Joseph Howland Daniel L. Coit Elias Morgan Daniel L. Coit Caleb Atwater Daniel Holbrook Joseph Williams William Low William Judd Elisha Hyde Uria Tracey James Johnson Samuel Mather, Jr Ephraim Kirby Elijah Boardman Uriel Holmes, Jr. Oliver Phelps Gideon Granger Solomon Griswold William Hart Henry Champion (2d) Ashur Miller Robert C. Johnson Ephraim Post Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr Solomon Cowles Oliver Phelps Asahel Hathaway John Caldwell Peleg Sanford Timothy Burr Luther Loomis Ebenezer King, Jr. William Lyman John Stoddard David King Moses Cleveland Samuel P. Lord Roger Newberry Enoch Perkins Jonathan Brace Ephraim Star Sylvanus Griswold Jabez Stocking Joshua Stow Titus Street James Bull Aaron Olmstead John Wyles Pierpont Edwards Amounting to,

$30,461 51,402 22,846 8,750 15,231 10,500 16,250 57,400 30,000  18,461 60,000 80,000 10, 000 30,462 85,675 34.000 60,000 42,000 19,03,9 10,000 168,185 12,000 15,000 15,231 44,318 27,730 32,600 14,092 38,000 17,415 1,683 11,423 22,846 30,000 60,000 .$1,206,600

No survey had yet been made, so that it was impossible to determine the number of acres to which each was entitled. The committee of eight made out deeds to each of the purchasers or association of purchasers, of as many twelve hundred-thousandths in common of the entire tract as they had subscribed dollars. These deeds and the subsequent drafts were recorded in the office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut and afterwards transferred to the recorder's office at Warren. They are very long, reciting the substance of the resolution authorizing the sale and mode of sale to the grantees. It does not appear that any part ot the consideration was paid in hand.* Thus the State made final disposition of all her western lands except the tract purchased by General Parsons, which reverted ir. consequence of non-payment of this stipulated price. This tract was divided up as follows and afterwards sold by order of the legislature, the deeds being issued by the Secretary of State, The whole purchase is surveyed into thirteen tracts, of different sizes and forms, numbered from fou1 to sixteen inclusive, and a four thousand acre reservation lying in the vicinity of tract sixteen, is subdivided and allotted into lots, with two series of numbers. One series—number one to number twenty two inclusive,—lies part in Lordstown and part in Jackson, and the other series, number one to number thirty seven inclusive, lies part in Weathersfield and part in Austintown, besides a gore of said tract number sixteen, about fifty seven rods wide, along the west side of the four thousand acre tract. The four thousand acre salt spring reservation tract is subdivided and allotted into lots, numbered from one to twenty-four inclusive. 26 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO CHAPTER V CONNECTICUT LAND COMPANY. Terms of the Association—Survey and Division—Proceedings of the Directors. The number of original parties to the purchase of September 2, 1795, was thirty-five, although there were forty-eight individuals. There "Webb MSS. TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 27 were, however, other persons who did not appear as purchasers whose capital was represented, so that the whole number of persons was fifty-seven. These constituted the Connecticut Land company. The members of this company effected an organization on the 5th day of September, 1795. This was done at Hartford, Connecticut. They adopted articles of association and agreement, fourteen in number, Their first article designated the name by which they chose to be known, Article number two provided for the appointment of a committee, consisting of three of their number—John Caldwell, John Brace, and John Morgan—to whom each purchaser was required to execute a deed in trust of his share in the purchase, receiving in exchange a certificate from these trustees showing that the holder thereof was entitled to a certain share in the Connecticut Western Reserve, which certificate of share was transferable by proper assignment. The form of this certificate is given in Article IX. Article III. provides for the appointment of seven directors, and empowers them to procure an extinguishment of the Indian title of said Reserve ; to cause a survey of the lands to be made into townships containing each sixteen thousand acres ; to fix on a township in which the first settlement shall be made, to survey the township thus selected into lots, and to sell such lots to actual settlers only ; to erect in said township a saw-mill and a grist-mill at the expense of the company; and to lay out and sell five other townships to actual settlers only. Article IV. obliges the surveyors to keep a regular field-book, in which they shall accurately describe the situation, soil, waters, kinds of timber, and natural productions of each township; said book to be kept in the office of the clerk of said directors, and open at all times to the inspection of each proprietor. Article V. provides for the appointment by the directors of a clerk, and names his duties. Article VI. makes it obligatory upon the trustees to give each of the proprietors a certificate as named above. Article VII. imposes a tax of ten dollars upon each share to enable the directors to accomplish the duties assigned to them. Article VIII. divides the purchase into four hundred shares, and gives each shareholder one vote for every share up to forty shares, when he shall thereafter have but one vote for every five shares, except as to the question of the time of making a partition of the territory, in determining which every share shall be entitled to one vote. Article X. fixes the dates of several future meetings to be held. Article XI. reads : "And, whereas, some of the proprietors may choose that their proportions of said Reserve should be divided to them in one lot or locatron, it is agreed that in case one-third in value of the owners shall, after a survey of said Reserve in townships signify to said directors or meeting a request that such third part be set off in manner aforesaid, that said directors may appoint three commissioners, who shall have power to divide the whole of said purchase into three parts, equal in value, according to quanlity, quality, and situation; and when said commissioners shall have so divided said Reserve, and made a report in writing of their doings to said directors, describing precisely the boundaries of each part, the said directors shall call a meeting of said proprietors, giving the notice required by these articles ; and at such meeting the said three parts shall be numbered, and the number of each part shall be written on a separate piece of paper, and shall, in the presence of such meeting, be by the chairman of said meeting put into a box, and a person, appointed by said meeting for that purpose, shall draw out of said box one of said numbers, and lhe part designated by such number shall be aparted to such person or persons requesting such a severance, and the said trustees shall, upon receiving a written direction from said directors for that purpose, execute a deed to such person or persons accordingly; after which such person or persons shall have no power to act in said company." Article XII. empowers the company to raise money by tax on the proprietors, and to dispose, upon certain conditions, of so much of a proprietor's interest, in case of delinquency, as shall be necessary to satisfy the assessment. Article XIII. provides for the appointment by the company of a successor to a trustee who may have caused a vacancy in the office by death. Article XIV. places the directors in the trans- 28 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. action of any business of the company under the control of the latter "by a vote of at least three- fourths of the interest of said company." The following gentlemen were chosen to constitute the board of directors : Oliver Phelps, Henry Champion (2d), Moses Cleaveland, Samuel W. Johnson, Ephraim Kirby, Samuel Mather, Jr., and Roger Newbury. At a meeting held in April, 1796, Ephraim Root was made clerk, and continued to act in this capacity until the dissolution of the company, in 1809. A moderator was chosen at each meeting, and changes of directors were made from time to time. NAMES OF MEMBERS OF THE CONNECTICUT LAND COMPANY. The following are the names of the persons who subscribed to the " Articles of Association and Agreement constituting the Connecticut Land Company":

Ashur Miller, Uriel Holmes, Jr,, Ephraim Starr, Luther Loomis, Solomon Cowles, Daniel L. Colt, Pierpont Edwards, Titus Street, R. C. Johnson, Ephraim Kelley, Gideon Granger, Jr., Moses Cleaveland, Elijah Boardman, Samuel Mather, Jr. Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr., Joseph Williams, William M. Bliss, William Battle, Timothy Burr, Joseph C. Yates, William Law, Elisha Hyde, William Lyman, Daniel Holbrook, Thaddeus Levvett, Roger Newbury,

Roger Newbury for Justin Ely, Elisha Strong, Joshua Stow,   Jabez Stocking, Jonathan Brace, Joseph Howland, James Bull, William Judd, Samuel P. Lord, Oliver Phelps, Zephaniah Swift, Enoch Perkins, William Hart, Caleb Atwater, Lemuel Storrs, Peleg Sandford, John Stoddard, Benajah Kent, Eliphalet Austin, Samuel Mather, James Johnson, Uriah Tracey, Ephraim Root, Solomon Griswold, Ebenezer King, Jr., Eljiah White,

In behalf of themselves and their associates in Albany, New York.

Before this organized body of men lay the important work of obtaining a perfect title to their purchase; of causing a survey of the lands to be made; of making partition of the same; and then of inducing colonies of men to undertake the settlement.

To these tasks the purchasers addressed themselves in right good earnest. In order to make sound their title they must obtain from the United States a release of the Government's claim—a very just and formidable one—and to extinguish the title of the Indian, whose right to the soil rested upon the substantial basis of actual occupancy. Whateve1 interest Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York may have had in the Western Reserve had passed to the United States, and if none of the claiming States had title, the dominion and ownership were transferred to the General Government by the treaty made with Great Britain at the close of the Revolution, There was, therefore, a very reasonable solicitude upon the part of the Connecticut Land company lest the claim of the United States would, if issue were made, be proven to be of greater validity than that of Connecticut, the company's grantor, Another difficulty made itself felt. When an attempt was made to settle the Reserve, it was discovered that it was so far removed from Connecticut as to make it impracticable for that State to extend her laws over the same, or to make new ones for the government of the inhabitants. Congress had provided in the ordinance of 1787 for the government of the Northwestern Territory; but to admit jurisdiction by the General Government over this part of that territory would be a virtual acknowledgment of the validity of the Government's title, and therefore an indirect proof of the insufficiency of the company's title, The right to such jurisdiction was therefore denied, and Connecticut was urged to obtain from the United States a release of the Governmental claim. The result was that Congress. on the 28th day of April, 1800, authorized the President to execute and deliver, on the part of the United States, letters patent to the Governo1 of Connecticut, releasing all right and title to the soil of the Reserve, upon condition that Connecticut should, on her part, forever renounce and release to the United States entire and complete civil jurisdiction over the Reserve. Thus Connecticut obtained from the United States he1 claim to the soil, and transmitted and confirmed it to the Connecticut Land company and to those who had purchased from it, and jurisdiction for the purposes of government vested in the United States.

THE EXTINGUISHMENT OF THE INDIAN TITLE.

At the close of the Revolution the General Government sought by peaceable means to ac-

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 29

 

quire the red man's title to the soil northwest of the Ohio. On the 21st of January, 1785, a treaty was concluded at Fort McIntosh with four of the Indian tribes—the Wyandots, Delawares, Chippewas and Ottawas. By this treaty the Cuyahoga and the portage between it and the Tuscarawas were agreed upon as the boundary on the Reserve between the United States and the Indians, All east of the Cuyahoga was, in fact, ceded to the United States. The Indians soon became dissatisfied, and refused to comply with the terms of the treaty.

 

On January 9, 1789, another treaty was concluded at Fort Harmar, at the mouth of the Muskingum, between Arthur St. Clair, acting for the United States, and the Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa and Sac nations, by which the terms of the former treaty were renewed and confirmed. But only a short time elapsed before the Indians violated their compact. Peaceful means failing, it became necessary to compel obedience by the use of arms. Vigorous means for relief and protection for the white settler were called for and enforced. At first the Indians were successful; but in 1794 General Wayne, at the head of thirty-five hundred men, encountered the enemy on the 20th day of August, on lhe Maumee, and gained a decisive victory. Nearly every chief was slain. The treaty of Greenville was the result. General Wayne met in grand council twelve of the most powerful northwestern tribes, and the Indians again yielded their claims to the lands east of the Cuyahoga, and made no further effort to regain them.

 

The Cuyahoga river and the portage between it and the Tuscarawas constituted the boundary between the United States and the Indians upon the Reserve until July 4, 1805. On that day a treaty was made at Fort Industry, by which the Indian tille to all the Reserve west of the Cuyahoga was purchased. Thus the Indian title to the soil of the Reserve was forever set at rest, and no flaw now existed in the Connecticut Land company's claim to the ownership of the lands of the Reserve.

 

SURVEY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE.

 

The title having been perfected, the company made preparations to survey the portion of the Reserve lying east of the Cuyahoga. In the early part of May, 1796, the company fitted out an expedition for this purpose, of which Moses Cleaveland was the leader of a company—all told of about forty men—five of them surveyors, one a physician, and the rest chainmen and axe- men.

By previous arrangement they commenced their journey, ascending the Mohawk in four flat bottomed boats, proceeding by way of Oswego, Niagara and *Queenstown to Buffalo, reaching the soil of the Reserve on the 4th of July.

 

ARRIVAL OF THE SURVEYORS,

 

The records of the Ashtabula Historical and Philosophical Society contain an interesting narrative made by Judge Stow of the journey of the surveying party, and from this we gather what follows in relation to the expedition.

 

At the time the party commenced its journey, Fort Oswego, which they were compelled to pass, was garrisoned by the British. They anticipated difficulty in being able to get beyond the fort. At Fort Stanwix, however, they had the good fortune to be overtaken by Captain Cozzens, who had been sent by the British Minister, Mr. Bond, with open dispatches to all His Majesty's officers and subjects, announcing the ratification by both Governments of Jay's treaty, and that the navigation of the lakes should henceforth be free to all American vessels. They now anticipated no trouble. Captain Cozzens took passage on board Judge Stow's boat, and they ascended Wood creek toward Lake Ontario. When arrived at Oswego, however, permission to pass the fort was denied on the ground that his instructions were positive, and without the sanction of his superior officer, then at Niagara, he was powerless to grant the request.

 

Mr. Stow's instructions from the Land company were not to attempt to run by the fort in any event ; but, if permission were withheld, to lie in wait until further orders from the company should be received. But the climate was unhealthy; the soldiers in the garrison were many of them sick, and some of them dying; time was precious, and the anxiety to reach the Reserve was great. After much deliberation, it was almost the unanimous voice of the party to attempt the passage. The boats were floated down to within four miles of the fort, when they Were hauled into a small bay and secreted among the bushes. One of the boats was then relieved

 

30 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

 

of the greater part of its cargo, manned with double oars, and, with the agent, Mr. Stow, on board, moved down to the fort. The British officer in command of the fort evidently supposed that the boat was on its way to Fort Niagara to obtain the consent of the officer in command at that point to make the passage, and the crew were not disturbed. The garrison was thrown off its guard by this stratagem, and, at dead of night, the other boats passed the fort unobserved, and joined their companions on the waters of Lake Ontario. The following incident of the voyage will be of interest:

 

The first boat had proceeded as far as to Sodus, where the little fleet intended to make a harbor. A sudden storm arose and overtook the boats before they could reach Sodus. Night had come on, and the darkness was intense; the storm became more and more violent, and the situation was one of eminent peril. Beacon-fires were built by the crew of the boat which had landed, but it was impossible for the rest of the boats to make the harbor. The situation of the agent at this moment was intensely painful. His companions were in a perilous situation, and it was out of his power to afford them any relief. They were but a short distance from a dangerous shore, and the next billow might dash their little bark in pieces. Besides, he had assumed the responsibility of running by the fort, and, although successful in that attempt, yet if the boats were cast away or lost, the whole responsibility of the catastrophe would rest upon him. In this state of suspense and alarm, a man from one of the boats came running from the beach with the intelligence that all was lost. No anxiety could be greater or suffering more intense than that of the men on shore. They ran up and down the beach to see if it were not possible to render some assistance or gain some tidings from their companions. They found thrown upon the shore a gun and oar, which they recognized as belonging to Captain Beard, who was in charge of one of the boats. This increased their alarm. The next moment, however, they met Captain Beard himself, and anxiously asked if all were lost. He replied that nothing was lost but a gun and an oar! No lives were lost. The boats sustained much injury, and one was so badly damaged it could not be repaired, and was abandoned.

 

Without more adventure worthy of note Mr. Stow and his comrades reached the mouth of Conneaut creek in the early part of July, 1796.

 

The names of this surveying party, a company of fifty-two persons, all told, are as follows: Moses Cleaveland, the Land Company's agent; Joshua Stow, commissary; Augustus Porter, principal surveyor; Seth Pease, Moses Warren, Amos Spafford, Milton Holley, and Richard M. Stoddard, surveyors; Theodore Shepard, physician; Joseph Tinker, principal boatman ; Joseph McIntyre, George Proudfoot, Francis Gray, Samuel Forbes, Elijah Gunn, wife and child, Amos Sawtel, Samuel Hungerford, Amos Barber, Stephen Benton, Amzi Atwater, Asa Mason, Michael Coffin, Samuel Davenport, Samuel Agnew, Shadrach Benham, William B. Hall, Elisha Ayers, George Gooding, Norman Wilcox, Thomas Harris, Timothy Dunham, Wareham Shepard, David Beard, John Briant, Titus V, Munson, Joseph Landon, Olney F. Rice, James Hamilton, John Lock, James Halket, Job V. Stiles and wife, Charles Parker, Ezekiel Morley, Nathaniel Doan, Luke Hanchet, Samuel Barnes, Daniel Shuley, and Stephen Burbank.

 

It is a noteworthy coincidence that this advance-guard of the army of civilization that was soon to people the territorial limits of the Reserve first touched its soil on the anniversary of America's independence. Thus in this signal manner did a new colony, destined to play so important a part in the future of the Nation, begin its existence on the same day of the same month in which the Nation itself began to exist Nor were these sons of Revolutionary fathers oblivious of the day which not only commemorates the birth of their country's freedom, but should henceforth be to them and their posterity the anniversary of the day on which their pilgrimage ended, and on which began their labors, toils, and sufferings for the establishment in the wilderness of Ohio of homes for themselves and their children. Animated with emotions appropriate to the occasion, these Pilgrim Fathers of the Western Reserve celebrated the day with such rude demonstrations of patriotic devotion and joy as they were able to invent.

 

They gathered together in groups on the eastern bank of the creek now known as the Conneaut; they pledged fidelity to their country in liquid dipped from the pure waters of the lake; they discharged from two or three fowling-pieces the National salute; they ate, drank, and were merry, blessing the land which many of, them had assisted in delivering from British oppression; and they may have indulged in glowing predictions as to the future greatness and glory of the colonies they were about to plant. Could one of their number who shared their fancies, but who lived to see no part of them realized, behold today the changes which have proceeded in so wonderful a manner, we think that he would admit that the boldest anticipations of the little party of 1796 were but a feeble conception of the reality. However difficult it might be for

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 31

 

him to understand lhe stages of the process by which so great a transformation has taken place, lhe actual truth would still present itself for his contemplation. What would astonish him most would be, not the conquest of forests, but that they have been succeeded by the numerous thriving cities and villages and the multitudinous homes of the prospering farmer,' established on nearly every quarter-section of land in this country; that distance has been annihilated by the use of steam and the consequent acceleration of speed; that wealth and population have been so rapidly accumulative ; that the community is so opulent and enlightened; that education is fostered by so admirable a system of free schools; that intelligence is universally diffused by so many representatives of a free press; that moral opinion has gained such ground ; that religion is sustained by the convictions of an enlightened faith, and that the happiness of the people is universal and secure.

 

They christened the place where occurred these demonstrations of patriotism and joy Fort Independence, and the following are the toasts which they drank:

 

1. The President of the United States.

2. The State of Connecticut.

3. The Connecticut Land company.

4. May the Port of Independence and the fifty sons and daughters who have entered it this day be Successful and prosperous!

5. May these sons and daughters multiply in sixteen years sixteen times fifty!

6. May every person have his bowsprit trimmed and ready to enter every port that opens!

 

The surveyors proceeded to the south line of the Reserve, and ascertained the point where the forty-first degree of north latitude intersects the western line of Pennsylvania, and from this line of latitude as a base, meridian lines five miles apart were run north to the lake. Lines of latitude were then run five miles apart, thus dividing the Reserve into townships five miles square. As the lands lying west of the Cuyahoga remained in possession of the Indians until the treaty of Fort Industry, in 1805, the Reserve was not surveyed at this time further west than to the Cuyahoga and the portage between it and the Tuscarawas, a distance west from the western line of Pennsylvania of fifty-six miles. The remainder of the Reserve was surveyed in 1806. The surveyors began, as we have seen, at the southeast corner of the Reserve, and ran parallel lines north from the base line and parallel lines west from the Pennsylvania line five miles apart. The median lines formed the ranges, and the lines of latitude the townships.

 

 

THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EQUALIZING COMMITTEE.

 

After this survey was completed the Land company, in order that the shareholders might share equitably as nearly as possible the lands of the Reserve, or to avoid the likelihood of a part of the shareholders drawing the best, and others the medium, and others again the poorest of the lands, appointed an equalizing committee, whose duties we will explain.

 

The amount of the purchase money, $1,200,- 000, was divided into four hundred shares, each share value being $3,000. The holder of one share, therefore, had one four-hundredth undivided interest in the whole tract, and he who held four or five or twenty shares had four or five or twenty times as much interest undivided in the whole Reserve as he who held but one. As some townships would be more valuable than others, the company adopted, at a meeting of shareholders at Hartford, Connecticut, in April 1796, a mode of making partition, and appointed committee of equalization to divide the Reserve rn accordance with the company's plan. The committee appointed were Daniel Holbrook, William Shepperd, Jr., Moses Warren, Jr., Seth Pease, and Amos Spafford, and the committee who made up their report at Canandaigua, New York, December 13, 1797, were ̊William Shepperd, Jr., Moses Warren, Jr., Seth Pease, and Amos Spafford.

 

The directors of the company, in accordance with Article III. of the articles of association, selected six townships to be offered for sale to actual settlers alone, and in which the first improvements were designed to be made. The townships thus selected were numbers eleven in the sixth range; ten, in the ninth range ; nine, in the tenth range; eight, in the eleventh range; seven in the twelfth range ; and two in the second range. These townships are now known as Madison, Mentor, and Willoughby, in Lake county; Euclid and Newburg, in Cuyahoga county; and Youngstown in Mahoning. Num-

 

32 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO..

 

her three in the third range, or Weathersfield in Trumbull county, was omitted from the first draft made by the company, owing to the uncertainty of the boundaries of Mr. Parsons' claim. This township has sometimes been called the Salt Spring township. The six townships above named were offered for sale before partition was made, and parts of them were sold.

 

Excepting the Parsons claim, and the seven townships above named, the remainder of the Reserve east of Cuyahoga was divided among the members of the company as follows:

 

MODE OF PARTITION.

 

The four best townships in the eastern part of the Reserve were selected and surveyed into lots, an average of one hundred lots to the township. As there were four hundred shares, the four townships would yield one lot for every share. When these lots were drawn, each holder or holders of one or more shares participated in the draft. The committee selected township eleven in range seven and townships five, six, and seven in range eleven, for the four best townships.

These are Perry, in Lake county, Northfield, in Summrt county, Bedford and Warrenville, in Cuyahoga county.

 

Then the committee proceeded to select from the remaining townships certain other townships that should be next in value to the four already selected, which were to be used for equalizing purposes, The tracts thus selected being whole townships and parts of townships were, in number, twenty-four, as follows: Six, seven, eight, nine, and ten in the eighth range; six, seven, eight, and nine in the ninth range ; and one, five, six, seven, and eight, in the tenth range; and sundry irregular tracts, as follows: Number fourteen in first range; number thirteen in third range ; number thirteen in fourth range; number twelve in fifth range; number twelve in sixth range; number eleven in eighth range ; number ten in tenth range ; number six in twelfth range; and numbers one and two in the eleventh range. These tracts are now known as Auburn, Newbury, Munson, Chardon, Bainbridge, Russell, and Chester townships, in Geauga county ; Concord and Kirtland, in Lake county; Springfield and Twinsburg, in Summit county ; Solon, Orange, and Mayfield, in Cuyahoga county. The fractional townships are Conneaut gore, Ashtabula gore, Saybrook gore, Geneva, Madison gore, Painesville, Willoughby gore, Independence, Coventry, and Portage.

 

After this selection had been made, they selected the average townships, to the value of each of which each of the others should be brought by the equalizing process of annexation, The eight best of the remaining townships were taken, and were numbers one, five, eleven, twelve, and thirteen, in the first range; twelve, in the fourth range ; eleven, in the fifth range; and six, in the sixth range. They are now known as Poland, in Mahoning county; Hartford, in Trumbull county; Pierpont, Monroe, Conneaut, Saybrook, and Harpersfield, in Ashtabula county; and Parkman, in Geauga county. These were the standard townships, and all the other townships of inferior value to these eight, which would include all the others not mentioned above, were to be raised to the value of the average townships . by annexations from the equalizing townships. These last named were cut up into parcels of various sizes and values, and annexed to the inferior townships in such a way as to make them all of equal value, in the opinion of the committee. - When the committee had performed this task, it was found that, with the exception of the four townships first selected, the Parsons tract, and the townships that had been previously set aside to be sold, the whole tract would amount to an equivalent of ninety- three shares. There were, therefore, ninety- three equalized townships or parcels to be drawn for east of the Cuyahoga.

 

THE DRAFT.

 

To entitle a shareholder to the ownership of an equalized township, it was necessary for him to be the proprietor of $12,903.23 of the original purchase of the company, or, in other words, he must possess about three and three-tenths shares of the original purchase.

 

The division by draft took place on the 29th of January, 1798. The townships were numbered from one to ninety-three, and the numbers, on slips of paper, placed in a box. The names of shareholders were arranged alphabetically, and, in those instances in which an original investment was insufficient to entitle such investor to an equalized township, he formed a combination with others in like situation, and the

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 33

 

name of that person of this combination that took alphabetic precedence, was used in the draft. If the small proprietors were, from disagreement among themselves, unable to unite, a committee was appointed to select and classify them, and those selected were compelled to submit t0 this arrangement. If, -after they had drawn a township, they could not agree in dividing it between them, this committee, or another one appointed for that purpose, divided it for them. That township designated by the first number drawn belonged to the first man on the list, and the second drawn to the second man, and s0 on until all were drawn. Thus was the ownership in common severed, and each individual secured his interest in severalty. John Morgan, J0hn Caldwell, and Jonathan Brace, the trustees, as rapidly as partition was effected, conveyed by deed to the several purchasers the land they had drawn,

 

OTHER DRAFTS.

 

The second draft was made in 1802, and was for such portions of the seven townships omitted in the first draft as remained at that time unsold. This draft was divided into ninety shares, representing $13,333.33 of the purchase money.

 

The third draft was made in 1807, and was for the lands lying west of the Cuyahoga, and was divided into forty-six parts, each representing $26,687.

 

The fourth draft was made in 1809, at which time the surplus land, so called, was divided, including sundry notes and claims arising from sales that had been effected of the seven townships 0mitted in the first drawing.

 

QUANTITY OF LAND IN THE CONNECTICUT WESTERN RESERVE, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY THEREOF.

 

Land east of the Cuyahoga, exclusive of the Parsons tract, in acres - 2,602,970

Land west of the Cuyahoga, exclusive of surplus land, islands, and Sufferers' lands - 827,291

Surplus land, so-called - 5,286

Cunningham or Kelley's - 2,749

Bass, or Bay No. 1 - 1,322

“ - 709

“ 3 - 709

“ 4 - 403

“ 5 - 32

— 5,924

Parsons, or "Salt Spring tract" - 25,450

Sufferers', or Fire Lands - 500,000

Total acres in Connecticut Western Reserve - 3,366,921

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 33

 

CHAPTER VI.

 

PROGRESS OF WESTERN SETTLEMENT.

 

First Settlements West of the Ohio—Colonies on the Ohio River—First Settlement on the Reserve.

 

Next to a broad, national feeling and interest, patriotism manifests itself most in State love and State pride. These evidences of good citizenship are not wanting in Ohio, nor is there any reason why they should be. This State has a worthy history, civil organization based upon the equitable and catholic policy of the ordinance of 1787, a social fabric woven of the most hardy and substantial material the old colonial establishments could furnish, and rich natural resources have been a firm and unyielding basis of prosperous development. Although during the Revolution there was not a permanent white settlement within the present limits of Ohio, that struggle has a deep and important interest in the history of the State, aside from its effect upon the ownership of the soil. When British oppression became no longer endurable, the liberal, generous-spirited, courageous, resolute citizens of every colony hurried to the standard of independence and freedom. They literally and in fact pledged "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to the holy cause. Their honor was gloriously vindicated, but the result was the wreck and ruin of their private estates. The war closed leaving most of its participants with nothing but physical strength, ambition, and courage. For them passages to a western wilderness were open. After experiencing the hardships of the camp and dangers of battle, the Western forest and its savage inhabitants had no terror for these brave fathers of our national independence and hardy founders of our State. A fearless spirit, coupled with necessity, made them eager in the task of subduing a wilderness.

 

One of the first measures forced upon the consideration of the Congress of the Confederation was a plan for disposing of the western domain. Congress had pledged, in 1776, and by several succeeding acts, liberal bounties to the Continental soldiers. A major-general was entitled to eleven hundred acres, a brigadier-general to eight hundred and fifty, colonel to five hundred, lieutenant- colonel four hundred and fifty, major four hundred, captain three hundred, lieutenant two hun-

 

34 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

 

dred, ensign one hundred and fifty, and prrvates and non-commissioned officers one hundred acres each. These claims had considerable influence in keeping alive the "western fever," as it was called, and the spirit of adventure.

 

Immediately after the peace of 1783, General Rufus Putnam, of Massachusetts, transmitted to Washington a memorial, asking for an appropriation of land in the Ohio valley sufficient in extent to supply these bounties ; but the title was yet involved, and action was postponed. After, however, this obstruction had been removed by the voluntary cession of all the States having claims except Connecticut, Congress, in May, 1785, passed an ordinance, directing Thomas Hutchins, the United States geographer, to make a survey of lands lying northwest of the Ohio river, beginning with the west line of Pennsylvania, One-seventh of the land was reserved to satisfy the bounty claims of Continental soldiers. The whole tract, except the Connecticut claim and the undefined reservation of Virginia, lying between the Scioto and the Miami rivers, was to be surveyed into townships six miles square, and each township to be divided into thirty-six sections containing six hundred and forty acres each. Four sections of each township were reserved for future sale; the balance was to be apportioned to the several States, and sold by them at not less than one dollar per acre, with the additional cost of survey and sale.

 

The survey was commenced under this ordinance in the spring of 1785, seven range lines being run from north to south between the south line of Connecticut's claim (now the Reserve) to the Ohio river, when Indian hostilities prevented further operations. Five townships in Mahoning county are included in this first survey made within the limits of the present State of Ohio. The provision that the land should be partitioned to the several States was in perfect accord with the States sovereignly establishment under the old Articles of Confederation, but it proved an ineffectual measure and was deslined to be displaced by a more mature and encouraging policy.

 

It is a source of congratulation and pride to the settlers on the Reserve that their ancestors, nearly a century ago in old Connecticut, cooperated with their kindred over in Massachusetts in taking steps toward the planting of law and civilization in the western wilderness. The colony at the mouth of the Muskingum was sometimes designated "New Massachusetts." Western New England would have been a more appropriate title, for although Massachusetts stock predominated in the original settlement, many from Connecticut joined the westward train whose descendants are to be found among the inhabitants of the present day,

 

General Rufus Putnam continued to take a deep interest in Western colonization, particularly in securing for the veterans of the war the bounties promised them, a promise which Congress was slow to fulfil. Colonel Benjamin Tupper was appointed to assist Thomas Hutchins make the survey authorized by the resolution of 1785, and in May of that year came West and remained until difficulties with the Indians made further prosecution of the work impossible. He, however, remained long enough to form a very favorable opinion of the Ohio country, and on returning to Massachusetts in the early part of 1786, joined General Putnam in a plan for the organization of a colony. General Samuel H. Parsons had also been West, and joined heartily in the enterprise. He doubtless looked forward to the founding of a New Connecticut in that part of the wilderness touching the great lake, but the time was not ripe for such an undertaking, Generals Putnam and Tupper published an address to the people of New England setting forth the attractions and advantages of the new country, and inviting all interested in the project of forming an association with a view to emigration to meet in Boston, March 1786.

 

The convention which assembled in pursuance of this call represented the best elements of New England society. Articles of association were agreed upon which fixed the capital stock of the company at $1,000,000; Continental certificates being accepted as money. It had been provided that these certificates should be accepted at par in payment for public land. Three directors—General Samuel H. Parsons, of Connecticut; Manasseh Cutler, of Massachusetts; and General Rufus Putnam, of Massachusetts—were elected, with instructions to procure a private grant in the Ohio valley. Another meeting was called a year later, when it was found that less than one-third the stock had been subscribed,

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 35

 

but it was resolved to go on with the enterprise as rapidly as possible. A company was being organized in New York, with William Duer at its head, for the purpose of making a purchase at the mouth of the Scioto. Dr. Cutler found great difficulty in making a favorable contract with Congress. Coupled with this was the additional difficulty of securing the establishment of a civil government agreeable to the New England political creed. The fight was on slavery, which Dr. Cutler insisted should be rigidly prohibited from the territory, and on this issue hung the fight. Several members of Congress were interested in the Duer project, and it was found that their influence could be secured by combining the lwo schemes. Dr. Cutler had further desired to have General Parsons appointed Governor of the Territory, but he was compelled to yield this point and consent to the appointment of General St. Clair, who was a representative from Pennsylvania and President of Congress.

 

It will be seen that political methods did not differ much in 1787 from the fashion of the present time. Complete, elevated, and equitable as the ordinance of 1787 is, the founders of our State lobbied its passage by bringing lo bear upon members of Congress personal influence even to the extent of making the governorship a part of the price. A contract was finally agreed upon in July, 1787, for an extensive tract at the mouth of the Muskingum, and extending to the Scioto. In this the Duer company purchase was included. Dr. Cutler had brought to bear upon Congress the threat that unless his proposition was accepted, the New England Ohio company would purchase from Connecticut her reserved lands. This was one of the most potent arguments in favor of immediate action. The ordinance providing for Territorial government was lobbied through in connection with the bill authorizing a grant of land. Jefferson, in 1784, had submitted an ordinance for the government of all the Western Territory, which contemplated an ultimate division into seventeen States. It also contained a proviso against slavery which was stricken out before the final passage of the bill by Congress. This omission from the bill as finally passed was an insuperable objection in sturdy old Puritan New England even in 1787. This was the main reason why the directors of the Ohio company refused to sign the contract concluding the purchase until a revised ordinance for civil government was adopted.

 

On the 13th of July, 1787, was passed the celebrated ordinance of 1787, organizing into a single territory all the country northwest of the Ohio river and eastward of the Mississippi, subject to future division, if deemed expedient by Congress, into two districts. This fundamental law, enacted before a solitary freeholder raised his cabin in the territory it was intended to govern, has been characterized as a fit consummation of the glorious labors of the Congress of the old Confederation. It established in the Northwest the important principle of the equal inheritance of intestate estates and the freedom of alienation by deed or will. After prescribing a system of territorial civil government, it concludes with six articles of compact between the original States and the people of the States in the territory which should forever remain unalterable unless by common consent. The first declares that no person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, should ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments. The second article prohibited legislative interference with private contracts, and secured to the inhabitants trial by jury, the writ• of habeas corpus, a proportionate representation of the people in the Legislature, judicial proceedings according to the course of common law, and those guarantees of personal freedom and property which are enumerated in the bill of rights of most of the Stales. The third article provided for the encouragement of schools, and for good faith, humanity and justice toward the Indiana The fourth article secured to the new Slates to be erected out of the territory the same privileges with the old ones, imposed upon them the same burdens, including responsibility for the Federal debt, prohibited the States from interfering with the primary disposal of the soil of the United States or taxing the public lands; from taxing the lands of non-residents higher than residents ; and established the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence and portages between them common highways for the use of all citizens of all the States. The fifth article related to the formation of new States within the Territory, the divisions to be not more than five nor less than five. By the provisions of this article the west line of Ohio

 

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was a line running northward from the mouth of the Great Miami until it intersected a line running eastward from the southern bend of Lake Michigan. The sixth article provided "that there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the Territory otherwise than in the punishment of crime whereof the party shall have been convicted." The ordinance included the Reserve under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Territory. Federal jurisdiction was also extended over the Virginia Military District and accepted in after years by the settlers without dispute.

 

The ordinance of 1787 gave the greatest encouragement to immigration and offered the fullest protection to those who became settlers. "When they came to the wilderness they found the law already there. It was impressed upon the soil while yet it bore up nothing but the forest."

 

The foundation was now laid, the purchase was made and civil government provided. All was anticipation among the members of the Ohio company, Advertising circulars pictured a land of boundless resources and fertilrty, and raised expectations to the highest point. There was, however, a conservative element that ridiculed the whole idea of making a home in a wilderness inhabited only by wild animals and wild men far more dangerous than wild animals. But the heroes of the Revolution were not to be influenced by the ridicule coming mainly from the neutral or Tory element, which held aloof from the war for independence.

 

In October, 1787, Congress ordered seven hundred troops for the protection of the frontiers, and on the fifth of that month appointed territorial officers : Arthur St. Clair, Governor ; Winthrop Sargent, Secretary ; Samuel H, Parsons, James M. Varnum, and John Armstrong judges, Judge Armstrong declined the office, and John Cleves Symmes was appoinled to fill the vacancy, On the 7th of April, 1788, a company of forty-eight men, from Massachusetts and Connecticut, with General Rufus Putnam at their head, disembarked from their boats at the mouth of the Muskingum and planted civilization— New England civilization—on the soil of Ohio. Civil government was formally inaugurated on the t5th of July with impressive ceremonies. The secretary, judges, and inhabitants assembled on the site of the destined city of Marietta, where the Governor was welcomed by General Parsons in behalf of the residents of the North. west Territory. Under a bower of foliage contributed by the surrounding forest, the ordinance of 1787 was read, congratulations exchanged, and three hearty cheers echoed and re echoed from the surface of two rivers, high surrounding hills, and the dense forest.

 

Marietta was the first permanent settlement on the soil of Ohio. Its immigrants for a quarter of a century were from New England, and the town to this day bears the impress of its early history. The elements of society found in the Muskingum and Ohio bottoms in southeastern Ohio are almost identical with the prevailing elements in the Reserve. These two sections have always been united in the great moral and political movements in the State. Descendants from the same East, inheritors of thesame traditions, New England on the Ohio and New England on the lake have joined hands in every crisis against the opposing civilizations which predominate in other sections of the State.

 

In the spring of 1789 an association made a settlement at Belpre, opposite the mouth of the Little Kanawha, and another on the Muskingum river at Waterford. During the same summer a third located at Big Bottom, on the Muskingum, but this group all belonged to one colony—the Ohio company—and together constitute one of the five distinct centers of early settlement.

 

The New England emigrants of 1788 had scarce got settled in their first cabins and block-houses when a people of different stock cut into the forest and established themselves between the Miamis of the Ohio. In October, 1788, John Cleves Symmes, a native of New Jersey, and one of the judges of the Northwest Territory, negotiated a purchase on behalf of himself and associates, of one million acres extending northward from the Ohio, between the Great and Little Miamis. He, however, failed to make full payment according to the contract and a large part of the purchase reverted to the United States, the patent when issued covering only about three hundred thousand acres. Opposite Licking river was a large forest amphitheater—one of the most beautiful and picturesque products of the great artist, Nature, within the present bounds of Ohio. A large tract taking in the adjoining

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 37

 

hills and the whole bottom was purchased by Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, who entered into a contract with Colonel Patterson and Mr. Filson, of Kentucky, for laying out a town. Filson was killed by the Indians, and his interest became the property of Israel Ludlow. Patterson and Ludlow, accompanied by a party of Kentucky woodsmen and surveyors, arrived on the Denman purchase December 6, 178 8.This may be considered the date of the foundation of Cincinnati. They erected a stockade and a few blockhouses, then surveyed a city which was named Losantiville, a barbarous compound meaning opposite the Licking, which a few years after was dropped for the present name.

 

Colonel Stiles, in the preceding November, had erected block-houses and laid out a town at the mouth of the Little Miami, which he named Columbia. It was evident that the locality was favorable for a large city, when the country on both sides of the Ohio should be developed. Judge Symmes, having made the original purchase, was ambiti0us to be the founder of the destined metr0p0lis, and accordingly, in February, 1789, he descended the Ohio, with a company of soldiers and citizens, as fa1 as the mouth of the Great Miami, where a third city was marked out by blazes on the trees; but the spring fl0ods came and cruelly destroyed the day-dream of a great western emporium at this point. This untimely inundation did not prove fatal to Symmes's hopes. A fourth city was marked out upon the trees, extending from the northernmost bend of the Ohio to the Miami, and named, from its location, North Bend. The three villages, Columbia, Losantiville, and North Bend, were 1ivals for supremacy, until Fort Washington was located, in June, 1789. The post was occupied by General Harmar with three hundred soldiers, many of whom belonged to the Revolutionary orde1 of the Cincinnati, and they conferred the name of that honorable society upon the village, which their presence made permanent, in place of the pedantic compound its founders had given it. Most of the original settlers of all these villages came from New Jersey, and they were recruited, for a number of years, from the same State. All together constituted a settlement which gave to that part of the State a characteristic civilization. New Jersey came to Ohio, and qualities of Hollander and English, tinctured with Swedish blood, are yet perceptible in the old inhabitants of the country around Cincinnati, extending a considerable distance up the Miamis.

 

The third settlement in Ohio was a foreign colony planted opposite the mouth of the Big Kanawha in the summer of 1791. It has never had any bearing upon State history at large, but is interesting as showing the speculative spirit of the time. The Ohio company's patent covered the contemplated purchase of Duer's company. According to previous contract, two days after Congress confirmed the grant, the Ohio company issued a patent to William Duer and others to all the land west of the seventeenth range as far as the Scioto river and south to the Ohio. The Scioto company was composed of speculators, none of whom became or desired to become settlers. The Ohio company associates and Symmes and his associates made purchases for themselves. Both flourished and became influential elements in the State. The Scioto company was a pure speculation, the failure of which is to be regretted only on account of the misery it inflicted upon the poor foreigners who were deceived by fraudulent representations. European colonization was the scheme adopted by these- companies as the most profitable for disposing of its western purchase.

 

France was at that time completely harrowed up by revolution and discontent, a circumstance greatly favoring the formation of an American colony. Joel Barlow, the poet, was sent to France. A better agent could not have been selected. He was courtly and elegant in dress and manner; was a florid talker and graceful writer. Such a man at such a time could not fail to become the average Frenchman's friend, philosopher, and guide. He went to Paris with a map of the Ohio valley printed in high colors, and prepared to issue deeds on paper with artistically decorated border. The term Ohio was never used, La Salle's La Belle Riviere being much more musical to a Frenchman. The map marked towns and cities, the largest of which was happily named Fair Haven. The accomplished poet pictured an Acadia with noble forests, consisting of trees that spontaneously produce sugar, and plants that yield ready made candles. To complete the picture he added streams of pure water abounding in excellent fish

 

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of vast size; venison is plenty, "the pursuit of which is uninterrupted by wolves, foxes, lions, and tigers," and to cap the climax he added "a couple of swine will multiply themselves a hundred fold in two or three years without taking any care of them." What a paradise! A land not only adorned by nature but furnished with food and raiment, and amusement for its inhabitants "who should have no taxes to pay, no military duty to perform." This glowing description had its effect chiefly upon light artistes,—carvers, gilders, coach-makers, frisures, and barbers, a large company of whom received deeds to lots, and embarked in the enterprise with characteristic French enthusiasm. Less than a dozen heavy laborers joined the colony. They embarked for America with the wildest anticipations.

 

Something had to be done for their reception. Ile wooded hills which present a bleak and rugged front to the river abounded in savage animals, and were frequented by bands of men more dangerous. General Rufus Putnam, of the Ohio company, was employed to locate a village and prepare homes for the immigrants on their arrival. The location of the visionary Fair Haven was found to be below high-water mark, which induced General Putnam to locate Gallipolis four Hiles below on a high bank. A small tract if land was cleared and block-houses built. The )hio company had also contracted to furnish the !migrants with provisions the first winter, but in lefault of payment for services already rendered he contract was cancelled. The foreigners inally arrived at the American. Acadia. Howlng wild animals made their hearts leap with fear, and the sight of many trees to be cut almost nought blisters on their tender hands. Worse than all, they were without food, and by reason )f former life and occupation were without the neans of doing for themselves. The hardy New Englanders who had passed through the batlles of lhe Revolution could subsist on the products of their rifles and seines, but the poor Paris Frenchman knew nothing about these most elementary instruments of backwoods life. To add o their misery and disappointment, they soon earned that the Scioto company had pot paid or the land, and consequently the highly-colored feeds issued in France were worthless. Despondent, in constant danger of an Indian attack, suffering from sickness, without food and without money, many of them sought lodgments in othe1 settlements, and a few dragged out a miserable existence as best they could. Congress granted to these unfortunate immigrants a tract at the mouth of the Scioto in 1798, but not many took advantage of the offer.

 

The fourth settlement in Ohio was made in the Virginia Military district. Virginia's claim to the Northwest was more valid than that of any other State, and we cannot refrain from expressing an admiration of that patriotic spirit in which she yielded her pretensions. She had promised liberal bounties to her troops engaged in the French and Indian war and in the Revolution, and to fulfil her obligation she reserved the large tract between the Scioto and Miami, from the Ohio river as far north as the centre of the State. General Nathaniel Massie was appointed by Virginia to make a survey of the district. The work was at first carried on by making expeditions through the district of Kentucky, then a part of Virginia, but this method was laborious and unsatisfactory. In the winter of 179o-91, encouraged by the flourishing condition of the settlements at the Muskingum and Miamis, he determined to plant a Virginia colony north of the Ohio. Such a settlement would afford his party protection while prosecuting the survey, and enhance the State's lands in value. A site was chosen and a town laid out in out-lots and in-lots, which took for its name Massie's Station, afterwards changed to its present name, Manchester, He gave general notice throughout Kentucky of his intention to found a town, and offered to the first twenty-five families to announce their intention to become permanent settlers, one out-lot and one in-lot and one hundred acres of land. Upwards of thirty families quickly announced their willingness to accept the proposition, The company arrived at the site of the town, whose streets had already been marked on the trees, in March, 1791. Every man—all strong Kentucky frontiersmen—went to work with a will, and in a short time each family had a cabin, and the whole village was enclosed by a strong stockade with block-houses at each angle, The Indian war was then being carried on with savage fierceness; but this little station "suffered less from depredation and even interrupti0n by Indians than any settlement previously made on

 

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the river Ohio. This was no doubt due to the watchful band of brave spirits who guarded the place—men who were reared in the midst of danger and inured to peril—as watchful as hawks."*

 

Marietta, Cincinnati, and Manchester were the first three permanent lodgments of civilization in the Ohio wilderness. A great expanse of dark forest lay between the river and the lakes uninhabited, untraversed except by native red men and an occasional trader. But it was a land possessing every element of loveliness to its wild, romantic occupanls. They had watched with apprehension and resisted with firmness the westward march of cultivation and improvement, Though steadily driven back they had hoped to maintain the Ohio river as the boundary between the white man's fields and their loved hunting ground. But the barrier had now been crossed. Hundreds of busy axes sent through the forest an alarm of approaching destruction, of ultimate extinction. The natural human feeling of self preservation impelled the tribes to make a united, determined, persistent effort to resist further encroachments, The Virginia borderers and Kentuckians in the long years of preceding strife had shown them examples of diabolical cruelty. A reign of danger and blood was in store for the Ohio settlements which brought to a pause the movement of westward emigration and speculation.

 

The war burst upon the frontiers of the Ohio company's settlement with sudden fury. For three years the colony had been growing and enlarging ils improvements without molestation or cause for anxiety. The first attack on the north side of the Ohio was at Big Bottom, on the Muskingum, on the night of January 2, 1791.

 

The settlers were aroused from their repose in fancied peace and security, to be made the victims of savage butchery. But two inmates of the block-house escaped ; fourteen were slain and five taken captive, who, while being led into the forest saw the building in flames, lumbling over the bodies of their friends and relatives. From this time there was safety nowhere. General Harmar made a campaign against the savage braves, but with only partial success ; we should rather say with partial failure, for nothing permanent was accomplished toward allaying hos-

 

• McDonald's Western sketches.

 

tilities. St. Clair met a disastrous defeat which gave the native braves renewed courage, and it was not until the battle of Fallen Timbers that hostilities ceased. For four years the progress of improvement was hampered by the necessity imposed upon the settlers of living in garrisons and the danger of making new settlements. The report of Wayne's victory on the Maumee was a joyful message to those already in the West and revived the spirit of emigration at the East. War is not an unmixed evil. It has its compensations, by making people hardier, braver, more enterprising, but chiefly in a new country by carrying back from long expeditions into unfrequented regions, a knowledge of the geography, geology, and resources of the soil. Wayne's troops opened up a road into the heart of the Northwest Territory, and the reports which they carried back reaching the old coast Slates; together with the assurance that the Indian power was forever broken, had the effect of bringrng scores of emigrants to the West.

 

The old garrisons were thrown open and every valley resounded with the woodman's axe and the crash of falling timber. "Never since the• golden age of the poets," says an old writer, "did the siren song of peace and farming reach so many ears or gladden so many hearts as after Wayne's treaty in 1795." Then it was that the incalculable task of hewing a great State out of a dense forest was entered upon in earnest. The village of Cincinnati, which in 1792 had a population of less than two hundred, numbered by the close of 1796 more than sixteen hundred souls; besides, her characteristically Jersey population had spread norlhward along the Miami valleys. Hamilton, Butler county, was laid out in 1794, and settled the following year; Dayton, Montgomery county, and Franklin, Warren county, were settled in 1796.

 

General Massie's first attempt to found a town in the heart of the Virginia Military district was made in 1795, but proved a failure on account of Indian hostilities. A more favorable result attended his effort the following year. Chillicothe was laid out early in 1796 and soon became by far the largest town in the district, and one of the three largest in the Territory. At the end of two years it had attained sufficient importance to be made the seat of civil government. The Virginia Military district rapidly increased

 

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in population and was an early rival of each of the older settlements—Marietta and Cincinnati, Like a long peninsula, Virginia population extended through Kentucky into Ohio half way to Lake Erie, The pioneers came through the passes of the Blue Ridge mounlains to Kentucky, thence across the Ohio, bringing with them the institutions of the Old Dominion, except slavery, which the ordinance of 1787 fortunately prohibited,

 

There was a striking contrast between the settlements on the Scioto, and on the Muskingum; as striking as the difference between the social status in Virginia and in Massachusetts. The Scioto Virginian proudly traced his ancestry to the English nobility, and claimed the blood of Norman and cavalier; his neighbor, the Muskingum New Englander, followed up his line of descent to the Puritan non-conformist, who came to America for religious freedom, The Virginian was Episcopal in religion and Jefferson Republican in politics; the New Englander was Calvinist and Federalist, They were, from the first, opposing political forces, and are to this day,

 

As soon as the Indian war had closed, settlers came over from Pennsylvania and entered land in the seven ranges surveyed in 1785. Many of the first settlers were Quakers, but by far the larger proportion were of that mixed blood which, for want of a better name, we call Pennsylvania Dutch (or German). Settlements in the seven ranges extended northward from the Ohio to the Reserve. The settlement of the Reserve may be said to have commenced in r 797, though very little was accomplished in the way of improvement before the close of 1798.

 

Settlements were scattered through the central part of the Stale as early as 1797, but really nothrng in the way of clearing and cultivating had been done anywhere by the close of that year except along the Ohio river and its principal tributaries, the Miamis, the Scioto, and the Muskingum. The region west of the Cuyahoga had never been entered with a view to settlement even by surveyors. When the settlement of the Reserve began, lhe whole Northwest Territory contained less than twenty thousand white inhabitants, scattered from Marietta to Cincinnati and north as far as Columbus and Vincennes. Altogether they would have made a community smallen than the city of Youngstown.

 

Governor St. Clair, in 1788, for purposes of civil government, proclaimed the erection of Washington county, embracing about half the present State of Ohio,—all that part east of the Cuyahoga and Scioto, Marietta was the county seat. Hamilton county was erected in 1790, with Cincinnati as the county seat. Detroit was occupied by American troops in 1796, and made the seat of a new county, Wayne, which embraced the whole Territory of Michigan, norlh. western Ohio, and northern Indiana. Adams county embracing the whole of the Virginia Military district, was erected in 1797. Washington county was divided the same year, the northern part constituting Jefferson, with the county seat at Steubenville. Ross was carved off of Adams in 1798, and considerable territory, Including the present county of Franklin, added on the north side.

 

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CHAPTER VII.

 

SETTLEMENT OF THE RESERVE.

 

Early Settlement of the Reserve—Ownership of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties—First Families with Date of Arrival.

 

We have had a glimpse of the Reserve and its inhabitants when white explorers first trod its damp soil in the thick shade of an unbroken forest, We have witnessed the bloody conflict which resulted in the extinction of those inhabitants; then followed the advent of other tribes and nations of the same great human family—a family whose history will forever be an interesting mystery. We have seen the westward advance of civilization and the Indian's gallant and heroic conflict with destiny for the maintenance of his forest and his home. The foundations of a State have been laid, and all conflicting claims settled except in so far as relates to the territory reserved by Connecticut in her act of session of 1786. We have reviewed the purchase of Connecticut's claim to the Reserve by a company of individuals known as the Connecticut Land company. It must be borne in mind that their deed did not give them an unencumbered title, for other States had held claims covering the Reserve, at least as valid as

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 41

 

Connecticut's, and Virginia's was far more so. These had all been quit-claimed to the United States while the Land company's title was based upon Connecticut's old charter and actual possession. We have followed the surveyors from Scherectady to Conneaut, and watched them from the distance of eighty-six years celebrating Independence day. The task which lay before them involved difficulties which at present can only be imagined, and what was accomplished during the first season fell far short of the company's expectations. About $14,000 had been expended, and the work was little more than half completed, although the field books show rapid work, lines being run at the rate of eight, ten, and sometimes even twelve miles a day.

It appears from the field-books that Warren, after whom the county seat of Trumbull county was named, was less energetic than the others, but he was continued in the service, from which we may conclude that the company was satisfied with him. The south or base line had been run no farther than the east line of Berlin township, Mahoning county; none of the six townships intended for sale to actual settlers had been platted except Newburg and Cleveland. This um. expected delay was embarrassing to the company, for the directors were under obligations to pay for their lands, but until the survey was completed it was impossible to effect a partition among the stockholders, and consequently no sales could be concluded. But the delay involved more than an extraordinary outlay of money without any income. The western spirit had reached almost every eastern home and was rapidly reducing the number of those who might be expected to emigrate to the Western forests. Under such circumstances the directors had good excuse for being impatient, nevertheless they had no cause to find fault with the survey0rs, whose work was prosecuted under most unfavorable circumstances. Their instruments were imperfect and trees and underbrush, to say nothing of swamps, interfered with running at long sights. The old-fashioned compasses then in use required frequent correcting of deviation. There were other circumstances tending to retard progress. Provisions were not always promptly delivered to surveying parties, so that there were frequent interruptions. Woods life was at first a novelty to the axmen, chainmen, 6 packhorsemen, and other laborers who comprised a large percentage of the party, but they soon lost their enthusiasm in work in which they had no interest except the small wages paid, and became lazy and indifferent. After the fist few weeks there was very little romance left in their employment. Every day was toil and drudgery with surroundings most uncomfortable and distressing. Ravenous mosquitoes were never idle day or night, and vegetable gas rested like a layer of poison on the surface. In clear weather the heat was oppressive, and, in wet weather, water from the underbrush and damp soil drowned out every germ of buoyancy. Meals did not always come regularly, and long intervals sometimes passed without a drop of spirit sustaining old New England rum. Their clothing became ragged from climbing over logs and through thickets; their constantly worn shoes rapidly gave way, and there were no cobblers to mend them. The surveyors were borne up by hope of financial gain. They were learning the country, and foresaw its future wealth. Their wages invested in lands would return rich profits. Hope and anticipation of wealth made their task light. The common laborers, disgusted and discouraged, expecting nothing but their pay and hardship, naturally became discontented. There is no evidence that an open rupture ever occurred with the surveyors, but the progress of the work was hindered by dissatisfaction, which was somewhat lightened by the agents promising grants of land to such as proved to be faithful.

 

The surveying party gave to New England the first accurate and detailed description of the Reserve. It has been remarked that " it is due to the general system of New England education that her sons are able wherever they go in unexplored countries to record intelligibly what passes under their observation." Most of the surveyors and some of the laborers kept regular journals of their daily experiences, and these, taken back to Connecticut had considerable influence in determining the location of settlements.

 

The east line of the Reserve was surveyed under direction of Mr. Holley and Seth Pease, whose journals give a very satisfactory description of the country through which they passed, and it is not presuming too much to say was the means of calling attention to the Mahoning valley, making Youngstown one of the first and

 

42 - TRUMBULL AND MA-HONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

 

the leading early settlement on the Reserve.

 

Mr. Holley, Seth Pease, Augustus Porter, and five other men left Conneaut, the headquarters of the party, on Thursday, July 7, 1796. Without difficulty they found the west Pennsylvania line, which had been run and cleared only a few years before. They proceeded southward five or six rods west of the Pennsylvania line, measuring as they went in order to assist them in finding the forty-first parallel, which, by the old charter, is the south line of the Reserve, and also to determine the variation of their compasses. For the first eight miles from the lake the land is described as " not well watered;" from the eighth to the thirteenth mile "the land has every appearance of being overflowed in wet seasons." Further south the surface rises and falls and the soil "of course is better;" "to the end of the nineteenth mile" the land "is ridgey and better watered, covered with all kinds of timber." " On the twentieth mile an open tamarack swamp, twenty-eight chains wide; to the end of the twenty-third mile the land is indifferent, swampy."

 

The party encamped over Sunday near an excellent brook, which was considered a favorable circumstance. Their line next day to the end of the twenty-fifth mile was "through the most abominable swamp in the world." On the twenty-seventh mile they came to a creek—"a smooth stream five or six feet deep and navigable for batteaux." " The land on each side is rich, but to all appearance is covered by water the greater part of the year." On this creek was a beaver darn, which Mr. Holley says was "quite a curiosity." The dam consisted of some large sticks of trees thrown across the stream and filled in with thousands of willows and other small wood, which was so compact as to make considerable of a pond above, "from which through a rich soil was cut several channels and arms, where they live now, as is evident from fresh tracks, newly-cut chips and brush." We quote the journal of July 12th in full as a specimen of the many hard experiences recorded in these early records:

 

In the morning we breakfasted in our camp by the little brook and left the packhorsemen to come on after us, but when we had proceeded about a mite we sent back a hand to tell the men to go round the swamp with the horses, but the swamp continued and we ran on till night. Here being a hemlock ridge we were in hopes the horses would find us, but alas! we were obliged to make a camp of boughs, strike up a fire, and go to bed supperless. In the daytime I had eat raspberries, gooseberries, wintergreen berries, and wintery greens and in the night I began to grow sick at my stomach and soon after vomited up everything I had in me. Mr. Pease, too, had a turn of the cramp in consequence 0f travel. ing all day in the water. We all rose early in the m0rning with meager looks and somewhat faint for want of eating and drinking, for where we camped there was no water th0ugh we had a little rum.

 

Provisions arrived in about two hours after dawn, but most of the pack-horses were three miles behind, being mired in the swamp. The day was spent in fishing, waiting, and assisting the horses along. Mr. Holley describes the thirty-second mile from the lake as "fine land for wheat; timber chestnut, white oak, and maple, rises and descends." From the thirty-fourth mile " to the end of the thirty-seventh mile the land is good, level, and timbered maple, beach, oak, whitewood, and herbage." We now enter the present limits of Trumbull county. " The land to the end of the forty-first mile is gentle, rises and descends, good, and timbered with white oak, chestnut, black oak, pepperidge, cucumber, and whitewood." They encamped at the end of the forty-second mile, where, says Holley, "we had a most pleasing prospect, a hill at the distance of four or five miles (in Pennsylvania), with the valley that lay between covered with stately trees and herbage which indicated an excellent soil, altogether exhibited a delightful landscape, the beauty of which I suppose was enhanced from its being the first time we could overlook the woods." What a. relief it must have been to rise above the dark shade of a dismal forest to the full view of a picturesque landscape. The next mile "the soil is rich, timbered with black and white oak, chestnut, and white walnut, under. growth of the same, hung together with grapevines. There are three fine springs in this

 

The Pymatuning at the end of the forty-fourth mile is thus described: "We crossed a large, smooth stream one chain and twenty-five links wide, course east, stony bottom, banks tolerably high; as far as we could see it was good boating; we waded the stream; it was about two feet and a half deep, but an uncommon dry time." For a mile south of the creek "land rises and descends; timber, oak and hickory ; soil good for grain." Having left Pymatuning creek five miles behind, the next four miles are covered with the sentence: " very abrupt ridges, stony and poor

 

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 43

 

land, oak timber, and whirtleberries." On the next mile "there are large stones which appear like grindstones," The western bend of the Shenango was struck on the fifty-third mile, described as "a large creek or river about two chains and fifty links wide, bottom gravelly, current brisk, abounds with fish, course southwest. We waded this and found the depth at this dry season to be more than waist high. We supposed this stream to be the same we crossed on the forty-fourth mile, with the addition of all the others that we passed. On this creek is good bottom land, timbered with 1ed elm, cherry, crabapple trees, plum and thorn bush." When they recrossed the Shenango on the following day it appeared navigable for boats. Mr. Holley judged the land passed over the next four or five miles good f0r grain. They reached on the sixty-fifth mile from the lake, or about one mile north of the Mahoning, the "Old Indian Path," which passed east and west from New York, through n0rthern Pennsylvania and the Reserve to Sandusky. This was a common Indian highway even as late as the time of which we write, 1796, between the Eastern and Western tribes. It is highly pr0bable that the following page from Holley's diary caused township two, range two, to be selected as one of the places for first permanent settlement.

 

On the sixty-sixth mile we encamped at five chains north of a river. This we find to be the Big Beaver river [it was the Mahoning, mistaken by the surveyors for the Big Beaver]. The course is east, current gentle but brisk, gravel bottom, and low banks. It is about four feet deep. We have measured across by trigonometry and find it to be about fifteen rods wide. After we came away Land0n said he saw two men in a canoe at the opposite shore and called them to him. They told him they had been at work there (ab0ut fifty rods down the river on the Pennsylvania side) for about three years; that the salt springs were about eighteen miles up the river and they were then coming there to make salt. They had not got their families on yet but would ere long ; that about twelve miles below the line on Big Beaver there was an excellent set of mills, and about twenty-five miles below the line there was a t0wn building rapidly, where provisions of all kinds could be procured, and carried from thence up the river into the heart of the C0nnecticut Reserve. There are no falls to the source and it is but sixty miles from the line down to Pittsburg.

 

They had heard at Pymatuning creek a cow bell and l0oked for a settlement in the neighborhood, but did not succeed in finding it; the Pennsylvanians in the boat informed them that there was a family living on the creek near the line.

 

On Thursday afternoon, July 21st, the party arrived at the southeast corner of New Connecticut, where they took the variation of their compasses by the polar star. On Saturday following Moses Warren, with a party of thirteen, arrived and a chestnut post sixteen inches by twelve was placed at the corner of New Connecticut on which was inscribed ; west side : "New Connecticut, July 23, 1796 ;" north side, "Sixty-eight miles Lake Erie ;" and on the east side, " Pennsylvania."

 

After two days delay the party distributed to run the range lines back to the lake. Holley ran the first 1ange, Spafford the second, Warren the third, and Pease and Porter the fourth. Some of the meridians converged while others diverged, causing a variation of half a mile before reaching the lake, This variation was found to make considerable difference in the size of the townships. The same difficulty was experienced in the United States surveys, and, before the invention of better instruments than the old fashioned compass and quadrant, it was found necessary to make a correction of each township line before proceeding with the next. In the survey of the Reserve the directors were in too great haste to permit the surveyors to take these precautions against fluctuations of the compass. The amount of this flucluation will appear from the variation in the size of the townships of Mahoning and Trumbull counties ; the number of acres in each of the townships is as follows :

Poland Coitsville Hubbard . Brookfield Hartford Vernon Kinsman Boardman Youngstown Liberty Vienna Fowler Johnston Gustavus Canfield Austintown Weathersfield. Howland Bazetta Mecca Greene Ellsworth Jackson

16,140 15,894 15,274 15,305 17,317 16,539 16,664 15,912 15,560 15,858 14,715 16,551 15,914 15,646 16,324 16,377 15,798 15,558 17,247 16,873 16,558 16,168 15,520

Lordstown Warren Champion Bristol Bloomfield Milton Berlin Newton Braceville Southington Farmington Mesopotamia

14,492 14,606 16,419 16.331 16,039 15.907 25,757 14,946 15,604 16,692 17,157 16,833

It must be borne in mind that the parallel lines defining the townships varied also so that it can not be determined from the size of the township whether the lines converged or diverged. It was intended that each township should embrace just sixteen thousand acres. The fact that there is not a township in the whole Reserve measuring exactly that amount indicates the inaccuracy of the survey. It made no difference in the final partition, for by that time the area of each was known, and all deficiencies either in quality or quantity, were compensated by tracts in other localities.   While the survey was in progress the directors of the Connecticut Land company were sowing broadcast extravagant circulars describing "the enchanting beauty and inexhaustible fertility of New Connecticut." Advertisements, in 1797, even in orthodox old Connecticut, differed very little from advertisements in New Connecticut in 1882. The successful composer of that sort of literature must be oblivious to defects and wear glasses which magnify attractions and advantages. But those who contemplated making heavy purchases were not deceived by overflowing rhetoric. They either consulted the surveyors' notes, which were taken back at the end of the first season, or managed to be chosen on the surveyors' corps for the next year.   The destined capital of New Connecticut was Cleaveland, or Cleveland, as it is spelled now. The town was laid off in lots, in the fall of 1796, and a few families remained in the place over winter. The lots were small and could be purchased only by permanent settlers.   John Young, in 1797, under the provisions of Article III. of the Land company's constitution, purchased township two, range two, and gave his own name to the settlement which grew up in that township. The locality was singularly fortunate, and Young's settlement took early precedence in the Reserve, and held it for a long term of years. When the partition of land was made among the stockholders, in 1798, it is estimated that there were but fifteen families on the Reserve; ten of these were at Youngstown, three at Cleveland, and two at Mentor, The best road to the West continued to be through Pennsylvania to Pittsburg. From the falls above Pittsburg, batteaux and even flat boats could be pushed up the Mahoning, making Youngstown the most accessible point in New Connecticut.   There was little real activity on the Reserve until after the partition of lands, in 1798. It then became a personal object for each owner to find purchasers who would, by making actual settlement, improve and enhance in value adjoining tracts. For three years the company had been reaching into their pockets to keep up the expense account and interest on their obligation to the State. It was becoming an utter necessity to some of them to find purchasers at some price. We insert a copy of the original drafts of the townships included in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, as at present constituted:   Hubbard township was included in draft No, 12 to Joseph Borrell, $7,000*; Joseph Borrell and William Edwards, $17,406.46; William Edwards, $1,400.   The record shows that several transfers 0f stock had been made before the regular partition took place. William Edwards eventually became owner of the entire township, which he sold, April, 1801, to Nehemiah Hubbard, whose name its bears. The first conveyances issued by Hubbard were to John P. Bessell and Samuel Tyler.   Brookfield township (surveyed township four, range one) was drawn by Samuel Hinkley, together with other lands, his stock in the company being $12,903.23. The first conveyance by him was one lot to James McMullen, issued in January, i801.   Hartford (surveyed township five, range one) was drawn by Uriel Holmes, stock $6,452, and Ephraim Root, stock $6,451.23. The first conveyance, by Holmes and Root, was t0 Edward Brockway, in September, 1799, of a tract of 3,194 2-16o acres, in consideration of $g00,   * The proportion of each proprietor is expressed by the numbe1 of dollars invested.   TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 45   showing considerable loss on the part of the original proprietors.   Vernon (township six, range one) was drawn by William Shepard, Jr., stock $4,000; William Whetmore, $6,000; Jeremiah Wilcox, $2,903.23. William Whetmore, having mortgaged his interest to Jonathan Dwight and Gideon Granger, and being unable to redeem it, the deed for the whole purchase was made to Shepard, Wilcox, and Granger, the latter having purchased Dwight's interest. The township was divided into three tracts, bearing the names of the then owners.   Kinsman (township seven, range one) was drawn by Uriah Tracy and Joseph Coit, stock $4,838.61; and John Kinsman, $8,064.62. Coit and Tracy subsequently conveyed their interest to John Kinsman, who thus became sole owner of the township in 1804. The first conveyances of small tracts in Kinsman were in 1802; 202 1/2 acres to David Randall, $405; 800 acres to Ebenezer Reeves, $2,000 ; 106 acres to Martin Tidd, $212.   Liberty (township three, range two) was drawn by Moses Cleaveland, stock $3,298.92; Christopher Leffingwell, $2,778.31; Daniel Lathrop, $3,66; Samuel Huntington, $3,200. The greater portion of this township was purchased by the Erie company, of which all these proprietors were members. A later transfer was made by the Erie company to Simon Perkins, Daniel L. Coit, Samuel Huntington, and others.   Vienna (township four, range two,) was drawn by Timothy Burr, A. Hitchcock, Uriah Holmes, Jr., and Ephraim Root. By several transfers made from time to time Ephraim Root became owner of nearly the entire township.   Fowler (township five, range two) was drawn by Samuel Fowler, whose stock in the company amounted to $12,003.23.   Gustavus (township seven, range two) was drawn by Henry Champion, stock $93,087; Lemuel Storer, $8,154; David Waterman and Nathaniel Church, 0.34; Joshua Stow, $808; Oliver Phelps and Gideon Granger, $1,176.50. -Henry Stores, in August, 1800, became sole owner of the township. He transferred, in 1801, to Josiah Pelton five thousand one hundred and ninety-eight and one-fourth acres for $6,382.25. This was the first deed executed by Stores after he became sole owner of the township.   Weathersfield (township three, range three) was drawn as follows : Caleb Atwater, stock, $333.33; Daniel Holbrook, $2,000; Turhand Kirtland, $4,750; F. J. B. Kirtland, $5,000; Levi Tomlinson, $1,250, drew tract number seven, containing eight hundred and forty-seven acres. James Lathrop, stock, $8,125; Daniel Lathrop, $3,66; John Kinsman, $1,279.67; Lynda McCurdy, $302.66, drew tract number nine, with considerable additions. This township was considered of more value than the others on account of the salt springs. The whole of Weathersfield township was not placed among the first drafts, because the boundaries of the salt spring tract were not yet defined.   Howland (township four, range three) was drawn by Joseph Howland, stock, $12,903.23. The first conveyance was made by Howland to John H. Adgate in 1799 of one thousand six hundred acres in consideration of $1,600.   Bazetta (township five, range three) was drawn by David Huntington, stock, $300; Nathaniel Shalor, $5,096.77; Samuel P. Lord, $r,188.46; Sylvester Mather, $3,300; Richard McCurdy, $3,018.   The original proprietors of Johnston township were Judson Canfield, stock $4,796.25; David Waterman, $2,640; James Johnston, $2,661; Nathaniel Church, $997.50; Frederick Walcott and Elijah Wadsworth, $131.15; Judson Canfield, James Johnston, David Waterman, and Nathaniel Church, $452.33; Samuel Canfield, $344; Eliza Wadsworth, $1,504. After numerous conveyances the township was partitioned and the greater part purchased by James Johnston, after whom it was named.   Greene (township seven, range three) was drawn by Joseph Howland, stock $12,903.23. In 1811 the whole township was conveyed to Gardner Greene. The first transfers made by him were in 1825 to Benjamin Pruden, David Rice, and Noah Bower, at prices ranging about $1.50 an acre.   Lordstown (township three, range tour,) was drawn by Samuel P. Lord, stock $12,903.23. Five thousand acres were soon after deeded to his son, Samuel P. Lord, Jr., who was also a resident of Connecticut. The tax on these five thousand acres in 1806 amounted to $20.24, and in default of payment, James Hillman, district tax collector, offered the land for sale as the law   46 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.   directed, The manner of conducting delinquent tax sales was the same as at present—the sale being confirmed to the party offering to pay the tax in consideration of the least number of acres. Eli Baldwin, of Boardman, bid 4,273 acres, which was the lowest, and upon payment of the $20.24 tax he received a deed to that number of acres, being almost the entire tract.   The draft which included Warren (township four, range four,) fell to Reuben and Andrew Bardwell, Ebenezer King, Jr., David and Fidelia King, Joseph Pratt, Luther Loomis, John Leavitt, Jr., Timothy Phelps, Martin Sheldon, Asabel King, Simon Kendall, Erastus Granger, Oliver Sheldon, Sylvester G. Griswold, and Matthew Thompson. The same stockholders drew three other townships outside of the present limits of this county.   Champion (township five, range four) was drawn by Henry Champion, stock, $93,087; Lemuel Storer, $8,154; Judson Canfield, James Johnston, David Waterman, and Nathaniel Church, $0.34; Joshua Stowe, $808; Oliver Phelps and Gideon Granger, $I,176.50,* By successive onveyances Henry Champion became exclusive owner of this township in December, 1798. William Woodrow made the first purchase from Henry Champron in 1818. In 1825 he deeded a large tract to his grandson, Henry C, Trumbull.   Bristol (township six, range four) was drawn by Nathaniel Gorham and Worham Parks, stock $12,803 43. From them it was transferred to Benjamin Gorham who sold in 1801, 12,609 acres, being the whole of the township except a square containing 3,722 acres, to Calvin Austin and Oliver L, Phelps. Benjamin Gorham conveyed in 1803 his remaining lands to Justus Ely and O. L. Phelps so that the ownership was finally vested in Austin, Phelps and Ely.   Bloomfield (township seven, range four) was drawn by Peter C. Brooks, stock $6,000, and Nathaniel Gorham, $6,923.23. Nathaniel Gorham the following year transferred his interest in the township to Peter C. Brooks. Brooks sold to Thomas Howe and Ephraim Brown. Brown in 1815 became owner of the entire township. In 1828 Brown sold seven hundred acres   * In this case as in many others the same association of persons made several drafts on the basis of their united stock.   to E. Goodrich, Jr., and Aristarchus Champion. A large part of this township is embraced in What was known as the tamarack swamp.   Mecca (township six, range three) was drawn by Turhand Kirtland, Jared Kirtland, Belius Kirtland, Seth Hart, Elnathan Smith, Jr., Abiatha Hall, stock $10,000; Asa Rising, Francis Pierce, $200; William F. Miller, $2,600; Caleb Atwater, $98.08; Seth Hart, $5.15. After various transfers the title to this township was in 1801 vested as follows: Rising and Pierce, 384 acres; Kirtland Brothers, 7,185 acres ; Solomon Cowles, 3,760 acres; Andrew Kingsburry, 2,581 acres; William Ely tract, 3,347 acres,   Newton (township three, range five,) was drawn by Jonathan Brace, stock $2,047.23; Justin Ely, $5,428; Elijah White, $5,428.   Braceville (township four, range five,) was drawn by Jonathan Brace, stock $2,047.23; Enoch Perkins, $5,428; Newburry, $5,428. The first conveyance made by the original purchasers of this township was a tract of 2,402 acres in 1802. Deeds were issued to H. Benedict, Joshua Stowe, and Samuel North in 1810.   Southington (township five, range five) was drawn and apportioned as follows: . Solomon Cowles, $5,000; William Ely, $3,757; Ephraim Robbins, $4,16.23 ; Joseph Barrell and William Edwards, $20. After several conveyances and an equitable division of the land the township was divided into three parts and was owned by William Ely, John Bowles, and Solomon Cowles.   Farmington (township six, range five) was drawn by Joseph Borrell and William Edwards, stock $1,503.46; Samuel Henshaw, $8,400; Joseph Pratt, Luther Loomis, David King, John Leavitt, Jr., Ebenezer King, Jr., Timothy Phelps, and Fidelia King, $1,316.77; Sylvester Griswold, $1,683. Several transfers followed, which placed John Caldwell, Ephraim Kirby, Solomon Bond, John Eaton, and Lemuel Forbes in possession of the entire township.   Mesopotamia (township five, range seven) was drawn by Pierpont Edwards, stock $12,903.23. The first transfer of lands in this township was made by John S. Edwards (recorder for Trumbull county), attorney for Pierpont Edwards, to Seth Tracy, then a resident of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The conveyance is dated September 27, 1800.   Poland (township one, range one) was drawn   TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 47   by Benjamin Doolittle, Jr., stock $1,592 ; Samuel Doolittle, $80; Titus Street, $6,943; William Law, $6,923; T. Kirtland, $3,750 ; Andrew Hull, $2,68.46; Daniel Holbrook, $2,000; T. Kirtland and Seth Hart, $1,000; Levi Tomlinson, $1,250.   Coitsville (township two, range one) was drawn by John Kinsman, stock $3,040.15; Tracy and Coit, $5,761.39; Zephaniah Swift, $3,260; Christopher Leffingwell, $841.69. Daniel Coit subsequently became owner of the greater part of this township, and when it was erected into a civil township it was named in his honor.   Boardman (township one, range two) was drawn by Elijah Boardman, stock $7,500; Homer Boardman, $1,025; David S. Boardman, $1,250; Jonathan Giddings, $325 ; Stanley Griswold, $1,023.38; Elijah Wadsworth and Frederick Wolcott, $979.82; William Ely, $800.   Canfield (township one, range two) was the draft of Judson Canfield, stock $4,769.25; David Waterman, $2,064; James Johnston, $2,661; Nathaniel Church, $997.50; Elijah Wadsworth and Frederick Wolcott, $137.15; Judson Canfield, James Johnston, David Waterman, and Nathaniel Church, $432.33; Samuel Canfield, $344; Elijah Wadsworth, $1,504.   Youngstown was purchased by John Young, from the directors, under Article III. of the Land company's agreement.   Austintown and Jackson townships were drawn by the same stockholders—Gideon Granger, Jr., $12,700; Oliver Phelps, $47,201 ; Oliver Phelps and Gideon Granger, Jr., $30,421.61, They also, on the basis of the capital here represented, drew a township in the present county of Ashtabula. Part of General Parsons' purchase, known as the Salt Spring tract, lay in each of these townships, and was excepted in the original deed,   Berlin (township one, range five) was originally owned and drawn by George Blake, stock $790.31; Samuel Mather, Jr., $7,354.54; William Hart, $1,752.31; Richard W. Hart, $3,000; Samuel Mather, Jr., $6.07.   Milton township was drawn by Joseph Borrell and William Edwards, stock $5.08; Ezekiel Williams, Jr., $96.77; Ralph Pomeroy, $8,125; Nathaniel G. Ingraham, $3,000; Ozias Marvin, Stephen Lockwood, Tailor Sherman, and Phineas Miller, $1,600; Pierpont Edwards, $0.08; Samuel P, Lord, Sap; Ebenezer, David, and Fidelia Kingo S0.39; Elijah Wadsworth and Frederick Wolcott, $0.51; Uriel Holmes and Ephraim Root, $0.31; Ichabod Ward, $74.78.   We have now given the original purchasers from the Connecticut Land company of all that part of the Reserve lying withing the present counties of Trumbull and Mahoning. All deeds from the company were of the character of the deed of the State of Connecticut to the company—merely quit-claims, so that the tenability of all titles rested after the partition of 1798 as before, namely, upon the validity of Connecticut's claim as against the claim of all other States vested by cession in the United States. However, the influence of actual occupation and improvement was rapidly clearing up all doubts as to what the final result would be. The permanent settlement which began at Youngstown and on Mill creek in 1797, spread rapidly up and down the river and over the more favored and accessible portions of the county in 1799. In 1800 Youngstown was the largest town on the Reserve, and Warren, which was laid off in the beginning of that year, was second in size, and as we shall see became one first in importance. A settlement was made at Harpersfield in Ashtabula county, in 1798, and the Mentor settlement grew from three families in the spring of 1798 to ten by 1800. Cleveland, which dates its settlement from the fall of 1796, had at the end of the first year a population of fifteen souls. Three years from that time there were but seven permanent settlers at the mouth of the Cuyahoga, and in 1810 only fifty-seven. Both Warren and Youngstown had by that time become brisk pioneer villages. The following list gives the name of the first settlers in each township of the Reserve included in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, and the date of their settlement. For further details the reader is referred to the township histories:   Youngstown, 1797, by John Young and Daniel Shehy.   Canfield, June, 1798, by Champion Miner, from Connecticut.   Vernon, 1798, by Thomas Giddings and Martin Smith.   Liberty, 1798, by Henry and Jacob Swager.   Brookfield, 1798, by James McMullen, Sr.   Howland, 1799, by John Adgate.   48 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.   Boardman, 1799, by Nathaniel Blakeley, John McMahon, and a Daniels family.   Warren, 1799, by Ephraim Quinby, Henry Lane, et al.   Vienna, 1799, by Isaac Fowler and Dennis Palmer.   Poland, 1799, by Jonathan Fowler, from "Connecticut; and John Struthers, from Pennsylvania,   Coitsville, 1799, by Amos Loveland, from Vermont.   Fowler, 1799, by Abner Fowler, from Westfield, Massachusetts ; and Levi Foote, from Massachusetts, in 1801.   Weathersfield, 1800, by Reuben Harmon, from Vermont.   Austintown, 1800, by John McCollum, from New Jersey.   Hartford, 1799, by Asahel Brainard, and in 1800 by Edward Brockway and Isaac Jones. Hubbard, 1801, by Samuel Tylee, from Connectrcut..   Mesopotamia, 1800, by Hezekiah Sperry, from Connecticut,   Newton, 1802, by Ezekiel Hover and Alexander Southerland,   Gustavus, 1802, by Jesse, Elias, and Josiah Felton, from Connecticut.   Kinsman, 1802, by John Kinsman and Ebenezer Reeves, from Connecticut.   Braceville, 1803, by Ralph Freeman.   Johnston, 1803, by James Bradley, from Connecticut.   Jackson, 1803, by Samuel Calhoun, William Orr, Andrew Gault, and Samuel Riddle, from Pennsylvania.   Milton, 1803, by Nathaniel Stanley and Aaron Porter.   Ellsworth, 1804, by James Reed, from Pennsylvania; Joseph Coit and Philip Abner.   Bristol, 1804, by Abraham Baughman, from Virginia.   Bazetta, 1804, by Edward Schofield.   Southington, 1805, by Luke and David Veits and James Chalker, from Connecticut.   Champion, 1806, by William Rutan, from Pennsylvania.   Farmington, 1806, by Zenas Curtis, David Curtis, and Elihu Moses.   Berlin, 1809, by Garrett Packard, Virginia.   Mecca, 1811, by Joseph Davidson and John Rose,   Bloomfield, 1815, by Leman Ferry, from Vermont, and Ephraim Brown, from New Hampshire.   Greene, 1817, by Ephraim Rice, John Wakefield and Ichabod Merritt.   Lordstown, 1822, by Henry Thorn.   RESIDENTS IN 1801.   The following is a list of resident tax-payers as returned by the collector in 1801, in the several townships included within the scope of this work :   POLAND—William Beech, George Brierly, John Crag, William Cowden, Joseph Cowden, Joseph Craycraft, William Campbell, William Dunlap, John Dinow, Thomas Dawson, Jacob Dawson, Jonathan Fowler, James Flemming, Thomas Gordon, William Guthrie, John Hineman, Francis Henry, John Jordan, Jered Kirtland, Isaac Kirtland, James Keys, Benjamin Leach, William Moore, John McGill, William McConnell, W. and John McCombs, John McConnell, John Miller, Thomas McCullough, Mclwers & Landon, Finton McGill, Archibald Nelson, Henry Ripple, Robert Smith, John Struthers, John Sheerer, Peter Shauf, William Stewart, John Treusdell, William Treusdell, Andrew and Mary Vane, Samuel White, John Wishard, James Webb, Nathaniel Walker.   COITSVILLE—James Bradford, David Cooper, Andrew Fitch, John Gwin, Amos Loveland, James Muns, William Martin, Samuel McBride, Alexander McGreffy, John Potter, Rodger Shehy, James Shields, James Smith, John Thornton, William Wicks, James White, Francis White.   BOARDMAN--Ebenezer Blakesby, Nathan Blakesby, Caleb Baldwin, Isaac Cook, James Canady, Joseph Comyus, Noah Chamberlain, William Dree, Oswald Dutchen, Henry Duns- man, Benjamin Fisher, Eleazer Fairchild, Jonathan Fowler, Thomas Kizzarty, James McMahon, John McMahon, Archibald McArthy, John Stevens, Allen Scroggs, Michael Simons, James Stull, Andrew Simons, Beach Somers, John Thornton, Jr.   YOUNGSTOWN — Lineas Brainard, William Beer, Samuel Calhoon, Alexander Clarke, James Caldwell, Joseph Carr, Christopher Coleman, Aaron Clarke, Thomas Dree, James Davidson, John Dimmick, Nathan G. Dabney, John Dunier,   TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 49   Thomas Ferrell, Michael Fitzjerald, James Gibson, James Hillman, Henry Hull, Samuel Hay- don, Joshua Kyle, John Kyle, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Andrew Kirkpatrick, Moses Latter, John Musgrove, James McCoy, John McCrary, John McDowell, John McWilliams, Daniel McCartney, Jesse Newport, Jeremiah Norris, David Randall, Josiah Robbins, Benjamin Ross, John Rush, William Rayen, John Swager, Robert Stevens, Daniel Shehy, Robert M. Scott, Matthew Scott, Henry Swager, Sefford Thompson, Joseph Williamson, James Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Alfred Wolcott, A. Wolcott, John Young.   CANFIELD—Ichabod Atwood, James Bradley, Charles Chittenden, Aaron Coller, Calvin Crane, Timothy Chittenden, William Chittenden, James Dowel, Polly Doud, Jonathan Everett, Henry Faulkner, Samuel Gilson, Nathaniel Gridly, Joshua Hollister, Raphael Hulbert, Jacob Harrington, Homer Hern, Archibald Johnson, Zibai Loveland, Zebulon Merwin, Champlin Miner, Nathan Moore, James Neil, Joseph Pang- bourn, Wilder Page, Phineas Reed, James Reed, Matthew Steel, Jonah Schovil, Ira Sprague, William Sprague, John Simox, Calvin Tobias, Reuben Tupper, Trial Tanner, Isaac Wilson, Elijah Wadsworth, Bradford Waldo, Benjamin Yale.   AUSTINTOWN — William Bayard, Benjamin Bayard, John Dunier, Samuel Furgerson, Windall Grove, Robert Kirkpatrick, Alexander McAllister, Thomas Morgan, John McCullom, Samuel Miller, Frederick Mauchaman, Thomas Parkard, David Parkhurst, Calvin Pease, Gilbert Roberts, George Stanford, James Sisco, Benjamin Sisco, William Templeton, Nathaniel Walker, William Whethington.   HUBBARD —Jonathan Carr, Walter Clark, John Clark, Daniel Cary, Cornelius Dilley, William Erwin, Samuel Ewart, George Frazier, James Frazier, John Gardner, Jesse Hall, William Hanna, Thomas Hanna, Hugh Harrison, Absalom Hall, Moses Hall, Henry McFarlane, Benjamin Mars, John McCrary, James Minary, Robert McKey, James Milihettree, Alexander McFarlane, William McFarlane, John Porter, William Parvin, Joseph Porter, Zehiel Roberts, David Reed, Henry Robertson, Edward Scovil, Amos Smith, John Snyder, Samuel Tylee, Sylvester Tylee, William Veach, Samuel White. LIBERTY—Thomas Barr, Ezra Brant, Thomas Camden Cleaveland, Francis Carlton, John Dennison, Justus Dunn, H. Eikman, Joseph Gowdy, James Hill, Barker King, James Matthews, Samuel Menough, John McGee, Neil McMullen, Joseph Miller, Thomas Potts, William Potter, Valentine Stull, William Stewart, Henry Swager, Jacob Swager, William Wilson.   VIENNA—Isaac Flower, Isaac Flower, Jr., Levi Foote, James W. Foster, Samuel Hutchins, Daniel Humison, Dennis C. Palmer, Epinctus Rogers, Darius Woodford, Simon Wheeler, Isaac Woodford.   JACKSON—Joseph Mclnrill, William Orr, Samuel Riddell.   WEATHERSFIELD—Reuben Harmon.   HOWLAND—John H. Adgate, David Cooper, John S. Edwards, Edward Jones, John Kinney, Asa Marriner, William McReady, Joseph Quigley, Jacob Reese, David Wells.   WARREN—Zopher Carnes, William Crooks, Meshach Case, John Daly, Benjamin Davidson, Charles Daly, Samuel Daniels, William Hall, Henry Lane, Henry Lane, Jr., John Leavitt, Enoch Leavitt, Phineas Leffingwell, Thomas Prior, Ephraim Quinby, Eleazer Sheldon, Simon Perkins.   BRACEVILLE—David Moore, Phineas Palmer.   HARTFORD—Wrlliam Bushnell, Aaron Brockwell, Josiah W. Brown, A. Brainard, Thomas Dugan, Henry Hayes, George Hall, William C. Jones, Martha Merry, Aaron Rice, Elijah Woodford.   VERNON—Titus Brockwell, Obed Crosby, Joseph DeWolf, H. C. DeWolf, Thomas Grddings, Abner Moses, Ambrose Palmer, Warren Palmer, Martin Smith.   MESOPOTAMIA—G riswold Gillette, Otis Guile, Joseph Noyes, George Phelps, Hezekiah Sperry, Seth Tracy, Elam Tracy, Joel Throp.   CHAMPION—Jonathan Atwater.   BRISTOL—Thomas Dick, D. M. and A. Fenton, Francis Martin, J. Martin, Jeremiah Norris.   GUSTAVUS — Calvin Judd, Joseph Pelton, Luther Plumb, Thomas Thompson, Asa Thompson, Samual Thompson.   It has previously been noticed that the first clearing made by white men was at Salt Springs, in Weathersfield, where several cabins were found by the surveyors. We have also seen that the Pennsylvanians used the water of these springs for making salt as early as the Revolu-   50 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.   tion, and when the surveyors first saw the Mahoning river they met with two men on their way to make salt. The McMahon family settled in the county as early as 1797, and were engaged at making salt in 1800, An appropriation was made by the Land company to open the springs and improve the works, but nothing was accomplished of any material value.   There were squatters in the Reserve, besides the salt-makers, before the Connecticut emigrants arrived. They were mostly hunters and trappers, who lived a semi-civilized life, There is something attractive in the character of these squatters. They were, at least many of them were, fugitives from the civil and economical laws of aggregated communities where prolonged and systematic labor is a necessity, and where the rights of property are enforced. With his dog and gun the squatter was at home wherever he slept, and satisfied with whatever came within range of his steady rifle, always apparently happy, always rovingo his wife was his slave, his life was all he cared for. His geographical, as well as ethnological, place was between the Indian and the white settler. Occupying the border ground which both used for hunting, he was always on good terms wrth both, but dependent very little on either. His but was generally located near some Indian clearing, where a small patch of ground could be prepared for a little vegetable garden and coin enough to supply the family with meal occasionally. Game was his staple table fare. The names of few of this class of the overflow of civilization have been preserved. James McMillen, senior, of Brookfield, was probably a squatter, though if he was, he belonged to the more persevering and better class, When the land came in market he purchased and improved a farm. Mr, Merryman was at Warren when the first settlers arrived, an old gray haired man. Whence he came, or whither he went, is no where recorded. Sixty winters had bleached his hair and unsteadied his step, but a faithful gun was his only reliance for the future. For years nature had provided his home, his food and his enjoyment ; in all probability his death bed comforter was the howling of wolves and the cheerless whistle of the wind. Others of this class of white adventurers pushed on farther into the wilderness, when rattling axes gave notice of the opening of the drama of clearing and improvement.   From the list of settlers we have given, it will be noticed that Poland, Boardman, Canfield, Youngstown, Coitsville, Hubbard, and Warren were the advance settlements in the Reserve. The pioneers were not all Connecticut people; there were among the number Pennsylvanians, both of Irish and of Dutch descent, There was a large Irish settlement along the east border as will be seen by the number of names beginning with "Mc."   Having now seen the forest surveyed, platted and placed upon the market, also having seen openings made and here and there smoke issuing from cabin chimneys, it follows in order to detail the organization of civil government. To that subject the next chapter will be devoted.