699 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY
CHAPTER III.
MAUMEE VALLEY PIONEER ASSOCIATION.
FOR many years there was manifested among the survivors of the early settlers of the Valley of the Maumee, a desire for organized action, looking to both the collection and preservation of historic facts, as well as the revival of early relations and sentiments arising in common experience. No definite step toward such action, however, was taken until the Spring of 1864, when a call was issued for a gathering of Pioneers at Toledo, May 7th.
At that meeting Judge Emery D. Potter was called to preside, and Henry Bennett was appointed Secretary The object of the meeting was stated by the Chairman, when, on motion of Jessup W. Scott, a Committee of three was appointed to present a constitution for a permanent association of Pioneers, the same consisting of Mr. Scott, Sanford L. Collins and Richard Mott.
Peter Navarre, the oldest living resident of the Maumee Valley, was present, and briefly addressed the meeting.
The Committee reported a constitution which was adopted and circulated, receiving the signatures of 75 Pioneers then present, who proceeded to organize an Association. Mr. Navarre, by virtue of seniority in residence, was declared the President, and the following persons were chosen for the positions named : Vice Presidents, Dr. Horatio Conant, Nathaniel B. Blinn, and Dr. Oscar White ; Recording Secretary, Henry Bennett; Corresponding Secretary, J. Austin Scott ; Treasurer, James M. Comstock; Trustees, E. D. Potter, Sen., Samuel B. Scott and Noah A. Whitney.
At a meeting of the Association held July 4, 1864 (Dr. White, Vice President, in the chair), William Prentice, who came here in 1818, gave many facts of historical interest, including the following
The first Vessel built on the River was the Schooner Eagle, by Capt. David Wilkison ; the first Steamboat (the Detroit) in 1833, and the second (the Commodore Perry) in 1835 ; the first upper-cabin Steamboat (the General Wayne) in 1830.
In 1828 there were on what in 1864 were the limits of Toledo, 38 persons, in 10 families, to wit: Major B. F. Stickney, Wm. Wilson, Joseph Trombly, Bazil Trombly, Seneca Allen, John Baldwin, Joseph Prentice, Hiram Bartlett, Dr. J. V. D. Sutphen, Captain Forbes, and Joseph Roop.
The nearest Postoffice was then at Tremainesville, and Major Stickney carried the mail between Tremainesville and the River for $3.75 per quarter year. In 1833, a Postoffice was established at Toledo (then just formed of Port Lawrence and Vistula), with Stephen B. Comstock as Postmaster. The population of Toledo at that time numbered about 100.
February 22, 1865, the Association met in Toledo, when M. R. Waite delivered an address on the early history of the Maumee Valley, which was requested for publication. A letter was read from Hiram Walbridge, of New York, expressing his regret at not being able to attend the meeting, and referring to the fact, that it was then nearly a third of a century since, as a mere lad, be first visited the Valley of the Maumee, and nearly a generation since he severed his association with it. He stated that "no other section in the West had fought its way to recognition under greater obstacles than attended the settlement of the Maumee Valley." But " time had vindicated the sagacity and wisdom of those who, from its beginning, predicted its brilliant future." Ohio had many communities of which she might justly be proud ; but in her future there would be none that would better illustrate the energy of her citizens, their enterprise and what well directed efforts may secure, than would the rising intelligent commercial community of Toledo."
Many new members of the Association were obtained at this meeting.
July 5, 1865, a meeting was held at Toledo, with Mayor Brigham, Vice President, in the chair, and Henry Bennett as Secretary. The following officers were chosen :
Vice Presidents-Brice Hilton, of Defiance ; Dr. Horatio Conant, of Lucas; and Nathaniel B. Blinn, of Wood county. Trustees-Mavor Brigham, Samuel B. Scott, and N. A. Whitney. Recording Secretary Henry Bennett. Corresponding Secretary-J. Austin Scott. Treasurer-J. M. Comstock.
A committee of one from each County were appointed, to gather and present facts and relics connected with the early history of the Maumee Valley, to wit
Willard V. Way, of Wood County ; Dr. Oscar White, of Lucas; John Powell, of Henry ; Dr. Jonas Colby, of Defiance ; Wm. A. Stevens, of Williams ; George Skinner, of Putnam ; Robert A. Howard, of Fulton ; Horatio N. Curtis, of Paulding; and James Watson Riley, of Mercer.
The Association met July 4, 1866, Peter Navarre and John E. Hunt acting as President. The following named members were reported as having died since the organization of the Association, May 7, 1864, to wit
Henry Reed, Sr., James Myers, Robert A. Forsyth, Isaac Hull, Morgan L. Collins, Platt Card, John Bates,
700 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
Robert Gardner, George W. Knaggs, Josiah Miller, Albert V. Stebbins, and John P. Rowe (the latter of Erie, Monroe County, Michigan).
Officers were chosen, as follows:
Vice Presidents-John E. Hunt, John U. Pease, and Horace Sessions. Trustees-N. A. Whitney, Mavor Brigham, and Francis L. Nichols. Recording Secretary-Henry Bennett. Corresponding Secretary -Willard V. Way. Treasurer-James M. Comstock.
Addresses were made by W. V. Way and M. R. Waite-the former on the early history of the Valley, and the latter on titles to Toledo property.
An annual meeting of the Association was held at Perrysburg, February 22, 1867. In the absence of President Navarre, Vice President Hunt presided. Some changes were made in the organization. The deaths of George A. Carpenter and Samuel B. Scott, of Toledo ; and of William Houston, were announced. An address was delivered by Willard V. Way, of Perrysburg, on the question of boundary between Ohio and Michigan, known as the a "Toledo War." A dinner at Norton's Exchange followed the meeting.
June 24, 1868, a meeting was held at Toledo. In the absence of President Navarre, Vice President Conant presided. Four members were reported as having died during the year preceding, viz.: Ebenezer Walbridge, of Toledo; Horace Sessions, of Defiance; N. D. Blinn, of Wood ; and John Consaul, of Lucas. Officers were chosen as follows:
Vice Presidents-Gen. John E. Hunt, of Toledo ; W. C. Holgate, of Defiance ; and W. V. Way, of Perrysburg. Recording Secretary-Charles T. Wales. Corresponding Secretary-John J. Minor. Treasurer -J. M. Comstock. Trustees-N. A. Whitney, Mavor Brigham and Henry Bennett.
It was resolved to procure steel portraits of Peter Navarre, and of such other members as might be found practicable.
No meeting seems to have been held, from June, 1868, until May, 1874, when officers were chosen, as follows:
President-John E. Hunt (Mr. Navarre, meantime, having died); Vice President, Dr. E. D. Peck, Perrysburg; Willard Trowbridge, Fulton county; Henry Bennett, Lucas. Trustees-Mavor Brigham, Chauncy D. Woodruff, Willard V. Way ; Secretary and Treasurer-Charles T. Wales.
A meeting was held February 22, 1876, at Perrysburg, President Hunt in the Chair. Asher Cook read an eulogy on the life and character of Willard V.Way; and Judge Dunlap read a compilation of Gen. Hunt's personal experiences, entitled "Sixty Years Since," including a large amount of historical facts and incidents, occurring during the General's long residence in the Maumee Valley, beginning at the very opening of the War of 1812-15. Officers were chosen as follows: Vice Presidents, Dr. E. D. Peek, Willard Trowbridge, and Henry Bennett ; Trustees, Mavor Brigham and Asher Cook; Secretary and Treasurer, Thos. Dunlap.
February 22, 1877, the Association met, with President Hunt in the Chair. Memorial addresses and remarks were made of different deceased members-Asher Cook, upon Dr. E. D. Peck ; Rev. Robt. McCune, upon Russell C. Thompson, of Lucas County ; Mavor Brigham, upon Thomas Corlett, of Toledo; Francis Hollenbeck, upon Jonathan Perrin, of Perrysburg; Charles Kent, upon Peter Navarre; Thomas Dunlap, upon Mrs. John E. Hunt. Judge E. D. Potter delivered the annual address, which was replete with local history, reaching back to 1785. Judge Dunlap read reminiscences of history prepared by General Hunt ; and N. M. Howard spoke of his early life in the Maumee Valley. A letter was read from Hezekiah L. Hosmer, at San Francisco, California, referring largely to former personal relations in the Maumee Valley. Officers were chosen as follows: Vice Presidents-Willard Trowbridge, of Fulton county ; Henry Bennett, of Lucas; and Asher Cook, of Wood. Trustees-C. D. Woodruff, Mavor Brigham and N. M. Howard. Secretary-Thomas Dunlap. A dinner was eaten by the members at the Boody House, at the close of which brief' addresses were delivered by J. C. Lee, J. R. Osborn, Clark Waggoner, Charles Kent and Rev. E. C. Gavitt.
The Association met at Defiance February 22, 1878. President Hunt having died, Thomas H. Leaming, the oldest resident member, was called to the chair. A memorial of Hazel Strong, of Henry County, was read by Wm. Sheffield; and a memorial of Gen. Hunt, by Thomas Dunlap; when the annual address was delivered by Wm. C. Holgate, of Defiance. The officers of the preceding year were reelected, with Mr. Leaming as President. Asher Cook addressed the meeting on the life and character of Gen. Anthony Wayne; and Rev. E. C. Gavitt on the early Christian missions in the Maumee Valley. Many new members were received at this meeting.
February 20, 1880, a meeting was held at Toledo, President Leaming in the chair. The annual address was delivered by Asher Cook. Resolutions were adopted proposing the purchase by Congress of the site of Fort Meigs and such improvement of the same as would be consistent with its history and the graves of the many Soldiers therein. For the purpose of promoting this object, the following Committee were appointed : W. W. Jones, I. R. Sherwood and Thomas Dunlap, of Lucas County; and Asher Cook, J. W. Ross and Shibnah Spink, of Wood County.
The following officers were chosen: Vice Presidents-W. Trowbridge, Henry Bennett and Asher Cook; Trustees-M. Brigham, C D. Woodruff and N. M. Howard ; SecretaryThos. Dunlap.
PIONEERS. - 701
A dinner was taken at Hotel Madison, after which Mrs. J. D. Irving read a poem written by Mrs. K. B. Sherwood, and remarks were made by Mayor Romeis, E. D. Potter, and N. M. Howard.
The last meeting of the Association held was that of August 17, 1887, at Maumee, when President Wm. B. Gunn was in the chair, with Ruel Alden as Secretary.
MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Following is believed to be a correct list of members of the Maumee Valley Pioneer Association, with the dates of their arrivals in the Valley, and the places of first settlement, so far as ascertained for record:
(* Deceased.)
Miller Arrowsmith, 1833, Defiance.
Geo. Allen, 1834.
Mrs. H. B. Andrews, 1823, Wood Co.
Samuel Andrews, Toledo, 1835.
Rosantha Atkins, 1833.
Benj. L. Abell, 1846, Defiance.
Henry Bennett,* 1833, Perrysburg.
N. D. Blinn, 1825, Perrysburg.
Mavor Brigham, 1835, Toledo.
Calvin K. Bennett, 1835, Perrysburg.
John R. Bond,* 1836, Toledo.
John Bates, 1832, Perrysburg.
Amasa Bishop,* 1825, Washington Township.
Frederick Bissell,* 1835, Toledo.
A. A. Belknap, 1834, Toledo.
Andrew Bloomfield, 1833, Perrysburg.
Gilbert Beach, 1835, Perrysburg.
B. H. Bush, 1834, Washington Township.
Sylvester Brown, 1831, Washington Township.
A. B. Brownlee,* 1835, Toledo.
Peter F. Berdan,* 1836, Toledo.
Charles Ballard, 1837, Maumee.
Julius Brown, 1824.
Wm. H. Bennett, 1833, Perrysburg.
Richard Bamford, 1838.
H. R. Berntheisel, 1831.
Abner Brown, 1835.
D. Barnes, 1837.
Samuel Blanchard,.1834, Washington Township.
Robert H. Bell, 1847, Toledo.
Delia A. Bell, 1847, Toledo.
Wm. H. Boos, 1842, Toledo.
Calvin Bronson, 1851, Toledo.
Milo Bashare, 1838, Toledo.
John Berdan, 1835, Toledo.
R. Bloomfield, 1842.
Ed. F. Browne, 1845, Toledo.
Chas. O. Brigham, 1838, Toledo.
Wm. A. Beach, 1855, Toledo.
Reed V. Boice, 1846, Toledo.
Wm. Baker, 1844, Toledo.
Matthias Boos,* 1837, Toledo.
Mrs. M. P. Brigham, 1843, Toledo.
Stanley F. Brigham, 1844, Toledo.
Anthony Bordeau, 1816.
Mrs. Dr. J. H. Bush, 1836.
Mrs. Henry Bennett, 1833, Perrysburg.
Mrs. Pamela Berdan, 1835, Toledo.
Mrs. Eliza Blodgett, 1844, Toledo.
Henry E. Bruksieker, 1844, Toledo.
A. B. Bradley, 1851.
Wm. Babington,* 1855, Toledo.
Peter H. Birckhead, 1854, Toledo.
Mrs. Maria Baldwin, 1832, Toledo.
Bradford Barlow, 1824, Fort Meigs.
Nathaniel Bartlett.
Leander Burdick, 1855, Toledo.
Herman Baumbach, 1856, Toledo.
Oliver S. Bond, 1855, Toledo.
A. B. Brownlee, Jr., 1849, Toledo.
Mrs. W. A. Brown, 1836, Defiance.
Kate O. Brown, 1843, Defiance.
F. G. Brown, 1841, Defiance.
George A. Carpenter,* 1840, Toledo.
Sanford L. Collins, 1831, Toledo.
John W. Collins,* 1834, Tremainesville.
James M. Comstock,* 1836, Toledo.
Morgan L. Collins,* 1834, Toledo.
Charles A. Crane,* 1830, Toledo.
Asher Cook, 1835, Perrysburg.
Jeremiah C. Crane, 1827, Perrysburg.
Galusha Chase, 1839.
Thomas Corlett,* 1834, Toledo.
Gabriel Crane, 1826, East Toledo.
John Consaul, 1837, East Toledo.
Edward Connelly,* 1836, Toledo.
Joel W. Crane, 1827, Toledo:
J. E. Cowderick, 1821, Napoleon.
James Curtis, 1834.
Jonathan Chappell, 1823, Maumee.
David Creps, 1833, Perrysburg.
William Crook, Sr., 1831.
Carlos Colton,* 1824, Monroe, Michigan.
Charles Coy,* 1835, East Toledo.
Frederick J. Cole,* 1842, Toledo.
Cyrus H. Coy.
Abram W. Colton, 1849, Toledo.
Albert G. Clark, 1848, Toledo.
Mrs. Roxana Crane, 1818, Wood County.
Joseph G. Cass, 1832, Waynesfield (now Adams).
William L. Cook, 1835, Perrysburg.
Dr. Jacob Clark, 1834, Toledo.
S. D. Chamberlin, 1852, Toledo.
Jacob Cranker, 1832, Toledo.
Henry T. Cook,* 1848, Toledo.
Daniel A. Collins, 1837, Toledo.
M. J. Cooney, 1842, Toledo.
Charles P. Chesebro,* 1849, Toledo.
J. A. Crafts, 1824, Toledo.
William Corlett, 1839, Toledo.
G. W. Creps, 1833, Perrysburg.
J. A. Conway, 1837, Toledo.
Isaac Corwin. 1850, Defiance.
Dr. Horatio Conant,* 1816,
Maumee. Dennis Coghlin, 1836, Toledo.
O. V. Crosby, 1828, Delta.
Edward Chapin, 1855, Toledo.
Vien Cowderick, 1838, Napoleon.
Charles M. Dorr,* 1837, Toledo.
James Dennison, 1834.
Willard J. Daniels,* 1832, Toledo.
Thomas Daniels, 1837, Toledo.
Joseph W. McNeal, 1834, East Toledo.
Thomas Dunlap, 1840, Toledo.
James Draper, 1849, Toledo.
S. F. Dyer, 1836, Toledo.
Patrick H. Dowling, 1839,
Mrs. Thomas Dunlap (nee Allen*), 1832, Toledo.
Hannah L. Demmon, 1837.
B. F. Deamer, 1849, Defiance.
Michael J. Enright, 1853, Toledo.
Jacob Englehart, 1852, Toledo.
W. O. Ensign, 1837.
Charles H. Eddy, 1844, Adrian, Michigan.
Mrs. H. Eggleston, 1844, Toledo.
R. Evans, 1822, Defiance.
Robert A. Forsyth,* 1816, Maumee.
John Fitch, 1836, Toledo.
William Flynn, 1833.
John Fay, 1833.
William Fellows, 1834.
John P. Freeman, 1835, Toledo.
William J. Finlay, 1843, Toledo.
John Faskin, 1848, Toledo.
702 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
Robert Fenton, 1834, Wood County.
Horace F. Fisk, 1847, Toledo.
M. Gurwell, 1847, Defiance.
Rev. Elnathan C. Gavitt, 1828, Toledo.
Wilson W. Griffith, 1854, Toledo.
Jacob Gurwell, 1841, Defiance.
Joel M. Gloyd, 1843, Maumee.
Mary E. Gloyd, 1850, Maumee.
William B. Gunn, 1820, Maumee.
Alonzo Godard, 1845, Toledo.
Mrs. Mary Ann Gilbert, 1827, Maumee.
Volney W. Granger, 1849, Toledo.
Nathan Gardner, 1832.
Alfred W. Gleason, 1854, Toledo.
Isaac Hull,* 1814, Maumee.
John E. Hunt,* born at Fort Wayne, 1798.
W. C. Holgate, 1836, Defiance.
Brice Hilton, 1823, Defiance.
Abram Hartman, 1835.
Elijah S. Hanks,* 1835, Toledo.
Elijah Herrick, 1823, Swanton.
W. R. Hull, 1833, Maumee.
Calvin Herrick, 1833, Toledo.
Robert A. Howard,* 1823, Mt. Gilead.
N. Montgomery Howard, 1828, Mt. Gilead.
Horace Hertzler, Erie, Monroe County, Michigan.
W. Houston, 1836.
Charles W. Hill,* 1836, Toledo.
Harrison L. Halloway, 1834, Toledo.
Henry Hall,* Toledo.
J. W. Hone, 1833.
I. N. Hathaway, 1840.
J. G. Holzwarth, 1854, Toledo.
Francis Hollenbeck,* 1842, Perrysburg.
Parley C. Holt, 1843, Maumee.
Edward H. Hunter, 1846, Maumee.
Mrs. N. M. Howard, 1843, Toledo.
Philip Hoag,* 1842, Toledo.
William T. Hall,* 1850, Toledo.
Charles T. Howe, 1857, Toledo.
M. W. Hubbell,* 1832, Ft. Wayne.
Frank J. Holt, 1851, Maumee.
Daniel Y. Howell," 1845, Toledo.
Arthur D. Howell, 1850, Toledo.
C. B. Holloway, 1836.
Cecil A. Hall, 1849, Toledo.
Clara Harroun, 1835.
Mrs. E. J. C. Harroun, 1836, Sylvania.
C, H. Harroun, 1835, Sylvania.
Henry J. Hardy, 1851, Defiance.
Hezekiah L. Hosmer, 1837, Maumee.
John E. Hall, 1836, Waterville.
Henry Hefflebower, 1833, Monclova.
Andrew Hunker, 1853, Toledo.
Margaret Hunker,* 1853, Toledo.
Franklin Hubbard, 1866, Toledo.
S. P. Hudson, 1823, Defiance.
Arabella H. Hooker, 1839, Defiance.
James G. Haley, 1835, Napoleon.
E. A. Howard, 1832, Defiance.
H. B. Hall, 1844, Defiance.
D. W. H. Howard, 1821, Defiance.
W. C. Halehenson, 1849, Defiance.
Charles V. Jennison, 1818, East Toledo.
Joseph Jones,* 1835, Toledo.
David Johnson,* 1835, Toledo.
W. H. Jones, 1833.
Solomon Johnson, 1836.
Dr. W. W. Jones, 1849, Toledo.
Mrs. Adaline Jones (nee Knaggs), 1831, Toledo.
Anna M. Johnston, 1837.
Frank P. Isherwood, 1853, Toledo.
Mary B. Jarvis, 1853, Defiance.
Valentine H. Ketcham,* 1836, Toledo.
Harvey Kellogg, 1836, Washington Township.
Betsey Ann Kellogg, 1847.
Joel W. Kelsey, 1845, Toledo.
William O. Keeler, born in Wood County, 1833.
Mrs. Rachel Ann Ketcham, 1835, Toledo.
Frank J. King, 1844, Toledo.
John B. Ketcham, 1851, Toledo.
Laura B. Keyser, 1835, Maumee.
Malinda Knaggs, 1818, Toledo.
John S. Kountz, 1846, Springfield.
Horace S. Knapp,* 1836, Manhattan.
J. D. Kirk, 1837, Defiance.
Martin L. Leezen, 1839, Toledo.
Peter C. Lewis, 1830, Washington Township.
Pliny Lathrop, 1834, Richfield.
L. C. Locke,* 1835, Perrysburg.
P. G. Loupe, 1830.
D. Lindsay, 1834.
Thomas H. Leaming,* 1815, Monclova.
William Laughlin, 1846, Toledo.
Frank T. Lane, 1842, Maumee.
Mrs. E. B. Lindsy, 1820.
Jonathan Lundy,* 1820, Manhattan.
N. M. Landis,* 1840.
Lyman Langdon, 1835, Defiance.
Reuben C. Lemmon, 1852, Toledo.
James Myers,* 1836, Toledo.
Richard Mott,* 1836, Toledo.
John J. Manor,* 1827, Providence.
John Mosher, East Toledo.
Jerome B. Myers,* 1837, Toledo.
L. L. Morehouse,* 1837, Waterville.
Joseph Mitchell, 1830.
George S. McKnight,* 1820, Perrysburg.
Patrick Murray, Toledo.
Ozias Merrell, 1838.
James W. Myers, 1848, Toledo.
Albert Moore,* 1832, Wood County.
C. A. Markscheffel, 1849, Toledo.
George W. Merrill, 1852, Toledo.
W. H. Merritt,* 1838, Maumee.
Edward Malone,* 1851, Toledo.
John A. Moore, 1836, Maumee.
Nicholas Matthews, 1847.
Reuben B. Mitchell, 1843, Maumee.
Guido Marx, 1849, Wood County.
J. P. Moore, 1834, Fremont.
Levi Stanley, 1833, Springfield.
N. M. Merrickal, 1846, Toledo.
James McNelly, 1840, Toledo.
D. H. Marcellus, 1835, Defiance.
John Miller, 1820, Defiance.
Hugh J. Marcellus, 1836, Defiance.
E. B. Mix, 1849, Defiance.
Peter Navarre,* 1793, Presque Isle.
H. Nood, 1832.
Alexander H. Newcomb, 1835, Toledo.
D. Newton, 1840, Wood County.
Mrs. Eveline Newton, 1850, Wood County.
Francis L. Nichols, 1836, Manhattan.
Mars Nearing, 1834, Waterville.
C. W. Norton, 1835.
Jesse S. Norton,* 1835, Toledo.
D. H. Nye, 1849, Toledo.
Mrs. M. D. Norton, 1829.
H. G. Neubert, 1843, Toledo.
Eccles Nay, 1834, Toledo.
Chris. Nopper, 1854, Toledo.
William Prentice,* 1818, East Toledo.
Philip I. Phillips,* 1825, Tremainesville.
George Powers,* 1835, Perrysburg.
John U. Pease,* 1835, Sylvania.
Emery D. Potter, 1835, Toledo.
William Pratt, 1818.
Andrew Printup,* 1834, Sylvania.
Don A. Pease,* 1835, Sylvania.
Dr. E. D. Peck,* 1834, Perrysburg.
Mrs. E. D. Peck, 1844, Perrysburg.
S. Perrin, 1838, Perrysburg.
George N. Parsons, 1837, Perrysburg.
PIONEERS. - 703
B. F. Pratt, 1834.
Edwin Phelps, 1834, Defiance.
Alonzo D. Pelton, 1850, Toledo.
Sarah Pearce, 1840, Toledo.
James Pearson, 1839.
Charles B. Phillips, 1828, Washington Township.
Frederick Prentice, 1821 (born in East Toledo).
Mrs. Esther Perigo,* 1848, Toledo.
Gibbons Parry, 1840, Defiance.
Samuel A. Raymond, 1839, Toledo.
Alonzo Rogers,* 1835, Toledo.
Henry Reed, Sr.,* 1833, Waterville.
John P. Rowe,* 1831, Erie, Michigan.
Abram P. Reed,* 1834, Waterville.
J. A. Robertson, 1836.
William Russell, 1833.
Alexander Reed, 1833, Waterville.
J. Roemer, 1846, Toledo.
E. P. Raymond, 1847.
Paul Raymond, 1834.
W. L. Rowland, 1849.
Samuel S. Read, 1850, Toledo.
Mrs. H. Rogers, 1832.
James W. Ross, 1845, Perrysburg.
Mrs. James W. Ross, 1834, Perrysburg.
W. H. Reed, 1852, Toledo.
James Rohrer, 1822, Defiance.
B. W. Rouse, 1844, Toledo.
Jacob Romeis, 1856, Toledo.
R. E. Richards,* 1842, Toledo.
James Raymer, 1853, Toledo.
I. N. Reed, 1847, Springfield Township.
J. P. Ralston, 1842, Defiance.
J. Austin Scott, 1833, Perrysburg.
Samuel B. Scott,* 1835, Toledo.
Two Stickney,* 1822, Toledo.
Horace Sessions, 1833, Defiance.
Oliver Stevens, 1832, Oregon Township.
Denison B. Smith, 1836, Maumee.
Thomas Southard,* 1832, Toledo.
Jessup W. Scott, 1832, Perrysburg.
J. B. Smith, 1833.
Peter H. Shaw, 1823, Toledo.
George Spencer,* 1836, Maumee.
Joseph K. Secor, 1840, Toledo.
James Smith, 1824.
Shibnah Spink,* 1833, Perrysburg.
J. J. Smith, 1835.
Henry Seabert, 1833.
H. T. Smith,* 1838, Perrysburg.
Ira K. Seaman, 1832, Sandusky County.
Mrs. Aurora Spafford (first woman married on the River).
Daniel R. Stebbins,* 1835, Maumee.
Andrew Stephan.
E. E. Stewarts, 1843, Toledo.
Mrs. Mary M. Stewart, 1843, Toledo.
D. G. Saltonstall, Toledo.
Dr. William A. Scott, 1835, Swanton.
J. V. Straight, 1838.
Charles I. Scott, 1839, Toledo.
J. E. Scofield, 1833, Florida, Henry County.
W. H. H. Smith, 1849, Toledo.
James T. Shepard, 1835, Toledo.
Levi Snell,* 1815.
Thomas J. Southard, 1841, Toledo.
Samuel Stettiner, 1850, Toledo.
Charles L. Spencer, 1846, Maumee.
Joseph M. Spencer, 1850, Maumee.
William H. Scott, 1833, Maumee.
A. T. Stebbins,* 1846, Henry County.
George Stebbins,* 1848.
Frank J. Scott, 1833, Maumee.
Mrs. R. C. Stowe, 1831, Toledo.
Mrs. A. F. Stowe, 1833.
James F. Stubbs, 1834.
William M. Stubbs, 1836, Defiance.
William Sheffield,* 1841, Napoleon.
Catharine E. Scofield, 1843, Florida.
Orpha N. Stebbins, 1837, Henry County.
E. C. Smith, 1854, Toledo.
James B. Steedman,* 1837, Henry County.
William Schansenbach, 1855, Toledo.
Helen Brown Scott, 1847, Defiance.
Jacob Saylor, 1833, Defiance.
A. E. Simpson, 1825, Defiance.
William N. Smith, 1826, Defiance.
Horace Thacher, 1833, Tremainesville.
E. Tuller, 1839, Perrysburg.
S. B. Thornton, 1837.
Miss Taylor, 1835.
Thomas Tiernan, 1839, Toledo.
Willard Trowbridge, 1834, Fulton County.
W. Tappan, 1834.
Anson Trowbridge, 1834, Washington.
Perry Thomas, 1835, Wood County.
Henry Thorner, 1845, Toledo.
Lyman T. Thayer, 1843, Toledo.
P. B. Truax, 1842, Adrian.
R. H. Tympany,* 1843, Toledo.
.James Trenton, 1835.
C. Trowbridge, 1834.
L. W. Taft, 1847.
Mrs. W. Taylor, 1835.
Adaline Thomas, 1835.
William Travis, 1819, Defiance.
William Taylor,* 1834, Spencer.
Wesley S. Thurstin, 1836, Wood County.
M. E. Thornton, 1839, Defiance.
Charles P. Tittle, 1839, Defiance.
John VanFleet,* 1829.
J. Van Tassel, 1829.
John Van Gunten,* 1834.
Thomas Vanstone, 1852, Toledo.
James R. Van Fleet, 1828, Waterville.
W. Van Fleet, 1828.
John Van Gunten, 1854, Toledo.
H. Warner, 1835, Perrysburg.
A. B. Waite,* 1843, Toledo.
Joseph S. Whitney, 1834.
S. H. Wolfinger, 1834.
George Weddell, 1837, Perrysburg.
J. Washner, 1848.
W. Watson, 1835.
Thomas Watts, 1844, Waterville.
John Webb,* 1822, Perrysburg.
Mrs. Sarah Wood, 1833.
William H. Whitaker, 1851, Toledo.
George Watkins, 1849, Toledo.
Warren S. Waite,* 1843, Toledo.
Josiah W. White, 1836. Sylvania.
John A. Waite, 1843, Toledo.
Dr. Oscar White,* 1828, Maumee.
Morrison R. Waite, 1838, Maumee.
Chauncey D. Woodruff,* 1835, Perrysburg.
Willard V. Way,* 1834, Perrysburg.
Elijah J. Woodruff, 1836, Toledo.
Luther Whitmore, 1825, Toledo.
Eber Wilson,* 1823, Wood County.
Martin Warner, 1836, Tontogany.
Noah A. Whitney,* 1834, Washington.
Hiram Walbridge, 1833, Toledo.
Horace S. Walbridge, 1833, Toledo.
Heman D. Walbridge, 1833, Toledo.
Ebenezer Walbridge,* 1836, Toledo.
David Wilkison,* 1818, Perrysburg.
Thomas J. Webb, 1828, Perrysburg.
Mrs. A. B. Waite, 1843, Toledo.
John H. Whitaker,* 1844, Toledo.
George E. Welles, 1849.
J. W. Walterhouse, 1846, Toledo.
M. I. Wilcox, 1850, Toledo.
Jonathan Wood,* 1831.
Maro Wheeler, 1852, Toledo.
704 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
Christ. Woehler,* 1850, Toledo.
Lewis Wachenheimer, 1850, Toledo.
Emery P. Willey, 1844.
Alonzo H. Wood, 1843.
Charles West, 1847, Toledo.
James Winans, 1844.
Ed. T. Waite, 1846, Maumee.
C. H. Whitaker, 1846, Toledo.
W. H. Witmore.
Henry Willcox,* 1834.
S. B. Worden, 1824, Toledo.
Charles T. Wales,* 1832, Toledo.
B. B. Woodcox, 1838, Paulding County.
Samuel M. Young, 1835, Maumee.
PIONEER POETRY.
The following original poem, read at the first annual Re-union of the Pioneers of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, July 29, 1871, so descriptive of pioneer life, is deemed worthy of a place here
PIONEERS, OR, FORTY YEARS AGO.
Yes, everything has changed, John ; there's nothing seems the same ;
And yet, it was not long ago, the time when first we came.
But the years have passed so swiftly-my hair is white as snow ;
And not a white hair when I came-now forty years ago.
'Twas here I set my stake, John, when all was wild and new ;
We followed up the Indian trail-ours the first team through.
Just there our wagons stood that uight-we heard the Wolf's howl then,
And the first sound heard as morning dawned, was the boom of the Prairie-Hen.
The following verses, written by the late John Greiner and sung by him at a meeting of Pioneers of Franklin County, in August, 1869, are applicable to the average experience of Pioneers throughout the West:
OLD TIMES.
What care we for the flight of time-the hasty flight of years?
The world's the same as ever to the Early Pioneers.
In mem'ry of the old time-of youth's bright sunny ray,
We'll have a good old-fashioned song in the good old-fashioned way,
Singing to ral, lu ral, to ral, lu ral
Once Columbus was a paw-paw patch-no Capitol stood here,
No public institutions were then dreamed of-thought of-near.
The people in log-cabins dwelt-the latch-string in the door,
Opened to the jolly neighbors dancing on the puncheon floor,
Singing tu ral, etc.
A clearing in the wild-wood, a section square of land;
An axe upon his shoulder and a rifle in his hand ;
A wife and tow-head children, and an honest heart sincere,
Were all the worldly riches of the Early Pioneer,
Singing tu ral, etc.
The Preachers taught the people there the Gospel truths sublime ;
And the children got their Schooling only in the Winter time.
When ague set the neighbors shaking-chills and fever scorning,
They were cured by drinking whisky mixed with tansy in the morning,
Singing tu ral, etc.
Game bounding through the forest, and game whistling on the wing
The perch, the trout and salmon from silver waters spring,
Wild honey in the bee-gum-boiling sugar into cake,
With beauty in the wilderness, wasn't hard to take,
Singing tu ral, etc.
The hair once dark as midnight, now is turning white as snow;
The step once tripping lightly, now treads stately, staid and slow;
The voice once lull of music, now falls trembling from the tongue,
And wrinkled brow and failing limbs show they're no longer young,
Singing tu ral, etc.
Old Age, serene, is beautiful-'tis bright as closing day ;
And children, loved and dutiful, revere it while you may ;
For, journeying down the hill of life, the end in view appears,
And soon the requiem will be sung-" The Last of Pioneers."
JOHN ELLIOTT HUNT was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana (within the Fort), April 11, 1798. He was the seventh of a family of 1 children of Thomas and Eunice (Wellington Hunt, of Watertown, near Boston, Massachusetts. The father was a participant in the firs battle of the Revolution, at Lexington, an was wounded in the action at Bunker Hill. H was also one of the forlorn hope under Gener Wayne, at the storming of Stony Point, on th Hudson, and was there wounded by a bayonet. He was then commissioned Major by Genera Washington for gallant and meritorious con duct, and afterwards was successively commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel of th Old Continental First Infantry Regiment, by Thomas Jefferson. Subsequently, Colon Hunt was ordered with his Regiment fro Mackinaw to take possession of St. Loui where he commanded from 1803 to 1807. The passage was made in pirogues and French batteaux, skirting along the Lakes to th Maumee River; up that stream to Fort Wayne; thence by portage to the head waters of the Wabash ; down that River the Ohio; and thence to St. Louis. Gener Hunt well remembered the stop at the present site of Toledo, the occasion being fixed in hi memory by the incident of a Soldier's losing thumb by the explosion of his gun, in firing ducks at the mouth of Swan Creek. On th banks of the Missouri, 15 miles from St. Louis Colonel Hunt constructed a cantonment, an named it Bellefontaine. He died at St. Lout his faithful wife following him three month after his demise. They both he in Bellefontaine. In later years, a cemetery was la' out about eight miles back of St. Louis, and known as Bellefontaine. In 1812, when h brother-in-law, Dr. Abraham Edwards, Dayton, Ohio, was appointed Surgeon-Gene to the Army of General Hull, the subject this sketch went to live with his brother Henry J. Hunt, in Detroit, and there witnesses Hull's surrender to the British Army and General Brock. He was present, also, at there taking of Detroit, by General Harrison. While in his 14th year, his brother, who was as a father to the children, sent him to Sandwich, Canad to secure at least an elementary education, n School being then in existence in Michigan. His student-life in Canada, as well as all th schooling ever received by him, was embrace within the limits of the year. He was the fi beholder of the landing at St. Louis, of the celebrated travelers, Lewis and Clark, from the three-years' tour to the Pacific Ocean, in 180
In 1816, Mr. Hunt came to Maumee City, where, and at Toledo, be subsequently reside At the former place be at once commence business, and for many years was in mercantile trade, which was largely with the Indians in this region, with whom his relations were ever friendly, he in large measure possessing the
PIONEERS. - 705
confidence and regard. Politically, he always was a Democrat, after the organization of that party. His first Presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay, in 1824; his next was for General Jackson, in 1828 ; and for the Democratic candidate at each subsequent Presidential election, the last one being for S. J. Tilden in 1876, He was the first Senator from this District after the organization of Lucas County (1835), then serving two years, as he also did in the same body in 1839-41, where he took prominent position. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1850-51. In 1851 be was elected Treasurer of Lucas County, serving as such for two years. Subsequently he served for eight years as Postmaster at Toledo, and until the incoming of President Lincoln, in 1861. As might have been expected from his parentage, the place of his birth and his early associations, Mr. Hunt from childhood had an attachment for the military, which was indulged, to a limited extent. In 1837 he was elected by the Legislature as Major-General of the Eighteenth Division, Ohio Militia, in which capacity he did what was then practicable for maintaining both the morale and the organization of that system, which, not long after, owing to the popular judgment as to its inutility, substantially ceased to be. Coming to the Maumee Valley immediately after the close of the War of 1812-15, and among the few who then dared to undertake permanent residence here, and spending over 60 years in the same, he was permitted to witness events and changes known personally to very few. His almost constant connection with business and public affairs, made him specially familiar with what concerned his fellow-citizens, in whose interest he ever showed due regard. He resided at Maumee from 1816 until 1853, when he removed to Toledo. May 29, 1822, at Detroit, he was married with Miss Mary Sophia Spencer, a sister of the wife of Lewis Cass, then Governor of Michigan Territory. They had seven children-Mary Sophia (late Mrs. D. B. Smith, deceased); Eliza Cass (Mrs. E. A. Brush, Detroit); John Elliott, Jr. (deceased); Julia Ellen (Mrs. D. B. Smith, Toledo) ; Lewis Cass (deceased) ; Isabella (Mrs. E. H. Hunter, Toledo); and Virginia (late Mrs. Geo. Spencer Mayo, of Louisiana).
Mrs. Hunt died at Toledo, December 25, 1876. She was born in Western Virginia, in 1796, her parents having been from Connecticut. Tier eldest sister was married with General Cass, in 1810, whom she accompanied to Detroit, remaining there until her own marriage in 1822. Probably among all pioneers of the Maumee Valley, no one brought higher degree of personal grace, than did she; while, of them all, none more readily or more fully assimilated to the peculiar conditions of those early times. She was eminently a Christian, and her adaptability to circumstances was specially shown in connection with her religious life. Her father's family had long been identified with the Presbyterian Church, with which she united while quite young. Upon coming to Maumee, there being there no Church of that denomination, she cast her lot with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ever after retained such connection, in which she was specially active and useful. For 54 years she was permitted to walk with the partner of her choice, who followed her to life's close, July 22, 1877. Both were buried in Forest Cemetery, Toledo.
THE MAUMEE VALLEY MONUMENTAL ASSOCIATION.
July 28, 1885, was instituted a corporate body with the above title, whose purpose, as set forth, was "to acquire, and hold title to, to preserve, protect and erect and maintain Monuments upon the old Forts and Battle-grounds of the Maumee Valley, and to otherwise disseminate and perpetuate a knowledge of the important historical facts and events of the Maumee Valley." The incorporators were D. W. H. Howard, of Fulton County; Asher Cook, of Wood County; and Wm. Baker, R. B. Mitchell, Samuel M. Young, R. C. Lemmon, Mayor Brigham, Henry Bennett, Richard Mott, John C. Lee, Foster R. Warren and John R. Osborn, of Lucas County.
August 7, 1585, the incorporators met and organized the Association by the choice of Messrs. Cook, Howard, Mitchell, Foster and Lee as Directors, who then chose Mr. Howard as President, Mr. Cook as First Vice President, General Lee as Secretary, and Mr. Warren as Treasurer.
August 20, 1885. the Board of Directors was enlarged in numbers and constituted as follows : Richard Mott, S. M. Young, R. C. Lemmon, Thomas Dunlap, M. R. Waite, F. R. Warren, R. B. Mitchell, Daniel F. Cook and John C. Lee, of Lucas ; D. W. H. Howard and S. H. Cately, of Fulton County; J. Austin Scott, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Asher Cook and Joel Foote, of Wood County; and Peter Mangus, of Defiance County.
August 25, 1885, new officers of the Association were chosen, as follows : President Chief Justice M. R. Waite; First Vice President-P. W. H. Howard; Second Vice President-Richard Mott; Third Vice President Asher Cook; Treasurer-F. R. Warren; Secretary-J. C. Lee. Executive Committee Messrs. Howard, Cook and Lee. At this meeting, the following battle-sites were chosen for the Association's first action under its charter, to wit: Fort Meigs, Fort Miami, Fort Defiance, and the battlefield of' Fallen Timber.
The following officers were chosen August 18, 1887: President-Chief Justice Waite ;
706 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
Vice Presidents-Messrs. Lemmon, Cately and Howard ; Secretary-J. C. Lee; Treasurer-R. B. Mitchell; Executive Committee-Messrs. Howard, Cook and Lee.
At the instance of the Executive Committee of this Association, a bill was introduced into Congress providing for surveys and estimates for securing title to and suitably marking Forts and Battlefields and places of interments of Soldiers in the Indian Wars and the War of 1812-15 in the Maumee Valley. This passed the Senate, and was sent to the House of Representatives, where it was referred to the appropriate Committee, but owing to the occupation of attention by other matters, no report thereon was made, and the measure failed of consideration by that body. The Board of Directors are yet hopeful of favorable action by Congress, and of something like just recognition of the services and names of the brave men whose lives were offered up in their country's defense on the fields named, with those of the heroes who fell in Perry's victorious battle of September 10, 1813, on Lake Erie, whose bones now rest at Put-in Bay.
The following is a list of the members of the Association. The figures given in connection with the name indicate the year in which the person came to the Maumee Valley:
RESIDENTS OF LUCAS COUNTY.
M. R. Waite, 1838. H. S. Walbridge, 1833.
Thomas Dunlap, 1840. Richard Waite.
D. B. Smith, 1836. R. H. Bell, 1847.
H. L. Holloway, 1834. John Weible.
Samuel Wagner. Warren B. Gunn, 1820.
David Howe. S. P. Browning.
S. B. Worden, 1824. H. C. Cotter.
J. W. Toullerton. F. P. Masters.
Stanford Mettler. James Raymer.
Perry Wood. W. B. Millford.
S. M. Young, 1835. Maria Reed, 1815.
Wm. Baker, 1844. James Melvin.
Mayor Brigham, 1835. F. R. Warren, 1835.
J. C. Lee. James S. Hall.
C. C. Keyser. S. S. Ketcham.
Sam. Blanchard, 1834. O. S. Brumback.
Isaac Washburn, 1834. D. S. Applegate.
Coleman I. Keeler. David Byrne, 1836.
S. L. Collins, 1831. S. D. Wilcox, 1852.
D. A. Collins, 1837. A. H. Plant, 1842.
Wm. Bates, 1832. Joseph Flynn, 1828.
D. A. Gunn, 1828. *John Van Horn, 1830.
*E. D. Potter, 1835. W. H. Williams, 1834.
*Samuel Jay, 1831. *A. W. Maddocks.
Wm. Clark, 1833. Samuel Bement, 1835.
John A. Conway. N. R. Locke, 1876.
J. M. Hopkins, 1869. Geo. Tanner, 1847.
Wm. Milton, 1849. A. W. Eckhart.
James Marston, 1833. D. H. Commager, 1848.
J. B. Van Rensselaer, 1837. A. F. Hipp.
G. H. Blaker. N. P. Glann.
Oscar N. Gunn, 1836. Sarah E. Gunn, 1837.
Oscar Fairchild, 1834. Clark Auchard.
Daniel Stager, 1840. Mrs. H. S. Commager, 1831
Wm. B. Warren, 1834. Wm. B. Tappan.
C. H. Noble, 1836. Doan Blinn.
Mrs. Phebe Ann Tappan. Bradford Barlow, 1824.
Louis H. Pike. W. H. Whitmore.
Declan Allen. Joseph G. Cass, 1832.
John W. Kerr. T. E. Ford.
*Rev. E. C. Gavitt, 1828. D. C. Dewey.
W. W. Farnsworth.
WOOD COUNTY.
Asher Cook. F. J. Oblinger.
Joel Foote, 1829. John Eberly, 1848.
D. W. H. Day, 1851. T. J. Sterling, 1830.
L. Black. James O. Troup.
Geo. C. Phelps. M. P. Brewer.
R. W. McMahon. Geo. Knaup.
J. B. Newton. Geo. M. Brown.
G. W. Poe. B. L. Abbott.
A. W. Adams. J. V. Culver.
J. H. Whitehead. J. H. Mitchell.
R. M. Donnelly. Paul J. Brown.
W. A. Benschoter. E. W. Poe.
T. C. Beard. F. H. Thompson.
M. F. Miles. Frank M. Young.
R. W. Huffman. H. C. Uhlman.
S. Henderson. H. G. Strausser.
G. W. Hill. Edwin Tuller.
J. F. Stubbs.
FULTON COUNTY.
D. W. H. Howard, 1821. A. L. Sargent.
E. L. Waltz. Elijah Herrick, 1822.
L. W. Taft, 1847. W. R. Huntington.
Dr. W. A. Scott, 1835. W. J. Curry.
J. B. Fashbaugh, 1844. Joseph H. Miller, 1840.
S. S. Carter, 1840. James T. Stall, 1846.
M. Carr, 1846. Wells Watkins, 1837.
W. J. Lutz, 1865. E. Gingery, 1839.
A. B. Robinson, 1861. F. Briggs, 1855.
R. Halton, 1859. O. L. Bennett, 1847.
S. H. Cately, 1836. John P. Holt, 1844.
Ozias Merrill. O. B. Verity.
Adam Andre. Elliott Bayes.
S. C. Biddle. David Ayres.
James W. Howard.
MISCELLANEOUS.
J. Austin Scott, 1833, Perrysburg.
Peter Mangus, Defiance, Ohio.
W. R. Bowers, Napoleon, Ohio.
John Wilson, Henry County.
Huldah H. Sheffield, Maumee Valley.
Orrin Thompson, 1839, Henry County.
D. H. Hancock, 1834, Henry County.
M. R. Stage, Knightstown, Indiana.
Chas. F. Muhler, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Allen H. Dougall, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
M. M. Boothman, Bryan, Ohio.
A. P. Birchfield, Pittsburgh, Pa.
* Honorary Members.