Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-09-22
HISTORY'S DAWN
IN NORTH
WESTERN OHIO

WLOlLtlV OltEO
One writer says the history of the
Ohio valley properly began with
LaSalle's expedition of 1869, IN winch
year he discovered and descended the
Chic, and that from this we may as
same he was familiar with the larg-
er streams of the Ohio region. Many
writers believe he ourneyed up the
Miami of the Lake (Maumee River)
on his expedition, and If so he was
probably the first white man to
traverse its waters. As he puilI
the first fort near the site OF Fort
Wayne on his return trip by land
from his expedition and winch was
first lied Fort Miami, this conJec-
ture may be true.
1t has also been claimed that the
French in 1880 built a trading post
at the site of Fort Miami OF 1872
fame, on the Maumee, just opposite
the present town OF Perrysburg.
Some have suggested this post was
confused with the Miami defense at
Fort Wayne. However this may be,
it is a pretty safe conjecture that
along about these dates, the beauti-
full Miami of the Lake bore up and
down its waters the boat of the pale
face.
We do know to certainty of the
wonderful expedition sent out by
Marquis de la Galissoniere at the
head of which was Celeron and Bon
necamps who explored the Ohio re-
eion and traversed the Maumee from
nearly the head to the lake, in 1749,
and have the accounts of Croghan
and Gist.
Colonel James Smith was also on
Maumee Bay and the little lake (San-
dusky Bay) on two occasions be-
tween 1853. The Celeron-Bon-
necamp's expedition is deserving OF a
separate paper, yet Colonel Smiths
story of his five years wanderings
ABOUT the Ohio and Lake Erie re-
gions is one of the most interesting
narratives in local early history. He
tells of being in the now named
Maumee bay and hunting on its
bordering shores on two different oc-
casions.
Colonel Smith was a Pennsylvan-
ian and was born in 1877. In May
1855, the Province of Pennsylvania
sent out three hundred men to cut a
wagon road from Fort Loudon Brad
docks road "near the Turkey Foot,
or three forks of Yohogania." In
starting his story Colonel Smith
says: Though at that time l was
only eighteen years of age l had
fallen violently in love with a young
lad whom / apprehend was possessed
of a large share of both beauty and
virtue; but being born between Venus
and Mars l concluded must also
leave my fair one and go out with
this company of road cutters, to see
the events of this campaign, but still
expecting that some time in the
course OF the summer, | would again
return to the arms of my beloved" ="
Smith was ambushed and captured
by the Indians. He was taken to
Fort Du Quesne, where he saw Brad
docks artillery brought into the Fort
after the Generals defeat, and saw
the Indians parading about in British
officers dress, celebrating their VIC
tory.
Smiths account of his travels
through the new Ohio country and
Lake Erie region is wonderfully fas-
cinating.
He spent five years (1755-1759) in
his Ohio and Erie travels, but it is
only of his account of the Maumee
Bay region that l will speak in this
article. Canoeing westward in
March 1757 along Lake Erie near
the Southern shore in company with
several Indians, he passed the mouth
of the Sandusky and Portage rivers,
but when the wind arose they put in
to the mouth of the Miami of the
Lake (Maumee river or bay) at
Cedar Point, where they remained
several days and killed a number OF
turkeys, geese, ducks and swans
Then one fair morning when the lake
was calm and the day propitious they
made for the Wyandot town nearly
opposite Detroit.
About the first of November he
again left that village in company
with another party of Indians and on
the first night they encamped at the
mouth of the Detroit. Here they
held council to decide whether they
would "cross through by the three
islands or coast around the lake y
They concluded upon the latter course
and the next day came to the mouth
of the Miami of the Lake and land
ed on Cedar Point on their second
visit there.
Here the party, now fifty-three ir
number, Smith being the only white
man, went up the river short dis
tance and formed "deer drive" by
encircling a section of the forest
They drove the deer into the river OF
bay, where the squaws and Indian
boys were waiting in canoes ans
amidst the din and noise and Indiar
yells and firing Of their guns. tur}
killed on land and water, about thirt!
deer, although many made their es
cape.
The drive was followed by a seasoI
of feasting and rejoicing as the party
was we'll supplied with venison, wilt
fowl and hominy.
At the conclusion of their festivi
ties, as winter. was approaching, the
party divided. The chief part ol
them went up the Maumee River
while Smith with the others in theil
canoes, ascended the Sandusky, por
taged to the head waters of the
Seioto where Smith spent the winter
on the "Ollentangy" a tributary t.
the Scioto.
NOTICE