USA > Ohio > Allen County > A standard history of Allen county, Ohio : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development > Part 3
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INDEX
Old-Time Rail Fence (illustration), I, 230
Operating Room, City Hospital (illus- tration), I, 497 Ordinance of 1787, I, 45, 84, 125
Organized labor, I, 424 Orion Mannerchor, I, 419
Orontony, I, 12
Orpheum, I, 429
Orton, Edward, I, 225
Osmon, Aaron J., II, 167
Ottawa River, I, 174, 264, 392
Ottawa Township, I, 199; swallowed up by Lima, I, 201 Out-of-door Oven in Shawnee Common 50 Years Ago (illustration), I, 208
Owen, Ezekiel, II, 131
Owen, Morrill D., II, 99
Owen, Robert D., II, 99
Owens, Jeremiah M., -
Overhead Ohio Electric Car Crossing the Pennsylvania Tracks at Delphos (illusration), I, 336
Ox-Yoke and Tin Lantern (illustration), I, 222
Paid fire department, I, 397
Paine, Clayton M., II, 119
Parham, Henry, II, 14
Parks, Samuel G., II, 235
Parks, I, 400
Parmenter, William L., II, 228
Parochial schools, I, 311
Passing of the Red Man, I, 136
Pathfinders, I, 411
Patterson, Allen, II, 144
Patterson, John N., II, 337
Patterson, William M., II, 311
Pe-Aitch-Ta (Pht), I, 174, 182, 190, 193; grave of, I, 554 Peltier, Enos, II, 266
Peltier, James, first merchant in Lima, I, 201
Peltier, Sarah E., II, 85
Peltier, Stanley W., II, 265
Pennell, T. C., II, 11
Pennsylvania Railroad, I, 337
Perry, Oliver H., I, 119
Perry Township, I, 203
Peters, James B., II, 245
Petroleum, I, 341
Pflum, Harry J., II, 207
Phelan House, I, 423
Phillips, Clement R., II, 341
Phillips, William A., II, 305
Philomathean Club, I, 524
Pht (Pe-Aitch-Ta) I, 174, 182, 190, 193; grave of, I, 554
Pht's Cabin in Shawnee (illustration), I, 182
Physicians, I, 362; pioneer, I, 369 Picturesque Old Lock on the Miami and Erie Canal (illustration), I, 211 Pierson, Harold, II, 242 Pierson, Joseph E., II, 280
Pilgrim Tercentenary celebration, I, 166
Pillars, Isaiah ( illustration), I, 256
Pillars, Isaiah, I, 355, 359
Pillars, James, I, 277 ; II, 190 Pioneer architecture, I. 545
Pioneer doctor, I, 369
Pioneer Fireplace (illustration), I, 240
Pioneer Home of Griffith Breese, 1832 (illustration), I, 207
Pioneer homes, I, 271
Pioneers, I, 181, 189, 216
Pioneers traveling, I, 545
Pipe organs, first in Lima, I, 419
Piper, Jacob, II, 9
Plan Illustrating the Battles of the Maumee, I, 72
Plaugher, Peter C., II, 323
Players' Dramatic Club, I, 524
Plummer, Otto C., II, 137
Poague, Amanda, I, 176
Police Department, Lima, I, 401
Poling, James B., II, 77 Political Equality Club, I, 524
Pomona Grange, I, 241
Pontiac, I, 15; (illustration), I, 16
Pontiac conspiracy, I, 11, 16
Population of Allen County, I, 270
Porcupine, The, I, 315
Post, Charles C., II, 159
Post, Leonidas H., II, 74
Post, William, II, 211
Post Family, II, 159
Postal system, I, 349
Potter, Glenn L., II, 236
Potter, Joseph, II, 129
Potter, M. Austin, II, 216
Prater, Ida M., II, 333
Presbyterians, I, 281, 285
Probate Judges, I, 253
Prominent roads, I, 328
Prophet, The, I, 90
Prophett, H. S., I, 360
Prosecuting Attorneys, I, 254
Protestant missionary work among In- dians, I, 148 Public cisterns, I, 396
Public Highways, I, 329
Public utilities, I, 386
Purdy, John E., II, 334
Quail, George H., I, 359
Quakers, I, 147
Quilna, I, 171, 183, 190, 203
Quilna trail, I, 329
Quinn, Andrew, II, 107
Race tracks, I, 534
Raikes, Robert, I, 293
Railroads, I, 335 Railway mail service, I, 349
Reagan, John J., II, 331
Reagan, William J., II, 316
Real estate dealer, first, I, 493
Red, John W., II, 268 Red Cross, I, 445 Red Cross Chapters, I, 458
Reed, Cleo C., II, 70 Reed, John W., II, 179 Reed, Silas, II, 98 Reese, Elmer E., II, 319
Reese, John, II, 319
Renz, Jacob F., II, 227 Representatives, I, 260 Republican Gazette, I, 316 Republican, The, I, 316
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INDEX
Reserve Officers Training Corps, I, 244 Reservoir war, I, 440 Revolutionary heroes, I, 434 Revolutionary period, I, 24 Revolutionary War, I, 433 Rex, Reuben H., II, 112 Reynolds, John M., II, 34 Rhoda, Charles II, 101
Rhoda, William, II, 101
Rhodes, William C., II, 286
Richardson, Joseph H., I, 299
Richie, Walter B., I, 360
Richland, Township, I, 205
Rickoff, Joseph R., II, 45 Ridenour, Cornelius, II, 172
Ridenour, Ephraim V., II, 44
Ridenour, Jacob C., I, 360
Ridenour, John, I, 203
Ridenour, Mathias H., II, 46
Ridenour, William S., II, 256
Ridge Road, I, 323
Riley, George, II, 21
Shakespeare Club, I, 524
Shannon, I, 205
Shannon, Samucl, I, 281
Shappell, Harriet B .. I, 533
Shawnee Country Club, I, 268, 405
Shawnee Township, I, 208
Sheep (illustration), I, 234
Sheik, John L., II, 286
Shepherd, William J., II, 266
Sheriff's Residence and Allen County Courthouse, 188Z (illustration), I, 252
Shields, Daniel, I, 191
Shipyard industry, Fort Amanda, I, 176
Shobe, Frank P., II, 244
Sidener, Sterling, II, 186
Sidener, Thomas T., II, 116
Siferd, Charles C., II, 180
Simonton, Horace E., II, 19
Simpson, Bailis H., II, 136
Sinks, Edward D., II, 253
Slocum, Charles E., I, 164
Smith, Albert F., II, 117
Smith, Anna II, 164
Smith, C. Henry, II, 35
Smith, Frank S., II, 115
Smith, Jacob H., II, 164
Smith, Josephine C., II, 255
Smith, O. Warren, II, 255
Smith, Richard E., II, 250
Smith, William A., II, 48
Smith-Hughes Vocational Educational Law, I, 244, 307 Sneary, John H., II, 92
Rush, Benjamin, I, 380
Rusher, Frank P., II, 125
Rusher, Ross W., II, 125 Rusler, William, I, 179, 519, 539; II, 155 Russell, Susannah, I, 217 Russell, William L., II, 3
"Salary grab," I, 536 Salvation Army, I, 286 Sanford's Hall, I, 428 Sanitary Commission, Civil War, I, 445 Schaublin, John, II, 81 Schenk, Frank W., II, 52 Scherger, John A., II, 36
Schmitt, Charles A., II, 129 Schnegg, G. P., II, 17 Schools, I, 298 ; first centralized in Ohio, I, 302
Schricker, Martin C., II, 57
Scotts Crossing, I, 194
Scully, John, II, 81
Sealer of Weights and Measures, I, 401
Second Courthouse (illustration), I, 249
Second War with England, I, 436
Secret Orders, I, 402, 408
Seibold, Guy, II, 95
Selfridge, Oliver B., II, 154
Sellers, Franklin P., II, 201
Senators, I, 260
Settlers, early, I, 181 Severns, John B., II, 203
Sevier, Frank P., II, 213
Shaffer, Carl S., II, 347
Shaffer, George W., II, 339
Shaffer, Simon, II, 225
Riley, James W., I, 199, 432, 515; sur- vey of, I, 170 Riley, Samuel J., II, 64 Riley, Victor H., II, 64 River Raisin, I, 95 Roads, I, 89, 321, 328
Robb, Thomas M., I, 359
Roberts, John J., II, 164
Roberts, Stewart D., II, 330
Roberts, Thomas C., II, 200
Roberts, Walter O., II, 342
Robinson, Forster, II, 210 Roche d'Bouef, I, 70
Rockey, James K., II, 76
Roeder, Jacob A., II, 186
Rogers, Henry H., II, 201
Rogers, Rufus, II, 201
Roney, Caroline, II, 50 Roney, Charles H., II, 50 Rose, Otto J., II, 278 Rosicrucians Club, I, 512
Ross, Orlo E., II, 57 Ross, Walter A., II, 312
Rothe, Albert H., II, 187
Rothwell, Edward J., II, 124 Round Table, I, 524
Rousculp, Arthur C., II, 172 Rousculp, Charles M., II, 188
Rousculp, Philip M., II, 313 Roush, Oscar J., II, 310
Rowlands, Carl K., II, 278 Rowlands, John W., II, 278 Royal Arcanum, I, 411
Snider, Daniel O., II, 314
Snider, George L., II, 295
Snow, Fred C., II, 29
Social life, early, I, 371
Social Service Club, I, 408, 525
Society of Friends, I, 147
Society of the American Indians, I, 185
Solar Refinery, I, 209 Solar Refining Company, 342
Soldiers' Monument, I, 447 Sollers, George W., II, 96 Some 1920 citizens of Allen County, I, 188 Sorosis Club, I, 524
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INDEX
South High School, Gymnasium, Rest Room and Machine Shop (illustra- tions), I, 310 Spanish-American War, I, 448
Spayd, Harry W. D., II, 126
Spees, Alfred G., II, 240
Spencer House, I, 423
Spencer Township, I, 209
Spencerville, I, 209, 212
Spencerville Schoolhouse (illustration), "I, 210
Spinning Wheels (illustration), I, 221
Sprague, Charles F., II, 180
Sprinkle, Peter, II, 319
Spyker, Joel, II, 26
Stalter, Charles, II, 150
Standard Oil Company, I, 343
Star Route United States mail system, I, 351
Star, The, I, 317
State Board of Charities, I, 254
State Historical and Archaeological So- ciety, I, 275
State Hospital, I, 502
Stayner, John W., II, 25
Stayner, Joshua C., II, 20
St. Clair, Gen. Arthur, I, 46, 87, 88, 432 ; (illustration), I, 52 St. Clair campaign, I, 44 St. Clair defeat, I, 51
Steam Railway Service in America, Be- ginning of (illustration), I, 333
Steiger, George W., II, 327
Steiger, John S., II, 259
Steiner, Reuben P., II, 160
Steinle, Felix, II, 178
Steinle, Harold, II, 102
Stemen, Harry M., II, 79
Stevens, George, II, 120
Stiles, Franklin A., I, 516
St. Matthews Church Subscription, Oct. 1, 1844 (illustration), I, 289
Stockton, Robert G., II, 103 Strawbridge, Christian D., II, 101
Strayer, George W., II, 263 Strayer, Samuel, II, 273
Street Fairs, I, 240
St. Rita's Hospital, I, 500
Students Army Training Corps, I, 244, 312.
Stumpp, Edward W., II, 252 Sugar camp, I, 528
Sugar Camp in Shawnee (illustration), I, 212
Sugar Creek Township, I, 211
Sunday, Billy, I, 288
Sunday School, I, 293
Surgeons, first in Lima, I, 364 Swaney, Frank W., II, 39
Swartz, Henry, II, 246
Swinonia, I, 172, 265 Swisher, Samuel V., II, 19
Talbott, John E., II, 231
Tapestry artist, I, 528
Tappen, Charles L., II, 106 Tarhe (The Crane), I, 81, 137 Tax duplicate, I, 484 Tax estimate, I, 485 Taylor, Job, I, 516
Teakettle Seminary, I, 299
Tecumseh, I, 15, 90, 113, 174, 436; ( illus- tration), I, 91 Telephone system, I, 388
Temperance I, 376
Territory of Indiana, I, 87
Territory of U. S. northwest of Ohio River, 1787, 1, 46
Terwilleger, Thompson R .. , II, 237 Theaters, I, 428 Thespian Club, I, 521
Thomas, Belle B., II, 27
Thomas, Frank A., II, 117
Thomas, Harry, II, 27
Thomas, Herbert A. II, 78
Thomas, Homer F., II 325
Thomas, N. Elmer, II, 91
Thomas Individual Cup Communion Service, I, 288
Thompson Edward J., II, 260
Thompson, John W., II, 314
Thompson, R. J., I, 516
Thomson, Darl W., II, 314
Thut, B. Frank, II, 141
Tiffin, Edward, I, 87, 88, 122
Times-Democrat, I, 316
Toledo War, I, 439 Toneff, Milan E., II, 12
Tony's Nose Cemetery, I, 556
Town Hall, Elida (illustration), I, 190
Township histories, I, 190
Trade Union Movement I,, 425
Traders, English, I, 8
Transportation, I, 331; underground, I, 340 Travel in the Sixties (illustration), I, 327
Travelers' Rest, I, 423
Traveling circus, I, 533
Treaty of Greenville, I, 79, 155; signa- tures to the (illustration), I, 80
Trempert, William H., II, 175
Tribe of Ben Hur, I, 411
Tussing, Willard E., II, 221
Twentieth Century Club, I, 525
Twice-a-Week Courant, I, 317
T and T Club, I,.521
Ulrey, Silas, II, 281 Umbaugh, Edward M., II, 165 Umbrella Drill in Lima (illustration), I, 276
Unbroken Allen County Forest (illustra- tion), I, 227
Under British rule, I, 1, 14
Under French rule, I, 1
Underground transportation, I, 340
United Brethren, I, 282, 286
United States census, first, I, 270; 1920, 270 United States Congress, I, 260 Urban side of Allen County, I, 261
Vail, Jonathan B., II, 127 Valuation of farm lands, I, 495
Vandivier, Adam, II, 51 Van Meter, Harley J., II, 284 Van Stronder, Math O., II, 240 Van Tassel, Isaac, I, 150 Virginia's claims, I, 29
INDEX
xxiii
Volunteer fire department, I, 396
Wagenman, Robert R., II, 249 Waldo Hotel, I, 421
Walker, Timothy, 1, 353
Wallace, James M., II, 292
Wallace, William O., II, 291
Walters Brothers, II, 19I
Walters, Harry E., II, 19I
Walters, Leon P., II, 154
War of 1812, I, 93, 432, 437
War Savings Department, I, 458 Ward, John, I, 299 Water supply, I, 390
Watson, Fred J., II, 56
Watt, Jacob A., II, 340
Watt, James R., II, 337
Watt, William H., II, 323
Watterson, Henry, I, 314
Wayne, Gen. "Mad Anthony," 1, 57, 58, 176, 432; (illustration), 1, 60
Wayne's campaign, I, 61
Wayne County, I, 87; organized 1796, Map, I, 85
Wayne Trace, I, 327
Wealth of Allen County, I, 482
Weaving ( illustration). I, 215
Webb, Elmer D., II, 209
Webb, Glen C., II, 173
Welch, Jacob R., II, 110
Welch, William, II, 202
Welfare work, I, 504
Wellman, William H., II, 114
Wells, John R., II, 122
Wells, William, I, 67, 92
Welsh community, annals of, I, 272
Welsh Congregational Church, I, 287
Welsh settlers, I, 211, 278
Welty, Cora Miller, I, 516
Wentworth, Edwin D., II, 246
West Cairo, I, 199, 212
West Newton, I, 191
Western Ohio Railroad, 1, 337 Westminster, I, 191
Wharton, Paul N., II, 185
White, James F., II, 96
White, Joseph, II, 87
Whittier School, Home Makers Center (illustration), 1, 312 Who's Who in Allen County, I, 185 Wiesenthal, Sol, II, 241 Wigwams (illustration), I, 154
Wilcox, William B., II, 77 Wilkin, Elmer W., II, 189 Wilkinson, General, 1, 59
Williams, Cary C., II, 230 Williams, Frank E., II, 149 Williams, George E., II, 233 Williams, Henry D., I, 354
Williams, John, II, 53
Williams, John S., II, 222 Willis, F. B., I, 175 Wilson, Mary E. W., II, 311
Winchester, General, I, 103 Windstorms of 1919, I, 213
Winter, Nevin O., 1, 519
Wolf a Terror to Settlers (illustration), I, 220 Wolford, John A., II, 328
Wollet, Noah, II, 333
Woman of the Past in Allen County (illustration), I, 214 Woman's Board of Managers Lima City Hospital, I, 525
Woman's Music Club, I, 525
Woman's Relief Corps, I, 446, 520
Women's Clubs, I, 520, 522, 525
Women's Christian Temperance Union, I, 381 Wonnell, Jonathan, II, 269
Wood, Christopher, I, 193
Wood, Cliff M., II, 139
Woodlawn Cemetery, Entrance (illus- tration), I, 555 Woodmen of the World, I, 411
World War, I, 449; military and naval list, I, 459; roster of honor men, I, 481 Worthington, Thomas, I, 87
Wright, Harold B., I, 515
Wright, S. W .; II, 287
Wright, Walter W., II, 177
Wurmser, Herbert L., II, 105
Wyre, John J., II, 234
Yant, James M., II, 302
Year of disasters, I, 93
Yingling, Estey C., II, 249
Yoakam, Joseph F., II, 204
Young Men's Christian Association, I, 406 Young Women's Christian Association, I, 406, 408 Youngpeter, Edward C., II, 278
Zeitz, John, II, 191 Zender, Anthony P., II, 244 Zerkel. Jefferson W., II, 229
Zetlitz, Eggert N., II, 176 Zurmehly, Elza O., II, 64
1 PET
History of Allen County
CHAPTER I
UNDER FRENCH AND BRITISH RULE
No section of the United States has experienced more changes of sovereignty than Northwestern Ohio, and none has been the theater of more interesting historical events than this same division. Spain, France and England in turn laid claim to sovereignty over this wilderness, for such it was in those early days. There was no political organization, and it formed but an indistinct part of the trans-Allegheny wilds. After it was definitely conceded to the United States it became a part of that vast empire designated as the Northwestern Territory. The northern border, comprising a part of Lucas, Fulton and Williams counties, brought on a near-war between Ohio and Michigan. In its local jurisdiction this sec- tion has been included within the boundaries of a number of different county organizations. Fulton was the last county to be organized. It was not created until 1850. Allen County had been created thirty years earlier, although a considerable portion was detached in the formation of Defiance and Fulton counties.
Spain asserted her claim to all of Ohio by right of discovery of the continent. Not having occupied or made settlements therein, however, her claim was not considered valid by the other contending and ambitious nations. Her soldiers and sailors conquered Mexico and South America, while Ponce de Leon and De Soto roamed over the Florida peninsula. So far as records go, the foot of the Spanish conquistador never trod the region of the Great Lakes, and the forests never echoed to his foot- fall. She also based her right on a "concession in perpetuity" made by Pope Alexander VI.
By authority of Almighty God, granted him in St. Peter, and by exalted office that he bore on earth as the actual representative of Jesus the Christ, Pope Alexander had granted to the kings of Castle and Leon, their heirs and successors, all of North America and the greater part of South America. These sovereigns were to be "Lords of the lands, with free, full and absolute power, authority and jurisdiction." This famous decree is one of the most remarkable documents in history. It was a deed in blank for all the lands that might be discovered west and south of a line drawn from the Pole Arctic to the Pole Antarctic, 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. The rest of the undiscovered world, east of that line, was similarly bestowed upon Portugal. These decrees were based upon the theory that lands occupied by heathen, pagan, infidel and unbaptized people had absolutely no rights which the Christian ruler was bound to respect. Such human beings as the Indians were mere chattels that ran with the land in the same way as the wild game of the forests. To Spain and Portugal was designated the exclusive right of hunting and finding these unknown lands and people. The Spanish king thus became the most powerful potentate in the whole world.
Francis I, king of France, disputed the claims of Spain and Portugal to "own the earth." He inquired of the Spanish king whether Father
Vol. 1-1
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
Adam had made them his sole heirs, and asked whether he could produce a copy of his will. Until such a document was shown, he himself felt at liberty to roam around and assume sovereignty over all the soil he might find actually unappropriated. The exact date when the white man first appeared in Ohio has not been definitely established. It is fairly well settled, however, that it was in the Maumee Valley where the first attempts at settlement were made. It was on or about the year 1680 that some hardy French established themselves along that historic stream and built a stockade not far from its mouth. It is certain that the French preceded the British in this territory by at least half a century.
Jamestown was founded just one year before Champlain sowed the seeds of the fleur-de-lis on the barren cliffs of Quebec. These two little colonies, a thousand miles apart, were the advance stations of the Latin and the Anglo-Saxon races, which were destined to a life and death struggle in the New World. In the history of mankind this struggle was no less important than that between Greece and Persia, or Rome and Carthage, in the long ago. The position of Canada, with the St. Lawrence opening up the territory adjacent to the Great Lakes, invited intercourse with this region, for it provided a vast extent of inland navigation.
The claims of both French and British to this region we now occupy were extremely shadowy. Charters nominally conveying principalities were lavished upon courtiers and favored subjects. The sovereigns and their courtiers possessed only the vaguest ideas of the lands they were pretending to parcel out. England's claims to dominion over North America were based upon the reports of the discoveries of the Cabots while searching for a passage to Cathay. The reports are very indefinite and not convincing. The original claim of France was based on the discovery of the St. Lawrence by the brave buccaneer Cartier, in 1534. He had sailed up a broad river, which he named St. Lawrence, as far as Montreal and called the country Canada, a name applied to the surround- ing region by the Iroquois. The appellation was afterward changed to New France. The first grant of American soil was a patent from Henry IV, in 1604, conveying to De Monts the lands between the fortieth and forty-sixth degrees of north latitude, which would include our ter- ritory. Hence this is the earliest real estate conveyance affecting extreme Northwestern Ohio. It was under this grant that Quebec was founded and fortified.
With equal assurance and no greater regard for the rights of others we find King James, of England, conveying to a syndicate of merchants American territory between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth degrees of north latitude, which also affected the title to every foot of soil in this region. It was upon this grant that the claims of Virginia were founded.
The later explorations by Champlain, La Salle, Joliet, and others simply confirmed and expanded the original claim of France. She main- tained the view that to discover a river established a right to all the ter- ritory drained by that river and its tributaries. The waters of the Maumee being tributary to the St. Lawrence, the valleys became a part of the vast domain known as New France, with Quebec as its capital. This claim France was ready to maintain with all the resources and power at her command.
It is interesting to trace the gradual growth of geographical knowl- edge of French cartographers by a study of the maps made by them in the last half of the seventeenth century. Even after all the Great Lakes are known to them in a general way, the outlines and the relations of one to the other are at first indefinite and very far from being correct.
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
This is probably due to the fact that the explorers took much of their general knowledge from the indefinite statement of the aborigines. In Champlain's map, published in 1632, the lake is shown as very small. Lake Huron, called Mer Douce, is several times as expansive, and spreads out from east to west rather than from north to south. The first map in which Lucas Erius appears in anything like a correct contour is one designed by Pere du Creux, in the year 1660. In this map we see the first outline of the Maumee, although no name is there given to it. In Joliet's map of 1672, the Ohio River is placed only a short portage from the Maumee, and not far from Lake Erie. The increasing correctness of these maps, however, reveals the fact that priests, traders and explor- ers were constantly threading these regions and bringing back knowledge of the lakes, rivers and smaller streams, which aided the cartographers in their important work.
Samuel de Champlain, in the early part of the seventeenth century explored much of the Great Lakes region. He founded Quebec in 1608. He visited the Wyandots, or the Hurons, at their villages on Lake Huron and passed several months with them in 1615. This tribe had not yet settled in Ohio. It is quite likely that he traveled in winter along the southern shores of Lake Erie, for the map made by him of this region shows considerable knowledge of the contour of the southern shores of this lake. Louis Joliet is credited with being the first European to plow the waters of our fair lake, but this historic fact has never been satisfactorily settled.
It is generally believed by some historians that Chevalier de La Salle journeyed up the Maumee River and then down the Wabash to the Ohio and the Mississippi in the year 1669, although this fact has not been posi- tively established, for some of La Salle's journals were lost. For a period of two years his exact wanderings are unknown. There are a number of routes with only short portages by which he could have journeyed from the lake region to the great O-hi-o. But he is generally credited as the first white man to discover the Ohio, even though the route by which he reached it is unsettled. Through the dense forests, in the midst of blind- ing storms, across frozen creeks and swollen streams, fearless alike of the howling wolves and painted savages, the little band of discoverers picked its way across the unchartered Ohio Valley. We do know that he traversed Lake Erie from one end to the other in the "Griffin," a boat which greatly astonished the natives who saw it. She bore at her prow a figure of that mythical creature with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle. This vessel was a man-of-war as well as a passenger boat, for five tiny cannon peeped out from her portholes. He also built the first Fort Miami, near the site of Fort Wayne, on his return overland from this trip. It was a rude log fort, and a few of his followers were left there to maintain it.
It was in the year 1668 that the official representative of France, on an occasion when representatives of many Indian tribes were present by invitation, formally took possession of our territory at Sault Ste. Marie. A cross was blessed and placed in the ground. Near the cross was reared a post bearing a metal plate inscribed with the French royal arms. A prayer was offered for the king. Then Saint-Lusson advanced, and holding his sword aloft in one hand and raising a sod of earth with the other, he formally, in the name of God and France, proclaimed posses- sion of "Lakes Huron and Superior and all countries, rivers, lakes and streams continuous and adjacent thereunto, both those that have been discovered and those which may be discovered hereafter, in all their
4
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
length and breadth, bounded on one side by the seas of the north and west and on the other by the South Sea"; etc.
The Jesuit fathers penetrated almost the entire Northwestern Terri- tory and their reports, called the "Relations," reveal tales of suffering and hardship, self-sacrifice and martyrdoms, that are seldom paralleled in history. But their zeal has cast a glamour over the early history of the country. One of the most renowned of the Jesuits was Father Marquette, who, with Joliet, navigated the upper Mississippi and exhausted himself by privation and perils. As a result of exposure he perished in a rude bark hut on the shore of Lake Michigan, attended by his faithful companions. He gazed upon the crucifix and murmured a prayer until death closed his lips and veiled his eyes. No name shines brighter for religious devotion, dauntless perseverance, and sacrifice for the advancement of his country and his religion. Ohio, however, was not the scene of the Jesuit explorations and missionary efforts. The only exception was a mission conducted at Sandusky for a time by Jesuit priests from Detroit.
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