USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > Polk's Toledo City Directory (1858) > Part 5
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This communication was published, and a copy of it sent to Gov. Clinton, who was then maturing his grand project of the Erie Canal. In a letter which he addressed to Major Stick- ney in 1818, he writes :- " I/have found the way to get into
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Lake Erie, and you have shown me how to get out of it." Again, he writes :- " You have extended my project six hun- dred miles." In another letter, speaking of the Maumee and Wabash vallies, he writes :- "That country has now a sparse, savage population. It must be succeeded by a white, civilized population, that will be essentially agricultural. On this agri- culture must rise commerce, and this commerce must have its concentrating points. Will you have the goodness to give me a sketch of the country, and, in your judgment, where those concentrating points will be ? "
Major Stickney, in continuation of his narrative, says :- " In 1817 I was applied to by Gov. Jennings, of Indiana, to assist in acquiring for the State, the title to the Indian lands. I was satisfied that no movement towards a canal could take place without first extinguishing the Indian title to the lands through which it must pass. I answered the letter by saying, that if Gov. Jennings would obtain an order from the Secretary of War, to make the attempt to prepare the Indians of my Agen- cy for a treaty, by which they would relinquish their title to lands in Indiana, I would cheerfully enter upon the business. The order soon came from the War Department. I was at this time corresponding with Gov. Clinton on the subject of a ca- nal from Lake Erie into the valley of the Wabash. In March, I went to Corydon to visit Gov. Jennings, taking with me my correspondence with Gov. Clinton. The project of a canal electrified him. After several days discussion of the subject, and agreeing, upon the most profound secrecy, we fixed upon Gov. Cass, Gov. Jennings and Judge Park as Commissioners for the contemplated treaty. I returned to Fort Wayne to prepare the Indians, and in April reported to the War Depart- ment the probable practicability of the extinguishment of the Indian title to the lands in Indiana."
" During the negotiation of the treaty at St. Mary's, Gov. Jennings, Judge Park and myself were very busily engaged in discussing the merits of the projected canal, the ground to be
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occupied, the difficulties to be overcome, and the ways and means generally. What we most feared was, that if the State of Ohio supposed there was any such matter seriously contem- plated, they would oppose it. After the close of the treaty, by which, with the exception of a few special reservations, the en- tire Indian title in Indiana was ceded to the Government, we kept the subject alive by correspondence."
" With me, the canal had now become a settled matter. In view of the practicable results resting upon the execution of the work, I had determined, for myself, the eastern termination near the mouth of the Maumee, and in pursuance thereof, loca- ted near the spot where the commercial city of Toledo now stands. This locality, at that time, was considered to be in the Territory of Michigan-the Black Swamp having, from convenience or some similar cause, been designated the northern boundary of Ohio. The people of Ohio had but little commu- nication north of it; but westerly, they claimed that it extend- ed far enough to include Fort Wayne. The whole of the northern and half of the western boundary of Ohio had not then been run. There was about one hundred miles square of the State of Ohio, to which, as late as 1817, the Indian title had not been extinguished."
"In 1795 Gen. Wayne, at the Greenville treaty, made a reservation of twelve miles square, from their country, for mil- itary and commercial purposes. The centre of this reserve was the Big Island, at the foot of the rapids of the Maumee. This reservation extends down the river far enough to include the mouth of Swan Creek, and a part of the ground now occu- pied by the city of Toledo."
" By a special act of Congress, in the session of 1816-17, this reserve was ordered to be surveyed and sold in February 1817. A company of men, residing principally in Cincinnati, purchased, at the auction, two tracts, making about four hun- dred acres, at the mouth of Swan Creek, laid out a few town lots, and called it Port Lawrence. They offered a part of their
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lots for sale at auction, in September 1817, at the Indian treaty of Fort Meigs. I was the purchaser of a greater number of lots than any other person. I then conceived that this prop- erty was to constitute a part of the future commercial city."
" The company had purchased these lands of the United States upon the conditions of paying one-fourth in hand and the remainder in three equal annual payments, and had sold on the same terms. After the first payment, in consequence of the revulsion of money affairs, they found themselves unable to pay the other instalments, they having agreed to pay for the Port Lawrence tract, seventy-six dollars and six cents per acre. Congress passed a law for their relief, called " The Re- lief Law," by which they were allowed to relinquish a part to the United States, and to apply the amount of the quarter pay- ment upon the three instalments, for the part they chose to retain. Under this provision, the Port Lawrence tract was en- tirely relinquished. All the lots that had been sold, were sur- rendered to the United States. I prosecuted the Company on their contract with me, and obtained a compromise. Before the surrender, I had made brick to build a dwelling on the lots I had purchased. These, I now removed on a large tract ad- joining, which I had purchased some years before, and built a house there, and commenced making a farm, determined to live by farming until the canal should be made."
" There was, at this time, a corporate body in the State of Michigan, known by the name of the University of Michigan, which owned some floating sections that the United States had given them for the purpose of a University. They had a right to locate on certain lands within the Territory of Michigan be- longing to the United States. The Port Lawrence tract was considered as being within the territory, but not exactly of the description called for. However, they located upon these two tracts, and their title was subsequently confirmed by act of Congress."
" The Cincinnati Company was deemed to be dead. Three
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of the gentlemen who belonged to it, still having a high opin- ion of the Port Lawrence tracts, entered into a negotiation with the University of Michigan, by which they became the owners of this important piece of ground. The gentlemen were Martin Baum, William Oliver (the young officer, whose exploits are recorded in the early part of this history,) and Micajah T. Williams."
"The growth and prosperity of the contemplated city depend- ed so much upon the success of the project for the canal, that I skip over a period of several years, during which, there was nothing of moment occurred in the history of the country, and come down to 1827. All the difficulties in the way of the ca- nal, now appearing to be removed, at the suggestion of Gov. Jennings and myself, a petition was presented in Congress, through Messrs. Hendricks and Test, Representatives from In- diana, praying that the Government would grant to the State of Indiana the alternate five miles square of land on each side of the line of a canal from the navigable waters of the Wabash to Lake Erie. It was laughed at as a wild and visionary scheme, wholly impracticable, and this feeling protected it from opposition, and secured the grant, which was made immediate- ly. Congress had no idea of the importance of their action. The members from Ohio did not think of its touching Ohio or Michigan. The grant was made to the infant State of Indiana, as a play-thing would be given to a child. Soon, the State of Indiana began to make such demonstrations, that the citizens of Ohio, for the first time, discovered that the canal was to pass through a part of their State. They arrayed themselves against the improvement, and declared it an outrage, that Congress should grant power to one State to make a canal, for their accommodation, through another."
" The southern and eastern parts of Ohio, only, were, at this time, inhabited-and the inhabitants of these portions opposed everything that promised to lead to a speedy settlement of the north-west part of the State, from a spirit of rivalry. Oppo-
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sition from this source had been foreseen by the original mov- ers in the canal project. The Buckeyes said to the Hoosiers, that the United States might give them land to make a canal in Ohio, but they could not give them the government of it. This operated as a check to Indiana."
"There was, at this time, one member of the Ohio Legislature of great political influence, who did not sympathize with the narrow views of his brother members. Many years before, he had consulted with me in relation to the canal. He saw through the whole matter, and acknowledged the importance of the great work to both States. This was Micajah T. Williams. He favored the views of Indiana, which State, it was plain to be seen, could not aggrandize herself at the expense of Ohio. She was also willing to relinquish her right to so much of the lands, included in the grant by Congress, as lay in Ohio, on condition that Ohio would construct that portion of the canal that traversed her territory. In this state of things, Mr. Wil- liams seized the subject with the grasp of a giant, and by ex- cellent management, conciliated the favor of a sufficient number of members of the Legislature to effect, in a single year, a compromise between the two States, the terms of which were, that Indiana should surrender to Ohio the lands granted for canal purposes, in Ohio, and our State, in consideration there- for should construct the canal through them. This arrange- ment was ratified by special act of Congress, and Ohio, though still reluctant to undertake the work, waited until forced to do it, and then did it well."
" In 1832, seeing no prospect that Baum and Oliver would make any advances in improvement on their grounds at the mouth of Swan Creek, I closed with an offer made to me by Mr. Samuel Allen, of Lockport, New York, by which improve- ments were to be commenced upon my land. Allen was a shrewd, far-seeing man, and had discovered the importance of the location, some years before this time. A contract was en- tered into between us, by the terms of which, Allen was to re- 7
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ceive half the ground, upon the performance of certain cove- nants therein set forth. This was in October, 1832, and the contract run until the following January. Allen failed to per- form his part of the contract, but came on, in January, bring- ing with him a gentleman by the name of Otis Hathaway, whom he desired might be taken into partnership, and a new contract made. This was done, and a town plat was laid out, and called Vistula, but owing to pecuniary difficulties, all ac- tion under this contract was suspended in a short time. Allen bought Hathaway's interest, and a new contract between us was entered into, by the terms of which, we were to commence building wharves, warehouses and dwelling-houses in the town, expend considerable sums in making certain roads leading to and from it, and perform other acts, in all, involving an ex- penditure of about $30,000. One-half of this expenditure was to be made in six months. From some cause, Allen failed to comply with the contract, and after six months, I offered the property for sale, and put an end to it. Allen returned to Lockport, but after a few months, came back, accompanied by Edward Bissell, Esq., with whom I entered into a contract sim- ilar to the one made with Allen."
" Bissell set about the work of improvement in earnest. He built wharves and houses, advanced money for making roads, and in many respects, did more than his contract required. Vistula advanced rapidly and soon acquired considerable repu- tation."
" In the meantime, Martin Baum died, and William Oliver and Micajah T. Williams were deemed the surviving proprietors of the adjoining ground, where a town plat had been laid out in 1817. They took advantage of the improvement in Vistula and made some improvements in Port Lawrence."
" In 1833, Port Lawrence and Vistula, now united under the name of Toledo, were, as claimed by Michigan, both within her boundaries. Ohio had made some faint pretensions to a right to extend her boundary north, to a line established by Con-
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gress. Just as the rival claims of Ohio and Michigan, were ripening into a contest between the two sovereignties, work was commenced upon the Wabash & Erie Canal in Indiana, which was followed by surveys of that work in Ohio. The peo- ple began, for the first time, to see the importance of the east- ern terminus of this great work, and flocked, in considerable numbers, to the valley. Towns began to rise on the Maumee ; some eight plats were laid out upon the estuary of the Mau- mee, each claiming to be the particular point most to be bene- fitted by the canal. Ohio began to enquire into her rights, in relation to her northern boundary. Her first movement was to claim taxes to Harris' line. Resistance was made to the claim. The taxes were not paid. I was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Territory of Michigan, to defend the inhabi- tants against the exactions of Ohio."
" By the ordinance of 1787, it is provided that the territory north-west of the Ohio should be divided into not less than three States, nor more than four ; that the eastern State (Ohio) might be extended north so far as to take in a part or the whole of the territory, to the British boundary, if Congress should see fit ; but, in case of making only three States, the northern line of the eastern State should be drawn due east, from the south- ern boundary of Lake Michigan, until it should strike the Mi- ami Bay or Lake Erie."
" When the territory had been permitted to form a constitu- tion in conformity to this line, and become a State, and the Convention had assembled at Chillicothe for the purpose of making the Constitution, there happened to be there a man by the name of Wells, who had been long a prisoner with the In- dians residing in this region, who told the members that Lake Michigan would be found to be much farther south than was supposed. This induced the Convention to introduce a provis- ion into their constitution, to the effect that, if a line drawn due east from the southern bend of Lake Michigan [should strike the Maumee River or Bay before it should strike Lake Erie,
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then, and in that case, it should be so run, that a line drawn from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan should strike the North Cape of Maumee Bay."
" Provision was made for surveying the lines between Ohio and Indiana, so far as they had not been run, and between Ohio and Michigan. Leave was necessarily asked of the In- dians, as the lines must be run through their territory, which could not be done during the war. Gov. Cass ordered me to obtain the consent of the Indians, and I did so, by assembling them in 1816, for that purpose, and reported the same to the General Land Office. Soon after this, a Mr. Harris was sent out, as Deputy Surveyor, to run the remaining part of the western and the northern lines of Ohio. He was sent to me to learn his starting points and to be furnished with Indian guides, &c. He showed me his instructions, and I reported the tenor of them to Gov. Cass. When Mr. Harris had com- pleted his survey, he went to Detroit, and by request showed Gov. Cass the instructions he had received from Surveyor General Tiffin. Gov. Cass perceived that the Surveyor Gen- eral had taken the Constitution of Ohio for his guide, in fram- ing his instructions, instead of the ordinance of 1787. He immediately made complaint to the President. President Mon- roe gave the Surveyor General a rap over the knuckles, and ordered him to send another deputy to run a line due east from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan, according to the views of Gov. Cass. The next year, a Deputy Surveyor by the name of Fulton, was sent to run a line due east. This laid the found- ation of what has been called the Toledo war."
" The question as to which of those lines was to be consid- ered the true one to divide the territory, was not much mooted for a number of years. A few letters passed between the Gov- ernor of Ohio and the Governor of Michigan upon the subject. Several times it was introduced in Congress, but it was a ques- tion they were unwilling to agitate, and no decision was had. At length, Indiana having made considerable progress with the
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Wabash & Erie Canal, in her State, called aloud upon Ohio to perform her part of the contract. In 1824, Ohio began to manifest a disposition to move in this enterprise, and likewise to extend her Miami Canal from Dayton to Lake Erie, in com- munication with the Wabash & Erie Canal. During this year, Micajah T. Williams, one of the Canal Commissioners, with Samuel Forrer, as Engineer, took a level from Cincinnati to the Lake, and examined Maumee Bay."
" Ohio began to see the importance of this disputed piece of land between the two lines, they being about eight miles apart on the shore of Lake Erie. It was evident that where the uni- ted canals, which traversed the two richest vallies in the west, terminated, a great commercial city must arise. The idea that Michigan should control this location-this great distributing office of the commerce of the west, was not to be endured. Ohio wanted it, to develop it-Michigan wanted it, to prevent its development. She was aware that if properly improved, it would injure Detroit and ruin Monroe. As Ohio pressed her claims upon Congress, Michigan grew belligerent, and declared a determination to fight, sooner than yield an inch. The few inhabitants on the disputed ground, saw themselves between two fires. I was often applied to for advice, and urged all to stand by Ohio, as the only safety. The Michigan leaders, see- ing this, pounced upon me as the head and front of the offend- ing. I found that I was not only chosen defendant, but must submit to the choice. We were all desirous that the question should be speedily settled, that we might know where we were. With very few exceptions, we saw that it was our interest to belong to Ohio."
"In the midst of these disputes, the great question arose, where the Wabash & Erie Canal should terminate. Ohio had control of this matter, and it was not to be doubted, would make the termination in Ohio. If Congress should decide that the southern or Fulton line was the boundary, the mouth of the Maumee, and the spot now occupied by Toledo, would be
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within the Territory of Michigan, and if the northern, or Har- ris line was fixed upon, they would be in Ohio. Ohio delayed all action in relation to the canal, until Congress should deter- mine the boundary. It was not the extent of territory, but the spot most convenient for the commercial city, that consti- tuted the importance of the question at issue. I had consid- ered the project of the Wabash & Erie canal the great object of my life, and next to it, in importance, was the point I had made choice of for the termination. Congress was reluctant to take up the question. It required some great excitement to force it upon them, and delay could not be submitted to with- out serious consequences-the canal would be kept back, and, of course, the town. Interest was at stake-our pockets were touched. We could not but feel great anxiety, on account of both town and canal."
" In the fall of 1833, I determined to attend the ensuing session of Congress, to do what might be in my power to urge on a decision of the important question. The session of the Ohio Legislature, of the Legislative Council of Michigan and of Congress met about the same time. Through the aid of a confidential friend, and for the purpose of getting up what I conceived to be the necessary excitement, I caused a sugges- tion to be made to several of the members of the Legislative Council, to the effect that they might derive great benefit from the passage of a law, inflicting heavy pains and penalties upon any who should acknowledge any other authority, than such as should be derived from the territory, within her limits. Soon after my arrival at Washington, I was informed that the plan had taken well, and that a bill of a very strong character, was drawn and passed, with one or two dissenting votes. There was in the Legislative Council, Daniel S. Bacon, a man of more coolness and forecast than the rest, who saw the effect that would be likely to follow. He prevailed upon the Council to re-consider or lay on the table. Bacon wrote his views of the matter to Austin E. Wing, who was then at Washington as an
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Agent for the territory. Wing consulted Gen. Cass, then Sec- retary of War. They agreed with Bacon, and Wing, with the assistance of Cass, wrote Bacon a very able letter, denouncing the bill of Pains and Penalties. This was shown to the Coun- cil and it put the bill to rest. Bacon wrote Wing another let- ter, extolling his services very highly for having written so fine a letter. Proud of his performance, and not being aware of my plans and views, Wing read to me the entire correspon- dence. Lucius Lyon was then delegate in Congress from the territory. He was a man of warm, impetuous temperament and moderate forecast. The Governor and a majority of the Legislative Council of Michigan, were of the same pattern. Lyon had much more influence with them than such men as Wing and Bacon. I requested three members of Congress, friends of mine, to have a conversation with Lyon, and make the impression upon him, that some immediate and decisive ac- tion was necessary on the part of Michigan, to determine Con- gress to decide the boundary question in their favor. Lyon took the bait, and wrote immediately to the Council at Detroit, urg- ing them to pass the bill of Pains and Penalties. It was passed, with no other opposition than that of Bacon.
" The Legislature of Ohio, being now in session, as soon as the mail could carry the proceedings of the Michigan Council to Columbus, it kindled a fire as violent as any of us could have desired. It worked even better than we had anticipa- ted. The Legislature authorized the Governor to call out ten thousand militia ; placed between two and three hundred thou- sand dollars at his command to defray the expenses ; author- ized him to appoint Commissioners to re-mark the Harris line, appoint executive officers, and organize government on the dis- puted territory, &c. The fire soon reached Washington. A warm correspondence ensued between the Secretary of State and the Governor of Ohio. A young hotspur by the name of Mason was the acting Governor of Michigan. He showed but little disposition to be under the control of the general Government.
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" Our Governor, Lucas, appointed Commissioners to re-mark the line, and ordered out five hundred militia to protect them, which he led in person to the Maumee River. While he was here, and the commissioners a few miles off running the line, they were fired upon by a party of militia from Michigan, who took some of them prisoners, and the others made good their retreat. This ended the re-marking for the time."
" At this time, President Jackson sent out Commissioners Rush and Howard, to the disputed territory to endeavor to ef- fect a compromise between Ohio and Michigan. They pro- posed terms, to which Ohio acceded, but the youngster would not."
" Soon after the organization of government on the disputed territory, under the authority of Ohio, an election was required to be holden, and an assemblage of the people took place at Toledo. A question immediately arose as to who dared to be the officers of said election, in the face of the bill of Pains and Penalties, passed by the Legislative Council of Michigan. The assembled citizens looked for a long time very seriously at each other. At length, at my request, they elected me one of the judges. Any of them were ready, after my election, to fill the other vacancies. Accordingly, Platt Card and John T. Bald- win were elected. This constituted a very full challenge of the authorities of Michigan, and increased the excitement necessa- ry to bring Congress to some decisive action. It was the oc- casion of a very great noise in Ohio and Michigan, and in fact, I may say, throughout the United States. The citizens of the two neighboring towns, Maumee and Perrysburg, under the impression that if Michigan retained the disputed territory, the canal would terminate at Maumee, took sides with Michigan."
" The ten thousand troops were organized according to the orders of the Governor of Ohio, and held in readiness to march to the frontiers, to protect our boundary, at a moment's notice."
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