The Johnstons A look back at Native American affairs during the settlement of this area

PIQUA — George William Hill was born April 22, 1823, in Virginia. He was of Scots-Irish descent and worked his way through school. He eventually became an attorney and later graduated with a medical degree. Dr. Hill was a volunteer surgeon at the first Bull Run in 1861, after which he located to Ashland, Ohio. He continued to dabble, at one time owning a newspaper and holding public office.

But he enters into today's story because of his writings. He was interested in the Native American issues of the time and wrote related histories. Excerpts of his “Historical Reminiscences of Northwest Ohio” were printed April 9, 1874, in the Allen County Democrat. And one family closely related to the Native American cause was the Johnstons of the Piqua area.

John Johnston was born March 25, 1775, near Ballyshannon, Ireland. He came to Pennsylvania when he was 11 years old. As a young man, he helped drive a supply wagon to Fort Greenville in support of Gen. Anthony Wayne. Wayne was tasked with freeing up the area of Native Americans so white settlers could come in.

Something clicked with Johnston, and he moved to the area with his family in 1811 and became a government agent in Native American affairs. It was his job to maintain peace, essentially, and supply the Native Americans' needs. A branch of the Shawnee led by Tecumseh was still fighting the invasion of white settlers, but Johnston was given the neutral tribes to oversee.

Between 1812 and 1814, he built a brick home and farm. It was near a spot where a battle was fought in 1782 between Gen. George Rogers Clark and Shawnee, and the land still bore evidence of that.

“For many years after the farm of Mr. Johnston had been cleared, bullets and bayonets, the relics of the fights of 1782 were plowed up,” according to Hill's book.

He gave land to start the Methodist church, served as township trustee and served as commissioner on the canal that came through later. Through his history in the area of Piqua, Johnston worked closely with the area Native Americans and became fluent in Shawnee and Wyandot languages. Writings from the time and verbal tales written down later tell of his respect of the indigenous people and vice versa.

His book on language was published in 1858, and it makes clear he felt the Native Americans were being taken advantage of.

“The Wyandots had resided on the soil of Ohio long before the French or English visited the country. Forty six years ago I took a census of them when they numbered 2,300 souls. In 1841 and 2, I was the commissioner of the United States ... when it was found by actual and accurate count that in a little less than 50 years they had been reduced to the number of 800; none had emigrated — all that was left were the subjects of my negotiation. I had been their agent a great part of my life; and after being separated from them for 11 years by the power of the executive, it fell to my lot, under the appointment of my honored and lamented friend and chief President Harrison, to sign and seal the compact with their chiefs for the final removal from their cherished homes and graves of their ancestors, to which, all of their race, I had ever known, they were the most tenderly attached, to the country southwest of Missouri.”

Johnston was in Washington, D.C., trying to finish business dealing with the Native Americans when he died Feb. 18, 1862.

“It is a public misfortune that the long experience of Col. Johnson, as agent among the Indian tribes, should have been suffered to die with him. He carried volumes of anecdote and Indian reminiscences with him to the tomb,” according to Hill's book.

He was brought home and buried in the family plot. His tombstone: “Served the United States in various important trusts for a period of 40 years. By his own desire lies buried here by the side of his beloved wife, Rachel, hoping to rise together at the resurrection of the Just. Life's labor done, security laid/In this their last retreat;/Unheeded o'er their silent dust/The storms of life shall beat.”

Johnson's farm is now a historical area named the Johnston Farm and Indian Agency. Learn more at www.johnstonfarmohio.com.

Hill's book also features another Johnston — George C. Johnston. He was born in Ireland Oct. 19, 1798 and landed in Baltimore Oct. 17, 1817. He took the “usual route” of migration from Pittsburgh down the Ohio River to Cincinnati. From there, he took Wayne's Trace — a glorified trail — to the Piqua area.

The exact family tree seems to be lost to history, but it appears George Johnston was related to John Johnston. George Johnston also worked with Native Americans in the area, setting up a trading post. He was licensed in 1819 for such business and operated throughout the Wapakoneta and Piqua areas. He bought furs and skins from Native Americans and in turn sold them tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco, blankets, shawls, ribbons, knives and the like. The historical record makes it appear he never sold alcohol.

The furs and skins were usually sent to Dayton and were in turn sent to fur dealers in the East and Europe. He averaged about $25,000 in purchases a year, according to Hill's book, and his business was a popular stop for Native Americans because he had a reputation of being a fair dealer.

George Johnston was in Shelby County Common Pleas Court May 21, 1822, and became a citizen.

His trading post was soon joined by a mission of Quakers out of Philadelphia, and they set to making more of a town with a blacksmith and other services.

George Johnston continued to deal with the Native Americans, even to his own loss. A ledger shows 125 different unpaid notes from Native Americans from Nov. 8, 1829, to June 1, 1831. The last was just before they were gathered at St. Marys and outfitted at government expense for their final trip out of the area. Both Johnstons were left to their own devices to seek satisfaction from the government on the repayment of those debts, which took years.

A writing by George Blue Jacket, son of Blue Jacket, dated Oct. 29, 1829, makes clear that both Johnstons were a “great friend of our people.”

George Johnston died Jan. 11, 1876, at his home on Main Street in Piqua.