Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-11-25
The Ohio COMPANY.

IN Jne year lI4o, company was
formed to purchase land along the
Ohio Valley and make one or two set
Elements. 1t was known as the "Ohio
Company" and was composed of John
Hanbury, merchant of London,
Thomas Lee, Thomas Nelson, William
Thornton, William Nimms, Daniel
Cresap, Michael Cresap, Lawrence
Washington, Augustus Washington,
George Fairfax, Jacob Giles, Nathanial
Chapman and James Woodrop. In
1749, the company was granted 100000
acres of land on the Ohio river, prin-
cipally in what is now Jefferson and
Columbiana counties, Ohio, andBrooke
county, West Virginia. After some
trouble with the French in Canada, the
company was broken up by the old
French and Indian war, which was the
result of the attempt to make a set
tlement in the Ohio Valley, as the
French claimed it by right of discovery
by La Sale. What remained of the
First Ohio Company was changed to
the "Walpole Company"
The successor of the first company
was more fortunate than in many
respects. The first was composed
chiefly of Virginians, while the second
was entirely of New England men.
On March 4th, 1856, a convention
was held in Boston; composed of dele
gates from eight counties of Massa-
chusetts. Colonel Hull, Major William
and Captain Mills, were elect
ed committee to transact such buSi-
ness of the company until board of
directors could be chosen. They were
to open up communications with any
person whom they might thinklikelyof
helping along the project. They were
also to inform the agents of the time
and place ito meet for the purpose of |
choosing board of directors, etc..
The designs of the company, as set
,orth by the articles of agreement,
were ito raise fund in continental |
certificates, for the sole purpose, and |
70 be appropriated to the entire use of |
lands in the western terri |
,ory for the benefit of the company, |
and to promote settlement in that |
The fund was not to ex-
iced one million dollars, and to be is
1o1 in eyn of Il JA1
)ne person could not hold more than
i've shares, and no person was allowed
o hold less than one share. The di-
ectors were to be five in number, and
rad the sole disposal of all the COM
lany's funds with which to- purchase
ands for the benefit of the company.
800 900 was paid down on closing the
and the rest was paid When
he geographer finished his work
On August 80, 1887, the directors met
t Mr.. Brackets tavern in the city of
Boston. Following are extracts from
he minutes of the meeting: THAT
$50 acres of land, near the confluence
+ the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, be
eServed for city and commons.
THAT for the reception and protec-
ion of settlers, 100 houses of 36x15
eet, be erected in the course of the
nauing autumn and winter, on three
ldes of the before mentioned oblong
quare Can oblong square which was
be divided into smaller squares)
nd connected by a stockade
THAT as saw-mills and corn-mills
ill be necessary, in forwarding the
ettlement, proposals from any of the
lbscrlbers for erecting one or more
each kind, without expense to the
roprietors, will be received by either
the directors, the treasurer, or at
le secre5ary's office; and such propos-
Is will be decided uDon as soon as I
lay be, after the completion of the
1ntract with the treasury board"
Thus was formed the "Ohio Com .
any which was the means of bring
ig about the settling of Marietta.
j. o.