CHARLES SUMNER VAN TASSEL The editor of this work at Honey Creek Springs while on one of his Ohio Rambles. STORY OF THE MAUMEE VALLEY TOLEDO and THE SANDUSKY REGION By CHARLES SUMNER VAN TASSEL Also special articles by able writers and Individual histories Volume I CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1929 This "Story of The Maumee Valley, Toledo and The Sandusky Region", is hereby dedicated to the memory of Colonel Sheldon C. Reynolds, whose distinguished figure daily graced the old Toledo Produce Exchange floor in the early years of my newspaper career, when "The Markets and Exchange" were my regular reportorial assignments, and where pleasurable incidents took place which time can never efface. Colonel Reynolds is also remembered as the president, then Chairman of the Board of Directors of The First National Bank, "Toledo's oldest bank," and as prominent in other leading business and civic enterprises of Toledo. THE EDITOR. 3-29-40 FOREWORD A writer of history is comparable to an artist—a landscape painter. The artist paints his picture on canvas and the historian spreads his scene on the printed page. The painter must first become imbued with the spirit expressed in his theme. There must be the inspiration of true art, that his brush may transfer this inspiration to the canvas. After becoming thoroughly infused with the spirit of his idea, he sketches in the groundwork for his picture, then sets himself to his real task. Obtaining his proper distance, perspective, and background, he then gradually works out the details, the lights and shadows. How like the work of the historian. The background is most important to an intelligent understanding by the reader of the details of the story as it unfolds. Like the painter he must be thoroughly saturated with his subject and enter into the spirit of his undertaking. His word picture must reflect his interest. And what subjects for the historical writer to elucidate are the Maumee and Sandusky valleys! In these sections were enacted the great dramas upon which depended the fate of a New Republic. Upon the banks of the beautiful Maumee was fought at Fallen Timbers the last battle of the American Revolution; although American independence was not an actuality even then. It had been declared but not achieved. Real independence did not come until the War of 1812, when General Harrison successfully defended Fort Meigs, the military key to the great Northwest, against British siege; when Perry defeated the British fleet on Lake Erie; and as a finality, when Harrison routed Proctor at the Canadian Thames. Had these conflicts gone against the Americans, the territory north of the Ohio River, including the Maumee and Sandusky, might with Canada, be shown on the map as a British possession. However, the Maumee River section cannot claim all the historical honors. At the mouth of the Sandusky was built the first military post within the bounds of present Ohio. Midway on the course of this "road that runs" was built, the first permanent home of a white family within this great state; and both 63-24-42mm |