Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Colonel Joseph Hunt rebuilt the 1794 fort four years later in 1798, although it is often referred to as the 1800 Fort.

THE FIRST FORT--We know there is confusion about Fort Wayne, and we'd like to clear it up. Historic Fort Wayne is a...

Posted by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne Organization, Inc on Thursday, December 30, 2021

Thursday, December 30, 2021 post by the General "Mad" Anthony Wayne Organization, Inc on Facebook:

THE FIRST FORT--We know there is confusion about Fort Wayne, and we'd like to clear it up. Historic Fort Wayne is a wonderful recreation of the fort rebuilt in 1815-1816 by Major John Whistler, the Fort's Commandant. The first fort was ordered by General Wayne in 1794, on the high ground overlooking the confluence of the Saint Mary's and Saint Joseph Rivers, and the Miami Tribe's "town" of Kekionga; it was dedicated on October 22, 1794, the day after the General left. A marker at the corner of what is now the intersection of Berry Street and Clay Street, seen in the photo below, shows the location of that original fort. That version of the fort was hastily built, leading to it being reconstructed four years later.

Colonel Joseph Hunt began the rebuild with a second fort at the Three Rivers in 1798, two years after the General's death. It was built on the site just east, and slightly south, of FWFD Fire Station #1, downtown on Main Street.

So, the Historic Fort Wayne on Spy Run is a replica of and modeled after Whistler's fort, the third fort built in the area to honor early settlers and soldiers.

In 1800 JJ became secretary to the Washington Lodge, Masonic, no. 59 of Free and accepted Masons. On July 1, 1802 John...

Posted by Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Wednesday, July 5, 2017 post by the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Facebook:

In 1800 JJ became secretary to the Washington Lodge, Masonic, no. 59 of Free and accepted Masons.

On July 1, 1802 John Johnston was appointed Government Factor in Fort Wayne with pay of $1000 per year and three rations a day, plus $365 for subsistence paid from at the Factory from trade. That same year Little Turtle traveled to Washington to speak with President Jefferson. William Wells traveled with the Turtle and translated for him. The Factory was the place where the goods would be received, stored, and distributed, where trading was carried on and payments made. Johnston was to be the representative of the Government in financial and commercial matters. Johnston was said to be an ‘intimate friend with William Henry Harrison ‘all through his service at Fort Wayne.’ The government was represented by the Indian agency and factory. The Factor ‘transmitted info concerning various Indians and whites and public opinions’ about both.

The intention of the Factory system was actually to put the Indians in debt and take their lands as mentioned in a secret letter from Thomas Jefferson to Wm Henry Harrison. One of Johnston’s first letters written as a Factor shows he had different ideas.

On June 04, 1802 construction was to begin on the Factor’s residence with William Wells overseeing it. Ordered by John Henry Dearborn, the secretary of war, it was to be built in full view of the garrison and have a garden and be made of hewn logs.

Page 177 of The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River Volume 1 by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date: 1917 on Archive.org

John Johnston - Letter from Fort Wayne, September 30, 1804 An account of the buildings belonging to the United States...

Posted by Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Wednesday, September 30, 2015 post by the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Facebook:

John Johnston - Letter from Fort Wayne, September 30, 1804

An account of the buildings belonging to the United States Government at Fort Wayne.

The Public Store
Situate on the south side of the Fort, distance from it Forty rocks, one story and a half high, forty feet long, divided into two apartments one end for the retail and the other for the goods that remain in bulk, the upper story is for corn and lumber, the house is built of hewed Logs with a shingled roof, the doors and windows well secured with double-bolts. One sentry walks at night from the south gate of the Fort to the store to prevent robbery or accident by fire.

The Agent’s House
Is situate fifteen paces to the west of the store and in a direct line with it, is twenty eight feet long by twenty four wide. Two storys (sic) high with a large Brick Chimney in the west end, and a fireplace in each story. 4 windows of 12 lights to each story, the upper and lower part divided into two apartments, the lower apartment is occupied by the Interpreter, the Cook, the labourer and occasionally by Indians. In the upper story, the Agent and his family reside, under the whole house is a very complete cellar, well walled with stone, in the cellar is kept the furs during the warm weather as they are very apt to be hurt by the worms. The house is also built of hewed logs, has a shingled roof, and is almost situate directly opposite the south gate of the Fort, is on rising ground and commands a handsome view of the River and Priarie (sic).

The Indian House
Adjoining the Agent’s House in the rear is the Indian House. Twenty five feet by Twenty, one story high, built of rough logs and a claw board roof, with a cat and clay chimney in the South end. In this House the Indians sleep, cook and live when they come to trade and it is exclusively kept for their use. In this House the Factor has an Iron Mill erected for the purpose of chopping their corn.

Behind the Indian House is the Smoke House and the Fowl House.

The Skin House
Only finished during the present month, almost joins the store in the rear, is Twenty six feet by Twenty two, built of rough logs and a claw board roof. In the inside of the house the ground is dug away 2 ½ feet to make it cool in the summer.

About twenty paces from the Skin House stand two stables belonging to the Factory, one is for the House belonging to the Factory and the other for the Indian House.

In front of the Skin House is a wooden press for making up the Packs in the Spring previous to their being sent off to Philadelphia.

All the buildings have been erected under the superintendence of the Factor, are built of good materials, and well calculated for carrying on the trade on an extensive scale - In erecting the Agent’s House it was found necessary to deviate from the plan transmitted by the Secretary of War, as the house would have been too small to have accommodated the Agent’s family, the Interpreter, the Cook and the labourer, besides these the under story is frequently the lodging place of the Indians.

The Factory Garden is situate behind the Agent’s House, contains about an acre, is well fenced and under good cultivation, most of the vegetables raised in good gardens in the Atlantic states is cultivated and the soil is well adapted to their growth. The Factor has twenty five Peach Trees which he expects will bear the ensuing season, the stones from which they grew he brought from Pennsylvania, these are the only surviving ones of a much greater number that was destroyed by the worms and the severe Frosts, he intends next year to procure from the state of Ohio or Detroit a quantity of young trees to consist of as many kinds as can be had, and in a few years he hopes to make the Indians the better of his labours in this way.

During the last spring the Factor distributed among the Indians a considerable quantity of the Garden seeds sent from Philadelphia and took much pains to instruct them in the manner or using them and of saving the seeds themselves for the future, so that they might not have to depend on us for a supply.

The Honorable
The Secretary of War Mr. Johnston
US Factor

Fort Wayne, Sept. 30, 1804

Letter dated September 21, 1807 titled: FORT WAYNE HISTORY. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS OWNED BY LEWIS BOWIE, COLUMBIA CITY, INDIANA PHOTOGRAPHED BY HERB HARNISH COPIES ALSO AT THE ALLEN COUNTY - FORT WAYNE HISTORICAL MUSEUM in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library. See Herb Harnish.

Ground plan of Fort Wayne in the year 1808, architectural drawing of fort with key. Photograph by Herb Harnish of the original documents owned by Lewis Bowie, Columbia City IN in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library. See Herb Harnish.

We thought it might be fun to take a look at the clothing of the time period the Johnston House is set in, which is the...

Posted by Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Sunday, March 8, 2015

Sunday, March 8, 2015 post by the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Facebook:

We thought it might be fun to take a look at the clothing of the time period the Johnston House is set in, which is the late 1820s. When we think of the Ohio frontier, we often think of homespun woolen garments and linen ones spun from flax. We also tend to think that the ladies of the house made everyone's clothing. Sometimes this was the case, and sometimes it was not. For a family like the Johnstons, who often entertained dignitaries such as governors and Indian Chiefs, appearances were just as important as they are today, and we have record of John Johnston ordering clothing for himself and his family as early as 1808 when the couple was still living in Fort Wayne. The letter quoted below illustrates this.

Fort Wayne April 11, 1808 –

'...please send me the following 3 sticks Black Ball 5 yds red BomBazeen or Bombaret the same that I was speaking to you about as being fashionable in Philada if it does not come high, needles no. 10.11.& 12 of the long kind fir for sowing (sic) linen. I got some at your store but they were too short and thick a fine Hat for a child Brown or green, in case neither colour can be got a Black, that string enclosed is the round of the childs head. 5 ½ yards Thread or Cotton White Fringe of a handsome kind suitable for a child’s cradle Quilt...'

The accompanying photos are courtesy of Pinterest and are not Johnston items, but are similar to the clothing the family would have worn. If you want to see more, go to Pinterest and type '1820s fashion' into the search engine - and then enjoy!

We'll start with men and boy's fashion today. These fashions date to app. 1820 - 1830. The little boy's outfits were referred to as 'skeleton suits'. The term 'skeleton' was used to indicate that the suit was skin tight to show off the male physique.

This week was an interesting one in the Johnston's life 194 years ago. Few people know that the Johnston family had a...

Posted by Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Sunday, October 5, 2014

Sunday, October 5, 2014 post by the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Facebook:

This week was an interesting one in the Johnston's life 194 years ago. Few people know that the Johnston family had a Native American girl by the name of Polly (or Mary) Chatalie living with them. We do not know the date of her arrival, but it seems likely she came with them from Fort Wayne in 1811. Apparently she lived 'in' the Johnston family, not as a servant but as more of an 'adopted' member of it. Polly was the daughter of Neebosh (see image below), a minor Pottawatomie chief. Her mother was Keeshwa. She later went on to marry a man by the name of Parent and eventually came into her own with money given to her in lieu of land by the government. Polly was in her 50s when she died.

It seems from the following letter that Polly had her problems. It is good to know things worked out in the end.

Johnston to McCoy, McCoy Papers, Roll #1 00605

Upper Piqua, October 2, 1820
Dear Sir,

The daughter of Keeshwa whom we have raised from a child has become so abandoned that we are compelled to part with her. The bearer Mr. Duchoque one of my interpreters takes her out to deliver her to her mother and people.

There is no bad practice of which she has not been guilty she has at different times stolen considerable sums of money part of which has been recovered from her confederates, some new Irish people whom I had given asylum to. I have strong suspicions that she has a considerable sum of my money yet in her own hands, or in the possession of some of her confederates and I must request the favor of you to be watchful in trying to find out if she takes money there or if any is seen with any of her [commesions?]. There is (sic) many things besides money missing in particular a gold chain for the neck which belonged to one of my little daughters deceased, and to which we attached much importance. We would have still bourne (sic) with her but she is discovered to be with child to one Rodgers, as she swears, who carried the mail for me last winter from this place to Fort Meigs She cannot speak a word of truth and is altogether, when we take to view the pain taken in raising her, the most abandoned human being I ever knew Mrs. Johnston took the greatest pain imaginable with her, endeavored to impress good principles on her mind but all to no purpose. She would receive no instruction. It is impossible to describe the trouble and vexation she has produced in my family.

I will thank you to explain the contents of this letter to Polly’s mother and if you can discover any stolen articles of money or goods to try to recover them for me.

Dr. Sir with great respect your friend & se’vt John Johnston

You can see this copper kettle at the Johnston House. Tradition holds that it belonged to the British army and was...

Posted by Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Monday, January 15, 2018

Monday, January 15, 2018 post by the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Facebook:

You can see this copper kettle at the Johnston House. Tradition holds that it belonged to the British army and was left behind after the Siege of Fort Wayne, which occurred in the fall of 1812. John Johnston returned to the fort after that to see what remained of the papers and goods he had left behind and to remove his deceased child's remains and bring them to Piqua where he now resided.

In an 1852 letter to his daughter, May, John Johnston stated: 'All my loved dead are there now (Note: the Johnston cemetery in Piqua, OH) in one enclosure, except that dear child who died at Fort Wayne 50 years ago, and which I once endeavored in vain to recover, the War of 1812 having obliterated all localities."

Family tradition holds that Johnston found the kettle on that journey and brought it back for his family's use. At his death or a short time before, it passed to his daughter Julia. This photo comes from the time of its use by the Patterson family.

At Piqua Thomas Worthington wrote letters for publication to counteract the wild stories regarding the Council which...

Posted by Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 post by the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency on Facebook:

At Piqua Thomas Worthington wrote letters for publication to counteract the wild stories regarding the Council which stated "that the Indians assembled here, had seized the public stores, and murdered all those white people collected here".

August 21st, 1812 John Johnston states 'Agreeable to your Excellency's orders I have delivered to the bearer here of Gershom Gard, Ten Casks of Rifle powder of Fifty pounds each making 500 lbs. and Five Boxes of Bar Lead each containing 2 cwt. making 1120 lbs. net p her receipt enclosed.'

Captain Rhea writes from Fort Wayne in a panic that they need help and supplies. News comes of the capture of Detroit on August 16th. It would have been known by this date at Piqua that Hull had surrendered. Johnston would also have learned of Wells' death.

When we are taught about the War of 1812 in school, most of the focus is placed on the burning of Washington D.C. by the...

Posted by The History Center on Saturday, September 5, 2020

Saturday, September 5, 2020 post by The History Center on Facebook:

When we are taught about the War of 1812 in school, most of the focus is placed on the burning of Washington D.C. by the British. Little attention is given to the battles waged in the former Northwest Territory, with Fort Wayne amongst the list. Fort Wayne, in northeast Indiana Territory, had fallen into disrepair in the years leading up to 1812. As a frontier outpost, Captain James Rhea had allowed many of the buildings to deteriorate and the walls, once strong enough to withstand cannonballs, had not been properly maintained. Although there was a good well inside the fort, the food stores had gotten low by September. The siege of Fort Wayne began on September 5, 1812 and it lasted until September 12th. During the siege a Native American force, comprised of local tribes, burned all the cabins, outbuildings and crops located outside the fort, and laid waste to the farm of William Wells. The fort’s commandant, Captain James Rhea, lost control of the garrison, due to his alcoholism, and Lieutenants Daniel Curtis and Philip Ostrander took command for the remainder of the battle. On September 10, General William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory, arrived with his 2,500 soldiers to relieve the siege, at which time the opposition disappeared. Today the History Center marks the 208th anniversary of the beginning of the weeklong Siege of Fort Wayne. #sociallyhistory

Benson Lossing - The Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812 on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

An image labeled: Fort Wayne as it appeared in 1812, according to Benjamin Lossing's mid-19th century Fieldbook is on A Visit to the (new) Old Fort Wayne at The Old Northwest Notebook Chronicling the War of 1812 and other forgotten or obscure history. The pictorial field-book of the war of 1812; or, Illustrations ... at Archive.orgwas unavailable when this was posted.

 

A similar image appers in a Google search credited to The History Center appears to go to a foreign version of their Facebook page but the actual source has not been located so far.

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