Urbana in Champaign County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
War Council of 1812 / Old Grave Yard
War Council of 1812.
To confirm that the Treaty of Greenville would be upheld, Ohio Governor Return J. Meigs called a council with Native Americans June 6-9, 1812. He sought approval to cross native land when marching to Canada and to ensure their alliance with the United States against the British. Among the tribes and chiefs credited for attending were the Shawnee (Black Hoof, Captain Lewis), Wyandot (Tarhe, Roundhead), Seneca (Civil John), and Mingo. General William Hull, Colonels MacArthur, Cass, and Findley, the Wyandot interpreter Isaac Zane, and Simon Kenton are also thought to have attended. Blockhouses were erected along Hull’s Trace for storage and the protection of local settlers. The actual location of this gathering was on the rise about 100 yards southwest of the Old Grave Yard.
Old Grave Yard. In 1805, a burial ground was dedicated to Champaign County at the intersection of Ward and Kenton Streets, which was then at Urbana’s town limits. It remained open until 1856. Among those interred there was Elizabeth Kenton, eight-year-old daughter of Simon Kenton. When she died in 1810, Kenton, the county jailer, was forbidden from crossing out of the town limits due to his unpaid debts. After following the funeral procession as far as he could, he watched Elizabeth’s burial from across the street. Also buried there were unknown soldiers from the War of 1812; Captain Arthur Thomas and son, who were killed by Native Americans in August 1813; four Bell children, who died in the tornado of March 22, 1830; and numerous early settlers of Champaign County. Many, but not all, were reinterred and rest in Oak Dale Cemetery.
Erected 2014 by Walter and Smith Funeral Home Champaign County Historical Society the Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 34-11.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 22, 1908.
Location. 40° 6.677′ N, 83° 44.939′ W. Marker is in Urbana, Ohio, in Champaign County. Marker is at the intersection of KentonStreet and Ward Street, on the right when traveling north on KentonStreet. marker is at northeast corner of Ward and Kenton Streets 2 blocks east of Main (US 68) 3 blocks north of Scioto Street (US 36). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 421 N Kenton St, Urbana OH 43078, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Harmony Lodge No. 8 Free and Accepted Masons (approx. 0.2 miles away); Champaign County Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); The Evan S. Patrick House (approx. ¼ mile away); The Samuel McCord House (approx. ¼ mile away); The McClelland-Redding House (approx. ¼ mile away); Simon Kenton (approx. ¼ mile away); Champaign County World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); President Lincoln’s Funeral Train in Urbana (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Urbana.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 692 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 17, 2015, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 8, 2018, by J. Wesley Baker of Springfield, Ohio. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.