HONORING THE SURVEY OF THE MERIDIAN

Submitted by Joseph Fenicle, PS

On November 17, 1807 a line was described as the Western River) directly to White Rock, cutting out thousands of line of the Treaty of . This line would become the acres. The native tribes argued that they did not know and in 1815 and 200 years thereafter a understand the lines made up in the Treaty and they only dedication ceremony for a new Historical Marker understood landmarks (i.e. White Rock and the Rivers). would be held commemorating the survey and the surveyors. When Alexander Holmes, DS had the contract to survey the A 200th Anniversary celebration will also be held in October Michigan he had to turn back due to Indian hostility. to dedicate a new historical marker honoring Michigan’s two Benjamin Hough, DS was contracted to survey the sections Initial Points. along the Road between Fort Meigs and the Western Reserve also had to turn back due to Indian hostility. Ironically these The as executed by General , two deputy surveyors would team up to survey the Michigan Governor of the , was signed by the Meridian. tribes of the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot and Pottwatamie. As requested by President Thomas Jefferson this treaty The was the Battle between the United States covered the first public land to be available in what would and the British Empire. They were trying to restrict trade become the State of Michigan in 1837. In total the Treaty and America’s desire to expand. The most memorable of Detroit covered 345,600 acres. The Treaty also stipulated battles were the loss in Detroit and the victory in the Battle payments and annuities to the tribes and an agreement of led by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Other that “…agreed and stipulated, that the said Indian nations key battles were in , Baltimore and New Orleans. shall enjoy the privilege of hunting and fishing on the lands The War of 1812 led to the burning of Washington D.C. in ceded as aforesaid, as long as they remain the property of 1814. On February 17, 1815 the Treaty of Ghent was signed the United States”. The boundaries of the Treaty of Detroit and the “2nd War of Independence” was won and national are “Beginning at the mouth of the Miami river of the lakes, pride soared. Beyond the unfortunate deaths of thousands and running thence up the middle thereof, to the mouth of of Americans the national debt inflated from 80 million the great Au Glaize river, thence running due north, until dollars to 125 million dollars. Due to the increased debt the it intersects a parallel of latitude, to be drawn from the government needed land to fulfill the Military Warrants and outlet of , which forms the river Sinclair; thence it also needed additional land to pay off the remainder of running north east the course, that may be found, will lead the national debt. in Ohio was a key strong in a direct line, to White Rock, in lake Huron, thence due hold in the War of 1812. It was originally built by General east, until it intersects the boundary line between the United “Mad” Anthony Wayne in 1794. All forts back then were States and , in said lake, thence southwardly, built within a day’s march from each other. According to following the said boundary line, down said lake, through Lieutenant John Boyer Fort Defiance provided protection river Sinclair, lake St. Claire, and the river Detroit, into Lake from “The English, the Indians, and all the devils in hell”. Erie, to a point due east of the aforesaid Miami river, thence Fort Defiance also was used in the west to the place of beginning”. Historically White Rock was and Tecumseh’s War. sacred to the Ojibawa Indians. Similar to Roche De Boeuf along the , White Rock was a spiritual place The Act of May 06, 1812 stated “That the President of the for the natives. Today much of the rock has been destroyed United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be due partly to harsh ice on Lake Huron, but mostly due to the surveyed a quantity of the public lands of the United States, fit Air Force using it as target practice during World War II. for cultivation, not otherwise appropriated, and to which the Unfortunately the Treaty Line was not without controversy. Indian title is extinguished, not exceeding in the whole six The native tribes understood the agreement to be a straight millions of acres, two millions to be surveyed in the territory line between the intersection of the Miami River of the of Michigan…”. With that understanding the Commissioner lakes (Maumee River) and the Au Glaize River (Auglaize of the General Land Office, , wrote a letter to Michigan Surveyor, Page 14

Surveyor General Edward Tiffin on March 23, 1815. Meigs Judge. Holmes held the contract to survey the Michigan stated “Let the two million acres in Michigan be as near the Baseline and at the same time was 37 years old when he HONORING THE SURVEY OF north boundary of OHIO & the western shore of Lake Erie, assisted Hough with the Meridian. Holmes passed in 1833 as convenient. The northern boundary of Ohio not having at 55 years old. Holmes family was also from England and THE MICHIGAN MERIDIAN yet been determined, you will be careful not to extend the he was one of 14 children, two of which became deputy surveys so far south as to encroach on that boundary”. The surveyors. Act of December 24, 1811 & January 11, 1812 stated “… Submitted by Joseph Fenicle, PS provided that military bounties of 160 acres would be given Not much is known about Thomas Evans, DS other than to each soldier who had faithfully served in the armed he held additional contracts to subdivide townships in forces in the war with Great Britain…”. Michigan. Allison Looker, DS was married to Hough’s daughter Rachel. Looker held contracts to survey in the In April of 1815 Edward Tiffin contracted with Benjamin State of and was also an officer in the War of 1812. Hough, DS to survey the Michigan Meridian and certain After Allison passed away Rachel married his brother James townships in the Michigan Territory. The rate was $2.50 for Harvey Looker. The Looker family was relation to Abraham the townships and $3.00 per mile for the Meridian Survey. Clark who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Since Hough had difficulty surveying the sections along the Road between Fort Meigs and the Western Reserve and The theory is that since Hough and Holmes could not work Holmes had to turn back on his Michigan Baseline survey separately on their contracts they would team up to do the the two surveyors decided to team up. It is my opinion that Meridian and layout the Baseline at the same time. They the two surveyors tried to fulfill both contracts together in a would travel to the baseline and calculate the latitude. They mere span of three months. It did not work out as planned. would then travel to Fort Defiance and calculate the latitude there as well. They could then, in theory, run North without The crew for the Meridian Survey as put together by Hough backtracking South and fulfill both their contracts together. was Alexander Holmes, DS, Thomas Evans, DS, Allison On September 29, 1815 Hough and crew ran the Meridian Looker, DS and nine other men to clear line, hunt, cook North after crossing the Maumee River and studying Polaris and haul equipment. for two nights in a row. Hough calculated a 4 degree 39 minute East variation. In an October 2014 article titled GLO Benjamin Hough, DS was born in Loudon County, Procedures for Astronomical Observation, Jack Owens, PS and raised in Washington County, . At the believes that based on the September date Hough was able age of 28 he purchased land in the Seven Ranges of eastern to observe the “…Western Elongation early in the evening Ohio. In 1802 he surveyed in Cross Creek Township near followed 12 hours later by Eastern Elongation early in the Steubenville, OH and in 1804 was appointed as a General morning.” Hough dialed that into his compass and ran it for Land Office (GLO) Deputy Surveyor at 31 years of age. In 42 miles until they hit the Military Bounty Lands. At this 1804 he also became a County Commissioner for Jefferson point the group split up because they were low on provisions. County, OH. Between the years of 1805 to 1808 he was a Holmes continued North along the Meridian and Hough member of the Ohio Senate, Ohio House of Representatives traversed East along the South line of the proposed Military and became the State of Ohio Auditor. Hough was 42 Lands also being the South line of Township 13 South. The years old when he got the contract to survey the Michigan provisions were low and the conditions tough. Hough Meridian and he passed away 5 years thereafter. Hough’s wrote to Tiffin on October 12, 1815 “I found thus far, family moved from England and had a strong surveying exceeding bad ground to run lines over, being very thick of background. His grandfather, John Hough was a surveyor underbrush, and in many places for a great distance, almost of Lord Fairfax and became a super wealthy landowner. impassable”. He continued to write “Our situation is at this He was a friend of and was known for time very unpleasant, having been on short allowance of building Corby Hall in Waterford, VA in which Washington provision for 5 days, and at this time not 10 lbs. of flour stayed. John Hough had nine children 3 of which became for 13 men until a supply can be brought from Detroit, surveyors. Amos Hough, Benjamin’s father was a well- which will require at least 2 days; but we don’t despair of known surveyor in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. surmounting the difficulty, if our health is preserved, with Similar to Hough Alexander Holmes, DS was also raised which we have been blessed so far”. In a separate letter in Washington County, Pennsylvania. At 22 years old in to Tiffin, Holmes wrote “We have suffered almost every 1800 he was appointed as a GLO Deputy Surveyor. Holmes hardship, and encountered almost every difficulty that moved to Licking County, Ohio in 1804 and thru the years could be expected of mortals to endure, but amidst all have became the Licking County Surveyor Common Pleas Court been blessed with good health. It is my intention not to quit Michigan Surveyor, Page 15 Michigan Surveyor, Page 16 until I finish, which I hope to accomplish before the 20th of to build a bridge and trails back to the Initial Points. In next month”. They somehow continued North and ran into addition, the 1815 Surveying Michigan group out of Jackson the Grand River which was impassable. In book 3 ½ Hough is raising money for a Historical Marker of their own to share wrote “Came to a creek about 200 links wide, running West, the rich history of the Meridian, Baseline and Initial Points. the channel very deep, with a strong current, supposed to be The application to the Michigan Historical Commission has the Grand River…”. They traversed around the Grand River been approved and the new Michigan Historic Marker is to and continued North. Hough and Holmes continued the be placed during an October 2015 dedication ceremony. Meridian North and set the . While running the At the intersection of the Michigan Meridian and the Ohio- Baseline East they encountered multiple lakes which again Michigan State Line a new historical marker has been placed to involved more traversing and meandering. After completing commemorate the respective surveys and surveyors. During 39 miles of the baseline Holmes left the field. Hough left the the last day of National Surveyors Week on March 21st 2015 field in October due to illness and by late November all of the a group of approximately 100 surveyors, historians and the surveyors ceased their work. interested general public held an unveiling of the new Ohio Historical Marker designated 4-26 being the fourth marker Tiffin wrote to Meigs “The Surveyors who went to survey in the 26th alphabetical county in Ohio, Fulton County. the Military land in Michigan Territory have been obliged to suspend their operations until the country shall be sufficiently After completion of a lengthy application process, petitioning froze so as to bear man and beast”. He continued to write the for funding and lastly gaining private landowner approval the famous statement of “…the balance is so bad there would not entire process took almost two years to complete. My initial be more than one acre out of a hundred, if there would be one contact with the landowners (Randy and Sarah Carothers) out of a thousand, that would in any case admit Cultivation”. was on May 18, 2012. Sarah wrote “We are happy to have Due to this fact and going against the Act of May 06, 1812 the historical marker placed and hopefully enjoyed by people the surveys were officially suspended on April 02, 1816. The who share an interest in this historic event”. Without their Military Bounty Lands were then decided to be transferred to support this project would have been dead in the water. The the Illinois and Missouri Territories. marker, not including installation, cost $2,754.15. On May 24, 2012 I gave a presentation on the history of the Michigan On July 16, 1816 the surveys resumed and led to even more Meridian at the monthly meeting of the Northwest Ohio confusion. Joseph Fletcher was given a contract to continue Chapter of the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio (PLSO) the Baseline, but his work was rejected. Holmes eventually in Defiance, Ohio. Ironically within a couple hundred feet came back and continued the Baseline to Lake St. Clair while from the meeting is where Deputy Surveyor Benjamin Hough Joseph Wampler, DS got a contract to re-survey the Meridian began the survey of the Michigan Meridian. The chapter was North of the Grand River. On January 03, 1824 Wampler ecstatic to donate money for such a cause and a motion was found the Post set by Hough at the Initial Point. Wampler made to “…donate at least $1000 for Meridian Plaque...”. This also re-surveyed the Baseline West and upon closing into the gave me the fuel to complete the application and sell my idea already established Meridian missed Hough’s Initial Point by to the Ohio Historical Society. 14.18 chains. Wampler set an additional Initial Point giving Michigan two Initial Points. Michigan is the only state in The application process included developing a “Statement of the Public Land Survey System to have two Initial Points. Significance” explaining why the person, place, event or thing The Initial Points are Northeast of Jackson and upon review to be marked is significant at the local, state, and/or national of any topo map or aerial photography you can pick out the level. It is critical that the “Statement of Significance” be jog in the Baseline. The lakes that were meandered are now strong, yet succinct or you would be wasting your time even called Portage Lake, Baseline Lake and the real problem was completing the application. Next in the process was coming Whitmore Lake. The Michigan Meridian was eventually up with the “Suggested Marker Text” where you have to continued North by various surveyors such as Clark, condense your “Statement of Significance” down to no more Brink, Clason, Brevort, Hodgson and Burt. William Austin than 130 words so it can be physically fit on the cast aluminum Burt extended the Michigan Meridian across the Straits of marker. This was also very difficult to do as every statement Mackinaw to the Canadian Border in 1840. of fact on the “Suggested Marker Text” had to be documented with footnotes or endnotes to prove accuracy. Michigan has dedicated a State Park to these early surveys called Meridian Baseline State Park. A parking lot has I continued my fundraising efforts by going to Jackson recently been installed and work is currently underway to give a presentation to the Central Chapter of MSPS.

Michigan Surveyor, Page 18 Ironically, again, the Michigan Meridian ran within hundreds of feet of the meeting location, only now I was approximately 63 miles north of the Initial Points well into undisputed Michigan Territory. The chapter was more than willing to donate money to such a cause in both 2013 and 2014. Donations were also obtained from the Toledo Chapter of PLSO which allowed for the installation of a concrete pad around the marker for the ease of long term maintenance and protection against DOT mowing crews.

Once the application was reviewed and accepted, final “Suggested Marker Text” agreed upon, and donations obtained, final payment was submitted and the order was sent off to be cast in aluminum at Sewah Studios in Marietta, Ohio. Sewah Studios was founded by E.M. Hawes in 1927 and the name Sewah is a simply Hawes spelt backward. Sewah markers are found in all fifty states and are the official marker for most states.

The opposite side of the marker commemorates the 100th anniversary of the much more popular Ohio- Michigan State Line Survey. News of the new historical marker hit all the local papers and the weekend before the ceremony also hit the Associated Press. Most recently Michigan’s own Point of Beginning (POB) Magazine featured an article titled Marking History and was in the April Issue – giving coverage to over 35,000 subscription holders worldwide. Also later this year on November 6th, 2015 I will be offering 4 hours of Continuing Professional Development during a seminar featuring the Michigan Meridian, Ohio-Michigan State Line and more.

Joseph Fenicle, PS Ohio & Michigan Professional Land Surveyor Chief Surveyor, Office of the Fulton County Engineer Angular By Nature, LLC – Land Surveying Services & Continuing Education Instructors

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