150 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO. by him. The latter, not deeming this a legitimate mode of settling disputes, hastily evacuated the premises! Upon one subject, however, Girty seemed to be ill at ease. He was curious to k now of prisoners what was in store for him should he be captured by the Americans. The idea of falling into the hands of his outraged countrymen, was, in short, a terror to him. In the summer of 1796, when the British surrendered the posts of the northwest to the United States, Girty was at Detroit. When the boats laden with our troops came in sight, he became so much alarmed that he could not wait for the return of the ferry-boat, but plunged his horse into the river, at the risk of drowning, and made for the Canada shore, which he reached in saftey; pouring out a volley of maledictions as he rode up the opposite bank upon the United States government and troops mingled with all the diabolical oaths his imagination could coin. The grandfather of Rev. J. B. Johnston, of St. Clairsville, O., who, during the Revolution, had command of a block-house in Westmoreland county, Pa., on one occasion held Simon Girty as a prisoner, but the date of the event we are unable to obtain. He effected his release by pretending to be friendly to the Americans. Simon Girty was little, if any, less cruel and bloodthirsty than his brothers, but his restless activity and audacity, and his conduct in first pretending friendship for the American cause, and afterwards deserting to the British, made him the most notorious and hated of the family.. He was cunning, unscrupulous, and almost constantly engaged, after his desertion from Fort Pitt, in some raid, or murdering, or plundering expedition. His shrewdness and daring, well fitted him for a leader in such enterprises. There are many localities that have become historical by some tragic scene, or other notable event in this man's career, some of which bear his name. There is, near the Ohio, on the north side, of Short creek, an abrupt termination of one of the river ridges, known as "Girty's Point." It was his favorite place for striking into the interior. The path first used by the Indians is still used by the people of the neighborhood. He left a family with a name execrated wherever he was known. THOMAS GIRTY, alone, of the four brothers, returned to civilized life. He was one of Brady's spies in the Indian wars after the revolution, and died, perhaps, in Butler county, Pa., in 1820. GEORGE GIRTY was adopted by the Delawares, became a member of their tribe, and continued with them until his death. In all respects he became a perfect savage, rose to prominence among the Delaware tribes, and adopted entirely the manners and customs of the Indians. To consummate cunning he added the most fearless intrepidity. He led the Indians in their attack on Fort Henry, at Wheeling, in September, 1782. There were two hundred and thirty-eight Indians in this attack on the garrison at Wheeling, and, although unsuccessful against the small band of defenders, the event shows the prominent position he occupied among his adopted race. He demanded the surrender of the fort, but was promptly refused. Some historians have stated that Simon Girty led the attack against Fort Henry in 1777, but as he did not join the British forces until March, 1778, he could not have taken part in the attack on Wheeling at the time given. Considerable tradition also exists among the descendants of the old settlers, in which it is claimed the voice of Simon Girty was recognized by some of the defenders of the fort during its siege. but in this the name of George Girty may have got mixed with Simon, and the sieges of 1777 and 1782 may have become confused. Again the two brothers may have resembled each other, both in appearance and voice, and as Simon's desertion and open espousal of the British cause brought him into such great notoriety, the settlers may have been misled to believe that he was the person who had led the attack on the fort. George Girty was doubtless as prominent among the savages as his brother Simon, but the latter became more notorious among the people along the frontier, in consequence of circumstances. George Girty fought with the Indians at the battles of Point Pleasant, Blue Licks, and Sandusky, in all of which he gained much distinction for skill and bravery. In his latter years he gave himself up to intemperance and died drunk About the year 1813, on the Miami of the Lake. JAMES GIRTY fell into the, hands of the Shawanese, who adopted him as a son. As he approached manhood he became dexterous in all the arts of savage life. To the most sanguinary spirit he added all the vices of the frontier men, with whom he frequently associated. It is represented that he often visited Kentucky at the time of its first settlement, and many of the inhabitants felt the effects of his courage and cruelty. Neither age or sex found mercy at his hand. His delight was in carnage. When unable to walk, in consequence of disease, he laid low with his hatchet captive women and children who came within his reach. .Traders who were acquainted with him say, so furious was he that he would not have turned on his heel to save a prisoner from the flames. His pleasure was to see new and refined tortures, and to perfect this gratification he frequently gave directions. To this barbarian are to be attributed many of the cruelties charged on his brother Simon. Yet this monster was caressed by Elliott and Proctor. SKETCH OF ISAAC WILLIAMS. From the American Pioneer.] He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, the 16th day of July, 1737. While he was quite a boy his parents removed to Winchester, Virginia, then a frontier town. Soon after this event his father died, and his mother married Mr. Buckley. When he was about eighteen years old, the colonial government employed him as a ranger, or spy, to watch and observe the movements of the Indians, for which his early acquaintance with a hunter's life eminently fitted him. In this capacity he served in the army under General Braddock. He also formed one of the party who guarded the first convoy of provisions to Fort Duquesne, after its surrender to General Forbes in 1758. The stores were carried on pack-horses over the rough declivities of the mountains, continually exposed to the attack of the Indians, for which the deep ravines and narrow ridges of the mountain ranges afforded every facility. After the peace made with the Indians in 1765, by Colonel Bouquet, the country on the waters of the Monongahela began to be settled by the people east of the mountains. Among the early emigrants to this region were the parents of Mr. Williams, whom he conducted across the mountains in 1768, but did not finally locate himself in the west till the following year, when he settled on the waters of Buffalo creek, near the present town of West. Liberty. He accompanied Ebenezer and Jonathan Zane, when they explored and located the country about Wheeling in 1769. Previous to this period, however, he made several hunting excursions to the eaters of the Ohio. In returning from one of these adventurous expeditions, in company with two other men in the winter of 1767, the following incident befell him. Early in December, as they were crossing the glades of the Allegheny mountains, they were overtaken by a violent snow storm. This is always a stormy, cold region, but on the present occasion, the snow fell to the depth of five or six feet, and put a stop to their further progress. It was followed by intensely cold weather. While confined in this manner to their camp, with a scanty supply of food, and no chance of procuring more by hunting, one of his companions was taken sick and died, partly from disease, and partly by having no food but the tough indigestible skins of their peltry, from which the hair had been singed off at the camp fire and boiled in the kettle. Soon after the death of this man, his remaining companion, from the difficulty of procuring fuel, became so much frozen in the feet that he could render Mr. Williams no further assistance. He contrived, however, to bury the dead man in the snow. The feet of this man were so badly frosted, that he lost all his toes and a part of each foot, thus rendering him entirely unable to travel for a period of nearly two months. During this time, their food consisted of the remnant of their skins, and their drink of melted snow. The kind heart of Mr. Williams would not allow him to leave his friend in this suffering condition while he went to the nearest settlement for aid, lest he should be attacked by wild beasts, or perish for the want of sustenance. With a patience and fortitude that would have awarded him a civic crown in the best days of the chivalric Romans, he remained with his helpless friend until he was so far restored to health as to enable him to accompany him in his return to his home. So much HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO - 151 reduced was his own strength, from starvation and cold, that it was many months before his usual health was restored. In 1669, he became a resident of the western wilds, and made his home on the waters of Buffalo creek. Here he found himself in a wide field for the exercise of his darling passion, hunting. From his' boyhood he had displayed a great relish for a hunter's life, and in this employment he for several years explored the recesses of the western wilds, and followed the water courses of the great valley to the mouth of the Ohio ; and from thence along the shores of the Mississippi to the turbid Missouri. As early as the year 1770 he trapped the beaver on the tributaries of this river, and returned in safety with a rich load of furs. During the prime of his life he was occupied in hunting and in making entries of lands. This was done by girdling a few trees and planting a small patch of corn. This operation entitled the person to four hundred acres of land. Entries of this kind were very aptly called "Tomahawk improvements." An enterprising man could make a number of these in a season, and sell them to persons who, coming late into the country, had not so good an opportunity to select prime lands as the first adventurers. Mr. Williams sold many of these "rights" for a few dollars, or the value of a rifle gun, which was then thought a fair equivalent, of so little account was the land then considered; and besides, like other hunters of his day, thought wild lands of little value except as hunting grounds. There was, however, another advantage attached to these simple claims; it gave the possessor the right of entering one thousand acres of land adjoining the improvement, on condition of his paying a small sum per acre into the treasury of the State of Virginia. These en tires were denominated "preemption rights," and many of the richest lands on the left bank of the Ohio river are now held under these early titles. As Virginia then claimed all the lands on the northwest side of the Ohio, many similar entries were made at this early day on the right bank, and also on the rich alluvials of the Muskingum, as high up as the falls--one tract, a few miles above Marietta, is still known as " Wiseman's bottom," after the man who made a " tomahawk entry " at that place. After the cession of the lands or the territory northwest of the river Ohio to the United States, these early claims were forfeited. While occupied in these pursuits he became acquainted with Rebecca Martin, the daughter of Mr. Joseph Tomlinson, of Grave creek, then a young widow, and married her in October, 1775. Her former husband, John Martin, had been a trader among the Indians, and was killed on the Big Hockhocking in the year 1770. A Lan by the name of Hartness, her uncle on the mother's side, was killed with him at the same time by the Shawanese Indians: As a striking proof of the veneration of the Indians for William Penn and the people of his colony, two men from Pennsylvania, who were with them, were spared. The two killed were from Virginia. The fact is referred to by Lord Dunmore, in his speech at the Indian treaty near Chillicothe, in the year 1774. Mr. Williams accompanied Dunmore in this campaign, and acted as a ranger until its close. By this marriage, Mr. Williams became united to a woman whose spirit was congenial to his own. She was born the 14th of February, 1754, at Will's creek, on the Potomac, in the province of Maryland, and had removed with her father's family to Grave creek in 1771. Since her residence in the western country she had lived with her brothers, Samuel and Joseph, as their housekeeper, near the mouth of Grave creek, and for weeks together, while they were absent on tours of hunting, she was left entirely alone. She was now in her twenty-first year; full of life and activity, and as fearless of danger as the man who had chosen her for his companion. One proof of her courageous spirit is related by her niece, Mrs. Bukey. In the spring of the year' 1774, she made a visit to a sister, who was married to a Mr. Baker, then living on the Ohio river opposite the mouth of Yellow creek. It was soon after the time of the massacre of Logan's relatives at Baker's Station. Having finished her visit, she prepared to return home in a canoe by herself, the traveling being chiefly done by water. The distance from her sister's to Grave creek was about fifty miles. She left there in the afternoon and paddled her light canoe rapidly along until dark. Knowing that the moon would .rise at a certain hour she landed, and, fastening the slender craft to the willows, she leaped on shore, and, lying down in a thick clump of bushes, waited patiently the rising of the moon. As soon as it had cleared the tops of the trees and began to shed its cheerful rays over the dark bosom of the Ohio, she prepared to embark. The water being shallow near the shore she had to wade a few paces before reaching the canoe, when, just in the act of stepping on board, her naked foot rested on the cold dead body of an Indian; who had been killed a short time before, and which, in the gloom of the night, she had not discovered in landing. Without flinching or screaming, she stepped lightly into the canoe with the reflection she was thankful he was not alive. Resuming the paddle she reached the mouth of Grave creek in safety early the next morning. Walter Scott's Rebecca, the Jewess, was not more celebrated for her cures and skill in treating wounds, than Rebecca Williams amongst the honest borderers of the Ohio river. About the year 1785, while living a short time at Wheeling, on account of Indian depredations, she, with the assistance of Mrs. Zane, dressed the wounds of Thomas Mills, who was wounded in fourteen places by rifle shots. He with three other men were spearing fish by torch light about a mile above the garrison when they were fired on by a party of Indians secreted on the shore. Mills stood in the bow of the canoe holding a torch, and, as he was a fair mark, received most of the shots—the others escaped unhurt—one arm and one leg were broken in addition to the flesh wounds. Had he been in the regular service with plenty of surgeons, he probably would have lost one or both limbs by amputation. But this being out of the question here, where no surgeons could be procured, these women, with their fomentations, and simple applications of slippery elm bark, not only cured his wounds, at the time deemed impossible, and restored him to health, but saved both his limbs. Many years after this, while the writer of this article was attending on a man with a compound fracture of the leg from the kick of a horse, and who was lying near her residence, she was present at one of the dressings, and related several of her cures in border times. She said her principal dressings were made of slippery elm, the leaves of stramonium, or "jimson," and daily ablutions with warm water. Their marriage was as unostentatious and as simple as the manners and habits of the party. A traveling preacher happening to come into the settlement, as they sometimes did, though rarely, they were married without any previous preparation of nice dresses, bride cakes, or bride-maids—he standing up in a hunting dress, and she in a short gown and petticoat of homespun, the common wear of the country. In the summer of 1774, the year before her marriage, she was one morning busily occupied in kindling a fire preparatory to the breakfast, with her back to the door on her knees, puffing away at the coals. Hearing some one step cautiously on the floor, she looked around and beheld a tall Indian close to her side. He made a motion of silence to her, at the same time shaking his tomahawk in a threatening manner if she made any alarm. He however, did not offer her harm ; but looking carefully round the cabin he espied her brother Samuel's rifle hanging on the hooks over the fire place. This he seized upon, and fearing the arrival of some of the men, hastened his departure without any further damage. While he was with her in the house, she preserved her presence of mind and betrayed no marks of fear ; but no sooner was he gone, however, than she left the cabin and secreted herself in the corn till her brother came in. Samuel was lame at the time, but happened to be out of the way ; so that it is probable his life might have been saved from this circumstance. It was but seldom that the Indians killed unresisting women or children, except in the excitement of an attack and when they had met with opposition from the men. In 1777, two years after their marriage, the depredations and massacres of the Indians were so frequent that the settlement of Grave creek was broken up. It was the frontier station, and lower on the Ohio than any other, above the mouth of Big Kanawha. It was in this year that the Indians made their great attack on the fort at Wheeling. Mr. Williams and his wife, with her father's family, Mr. Joseph Tomlinson, moved on the Monongahela river above Redstone, old fort. Here he remained until the spring of 1783, when he returned with his wife and Mr. Tomlinson to their plantations on Grave creek. In the year 1785, he had to remove again from his farm with the garrison at Wheeling. It was sometime in the spring of the succeeding year that Mr. Williams, in company with Hamilton Carr and a Dutchman, had the adventure with the Indians at the mouth of Grave creek, in which three of the savages were killed, and John Wetzel, their prisoner, was rescued. This event is fully recorded elsewhere in this volume. It has been stated that Rebecca Martin, before her marriage to Mr. Williams, acted as house-keeper for her brothers for several years. In consideration for which service, Joseph and Samuel, made an entry of four hundred acres of land on the 152 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO. Virginia shore of the Ohio river, directly opposite the mouth of the Muskingum, for their sister; girdling the trees, building a cabin, and planting and fencing four acres of corn, on the high second bottom, in the spring of the year 1773. They spent the summer on the spot, occupying their time with hunting, during the growth of the crop. In this time they had exhausted their small stock of salt and breadstuff, and lived for two or three months altogether on boiled turkies, which were eaten without salt. So accustomed had Samuel become to eating his meat without this condiment, that it was some time before he could again relish the taste of it. The following winter the two brothers hunted on the Big Kanawha. Some time in March, 1774, they reached the mouth of the river on their return. They were detained here a few days by a remarkably high freshet in the Ohio river, which from certain fixed marks on Wheeling creek, is supposed to have been fully equal to that February, 1832. That year was long known as that of Dunmore's war, and noted for Indian depredations. The renewed and oft repeated inroads of the Indians, led Mr. Williams to turn his thoughts towards a more quiet retreat than that at Grave creek. Fort Harmar, at the mouth of the Muskingum, having been erected in 1786, and garrisoned by United States troops; he came to the conclusion that he would now occupy the land belonging to his wife, and located by her brothers as before noted. This tract contained four hundred acres, and embraced a large share of rich alluvians. The piece opened by •the Tomlinsons in 1773, had grown up with young saplings, but could be easily reclaimed. Having previously visited the spot and put up log cabins, he finally removed his family and effects thither, the 26th of March, 1787, being the year before the Ohio,, company took possession of their purchase at the mouth of the Muskingum. Mr. Williams was a great hunter and trapper, but in later years turned his attention especially to clearing and cultivating his farm. He was a very benevolent man and a highly respected citizen. He died September. 25, 1820. His daughter and only child, married a Mr. John Henderson, but died at the age of twenty, leaving no issue. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. CHAPTER XVIII. ORGANIZATION OF ILLINOIS COUNTY—TRADING POSTS—MORAVIAN MISSIONS— FORTS—CESSION BY VIRGINIA TO THE UNITED STATES —FAUST WHITE BIRTHS—PREMATURE SETTLEMENTS1779-1785—PREVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT—SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC LANDS—FIRST LAND SALES—INDIAN WARS—CIVIL GOVERNMENT—FIRST OFFICERS—TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION --FIRST COURTS—ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES—FIRST TOWNS —ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE. We have recited in the chapters devoted to the outlines of early American history in the first part of this work, that Virginia acquired title to the great Northwest territory by its several charters, granted by James I., bearing dates respectively April 10, 1606; May 23, 1609; March 12, 1611. The colony of Virginia first attempted to exercise authority over the "Territory Northwest of the River Ohio," in 1769, when the House of Burgesses passed an act establishing the county of Botetourt, with the Mississippi river as its eastern boundary. This act recited that : " Whereas, the people situated on the Mississippi, in the said county of Botetourt, will be very remote from the court-house, and must necessarily become a separate county, as soon as their numbers are sufficient, which, probably, will happen in a short time, be it therefore enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that the inhabitants of that part of the said county of Botetourt which lies on the said waters, shall be exempt from the payment of any levies to be laid by the said county court for the purpose of building a court-house and prison for the said county." ORGANIZATION OF ILLINOIS COUNTY. On the 2d of January, 1778, Colonel George Rogers Clark received a commission from Virginia to make his famous campaign against Kaskaskia, in the Illinois country, and descended the Ohio from Fork Pitt the following spring with his forces on this expedition. His campaign was one of the .boldest and most successful of the Revolutionary war, and he captured all the English posts in the Illinois country and made a complete conquest of the territory. The House of Burgesses of Virginia, then, in October, 1778, erected the "County of Illinois, " out of the western part of Botetourt county, for the purpose of more effectually organizing civil government northwest of the Ohio river. " Illinois county was bounded on the east by Pennsylvania, on the southeast and south by the Ohio river, on the west by the Mississippi river, and on the north by the northern lakes, embracing all the territory claimed by Virginia within these bounds, and making what now constitutes the great state of Ohio an integral portion of it. John Todd, Esq., was appointed County Lieutenant and Civil Commandant of Illinois county. He was killed in the battle of Blue Licks, August 19, 1782, and was succeeded by Timothy de Montbrun. The Moravian missionaries on the Tuscarawas, a few scores of Indian traders, and a small number of French settlers on the Maumee, made the sum total of white men at that time in what is now Ohio. TRADING POSTS. The first trading posts attempted by the whites, (French,) within the present limits of Ohio, were near the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, and on the peninsula between Sandusky bay and the mouth of Portage river, at a place called St. Dusky, or Sandusquet. This was prior to 1750. As early as  the fall of 1750, the English began the erection of a stockade at a trading post,then called Pickawillany, now known as Loramie's Store, In Shelby county. THE MORAVIAN MISSIONS. The first missionary sent to the Ohio country by the Moravians came to the valley of the Tuscarawas in 1761. Not long 20—B. & J. Cos. after the missions were established in the Tuscarawas valley known as Shoenbrun, Gnadenhutten, and Salem. FORTS. The first military post built by the whites in that part of the Northwest Territory now embraced in Ohio, was that of Fort Laurens, constructed in 1778, by a detachment sent out from Fort Pitt under General McIntosh, The second was that of Fort Harmar, at the mouth of the Muskingum, in 1785. The third was Fort Steuben, built by Captain Hamtramck, in 1786. CESSION BY VIRGINIA TO THE UNITED STATES. In 1793 "the General Assembly of Virginia passed an act authorizing the Virginia delegates in Congress to convey to the United States all the right of that Commonwealth to the terri- tory north-westward of theriver Ohio."* Pursuant to the foregoing action of the General Assembly of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe, Virginia's delegates in Congress, did, as per deed of cession, on the first day of March, 1784, it being the eighth year of American Independence, "convey (in the name and for, and on behalf of, the said Commonwealth), transfer, assign, and make over unto the United States in Congress assembled, for the benefit of said States, Virginia inclusive, all right, title, and claim, as well of soil as of jurisdiction, to the territory of said State, lying and being to the north-west of the river Ohio." Upon the presentation of said deed of cession, Congress resolved, on the same day, "that it be accepted, and the same be recorded and enrolled among the acts of the United States Congress assembled." RELINQUISHMENT OF THE INDIAN TITLES IN OHIO. The conveyances known by the name of treaties in the early period of American history are based upon conquest. The possession of the country, acquired by war and force against the will and resistance of the occupants, was the substantial title. The treaty was the evidence of its extent ; procured by the successful from the defeated party, upon such conditions as the victorious nation deemed it necessary to impose, or politic to accept. By the peace of 1783, England assigned all her rights to the United Colonies, whether derived from the Indians or the French. At the close of the Revolution, the Indian nations, having entered into a war-alliance with Great Britain, naturally suffered in common with the mother country the effects of lawful conquest. By the terms of the treaty of Fort Stanwix, concluded by the United States with the Iroquois, or Six Nations, on the 22d of October, 1784, the indefinite title or claim of said confederacy to the greater part of the valley of Ohio was extinguished. The treaty was concluded by three commissioners ap,pointed by Congress, whose names were Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler and Arthur Lee. Cornplanter and Red Jacket represented the Indians. This was followed in January, 1785, by the treaty of Port McIntosh, by which the Delawares. Wyandots, Ottawas, and Chippewas relinquished all claim to the Ohio valley and established the boundary line between them and the United States to be the Cuyahoga River, and along the main branch of the Tuscarawas, to. the forks of said river near Fort Laurens, then westwardly to the portage between the head waters of the Great Miami and the Maumee or Miami of the Lakes, thence down said river to Lake Erie, and along said lake to the mouth of the Cuyahoga river. The treaty was negotiated by George Rogers Clark, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee for the United States, and by the chiefs of the aforenamed tribes. A similar relinquishment was effected by the treaty of Fort Finney (at the mouth of the Great Miami), concluded with the Shawanese January 31, 1786, the United States commissioners *Virginia based her right to the north-west territory both on her claims under the original charters, and the conquest by Colonel George Rogers Clark in the year 1778. 154 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. being the same as the foregoing, except the substitution of Samuel H. Parsons for Arthur Lee. The treaty of Fort Hamar, held by General St. Clair, January 9, 1780, was mainly confirmatory of the treaties previously made. So also was the treaty or Greenville, of August 3, 1795, made by General Wayne on the part of the United States, and the chiefs of eleven of the most powerful tribes of the north-western Indians, which re-established the Indian boundary line through the present State of Ohio, and extended it from Loramie to Fort Recovery, and from thence to the mouth of the Ohio river, opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river. The rights and titles acquired by the Indian tribes under the foregoing treaties were extinguished by the General Government. by purchase, in pursuance of treaties subsequently made. The Western .Reserve tract west of the Cuyahoga river was secured by a treaty formed at Fort Industry in 1805. The lands west of Richland and Huron counties and north of the boundary line to the western limits of Ohio were purchased by the United States in 1818. The last possession of the Delawares' was purchased in 1829: and by a treaty made at Upper Sandusky, March 17, 18.42. by Colonel John Johnston and the Wyandot chiefs, that last remnant of the Indian tribes in Ohio sold the last acre they owned within the limits of our State to the General Government, and retired, the next year, to the Far West, settling at and near the mouth of Kansas river. FIRST WHITE BIRTHS IN OHIO. Considerable discussion has arisen in regard to the birth of the first white child within the limits of Ohio, and a number of persons have devoted much research to the subject. Several claims have been presented, though some are mere fiction, and others are not sufficiently authentic to be entitled to entire credit. It is said that the white wife of a French officer gave birth to a child at Fort Junandat, on the Sandusky, as early as 1754, and while Ohio was French territory, but nothing very definite is known in regard to it. There may have been some births among the prisoners in the hands of the Indians prior to 1764, and also among the traders with the Ohio Indians prior to that time who were married to white women, but in the absence of definite and conclusive evidence, all such statements must remain more conjecture. In April, 1764, a white woman whose husband was a white man, was captured in Virginia, by some Delaware Indians, and taken to one of their towns at or near Wakatomika, now Dresden, Muskingum county. In July of said year, she, while yet in captivity at the above named place, gave birth to a male child. She and her child were among the captives restored to their friends November 9, 1764, under an arrangement made by Bouquet, her husband being present and receiving them. It was the first known white child born upon the soil of Ohio, but the exact time and place of its birth, and its name, are alike unknown. In 1770, an Indian trader named Conner, married a white woman who was a captive among the Shawanese, at or near the Scioto. During the next year she gave birth to a male child, probably at the above named point. Mrs. Conner, in 1774, with her husband, removed to Shoenbrun, one of the Moravian villages on the Tuscarawas, and there they had other children born to them. In April, 1773, Rev. John Roth and wife arrived at Gnadenhuten, on the Tuscarawas, and there; on the 4th day of July, 1774, she gave birth to a child, and which, the next day, at his baptism, by Rev. David Zeisberger, was named John Lewis Roth. He died at Bath, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1841. It is clear that John Lewis Roth is the first white child born within the limits of our State, whose name, sex, time, place of birth and death, and biography, are known with certainty. Howe in his "Ohio historical Collections," states upon the authority of a Mr. Dinsmore, of Kentucky, that a Mr. Millehomme, in 1835, (who then lived in the parish of Terre-Bonne, Louisiana), informed him that he was born of French-Canadian parents, on or near the Loramie portage, about the year 1774, while his parents were moving from Canada to Louisiana; but there is nothing definite or authentic in this case either as to time or place. Joanna Maria Heckewelder. daughter of Rev. John Heckewelder, was born at Salem, one of the Moravian villages oil the Tuscarawas, April 16, 1781, and she was the first white female child born upon Ohio territory, as to whose time and place of birth, death, and subsequent history, there is positive certainty. Her death took place at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Septemher 19, 1868, in the eighty-eighth year of her age. THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN WHAT IS NOW JEFFERSON COUNTY. This honor had been principally accorded, hitherto. to Ephraim Cable. born in 1794, but after diligent investigation we have gleaned the following chain of facts that antedate Mr. Cable some ten years. We find that so early as 1784-5, there squatted in Mingo Bottom, one Joseph Ross, his wife and son Jake, then quite a child. Being a man of resolute will, and probably up to the standard of shrewdness marking the laboring men those days, conceived no good reason why he should not, (amid such verdant pastures) take up his solitary abode, and assert himself; as it were, "monarch of all he surveyed." Casting around, he fortunately espied the hollow trunk of what was once a large sycamore tree —in fact it was of comparative leviathan proportions— and therein he promptly improvised a temporary shelter for himself and family. It was located on the farm at present in the possession of a Mr. Jump, and we have the authority of Mrs. Theodore Clifton and others, still living, that they saw the said decayed stump, or a portion of it, with a limb projecting that had been hollowed out and used as a stove pipe, black and charred—so late as 1814. It was during their temporary abode therein, and while the father was constructing a log hut, that Mrs. Ross gave birth to the veritable first white child born in Jefferson county—afterwards christened Absalom. Now to substantiate the residence of Ross in that locality, at the period in question—and that he must have been there some time previous to the date about to be quoted—he being found subsequently with other squatters around him—it will be seen by "The Report of Ensign Armstrong," under the head of "Premature attempts at Settlement in Ohio," (found in another portion of this chapter) that in April, 1785, that officer writes" We arrived at Mingo Bottom, or “Oldtown," I read my instructions to the prisoner Ross, who declared they never came from Congress, for he had later accounts from that body, and that they gave no such instructions to the commissioners. He cast many reflections upon the commissioners and the commanding officers. I conceived him to be a dangerous man, and sent him under guard to Wheeling." But the inimitable Ross appears "not to have scared worth a cent," for obtaininghisg liberty he was soon back to Mingo, where he was next found in the fall of the same year by General Butler, one of the commissioners appointed by Congress to treat with the Western Indians,and inn his journal, under date of October, 1785, he says : "We passed on to the Mingo town,where wee found a number of people among whom, one Ross seems to be the principal man of the settlers on the south side of that place. I conversed with him and warned him and the others away." From this on—as to the subsequent career of Ross, we have little or no information beyond the fact that in 1806 he met with his death by falling over a rock or embankment near the late residence of Bazeleel Wells, as he was on his way home from Steubenville, late at night. He is said to have been probably eighty years of age at his death. Young Absalom, by that time had grown to a fine young man. He is said to have stood six feet three, weighed probably 240 or 250 pounds, and was a very moral and christian citizen. As an evidence of his exceptional Strength, it being his custom to work among the farmers in the neighborhood, we are told that he often—in fact almost regularly—walked two and three miles to and from his work, and split so many as two hundred rails per day. His brother Jake was not so lusty, but an active man, more inclined to a rough and tumble life, and is said to have engaged the Indians under VanBuskirk, in the fight at which the latter fell, on which occasion Jake gave chase to an Indian, shot him in the back, but failed to secure his scalp as the redskin dived beneath some drift wood and the roots of a large tree and the body was never recovered. Absalom and Jake both moved to Fishing creek and resided for some years after the father's death, and the last tidings we have of "Ab.," as he was familiarly termed, is from Mrs. James Hill, who states that he and Mrs. Hill visited him in December, 1866, at Hartford, Mason county, W. Va., where they found the old man paralized and very infirm. He married Annie Edsell, whose father lived on an elevated point near Cross creek depot, on the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Kentucky Railway, whom they also found living to comfort the old man in his declining years. The venerable lady was, at that time, walking six miles every Sunday to attend her place of worship. "Ab." spoke to them cheerfully of olden times, but preferred it should be understood that while his parents did originally live in the sycamore tree, yet they had just moved into the log hut a day or two ere he breathed the pure air of the "Buckeye State." The popular HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES - 155 however, centered in the theory propounded by those who would have somewhat clearer memories than he at the time of that interesting event, and it may fairly be imputed to his sensitive feelings on the subject that he desired to date his nativity from the interior of a primitive hut rather than the abode of owls and other forest rangers. The good old man—for he certainly was entitled to that distinction—died the following spring-1867—but we are not aware of the fact as to whether his worthy spouse still survives him. PREMATURE ATTEMPTS AT SETTLEMENT IN OHIO, 1779. In 1779, General Brodhead commanded the American troops in the Western Department, of which Fort Pitt was the headquarters, and,wrote the following letter to General Washington : "PITTSBURGH, Oct, 26th, 1779. "DEAR GEN'L, "Immediately after I had closed my last (of the 19th of this Instant,) I rec'd a letter from Col. Shepherd, Lieut. of Ohio County, informing me that a certain Decker, Cox & Comp'y with others had crossed the Ohio River, and committed trespasses on the Indians' lands, wherefore I ordered sixty Rank and File to be equipped, & Capt. Clarke of the 8th Pen' Reg't, proceeded with this party to Wheeling, with orders to cross the River at that part, & to apprehend some of the .principal Tres: passers and destroy the Hutts—He returned without finding any of the Trespassers, but destroyed some Hats. He writes me the inhabitants have made small improvements all the way from the Muskingum River to Fort McIntosh & thirty miles up some of the Branches. I sent a runner to the Delaware Council at Coochoching to inform them of the trespass, & assure them it was committed by some foolish people, & requesting them to rely on my doing them justice & punishing the offenders, but as yet have not received an answer. * * * * * "I have the honor to be with perfect regard and esteem, your Excellency's most "Obed't Humble Serv't, “D. BRODHEAD "Directed, "His Excellency GEN'L WASHINGTON. On the same day General Brodhead wrote a letter to his Excellency John Jay, Esq., which is as follows: "PITTSBURGH, Oct. 26th, 1779. "SIR "Since I did myself the honor to address you by a limner letter some of the Inhabitants from Youghagenia and Ohio Counties have been hardy enough to cross the Ohio River and make small improvements on the Indian lands from the River Muskingum to Fort McIntosh and thirty miles up some of the Branches of the Ohio River. As soon as I received information of the trespass, I Detached a party of Sixty men under command of Capt. Clarke, to apprehend the trespassers and destroy their huts, which they have in a great measure effected, and likewise dispatched a runner to the Chiefs of the Delawares at Cooshocking to prevent their attacking the innocent Inhabitants, but as yet have received no answer from them. Capt. Clarke informs me that the Trespassers had returned and that the trespass appeared to have been committed upwards of a month ago. "It is hard to determine what effect this imprudent conduct may have on the minds of the Delaware Chiefs and Warriors, but I hope a favorable answer to the speech I sent them. I presume a line from your Excellency to the Governor and Council of Virg'a will tend to prevent a future prespass and the murder of many innocent families on this frontier. "I have the honor to be with perfect respect "Your Excellency's most obed't and most "H'ble Serv't, "D. BRODHEAD, "Directed, "Col. command'g W. D. "His Excellency JNO. JAY, ESQ." Captain Clarke was stationed at Fort McIntosh, and descended the river with his detachment from that point. On the 22d of October, General Brodhead wroth to Captain Clarke stating: " I am glad to hear you are safely returned and I sincerely wish you had found some of the trespassers on the Indians' land, that a proper example might have been made." These may be considered the first attempts at settlement by the whites on the west side of the Ohio, which was then called the Indian side of the river. But the colonists being then in the midst of the war of the Revolution, the policy of the Continental Congress was to maintain peace if possible with the Delawares and other Indian tribes then occupying the northwest territory, and deemed any attempts at settlement by the whites at that time inexpedient and injurious to the American cause. ATTEMPTED SETTLEMENTS PREVENTED IN 1785-86. After the cession of the Northwest Territory by Virginia to the United States, Congress continued to pursue the policy of discouraging and preventing settlements within its limits until the Indian titles had been extinguished, and the lands were regularly surveyed and ready for sale. As early as 1785, a number of settlements were again attempted to be made on the west side of the Ohio, especially along the river front of Belmont and Jefferson counties. The government at once took action in the matter to prevent them, and finally resorted to force to expel the squatters, and destroyed their improvements. The extent and location of these attempts at settlement at that early period within the present limits of Belmont and Jefferson counties are shown by the report of Ensign Armstrong, who was sent down the river with a detachment of soldiers for the purpose of enforcing the government's orders, and the journal of General Richard Butler, one of the Commissioners appointed by Congress to treat with the western Indians. REPORT OF ENSIGN ARMSTRONG. In consequence of the refusal of the settlers along the west bank of the Ohio to remove in obedience to the orders issued by Congress, Colonel Molnar was instructed to send a detachment of troops down the river front Fort McIntosh in the Spring of 1785 to eject them by force and destroy their improvements. This detachment was under the command of Ensign Armstrong, whose report to Colonel Harmar is herewith appended in consequence of its historical interest and time evidence it contains of the extent and location of these settlements. Armstrong's report is as follows : "FORT MCINTOSH, 12th April, 1785. "SIR—Agreeable to your orders, I proceeded with my party, on the 31st of March, down the river. On the 1st inst. we cross- ed Little Beaver and dispossessed a family. Four miles from there we found three families living in sheds, but they having no raft to transport their effects, I thought it proper to give them until the 31st inst., at which time they promised to demolish their sheds and remove to the east side of the river. At Yellow Creck, I dispossessed two families and destroyed their building. The 2d inst. being stormy, nothing was done. The 3d we dispossessed eight families. The 4th we arrived at Mingo Bottom, or Old Town. I read my instructions to the prisoner Ross, who declared they never came from Congress, for ho had late accounts from that honorable body, who, lie was convinced, gave no such instructions to the Commissioners. Neither did he care from whom they came, for he was determined to hold possession, and if I destroyed his house he would build six more within a week. He also cast many reflections on the honorable, the Congress, the Commissioners and the commanding officer. I conceived him to be a dangerous man, and sent him under guard to Wheeling. Finding that most of the settlers at this place were tenants under the prisoner, I gave them a few days, at which time they promised to move to the east side of the Ohio river and to demolish their buildings. On the evening of the the 4th, Charles Norris, with a party of armed men, came to my quarters in a hostile manner, and demanded my instructions. After conversing with them some time, and showing my instructions, the warmth with which they first expressed themselves began to abate, and for some motive lodged their arms with me tilt morning. I learned from the conversation of the party that at Norris Town (by them so called), eleven miles further down the river, a party of seventy or eighty men were assembled with a determination to oppose me. Finding Norris to be a man of influence in that country, I conceived it to my interest to make use of him as an instrument, which I effected by informing him that it was my intention to treat any armed parties I met as enemies to my country, and would fire on them if they did not disperse. On the 5th, when I arrived within two miles of the town, or place where I expected to meet with opposition, I ordered my men to load their arms in the presence of Norris, and then desired him to go to the party and inform them of my intentions. I then proceeded on with caution, but had not got far when paper No. 1 was handed me by one of the party, to which I replied 156 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. that I would treat with no party, but intended to execute my orders. When 1 arrived at the town there were about forty men assembled, who had deposited their arms. After I had read to them my instructions they agreed to move off by the 19th inst, This indulgence I thought proper to grant, the weather being too severe to turn them out of doors. The 6th, 1 proceeded to Hoglin's or Mercer's Town, (Martin's Ferry) where I was presented with paper No. 2, and from the bumble disposition of the people, and the impossibility of their moving, I gave them to the 19th, and I believe they generally left the settlement at that time. At that place I was informed that Charles Norris and John Carpenter had been elected Justices of the Peace ; that they had, I found, precepts and had decided thereon. I then proceeded on till opposite Wheeling where I dispossessed one family and destroyed their buildings. I. hope, sir, that the indulgences granted some of the inhabitants will meet your approbation. The paper No. 2, is a copy of an advertisement which is posted up in almost every settlement on the western side of the Ohio. Three of my party being landed, I left them about forty miles from this place, under care of a corporal. The remainder I have ordered to their respective. companies, and the prisoner I have delivered to the prison guard. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, "JOHN ARMSTRONG, "Ensign." "To Col. Harmar.  This record shows that a number of white settlements existed on the west side of the river in 1785 ; that some of them were quite populous, over sixty names of the principal settlers at Mercertown alone being attached thereto ; and that they had so far advanced in law and order as to have elected two Justices of the Peace, who had already decided cases tried before them. Armstrong failed to break up the settlement, and met with such bitter opposition that he compromised with them, giving them a certain length of time, at the expiration of which they agreed to leave, if the Government did not rescind the order. General Butler's Journal shows the subsequent action of the government in the matter. JOURNAL OF GENERAL RICHARD BUTLER. General Butler started in his mission to treat with the Indians at Miami in the fall of 1785. He left Fort Pitt on the 26th of September, and among his companions were Gen. Samuel H. Parsons, one of the Commissioners, and Colonel James Monroe, then a member of Congress, and afterwards President of the United States. He arrived at Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of Beaver, where Colonel Harmar then commanded, and where a detachment of troops was furnished to accompany the Commissioners.* The party set off in boats from Fort McIntosh on the 30th of September, and General Butler kept a diary or the events of the expedition, from which it will be seen that a portion of his duties was to warn off the settlers that were located on the west bank of the Ohio river. In his journal of the 30th, he speaks of meeting the United States Surveyors at the Pennsylvania State line, who were then just making a beginning for the survey of the first seven ranges of land within the Northwest Territory. He then says We left the surveyors to come up with the troops and stores whom we overtook just above the mouth of Yellow creek in a very good harbor, about 8 o'clock at night. Maj. P. and Capt. M. accompanied us this far, they came down to see the country, and appear to be active and sensible men. Col. Monroe and myself advised friendship, unanimity and perseverance. We supped and spent the evening gaily, and went to rest about twelve o'clock. "October 1st. "The weather has a little the appearance of rain, which would be of great use, the river being very low. I fortunately recommended the employ ink; of one Mr. Huling, who I find to be a very useful, active, and ingenious man, he goes ahead with a small canoe to search out the channel, which we find very crooked. The above mentioned gentlemen left us this morning and returned to their camp at the line. The boats were detained changing and loading, and did not arrive till eight o'clock, at which time the drum beat and the whole got under way. Passed Yellow Creek and found several improvements on both sides of the river, put in at one Jesse Penniman's on the north side, five miles below Yellow Creek, warned him off, called on one Pry, who I warned off also ; this appears to be a shrewd, sensible man. He assured me he would go off, that he would go to *At Wheeling Isaac Zane was added to the party, who served in the capacity of a hunter to supply the officers and men with game for food. His wonderful success in killing buffaloes and other animals is frequently mentioned in lien. Butler's journal. Kentucky, having been disappointed in a place he had formerly purchased, it being taken from him by a law suit. I told him as well as the others, that Congress was determined to put all the people off the land,, and that none would be allowed to settle but the legal purchasers, and that these and these only would be protected ; that troops would be down next week, who have orders to destroy every house and improvement on the north side of the river, and that garrisons will be placed at Muskingum and other places,. and that if any person or persons attempted to oppose the Government, they may depend on being treated with the greatest rigor. He seemed not well pleased though he promised submission. " At this Pry's house we met one Wm. McCallum, from the Illinois ; he says he passed Gen. Clark at the falls. His accounts are of no use, being stupid, inconsistent, and unintelligible. Passed by several islands ; find the river very difficult to get down ; the channel from Yellow Creek is chiefly on the south side. Went on well to Middle Island, between which and the middle shore is the channel, close inshore. We got aground, as did six boats ; passed on to the Mingo towns, where we found a number of people, among whom one Ross seems to be the principal man on the north side of that place. I conversed with him, and warned him and the others away. He said he and his neighbors were misrepresented to Congress ; that he was going to Congress to inform them that himself and neighbors were determined to be obedient to their ordinances, and we had made it a point to assure them that Congress had no respect to persons, that the lands would be surveyed and sold to poor and rich, and that there would, or could be, no more of preference given to one more than another, which' seemed to give satisfaction. "Passed on to near Cross Creek, eight miles below the Mingo towns. A heavy shower of hail and gusts of rain came on, which continued till after night, which embarrassed us very much. Found that Capt. O'Hara had 15,000 lbs. of flour on the bank ready to embark. Strove a long time to get to shore, but the water was so low we could not. Captain O'Hara went out, and with much difficulty, in the dark, got to the house of one Cox, and, after much trouble, he got two horses for Col. Monroe and myself. I thought best to get Col. M. to take quarters in the house, and I staid in the boat. It rained in the night hard. Our troops and fleet came within four miles before the rain began ; stopped to cover the goods, which got one shower before the covering commenced, and which, I fear, has done some damage. CROSS CREEK, Sunday, Oct. 2d. "Capt. O'Hara had a fine cow killed for the troops, who arrived at 9 o'clock ; had the men served with provisions, who were set to cooking, while some loaded flour and corn for the use of the troops and cattle, and all was got ready and started at one o'clock. The people of this country appear to be much imposed upon by a religious sect called Methodist, and are be come great fanatics. They say they have paid taxes which were too heavy. " Called at the settlement of Chas. Norris, whose house has been pulled down, and he has rebuilt it. At this place found one Walter Kean, who seems but a middling character, and rather of the dissentious cast. Warned all these off, and requested they would inform their neighbors, which they promised to do. Col. Monroe spoke to them also, which had weight, as I informed them of his character. "Called at the settlement of one Capt. Hoglan, whom we also warned off ; his house had also been torn down and rebuilt. We informed him of the impropriety of his conduct, which he acknowledged, and seemed very submissive, and promised to remove and to warn his neighbors off also. Come on very well to Wheeling where we staid all night. This is a fine settlement, and belongs to one Zane ; an Island which is opposite the mouth of Wheeling Creek,. containing about 400 acres of most excellent land, and is a situation not only of great profit, but real beauty. He says he sells to amount of £300 per annum of the produce of his farm for cash, exclusive of the other advantages by traffic. He is an intelligent man, but seems either timid through real doubt or affects it through design. " Monday, Oct. 3d. "The troops encamped about four miles above last night, and did not arrive till this morning. Capt. O'Hara had people set to work to lay a deck in a large flat to take in some fine cattle which lie had ready at this place. Made a general inspection of the goods, which I found in very bad order, being quite wet ; had them dried as much as the weather, which was showery, HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES - 157 would admit of. The boat was not ready till dark, therefore could not take in the cattle this evening. Tuesday, Oct. 4th. "The troops began very early to load the cattle ; had in twenty-one by eight o'clock ; found the boat bad ; the fleet sailed and went four miles when the cattle boat had liked to sink ; put in and had the boat caulked and four of the bullocks with six casks of flour taken out, and the flour stowed in other boats, and the cattle left to come down in another. " I directed one Corporal and three soldiers to stay at Zane's till Capt. O'Hara would send a good boat from Fort M'Intosh, which is ready with other cattle. I wrote to Col. Harmar for three other men to join these as an escort to the Miama, and to give Maj. Dougherty orders to pull down every house on his way to Muskingum that is on the north side of the Ohio. I also wrote Gen. Harmar that I had sailed, &c., vide the public letters of this date ; I also wrote to Mrs. B. After lightening the cattle boat so much, she sailed and seemed to keep on very well. " The country here is really charming ; large bottoms of fine land, and rich hills. This country, if well managed, will sell certainly well, and sink a great part of the public debt, and give the purchaser a very valuable and happy exchange for his public securities. Capt. O'Hara left us at one o'clock, and returned to Fort Pitt to send us more supplies. We find several fine families on their way to the Kentucky country. One is a Col. Wood, from Virginia ; another one, Capt. Smart, from Jersey, with several others. " We got Col. Monroe's horses on board one of these boats, there being.no room in the cattle boat. We went on very well to Grave Creek, when the whole .fleet arrived at half-past five o'clock, and encamped just below its mouth on a fine beach. Went to see the grave, which is an extraordinary pile of human bones covered with earth. It. is about sixty feet perpendicular high, and about one hundred and eighty feet in diameter, base ; a conical figure, with large trees on its sides and top, where is one three feet in diameter. Supposing the annual growth one-tenth of an inch, is one hundred and eighty years old ; how long its sides were naked, may be supposed fifty years, as these kind of mounds of earth do not produce trees so soon as the land which is on a level with the country around. There are two small forts which, with the grave, form a triangle. Near one been these forts are three large holes, which appear to me to have been places of deposit for provisions. About one-fourth of a mile from these, forming an angle of about twenty-five degrees, is a large fort, which the owner of the land has began to plow up, where they find pieces of earthen bottles, arrow points, and stone tomahawks, all marks of savage antiquity. Opposite Grave Creek is a fine large bottom of excellent land. A number of the inhabitants from Fish Creek and that part of the ceuntry had collected at the houses of Isaac Williams and Tomlinson in consequence of the murder. of Doolan and his two children." THE SQUATTERS COMPELLED TO OBEY THE GOVERNMENT. Although these squatters along the west bank of the Ohio banded together to resist the United States troops, and were actually organized and equipped with guns and munitions of war, they were finally forced to yield to the execution of the laws. A compromise was effected, whereby they were given time, before leaving, to prepare temporary habitations on the Virginia side. They abandoned their settlements for a time, but many of these adventurous pioneers, who were thus driven back across the Ohio, eventually returned and secured legal rights to these lands by purchase from the government. The descendants of many of them now people the hills and valleys of eastern Ohio. NAMES OF THE SETTLERS IN 1785. The names of the first settlers, whose cabins were in 1785 scattered throughout the territory now embraced in the counties of Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson, Stark, Carroll, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, and Monroe, were as follows : Thomas Tilton, John Nixon, Henry Cassill, John Nowles, John Tilton, John Fitzpatrick, Daniel Menser, Zephenia Dunn, John McDonald, Henry Froggs, Wiland Hoagland, Michael Rawlings, Thomos Dawson, William Shiff, Solomon Delong, Charles Ward, Frederick Lamb, John Rigdon, George Atchinson, Hanes Piley, Walter Cain, Jacob Light, James Weleams, Jessie Edgerton, Nathaniel Parremore, Jesse Parremore, Jacob Clark, John Custer; James Noyes, Thomas McDonald, John Casstleman, James Clark, Adam House (his x mark), Thomas Johnson, Hanamet Davis, William Wallace, Joseph Reburn, Jonathan Mapins, William Mann, William Kerr, Daniel Duff, Joseph Ross, James Watson, Abertious Bailey, Charles Chambers, Robert Hill, James Paul, 'William McNees, Archibald Harbson, William Bailey, Jonas Amspoker, Nicholas Decker, John Platt, Benjamin .Reed, Joseph Godard, Henry Conrod, William Carpenter, John Godard, George Reno, John Buchanan, Daniel Mathews. SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC LANDS—THE FIRST SEVEN RANGES—INCIDENTS OF THE SURVEY—JOURNALS OF MAJOR ERKURIES BEATTY, PAYMASTER OF THE WESTERN ARMY, AND JOHN MATHEWS, ONE OF THE SURVEYORS—INDIAN TROUBLES, ETC. The first survey of the public lands north-west of the Ohio river was the seven ranges of Congress lands, and was done pursuant to an act of Congress of May 20, 1785. This tract of the seven ranges is bounded by a line of forty-two miles in length, running due west from the point where the western boundary line of Pennsylvania crosses the Ohio River ; thence due south to the Ohio river, at the south-east corner of Marietta township, in Washington county ; thence up said river to the place of beginning. The present counties of Jefferson, Columbiana, Carroll,, Tuscarawas, Harrison, Guernsey, Belmont, Noble, Monroe, and Washington are, in whole or in part, within the seven ranges. The ranges were to be numbered progressively from east to west, and the townships from south to north, On the 27th of May, 1785, Congress elected surveyors for the public lands, and chose one from each State, as follows : Nathaniel Adams, for New Hampshire; Rufus Putnam, Massachusetts ; Caleb Harris, .Rhode Island; Wm. Morris, New York ; Adam Hoops, Pennsylvania; James Simpson, Maryland ; Alexander Parker, Virginia; Absalom Tatum, North Carolina; Wm. Tate, South Carolina; and on the 18th of July, Isaac Sherman, for Connecticut. These were to be placed under the direction of Thomas Hutchins,* who had been appointed geographer of the United States. General Putnam could not attend at the time, and Gen. Benjamin Tupper, was appointed in his place until he could assume the duty. Nathaniel Adams. and Caleb Harris having resigned, Winthrop Sargent and Ebenezer Sprout were appointed in their places. Sargent was afterwards Secretary of the Northwest Territory. In July, 1786, the surveyors, under the direction of Hutchins, the geographer, assembled at Pittsburgh. Major Erkuries Beatty, father of the Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D. D., of Steubenville, who was paymaster of the western army, came to the Ohio country in 1786 and 1787 in the discharge of his official duties, and kept a diary of his tours and transactions, from which we extract several references he made to the progress of the survey, and the troops who were protecting the surveyors from the attacks of the Indians. JOURNAL OF MAJOR ERKURIES BEATTY, In July, 1786, Major Beatty was ascending the river to Pittsburgh. He says: "July 21.—River rose 9 or 10 foot last night, water strong; was obliged to tow our boat up one or two ripples. Stopped opposite the mouth of Little Beaver to see Capt. Hutchins and the Surveyor who is here encamped intending soon to cross the river and begin the survey of the Continental Land ; 6 or 7 miles below McIntosh met two boats with the baggage of three companies that left McIntosh this morning for to encamp at Mingo Bottom. Arrived at McIntosh. 5 o'clock where was only Capt Ferguson's Company. There is three Islands between Big and Little Beaver and several more between that and Yellow Creek and below the latter," On the 31st of July, Major Beatty set out from Pittsburgh to descend the river. We find in his diary the following: "August 2.—Started early, stopped opposite the mouth of Little Beaver and breakfasted with the surveyor, who is waiting for troops. Arrived at Mingo Bottom 3 o'clock, where Capt. Hamtramcks', McCurdy's and Mercer's companies encamped and had just been mustered and inspected by Maj. North. Showers of rain to-day. The troops encamped on the bank of the river opposite the lower end of a small Island, *Hutchins had acted as military engineer to Colonel Bonnet. 158 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES: "August 3—Waiting for Maj. North who is going with me to Muskingum—about 2 o'clock two detachments from Capt. Mercer's company, one commanded by Lt: Kersy, the other by Ens. Rigart, marched to distroy some improvements on the river ten or fifteen miles up Short creeek; orders were issued for the other to march early to-morrow morning to join the surveyors, and as soon as the detachments return Capt. Mercer joins them likewise. Major North and myself set off about 5 o'clock, went three miles to Cox's fort where we staid all night." Major Beatty reached the mouth of the Muskingum, and proceeded down the river to Kentucky. In September he started to return to Pittsburgh. We continue to extract from his diary: "September 11—Arrived at Muskingum between 1 and 2 o'clock where we found every person happy to see us —and I never had a more agreeable tour than this I experienced in company with Maj. North—found that Col. Harmar has detached Capt. Heart's company to join Maj. Hamtramck with the surveyors and that they have been a good deal surprised here by an Indian coming in and saying that the Indians were all collected in the Shawanese towns and intended a descent on this place.* The Colonel, to prevent a surprise has ordered the two companies to parade every morning at reveille beating and remain one hour under arms in occupying the fort. * * "September 21—Halted at Wheeling, where we found the people from below all assembled being much surprised by some Indians appearing among them a few days ago at their settlements —building a fort here to defend themselves. Many rumors of a great number of Indians expected to attack them. Lay about ten miles above Wheeling all night. "September 22—Stopped at a small Block-house to-day on the Indian shore which Maj. Hamtramck had built for the security of his provisions while he was out protecting the continental surveyors. † Saw here Capt. Mills the Commissary, and Mr. Hoops, a surveyor, who told us that they expected the troops and all the surveyors in, on account of an alarm they had received from the Indian towns. Arrived to-night within about three miles of Yellow creek." JOURNAL OF JOHN MATHEWS, ONE OF THE SURVEYORS—INCIDENTS OF THE SURVEY—INDIAN TROUBLES, ETC. Mr. John Mathews, a nephew of General Putnam, came on from Massachusetts to assist in the survey under the directions of General Tupper. We present herewith a number of extracts from a journal which he kept, showing the progress of, and difficulties attending the survey, and points of interest to this locality. JOURNAL OF JOHN MATHEWS. "Saturday, 29th July, 1786. Arrived at Pittsburgh about three o'clock P. M, Found the Surveyors had gone down the Ohio to Little Beaver creek. Received directions from General Tupper, by Colonel Sherman, to go down the river. "Monday, 31st. Arrived at the camp, on the east bank of the Ohio, this morning; where the surveyors were waiting for the troops, from Mingo, ‡ which are to escort them in the survey. "Saturday, August 5th. The troops arrived from Mingo, crossed the river and encamped on the other side." Mathews began the survey of the second range of townships on the 16th, under the superintendence of Captain Adam Hoops, the surveyor of Pennsylvania. He camped that night five miles from the river, on the east and west line. In his journal he gives daily the progress made, and an accurate description bf the land passed over. On the 6th of September he made arrangements to go out with General Tupper on the survey of the seventh range of townships. His party consisted of fifty men, thirty-six of whom were soldiers. On the 18th of September the party were at "Nine Shilling creek," in what is now Tuscarawas county. Here an express rider reached them from Beaver, announcing that the Shawanese had taken up arms, were re-assembling at their old towns, and dancing the war dance, preparatory to moving on the surveyors, and lifting as well their scalps as those of' all white linen found west of the Ohio. Surveying was suspended, and * Fort Harmar. † This was Fort Steuben, but was not then completed. See extract from Maj. Beatty's diary, February, 1787, given in the sketch of Fort Steuben. ‡"Mingo" was the common name used to designate the post called Fort Steuben, doubtless from the proximity. Frequently the garrison at Fort Steuben is spoken of as the "garrison at Mingo Bottom." all retreated to Fort McIntosh. In a short time they descended the river to "Mingo Bottom," and prepared to resume their work. Mathews stopped with a William Greathouse, who live opposite the Mingo Bottom. His journal proceeds : "Wednesday, October 4th, This day I went to Esquire Me. Mahan's, who lives. about six miles below Greathouse, and found that the surveyors were principally collected there and determined to continue part of the ranges, and were to be escorted by the whole of Major Hamtramck's detachment.* I concluded to go with Major Sargent to the fifth range. "Wednesday, 11, Having made the necessary preparations for resuming the survey, we crossed the Ohio at ten A, M., one mile below the old Mingo town, and took the route of "Crawford's trail," which leaves the river at the upper end of "Mingo Bottom," and encamped at night about two miles from the Mingo town. Our party consisted of the surveyor and his assistant, with a captain and twenty-five men as an escort. The Mingo bottom contains some thousands of acres of very fine land. Indian Cross creek † runs through it. "12th. Decamped and proceeded still on the route of ‘Crawford's trail,' in nearly a north-west course, At five P. M. encamped ; having made, as nearly as we could judge, about six miles of westing. The trail keeps the dividing ridge, between Cross creek and the creek that falls into the Ohio above the 'Mingo Bottom.' The surface is uneven, but the ridge no where steep, and the greater portion of the soil as rich as the Ohio bottoms. "15th. Decamped at six A. M. and moved before the troops, as they were not, ready, and Major Sargent is anxious to get to business. At ten A. M. we left 'the trail,' it tending too much to the south-west, and steered to the north-west and came on the boundary of the third range, one mile and three-quarters on the line of the third township. Encamped at night at the south-east corner of the second township, fourth range, and found that the troops were ahead of us. 14th. Decamped at seven A. M. and proceeded to the west on the south boundary of the second township, fourth range. About 2 o'clock, P. m,, overtook the troops at the south-west corner of the second township, fourth range. "Sunday, 15th. At sunrise Major Sargent and myself, with two men, left the party to find the west boundary of the fifth range, at a point eight miles south of the geographer's line. (It will be remembered that Mr. Hutchins was directed to run the cast and west line through the range.) At 10 A. M. we struck the line seven and a half miles south of the geographer's. After striking the line, we followed it south to the second mile post on the second township, where we began work. Run one mile and returned to camp, Which was pitched about eighty rods east of the line." The survey continued without any particular change until the 30th. On this day they lost their horses, the same having been stolen by a squad of Indians, who had laid part of the previous night within eighty rods watching for scalps. The soldiers went to building a block-house, which they finished on the 31st of October. From the 1st to the 7th of November, they were on what is now the south boundary of the seventh township of third range, in the United States military district. That day they struck Wheeling creek, in what is now Belmont county, and followed it to the Ohio, then crossed and took dinner at Colonel Zane's house. His journal of that day reacts ; "Tuesday, November 7th. Discovered this morning that we were two miles west of the south-east corner of the seventh township, and on McMahan's rivulet. From thence we traveled in a north course, and struck Indian Wheeling creek five miles below the camp ; which proves that we were misinformed as to the major's situation, When we struck the creek we met with some soldiers, who informed us that Captain Hutchins was gone into Wheeling; upon which we proceeded immediately to the river, and crossed over to Esq. Zane's, where we found Captain Hutchins. After dinner, left Wheeling in his company, to go to Esq. McMahans, which is about sixteen miles above. Proceeded about half a mile and tarried all night." Mathews and party went up the east bank of the river to McMahon's, and then to the house of William Greathouse, which they reached November 9th. Nevernber 10th they tarried and heard a sermon from a Methodist minister, located at that early day on the bank of the Ohio, in Virginia. November 11th, Mathews went to a Virginia corn-husking, at Harman Great- *Hamtramck was the commandant of the garrison at Fort Steuben. † "Indian Cross creek," "Indian Wheeling creek," etc., was then the method of designating the streams on the west side of the Ohio from those of the same on the east side. HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES - 169 house's, where a number of settlers had gathered in. They had whiskey in plenty, and, the husking being finished, they sang, danced, told stories, quarreled, and all who could walk went home about 10 o'clock in the night. Three, who were too drunk, remained over night, hugging the whisky bottle, and arguing religion. Sunday. November 12, others came in and assisted in drinking up the whisky. November 22, General Tupper, the acting commissioner in General Putnams absence, left for the east. November 23, Colonel Sprout and a Mr. Simpson left for the east, and the surveying party disbanded for the winter, Mathews remaining at Greathouse's, where the snow was two and a half feet deep on the 5th of December, 1786. We will again quote from the journal : "Saturday, January 27th, 1787. Captain Hutchins, the United States geographer, loft here for New York." February 3d. This evening I received a letter from Major Hamtramck, requesting me to come and take charge of the commissary department at Fort Steuben, which is three miles above the mouth of Indian Cross creek, on the West side of the Ohio. Sunday, 4th. I went to Fort Steuben, in company with Mr. Ludlow, one of the surveyors, and engaged to be ready to take charge of the stores on Wednesday next. " Fort Steuben, Thursday, 8th. This morning Mr. Peters delivered the stores in his charge to me. I am now entering on business with which I am unacquainted, but hope that use will make it familiar to me. I have to issue provisions to about one hundred men. " " On the 10th of April, Mathews writes: Captain Martin and Mr. Ludlow. left this place for the woods, to continue and complete the survey of the ranges. " 17th. Mr. Smith left this place for the woods. " 21st. Mr. Simpson left here for the woods." Mr. Simpson was the surveyor for Pennsylvania. "May 8th. This day three of the surveyors and their assistants or parties arrived from the woods, viz.: Captain Martin, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. Ludlow ; they arrived at Wheeling the 5th inst. Their coming in was in consequence of information from Esq. Zane, that the Indians had killed three persons at Fishing Creek, and taken three more prisoners on the 25th day of April. Mr. Smith is yet in the woods, and nothing has been Beard from him since he left this place, as he did not come up by Mr. Ludlow on the seventh range as was expected ; but, by comparing circumstances, I apprehend no misfortune has befallen him. "Thursday, 10th. Mr, Smith and party returned from the woods, and all is well. 12th. We have intelligence this day, that the Indians had murdered a family on the night of the 11th, about 15 miles below this place. On my way to Esq. McMahan's, I saw several Persons from Wheeling, who informed me that there was one Klan and two children killed, and two children taken. prisoners, and the woman badly wounded. " Wednesday, 23d. I was ordered by Major Hamtramck to engage a number of pack horses to go into the woods with the surveyors and escorts, to carry the provisions. Went up Buffalo creek about ten miles, in search of horses. There are several mills on the creek, and the best farms have seen in this country. " 24th. Bode to the court house in Ohio county. There is a town laid out here, and about twenty of the lots occupied. " 25th. About 2 P. M., arrived in the fort, not having very good success in procuring horses, but a prospect of completing what I want. A part of the troops stationed at Steuben had left here during my absence, being ordered to Muskingum, and the remainder immediately to follow. Their further destination is not known. Major Hamtramck informs me that the stores in my charge will be moved to Wheeling, and I am to go with them. This place will probably be the rendezvous of the surveyors and (heir escorts this summer. "30. A party of the troops left this post for Muskingum, and I have made arrangements to go to Wheeling in the morning. 31st. At ten o'clock A. m., left Fort. Steuben, with a canoe deeply laden, and no one on board but myself. At two o'clock, was obliged to lie by on account ̊Me wind. At four it abated and I got as far as the mouth of Short creek. Here I found Mr. Wheaton and Mr. McFarlane, and was induced to stay all night. "June 1st. We embarked and arrived at Wheeling at nine A. M. Landed the provisions and proposed pitching my tent near Esq. Zane's store. "Saturday, 2d. The surveyors all arrived on the other side of the Ohio, and pitched their tents near the mouth of Indian Wheeling creek, where they are waiting for their escorts to arrive from Muskingum, or Fort Harmar. "5th. Rode into the country, up Wheeling creek and between that and Short creek, in search of pack horses and saddles. "6th, The troops arrived from Muskingum. "Friday, 8th. The surveyors all left the Ohio about sundown, and encamped two miles up the creek, fully supplied with pack horses, &c., excepting the lack of one man and horse, which I shall forward in the morning. "9th. Went in the morning with the man and horse to the surveyor's camp, and about twelve o'clock they all got under march for their respective ranges. "23d. The troops from Fort McIntosh passed this place on their way down the river. The Indians have lately done mischief about ten miles above Wheeling; they have also been seen near here; and from many circumstances I fear the summer will be a troublesome one." On the 30th of July, Mathews was at Wheeling, and says on the 9th of that month he went to Pittsburgh, from whence he returned to McMahan's and spent eight or ten days with the surveyors, who, it seems, a part of them at least, had returned from the woods. While at Wheeling he notes in his journal : "The Indians have been seen in this quarter lately, and have stolen several horses. About ten days past, the signs of a party were discovered near Short creek, and were followed by a party of our people, who came up with them four miles below Wheeling--killed one and wounded two more of the Indians, who were eleven in number. Our party consisted of only eight men. The Indians were attacked unexpectedly in their camp, and fled with precipitation, leaving their blankets and moccasins behind them. It is supposed they were Chippewas." On the 31st he returned to McMahan's. "August 4th. About 1 o'clock, P. M., the people living on the bank of the river against this place were alarmed by the screaming of a person begging for life, and the report of two guns.. party of men armed themselves immediately and crossed the river where they found one man killed and scalped at the lower end of "Mingo Bottom." The Indians were pursued, but could not be overtaken. The party consisted of only two Indians, who were seen by some people engaged in fishing at the mouth of Cross creek. "5th. Mr. McMahan, with a party of volunteers, about twenty in number, crossed the Ohio river, intending to come up with the Indians who killed the man. They are determined to range the Muskingum country, where they hope to fall in with some party of Indians, or come to their trail and follow them into their settlements. 6th. At 9 o'clock, A. m., embarked on board of a boat, thr Muskingum, in company with Captain Mills, Lieutenant Spear and Doctor Scott. Twelve o'clock, stopped one mile above Short creek; on the north-west side of the river. At this place are about ten families collected and are determined to stand it out against all opposition, either from the Indians or the troops.* After a drink of good punch, proceeded on our way. At six arrived at Wheeling and tarried all night. Here we were informed that live Indians were seen last evening between this place and Ohio Court House. "7th. Left Wheeling at 6 o'clock. At 9 o'clock, the mouth of Grave creek, twelve miles below. At 12 o'clock, Captina creek on the west side of Ohio. At sundown, cloudy and rainy. Stopped one mile below the mouth of Fishing creek. The rain makes our lodging uncomfortable—four of us sleeping under a narrow .awning in the stern of the boat. On the 2d of September, Mathews again says : "At sundown, arrived within six miles of Wheeling, and put up at a Mr. McMahan's,* who was here making preparations to move his family down from Wheeling, where they had been for a long time, on account of danger from the Indians. "Monday 3d. Started at 2 A. M., and arrived at Wheeling before sunrise. Took breakfast at Esq. Zane's, at 9 o'clock. Left Wheeling soon after ; river still rising. At 12 o'clock reached Woodfort, four miles above. The river is so rapid that it is very difficult to make progress with the boat. Under these circumstances, I left the water and walked as far as Esq. McMahan's, reaching there about sunset. Here I learned that Messrs. Simpson and Ludlow had left this place the week before for their homes. Messrs, Wheaton and Smith were to leave in a few days. From this time to the 20th of the month he remained at Esq. McMahan's. A small party then proposed to cross the Ohio, * These are the squatters spoken of elsewhere, which were forbidden to settle by Congress, sad the troops were ordered to remove them. 160 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. and go out into the woods for a few days to dig ginseng. In those early times when the plant was plenty, it was a source of profit to the frontier inhabitants, who had few articles to give in exchange for money, or the more valuable articles of merchandise brought out by the trades. It proved to he rather a hazardous trip, as the Indians were hostile, and killed all the white men they could, especially if found on their hunting grounds. The journal proceeds : "A little before sunset the Squire and myself crossed the Ohio, and went about two miles and tarried all night at a house which was left by the inhabitants. "September 21st. At 8 o'clock, four men .joined us and we set off by Williamson's trail, a little before sunset. We encamped half a mile beyond the "Big Lick," on the head waters of Short Creek, in the ninth township of the fourth range." They reached the ridge dividing the waters of Short Creek and the Tuscarawas, and dug ginseng four days. He says : "It grew here in great abundance. Men accustomed to, the work, could dig from forty to sixty pounds a day." "September 28th. Collected our horses and prepared to start for the river. At 1 o'clock, completed their loading. At sunset encamped within about sixteen miles of the Ohio. "29th. Arrived at the river about 3 o'clock, P. M. We were much surprised to hear that three men had been killed and one taken prisoner by the Indians, about ten miles up Cross creek, who were out after ginseng on Sunday last. Two of the party made their escape. They had also killed a family the week following, up Wheeling creek, and done considerable other damage. While we were out, we were very careless and came on their trail, but very fortunately they did not fall in with us. I feel very happy that I have reached my old quarters, and will give them liberty to take my scalp if they catch me after ginseng again this year. "October 12th. This evening McMahan returned from over the river, where he had been with a party of men in pursuit of some Indians, who yesterday morning killed an old man near Fort Steuben. He did not discover them, but by the signs thought them to be seven or eight in number. "November 30th. A part of this month I have been on the west side of the Ohio, with Mr. Simpson and Colonel Martin, assisting them in the survey of the lands they bought at the public sales in New York. Last evening I returned from Pittsburgh, where 1 have been to settle my accounts with Britt & Co., which 1 have accomplished. While there, I saw Colonel Meigs, of Connecticut, who has lately come on to this country. He belongs to the Ohio company, and informs me that the surveyors, workmen, &e., will be on this winter. I was gratified to learn that, by the resolve of the company, I had been appointed one of the surveyors." FIRST LAND SALES. The public lands embraced within the limits of the first seven ranges were first offered for sale by the government at New York in 1787, and the sales were afterwards continued in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. A land office was established in Steubenville in 1801, and David Hoge was stationed at this place as register. INDIAN WARS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY—DEFEAT OF HARMAR AND ST. CLAIR—GENERAL WAYNE'S VICTORY. As the troubles with the savages existed until after their subjugation by General Wayne and his treaty with them in 1795, and as no permanent settlement could be maintained in security from their depredations within the limits of Ohio, until after that time, we will present a synopsis of the Indian campaigns during the territorial administration. Notwithstanding the efforts made by Congress to acquire peaceable possession of the territory within the limits of Ohio after the treaties with the Indians to obtain a relinquishment of their title, we have seen the difficulties that were encountered in the survey of the first seven ranges. The first lands sold by Congress was to the "Ohio Company," formed in Boston in 1786, which purchased nine hundred and sixty-four thousand two hundred and eighty-five acres, located on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. The boundaries of the purchase were, namely : "From the seventh range of townships, extending along the Ohio river south-westerly, to the place where the west line of the seventeenth range of townships would intersect that river ; thence * This was not. Esq. McMahan's. northerly so far that a line drawn due east to the western boundary of said seventh range of townships would, with the other lines, include one and a half million acres of land, besides the reserves." By the terms of this purchase the first legal settlement was effected in Ohio, and it was nearly two years later before legal settlements were made in either Belmont or Jefferson counties. General Ruffus Putnam, at the head of his pioneers, arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum on the 7th of April, 1788, and founded Marietta. They were met with apparently open hands by the Indians, and Captain Pipe, with one hundred Wyandots and Delawares welcomed them to their new home. But the antecedents of this chief up on the Tuscarawas, where he opposed the missionaries, and harrangued the warriors during the revolution, to drive every white man over the Ohio, were sufficient to mistrust his friendship, as he had practiced the same duplicity on former occasions in the upper valley. The settlers, while they shook hands with the warriors, shook their own heads, as soon as Pipe departed up the trail, and instead of trusting to his words, they went first to work to building defenses, stockades, &c. Up in the north-west, Brant had, in 1786, organized the tribes into a western confederation. He was the wiliest chief of his time, and headed the Six Nations, forming as he did the design of erecting the Ohio territory and the other North-west Territory into an Indian barrier between the American and British possessions. In this programme he was promised aid by the British. It was a pleasing idea to the chiefs and warriors of all the tribes, and afforded consolation to the British cabinet for the loss of their colonies. And, right here, it may be observed that had not Marietta been settled when it was, in the manner it was, this British plan of hemming in the Americans east of the Ohio river would undoubtedly have succeeded, and thus postponed for a generation, at least, the creation of new States in the West. No sooner had Pipe and his warriors made their reconnaissance at the mouth of the Muskingum, in 1788, than they retired from the valley, as they had done years before from the Tuscarawas, to plan and foment raids, and war upon the settlers. Under pretense of negotiating a treaty of peace, they assembled at Dan-can's falls on the Muskingum, to meet General St. Clair, then Governor of the Territory, but instead of making a treaty, their "bad Indians," purposely brought along, fell upon the white sentries, killing two and wounding others. This postponed the treaty—as was intended by those in the secret—several months, meanwhile the Indians prowled around Marietta and along up the west side of the Ohio frequently killing the whites and driving off those that would attempt to settle, In January 1789, another attempt was made by treaty to quiet the savages, and dissipate their ideas of expelling the whites from Ohio. As soon as signed, the pioneers at Marietta gave the chiefs a great feast (but had nothing for the common warriors), and all went home up their trails, while the settlers went to surveying and clearing a land, under the act of Congress. This treaty was made at Fort Harmer, opposite Marietta, between the settlers and the Wyandots, Delewares, Chippewas, Ottawas, Miamis, Pottowatamies, Senecas, &c., January 12, 1789. Early the following summer John Mathews, who had been one of the surveyors of the first seven ranges, and who was the surveyor of the Ohio company; and his party, were attacked on the Virginia side of the Ohio, and seven of his men shot and scalped. The same summer not less than twenty men were killed and scalped on both sides of the Ohio, some cf these depredations being committed within the present limits of Belmont and Jefferson counties, Ohio. In 1790, the Indians attacked a number of boats on the river owned by emigrants, and killed or carried off those on board. The raiding parties always had a white man as a decoy, who hailed the boats in a friendly manner as they descended the river, thus enticing them near shore, for the purpose of murdering the inmates. These decoys were renegades, like Girty, McKee, and Elliott, who had fled the colonies and were under the British flag. Governor St. Clair and Colonel Harmer had adopted the most pacific policy towards the Indians, and exhausted every means to conciliate them and gain their friendship, to no purpose, At length severe measures toward them became absolutely necessary, and Governor St. Clair unwisely sent a message to the British Governor, Hamilton, at Detroit, informing him that Colonel Harmer would go out with a force to chastise the murdering Indians on Sandusky and Maumee, and hoped Hamilton would not be offended, as there was no intention to annoy the British post at Detroit or elsewhere. Hamilton, although Gover- HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES - 161 nor of Detroit, was a low, perfidious character, and accordingly showed St, Clair's letter to the chiefs, who applied for and received from him, powder, ball, arms, and whisky, with which to carry on their murders, down on the Ohio and Muskingum, as well as fight Colonel Harmar. Colonel Harmar marched an army of over one thousand men into the Indian strongholds of the north-west—the Indians retiring before them. After destroying some towns, he was intercepted by the enraged savages. on his return, and doubled up, driven back and so utterly routed that there was but little left of his army when he got back to the Ohio. Harmar was disgraced, hundreds of good men cut to pieces, and the border laid open more than ever to Indian depredations. By September, of 1791, General St. Clair had reorganized another army of twenty-three hundred troops, and started from Cincinnati on Harmar's trial, to inflict punishment on the savages. The war department was inefficient, and its commissariat corrupt—the one failing to send St. Clair supplies, and the other stealing or changing what was sent, so that, this courageous old general had not only the savages around, but want of good ammunition and provisions in his midst. In this dilemma he ordered a retreat, when the Indians, to the number of two thousand warriors, beset him, in what is now Darke county, on the 23d of October, 1791. Three hundred of his militia deserted, adding panic to his cup of calamities. Still he stood his ground until the 4th of November, when a large body of Delawares, Shawanese, and Wyandots drove in his outposts pell-mell on to the main army. He 'rallied, but the savages being reinforced, pushed his troops into the center of the camp. In vain were efforts made to restore order and rally again. The Indians rushed upon his left line, killed or wounded one-half his artillery officers, captured the guns, slashed and cut hundreds to pieces, and so stampeded the militia that they could not be checked until they ran to Fort Jefferson—twenty seven miles from the battle-field. The General displayed commendable bravery in the fight, having four horses shot under him, and several bullet holes in his clothes. The battle lasted three hours, and thirteen hundred men were killed and wounded. In 1793, Wayne, in his campaign, camped on St. Clair's battlefield, but his soldiers could not lay down to sleep on account of bones strewing the around. It is stated that they picked up six hundred skulls, and buried them on the battle-ground, which is now marked by a small village, twenty-three miles north of Greenville, the county seat of Darke county. A hue and cry was raised against St. Clair for this defeat over the whole country, and people demanded that he be shot by order of court-martial. President Washington refused to listen to the public clamor, and refused even a court of inquiry ; knowing well that the blame rested more on the War Department than on St. Clair. He remained Governor, but was superseded by General Wilkinson as general, and after the war shut himself up on his farm at Ligonier, Pennsylvania, where he died, in disgrace, although innocent of crime or cowardice. After the defeat of General St. Clair, the Delawares, Shawanese, and other warriors came down from the "black forest" of the north-west, yelling the war-whoop along the Mohican, over to, and past the ruins on the Tuscarawas ; down the Muskingum, Scioto, and Miami, and over into Kentucky and Virginia. They were plumed with Buffalo horns fastened on the head, and costumed with bear skin breach-clouts, while scalps of the slaughtered soldiers dangled from their heels, as they urged their horses onward, looking like so many red demons let loose from the infernal regions. They were jubilant over the recent victories, and re-echoed the old epithet, "No white men shall ever plant corn in Ohio." THE LAST STRUGGLE TO DRIVE THE WHITES FROM OHIO—WAYNE'S VICTORY In the spring and summer of 1792, every effort was made by the government that could be conceived, to get the Indian tribes together and conclude a peace. At the instigation of British emissaries they refused to meet, unless assured in advance that the Ohio should be the boundary in future treaties. This would have struck Marietta, the Muskingum, Tuscarawas, and all the Ohio valleys from .the map of civilization, and lost to the Ohio Company a million acres bought from Congress at five shillings per acre. Putnam and the Marietta pioneers were therefore deeply interested in the colony. Heckewelder could not survive, if his mission ruins on the Tuscarawas were to be so goon turned over to the wild successors of the mound builders. Yet, strange as the fact was, there were distinguished men in the east willing 21—B. & J. Cos. to make the Ohio the boundary line. They feared the depopulation of the old, and the building up of new states in the west. to take from them the balance of political power. At length, in September, 1792, General Putnam and John Heckewelder appeared on the Wabash ; met the Potawatomies, Wachtenaws, Kickapoos, and smaller tribes, and concluded a treaty. This was the first giving way of the Indian barrier. That winter the Shawanese, Six Rations, Wyandots, and Delawares agreed to hold a grand council on the Maumee, which took place in early summer of 1793. The government sent its agents to the mouth of Detroit River to be ready to treat. The Indian council, finding that they could not obtain the Ohio as a boundary line, refused to treat on any other line, broke up, and all the nations prepared for war again. At this council the treaties of Fort McIntosh and Harmar were repudiated as fraudulent, and the gifts proffered by the government were spurned by the Indians with contempt. Their fiat had gone forth : " No white man shall plant corn in Ohio. " After contemplating the probable loss, not only of their lives, but of their million acres, the prayers for help of the pioneer women, and the groans of their anguished husbands, were heard over the Blue Ridge, and above, the Alleghenies, and far up into the New England mountains ; then a burst of indignation arose, and " Mad Anthony " was ordered from the east to the rescue of the pioneers. He came crushing through the forests like a behemoth. He left Fort Washington—now Cincinnati—with his legion in October, 1793: He, too, went north-west on Harmar's and St. Clair's trails, building defenses as he moved on. At Greenville, Darke County, he wintered and drilled his men. In June, 1794, he camped on St. Clair s battle-field, and buried the bones of six hundred soldiers, bleaching there since 1791. Here the confederated tribes disputed Wayne's further progress. Being reinforced by eleven hundred Kentuckians, his force now aggregated about three thousand men ; he soon routed the savages, and pushed on to the headquarters of the tribes at the junction of the Auglaize and Maumee rivers. They retreated along the Maumee forty miles to the rapids, where there was a British fort. Here they prepared for battle. Wayne offered peace without a fight in case they gave up the Ohio river as a boundary. A portion of the chiefs desired to do so, but the remainder, under British influence, refused. On the 20th of August he moved on the enemy, who again retreated a short distance and fought him. His whole force being brought into action, soon routed them in every direction, leaving the battle ground strewn with dead Indians, and British soldiers in disguise. General Wayne's loss was thirty-three killed, and one hundred wounded. The Indians in the battle numbered fourteen hundred, while the main body were not in action, being some two miles off; but hearing of the defeat, they all scattered to their homes, and Wayne laid waste their towns and corn-fields for fifty miles, thus ending the war. In this battle were Simon Girty, Elliott, and McKee, who had, ever since their desertion from Fort Pitt, in 1778, been the main counsellors and leaders among the Shawanese, Wyandots, and Delawares, being assisted by the British garrisons in the region of the Sandusky / .1d _Detroit. The net result of the Wayne campaign was a troaty of peace, which was made at the present Greenville, Darke County, Ohio, in the following August, (1795) between the government, represented by General Wayne, and the Shawanese, Delawares, Wyandots, Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Miamis, and other smaller tribes, at which about two-thirds of the present State of Ohio was ceded to the United States. CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The United States having secured title to the "Great Northwest," Congress soon deemed it advisable to take the preliminary steps looking to the permanent establishment of civil government in the new and extensive territory of which that body had just become the legal custodian. Accordingly, after much mature deliberation acid careful consideration of the subject, as well as prolonged discussion of the important questions involved, they, on on the 13th of July, 1787, gave to the world the results of their deliberations, in "An ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United Stafes Northwest of the river Ohio," which has come to be best known as "The Ordinance of '87." Said ordinance was the fundamental law, the Constitution, so to speak, of the great Northwest, upon which were based, and with which harmonized, all our territorial enactments, as well as all our subsequent State legislation', and, moreover, it is to that wise, states- 162 - HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. man-like document that we are indebted for much of our prosperity and greatness. FIRST OFFICERS OF THE TERRITORY—ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, FIRST GOVERNOR. Congress in October, 1787, appointed General Arthur St. Clair, Governor. Major Winthrop Sergeant, Secretary, and James M. Varnum, Samuel H. Parsons, and John Armstrong Judges of the Territory, the latter of whom, however, having declined the appointment, John Cloves Symmes was appointed in his stead in February, 1788. On the 9th of July, 1788, Governor St. Clair arrived at Marietta, and finding the Secretary and a majority of the Judges present, proceeded to organize the Territory. The Governor and Judges (or a majority of them) were the sole legislative power during the existence of the first grade of Territorial government. Such laws as were in three in any of the States, and were deemed applicable to the condition of the people of the Territory, could be adopted by the Governor and Judges, and, after publication, became operative, unless disapproved of by Congress, to which body certified copies of all laws thus adopted had to be forwarded by the Secretary of the Territory. The further duty of the Judges, who were appointed to serve during good behavior, was to hold court four times a year, whenever the business of the Territory required it, but not more than once a year in any one county. General Arthur St. Clair served as Governor from 1788 to 1802. As Secretary of State, Winthrop Sargent served from 1788 to 1798 ; William II. Harrison, from 1798 to 1799; Charles Byrd, from 1799 to 1803. John Armstrong filled the office of Treasurer from 1792 to 1803. William H. Harrison was the Territorial Delegate in Congress from 1799 to 1800; William McMillan was his successor from 1800 to 1801 ; Paul Fearing served from 1801 to 1803. TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION. The first law was proclaimed July 25, 1788, and was entitled "An act for regulating arid establishing the militia." Two days thereafter the Governor issued a proclamation establishing the county of Washington, which included all of the territory east of the Scioto river to which the Indian title had been extinguished, reaching northward to Lake Erie, the Ohio river and the Pennsylvania line being its eastern boundary ; Marietta, the seat of the Territorial government, also becoming the county seat of Washington county. Quite a number of laws were necessarily adopted and published during 1788 and the following year. From 1790 to 1795 they published sixty-four, thirty-four of them having been adopted at Cincinnati during the months of June, July, and August of the last named year, by the Governor and Judges Symmes and Turner. They are known as the "Maxwell Code," from the name of the publisher, and were intended, says the author of "Western Annals," "to form a pretty complete body of statutory provisions." In 1798 eleven more were adopted. It was the published opinion of the late Chief Justice Chase, "that it may be doubted whether any colony, at so early a period after its first establishment, ever had so good a code of laws." Among them was that "which provided that the common law of England, and all statutes in aid thereof; made previous to the fourth year of James should be in full force within the Territory." Probably four-fifths of the laws adopted were selectedfrom those in force in Pennsylvania; the others were mainly taken from the statutes of Virginia and Massachusetts. SECOND GRADE OF TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION. After it had been ascertained that five thousand free male inhabitants actually resided within the Territory, a second grade of Territorial government could, of right, be established, which provided for a Legislative Council, and also an elective House of Representatives, the two composing the law-making power of the Territory, provided always that the Governor's assent to their acts was had. He possessed the absolute veto power, and no act of the two houses of the Legislature, even if passed by a unanimous vote in each branch, could become a law without his consent. In 1798, the Northwest Territory contained a population of five thousand adult male inhabitants, being the requisite number to entitle the people to elect their legislators, under a property qualification of five hundred acres—as to the legislative council—the representatives to serve two, and the council five years. In 1798, the territorial legislature was elected, and in 1799 was organized, and addressed by the Governor, after which the necessary laws were enacted—the whole number being thirty-seven. William Henry Harrison, Secretary of the Territory, was elected delegate to Congress. This legislature held its first session at Cincinnati on the 22d of January, 1759, and adjourned to meet on the 16th of September. It held its second session at Chillicothe on the first Monday of November, 1800, and adjourned December 9th. The third session of the legislature began at Chillicothe November 24th, 1801, and on the 23d of January, 1802, adjourned to meet at Cincinnati the following November ; but the fourth Session was never held. FIRST COURTS OF THE TERRITORY. The first court of common pleas in the Northwest Territory was opened on the 2d day of September, 1788, at Marietta. A procession was formed at the " Point, " (the junction of the Muskingum with the Ohio River), of the inhabitants, and the officer's from Fort Harmer, who escorted the ,judges of the court of common pleas, the governor of the territory, and the supreme judges to the hall appropriated for that purpose, in the north-west blockhouse in " Campus Martins. "* The procession was headed by the sheriff, with drawn sword and baton of office. After prayer by Rev. Nanasseh Cutler the court was then organized by reading the commissions of the judges, the clerk, and sheriff ; after which the sheriff proclaimed the court open for the transaction of business. The judges of the first court of common pleas were : General Rufus. Putnam, General Benjamin Tupper, and Colonel Archibald Crary. The clerk was Colonel R. J. Meigs; Colonel. Ebenezer Sproat, sheriff'. On the 9th day of September following, the court of general quarter sessions was held at " Campus Martins. " The commission appointing the judges thereof Was read—General Rufus Putnam and General. Benjamin Tupper constituted justices of the quorum, and Isaac Pearce, Thomas Lord, and R. J. Meigs, Jr., assistant justices ; Colonel R. J. Meigs, Sr., was appointed clerk. The first grand jury of the territory was then impaneled; viz.: William Stacey, foreman, Nathaniel Cushing, Nathan Goodale, Charles Knowles, Anslem Tupper, Jonathan Stone, Oliver Rice, Ezra Lunt, John Mathews, George Ingersoll, Jonathan Devol, Jethro Putnam, Samuel Stebbins, and Jabez True. ORGANIZATION OF TERRITORIAL COUNTIES. The first counties of Ohio were organized by proclamation of the governor of the territory. The following is a list of the territorial counties organized within the limits of Ohio ; also the date of organization, with thetr respective county seats: