Ottawa
Ohio
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Village Of Ottawa
History
Ottawa is situated on the site of the last village of the Ottawa Indians. A treaty called "Treaty at the Foot of the Rapids" proposed in 1817 granted the Ottawa Indians a five mile square reservation where the tract crossed the Blanchard's Fork of the Auglaize River. The tribe was divided concerning the issue, and blood was shed before it was accepted. For more information concerning the proud history of the Ottawa Indian Tribe, please go to this link.
In 1819, the government surveyed the reservation and in 1833 the land was placed on sale to settlers. Moses Sutton and his son, Stansbury, arrived at the Indian village on April 13, 1833. It was called Tawa Town by white men, and was on a ten acre tract on Tawa Run. There was a lodge and about five cabins.
In the summer of 1834, William Galbreath and his son-in-law, Michael Row, arrived with their families, among others. That summer the town was surveyed, and Row purchased the first lot, where he erected the Row Tavern. The tavern played an important part in the early life of the village. The oldest building in Ottawa today, it houses an automotive shop. It was situated on Old Main Street, which ran north and south, now called Perry Street.
Early travelers recalled the Lighthouse, a French trading post where a light shone in the window to mark the bend in Blanchard's Fork. It is said there was an altar there where church services were held periodically.
An Indian burial ground was located on what is now Second Street, then River Street. Early settlers located skeletons and artifacts, including a silver crown. Tradition says the Indians claimed it had been a gift to a chief from the French.
Large apple trees were located on the Indian green. These were believed to have been brought by the French. Pioneer writing indicated Johnny Appleseed was a frequent traveler through the Black Swamp, and many pioneers were grateful for his seeds and trees.
The post office was established in 1837 as Buckeye, slnce there already was an Ottawa. In 1862 it officially became Ottawa. After a fiercely contested battle, which lasted several years, the county seat was moved to Ottawa, the geographic center of the county. The coming of the railroads made it the transportation center of the county, also. The newspaper also moved to Ottawa and became known as the Putnam County Sentinel. It is a vigorous weekly paper today.
The industrious pioneers built schools and churches, and began the long work of draining the Black Swamp. That independence and industrious work ethic of the early settlers have not been lost. It is evident today in the vitality shown in the citizens of Ottawa.
Ottawa is situated on the site of the last village of the Ottawa Indians. A treaty called "Treaty at the Foot of the Rapids" proposed in 1817 granted the Ottawa Indians a five mile square reservation where the tract crossed the Blanchard's Fork of the Auglaize River. The tribe was divided concerning the issue, and blood was shed before it was accepted. For more information concerning the proud history of the Ottawa Indian Tribe, please go to this link.
In 1819, the government surveyed the reservation and in 1833 the land was placed on sale to settlers. Moses Sutton and his son, Stansbury, arrived at the Indian village on April 13, 1833. It was called Tawa Town by white men, and was on a ten acre tract on Tawa Run. There was a lodge and about five cabins.
In the summer of 1834, William Galbreath and his son-in-law, Michael Row, arrived with their families, among others. That summer the town was surveyed, and Row purchased the first lot, where he erected the Row Tavern. The tavern played an important part in the early life of the village. The oldest building in Ottawa today, it houses an automotive shop. It was situated on Old Main Street, which ran north and south, now called Perry Street.
Early travelers recalled the Lighthouse, a French trading post where a light shone in the window to mark the bend in Blanchard's Fork. It is said there was an altar there where church services were held periodically.
An Indian burial ground was located on what is now Second Street, then River Street. Early settlers located skeletons and artifacts, including a silver crown. Tradition says the Indians claimed it had been a gift to a chief from the French.
Large apple trees were located on the Indian green. These were believed to have been brought by the French. Pioneer writing indicated Johnny Appleseed was a frequent traveler through the Black Swamp, and many pioneers were grateful for his seeds and trees.
The post office was established in 1837 as Buckeye, slnce there already was an Ottawa. In 1862 it officially became Ottawa. After a fiercely contested battle, which lasted several years, the county seat was moved to Ottawa, the geographic center of the county. The coming of the railroads made it the transportation center of the county, also. The newspaper also moved to Ottawa and became known as the Putnam County Sentinel. It is a vigorous weekly paper today.
The industrious pioneers built schools and churches, and began the long work of draining the Black Swamp. That independence and industrious work ethic of the early settlers have not been lost. It is evident today in the vitality shown in the citizens of Ottawa.