HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 325 been made, established, and the board of education was compelled to recognize their claims. As a result, the board of education purchased the building formerly occupied by the school upon payment of a small sum of money and the deed to the trustees of the old Illinois public school building, located on Illinois Street. Since that time this building has been the home of this university. The city council first recognized the institution as a municipal university in 1909, when a small levy yielding $2,500 was granted for the use of the board upon the general duplicate of the city. The aggressive policy of the trustees of the university succeeded in winning public support, until the annual appropriation has been raised to more than $100,000. The old Toledo Medical College, which had been in existence for many years, was united with the university and made a part of it, as was also the Toledo Conservatory of Music, a private institution which had been running for a number of years. Other departments have been added, until now there are a number of schools united with Toledo University. It is at the present time one of the very few municipal universities within the United States, of which the most conspicuous example is the University of Cincinnati. It is chartered by the Legislature to grant all the collegiate degrees which any institution is permitted to confer. A. Monroe Stowe is the president of the institution at the present time. FINDLAY COLLEGE Among the more recent additions to the higher educational institutions of Northwest Ohio is Findlay College. It is under the auspices of the Church of God. While the establishment of a college by this denomination had been contemplated for many years, the initial movement looking to that end took definite shape in a resolution introduced at the General Eldership, held at Findlay in 1881. That body authorized the Committee on Education to take the proper steps to form an incorporation, and to select a location for the proposed institution. Findlay was chosen as the most appropriate site for the college, and on January 23, 1882, articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state for "Findlay College," which was the name adopted. The incorporators were Jeremiah M. Carvell, Robert L. Byrnes, Isaac Schrader, Tobias Koegle, Jacob M. Cassel, Anderson C. Heck, John C. Strickler, and George F. Pendleton, the four last mentioned being citizens of Hancock County. February 8, 1882, the articles of incorporation were signed, and the board of trustees organized by electing Isaac Frazer as its president. Eli G. De Wolfe was chosen secretary, and E. P. Jones, the treasurer. The first annual meeting of the board was held at Findlay, on June 21, 1882, when a permanent organization was effected. The site selected for Findlay College was a ten-acre tract lying about one mile north of the courthouse, situated on the west side of Main Street, and surrounded on all sides by streets of generous width. This ground was deeded to the Findlay College, on June 23, 1882, the same being paid for by private donations from the people in that vicinity. On the 18th of October, 1882, the board met for the purpose of considering plans for a college building. The architect was directed to prepare complete plans and specifications and sealed proposals for the erection of the main building. The contract was finally let June 20, 1883. On Sunday, the 25th day of May, 1884, the corner stone was laid with imposing ceremonies, in the presence of a large number of people. The college was not completed until late in the year 1886, but notwithstanding this fact the college was opened Wednesday, September 1, 1886, with very appropriate ceremony, and started off with nearly 100 pupils enrolled. This institution of education is now considered one of the 326 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO efficient colleges in the state, and is equipped with an excellent staff of instructors. Dr. William Harris Guyer has served as president of Findlay College. since May, 1913. BLUFFTON COLLEGE AND MENNONITE SEMINARY One of the many educational institutions in Northwestern. Ohio that deserves special attention is Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary, located at Bluffton. Under the present name the institution is comparatively new, having been established under this title and board of management only since January, 1914. It is the outgrowth of the older Central Mennonite College of Bluffton, however, which has a goodly list of alumni and. former students. It is .a standard college in the scholastic sense of that term, with faculty, endowment, buildings, and all the facilities required leading up to the generally recognized degrees of the bachelor and master grades. As now organized, the institution is recognized by and is officially a higher school of learning for the various branches of the Mennonite Church in America, including the Old Mennonite, General Conference of Mennonite; Mennonite Brethren in Christ, Central Illinois Conference of Mennonite, D.efenseless Mennonite, and any other branches of the church that may wish to co-operate. The old Central Mennonite College was founded by the Middle District Conference of Mennonites. The matter had been discussed for a' number of years, and the subject took definite shape as early as 1894. In 1898 Bluffton was decided upon as the location for such a school, and a board of nine trustees was elected. In 1899, a constitution was adopted, and the trustees were authorized to erect necessary buildings and make preparations for opening the school. The cornerstone of the original building was laid on the 19th of June, 1900, and the building was dedicated in the same year. The school was opened November 5th, with an enrollment of twenty students, but courses only ,in the academic, normal, music, and commercial departments were .given during the first year. The first college work was done in the winter of 1903, and the first course in the Bible School was opened in the fall of 1904. In 1911, a department of agriculture was established and also a department of art. The movement leading up to the present college organization was started by the leaders in education work of the several branches of the Mennonite Church. It was decided that the success of the undertaking could be best accomplished by the co-operation of a number of branches of the church. At a meeting held at Warsaw, Indiana, May 29, 1913, attended by representatives of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, the Defenseless Mennonites, the Central Illinois Conference of Mennonites, the Old Mennonites, and the General Conference Mennonites, : the following resolution was passed : "Resolved that it is the sense of this meeting that an institution be established, representing the various branches of the Mennonite church, giving the under-graduate and the graduate work of a standard college (courses leading to. the A. B. and A. M. degrees), the theological and Biblical work of a standard seminary and courses in music aiming at the thorough development of the musical ability of our people and meeting the needs of our churches." At that meeting a board of fifteen directors was appointed, three from each of the Mennonite bodies represented. The board at a subsequent meeting unanimously decided that the proposed school should be established in connection with Bluffton College, at Bluffton. The name adopted was Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary. In 1914, the Central Mennonite College was formally transferred and became the Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary. Since then other buildings have been added HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 327 to the campus, which comprises a tract of rolling land of thirty acres, covered in places with a natural forest of oak, elm, beech, buckeye, maple and other trees. The picturesque feature of the- grounds is the little stream known as Riley Creek Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary started with the equipment of the old Central College. The buildings comprised a College Hall, a three-story building, including the chapel; Science Hall, a four-story structure, devoted largely to agricultural science laboratories, and domestic science department; Ropp Hall is also a four-story building, the two upper floors being used as a women's dormitory, the second floor as reception and other rooms, while the first floor and basement comprise the dining hall and kitchen. There is also a men's dormitory and music hall. ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY The Roman Catholic Church maintains several institutions of learning in Northwest Ohio, but the only one of collegiate rank is St. John's University, at Toledo. Since its founding more than fifteen years ago, St. John's University has more than justified in its proofs and results as a school of higher training for Catholic youth the expectations of its, promoters. It is now one of the leading Catholic schools and academies of the State of Ohio. It is under the direction of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, and its president is Rev. John A. Weiand, S. J. Its doors were first opened to students in September, 1898. It was incorporated May 22, 1900, as St. John's College, but subsequently the original charter was amended and the purposes of the institution were. extended. This amended charter went into effect August 29, 1903, and the name was changed to St. John's University. At the same time the power of granting the various degrees granted by similar colleges and institutions of the United States was ratified by the secretary of state. At the present time St. John's College, whose buildings and campus are on Superior Street near Walnut, in the City of Toledo, offers a number of courses, and has splendid facilities for carrying out its work. The departments are academic, a higher school of commerce, and a full collegiate department. It also maintains a law department which offers a full course leading to the degree of bachelor of laws. The college library is a choice collection of more than 2,500 volumes, all accessible to the students free of charge. Another special feature of the University is a well-equipped meteorological observatory., DEFIANCE COLLEGE The beginning of an institution for higher learning at Defiance dates from the year 1850, when the Defiance Female Seminary was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly of Ohio. This act provided that the trustees might select two full sections of unsold Wabash and Erie and Miami and Erie Canal lands ,in Defiance and Paulding counties, the funds arising from their sale to be used in establishing the proposed institution. This land was sold and, together with other small donations, was permitted to accumulate until 1884, when a larger three-story building was erected on a well-wooded campus about a mile north of old Fort Defiance. There seems to have been no definite plan at this time for the building, and its equipments were leased to various persons who conducted schools of varied types and with varying degrees of success. This institution was locally known at that time as Defiance College, although its charter had never been changed. Under the presidency of Dr. John R. H. Latchaw, an effort was made to interest the Christian Church in the educational opportunity at Defiance, with the view that the in- 328 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO stitution might be turned over to that denomination. Upon the resignation of Doctor Latchaw, the trustees of the Defiance Female Seminary felt that something should be done immediately. Through Professor McReynolds, dean of the college, a proposition was made to the Ohio State Christian Association, in 1902, offering to transfer the ownership and control of the institution to that association, if an endowment of $30,000 was raised, one-third of which was subscribed by citizens of Defiance. Professor McReynolds was elected president of the existing institution, and the building with its equipment was leased to him, while am effort. was being made by the Ohio State Christian Association to raise the required endowment. Within less than a year the endowment had been raised. The charter was amended, changing the name to Defiance College, and opening the doors to the students of both sexes. The original trustees resigned, and the vacancies were filled by persons acceptable to the new management. At the time of the transfer of the college to the Christian Church, there was but one building, and only a small number of students. A vigorous campaign was at once begun to increase both the number of students and the financial endowment. Trowbridge Hall, a dormitory for women, was the first new build-. ing to be constructed, and it was named in honor of Lyman P. Trowbridge, the principal donor. A year after its completion this building was seriously damaged by fire, but was quickly restored and almost doubled in size. In 1907 a movement was inaugurated to move the Christian Biblical Institute, a theological institution of the Christian Church located at Stanfordville, New York, to the campus of Defiance College. This institution had a long and honorable history, but was somewhat removed from the center of the activity of that church. The removal was made in September, 1907, and a new building, called Weston Hall, was erected in the fol lowing year for its accommodation. This building provided an auditorium and gymnasium, and a Y. M. C. A. hall. The two institutions co-operated in their work, and students were permitted to carry work in both. In 1910 the association of the two institutions was made still closer by the election of President McReynolds as the head of both institutions, succeeding the venerable Dr. John B. Weston, who had been president of the institute for many years. Since the establishment of Defiance College at Defiance, there have been many additions to its endowment and also to its working force. The Sutphen Memorial Home for the president stands as a memorial to Judge Silas T. Sutphen, who contributed largely of his time and influence during his life. The funds for the erection of this home were donated by his heirs. The largest gift in the history of the institution was received in 1909 from Mrs. Ardella B. Engle, who endowed the Anha B. Sisson Chair of Presidency as a memorial to her sister. Sisson Hall, which is the most attractive building on the campus, also stands as a memorial to this giver. It is a dormitory for men. Fortunately for Defiance College, its growth and advance has been the result of the co-operation of many persons of limited means, rather than a few who have been able to give princely sums. Whenever pressing needs have become manifest, some one has arisen with the spirit of giving and ability to provide sufficient means to meet this need. The board of trustees of the Francis Asbury Palmer Fund have made generous appropriations toward the current expense fund for a number of years. Dr. Chas. E. Slocum cohtributed to the college a large collection of specimens valuable to geologists, biologists, and antiquarians. These have been placed in a special room prepared for the purpose. The Christian Biblical Institute and Defiance College were formally merged in a new corporation under the latter name, in June, HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 329 1916. Seven of the trustees are named by the Ohio State Christian Association, and an equal number are designated by the American Christian Convention, the highest corporate body of the Christian Church in the United States and Canada. The endowment funds formerly held by the Christian Biblical Institute are kept intact to further the work of the Divinity School. The growth of Defiance College has been steady and permanent in character. Whereas in 1902 there were only thirty-three students, the annual enrollment now exceeds 600. During the same period the faculty has grown from four to more than two score. In place of one dilapidated building, there are now five splendid and well equipped buildings on the campus, with another, to be known as Tenzer Science Hall, to be erected immediately. The institution has ever emphasized the importance of high intellectual standing, of wholesome Christian ideals, with careful guarding of the student discipline, and with the purpose of making it possible for the student of moderate means to secure a college training. STATE NORMAL COLLEGE A few years ago the educational authorities of Ohio felt the serious need of improving the public school system of the state.. As one step in the solution of this problem, it was decided to establish normal schools for the training of teachers. In 1910 the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the governor to appoint a commission to locate two normal schools in the state. One of these was to be situated in Northeast Ohio, and the other in Northwest Ohio. After viewing a number of prospective sites, the commission appointed for this purpose chose Bowling Green as the location of the school for Northwest Ohio. A board of trustees was appointed by the governor, which was organized on the 30th of June, 1911, and a few months later Prof. H. B. Williams was elected the president of the college. The campus of the State Normal College, at Bowling Green, contains 82 1/2 acres, and affords ample space for agricultural experiments, school gardens, and nature study excursions. The buildings are not far from the center of the city and are easily accessible. A general building plan was at once adopted by the board of trustees, and the first building to be erected was the administration building, which includes an auditorium, a gymnasium, and the offices, and is the central feature. The next appropriation from the state was devoted to the construction of a dormitory for women, a science building, and a heating plant, and a later appropriation was made for the erection of a training school building. The State Normal College was opened in temporary quarters on the 15th of September, 1914, with a faculty of fifteen members, including four critic teachers. The dormitory for women, with accommodation for 100, was opened at the beginning of the summer session of June, 1915, but the administration building was not completed until September of that year, and the heating plant was ready for service in that autumn. The science building was ready for occupancy in 1916, •and affords every modern convenience for the teaching of agriculture, science, and industrial arts. The training school building was begun in the same year, but not completed until 1917. This is to be a model elementary school building, provided with all the equipment for the newer school activities. With this equipment the school is prepared to occupy the field for which it was created by the General Assembly. The initial enrollment of the normal college was 158, and during the first year more than 300 students took advantage of the opportunities offered by the institution. Since then the enrollment has increased very largely, and for the year 1915- 330 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO 1916 more than 400 students were enrolled in the regular classes, with a graduating class of fifty-one, and the summer school had upon its rolls more than 600 students. In addition to this there are large extension classes of nonresident students; in which teachers of this section of the state are taking instructions under the college faculty. To take care of the increased duties, the faculty has been doubled. A number of different courses are conducted. Among these are a one-year professional course for college graduates, a four-year course leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree, the only degree conferred, a two-year diploma course for grade teachers in city and village schools, a two-year diploma course for rural districts, and a two-year diploma course for teachers in agriculture, industrial arts, home economics, and music. Three model rural schools are maintained by the normal college for student teaching and observation. These are at Bowling Green, West Hope in Henry County, and at Wapakoneta. It is intended to add additional ones at other places. TOLEDO STATE HOSPITAL The state institution for the insane at Toledo is famous .among similar institutions in the country, because of the novel lines upon which it was constructed. It was in 1883 that the urgent necessity for an additional hospital for the accommodation of insane patients was deemed necessary, because there were at least 100 of these unfortunates who were detained in the jails and county infirmaries of the state, since the regular hospitals for their treatment and detention were already overflowing. At that time advanced thinkers were beginning to agitate a more humane treatment for the insane, in which there would be less restraint than had heretofore been accorded them. It was also believed that the administration and upkeep could be greatly reduced. Charles' Foster, then governor of Ohio, became greatly interested in the subject of public charities, and became convinced that an insane hospital, built on the cottage plan, would be preferable. to the older system. In April, 1883, the Ohio Legislature provided for a commission whose duty it was to decide upon a plan by which additional provision for accommodation and care of the insane should be made. In this act it was provided that 650 patients should be accommodated. The commission was composed of Governor Foster, General Brinkerhoff, Secretary of State Newman, Auditor Ogilvie, and Attorney-General Hollingsworth. Doctor Byers, of the Board of State Charities, was made the secretary of the commission. The location was not fixed by the General Assembly, but, after a careful examination of the proposed sites, the commission decided upon Toledo. A tract of 150 acres of land was donated by the authorities of Lucas County, and upon this site the hospital was located. After visiting the Kankakee, Illinois, and a number of other state hospitals for the insane, the commission decided to adopt the cottage plan. This was to include one large dining room for males and another one for females, as it was believed this plan was most conducive to the success of the new departure in treatment, as well as in economy of operation. It was decided to utilize 100 acres of the ground for park and construction purposes, and to locate the buildings in the form of a parallelogram. In construction of the buildings, it was aimed to eliminate as far as possible the prison-like appearance so prevalent in the older hospitals. Kindness was to be substituted for force ih the treatment of the inmates, and amusements were provided for the patients to take the place of restraints so far as possible. The grounds are now ornamented with a half-dozen small lakes, more than 1,000 trees and shrubs, and several miles of gravel roads. HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 331 They have been developed into a beautiful park of real artistic merit. The first board of trustees consisted of the following members : George L. Johnson, John W. Fuller, of the City of Toledo ; William E. Haynes, of Fremont ; John W. Nelson, of Bryan; and Robert G. Pennington, of Tiffin. The hoard proceeded with the erection of the buildings, and the work of construction extended over about four years. It was not uhtil 1888 that the hospital was opened for the reception of patients, and several hundred inmates were immediately admitted to its care. Dr. Henry A. Tobey was named as the first superintendent of the institution. From the beginning it became manifest that the new idea in practice for treatment of the insane was a success, and the reputation of the Toledo State Hospital has became world wide. The cottage plan and modern methods of treatment have illustrated their superiority over the old method of a single large building, and it has been proved that there is greater economy in the matter of maintenance. The average number of patients now accommodated by the Toledo State Hospital is 1,815. Doctor Tobey proved himself to be a man unusually well fitted for the duties involving upon him, and he remained in eharge of the hospital until early in the year 1906. He was succeeded by Dr. George R. Love, who had been assistant physician at the hospital for a number of years under' his predecessor. Doctor Love has administered the duties devolving upon him as the administrative head of so great an institution unusually well, and the reputation of this institution for the care of unfortunates stands in the very front rank of similar institutions. The institution was originally planned to accommodate 1,000 patients. In the past twenty-five years it has practically doubled, and in the next ten years will likely have 2,000 patients under its care. The Toledo State Hospital takes care of all the insane in twenty-two counties of Northwestern Ohio. LIMA STATE HOSPITAL FOR CRIMINAL INSANE The erection of a hospital in the State of Ohio for the care of insane criminals, or persons of dangerous tendencies confined in other hospitals, was definitely decided upon by an act passed on the 2d day of April, 1906, by the Legislature of Ohio. The statute provided for seven distinct classes to be confined here, as follows: Persons who became insane while in the penitentiary and state reformatory ; dangerous insane persons now in other stale hospitals ; persons accused of crime but not indicted because of insanity ; persons indicted but found to be insane ; persons acquitted because of insanity; persons adjudged to be insane who were previously convicted of crime; such other insane persons as may be directed by law. The first step taken towards the establishment of this hospital was in 1904, when an act was passed by the General Assembly authorizing the governor to appoint a committee of five to report a suitable site for a new hospital for the insane. Although Ohio already had five institutions for the insane, in addition to the homes for epileptics and feebleminded, these institutions had long been inadequate to care for the demands constantly being made upon them. Governor Herrick appointed as the five members of this commission the following gentlemen : A. H. Judy, of Greenville ; Dr. A. B. Smith, of Wellington ; Dr. E. LeFevre, of Marietta ; C. J. Manix, of Cleveland; and Walter B. Richie, of Lima. This commission consisted of three republicans and two democrats. The matter was immediately taken up by the energetic people of Lima, and it was determined that the location of the hospital would be a good thing for that city. It. was undoubtedly due to the splendid efforts of Mr. Richie, their fellow townsman, 332 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO that the commission in its report to the Legislature recommended Lima as the site for this new hospital to be erected, in preference to a half dozen competitors. A short time after the act of 1904 was passed, Governor Pattison appointed a "Board of Commissioners for the erection of the Lima State Hospital." The members of this commission were Dr. John E. Russell, of Mount Vernon ; Dr. M. F. Hussey, of Sidney; Judge Martin J. Burke, of Marion ; George E. Whitney, of Marysville ; Frank W. Purmort, of Van Wert ; and S. A. Hoskins, of Wapakoneta. Mr. Hoskins was made chairman, and Mr. Whitney secretary of the commission. Before the duties of the commission were ended, Mr. Purmort and Doctor Russell died, and Governor Harris appointed Dr. Joseph A. Hall, of Cincinnati, and I. N. Bien, of Van Wert, as their successors. The commission visited the institution at Ionia, Michigan, the one at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and also the New York hospitals at Matteawan and Dannemore, and the St. Elizabeth Hospital for the insane at Washington. Almost two years were consumed by the committee in devising the best method of procedure. In the resulting plans of the commission, the Lima institution was modeled more upon the plan of the Matteawan Hospital than any other in existence, but it is believed that many improvements were made over that famous institution. The above named institutions are practically the only institutions for the specific care of criminal insane, a matter which deserves more consideration every year as our population increases. Frank E. Packard, of Columbus, was secured as the. architect to draft the new buildings planned. They are arranged to surround a rectangular court, 250 by 500 feet in dimensions. Each building, or group, to be built radiating from this court is knowh as a pavilion, and each group has its own court for the benefit of patients in that pavilion, which is used as an exercise court. The buildings are planned to secure as much ventilation and sunlight as possible. The entire institution is built of reinforced concrete, made in such a way that the entire group of buildings constitute a monolith. The concrete is faced with brick, and the entire group of buildings is so constructed as to be absolutely fireproof, as the use of wood has been eliminated in every way possible. The State Hospital for the Criminal Insane, as it is known, is located on a square mile of land, about two miles from Lima. It was opened late in the year 1915, and in a few months the number of patients transferred over from other institutions numbered 700. It has a capacity of 800, and can be extended to accommodate 1,200 inmates. The physician in charge at the opening was Dr. Charles H. Clark, with Dr. John H. Berry as first assistant, and Dr. William H. Bonvorn as his second assistant. There were also sixty-two male attendants and twenty female attendants, with more than sixty additional men and women employed in the various departments of the institution. CHAPTER XXVIII THE METROPOLIS OF NORTHWEST OHIO No portion of Ohio has passed through so many governmental changes as has that part of Lucas County which comprises the site of Toledo. We find that since the coming of the European this locality has experienced a series of mutations in sovereignty numbering at least nineteen. The shadowy claim of Spain was followed by an actual occupation by France and Great Britain, and it was included in the great Northwestern Territory for a number of years after the American Republic was born. It has been claimed by Michigan, was an integral part of the Territory of Indiana, and, since its inclusion in the State of Ohio, has been included in several county jurisdictions. It narrowly escaped being a part of the State of Metropotamia, as proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1784. Civil government for this county began with the organization of the County of Wayne in the proclamation of Governor St. Clair, of the Northwestern Territory, in 1796. This was the third county so created in that great expanse of wilderness. It is true, however, that for a score of years, following this proclamation, there was practically no such thing as an organized civil government. When Logan County was formed, in 1805, there was only a semblance of civil authority, for it was practically an Indian country over which the officials of Logan County exercised little jurisdiction. With all its territorial changes, Toledo is not an old city. Compared with its namesake, the majestic Old Castillian capital on the high banks of the Tagus, with its reminiscences of the Moor and the Orient, the western Toledo is still almost in its swaddling clothes. Many of the principal events that find a place in this narrative are within the memory of many persons still living. Some of the citizens, now in their ripened age, paddled canoes and skated on the present sites of some of our loftiest buildings. They caught frogs in the stagnant pools that marked the spots where great banking institutions and busy stores now serve the citizens of the city. In the space of the biblical three score and ten, they have witnessed the marvellous growth of their home town from a village of 2,000, as it was in 1846, to a teeming community of 250,000, as it is seventy years later. In 1836 Toledo had fewer than 100 inhabitants, and in 1850 there were barely 3,000 Toledoans. In the next decade it increased 10,000, but from that time the growth has been steady, and at time very rapid. The first city directory, issued in 1858, contained only 116 pages of names, with an average of twenty names to a page. The total number of names was about 2,300, with a Tremainesville (West Toledo) supplement of eighteen names. No name is more notable among the early settlers of this vicinity than is that of Peter Navarre. He was born at Detroit in 1785. With his brother Robert he erected a cabin near the mouth of the Maumee, on the east side of the river, and this continued to be his residence during the greater part of his life. He was conversant with two or three of the Indian tongues in addition to the Canadian French, which he spoke freely. In his bearing he was indeed gentlemanly. In woodcraft and Indian habits he was very - 333 - HISTORY, OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 335 skilled, and was employed for some time in purchasing furs of the Indians for a Detroit house. When the War of 1812 broke out, he and his three brothers, Robert, Alexis, and Jaquot, tendered their services to General Hull. After the surrender of that officer, they were paroled and at once entered upon an active career for the United States. A reward of $1,000 was at one time offered for Peter's head or scalp. He acted as a scout for General Harrison, and he himself said that the worst night he ever spent was as a bearer of a dispatch from General Harrison, then at Fort Meigs, to Fort Stephenson, because of 'a great rainfall and terrific thunderstorm. Peter and one of his brothers also carried the dispatch from General Harrison to Commodore Perry, instructing him to engage the enemy's fleet as soon as possible. He lived to a very great age, and died in East Toledo March 20, 1874, in his eighty-ninth year. By a special act of Congress he was granted a pension in his late days, which made him fairly comfortable. A monument has been erected to his memory in Toledo by popular subscription. Prominent among the very early settlers were John. T. Baldwin and his family, consisting of his wife, four sons, and a daughter. They reached this valley shortly after the close of the War of 1812. It required ten days for the vessel on which they sailed to come here from Cleveland by the way of Detroit. They first went to the settlement below Fort Meigs, then called " Orleans of the North." They returned to their home in New York after a few years, but later came back to this vicinity, settling in an old log warehouse at the foot of Monroe Street, in Port Lawrence. At a later period the family removed to Grassy Point, now generally known as the "Middle Ground." Mr. Baldwin kept very accurate accounts, and from these we learn many things regarding the prices in those early days. It cost $5.50 to transport a passenger from Miami to Detroit in 1818. Butter was worth 31 1/4 cents, beefsteak 10 cents, bread 12 1/2 cents a loaf, and salt sold for $8 a barrel. Originally laborers were paid $25 per month and board, while sailors drew the same wage. In 1823 there was, according to Mr. Baldwin's son, two log warehouses at the foot of Monroe Street, a small frame house on Perry Street, and a log house on Superior Street, on the site of the present police station, and another hewed log house on Summit Street, near Jefferson. In the house on Perry Street lived Joseph Prentice, and in it was born Frederick Prentice, believed to be the first white child born in Port Lawrence, on December 22, 1822. He lived until 1915, to the ripe old age of ninety-three. The Superior Street cabin' was occupied by Joseph Trombley. William Wilson dwelt for a time in the one on Summit Street. The remains of Fort Industry were then to be seen on that thoroughfare, with some of the pickets of the fortifications still existing. Down the river farther was the brick dwelling of Major Stickney, the only residence in what afterwards became "Lower Town," or Vistula. Maj.. Benjamin F. Stickney, according to his own story, left Washington March 8, 1812, under appointment as Indian agent at Fort Wayne. For a time he held the highly honorable position of poundmaster for Port Lawrence Township, Monroe County, Michigan Territory, to which he had been duly elected. At this election, held May 27, 1827, the following voters cast their ballots : John T. Baldwin, J. V. D. Sutphen, Noah A. Whitney, John G. Forbs, Daniel Murray, Tibbals Baldwin, John Walworth, Eli Hubbard, Coleman I. Keeler, Wm. Wilson, Alvin Evans, John Roop, Cyrus Fisher, Wm. Mills, B. F. Stickney, John Baldwin, Seneca Allen, Amos Wait, Wm. Wilkerson, Wm. Sibley, Amasa Bishop, Charles Richards, Jesse Mills, Joseph Prentice, . Henry Phillips, Ebenezer Ward, Thos. P. Whitney, Wm. Holmes and Jacob 336 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO Navarre. A half dozen or more houses, had been built further back from the river, within the present limits of Toledo. In one of these lived Noah A. Whitney, while Coleman I. Keeler occupied another. The five Navarre brothers had their cabins across the river. John Baldwin and Cyrus Fisher opened the first store, and the business continued for a number of years as John Baldwin & Company. Mrs. Fannie L. Allen, wife of Seneca Allen, came here. with her husband in 1816. At that time the principal village of the Ottawas was located at Manhattan. Of the site of Toledo in the early days, she said : "I well remember the beautiful road leading from Vistula to this Indian Village. It was winding, and shaded by magnificent trees. We frequently rode thither with Major Stickney in his one-horse wagon ; and as we passed through the Village, the little Indians would run out calling him 'Father ! Father !' which would please him amazingly. What is now chiefly the track of Summit Street, formed then a most charming ride through a delightful 'forest. The banks of the River were bold, high bluffs, and the graceful little fawns and flocks of wild turkeys often crossed our path as we were riding, and disappeared in the woods. I had two fawns for my especial playmates—each having a bell attached to its neck, and they Were daily companions in my rambles 'through the woods. The streets of Vistula bear the names originally given them —myself naming Lagrange, in memory of the home in France, of Lafayette. Major Stickney gave Summit. Street its name ; and Captain Allen suggested the names of all the others. The Indians were uniformly kind and hospitable." Among the interesting items of municipal' expenditures in the -early days are the sum of $23.42 paid in 1828 for "destroying black birds," and in 1832 a bounty of $2.50 each was voted for wolf scalps. In 1831 fifty-nine -votes were cast in Port Lawrence. Township, all of which is now in Toledo, as at present constituted, and two years later the number had increased to seventy. For the first time the names of Sanford L. Collins and Oliver Stevens now appear. The last election held in this township, under the authority of Michigan, took place in a schoolhouse on Ten Mile Creek Prairie, in 1835. Horace Thatcher and Stephen Haughton voted at this time. The last recorded action under the same authority was the laying out of a road between Tremainesville (West Toledo) and Toledo. This road is now Cherry Street. Among the interesting laws of this period, passed by the territorial council of Michigan, and which was in force in Toledo, is the following: "Be it enacted by the General Legislative council of the Territory, That any Justice of the Peace, on conviction may sentence any vagrant, lewd, idle or disorderly persons, stubborn servants, common night-walkers, pilferers, or any other persons wanton or licentious in speech, indecent behavior, common raiders or brawlers, such as neglect their calling or employment, misspend what they earn, and do not provide for themselves or their families to be whipped not exceeding ten stripes, or to be delivered over to the Constable, to be employed out for the best wages that can be procured, the proceeds of which to be applied to the use of the poor of the County." PORT LAWRENCE AND VISTULA Under the treaty of Greenville a reservation of twelve miles square, "at the British fort on the Miami of the lake at the Foot of the Rapids," was created. This tract included the mouth of Swan Creek, and "river tracts" one and two were the original site of the City of Toledo. Under an act of Congress these lands were surveyed into tracts numbered from one up, which were sold at public auc- HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 337 tion in February, 1817, at Wooster, Ohio. Two companies were organized for the purpose of buying the lands at this sale. One of these was the "Baum Company," and the other was the "Pratt Company." Both companies sought the lands at the mouth of Swan Creek. These companies consisted of William Oliver, Martin Baum, Jacob Burnet, William C. Schenck, John Pratt, Robert Pratt, William N. Worthington, and others. In order to avoid competition, however, in bidding, the two interests joined forces in purchasing these tracts. They purchased 974 acres, at a price of $76.06 an acre. The purchasers were duly organized under the name of Port Lawrence Company, which immediately formulated plans for laying out the town to be called Port Lawrence. The north line of the river tract, on which Port Lawrence was located, commenced at a point on the river near Lynn Street and ran directly west, crossing Madison near Ontario. Martin Baum was appointed as general agent for the proprietors, and for the general management of the property he appointed William Oliver as his attorney, to attend to the sale of the lands and laying out the town. Among the instructions given to Oliver were the following : In running the streets and the division of lots, it is not the wish of the proprietor that interest or convehience should be sacrificed to form ; that the growth of the place should be retarded by a useless adherence to any particular figure, or to any fanciful uniformity of squares. The number of the lots was to be from 300 to 500, and with a few exceptions they were to be 60 by 120 in size. " The principal or central street should be at least 160 feet wide, and the others from 80 to 100 feet. Let there be three lots, each 120 feet square, set off for public uses, Churches, Schools, etc. ; and one, 240 feet square, for Court House and Jail. There should be one or two suitable lots out of the Town for burying Vol. I-22 grounds." At the sale, which took place on September 20, 1817, seventy-nine lots were sold. Among the purchasers were Samuel H. Ewing, Aurora Spofford, Seneca Allen, John E. Hunt, Robert A. Forsyth, Allen Reed and Truman Reed, of "Maumee Rapids," and B. F. Stickney, of Fort Wayne. The condition of the town is well expressed in a letter from Benjamin Rathbun, of New York, written in 1870 : "I was once where Toledo now is. It was in the Spring of 1817, while a portion of it was being surveyed for Village lots. I then took up the first lot ever sold in Toledo as a Village lot. The title of the Company failing for non-payment of their purchase, of course, I lost my lot. I have never been at Toledo since I left in August, 1818. At that time there was not a dwelling house there. A man by the name of Henderson built a log and stone house on the bank and partly over the water, just below the mouth of what was then known as Swan Creek ; and there was a French cabin on the 'Flats,' near Swan Creek, for the Indians to get rum in. These were all the buildings Toledo could boast of in 1818. My own family (consisting of Mrs. Rathbun and one son), and Major Keeler's family, occupied Henderson's log and stone warehouse while we were there." Martin Baum subsequently erected a two-story log warehouse on one of the lots near the mouth of the Swan Creek. This notable event was duly celebrated by all the settlers of the Lower Maumee regions at the "log raising." To this "frolic" came the Hunts, the Forsyths, the Conants, the Spaffords, and the other pioneer settlers. It was a general turnout and drew participants from far-away Monroe. Two French fiddlers supplied the necessary inspiration for the dancers. As only one-fourth of the purchase price had been paid in cash, the purchasers defaulted on the later payments, and thus practically surrendered the property with the few improve- 338 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO ments that had been made. Congress passed a special act allowing the purchasers to retain a part of their purchase for the initial payment, upon their surrendering the balance. Under this arrangement all their purchase was relinquished excepting the lots already sold. Several changes in ownership took place, but arrangements were finally settled and steps were taken toward the settlement of the Town of Port Lawrence. Little was done, however, during this first effort to build a city on the Lower Maumee. A letter from Horatio Conant, of Fort Meigs, to a United States senator pays his compliments to the embryo town, under date of "9th February, 1822." "I understand, it is in contemplation to so alter the route of the. great Eastern mail to Detroit, that it shall not pass this place, but go by Port Lawrence, nine miles below, on the Maumee River. Also, to remove the port of entry to Port Lawrence. And also, I presume, from a motion of Mr. Sibley, to open a road under the provisions of the Brownstown treaty, not from Sandusky (now Fremont) to Fort Meigs, according to the terms of said treaty, but from Sandusky to Port Lawrence. "Respecting Port Lawrence, there is not, nor has there been, for years, nor is there likely to be, more than three English families, including all within three miles of the place ; and whatever public business is done there, must be done by one man, who is already Indian Agent and Justice of the Peace for Michigan. The distance proposed to be saved by altering the route. of the mail, ought. not to come in competition with the increased risk in• crossing the Maumee River, which, in that place is very wide, and open to the unbroken surges of Lake Erie. The same objection will lie with increased weight, against opening a 'military road to cross the River there. It might as well cross the mouth of the bay, or any other part of Lake Erie. "If there was any business done at the place, or was likely to be, I should not so much object to the Customs Collector's office being removed there ; but at present I should esteem it ridiculous to entertain the idea." The. Port Lawrence Company was resurrected and a new plat prepared in December, 1832, of which proper record was made in Monroe County, Michigan Territory. This plat covered the territory east and west from Jefferson to Washington Street, and from Superior to the river, but the streets were differently named. Summit Street was called Erie, St. Clair was designated as Ontario, and Superior was named Huron. There were about seventy-two parcels in the plat, and the first sale of lots took place on June 13, 1833. Thus it is seen that early Toledo centered around the mouth of Swan Creek. The price paid for the first lot was $25.00, and the purchaser was John Baldwin, afterwards a leading merchant and one of the first associate judges of the county. This sale was for cash, which was unusual for the transactions of that period. In several cases sales were conditioned upon improvements being made by the purchaser. One of these was that the purchaser erect "a good building eighteen by twenty-four feet to be painted" another purchaser was to erect "a good two story house," and a third' obligated himself to construct "two good houses and paint white." S. B. Comstock acted as agent of the purchasers for a while, and Andrew Palmer succeeded him. In 1835, the Port Lawrence Company was dissolved, and the stockholders of .the "Village of Toledo" divided their holdings into separate ownership. Among these were William Oliver, Micajah F. Williams, Philander Raymond, Charles W. Lynde, Isaac' S. Smith, John B. Macy, Hiram; Pratt, William E. Porter Taylor, Edward Bissell, Andrew Palmer, and Steven B. Comstock. Two lots were set aside for school buildings, and two more for the first two religious societies that HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 339 should complete houses of worship. Land to the amount of five acres was reserved for county purposes. Lot 335 was voted to Mrs. Harriet Daniels, wife of Munson H. Daniels, "as a complimentary present on the occasion of _hers being the first marriage at Toledo." Several lots were set aside for a hotel to be built jointly by the proprietors. Sixteen tickets, representing parts of equal value, were placed in a hat and were then drawn by Two Stickney, second son of Major Stickney, which were delivered to the parties in an order agreed upon. 1 In 1832, having become satisfied that the Port Lawrence enterprise .would not be successful, because of the lack of energy among the promoters, Major' Stickney withdrew from this enterprise, devoting his attention to a project farther down the river on lands owned by himself. In October of that year, he made a contract with. Samuel Allen, of Lockport, New York, under which improvements were to be made, and Allen was to have one-half of the land in consideration of certain expenditures made by him. Allen failing to do his part, in the following year Stickney entered into an arrangement with Otis Hathaway, from the same place. As the result a town and plat Was located below Port Lawrence, which was named Vistula. Lewis Godard, of Detroit, agreed that if certain lots were given him he would establish a store at that place. This he did, using for that purpose an old blockhouse built about 1817. A grand ball was given in honor of the new enterprise in the old log warehouse at the mouth of Swan Creek, then occupied by the Baldwins, at which participated residents of all the surrounding settlements as far as Monroe and Perrysburg. The upper story 1 Major Stickney. was nothing if not original. He adopted a plan by which there would be no delay or controversy over the naming of his sons. His first born bore the designation of One, and his second passes into history as Two. We have no record of any others. was utilized for the dance, as it was the only building fitted for such an affair. The store was placed in charge of Sanford L. Collins, who had also been employed in Detroit, and who thus associated himself with the future history of Toledo. Edward Bissell, of Lockport, was drawn to the West by Major ,Stickney. To improve the dock facilities, he placed some docking along the river from Lagrange to Elm streets. His business sagacity and enterprise at once gave life and stimulus to Vistula, so that large sums of money (for that day) were expended for roads and other improvements necessary for ambitious towns. Settlers began to arrive,, and a sale of lots was held December 19, 1833. During the next couple of years many lots were disposed of, and the remaining lots were then divided among the stockholders, among whom were Benjamin F. Stickney, Edward Bissell, Isaac S. Smith, I. S. Macy, Hiram Pratt, W. F. P. Taylor, Robert Hicks, Henry W. Hicks, and others. A majority of the sales were consummated upon condition that the purchaser should make improvements, most of them to be dwelling houses of various sizes, from 16 by 20 feet and upwards. In some instances it was provided that the purchasers should "build in the course of the summer," or "build within three months—brick." The stipulated cost ranged from $100 to $3,000. RIVAL TOWNS The paramount question along the Lower Maumee for many years was the question of the terminus of the projected canal. It was felt that its location would be the logical site for a .great commercial city. A number of Buffalo parties became so convinced of this that they purchased a large tract of land at the mouth of the river. Among the owners were Jacob A. Barker, H. N. Holt, Charles Townsend, Sheldon Thompson, John W. Clark, Stephen G. Austin, George C. and 340 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO Platt Card. All of these joint owners were residents of Buffalo, excepting the Cards, who lived on the land. In October, 1835, these men organized the "Maumee Land and Railroad Company," and the Town of Manhattan was then platted. They built a large hotel, which was opened in 1836, and constructed spacious docks and warehouses. The same men purchased land on the east side of the river and organized the East Manhattan Land Company, which purchased lands of Wa-sa-on, Otto-kee, Kee-tuck-ee, Wa-sa-on-quette, and other Ottawa Indians, which had been granted to them by treaty in 1833, as well as of the Navarres. Here was located an early French settlement, possibly as early as 1808, and adjoining was a village of the Ottawa Indians, which had been there since the days of Pontiac, whose family lived there as early as 1683. The prospects of Manhattan appeared so good that the capital stock of the company was raised to $2,000,000. For a number of years the warehouses did a flourishing business. The Buffalo owners were shippers, owning numerous steamers, and they made Manhattan their main terminus. From here they went up the river to Maumee, without even stopping at Toledo. The upper town gradually forged to the front, however, and the docks of Manhattan were finally abandoned. Tremainesville began in 1823, when the Wilkinsons arrived and settled there, although there were some earlier settlers in the neighborhood, including William Sibley, Eli Hubbard, and Major Keeler. Dexter Fisher, with his wife and sons, came in 1825, and he became the first tavern and store keeper when he built a large blockhouse in 1829. This emporium was a great convenience to the settlers and travelers. It became a mecca for Indian trade. Calvin Tremaine came in the fall of 1832, and the little town took its name from him. The postmaster, Cyrus Fisher, resigned and Tremaine was appointed to that position. Tremainesville was a famous place during the Toledo War, as it was the campihg place of the Michigan troops. The first plat was made in 1854 by Philip I. Philips. West Toledo postoffice was established here in 1879, with J. M. Lycan as postmaster. When West Toledo was formally annexed to Toledo, in the spring of 1916, Solomon Wilkinson, who came here in 1823, was still living at the age of ninety-four. He had thus been an eyewitness to all the changes herein related. Auburndale is another village that has been absorbed by its growing neighbor. It was platted in 1873, and the plat contained 171 lots. This was so successful that an addition was laid out in the following year. This name is still used generally in referring to that section of the metropolis. It appears that in the management of each of the rival towns of Port Lawrence and Vistula, the proprietors were compelled to expend considerable sums of money for objects which were of common benefit. In the case of Port Lawrence, this was for the provision of stage and mail connections with the outside world, and the opening up of the roads to the surrounding country. It was necessary to subsidize some of these stage lines in order to have them stop at Port Lawrence, for the regular route from Tremainesville to Maumee City passed about 11/2 miles west of Port Lawrence, along Detroit Avenue. This was indeed a humiliation not to be borne. The joint expenditures of the two towns for stages exceeded $4,000. The rivalry of the towns of Manhattan on one side, and Maumee and Perrysburg on the other, soon convinced the proprietors that their interests and fortunes were so closely identified that it would be better to join forces. The up-river towns made Manhattan the object of their special attention, while Manhattan's. sympathies were all in favor of the towns at the "Foot of the Rapids," the term used to designate those two small settlements. The steamboat captains could not even see Toledo with their glasses, HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 341 except when summoned there to receive freight. An arrangement was at length concluded to consolidate the two towns under the common name of Toledo, a designation suggested by James Irvine Brown. EARLY TOLEDO The experience of the two villages in fighting a common battle with the outside world overcame all local jealousies, and the corporate union was formed in 1833. This step did not come any too soon, but with the union there came strength. So many towns were being promoted that an era of land speculation arose. This is shown by the large numbers of delinquent lands advertised for sale. The high water mark was reached in 1840. The list in that year of Toledo alone covers 11/2 pages in the Blade, and contained 1,000 prices of property. The county list spread over ten pages. This included town lots in Manhattan, Maumee City, Miami City, Waterville, Sylvania, Whiteford, and Lucas City. The present site of the courthouse was sold for $2.51, unpaid taxes. Almost the entire plat of Manhattan, which consisted of more than 5,000 lots, was offered for sale. The list was so long that it taxed the typographical resources of the Blade. When the stock of figures ran out, they spelled the numbers out, as "ten," etc. Lucas City comprised what is now known as Ironville. Oregon Village contributed a few lots. It was on the east side, near Fassett Street Station. Marengo was between Miami City and Toledo. East Marengo was almost opposite Marengo. All of these paper towns were advertised as the "head of navigation." Most of them have now passed out of the memory of those living. Lucas City was laid out in the spring of 1836. The first announcement of its existence consisted of the following advertisement, which appeared in the Toledo Gazette: "LUCAS CITY LOTS "The undersigned offer for sale about 1,500 lots on this important site. It stands at the mouth of the Maumee River, near its junction with Lake Erie. The back country is wide and rich, and the channel which passes has been acknowledged by experienced navigators to be deep and broad enough for vessels of the largest tonnage. The establishment of Roads and Canals, as well as other public works, which are projected within its neighborhood, gives it extraordinary and marked advantages. The public attention seems to be directed to this important point, as the great object to the speculator or actual settler. "The City lots may be secured upon the most advantageous terms, upon application to “WILLARD SMITH, "E. C. HART, “GEO. HUMPHREY, "Trustees. "Lucas, May 6, 1836. "N. B.—The local advantages of the place may be ascertained by applying to the Masters of Vessels and Steamboats, who ply upon this track. " Toledo did not grow or improve rapidly. As late as 1850, Summit Street was the only thoroughfare connecting "Lower Town" and "Upper Town." The only improvement was a plank walk on the westerly side. There was a bluff on Summit, called "The Hog's Back," the highest point of which was at Jefferson. A roadway had been graded through this, and on the highest point was the National Hotel. A block farther down was a two-story building, midway between the two towns, which was the compromise postoffice. In rainy weather landslides from the overhanging bluff made the sidewalk a very uncertain means of communication. In 1852, a contributor to the Blade gave to the world a poem, of which a few stanzas read as follows: 342 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO "Napoleon crossed the Alps, his high enterprise Won him a deathless name; but not a steep Of all the peaks he crossed, so hard to rise As Summit Street, beneath whose lowest deep There is a depth no mortal ever scanned, A gloomy deep of mud, devoid of sand." Away from the river, and across "The Hog's Back," was a depression, or water course, which was generally known as Mud Creek. Many squatters lived in small squalid shacks in a part of this depression known as " Smoky Hollow." The only part of Toledo that was really attractive in the early days was the higher westerly land, which was covered by magnificent forest trees, many of which still stand. Much of the present business section was low ground, covered during the greater part of the year by the waters of Mud Creek. In the spring the sluggish waters and pools were alive with the little amphibious creatures which gave to Toledo its name of " frogtown," a designation still sometimes heard. In 1840 the council declared the building of a sidewalk along Monroe Street to be inexpedient because of the condition of the treasury, as the construction of the Summit Street walk had depleted the municipal finances. This was the first deficiency in . Toledo's treasury, but not the last by any means. EARLY INDUSTRIES The first brick manufactured in Toledo were made by Peter H. Shaw and E. Babcock. Babcock had a contract with the proprietors of the town for 1,500,000 brick, which he did not complete because of his death. Edward Bissell built a saw-mill on Summit Street between Elm and Chestnut, in 1834. In 1835 Frederic Prentice constructed a saw-mill on the East Side. The first foundry in Toledo was built where the present Lagrange Street School is located. In 1838 a mill for grinding grain was erected at the foot of Elm Street, and in March, 1839, the first grist of thirty-two bushels of wheat was satisfactorily ground in fifty-five minutes. The same engine was used when not grinding wheat for running the saw-mill adjoining. These mills passed in later years into the hands of William H. Raymond, who operated them until they were burned. In 1851 Wason & Co. commenced making cars by assembling the parts which they purchased elsewhere. Field & Wilmington in 1853 started the first car works for the entire manufacture of cars. The business was later acquired by The Toledo Car Works and continued until 1872, when the operation ceased. In 1851, Calvin Bronson came to Toledo and established The Bronson Tobacco Works. In 1865 he paid the Government $750,322 as the Government tax on his manufacturing product. His first factory was at the foot of Lagrange, on Water Street, between Madison and Jefferson streets, where he built a block five stories high, and eighty feet front, and running through to Water Street. The beginning of the vast industrial system of Toledo was indeed primitive. When Edward Bissell built his small saw-mill, it was considered a great enterprise. Little industries almost gave the town a boom. But a comparison of these small manufacturing plahts with the gigantic concerns of today reveals their real insignificance. Most of the big industries of today have been a matter of gradual growth. The Milburn Wagon Works Company was for years the largest and one of the best known of our industrial concerns. In the early days of the bicycle business, Toledo was the real center of that industry. Many concerns were engaged in the manufacture either-of the accessories or equipment, and hundreds of thousands of bicycles, bearing the name of Toledo, were scattered at home and across the Seven Seas. The Lozier factory was the largest of these. The immense plant of this concern passed to the Pope Manufacturing Company, HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 343 and it placed on the market one of the first successful automobiles, called the Pope-Toledo. When this concern failed, the factory was purchased by John N. Willys, one of the geniuses of the automobile world. Today, The Willys-Overland plant is probably the largest automobile factory in the world. When Edward Ford came here in a quiet and unobtrusive way, about the beginning of this century, few dreamed that his establishment would result in one of the very greatest plate glass factories in the world. It has also resulted in the upholding of Rossford, a live and hustling suburb of Toledo, which it immediately adjoins. The first goods offered for sale in Toledo, to white and red men alike, were by John Baldwin and Cyrus Fisher in the year 1823, at the old log warehouse at the mouth of Swan Creek. The first building erected for strictly mercantile purposes was located at the corner of Summit and Lagrange streets. It was built in the summer of 1832 by Sanford L. Collins for Lewis Godard and Elkanah Briggs. A third store was opened up in the same year in Tremainesville by Ebenezer Fisher. A. K. Gibson and Company were among the first dealers in groceries and provisions on Summit Street, between Monroe and Perry. In 1836 Valentine H. Ketcham commenced business in Toledo in general merchandising. In 1840 he was joined by Joseph K. Secor as a clerk, and the partnership of Ketcham and Secor resulted later. In 1854 Mr. Ketcham retired, and the firm of Secor, Berdan and Company arose with the entrance of Peter F. Berdan and George Secor. This firm gradually drifted into the exclusive wholesale grocery trade and, although the personnel of the partnership changed, the old firm name remained for more than half a century, when the name Secor was dropped from the title. The first postoffice within what is now Toledo was established at Tremainesville. It bore the name of Port Lawrence, and Cyrus Fisher was the postmaster. The mail was carried three times a week on horseback between Detroit and Lower Sandusky. Shortly after the villages of Port Lawrence and Vistula were consolidated, under the name of Toledo, the postoffice was located on the corner of Oak (now Jackson) and Summit streets, Oak being the line between the two villages. It was then an isolated and rather desolate looking building, standing entirely alone. The nearest structure was the log dwelling of William Andrews, a block below, which was surrounded by a "worm" rail fence enclosing about half an acre. In bad weather it was quite an undertaking to get from either end of the town to the postoffice. Stephen B. Comstock was named as the first postmaster. Prior to that time he had been in charge of the office at Port Lawrence, while Theodore Bissell and Junius Flagg had filled the responsible position of postmaster at Vistula. Comstock was succeeded in 1836 by Emery D. Potter. A few years afterwards the postoffice was moved up the river a couple of blocks to near Madison Avenue. There it remained until the first Government building was completed at the corner of Madison and St. Clair streets, in 1853. As the city grew, and the demands for enlarged quarters for postoffice and other governmental offices increased, a new building became indispensable. Then the old structure was demolished, and the present building at the old site erected. It was then believed that this building would answer all demands for the succeeding half century. In considerably less than half that time it became necessary to purchase a new site farther out from the business center, where the magnificent, and in many respects model, postoffice building was begun, which was completed and occupied in the year 1911, on December 10th. POLITICAL MOVEMENTS Political questions made their appearance at an early day in Toledo. At first the con- 344 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO flicting interests of the rival towns of Manhattan, Toledo, and Maumee City rather overshadowed all other subjects. In city elections, it was primarily the contest between Lower Town and Upper Town that was the dominant issue. At the initial election for mayor, Lower Town was the victor. Nevertheless, we have a record of both whig and democratic meetings as early as 1837. As a result of the election this year John Patterson (whig) was elected senator, and Curtis Bates (democrat) representative. John Berdan, elected that same year, was the first mayor under the charter. George H. Rich was city clerk, and D. O. Morton was chosen city attorney. The next mayors in succession were Hezekiah D. Mason, Myron H. Tilden, George B. Way, Richard Mott, and Emery D. Potter. Several ferries were established by ordinance. The rates were 121/2 cents for each person, and double that amount for a man and a horse. The early city dads were rather puritanical, for an ordinance passed by the first council prohibited, under severe penalties, "ball, nine or ten pin alleys ; also billiards, roulette, or any other table or instrument or device used or to be used for the purpose of gaming or gambling." In 1838 the city was divided into three wards. The first liquor legislation was passed in 1838 to prevent "the selling of spirituous liquors in small measures by stores and grog-shops in the City." In that year a "three cent ferry" was established across Swan Creek, at Superior Street, so that 3 cent fares early came into existence. In the following year there was provided "a contingent fund of $80 to defray the expenses in preventing removal" of the county seat to Maumee. Toledo was advanced to the grade of a city of the first class in 1867, and C. A. King was chosen mayor at the first election following. In 1916 another new charter, under the centralized Federal plan, went into effect, with Charles M. Milroy as the city's executive. The political history of Toledo has been unique in many ways. It has been injected into national prominence by the success of various independent movements brought about by conditions for which political bosses were responsible. When Samuel M. Jones was a candidate for renomination to the office of mayor, in 1899, he was defeated through the machinations of the party bosses. Encouraged by his ardent supporters, Mayor Jones became a candidate as an independent and was elected. So strongly was his personality ingratiated upon the voters, and so bitter was the opposition to the political ring then dominating the political horizon, that he was re-elected as an independent in 1901 and 1903 by tremendous majorities. His name and fame spread all over the country, because of his unique methods of campaigning, and by reason of the fact that there was a growing revolt everywhere against the pernicious activity of party leaders and political bosses in municipal affairs. He accepted an independent nomination for governor and made a vigorous campaign. His defeat was inevitable, but the influence of the campaign was lasting. It taught independence to the voters all over the state, rural as well as urban. He died on the 12th of July, 1904, while serving his fourth term as mayor. The struggle for political independence did not perish with the death of its leader. It was kept alive by the efforts of the traction company to secure a new franchise on favorable terms. An organized movement sprang into existence, which became known as " Independent Voters." Although no executive was to be elected, this organization placed in the field a complete list of nominations for the city council and other municipal offices. The traction situation became more tense as election day approached. The city council was stormed by a "petition in boots," led by Johnston Thurston, on the night of October 24, 1904, when it was feared that the ordinance would be passed. "Let Franchise Alone" was the battle cry of the 600 citizens who joined in this HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 345 assault upon the legislative chambers. The couhcil did leave it alone. The result of the election was a victory of the new political movement. The mayoralty campaign of 1905 was one of intense activity. The success of the independent movement in the previous year drew to it strong and virile leaders, and gave it increased prestige. For its standard bearer, Brand Whitlock was nominated for the office of mayor. A complete municipal and county ticket was placed in the field. Oratory flowed all over the city and into the remotest precihcts of the county in great tidal waves. The leaders of the old parties fought with the courage of despair. When the results of election day were known, it was found that Mr. Whitlock had been elected, and with him were a complete roster of independent officials. The county victory was not quite so complete, but several important county offices were filled with independents. The independent movement continued in its ascendancy in municipal affairs for almost a decade. Mr. Whitlock was three times re-elected to the office of mayor, and at each election the other offices were generally filled with followers of the independent movement. Although the independent voters' organization has formally disappeared, its effects are still plainly evident in the independence of the voters from party affiliations. Remedial measures were forced. through the Legislature, and a new municipal charter can be traced directly to the independence of the voters of Toledo. EARLY TAVERNS "Tavern by John Baldwin." This was the sign placed on a log warehouse near the mouth of Swan Creek in 1828. The same building had been used as a hostelry for two years previous by his father for the chance wayfarer. When Toledo was formed, the Eagle Tavern made its appearance in Lower Town. A little later the Mansion House was opened to the Public in the same neighborhood, with J. Baron Davis as landlord. This house was the public headquarters during the Toledo War. In spite of its name it was nothing more than a small frame building. The National Hotel and the American Hotel appeared next in historical order, the latter especially being rather a pretentious hostelry. The Toledo House was the first pretentious hotel in Upper Town, at the corner of Summit and Perry streets, and was opened in 1837. J. Blin and Company were the proprietors. A few years later another story was added and imposing wooden columns placed in front, and it was re-named the Indiana House. The new proprietor was Robert N. Lawton. Thayer's Exchange was prominent about the middle of the last century. The construction of the Oliver House in 1853 marked a new era in the history of the growing city. It was indeed an imposing structure for those days, and is still standing. At its opening a large and fashionable assemblage gathered. De Witt C. Baker was the first lessee. Owing to the shifting of the business center, the Oliver House ceased existence as a hotel, and the rooms are rented to tenants who dwell there. When the Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland Railroad entered the "Middle Grounds" in 1853, this move was followed by the establishment of the Island House. It provided both depot and hotel accommodations. The first landlord was Roswell P. Ainger. This house continued until the depot was again moved in 1887. The famous Boody House, named after Azariah Boody, and which has entertained several presidents and other distinguished guests, was completed in 1872. It, too, is obliged to give way in the forward march of the city. Among the curious regulations at one time adopted is the following, enacted by the city council on October 23, 1841: " That no person should `act as a runner for any Hotel, Tavern, Stage, Steam or Canal Boat within the limits of Toledo,' except as licensed 346 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO for such purpose ; and that 'any orderly, reputable white male inhabitant of the State might be so licensed, upon payment of 75 cents, and depositing a bond in the sum of $50, for his good behavior—but one person to be licensed for each Hotel, Tavern, etc." Runners were to wear a band or place leather indicating the party which he represented. He was to conduct himself with decorum when on duty, placing himself in such position that the name of the party represented by him should be plainly seen on his badge, and "there to remain until called for by some person or persons desiring his service." He was not to "run down or discredit any Hotel, Tavern, Stage, Steam or Canal Boat ; nor to make any disorderly, obscene or boisterous language, nor engage in any quarrels, broils, wrestling or fisticuffs with other Runners of whatever description." CHURCHES Although mission work had been undertaken in the Maumee Valley as early as 1802, it was many years afterward before any regular work was begun by any denomination. The advance work of a permanent religious character in Lucas County was made by the Methodist Episcopal Church. This denomination seemed to be more aggressive than the others, and rallied about it the early pioneers, many of whom had formerly affiliated with other sects. In this way religious privileges were maintained until increased population warranted the establishment, of other churches. Just who preached the first sermon within the present limits of Toledo, and even where, is a matter of dispute. Rev. Elnathan C. Gavitt believes that he was the first preacher here, and that he preached the initial sermon somewhere near the Monroe Street Church. Others claim that the Rev. Billings 0. Plympton, or Elias Pattee, conducted the first services here while passing through between Detroit and Northern Ohio. Among the members of the first Methodist congregation, formed in 1833, were Noah Whitney and wife, Amasa Bishop, Eli Hubbard, and Mary and Sarah Keeler. The preacher was Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher. What is known as a "class" had been organized as early as 1826, but the one just mentioned was the first regular congregation. "The first Class known to have been organized in this region was in 1826. The circumstances of the event are given as follows: Mr. Baughman, in passing, found Eli Hubbard, one of the earliest and most prominent of the pioneers of this section, at work in the woods, and asked him if there was an opening thereabouts to preach the Gospel. Mr. Hubbard told him that his house was open for such purpose. His dwelling was of logs, and was located near the Tremainesville bridge over Ten Mile Creek, or Ottawa River. It consisted of one small room with two beds. There Mr. Baughman preached, and there were formed a Class, which consisted of John, Samuel and Sophronia Horton, William Wilkison and wife, Mrs. Maria Whitney, and Miss Mary Keeler, daughter of Major Coleman I. Keeler. Mr. Wilkison was made the Class Leader." The cause of Methodism was greatly indebted to Mrs. Whitney for the support it received in this congregation. It was largely through her influence and efforts that her own large family connection became active and useful members of the church, and her labors also were instrumental in rallying many of the other settlers to that cause. The second church was organized in 1836, and a small building constructed on Huron Street. In 1843 the society had a membership of seventy. By 1850 the congregation had grown to such an extent that a larger edifice and more eligible location became necessary. In 1851 this congregation purchased the property at the corner of Superior and Madison streets, where St. Paul's M. E. Church was built. HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 347 The society paid $800 for the lot. Sixty years later the same lot was sold for $300,000 to the Northern National Bank. What is now known as the First Congregational Church of Toledo had its origin in the First Presbyterian Church, which was organized in 1833 by Rev. Mr. Warriner, of Monroe. The elders were Samuel I. Keeler, Merriam Fox, and Sylvester Brown. In 1841, under the Rev. Geo. R. Haswell, the church changed its form of government from Presbyterian to Congregational. A short time after wards a part of the congregation withdrew and returned to Presbyterian worship, but they were again united in 1844 as the First Congregational Church. In the following year the church was admitted to the Maumee Presbytery, under an arrangement by which the Congregational churches were admitted to such organizations, although retaining their own peculiar form of government. At this time the church had thirty-three members. The first building occupied was a frame structure at the corner of Cherry and Superior streets. The money to build this church was furnished mainly by Tiernan Walbridge and Edward Bissell. It was dedicated in 1838, but was never owned by the congregation. A house of worship was erected on a lot donated by the proprietors of the Port Lawrence town plat, the site of the Old First abandoned a few years ago. It was only 45 by 70 feet in size. When the matter of building this house of worship was decided upon, an offer was made also for another site at the corner of Adams and Huron streets. This latter was found in such a wild state that it was not even considered. To get to it the committee were compelled to pick their way over logs and bogs surrounded by standing water, and there was not enough land above water upon which to build a church. Summit was the nearest improved street. Hence it was that this site was at once given up and the other chosen. The building was destroyed by fire in 1861, but was rebuilt in a much better way. The longest pastorate of this church was that of Rev. William W. Williams, who was called in 1853 and served the church continuously until his resignation in 1897, a 348 - HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO period of forty-four years. He died in the following year. Three vigorous churches have branched out from the Old First. It has now been united with the Central Congregational Church, and occupies one of the most splendid churches in Congregationalism, the new edifice being dedicated in 1916, under the pastorate of Rev. Allen A. Stockdale. The First Congregational Church of Oregon Township, organized in 1849, became the Second Congregational Church a score of years later. The first Protestant Episcopal Church in Lucas County was St. Paul's, which was organized in Maumee City in 1837, with the Rev. B. H. Hickox as the first clergyman in charge. The second was in Manhattan, a year later. In 1840 Bishop McIlvaine conducted services here in the old Presbyterian Church. The small society was served for a while from Maumee by Rev. Joseph S. Large, but arrangements were made soon afterwards for the erection of Trinity Church. The first edifice of this congregation was built in January, 1845, and consecrated in the November following. Rev. D. J. Burger was elected rector, at a salary of $500. The building was of wood, and occupied the site of the present sanctuary at the corner of Adams and St. Clair streets. The site of this church was donated to the Trinity society by the American Land Company, in July, 1844, upon a condition that the society erect thereon a building for a church, and forever occupy the premises for a church and parsonage and for no other purpose whatever. Rev. Henry B. Walbridge began a pastorate in 1848, and served the society for twenty years. In a letter long afterwards he spoke of Toledo as he first saw it, as follows : "I doubt if the very worst conditioned streets in the newest quarters of your rapidly growing, widespreading City can afford the beholder an approximate idea of the forbidding aspect of its chief avenue in 1848. From Adams almost to Monroe on Summit street, now fronted on either side with large and elegant structures, and entirely occupied with mercantile buildings, was banked on both sides with walls of clay varying in height from 5 to 20 feet, and looked very much like the channel of an abandoned ship-canal. On the Northerly side there tipped up by the pressure of scooping slides of its clay rampart, to an angle, at all times inconvenient, and on a wet day often putting uncareful pedestrians through acrobatic exercises more amusing to the beholders, than satisfactory to the performers. The roadway, for the spring and fall and sometimes for most of the winter season, was very much like the puddling pit of an old fashioned brick yard, severely challenging the courage of a strong team, and sometimes compelling the inglorious surrender of a half loaded cart to the sovereign majesty of mud." Although priests undoubtedly visited this locality and conducted services at an earlier date, the first steps taken toward the formation of a Roman Catholic society was in 1841 by Father Amadeus Rappe. This priest had recently come to this county from France, at the request of Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, and as soon as he had familiarized himself enough with the English language, for which purpose he had been sent to Chillicothe, was assigned to Toledo. Tiffin at that time was the nearest place in Ohio that had a resident priest, for Catholics were not numerous among the earliest settlers. The building of the canal brought an influx of members of that denomination. The intemperance among them made him a determined foe against the evils of convivial habits. The "parish limits" of Father Rappe extended from Toledo to the Indiana state line, and as far south as Allen County. It was indeed an uninviting field. His labors, privations, and difficulties were truly trying, but he was filled with missionary zeal and labored faithfully among his people. HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO - 349 He served this immense territory alone for five years. 'The permanent organization established by him was named St. Francis De Sales. By day and night he diligently labored. He purchased the building formerly occupied by the Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Cherry and Superior streets, for the new congregation. This building was of wood, and, when the new church was built, it was removed to the rear and occupied as a school building. The first baptism, of which record is now preserved, was of James, son of Thomas David and Catherine Commerford. An interesting item in connection with his history is that the City Council in 1847 voted Father Rappe the sum of $50 for ringing the city bell three times a day during the preceding year. When the Cleveland diocese was formed, Father Rappe was consecrated as its bishop. He was succeeded by Father Phillip Foley in 1848. In the early days the Catholic population was composed of Irish, German, and French nationalities, with the former largely predominating. As these different nationalities increased, they were organized into separate societies. The first was that of St. Mary's for the Germans in 1854. Father Evrard, the first priest, was often himself seen wheeling brick, sand, and mortar during the work of construction. At the end of eight years of toil and embarrassment the edifice was completed. The oldest existing organization of the Presbyterian faith is the First Presbyterian Church. In 1854 the Maumee Presbytery appointed a special committee for the purpose of effecting an organization. A church was organized with twenty-seven members, and the Rev. J. M. Baird served it for a time. For three or four years services were suspended, and then Rev. Edwin B. Raffensperger came to Toledo and commenced his labors with a revival in 1859. The church, known as the Bethel, on Lynn Street, was leased and occupied for a decade. The society then purchased a lot at the corner of Huron and Orange streets, in 1865, where the cornerstone of a house of worship was laid three years later. The building was dedicated in 1874, under the pastorate of Rev. Henry M. MacCracken. The Westminster Church had already been organized as a second society, but it has now been united with the other as the First-Westminster Church. The first definite step taken toward the organization of the Baptist Church was in 1853, when a few members of that denomination assembled at the residence of Henry J. Hayes, on St. Clair Street, for the purpose of prayer and conference. A society was organized that same year with eighteen members, at the home of Dr. Wm. C. Scott. The Rev. E. F. Platt was formally called to the pastorate. The first place of worship was at Union Hall, on Summit Street. In the following year a site for a church was purchased on Huron Street, near Cherry, where the First Baptist Church still stands and serves a large congregation. The building was erected in 1855. At that time it was by far the most imposing church building in this city of 9,000 inhabitants. The oldest church of the Lutheran denomination is Salem, on Huron Street. This was organized as early as 1845. Today there is scarcely a religious denomination to be found in the United States that is not represented by a society in Toledo. FRATERNAL ORDERS Masonry was the first of the many fraternal organizations to be introduced into the Maumee Valley. Army Lodge, No. 24, Free and Accepted Masons held meetings in Fort Meigs from 1813 until its abandonment in 1815. Two years later a dispensation for Northern Light Lodge, No. 401, at Waynesfield, was granted by the Grand Lodge of Ohio. This lodge was within the present Village of Maumee. Of the forty families scattered between Waterville and the present city