Ottawa in Putnam County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Native Americans in Ottawa
Ohio Historical Marker
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
1. Native Americans in Ottawa Marker
View of front side of historical marker.
Inscription.
Native Americans in Ottawa. Ohio Historical Marker. [Front Side]:, The Ottawa, or "Tawa" Indians had inhabited the Maumee Valley since the middle of the 1700s. By the 1790s, Ottawa settlements included villages along the Blanchard River at the present-day Village of Ottawa. During the War of 18 12, Colonel James Findlay destroyed these villages because the Ottawa aided British forces. In 1817, the United States government established a reserve for the Ottawa in exchange for their lands in Northwest Ohio. The reserve encompassed a five-mile square area; its center was the intersection of the Blanchard River and an Indian trace near what is now Old State Route 65.
(Continued on other side). , [Reverse Side]:,
(Continued from other side). The reserve included the Ottawa villages of Lower Tawas, on Tawa Run, and Upper Tawas, two miles east on the Blanchard River in the vicinity of present-day County Road 8. Near each of these villages were Ottawa burial grounds, which were eventually unearthed by white settlers and residents of the village. The Ottawa ceded their reserve to United States in 1831 and were removed to a reservation in what would become Kansas. The land was auctioned off to white settlers in 1833 and the Village of Ottawa was established in 1834.
[Front Side]:
The Ottawa, or "Tawa" Indians had inhabited the Maumee Valley since the middle of the 1700s. By the 1790s, Ottawa settlements included villages along the Blanchard River at the present-day Village of Ottawa. During the War of 1812, Colonel James Findlay destroyed these villages because the Ottawa aided British forces. In 1817, the United States government established a reserve for the Ottawa in exchange for their lands in Northwest Ohio. The reserve encompassed a five-mile square area; its center was the intersection of the Blanchard River and an Indian trace near what is now Old State Route 65.
(Continued on other side)
[Reverse Side]:
(Continued from other side)
The reserve included the Ottawa villages of Lower Tawas, on Tawa Run, and Upper Tawas, two miles east on the Blanchard River in the vicinity of present-day County Road 8. Near each of these villages were Ottawa burial grounds, which were eventually unearthed by white settlers and residents of the village. The Ottawa ceded their reserve to United States in 1831 and were removed to a reservation in what would become Kansas. The land was auctioned off to white settlers in 1833 and the Village of Ottawa was established in 1834.
Erected 2003 by
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Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, First Bank of Ottawa, Sky Bank, Union Bank, The Putnam County Genealogical Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 3-69.)
Location. 41° 1.143′ N, 84° 2.954′ W. Marker is in Ottawa, Ohio, in Putnam County. Marker is on West Main Street (U.S. 224) just west of South Walnut Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ottawa OH 45875, United States of America. Touch for directions.
View of historical marker looking east down West Main Street.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009
4. Native Americans in Ottawa Marker
View of historical marker located in downtown park setting. Note that building to the right of the park as sandbags surrounding its outer perimeter to provide protection from the flood waters of the Blanchard River (located about two blocks to the south).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,676 times since then and 112 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 12, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.