county to
Auglaize township, Allen county, Ohio, in 1828, when Jacob
was ten years of age. Here the boy assisted in clearing a
farm in the wilderness. It was five years after the family
settled in the township that the Shawnee Indians left the county.
The Ice farm was located near the Indian trail leading from
Wapakoneta to Upper Sandusky. During the first five years of
their residence, it was a daily occurrence to see Indians going
and coming on the trail. The Indian squaws were great
beggars. Before entering the house, they would set their
papooses in a row against the outer wall of the cabin, and upon
entering, they would accost Mrs. Ice, a large, fleshy
woman, by saying, "White rich - Indian squaw poor - me want some
to eat." They were generally given something, when they
would take their departure without the formality of thanks.
Weeks afterward, they would probably reappear at the door, with
perhaps a pair of moccasins, a beaded belt, or a fancy basket,
which they would tender as an equivalent for the kindness shown
them on their former visit. There was but one house between
Wapakoneta and West Minster, where the family resided. The
house referred to was the residence of William Richardson
on the Auglaize River, two miles north of Wapakoneta. About
1835 Mr. Ice cleared a wagon road from Richardson's
to West Minster. At that time the forest abounded in game of
all kinds. The subject of the sketch says: "I have, in my
time, killed more than a hundred deer, and of turkeys I decline to
make an estimate of the number, as it would appear incredible to
the reader of today. Wild animals and wild birds were so
numerous as to become a great pest to the pioneer. The corn crop
was the most important one raised in the new country, and required
great care and vigilance to prevent its being consumed by the
inhabitants of the forest. As soon as the young corn began
to come up two most acute and active enemies began to pull it up.
They were crows and squirrels. The crows would alight on any
part of the field; the squirrels attacked the outside rows.
It was my special business to arise at early dawn and patrol the
field with dog and gun, and by much noise to frighten away the
varments. The vigilance required for three or four weeks
after the corn was planted had to be renewed in August, when the
roasting-ears began to develop. At that time the raccoon and
opossum would enter the field at night, tear down the stalks, and
devour the green corn. Coon and oppossum hunts were of
nightly occurrence during roasting-ear season. As soon as
the corn began to harden the tin grater came into sue. The
ear of corn was rubbed up and down on the instrument until it was
reduced to meal. From the meal delicious bread was baked.
When the corn became dry it was either pounded to meal in a hominy
mortar or taken to a mill and ground. The nearest mills were
at Piqua, Springfield, Sandusky and Tiffin. I worked on the
farm until I was twenty-two years of age, when I married and moved
to Salem township, Auglaize county. During my residence in
that township I was employed in digging the Miami canal. My
service in that public work continued until it was completed to
Spencerville.
In 1861 I enlisted in the 118th Regiment of Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out of service in 1865.
"After twenty years ago I purchased a farm adjoining
the east corporation line of Wapakoneta, on which I reside at the
present time. I am now in my eighty-fourth year, and am, in
a reasonably good state of health. |
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