Miami County, Ohio - The whole text, 1880 (part 1 of 23)

The whole text

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible.

The reproduction of this publication has been made possible through the sponsorship of the Miami County Historical and Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 305, Troy, Ohio 45373-0305.

Preface

A SINGLE county in the great State of Ohio occupies but an insignificant place upon the chart of the world, and its history and people are comparatively unknown. The grand river of national history is formed by the union of many small streams of record and tradition, flowing from hundreds of counties all over the globe. Tracing one of the rills to its source, and the gathering of a blossom from its bank, or a shining pebble from its bed, is the purpose of this volume.

Had the pioneers of Miami County kept a chronological journal of events, the writing of a history now would have been comparatively easy. In the absence of such records, the magnitude of the undertaking is rendered more intricate and difficult, by reason of the absence of nearly all the pioneer fathers and mothers who first came to gladden the prairie and forest wilds with their presence, and scatter the seeds of that better intelligence, which, growing and spreading as year was added to year, until the county of their choice ranks second to none in modem accomplishments. The seeds they scattered ripened into the fullness of a plentiful harvest, and schoolhouses, churches, cities, towns, canals, telegraphs, railroads and palatial-like residences occupy the old "campinggrounds" of the red men who have long since passed away.

In this history we have labored to record only facts gleaned from the most authentic sources, and have been aided by efficient historians and those associated with the earlier rise and progress of the county to the present time.

The history of Washington Township and city of Piqua is from the pen of Dr. G. Volney Dorsey. The Hon. Stephen Johnston has contributed valuable material for the history. The history of Lost Creek is by the " Poet of the Miami," Mr. Thomas Harbaugh. David Jones, of West Milton, famished the notes of Union Township history. J. L. Purdy, of Covington, wrote the history of Newberry Township. To the officials of the county, the city officials, township officers, and citizens of Miami County generally, we are indebted for interesting and authentic information, which we have carefally compiled, and now present to our readers, trusting that the volume will meet the approval of an intelligent people, and add to their libraries a valuable book for future -eference.

Miscellaneous

of Ohio, Indiana,' Michigan, Illinois w! °W embraced the States Minnesota lying on the east side of°th ^SCOnSm> and that portion of States itself at that period extended to ff 'fsslppi River. The United

The Northwest Territory Early Explorations

In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advantage of these discoveiies.

In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had penetrated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor General of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac.

During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied - as all others did then - that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expedition, prepared for the undertaking.

On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assistant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Marquette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to tlmnk him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said: 41 My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new countries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them * across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of th3 Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of

Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand "reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful riven of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhabitants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fastidious cultivation of lordly proprietors.

Source Of The Mississippi

On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course up the river, and ascending ihc stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, " did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discovery - one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream - going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan - he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette.

While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were preparing to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin.

After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of those ages - a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by following the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor General of Canada, and laid before him the plan, dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give unmeasured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose administration he earnestly hoped all would be realized.

LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev~ alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded e fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans " of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter,* when, hearing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men - thirty working men and three monks - and started again upon his great undertaking.

By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf* because of the tribes of Indians called by that name, commonly known as the Maliingans, dwelling there. The French pronounced it Kiakiki , which became corrupted to Kankakee. "Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the country,'* about the last of December they reached a village of the Illinois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuils, took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a sufficiency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The com being securely stored, the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi , that is, a place where there are many fat beasts . Here the natives were met with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. He called this fort " Crevecceur " (broken-heart), a name expressive of the very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship, Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered.

While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to return to Canada, raise new means and new men, and embark anew in the enterprise. For this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his journey. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and was successfully made, though over an almost u nknown route, and in a bad season of the year. He safely reached Canada, and set out again for the object of his search.

Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecceur on the last of February, 1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the icy stream as best' he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River by the 11th of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hennepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voyage they found several beautiful lakes, and "saw some charming prairies." Their captors were the Isaute or Saute urs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of St. Anthony in honor of his patron saint. Hero they took the land, and traveling nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, headed by one Senr de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had penetrated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with these fellowcountrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went to France, where he published an account of his adventures.

treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not accomplished until 1699, when D-Iberville, under the authority of the crown.discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth °f J?® R've,r' This majestic stream was called by the natives

(unless Peoria, which was built no* T ^ had founded neither of them 11 *- * those whom^e ^ed^Tto^th^wb6 8*te °^®'ort Crevecoeur,*) peopled and oivn^j. He was, i not the^ ^ pIaces ^ the M,ss^,ppi Valley, and as such diems ETT' ^ *"* Settler of The French early improved the nn . 8 to be kruWn and honored." injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid (Kaskaskias). In the five French villages are, perhaps, eleven hundred whites, three hundred blacks and some sixty red slaves or savages. The three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight hundred souls all told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated November 7, 1750, this same priest says: "For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, plantations are again met with; the most considerable is a colony of Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther Natch®z P°s^ w^ere have a garrison, who are kept prisoners theACh,cka8aW8- Here and a* Point Coupee, they raise extent tobaeeo Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at Vincennes in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada. Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large pieces are found in the streams."

Mouth Of The Mississippi

At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest they had stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, at Fort Ponchartrain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac, Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country,

The Northwr8T Territory Discovery Of The Ohio

This " Beautiful " river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet and Marquette.

While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition.

While conversing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this statement the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. LaSalle believing, as most of the French at that period did, that the great rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to the commerce of China and Japan.

He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Governor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no provision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sulpice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition, and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money, the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for the outfit.

On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, embarked in ySeven canoes on the St. Lawrence; two additional canoes nC ii l T guides. In three days they were gliding over the t°"°f,1Lake °Tt , Their gUide8 conducted them directly to the c "enf n Tr M6 v f the Genesee' in ^ vicinity of the present had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field.

These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian.

After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669.

The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anonymous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec replied : 44 We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley."

English Explorations And Settlements

When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seriously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty

She ha^ t8 CXtended "from sea to 8'ea » ' Th® Wn> het^ts , he had Purchased from the Indian trih i Th'8 Was not a11 her claim ter was also a strong argument A a f ^ traCts °f land- This at great Northern Confederacy and com nat,°ns. These were the das, Onondagas, Caymras and 9 Pnsed at first the Mohawks Onei- ^eB into tlle confederacy, and the T^coras were called to mind, and Mr. Conrad «??xtended» the Promise of more pay was Presente to appease the savages ST* "? 801088 the mountains with med him with the in ten ttf of some Virginians accomparegardmg the English. Thev 8 Undln^ the Indians upon their feelings and plainly told the Comm- W°re not "tisfied with their treatment jere not idle. Th 8a^ ee"b"ar V?"Pa^- All this time the French West, especially upon the ^ the Br*tish gain a foothold in the Uhl0' tb°y might not only prevent the French settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Celeron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society, among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only a question of time when the storm would burst upon the frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. During the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the English post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. (They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the territory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones Pickaweke."

* The following la » translation of the Inscription on the plate: **In the year 1740. reign of Louis XVKing of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Oalllsoniere, com* . mander-in-chlef of New France, to establish tranquility In certain Indian Tillages of these hare hurled this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoln, this twenty* ninth of July, near the rlTer Ohio, otherwise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all Its tributaries; Inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained It by their arms and treaties; especially by those of Byswiek, Utrecht, and Alz La Ghapelle."

This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more interested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English determined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washington at the commencement of the French War of 1775-1763), Lomax and Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold a conference with the natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lancaster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pittsburgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was abandoned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour, the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley.

Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manoeuvre each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their contracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammunition. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758: " The Indians on the Ohio left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when we wanted help, forsook us."

At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The English made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until the Summer could the Indians be gathered together to discuss the plans of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts already begun, and would not abandon the field.

The N0Rthwe8T Territory

ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he selected a young man, a surveyor, who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will'd Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monongahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of the Six Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the following Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the 11th of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter, received his answer, took his observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754.

From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, and gathered their forces to be in readiness.

The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation - which promised two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This occurred on the morning of J uly 9th, and is generally known as the battle of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with various vicissitudes through the years 1756 - 7 ; when, at the commencement of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secretary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one, under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt.

The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant Pndeaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memorable ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 18th, defeated Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, niched to Silleiy, three miles above the city, with the purpose of defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It resulted m the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it as not until 1768 that the treaties of peace between France and England were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and

The Northwe8T Territory

French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, no doubt, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much to insure the safety of Rogers and his party during their stay, and while on their journey home.

Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the common trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one hundred and fifty warriors, and not less than three thousand acres of cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork.

The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpetrated, and the country would have been spared their recital.

The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one of the leading spirits in these atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as far as Missillimaonac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He declared that no treaty had been made with them ; no presents sent them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was civil and military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies.

The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly chiefs g^denty drew aside his blanket ^TV0 °"e °f the Indian musket. Pontiac, though a brave man t j disclosed the concealed his plan was known, and that thl ^ ^ ^ trembled- He endeavored to exculpate himself from were prepared. Ke was evident, and he and his follower"7 SU°h "tentions; but the guilt reprimand, and warned never to alt ent^K *ith a ^ere time he endeavored to uniufthe IllfnoTl u"8 C°Untly and race- After a w a war with the whites Hi. ? ? lbe and those about St. Louis quarrel between himself and somf°E TT- fruitle88> and only ended in a afterwards killed bbT^S^S^ °f yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves! These lakes, these woods, these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, him provided food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains.*'

He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after the English took possession of their country. These feelings were no doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments.

In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to prevent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fontainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question. Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by France sold to the United States.

In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecoeur by LaSalle, m 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French settlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been noticed, being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, askaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St.

n -By th6Jtre?ty of Pari8' the Te&ou* east of the Mississippi, including edl these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England; ut they do not appear to have been taken possession of until 1765, when aptmn Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cathohcs who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that chieftain. By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle-

He found there about sixtv fiv! Ka8^8ak,a and to neighboring villages forty-five dwellings. At Fort rT families, and at Cahokia strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extending the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.

In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Government. toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side of the war for independence.

Q°V' Dunmore' of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the pretense that the fort was under the government of that commonwealth. One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the Uhio YaUey, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for settlements, and often came in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the famous battle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and driven across the Ohio.

gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a sixpounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten to fifteen feet in width.

At the date spoken of by Mr. Fraser, there was no fort within the enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present northwest corner of J efferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two stones high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The citadel also contained a hospital and guard-house. The old town of Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some T, 80?f round. There was one building of splendid appearance, * 6 King s Palace, two stories high, which stood near the east gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning between nine and ten o'clock, Each furnished four sentinels, who were relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who pjrfa-rf .me, duty, K*h of U,. g.f. was ahu, .uuLt.

and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway, burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyally was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. He saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British intended to penetrate the country from the north and south, and annihilate the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark* came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them.

Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions - one secret, the other open - the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country.

With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- ston for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and afte% its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and . cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of information : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to believe by the British that the " Long Knives " or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from gratitude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency.

The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, and the town reaohed on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at perfect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhabitants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlooked for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accompanied him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus snd to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having sufficiently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray.

On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American backwoodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kindness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, J" had earned in consequence thereof the title " Hair-buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known.

Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising lrgiman, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being appnsed of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark cont ri vn?1 he could capture and 8nfficientiy garrison the poets. uiritW^h fedef m Tth? b°ld undert»W» and Hamilton succeeded in wn, /ndlan8 for the nelt Spring'* campaign, the West would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from the commencement, by the British. P o all actual settlers their rights and - ^ran^8 m^de, and guaranteed settlers, the laws provided for selling ^hTh!?68' 'After providing for the forty cents per acre. To cany theSSV*"?® the pub,ic h»ds at sent four Virginians westward to attend toT ^ ^ tbe Mature of which great confusion prevaUed "1 °laim8> many

10th day of the month whose n»!! f d assumed his duties on the next year (1780) the troubles concernin^the *** ^ °penine of appi commenced. The Soanish r! g th navigat,on of the Missisrelation to its trade as to c^use the overtn ' ^ ^a^ SU°h meaaurea i»

^ be rejected. The American GoveZ "T a *° tbe United States to navigate its channel. To enforcI tT? ?°nS,dered they had a right the mouth of the Ohio on the Kent ^*1* °!a*ms' a fort was erected below

1 consequence of the 'f^lv A attf"pted to take possession of it 'tomes. They met with such y d'8poslt,on of Spain to the revolting habitants, even the woroenll^ "^ resistai,ee the part of thf -mpelied to abandon the contest Th! '"i b"ttle' that tbey were 1 dements in Kentucky but herw^ 7. al8° made an attack on the tad Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the delegates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress daring the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until September 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid been furnished ton. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture and retention of that important post, the only unoonquered one in the territory.

Before the dose of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Countos of Lincoln, Payette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of a/ nuary' *781, a8reed to yield her western lands to the United C°ndi,?0nB' which Co**"** would not accede to, and on the Part of ^e Old Dominion, failed, nor was anytaing farther done until 1788. During all that time the Colonies

AmeriS °! Pn ' 1781, the 11184 birth of the Ohio River of ^tto^r?*6 °CC^rred'being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter Z MOraVian "^ry, whose band of ChriLn frontier settlers, who^7!!!!8 * homble ""sacre by the hands of the ri<Air neighbors and in th -*en exaaPerated by the murder of several of a deed Jf"" "P committed, without regard to humanity, proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi River ; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junction with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down 'along its center to the Atlantic Ocean.

Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by (the proper treaty.

To remedy this latter evil, Congress appointed commissioners to 'treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the settlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, mot pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest ahe had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. *To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred --and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region -opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is now the dilapidated village of -Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffersonville, Indiana.

While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian -council at Fort McIntosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in appearance. He says:

" Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or even cot and. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila-

Tbb Nobthwbst Tbbbitory

While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance for the political and social organization of this Territory. When the cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten states, which were to have been named as follows - beginning at the northwest corner and going southwardly: Sylvania, Michigania, Chersonesus, Assemsipia, Mesopotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, Polypotamia and Pelisipia.

soon as nosaihi " thelr journey westward - A ' ere to meet at HartbadoSeKei ?**""' in the ZZL remainder 4° follow as 40 Prevent unauth Unfred tr°°Ps for defense of thd ^ ^ °f 0ct°ber,

The Northwb8T Territory

Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwest, not having yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer them.

Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the welfare of such a community."

^he 8quare uPon which the block -houses stood square number 19, "Capitalism;" square Via " T ' A 01 ^ t aD<* ®reat road through the covert way, " Sacra who withTw^P aft6r' anJoration wa® delivered by James M. Yarnum, iudicial bon" l * f ^ohn Armstrong had been appointed to the next day appeared the Governor'., Jf "lzatlon of the militia, and on the pat had been ceded by the *U tbatcowtry County of Washington. From tha" tim f Sci°t0 River in'<> 2 was designated as being opposite LiS » town on 'be spot, which Jbey proposed to have aroad cut 7 to the moulb of which wn is thus narrated in the "Western A CXlnf!fon' Tbe naming of the been a schoolmaster, was appointed !? L Mr- Wilson, who had t* situation, and as if with a DroSL° na,"e ' * t0Wn' and' in respect to rere to mhabit it in after days he n Pe,rCep*'on of the mixed race that been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the sod. Mr. fcUltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788, wi twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they

*** 4tb of Maroh' 1789> Constitution of the United States " pPeration, and on April 30, George Washington wasinaug- Indift1681 en 0 4 6 -American people, and during the next Summer, quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middletown to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper - the " Redl aP«r Mill . in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy . . es' an etroit over three hundred, and along the river, contiguous I ,;»Tere three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians,

Z memJe 7T r ^ Territory-to bominate persons from whom a Irevio^ n d Le^ture were to be chosen in accordance with P ordinance. This nomination being made the Assembly was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the dose of the year, the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the

In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory charthe college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western oolomes, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read ughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the ongress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern mtory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of e compact of 1787 provided that whenever the number of inhabitants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to a separa government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a ~ *keftn * the legality of the act, more than that number,

T'hus by a peaceful mode, country west of th« \r - - ®^ates was extended over a large tract of of the Northwest a W8l881PP1' an<^ was ^or a time under the jurisdiction " Tof l Vernmentl and' " been mentioned in the early

C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Territory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post :

" The Town of Detroit. - The charter, which is for fifteen miles square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The pickets, as well as the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant."

During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the support of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the domain of Gen. Harrison.

On the 11th of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed, Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the change to take effect on June 30. On the 11th of that month, a fire occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost every building in the place. When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in niins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuildng, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more touses than before the fire, and many of them much better built.

While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade f government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large of lapd from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, ecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the ttlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the itish, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at 5 battle of the Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, l hia connection with this conflict.

People. They removed from Florida61] °f * u® TurtIe tribe of the same 'o the birthplace of Tecumseh In Uut / °f thelast century eh>ef was slain at the battle of Poinfpf' h'8 father' wbo had risen to 2 J** * l"w"* ^"d5**»* a^r Tecum!

them* h propbet> went to a tract of land*1 +i! bad announced 'hem by the Pottawatomies and Kiel ^ the Wabash River, given ®om^ into prominence. He nl r* ^ this date ^ chief

Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly angTy at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict.

Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the Wabash, where he built Port Harrison. From this place he went to the prophet s town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile intentions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his rot er, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating the war, and foiling his (Tecnmseh's) plana

The Nobthwe8T Territory

On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chieftain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in the Northwest.

Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; at the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, ho fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal.

In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a autiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged many with attempting to set up an independent government. His ms were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated i he was compelled to flee the country for safety.

Indians Attacking A Stockade

In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, however, all signally failed.

In 1899 11 was d«emed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. This was done, and the Territory of Dlinois was formed from the western part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and then began the events already narrated.

While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the 4-k8 8 °a^ Was made 0n the Ohio, much to the astonishment of

6 na lv®®' whom fled in terror at the appearance of the monster. It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the ° 6 f8, we®k of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being undred hJ 1 AuSusfc' 1812, Black H8wt , ^ remain hostile to the is Z^ 8' Started *> join the bS a* the head of about five °f Chicago, where th «f °r°" at Detroit- Passing on c ernt ^ before occurred Of h m0US °Ft Dearborn MasLre e 'iS* but btUe is known. In hi Tv.Tt'1 with the British

Indians were urged to join the Iowps on the west bank of the Father of Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white settlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would have been prevented.

Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived n®any generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, t^ ey remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their tune in the enjoyment of Indian life. The' fine situation of their village an t e quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who rom time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the craft}' white men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the

«ous of thi8 treaty the Prance of the provilack Hawk, his two sous, the prophelwabok"8!, -'! stipulafced that . ,tke bostde hands should be regained k h,ek' and six other chiefs the President. They were confined at Fort°S the pIeasure The next Spring, by order .T o *' 1 Barracks and put in irons

Cltlea 80 'hat they might see the foil T Vaken to the Principal oId°P i6'- Everywhere they were observed ®°n.fndlnS against the white i-pd i ? bdng e Pensively known R thousands, the name of the leached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island ^ 1'° °f Au?ust they

"here he was born, where he hid ' l16 waa deeP1y moved. His village °ped to die, was now another's dwelU ^ llVed' and wbere lie had . , 0» 'he next day after hi rele2 7 P and he Was a

September, 1838, while onlfil aU<1 r®Ce^ed man3r tokens of esteem.' amty from the Government he en.T^/j R°Ck Isla,ld to receive his a &tal attack of bilious fever whilT * "T C°ld which »"lted [ fa*thful wife, who was . h teimiu"ted his life on October 3. mg his sickness. After his °tei}!y att*ched' to him, mourned deeply ted to him by the Prill r T? dl®ssed in the ^iform prerave ^ feet dl b l'; I1' 6 IM Washi"5ton. He was buried h, depth' Sltuated uPon a beautiful eminence. "The body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him y enry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. i any o the old warrior s trophies were placed in the grave, and some Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons."

No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, now ree rom ndian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had C?mmerC*a* center» and was rapidly coming into prominence.

Mr v!** n a^ract|on *° that portion of the Northwest lying west of wealth 1Cp^an' n°W ln<duded *n the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial °? WaS f°Und ab0Ut Lake ^perior. For some time this made a territ to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in 183<> was tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then nil such vacancies.

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, bo an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore , in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

. . The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of onor, trust, or profit under tne United States ; but the party convicted snail nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. J

Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- ^T^ves shall be prescribed in each state by the Legiathereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators.

oualifciiL h0U8e he the judge of the election, returns, and a auoram ^ ^filt8 0Wn m8mberp> and * majority of each shall constitute dav and mav h u®*?68^ » bu* a smaller number may adjourn from day to in such mann^th0^zed the tendance of absent members time publish11 Ae8^8sum«e^T & ^??rnal o£ ite Proceedings, and from time to require secrecv - and rt. exoePtuig 8Ucb parts as may, in their judgment, on^any question shall ..f^i76?8 an<* o£ tbe members of either house on the jK al ' 6 d6S,re °f °ne-fifth o£ th0*° Prosent, be entered

, To promote the progress of sciences and usefhl arts, by seeming, or limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries ; into Me^k^^the^effoi'na 8haU be n®ce88ar7 and proper for carrying Constitution "n °ther vested by this ment or officer thereof. 6Dt of tbe United States, or in any departstates now extoto^XdUhtok ""Portation of such persons as any of the by the Congress prior to the "dmit, shall not be prohibited bit a tax ofd"vPmav be ?m^°ne thoLU8and hundred and eight, dollars for each person. P08®^ on such importation, not exoeeding ten the person haying the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-President.]

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period tor which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States or anv of

(or affirm> that 1 will faithfully execute the FniJted State8> and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." naw of Hip Tliu P^8ldent shall be commander in chief of the army and States, and of the militia of the several states, when w£n the actual service of the United States; he may require the deD^ments^^ °f th£- PnnciPal officer in each of the executive oflfces and he Jhiii object relating to the duties of their respective

"id "e shall n^' two-thirds of tlie Senators present conhall appoint ^..^,1*^ by and with the advice of the Senate, '.he Supreme Court .nd*' pub~c ministers and consuls, judges of appotatmente are nit^p JU °£*r ?fficers ,of the ^ted Statas whose established by law- but fhp rtherWMe prov*ded for, and which shall be of such inferior "ay by law ve8t the "PPomtment of the state of t^ttaion^Md*^.6 *° t*me give to the Congress information sures as he shall judge necemuM^°minelld j° tbeir consideration snch meajuoge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, ana proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.

No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.

Seo. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state ; nor ahy state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the Congress.

. Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regufetions respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state.

dec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execulenee W ** ^ Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- whenever two-thirds of both houses shell deem it J*10?0,8® amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- SlltT41" °f two-thirds of the several states, shall cM valid to all i n t on Pro°Prng amendment8, which, in either case, shall be fled bv the T I.* nd Pniposes as part of this Constitution, when rativentions in of th® atates, or by conlation maV " the one or .th« other mrie of ratifiwhich mav be ^mule r, ^ the Congress. Provided that no amendment eight shall in ftnv mi"01 *2 7ear one thousand eight hundred and section of the first a^BOj ^t and fourth clauses in the ninth

And Its Amendments

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment cf religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government ior a redress of grievances.

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

_ . ri&kt of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers Inf a eC^? a2ainst unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- ® » aQd no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by *7* affirmatlon' and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

for the sairiA Wfr ?r pu^*c danger ; nor shall any person be subject be comDelled in to ?3e.tw.lce Pufc in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall deprived of lifA case to be a witness against himself, nor be speedy an^^Uic kUt*°nS'- accused shall enjoy the right to a wherero the crime shal/'hlv^K lmPartial .jUI7 of the state and district been previously ascertained K ^6en cot?ra tted, which district shall have cause of laT' andJto be ^formed of the nature and jenever the ririrtof86 u f. Kepresentative^lif^l **! necessai7 to *a y of MarnL °* choice shall dA^T 8 SaaU not choose a Presilt, as fiT u£on them, before the ident. The0^86 death or other p lce"^re?^dent shall act as ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds °/ w^ole number of Senators, ana a majority of the whole number 8haU be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

in the United States and the.rJeo£> »Fe citiaena of the United States, and which all abriricr^tv,^6^ Fe"de> **o 8tat® ^hall make or enforce any law States- nor shall Pn^eges or immunities of citizens of the United son? T Lh °°nntin« the w"°Ie number of pervote at any eleotion for tbn^J°d*an8 "ot taxed ; but when the right to PresidUYf thrnni^fch01S»eof Electore for President and Vicetiveand judicial o^tate^or^.h tetiTeS ^ Congress, the executhereof, is denied to anv of tb« X *ht "emb®r8 of the Legislature twenty-one years of avo and maK "habitants of such state, being military, under the United Staten nr^8!? 6nt' 0r bold "7 office» civd or ously taken an oath as a Member Vf i^ any 8tate' who> havin8 Preyi* United States, or as a member L f 9°"gFe88! or <*> an officer of the tVV8 °j ludioial officer of anv stated8**4® Leg^ature' or aS an execu- United States, shall have en * *° 8UPP°rt the Constitution of the fame, or given aid or comforfto or rebellion against the by a vote of two-third^ TSch £8 8nenue8 hereof. But Confess may Sec. 4. The validitv hou?®' remove such disability, feed by law, including debts incurad^n debt tbe United States author* bes for services in suppressing insurr^ff payme!lt °f pensions and bountioned. But neither the United StefcJ1011 °r rebe^°ni shall not be quesor obligation incurred in the aid nf ; n°r ai?^ 8^ftte shall pay any debt United States, or any loss or emancina^f011 0r rebelli^ U the obugations, and claims shall be heldufe^d but 8»ch debt8»

Constitution Op The United States

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not } denied or abridged h y the United States, or by any State, on account of race, or previous condion of servitude.

*cular dip. A disturbance ofthfT " *" Upheaval or 4 tegular perpenfrom the highland Ca nT**' th° low mountain range Zh !n? "Mg." is s^Z i lTi *° the S0Utheri1 boundary of Tennl 4nd the pressure of the neo. 6 conse^nence °f the cooling of the ' history. Previously, a torrid heat prevailed the entire Northern hemisphere. Now the temperature of the frigid zone crept southward until it reached Cincinnati. A vast field of ice, perhaps hundreds of feet thick, extended from the north pole to this point. As this glacial rigor came southward, the flow of the St. Lawrence River was stopped, and the surplus water of the great lake basin was turned into the Ohio and Mississippi. This glacial sea was by no means stationary even after its southern limit had been reached. It possessed the properties of a solid and a fluid. Its action was slow but powerful, grinding mountains to powder and forming great valleys and basins. Separating into two glacial portions, one moved toward the watershed north of the Ohio River ; and, continuing westerly, it hollowed out the basin of Lake Erie and crushed the apex of the Cincinnati arch. From this point, it turned southward and swept with a regular course through the Maumee and Miami Valleys to the Ohio River. The southern border constantly melting, and flowing toward the Gulf of Mexico, the great field was pressed forward by the accumulations of ice in the northern latitudes. Thus for ages, this powerful force was fitting the earth for the habitation of man. The surface was leveled, huge rocks broken and reduced to pebbles, sand, clay, etc., other soil and surface-material - while the debris was embedded at the bottom. In some sections, as the ice melted and freed the bowlders and rocks, the lighter material was swept away. The glacier moving forward, and the forces proving an " equilibrium," the edge of this ice-field was held in a solid stronghold, and the material thus deposited forms a ridge, called by geologists " terminal moraine," first exemplified in Ohio by the " Black Swamp," in the Maumee Valley.

The most extreme rigor of this period beginning to wane, the ice of the Maumee and Miami Valleys began to move slowly forward, toward the north, reaching the points now termed Hudson, Mich.; Fort Wayne, Ind., and Kenton, Ohio - reaching somewhat further south than Lima and Van Wert. The edge of the glacier was defined in outline by the present western border of Lake Erie, and parallel with it. Climatic influences " acting and counteracting," the glacial force was concentrated, the Maumee Valley being subjected to a grinding process, and a deposit of material going on, which now forms the boundary of the "Black Swamp." As our readers are aware, the waters of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's meet at Fort Wayne, and their united waters form the Maumee; thence the turn is northwest, and, wearing an outlet through the ridge, it reaches the head of Lake Erie.

The torrid zone yet gaining the ascendency, the ice-fields continuing their reverse motion, and retreating toward the north, the basin of the great lakes was formed ; and the blocks of ice melting therein, a vast sea of fresh water was formed, which gradually overflowed a portion of Canada and Michigan. But the St. Lawrence, that important outlet, was under the restraint of an ice blockade, and the surplus water of the fresh sea was turned into the Ohio and and Mississippi.

thegreatworklfnrp^^^L DeC°mp0Sed folia«e and faUen timber aided in Prairie, marsh foL/^8*6 Preseat State of Ohio for the habitation of man. fied and ^es were formed, which, in turn, were modi-