Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1927-04-14
Early History and Settlement OfOhiO
BY
Hon. H. E. FOSTER, Seattle Washington

bodies met and were quarreling with
one another about the person or per-
sons who would be the choice of
such gatherings, the Ohio delegation
at all times was willing to pour oil
upon the troubled water and would
say to these waring and contending
factions of our country: will re-
lieve this situation; while we realize
your candidates are wonderfully
great men, possessing great execu-
tive powers, yet we will offer an
acceptable compromise, that Ohio
furnish the candidate and relieve
you people from further friction and
annoyance, and as result of such
suggestions Ohio has contributed her
share of national characters for the
purpose of carrying out the great
American plan of national govern
ment. We should not lose sight of
the fact that Ohio has produced
some men the history of whose
lives adorn many pages of Ameri-
can history.
The Making Of States
When the American colonies were
federated together it seemed to
have been the wisdom of Congress
to make new states as rapidly as
possible. We must bear in mind that
the making of country was new
and unsolved problem. AT the time
of the Revolutionary war a major
portion of the better people OF the
American colonies were very much
opposed to the revolution. No doubt
they feared for it's success and were
satisfied to remain under British
control. In fact it has been said OF
George Washington that he only
hoped to secure more liberal form
of government from the English
government than the colonies had
heretofore enjoyed, and when the
federation was formed it seems to
have been the wisdom OF Congress to
make new states as rapidly as pos
sible and in so doing Congress was
disposed to sell the land in large
tracts. One and one-half million
acres were sold to the Ohio Company
and three and one-half million acres
| to a company known as the Scioto
Purchase. The latter company was
simply a speculative company. The
government received practically
nothing for this land. The Ohio Com
pany's purchase was the first one to
make a permanent settlement. The
domain of the State Of Ohio and the
Southeastern portion thereof was
thus sold to spectators and many
portions of it were parceled out to
satisfy and pay supposed political
debts. The State of Ohio never had
any public domain The Ohio Com
pany was a colonization company,
and the ordinance Of 1897 providing
for the formation of this territory
was like most all measures at that
time, compromise measure. 1t was
provided in this colonization portion
of the ordinance that a lot in each
township would be set aside for the
establishment of a school. These two
townships now endow the Ohio Uni
versity and this is the Oldest school
west of the Allegheny Mountains.
The Ohio Company was composed of
! New Englanders and the site Of the
new colony was selected at the con-
) fluence of the Ohio and Muskingum
rivers. This company made first
payment on the land but there was
! al; 10, Ia dol m ma lxi xino Clh
sequent payments. The mouth OF the
I Muskingum was selected as the site
| for the town because of its close
proximity to Fort Harmar which
contained a strong federal garrison
AS soon as sufficient members could
be enlisted to satisfy the leader,
Gen. Rufus Putnam, the colonists
started from Massachusetts towards
the head waters of the Ohio River
during winter of 1887 and 1888 at
what is now the City of Pittsburg,
formerly Fort Duquesne. At this
point these colonists numbering
forty~eight settlers built boats and
started down the Ohio River under
the leadership of General Rufus
Putnam. General Putnam had served
with honor in the revolutionary
army and had assisted in repressing
the French power in America. On
April 7, 1888. flag ship, which was
named Mayflower, conveying Gen
eral Putnam, was anchored in the
mouth of the Muskingum River at
the present site Of the City of Mar
ietta and these forty-eight settlers
Immediately set to work falling
trees and building log houses and !
stockade. II was necessary to have a
stockade as these people believed,
This point was attractive for several