The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-04-30
LOCAL HISTORY.
How Tho Territory Of Ohio was Obtained.
Eariy Efforts OF the Government 10 Prevent
squattipg---Wondsr Career OF
Joseph Ross, an IndiaA
Fighter.



II was not until 1869 that Virginia at
tempted 10 exercise authority over the
northwest territory, the title TO which
was acquired by charters from James In
1905 aud 1911. In that year the county
OF BOtetOuTt was established and In 1878
Virginia claimed an additional right by
the bold and successful conquest OF Col
Onel George Rogers Clark In the same
year OF Clark's campaign, the House OF
BnTgesgeS established the county OF I'LL
nOip, having for lta boundaries on the
east Pennsylvania, on the south and
southeast the Ohio river, on the west
The Mississippi and on the north the
great lakes. 1881 th!s same territory was
cedfd TO the general government OF the
United States by the Common wealth OF
Virginia, hut Congress- pursued the pol
ICY followed during the war OF the Rev
0lntion OF diecOlraging and preventing
settlements on the west side OF the Ohio
until all the Iadlan titles had bean ex.
tlngulehed and the lands regularly sur
yeyed aud ready for sale. During the
Revolution General Washington deemed
any attempts at settlement by the whites
on this territory inexpedlent and inju'
rlous 10 the American cause and used
every me ms In his power 10 maintain
peace with the Indians then occupying
the regions west OF the Ohio. These In.
dians by their alliance with the cause Of
Great Britain suffered much by the
treaty Of peace OF 1883 by which the
United States acquired the right TO all
territory embrace d In the thirteen colo.
niea, whether derived by the conquest
from the Indians or az a result OF the
French and Indian war some twenty
I've years previous. The treaties OF
Fort 3 anwix In 1884 and OF Fort Mcln-
tOsh In. 1885, negotiated by the celebrated
Chiefs COrnplanter and Red Jacket with
representatives Of the Government
caused the Indians TO relinquish all
claim 10 the territory OF the OHIO Valley,
and the Indefinite claim OF the Iroquis
TO these regions was. completely extin'
guished. Several subsequent treaties
were made, notably those Of Fort Finney
In 1855. Fort Harmar In 1880 and the
celebrated treaty OF Greenyllle In 1906,
but these In m any respects were merely
| c0niirmat0ry OF what had already been
done and the other territory acquired by
the United States was by purchase. II
was not un II 1912 by the treaty of the
upper Sand1sky, that the last tract OF
laud waq obtained from the Wyand0ta
and In that year the laat remnant OF the
powerful Indian tribes once owning all
OF what In now comprised In one OF the
great, 81 States OF the Union retired ID
the lands west Of the Mississippi.
| Notwithstanding the efforts Of Wash
iug,on and afterwards Of the general
government TO prevent settlements, W.
have already shown In previous articles
that the yenturesome pioneer disregard
cd the orders Issued and established his
log cabin aud made email clearing fol
hi5 corr along the river front In Jefler
son and Belmont counties. The lrsi
three military posts built In what
Is now Ohio, Fort Laurens In l779
Fort Harmar In 1856, and Fort Steuben
In 1885, we're established not only Ia
prevent depredations OF the Indians on
the frontier, but also to prevent whites
from settling on the lands. In i770
General Broadhead, then In command Of
the Western Department dispatched or
expedition TO apprehend the trespasserl
upon the aOll and TO destroy all the hut
and halitatlons Of the fQnatters. Thl
expedition does not appear 10 have beer
productive OF any good result and II
1855 q detachment under command Of
J0hn Armstrong was sent out from For
Mcintosh with Instructions 10 eject The
squatters by force and destroy all i'm
pToyementa they might have made. Hli
report shows that there were settlements
at the mouth OF Yellow Creek, opposite
Browns Island, and on Mlngo Bottom
The chief man Of the settlement at Min
20 was Joseph Ross who claimed thai
Armstrong; instructions never CANE
from Congress and that II his house wai
destroyed no would build six more with
In week, He treated the whole matter
with such contempt that Armstrong
conceiyiDg him TO be dangerous man
arrested him and sent him under guart
10 Wheeling. AT number OF Other
plac, the eQuatters along the west banl
OF the Ohio banded together TO resist
the troops. and were organized ant
equipped with all the munitions OF war
Many OF them yielded upon n compr0
mise being effected by which they wert
allowed TO build cabins on the Virgins
aide, but soon came back and acquired
titles 10 the lands originally occupied by
purchase from the government. These
lands we're surveyed In 1885 aud divided
Into sdyen ranges; the sales were made
In New York, Philadelphia and Pitts
burg until 1901, when land Office wa
established In Steubenyllle with Dayit
Hoge az register. The 1rst lands solo
were TO the Ohio Company, formed In
Boston In 1856, for Ave shillings pei
acre, Dni In this year tho llrst legal set
Elements we're made In Ohio.
Among those who resisted the GOV
ernment In its efforts TO prevent settle
ments, no man stands out more pr0ml
nently than Joseph Ross, the father o.
the frat white child born IN E,sterr
Ohio. He was born sometime near l73(
In New York State and his whole llfC
was spent on tho frontier. From hil
boyhood no was noted for his grea
physical strength and endurance, nj
well 90 for his spirit OF bold independ
ence. Ha was almost n giant In stature
ak feet five In his moccasins and weigh
Ing about three hundred pounds. Whor
about twenty years OF age he was capt
ured by a prowllng band Of Indians ant
conducted to their village s0mewher,
In Ohio. Possessing 40 many physica
qualities commanding the respect OF th,
sayages, as In all Of the many and sever,
trials to which no was put no beat ever,
antagonist, no was we'll treated by tn,
worrlors, The tribe lost q chief by sick
ness soon after tho arrival OF Ross, ant
after tho funeral ceremonies were per
formed the aAyages dressed him In IN,
Indian costume and Invested him Will
| oil tho authority and privileges OF IN,
deceased, ,--as one OF the chiefs OF Oh,
tribe, and as husband OF the widow
This latter arrangement appears 10 hay,
been very satisfactory TO Ross, who wa,
ever somewhat OF Solomon In HIS do
nestle relaiions; he made The widow hil
wife In tho manner consistent with In
dian cuatOma, and Ia sajd IN hnva he