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The Early History
OF THE
Maumee Valley
By JOHN E. GUNCKEL
THE TOLEDO PUBLIC LIBRARY
GENEALOGY and LOCAL HISTORY
R977.11
Stack
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
R4bEZ
Courtesy, William B. Guitteau.
COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY LEAVING HIS DISABLED FLAGSHIP, THE LAWRENCE, FOR THE BRIG NIAGARA, SEPTEMBER 10TH, 1813
General Harrison Told Peter Navarre: "This daring move of Commodore Perry, amid the rain of shot from the enemy's vessels, so inspired the soldiers and the sailors, that the act alone won the victory of the Battle of Lake Erie."
L
5000
The Early History
of the
MAUMEE
VALLEY
TOLEI
PUBLIS LIBRA
REVISED SECOND EDITION (ILLUSTRATED)
-
- - BY
-
JOHN E. GUNCKEL
00C
COPYRIGHTED 1913 -BY- JOHN E ... GUNCKEL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED !
..
Press of HENRY M. SCHMIT TOLEDO, OHIO 1913
DEDICATED
To Officers and Members of The Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical Associations in honor of their unselfish and devoted work to re- claim and preserve the histor- ical grounds of this famous valley
716901 R977.11
Index
TO ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE
Commodore Perry Leaving the Lawrence. Frontispiece
Turtle Island-Maumee Bay . 7
Indian Camping Ground-Bay View Park 9
Fort Miami . 11
Indian Chief-Ottokee 15
Fort Defiance
18
General Anthony Wayne 19
Fort Deposit 22
Roche-De-Boeuf 23
Toledo in 1794 .
24
Toledo in 1913 .
25
The Maumee Rapids
26 27
Head of the Maumee Rapids
Turkey Foot Rock 29
The Return of Turkey Foot Rock. 30
31
General Harrison
33
Monument-River Raisin, Monroe
36
Monument-Battle River Raisin . 38 39
41
Fort Meigs in 1902. 42
Rear View of Fort Meigs. 44 46
Natural Ravine, Fort Meigs
Harrison Point . 49
50
Burial Ground, Col. Dudley and His Men. 51
The Harrison Well-Fort Meigs. 53
British Batteries 54
The Elm Tree 55-56
58
Peter Navarre 61
Indian Chief, Tecumseh . 65
Indian Village 69
71
Monument-Fort Meigs (Winter Scene)
72
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry
73
Put-in Bay 75
Gibraltar 83
79
The Hull of the Niagara. 77-78
81
Map-Islands of Lake Erie. 86
Log Cabin-Maumee Valley
87
The Maumee River and Islands
88
The Maumee River and Valley
89-90
The Perry Memorial-Put-in Bay
84
The Tomb of General Harrison. . 91
(Traveling in 1813-Maumee Valley 95
Traveling in 1913-Maumee Valley. 96
The Tomb of General Anthony Wayne.
Governor Return Jonathan Meigs General Clay's Battle Ground.
Northerly Section-Fort Meigs
Old Betsy Croghan
Monument-Fort Meigs
Commodore Perry's Flag-"Don't Give Up the Ship"
Perry's Willow-Put-in Bay 85
The Old Court House-Maumee
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
HE First Edition of The Early History of The Maumee Valley contained a brief history of the struggles and conflicts for the possession of The Northwest Territory: and an appeal to the public to recognize the importance of erecting monuments to the memory of the brave soldiers who died and were buried within the achieved territory.
At the time of the publication of the book, in 1902, there were no monuments to mark the resting places of these pioneers of our country who are sleeping away the centuries in unmarked graves.
Since that time, however, Ohio and Michigan came nobly to the front and have erected momnments that are an honor to the states, and have made preparations for the permanent preservation of Fort Meigs and other historical property.
Naturally the history fell into many hands, relatives of those who were participants in the battles, sieges, marches, etc., and have sent val- uable historical information, gleaned from hidden records, much of which has never been in print; and since the first edition has been ex- hausted, and the country is about to celebrate the one hundreth annivers- ary of the Battle of Lake Erie, the writer has been requested to publish a second edition, giving the new historical facts, incidents, pictures, with a few corrections, and other noted events.
TURTLE ISLAND AND LIGHT HOUSE-Lake Erie Built on a natural island, 1831. Rebuilt, 1867. Abandoned as a Light House May 15, 1904. Sold December, 1904.
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THE MAUMEE VALLEY.
The territory embraced in the Maumee Valley covers an area of about 6,500 square miles, of which 4,450 are in Ohio; 1,375 in Indiana, and 375 in Michigan. The Tiffin and Auglaize rivers flow into the Maumee river at Defiance. The Auglaize river has two tributaries-the Blanchard and Ottawa rivers. The Maumee river is about 150 miles in length, with an average fall of one foot per mile.
Lucas County, having the largest population, was named after Governor Robert Lucas, by an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, June 20th, 1833.5 There is no section of the country where so many hard fought battles were lost and won as in this Valley. The military history begins back in the seventeenth century. Most of the fighting with the Indians, during the Revolution, centered in this Valley. The war with the Indians in 1794-5 ended most victor- iously, and forever taught them the life lesson, as declared by the Prophet of the Shawnees, after the Battle of Fallen Timbers: "When you see more than ten white men, run." This battle changed the fighting tactics of the Indians. As the great Chief Tecumseh said to General Proctor, of the British army: "Americans come like a whirlwind, stay like a rock, fight running, walking or sleeping." In this Valley, as well as in other lands, the Indians always selected the most beautiful country, inhabited by the most game, whose waters were filled with the choicest of fish, for their camping grounds. From Turtle Island, around whose base the clear waters of Lake Erie play at will, to the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, there is scarcely a tract of land bordering these rivers but what has been the camping, hunting and fishing grounds of Indians.
Turtle Island Light was built in 1831, on a natural island. It was rebuilt in 1867, and abandoned as a light on May 15, 1904, and sold in December, 1904. It was named after the Indian chief, Little Turtle, who lived on Presque Isle. This chief was one of the signers of the Fort Greenville treaty, and with the chief, Ottokee, was always a friend of the whites. Of him General Clay wrote: "Little Turtle was a brave and dignified warrior, with a touch of human sympathy for wounded soldiers. He proved himself to be true to his promises, and was granted special favors and privileges from the government. He was given a white man's burial at Fort Wayne in 1812."
All the land at the mouth of the Maumee river belonged to the Indian chief, Ottokee, who became a noted character in the Valley.
8
INDIAN CAMPING GROUND Now Bay View Park. Overlooking Maumee Bay.
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The late Judge Francis L. Nichols, who came to the Valley when the Indians were in power and owned the land, told the writer that "Ottokee was a great chief, loved by his people, and proved himself to be a most honorable Indian. He had two wives who always accom- panied him when he visited the white people. I exchanged visits many times, eating at the same table. He represented the tribes who claimed ownership of the land and was one of the signers of the deed selling eight hundred (800) acres to a Buffalo syndicate, in 1826, for fifteen dollars an acre. This land was known as the Manhattan District."
10
FORT MIAMI Facing the Maumee River. Indian Trading Post in 1680. Fort held by the British in 1794-1813.
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Fort Miami, The First Fort on the Maumee. Expeditions of General Harrison, General St. Clair, General Wayne and The Battle of Fallen Timbers
12
FORT MIAMI-GENERAL HARRISON, GENERAL ST. CLAIR.
The waters of Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Maumee river, had never been navigated until La Salle, in 1672, and Louis De Fron- tenac, the French Governor of Canada, in 1677, sailed from a port in Canada to explore the new territory, rich in fur animals, and occu- pied by Indians. Frontenac had the spirit of an explorer, and was successful in trading with Indians in his dominion, but the Indians of the Maumee Valley were so often deceived and their number decreased to remnants of tribes, Frontenac's experiences with them did not prove successful. "Three years were spent in exploring this region, and in endeavoring to secure the alliance of the savages, and the gains of the fur trade. The sufferings of his men were exceedingly severe. It was not until the Christian influence of Father Pere Marquette had extended in the territory south of Detroit, did Frontenac again venture at the mouth of the Maumee river."
It is said: "Frontenac was the first white man to explore the Maumee river, known then as THE MIAMI OF THE LAKE."
"He found Indian trails coming from the west and north, lead- ing to and from the Indian villages of the interior, all centering at a point on the river bend, a high bluff, extending near the brink. This was the meeting place of the Indians of various tribes-for visiting and trading."
In the spring of 1680 Frontenac established a trading post at this point and called it THE MIAMI TRADING POST.
For many years it was the most noted trading post on the lake, and was occupied by Frontenac until his death, at Quebec, November 28, 1689.
For territorial and political gains a war broke out between England and France, which was known as "The Seven Years' War," and ended in favor of England. A treaty was signed at Paris, February 10th, 1763, ceding Canada and "all claims to the disputed territory east of the Mississippi river."
A few years after the English had taken possession of Canada, they stationed a company of soldiers at the trading Post Miami, and in 1764 built several block houses and an irregular parapet and called it FORT MIAMI. The Maumee river became one of the water routes much used by explorers and missionaries.
The chiefs representing the various tribes of Indians along the lake shore and the Maumee Valley, notwithstanding war had ceased and a treaty established sovereignty, the Indians were dissatisfied,
13
and it was not until in the year 1783 did the English "have that friendly intercourse that so characterized the Frenchman, Fron- tenac, with the Indians," and trading resumed.
As time passed and peace along the borders seemed to reign, and the Indians were not disturbed in what they claimed their rights by possession, "of all the land below the rapids-the hunting and fishing grounds of the Miami," and owing to the extremely friendly disposition of the Indian chiefs, invited other tribes, of the east, to visit and hunt. These semi-annual expeditions resulted in the inter-marrying of the young men and women, particularly of the Miami, Ottawa, Wyandotte and Pottawatomie tribes, and a friendship was formed that continued until the land was occupied wholly by the whites, and the Indians removed to Government Reservations to the far west.
The slow advancement of the white man from the Atlantic coast, gradually occupying the hunting and fishing grounds, work- ing through the dense forests and following the rivers, aroused a feeling of jealousy and a desire to drive the invaders from their territory. At times, however, friendly intercourses between the whites and Indians existed, and to such an extent that muskets, powder, bullets, clothing and other articles were exchanged for furs. It was not long until the old weapons, such as bows, arrows, clubs and war axes were replaced by more modern implements. Bad whiskey was introduced, and was the cause of many disturb- ances among the savages; in fact, it was one of the greatest evils which opened the gap of bitter hatred between the whites and the Indians.
The late D. W. H. Howard told the writer: "A study of pioneer days does not always redound to the credit of civilization. As long as the Indian could live in a land which was certainly his own, and care for his family by hunting and fishing, as he had been taught by God, he was not disposed to attack the advancing settle- ments of the white men, but driven to desperation by those who sought to take from him his home and hunting grounds, naturally he resented, and with all the zeal and energy of his savage nature."
Whiskey, unfair dealing and the rapidly increasing white pop- ulation all along the frontier, together with the secret hand of Great Britain, from Canadian ports, instigating the chiefs, resulted in starting the Indians in their bloody warfare against the frontiers- men, which soon was followed by war. Some of the more savage tribes who were reduced to so few in number that they formed themselves into "marauding bands," roving over the country, annoy- ing the settlements, and committing crimes that were terrible in their results.
14
OTTOKEE
The chief who opposed war, was friendly to the whites, and the last to leave the valley. He was the original owner of the land at the mouth of the river, known as the Manhattan District.
15
France laid claims: "To the land west of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi river, and when satisfied it legally and right- fully belonged to the United States an agreement was signed, known as 'The Treaty of Paris,' on February 6th, 1778, not only ceding all lands to the United States, but recognizing the independ- ence of the United States."
On July 15th, 1788, General Arthur St. Clair was inaugurated as Governor of the "Territorial District of Ohio."
The English became more anxious to occupy the land along the Maumee river, and renewed their friendly intercourse with the Indian chiefs, particularly Tecumseh, Little Turtle, Turkey Foot and Blue Jacket. They were frequently reminded of the advancing of the Americans from the east who would drive them from their hunting and fishing grounds. A secret alliance was formed be- tween the English and the chiefs, with the purpose of driving back the advancing Americans, along the frontier.
The depredations and horrible murders committed by the In- dians so aroused the Americans to the necessity of protecting the lives of the frontiersmen. For this protection a small body of regulars, men who served in 1776, were enlisted and were under command of Brigadier General Harmer, with orders to march against the Indians and "Inflict such punishment as would prevent future depredations."
On September 30th, 1790, General Harmer, with 450 regulars, started for the Ohio river to execute the plans of President Wash- ington. He was reinforced by 1,000 militiamen from Ohio and Kentucky. The Indians, more familiar with the country, concen- trated all their forces near what is today Fort Wayne, while a few scouting parties were sent to meet the Americans and "to coax them into a trap." General Harmer met with but little resistance in his difficult march through the dense forest, until he arrived at Fort Wayne, where, on October 22nd, 1790, he was surprised by an overwhelming number and met a most disastrous defeat. The Indians in this engagement were led by Little Turtle and Blue Jacket, with about three thousand warriors.
President Washington expressed himself as being greatly dis- tressed at General Harmer's misfortune. However, immediate preparations were made to send another army to the frontier. Gen- eral Arthur St. Clair was chosen commander of two thousand reg- ulars and one thousand militia. He was instructed: "To forever suppress Indian invasion." He built Fort Washington (now Cin- cinnati) in September, 1791, and on October 12th had completed Fort Hamilton, on the Great Miami. This was the first of the line of forts extended to Lake Erie.
16
On November 4th the army reached the Wabash river where it met the combined Indian forces under command of the chiefs, Tecumseh, Little Turtle, Turkey Foot and Blue Jacket, who closely watched every movement made by General St. Clair, concentrating their forces at a point where they had every advantage of defense. Gneral St. Clair was not prepared to meet any great force of the enemy, and, forgetting the last words of General Harmer, "Beware of a surprise," he continued to advance.
General St. Clair was so completely taken by surprise by an overwhelming force of savages that his men became bewildered and lost control of their senses. He met a most unfortunate defeat. Every officer and more than two-thirds of the men engaged were killed and wounded. The official report showing 550 killed and 200 wounded and the remainder scattered in the forest.
This was the second defeat of the Americans in one year. The frontier settlements were now in greater danger than ever. The Indians became bolder and more venturesome.
After the elapse of about a year, by popular consent, General Anthony Wayne, of Pennsylvania, the daring hero of the Revolu- tion, was selected by President Washington "To protect the frontier and put down these Indian attacks."
General Wayne, with a thoroughly disciplined army of 1,900 regulars and 1,500 mounted volunteers, from Kentucky, slowly drifted down the Ohio river from Pittsburg, "using hugely built rafts," and arrived at Fort Washington in June, 1792.
In the march through the forest, northward, they met but little resistance. He arrived at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, and built a fort, naming it Fort Defiance, on April 10th, 1794.
"Slow was our march, but we made no mistakes. The Indians were constantly on the alert, and at no time did General Wayne have his men in a position to be surprised. We were on duty both day and night, with forerunners out in every direction."
General Wayne arrived at the Great Rapids (now Grand Rapids) on August 10th, and soon after arrival he received word from the Indian chiefs that they wanted to talk.
On August 18, 1794, under an elm tree, General Wayne met the chiefs, Little Turtle, Turkey Foot, Blue Jacket and Black Hoof, representing seven tribes, but no agreement could be reached. In a letter written by one of the soldiers we quote: "We could not tell how far we dare follow the Indians, because we knew behind them were the British at Fort Miami, and with a force that could worry us."
17
FORT DEFIANCE. Block Houses as they were in the early days.
18
GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE
The hero of The Battle of Fallen Timbers. Born in Chester County, Penna., January 1, 1745. Died at Presque Isle, (Erie,) Penna., December 15, 1796.
19
The Battle of Fallen Timbers.
On August 19 General Wayne left Great Rapids, following the river until he arrived at a point a short distance above the present village of Waterville, and established a camp which he called Fort Deposit, where he left all of his superfluous baggage, ammunition and provisions.
At sunrise on August 20 he called his officers together, among them Lieutenant William H. Harrison, and on a rock known as Roche de Boeuf (meaning "Standing Rock") a plan of march and battle was discussed and adopted. "We knew the Indians were in considerable force in the rear of a hill known as Presque Isle, where a recent storm had felled the timber."
Immediately after the council of war the army advanced towards the hill. A recent hurricane made havoc with the large trees and formed an almost impassable barrier against an army of cavalry. The Indian chiefs declared "No army the Americans could bring could fight them." It was a natural fortification for Indians. The cavalry followed the rocky shores of the river, while the infan- try marched, to the left, in the rear.
Without warning, not even the exchange of picket firing was heard, General Wayne came down upon them like a second hurri- cane. So terribly surprised were the Indians that they paid no attention to the commands of their chiefs, notwithstanding Chief Turkey Foot stood upon a huge rock waving his tomahawk, and trying to encourage his warriors, a mark for an American, who saw the chief fall upon the rock. The battle was mostly a hand-to-hand conflict until the Indians gave way and were driven in great con- fusion for two miles down the river. No Indian can stand in front of a bayonet. The battle was short, but fierce. So fierce that it forever frightened the Indians from undertaking to fight the Ameri- cans alone, without the support of the British. A Canadian, taken prisoner in the action, estimated the force of the Indians at 1,400. Among them were about 70 Canadians, and that Colonel McKee, Captain Elliott and Simon Girty were on the field. The Indians lost nine chiefs. Americans lost 33 killed and 100 wounded.
Turkey Foot Rock, now a noted and familiar landmark, is about six feet long, three feet wide, about four feet high and weighing, perhaps, three tons. The chief, Turkey Foot, was buried imme- diately after the battle by American soldiers and near the rock. Upon its surface are distinct tracks of turkey feet, rudely carved by Indians with their tomahawks. The late D. W. H. Howard wrote: "For many years after in single file the Indians passed the rock without halting or uttering a word. Each in silence and sor-
20
row placing his tribute of respect upon the rock-a piece of tobacco. This was done until the last wigwam was torn down, and I took the Indians west."
Recently, within a few years, additional fame has been added to the rock. Some person or persons, at the dead hour of night, confiscated the rock, and so completely placed it out of sight that the inhabitants of two villages, Maumee and Perrysburg, in their searching for weeks failed to discover it. When those interested were satisfied the people appreciated and revered the monument of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the rock appeared in the village as suddenly as it had disappeared. Which gave the citizens of the county an opportunity to celebrate its recovery. The Battle of Fallen Timbers settled all savage warfare in the northwest. The Indians gave General Wayne the name of "Che-no-tin," or the Whirlwind. Several months after the battle a number of Potta- watomie Indians arrived at Fort Wayne, and when asked about the engagement, replied, "At the battle the Wind was like a hurricane which drives and tears everything before it."
After resting his army, General Wayne marched down the river, passed Fort Miami, which was occupied by the British, but silent, and camped at the mouth of Swan creek, and "for immediate protection he built a stockade and so expeditiously was it built he named it Fort Industry," now Toledo, Ohio. The dimensions of the fort were about 200 by 250 feet.
On August 23, 1794, General Wayne left Fort Industry for his return to Fort Defiance.
Fort Industry is on the easterly corner of Summit and Monroe streets. The site is now occupied by a large building and known as Fort Industry Block.
Shortly after General Wayne passed in sight of Fort Miami he received the following from Major Campbell of the British army, stationed at this fort:
"An army of the United States of America, said to be under your command, having taken post on the banks of the Miami (Mau- mee) for upwards of twenty-four hours, almost within reach of the guns of this fort, being a post belonging to His Majesty, the King of Great Britain, occupied by His Majesty's troops, it becomes my duty to inform myself as speedily as possible in what light I am to view your making such near approaches to this garrison? I have no hesitation on my part to say that I know of no war existing be- tween Great Britain and America."
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FORT DEPOSIT Where General Wayne deposited his surplus baggage before the battle of Fallen Timbers.
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22
ROCHE-DE-BOEUF-(Standing Rock)
Where General Wayne and Lieutenant Harrison held the council before the battle of Fallen Timbers.
23
TOLEDO IN 1794 Now the easterly corner of Summit and Monroe streets.
24
TOLEDO IN 1913
25
THE MAUMEE RAPIDS At Turkey Foot Rock, Sulphur Spring.
26
HEAD OF THE MAUMEE RAPIDS
Showing Buttonwood Island where "the last body of Indians were gathered together previous to taking them to the Neosho Reservation. There were nine remnants of tribes-800 in all."
27
To this General Wayne replied :
"Without questioning the authority or propriety, sir, of your interrogation, I think I may, without breach of decorum, observe to you, were you entitled to an answer, the most full and satisfactory one was announced to you from the muzzles of my small arms yes- terday morning in the engagement in the vicinity of your post, which terminated gloriously to the American arms, but had it con- tinued until the Indians were driven under the influence of the post you mention, they would not have much impeded the progress of the victorious army under my command, and no such fort was estab- lished at the commencement of the present war between the Indians and the United States."
Major Campbell replied the next day with the statement that he had foreborne to resent the insults which had been offered to the British flag flying at Fort Miami. "But," he concluded, "should you after this continue to approach my post in the threatening manner that you are at this moment doing, my indispensable duty to my King and country will oblige me to recourse to those measures which thousands of either nation may hereafter have cause to regret."
After this communication was received General Wayne and staff reconnoitered Fort Miami. It was found to be a very strong fort. The front covered by the Maumee river and protected by four guns. The rear had two regular bastions furnished with eight pieces of artillery. The whole surrounded by a wide ditch, about 25 feet deep, from the top of the parapet. It was supposed to have been garrisoned by 450 soldiers.
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