The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-09
SOME EARLY HISTORY
FIRST OFFICIAL SURVEY or OHIO
AND INDIANA LANDS.
Col Jared Mansfield. one Of the Firsi
Teachers Appointed TO the West
Polat military Acade y, HAD Charge
Of the Work.


founding OF the West Point Military
Academy some Information OF inter.
est was omitted. notably the history
OF the frst teachers OF that famous
Institution. The following facts have
been supplied by Mr.. Solomon Mercer
OF Coshocton. Ohio:
The first teachers In tho academy
we're Col. Jared Mananeld and Capt.
Barron. Col Mansheld's father and
family came from Exeter. In England.
and were among the FIRST settlers In
New Haven In 1889. Mr.. Mansfield
began his life na teacher In New
Haven, and aftcrward taught At the
Frlonds' Academy In Philadel-
phla. going from there 10
West Point, where he taught
In the Military Academy In 1902 and
1903. and again from 1914 10 1928. In.
elusive. In the meantime. however
he was nine years In the state Of Ohio.
holding the position OF surveyor gen.
eral Of the United States.
While teaching In New Haven Mr.
Mansfield published book entitled
Essays on Mathematics" This book
was brought 10 the notice OF Mr.
Jefferson. who was fond OF science
and scientific men. The consequences
was that Mr. Mansfield became a cap
tain OF engineers. appointed by MI
Jefferson. with a view TO his becoming
Gao OF the professors at the West
Point Military Academy. then estah-
iiahod by law. Accordingly he AMI
Capt. Barron. also OF the engineers,
were ordered to West Point, ana be
came the first teachers OF the cadets
ia 1909
Mr. Mansfield was there but short
time when he received an appoint
ment 10 a new and more arduous nela
In the west. where the demand for
surveyors was urgent He was made
encouragement OF the United States.
Tho position was by no means
sought after by Mr.. Mansfield who
was \ scholar and Mathematician. and
fond OF a quiet and retired life, but no
was induced TO go under conditions
which perhaps were never granted to
any other oflicor. II was agreed that
while he was engaged In the public
service In the west his commission
In the engineer corps should 30 on.
and no DO onutlod 10 promotion. al
though he received but one salary.
that OF surveyor general. In accord
aneO with this agreement. he received
two promotions while In Ohio, aud his
professionally at Nost Point was
awarded him on the recommendation
OF President Manson In 1914, with the
rank and pay OF lieutenant colonel.
At that time but part OF the lands
In Ohio 20 which the Indian title had
bean distinguished had been surveyed.
B'or this purpose Mr.. Mansfield arrlv-
cd at Marietta in the year 1903. estab-
llahed his Office there until the month
OF October. 1905. at which time his
headquarters were moved to Clncin-
natl.
In the rapid progress OF migration
10 the west. and tho success OF Gov
William Henry Harrison In treating
for the purchase OF land from the In
dians by treaty the public surveys also
were soon necessary In weatern Ohio
and IN the Indiana territory. which
was then an unbroken wilderness. al
though the French had established the
post OF Vincennes There may have
been settlement at Clarksyille, on
the Clark grant. but except these there
was not white settlement In indiana.
II became necessary 10 extend tho
surveyed lines through that state.
thon only a part OF the great north
west territory. For this purpose Mr..
Mansfield. In the month OF October.
1905, undertook the FIRST public sur
veying expedition In Indiana.
Although the military sagea In their
centennial at West Point failed TO
mention tho name OF Jared Mansfield
as one OF the iirst professors, no has
left many monuments In the west on
record that can never be obliterat-
cd or forgotten. II the reader will but
90 to u certain point near Paoli, in
Orange county. Indiana. he will OBJ
servo the point from which Col.
Mansfield operated In Indiana. The
point referred TO Is whore the pginol-
pal meridian and base lines cross
each other at right angles; from this
point all the public lands In the state
OF Indiana were surveyed. Jared
Mansfield established both meridian
and base lines andostabllshed a monu-
ment at their crossing every six milea
from that point. whether north. east,
south or west,
Colonel Mansfield made the FIRST
map OF that part OF Indiana which
was duly recorded and the land
granted to tho purchaser according TO
the survey he made This was the
frat opportunity no had to establish
a principal meridian and base line,
and for this alone millions OF people
have good cause TO remember Jared
Mansfield. one OF the first professors
at West Point In 1902.