162 HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

man-like document that we are indebted for much of our pros- 1799 was organized, and addressed by the Governor, after which perity and greatness. the necessary laws were enacted-the whole number being thir- ty-seven. William Henry Harrison, Secretary of the Territory, FIRST OFFICERS OF THE TERRITORY-ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, FIRST GOVERNOR. was elected delegate to Congress. This legislature held its first session at Cincinnati on the 22d Congress, in October, 1787, appointed General Arthur St. Clair, of January, 17h9, and adjourned to meet on the 16th of Septem- Governor. Major Winthrop Sergeant, Secretary, and James M.1. ber. It held its second session at Chillicothe on the first Mon- Varnum, Samuel H. Parsons, and John Armstrong Judges of day of November, 1800, and adjourned December 9th. the Territory, the latter of whom, however, having declined the The third session of the legislature began at Chillicothe No- appointment, John Cleves Symmes was appointed in his stead vember 24th, 1801, and on the 23d of January, 1802, adjourned in February, 1788. On the 9th ofJuly, 1788, Governor St. Clair to meet at Cincinnati the following November; but the fourth arrived at Marietta, and finding the Secretary and a majority of session was never held. the Judges present, proceeded to organize the Territory. The Governor and Judges (or a majority of them) were the sole leg- FIRST COURTS OF THE TERRITORY. islative power during the existence of the first grade of Territo- rial government. Such laws as were in force in any of the The first court of common pleas in the Northwest Territory States, and were deemed applicable to the condition of the peo- was opened on the 2d day of September, 1788, at Marietta. A ple of the Territory, could be adopted by the Governor and procession was formed at the " Point, " (the junction of the Judges, and, after publication, became operative, unless disap- Muskingum with the Ohio River), of the inhabitants, and the proved of by Congress, to which body certified copies of all laws officers from Fort Harmnar, who escorted the judges of the court thus adopted had to be forwarded by the Secretary of the Ter- of common pleas, the governor of the territory, and the su- ritory. preme judges to the hall appropriated for that purpose, in the The further duty of the Judges, who were appointed to serve north-west blockhouse in " Campus Martins. "* The procession during good behavior, was. to hold court four times a year, when- was headed by the sheriff, with drawn sword and baton of of- ever the business of the Territory required it, but not more than fice. After prayer by Rev. Nanasseh Cutler the court was then once a year in any one county. organized by reading the commissions of the judges, the clerk, General Arthur St. Clair served as Governor from 1788 to and sheriff; after which the sheriff proclaimed the court open 1802. As Secretary of State, Winthrop Sargent served from for the transaction of business. 1788 to 1798; William H. Harrison, from 1798 to 1799; Charles The judges of the first court of common pleas were: Gen- Byrd, from 1799 to 1803. John Armstrong filled the office of eral Rufus Putnam, General Benjamin -Tupper, and Colonel Treasurer from 1792 to 1803. William H. Harrison was the Archibald Crary. The clerk was Colonel R. J. Meigs; Colonel Territorial Delegate in Congress from 1799 to 1800; William Ebenezer Sproat, sheriff. On the 9th day of September follow- McMillan was his successor from 1800 to 1801; Paul Fearing ing, the court of general quarter sessions was held at " Campus served from 1801 to 1803. Martius. " The commission appointing the judges thereof was read-General Rufus Putnam and General Benjamin Tupper TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION. constituted justices of the quorum, and Isaac Pearce, Thomas Lord, and R. J. Meigs, Jr., assisfant justices; Colonel R. J. first law was proclaimed July 25, 1788, and was entitled The Meigs, Sr., was appointed clerk. The first grand jury of the and establishing the militia." Two days "An act for regulating territory was then impaneled. viz.: William Stacey, foreman, a roclamation establishing the thereafter the Governor issued Nathaniel Gushing, Nathan Goodale, Charles Knowles, Anslem which included all of the territory east county of Washington, Tupper, Jonathan Stone, Oliver Rice, Ezra Lunt, John Ma- Indian title had been extinguish- of the Scioto river to which the thews, George Ingersoll, Jonathan Devol, Jethro Putnam, Sam- to Lake Erie, the Ohio river and the ed, reaching northward uel Stebbins, and Jabez True. Pennsylvania line being its eastern boundary; Marietta, the seat of the Territorial government, also becoming the county ORGANIZATION OF TERRITORIAL COUNTIES. seat of Washington county. Quite a number of laws were necessarily adopted and publish- The first counties of Ohio were organized by proclamation of ed during 1788 and the following year. From 1790 to 1795 they the governor of the territory. published sixty-four, thirty-four of them having been adopted The following is a list of the territorial counties organized at Cincinnati during the months of June, July, and August of within the limits of Ohio ; also the date of organization, with the last named year, by the Governor and Judges Symmes and their respective county seats: Turner. They are known as the "Maxwell Code," from the name of the publisher, and were intended, says the author of "Western Annals," "to form a pretty complete body of statutory Counties. When procl aimed. County Seats. provisions." In 1798 eleven more were adopted. It was the published opinion of the late Chief Justice Chase, "that it may be doubted whether any colony, at so early a period after its Washington...... July 27, 1788...... Marietta. first establishment, ever had so good a code of laws." Among Hamilton ...... January 2, 1790...... Cincinnati. that the common law of Eng- Wayne ...... August 15, 1796...... Detroit. them was that "which provided Adams ...... July 10, 1797...... Manchester. land, and all statutes in aid thereof, made previous to the fourth Jefferson...... July 29, 1797...... Steubenville. year of James I., should be in full force within the Territory." Ross...... August 20, 1797...... Chillicothe. Probably four-fitths of the laws adopted were selected from those Trumbull...... July 10, 1800...... Warren. in force in Pennsylvania; the others were mainly taken from Clermont ...... December 6, 1800...... Willi amsbu rg. Massachusetts. Fairfield ...... December 9, 1800...... New Lancaster. the statutes of Virginia and Belmont ...... September 7, 1801...... St. Clairsville.

SECOND GRADE OF TERRITORIAL LEGISLATION. Jefferson and Belmont counties were therefore organized be- After it had been ascertained that five thousand free male in- fore Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State. The extent habitants actually resided within the Territory, a second grade of their limits when first organized is given in the history of Territorial government could, of right, be established, which proper of each county. provided for a Legislative Council, and also an elective House of Representatives, the two composing the law-making power EARLY TERRITORIAL VILLAGES AND TOWNS. of the Territory, provided always that the Governor's assent to towns of their acts was had. He possessed the absolute veto power, and The following is a list of the principal villages and Territorial no act of the two houses of the Legislature, even if passed by a the Northwest Territory, started and built up under the names of unanimous vote in each branch, could become a law without his rule, with the first survey of. lots, together with consent. their proprietors: In 1798, the Northwest Territory contained a population of Marietta-laid out in 1788 by Rufus Putnam and the Ohio five thousand adult male inhabitants, being the requisite num- Land Company. Major Gano, ber to entitle the people to elect their legislators, under a prop- Columbia-laid out in 1788 by Benjamin Stites, erty qualification of five hundred acres-as to the legislative and others. council--the representatives to serve two, and the council five years. In 1798, the territorial legislature was elected, and in SCampus Martius " was the name given to the stockade erected by the first settlers.