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From: LeaAnn <>
Subject: [OHERIE-L] Erie Co. History part 5
Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 00:31:09 -0700


Historical Collections of Ohio
Henry Howe LL. D.
Erie County

The Story of Ogontz--
When the first settlers under the Fire-Lands Company arrived at Sandusky
they found on the present site of the town a village of Ottawa Indians,
and on the peninsula some French-Canadian settlers.
The whole settlement was under the control of an Indian Chief named
OGONTZ. He was in many respects a remarkable man. Having been found
when a babe in an Indian village in the far Northwest, whose
inhabitants had all either died off or fled from smallpox, he was taken
charge of by French Catholic priests near Quebec, and educated for a
missionary among the Indians, and about the time of the outbreak of the
Revolution went among the Ottawas to preach Christianity.
He had a strong dislike of the British provincial government, and
having gained great influence among the Ottawas, he induced two tribes
and some French people in the neighborhood to locate at Sandusky, he
going with them as priest or father; at his direction the French
settled on the peninsula and the Indians on the other side of the bay.
Finding he could be more useful to these people as chief than priest,
he gave up his holy office, was adopted into one of the tribes, and
became its chief.
In an account of his life which he related to his friend and neighbor,
Mr. Benajah Wolcott, who in 1809, had settled on the peninsula, he
said:
"In my heart I had never been a good Catholic, though I had tried to be
a good Christian. I found it, however, much easier to make Catholics
than Christians of other Indians. What I mean is, that they were much
more willing to observe the forms than to obey the laws of
Christianity, and that they grew no better under my preaching. I
became discouraged, and feared that my preaching was an imposition and
I an imposter."
As priest the chief of the other tribe had been guided by him and
profited by his counsels, but when Ogontz became a chief his jealousy
was aroused, and during a drunken orgie he approached Ogontz from
behind and tried to stab him, but Ogontz was on his guard, and instead
of slaying him he was himself slain by Ogontz.
Although Ogontz had slain his rival in self defense a council was held
to decide his fate. The Indian law is "blood for blood," and it was
very rarely that this law was departed from, and as Ogontz sat on a log
facing the lake, a few rods off, the council debated the question of
life and death; and having decided, the messengers of the council
approached him. If the decision had been death they would have gone up
behind and tomahawked him as he sat. As they neared him the solemn
chief sat motionless, looking out upon the expanse of water before
him, when the messengers made a slight detour and approached him face
to face. The council had spared his life.
Ogontz adopted the son of the chief, and brought him up as his own,
knowing that some day that son would kill him to avenge his fathers
death.
Ogontz was ever for peace. Foreseeing the war of 1812, he led his
people back to Canada, as they could not stay at Sandusky and remain
neutral. He said:
"I have done these people (Indians and French) all the good I could and
have kept them at peace with each other, and so far as I could, with
all the world; but trouble will come on us all very soon. I had hoped
to spend all my days near this bay. Your people will take all our
present corn-fields for themselves, but we could find others near
enough if we could be at peace. A war between your people and the
British is close at hand, and when that comes we must fly from here,
all of us. Indians are great fools for taking part in the wars of the
white people, but they will do so. Ottawas will join the British and
Wyandots will join your people. I will not fight in such a war. I wish
your side success, but I must go with my people."
When peace was declared between the United States and Great Britain he
and his tribe went from Canada to Maumee river, and at a pow-wow held
there he was murdered by his adopted son, meeting the death he knew was
in store for him when he adopted the son of the chief he had slain in
self-defense.
The lodge of Ogontz was on the site occupied by the National bank on
Columbus avenue, between Market and Water streets. The bank building
was originally the residence of Eleutheros Cooke, and built by him.
His son, the celebrated banker, Jay Cooke, was born here in 1821.
The family knew Ogontz very well. When a child, Ogontz at times
carried the boy Jay on his shoulders. Out of respect to his memory,
Mr. Cooke in after years, when fame and fortune were his, built a
magnificent country-seat at Chelton Hills, near Philadelphia, which he
named Ogontz. The name of Ogontz is perpetuated at Sandusky by a
street, flouring mills, a Knight Templar's lodge, a fire company,
etc. When making investigations years since for a railroad in the Lake
Superior country Mr Cooke found the name Ogontz still perpetuated among
the Indians, and in the person of a boy whose acquaintance he made,
and who proved to be grandson of the chief.

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