History of the Maumee Valley, commencing with its occupation by the French in 1680. To which is added Sketches of some of its moral and material resources as they exist in 1872

Front matter

LANDING AT FORT INDUSTRY (TOLEDO.) Os the First Continental Regiment of United States Infantry, under Colonel Thomas Hunt, June, 1803, HISTORY OF THK MAUMEE VALLEY Commencing with its Occupation by the French in 1680. TO WHICH IS ADDED SKETCHES OF SOME OF IT8 MORAL AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AS THEY EXIST IN 1872. BY H. S. KNA PP. TOLEDO: «I«1>B MAMMOTH PRINTING AND PURI.IBBIN6 BOOSH. 1872. Entered according to an act of Congress, in the year 3872, By H. S. KNAPP, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. TO RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES, LATE GOVERNOR OF OHIO: Whose official life adds lustre to the character of the true soldier, and able and incorruptible statesman, and whose interest in all that bears relation to the preservation of the historical wealth of ( Ihio has been manifested throughout his life, this volume is respectfully dedicated, by H. S K. Toledo, May, 1873.

INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY. The author of Ecce Deus says : " History can never be written. It can only be hinted at, and most dimly outlined from the particular stand-point which the historian has chosen to occupy. It is only by courtesy that any man can be called a historian. Seldom do men so flatly contradict each other as upon points of fact. Incom pleteness marks all narrations. No man can fully write his own life. On reviewing the sheets which were to have told everything, the autobiographer is struck with their reticence and poverty." It may be said that in this work appear many historians. Its com piler, in a large degree, has acted only the part of a faithful amanu ensis, and transcribed the recollections of others, as they have been given him. Statements are made regarding the same facts by per sons of high character, which other persons equally entitled to credit, and having knowledge of the same cotemporaneous events, may cri ticise and contradict.

These discrepancies result from the infirmi ties of human memory, and the author could not undertake to adjust or reconcile them ; and the remark above quoted he has found so obviously true as to justify repetition : " Seldom do men so flatly contradict each other as upon points of fact." This observation will apply even to matter emanating from the highest official sources, including Messages of Presidents, and reports from heads of civil and military departments. For a wise purpose, doubtless, it was ordered that the words of only One should outlive and defy all criticism. A primary object of this work has been to embody the names and recollections of as many of the pioneers of the Maumee Valley as it was practicable to obtain, within a reasonable space of time, and bring the survivors, so far as the art of printing could execute the V design, into a Common Council.