The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-16

present generaslon-..-wiil not only
witness their farther extension. but
most probably see the country FIRST
tenanted by Lewis and his cotempo.
raries, great thoroughfare for the
produce Of several of the western
states--a link of communication
between''he Chesapeake bay and the
Gulfsof Mexico.
The tract ofcountry usually demon.
inated North Western Virginia,
includes the counties Of Brook, Ohio,
Tyler, Wood, Lewis, Randolph, Pres
ton, Harrison and Monongalia,
covering an area of S,SS7 square miles,
and having population, according to
the census of 1880, Of 1850 souls.
These coun'i,s,wi PORTION Of Penn
sylvania then deemed to be within the
limits ofV!rglnia, constituted the dis
trict Of West Augusta and was the
last grand division of the State, to
become occupied by the whites. This
was perhaps owing to natural causes,
as well as to the more immediate prox-
Unity Of hostile Indians. t
The general surface ofthis district
Of country is very broken, its hills,
though rich, are yet steep and precipi-
tous, aud the various streams which
flow along their bases, afford but few
bottoms; and these Of too narrow and
contracted dimensions to have
attracted the adventurer, when more
inviting portions of the country, were
alike open to his enterprise. The
Allegheny ridge Of mountains, over
which the eastern ernigrant had to
pass, presented too, no inconsidcrable
barrier to its earlier location; while
the cold, bleak, iuhospitable region,
extending from the North Branch to
the Cheat and Valley rivers, seemed
to threaten. an entire seclusion from
the eastern settlements. and to render
it Al isolated spot, not "a ly connected
with any other sec ion of the State.
The first attempt on the part Of the
English to occupy the lands contiguous
to the Ohio river, was made in conse
euence Of the measures adopted by
the French to possess themselves of it.
France had early became acquainted
with the country, so Fur as to perceive
the facility with which her possessions
in the north, might. by means of a
tree communication unintcrru ted, to
acquire influence over the neighboring
Indians and to prevent the occupancy
and settlement by England of tn"
country west Of tn. 'l'os'ug noun
tains. the Ffrnrh .,.r, ..,I-- .-.}....J
to establish trading posts nenc .he
Indians on the Ohio, aud to Obtain
and preserve possession oithc country
by the erection Of chain of forts to
extend from Canada to Louisiana.
To counterfeit those operations of
the French to possess herself of the
country, to which she deemed her title
to be good, and to enjoy the lucrative
traffic which was then to be carried on
with the Indians, England gave to an
association of gentlemen in Great
Britain and Virginia, under the title
of the Ohio Company liberty to
locate and hold in their own right,
100000 acres of land within the
country then claimed'by both England
and France. In pursuance of this
grant, steps we're Immediately taken
TO effect those objects,hy establishing
trading houses among the Indians near
the Ohio, and by engaging persons to
make such survey of the country, as
would enatle the grantees to effect a
location of the quantity allowed them
out of the most valuable lands. The
company endeavored to complete their
survey with all possible secrecy, and
by inducing the Indians to believe
their object to be purely commercial,
to allay any apprehensions, which.
might otherwise arise, ofan attempt to
gain possession Of the country.
The attempt to accomplish their
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