Washington Township (part 3 of 3)

During the succeeding years from the conclusion of the Huron conspiracy, there were frequent depredations committed by the Indians on the frontier settle¬ ments ; and, although war between France and England was not declared until 1756. the conflict began in 1754. In fact, Braddock's defeat occurred in the year 1755, in which some of the Miamis participated. In June, 1759, three hundred French soldiers and militia, with auxiliaries to the numbei* of about six hundred Indians from the Illinois country. Their route was down the Missis¬ sippi to the mouth of the Ohio, passing thence up that stream to the Wabash ; the expedition ascended the latter stream to the portage at Ke ki-ong-a, whence the stores were shipped on the Maumee and carried to Lake Erie, and along the southern shore to Pre-que Isle, and thence to Fort Machaulr. On the 24th of July, the relief force, under command of M. de Ligneris, belonging to the expedi¬ tion, was totally defeated by the English forces under Sir William John¬ son, and on the following day the garrison at Fort Niagara capitulated. This was followed by the surrender of Quebec, and, a short time after, of Fort Massac. The next year, however. Fort Massac was rebuilt and more strongly fortified, for occupation and use by the English.

"Before the close of the year 1761, Detroit, Michilimackanac, Sandusky, Presque Isle. Miami, Green Bay, St. Joseph and other French posts, passed under control of the English, who guaranteed security of person, property and religion to all French inhabitants of the conquered territory. It was at this time that French dominion virtually ceased over the Ohio country." In 1762, terms of peace were agreed upon between France and England, taking effect in America in 1763.

Conspiracy Op Pontiac

The effects of the conspiracy instigated by Nicholas, the Huron chief, in the interest of the English traders and their allies, and the consequences result¬ ing therefrom had scarcely passed when the English succeeded in overthrowing the trench jower, and new alliances were necessary to maintain the supremacy

I of English authority among the Indians. It was then that the disaffection of the former allies of the French began definitely to manifest itself. When Quei bcc had fallen into the hands of the English in September, 1759, one after | another of the French possessions yielded to superior force and were lost forever. "The trading posts and forts - Presque Isle (Erie, Penn.), Miami (on the Mau¬ mee), Detroit, Michilimackinac, Green Bay, etc. - were occupied during 1760 by British troops. English traders, English laws, English insolence and English dishonesty quickly succeeded to add fuel to the fires slumbering in the savage breast."

Soon this disaffection began to assume form, and a leader came forth equal to the emergency and capable of commanding a mighty influence among his people. " Powerful in person, commanding in presence, resolute to an extraor¬ dinary degree, possessed of a rare gift of eloquence, sagacious and subtle as a I beast of prey, he rightfully claimed the office of chief over many tribes, and | became the minister of vengeance for his race." This personage was Pontiac, chief of the Ottawas, whose first appearance in the character of a warrior was I his participation in the battle of the Heights of Abraham in the vicinity of i Quebec. The extent of his participation, however, is unknown. lie was in I sympathy with the French, whose uniform policy toward the Indians was that of 1 kindness, which wrought a most powerful influence in maintaining their relations of fidelity.

Had the English, even at this late period, adopted a course of policy toward the Indians similar to that of the French in all their dealings with them, much effusion of blood might have been spared. " But then, as since, Great Britain acted less from the dictates of a broad humanity than from the impulse of commex-cial gain. In fixing the degree of responsibility for what followed, we should, in order to be just, weigh well the causes which impelled the savages to the war¬ path. If Great Britain could have appeased those tigers of the American for¬ ests, panting for blood, she should have done it; that she not only offered no conciliation, but scorned aud maltreated the untamed creatures, is to make her at least partially accountable for the conspiracy and its sad results.

" The mutterings of the impending storm were heard early in the summer of 1761, when Maj. Campbell, commanding at Detroit, was fully informed of a con¬ spiracy among the tribes along the lakes and iu the Ohio Valley to rise simul¬ taneously against all the forts, to massacre the garrisons, and then to combine and fall upon all settlements advanced over the eastern ridge of the Alleghanies. Expresses were at once dispatched to all the points menaced. This betrayal of their plot sufficed to postpi ne the attack for that season. Sir Jeffrey Amherst commanded extreme caution to be used at all posts, while the Indians were treated with a severity and suspicion which only served to strengthen their bitterness of feeling toward tbeir foe."* This postponement, while it delayed open proceed¬ ings, gave at the same time greater opportunity to the Indians to perfect their plans. At the instance of Pontiac, embassadors were sent to all the tribes West and South, from every quarter receiving assurances of aid in any attempt to expel the English.

" These proceedings were kept profoundly secret. Those conducting the plot dissimulated well. Crowds of men, women and children beset the forts and trad¬ ing-posts, eager for gunpowder, traffic and liquor, but, even iu their drunken bouts, nothing escaped their lips to betray their murderous designs. A friendly savage would, at times, whisper a word of warning to some white who had won his , confidence, and enough transpired to keep the English officers on their guard. The i Commandant at Fort Miami, on the Maumee River, was thus warned early in the year 1763. Messengers from the East had arrived in his neighborhood to inform the tribes of the hour of uprising, and the Miamis had consented to murder the garrison."

At this time (March, 1763), a neighboring Indian came to the fort and informed Ensign Holmes, then in command here, that " a bloody belt had just been received at one of the villages near by, which contemplated the massacre of himself and of the entire garrison, and that preparations were then making to that end. The situation required prompt action, and at once received it at the hands of Holmes; who immediately summoned a council of the neighboring Indians, and boldly charged them with the design of which information had been given him. They acknowledged the truth of the statement, but cast the blame for its instiga¬ tion upon another and more distant tribe. With the information at command, lie procured the belt that appears to have wrought the mischievous intention, and with it the speech accompanying it, from one of the chiefs of the Miamis. Hav¬ ing obtained these, it was apprehended that no immediate steps would be taken toward the execution of the murderous design. Accordingly, on the 30th day of March, a few days later, he sent the following communication relative to the affair, to Maj. Gladwyn, commanding at Detroit :

Since my Last Letter to You, wherein I Acquainted You of the Bloody Belt being in this village, I have made all the search I could about it, aud have found it out to be True ; Whereon I assembled all the Chiefs of this Nation, & and after a long and trouble¬ some Spell with them, I obtained the Belt, with a Speech ; as you will Receive Enclosed ; This Affair is very timely stopt, and I hope the News of a Peace will put a Stop to any further Troubles with these Indians, who are the Principle Ones of Setting Mischief on Foot. I send You the Belt with this Packet, which I hope You will Forward to the General.

Among the Indians, at that period, their diplomatic communications were made by the transmission of belts having an accepted emblematic signification well understood by all the tribes between whom communications were to be made. These were usually accompanied by a speech or " talk," calculated to emphasize the significance of the belt. Were peace to be requested, a white belt was sent, while black or red belts were suggestive of war, and were transmitted by special messengers. The delay consequent upon the surrender of this belt was not of long duration, for signs of coming trouble were apparent, and practiced observers

" It was the office of the chiefs," says Parkman, " to declare war and make peace ; but when war was declared, they had no power to carry the declaration into effect. The warriors fought if they chose to do so, but if, on the contrary, they preferred to remain quiet, no man could force them to lift the hatchet. The warchief, whose duty it was to lead them to battle, was a mere partisan, whom his biaveiy and exploits had led to distinction. If he thought proper, he sang his war-song and danced his war-dance, and as many of the young men as wenT dis¬ posed to follow him, gathered around and enlisted themselves under him. Over these volunteers he had no legal authority, and they could desert him at any moment with no other penalty than disgrace."

By the 25th of April, following, the well-elaborated plans of Pontiac were nearly matured, and the villages and camps of the allied tribes were active with preparations for war on a most extensive scale. The oracles were consulted, and the charmed circle responded with omens of success. A council was called and '' several old men, heralds of the camp, passed to and fro among the lodges, call¬ ing the warriors, in a loud voice, to attend the meeting. In accordance with the summons, they came issuing from their cabins, the tall, naked figures of the wild Ojibwas, with quivers slung at their backs and light war-clubs resting in the hol¬ low of their arms ; Ottawas, wrapped close in their gaudy blankets; Wyandots, fluttering in painted shirts, their heads adorned with feathers and their leggras garnished with bells. All were soon seated in a wide circle upon the grassfrow within row, a grave and silent assembly. Each savage countenance seemed carved in wood, and none could have delected the deep and fiery passions hidden beneath that unmoved exterior. Pipes, with ornamented stems, were lighted and passed from hand to hand."* Before this grand council convened at the river Eucorces, Pontiac delivered his war-speech, ingenious in its method and thrilling in its effects upon his silent, statue-like auditors. " Every sentence was rounded with a fierce ejaculation ; and, as the impetuous orator proceeded, his auditory grew restless to spring at once into the bloody arena of battle and bury the scalping-knife and tomahawk in the body of the enemy." All was now ready for action, and Detroit was the objective point.

The numerous failures in executing their designs put the savages at a disad¬ vantage, and the Commandants of the several military posts on guard, lest, at any time, advantage might be taken of a temporary relaxation from strict duty, n ell knowing the situation, the wily savage resorted to strategy, as an aid in over¬ coming otherwise impregnable defenses. ' The plan agreed upon by the Indians, was ihe following: " Pontiac would demand council with the Commandant con¬ cerning matters of great importance ; and, on this pretext, he flattered himself that he and Lis principal chiefs would gain ready admittance within the fort. They were all to carry weapons concealed beneath their blankets. While in the act of addressing the Commandant in the council room, Pontiac was to make a CCTtam signal, upon which the chiefs were to raise tile war-whoop, rush upon the officers present, and strike them down. The other Indians waiting meanwhile at the gate, or loitering among the houses, on hearing the yells and firing within the building, were to assail the astonished and half-armed soldiers; aud thus Detroit would fall an easy prey." [Parkman, I, p. 210.] Although this plan was well matured, it failed in execution, as the sequel will show.

" A beautiful Ojibwa girl, whose love for the Commander, Gladwyn, seems to have been only equaled by her precaution and care, was in the secret. Hud probably attended the council, and heard the plan of Pontiac's movement to sur¬ prise and capture the fort ; and true to her sense of regard for her kind friend, Maj. Gladwyn, on the afternoon of the 6th of May, she found occasion to visit the fort., whither she quietly strolled, with anxious heart, in hopes to reveal to her lover his perilous situation, and unfold to him the movement about to be made upon the fort by Pontiac and his warriors - his plan of surprise, etc. As she entered, Gladwyn observed that she wore a different air than on other occasions. Her countenance assumed the expression of one in distress. Fear and depression both seemed to sway her, and she could say but little, llemaining but a short time, she stepped forth again in the open air, to look about, perhaps to see who might chanced to have seen her enter the fort. Sorrow still weighed heavily upon her. She could not depart from the scene of her friend without acquainting him with the work that was fast maturing for his death, and the destruction of all within the garrison. With this feeling, she lingered about the fort until quite late, which not only attracted the attention of the sentinel, but Gladwyn himself, who, noticing her strange conduct, called her to him, and asked her what was giving her trouble. Her heart beat heavily. She could not speak. Still her friend pressed her for a response, assuring her that he would not under any con¬ sideration betray her ; that, with him, whatever she told would be safe ; that no harm should befall her. Her fear was suddenly overcome, and her admiration for her friend united with an irrepressible determination to save him, even in the midst of danger, as the beautiful Pocahontas had saved the life of Capt. Smith, she con¬ fidently told him all." [Hist. Fort Wayne, 65.]

" To-morrow," she said, " Pontiac will come to the fort with sixty of his chiefs. Each will be armed with a gun, cut short, and hidden under his blanket. Pontiac will demand to hold a council, and, after he has delivered his speech, he will offer a peace-belt of wampuin, holding it in a reversed position. This will be the signal of attack. The chiefs will spring up and fire upon the officers, aud the Indians in the street will fall upon the garrison. Every Englishman will be killed, but not the scalp of a single Frenchman will be touched."

This revelation naturally induced the exercise of the greatest caution on the part of the commanding officer, who, quietly and without demonstration, pre¬ pared for the emergency. " Half the garrison were ordered under arms, and all the officers prepared to spend the night upon the ramparts. From sunset till dawn, an anxious watch was kept from the slender palisades of Detroit. * * * But, at intervals, as the night wind swept across the bastion, it bore sounds of fearful portent to the ear - the sullen booming of the Indian drum and the wild chorus of quavering yells, as the warriors, around their distant campfires, danced the war-dance, in preparation for the morrow's work."

To-morrow came and with a readiness for the issue that was to thwart the cunningly devised plans of the chief to capture the fort and massacre the English citizens of Detroit. Arriving at the council-house, the Indians were at once given an audience. They entered and found the officers there ready to receive them. A file of soldiers, fully armed and equipped for duty, was present also. Ihe reception had the appearance of a readiness for combat instead ; each officer with a brace of pistols in his belt and a sword at his side, was indicative to the mind of the savage that some well-defined purpose was underlying this unu¬ sual display. His suspicions were excited, and not without reason.' Pontiac was taken at a disadvantage, but, with a display of little concern, he asked the Commanding officer, " Why do I behold so many troops in the street?" Mai. Gladwyn replied that his men were under arms for discipline and exercise. At length the council was opened, and the chiefs having seated themselves upon the mats arranged for them upon the floor, Pontiac arose, holding in his hand a P®*°e help, and expressed to the Commandant his strong admiration and love for the English, saving, " I have come to smoke the pipe of peace and brighten the chain of friendship with my English brothers '' - then " he raised the belt and was about to give the fatal signal, and instantly Gladwyn waved his hand - and, as it by magic, the garrison drum beat a most stunning roll, filling the air with' us reverberations, and startling the warriors, both within and without, the fort, into sudden dismay ; while the guards in the passage to the council-house sud¬ denly made their arms to clash and rattle as they brought them into a position for action, and the officers, with Gladwyn, looking sternly upon the figures of the ' tail, strong men ' .before them, had simultaneously clasped their swords, in antic¬ ipation of, and with a view to meet, if need be, the premeditated onslaught of Pontiac and his warriors. The moment was one of heroic determination on the part of the little garrison of Detroit, and of the utmost discomfiture and chagrin with the savages. The plans of the Ottawa chief were foiled, and he stood before the Commandant and his officers like one .suddenly overcome by a terrible shock."*

Other attempts were made to carry out the nefarious purpose, but failed in their execution. Finding that he could not thus succeed, the indiscriminate slaughter of all unprotected English in the vicinity was the order of the day, and was literally carried out. Maj. Campbell was one of the victims, being massacred while on a mission of peace to the Indian camp. Subsequently, an attack was made on the fort with renewed vigor, but again failed for the time only. " On the 16th of May, Sandusky fell ; on the 1st of June, Ouiatenon was captured ; Michilimackinac on the 12th, and Presque Isle on the 15th of June, also fell into the hands of the wild conspirators. After Presque Isle was taken," runs the narrative of Parkman, " the neighboring little posts of Le Boeuf and Venango shared its fate, while, farther southward, at the forks of the Ohio, a host of Delaware and Shawanoe warriors were gathering around Fort Pitt, and blood and havoc reigned along the whole frontier."

Next, the fates decreed that Fort Miami, at the junction of the Maumee and St. Joseph, should fall, and again strategy was brought into requisition, and was applied with better effect than in the instauce cited at Detroit. This post was then under command of Ensign Holmes, who, suspecting from the movements of the Indians in the neighborhood that some plot was waiting for a favorable opportu¬ nity to be executed, had exercised the most vigilant care in his observations of their conduct, more especially after the discovery of the bloody belt before referred to. Savage ingenuity and deception, however, were striving hard, and Holmes seemed destined to fall a victim to the perfidy of the conspirators, white aud red, prowling about the village and neighborhood. The 27th of May had been des¬ ignated for the execution of the scheme, as villainous as it was perfidious. In the mean time, the details of the plau were perfected, aud only required the approach of that day to consummate the act. The inuocent agent in the perpe¬ tration of this deed of blood and plunder was an Indian girl with whom Holmes, it seems, had been for a long time on intimate terms. This circumstance being known to the conspirators, was utilized by compelling her, under the confidential relations existing between her and the Commandant, Holmes, to betray that con¬ fidence by acting as a decoy. Accordingly, on the appointed day, the girl entered the fort and told Holmes that there was a sick squaw lying in a wigwam near by, expressing a desire that he should go and see her. " Unsuspectingly, and with a view to serve and perhaps relieve the supposed sick squaw (knowiug, perhaps, something of medicine ; fur it would seem had there been a surgeon in the fort he would have been more likely called on by the Ensign than for Holmes to have gone himself), preceded by the Indian girl, he was soon without the inclosure of. the garrison and advancing with cautious steps in the direction of the hut wherein lay the object of his philanthropic missiou. Nearing a clus¬ ter of huts which are described to have been situated at the edge of an open space - hidden from view by an intervening spur of woodland,' the squaw directed him to the hut wherein lay the supposed invalid. Another instant - a few more paces - and the sudden crack of two rifles from behind the wigwam in view, felled Holmes to the earth and echoed over the little garrison, starting the guards and inmates into momentary surprise and wonder. Amid the confusion, the Sergeant thoughtlessly passed without the fort to ascertain the cause of the rifle shots. But a few paces were gained wheu, with loud, triumphant shouts, he was sprung upon by the savages and made a captive, which, in turn, brought the soldiers within, about nine in all, to the palisades of the garrison, who clambered up to see the movement without, when a Canadian of the name of Godfroi (or Gudfri), accompanied by 'two other white men,' stepped defiantly forth aud demanded a surrender of the fort, with the assurance to the soldiers that if at

"The aspect before them was now sadly embarrassing. Without a com¬ mander, without hope, and full of fear, to hesitate seemed only to make death the more certain, and the garrison gate soon swung back on its lunges I c surrender was complete, and the English rule at this point, and for a time, at least, had ceased to exercise its power."*

The Miarnis, at this time, were deeply embroiled in the great conspiracy, were the immediate agents, with the Pottawatomies and Ojibwas residing in the vicinity, and chiefly instrumental in the transactions resulting in the hnai drama to which attention has just been directed.

In the latter part of September, 1764, when it had became apparent that the English garrison at Detroit was likely to receive large re-inforcements, and the allies of the°greafc couspirator began gradually to weaken in their adherence to his cause and to make overtures for peace, on the ground, perhaps, that a treaty of peace had been then recently established between the French and English Kings, and that they were not likely to receive further aid from their breach Father, Pontiac, with a number of his principal chiefs , " repaired to the river Maumee, with the design of stirring up the Indians in that quarter, and renew¬ in'' hostilities in the spring." The succeeding winter, however, proved a severe one and much suffering among the Indians was the consequence. In addition to this', also, the siege had exhausted their ammunition; the fur trade had been interfered with, or the sources of profit from it had been broken up. lhey were -'really in want. In the mean time, the opportunity of Sir William Johnson, in the Indian Department of the English Provincial Government, to utilize his Indian policy, had come, and accordingly he had despatched messengers to many of the tribes, inviting them to a great Peace Council at Niagara, which was producing the desired effect in allaying their hostile feelings. All these things had a ten¬ dency to relax the sinews of war on the part of Pontiac s confederates.

At this time, sullen and intractable, Pontiac, and such of his followers as still adhered to him, had left Detroit and taken up their abode for the time being on the Maumee, a few miles from Fort Wayne.

Not Ion" after this, Capt. Morris and a number of Canadians had started on a mission of peace to the Illinois Indians. Ascending the Maumee in a canoe, he was approaching the encampment of Pontiac, when he was met by a party of about two hundred Indians, a part of Pontiac's band, who treated him with great violence, while the Canadians were treated respectfully. After many demonstra¬ tions of hostile intentions, however, he was permitted to depart. Pulling his way up the river, he arrived with his party on the seventh day after their departure, and made a landing within sight of Fort Miami [Ke-ki-ong-a], which, from the time of its capture the year previous, had been without a garrison. On the oppo¬ site side of the river, covered by an intervening strip of woods, were the Miami villages. Here he met with further opposition from the Miamis, who gave him a hostile reception, with the intention of completing their work by burning him at the stake, from the execution of which purpose they were only prevented by the interposition of some of the chiefs less hostile than the rest. Here, from the continued manifestations of a determination on the part, of the Kickapoos and Shawanoes and many of the Miamis, he was dissuaded from proceeding on his mission to the Illinois. With this conclusion he returned by the -same route to Detroit, reaching there September 17.

In the summer and fall of 1765, in executing the mission proposed by Sir William Johnson to induce a pacification of the hostile tribes, George Croghai visited various points on the Wabash. On the 1st of August, as shown by hi journal, he approached the village of the Miamis, in reference to which he make, the following entry : " The Twigt wee ( Twightwee) village is situated on both sides of a river called St. Joseph. This river, where it falls into the Miami (Maumee) River, about a quarter of a mile from this place, is one hundred yards wide, on the east side of which stands a stockade fort, somewhat ruinous." This is the English Fort (Miami) so called, better known here, perhaps, as Holmes' Fort, from its having been under his command at the time of his assassination, two years before - in contradistinction to the French Fort on the south side of the St. Mary's, which, in 1697, and probably before, as it was in 1704 and 1705, was commanded by Sieur de Yinsienne, and later by Sieur Dubuisson. Then he made the following additional entry concerning this place.

11 The Indian village consisted of about forty or fifty cabins, besides nine ten French houses, a runaway colony from Detroit, during the late Indian w they were concerned in it, and being afraid of puuishment, came to t.... poiut, where ever since they have spirited up the Indians against the En¬ glish. * * * The country is pleasant, the soil is rich and well watered. After several conferences with these Indians, and their delivering me up all the English prisoners they had, on the 6th of August we set out for Detroit, down the Miamis River in a canoe."

In the spring of 1766, Pontiac, true to his promise, left his encampment the Maumee, for Oswego, "accompanied by his chiefs and an Englishman named Crawford, a man of vigor and resolution, who had been appointed by the Super intendent to the troublesome office of attending the Indian deputation and sup¬ plying their wants." Reaching Oswego, where the great council was held, he made his great peace speech, and " sealed his submission to the English by acknowledging allegiance to them forever. When the treaty was concluded, loaded with the presents received, he is said to have returned again to the Mau¬ mee, where he spent the winter of 1766-67 living " in the forest with his wives and children, and hunting like an ordinary warrior."

Toward the close of the Revolutionary war, in the month of January, 1778, instructions were issued by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, to Lieut. Col George Rogers Clarke, of Albemarle County, " to raise, with all convenient speed seven companies of soldiers, to consist of fifty men each, officered in the usual manner, and armed most properly for the enterpr.se, and with that force to a tack the British fort at Kaskaskia" and for the subjugation of the allied British andgdmns the Wabash, if need be, and protect the frontier settlement ftom then laya es.

Havin'- in pursuance of orders, attacked and reduced the Blltigtt folt at Kaskaskia and appointed a commandant over it, he proceeded to Post Vincennes, which surrendered^ to him on the 25th of February 1779. Ihis put him in i pos¬ session dftall the lower portion of the West until the c ose of the Revolution The Upper Wabash, in the vicinity of the lakes, was still in the g®M the British. It was his purpose to have visited and taken forcible possession of these points also, but his attention, for the time being, was directed to other .

The capture of the British post at this place howevei, was an ente puse contemplated by another than Gen. Clarke. Late in the year 7 , fu ' j at Kaskaskia, named La Balme, conceived the idea ot its reduel.on and foirned a plan for that purpose. Accordingly, he induced a number of pe.-sons a Kas¬ kaskia, and others at Vincennes, to join him in the expedition, ^he .e.ult w not what had been anticipated, but, on the contrary, was so g eat a disaster that few if any, were left to tell the melancholy story. No official aecouut ot it has ever nnneared yet from a somewhat laborious collection of facts and incidents and unconnected details., with, perchance, some plausible traditions arranged by Mr Charles IS Lasselle, of Logansport, Ind., than whom, perhaps, there is no one nore ffimiliar with the data t^rinjupon the case, the following brief statement s taken, the most accurate at this time attainable. ...

Speaking of Ke-ki-ong-a, Mr. Lasselle, in Ins account, says This village was situated on the banks of the St. Joseph River, commencing about a quarto, of a mile above its confluence with the St. Marys, which fbims the Miami I Maumee), and was Bear -the present city of Fort Wayne It had been i a princi¬ pal town of the Miami Indians, for at least sixty yearn before the Revolution, and had been occupied by the French before the fall of Canada, ' bod erected a fort at the confluence of the rivers, on the eastern side of the St. Joseph s At the period of the Revolution, it had become a place ot much importance in a tradin'- and military point of view, and, as such, ranked in the Northwest next to Detroit and Vincennes. It was, accordingly occupied as a post m seat lo . official for Indian affairs by the British in the beginning of the war Col «rke on the capture of Vincennes, had meditated an expedition against this pl^as well as a-ainst Detroit; and though lie seems never to have abandoned the idea, yet he eirnld not succeed in his arrangements to attempt its execution. But while the subject was still fresh in the mind of Clarke and the inhabitants of the lower Wabash, another individual made his appearance to undertake wha even the darin- Clarke, with greater resources, did not deem prudent to venture up n. This was La Balme. But of him and his expedition, it may be hero stated, very little information, of an entirely authentic shape, is within our reaeffi Bxoep ing about a dozen lines in Mr. Dillon's Historical Notes, no published accoun what¬ ever of this expedition has ever appeared.. Whatever may be gi'eu inttu* bud sketch, lias been obtained mostly from some of those who weie, in pait, ey witnesses to the events, and from tradition as handed down by the old inhabitanU La Balme was a native of France, and had come to this country as some kind o in officer, with the French troops under La Fayette, in 1779. We arfi not tpprised whether he came to the West on his own responsibility, or whethj he was directed by some authority ; but we find him, in the summer 0H18O, m Kaskaskia, raising volunteers to form an expedition against the post of Kekion a with the ulterior view, in ease of success, of extending his operation > aga ast the fort and town of Detroit. At Kaskaskia, he succeeded in only between twenty and thirty men. With these he proceeded to Vincennes, where he oj e io a recruiting establishment for the purpose of raising the number necessaiy foi object. But he does not seem to have met here with the favor and encoura ement of the principal inhabitants; or to have had much success in h is establish¬ ment. His expedition was looked upon as one of doubtful propnety, both as to its means and objects, and it met with the encouragement, generally, of only the less considerate. Indeed, from the fragments of an old song, as ® Lby the maidens of Vincennes, on the subject of La Balme and his expcdi lo , preserved by the writer, it would seem that plunder and fame were* objects as of conquest for the general good. Injustice may have been done him in this respect ; but it is quite certain, from all accounts, that though a generous and -allant man, well calculated to be of service in lus proper sphere, yet he was too reckless and inconsiderate to lead such an expedition. How '""k be rmnain at Vincennes, wo have not now, perhaps, any means of knowing But some time in the fall of that year, 1780, with, as is supposed, between fifty and sixty men, he proceeded up the Wabash on his adventure. , . ,

P He conducted his march with such caution and celerity that he appeared at the village (here) before even the watchful inhabitants had apprehended li s approach. The sudden appearance of a foe. unknown as to character, numbeis and designs, threw them into the greatest alarm, and they fled on all sides La Balme took possession of the place without resistance. t was, pro a y, intention, in imitation of Clarke's capture of Kaskaskia to take the village and friendship, to win them over to the American cause; but the inhabitants, six or eight French traders, totally eluded his grasp. His occupation of the village was not of long duration. After remaining a short time, and making plunder of the goods of some of the French traders and Indians, he retired to near the Aboite Creekt and encamped. The Indians having soon ascertained he number and character of La Bailee's forces, and learning that they men, were not disposed, at first, to avenge the attack But of the traders living there (here), there were two, named Bcaubien;[ and La Fontaine, || who, nettled and injured by the invasion and plunder of the place, were not disposed to let the invaders off without a blow. These men havinK incited the Indians to follow and attack La Balme, they soon rallied their warriors of the village and vicinity under the lead of their war chief, the Little Turtle, and, falling upon them in the night tune, massacred the entire party. Not one is said to have survived to relate security of troops and the national dignity," without which, "in the exercise of J'S' t indiscriminate hostilities, it " would be " extremely difficult, if not impossible, to say that a war without further measures would be just ou the part ° i* e United States. But if, after manifesting clearly to the Indians the dispoof Su,t nrnteKionT for ''j* reservation of peace and the extension

UnS PStete, wi l bh° sald(Ind,a"s' theJ should continue their incursions, the United States will be constrained to punish them with severity." " Mai Haintramck then commanding at Post Vincennes, on the 15th of April' lid , ilispatched Antrnne Gamehn from that point with the speecheSP of

Ganelin 9° I 6 1 if ° 'A Wabash' Reaehing the Indian settlements, Mr. Gamehn delivered the speeches at all the villages bordering this stream, and Wayne " \ | StWard as tbe Mlami village, opposite the present site of Fort young'men8 going ouTonly'fo^^hutt "W y°U,'S n'en' bUt "'y th° bia Subsequently conferences were held with Blue Jacket, a chief warrior of tlic Shawanoes ; with several Pottawatomics ; with Le Gris, of the Miami's and sentcrl 1G TT atatIves f other tribes, to whom the speeches were' pre¬ sented and who gave their views and the sentiments of their respective tribes concerning the questions presented for their consideration. They generally obtained ViTth C fd i'° V '? c,orfederates and 'heir consent Sr, -; 0",hed9,thof April, he had a general conference with several of left Ke'kiCnn T. TS not materiallA different. Immediately thereafter he eft Ke-ki-ong-a and started on his return trip. All these preliminary steps were taken to give the several Indian tribes on the Wabash and adjacent thereto, an oppoi (unity to express themselves on the questions submitted and have grievances redressed if possible, as a means of preserving the peace before coercive" measures rare adopted, on the part of the United States, to secure and maintain the rbriits or settlers on the Northwestern frontier.

Semi-Savage Period

The first school was taught by Nancy Palmer in 1841 . It was a log build¬ ing, and the expenses were met by private subscriptions. There are now three schools in the township, conducted on the frec-school plan, with 180 scholars enrolled.

In 1842, Jehial Parks donated two acres of ground for a place of burial. Its first occupant was Mrs. Garvin, of De Kalb County, Ind. It is still used as a township cemetery.

Oliver Guston erected the first blacksmith forge in 1849, and worked at that trade for a number of years. It was situated on the ground previously occupied by Letcher & Co., who manufactured potash.

The first election was held April 3, 1843, at the schoolhouse on the Ridge road. Lucius Palmer was Inspector by appointment, and Platt Squier was elected Justice of the Peace. He continued in this capacity - with some intermissions - for a period of twenty years.

The first post office was established in 1862. at the house of John Murphy. Murphy was appointed Postmaster, and held the appointment about tiro years. The office was then removed to the house of John Shafer, in Springfield, since which time there has been no post office in this township.

Adam Burrier

ADAM BURRIER was born in Frederick County, Md., February 7, 1799. His father was a farmer, and young Adam remained at home assisting his father in his labors until he arrived at his majority. He then started out to fight the battles of life for him¬ self, and, for the next seven years, was engaged in working for others, somelimes on a farm, and at times driving a team.

He then concluded to go West, and, after visiting Kentucky, finally settled in Greene County, Ohio. He lived there until the spring of 1843, when he moved to Miami County, in the same State, where he rented a farm on Lost Creek, near Troy. While living in Green; Co inty, on tile 1 h day of March, 1S32, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizi Saipliers, who was also a native of Maryland.

In the spring of 1849, ho oame to Allen County, Ind.. and purchased 240 I acres of land in Scipio Township, and settled upon it. It was in a state of nature, covered with a dense growth of timber, without a road of any kind within miles of it, and he had to make his way t hrough an almost trackless forest for miles to get | to a neighbor's house, or to Fort Wayne, to procure such articles of living as were j indispensable. It took a man of iron nerve and resolution to overcome the difficulties that were before him. But he was not the man to filter in anything I he undertook. The forest trees soon grew less before the sturdy blows of iiis ax.

' and to day he owns a splendid and well-tilled farm. His broad fields, in the sea- I son, covered with luxuriant crops, extend over 150 acres, and now, in his declini ing years, he can look back over a long and well-spent life, and enjoy the fruits of his toil.

The partner of his early struggles for fortune, and of bis joys and sorrows departed this life full of years and respected by all who knew her, on the Ikh day of October, 1878, leaving her aged companion and five sons and two daughters to mourn her departure. Five of their children had gone to the spirit land before | her. One, a son, who had enlisted in the Twenty-third Indiana Battery of Light ^

! Artillery, served his country faithfully and well for a year and a half, was takcp j sick, and, after being in a hospital for some time, received a furlough and came | home, but scarcely had he reached his father's house when 1m died. Another j son was drowned a few years ago in the Maumee River.

Mr. Burner, although long past the allotted "three-score and ten." is now n hearty, hale and energetic man, directing the management of his large farm with the energy of the majority of men twenty years his junior.

This township is situated northwest of the center of Allen County, and is hounded as follows- North by Perry and Eel River, east by St. Joseph, south by Wayne, west by Lake. Its surfaco is of that undulating nature peculiar to this county; not sufficiently rugged to be characterized a-, hilly, nor yet sufficiently level to form prairie land. It, comprises 34.84 square miles4 or 21.653.72 acres, of which nearly all have been converted from the wilderness to fertile farms. The Miami and Pottawatomie Indians were for many years the sole inhabitants of the territory included within its present limits, and although their lands had been : cede! to the white man by treaty long before its first settlement, they still remained in the vicinity, an 1 were seen for several years after pioneer labor was ^inaugurated. They never molested their white neighbors, but frequently had bitter quarrels among themselves, often killing one or more of their number in the melee.

Early Settlement

Reinard Cripe, a Pebnsylvania German, settled with his family on Spy Run. , in the fall of 182.5. He was not remarkable for energy, and did hut little toward i the improvement of the land upon which he settled, or "squatted." He was fond ; <*f the chase, 'and gave a large proportion of his time to the pursuit of that sport. lie was a clever, good-natured man, and was well liked by those who came to the township at a later date and formed his acquaintance. He remained but a few years, and removed to Elkhart County. I nd., where ho probably died.

Thomas Hatfield came to the township and purchased a tract of land, return¬ ing soon after to his home in Montgomery County, Ohio. He was a native ot tiie State of Delaware, where he lived until twelve years of age, then emigrated with his parents to Ohio, where he grew ro manhood and married. There he was only able to root a farm, and determined to seek among the cheap lands of Indi¬ ana the location for a home and the means of independence. With this end in view, he made the purchase, and in November, 1825, he placed his family and household goods in wagons, and on the 6th day of December following, reached his home in the forest. Ho settled on Section 23. where he lived six yorifcs, then sold to William Bolton, by whom the farm was subsequently sold to its present owner, John C. Pfeiffer. In 1833, he entered the farm upon which his son. Ben¬ jamin Hatfield, now resides. This he cleared and improved, and made it his home until his decease, in 1863.

David Archer came with his brother-in-law, Thomas Hatfield, in the same year (1825). Mr. Archer was a native of Kentucky, and moved from that S'ate : to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he married and remained until his removal j to this township. He first, settled on a tract of land adjoining Thomas Hatfield. 1 This he subsequently sold, and removed to the northern part of the township where \ he resided until his decease. This farm is now owned and occupied by; It is son J David.* Mr. Archer was accomp inied in his journey by Adam Pettit, an unmar- i ried man who purchased and cleared the farm upon which he now resides. In j 1828, ho mimed MG Sarah, dmghtcr of David Archer.

Amlnnv J M uuv-.-ann- vyitli the family of Benjamin Archer, as early as 1824, mid was in Mr. Archers service for* several years thereafter. He was at

Isaac Klinger came in 1826, and entered a tract of land ..ear the present site of Bloomingdalo. to which he removed his family in the following year. He subsequently purchased the farm on Section 17, where he now resides.

Jonathan Cook, a native of Rhode Island, came with his family in the spring of 1827. He settled on Section 34, where he resided until 18.52, when he sold his farm and removed to Illinois.

II i.s brother, Philip Cook, came to the township with him. He married Miss Isabel Archer in 1828, and removed to Fort Wayn -. where he was engaged in blaeksmithing Several years later, he removed to Perry Township and after¬ ward to his original purchase in Washington Township, where he resided until his decease, in i877.

Late in the year 1827, Lovell Yates and Richard Shaw settled in the town¬ ship. They were natives of Virginia; were fond of hunting and depended for their daily food more upon their rifl ;s than their labor in tilling the soil. They cleared a small piece of land which they rented of a Mr. Forsythe, of Fort Wayne. On this they cultivated a small field of corn ana potatoes. They remained but a f w years, and finally removed to Illinois.

James Sanders settled on St. Joseph River in 1827. He was formerly a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, after locating in the township, occasionally conducted religious meetings at the houses of his neighbors.

In 1828, a Mr. Hudson settled, with his family, on the Lima road, where he cleared and improved a farm. He died in 1840, and his family removed to the West.

Anderson S. Ballard settled in the township in 1830. He was a native of Virginia, and removed to Fort Wayne in 1825. He married Susannah Arbiter, a id was engaged at Fort Wayne as a brick mason until the date of his settlement in this township. IK remained in the township umil 1S55; was elected Justice of the Peace and served several years. Ho removed to Noble County. Ind.. in 1855, and remained there until death.

{Joseph Goins, a native. of Virginia, settled in the township in 1830. He purchased and cleared a farm, upon which he resided until his decease.

Joaph Gill came from Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1832, and settled on Section 15.. While there his wife died, and he returned to Ohio. and. in 18 57, came b.-ick to thj&* township. Ho resided at bis farm ou Section 15 until 1858, when he removed to his present residence on the Lima road. In 1839 aiufcK'\4<'. he was one of the contractor engaged in making it a plank road. .During his younger life In; took an active interest in the affairs of the township, and served as otic of'the first Board of Trustees, and subsequently held the positions w Super visor, Clerk and Treasurer. His services were rendered free of charge - a cus¬ tom then universal among tKo township officers. Mr. Gill still resides in the township, an I has .-cached the advanced ago of seventy nine years.

Joshua and GcL.-gc Buller, with their mother and two sixers, on me from Ohio in 1832, and G.i-n Peyton aud Babel Wuinwright, with their fitnii ics, from s the same State, settled iti the township in the same year.

Elias Walters came front St. Mary's, Ohio, and settled in the township in 1834. lie was identified with its interests throughout his life, and remained uutil his decease. Mis son, John, now occupies the home farm.

John M. Sinead, a native of Guilford, Vt., came to Fort Wayne in 1836. Me was a tanner and currier, and worked at that trade in Fort Wayne until 1840. In that year, he removed to Washington Township, and in March, IS li). married Mrs. Rachel Notestine, daughter of Thomas Matficld, and widow "f Emanuel Notestine He cleared and improved a farm, upon which he still resides.

L. II. Price came from Whitley County, Ind., and settled in the township in 1840. Mo is "a veteran of two wars." In the war with Mexico, he served under (Jen. Zachary Taylor, and, in the late rebellion, under Gen. James M. Schofield.

Christopher Pfeiffer came from Buffalo, N. in 1S40, and settled with his family on the farm now owned by his son, Christophor. He remained in the township until his decease, in I860.

After 1*40. new families arrived in tho township in such rapid succession that i: w.uM be impossible to give a detailed list of names. Within the fifteen years preceding that date, many improvements had been made, and many acres of -forest had been felled and succeeded by well-tilled fields.

In 1S30, Col. John Spencer surveyed and located a road from Fort Wayne, passing through this township, and terminating at Goshen, Ind. In the same season, lie surveyed what is known as the Lima road, from Fort Wayne to Lima, La Grange Co., Ind , and, in the succeeding spring, surveyed the Fort Wayne ami Leesburg and the Yellow River roads. Thus'the residents were provided "i h the means of communication with surrounding settlements and gobd markets; and, within a few years thereafter, the township was divided into road districts, and local communications facilitated. The first meeting for this purpose was held at the house of Isaac Klinger, Monday, June 3, 1839, when Supervisors were appointed and road districts established.

The Township Cemetery was donated by Thomas Hatfield in 1830. It consists of one acre, which was originally a part of his farm, on Section 22, and is still used for the purpose for which it was designed.

The first white child born in the township was David, son of David and Anna Archer. I He was born January 1, 1S27. He grew to manhood in the township, married -and reared a family, and is now one of its most respected

'J he fir*t Mi(/. - \n 1830, Henry RudLill erected the first mill, on the bank of St. Joseph River, and probably no enterprise ever inaugurated in the township Was h tiled with more pleasure 'than this. The inconvenience of travclmg to Ohio - to mill" was one und ;r which the settlers had long been compelled i to suffer; and the imperfect roads made these journeys impracticable at times, | and thev were often without flour in the house and compelled to subsist upon * corn-bread. So, when Mr. Rudisill announced his intention of building a mill m the Vicinity of their homes, every one seemed actuated by an impulssto con¬ tribute vsorn -thing toward its completion; and, acting upon this impulse, all turned out and assisted him to build it. The framework was made by a practical millwright, but the <iam was constructed by residents o£ the township, whose t freely and cheerfully given. It was started with one run of buhrs, s trade increased, its proprietor found it necessary to add to its manucapacity ; and, at the present time, it has four runs. For nearly half a V " u*.' h'1' been in active operation, and has maintained its reputation as a

'hit hirst Steam-Mill. - In 1835, Benjamin Sunderland built a saw-mill on tb- farm of David Archer, and sent to Dayton, Ohio, for the boiler and other ii -ciwsary machinery. David Archer, accompanied by his son John, went to that point t i convey the machinery to its destination. The boiler was placed on a wagon drawn by six yoke of oxen, and the balance of the machinery was drawn horses. . As they reached Snayne's Prairie they encountered bad roads, and - "i: it impossible to proceed farther with the heavy boiler, without additional motive power so young John Archer was sent home for two more yoke of oxen V !t'r T,,ch ntldiMon the load proceeded on its wav without further trouble.

\ .U;nja!!,,n StiDderbnd operated the mill .for three years, when it was sold to - , u Archer and I-ianets Compare!. Several years later, the building was destroyed by fire, and the machinery was sold.

> molded water. He carried on a good trade, jo a radio, if many b ,ng at I'M Wayne. About 18ijn, some partii 1 OiethoB .of manufacturing this :,rti .mil

The hirst Blacksmith. - In 1834, Charles Schwab erected the first forge in the township, and found work enough tp keep him employed at his trade about half of the week. He was engaged in repairing farm implements, manufacturin'' plow points, and articles of a similar chara iter. Me was an industrious man, and when not engaged at his trade, fouud employment at the Archer mill, near which his shop was situated.

TIw First Orchards. - In the spring of 1829, David Archer, Sr., set out the first orchard, at his farm on Section 3. , Me brought the trees from Ohio. In the same year, Benjamin Archer and Jonathan Cook set out orchards on their respect¬ ive farms, from the same lot of trees brought to the township by Mr. Archer.

The First Nursery. - About the year 1S2S, a man giving his name as John Appleseeds came to the township and established a nursery fur the sale of fruit trees. He was a bachelor, and a man of marked eccentricities of character ; was rarely found in an ill humor, and made himself a favorite with children. He was adherent to the Swcdenborgian form of religion, aud was looked upon as a good man. His nursery was at the farm now owned- by Mr. Blakcy. lie established O' her nurseries in different localities, and, during his life, amassed a very comfort¬ able fortune. He died in 1864, at the house of Air. Worth, with whom he hoarded.

Organization

On the application of Anderson 8. Ballard, John S. Archer and others, Washington Township was -organized at the March session of the Board of County Commissioners, 1S32, with the following bounds: "All Congressional Townshms north of Range 12 east, as also all the territory in Allen County east of said townships, on the west side of Little St. Joseph River."

Tne first election was held at the house of Thomas Hatfield in April, 1832. JohnS. Archer was elected Justice of the Peace, and Andrew J. Aloore and Adam Pettit, Constables.

The first tavern was opened by Air. Poirson, in a commodious log house, sit¬ uated on the Lima real. It was near a highway over which there was a great deal of travel, and its good-natured host made it a favorite stopping place. His daughter still resides in the township, and M the wife of J. B. Grosjean.

In 1829 or 1830, the first term of school was taught in a log cabin on the farm of John S. Archer. Its teacher was Alexander Waldron - a man whose education wjs by no means complete. He bad a happy faculty of gaining the love and confidence of the younger scholars, and in the elementary branches he was a very good teacher, but when the older scholars were called upon to recite their lessons in arithmetic, his deficiency was painfully apparent, and the young men took a mischievous delight in giving him problems which he was unable to solve. This school was sustained by private subscription, and for many years fol¬ lowing the schools of the township were conducted under the same system. The Legislature of 1851 appropriated a fund for the maintenance of public schools, and two years thereafter the frcc-school system was inaugurated in this township. The first free schoolhouse was erected at Scarlett's Corners, in the summer of 1853. It was found impossible to build the bouses and pay the teachers with the proportion of public money allotted to the township, and after this fact became known the citizens subscribed a sum sufficient to pay the teachers, while the pub¬ lic money was used for the construction of the buildings.

In the same season the second schoolhouse was erected, in District No. 6, and was called the "Pettit Schoolhouse," and in, the succeeding summer three more were erected, in District Nos. 1, 2 and 3. respectively. .Thus, from year to year the building of schoolhouses continued, until each district in the township was supplied. All the buildings (eight in number) were frame structures, but of this number, four have been replaced by substantial brick buildings, and it is the intention of the Trustees to erect a brick schoolhouse in cadi district. The town¬ ship now has air ample school-fund, and the teachers arc well qualified for the posi¬ tions they occupy.

The Tow I ship Library was purchased in 1854, and placed in charge of the Township" Trustees. It contains 360 volumes, and although they have been in circulation among the citizens for twenty-five years, they have been handled with great care, and are still well preserved. Among the collection are many standard biogr jphical works, talcs of travel and adventure, statistics, reports, etc. Tim historical department embraces Hume's England, Hildreth's Japan, History of the United 8:atcs, ilullam s Middle Ages, Fiagg's Venice, and minor histories. There arc also several valuable works on the science of government and ancient history. I he Township Trustee has always been the custodian of the library, and is required to keep account of each volume. Citizens of the township ha\o the privilege of borrowing the books, and their use of them lias liad'u good effect upon the general intelligence of the community.

Tiie First Religious Meeting

In 1829, Rev. Chute, of the Presbyterian Church at Fort Wayne, held tno first religious meeting in the township ut the house of Thomas Hatfield, and, later in the same year, at. the house of David Archer. Services were subsequently Conducted by ministers of various denominations who passed through' the town¬ ship cm route for othor points. No organization was effected untileleven years later, but scarcely a week passed in which religious services were not conducted at some point in ihe.townsliip.

The Methodist ffifitomal Church - In I S ill, the first church organization in the township was effected by m umbers of this denomination^ A class <was formed, consisting of George Ashley, Daniel Opleger, Uriah J. Rock and James W. Flemming, with their families. Several years later, they erected a small log church in the northwest part of the township, which was known as " Bethel Church." The ground for the chapel and cemetery was donated by George Ash¬ ley. Rev. J. W. Winans was the first minister. The building is still standing and is occupied by the sexton of the cemetery. After the completion of the church, its membership increased, and within a few years the growing congregation demanded a larger house. After the founding of the village of Wallen, a vote was taken to decide whether the new church should be built at the village, or on the site of the old. A majority of the members were in favor of having it built at Wallen, and in conformity to their wishes it was erected at that point in the latter part of the year 1872. The first services were held in 1873, and the church was under the pastoral care of Rev. William Lash. The first Trustees were John Ervin, George Opleger, James P. Ross, George Sunderland and David L. Archer.

In 1874, Mr. Lash was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. John P. Nash, who had charge of the church until 1876. Since that tune it has becu serv.d by the following ministers: 1876 - Rev. 0. Robinson and Irev. J. W. Lamport (six month each); William FI. Birch, Presiding Elder ; 1877 - Rev. J. W. Lowry; 1878 - Rev. Newton Burwell ; Thomas Stabler, Presiding Elder; 1879 - Rev. D. P. Harlman ; A. Marine, Presiding Elder.

In 1844, the Sunday school was organized with thirty scholars, and has .been continued ever since. James W. Flemming was the first Superintendent, and was succeeded in that office by Daniel Opleger, Eli Cutshall, John Ervin and Joseph Griswold, respectively. Luther Pratt is the present Superintendent. The present number of scholars is thirty-five.

The First Baptist Church was organized in 1846. by Elder Alfred Bing¬ ham, who continued in charge of the congregation one year. He was succeeded by Elder Adams, who was the Pastor during the next year. After the close of his ministry, Thomas Hatfield officiated as Pastor until I860 or 1861. Impaired health compelled him to resign the charge at that date, and the congregation was left without a Pastor. Prayer-meetings were maintained for two or three years after the resignation of the Pastor, but the interest of the members began to wane, and in a short time the congregation was reduced to such small proportions that the prayer-meetings were discontinued, and the organization disbanded.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. - In 1839, the first Catholic society in this township was organized at the house of Isadore Pichon, with fifteen fami¬ lies, and conducted services at his house until 1841. In that year, they erected a small-frame house of worship on Section 1 , where services were held every two weeks by Rev. Julian Benoit. The first resident priest was Father De Champ, who was installed in 1S57, and remained until his decease, which occurred about three years later. He was succeeded by Father Berti, who remained three years aud then resigned to take another charge. Father Adam was the next Pastor, and during his connection with the congregation the present church was erected. It is now under the pastoral care of Rev. B. Roche, with a membership of seventy families.

In 1834, the feeder connecting the waters of the St. Joseph River with the Wabash & Erie Caual, was constructed through the township. Freights were established at a reasonable rate, and large shipments of farm produce were made annually by citizens of the township.

In 1868, better means for transportation were offered by the completion of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ; and, in the following year, the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad was completed through the township. Through these arteries the products of the township have found their way to the world of traffic, and they have aided materially in establishing its prosperity.

The Village Of Wallen

Following the completion of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, Joseph IC. Edgerton divided some adjacent lands into town lots, and the village was founded in 1870. He gave its present name in honor of Mr. Wallen, Superin¬ tendent of the road. Additions were subsequently made on the south and east of the original plat, by James P. Ross. ..

He was boru in the State of Delaware, and, when twelve years of age, emi¬ grated with his parents to Ohio (then recently admitted as a State), settling in Montgomery County, where he grew to manhood, amid wild scenes of frontier life. His youthful experiences fully qualified him for the part he took in later years in the settlement of the township where he passed the last years of his life, . and where his remains now repose. He was yet a young man when the aggres¬ sions of Grea.t Britain made a defensive war necessary on the part of the United States in 1812. In that war, he enlisted as a musician, and followed the fortunes of the American Army until its close. He was with the garrison at Fort Greenville, and while there manufactured a pewter fife, which he carried through¬ out his period of service, and which often awoke the echoes with the patriotic airs of the day. This he bequeathed to his son, Benjamin, in whose homestead it is now treasured as a sacred relic.

After the close of his soldier life, he returned to Montgomery County, Ohio, and resumed the occupation of farming, lie married Miss Elizabeth Archer, and rented a farm in the neighborhood of his father's home. He saw at once that his fortune would accumulate slowly under such circumstances, and denied himself all save the necessities of life, in order to save money wherewith to pur¬ chase a farm. Land in Ohio was increasing in value year by year, and his atten¬ tion was naturally drawn toward the cheaper lands of Indiana.

Early in 1825, he visited this State - shaping his course toward Allen County - and during that visit selected and entered a tract of land in Washington Town¬ ship. Returning to Ohio, he made all necessary preparations for the journey, and in November, 1825. started, with his family and household goods, for the new home, and his second struggle on the outposts of civilization. He settled first on Little St. Joseph River, reaching his desiination December 6, 1825. After clear¬ ing a farm at that point, he made it his home, and there resided until 1833, when he sold it and entered the farm upon which he passed the residue of his life, and upon which his son Benjamin now resides.

He was an acknowledged leader in the community of which he was the first member, and from the organization of the township, in 1832. until his death, in 1863, he was constantly associated with the official business of the township ; as Justice of the Peace for twenty-five years ; as Township Clerk, and Inspector of Elections at various times. He was a member of the Baptist Church and a devout Christian ; and all who knew him unite in honoring his memory. He had two daughters and one son, all of whom are now living. His son.

Benjamin Hatfield

was born October 28, 1820, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and came with his parents to Allen County, Ind., in the sixth year of his age. Until nine years of age, he had never been permitted to attend a school of any kind, and at that age received his first iusight into the mysteries of the primer, in a log schoolhouse, presided over by Alexander Waldron - a man whose deficient acquirements were lost in the love entertained for him by his scholars. Through the medium of the "subscription schools" then in vogue, young Hatfield acquired a fair knowledge of the elementary branches, and, for his subsequent education, is indebted to his own efforts. He was fond of reading, and never lost an opportunity of improving his mind by the perusal of such books as it was possible to obtain.

His school life covered a short period in the summer, while he was still too young to be of service in the economy of the home farm. As he grew older, he became a necessity to his father, and proved himself a valuable assistant - thus drifting naturally into a knowledge of farming, and adopting that occupation, almost unconsciously, as his occupation in life.

August 14, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Mahnda Valentine, a native of Franklin-County, Ohio, and daughter of John and Susanna Valentine, who were among the pioneers of that county. She has been to him a helpmeet indeed, and a loving wife. A kind Providence has forborne to sever a union so happily formed, and their silvery locks are crowned with a halo of mutual devo¬ tion Efoht children came to bless his home and gather at evening in a happy group abo°ut the fireside. Their names are Rachel, William, James, John, Mar¬ tha, Elmira, Marriette and Henry, all of whom are now living. All have reached maturity', and some have become heads of families. As the infirmities of age begin to tell upon the father, his sons - young men - have assumed the manage¬ ment of the farm, therebv relieving him of all manual labor.

Mr. Hatfield is one of the oldest living settlers in the township, and has been an interested, observer of its growth and improvement. He resides at the old homestead, and has a farm of 232 acres, well improved.

Although not identified with any religious body, he has been a cheerful con¬ tributor to the building and maintenance of churches ; and his moral example in life is one thoroughly worthy of emulation.

Thomas Hatfield

The painted portrait of Thomas Hatfield would present a picture, in whose outlines the qualities of firmness and bravery would stand forth in bold relief qualities which were among the most essential possessions of those who were first instrumental in opening the way for the settlement of this county. It would show, farther, the evidence of a mind far above mediocrity, cultivated by a rigorous course of individual application in the circumscribed field of intellectual pursuits to which he was confined ; a large amount of physical as well as mental force, and, withal, a bright and cheerful disposition, and an inclination to make the best of Ins

John Archer

The name of Archer is one which appears in the earliest annals of Washfrton Township. David Archer, father of the subject of this memoir, was a give of Montgomery County, Ohio. In that count? he acquired his education, ew to manhood, and married Anna Crisenbury, a native of Kentucky. He ns a farmer, and a man of great industry ; but his labors returned him an insuf- :ient remuneration, and he turned his attention toward the State of Indiana in ,c hope of improving his fortune by buying land and starting anew Land in lieu County was then worth from SI to $3 per acre; and he took advantage of its cheapness to outer a large tract. Iu December, 1825, be made all the preparations for his journey hither, and started for his newly purchased home. Two wagons contained, his earthly possessions, including his family. After a journey of three weeks, he reached Fort Wayne, where he left his family, going alone to the forest for the purpose of constructing a cabin, into Which he moved immediately after its completion. He cleared and improved^ a large farm, and, in addition, was extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick. From the proceeds of his labor he discharged the indebtedness against him in Ohio, and its years rolled on, accumulated a very comfortable fortune.

He was a man of strong mental and physical abilities; and, though his edusation was deficient, he was a power in the community, and every one felt confi¬ dence in his keen judgment. He was constantly suggesting new measures for the advancement of the community's interests. Chiefly through his instru¬ mentality, Washington Township was organized.

He was a member of the M. E. Church and the Masonic Fraternity; and his daily life w.xs of a high moral standard. He was elected County Commissioner in 1834, serving four years in that capacity. He died in August, 1861. Of his family of eight children, five are now living. His son, John, was born Sep¬ tember 22, 1822, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and when three years of age, came with his parents to his present home.' He was reared amid the scenes peculiar to pioneer life, and possessed but few opportunities for acquiring an education. His entire school-life was comprised within a period of three months, and that at a time when he was too young to be of service at home. Like the majority of pioneer lads, the principal part of his education was in the daily routine of labor, yet be managed to find time for the perusal of such books as he could obtain, and thus acquired a good general knowledge. When nearly twentyone years of age, he left home aud accepted employment in a brickyard. Subse¬ quently he " hired out" to a farmer, taking charge of the farm while its proprietor worked at the carpenter trade. It was stipulated that he should have the privi¬ lege of attending school in the winter, during his engagement; but. this part of the contract was never fulfilled, as his employer refused to continue his wages if he lost the time by going to school.

On the 4th day of October, 1S49, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Poinsett, daughter* of Peter and Mary Poinsett. Prior to his marriage, his father gave him a tract of land, upon which he built a cabin and set out an orchard. To this, in later years, he added by purchase, and now has 200 acres, the larger portion of which is in a fine state of cultivation.

Mr. Archer, although not identified with any religious denomination, is yet a firm believer in the articles of Christiau faith, as set forth by the Bible, and is a man of irreproachable morality. He has devoted a lifo-iime to the pursuit of the occupation chosen in youth, and with successful results. He has kept pace with the march of improvement and is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of his township, and no one possesses the respect and confidence of his neighbors in a more marked degree.

Eight children crowned the happiness of his married life, viz., Ann Eliza, Mary J., Wiliiam L., James W., Oliver A., John P., Winfield S. and Andrew J., of whom all are now living, save William L. and James W.

John S. Poinsett

was born November 23, 1818, in Montgomery County, Ohio. His father, Peter Poinsett, was a native of New Jersey, and married Mary Rockhill. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom now survive.

The subject of this sketch attended a common school in the neighborhood of his home, where he acquired a fair knowledge of the elements then considered sufficient for an education. The principal part of his education, however, was of a practical nature, being a course of instruction in the details of firming.

In 1828, he came with his father to Allen County,. Ind., and accepted employment with his uncle, William Rockhill. Shortly after this date, his father accepted a contract for constructing a portion of the Lebanon Canal ; and in the fall following his arrival in this county, young Poinsett returned to Ohio to assist him. After the completion of this work, he was engaged with his father on a section of the Miami Canal.

Ilis father then decided to settle in Allen County, where he had purchased land during his first visit. His labors ih Ohio were not productive of the antici¬ pated profits, and he sought the forests of this county, in the hope of improving his finances - a hope which did not utterly fail of realization. He purchased a quarter-section of heavily timbered land, one-half of which was paid for by the subject of this sketch. This tract of eighty acres was to be his own, provided he would maintain his parents during life and pay the debts against the farm. This trust he faithfully fulfilled, and from that time, till several years later, was engaged in clearing land on both tracts. After coming into possession of his eighty-acre farm, lie traded it for the farm upon which he now resides, in Wash¬ ington Township, containing 170 acres.

Several years later, he purchased the former tract of eighty acres from the party to whom he had traded it, and after selling a portion of his farm, now has 220 acres, well improved and cultivated.

During his youth, Mr. Poinsett evinced a marked delight in the sport then so prevalent throughout this region, viz., hunting ; but as he grew older, and home duties demanded his attention, he abandoned this sport, and has ever since confined his attention to the cultivation of his farm, with an assiduity that has returned him a rich reward. He is not only a successful farmer, but a successful stock-dealer also.

He has never sought distinction through political channels, and never served (his county in an official capacity. Firm in his support of the Republican party,

He has been an interested observer of the growth and improvement of bis township, and has always contributed his share toward the furtherance of enter¬ prises designed to benefit the public.

He is a man of upright character, and is highly esteemed throughout the community. To bless his wedded life there were eight children, namely, Maria, Peter, William, John. Hattie J., Joseph, Mary E. and Edward, of whom Maria and Peter are deceased.

Samuel Kariger

was born in Knox County, Ohio, March 22, 1821. His father, Frederick Ka iger, was an industrious, substantial farmer, instilling into his children from eariy childhood, habits of industry and effectual application.

In his youth, Samuel also had opportunities for acquiring an education, such as were afforded by the public schools, and he improved well those opportunities.

In 1836, the father, selling his farm in Ohio, came with his family to Allen County, arriving here on the 9th of April. He made little delay in purchasing the tract of laud in Washington Township, upon which he resided until his death, which occitfffirt January 21, 1846. It consisted of 160 acres, and was about four and d^^alf miles northwest from Fort Wayne. The subject of our sketch subsequently purchased the same, and has since made it his home. On the 3d day of March, 1847, young Samuel gave his hand in matrimony to Miss Mary Ann Benze. She became the mother of one son and four daughters.. But earth could not always keep her ; she surrendered life, to pass across to those brighter shores, on the 24th of June, 1873, and her loss to a bereaved husband and family has been irreparable.

Mr. Kariger has now been a faithful member of the Presbyterian Chur fih of Fort Wayne upward of sixteen years. In politics, he is a Democrat, but has ' never been an aspirant to public positions at the hands of the people. He is an excellent farmer ; having well-kept fields, neat fixtures and tasty surroundings, and, as a neighbor and fellow-citizen, is esteemed by all who know him.

Diedrich William Geeseking

This representative farmer of Allen County is a native of Prussia. Tie was born August 3, 1817, near Minden, on the Weser. His father was a' wellto-do farmer of that locality. Diedrich remained with his father, assisting in the labor and] management of the farm, until twenty-one years of age. About that time, his father died, and Diedrich enlisted as a soldier in the Prussian Army. Having served two years in the Fifteenth Infantry Regiment, under Gen. Frangel, he received an honorable discharge.

A brief time subsequent to this, May 5, 1841, he took passage on the sail¬ ing vessel Alvena, for New York. Upon reaching that city, July IQ, he at once pushed on westward, to Fort Wayne. This point was attained after a long, tedious journey, and he was content to go no farther. Allen County was as yet a wilderness, almost unbroken. The forests swarmed with wild beasts, and with fine game of various kinds. The Indians, too, still outnumbered the whites. As evidence of game being plentiful, Mr. Geesekiug recounts having seen in ' he woods, at one time, a flock of 150 wild turkeys. Devouring wolves were so pr valent that to rear sheep was exceedingly difficult.

In those early days of his arrival, Fort Wayne to him seemed little more than an Indiau village - surely a great contrast to the busy, beautiful, populous city it is to-dav. At that time, too, the old Fort, in part, was still standing.

But Mr. Geeseking, trained to industrious habits, lost no time. He soon secured a situation with a farmer in Eel River Township; Mr. Charles Zigens, a native Polander, was his employer. He received compensation for his services, §5 per month and board. Continuing his engagement with Mr. Zigens about one year aud a half, he subsequently - April 5, 1843 - gave his hand in marriage in Miss Mary Jokey. This union was a happy one. In the many vicissitudes of life, as a companion she proved herself eminently deserving - patient, kind, frugal and industrious. Sharing his toils and hardships, she lived to see them crowned with plenty. She departed this life November 10, 1876, loved and lamented by all who knew her. A fond husband and three sons - William D., Frederick W. and,John F., are left to mourn her irreparable loss.

In the accumulation of property, Mr. Geeseking has been successful. Soon after his marriage, he purchased eighty acres of land, paying 84 per acre for the same. It was situated on Section 1 2. Lake Township, of this county. The purchase made, the next order instituted was to improve. Logs were cut aud prepaied with which to build a cabin for habitation. Neighbors, for miles around, were invited to help rear the structure, and were then barely able to accomplish the purpose. It was thought six gallons of whisky aided very much on that occas on (it seems whisky in those days was used for mechanical purposes). Here, cirly and late, he toiled to prepare a home! Morning's twilight found him, with ax and maul, ready for the woods. From then till eve, heavy blows were dealt in felling the giant timber, and in riving rails for fencing, while brush-piles and logheaps were burned after nightfall !

In work, where she could assist, his wife ever stood ready to afford a helping hand. Carrying rails to lay into fence was the most laborious aid thus rendered.

Industry was recognized and rewarded ; prosperity smiled upon them ; pur¬ chase followed purchase in rapid succession, until his estate - at one time in Lake and Eel River Townships - aggregated 940 acres.