The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-03-13
Uhe yNauluec &'alIey!.
MAUNEE VALLEY PIONEERS.
Letter Fg0Gi2 'E. w. Powell.


nhiAwAnG. February ., 1865.
W. Y. WAY Esq Dear sir:
am in the receipt oI your very kiud
letter of invitation. on the behalf of the
Pioneer Society of The Maumce Valley to
ha with you at your meeting on Tho 22d
instant and If not able to attcud, to com
municatc. find it impossible to be there
pcrs orally, as should be extremely happy
to be with you; have, therefore, prepared
the following hasty sketch Of my remn-
isccnte Of the Maumee Valley while re
sided there, which you will please to pre-.
sent to the society with my best respects.
| have cherished memory Of the Mau-
NEE Valley, aud louGly retain warm rccol-
lection of the inhabitants found and left
! there who. from their general Intelligence
and high moral character were fully en-
! titled to it, No better or more deserving
people were ever found in new country.
At the close of the year of 1872, the at.
teution of the public was more directed to.
wards the Maumce, on the account Of it's
promising future Importance, in the est-
nation Of all intelligentpe persons, than to any
other new country. That war had expelled
all tho fomer inhabitants aud rendered
the county entirely dcsola'e. But on the
return of peace. settlers began to rcpossess
tie valley, and form settlements at promi.
unnt | oints-as the foot of the rapids,
Roche de Boute, Prairie de Mark and De-.
iiauce.
came from Utica in New York, in 1919,
TO Ohio aud w lie waiting for my admission
10 the Bar ! spent my quarantine, las it
is called of about eighteen months at
Canton in Stark County. While there
looked around for some prominant point
thar put forth promises Of natural advap.
tay es, where coud settle and grow mp
with the place, as il WAS then frequently
eXl rcsscd to ne. then, in my imag ination,
would draw a line from the Foot of the
Rapids to tho northwest, and another to
the southwest, and to that point concluded
the commerce Of the country, to the west
at some future time, (uot far distaut) must
converge. ! was admitted at the Supreme
Court at Wooster, in September 1920, and
went Immediately to Maumce. On seeing
the beauty of the valley, with my exaulted
confidence in its future destiny, became
an enthusiast iu hope, aud determined to
make it my luture home. From Wooster
Travelled on hurse back, by the way of ihc
place where Arland now is New Haven,
Lower Sandusky, to the Maumoc. The
country through which passed was very
nav with here aud there a settlement
From Lower Eaudusky to the Maumee, it
was an entire wilderness, and known as
tie Black Swamp, through which there
was no roads except a mere trail through
the woods. arrived at Perrysburg IL the
afternoon OF a fine day about the middle of
September, and upon arriving on the high
bank near Fort Meigs, was most lavorahly
struck with the magnificent scenery and
beauty of the valley. Along the rapids
the intervals from hill to hill was orig iually
a rairie, aud even these were covered
with the finest fields OF corn. At that time
there was not single house upon any of
the In-lots in Perrysburg-there were a
few on some of tue Out-lots. The Front
street had just been cut open aud cleared
from the wood and brush. crossed the
river at the ford at the foot Of tho rapids.
and came TO the town Of Naumce, where
made my home for some time, at public
house kept by Mg. Peter G. Oliver, brother
of Major William Oliver, a gallant young
officer who had distinguished himself by
Important aud mertorious services reu.
dered under General Harrison at the seige
OF Fl. Megs.
When arriving at Maumee found there
a considerable village, with two good
taverns, two or three stores, and other
objects and appliances necessary for the
conveniouces aud comfort Of such place.
But above all, it was gratifying to me to
hnd there quile number OF intelligent aud
well informed people, aud the society OF
the place far above that usually fonnd in
a new country. Among tho men that