War of 1812
&
Shelby Co.
The significance of this county being named for Kentucky's
General
Shelby is directly related to the War of 1812. Issac
Shelby was Colonel over a regiment of men in the Kentucky Militia, who
Gereral Harrison preferred to use over the Ohio Militia. Most of
the men in the state were disappointed that Kentucky's Militia was used
over the Ohio Militia, but not the men in this area, who were
approximately
25 mile from the headquarters (at Greeneville) of Tecumseh, the Indian
War chief, and his brother, the Prophet, and their Indian
Confederation.
The danger to the settlers in this area was real, and although they
were
initially exempt from the draft, many of the men formed or joined
volunteer companies. The reason Shelby was honored by naming the
County after him was not only political, but by popular thought
also.
Shelby came into this area several times on his campaigns, and many of
the residents of Miami County had close family in the ranks of the
Kentuckians.
The people who settled in this area looked at the groups of Kentucky
Miltia
traveling through with favor, because they were in in fact, in emminet
danger. He was more than just a political man, he was a war hero
who had frequented this area.
Although Shelby County was not yet a county in 1812, it was formed out
of Miami County, and most of the men listed on the page have ties to
Miami
County. Although Miami County was exempt from the draft, (because
the State of Ohio considered it and Greene County to be war
zones)
it produced 68 officers for the Ohio Militia. Militia's were
state
armies, and male participation was required from ages 18-45. Men
in this area were under the First Division of the Ohio Militia during
1812,
and in the Fifth Division during 1813-14. By 1813 all active
militia
residents of this area were under the command of Colonel John Mann, who
commanded the 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 5th Division. The
counties
in this regiment were Montgomery, Preble, Miami, and Darke.The only
significant
blockhouse in Shelby County was on or about at the site of the Holy
Angels
Catholic Church. It was built by Captain Jesse Jackson. The
other site of significance to the War of 1812 in Shelby County is Ft.
Loramie,
where Captain John Williams and his company were stationed close to the
ruins of the old fort.
Sources:
Thanks
to Tim Mann for the above information!!
1.
"Frontier
Miscillany Concerning the Ohio Militia, Miami County, and the War of
1812"
This is
available
through the Miami County Historical and Genealogical Society.
2.
"Colonel
John Mann, his Kith, his Kin, his Ancestors and Descendents"
Back to
Shelby County OHGenWeb
©2000 by Tina
Hursh
The
on-line
Ohio roster's from the War of 1812 from OHS.