Editing Rockford, Ohio (section)

==History==
[[File:Rockford Carnegie Library.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Carnegie library]]

Prior to European colonisation, the high ground adjacent to [[St. Marys River (Indiana and Ohio)|St. Marys River]] at Rockford was used as a camping ground and village site for Native American tribes. Artefacts including weapons and tools have been found on the site.

Early traders, trappers and adventurers used the St. Marys River as a thoroughfare, and frequented trails along the banks of the river. Most notable of these is the Piqua-Fort Wayne Trail linking the [[Great Lakes]] to the [[Ohio River]], which crossed to the north bank at Rockford.

During the Indian Wars of the late 18th century, many armies transited Rockhold, most notably General Josiah Harmar en route to his defeat at Kekionga. General [[Anthony Wayne]] built Fort Adams in the area of Rockford in the early August 1794, as a temporary relay station and supply depot. Fort Adams was initially garrisoned with 100 soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Underhill. Fort Adams was abandoned in 1796, and is now an archaeological preserve operated by The Archaeological Conservancy. There are no physical remains of the fort.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kaufmann, J. E.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56912995|title=Fortress America : the forts that defended America, 1600 to the present|date=2004|publisher=Da Capo Press|others=Kaufmann, H. W.|isbn=0-306-81294-0|location=Cambridge, MA|oclc=56912995}}</ref>

The earliest records of Rockford originate from French-Indian trader Anthony Madore, who operated a trading post to the north of the current town, on the southern bank of the St. Marys River. It is not known how long Madore owned the post, but he died around 1815.

During the [[War of 1812]], General William Henry Harrison camped in Rockford en route to fight the British and Indian coalition. He was joined at the camp by 200 mounted Ohio volunteers and 800 foot soldiers.<ref name="baltzell" />