Dresden Howard

American statesman

Council Oak historical marker in Winameg, Ohio Remnant old-growth oak tree in neighboring Dover Township, reminiscent of Winameg's Council Oak. These trees were once abundant in the Oak Openings Region[1][2]

Colonel Dresden Winfield Huston (D.W.H.) Howard (1817 – 1897) was an American, Ohio statesman, who lived in Winameg, Fulton County, Ohio.

## Life and work

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Howard was born 3 November 1817 in Dresden Yates Co., New York.[3] His family moved to Fort Meigs when he was three years old.[4]

He served as a negotiator between the government and the Odawa Native American tribe in northwest Ohio. He was a frequent advocate on behalf of the Odawa. Howard named the first Fulton County seat, Ottokee, Ohio, after a local Odawa chief of the same name.[5] He also served as the first president of the Fulton County Historical Society.[6]

He aided in the Underground Railroad, helping slaves reach freedom in Ohio.[7] He also served as a Senator in Ohio.[4]

## Death

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He died of cancer on 9 November 1897 in Winnameg.[8] He was laid to rest near his home in Winameg, and near the tomb of the Odawa Chief Winameg. His tomb was of his own making.[9] A historical plaque located in Winameg, memorializing Dresden, reads as follows:

> Council Oak

> From around 1692 to 1992, a White Oak (Querus alba), that became known as the Council Oak, grew on this spot. At full maturity it stood 75 feet high and measured 5 feet in diameter. From 1800 to 1840 many important meetings concerning the Potawatamie took place under its branches.

> Two of the best-known people to meet under this tree were Chief Winameg and a young American named Dresden Howard who lived on this farm. Because of his knowledge of the Potawatamie language and customs, Dresden, who was later known as a "Colonel" Howard, represented the U.S. government in negotiations with the Potawatamie.

> The diseased tree was cut down on May 27, 1992. A section of the tree was carved into a life-sized depiction of Dresden Howard and Chief Winameg and is displayed at the Sauder Village in nearby Archbold, Ohio.

> Both Chief Winameg and Dresden Howard are buried on this property.

Dresden Howard is remembered in the Fulton County community with life-size depiction of him that is that displayed at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio.[10]

## References

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1. ^ Oak Openings MetroParksToledo.com
2. ^ Goll Woods Walking Guide OhioDNR.gov. Retrieved 29 March 2016
3. ^ "Grave of Last of Ottawa Indians Honored after Delay of 100 Years". Toledo Blade. November 26, 1952. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
4. ^ a b "Dresden Howard at Sauder Village". www.saudervillage.org. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
5. ^ Krumm, Robert (2014). Wauseon. Arcadia Publishing. p. 12\. ISBN 978-1-4396-4839-1.
6. ^ Krumm, ibid, p. 17
7. ^ "Colonel Dresden W. H. Howard Funeral Obituary Eulogy". Rootsweb.ancestry.com. 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
8. ^ "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Surnames of Fulton County Ohio and Before". Wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
9. ^ Toledo Blade, ibid
10. ^ Toledo Blade article on Council Oak Retrieved 31 March 2016