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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent §tre film6s ik des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 MI Con TO WHIG M HI STORY OF THl MAUMEE VALLEY Commencing with its Occupation by the French in 1680. TO WHICH IS ADDED SKETCHES OF SOME OK ITS MOKAL AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AS THEY EXIST IN 1S72. BY iL S. KNA r p. TOl. BDO : iti.Ai>n MANMirrn prihtino amp viTiti.iiiniNa boiihi*. t878. 72i85 ■nterad •ccordlng to an act ot fongj-eg-, in iiu- year ]«2, i?y /f. -«. KJVAPP, In the office of the Librarian oi (tousrcss, .u \\ asUin^u. TO RUTHERFORD BIRCHARl) HAYRS, LATE GOVERNOR OF OHIO: Whose official life adds lustre to the character of the true soldier, and able and incorruptible statesman, and whose interest in all that bears relation to the preservation of the historical wealth of Ohio has been manifested throughout his life, this volume is respectfully dedicated, by ,, ^ H. S. K. Toledo, May, 1873. INrRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY. The author of Ecce Deus says : " History ran never be written. It can only be hinted at, and most dimly outlined from the particu- lar stand-point which the historian has chosen to occupy. It is only by «;oiirtesy that any man can be called a historian. Seldom do men so flatly contradict each other as upon points of fact. Incom- pletentss marks all narrations. No man can fully write his own life. On reviewing the sheets which were to have told everything, the autobiographer is struck with their reticence and poverty." It may be said that in this work appear many historians. Its com- piler, in a large degree, has acted only the part of a faithful amanu- ensis, ai\d transcribed the recollections of others, as they have been given him. Statements are made regarding the same facts by per- sons of high character, which other persons efjually entitled to credit, and havmg knowledge of the .>ame cotemporaneous events, may cri- ticise and contradict. These discrepancies result from the infirmi- ties of human memory, and the author could not undertake to adjust or reconcile them ; and the remark above (juoted he has found so obviously true as to justify repetition : " Seldom do men so flatly contradict each other as upon points of fact." This observation will apply even to matter emanating from the highest official sources, including Messages of Presidents, and reports from heads of civil and military departments. For a wise purpose, doubtless, it was ordered that the words of only One should outlive and defy all criticism. A ])rimary object of this work has been to embody the names and recollections of as many of the pioneers of the Maumee Valley as it was |>racticable to obtain, within a reasonable space of time, and bring the survivors, so far as the art of printing could execute the [design, into a Common Council. It is sad lo review the decimation, made by the hand of death, during the last two years and more, since the commencement of this vohmie, among the early settlers. If the [years immediately succeeding make similar inroads upon their ranks, [the time is close at hand when the last of the old race we call " pio- [neer," will have been conveyed to his f'nal rest. The names of many worthy 'old settlers' of the Valley are necessarily [omitted ; but this work, now largely exceeding the limits originally designed, and extending several months beyond the time fixed for its appearance, should reach the " finis " before its author reaches his tomb. Even if the task has been imperfectly accomi)lished, the months of drudging, though pleasant, toil, devoted to it, will not be regarded as spent in vain. The author only regrets that he had not lease of longer life than will })robably be allotted him, and ample pecu- [niary resources, to make the work more acceptable. But,.commen- icing on a jjrescribed limit of 350 pages, it was again fixed at 500, and now, as the reader discovers, considerably exceeds 600, exclu- j sive of engravings and maps. Acknowledgments are due such a multitude of good people for [kindness that discrimination is hardly ])roper. It would, however, be scarcely pardonable to omit expression of general obligation to [my old cotemporaries of the newspaper press throughout the Valley and country, and to name especially the late A. T. Goodman, Secre- tary of the Western Reserve and Northern Ohio Historical Associa- [tion, and the late Secretary of State, W. H. Smith, Clark Waggoner, Alfred P. Edgerton, Jesup W. Scott, and to the works of my old [friend and editorial associate, Mr. Charles Cist, of Cincinnati, Typographical errors will be discovered. The responsibility for I these, in a court of equity, would be about equally distributed, pro- jbably, among printers, proofreader and author. In most instances they are so manifest, that the intelligent reader will pass them by [without complaining of the absence of a hackneyed and hateful ["errata." Toledo, July, 1873. Allen f'i)iin(y, and wcM Allen county, Alli'n, dapfftit Aliiiiidt'H— Ta jjloneerc oHlcor* i AiidrewH, Will Arrowsniitb, J ArniHtrons', Ca Auf,'laiz« river nii;itary ; navij;ati( Auglaize coiinl ^rst turn taxable I Harclay, (Capts Baylcps, Saniiu Hirc'liard, Sardl Bond. Jotin K. Boil (I net and B Bowline Green Briglmni. Mavt Kiickland, Gene BucyruB— plott* Biicyrns in 1872 (!«nal systems { Vm», General I Oliasc, Gt-neral <-'larl{, Dr Jaco <'lay, General G CotJinberry.And I'offlnberry, Jan Coghlin. Timoll Coolie, Richard Conant, Ur. Ho: personal s Combs, General speech of (Jniich, Joseph I C, VVI lard J. — pernonal fikutch of Sftimdl I»aiilnl8, 'I'liomax tw; Do ColcntirM «x|iL-(llil()ii lu 17I9 , •■II l)(>tl nil o coiiiity , BNfj Dfttauco (mrl) (Tcc'oil Ancii-t 1784 , ...HI tr>Mi|ii^ t'l bf c'ollcciod at lid (;onL'riil IhirrlKDii Ht 144, 14,) | ri-viilf In a Kciitmky reKlinuut 14S-14,'i Willi llCHtlT Ht UN I Dffiiincu tliri'aii'MPd 17:) j Lo^'anV dcatli and Imii'IiiI ... ai6 4(i« < liirt liiiprovud hy (linural Waynu III 17VI 3^'>\ hl» niaiili In Fori W'avnt! 'Ml Col. JoliiiHoii at Drllaiiue In )8ia 877 farly whlti! ht-tory or ... .'W2M(:i Di'dancu. (town)— wIumi a d out. It* rapid xrowth, popuiatluii, reaourciu, i&c, CWlMiUi OelplioH— population— 1951). 18(10, 1M70 461 lilotoilcal hkt'lch or uiid pi'fft'iit liiiiiliiUKH 4B'i-4t'j Detroit.... Itta; UicklUHon, R'ldolph'iK— commUslonor to I Htablish Crawfoid loiinty cuat 47(1 j pfr-onal nkutch ol' Mi^, ft'.!* Dudley Coloni'1-.a B'ori MuIk* 181-71) | Editcrton, AUcrd P.— pwnonal skt'tch of 482-441 K mall, Win >.— n'niliii-criiHo* of 3tf5-4'l JMUoli, (Biiti»liC'oloiu'l) Hi, Evaii», l)r •loin, and 8. O&ry— poiHOiial Bkutclius of 40J-4ih Kvarto, T. C ti6I Eivliijj, Uolouul Ueo. W — ptTHonal ekuteh of 40y-iri Flndl { and summer of 1813 l.'ia l.Vi | the post l)e»ie!,'ed l.W i Proctor demands its surrender — UarrUou's reply 16ii narrowly escapes destruction ICi second Biej;e of K] caved from a great peril 17 eainplifeat , 179-lSJ j the HBCond siese abandoned M importance of the poi-t 191 Fort M ami at Fort Wayne 11 rebuilt in 1748 by the .Irreucb, uuder Lieut. Duhuisaou ISSH Fort Wayne— In ItiilO lu Indian towns at i'A(* the town In 1812 1« | the post relieved 14U opcninfi; of canal navigation at S^IO, 3ti early history of ;)J» La Ualm's unfortiiuate expedition to 3.'Jl-i).V) its military importance in the view of Generals Washin^jton, St. Clair Wayno and Knoj in l-()0 91 94 36B :»•. Little 'I'urile auu General Wayne 35,')-.'iV Little Turtle buried at .ifil Indian treaty at Fort Wayne in 1^03 36(1- Mil Ji hn B. Richardville— his birth and death at Fort Wnyne 362-.')(i4 General Wayne reaches the towu September, 1714, and deienuiues the loi^ation of the new girrison StW fort compleied and nam^d 3ii6 Fort Wayne from 17!»4 to 1811 3(i7. ;*S the old Council House . Stiii Major William Oliver and Lo<;au at 36it 37) the fort bi'slej;ed— Harrison marches to its relief— his arrival and llight of the enemy aiS situation of affiiir-i at the fort , .1711 ('(iltini'l .Toliiii'oii iitralii Hi till' lurt ....0TB corniiiaiKliiiitH of thu f(irt .877 IhikI omccchtiiltllHlii'd 111, In Wii 878 iiiiiiilili>nliimr()rn-lH-l(MH7'^ 880 i'liiir<'hr%, iiiHVHimpi'iy, hiIihoIh, Ituuuvnlont Inctlllllloiu 8H't, S8U Ihf town 111 IKll 8»»> 881 liiihlii.'MHol' Ihoclty 111 1S7!< 8>7-!WB iiloiii'iTHof till' Vulloy, non rfHldfiitP (if 878, :«*, «94 lit'lnt; ilirculriii'il liy tlii' IihIIiiiih, |ii' ItiipiciH— ciipture uf I'lipiHln A. Cliirk, a HritiHli ottlc^or 140, UT WimliuMiur ttt 148 lliiiriHoii al 15a-lM» Hrl IhIi t-rcl Imtli'ili'H on lul't bunk ..IM i-'oHtvr, Cliurluii W .— uuriiuiml itki'tch uf SOi<, n04 Foxtorln 50;J-»Oft Fiiliiin county ftts li'icmli pofii-- Hiirrcndoror, In 17tH, by the Frt-nch 38 ll'roiitL'iiut, (.("oiiiiti 10 (liiiio, (IcniTiilJoliii S.— letter (if VflO, ail liity, Simoii--liUlttnilly SM. ,'>», «0 a pocl'ii view of IiIm timriictor — 67!t, 580 ■(iliidwyii, cniiiiiiiuidiiiit 111 Uuii'olt Bti, 87 loodlrfy, l)r. CImrlef M .Otlll lOiiiui, Kliuha 687 ll'iiiicock Coiiiity— Karly liii»tory of, plniieci-!', present ri'90iireo», &c,, 611-016 IHaiMin. Colonel -opiTiitioiiB iii'ur I'ort Wayne 67-70 llliriiiar'w cninp'iii;!! 62-78 lluri'iKoii, Oiiierul VViUiaiii IIiMirv — appiilntment of, as coinmander-luchlcf ol ihe nurth-weht- erii iiriiiv, Scptenihi^r 17, IHli— limtructlonst irom tlie war departmunt 139, 140 liU dflVmc ol K.iri MelKB 158-161 iii\iiil">» Canada 198 ll;iiliawav-lii»olll(ial report or tlio battle of the Thames 198-801 lloii(,'i'H, biivid 6fi9 li.niyioiintv .')78-.'W8 Mill, (loiiiiiiil Ctiarlex W t).M, fl.W IIoii;,'lan(l. I'lic'V— piTj-oiml Hki'tcti ol" 4lil-41.5 lliik'nl., U'il ia'ni C. -pcixuiialrkctc'liof 5»i-f)im lli.lniK, KiiHliin—hlB dcalli at Koit Wayne 'M ll()iii;li, T. H 641,648 Hull, Ui'iicriil— ap^iolnted to cnininand of norih-wentcrii army— IiIh Incapacity and nilsfortuncH — tirins ot hix Hurreiideriit Detroit, and liis trial for treason 186-138 letter from (ieneral .lerHiip ill relation to 184 limit, .lolin K.— reiiilnlt>cencei) and poreonul Hkulch of 868-fi6H llmvard. Thiima* 64H UiivNUrd, Uoben A 649,650 llowani, I), \V. H m) Hciwant, William 6.'50 Indian naval en;,'anv. Hepteinber24, 1819 81)8 at Fort Wayne, in 180;j 850-861 laMt treaty with the t)Uio Indians . 8:i!l .Idhnson, Colonel Klchard M.-at the battle of theThamos !itO he killH Tecumseh 2,)l-8(t3 .liincairuon the Maumte in 1753 86 Kclchiiin. V. II 631, C41, 646 Keclt-r, Samuel I (i.Vi Kiiit,'»hiiiy, Henry i) 651 Kiuij,'^'!*, Cajitain .laraca— his testimony regarding the death of Tecumseh 801-803 r.itliiop, lonel L. B 058 Uwton, Uohert N .65H Lawyoru in pruclice in 1878-73 ; [see Appendix -A.'' Lima, Allen connty— notps roKarrting Its cai-lv and later history 453-4611 Little Turtle and General Wayne " 856 35(i Little Turtle a diplomatist an wrH a* warrior 369-881 1 Logan, (the Indian chief,) and Major William Oliver SlSl Louau's family and death 465, 466 1 Loramie, Peter — hi» station and his death, Ac, 3JS, Sfjj Loskirl. Moravian Missionary 33 j Lower Sandusky— suggestion of name for the town, in 1816. Lower Sandusky General Harrison at military situation at operations at in IHia. 42' 140 1 .151 .153] "eoneral orders,"' May 14 and 22, 1813 177, iWl ml I'roctor ut a bad military position petition for relief to Oovernor Meigs, from citizens (if 209, 210 letter from General Oi\no 210,211 Lucas county— its ea.ly history, pioneers, &c 532-5C6 Its history resumed 616 Mackinac— surrender of 35] Martin, Patrick tiS'il Maumee Valley— first M'hite settlnmont in KiSU. 9-13J Maumee river — known in 1748 as "River a U Koche" '■!(! f as a military route in n.W .3i)j military importance o', and of Lake Erie, as viewed by the I'Vench in 1751 Ji I ils importance to the -riny in th" war of 1812, as a channel of transportation 'i\h Wf;.\rthiir, General Duncan — letter to Governor Worthington 212 Morrett. William H W\ Mercer con ty — when formed— origin nf its name— St. Clair's battle — Wayne's trace — Simon Girty— th' fort at St. Mary's— U'tter from General Wayne — earliest white settlement at Fort Rvicovcry — thr slrin of St. Clair's army 4J8-H1 first session of the commissioners ". 441 1 first Court term 442 pioneers 442, 4t3| reservoir troubles ... 448-4451 pioneer notes 44.5-45(1 j county administr'itiou— county oflicers for 1871-72— valuation of property and popula- tion— "Celina, Ac 45U, 451 1 Mctcalf. .Iiidu'e Ben.— aneodote by: 321 Miller, Colonel .John— at the sieae of Fort Meig Wl Miami, (Fort Wayne,) i)asse8 under control of the English in 17bl 32 1 captured under Pont iac in t7tit 351 Miami villiages at and near Fort Wf.'ne— their military importance in the view of Oent'ral[ Washingtoa Miner, Byrum D— a public spirited citizen of Kort Wayne, \vho,repre.«cnted Allen county in I the lowislatu'-e of Indiana, and also held other rosponsiblf! olllcial and/ hillips, Phillip I., and Colonel Charles B C57 ickawillany— its destruction 22-86 ong, John • • ■ «5S olitical campaign of 1841)— monster meeting at Fort Meigs 205-269 humors of later conllicts 269-273 oiitiac—his speech to Alexander Henrjr 32, 33 besieges Detroit 3S his craft failH 3!t his financial scheme 4!) his character and death 44 Pont^ French— surrender of 33 Otter, Emery I).— pergonal sketch of 285-288 K'tor, (British (General) 158, 165, 183 Mitice, Frederick- -[)er3onal sketches of 561-563 Presbyterian Mission on the Maumee ; [Appendix "C " ?atman County— early history, pioneers, first lawyers, flrst physicians 606-60) population Gil Raymond, Wm. II «56 !{lioa, Captain J !)3, 133, 134 Jice, Clark H— personal sketch of 6(t!i, UK) ^ice, Gen. A V— Military record of (ilO, 61 : ■lie hard ville, Jolin B— his character and death 362-;j64 iJogors, AlonEO 658 ioijers. Major Kobert, expedition of in 1760— his triij from Detroit via Maiunee river to Pitts- burgh 31,32 Sudisill, fienry 407,408 Bandusky county -early history, present resources, &c .'505-5.31 Bandusky (fort)— surrender of under Pontiac, in 1764 38, 36 Scott, Jesup W— persijnal sketch of 572-577 Scnman, Daniel 667 ?eiieca county— organization- early history, present resources, &c 489-505 BenecH (fort) Pleasant township, Seneca county IKi Bessions, Horace-personal sketch of ,594-5i)7 Shaw, Cornelius (} 6.57 Smith, I)?vid (i53 Spink, ilohn C— reminiscences of 314-316 Bt. Clair, (icneral Arthur— succeeds Ilarmar 71 instructions to 72,73,74,75 hirf army in motion— his defeat, and explanatiotis '•7, 78, 7!(, S;,', 81, 82 Ptcodman, Colonel S. H 6.58 Ptoedman, General Jiinies B 651 :*iiikii.-y,M>.jorB F .. .^36, ,5;i7 Pt. Mary's— its military importance during the war of 1812 lt(l,14l war transports for army .. . 212 tirst settlements a' 468 early 8 ttlers—»dd block house, Ac 170,471 the town and its prospects, in 1872 471, 472 fonnerly know as Girty's town— its situation in 1S14 468 as a dei)Ot for annv supplies 460 the tiwn in 1824 and 1872 469 Bnttertield, Mrs. Laura 408, 40!) Sweet, Captain B. G 651 recumseii at the siege of Fort Meigs 161 his maunauiraity 163-172 in peril 165 at Fort Stephenson 18:1, 192, 203 Willed by Colonel Johnson at the battle of the Thames l»!l, 202, 203 his character antl generous qualities 204, 20."), 2ii6 nn'old"ench and Bar — first Court northwest of the river Ohio— The territorial Judkiary— attorneys admitted in 1802-Supremo Bench, 1S02-1872— reniiniscouces of .ludge David lliggins; his views regarding the bouudary cantorversy ludian murder trial at Fre. niout— iudicial circuit* in North-Western Ohii) under the first Constitution-* (minion Pleas Judges under the Constitution of 1802— the old Bar members. Judge Fmery I). Potter, Judge John Fitch, and others— reminiscences of Hon. Thos. W. Powill; his recollectionK ot Perrysuurfj and Maumec cKy In 1820; of the old liiwyern; murder trial; trip to Defiance; notes regarding Major Stickn'.'y, John C. bpink, etc., etc,,..aT4-;)'As Toledo (Fort Industry) !i:j prisoners and exhibition of scalps at, in 1813 172 Ocneral Comb ' experience at 206 Indian treaty, July 4. tHon held at 2« Bometliing of its past and present— progress in taxable wealth and population— imports and exports— railways, Ac (1211-«Ik recollections of Sanford L Collins (iliMiiii " (if J. VV. Scott MT-n+l " of Richapd Mott &«-r)5 lipper Saiidupky— Crawford's expedition 50-5^ war of 1812 llii riiiht wing of the army at Vis (ieneral Harrison at l.")l military situation at i.Vi Harrison's prini ipal stores at lS:i military importance of ttio pl:ice ISl letter from J. C. Hartlelt, Quartermaster (Jeueral, to Genetai Lewis Cass 20:i exodus of the Indians from Upper Sandusky, July, lS4:i Sis tlie town in 1872 4Ss Urbana I in Van Wert — when formed and organized— poi)ulatioii, early history, pioneers, first and presi'iii county officers— noti:S on (he existing resources ot Uie town, iVc (104 i;oij Waite, Morrison U- personal sketcli of ."iCH-nTl Wai-s, Alexander. (il'.i War of 1812, declared June 12th— the imperilled nortli-western frontier— causes that led to the war— letter from General Solomon Sibley 122-12ii Washington, George, President — his Indian policy fiO, til Way, Willard V —his reminiscences of tlie old Bench and [Jar 3i;)-:il' personal sketch of, &c V4' Wayne, Anthony— i ommenced his north western campaign in 1792 S'f erects Fort (Jreenville and Recovery in ITiW (•S h's march and victory Sfl-'.W hisdeath 91 General Hull in command- on tlic Maumee in June, 1812- incnpableness of Hull and the administration- complaint of army contractors— difficulty in transporting supplies— his surrender at Detroit lv8-i:S Waupaiikonnetta- " the town of Tecumseti and of I.ogan " 214, il."> Tecumseli^ Logan, Biicht Horn, and Captain Jolm 4ti")-l()7 Colonel Ilichard M. Johnson, Antliony Sliane, D. M. Workman, David Robb, and Robert J. Skinner 4ti~, 4t)'* ea-ly hi-tnry of and original proprlctori< t)8 17:i Wells, Captain William 88-inii White, Dr. Oscar (miI Whitney, Noah A., Thomas P., Milton D. and Augustus tl fi48, (i4!i Winchester, General J— letter from ViT. 138. 13'.i resigned, ai Deflaiioe, by General Harrison, to the cuiumaud of the left wing of the army I4.-I at Deliance, at the close of ISli U^ at the foot, of the Kapido, January, 18)3 UX at Frenchtown, (river Rai^in)— his mistake, defeat, and massacre of hin troops,14y,l,")l),l")l public opinion regaraing his defeat ITiii Williams county 5g2 .Wi Wolcott, Judge James fw-l Wood conn tv— in nilO, 1810 and 1816 42:i in 1812-15 : 4* session of tlie commissioners in 182t)-23 428-l'iil progress in population and wealth 4*1- 13i pioneer notes— Captain David Wilkinson, Willard V. Way, William Ewiug, and Aaron S . Dri'sser 435 131 Worthington.Gov.Tliomas— .letter to (Jeneral Me.\rthiir andconfldeutial communication to ihc lower branch of the Legislature 2l;t Wyandotte county— IbrmMtion—lientoii, (!irty, Logan, Ac 483 484 M(^thodist Mission, early settlers, taxable wealth, population, &c 481-4.'W Wyandotte Indians ;«. :il. "i'' irilur trial; .,..a;4-;i'is Iti 172 '.'(Jti 2iT a— Imports (isa-dis (;i(i-fii!i ....M--r)4.i ....544-r)5!i :i3i; SB!, . . 2fi3, 2C4 ,...53G-S(;2 , li-ix. 50-5N IJii lis 151 l.Vi ISli ISl 20:1 2'39 4SS MO iifl prcpciit ,. ..ti<)4 am ...5CH-r)T1 (i4'.i Imt li'd Id ....1!22-I2ii fiO, fil .3i:j-:ib .... i:k 8.'i 1-5 . . . Sti-lW 91 11 and the supplicM— .ivS-i;« ,. 214, iir. .4(M-lli7 id Unbcrt . 4t)7, 4(')^ ,. 1)8 4T:i ..88-Hiii I'M .fi4«, Ii4'i 7, 138. i:'.'i tho urinv . . 1 1:. ...11- . . . 14'* 49,1, mi.")! [.■Hi .582:)8.". (M 42:> .... ni\ .l'2S-r!il .4:iii-13-J id Aaron . I.'i.'i 13; lUl to I he ...2i:l ..48.3 tW .48)-4'^ ji. FIRST WHI The fir, settle the iiiulGrtaken 1680. ItM domicil am tnre, or mij attack by t and fearless mentioned, Joseph's ri) retained jios During t Canada, urg( I'orts and tr; great lalces. Fronteiiac, v niinibo]' of ti and to take j goverumeut ( "One of t river, and iu Manmee Citj years, and iu ; ji ISTORY OF T HE M AUMEE y UMEE V ALLEY. CHAPTER I. FIRST WHITE SETTLEMKXT IN OHIO MADE ON 'HIE MALiMEE KIVEK, IX 1C8U. The lirst efforts made by Europeans, or their descendants, to settle the territory now forming the jurisdiction of Ohio, Avere undertaken by the French, in the Manmee Valley, and in the year 1680. It was deemed prudent by those who sought even temporary domicil among the savages, whether the object was trade, agricul- ture, or missionary labor, to lirst secure safety against surprise and attack by the construction of military defences. T'he enterprising and (earless discoverer, La Halle, erected, in the autumn of the year mentioned, a stockade at the conlluence of the Ht. Mary's and St. Joseph's rivers, on the ground now occupied by Fort Wayne, and retained possession of it about one month. Paring the year 1679, the Count de Frontenac, Governor of Canada, urged upon the French monarch the importance of erecting forts and trading posts in the Western country, along the chain of great lakes. Though no assistance came from the proiligate King, Frontenac, who was a man of great energy and spirit, sent out a number of trading parties, with authority to erect stores or posts, and to take possession of all the country visited, in the name ot the government of France. "One of these parties found their way to the Miami or Maumee river, and in 1080, built a small stockade just below the site of Maimiee City. This was an important trading point for several years, and in 1694 was under the command of Sieur Courthemauche; 10 First Wliite Settlement M but AViis finally abandoned I'or a more eligible location at the head oC the Mau.'nee river, near where the city of Fort Wayne now stands. On the very spot where the Ibrt of Maumee stood, the British, in 1794, erected Fort Miami.'* This statement is made u})on the authority ol' the late A. T. (Joodman, Es(|., Secretary of the AV'esteru Reserve and Northern Ohio Historical Society, who obtained the data ujjon which it is based, from French records, at Montreal and (Quebec, and pa])ers at Albany and llarrisburg. Hence tlie occui)ation of the Maumee ante-dated that sought to be established on the Detroit; the lirst effort at French settlement being nuide on the last named river in 1683. In 1701, de la Motte Cadillac laid the foundations of Fort Pont- chartrain on the Detroit, which embraced the whole strait from Lake Erie to Lake Huron. The first grants of land at Detroit, i. c, Fort Pontchartrain, were made in 1707. Cadillac was not only founder of Detroit, but (lovernor of Louisiana. The town, as Ave have noticed, was founded subse(;uent to the settlements on the Maunua- river; yet, according to the statenu'ut of .ludge Jiurnet, it was the most ancient on the Upiier Lakes ; and was the capital of Upper Canada until it fell into the hands of the United States. In 1089, the Count de Fronteiuie was again commissioned Gover- nor of Canada. The following year (1090), war brolse out between England and France, and the King of the French, in a letter to Frontenac, expressed ''great desire for the maintenance of French posts in the West.'' In 1095, Captain Nichols Perrot built a trading station "at tin west end of Lake Erie." This continued for two years, when tin Miamis plundered the place, seized I'errot, and were on the point ol " roasting him alive." when he was saved by the Ou^agamis. Tin exact location of Perrot's station can not now be determined. Duriii:: the year 109.5, a very bloody war occurred between the Iro(pK)is and IMiamis, in which the latter nation suffered severely, as did tlic French traders in the Oliio and Illinois country. We lind the (Juv- ernor of Canada conijilaining tlnit the h'oi|;iois ''roasted all tlie French prisoners" that came into their hands. It is probable that English traders first began to establish them- selves for permanent operations in the West in 1098-09. Early in the year 1700, M. de Longneuil held a grand Council at l)(;troit, with the Outaouais, Ilurons, PouteouatMmis and ^lississagues. In hi ■I spe ech to them he said: "The Englitshnun hath reddened the sen with my i other coi } hath piisl avenge oi neitlier to against hi several yej White riv' immediate will seize Y'ou shall this scum, you Avill Itead." In answ ueuil said: binding an (he Ueauti the men h( years of h missionaric About this on the Mai In 1703, near the Se I he French During tl ;uul Sieur d Canada, an In 1707, small force years later ( from liake ] In 1712, The French -Saguenays. ' ci'eing nearl mis and Ma An early i mm pf fore In tlifi Maumee Valley. 11 with my blood ; lie has also causelessly stained with it a great many other eountries. My hatchet has not stirred. ' lint now that ho hath jnished me to tlie wall by so many relapses, I must perish or avenge on him uU the blood he has drawn from my veins. It is neither to Montreal nor his territory that 1 direct your first steps against him. It is in your own immediate vicinity, where he, lor several years, hath quietly made his way with his goods. It is to the Wliite river and to the lieautiful river, (Oliio,) that I expect you will immediately march in (piest of him, and when you destroy him, you will seize and divide all his goods among you. Set out forthwith. You shall want for notliing that you recpiire for the extirpation of this scum. \{ the English escape you on the Ikniutiful river, (Ohio,) you will llud them a liltle farther off with liis brother, the Flat- Head." In answer to a message of the White river Indians, M. de Long- ueuilsaid: "Wait not till the English striki ilrst; commence by l)inding aiul pillaging all the English who come to your parts, ai\I the Ueauiiful river, (Ohio); divide the goods among you, and bring the men here to Detroit,'' During the year 1 TOO, the Iroc^uois, after years of hostility, made a treaty with the I*'rench, by which their missionaries and traders were allowed in all parts of the West. About this time a party of factors from Detroit built a small post on the Maumee, where Toledo now stands. In 1703, the English invited the Ilurons and Miamis to locate near the Senecas, on Lake Erie, assuring them of protection against the French, The proposition Avas rejected. During the year 170.'5, Sieur de Joncaire visited the Seneca Indians, and Sieur de Yincennes the jMiamis, on business of the Governor of Canada, and found English traders with each nation. In 1707, M, de Cadillac, commandant at Detroit, marched with a small force against the Miamis, and soon forced them to terms. Two years later (1709), Cadillac advocated the building of a ship canal from liake Erie to Lake Ontario. In 1713, S'eur de Vincennes paid a second visit to the jVIiamis. The French post at Detroit was besieged by the Pouteouataniis and Saguenays, who nuide war on the Indian allies of the French, massa- creing nearly one thousand men, women and children of the Outaga-: mis and Maskoutins. As early fis 1714, Governor Alexander Spotswood, of Virginia, a nian of forceight' und energy, sa^y the ftdviwttig^ io bp gaiped by an 12 First White Settlement early settlement of the Ohio country. He had been api>ointe(l Oov- crnor in 1710, an ollico which he illled with great ability for twelve years. During the year 1 714, he exi)lorcd the country across the Blui' Itidge to the Ohio, and became enamored with the surroundings. It was not, however, until the year 1716, that he communicated to the Legislature a plan for a compatiy to settle the lands on the Ohio river. Tlie Legislature viewed the matter favorably, and the jiapers were sent tO the English Ministry for a])in-oval. Tliey were held for a long time, and (inally the plan was rejected. The e.xact cause was never known, but was supposed to have been fear on the part of the Ministry, that the planting of colonies to the westward would givi' offence to the French. Notwithstanding this disheartening refusal, the matter was not entirely dropped. From time to time, pamphlets were printed, and letters published, urging upon the English Gov- ernment the necessity of pushing its jiossessions westward. There were plenty of capitalists ready to risk their money in the ])urchase of lands and building up of settlements, but the ilinistry were weak and timid, and would give no encouragement whatever. I In 1714, Captain de La Forest showed to the French Government the importance of maintaining Detroit, and keeping possession of Lake Erie and its environs. The French monarch had more fore- sight than England's King, and si)ent vast sums of money in extending his possessions. In 1715, a party of Englishmen from North Carolina constructed three ]iosts on the south side of the Ohio, and its branches. The French having obtained control of the Ohio Indians, the English in 1716 sent agents among them with speeches and presents, and endeavored to form an alliance, but were unsuccessful. The same year seventeen Frenchmen were killed while on their Avay from the Illinois country to Detroit. In a letter, addressed about this time by M. de Ilamezay and M. Begon, to the Governor of Canada, they requested the French Government to build a post at Niagara, on the ground that "this post would deter the Mississague and Amicoue Indians from going to the Iroquois to trade, when passing from the neighborhood of Lake Erie." A stockade was built by the French at Vincennes, but soon abandoned. During the year 1720, French traders Avere active along the Ohio. Sieur de Joucaire reported that he had seen "a fountain near the head waters of the Ohio, the water of which is like oil, and tasted like iron." Further north, ho reported another fountain of the same Til ilie Mmimee Valley/. 13 > nts, 'he '0111 this kind. " The savages," he says, "make use of the water to appease all jniinncr of pains." Ill 1722, a treaty was made at Albany, Now York, between the InKiuois and English, by which the lands west of the Allegheny Mountains were acknowledged to belong to the Irociuois by reason of their con(| nests from tiie Eries, Conoys, Tongorias, &c. Jn 1735, Baron de Longuenil was made fiovernor of Canada, and soon after rei)orted (hat. "the English have built two houses and some stores on a small stream which flows into the Wabash, where they trade with the Miamis and Ouyatanons." During the year .17:20, the country from the Cuyahoga in Ohio, to Oswego in i\ew York, was placed by tiie Iro(|uois under the protec- tion of the Knglish. In 172^^, the AIar(|iiis de Beauharnois, then Governor of Canada, recommciuled the erection of a fort on the south shore of Lake Erie, to serve as winter (|iiarters for two sloops he jiroposed to build on that lake, "By this means," he writes, "the English would be prevented from sending loaded canoes with brandy and merchandise to the head of Lake Erie." The King declined building the fort, or paying for the construction of sloops. In 1729, Joshua Gee, of London, printed a pamphlet urging the planting of English colonies in Western America. The following year (17.'30), Governor Keith urged ui)on the Ministry the advantages of securing British dominion west of the mountains. During the year 1731, Sieur do Joiicaire, by direction of the Gov- ernor of Canada, visted the Sliawanese,who had located on the Ohio and its branches — for the purpose of securing their friendship and alliance. In 1736, Vincennes was destroyed by the savages. The French now claimed to have 10,403 warriors, and 8^,000 souls under their control in the West. During the year 1739, M. de Longuenil left Detroit, crossed the Ohio country, and discovered Bigbone Lick, in Kentucky. De Loh- gueuil constructed a road from Detroit to the Ohio river, which crossed the Maumee at the foot of the rapids, and was thereafter used by the Canadians. In 1742, a number of herdsmen from Detroit settled at V'incennes. John Howard, an English traveler, crossed the mountains from Virginia, descended the Ohio in a canoe, and wus tttketi prisoner by the French, near the Mississippi, 14 Plot of Nicholas. Ill 174IJ, I'clor Chartit'S, a VreiiclMiian liviiiAK'k hoitse at his jjrincipal town on the bay, and sutlercd the traders lo remain and dispose of their stock of goods. Once located, the I'.ngligli established themselves at the place, and, according to French accounts, ac(|uired great inlluence with Nicholas and his tribe. This iulluence was always exercised to the injury of the French. On the 2'.\i\ of June, 1747, live Frenchmen, with jJcUries, arrived at the Sandusky town from White river, a small stream falling into the Wabash nearly opposite the present town of Mt. Carmel, Illinois. These Frenchmen, being wholly unaware of the presence (if Ktiglish among the llurons, were unsuspicious of danger, and counted ujjon the hospitality and friendshii» of the Indians. Tlieir presence, however, ins])ired anything but tokens of good will. Nicholas was greatly irritated at the audacity of the French in com- ing into his towns without his consent. The Fnglish traders, noticing this feeling, urged the chief to seize the F'X'iudinien and their ])eltries. This was acconn)lislH'd on the afternoon of the day of their arrival. The fate of the poor l<'renchmPn was soon deter- mined. Nicholas condemned them to death, and they were toma- hawked in cold blood. Their stock of peltries was disposed of to Uic J"]nglish, and by tliem sold to a l>arty of Seneca Indians. The news of these outrages created much feeling among the French at Detroit, and especially so among the traders in the Ohio country. As soon as the Sandusky murders came to the information of the Governor of Canaila, he ordered M. de Longueuil, command- ant at Detroit, to send a messenger to Nicholas demanding the surrender of the murderers of the live Frenchmen. The demaml was not complied with. Three other messengers in turn followed, but were met with the same refusal. M. de Longueuil then sent a peremptory demand, re(iuiring the surrender ot the murderers, to be disposed of according to his pleasure; that the llnrons must ally themselves at once with the French, or the latter will become their irreconcilable enemies ; that the French were disposed to look upon the recent murders as acts of irresponsible parties, and not of the 16 French Village at Fort Waijne. Huron tribe, and that all English traders must loave the Indian towns Ibrthwith. The answer returned to these i»ro))osition8 amounted to a defiance, and preparations were'nmde for an expedition against Sandusky. The crafty Nicholas was not less active than the French. He formed a great conspiracy for the capture of Detroit and the upi)or French posts, and the nuissaere of the white inhabitants. How loni; this conspiracy had been* brewing, we have no infornuition. We know that by August, 1717, the lro(iuois, llurons, Outaouagas, Abonaquis, Pons, Ouabash, Sauteurs, Oulaouas, iMississagues, Foxes, Sioux, Sacs, .Sarastaus, Louj)s, I'outeouataniis, C'haouenons and Miamis had entered into a grand league, iuiving for its object exter- mination of French dominion and authority in the West. Every nation of Indians, excepting those in tlie Illinois country, entered into the plan with zeal Mud alacrity. OU'ensive operations were to commence at once. A party of De- troit Hurons were to sleep in the fort and houses at Detroit, as they had often done before, and each was to kill the |)eoi)le where he lodged. The day set for this massacre was one of the holidays ul' Pentecost. A Inmd of I'outeauatamis were commissioned to destroy the French mission anil villages on lU)is Blanc Island ; the Miamis, to seize the French tradera in their country; the Iroquois, to destroy the French village at the Junctioa of the Miami and St. Joseph; the Foxes, to destroy the village at (Jreen JJay; the Sioux, Sacs and Sarastaus to reduce Micliillimacinac; while the other tribes were to destroy the French trailing i)osts in their respective countries, seize the traders, and put them to death. This great conspiracy, so skillfully planned and arranged, would have been attended with a frightful loss of life, and the utter annihi- lation of French power, but for its a"fidental yet timely discovery. It seems that a party of Detroit llurons had struck before the other tribes were ready, by the murder of a l''renchman in the forest a few leagues from Detroit. This act* was unauthorized by the Huron chiefs, who had made their arrangements for occupying the houses at Detroit, and Avere only waiting for the appointed time to strike the fatal blow. So fearful were the chiefs that their object would be detected since the murder, that a council was held in one of the houses, which had been obtained for the purpose, to deter- mine whether any change of operations way necessary. While they were in council, one of their squaws, going into the garret of the Plot of Nidi of (IS IhfntfHi. 17 liouflo in soarch of Indian oorn, ovorhcard the details of the con- spinii'y. SIk' at onco luisti-iii'd to ii Jtauit priuHt, and ivviiiUhI I1u> j)lan8 of the savages. The priest lost no time in communicating with M. dr liOMifuenil, th<' i''rench commandant, who ordered ont the troops, arouHi'd tiie people, and gave the Indiana to inderatand that their planr had heen disc()\er<'d, and wonid he diHeomtitcd. Willi great alaerity messengers wi-re despatched to the forts and trading posts, which i)ut tiie people on their gnurd.and cansed them to retire to places of safety. All t'.ie settlers in the vicinity of De- troit were notilied to enter the fort. The post of Miami was ahan- iloned, and relief asked for from Quebec. When the llurons at Ditroit found they had been deteiUed, they sullenly withdrew, the eomnnindant being unwilling to o|)mi actual hostdities by detaining them. Soon after this the Indian oi)erations began, though confined to a snndl scale, on account of the vigilance of M. de lionguenil in apprising his countrymen of their danger. The latter part of August, 17-17, a number of Frenchmen were killed lit (Jhibarmini ; eight traders were seized in the Miami country; a man named Martineau was killed near Detroit; the S.iuteurs attacked a convoy of French canoes on Lake St. Clair, captured one and plundered the goods; the Outaowas killed a number of French traders residing in their country; the Foxes murderetl several traders at (Jreen Hay ; a French trader was killed on the !^[iami ; a party of llurons attacked the inhaliitants of JJois Hianc Island, and wounded three men. Five of the llurons were captured, taken to Detroit, and heavily ironed. One was soon after killed by the people, and another committed suicide. Other murders were committed, and trading houses destroyed, but the conspiracy had been pretty elfectu- ally broken up by its timely discovery. Soon after hostilities had commenced, numbers of those who had entered the league deserted it, and craved the pardon and favor of the French. First among these were the Outaowas and Pouteowatamis, the latter having agreed to destroy the Bois Blanc villages. Thus weakened, the plans and efforts of Nicholas were in a measure paralyzed. On the 22d of Septemberj a large number of boats, containing one hundred and fifty regular soldiers, arrived at Detroit from Montreal. Upon hearing of this, Nicholas abandoned all his plans, and was ready to make peace on the best terms he could obtain. He knew that certain destruction awaited his villages, unless pardon Avas % 18 Nicholas ((handoiis I'^andnshy Bay obtained; for the Frencli commandant was already meditating a punishment for him and his people, for the murder of the five traders the June [)revious. During the summer, two chiefs of the Detroit Hurons, Sastaredzy and Taychatin, had visited Detroit on a professed mission of friend- ship. They were seized and sent to Quebec to answer for the mur- ders committed by the Sandusky Hurons. Sastaredzy died at Quebec on the 4th of August; Taychatin was released when peace was made. Nichohis secured the pardon of himself and the San- dusky Hurons, upon the most favorable terms — that of maintaining peace in the future. The French abandoned their demand for the murderers of tlie five traders, and made no conditions as to the Indian trade with tlie EngHsh. Even during the winter that fol- lowed, 1747-8, Nicholas received at the Sandusky villages, on two occasions, a party of Englishmen from Pliiladelphia, and allowed his people to trade witli them. Soon after this, Nicholas received belts and ('tiier tokens of friendship from the English. These things came to the ear of M. de Longueuil, and he lost no time in asking instructions from Quebec. On the 14th of January, 1748, Nicholas sent fourteen of his warriors to Detroit to ask for the release of the three remaining Indians captured at Bois Blanc Island. M. de Longueuil, wishing to secure Nicholas as an ally, granted his request, and th3 prisoners were released. In February, 1748, French soldiers rebuilt and again occupied the post on the Miami. The same month, La Joncaire, Governor of Canada, ordered M. de Longueuil to give Nicholas notice that no English traders W(uild be allowed among his people^ or in the West- ern country; and if any were found, they should receive notice to quit forthwith. Agreeable to these instructions, a French oflScer was sent to Sandusky, who notified Nicholas of the wishes of the Governor of Canad-i. Finding several English at the towns, the ofticer commanded them to leave the country, which they promised to do. Finding himself deserted l)y nearly all of his allies, his power for mischief gone, and the activity and determination of the French to suffer encroachments from the English no longer, Nicholas finally resolved to abandon his towns on Sandusky Bay and seek a home farther west. On the 7th of April, 1748, he destroyed the villages and fort, a nineteen I Indiana. country, lo in the fall The stei of the tribt desired efl'e had been u for peace. holding of savages to ' much ttnva tion was isi the tribes ei Saute urs. ' be overlook wards withd French, hov " rebels,'' as not inclined ders. They being placed rule. In th we find the J "Should I tort without arrest him ai Similar or west. These the Indians 1 louspiracy o performed th I'ort Miami, .loseph's and In 1746, tl French post were operatiri ket." Thec< and did an ej A 7id Jietn o > m \Ve)Spring, a block house and several stores and dwellings were erected. The place prospered, the traders did a flourishing business, and success had seemingly attended the effortjs of the Pennsylvanians, when an occasion happened which gave uml)rage to the French. In the Summer of 17.51. three or four French soldiers, who had deserced, delivered themselves to the English at Pickawillany. The Twigtwees. who had long suffered from the French and their Indian allies, wanted th^ three deserters delivered to them for purposes of revenge. The English would not consent to this, but were obliged, in order to save their lives, to send them to an English post on liie 22 Fort PickawUlany. Muskingum, where hhey were delivered to (leorge Croghan. When the French lieard that deserters from their service were received and protected at Pickawillany, the Governor of Canada determined upon the destruction of that post. A force under Sieur de Joncaire, was sent, but was obliged to return to Detroit from diHiculties met witli in the wilderness. In ]\Iay, 1752. another party left Detroit on the same mission. The French aiul tlieir allies numbered about two hundred and fifty men. On the 21st of June, at early morn, they reached T'ickawillany. and at once began the attack. A skirmish took place, in which one Phiglishniau and fourteen Twigtwees were killed. The place, after some furtJier resistance, was surrendered. and a general plunder of the houses followed. Some of the huts were razed to the ground ; the fort, or block house was left stand- ing. The Knglish traders were sent to Canada, but tradition says few of them reached there. The Twigtwee King, "Old Britain," was killed and eaten in the presence of his con((uored people. In the following year the Gover- nors of Pennsylvania and Virginia sent presents and messages of condolence to the Twigtwee nation. Recurring to the order of years, we are brought back to 1750. During that year, Etiglish traders were a second time expelled from the Cuyahoga. A party of French from Detroit built Fort Junandat. on the east bank of the Sandusky river, near the bay. Fort Char- tres was also rebuilt. About this time Luke (Vrowin, of Pennsvl- | vania, Joseph l<'ort(>ner, of New Jers(\v, and Thomas Borke, traders, were (•a))tured near F'ort Jananchit, John Pathen, an English trader, was arrested near Fort Miami. All of these were sent to Canada, thence to France. The Governor of Canada, upon learn- ing the fact.-;, wrot(^ to the Governor of New York, complaining that "the English, far from confining themselves within the limits of the King of Great Britain's possession.^, not satisfied with multiplying themselves more and more on Rock river with having houses and open stores there, have, more than that, proceeded within sight of Detroit, even unto the Fort of the Miamis.'' Soon after, the Gov- ernor urged upon the French ^Ministry the great importance, and the benetits to be derived from holding the Ohio and its tributaries, Desiring to put an end to the influence of the English, sundry rewards were offered for the scalps of traders found on French territory.' A numb( Ohio to the HI formation The Englis and on Bea the Huron, city. In 1 Oliio Oompj (hiring the I which had did not coi visit from tl: eastward. FURTHER RI [In 1870- Western Ref til rough Hoi James, in obi British tradir by the Fren* Mr. Good ma Cincinnati, ii writer avails as the princ Valley.] For many ; the Miamis h at the mouth That point w gers, who tra day. and had the Miamis w of " TmiHxtw called V\cka\ " Picktovm '' ; Pichatvillany Def; sent by the Governor of Pennsyl- vania to learn the intentions of the Mianiis. and it appears he report- ed them as "gone over to the French.'" At this time most of the English trader^! abandoned the Ohio trade. Pickawiliany was wholly deserted by them. Not long after, the French commandant at Vinceimes, deeming the location a good one, sent some traders to the place, and made a treaty of concord and friendship with the Miumis, lavishing upon them a very large amount of money, and a great variety of costly presents. The place, however, did not pos- sess enterprise or spirit, and was not widely known as a trading post until 1T()9. when a Cninidian French trader, named Peter Loramie, established a store there. lie was a man of energy, and a good hater of the Americans. For many years he exercised great inHu- ence among the Indians. After his arrival, the place was called ''Loramie's Station." During the Revolution. Lorpraie was in fidl fellowshij) with the British. Many a savage incursion to the border was fitted out from his supply of war material. So noted had his place become as the hea the Twigtwces, awakened a V)itter feelinjx from th > latter Two Frenchmen near the Oliio were murdered in cold l)l()()d. The Kiiijflish this year (li^-i) stationerl thems Ives on the Vermillion river, and a trader named John Frazier built a cabin upon French Creek, near the Ohio. During the Summer a council was held with the Delaware, Shawanese, and other Ohio tribes, at Logstown, when the Indians promised Colonel Joshua Fry and other Knglish Commisf ioners. that, they would not molest any settlements mar of Iriendly Senecas. to visit the Indians on the Ohio and its branches. When Joneaire reached the Miamis, he marchtd \\\* i their towns witii great ceremony. The Indians were frltxhtcned. ami promised again '• to become the chil- dren of the French." Joncaire assured them of {)rotection, and succeeded in inducing a large number to ai'coinpany him to the fori on the Maumee. Captain Trent was sent to the Ohio from V^irginia with powder, shot, guns and clothing for Indians friendly to the British. The Kuglish. in September, represented by William Fairfax, met the Indians of Eastern Ohio, in council at Winchester, Virginia, and made a treaty of peace and friendship. A like coven.ant was enter- ed into at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, between Pennsylvania Commis- sioners and the Iroipiois, Delawares. Shawanese. Twigtwees and Wyandots. With gr at foresight, tiovernor De Lancey, of New Yo k. recommended to the Fnglish Lords of Trade the building of two strong foris on the Ohio, on.' in Pennsylvaniii. the other in Virginia. While the •' Lords" were dreaming over the proposition, the FnMich look advantage of the situation. Learning of the operations of M. Duquesne, Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, despatched George Washington with a letter to Fort Le Fioeut. a he was infri departure.'" Although until the y. that yen- troops, and fence an Kng- lish Lords of Trade because it was too Ihmorratir. A plan for the establishment of colonies in the West, was ])ublished this year, by the celebrated Dr. Franklin. Among other recoinmend.it ions, he advocated the building of stnmg fortresses in the Ohio country. One of thes(' he suggested should be located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga, on Lake Erie. 'C\\o French, however, had already occu- pied th.at point by the establishment of a trading post among the Mingoes, who lived on the river. This post probably began IT.')!. as the English w^ere driven off in 17.5(>, and the French had had the place in view for some time. One of their trading houses was located on the left bank of the Cuyahoga, about ten miles from its month, and a little above the mouth of Tinker's Creek. Tlie difKcnltii'S in America continued into the year 1755. h\ Janaary of that year, the French King made a proposition to the Ib'itsh Government, to .settle all grievance.s, by restoring the Western 'ouutry to the same condition it was in before the la('' war — I7b">. On the 2-^d of January, the English replied, that the West of North America must he left as it was before the peace of Utrecht. On 28 English and French Hofitihtiefi. February 6tli, Fninoo answering said, tliat the old claims in America were liiitcnablo, and offi-red as a coinpromiso that the English retire east of the Allcgheiiies, and the French nunain west of the Ohio rivL'r. On tlu' 7tli (»!' March, the P^ntrlish agreed Id the French offer of compromise, providing the latter destroyed all forts on tiic Ohio and its brunclRvJ. This the French Monarch declined to do, and the negotiations ended. In May, 175(>, England declared war against France, and the latter followed with a like declaration in Juno. The Newjwrt (Rhode Island) Mercuri/, of December, 1758, con- tained the following : New Youk, December IJith, 1758. Early on Monday morning last, an express arrivi'd here from the westward, and l)rought sundry letters, which gave an account that General Forbes was in ])ossession of Fort Du Quosne*. One of these letters says, that the Monsieurs did not stay for the ai)proacli of our army, but blew up the fort, spiked tlu'ir cannon, threw them into the river, and made the best of their way off. carrying with them everything valuable, except the spot where the fort stood. .And yesterday anotlier express arrived here with other letters confirming:; the f(jregoing, and directed from the fort itself; the most particular of whic'h are as follows, viz : FoKT DiJ Qup:.sne, November 26th, 17.58. _ I have now the pleasure to write you from the ruins of the fort. On the ^Ith, at night, we were informed by one t»f our Indian scouts, that he had discovered a cloud of smoke above the place; and soon after another came in with certain intelligence thatit was bunii and abandoned by the enemy. We were ihcn about lifteen niiks from it. A troop of horse was senf forward immediately, to extin- guish the burning, and the whole army followed. We arrived at six o'clock last night, and found it in a great measure destroyed. There are two forts about twentv vards distant — the one buik with imnien.:;e labor; small, but a great deal of very strong works collected into little room, and stands on the point of a narrow neck of land, at the continence of the two rivers. It is square, and has two ravelins, gabions at each corner, etc. The other fort stands on the bank of the Allegheny, in the form of a ))arallelogram, but nothing so strong as the other. Several of the outworks are lately begun, and still un standiiitr, b which ruiiii barrels ol a liarrels of gi off in so inn works they night lu'lbre here. Whc them down old, who hi the 2d in,vti wood into tl took at Maj( the Indians, ol bodies wii nionnnients Delawares. w to treat with over. Whetl leaving any is appointed I' is rniijesty's During tin act to enconr lily offered a liostile Indiai >iuners to tlu diiaching th iH'nrt failed. In 1759, I I'rench Mini I'ort Machan annoy the Eii Lake Erie am [would entail Lcidties for vie 1 capable of bei prevailing in Illinois and 1) Reward offired for India it Hi'ulps. 21> ort. (liiin and lurtii liii- ' iiiul still unHiushc'd. There are, I think, thirty stacks of chiinnoys .stamlintr, but tlie houses are all destroyed. They sprung a Tuine, which ruined one ol" their niaiCiipe ' the '^d instant, tells us they had carried a jirodiglous (piantity of wood into the fort; that they had burnt five of tlu' prisoners they took at Major Grant's deieat, on the parade, and delivered others to the Indians, who were tnniahawked on the spot. \Vi (omul numbers ■ ol bodies within a ((uariiT of a mile of the fort, unburied— so nuiny nu^numents of French humanity! A great many Indians, mostly Delawares, were jiathered on the Island last night and this morning, ■ to treat with the (Jeneral, and we are making rafta to bring them ; over. AVhether the General will think of repairing the ruins, or leaving any of the troops here, I have not yet learnt. Mr. lieatie ^' is iippointed to preach a thanksgiving sermon for the superiority of Ms niiijesty's arms. During the same year, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an ; act to encourage settlements in the West, while the N'irginia Assem- I bly offered a price of ten pounds sterling for the scalp of every ■| hostile Indian over twelve years of age. The English sent Oommis- ij sioners to the Delawares and 8hawanese in Ohio, for the purpose of ilei aching those tribes from their alliance with the French. The := I'tfurt tailed. In K59, M. de Vandrcuil, Governor oi Canada reported to tiie French Ministry, " that M. de Ligneris has had orders to remain at Fort Machault, on the Ohio: 1st, to support the Nations; ^d, to annoy the English ; 3d, to force them to a diversicm ; 4th, to cover Lake Erie and force the enemy to march only with an army, which would entail considerable preparations, whence arises serious diffl- ^cuUies for victualling of all sorts in a country where the ground is capable of being defended inch by inch. The scarcity of provisions, prevailing in the colony, has determined me to send orders to the Illinois and Detroit to forward to Presque Isle all the men these two mmm 80 (Uipi Ohio, iiiid oliliiincd ii proiiiiso IVoiii Miciu "to place limits to llu' inuiiitioii of llie iMijilisli." At Ihi' re(|iiest. of the Shiiwiiiiese on llu> Sciot.o, Lij^iieris iip|)oiiite(l M. llerti'l, an inlliUMiliiil tnider, as Kiviich a^jeiit amoiij; them. The iictivity of Sir William .loliiisoi! cauai'd an early ahamloii mt'iit of i"'ort Veiiaiifijo. The |)tda\vares were also liroiij;ht to Kiiji'lish terms, and delivered to .lolmsoii live prisoners taken hy Iheni on tlio borders, viz : .lames I'erry. iioheri Wilson, Kli/.abeth Armstrong, Calharine llillz, and a lli his f^overninent that "(!npidity has seized otticers, store-keepers and traders on the Ohio and elsewhere, and they are amussini; astonishing' lortnnos." Early in the year the French built a small post ut Upper Piipiu, on tile Great Miami river. A year or two later a parly of Enylisli | traders and Indians attempted its capture, hut were defeated, willi j^reat loss. In June, it. was reported to the (Joverm^r of C'anaila J that " The Cherokees have allowed them to be ;iaiiu'd by the j)resents of the Lnglish, so tiuit above and below the lieautil'iil river, (Ohio,) we need not Hatter ourselves with llndin|i[ any allies anu)iig the Indians.'' During the sanu^ month, (June, 175'.),) tjiree liundred Frencli soldiers aiul nulitia, and six hundred Indians marched from the Illinois country for Fort Machault. The route taken was down the Mississijjpi to the Ohio, up the Ohio to the Wabash, and thence on that river to the portage at Fort Miami. From that point the stores were carried to the Maumee, down tlie Maumee to Lake Erie, and along the southern shore to Presfpie Isle ; thence to Fort Machault. There they joined the forces of M. de Ligneris, and marched to Fort Niagara, for the relief and reintorcement of M, Pouchot, who tvas besieged by English and Indians under Sir William Johnson. On the 24th of July this relief force was totally defeated near the fort by Johnson. On the 25tli Niagara surrender- ed, when the Indian allies of the English massacred in cold blood a large number of the Illiiu)is French. In September, Quebec was taken, and the following month. Fort Massiac abandoned. The year closed under disheartening circumstances to the French. ICvjmlltlov of .\fnjor Uinjt'vx, 81 Kiirlv ill 17f^0, tlic (Governor of ('iiniidii nrdorpd Fori MiisHiiir to 1)1' rt'liiiiH iind stn.n^ly lorlilifd; lit- iiIhd IkuI cn-ctcd ii iiiiliiuiy pu.-il at Kiirtkiiskiii, IlliiMus, lAnir Kiiy tlie sava^^'cs. 'riitiu;,'li llufy stt'iiu'd rriciidiy, llcrld rccuinniriidcd an t'arly nnioval nf ilic Scioto Inilianstoa |)t>int near I"'orl Massiac. Diirinj; lln' 8|irin