The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-04
A Western Village.

Western Village.
The following interesting description OF promi-
sing rising town in the State of Indiana conveys
good idea Of the rapid progress which civilization
is making in the west:-
The site of the town OF Defiance, for pleasant
ness and healthiulness OF location, and for pcru-
resque beauty, cannot be exceled, ii cquallrd by
any point in the west. The Maumee, at this point.
IS broad deep and pure, with bold bluff banks thai
T,se Immediately from the margin on the south
side, and on the north, commencing several rods
back, leaving level space for the towing path OF
the CANAL the street and a row or two OF buildings
rises rapidly into bold and commanding emf
hence, which extends long distance above and be-
low the town, forming most agreeable outline 10
the view. The Auglaize river here forms its juno
ton at right angles, with the Maumee, at which
point, are still to be traced with great dstinctness
The outlines o; old Fort Defiance, the fortlhcaton
occupied by Gen. Wayne after the close Of the
revolution, In reducing and subjugating those
hordes OF mercenary, ruthless savages that still
continued their depredations and perpetration OF
atrocltesupon the frontier settlements, which were
instigaed In the first instance by the British. Du
ring he last war, this post was also, at one time,
occupied by British garrison. A little farther up
the Auglaize, may be dscerned the remnants and
stamps Of the old picket fort, Winchester, and
short distance farther, numbers of little tumui OF
earth, beneath which rest the remains OF many a
brave soldier, who was hurried into eternity by
epidemic, that at one time prevailed in the camp
In a stroll TO that :" Point" and up the bank OF
the Augaize (Which forms delightful promenade,
and one much resorted to, it may almost be said
that we are treadIng upon classic ground. How
many interesting associations and sad remlpscen.
ces crowd themselves upon the minds of the con
emplative, they view, one after another, these
relics, which may not inaptly be styled landmarks
IN our country's history; and yet there are those
that can tread lightly over them, and stand even
upon the earth that covers the remains OF patriots
that died III their country's defence, without be-
slowing Retrospective thought pom those events
of which they are commemorative But time,
whose magic touch builds up and overturns en-
pires, also, slowly but surely, with his destructive
finger, grasses from the public mind the remem.
braces Of the most important events, and he is
no respecter OF persons, places or things, no ex-
emption from his influence could be expected for
those above alluded to- Little now is thought OF
the tribes OF red men that once occupied this coun-
try, living and raising their corn along the valleys
Of the Maumee and Auglaize, and on the
very spot where now the operations Of
rive simplicity and happiness, until trans,
formed, by the influence of British gold and
fire water" into mercenary marauders-mon-
sters Of barbarity; and that then prowled about,
or lay in ambush in the thickets by day, and at
night emerged from their hiding-paces upon the
settlements to butcher the defenceless inhabitants,
ITO blast and to burn, everything that came with
in their reach Of the military forces that wend-
ed their way through the forests of this region in
pursuit OF these savages, to exterminate or reduce
them to submission. The present and the future
occupy the minds OF mankind, to the almost total
exclusion of thoughts like these II is therefore Of
the present condition and future prospects Of our
town, that we have TO speak, and must therefore
crave forgiveness Of our readers for the above d.
erosion ES But itsis tsubject to which we could
not alude without giving way, in some measure,
TO the reflections which it naturally inspires.
The town occupies an area of about three.quar-
tiers Of mile square, descending gradually from all
directions towards the rivers, though the principal
descent is towards the Maumee, forming very
even, regular, dry piece OF table land, which
are several beautiful groves OF young and flourish
ing trees, that have sprung up where once the In
~ 0f Ian p
tends much farther up both rivers, SO as to offer
most eligible building sites for more than mile in
each direction The soil is Of q rich loamy cha,
racter and makes excellent gardens on all parts of
the plat; and by digging TO the depth OF about
twenty-five feet an abundant supply of the purest
and most wholesome water Is obtained. The build
iDgs that have recently been, and are now being
erected, IN good taste, and many Of them large
and substantial. Within a year or two, the i'm
rrovements of the town have been extended ives,
of the canal, and among them are few large and
elegant dwelling houses, built in excellent taste
During that period there have been erected,
three large, and as many smaller stores, four good
sized warehouses, one church, and large brick
school house, one ashery, one tannery, and dwell
ling houses In proportion
Our Town Council have shown that the right
kind OF beralty and public spirit exists among the
citizens, by constructing good side walks through
out every principal street, and only one thing il
now required to render this one of the most agree
able places for residence in the west and that u.s.
TO remove several old rickety, dilapdated blocks Of
Oulidlngs, tnat nave the appearance OF being OF an
tedlluylan construction, and that, were it not for
sacred history to the contrary, might be supposed
to have withstood the violence OF the flood and
TO erect others in their stead.
But il is not only place OF private residence,
that this town is desirable; those who
think that Defiance is not to become place
of any commercial Importance, reckon withou,
their hssts. Already is there business done here
that is equaed by few, if any places of its sze and
mechanics Of all kinds find plenty Of employment,
and thriving. Situated as it is, at the conf1u-
ence of the two principal rivers Of the county,
affords Use, valuable water power-in the heart
OF fertile country rapidly populating with the
most staunch industrious and enterprising class
OF farmers that any country boast Of, cannot
tail of becoming an Important point OF trade
U3- COMSrOCK's COMPOUND FLUID EXTRACT
OF sARsAPARlLLA-For impurities of the blood and