This is a transcription of the book, of the above title, written and edited by Robert B. Ross, and published, by Clarence M. Burton of Detroit in 1902.
I have tried not to make any spelling or grammar "corrections" but, as I am English, I may have done so unconsciously - it has not been spell-checked.
As it was typed on a UK keyboard, some symbols may look wrong on your screen. For instance, £ is a pound sterling, $ is a dollar.
The views expressed are those of the author, not of the transcriber.
As this transcription is rather long, and is a single HTML document, I recommend that it is read offline.
The work is not copyright and you may copy it, print it, redistribute it or whatever.

The record of the Knaggs family of Ohio and Michigan is a part of the history of the northwest. Springing from English and Dutch forbears, its descendants represent the best traits of both races, and as patriots in war and good citizens in peace they are the peers of any contemporary family in these states. The Knaggs are a virile race, and although they are now found in every grade of society, their distinguishing characteristics - courage, perserverance and integrity - are as pronounced today as in the perilous times of the Indian wars and the war of 1812. The following record is historical, biographical and genealogical, commencing with the progenitors and aiming to include the youngest descendants. Every care has been take to insure correctness, but in such works there are very few which are absolutely perfect. Much of the genealogy could not be obtained from records, and if errors are found they can hardly be blamed on the compiler.

This map shows the location of Fort Miami. In the vicinity of which a majority of the first generation of the Knaggs family were born: also the points of interest in the Indian wars and the war of 1812. Also the location of Whitmore Knaggs's grant of 4,000 arpents in 1734.

The genesis of the Knaggs family of Michigan and Ohio was in the Maumee valley and on the river of the same name, near the site of Fort Miami, which is about nine miles from the new courthouse of Toledo. This region was probably never inhabited before 1760. A few years ago a retired journalist, named Knapp, published a history of the Maumee valley, in which it was asserted that a French trading post had been established above Toledo as early as 1684, and that a fort had been erected there which was garrisoned by a small force of French soldiers. This statement created considerable interest in Toledo among students of the history of the northwest, as the authorities he adduced were at least plausible. But research developed no Corroborative facts. It is now believed that this statement is a mere invention, and that there was no white settlement there before the fall of Quebec. The valley was the scene of armed strife in the Indian wars that succeeded the revolution, and also in the war of 1812-15, and the members of the family during those periods were in the very center of war's alarms. It was here that the progenitor of the family, George Knaggs, an Englishman of good family, brought his wife in 1760. He was born in England, of English parents, his mother being a native of Wales. Tradition says that he was originally a sea-faring man, though in what capacity is not stated; also that he was a friend and protoge of Sir William Johnson, and that he was an officer in the British army. No proofs or records, however, can be found to support these two latter statements. He married Rachel Sly in Philadelhpia. She was of Holland Dutch extraction, and was a native of the Mohawk valley in New York state. The date of their marriage is not known, but it was probably in the same year (1760) that they came to the Maumee valley.

Quebec was captured during the previous year and the sovereignity of the northwest had passed under British rule. Detroit, which had been under French rule since 1701, surrendered to a British force in 1760, the year following the fall of Quebec. These events brought many people into what had previously been French territory.

At that time the only gainful occupation in the west was the Indian trade, and in this George Knaggs and his wife engaged. The country was a wilderness and they were surrounded by Indians, who, however, were generally friendly. The Indian trade was all barter, there being little money in circulation. The goods sold to the Indians, namesy, muskets, powder, balls, blankets, kettles, fire-water, knives, beads, trinkets, silver ornaments, etc., which had previously been procured by the French traders from Quebec and Montreal, were now mostly procured from Fort Orange, now Albany, N. Y., which became the great center of the Indian trade of the west. The goods offered for exchange by the Indians were invariably furs, although occaisionally maple sugar in the form of mococks was offered.

In 1768 George Knaggs was in Detroit, and evidently was one of a syndicate composed of himself, Robert Henry, John Farrel and James Abbott. The four bought a lot 45 x 42 feet on St. Anne street, on the corner of Campau alley. St. Anne street was then 20 feet wide, and ran between what is now Wayne street to Griswold street, and was all on what is now Jefferson avenue, 200 feet west of Griswold street. Of course it was purchased to erect a building for store purposes, but no record of this venture exists. He probably returned to Maumee soon after, as his wife and children were there until 1794.

Nothing is know of George Knaggs or his wife during the revolutionary war or during the conspiracy of Pontiac. Eight children were born to them between 1763 and 1784, and it is almost certain that George and his wife simply continued their occupation and made money. Had the head of the family been engaged in the revolutionary war it is more than likely that the fact would have been known by his descendants or recorded in history. The tradition of the family is that he was quite aristocratic in his ideas and objected to his daughters doing any houshold work. "There are servants for such things." he is credited with saying. His wife, however, was a prudent, careful manager, with great force of character, and was the business head of the matrimonial firm. She was also educated and was even versed in Latin, an uncommon accomplishment for ladies in those or any other days. Her first child, Whitmore Knaggs, born in 1763, first went to school in his own home and was taught Latin and Dutch by her, as well as the elementary branches of education.

The eight children of George Knaggs and Rachel Sly were all born on the Maureem river, or Miami as it was called. Most of them were baptized at the Huron Jesuit mission at Sandwich, Ont., but of some there are no records oither of birth or death. George Knaggs was probably either a protestant or an indifferentist, but his wife was a strict catholic, and the children were all reared in that belief in childhood. Some of them, however, became protestants in after years. In regard to the word Miami, it may be explained that the Indians always pronounced it Maumee. There were three rivers of that name - the Great Miami and the Little Miami, both of which flow into the Ohio river and the Miami of the Lakes, which flows into Lake erie. The name of the Miami of the Lakes was afterwards changed to Maumee and it was on its shore that the Knaggs family had its origin. As the family is now numerous and widespread it may be well to set down the names of the first generation in paragraphs as follows:
(1) WHITMORE KNAGGS, born 1763
(2) GEORGE KNAGGS, born about 1765
(3) ELIZABETH KNAGGS, born Jan. 11, 1772
(4) ANNE KNAGGS, born Jan. 11, 1777
(5) REBECCA KNAGGS, born Feb. 28, 1778
(6) JAMES KNAGGS, born about 1780
(7) THOMAS KNAGGS, Nov. 1, 1782
(8) WILLIAM KNAGGS, born about 1784

The above dates will no doubt surprise some of the members of the family, who have always believed that James Knaggs, the Indian fighter, was the youngets child, but the records show that this belief is unfounded.

the dates of many of the births, deaths and marriages in this series of articles have been copied by Rev. Christian Denissen of Detroit from the catholic church records at Monroe, Sandwich and detroit. Fr. Denissen is a genealogist of skill and resource, and has continued the records of Fr. Tanguay, the great French genealogist, down to the present day. The Knaggs records, and also other facts presented in the series, have also been revised by Clarence M. Burton, who is an authority on the history of Detroit and the northwest.

In 1893 the late James W. Knaggs, a native of Detroit, and residing there in that year, told the writer of this article that his father, Whitmore Knaggs, was appointed a United States Indian agent when he was 18 years of age. If this is correct, Whitmore held that position in 1781. Mrs Keyson, the widow of George B. Knaggs, son of Whitmore Knaggs, says that his first appointment was made by President Washington. There is no doubt that Whitmore, who was adopted by the Ottawa Indians as a member of their nation, was held in high esteem by the Indians of the Maumee region, and an official appointment of this kind would make him more influential than ever. This state of affairs led to a most important event in the history of the Knaggs family. In July, 1784, the headmen of the Ottawa nation, in consideration of love and affection, deeded him a tract of land on the Maumee, on part of which Fort Miami was afterward built. The tract fronted 40 arpents on the river by 100 arpents in depth. The description read as follows: "Bounded by two trees standing on the plains and by another tree standing on the hill." This deed was lost, but it was renewed by six Ottawa chiefs, 13 years later, on May 12 1797. The description was followed in regard to the two trees standing on the plain, but it was explained that they "have since fallen down, but where a bush now remains." In regard to the "other tree standing on the hill" it was stated to be "near the spot where the dwelling house of said Whitmore Knaggs was built immediately after we gave him the said tract of land, and where his father planted an orchard." It was also stated that "the house had been pulled down under the command of Gen. Wayne in 1794."

The latter deed, thus confirming the first, was signed in the presence of James May, as one of the judges of the court of common pleas. Judge May of Detroit was the husband of Margaret Labadie, whose sister, Josette, married Whitmore Knaggs in 1797.

This tract of 4,000 arpents, equivalent to 3,684 American acres, was the first land acquired by the Knaggs family, and some of the descendants live on it today. Progenitor George Knaggs was not desirous of owning real property, and no deeds or conveyances have been found, except the one in 1768, above mentioned, that show he acquired any portion of Mother Earth.

It is almost certain that the elder Knaggs sympathised with the British rather than the colonists in the struggle of the latter for independence, but the feeling was not shared in by Whitmore, his eldest son. It is probable that his influence kept Whitmore from joining the colonial forces, but as time went on he was unable to control him. During the Indian wars which succeeded the revolution Whitmore was an avowed friend of the struggling Americans on the border, and finally became attached to Mad Anthony Wayne's army as a scout, spy and official interpreter of the Indian tongues.

The Maumee valley, just above toledo, is famous as the theater of armed strife in the Indian wars alluded to and also in the war of 1812-15. After the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States in 1782, the former country, incited mainly by the wealthy fir trading companies, disregarded the terms of the treaty surrendering the northwest territory, of which Detroit and the Maumee valley were parts, and secretly encouraged the Indians to attack the white settlers on the border. President Washington sent several forces to subdue these Indians, but they were all unsuccessful. Gen. Arthur St. Clair's reverse in 1791 was most humiliating. He met a strong Indian force near the head waters of the Wabash, near Fort Wayne, Ind., on Nov. 4 of that year, and his entire force of 1,400 troops was ignominiously defeated by Little Turtle's warriors. Several attempts were afterward made to patch up a peace, the last one in 1793, but the indians, secretly encouraged by the British, refused to agree to any other boundary than the Ohio. Finally President Washington placed Maj.-Gen. Anthony Wayne in command in 1792, and the latter at once commenced a series of operations, which resulted in an honorable peace.

After Wayne's army was organized Gen. Simcoe of Canada selected the site of a fort on the Maumee above Toledo, on Whitmore Knaggs' tract, as a strategic point to foil Wayne's movements. It was built in the spring of 1794, and named Fort Miami. This made the trading posts in the neighborhood more profitable than ever. To this region came Alexander McKee, afterward a British colonel in the war of 1812, and established a trading post, erected storehouses and dwellings, and did a large business. His descendants nearly all live in windsor, Sandwich town and township, opposite detroit. Of course he was a business rival of George Knaggs, but there seemed to be plenty of trade for both. Three companies of British soldiers, under command of Capt. Caldwell, were sent from detroit to defend the new fort, which, with insolent bad faith, was built in territory guaranteed by the treaty to be in the united States. The fort was close to the place where George Knaggs and Rachel Sly had settled in 1760.

Near Fort Miami was fought the battle of Fallen Timbers on Aug 20, 1794, between Gen. Wayne and a force of Canadian Militia and Indians under Little Turtle. (See map.) Wayne's army interpreter was Whitmore Knaggs, who also acted as scout and spy during this campaign , and his younger brother, James Knaggs, only 14 years of age, was also a scout, spy and soldier. Both fought in this engagement. Col. John Francis Hamtramck, afterward the first United States cammondant of Detroit in 1796, commanded a wing of Wayne's army, and the plan of battle was conceeived by Lieut. William Henry Harrison, afterward a military hero in the war of 1812, and elected president of the United States in 1840.

The opposing army was so completely routed that the Indians lost heart. They took refuge in and around Fort Miami, and could not be forced to come out in the field again. The trading posts of George Knaggs and Col. McKee were destroyed by Wayne's troops, and they also took refuge in the fort. The Indians were persued to within a pistol shot of the fort, whereupon Maj. Wm. Campbell, who had succeeded Capt. Caldwell as commandant, sent a peppery protest to Wayne, who retorted in kind. The paper warfare is amusing reading at this day. Wayne had orders to capture and demolish Fort Miami, but it was too stronh for his force, and he prudently forebore. The defeat, however, had completely demoralised the Indians, and the surrender of detroit was practically insured. Gov. Simcoe, hoping against hope, had a fleet of gunboats built at Chatham, and strengthened the fort at Detroit, but it was labor lost. Finally Fort Miami, on the Maumee, and Fort Lernoult, at Detroit, were evacuated by the British, and were occupied by American troops under the command of Col. John Francis Hamtramck, on the same day, July 11 1796. Col. Hamtramck left Maumee, and arrived in Detroit on the 13th.

Whitmore Knaggs' feelings were most likely somewhat hurt when his father's store was destroyed by the American troops, as he probably had a large interest in the goods and property, but he considered it as the fortune of war. In all probability his father was a British sympathiser, and the destruction of his property was an act of reprisal which his son could not resent. It was plain, however, to both father and son, that the Maumee valley was ruined for business purposes for some time. So the elder Knaggs removed to Detroit and started in business there. He had be preceded to the same place by his son George, but whether they became partners in business is not known. George had been there for several years, and stood so well with the authorities that he had been appointed magistrate, and had married into an old French family in 1795. The elder Knaggs did not profit by the change. He bought his goods from long established firms, but did not succeed in getting trade. He was over 60, and had not the vogor to achieve success in a new field, and he finally lost health, and died, perhaps in 1797, one year after the American occupation. The word "perhaps" is used in speaking of the timeof his death, as Mrs May Stocking Knaggs, of Bay City, states in a paper published in the Michigan Historical and Pioneer Collection of 1890, that the first Knaggs left his family some time prior to 1812, went to the seabord and shipped on a whaling voyage, from which he never returned. Mrs Keysor, of Maumee, O., who is the widow of George B. Knaggs, grandson of George Knaggs, 1st, isputes this, however, and states her belief that he died at the old home of the family on the Maumee.

As a matter of fact, however, the time of his death is attested by a document in the Wayne county probate court, in which it is recorded that John Askin, administrator of the estate of George Knaggs, Sr., gave a bond of $500 to Probate Judge George McDougall, on Aug. 23 1797. Another document shows that the "produce" of the estate, which was returned to the same tribunal on Feb 21 1798, was valued at £104 4s 7d. being all personal property. The creditors were George Meldrum, George Sharp, Meldrum & Park and John Askin, all Detroit merchants, and the money owing to them aggregated £1,644 19s 8d. leaving a net loss of £1,540 15s 1d, of which John Askin's individual loss was over £1,200. The £104 and small change was of course divided amongst the creditors, who thus secured an Irish dividend.

But the above documents do not conclusively prove that the progenitor of the family died in Detroit. At that time Wayne county included all of what is now the state of Michigan, and also parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. The Maumee valley was then in Wayne county. The probate court records do not state that he died at Detroit. So that he may have died at his old home, or in what is now Monroe county, or he might have gone on the whaling voyage and never returned, and his estate could have been administored after a certain number of years had elapsed. It is probably that the exact truth will never be known.

There is no doubt that Progenitor George Knaggs' wife also came to Detroit before the British evacuation of 1796. Jame W. Knaggs told the writer of this article in 1893 that the store and dwelling of his grandparents were within the stockade of this city. But it is certain that they came after their store and buildings on the Maumee were destroyed by Wayne's troops in 1794. Between that date and the appointment of John Askin as administrator of the estate of George Knaggs Sr., in 1797, only three short years had elapsed, and it is almost certain that their commercial career in Detroit was during that time. The American State Papers show that Rachel Knaggs, in 1808, preferred her claim before the United States land board, as owner of 275 arpents, being 2 3/4 x 100 arpents fronting on the Raisin, in rear by unlocated lands, above by lands of Giles Barnes and below by lands of Thomas Knaggs, her son. A reliable witness swore that, previous to July 1, 1793, he saw her in possession of the premises, house, store, stables etc., and about 12 arpents cultivated. The United States land board thereupon allowed the claim, and issued to her certificate 516 on Dec. 16 1808. The above showed that she had put an anchor to windward before her husband went into trade elsewhere, and proves the statement that she was a prudent, level-headed business woman. The records also state that she was a taxpayer on the Raisin in 1802. Events show that her husband was not possessed of these desirable qualities. Mrs May Stocking Knaggs, of Bay City, whose husband is a great-grandson of George Knaggs and Rachel Sly, has in her possession a parchment bearing the signatures of James Madison, president, and James Monroe, secretary of state, dated May 30 1811, granting to Rachel Knaggs 259 acres on the north side of the Raisin. This is probably a petent of the same property, as 275 arpents are about equl to 259 acres.

Before she died she went through a harrowing experience at Frenchtown. After the battle of the Raisin, on Jan 22 1813, in which Proctor defeated the American force under General Winchester, and permitted the Indians to massacre the Kentucky and other troops who had been taken prisoners, she showed her humanity by hiding a citizen under a hogshead from the Indians, who were seeking to kill him. Gen. Proctor heard of her and ordered her to leave town. It was a bitter cold day and she was 80 years of age. The British general knew that she was the mother of several sons who were enemies of Great Britain, and with unmanly spite he commanded her to go to Detroit. Lossing, the historian, tells of her journey as follows: "Thinly clad, having been robbed by the Indians, she proceeded to Detroit in an open traineau, where she found several friends and relatives. Her daughter Elizabeth, wife of John Anderson, of Monroe, also went to Detroit with her three children, believing it was safer there than at Monroe. When Mrs Rachel Knaggs was asked how it happened that she did not freeze, she replied 'My spunk kept me warm'."

She subsequently returned to her home in Frenchtown, but afterward removed to her farm on the Raisin, some seven miles above Monroe. For several years she had a store at Green Bay. Wis., to which place she paid periodical visits. She dealt in furs principally, and was also a large dealer in bears' oil, which was much in demand in those days for dressing the hair. By her will, written in French, and dated Dec 4 1813, she gave adjoining farms, each fronting three arpents on the River Raisin, to her sons, Thomas and william Knaggs, with a condition that they pay five dollars each to her daughters, Elizabeth Knaggs Anderson and Rebecca Knaggs, her son, Whitmore Knaggs, and the children of her deceased son, George Knaggs, who died in Detroit in 1809. The balance of her estate was willed to be divided between her sons, William and James. She appointed Gilbert Lacroix as executor. It is certain that she died in 1815, as the will was admitted, and letters of administration issued on July 1 of that year by George McDougall, of Detroit, register. The records do not show where she died, but Mrs Keysor, widow of George Knaggs, of Maumee, says that she died at Green Bay, then in the territory of Michigan, but now in Wisconsin.

Whitmore Knaggs, the most prominent member of the Knaggs family, was a striking and picturesque figure in Detroit at the beginning of the last century. He was a man of magnificent physique, six feet in height, and weighed about 180 pounds, well proportionedm with dark hazel eyes, sandy complexion, and a handsome face, expressive of courage, intellect and audacity. He was always well dressed in civil life, being generally arrayed in a blue coat with brass buttons, a buff-colored vest, a high beaver hat, ruffled shirt, and a black silk handkerchief, a yard square, folded and tied around his kneck.

As already stated, he was the oldest son of George Knaggs and Rachel Sly, and was born at Maumee in 1763. Much of his early history has been related in the general history of the family, including the fact that he received in 1784 an Indian grant of 4,000 arpents of land on the Maumee, and that he was official interpreter for the United States army, under "Mad" Anthony Wayne, and was present at the battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. He came to Detroit just after it was evacuated by the British in 1796, and was probably holding the same position of United States interpreter which he had held for some 15 years, and also Indian agent. At that time he was 33 years of age and unmarried. He evidently felt at that time that it was not good for a man to be alone, and becoming acquanted with the family of Pierre Descomptes Labadie at their home, which is still standing at the foot of Twenty-fourth street, in Detroit, he fell in love with Josette, one of the comely daughters. They were married at the home of the bride in 1797. The first of the Labadie family, Francois Labadie, came from France to Canada, and married Jeanne hebert in 1671. Mrs Hamlin, the author of "Legends of Le Detroit", says "there was a title of LeCompte in the hebert branch of the family, from which perhaps comes the Des Comptes in the Labadies".

In 1803 he purchased the homestead and farm of Joseph Gaubeille, fronting on the Detroit river, at the mouth of Knaggs creek, for £560 13s 4d or about $2,800. The house was probably built by the first proprietor of the farm, Pierre Drouillard, who purchased the land for £400 in 1783. Drouillard sold it to Joseph Gaubeille in 1803, who sold it to Whitmore Knaggs later in the same year. It fronted 3 1/2 acres on the river, with a deptch of sixty acres, and contained 180.59 acres. It was bounded on the east by the farm of Alexis Campau, and on the west, or lower side, by the farm of Parrish Campau. The title of the land was confirmed by the United States land board in 1807, and is numbered private claim 77. In 1817 he entered the tract in rear of his farm containing 70.36 acres and it was also patented to him and his holding then contained 250.95 acres. In the house on the farm his youngest son, James W. Knaggs was born in 1804, and also his child, Elizabeth, who was born eight years later in 1812. The elder children were Peter Whitmore Knaggs, George B. Knaggs and John Knaggs - five in all. His house was about a quarter of a mile below the Labadie homestead, which is one of the historical houses of detroit. The farm and homestead was subsequently owned by the late bela Hubbard, and is now a part of the estate, except those portions which have been sold.

The mouth of Knaggs creek, which at that time was about 300 feet wide, came up within a few yards of the house. At the mouth there was about three acres of wild oats growing in the water, which attracted multitudes of wild ducks and millions of blackbirds. James W. Knaggs once said that he shot hundreds of these blackbirds in one day when he was a little boy. Every year, according to his accounts, colonies of muskrats would establish their habitations in the same place, so that there was abundance of sport for the family at their own door.

Knaggs creek, like the Savoyard and May's creek, does not exist any more. It rose a little north of what is now West Fort street, west of McKinstry avenue, and ran in a southeasterly direction, across Fort street and Clark avenue, crossing the Wabash railroad tracks at Swain avenue, and emptying into the Detroit river about 150 feet east of the foot of Swain avenue. The mouth of the creek was still there in 1897, and it was spanned by a bridge. The Swain avenue sewer was constructed in that year and was built on a pile foundation under the Wabash tracks, and ran down Swain avenue to the river. The bed and mouth of the river were then filled in, and the bridge removed, and Knaggs creek became one of the lost waters of Detroit. The Knaggs homestead was on what is now the northwest corner of Swain avenue and River street. The cellar of the house was filled in with lime and building refuse, which did not encourage the growth of vegetation, and the ground plan of the historic habitation is still (1901) to be seen.

A sketch of the Knaggs house appears on page 8. A description of it was read before the Michigan Historical and Pioneer society by Bela Hubbard in 1872 as follows: "The Knaggs house was for several years my own residence. It consisted of two parts - one a low structure of a single story, with an attic, and containing two rooms and a pantry. It is of unknown age, and like the Cass house, bears marks of Indian outrages. The other portion is of comparatively modern date, and consists of three considerable rooms, separated by a central hall. It has a second half story, with dormer windows, and also windows in the gable, and is throughout well furnished. The front door is umbraged by a square portico, which had seats and commanded a delightful lookout upon the river on its immediate front. Both parts of the mansion are built of squared pine timber, clapboarded. The newer portion had, when I took possession, a coat of paint, white in front, red in rear. If there had ever been paint on the older portion it had long disappeared. The panes of glass throughout all the windows were a curiosity, being of a size entirely disused, and no longer sold by dealers - six and a half by seven and a half inches."

About 1815, just after the close of the war, Whitmore Knaggs built a windmill in front of his farm. on a point or small cape that projected a short distance into the Detroit river. The miller was a Frenchman named Soica who was kept pretty busy grinding the corn, wheat, buckwheat and other grain of the neighboring farmers. The mill was torn down in 1858. There were about a dozen other windmills on both side of the river, forming picturesque features in the landscape, but the gradual introduction of steam drove them all out of existence before the war of the rebellion.

Between 1803 and 1812, in summer time, dozens of elm bark Indian canoes could be seen lying on the beach in front of the house, while their owners would be talking with Whitmore Knaggs. Although the revolutionary war resulted in placing the Indians under two flags, a large majority of them clung to the British government. The general reason for this state of affairs was twofold. One was that the British did not disturb the Indians in their lands, but left them alone to catch fur animals, which were purchased from them and sold at big profits, and the other was that the British were quite liberal in giving them presents. The Americans with whom they mostly were in contact were cultivators of land, and their increasing number circumscribed the extent of the Indian hunting grounds, while neither the new government nor its citizens could afford to give the Indians expensive presents. The Ottawas and Chippewas, who resided in Michigan, and the Pottawatomies and Wabash Indians, who lived beyond the Mississippi, came twice a year to Fort Malden, at Amherstburg, 17 miles below, on the opposite of the Detroit river, to receive blankets, brass kettles, rifles, tomahawks, beads, powder, shot, calicoes, and other presents from Col. Matthew Elliot, the British Indian agent. Nearly every canoe load of Indians going down the river to Amherstburg on these occaisions would call on Whitmore Knaggs and shake his hand. His Indian name was Debendon, of which the meaning will be described further on. Knaggs could converse with everybody he met. If a priest or learned man called, he could speak in Latin. He also spoke English, French and Dutch, and could talk the Indian dialects of the Shawnees, Wyandottes, delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas and Pottawatomies. His duties besides interpreter included the supervision of supplies, rations and arms for the Indians from the Government store. This position he held up to the war of 1812.

The western Indians who came by canoe and portage on the streams that traverse Michigan, would abandon their canoes when they left for home, so that anybody on the river could get a canoe for nothing. After getting their resents at Amherstburg the Indians would call into Whitmore's house again to make their further wants known. He would be in attendance at the government store in Detroit nearly every day, and would deal out presents, which however, were not so numerous or valuable as those given by the British.

Gov. William Hull, who lived in Detroit from 1805 until he surrendered it to the British in 1812, was a frequent visitor at the Knaggs house. At one visit he came with Mrs Hull and stayed for three days. The rooms for guests which Hull and his wife occupied, were on the left of the door, which can be seen in the picture of the house. He was subject to sick headache and weak eyes, for which his physicians had prescribed bleeding. Hearing that there were plenty of leaches in the shallow gulleys in the upper part of Knaggs creek, he requested the boys to get him some. James W. said that he and his brothers got him about a dozen in a tin kettle, and Hull applied them to his head with his own hands. Gov. Lewis Cass and William Woodbridge, his secretary, afterward governor and United States senator, would also frequently call at the house. Tecumesh and his brother, the Prophet, also called several times, and Whitmore Knaggs was well acquanited with them both, as well as other distinguished Indians.

Knaggs's Indian name, Debendon, was bestowed on account of an incident. The Indians were not very scrupulous about appropriating things within their reach, and had a decided penchant for horseflesh. When Knaggs would see an Indian mounted on a horse that was not an Indian pony, it was prima facia evidence that it had been stolen. He would go up to the savage, lay his hand on the horse and say: "De bend on." ("That is mine.") He would then put the horse in his stable or in safe keeping until he found the owner. A repetition of the incident earned him his Indian nickname. Like all strong men he had many bitter enemies as well as warm friends, among both the white and red men.

When Michigan was organised into a separate territory in 1805, congress provided that the rulers should consist of a governer and three judges. The governer appointed was William Hull, and the judges were Augustus B. Woodward, John Griffin and Fred Bates. Bates was succeded by several persons, but Woodward, as chief justice, and Griffin, as associate judge, held their positions until 1823. Hull had been an officer in the war of the revolution, and was generaly considered as a brave soldier, but had never held a separate command. The judges were three needy lawyers who were appointed by President Jefferson. The four comprised the executive, legislative and judicial government of the territory, and the legislature was allowed to adopt any law in force in any of the states of the Union. The judges, sitting as a court, would sometimes discover that no lawhad been passed which would be applicable to the case in hand. They would then adjourn as a court, convene as a legislature, pass a law to suit the emergency, and adjourn; reassemble as a court and render verdicts accordingly. They were always quarreling among themselves, and their decisions and action as a court, legislature and land board were frequently outrageous travesties of justice. The virtual ruler of the territory was Woodward, who was an able lawyer, but eccentric and placidly arrogant to an incredible degree.

One of the first actions of Gov. Hull was to organise the militia of the territory into two regiments and a legionary corps. Judge Woodward, although he had no military training, was appointed colonel of the First regiment, and one of the captains was Whitmore Knaggs. The second regiment was commanded by Col. John Anderson of Frenchtown (Monroe), who was the husband of Whitmore's sister Elizabeth; one of the Lieutenants was Thos. Knaggs, and one of the ensigns James Knaggs, both brothers of Whitmore. Hull was a thrifty individual who would be called a boodler at the present day. He issued orders prescribing expensive uniforms, and bought the cloth, trimmings, etc., to sell to the officers and men at a profit to himself. Some of the officers bought the uniforms at Hull's figures, but the privates were too poor, and they would not. But Hull persisted and threatened punishments to everybody who would not get the uniform, and in 1806, the grand jury protested against his conduct in this particular. The militia could not buy the prescribed uniforms, and their Saturday drills were a ludicrous farce.

Whitmore Knaggs had seen too much actual warfare to care about playing soldiers in such puerile style, and he only obeyed orders in a perfunctory manner. He had good business sagacity, and when it had become apparent that Great Britain would be dispossessed of her western territory, had been for years acquiring land for himself and his brothers and sisters, as well as his immediate family.

The records show that in 1808 he secured for his younger brother William three pieces of land, 320, 600 and 360 arpents respectively, on the River Raisin, the titles of which were confirmed by the United States land court in that year. Also 380 arpents on the Raisin for his brother Thomas; 100 arpents on the Raisin for his brother James, and several tracts for himself, one of which was 800 acres, on the same stream. Some of the above tracts were grants from the Indians. In the same year he sold 600 arpents of his 4,000 arpents on the Maumee for $1,000. He also sold an extensive tract of land near what is now Fort Wayne, Ins., to Robert M Eberts, of Detroit, father of the Eberts brothers, and also managed several other deals for himself and his immediate family, which will hereafter be related.

In 1811 he had a difficulty with Judge Woodward, the chief justice, which was probably caused by some absurd, outrageous or tyrannical decision of the latter, and he proceeded to pummel the judge in the public streets, thus going one better that Abraham Lincoln in attacking the judiciary. The records show that Augustus B. Woodward made formal complaint to himself "that Whitmore Knaggs, one of the interpreters for the United States for one of the tribes of savages commonly called Cheboys or Chippeways, in custody of a plea for trespass, for that the said defendent, on the 10th day of June, 1811, at Detroit, with force of arms, to wit: with clubs, etc., assaulted said plaintiff and did then and there strike and wound and other enormities commit against the peace and dignity of the United States of America, and to the damage of said plaintiff twenty thousand dollars, whereof he brings suit." Following this came a formal order for the arrest of Whitmore, issued by Judge Griffin, who was Woodward's henchman and tool, and directed to the United States marshal of the territory, John Anderson. Whitmore was accordingly arrested, and Woodward actually tried him himself and made him give bonds to keep the peace.

This decision excited universal indignation in the little town, and was made a part of the charge of the grand jury of the territory in the following september. The foreman of the jury was Dr. Stephen Henry, a leading physician, and the other jurors were George Cotterall, James Conner, George McDougall, J. Farrell, Jacob Visger, John Anderson, J. B. Beaugrand, David Beard, T. Eastman, Henry Berthlet, Chabert De Joncaire, John Dodomead, Samuel T. Dyson, M. Seinger and Josiah Brady. The panel, like many of its predecessors and successors during the reign of the governor and judges, were no respecters of persons. One part of its charge was a virtual indictment of Judge Woodward himself. It alleged that he had Whitmore Knaggs arrested and brought before him on a charge of assault and battery on himself, when there were two other judges of the supreme court who might have been called in to try the case. Also that he had called up the case in court without giving notice to Knaggs and adjudged that he should give $1,500 bonds to keep the prace. This was done without acquainting Knaggs or his attorney of the hearing of the case. For these and other reasons the jury conceived that the conduct of Judge Woodward was "unprecedented, unwarrantable, arbitrary and tyrannical, and tending to prostrate the sacred barriers which the wisdom of our laws have erected against encroachments on the liberty of the citizen".

Against this fulmination Judge Woodward interposed an ingenious plea, in which he admitted the facts of his action, and then proceeded to argue that "a judge was a conservator of the public peace, and always in the execution of his office, and the law arms him with power for the protection of others and also himself. Even words of threatening and abuse toward him in relation to his public duties are regarded in the same light as an assault". He contended that the proceedings were public, but that the parties did not wish to be present, and he did not deem it proper to coerce them. "Therefore an act of benevolence is not to be construed as an act of oppression" He also cited a similar assault committed upon him by Capt. John Whipple, for which the latter was fined by the supreme court, but did not add that Gov. Hull had remitted the fine, probably because the jurymen and everybody in town knew it.

From his intimate knowledge of the Indian temper and modes of thought,as well as the exasperation caused by the British insistence of the right to search of United States vessels for deserters, it is not surprising that Whitmore Knaggs foresaw the war between the two countries in 1812-15, and that the conflict would extend over the region in which he was born and reared. He learned enough of Tecumesh's plans and intrigues to know that the red men would aid Great Britain in the bloody fratricidal strife, and being a husband and father, as well as a man of property, he foresaw and dreaded the horrors that would attend a warfare in which Indians were a part of the British army. He also realised the immense influence that Tecumesh wielded over his fellow savages. In the minds of the red men that chieftain was a Moses who would yet give them the promised land - the hunting grounds of their fathers. To the Indians the comet of 1811 which traversed the midnight sky, and left behind a fiery blood red track, was Tecumesh's right arm, stretched forth to protect his race and punish their enemies. The earthquakes of the same year in the valleys of the Missouri and the Mississippi were the tread of the great Shawnee's foot on his way to the Detroit.

Whitmore Knaggs knew all these things, and he frequently warned Gov. Hull and other prominent citizens of what he saw in the future. At one time, when Hull was on a visit to his home and friends in Masachusetts, Knaggs wrote him a letter, in which he expressed these forebodings. Gov. Hull's answer was from Newton, Mass., at which place he died in 1825, and was dated Dec. 17, 1811, eight months before the surrender of Detroit:

"Dear Sir - It is now a little month since we finished our long journey and arrived at this, our old mansion. Our journey was pleasant, and we are in good health. I am not without concern on account of your situation. I regret now, under the existing circumstances, that I am not with you. If you are to have difficulties, I could wish to share them with you. I fear two circumstances will render the Indians troublesome. One is what has taken place on the Wabash,with Gov. Harrison, and the Prophet; the other is the prospect of war with England. I hope, however, for the best, and know that the secretary, with your aid and assistance, will do all in his power to preserve peace and tranquility. God grant you success. What the state of things will be, or how soon or when I shall be with you, I know not, at present. My heart is certainly with you, and you have my best prayers for your safety and happiness.

"Congress has now taken the most decided ground. The question is now brought to a point. England must do us justice or war will follow. Remember me with affection to all of my friends, and assure them of my constant solicitude for their safety, and that I have, and shall continue to do, all in my power to promote it.

"I am very sincerely, your friend and most obedient servant.
"WILLIAM HULL"

Of the shameful surrender of Detroit by Gen. Hull, it is unnecessary to speak. Whitmore Knaggs was present at the engagement at Monguagon, just below Detroit, before the surrender. He was a brave man, and like all the American officers, looked with contempt on Hull on the day of surrender. The latter, who chewed tobacco, was rushing about the fort, with his ruffled shirt front and white cravat besmeared with tobacco spittle in his excitement and fright.

The British policy was to deport the American citizens and sympathisers, and allow the French inhabitants to remain in the city and prosecute their business or avocations. Capt. Antoine Dequindre of Detroit, who led a company of French inhabitants at the battle of Monguagon, below Detroit, just before the surrender, and helped to defeat a body of British and Indians under Maj. Muir and Tecumesh, was even allowed to attend to his store on Jefferson avenue, and the members of his company were all permitted to return to their homes. Whitmore Knaggs, who had married a French wife, was included in the same category, but was confined for a short time, and was then set at liberty. He was then allowed by Proctor to leave Detroit, on his representation that he had official business at Washington, where money was due him. He then departed, taking with him his eldest son, Peter Whitmore Knaggs, 14 years of age.

Just before the surrender his wife and children went through exciting scenes near their home, down the river. Whitmore had removed his silverware and valuable furniture and effects to the home of Reuben Attwater, secretary of the territory, in Detroit, and Mrs Knaggs, after securing a number of blankets and other articles of immediate necessity, removed with the younger children to the residence of Fr. Gabriel Richard, pastor of Ste. Anne's church, which was three quarters of a mile up the river, and nearer Detroit. As the church had been removed to a new location, which has escaped the notice of the general historian, it may well be described at this point.

In 1812 Ste. Anne's church was located near the Knaggs farm. The church and its pastor had led a migratory existance, after the former was burned on Jefferson avenue in the great fire of 1805. Farmer's history of Detroit says that after the fire services were held for a short time in a tent pitched on the commons. Services were held for four years afterward in Meldrum warehouse on the dock. As early as Jan. 1 1809, the services were held on the Spring Hill farm, now known as private claim 30, in Springwells township, on the river road, about half a mile above the present grounds of Fort Wayne. The farm had been taken by the government on a debt, due from a defaulting official, and Fr. Richard paid the rent. He was sued for a portion of the rent in 1811, and petitioned the president to remit it, and was successful. A letter from the comptroller's office in the United States treasury department at Washington, signed by G. Duvall, addressed to Reuben Attwater, collector of the port of Detroit, and dated July 24, 1811, is as follows:

"Sir - A letter from the Rev. Gabriel Richard to the president of the United States, has been submitted to this department. You are to credit Mr. Richard for improvements and repairs on the Spring Hill farm, sometimes called the Ernest Farm, to the amount of the rent due from him for the occupation of the farm. The secretary of the treasury informs me that this is consistent with the promise made him by the late president and secretary of war, and that, in fact, it is founded on justrice."

But later in the same year he removed his church to a point nearer the city. The new location, described by Richard R. Elliott of Detroit, was on the front of the Stanton farm, on the river road, between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, if those thoroughfares were extended to the river. It was on or near the site of the lower grain elevator of the Michigan Central railroad, opposite the foot of Stanton street, and a mile and three-quarters below the foot of Woodward avenue. On the property was a large frame warehouse, probably used for storing furs and Indian supplie, and also several smaller buildings, which Fr. Richard remodelled for church and school use. The warehouse was fitted up as a church, and surmounted by a cross. Other buildings were the priest's residence; an academy for young ladies, which was provided with the chemical apparatus available at that time for teaching chemistry; a school for young men and one for primary education, which were probably under one roof; and a technical school for the education of Indian girls on housework, spinning and sewing. In the latter were a dozen or more spinning wheels. In the church was a good organ, which Fr. Richard had imported from France a few months before, together with a competent musician, who played at all religious ceremonies up to the time of tha capture of Detroit.

It is almost certain that Fr. Richard's printing press, the first ever brought to Detroit, was also on the church premises at this time. It printed at least one edition og the first newspaper in Detroit, the "Michigan Essay or Impartial Observer", on Aug 31 1809, and was to be published every Thursday. When Detroit was captured by the British in 1812, the articals of capitulation were printed on the press. There did not seem to be enough type of the font used to set up that document and Gen. Brock's name was spelled "Broke".

The organ was afterward repaired and used at the new Ste. Anne's church, on Larned street, near Bates street, until 1834, at which time it was superseded by a new one, which was built by Schwab of Cincinnati, who was brought to Detroit by Bishop Rese for that purpose. The old organ was presented to Trinity church, then at the northwest corner of Bates street and Cadillac square, in the spring of 1835, and was used there until that church was removed to the corner of Porter and Sixth streets in 1849. It was then probably presented to some rural catholic church.

The main body of the British troops crossed the river at Springwells, and marched up the river on the American side on the morning of Aug 16, 1812, the day of the surrender, while another body lay at what is now Windsor, on the Canadian side of the Detroit river, opposite Detroit.

Gen. Brock was on the American side at the head of his troops. Proctor followed with his commands, which included Techumesh's Indian contingent. The latter plundered every farm house on the river as they passed. The Knaggs house was broken open, the windows smashed, the interior of the rooms and furniture hacked with tomohawks, and the cattle and horses driven away. At Ste. Anne's church they broke into the edifice and finding nothing to rob, pulled down the wooden pipes of the organ and tooted on them to their heart's content.

Fr. Richard stood in the roadway as Gen. Proctor rode up, and the latter said to him:
"Leave your doors and windows open. You need not fear; you will not be disturbed."

At this moment Mrs Knaggs was hidden under a bed in the school room, which Fr. Richard had fitted up for the use of the refugees. Mrs Knaggs held her youngest child, Elizabeth, in her arms. Mary, her colored slave, was in the room, and so were a good many other children, and also the preceptress, Sister Lickette Campau, sister of Alexis Campau, who owned the farm adjoining the Knaggs farm on the east. The Knaggs children - George, aged 12; John, aged 10; and James W., aged 8 - and some other children were upstairs in a room, which was locked. Sister Campau, hearing some of them crying, went up, knocked on the door, and said: "Keep quiet, children." Several Indians came upstairs and looked out of the windows to see if any American soldiers were in sight on the commons. They were assured by the sister that none were there, and they went down again.

Some old French farmers came to the church, and one named Roulo was very much excited. He said to Fr. Richard: "My God, the country is sold." The priest raised his hand and said: "Shut your mouth, Roulo, or you will make trouble."

A few cannon shots were fired into the town from Windsor about this time, but the siege ended by the brother of Hull displaying a white flag from the ramparts, which was done by order of Gen. Hull. He had been drinking and was quite tipsy at the time. He asked an American officer to aid him in puting up the flag, but the latter refused, saying: "I wouldn't touch that rag." The British army, which was then close to Detroit, went inside the palisades without opposition and captured the town.

The tradition of the family is that Mrs Knaggs was annoyed by the Indians afterwards and on applying to Proctor for protection, was allowed a block house for temporary quarters. She then removed with her four children to the house of her father, Pierre Descomptes Labadie, where she was married 13 years before, and where she remained until her husband's return. At first, dreading the Indians, who often murdered infants and children in warfare, she thought to lessen the danger by dressing her sons, George and John, in girsl' clothing. Both were deeply incensed at this and George said he wouldn't stand for it; that he would rather die, so Josette took off the petticoats and gave them short pantaloons again.

According to Whitmore Knaggs's Written account, he went to Washington to get money due him and settle his accounts with the government. He then returned, and was on his way home, when he came up to Gen. Winchester's army at Frenchtown, now a part of Monroe. Frenchtown was then a flourishing settlement of about 150 souls. Each house was surrounded by gardens or orchards, which were enclosed by heavy pickets, called puncheons, made of saplings, split in two. It was occupied by a force of 200 Canadian militia and 400 Indians under Col. Matthew Elliott, since Aug 18, 1812, two days after the surrender of Detroit. The Indians plundered and maltreated the inhabitants, and they implored Gen. Winchester, then at Defiance, O., to aid them. He sent Col. Lewis with 700 men, who attacked Elliott's command on Jan 18, 1813, and drove them away northward to Brownstown. The American loss was 12 killed and 55 wounded; the British loss was fully double.

Gen. Winchester arrived the next day and took command. As Amherstburg was only 18 miles away, on the other side of the Detroit river, it behooved him to be cautious, and he consulted a French resident named Jacques La Salle. The latter was the husband of an Indian woman and had at least two children. His daughter, a beautiful girl, had married an English officer named Colwel, and his son, by the same squaw, was Blue Jacket, a Shawnee chief. La Salle, of course was devoted to the British cause, and he assured Winchester that Proctor would not dare to attack him. Winchester, nevertheless, sent Peter Navarre, one of Harrison's scouts, to reconnoitre the enemy. Navarre discovered that Proctor was preparing to return soon, snd so informed Winchester. But La Salle told Winchester that it was not so, and then, it is said, dispatched an Indian to Amherstburg with a message to Proctor, telling him that Winchester could be easily defeated. Winchester unfortunately believed La Salle.

Gen. Winchester was a revolutionary soldier, a Kentuckian, old, fat, fussy, aristocratic and opionated. He took no particular pains and did not prepare for any attempted surprise. His soldiers, largely Kentuckians, and wearing the attractive uniform of that state - hunting shirts with red belts, blue pantaloons with red facings and coonskin caps - were quartered in tents; the officers were quartered at the houses of the inhabitants, and Gen. Winchester's headquarters were at the house of Francis Navarre, an American officer. Whitmore Knaggs put up at the residence of his brother, James, whose house was on the Raisin, above Monroe.

Two days after the British repulse, Proctor crossed from Amherstburg on the ice, which was four feet thick, joined the troops that were driven out of Frenchtown and moved down on the American force with 500 white soldiers, 600 Indians under Tecumesh, and four cannon. At 4 o'clock on the morning of Jan 22, he bombarded the American camp, taking Gen. Winchester by surprise. There is no necessity for describing the battle, as it belongs to history. The American force was cut to pieces. It was not a battle but a massacre. Proctor allowed the Indians to scalp and kill the prisoners, and all the bodies were stripped, robbed and mutilated. The news created intense excitement all through the Union, especially in Kentucky, and the war cry of the soldiers from that state afterward was "Remember the Raisin!" When the remaining prisoners reached Amherstburg, the Indians commenced to kill them too, but were stopped bu Tecumesh. They were confined in a stockade, and the great Shawnee walked 'round the enclosure all night, smoking his pipe-tomahawk, and prevented any more murders.

Gen. Winchester and Whitmore Knaggs escaped, together for a time. Whitmore was afoot, but Winchester insisted that he should get up behind him on his horse. The two rode down the Raisin on the ice toward the bay at its mouth. While on their way a party of seven mounted Indians intercepted them.

"What shall we do?" said Winchester.

"What can we do but surrender." said Knaggs.

As they approached Knaggs recognised among them Jack Brandy, a Wyandotte chief, and George Blue Jacket, a Shawnee chief. The latter, as stated before, was a brother-in-law of Colwell, the British officer.

My friend Knaggs, you are my prisoner." said Brandy, with an oath.

At the same time Gen. Winchester drew his sword and handed it to Blue Jacket, saying: "I make you a present of my sword."

Winchester also handed over to him his pair of pistols. Blue Jacket afterward presented them to Capt. William Caldwell of Amherstburg, Ont., and they are now in the possession of his grandson, of the same name, at Amherstburg. They have wooden stocks extending to the muzzle, and are of London make.

They were taken back toward Proctor's headquarters. Knaggs had befriended Blue Jacket in former years and the latter was much attached to him. On the way they were stopped by Indians who had a grudge against Knaggs, and seemed determined to kill him, but Brandy interposed and told them to desist. Judge B. F. H. Witherell tells the story of this incident as follows: "They pressed on, however, and, as a last resort, the brave fellow siezed Knaggs around the waist, kept his own body between him and the enemy, and kept whirling around, and so prevented the oft-repeated blows of the tomahawk and war club from taking effect on the victim's head, until he succeded in getting him to the midst of a number of horses that were harnessed together. Here the bloodthirsty savages struck at Knaggs's legs; he however, avoided the blows until a British officer interposed and saved him."

James W. Knaggs, son of Whitmore Knaggs, tells the same story, but adds that "Blue Jacket became provoked and shot the Indian, who fell a corpse on the ice."

Taken before Gen. Proctor, the latter treated him with much discourtesy. He knew Knaggs by reputation, and he had him handcuffed and taken on a traineau, or little sleigh, to Amherstburg, where he was lodged in jail. Francois Baby was at that time a man of station and consequence on the Canadian side of the river, and was a great friend of Knaggs. When Baby heard that he was a prisoner he went to Proctor and procured his release on parole, and Knaggs stayed three days at his house as a guest. Proctor, however, took the precaution of stationing a squad of soldiers at the house. Blue Jacket had his young son taken to his mother at Detroit.

Of course, Mrs Knaggs was speedily informed by her husband of his situation and she immediately sent a letter to judge Woodward to come and see her that evening, which was Jan 24, 1813. He came, and not withstanding his difficulty with Whitmore in June 1811, he promised to do all he could to aid her, and he kept his word. The judge, accompanied by Mrs Knaggs and her children, went down to Amherstburg in a sleigh, and she saw her husband in Baby's house. It was an affecting meeting, as there was a question whether Whitmore, after he left Detroit, had broken his parole not to fight against the British. If it could be proved that he had broken it, he would certainly be hanged. When this was learned, Mrs Knaggs and Mrs Baby and the children all wept in agony and distress.

Knaggs traced the statement that he had broke his parole to Col. Francis Navarre, who, it is said, informed Proctor that he had fought against the British at the raisin. He was taken with Winchester and other persons to Montreal, and finally to Quebec, where he lay in jail for 10 months. He wrote a letter from his prison addressed to Sir George Prevost, the general commanding the British forces, under date of May 24, 1813, which commenced: "May it please your excellency."

He stated that he was a captain of militia under Col. Brush, and also superintendant of Indian affairs, and that when Gen. Hull surrendered Detroit, the Indians considerably destroyed his house and plundered him of personal property to upwards of $12,000. "Even then they sought after me and my family to put us to death." he said. He then got permission from Commandant Proctor to leave Detroit, and with others chartered a vessel and sailed to Presque Isle (near Erie, Pa.). Then he went from there to Washington to receive monies due, but was disappointed. Returning home with his little son Peter Whitmore Knaggs, then 15 years of age, he reached his birthplace and former home, below the Maumee rapids, and found that settlement all destroyed and no friends nearer than the Raisin (Frenchtown), where his mother and sister lived. While passing there he fell in with Gen. Winchester and his army, not knowing it was there, on its way to Frenchtown. He then proceeded to the home of his brother (James) who lived a mile higher up the river from where the advance of the army then lay. Being on his way to his home, wife and children, he never thought of joining the army, but next morning early Winchester's troops were attacked and beaten by Gen. Proctor. After the defeat he was taken prisoner, "although I had no concern whatever with the army, nor in any way connected or employed by it." Since that time, he said he had been kept a close prisoner, and removed from Montreal to the Quebec prison, where he was accused of having broken his parole. This accusation he strenuously denied, and asked that Gen. Winchester and some of his officers, then also prisoners, should be allowed to prove his innocence. He also asked that he "be set free from his painful disgrace and confinement, and that he be permitted to return home to his afflicted wife and unfortunate children."

Gen. Sir George Prevost allowed Gen. Winchester to testify in Knaggs's behalf, and two days afterward he received a certificate from Winchester to the effect that "Whitmore Knaggs, captured at the River Raisin on the 22nd day of January, 1813, did not belong to the United States army, and was not under any command or control."

But Winchester's certificate did not procure the release of Whitmore Knaggs. Proctor, who had been promoted to brigadier-general, sent a letter, dated at Sandwich, July 13, 1813, to Col. Brenton, for the information of Sir George Prevost, in which he stated that Knaggs left Detroit as a prisoner under parole (as those taken under the command of Gen. Hull had done), and "notwithstanding the certificate of Brig.-Gen. Winchester, he came in arms with the American forces to Frenchtown, and was taken prisoner near the scene of action, from which he had run off on the defeat of his people in January last. "The effrontory of these people equal their want of principle. We have just discovered a deep and well-laid scheme to effect the defection of the Indians. The prisoner, Knaggs, is a violent dangerous man. He twice attempted assasination. I propose sending the particulars for the consideration of his excellency, of the before-mentioned treachery."

Judge Woodward also made a strong and successful effort to save Whitmore Knaggs's life. C. M. Burton, in a paper on Woodward, published in the volume of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collection for 1901, says: "Several defenses were set up by the judge; that Knaggs was ignorant of the meaning of his parole; that if he joined Winchester's army he was induced to violate his parole by those generals; and, finally, that Knaggs was not in arms at the time of his second capture, but a visitor among friends at the River Raison (Frenchtown). He pleaded long and earnestly for the life of a man who, he said, was an ignorant and turbulent man, brought up among savages, among whom he was made a prisoner in early life. Judge Woodward had not forgotten that Knaggs had assaulted him two years before, and that he was tried and fined by the court for the assault, and he related these facts to Proctor in petitioning for his release."

There is no record of any letter sent by Proctor in which he revealed the "particulars" mentioned, and it is possible that he never did. But Woodward's plea, and perhaps some other considerations, saved Whitmore's life. Neither is there any record of his having "twice attempted assasination." or that he was made a prisoner by the savages in early life. In regard to Woodward's plea it is certian that he knew that Knaggs was very far from being an ignorant and turbulent man, or that he was ignorant of the meaning of his parole. He simply used a lawyer's priviledge of making the strongest defence he could, without being troubled about his facts, and he was perfectly successful. Although Whitmore's life was saved, he was kept in the Quebec jail until a general exchange of prisoners of war, late in 1814, and he then returned home.

When Whitmore Knaggs was taken away in 1813 from Amherstburg, with other prisoners, his faithful wife accompanied him. The party proceeded to Fort George, which was built by the British in 1779, and repaired by them in the war of 1812. This fort was situated on the Penobscot bay, in Maine, on the Atlantic coast. Here the prisoners remained for a time, and were then shipped by water to Quebec, and afterwards taken to Halifax.

Mrs Knaggs was allowed the favor of accompanying her husband to Fort George, but not beyond, and she then returned to Detroit. Whether she took her infant child Elizabeth with her on this journey is not known.

The period of 13½ months that Detroit was under British rule, in 1812-13, was a perfect reign of terror. Every prominent man known to be a sympathiser with the Americans was compelled to leave town, with the exception of the municipal and legal officials, who were continued in office by order of Gen. Brock, and the French residents. One of these was Judge Woodward, who deserved praise for opposing Proctor in some of his illegal and inconsistent actions. One of Woodward's objections was that the British commandant violated the treaty of capitulation, by deporting citizens. Proctor's cruel and brutal nature would have led him to deport many more than he did were it not for Woodward's opposition. Proctor, however, winked at the depradations and outrages committed by the Indians in and around Detroit, and these offences ranged from petty thefts to murder. During Whitmore Knaggs's absence, very many persons, soldiers and citizens, women and children, were brought in by the Indians from the frontiers of Ohio. "Poor creatures were they," says Judge Witherell, "some wounded, many sickly, and all nearly naked, bareheaded and barefooted, having been robbed by the Indians. They were the personification of misery and want, compelled to follow their savage captors around the streets in the hope of ransom, and sleeping on the bare ground, in smoky or filthy tents, or under the open sky. The compassion of our citizens was deeply excited, and every effort was made in the power of the plundered and impoverished people to ransom the suffering captives. Mrs Knaggs, among others, parted with blankets and nearly everything that had been saved from the village of her home, to buy the freedom of the prisoners."

Whitmore Knaggs was right in saying that his old home on the Maumee had been desolated by the ravages of war, but the settlement was destined to endure other and bitterer experiences that year. Flushed with the capture of Detroitand his barbarious victory at the Raisin, Proctor now undertook the capture of the Maumee valley. Meanwhile Gov. Meigs, of Ohio, had built a fortified camp on the river about two miles above the site of the old British Fort Miami, and on the opposite bank of the river. It was afterward considerably strengthened and named Fort Meigs, and Gen. Harrison was placed in command. Proctor landed at the site of Fort Miami on April 28, 1813, with a force of about 2,000 Canadian militia and Indians, under Tecumesh. Gen. Clay, of Kentucky, was approaching Fort Meigs with reinforcements and Capt. Leslie Coombs came down the river with a party in a canoe to warn Gen. Harrison. At the point marked on the map, they saw the stars and stripes waving over the fort, but at the same moment a body of Indians fired at them, and they sought safety in flight. Two of Coombs's party were wounded, one mortally, and he returned to Defiance, up the river.

Meanwhile Proctor had commenced to bombard Fort Meigs from the opposite side of the river. The British artillery were very effective, but Harrison neutralised it by erecting large earthworks. Then Proctor got a battery and supporting force across the river, and attacked Fort Meigs on the side and rear. "I will soon smoke the Yankees out of there." he boasted.

Harrison learned that Gen. Clay and Gen. Dudley were coming down the river to his relief, and he ordered them to divide their forces about half a mile above Fort Meigs. One detachment was to cross the river there, and, moving down the bank, attack and capture the British batteries, opposite Fort Meigs, spike the cannon and retreat to the fort. The other was to land on the Fort Meigs side of the river, and fight their way to the fort through the Indians, and capture the cannon. While these attacks were in progress Harrison intended a sally of his own, to disperse or capture the British force on the other side of the river. Clay executed his orders on the early morning of May 4, fighting his way to the fort. Dudley also moved down on the other side of the river, where Maumee City is now situated, and spiked 11 guns without losing a man. Harrison signaled to him from Fort Meigs to come across the river, But Dudley was flushed with his success and pressed on. As he neared Fort Miami the wily Tecumesh saw his opportunity. He sent a body of Indians around to the rear of Dudley's forces, and the successful attack was converted into a terrible defeat. Dudley was killed, Capt. Coombs and his scouts were made prisoners, and of the 800 men in Dudley's command, only 170 escaped across the river to Fort Meigs.

Harrison was indignant at Dudlet for having disobeyed his orders, but how could he censure a man dead? His force in the fort charged the Indians, in the rear, and dispersed them, but Harrison soon saw that their retreat was one of Tecumesh's snares, and he recalled his troops. He then made another sortie with 350 men from Fort Meigs on the enemy's batteries on the same side of the river, drove them away, although 850 strong, spiked their guns, and returned with 43 prisoners.

Proctor was dismayed by these fierce onslaughts, although against one of them he was victorious, and when he learmed that Fort George, on the Niagra river had been captured by the Americans, on May 5, he virtually abandoned the siege of Fort Meigs. After the surrender of Dudley's command, the prisoners were marched down to Fort Miami, and he allowed his officers and the Indians to murder more than 20 of them. Tecumesh, however, stopped the massacre.

Proctor then retreated to Amherstburg, disbanded the Canadian militia, and ordered the Indians to encamp on Caldwell's farm, below the town. He then sent out emissaries, including Simon Girty, to enlist the Indians od the northwest. He was determined he would make no failure the next time he moved on the Maumee valley.

While waiting for the savages to assemble, Tecumesh said to him one day:

"Why not make another try to capture Fort Meigs?"

"We need more troops." said Proctor "You saw what happened last time."

"But I have a plan whereby we could take Fort Meigs easily, even with what men we have now."

How would you manage it?" said the British general.

"This way," said Tecumesh. "I will take my young men down there below the fort, march to the road in the rear, and there make a big fight."

What would that accomplish?" inquired Proctor.

Why, Gen. Harrison would think that one part of our forces were Lonh Knives coming to the fort, and that they were being attacked by my Indians. Then he would come out to help what he thought were his friends. Then we could get between him and the fort, capture him, and take the fort."

Proctor was struck by the ingenuity of the plan, and fitted out another expedition at Amherstburg. He again appeared before Fort Meigs, and on the afternoon of July 25, 1813, the British formed an ambuscade in the ravine, just just below the fort. (See map.)

The Indians then commenced a sham fight behind the fort about sunset. Gen. Clay was then in command. The American officers thought one of the parties was Harrison with reinforcements, who was being attacked by the British, and were anxious to go out to their aid. But Clay was a wary old soldier, and was not deceived. A few cannon balls fell among the sham combatants and the mock battle ended. Proctor and tecumesh were bitterly mortified by the failure of their ruse.

Proctor then made an attack on Fort Stevenson (Sandusky), but was repulsed by Col. Croghan. Beaten and dispirited he returned to Amherstburg on Aug 13, 1813.

But the British were just as determined as ever that they would hold Detroit, and again bring the whole northwest under their dominion. A fleet of war vessels was ordered built at Amherstburg, but another fleet to oppose it was also built by Oliver H Perry at Erie, Pa.

Then came the naval battle of Putin-Bay, on Lake Erie, on Sept 10, 1813, in which for the first time in the world a British fleet was defeated and every ship and man captured. Harrison then landed an army about a mile below Amherstburg and with three of Perry's victorious ships sailing abreast of his army on the Detroit river, marched up to Detroit on the Canadian side. Proctor meanwhile had evacuated Detroit and marched up the Thames. He was followed by Harrison, who defeated him at Moravian town on Oct 5, 1813.

It was on Sept 29, 1813, that an event occurred which made the Labadie homestead famous in the history of Detroit. The house is one of the few existing landmarks in Detroit, and is situated at the northwest corner of River and Twenty-fourth streets, overlooking the Detroit river. Whitmore Knaggs was still in captivity at Quebec, and his half-ruined house at the mouth of Knaggs creek, about a quarter of a mile below the Labadie house, was still untenanted. The latter house, built by Pierre Descomptes Labadie when he purchased the farm in 1781, is constructed of logs, and is about 40 feet wide, with spacious rooms and kitchen. In the steep roof is another habitable story, lighted by dormer windows, and above this is a loft, under the centre of which a man can stand upright, and which is lighted by windows in each gable. Maj. De Payster was the British commandant at the time the house was built, and the young officers of the fort were fond of visiting Labadie, not for himself, but because he had some charming daughters. These visits continued until the British evacuation of Detroit, on June 11, 1796. But the daughters of Pierre did not take to the British gallants, and preferred Americans or those who sympathised with that side. Josette Labadie married Whitmore Knaggs; Marguerite, her twin sister, married James May, judge and merchant, and Monique married Antoin Beaubien, of old family.

But the famous incident connected with the house occurred, as stated, on the day thet Detroit was recaptured. About 2 p.m. on that day, Pierre Decomptes Labadie, with the children and grandchildren of the Knaggs family, were on the lawn in front of the house, gazing at the spectacle. Around them was a band of British Indians, about 300 in number, composed of Pottowattomies, Chippewas and Otawas, who had come out of the forest and were also taking in the sight. Across the river, in full view, they could see the American troops, their bayonets and accoutrements glittering in the sun, marching up the opposite bank to Sandwich. Just then the three American vessels of Perry's fleet hove into view.

Labadie and Mrs Knaggs and her children were standing in front og the Indians, when the former noticed a movement on the foremost vessel. He called out in French (he could not speak English):

"Here, you all get to the back of the house."

They all went back and he further commanded, "Get down on your stomachs." which was obeyed. A puff of smoke came out of the side of the leading vessel, then a loud report, and the scream of iron grape shot. Another gun was discharged, two or three seconds later, and another scream of grape shot. The house was struck at the west side, and two or three balls imbedded in the logs. The Indians immediately broke and ran across the farm to the woods, but they were evidently not much scared, for that very band managed to cross the river, and join the British troops, and were participants in the battle of the Thames, where Proctor was defeated and Tecumesh slain.

Next day the commander of the vessel which had fired the shots came down the river, and spoke to old Labadie. He said he had fired at the Indians, whom he knew to be hostile to the Americans, but had been told afterward that there were white people there. He appeared to be much gratified that no white people had been hurt by the grape shot.

The house afterward became the property of Josiah Dorr, a Detroit business man, who covered the logs with clapboards, and fitted up the interior in elegant style. He sold the farm and house to Mary A. Armstrong in 1848. The farm was then divided, and subsequently the homestead passed through several hands to a gentleman named Bacon. It was subsequently sold to John Newell, who was president of the Michigan Central railroad, for some 14 years. Ira D. Bush, , wife and family, also lived in one half of it, and Mrs Bush attended to the wants of Mr Newell, who was a bachelor. When he died he left his estate to five persons, one of whom was Mrs Bush, who receives the income of one third of it during her lifetime. John A. Bissell is the trustee. The house is now occupied by two families, each of whom pays $5 per month to the estate.

During 1814, although there were no British troops in the vicinity of Detroit, the place was terrorised by prowling Indians, who sometimes drove off the cattle of the settlers. One day in September, Ananias McMillan, with his little son Archie, went out on the commons, where Capitol square is now, to drive home the family cow. He was waylaid and killed by some Indians, who took his scalp. The little boy ran towards home. An Indian mounted on horseback pursued him. The little fellow struck at the horse and the animal swerved. This manouver was repeated several times, and finally the Indian dismounted, seized him and took him away. Gen. Cass called volunteers and 24 leading armed citizens turned out one morning and scoured the surrounding country. They killed several Indians, broke up a camp of the savages on the River Rouge, and returned the same evening. Gen. Cass then wrote to Gen. McArthur in Ohio, and called for aid, and he sent a force of mounted men.

Shortly after the McMillan murder there was a general exchange of prisoners, and Whitmore Knaggs was exchanged and returned home to Detroit. His house was still dismantled, and he stopped for a short time at the Labadie homestead with his wife and family. He was given a royal welcome home, thousands of friends calling at the house to congratulate him and his family. He heard of the killing of McMillan, and immediately took steps to have little Archie, who was held by the Indians for ransom, returned to his home. Other settlers also aided. James Knaggs, his brother, who had been in the vicinity of Detroit for some time, even before the British evacuated the town, discovered the tribe which held Archie in captivity, and captured three of its members and brought them to Detroit as hostages. One of the noted Riley brothers of Detroit, then effected an exchange, and Archie was finally released on Jan 12, 1815. He was then returned to his mother. Several of his descendants live in Detroit at the present time.

The following letter, written by Whitmore Knaggs to William Woodbridge, secretary of Michigan territory, shows that the British, even after peace had been declared between Great Britain and the United States, were still encouraging the Indians to believe that the former intended to subjugate the young republic and recover the north west territory.

Detroit, May 6, 1815
The Hon, Wm. Woodbridge, secretary of Michigan:
Sir - By all the information that I can receive from the Indians, they tell me that the Chippewas and Pottawatomies are going daily to the British. The British have told them that peace is to last but for a short time, perhaps for one winter and summer, and tells them to hold one another fast by the hand, and always keep themselves in readiness. In the month of April the British have been sending belts of wampum among these different nations. Principally the Chippewa nation seem indisposed to take their American fathers by the hand. The friendly Indians are of the opinion that the Indians will commit hostilities to the Americans. They also spread notice that they are very fearful that when the Americans go to take possession of Michillmackinac that they may meet with some difficulties from the Indians at that place, and therefore would advise them to be on their guard, as they may try to lay a trap for them. They observe that peace is made bewteen England and America, but not with us (the Indians). They are likewise fearful that they will make an attack on Fort Meigs. I have this dayreceived information from Cososg or Hog, that after his departure from this place he met with Francois Cadot, a Britisg agent, which information he received from him, which was about 20th of April. He (Cadot) told him that peace was not made, and that he "would convince him about the middle of summer, which you will see, and at that time I will have the pleasure of laughing at you. Do you recollect being at Michillmackinac? Yes? Did you not see that fort that we built? Yes. There is not the bigness of a nail all around that fort but is undermined. Therefore the Americans will never be able to land on the island without being destroyed." Thus the Indians who were with Cadot went to Michillmackinac. With him are Jaco-Macatawacha, or Black Skin, and several young men, who observed that the Americans should never put their foot on the island of Michillmackinac. I am, sir, your obedient, humble servant.
W. KNAGGS, Indian Agent

After Whitmore Knaggs repaired his own house he resumed his duties as interpreter and Indian agent, and accompanied Gen. Cass to several places in the northwest, where he made important treaties with the Indians. Accompanied generally by by his young sons he went to Vincennes, Chicago, Saginaw and other places, where important treaties were made with the Indians. In record in connection with these treaties can be found in the United States statutes at large, vol 7; Richard Peters editor. Whitmore Knaggs, either as sworn interpreter, agent, sub-agent or witness, was present at the following Indian treaties, at the places and dates named: At Detroit, Nov 17, 1807; at Brownstown, Michigan territory, Nov 25, 1808; at foot of the Maumee rapids, Sep 29, 1817; at St. Mary's, O., Sep 17, 1818; at Saginaw, Sept 24, 1819, and at Chicago, Aug 29, 1821. The name of Whitmore Knaggs also appears as interpreter at a treaty made at Springwells, just below Detroit, on Sept 8, 1815. At the great Indian treaty of Saginaw in 1819, his son, George B. Knaggs, was made chief of a tribe of Indians, and was given a grant of 3,000 acres. This will be related hereafter in the history of his son, George Knaggs.

In his later years he made out a claim for damages to his household property by the British and Indians, and it was audited by United States Commissioner Lee, of Detroit, at $8,964. It was presented to congress and Lesis Cass indorsed the claim as just, and testified to that effect before the court of claims. The policy of the government at that time, however, was against granting any war claims where only partial damages were sustained by the enemy's occupation, and the claim was shelved.

About 1819 he gave his sons, George B. and John, a start in life. To George B. he conveyed a farm on the Maumee river, just below the site of old Fort Miami, which was a part of the 4,000 arpents granted him by the Ottawa Indians in 1784; and to his son John he gave a farm on the Raisin river. John, however, wanted to be near his brother, and reconveyed this farm to his father, who gave him in exchange a fram on the Maumee, below that of George B.

On May 3, 1827, being then at the point of death, he made his will, which was drawn by Charles Larned. He bequeathed to his eldest son, Peter Whitmore Knaggs and Catherine Visger, his wife, three tracts of land, said to have aggregated 179 acres, situated "near and in the rear of Prairie Ronde, in Wayne county." These lands are about 4 miles from the Detroit city hall, in the township of Springwells. To his son James W. Knaggs he gave a farm on the Maumee, adjoining that given to George B. To his daughter Elizabeth, then 15 years of age, he gave the farm on the Raisin, formerly owned by his son John. He willed the entire Knaggs farm of 250.95 acres and all his personal property "to his wife, Josette Knaggs, her heirs and assigns, for ever, to be disposed of as she may deem expedient." His sons George and John were mentioned as having been already bequeathed farms. His colored servant, Mary, was left a legacy of $150. His wife was designated as executrix.

He died two days afterward, on May 5, 1827. His obsequies were very largely attended, many of the spectators being Indians. The services were held in Ste. Anne's church, and Fr. Richard preached the funeral sermon. His remains were deposited in the burial ground on the side of the church, which was then at the corner of Larned and Bates street.

The will was probated on June 4, 1827. From an examination of the papers filed it is evident that several are missing, but those remaining are as follows:

One of the first bills against the estate was that of Fr, Gabriel Richard, parish priest of Ste. Anne's, for interment and funeral expenses, £15, which was paid. David Cooper, Joseph Visger and James May were appointed appraisers. An examination of the affairs of the estate showed that money was needed, and on June 13, 1827, Mrs Knaggs signed a conditional Quit-claim deed, conveying the farm to James W. Knaggs, her son. The conditions were that she and her daughter Elizabeth and her servant Mary should be supported during her (Josette's) natural life. If Josette chose to live by herself, with her daughter and servant, then she was to be paid $250 annually. After Josette's death, if Elizabeth wanted to live separately from James W., with Mary, then $125 annually should be paid. In default of these provisions the deed was to be null and void. On July 30, 1827, Josette petitioned to be relieved from the duties of executrix on account of ill-health, and that her son, James W. Knaggs, be appointed administrator with the will annexed. This was signed in the presence of James May, husband of her sister Margueritte. The court complied with her petition, which made considerable dissatisfaction in the family. George B. Knaggs, her son, on Aug 6, 1827, applied for a commission of lunacy to determine the sanity of his mother, Josette Knaggs. On Aug 20 following, Josette petitioned the probate court to rescind the appointment of James W. as administrator, on the ground that her health was better. Peter W. and George B. Knaggs argued before the court that they were older than James W., and as such more entitled to be designated as administrator. But the argument of A. D. Frazer of behalf of James W., holding that primogeniture gave no rights to letters of administration, that James was the legal assignee, and had an exclusive interest in the estate, was adopted by the probate court and a decision given to that effect. James W. Knaggs filed his bond in $5,000 as administrator, with Hugh McVey, Alexis Campau and Edward Brooks as securities. On Aug 27, 1827, the appraisers of the estate reported that the personality was valued at $7,269. On Dec 17, 1827, James W. Knaggs filed a statement that according to his belief the estate could not pay its debts,and prayed that commissioners be appointed to receive and audit the claims against it. On the same date the inventory of the estate in Monroe county was filed, showing that it owned a certain farm on the north side of the river Raisin, containing 260 acres, with buildings thereon, at that time in possession of Theophile Metty, and it was valued at $900, and a mare valued at $30.

The next paper filed in chronological order was the report of the commission appointed to inquire into Josette Knaggs's mental health. It reported in August 1828, that she was a lunatic.

James W. Knaggs was cited to appear before Probate Judge Torry on Feb 15, 1830, and exhibit his accounts. He did so, and reported that he had expended $245.30 to date, leaving a balance of $1,897.32 of personal estate as valued by the appraisers. His accounts showed that an aggregate of $70.75 had been paid for board of his mother and sister.

The following record shows the passing of the estate out of the family. B. F. H. Witherell in his reminiscences, said that Peter J. Desnoyer, whose son married Elizabeth Knaggs, had a claim of $1,500 against it, and that doubtless hastened its disposal. On June 30, 1832, Mrs Knaggs signed a deed conveying the farm, which contained 250.95 acres, to her son, James W., without any conditions except the nominal consideration of £1, and on the same date it was conveyed to the heirs of John W. Strong by warranty deed for £3,600. It was subsequently sold to Thomas H. Hubbard in 1834, who sold it by quit-claim deed in 1835 to Bela W. Hubbard for £1,000. The farm, with the exception of the lots sold since that time, belongs to the Bela Hubbard estate.

But there was more litigation in after years. On June 3, 1857, George B. Knaggs, brother of James W., petitioned Probate Judge E. Hawley Jr., at Detroit, to remove James W. as administrator, because he had not finished the duties of that position; that a claim for damages against the United States was not adjusted and remained unpaid; that it was necessary to appoint another administrator, and that he (George B.) be appointed to administer the personal property and credits of the estate. At this time George B. was living at Maumee and James W. at Toledo, some nine miles distant. On this showing George B. Knaggs was appointed administrator and his bond was approved June 28, 1857. James W. Knaggs, answering during the same year, appears in almost undecipherable writing of the late Levi Bishop, of Detroit. It asserts that he had paid all the debts against the personal property of the estate; that the claim against the United States had been presented and once defeated, but that he would try it again; that, being the assignee of his mother, he was the sole person charged with presenting the claims of the estate against the United States or any other party, and that his brother George B., or any other next of kin, had no interest in the estate whatever. The matter was tried in the probate court and decided in favor of James W. Knaggs, and he was reinstated as administrator and his bond approved on Nov 19, 1857.

This ended all the litigation, and James W. Knaggs remained administrator until his death. He revived the claim against the United States in 1891 or 1892, which, with principal and interest, had amounted to some $60,000. It was presented by Senator James McMillan in the senate and by Rep. Byron M. Cutcheon in the house. It now reposes in some pigeon-hole in a committee room, and will never be allowed.

Mrs Josette Labadie Knaggs, after the sale of the Knaggs farm to the heirs of Eliza Strong in 1832, lived with her sister Monique, who was married to Antoine Beaubien in 1829. Beaubien was a man of weak intellect and Monique managed his large estate. She donated the site of St Mary's catholic church, on the south east corner of St Antoine street and Monroe avenue, and also the bells in the steeple of that edifice. She also donated the site of St Mary's hospital, and the site of the convent of the Sacred Heart, on Jefferson avenue, between Beaubien and St Antoine streets, Detroit. Mrs Beaubien died in 1851, and her husband married again. Mrs Josette Knaggs then went to live in the hospital with the sisters of charity. Her mind had been deranged for years, and she died in that building about 1853. Samuel May, her nephew, son of James May, told the writer recently that that she was insane at the time of her death.

Whitmore Knaggs and Josette Labadie had five children - Peter Whitmore Knaggs, George Brown Knaggs, John Knaggs, James Whitmore Knaggs and Elizabeth Knaggs.

Peter Whitmore Knaggs, generaly styled Whitmore Knaggs, Jr., eldest son of Whitmore Knaggs, and grandson of George Knaggs 1st, was born in Detroit in 1798, one year after the marriage of his parents. In 1819, after he had attained man's estate, he married in Detroit Catherine Visger, daughter of Jacobus Visger, and grand aunt of the late James A. Visger. She was born in 1795. Old citizens say that she was an estimable young lady, beautiful of form and feature, and was greatly loved and admired in the little community of Detroit.

In 1827 Peter Whitmore Knaggs inherited, under the will of his father, Whitmore Knaggs, considerable land in the vicinity of Detroit. The land consisted of three parcels of land which Whitmore Knaggs had purchased from Leon Beauseau, Jacob Dix and Francis Renard, all described as being situated "near and in rear of Prairie Ronde, in Wayne county." The three parcels, it is said, aggregated a little less than 179 acres. The records of the property purchased from Jacob Dix and Francis Renard cannot be found in the office of the Wayne county register of deeds, but that purchased from Leon Beauseau is described as 80 acres, being the east half of the southeast quarter, section 5, town 2, south of range 11 east, of which the consideration was $180. This was purchased on April 23, 1826, one year before the death of Whitmore Knaggs, and the other two parcels which were situated near by, were purchased several years before that time. The Beayseau 80 acres are situated on Warren avenue, about a mile and a half west of Livernois avenue, in Springwells township, immediately adjoining McDonald's brick yard. The 179 acres changed hands several times. It went to Mrs Woods in 1822, and was deeded back to Peter Whitmore Knaggs the same year. Then the latter deeded it to Joseph Campau, the largest land owner in Detroit, for $1,422. On Feb 9, 1835, A. D. Frazer, guardian of the children of Peter Whitmore Knaggs, conveyed the 80 acre lot, first described, to Peter J. Desnoyers. From several facts related by old citizens it would appear that Peter was a man of liberal habits, and was not a careful manager.

In 1820, just after he had attained manhood, he engaged in business as an Indian trader. At the treaty of Sept 24, 1819, Gen Cass concluded a treaty with the Chippewa Indians, whereby the Shiawassee bands of that nation had reserved from the lands ceded to the government 3,000 acres, composed of what is now Burns, Vernon, Shiawassee and Antrim townships in Shiawassee county. This tract was known as the Kechewandangoning reservation, and was not opened for white settlers until 1850. In 1820 Peter Whitmore Knaggs opened a trading post on the Shiawassee river in the reservation. He did not make a success, and left there about seven years later, probably at the time of his father's death in 1827, at which time, as above related, he inherited considerable land near Detroit. From the fact that he was always known as Whitmore Knaggs Jr., old records at Shiawassee county would make it appear that it was his father that conducted the business there, as Peter did not use the "Jr." after his name.

Peter Whitmore Knaggs claimed to have been granted certain lands by the Indians at the treaty of Saginaw in 1819, and made several misdirected efforts to obtain possession of them. On Feb 23, 1836, the United States senate committee on Indian affairs reported on the petition of Nondasheman, alias Peter W. Knaggs, who claimed that he was granted 640 acres at the grand traverse of the Flint river, at the treaty of Saginaw; that he was unable to cultivate the same, and asked that he be allowed to sell the land. The Committee reported that it had examined the treaty and found that his name was among the persons to whom said lands had been reserved. As there was no restriction to the sale of these lands, the committee considered that the petitioner might sell the lands without any act of congress.

On Jan 3 1849, in the United States senate, the report of the committee on public lands, Senator Felch, of Michigan, chairman, on the petition of Peter Whitmore Knaggs, was submitted. The petitioner claimed that at the treaty of Saginaw a section of land, reserved to Non-dar-he-man, was intended for and reserved to him, but that the land had subsequently been reserved to Maria G. Smith, and he now asked to locate a like quantity of land in its place. The committee found that by the act of congress of June 23, 1836, the patents for this land was issued to Non-dar-he-man, or Maria G. Smith, a daughter of Jacob Smith, an Indian trader, deceased. The committee said that the grant to Maria G. Smith must stand unless the petitioner can submit convincing proof that he was the person interested, but he had not submitted such proof.

Peter Whitmore Knaggs, in the same petition, claimed that he had been granted a section of land on the Shiawassee river, at a place called Ketch-e-nam-gen-ink, but the committee said that such grants did not appear in the treaty, and resolved not to grant the petition. At this time (1849) Peter Whitmore Knaggs was dead.

Mrs Catherine Knaggs died in 1835, aged 40 years, at her husband's trading post in Shiawassee county, and her remains were brought to Detroit and interred in the cemetery of St Anne's church, on Larned street. Her husband died in 1848, at Toledo, while on a visit to relatives there. The Family separated after the death of the parents. From Ste Anne's church records and other sources the following facts about the children, six in number, are gathered:

(1) Catherine Ann Knaggs, born at Detroit in 1821, married John C. Miller at Miami, Ohio, on Nov 25, 1844. At the time of the marriage he was a dry goods merchant at Monroe, Mich. The family afterward removed from Monroe to Hillsdale about 1848. Mr Miller died at Barnesville, Minn., on March 12, 1881, and his wife died at Frankfort, Ind., on July 21, 1896, at the home of her daughter, Amelia. The had seven children, three boys and four girls, as follows: (1) Amelia Miller, born at Monrow, Mich., Sept 10, 1845; married J. J. Downer, railroad conductor; resides at Frankfort, Ind.; no children. (2) Caroline Augusta Miller, born at Monroe, Dec 24, 1847; resides at Crookston, Minn.; unmarried. (3) James Henry Miller, born at Hillsdale, Mich., on Nov 15, 1849; chief engineer of propeller S. C. Reynolds; resides at 850 Colifax street, Toledo, O.; married Clara T. Hammond, of Buffalo, N. Y. Four living children, Hebbard Miller, Kate Miller, Donald Miller and Garth Miller. Another died in infancy. (4) Charles Edward Miller, born at Hillsdale on Dec 26, 1851; died at same place Feb 14, 1858. (5) William Waldron Miller, Born at Hillsdale April 10, 1854; general salesman for H. B. Claflin Co's wholesale house in New York city. (6) Catherine Ann Miller, born at Hillsdale, May 19, 1856; married F. D. Bell; died at Barnesville, Minn., Feb 16, 1894; her husband is station agent and expressman at Barnesville. (7) Mary Elizabeth ("Mate") Miller, youngest child, born at Hillsdale, March 10, 1859; married W. F. bath, farmer, Frankfort, InD.

(2) Elizabeth Knaggs, born in detroit in 1824. She died before 1857.

(3) James Whitmore Knaggs was born in Detroit about 1826, and died unmarried in California about 1852.

(4) Francis Edward Knaggs, born in Detroit in 1829, when last heard from was living at Dubuque, Ia.

(5) Wm. Alexander Knaggs was born in Detroit in 1831, spent his youth in Toledo, and left that city in 1856. He settled first in Shawneetown, Kas., where he engaged in trade with the Shawnee Indians. In 1862 he removed to Kansas City, where he was in the mercantile business until 1871. He then returned to Shawneetown and remained there until 1899. He now lives in Nowato, Cherokee nation, in the Indian territory, and is a member of that tribe by adoption. He married Susan Keeler at Shawneetown, Kas., and became the father of three children as follows: (1) Arthur Hamilton Knaggs, born at Shawneetown, Kas, Aug 22, 1863; died in the same place on Sept 18, 1870. (2) Edith Louise Knaggs, born in Kansas City, Mo., Sept 23, 1864, married Wm. Edgar Moak, livery stable keeper, July 8, 1895. No children. (3) Abby Corinne Knaggs, born in Shawneetown, Kas., Oct 6, 1867; died Nov 16, 1869.

(6) Charles Peter Frederick Knaggs, born in detroit in 1834. He was a volunteer in a Kansas regiment, and was mortally wounded at trhe battle of Bull Run, on July 21, 1861, and died in hospital soon after; unmarried.

George B. Knaggs, son of Whitmore Knaggs, and grandson of George Knaggs 1st, was a leading resident of Toledo and the Maumee valley, where he spent the latter half of his life. He was a man of fine physique, six feet in hight, well proportioned, and weighed about 180 pounds, with small, well-shaped hands and feet. His complexion was light and ruddy with pink cheeks, dark expressive hazel eyes, and black curly hair. His oil portrait at the old home in Maumee City shows that he was a handsome man of distinguished appearance. He was quick and graceful in his motions and was an educated

punctillious in social etiquette, being a perfect critic in that respect, and incapable of actions or conduct contrary to his ideas of politeness and refinement. He was a natural linguist, speaking English, French and several tongues of the Indian languages. His dress, home and surroundings were all in keeping with his personality and character. His house at Maumee, built in 1825, and in which his wife and daughter still live, is a fine old-fashioned place, and he kept the grounds in perfect taste, with beautiful flowers and aaashrubbery and choice fruit trees, and was never happier than when entertaining his friends, among whom were the most distinguished persons in the land. In disposition he was kind and charitable, and of unquestioned honour and integrity, never trespassing on the rights of others and never allowing others to trespass upon him. In those early days in the Maumee valley he was ever looking after the interests of newcomers in that locality, and in aiding them in settling there with their families.

George Brown Knaggs was born in Detroit at his father's house on January 4, 1800. Being reared among war's alarms, with a father and uncles of military tastes, he was induced at the early age of 12 years to enter into a plot to kill that exalted but hated personnage, Gen. Henry Proctor, the British commander who ruled Detroit for 13 months after its surrender in Aug 16, 1812. When the post was surrendered at rthe latter date, his father, Whitmore Knaggs, who was a captain of the territorial militia, became a prisoner of war, and his home was despoiled by the Indiand and British troops while on their way to the city. Mrs Knaggs first removed her family to the house of Fr. Gabriel Richard, on the Detroit river about where the foot of Eighteenth street would be if extended to the river. Here also was Ste Anne's church convent and school, which had been removed to this place after three buildings were burned in the great fire of 1805. After staying there a short time Mrs Knaggs removed her family to the home of her father, Pierre Descomptes Labadie, which is still standing on the river at the foot of Twenty-fourth street, one quarter of a mile above the family home, which stood at the northwest corner of Swain avenue and River street, st the mouth of Knaggs creek.

George had a natural hatred of the British, and it was suggested that he slay the British general by shooting him as he passed along the road in front of the house. He was a good shot with a rifle, and with a boy's logic identified Proctor with the imprisonment of his father, and the damaging of the family home. Gen. Proctor had headquarters both at Fort Lernoult, afterward Fort Shelby, in Detroit, and Fort Malden, at Amherstburg, Canada, 18 miles beloe on the opposite side of the Detroit river, and visited both fortresses frequently. Sometimes ge was accompanied by mounted officers of his staff, and at other times he rode quite alone from Detroit to a point in Springwells township, where there was a ferry boat on which he crossed the river. Whether George originated the idea or adopted the suggestion of French farmers living near by, is not known, but he took steps to carry it out. He erected a barricade of boards and fence rails on the side of the road, and practised shooting therefrom at a mark for several days. Some of the neighbouring boys became curious over his actions, and he imparted his plan to them with juvenile frankness. The news was carried to his mother, who summoned him before her fortwith, and sternly commanded him to desist.

"Do you know what will happen if you shoot Proctor?" she demanded.

"Oh, yes," said george, eagerly. "Mr --- and Mr --- and Mr --- (mentioning the names of several French farmers nearby) told me that it would be a fine thing to do, as proctor is a bad, cruel man, who keeps my father in prison, and they all said that when I shot him the would carry me to Gen. Harrison's army, where the Britishers couldn't catch me."

"My son," said his mother, "if you shoot Proctor, they will shoot your father, and they would put us all in prison. Don't you do it, my boy."

"All right, I won't," said George, "but, mother," he added, regretfully, "I could have popped him ever so easy."

Mrs Knaggs, like many French matrons, had an ambition to be the mother of a priest, and George was early designed for the ministry. He was sent to St Thomas college, a catholic institution at Bardstown, Ky. While he was studying there he became convinced that he had no vocation for the priesthood, and after he had so informed his ecclesiastical superiors he took the first opportunity to leave for home. At that time the parish of Ste Anne's, which extended from the river Raisin to Sault Ste Marie, was under the spiritual jurisdiction of Benedict Joseph Flaget, bishop of Bardstown. The marguilleries of the Cote du Nord church, which was situated on the Church farm, Hamtramck, where Beller's hotel now stands, were in rebellion against the spriritual authority of Fr Richard. They pretened to be the original incorporators of Ste Anne's church, which had been burned in the great fire of 1805, and that the temporary church and school at the foot of Eighteenth street, Detroit, presided over by Fr Richard, was not the rightful successor of Ste Anne's. This dispute was referred to Bishop Flaget, who upheld Fr Richard. The marguilliers rebelled against his pastoral, and he then interdicted the church of Cote du Nord and excommunicated the marguilliers. To heal the unhappy schism Bishop Flaget left Bardstown on May 15, 1818, and travelled through the wilderness to Detroit, a distance of about 1,000 miles, on horseback. He was accompanied by Fr Bertrand and Janvier and by George Knaggs and another young man named Godfrey. The bishop, at the head of a grand procession started from Ste Anne's at the foot of Eighteenth street, on the river road, with the military band of the fort in front. As it passed the fort it was saluted by a salvo of artillery. Arrived at the Cote du Nord est church, an affecting scene ensued. the rebellious margguilleries knelt before the bishop and kissed the episcopal ring on his hand, and a perfect submission and reconcilliation took place. On returning to Detroit the bishop laid the corner-stone of the fifth church of Ste Anne at the northeast corner of Bates and Larned streets.

George B Knaggs then expressed a desire to enter the military service and his father's influence with Gen. Cass easily procurred his admission to the United States military academy at West Point, where he remained for some time, but did not graduate. His father became ill, and requested him to resign and come back to help him in his official duties. He did so, and when he returned he became an assistant to his father, who was Indian agent and interpreter, and accompanied him to Vincennes, Chicago, Saginaw and other places, where important treaties were negotiated with the Indians, at which his father was the official interpreter. George, like his father and brothers, was proficient in several Indian dialects, and was generally liked by the red men. At Vincennes his father took with him the young son of an Indian chief, and the two boys became great friends. The young Indian, however, was shot and killed at Mackinac by a drunken Indian. His father adopted George as his son and died soon after.

At the great Indian treaty at Saginaw in 1819, george and his brother, James Whitmore Knaggs, accompanied their father.

The tribe of Indians which had lost their chief and also his son offered to make George Knaggs their chief. They could not agree on any other member of the tribe, and it was necessary for the chief to sign the treaty. George refused the honor at first, but subsequently, at the solicitation of his father, and the advice of Lewis Cass, accepted it, and became the head of the tribe. The head men then made him a gift of a large tract of land, said to contain 3,000 acres, in the vicinity of Orchard lake, near Pontiac. The country at that time was wild and population scarce, although the prospects of Pontiac, a few miles distant, seemed exceptionally favorable. In that year (1819) heydraulic works, flouring and saw mills and other big improvements had been instituted at Pontiac by a party of detroit's most prominent capitalists including Judge A. B. Woodward, Stephen Mack, Shubael Conant, Henry Jackson Hunt and others, and it was prophesied that the new city would eclipse Detroit in a very short time. Indians could not convey their lands to the whites, as such, but when whites were adopted by Indians they acquired equal priviledges with the red men.

But George did not think enough of the gift to reside on the land for the time specified by the law, and although his father built him a house there he did not live in it. It subsequently became the property of Lewis Cass, who traded it with the Indians for lands in St Joseph county.

George B. Knaggs, after being elected an Indian chief, became a clerk to Henry Jackson Hunt, a leading merchant of Detroit, who succeeded Angus McIntosh in business, and occupied his store on the river, in rear Dwyer and Vhay's store, at the south east corner of Jefferson avenue and Cass street, in Detroit. The connection was brief, but resulted in considerable benefit to Hunt, as young Knaggs attracted a large Indian trade in the store. One day during his employer's absence he captured the season's trade of an entire tribe, to the extent of over $1,000 in gold and silver. When Hunt returned and was shown the money, he said: "I ought to have had you here years ago." Henry Jackson Hunt signed his middle name with the initial "I" because he did not carry the curve of the "J" below the line of the other letters. Old residents of detroit still refer to him as Henry I. hunt on account of this peculiarity. He was the second mayor of Detroit in 1826, and died in the same year.

George Knaggs then went into partnership with his brother John as Indian traders, at Rockbar, which is opposite to, and named after, a rock in the Maumee river, near Fort Miami, where his father was born. This was on the large tract of land given by the Indians to his father in 1784. Trade becoming dull he became a clerk at Maumee for John Elliott Hunt, brother of Henry Jackson Hunt, and father of Mrs E. A. Brush of Detroit. In 1825 he built a house on the Maumee on his father's land, which is still occupied by his widow and daughter. His farm had about 300 acres; that of his brother, James W., adjoined it, and was of the same size; and the farm of his brother John was about 600 acres.

In 1828 he married Matilda Lee, of Penn Yan, N.Y., in Detroit. She was an estimable lady of a fine appearance, and was in every way a true and beautiful woman, beloved by all who knew her. They had one child, a boy, who died when he was about 3 years old. Mrs Knaggs died in 1847, leaving no children. His second wife, who still survives, was Miss Laura Bosley, of Bosley's Mills, Geneseo, Livingston county, N.Y., whom he married in 1849 at Sandusky, O. She was an acknowledged belle, and considered one of the most beautiful young ladies in the Maumee valley.

While on a visit to his relatives in Detroit in 1845, with the intention of proceeding from there to New York city, he met Gen. Lewis Cass, who said: "You are the very man I wanted to see." He went to the Cass residence, where he was introduced to the Duke de Joinville and the Duke d'Aumale, sons of King Louise Phillippe of France, who with their suite had just returned from Green Bay, Wis. Their suite consisted of Marshal Bertrand, Count Montholon, Viscount Montesquieu and several servants. It appears that Louise Phillippe had heard that a man named Rev Eleazar Williams, an Indian missionary in the episcopal church of the United States, claimed that he was the son of louis XVI, and Queen Antoinette, who had been beheaded, and was consequently the daufin and entitled to the throne of France. To ascertain whether his story was true the young princes came to the United States, chartered the steamer Columbus at Buffalo and proceeded to Green Bay, where Williams was preaching to a crowd of Indians. When they saw and spoke to him, however, they became convinced that he was either a willful imposter or a person deceived by foolish stories. Williams was well known in Detroit. When the first St Paul's church, on the east side of Woodward avenue between Larned and Congress streets, was consecrated - on Aug 24, 1827 - he read the consecration service, and he was frequently in the city afterward. He died in Hoganstown, N.Y., in 1858.

When the two princes were on their way back they stopped at Detroit and were entertained by Gen. Cass. They had great curiosity to know the situation in the surrounding country, which was once under French rule. Cass was much gratified on being able to furnish a historian on those subjects like George Knaggs, who was gentlemanly, finely educated and spoke French like a native. George accompanied the princes on their steamboat trip to Buffalo, where he bade them farewell, and went to New York via Lake Champlain.

Prince de Joinville came to the United States again in 1861, accompanied by his nephew, the Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres. They joined the staff of Gen. McClellan and took an active part in the Chickahominy campaign.

Among the many distinguished persons who were George B. Knaggs's friends and guests at his Maumee home were: Gen. William henry Harrison, who was entertained there during his successful campaign for the presidency in 1840; Richard M. Johnson, vice-president under President Van-Buren; Gov. Lewis Cass, Mrs Cass and their daughter Belle, afterward Baroness von Limburg; Mrs Gen. Geo. B. McClellan; Gov. Lucas of Ohio, at the time of the Toledo war; Gov. Hull of Michigan and his nephew Isaac Hull. Isaac lived at Maumee and was also the nephew of Commodore Isaac hull, who commanded the frigate Constitution when she defeated the British frigate Guerriere in 1812. Other prominent people were: Gen. george Croghan, the hero of Fort Stevenson at Sandusky, who defeated Gen. Proctor; Gen. James B. McPherson, who was killed at Atlanta in 1864, and who visited the Knaggs home in company with his sister, Mrs Frederick Vandercook; Chief Justice Warner Wing of Michigan and wife, the latter being a daughter of Col. John Anderson of Monroe, and Elizabeth Knaggs, who was daughter of George Knaggs, the progenitor of the Knaggs family of Ohio and Michigan; Morrison R. Waite, chief justice of the United States supreme court; Mrs Betsie Forsyth Nelson, who married a descendant of Lord nelson; Gen. John Elliott Hunt and family, which included Mrs Eliza Hunt Brush of Detroit; Mrs Sophia Hunt Smith, wife od Denison B. Smith of Toledo, and many other prominent persons.

Their only child, Antoinette Knaggs, is a very superior lady and also a fine business woman. After her father's death, she was educated at the Ursuline convent, in Toledo. She manages an extensive dairy on the farm, the product of which is sold to wholesale dealers in Toledo. When the electric line from Toledo, which passes the farm, was organized several years ago, she secured three miles of the right of way for the company. She also served as school director for the third ward of Maumee six years, being elected by the largest majorities ever given a candidate in that town.

Although George Knaggs never had any serious financial difficulties, he experienced several ups and downs in his business life. In 1836, when the western land boom attained its largest dimensions, he sold his farm, with the exception of a homestead of seven and one-half acres, and invested in Toledo property. He purchased a large tract of Collingwood and ashland avenues, Toledo, now fine residence streets, and his brothers, John and james W., also invested in the same localities. Besides this purchase he bought 900 acres at the mouth of the Maumee, at localities now knows as Presque Isle and Ironville. From these investments he cleared about $30,000. But he suffered considerable losses as stockholder and director of the Maumee City Insurance bank.

He died on Oct 23, 1865, in his sixtyfifth year. He was buried with his first wife and child, on the farm, in a private burial ground, about 50 yards from his home. Two years after his death his widow married Chauncey C. Keysor, a coal dealer and vessel owner of Toledo. Mr Keysor owned the George B. Knaggs farm, and sold 110 acres of it to Miss Antoinette Knaggs, his wife's only child, so that the property all came back into the family. He died on Aug 3, 1888, leaving all his property to the widow. The widow and daughter live in the old homestead, on the Knaggs farm, which is on the Maumee river, about nine miles above Toledo.

George Knaggs, of Walpole Island, forwards a statement of his membership of the Knaggs family, and also his descendants as follows: "I was born at Maumee, O., between Christmas and New Year's, in 1821. My father was George B. Knaggs and my mother was an Indian woman named Kah-ba-yan-ban-no-qua. Since I remember my father used to live in maumee, O. Some time in 1826, when I was a little boy, my father, george B. Knaggs, used to give me some clothing and provisions. I was married when I was about 20 years of age. My first wife's name was Mow-quash-kum-mo-qua. I now give a list of my sons and daughters and their children:

(1) John Knaggs, my eldest son, was born at Maumee, O., in 1844, and died in 1883. He married on Walpole island, Mah-nee, and she died about 1887. Two children (1) Wilson Knaggs married Bebe but he had no children. Both live on Walpole Island. (2) Charlotte knaggs married Peter Willis, on Walpole Island. Charlotte died about seven years ago. Two children living.

(2) Eliza Knaggs married John Manoaqudoo. Two children: (1) JennieManoaqudoo, married Moses Sagatchewan. Two children. (2) Another daughter died unmarried in 1901.

My second wife, Ke-wa-tin, I married on Walpole Island, and she bore me three children, and died about 1892.

(3) Louisa Knaggs, married an Indian named James Elgin. Five children. (1) Eliza Elgin, born July 10, 1868. Her child, Stafford Thomas, was born on Sept 18, 1894. (2) Augustus Elgin, born Dec 7, 1870, married and has one child, Pearl Elgin. His wife died and he married Amelia Thomas. No children. (3) Rachel Elgin, born March 24, 1873, married Richard George. two children: Nancy george and Philip George. (4) Josephine Elgin, born Oct 20, 1884; unmarried. (5) Lizzie Elgin, born Oct 21, 1887; unmarried.

(4) Elizabeth Knaggs married Willian Nahdee. She died in 1884. Four children: (1) Albert Nahdee, married in 1901, no children. (2) Bella Nahdee, married She-baw-gin. two children. (3) William Nahdee; unmarried. (4) Martha Nahdee, unmarried.

(5) Henry Knaggs, farmer and trader, was born on Walpole Island in 1858. He married Wa-say-au-bin (English name Jane). Nine children: (1) Annie Knaggs, married Albert Saugutch. schoolmaster; one child. (2) Beatrice Knaggs married Edward Wrightman. No Children. (3) Elizabeth Knaggs; unmarried. (4) Alexander Knaggs, died while attending the Canadian Indian school at Sault Ste. Marie, in 1899, aged 14 years. (5) George Knaggs. (6) Samuel Knaggs. (7) Rebecca Knaggs. (8) Jessie Knaggs, and (9) Paul Knaggs are attending school on Walpole Island.

John Knaggs, son of Whitmore Knaggs, and grandson of George Knagsg 1st, was born at Detroit in 1802. In his prime he was a man of striking, and even distinguished appearance, like his brothers, george and James W. He was very tall, being about sic feet three inches in height, and weighed about two hundred and forty pounds, well proportioned and very strong, with a fair complexion and brown hair and eyes. Both in speech and motion he possessed the faculty of a happy medium, being neither too deliberate on the one hand nor too quick on the other. In disposition he was open and frank, telling what was his honest belief on all subjects, without being brusque or discourteous, and was scrupulously honorable in all his dealings.

He was always attired in the best dress of his day, like other gentlemen of social consideration, and was a well-educated man, although the family do not remember the place or manner of its acquirement. He early showed the family bent in the direction of trading with the Indians, and he could converse in several aboriginal languages as well as French and English.

In 1819, when he was 17 years of age, he was appointed lietenant of Michigan militia by Governor Lewis Cass. His first occupation in life was as an Indian trader, in partnership with his brother George, at a point on the Maumee river, a short distance below the site of old Fort Miami. The latter place is now a part of Maumee City, nine miles above Toledo. the brothers boarded for a time at the house of Elisha Gunn, a farmer, nearby, and there John fell in love with Malinda Elizabeth Gunn, the youngest daughter. Her mother was a member of the noted Carver family, being a lineal descendant of John Carver, one of the party of Englishmen who left their country for the sake of religion, proceeded to Leyden, subsequently emigrated to America on the Mayflower in 1620, and was the first governor of Plymouth colony. The nearest catholic church was on the Raisin, at Monroe, and they were married there on February 10, 1823, when he was 21 years of age. The youthful pair first lived in a frame house on the Maumee, and about six miles south of Toledo. A