This Day in History -The Michigan-Ohio War Ends

On this day back in 1836, the Michigan-Ohio Border War, known as the Toledo War ended with the acceptance of Federal government terms by Michigan at the Frostbitten Convention.

This practically forgotten war claimed no lives but resulted in much taunting between the rival armies, the calling out of the militia of both states and shots being fired, some assorted fisticuffs and one stabbing.

In return for giving up claims on Toledo and the disputed land in the strip above the Maumee river, Michigan was given the Upper Peninsula and was admitted as a state in the Union. This surrendering of territory was, at the time, thought to have been a decisive loss for Michigan. However, as the Upper Peninsula was later found to be rich in timber, copper and iron ore, this resulted in a real win for Michigan, especially when you visit the City of Toledo today.

A boundary adjustment and survey again took place in 1915 without any serious drama, and the final boundary adjustment between the states was only resolved after a Supreme Court case in 1973 settled the water boundary on Lake Erie, resulting in Turtle island being divided between the two states rather than remaining solely Michigan territory.