VAN WERT COUNTY – A mile north of Willshire, one of the most noted
historical roads in Van Wert County breaks off from Ohio 49 to the left
and heads toward Decatur, Indiana.
Its importance actually began
southwest of Toledo where the Battle of Fallen Timbers proved to be an
outstanding win between General Mad Anthony Wayne and the Native
Americans in the Northwest Territory.
The historical book,
“Greenwood to Wren,” states that for many centuries the land on which
Wren is now located and the surrounding townships was occupied by Native
Americans, especially those of the Miami Tribe. They had originated in
Wisconsin, but soon spread into Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and
Northwest Ohio, including Van Wert County.
The history states that
in the late 18th century, the United States was not governed as it is
presently, but was under the Articles of Confederation, a very weak
decentralized form of government.
On March 4, 1789, George
Washington became the nation’s first President and immediately began
working on strengthening the nation.
One of Washington’s first
projects was to settle the Northwest territory where Great Britain still
maintained posts and incited Native Americans against American
settlers.
“The administration decided in 1793 that the time had
come to the Army to fight the Indians,” commented the history book.
“This time the officer in charge was Wayne, who spent the winter in
Greenville in the art of Indian warfare.”
In London, John Jay was
negotiating and Nov. 19, 1794, he signed a treaty providing that the
British posts in the Old Northwest Territory be evacuated by 1796. In so
doing, the young US had cleared the Northwest Territory of the British,
militarily and diplomatically.
Unaware of what Jay had
accomplished in England, Wayne continued to badger the Indians and built
the beginnings of Fort Wayne. Finally, on Aug. 3, 1795, Wayne signed
the Treaty of Greenville, giving the U.S rights to much of the Northwest
Territory.
“What is of concern is that on Wayne’s return to
Greenville he followed an old Indian trail, known today as the Piqua
Road. By taking this particular route, Wayne came through the southern
corner of Van Wert County, very close to Wren (and Willshire)," stated
the history.
A marker south of Bobo on the Piqua trail, indicates
that six of Wayne’s men died at the spot and are buried in the old
Schafer Graveyard.