Warren County
Local History by Dallas Bogan |
Contributor: |
Dallas Bogan on 10 August 2004 |
Source: |
original article by Dallas Bogan |
Return to Index to see a list of other articles by Dallas Bogan |
The Indians used the Great Miami River waterway long before the white man
settled this part of the country. The Indians could use this route to maneuver
their canoes up the Great Miami and down the Maumee to Lake Erie. This waterway
allowed the first settlers to navigate from the Ohio River to the upper portion
of the state.
The first record of a European in this part of the country was that of the Frenchman
Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in
1669. LaSalle went by boat from Lake Erie over the carrying
place of about eight miles to Lake Chautauqua and thence down the Allegheny
and the Ohio to the falls at Louisville where he was deserted by most of his
men. Some historians think that he returned to Lake Erie by going up the Great
Miami, but there is some uncertainty to this venture.
Next came the explorers for the Albany fur traders. They came to the Ohio Valley
in 1692 but soon dispersed.
In 1749, Celeron de Bienville was sent with a large force of
soldiers and Indians to take possession of the whole country northwest of the
Ohio in the name of the King of France. With twenty-three birch canoes he passed
down the Ohio and up the Great Miami. He had shortened the trip by traveling
up the latter stream, which the French then called Rock River, to the Miami
towns where he remained a week. The water was low at this time of year (autumn)
and instead of carrying his canoes over the portage (portions of land situated
between water areas), he purchased horses and rode five and one-half days to
the Maumee, which in turn he voyaged to Lake Erie.
"The great thorofares between the chief cities of the Miami Valley, Cincinnati
and Dayton, from the earliest historic period, passed thru Franklin. Daniel
C. Cooper, one of the most conspicuous pioneers of Dayton and one of
the original proprietors of Franklin in September 1795, as a preparation for
beginning these two towns, marked out a road to the mouth of Mad River. This
road was only partially cut thru the woods when in March 1796; three parties
left Cincinnati to make the first settlement at Dayton. One of the three parties
went by a two horse wagon, another walked carrying their provisions and utensils
and the small children on horses, and the third went by boat, going down the
Ohio to the mouth of the Great Miami and up that stream to the site of the new
town at the mouth of Mad River. The way by water was much the longer, but its
passage occupied ten days while the overland journey took two weeks. At the
close of each day the voyagers tied their boat to a tree and encamped on shore
for the night.
"At this period much freight was carried by boat from Cincinnati down the
Ohio and up the Great Miami; the charges in 1795 for the carriage of property
from Fort Washington on the Ohio to Fort Hamilton on the Miami being fifty cents
per hundred. John Tanner, a Baptist preacher who lived on the
Kentucky side of the Ohio, boated provisions up the Great Miami to Fort Hamilton
in 1794, making two trips a month. Tanner's boat was drawn by two large oxen,
which waded in the shallow water near the shore, dragging the boat. When it
became necessary, the oxen would swim the deep water, thus passing from one
side of the river to the other as the best way for the boat could be found.
In 1794, a Negro assisting Mr. Tanner on his boat was shot
and killed by the Indians.
Material by Josiah Morrow - Western Star - August 20,
1908.
"The Great Miami was a natural waterway for trading purposes up the river
from Dayton as well as below. The first boats that were used for trade were
flat boats and keelboats. The latter was built similar to canal boats but somewhat
slighter and sharper.
"The boats were often loaded with produce, taken in exchange for goods,
work, or even for lots and houses, because business men, instead of having money
to deposit in the bank or to invest, were frequently obliged to send cargoes
of articles received in place of cash, south or north for sale. Cherry and walnut
logs and lumber were brought down the river by rafts. The flatboat men sold
their boats when they arrived at New Orleans, and buying a horse, returned home
by land.
"Flatboats were made of green oak plank fastened by wooden pins to a frame
of timber, and caulked with tow or any other pliant substance that could be
procured, and were enclosed and roofed with boards. They were only used in descending
streams, and floated with the current. Long sweeping oars fastened at both ends
of the boat, worked by men standing on the deck, were employed to keep it in
the channel, and in navigating difficult and dangerous places in the river.
"John Noble Cumming Schenck remained Franklin's postmaster
from 1805 until August 7, 1829. In 1800 Mr. Martin Baum of
Cincinnati set him up in business in Franklin. His store at 310 S. Front Street
became one of the most important trading posts between Dayton and Hamilton.
In 1812 Schenck moved his home and trading post to north of
the bridge, 119 S. Front Street where a pier was erected at the rear of the
building to the river's edge so flatboats could dock. Free rooms and abundant
food were available for travelers. Schenck retired a wealthy
man after 35 years with his store. He had twelve children, seven of whom were
living when he died at the age of 93 in 1867."
Material taken from Franklin in the
Miami Valley. P. 73.
"Before 1804 the river at Franklin had to be forded. But in that year Mr.
William P. Barkalow started the first ferry-boat service in
this area."
Material taken from Franklin in the
Great Miami Valley, P 45
"Many farmers who live on or near this large stream are in the practice
of building a flat bottom boat every autumn of several hundred barrel tonnage
and loading it with the produce of their farms, consisting of the various articles
of the orchard and the field. If their own farms do not furnish a full load
they purchase the balance from their neighbors. Themselves and sons, or one
or two hired hands generally man these boats. They leave home with the autumnal
freshet if the can get ready, if not in the February following when the Ohio
is almost always in a navigable state. The load is either sold in bulk at Cincinnati
or Louisville, or retailed out along the Ohio or Mississippi rivers to the planters
and inhabitants of the small towns. The return is usually made with cash or
such groceries as are needed for their own use or that of their neighbors."
Material taken from The History of Washington County, Ohio.
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This page created 10 August 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
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