| Notes |
- http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Wood/WoodChapXLII.htm
An excerpt from the above URL:
PORTAGE VILLAGE.
This old village, coming next to Perrysburg in its beginnings as a trading point, is to-day the center, or trading place, of a rich agricultural district. In 1829, Collister Haskins built near his cabin (just west of the present Main street, on the south bank of the river) a log house for trading purposes; stocked it with notions suitable for Indian traffic, and with such goods as would meet the simple needs of the white pioneer. For a few years his dealings were largely carried on with the Indians, but, within half a decade, Caucasian settlers located north of the river in some numbers, and Adam Ross saw the time had come to found a town in their neighborhood, though the location chosen by him, south of the present village, was far inferior to that selected by the pioneer for the first store in the wilderness. In 1833, Collister Haskins built a log cabin on the village site for his hired man, English; therein the family of Lee Moore found shelter late that fall, and there, also, the first school, south of Bowling Green, was taught, in 1835. Collister Haskins came from New Salem, Mass., in 1818, and located at Waterville, where he was married to Fannie Gunn, by the old justice of Logan county - Seneca Allen. In April, 1821, he and his wife built a cabin on Granger's Island, in the Maumee river, where they resided until 1824. In July, of that year, Haskins bought the N. E. 21 of Sec. 12, R. 10, Liberty township, and in September, 1824, built a cabin thereon, his nearest neighbors at Miltonville and Waterville, assisting. At that time the mail passed that way once every two weeks; but, in 1828, he petitioned for a post office at Portage. The petition was granted and on January 29, 1829, he was appointed postmaster, holding the position for eighteen years. In April, 1836, he had the eastern half of the present village of Portage surveyed (Sec. 6, T. 4, R. 11) by Neptune Nearing, and resided there until his death. May 7, 1872. In 1862, Samuel Johnson was postmaster. Frank Munn, N. L. Besanson and Daniel Mears held the office in later days, the last named being now (1895) postmaster. In 1842 the village was still in a very primitive condition. Beyond the little stock of goods carried by Ephraim Simmons in his tavern, there were no mercantile accommodations, so the settlers had to cross Mount Ararat to Bowling Green, and often had to go to Perrysburg for their groceries and dry goods. Simmons' tavern occupied the northeast corner of the Findlay road and Walnut street. Some years later that house was burned, and P. F. Peachon erected a tavern building on its site. That was also burned; but a third building was constructed by Hodgman, said to be the same now occupied by Dr. Fisher. John Carter's cabin was east by north of the Hodgman house; John Long's cabin stood where the widow Elizabeth Sargent now resides, while Peter Johnson had a cabin where
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The H600 Project Genealogy DB
1799 - 1872 (72 years)