Local History of Port Clinton and Surrounding Area
Local History Directory
Oliver H. Perry
Perry's Victory and International Peace
Memorial
The Battle of Lake Erie (Multiple
Articles below with links)
The Founding of Port Clinton
Ira S. Dutcher 1st Past Master of Oliver H. Perry
Masonic Lodge and Local Business Man(click here)
Dewitt Clinton
The
History of the Mathews Boat Company(click here)
Johnson's Island(click here)
Local History Links
Ohio Historical
Society, Oliver H. Perry
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
and Library
Local History Links (see also
Oliver H. Perry 341 Masonic Search Engine on main page)
Oliver Hazard Perry was born on August 20th, 1785, in South Kingston Rhode Island. Brother of Commodore Matthew Perry (who was a Freemason) who opened Japan to the west. Oliver H. Perry served in the Tripolitan War and was promoted to lieutenant in 1807. In 1811 he married Elizabeth Champlin Mason with whom he had 5 children. During the War of 1812 Perry was commissioned to build the American fleet on Lake Erie. Perry began to build his fleet and train his crew at Presque Isle, near Erie Pennsylvania in May of 1813. In August, with Perry commanding the brig Lawrence, the fleet set sail to meet the British navy. On September 10th the American fleet left Put-in-Bay and the battle commenced when the two fleets engaged each other. In the battle the Lawrence was devastated, which prompted Perry to switch ships to the Niagra. By 3pm the battle was over and the British had surrendered. In a now famous report to General William Harrison, Perry reported, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
Perry became a national hero. His victory paved the way for Harrison's victory in the Battle of the Thames, in which Perry participated. After the war he commanded in the Mediterranean. In 1819 Perry was sent on a diplomatic mission to Venezuela, during which he died on his return trip of yellow fever. On Put-in-Bay, or South Bass Island, Ohio, a monument was constructed and dedicated in 1915 as Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. Beneath the rotunda floor of the monument lie the remains of 3 U.S. and 3 British officers killed in the Battle of Lake Erie.Information for Oliver H. Perry the man was provided by C. J. Dutton (1935); C. O. Paulin, ed., The Battle of Lake Erie
Other links on Oliver H. Perry include: Ohio Historical Society, Oliver H. Perry: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=301
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
In honor of
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's victory over the British in the Battle of
Lake Erie during the War of 1812, a monument was constructed on Put-in-Bay to
celebrate not only that victory, but the long lasting
peace that has since existed between the United States, Canada, and Britain.
The building of
Perry's Monument began in 1910 when to commemorate Perry's victory, the State of
Ohio formed a commission for the purpose of building a monument to celebrate the
battles centennial. Funding was arranged as eight other states and the
federal government contributed. Joseph H. Freelander and A.D. Seymour were
chosen as the architects. Their design was that of a granite Doric column
consisting of 78 courses (layers) of pink granite from Massachusetts.
Capping the monument is an 11 ton bronze urn. The total height of the
monument is 352 feet. Construction was begun in October of 1912 by the
John C. Robinson & Sons Construction Company.
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
It was completed in June of
1915 at a cost of $480,374.00. Beneath the monuments rotunda floor are
buried the
remains of three American and three British officers killed during the battle.
For a satellite view of
Put-in-Bay click here.
The Battle of Lake Erie
Post card from the 1913
centennial anniversary of the
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie
by the National Park Service Website
http://www.nps.gov/archive/pevi/HTML/battle.html
At dawn on the
morning of September 10, 1813, a lookout spotted six vessels to the
northwest past Rattlesnake
The British,
after maintaining naval control over
To read the entire account click here
(PDF)
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader please go to the Acrobat
link on the Site Directory to download.
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and the War on the Lakes
(PDF)
by Olin L. Lyman
This page may take some time to load depending on
your internet connection speed.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader please go to the Acrobat link on the
Site Directory to download.
Account of
the Battle of Lake Erie
by Brother Teddy Roosevelt
When the white man was out numbered twenty to one by the American Indian in what is now Ottawa County, a famous New York statesman and the Surveyor-General of the Northwest Territory were focusing their attention on the mouth of the Portage River, already highlighted by association with such history-making names as Joseph Gaspard De Lery, General William Harrison and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.
| Historic 1920's Matthews Yachts |
The Year Was 1824
DeWitt Clinton, famous New York statesman, proposed the
building of a canal from the mouth of the Portage River in Sandusky County,
Ohio, to the Ohio River at Cincinnati.
General William Lytle of Cincinnati, who was Surveyor-General of the
Northwest Territory, received with favor the acres in Sandusky County, owned by Horton Howard and wife of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1827 Ezekiel Smith Haines, stepson of General Lytle, bought the 1212 acres for four thousand dollars, the date of transfer being November 26, 1827. The platting of the village of Port Clinton was begun on this site and completed in June of 1828. The work was done by General Lytle, Ezekiel and Elias Haines, O.M. Spencer and others, mostly residents of Cincinnati.
The fact of its having been laid out as a town plat was put on record June
16, 1828. These records may be seen at the Courthouse in Fremont, Ohio.
Ezekiel Haines named this town Port Clinton. Since many details of Mr. Haines' plan for the town and for himself were connected with the development of the proposed canal, it is reasonable to think he wished to honor DeWitt Clinton, who was known as "the Father of the Erie Canal" and whose death occurred in February, 1828, four months before the platting of the town was completed.
Peach Festival, Port Clinton
Tradition Favors DeWitt Clinton
Mr. Haines also named the streets: Fulton to Canal and Perry to Sixth: reserved space for parks and lots for a courthouse, hotel, bank, churches, council chambers, etc., providing they were used for such within a specified time. He and his wife, Charlotte, remained here a number of years, but left after the failure of the canal project. A survey had disclosed that what would have been called the Sandusky-Scioto Canal, was not a feasible proposition because of an insufficient water supply.
Because of widely published false stories of the founding of Port Clinton, by Works Public Administration and other writers, we, as citizens, have both the obligation and the privilege to acclaim the legal founder: Ezekiel Smith Haynes. (From Notes of Former Museum Curator, May Hesselbart, 1956).
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Pumpkins at Gypsum Canning Co., Railroad St. Young lady in white apron is Margaret (Kolesar) Chimo. 1910. Photo donated by Margaret Chimo, Port Clinton, to Ottawa County Historical Society "Old Photos" Collection. |
Ira S. Dutcher the first Master of Oliver H. Perry Masonic Lodge and Local
Business Man
By Leonard T. Evans
A Biography
of Ira. S. Dutcher
Ira
S. Dutcher, a prominent citizen of
On July 4, 1838 he married Mary Ann Veeder (who was
of Scotch, English and Dutch decent) and set up housekeeping in Oswego, New York
and for 13 years he worked building elevators and mills on the Oswego River.
In 1852 Ira was sent for, to build an elevator and
install machinery in mills in
Early Port
Clinton Ohio, and the Man Behind the Name
By Leonard T. Evans
For the Portage Council, No. 192 Allied Masonic
Degrees of America
Part 1, Port
Clinton
Part 2, The Family and Political Life of DeWitt Clinton
Part 3, He was a Mason!
DeWitt Clinton
Part 1, Port Clinton
(source a)
The City of Port Clinton was named in honor of DeWitt Clinton, "the Father of the Erie Canal" and promoter of further canal systems for westward expansion of the new United States. This now famous New York statesman and the Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory, General William Lytle, had focused their attention on the mouth of the Portage River as had such predecessors as Gaspard de Lery, Oliver H. Perry, and General William Henry Harrison.
In 1824, DeWitt Clinton, then governor of New York, proposed a canal to extend from the mouth of the Portage River on Lake Erie to the Ohio River at Cincinnati. General William Lytle, the Surveyor General, from Cincinnati, bought up large tracts of land near the mouth of the Portage River, envisioning a port to be built there. On the 26th of November, 1827 twelve hundred and twelve acres of land in townships 6 and 7 in Sandusky County were deeded to Ezekial Smith Haines of Cincinnati for the sum of $4,000 from Horton Howard and his wife Hanna of Columbus. From this land grew the town of Port Clinton, which at that time was part of Sandusky County, as Ottawa County had not yet been formed. All of the transactions for the Port Clinton area of that time period are therefore recorded in Fremont, the county seat of Sandusky County. It should be noted that Ezekiel Haines was the stepson of General Lytle.
Surveying was begun soon after the land purchase, but wasn't completed until June of 1828. The survey work was done by General Lytle, Ezekiel and E. H. Haines, O.M. Spencer, and others primarily from Cincinnati.
On June 16, 1828 it was recorded on the books of Sandusky County that a town was laid out at the mouth of the Portage River. Its boundaries were from Fulton Street on the east to Canal Street (now Harrison Street) on the west side and from Perry Street (bordering the lake) on the north to Sixth Street on the south side. Provisions were made for a lakefront park between Jefferson and Washington Streets. Lots were set aside for the various churches, a courthouse, council chamber, mayors office, and a jail. Many of the designated lots were subject to forfeiture and reversions if not occupied within five years. The lots for the custom house and exchange, city hotel, bank and the Masonic Lodge were reserved for further appropriations. There were further lots set aside for a doctor and a resident carpenter.
Ezekiel Haines named Port Clinton in honor of DeWitt Clinton, thinking of his connection with the development of the coming proposed canal. This he had decided upon when the plotting of the town was completed which was four months after Clinton's death in February, 1828.
The plans for the proposed use of the Portage River, for the Miami and Erie Canal, ending at Port Clinton on the northern end, later failed in favor of the Maumee River as the northern end of the canal due to a larger source of water which was need to keep the canal full year-round. However, Port Clinton still remains and still bears the honored name given by Ezekiel Haines so long ago.
Part 2, The Family and Political Life of DeWitt Clinton (source b)
DeWitt Clinton was the fifth child born to James and Mary (DeWitt) Clinton on March 2, 1769 in Little Britain, New York. His grandparents, Charles and Elizabeth Clinton, immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1729. They lost two of their three children, a son and daughter, during their voyage and settled in Massachusetts with their remaining daughter. In 1731 the family moved to Ulster (now Orange County) New York. In America Elizabeth gave birth to four more sons, Alexander, Charles, James, and George. James, DeWitt's father, studied law and later became a politician who was elected in 1777 as New York's first governor.
DeWitt came to New York City for the first time on November 25, 1783 and witnessed that day, as a boy of 14, the British surrender of New York. He saw his father ride just behind and his Uncle George ride beside George Washington in the victory parade. His Uncle George, was elected and served seven terms as Governor of New York, and served as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. For the 50 years that passed from the end of the Revolution to the time of DeWitt's death, George and DeWitt Clinton served a total of 30 years as New York's governor.
DeWitt's adult education started in May of 1784 in the first class at Columbia in New York City, when he was 15 years old (note: Columbia was previously known as King's College prior to the Revolution). In 1786 DeWitt was in the first class to graduate from the "new" Columbia. He was the class valedictorian and delivered his lecture in Latin at the graduation ceremony. During this time New York City served as capital to both the United States and the state of New York. Members of the Continental Congress were among the attendees at the ceremony.
DeWitt became an attorney after studying law in New York City. At this time his older brother, Alexander, held the position of "Secretary to the Governor", (their Uncle George), and in March of 1787 Alexander drowned in the Hudson River. A short time later DeWitt took his brother's position as Secretary to the Governor.
When the debate to ratify the new national Constitution came into play, Governor George Clinton and his nephew DeWitt both argued against its ratification. They both believed that a strong national government was not in the best interest of the state of New York. Nine of the thirteen states were needed to ratify the Constitution. Many letters were written by both George and DeWitt voicing strong arguments against the Constitution, but eventually New York voted to ratify the new Constitution by a vote of 30 to 27.
The national government was divided into two camps by 1789. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the Republicans (Anti-Federalist), led by Thomas Jefferson. George and DeWitt were strong supporters of the Anti-Federalists.
In 1797 DeWitt Clinton was elected as a New York City Republican to the New York State Assembly. He felt, as did other New York City citizens, that they had been stripped of their dignity when both the national and state capitals were moved from the City of New York to Washington and Albany respectively. DeWitt foresaw a way to escalate the importance of the city in other ways by proposing the construction of a canal to connect New York City with the Midwest to increase its importance in trade. The canal would link the Hudson River with Lake Erie and thus to all the upper Great Lakes and the upper Midwest.
DeWitt served as Secretary to the Governor of New York, New York State Assemblyman, New York State Senator, Mayor of New York City, Lieutenant Governor of New York, Governor of New York, United States Senator, Vice President of the United States, and in the election of 1812 he ran for President of the United States. As a Senator, he drafted the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, requiring electors to vote for the President and Vice President separately.
Throughout his political life he pushed for the construction of the Erie Canal, and convincing the State of New York to build the canal was the landmark accomplishment of his distinguished career. On April, 15 1817, after the War of 1812 was past, the Canal Bill passed the state legislature and funds were approved to start construction on "the canal." On October 26, 1825 the Erie Canal was completed and Governor DeWitt Clinton presided over the opening ceremonies. The canal, nicknamed "Clinton's Ditch", was 363 mile long, averaged 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep, was completed in just 8 years using just manual labor and picks and shovels.
This one project established New York City as the greatest commercial city in the United States, and New York became the busiest port in America. The city handled more freight than Boston, Baltimore, and New Orleans combined. Prior to the canal it ranked only fifth. The canal also opened up cities like Rochester and Buffalo and made them each major cities of trade. The canal also opened up new travel and trade to the whole northern Midwest and upper Great Lakes, and allowed for a more rapid westward expansion which brings us back to Port Clinton, Ohio and the part it played in the opening of the West.
Part 3, He was a Mason! (sources c,d,&e)
DeWitt Clinton was raised to the degree of Master Mason in Holland Lodge No. 8 (originally No. 16) in New York City on September 3, 1790, serving as Secretary, then in 1793 as Junior Warden, and in 1794 he served as Master of the Lodge. In the Grand Lodge of New York he held the offices of Junior Grand Warden in 1795, 1796, and 1797, the Senior Grand Warden in 1798, and the Grand Master of Masons of New York from 1806 to 1819. He served as the Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of New York and the General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter. He also served as the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the Knights Templar of New York, the General Grand Master of Knights Templar of the United States, and in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry he held its highest office. At the end of his career, DeWitt Clinton was by far the most renowned leading Freemason in America.
DeWitt Clinton died February 11, 1828 while still serving as the Governor of New York. He was a true American and loyal Freemason, never swerving from his beliefs or his duty. Even in the face of the persecution of Freemasons following the "Morgan Incident", he states openly the following:
"I know that Freemasonry is friendly to religion, morality, liberty, and good government. I shall never shrink under any state of excitement, or any extent of misapprehension, from hearing testimony in favor of the purity of an institution which can boast of a Washington, and a Franklin, and a Lafayette as distinguished members-which inculcates no principles and authorizes no acts that are not in accordance with good morals, civil liberty, and entire obedience to the government and the laws."
Sources
a) Heritage of Port Clinton, Ohio, Port Clinton Area Heritage Foundation Ottawa County Historical Museum.
b) http://www.prior 2000.com/dewitt_clinton.htm
c) Sesquicentennial Commemorative Volume of Holland Lodge, No. 8 of Free and Accepted Masons of New York, 1938.
d) "10,000 Famous Freemasons" by: William R. Denslow, reprinted from the Transactions of the Missouri Lodge of Research for the Bureau of Royal Arch Magazine, Box 529, Trenton, MO.
e) "Masonic America", American Revolution Bicentennial 1776-1976 Stories of
Fraternal Patriots, by: The Knights Templar Magazine, the Twelfth Printing
Sept. 1, 1975.