Harrison County, Ohio - The Germans and the Virginians in Harrison County, 1900

Pennsylvania Dutch

but more properly the Germans, are descendants of those hardy pioneer settlers who immigrated to Pennsylvania and Maryland from various German states, commencing as early, at least, os the year 1683. Perhaps there is no people who were more frequently the subject of remark in the early history of Pennsylvania, and during the last century, than these Germans, whose numerous descendants are now to be found in every State west and south of Pennsylvania.

Though more than twenty-five thousand names of German immigrants are recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives from 1725 to 1775. few of those are recorded who arrived in Pennsylvania prior to 1700. In volume seventeen of the Archives, Second Series, may be found the names of all who took the oath of allegiance between 1727 and 1775, comprising about thirty thousand names, with the names of the vessels in which they came to America, ports from which they sailed, and elates of departure. Probably four-fifths of the Germans living in Harrison county to-dav can find the names and dates of arrival of their emigrant ancestors in that volume.

The Germans And Virginians 35

formed at Frankfort-on-the-Main, which bought 25,000 acres from William Penn. Those ^vho left their Fatherland from 1700 to 1720, the Palatines, so-called, because they came principally from the Palatinate States, along the Eliine, whither many had been forced to flee from their homes in France, and other parts of Europe, endured many privations before they reached the Western Continent.

In 1708 and 1709, upwards of 10,000, many of them very poor, arrived in England, and were there for some time, in a starving, miserable condition, lodged in warehouses, with no subsistence beyond what they got by begging on the streets; until some sort of provision was made for them by Queen Anne. In 1709, 3,000 of them were sent to Ireland, but of this number many returned to England, on account of insufficient provision having been made for them by the Eoyal Commissary. In the summer of 1710, several thousand of these Palatinates, who had been maintained at the Queen's expense in England (and for sometime afterwards in America), were shipped to ISTew York ; and of these, many came to Pennsylvania. Among these German emigrants were Mennonites, Dunkards, German Reformed, and Lutherans. Their number was so great, that James Logan, Secretary of the Province of Pennsylvania, wrote in 1717, "We have, of late, a great number of Palatines poured in upon us without any recommendation or notice, which gives the country some uneasiness, for foreigners do not so well among us as our own English people."

Those who arrived between 1700 and 1720, settled in the lower parts of Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, and Lancaster counties. In 1719, Jonathan Dickinson wrote, "We are daily expecting ships from London, which bring over Palatines, in number about six or seven thousand. We had a parcel who came out about five years ago, w^ho purchased land about sixty miles west of Philadelphia [the Pequea settlement, in Lancaster county], and prove quiet and industrious. Some few came from Ireland latel}^, and more are expected thence."

From 1720 to 1730, several thousand landed at Philadelphia, and others came by land, from the province of New York. The latter settled in Tulpehocken, having left 'New York because they had been ill-treated by the authorities of that province. The influx now became so great as to cause some alarm. It was feared by some that the numbers from Germany, at the rate they were coming in during the last three years of this decade, would soon produce a German colony here, and perhaps such a one as Britain once received from Saxon-land, in the fifth century. Jona- than Dickinson went so far as to state, that it was apprehended Sir William Keith, a former governor, with two of his fri-nds, had sinister projects of forming an independent province in the West, towards the Ohio, to be peopled by his friends among the Palatines. In 1727, six vessels arrived at Philadelphia with Germans; three in 1728; three in 1729 ; and three in 1730.

From 1730 to 1740, about sixt^^-five vessels, filled with Germans, arrived at Philadelphia, bringing with them ministers and schoolmasters to instruct their children. A large number of these remained in Philadelphia; others removed seventy to eighty miles from that city - some settling in Lebanon county, and others west of the Susquehanna, in York county.

From 1740 to 1755, upwards of one hundred vessels arrived with Germans; in some of them, though small ships, there were from 500 to 600 passengers. In the summer and fall of 1749, not less than twenty vessels, with German passengers to the number of twelve thousand, arrived.

At first, the immigration of Germans into Pennsylvania was confined to the Sectaries, the Quietists, and the other religious denominations, who, on account of their extremity in doctrines and practice, found it difficult to get along with their more conservative Protestant brethren. The Labadists, for instance, were followed by the Mennonites, who took up much land, and formed many communities in the counties of York, Lancaster, and Adams; by the Seventh Day Baptists, the followers of Spener, who established their monastery at Ephrata ; by the Voltists, and the Cocceians; and by the hundred other sects of the day. But after these Sectaries came the Deluge. The Germans had found out that there was a land of peace on the other side of the Atlantic; and they knew by sad experience that their own country was a land of war. A man was del)rived, practically, not only of the enjoyment of his own religion; but he was also robbed incessantly of the fruits of his labor. This was a state of things which he naturally rebelled against, and emigration afi^orded him the only relief.

The religious fanaticism of Louis XIV., which so long def'olated the low countries, and which, when he revoked the edict of Nantes, deprived that monarch of his best and most thrifty subjects, broke in upon the Palatine in the shape of one of the most desolating wars of which there is any record in history. Turrenne, Saxe, Vendome, Villars, Villeroy, Taillard, Marsin, Berwick, ISToailles, and Luxembourg, each in his turn, helped to desolate the Palatine, and to contribute immigrants to llie colonies. The homeless and ravished peoples of Germany sought and found homes in the new land of peace and plenty. At one time the immigration of German Palatines into Pennsylvania and Maryland was in excess of all other immigration. Many hundreds thus came into Maryland, many thousands into Pennsylvania. They came chiefly from the luirried Palatinate, hut also from Alsace, Suabia, Saxony, and Switzerland. There were Wittenbergers, and people from Darmstadt, Nassau, Hesse, Eisenberg, Franconia, Hamburg, Mannheim - all classed as "Palatines."

In 1700, there were nearly 145,000 Germans in Pennsylvania, the total population then not exceeding 435,000. These included the Sectaries above referred to, the Dunkards, and the Hessian soldiers, who had been taken prisoners by Washington's army, and preferred not to be exchanged after the Revolution. A great proportion of this latter class settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, from whence many have come into Harrison county. These German subsidiary troops were bought in Brunswick, Hanau, Anspach, Waldeck, Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Darmstadt, Brandenberg, etc., in large numbers. They cost George III. the sum of $8.- 100,000, and 11,000 of them died, or perished in battle. The other immigrants were German Calvinists, Moravians, Schwenkenfelders, Omishites, Dunkards, Mennonites, and Separatists (or Seventh Day Baptists).

Up to about 1760, the Germans in Maryland were supplied from these plentiful sources, by way of Pennsylvania. A good many Palatines came in by direct consignment to Chesapeake Bay, but the great majority of the Germans drifted down from York and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania, and occupied the land along Antietam creek, and about Hagerstown and Frederick in Maryland, and the lower Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

The first settlers of the Virginia Panhandle were mainly of the Cavalier class, many of them coming from the northern and eastern counties east of the mountains, and a few from the Virginia valley, the latter usually being of Scotch-Irish descent. In later years, when the Scotch- Irish occupied Washington county, many of them crossed the line and settled in Ohio (now Brooke) county, Virginia, in the vicinity of Wellsl)urg. Some of the early settlers in Harrison county were from that section ; and not a few were of the old tide-water, horse-racing, gambling, and cock-fighting class, which before the middle of the century, formed the aristocracy and much of the middle-class population of Virginia. Dr.

Joseph Doddridge, although himself born in Bedford county, Penna., belonged to this latter class, his father, originally from Maryland, having settled near West Middletown, in Washington county, about 1773, The son became first a Methodist, and later, an Episcopalian clergyman, and settled at Wellsburg, where he died in 182G. Two years before his death, he wrote a book, called "Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, from 1763 to 1783," which contains the best written account we have of the early customs, habits of life, and occupations of those pioneers, many of whom were the forefathers of Harrison county citizens of the present day. In reading Doddridge's account, it must be borne in mind that he wrote of two very different classes of settlers, tbat class amongst which he spent his life being for the most part of the cavalier type - the jolly, rollicking, careless, lawless, and often shiftless character so long associated with the development of the slave-holding South. The other class was the Scotch-Irish - sometimes erroneously called the Puritans of the South, sober-minded, God-fearing, Psalm-singing Presbyterians, for the most part, whose only relaxation after a week of hard toil in the forest or field was to ride or walk from one to fifteen miles to meeting of a Sabbath, there to listen to a series of dry theological dissertations, lasting from morning until night, with but a brief intermission for lunch. Some unfriendly and untruthful writers about the Scotch-Irish, have sought to apply Doddridge's description of the least law-abiding of his fellow pioneers as a general condemnation of this race; maliciously misrepresenting the facts as to the class about whom the description was written. A direct testimonial as to the character of the two classes, given by an eye-witness more than a century ago, has but recently come to light, being an extract from the Diary of Eev. David MeClure, published in 1899. David McClure was the first Presbyterian minister to labor in the settlements west of the Alleghenies, having come out as a missionary in 1772, traveled among the Indians of Ohio as far west as Coshocton, and ministered to the scattered settlers of Western Pennsylvania for a period of six months or more. Under date of December 17, 1772, Mr. McClure writes:

Attended a marriage, where the guests were all Virginians. It was a scene of wild and confused merriment. The log-house, which was large, was filled. They were dancing to the music of a fiddle. They took little or no notice of me, on my entrance. After setting awhile at the fire, I arose and desired the music and dancing to cease, and requested the bride and bridegroom to come forward. They came snicker-

The Germans And Virginians 39

As soon as the ceremony was over, the music struck up, and the dancing was renewed. While I sat wondering at their wild merriment, the lady of a Mr. Stevenson sent her husband to me, with her compliments, requesting me to dance a minuet with her. My declining the honor, on the principle that I was unacquainted with it, was scarcely accepted. He still politely urged, until I totally refused. After supper, I rode about three miles, to the house of a friend.

The manners of the people of Virginia, who have removed into these parts [Fayette county, Penn.], are different from those of the Presbyterians and Germans. They are much addicted to drinking parties, gambling, horse-race, and fighting. They are hospitable and prodigal. Several of them have run through their property in the old settlements, and have sought an asylum in this wilderness.

Doddridge states that the first settlements along the Monongahela were commenced in 1772. In 1773, they extended to the Ohio. The first settlers came mostly from Maryland and Virginia, and generally traveled by way of Braddock's route. Some from Pennsylvania came by the military road, passing through Bedford and Ligonier. Their removals were generally on horses Avith pack-saddles. Settlement entitled the settler to 400 acres of land, free. Their claims were usually located b\ means of the tomahawk, with which they blazed the trees marking their boundary lines. Hence, such claims came to be called "Tomahawk Rights." They usually chose ground in a hollow or depression, for their houses and barns; so that whatever came to the house might come down hill.

Generally, the male members of the prospective settler's family came over the mountains in the spring, and after clearing a plot of ground, planting a small patch of corn, and sometimes erecting a rough log cabin, they went back for their families, and brought them out in the fall. They depended much upon lean venison, wild turkeys, and the flesh of the bear at times, for food. They awaited with much anxiety for the first growth of the potatoes, pumpkins, corn, etc., and when the young corn came, it was made a time of jubilee, and the green ears were roasted for a feast. "When the corn hardened and was gathered in the fall, it was customary to provide meal for the family Johnny-cake ("journeycake," it was then called) by grating the ears on a tin-grater.

brought along from the older settlements. The hominy-block and handmills were found in most of their houses. The block was hollowed out at the top by burning, and the play of the pestle ground the corn. Sometimes a sixteen-foot sweep was used to lessen the toil, in pounding corn into meal for mush or cakes. The hand-mill was another and a better contrivance, made of two circular stones, the under being the bed-stone, and the upper, the runner. These were enclosed in a wide hoop, or band, haAdng a spout to discharge the meal. The "runner" was moved by a long staff, or pole, passing through an upright fixed in the stone. Such mills are still used in the Holy Land, as they were in the time of Christ.

Their water-mills were tub-mills, readily made, and at small expense. This mill consisted of an upright shaft, at the lower end of which a water- four or five feet in diameter was attached, the upper end of the shaft passing through the bed-stone, and carrying the runner, secured to its top. Sifters were used in lieu of bolting cloths, made of deer-skin parchment, stretched over a hoop, and pierced with small holes, by means of a hot wire.

The material for their clothing, aside from deer-skins, was spun by the women of the household. Almost every pioneer woman could weave linsey-woolsey cloth, and make the family clothing. Every family tanned its own leather. The tan-vat was a large trough, sunk in the ground; bark was shaved and pounded; wood-ashes were used in lieu of lime, for removing the hair; bear's grease, hog's lard, and tallow served for dressing the leather, instead of fish-oil; the currying was done with a drawingknife; the blacking made of hog's lard and soot. Most families contained their own tailors and shoemakers. Those who could not make shoes, easily learned to make shoe-packs, which were made, like moccasins, of a single piece of leather, fitted to and removed from the foot by means of a cord gathering. In cold weather, these moccasins were stuffed with dried grass, deer's hair, or dried leaves, to keep the feet warm. Plows were made of wood; harrows, with wooden teeth; and cooper- ware of staves.

rights were of frequent occurrence among the younger male members of the community; and the method of fighting was very dangerous to the participants. Although no weapons were used, fists, teeth, and feet were employed at will; and the favorite mode of disabling an antagonist was to gouge ovit one of his eyes.

The furniture for the tables, for several years after the settlement of the country, consisted of a few pewter dishes, plates, and spoons, but ebip.fly of wooden bowls, trenchers, and noggins. If these last were scarce, gourds and hard-shelled squashes made up the deficiency. The iron pots, knives, and forks, were brought from east of the mountains, with the salt and iron, on pack-horses.

For a long time after the first settlement of the country, the inhabitants married young. There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune; on this account, first love usually resulted in marriage; and a family establishment cost but a little labor, and nothing more. Marriages were celebrated at the house of the bride, and the announcement of a prospective wedding created a general sensation; it was looked upon by young and old as an occasion for frolic, feasting, and fun; and was more efficacious in gathering a crowd of people together than even a log-rolling, house-raising, or hunting expedition. The groom usually started early from his fathers house so as to reach the home of the bride by noon, the hour generally set for the ceremon}^ - as it was always followed by a bountiful dinner. The assembled company were all pioneers, and there being no store, tailor, or dress-maker within a hundred miles of the trans- Allegheny settlements, they all came dressed in home-made garments. The men wore shoe-packs or moccasins, leather breeches, usually made of buck-skin, linsey hunting shirts, and leggins. The women dressed in linsey petticoats, and linsey or linen bed-gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, kerchiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any. The horses were caparisoned with old saddles, old bridles or halters, and pack-saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them ; a rope or cord formed the usual girth. The wedding procession, on such occasions, marched in double file, where the horse-paths permitted - for they had no roads. Such paths were sometimes barred by fallen trees, and sometimes barred with mischief aforethought, by interlocking grapevines and saplings, to intercept the progress of the procession. Sometimes a party of neighbors would wait in ambush, and when the procession came up, fire a blank charge from their rifles, which covered the party with clouds of smoke, created surprise and shrieks amongst the ladies, and chivalrous bluster on the part of their escorts. As the procession neared the house of the bride, it sometimes occurred that two or more young men would start for the domicile on horseback, full tilt, to win the bottle of whiskey, which it was previously understood would be hung out from the entrance to the cabin as a prize for the first arrival. The start of the race was announced by an Indian-like yell; and the more the route was encumbered by fallen logs, brush, and muddy hollows, the better opportunity it gave the rival swains to show their horsemanship. The bottle gained, the winner returned to the party, first handing it to the groom, and thence it went from one rider to another, in the manner of a loving cup, each taking a draught, the ladies included.

For the wedding dinner, the table, made of a large slab of timber, hewn out with a broad ax and set on four sticks, was spread with beef, pork, fowl, and sometimes deer and bear steak. Sometimes, there were a few old pewter dishes and plates, but the majority of the guests ate from wooden bowls and trenchers. A few pewter spoons were generally t"> be seen, but the most of them were made of horn. If knives were scarce, the men used their scalping-knives, or hunting knives, which they always carried in the belts of their hunting-shirts.

After dinner was over, dancing commenced, and it usually lasted until the following morning. The figures danced were reels, quadrilles, and jigs. The dance always commenced with a quadrille, which was followed by a jig: none were allowed to steal away for sleep and if the girls became tired, they were expected (as chairs were very scarce) to sit upon the knees of the gentlemen.

About nine or ten o'clock at night, some of the young ladies would steal away with the bride, and see her safely tucked in bed. The bridal chamber was frequently a loft or attic, above the dancers, to which access was gained by climbing a ladder, and such a chamber was floored with clap-boards, lying loose, and without nails. Some of the young men, in the meantime, would lead away the groom, and send him up the ladder to join his bride; followed later in the evening by refreshments, of which the chief constituent was a huge flash of whiskey, called by the frolickers, "Black Betty."

These entertainments sometimes lasted for several days, none desisting until the party was thoroughly fagged out. If any of the bride's neighbors felt themselves slighted by not being bidden to the festivities, it sometimes occurred that they would show their resentment by cutting ofF the manes, foretops, and even tails of the horses belonging to the wedding-party.

First Settlers In Ohio 43 The First Settlers In Eastern Ohio

In 1888, there was held in the city of Marietta a Centennial celebration, to commemorate what was said to be the first settlement of the territory northwest of the Ohio. Properly speaking, it was the first settlement only in the sense of being the first authorized by the United States Government. This settlement was made in 1788 by a colony of New England families from Connecticut and Massachusetts, mostly officers or participants in the War of the Revolution; and no colony in America was ever planted by a more liberal and estimable body of men and women than were these Marietta colonists. They included the Meigs', the Putnams, the Cutlers, the Danas, the Sproats, the Whipples, and many other famous New England families. Their purchase embraced about 1,500,- 000 acres of land lying along the Ohio River from Marietta, west, and including Meigs, much of Athens, and portions of Washington and Gallia counties.

The first settlements in the territory west of the Ohio river were made by families from Pennsylvania and Virginia, nearly ten years before 1788; and there were more white settlers living in eastern Ohio as early as 1785 than the whole number comprised in the Marietta colony of 1788. These pioneer settlers had established two or more towns, and set up courts of justice before 1785, and, although some of them were occasionally driven off their lands by soldiers sent out by Congress for that purpose, the majority seem to have continued as permanent settlers, and in some instances their descendants are living in the same localities today.

memoration of the admission of the State into the Union; and the year 190-i will witness the hundreth anniversary of the laying out of the town of Cadiz. The Centennial of the settlement of Harrison county would nominally be about 1900, - 1800 being the year !n which the land office was opened at Steubenville for the sale of lands in the territory now included in Harrison. The records of that office dur'ng the five years followiug that date show, among others, entries of land titles in what is now Harrison county by the following named settlers: James Arnold, Arthur Barrett, Thomas Barrett, James Black, Itobert Braden, George Brown, George Carnahan, John Carnahan, Samuel Carnahan, Joseph Clark, Eobert Cochran, John Craig, Thomas Dickerson, Samuel Dunlap, James Finne}^, Samuel Gilmore, Eleazer Huff, John Huff, Joseph Huff, William Huff, James Hannn, James Haverfield, Thomas Hitchcock, Joseph Holmes, William Ingles, John Jamison, Joel Johnson, Joseph Johnson, William Johnson, Absalom Kent, George Layport, John Love, John Lyons, William Mc- Clary, John McConnell, Kobert McCullough, William McCullough, John McFadden, Joseph McFadden, Samuel McFadden, John Maholm, Samuel Maholm, Robert Maxwell, Thomas Maxwell, William Moore, Samuel Osburn, Baldwin Parsons, John Pugh, Eev. John Eea, John Eoss, Jacob Shepler, Samuel Smith, Martin Snyder, John Taggart, Thomas Taylor, Hugh Teas, Eobert Vincent, Thomas Vincent, John^ Wallace, Michael Waxier, Daniel Welch, James Wilkin, Thomas Wilson.

Of these, it is known that the McFaddens, Craigs, Jamisons, Gilmores, Hannas, Eeas, Welches, Moores, and Lyons' came from Washington count}^, Pennsylvania; the Arnolds, Dunlaps, Dickersons, and Maholms, from Fayette county; and most of the others were without doubt from the same districts. The probability is that many of these settlers were in Harrison county before 1800; as the date of their recorded title is not necessarily the date of their first settlement on the land; and it was the custom of that day, as it is in the western states to-day, to make improvements, and to reside on pre-empted land for some months or years before acquiring title from the Government. It is reasonably certain that Alexander Henderson occupied the land near Cadiz, until recently known as the Walter Jamison farm, as early as April, 1799; having removed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, with his family, about that time; and that Daniel Peterson then resided with his family at the forks of Short creek.

R. M. Coulter stated that the first white child born within the present limits of Harrison county was Jesse DeLong, born in what is now Short Creek township, about 177G; he died at the age of 106, leaving descendants who are still residents of Tuscarawas count3^

In regard to the DeLongs as early pioneers of that county, I will give you all the information I am in the knowledge of, which is not very much; but am willing to state the facts as far as I know.

Solomon DeLong, the father of Jesse, comes ol French descent, having emigrated from France to Maryland, near Baltimore, from thence to Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia; from there they went to West Virginia, before Wheeling was built, there being nothing there but a block-house where Wheeling now stands. They crossed the Ohio river and built their cabin on Short creek, where Bridgeport now stands. At that time, there being no other white families on the Ohio side of the Ohio river, they were quite frequently driven back to the block-house for refuge from the hostile Indians.

His wife's maiden name was Lamasters. To their union quite a family was born, the exact number is not known, but Jesse was the fifth child in order of birth.

The DeLong family have always been noted as warriors. Solomon and his brothers, as well as his older sons, took part in the Revolutionary War, and also the War of 1813. He settled at Bridgeport, on Short creek, about the year 1775. His son, Jesse, was born there the first of May, 1776. The length of time they lived there is not exactly known. From there they came to Little Stillwater about two miles east of Dennison, and entered a tract of land of 160 acres - that, at the present time, is owned by Mr. Kinsey - -that being the place of his death; the date I do not know. After his death, the widow went back into Harrison county to live, near Franklin, or Tappan.

Their pioneer life in Harrison county was before the counties were divided as they now are. Jesse DeLong was a pioneer of Tuscarawas county, being one of its first settlers. He entered the land east of Dennison, now Tliornwood Park. He was accidentally shot in a bear hunt by Dan Her, in Harrison county, on the land now owned by William Mc- Cauley, near Station Fifteen. By that, he was crippled for life, became quite an invalid in his old days, dying May 8, 1882, at the age of 106 years. His mother also lived to near the age of 100 years. The DeLong family in politics were Whigs, and Republicans of the staunchest kind, and were also strong believers in Methodism. He was united in marriage with

Nancy "Wagner. To them twelve children were horn, and of that numher there are but two now living. One son, Jesse- William, of Oreana, Macon county. 111., and Espy, who was a resident of Harrison county for twenty-five years. I purchased a farm and moved on it the first of April, 1872, and left April 1, 1897, and have lived in Midvale since that time.

Espy Delokg

From this letter, it would appear that Jesse DeLong was not born in Harrison county at all. It may also be remarked, that, if he was born on Short creek, he could not, as his son states, have been born at the site of Bridgeport, in Belmont county; for Short creek runs through Warren township, Jefferson county, and enters the Ohio at Warrentown. If he was born as early as 1776, it would seem very improbable that he could have been born in Ohio at all, unless it was during the temporary sojourn of his parents west of the river. Two or three years later than 1776, however, a number of settlements had been made in Ohio.

There are traditions in Harrison county of early settlements along Stillwater creek; but whether these have ever been verified or not, the writer does not know. However, there are good reasons for believing that in the territory now composing the counties of Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson, Stark, Carroll, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, and Monroe, were scattered cabins of pioneer settlers as early as the Revolutionary War. What these reasons are may here be presented:

To the Salt Springs in the present county of Trumbull, white hunters had resorted as early as 1754, and salt was made there by Pennsylvanians some twenty years later.

From the old settlement of Wheeling and its vicinity a number of adventurers crossed the river from time to time and erected cabins. A number who came oiit with General Mcintosh to Fort Laurens in 1778, as axemen, scouts, hunters, etc., are supposed to have remained and built homes on several of the branches of the Ohio and the Muskingum.

The first attempt to drive out the squatters northwest of the Ohio was made in October, 1779, when Captain Clark, of a Pennsylvania regiment, with sixty soldiers, was sent to Wheeling by Colonel Brodhead, then in command of Fort Pitt, with orders to cross the river and apprehend some of the principal trespassers, and destroy their huts. Captain Clark did. not succeed in finding any of the trespassers, but destroyed sev- eral huts, and reported that many improvements had been made along the Ohio from the mouth of the Muskingum to Fort Mcintosh (Beaver, Pa.) and thirty miles up some of its branches.

General Brodhead's report of this expedition will be found in two of his letters printed in volume twelve of the Pennsylvania Archives (First Series), pp. 17G-1T7, which read as follows:

Sir - Since I did myself the honor to address you by a former letter, some of the inhabitants from Youghagenia and Ohio counties [the western portion of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and the Panhandle of West Virginia], have been hardy enough to cross the Ohio river, and make small improvements on the Indian lands, from the river Muskingum to Fort Mcintosh, and thirty miles up some of the branches of the Ohio river. As soon as I received information of the trespass I detached a party of sixty men under command of Captain Clarke, to apprehend the trespassers and destroy their huts, which they have in a great measure effected, and likewise dispatched a runner to the chiefs of the Delawares, at Cooshocking, to prevent their attacking the innocent inhabitants, but as yet have received no answer from them. Capt. Clarke informs me that the trespassers had returned, and that the trespass appeared to have been committed upAvards of a month ago.

It is hard to determine what effect this imprudent conduct may have on the minds of the Delaware chiefs and warriors, but I hope a favorable answer to the speech I sent them. I presume a line from your Excellency to the Governor and Council of Virginia, will tend to prevent a further trespass and the murder of many innocent families on this frontier.

Dear Gen'l - Immediately after I had closed my last (of the 9th of this instant), I received a letter from Colonel Shepherd, Lieutenant of Ohio county, informing me that a certain Decker, Cox, and Company, with Indians, had crossed the Ohio river, and committed trespasses on the Indians' lands; wherefore, I ordered sixty rank and file to be equipped, and Capt. Clark, of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, proceeded witli this party to Wheeling, with orders to cross the river at that part, and to apprehend some of the principal trespassers and destroy the huts. He re- turned without finding any of the trespassers, but destroyed some huts. He informs me some of the inhabitants have made small improvements, all the way from the Muskingum river to Fort Mcintosh, and thirty miles y^p some of the branches. I sent a runner to the Delaware Council at V^ Coochoching, to inform them of the trespass, and assure them it was committed by some foolish people, and requested them to rely on my doing them justice, and punishing the offenders, but as yet have not received an answer.

After the treaty of Fort Mcintosh, it was feared that there would be such a rush of squatters into that portion of the territory bordering on Pennsylvania and Virginia, that evil results would ensue, and, accordingly, means were taken both to drive out the intruders already there and » prevent the entrance of others. June 15, 1785, Congress ordered the following proclamation published and circulated in the territory:

Whereas, it has been represented to the United States, in Congress assembled, that several disorderly persons have crossed the Ohio, and settled upon the unappropriated lands; and, whereas, it is their intention, as soon as it shall be surveyed, to open offices for the sale of a considerable part thereof, in such proportions and under such regulations as may suit the convenience of all the citizens of the United States, and others who may wish to become purchasers of the same; and, as such conduct tends to defeat the object they have in view, is in direct opposition to the ordinances and resolutions of Congress, and is highly disrespectful to the federal authority, they have heretofore thought lit, and do hereby issue this proclamation, forbidding all such iinwarrantable intrusions, and enjoining all those who have settled thereon to depart with their families and effects, without loss of time, as they shall answer the same at their peril.

The intrusion was confined principally to the territory now forming the counties of Columbiana, Jefferson, Stark, Carroll, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, and Monroe, and the names of the intruders in 1785, were as follows: George Atchison, Jonas Amspoker, Albertus Bailey, William Bailey, John Buchanan, Henry Cassil, Walter Cain, Jacob Clark, James Clark, John Castleman, Charles Chambers, William Carpenter, ilenry Conrad, John Custer, Thomas__Dawson, i?icholas Decker, /Solomon DeLong, Daniel Duff, Zepaniah Dunn, Hanamet Davis, Jesse Edgerton, John Fitzpatrick, Henry Froggs, John Goddard, Joseph Goddard, Archibald Harbson, Robert Hill, Adam House, Wiland Hoagland, Thomas Johnson, William Kerr, Frederick Lamb,

In March, 1785, Colonel Harmar, commandant at Fort Mcintosh, had sent out troops to dispossess the squatter settlers whose names are given above. The squatters actually banded together to resist the United States troops; but a compromise was effected, whereby they were allowed to prepare temporary houses on the Virginia side before leaving their homes in the Xorthwest Territory. Some of them retired from the Ohio country, temporarily, but subsequently most of them returned, and their descendants are now numerous in Eastern Ohio and in the valleys of the Tuscarawas and the Muskingum.

The extent and location of these settlements at that early period within the limits of what was then Jefferson county (including Belmont) are shown by the report of Ensign Armstrong, who was sent by Colonel Harmar down the Ohio river from Fort Mcintosh, with a detachment of soldiers, for the purpose of enforcing the Government's orders ; and, also, by the Journal of General Richard Butler, one of the Commissioners appointed by Congress to treat with the western Indians. Ensign Armstrong's report is as follows :

Sir: - Agreeable to your orders, I proceeded with my party, on the 31st of March, down the river. On the first instant we crossed Little Beaver, and dispossessed a family. Four miles from there, we found three families living in sheds, but, they having no rafts to transport their effects, I thought it proper to give them until the 31st inst., at which time they promised to demolish their sheds and remove to the east side of the river.

At Yellow creek [south of the site of Wells ville], I dispossessed two families and destroyed their building. The 2d inst., being stormy, nothing was done. The 3d, we dis])0ssessed eight families. The 4th we arrived at Mingo Bottom, or Old Town [Mingo, Jefferson county]. I read my instructions to the prisoner, [Joseph] Ross, who declared they never came from Congress, for he had late accounts from that honorable body, who, he was convinced, gave no such instructions to the Commissioners. Neither did he care from whom they came, for he was de- termined to hold possession, and if I destroyed his house he would build six more within a week. He also cast many reflections on the honorable the Congress, the Commissioners, and the commanding oihcer. I conceived him to be a dangerous man, and sent him under guard to Wheeling. Finding that most of the settlers at this place were tenants under the prisoner, I gave them a few days, at which time they promised to move to the east side of the Ohio river, and to demolish their buildings. On the evening of the 4th, Charles Norris, with a party of armed men, came to my quarters in a hostile manner, and demanded my instructions. After conversing with them some time, and showing my instructions, the warmth with which they first expressed themselves began to abate, and for some motive lodged their arms with me till morning. I learned from the conversation of the party that at Norris' Town (by them so called), eleven miles farther down the river, [probably the site of the present village of Warrentown, at the mouth of Short creek], a party of seventy or eighty men were assembled with a determination to oppose me. Finding Xorris to be a man of influence in that country, I conceived it to my interest to make use of him as an instrument, which I effected by informing him it was my intention to treat any armed parties I met as enemies of my country, and would fire on them if they did not disperse.

On the 5tli, when I arrived within two miles of the town, or place where I expected to meet with opposition, I ordered my men to load their arms in the presence of JSTorris, and then desired him to go to the party and inform them of my intentions. I then proceeded on with caution, but had not gone far when paper No. 1 was handed me by one of the party, to which I replied, that I would treat with no party, but intended to execute my orders. When I arrived at the town there were about forty men assembled, who had deposited their arms. After I had read to them my instructions, they agreed to move off by the 19th inst. This indulgence I thought proper to grant, the weather being too severe to turn them out of doors. The 6th I proceeded to Hoglin's, or Mercer's Town [Martin's Ferry], where I was presented with paper jSTo. 2, and, from the humble disposition of the people, and the impossibility of their moving, I gave them to the 19th, and I believe they generally left the settlement at that time. At that place I was informed that Charles Norris and John Carpenter had been elected Justices of the Peace ; that they had, I found, precepts, and had decided thereon. I then proceeded on till opposite Wheeling, where I dispossessed one family and destroyed their buildings. I hope, sir, that the indulgences granted some of the inhabitants will meet your approbation. The paper No. 3 is a copy of an advertisement, which is posted up in almost every settlement on the western side of the Ohio. Three of my party being landed, 1 left them about forty miles from this place under care of a corporal. The remainder I have ordered to their respective companies, and the prisoner I have delivered to the prison guard. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG, Ensign.

This record shows that a nnmher of white settlements existed on the west side of the Ohio river in 1785; that some of them were quite populous, over sixty names of the principal settlers of Mercertown alone beinogiven; and that they had so far advanced in setting up a civil government as to have elected two Justices of the Peace, who had already decided cases tried before them. Armstrong failed to break up the settlement, and met wi'th such bitter opposition that he compromised with them giving them a certain length of time, at the end of which they agreed to leave, if the Government did not rescind the order. Few of them left, however. The Journal of General Richard Butler, who was appointed bv Congress, in 1785, as one of the Commissioners to treat with the Indians, shows the subsequent action of the Government and the settlers in the matter.

General Butler started on his mission in the fall of 1785. He left Fort Pitt September 26, 1785, accompanied by General Samuel H. Parsons, Colonel James j\Ionroe (afterwards President of the United States), and others. He arrived at Fort Mcintosh, at the mouth of Beaver creek, where Colonel Harmar still commanded, and where a detachment of troops was furnished to accompany the Commissioners. The party set off in boats from Fort Mcintosh on September 30th, and General Butler kept a diary of the events of the expedition, from which it will be seen that a portion of his diities was to warn off the settlers that were located on the west bank of the Ohio river. In his Journal, under date of September 30th, he speaks of meeting the United States surveyors at the Pennsylvania state line, who were then just making a beginnino- for the survey of the first seven ranges of land within the Northwest Territorv. The following extracts are from his entires for the succeeding days:

October 1st. - Passed Yellow creek and found several improvements on both sides of the river. Put in at one Jesse Penniman's, on the north side, five miles below Yellow creek; warned him off. Called on one, Pry who I warned off, also; this appears to be a shrewd, sensible man.' He' assured me that he would go off; that he would go to Kentucky. . . . He seemed not well pleased, though he promised submission.

At this Pry's house, we met one William IMcCullum, from the Illinois; he says he passed General Clark at the Falls. . . . Passed on to the Mingo towns, where we found a number of people, among whom one Ross [the ram.e who had been made a prisoner, and carried to Fort Mcintosh by Ensign Armstrong six months before] ; seems to be the principal man on the north [west] side of that place. I conversed with him and warned him and the others away. He said he and his neighbors were misrepre- sented to Congress; that lie was going to Congress to inform tlieni that himself and neighbors were determined to be obedient tc their ordinances.

Cross Creek, Sunday, October 3d. - Capt. O'Hara had a fine cow killed for the troops, who arrived at nine o'clock; had the men served with provisions, who were set to cooking, while some loaded flour and corn for the use of the troops and cattle, and all was got ready and started at one o'clock. The people of this country appear to be much imposed upon by a religious sect called Methodists, and are become great fanatics. They say they have paid taxes which were too heavy.

Called at the settlement of Charles iSTorris, whose house has been pulled down, and he has rebuilt it. At this place found one Walter Kean, who seems but a middling character, and rather of the dissentious cast. Warned all these off, and requested they would inform their neighbors, which they promised to do. . . .

Called at the settlement of one Capt. Hoglan, whom we also warned off. His house had also been torn down and rebuilt. We informed him of the impropriety of his conduct, which he acknowledged, and seemed very submissive, and promised to remove, and to warn his neighbors off, also. Come on very well to Wheeling, where we stayed all night. This is a fine settlement, and belongs to one Zane.

These records are sufficient to show, therefore, that the first white settlements in Ohio were not made at Marietta, in Washington county, but were made in the present townships of Steubenville, Wells, and Warren, in Jefferson county, and Pease, in Belmont county; and, as Mr. William H. Hunter, in his admirable history of the Pathfinders of Jefferson County, points out, "These people were real settlers, in the sense that they had built cabins and block-houses, and cultivated crops for subsistence. They possessed horses; for we know that John Carpenter, after making a clearing in 1781, on the site of Portland [in Jefferson county], took two horses to Fort Pitt, with which to convey salt; we know that a son of John Tilton's was killed by Indians while up Short creek after his father's cows. We know they had houses. . . . They were a religious people, ... so religious, in fact, were these settlers on the bottom lands of Jefferson county - Mingo Bottoms, extending from what is now Mingo Junction, to the present southern line of the county - that Colonel Butler reported that they were great fanatics. We know, also, that Eev. George Callahan held the first Methodist Episcopal services in the Northwest Territory, in 1787, at Carpenter's Fort." Carpenter's Fort was located on Short creek, not far above its mouth, and near the present Portland station, on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh rail-

We get another glimpse of the N'orristown (now Warrentown) settlement as it was in the summer of 1787, during the progress of the survey of the Seven Eanges, by referring to the diary of John Mathews, a nephew of General Putnam, who came out from Massachusetts to assist in the survey. On August 5th, 1787, he was at Esquire McMahan's house, a few jniles south of Mingo Island, on the Virginia side of the Ohio river, whence his Journal proceeds as follows:

6th. At 9 o'clock A. M. embarked on board of a boat for Muskingum, in company of Captain Mills, Lieutenant Spear, and Doctor Scott. Twelve o'clock, stopped one mile above Short creek, on the northwest side of the river [Warrenton]. At this place are about ten families collected, and are determined to stand it out against all opposition, either from the Indians or the troops. After a drink of good punch, proceeded on our way. At six, arrived at Wheeling, and tarried all night.

Interesting as it is to trace the footsteps of these early pioneers, however, we can find but little information of them on the records during the next ten years; and it was not until after the year 1800 that extensive settlements began to be made in Harrison county. Settlers had come into the county in considerable numbers before 1805, and taken up much of the choicest lands along the streams. The best means we have of determining their centres of settlement is to examine the history of the early churches of the county. It was characteristic of that race of peo- ]7le which chiefly settled Harrison county that its pioneers usually established a church or preaching station, even if it were no more than a " tent," as soon as they became seated with their families in a new country. We find, accordingly, that two of these stations were erected to accommodate the worshippers who lived in what is now Harrison county, as early as 1803, one at Daniel Welch's (Beech Spring, or Unionvale), and the other a short distance south of the present village of New Athens, (Crabapple). The next year, occasional preaching services began to be held on the site of the present town of Cadiz.