USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Two > Part 29
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
credulous reliance that the grant would be just what he had asked," Symmes proceeded to issue his cele- brated circular "To the Respectable Public" giving "Terms of Sale and Settlement of Miami Lands,' of which his prospectus gave glowing accounts, "anc promised health, wealth and blessings too numerou: to mention." Indeed before closing his proposed contract with the Government he began the sale o lands to ready purchasers and even gave title fo some twenty thousand acres, located at the mouth of the Little Miami, to Benjamin Stites. Othe presumptive titles were bestowed, one for a section six hundred and forty acres-immediately opposite the mouth of the Licking River, to Mathias Denmar of New Jersey. It would be tedious and unprofitable to recite the complicated negotiations of Symme with Congress and the Treasury Board, or with the many purchasers of lands, which Symmes never secure( and which the buyers had later to rebuy from the Government. Suffice it to say that Symmes secured the right to some six hundred thousand acres, and finally, in May, 1792, obtained and paid for, abou three hundred thousand acres, extending along the Ohio, the entire distance between the two Miamis Before this actual purchase, viz., in 1788-90, Israe Ludlow and John S. Gano were employed to survey the Symmes Purchase. Meanwhile projects for towi settlements were developed. We mention briefly the more historic ones.
It was November 17, 1788, or within the weel following, that Stites "with a strong party of friend: and followers" an "adventurous troop" of a dozer
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475
ES OF AN AMERICAN STATE
or more, landed just below the Little Miami, on a low lying plain exceedingly fertile, a portion of which vimgwas known as "Turkey Bottom," having been for years cultivated by the Indians. In a few days Stites and erected theron some huts and a blockhouse and gave the town the name of Columbia, which Stites hoped would eventually become the "Queen of the West." e o But nature and destiny declared against him and the "'city," in its own identity never advanced much beyond the plan and original settlement; its site eventually becoming merged within the present cor- porate limits of Cincinnati.
Meanwhile Symmes remained at Limestone, waiting for the conclusion of the treaty which the Government was then holding with the Ohio tribes at Fort Harmar. That council over, Symmes started up the river for the Denman section, but high waters, which had submerged Columbia, drove him back to the site of North Bend, in the township he had reserved for his ur own use and where he had already constructed a tem- porary habitation and which he now-latter part of January, 1789-laid out, under protection of soldiers rom Fort Harmar, as a permanent settlement and by ar donating some of the lots to incomers, he "succeeded n starting a respectable village," which afterwards became noted as the home and burial place of William ta Henry Harrison, Ohio's first President, whose wife vas Anna, daughter of Judge Symmes. Symmes luring this colonization at North Bend received delegation of Shawnees led by the Chief Black Beard, vho, after conference with the colonizing party and fter partaking of their hospitality which included
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476
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
much "fire water," expressed himself as satisfied with the peaceable intentions of the pale faces of the "thirteen fires."
But the planting of the "City of Ohio," is yet to be related, though it occured prior to the settlement of North Bend. Its founders were Mathias Denman. John Filson and Robert Patterson, named in the inverse order of their importance in this work. "Math- ias Denman," says Charles Theodore Greve in his complete and authoritative "History of Cincinnati" (1904), "was in no sense a pioneer, but simply a specu- lator in lands in the new country and a member of the Jersey (Symmes) Company; he never lived on his purchase and contributed little if anything to the life of this community; after his early visits to this neighborhood, he returned to New Jersey and so far as known remained there until the day of his death, having sold (1795) his interests in that purchase.
One of the most attractive figures in the period of which we are writing is that of John Filson. His life and personality have been set forth in a volume written by the distinguished historical student and charming author, Colonel Reuben T. Durrett, president of the Filson Club (Louisville, Ky.), which received its name from the subject in question. Filson was born, probably in 1747, and raised near Brandywine, Pennsylvania. His education was far above the usual in those times. He delved in the classics, Latin and Greek, and acquired a practical knowledge of French. He taught school before and after emigrating to Ken- tucky, whither he went in 1783, locating at Lexington and buying lands of Daniel Boone. In the midst of
ROBERT PATTERSON
Born, 1754. Died, 1827. One of the promoters of Transylvania University (1785), the first college in the West. One of the three founders of Cincinnati. Served in Dunmore's War and famous in subsequent pioneer events in Kentucky and Ohio. Distinguished for his services in the Indian wars. One of the first settlers at Dayton. Buried in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
F
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476
THE RISE AND PROGRES
much "fire water," expressed himself as garish with the peacea KpagarTAs on's apthe pale faces of the
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LIT ders
inverse order beir Importance in this work. Mah jas Denman, " says Charles Theodore Greve B complete and authoritative "History of Cincinnad (1904), "was in no sense a pioneer, but simply a sp- Tutor in Lands in the new country and a member el the Jersey (Symmes) Company; he never lived his purchase and contributed little if anything to life of this community, after his carly visits to od neighborhood. he returned to New Jersey and Mor as known remained there until the day of his delle having sold (1795) his interests in that purchase.
One of the most attractive figures in the period which we are writing is that of John Filson. life and personality have hem set forth in a volu brille hir th Jo guided historical student damany sukker. Colimel Bomben T. Durrett, precideel af tlit 11-0 Club (Iwiwville, Ky.), which received ita mine from the subject in question. Filsor. bois, probably in 1747, and raised near Brandrininr. Pennsylvania His education was for above the url in those time . He delved in the classics, Latin and Greek, and acquired a practical knowledge of French. He taught school before and after emigrating to Kon- tucky, whither he went in 1783, locating at Lexington and buying Jandy of Daniel Boone. In the mider of
Waterlow
477
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
his backwoods life and pioneer hardship, his literary bent was unsuppressed. He wrote a history of the "Discovery and Settlement of Kentucke," described by Durrett as "a quaint little leather-bound octavo of one hundred and eighteen pages," published (1784) in Wilmington, N. J. It was accompanied by a map, "a masterly work produced more from conversations with pioneers than from the use of the compass and chain." An article in the appendix, of thirty-three pages, was devoted to "the adventures of Colonel Daniel Boone, formerly a hunter, containing a narra- tive of the Wars of Kentucke." It was, says Durrett, "a little fountain from which have flowed so many enchanting streams of Indian conflict and pioneer adventure in this dark and bloody ground." Filson was moreover a "verse-maker" and upon occasion would break into poetry of no mediocre quality.
The third of these city founders was Robert Patter- son, who, as we learn from the felicitous pages of the volume entitled "Concerning the Forefathers," by Charlotte Reeve Conover, was a fearless pioneer and gallant soldier in the Indian wars. His daring, enter- prise and patriotism propelled him through a career of remarkable experiences. A native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent, he was at the age of twenty, with Dunmore in the latter's Ohio campaign, immedi- ately following which Patterson settled in Kentucky and made the first clearing on the site of Lexington. He appears with credit and distinction in nearly every important pioneer event of Kentucky and Ohio; a sergeant under George Rogers Clark in the Illinois campaign; with Bowman in the succeeding Ohio raid;
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
with Clark in each of his three Miami expeditions one of the most courageous in the siege of Bryant': Station and the Battle of Blue Licks; his military talent and bravery made him captain and then colone in the Virginia line "of the finest set of men tha ever crossed the Ohio." He was one of the three petitioners to the Virginia Legislature for a charte for an advanced school to be known as the "Tran sylvania University" which was formally opened in 1785 and was the first regular institution of learning in the great West. Such in cursory brevity was Robert Patterson to the time in question.
Patterson and Filson had become associates and friends in their life at Fort Lexington. Both ambitious and adventurous in business opportunities, they united with Denman in the purpose of settling the Denmar tract, a one-third undivided interest in which he respectively sold to Patterson and Filson. This con- tract of sale and triple partnership was entered into in August, 1788.
The events that followed have been recited by innumerable authors in volumes more or less exhaustive and more or less unreliable. It was on September 22, (1788) that a company from Kentucky led by Patterson and Filson landed on the site chosen. Filsor began surveying the lines for the streets of "Losanti- ville," which singular name for the new "city" he had constructed from the initial L, for Licking, the Latin os, meaning mouth, the Greek anti, meaning opposite to, and the French ville, meaning city-the combination literally interpreted reading "the mouth opposite the city," but supposed by the law of reversion
479
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
to signify the "city opposite the mouth of the Licking." Much humor has been provoked by this specimen of polyglot nomenclature; for instance the historian McMaster cold-bloodily remarks that a few weeks after Filson had coined this name, Losantiville, the Indians scalped him. It may have been true, but not from the cause jocosely intimated, for while the survey- ing of the location was yet in progress, Symmes arrived from Limestone and he with Filson, Patterson, Denman and Ludlow, engaged in a surveying expedition to the region watered by the Big Miami. During their meanderings in the interior, Filson separated himself from his companions and started back alone to Los- antiville. He disappeared in the woods and "was never more seen." Neither his remains nor any of his effects were ever found. His fate has remained a mystery. Although many conjectures as to the manner of his decease have been put forth, one author -Miller, in "Cincinnati's Beginnings"-gives a detailed and graphic imaginary account of the mortal blow as it was struck by an Indian assailant.
This inexplicable disappearance of Filson seems to have interrupted the proceedings at Losantiville. The Denman party returned to Limestone where a new agreement was made, to which Ludlow became a party in Filson's place. Denman returned to New Jersey, Patterson to Kentucky, leaving the new settle- ment in the care of Ludlow. It was December 24, (1788) that the indomitable founders of the new town again embarked in the rude keel-boat at Limestone and swept out on the Ohio, now obstructed with float- ing ice. On the 26th, or a day or two later, exact
480
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
date in dispute, they landed at Losantiville and con- structed the first cabin with the planks of the crude boat in which they had arrived.
The following summer (1789) the survey and site was protected by a stockade, a square building of logs, one hundred and eighty feet long and formed in barracks two stories high. In November of this same year, General Harmar and three hundred soldiers were moved from Fort Harmar, which was left in charge of Major John Doughty, to the Losantiville stockade. On January 14, 1790, General Harmar wrote General Knox of his (Harmar's) arrival at Losantiville, reported the situation and said of the stockade, "this will be one of the most solid, substantial fortresses when finished, of any in the Western Terri- tory. It is built of hewn timber, a perfect square, two stories high, with four blockhouses at the angles. On account of its superior excellence I have thought proper to honor it with the name of Fort Washington." For an accurate detailed account of the origin and history of Fort Washington, the reader is referred to the little volume bearing the title of "Fort Washington," written by Robert Ralston Jones of Cincinnati and published (1902) by the Ohio Society of Colonial .Wars. Shortly after its occupation by General Harmar the little town of Losantiville was chosen by Governor St. Clair to be the seat of Government for the Northwest and he re-christened it Cincinnati, in honor of the Society of the officers of the Continental Army, and in January, 1790, Governor St. Clair, who had arrived at Cincinnati,
- -
JOHN FILSON
Born about 1747, near Brandywine, Pa. School teacher and scholar. Settled at Lexington, Ky., 1783. One of the three founders of the City of Cincinnati. Author of the first history and the first map of Kentucky. Mysteri- ously disappeared in the Miami country in 1788. This portrait, the only one extant, is from a miniature in a volume once owned by Filson and now in the possession of Colonel William T. Durrett of Lexington, Ky.
480
THE RISE AND PROGRE
date in dispute, thet handed at Losantiville and or struc nedanst Hood prsti 2 BY , anis of the cm
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logs, mais ha noideade sit di weg has nofeld ted banwo conel for in barracks two sidenotgriga, I to NOTICE .T MsiHtiW In November cx same year, General Harmar and three hundred soll were moved from Fort Harmar, which was lely charge of Major John Doughty, to the Losanti stockade. On January 14, 1790, General Hur wrote General Knox of his (Harmar's) arrival Losantiville, reported the situation and said of stockade, ""this will be one of the most solid, substan fortresses when finished, of any in the Western T tory. It is built of hewn timber, a perfect sqe two stories high, with four blockhouses at the an On account of its superior excellence I thought proper to honor it with the name of 1 Washington " For an accurate detailed account the origin and history of Fort Washington, the te in Teferrol bu the Byby volume bearing the til "Forr Warburton," written by Robert Ran Jcotes of Chaosnalf and published (1902) by the Society of Colonial Wars. Shortly after its occup by General Harmar the little town of Losant dl was chosen by Governor St. Clair to be the pod Government for the Northwest and he re-chrismed it Cincinnati, in honor of the Society of the carem of the Continental Army, and in January, 790 Governor St. Clair, who had arrived at Ciney nari
481
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
there organized the new county called Hamilton, which covered the whole territory west of the Muskin- gum.
Though Cincinnati was to become the metropolis of the Ohio, "the Losantiville enterprise," says Mrs. Conover, "was not a fortunate move for Colonel Patterson." He lived in the fort for one month only, when he returned to his family at Lexington, retaining his proprietary interest in the Cincinnati site until November, 1794, when he sold out-to one Freeman- for two thousand pounds, Virginia money, or about eight dollars an acre. Ten years later Colonel Patter- son and family moved from Kentucky to the town of Dayton on the Big Miami. This communal location also had its touch of unrealized early romance. One of the first places born of the Symmes Purchase was hat for a settlement at the advantageous point- the mouth of Mad River. In June 1789, as we learn rom "Early Dayton," (1896), by Robert and Mary Steele, a party comprising Benjamin Stites, John 'tites Gano and William Goforth, had bargained vith Symmes for the tract covering the location lesignated. This town, so picturesquely situated in the two rivers was to strive for greatness under the lame of "Venice," and the Mad River was to be e-named the "Tiber" and thus recall the memories f the seven-hilled city. But this classic colored ream was never realized for the site was in the heart f the Indian country and not till after the Greenville `reaty (1795) did the town called Dayton spring ito existence. It was located on the site of "Venice" y Generals Arthur St: Clair, James Wilkinson,
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
Jonathan Dayton and the surveyor Israel Ludlow, which party, despite their previous contract with Symmes for the land, that proved not to be his, were compelled to make good their title by a further con- veyance to them from the Government.
The transplantation of the Anglo-Saxon colonists from New England to the banks of the Muskingum, in 1788, as already related, had a romantic and pathetic counterpart, two years later, in the Gallic settlement upon the Ohio nearly opposite the mouth of the Great Kanawha. This western center was called Gallipolis-city of the Gauls-for its people were emigrants direct from France.
We have already noted how through cooperation with Colonel William Duer-formerly (1777-8) mem- ber of the Continental Congress, at the time in question Secretary of the Board of Treasury, and who later (1788-9) assisted Hamilton in organizing the Treasury Department-Manasseh Cutler enlarged his lanc purchase as first proposed for the Ohio Company The entire tract offered for sale, in the resolution o Congress (July 27, 1787), was to be "bounded by the Ohio, from the mouth of the Scioto River to the inter section of the western boundary of the seventh range of townships now surveying; thence by the saic boundary to the northern boundary of the tenth township from the Ohio; thence by a due west lin to the Scioto; thence by the Scioto to the beginning.' There were to be the required reservations of township lots for school and religious purposes and "the future disposition of Congress."
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483
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
On October 27, (1787) Manasseh Cutler and Win- :hrop Sargent completed their dealings with the Government Treasury Board. Two distinct contracts vere entered into. One was an absolute purchase y Cutler and Sargent "as agents of the Ohio Company of Associates," of a million and a half acres of land ying along the Ohio River, between the seventh ind seventeenth ranges of townships and extending worth from the Ohio until a line drawn due west rom the seventh to the seventeenth range, which ogether with the reservations mentioned in the ontract, should include the entire amount of acres equired. The consideration was one million dollars public securities; one half to be paid on signing the ontract; the remainder in one month after the exterior nes of the tract had been surveyed. No title was ) pass to the Ohio Company until all payments ere made, though occupation of a portion previous ) payment was permitted. On the same day-named bove-the Board of Treasury made a second contract ith Cutler and Sargent for "themselves and as- ociates" for the sale to the latter of the remainder the tract described in the Congressional resolution : sale. This second contract, therefore, embraced 1 the lands-outside of the Ohio Company purchase -lying between the Ohio and Scioto rivers and the estern boundary line of the seventeenth range (not et surveyed) of townships, extending north to the tenth wnship from the Ohio; also the tract of land west the seventeenth range of townships south of the nth township from the Ohio River, and north of e Ohio Company's purchase. The ,"'Scioto Tract,"
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
destined to become historic, therefore lay between the Scioto River and the western boundary of the seventeenth range of townships. It was supposed that this western (17th range) boundary line would strike the Ohio River at a point opposite the mouth of the Great Kanawha. Under the actual survey it fell much farther west. This led to serious compli cations as we shall see. The land in the second o Scioto contract was sold by Congress at the rate o two-thirds of a dollar per acre in public securities payment to be made in six annual installments, th first falling due six months after the exterior lines o the tract had been surveyed. This second contrac was really merely an "option" or "preëmption - of purchase. No money was paid down. Simul taneously with the execution of the Scioto trac contract with the Board of Treasury, Cutler an Sargent conveyed to William Duer a one-half interes in it and gave the latter full power to negotiate a sal of the lands in Europe or elsewhere. Both vendor and vendees were equally to share in the profits c losses resulting from the disposal of the lands. Follow ing the agreement made with Duer, Cutler and Sargen transferred some three-fourths of their (one half retained interest in the tract, in about equal propor tions to Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Tupper, Samue H. Parsons, Richard Platt, Royal Flint and Joe Barlow. These latter purchasers then made sub-sale to various parties, many of whose names were nc made public.
The enterprise of these gentlemen was known a the Scioto Land Company and "it is probable tha
JOEL BARLOW
"Poet and patriot of the Revolution." Served under Washington in the American Revolution. Attained fame through his poetical productions. Was chosen by the Scioto Company to act as its foreign agent in Paris, when he arrived in June, 1788. His efforts in Paris met with disastrous results.
GALLIPOLIS AS FIRST BUILT
The log houses and capital square as erected in 1790 by Major John Burnham for the reception of the Gallipolis immigrants. Members of the French Five Hundred ar- rived at the town on October 17, 1790. It is the site of the present city of Gallipolis.
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484
THE RISE AND PROGRE
destined to become& quot therefore lay betw
the Scipto River and the western boundary of
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it fell much farther west. This led to serious cont
ТІЦЯ, ТЕЯІЯ ЗА ЗМІОЧІЦІАД
cations as we shall see. The land in the secoue
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payment to be nia
instalo mente, first falling due six months after the exterior lin the tract had been surveyed. This second con was really merely an "option" or "preempn of purchase. No money was paid down. Si tancously with the execution of the Scioto contract with the Board of Treasury, Cutler Sargent conveyed to William Duer a one-half int 10 it and gave the latter full power to negotiate of the lands in Europe or elsewhere. Both ve and vendes were equally to share in the profh lous xevaltini Gran Li disposal of the lands. Fo ing theagri mem made with Duer, Cutler and Sa transferred moyne three-fourths of their (one retained interest in the tract, in about equal : tions to Rufus Patnam, Benjamin Tupper, H. Parsons, Richard Platt, Royal Flint and Barlow. These latter purchasers then made sin to various parties, many of whose names made public.
The enterprise of these gentlemen was In the Scioto Land Company and "it is proba!
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485
OF AN AMERICAN STATE
this company was not formally organized in America, but that the basis of its operations was a secret agree- ment among its principals," says Theodore T. Belote in his scholarly monograph (1907) on this subject, a study founded mainly upon the collection of original documents embraced in the "Gallipolis Papers" now in the possession of the Ohio Philosophical and His- torical Society of Cincinnati. It was expected by these gentlemen that they could make immediate and profitable sale of these Scioto lands, or rather of their right of preemption in the lands, in Holland and France, for in both those countries large amounts of the United States securities were held; securities hen about worthless, and which it was believed the oreign holders would gladly exchange for the fertile ands in the Ohio country. As the Scioto Company could thus obtain these securities at a greatly depre- iated value and pay them to the Government at par or the lands in question there appeared to be quick ales and large profits in the project.
At the suggestion of Cutler, the appointment for he foreign agency fell upon Joel Barlow, "a poet and patriot of the Revolution," who had fought under Washington and had attained literary fame, through is poetical productions, especially "The Vision of Columbus," and "he was somewhat known abroad." Ie is described as "a man of mediocre ability, but rustworthy." Barlow, with powers of attorney from Duer, and with letters of introduction and "a number f documents intended to impress those with whom e came in contact," arrived in Paris in June, 1788,
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