MAUMEE MISSION

Mission History

The Maumee Mission served the Ottawa people and various Native groups along the Maumee River. For a century prior to the Presbyterian mission, French Jesuits had been in contact with the Ottawa and other tribes in the region. The Ottawa people never had a permanent mission before the establishment of the Maumee Mission, however, Presbyterian Reverend Joseph Badger had visited as early as 1801. He was the first person assigned to the Western Reserve by the Connecticut Missionary Society. His passion to preach the Gospel led him across Ohio territory to various Native groups, including the Wyandot in Sandusky and the Shawnee at Wapakoneta. He helped organize numerous churches throughout the reserve and has been referred to as "the founder of churches" in Ohio. Although he did not have the means to establish a mission at Maumee himself, he was likely instrumental in encouraging the mission's establishment. The Board of Trust of the Synod of Pittsburg organized the Maumee Mission in 1822. It was later transferred to the United Foreign Missionary Society in October 1825, then consolidated with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in June 1826, which sponsored the mission until its closure in 1834.[i]

The Maumee Mission was located on a large island in the Maumee River at the mouth of Tontogany Creek near what is today Waterville, Ohio. The mission also owned land on the east side of the river and a smaller island known as Aborigine Island. The Synod originally approved one to two hundred acres of land to be purchased adjacent to Ottawa's land, as well as the construction of buildings suitable for the mission. The first members sent by the mission were Rev. Stevenson and Mr. McCurdy to find a suitable location for the mission and to purchase the lands. McCurdy chose the Missions location based on the several water springs on the island, as well as the promise of good tilling land. They spent five days in the woods along the river and the large island near Tontogany creek searching for the best location. Local residents such as Doctor Conant recommended the large island as the most eligible location. By the time of the mission disbanded, the Board owned upwards of 700 acres of land; 470 acres on the east side or river, and 230 acres on the main Island.[ii] 

The Synod approved a "mission family" of twenty-one individuals including two ordained ministers, two teachers, and others who would assist the family, the school, and the farm. The initial leaders of the mission family appointed by the Synod consisted of Rev. Allen Coe and Mrs. Coe, Rev. Isaac Van Tassel and Mrs. Van Tassel, Reverend Tait and Mrs. Tait, and Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. Lucia Van Tassel was the daughter of Reverend Badger. Reverend Tait was the first pro tempore superintendent followed by Reverend Ludovicus Robbins from 1823 to 1826. Rev. Stevenson was supposed to be the first, however, he fell ill after his initial visit and declined the offer. Reverend Van Tassel was the longest-serving superintendent. He was appointed superintendent of the Maumee Mission in 1826 and served in that position until its closure in 1834.[iii] 

The Van Tassels were married in Ashtabula, Ohio just before their appointment to the Maumee Mission. In September of 1822, They traveled to Pittsburg to meet with the Synod and discuss their appointment. They commenced their journey to the mission immediately afterward. The trip took a total of four weeks to complete. Upon their arrival, they had no place to stay. Since the mission house was not yet built, kind neighbors including Judge Hubbell, Doctor Conant, Mrs. Gibbs, and the Martindales, offered their homes until the mission house was completed. Mrs. Van Tassel stayed with the Martindales until the completion of the house. The Martindales were among the first settlers in Bowling Green, Ohio. Reverend Tait and Mrs. Tait, Reverend Leander Sackett and Mrs. Sackett and Mr. McPherson arrived before the Van Tassels and cleared the land for the mission house.[iv]

Building construction was laborious work. Much of the lumber for the mission buildings was brought in from the River Raisin in Michigan. The first winter was particularly cold as Mr. Van Tassel was able to transport timber from Michigan down the frozen Maumee River. The load only broke through the ice once. The main mission building was 30x80 feet and two stories high with an annex of 20x100 feet. There was also a cellar dug out beneath the house and a well under the porch. Lucia Van Tassel in a letter to Mrs. Swift of the Presbyterian Synod described the mission house, "We have three rooms below, one of which is occupied for the school, another for the kitchen, the third is a common family room; we have the same room (but no fireplaces) above one half of which is occupied for storage, the remainder for lodging: In this situation, you may well conclude that with a family of three and twenty there can be little personal enjoyment." Lucia noted that the kitchen was "small and inconvenient" and the amount of storage was displeasing.[v]

According to a survey by James Jackson of the Maumee Sub-Agency, a 24 by 18 log building was attached to the mission house which served as an additional Schoolroom. They also had a frame barn 40 by 20 feet and a log stable. Jackson writes, "These buildings stand on the South Bank of the Maumee River near the Wolf Rapids with a farm containing 700 acres, first-rate land, 150 acres and a fence at present, with corn, wheat, oat, meadow, and pasture. Also a tolerable stock of cattle and hogs." By 1832, the Mission's buildings also included a hen house and temporary corn house. The buildings were estimated to be worth $1000, and the land an additional $2000. [vi]

Once the house was completed, the entire mission family resided there, including the schoolchildren whose families chose to board them there. Mrs. Van Tassel and Mrs. Tait, known to the residents as Mother Tait, took charge of the housework for the first three weeks until Mrs. Coe took over for Mother Tait. The women attended to housework and prepared meals for the entire family. Mrs. Van Tassel reported in a letter to the Synod that the Taits were recommended by a doctor to not stay over the winter due to their "age and infirmities." The mission struggled in its early years with illness and supply shortages. Within the first four years, nearly all original members had left because of the climate and other illnesses. Mrs. Van Tassel recalled that all women were sick the winter of 1823 and the Missionary Herald newspaper reported many were sick the fall of 1828. One likely reason for the widespread illness was their close living quarters with over 20 members of the mission family and roughly thirty school kids boarded in the same building.[vii]

Mission Farm

The mission's food supply was troublesome during their first years in operation. The mission suffered a food shortage during their second winter. They could only grow corn but they did not have a mill to grind it, therefore, they had to eat it whole. Flour was difficult to obtain from Pennsylvania because the Ohio roads were not always passable. Mrs. Van Tassel noted that, "No vegetable could be obtained- no potatoes- not even for seed." They were told potatoes could not grow in the region. Mr. Van tassel was able to buy 40 bushels from a vessel passing on the river which greatly helped them survive the winter. There is no record of a food shortage after the second winter.[viii]

The Synod and the subsequent missionary societies wanted the mission to be as self-sufficient as possible. They feared closure if expenses became too significant. The mission's main goal was to open a school among the Ottawa people to teach them English, as well as housework and European agricultural practices. Religious instruction was also highly encouraged and integrated into the school curriculum, however, religious conversions were not forced. The mission fed and clothed all of the children boarded at the school and paid for all of their expenses. In addition to attending school, the children were taught and expected to conform to the traditional gender roles of American society. Girls were taught housekeeping, kitchen work, sewing, and washing while the boys were taught farming and agriculture. The schoolchildren contributed daily to these tasks, which cut the costs of running the mission. More importantly, the mission saw these tasks as essential to what they termed 'civilizing' the Native Americans. Lucia Van Tassel wrote in 1823, "I hope we shall be willing to wear out in this delightful and important service, if we may be instrumental in ameliorating the condition of this wretched people." This was a common trend among missionaries who often spoke of the pity and sadness they had for the condition of the Native Americans. The Native Americans, in turn, often attributed their condition to the encroaching white settlement that scared away their game and disrupted their lifestyles. Unfortunately, few records survive from the perspective of the Ottawa people.[ix]

In addition to farming, the mission attempted other industries. Mrs. Van Tassel noticed that Mulberry trees were established on the island and were a perfect food source for silkworms. The mission also planted an apple orchard, which was successful as well.[x]

Mission School

The mission school opened in 1823, the year after the mission was established. The school had as many as 50 students in its first year of operation, however, only about thirty students attended regularly. The school averaged eighteen to thirty scholars per year from its opening in 1823 to its closure in 1834. Students' attendance was higher in the winter as many students left during the summer to visit their families and help with the farming season. Mr. Van Tassel stated that he traveled around the region persuading native parents to allow their children to be boarded and enrolled at the school. Upon their parent's consent, he would bring the children back with him to the mission house. The ages of the students averaged from seven to twenty years old, although some as young as three and as old as twenty-seven were recorded attending.[xi]

Although the school was established for the Ottawa, children from almost all Native groups in the region attended including, Mohawk, Chippewa, Wyandot, Potawatomi, Miami, Shawnee, and Munsee. Mrs. Van Tassel noted that their differences never interfered in the classroom stating, "The children were generally docile and affectionate to their teachers and each other, though from different tribes. Disturbances seldom occurred among them, and they learned as fast as children in general." Mrs. Sacket taught the first weeks of school, others took turns in the following years. Lucia Van Tassel taught school for one full year and spent the remainder of her work at the mission taking care of the household and studying Indian languages.[xii]

The mission school's main purpose was to teach children the English language, which included learning the alphabet, reading, and writing. This, in part, helped the Ottawa preserve their own language using the English alphabet. Mr. Van Tassel published 500 copies of a 28-page elementary book in the Ottawa language. He noted the importance of instruction in both languages to the board stating, "Though in school the children are all taught the English, yet as they learn to read, they are taught to read and sing in their own language. Two or three of the older Indians who live near the mission and do not attend school are now learning to read the Ottawa. When I hold meetings among them they are much gratified to have the singing in their own language. This little publication has been of great service, in wearing away their prejudices against the education of their children. The Indians say it is good Ottawa, they understand it well." School was primarily taught in English but the mission encouraged children to read in their own language and to teach their older relatives. It also did not matter to the missionaries in which language the Ottawa learned the teachings of the Bible, as long as they were able to understand it.[xiii]

In 1826 Mr. Van Tassel reported to the Missionary Herald that twenty students could read the Bible, thirteen could write, five studied arithmetic, four studied geography, and three studied grammar. These same subjects were taught the entire duration of the mission. In 1828, Mr. Van tassel reported that, "More than 40 scholars have enjoyed the advantages of this school, of whom 7 have become hopefully pious; and several of them sustain a character for industry and enterprise." Mr. Van Tassel also claimed that about thirty students left the school with education "adequate to transaction of common business" but twice as many left without receiving any benefit, due to poor attendance. Many graduates entered domestic or agricultural employment and one graduate taught school at another mission in Ohio.[xiv]

A few observers of the mission questioned Mr. Van Tassel’s conduct towards the students. Charlotte Pratt, whose family had visited the Mission, describes her opinion of Mr. Van Tassel's conduct stating, "As he saw his duty he was a brave man; but he did not exhibit enough love and patience to make a good worker among the Indians... He was too stern in adhering to the letter of the principles of right, and punishing the wrong, as he understood them. He was severe, exact and unbending... It is said he found some Indians at the Mission cracking walnuts on Sunday after he had forbidden them not to do so; and to give them a practical idea of the result of sin and disobedience, he had their fingers slightly burned." Similarly, in an anonymous 1833 memorandum, the author writes, "Miss Riggs thinks Mr. V.T. overbearing and self-conceited. Passionate and unchristian in much of his conduct - so, she says, do many other members... Men call working here slavery- Indians have no confidence in him- dislike him- Miss R. thinks he treated Mr. Sacket and Miss. Stevens very wickedly- thinks him at times deranged- is often, tyrannical, & unsocial in the family for long periods." The author of the memoranda was likely a member of the mission family, however, it is unclear what their position was or for how long they were stationed there. These accounts portray how Mr. Van Tassel’s conduct differed greately from his self expressed intentions to beneficially aid the Native American children. [xv]

Mission Church

The Maumee Mission Church was formed in 1823. It was comprised initially of twenty-four members, including nine Native Americans. Rev. Van Tassel was never content with the religious progress of the mission in its duration. In 1829 he reported to the board, "As it respects to the religion, I have nothing particularly gratifying to communicate. We are much pressed with worldly cares; and I fear spiritual concerns are too much neglected." The mission poured much of its resources into the school and running the farm and household. This was in part due to the lack of resources and available persons for religious instruction.[xvi]

Reverend Van Tassel traveled around Ohio, preaching to villages near the mission. Near the end of the mission in 1832, he described his typical preaching. On Sabbath mornings, Rev. Van Tassel preached to Native American villages of about 15 to 30 people. He would then preach at the mission house in the afternoon with 60 to 100 listeners, mostly mission family, and school members, though some white settlers near the settlement attended, as well as 15 to 20 Native Americans. He wrote of the regular attendees, "These Indians who attend here have taken a decided stand in favor of the Mission, and attend meetings at the station both parts of the day; though they cannot understand much English, and the morning exercises are conducted by the teacher and brother Brewster, and are not interpreted." This is Mr. Van Tassel’s personal perspective on the success of his own teachings. It is therefore important to note, that others may have felt entirely different. The bulk of the missions operating expenses were paid by external donors, therefore, the missionaries wanted to portray their mission as a success to avoid closure. Ultimately, the missionaries yearned to reach more people with their religious teachings, however, they lacked the necessary resources. [xvii]

Mrs. Van Tassel strongly believed they could reach people with their religious teaching and comfort those who were ill. She wanted to instill the belief in life after death in the Natives and for them to be comforted on their death beds trusting in God writing, "I have witnessed the poor sufferer about to leave a world which it would seem could have but few comforts for him, shrink at the appalling thought of entering an unknown eternity & burst into tears when assured that he could not live: my heart bled to think that we could not communicate to them that instruction which by the blessing of God might dispel the gloom of might which pervades their dark minds & shed a ray of light through the valley of death which they are fast approaching. Surely none who feel the worth of souls can realize the condition of these perishing people and neglect to exert their influence in promoting the cause of missions among them." She personally believed that every soul was worth it no matter how insignificant the number of conversions seemed.[xviii]

Ottawa Removal

The Ottawa signed a removal treaty with James B. Gardiner in 1831. The Ottawa leaders believed they were coerced into signing the treaty and vowed to never leave their Maumee homes behind. Reverend Van Tassel asked the Presbyterian Synod to buy the land near the mission so that the Ottawa who wished to stay in Ohio could reside under their protection. This is what allowed them to remain in the region longer than most Native groups in Ohio. The Howard family also wished for the Ottawa to stay. They settled in the region in 1822 and believed the Ottawa people were good neighbors and supported them staying in Ohio. Their son Dresden Howard attended school at the Mission alongside the Native American children. When he was thirteen years old he wrote, " I had a long acquaintance with these good missionary people and have no words but kindness for them. While they may have accomplished but little in Christianizing the Indians, they did the best they could for them and with the best intentions." The mission delayed the removal of the Ottawa people, but eventually, the government intervened and forced them all to relocate to a reservation in Kansas. In 1834, upwards of 600 Ottawa still resided in the Maumee region and did not want to part with their homes. However, after 1835 many began to scatter after more of their lands were sold, some removing to Kansas, others attempting to seek refuge in Canada. The Maumee Mission was officially terminated in 1834. A visitor to the Maumee Mission named Miss. Newell remarked that, "Those Indians that had learning, and had received the religion of white people, were all hated and despised alike, and were now invited to take up their lot together." Ultimately, the government did everything in their power to deny any Native Americans the right to reside anywhere but on the reservations they determined for them.[xix]

Mission Closure

The missionaries believed their cause was meaningful. Reverend Van Tassel reflected on his role in the mission stating, "I did not engage in this cause for the sake of honor, pleasure, or profit... my single object has been to do good." Lucia Van Tassel noted that some were calling the Maumee Mission a failure at the time of its closure. She, however, always believed their work was impactful no matter how insignificant the numbers seemed. She argued that even the nine people known to have "died trusting in the Savior," in addition to the hopeful conversions of thirty others, were worth the expenses and their time. She also believed in the success of the school and the progress of the students. Mrs. Van Tassel regretted that the mission lacked the resources to have accomplished even more. She wished the adult women in the region could have received more attention stating, "It would have been far more agreeable to my wishes to spend my time studying the language, and instructing adult native females, than otherwise. But this was not the plan of the mission; our instructions were, to collect all the native children we could into the school and teach them English." Nevertheless, the mission provided resources, food, and education to all who were willing to recieve it. These starenents represent the personal perspecitives of the missionaries. Native Ameircan individual’s reactions to the mission are undocumented and it is unknown how they felt ablut the missions prescence and their teachings. [xx]

After the mission closed Mr. and Mrs. Van Tassel remained to run a boarding school for the children of new settlers. Miss Abigail Wright and Isaac Van Tassel, Jr. were teachers at this school. According to the Maumee Presbyterian church, "The bell from the Indian Mission now hangs in Prout Chapel at BGSU."[xxi]

The Island the Maumee Mission once operated on is today known as the Missionary Island Wildlife Area. It was purchased by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 1989 and is now a protected wildlife area.[xxii]

After the Mission: Lucia Van Tassel

In 1839, Rev. Van Tassel purchased land in Plain Township Wood County and lived here with Mrs. Van Tassel until his death in 1849. Rev. Van Tassel was thrown from his horse and died instantly on March 2, 1849. After the death of her husband, Lucia went to New York to study medicine and afterward practiced medicine in Memphis, Tennessee. She returned to Wood County in 1852 writing in her diary, "Having been prospered in my pecuniary concerns since the death of my dear husband, and blessed with unusual health, I now resolve to contribute one-tenth of all the money which I receive, from whatsoever source, in some way for the spread of the gospel and the advancement of the cause of Christ; and I do not include in this sum subscribed toward the support of our pastor which I consider a debt for personal benefits received." [xxiii]

According to author Louise Atkinson, who had studied Lucia Van Tassel's diary, Lucia was of small stature but had remarkable physical endurance and a great spirit ready to take on any task. She rode on horseback numerous times from Wood County to Wapakoneta, Ohio, and frequently rode to Maumee Village to fetch the doctor there fording the river on her way. Atkinson summarizes a story in Lucia's journal stating, "On one occasion she was taking both doctors Conant and Burritt. When they found the ice floating freely in the river they hesitated, but she plunged boldly in, calling to them 'come on,' and all were soon safely across. When in Memphis she surprised natives by crossing the river during a thunderstorm to reach one of her patients." Lucia adopted and raised a Native boy and gave him the name Alvin Coe. She also adopted two girls of Native descent. She spent her last days in Maumee with her adopted daughter Clara Webb where she died February 5th, 1874. She's buried beside her father Joseph Badger in the Fort Meigs Cemetery in Perrysburg, Ohio.[xxiv]