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THE
PICTORIAL HISTORY
OF FORT WAYNE
INDIANA
A REVIEW OF
TWO CENTURIES OF OCCUPATION OF THE
REGION ABOUT THE HEAD OF THE
MAUMEE RIVER
By
B. J. GRISWOLD
ILLUSTRATED
WITH HALFTONE ENGRAVINGS
AND THREE HUNDRED PEN DRAWINGS AND MAPS
BY THE AUTHOR
ALSO THE STORY .Vfl OF THE TOWNSHIPS OF ALLEN COUNTY
BY
MRS. SAMUEL R. TAYLOR
CHICAGO Robert O. Law Company 1917 -,^
THE NEV/ YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
82124SA
ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDKN FOUNDATIONS
R 1©27 X.
Copyright, 1917, by B. J. Griswold
Introduction
THE probability that the scattered fragments of the story of Fort Wayne otherwise would be lost to the children of to- morrow suggested the writing of this book.
It is a narrative worthy of preservation — a story to inspire that true love of home which is the foundation of the purest patriotism and citizenship.
The record begins with the appearance of the first adventurous Frenchman among the savages of ancient Kekionga and closes with the story of the departure of Fort Wayne's patriotic sons for the blood-stained battlefields of France, there to give their lives that the world may be made "safe for democracy." Three centuries intervene. The search for the actors in the great drama has un- covered many new names and heroic deeds ; it is with pride that we introduce them now.
If "the love of country is the highest and purest affection of the soul," let us implant that love in the lives of our youth through the re-telling of the story of the deeds which have made possible the blessings of today.
The writer of this book came to Fort Wayne in 1903, "a stranger in a strange land," knowing naught of the romantic story which soon was revealed to him through the study of written and un- written fragments and the narratives of the representatives of the "first families." Someone, he felt, should gather these disconnected facts into a comprehensive whole. Convinced that the task might be deferred until too late to save the fading, crumbling records, he determined to make the work a personal undertaking — not with the impossible result of producing a literary treasure but with the hope that the desired end would overshadow the faultiness of the means of expression.
With my earnest thanks to all the friends who have given unsparing assistance in the preparation of the book, I dedicate it to the service of a more firmly grounded love of home and country.
Fort Wayne, Indiana, ^^ ^ jg v^
August 15, 1917. ' ^4A^^^^--<.^L.^.>--o--tJ^^^^~^^
ILLUSTRATIONS
Abbott, William T 442
Allen, Colonel John 201
Anderson, Calvin 390
Aveline, Francis S 243
Ayres, Dr. Henry P 354
B
Bailey, Peter P 351
Barbour, Myron F 324
Harnett, James 247
Bass, Colonel Sion S 457
Bavless, Sol D 351
Benoit, Rt. Rev. Julian 356
Berghoff, Henry C 660
Bigger, Governor Samuel 393
Bird, Ochmig 427
Borden, Judge James W 341
Bourie, Louis T 438
Bourie, Mrs. Louis 227
Brackenridge, Judge Joseph.. 301
Brandrifl, Alfred D 417
Brenton, Samuel 394
Brooks, Dr. William H 358
C
Carson, Judge William W 285
Case, Charles 400
Cass, General Lewis 367
Celeron, Bienville de 47
Chapeteau, Angeline 176
Champlain. Samuel de 27
Chapman, John 371
Colerick, David H 297
Comparet, Francis .■ 247
Croghan, Major George 201
D
Dawson, John W 341
Dawson, Judge Reuben J. - . .310 Denny, Major Ebenezer ..... 192
Drake, Moses, Jr 458
DuBois, John B 3.54
Edgerton, Alfred P 446
EdKerton. Joseph K 3S6
Edsall, Samuel 267
Edsall, William S 267
Elskwatawa 182
Engelmann, Mrs. Archangel. .3.56
Evans, S. Cary 192
Ewing, Charles W 262
Ewing, Colonel George W 262
Ewing, Judge William G. . . .259 F
Fairfield, Captain Asa 324
Fay, Judge James A 442
Ferry, Lucien P 307
Ferry, Mrs. Lucien P 225
Fleming, WUliam 417
Fry, Jacob 304
PORTRAITS
Girty, Simon 77
Grice, Jesse 560
Griffith, Captain William 211
Griggs, Mrs. Jane T 285
Griswold, Mrs. Angeline 176
H
Hamilton, Allen 259
Hamilton, Andrew Holman ..416
Hanna, Colonel Hugh 271
Hanna, Judge Samuel 243
Hanna, Robert B 193
Harding, Daniel F 560
Harmar, General Josiah 9S
Harrison, William Henry 211
Heald, Mrs. Rebekah Wells. . .178
Hedekin, Michael 310
Higgins, C. R 193
Hoagland, Pliny 380
Holman, Joseph 271
Hosey, William J 560
Humphrey, Colonel George. . .455
Hunt, John Elliott 192
Hu.xford, Dr. Merchant W. ...306 J
Jenkinson, Major Joseph 218
"Johnnie Appleseed" 371
Johnson, Colonel Richard M. .218
Johnston, Colonel John 169
K
Kamm, John J 487
Kaough, William 193
Keil, Frederick W 193
Kil-so-quah 180
King, William 449
Kiser, Peter 353
L
LaFontaine, Chief Francis 3.50
LaSalle, Sieur de 29
Lasselle, Hyacinth 71
Lawton, General Henrv W 455
Little Turtle 162
Lotz, Henry 367
Mc
Mc.Tunkin, Alexander 425
McCuUoch, Judge Hugh 316
M
Maier, John G 3S6
Me-te-a 180
Miller, Edward C 193
Miner, Bvron D 327
Morgan, Oliver P 316
Morss, Samuel E 503
Morss, Samuel S 394
Muhler, Charles F 560
Munson, Charles .\ 503
N Nelson, I. D. G 327
Noel, Smalwood 274
Nuttman, James D 452
O
Oakley, Chauncey B 560
P
Page, William D 193
Parker, Christian 316
Peltier, James C 176
Peltier, Louis C 176
Peltier, Mrs. James 176
Peltier, William H. W 176
Pontiac 61
"Prophet, The" 182
R
Randall, Franklin P 346
Randall, Pcrrv A 561
Reed, Colonel Hugh B 452
Revarre, Anthony, Jr 176
Richard\-ille, Chief 233
Rockhill, William 280
Rockhill, Wright W 193
Rudisill, Henry 297
S
St. Clair, General Arthur 114
Scherer, Henrv P 560
Schmitz, Dr. Charles E 335
Smart, James H 478
Smith, William S 417
Stapleford, Edward 304
Stockbridge, Nathaniel P 367
Sturgis, Dr. Charles E 386
Suttenfleld, Mrs. Laura ,225
Swinney, Colonel Thomas W. .255 T
Taber, Cyrus 241
Tecumseh 18J
Tigar, Thomas 320
Tipton, General .John 255
V
Van Geisen, Munson 400
Vermilvea, Jesse 275
W Wallace, Governor David ....405 Wayne, Major Gen. Anthony
(Frontispiece), 123
Wells, Captain William 165
Wells, Jane T 285
M'ells, Rebekah 178
\^'histler, George Washington. 231
Whistler, Major John 233
WTiite Loon 176
Whitlock, Major Ambrose 131
Williams. .Jesse L 320
Wood, George W 3.35
Woodworth, Dr. B. S .390
Worden, Judge .Tames L 400
Z Zollinger. Colonel Charles A.. 405
MAPS
Maumee-Wabash Portage • 20
How the Rivers Were Made 21
Where the Mastodon Roamed 23
Where the Mound Builders Lived 23
Three Main Water Routes 26
Earliest Maps Showing the Rivers 28
Where the First French Forts Stood 34
Where the Last French Fort Stood 43
Notable Voyage of Celeron 49
Revolution in the West 69
Northwest Territory 79
Where Miami Town Stood 85
Harmar's Ford 99
Map of Fort Wa.rae Site, Drawn in 1790 100
Harmar's Operations 105
Battle of the Site of Fort Wavne, 1790 109
St. Clair's Battlefield 116
Where St. Clair's Army Was Slaughtered. . .117 Map Showing the Movements of General
Wa.vne's Army (1793-4) 125
Wayne's Route -Mong the Maumee 126
Battlefield of Fallen Timber . . - 129
Wayne Trace 133
Where the Two Stockaded Forts were Lo- cated 139
Waj-ne County in 1796 146
Fort Wayne and Surroundings, Map of Major
Wliistler 156-157
First Government Survey of the Region of
Fort Wayne 160-161
Greenville Treaty Boundary Line 169
Where Little Turtle is Buried 177
Where the Fort Dearborn Massacre Occurred. 182
Captain Wells's Farm 186
Map of the Siege of Fort Wa.\Tie, 1812 207
Harrison's Movements Before and After the
Siege 209
Where Major Jenkinson's Men Were Mas- sacred 220
Indian Reservations in Allen Conty 239
Historic Spots in Spy Run 241
Original Area of Allen County 252
Riley's Map of the Military Tract 262
MAPS— (Continued)
Original Plat of Fort Waj*ne 267
County Addition to Fort WaxTie 267
Feeder Canal and It8 Connection with Wa- bash and Erie Canal 325
Route of Wabash and Erie Canal Throuph
Fort Wayne 339
Indiana's Vast Plan of Public Improve- ments 342
Territorial Expansion of Fort Wayne 358
Location of Ruins of Waash and Erie Canal
Acqueducts in Fort Wayne 382
Pioneer Railroads of Northern Indiana and
Ohio 429
Camp Allen 458
Fort Waj-ne's First Baseball Grounds 468
GENERAL
The First White Man 17
Relics of Pre-Historic Man 22
The Mastodon 22
Remains of Extinct Peccar>' 24
Where the First French Forts Stood 34
Sif^nature of Sieur de Vincennes (FrancoiB
Morsane) 36
Burning of French Post Miami Sfl
Where the Last French Post Stood 43
French Relics Dug Up on the Site of Fort
Wayne 62
Steel Tomahawks 54
Scalping Knives 59
Sword Found in Lakeside 68
A Relic of the Indian Wars 75
Two "Turtle" Relics 81
liarmar's Ford Today 99
Grim Remainders of Harmar*8 Battle 101
Curious Relic of Harmar's IBattle 1(>7
Signature of Major Denny 112
Wayne Trace "Marker" 133
General Wayne's Camp Bed 141
Ruins of Last Blockhouse 143
Letter Written by the First Comnuuiduit of
Fort Wayne 145
Andirons of the Old Fort 14B
Two Waj-ne Relics 148
Wayne Coat of Arms 148
Buttons from the Uniforms of Soldiers of
Old Fort Wayne 151
Wavne's Body in Two Graves (Letter) 152
Whistler's Drawing of Fort Waj-ne 156-157
Anthony Wayne Flag 162
Greenville Treaty Signatures 165
Signature of Captain Wells 1fi9
Signature of Colonel Johnston 169
flovomor Hull's Plea for Major Whistler 175
lyittlf Turtle's Grave in ISflO 176
The Coming of Angeline Chapeteau 176
Fort WajTie in 1815 177
Historic Old Apple Tree 178
Is This the Washington Sword? 184
The Home of Kil-so-quah 186
Signature of John P. Hedges 186
General Hull's Fatal Letter 188
Little Turtle Tablet 190
Signature of Lieutenant Ostrander 190
Signature of Captain Heald lIKt
First Brick Building Erected in Fort Wa.i-ne.l92 Captain Wells's Letter Which Foretold the
Savage Outbreak 195
Harrison's Call for Tolunteers to S«Te Fort
Waj-ne 199
Signature of Major Croghan 201
Captain Rhea Foresaw the Siege of Fort
Wayne 203
Allien Harrison Said Goodbye to His Troops
at Fort Wayne ' 205
Cannon Balls Fired from Fort Wayne 207
A Commandant's "Love" Tetter 216
Where Major Jenkinson's Men Were Massa- cred 220
Chief Richardville Monument 225
Chief Richardville's Safe 227
When Whistler Rebuilt Fort Warae 229
Mrs, Suttenfleld's Table 231
Signature of Major Whistler 233
What a Verv Knrlv Historical Work Said
About Fort Wayne 245
Last Council House 249
Signature of Dr. Turner 249
Signature of Alexis Coquillard 249
Charter of Waj-ne Lodge Masons 253
Judge William N. Hood's Commission 257
Presidents' Signattires to Fort Wayne Land
Grants 260
Signature of John McCorkle 2«2
Fort Wayne's First Rocking Chair 280
The Story of the Fugitive Slaves 291
When Henry Rudisill Came to Fort Wayne.. 293
Rudisill Mill 299
Allen County's First Court House 301
"County Seminary" Receipt for Tuition 305
Fourth of July Invitation of 1834 308
Letter from a "Father of the Canal" 312
Canal Construction Contract 314
Early Copy of Fort Waj-ne'a First News- paper 318
Fort Wayne's First Oiurch Building 324
A Newspaper Quarrel of the Thirties 329
Fort WajTie's First Bank Building 330
A Social Affair of IW. 830
When the Early Families Entertained 332
Hugh McCulloch's Record of His First Bank
Salar>- 334
Rockhili House 3t4
.Mayer House 346
Fort Wayne's First Public School Building.. 346
Chief I..aFontaine'8 Chair 850
Courthouse Square in the Forties 3.'i2
Chief LaFontaine's House 353
Original Draft of the City Charter 359
Wabash and Erie Aqueduct at Fort Wavnc..364
General Winfield Scott's Letter .' 365
OrfT (Edsall) Mill 36S
The Hedekin House 368
"Johnnie Appleseed's" Grave 371
I>etter Written by "Johnnie Appleseed" 371
Why Henry Clay Could Not Attend the Canal
Celebration 372
Daniel Webster's Tribute to the Wabash and
Erie Canal 374
\ Page from the Canal Collector's Record
Book 378
Stoves of the Forties 380
Crumbling Ruins of the Canal 382
Private Currency of the Forties 385
.\n Order from Mayor Huxford's Court 389
Extracts from Letters of Henry Cooper 391
Grave of Governor Bigger 393
Plank Road Poster of 1849 399
Ruins of Locks of Wabash and Erie Canal 402
Methodist College 404
Junction of the Rivers in Civil War Times.. 412 Invitation to the First Railroad Excursion. .422
Colerick's Hall 425
Souvenir of Fort Wayne's First Public
Schools 425
Rome Old Railroad Tickets 427
Original Cl.iy School Building 4.'i3
Jefferson School 434
Fragment of a Letter of Colonel George
W. Ewing 435
Reminder of a Forgotten Bank 436
BeforetheWar Social Affair 444
Seal of the City of Fort Waj-ne 449
"Penn-syh-anta" Station 4.54
.\veline House 457
Fourth Court House 461
Operation of Trains in Civil War Times 464
Municipal ".Shinplaster" Currency 467
Relic of the Wood-Burning Locomotive Days. 468 Judge McCulloch's Commission as Secretary
of the Trea.sury 475
First Hoagland School, Remodeled 478
Old High School 482
Entrance to "The Rink" 487
Old Fort Waj-ne. Drawn after the Model of
Isaac Bush 556
I>r. Slocum's Conception of Old Fort Wayne. ..5.57
Port Wayne Centennial H.ymn 559
Reservoir Park. Scene of the Pageant of 1916. .561
Fort Wa>-ne Flag .5«1
Views of Pageant Grounds, 1916 576
Fifth (Present) Courthouse 576
Stirring Scenes of 1917 577
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
The First White Man of the Maumee. A Lakeside Fantasy 17
CHAPTER H.
The Portage That Made Fort Wayne.
The Importance of an understanding of the word "portage" — Its value to the discoverer — Hovi' the Maumee-Wabash portage joined the Great Lakes to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mex- ico— Resume of the story of the development of the "carrying place" — The Fort Wayne rivers — The great glacier — Pre-glacial man — The mastodon — Extinct animal life — The Mound Builders In Allen county 20
CHAPTER III.— 1614-1682.
Savage, Adventurer, Explorer and Priest.
Ancient French records of the Maumee-Wabash development give us the story of the early days of exploration and the struggles between the French, the English and the Indians — Value of the records of the Jesuits — The Miamis and their allies in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin — Kiskakons and Ottawas on Fort Wayne site — Iroquois, from the east, procure firearms and wage a war of extermination upon the Miamis and western tribes — Are forced back — Twightwees at Kekionga — Characteristics of the Miamis — Their allegiance to the French and latterly to the English — Coureur de bois — The Jesuits — Samuel de Champlain on the Maumee? — The earliest maps — La Salle and the never-ending dis- pute 25
CHAPTER IV— 1683-1732. Kekionga During the "Golden Era" of French Rule.
The peaceful mission of the French in the Maumee-Wabash valleys — Opposition to the encroachment of the English traders — The demoralization of the fur trade by the Miami-Iroquois war — Restoration of peace followed by the establishment of a stronger post on the site of Fort Wayne — Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur de Vincennes, and his great plan to "monopolize" the Miamis — Cadillac invades the Maumee-Wabash valleys — Tattooed savages at the site of Fort Wayne — Buffalo and bear — Francois Margane establishes Ouiatanon and commands Post Miami (Fort Wayne) — Vincennes founded — Margane burned at the stake 32
CHAPTER v.— 1733-1749.
The Last French Posts on the Site of Fort Wayne.
Longueuil's troops at the head of the Maumee — The Chief Nicolas (Sanosket) uprising— Capture of Post Miami (Fort Wayne) — Its partial destruction by fire while Douville, the commandant, is absent — Dubuisson rebuilds the fort — The remarkable voyage of Captain Bienville de Celeron — The duplicity of LaDemoiselle, chief of the Piankeshaws — Bonnecamps describes the conditions at Post Miami (Fort Wayne) — Chief Cold Foot undeceives Captain Celeron — Raymond builds a new fort on the St. Joseph River 42
CONTENTS vii
CHAPTER VI.— 1750-1760.
Surrender of the French Post Miami (Fort AVayne) to the English.
Celeron assumes command at Detroit — Increasing alarm at Post Miami (Fort Wayne) — Raimond's cry of alarm — "Xo one wants to stay here and iiave liis throat cut!" — The smallpox scourge — Death of Chiefs Cold Foot and LeGris— Captain Neyon de Villiers sent to comamnd Post Miami — The audacity of John Pathin — His arrest — Complaint of the English — Retort of the French — Two men of the Post Miami garrison captured and scalped — Langlade leads in the assault on PickawiUany — Death of LaDem- oiselle — Cannibalistic red men — Surrender of Detroit ends the French rule in the valleys — Lieutenant Butler receives the sur- render of Post Miami (Fort Wayne) — Ensign Robert Holmes in command 51
CHAPTER vn.— 1761-1765. Massacre of the British at Post Miami (Fort Wayne) — Morris and
Croghan.
The beginning of the Conspiracy of Pontiac — Holmes warned of the plot — He discovers the war belt at Keklonga — Holmes betrayed to his death by the Indian maiden — -Shot from ambush — Captain Morris's version — Survivors tell of the plot as planned and exe- cuted by Jacques Godefroy and Mincy Chene — Welch and Law- rence, the traders, and their account of the murder — Ouiatanon falls — Morris at Pontiac's camp — He reaches the site of Fort Wayne — Captured and thrown into the fort — Tied to the stake to be tortured — Saved by Chief Pecanne — Escapes to the fort — Colonel Bradstreet's expedition — Savages bring in the white cap- tives— Colonel George Croghan reaches the site of Fort Wayne 57
CHAPTER VHI.— 17C6-1779.
Miami Town (Fort Wayne) and the Revolution.
The savages renew their allegiance to the English — Sir William John- son fears the Indians may aid the colonists^Would reclaim the site of Fort Wayne — Hamilton in authority at Detroit — Sends out scalping parties to raid the American settlements — McKee, Elliott and the Girtys — George Rogers Clark's brilliant capture of Kas- kaskia. Cahokia and Vincennes — Celeron flees from Ouiatanon — Hamilton's army moves up the Maumee to the site of Fort Wayne — Conference with savage tribes — Valuable goods stored at the Miami village — Proceeds to Vincennes 67
CHAPTER IX.— 1780-1789.
The Massacre of La Balme — Washington Foresees Fort Wayne.
French traders at Miami Town (Fort Wayne) advance the cause of England in their war against the American colonists — The Las- selles, Beaubien and LaFontaine — Hyacinth Lasselle, the first white child born on Fort Wayne soil — The village thrown into consternation upon the approach of LaBalme — His identity and mission — Inhabitants flee to places of safety — LaBalme confis- cates the property of anti-American traders — The camp on the Aboite — Little Turtle leads in the night attack — Slaughter of La- Balme's men — Washington would establish a fort on the site of Fort Wayne 74
CmVPTER X.— 1789-1790.
Life in Miami Town (Fort Wayne), the Anti-American Center of
the" West.
Extracts from the journal of Henry Hay, of Detroit, a British partisan, who sojourned in Miami Town during the winter of 1789-1790 — The social life of the village — Savages bring in many captive
viii CONTENTS
Americans— Others are tortured and scalped— Wild scalp dances of the savages in Lakeside — Little Turtle and LeGris — Religious worship among the whites of the village — People summoned by the ringing of cowbells — Richardville as a youth — His mother — Early merchandising described as a "rascally scrambling trade" — John Kinzie, the Girtys, James Abbott, La Fontaine and Lor- raine— Hay would not risk his "carcass" among the "renegades" (Americans) — Prisoners at Chillicothe village — The town flooded... 85
CHAPTER XL— 1790. The Battle of the Site of Fort Wayne— " Harmar 's Defeat." General Josiah Harmar as a soldier — His mission to France — Is sent to expel George Rogers Clark from Vincennes — Benedict Arnold and Dr. Connoly disturb the west — Major Hamtramck sends An- toine Gamelin to the site of Fort Wayne to pacify the savages — Failure of his mission — Cannibalistic feast at the head of the Maumee — St Clair sends Harmar against the Miami villages (Fort Wayne) — Deplorable condition of the army — Reaches the Miami villages and destroys them with fire — Hardin's detachment led into ambush — A terrible slaughter at Heller's Corners — The army at Chillicothe on the Maumee — The retreat to Cincinnati halted to allow Hardin to return — Plan of the battle on the site of Fort Wayne — The fatal error — Slaughter of Wyllys's regulars at Har- mar's ford — Fierce engagement on the St. Joseph — The retreat — Washington's comment 98
CHAPTER XII.— 1791.
St. Clair's Defeat Imperils the West — Washington's Apprehensions.
Harmar's failure to establish a fort at the head of the Maumee — Consequences of the campaign — Washington summons St. Clair and outlines his plan — Generals Scott and Wilkinson and Colonel Har- din invade the Wabash region — Ouiatanon destroyed — St. Clair's army weakened by desertions — Poor equipment — Harmar predicts St. Clair's defeat — Forts Hamilton and Jefferson established — Army goes into camp on the fateful night of November 3, 1791^ "The bloodiest battlefield of American pioneer history" — Washing- ton in a rage — Savages rejoice and prepare for the coming of the next leader of the Americans 114
CHAPTER XIII.— 1792-1794. "Mad Anthony" Wayne, Savior of the West— "Fallen Timber." Disheartening conditions in the west — Washington's problems — Gen- eral Anthony Wayne chosen to lead the third expedition against the Indians — Washington's opinion of Wayne — Death of Colonel Hardin — Peace messengers tortured to death — Wayne trains his army and proceeds to Fort Washington (Cincinnati) — Joined by Harrison, Whistler, Lewis and Clark — The army at Greenville — British build two forts on American soil — Captain William Wells joins Wayne — The army reaches the Maumee — How Wayne de- ceived the savages — Fort Defiance erected — Blue Jacket leads the savages — The death of William May— Wayne's story of the battle of Fallen Timber — Sharp correspondence between Wayne and Major Campbell, commandant of the British Post Miami— The Americans destroy British property and vast acreages of corn — The result of Wayne's victory 121
CHAPTER XIV.— 1794. The Building and Dedication of Fort Wayne. Wayne's Legion departs from the vicinity of the British fort— Inci- dents of the march to Fort Defiance — Illness of the troops — The final lap to the goal of their hopes — The army reaches the site of Fort Wayne — How the prospect Impressed the soldiers — Wayne selects a location for the fort — Work on the buildings and the palisades is commenced — The "strike" of the volunteers — Wayne
CONTENTS ix
urges haste to avoid the coming cold — Courtmartial of offenders —Corporal Reading sentenced to death — The spy in the tree-top — Unruly soldiers steal beef — Wayne well pleased with the fort — An account of the dedication — Colonel Hamtramck names the post "Fort Wayne" — Hamtramck is given command of the post — Destitute condition of the troops — Wayne's "shoe" order — Departs for Greenville — His letter to General Knox 138
CHAPTER XV.— 1794-1805. The Fort in the Wilderness. Colonel Hamtramck and the incorrigible troops at Fort Wayne — The chiefs sue for peace — A winter of suffering^Wayne prepares for the treaty council — Little Turtle pleads for the retention of the site of Fort Wayne and the Maumee-Wabash portage — Wayne's diplomatic refusal — The treaty signed — Wayne's depart- ure— Visits the president — Sent to Detroit — His death — Starving Indians at Fort Wayne — Hamtramck goes to Detroit — Major Thom- as Pasteur succeeds to the command of Fort Wayne — Conditions during his administration of affairs — Colonel Hunt commands Fort Wayne — Birth of John Elliott Hunt — Marriage of Miss Ruthie Hunt and Dr. Abraham Edwards — Colonel Hunt transferred to Detroit — Captain John Whipple in command of Fort Wayne — Major Pike — Governor Harrison resents the activities of Captain William Wells — Would remove Wells from the Indian service — Colonel John Johnston, Indian agent — Wells and Little Turtle visit eastern cities — Quakers come to teach the Indians the art of agriculture — Fort Dearborn established by Major John Whis- tler 150
CHAPTER XVI.— 1806-1812. The Quiet Before the Savage Storm. Tecumseh and "The Prophet" unite the savages in a conspiracy to destroy the settlers — Captain Wells reports conditions at Fort Wayne — Raptiste Maloch and Angeline Chapeteau — Captain Na- than Heald commands Fort Wayne — His romantic courtship of Re- becca Wells — Lieutenant Ostrander's letter — Congress gives Wells the present Spy Run and Bloomlngdale districts — Harrison's 1809 treaty at Fort Wayne— Lieutenant William Whistler— Col- onel Johnston's troubles — Captain James Rhea in command of Fort Wayne — His weakness of character — The celebration of the 4th of July, 1811— The "big elm"— The battle of Tippecanoe — Sav- ages deceive Colonel Johnston — He is succeeded by Major Stlck- ney — War against England is declared — Rhea foresees Indian war — The death of Little Turtle — The Fort Dearborn massacre — Stories of the survivors 174
CHAPTER Xr^ai.— 1812. The Siege of Fort Wayne.
The massacre of the Fort Dearborn garrison and the surrender of Detroit to the British leave Fort Wayne in a position of peril- General Winchester to the west — Harrison's commission — How Logan, the Shawnee, saved the women and children of Fort Wayne — Me-te-a reveals the savage plot to Antoine Bondie, who tells the story to Major Stickney — Rhea scouts the idea of savage trickery — The murder of Stephen Johnston — Bondie foils the plans of Chief Winamac — "I am a man!" — Rhea, the drunken command- ant— The siege opens with severity — William Oliver's exploit — Harrison's report to the war department — The relief army moves forward — Flight of the savages — The arrival of Harrison's army at Fort Wayne — The arrest of Rhea — He resigns in disgrace — Destruction of the Indian villages — The arrival of General Win- chester—Harrison relinquishes the command and departs for Ohio 198
X CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII.— 1812-1813.
British Army Under Muir, Sent Against Fort Wayne, is Turned
Back.
Captain George Croghan at Fort Wayne — Revolt of Captain Ward's men — Winchester's rosy view of the future — Death of Ensign Leg- gett — Winchester's army put^ to rout the expedition imder Major Mulr, designed to destroy Fort Wayne— Suffering of the Ken- tucky troops — General Tupper's disobedience — Harrison's inspir- ing address — The battle of the River Raisin — Death of Colonel Allen — The siege of Fort Meigs — Harrison finds Fort Wayne in peril — Colonel Richard Menter Johnson sent to protect it — John- son's men massacred by savages within sight of the fort- Closing incidents of the war of 1S12 in the west— Death of Tecum- seh 214
CHAPTER XIX.— 1813-1815.
Jenkinson and Whistler, Commandants — Rebuilding Fort Wayne.
Major Jenkinson in command at Fort Wayne — A savage attack on his convoy — Major Whistler succeeds Major Jenkinson — The Sut- tenflelds and the Bouries— The residents of the fort — How the Fourth of July was celebrated in 1814— "Rniistler declares the fort was "an ill-constructed thing at the first" — Purposes to rebuild the stockade — When John Kinzie's scalp was valuable — Hostile chiefs plan attack on the forts— Whistler fears for "the poor devils" in the Indian camps — "No whiskey, no soap" — Whistler rebuilds the fort — John W. Dawson's observations concerning the build- ing and reconstruction of Wayne's and Hunt's forts — Description of the fort buildings and surroundings 223
CHAPTER XX.— 1816-1820.
The Evacuation of Fort AYayne— Wild Gatherings of Savages.
Richardville becomes the most wealthy Indian in the west — Major Vose succeeds Major Whistler in command of Fort Wayne — Relig- ious services in the fort— Doctor Trevitt and Lieutenant Clark— Vose builds the council house— The beginning of decisive canal activity— James Barnett and Samuel Hanna— The fort is aban- doned by the troops— Lonely situation of the pioneers— Captain Riley's prophecy concerning Fort Wayne — Rev. Isaac McCoy braves the perils of western travel and establishes the first Prot- estant mission and the first school— The voyage from Terre Haute — Rev. Mr. Finney's account of the annuity distribution to the Indians— Unprincipled traders— Rumsellers described as "rob- bers, thieves and murderers" — Scenes of debauchery — Major Long's unkind description of the "worthless population" of Fort Wayne ., 237
CHAPTER XXI.— 1821-1823.
Platting the To-wn of Fort Wayne— Allen County Organized.
Doctor Turner, John Hays and Benjamin B. Kercheval, Indian sub- agents — The first postoffice — Kercheval and Hanna, postmasters — The American F^ir Company — Alexis Coquillard, Francis Com- paret, James Aveline, the Ewings, the Hoods, William Rockhill, General John Tipton, the Swinneys, Paul Taber and others locate in the village — "Father" Ross— The first secret order, Wayne Lodge of Masons, organized within the fort— Why General Harri- son blocked the way against the establishment of a town in 1S05 — The government decides to sell the lands about the fort— The land office — Captain Vance and Register Holman— Allen Hamil- ton—John T. Barr and John McCorkle — Robert Young surveys the original plat of Fort Wayne— Swing's tract— Wliy the original streets run askew — Allen county is organized 251
CONTENTS
XI
. CHAPTER XXII.— 1824. Pioneer County Government — The First Lot Buj-ers. Settlers pour into tlie village of Fort Wayne — Arrival of the commis- sioners to establish the government of Allen county — Ewing's Washington Hall and Suttenfield's tavern — The first officials of Al- len county — Grand jury activities — The first attorney's license, trespass suit, divorce case, naturalization grant, tavern license and marriage license — Barr and McCorkle's plat of the town is accepted — Valuable gifts to the county — The original lot-buyers — The county library — Fate of the institution^Wells's pre-emption is opened — The first brick building — A near-war between the Miamis and the Ottawas assists in the foundation of two fortunes 265
CHAPTER XXIII.— 182.>1828. Beginnings of the Wabash and Erie Canal. How the authorities obeyed the laws — The first murder case — The log Jail on the courthouse square — The debtors" prison a faulty bas- tile — The County Seminary — The canal "fever" — Judge Hanna re- veals a plan to David Burr — The canal survey is authorized — Engineers succumb to attacks of fever — .Judge Hanna In the legis- lature— Congress passes the canal bill — A close call — The "feeder" canal — An early lawyer's story — The first gristmill — Pioneer enter- prises— A di'^astrous flood^The Ewings establish extensive fur trade — Fort Wayne loses the government land office 277
CIIAPTED XXIV.— 1829-18:31.
The Village Incorporated — "Underground Railroad" — The First
Courthouse.
The village decides to incorporate — The original town trustees — Laws governing the river ferries — Fort Wayne a "station" on the "under- ground railroad" — The slaves pass through the village — Earliest permanent Catholic and Protestant churches — The Big Leg mur- der—Keel boats on the Maumee — Trade over the St. Mary's — The government authorizes the state to sell the military tract at Fort Wayne— The doom of the old fort — Taber's addition platted— The first courthouse — Cheap rent at the "transfer comer" — ^The steamboat from Defiance — A cruel winter 288
CHAPTER XXV.— 18.32-18.34.
Canal Construction Begins — The First Newspaper — The First Fire
Company.
Congress and the canal — The Indiana legislature appoints a board of canal commissioners — Jesse L. Williams, chief engineer — Fort Wayne thrills with new life — Beginning of construction work is celebrated by the people on February 22, 1832 — The awarding of the construction contracts — Opening of the canal land office — Construction of the "feeder" — The first newspaper, the Sentinel, established by Tigar & Noel— Hugh McCulloch— His first impres- sions of Fort Wayne — "The Phenomenon" — Pioneer mail service. . .303
CHAPTER XXVI.— 1835-1837. Canal Celebration of 183')— The "Irish War"— The First Bank. The canal is opened between Fort Wayne and "Flint Springs" (Hun- tington)— A gay Fourth of July celebration — Oratory at the "feed- er" dam at the St. Joseph^The feud of the factions of Irish work- men on the canal — David Burr summons militia and averts a bloody clash between the "Corkonians" and the "Fardowns" — A hastily organized military company — The voyage by night to the scene of trouble — The belligerents disperse — Establishment of the first bank — "Four kegs of specie" — Charles McCulloch's story of the bank — A woman's description of a pirogue journey over the Maumee — Hard times in the valley — The first church structures — Early taverns — The first cookstove — How the pioneer rats came to town 322
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CHAPTER XXVII.— 1838-1839. Boat Yards and Other Pioneer Enterprises — Early Hotels. The state of Indiana "goes wild" over the internal improvement pro- gram— The canal begins to earn money — Early factories and boat yards — Names of some of the earlier boats which plied the canal — An estimate of Alexander McJunkin, schoolmastetr — "Rockhill's Polly," a step in advance of the times — History of the hotel — The Palo Alto (Mayer) house — Other pioneer hotels — Churches 337
CHAPTER. XXVIIL— 1840-1842.
Port Wayne City Incorporated — The First Officials and Their "Work.
The town votes to become a city — Franklin P. Randall prepares the charter — George W. Wood, the first choice of the voters to serve as mayor — The new city officials confronted by many vexatious problems — Rapid growth of the town — Canal troubles — Indiana's fatal misstep — The earliest bands of music — Building of the sec- ond courthouse — The organization of the Fort Wayne Guards — Establishment of the Fort Wayne Times — Joseph Morgan chosen to succeed Mayor Wood — The failure of them silk culture enter- prise 348
CHAPTER XXIX.— 1843. The Great Canal Celebration — General Cass's Address. The canal is opened between Toledo and Lafayette — The memorable Fourth of July, 1843 — Commodore Perry's cannon booms a wel- come to the visitors — The Toledo Guards — The parade — The exer- cises at the Swinney farm (Swinney park) — General Cass's mem- orable address — Peter Kaiser and the barbecue — The toasts — Gen- eral Cass receives a "ducking" — Promoters of the celebration — The packets and the freight boats — Early boat owners — Passen- ger and freight rates — Henry Lotz. mayor — The first daily mail — Highway building — The first daguerreotypes — "Johnnie Apple- seed." 362
CHAPTER XXX.— 1844-1845. The Miamis, "Hunted Like Wild Animals," Taken to the West. Flooded conditions in the spring of 1844 — The "Post" and the "Or- wick" — The first land drainage — The removal of the remnants of Miami nation to the western reservations — "The trail of death" — Savages taken through Fort Wayne on canal boats — Deplorable scenes — Whiskey destroys the lives of many — The favored chiefs — Richardville "play safe" — John M. Wallace, mayor — William Stewart, postmaster — High rates of postage — The first Catholic school 376
CHAPTER XXXI.— 1846-1847. Troops to Mexico— Methodist College — Concordia. Allen county sends three companies of volunteers to the Mexican war — Troops take their entire passage by water — Founding of the Methodist college — Its development and disappearance — Lutheran Male Academy — Concordia College — The Hedekin house, a' well- known hotel of canal days — Merchant W. Huxford. mayor — The third courthouse is erected on the public square — Beginning of the end of the Wabash and Erie canal — "White dog." "blue dog" and "blue pup" — A story of disappointment and despair — The last of the waterway 388
CHAPTER XXXII.— 1848-1850. The First Telegraph Service — The Scourge of Cholera. Fort Wayne secures telegraphic connection with the outside world — • Chester Griswold, the first telegraph operator — Wire troubles — A week of "no service" — The cholera scourge brings death to hun- dreds— Heroes of the epidemic — The cause — The "black swamp" —
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California "gold fever" is contagious — Fort Wayne victims — Some of the "Forty-niners" — William Stewart, mayor — Arrival of the steam propeller, "Niagara" — Samuel Stophlet, postmaster — The earliest dentist 397
CHAPTER XXXIII.— 1851-1852.
The Building of the First Railroad — A Plea for Immigration.
Jesse L. Williams suggests a great railroad project — The beginning of the Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad — Allen county votes financial aid — Construction work begins — The first locomo- tive— Discouraging failures — Tribute to Judge Hanna — A line west from Fort Wayne — Subscriptions paid in land and labor — The first railroad excursion to Fort Wayne — Banquet and speechmaking — Railroading before the war — The launching of the "H. H. Stout" A plea for Immigration — The vote to exclude the negroes — Dr. Philip G. Jones, mayor — "Egging" the anti-slave editor — Court of common pleas — The earliest "bloomers" cause a near-riot 408
CHAPTER XXXIV.— 185.3-185-1.
While the "Free" Schools Fought for Existence.
The discouraging beginning of the public schools — The first board of education and its problems — The opening of the first schools — Citizens vote against proposition — George A. Irwin — Schools close for want of financial support — E. S. Green and James H. Smart, superintendents — The first graduates — Charles Whit- more, mayor — The Hamilton bank — Colerlck's hall — Wayne town- ship library— Beginning of artificial gas service — Illuminating the streets — When Fort Wayne went "dry" — The first daily newspap- ers—First county fair — Origin of the name "Summit City" — A "roast" of the city market— John G. Maier, postmaster — Mad An- thony Guards 419
CHAPTER XXXV.— 1855-1856.
The Execution of Madden and Keefer — Workingmen ".s Lit)rary.
Two murderers put to death in the jail Inclosure — A tale of horror — The building of the Wabash railroad— The earliest photographs— The Workingmen's Institute and Library — Organization of the fire department— Major Curtis and his bank — Valuable storage — Horace Greeley's apology — Early slavery discussion 432
CHAPTER XXXVI.— 1857-1859.