Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-02
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JHHi WGFrom the MAhoning Register,l n
historical Sketches by J.. M. Ed

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lHHi NIFrom tho MAhoning Regster,l IN
historical Sketches by j.. M. Ed
tif Nt VSardS.bauHD ti = If..yy IN
Seventy years have scarce elapsed since
the first settlement, by white men, was
made in this country, or in that large ter
ritory now called the Western Reserve, tor
day teeming with inhabitants, industrious,
enterprising and PROSPEROUS, but then an
unbroken Wilderness Yet. short as the
time is, the events of the first Sc Element
and early history of a very large portion of
this territory are but little knownG and
their record exists, to great extent, only
In the memory Of the few lingering sur
vivors of those early days, or In tradition,i
Those who possess this knowledge, as actors
unless efforts are made to collect and pre-
serve it, the opportunitylwill soon be gone,
and 1t win be lost foreVer.,sh tag5 .-Hl.
Partial efforts have been made to preserve
this information. Impressed with its inn
portance, Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, during
the last years he spent at home, In Garfield,
devoted considerable time In collecting the
facts OF our early history; and the biogra-r
ply of the early settlers, with view to
their ultimate publication. In this he was
aided by Frederick Wadsworth, Esq, one
of the earliest settlers of that sown. Mr..
Whittlesey was called by President Lincoln
/ to Washington, from whence he did not re-
turn alive. Mr.. WadswOrth about the same
time removed to California, and their work
was not completed. Their manuscripts
were left in the possession of VIM. w.
| Whittlesey, Esq, of Garfield, who has
| kindly placed them at our disposal. Avail
| ing ourself of these, and other manuscripts
and sources at our command, we designed
| to publish q series of sketches of the early
settlement and history of several, of the
| townships of our county, and all OF them,
| if we can obtain the desired information,
with Biographies of the early settlers, and
sketches of the general history of the Con-
necticut Western Reserve, or New Con-
nectirut, as it was formerly called our first
courts, post routes, etc. With these intro
ductory remarks, explanatory of the sub
ject and designs, we commence the series.
| THE WESTERN RESERVE. aT a.
| The original charter of the State OF Con-
necticut was granted by Charles III, in 1862.
| That charter defined the limits of the State
as follows From the south line of Massa-
chusetts on the north to Long Island Sound
| Oh the south, aud from Narraganset river
on the east to the Pacific ocean to the
west. 1t will be seen, by reference to the
map, that these boundaries will incloSe,
| not only what is now the State of Connec-
| ticut, but also portions of the State of New
| York and New Jersey, nearly one-half of
Pennsylvania, all the northern portions Of
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and portions of
Iowa, Michigan Nebraska, Utah, Nevada
and California. There was clause In the
charter, however, which excepted from its
operations such portions as were occupied
| by prior settlers. This exception excluded
such parts of New York and New Jersey
as werein in the prescribed limits. A dispute
arising between New York and CoDnecti-
cut, as to the boundaries between these
States, it was settled by commissioners ap-
pointed by the King, in 1864, who decided
| that the MarOneck river should be the west
ern boundary of Connecticut. For nearly
| a century thereafter, Connecticut neglected
to claim or settle any part Of her territory
west of New York, and q charter being
granted to William Penn in 1851, embrace
ing all that part of the same which lies
within the present State of Pennsylvania,
a dispute ultimately arose between the col
onies as 10 the right of possession in the
contested territory. Both colonies sold
the same land, and each guaranteed to the
purchasers undisplted posses ion. This ex-
cited innumerable quarrels, and resort was
often had to force OF arms to expel the in
truders. l,.l ,... LiI7'33 81
In 1850, the Legislature of Connecticut
transmitted TO England certain questions
to be proposed to the most able lawyers,
respecting her title TO lands west OF New
York, The answer was favorable TO aer
claims, and determines the colony to maln-
tain them. The revolutionary war hap
pening soon alter, suspended proceedings
until alter its close. In 1881 the Two States
agreed to oappoint commissioners to deter
niue the dispute. An actot Congress was
passed granting to the commissioners full
power to act in the final settling oil the
Hong pending controversy: The commlsT
sioners met at Trenton In November, lIS2.
After "A full hearing 81 the matter III QueS-
tion, they decided That Connecticut had no
rights TO the lands In dispute. Here the
matter, so far as PennsylYanla was con-
cerned, rested. The State OF Connectieub
Notwithstanding still laid claim to all LANDS
ly ing westot Pennsy ylyhaaand extending 70
the Mississippi river. To avoid future
troubles, however, the Legislature agreed to
cede all the lands to Congress, with theeX-
ception of q tract Of one hundred and tweIl-
ty miles in length lying Immediately west
OF Pennsylyaula. This cession was accept.
ed, and was considered to be an inoirect ae-
Acknowledgements that her claim was well
founded, The tract is known as the Con-
lnecticut Western Reserve. A part OIL
tract, comprising half million Of acres,
hvr Gfofh N s(lOn