Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-06-25
The Pioneers on Fort Meigs

At the semi.annual meeting OF the Maumee
Valley Pioneer Association, held in Perrysburg
Sept. 10, 1880, without any knowledge of the pro-
posed location OF the Soldiers Home, DIR. w. W.
Jones, of Toledo, Chairman of the Committee to
memoralize Congress, submitted the following
resolution:
wHEREAs-This Society at It's last annual meet
ing, appointed committee to memOrnlize Con-
gress to purchase Fort Meigs for National Park,
and that no action has been taken by the com
mittcc toward the accomplishment oil such Il
result; therefore,
ResOlped-That instead of applying to Con-
gress TO purchase the same, this Society recon-
| mend thut an effort be first made TO induce the
town corporation OF Perrpsburg, the state Legls-
aturc and the people OF the Valley, to purchase
| the same, by taking vote OF the people OF that
| city in favor OF the proposition.
DR.. Jones spoke earnestly and pointedly in
favor of this proposition; also Mr.. J. G. Hols-
worth, who favored the proposition and opposed
the seeking of aid through Congress as the pio-
neers would all be dead before aid could be Sc.
cured from that source.
Following this discussion came the Pioneer
Address by Major Charles E. Blivln, of Toledo
n synopsis ofwhich occupied two columns Of the
JOURNAL of that date, and was replete with the
early lore in the Maumee Valley. We extract
the following four paragraphs from the address
to more fully illustrate the historic advantages
OF Fort Meigs and present its claimes for recog'
milton by the Board OF Trustees:
What time more fitting for those in the au
tumn of life, than the Autumn OF the year, in
which to meet and tell in song or story of the
trials and hardships of early years, and, as We
thus relate the tale of the past, enjoy the salts
faction OF life well spent?
And what day more sacred than the anniver
sary of a victory snatched from the jaws OF de
feat, and gloriously won; the influence of which
gave our country the control of the lakes, and
opened up the Valley of the Miami OF the Lake
Erie. to the pioneers; whose memory and deed:
we hold In grateful remembrance ut each annual
meeting?
And what place more appropriate for such O
meeting, than that which was named in honoi
OF the gallant Perry, who gained that victory
and who sent to the equally gallant and brave
Harrison, then on almost this very spot, tht
pithy and ever memorable dispatch, I'VE have
met the enemy and they are ours"
WARS.
1t appears to be Il fact that in the Valley OF the
Miami of he Lakes, greater number OF battle.
have been fought-and with greater results-cer
tainly there have been greater number OF bat
ties fought for its possessiOn-than any similri
extent OF territory in the Union; and we may
add parenthetically, that the Valley has also a'
1t appears, furnished to the country greater
number Ofprominent public men than any like
section within the Government.
In the numerous Indian wars, the war be
tween the French and Indians, the French and
the English, the English and Indians, the Unit
ed States and Great Britain, and the United
States and the Indians, many severe battle:
were fought in this Valley and its western ex
tension. Many Others were fought in this i'm
mediate vicinity, the direct result OF wich open
ed up to civilization an area of a million square
miles OF territory, now teeming with an active
and energetic people, nearly 2o,OOOoOO in mum
ber