Lucas County Ohio Historical Society
It's difficult on where to begin,in describing the interesting history here in Lucas County.We'll just do the best we can,and hope you find it interesting enough to follow us along,on the historical path we'll take describing our county.
The Ohio government established Lucas County on June 20, 1835.
The community chose the name of the town in honor of Robert Lucas,who happened to be the governor of Ohio.You have to dmit,days were sure different back then,because not to many townships,or communities are named after a politician these days.
The Toledo War
One interesting piece of history about Lucas County,was it was part of the territorial dispute between us,and Michigan.Ohio and Michigan if you're a new visitor to the site.It's known as the "Toledo War."
You've probably never heard of the "Toledo War",and the first thought many get when first reading this/the term,is an impression we were at war with Canada over a piece of land here.That's far from the truth,and in reality it was purely politial in the most part,fighting over a strip of land,known as the Toledo Strip,which is pretty much the northern border of the state bordering Michigan.Maybe 3 miles in,and across the state from Indiana to Toledo.
Confusuion over the survey taken of the land in that area,the laws,and many on both sides obviously had their own interpretation of the map/maps created anger,and thus the Toledo War started.
Each side raised a militia,and one was on one side of the Maumee River,and the other on the other side.Pretty much calling eachother names across the river,was as dangerous as it got.There was one report shots were fired into the air,but left out that some of the men could have been intoxicated,and their shots fired had nothing to do with the conflict at hand.
Starting in the summer of 1836,Michigan was feeling stress from financial issues,and from President Jackson,and all of congress.Then in December they gave in,and gave up their claim on the Toledo Strip,and in return got 3/4ths of the Upper Peninsula.That's a beautiful area,and almost 30% of Michigan's land,but at the time,the area was under Indian control,and was unsettled,so the deal seemed sour for Michigan,but accepting it also granted them statehood,and years later the minerals in the area paid off for them.The timber also was a significant resource.
Many of you may ask,what was the prior history to this region,and what made it possible for Ohio to become a state in the first place?
To answer that,we'll discuss a bit the "Battle of Fallen Timbers".
The this battle took place in 1794,and was the last battle between united tribes of Native Americans,also known as the "Western Confederacy".This term has nothing to do with the American Civil War.The "Western Confederacy" were Indian tribes that untited together to deal with American expansion in their homelands.They ranged from just about every tribe in the Northwest U.S.,and most certainly most all tribes had warriors who fought with this origization as you call it.It's amazing so many have no idea of history,and we'd love to go indepth on alot of this,just at the moment trying to give you a good understanding of the history in this region,without going into a novel.
The battle took place August 20th,1794.What was at stake for the Native Americans,was the Northwest Territory that through the years they were pushed further,and further into treaties that were not being upheld,and their land gradually being swallowed up to these intuders.Then after the American Revolution,the treaties that the British had with these tribes,all came undone,and thus the new government felt that all Indian Lands belonged to them as well.This is really a sad part of history,when one re-reads it,to discover such unjustices that took place.
It was well know that alot of the violence happening in the Northwest Territory was being commited by the settlers themself.In the end the Western Confederacy surrendered,not on the battle field of course,they fled to a British Fort at the time,only being turned away.In the process their villages,and crops destroyed.Then in 1795 the Treaty of Greenville was signed,and pretty much all of Ohio now belonged to the new America.
Some battles took place again years later,because not all Indians signed that treaty,but like the end of all wars with the American Indian,their land was taken,and they were sent west to resevations.Such uprisings were theTecumseh's War & The Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.
So as you see,the history here is pretty indepth,and those researching it,find themselves pausing often dwelling on the details.
Civil War Erupts
Then a half a century later the Civil War erupts in 1861,and Ohio plays a major role in the war,but was lucky not to face some of the devastation of the neighboring states.One battle worth mentioning is the Battle of Buffington Island that happened in Meigs County,and in Jackson County in West Virginia.It brought about the capture of a well known Confederate Cavalry Raider,by the name Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan,and believe me when I say he put some fear in the local population at that time.It might have been the turning point in the war,and perhaps one incident many historians forget to mention,but the memory of it,is still alive here in Lucas County.
Ohio contributed to the war effort enormously.It was the third most populous state in the Union at the time,and raised nearly 320,000 soldiers for the Union army.Almost 1/10 gave their life in the Civil War.
After the war,as with all the states now once again united under one government,life began to repair itself,and the rebuilding begun.
Researching Lucas County Information
We'd like to share with you some of the historical sites & museums our county has to offer,and other resources for information that may guide you to the information you're seeking.There is so much history here,and so many twist,and turns along its way,maybe it'll be easier grouping the specific parts of history,so there for you have a quicker end to the story.
If it's researching your roots,or genealogy related.You may want to take a look here at ->
http://iagenweb.org/lucas/
I can't begin to tell you the resources at this link.They cover alot of ground there,and is a very resourceful site finding more on the details of the county's history.
Two other very helpful resources are ->
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Veterans Of Lincoln
We will be adding more data once organized,and would love for those with roots in our county to contribute stories,and facts regarding the history of Lucas County.So please feel free to contact us,and thank you for visiting,and hope to see you back.
The Ohio government established Lucas County on June 20, 1835.
The community chose the name of the town in honor of Robert Lucas,who happened to be the governor of Ohio.You have to dmit,days were sure different back then,because not to many townships,or communities are named after a politician these days.
The Toledo War
One interesting piece of history about Lucas County,was it was part of the territorial dispute between us,and Michigan.Ohio and Michigan if you're a new visitor to the site.It's known as the "Toledo War."
You've probably never heard of the "Toledo War",and the first thought many get when first reading this/the term,is an impression we were at war with Canada over a piece of land here.That's far from the truth,and in reality it was purely politial in the most part,fighting over a strip of land,known as the Toledo Strip,which is pretty much the northern border of the state bordering Michigan.Maybe 3 miles in,and across the state from Indiana to Toledo.
Confusuion over the survey taken of the land in that area,the laws,and many on both sides obviously had their own interpretation of the map/maps created anger,and thus the Toledo War started.
Each side raised a militia,and one was on one side of the Maumee River,and the other on the other side.Pretty much calling eachother names across the river,was as dangerous as it got.There was one report shots were fired into the air,but left out that some of the men could have been intoxicated,and their shots fired had nothing to do with the conflict at hand.
Starting in the summer of 1836,Michigan was feeling stress from financial issues,and from President Jackson,and all of congress.Then in December they gave in,and gave up their claim on the Toledo Strip,and in return got 3/4ths of the Upper Peninsula.That's a beautiful area,and almost 30% of Michigan's land,but at the time,the area was under Indian control,and was unsettled,so the deal seemed sour for Michigan,but accepting it also granted them statehood,and years later the minerals in the area paid off for them.The timber also was a significant resource.
Many of you may ask,what was the prior history to this region,and what made it possible for Ohio to become a state in the first place?
To answer that,we'll discuss a bit the "Battle of Fallen Timbers".
The this battle took place in 1794,and was the last battle between united tribes of Native Americans,also known as the "Western Confederacy".This term has nothing to do with the American Civil War.The "Western Confederacy" were Indian tribes that untited together to deal with American expansion in their homelands.They ranged from just about every tribe in the Northwest U.S.,and most certainly most all tribes had warriors who fought with this origization as you call it.It's amazing so many have no idea of history,and we'd love to go indepth on alot of this,just at the moment trying to give you a good understanding of the history in this region,without going into a novel.
The battle took place August 20th,1794.What was at stake for the Native Americans,was the Northwest Territory that through the years they were pushed further,and further into treaties that were not being upheld,and their land gradually being swallowed up to these intuders.Then after the American Revolution,the treaties that the British had with these tribes,all came undone,and thus the new government felt that all Indian Lands belonged to them as well.This is really a sad part of history,when one re-reads it,to discover such unjustices that took place.
It was well know that alot of the violence happening in the Northwest Territory was being commited by the settlers themself.In the end the Western Confederacy surrendered,not on the battle field of course,they fled to a British Fort at the time,only being turned away.In the process their villages,and crops destroyed.Then in 1795 the Treaty of Greenville was signed,and pretty much all of Ohio now belonged to the new America.
Some battles took place again years later,because not all Indians signed that treaty,but like the end of all wars with the American Indian,their land was taken,and they were sent west to resevations.Such uprisings were theTecumseh's War & The Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.
So as you see,the history here is pretty indepth,and those researching it,find themselves pausing often dwelling on the details.
Civil War Erupts
Then a half a century later the Civil War erupts in 1861,and Ohio plays a major role in the war,but was lucky not to face some of the devastation of the neighboring states.One battle worth mentioning is the Battle of Buffington Island that happened in Meigs County,and in Jackson County in West Virginia.It brought about the capture of a well known Confederate Cavalry Raider,by the name Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan,and believe me when I say he put some fear in the local population at that time.It might have been the turning point in the war,and perhaps one incident many historians forget to mention,but the memory of it,is still alive here in Lucas County.
Ohio contributed to the war effort enormously.It was the third most populous state in the Union at the time,and raised nearly 320,000 soldiers for the Union army.Almost 1/10 gave their life in the Civil War.
After the war,as with all the states now once again united under one government,life began to repair itself,and the rebuilding begun.
Researching Lucas County Information
We'd like to share with you some of the historical sites & museums our county has to offer,and other resources for information that may guide you to the information you're seeking.There is so much history here,and so many twist,and turns along its way,maybe it'll be easier grouping the specific parts of history,so there for you have a quicker end to the story.
If it's researching your roots,or genealogy related.You may want to take a look here at ->
http://iagenweb.org/lucas/
I can't begin to tell you the resources at this link.They cover alot of ground there,and is a very resourceful site finding more on the details of the county's history.
Two other very helpful resources are ->
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Veterans Of Lincoln
We will be adding more data once organized,and would love for those with roots in our county to contribute stories,and facts regarding the history of Lucas County.So please feel free to contact us,and thank you for visiting,and hope to see you back.
