FORT WAYNE – EARLY SETTLEMENT

             Aside from a mere military post, we may date the first settlement of the town of Fort Wayne in 1815. In this year a few houses began to appear some distance from the fort, but usually under the protection of its guns. One of these, and perhaps the first, was built about the center of what is now Barr street, near the corner of Columbia, which, some years afterwards, being removed from its original location, formed a part of the old Washington Hall building, on the southwest corner of Columbia and Barr streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1858. In referring to incidents of pioneer life in these years, Mr. Bryce, in his work, says that during 1818, ‘a year remarkable for the congregation of many Indians here, the red man is referred to as presenting a general spirit of order and love of peace, not surpassed by many of the spirit of order and love, not surpassed by many of the whites of the time, and well worthy of emulation in many instances. It was no uncommon thing, in their visits to Ke-ki-on-ga, seeing a new hut, to inquire whether the new corner was quiet –if he ‘make no trouble for Injun,’ etc. And their intuition and close observation were presented very often in the most striking and remarkable light. On one occasion, about his period, an elderly Miami had come to the village to trade a little. Soon meeting his old friend, Jas. Peltier, the interpreter, his observing eye, in looking about the place, soon fell upon a hut near, that had but recently been built. ‘Ugh!’ ejaculated the Indian; ‘new wigwam!’ He now became most anxious to know if the white man was peaceable –whether he come to make trouble for Injun? The two now soon entered the hut of the new-comers, and shook hands with the inmates. The Indian at once began to look about him, and to inquire how many warriors (children) they had, etc. Eyeing the matron of the house or squaw, as the Indian called her, and observing that she was quite sad, the Indian became anxious to know what was the matter with her –he was sure she was sick. The woman averred that she was not sick. But the Indian knew she was. Turning to his old friend P. again, after looking at the woman and striking his hand upon his breast, exclaimed, “White squaw sick at heart;’ and was anxious to know if she had not left something behind at the settlement from which they came to Fort Wayne. In response to this, the woman quickly replied that she had left her only son, by her first husband, at Piqua, and that she was anxious to have him with her, but her present husband did not want him to come. ‘Didn’t I tell you white squaw sick at heart!’ replied the Indian, much elated; and he at once proposed to go to Piqua and bring her son to her, if Mr. P. would give him a blanket –which was readily agreed to. Receiving a note from the mother, the next morning early, with two Indian ponies, the generous red man was on the road to Piqua, and in five days from that time returned with the boy! The woman’s heart was eased, and as the faithful Indian gazed upon the happy meeting of the mother and the son, his heart warmed within him, and turning to his friend Peltier, he exclaimed: “Isn’t that good medicine for the white squaw!’ the women and her son, assuming the special guardianship of the latter; telling the husband that if he ever heard a word of complaint, either from the son or mother, as to ill treatment, ‘he would have his hide, if he had to lay in the Maumee river until the moss had grown six inches on his back.’

            Attached to the fort, and extending west of it, to about where the ‘Old Fort House’ afterward stood, and embracing about one acre of land, was a well cultivated garden, belonging to the commanding officer, always filled, in season, with the choicest vegetables. West of this was the company’s garden, extending to about where the Hedekin House afterwards stood. This was also well tilled, affording suitable labor for the soldiers when military discipline was slackened. The main thoroughfare in those days, extended westward from the fort along what is now the canal.

            Not far south of the fort in what is now known as ‘Taber’s addition,’ was located the burial ground of the garrison, and where also were deposited others who died, no immediately connected with the garrison. Lieutenant Ostrander, who had one day unthoughtedly fired upon a flock of birds passing over the fort, had been reprimanded by Captain Rhea, and because of his refusal to be tried by a court-martial, was confined in a small room in the garrison, where he subsequently died, was among the number buried in this old place of interment. Another place of burial, where also a number of Indians were interred, extended along the northwest corner of Columbia and Clinton streets, and to the adjoining block. Many bones were removed from this point some years ago, in digging cellars, and laying the foundations of buildings.

            In 1846, while some parties were making an excavation for a foundation wall, in the vicinity of Main and Calhoun streets, they dug up and removed the remains of an Indian, who had long before that been buried, with a gun excellently mounted, some trinkets of silver, and a glass pint flask of whisky, which liquid was still preserved in at least as good a state as when buried. The hair was also in a fair state of preservation, though the skull was much decayed, as were the gun mountings corroded.

            At that date, the old Indian burying ground was still a scene of attraction. The stranger would often see swinging from the bough of a tree, in some grove near the ban k of the river, the infant of the Indian mother; or a few little log enclosures, where the bodies of adults sat upright, with all their former apparel wrapped about them, and their trinkets, tomahawks, etc., by their sides. Such were a few of the features of pioneer Fort Wayne.

            In those days a ‘new comer’ was hailed with delight. He was welcome. There was ‘enough and to spare’ of everything but money. Land was plenty and cheap, and the few pioneers, tired of seeing only each other, always extended a cordial welcome to new settlers.

            One of the most general ways by which Fort Wayne was reached in early days, was by water, either by way of the St. Mary’s or Maumee rivers, usually in flat boats, and what was then called pirogues. The old boat landing was just below the fort, about where the Maumee bridge was afterwards erected. For many years, and down to 1838, it was a common sight for residents to see pirogues and flat boats, laden with various articles of merchandise, whisky, flour, furs, etc., load and unload at this little commercial center. This system of river navigation was finally impeded, and completely obstructed by dams, which were erected on the St. Mary’s for mill purposes. The first of these was built on the St. Mary’s in 1822, at the ‘Devil’s Race ground,’ by Captain James Riley. Two years later, Samuel Hanna and Joseph Barnett built a mill about three miles from Fort Wayne, at the present site of ‘Beaver’s Mill.’

            Fort Wayne was, for many years, one of the principal depts. Of the fur trade. Many persons became wealthy in the business. Indeed it was the principal commerce of the place during the first ten or fifteen years of its settlement. Richardville, the last celebrated chief of the once great Miami nation of Indians, who was licensed as a trader with his people at Fort Wayne, as early as 1815, is said to have accumulated an immense fortune mainly by this trade and the sale of lands. Mr. Schoolcraft estimated his wealth some years prior to his death at about two hundred thousand dollars in specie, much of which he had had so long buried in the earth that the boxes in which the money was enclosed had mainly decayed, and the silver itself considerably blackened.

            The following short sketch of the early history of Fort Wayne is taken from Mr. Bryce’s work: ‘When Major Whistler assumed command of the garrison, in May, 1814, aside from the little band of soldiers here, were the two daughters of the commandant, Mrs. Laura Suttenfield, George and John E. Hunt; Lieutenant Curtiss, and William Suttenfield, husband of Mrs. L. Suttenfield. Soon after the war broke out, with many other members of the tribe, including his family, Chief Richardville made his way to the British lines for protection, and with a view, doubtless, to render some aid to the enemy; for, as the reader already knows, but few among the tribes of the northwest remained neutral, or failed to give aid in some way to the British cause. At the close of the troubles in 1814, he again returned to this point, and soon passed on up the St. Mary’s about three miles from Fort Wayne, where he encamped. Major Whistler, desiring to see him, at once sent an interpreter to him by the name of Crozier, requesting him to come immediately to the fort, with which he readily complied. The treaty of Greenville, already referred to, was now about to take place, and the Major desired that the chief should be present and so requested him; but Richardville was very indifferent about the matter, hesitated, and soon returned to his camp again. A few days subsequently, however, he came back to the fort, where he was now held as a hostage for some ten days, when he at length consented to attend the treaty, and was soon after accompanied thither by Chief Chondannai, of one of the lower tribes, Robert E. Forsyth, and William Suttenfield.

            ‘Much of the season of 1815 was spent in rebuilding the fort; and when completed as with the first erected in 1794, was a most substantial affair. The timer with which it had been built was obtained principally from what is now the east end, about where stands the dwellings of H.B. Taylor, James Emery, and the late Samuel Hanna.

            ‘At this early period, the roads leading from the fort were mere traces; one leading to Fort Recovery, and known as the ‘Wayne trace,’ passing through what is now Allen county, thence into Adams, to the north of Monmouth; from thence passing not far from Willshire to ‘Shane’s Crossing,’ and so on. There was also a trace to Captain Wells’ place on the banks of Spy Run; two traces led down the Maumee on either side; and one extended in the direction of Fort Dearborn, (Chicago) between which point and Fort Wayne no house was then visible, nor indeed in any other direction, with perhaps one or two exceptions, short of the settlements in Ohio. The two common fording places at that time, and for some years later, were above and below the Maumee bridge; the one below the bridge was better known as ‘Harmer’s Ford,’ both of which are now most entirely obliterated.

            ‘It was below this latter ford, near a path leading toward Detroit, under the cheerful shade of what was then and long after known as the ‘Big Elm,’ on the fourth of July, 1810, that Captain Ray and a few others from the fort, were enjoying themselves most agreeably, partaking of a dinner in honor of the glorious occasion, when an express came up the trace from Detroit with the private mail and government dispatches. Here Captain Ray took possession of the ‘mail matter,’ all gathering around to receive their favors, which were then duly distributed by first Postmaster Ray; and the old Elm was thereafter known as the ‘the Post Office.’ What has become of this ‘old familiar tree’, whose o’erhanging boughs formed the shadow of the first post office in the region of Fort Wayne, is now unknown. Perhaps some unsparing axeman long since cut it down. It was by way of Fort Wayne at this period, and some years after, that the troops at Chicago and Green Bay received their regular mail by military express.

            ‘Major Whistler, in 1817, being removed from this point to what is now St. Charles, Mo., was succeeded by Major J.H. Vose, of the fifth regiment of regulars, who held command until permanently evacuated in April, 1819. The departure of the troops is said to have left the little band of citizens then here extremely lonesome and unprotected. The cessation of the therefore daily music of the troops in the fort was supplied by the stillness of nature, almost overwhelming. The Indians were numerous, and their camp fires and rude music, the drum, made night more dreaded; but to this the inhabitants of Fort Wayne soon became familiarized. The punctilio of military life was gradually infused into the social circle, and gave tone to the etiquette and moral habits of the citizens of the fort.’

            Payment season at Fort Wayne was for many years a lively business period. On these occasions, traders from Ohio, Michigan, and even New York, visited the place for purposes of trade, taking with them large quantities of whisky, which they dealt out to the Indians so freely as to keep them continually drunk and unfit for business; horse racing, drinking, gambling, debauchery, extravagance, and waste, were the order of the day and night.

            When Indiana was admitted into the Union as a State, in 1816, what is now Allen County formed a part of Knox county. The seat of government for the county was located at Vincennes up to 1818, when Randolph county was organized, including the present Allen county and a large extent of territory to the north. Winchester was the county seat until the formation of Allen, in 1823.

            By an act of Congress, a land office was established in Fort Wayne in 1822. Joseph Holman, of Wayne County, was appointed Register, and Captain Samuel C. Vance, of Dearborn county, Receiver. After the survey of the lands, the President issued a proclamation for their sale, to the highest bidder, the minimum price being $1.25 per acre; and the sale began on the 22d of October, 1823, at the fort. Considerable rivalry having been awakened, touching that portion which embraced the town and immediate settlement –some forty acres, in the immediate locality of the fort, being reserved for the use of the Indian Agent –the most extensive purchasers thereof were Barr, of Baltimore, Maryland, and McCorkle, of Piqua, Ohio. This portion of the city is marked on the city maps ‘Old Plat to Fort Wayne,’ and originally designate as ‘the north fraction of the southeast quarter of section two, township thirty, north of range twelve east;’ and it was on this that Messrs. Barr and McCorkle laid off the original plat of the ‘Town of Fort Wayne,’ as surveyed by Robert Young, of Piqua, Ohio. This plat was embraced in one hundred and eighteen lots.

            Subsequently, Hon. Samuel Hanna purchased all the Barr and McCorkle claims, and therefore became one of the original proprietors of the town. There was a school-house erected on this original plat, at an early day, of which the Fort Wayne Times spoke as follows in 1858: ‘In this old school-house, many of those, then young, but now past middle life who yet live here, many dead, and others absent, had their early training for usefulness; and many there experienced that joy only once to be enjoyed in a life-time; while, perhaps, nearly every teacher, who there disciplined the youthful mind, has gone to his final account, and soon here to be entirely forgotten. This old school-house was built of brick, in 1825, and was then quite large enough for all needed purposes. It was only one story in height, and served for many years, not only as a school-house, but as the place of religious worship, town meetings, Masonic installations, political speeches,’ etc.

            John P. Hedges, one of the earliest setters of Fort Wayne, still living, was among the first teachers in this old pioneer school-house. In the winter of 1826, he had it repaired at his own expense. Mr. A. Aughinbaugh also taught in this building. The old county jail, which, until 1847, stood on the southwest corner of Calhoun street and the court-house square, was also used for several years as a school-house. It was in this building that Mr. Henry Cooper taught, who is claimed to be the first regular teacher in Fort Wayne.

            Among the events of 1819, was the erection of a log house by Samuel Hanna, at the northwest corner of Barr and Columbia streets. In this log structure he and James Barnett opened a considerable wholesale store, which they successfully continued for several years. They brought their goods from the East, by the way of Toledo and the rapids of the Maumee.

            At the time of the first land sale at Fort Wayne, the purchasers, other than Messrs. Barr and McCorkle, were Alexander Ewing, who entered the east half, southwest quarter of section two –being the same land on which Ewing’s and Rockhill’s additions were afterward laid out. The section of land across the river, in the forks of the St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s rivers, known as the ‘Wells pre-emption,’ had been, by an act of Congress of May, 1808, set apart as a pre-emption to Captain Wells, who was authorized to enter it, when adjacent lands should be offered at $1.25 per acre; but having lost his life in the massacre at Fort Dearborn, in 1812, his heirs being authorized, entered it at the land sale referred to.

            The establishment of the land office, and the influx of population opened the way for the settlement of Fort Wayne, and in a few years quite a town sprang up at the forks, which has grown into the present populous city.

Source: An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana by DeWitt C. Goodrich and Charles R. Tuttle, 1875.