The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-11
GhnGnteIIigsttfs
A centennial History Of The Io"n
of bridgeport. Opposite inc
City OF wheeling.
ny DR. J. N. TODD

historical sketches TO arrive aS near 'ne
truth as possible. In this way.alone can
their object be attained.
Isaac II. Patterson in his random rec.
elections Of Belmont county says in the
Lo,oQigtneer, "Probably the first settle
ment was made by Capt Joseph Kirk
wood at the mouth Of Wheeling creek
now the site OF the town Of Bridgeport
| think this is an error, as well as that
Marietta, settled in 177s, was the
first settlement inthe State of Ohio 1t
was probably the first legal confederation
in Ohio, but records, as plainly reliable
as Marietta's, clearly establish we
think, that Martins Ferry or MERGERS
town, called for Gen. Mercer as II was
originally known, is entitled TO the M hOn no..
offirst being and doing like a town IN our
State and Sn,i-du.es Mariettas claim at
least ten years. ,.,,, i'll.
prssuming that our people Wouiu IKE
that they can Of the early histo-
:. OT,hi, locality. We subjoin in proof
- onr claim for Martins Ferry and the
contiguous -, district, the tOllowinS:-White
settlements were made along the upper
Ohio, between Fort Mcintosh Beaver
and the mouth of the Muskingum as
early as 177S. Trading Posts were es-
,ablished near the mouth Of The Guy
ahoga river, on the peninsula, between
Sandusky bay and the mouth Of Portage
river, at place called St. Dnsky, prior
to 1850 about which; time some English.
traders established a post at place call
ed PickawiItany, now known us Lara
mics Store, in Shelby county. These,
however, were only temporary trading
posts, and were soon thereafter aband-
Oned.
Next came the Moruvian Missionaries
who in l76l established missions at
Shoenbrun, Gnadenhutten and Salem, in
the Tuscarawas Valley.
The first military post built by the
whites for defense against the Indians
was that Of Fort Lawrens, constructed in
l77s by a detachment sent out from Fort
Pitt under Gen. Mcintosh. The second,
that OF Fort Harmer, constructed under
tho supervision OF Major Doughty in
1885. But actual white settlements were
made, though contrary to law, at different
points on the west side Of the Ohio river,
q number Of years before the northwest
territory was added to the United States.
OF this there is abundant evidence, how
ever, conflicting it may make the claims
Of Haglins or Mercertown, now Martins
Ferry and Carpenters Fort, little dis
lance above the mouth Of Short Creek,to
the seniority.
Colonel Broadhead commanded the
American troops in the Western Depart
ment, and wrote General Washington
October 20, 1870, that "a certain land
company from Virginia had crossed to
the west side Of the river at or near
Wheeling and committed numerous tres
passes by hunting and making improve
inents upon the lands belonging TO tho In
dams, who had made great complaint, and
that he had sent n detachment OF the
Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, under
Capt. Clarke, 10 destroy their huts and
drive them away.n The Captain report
cd, on his return, that he had found a
number Of settlements all along the
river, extending in some instances thirty
miles up the branches. The Captains
GRAND was not successful, for subse'
quently the Indians refused, at the treaty
OF Fort Mcintosh, 10 enter into any terms
until the Commissioners would agree TO
"break up the improvements and drive
the settlers from the lands west OF the
Ohio" This was in 1910. This the
Government attempted to do, and
Colonel Harmer was ordered TO en-
ploy such force as he deemed necessary
Tor that purpose. Ensign Armstrong was
assigned the task, and set out from Fort
Mcintosh, and returned few weeks
thereafter, having coasted along some 200
miles of river and visited twenty settle
ments, some Of which offered considera'
BILE resistance,
As matter Of historical interest, and
to prove both the existence and extent Of
the white settlements west OF the Ohio
river, we here insert Armstrong; report
in full:
SIR-Agroeablo 10 your orders, proceeded with
my purity, 90 the aist Of March, down the river
Oh the lit Inst. We crossed Little Beaver and DIS
posscsSel 4 family. Four miles from there wo
ound threc families living 10 sheds but they hay
inc no raft 10 transport their effects thought 1t
nr5ncr 10 sITo them until the 3lEt inst, ut which
tlme ihey nromised 10 denolsh their sheds and re-
move IA ihr eSIt lido Of the liver,
Al YclinW CTeak. IdispoSsoSSSl two families and
lastroyri thslS buIllIng. Tho ID inst. being
stnrmy noihInr yaS done, The I'd we dsposseIsel
sISht Ilm,iic4 The ith WI arrived At Mligo Bot
Ian1 az Oid Tovn. read nv instructions 10 the
uTiSnner Rosl, Who declared they never came from
nD SreS, Ior Ia ma lste accounts from that honor.
stTTetIo5i 10 the Commissioner. Neither did he
rsrr irom whom they came, for he was determined
IA Mold poSsorion, and II destroyed his house be
Woulj buIld III more EIthlnA week. lie also cast
many reflections on the honorable the Congress,
Inc Commissioners and the commanding officer. l
conceived lin 70 10 dangerous man, and sent him
under guard 10 Wheeling. Finding that most Of
Inc SetiIerS nj Ibis place were tenants under the
prisoner, I gave them few days, at which time
ihey promised 10 move to tho cast side Of the
Ohio river and 10 d0mollsh their buildings.
On the evening Of the 9TH, Charles Norris,
With party Of armed men,, came TO
my quarter. In hostile manner, and demanded
nyinstruollonS. AiterconVefsIng with them some
line, and showing my instructions, the warmth
i'm which iheV first expressed themselves BEGAN