The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-04-07
PLAN OF WESTERN CoLoNIzA-
TION

land and Connecticut lines, was held
at Boston on March 1, 1856. Then q
new Ohio company was formed in
shares of 81, 200 for the purchase and
settlement OF western lands. The di-
rectors, Gen. Putnam, Gen. samuel II
Parsons and Rev. Manasseh Cutler,
selected for their purchase the lands
on the Ohio river, situated on both
sides Of the Muskingum and Just west
OF the seven ranges 1t had been pro-
vided by congress that the Continental
currency in which the soldiers had re-
celved their pay and which had great
ly deprecated during the war should
be accepted at its par value In pay
ment for public lands. There were
many delays before the grant was fn'
ally ratified by congress.
Some months were spent in waiting
for a quorum of that body to assem-
BILE, and even after congress had pass
ed the ordinance q long and tedious
game of
POLITICS HAD TO BE PLAYED
before the contract for the purchase
was finally signed. The chief ques-
tion at issue was the appointment OF
officers for the territory. The com
pany wanted General Parsons for gov
ernor, while there was strong coun-
ter influence in favor Of Governor st.
Clair, then president~of congress-. But
he appears not to have taken any par
ticular part in advancing his own In
terests.
DR.. Cutler, who represented the
company, also had to contend against
the influence OF several rival compan-
les of spectators in western lands,
one of which was composed OF num-
ber of prominent New York citizens
This was represented by Col VIM.
Duer, then secretary of the treasury
board. A secret arrangement was fin-
ally effected whereby st. Clair was
made governor Of the territory, and
the domain of the Ohio company was
enlarged by an addition of land on the
west side for the benefit OF the New
York association. After some further
delay on the part OF congress to con-
tract for the purchase was finally
signed October 27, 1887, by the treas
ury board, with DR.. Cutler and Win
throp Sergent as agents OF the Ohio
Company.
In the following months Of Decem-
Der and January two companies In
Guiding surveyors, boat builders, farm
ers, carpenters and laborers, were sent
forward, under the leadership OF Gen.
Putnam. Uniting on the Youhiogeny
river, they constructed boats In which
after having embarked their stores,
they descended the Ohio river, and on
April 7, 1883. they
LANDED AT THE MUSKTNGUM.
On the upper point, opposite Fort
Harmar, they founded tnelr town
which in the following July received
The name OF Marietta. in honor OF the
French Queen, Marie Antione.te, the
word being a compound OF the first
md last syllables Of the queens name.
On the arrival OF Governor st. Clair,
which occurred only July II, the gov
srnment of the northwest territory |
was formally installed. Washington
county, with It's courts and officers,
vas established, and by the end OF the
'ear the little capital had popula-
ion OF one hundred and thirty-two
men, besides women and childrens To
hese were added in the following
ear 152 men, ffty-seven OF them with
antilles. Major Denny, one OF the
rmy OTHERS stationed at Fort Har-
mar, thus describes these settlers In
IFS diary:
These men from New England,
many OF whom are OF the first respect
bility, old Revolutionary oficers,
rected and are now living in huts i'm
nediately upon us. A considerable
lumber OF industrious farmers pur-
hased shares in the company, and
nore or less arrive every week. '''
'hese people
THE MOST HAPPY FOLK.
n the world, greatly satisfied with
heir new purchase. They certainly
re the best informed. most curteous
nd civil strangers OF any / have yet
act with. The order and regularity
bserved by all, the sober department
nd perfect submission 10 the oonsti-
uted authorities, must tend much to
remote their settlements"
The population OF Marietta was still
nrtner increased In 1880, owing to the
uryey and distribution OF the Ohio
lands, so that the place
ould now boast OF eighty houses Set
Iements we're extended to Belpre. to
Iewburg, twelve or fifteen miles down
he Ohio. and TO big bottom, about
hirty miles up the Muskingum. In
anuary, 1871, there were In all these
ettlements some 1870 men capable OF
caring arms. The danger from In
ians was proved by the destruction
a that month OF tho settlement at
liz Bottom by a party OF Delaware
nd Wyandots. Strong block houses
'ere erected at each OF these points,
nd all possible measures were adopt
TO insure the safety Of these infant
Marietta was the hrst permanent
ettlement on the soil OF Ohio. other
hite settlements had been made by
he Moravlan missionaries, who in
l72 planted villages on the banks OF
le TuscaraWag river and devoted