09/29/2026
This is Education Programs Coordinator, Michael McMaster, sharing a bit of information about …Collister Haskins Recalls the Burial Practices of the Ottawa in Wood County
Collister Haskins was born August 25, 1799 in New Salem, Massachusetts. He came to the Maumee River valley in March 1818 at Waterville. In April 1836 he laid out the village of Portage, Ohio in Wood County. Collister stated that Portage was, “located near or on the trail to Malden [Canada] where some of the Indians received presents from the British.” And that, “often hundreds of them camped near my home on their journeys to and fro.” Of the Ottawa burial practice, Collister stated that, “when they buried one of their number they would pour wh***ey upon the head of the grave; also to***co was laid about the grave, which was always fenced with poles.” When passing the grave, “you might generally see a plug of to***co, if the Indians were in the vicinity.” This passage was taken from the June 7, 1867 Perrysburg Journal.
