The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-04-07

home he Immediately confided his DIS
covery to John Cleves Symmes and
other men OF influence. Symmes, az
ter himself making trip down the
Ohio to personally investigate the
truth of sites story organized COM
pany Of associates somewhat similar
to the Ohio company, which included
Gen. Jonathan Dayton, Elias Boudi-
not and DR.. Witherspoon, as well as
Sites.
Congress was petitioned on August
20, 1857, for grant to the association
of all the lands on the Ohio, between
the Miami, to be bounded on tbs
north by an extension of the north
line of the Ohio company. In oc-
tober
THIS PETITION WAS REFERRED
to the treasury board. Without walt
ing for the result Symmes proceeded
as II the bargain had been closed. Af-
ter giving sites a covenant for 10000
acres at five shlllings an acre, he Is
sued, November 6, lengthy and
high sounding prospectus in which he
depicted the advantages of settlement
in the new territory in the most vivid
colors.
The proposition proved attractive,
and the best lands were soon taken.
A large number of purchasers soon
found themselves deceived as the
treasury board refused to concede the
entire front on the Ohio, and would
execute no contract at all until 0c-
tober Is, 1888, when through the in
luence Of General Dayton and Daniel
Marsh, they consented to a grant lin
tied to twenty miles long along the
course of the Ohio, beginning at the
mouth of the Big Miami and with a
nortlerly boundary to include 1900
900. This included the lands sold TO
Sites and others and also dropped a
township that had been reserved for
the use OF an academy.
The result was an immense amount
of litigation arising out of the violat-
ed contracts between Sites and his as
sociates and the purchasers; and the
contentious in congress and the local
courts in which latter Sites was
Judge, we're not ended until May, 1892,
when congress passed acts
WHICH EXTENDED LIMITS
OF the purchase TO the original num-
Der Of acres originally bargained for,
though with somewhat different boun-
daries. Reservations were set apart In
each township for the support OF re-
ligion, schools, one complete township
for an academy and other institutions
Of learning, n lot one mile square at |
the mouth OF the Big Miami, and one
of fifteen acres for Fort Washington.
The people who had purchased |
lands from Symmes were granted the |
right of pre-emption on further pay
ment of 81 per acre. other schemes |
of settlement were soon under way. In
1888, Stiles, with a strong
party OF friends and followers. and
provided with all necessary imple-
nents for clearing and building land
ID just below the Little Miami. built
! fort or blockhouse, and founded the
own OF Columbia.
In the summer OF that year Mat
HAS Denman of New Jersey, who had
AIKEN up the entire section OF land op-
'osite the mouth OF the Licking, and
Who was ambitious TO become the
ounder OF a town. met at Limestone,
,ol. Robert Patterson, the founder OF
lexington, KY, who was medltating
purchase from Symmes. Denman
accompanied the colonel to Lexington,
where In company with John Filsun,
hey formed partnership in the town
ite which he had secured opposite
he
MOUTH OF THE LICKING.
Filson was a school master from
hester, Pa. He had turned surveyor
nd emigrated 10 Kentucky. The
hree drew articles which were for
nally executed August rs. whereby
,enman in consideration of twenty
ounds, Virginia currency, TO be paid
y Patterson to Filson. transferred to
ach an equal interest with himself In
he section OF land opposite the mouth
{ the Licking. Plans were made for
sying out town which was to be
allied Losantiville, the name being a
breed and pedantic compound of
hree different languages.
Patterson and. Filson arrived with a
lrge party of Kentuckians on sep
ember 22, 17ss. and were met by
lehman, Judge Symmes and Israel
ludlow, chief surveyor OF the Miami
ssociates. This meeting may be re-
arded as the Inauguration OF Cincin-
att. Though II was impossible to pro-
eed to the immediate location OF the
lat Ludlow was detached to take
be measures OF the Ohio" which
Measurement proved that Denman was
'ithin the line. Soon after Filson,
'ho
HAD ACCOMPANIED sYMMES,
atterson and party OF Kentuckians,
n an expedition twenty miles into the
'untry, becoming alarmed at the
resence OF Indians. separated him
III from the company and attempted
, rejoin the main body.
Symmes was never more heard OF,
nd II Is believed he met his death
the hands OF the savages. Ludlow
cquired Filson's interest and became
ie surveyor and principal agent in
lie town affair. Denman returned to
ew Jersey. Patterson and Ludlow,