The War of 1812

During the War of 1812, men from Columbia Township and the surrounding townships of Ridgeville, Eaton, and Middleburg formed a local militia under the leadership of Calvin Hoadley, whom the men elected caption, and whose commission was signed by Governor Samuel Huntington, October 25, 1810.

Late in the summer of 1812, a rumor of the approach of a large group British and Indians landing at Huron, Ohio, sent panic through the settlement. Burying some household goods in the forest, and loading other possessions on wagons, sleds and carts, the Columbians took flight in the night traveling eastward toward Hudson. "Men, women and children, cattle sheep and hogs, marched along in promiscuous confusion." However, while still on the road, they learned that the "British and Indian" invasion actually consisted of American volunteers paroled after the surrender of General Hull's army at Detroit August 16, 1812.

After this false alarm, Capt. Hoadley and the militiamen were called up to defend Cleveland. Capt. Hoadley went to Cleveland alone to make the case for keeping his men to their own otherwise defenseless families. He pled his case so well that he was ordered to build a blockhouse where the surrounding communities could flee in times of attack.

"Until Perry's victory on Lake Erie, in September, 1813, the red coat and the scalping knife haunted the settlers in visions by day and dreams by night; and a rumor, however improbable, would cause immediate flight to the fort." Fortunately, the communities never suffered such an attack.

 

Columbia Blockhouse - War of 1812