| Restoration of the Wabash-Erie Canal near Delphi, Indiana. |
| Construction of the Wabash-Erie Canal at Attica, Indiana in 1847. |
Little River History
Little River Wetlands Project
| General "Mad" Anthony Wayne |
| Chief Little Turtle |
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FROM A PEACEFUL STREAM TO A POWER PAWN
Stand for a moment part way down the hill on Ellison Rd. just south of US 24. Look around and reflect on what you
see and hear. An airplane flying over to land at Ft. Wayne International Airport. To your left and slightly above there
is busy traffic on I-69 coming and going. Directly above is a power line now occupying the old bed of what was
once the 'interurban' railroad. Beside that bed is a depression that once held water to float the canal boats of the
old Wabash and Erie Canal.
It's difficult to think back much further as time has erased the evidence. If you are really acquainted with the history
of this area, and if you listen you might hear many voices from the past 350 years. For this valley was rich in the
history of transportation. Transportation which represented power. The Miami Indians, the French, the British and
the young Americans, all realized the importance of this valley and the power that it controlled. The story is a long
one, for the struggle for control of the ground you are standing on was bitter and involved many peoples.
Four hundred years ago, the Little River was a peaceful, stream which originated in the area directly west of an
Indian village, Kekionga. Sometimes quite small, almost dry, but in spring and fall carrying volumes of water
through a grassy, marshy prairie, containing many varieties of wildlife including beavers.
As time progressed, the Maumee-Wabash sluiceway became important for it connected the most direct waterways
from Quebec and Montreal to French settlements in the lower Wabash, Illinois and Mississippi areas. This route
opened up new areas, rich in game, and being farther south the route was more temperate than the four or five
portages farther north in Canada and Wisconsin.
In the 17th century, France and England were both eager for trade in the New World. England was bent on
establishing colonies, and both were desirous of the pelts of the beaver to supply the popular demand in Europe
for beaver felt hats.
FRENCH CONTROL OF LITTLE RIVER
By the middle 1600's the Iroquois had extended control to the western Great Lakes and driven the Miami to the
west and north of the Maumee-Wabash area. French voyageurs were limited to the Green Bay, Fox and Wisconsin
River portages to gain access to settlements in the upper and lower Mississippi valley. With encouragement and
help from the French, the Miami Indians began driving the Iroquois back, and by 1712 they were back in their old
hunting grounds at the headwaters of the Wabash and Maumee.
French claim to the western Great Lakes and northern Indiana area was based on explorations by Nicollet, Allouez,
Marquette, Joliet, and LaSalle. By 1680 LaSalle had explored the northern Indiana area. Though complete
documentation is lacking
LaSalle himself had probably traversed the Maumee-Wabash Portage, the nine mile carry between the the head of
the Maumee and Riviere Petite, the French name for what we call Little River or Little Wabash River. The cordon of
French control was now ever closer to English garrisons and colonies.
By 1727, the Wabash portage had become the principal route to the interior. The predominant goal was the
dominance of the rich fur trade and during these times the voyageurs and "coureurs des bois" moved many
hundreds of tons of trade goods through Ft. Pontchartrain (Detroit) and Kekionga. French colonization however,
was slow, to their detriment. their garrisons were poorly manned. In 1722, the French had a small fort, little more
than a few huts surrounded by a stockade, called Ft. Miamis, located on the St. Marys River near Kekionga. Later
called Ft. St. Phillipe, it was destroyed by Indians in 1747. In 1750 a new French fort was built on the St. Joe River,
a short distance upstream from the confluence of the three rivers. These were the first of five forts at Kekionga,
including English and American, whose purpose was to control the strategic Maumee-Wabash portage. Important
trading posts were also located at the forks of the Wabash at Huntington.
In dry times, travelers might have to traverse "la longue portage", the entire 24 miles or so to the forks of the
Wabash. However, in early spring or very wet periods, it was often possible to pass through the Maumee-Wabash
sluiceway without once having to leave ones canoe or bateaux. Normally the portage was about nine miles in
length, stretching from the bayou marsh or head of navigation on the St. Mary's, thence southwesterly following the
higher ground on the north side to an oxbow on the Little River (the French Riviere Petite) near the intersection of
present I-69 and US 24. This oxbow was nearly always flooded by a dam created by a colony of beavers. Their
value to the successful launching of watercraft was recognized by all, by common agreement they were
undisturbed.
FROM FRENCH TO ENGLISH TO AMERICANS
By 1760, the English had effectively defeated the French. English colonization was slow in the interior and by the
American Revolutionary War period England could no longer hold on to the New World.
In 1795, at the Treaty of Greenville, after the defeat at the hands of Gen. Anthony Wayne at the battle field of Fallen
Timbers in 1794, Little Turtle the Miami war chief who had previously defeated three armies, surrendered control of
the portage to the Americans. He made an impassioned plea in a speech, which has been recorded as exemplary
of Indian oratory. Calling it the "Glorious Gate" he petitioned for joint control, but to no avail. (It was known that at
times Miami revenue for portaging goods through the nine miles was upwards of $100 per day.) Wayne secured
for United States control a six mile square at the three rivers including Kekionga, and a two mile square at the
western portage landing, very close to where we are standing here beside present Ellison Road. For a brief time a
small fort was planned at this western terminus site, but to our knowledge it was never built.
TRANSPORTATION EVOLVES
The portage continued to be used until the Wabash and Erie Canal was opened to Huntington in 1835. Interest in
canals in the new United States began in the very early 1800's. Canal success in Europe fueled the fervor. The
Wabash and Erie was not completed to Evansville on the Ohio until 1853. From 1847 to 1856 was the most
profitable period, though heavy debts and the advent of railroads spelled the demise of the canal, and it closed by
1874. Today one can still see portions of the canal bed along the north edge of the Maumee Wabash sluiceway.
Remnants of a main line aqueduct are still visible at Aboite Creek.
During the 1930's still another mode of transportation made use of the south bank of the canal towpath. Known as
the "Interurban" electric cars which were fast and clean, transported passengers between Ft. Wayne and
Huntington and points south and west. These however, gave way to the automobile. The Maumee-Wabash
sluiceway has encompassed a rather unique evolution in transportation!
Efforts to drain the swampy prairie began in the 1870's. The rich bottom land was highly desirable for agriculture.
Several enterprises failed, but by 1888 the "Great Marsh", comprised of 25,000 acres in Allen and Huntington
Counties, was ditched and drained.
A REMINISCENCE
The Little Wabash River valley now is a docile agricultural area flooding often, and bearing little resemblance to the
wetland prairie teeming with wildlife that was left by the glacier. The Little River valley did however, play an
important role in the founding and growth of the United States.
As one stands here beside Ellison Road, partway down the hill from the State Police Post, now perhaps, you can
hear some of the voices, the chants of the voyageurs, the rattle of musket fire and the braying of mules as they pull
the canal boats.
Wouldn't it be wonderful though, if once again we could hear the sharp bark of the fox, the slap of the beaver tail in
the water and the mating call of the ducks in this valley?
