Waynesfield was the first
Township in Ohio organized North of the Maumee River. Its
original territory lying over against Fort Meigs, embraced Fort
Miami; the British Battery on the point opposite Fort Meigs; the
scene of the Dade massacre; the land-mark known as Turkey Foot Rock;
and spread over a soil full of historic interest, and saturated with
the blood of the early defenders of our Nation, shed in warfare
against the British and their Indian allies.
Any historical account of this part of Lucas County
would be imperfect, which omitted the early occupation by the French
of a fortified Post at what is now known as Fort Miami. This
Post was on the left bank of the Maumee River, on a high point of
land, from whence can be seen, spread out like a map, 20 miles of
the course of the River, flowing in gentle curves, from the foot of
the Rapids away to the Northeast, to where it reaches the waters of
the Bay, which skirt the distant horizon with a silver line and
conduct the River to Lake Erie. To this day, the lines of
British Fort built on the same site, are clearly legible in
grass-grown ditches, and bold embankments, and the hollow way
leading to the River.
This position had commanding advantages as a military
post, and the eye of the French Engineer was quick to mark it and
make it part of the system of fortifications intended to reach from
the great Lakes to the Mississippi and to secure the dominion of
France over the water-shed of the Lake region and the Ohio and
Mississippi Valleys. At this Fort was established the first
permanent settlement of the white man in Ohio. When France
surrendered her American possessions to England in 1760, an English
garrison occupied the old French Fort, fortified it in a regular
manner and called it Fort Campbell. Mementoes of French
occupation remain on the River from its head waters at Fort Wayne to
the Maumee Bay, in the names of the descendants of the oldest
families, some of whom preceded the advent of the first Americans by
at least a half century.
Waynesfield Township lies on the Southeastern border of
Lucas County and is bounded on the North and East by Springfield and
Adams Townships, on the Southeast by the Maumee River, and on the
West by the Township of Monclova. Its present area is about 30
square miles, it having been greatly reduced from the original
dimensions by the detachment of portions of its territory to form
other Townships. The Township was originally included in the
County of Logan, erected by an act of the Ohio Legislature passed
December 30, 1817, and was named Waynesfield in honor of General
Anthony Wayne. It was also appropriate as including the
field in which Wayne had achieved his splendid victories over the
Indians, in 1794.
In 1820 the County of Wood was erected from the
Northern part of Logan County, and Waynesfield was its only
organized Township on the North side of the Maumee River until 1835,
when Lucas County was set off from the parts of Wood and Henry
Counties lying adjacent to the then disputed boundary of Michigan
and North of the Maumee River. During the "Toledo War" the
Commissioners of Lucas County at a special meeting held Oct. 12,
1835, extended the civil jurisdiction of Waynesfield to the Northern
boundary of the State as claimed by Ohio; thus practically
obliterating, for the time being, the Township of Port Lawrence,
which remained in a state of suspended animation for three days, and
during the State election. That crisis having passed, it was
restored Oct. 15, 1835, to its proper jurisdiction.
The next reduction of the arena of Waynesfield was
effected by the erection of Springfield, June 20, 1836
Monclova was set off, taking another portion of its territory, Mar.
11, 1853; and Adams (under the name of Carey), Dec. 3, 1856.
On June 3, 1856, all that part of Springfield and Monclova lying
South of the North line of Sections 25 and 26, Town Two, U. S.
Reserve, including all of Private Grant 682, was re-annexed to
Waynesfield.REAL ESTATE RECORD
The first record made at the Recorder's
office of Wood County related to lands in Waynesfield Township, and
consisted of a plat of Maumee City prepared by A. I. Wheeler
for John E. Hunt, in August, 1818. It contained 109
lots 75x132 feet. Of these, three lots at the Southeast corner
of Conant and Detroit Streets were set apart for public ground; and
two at the Northwest corner of Gibbs and Detroit Streets were set
apart for Church and School purposes. The plat was
acknowledged before Seneca Allen, Justice of the Peace
for the County of Logan. Mr. Allen then resided at
Orleans, below the site of Fort Meigs.
The first transfer of property recorded in Wood County
was the deed of Thomas Leaming to Ephraim H. Leaming,
July 21, 1821, for 160 acres of land in Section 5, Waynesfield
Township.
The next was the deed of Aurora Spafford to
Daniel Hull, dated Dec. 14, 1819, of a lot in Maumee for $400.
Following are the names of parties to deeds made at the
dates given, for property then within the Township of Waynesfield, a
large portion of which was within Maumee City:
- United States to
John Askin, 1811 400 acres at Foot of Rapids, adjoining tract
sold Samuel Ewing.
- Sanderson P. Day to
Levi Omans, May, 1822. This deed was witnessed by H.
Powell and D. McMerton, and acknowledged before Almon
Gibbs, Justice of the Peace, Maumee City.
- United States to
Whitmore Knaggs, 1822; 600 acres on River, adjoining tract sold
Samuel Ewing.
- Same to Samuel
Ewing, 1822; 500 acres on River, next to tract sold to John
Askin.
- United States to
Joseph Pierce, River Tract 19, 112½
acres, 1823.
- United States to Lewis Bullock, 160 acres, in
Section 5, Waynesfield Township, 1824.
- Horatio Connant to Timotny F. Upton, 1828.
- J. H. Jerome to same, 1830.
- Francis Lassell to Chloe Gibbs, widow of Almon
Gibbs, 1828.
- Ambrose Rice To Chloe Gibbs, lot 35, Maumee; 1829.
- Aurora Spafford to David Hull, lot Maumee, 1829.
- G. B. Knaggs to James Knaggs, of Detroit, 300 acres
in Waynesfield, 1829.
- Hiram Thebault to Levi Beardsley and James O.
Morse, 160 acres; same tract granted to Thebault (a
half-breed Ottawa Indian), by the treaty in 1831, with that tribe;
price, $5,000. Also, to same, 4 acres; being an Island in
Maumee River, opposite the foregoing tract; price, $13. These
lands were at Bear Rapids in the Maumee River.
- Ambrose Rice to John Clark, May, 1832, Long Island,
Maumee River.
- United States to Daniel Strayer, 80 acres in Section 4,
Waynesfield Township, 1832.
- Robert A. Forsyth to Wm. Huber, 1831.
- Isaac Silvers to SMith A. Towner, April, 1830,
- Solomon Sibley to Elnathan Cory, 1832.
- Elnathan Cory to Hiram Higby, 1833.
- Ralph Farnsworth to Thos. Shoemaker, 1833.
- Ambrose Rice to Nat. Dustin and J. W. Scott,
1833.
- Timothy Doane to David C. Doane, 1833
- United States to John B. Beaugrand and J. E. Hunt,
225 acres in lot 595, 1833.
- Philander Noble to Alfred Hamilton, 1834.
- Wm. Oliver to Peter Isadore and John Burdo,
1834.
- Geo. B. Knaggs to Wm. H. Sabin, 1835.
- Hiram Higby to John U. Smith, 1835.
- John Knaggs to Archigald Mercer, 1835.
- Chloe Gibbs' Addition to Maumee City, was recorded in 1835,
having 28 lots and 3 streets - Conant, Indiana and Sophia.
- Chloe Gibbs' to Wiley Hamilton, lot 1, Mrs.
Gibbs' Addition; 1835; $40
- Elnathan Cory to John Brandagee, Isaac Thompson, John
D., Wheat, Edward Hallan, Lucinda Caulkins, Archibald Mercer
and Joseph Lawrence, lots in Miami City, 1835.
- County Auditor to Levi and Washington T. Beebe;
lots 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, School Section 16, Waynesfield; 260 acres,
$13,822.34; 1835.
- Wm. H. Sabin to Matilda Knagg, 1835.
- Hunt and Beaugrand's Addition to Maumee City,
was recorded in 1835, with 172 lots and 12 Streets - Canal, Spring,
Hunt, Jackson, White, Detroit, Elizabeth, Dudley, Wayne, John,
Sophia, William and Indiana.
- J. E. Hunt's Addition to
Maumee City, recorded 1885, with 50 lots and 6 Streets - Front,
Eric, Detroit, Wayne, Cass, and Kingsbury.
- John E. Hunt to Irena Jeffers, March, 1835.
- Simon Bartley to David Oren, May, 1835.
- David Hubbell to Colby Chew, August, 1835.
- Elnathan Cory to John D. Wheat, Edward Hallan,
John Brandagee, Isaac Thompson, Archibald Mercer, Joseph Lawrence
and Lucius Caulkins, lots in Miami City, 1835.
- Hiram Smith and L. E. Stone to B. D. Collin,
1835.
- Hiram Higby to John U. Smith, 1835.
- John Knaggs to Archibald Mercer, 1835.
- Daniel Hubbell to Jeremiah A. Scott,
lot 43, Port Miami, 1836.
- Jacob Gnagy to Smith A.
Towner, 1836, 30 acres in Section 22, together with privilege of
erecting a mill-dam across Swan Creek and flowing water back on
grantee's other land, provided the dam be not over 8 feet in height;
price $405.
- Jedediah Bishop to Levi Beebe, June, 1836.
- J. E. Hunt to Rev. L. B. Gurley, April, 1836, lot
35, Hunt's Addition; $200. Same lot sold June, 1886, to
J. H. Hobart, for $900.
- Miami Company to Wm. M. Mumford, lots in Miami City,
1836, for $4,750.
- Caleb S. Henderson to Henry Tyler, lot 10,
Hunt & Beaaaaaugrand's Addition, $6,500; 1836.
- An addition to Maumee City by
J. E. Hunt, Levi Beebe, F. E. Kirtland and Chloe Gibbs,
was made 1836.
- Sylvester F. Atwoodto Jesse St. John, 1836.
- Elisha Mack's Addition to
Maumee - 1 block to 9 lots, recorded August, 1836.
- Samuel Stiewig to Charles N. Eckles, September,
1836.
- Ewing and Rowan's Addition to Maumee City was
recorded in July, 1836.
- June 14, 1836, Elnathan Cory and Horatio
G. Philips of Dayton, Ohio; John Hollister, Jessup W. Scott
and David Ladd, of Perrysburg, and Norman C. Baldwin
of Cleveland, formed and constituted what was known as the "Miami
City Company." The stock was divided into 1,536 shares of $400
each. The object of the organization was the ownership and
management of certain property, to wit: River Tract No. 19,
originally granted to Joseph Purie, of Dayton, containing
112½ acres, the Warehouse and lot of David Hubbell and other
property in and adjoining Miami City. The existence of the
Company was limited to 1_ years and to cease in 1846.
- United States to Bernard Cass, September, 1836.
- Wolcott's Add. to Miami City, recorded April, 1837.
- An Addition to Miami City was recorded in May, 1838, by J.
Austin Scott, Jessep W. Scott, Samuel Hawley, Rufus H. Picket,
Richard Randall, John Hollister, J. W. Smith, Henry Darling and
Wm. P. Reznor. The plat consisted of 8 blocks of 23
lots each, and had 8 Streets - Knaggs, Reznor, Scott, Hollister,
Askin, Detroit, Second and Fourth.
- Electa Gale to Smith & Crowell, September, 1837.
- John E. Huntto Andrew Young, August, 183_
- Anson Reed to James Pratt, December, 1838.
- William Kingsbury to Harmon Kingsbury, March, 1839.
- John William Horn to William H. Meritt, October,
1839.
- John E. Hunt to Judith Ballard (widow), and
Samuel W., John H., James, Jr., Charles (all of age), Milton
N. and Mary Jane (minors), children of
James Ballard, deceased, Nov., 1839.
- James Wolcott to Ira White, December, 1837.
- Samuel M. Young to Luke Beardsall, February, 1838.
- Levi Beebe to Emily (Beebe) Fairman, 1838.
- John E. Hunt to James Kinner, March, 1828.
- James Wilkinson to Flavel N. Butler August, 1838.
- Horace Waite to Antoine and Daniel Peltier,
1838.
- John E. Hunt to Zimri H. Baxter, October, 1839.
- Christian Knagy to William Price, August, 1839.
- Master Commissioner to George Spencer and J. A. Moore,
1839.
- John E. Hunt to Tobias Wolfinger, August, 1839.
- In May, 1840, John E. Hunt granted to the Commissioners of
Lucas County, lots 103, 104 and 105, the same having been donated
for the use of the County building, the County sent having then been
removed from toledo to Maumee City.
- United States to Leicester Gilbert, August, 1833.
- Deborah Smith to William Patton, May, 1840.
- Chloe Gibbsto Samuel Whistler, July, 1840.
- Isaac H. Bronson to Eli Kitts, April, 1840.
- Miami City Co. to Lot Bulkley, July, 1840.
- I. S. Converse to Philip and Wm. Foresman, 1840.
- Rodolphus Dickinson, LaQ. Rawson, Peter Beaugrand, and
Sardis Birchard, of Lower Sandusky, to Lucas County, lot
106, Hunt & Beaugrad's Addition, as donation for Court House
and Jail, 1840.
- In 1841, Leonard K. Barber, of Woodville, Mississippi, gave
to George W. Reynolds, of Maumee City, power of attorney "to
erect a Custom and Flouring Mill and Saw-Mill in Maumee City," the
former with two to four runs of stones, and the latter with one saw;
and to conduct the operations and business of the same, when
constructed. In June, 1842, the firm of S. W. Waters
(Stephen W. Waters, and L. K. Barbar), conferred upon
Mr. Reynolds like authority.
- Francis Brown to Mary Brown, September, 1841.
- Benjamin Hunt to Orren Whitten, April, 1841.
- Quintus F. Atkins to Nathaniel D. Blinn, War Club
Island, Maumee River, Waynesfield, $600, 1841.
- Daniel Cook to Philura Drummond, April, 1842.
- County Auditor to T. W. Olcott, Banker, of Albany, New
York, 25 lots, Miami, for delinquent taxes, at 95 cents and 6 mills
each; 1842.
- John E. Hunt to John Zigler, July, 1842.
- John E. Hunt to Arnold G. Sargent, October, 1842.
- F. A. Norton et al, to John Brownlee
November, 1842.
- Samuel Jay to Peter Waterbury, July, 1842.
- Horace White to Fritz Helfish, January, 1842.
- Alex H. Ewing to Charles A. Lamb, January, 1842
- Samuel Wagner to Wm. H. Merritt, March, 1842.
- J. E. Hunt to Maumee City, 10 acres in River Tract 26
(known as the "Haynes Farm"), for Cemetery or Burying Ground, May,
1843.
- Thomas S. Sabin to Nicholas Engel, May, 1843.
- Elijah Herrick to John Kinney, October, 1843
- Ambrose Anthony to S. Walters and G. W. Reynolds,
1843.
- John E. Hunt, to Daniel P. Brown, June 1843.
- J. E. Smith to A. H. Gear, November, 1843
- John E. Hunt to John Hale, Jacob Spangler, George W.
Reynolds, R. A. Forsyth, R. H. Lansdale, J. H. Forsythe, and
J. D. Peckham, Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Maumee, lot 15, block 25, Hunt's Addition; for use of said Society;
July, 1843.
- John E. Hunt to Robert E. Davis, October, 1843.
- John E. Hunt to Israel Champion, February,
1846.
- Isaac Hull to Samuel Bigelow, January, 1844.
- Scott & Co. to John M. Allyn, May, 1844.
- Chloe Gibbs to John K. Coggswell, January, 1844
- Thomas Clark 2d to Amelia C. Waite, August, 1844.
- Sheriff to Charles Charter, December, 1844.
- Horace Waite to Wm. P. Griswold, December, 1844.
- Daniel Williams to Gideon S. Johnson, August, 1844.
- John W. Smith to Francis Hollenbeck, March, 1845.
- J. Austin Scott to Miami City, 10 lots in block 8, in Scott
& Co.'s Addition to Miami City, as donation for a site for
School-houses, Churches, and other public buildings, March, 1815.
- William Sterne to Thomas M. Lane, May, 1845.
- David Higgins to George L. Higgins, January, 1845.
- The Sheriff to Artemesia Merrill, August, 1845.
- R. H. Lansdale to Amer Matthews, September, 1843.
- Samuel Wagner to John _. Allen, October, 1844
- J. W. Smith to Coddington S. Williams, January,
1844.
- S. M. Young to Philip Hone,
August, 1845.
- Trustee Methodist Episcopal Church, Maumee, to Jacob Spangler,
lot 15, block 25, Maumee, 1845.
- C. C. P. Hunt to John Carliss,
September, 1845.
- A map of Maumee City Cemetery was filed by Thomas Clark 2d,
Mayor, and Chauncey Matthews, Recorder, May 10, 1845.
It is situated in the Southwest corner of River Tract, 26, of United
States Reserve, and contains about 1,800 burial lots, most of which
are 12x30 feet in size. Potter's Field is in blocks of 112
feet 9 inches by 8 feet.
- David Ladd to George Burkhart, August, 1846
- Amos B. Page to Solomon Johnson, May, 1847.
- George Perkins to Edward Mitchell, March, 1847
- Thomas W. Granger to Sarah Galley, April, 1847
- Solomon Johnson to Hartwell Holmes, August, 1848.
- United States to Jarvis Gilbert, 1848
- Wm. St. Clair to Peter S. Bell, February, 1846.
- John Giger to Patrick O'Brien, August, 1848
- Alfred W. Hamilton to Samuel Cobb, October, 1848.
- Estate of Thos. M. Lane to Arunah H. Plant, January,
1844.
- Marshal Key to George Wilber, November, 1847.
- Henry Key to George Wilber, November, 1847.
- Daniel Foley to James Coney, March, 1847.
- Wm. Fairman to Wm. P. Griswold, March, 1847
- Elisha S. Frost to Abner Barkus, November, 1847
- M. R. Waiteto Jeannette Nichols, April, 1848
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS
TAX-PAYERS, 1838
Following is a list of the persons
assessed for taxation on personal property in Waynesfield Township
in the Spring of 1838:
ON HORSES AND CATTLE
Alsbach, Michael
Allen, George
Blaker, Achilles
Brine, George
Beatty, Henry O.
Beebe, Levi
Bealls, David
Bails, Williams
Bennett, George W.
Black, Adam
Beardsall, Luke
Bunting, Marmaduke
Bentley, David
Bird, Peter
Burdo, Peter
Brice, William
Converse, James .
Carpenter, Lucius
Chase, Samuel
Cochran, F. D.
Camfield, Clement
Charter, Dennis
Cately, Socrates H.
Cable, George
Collins, Freeman
Cass, Bernard
Charter, Eli
Conant, Horatio
Coter, Conrad
Clark, Alfred
Chane, Paine
Clark, Elijah
Dwight, Dr. Augustus
Drummond, Jared
Dustin, ___
Eddy, Jacob
Elliott, John
French, Wheeler
Frost, Elisha S.
Gnagy, Jacob
Gilbert, S. L.
Gilbert, Jarvis
Green, Augustus
Glifette, Lewis
Hazard, George S.
Hunt, C. C. P.
Hull & Keeler
Hull, Isaac
Henderson, Henry
Hubbell, Daniel
Hastings, Reuben
Henrich, Chester
Hanson, B.
Horner, W. P.
Homer, W. P.
Holcomb, Levi
Hill, George M.
Hill, Robert
Henderson, C. S.
Hunt, Benjamin
Hunt, William
Hall, Joseph
Hall, Elijah
Hitchcock, B. H.
House, Conrad
Hubbell, Hezekiah |
Hefflebower, John
Hale, John
Johnson, George W.
Jerome, Jona. H.
Jackson, Morris
Jackson, Richard
Johnson, Solomon
Johnson, Martin
Johnson, Almon G.
Johnson, W.
Jerome, Levi
King, James
Kirtland, George
Kingsbury, William
Kitts, Eli
Kaag, George
Killam, ___
La Pearl, Alexander.
Limbrick, William
Moorehouse, Silas
McNees, John
Merrick, A.
Maroff, Jacob
Marsh, Artemas
Peckham, J. D.
Pierson, John
Pratt, Amos
Porter, Elhaman
Poucher, Soloman
Prouty, David
Rowen, Edward
Rew, Fred A.
Rhodes, David
Ralyale, John
Runyon, W. L.
Steele, Hiram
Steiwig, Samuel
Scott, George W.
Seolton, John
Scaring, Samuel
Spangle, Jacob
Steele, Hiram R.
Swartz, Christian
Spangle, Rosanna
Strayer, Michael
Strayer, Peter
Strayer, John
Strayer, Daniel
Silver, Isaac
Swartz, John
Trapp, Andrew
Trapp, John
Van Orden, William
Waldron, David
Wolcott, James
Wagner & Thompson
Waite, Horace
Wilkison, James
White, Oscar
Williams, A. D.
Walters, John
Walters, Abraham
Wilcox, Marcus
Young, Austin
Zook, Christian
Zeigler, John |
| MERCHANTS'
CAPITAL, MONEY AND STEAMBOAT STOCK |
Acker & Kanada
Bangs, John J.
Crowell, Freeman W.
Cary, Austin
Day, John F.
Forsyth & Hull
Griffith & Tylers
Hunt, John E.
Horton, ____
Moorhouse & Bromley
Mack, Elisha
Ressigne, R.
Sargent S. A. & J. H.
Spencer & Moore
White, Ira |
Williams, C. A. & A. D.
Boyington & Gaunett
Cook, Daniel
Doane, David C.
Forsyth, Robet A.
Gower & Clark
Hackley, A. S.
Knaggs, George B.
Mudge, Edmund
Noble, G. C.
Rumney, Richardson & Co.
Scott, J. Austin
Van Voorse, Abram
William, O. & Co. |
| PHYSICIANS |
Beatty, A.
Lansey, Peter
Scott, David B. |
Dwight, Augustus
St. Clair, William
Van Avery, ____ |
| LAWYERS |
| Cook, Daniel |
Young, Samuel M. |
The above list includes
the names of many persons then residents within the territory
subsequently set off to Monclova and Adams Townships.
MAUMEE CITY
MERCHANTS' CAPITAL, MONEY AND STEAMBOAT STOCK.
PHYSICIANS.
LAWYERS.
MAUMEE CITY.
TRADERS AT MAUMEE
MAUMEE BUSINESS DIRECTORY
TRADE AT MAUMEE AND PERRYSBURG.
NEWSPAPERS
CHURCHES
MASONS. -
BANKING IN MAUMEE.
PROPOSED FULFILLMENT OF CONTRACT
UPPER MAUMEE NAVIGATION.
INITIAL FACTS.
PIONEERS OF WAYNESFIELD.
Previous of the War of 1812, there were
a few American settlers in the Township, among whom were the
Ewings - Samuel Ewing and his brothers - whose names appear in
the early records. Ephraim Leaming was in the Township
and had built a Saw-Mill on Swan Creek, at what is now the Village
of Monclova, before the war. When the war broke out the
Indians drove him away and burned his mill; but he returned and
rebuilt it in 1817.
Among the early settlers were Whitmore Knaggs,
Jeremiah Johnson, Almon Gibbs, James Wolcott, (who married the
daughter of Captain Wells, being the grand-daughter of the
famous Chief, Little Turtle), Gen. John E. Hunt, Robert A.
Forsyth, James Gilbert, Benjamin Farnsworth, William
Kingsbury, Samuel Coach, Huntington Larabee, Samuel Cass, W. M.
Hickox, William Beals, James Wilkinson, Norman C. Baldwin, George B.
Knaggs, Horatio Conant, Isaac Hull, and many others.
Personal sketches of some of the more prominent of the early
settlers are given below.
George B. Knaggs was one of the well known
people of the Township in early days. He owned and occupied
land adjoining Miami. His father, Whitmore Knaggs, was
a noted Indian Interpreter and spoke six or seven Indian languages,
besides English and French. He resided at Detroit at the time
of Hull's surrender. He was known to have great
influence with the Indians, and to be loyal to the United States;
therefore, he was ordered by the British Commandant to leave, and
thereupon joined the first Corps of our Army that advanced to the
frontier. He was guide to General Winchester, and was
at the massacre of the River Raisin, where he barely escaped death.
An Indian warrior whom Knaggs had befriended, interfered for
his protection. Capt. Knaggs died about 1835, at his
farm near Detroit. His widow, Mrs. Josette Knaggs,
whose maiden name was Labadie, and who was at the battle of
the Thames, and saw Tecumseh when he approached Col.
Richard M. Johnson, and saw the latter shoot "The King of the
Woods," as Tecumseh called himself. A brother of
Capt. Knaggs, was an officer in the British Army and was living
in Fort Miami when Whitmore Knaggs was born there.
George Brown Knaggs was a man of agreeable social disposition,
and his fine presence and French accent made him a marked figure at
all social gatherings.
In 1829, Col. John H. Kinzie, then sub-Indian
Agent of the Winnebagoes, was married with Miss Juliette A.
Wolcott, a relative of Judge James Wolcott, of Maumee
City, and grand-daughter of Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of War
under President Washington. They first went to fort
Winnebago, at the portage between the Fox and the Wisconsin Rivers,
where they remained for a year or two, and removed to Fort Howard,
at Green Bay. In 1834 they went to Chicago, then a village of
600 whites, among several thousand Indians. From the first
Mrs. Kenzie so fully devoted herself to the moral and religious
well-being of the people about her, that in a sketch of her life it
was stated that "no woman in the Northwest was more widely known
than Juliette Kinzie," and that when the history of the early
days of Chicago should be written, "her life and labors as a member
of Christ's Church; as a woman of the highest culture, most refined
taste; as a faithful wife, devoted mother, kind and generous
neighbor and true American lady, would illuminate its brightest
pages."
Col. Anderson, British Indian Agent, for many years
stationed at Fort Miami, resided at Monroe, Michigan, in 1838.
He was on the Maumee River for some years previous to 1793. It
was said to have been Indian corn raised by him on which Gen.
Wayne's troops feasted after taking the Fort, in 1794.
Hiram P. Barlow came to the Maumee Valley in
1816, and settled at Orleans (Fort Meigs.) He taught a
School there during the Winter of 1816-17, and is believed to have
been the first School teacher of the Maumee Valley. Afterwards
he took a farm at Presque Isle, near the Turkey Foot Rock, where he
built a house. He married a daughter of Victory Jenison,
an early settler at the Foot of the Rapids.
Isaac Hull was one of the pioneers of the Maumee
Valley. He came West from Massachusetts about 1804, with his
father, who was a brother of Governor Hull of Michigan.
Daniel Hull a brother of Isaac, was the first Sheriff
of Wood County. Isaac Hull, in 1827, was married with
Chloe Spafford, daughter of Major Samuel
Spafford, who was prominent in the War of 1812. His powers
of physical endurance were extraordinary, he having walked "between
suns" (in one day) from Maumee to Defiance, a distance of 50 miles.
He died at Maumee City in December, 1864, leaving his widow and two
sons, S. S. and W. R. Hull.
DANIEL F. COOK
Dr. Horatio Conant came to the
Valley and settled at Maumee City in 1816. He was one of the
first regular members of the medical profession to settle at the
Foot of the Rapids. His ride extended from Fort Wayne on the
Southwest to Fort Ball on the East, and to the River Raisin on the
North. The small hamlets scattered over the vast unoccupied
expanse of the Valley at that time had no one else to look to for
help in sickness. The Indian trail was the only highway
through the unbroken forests and wide spreading swamps. A
physician's visit might mean an absence from home of days, and might
involve the loss of a horse and saddle-bags - to say nothing of
losing one's way - and all the exposure to inclement weather and the
hardships of camping out in the wilderness. No bridges crossed
the streams. The traveler forded or swam them, and was forced
to make long detours around impassable swamps. To all these
requirements of the time, the good Doctor was always ready to
respond. It is safe to say, he was known and welcomed in every
settlement and log cabin through all the region above indicated as a
very present help in time of trouble. (Further mention of
Dr. Conant is made on pages 511-544.)
John Brownlee died at Maumee City, Dec. 27,
1863. He went to that place in 1836, and engaged in business
with his brother Alex B. In 1843, he came to Toledo,
and entered the firm of Ludlow, Babcock & Brownlee.
Afterwards he was in the firm of Brownlee, Pendleton &
Co. He was well esteemed in business circles and elsewhere.
His age at death was 49.
Robert A. Forsythe died at Maumee City, Nov. 25,
1864, aged 69 years. He was a native of Michigan and came to
Maumee at an early date, having commenced business there as a
merchant, in 1816. He was a man of unusual ability and
integrity. His religious character was well established by a
long and consistent life.
JOHN CHURCH ALLEN
Henry Kingsbury was born in
Berkshire County, Massachusetts, July 19, 1818. He is a son of
Alvah and Lydia Kingsbury. In 1820 the family removed
to Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio, making the distance with an ox
team and covered wagon. they settled on a farm owned by
Jabez Kingsbury, father of Alvah. The first School
attended by Henry.......... MORE TO COME
AUGUSTUS DAVENPORT WILLIAMS
EARLY MARRIAGES.
At Maumee, Sept. 14, 1837,
Samuel A. Sargent and Mary Steele.
Perrysburg, Sept. 14, 1837, Wm. Earl and
Helen Thompson.
Maumee, June 6, 1838, C. C. P. Hunt and
Mary Ann Creed.
Monclova, June 30, 1838, Truman W. Crowell
and Ellen L. S. Dover.
Marengo, July 4, 1838, Alfred Clark and
Cassandra Edmonds.
Maumee, July 29, 1858, Thos. Clark, 2d
and Mary F. D. Williams.
Springfield, Feb. 15, 1838, James
Gilbert and Nancy F. Ward.
Maumee, Mar. 8, 1838, Moses Robinson and
Lucy Southworth.
Springfield, Apr. 8, 1838, Oliver W. Alverson
and Harriet Trumbull.
Perrysburg, ,Apr. 19, 1839, Stephen
L. Gilbert and Julia Willard.
Maumee, Nov. 5, 1838, Dennison
Steele and Hattie R. Coles.
Houndsfield, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1838,
James F. Smith and Isabel Crowell.
Maumee, Dec. 18, 1838, Nathaniel
Gilbert and Livonia Robbins.
Waynesfield, Dec. 27, 1838, John Schwartz
and Elizabeth Strayer.
Perrysburg, Jan. 3, 1839, Edward
Bloomfield and Frances Blinn.
Hamilton, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1838, A.
J. Hackley and Hannah Bishl.
Somers, Ct., Oct. 10, 1838, Geo.
Powers and Augusta Peck.
Maumee, Mar. 21, 1839, Wm. Richardson and
Amelia Nelson.
DEATHS.
Napoleon, O., Dec. 4, 1838, Sarah
Eliza, wife of N. H. Hawley, aged 22.
Maumee, Dec. 18, 1838, Louisa E., daughter of
Nathaniel Burham,, aged 22.
Waterville, Dec. 20, 1838, John L. Pray, aged
27.
Maumee, Dec. 17, 1837, Mrs. Harriet Copeland,
aged 23.
Cleveland, Sept. 22, 1838, Levi Beebe
Maumee, Sept. 21, 1838, N. M. Cuthbert, aged
23.
Waynesfield, Mar. 7, 1839, Catharine, wife of
Peter Strayer.
Maumee, July 14, 1838, Frances E., daughter
of Henry Reed, Jr., aged 4 years.
Maumee, Dec. 9, 1838, David Coles, aged 46.
NEW MAUMEE.
It would not be desirable
here to follow in detail the changing conditions of Maumee for the
60 years of its existence as a Town and a City. This record of
early hopes and struggles; of subsequent advance and confidence; and
of later failure and disappointment, even if here presented, would
be of no practical benefit. Suffice it now to state, that few
localities in the enterprising West had advantages equal to those of
Maumee. The list of those who gave life and energy to the
young Town, embraced names of men of prominence and character, who
omitted no effort for the promotion of its prosperity; as did like
actors in later years; but the changing conditions of trade,
chiefly, proved too much for them, and Maumee's greatness - as
pictured in fancy did not come.
But Maumee is not dead. She only slept. An
awakening has taken place, and a new condition of things arisen, and
from a cause as little dreamed of as if it were miraculous.
The discovery of natural gas in this region, and its success as fuel
had but fairly become known, when, in the Spring of 1887, a movement
was made for the introduction of that element of growth and wealth
into that place. Means were provided by the City for securing
requisite gas territory, boring wells and piping gas to and
throughout the City, the cost of which was estimated at $75,000.
Already (July, 1888) this work is well advanced. Several
important manufacturing establishments have been secured, with good
prospect for additional ones; and a changed condition seems fairly
established for Maumee. As indicative of the cost and value of
the new fuel, it may here be stated, that heating and cook stoves
average to pay $12.00 per year; a 10-Pot Glass Factory, $300; Paint
and Oil Works, $200; Cotton Mills, $100; a Woollen Mill, $50;
Flouring Mill, $50. The gas supply is found near Waterville,
some six miles South of Maumee, where six wells have been bored, to
which otehrs are to be added as the demand may rise. |
