Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-18

anu where WAS tnc luSt OnS HihuS'
CLAIMS OF WHEELING.
There was then no English speaking
people residing on the banks of the Ohio
prior to the year ITO, but De Hass says,
History of Northwestern Virginaia page
3S2) that ION bright morning in June of
that year Colonel Ebnezer Zane stood upon
the high bank of the Ohio just above the
confluence of Wheeling Creek and gazed
upon the outspread landscape of island,
hill and river" The founder of future
city was then upon the site upon which 1t
was to be reared. Erecting cabin he re-
manned one season on the Ohio and then
I returning east he induced a few resolute
friends TO accompany him. He removed
westward in the spring of 1772 but deem
ing it unsafe to carry his family to the
banks of the Ohio, he left them at Reds
town (now Brownsville Pennsylvania and
in company with his brothers, Jonathan
and Silas, and two or three others pro-
eeeded to take possession of the rights on
the Ohio. Completing his cabin and
having opened clearing Mr.. Zane visited
Redstown and that fall made final re-
moval. With the opening Of the year 1773
come number Of settlers from the South
Brdaeh and thus rds formed settlement
rhieh has grOpR to be a city Of many hOaS-
and" de Hass, page 334) Thus was
securely laid the foundations of the Nail
City--so long ''Virgina's Metropolis OF the
West"
We have quoted from DR.. De HasS'
valuable work because it is believed that
his personal acquaintance with representa-
| tions of the Zanes. family, access to their
family records, private papers etc. insure
accuracy in his narrative of events with
which the brave and honored pioneers
who bore that name were connected.
A storm of Indian warfare lowered near;
DunmOre's war was at hand. The stOckade
was the only place of safety. Several at
once arose along the frontier, among them
Fort Fincastle at the mouth of Wheeling
Creek. 1t was built in 1774 by company
of Virginia Militia under the joint di-
rection of Major Angus Mcdonald and
Captain William Crawford. History of
the Pan Handle page 49, In l776 Patrick
Henry became the first Commonwealth
Governor of Virginia and in honor of him
the fort st Wheeling was changed from
Fincastle u Fort Henry, and as such 1T was
known until the ruthless barbarian no
more visited the southern banks OF the
Ohio. Then its walls were RACED to the
ground 10 make room for the dwelling
place of civilized men.
On the 26th day of December 1892, by
an Act of the General Assembly a ferry
was established from the lands of James
Caldwell, Ohio County across the mouth
of Wheeling Greek TO the lands of Ebenezer
| Zane. Shepherds Virginia Statutes at
Large Vol l. page 15S). The same Act
provided for the establishment of several
| ferries from lands in Ohio County across
the Ohio river to lands in the Northwest
Territory.
Wheeling was legaley constituteda town
| by legislative enactment, December -,
| 1895 when the General Assembly enacted
THAT the land late the property OF
| Ebenezer Zane, as the same is already lald
of into lots and streets in the county OF
| Ohio and on the Ohio river shall be estab-
| lished town by the name of Wheeling
and John McLutyer, Andrew Woods,
Henry Smith, Archibald Woods, James
Nelson, Robert Woods, Absalom Martin
and William Waddle, gentlemen, shall be
and they are hereby constituted Trustees
thereof" Shepherds Virginia Statutes
Vol. l. page 42l.
Wheeling became the seat of Justice OF
Ohio County (created in October l776l III
1897 and the first court convened at that
place. at the house of John GOoding an inn
keeper, May I, 1898. History Of the Pan
Handle page 1856
CLAIMS OF MARIETTA.
The most important Act of the last Con-
tinentaI Congress was the establishment OF
a settled government for the Northwest
Territory. 1t was one of the most impor-
tant laws ever enacted by the representa-
tives of the American people. That vast
domain had been conceded to the General
Government by New York Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Virginia, and the next
! important event was to he the founding OF
| a New State within its limits. This was
done by the Ohio Company OF Associates
| formed in l1S6, and composed chiefly OF
officers and soldiers of the Revolution
whose homes were principally IN New Eng
land. Its purchase the terms OF which
were completed October Il, 1857, embraced
/ tract of land containing about one and
| \ half million acres. This was the second
survey made within the present limits OF
Ohio and was situated principally within
the present boundaries of Washington,
Athens, Meigs and Gallia Counties in that
/ State.
At meeting of the directors Of the Com
pany held November %, 1877, General
! Rufus Putam was chosen superintendent.
Early in December six boat builders and
| number of other mechanics were sent for
ward to Simrall's Ferry now West New
tom on the Youghiougheny under the COM
mand of Major Hatfield While. The party
reached it's destination in January and at
once proceeded to build boat for the use
of the Company.
Early in winter the pioneers left their
New England homes and began the jour
ney to other ones to be found in the West
ern wilderness They passed over the Al
! leghenieS and reached the Ioughiougheny
about tine middle OfFebruary. The May
flower" rs the boat was called, which was
to transport the settlers to their destlna-
ton, was iOrty-tiye feet long, twelve feet
wide and of fifty tons burthen. All things
were in readiness. The voyagerS embarked
ut Simrall's Ferry and passed down the
| Youghiougheny into the MonOngahela,
thence into the Ohio and thence down
that river to the mouth OF the Muskingum,
where they arrived April :, l7SS, and there
made the first permanent settlement Of ciritized
men rithm the present limits Of Ohio.
Their settlement was established upon
a point of land between the Ohio and
Muskingum rivers just opposite and across
the river from Fort Harmer, builtin l7S9,
| and at the time of the coming OF the
eolonists, garrisoned by small military
force under the command of Major
Doughty. At meeting held beneath the
spreading boughs Of tine trees on the bank
OF the Muskingum July, ,. 17SS, it was
voted that Marietta should be the name OF
the town; it being thus named in honor
of Maria .4RtORette, Queen OF France.
Thus was founded Marietta, fifteen years
after the first permanent settlement OF
Wheeling and fourteen years after the
building of Fort Henry.
CJ AIMS OF POINT PLEASANT