438 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY
CHAPTER VI.
THE MAUMEE RIVER MARINE.
THE earlier Custom-House records of this District are not to be found, and for information as to the first crafts navigating or built upon the Maumee River, we are dependent upon the memory of those most familiar therewith. Fortunately, this source is exceptionally good, and with the official evidence available, the facts are no doubt substantially reached. The first craft regularly trading on the River, so far as known, was the Schooner Black Snake, Captain Jacob Wilkison, in May, 1815, on board which was the Captain's nephew, David Wilkison, afterward so prominent in River and Lake navigation. In August, 1868, Willard V. Way, Esq., an old and intelligent resident of Perrysburg furnished a statement of the life and work of the latter gentleman, together with a list of crafts built on the River, from the earliest date to 1854, according to the Captain's recollection Mr. Way said:
Captain Wilkison states that he first came to the Maumee in the latter part of May, 1815, on the
Schooner Black Snake, of about 25 tons. He was then about 15 years of age, and was a hand on
the Vessel, his father and his uncle (Jacob Wilkison) being the owners, and the latter the Master.
She sailed from Cleveland, her load being chiefly immigrant families and their effects. Part of
these were landed at the River Raisin, and part at Fort Meigs. Among those stopping at the
Raisin, were Mr. Mulholland and family-the same gentleman who after wards became noted as a
hotel-keeper at Vienna (Erie) on the road to Monroe from Toledo. On the Vessel's return, she
took for cargo ordnance and military stores from Fort Meigs to Detroit. Captain Jacob Wilkison
continued to run this Vessel, occasionally making trips to the Maumee, until September, 1816,
when he moved his family and made his residence at Orleans, a Village laid out between Fort
Meigs and the River. In 1818, Captain Daniel Hubbell bought a controlling interest in the Schooner
Pilot, built at Cleveland, and David took command and sailed her between Fort Meigs and
Buffalo during the seasons 1818 and '19. He continued to sail up the Maumee every season
from 1815 until 1850, when he retired from navigation, at that time being the Captain of the
Steamboat Superior. Between the years 1818 and 1828. lie was Master at different times of the
Schooners Black Snake, Pilot, Saucy Jane, Prudent, Superior and Guerriere. In 1828, he and
John Hollister built at Swan Creek (now Toledo) the Schooner Eagle, of 60 tons. That year he
moved to Perrysburg, and took command of the Schooner Eagle, and sailed her until the
Steamboat Commodore Perry came out in 1835, when he took command of her. The Eagle cost
$3,000. During the seven years that he sailed her, she paid for herself five times, clear of all
expenses; or, in other words, earned for her owners $15,000 of profits. Captain Wilkison then
sold her in Buffalo for $800. All the old settlers appreciate his high reputation for practical skill
and gentlemanly deportment, as the commander of the Perry. He honored his calling in every
respect.
As shown in the notes of the Baldwin family, elsewhere given, the Schooner Leopard (a 28 ton craft), Captain John T. Baldwin, was among the earliest Vessels trading on the Maumee River. Captain Baldwin came here with the Leopard in April, 1818, bringing his family and stopping at Orleans or Fort Meigs, and remaining until July following, when they went to Put-in Bay, and thence to Portage County.
Following is the list of Vessels furnished by Captain Wilkison wholly from memory, and will be found to contain some facts given elsewhere :
1812-At Perrysburg; Schr. Miami, 25 tons ; Capt. Anderson Martin, for the Captain.
1826-At Perrysburg ; Schr. Guerriere, 50 tons ; Capt. D. Wilkison, for Wilkison and Hollister.
1828-At Swan Creek ; Schr. Eagle, 60 tons; Capt. D. Wilkison, for Wilkison and Hollister.
1829-At Miami; Schr. Antelope, 60 tons; Capt. Amos Pratt, for Pratt and Hubbell.
1832-At Miami; Schr. Maria, 100 tons; Capt. Amos Pratt, for Barker and Holt.
1833-At Delaware Flats ; Schr. Merchant, 70 tons; Capt. Amos Pratt, for Barker and Holt.
1834-At Delaware Flats; Schr. (gazelle, 70 tons; Capt. Amos Pratt, for Barker and Holt.
1834-At Perrysburg; Steamboat Commodore Perry, 350 tons; Capt. D. Wilkison, for Perrysburg Steamboat Company.
1835-At Perrysburg ; Schr. Caroline, 60 ton's; Capt. E. K. Forbes, for Wilkison and Hollister.
1835-At Maumee ; Schr. Maria, 80 tons. Capt. C. V. Jennison says this Vessel was built by Mr. Burdsill, for Williams, of Maumee.
1836-At Perrysburg; Schr. John Hollister, 80 tons; for J. J. Bingham and others.
1836-At Perrysburg; Schr. Walter Joy, 75 tons; Capt. I). P. Nickerson, for Wilkison and Hollister.
1837-At Perrysburg; Steamboat Gen. Wayne, 400 tons ; Capt. Amos Pratt, for John Hollister and others.
1837-At Perrysburg; Schr. Favorite, 170 tons; Capt. E. K. Forbes, for Wilkison and Forbes.
1837-At Oregon ; Schr. Oregon, 170 tons; Capt. Jesse Bailey, for R. A. Forsyth.
1837-At Swan Creek (Toledo) ; Schr. Maj. Oliver, 170 tons; Capt. Chas. G. Keeler, for Toledo Navigation Company.
1838-At Perrysburg; Steamboat John Marshall, 80 tons; for Doane and Earl.
1838-At Perrysburg; Steamboat Gov. Vance, 100 tons ; Capt. Shibnah Spink, for Hollister & Co.
1838-At Miami; Steamboat Chesapeake, :350 tons; Capt. D. Howe. for Jesse Smith and others.
1839-At Maumee; Steamboat Gen. Harrison, 250 tons ; Capt. I. T. Pheatt, for James Walcott & Co.
1841-At Toledo; Steamboat Indiana, 400 tons ; Capt. I. T. Pheatt, for Peckham and others.
1843-At Perrysburg ; Prop. Sampson, 250 tons; Capt. Amos Pratt, for John Hollister and others.
THE MAUMEE RIVER MARINE. - 439
1843-At Maumee; Steamboat James Wolcott, 100 tons.
1844-At Perrysburg ; Steamboat St. Louis, 600 tons ; Capt. G. W. Floyd, for Hollister and others.
1845-At Perrysburg ; Prop. Princeton, 300 tons ; Capt. Amos Pratt, for John Hollister and others.
1845-At Perrysburg ; Schr. Scotland, 200 tons ; for Bronson and Crocker, Oswego, N. Y.
1845-At Maumee ; Schr. Ireland.
1845-At Perrysburg; Steamboat Superior, 600 tons ; Capt. D. Wilkison, for Perrysburg Steamboat Company.
1846-At Perrysburg; Schr. Robert Hollister, 200 tons; Capt. C. G. Keeler, for John Hollister and others.
1846-At Maumee; Prop. Globe, 300 ton, Capt. Chas. Ludlow, for Geo. Spencer and John A. Moore.
1847-At Perrysburg ; sohr. St. Marys, 180 tons; Capt. C. G. Keeler, for John Hollister and others.
1847-At Perrysburg; Sohr. Defiance, 170 tons ; Capt. Wm. Wilkison, for Roby and Thompson.
1848-At Perrysburg; Steamboat John Hollister, 200 tons ; Capt. Selah Dustin, for B. F. Hollister.
1853-At Perrysburg; Prop. Bucephalus, 400 tons; for Hollister and others.
1853-At Perrysburg; Schr. Buckingham.
1854-At Perrysburg; Schr. Maize, 200 tons.
In April, 1846, the Perrysburg Miami of the Lake gave what was supposed to be a nearly complete list of vessels built on the Maumee River up to that date. The facilities of the editor were presumed to have been good for arriving at the facts. He stated that the first Vessel built in that locality was the Sloop Miami, in 1810, at Perrysburg, by Captain Anderson Martin, who built the Schooner Chippewa, at Chippewa, the Spring previous. Both these Vessels were captured by the British during the War of 1812-15, and both subsequently, at the battle of Lake Erie, recaptured by Perry, and piloted by Captain Martin, with cargoes of American soldiers, to the month of the River Thames, Canada.
Following is the list of Vessels given by the Perrysburg paper. It will be seen to contain some crafts not already mentioned:
SCHOONERS.
Name When Built Where Built. Tons. Where Owned.
Miami 1840 Perrysburg 25 Detroit
Guerriere 1827 Swan Creek 75 Perrysburg
Eagle 1827 Perrysburg 130 Perryshurg
Antelope 1828 Perrysburg 75 Perrysburg
Michigan 1832 Perrysburg 130 Perrysburg
Merchant 1834 Maumee 75 Maumee
Walter Joy 1835 Perrysburg 130 Buffalo
Caroline 1835 Perrysburg 50 Perrysburg
Gazelle 1833 Perrysburg 75 Perrysburg
John Hollister 1835 Perrysburg 130 Perrysburg
Tippecanoe 1836 Maumee 50 Maumee
Maria 1836 Maumee 100 Maumee
Favorite 1837 Perrysburg, 150 Perrysburg
Maj. Oliver 1837 Toledo 150 Toledo
Ottawa 1837 Oregon 130 Maumee
Chippewa 1837 Maumee 25 Maumee
Tom Corwin 1840 Maumee 25 Maumee
--------------- 1844 Maumee 120 Maumee
Scotland 1845 Perrysburg l00 Oswego
Ireland 1846 Maumee 100 Oswego
Detroit 1833 Toledo 200 Cleveland
Com. Perry 1835 Perrysburg 350 Perrysburg
Gen. Wayne 1837 Perrysburg 390 Perrysburg
John Marshal 1837 Perrysburg 35 Perrysburg
Gen. Vance 1838 Perrysburg 50 Perrysburg
Chesapeake 1838 Maumee 412 Maumee
Gen. Harrison 1840 Maumee 326 Maumee
Indiana 1840 Toledo 550 Toledo
St. Louis 1844 Perrysburg 618 Perrysburg
Superior 1845 Perrysburg 567 Perrysburg
Troy 1845 Maumee 547 Maumee
J. Wolcott 1843 Maumee 80 Maumee
PROPELLERS.
Name. When Bult Where Built. Tons. Where Owned.
Sampson 1843 Perrysburg: 250 Perrysburg
Princeton 1845 Perrysburg 400 Perrysburg
----------- 1845 Maumee 300 Perrysburg
The Custom House at Maumee City (District of Miami) was opened in 1818. 'he record of the earlier Vessels taking out papers is given as follows :
The first was the Schooner Black Snake, 23 tons, Capt. Jacob Wilkison ; and the next the Schooner Sally, 7 tons, Capt. Wm. Pratt. In 1819, the Saucy Jane, 15 tons. Capt. Jacob Wilkison ; the Walter, 10 tons, Capt. Amos S. Reel ; and the Leopard, 18 tons. Capt. John Baldwin. I u 1823 was entered the happy Return, Capt. John Baldwin, 12 tons, and the Wapoghkonnetta. Capt. Isaac Richardson, same tonnage. In 1824, the Vermillion, :54 tons, Capt. John Baldwin, and the packet of Miami, Capt. Almon Reed, 15 tons. iii 1825, the Lady Washington, Capt. A. Reed, 40 tons, and the Guerriere. Capt. David Wilkison, 41 tons. In 1820, the Fire Fly, Capt. Luther Harvey, 2:; tons. In 1828, the Eagle, Capt. David Wilkison, 41) tons. In 1830, the Essex, Capt. Henry Brooks, 30 tons. In 1831, the independence, Capt. James Foster, 26 tons. In 1832, the Michigan, Capt. Amos Pratt, 108 tons. In 1834, the Merchant, Capt. A. Pratt, 74 tons. May, 1835, the Steamboat Con. Perry, owned by the Perrysburg Steamboat Company, and commanded by Capt. D. Wilkison, 350 tons ; and the Schr. Caroline, Capt. William O. Marsh, 42 tons. In 1836, the Schr. Gazelle, Capt. Anson Reed ; the Walter Joy, Capt. D. P. Dickinson, 124 tons ; the John Hollister, Capt. Justice Bailey, 86 tons; and the Steamboats Oliver Newbery and Audrew Jackson-both built at Detroit and purchased for the Maumee River trade.
While the records furnished from these different sources are not in all respects consistent with each other, it is believed that with them the material facts may easily be reached. They are all given here, as better than to undertake to decide which is or is not correct in the few instances in which they may fail to agree.
Before the opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal, combined facilities of water and stages were employed in communication with Fort
440 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.
Wayne, Indiana, and other points up the Maumee. In June, 1837, appeared the announcement, that the Steamboat Gen. Wayne, Capt. H. C. Williams, would " leave the head of the Rapids every day at Mr. M. for the foot of Flat Rock, where there would be coaches and teams to convey passengers and freight to Defiance." Passengers leaving Maumee City and Perrysburg in the morning, arrived at Defiance same day. Returning, left Defiance at 6 A. M., and reached the head of the Rapids at 12 M., where coaches were ready for Maumee and Perrysburg. Also, "a Barge fitted up for passengers or freight," left Defiance every Friday for Fort Wayne, running through in three days. During high water, the Steamboat ran between the head of the Rapids and Fort Wayne. The agents of the line were O. H. Harris, Providence ; G. C. Mudgett & Co., Brunersburg; and White & Kirtland and S. A. & J. H. Sargent, Maumee City. Beside this Steamboat route, was a daily through Stage line between Maumee City and Defiance. The mail passed twice a week.
The following were among the crafts navigating Lake Erie and doing business with the Maumee River in April, 1822, whose intermediate points, between Buffalo and Detroit, were Erie, Cleveland, Sandusky and Miami (Maumee City), to wit:
Schooners-The Wasp, Captains Thos. Goodwin and Harry Haskins; the Sylph, Capt. Horatio G. Haskins ; the Red Jacket, Capt. Augustus Walker; the Erie, Capt. Wm. T. Pease ; the Ann, Capt. Augustus Jones ; and the Pontiac, Capt. Seth Reed. Sloop-Happy Return, Capt. John Costello. Brig Union, Capt. Harpin Johnson. Subsequently appeared the Schooner Farmer, of Painesville, Capt. Ben. A. Napier; the Schr. Dread, launched at Huron, Ohio, April 29, 1802, Capt. Sam. Nichols; the Sohr. Michigan, Capt. Walter Norton; the Schr. Vienna, Capt. Luther Chapin; the Schr. Lake Serpent, Capt. John Burtis; the Schr. Diligence, Capt. Anderson Martin; the Schr. Beaver, Capt. John F. Wight ; and the Sloop Ohio, Capt. Moses McSwainey. Several of these Vessels were confined in their traffic to the West end of the Lake.
Beside those here named, was the "New Team or Horse-Boat, called the Car of Sandusky, whereof Thomas L. Hawkins was Master," which made its first trip from Lower Sandusky (Fremont), where it was built, to Sandusky City, May 6, 1822, with a cargo of " tobacco, fish and passenger." June 7th, this craft was reported as " the Horse-Boat Pegasus of Lower Sandusky, Capt. Elisha W. Howland, laden with skins and pork." Subsequently, Morris Tyler (afterwards a prominent Lake commander) was Captain of the Pegasus.
The " quickest passage " made by any sail vessel between Buffalo and Sandusky (250 miles) up to October 3, 1822, was that of the Schooner Huron, Capt. Judah W. Ransom, in 34 hours. The Schooner Erie, Capt. Pease, soon thereafter made the same passage in 28 hours.
In 1824, the following additional Vessels were in commission in this region : The Schr. Sir Henry, Capt. Ezra Wells; the Schr. Minerva, Capt. Belden ; the Tiger, Capt. John Fleeharty; the Lady Washington, Capt. Martin; the Gen. Scott, Capt. Lockwood; the Good Intent, Capt. Talbot; and the Fox, Capt. Green.
Announcement of the first Steamboat plying exclusively between the Towns on the Maumee River, was made in the Toledo Blade of April 25, 1835, as follows
THE STEAMBOAT SUN,
C. K. BENNETT, Master,
WILL make her trips this season as follows : Will leave Manhattan every morning at 7 o'clock; Toledo at 8: Maumee City and Perrysburg at half-past 10; Toledo at 2 P. M., and Maumee and Perrysburg at 5 o'clock, and arrive at Manhattan at 7 P. M . April 25, 1835.
As seen, the time for the Sun between Toledo and Maumee was two hours, making the rate of speed about five miles per hour. The Boat was the property of Henry Bennett, its commander being Calvin K. Bennett, a brother of the owner, both then of Perrysburg. They subsequently removed to Toledo, where Mr. Henry Bennett died during the present year (1887), Mr. C. K. Bennett still residing there. The enterprise of running a Boat exclusively for local business, was a hazardous one 49 years ago, as the Messrs. Bennett found it to be. It was undertaken when the general business stagnation consequent on the financial collapse of 1837 had fairly taken effect-a state of prostration not equaled by anything experienced in this country since that time. The Sun's trade was almost wholly made up of small items, chiefly for passage between the young and struggling Towns touched on the route. Silver change had almost wholly disappeared, leaving little but here and there a " six-pence " (6 1/4 cents), "shillings" (12 1/2 cents), and "eighteen pence" pieces (18 3/4 cents), with a few coins of English money, passing for 25 cents. The consequence was, that Captain Bennett found himself most seriously embarrassed by a lack of change, and was driven to seek relief'. This lie did, by having printed due bills of small amounts, which, in common with like currency then in use throughout the West, especially, came to be known as " Shin Plasters." Why they were given such name, is not definitely settled. They were found, when issued by responsible parties, to be a relief to trade. So Captain Bennett found them. Redeemable by him in sums of $1.00 or more, they at once entered into general use on the River and were a material benefit to trade. They were all redeemed upon presentation, a fact which could be truthfully stated of' but comparatively small portion of the " currency " of that time.
In May, 1838, the Steamboat Andrew Jackson, Shibnah Spink, Master, commenced running between Perrysburg and Manhattan,
THE MAUMEE RIVER MARINE. - 441
touching at Maumee, Oregon, and Upper and Lower Toledo, making two trips daily. Captain Spink survived the intervening 47 years, and died at Perrysburg in 1885.
Under the head, ° Season Arrangements," a "Daily Line of Steamboats from Detroit to Perrysburg and Maumee," was advertised in March, 1839, the line consisting of the Oliver Newberry and Erie, and making stops at Toledo, Manhattan, Monroe, Brest, Malden and Gibraltar. They left Perrysburg at 7:30 A. M., and arrived at Detroit at 4 P. M., and making like time on their return. The Agent for the line at Maumee was Denison B. Smith, now of Toledo.
Steamers continued in the local trade of the River without interruption for some 45 years, and until the competition of three Railroads (the Dayton and Michigan, the Wabash and the Narrow Gauge) became too strong for them, and they were compelled to yield the field so long held by them.