Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-05
THE EEHTEHIlL HISTORY Of OHIO.
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Rev. JosKPH pApaER.

REV. JOSEPH BADGER,
The first missionary on the Reserve
resided for eight years at Gustavus,
Trumbull county. He was born at
Wllbraham; Mass, In 1867, served as q
soldier In the Revolutionary war,
graduated at Yale College in 1855, and
In 1887 was ordained as minister over a
church in BIandford, Mass, where he
remained fourteen years previous to
emigrating tothe Reserve.
The remains Of the Hon. Zephaniah
Swift, author of Swift's Digest, and
once Chief Justice of the State Of Con-
necticut, repose in a grave yard on the
rivers bank at Warren.
BELMONT COUNTY
Was formed September 7, 1901, by pro-
clamation Of Gov. st. Clair and was the
last County he established In his official
capacity. 1t was one of the earliest set
tied in the Territory. About 1870
Dillie's Fort was built within its limits.
"The battle of Captina," in which Nc
Arthur took a conspicuous part, was
fought In this county. The no:ed
Indian scout, Lewis Wetzel, was often
through this region. The county seat
was named for Gen. ST. Clair in 1901.
GROWTH AND POPULATION.
The Treaty Of Greenvile, 1895. was
respected on both sides. In 1905 a
cession was made by seven tribes of
that part of the Connecticut Reserve
which lies west of the Cuyahoga. The
western boundary of this cession was a
meridian line intersecting Lake Erie
through the middle of Sandusky Bay.
In 1907 sale was made by four tribes
of tract chiefly in Michigan Territory,
but including that part of Ohio which
extends north of the Maumee and east
of meridian line passing the mouth
of the Auglaize, one of its southern
branches. Five tribes in 1908 ceded q
slip of territory two miles wide, run
ming from the western boundary of the
Reserve to the rapids of the Maumee,
for the purpose of opening roads. BY
these cessions the United States acquir-
ed an indisputable right to the soil of
about two-thirds of the State of Ohio,
the exception being the Reserve, and
the Virginia Military Reserve lying be-
tween the Scioto and Little Miami
rivers. The northwestern portion of
VAC NcpabCf hOO vi OttC 1Lhidilo
contained, in 1911, the following frag-
ments of tribes: Shawanoese, 700;
Ottawas, $50; Wyandots, 800; Senecas,
220; Delawares and Muncies, 200, a
total of 1870 for the whole Indian popu-
lation of the State-a marvellous story
Of decrease in population since the
Indians were subdued in 1876, sixteen
years previously, by "Mad Anthony"
Wayne.
The white population of the State Of
Ohio, according to DIR. Drake, doubled
in less than three years, between 1870
and 1900. In the next decade it nearly
doubled every four years and in the
succeeding decade DIR. Drake was of the
opinion that it would double itself
again. These figures he gives in his
picture of Cincinnati in 1885," a very
scarce and valuable work.
The whole Miami country, with the
exception of Cincinnati and vicinity,
at the time of the treaty of Greenville,
was one interminable forest. In 1875
the town contained 81 cabins, 10 frame
houses and about 500 inhabitants. In
1900 the population was estimated at
$50 and In 1906 at $50 only. "This was
owing to the fact" says Cist, Tin his
''Cincinnati in 184l, ~ "that the recent
treaty offorded peace and security to
settlers who preferred spreading them
selves over newercountry, where land
could be obtained more cheaply.
"In 1903 the United States reserva-
ton around Fort Washington was sold
by direction Of the Secretary of the
Treasury.
"The war with Great Britain, Geclar-
ed In 1912, by paralyzing the enterprise
of the Atlantic United States, sent out
vast numbers to the West. and, though
that section of the Union suffered in
many respects by the immediate con-
sequences of that rupture, yet it was
the means, to great extent, of filling
the country with population and money
disbursements, which developed more
rapidly its natural wealth and re-
sources. But the mostimportantevent
in the history of the West was the
introduction of steamboats, on its
waters. At once the vast interior of
Ohio became competitor in market
with older and less productive regions.
Ofall these advantages as the outlet for
the Miami country, Cincinnati had its
full share, and an impulse was given to
commercial and manufacturing enter
prise which is even yet felt.n
PART II.-THE PRESENT CEN
TURY.