The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-04
sketch Of the Early settlement Of
wheeling.

VIC priat lhia morning and much more.
sketch Of The Early settlement Of
wheeling.
To-day NO celebrate the hundrsdth aH-
niysrsafy Of our Natiotj Independence,
bat the birthday otout city has IN older
date. When the Declaration was read At
PhiladelphIn on the Alb of July, l77G,
Wheeling wEs a thriving settlement on
what was then the frontier Of civilization.
1t appropriate, therefore, that on this
glad day, when all hearts arc hllsd with
lender, memories Of the past, We shoald
review SOME events Connected with the
early history Of our eity, and remember
with gratitude the hardy and enIerPrising
founder. o. liItorlnnss.
wheelibs owe, its Grst settlement to
Col. Ebeuezer Zl9s. In theyeAr l76s he
left bis home on the south Branch Of the
Potomac, then Friedrich county, Virginia,
to make settlement on Sope Of the fer
tile lands when wore the El:Dotados Of
fortune to adventurous spirits. Accom-
panied by his wife and two children, and
couple Of younger brothers, he started
on the trail commonly used by traders,
and iirst struck the watora oflhe Ohio at
Redstono old fort, now Brownsville, Pa.
Here he remained year, but not liking
the country, nor the quality Of the land
Ia that vicinity, be concluded to make
wider excursion in search Of a more eli
gible location. Leaving his family at
Redstone he pushed forward through m
unbrokcn wilderness, in company with
i'm brothers, Jonathan and silaS, carrying
pack Of meal which, together with tho
game their guns and dogs could provide,
furniShed their means Of subsistence.
After many days iourneying, they struck
the hCadwaters Of Wheeling Creek. Col.
Zane at once concluded to follow the
course Of the stream as it would neces.
sarily conduct them to an outlet into
larger waters where he might find the 10.
cation he desired. 2 Nearing thrOutlst Of
the creek and Observing the vide sweep
il made he climbed the hill, now known
"a Nj. Wood, to save distance and afford
wide outlook. twas an early morning
in juno, 17ea, aill Is he gained the sum.
nit Of the hill, and caught the FIRST sight
Of the majcltic river rolling at its base.
and then saw the broad Cxpanse Of rich
bottom lands, the island and the oPpO.
site shore, covered with primeyal forest,
and briEhtwith tho moSniDg sun, he burst
into an exclamation Of delight at what
seemed to him paradise Of beauty, and
promptly decided to stake out his claim
and pitch his tent in this favored spot.
With their .tomahAwks the brothers
Immediately set about constructing log
raft with which 10 pass over to the other
aide Of the river. Ithad appeared TO them
one conpact body OF land, but when they.
reached Il and instituted q close exami.
nation soon discovered Il to he an island.
They.were so delighted with evidences OF
its fertility that they Immediately con-.
mepced blazeinR the trees to mark the
boundaries Of their claim and took pOss-
aasion in the usual method ofmAking
what IL called tan improvement. Re.
turning to the eastern side they marked
ont other claims north Of the creek o. the
choicest land, and sOt about such@im.
proyemantaN a. would confirm their title.
When a rude cabin had been built and a
sufficient clearing made they planted
some corn TO serve for their subsistence
the coming season. II was then determin.
ed 10 retrace their steps 10 Redslone,
leaving Silas Zane TO look altar their in.
terests until their return. in the succeed
ing spring. 81.
CoI. Zane took his family 10 Pittsburgh
where they embarked with their effects
in open canoes for their new home; JON
athan Zane and an IriShman named Will
Jams. accompanied them indugouts with
tbe horses and cattle. On their arrival
they AZ once sought the place agreed up
on "a A rendezvous with Silas Zane and
we're very much alarmed at finding no
trace Thin, They instituted 4 careful
search along up the creek surprising he
had been scared away by the Indians and
that he might still be luIking somewhere
in the neiVhborhood. When they reach.
ed the forks Of the creek they came upon
him, while making an excursion Tor sup,
piles, and fonnd he had become alarmed
a. The abundant signs OF the pres,
snce Of Indians and had concealed
bimseif al far rs he could from their
regular thoroughfares OF travel. The
brothers returned to their cabin, and BY
diliFent work made m extensive clear
ing both ON the Island and the eastern
side az The river. The settlement soon at
tracked The attention OF those who with
like adventurous spirit were seeking
homes on the fertile lands Of the ONO.
Thcso mostly embarked nj Pittsburgh IN
canoes or broad hornsy that being the
sSiest mode Of travel through country
intested with Indians, and were charmed
Win me site and prospects OF the new
imnroyement on the Wheeling. Among
them were the founders OF many families
Wbose descendants remain among US 10
tbis day. the CaldWelrs, MeCulloehs,
Woods' B6VVs', MeMe6hen's and others.
some diaisuities were experienced by the
infant settlers by occasional incursions
and forays Of the Indians, who would
carry OF their hogs, or cattle, Or horses,
in the absence Of the men. But IN the
main, friendly relations were preserved
With the Indians and the affairs
Of tho settlement prospered until succeed;
ing events stirred uPthe bad passions o.
he sayages who many times HterWard
sought its destruction, mos,
nm. .,,s.a..n az lha aniIlnmnnL lLimns