The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I, Part 21

Author: Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs. The story of the townships of Allen County
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : R.O. Law Co.
Number of Pages: 760


USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. I > Part 21


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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The writer of the letter, Lieutenant Philip Ostrander, was one of the officers who preferred charges against Captain Rhea, the commandant of the fort in 1812, which resulted in the resignation of that officer to avoid the embarrassment of a court-martial. Cap- tain Abbott, to whom Ostrander refers, was probably Robert or Sam- uel Abbott, of Detroit. They were brothers of James Abbott, whose wife, Sarah, was the daughter of Major John Whistler; the artist, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, was named for his uncle. George Hoffman, to whom Ostrander's letter is addressed, was the first postmaster of Detroit and at the time of the writing of the letter was collector for the government at Mackinac.


Probably the Audrian (Audrain) to whom Ostrander refers is the Audrain mentioned in a report of Governor Harrison to the war


2 0 10


3


RIVER


AGENCY HOUSE FORT


DEARBORN


OCCURRED PLEJE ..


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THE QUIET BEFORE THE SAVAGE STORM


1806 1812


department complaining of conditions about Fort Wayne in 1805 : "I am convinced that a certain Connor and one Audrain have acted as Wells' agents in this affair [creating dissatisfaction among the Piankeshaws and Delawares concerning a treaty closed by Harri- son]. They both have very advantageous contracts with Wells for making rails for the Indians. *


* Audrain, although estab- lished within a few miles of the falls of the Ohio, has found it to his advantage to undertake the making of rails at the Turtle's town, north of Fort Wayne."


Despite the reports of dissatisfaction with the conduct of Cap- tain William Wells, sent to the Washington authorities by Governor William Henry Harrison, congress, in 1808, in recognition of the services of the hardy frontiersman who was yet to add fame to his name through his heroic death in the Fort Dearborn massacre, granted to him the right to pre-empt, at $1.25 per acre, one section of land in the present Spy Run and Bloomingdale districts of Fort Wayne.


"On this improvement of Captain Wells were comfortable buildings and a good orchard, plenty of stock and several negro slaves, which Captain Wells had brought from Kentucky," says the late John W. Dawson. At the time of the siege, after Wells's death one month before, the widow and her family, together with these slaves, sought refuge in the fort, and all of their movable property was carried within the protecting palisades. The farm buildings were destroyed by the savages.


Wells did not pre-empt the land, but his children took advan- tage of the government's offer and entered the property soon after the close of the war of 1812.


HARRISON'S TREATY AT FORT WAYNE.


To Fort Wayne, in 1809, came Governor Harrison, in spite of the threatening conditions of the community, to make what proved to be his final treaty with the savages in Indiana Territory. The agreement, signed on the 17th of September, added to the domain of the United States an area of 2,900,000 acres, the greater portion of which was situated north of the old Vincennes tract. The total amount of land ceded to the United States by the Indians through treaties conducted by Governor Harrison was about 29,719,530 acres.


Preliminary to the Fort Wayne treaty, "the Pottawatomies waited on the governor and requested a little liquor, which was refused. The governor observed that he was determined to shut up the liquor casks until all the business was finished," says Harri- son's official report. "So destructive has been the progress of intem- perance that whole villages have been swept away," wrote the gov- ernor in his first message to the territorial legislature.


Obstinacy on the part of some of the chiefs caused a vexatious delay of the day of signing the treaty. Says Ellmore Barce, in the Indiana Magazine of History :


"The final consummation of the pact was brought about by the ready tact and hard common sense of Harrison himself. No solu- tion of the obstinacy of the Mississinewa chiefs had been discovered.


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


Nothing daunted, Harrison resolved to make one more attempt. He took with him his interpreter, Joseph Barron, a man in whom he had the utmost confidence, and visited the camps of the Miamis. He was received well, and told them he came not as the represent- ative of the president, but as an old friend with whom they had been many years acquainted. Calling then upon the principal chief of the Eel River tribe, who served under him in General Wayne's army, he demanded to know what his objections were. The chief drew forth a copy of the Treaty of Grouseland and said: 'Father,


IS THIS THE WASHINGTON SWORD?


Above are shown a few of the scores of articles taken from Indian graves July 4, 1912, by Charles and Albert Loch- ner while excavating for the dwelling of Dr. George W. Gillie on Lawton Place. Jacob M. Stouder, the present owner of the collection, is firmly of the opinion that the sword is that given by Pres- ident Washington to Chief Little Turtle, and that some of the specimens here shown are from the chieftain's grave.


TECUMSEH.


Following the battle of Tippecanoe Te- cumseh came to Fort Wayne and de- manded of the commandant, Captain Rhea, a supply of ammunition, which was refused him. "He then said he would go to his British father, who would not deny him. He appeared thoughtful a while, then gave the war- whoop and went off." (McAfee). The Fort Dearborn massacre, the siege of Fort Wayne and many of the western features of the war of 1812 followed, with Tecumseh leagued with the Brit- ish. The great Shawnee leader was killed at the battle of the Thames, in Canada, October 5, 1813. The dispute concerning the identity of the man who killed Tecumseh led to the choice of Gen- eral Harrison as the successful candidate for the presidency of the United States.


here are your own words. In this paper you have promised that you would consider the Miamis as the owner of the land on the Wabash. Why, then, are you about to purchase it from others?'


"The governor assured them that it was not his intention to purchase the land from other tribes; that he had always said, and was ready now to confess, that the land belonged to the Miamis and to no other tribe. That of the other tribes that had been invited to the treaty it was at their (the Miamis') particular request. The Pottamatomies had, indeed, taken a higher ground than either the governor or the Miamis expected. They claimed an equal right


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THE QUIET BEFORE THE SAVAGE STORM


1806 1812


to the lands in question with the Miamis; but what of this? Their claiming it gave them no right. * * It was always the gov- ernor's intention so to draw the treaty that the Pottawatomies and Delawares would be considered as participating in the advantages of the treaty as allies of the Miamis; not as having any rights to the land. The governor's resourcefulness saved the day."


Following the conference, Harrison returned to the fort and soon the chiefs, headed by Pucan, waited upon him and signed the treaty. The Indians were paid in domestic animals to the amount of $500 and the like number for the two following years, and an armory maintained at Fort Wayne for the use of the Indians. A further annuity of $200 was allowed.


At the time of Harrison's visit, the following government em- ployes were stationed at Fort Wayne :


Colonel John Johnston, agent or "factor," $1,000 per year, with subsistence allowance of $365. William Oliver, clerk, $250, with $150 for subsistence. The value of merchandise forwarded by the government to Fort Wayne during the summer amounted to $4,868.87. The value of merchandise on hand, peltries and other goods, was $5,020.75; accounts receivable were listed at $2,112.72; the value of the buildings used was given at $500. (Report of J. Mason, superintendent of trading house establishments or agencies of the government among the Indians, to the secretary of war.)


LIEUTENANT WILLIAM WHISTLER


In 1809, Lieutenant William Whistler was transferred from Fort Dearborn to service at Fort Wayne. He was a son of Major John Whistler, who had established Fort Dearborn, and who later was to become the commandant of Fort Wayne. Lieutenant Whistler later was transferred to Detroit, and was with General Hull when that officer surrendered the post to the British in 1812. With Mrs. Whistler (formerly Julia Ferson, of Salem, Massachusetts), he was carried to Montreal, where they were held until their exchange for British prisoners held by the Americans. Lieutenant Whistler was six feet and two inches in height, and weighed two hundred and sixty pounds. His death occurred at Newport, Kentucky, in 1863.


INCREASING ALARM AT FORT WAYNE.


The passing of the early weeks of 1810 brought increasing alarm at Fort Wayne which was not allayed by the revelation of the plan of the savages to demand the removal of William Henry Harrison as the governor of Indiana territory. In July, Harrison wrote to the secretary of war:


"I have received a letter from Fort Wayne which confirms the information of the hostile designs and combinations of the Indians. The people in the neighborhood where the horses were stolen are so much alarmed that they are collecting together for their defense."


On the 10th of August, Colonel Johnston wrote to Harrison :


"Since writing you on the 25th ultimo, about one hundred Sawkeys [Sacs] have returned from the British agent [McKee], who supplied them liberally with everything they stand in want of. The


. 186


THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


party received forty-seven rifles and a number of fusils [flintlock muskets] with plenty of powder and lead."


Colonel Johnston, at Fort Wayne, also reported that Tecumseh and "the Prophet" were active in the organization of their propaganda of overthrowing the Americans, and he made a special effort to keep in close touch with the governor. Writing under date of October 14, 1810, the agent said to Harrison :


"I have at last got rid of the Indians after a very protracted meeting. *


* All of the tribes belonging to this agency were invited in the usual manner, by runners. The Miamis hung back, under various frivolous pretenses. * I soon found out from confidential friends among them that there was mischief going


: RUDISILE GA ., SCHOOL .


LAWTON PARK


AVENUE


WELLS ST.


SPY RUN) CREEK


CASS ST


CLINTON SE


SPY"RUN"


ST. JOSEPHER


CAPTAIN WELLS'S FARM.


On May 18, 1808, the national con- gress, in recognition of his services to the government granted to Captain Wil- liam Wells the right to pre-empt, or buy, at $1.25 per acre a half section of land comprising the greater portion of the present Spy Run and Bloomingdale, in Fort Wayne. Wells died without taking advantage of the privilege, and his chil- dren entered the land. Hence the name "Wells Pre-emption," often erroneously called "Wells Reserve." At the last this property came to Jack Hackley and Ann (Mrs. Ferrand-Blystone) Hackley. "Though left with abundant property," observes the late John W. Dawson, "nei- ther seemed capable of even preserving it from improvident sale, and I appre- hend both died poor."


THE HOME OF KIL-SO-QUAH. In this house, located a short distance south of Roanoke, Indiana, Kil-so-quah, granddaughter of Little Turtle, died in 1915 at the age of 105 years.


John Hedge


SIGNATURE OF JOHN P. HEDGES. Coming to Fort Wayne first in 1812, Mr. Hedges was long an influential cit- izen of the pioneer town which grew up about the fort. (Signature from Burton Historical Collection, Detroit).


on among them. * Without naming Wells, I introduced the subject that had been agitated among them of petitioning for your removal, and I endeavored to show them the impropriety of their interfering in such a business. I told them that whoever advised them to it was a wicked bad man and was not their friend. * * The Prophet had two of his people here during the whole confer- ence. I took no notice of them. * * Wells has undoubtedly gone to Washington to make interest, and if he fails in getting into office again I am told he intended to try for the contract he has here ; and in the state of Ohio on his way thro' Kentucky, endeavored to asperse all the measures that has been adopted by you relative to the objects of the Prophet."


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THE QUIET BEFORE THE SAVAGE STORM


1806 1812


Already Harrison had written the secretary of war that "The Prophet" had proposed to the young men among the Indians to murder their principal chiefs, "observing that their hands would never be untied until this was effected." Large numbers of horses were stolen from Fort Wayne, including some belonging to Captain Wells. "The Prophet," on the occasion of a visit to Governor Har- rison at Vincennes at this time, said to the governor: "I heard that you wanted to know, my father, whether I was God or man, and that if it was the former, I should not steal horses. I heard this from Mr. Wells, but I believed it originated with himself."


Governor Harrison, during this critical period, was not idle. Preparations not only for defense but of aggressive warfare against the savages, in case of an outbreak, were carried forward without interruption. By appointment, Tecumseh appeared before him at Vincennes with a large company of hideously painted warriors. "The Shawnee Chief Tecumseh has made a visit to this place with about three hundred Indians," wrote Harrison, "though he prom- ised to bring but a few attendants; his intentions hostile, though he found us prepared for him. * * * That he meditated a blow at this time was believed by almost all the neutral Indians."


The object of Tecumseh's visit was to make a vigorous protest against the late treaty at Fort Wayne. "In the course of his speech," says Benjamin Drake, "he admitted that he threatened to kill the chiefs who signed the treaty of Fort Wayne and that it was his fixed determination not to permit the village chiefs, in future, to manage their affairs, but to place the power with which they were heretofore invested in the hands of the war chiefs."


The delivery of Governor Harrison's reply was interrupted by the outcry of Tecumseh, whose armed braves undoubtedly would have fallen upon the assemblage of whites but for the prompt appearance of the guard, fully prepared to meet an attack.


CAPTAIN JAMES RHEA, COMMANDANT.


In the midst of the agitation, Captain Nathan Heald was trans- ferred from the command at Fort Wayne to the post at Fort Dear- born. In his stead came Captain James Rhea, who arrived in the spring of 1810. The weakness of character of the new commandant under the trying conditions which were soon to surround the little garrison of the fort in the wilderness might have proved of frightful consequence but for the bravery and intelligence of the subordinate military and civil authorities within the stockade.


"Rhea was a native of New Jersey, and a lieutenant and adju- tant of 'Rhea's Levies,' in 1791. He was ensign and second lieu- tenant of infantry in 1799, and was promoted to first lieutenant in 1800. He was commissioned a captain in 1807." (Gardner's "Dic- tionary of the Army.") Rhea, after serving under Wayne, had been in command of a post established by Wayne below Swan creek, which empties into the Maumee, in Ohio.


The first celebration of the Fourth of July at Fort Wayne of which a record has been preserved occurred in the year 1810. Gath- ered near the Maumee, below Harmar's Ford, beneath the "big


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


elm," as the tree was known for many years, Commandant Rhea and his officers, together with the attaches of the fort, were enjoying the day in patriotic style when the celebration was interrupted by


Said week July 291812 Car. Mol: Malo


it is withregre 2 order the Evacuation of your Cost owing to the want of Provisions only a neghel of the Commandout ofThe De ale Grms Vammunition, but the of the Factory your my gin to the Funds Labrans who may an desirous of Esantys You on to fort wayne & to the Coor I needy of your Cost - Jam informa this day that Motivace Of the Gland of & fought will be evaluated on out of the Scarcity of Provisions i hope on my next to que agers an out of the Jamwon of the Portion W/ Maldemim Expert 600 mm hurons the bequy fleste - dark


GENERAL HULL'S FATAL LETTER TO CAPTAIN HEALD.


The original order of General William Hull to Captain Nathan Heald direct- ing the latter to evacuate Fort Dearborn and convey the occupants and stores to Fort Wayne is the property of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, through whose permission it is here reproduced. The letter was obtained by Dr. Lyman C. Draper, former secretary of the society, from Darius Heald, son of Captain Heald, whom Dr. Draper visited at his home near O'Fallon, Missouri, in 1869. The hastily written order which brought a terrible death to many reads as follows:


"It is with regret I order the evacuation of your post, owing to the want of provisions only, a neglect of the commandant at Detroit. You will therefore destroy all arms and ammunition but the goods of the factory you may give to the friendly Indians, who may be desirous of escorting you on to Fort Wayne, and to the poor and needy of your post. I am informed this day that Mackinac and the Island of St. Joseph will be evacuated on account of the scarcity of pro- visions, and I hope in my next to give you an account of the surrender of the British at Malden, as I expect 600 men here on the beginning of September. I am yours, &c., BRIGADIER GEN. HULL."


L


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THE QUIET BEFORE THE SAVAGE STORM


1806 1812


the appearance of a mounted courier from Detroit bringing the first regular mail and military dispatches to the garrison. Because of this occurrence, Captain Rhea, who was authorized to receive and distribute the mail, is sometimes referred to as Fort Wayne's first postmaster, and the "big elm" has been called "the first postoffice."


Rhea was fully cognizant of the impending trouble with the savages, but he failed utterly to grasp the opportunity to make a name which should be written alongside those of the nation's heroes of the time in the west. The Indian agent, Colonel Johnston, how- ever, was alert. On the 6th of February, 1811, he wrote Governor Harrison, as follows, omitting the name of his informant:


has been at this place. The information derived from him is the same I have been in possession of for several years, to wit: the intrigues of the British agents and partisans in creating an influence hostile to our people and government, within our ter- ritory."


Governor Harrison hastened to Fort Wayne late in August, 1811, and here, on the 4th of September, held a council with such of the Indian chiefs as could be induced to attend. Eleven leaders of the Miamis were present. The original documents containing the ad- dresses of Harrison and chiefs on this occasion were discovered in the following curious manner: S. A. Gibson, superintendent of the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Paper Company, found, in a mass of waste paper, received from Fort Wayne, twenty-eight pages of foolscap paper, evidently torn from a book. Upon these pages were written, in the same hand, though at different times, the address of Governor Harrison, together with the translated speeches of the Indians. The identity of the translator is unknown. The speeches first appeared in Fergus's Historical Series No. 26, in connection with a paper by Hiram W. Beckwith, of Danville, Illinois.


Returning to Vincennes, Harrison took immediate steps for an aggressive campaign against the Prophet's Town, on the Tippecanoe. His move was made increasingly urgent by the appeals of the pio- neers for protection against the maraudings of the savages which now were openly conducted.


THE BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.


With additional regular troops and militia, Governor Harrison advanced up the Wabash during the second week in October. On September 11, the governor had written to the secretary of war, Mr. Eustis :


"The government need be under no apprehension for us. Sir, if the Prophet attacks us, we shall beat him. I promise you at least that we shall not be surprised. * * * The Greek maxim,' Aspha- les gar est (¿) ameinon e thrasus strategas' [A safe leader is better than a bold one], which was so great a favorite with Augustus (who, by the bye, was, I believe, inferior as a warrior to Little Turtle or Tecumseh) shall be ever present to my mind."


Peace messengers to the Indians were mistreated, and a sentinel was seriously wounded. "The Prophet" sent his emissaries to Har- . rison, pleading for a council the next day, but, true to the savage


.


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THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE


character, the Indians attacked the camp of the Americans on the fields of Tippecanoe at 4 o'clock in the morning, but were utterly defeated in their attempt to destroy Harrison's army. The American loss was twenty-two killed and one hundred and twenty-six wounded. About seven hundred men were engaged on either side in this famous Battle of Tippecanoe which brought to Harrison new fame and turned his face toward the White House.


As early as May, 1811, Tecumseh had declared openly to Cap- tain Wells that he was "determined to resist the encroachments of the white people." Upon Wells observing that he would never be able to accomplish his intentions, he declared that Wells would live to see the contrary. It was Tecumseh's determination to kill every chief who had signed the treaty with Harrison at Fort Wayne in 1809.


Tecumseh had not been a participant in the battle of Tippe- canoe, as the conflict had been forced by "The Prophet" while Tecumseh was visiting the tribes along the Ohio river. The result


LITTLE TURIU 1751 - 1812


THE LITTLE TURTLE TABLET.


A small tablet marked "Little Turtle, 1751-1812" was placed by Jacob M. Stouder in the rear of the residence prop- erty of Dr. George W. Gillie, No. 634 Lawton Place, to mark the spot where Chief Little Turtle is believed to have been buried.


SIGNATURE OF LIEUTENANT PHIL- IP OSTRANDER.


Lieutenant Ostrander was one of the officers in charge of Fort Wayne during the siege of 1812. (Burton Historical Collection, Detroit).


Aleald


SIGNATURE OF CAPTAIN NATHAN HEALD.


Captain Heald was in command of Fort Wayne from 1807 to 1810. At the time of the Fort Dearborn massacre he was the commandant of the post. His wife, who shared the perils of the time, was a niece of Captain William Wells. (Burton Historical Collection, Detroit.)


affected him deeply. His great plan was already defeated, but he was still for war. Says McAfee :


"After Tecumseh returned from the south, he visited Fort Wayne and was still haughty and obstinate in the opinions he had embraced. He made bitter reproaches against Harrison, and, at the same time, had the presumption to demand ammunition from the commandant, which was refused him. He then said he would go to the British father, who would not deny him. He appeared thoughtful a while, and then gave the warwhoop and went off."


Tecumseh made his way immediately to Malden. Captain Wells reported the chief's visit in a communication to Governor Harrison, dated July 22. He added that the chief was on his way "to receive twelve horseloads of ammunition for the use of his people."


1806 1812


191


THE QUIET BEFORE THE SAVAGE STORM


Later, contrary to the wishes of the government, Tecumseh gathered a large number of braves at Greenville. Acting upon instructions from the war department, Wells sent Anthony Shane, a half-breed Shawnee, with a message to Tecumseh, inviting him and his brother, with two other chiefs, to visit him at Fort Wayne, where arrangements would be made to render the tribes assistance in forming settlements on tracts other than those belonging to the United States. The haughty reply of Tecumseh informed Wells that if he wished to hold such a conference, he should visit Tecum- seh at Greenville and that his presence would be expected on the sixth day from the receipt of the message. Shane carried the response to Wells, who replied by sending to Tecumseh the com- munication from the war department. Tecumseh ignored the mes- sage on the ground that Shane was an unfit person to serve as a representative of the United States. Instead of dispersing, the Indians, in increasing numbers, continued to assemble at Green- ville and elsewhere, on government property.


The depredations of the savages now increased in frequency and severity. A body of Indians, however, even with these evi- dences of unfriendliness as a warning, visited Fort Wayne and succeeded in deceiving the agent, Colonel Johnston, into the belief that the Prophet had been repudiated by his followers and was then being held a prisoner. The tale was told to induce the agent to pay to the spokesmen their annuities, and this request was granted.


MAJOR BENJAMIN F. STICKNEY.


Shortly after the incident, Colonel Johnston was transferred to Upper Piqua, Ohio. His successor, Major Benjamin Franklin Stickney, a man of strong character, brave and somewhat eccentric, took up his duties at a time when the fort was in imminent peril. He had been in the government service at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Major Stickney occupied the council house, located just outside the fort stockade. His wife was a daughter of Captain John and "Mollie" Stark, of Revolutionary fame. Much has been written concerning the life and activities of Major Stickney, especially dur- ing the period following his service at Fort Wayne. A suggestion of his eccentric character is found in the choice of names for his children. The sons were styled One, Two and Three, and the daughters bore the names of states of the union. After Major Stickney's services at Fort Wayne were ended, the family removed to a tract of land within the present Toledo which was then located in Michigan. With the building of the Wabash and Erie canal came also the "Toledo war" which resulted in the change of location of the state boundaries which placed Toledo forever in the state of Ohio. Major Stickney was a leader in the fight which brought- about this result. His written arguments on the subject form an interesting story of the time.




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