MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP. - 933
MANHATTAN TOWNSHIP.
The Township of Manhattan was organized in June, 1840, and was bounded as follows On the East by the West line of Sections 19 and 30 in Town 9 South, Range 9 East; South by the South line of Sections 25, 26, 27. 28 and 29 in Town 9 South, Range 8 East; West by the Easterly line of the City limits of Toledo and the West line of Sections 6, 7, 18 and 19, in Town 9 South, between Ranges 7 and 8; and North by the Harris line.
This Township was maintained until 1874, when its territory was divided between the City of Toledo and Oregon Township, and the name Manhattan, as of an existing entity, entirely ceased to be. The writer much regrets his inability to make more satisfactory mention of this Township, which fact is due to inability to find requisite records.
TOWN OF MANHATTAN.
As already stated, for many years the great disturbing question among the many Towns along the Maumee River, was as to the point at which the Canals would enter that stream, the decision of which was expected to settle definitely and finally the question as to the location of the chief commercial City of the Maumee Valley. For a time the question rested with Maumee, Port Lawrence and Vistula. In 1833, the latter two were united in Toledo, which became the chief rival of Maumee for the Canal outlet. About this time several leading men of Buffalo engaged in the Forwarding business on the Erie Canal and Lake, with a view to the extension of their connections, became interested in property near the mouth of the Maumee River. The parties consisted of Jacob A. Barker, Horatio N. Holt, Chas. Townsend, Geo. Coit, Sheldon Thompson, John L. Kimberly, John T. Hudson, Geo. P. Barker, John W. Clark and Stephen G. Austin, all of Buffalo, N. Y.; Geo. W. Card of Willoughby, Ohio, and Platt Card, of Manhattan. These parties were owners of diverse tracts of land on the Maumee River and near its mouth ; and desirous of selling the same, and believing that could be more advantageously done by consolidating the whole into one interest and connecting therewith certain public and useful improvements, they determined to consolidate their property for such purpose. This they did, and in October, 1835, organized "The Maumee Land and Railroad Company," with a capital stock of $350,000, divided into shares of $250 each. For the management of the business, three Trustees were appointed-John W. Clark, Stephen G. Austin and John T. Hudson of Buffalo. The stock was divided as follows ; J. A. Barker and H. N. Holt, jointly, 200 shares; C. Townsend and Geo. Coit jointly, 200; S. Thompson and J. L. Kimberly, jointly, 100; J. T. Hudson and Geo. P. Barker jointly, 100; John W. Clark, 200; S. G. Austin, 200; G. W. and Platt Card, each 200.
This Company at once purchased all the lands between Visual and the mouth of the Maumee River, and soon laid out the Town of Manhattan, and actively entered upon extensive improvements at that point. Their work consisted of docks, buildings, warehouses and a spacious hotel. These improvements were well advanced by the Spring of 1836, when the hotel was opened by a Mr. Patterson, whose daughter, Mrs. Collide B., widow of David B. Mooned, now resides in Toledo.
Manhattan now became an active competitor for the Canal outlet, and the "contest deepened." The outcome of the struggle was then gratifying to Manhattan, inasmuch as the real "terminus " was fixed at that place. with only side-cuts "at Toledo and Maumee.
On the 1st July, 1837, the Company's arrangements were essentially changed. Its nominal capital stock was increased from $350,000 to $2,000,000, divided into 4,200 shares of $500 each, which increase was divided among the stockholders.
In July, 1837, the same parties, with Daniel Chase in place of Geo. W. Card, organized what was known as the "East Manhattan Laud Company," the object of which, chiefly, was to manage and dispose of certain lands on the East side of the Maumee River and near its mouth, including the reservation of Fish quagun and his son Wa-sa-on of the Ottawa tribe; the reservations of Au-to-kee; the Navarres, and Aush-kush and Kee-tuck-ee, and other lands. The nominal capital stock of the Company was $960,000, in shares of $200 each. The property was to consist of' lands, the proceeds of the same, and stock in the Ohio Railroad Company.
No serious obstacle to Manhattan's advance to the position of Metropolis of Maumee Valley, could now be seen, with Manhattan as the standpoint. Its "natural advantages " as the nearest available point for Lake traffic, with the real terminus of the Canals, left no doubt as to where trade was to center. So confident were the managers of the Company that the final settlement of the vexed question had been made, that ere long, and before essential results were reached, they practically withdrew from the contest, feeling confident that Manhattan would take care of herself. The untimely adoption of this policy, was attributed to different causes, but the probable one is said to have arisen in the anxiety of a portion of the stockholders (chiefly Ohio residents) for
934 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
early realization of profits. To what extent this was duo to disproportion of capital to stock subscriptions with them, cannot now be definitely stated. However that may be, the result was not long in coming. A loading dependence for success had been the line of Lake Steamers, controlled by the Buffalo stockholders, which were expected to stop at Manhattan and not at Toledo. This practice did not continue long, as the owners of the Boats soon learned that their loss of traffic more than offset their interest in Manhattan. The result was, that lessees of their Warehouse (M. L. Collins and others) abandoned them and removed to Toledo. Such action was accepted as a signal for a general stampede. At that time there were there about 500 inhabitants, most of whom hurriedly left. A few mistakenly held on, hoping the Company, even yet, would change its policy. At that time a Bank had been established, a newspaper (the Advertiser) started, and a fair complement of stores, shops, etc., for a young and growing Town. The Manhattan Company had opened roads, in different directions, built a bridge across TenMile Creek, and otherwise invited trade.
Next to Manhattan's position with relation to Lake traffic-if not even before that-was its dependence on the Ohio Railroad to the East, and like connection with Monroe and Detroit. The history of the first named of these projects is given elsewhere in the chapter on Railways.
As a Town, Manhattan reached its end April 24, 1848, when, upon application by two-thirds of the lot owners, the Court of Common Pleas vacated the plat of the Town, save the Streets and Alleys in the same, which were reserved for public use. No one appeared in Court to object to such action. John W. Clark, Stephen G. Austin and John T. Hudson represented the owners in the proceedings for vacation. The plat was then a little more than 10 years old.
For 25 years after the vacation of the plat of Manhattan the property remained unimproved, and largely unnoticed. Meantime an attempt was made by purchasers of lands there to revive interest in that locality; but without full success. In 1875 more earliest action in the same direction was taken in the construction of the Erie Street and North Toledo Railroad, by parties interested in North Toledo (late Manhattan) property. Some 10 years since the North Toledo Engine Works were established, but were not successful. The location of the Toledo and Ann Arbor, Wheeling and Lake Erie, and Cincinnati, Jackson and Mackinaw Railways, through North Toledo, including the erection of abridge across the River, somewhat strengthened that section. Many dwellings and stores, together with two School-houses and a Methodist Church, have been erected. The Libbie Glass Works and those of the Toledo Window Glass Company, and the movement for the development of Glassboro as a manufacturing point, are expected to strengthen that portion of Toledo.
PERSONAL RECORD.
As showing something of the residents of the Township and Town of Manhattan, the following record of transfers of real estate and other matters is here given:
In July, 1835, Wa-sit-on-o-quit, Chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Indians, for $2,030, sold to Platt Card, a tract known as Wa-sa-on-o-quit's Reservation, at the mouth of the Maumee River, granted to that Chief under the treaty of February, 1833, and containing 160 acres. Four residents of Maumee certified that the price paid was a fair consideration for the same.
In May, 1836, Aush-cush and Kee-tuck-kee, Chiefs of the Ottawa Tribe of Indians, for $2,000 sold to Daniel Chase, 160 acres, consisting of lands reserved to them under the treaty of 1833, and lying on the North side of Ottawa Creek, and above the place where Aush-cush then lived.
Charles Wheeler to David Partridge, Sept., 1836.
Paul Guoin to Daniel Chase, May, 1836.
Platt Card to Benjamin F. Tyler, sold 200 shares of stock in East Manhattan Land Company, for $40 000, September, 1837; and 200 shares Maumee Land and Railroad Company, for $100,000 at the same time.
J. W. Clark to Sylvester Miller, January, 1838.
John DePew to James Kirk, August, 1835.
Peter Grodah to James Kirk, November, 1838.
The Manhattan Ferry Company was organized in August, 1840, and consisted of James L. Chase, Jonathan Lundy and Robert C. Denman. It was organized under a charter granted by the Ohio Legislature, for establishing and maintaining a ferry across the Maumee River at Manhattan.
Francis M. Feno to Jared Mora, June, 1839.
J. D. Morey to Geo. D. Card, June, 1838.
Mack Purdy to John M. Webb, September, 1839.
Jabez P. Thompson to Moses Cornell, Nov. 1837.
Wm. S. Nichols to Francis L. Nichols, Oct. 1840.
John P. Pond to Benj. Williams, March, 1843.
Emery Reynolds to Joseph F. Ganson, March, '45.
Leon Guion to James L. Chase and Daniel V. Edsel, 1845.
Daniel Chase to Eli Freeman, December, 1848.
The Maumee Land and Railroad Company sold Town Lots as follows: To Elizabeth Weeks, May, 1839; to Solon Corning, July, 1839; to A. E. Hart, June, 1838 ; to Fred Wright, May, 1839; to Abiram H. Squire, June, 1838 ; to John L. Edmunds, June, 1838; to Newton E. Crittenden, same time; to Francis M. Frino, same time; to Geo. W. Walbridge, July, 1839; to James H. Mend neon, 1839; to Jacob Seffert, June, 1838; to Samuel Fletcher, October, 1838; to Erasmus D. Dunning, June, 1833; to Isaac C. Vaugh, November, 1838; to Chas. Stebbins, July, 1839; to Amos Pratt, June, 1835; to Fred W. Clark, June 1838 ; to Robert Hart, June, 1838 ; to Mack Purdy, September, 1838 ; to Patrick Forrester, November, 1833; to Wm. hall, June, 1833; to Lucius C. Rouse, March, 1840; to Samuel P. Carrel, July, 1841; to Elizabeth Cornwell, May, 1839; to Wm. Himrod, November, 1840; to James M. Warren, December, 1841; to Shibna Nichols, 1839; to Owen Smith, August, 1842: to Jonathan Lundy, April, 1842 ; to Fred. Miller, May, 1838; to Sarah F. Prentice, December, 1842; to Wm. West, June, 1833; to Hudson Kellogg, April, 1842; to Geo. Hastings, October '39; to Mary Ragan, June, 1844 ; to Thos. L. Gilbert, Jr., July, 1840 ; to Seth Wright, February, 1843 ; to Archibald and Levi Allen, June, 1835 ; to Julia H. Swift, June, 1838; to Clement Carpenter, July, 1839; to Harry V. Mann, July, 1845.