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| Conserving and Protecting Natural and Agricultural Lands in Northwest Ohio |
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Peninsular
Farms Conservation Easement How do you describe the largest and most diverse conservation easement of the Black Swamp Conservancy? It could be described as the first land given by the Wyandot Indians to the first white family in what is now Sandusky County. Or you could say that it is 470 acres including some of the most productive farmland in Sandusky County. You could even say that its beauty and diversity encompasses virgin woodlots, wetlands and floodplains along 2½ miles of scenic Sandusky River shoreline. Here at the Conservancy, we call it our most spectacular acquisition to date, a "jewel in the crown" of the Conservancy's conservation easement holdings. On December 29, 2000, Donald Miller, a successful businessman, wildlife lover and owner of Peninsular Farms, protected forever this naturally diverse and historic property located three miles north of the City of Fremont along the Sandusky River. The river itself boasts the largest inland eagle population in Ohio and supplies drinking water to four northwestern Ohio communities. About sixty-five miles of the river were designated a state "Scenic River" in 1970. The conservation easement covers woodlots, cultivated bottom land, wetlands and floodplains that together create an extensive wildlife habitat. Mr. Miller also maintains an unharvested feedlot for wildlife and practices best management farming methods to protect its riverbank and water quality. But the history of the land is equally interesting and considered rich enough in historical and archeological interest to possibly merit listing on the National Register of Historical Places. The foundations of a trading post burned by British troops during the War of 1812 have been located. The place is considered a true historical treasure. In 1780, James Whittaker, then a young boy, left Fort Pitt in Pennsylvania with his brother and another young man, on a hunting trip. They were ambushed by Wyandot warriors during which the brother escaped, the other young man was killed, and James was captured with a bullet-shattered arm. After several days of hard traveling to their camp, the Indians made James run the gauntlet twice before a squaw threw a blanket over him and declared the brave young prisoner her adopted son. Whittaker quickly adapted himself to native life and was well liked by his captors. It has been said the he was permitted to join their war parties and was present at the defeat of General St. Clair's army and at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Later, Elizabeth Fulks, a white Pennsylvania girl, was also captured by the tribe and the two were later allowed to go to Detroit to be married in a Christian ceremony, returning to live harmoniously with their native neighbors and raising and educating a family on the land given them. President James Monroe officially deeded the property to the Whittakers in 1806 as part of what was called the Whittaker Reserve. Whittaker eventually became the owner of three area mercantile stores and amassed considerable wealth. He died in 1816; many strongly believed he was poisoned by a man who owed him a lot of money. In 1878, the original 1,280-acre reserve was divided into smaller farms. In the 1920's a Detroit man named Mooney consolidated several of the smaller farms, turning nearly 500 acres into a beautiful fenced horse farm on which he raised and stable some 150 trotters and pacers. Part of a movie called "Back Home in Indiana" was filmed there. The property was said to be "going to seed" when Mr. Miller acquired it in 1975 and restored it to its glory days. Born in Green Springs Ohio, Donald Miller is a successful businessman whose love of its wildlife makes him particularly eager to protect the property and fend off the many development offers he receives. At the same time he desires to set a standard to be followed b other property owners who may be interested in estate planning benefits as well as the ability to control the future use of their property without giving up ownership. (check out the following links for additional Peninsular Farms history)
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