History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 2

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 2

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).

Fort Defiance. Plan of 2.4

Fort Washington 34

France Stone Quarry. near Middlepoint. 248

Home Guards Temple, The. Van Wert. 312

Humphreys & Hughes Block, Van Wert. 312

Lima. View of. from the Wapakoneta Road (1846) 41

Ohio City-View of a business street. 124

PORTRAITS-

Bergman, Rev. Almira P.

479

Bergman, Rev. Harvey

478

Bientz, Mr. and Mrs. John B.

PAGE

580

Black, John

502

Bockey, Mrs. Agnes K. 662

Bockey, Mathias

662

Carlo, Franklin

388

Carlo, Mrs. Mary H. 389

Clark, Gen. George Rogers.

Collins, Samuel

380

Dull, James Monroe

426

Dull, Mrs. Martha L.

426

Evans, David W

440

Exline, Mr. and Mrs. William Thompson. 448

Fisher, John W.

462

Frager, Mrs. and Mrs. Wesley.

742

Gerdeman, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. 770

Giffin, Isaac N.

606

Gilliland, Thaddeus S.

Gleason, Andrew Jackson

358

Glenn, Hon. Hiram C.

396

Gordon, Rev. James Alexander, D. D.

418

Grunewald, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel

508

Harmar, Gen. Josiah

Harrison, Gen. William Henry 26

Hertz, Mrs. Ellen R.

576

Hertz, Samuel B.

576

Hoeffel, Rev. Aloysius I.

214

Hofmann. John J.

562

Hoover. Mr. and Mrs. William

554

Inwood, Rodolph W.

636

Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin

722

Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin

548

Koogle, Oliver

702

Koogle, Mrs. Sarah L.

702

Lehmann. Charles

516

Lepley, Thomas C.

650

Marsh, George H.

404

Mounts, Rev. James F 348

Pohlman, Henry

710

Royer, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph

762

St. Clair. Gen. Arthur.

Saum, Mr. and Mrs. Henry

690

Schumm, Mr. and Mrs. Henry G. 614

Smith, James B.

372

Sweet. Hon. Augustus L. 366

Vickroy. Orin G.

534

Vickroy, Mrs. Rebecca G. 534

Wayne. Gen. Anthony

Wisener. Lorenzo Dow

620

Zook. Jacob

486

Pumping Station. Van Wert

234

Relics of Fort Amanda and Pioneer Days in Al-

len County

RESIDENCES-

Brown, Matthew H.

Digitized by

Google

INDEX

PAGE

Carlo, Franklin

336

Gilliland, Thaddeus S 27 2

Hertz, Samuel B. 272

Hoelderle, Frederic

336

Hofmann, John

336

Hughes, W. T

272

Jones, Abraham

192

Mccullough, Samuel A. 494

Michael, George W. 592

Morris, Thomas (Log Cabin)

192

Pollock, J. B. ("Stone Front" House) 192

Schinnerer, Henry F.

628

Shaw, Nelson F

540

Snyder, Peter

434

Stemen, E. C., & Sons. 678

Vickroy, Orin G.

534

SCHOOL BUILDINGS-

Delphos, High

264

Middlepoint, Western Ohio Normal 264

Ohio City

192

Van Wert, First Ward

264

Van Wert, Third Ward (High)

264

PAGE

Willshire

192

Town Hall, Convoy 186

Van Wert County Infirmary 82

Van Wert County Jail

234

VAN WERT COUNTY'S COURT HOUSES-

First

283

Third

234

Fourth ( Present) 286

VAN WERT VIEWS-

Bird's-eye view, looking southwest from the Court House Frontispiece Scene on Main Street 312

View on Main street, looking west from Mar- ket street 124

View in 1873

View in Third Ward Park

272

Willshire-View of a business street

124

Google

Digitized by

Google

7. S.Gilliland

Digitized by Google

History of Van Wert County

CHAPTER I

INDIAN WARS IN NORTHWESTERN OHIO

Pontiac's Conspiracy-Massacre of the Moracians-First Legislation by Congress on the Indian Question-Harmar's Expedition-St. Clair's Defeat-Wayne's Successful Campaign-Battle of the Fallen Timber-The Scout, Capt. William Wells-War of 1812-Siege and Relief of Fort Meigs-Dispossession of the Indians.

During 1762 a treaty of peace between France and England was signed by which France recognized England's right to what is now included in Northwestern Ohio. As early as 1763 England saw the importance of keep- ing control of the Maumee and its tributaries. the Auglaize. the St. Mary's and the St. Joseph: and forts were erected at the mouth of the Maumee and also at the head waters at the junction of the St. Mary's and the St. Joseph. The latter was known as Fort Miami and was destined to be the scene of sanguinary strife and bloodshed. These and other forts along the shore of Lake Erie were expected to keep the Indians in check as well as to admin- ister the internal affairs of the country, which were largely placed in the hands of army offi- cers.

PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY.

But about this time a great chief by the name of Pontiac appeared. claiming that he was commissioned by the Great Spirit to gather together all the Indians and drive the British from the country. The French had used all their influence to instill into the minds of the Indians their hatred of the British and cold them that. now that the French were com- pelled to withdraw. the British would oppress them still more. When Pontiac with his great eloquence callel upon them to rise in their might and drive the invaders from the land. he told them the Great Spirit said: "Why do you suffer these dogs in red clothing to enter your country and take the lands I have given you? Drive them from it. Drive them. And

Digitized by

Google

£8

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

when you are in distress I will help you." i called a council of the head officers, laid the The Mingoes, Shawnees, Delawares. Mi- information before them and was advised to amis, Chippewas, Wyandots and Ottawas pay no attention to it as it was only the imag- were carried away by his eloquence and be- inings of an old woman, but he took counsel lieved that it was a message direct from the Great Spirit with both a command and a prom- ise that was all powerful. And for a time the tribes laid aside their past differences and raised a large army ready for war and anxious to avenge their wrongs, real or fancied, and urged on by the promise of scalps and of plun- der. Some Frenchman had sent them a letter. purporting to be from the King of France. promising that if they would drive out the British he would not allow anyone else to come in and molest them.

With their enthusiasm aroused, a large army was raised that was irresistible. The In- «lians gathered in the vicinity of the different posts, Detroit, Maumee, Presque Isle. Niagara. Pittsburg and Ligonier were surrounded by Indians apparently friendly, who were waiting for the signal from their leader to attack. The Indians thus appeared at Fort Miami which they took by strategy. They first lured the commander out of the post and killed him. Then they called upon the post to surrender on their promise that the prisoners would be protected. Following the fall of Fort Miami, nine English posts surrendered only to be mas- sacred. Then followed in rapid succession one of the bloodiest scenes in the annals of the Indian warfare. . Age or sex was no protec- tion from the desire for bloodshed and shaugh- ter. which was only stayed when there was none to kill. Detroit was only saved by the timely information given by an Indian woman who was friendly to the commandant of the post. She gave the plans of the Indians, the manner of the signal for the slaughter to commence. So that it was easy to counteract their treacherous plans at the critical moment. The commandant

{ of caution and laid his plans accordingly. He had the guards strengthened and the troops called out for drill in front of his quarters when the chiefs called to show their respects to the commandant. He also notified the traders to have arms ready to repel any attempt at plun- dering. The chiefs came to the conference. and found the whole garrison was under arms. Pontiac asked how it came that the men were armed, and was told that it was their regular drill. The chiefs with Pontiac at their head were conducted to headquarters and proceedled to declare their great friendship for the whites and the commandant in particular. and their desire to live in peace and to trade with his people. But when he came to deliver the belt of wampum, that was to be the signal of slaughter. he noticed that the English officers grasped the hilts of their swords and drew them half from the scalbards, and a company of soldiers halted in front of the door which was left open. Pontiac hesitated. turned pale and finally delivered the belt in the usual man- ner: his chiefs looked at him in surprise, but Pontiac knew that his plot had been discovered. The commandant in his speech charged Pontine with being a traitor and as proof that he knew their treachery he drew back the blanket of one of the chiefs and disclosed his shortened gun hidden beneath. This convinced the In- dions that their plans had failed. The com- mandant then told Pontiac that as he had given his word that they would not be harmed he would still adhere to his promise and they would be allowed to leave the fort unharme 1. Iut it would be well for them to leave hastily lest some of his men might hear of their treach- ery and kill them. It seems that the proof of

Digitized by Google

. . NO REI RESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

their treachery should have been sufficient to absolve the commandant from his promise.

Pontiac and his warriors the next day lay siege to the fort and it was kept up from May, 1763, until March, 1764. During the siege a sailing vessel with provisions and ammunition for the fort was becalmed in the Detroit River along the flats between Detroit and Wyandotte. It was surrounded by a large number of canoes and the Indians clambered up the side of the vessel but the captain was prepared for them. He had had several kegs of powder opened and stood with a lighted torch and told them that the first thing they touched he would blow every one of them to the happy hunting grounds. They scrambled down the side of the vessel as fast as they had come up. Shortly afterward a breeze sprang up and the vessel reached the fort with the much-needed pro- visions and powder. I am indebted to Col. T. S. Sprague, of Detroit, for much of this in- formation. This ended for a time the blood- shed in Northwestern Ohio.

MASSACRE OF THE MORAVIANS.

About this date or perhaps a little earlier, some Moravian missionaries established mis- sions among the Indians along the Muskingum River and later others joined in the good work and were successful in converting many of the Indians and withdrawing them from the more warlike tribes. To these were added Chris- tian Indians from Pennsylvania. But as times became more strained between the whites and the Indians, the Christian Indians became objects of suspicion to both sides. This cul- minated in their being forcibly removed to Up- per Sandusky as prisoners by the Wyandots in September, 1781. Their cattle were driven along but were held as trophies of war by the Indians. After suffering for want of food and

· clothing during the winter, as nearly every- thing had been stolen by the Indians, in March, 1782, a part of the Moravians were permitted to return to their former homes to gather their corn which had been left in the fields. But about this time an attack had been made on some of the border white settlers. A company of white men under the command of Captain Williamson started out to retaliate and wreaked their vengeance on these innocent Christian In- dians and not one was allowed to escape. After they had bound their captives Williamson, their commander, asked if the men, women and children should be taken to Pittsburg or be killed; less than 20 voted to take them to Pitts- burg, the rest voting to kill. Forty men, 20 women and 24 children-defenseless, innocent, fellow Christians-were murdered in cold blood by 80 or 90 Americans, who were too cowardly to follow up and punish the guilty parties.

Another expedition was immediately formed to annihilate the Delawares and Wyandots, no Indian to be spared, friend or foe. The expe- dition consisted of about 500 or 600 men under the command of Col. William Crawford. They marched to Upper Sandusky carrying a black flag; no quarters were to be given to man, woman or child. On reaching Upper San- dusky they found the Indians waiting for them nearby. In the battle that followed the whites were defeated with great slaughter and among the prisoners was Colonel Crawford, on whom the Indians wreaked their vengeance by burning him at the stake. At this late day we can have some charity for the untutored savage when the whites were scarcely less barbarous.

FIRST LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS ON THE IN- DIAN QUESTION.

The close of the War of the Revolution in 1783 brought the question of dealing with the

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Indians in Ohio before the thoughtful. It was fraught with great difficulties. Washington urged Congress to pass stringent laws against settling upon or surveying west of a line ex- tending from the mouth of the Great Mix ni to the Mad River, from there to Fort Miami on the Maumee, and thence north to include De- troit. He pointed out the propriety of ex- cluding Indian agents from all share in the trade with the Indians and of prohibiting all purchasing of land from the Indians except by Congress or. the State. On the 22nd day of September, Congress in pursuance of the Pres- ident's recommendation forbade all purchase of or all settlement on Indian lands and commis- sioners were instructed to require the delivery of all prisoners; to inform the Indians of the boundaries between the British possessions and the United States; to dwell upon the fact that the Indians had not been faithful to their agree- ments; to negotiate all lands east of the line proposed by Washington; to learn all they could about the French at Kaskaskia; to hold one convention with all the tribes; to confirm no grants made by Indians to individuals; to look after American stragglers beyond the Ohio; to signify the displeasure of Congress at the invasion of the Indians' lands; and to prevent further intrusion.

The following year the boundary line was made to run due north from the lowest point of the falls of the Ohio to the northern limit of the United States.

HARMAR'S EXPEDITION.

Commissioners were sent out and treaties were made with the Indians, only to be broken. At last the government determined to send an expedition to the Maumee Valley to punish the Indians. A force of about 1,500 regulars and militia were placed under the command of Gen.

Josiah Harmar with instructions to chastise the Indians of the Maumee and of Lake Erie. On the 20th of September they set out on the march, passing where Xenia now stands. On the 13th of October. they crossed the head wat- ers of the Auglaize. Here they were joined with reinforcements from Cincinnati with am- munition.

On the night of the 17th of October, the In- dians succeeded in stealing and driving through the lines from 50 to 100 horses. They had now reached the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph rivers, where they found a number of villages of Maumees, Shawnees and Dela- wares. They spent the day in searching in the hazel brush for treasure. A large amount of corn was found buried in the earth. They de- stroyed about 20,000 bushels of corn and burned all the villages that had been abandoned by the Indians. During the night Captains Mc- Clure and McClary took a horse some distance down the river and hobbled him; after unloos- ing the clapper of a bell they had fastened to the animal as a decoy, they secreted themselves near-by with their rifles. An Indian came cau- tiously up and was untying the hobble when McClure shot him. He proved to be Captain Punk, a noted Delaware chief. His head was cut off and brought into camp.

Here General Harmar detached 180 militia - men and 30 regulars and sent them in pursuit of the Indians that had gone west from their camping ground. When about 12 miles west of Fort Wayne, they discovered a camp; as they had to cross a swamp, they were thrown into some disorder and before they could re- form they were fired upon by the Indians from an ambush. The militia broke and fled and could not be rallied, 50 of them being killed in a few moments. The regulars in attempting to check the Indians had one sergeant and 21 pri- vates killed on the battle-field. The militia

Digitized by Google

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

were reported to have flung away their arms without firing a shot. General Harmar then concluded to return to Cincinnati.

On the 21st the army started on the re- turn and marched eight miles. That evening the scouts reported that the Indians had re- turned to their burnt homes at the junction of the St. Mary's and St. Joseph. General Har- mar, being anxious to efface the stigma resting upon his troops in the affair of the 19th, sent Colonel Hardin with orders to surprise the In- dians and bring on an engagement, the force assigned to this work consisting of 300 militia, and 60 regulars under command of Colonel Wyllys. Colonel Hardin arrived at the Miami town early on the morning of the 22nd. His force was divided into two parties. The left division was to have marched down the St. Mary's and across the St. Joseph and com- merce the attack on the Indians in front, who were encamped out near the ruins of their vil- lage. The right, under Hardin and Wyllys was to proceed to Harmar's ford on the Mau- mee, where the detachment was to remain until McMillan's party had reached the river and commenced the attack, which was to be the sig- nal for Hardin to cross the Maumee and at- tack the Indians in the rear. Owing to the treachery or ignorance of the guides, McMil- lan's force lost its way in the thickets, through which they had to pass and although traveling all night did not reach the ford until daynight. As soon as the Indians, who had been encamped about the ruins of their homes. discovered Har- din's men, they began to rally for the fight, the alarm spreading and the Indians rushing il .. Colonel Hardin, discovering that unless he crossed immediately he would be compelled to do it in the face of superior numbers, and ex- pecting every moment to hear the report of Mc- Millan's men in the enemy's rear. give order to cross. By the time two-thirds of his force

had passed over, the battle began. The In- dians were desperate, and their bravery sur- passed anything before known in Indian war- fare. A great portion of them throwing down their guns rushed on the bayonets of the soldiers, tomahawks in hand, thus rendering everything useless but the rifles of the militia. and carrying rapid destruction everywhere in their advance. While this desperate charge was being made, the remaining Indians were picking off the officers with their rifles. Majors Fountain and Wyllys, both valuable officers, fell directly after the battle began, the former pierced with 18 bullets. Fifty-one of Wylly's regulars shared his fate and the other divisions suffered severely in both killed and wounded. Major McMillan came up with his force while the battle was raging, but was not able to do more than enable Hardin's troops to retire in good order. The militia behaved well in this fight, and received the thanks of General Har- mar.

The loss in this battle was 180 killed and wounded, fully one-half of those engaged.

General Harmar issued the following order on the 22nd of October, the day of the second battle :

"Camp eight miles from the ruins of the Maumee towns, 1790.

"The General is exceedingly pleased with the behavior of the militia in the action of this morning. They have laid very many of the enemy dead on the spot. Although our loss is great. still it is inconsiderable in comparison to the slaughter among the savages. Every ac- count agrees that upward of one hundred war- riors fell in the battle. It is not more than man for man, and we can afford them two for one. The resolution and firm, determined conduct of the militia this morning has effectually re- trieved their character, in the opinion of the General. He knows they can and will fight."

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

It was well that he returned to Fort Wash- ington. He had shown his entire incompetency. if not cowardice. He had sent out a small force to be slaughtered while he remained with an army in camp, within eight miles, au I had not even the humanity to go back and bury his dead. Or was this cowardice?

This ended this disastrous campaign.

ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT.

In 1791 Gen. Arthur St. Clair was ap- pointed major general and placed in chief com- mand of the frontier forces. after many de- lays, on the 17th of September with an army of 2.300 men. On the 12th of October he established a fort six miles south of Greenville. From there he marched through the wildler- ness, harassed by sickness, short rations and desertions, until November 3rd. when he reached a branch of the Wabash, where he remained until the 4th, when he was attacked by the Indians. The militia were encamped a quarter of a mile in advance of the rest of the command. At about half an hour before sun- rise. just as the men were dismissed from paradle. the Indians made an attack and the militia soon gave way, rushing into camp and through Major Butler's battalion and part of Clark's, which they threw into disorder, which those officers were not able to remedy. The Indians were checked by the heavy firing of the first line. But a heavy attack was com- menced all along the line, the heaviest part of it being directed on the center, where the artillery was placed. The men were driven from their pieces frequently with great slaugh- ter. A bayonet charge was ordered. The In- dians immediately gave way, but attacked in another quarter. Charge after charge was made. l'ut in every one of them many men were lost. Major Butler was dangerously wounded

and every officer in the second regiment fell. except three. The artillery was silenced and all the officers killed. except Captain Ford, who was badly wounded. More than half the army had fallen.

.\ retrent was ordered which was a dis- graceful one, the men throwing away their guns, even after the Indians had ceased to pur- sue. and the rout continued to Fort Jefferson, 29 miles, which was reached a little after sun- set. The march was again resumed at 10 o'clock and continued all night. So ended ancther disastrous campaign.

WAYNE'S SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.

Gen. Anthony Wayne was then placed in command and on the 7th of October started on the march. An account as given by John M. Scott will be interesting, as showing the differ- ence between General Wayne and the two former commanders :

"October 7th. Our first day's march, was great considering that the army had not got properly into their gears. I think it was about ten miles. Our second, the 8th, was greater ; it renched Fort Hamilton. Many of the men were exceedingly fatigued. and it was pretty generally believed hard marching, though the General thought otherwise. and it must be so.

"cth. Our third day's march was to the five-mile spring. advance of Hamilton : observe we fortified our camp every night, and were very vigilant. or ought to be so.

"joth. Our fourth day's march we en- camped about the seventeen-mile tree. and nothing extraordinary happened, excepting that our line of march extended for five miles. owing to the rapidity of the marching and the badress of the roads for our transportation. surreradding the straggling sol liers, worn don with fatigue and sickness, brought up by

Digitized by Google

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

the rear guard, whom they retarded consider- ably.

"11th. We proceeded on to the twenty-nine- mile tree, fortified as usual, and occupied a fine commanding ground. And nothing of conse- quence happened here.

"12. The roads were very bad and some of our wagons broke down, but as the Gen- eral's orders declared there should be no inter- stices the line of march was not impeded, and we made, say ten miles this day.

"13th. We advanced by tolerably quick movements until we came within a mile or so of Fort Jefferson, and this day furnished a good deal of sport. for. as the devil would have it, Colonel Hamtramck was maneuvering his troops, and had a sham fight, which was con- strued by the whole army as an attack upon our advance guard or flankers. It really frightened a good many, but we all said, "Let them come,' or. 'We are ready for them.' We had marched hard this day and I think were not so well pre- pared. However. it was at length discovered to be a sham fight, and everybody knew it then. Oh. it was Hamtramck's usual practice, they say. But it was all in my eye; they never thought of Hamtramck.

"14th. We marched past Fort Jefferson without even desiring to look at it : indeed some of us turned our heads the other way with dis- dain and it has been threatened (as report says) to be demolished entirely. This day's march brought us to where I am now sitting writing to my friends. We fortified our encampment very strong and feel secure.

"15th. The wagons were sent back to Fort St. Clair for stores. provisions, &c .. with an escort of two subalterns and between eighty and ninety men, and nothing happened extra this day.

"16th. The devil to pay! Colonel Blue with near twenty of the cavalry went out to

graze the horses of the troops and after some time Blue discovered something crawling in the grass, which he at first thought was tur- keys, but immediately found them to be two Indians, and ordered a charge; himself, two sergeants and a private charged, the rest ran away ; the consequence, the two Indians killed the two sergeants, Blue and the private escaped. The leader, the rascal who behaved so cow- ardly, was immediately tried and condemned, but pardoned the next day.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 2

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870