The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-07-19
The NIaumce valley Its Early
History.

From paper presented to the Maumee
Valley Pioneer Association, through w. V.
WAY, Esq, 10y I. w. PowELL, of Delaware,
tho following extract is made, which will
be read with interest;
At the close Of the war Of 1912 the at
tention Of the public was moro directed to-
wards the MNumcc, on account OF its prom
ising future importance, than to any other
new country. That war had expelled all
tho former inhabitants and rendered tho
country entirely desolatc, but on the return
OF peace settlers began to re.posses the
Valley, aud iotm settlements at prominent
points at the foot of the Rapids, Roche dc
Boute, Prairie do Mark and Defiance.
came to Ohio in 1879, aud in 1920 went
Immediately to the Maumeo. On seeing
the beauty Of the Valley, with very ex-
ated confidence in its future destiny, be-
came quito an enthusiast, and determined
to make il my future home. From Woos-
ter travelled ON horseback by the place
where Ashland now is, New Haven and
Lower Sandusly. From the lattor place to
the Maumee it was AN entire wildernese
and known as the Black Swamp, through
which there was no road except trail
through the woods. Arriving at Perrys.
burg in the afternoon OF pleasant day, on
the high bank near Fort Megs, | was im-
pressed with the magnificent sceuery of the
Valley A that time there was not u sin
Gle house upon any of tho iulots in Perrys.
burg the front street had Just been cut
open aud cleared of woods and brush. !
cr ossed the river TO Maumoe, where made
my iomo for some time at u public house
kent bv Peter q. Ohvor--R bruthur of Mai
| VIM. Oliver, Young officer, who had dis.
tnguished himself under General Harrison
at the seige of Fort Megs, ...o3
AT Muumeo there were Two good taverns
two or three stores aud other appliances Tor
the comfort of the inhabitants; above oil
was it gratifying to me to hnd quite num-
ber of intelligent people and tho society
far above that usually found in new coun-
| try. Among the men, DR.. Conant, AL.
mon Gibbs, John Il. Hunt, Judge Robert A.
| Forsy the, Judge Ambrose Rice John llol-
lister and two or three of his brothers, set.
| tled along the river at various places from
Swan Creek to Roche dc Bonte, were per-
sons who are entitled to our notice, among
! whom vera the k"clers, the llubbcls. the
| Ilulls, the Spptlords, tho Wilkmsons, the
! Prnys, the Pratts, aud the Nenrings-
| distinguished Tor their enterprise aud in.
telIigence and euergy
The County OF Wood was organized in
tho spring Of 1920, aud at that time IN
| cludod the whole valley. In May of that
year. tho first Court of Common Pleas was
| held by Hon. George Tod, of Trumbull Co..
whose circuit as presiding Judge, included
all of Northern Ohio, (the Reserve aud the
| New Purchnse) and he continued TO hold
the courts here for many years. The Clerk
of the Court was Thomas r. Mcknight from
| Wooster. who continued in Office until his
death in 1892. In October the second term
of court was hold, Judge Tod presiding,
Mr.. Mcknight, clerk, and | was appointed
Prosecuting Attorney. an Office held dur
ing my stay in the valley. The court was
attended by several able lawyers from va,
rious parts of the State: Elulherus Cook,
Of Hmon Co.. Ebenezer Lane, - Dock.
crty, of Columbus; Jonathan Edwards Chap
lin, of Urbana, u near relative of Aaron
! Burr. e
After the war of 1872, the Foot of the
Rapids became quite u commercial point.
A large quantity of produce raised In
| Western Ohio and the Northeastern por-
! tion of Indiana, was brought down the
| river on flat boats, aud transferred to ship.
! ping The Indian trade in lurs, peltries
aud sugar, was also very large, and was
exported to Detroit ard piaces on tho up,
per lakes--and the shipment of this grain
was so large that the remark was common,
Coming to Egypt for corn" .
Soon after went to Maumee, a lawyer
by the name of Roby, who had practiced
at Albany, N. T., settled there, but soon
died. lie was followed to Maumee by
James Lee Gage and Cyrus Lee, two young
| awyers--the latter then an eminent law
pleader aud the husband OF Mrs. Fanny D.
Gage, the authoress. ttJ e