BEZALEEL WELLS Founder Of

BEZALEEL WELLS Founder of

CANTON a d STEUBENVILLE, OHIO By

EDWARD THORNTON HEALD Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts.

Department of History Western Reserve University May 15, 1942

Canton, Ohio Groshan Graphic Arts Co. 1948

Published by The Stark County Historical Society Canton, Ohio First Edition, 1948

ERRATA Preface p. viii, line 2, "privleges" should be "privileges." Page 12, line 32, "50" should be "500". Page 34, line 1, "1880" should be "1800." Page 35, line 29, "such" should be "much." Page 102, line 6, "purchases" should be "purchasers." Line 25, "his" should be '%im," after giving. Page 109, line 4, "Septembr" should be "September." Page 112, line 9, "writen" should be "written." Page 135, line 33, "Charleston" should be "Charles- town." Page 138, in foot notes 17 and 18, page "55" should be "29." Page 139, in foot note 19, page "189" should be "101," "190" should be "102," "173" should be "91" and "174" should be 92." These page numbers in foot notes 17, 18 and 19 are the pages of the typewritten MSS and were not changed for the new paging of the printed book. Page 162, the word "was" should be inserted at the end of line 20. Page 225, "Dueble" should be "Deuble." The possessive of Wells misspelled on page 69, line 29 page 89, lines 18 and 20: page 99, line 25: page 101, lines 1 and 6: page 107, line 1: page 113, line 30; page 131, line 14; page 140, line 31; page 162, line 15, TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE List of Illustrations and Town Plats -- - -- V

Preface ------VII

CHAPTER I. Frontier Life in Maryland and Pennsylvania -- 1 II. Settlement of Ohio to 1796 ------17

III. Founding of Steubenville 1796-1801 - - - - 23 IV. Ohio Constitutional Convention and First Legislature, 1802-1804 ------43

V. • Founding of Canton, 1805-1809 - - - - 60 VI. Madison, the Town that Foundered, 1806-1814 - - 89 VII. Canton's Founder-Philanthropist, 1809-1814 - - 101 VIII. Canton's Growth in the Rural Scene, 1815-1830 - 113 IX. Steubenville and the Industrial Revolution, 1805-1830 - 134

X. The Merino Wool Capital, 1810-1830 - - - 152

XI. Cultural and Religious Foundations - - - 181

XII. Appraisal ------188

Bibliography ------195

Appendices ------205

III

List of Illustrations and Town Plats

Bezaleel Wells - frontis niece

Mrs. Sally Wells - - - frontis piece Courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Photographed by Frick Art Reference Library, New York City.

Plat of Steubenville 26 Taken from Jefferson County Deed Record A, p. 274

Plat of Canton - - - - - 70 Taken from Canton Plat Book at the City Hall, Canton.

Plat of Madison - 93 Taken from Stark County Indenture Record A, p. 3.

Plat of Canton Showing Location of the 150 Lots Given by Bezaleel Wells to the Stark County Commissioners in 1814. Courtesy of the Canton Repository. -- Opp. Page 106

PREFACE The starting point of the research and thesis on Bezaleel Wells was n article by Dr. Louis Wirth in the American Journal of Sociology in j 1y 8-ln-' ba z ation as a Way of Life." It summarized Dr.Wirth's survey of over 300 cities wic~h c1tedirectedor the American Govern- meint. Several of his statements impressed me forcibly, but more than others these two: first, that thus far there had been more research of country life than of the city in America, despite the fact that the greater population and problems are now to be found in the city; and second, that thus far no American city had been adequately researched from its founding to the present time, with suitable interpretation of the various factors that have gone into the development of the city, economic, social, religious, political, and perhaps most important of all, the biographical. This hit a responsive chord. The Y.M.C.A has been the product of the city. No organization has more reason to be vitally concerned about the city than the Young Men's Christian Association. As a professional group Y.M.C.A secretaries can not master their field without knowing their city. Having already lived in Canton ten years, and having come to love the city, as well as being aware of the fact that Canton was generally regarded as a typical American city, were considerations impelling me to take up the reasearch of the city with a view to putting the results into readable form. The research has taken me to the public libraries of Canton, Steuben- ville, Washington, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. In Washington, D. C. it extended to the Congressional Library, the Archives Building, and the Division of Sur- verys, Department of Interior. In Pennsylvania it included the Pennsyl- vania Historical Library at Philadelphia and the Western Pennsylvania Historical Society at Pittsburgh. In Baltimore it took me to the Maryland Historical Society, and to first-hand research at St. Thomas Parish, where Miss Catherine Cradock kindly reviewed the first chapter for corrections and suggestions. 1 In Cleveland the Western Reserve University Library and the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society proved most helpful. In Columbus the State Historical Library, the Supreme Court Law Library, and the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum gave valuable help. In Cincinnati the Ohio Philosophical and Historical Society Library yielded useful material. In Massillon Frank Harrison, Curator of the Museum has been particularly helpful in placing the Horatio Wales manuscripts at my disposal, including about twenty letters between William R. Dickinson, Bezaleel Wells's partner, and Thomas Rotch, and also one letter from Wells to Rotch that is perhaps the most significant new material discovered. At Canton the Law Library in the Court House had a complete set of the Laws of Ohio, as well as a photostat copy of the Journal of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1802, which saved me numerous trips to Co- lumbus, and I wish to acknowledge my grateful thanks to the attorneys 1 Through an oversight the Enoch Pratt Free Public Library of Baltimore was omitted in the thesis list.

VII of Canton and to the Librarian, Miss Pauline Weber, for their courtesies in extending the privilges of the library to me. To the Repository I am indebted for the privilege of looking through the microfilmed copies of the Ohio Repository for the years 1815 to 1830, which yielded a wealth of material on the early days of Canton, presenting a difficult problem of selection. Steubenville is less fortunate in surviving newspaper issues, due to ' estruction by fire, but the Library of the Western Reserve Historical ciety contains the files of the Western Herald from 1806 to 1808, in- usive, and of the Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette from August 1830 to December 1833 inclusive. The unpublished diary of the painter Char Christ William Gallwitz of Canton for the period 1820 to 1824 is a classic gem unusually rich in local color, for the perusal of which the writer is indebted to the painter's granddaughter, Mrs. C. W. Fretz, of Canton. Perhaps most fascinating of all was the unfolding of the days of the forgotten merino sheep domain of Wells and Dickinson, in Stark County through the recollections of descendants of the shepherds who tended the flocks of the famous partners. Mrs. Elta Michener, Mrs. Theo- dore Freymark, Mr. Corwin McDowell, and Miss Alice McDowell, all of Canton, were kind and helpful with their information and interest. Present descendants of many of the early families in Canton have likewise been helpful, but too numerous to mention. The disappearance of direct descendants of Bezaleel Wells, or of any family collection of letters or documents by him, despite following up many rumors and clues, has made this search most elusive. A few letters have been preserved in the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum at Columbus and in the Archives at Washington, D. C. Of less personal and more laborious character has been the searching of the county records-both in the recorder's office and court records, of Stark, Jefferson, Columbiana and Wayne Counties, Ohio, and of Brooke County, West Virginia, and Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania. I regret that the limitations of time, aggravated by the increased Y.M.C.A executive responsibilities caused by America's entry into the war, have prevented me from finishing numerous lines of research, particularly the tracing of possible letters and documents that might be in the possession of collateral descendants of the Wells family, the identifi- cation of present day land-marks of the Bezaleel Wells period, the records of the federal court in the case leading to the $120,000 judgment against Wells and Dickinson, and confirmation of the facts regarding a loan said to have been made by the government to Wells to build his factory at the time of the War of 1812, and reputed to have been called by the government during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, thus causing the financial ruin of Wells and Dickinson. The pursuit of this research and writing has been an enjoyable and re- warding hobby. It has been my hope and expectation, if the reception of this study be not too discouraging and expensive, to continue the Canton research up to the present time. My primary interest is in the individuals who have been builders of the city, interpreting their careers in terms of their city, and studying the reaction between leadership and community

VIII environment. It is hoped that these more detailed studies will provide the material out of which primers and readers and brief biographies can be written of interest and challenge to school children and young men and women, stimulating them to the cooperative and service attitude with reference to their city, state and nation. It has been my hope that these longer and more detailed studies can serve as reference material for the period covered. With these thoughts in mind the value and importance of this project has grown rather than diminished as the world conflict has developed. With a background of three years in Russia and Siberia during the first world war, covering the entire revolutionary period from the last six months of the old regime to the approaching fall of Kolchak, the importance of educating the coming American generation in the key principles of democracy, religion, and Americanism has impressed itself upon me with renewed force. I know of no way better calculated to generate enthusiasm for American and Christian principles than greater knowledge of and familiarity with the lives of the founders and builders of our American way of life. In conclusion I keenly feel the shortcomings of this effort. Circum- stances have prevented me from having time released from a heavy Y.M.C.A. schedule, and the work has had to come out of vacation time, and out of an already abbreviated time with family and friends. I am too conscious that the neighbors of "Possum Hollow" have every reason to consider the midnight light gleaming from Beechknoll windows, as more or less a sacrilege of the delightful hills, woods, trails and streams that allure from the Mt. Vernon heights overlooking the Nimishillen,-the very lands first purchased from the government by Bezaleel Wells. My only wish is that they can get as much fun reading as I have had producing this volume.

Beechknoll, Edward T. Heald At Possum Hollow, Mt. Vernon, Canton, Ohio. April 24, 1942

by Stein, 1830 BEZALEEL WELLS Courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society

by Stein, 1830 MRS. SARAH GRIFFITH WELLS Courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society

XIII

CHAPTER I Frontier Life In Maryland and Pennsylvania 1763-1796

Bezaleel Wells 1 was born on January 28, 1763 2 in St. Thomas Par- ish. about ten miles northwest of Baltimore, as can be verified by an entry in the Vestry Records of the Parish, preserved in the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore. This predates the year usually assigned to his birth by six years. The same records show that his father, Alexander Wells, and his mother, Leah Owings, were married July 12, 1753. According to one authority, athe marriage ceremony was perfromed by the Reverend Thomas Chase in St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Baltimore, the mother parish out of which St. Thomas was formed in 1741-42. The oldest son born to Alexander and Leah, also named Alexander, was born March 7, 1756. A second son, Nathaniel, was born April 1, 1761. Bezaleel was the third son. 4 Bezaleel's father was highly intelligent but had no formal education. His mother was cultured and refined, and highly educated for her day. The father could neither read nor write, but was a surveyor, using his own system of hieroglyphics, which his wife, who understood his alphabet, would take and convert into calculations and plats. 5 The father cherished northern and anti-slavery views; the mother came of a slaveholding plantation family and fostered southern traditions. The father was skilled in the building trades; he plastered and whitewashed St. Thomas Chapel for $186 four years before Bezaleel was born. 6 In his will Alexander indicated a deep religious faith.7 In his boyhood Bezaleel enjoyed the cultural background not only of his mother, but also of his rector, the Reverend Thomas Cradock, a gentle- 1 Bazaleel was the Vestry Record spelling, but Bezaleel was the usual signature used on-surveys, plats, and deeds and in letters. Also see Exodus 31:1-11 where Bezaleel is the Hebrew name meaning "in the Shadow of God." 2 For some strange reason histories and biographies have given his birth as 1769 or as late as 1772, yet they have correctly stated his death as being in 1846, and his age at that time as 83. Joseph B. Doyle, Twentieth Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio (Chicago, 1910), 329. 4 Vestry Records of St. Thomas Church, p. 38, preserved in the Maryland His- torical Library, Baltimore. 5 Joseph McFarland, Twentieth Century History of the City of Washington County, Pa. (Chicago, 1910), 300. 6 Allen, Rev. Ethan, The Garrison Church, Sketches of the History of St. Thomas Parish, edited by Rev. Hobart Smith (New York, 1898), 20. 7 "I recommend my soul to God my Creator trusting and assuredly believing through the mercies of my glorious redeemer in a happy resurrection," Brooke County (W. Va.) Will Record No. 2, pp. 51, 52, March Term 1813.

(1) man of culture and refinement, and an accomplished scholar and-rare in those days-a lover of literary pursuits. 8 Another influential person in the parish was the Huguenot John Risteau, owner of the plantation, and can- tain of the fort which he had built on his plantation for the protection of it and the inhabitants of the parish from the Indians. This was then the frontier. A dense forest surrounded Bezaleel's boyhood home, which was called the Garrison forest,9 and some of the trees still survive in the churchyard of St. Thomas, one in particular being pointed out as the tree against which the worshippers leaned their muskets in Bezaleel's day, as they entered the church. 'o John Risteau's daughter, Catherine, married Thomas Cradock, the rector, which so pleased the father that he gave the newly married couple over a hundred acres of land, and the money with which to build a home. This estate, located on Cradock Lane, is still occupied by the descendants of Catherine and Thomas Cradock. Miss Cath- erine Cradock, or Cady, as she is affectionately called, direct descendant in the fifth generation, is recognized as the valley historian. 11 John Risteau was also sheriff of the county, and in that capacity, prior to the American Revolution, collected church dues from all the 6,000 taxable units of the county, for the support of St. Thomas Parish and its nineteen pewholders. He was thus an excellent family provider. Bezaleel Wells became connected with both families by marrying Rebecca Risteau, granddaughter of John Risteau, May 19, 1795, which event also appears in the Vestry Records. The St. Thomas Parish of Bezaleel's youth had a twofold link witlN George Washington. The first was through Christopher Gist, a member of the parish, who sold the church the two lots which became its site for $11.70 in 1743. 12 Gist, who became one of the earliest settlers in Western Pennsylvania, served as Washington's guide on his mission to the French, in 1753-54, and out of the thrilling experiences shared together, they became lifelong friends. A second link of the parish with Washington was a Reverend William West, who succeeded Thomas Chase as rector of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore in 1779, and during the first two years was loaned every third Sunday to St. Thomas Chapel. 13 West was born in Virginia in 1737 in the neighborhood of Mt. Vernon, and grew up in intimate friendship with Washington, who was five years his senior. At the time West served St. Thomas, Bezaleel Wells was sixteen to eighteen years of age. Despite the disruptive effects of the Revolution on the Epis- copal Church, and the fact that his uncle, Richard Owings, became a Methodist, 14 Bezaleel retained his loyalty to the church of his boyhood, later becoming .one of the founders of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Steubenville. St. Thomas Parish continues an active ministry to the present

8 Allen, The Garrison Church, 7-26. SIbid., 1. 10 This was pointed out to the writer by the sexton, Elmer Schaefer, during a visit to the church in August 1941. 11 Visited by the writer in August, 1941. 12 Allen, Garrison Church, 3. Is Ibid., 42 4 Ibid., 30.

(2) time, with adequate and up-to-date equipment, and plans to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in the spring of 1942. The building that still serves as parsonage is an enlargement of the parsonage built in 1793 for $125 on four acres of ground donated by Bezaleel's relative, Samuel Owings. 15 Tradition credits Bezaleel Wells with having graduated from William and Mary College. 16 As recently as April 1940, however his name appeared neither on the list of graduates nor of the past students of the college, though it was possible, in the opinion of the Librarian, Doctor Earl Swem, that he obtained a surveyor's commission there, as George Wash- ington had done at an earlier date. 17 The absence of his name from the college records, moreover, is not quite conclusive proof that he was never a student, according to Doctor Swem, as the years that he would have attended fell in the period for which the college records were destroyed at Richmond during the closing days of the Civil War, along with the records of Williamsburg and Jamestown. The town of Baltimore, founded in 1728, when Bezaleel's father was eight years old, was still only a small poorly improved frontier town of two or three thousand population when Bezaleel was born. By the beginning of the Revolution it had increased to 6,755, and during the following decade became the fastest growing city in the country, attaining 10,000 population by 1785, and 25,000 by 1795. 18 There, in the period immediately preceding the Revolution, was the meeting place of three civilizations. First was the tobacco civilization, based on indentured servants, slaves, and debt, and dependent on Great Britain. The second was based on wheat, and depended not on slave labor, but on pioneer growers of small means, among whom were Germans, Irishmen, Swedes, Bo- hemians, and Frenchmen as well as Englishmen. The third civilization was shipbuilding, from which there "burst upon a surprised world about 1776 an almost perfect thing, the Baltimore Clipper." 19 Baltimore became one of the greatest ports on the Atlantic seaboard. During the period 1777 to 1783 Baltimore merchants fitted out 248 or more cruisers and privateers, and the place gained the reputation among the British of being a nest of pirates. 20 The Revolution brought stirring days to Baltimore. The British sloop Otter threw the town in a panic in March 1776 when it seized some American ships as prizes, but had to give them up when the Maryland ship Defense, though still in the process of construction, sprang a counter surprise on a misty morning. On December 20, 1776, Congress, frighten- ed out of Philadelphia, moved to Baltimore, where it met for several weeks in a new three story and attic tavern, probably the largest building in town, on the corner of Sharp and Baltimore Streets, at what was then

15 Ibid., 52, 53. 16 Doyle, Steubenville, 329. 17 Stated by Dr. Swem in a conversation with the writer April 1940. 18 Thomas Scharf, History of Baltimore (Philadelphia, 1881), 60-73; Encyclo- pedia Brittanica, eleventh edition (New York, 1910), III, 287-290. 19 Hamilton Owens, Baltimore on the Chesapeake (Garden City, New York), 1941, 50-69. 20 Scharf, History of Baltimore, I. 78.

(3) the western edge of Baltimore. The building became known as Congress Hall. By February 27, 1777 Congress had recovered its courage sufficiently to move back to Philadelphia in time for its session on March 4. On August 20, 1777 a British fleet, reputedly of 260 sail under Lord Howe, entered the Patapsco from Chesapeake Bay, having on board most of the army that was to attack Philadelphia. Baltimore, almost completely un- prepared, was in a panic. The militia was called out, and the counties were called upon to help. But Howe's move against Baltimore was just a feint. The next day, after making a small landing at Gunpowder River, he moved up to the head of the bay, and proceeded on to Philadelphia. Only two vessels were left to maintain the blockade, but such was the helplessness of Baltimore that the blockade was felt severely.21 General Lafayette's army encamped in and around Baltimore during the critical last years of the Revolution. Responding to the appeals of Lafayette and his aide, James McHenry, a merchant of Baltimore after whom Fort McHenry was named, the women of Baltimore busily sewed and provided clothing for the American troops. 22 In Maryland the revolution overthrew the tobacco civilization; it disrupted but did not overthrow the slavery system; it separated the Episcopal Church from state support; and it changed the laws of inheritance favorably for the younger sons. How much of this Baltimore of Revolutionary days was experienced by Bezaleel Wells must be left to conjecture, as available records of a docu- mentary character, are missing from the date of his birth until 1795. But his marriage in 1795 to Rebecca Risteau of St. Thomas Parish is rather convincing evidence that he maintained contact with Baltimore at least until that time. This further suggests, in the absence of other explanation, how a colorful and sensational event in Baltimore's life in 1785 may have given rise to the name Canton for the Ohio town founded by Wells in 1805. It was on August 9, 1785, 23 that a Captain John O'Don- nell arrived at Baltimore, then a town of 10,000 inhabitants, direct from Canton, China, with a cargo of teas, China silks, satins, nankeens, and other valuable articles-the first shipload to come direct from Canton to Baltimore. The career of this man reads like a fairy tale. O'Donnell was born in Ireland in 1749. At an early age he ran away to sea and got a job on one of the ships trading with India. He landed penniless in Calcutta. He served in the merchant marine of the British East India Company and amassed a large fortune before he was 30. De- siring to return to Ireland he was given a safe-conduct by the British Government. He set out across Arabia with two white companions. They were treacherously attacked by their Arab guards, one was murdered, while O'Donnell and the other were robbed, stripped, and beaten. They were held captive two years, during which they suffered tortures from

21 Owens, Baltimore, 108-110; Scharff, Baltimore, I, 60-73. 22 Bernard C. Steiner, Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland, 1907), 1-115. 23 For Captain John O'Donnell and the Canton Estate see Thomas W. Griffith, Annals of Baltimore (Baltimore 1824); Maryland Journal, August 12, 1785, quoted in The Baltimore Sun, March 24, 1935; Canton Days published by Canton Company of Baltimore as a centennial souvenir booklet in 1928.

(4) hunger and thirst in the intense heat of the desert and under cruel masters. They finally escaped, crossed the Persian Gulf, and returned to India. O'Donnell was taken into partnership by William Higgins, a rich merchant and paymaster general of the British East India Company. He built up another fortune, and, deciding to come to America, bought the East Indiaman "Pallas" 24 and made the trip via Canton, China, as previously described. Captain O'Donnell advertised his cargo for sale by public auction in October, which netted him 70,000 pounds profits. 25 By this time he had decided to settle in Baltimore. On October 16, two months and one week after arriving in Baltimore, his marriage was announced to Miss Sallie Chew, daughter of Captain Thomas Elliott of Fell's Point. About the same time he purchased a plantation of 1,981 acres on the Northwest branch of the Patapsco River, about six miles east of the center of town, and named it Canton, to commemorate the fact, according to tradition, that he had transported the first cargo to arrive at Baltimore from Canton, China. Strangely it was located on the tract called "North Canton" in the old surveys. 26 How far this selection was accidental, and how far purposeful and of double meaning to O'Donnell is not known. In order to make a complete connection between O'Donnell's Canton Estate and Canton, Ohio, it is necessary to glance ahead on this particular point, up to the year 1805. O'Donnell built a fine house on his Canton Estate, a long low building, with a deep veranda, and of a style generally following the residences of the high officials in India. He set out a large orchard of peaches for the making of peach brandy. He applied for American citizenship. Except for another trip to the East involving an absence of two years and a half, he spent the rest of his life at his country seat, Canton, which with the help of his beautiful wife, became a center of Baltimore social life. At the time of his death he was reputed to be one of the wealthiest men, if not the wealthiest, in the United States. He died October 5, 1805, six weeks before Bezaleel Wells recorded the Plat of Canton at New Lisbon, Ohio. The Baltimore papers containing news of the event reached Steubenville at the very time that Bezaleel Wells, having surveyed the site for his new town, was puzzling what name to give to it. The word was already familiar to him in his long association with the Huguenot family, the Risteau's. To French Huguenots "Canton"

24 According to the Maryland Journal, but the "Palestine" according to J. E. P. Boldeus, The Presbyterians of Baltimore and Historic Graveyards (Baltimore, 1875). 25 Owens, Baltimore, 155. 26 Dr. Henry J. Berkley, noted for his painstaking research for the Maryland Society, has made maps of the early Maryland grants basing them on a study of ancient surveys, quit rents, and the Calvert papers in the possession of the Historical Society. One of these maps shows that as far back as 1642 Thomas Sparrow was granted a tract of land called "North Canton" on the north side of the Patapsco River, and another tract "South Canton" on the opposite side. Mr. James E. Han- cock, recording secretary of the Maryland Historical Society, has advanced the theory that this early name of Canton was given by the French Huguenots who fled first to Switzerland, then to England, finally migrating to Maryland early in the seventeenth century. Quoted from The Baltimore News Post, July 31, 1935.

(5) meant a division of an arrondissement containing several communes. To Swiss Huguenots it meant "One of the several sovereign states that formed the Swiss Confederation." 27 To Bezaleel Wells was added the romance of Baltimore's most colorful citizen in the spectacular event that must have been especially thrilling to him, a young man of twenty two, at the time that the Canton Estate was founded. Long before the arrival of Captain John O'Donnell, Bezaleel's father had responded to the call of the far western frontier, and migrated with his wife and Bezaleel's older brothers, over "the castle walls" of the Alleghanies to the "First English-Speaking Trans-Appalachian Frontier," on the upper Ohio. Just what year he first went out is uncertain. One tradition is that he went out in 1773 and became the first settler of Cross Creek Township, and the first pioneer to erect a frame building in that part of what is now Washington County, Pennsylvania. 28 This date may be based on a land grant by Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, to Henry Gains, November 26, 1773, which was recorded at Williamsburgh, capital of Virginia, the same day, and which was later assigned to Alex- ander Wells and Nathan Cromwell, of Baltimore County, Maryland. But the date of assignment was January 17, 1775, as shown in the record in the Washington County surveys, copied from the records of Virginia at Williamsburg. 29 In the deed dated in Washington County June 3, 1780, the description read: The assignment included two tracts, one for 1,500 acres being assigned jointly to Wells and Cromwell, covering the forks of Cross Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River (about fifteen miles from the new town of Washington). Later Cromwell and Wells agreed that 1,000 acres of this tract should go to Wells, and 500 to Cromwell. The other tract of 500 acres went to Wells alone. These tracts were

27 Oxford English Dictionary. 28 Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1882), 721; Doyle, Steubenville, 329; Sources on Bezaleel Wells, MSS., Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, Cincinnati. 29 Pursuant to a warrant granted to Harry Gaines under the hand and seal of the Right Honorable John Earl of Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, dated the 26th November 1773 to take up 2,000 acres of land to which the said Gains was intituled as heir at law of Robert Gains, deceased under his Majesties Proclamation of 1763, I have surveyed for Alexander Wells and Nathan Cromwell, Assigness of the said Harry Gaines, 500 acres part of the same, the assignment being made in this manner, viz: 1,000 acres part thereof to the said Alexander Wells and Nathan Cromwell, both of the County of Baltimore and Province of Maryland, lying in the County of Augusta on the N. fork of Cross Creek, a branch of the Ohio. Beginning at two white oaks marked A. W. standing in the fork of a run, thence running N. 45 E 240 ps. to a white and black oak, & N. 10 W 151 ps. to black and white oaks & S. 80 W 160 ps. to a white oak & S 45 W 400 ps. to a white oak on a hill & E 300 ps. to the Beginning, this 17th Jan'y. 1775. Henry Wells] S. A. C. \ Sworn Chairmen Virginia Hand James HomesJ Office Seal Surveys of Washington County V, 2, in Recorder's office, Washington County Court House, Washington, Pennsylvania.

(6) taken by Cromwell and Wells by virtue of a military warrant from the State of Virginia. 30 Still later Cromwell confirmed Well's rights in the 1,500 acres for a further consideration of $100. 31 This tract of land, originally secured through the purchase of soldiers' bounties arising out of the French and Indian wars, formed the basis for the substantial properties acquired by Alexander Wells, father of Bezaleel, in and around Cross Creek, totaling 2,004 acres, of which 1,500 were at the forks of the creek and 500 on the North Fork. The 1,500 acres were divided into smaller tracts. "The Cliffs" contained 424 acres, "Willwood" 103 acres, "The Grove" 211 acres, "Mayfields" 412 acres, "Stillton" 4471/2 acres, and "Rocky Ridge" 407 acres. The surveys were all signed by Presley Neville and Matthew Ritchie, Deputy Surveyors, and by John Lukens, Engineer Surveyor General, returned as of January 8, 10, 11, and 12, 1788. 32 Alexander gradually purchased other property for other members of his family. "Jerusalem" was acquired May 9, 1785, for his son, James, 200 acres; "Wellington", 200 acres, was purchased for James March 29, 1786. "Wellton" was bought for Thomas the same date; "Black Walnut Thicket" for James Wells August 4, 1788; "Sugar-Tree Run" for Richard Wells January 9, 1788; and "Buffalo Lick" for Rich- ard Wells, Jr. January 22, 1788. Richard Wells was uncle and brother- in-law of Bezaleel Wells, having married Hellen, Bezaleel's sister. 33 A shrewd side to Alexander Wells was shown in his so running his lines that he cut off and prevented all others from having access to the water privileges of the streams on which his land was situated. There were some very acute angles. This gerrymander method of picking the best spots to make up ones acreage, contrasted with the new township plan of straight lines which were adopted for the Ohio Country within a very few years-in fact before some of the above warrants were recorded. Alexander showed his shrewdness also in dealing with Virginia for his lands, instead of Pennsylvania, which state also laid claim to the same region. Virginia offered lands for one tenth of the price that Pennsylvania did. 3 The controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia for this region dated back to 1747 when a number of prominent Virginians, including George Fairfax and Lawrence and Augustine Washington, brothers of George, organized the Ohio Company, to seize control of the Forks of the Ohio. 35 This aggressiveness of the Virginians was a leading incite-

30 Washington County Deed Record I, M, 225 (recorded June 21, 1796), Re- corder's office, Court House, Washington, Pa. 31 Ibid., I, T, 328 (recorded March 19, 1806). 32 Surveyor's maps of these properties appear in the Washington County Surveys, volume 5, the first one of 500 acres on the North Fork of Cross Creek appearing on page 2. 33 Crumrine, Washington County, 721. 34 Solon J. Buck and Elizabeth H. Buck, Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, 1929). 35 For the Ohio Company see Beverley W. Bond, Jr., Foundations of Ohio (Columbus, Ohio, 1941,), 14, 104-113, 124-126, 132-134; Buck, Western Penn- sylvania, 56, 57, 64-66. Bond, Foundations, in Vol. I of series of Carl Wittke, ed., History of the State of Ohio.

(7) ment of the French and Indian Wars. 36 The King had, in 1754, offered to pay 200,000 acres on the east side of the upper Ohio to such persons "who by their voluntary engagements and good behaviour in the said service (colonial troops) shall deserve the same."37 In 1757 Virginia granted lands in 1,000 acre tracts in this region, to the extent of over 2,000,000 acres. The King's proclamation became the basis for the later claims of the Virginia soldiers of which Alexander Wells took advantage. Virginia's claims were countered by Pennsylvania in 1768 when the Penns made a "New Purchase" covering approximately half of present Pennsyl- vania west of the mountains. But the Virginians continued to explore and claims all the best lands of the upper Ohio Valley. George Washington made a trip as far west as the Great Kanawha River in 1770, purchasing 32,373 acres, which laid the foundation of western land interests which grew to some 200,000 acres. 38 By this date settlers were arriving in Wes- tern Pennsylvania at the rate of 4,000 to 5,000 anually. Southwestern Pennsylvania was chiefly settled during the five year period 1769 to 1774, mostly by people from Virginia and Maryland, and largely from the "Old West," or back-country democracy, 50 miles or more back from the seaboard, many being Scotch-Irish. The population of southwestern Pennsyl- vania increased from an estimated 10,000 in 1771 to 50,000 in 1774. The Monongahela Valley was largely occupied in 1765 and 1766. Uniontown was first settled in 1767, Redstone (Brownsville) in 1769, and Bassett (Washington) the same year. 39 The bitter rivalry between Virginia and Pennsylvania broke out into violent collision with the Virginia governorship of Lord John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, 1771 to 1775. Connected with the corrupt "Bloomsbury Gang" in the British Government, and filled with the ambition to build up a great landed estate in America, 40 he pushed Virginia's interests in the Upper Ohio Valley with still greater aggressiveness. He ordered the demolition of Fort Pitt and its evacuation by General Thomas Gage in 1772. Pennsylvania formed the disputed area into Westmoreland County, naming Hannastown, near present Greensburg. as county seat. Dunmore countered by forming out of the same territory the District of West Aug- usta, naming Pittsburgh as the county seat, renaming Fort Pitt as Fort Dunmore, and securing the support of the Pennsylvania fur trader, George Croghan and Croghan's nephew, John Connolly, whom he made "Cap- tain, Commandant of the militia of Pittsburgh and its Dependencies." 41 Connolly arrested and jailed Arthur St. Clair, magistrate at that time of Westmoreland County. Lord Dunmore energetically met the threat of Indian War by sending two expeditions against them, one of which, to 36 Charles H. Ambler, West Virginia, the Mountain State (New York, 1940), 98. 3 7 Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 114-151; Clarence W. Alvord, The Mississippi Valley in British Politics (Cleveland, 1917), I, 89. 38 Archer B. Hulbert, Washington and the West (New York, 1905), 12. 9 Russell J. Ferguson, Early Western Pennsylvania Politics (Pittsburgh, 1938), 7-33; Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 144-169. 40 Alvord, The Misissippi Valley, 204. 41 Ferguson, Pennsylvania Politics, 23.

(8) the center of the Shawnee country in western Ohio, he led personally. The battle of Point Pleasant on the Ohio in October 1774 completely defeated the Indians and Dunmore was able to conclude a satisfactory peace. Then the Revolution forced him and Dr. Connolly to flee, and John Neville, a prominent Virginian, succeeded to the command at Pittsburgh, retaining his position there until 1777. In October 1776 the legislature of Virginia divided the District of West Augusta into three counties, Monongalia, Yohogania, and Ohio. Cross Creek was the dividing line between Yohogania, lying to the northeast; Ohio County, lying to the southwest; and Monongalia County, lying to the southeast. Yohogania County included Pittsburgh and Hannastown.42 The sessions of the Virginia courts of Augusta County were transferred to Pittsburgh on September 21, 1775 and were held there until November 30, 1776. Virginia and Mary- land settlers dominated the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Valley and westwart to the Ohio River. Pennsylvania, including many Germans, occupied the land eastward around Hannastown and Ligonier. The Virginians were democratic, the Pennsylvanians conservative. The Tories tried to drive a wedge between the Pennsylvanians and the Virginians during the Revolution; while they failed in this, 43 they weakened the contribution which the Trans-Appalachian region made in the Revolution. Pittsburgh remained a center of intrigue, petty quarrels, and Tory influence throughout the Revolution, especially after Virginia lost Pittsburgh to Pennsyl- vania in November 1776.44 Through these dissensions commander after commander who was sent to Pittsburgh was worn down and rendered more or less helpless. The vital matter of settling the state supervision of southwestern Pennsylvania was under negotiation during the Revolution. Pennsylvania and Virginia commissioners met at Baltimore in August 1779 and agreed to fix the boundary by extending Mason and Dixon's line to a point five degrees west of Delaware, and by drawing a line due north from that point. Pennsylvania thus gave up her claim south to the thirty-ninth degree, but received more territory westward than had been claimed. The agreement was ratified by Pennsylvania November 19, 1779. In May 1780 Virginia made provision for adjusting titles to land in the West, and commissioners were appointed to investigate the rights of claimants and to issue certificates for land settled before 1778. On July 1, 1780 Virginia ratified the agreement "on condition that the private property and rights of all persons acquired under, founded on or recognized by the laws of either country previous to the date thereof, be saved and confirmed to them." 45 There was grumbling in Pennsylvania, but on Sep- temper 27, 1780 the conditions were accepted, and the agreement ratified. In all, 1182 Virginia certificates, covering 634,371 acres were accepted by the land office. The establishment of the boundary was still delayed by local opposition, but finally a temporary line was run to the

42 Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 165-169. 43 Ferguson, Pennsylvania Politics, 24. 4 Bond, Foundations, 201-103. But Ambler, West Virginia, 102, states that the Virginians retained possession of the Forks until 1779. 45 Buck, Western Pensylvania, 169.

(9) Ohio in November 1782. The permanent boundary was surveyed and marked to the southwest corner of Pennsylvania in 1784 and from thence to the Ohio in 1785 and to Lake Erie in 1786. Washington County was established March 28, 1781, and included the territory west of the Mon- ongahela River, where the Virginia partisans had been strongest. It was named after Virginia's hero seven months before Yorktown. The courts of the Virginia counties of Monongalia, Yohogania, and Ohio ceased to funtion in 1780, and the Virginia jurisdiction ceased legally with the settlement of the boundary line in 1780. Thereafter the Virginia settlers were gradually assimilated, but there were occasional rumblings from many who preferred the Old Dominion. 46 Once the questions of state jurisdiction and titles were settled, Alex- ander Wells went to work rapidly to improve his properties. He built a log house in 1781, without a sawed piece of lumber in it, which stood for 100 years. He erected a stockade fort. He started the first grist-mill in that part of the county, about 1775, at the junction of the north branch with the main stream. It was always considered one of the best mills in the county or in Western Pennsylvania. 7 A store of general merchan- dise was established. A sawmill, which was established in the early years of the settlement was still in operation a hundred years later, in 1882, and driven by water running thru the same race that Alexander used when he started it. A tannery, blacksmith shop, and a distillery were also early established. 48 Bezaleel had been left behind with an uncle in Baltimore when his father moved west with the rest of the family. Upon completing his education-one record says at the age of 13-Bezaleel went out to join his family at Cross Creek. He carried arms for the farmers while they labored in the field. Despite several Indian attacks, the protection of the fort saved the Cross Creek community from any injuries. From the time Bezaleel was fifteen years old until the end of the Revolutionary war the Cross Creek region, Washington County, and the upper Monongahela Valley served as the chief recruiting grounds for the expeditions that were despatched westwards. In 1778 General Lachlan McIntosh led an expedition of 1,200 men to the Tuscarawas River were he built Fort Laurens near Bolivar and the present boundary of Stark County. 49 With a force of about 150 Virginia frontiersmen recruited from the upper Monongahela, George Rogers Clark, a Virginian officer, led the expedition down the Ohio Valley in the spring of 1778. In a brilliant campaign he won from the British for the state of Virginia the whole of the "Illinois Country." 50 Repeated and increasing Indian raids against the Washington County frontier led to fierce retaliatory campaigns, in 1781

46 For this period, Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 144-169; Ferguson, Pennsylvania Politics, 15-33; Ambler, West Virginia, 102, 103. 47 McFarland, Washington and Washington County, 300. 48Crumrine, Washington County, 722. 49 Bond, Foundations, 216-220; Crumrine, Washington County, 86, 87; Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 175-192. 50 Bond, Foundations, 192-229; Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 175-192; Crumrine, Washington County, 86.

(10) and 1782. One of these expeditions, with about 150 mounted militia of Washington County, led by Colonel David Williamson, exterminated ninety Moravian Christian Indians at Gnadenhutten on the Tuscarawas in the most brutal massacre in American history. 5 1 The Indians, aroused, sought revenge by redoubling their attacks upon the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Finally a force of 408 men was recruited from among the hot-blooded Scotch-Irish settlers of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny valleys and of the Virginia "Panhandle", and set forth from Mingo Bottom, just below present day Steubenville, under Colonel William H. Crawford, a close friend of Washington. Though Sandusky was reached, the army was forced to retreat, Crawford was captured by the Indians and burned at the stake, and the men discharged after an unsuccessful campaign of only twenty days. 52 The soldiers returning from these expeditions to Cross Creek and its neighborhood must have been an important source of information about Ohio and the far West to Bezaleel Wells, then in his late teens. But of Bezaleel's activities during this period, only two references have survived. One states that he became the best surveyor in the Ohio Valley, 53 and that his surveyor's commission from William and Mary College stood him in good stead, as a certificate or commission from a college was a necessary requirement for surveying at this time. 4 He also was en- trusted by Alexander with the operation of his fulling-mill. 55 In the late 1780's or early 1790's Alexander began to retire from active affairs, gradually disposing of his Cross Creek properties, and investing in lots and property at Charlestown (renamed Wellsburg in 1816) preparatory to moving there in 1792. Charlestown had been founded in 1789, being named in honor of Charles Prather, its first proprietor. 56 Alexander sold to William Patterson a part of his Cross Creek lands for £100 in October 1787. 57 In October 1791 he rented to Ben- jamin Stuart for an annual payment of nine pounds, 5 shillings of lawful money of Pennsylvania, a tract of 50 acres on the main road from Wells Mills to the mouth of Buffalo Creek, containing a blacksmith shop and enumerated equipment. 58 To Richard Wells and his wife Hellen, who was the sister of Bezaleel, he deeded the 4471/2 acre tract of Stillton" February 10, 1795. 5 9 Stillton was a part of the original 1,500

51 Bond, Foundations, 231-3; Crumrine, Washington County, 102-110. 52 Bond, Foundations, 233-5; Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 144, 198. 53 Fortesque Cuming, Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country-(Pittsburgh, 1810), in Reuben C. Thwaites, ed., Early Western Travels, IV, f.n. 108. 54 Alfred Creigh, History of Washington County (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1871), 23. 55 Crumrine, Washington County, 722. 56 The map of the original plan of Charlestown, as drawn by its founder, Jacob de Camps in 1789, is preserved by his great great grandson, Lucas Hazlett, a mail carrier, living two miles from Independence, where the map was shown to the writer November 24, 1940. According to Cuming, 108, f.n. the town was founded in 1791, being named for Charles Prather, "its earliest proprietor." 5 7 Brooke County Deed Record I, D, 103. 58 Ibid., 1-I, 199. S51L, 37.

(11) acres, and its name would suggest that it was the part on which the distillery was located. To the Reverend Thomas Marquis, he deeded 500 acres near Cross Creek Village August 27, 1794. On January 11, 1796 he inserted an advertisement in the Western Telegraph which read, "I will sell 1,600 acres of land and my mills and the property on which I live."60 The ad brought results. Joseph Templeton bought 373 acres of the 1,500 tract for $2,000 March 1, 1796; Thomas Marks bought 500 acres for £312 and 10 shillings April 6, 1796 and Thomas Bay bought 500 acres for,£147 and 10 shillings September 6, 1796. 61 Thus the land sales in this one year brought in something near $4,000. It is noticeable that the name of Bezaleel Wells does not appear in any property transaction in either the Washington County or Ohio County records prior to and including 1796, 62 and the Brooke County records did not begin until 1797. It is also significant that in the will of Alexander Wells, which was probated at Charlestown in March 1813, no property was left to Bezaleel, who, however, was one of the witnesses to the contents of the will. The other children were all remembered in the will.63 Since the sales in 1796 occurred the same year, but prior to the date that Bezaleel Wells made his first heavy investment in Ohio lands, the indication is that the father gave Bezaleel his portion of the estate in cash at this time. Alexander's last sale on September 6, predated Bezaleel's purchase of the Steubenville site by only seven weeks, the latter transaction occurring October 24, 1796. The fact that the amount of Bezaleel's October payment ($4,790) was only slightly greater than the sum of the 1796 sales by his father, lends credibility to this idea. Doubtless Bezaleel assisted his father in these transactions, thus gaining useful experience for the larger undertaking on which he was soon to embark. Alexander's accumulation of holdings in and around Charles- town began in October 1788, when he traded properties with his cousin Richard Owings in Baltimore County. He gave Owings, and his wife, 208 acres in Baltimore County in exchange for 450 acres at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, the latter land being the larger part of 50 acres received by Richard Owings on a treasury warrant. 64 In July 1791 he pur-

60 Crumrine, Washington County, 722. 61 Washington County Deed Records, 1 L, 773, 1 M, 65, 352. 62 Crumrine, Washington County, 722, states that "the mills were left to Bezaleel who operated them for some time and then sold them to T. Patterson." The deed record shows that Alexander was the grantor of lands sold to Thomas Patterson in three different transactions; Jerusalem and Willwood tracts for $1,386, May 22, 1804; 283/4 acres for $63, March 26, 1805, and part of the Pennsylvania patent of 1788 for $100, November 30, 1809. There is no record of property sold by Bezaleel Wells in Washington County to any one at any time, though in 1831 a son of Richard, named Bezaleel, sold to Thomas Patterson (of a later generation), 50 acres of Cross Creek property "designated as the mill property, with the water and water courses belonging thereunto. Washington County Deed Book 2 P 40). This may have been the origin of the error. 63 Brooke County Will Record, II, 51, 53. 64 Ohio County (W. Va.) Deed Records, copied into Brooke County Records, p. 81. Brooke County not being formed until 1797, the records in present Brooke County were kept at Wheeling, county seat of Ohio County, prior to that date, and later copied into a volume which is kept at Wellsburg.

(12) chased from Andrew Snider and wife lot 50 in the town of Charlestown, for £7 and 10 shillings. In April of the same year he purchased lots 87 and 88 from Rheuben Rude and wife, for £2 and 10 shillings. From Charles Prather, proprietor of Charlestown, and his wife Ruth, he rented nine lots in August 1792 for the consideration of 7 shillings 8 pence annually, and two other lots for one shilling one penny. In 1795 he rented from Absalom Wells six other lots and a fraction for a nominal rental; lot 22 from James Marshall for a rental of 23 cents, and purchased six more lots from Charles Prather for three pounds, and lots numbered one and two for £25.15" According to these same Ohio County records Alexander deeded to William Griffith and Mary Chartes Novem- ber 6, 1793, in payment of a loan of £270, 190 acres of Mingo Bottom land and 200 acres of Hard Bargain Creek land,-tracts which he had held since 1780 and 1781. He also sold to John Henderson a tract of 200 acres opposite Mingo Bottom for £20. The 200 acre tract on Hard Bargain Creek passed back to Alexander July 19, 1796 for five shillings, only to be deeded back to William Griffith again August 18, 1796, "in consideration of the love and esteem in which he was held, and 5 shillings." 66 The distillery owned by Alexander at Cross Creek was the largest in Washington County and next to the largest in the three counties of Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland in 1785-86. At that time Alex- ander paid twelve pounds excise tax on his distilling, while the next largest of eleven distilleries in Washington County paid but five. There were 38 distilleries in three counties, the largest paying 15 pounds, but most of them about three.6 7 Despite his moving to Charlestown in 1793, Alexander apparently retained his distillery until February 1795, though its operation may have been left to Bezaleel, who gave his residence as both Washington County and Brooke County for the years 1796-97. Cross Creek was only a couple of hours from Charlestown by horseback, and a main road ran directly between the two places in 1796. In the summer of 1794 the Whiskey Rebellion broke out, a protest of the back woods Scotch-Irish democracy of the upper Monongahela River Valley against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey. Nearly every farmer had his still or belonged to a club of farmers who owned a still. Hamilton's tax hit them in their most profitable source of revenue and in their most popular and universal social custom. Whiskey was the most acceptable article of barter where barter was the general method of trade. It was issued to the army as a part of the rations. It was a beverage at meal times arid a strengthener between meals. Even the minister's salary was, at times, paid in whiskey, as it had been in tobacco on the seaboard. Men of the greatest respectability and substance engaged in its manufacture. Lumber, grain, and wheat were too heavy to be transported over the mountains. A horse could carry four bushels of rye

65 Ibid., pages 179, 180, 200, 204, 302, 304, 310, and 343. 6E Ibid., pages 250, 264, 406, 410. '; From a printed Statement of Accounts of William Graham, Esquire, Collector of Excise for Westmoreland, Washington and Fayette Counties April 1, 1785 to July 18, 1786. On file in the Pennsylvania Historical Society Library, Philadelphia.

(13) but, converted into whiskey, the same horse could carry twenty four bushels, that is two eight gallon kegs. Women used whiskey as well as men. It was good for fever, ague, decline, and snake bites. It warmed one in winter and cooled one in summer. Ministers drank it without reproach. Washington County, the most acute center of the controversy, had 500 stills, or ten percent of all the stills in the country. Their owners felt that they were being taxed for the benefit of the eastern speculators and money barons. They objected to the searches, seizures and brandings with paint, and still more to the requirement that they make long trips over the mountains to stand trial at Philadelphia. Sentiment ran high even against those who paid the tax; their stills were frequently cut to pieces. Such destruction was humorously called mending the tinker and the per- petrator was dubbed "Tom the Tinker." Alexander Wells, who probably owned his large distillery at Cross Creek, doubtless belonged to the group of "influential" and "respectable" distillers who, alarmed at the radical excesses to which the Whiskey Rebellion was running, agreed to pay their taxes and support the administration. This made him a vulnerable target for Tom the Tinker. Cross Creek had seen the excise collector, William Graham, who collected the twelve pound tax from Alexander Wells in 1785-1786, mobbed by about one hundred persons in open day. More recently John Lynn, a deputy collector in Washington County, had been seized in his house, taken to the woods, where his hair was cut off, and he was given a coat of tar and feathers and forced to flee the country. But Alexander had moved to Charlestown about 1792, and no report has come down regarding any violence done to Alexander Wells or his still.68 Most important of the persons preventing the Whiskey Rebellion from coming to armed collision with the 10,000 troops sent out by President Washington, was James Ross, the leading attorney of Pitts- burgh, the brilliant leader of the Federalist Party in Western Pennsyl- vania, United States Senator, and intimate friend of George Washington, and agent for the sale of his western lands. Ross was appointed by Washington as one of three commissioners with full powers to confer with individuals and bodies "in order to quiet and extinguish the insurrection." Ross was on the job day and night, seeking to moderate the passions of the leaders, and he was the chief power in persuading the committee representing the insurgents to submit the question to a popular referendum September 11, 1794, in exchange for which they would be pardoned on the tenth of July 1795. Ross remained in the West to receive the lists of the referendums, which passed off successfully on the scheduled date, doubtless to the great relief of the Wells family. This James Ross became the partner of Bezaleel Wells in 1796 in the 68 For the Whiskey Rebellion, the most complete and best account is Leland D. Baldwin, Whiskey Rebels (Pittsburgh, 1939). Other references are Ferguson, Pennsylvania Politics, 125-132, 134, 146, 176, 260, 270; Western Pennsylvania, 286, 38, 383, 446-473; Hugh Henry Brackenridge, Incidents of the Insurrection in the Western Parts of Pennsylvania in the year 1794 (Philadelphia, 1795); Hugh M. Brackenridge, History of the Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania, Called the "Whiskey Insurrection" (Pittsburg, 1859).

(14) founding of Steubenville. James, who was only six months older than Bezaleel, had grown up in Washington County as a young man, con- temporaneously with Bezaleel. Ross had taken up law, being admitted to the bar of Washington County in 1784, at the age of only 22. His brilliant mental powers, well balanced judgment, and impressive physical presence explained his phenomenally rapid rise. In 1789 he was elected a member of the convention that framed the new Pennsylvania State Constitution of 1790, where he showed great leadership and ability. Ross Street in Pittsburgh, Ross township in Alleghany County, and Ross County in Ohio were in due time named after him. Wood Street in Pittsburgh was named after George Woods of Bedford, Pennsylvania, Surveyor, whose daughter, Ann, James Ross married January 31, 1791. Ann's brother, John, was land agent for the Penns, became attorney for the Neville's, and was intimate socially and politically with this powerful "connection." When James Ross began to practice, most of the law cases-and the most important cases-had to do with land titles and surveys, in which he specialized. This brought him naturally in contact with Bezaleel Wells whose surveys frequently involved questions of title and frequent visits to Washington and other county seats. 69 In 1793 Ross moved to Pittsburgh, 70 which naturally became a frequent scene of business and social visits on the part of Bezaleel Wells as he collaborated with his friend James Ross on their plans for Steuben- ville, which were approaching a partnership arrangement. The long thirty years of slow growth in Pittsburgh changed to a faster tempo about 1790. The Pennsylvania land office, which had been closed until after the Revo- lution, had reopened in 1784 giving opportunity to settlers to secure title to real estate in the town. Pittsburgh's first newspaper, the Pittsburgh Gazette, had appeared with its first issue July 29, 1786. It was the first newspaper west of the mountains, and the young editor, John Scull, mildly sided with the Federalists as they developed into a political party. Pittsburgh became the county seat of Allegheny County in 1788, but its population according to the census was still only 376 in that year. There were a few score stores and a few small factories. The town of Washing- ton boasted in 1792 of having a larger population and more factories than Pittsburgh, but it was still "stuck in the mud." The potentialities of location, transportation, coal and iron, however, were all in favor of Pittsburgh's future, and the leaders of western Pennsylvania were being drawn to that point as by a magnet. By 1794 mail service, which had reached Pittsburgh from the east several years earlier, was extended on

69 For James Ross, see James I. Brownson, Life and Times of Senator James Ross; Letters from Washington to Ross, preserved in the Room of Rare MSS., Library of Congress. 70 Most biographies state that he moved in 1794 or 1795, but a clipping from the Pittsburg Gazette, December 30, 1793, preserved in the Western Pennsylvania His- torical Magazine, VII, 1924, p. 67, reads as follows: "The subscriber informs the public that he has opened a house of entertajnment in the town of Washington in the house that James Ross, Esq. formerly occupied-also carried on the Saddler Business. John Fisher."

(15) westward to Ohio and Kentucky by way of Canonsburg, and Washington to Wheeling, first by post-riders and later by boats. Despite the primitive material conditions of life in Pittsburgh cultural touches comparable with those of the eastern seaboard were provided even in this early day by the Pittsburgh women. Their attractive dress and appearance caught the favorable attention of travelers. The industrious and critical German traveler, Johann D. Schopf, the first to arrive in Pittsburgh by carriage, in 1784, after berating the lazy and avaricious character of the men of Pittsburgh, expressed surprise at seeing "several well-dressed men and fine-appearing women" in the rickety little wooden cabin that served as Pittsburgh's best inn. Three years later Hugh Henry Brackenridge, describing the winter season, enthused over "the evening parties in different houses, or at public halls, where they are surprised to find an elegant assembly of ladies, not to be surpassed in beauty and ac- complishments, perhaps by any on the continent."71 But attractive as they were, they were unable to steal away the heart of Bezaleel Wells from his first love. On May 19, 1795, back in St. Thomas Parish, he was married to Rebecca Risteau, the sweetheart of his boyhood and young manhood. By this time the personality and character of Bezaleel Wells had become well fixed. He had a "genial, kindly,. energetic nature, a pleasing face of remarkable freshness and beauty, mild blue eyes, one of which had a peculiar droop when excited by anger or other means. He was over six feet tall, and in appearance as well as action, every inch a man." 72

71 For Pittsburgh between 1783 and 1795, see Baldwin, Story of Pittsburgh, 1-128; Baldwin, Whiskey Rebels, 31, 50; Ferguson, Pennsylvania Politics, 12, 64; Buck, Western Pensylvania, 258. 72 Doyle, Steubenville, 329.

(16) CHAPTER II Settlement of Ohio To 1796 About three o'clock Monday afternoon, August 12, 1788, the Reverend Manasseh Cutler, the versatile minister, diplomat, scientist, and writer, who had succeeded in getting the bill for the newly organized Ohio Company through Congress, dismounted from his horse at Wells's settlement at Cross Creek on his first trip to the Ohio Valley. From his well- kept Journal the following extracts are quoted describing his activities while at Cross Creek and in the neighborhood:1 Tuesday, August 12, 1788. Rose at day-break; set out as the sun rose. Major Kendall made a fine shot at a chicken, and won half a pint of whiskey. Went on and breakfasted at Washington, which used to be called Catfish. 2 It is a street of houses, all new-stumps in the street. There are some handsome buildings-a Court-house and jail-in the center of the little city. This is eleven miles from Parkinson's; fine road. After breakfast went on to Wells, sixteen miles, no stage between, mostly woods, but a very good road, no stones, nor considerable hills. Arrived at Wells about three, and put up. Here we found Mr. McFarland and his brother from Haverhill, Mr. Sawyer (Nathaniel) and Mr. Port- er (Ebenezer). We were well entertained for this country. Fine garden, mills, tannery, etc. 27 miles. 634 from Essex. County, Massachusetts. Wednesday, August 13. Diverted ourselves this morning, shooting squirrels. Before dinner Captain Cooper, who came up in Ohio Company's large boat, came to inquire for Major Coburn. After dinner set out for the mouth of the Buffalo, in company with Captain Cooper. Went to Charles Wells Esquire, which is about a mile over the line between Pennsyl- vania and Virginia. This line is cut about twenty feet wide through the woods and makes a singular appearance At this place we agreed to put up our horses at!one dollar per month, oats at three shillings per bushel, to feed my horse two weeks twice a day. This is four miles from Alex Wells'. We went on to Buffalo, which is six miles as the road goes, but by attempting to get into another road, we lost our way, and travelled the whole way in the woods, in a foot-path, over shocking hills. This made it late at night before we arrived at the house where General Tupper was. Lodged on the floor; people kind. Mr. Prather's. This is called Coxe's Fort. 10 miles. 644. 1 Willian P. Cutler and Julia P. Cutler, Life, Journals and Correspondence of Reverend Manasseh Cutler (Cincinnati, 1888), I, 407. SThis must have been a mistake. There was a Catfish Tavern at Washington, but the first name of the town was Basset.

(17) During his visit with Alexander and Bezaleel Wells, the latter then twenty five years of age, Cutler would naturally describe his experiences coming over the mountains through Pennsylvania, following the Forbes route. Quite likely he referred to his staying at the same tavern in Bed- ford with Judge John Cleves Symmes,3 and his "very pretty" daughter, and party, bound for the Symmes Grant in southwestern Ohio. The party consisted of one or two women with their husbands, six heavy wagons, a stagewagon, a chair, thirty-one horses, three carpenters, and a mason. While staying a couple of days at Prather's Cutler visited the site at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, where Prather was planning to lay out the town of Charlestown. All afternoon was spent loading the Ohio Com- pany stock on the boat, and trying to get it floated, which was not accomplished until the next morning. Proceeding on down the river Cutler came to the fortified and "pretty" settlement of Wheeling, where he lodged for two days and nights "on the floor" with Esquire Ebenezer Zane, founder of the town, and viewed his interesting garden and plant- ings of rice, cotton, indigo, and tobacco. From his fine orchard and large nursery of peaches Zane offered Cutler 200 or 300 peaches-"very generous," commented Cutler. The company boat on which Cutler travelled down the river, carried 48 persons, who relayed the rowing night and day. On the last day they went over sixty miles, reaching Marietta Tuesday the nineteenth. The 107 miles from Alexander Wells' they had covered in three days of travelling. Two days after his arrival, the Symmes party stopped on its way down the river, and Judge Symmes and his daughter were entertained by Cutler.4 Cutler remained in Marietta three weeks, during which time the first court was held, which he opened with prayer. He had plenty of opportunity to examine this well planned New England settlement, with its ample site of 5,760 acres; its 60 squares, separated by streets 100 feet wide; its four squares reserved for public purposes; its house or in-lots, around a town common; and nearby eight acre out-lots for the growing of crops. He found the land cleared, log cabins erected, and a hundred acres planted in corn. True to their classical education the settlers had named the public square the Campus Martius, another square the Quad- renou, and the great road connecting them the Via Sacra. Other squares were called the Capitolium and Cecilia. The town .itself was named Marietta after Marie Antoinette of France. A particular feature of the Ohio Company plan was the offer of a number of 100 acre lots free in order to attract settlers who were not shareholders. But such a settler would not receive title for five years, and then only if he had erected a dwelling house at least 24 by 18 and eight feet between floors, with a cellar ten feet square and six and a half feet deep, and a brick or a stone chimney, in addition to putting 15 acres in fit condition for mowing or pasture, and five acres ready for the tillage of corn and other grains. Moreover, within three years he must have set out at least 50

3 Cutler, Manasseh Cutler, 409. 4 Ibid., 415.

(18) apple or pear trees and 20 peach trees.5 The town was protected by Fort Harmar just across the mouth of the Muskingum River from the settlement. Manasseh Cutler started back to Massachusetts September 9, and on the fifteenth lodged overnight again at Charles Wells's where he found his horse in good condition. He went on the next day to Alexander Wells's where he breakfasted for one shilling. This was another opportunity for Alexander and Bezaleel Wells to gain up-to-date and first hand information on the Marietta settlement. The town plan and terms of inducements to settlers, at Marietta, offer an interesting comparison with those of the three practically simultaneous settlements in the late fall and winter of 1788-1789, on the present site of Cincinnati. 6 The first of these, Columbia, just below the mouth of the Little Miami, was founded November 18, 1788, by Benjamin Stites, a fur trader from New Jersey. The twenty-six persons in this party were mostly Baptists and many were related, illustrating the common tendency of these early settlements to be made up of people related to each other, or acquainted from the same neighborhood or church. A block-house was erected; then log-cabins were built from the flatboats. The second settlement, Losantiville, was named, from its position opposite the mouth of the Licking River, by the school teacher John Filson, one of the four founders, the other three being Surveyor Israel Ludlow, of New Jersey, and the partners owning the 800 acre tract purchased from Judge Symmes, Matthias Denman and Colonel Robert Patterson. Nineteen other men completed the party that founded Losantiville, De- cember 28, 1788. Temporary shelters were built from the timbers of the flatboats; later more permanent cabins were erected. Thirty donation lots were offered, each including an in-lot of half an acre, and an out-lot of four acres. North Bend, the last of the three settlements, was founded February 2nd by Judge Symmes himself, at the most northerly bend of the river. The judge described the winter hardships. An open lean-to shelter was built by setting two forks of saplings in the ground, a ridge pole across, and leaning boat boards, which I had brought from Limestone, one end on the other against the ridge pole; en- closing one end of the camp, and leaving the other open to the weather for a door where our fire was made, to fend against the cold which was now very intense. 7 In this hut Symmes lived six weeks before he was able to erect a log- house and cover it so as to provide a shelter for his family and property. He laid out 48 lots, of which each alternate one was offered as a donation lot on condition that it was built on immediately. These 24 donation lots were soon taken up; further applications being made, Symmes

SBeverley W. Bond, Jr., The Foundations of Ohio (Columbus, Ohio, 1941), 279-283, being Vol. I of series of Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio, for founding of Marietta. 6 Ibid., 294-301 for founding of Cincinnati. 7 Beverley W. Bond, The Correspondence of John Cleves Symmes (New York, 1926), 29.

(19) extended the village up and down the Ohio until it formed a front a than 100 lots, on which 40 mile and a half along the river, with more 8 comfortable log-cabins covered with shingles or clapboards were erected. The third settlement of over 500 French emigrants, at Gallipolis, October 17, 1790, was a sad tale of suffering, in which the innocent but inexperienced French were victims of the American speculation in the Scioto Company. The 100 log-cabins on the tiny four acre lots were entirely inadequate, even with French thrift and vineyards, to provide sustenance; terrible hardships rapidly reduced the settlement. As to a bearing on the course of American settlement in Ohio, however, it had little or no influence. 9 The fourth settlement, Manchester, was founded on the Ohio sixteen miles above Limestone, Kentucky, by Kentuckians and Virginians, under the terms of the Virginia Military Tract. Nathaniel Massie, who had gained fame and lands as a surveyor, signed a contract on December first, 1790, with nineteen men to settle at Manchester. Each received donation lands which included an in-lot, an out-lot of four acres, and a tract of 100 acres. By the middle of March a number of cabins had been with the usual square of pickets, with a block-house erected and enclosed 10 at each angle. It lacked the protection of a fort, but held off the Indians. Those with some small off-shoots were the only legal centers of settlement founded in Ohio before the Indian wars broke out in 1790, putting a stop for five years to new settlements, and threatening the existence of those already founded. From their Washington County homes, close to the Monongahela River and Ohio River route, and astraddle the Cumberland-Washington-Wheeling land route, Bezaleel Wells and James Ross were in a strategic position to watch the settlement of Ohio develop. Fort Steuben, the first of the Ohio River forts built by the federal government (in 1786) to protect the surveyors of the Seven Ranges from the Indians, as well as to drive out the squatters,'1 was only fifteen miles, or a three hour horse-back ride, from Bezaleel Wells's home at Cross Creek. Arthur St. Clair, who was inaugurated first Governor of the Northwest Territory July 15, 1788, with Marietta as capital, was a close personal friend of Ross and Wells, and all three became staunch Fed- eralists. St. Clair belonged to the little group of powerful leaders of Scotch descent who had made of Bedford, Pennsylvania, a Scotch colony. St. Clair had lived there before moving to the Ligonier Valley, and Ross had married Ann Woods of Bedford. Ross and Wells were in position to keep informed of Colonel Josiah Harmar's move down the Ohio River from Fort McIntosh to Fort Har- mar on the Muskingum, in the summer of 1790, and then on to Fort Washington at Cincinnati, and finally against the Indians in western 8 Ibid., 64, 65. 9 For the Gallipolis settlement see Bond, Foundations, 301-05; Cutler, Manasseh Cutler, 498-519; Theodore T. Belote, The Scioto Speculation and the French Settle- ment at Gallipolis (Cincinnati, 1907) and John B. McMaster, History of the People of the United States (New York and London, 1920), II, 146-162. 10 Bond, Foundations, 305-308. 11 Ibid., 308.

(20) Ohio in a desultory campaign in the late fall of 1790, that failed completely of its objective of breaking the Indian power. 12 They probably followed even more closely the moves of their friend Governor St. Clair, as he raised a larger army the following year, only to meet, in the following November, with the greatest disaster that had yet befallen American arms.'1 Then, with an increasing sense of its critical importance to the whole western settlement, Wells and Ross must have followed with concern Mad Anthony's recruiting of an army at Pittsburgh in the spring, summer, and fall of 1792; his winter camp at Legionville, twenty-two miles down the river, where he drilled and prepared his men; then in April 1793, his establishment of his base camp at Hobson's Choice near Fort Washington. With their excellent connections and access to inside information, they must have been among the first to hear the reports and appraise the vital significance of Wayne's victory over the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers near Perrysburg in August 1794, and the signing of the Jay Treaty with Great Britain at about the same date, ending the menace of British intrigue in the Northwest. Wayne's negotiating of the treaty with 1,130 Indian chiefs and warriors during the winter of 1794-1795, culminating with the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, August 3, 1795, removed forever the menace of Indian war- fare in Ohio. A definite boundary was established, opening to peaceable white settlement all of the territory south and east of the Greenville Treaty line, which ran from Loramie's Store on the Miami, via Fort Re- covery, to the forks of the Tuscarawas and Big Sandy Rivers just above Fort Laurens, and then followed the course of the Tuscarawas to the Portage, and down the Cuyahoga to Lake Erie.14 The stage was set for a resumption of settlement on a greater scale and a swifter tempo than at any time in the past. To Ross and Wells the Seven Ranges, that part of Ohio lying closest to Washington County and Pittsburgh, naturally held the greatest appeal. But as a field for speculation or investment this part of Ohio was slow in developing. Though surveying work began here earlier than anywhere else in Ohio, it was not ready for legal settlement until after the Ohio Company lands, the Miami or Symmes Purchase, and the Virginia Mili- tary Tract had become substantially settled. Colonel Thomas Hutchins, Geographer of the United States, began his surveys in the Seven Ranges as early as 1785 or 1786,15 but owing to Indian hostilities they could not be completed beyond the township boundaries at that time. After the death of Hutchins in 1789 the duty of having the public lands surveyed devolved upon the colonial board of the treasury until

12 For Harmar's expedition see Bond, Foundations, 320-322; McMaster, I, 599- 603; Early History of Western Pennsylvania and the West (Pittsburgh, 1848), 257-263; Cutler, Manasseh Cutler, I, 518. 1 3 For St. Clair's expedition, see Bond, Foundations, 322-326; McMaster, II, 44-46; Early History of Western Pennsylvania, 271-276. 14 For Wayne's campaign and treaty see Bond, Foundations, 342-348; Sentinel of the Northwest Territory (Cincinnati), 1793-1795. 15Bond, Foundations, 248, states that Hutchins started a futile survey in the fall of 1785, but William E. Peters, Ohio Lands and their History (Athens, Ohio, 1930), 81, gives the date as 1786.

(21) after the passage of the Act of May 18, 1796.16 The method of numbering sections was also changed by the same act. The Seven Ranges, starting from the Pennsylvania line on the East, and running 42 miles west, and starting from the Geographer's line 17 on the north, and running south to the Ohio River, were, along with the Ohio Company lands and the Symmes lands between the Miami Rivers, the only surveys on the original numbering plan.18 Neither the 1785 nor the 1796 acts provided for the sale of tracts of less than a section; moreover, full payment, cash down, was required. The Act of May 10, 1800 provided for half sections; that of March 26, 1804, for quarter sections, with privilege of paying in four equal payments within five years. 19 Congress Lands was the term applied to all lands disposed of by the Federal Government under general acts of Congress, in small lots, to all who might apply. The Continental Congress, not having the power to execute any of its ordinances, had conveyed no titles.20 The first general act of the Federal Congress empowering officers to sell and convey "Congress Lands" was that of May 18, 1796. Previous to that time the only land sold was by special acts to large purchasers, such as the Ohio Company, and Judge Symmes, which acts provided for the sub sale to individual purchasers. The first land office in the West for the sale of "Congress Lands" in Ohio was opened at Pittsburgh in the fall of 1796. 21

16 Peters, Ohio Lands, 69. 17 The Geographer's line ran west from the point where the Ohio River intersected the Pennsylvania state line. 18 The difference between the two plans was as follows: 1785 Plan 1796 Plan 36 30 24 18 12 6 6 5 4 3 2 1 35 29 23 17 11 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 34 28 22 16 10 4 18 17 16 15 14 13 33 27 21 15 9 3 19 20 21 22 23 24 32 26 20 14 8 2 30 29 28 27 26 25 31 25 19 13 7 1 31 32 33 34 35 36 19 Statutes at Large, II, 280, 281; William T. Utter, The Frontier State 1803- 1825 (Columbus, Ohio, 1942), 129-131. This is Vol. II in the series Carl Wittke, ed., History of Ohio. 20 Peters, Ohio Lands, 93. 21 Peters, Ohio Lands, 95, cites the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Land offices as opening in 1796, but the map accompanying report to Congress entitled "Public Lands," No. 31, January 24, 1797, accounts for sales at Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia, beginning with 1796. This map is preserved in the Rare Map De- partment, Library of Congress, and is dated 1796. It distinguishes by different marks the respective sales in the three offices.

(22) CHAPTER III Founding of Steubenville 1796-1802 On October 24, 1796,1 acting promptly with the first opening of the Pittsburgh Federal Land Office, Bezaleel Wells and James Ross, as partners, walked in and consulted with Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the Northwest Territory, who had been instructed by the Secretary of the Treasury to attend the land sales at Pittsburgh. 2 Before they left that day they had purchased eight sections containing 3,538.5 acres, costing $7,077.00. Ross purchased, four fractional sections of township one of the first range, containing 1,143.5 acres, and Wells purchased four sections in township two of the first range, containing 2,395 acres. The township in which Ross bought became Wells township, and the township in which Wells bought became Steubenville township. These were the very first townships to have been surveyed in the Seven Ranges; they had been surveyed by Absalom Martin of New Jersey in 1786. The plot of the first township is displayed in the exhibit room of the Division of Surveys of the Land Office, Department of Interior, New Building, Washington, D. C. At the purchase price of $2.00 per acre, Bezaleel Wells paid $4,790 and James Ross $2,287, substantial sums for those days, especially on the cash down basis required by the Act of May 18, 1796. The Sections of township one, purchased by Ross, were numbered 28, 29, 34 and 35, and those purchased by Wells, in township two were 29, 30, 35 and 36. The purchases of the two partners ad- joined each other, the boundary line being the present North Street of Steubenville. The purchases of October 24 were later supplemented by additional lands also bought at public auction. Ross acquired sections 26, 31, and 32 in the first township of the fifth range; sections 21, 22, 27, and 28 in the first township of the sixth range; the northeast quarter of the sixth township of the second range, this tract alone having 5,120 acres; also section four of the fifth township of the second range. Additional

1 The dates, names of purchasers, and number of acres purchased are given on the Township plats of the land surveys of the Seven Ranges, preserved in remarkably clean and fresh condition in the basement of the Interior Building, Division of Surveys, Washington, D. C. The purchase amounts are shown on the Hutchins Map of 1796, showing status at end of the year, Rare Map Room, Library of Congress, already referred to. The writer has been unable to confirm the statement in Galbreath, II, 3, that "Wells was a Government surveyor, and was granted 1100 acres of land, west of the Ohio River, extending southward from what is now North Street,' Steubenville." Wells's name did not appear on any of the survey plats of the Seven Ranges, where he would most likely do government survey work that entitled him to an Ohio land grant. 2 Winthrop Sargent MSS., Secretary of the Treasury to Sargent, August 12, 1796. In the Library of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum, Columbus, Ohio. Also published Clarence E. Carter, ed., Territorial Papers of the United States, II, The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787-1803. 566.

(23) purchases by Bezaleel Wells included sections 34, 35, and 36 in the fourth township of the first range; sections 20 and 26 in the fourth township of the second range; section 3 in the seventh township of the second range; and section 15 in the second township of the third range. 8 The acreage of these additional acquisitions by Wells is not'stated; however, five were full sections, or approximately 3,200 acres. There had thus been bought from the government by Wells and Ross, before No- vember 20, 1799, eleven thousand eight hundred and fifty eight and one half acres, plus the acreage in twelve sections of fractional townships along the river, the acreage of which was not specified. If these fractional sections averaged half size, another 3,840 acres would have been added, making a total of approximately 15,700 acres, representing an investment of $31,400. The contract under which the partnership of James Ross and Bezaleel Wells operated was as remarkable as the extent of their transactions. The instrument, drawn up in the handwriting of James Ross, contained the following provisions: Whereas James Ross of Alleghany County and State of Pennsylvania did purchase at Public Sale, and obtain Patents in his own name from the United States the following lands (as already listed), and whereas Bezaleel Wells did purchase at the same public sales and obtain patents in his own name from the United States for (list as above enumerated), Now these Presents Testify and declare that the whole of the above mentioned lands held in the name of the said James Ross and Bezaleel Wells were originally purchased as a joint property at joint expense, and that each of the parties above mentioned their heirs and representatives have an equal joint interest in each and every of the said tracts of land and are to share equally all the monies arising from sales which have been or shall be made of the same or any part or portion of said lands and each of the parties has full power and authority to sell all or any part of the said property giving an account thereof to the other and it is hereby mutually agreed and provided that in case of the death of either of the parties, the survivor shall have full power and authority to carry into execution and complete effect all the agreements and sales made by either party before such deaths happen, and the conveyance of such survivor shall be good and valid against the heirs, executors and all representatives of the deceased. Witness our hands and Seals this 20th day of November, 1799. James Ross Bezl Wells

3 Contract between the United States and James Ross and Bezaleel Wells, No- vember 20, 1799 MSS., No. 2372, in the Library of the Western Reserve His- torical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.

(24) Selecting a "handsome situation" 4 on the river, Bezaleel Wells proceeded to survey5 and lay out on about 200 acres of his purchase the first legal settlement in the Seven Ranges; he named it Steubenville, after Fort Steuben, which had stood within the limits of his purchase, but which had been destroyed by fire in 1790.6 About half the area he divided into 236 lots, 60 by 130 feet in size, with intervening streets and alleys that have remained ever since. The other half, lying higher up the hillside, was divided into 20 outlots of five acres each, after the plan of previous settlements in Ohio, thus still preserving the plan of protection against the Indians despite the victories and treaty of Wayne. The boundaries of the original town are marked by North and South Streets of the present city, and from the Ohio River west to the alley between Fourth and Fifth Streets, beyond which were the outlots. The street names given by Bezaleel Wells have remained unchanged. As observed by the English traveler Fortesque Cuming in 1807, the first street, parallel to the River, called Water Street, "was on a narrow flat, sufficiently above the river floods; while the rest of the town is about 20 feet perpendicular above it, on an extensive plain, rising gradually with the gentle slope to the foot of the hills which surround it like an amphi- theatre about a mile distant."' The roads from up and down the river in the early days came in on Water Street and ascended to the second bench or High Street by a dugout road in the side of the bank between Market and Washington Streets. The only road into the back country, went out of town by the same route and ascended the valley of Wells's Run. Navigation on the river was primitive, being by raft, barge, keelboat, the Kentucky flat or family boat, the pirogue, ferry boat, gondola, skiff, bateau, and dugout canoe.8 The blocks were unusually long, being 600 feet in length, probably reflecting the influence of Bezaleel's home town of Washington, Pa. All the streets were 60 feet wide, except Market, which was 66 feet. The present main business section of Steubenville falls within the Bezaleel Wells tract. Before advertising the lots for sale, Wells and Ross, utilizing their friendship for Governor St. Clair, laid important political ground work. Probably the most powerful political asset in the Governor's hands was the designation of counties and the appointment of county officials. Thus far only two counties had been organized in Ohio: Washington, with Marietta as county seat, was organized in 1788, and Hamilton, with Cincinnati as county seat, was organized in 1790. Washington County,

4 Fortesque Cuming, Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country-(Pittsburgh, 1810) In Thwaites, ed., Early Western Travels, IV, 107. 5 The plat of Steubenville, recorded April 29, 1802, and appearing in Deed Record Book A of Jefferson County, shows that Wells did the surveying himself. The copy prepared for the writer omitted the statements of theoriginal. sBeverley W. Bond, Jr., The Foundations of O 'io'(Columus.; phio, 1941), 308, in Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio. 7 Cuming, Sketches of a Tour, 107. 8 James A. Caldwell, History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio (Wheel- ing, W. Va., 1880), and Leland D. Baldwin, The Keelboat Age on Western Waters (Pittsburgh, 1941), 41, 42.

(25) Copy of Plat, of Steubenville

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(26) as has been seen, included practically all of Ohio south and east of the Greenville Treaty line excepting only Hamilton County along the Miami River. On July 29, 1797, Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the North- west Territory, officiating for St. Clair, who was out of the territory, was at Steubenville in company with Bezaleel Wells. By this date, Sar- gent, who had been promoted by President Washington to the rank of Colonel, had become an influential and powerful member of the Terri- torial Government, often acting for the Governor when the latter was absent. While at Steubenville he erected and laid off a new county, naming it Jefferson, after the Vice-President. 9 The boundaries of this third county that was formed in the Territory, included the eastern quarter or fifth of Ohio, extending from Lake Erie south to the Ohio River, and from the Pennsylvania line, west to the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers, then southward along the west boundary of the fifth range to the fourth township, then east to the Ohio River. 10 Thus most of what had been Washington County became Jefferson County. In one stroke a stretch of country 30 to 50 miles wide, extending practically the whole length of the State from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, was created. It is curious that the Federalist partisans who inspired its creation, should have given the name of their most hated political enemy to this county which by 1803 was the only county in the state which the Federalist ticket carried. 11 Two days later Sargent appointed Bezaleel Wells Judge of Probate, Prothonotary to the Court of Common Pleas, and Clerk to the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace of Jefferson County; also David Vance as Justice of the Peace. In a proclamation of the same date Sargent announced these commissions and required that the General Sessions of the Peace should be held upon the second Tuesdays of No- vember, February, May, and August "yearly and every year." "And the Judge of Probate shall hold his Court upon the Mondays immediately preceeding the Sessions of the Courts of Common Pleas and of the Peace,-provided, however, that the First Sessions of all the before mentioned courts shall not commence until the November Term." 12 In the absence of Governor St. Clair, Sargent administered the prescribed oath to Bezaleel Wells and David Vance. 13 Bezaleel Wells was now prepared to advertise his lots; on the next

9 Winthrop Sargent MSS., in Ohio Archaeological and Historical Museum, Columbus; See also Clarence E. Carter, Ed., Territorial Papers of The United States (Washington 1934- ), III, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio 1787-1803, 476, 477. 10 Randolph C. Downes, "Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries," Ohio State Archaeological and HistoricalQuarterly, XXXVI (1927), 355. 1 1 William T. Utter, The Frontier State (Columbus, 1942), 27, being Vol. II in the series, Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio. 12Carter, ed., Territorial Papers, III, Northwest Territory, 477. 13 Ibid., In a letter to Governor St. Clair August 5, 1797, from Marietta, Sargent told of having erected Jefferson and Adams Counties.

(27) day, August 1, he sat down and wrote the announcement which appeared in the Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, August 5 and 12, 1797: A new County, called Jefferson, has been lately laid off by the Governor of the Western Territory, being taken off of Washington County, and the Seat of Justice is fixed at Fort Steuben, on the bank of the River Ohio, where a Town is now laid out by James Ross and Bezaleel Wells. The Lots and Out Lots of this Town will be sold on the Premises upon the 25th Instant. One half of the purchase money will be credited 30 days, the residue for six months. There is a Saw-mill close to the Town, and the lands of the neighboring settlements are not excelled in quality by any upon the Ohio. Those who purchase Lots in this Town will find the materials for building more readily than in most Towns of the Western Country, and the abundance of Pitt coal, will render fuel a very cheap article forever. Plan of the Town and outlots may be seen at the Washing- ton Printing Office, at Wells's Mills, with Mr. Brown at Charles- town [later Wellsburg] and with Mr. Douglas at Fort Steu- ben 14 August 1, 1797 Bezaleel Wells Bezaleel, if one may judge from the points where the plans were distributed, was evidently keeping in active touch with his mill interests at Cross Creek, as well as with his Charlestown (Wellsburg) interests, all within a 15 mile radius-a half day's horseback journey-of Steuben- ville. The well written business-like advertisement bore fruit. The Steuben- ville Sales Book listed 91 lots sold for $5,607 at the sale on August twenty-fifth, of which seven were marked forfeited. In-lots accounted for $4,373 of the sales and out-lots for $1,234. 15 The deed records of Jeffer- son County did not reflect the sales until February 13, 1798. During that year 36 lots were recorded, at a sales value of $1,438.23. The pace slackened during the next four years, 14 lots being sold in 1799 for $805, 15 in 1800 for $743.63, eight in 1801 for $273, and seven in 1802 for $446.50. In these first five years 80 lots were sold for a total value of $3,766.36.16 The difference between the recorded sales, and the Sales Book totals is probably accounted for by forfeitures.

14 Files of the Pittsburgh Gazette for these years, are preserved in the Carnegie Public Library, Pittsburgh. 15 The Steubenville Sales Book, in Bezaleel Wells's handwriting, MMS., presented by Miss Wells of Steubenville, in the Library of the Western Reserve His- torical Society, contains the above totals for the sales on August twenty-fifth. 16 The .deed records of these years, and through 1806 are all indexed and recorded in Deed Book A. Jefferson County.

(28) Larger than these sales were his transactions in wilderness lands in Jefferson County. The summary of these sales for the seven years, 1796- 1802, was as follows:

Year No. of tracts No. of acres Sales Price 1796 2 1,160 $4,980 1797 7 2,688 9,253 1798 14 2,400 9,842 1799 8 1,101 5,281 1800 10 1,788 6,216

Five years 41 9,137 $35,572 1801 10 1,609 5,492 1802 8 1,400 5,604 1803 2 560 1,720

Eight years 61 12,706 $48,388 The purchase price at two dollars an acre would have been $25,412, the gross profit $22,976. Most of these wilderness tracts were acquired by Bezaleel Wells in October 1796, and patented to him by President Washington. 17 The sales recorded in the county records during these same years were much smaller,-only 16 tracts containing 2,626 acres, which sold for $10,487.87. The deed records throw light on the origins of the early purchasers. First transfers of town lots were recorded February 13, 1798, on which date seven purchasers of twelve lots were entered; Henry McGarrah from Washington County, Pennsylvania; six from Brooke County, Vir- ginia; William Atkinson, Hans Wilson, George Atkinson, William Ingle, Samuel Meeks, and Archibald Allison. Of the 53 different purchasers of town lots through 1802, 22 were reported as already living in Jefferson County, 12 came from Washington County, Pa., 12 from Brooke County, Virginia, four from Alleghany County, Pa., two from Fayette County, Pa., and one from Cecil County, Maryland. Of twenty different purchasers of wilderness tracts during the same five-year period, fifteen were from Jefferson County, three from Washington County, Pa., one from Brooke County, Virginia, and a, party of four individuals from Philadelphia County, Pa., who purchased a tract of 3,150 acres.18 Of Bezaleel's first 77 purchasers of lots and tracts, 38 gave their residence as Jefferson County, Ohio, 25 came from Pennsylvania, 13 from Virginia and one from Maryland. All except twelve came from the same

17 This summary is based on a "List of Sales of Lots in Steubenville, Ohio, 1796-1803", kept by Bezaleel Wells, and donated by "Miss Wells of Steubenville" to the Historical Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society, where it is kept. It does not include seventeen transactions where the acreage or price is not given. The word lots was used instead of tracts, or parcels of land, farms being little or not at all developed. 18 A complete list of the names of first purchasers of the 236 lots and 20 out- lots, dates recorded, and prices paid, is given in appendix, I.

(29) or an adjoining county, if Washington County, separated only by the narrow Virginia Panhandle, be included. On May 31, 1797, even before the organization of Jefferson County, or the sale of town lots, Ross and Wells received permission, from Sec- retary Sargent, to establish two ferries across the Ohio River: one from Charlestown, Virginia, to a point on the opposite Ohio shore, and another from the landing at Old Fort Steuben to the shores of Virginia opposite.19 These ferries would make it easier for prospective purchasers of lots and settlers to come to the new town. They would help make Steubenville an attractive port of entry into Ohio for the rapidly increasing stream of immigrants. The ferry permit was amplified on August 13, 1800 with an agreement whereby James Ross, Bezaleel Wells, and Hugh Griffith, were to pay the Treasurer of Jefferson County $100 for the ferry privilege between Charlestown and Ohio, which arrangement, however, was to become null and void if they were required "to give passage to all public expresses and messengers without fee or reward." 20 A third ferry was established in 1797 by Richard Wells,'1irother-in-law and cousin of Bezaleel Wells, who operated it between a 217 acre tract in Brooke County, opposite Steubenville, to the latter settlement. The rapid growth of the new town made this ferry very profitable, and it remained in use until 1905 when it was replaced by a bridge.21 The original partnership arrangement between Ross and Wells remained unchanged until November 20, 1799, when an indenture was signed, which provided for the exchange of deeds and the payment by each to the other of $100, in consideration of which they "vested in each other the right to the undivided moiety or half part of such lands as have been granted to them respectively," of certain tracts of land. To Wells went 412 acres along the river in sections 29 and 35, upon which Wells was completing his new home. To Ross went 341 acres north of North Street, which later became the Ross addition to Steuben- ville. Each agreed that "neither of themselves or their heirs or assigns shall at any time thereafter erect a ferry on either of the above tracts of land without having first procured from the other party a grant for erecting a ferry." 22 The modified partnership continued until 1810 when Wells sold Ross for $14,000 the half share he owned in sections 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, and 36 of township 1, range 1, and section 4 of township 5, range 2,-totaling 2,658 acres. 23 But it was not until February 15, 1815, when the industrial development of Steubenville had greatly increased its real estate values, that James Ross laid out and opened up his part of the original purchase north of North Street. Ross had sufficient other

19 Carter, Ed., Territorial Papers of the United States, III, Northwest Territory, 470, May 31, 1797. 20 In Rice MSS., Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Library, Columbus. 21W. Elze Scott, An Historical Sketch of Richard Graybeard and His Pioneer Farm and Family (Steubenville, 1940). 22 The Indenture accompanies the Contract in the same MSS., 2372, in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland. The original contract and modifying Indenture, also appear in Jefferson County Deed Record A, 177, and 179. 28 Ibid., Deed Record C. 171.

(30) property and income to enable him to bide his time on his Steubenville investment. His canny sense of timing is shown by the fact that he placed his 48 lot addition on sale when Steubenville's industrial boom, was at its height, and just before the depression following the war of 1812 brought a 16 year lull in Steubenville real estate. The beginning of Steubenville's town life and business enterprises was attended by primitive conditions and hardships, and dangers lurk- ing from the surrounding forests, as was vividly illustrated by an incident that befell his cousin, Richard Wells (Graybeard), who was also his brother-in-law: About the year 1800 Richard Wells (a cousin of, Bezaleel Wells) and wife and John Ward and wife, were promenading on the levee (now Water Street) on a beautiful summer evening. Richard Wells (better known as Gray-Beard Wells) was toying with his rifle, which was his inseparable companion, when the party was surprised to hear the toot of an Indian. Looking across the river, they observed a lusty redskin on a large stone near the ferry, making offensive gestures to the ladies. Gray-Beard Wells loaded his weapon and shot the In- dian, who turned an involuntary somersault into the river never to rise again. 25 This Richard Wells, a native of Baltimore County, where he was born in 1742, settled in 1772 on a farm about seven miles from where Steu- benville is now, in Brooke County, West Virginia, within a mile of the Pennsylvania border. He was called Graybeard to distinguish him from two other Richard Wells', who settled claims only a few miles away. He built Wells's Fort, where early church services were held, as they also were at Vance's Fort near Cross Creek. Dr. John McMillan came out as a regular pastor, then established the academy at Canonsburg which later developed into Washington and Jefferson College. Wells's Fort was also the place where the first school opened in this region about 1777, under the instruction of Robert McCready. The same fort was a stopping point for Colonel William Crawford's troops in 1782, on their way west to Mingo Bottom (now Follansbee) to attack the Indians at Sandusky. This farm has been in the hands of Graybeard Wells's descendants ever since; Bert Wells, the present owner, a member of the firm of Ward, Wells, and Dreshman of New York City, represents the sixth generation. Descendants of the eighth generation are living on the farm,26 Indian dangers were still dreaded in the first days of the new settlement. In 1797 the Indian Chief White Eyes, son of a more famous Chief by the same name, was slain by the seventeen year old son of a pioneer named Carpenter, at his home near West Point, Columbiana County, at that time a part of Jefferson County. This nearly started an Indian war, though the act had been committed in self-defense, the chief having been 24 Ibid., E. 25 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 433. 26 The account of Richard Wells is contained in the pamphlet, An Historical Sketch of Richard Graybeard Wells and His Pioneer Farm and Family, referred to in f.n. 19.

(31) intoxicated and having attempted to tomahawk the son while in an in- furiated condition. The lad, chased around the house by the red man, suddenly darted into the house, grabbed a gun, shot, and fatally wounded the chief. The boy was arrested and taken to Steubenville for trial, and cleared of the charge of murder. Bezaleel Wells subscribed $100, secured similar gifts from two other men, and presented the $300 to Mrs. White Eyes. She was placated, and the danger of an Indian war, which would have been ruinous to the start of a settlement at Steubenville, was averted.27 Frontier hardships quickly brought tragedies to the doors of Bezaleel's new home in Charlestown. The newly married couple had two children who died young. Soon afterwards, probably during 1797, Rebecca herself passed away. 28 By February, 1798, Bezaleel went back to Maryland, and wooed and won his second wife, Sarah Griffith of Rockville, Maryland, who was thereafter referred to as his wife, Sally, as she signed herself on the deeds. She must have been a forceful character; she accompanied Bezaleel Wells on most of his trips and usually signed the deeds jointly with him. Resulting from this marriage were six sons and five daughters who came to play an important part in Steubenville's history. By Feb- ruary 13, 1798, her name appeared on a deed jointly with Bezaleel's, in deeding the land for the court house, giving her home as Brooke County. He evidently kept homes both at Cross Creek and Charlestown, before finally settling in Steubenville. The fact that, while the advertising of the lots for sale was run in August, 1797, no sales were recorded until February 13, 1798, suggests that the intervening time might have been chosen by Bezaleel to go back to Maryland to woo and win Sarah Grif- fith. In contrast with his frontier surroundings, Wells began, in 1798, the erection of a large manor house about a quarter of a mile below town, in the beautiful grove, then bounded by South and Third Streets, the Ohio River and Wells's Run. It was called "The Grove" Manor. The site of the house is now occupied by the office of the Wierton Steel Company Tin Plant Division. The house was two years in building; Wells moved into it in 1800. It was a stately mansion for the time and place, vying with Blennerhassett, begun the same year further down the river, for the honor of being the most conspicuous residence along the river. A third rival came in the "Adena" mansion of Thomas Worth- ington, at Chillicothe, not completed until 1805. It is noteworthy that these three mansions or castles of Ohio's early days were all built by young men; Bezaleel Wells having been 35, Herman Blennerhassett 33, and Thomas Worthington only 25 when they began building their homes. For a quarter of a century Bezaleel entertained with lavish hos-

SCaldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 431; also Harold B. Barth, History of Columbiana County (Indianapolis, 1926), 72. 28 Sources on Bezaleel Wells, MSS., in the Library of the Historical and Philo- sophical Society of Ohio, Cincinnati.

(32) pitality 29 in his manor home. Its charm was pictured in a poem letter written by a stranger to the Steubenville Herald, April 20, 1820, in part as follows: Near where Ohio's flowing waters glide, And Nature counts the sun's resplendent rays, The enchanting castle, well of man the pride, Arrests the passing stranger's wistful gaze. Here fancy and simplicity unite, And taste and culture happily combine, Delightful spot, where fruits and flowers invite, Where clusters tempt, and fruitful vines entwine. Steubenville quickly took on the features of a typical frontier settlement. The first industry was a tannery, erected by Benjamin Doyle, in 1798. The same year a small distillery was built by a former "insur- rector" from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. A grist-mill and a sawmill were each established by Wells on Wells's Run, south of town, in 1802. By some authorities Wells was credited with beginning the production of copperas about 1800 on Wells's Run, utilizing the sulphur water from the coal mines. 30 A second tannery was started in 1802 by Brice Viers on the site of the present coke ovens of the Steubenville Coal and Min- ing Company. Viers also built a residence at the head of Market Street. By 1800 Steubenville contained, besides the above mentioned busi- nesses, several stores and the older portion of the United States Hotel. Brick buildings began to supersede houses of logs and clapboards. The Steubenville Land District Office was established May 10, 1800, in a building which-reconditioned-still stands. David Hoge was registrar. The land-office quickened the pace of the town's growth, making Steubenville, with its busy ferries, the most important port of entry in southeastern Ohio for the vast migration into the new state. The Eng- lish traveler, Fortesque Cuming, who visited Steubenville in 1807, commented on the rapid growth of the town, and explained it on two ground: first, the presence of the land-office and, second, the town's "handsome situation."31 By January 1802 Steubenville was one of five Ohio towns considered as a site for the new capital for the territory, when its removal from Chillicothe was under consideration; the other towns were Cincinnati, Fairfield, Franklin, and Marietta. Cin- cinnati was the successful rival. 32 Although Steubenville's population was not listed separately as a village in the 1800 census, it was probably then the fourth settlement in size, being surpassed only by Cincinnati, Chillicothe, and Marietta.

29 For the three residences see Joseph B. Doyle, Twentieth Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio (Chicago, 1910), 329, 330; Joseph B. Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio (Steubenville, Ohio, 1914). 57; Wm. H. Safford, The Blennerhassett Papers (Cincinnati, 1864), 44-46; Che-Le-Co-The (Chillicothe, 1896), 43; Federal Writer's Project, Chillicothe and Ross County (Chillicothe, 1938), 11. 30 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 276 and Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 465. 31 Cuming, Sketches of a Tour, 107. 32 Bond, Foundations, 468.

(33) Jefferson County, with a population of 8,731 in 1880, had attained second place among the seven counties of the State, first place going to Hamilton County, with 14,693 population. Ross County, with 8,415 inhabitants, fell to third place. 33 Jefferson County, with its large area and advantageous location nearest to the source of migration from the eastern states, was the fastest growing part of Ohio. The more heavily settled region of the Pittsburgh area contributed to this growth; advertisements frequently appeared in the Pittsburgh Gazette setting forth the opportunities to settle and invest in the Ohio lands. 4 The rival agents of expansion, the settler, the squatter, and the land speculator, all played their part in the unrestricted frontier growth of 1795-1803. 35 The taxable property in Jefferson County in 1799 was reported by 925 heads of families and 181 single freemen. On the 47,709 acres of wood- land that had been purchased, 5,593 acres had been cleared; 1,159 horses, 2,086 cattle, 2 grist-mills, 4 saw-mills, 18 houses (as contrasted with log-cabins), and 13 ferries, were other items in the list of taxable property. 86 For two years and a half Bezaleel Wells faithfully performed his growing duties for the courts in a rude log-cabin where they first met Tuesday, November 2, 1797. 37 The public spirit which he had already displayed in the Chief White Eyes incident, was again displayed, when on August 15, 1798, he, and his wife "Sally" deeded to the justices of peace of Jefferson County, for $5, a piece of ground to be used for a court house, jail, and other county buildings. The lot, 130 by 180 feet, is the site on which Jefferson County's Court House now stands. The names of the justices were David Vance, Absalom Martin, Philip Cable, John Moody, George Humphries, Thomas Fawcett, and William Wells. The first courthouse was built in 1793; an upper room was reserved for religious purposes, free to all denominations. 39 Bezaleel also donated a site for a city hall. 40 An illustration of Wells's duties as Clerk of General Quarter Sessions is given in the following notice, served by him to the Sheriff of Jeffer- son County: We command you to take into your custody the Body of John Kermichael late of said County, Yeoman, if he may be

33U. S. Census Office, 2nd Census, Census Return for 1800, Summary (Wash- ington, 1802), 85. The population of the other counties was Washington, 5,459; Adams, 3,417; Wayne (Michigan), 3,067; and Trumbull (Western Reserve), 1,266. 3'Beverley W. Bond, Jr. Civilization of the Old Northwest (New York, 1934), 35 Randolph C. Downes, Frontier Ohio, 1788-1803 (Columbus, Ohio, 1935), 71. 36 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 425. 7 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 330 and W. H. Hunter, "Path- finders of Jefferson County," in Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI (1895), 217. 38 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 427. The entry in Deed Record A in the Recorder's office, Steubenville, p. 83, contains no amount in consideration. 39 Doyle, Church in Eastern Ohio, 20. 40 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, IV (1894), 210.

(34) found in your Bailwick [sic] and him safely keep so that you have his body before our Justices of our Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace at the next Session to be held at Steubenville within and for said County of Jefferson on the second Tuesday of February then and there to answer unto the United States on a bill of Indictment found against you for keeping a tipling [sic] house contrary to the Laws and Dig- nity of the United States and this Territory which shall then and there be made Appear with Damages and of this writ make due return witness David Vance Esquire first Justice of Peace Said Court at Steubenville the ninth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine. Bez.e Wells, Clk. G. Q. S. 41 The Jeffersonian sympathies of parts of the new county gave James Ross some concern, as he confided to Governor St. Clair in the following letter, written from Pittsburgh, July 5, 1798: In the new County of Jefferson in your Territory, there are complaints that they have no judges of the Court, or justices of the peace in the upper end of the county, where settlements are becoming very numerous and respectable. Mr. Thomas Fawcett lives at the upper end of the County, Mr. William Wells, formerly an under-sheriff of Washington County, Pennsylvania, about half way between Fawcett and the county-town, and Mr. John Ward, son-in-law of Colonel McLean, living in Steubenville, are all sensible, moral good men, who have purchased and settled regularly in the County. I am persuaded you will do a great public good, and afford such satisfaction by appointing all the three judges of the court of common pleas and justices of the peace. Two of our present judges seldom attend the court, and if a third should be such, no court could be held, as there are only five in the original commission of the pleas. Colonel Sargent being anxious to wait until .. a better choice might be made, it will be of some consequence that the commissions should be for- warded before the 7th of August to Mr. Bezaleel Wells, as there will then be a court in the County, and I will not con- ceal from you that I have some fears that the justices in the lower part of the County, attempt to remove the seat of justice. 42 Apparently the appointments of Winthrop Sargent had not been satisfactory, for Ross was working with Wells and Governor St. Clair to secure the appointment of Federalist sympathizers. Matters were not improved for the Governor and Ross when Sargent was promoted in 1798 to become first Governor of Mississippi Territory, and his place 41 Rice MSS., in the Library of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum, Columbus. 42 William H. Smith, ed., St. Clair Papers (Cincinnati, 1882), II, 424-426.

(35) filled by Charles Willing Byrd, a Virginian Jeffersonian and a bitter personal foe of Governor St. Clair. 43 Ross and Wells had to deal with the further political difficulty that the inhabitants of the southern part of the county, along the river, which was the most heavily popu- lated, came largely from the Virginia Panhandle, Maryland, and the southwestern counties of Pennsylvania, and were predominantly anti- Federalist. Many of them had been squatters. It reflects a high degree of political sagacity on the part of Ross and Wells, and probably a judicious attracting of the desired type of settlers, that by 1803 Jeffer- son County was the outstanding Federalist county of the state, as has been previously noted. 44 In view of his rapidly growing and varied business interests by 1800, Bezaleel Wells's resignation from his county offices January 20, of that year appears as a logical step. In his place Governor St. Clair appointed John Ward. 45 The thirty months during which Bezaleel Wells served the Jefferson County courts coincided with the strategic period when the county was extending orderly government over the pioneer settlers in the eastern part of the state from the Ohio River to Lake Erie. 46 The cultural qualities of the early settlers of Steubenville were exceptional for a pioneer community. The evidence of intelligent planning by Bezaleel Wells in his founding of Steubenville, the boldness and vision of his plans, as well as the successful execution of his projects, and his influential connections, helped him to draw to Steubenville the pick of the communities in the states neighboring to the eastward. 47 In these cultural aspects Steubenville did not differ greatly from Marietta, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, and the Western Reserve. Its closer proximity to the eastern states, however, helped it to make up for lost time when it was once established, and quickly to surpass all other settlements except Cincinnati and Chillicothe. Steubenville was a planned settlement, and the planned settlements of Ohio were noticeably higher in the cultural and civic qualities of their early settlers than the cross roads villages that just happened to grow up. Marietta, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, and Cleveland were all planned. They testify to the truth that the founder of a community leaves a permanent impress on its after-life. The character of a settlement in its beginning tends to stamp its character as it grows into a town and city. The high qualities of culture, character, and leadership that marked the personality of Bezaleel Wells and were displayed in his beautiful home, "The Grove," attracted to Steubenville others of like character and ability. The first preaching services in Steubenville and vicinity were con- a ducted by a cousin of Bezaleel Wells, a Reverend Joseph Doddridge, first missionary pastor to the Episcopalians of Ohio and western Vir- ginia; versatile and successful physician, writer, and tanner; and author of the extremely informative account of the settlement and Indian wars 48 Bond, Foundations, 448. 4 See f.n. 11. 45 Carter, ed., Territorial Papers, III, Northwest Territory, 529. 46 Bond, Foundations, 407. 47 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 331.

(36) of western Virginia and Pennsylvania for the period 1763 to 1783 inclusive. 48 About the time Alexander and Bezaleel moved to Charles- town, Joseph returned west from Philadelphia, where he had been ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, and settled in the same town. He organized the parishes of West Liberty, St. John's, and St. Paul's in Ohio and Brooke Counties, Virginia. " As soon as Steubenville was founded he began preaching in the village, as early as 1796, according to one account, 50 the services being held in a private house. The meetings were transferred to the upper room of the court house as soon as the latter building was erected in 1798.51 But no Steubenville parish was formally organized until Bishop Philander Chase came twenty years later. Just west of Steubenville, however, in Cross Creek township, on the road leading to Cadiz, Doddridge organized St. James Parish in 1800, at the home of a widow, Mrs. Mary Maguire, where the county infirmary now stands. 52 This same year he got his degree of doctor of medicine and his ordination as priest in Philadelphia. Although his Virginia parishes technically belonged to the Virginia diocese, communications with the eastern part of the state were so difficult, and affairs there so unsatisfactory, that he preferred to remain under the jurisdiction of Bishop White at Philadelphia. The first Presbyterian preaching in Steubenville was conducted in 1799. 53 The first Presbyterian Church was organized in 1801, and the first Presbyterian church building occupied in 1803, upon the site still occupied by the Third Presbyterian Church on Fourth Street, next to the Grant School. In Wells's time the spot now occupied by the school, was the grave-yard. A comparison of the founding of Steubenville with other Ohio cities and towns founded at the same period serves to impress one with the importance and success of Wells's town-founding abilities. The period 1796-1802 saw the beginning of many of Ohio's important cities and towns. The year 1796 in particular, was an active year for the beginning of new settlements, among them, Chillicothe, Cleveland, Conneaut, Dayton, Hamilton (1795), Painesville, and Youngstown. 6 4 Nathaniel Massie laid off the town site of Chillicothe in 287 in-lots, each 102 feet in front by 204 feet deep, and 169 out-lots of four acres each. The streets were exceptionally wide, two of them 102 feet, and the others either 66 feet or 821/2 feet. Just as he had done at Man- chester, the first town he founded, he offered 100 in-lots and out-lots

48 Joseph Doddridge, Notes on the Settlement and indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, From 1763 to 1783, inclusive, Together with a View of the State of Society, and Manners of the First Settlers of the Western Country, with a Memoir of the author by his Daughter (Albany, N. Y., 1876), 5, 6, 138. Joseph's Mother, Mary Wells, was a sister of Bezaleel's father, Alexander. 49 Ibid., 12-15. 50 George F. Smythe, A History of the Diocese of Ohio Until the Year 1918 (Cleveland, 1931), 17. 51 Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio, 20. 52 Ibid., 14. 5 3 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 502. 84 Bond, Poundations, 321, map.

(37) as donation lots, free to the first settlers. He also offered outlying tracts of 100 to 200 acres, including fine bottom land, at the low prices of $1.00 to $2.00 per acre, with easy terms of payment. By the winter of 1796 Chillicothe-named after the Shawnee word for council place, or town-had several stores, taverns and shops for mechanics. 5' By another year it was a booming village with a population estimated as high as 1,000. 5 The difficulties in the founding of Cleveland were much greater. Cleaveland, so spelled until 1832 or 1833 in honor of its founder, Moses Cleaveland, was located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River because of the excellent protection against land attacks afforded by the high steep bluffs that overhung the river. Three cabins were first put up as a nucleus of the permanent settlement. Cleaveland and his party surveyed a section a mile square at the mouth of the Cuyahoga, the greater part being on the east bank, and divided it into 220 city lots with two principal streets, Superior and Ontario, crossing at right angles in the public square. The men became greatly discouraged by lack of rum and provisions, by the hard work in the swamps and woods, the intense heat, the swarms of mosquitoes, the tearing of their clothes by the thickets, and the wearing out of their shoes with no cobblers to repair them. To retain their services, Cleaveland, who himself was a director having a $32,600 stake in the Connecticut Land Company, signed an agreement September 30, 1796 with 41 of the men, that those who remained in the service of the company until the end of the year, should have an equal share in a township (five miles square in the Western Reserve), immediately east of Cleaveland, which was named Euclid after the famous mathematician. But even this bait failed to hold the surveyors, when provisions became dangerously low, and on September 21 the men left for Conneaut. Securing supplies at Conneaut they returned to Cleaveland and worked at their surveying until October 18, when they left for their homes in the East. Through the winter of 1796-97 there remained at Cleaveland only Job Stiles, and his wife, Tabitha, and Jo- seph Landon and Edward Paine, founder the next year of Painesville, who spent much of the winter with the Stiles's. Not discouraged, the company voted that one-half of the lots still left in the town of Cleave- land, should be disposed of to actual settlers. Another surveying party, numbering altogether 63 men, set out in the spring of 1797, better equipped and provisioned, to complete the surveys. But when the party returned east in October, there was still little actual settlement at Cleave- land. Prices of lots had to be reduced still further before they attracted buyers, even in small numbers. 57 In 1800, four years after its founding, Cleaveland had only seven souls. 58 Conneaut had been founded a few weeks earlier than Cleaveland by the same surveying party led by Moses Cleaveland. By a coincidence the

s5Ibid., 351-352. 56 Rev. James Smith, "Tours into Kentucky and the Northwest Territory, Three Journeys" (written October 19, 1797), Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XVI (July 1907), 348-420. 7 Bond, Foundations, 364-68. 58 Alfred Mathews, Ohio and Her Western Reserve (New York, 1902), 206.

(38 ) land party reached the bounds of "New Connecticut" on July 4, 1796. Worn out by the long journey and its hardships they held a twofold celebration of "Independence Day" and of the founding of the Western Reserve. The next day they started a large log cabin which they called "Castle Stow" in honor of their commissary, Joshua Stow. That winter Elijah and his wife, Anna, lived at the "Castle"; also James Kingsbury, and his family, who had settled there soon after Cleaveland's party arrived. The town of Hamilton sprang up much as the original squatter settlement at Steubenville did from the protection of a fort, but differently in view of the fact that settlers could buy legal titles from Judge Symmes, while the settlers at Steubenville, before 1796, were unable to buy legal titles. Fort Hamilton had been built by St. Clair's troops in 1791. In 1794 Israel Ludlow surveyed the land around the fort, bought it himself in 1795, and laid out the town of Hamilton. After Wayne ordered the fort dismantled, a number of the discharged soldiers remained as permanent settlers; other inhabitants moved in, a general store was opened in 1796, and a ferry established across the Miami. In a short time Hamilton was the prosperous trading center of a rich agricultural region. 59 The site of Dayton, lying further up the Miami Valley at the junction of the Mad River, was in territory claimed by Judge Symmes, but beyond the lands patented to him by the .Federal Government. The strategic importance of the site had been recognized by Clark's Revolutionary expedition, and a settlement planned in 1789, to be called Venice, and the river to be called the Tiber. But Indian wars prevented the start of the settlement. The idea was not forgotten, however, and seventeen days after the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, three prominent and influential men, Governor Arthur St. Clair, Jonathan Dayton, and Israel Ludlow, agreed to purchase from Symmes, the seventh and eighth ranges of townships between Mad River and the Little Miami. In Sep- tember 1795 they sent out a surveying party to mark out a wagon road through the brush from Hamilton to Mad River. Here Israel Ludlow laid out a town which he named Dayton in honor of Jonathan Dayton. At a lottery of donation lots held November 1, the prospective settlers received each an in-lot and an out-lot, with the privilege of purchasing an additional quarter section at approximately $1.13 an acre. The early settlers of Dayton had plenty of hardships and disappointments. Of 46 men who had promised to move with their families from Cincinnati, only 19 appeared. Leaving Cincinnati in March, some travelled by the rough road that was still under construction, and some by pirogue, either way requiring ten days. Though there was abundant corn from their first crop, transportation from Cincinnati was slow and difficult, flour cost $9 per barrel, Indians stole their possessions, and especially their horses; to cap it all, they found that their land titles were worthless, Symmes having no legal claim to their lands, which lay beyond his patent of 1794. Thus the inhabitants had to choose between giving up

59 Bond, Foundations, 353.

(39) their lands altogether, or paying the government $2 an acre. Finally a leading citizen, Daniel C. Cooper, purchased preemption rights, and thus secured assured titles in 1801. From that time on Dayton became an increasingly important center of population. 60 Youngstown was founded by John Young, and by 1799 courts were being held there. Surveyor Turhand Kirtland travelled the road between Cleaveland and these towns in 1799. He found the road beyond War- ren so bad that he had to leave his wagon there in May and proceed by horseback, putting up at Steven's tavern in Youngstown. In September 1799 Kirtland found Judge Meigs and Gillam staying at Fowler's tavern on their way to hold the Court of Oyer and Terminer and Good De- livery at Youngstown. In 1800 the Youngstown region was considerably increased by numbers of dissatisfied settlers from the military lands in Western Pennsylvania. Scotch-Irish Presbyterians predominated in this new migration, so that this part of the Western Reserve lost the New England, Congregational pattern and atmosphere that prevailed elsewhere in the Reserve. 61 Athens and Franklinton, both founded in 1797, deserve mention in these comparisons, because of their future importance. Athens was laid out on the interior lands of the Ohio Company, in the center of the two college townships. This was in line with the report of Rufus Putnam and the other trustees who had been appointed for the organization of a state university, and looked forward to that end. Franklinton was founded by another Virginian surveyor, Lucas Sullivant. Proceeding up the Scioto River boundary of the Virginia Military Tract in 1795, he established headquarters on a site favored by the Indians for their temporary villages, at the junction with the Whetstone, later known as the Olentangy. Like Massie he was acting as agent for several owners of Virginia military warrants, of which he had also picked up a number on his own account. He laid out his new town on the west bank of the Scioto, naming it after Benjamin Franklin. He divided the town in the usual fashion into in-lots and out-lots, offering donation lots free to the first settlers. It was not until the fall of 1797 that the first family is known to have settled there. In the following spring a number of new settlers arrived, mostly from Kentucky, with a few from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. A small store was opened in 1798, and Frank- linton became an important center for settlers going into the northern part of the Virginia Military Tract. The wisdom of its site was shown a few years later when the capital of Ohio was permanently established on the plateau across the river, around which grew up the town of Columbus, which was eventually to absorb Franklinton. With this comparison of some thirteen other Ohio towns that were founded as early or earlier than Steubenville, the plats or plans of about eight of the towns are sufficiently detailed to permit some observations. Chillicothe was conceived on the largest, broadest, most generous scale, with the largest lots, the widest streets, the largest number of in-lots, the

60 Ibid., 354, 355. 61 Ibid., 371; Downes, Frontier Ohio, 82; Turhand Kirtland, Diary, 1798-1800, 21.

(40) largest number of out-lots, and the greatest inducements to settlers in the way of donation in-lots and low-priced surrounding farming lands. The Marietta plan was probably the next most ambitious; it was well arranged, with the largest number of public squares, the largest out- lots, and most unusual plan of 100 acre donation tracts with specified conditions that had to be fulfilled in five years. Cleaveland had a larger area than Steubenville, for fewer lots, and only two main streets crossing at right angles. Cincinnati's three settlements were conspicious for their absence of planning. Steubenville was as carefully and intelligently planned, but on a much more compact plan than Chillicothe, Marietta, or Cleaveland. On a bare 200 acres, it offered more lots than Cleaveland with its section; probably as many as Marietta, with its 5,760 acres; and nearly as many as Chillicothe, with its much larger area. Of all fourteen towns, Steubenville was the only one not in a big reservation. Steuben- ville was the first town erected on a direct private purchase from the government by a single individual or partnership. There was no public land to spare for frills or fancy purposes; no public squares, no donation lots, no blocks donated for churches, schools, or grave-yards on the original plan. Everything was strictly utilitarian and commercial. The streets were the narrowest, the lots the smallest, the blocks the longest, the street and alley space the smallest per lot of any of the plans available for comparison, either by map or description. Yet it seemed admir- ably adapted for the needs of the day. Its rate of growth was more rapid during the six years 1796 to 1802, than any other of the fourteen towns except Chillicothe. Steubenville's founding marked the passing of an era in the settlement of Ohio, the passing of the big land colonies and companies to more modest operations; from state-or Congress-sponsored speculations to private speculations or investments without government aid; from the British system of settlement on the colonial plan, whereby the frontier settler dealt with the colonial or company agent, to the American plan, whereby the pioneer settler or town proprietor bought directly from the government. In Bezaleel Wells is seen the dawn of the small private land purchaser who bought direct from the government. Steubenville also marked the passing of the big land-speculator, often an absentee owner, to the surveyor type of settler and town-founder and town-builder. Indian wars and financial panics had nearly or quite ruin- ed the big speculators. Bezaleel Wells was one of a growing group of capable and ambitious young surveyors who were rising to influence and leadership in the business, financial and political life of Ohio's towns, and increasingly in the affairs of the State. Marietta had its Rufus Put- nam; Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton their Israel Ludlow; Manchester and Chillicothe their Nathaniel Massie, and Duncan MacArthur; the Western Reserve its Moses Cleaveland, Augustus Porter, Seth Pease, Tur- hand Kirtland, Nathaniel Doan, and others; Franklinton its Lucas Sulli- vant; the Seven Ranges their Absalom Martin, Ebenezer Buckingham, Ebenezer Sproat, Emanuel Carpenter, James Simpson, and others.62 Out- 62 Names of the surveyors of Seven Ranges have been taken from the township survey plats, in the Division of Surveys, Department of Interior, but is not complete.

(41) side of the legal profession, the surveyors had become probably the most important and influential occupational group in frontier Ohio. They were as a rule above the average in education, ability, character, initiative, and resourcefulness. Their earnings were exceptional for those days. Their work took them over the country where they, better than anyone else, had opportunity to size up the land and judge of its future opportunities. They became the new builders of towns and villages, often laying them out. They became the new land speculators on a more modest but sound; er scale, often buying up substantial tracts of land surrounding their towns, and offering town lots on attractive bargain terms. In this group Bezaleel Wells, though little remembered today, had, by 1802, attained a position of high distinction.63

63 For the part played in frontier Ohio by the land speculators and the surveyors see Bond, The Old Northwest, 51, and Downes, Frontier Ohio, 79.

(42) CHAPTER IV Ohio Constitutional Convention and State Legislature, 1802-1804 The freedom from political office which Bezaleel Wells enjoyed after resigning the Jefferson county posts in January 1800 proved temporary. His county experiences became a stepping stone to the larger scene of state politics. Just as his partner, James Ross, had been elected to the Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention in 1790, so, in 1802, Beza- leel Wells was elected a member of the Ohio State Constitutional Con- vention. And, as Ross was one of two leading Federalists elected from Western Pennsylvania, Wells was one of two Federalist delegates out of the five elected from Jefferson County, the other Federalist being Nathan Updegraff.1 Though playing a less brilliant part in the Ohio Convention than his eloquent attorney friend had played in the Pennsyl- vania convention, Wells was an influential member of the convention, and highly respected by both parties. 1 Judge Ephraim Cutler, son of Manasseh Cutler, who was a member of the convention, left the following appraisal of the personality and work of Bezaleel Wells: No member of the Convention was more generally respected than Mr. Bezaleel Wells. He was a truly noble man, well informed, collected and dignified in appearance. Altho he was born in a slave state and many of his family connections were slave owners, his vote and influence always went against slavery. There are few men who, in the heat of debate, may not say some things they shall wish unsaid, but it was not so with him; his mind was so well balanced that he was at all times clear, calm and candid in his statements. 2 For intelligent participation in the Constitutional Convention, Bezaleel Wells had been well prepared both by his Ohio contacts and by his association with James Ross. During the session of the Territorial Assembly, which began September 24, 1799, after the Northwest Territory had 5,000 male inhabitants of voting age, Steubenville became one of the five towns at which the circuit courts were held by the judges of the general court, the others having been at Marietta, Cincinnati, Chillicothe, and Detroit. 3 Although Wells resigned from his county offices very shortly afterwards, it would be natural for such a landowner, surveyor, and mill owner, to keep in contact with these territorial representatives of the law as they appeared from time to time on the local scene. Bezaleel, however, was less active in the Ohio politics of this period than his

1 William T. Utter, The Frontier State, 1803-1825 (Columbus, Ohio, 1942), 9. This is Vol. II in series of Carl Wittke, ed., History of Ohio. 2 Charles B. Galbreath, History of Ohio (Chicago and New York, 1925), II, 32. SBeverley W. Bond, Jr. The Foundations of Ohio (Columbus, Ohio, 1941), 459, 460. This is Vol. I in the series of Carl Wittke, ed., History of Ohio.

(43) Pennsylvania partner. After James Ross entered the United State Senate in 1794, he and Governor St. Clair worked hand in hand to enhance Federalist control in Ohio. By Governor St. Clair, who was autocratic by nature, the Jeffersonians, who preached democratic doctrines, were mistrusted and opposed. He resisted their efforts to create additional counties. He feared that new counties would increase the number of Anti-Federalist judges, and so weaken Federalist control. He argued that the power to create counties belonged to the executive instead of to the legislature. 4 Of all the districts in the territory, the region around Chillicothe he was most loathe to see become a county, for there was the stronghold of the Republicans. Its population of Virginians and Kentuckians was overwhelmingly Jeffer- sonian and Democratic. The Chillicothians, however, were determined to form a new county and to name it Massie after their surveyor-leader. When, finally, they could no longer be denied a county organization, Governor St. Clair took revenge as he created it, by naming it Ross County, in honor of his Federalist friend, James Ross. A pet scheme of Governor St. Clair was to divide the territory into three parts. Marietta would be the capital of the Eastern section between the Scioto River and Pennsylvania; Cincinnati of the middle territory centering in the Miami Valleys; and Vincennes of the western territory.5 By such division of the territory into smaller districts, he would postpone the day that the population of each part would attain the required 60,000 that would qualify it for statehood. Ross, from his vantage seat in the Senate, reported objections to the expense involved in St. Clair's plan. A year later, as chairman of a Senate committee which had been appointed to "reform" the general court of the Northwest Territory, Ross proposed a substitute plan which would increase the number of territorial judges from three to six. Besides being less expensive than the division of territory," it would increase the political power of the Federalists by increasing the number of judges subject to their appointment. The bill passed the Senate, but in the House it was side-tracked by William Henry Harrison, who had been elected representative of the Northwest Territory in Congress. In sympathy with the Jeffersonian-Republicans Harrison headed a move to divide the territory into two parts with the object of immediate statehood. The bill supporting this move was approved May 7, 1800. The boundary line was to run from opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River to Ft. Recovery, then due north, but with the provision that when statehood came, the line was to run north from the mouth of the Miami.7 The territory west of the new boundary line became Indiana Territory and that east of the line remained the Northwest Territory. This triumph of Harrison over Ross and St. Clair coincided with the national rise of the Republicans who elected Thomas Jefferson to the presidency in the fall of 1800. James Ross retained his seat in the Senate, 4Ibid., 458. " Randolph C. Downes, Frontier Ohio, 1788-1803 (Columbus, Ohio, 1935), 164-172, 178. 6 Bond, Foundations, 450. 7 Ibid., 451-454.

(44) but the day of Federalist power was waning. Governor St. Clair's struggle against the Chillicothe Republicans, and their fight for statehood, was a losing battle. The Enabling Act, which outlined the conditions under which Ohio might become a state, was passed by Congress April 30, 1802. 8 James Ross ceased to be active in Ohio politics, but where he stepped out, Bezaleel Wells stepped in, thus keeping the partnership con- tinually functioning in Ohio politics from 1796 until Wells withdrew from office in 1804, at the end of the second General Assembly. In the light of these political forces the elections of October 1802 that selected the thirty-five delegates to the Ohio State Constitutional Convention had been bitterly fought. The successful delegates were overwhelmingly Jeffersonian-Republicans and in favor of statehood. Aside from Wells and Updegraff from Jefferson County, the only Federalists were the four delegates from Washington County, and two of the ten from Hamilton County. The two members sent from Trumbull County (the only county in the Western Reserve at that time), David Abbott and Samuel Huntington, were both favorable to statehood. 9 Huntington was Republican, despite his New England environment, but his antipathy to the Worthington-Tiffin group gave him a common political bond with Bezaleel Wells, which is revealed in their later correspondence. 10 Over half of the thirty-five delegates were under forty years of age. Probably all of them were "land speculators." The professions were well represented with lawyers predominating. Michael Baldwin of Chilli- cothe, Samuel Huntington of Cleaveland, and Charles Willing Byrd of Cincinnati were probably the leading members of this group, though at least four others had legal training. John Smith, John W. Browne, and Philip Gatch were clergymen and Edward Tiffin was an ordained Metho- dist deacon who had continued preaching almost every Sunday, even after having been elected speaker of the Territorial General Assembly. Tiffin was also a licensed practitioner of medicine. William Goforth of Cin- cinnati was probably the leading physician of Ohio. Benjamin Ives Gil- man of Marietta was a merchant and shipbuilder. Nathan Updegraff was a mill owner and farmer, and a leading Quaker in the Mt. Pleasant annual meeting. Emanuel Carpenter of Fairfield had been one of the two surveyors, in 1799, of what later became Stark County. Nathaniel Massie and Bezaleel Wells were also surveyors. The town builders were there, including General Rufus Putnam, Marietta's leading citizen, and at sixty- four, the oldest of the delegates. Ephraim Cutler, son of the Reverend Manasseh Cutler, was another delegate from Marietta. John Mclntire, son-in-law of Ebenezer Zane, and the heart and soul of Zanesville, rep-

8The enabling act is summarized in Utter, Frontier State, 4-7, and quoted in full in Colonel William Edward Gilmore, Life of Edward Tiffin, First Governor of Ohio (Chillicothe, 1897), 55-61. On account of the adequate and up-to-date way in which it has been treated by Utter, the writer did not resort to the original, which is to be found in Annals of Congress, 7 Cong., 1 Sess., April 28, 1802, 296, April 29, 1802, 1252, and United States Statutes at Large, II, 173. 9 Utter, Frontier State, 9. 10 Letter from Bezaleel Wells to Colonel Samuel Huntington July 20, 1808, in Rice MSS., in the Library of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Musueum, Columbus.

(45) resented that town among the Washington County delegates. Thomas Worthington, who completed the group of four delegates from Chilli- cothe, was a commanding leader in state political life, as well as very influential in national circles at Washington. John W. Browne became the founder of the Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Mercury in 1804. Francis Dunlavy, founder of a classical school at Cincinnati, was Ohio's most profound scholar. Thomas Scott, who was elected secretary, became a Judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, as did Samuel Huntington. Hunting- ton also became the state leader of the Republican Party. Michael Bald- win became the speaker of the first General Assembly of Ohio, and Na- thaniel Massie first President of the State Senate. John Smith became the first United States Senator from Ohio. The convention contained five of Ohio's future governors: Edward Tiffin, the first governor; Thomas Kirker, who completed Tiffin's second term when the latter became United States Senator; Samuel Huntington, who became the third gover- nor; Thomas Worthington, the sixth; and Jeremiah Morrow, the ninth.11 Speaking of the talents of the thirty-five members of the convention, Judge Jacob Burnet, Cincinnati's leading attorney at the time of the convention, who was given to conservative statement, observed that "with but few exceptions, [they were] the most intelligent men of their counties." 12 Another appraisal in a standard state history commends the character and ability of the members: No deliberative assembly in the history of Ohio approached and performed its work with a greater realization of its re- sponsibility. The ability and character of its membership were of the first order. From its ranks came men who rose to distinction in after life as Governors, Judges of the Supreme Court, Representatives in Congress and United States Senators. Partisanship did not figure much. Conflict developed in ideas rather than partisanship. It was an ideal deliberative body, composed of a few men of a high order of intelligence and endowed with a capacity for orderly work. 1' Such was the significant group of Ohio's leaders with whom Bezaleel Wells worked during the month of November, 1802. Of historic importance were the deliberations and decisions which determined that Ohio should become a state, formulated the contents of the constitution, and dealt with the conditions laid down by Congress. The convention opened promptly Monday noon, November 2, in accordance with the date set by the Enabling Act. But Bezaleel Wells was not among the twenty-one delegates present on that first day.14 It was on the following day that 11 Facts regarding the thirty-five members are largely summarized from Utter, Frontier State, 6-10, and from the indexed references. 12 Utter, Frontier State, 10, quoting Jacob Burnet, Notes on the Early Settlement of the Northwestern Territory (New York, 1847), 351. 13 Emilius O. Randall and Daniel J. Ryan, History of Ohio, (New York, 1912), III, 111. 14 Journal of the Convention, p. 3, photo offset copy of which is on file in the Stark County and Law Library Association, Court House, Canton, Ohio. Reprinted in 1933 by Photo offset Lithography by the Bobbs Merrill Company, Indianapolis. The original is in the Ohio Secretary of State's office. See Utter, Foundations, 13, f.n.

(46) he finished the long horseback ride in company with his Federalist friend from Jefferson County, Nathan Updegraff; and also with the Washing- ton County Federalists whom they doubtless picked up on the way; Rufus Putnam, Ephraim Cutler, Benjamin Ives Gilman, and John Mc- Intire. 15 The three Jefferson County Republicans, Rudolph Bair, John Milligan, and George Humphrey, had arrived the preceding day. The sessions of the convention were held in the new stone building erected by Ross County for the accommodation of the territorial legislature,-reputed to be the first public stone building in the state.' 6 The ground floor, which was a court-room occupied by the house when in session, was uncomfortable, badly lighted, and roughly finished, with a large fireplace at each end and a wide open stairway out of one corner leading to the second floor. Even with both fireplaces going, this room could not be heated in winter. On the second floor was the grand-jury room which the senate occupied, "a low room with a platform for the speaker's seat at one side, long roughly made tables on the floor, with plain Windsor chairs ranged behind them." 17 As one reads the brief journal of the convention, covering only 44 small pages, one is impressed with the prompt, orderly, and efficient manner in which the convention got down to business and despatched its job. On the first day a committee of five was appointed on privileges and elections, and a committee of three to prepare and report rules for the regulation and government of the Convention. Worthington of Chilli- cothe and Milligan of Jefferson County, both Republicans, were appointed on both committees. As soon as the eleven latecomers arrived on Tuesday, bringing the total up to 32, out of the elected 35, the convention officers were elected. Edward Tiffin was elected President, Judge Thomas Scott, of Chillicothe, Secretary, and William McFarland, Assist- ant Secretary. On the third day occured an exciting episode, when the motion was introduced "that Arthur St. Clair, senior, Esquire, be permitted to address the convention on those points which he deems of importance." 18 Such was the Republican feeling against the Governor that even this act of common courtesy and respect was only carried by the vote of 19 yeas to 14 nays (John Kitchel arrived that morning to bring the attendance to 33). Wells voted in the affirmative, as did all the other Federalists, and some of the Republicans. It must have distressed Wells to hear the Governor introduced insultingly, simply as Arthur St. Clair, without any title. It must have distressed him equally to hear the Gov- ernor adopt a tone and line that were to prove his undoing. The Gov-

15 Ibid., 4. 16 Samuel H. Stille, Ohio Builds a Nation (Chicago, New York, 1939-41), 68. 17 Utter, Frontier State, 10, with quotation from Samuel Williams, "Edward Tiffin," a chapter in James B. Finley, Sketches of Western Methodism: Biograph- ical, Historical and Miscellaneous. Illustrative of Pioneer Life (Cincinnati, 1855), 273. 18 Journal of the Convention, 8.

(47) ernor attacked the Enabling Act, and towards the end of his speech came to this provocative climax: By this very act, above 5,000 people are divested of the rights they were in possession of, without a hearing-bartered away like sheep in a market-transferred to another government, and thrown back into a stage of it which has been loaded with every epithet of opprobrium which the English language affords. 19 This speech, which led to President Jefferson's removing St. Clair from his post as Governor before the month was out, produced a still more immediate reaction among the convention delegates. A resolution was at once introduced, received, read the first and second times, and carried by a vote of 33 to 1: "that it is the opinion of this convention that it is expedient at this time to form a constitution and state government." 20 Ephraim Cutler was the only delegate to vote against the resolution. The day's business did not end until a committee was appointed consisting of one member from each county to prepare and report a preamble and first article of the constitution. Milligan, the Jeffersonian, was appointed from Jefferson County, but Wells was added with five others from the four larger counties, making a total of fifteen members for the nine counties. The same committee was later instructed to prepare and report the second article on the supreme executive authority, and the third on the judiciary.21 In the heat of the reaction to Governor St. Clair's address a resolution had been passed authorizing the President "to inclose to his excellency the governor and those members of the territorial legislature who are not in the convention, their opinion on the impropriety of holding another session of the territorial legislature." Governor St. Clair had called the legislature to assemble at Cincinnati November 29. On Friday, No- vember 5, the convention passed a motion by a vote of 25 to 8, ex- punging from the journal the above resolution "and all the proceedings thereto." Wells voted affirmatively. When the Chillicotheans, on Wednesday the tenth, moved to appoint as printer of the convention Nathanial Willis of Chillicothe, editor and proprietor of the Scioto Gazette, the vote, practically on party lines, carried by 27 to 5. Wells was one of the five Federalists to vote in the negative. 22 David Abbot of Trumbull County arrived November 11 bringing the number of delegates present up to 34. 23 From Saturday the thirteenth the tempo of the convention speeded up as the time came to receive the reports of the committees, with the numerous amendments and discus- sions involved. The convention meetings from this time on were called

19 Arthur St. Clair, Papers, ed. by W. H. Smith (Cincinnati, 1896) II, 591 ff. Quoted by Randall and Ryan, History of Ohio, III, 120-122. 20 Journal of the Convention, 9. 21 Ibid., 12 and 13. 22 Ibid., 13. 23 Ibid., 16.

(48) at ten o'clock, or as early as nine, instead of noon. With committee meetings running well on into the night, these were long busy days for that leisurely age, and for the pay of two dollars per day, plus travelling expense of $2 per twenty-five miles to and from the convention "by the most usual road from his place of residence to the seat of government." 24 This combination of capacity for hard work and minimum expense enabled the State of Ohio to secure an excellent month's work from thirty-five of its outstanding citizens for only $4,556.75. 2 On this same Saturday, the question of how the constitution should be submitted to the people came up for action. By a vote of 27 to 7 the convention rejected the proposal that "meetings of the people for that purpose shall be holden in the several election districts in each county ... at which meetings the opinion of the people shall be taken by ballot." Wells was one of seven to vote in the negative, the vote being strictly on party lines.26 In thus deciding not to submit the constitution to the people, the convention acted within its rights and powers as granted by Congress.27 It also automatically cancelled the meeting of the Territorial Legislature, which had been called by Governor St. Clair to meet November 29, and for which the Republicans had no relish.2 8 On Tuesday the sixteenth Wells presided. This same day he was chosen by ballot to represent Jefferson County on a committee of one from each county to review the propositions made by Congress for the acceptance or rejection of the Convention, and to report its opinion to the convention. On Thursday the eighteenth Wells voted with the majority, 23 to 10, not to change the requirement that members of the House of Repre- sentatives of the General Assembly should have attained the age of twenty-five.29 He also voted with the majority, 18 to 15, not to change the biennial election of state senators to an annual election. Likewise he voted with the majority, 25 to 8, not to amend the provision that the number of senators should never be less than one third, nor more than one half, of the representatives. Again he voted with the majority, 24 to 10, not to amend the provision that "bills may originate in either house, but may be altered, amended or rejected by the other." 30 Friday the nineteenth was wholly given over to the pay of the officers and members of the General Assembly. The proposed pay for officers until 1808 was to be not over $1,000 for the governor, and each judge of the supreme court; $800 for the presidents of the courts of common pleas; the secretary, $500; and the treasurer, $450. The pay for members of the General Assembly was to be not more than two dollars a day and 24 Voted by the first General Assembly, Acts of the State of Ohio (Chillicothe, Zanesville and Columbus, 1803- ), I (1803), 13-14. 25 Randall and Ryan, History of Ohio, III, 114. 26 Journal of the Convention, 16. 27 Randall and Ryan, History of Ohio, III, 123, 124. 28 Utter, Frontier State, 24. 29 Journal of the Convention, 21. o0 Ibid., 21, 22 for the business of the eighteenth

(49) two dollars for every twenty-five miles of travel "in going to and returning from the General Assembly." The measure carried 21 to 13, with Wells voting in the negative. The motion to increase the governor's pay from $1,000 to $1,200 had Wells's support, but lost 21 to 13. A motion to increase the salary of the secretary of state from $500 to $600 also had Wells's support, but lost 25 to 9. The motion to pay the auditor $750, however, had a negative vote from Wells, but the vote was a tie 17 to 17, upon which President Tiffin cast his vote with the yeas. The proposal that no member of the convention should be appointed to any office created by the constitution until a year after the constitution should take effect, except legislative offices-a measure evidently emanating from the outnumbered Federalists-was soundly defeated, 31 to 3. Wells cast one of the negative votes. Likewise, on the final vote on the payroll for state officials, which was adopted 21 to 13, Wells voted nay.31 Ephraim Cutler maintained that one of the reasons for the heavy vote not to submit the constitution to the people, was the desire of prospective Republican office holders to start their new offices and pay as soon as possible.3 2 Bezaleel Wells evidently faced two conflicting motives: one that public officials should receive better compensation; the other, the dislike of seeing the Republicans get the offices. On Saturday, November 20, the bill of rights received the convention's attention. A motion was made to amend the bill by striking out the words: Nor shall any male person arrived at the age 21, or female person arrive at the age of 18 years, be held to serve any person as a servant, under the pretence of indenture or otherwise, unless such person shall enter into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on condition of a bona fide consideration received or to be received for their service, except as before excepted. Wells voted with the majority against the amendment, the vote being 21 to 12. Another amendment suggested to the same section was the provision that there should be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude ever admitted in any state to be erected on the northwest side of the river Ohio within the limits of the United States. This was evidently one of Ephraim Cutler's proposals, as he had a profound mistrust that the southerners were trying to fasten slavery on the North. The amendment was almost unanimously rejected, receiving only two favorable votes. Bezaleel Wells voted with the majority, which evidently regarded a motion covering other states than Ohio out of order. Another amendment proposed to strike out the words, "no religious test shall be required as a qualification to any office of trust or profit," and to insert in its place the following religious test: "no person who denies the being of a God or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state." Wells voted with the overwhelming majority that rejected this amendment 30 to 3. With another amendment, however, he was in sympathy: "that the laying

31 Ibid., 23-26 for business of the nineteenth. 32 Utter, Frontier State, 24.

(50) of taxes by the poll is grievous and oppressive; therefore the legislature shall never levy a poll tax for county or state purposes." Wells joined with the majority who adopted this amendment 26 to 7. 33 From the reading of the Journal one gets the impression that the hot- spot of the issues was the status of the Negro. This problem occupied an increasing share of the convention time from the twentieth on. On Monday the twenty-second, the fourth article was up for consideration. The original section one read: In all elections, all white male inhabitants above the age of twenty one years, having resided in the state one year next preceding the election, and who has paid or is charged with a state or county tax, shall enjoy the right of an elector, but no person shall be entitled to vote except in the county or district in which he shall actually reside at the time of election. An amendment was proposed to strike out the word "white," thus giving Negroes the suffrage. Wells voted in favor of the amendment, but the nays carried 19 to 14. The proposal to strike out the requirement that Negroes pay taxes was rejected 26 to 8, Wells voting with the majority. A further amendment was passed, 19 to 15, providing that all male Negroes and mulattoes residing in the territory should be entitled to the right of suffrage if they should, within--..--.....-..months make a record of their citizenship. Wells voted in favor of this amendment. A very close division was produced by another proposed amendment that would add the proviso, "and provided also, that the male descendants of such Negroes and mulattoes as shall be recorded, shall be entitled to the same privilege." Wells voted in favor of this amendment, but it 16st, 16 to 17. The seventh article offered another opportunity for an amendment that would restrict the civil status of the Negro. It was proposed to add a new section, to be the seventh section, reading: No negro or mulatto shall ever be eligible to any office, civil or military, or give their oath in any court of justice against a white person, be subject to military duty, or pay a poll tax in this state; provided always, and it is fully understood and declared, that all negroes and mulattoes, now in, or who may hereafter reside in this state, shall be entitled to all the privileges of this state, not excepted by this constitution. Wells voted against this further limiting of the Negroes' civil privileges, but the amendment carried 19 to 16, the full membership of the convention now being present."4 Owing to the change of mind on the part of some of the delegates, the colored question came back to plague the convention members on Friday the twenty-sixth. The amendment which had passed on Monday, allowing Negroes and mullatoes residing in the territory at the time of the Convention to qualify for suffrage if they should make a record of their citizenship within the year, 3 3 For the business of the convention on the twentieth see Journal of the Con- vention, 27, 28. 34 Journal of the Convention, 29-32 for business of the twenty-second.

(51) came up for reconsideration. The motion was to strike it out. Wells had not changed his mind and voted against the change. The vote was a tie, 17 to 17, upon which President Tiffin voted with the yeas,35 on the ground that the proximity of the slave-holding states, Kentucky and Virginia, made it undesirable to offer such an inducement for the emi- gration of Negroes and mulattoes. Thus the final draft of the constitution barred the Negro from suffrage. 8 This switch of the convention vote on the main question of Negro suffrage, involved the other amendment, the seventh section of article seven, which had been passed on Monday, 19 to 16, depriving Negroes and mulattoes of eligibility to any office, or of the right to give their oath in any court of justice against a white person, or to be subject to do military duty. The motion on Friday was to strike out this amendment, and the motion carried, 17 yeas to 16 nays, with Wells voting yea. Thus by the narrow margin of one vote was the Negro saved from a black code which would have taken away equality in the courts and the right to perform military service.37 One further item remained on the colored question, which was taken care of this same busy and tense Friday. A motion was made to amend article eight by applying the section regarding out-of-state indentures to Negroes or mulattoes, so that the final reading of section two read: "nor shall any indenture of any negro or mulatto hereafter made and executed out of the state, or if made in the state, where the term of service exceeds one year, be of the least validity, except those given in the case of apprenticeships." This carried, 20 to 13, with Wells voting yea. 38 These numerous close votes on the colored question revealed a sec- tional division in Ohio. The Scioto settlements, Belmont County, and a minority from Hamilton County voted both for the "black code" and against Negro suffrage.39 Wells, with his southern connections, and general influence, was a key man. His consistant liberal attitude was probably a decisive factor in preventing the introduction of slavery in Ohio. The statement dealing with slavery, as it finally appeared in the Con- stitution, read as follows: There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in this State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; nor shall any male person arrived at the age of twenty-one years or a female person arrived at the age of eighteen be held to serve any person as servants under the pretense of indenture or otherwise, unless such person shall enter into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom and on condition of a bona fide consideration 8s Journal of the Convention, 37. 86 Charles B. Galbreath, The Constitution of the United States and the Con- stitution of Ohio (Columbus, 1912), 28, 29. 87 Journal of the Convention, 39, 40. sB Journal of the Convention, 40. 39 Utter, Frontier State, 21.

(52) received, or to be received for their services except as before excepted. Nor shall any indenture of any negro or mulatto hereafter made and executed out of the State or made in the State where the term of service exceeds one year, be of the least validity, except those given in the case of apprenticeships. With the revival of the color test on office holding, the issue of a religious test again presented itself on this same strenuous day, a motion being made to strike out the words, "and no religious test shall be required as a qualification to any office of trust or profit." The motion to strike out lost, 28 to 6, with Wells voting with the majority. 40 In addition to all the nerve racking business of settling the Negro question, and dealing with the religious test, the convention showed its capacity by dealing, on this same busy Friday, with the question of organizing new counties. A motion to amend the third section of the seventh article, by providing that no new county should be established by the legislature which was not entitled by its numbers to a representative (1200 population), was passed 22 to 12, with Wells voting nay. Did he already have Stark County in mind, with its scant population? He also voted against a further amendment that a county must have at least 500 square miles, instead of 400, but this time he was on the side of the majority, the nays winning, 23 to 11.41 Earlier in the week (Tuesday) the schedule of senators and representatives by counties was adopted by a vote of 21 to 12, Wells voting with the majority. Out of 15 senators and 30 representatives for the state, Jefferson County had two and four, Hamilton County four and eight, Ross two and four, and Washington two and three. All other counties were entitled to one senator and two or three representatives. 42 On Saturday the twentieth the third article on the judiciary was adopted, which represented a victory for Cutler and the Federalists. The first plan proposed had been patterned after the judiciary of Virginia, establishing the Supreme Court at the state capital. Cutler objected to this as inconvenient and expensive. He and several associates drew up a counter-proposal, apparently using the Constitution of Pennsylvania as a model. By this plan, which was carried, the judiciary was decentralized and required to spend half the year traveling the circuits of the State, spending a week in each county. As the counties kept increasing in number this plan became more and more burdensome on the judges and finally had to be changed in 1821. In the Constitutional Convention the plan was sponsored by the Federalist bloc. Wells was a member of the committee. 43 Doubtless he had secured from James Ross a copy of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The last day's session, on Monday the twenty-ninth, centered on the report of the committee of five that had been appointed to review the

40 Journal of the Convention, 40. 41 Ibid., 38, 39. 42 Ibid., 32-34; and article 3 of the Constitution. The constitution is printed as a preface to the first volume of the Acts of Ohio. 43 Utter, Frontier State, 16.

(53) propositions made by Congress. Bezaleel Wells presided at the meeting and reported for the committee, the other members being Rufus Putnam, John Smith, Samuel Huntington, and Nathaniel Massie. The Committee proposed to accept the conditions laid down by Congress in the Enabling Act on condition that some counter proposals of the Ohio Convention were accepted. These counter proposals were sustained by the Conven- tion by a vote of 22 to 11.44 One of the committee's proposals broadened the application of educational support by extending the donation of section number 16, or its equivalent, to the United States Military Tract, the Virginia Reservation, the Western Reserve, and Indian lands still not ceded to the United States, these regions not having been covered in the Enabling Act. This proposal set aside 704,000 acres as a land foundation for the mainten- ance of common schools,-thus making Ohio the first state to come into possession of lands for purposes of educational support. 45 The committee also proposed that the five per cent proceeds from land sales, originally designated for the building of a road from the seaboard to Ohio, should be redistributed, two percent going for the road from the seaboard to Ohio, and three per cent for roads within Ohio. Upon the completion of their task the members of the Convention seemed to be well pleased. Despite their small minority in numbers, the Federalists had succeeded in carrying through many of their ideas. Ephraim Cutler had won his points on the judiciary and slavery issues. Rufus Putnam had won on the matter of redistributing the five per cent funds. Cutler states that of all the members of the Convention, possibly none were so well pleased as the Federalists, Putnam, Gilman and Wells. 46 The convention members were justified in feeling proud of their work. The constitution was only twenty printed pages long. It was so practical that, with some amendments, it served Ohio's needs for nearly half a century. 47 For Wells, as for many of his colleagues, the constitutional convention proved a stepping stone to the first state legislature. In the elections held in January, Bezaleel was elected State Senator from Jefferson County. The other Senator and the four Representatives from the county were all Federalists and all from the Steubenville neighborhood. Jefferson was the only county in the State, however, where the Federalist ticket carried. Even Washington County went Republican two to one. 48 Edward Tiffin was elected Governor. When Bezaleel Wells returned to Chillicothe for the assembling of the first state legislature on March 1-the event and date commonly accepted as ushering in the new State-he found eleven other members of the Constitutional Convention carrying over to help the new govern-

44 Ibid., 43. 5 Randall and Ryan, History of Ohio, III, 171, 172. 46 Utter, Frontier State, 23, and Cutler, Cutler, 70. 4 7 The next Ohio Constitutional Convention was held in 1850. 48 Utter, Frontier State, 26, 27.

(54) ment get started. He also found the Chillicothe group more strongly in control than ever. Nathaniel Massie was elected Speaker of the Senate, Michael Baldwin, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and William Creighton, Jr., of Chillicothe, brother-in-law of Massie and Byrd, secretary of state. All the officers of the new state were Jeffer- sonian-Republicans, and nearly all were Virginians. 49 Two days later, on the same day that Edward Tiffin was inaugurated as first Governor, Congress passed an act embodying the counter proposals submitted by Wells's committee. The road building acts were of intense practical concern to Bezaleel Wells, both as regards the roads within the state, and the road to Ohio, for Steubenville was a possible terminus, its chief rival being Wheeling. Pittsburgh had been eliminated by the requirement that the road must end on the Ohio River "contiguous to the State of Ohio." The committee appointed bythe Senate to review the matter did not report until December 1805. 50 In the first session of the General Assembly legislation of special interest for Bezaleel Wells was "an Act establishing Seats of Justice," under date of March 28, 1803. The question of county seats played such ,an important part in Bezaleel's career as a town-builder, that the act is worth quoting: Section 1. Three commissioners shall be appointed by a resolution of both branches of the legislature to examine and determine what part of said county so established is the most eligible for holding the several courts within the said county. Section 2. No person residing within the county, or holding any real property in same, or who has not arrived at the age of 25, and been a resident one year within the State, shall be eligible as a commissioner. Section 3. Within 60 days after the appointment, the three, or any two of them shall assemble at some convenient place in that county . . giving 20 days notice, posted up in three of the most public places in said county, notifying the inhabitants thereof of the time, place and purpose of the meeting; and the said commissioners, when assembled, and having taken an oath of affirmation before a magistrate to faithfully dis- charge the duties . . .shall proceed to examine and select the most proper place as the seat of justice, as near the center of the county as possible, paying regard to the situation, extent of population, and quality of the land, together with the general convenience and interest of the inhabitants. 51 Of equal importance to Wells was the matter of roads. During the second session of the legislature, which opened December 5, 1803, and which Wells continued to attend as senator, the first appropriation under

49 Gilmore, Life of Tiffin, 91, 146, 147. 50 Archer B. Hulbert, The Cumberland Road (Historic Highways of America, volume 10, Cleveland, Ohio, 1904), 19. 5 1 Acts of Ohio, I (1803), pp. 22-25.

(55) the three percents was voted. A fund of $17,000 was turned over by the Federal Government to the Ohio State Treasury to be expended in opening and making roads within the state. Eighteen roads were ordered to be established, of which one was from the mouth of Little Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, to New Lisbon, $250 being allowed. These roads were of course simply traces or bridle trails through the wilderness. This was the first start of a road from Steubenville towards what is now Canton and Stark County. Roads, or the traces of roads, were a first requirement for settlement. A vivid picture of the course of settlement in Ohio in these first days of statehood is furnished by this first list of roads ordered by the State Legislature. In addition to the roads to New Lisbon the seventeen roads were: 1. From Steubenville to a bridge over Will's Creek in Mus- kingum County, $975.00. 2. From the mouth of Short Creek to intersect the road at Duncan Morrison's leading from Wheeling to Will's Creek, $200. 3. From said bridge over Will's Creek to Zanesville, $500. 4. From Warren Court House in Trumbull County in the best direction towards Pittsburgh and from the said court house, on a road leading to the Lake, $1,400. 5. From the Ohio River, opposite Wheeling, to the bridge over Will's Creek, $975. 6. Repairing road from New Lisbon to the fourth line of Trumbull County, $150. 7. Zanesville to Franklinton (Columbus), $675. 8. Chillicothe to College Township west of the Great Miami, $1,585. 9. Lancaster to Chillicothe, $525. 10. Zanesville to Lancaster, $575. 11. Chillicothe to West-Union (Adams County) to the Ohio River, $1,200. 12. Marietta to Chillicothe, $1,500. 13. Chillicothe, via Cincinnati to the western boundary of the State, at Double Lick, $1,650. 14. Cincinnati to Dayton, $530. 15. Dayton to Franklinton, $650. 16. Gallipolis to Chillicothe, $800. 17. Chillicothe to intersect road leading from Dayton to Franklinton, near Springfield, $500. 52 It is noteworthy that of the eight largest cities in Ohio today only four figured in the road building of 1803 and 1804. On the other hand the towns mentioned in 1803 were fairly representative of the substantial

52 Acts of Ohio, II (1803-1804), 136-140.

(56) cities and towns of today. Naturally those favored with road connections immediately possessed a huge advantage in competition with points not favored with roads. Sixteen road commissioners were appointed to be responsible for contracting for the building of the roads. A commissioner to each road was the general plan. 5 The difficulties and problems of road building at this time, as well as the nature of the road work done, are indicated in the following letter from Rufus Putnam, Surveyor-General, to Secretary of the Treasury, Gallatin: 54 I am of the opinion we can find tollarable [sic] good grounds around for roads from Marietta by St. Clairsville to Wheeling; as soon as the leaves fall from the trees I will have the ground examined and a trace marked. Then and not until then can we form an accurate opinion of the expense of opening: besides it is wished that the manner of opening a waggon road may be particularly stated: if no more be intended than to clear the ground twenty feet wide of all trees, brush and logy that is one mode of opening, but if it be intended to make it passable for waggons many side hills may require diging [sic] and gullies filled up, or bridged,-which perhaps may require double the labour of the other mode-for a Horse road may require nothing more is intended than cuting [sic] the trees, logs and Brush to a certain width. The proposed plans for a road from the eastern seaboard to Ohio, as has been pointed out, was of special concern to Wells, because of the possibility of Steubenville's becoming the point at which it would enter Ohio. The building of the Cumberland Road was to have the effect of cheapening transportation on the southern route, swinging trade from Philadelphia to Baltimore, and reducing Philadelphia from first to third city in population and trade. Bezaleel Wells would naturally capitalize on his Baltimore connections to use their influence for Steubenville instead of for its rival Wheeling. James Ross, still in the Senate when this matter was being considered, would throw his wide influence back of Steubenville, where his private interests lay. On the other hand Wells would know from his contacts at Chillicothe that the early official correspondence showed that the road was really built for the benefit of Chillicothe and Cincinnati. 55 The gathering pressure of the interests at stake in the road, the opening of neighboring counties and new county seats, as well as the growing business at Steubenville, explain Bezaleel's withdrawal from political life at the end of the Sec. ond General Assembly. With the change from territory to state, the organization of new counties became a legislative enactment instead of the personal act of the Governor. It is evident from his connection with the organization of Jefferson County, as well as his activities connected with other coun- 53Ibid., 140. 54 The letters sent from the Surveyor-General's Office 1797-1814 are preserved in the Archives Building, Washington, D. C. 55 Hulbert, The Cumberland Road 21, 71, 72.

(57) ties that were soon to be organized, such as Columbiana, Stark and Wayne, that Bezaleel was closely watching these developments, and advantageously planning his land investments and town building. The organization of new counties came with a rush at the end of April 1803, within two months after the State Legislature went to work. On April 30 Gallia and Franklin Counties were organized; on the following day, Scioto, Warren, Butler, Montgomery, Greene, and Columbiana Counties were formed. 56 Columbiana County was entirely formed out of Jefferson and Washington counties. It included all of present Stark County to the Tuscarawas River, the larger part of present Carroll County, and five southern townships of Mahoning County. 57 This spurt of forming counties was followed by a lull until March 1, 1804, when Muskingum County was formed. The northern boundary of Muskingum County as then laid out, and the western part of the southern boundary of Columbiana County was the so-called Geographer's Line, which, by the Federal Ordinance. of 1785, was required to be drawn due west from the point where the Ohio River crossed the Pennsylvania Line. The townships and ranges were laid on it as a basis. Another problem that doubtless engaged Bezaleel's attention between sessions was the matter of errors on surveys. That Steubenville was a bothersome center for such trouble is indicated in the following letter of Surveyor-General Rufus Putnam, to Gallatin, December 8, 1802: Over problem of purchases in Pittsburgh and New York prior to May 10, 1800, where townships had more or less than the 23,040 standard acres, and section lines hadn't been put in, their sections to be 640 acres, no more, and no less. A final confirmation of the surveys takes place and correct every error. I shall attend to Steubenville; of which timely notice will be given to the purchasers. 58 Despite Bezaleel's absence at Chillicothe, attending General Assembly during March, April, and December, 1803 was an average year in the sale of Steubenville lots and nearby wilderness tracts reflecting the growth and progress of Steubenville and Jefferson County. Ten lots were sold for $998, and four wilderness tracts of 558 acres sold for $2,645. The manufacture of nails by hand began in Steubenville in 1803. o State taxes on lands were not levied until after the Act of Feb- ruary 18, 1804, and county taxes on 13 listed items were still light. The appraisal value on all "mansions" and "mills" in the county was $27,702, upon which the tax at five mills, was $138.15. 0o For other houses (log cabins) the tax was 25 cents. Upon 1,777 such cabins on the

56 Downes, "Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries," Ohio State Archeological and Historical Quarterly (Columbus, Ohio), Vol. XXXVI (1927), pp. 363-367; Stille Ohio Builds A Nation, 242-246; Barth, Columbiana County, puts date for that County as March 25, 1803 (p. 70). 57 Barth, Columbiana County, 70. 58 In Letters from Surveyor-General's Office, Archives Building, Washington, D. C. 59 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 286. 60 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 427.

(58) county list, the tax was $444.25. Upon 2,788 head of cattle the tax rate of 10 cents yielded $278.80. That same year a premium of 50 cents was granted out of the county treasury for scalps of wolves or panthers killed within the county, under six months old, and $1.00 if over six months. On June 3 these rates were increased by the commissioners to $1.50 and $3.00.61 Plats of other towns in Jefferson County were being frequently recorded. Warren (not of Trumbull County) was recorded April 6, 1802; St. Clair June 5, New Salem No- vember 9, Jefferson, December 30; New Lisbon February 16, 1803; Springfield (not in the western part of the State), in February; Thorn- ville March 12; Smithsfield August 29; and Mt. Pleasant August 13, 1803. 62 For his attendance and travelling expense at the 1803 sessions Bezaleel Wells received the modest sum of $85.60. William R. Dickinson, of Steubenville, who was clerk of the second session, and afterwards Wells's partner, received $246. 63 But the real benefits Wells gained were his contacts with the state leaders, his experience in helping to establish the orderly government of a new state, and the survey it gave him of measures being taken for the welfare of the people, as well as for the enhancement of land values, townsites, and business. The total of five or six months service at Chillicothe during the Constitutional Convention and the first two sessions of the General Assembly, was an excellent investment in the best practical school of the day, from which Wells emerged, at 41 years of age, with new and broadened horizons, dreams, capacities, and skills.

61 Ibid., 428. 62 Deed Record Book A of Jefferson County. 6 3 Acts of Ohio, II (1803-1804), p. vi of appendix.

(59) CHAPTER V Founding of Canton, 1805 - 1809 When Bezaleel Wells returned to Steubenville in 1804 from his two years experience in the Ohio Constitutional Convention and the first two general assemblies, he had acquired the habit of thinking and planning in state-wide terms. National and state events conspired at that time to encourage this broader outlook. Settlers were flooding into Ohio at the rate of 20,000 to 30,000 a year. 1 In ten years from 1800 to 1810 population of the state increased from 45,365 to 230,760. 2 New land- offices were being established, still further increasing the rush of migration. From the increased sales came increased appropriations for the laying out and extension of roads under the three percents. The importance of these roads in opening up new territory to further settlement was recognized in the constant revision of the state laws dealing with the opening and regulating of roads and highways. During the last session of the legislature in which Wells sat these laws had been revised in twenty-two sections covering eighteen pages. 3 Not only were new roads making it easier for settlers to reach new lands, but new federal laws were enabling them to purchase the lands more easily. The land act of April 25, 1800 introduced the instalment plan of buying, permitting the settler to pay in four equal payments within five years. 4 Under the Act of 1796 the least amount that could be purchased was a section of 640 acres, and the terms were cash in advance, or $1,280. The Act of 1800 enabled a settler to buy the same amount of land at the same price for a down payment of $320.00 plus a surveying fee of $6.00, a land- office fee of $4.00, and a patentee fee of $20.00, or a total of $350. West of the Muskingum River alternate half sections could be bought for half that amount. 5 A cash discount of eight percent was offered for prompt payment, and those paying on the credit plan had to pay six percent on the unpaid balance. The Act of March 26, 1804 ° brought the purchase of lands within the reach of a vastly greater number of settlers of smaller means by reducing the minimum size of purchase from a section to a quarter section,

1 Josiah Espy, Memorandum of a Tour in the States of Ohio and Kentucky, and Indiana Territory, in 1805 (Cincinnati, 1870), 1. 2 U. S. Census, Census Return for 1800, p. 85, showed 45,365 including 3,067 for Wayne County which was soon separated as Michigan Territory. The population for 1810 is quoted from the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Eleventh Edition (New York, 1911), XX, 27. 8 Acts of Ohio, II (1803-1804), 207-224. These were revised again in the next session, III (1804-1805), 435-449. 4Beverley W. Bond, Jr., The Foundations of Ohio (Columbus, Ohio, 1941), 380, 381. This is Vol. I in the series Carl Wittke, ed., History of Ohio. 5 William T. Utter, The Frontier State (Columbus, Ohio, 1942), 129-131. This is Vol. II in the series Carl Wittke, ed., History of Ohio. 6 Act of March 26, 1804, Statutes at Large, II, 280, 281. See also Utter Frontier State, 130.

(60) by eliminating the surveyor's fee as a charge against the settler, and omitting the interest charge except by default. Of the first one-quarter payment, only one-twentieth had to be paid down, and the balance could be paid within sixty days. 7 Thus a settler could get 160 acres for a down payment of $16.00, and a further payment within two months of $64.00, to which there was probably added a small land-office fee, and perhaps a small patentee fee. This liberal credit act was probably the most important event in deciding Bezaleel Wells to withdraw from political life in order to devote himself to further ventures in land investments and town-founding. Wells took his farewell of the state legislature the same month that Congress passed the liberal credit act. The lands of the Steubenville Land-Office were scheduled by the same act to be offered for public sale the first Monday in May, 8 the public sale to last about three weeks before any private sales would be allowed. The Steubenville Land-Office still handled the sales for the Seven Ranges and for Columbiana County, which at that time included the region that later became Stark County. Wells faced the question of what kind of new venture to undertake, and where? The answer was the founding of Canton and the purchase of nearby lands in what became Stark County. No correspondence nor written records have come to light giving his reasons for selecting this location, but there are numerous facts and considerations that help to explain why he located his new ventures where he did. As clerk of the Jefferson County courts his duties had made him familiar with this region which had been under his jurisdiction at the time he was in office. The broad strategy of Ohio settlement favored this as the least developed part of the state open to settlement. The lands along the Ohio River were already largely purchased, and the most thickly settled part of the state, even to a considerable distance inland. The New Connecti- cut Land Company had absorbed the speculative cream of the Western Reserve. Because of the greater ease of migration by waterways to other parts of the state, the last part of Ohio to become settled was the north central part, running along the crest that divides the drainage between the Ohio River and Lake Erie, the so-called "back-bone" counties of Ohio, those most isolated and inaccessible to navigation. The map of Ohio in 1805 9 reveals two flanks of settled regions: one of twenty-one counties, extending northward from the Ohio River to the northern boundary of the U. S. Military District and the Greenville Treaty Line, a little north of the center of the state; the other, of two counties extending southward from Lake Erie to the southern border of the Wes- tern Reserve. But, while the southern counties stretched clear across the state, the northern counties extended only from the Pennsylvania line to 7 Public Land Document Number 91, containing communication to the House of Representatives January 23, 1804 by Joseph B. Nicholson. 8 Act of March 26, 1804, Statutes at Large, II, 281. 9 In The Roller Monthly, Canton, Ohio, November 1905, XXI, No. 11, p. 4. This map, by W. F. Gilmore, differs from the map in Utter, Frontier State, 28, which projects the lines of Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, and Montgomery counties north of the Greenville Treaty Line into the. Indian territory.

(61) Sandusky. All west of Sandusky, and all area in between the Western Reserve and the Greenville Treaty Line was Indian territory, except the eastern end which was Columbiana County. The latter, which had been formed March 25, 1803, stretched from the Pennsylvania line westward to the Tuscarawas River, and included the larger part of present Stark County, Carroll County, and the southern five townships of present Mahoning County. 1o The Indian territory thus extended in from the west between the Western Reserve and the Greenville Treaty line to the Tuscarawas River, like a broad wedge, beginning with a width of about thirty-five miles at the Western end of the Western Reserve and tapering to about a twenty-five mile width at the Tuscarawas River. Only two months before Bezaleel Wells laid out the town of Canton an event of outstanding importance to the development of this area took place in the cession of Indian Land to the United States at the Treaty of Fort Industry July 4, 1805. The land thus ceded was this wedge of land between the Western Reserve and the Greenville Treaty Line, and which later formed that part of Stark County lying west of the Tuscarawas River, and the whole of Wayne and Richland Counties prior to the erection of Holmes and Ashland Counties. By the terms of the treaty the Indians were to receive $825 yearly from the United States, plus $175 from the Connecticut Land Company. In addition the Connecticut Land Company paid $4,000 down, and turned over $12,000 more to the U. S. Government to be paid to the Indians at the rate of $2,000 a year for six years. The Indians could continue to hunt and fish in the ceded areas as long as they were peaceable. 11 This new area was just the right width to provide a new tier of counties stretching westward from Columbiana County. Moreover it lay directly in a line westward from the road already authorized by the first assembly from the mouth of the Little Beaver River (where East Liver- pool is now located) to New Lisbon, the county seat of Columbiana county. Reasin Beall of Steubenville, who had purchased several lots from Bezaleel Wells, had moved to New Lisbon, and become the first Clerk of the Columbiana County Courts. 12 New Lisbon was the county seat at which all land transfers had to be recorded for all the territory ceded by the Indians at Fort Industry until the new county of Stark began its official functioning in March, 1809. Another event that occurred within six months after the Indian treaty probably helped in making the decision where to locate his new settlement. An act of the fourth General Assembly dated January 27, 1806, ordered the opening and building of another road "from New Lisbon to Columbiana County in a westerly direction to strike the Tuskarawas

10 Harold B. Barth, History of Columbiana County (Topeka, Kansas, 1926), 70. 11 Treaties between the United States of America and the Several Indian Tribes From 1778 to 1837. Compiled and printed under the direction and supervision of the Commissioner of Indian affairs (Washington, D. C. 1837), 113, and Randolph C. Downes, "Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XXXVI (1927), 375. 12 Shown by his signature on the deeds recorded in the court-house at New Lisbon, and Barth, Columbiana County, 71.

(62) [sic] River between the north boundary of section 6 and the south boundary of section 19, in the 10th township, 9th range, for $600." This would intersect the Tuscarawas River somewhere within two miles of the present city of Massillon. It would have been strange if this road had not been projected at the time of the Indian treaty in July, and still stranger if Bezaleel Wells had not known of it as soon as it was planned, and before the act appeared on the statute books. This was the first east and west road within the present limits of Stark County, and the first road to offer connections between the Canton district and Steubenville, via New Lisbon. The only other road shown in present Stark County on John F. Mansfield's official Map of Ohio taken from the returns of the office of the Surveyor-General in 1806, was a road from Bethlehem (present Navarre) running in a southeasterly direction to Steubenville. But there was no north and south road connecting these two. The road authorized from Cleveland to the Muskingum by the Territorial Legis- lature, had not been constructed even to the southern border of the Wes- tern Reserve, and did not enter present Stark County. There were no roads in what had been Indian territory west of the Tuscarawas River. All of that region was marked "Canton District," which arose from the fact that these lands came under the Canton Land-Office soon after the founding of Canton. 13 The towns shown in the Western Reserve, most of which probably existed when Bezaleel founded Canton, were Cleave- land, Hudson, Ravenna, Deerfield, Warren, Canfield, Youngstown, Po- land, New Market (on the Grand River), Windsor, Mesopotamia, Trumbull, and Austin. 14 Nimishillen Creek south of the present site of Canton was named, as were the Big Sandy and the Tuscarawas. Sippo Creek was mistakenly shown as entering the Tuscarawas from the west, instead of from the east. The road from New Lisbon to the Tuscarawas River passed through the villages of Canton and Osnaburg (East Can- ton), terminating at the Tuscarawas River at a village called Kingston, about where Massillon now stands. There was also a village north of the road called Nimishillen, located about where Louisville now lies. This map, of course, reveals the progress of things a year later than the founding of Canton, but is given at this point as indicating the general setting of this part of the state when Bezaleel Wells was working on the Canton project in 1805. Having in view the probable route of a new road in what would probably be a new county, Bezaleel Wells began buying lands in present Stark County as early as March 27, 1805. The Steubenville Land-Office Records 15 contain the complete record of all the original purchases of land in this county from the U. S. Government. All lands purchased in 1805 and 1806 were at $2 an acre, and most of it in quarter sectionpar- cels and on the instalment plan. The first quarter section purchased by Bezaleel Wells was the southwest quarter of section 31, township 19 13 Utter, Frontier Ohio, 129. 14 Painesville and Mentor have already been mentioned as having been founded as early as 1798 but are not shown on the 1806 map. 15 Preserved in the Chief Survey Division, New Interior Building, Washington, D.C.

(63) (Nimishillen), Range 7, the consideration being $338.34. This was south of the present village of Fairhope. In April 1805 Bezaleel purchased 13 quarter sections, of which however he later allowed two to revert. All except one of these quarter sections were in townships 18 and 19 (Osnaburg and Nimishillen). Their total cost was $4,472.20 (omitting the purchase price of the reverted sections). It was in May, 1805, two months before the Indian treaty, and probably with foreknowledge, that Wells suddenly shifted his land buying westward to the present Canton township. On May 14 he purchased from the government eight quarter sections, all in Range 8 (Canton's Range), two being in present Plain Township, and the other six in present Canton Township. The two in Plain Township constituted the eastern half of section 32, along the West Branch of the Nimishillen north of 18th Street. The six in Canton Township were all within the present city limits of Canton, and one of the quarter sections purchased on that day was the northeast quarter of section 9, on which Bezaleel Wells, four months later, laid out the original townsite of Canton. Other quarter sections purchased the same day were the southeast and northeast quarters of section 4, which would be between present 6th 16 Street North and 18th North, and between Cleveland Avenue and Cherry; the northwest quarter of section 5, which would be west of the West Branch of the Nimishillen to present Broad Avenue, between 12th and 18th Streets; the northeast quarter of section 6, which would be between Meyers Lake and Broad Avenue, between 12th and 18th; and the northwest quarter of section 10, which would be approximately between Cherry Avenue and the East Creek, between Tuscarawas and 6th Street North. The purchase price of the quarter section on which the original townsite of Canton was laid out was $321.08. The total of this day's purchases amounted to $3,059.06. On May 27 he purchased another quarter section, the northwest quarter of section 32 of Plain township, which would be where the Applink Orchards are now located. This tract cost $420.54. April and May represented the peak of Bezaleel Wells's purchases in the Canton area. His June purchases dropped to four quarter sections costing $1,588.08. No purchases were made in July and August. Then in September, the same month he laid out Canton on the northeast quarter of section 9, he purchased the southeast quarter of the same section for $420.88. He bought up the northwest quarter of the same section October 17 for $419.87, and the southwest quarter section for $400.52 on November 8. He also bought three other quarter sections in October and one other in November. In the course of the year he had purchased 30 quarter sections for $11,740.15, after deducting the three that reverted. Wells had plenty of company and competition in buying up these

16 The modern Canton custom, observed in directories and newspapers, of using the numbers for the numbered streets, instead of spelling out, is followed.

(64) Stark County lands, in. the area later known as Canton Township. 17 As early as .November 8, 1804 Nicholas Firestone bought the northeast quarter of section 10,.which would be between the East Creek and Bel- den, Tuscarawas and 8th street boundaries of present Canton. On the same date Charles Long bought the southeast quarter of section 3, of Canton township. Winter halted any more buying until March, 1805, in which month numerous lands were bought before Bezaleel Wells made his first purchase. Among them were Aaron Brooks, James Leon- ard, the surveyor whom Bezaleel Wells employed, to survey Canton's site, George and Christopher Bair of Columbiana County, Philip Ream and George Macenterfer of Columbiana County, William Ewing of Beaver County, Pa., Obadiah and Jonathan Jennings of Steubenville, and, of significant interest in Canton's later history, Jacob and John Aultman of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The latter gentlemen bought the southeast and southwest quarters of section 12, being south of the present Lincoln Highway, east and west of Trump Road. Rudolph Bair and Michael Schnitzer, also of Columbiana County, bought the northeast and northwest quarters of the same section three days later (March 26). All of these purchases were made before Bezaleel Wells started. During the months of April and May, while Bezaleel was making his heaviest purchases, 21 more quarter sections were bought by other parties in the same township. The purchasers were John Taggart, Peter Hack, and John Nichols of Columbiana County; Valentine Yunt and Abraham Kraft of Washington County, Pa.; Robert Thompson, George Murray, Jacob Newman, John Hamman, James Latimer, and Ebenezer Shaw of various Pennsylvania counties, and William R. Dickinson of Steubenville, friend, and associate of Bezaleel Wells, and who was still serving as clerk of the State General Assembly. Aaron Brooks, David Bachtel, and Zaccheus A. Beatty of Steubenville also bought numerous quarter sections, but assigned them to Bezaleel Wells, under whom they have already been listed. Practically all of these purchases were east and south of the city, covering the present Waco, Hardscrabble Hill, and North Industry sections, Belden Avenue and eastward along the East Canton Road, and one quarter section east of, present Cherry and south of present 12th Street. No other purchases were made. As was the case with Bezaleel Wells, so it was with other buyers, that their purchases tapered off during June, only three quarter sections being bought. There were no sales during July, three more in August, and then none until the middle of October. These purchasers were Thomas Thompson of Steubenville, and John .Sluss, John Nichols, and Christian Clinker of Columbiana County, and George Gross whose address was not given. Their buying was mostly around North Industry and.Hardscrabble Hill, though Thomas Thompson of Steubenville bought land adjacent to Bezaleel Wells east of the West Creek, north and south of present 12th Street. 18

17 The writer made a complete list of land-office purchases for Canton township by Wells and others, but for other parts of Stark County, only the purchases by Wells were listed. 18 For list of purchases of U. S. Land in Canton Township during the period by others than Bezaleel Wells, see Appendix III.

( 65 ) It thus becomes clear that when Bezaleel Wells laid out Canton in September 1805, he laid it out on a quarter section that was surrounded by land already bought up by himself and other parties, but none of it settled. The question remains, why did Bezaleel select for the new townsite the particular quarter section which he did? Light is thrown upon the answer to this question if study is made of the description of the present area of Canton as it was reported in September 1799 by the original Government surveyors, Ebenezer Buckingham and Emanuel Carpenter. 19 Translated into the topography of modern Canton, the description runs as follows: Following up the East Creek from the junction with the West Creek, the present Sherrick Road region was "level land, good for grass, cranberry, marsh, oak and hickory trees." West of Waco, in line with Belden Avenue extending southward, was "level good grass land, timbered with oak, beech, maple and ash." Proceeding eastward of Waco, about a half mile south of the present Lincoln Highway-the mile eastward from Belden Avenue-"level land, good for grass, oak, hickory and maple trees." Further east, the same distance south of the High- way, for a half mile east and west of Trump Road, were "low ridges, good soil, timbered with oak and dogwood." Returning to present Belden Avenue, and proceeding northward to the present site of the Republic Steel Corporation main plant, the land was level "with white and black oak and hickory trees, beech, hawthorne, dogwood, iron brush, middling soil, good for grass." Along present 8th Street now marking the southern boundary of the Steel Plant, the land was level and good for grass "with oak, hickory, beech and maple trees." The site of the present main plant of the Steel Company was "flat bottom land, good for grass and timber, with white oak, maple and beech trees." Continuing north on a line with present Belden Avenue, from 8th to 18th Streets Northeast, the land was "flat, with elm, oak, beech, ash and haw bush, soil good for grass." Turning west on 18th, jumping over to Market Avenue, and following the 18th Street line to the bank above the West Creek "level, timber very thin, poplar, white oak, The Plain 20, some black oak and hickory, no under brush, middling soil, thrifty timber." Between Fulton Road and Cleve- land Avenue, and between 2nd Street and 18th Street North "one half poor plains, the remainder timbered land, soil middling." Along the general line of Fulton Road, "the timbered land of middling quality, white oak, no underbrush, The Plain, poor land, oak, hickory, and quaking asp brush." Jumping across the creek to present Broad Avenue, between 18th and 4th Streets, there was a "creek, spring water on edge of bot-

19 These reports are preserved with the maps in the General Land-Office, Chief Survey Division, New Interior Building, Washington, D. C. 20 The italics are the writer's.

(66) tom (outlet of Meyers Lake). This mile, except the bottom, dry plain, timbered with white oak, some black oak and hickory, no brush. Soil thin, the bottom sloshy." Turning west on present 12th Street Surveyor Buckingham came to the lake now called Meyers Lake, and gave this earliest description: "a marsh, over white oak Plain to a small lake extending about 20 chains north. Opposite bank extends 60 chains southeast. This mile from the Lake over barren lands. The lake good water and gravel bottom." Turning south on Whipple Road, the country was described as "Barren Land, gently rising into ridges. No trees for bearings." Following southward four miles on the same Whip- ple Road line, the country was the same barren land. Turning eastward, about halfway between the Pennsylvania Railroad and West Tuscarawas Street with Raff Road in the center, the country was described as "barren plain, no timber nor brush, some grass and low bush." Along present 13th Street Southwest, west of Dueber Avenue, again Surveyor Carpenter described "poor barren plain and low ridges, no timber nor brush." The section line just west of West Creek, for the mile south of Tus- carawas Street to the Pennsylvania tracks, was surveyed and described by both Buckingham and Carpenter. Buckingham reported, "across plain to a cedar bottom, or swamp, the plain continues close on both sides. Spring of brackish red colored water resembling Saratoga medical springs. No trees near for bearings. The Plain brushy poor land. The swamp timbered with tamarack pine." Carpenter reported, "poor plains, and swamp and brackish spring, pine, tamarack, etc." Apparently the beautiful grove of trees between the Dueber Hampden factory and the creek have been of later growth. The second mile, further south along the creek, south of the present Pennsylvania Rail- road, was also described by both surveyors. Buckingham noted "no trees near, the plain poor land, no timber nor brush. Like- wise Carpenter observed, Barren poor land, no timber nor brush." These surveys were along the section line running north and south between sections 16 and 17, just west of the creek. Turning east on a line about where the Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the creek to the East Creek, approximately where Navarre Road and 13th Street South now run, Bucking- ham reported "a creek 60 links wide course south of beautiful spring water, brisk current. Across swamp, some Pine and Hem- lock, to a dry prairie. Over the Plain, poor thin land, and same we crossed two miles north, and extends about 20 chains south." The same mile, surveyed by Carpenter, was described as follows: "some bottom land, poor plain and swamp, timbered with pine, hemlock and tamarack." The frequent references to areas of "poor barren plain, without timber nor brush" are significant. The continuation of similar references in the lands west towards present Massillon and north towards present North Canton in the adjoining townships of Perry and Plain suggests the

(67) origin of the name Plain township. It is quite different than the usual picture that has come down supposedly from pioneer days, of tiny log cabins surrounded by a dense forest of tall trees. The site picked out for Canton apparently included the first barren spot that a traveler came to as he journeyed westward from New Lisbon. The eastern part of the original town plat included the timbered creek region of what was later called Shriver's Run, and'extended up on to the higher shrub- less and treeless plain. It thus offered at once building sites and street areas that were free from trees, and also the proximity of trees that could be used for fuel and for building the log-cabins with a minimum of hauling. It is noteworthy that this site was on the edge of the glacier of the. glacial period, which may account for the change to the plains at this point. One other factor would favor the new site, and that was the comparative freedom from mosquitoes which was afforded by the open land. In 1796 the French foreign traveler Victor Collot referred to the pest of mosquitoes in the woods of the Ohio Valley against which the early settlers had to fight with a continual smoke during the summer. 21 As has been noted the swarms of mosquitoes were one of the afflictions that tortured the surveyors in the Western Reserve beyond endurance. Even today, the Ohio .hiker or canoeist knows what a torment mosquitoes are wherever there are thick shrubs or woods or high weeds, and how the only relief for camping overnight is to find open spots. To Bezaleel Wells, as he made his first trip to Canton by horseback from Steubenville, through the seemingly endless forest and mosquitoes, the sudden relief as he emerged on to the open plain of Canton's site must have created a very favorable impression. To a town builder of early days, having the instincts for advertising and salesmanship that Bezaleel Wells had already shown, the advantage of freedom from mosquitoes could have been an excellent selling argument. Modern science would have added that freedom from mosquitoes would also make for freedom from ma- laria and fever, and for the town's good health. In its future history Canton's health problems arose mainly from the mosquito ridden swamp and creek districts.in and around its borders. Probably unknown to Bezaleel Wells was the fact that he located Canton on the edge of the old glacial area, which had formed Buck Hill on the west edge of present Canton. This second ice sheet brought deposits of soil which enriched the regions it covered and made them very productive for corn and wheat. 22 The lands north of Canton were thus enriched, as well as leveled off. To the south of Canton was the driftless area, and the sharper deeper ravines and higher hills of that region at the same time made it less productive and more difficult to farm, and also left it more scenic for the modern traveler. To the early settlers, however, this difference was not evident. The choice was between the generally prevalent forest and the few spots of open prairie or plain such as extended from Canton to Massillon and North Canton. 21 Victor Collot, A Journey in North America (1796) (Firenze, 1924), 109. 22 Frederick J. Turner, The United Stater 1830-1850 (New York, 1935), 254.

(68) The element of competition with other towns evidently played a much greater role in Well's founding of Canton than in his founding of Steubenville. As has already been observed the Steubenville plan lacked practically all of the competitive features so freely used in the other planned towns of that period in Ohio. The Canton plan, on the other hand, offered about all of the inducements that had become familiar to settlers in other Ohio towns. The six months, or more, that Wells had lived in the state capital left their mark on the Canton plat. 23 Chil- licothe was the most spaciously laid out of Ohio's towns. Market Street, the main north and south street of Canton, had a public square or Plaza, 160 feet wide two blocks long, extending a block each side of Tuscarawas, the main east and west street. Beyond the square, in both directions, Market Street was 100 feet wide, finally tapering to 80 feet. The other north and south streets were 80 feet wide, as was Tus- carawas. The other east and west streets were 60 feet wide. These street widths contrasted with those of Steubenville where the widest east and west street-also called Market-was only 66 feet, and all the others 60 feet, except the two lowest streets paralleling the river, Water and High, which were 80 feet. Likewise the alleys of Canton were 30 feet, compared with 20 feet in Steubenville. From this circumstance has resulted the fact that the alleys in Canton have become streets and courts fronted with many shops, restaurants, and places of business, while in Steubenville they have remained unnamed alleys. Another result in the days of the modern automobile has been a greater freedom from traffic congestion in Canton than in Steubenville. Outside of Sat- urday rush hours, Canton manages with no one way streets except on the 30 foot alleys that have been converted into streets or courts. Steubenville, on the other hand, is full of one way streets. Steubenville's 80 foot streets, closest to the river, were evidently expected to become the chief streets of the town when it was laid out, but the business center has developed away from the river and become concentrated around the narrower streets. Steubenville, with its river .setting, narrow valley and steep high hills, has the typical setting of the tight and compactly built towns and cities of Pennsylvania, while Canton, with its open prairie setting, follows the typical spacious plan of the towns and cities built on the Ohio prairies. Another difference from Steubenville lay in the absence of out-lots on the original plat of Canton, though these were added in the third sale of lots, in' May 1808. 2 Another noticeable difference between Steubenville and Canton lay in the size of the blocks, or squares. In Steubenville the blocks were unusually large, measuring 600 by 400 feet, whereas in Canton they were only 200 feet square. Canton was a symmetrical square with 100

23 Plat of Canton in Book of Canton Plats, Engineer's office, City Hall, Canton; also in Deed Record E, page 234, Stark County Recorder's office, Canton; and in The Canton Repository 125th Anniversary Supplement, March 31, 1940, 48. 24 The Western Herald of Stubenville, May 20, 1808.

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(70) blocks or squares, each containing three lots, excepting five which were not subdivided. Steubenville had only eight full blocks and eight half blocks (excluding the out-lots), each full block containing 20 lots. Canton's 285 lots covered approximately 160 acres, while Steubenville's 236 inlots covered approximately 100 acres. Canton's lots measured 198 by 66 feet while Steubenville's lots measured 180 by 60 feet. The most striking new feature in the Canton plat was the donation of three blocks on the western edge of the town to the community. Two of them faced each other on opposite sides of Tuscarawas Street, the block on the north side being designated "For academy or Public School," the one on the south side "For a House of Worship." The former is now occupied by the Timken Vocational High School, and the latter by the First Presbyterian Church. In the southwest corner a block was reserved "For a Graveyard." This block has become McKinley Park, but a grave in the center, still marked with a stone, preserves the intention of the founder. These three donated squares, and two others at the south end of Market Street, remained undivided into lots, thus reducing the number from a possible 300 in 100 squares, to 285. The original plat numbers the lots in the square marked for a Grave Yard, 238 to 241 inclusive, but these numbers were omitted on the plat recorded in 1823, thus leaving a skip of three numbers. This means that the lots for the whole town numbered to 288 inclusive instead of to 285. Another curious fact is that the plat followed the lay of the land between the East and West branches of the Nimishillen instead of being laid out square with the meridian lines, thus giving it a diagonal tilt. The two main intersecting streets, dividing the town into its four equal quarters, were named, as now, Market Street, running north and south, and Tuscarawas, running east and west. The northern boundary street was named North Street (now 6th Street North), and the southern boundary South Street (now 6th Street South). Coming south from the northern boundary the streets were named Second (now 5th St. N.), Third (now 4th St. N.), Fourth (now 3rd St. N.), Fifth (now 2nd St. N.), Tuscarawas, Seventh (now 2nd St, S.), Eighth (now 3rd St. S.), Ninth (now 4th St. S.), Tenth (now 5th St. S.) and South Street. The streets running north and south were named for trees. Those east of Market have remained unchanged, Walnut and Cherry, except that they are now called avenues instead of streets. The first street west of Market was called Poplar, since changed to Cleveland Avenue, and the next Plum, now McKinley Avenue. The alleys were not named. The western boundary was the alley west of Plum, since named Wells Street. The eastern boundary was the alley east of Cherry, since named Savannah Avenue. Contrary to general impression the block now occupied by the court house was not designated for a court house on the original plat, and was left divided into three lots. The plat of Canton, which was first recorded in the Columbiana County records on November 15, 1805, was not recorded in Stark County until 1823. Bezaleel Wells was termed Proprietor. There was this in-

(71) teresting reference on the plat to an excess length chain used in the survey: Lots were laid out 66 feet in front and 198 feet long, except those facing the Public Square, which are 168 feet long, and the said Proprietor did further declare that in laying said lots in order to cover any inaccuracies which might be made in the measurement the chain used was a few inches longer than the exact length of a common surveyor's chain by which it appears that there is an excess in the size of the lots when they came to be subjected to strict measurement and lastly the Proprietor did declare and make known that he relinquished all claim to said excess of ground and desired that it may be considered as the property of the payment owners of said lots respectively and that such was his original intention in laying out said lots. This is Proprietor Wells's explanation of an admitted error on the part of his surveyor, James F. Leonard, which has caused endless trouble and lawsuits since. But such allowance for excess measurement had apparently been common practice in the surveys of the irregular type of lands in Virginia and was referred to in a letter of George Washington to Presley Neville regarding his western lands. 25 In the survey of Pitts- burgh, Colonel George Woods, of Bedford, Pa., had used a rod that was too long. 26 Leonard apparently set as a standard block a tract 198 feet square, each lot being 66 feet wide, thus being three times as long as wide. Later he found that the inaccuracy of his chain made the blocks practically 200 feet long, and the lots 662/3 feet wide by 200 feet long. The element of competition with other towns appeared also in the terms of sale. Bezaleel Wells faced an unusually difficult problem in attempting to attract settlers to Canton. The village was located at perhaps the most inaccessible point of Ohio then open to settlement. At the time the plat was recorded along with the terms of sale in November 1805, no road approached the site from the outside world, nor was a road even legally projected. While there was talk of a new county, ano Bezaleel Wells had picked the site with the hope that it would become the county seat, there could be no assurance that either of these things would come to pass. In the terms of sale Bezaleel Wells attempted not only to meet these problems, but also to meet the rather common practice of other towns of offering the alternate lots up to a certain number, usually limited to 100, as donation lots for actual settlers. So far as the writer has been able to discover the terms were the most generous that were offered by any town proprietor in Ohio. The conditions were as follows: The undersigned Proprietors of the Town of Canton offer these lots for sale on the following conditions, viz: First. No bid to be taken under 25 cents.

25 Letter of June 16, 1794, preserved in the Room of Rare MSS., Library of Congress. 26 By an eighth of an inch in ten feet. Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh, The Story of a City (Pittsburgh, 1938), 103.

(72) Second. The highest bidder to be purchaser. Third. The purchaser to give his note for the purchase money, payable one half in six months and the other half in twelve months from the date of sale. Fourth. The proprietors to give their certificates to make a deed to the purchaser on the payment of the purchase money within 18 months. And as the Proprietors can give no assurance that Canton will be fixed on for the Seat of Justice for a new county, it not being dependent on their will; They bind themselves in case the seat of justice shall not be fixed at Canton, to repay three fourths of the purchase money to any purchaser that shall have paid the whole, or to discount three fourths to such as shall not have paid provided such purchaser shall make application for that purpose within three months after the Seat of Justice shall be fixed by the Commissioners on any other land and provided that such purchaser shall at the same time relinquish his claim to the lot or lots purchased by him. The Proprietors, with a view to give themselves a fair opportunity of holding competition with other Proprietors of Towns for obtaining the Seat of Justice, reserve every other lot, not to be offered at the present sale, either to be presented to the County, or hereafter disposed of and such part of the proceeds of the sales to be presented as may appear to them necessary to induce the fixing of the Seat of Justice at Canton. Give under our hands and seals this 15th day of November 1805. George Bair, Zach. A Beatty Rudolph Bair, Bezl. Wells Personally appeared before me Wm. Harbaugh a Justice of Peace in and for said County, Rudolph Bair, who being sworn as the law directs within his presents [sic] Zaches A. Beaty [sic] and Bazlle [sic] Wells did acknowledge the within instrument of writing to be their act and deed for the purpose above mentioned and wished him to have the same recorded. Sworn and subscribed this 9th day of January 1806. Recorded the 9th day of January. Reasin Beall, Recorder. 7 The founding of Canton thus appears to have been originally a joint enterprise of Bezaleel Wells, Zaccheus A. Beatty of Steubenville, and George and Rudolph Bair of Columbiana County. These gentlemen had all purchased lands in Stark County, but Bezaleel much more than the other three combined. Later Beatty assigned his lands to Bezaleel. The only deeds of Canton town-lots that are recorded give Bezaleel as sole grantor. The town was evidently regarded as a means of enhancing the value of the surrounding farm lands, in which the proprietors had a far larger investment, rather than as an end in

27 Deed Record Book A, Recorder's office, Columbiana County, New Lisbon, Ohio.

(73 ) itself. The competition with other towns was so much a factor that it is mentioned in the condition of sales. In his campaign to sell Canton Wells and his associates utilized the currently popular publicity device of a horse-race, which was held in Canton in the fall of 1806. In the Western Herald of Steubenville there appeared on September 13, 1806, the following advertisement, which was repeated the customary three weekly issues in succession: CANTON RACES On Wednesday the 22nd of October will be run over a beautiful course in the plain adjoining the Town of Canton, in the forks of the Nimishillen Creek, Columbiana Co., Ohio, a purse of 70 dollars, free for any Horse, Mare or Gelding; to run 4 times round and repeat. Entrance 4 dollars. On Thursday, the 23d, will be run for a purse of 40 dollars, free as above, the winning Horse the day preceding excepted; to run 3 times round and repeat. Entrance 3 dollars. And on Friday, the 24th, will be run for a handsome sweep stake free as above the winning Horses the preceding days excepted; to run twice round and repeat. Entrance 2 dollars. The Horses each day to carry Ketch riders. The entrance money to be paid to the managers, the day before the race, or to pay double entrance at the pole. Zachaus A. Beatty Sept. 13, 1806 Edward I. Smith 28 A week later the first of three weekly advertisements was run in the same paper, on the same page, but in a different column, announcing the sale of lots in the town of Canton. It read as follows: A SECOND SALE OF LOTS IN THE TOWN OF CANTON The Subscribers, having at a former sale disposed of somewhat more than one third of the Lots in Canton, now give notice, that they intend to offer the residue of the Lots at Public Sale on the 23rd of October next, in said Town, on the following conditions: 1st. The purchaser to give his note payable one half within thirty days after the Seat of Justice shall be determined on by the commissioners for the new county, and the residue within six months thereafter. 2nd. If the Seat of Justice shall not be fixed at Canton, the Proprietors will discount one half the purchase money and give a deed to the purchaser, or if the purchaser prefer it, the Proprietor will discount three fourths of the purchase money, on the purchaser quitting claim to his purchase. 28 The copies of the Western Herald of Steubenville in which these advertisements appeared are contained in a bound volume covering the period August 1806 to July 1808, which is preserved in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.

(74) 3rd. The proprietors pledge themselves to give for the use of the new County three fourths of the net proceeds of the sales of the Lots in said Town provided it shall be fixed on as the Seat of Justice. ... Independent of the liberal offers made by the proprietors .. . they think that Canton enjoys in its position many advantages that give it a fair chance of becoming a Seat of Justice. It is surrounded by a fine farming country; near to it are a number of good mill seats, some of which are now improving; from within sight of it, the Nimishillen Creek, in spring season, is navigable to the Tuscarawas by canoes and boats of from 4 to 6 tons burden, and the communication between it and the Tuscarawas, along which the commerce of the country will eventually pass, is very easy, add to these advantages that the new state road laid out between Lisbon and the Tuscarawas will pass through Canton. Bezaleel Wells Sept. 20th, 1806 Zachaus A. Beatty Thus the horse-race was tied in with the sale of lots, the sale taking place during the racing, and the race being used as a bait to get prospective purchasers to view the scene. Zachaeus A. Beatty, a member of the partnership, signed both advertisements, Bezaleel Wells being the first signer for the sale, and Edward I. Smith the second signer for the race. The Western Herald gives no news report either of the horse- race or of the sale. In those days much of the news was in the advertisements; the art of reporting news had not been developed in these small western papers, which, like the Western Herald, were usually a sheet of paper 18 by 24 inches, folded once, making four printed pages 12 by 18. Horse-racing, reflecting the influence of Virginia, became the most popular type of commercial entertainment in southwestern Pennsylvania and in the Steubenville District of Ohio from 1790 to 1820. The races, held in or near towns, attracted nearly all the townspeople and many of the country folk. The races usually lasted for three days. The prizes consisted of purses ranging from $40 to $120 for the winners on the first two days and of a sweepstakes of "all the Entrance Money on the third day." The races were often combined with fairs, acrobatics, tight rope dancing, and other attractions. Vivid descriptions of the Pittsburgh races, held at the "bullock pens" at McKeesport, and at Greensburg, have come down from the pen of Henry M. Brackenridge. 29 Steubenville races, following the typical pattern witnessed at Canton, were held the following September with purses of $70 and $50 the first two days, entry fees of four and three dollars, and sweepstakes the third day with an entry fee of two dollars. That the horse-race was not altogether a success as a lot-selling proposi- tion can be deduced from another public sale of Canton lots held in 29 Solon J. Buck and Elizabeth H. Buck, Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, 1939), 363.

(75) June, 1808, after Canton had been designated as county seat of the new county of Stark. This announcement read: LOTS FOR SALE IN CANTON THE SEAT OF JUSTICE FOR STARK COUNTY All the unsold Lots in Canton consisting of about half the town, together with a number sold at the first sales and forfeited for non-payment, will be offered at public sale on Saturday 11th June next in said town. At the same time will be offered for sale a number of out-Lots. A liberal credit will be given for the greater part of the purchase money, and a discount of ten percent will be allowed for prompt payment. The terms will be more particularly made known on the day of sale by the Sub. Bezaleel Wells 30 May 17, 1808 To the naming of Canton Wells doubtless gave careful thought as he did to all other phases of selling and advertising the new town. The name he finally selected was highly original, and belonged to a different category from any that had yet been bestowed upon an Ohio town. Taking the state map of 1805 one finds some fifty towns and villages having names falling into about eight categories. Seventeen bore the names of founders or famous people; thirteen the names of European or other American cities, often with the prefix "New." Five were Indian names, three were French, and three German. Three were descriptive, two were biblical, and two classical. Canton introduced a new category, whether viewed as originating from the Swiss word for a member of the Swiss Federation, from the French word for a district, or from the famous city of China. Reasons for tracing it back to Baltimore, where to Bezaleel Wells it contained a mixture of all three origins, but predominantly the colorful and romantic association with Canton, China, and Captain O'Donnell and his Canton Estate, have already been given in a previous chapter. 1 The tradition that Canton was named by the early settlers is erroneous, as the name accompanied the plat at its recording in November 1805, before there were any settlers on the site of the town, and when there were few, if any, in the vicinity. For the actual permanent sales of Canton lots made during the three year period between the recording of the town plat, and the beginning of Stark County's official life, the only authentic source of information are the Columbiana records. The sales book in which Wells kept his personal record of sales, did not give dates. 32 The Columbiana records show that only six lots were recorded as having been sold, to four purchasers. James F. Leonard of Columbiana County, bought lot number 52, the southwest corner of present 2nd Street and Market Avenue South, for $4.00, probably a special price taking into account his services

30 The Western Herald, May 20, 1808. 31 pp. 7-9. 32 This sales book, turned over by J. B. Wells to W. W. Clark of Canton, is now in the possession of the family of Judge George H. Clark of Canton. See Appendix V.

(76) in surveying. Peter Spiker of Columbiana County, bought lots 31 and 55 for $50. One of these, the site of the present Courtland Hotel, cost $30, and the other, the middle lot between Cleveland Avenue and Dewalt on the south side of Tuscarawas, cost $20. Dr. Andrew Rappee of Steubenville bought lots 166 and 171 for $20.75. These lots were on the north side of present 3rd Street southeast between Walnut and Cherry Avenues. Samuel Martin bought lot 57 for $32. This was the northwest corner of present Market Ave. South and 4th Street. These lots were all recorded in 1808, the year that the legislature, on February 13, authorized the new county to be organized as of January 1, 1809. 33 Allowing liberally for sales made before 1809, that were recorded later, quite evidently the task of selling lots in what was only prospectively a county seat was too great even for the genius of Bezaleel Wells and the attractions of a horse-race. So far as the record to 1808 went, it must have been a wash-out of forfeitures from non-payments. The steps by which Canton became the county seat were of course closely followed by Wells. In October and December 1806 notices appeared in the Western Herald of Steubenville announcing that petitions would be presented to the next session of the legislature praying for a division of Columbiana county. The boundaries of the proposed new county would simply be that part of Columbiana County lying between the middle of Range five and the Tuscarawas River. * But the boundaries of Stark County as established by the act of the state legislature on February 13, 1808 35 covered 566 square miles, included all of present Stark County plus additional territory that has since been taken for Summit and Carroll Counties. Stark County was to remain a part of Columbiana County, with New Lisbon as its county seat, until January 1, 1809. Moreover Wayne County, which was formed by the same act, was to remain a part of Columbiana County until the same date, then to be a part of Stark County until the county seat of Wayne County should be determined. Thus whatever town should become county seat of Stark County would also become the temporary county seat of Wayne County. The next step was the appointment of three commissioners to select the county seat. Canton had two competitors, Osnaburg and Nimishillen- town. The latter village was located a short distance south of the present town of Louisville, where the first settler of those parts, Thomas Road, had built his cabin early in 1805."3 It was the project of two Phila- delphia land speculators and lawyers. A plat had been worked out in 1805 by surveyor Daniel L. McClure, and exhibited with embellished art work as certainly to be the county seat. 7 A building, a story and a half high, built of hewn logs, covered with clapboards, and fastened with

33 Randolph C. Downes, "Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XXXVI (1927), 375. 34 The Western Herald, October 11, 1806 and December 20, 1806. 3 5 Acts of Ohio, VL (1807-1808), 154-155. 36 Simeon D. Fess, ed., History of a Great State, Historical Gazeteer of Ohio, III (Chicago and New York, 1937), 95. 7 Herbert T. O. Blue, History of Stark County (Chicago, 1928), I, 154, 155.

(77) nails made by a New Lisbon blacksmith, was erected. But the townsite was abandoned in the summer of 1806, when it became evident that the county seat would go either to Canton or to Osnaburg five miles east of Canton. The chief man in Osnaburg was the proprietor of the tavern, by the name of Leeper. Among his tavern customers he spread un- favorable propaganda about Canton. Canton was surrounded by swamps which bred fever and ague, ran the propaganda. No water for domestic purposes could be obtained. Neither timber nor stone with which to build could be had within a reasonable distance, and adjoining western lands were barren and would never be otherwise. 38 But the commissioners were allegedly prejudiced against the principal man of Osnaburg because, as was reported, "he and his friends were too fond of whiskey sold at his tavern." 39 They favored Canton because as has been said, "it was most nearly in the center of the county, and its chief promoter, B. Wells, was an experienced hand at such matters, having already figured in the history of Steubenville." 39 In due time two of the commissioners, Elijah Wadsworth and Eli Baldwin, reported to the Common Pleas Court of Columbiana County, in April 1808, that they had attended to their duty, and had selected lot number 30, 40 "and have drove a stake thereon in the town plat of Canton as the most proper place." 41 With the organization of Stark, the thirtieth county to be organized in the state, Canton on January 1, 1809 became the county seat, and at the same time a post-office. This was the same year that New Lisbon became a post-office, with weekly horse-back mail service with Pittsburgh. According to the Columbiana County records the commissioners received $13 each, or $39 for their services in picking Canton as county seat. 42 The commissioners of Columbiana County then ordered an election to be held in Stark County, and on March 16, 1809 the new Stark County board, consisting of John Bower, James Latimer, and John Nicholas, met at the residence of James Campbell of Canton for the transaction of business. William R. Reynolds was appointed clerk of the board. The county was divided into five townships, Canton, Plain, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, and Sandy. Slowly the village of Canton came into being. Among the earliest settlers were Philip Slusser and three sons, Pennsylvania Germans. Philip built the first grist-mill at Canton, locating it on the East Creek near the present 3rd St. S. E. bridge. It already showed on the 1806 map. It was on a quarter section just east of a quarter section owned by Wells. Later the mill was known as Rowlands Mills. John Slusser, one of the

38 Ibid., I, 155. 39 Fess, III, 96. 40 The south lot of the present court house square. 41 Atlas of Columbiana County, compiled and published by the Columbiana County Map and Atlas Company (Lisbon, Ohio, 1902), 66. 42 Blue, Stark County, 156.

(78) sons, built a sawmill in 1807; both the sawmill and the grist-mill played important parts in Canton's early life. 43 The first to settle within the town plat was the surveyor, James Leonard, who had preceded Wells with a land selling agency in partnership with James and Henry Barber. He had married Sarah Barber, daughter of James. On the lot that he purchased from Wells for $4 he built a two story brick building. The brick was made locally and this was the first building of this material to be erected in Canton. This building, known as the Oberly Corner (southwest corner of Market and 2nd St. South), was purchased by Samuel Coulter, the first postmaster, for $600, who used it as a tavern "at the sign of the Green Tree." The first tavern in Canton was that of Garret Crusan, north of the square. A single room served as bar, dining room, sitting room, and kitchen. Two shed additions served as bedrooms for family and guests. In 1807 John Shorb arrived. He was one of a small colony of early foreign-born settlers in Canton who migrated to Baltimore, then to Steubenville, and from thence to Canton. He was a native of Zweibrucken, Germany, had migrated to Baltimore in 1805, and then moved to Steubenville where he opened a store; he was advertising in The Western Herald in January 1807, asking all persons indebted to him to settle their accounts by February first, probably in preparation for his move to Canton. 44 He was ready to accept wheat, oats, beeswax, hackled flax and linen at market price. Arriving in Canton he opened the first store in the new town, his stock consisting mainly of tobacco, tea, hardware implements, leather, drugs, gingham, and silk. He rented Leonard's building as his first store, but later built his own. He had to purchase stock for his store in the East, making his trips over the mountains on horseback, and usually his wife accompanied him. At a later date the first Catholic mass was held under an oak tree on the Shorb farm, which covered a section of 640 acres north of present 2nd Street N.W. and west of Wells Street N.W. His home, the oldest building still standing within the present limits of Canton, was at 416 Shorb Avenue, but the brick part of the building extended over what is now 5th Street N.W. When 5th street was extended through, the brick part was torn down, and the frame part of the building moved back. Descendants of John Shorb still occupy the home. Adam A. Shorb, great-grandson of John, lives at 410 Fulton Road, a half block from the old family house at 416 Shorb. The old Shorb orchard used to extend north from these houses, and invited the school children from old North School during recess and noon hours and going to and from school; but now the orchard has gone, and has been solidly built up with

43 References consulted on Canton's early life, The Canton Repository, 125th Anniversary Supplement, March 31, 1940; Wm. Henry Perrin, History of Stark County (Chicago 1881); Reverend Theodore P. Bollinger, History of the First Reformed Church, Canton, Ohio (Cleveland, Ohio, 1916); John McGregor, Remin- iscences of Early Canton, in Canton Repository in 1922; The Western Herald of Steubenville, 1806-1809; Reminiscences of Days when Canton was a Hamlet (un- signed newspaper article in Canton Public Library); Fess, III, Historical Gazeteer ,,f Ohio; and Blue, Stark County. " Western Herald, January 3, 1807.

(79) residences. Out at 10th and Fulton, where the residence of Mr. Harry Frease is now located, are some of the trees still standing of what was known as the Shorb Grove. 4 At that time Fulton Road continued its winding course down to Tuscarawas Street, near the present corner of Wells Avenue. The oldest building still standing within the limits of the original town is the Kauffman house on the northeast corner of Market and 4th Street S.E. It was built in 1811 by John Nichols. It is now occupied by the Herbst sisters, whose family have owned and occupied it since 1832. 46 Another of the prominent and early settlers was Philip Dewalt, who founded the family of that name, after whom Dewalt Avenue was named. Dewalt established the "Spread Eagle" tavern on the site of the present First National Bank in 1807. He was born on board ship which took seven months for the trip across when his parents came from Germany to America in 1761. Affectionately known as "Uncle Dan," he gained a reputation for sharp but honest business dealings, and was known for miles around as a successful horse dealer and trader. Dr. Andrew Rappee, Canton's first physician and druggist, was a French-born settler who migrated to Baltimore, then moved to Steuben- ville before coming to Canton. Born in Paris in 1779, he received his medical education at Frankford-on-the Rhine. He emigrated to America in 1805, arriving at Baltimore in May. Early in 1806 he went to Steu- benville, where he was advertising in the Western Herald in October, calling for settlement of all accounts "standing upwards of six months." 47 Flax, bees-wax, linen, and flaxseed would be taken in payment. In July 1807, following the custom of the day when it was proper for physicians to advertise, he notified the Steubenville public that he would continue to practice "in the various branches of Physick, Surgery and Midwifery." He had just received "an extensive and general assortment of Drugs, Chemicals and Patent Medicines," which he offered for sale "on as reasonable terms as they are sold anywhere in the country, and a number of articles which he will sell much cheaper." 48 He was still advertising in the Steubenville paper in January 1808. Later that year he moved to Canton, where, as already noted, he was one of the first four settlers to record a lot purchased from Bezaleel Wells, with whom he had doubtless become well acquainted in Steubenville. His practice extended over Stark County. He had to prepare his own drugs and medicines, often late at night, after spending a long day in the saddle visiting his widely scattered clients. He had lost an eye early in his career due to explosion of some acid with which he was working. He was a person of strong personality and character, and married the daughter of John Shorb. A wheelwright shop was located in Canton in 1807 and a tanyard in 1808. John Matthews established the first butcher shop in 1808. In

45 Information given by Adam Shorb to the writer in a conversation March 25, 1942. 40 Information given by Miss Mary Herbst to the writer in an interview March 15, 1942. 47 Western Herald, October 17, 1806. 48 Ibid., July 4, 1807.

(80) this third year of the settlement there were 27 inhabitants. The mail was brought weekly on horseback from New Lisbon to the "post-office," a drawer behind the bar of Coulter's tavern on the square. There were no iron stoves. Cooking was done on the open fire. The teakettle hung on a crane; the skillet was set on the coals, potatoes were baked in the ashes, and bread was baked in rude ovens. Dishes were of pewter and wood. The log-cabins consisted generally of a single room. Tallow-candles or the fire on the hearth furnished the only light. The Indians came to hunt and fish wherever their fancy led them; they were everlasting beggars, keeping the women and children in constant fear. The picture of school and education for Canton's youth in the earliest days is meager, and confused. The earliest extant record was published 80 years after the founding of Canton, and states that a log building was erected on the courthouse lot "as soon as there were a sufficient number of children to justify" its building. It was a rude structure-clap-board roof, windows made by sawing out a section of a log and covering the opening with greased paper, the door hung on wooden hinges, the only fastening a wooden latch, opening and closing by means of a string. The seats and writing tables were made of slabs. The teacher was Andrew Johnson, from the State of New York. That was in the winter of 1807-8, eighty years ago. A pupil of that first school, and the only one living, is with us today- Daniel Dewalt, now in the 88th year of his age. He (Bezaleel Wells) was liberal in donating lots to the town, among others this lot which he marked on the recorded plat, "For an Academy." The square opposite he gave for a church. It was taken possession of by the German Reformed and Lutheran congregation at that time .. . They erected a church and a school-house on the same lot. After occupying the ground nearly ten years, a majority of the congregation became dissatisfied with the location, and, upon a vote, it was decided to abandon the lot and locate farther east. Both buildings were sold, the school-house removed to the southeast corner of this lot and continued as a school-house for some years. The teachers who occupied it and who are remembered by gray-haired men and women now living, were Bradley C. Goodwill and George Lyman. This building was again removed, and now stands upon the first lot east,-the frame structure adjoining the brick. 4 The same record gives a picture of this earliest school building. The second school building on the same site was said to have been built in 1824. 50 Another record tells of a "fine wooden school house" in these early 4 9 Dr. Lew Slusser's Address, in Dedicatory Exercises of the Canton High School and the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Instruction for the School Year Ending August 31, 1886, 20, 21. This is in the possession of Mrs. Lina Groetzinger, 619 2nd St. N. W. who graduated from Central High School in 1873. 50 George E. Baldwin, Address on Behalf of the Builders, in the same booklet, p. 5.

(81) days on the square donated by Wells for school purposes. 51 Another local Methodist writer states that this removal to the school lot probably did not take place until 1820. 52 At the time that the corner stone was laid for the Timken Vocational High School in December 1938, the President of the School Board, George H. Deuble, in the light of the best available information, stated that the first building on that site was a one room frame building, which was subsequently moved to the northeast corner of McKinley Avenue and Tuscarawas Street (present Lind Building) in 1816. The date that the first building was erected was not given. The present Timken Vocational School which covers the entire block donated by Wells, is said to be the fifth school building to have been erected on the site. 53 Contrasting with a confused and uncertain picture of the slight school activity in the early days of Canton is a remarkably vivid and detailed picture of the much more vigorous church activity. At least three Protestant church groups were active when Canton became the county seat in 1809. The earliest and most numerous were the German Re- formed and Lutheran denominations who, in worshipping together, followed the pattern of the same denominations in western Pennsyl- vania. 64 The majority of the early rural settlers of Canton Township were Germans from Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the only services held in the Reformed-Lutheran Church in Canton were in German. 5 The early settlers were morally and religiously inclined, and in their slender stock of possessions they usually carried a Bible, a prayer book, and often a hymn book or a small volume of sermons. 56 Preaching was irregular. John Staugh, 57 a Lutheran Pastor from Fayette County, Penn- sylvania, visited Canton in 1806, and about the same time, Antonius Meyer, another Lutheran Pastor, came from Pennsylvania, and located permanently here, serving Middlebranch, Malvern, and Carrollton as well as Canton. Soon afterwards, the Reverend John Peter Mahnen- schmidt, who served several Reformed congregations in Washington County, Pennsylvania-where he must have known Bezaleel Wells and heard of his new settlement-visited Canton. He continued to visit the new settlement at irregular intervals, the first Reformed minister to serve the Reformed-Lutheran congregations. Even these three pastors came too infrequently to meet with the congregations every Sunday; between their visits the worshippers conducted informal services among themselves, singing a hymn or two without any musical instrument; offering, or more

51 Pageant written by the Reverend Vernon W. Wager, Pastor of the First Methodist Church, Canton, on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of Methodism in Canton, in 1933. 52 Miss Jessie Davidson, in a series of historical sketches on the First Methodist Church of Canton, written in 1941. 53 Canton Repository December 17, 1938. 54 Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 408. 65 Bolliger, First Reformed Church of Canton, 26. 5G Ibid., 2-6. 57 Ibid., 2, but according to the Reverend Adolph P. Ebert, Pastor of the First Lutheran Church, the correct spelling was Stauch. In Buck, Western Pennsylvania, 409, the name is given as Johannes Stauch. He arrived in Fayette County in 1793.

(82) frequently reading a prayer, followed by someone reading a sermon, after which some one might lead in free exhortation. Zeal, good feeling and solemnity characterized these meetings. On his first visits Mahnen- schmidt preached in private homes, school-houses, little log-cabins, and barns, and even under green trees. The first regular place of worship was in the barn owned by Michael Rieth (wrongly spelled Reed), who owned the quarter section north and west of 12th Street and Maple Avenue N.E., originally owned by James Leonard. The spacious threshing floor was the auditorium. The pews, laid on log supports, were rough slabs hauled over from the nearby sawmill. The pulpit was a section of a log tipped on end. Owing to scarcity of hymn books the preacher generally had to read the hymns line by line, the audience singing after him. The services satisfied the social as well as the religious instincts of the people, giving them opportunity to discuss financial and agricultural affairs before and after the meetings. The Reformed and Lutheran pastors were supposed to alternate their preaching, the Reformed preacher serving the Reformed congregation one Sunday and the Lutheran the Lutheran congregation the following sabbath, but the congregations were not discriminating, and very much the same mingled audience came regardless of which preacher came. 58 In summer time the boys and girls generally walked from their homes to the meeting place barefooted, as they do in European peasant regions today, carrying their shoes and stockings, which they slipped on just before approaching the church, and then took off just as promptly after service. Pastor Mahnenschmidt continued to preach in Washington County, Pennsylvania, until 1811, when he was finally licensed to preach. He then came to Columbiana County, visiting Stark County at frequent intervals, preaching at Canton, Warstler, Sherman and Paris Reformed churches until 1818. By 1808 the Methodists were holding services in the new village. Canton at that time came in the Wills Creek circuit, which involved 475 miles and four weeks of traveling by horseback to reach the 201 members. The circuit included Zanesville, Cambridge, Barnesville, Morris- town, New Philadelphia, and Coshocton. The preacher followed up and down the streams where settlers had located, such as the Tuscarawas, Sugar Creek, the Big Sandy, the Stillwater, Salt Creek, and Buffalo Fork. James Watts was circuit preacher in 1808, and James Finley in 1809. 5S All the preaching at Canton at first was conducted in the log-cabin homes of the settlers. The Presbyterians, the fourth denomination to be active in Canton, did not begin holding worship services until 1811. Light is thrown on the religious life of the time by an act of the third assembly passed in 1804-1805, "for the prevention of certain immoral practices." It read as follows:

58 Statement to writer by the Reverend Adolph P. Ebert, Pastor of the First Lutheran Church, November 1, 1941. 6 9 For the Methodist church of Canton before 1810, the only sources available were a Pageant written in 1933 on the occasion of celebrating the 125th Anni- versary of Methodism in Canton, and a series of historical sketches by Miss Jessie Davidson, of Canton, in 1941.

(83) Section 1. Any person found on the Sabbath Day "sporting, gaming, rioting, quarreling, hunting, horse-racing, shooting or common labor (works of necessity excepted) or shall at any time interrupt, molest or disturb any religious society or any member thereof when meeting, or met together for the purpose of worship . . . the person so offending shall . . . be fined . . . not exceeding five dollars. Provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed as to prevent families emigrating from travelling, water men from landing their passengers, or ferry-men from conveying over the water travellers or persons removing their families on the Sabbath Day. Section 2. If any person of 14 years or upwards shall pro- fanely curse, dam or swear by the name of God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost, such offender shall .. . be fined 50 cents for every such offense. Section 3. Cock-fighting, bullet-playing, card-playing and every other species of gambling at hazard or chance, . . . for money or any other article of value, and betting thereon, are hereby prohibited . . . offenders to be fined not to exceed ten dollars. Losers not compelled to pay. Gaming contracts void. Section 4. If any person by being intoxicated shall be found making or exciting any noise, contention or disturbance, at any tavern, court, election or other meeting of the citizens for trans- acting or doing any business ... the offender shall ... be fined not exceeding $2 and if necessary imprisoned till such court election or meeting is over. eo That conditions in Canton conformed to the general low level in the state is indicated by the picture of the youth of the time given by Mahnenschmidt in a biographical sketch. "The youth were," he wrote, "as wild and uncultivated as was the country itself." The Sabbath was devoted to hunting and shooting-matches, the people indulged in drunk- enness and profanity and dancing. Against all these things Mahnen- schmidt took a decided stand. cx Out through Stark County settlers were moving in to their newly purchased lands, erecting log-cabins, and making the first small clear- first crops. Other towns were being founded, platted, and ings for their 2 recorded. Osnaburg, with 160 lots, was recorded May 15, 1806; ' Nimishillen, with 192 lots, May 20, 1806; Bethlehem (now Navarre), with 117 lots, was the fourth village to be recorded, October 4, 1806. Bethlehem was the project of Tunis and Annesly, Philadelphia lawyers, who planned to make of it a Swedenborgion colony. 3 Their agents, Robert Richie, Jr. and Isaac Jenkinson, advertised in the Western Herald, of Steubenville, in August, 1806, as follows:

60 Acts of Ohio, III (1804-05), 218-220. Act XLIII. e 1 Bolliger, First Reformed Church of Canton, 10, 11. 6 2 The plats and dates of record up until Stark County was organized, appear in Deed Record 1 of Columbiana County. 18 Fess, III, Historical Gazeteer of Ohio, 96.

(84) Lots in the Town of Bethlehem will be offered for sale on Tuesday the 21st of October. This town handsomely situated on the East Bank of the Tus- carawas River in Columbiana County, about twelve miles northwest of the corner of the old Seven ranges, and nine miles S. W. of Canton A state road is already opened from Steubenville to the said corner of the seven ranges, from whence it will shortly be extended to this town, where it will be intersected by others leading from NewLisbon, Nimishillen, Osnaburgh and Canton, on a direction to the new purchase lately made by Congress. A valuable and extensive body of land lies in the neighborhood which is rapidly settling, the produce of which may be transported from this place by water to the Ohio. G The first enterprises at Bethlehem were a sawmill and a store. In the same vicinity were started the villages of Navarre and Rochester. The three villages were eventually merged into the Navarre of today. Calcutta, on the Tuscarawas River, near present Clinton in Summit County, with 99 lots, was recorded October 23, 1806, and Pekin, with 48 lots, September 22, 1808. Each town had its proprietor. In those days each town started out with somebody owning it. Of the six towns platted and recorded before 1810, Canton is one of the two which have survived to the present time under its original name; Osnaburgh survives as East Canton, Bethlehem as Navarre, Pekin is now in Carroll County and the others have disappeared. By 1810 Stark County, with boundaries 5 larger than at present, had about 3,000 population. 6 In 1809 taxes were for the first time imposed on Stark County residents. A sum of twenty one dollars, thirty-five cents and seven and a half mills was collected from holders of 2,721 acres of second class land and 190 acres of poor dass land. No land was listed as best grade for farming. 6 One problem has always plagued and handicapped Canton, ever since the first year that Bezaleel Wells picked out this height of land between the two branches of the Nimishillen on which to start his new town- and that has been transportation. In the early days transportation meant navigation. One of the earliest letters that have come down in Bezaleel Wells's handwriting has to do with this problem. It was written from Steubenville on March 14, 1807 to Samuel Huntington of Cleveland, the same Samuel Huntington who in 1802 fought off a pack of wolves at Euclid Avenue and 55th Street with an umbrella, who afterwards sat in the State Constitutional Convention with Wells, and who became Ohio's third governor, 1809-1811. The letter read as follows: I presume that before this you have read notice of your appointment, as a Commissioner with several Gentlemen in your neighborhood, to institute a lottery to raise money to improve

6* Western Herald, August 30, 1806. 0 Fess, III, Historical Gazeteer, 96. oA4cts of Ohio, VIII, 397, 398. Tax schedule for 1809.

(85) the navigation of the Guyahoga [sic] & Muskingum rivers, etc. Mr. Z. A. Beatty, Mr. Shorb & myself are also included in the number of Commissioners and would be glad to hear from you as soon as you have appointed a time and place of meeting. It is of importance that the Scheme should be determined on so the tickets got into market as early as possible as there are three lotteries to be instituted in the State. I am Dr Sir, respectfully Your obdt Sert Bez Wells. 67 The next letter, on April 27, is full of interest to Cantonians. in giving the relations of Bezaleel Wells to John Shorb and Zaccheus Beatty in the navigation problem, and in giving the route to follow from Canton to Cleaveland: Yours of the 5th curtt is this moment recd. Some time since I had written to you that the 11th next month was fixed on as the time of the first meeting of the commission, but upon your suggestion I have deferred it until the Monday following vizt the 18th of May and I have given notice to Maj-Cap & thru him to Mr. Adams. This step had become absolutely necessary to insure the attendance of either of us from this place-my indis- position has increased since I wrote before and I am now under a mercurial course, that must by advice of my Physicians by [sic] continued for some time. Procrastinating the time .will therefore afford me some hope of being able to attend.-Mr. Shorb has been delayed much longer than he expected, in removing to Canton & could not possibly attend against the 11th & the movements of Mr. Beatty is at all times uncertain. I expect he could not be induced to attend unless with Mr. Shorb or myself. I am obliged by your information of the proper rout to Cleaveland-business will lead me by Canton, from whence I will go by.the portage & Norton's Mills, unless I hear that the Cuyahoga will be impassible. I am Dr Sir very respectfully Your obdt Serv Bez Wells Saml Huntington, Esq. 68 The commission appointed to conduct a lottery to improve navigation was established February 3, 1807 by the first session of the fifth General Assembly of the State Legislature, of which Bezaleel's friend and associate, William R. Dickinson, was clerk. It was entitled "To raise money by lottery to improve the navigation of the Cuyahoga and Muskingum Rivers," and the portage between. The amount to be raised

67 In Rice MSS., Ohio Archaeological and Historical Library, Columbus. 68 Ibid.

(86) 6 was set at $12,000, and the lottery was to be completed June 1, 1811. 9 The scheme was advertised by the twelve commissioners in the Western Herald in September 1807. 70 The schedule of lottery tickets and prizes called for the sale of 12,800 tickets at $5.00 each, totaling $64,000. Prizes were offered totaling $64,000, but subject to a 121/2 percent discount, which would create a fund of $8,000 towards the improvement of navigation. The list of prizes was as follows: 1 Prize $5,000 $5,000 2 Prizes 2,500 5,000 5 Prizes 1,000 5,000 10 Prizes 500 5,000 50 Prizes 100 5,000 100 Prizes 50 5,000 3,400 Prizes 10 34,000

3,568 Prizes $64,000 The drawings were to commence at Cleaveland the first Monday of January 1808, or as soon as three-fourths of the tickets had been sold. The prizes were to be paid in sixty days after the drawing was completed. The commissioners who signed the advertisement, took the oath, and gave the bonds required by law, were leading figures in the Steuben- ville, Marietta, and Cleaveland areas. They were, besides Samuel Hunt- ington, Bezaleel Wells, and John Shorb, Jonathan Cass, Seth Adams, Amos Spafford, John Walworth, Z. A. Beatty, Lorenzo Carter, Jno. Kingsbury, Turhand Kirtland, and Timothy Doane. The Steubenville tickets were in the hands of Bezaleel Wells and Z. A. Beatty. These ambitious plans apparently failed as ingloriously as the sale of Canton real estate by means of a horse-race. The lottery came up before the legislature in 1810, and was amended January 4, 1811., The commissioners were authorized to alter, modify or reduce their former lottery scheme, and also to divide the said lottery into as many classes as they judge expedient, and regulate the sale of the tickets and the drawing of the lottery in such a manner as they may deem necessary: Provided, the last class of the drawing of such lottery be completed on or before the first day of June, 1814. Notice of alteration was to be given and former purchasers of tickets informed how they were to be entitled to their money. 71 The next year the legislature again acted, named Samuel Smith Baldwin as one of the commissioners, with instructions "to draw the lottery at the seat of government, or elsewhere within the state as they shall think best." 72 The War of 1812 was apparently the finishing blow. There was no further record in the legislature, and the navigation of the Cuyahoga- Tuscarawas-Muskingum was never improved. Canton remained isolated from the outside world.

6 Acts of Ohio, V (1806-1807), 74, 75, Chapter XVIII. 70 Western Herald, September 12, 1807. 1 Acts of Ohio, IX (1810-1811), 9. 72 Ibid., X (1811-1812), 124-125, February 20, 1812

(87) As Bezaleel Wells looked back over the first five years of founding and settling Canton, he reviewed a less satisfactory experience than he had enjoyed at Steubenville. The financial investment at Canton and in Stark County was comparable to that at Steubenville and in Jefferson County. More promotion had been required, and much time consumed traveling back and forth. Payments on promised sales had been harder to collect, and forfeitures had been more general. Over most of the period Wells was kept uncertain regarding the location of the county seat, which involved the success or failure of his whole enterprise. The absence of navigation added another burdensome problem. At the end of five years of struggle, strain, and outlay, Wells could boast of but 30 or 35 inhabitants in his new county seat, whereas in the same period after its founding Steubenville had about 300 population, and was important enough to be one of four or five most favored sites for capital of the territory. It had one of the four land-offices in the state, and the circuit courts added to its prestige and dignity. With a strategic situation on the navigable Ohio River, it was one of the largest and fastest growing towns in the new state. Wells must have faced the question whether it were not better to cut his losses on the Canton and Stark County investments, and concentrate on his highly successful Steubenville enter- prize, which by 1809 must have represented a population of 700 or 800. But in a frontier community where it was customary for men to be constantly abandoning one kind of business venture to begin another with fairer prospects, Wells consistently continued in his carefully selected undertakings. If new ones were ventured they were additional instead of substitutes. Despite the discouragements, he not only retained faith in his Canton and Stark County investments, but, as the following chapters will relate, actually expanded his real estate operations in Stark and adjacent counties.

(88 ) CHAPTER VI Madison, The Town That Foundered 1805-1814 By 1809 Bezaleel Wells had established himself as the largest landowner and real estate operator in southeastern Ohio. The county records of both Jefferson and Stark Counties already listed more transactions under his name than under that of any other individual. His pre- eminence as a real estate operator was to grow during the following twenty years, so that no one since has rivalled or even approached his record in these two counties, either in the number of transactions, or in the extent of the lands bought and sold, or in the proportion of his holdings to the total land values. 1 His name appeared to have a magic in the sphere of land speculation and the founding of towns that commanded universal confidence and respect. This same year, 1809, however spelled failure for a new town-founding venture, by Bezaleel Wells in the county of Wayne, then organizing on Stark County's western border. Just as Wells had picked the county seats for Jefferson and Stark Counties, he sought to pick the county seat for Wayne County. The town he platted he named Madison. How Madison became the county seat, only to be rejected, and vacated, forms a significant turning point in Well's career. It marks the end of his land expansion and town-founding program, and a shift to banking and manufacturing. In the study of the town founding phase of Well's career, it therefore deserves special consideration. The approach to the Wayne County venture lay in Columbiana County, whose county seat, New Lisbon, functioned also as county seat for Stark and Wayne Counties from August 1805 until March 1809. While waiting for Canton's fate to be decided Wells improved his opportunities in Columbiana County, investing in government lands there, and disposing of his purchases to advantage. His operations were on a lesser scale than in Jefferson and Stark counties, but they could be engaged in conveniently, as New Lisbon lay midway between Steubenville and Canton, the most suitable overnight stopping point on any of the three possible routes between Steubenville and Canton. The route through present Carroll County (now auto route number 43), which was opened in 1806, had no midway tavern at first. The route through Cadiz to Bethlehem had no satisfactory midway point until New Philadelphia was laid out in the summer of 1808. 2 Moreover, there was as yet no road between Bethlehem and Canton in 1806, it being still prospective. The fact that the sixty to seventy mile horse-back ride from Steuben- ville to Canton, by whichever route followed, was a two-day horse back 1Apparent by glancing through the index records of deeds in both counties, and the common judgment of attorneys consulted in both counties. 2 The Western Herald, August 5, 1808.

(89) ride and the further fact that Wells was generally accompanied by his wife, when any deeds were to be signed, favored the New Lisbon route. New Lisbon was laid out February 16, 1803, by Lewis Kinney, in anticipation of securing the county seat. 3 He donated lots for a school, a courthouse, and a graveyard-perhaps the source of the idea later carried out by Wells at Canton. Within less than six weeks, on March 25, 1803, Columbiana County was formed from Jefferson and Wash- ington counties, the bill being signed by Governor Edward Tiffin, April 16, 1803, while Wells was sitting in the state senate. New Lisbon did not immediately become the county seat. The first courts were held in the barn of Mathias Lower, a native of Maryland, in Fairfield Township. Here, in the course of its travels as imposed by the state constitution, came the State Supreme Court, and held its sitting in Lower's barn June 14, 1803, with Samuel Huntington and William Sprigg on the bench, and Reasin Beall as clerk. Six weeks later, on July 26, the Common Pleas Court met in the same barn, with Calvin Pease as Presiding Judge, assisted by Associate Judges William Smith, Henry Bachman, and Robert Simison. When the Grand Jury met it appointed Obadiah Jennings the first prosecuting attorney, John Crozer the first sheriff, and Reasin Beall the first clerk. Beall had been one of Wells's first customers in the purchase of Steubenville lots. 4 Not until August 22, 1805 did New Lisbon become the county seat, when the Supreme Court moved its sittings to that point. But the tiny log court house with jail attached, started by Kinney in 1803, and costing $150, did not yet have its court-room ready, and the Supreme Court met in Christian Smith's tavern. William Larwell was appointed first "inspector of flour," June 18, 1805. Elderkin Potter became county prosecutor in 1806, with a salary of $80 per annum. Isaac Pearce became sheriff, and was succeeded by David Scott in 1807, the same year that William Heald became first county surveyor. The establishments of a typical frontier town quickly appeared. Daniel Harbaugh established the first tannery in 1804, Jacob Hostetter of Switzerland the first clock and watchmaking shop in 1805, David Hostetter another tavern in 1806, and in the same year John Small opened the first gun-making establishment. Before the year 1806 was out Gideon Hughes erected an iron furnace northeast of town. Also that!iyear the first school house was built of logs with clapboard roof. The Reverend Thomas Rigdon, a Baptist preacher and later county representative, taught in the school, which was later replaced by a hewn-log school building in which David McKinley, grandfather of William, at one time taught. This same David McKinley is also reputed to have operated the first blast iron furnace west of the Alleghanies, at a spot three miles west of New Lisbon, now a park owned by the Columbiana County Boy Scouts. William McKinley's mother, Nancy Allison, lived in New Lisbon as early as 1808, residing in a log-house still standing, weatherboarded and occupied, at the east end of Lincoln Way, beyond the lumber yard.

8 For the early history of Columbiana County, see Harold B. Barth, History of Columbiana County. (Topeka, Kansas, 1926) 70-77, 344. 4 Deed Record Book A, Jefferson County, Steubenville.

(90) By 1809, when Canton had five or six log-cabins and 27 inhabitants, and Cleaveland less than 150 population, New Lisbon contained more than 60 houses, a number being of brick and stone. This would mean a population of about 300. With roads converging upon the new Columbiana County seat from Steubenville, Fawcettstown (East Liver- pool), and Pittsburgh, and diverging from New Lisbon to Youngstown, Warren, Cleaveland, and other points in the Western Reserve, as well as westward to the new county seat at Canton, New Lisbon had become one of the most important road junctions in the State, and the overland "Gateway" to western and northern Ohio. The post-office was established in 1809. The mails, which had been irregular, were this same year established on a weekly horseback service with Pittsburgh. John Depue and later Horace Daniels, the pioneer carriers, utilized two horses, riding the one and driving the other in advance with the mail- bags strapped upon it. Barth relates the spectacular entrance of the mail carrier into town. As he neared it, "he would sound his horn which was a signal for right of way from all vehicles and travelers for the government business." 5 The first minister was John Stough [sic], the same German Lutheran pastor who came to Canton in 1806. He was granted the first license "to solemnize marriage contracts" in New Lisbon the same year. The following year came the Reverend Clement Vallandigham, who was ordained and installed as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, June 24, 1807. The early settlers were mostly thrifty, industrious Quakers, Presby- terians, and German Lutherans, from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, a number coming via Steubenville. They were so law-abiding that the tiny first jail was adequate for forty years. Bezaleel Wells was early alive to the growing importance of this adjoining county to the north of Jefferson-in fact, a former part of the county of which he had served as first clerk and probate judge. He had already'purchased some lands in this region from the U. S. Government while it was still Jefferson County. After Columbiana County was organized he increased his purchases within the present limits of the County, many of them being purchased in June, July, and August, 1806, 6 paralleling his purchases in present Stark County. The Columbiana purchases were mostly in the second and third ranges (seven to eighteen miles from the Pennsylvania border). His Columbiana County sales began in August 1806. In that year he sold 1,449 acres for $3,818.20; the following year, 1,592 acres for $4,286.50; this was followed by the sale of 956 acres for $2,965 in 1808. Thus, in the three years that he was stalled in the Canton enterprise because of uncertainty regarding the county seat, he recorded sales in Columbiana wilderness lands of 3,997 acres for $11,069.70 upon which his gross profits must have been $3,075. After Canton became county seat, the growing Stark County investments overshadowed the Columbiana operations. The latter sales dropped to 1,527.7 acres for $4,565 for the five years 1809- 1814, representing a profit of $1,510. These profits, amounting to 38% 65 Barth, Columbiana County 344. Deed Record A of Columbiana County, Lisbon, Ohio.

(91) on the sales 1806-1808, and 50% during the years 1809-1814, or 41.5% for the whole period, were considerably less both in amount and percent than on the earlier Steubenville and later Stark County operations. For Bezaleel Wells Columbiana County was distinctly a fill-in. Out through the present limits of Columbiana County new towns were being platted. Surveyor Heald laid out Salem with 54 lots May 15, 1806; Waterford with 13 lots December 1, 1806; Fairfield with 45 lots January 8, 1807; Lexington, with 36 lots, March 5, 1807; and Alexandria, with 48 lots, April 19, 1808. Towns platted by other surveyors and recorded in Deed Record Book A were Columbiana, with 58 lots, August 22, 1805; New Garden with 64 lots, October 26, 1807; and Damascus with 72 lots, April 8, 1808. As in the other counties, each town had its proprietor or proprietors. While the rapidly settling lands of Columbiana County attracted Wells's attention as a land speculator, the more pioneer conditions of Wayne County appealed to his town-founding instincts. For the founding of Madison, he picked the exact time when Canton became the county seat not only of Stark County, but, for three years, of Wayne County. 8 And for an associate, he selected John Shorb, one of the most prominent early settlers of Canton, who had a Steubenville residence previous to coming to Canton. He had already been associated with Wells on the board of commissioners appointed by the state legislature to raise $12,000 by lottery to improve the navigation of the Cuyahoga- Tuscarawas Rivers. These two proprietors laid out the town of Madison on an eminence overlooking the Apple Creek Valley, on. the north half of section 15 of township 15, Range 13 west, the present site of the State Agricultural Experiment Station, a mile southeast of Wooster." This was one of the four most central sections of the township, and one of the two that lay due west from Canton, in the natural line of extension of the New- Lisbon Canton road. The other section, number 16, being the section reserved for school support, was unavailable. The plat, with its 270 lots, was laid off April 10, 1809, and recorded at Canton June 20. The lay- out resembled the Canton plat in having North and South Streets as the northern and southern boundaries, a public square in the center two blocks long and a block wide, and alleys 30 feet wide. It differed from Canton and reverted to the Steubenville pattern in having a rectangular, instead of a square shape, measuring twelve blocks 16ng, and seven blocks wide; in having lots that measured 60 by 180 feet; and in having no blocks donated for school, church, or graveyard purposes. Between the two central east and west streets, Washington and Wayne, that bordered the square, a 20 foot alley cut down the size of the lots to 80 feet in length. The plat differed from both Canton and Steuben- 7 Ibid. 8 Until March 1, 1812, Randolph C. Downes, "Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XXVI (1927), 379, 386. 9 Indenture Record A, Recorder's office, Stark County, Canton, Ohio. The Plat of Madison is on page 3, recorded on page 4.

(92) wIz

[16W [1

*s'~F!c T1 Plat of Madison, Wayne County

(93) ville in having all streets 60 feet wide, having no 66 foot street, as Market Street was in Steubenville, nor any 80 foot or 100 foot streets, as in Canton. No street was named Market. Five of the short streets were numbered Second to Sixth inclusive. The east and west boundaries were named East and West Streets. The alleys were named Killbuck, Gum, Portage, Hickory, Oak, Poplar, Plum, and Walnut. The central short street, north and south, was not named on the plat. Madison contained 84 blocks compared with 100 for Canton and 24 for Steubenville. The plat was more crowded, like Steubenville, without the distinction, spaciousness, or generous donations of the Canton plat. At the time Wells and Shorb laid off Madison, Canton, with only a half dozen lots sold and recorded, represented a three year failure from a selling and advertising viewpoint. Steubenville, without the fancy frills, had been successful from the start. It was natural and logical to abandon the progressive town planning ideas of Canton, and return to the strictly commercial lay-out of Steubenville. At first the judgment of Wells and Shorb seemed to have been justified. The first commissioners appointed by the State legislature designated Madison as County seat. 10 The magic of the name of Bezaleel Wells had again apparently won the day, and successfully laid the foundations of a third town. But this time the project suffered a reverse. The course of events is not easy to follow, but enough is known to make clear that in this last town-founding venture in his career Bezaleel Wells ran into powerful opposition. Jacob Burnet, keen interpreter of the settlement of the Northwest Territory, has described the sharp political practice that centered around the problem of erecting new counties and locating county-seats, and of their great influence on land values. 11 Of all the struggles over county-seats in Ohio, Wells's and Shorb's town of Madi- son was not only one of the longest drawn out, but involved the most sensational legislation in the state's early history so far as county-seats are concerned. So much occurred behind the scenes, and so little came into the record, that much must be left to the imagination. But quite evidently, Madison, and its rival Wooster, were the pawns in a battle of financial and political giants, as measured by the standards of that day. The town of Wooster had been laid off and recorded ten months before Madison was recorded. John Bever, William Henry and Joseph H. Larwell of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, had in the spring of 1808, purchased from the United States Government land on sections four and nine, Township 15, Range 13, where Wooster now stands, and recorded the Plan for Wooster at New-Lisbon August 20, 1808, Reasin Beall signing as recorder. 12 This land had been surveyed by the government in 1807, having been ceded by the Indians in the Fort Industry Treaty July 4, 1805. Wooster's plan, though smaller, closely resembled the

10 Ben Douglass, History of Wayne County, Ohio (Indianapolis, 1878), 284. x1Jacob Burnet, Notes on the Early Settlement of the Northwestern Territory (New York, 1847), 358. 12 Record of Deeds 17, Wayne County, Recorder's Office, Wooster, p. 836. Same was copied March 30, 1838 from the original plan recorded at New Lisbon August 20, 1808.

(94) Canton plat which had been recorded at New-Lisbon nearly three years earlier. It was square, measuring eight blocks each way, or 64 blocks in all. The 188 lots were all 60 by 180 feet. There was a square in the center of town two blocks long by a block wide. The main east and west street, Liberty, and the main north and south street, Market, were 80 feet wide, while all the other streets were 60 feet. The alleys were 20 feet. The other streets were named Grant, Walnut, Buckeye, Bever, Larwell, North, South, and Henry. Joseph Larwell and his two brothers, William and John, promptly came as the first settlers to Wooster, built the first "log temple" in the town and county on East Liberty Street, and helped to get the road through from Massillon to Wooster in 1808. This first county road,13 was, accordingly, already opened, at least to the extent of a bridle trail, when, in April 1809, Wells and Shorb selected the Madison site, a mile south of its course. Wooster kept on growing. Joseph Stibbs of Canton built the first grist-mill in the vicinity of Wooster in 1809. The same year William Larwell, who had been New Lisbon's first "flour inspector," started the first store. John Bever built the first brick house in 1810. Benjamin Jones of Youngstown and Betty Scott opened the second store in 1811. Wooster was rapidly developing into a hustling frontier village. Meanwhile no settlers came to Madison; only one building was erected within its limits. In the absence of any contemporary explanation, two or three reasons suggest why Madison was unable to meet the competition of Wooster. First and foremost was the fact that it was off the road. A second reason appears in the sponsorship. Wooster was being settled mainly by Scotch-Irish, mostly anti-Federalist, from Western Pennsylvania, Columbiana County, and the Mahoning Valley. Wooster's early settlers had connections with New Lisbon and Youngstown, both comparatively well settled communities, and capable of sending settlers on to more western outposts. Madison, on the other hand, was founded by Federalist sponsors, with Canton, Stark County, and Steubenville as its main centers to draw upon for settlers. Canton had but a tiny population of about 30 when Madison was founded-too small to permit migration to support a further outpost. Steubenville was far away and Canton was absorbing its migratory powers. But more fundamental than road or sponsorship was doubtless the general political situation and the change in the land-office setup. In these fields a revolution had taken place in a decade and a half. When Bezaleel Wells and James Ross founded Steubenville, the land laws required such large down payments that they offered great advantage to the Federalist leaders of Pittsburgh with their strong financial resources and powerful connections. But since then political power had swung away from the Federalists to the Republicans and land laws had been so liberalized that the mass of immigrants could buy their own lands. By 1810 there were said to be 3,000 settlers already on their lands within the present confines of Stark County, and others pressing on to farm lands in Wayne County and further west. But these were settlers, rather 8 a Douglass, History of Wayne County, 285.

(95) *than speculators; they .:were interested in farm, lands 'rather:than- town lots. Moreover the-political complexion of Ohio had changed vastly from the-days' when Federalist Arthur St. Clair was governor: The Republicans outnumbered the Federalists better than- two' to one, and the power of the Federalists resided only in their ability to divide the Republicans into Chillicothe and -anti-Chillicothe camps. Popularizing the Republican support.among the mass- of the frontier settlers was the society of St. Taminmany, which, swept the state of Ohio iii 1810 and 1811 with its Indian ritual, wigwams, -sachems, wiskinkis, and sag-amores. Federalist leaders were suspect.. A. new. town with a Federalist proprietor- was a place.to be--avoided.:The ---ever .active Republican grapevine would be working overtime in.favor of towns with politcally sympathetic proprietors. Political power"was at stake..It would be interesting to study the towns of this period, with reference to'the political affiliation of the town proprietors, and see what part that factor might have played in the relative gr'owth of new communities. The Federalism of 'its founders may have .played a part..in-retarding Canton's early.growth. A 'isproportionate "part of Canton's earliest settlers appear to have been Steubenville acquaintances whom Bezaleel Wells could persuade personally to migrate to Canton. Wooster, with its Scotch-Irish proprietors ,. And.-early. f'settlers, naturally fell..into the popular Republican camp; a pulling power for settlers. As settlers-flocked, in- to the land-office at Canton to buy Wayne County lands,: it would be easy for the Jefferson- appointed- land-commissioner, with perfect sincerity,'- to point out the ndai'tages of"-Wooster, and- its, superior chances of becoming -the county seat. The:influence of Ross and Wells had doubtless helped to bring the"first land-office in! the Seven..Ranges to Steubenville in 1801, and Steubenville had, greatly, profited from its operations. Probably encouraged by that experience, Wels had influence& the establishment of a new land-office at Canton in 1806.(But. there itworked- out differently. As the 'Republicans, gained -political-power° in- state and nation, the land- . office administration .came..increasingly 'under their control. In 1812 Congress created the new office of Commissioner of Public Lands, and Edward.. Tiffin,.:the arch political foe of'-Ohio's Federalists, was appointed by President Madison as first ..commissioner. 14" Reasin Iseall of Colum- biana County'-was erving under him as registrar. of the. Canton land- office. in: April. 1815, and announcing' the removal of the land-office froniaCantn to Woo~ester in 'the firt iSsses ;!of the lc.i Repository: published', at Canton. 15 The land-office had ceased to. be'.:a happy hunting ground for Federalists. The struggle between anti-Federalist Wooster and Federalist Madison came to its decision during this-,period of increasing' control and- regulation of the land-office administration by the Republicans. :.r Madison's only hope lay in getting the proposed new road from Canton to Mansfield routed through its location instead of through 2"William T. Utter, The Frontier State (Columbus, Ohio, 1942),.117. This is Vol. II in the series Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio. 15Ohio Repository, May 4, 1815.

(96) Wooster. On February 20, 1810 the state legislature appropriated from the three percent funds $410 for a road from Canton to the eastern boundary of Richiand County "on the best direction towards the town of Mansfield." 16 Two commissioners were appointed for every new road, who were to receive two dollars a mile for their services in surveying . possible-routes and selecting the proper courses. 17 John. Sharp [Shorb]-18 and- Joseph H. Larwell were appointed as.-the commissioners for- the'road from .Canton through Stark' and .Wayne Coun s to.'Richland' County: In view of the:fact. that John Shorb was a:partner proprietor in' one -rival ±ownsite, and.-Joseph Larwell one' of the::thre proprietors of the other. rival, it is not surprising that t'hey could .not agree on the route Nearly a- year weit by,: with no decision Then . on January 16, 1811 :-e state legislature,. by special act, 19 ordered as follows: :That: there shall be one commissioner 'appointed by joint resolution of .both houses..of the general ssembly, to act jointly with John Shorb :and .Joseph H: Larwvell$ in':laying out the money appropriated bythe above recited ac,;to .be .:laid -out. in opening and making. a road from the town of Canton, Starrk onty,tothe' wsten . boudary of ' Wayne County,.. in .the direction to the seat of justice, in Richland County;.. -other:

similarly for other roads. . . "'.'*.. Six days lateroohn January 22 ,.1811, the legisatiure passed a resoktion appointing commissioners to fix the seat of justice for Wayne County.. The commissioners named were Jabez Wright of Huron County, 'Henri Aten 'of Colimbiana County, and James Moore of 'Jefferson :County. They were instructed to make report thereof "td the next. court of common pleas 'to be' held in the county of Stark. 2 In .due. time the commissioners-, reported to:the common pleas 'court, at Canton,. .and the standing and-.influence of. Bezaleel Wells were sufficient -.to.'-swing the decision in favor of the town of Madison, despite the fact that only one building had been erected on its site. Meanwhile.the enterprising citizens- of: Wooster were letting no grass grow under their feet. By special act of the legislature on December17, 1811 .they incorporated the Wooster Library Society, the' first library incorporation in the State. 21 Nathaniel .Hamilton, Simeon Deming, and -William Ford 'and their associates were the.shareholders. The act for the organization,.of Wayne County was passed by the legislature. January 4, 1812. 22 The organization was to go into effect March 1, 1812;Pending that time Canton was to continue to serve as the seat of justice for 'Wayne County "as though the County of Wayne had not been organized" and all suits and

16 Acts of, Ohio, VIII (1809--1810), 202-213. Chapter LV, se. 12. 17 Ibid., see. 32. 18 Ibid., Resolution,:p 357. The' name was given as' John-Sharp int.his resolution, but was referred to as John Shorb when the name of the third commissioner was reported a year later, X,. 207. 19 Laws, of Ohio, IX (1810-1811), 2 5,Chapter- X1T, Sec. 2. 20 Ibid., IX, 92,, under Resolutions. 2 2Ibid., X (1811-1812), 17, Chapter X,:..'. actions, whether of a civil or of a criminal nature were to be prosecuted to final judgment and execution at Canton. Not until this same tenth session of the legislature, in 1812, were the names reported under special resolution of the legislature, of the third commissioners for the road from Canton to Mansfield. The names were George Clark of Canton for Stark County and Robert McClaran for Wayne County. 23 But, significantly, the road is specified as "leading from New-Lisbon through Canton to Wooster," for George Clark; and "from Canton through Wooster to Mansfield" for Robert McClaran. Between the appointment of the commissioners January 22, 1811, to fix the county-seat, and the naming of these third commissioners for the road February 21, 1812, the fateful decision to run the road through Wooster and by-pass Madison had been made. But the tradition that the state legislature had appointed new commissioners under pressure from Wooster is not borne out by the laws recorded. Nowhere were such new commissioners reported either by act or resolution. The change of heart is explained, however, by certain unusual pieces of legislation, contained in Chapter LVII of the laws passed by the eleventh general assembly February 10, 1814. This unique chapter, under the heading of appropriations under the 3 percent, read as follows: Whereas, an appropriation of money was made for a new road to be laid out from Canton, in Stark County through Wayne County and to Mansfield, by an Act passed February 20, 1810; and owing to certain circumstances, the money so appropriated was not all expended within the time limited by the 5th section of the act, Therefore, Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Ohio That the treasury of this state, is hereby authorized and required to pay out of the money in the 3% fund the full amount of the money appropriated on the road .. . making further appropriation of the 3% fund granted by the United States for laying out, opening and making roads in this state; S. . anything in the 5th section of the act to which this act is supplementary, to the contrary notwithstanding. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted That a sum not exceeding $3,000 of the 3% fund be and the same is hereby appropriated for the payment of the commissioners appointed to lay out this road and such other commissioners appointed by a joint resolution of both houses of the general assembly, February 21, 1812, as have not been paid for their services. 24 As has been referred to before, the payment of road commissioners at two dollars a mile was first proposed in the act of February 20, 1810, when there were two commissioners appointed for each new road. The distance from Canton to Mansfield is 62 miles. For two commissioners the cost would have been $124; under the three commissioner plan, $186. Clearly $3,000 was a very exceptional variation.

23 Ibid., X, 207. 4 Ibid., XI (1813-1814), 171, 172, Chapter LVII.

(98) Up to this date, no legislation had made any exception to the $2 per mile rate. At the best it can be interpreted as an example of loosening of public purse strings under the impetus of a war economy. It has the strong suggestion of salve for wounded pride and thwarted plans in influential quarters. Perhaps the sequel found in the court records of Wayne County, W dated February 21, 1814, could be accepted by its participants with a measure of equanimity, in view of the legislative appropriation of $3,000 eleven days previously, though it contains the sad story of the demise and death of Madison, a town that died "abornin." 2" The record reads: Bezaleel Wells, John Shorb and Joseph Dorsey, proprietors of the town of Madison, ... having, according to the conditions of the sale of lots in said town, returned the sums of money heretofore received of the purchasers of said lots, and taken up their respective certificates therefor, whereby they are the sole proprietors and owners of said town, and the lots therein, by John Goodenow, their attorney, applied to the Court, then in session, February 21, 1814, to vacate the same, according to the provisions of the statute in such cases made and provided. Whereupon the Court, at its April session, 1814, following a hearing before the judges April 25, decided that the townplat of the town of Madison, in the county of Wayne, be vacated. The judgment was handed down May 5. The name of the town is preserved in the present village of Madisonburg three miles north of Wooster.o Thus, anticipating Napoleon, Bezaleel Wells met a Waterloo a year before the French Emperor's career ended. Madison marked the western most point in Well's operations. The failure of Madison turned back his land domain from its westward course, and from this point on he concentrated on the consolidation of his interests in the territory already mapped out, in Stark and Jefferson counties. In fact, there are indications that he never took Madison seriously, but that he was prevailed upon to lend his name to the enterprise, rather than be the projector and guiding spirit of the venture himself. The Wayne County records reveal that aside from a quarter section of land purchased from the United States Government a dozen years later, in 1825, and sold in 1827, not a single acre of Wayne County land was recorded in his name. The whole enterprise bears the earmarks of an amateur, rather than the skilled touch of a master town-builder. Nowhere else did Bezaleel Wells show such poor guessing as to road connections or convenience of location. Nowhere else was there failure to settle his townsite for a four or five year period. Nowhere else was the selection of a townsite unaccompanied by heavy investment in neighboring tracts of wilderness. Whatever the explanation, the funeral of Madison was taken by Bezaleel

25 Wayne County Deed Record 6, pages 26 and 27. 26 James A. Caldwell, History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio (Wheel- ing, W. Va., 1880), 478 (but the town is erroneously called Wayne instead of Madison). 27 An act providing for the vacating of town plats was passed by the tenth general assembly December 21, 1811. Laws of Ohio, X, p. 10, Chapter VI.

(99) Wells without interruption to his other operations which moved ahead on a constantly and rapidly increasing scale. To him Madison was e Adently just a minor .incident. But it marked the transition from the townlfounding and land buying phase of his career,, to the -banking*anid manufacturing phase. He continued 'to deal extensively in rea estate .in both Steubenville and Canton, but it was mostly the sellingof previsly acquired property,and his profits, instead of being turned bck'.. intoprey' the purchase of more land, were converted into banking and *ianu .. facturing capital, which enlterprises commanded nore: and" niore of.:his: time and energies. . :. ; : t

(100) CHAPTER VII "Canton's Founder* Philanthropist 1809 1814 The same year, 1814, that witnessed the final liquidation of Well's venture -at Madison, saw also the culmination of his philanthropic program for Canton; when he turned over'to the Stark County commissioners 150 or over one-half of his 285 lots. This gift followed live years of steady-growth in Canton. The status of'county-seat immediately made the new town more attractive to settlers, and. Well's sales both of town- lots and wilderness tracts jumped up to a -level approaching the first five years of Steubenville sales after the founding of 'that town. In 1809 twenty lots were recorded as sold for $727; in 1810, sixteen lots for $550.50; in 1811 twentylots, for $616.75; and in 1812 thirteen for $1280.75, one of which, lot .number 54 sold to William Raynolds, Jr. for $600. This was the northwest corner of present Market Ave., South, and 3rd Streets. Sales dropped in'181 3 to three lots for $100, and in 181.4, six lots for $92. -For the six years after Canton became County Seat' sales were 78 lots for $3f,367. This compared with 80 lots and a value' of $3,766.36 for the first five years at 'Steubenville, a very fair showing considering the greater inaccessibility and lack of water transportation at Canton'" As in Jefferson County, Bezaleel's primary. interest' lay in 'the wilderness tracts. He. continued to buy lands arund Canton, and began selling them during these- years. He purchased two more quarter sections in ;1806 for $708.66, another quarter in. 1811 for $372.11aand two more in 1812 for. $712.0.5. This'added five. .onre quarter sections, at a cost of $1,792.82, during the years 1806-1812. Adding the purchases for the year 1805 gave a total of 35 quarter 'sections for $13,532.97, pur- chasd from'the United States Governrment, at $2 per' acre. 2 .-Wells"began selling ,his .wilderness. tracts in present Stark County in 1806;' in -~which" year he sold 809.acres in Osnaburg township for $2,018.30, which were recorded at.New.-Lisbon. Ini'1809 he sold 220 acres fori802.08;' in 1810, 10, acres fof $ 50; in 1811, 384 acres for $1,398; in 1812,-24625 acres fQr $ 1,015; in .1813, 21.66 acres for $240; and in..1814 479.47.. acres for .$2,15Q.38. From 1806 to 1814 inclusive he "sold 2150.38"acres for $7,188.28, on which the purchase price had been $4,300. This compared with:2,626;iacres sold for $10,487.87 during

1 For list of the"sales of Canton lots 1809-1814 sce Appendix IV. 2For list of Wells's purchases of land in Stark County from the U.S. see Appendix II. The dates when the lands were patented (on completion of payment) began June.3, 1806, and continued through'October 20,' 1824, being signed by Presidents Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. Duplicate records, replacing lost ones, were signed by recent presidents, including Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. They are recorded in volumes 35 to 1257,.County Recorder's office, Canton, Ohio.

(101) the first five years at Steubenville. But where there was a 100% gross profit on the Steubenville tracts, the Canton tracts, costing as much per acre, sold at a lower price, yielding a gross profit of 67%, spread over five years. All except two or three sections of the government lands of Canton Township had been purchased by 1814. Nine of the purchases were from Steubenville, sixteen from Columbiana County, three from Stark County, making 28 from Stark and the adjoining counties of Columbiana and Jefferson. Of the remaining 34 whose addresses were known, 28 came from the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, five coming from Bezaleel's old home county of Washington. Most of them came from the western Pennsylvania counties, eight being from Westmoreland County, three from Beaver, two each from Somerset, Philadelphia, Center, and Franklin counties, and one each from Huntington, Adams, Fayette, and Hamp- shire counties. The adjoining state of Virginia sent two more. The great majority of the purchasers of government land in Canton Township, 50 out of 74, only purchased a quarter section each; 11 purchased a half section or two quarter sections; and 5 purchased three quarter sections. James Latimer bought a section; James Leonard, the surveyor, five quarter sections; John Myers of Baltimore a section and a half; William R. Dickinson of Steubenville, a section and three quarters; the Brinton's of Philadelphia two full sections; and Bezaleel Wells four full sections. In the adjoining townships, now known as Plain and Osnaburg, Bezaleel Wells bought six and a quarter more sections, giving his 6,560 acres in the three townships and putting him in a class by himself, with respect to the amount of his holdings. Seven or eight of the buyers of town lots in Canton were also buyers of the government land in the township. The previous addresses of the other town lot buyers were as rule not given, so that they cannot be analyzed as can the purchasers of government land. From these purchases it is apparent, as it was at Steubenville, that the era of super land speculation had passed, and that the great mass of buying was very modest, and even in the case of Bezaleel Wells, moderate compared with the early Ohio settlements. The purchasers of Canton town lots during these years naturally constituted the growing roll of the settlement's earliest tradesmen, artisans, mill owners and workers, innkeepers, and professionals and speculators. Among the purchasers of 1809 was Jacob Slusser, of the Slusser family who started Canton's first mill east of town in 1806. The following year, lots were bought by James Drennan, who became one of the town's leading citizens; by Abraham Craft or Croft, tanner and saddler; by George Stidger, first hatter and hotel operator; and by Thomas Hurford, storekeeper and miller. In 1811 lot purchasers included John Nichols, who became a leading citizen; Adam Shriver, whose Big Spring and a The above sales data was compiled by the writer from the Deed Records in the Recorder's office, covering all of Bezaleel Wells' sales for Stark County for the period indicated. The purchases of Government Land were compiled from the records in the Chief Survey Division, New Interior Building, Washington, D. C. The township records were examined for all purchasers, but the rest of Stark County, outside of Canton Township, for Bezaleel Wells, only.

(102) drainage ditch, known as Shriver's Run, through the lower eastern part of town, became famous; John McConnell, who bought John Sterling's tan-yard, and Thomas Hartford, Canton's first brewer. In 1812 Philip Dewalt, tavern keeper, and William Raynolds, Jr. and Thomas Alex- ander, storekeepers, bought lots. In 1814 William Henry of Kendal, associate judge, bought a lot. 4 Since Bezaleel continued to live at Steubenville, each date of transaction and recording involved trips by horseback to Canton. He so bunched his trips that the recording of the sales of 78 lots and 23 wilderness tracts to 80 different persons was done on 51 different days. Even this reduced number meant over 200 days in the saddle for both himself and his wife. The business of selling would doubtless add as many, probably more, days of travel. In other words around 20 to 25 percent of his time must have been spent getting back and forth between Steubenville and Canton during these five years. Some of the prices paid for lots are interesting in the light of present values. The First National Bank site was bought by Phil Dewalt for $71, the George D. Harter Bank site by John McConnell for $250, the First Trust and Savings Bank site by John Shorb for $31.50, the Onesto Hotel site by John Shorb for $30.25, the Penney Store corner by William Fogle for $75.50, the Renkert Building site by J. and P. Drennan for $40, the Clark Building site by J. Mathews for $40, the Stark Dry Goods site by Dan Carter for $29, the Kobacker Store site by W. Capper for $22, the First Methodist Church site by Alexander Thomas for $50, the Mellett Building site by John Shorb for $31.25, and the Ohio Bell Telephone site by William Henry for $35. The sites of the Brant Building, the Y.M.C.A., the Post Office, the Ohio Power Company and two thirds of the Auditorium were among the 150 lots given by Bezaleel Wells to the County Commissioners. J The course of prices in Canton real estate during the active career of Bezaleel Wells is illustrated by the record of lot number 64, bought from Wells by John Nichols May 4, 1811 for $40. He built a brick house on it for a tavern and sold the house and lot September 18, 1813 for $800 to John Patton. Patton sold to William Raynolds December 22, 1815 for $1,500. William Reynolds and wife sold to William W. Laird January 5, 1820 for $2,200. This was sold by John Caskey, the sheriff, for William Laird, to George Wilson December 22, 1829 for $1,200. George Wilson and wife, Isabel, sold to Peter Kaufman May 8, 1832 for $450. Members and descendants of the Kaufman family have ever since owned and occupied the house, outwardly unchanged by the years, now known as the Kaufman house at 336 Market Avenue South. Miss Mary E. Herbst and Miss Lillie K. Herbst, granddaughters of Peter Kaufman, are the present occupants. o According to the original terms of sale as recorded at New Lisbon in November 1805, the proprietors "reserved every other lot, not . . . 4 Other purchasers will be found in the total list of purchasers in Appendix IV. 5 Canton Repository, March 31, 1940, Anniversary Supplement, 48. 6 Information given the writer by Miss Mary Herbst in an interview March 1 1942.

(103) offered at the present sale, either to be presented to the County, or hereafter disposed of and such part of the proceeds of the sales to be presented as may appear to them necessary to induce the fixing of the Seat of Justice at Canton." ' This offer for the benefit of the county was made still more generous at the time of the second sale, which was conducted in connection with the horse race, at which time the proprietors pledged themselves "to give for the use of the new County three fourths of the net proceeds of the sales of the Lots in said Town provided it shall be fixed on as the Seat of Justice." 8 The canny first commissioners of Stark County filed a copy of the Steubenville Western Herald in which this sale was advertised. On May 14, 1810 Wells offered the commissioners in settlement of this offer, 50 lots that had been purchased from him, and on which notes were owing to the value of $1,957.02 plus interest of $195; also 50 lots valued at $25 each, plus nine lots and an undivided square, valued at $250. This made a total of 109 lots and a square, with a valuation of $3,632.32. But because hle refused .to convey lot number 30 the commissioners took the view that he had refused fair settlement, and they rejected his offer. They submitted their own figures estimating that even at that early date three-fourths of his net profits amounted to $7,050 to which, according to his agreement, the county was entitled, less $600 estimated expense for laying out the town. The county commissioners, John Nichols, James Latimer, and Samuel Coulter, accused "the said Wells (of) fraudulently intruding and continuing to deprive the said county of all benefit resulting from his promises." They asked the court to compel Wells to turn over lot number 30 and threefourths of the net proceeds to date. s The commissioners, whether intentionally or not, were manifestly unfair to Bezaleel Wells. Possibly the optimistic advertising by Wells gave them an exaggerated idea of the success of his sales, most of which had been forfeited, or were delinquent. The county records show that up to May 14, 1810, only twenty town-lots had been recorded as sold, to the value of $727. 0 Allowing liberally for sales made, and in process, but not yet recorded, the demand and attitude of the county commissioners must have impressed Bezaleel Wells as grossly unappreciative, and caused him to delay settlement longer than he would otherwise have done. It may also have been a factor in causing Bezaleel Wells to withdraw from Canton's life after 1814, and to become an absentee proprietor from that date on. The site of the court-house was a thorny problem. The commissioners who had originally selected Canton as the county-seat had driven the stake on lot 30 for the court-house site. Wells had agreed to give it on - Deed Record Book A, Recorder's office, Columbiana County, Lisbon, Ohio. 8 The copies of the Western Herald of Steubenville in which these advertisements appeared are contained in a bound volume covering the period August 1806 to July 1808, which is preserved in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio. 9Record of Courts, Stark County, A, 130. 1o Ibid., A to D, inclusive.

(104) condition, namely, "that if the commissioners should think proper to place the Court House on it, otherwise to revert." Wells went on to specify: Should the Commissioners think proper to place the Court House in the center and the gaol on the Square at the south end of Market Street I will relinquish my claim to the Square and convey the following nine lots to be sold for the county, 208, 209, 210, 244, 245, 246, 259, 260, 261. Apparently the court-house site remained undecided, which meant that the county remained without court-house, jail, or public buildings, "much to the prejudice and inconvenience of the inhabitants and courts." Two years later the clerk, William Raynolds, entered upon the records the fact that the sheriff was commanded to summon Bezaleel Wells "to appear before the judges of our Court of Common Appeals" the first Monday of August 1812 under penalty of $1,000. Benjamin Tappan of Steubenville was attorney for Wells and William Wright for the commissioners. The case was continued until the fall term in November 1812, and again continued until May 1813, when Benjamin Ruggles presided at the bench, with James Campbell and George Bair as associate judges. The affair was finally settled when Bezaleel Wells, in 1814, gave 150 of his Canton lots to the county commissioners, to be sold by them, and the proceeds used for. county buildings and expenses. 12 The gift was recorded September 23, 1814, and read as follows: I Bezaleel Wells of Steubenville. .. for and in consideration of the good will I have toward the people of the County of Stark and the desire I feel to promote their welfare and convenience and to the end and purpose that all claims and demands on me for any part or proportion of the proceeds of Sales of lots in Canton .. . may be forever done away with and be satisfied, have given, granted, bargained and sold . .. unto Henry Everhart, James Latimer and William Fogle, Com- missioners of the County of Stark, the following lots of land in the town plot .. . for the benefit of said County of Stark, to enable the commissioners by sale of said premises to raise moneys for the sole purpose of erecting public buildings in said town of Canton for the use of said County and for no other use whatever. In presence of Signed Bezl Wells I. G. Hening Sally Wells 13 Catherine M. Wells 11 The record of the actions of the county commissioners against Wells is taken from the Record of Courts, Stark County, A. 132-139. 12 A map showing the 150 lots thus donated, and the 135 lots that were sold, and their distribution on the town plat, appears in the Ohio Repository, March 31, 1940, 125th Anniversary Supplement, 48, and on page of this thesis. 13 Deed Record A, Columbiana County, Lisbon, Ohio. The blank spaces are the 150 lots turned over to the Stark County Commissioners by Bezaleel Wells in 1814, to be sold by the county and proceeds to be used for county buildings. Courtesy of the Canton Repository.

(105) A month later, on October 24, Bezaleel Wells and his wife turned over to the county commissioners lot number 30 for the nominal consideration of $10, on the condition that it should be used for a court- house building "and for, no other purpose whatsoever." The quit claim deed was signed at Steubenville by Bezaleel Wells and his wife Sally, with Thomas Haslet, Catherine M. Wells, and I. G. Hening as witnesses. '14 Nearly nine years later, on May 31, 1823, after the incorporation of Canton as a town, Bezaleel Wells removed the condition by signing an instrument that read as follows: Know ye that I Bezaleel Wells of Steubenville Ohio for divers good causes me thereunto moving and for the consideration of one Dollar to me in hand paid by Stephen Harris John Bower and John Slusser Commissioners of the County of Stark . .. do hereby remise, release and forever quit claim unto said commissioners and their successors in office all right title remainder revertion or demand whatsoever either in law or equity in or to lot numbered thirty in the Town of Canton in said Stark County. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 31 day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty three. Examined in presence of 2 interlineations made for J. W. Lathrop wife signing Seal Geo. Dunbar Bezl Wells seal 1" For some reason this was not signed jointly by Bezaleel and his wife as most of his other deeds were, though such was evidently the original intention and there was evidently a delay in the signing. This was the beginning of a strange history to this deed. Shortly after it was made, and before it was recorded at Canton, there was a famous case in which the Reynolds heirs sued the county for an option to place a blacksmith shop on the corner of the courthouse square opposite Stocker's brok- erage office in the present Courtland Hotel. The Supreme Court ruled that this could be done in view of the new quit claim deed of Bezaleel Wells, which, not having yet been entered on the Stark County records, the Reynolds heirs held as a trump card in the case. After winning the case they turned the deed over to the county commissioners, but in the excitement and confusion following the trial, it was lost for over a hundred years. Finally, in 1927, Judge Joseph L. Floyd searched the old records of the case in the attic of the clerk's office and, while finding no trace of it on the first search, discovered it in perfect condition on the second search. So finally, on April 21, 1927, it was entered on the Stark County records, and the county commissioners, for the first time, had in their possession the legal instrument giving them power to sell the court-house property.

14 The original and photostat copy of this deed are kept in the safe of the county commissioner's office, Canton, Ohio. 15 The original and photostat copy of the revised deed is kept, with the first deed, in the safe of the county commissioner's office, Canton, Ohio. 16 The history of the deed, and its discovery, was told to the writer by Judge Floyd April 11, 1942.

(106) 1111 -HE

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The blank spaces are the 150 lots turned over to the Stark County Commissioners by Bezaleel Wells in 1814, to be sold by the county and proceeds to be used for county buildings. Courtesy of the Canton Repository.

It detracts but little from the generosity of Well's gift of 150 lots to observe that the lots sold by him prior to the gift to the county were naturally the choicest lots, nearest to the Square, and that the lots that were given to the commissioners were around the edge of town and less valuable. On the other hand, the real estate values had so far increased by 1814 that the commissioners were able to sell their lots for nearly as much as Wells received for the other lots at the earlier dates. The county commissioners, John Kryder, John Sluss, and William Alban, conducted a public sale of the donated lots January 2 and 3, 1815, and realized sufficient proceeds to contract for a brick court-house, 44 feet square, costing $5,515. 1 The roof was pitched on the four sides to a belfry tower in the center. In their disposal of the 150 lots the commissioners began to experience the difficulties of the real estate business in a frontier settlement. Collections were hard to make, and forfeitures hard to prevent. Perhaps they gained a new appreciation of Bezaleel Wells and the service he had rendered as manager of the town's real estate affairs. In July 1816 delinquent purchasers of the lots were warned by the commissioners that if the arrears were not paid by August 1, suit would be brought. 18 Neither warning nor suits were effective, and in January 1817 a resale of lots for delinquent taxes was announced on nearly all the 150 lots. 19 Wells was probably glad to be rid of this collection problem in a town four days travel away. Thomas A. Drayton and John D. Hendley, the contractors, finished the court-house in 181.8. A fence of "posts, rails and sawed pailings" was built around the lot, 2 and furnishings were installed. By November 1818 the occupancy of the court-house began with the removal of the clerk's office to its southeast corner. 21 Thus, in nine years, the Stark County court sessions had moved first from Dewalt's Spread Eagle Tavern to Coulter's Tavern; then to the second floor of Stidger's brick house and hotel, -Canton's first hotel, and then to a substantial court house, virtually the gift of Bezaleel Wells. While the court-house was absorbing much of Well's attention and energy during the second half decade of Canton's existence, the village growth attained a more rapid pace. By 1810 the population was 40. In addition to Slusser's grist-mill and sawmill, John Shorb's general store, Mathew's butcher-shop, and four taverns, there was a tanyard, a tailor shop, a shoemaker, a carpenter, a wheelwright, a doctor, a lawyer, and a school-teacher. George Stidger, another Baltimorean, genial and portly, bought from Bezaleel and Sally Wells in May, 1811, for $22 the eastern half of lot 32, which would be the western third of the present Courtland Hotel site. 22 Here he built Canton's first hattery, where hats were manufactured and sold.

17 Canton Repository, March 31, 1940, Anniversary Supplement, 3. 18 Ohio Repository, July 18, 1816. 19 Ibid., January 16, 1817. 20 Ibid., July 24, 1818. 21 Ibid., November 6, 1818. 22 This information comes partly from a card attached to the painting of George Stidger and his wife in the Massillon Museum, and partly from the Stark County records, Indenture A and Deed Record B.

(107) Stidger prospered, and by 1814 he had acquired considerable real estate, including valuable lots numbered one, two and three on the east side of the square. He paid $700 in January 1814 for lot number two. 23 He built a brick house which became his residence and Hotel Stidger. The second floor became the court room until the new court house was built. The same room served as the usual preaching place for visiting pastors. From Philip Slusser he bought 881/2 acres in sections four and five for $1,000. 2 With three additional outlots containing 18 acres he had become a leading citizen. 25 With the selection of Canton as county-seat "legal business" began. Rosewell Mason became Canton's first attorney, but found business so scarce that he stayed less than nine years, when he moved on to Warren, leaving his beautiful outlot on West Tuscarawas Street to be sold at a G sheriff's sale. 2 The advertisement referred to "a large and convenient two story house, a kitchen, a large convenient barn, also a well sunk in which there is a good pump." John Harris served as associate judge as early as 1812, after which date he read law and was admitted to practice in 1819. Church activities expanded with the beginning of Presbyterian services in 1809, when the Reverend Joshua Beer came down from his church at Springfield near the present city of Akron and organized an informal organization on a missionary basis in 1811, caring for it frequently until 1815. In October 1812 there met at Canton the Presbytery of Hartford, which included most of the Western Reserve and the western tier of counties of Pennsylvania. Alexander Cook, from near Wellsville, was the moderator, and the Reverend Clement Valandingham of Lisbon was the stated clerk. 27 The most remarkable preacher who came to Canton during this period was the famous Methodist leader, the Reverend James B. Finley. Finley had been born and bred a backwoodsman. His first love had been the wilderness, where he had become a great hunter, and intimately acquainted with the ways of wild beasts and Indians. Yet his education was not neglected, and after finishing a course in medicine he had been admitted to its practice. Then came the famous Cane-Ridge Revival in Kentucky in the summer of 1801, and here Finley became converted. In 1809-10 he was assigned the Wills Creek circuit of 475 miles, which included

23 Stark County records, Deed Record B, 335. 24 Ibid., 336. 25 The report that Stidger came to Canton with his family in 1807 appears to be in error, as there is no record of any purchase of a lot by him before 1810. In Wells's Sales Book of Canton Stidger's name does not appear, but in the county records his purchase of the eastern half of lot 32 "from Bezaleel Wells and Sally his wife" was made May 18, 1811, and recorded June 12, 1811. Indenture A, 230-31. 26 Ibid., April 17, 1818. 27 The sources for the Presbyterian Church in Canton's early days were a Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church prepared in 1875 by the Reverend William Park, who was Pastor 1873-1879, and which is preserved at the church office; also a statement prepared by the Reverend J. F. Kirkbride, stated clerk of Mahoning Presbytery, September 29, 1921, based on the early records of Presbytery.

(108) Canton. Although a prolific and vivid writer of his frontier experiences as a preacher, his works contain no specific reference to Canton. During the year that he traveled this circuit he added 178 members. 2 In 1813 the Methodist conference was held at Steubenville Septembr 1, 1813, and Finley moved his family to Barnesville to cover the roadless, hilly wilderness back from the river. Two years later he became district superintendent for the Ohio District, with headquarters at Steuben- ville, which brought him into friendly acquaintance with Bezaleel Wells. In Canton the church erected by the German speaking Lutherans and Reformed congregations on Wells's lot remained the only church building up to 1814. The English speaking church members still had no building or resident pastor. When the Reverend Peter Mahnenschmidt came to preach to the little German Lutheran-Reformed church on the Wells lot, the building was too small to hold the people, and he.preached "to a very large number in the town-hall," probably referring to the second story of the Stidger Hotel. At this time Mahnenschmidt was only 30 years old, but he served ten regular congregations, scattered over a wide territory, requiring constant, difficult, and dangerous travel. "I often felt ex- hausted," he wrote, "having no rest day or night." 29 The early religious life of Canton developed largely along racial and colonial lines, the Germans. worshipping in the united Reformed-Lutheran church, the Methodists drawing the southern settlers from Virginia and Kentucky, migrating into Stark County by way of Steubenville and Zanesville; and the Presbyterians comprised mostly of the New England settlers, coming down from the Western Reserve as well as from Steubenville. It was a different religious world than Bezaleel Wells had grown up in. The Episcopalian background, which had accompanied him to the Scotch- Irish Presbyterian Community at Cross Creek, and to the more mingled religious community at Steubenville, was entirely missing in the early years at Canton. During the war of 1812 George Stidger was elected or appointed Captain of the Militia, known as the Ohio Volunteers. He took his company of 70 Stark County boys for a month of duty at Wooster, and five months of duty at Perrysburg on the Maumee. At the end of the six months term for which they had enlisted they returned home without having seen active service. A picture of the camp life at Wooster in November 1812 is given in a letter from John Myers to Thomas Rotch, at Kendal (part of present Massillon). He wrote: Wooster, Tuesday the 10th November, 1812 It was impossable [sic] to get away and not till now had an opportunity to wrote on account of the continual rain and want of shelter .. .. We came here on the 6th inst, the waters are

2 Autobiography of the Reverend James B. Finley, edited by William P. Strickland (Cincinnati, 1853), 193. 29 Theodore P. Bollinger, History of the First Reformed Church, Canton, Ohio (Cleveland, Ohio), 12.

(109) high and the roads excessively bad, we shall not leave this for several days, it will take us a long time before we get these heavy loads to Mansfield. Jno. Myers 30 A stagnant lake adjacent to the town, "extremely detrimental to the health of the inhabitants ... and a great public nuisance," was ordered drained in the spring of 1814, at a cost not exceeding $150. Authority was given by the General Assembly February 8, 1813, "but the consent of the proprietor or proprietors of the land on which the lake was situated, must first be gained." 31 The roads from the rapidly settling country side became passable for wagons, so that by 1814, four wagons at a time might be seen in the square. 32 By the summer of 1814, when Wells turned over his remaining lots, the town probably had 300 population, and appealed to the young printer, twenty-two year old John Saxton as the best spot in Ohio to establish a newspaper-which he did March 30, 1815, calling it The Ohio Repository, harking back in its name to the first newspaper published in Baltimore, The Baltimore Repository.33 The connection did not necessarily follow, as Repository was a common name for newspapers of that date, but the fact that Saxton came of Maryland colonial ancestry, from Fredericksburg, suggests the possibility of Baltimore influence on the naming of the Canton paper. John Saxton had served in the war of 1812 on garrison duty at Black Rock near Buffalo. After he was mustered out he learned how to set type and run a hand printing press in the office of John McCahan's Huntington (Pennsylvania) Gazette, in the Juniata Valley. After two years he set out to examine the opportunity in Ohio, traveling by way of Pittsburgh, and the overland trail via New Lisbon. He arrived at Canton in July 1814, and on July 23 issued a prospectus among the townspeople to feel out their possible support for a newspaper. The prospectus read as follows: 1. The Repository shall be printed on Royal paper, with a beautiful type of Long Primer size. 2. The price will be two dollars per annum - one dollar to be paid on the receipt of first number, the other on the receipt of the twenty-sixth. If not paid within the year, two dollars and fifty cents will be charged. 3. No subscriber is at liberty to discontinue his paper until all arrearages are paid off. 4. Advertisements not exceeding a square will be inserted three times for one dollar; and twenty-five cents for each subsequent insertion, longer ones in proportion. 5. Letters addressed to the editor must be prepaid, or they will not be attended to.

30 Thomas Rotch MSS., Museum, Massillon Library, Massillon, Ohio 31 Acts of Ohio, XI, (1812-1813), 157, February 8, 1813. 32 Canton Repository, March 31, 1940, 125th Anniversary Supplement, 2. 3 3 Thomas Scharff, History of Baltimore (Philadelphia, 1881), II, 605.

(110) The response must have been satisfactory, as he returned to Hunting- ton, spent the winter rounding up equipment and returned to Canton in March 1815, with a little wagon loaded with type, type cases, ink, tools, hand press, and paper. Renting a room in a small frame building on the present site of the George D. Harter Bank he set up Canton's first print shop, and on March 30, 1815 issued his first Ohio Repository, four pages, four columns to the page, measuring 12 inches wide by 18 inches long. 34 The platform, philosophy, and objectives of the "printer" (for such he came to be known, rather than as editor or manager), were outlined in the following announcement to the public in the first issue: In a government where the blessing of Freedom is enjoyed and justly estimated, it is acknowledged by all that the dissemi- nation of correct political knowledge is of the first importance. The continuance of that freedom, the inestimable birthright of every American, must depend upon the Intelligence, Patriotism and Virtue of the people. The establishment of Newspapers are the most easy and convenient means of gaining that correct information, respecting their political concerns, which will enable them to judge, with accuracy, the wisdom or folly of their rulers. Strongly impressed with these sentiments, the editor pledges himself to his patrons, that "truth shall be his guide, the public good his aim." In avowing his attachments to one of the two political parties which at present so unhappily divide our country, he is free in declaring that "his is an attachment, not of party; but from principle; the result not of interest, prejudice or passion, but founded on impartial investigation." It is an attachment to the principles avowed by the immortal sages who declared our independence, to the form of government guar- anteed by the Federal Constitution, and a disciple of the school of Washington. A candid and fair investigation of political subjects is, undoubtedly, the surest palladium of National Freedom: liberal and well informed men, of all parties, are invited to make it a Repository of their sentiments. The editor reserving, on all occasions, the right of exercising a decided control over every thing offered for insertion: He will reject every thing which he may deem illiberal, unjust or impolitick . .. or to wound the feelings of individuals. The latest foreign and domestick intelligence, together with abstracts from the proceedings of congress and the state Legis- lature; essays on the improvement of Agriculture and Manufac- tures; Biological and Geographical sketches, &c shall be particularly attended to. Morality, Poetry, &c shall occasionally receive

4 The account of the beginning of John Saxton and the Ohio Repository in Canton is taken from the 125th Anniversary Supplement of the Canton Repository March 31, 1940, 2.

(111) a place. In short, the Repository shall be made as pleasing and interesting as it will be in his power to render it. Actuated by such motives, and guided by such tenets, he submits, cheerfully, the merits of his labours and his cause to an enlightened publick. The coming of John Saxton's Repository marked the beginning ot Canton's earliest business establishment that has continued an unbroken history from that time to this. More important, it began a continuous writen record of Canton's life from that time to this - a record surpassed by only one other newspaper in the State, The Scioto Gazette of Chillicothe, which was founded in 1800, and to which reference has already been made. The year 1814 marked a turning point in Wells's relation to the Canton venture, as well as a shift in his whole career. From this time on, except for his real estate transactions, he virtually withdrew from the affairs of Canton and became an absentee proprietor. His Stark County interests gradually turned to the country side and the raising of sheep. Looking at his whole career, the founding of towns and speculation in lands characterized the period 1796 to 1814; banking, manufacturing and wool-growing marked the period 1814 to 1830. This monograph has concerned itself primarily with the earlier phase of his career. The remaining chapters will necessarily be on a more abridged plan. The next two chapters will deal with the development of Canton and Steuben- ville to the year of Wells's retirement, in 1830, and the third chapter will deal with the wool-growing and wool manufacturing interests of Wells and his partner, William R. Dickinson, whose combined resources developed the first wool-capital in the United States, lasting from 1815 to 1830. Stark County became the great sheep-growing area where Wells and Dickinson grew the wool that supplied the highest grade of the raw material for their Steubenville factory. As the picture of this great enterprise unfolds, as well as the multiplicity of other business and community affairs that Wells assumed in Steubenville, it becomes clear that the main reason for withdrawal from Canton's affairs was the pressure of Steubenville interests and responsibilities.

(112) CHAPTER VIII Canton's Growth In The Rural Scene, 1815-1830 During the sixteen years that remained of Bezaleel Wells's active career (1815.-1830), Canton maintained a steady growth in the rural scene. The census of 1820 gave it a population of 504, compared with Cleveland's 606. In 1830 Canton was ahead of Cleveland, with 1,257 population to Cleveland's 1,076.2 Contrary to a general tradition that has been repeated in local histories, the building of the Ohio-Erie canal between 1825 and 1832 did not retard Canton's growth, but increased its pace not only in population but also in wealth and trade. Much has been made of the divergence of trade that previously passed through Canton to the East, to the new town of Massillon which was founded on the canal seven miles west of Canton in 1825. But what Canton lost to Massillon was considerably offset by the increased prices which Stark County farmers received for their products in a vastly expanded market, by the cheaper prices at which they could buy imported articles, and by the cash benefits of canal labor, in which hundreds of Stark County farmers and Canton citizens participated. As the county-seat, Canton reflected the increasing wealth and prosperity of the surrounding country- side. In this general picture of improving conditions and prosperity Bezaleel Wells continued to deal in Canton town-lots and Stark County wilderness tracts. During the sixteen years he sold 42 lots for $4,425.25, and 60 wilderness tracts for $25,442.40. This brought his total sales of towin-lots from the town's beginning to $7,889 and of wilderness tracts to $32,630.68, or a combined total of $40,519.68, distributed" of course over twenty-five years. The greatest transaction was in 1817 when Bezaleel Wells sold 1,080 acres of land around what was then called Wells Lake to Andrew Meyer for $11,000, 5- land purchased a few years earlier by Wells at $2 an acre. By the middle 1820's the lake was known as Meyers Lake, though its earlier name was not forgotten. " Aside from his real estate transactions, Bezaleel Well's name practically disappeared from Canton history after 1814. The only ads and news items referring to him had to do with his Steubenville or Stark county interests; rather than any activities in Canton itself. In striking

SCanton's population as taken by Lewis Vail, assistant marshal, and reported in the Ohio Repository, March 8, 1821. Cleveland's population as given in John Kilbourn, The Ohio Gazeteer (Columbus, 1821), 54. 2 U. S. Census office, 5th Census, Census Return for 1830, The Population, 118-143. 3 Revolutionary Effects "of the New Ohio-Erie Canal 1825-1840, a paper prepared for a seminar course at Western Reserve, 1939, by the writer. 4Recorder's Office, Stark County, Deed Record B 435 to I 472. 5 Ibid., C 439. " Ohi repository, April 4, 1822.

(113) contrast to his leadership in Steubenville town affairs during the quarter century, 1805 to 1830, the contemporary records reveal no store, bank, factory, community enterprise, or residence in Canton with which he at any time had any connection. He became an absentee proprietor. One result was the growth of a democratic, self-reliant, enterprising: group of town leaders, who took matters into their own hands. Town families which have continued to the present day, began to assume leadership from the earliest days of the settlement. By 1814 the Shorb, Fogle, Rappee, Stidger, Slusser, Barber, Coulter, Dewalt, and Matthews families were among the most frequently mentioned. With the coming of the Ohio Repository was added John Saxton, who managed and edited the paper for 50 years, and founded a family that became linked by marriage with William McKinley; it remains to this day one of the most prominent and highly respected families of Canton. In the weekly issues of John Saxton's paper the development of Can- ton from a tiny settlement to a village, an incorporated town, and a rural center, unfolds in a fascinating series of pictures. Not in news items, nor editorials, nor feature stories, but mostly in paid advertisements, this picture grows, as the lines and colors are splashed on by the frontier builders. The organization of the Farmer's Bank of Canton in 1815, was promoted and headed by. the old families, but also introduced new names. John Shorb became the first president. He and William Fogle, Samuel Coulter, Thomas Taylor, and James Hazlett were the first trustees. Thomas Hurford, John Shorb, John Myers, William Fogle, Winance Clark, Philip Slusser, Jacob Myers, and George Stidger were the first directors. William Fogle became first cashier. 8 This bank got off in 1815 to a flourishing start in a brick building in the court-house block. 9 It began paying dividends July 1, 1816, before the stockholders were incorporated with a capital of $100,000 December 16, 1817. 10 Dividends ran 4 per cent July 1, 1816, 6 per cent January 1, 1817, 4 per cent July 1, 1817, 2 per cent after January 12, 1818, 3 per cent after July 15, 1818, and 2 per cent after May 20, 1819. The bank fell a victim to the depression of 1818. Several weeks before the crisis of the U. S. Bank was precipitated two officials of the Pittsburgh Branch visited the Farmer's Bank of Canton where they were able to redeem only one-fourth of the $24,000 which they held in the currency of that bank. 1 In an investigation of the banks of the state reported to the House of Representatives in February 1819, the Farmer's Bank was found to have only $33,710 of its $100,000 capital stock paid in, only $3,112 in deposits, $1,969 specie and $1,469 in Ohio, U. S. Bank, and other bank notes. Of the 20 Ohio banks it had the lowest amount of

7 Ohio Repository, March 30, 1815. 8 Ibid., April 27, 1815. 9 Ohio Repository, September 14, 1815. 10 Acts of Ohio XVI (1817-1818), 11. 11 William T. Utter, The Frontier State 1803-1825 (Columbus, Ohio, 1942), 285. This is Vol. II in the series Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio.

(114) specie, while its $18,000 of debts due the United States and other banks was fifth. It gave up its building June 1, 1820 and was in the process of liquidation for a number of years. William Fogle and James Drennan were cashiers before its liquidation, and attorney James W. Lathrop during the winding up of its affairs.12 In 1826 the bank was still liquidating, but its stockholders had become so reduced that the state legislature allowed them to elect five instead of nine directors. 13 The industrial side of Canton's self-contained life steadily expanded. Jacob Rex brought in a tailoring establishment in 1815; John Essick wanted an apprentice for a blacksmith shop two miles out of Canton in October 1815; John Buckius had a coppersmith business and tin and hardware store in 1816; and John Sterling erected a tan-yard in April 1816. John Carroll and William Fogle established a new tan-yard in September 1816, Adam Kimmel a gun smith business the following month, and Philip Kroft a saddler's shop in November 1816. George Dunbar and Son had a chair manufactory next door to John Webb's hat factory in April 1817. David Wareham was in the cabinet-making busi- iness in July 1817, and Samuel Wilet was a village blacksmith in Au- gust 1817. Samuel Coulter and Thomas Hartford erected Canton's first brewery in September 1817. Jacob Danner set up a second gunsmith shop in October 1818, and William Fogle continued in the tanning and currying business in December of the same year after dissolving partnership with John Carroll. Samuel Patton sold beef at his slaughter house every Tuesday and Friday morning. John Shorb, Jr. opened a "stoneware manufactory" in the village in July 1821, and offered for sale in his store jars, pitchers, pots, jugs, milk pans, and churns. 14 Present day descendants of John Shorb say that this pottery was located opposite the family home (at the present time 410 Fulton Road) on what was then called the Great Road to Chippeway. 5 George Stidger was engaged in the flour-mill business, the manufacture of tinware, and the operation of Canton's only hotel in August 1822. A month later Joseph Wiley advertised that he was continuing in the wheelwright business. In October of the same year Josiah Smith was conducting a second saddler's shop. John Clark was operating a third gunsmith ship in November 1822, and John Critzer a third saddler's shop in September 1823. John McCurdy was in the cabinet making business in May 1823. Samuel Coulter had his half of the brewery for sale the same month. John Shorb, Jr. began manufacturing metallic energy for cleaning furniture, in July 1823. Peter Toffler wanted an apprentice for his hat factory in May 1823. Mrs. Elizabeth Sterling carried on the tan-yard business of her husband John, when he died in 1823. Abraham and John

12 Ohio Repository, May 25, 1815, November 9, 1815, June 27, 1816, No- vember 7, 1816, December 26, 1816, January 23, 1817, May 1, 1817, June 19, 1817, November 13, 1817, December 25, 1817, June 26, 1818, February 12, 1819, May 14, 1819, May 25, 1820, April 26, 1821, November 29, 1821, and December 4, 1823. 13 Acts of Ohio, XXV, (1826-1827), 80. 14 Ibid., July 5, 1821. 15 Information given the writer by Adam Shorb, grandson of the founder, April 1942.

(115) Black commenced the manufacture of wagons in June 1824. In the same month Jonas Jennings opened a new hatter's shop. 10 Important features of Canton's industrial life of the period of 1815- 1930 grew up on the edges of town, and were connected with household industries and the growing and manufacturing of wool. The large operations along this line of Bezaleel Wells, his partner William R. Dickinson, and James Rotch of Kendal, which were county-centered, rather than Canton-centered, will be reserved for a later chapter. Jacob Myers had a wool carding machine in operation a mile southeast of Canton in June 1815. Two years yater he was operating it by water- power. 17 By 1822 he had added a grist-mill and a sawmill, and had erected a new fulling mill, which was in charge of an experienced fuller. Cloth could be left at Martin Lohr's. George Crips in 1817, from his house in Canton, controlled the patent rights in Stark County for a loom that wove woollen, cotton or linen, 30 to 40 yards per day. 1s John Clark, the gun smith, purchased the rights to a similar - perhaps the same - loom in October 1820. Thomas Hartford sold half merino and common wool. David Shriver had on his farm near Canton in August 1816, a new fulling mill on which he reported improvements in September 1818. Martin Lohr, the tailor was advertising for a journeyman tailor and an apprentice in August 1817. The following month he was announcing his agency for the "domestick cloths" of the Wells and Dickinson Steubenville factory, and using, probably by suggestion, the patriotic appeal. This agency connection was advertised for years, though Lohr also acted as agent for Jacob Myers, as noted above. 19 Blue dying, important in the producing of colors in the fulling business, was operated by a woman, Barbara Howard, beginning with May or June 1817, who kept a shop in her home next door to Martin Lohr's. In April 1819 she moved out to Fogle's tanyard. Marrying John Bowers in Nimishillen township in April 1824, she arranged for articles to be left at William Fogle's store. Henry and Jacob Klippart operated a new wool carding machine at Jacob Rowland's mill a mile east of Canton, in July 1819. Silas Stark took over the wool carding machine of Peter Wise at his mills in Plain township. In 1821 Adam Kimmel and James Gaff, Jr. erected a fulling mill about a mile south of Canton near the west end of the bridge over the Nimishillen. First flash of the inventive genius that was to mark so many Cantonians of later generations, and which perhaps more than any other one factor, was to explain the secret of Canton's growth, appeared in an advertisement by Amos Janney in July 1819, of a new invention of friction rollers,

16 These items are all taken from the Ohio Repository. The exact dates are omitted from the text for the sake of smoothness, and from the foot-notes in the interest of saving space. In view of the small size of the newspaper, the references can be easily located, a month's issues only taking sixteen or twenty small pages, twelve by eighteen inches. 17 Ohio Repository, May 15, 1817. 18 Ibid., September 21, 1815. 19 Ibid., August 22, 1816 and June 19, 1817.

(116) forgotten forerunner of Canton's greatest industry of roller bearings. The advertisement read: I, the subscriber, have invented a new and useful improvement in Mechanicks; a set of friction rollers, to be applied around gudgeons of heavy wheels; each roller to be hung on its own axis, between two rings, something like the trundle head of a grist mill - the rings and rollers to be so made that the gudgeon will fit loosely when put into the inner circumference of the ring of rollers; the ring of rollers to work or roll on a semi- circular step, which is to be a little large than the entire circumference of the ring of rollers, - the whole so calculated, that the gudgeon rolls on the rollers and carries around the ring of rollers in such a way as to (move?) perpetually some of the rollers in the (ring) under the gudgeon. June 21st Amos Janney 20 In addition to being the town's first hatter, first hotel keeper, leader of the militia, and a growing real estate operator, George Stidger was an outstanding merchant. He opened a new store on the square in July 1815. He, like Shorb, bought his goods in Baltimore, to which city he journeyed about April first for his annual purchases. In 1819 he moved into his new brick building. Thomas Alexander, with varying partners, was conducting a store in 1815. David Parks opened a new store in November 1815, with Pittsburgh connections, and traded in bear and deerskins, as well as the regular articles of a frontier store. James Williams opened a store in May 1816. A. Holm and Son opened a new store at Rex's mill in December 1816. John Christmas was advertising new goods in February 1817, and William Christmas some Juniatta bar-iron and plough moulds in April 1821. Thomas Hartford and William Christmas, as partners, were in the market for fat hogs in November 1821. Christmas bought his stocks in Pittsburgh. Polley and Johnston came from Steubenville in August 1817 to open a shop as "watch, clockmakers and silver-smiths." Catherine Slusser was buying molasses in April 1817. Three years later she offered her tavern site for rent. Samuel Coulter, the village postmaster, also sold ploughs in 1820. December of the same year saw the opening of an apothecary shop, a drug store, and a book-store, by Jacob Sala. Joseph Parker opened a new tailoring shop in January 1821, and in September of the same year Philip Dewalt sold his tavern to his son George. William Raynolds traded in oak plank, corn and oats, and corn fed pork, in 1821 and 1822. Begges and Graham opened a new store in May 1823. In October Thomas Hurford opened another store in the "White House." Apparently it was against newspaper policy to advertise the business of the taverns, as the only references to them occurred in connection with property sales. 21 Isaac Harter, founder of the Harter family, joined the Canton colony in 1822. His sister, Mrs. George Dewalt, arranged his indenture to William Christmas. He worked for his board and

20 Ohio Repository, July 9, 1819. 21 These references after 1814, are all from the Ohio Repository.

(117) clothes ten years, when he became a partner at the age of 21, taking over the business when Christmas died in 1836. The leading merchants united in October 1817 in the building of a market house. The trustees were Philip Slusser, Jacob Ropp, Philip Dewalt, John Sterling, and Thomas Alexander. 22 The market building stood at the north end of the square, harking back to the custom of Philadelphia and Baltimore. In those days the country doctors had a way of retiring into business, or taking on business side lines. Dr. Andrew Rappee announced his retirement from the practice "of physick" in June 1815, and opened a new general store in December, and later a fruit tree nursery as a side line in 1817. He took F. and L. Hurxthal of Baltimore into partnership with him, dissolving this relationship in October 1818. Dr. Thomas Hartford sold "Good Old Whiskey" on the side, which, in November 1815, he left at the Christmas store. He also advertised, in June 1820, that "such as are in indigent circumstances, in the county of Stark, that in case of sickness, Advice and Medicine will be given them gratis." In September 1821 he opened a drug store at his residence, but continued the practice of medicine. Other new doctors were John Bonfield, from the city of Baltimore, in August 1815; Adolph Blumenau, "lately from Europe," in October 1817, locating in Plain township; Dr. Alfred C. Thomson, from Yale College, in August 1821; Doctor Andrew Gerow from New Lisbon, in November 1822, whose office was in the brick house of J. W. Lathrop on Market Street; and Doctor George Breysacher, a German immigrant, who came about 1820, and advertised in 1823 that he would vaccinate for "Kine Pock" (small-pox) for 50 cents. 23 Interesting sidelights on Dr. Breysacher are given in the diary of Char Christ William Gallwitz, a fellow German immigrant, who taught school in Canton 1820-1824, 24 and who was a friend and companion of the Doctor. Dr. William Gardner had his office and residence in the Farmer's Bank building in October 1823. Attorneys were less in demand than doctors, and John Harris, Samuel Coulter, and James W. Lathrop, the leading lawyers during most of the period 1815 to 1830, did not suffer from heavy competition. John Harris kept his office and residence at Judge Coulter's. In March 1820 Harris was appointed county auditor under the act abolishing the office of non- resident collector. Coulter was appointed Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Stark County in June. He also collected license fees from merchants, tavern keepers, and other retailers; also from distillers, manufacturers, and owners of carriages. 25 Lathrop was doing double duty as land commissioner and judge of the circuit courts in 1818, and John Saxton took care of entering lands for taxes when Lathrop 22 The Ohio Repository. 23 The references to doctors to this point are taken from the Ohio Repository, see f.n. 16. 24 William Collier, ed., Grandfather's Diary, unpublished, in possession of Mrs. Charles W. Fretz, 507 Fulton Road, Canton. English translation from the original German by Char Christ William Gallwitz; typed in 1910. 25 Ohio Repository, December 4, 1815.

(118) was away attending courts. In January 1822 Lathrop was admitted as attorney and counsellor at law and solicitor in chancery in the U. S. courts for the District of Ohio. The only other attorneys advertising during this period were N. Dike, in September 1816; L. Blodgett, in Au- gust, 1817; Andrew W. Loomis and Orlando Metcalf, in February, 1822; and David Starkweather, who moved to Canton from Mansfield, in 1827. Starkweather later became member of Congress, and Minister to Chile. 26 No less than twenty-one ministers were advertised during the ten year period 1815-1824. Sixteen of the twenty-one preached at the court-house, evidently on the traveling circuit plan. The most famous of these was James B. Finley, the converted hunter, and distinguished Methodist pioneer evangelist. He preached at the court-house in July 1817. Gallwitz has an interesting comment in his diary; "I saw a preacher that would shoot pigeon heads off with a bullet," that must have referred to Finley. 27 The Reverend Anthony Weyre seemed to perform most of the weddings, among them being Jacob Holm and Miss Mary Pontius, daughter of F. Pontius of Plain Township.28 The Reverend Henry Sonnendecker made numerous tours of the county, which he later described in reminiscences. 29 The Reverend William MacLean organized the first Presby- terian Church in Canton September 13, 1821, also the first Sunday School (December 6, 1820), and left the first written records for the Presbyterian Church. His was the first Sunday School in town, and was conducted on a community wide basis. He became the English speaking minister of Canton, and James Gaff, George Dunbar, and Robert Latimer, as trustees of the congregation, were ready to receive contributions for his support from any English speaking persons regardless of denomination. Pledges were as hard to collect as taxes, and in April 1822 the trustees were threatening to sue the delinquent contributors. The Reverend MacLean married a Miss Abigail Clark of Cleaveland in March 1821, and moved there himself in 1822. The present First Presbyterian Church of Canton dates the beginning of its permanent organization with Mac- Lean's ministry, and celebrated its 120th anniversary in October 1941. 30 It was six years later (1827), under the pastorate of the Reverend James B. Morrow (1826-1830), that the Presbyterians began erecting their first brick building on the Wells lot, which had been vacated by the Lutheran-Reformed congregation about 1821. The present stone structure is the second Presbyterian building on the site, having been built in 1868- 1871, and remodelled in 1912. John Shorb was the leading spirit in founding the Catholic Church in Canton, and it was under a famous large oak tree next to the Shorb family home on the Great Chippeway Road, that the first Catholic mass 26 The Starkweather reference comes from Cunningham's Canton and Stark County Guide, 82; the others are from the Ohio Repository, see 33. 27 Gallwitz, Diary, 36 (September 17, 1820). 28 Ohio Repository, May 21, 1819. 29 In Western Missionary, 18 (1849), referred to in Bolliger, History of First Reformed Church of Canton, 17. 3 0 Edward T. Heald, The 120th Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church (Canton, Ohio, 1941).

(119) was held in 1817. He sought to bring other Catholic settlers to Canton, especially from his old home city of Baltimore, which was then the seat of a Catholic Bishop, the first in the United States. Canton became a Catholic mission, and after the diocese of Cincinnati was founded, in 1822, Dominican Fathers of Somerset, Perry County, Ohio visited Canton to say mass several times a year. When these visits were announced, word went out to the Catholics of the surrounding towns for a circuit of fifty miles, and people came in wagons drawn by oxen as well as horses, staying for a two day week-end. Before the first Catholic Church was built in 1824 mass was celebrated under the Shorb oak tree, or if weather was bad, in the front room of the Shorb home. After mass "Grandmother Shorb" bade all welcome to the long table spread under the trees, and the surrounding fields became a camp. John Shorb, Sr. donated the ground and the timber for the first Catholic church building, being on the site of present St. John's Catholic church. Workmen volunteered their labor on the first building, and the Catholics provided them with food gratis. While John Shorb, Sr. was helping in the building, workmen were lifting joists to the roof, when several beams slipped and fell, one falling on Mr. Shorb, who was superintending the work below. He fell backward, striking his head, and was knocked unconscious from the painful injury, from which he died the following day, July 24, 1824, in his sixty-sixth year. He was followed by his wife, Catherine, in 1841, in her eighty-fourth year. 3 Both are buried under the eaves on the west side of the St. John's Church of the present day. The "printer" paid the following tribute: On Sunday his remains were interred in the Catholic Grave Yard accompanied by an immense number of neighbors and friends. Anxious for the prosperity of religion with a pious heart and evangelical spirit, he had a few months since commenced the building of a church to be dedicated to the service of the Roman Catholics, to which denomination he was attached. The sole director, and almost only patron, his purse, time, and exclusive attention were devoted to the accomplish- ment of this laudable and virtuous object. The deceased was one of the first settlers in the county and the first in town. 32 With the passing of John Shorb, Sr. Canton's leaders of the first generation began to pass off the scene, and their places to be taken by the new generation. The Baptists were first mentioned in the Repository in April 1822, when "the Reverend Messrs. Jones, Clark, and Brown of the Baptist Church" held divine service in the Court House and administered com- munion. 3 The Episcopal Church is not referred to in the Repository during this period, but Philander Chase, on his first trip to the state, before he became Ohio's first Bishop, preached at Canton on the evening of April 16, 1817, 34 probably in the courtroom of Stidger's 81 Herbert T. O. Blue, History of Stark County (Chicago, 1928), III 389-391. 32 Ohio Repository, July 29, 1824. 3 Ibid., April 18, 1822. 84 Philander Chase, Reminiscences (New York, 1842), 135. (120) Hotel as the new court-house was still under construction. Again in June of the same year he and Mrs. Chase were in Canton, where he hired a wagon "good and new, with two fine horses" (probably at Samuel Patton's), and refers to the wagons as "inland navigation wagons," soon having the experience of being stuck in the mud, which he vividly describes. 35 Another early Catholic family was that of Andrew Meyer who first came to Canton in 1814. 6 Meyer, like Shorb, was German born, coming from Bonn, where his father was a man of great wealth, and noble descent. Himself a graduate of Bonn University, he saw military service under Austria and Napoleon. With his brother Godfrey he emigrated to America shortly before 1800, settling in Baltimore, where they engaged in the coppersmith business. During the War of 1812 they furnished brass and copper supplies to the Government. He fitted out two ships, the "Joseph" and the "Mary", and owned interest in other ships. One ship, of which he was part owner, was sunk while running the blockade off Baltimore. As compensation President Madison gave him lands around and near what was then called Wells Lake, in Stark County, named after Bezaleel Wells who had purchased from the government most of the lands surrounding the lake. Andrew came out to Canton in 1814 with his wife, Elizabeth Gross Meyer, a daughter of Judge John I. Gross, a member of the Supreme Court of Maryland. They came in a coach, Mrs. Meyer carrying a rare clock which still reposes on the mantel shelf of the Meyer homestead. Mrs. Meyer's health suffering, the two journeyed back to Baltimore in an old Conestoga wagon, guarded by twelve men. The old homestead, that still stands on the heights overlooking Meyers Lake, was built in 1816. The house was the finest in this section of the state, and possessed conveniences unknown to the pioneers of that period. The material was hauled overland from Steubenville where the timber was cut, with the exception of some woods from foreign lands. The brass door knocker was added five years later. The bricks came from Zanesville and from a local brick plant located on the property now owned by the H. H. Timken Estate. To the President's grant Meyer added 1,080 acres surrounding the lake by purchase from Bezaleel Wells. He and his sons added other land until they owned a solid tract of 3,000 acres around Meyer's Lake, and southward to and beyond the present Canton-Massillon road, and from the present Whipple road eastward to Nimishillen Creek, where it joined the section of farm land owned by the Shorbs. Practically all of this land is now within the present city limits of Canton. The broad acres of the Meyer family, spreading over the extensive plains, with only low underbrush, were excellent for wheat, and Meyer soon became a great wheat grower. When Andrew and his brother came into the village of Canton, attired in their fashionable Baltimore clothes, they created quite a sensation among the Canton young men who were clad in homespuns. The Meyer home-

35 Ibid., 141. 36 Cunningham, in his Stark County Guide, cites 1807 as the year that Andrew Meyer and his family came to Canton, but this is not borne out either by the family albums nor by the county records.

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yi t ;Sri f. 2:i; stead became for many years a social center. They brought the first piano into Stark County from across the mountains. When Andrew Meyer died in 1848, at the age of 87, his large estate descended by entail to his oldest son, Joseph, who had joined his father in Canton in 1820. The other sons Francis, and Andrew Junior, also became cultured and influential members of the Canton community, as did the daughters, Elizabeth, who married James Cassilly, also of Canton; and Helena, who married Thomas J. Patton, of Canton. Andrew Senior built a large vault - the first in Stark County - on his private burial grounds, and at his death his body was placed in it, together with members of his family who had preceded him in death. The old homestead is still in the possession of the family, being occupied by the great grandson, Joseph Edward, and family. But the 3,000 acres have shrunk to 160 now surrounding the old homestead. On the office walls of Attorneys Joseph M. Blake and John T. Blake, of Canton, great-grandsons of Andrew Meyer, there hang maps of Stark County in 1852 and 1855, showing the ownership of all lands in Stark County at a time when the Meyer lands were still intact. 37 The beginning of a village water works was noted when William Raynolds and Jacob Myers were granted by state legislature a permanent, lease (99 years) of the northeast quarter section 16 (the school section) of Canton Township on which to erect the first water works for Canton. 38 This was along the East Branch of the Nimishillen, about half a mile to a mile above its junction with the West Branch, south of town. Awareness of the cultural needs of the new settlement were recognized when the Library Company of Canton was established in December 1816, with shares at $5 each, of which James W. Lathrop became first Librarian, James Drennan President, and John Harris, James Hazlett, and John Saxton, trustees. 9 Later John Shorb, Jr. became Secretary. In the absence of public schools, private schools competed with each other for funds and scholars. William Fogle and Samuel Coulter were collecting for an unnamed school in April 1817, and John Webb for the Canton School in February 1818. William Kingsbury was instructor of the English Day School near Frederick Young's tavern in December 1818. A leading spirit for the improvement of education, not only in Canton, but for the state, was James W. Lathrop. Under his stimulus the project of an academy developed about 1820. Under the sponsorship of a committee consisting of Samuel Coulter, James Drennan, George Stidger, and Anthony Meyer, 100 shares of stock were subscribed. So completely absent was Bezaleel Wells from Canton's affairs by this time that his name did not appear even in this list. Samuel Coulter was the first president, George Stidger the first treasurer, and William Christmas

37 The information about Andrew Meyer and family is derived from an account in the News Magazine (place of publication unknown), May 11, 1924, by Maud M. Howells, entitled "Canton Youths Hunt Pirate Treasure;" also from an account in the family scrap book of William K. Figley, of Canton. 38 Acts of Ohio, XIV (1815-1816). 24. 39 Ohio Repository, December 12, 1816, January 30, 1817, August 3, 1818.

(122) the first clerk of the Academy. 40 The first trustees were William Fogle James Drennan, John Harris, William Christmas, William Raynolds, James W. Lathrop, James Hazlett, Thomas Hurford, John Buckius, Martin Lohr, John Myers, and John Saxton. The Academy and the other schools of the township came under the jurisdiction of the township trustees, who in May 1822, were Philip Slusser, Jacob Rowland, and John Saxton. 41 In the absence of any adequate school building, the academy project was delayed, but a classical school was opened in the house of Mr. Lathrop September 30, 1822. 4 Finally the academy contract was let in the fall of 1823 by William Christmas and John Saxton, the building committee, for a brick building 40 by 75 feet, to which was added, in February 1824, a second story, 30 by 60 feet. 4 The building could accommodate 50 to 60 students, and was regarded as the "finest seat of learning" in that part of the state. 4 With no public funds available, this first building constructed on the Wells block, like the Timken Vocational High School, depended on private giving. Among the chief contributors were John Harris, William Raynolds, George Stidger, Thomas Hartford, James W. Lathrop, John Saxton, William Fogle, Winans Clark, John Sterling, George Dunbar, Philip Slusser, William Christmas, John Webb, Samuel Coulter, and James Hazlett. Again the name of Bezaleel Wells was conspicuously missing. Lathrop was elected to the State Legislature, and, according to Dr. Slusser, was "the first man in Ohio to advocate the principle that the property of the State should educate the children of the State." 4 The legislation did not appear on the statute books until February 5, 1825, and did not become effective until June 1826, when counties were to begin assessing a grand levy of one-twentieth of one per cent, or a half mill on the dollar, on all property, for the support of common schools. The trustees of each township were to lay off school districts, and each district was to elect a school board of three directors, who were to employ teachers, keep accounts and otherwise manage the school affairs. Examiners were to be appointed by the courts of common pleas. School funds were thus to come from the new source of a grand levy, as well as from the old source of income from section 16, which up to this time had proven quite meager. Before this legislation became mandatory there was earlier legislation which made somewhat similar provisions optional. Lathrop was serving as trustee of Canton Township schools in 1823, along with Thomas Hurford and John Webb, and took steps to put 46 the plan into operation in October of that year. Upon his return from the legislature he met with "a great burst of opposition, and a terrific

40 Ohio Repository, March 22, April 5, May 11 and November 9, 1820. The Constitution is preserved in the Canton Public Library, in the same record book with the first records of the incorporated town. 41 Ohio Repository, May 23, 1822. 42 Ibid., September 26, 1822. 43 Ibid., February 12, 1824. 44 Dr. Lew Slusser, in Annual Report of the Superintendent of Education (Can- ton, Ohio, 1886), pages 21, 22. 45Ibid., 22. 46 Ohio Repository, October 2, 1823.

(123) howl," because of the added compulsory taxes. 7 Not until 1837-38 did Canton experiment with the free system of common school education. A fire in February 1821 started the move for a fire department, which in turn brought about the incorporation of the town. A house belonging to contractor Thomas A. Drayton, and occupied by Polly Prouse, was destroyed, together with almost all the clothing of the victim. The circumstances were distressing and sensational. "She had . .. her feet frozen at a neighbor's door, begging admittance and assistance to save her property - but from the situation of the inmates, being engaged in a frolic, her entreaties were unavailing until too late." On this same morning, when the temperature fell to 23 degrees below zero, "the most ex- cessive cold ever witnessed here by several degrees," the roof of the house of a Mr. Shaeffer, the wagon-maker, took fire, but was saved without much damage. Commented the printer, "we are destitute of an engine, ladders, hooks or buckets." A meeting of the citizens was held at the court house in August, with the object of procuring a fire engine, ladders, and hooks, but the town not being incorporated it couldn't legally be done. So to get a fire department, the town fathers went to work and got the.town incorporated by act of the state legislature January 30, 1822. 49 James W. Lathrop was the first town President. The other trustees were John Sterling, James Hazlett, Jacob Ropp, Christian Paulmore, and Jacob Rex. Samuel Pennewell was recorder, Timothy Reed, treasurer, and Samuel Bowlby, marshall.50 On July 22, 1822, the town fathers passed an ordinance establishing a Fire Company in Canton. 61 James Hazlett was elected captain of the fire company. 2 The incorporation of the town led to special legislation by the state General Assembly which brought Bezaleel Wells into the town affair, for one of the two times that occurred between 1814 and 1830. 5 The legislation, which passed January 20, 1823, read as follows: Establishing town of Canton & directing a correct plat thereof to be recorded Whereas it has been represented to this Genl Assembly that Bezaleel Wells, the orig. propr. of the town of Canton, at the laying out of the same, formed a plat thereof, describing the lots, except those on the public sq. to be 198 feet long & 66 ft. wide, which plat the proprietor intended to have recorded, but by mistake another plat was recorded, describing said lots

47 Cunningham, Canton and Stark County, 60. 48 Ohio Repository, February 1, 1821. 49 Acts of Ohio, XX (1821-1822), 23. 50 Ohio Repository, April 18, 1822. 51 This and the other ordinances and business of the incorporated town of Canton are on file in the original at the Canton Public Library. A copy of the town ordinances is on file at the office of the Safety Director in the City Hall. 52 Ohio Repository, November 13, 1823. 83 So far as the records of the General Assembly or the files of the Repository indicate. The other occasion was when he changed the deed for the court-house site.

(124) as 180 x 60. And whereas the chain with which said town was laid out was longer than allowed by law:-Therefore Sec. 1. Be it enacted, etc. That the said Bezaleel Wells ... be ... authorized to make a correct plat . . describing the lots, streets & alleys ... as actually laid out & surveyed, to have the same certified & acknowledged, ... and deposit the same with the recorder of said Co., who shall forthwith record the same. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted That from & after the recording of the plat .- .. said lots, streets & alleys shall be establ. & considered as permanently fixed, in the same manner they were originally laid out & surveyed & all deeds of conveyance heretofore made & executed - for any lot in said town shall be good & valid & convey the same title & interest as could have been conveyed had there originally been a correct plat of said town duly recorded. To take effect & be in force from & after July 1 next. Jan. 20, 182356 How this led to the transfer of the Canton Plat from Columbiana County into the Stark County records, with an explanation by Bezaleel Wells, has already been described. 55 A supplementary fire company ordinance was passed in April 1823, by which the town officials were to appoint annually four lanemen, five laddermen, two hookmen, and two axemen. The lanemen were to convey water to the engine or place of fire, the laddermen the ladders, and the hookmen the hooks. Thomas Drayton was appointed street commissioner, and George Stidger, firemaster. The elite of town were appointed as lanemen, laddermen, and hookmen. John Buckius, Orlando Metcalf, James Gaff, and John Augustine became lanemen; Jacob Ropp, George Dunbar, James W. Lathrop, George Dewalt, John Webb, John Clark, and John Saxton, hookmen; and John Miller and Christian Paul- more, axemen. Timothy Reed was assessor. David Shriver's Big Spring, a mile northeast of town, came in for a town ordinance August 23, 1823 when the owner was given permission to keep his drainage ditch cleared through town so long as other property was not damaged. The same ordinance required that anyone hereafter "erecting a Privy," should keep it cleansed with lime or otherwise, or be subject to a fine of from 25 cents to $5 per week. The annual and biennial elections gave the verdict on who were politically popular in Canton. D. L. McClure was sheriff in 1815. In 1816 the township officers were Jacob Myers, justice of the peace; William Raynolds, clerk; William Fogle, treasurer; Thomas Hurford, Samuel Patton and David Bachtel, trustees; Jacob Rowland, Christian Smith, and George Crips, supervisors; John Shorb and John Kroft, overseers of the poor; William Capper and William Alexander, con-

54 Acts of Ohio, XXI (1822-1823), 21. "5 Chapter V of this thesis.

(125) stables; James Williams, and Isaac Helmick, fence viewers; Christian Flickinger, appraiser of property; and James Gaff, lister. 66 John Myers was elected state senator, Michael Oswalt, representative and Moses Andrews, sheriff. William Alben, John Sluss and James Drennan were the county commissioners. 7 On a special election Thomas Alexander was elected coroner. 58 John Saxton became a county commissioner in 1817, and David Parks coroner. 9 In 1818 Philip Slusser became coroner. 0 In 1822 Samuel Coulter was elected state senator, John Hoover state representative, James W. Lathrop county auditor, John Augustine, sheriff; and the two new county commissioners were John Slusser, and Stephen Harris. 61 The following year John Hoover, of Plain Township was elected state representative; John Saxton, county auditor; John Bowers, commissioner; and James Gaff, Jr., coroner. 62 In 1824 John Augustine, after several years as county sheriff, was elected state senator, and James W. Lathrop, with a larger vote, state representative. With a still larger vote John Saxton remained county auditor. Timothy Reed became sheriff, Peter Mottice, and Stephen Harris were elected county commissioners, and John Clark, coroner. 63 Familiar names headed the local militia. In 1817 Colonel George Stidger was in command; Lieutenant Thomas Hurford, Adjutant; Lieu- tenant John Saxton, Paymaster; Lieutenant David Parks, Quarter Master; Dr. J. W. Hoyt, Surgeon's Mate; and Samuel Buckius, Sergeant Major. 6 On March 27, 1818 at the age of 22, John Shorb, Jr. was elected Adjutant of the 2nd battalion, first regiment, with the title of Major. 65 Two weeks later he married Harriet Stidger, niece of his commanding officer, then titled as General. James Drennan was aid-de-camp in 1820, 66 and David Wareham Adjutant. At an election held July 5, 1822 George Stidger was elected Brigadier General of the 3rd brigade of the 6th division, Ohio militia. 6 In the fall election of 1822, one of the candidates, John Hoover, and George Stidger carried on a newspaper mudslinging campaign against each other. The chief complaint against Stidger seemed to be prosperity, "adding house to house and field to field." It was the first time in Canton's political history when any single citizen had become enough of a "big shot" to become the general target of envious minds. He was criticized for being an intimate friend of Andrew Meyer. He was accused, when a director of the bank, of stopping payment so that the bank paper

56 Ohio Repository, April 4, 181&, 57 Ibid., October 17, 1816. 58 Ibid., August 7, 1817. 59 Ibid., October 23, 1817. 60 Ibid., October 16, 1818. 61Ibid., October 17, 1822. 2 Ibid., October 23, 1823. 68 Ibid., October 21, 1824. 64 Ibid., June 26, 1817. 65 Ibid., April 10, 1818. 66 Ibid., July 27, 1820. 67 Ibid., July 13, 1822.

(126) would go down in value, and be cheaply repurchased. Through marriage he was also connected with the bank president, John Shorb. Thus a little aristocratic colony was emerging out of the frontier village, within sixteen years after its founding and drawing upon itself the active resentment and hostility of the democratic have-nots. Aristocratic su- periority, rather than frontier crudeness, characterizes the bearing and looks of George Stidger and his wife Mary (Riley) Stidger in the large painting "by an unknown artist before 1826" at the head of the stairs of the Massillon Museum. The diary of Char Christ William Gallwitz reveals that he was doubtless the painter, as he was successful and busy as a painter of the town's worthies, in the days before photography, and while he names none of his subjects, he had over twice as much business as his other two competitors put together, in this town of 500 or 600 population. 68 Perhaps there was toward Bezaleel Wells an element of this democratic envy and lack of appreciation on the part of Canton citizens, as expressed by the county commissioners in 1810, which might have been a factor in his withdrawal from participation in Canton's life after 1814. There was no commercialized entertainment, but the people had their sports and amusements. The Fourth of July was celebrated with a two o'clock dinner at Samuel Patton's Long Room, after which the guests marched to Shriver's Big Spring and drank eighteen toasts in honor of the eighteen states, but, being Federalists, carefully avoided any toast for Andrew Jackson, despite his recent victory at New Orleans.69 Two years later those who wished to celebrate entered their names on the subscription paper at John Shorb's store instead of at Patton's Inn. William Raynolds read the Declaration of Independence in the court room at ten o'clock. John Harris delivered an oration, then the guests marched to the Big Spring, where they partook of a sumptuous dinner, and James W. Lathrop was toastmaster. This time there were twenty toasts, ending with the usual toast to "the fair." Samuel Patton's Long Room was the place where the young people staged the tragedy of "Douglas, or the Noble Shepherd," on the eve of July 4th, 1818, and three evenings later exhibited the Tragedy of "Pizarro; or the Spaniards in Peru." 70 Timely tragedies both, as Bezaleel Wells and his partner were introducing sheep raising on a grand scale near Canton, and the revolutions were on in South America. In 1823 a performance by the Canton Thespian Society was scheduled in Philip Dewalt's Ball Room. 71 The same Long Room at Patton's Inn was selected by the exhibitors of a museum of wax work in November 1818, which continued during the sitting of the court.72 The Singing School, instructed one year by

88 Gallwitz, Diary, 150. 69 Ohio Repository, July 6, 1815 and July 10, 1817. 70 Ibid., June 26, 1818. 71 Ibid., December 25, 1823. 72 Ibid., November 13 and 27, 1818.

(127) Alva Kingsbury, and another by William Kingsbury, also held its re- hearsal in the Long Room, John Harris taking subscriptions of members. 73 A living African lion was exhibited at Philip Dewalt's Inn in Sep- tember 1819, and a living elephant at the same inn in October 1823. Apparently the town failed to get its money from the latter exhibition as a town ordinance was passed a few weeks later, penalizing the ex- hibitor of any such show "tending to no good purpose" a fine of from $5 to $20 for every such exhibition that was put on before the town fee was paid. The Ball Room at Dewalt's was also the place where Levi B. Gitchel conducted his dancing school. 74 The Masonic Fraternity was organized in 1821, with Moses Andrews as first master, James Drennan senior warden, B. C. Goodwill junior warden, Timothy Reed treasurer, and James W. Lathrop secretary. The first lodge, Canton Lodge No. 60, invited the public to the first installa- tion of its officers, January 3, 1822. Lathrop was master of the lodge in 1822 and 1823, and again in 1828. Other masters up to 1830 were Oren Pitkin, William Gardner, John P. Coulter, James Allen, Julius Gardner, and John Brown. 75 John Buckius, George Breysacher, and Edward Shaeffer were a committee that arranged for the festival of St. John the Baptist by the Brethren of Canton Lodge in May 1823. 76 The bridges over the various branches of the Nimishillen, as one approached Canton from the east, south or west, offered a sizable problem. John Myers, who gave his address as "Mount Prospect, near Canton," was the road commissioner who received proposals for the bridge over the Nimishillen on the road from New Philadelphia to Canton, in June 1815. James Drennan, Jacob Ropp, and J. H. Hallock, road commissioners, received the bids for a bridge over the East Branch on the state road from Canton to New Lisbon in January 1816. John Trump and Andrew Wise received proposals for a bridge over the Middle branch, "near the late Michael Reed's place" in February 1816. It was soon after the completion of these bridges, in December 1816, that "the printer" wrote his "topographical view" of Canton, the only description extant prior to 1830: Canton is situated on a beautiful eminence which rises in the midst of an extensive plain. 77 Excellent well water may easily be obtained on the highest ground; and the town, though formerly somewhat subject to fever and ague, is now, by the drain- ing off of stagnant water, rendered wholly free from that disorder. On the east and west side of the town flow the two branches of the Nimishillen, which form a junction about one and one- fourth mile south of town; to which point it is believed the Nimishillen will be declared navigable. These branches are

73 Ibid., December 12, 1822. 7 7 Ibid, January 24, 1822. B3y-Laws of Canton Lodge, No. 60 P. & A. M., Canton, 1902. T6 Ohio Repository, May 29, 1823. 7 The italics are the writer's.

(128) crossed by four bridges, two of which are 200 feet in length and of good construction. A small stream of water (Shriver's Run) runs directly through the town which drives a fulling mill, waters three tan yards and then passes off to the Nimishillen .. . The population at this time is about 500. There is at present a temporary courthouse and jail, but the foundation is laid for a new and elegant Court-House, 44 by 44 feet. Canton contains a printing office and news-paper establishment, two houses for religious worship, one for the German Lutherans and one for the Presbyterians, a bank with a capital of $100,000; nine stores which employ a capital stock of fifty-five or sixty thousand dollars; four taverns; four tan-yards, three of which are in operation and possess the advantage of two large capitals; one nail manufactory; one of tin and copper; two of hats; one blacksmith shop on a large scale; one clock and watchmaker; one gun-smith; three saddlers; three cabinet makers; two wheelwrights and chairmakers; one chairmaker and painter; five shoe-makers; three tailors; a pottery and a number of house- carpenters and joiners. Within four miles of the town are seven grist-mills, three saw-mills, one oil-well, one fulling mill, and two carding machines for wool and cotton. It is believed that a mason, a cooper, a brewer, one or two more black-smiths and shoemakers would find a sufficiency of business here. Some lots in the town-plot remain unsold which can now be purchased to advantage. The population of the county is between seven and eight thousand and constantly increasing. 78 The first generation of bridges were giving out by 1823, and James Lathrop was receiving proposals in May and June of that year for repairing the bridge over Rowland's mill pond on the Nimishillen, and for repairing the bridge over the West Branch. 7 In character with the rural scene of which Canton was the charming center, the breeding of horses was publicly arranged for and publicized, as in the case of Bald Figure at Samuel Patton's stables: FARMER'S LOOK HERE THE ELEGANT HORSE BALD FIGURE will stand for mares this season, on Monday, Tuesday, Wed- nesday & Saturdays of each week at the stable of Samuel Patton, in Canton: Thursday & Fridays reserved to myself; at the low rate of $3.00 the season, to be paid by 1st October in good mer- chantable grain delivered at Rowland's or Welty's mill, or at the stand in Canton. One Dollar (cash) the single leap; and Five Dollars for ensurance, to be paid when the mare is known to be with foal. Persons parting with the mare is considered liable 78 Ohio Repository, December 12, 1816. 79 Ibid., May 29 and June 12, 1823.

(129) for the ensurance money. A Beautiful Dapple Bay, calculated for Riding or Harness. His sire was the noted horse old Bald Figure - His Dam a first rate Chester Ball mare. Nathaniel Kirk 80 By 1820 buck sheep, running at large in Canton, had become a nuisance, and at a meeting of citizens it was decided to take them up and deal with them according to law, charging the owner or owners for the expense. 81 Sheep were not the only stray nuisances. The newspaper advertisements were full of stray dogs, oxen, hogs, and lambs. These strays added to the problem of keeping the streets cleaned, and in May 1820 township supervisor Christian Paulmore, at the end of his patience, served notice on the residents along Market and Tuscarawas Streets to remove their wood from the streets immediately. Lack of authority to enforce clean-up measures in the town doubtless contributed to the general local demand for incorporation. When Thomas A. Drayton was street commissioner in May 1823, he had the legal power of the incorporated town back of him when he gave the order to clear the streets of "all wood, manure or other nuisance . .. at the respective owner's expense. The hitching of horses to Market House was also prohibited. 82 Nowhere is the peaceful, idyllic life of Canton in the early eighteen twenties more alluringly portrayed than in the pages of Char Gallwitz's diary. Despite his newness to the English language, this school teacher- artist was a master of word painting as well as of oil painting. He vividly portrays from personal experience the hunter's paradise that then lay all around Canton; the charm of Meyers Lake when it basked in the undisturbed sunshine and storms of nature; "the beautiful woods of grandest height" that lay near Canton, "with lovely silver clear brooks" winding their serpentine way through the forest. Wolves, deer and even panthers, abounded in the nearby forests. "Unheard of flocks of wild pigeons" darkened the air, and "rose with a sound like thunder." Wolf hunts were organized to destroy these dangerous enemies of Stark County's growing flocks of sheep. Turning to town customs, Gallwitz describes the pumpkin butter, the many religious sects even at that early date, the throwing of cabbages through the windows by the school boys, and the romantic studio which he fitted up. He describes his courtship, and marriage to Margaret Miller, the daughter of another famous character of Canton's early days, and also an emigrant from Germany, "But- ton Miller," so called because of the large white buttons on his uniform, which he continued to wear after settling in Canton. In those days Canton apparently had a charm and beauty that caused many emigrants, particularly Germans, who originally headed further west, to settle down and go no further. The sheer enjoyment of living shines through the pages of Gallwitz's diary. In September 1823, he writes: "These days I pass pleasantly and lively with my old acquaintances." In April, 1823, "I . .. now live entirely alone, unmolested, very pleasant, romantic. On one side the garden, behind the woods, on

80 Ibid., April 17, 1817. 81 Ibid., May 3, 1821. 82 Ibid., May 29, 1823.

(130) another side an orchard, and farther over a hill. I call the place where I live Orgensterne." In July a young friend, Siegfried Walter, just over from Germany, visited Gallwitz in his romantic studio. "I took him (Walter) out to Meyers Lake. He liked this so well that we passed the whole day riding upon the lake. He remained several days with me, and he liked this place so well that he concluded to settle here some future time." 83 The atmosphere of these early happy peaceful days has been caught by a later Cantonian, William T. Kuhns, partly from the traditions of his frontier ancestors, and passed on in a charming little volume Memories of Old Canton. 84 Harbinger of the new day, that, through the improvement of Canton's communications with the outside world, was to change the isolated community from a contented rural center to a bustling industrial town after Bezaleel Well's time, was the new Ohio-Erie canal. After twenty years of exceedingly quiet development, practically limited to a county's boundaries, shut in by nearly impassable roads, to an economy largely self contained, the thrifty, industrious, steady German-speaking farmers of Stark County suddenly found the outside world knocking at their side door. They and their English speaking neighbors who dominated the town scene in Canton, were alert to the new opportunities. During the first year that the canal was building, the 2,000 canal laborers received only 30 cents a day for work from sunrise to sunset, with plain board, lodging in a shanty, and a daily "jiggerful" of whiskey during the first four months. 85 In June 1826 the canal contractors advertised for 500 laborers at $10 to $13 per month in Canton's newspaper. 86 Extensive plans for internal improvements in Pennsylvania competed with Ohio's plans, sending wages up even more rapidly. 87 Two unnamed citizens of Canton laid out the town of Bolivar in 1825, where the canal was to cross the Tuscarawas River over a beautiful aqueduct, on the southern line of Stark County. 88 Massillon was founded on the canal route in 1826 by Captain James Duncan. The same year saw Akron, the Greek word meaning The Heights, rise in bustling western fashion from a collection of shanties where Irish canal laborers lodged, 89 at the top of the spectacular and picturesque descent down which the canal dropped by locks and sluices from the Portage Lakes watershed, to the Cuyahoga Valley. 1826 also saw the founding by Cantonians of Canal Fulton, in the northwest corner of the county. The lots of all these towns, as well as of many others were extensively advertised in the Repository. When the first boat dropped down the Akron locks on the way to Cleaveland July 4, 1827, its three mile an hour speed hardly suggested the revolutionary effects the canal was to produce in Stark County and Canton life within a few years. 83 Gallwitz, Diary, 144, 148, 150, 151. 84 Privately published (Canton, Ohio), 1937. 85 Charles C. Huntington, History of the Ohio Canals (Columbus, 1905,) 26. 8 6 Ohio Repository, June 29, 1826. 87 John Kilbourn, Public -Documents Concerning the Ohio Canals (Columbus, 1832), 323, January 6, 1829. 88 Maximilian's Travels in Thwaite Early Western Travels, XXIV, 157. 89 Huntington, Ohio Canals, 26.

(131) The effect of canal building and trade upon Canton's growth was already noticeable by the beginning of 1830. A description of Canton's establishments which appeared in the Ohio Repository in January of that year affords an interesting contrast with the printer's "topographical view" already referred to in 1816. The 1830 description was as follows: TOWN OF CANTON The beautiful village of Canton, Stark Co. Ohio contains at this time (January 1, 1830) 14 Dry Goods Stores, 1 Hardware store, 7 Taverns - 2 for Private Entertainment - 3 Printing Offices - 6 Apothecaries - 9 Shoemaker shops - 4 Saddler Shops - 5 Tailor Shops - 4 Hatter Shops - 7 Cabinet Shops - 3 Wagon Maker Shops - 4 Weaver Shops- 2 Barber Shops - 14 Carpenters and Joiners - 1 Brickmaker - 2 Brick layers - 3 Stone Masons - 2 Stone Cutters - 4 Plasterers - 3 House Painters - 2 Portrait and Sign Painters - I Chair maker - 2 Copper Smiths and Tinners - 1 Gun- smith- 2 Wheelwrights - 3 Milliners - 9 Teamsters - 2 Earthen Potteries - 2 Stoneware Potteries - 5 Tanneries - 2 Breweries - 2 Silversmiths and 3 Butchers. There are also 3 clergymen; 4 Schoolmasters - 8 Attorneys at Law, and 8 Physicians. There are 225 Dwelling Houses and Shops, about 50 of which are of Brick - Besides a Court House, 3 Public offices, a Bank, 3 Churches, and an Academy, all of Brick (but a County Jail of wood). A Brick Church, 6 Brick Houses, and 25 frame Houses and shops were erected the past year. Communicated 90 The same issue of the paper advertised lines of stages running three times a week to Cleaveland, Pittsburgh, Mansfield, and Fairport, and once a week to Warren, Steubenville, and Zanesville. As one notes the persons who came to Canton during the first quarter century of its existence, and assumed leadership, he is impressed that they were individuals of a high average of intelligence, education, ability, and initiative. Satisfied and happy to develop a self-contained rural center, there was among them enterprising and ambitious leadership ready to seize the broader opportunities of a new day and generation as outside forces began to connect them up with the outside world. Doubtless the leadership of Bezaleel Wells in the first decade, and Stark County's continued connection with him even after his withdrawal from Canton's town affairs, contributed to a wider outlook of Canton's citizens than their circumscribed activities suggested. Highest evidence of Bezaleel Wells's genius as a town-founder lay in his ability to attract to Canton the type of settlers who made successful citizens, and who laid the sound foundations for a prosperous and well balanced American city, so typical that it is frequently selected as a trial city for national advertising. Today's busy modern Canton memorializes Bezaleel Wells with Wells Street on 90 Ohio Repository, January 8, 1830.

(132) the western boundary of his plat, connecting the blocks he donated for school, church and graveyard. The Bezaleel Wells School is located across the street from the southwest corner of his plat. The court house stands on the lot he donated for that purpose. At the heart of the vitally growing and modern city, and on the cross road of the nation, e9 the handsome First Presbyterian Church, mellowed with age, rises in mutual salute with the city's most modern educational building, the Timken Vocational High School, twin reminders of the vision of the founder one hundred and thirty-seven years ago, when on the plat of a city yet to be, two blocks were set aside, with a broad street between, to house in time the two beautiful and permanent landmarks commemorating the religious and educational foundations essential for the preservation of a strong, wholesome, united American community.

9 Tuscarawas Street is a link of the Lincoln Highway, transcontinental route number 30.

(133) CHAPTER IX Steubenville and the Industrial Revolution, 1805-1830 During the decade 1805-1815 Steubenville progressed from a frontier village center of a self-sufficient rural economy into a trading and factory town. Its population grew from 600 or 700 to an estimated 2,000 in 1815 1 and attained 2,639 in 1820. 2 By that date it had advanced to second rank among Ohio towns, surpassed only by Cincinnati, which had leaped ahead of other Ohio cities, with 9,642 population. Indus- trially Steubenville, with 343 persons engaged in industry, had likewise risen to second place, surpassed only by Cincinnati, with 753 factory workers. In fact with 1,235 industrial workers Jefferson County was more typically industrial than Hamilton County, with 1,548 engaged, and more closely resembled the Pittsburgh district, in whose orbit she lay. 4 Pittsburgh, while claiming a smaller population (7,248) than Cincinnati in 1820, was by far the most industrial town west of the Alle- ghanies, and had already laid the foundations of its glass, wire, iron rolling, iron furnace, steam engine, flour milling, textile, and shipbuilding industries. The War of 1812 had thrust the iron city (it did not start steel manufacture until later) into the manufacture of cannon balls, and the erection and operation of an arsenal. Probably most important of the numerous factors contributing to Steubenville's rapid growth during this decade was the tremendous im- igration into Ohio, which increased the population of the State from 42,000 in 1800, to 230,760 in 1810, and 581,434 in 1820. Steubenville's location as a town of entry brought to it more than its proportionate share. The purchase of Louisiana caused an expansion of trade in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. The Embargo Act of December 1807, which prostrated the trade of the Atlantic Seaboard, created a compen- sating increase of trade in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, resulting in a two way traffic up and down the rivers, replacing the previous one way traffic down river only. The War of 1812 still further increased the interior trade. The inauguration of steamboat service on the Ohio

1 William D. Howells, Life in Ohio 1813-1840, in Henry Howe Historical Collections of Ohio (Newark, Ohio, 1898), I, 967. 2 U. S. Census office, Census for 1820, 36. The 1820 census gave the population for the township, and not for the town of Steubenville. 3 Ibid., 35 and 36. " Ibid., 35-38, gave Chillicothe 2,426 inhabitants, and Zanesville, 2,052. 5 Solon J. Buck and Elizabeth H. Buck, Planting of Civilization in Western Penn- sylvania (Pittsburgh, 1939), 308-316; Leland D. Baldwin, Pittsburgh, the Story of a City (Pittsburgh, 1938), 149, 217, 304. 6 Buck, Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania, 297, 298. 7 Russell J. Ferguson, Early Western Pennsylvania Politics (Pittsburgh, 1938), 215; Baldwin, Pittsburgh, 141, 152.

(134) and Mississippi rivers in 1811 not only assisted the war expansion, but converted the temporary gains of the war into the permanent expansion of the river traffic. 8The embargo also encouraged the development of infant industries in Pittsburgh, Steubenville, and other towns. The building of the federal turnpike from Cumberland to the Ohio, the building of state turnpikes in Pennsylvania, and the great increase of road-building in Ohio with the 3 per cent funds, all accelerated migration and trade in and to this region. Not to be overlooked, however, in the factors making for Steubenville's exceptional growth, was the personal leadership and genius for town building displayed by Bezaleel Wells. In the rush of industrial development, during and immediately after the War of 1812, Steubenville's boundaries were enlarged to double the size of the original town, many additions were laid out, and at the height of' the expansion James Ross laid out his purchase of 1796 into an addition (1815). Then came a lull, intensified by the depression of 1818, and no further expansion of Steubenville's boundaries took place until 1836. The population in 1830 had only increased to 2,937, whereas Cincinnati had grown to 24,831. Zanesville and Dayton had passed Steubenville with 3,094 and 2,965 population respectively, and Chillicothe was not far behind with 2,846, while Columbus had 2,437. Thus Steubenville had dropped to fourth place. Steubenville, being more on the main line of travel than Canton, naturally had more visitors who have left their contemporary impressions. In 1807 Fortesque Cuming, the English traveler, left the following description: It (Steubenville) contains one hundred and sixty houses, including a new gaol of hewn stone, a court house of square logs (which it is said is to be soon replaced by a new one of better materials), and a brick Presbyterian Church. There are four or five different sects of Christians, but no established minister, except Mr. Snodgrass to the Presbyterians, and a Mr. Doddridge who comes from Charleston (Wellsburg) in Virginia, every other Sunday, to officiate to the Episcopalians in the court house, which is occasionally used for the same purpose by the other sects. Mr. Bazil. Wells, who is joint proprietor of the soil with Mr. James Ross of Pittsburgh, has a handsome house and finely improved garden and farm on the bank of the Ohio a quarter of a mile below the town. 10 Ten years later, when the industrial expansion was in full swing,

8 Leland D. Baldwin, The Keel Boat Age on Western Waters (Pittsburgh, 1941), 156, 164-195; James A. Caldwell, History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties (Wheeling, W. Va., 1880), 485; Baldwin, Pittsburgh, 141, 142; Buck, Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania, 248-250. 9 Jefferson County Records, Steubenville, Ohio, show that by 1815, there had been added to the original 236 inlots plus 20 outlots, 293 new lots. 10 Fortesque Cuming, Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country . . . (Pitts- burgh, 1810), 107, being volume IV of Reuben G. Thwaites, ed., Early Western Travels (Cleveland, 1940-05).

(135) Steubenville was visited by John Saxton, printer of the Ohio Repository, who printed the following "topographical" sketch of Steubenville as he had of Canton a few months earlier: The town contained but 800 inhabitants in 1810. Its rapid growth since is to be attributed principally to the manufactories established in it, and to the liberality and public spirit of the resident proprietor, Mr. B. Wells. The population doubled between 1810 & 1814 and increased by three fifths in 6 years, 2,032 inhabitants, 453 houses, 3 churches, 1 woolen factory worked by steam power, 1 Air Foundry, 1 Paper mill - in operation 10 months, 1 Brewery, 1 Steam Flour Mill, 1 Steam Cotton factory, 1 Nail manufactory, 2 earthen ware factories, 1 Tobacco & Segar factory, 1 Wool carding machine, 4 preachers, 6 lawyers, 5 physicians, 27 storekeepers, 16 Taverns, 2 Banks, 1 printing office, 1 Book bindery, 2 gun smiths, 1 coppersmith, 2 tinner's shops, 32 carpenters, 6 bricklayers, 5 masons, 5 plasterers, 4 cabinet makers, 6 blacksmiths, 5 tailors, 2 saddlers, 3 bakers, 8 shoe & book makers, 3 wheelwrights, 16 chair makers, 3 hatters, 3 clock & watch makers, I silver- smith, 7 schools, 3 of which are for young ladies, 8 tanneries, 1 reed maker, 5 butchers, 4 coopers, 3 waggon makers, Register U. S. Land office, Receiver U. S. Land office, Collector U. S. Revenue. . Estwick Evans, the pedestrian who hiked 4,000 miles through the western states and territories in the winter and spring of 1818, commented on Steubenville: The town of Steubenville ... extends for a considerable distance along the bank of the river. There are . .. several handsome dwelling houses. Its situation is considerably elevated, and here and there are some large trees that were spared from the forest. 1 On his way to the Arkansas Territory in 1819, Thomas Nuttall lodged overnight late in October 1818, two miles below Steubenville in the cabin of a poor tenant farmer. Of Steubenville and his surroundings he wrote: The banks of the river are exceedingly romantic, presenting lofty hills and perpendicular cliffs of not less than 300 feet elevation, everywhere covered or fringed with belts of trees in their autumnal foliage, of every bright and varying hue, more beautiful even than the richest verdure of summer. The uplands being calcareous, are found to be exceedingly fertile, and we consequently perceive houses and fences on the summits of the loftiest hills which embosom the river. From 50 to 70 dollars per acre was demanded for these lands, which are better

11 Ohio Repository, April 3, 1817. 12 Evans, Estwick, A Pedestrious Tour of Pour Thousand Miles ... (Concord, N. H., 1819), reprinted in Reuben G. Thwaites, ed., Early Western Travels (Cleveland, 1904-05), VIII, 263.

(136) for wheat than the alluvial soils. Flour was here four dollars per barrel and beef six cents a pound. 3 A month later, another traveler, James Flint, of England, added the following touches: Steubenville ... contains upwards of 2,000 people; and it is regularly laid out, and the homes built of brick, wood, and a few are of stone, all covered with shingles. If I am not mistaken, Steubenville contains a greater porpor- tion of orderly and religious people than some other American towns which I have seen. I entertain a very favourable opinion of several citizens, to whom I was introduced. 4 Still another aspect of the growing trading center is described by George W. Ogden, in Letters from the West, in 1821: Steubenville is located in the midst of a populous and fertile country, abounding with coal and iron ore . .. It is the mart of all the produce of the surrounding country, and it is from thence that the people, for several miles back, are supplied with all their English and W. India goods. 'l As to the life of Canton after 1814, the account had to be developed independently of connection with Bezaleel Wells on account of his absence from that community after that date. With Steubenville a different pattern can be followed, as his participation in the town life was so many-sided that a fairly complete picture of the life of the growing town can be reconstructed by confining the account to those aspects which were controlled or touched by Wells himself. Except for a few brief summaries or interpretations that will be the plan followed. The real estate transactions of Bezaleel Wells at Steubenville kept pace with the growing town. During the period 1806-1815, Wells sold 100 town lots and out-lots, for $7,418. He also repurchased ten lots for $2,942.16 These operations were more modest than his dealings in Jefferson County wilderness tracts which were becoming farm lands. During the decade he sold 95 tracts for $54,889.75 and repurchased five tracts for $5,065. The largest deal was the sale to James Ross in 1810 of Wells's share of sections 28, 29, 34, 35, 30, and 36 of township 1, range 1, and section 4 of township 5, range 2. The consideration was $14,000 for the 2,658 acres involved. This was the land bought in partnership with James Ross on October 24, 1796; it represented a purchase price of $5,316, of which Wells's half share was $2,658. This brought a gross profit of $11,342 on an investment that had required no cash outlay on his part. On part of this land James Ross laid out an eight block addition to Steubenville containing 48 lots, February 15,

13 Nuttall, Thomas, Journals of Travels .. (Philadelphia, 1821) reprinted in Thwaites, Early Western Travels,,XIII, 51. 14 Flint, James, Letters from America (Edinburgh and London, 1822), reprinted in Thwaites, Early Western Travels, IX, 102. 5 " Ogden, George W., Letters from the West (New Bedford, 1823), reprinted in Thwaites, Early Western Travels, XIX, 33, 34. 16 Deed Records A, B, C, D and E, Jefferson County, Steubenville.

(137) 1815. The four sections containing 2,395 acres, which Wells originally purchased in township 2 (Steubenville) and for which he had paid $4,780, were partly disposed of during the ten year period. Outside of the Ross deal, he sold 97 tracts, containing 11,400 acres during this period, for $42,070, which should have yielded about $19,270 gross profit, as most of it had been purchased from the government at $2 an acre. Including the Ross sale, the ten year distribution totaled about 14,058 acres for $56,070; yielding a total gross profit of about $30,612. For the 18 years since laying out Steubenville Wells had sold 124 tracts of land containing 18,608 acres, for $74,657. Upon these same tracts his investment had been about $34,558, leaving a gross profit of some $40,- 100.17 Upon the town lots his sales totalled $12,897 for the eighteen years from the town's founding to 1815.18 Allowing $600 expense for laying out the town, as was figured by the Stark County Commissioners in the case of Canton, and $400 for the purchase price of 200 acres, would leave nearly $12,000 gross profit on the original investment of $1,000, - spread of course over 18 years. A feature of Wells's real estate operations at Steubenville was their comparative steadiness from year to year as shown by the following record: Record of Sales of Tracts in Jefferson County and Steubenville lots by Bezaleel Wells, 1806-1815 Year Lots Tracts Total Value No. Value No. Acres Value 1806 14 $1160 2 257 $1180 $2340 1807 10 580 13 1908 7509 8089 1808 14 1085 11 1430 5949 7034 1809 5 276 8 951 3893 4169 1810 10 1045 9 3261 14783 15828 1811 9 459 8 829 3120 3579 1812 4 521 13 2107 7143 7664 1813 10 567 13 2124 6494 7061 1814 9 429 8 386 1855 2284 1815 15 1295 12 803 4143 5438 Total 100 $6257 92 14056 $56079 $63486 Looking at the total picture of Wells's real estate sales in Jefferson, Stark and Columbiana Counties from 1798 to 1815, inclusive (1814 for Stark County), he received gross profits of $46,063 on 24,755 acres of land tracts selling for $92,915; and on town lots $14,447 profits on 278 lots. There was thus a grand total of $60,510 gross profits on real

17 These figures are based upon the Deed Records, and not Wells's sales book, as the latter contained many agreements that never materialized, and would duplicate many later recordings. The recordings 1798-1803 have been given in Chapter III, page 55. During 1804 and 1805 he sold seven tracts of 1,367 acres for $5,454.50, which are included in the 18 year totals. 18 The sales through 1803 have been already given, page 55. During the three years 1804-1806 inclusive, he sold 24 lots for $1,875, which are included in the 18 year totals,

(138) estate transactions representing a total investment of $48,769; a tidy fortune for those times. 10 If the $60,510 gross profits is divided by eighteen, the number of years over which it was spread, the annual average gross profit was $3,362, representing approximately 7 per cent on the investment. This leaves out of account his operations in Belmont County, and in other parts of Ohio extending as far west as the Symmes Grant; also his transactions in Brooke County, Virginia, and in Washington County, Pennsylvania. During the six years from 1816 to 1821 inclusive Wells sold 21 more town-lots in Steubenville for $7,298; also 30 farm tracts, containing 3,100 acres, for $12,902. During the same period he purchased fourteen parcels of land, paying $10,321. 20 Much of the development of Steubenville from its incorporation up until the War of 1812, as well as afterwards, can be followed in acts of state legislation and by town ordinances, for which Wells seemed to have a natural flair, probably enhanced through his association with his brilliant attorney partner, James Ross. While Wells's name is not listed in the act incorporating Steubenville as a town, February 14, 1805, it was undoubtedly his leadership, prompted by his experience in the state legislature, that led to such an early incorporation. 21 Dayton was the only Ohio city to incorporate ahead of Steubenville, and that by only two days, and even so Steubenville's incorporation preceded Dayton's on the published statutes. In the incorporation of Steubenville, the officers were to be a president, recorder, seven trustees, assessor, collector, treasurer, and town marshall. These officers were to be one body corp- orate and to be known as "The President, recorder, and trustees of the town of Steubenville." They were to be elected annually "by the free- holders and all the other white inhabitants who have resided in town for six months." The first election was to be on May 1, 1805. Until then the officers were to be David Hull, President, John Ward, recorder, David Hoge, Zacheus A. Beaty, Benjamin Hough, Thomas Vin- cents, John England, Martin Andrews and Abraham Cazier, trustees; Samuel Hunter, treasurer; Matthew Adams, assessor; Charles Maxwell, collector; and Anthony Beck, town-marshall. 22 The first newspaper in Steubenville, the Western Herald, was first published in 1806 by John Miller and William Lowry, Jeffersonian Republicans, who came from Berkely County, Virginia, that fountain place of Ohio's Jeffersonianism, whence came Edward Tiffin and Thomas Worthington. In July 1807 the editors announced: "This paper, - at the end of a year - pledges it shall support ... the principles of a Wash- ington, the administration of a Jefferson, the genuine principles of

19 The Stark County figures have been previously given on page 189 and 190 and the Columbiana figures on pages 173 and 174. 20 Jefferson County Records E to H, Steubenville, Ohio. Due to limitations of time the writer was unable to carry the research of these extensive transactions beyond 1821. 21 Acts of Ohio (1804-1805), 259-266, Chapters LXIII and LVII. 22 Joseph B. Doyle, Twentieth Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio (Chicago, 1910), 305.

(139) democracy, the rights of the people." 2 In Federalist Steubenville these Jeffersonian editors would find the political surroundings the least congenial in the state, which might have been the real reason for the cessation of the paper after three years, instead of the alleged inability to procure paper. 24 At the time this paper began the only other newspapers being Published in Ohio were the Scioto-Gazette at Chillicothe, the Liberty Hall, and the Western Spy and Miami Gazette at Cincinnati, and the Ohio Gazette and Virginia Herald at Marietta. In the matter of written records, Steubenville differed greatly from Canton. From the time the Ohio Repository began publication in Can- ton, in 1815, the record for that community is practically continuous. In Steubenville, on the contrary, the three years of the Western Herald, 25 1806-1808, were followed, due to fire destruction, by twenty years of missing volumes, except where they may have been preserved by individuals or by copying in other newspapers. On the other hand local histories have assembled more historical data in Steubenville than in Canton. A brief glimpse will be taken of Bezaleel Wells's Steubenville through the eyes of the Western Herald. In November 1806 Wells was collecting moneys for Daniel M'Elheran. A month later he offered four shillings per bushel in cash for all wheat delivered at his mill within four weeks. In January 1807 Leonard Richards, in calling for settlement of accounts, stated that he would take wheat delivered at Wells's mill at ; market price. 2 County Commissioners Andrew Anderson, John Jackson, and Benjamin M'Cleary collected $24.00 from Bezaleel Wells for four ferry licenses, and $10.00 from John Shorb for a store license in August 1806, and the same amount from Bezaleel Wells a year later for the ferry licenses. By the latter date Shorb had moved to Canton. Daniel Dunlevy offered 100 acres for sale "nine miles from Steubenville, and a quarter of a mile from the road leading from Steubenville past Mr. Well's' sawmill to Cadiz," in March 1807. Bezaleel Wells and Jacob Fickess were ad- ministrators for the estate of Joseph Lewis, deceased, in May 1807, and advertised his belongings to be sold at "Public Sale." In September, 1807, an ordinance was passed by the town council establishing a market. Market days were to be held twice a week, on Wed- nesdays and Saturdays, until 10 A. M. Anyone buying anywhere else before 10 A. M. would pay a fine of one dollar. Any fruit or provisions offered for sale anywhere else in town before 10 A. M. would "be seized and exposed for sale at the Market House, one-half of the proceeds to go to the Town and one half to the clerk." The Select Council was to appoint the clerk to supervise. Cords of wood were to be eight feet long, four feet wide and four feet, four inches high. There were 23 The Western Herald, July 4, 1807. 24 Ibid., July 15, 1808. 25 In a bound volume in the Historical Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland. The newspaper files in Steubenville were burned in 1847, destroying everything there previous to that date. 26 The same practice will be followed as with the Ohio Repository, of not giving the date of the month in a footnote, if the month is given in the text.

(140) rules for selling stone coal by the bushel, for violating which the fine was $5.00. The butcher's license for a stall was $5.00. In May 1808 the ordinance was altered, changing the hour to 11 o'clock instead of 10; requiring that butter should be brought in rolls of one pound each, to be forfeited if deficient, and if heavier, to pay the clerk one cent for weighing, plus the regular fee of two cents per pound for weighing. The price of the butcher's stall was reduced to $2.50, and weights and measures were to be according to Pennsylvania. Samuel Hunter was President and John Wilson Recorder of the Town Council. The market was located on two lots donated by Bezaleel Wells on Market Street opposite the courthouse, and marked Public on the original plat. Sometimes advertisements from his old home at Charlestown had personal interest for Wells. Doctor Joseph Doddridge, his cousin, who was the Episcopalian Rector at Charlestown, advertised in October 1806, requesting those indebted to him for medical services to pay promptly. or he would "without further ceremony put his accounts into the hand- of the proper officers for collection." The custom of advertising the breeding of horses, already noted at Canton, was an earlier practice at Steubenville, as the following advertisement shows: THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE PATRIOT NOW IN HIGH ORDER will be let to mares the insuing season at the following stands, viz. the first week of the season at the stable of Cary Pratt, in Charleston, the second week at William Roberts near Caldwell's Mill on Harmons Creek and so on alternately through the season, which has commenced and will end the last of June at the low rate of five dollars and one bushel of oats the season; the oats to be brought the first time the mare comes. Wheat will be taken in payment if delivered on or before first of November in Hill's or Caldwell's mills, a note of dollars payable in wheat at the above mentioned time will be required the second time the mare comes to the horse .. All days of training - and one day in each week for removing the horse, is reserved. Due attendance at the above places will be given by John Glasgow 27 Brooke Co., V. April 27, 1807 When the notice was run for the same horse a year later, the subscriber offered to take wheat in payment if delivered before December first in Caldwell mills, Roger's mills on Cross Creek, or Bezaleel Wells's mill "near Steubenville." In September 1807 the county commissioners, John Jackson, Andrew Anderson, and Martin Andrews, gave public notice that they would meet at the place of holding courts on October 12 and "sell at auction

27 Western Herald, April 27, 1807.

(141) the building of a court house on the public ground ... The sale will begin at 12 o'clock - the lowest bidder to be the purchaser." 28 The plans could be seen by applying to John Ward. The contract was let to Thomas Gray at the bargain cost of $2,199.991/2. The building was erected on the lot which Bezaleel Wells and his wife had turned over to the county commissioners in 1798.29 Perhaps this contract rehabilitated Thomas Gray, who, in February 1807, lost by sheriff's sale two in-lots and two out-lots which he had purchased from Bezaleel Wells. Sheriff Gillies announced that the proceeds of the sale would go to satisfy the claims of Thomas Gibson, state auditor. Gray, however, was enterprising, and in the same issue that announced the sheriff's sale, - and again in June, offered to take in as a partner or journeyman, a good potter, two or three good bricklayers, and a stone mason; also two or three brickmakers, evidently in anticipation of getting the court-house contract. The picture of Steubenville found in the Western Herald for the years 1806-1808, was that of a purely self-sufficient rural center. Turning to other sources for this period, the rural atmosphere is preserved in a story that brings in Bezaleel Wells, in connection with the whipping post, which stood on the public square in front of the court-house. A whipping incident occurred on August 11, 1810, said to have been "probably the last case of corporal punishment under its auspices." The story is recorded by Caldwell: A colored man, Charles Johnson, kept a small store in an old shanty near the present "Union and Deposit Bank" (1880) and running out of pork, he visited the smoke house of Bezaleel Wells under cover of darkness, and took several hams. A few days afterwards, one Hannan, who kept a ferry, happened to go uptown very early to get something for breakfast, but failed in his mission. On his return he met Charley who said he would sell him a ham cheap. He did so. Hannan hap- pening to pass Mr. Wells on his way home, the latter observed his private mark on the ham - asked Hannan where he got it, and subsequently sent him for another. Then Mr. Wells called on the constable, they proceeded to Charley's shanty and there found several pieces of Mr. Wells's pork, secreted in an old cellar. Charley was made a prisoner, found guilty, and according to the Records of the Trial 30 Aug. 11, 1810, the following sentence was passed upon him: "That he be taken to the whipping post, and then whipped nine stripes on his naked back; that he pay four dollars damages to Bezaleel Wells: that he pay a fine of $10 and costs of prosecution; be confined in the jail nine days, and then be committed until judgment be complied with." Charley was duly taken to the post and received his lashes - amid great agonies, exclaiming as the sheriff applied

28 Ibid., September, 1807. 29 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 428. 30 Jefferson County Common Pleas Journal, A, 292.

(142) the cat, "Serves me right, I ought not to steal my masse's hams, Lord have mussy on me." 31 Which looks like the slaveholding side of his ancestry coming to the surface of Bezaleel Wells, on one occasion at least. But not below the rough standards of the day. Such treatment of Negroes was not considered inconsistent on the part of devoted followers of the church in those days, and Bezaleel Wells was no exception. His interest in church organization, and a spirit of generous philanthropy began to express itself in Steubenville as early as 1811, when he donated a lot to the Methodists for a church building. Revivals were held during this period in his sugar orchard. 32 He likewise gave to the Methodists and Presbyterians the earliest burial grounds in Steubenville. They continued as burial grounds until Union Cemetery was laid out in 1854. 3 Another rural problem that troubled Wells at this period were squatters on his wide-flung wilderness tracts. A letter which he wrote to the Sur- veyor-general's office in 1806, for the attention of Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, expresses his thoughts on this subject: Steubenville 23rd Sept. 1806. Sir: I take the liberty to suggest to you, that being a purchaser of reserved lands with others I feel myself placed in a difficulty with the tenants in possession under leases from the United States most of whom have embraced an opinion that as the United States have parted with their interest in those lands there is no necessity of the tenants complying with the terms, stipulated in these contracts. This idle opinion has led to many acts of waste and injury to the land, the tenants conceiving themselves to be out of the reach of the purchaser. Now Sir in behalf of myself and others, I beg your attention to this subject, and if in your opinion the difficulty can be removed without legislative interference will thank you to direct the measures by which it may be done. I have supposed that altho the law has been silent on the subject, it must have been intended that the interest the United States had in those leases should (after sale) inure to the benefit of the purchaser, in which case if the counterpart of the lease (retained by the agent of the United States) was put in the honor of the purchaser, it would be in his power to compel the tenant to comply with his contract or pay damages. After mature consideration I will thank you to intimate whether anything and what can be done for the purchasers. Hon. Albert Gallatin I have E cc(signed) Bez. Wells 3

a'Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 428. 32 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 256, 257. 33 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 508. 84 In the MSS of the Surveyor-General's office, Archives Building, Washing- ton, D. C.

(143) Bezaleel Wells was the promoter and first president 3 of the first bank in Steubenville, which was called the "Bank of Steubenville." The stockholders were incorporated by act of legislature February 15, 1809. The capital stock "for the present" was not to exceed $100,000. There were 1,000 shares. The three commissioners were Bezaleel Wells, Samuel Hunter (first town treasurer), and John M'Dowell, whose son married Bezaleel's daughter, Catherine, in 1822. 36 These commissioners were to supervise the affairs of the bank until the election of nine directors the following January. Directors were to be elected for a term of one year, but residents were eligible for reelection. The first dividend could be paid July 11, 1810. Debts were limited to three times the capital stock. The state might subscribe for one-fifth of the shares, in which case it was to appoint two of the directors or proxies. Six per cent was to be allowed on loans. 37 William R. Dickinson, who had migrated to Steu- benville from Virginia, and was receiver of the U. S. Land-office, was first cashier. 38 Thus Wells had the town funds and land-office funds officially represented in the bank management. The Bank of Steuben- ville was the third bank incorporated in Ohio, the first two having been established at Marietta and Chillicothe, in 1808.39 It was the fourth bank established west of the Alleghany Mountains, the first one, at Pittsburgh, having been founded only five years previously. Wells was again the main promoter and organizer of the Steubenville Water Company, incorporated by act of legislature January 10, 1810. The name of Bezaleel Wells headed the list of twenty-two incorporators, and the second name was that of William R. Dickinson, cashier of the bank. 40 This was the first water company incorporated in Ohio. Steu- benville had outgrown its wells and springs. The new company was authorized to purchase land, lay pipes and do whatever else was necessary to assure a water supply. A line of wooden pipes was laid from a spring between Market and Washington streets, west of Seventh Street. When these became inadequate an additional line was laid from what was later known as Spencer's tan-yard. The logs were bored with a hole through the center, and led into a cistern on the Court-House Square. This cistern, and several public and private wells, supplied the water for drinking and cooking, but river water was used for all other purposes. Teamsters delivered the river water for 61/4 cents per barrel. 41 At this time the fire department consisted of bucket brigades, and all property owners were compelled to keep from one to six leather buckets hanging on the walls or ceilings of their buildings within convenient reach in case of fire. It was required that each bucket be of three gallons capacity, and each one be distinctly marked with the name of the owner, 35 Caldwell, op. cit., 465. 36 Ohio Repository. 37 Laws of Ohio, VII (1808-09), 169-179, Chapter XXXVIII. 38 Caldwell, op. cit., 465. 39 Laws of Ohio,. VI (1807-08), 41-50, and 83-93. 40 Ibid., VIII (1809-10), 20-26, Chapter VII. .1J. H. Andrews and C. P. Filson, Centennial Souvenir of Steubenville and Jefferson County (Steubenville, 1897), 48.

(144) and the number of the lot on which the building stood. In case of fire everybody - men, women, and children, - ran to the fire with their buckets and formed two lines to the river or nearest cistern, and passed the full buckets from the water to the fire and returned the empty pails for refilling. This was Steubenville's fire department until 1822. ,2 The gradual transition of Steubenville from a rural to an industrial economy in the years 1806-1815, and particularly with the beginning of the War of 1812, can be briefly summarized from local records. Stepping stones were Fisher's pottery in 1806, a nail factory as early as 1803, Lindsay's hand-made nail factory in 1808, two more hand-power nail factories in 1811, Samuel Williams' tannery in 1810, a short-lived flour mill in 1812, the Clinton Paper mill established by Scott and Bayless in 1813, and two other flour mills before 1814. In 1810 Wells started to operate coal mines and to deliver coal. Coal was also mined by farmers in the vicinity of Steubenville, who carted it into town. For many years the coal was reached by drifts or horizontal openings in the hillsides. The second distillery in Steubenville was also established by Wells, but abandoned after several years of operation. The 1810 census showed that Jefferson County ranked first in the state in the products of its nail factories, the annual output being valued at $29,680. Its tanneries had 3,846 hides, ranking second in number, and third in value, the latter being placed at $15,261. Its distilleries, with an output of 63,690 gallons, ranked second in quantity and third in value, estimated at $25,476. Its production of 233,354 pounds of maple sugar, valued at $23,335, was more than twice as great as that of any other county in the state. 44 The legal foundations and requirements for the successful prosecution of industrial enterprises would be early anticipated by Bezaleel's gifted partner and attorney, James Ross, in his highly industrialized surroundings at Pittsburgh. Perhaps an act for the incorporation of manufacturing companies which passed the Ohio General Assembly January 11, 1812, was the joint handiwork of Wells and Ross. Legislatively it marks a milestone in the transition to an industrial economy in Ohio. Steuben- ville would be a natural center from which such ideas would arise, and Wells and Ross natural leaders to put them into legislative form. The act provided that two or more persons might form a company for the purpose of manufacturing certain articles: woolen, cotton, hemp or linen goods, or cotton or other yarn, or for the purpose of making paper, glass or queensware, or pearl or potashes, or . . ore, bar iron, mill irons, anchors, or steel, nail rods, hoop iron or iron mongery, sheet lead, shot, white lead and red lead, printer's types, or any metals used in the manufacturing of types, or for the purpose of erecting and carrying on any manufactory by the operation of steam. 45 42 Ibid., 52. 3 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 286, 293 and Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 466, 492. 4 Albert Gallatin, A Statement of the Arts and Manufactures of the U. S 1810. 45 Acts of Ohio, X (1811-12), 24-29.

(145) Persons forming such companies should sign articles of association expressing the name of the company, and the object of its formation. Articles were to be acknowledged before a judge or justice, and recorded, and a certified copy was to be filed in the office of the secretary of state. Incorporations were to be for a term of twenty years. The stock and property were to be under the direction of trustees who were to be stockholders, to be elected, and not to exceed seven in number. They were to be individually responsible for company debts at the time of its dissolution to the extent of their respective shares of stock. Capital stock was not to exceed $100,000. The trustees were authorized to collect subscriptions from stockholders at their discretion. It was not lawful to use company funds in any banking transaction, or in the purchase of any public stock, or for any other purposes than those specified in the act. Whether Bezaleel was the author of such act or not he took advantage of it to organize a woolen factory at Steubenville this same year, 1812, which took two years to build and equip, and which began production in 1814. This became the largest woolen factory west of the Alleghanies, and the pride of Steubenville, but the details of its history are reserved for the final chapter, where it is linked with the sheep growing interests of the two manufacturing and banking partners, Wells and Dickinson. The launching of the woolen factory immediately raised Wells to a higher place than ever in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and in his reputation throughout the state. One is impressed with the reflection of this added stature in all of his multiplying interests and activities from this time on. Likewise Steubenville achieved an established status as one of the most important industrial centers west of the mountains. A cqmpany that competed with Wells's new woolen factory was a cotton factory that began operating in Steubenville about the time the woolen factory began. It was a small factory, in an adjoining building, and operated by the same steam engine that operated the woolen factory, but under another company. In fact a flour-mill was also operated from the same engine. The cotton-mill was confined to carding, spinning, and producing yarns used in home-made linseys, carpets, and satinette warps. This was the beginning of cotton textile manufacturing in Steubenville that kept increasing in size and importance during the 1820's and later. 46 Another company which started in 1816, and which purchased its site from Bezaleel Wells for $1,000,47 was the foundry and machine! shop of Arthur M. Phillips and Robert Carroll. Phillips had come to Steubenville from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and beginning as village blacksmith, had developed as a machinist. His first foundry productions were hollow ware and grate castings, but soon boring was added by means of horse-power. Steubenville's natural place in the Pittsburgh industrial orbit by

46 Howells, Life in Ohio 1813-1840, in Howe, Historical Collections of Ohio, 968. 47 Jefferson County Deed Record F 18; Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 293.

(146) virtue of its location, was magnified and vitalized by the part that Wells's partner, James Ross played in its founding and settlement. By the beginning of the period from 1806 to 1815 Ross had attained the un- questioned leadership of the Federalist party west of the mountains. In a day when Pittsburgh boasted some of the country's most disinguished legal talent, Ross was recognized as by far the most prominent and respected member of the bar. 48 Of commanding physical appearance, over six feet in height, he had a grave and dignified bearing, polished manners, forensic ability, and possessed great character and independence of judgment.49 One of the youngest men ever to enter the United States Senate (32 years of age in 1795), he served there two terms, until 1803. He returned to Pittsburgh to practice law, and look after his large and varied land speculations and business interests. His popularity made him the Federalist candidate for Governor in 1799, 1802, and 1808. The high tide of Jeffersonianism, his liberal religious views, and his refusal to canvass defeated him in 1799 and 1802. In 1808 a Pittsburgh incident led to his defeat, and he never ran for state or national political office again. Wells's and Dickinson's Bank of Steubenville successfully rode the stormy period, 1815 to 1825 that wrecked so many Ohio Banks, and evoked such bitter antagonism to the Bank of the United States which was held responsible for the panic of 1819. The eastern banks ceased paying specie during the war, in the fall of 1814, forcing the Ohio banks to do likewise early in 1815. In September 1816 a convention of the banks of western Pennsylvania, western Virginia, and eastern Ohio was held at Steubenville to determine the proper policy with regard to the resumption of specie payments. A committee of five was appointed with certain executive powers. Among the five were Bezaleel Wells,.-Simon Perkins of Warren, and Charles Hammond, then of St. Clairsville, a prominent Federalist editor. These were among the most influential men of eastern Ohio. 5 o The reasonable recommendations of the committee to the Bank of the United States, suggesting delay and a gradual resumption of specie payments, was rejected. The precipitate course followed by the Bank of the United States to force collections in order to cover up its own mismanagement, worked havoc on the Ohio banks and brought on the panic of 1818. In September 1818 the Bank of Steuben- ville was one of nine out of Ohio's twenty-one banks whose notes were still receivable at the Wooster and Steubenville Land-offices. 51 In November 1818 the receiver of the Steubenville Land-office had orders to take in payment for land U. S. Bank paper or specie only. 52 In the statement regarding the Ohio banks which was reported to the special committee of investigation in February 1819 the Bank of Steubenville was found to have $140,641 of capital stock paid in, $36,940 of notes

48 Baldwin, Pittsburgh, 175-182. 49 Dictionary of American Biography, XVI, 178. 50 William T. Utter, The Frontier State (Columbus, Ohio, 1942), 281. This is Vol. II in the series Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio. 51 Ohio Repository, September 18, 1818. 52 Ibid., November 27, 1818, quoting Steubenville Gazette.

(147) in circulation, $17,448 of deposits, $285,061 in bills discounted, $9,326 in specie and $8,771 in Ohio, U. S. Bank and other Notes. 53 Two months later the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States instructed the receivers of public lands at Steubenville and Wooster to receive as cash the notes of two Ohio banks, one being the Farmer's and Mechanick's Bank of Cincinnati, and the other the Bank of Steubenville. The only other banks in the country accorded similar recognition were the New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore (except the Marine Bank), Pittsburgh and Wheeling banks. Out of 28 chartered banks in Ohio in June 1819, the Bank of Steubenville was one of eight that were paying specie. 5 By August, one of the eight, the Belmont Bank of St. Clairsville, had closed up its affairs, leaving seven. 55 On the Pittsburgh Bank Note Ex- change in March 1820 the Bank of Steubenville was the only Ohio bank whose notes were quoted at par. Columbus bank notes were at 20 per cent discount, Cincinnati at 30 per cent, and Cleaveland at 35 per cent. 56 In October 1820 the Bank of Steubenville notes were quoted at 11/2 per cent discount, and the Bank of Cincinnati at 60 per cent discount.57 To the usual headaches that went with trying to keep a bank going during a panic, Wells and Dickinson had the added burden of competition from a new bank which was organized in Steubenville at the high tide of expansion in 1817, known as the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank. It was incorporated December 13, 1817 with a capital stock of $500,000, with a charter running for twenty years. 58 The older Bank of Steubenville enjoyed a large business among Bezaleel's old friends and neighbors of Brooke County, West Virginia. But the money stringency flooded the records of that county with debt cases brought by the Bank of Steubenville, with Bezaleel Wells usually representing the bank. The degree to which banks and bankers had fallen upon unpopular times, and become the victims of aroused tempers, was illustrated by a case in which the grand jurors returned a verdict of guilty against Wells for assault and battery against Dorsey Bauer and George Bauer, November 21, 1813, the fine being one dollar on the former and twenty dollars on the latter. The banking fraternity was doubtless out of favor with debt owing jurors at such a time. During the year preceding the panic, when the Bank of the United States was actually encouraging an inflationary movement in Ohio through liberal loans, 59 Wells embarked in a new field of enterprise, a turnpike company, which by that time had become a popular type of speculation in Ohio. In January 1817 he joined with Benjamin Tappan, John C. Wright, Alexander Sutherland, John Pritchard, John O'Hanna, William Tingley, Thomas Elliott, Jacob Shepler, and associates, to incorporate 53 Ibid., February 12, 1819. 5 4 Cleaveland Reeister, June 15, 1819. 55 Ibid., August 10, 1819. 56 Ohio Repository, March 29, 1820. 57 Ibid., October 12, 1820. 58 Acts of Ohio, XVI (1817-1818), 1, Chapter 1, and Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 465. 59 Utter, Frontier Ohio, 264.

(148) the Steubenville and Cadiz Turnpike Company. 60 The capital stock was $50,000, divided into $50 shares, with the privilege of increasing the capital stock to $150,000. The turnpike was not to approach closer than one mile of the courthouses of Steubenville and Cadiz. Tolls could be charged every ten miles at specified rates. Construction of the road was to be started within two years, and completed within eight years, or all rights and privileges of the act would cease. Wells was doubtless interested in even more ambitious road projects in his relations with John C. Wright, of Steubenville, who became District Attorney for the state in 1818. As the Cumberland road neared Wheeling in 1819, Wright made tours to Columbus, Cleveland, and other points in Ohio on horse-back, for the purpose of opening up new roads and improving old ones. 61 The following year, probably through the interest he had aroused, Congress appropriated $10,000 to survey the route for the extension of the Cumberland road from Wheeling to the left bank of the Mississippi River between St. Louis and the mouth of the Illinois River. 62 Wells and Wright went into partnership in 1818 in the wharf and warehouse business at Steubenville. For this purpose Wells purchased from James Ross in April 1818 two acres and three quarters along the river front of Steubenville, on which to erect wharves and warehouses for the storing and shipping of the increasing products of the woolen factory. The indenture with Ross stipulated that Wells and Wright were not to use their river frontage as a site for a public ferry, such privilege being reserved to James Ross. 63 From his launching of new enterprises in the midst of the panic years it would appear that Wells had his affairs well organized, and could take advantage of depression opportunities. His daughter's new father-in-law, Dr. John McDowell, was less fortunate. He bought a 237 acre tract from Bezaleel Wells in October 1818 for $1,900, planted it to castor beans, and started a castor-oil factory. It soon failed. G4 Outside of the sphere of Bezaleel's activities, the town of Steubenville, likewise, seems to have been fairly depression-proof. It was during the bottom years of the depression that the first steamboat was built at Steubenville by Moderwel and Chapman, and launched October 19, 1819. It was named the Bezaleel Wells. She carried 80 tons and engaged in the regular trade between Pittsburgh and the Falls of the'Ohio. 65 An entertaining account of the first attempt of the boat to reach Pittsburgh has been preserved by a local historian, 66 who strikingly portrays the poise and magnetic personality of Bezaleel Wells, who was the chief trouble shooter on the trip. The machinery and steam-engine for the boat were built by Phillips, who received orders afterwards for more 60 Acts of Ohio, XV (1816-1817), 28, Chapter XV, January 9, 1817. 61 Ibid., 466. 489. 62 Archer B. Hulbert, The Cumberland Road (Cleveland, 1904), 73. 63 Jefferson County Deed Records, G 181. 64 Jefferson County Deed Record G 35; Doyle Steubenville and Jefferson County, 300. 65 Ohio Repository, November 4, 1819. 66 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 220-222.

(149) boats, including the "Congress," "Thompson," "Steubenville," and "Aurora." 67 One of the men employed in his foundry in the 1820's was William McKinley, Senior, father of William McKinley who became president. 68 The steamboat factory continued in operation until 1832, when it was destroyed by a fire that worked havoc with Steubenville industries. The depression was not yet over when in 1820 Bezaleel Wells ventured into a new undertaking with new partners in his fifty-eighth year, by organizing a copperas business with Augustus Korb. 69 The works were on Wells Creek and utilized the sulphur water from the coal mines. It was the first factory of the kind west of the mountains, and continued successfully in operation until 1843. The product, copperas, otherwise known commercially as ferrous sulphate, or green vitriol, was used by the woolen factory in manufacturing black dyes. 69 Wells was the first to sense and take advantage of the importance of the "decomposable pyrites" in the neighborhood of Steubenville. By the late forties seven copperas establishments were operating in the vicinity of Steubenville. 70 By September 1822 prosperity was returning to Steubenville, and an important and busy decade for Wells and Steubenville was under way. The factories were all in operation again, Wells's woolen factory was doubling its capacity with a new building, and the amount of cash in circulation was increasing. 71 More cotton factories were built, one by David Larimore in 1824-1825, and another by William Gwyn and Company in 1826. But manufacturers were handicapped by primitive coal mining methods, poor roads, and inadequate fire fighting protection.72 The building of the new Ohio-Erie canal, which had been the revolutionary factor making for the growth and progress of Stark County during the last half of the 1820-1830 decade, became the burning political issue at Steubenville. The two counties in which Bezaleel's career was tied up, stood on opposite sides in the matter of canal interests during the early canal era. To the north of a line drawn roughly through Columbus, Newark, Zanesville and Steubenville, the region utilized the canals to ship goods, - especially wheat, flour, and pork, but also corn, oats, coal, and some wood and tobacco - to the Lake and thence to the New York market, receiving in return salt and manufactured articles. 73 The region south of this line carried its trade along the river to New Orleans, chiefly flour, corn, pork, bacon, and whiskey, and received manufactured goods from the eastern seaboard in return. The latter region protested against being taxed for canals that would not benefit them. The counties in the northeast corner of the state likewise

6 7 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 485. 68 Doyle, op. cit., 286. 69 Ibid., 300, gives "Augustine Koelb" as the spelling. 70 Francis P. Weisenburger, The Passing of the Frontier, 1825-1850 (Columbus, Ohio, 1941), 75. This is Vol. III of the series Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio. 71 Steubenville Gazette quoted in Ohio Repository, September 19, 1822. 72 Andrews, Centennial Souvenir Steubenville, 52, 128. 73 Weisenburger, The Passing of the Frontier, 104.

(150) saw no benefit coming to them from the canals, and joined the protest.. Steubenville became a center for the opposition to the state canal under the able leadership of James Wilson, an Ulster Irishman, grandfather of Woodrow Wilson, who became managing editor of the reorganized Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette in 1815. With his coming the political affiliation of the paper changed from Jeffersonian Repub- licanism to Whiggism. Though opposed to slavery, Wilson became an ardent advocate of Henry Clay, and both Wilson and Charles Hammond of Cincinnati dealt telling blows for Clay, at the same time (1824) that Bishop Chase was bringing Wells and the Whig leader together on the committee to handle the English funds for Kenyon College. In the presidential contest between Jackson and Adams in 1828, the opposition to the extension of internal improvements at federal or state expense, swung Steubenville back of Jackson's position on this point. A meeting was held in Steubenville in June 1830 to protest the extension of the 74 Miami canal. While Bezaleel Wells opposed the construction of the canals at public expense, he was one of the first to take advantage of the canal when built. The very first year that goods could be carried from Massillon to Cleveland, he sent a shipment overland from Steubenville to Massillon, for conveyance to New York and Boston. Preserved by Kilbourn in the Ohio Canal Documents is the following record of the trip: A large amout of wool and clothes were conveyed overland, from Steubenville to Massillon, thence on the Ohio canal to Cleveland, across the lake, through the Grand Canal of New York and by ways of the Hudson River to New York and the Atlantic Ocean to Boston. It is understood that owners, Messrs. Bezaleel Wells and Dickinson, made a considerable saving on the cost of transportation, by adopting this route in preference to that of sending by wagons, directly to Baltimore or Philadelphia. 75 By 1830 Bezaleel Wells had achieved wealth, distinction, and the reputation for unusually sound judgment. He was generally regarded as the most influential man of southeastern Ohio. 76 Thus far every business enterprise that he had touched had seemed to turn to gold. Every cultural, religious and philanthropic undertaking to which he put his hand seemed to blossom with success. Two of the three towns he had founded had risen to become leading and prosperous communities of the new state he had helped to establish. But hidden from the public view a cancer was eating away at the heart of his fair structure, which was soon to bring the whole of his wide flung enterprises to collapse and ruin. With the story of this romantic but ill-fated first wool-capital of the United States, followed by a brief reference to his cultural and religious contributions, and an appraisal, the study of Bezaleel Wells will be concluded.

7 4 Ibid., 100, 216, 243. 75 John Kilbourn, Public Documents Concerning the Ohio Canals (Columbus, Ohio, 1832), 328. 76 Utter, Frontier State, 281.

(151) CHAPTER X The Merino Wool Capital 1810-1830

Just how the banking partners, Bezaleel Wells and William R. Dick- inson, got started in the growing and manufacturing of wool is not entirely clear, but by supplementing previously published facts with, the results of recent research in Stark County one is able to get a vivid and fairly complete picture of the forgotten beginnings of this famous enterprise. One writer states that they started a partnership for the growing and manufacturing of fine wool as early as 1805, 1 but the source for such statement is not given, nor have any corroborating facts been discovered by the writer. The earliest clue in the Steubenville Western Herald was a local advertisement by Robert Marshel of Brooke County Virginia, in 1807, who had the machinery to break and card wool. The announcement read: WOOL CARDING MACHINES I have in complete operation the machinery for breaking and carding wool (by water) on Buffaloe Creek about 3/4 of a mile from Charlestown, where the wool can be carded in the best manner and put into rolls at 10 cents per pound; for colours handsomely mixed, 12 cents, for breaking for hatter's use, 5 cents. The wool must be brought in sheets, to pack the rolls in, which shall be done in such manner, as to be transported to any distance without receiving injury. For every eight pounds of wool, there must be brought one pound of clean hog's lard, or fresh butter. The large Burr's, chips and sticks must be taken out of the wool. I solicit the Attention of Farmers to this useful improvement . A woman can spin with greater ease, from 1/3 to 1/2 more of rolls carded by this machinery, than she can of those carded by hand; besides they will make better yarn, consequently will weave better, make handsomer & more durable Cloth, Blankets, Linsey or Stockings. Robert Marshel 2 Brooke Co. (V.) July 11, 1807 This was in the year that the Embargo, by cutting off the English source of finer cloths, began to stimulate the establishment of American woolen factories and the raising of higher grade wool. The lack of the latter had been the greatest deterrent to manufacturing woolen cloth in this country. Prior to the embargo of 1807 America's woolen needs were cared for by the home industries and by importation from England. The home industries produced the cheap common cloths used by the

1 Joseph B. Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio (Steubenville, Ohio, 1914), 45. 2 Western Herald, July 11, 1807.

(152) general mass of people, while the fine cloths were imported. The home industries flourished in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. When the first settlers went to Ohio they were mostly clad in dressed deer-skins. 3 Sheep were introduced about 1797. For more than twenty years nearly all the cloth worn by the farmers and the members of their families, and of many of the townspeople, was the cheap homespun, or linsey-woolsey, made in the households of the wearers. Gallatin said, "Almost all wool is spun and woven in private families, and there are yet but few establishments for the manufacture of woolen cloth." 4 Four-fifths of the laboring class were estimated as being clothed in these domestic household fabrics. 5 About a year after Marshel's advertisement appeared in the Steuben- ville paper, the Pittsburgh Gazette gave its first editorial attention to the subject. A subscriber wrote Editor Scull expressing a desire to see the manufacture of woolen cloth introduced there and suggested that sheep raising, from the best stock, should be encouraged. 6 Apparently the suggestion took root, for the following year Scull stated in an editorial: The spirit of manufacturing these articles (woolen goods) we find is increasing rapidly throughout our country; as evidence of which fulling mills are erecting in much greater ratio than has hitherto been the case, and some little pains are beginning to be bestowed on the breed and management of sheep by our farmers.7 Undoubtedly both James Ross and Bezaleel Wells, with their heavy investments in excellent sheep grazing lands, were interested readers of the Marshel advertisement and the Scull editorial. A third interested party would be Wells's banking parner, William R. Dickinson, who, as receiver for the U. S. Land-office at Steubenville, 8 had purchased extensive lands on the plains of Stark County west of Canton. Some of his lands lay on the south side of the present city of Massillon, where the State Hospital is now located, and these lands he called Estremadura. 9 Other lands which he called "Arlington," lay west of present Lake Cable, where the Lake Cable road intersects the Massillon-Akron (McDonaldsville) Road, about six miles north of Massillon, and covered a considerable tract along both roads. 10 It was Dickinson, probably, who, first of the two partners, became converted to the merino sheep

3 Samuel P. Hildreth: Pioneer History of the Ohio Valley and the Northwest Territory (Cincinnati, 1848), 392-394. 4 Chester W. Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff (Cambridge, 1910), 20. 5 Niles' Weekly Register (Baltimore, Md., 1794) X, 1804, 323. 6 Pittsburgh Gazette, June 28, 1808, quoted by Russell J. Ferguson, Early West- ern Pennsylvania Politics (Pittsburgh, 1938), 217. ? Ferguson, Early Western Pennsylvania Politics, 276, 277. 8 H. G. McDowell, Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of the National Dickinson Sheep (Canton, Ohio, 1890), 6. 9 This location confirmed by Mr. and Mrs. Horatio W. Wales of Massillon, Ohio. The Massillon Museum has a painting of the place when it was a sheep ranch.. 10 Confirmed by Corwin McDowell, Miss Alice McDowell, and Mrs. Theodore Freymark, all of Canton, and all descendants of Dickinson's shepherds.

(153) craze which was sweeping the country about 1810, and who in turn converted Bezaleel Wells. Dickinson's conversion came through Thomas Rotch, of Hartford, Connecticut, a Quaker, who came out to Stark County in 1811 with 400 merino sheep, probably the first to be brought to the county. Rotch had, in August 1808, purchased a full-blooded pure merino ram from the stock imported by Colonel David Humphreys into this country from Spain in 1802. 11 About a year later Rotch had purchased for $150 cash, also from Colonel Humphreys, a full blooded merino ewe, a year old, "marked with a half tenant the underside the right ear, and numbered on the Brass in the same ear, No. 36, which was derived from the full-blooded merino ewes and rams imported into this country from Spain." 12 David Humphreys, also of Hartford, was one of the earliest importers of merino sheep into the United States, and the largest importer before 1810. In 1800 there was not a merino sheep in the United States. 13 The first merino that arrived and survived was the full-blooded ram, Don Pedro, brought over by Messrs. duPont de Nemours and Delessert, in 1801. 14 In the following year Robert Liv- ingston imported two pairs from France, and David Humphreys the largest group of all direct from Spain, 75 ewes and 21 rams, all pure merinos. Owing to Spanish restrictions on exporting these prized sheep, only a few more pairs were imported prior to 1810. Between 1807 and 1810 the demand for, and prices for, merino sheep shot upward due to the Embargo. Pure merino wool rose from 75 cents per pound to $2.00, compared with 371/2 cents for common wool. 15 The farmers were seized with a craze for merino sheep, and the price for rams rose to $1,000 and even $1,500, and for ewes to $1,000. Accompanying this craze, and feeding it, was a widespread propaganda regarding the merino sheep situation in Spain, the famed home of the purest and largest flocks of merino sheep in the world. A sample of this propaganda, appearing in the fall of 1810, gave the following picture of the Spanish sheep empire: There are two sorts of sheep in Spain; some have course wool, and are never removed out of the province to which they belong; the others, after spending the summer in the northern mountains, descend in the winter to the milder regions of Estremadura and Andalusia, and are distributed in the districts therein. These are the merino sheep, of which there are com- puted to be about four or five millions ... The word merino in Spanish: it signifies governor of a small province, and likewise him who has the care of the pasture or 1 1 Photostat of the certificate is in the Massillon Museum; the original is in the first book of records of Charity Rotch School, now in the possession of the Trustees, Massillon, Ohio. 12 This certificate is in the Horatio Wales MSS in the folder entitled "Sheep breeding certificates." In the same folder is the photostat referred to in f.n. 13. 13 Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 16. 1 4 Arthur H. Cole, The American Wool Manufacture (Cambridge, 1926), 74. 15 Ibid., 22.

(154) cattle in general. The merino mayor is always a person of rank, and appointed by the King; the Duke of Infantado is the present merino mayor. The mayors have a separate jurisdiction over the flocks in Estremadura, which is called the Mesta; and there the King is the merino mayor. Each flock consists of 10,000 sheep with a mayor or head shepherd. 16 This article explains the origin of the name Estremadura which Dick- inson gave his sheep lands south of Massillon. The year before Rotch came out to Stark County the merino situation in America was revolutionized by the Napoleonic wars in Spain. Na- poleon's armies began advancing against Wellington's forces, seizing and killing the valuable merino sheep to feed the soldiers. 17 The Spanish Junta, fearing further destruction of the flocks, and needing money, lifted the embargo on exporting sheep. This action was taken just at the time that American vessels were in the harbors of Spain and Portugal ready to seize this opportunity. Fortunately there was also an American consul at Lisbon, Portugal, a Colonel William Jarvis of Windsor County Vermont, who was alive to the needs of his country, and not afraid to act boldly. He negotiated successfully with the Junta, and the first shipment consisting of 45 rams of the Escurial stock reached Boston on April 13, 1810. Such was the rage for these sheep that they sold for nearly $1,000 a piece. Other shipments followed immediately until Jarvis had sent over some 4,000 sheep, establishing his position as the greatest importer of his time. Of the 4,000, almost 1,500 went to New York, 1,000 to Boston and Newburyport, and the rest were scattered from Portland to Norfolk. 18 During the year beginning September 10, 1810 Jarvis and other Americans procured over 17,693 sheep from Spain on 168 vessels. 19 The hostile attitude of England, and the increasing danger to commerce practically ended the movement in the fall of 1811, but during the eighteen months that the commerce lasted some 25,000 20 of these sheep were landed in the United States, and the foundation of the wool growing business had been laid. Jarvis kept at his Windsor County, Vermont, farm a flock of several hundred pure merinos, picked from those he had sent over from Spain. 21 DuPont also accumulated one of the largest merino flocks in the country, in Delaware. The first one to bring merinos into Ohio was Seth Adams who had taken 25 to

16 Mercantile Advertiser, October 13, 1810, in the Horatio Wales MSS., in the Massillon Museum. 17 For details of the effect of the Napoleonic wars on American wool growing and manufacturing see Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 22-26: W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 236-237; Joseph B. Doyle; Twentieth Century History of Steuben- ville and Jefferson County (Chicago, 1910), 280-281; and Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 76, 78. 18 Wright, op. cit., 24. 19 W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Publication, VI, 236. 20 Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 76. 21 Wright, Wool-Growing and the Tariff, 29.

(155) 30 merinos to the Muskingum in 1807, 22 having bought them in Massachusetts. 23 The deluge of importation caused the price to fall to between $100 and $300. It was at this time, when the great importations from Spain had reduced the price of merino sheep and wool to reasonable levels, that Rotch probably bought most of his 400 sheep. His move to the West was due to his wife's health which he thought would benefit by the change. 24 His selection of Stark County was probably influenced by the fact that a Quaker colony had been founded at Lexington in the northeast corner of the county in 1805-06. 25 From his correspondence with members of this community after settling at Kendal, it is clear that he had personal acquaintances at Lexington. 26 In the fall of 1811 Rotch laid out Kendal on the state road about seven miles west of Canton, and a mile east of the Tuscarawas River, on the banks of Sippo Creek, on its course from Sippo Lake to the Tuscarawas River. 25 The town plat containing 99 lots was recorded at Canton April 20, 1812 by Thomas Rotch, Proprietor. 27 The state road at that time branched off from the present Canton-Massillon road near Sippo Lake, and crossed the Tuscarawas River north of present route 30, in line with present State Avenue, Massillon. The town was laid out on both sides of State Avenue (State Street on the original plat), and the cross streets began with Front Street closest to Sippo Creek, and ran back to Eleventh Street as one went west. This of course was before the founding of Massillon by Captain .James Duncan, in March 1826, 28 which began as a separate town on the Tuscarawas River, along the route of the new canal, and which later grew to include the village of Kendal. Leaving his wife, Charity, at Wheeling, during the winter of 1811- 1812, Thomas Rotch spent the winter with his sheep and shepherd, Arvine Wales, in a log-cabin, near the scene of his proposed settlement on Sippo Creek. Here he was visited by Dickinson, who, on his return to Steubenville in January 1812, wrote a letter to Charity Rotch at

22 Ibid., 27. 23 William T. Utter, The Frontier State (Columbus, Ohio, 1942), 165. This is Vol. II of the series Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio, 165, but Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, states they were descended "from his importation of 1801." (p. 27). 24 Information from Frank Harrison, of the Massillon Museum, based on his research of the Horatio Wales MSS. 25 Simeon D. Fess, ed., The History of a Great State, Historical Gazeteer of Ohio, III (Chicago and New York, 1937), 96. 26A number of these letters are in the Horatio Wales MSS in the Massillon Museum. 27 Stark County Deed Record B, 133. 28 Francis P. Weisenburger, The Passing of the Frontier (Columbus, Ohio, 1941). This is Vol. III of the series Carl Wittke, ed., The History of the State of Ohio. A map of Massillon in 1837 in the Massillon Museum, shows Kendal as a distinct but adjoining part of Massillon.

(156) Wheeling giving vivid glimpses of the founding of the sheep industry in Stark County: Steubenville, January 27th, 1812 My dear friend:- I am gratified to have it in my power to send you glad tidings of your Husband, who is as much busied by the bye, as one need be in making his improvements at Sippo. Besides warm and comfortable coverings for the flock, he has built a snug little cabbin [sic] not far from the spring, where he has in great abundance all the substantial comforts of the country. With full health, he has excellent tea, and coffee, and chocolate, and sugar, and good warm blankets at night: in fine they all fare most sumptuously. I am told however they have but one room in the lower story of the cabbin and that rather too small for all hands to sleep on, - so by way of upper story or chamber, your husband has suspended a hammock by four strong ropes about 5 feet above the floor; which strong ropes prevent his falling ... Now it requires some considerable degree of agility to ascend this hammock, (more than he choses to exercise in so small a room) he has had recourse, - (will you believe it!) - he has had recourse to a rope ladder, by which he climbs up every night and there swings and slumbers it out until morning! He has bought him a horn too, with which he awakens "all hands" every morning, as well as to announce meal time. - The latter tho' I presume is performed by Uriah who boasts much of his culinary powers, and talks a good deal of his fine cooking etc etc. Indeed Irwin [Arvine], who was here the other day . .. detailed many anecdotes of their adventures out there, many of which, you will no doubt laugh at when you see your husband, which I hope will be in 8 or 10 days from the receipt of this letter. I think therefore you may venture to come up the first week in February, and should he not have arrived, (but surely he will be here) we will endeavor to go out to him: - by which I mean to say that you may command my services freely if I can by any means contribute to the safety or comfort of your Journey. Your friends here will be rejoiced to see you return, for they often speak of you; but none of them will hail that event with so much cordiality as myself. Often, and often, do I wish to see your Husband, from the best and purest motives of friendship, as well as to talk to him about raising sheep, but let me tell you that I am much more solicitous to you my excellent my good friend .. . W. R. Dickinson P. S. The flock at Canton (they were divided) is doing very well. - Although they have lost three old sheep of inferior blood they have some lambs - At friend Hobson's, from want of room, & by reason of the cold, they have lost nearly 20 lambs - yet they have well on to 100 lambs left and the num-

(157) ber increasing every day - I hope the inclemency of the winter is about to subside and that they will do better. 29 W. R. D. The friendly aid which Thomas Rotch gave Dickinson in helping him get started in the sheep growing business, is shown in another letter: April 20, 1812 My dear friend Thomas Rotch If I mistake not, you did rather promise that my shepherd boy should remain with your flock for two or three months under the direction of yourself and Irwine, with a view that he might acquire some knowledge of the business. Under this impression I take the liberty of sending John Craig (with Angus Ross my principal Shepherd) who will begin with you when ever you may be pleased to receive him ... 30 It was doubtless due to the enthusiasm for merino sheep generated by his friendship for Thomas Rotch that Dickinson made early connection with Colonel Jarvis and his Spanish merinos, and in 1810 and 1811 bought a considerable number of the best sheep, bringing them to his Stark County lands. 31 While Dickinson embarked in the merino sheep raising business as soon as the large importations from Spain brought the prices down to reasonable levels, Bezaleel Wells, displaying his usual canny sense of timing, apparently waited until the approach of the War of 1812 created a new investment opportunity. It is to be assumed that Wells made the same careful study of the wool growing and wool manufacturing possi- bilities that he did of all other enterprises in which he invested. By this time the census figures for 1810 were available, showing that there were 24 woolen-mills in the country, most of them small. Only fourteen manufactured 10,000 yards of cloth or more, annually. 32 The total output of the 24 mills was estimated at 200,000 yards. "3 though one estimate placed it as high as $4,000,000 in value. 34 The Treasury Department Report on Wool in 1888 stated that in 1810 only five woolen-mills were making fine cloth; nine others were making coarser grades for army and navy use, or negro cloths and blankets; besides

29 This letter is in the Horatio Wales MSS., in the Massillon Museum. The Arvine referred to as shepherd was Arvine Wales, founder of the well known Wales family of Massillon. He was a protege of the Rotch's in the absence of any children of their own. 30 Ibid. 31 W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 236. The article states that they were brought to Steubenville, but the descendants of his shepherds, now living in Canton, agree that they were kept the year round near Canton, and not moved back and forth between Canton and Steubenville, as some writers have stated. 32 U. S. Census Office, Third Census of the U. S. 1810 (1811) and Parliamentary Papers 1812, "Orders in Council, 446-462." 33 Albert Gallatin report, American State Papers, Finance II, 427, though t'. census only reported 71,020 yards. 34 Quoted by Wool Growing and the Tariff, 18.

(158) these there were ten smaller mills. These mills only made one-fiftieth of the whole woolen product at that time; the rest was made in homes. 3 According to this same census there were made in the families of the country 16,000,000 yards of cotton goods, 21,000,000 yards of flaxen goods and 9,528,266 yards of woolen goods, besides 26,000,000 yards of mixed, blended and unnamed cloths and stuffs. 3 From the 7,000,000 sheep in the country were sheared 12,000,000 to 14,000,000 pounds.37 The same census returned 1,776 carding machines through which were passed 7,400,000 pounds of wool, and 1,682 fulling-mills, which passed 5,450,000 yards of cloth. These carding and fulling operations were quite separate and distinct, but originally were carried on in the same family household. Carding required only the simple hand cards, and was easily carried on under the family roof. Fulling, which was a compacting of the wool to improve and strengthen its texture, required greater equipment and was the first to be transferred from the household to the mill, this shift taking place substantially before 1800. With the introduction of water-power to replace hand-power, carding likewise began to be shifted from household to mill in the first decade of the 19th century. The location sought by both carding-mills and fulling- mills was on streams, and frequently the two united. The same sort of location was sought by the grist-mill and the sawmill. These formed the nucleus-pattern of the early settlement, with which Wells was familiar at Cross Creek, and at Steubenville. From the combination of the carding and fulling-mills were to emerge woolen factories. From the carding and woolen-mills and the grist and sawmill and "wheat" mill centers, were to arise many manufacturing towns. All through Western Pennsylvania the transfer of the textile industry from the house and the shop to the mill was beginning its long-drawn out process during this period of 1803 to 1810. 38 Across the state line Jefferson County, with its industrial operations largely centered at Steu- benville, ranked first among Ohio counties with its 830 looms, second with its 18,000 carding machines, and third with its three fulling-mills. It was thus in a field ripe for further development from a long-range and normal peace time viewpoint, as well as from the immediate war opportunities, that Wells embarked, when he entered the woolen business in 1812. Moreover, he had reached a stage in his own financial affairs, where, with the Madison failure discouraging further town- founding, he was ready for new investment fields into which to turn his steady returns from real estate operations, as well as from his banking and mill interests. That there was also a patriotic motive in his responding to his country's need he stated in a petition to Congress in 1828: He (your memorialist) founds his claims on considerations, but particularly upon the circumstance that he is one of the oldest manufacturers of woolens in the United States. Your 3 5 Ibid., 18. 36 1810 census summaries quoted by Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 20. 37 Wright, op. cit., 27. 38 Solon J. Buck and Elizabeth H. Buck, The Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, 1939), 309.

(159) memorialist commenced mfg. a short time before the close of the late war with England, at a time when the sufferings of the nation, and particularly of the army, for want of the necessary article of clothing, pointed to a policy of preparing to render ourselves independent of foreign nations for a supply of at least articles essentially necessary to our comfort and convenience. 39 Acting promptly, and probably anticipating the general scramble for merinos which the approach of war inspired in 1812, 40 Wells laid the foundation for a sheep flock by purchases of merinos from James Cald- well of New Jersey, 41 apparently acting independently of his banking partner. Also, still independently of Dickinson, he began this same year the erection of a woolen-mill in Steubenville, taking as partners, Samuel Patterson of Steubenville, and James Ross and Henry Baldwin, of Pittsburgh, - the two leading attorneys of that city. A factory building 110 by 28 feet, and three stories high - large for that time and place - was started in 1812 on the southwest corner of out-lot 15 on Market Street, which took two years building. 42 It was surmounted by a belfry which was appropriately decorated with a golden merino sheep weather- vane. 43 A sixteen horse-power engine was brought from Pittsburgh and installed under the superintendence of the famous engineer Latrobe, who was living in Pittsburgh at the time. The various machines were said to be of the most up-to-date design. 44 The carding machines had a 24 inch cylinder for making rolls; 40 spindles, a "billy" for drawing the rolls into the stubbing for the spinners, and three "spinning jennies," one of 40 and two of 60 spindles. The Steubenville factory had the advantage of a few skilled workmen. 45 William Fisher, a cooper, ran the "billy." Enos Lucas and George and Peter Dohrman learned to spin "by drawing one thread, but in a few days could fill all the spindles." Two broadcloth looms were built and John Arthur and Robert Semple, Scotchmen - both hand-loom weavers - were the first to weave broadcloth in Ohio, according to Doyle, and the first to weave broadcloth by steam-power in this country, 46 though the steam-power came later. At first the spinning, weaving, and most other processes were done by hand, and steam-power was applied only to the carding machines and the fulling-mill. 47

39 U. S. House Documents 20 Cong., 1 Sess., III, No. 83 (1828) 40 Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 27. 41 W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 236. 42 James A. Caldwell, History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties (Wheeling, W. Va., 1880), 493. 43 Utter, Frontier State, 250. 44 Ibd., 250. 45 Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 234. 46 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 493. 4 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 281, but the somewhat vague statements of local Steubenville historians that the Wells factory was the first woolen mill to operate by steam-power in the United States appear to be refuted by the Treasury Department Report on Wool and Manufactures of Wool, 1888,

(160) This was the first woolen-mill in Steubenville, and the pioneer woolen- mill west of the mountains. 48 Broadcloths manufactured by this concern were declared to be equal if not superior to imported woolens. 49 The Steubenville factory was listed as one of the seven most prominent woolen-mills in the country. existing prior to 1815, the others being the Scholfields in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Colonel Humphreys of Hartford, the Northampton (Massachusetts) Woolen Manufacturing Company, the Du Ponts of Delaware, the Middletown (Connecticut) mill, and Derby, of Salem, Massachusetts, who imported 1,100 merino sheep. Most of these mill owners were early merino importers. They were mainly broadcloth manufacturers, absence of competition with the household industries, and consequently better profits, making this line more attractive to manufacture. 50 Long staple wool was essential to the manufacture of these fine fabrics, thus putting a premium upon the merino sheep industry. 47 By 1814, when the Steubenville factory was ready for operation, Wells and Dick- inson had made long strides towards building up the merino flocks for which they became as famous as for the products of the mill. While Dickinson had not yet entered the factory business as a partner, the wool from his flocks was purchased by Wells for the mill. By 1815 the extensive open plains purchased by Wells, Dickinson, and Thomas Rotch in Stark County, west of Canton, had become large sheep ranges. From the descendants of the shepherds' families the location of these ranges can be reconstructed. Bezaleel Wells pastured his 3,000 sheep on 1,500 acres centering on the site of the present Brook- side Country Club, with an office in a log-cabin at the foot of the hill where the creek crosses the road, west of the club building, and the shepherd's home across the creek. The main sheepfold was on the hill where the Club building now stands. His lands stretched through to what was then Wells Lake (Now Meyers Lake), practically surrounding the latter, his sale of 1,080 acres to Andrew Meyers not occurring until 1817. Along the western side of the lake he had another sheep range, the shepherd's home standing near present 12th and Whipple Streets, which stated that steam was first introduced in woolen-mills in the United States at Provincetown and at Middletown in 1812, two years before the Wells factory began operation. The same report stated that no power looms for broadcloth were used before 1825 when they were first used by the Pontoosac Manufacturing Company. The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly cites the Wells factory as the first to weave broadcloth in the U. S. (VI, 236). 48Caldwell, op. cit., 493. Recent research regarding Thomas Rotch's woolen mill at Kendal raises the question whether it did not antedate Wells's Steubenville Mill. Most authorities agree, however, that the Steubenville mill was operating before the end of 1814, whereas the Kendal factory did not announce its opening until June 1815 (Ohio Repository, June 8, 1815, the advertisement being dated June 1). Moreover, it was stated that before the opening of the Kendal factory, the surplus wool from the 400 sheep was sent to the Steubenville factory. 49 Utter, Frontier Ohio, 250. 50 Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 195, 196.

(161) and later becoming part of the Whipple Homestead, which burned down some years ago. 51 The location of Dickinson's Estramadura and Arlington ranges has already been described. Arlington included the site of the present Yerky home (formerly Kettering farm) on the McDonaldsville Road, and on both sides of the Cable Lake Road, where Aaron Bower's Farm is now located. 52 Dickinson's lands extended from the Yerky Home westward past High Mill to the Tuscarawas River and the Jackson township boundary, and stretched southward between the river and the McDonalds- ville Road to the Perry township boundary; also east of the McDonalds- ville Road for two miles along the Mud Brook Valley; a total of five or six sections, or about 4,000 acres. 53 Thomas Rotch owned land running north from Kendal on both sides of the McDonaldsville Road into Jackson township, where Dickinson's lands joined them on the west and north, and Well's lands on the east. Rotch's lands covered five and a half sections, or about 4,000 acres. Just where his sheep were kept is uncertain, though during the first winter part were evidently sheltered along the Sippo Creek Valley. Part were kept at Canton, which is puzzling as there is no record of any Canton Township land purchased from the government by Rotch. Possibly there an arrangement whereby Rotch kept some sheep on Dickinson's lands, as the latter had a half section between Canton and North Industry west of the Nimishillen; also two quarter sections nearer town, one between the forks of the Nimishillen, south of town, and another near the present village of Waco, southeast of town. The early stages of the growth of these sheep ranges are pictured in the correspondence between Dickinson and Rotch. Dickinson lost his shepherd, Angus Ross, in the fall of 1812, and sought Rotch's help until he found a successor. Steubenville November 17, 1812 My respected friend:- Finding it impossible to get a tenant for my Farm this winter, I have to request the favor of you to endeavor, if practicable, to procure some person or family to go into the House and take care of the premises until Spring, by which time I hope to engage a successor to Angus Ross - if a man can be got who

bi Information by Mrs. Elta Michener, of Canton, great granddaughter of Wells's chief shepherd, John Scott. 52 Information by Mrs. Theodore Freymark, descendant of Adam Heldenbrand, in an interview with the writer, March 21, 1942. 53 While in Washington the writer did not list Dickinson's purchases of government lands outside of Canton township, and has had to reconstruct them from the county deed records, and the delinquent tax records in 1822. Rotch's lands are readily ascertained by reference to Stark County Deed Records, Index 1, where Rotch's purchase of 2,240 acres are listed as recorded May 3, 1814, the patents being signed by President James Madison; and 960 more acres recorded in 1823, the patents being signed by President James Monroe. Rotch's will, in 1824, recorded in Stark County Deed Record E gives additional information. Dickinson's Canton township lands are listed in Appendix II, B.

(162) will make rails during the winter, I will pay him the customary price ... Will you have the goodness to send me your best practical treatment on Sheep - I have read Livingston's. Offer my kind regards to your wife and accept my best wishes for your happiness. 54 W. R. Dickinson That same winter Rotch turned 120 of his sheep over to Nathan Lupton to care for during the five winter months, for which he was to receive one dollar and twenty cents for each sheep on their being returned in good condition. In March Dickinson had a sad report to make, showing the difficulties and dangers attending sheep raising on the frontier: Steubenville, March 4, 1813 My dear friend, It is with - I may say with exquisite grief, I inform you that your flock at Lupton's has been most shamefully neglected. I saw a Gentleman yesterday, whose veracity cannot be doubted, who informed me that out of 40 lambs which, have dropped there, only nine have been saved - that he counted himself Twenty dead lambs lying around the fold! besides from 7 to 10 Old Sheep. - That Lupton to be sure feeds them at night but never sees them again until next morning. - Thos. you see my dear friend the rich gifts conferred on you by a good and bountiful Providence have been thrown away - despised and trampled on. Lupton knows no more his duty than a Horse - or if he knows it, he has no more sensibility than an Ass. And all this neglect has happened in the neighborhood of two miles where an abundance of bran might have been had so as to yield milk to the lambs.- Fearing the consequences I enjoined it on Arwine [Arvine] (altho you may say it was none of my business) to go directly to the flock and live there - he promised me faithfully that he would go. I aver and affirm that I would have quit my own business and have attended them rather than such destruction should have occurred. If Arwine could not have been spared, another might have been had to save the lambs, - I could have hired a man for 10 or 12 mo. I estimate your loss in land alone at 1500 dolls, but I do not look at the pecuniary loss - I look at the immorality of the transaction. Robert Ritchie has done better - out of 20 he has saved 20. Poor old King James is dead. My kind love to your wife - in great haste yours W. R. Dickinson 55

54 In the Horatio Wales MSS., in the Massillon Museum. 55 Ibid.

(163) A letter written by Dickinson to Rotch in May 1814 would indicate either that Dickinson was adding to his Arlington flock, or wintering his sheep at Steubenville: Steubenville May 10, 1814 Respected friend Thomas Rotch I shall start my flock for Arlington in a few days and with it your ewe, which I have not shorn, considering it too early in the season ... W. R. Dickinson 56 When the Steubenville and Rotch factories opened in 1814 and 1815 it was a time of great prosperity in the wool business. The price of merino wool rose until Wells had to pay as high as $2.75 a pound in 1814, though common wool was selling for only 40 cents. 57 But the price of broadcloth increased more than enough to offset the high price of wool, rising to $8 and $12 per yard, and sometimes as high as $18. 58 For coarser goods army demands exceeded the capacity of the household industry, and stimulated the building of new factories. Profits were great. New woolen-mills were springing up as if by magic, twelve charters being granted in New York in one year alone. William D. Howells' grandfather, who had just come from England, built a new woolen factory in West Virginia or Ohio each year of the war. By 1816 the total capital of the woolen manufacturing in the country was put at $12,000,000, and the value of the products at $19,000,000. 5 The output was three or four times what it had been in 1810. With the growth of wool manufacture there expanded also the sheep raising industry. By 1814 the number of all sheep in the country was estimated at 10,000,000 and the clip 22,000,000 to 24,000,000 pounds. Steubenville was referred to as the chief sheep raising center "where Wells and Dickinson had their flocks," overlooking the fact that the sheep were kept sixty miles from Steubenville near Canton in Stark County. Figures as to how many sheep Wells and Dickinson, had at this time are unavailable, though Niles' Weekly Register referred to many men in the west, who, since the war began, had "increased their flocks to incredible numbers, - 3,000, 5,000 and 6,000." 60

It was in 1816, during this brief period of prosperity, that William C. Howells, father of the novelist, moved to Steubenville with his father in 1816. His keen interest in manufacturing and mechanical work even at the age of ten, led him to observe that Steubenville was a typical center for woolen manufacture. He noted that the company with which Wells was associated was manufacturing woolen cloths "on a more extensive

56 Horatio Wales MSS. 57 Utter, Frontier Ohio, 165, 166. 58 J. Leander Bishop, History of American Manufacturers (Philadelphia, 1868), II, 194-195, 233; and Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 18. 59 Niles' Weekly Register, X, 82, quoting figures presented by a congressional committee on commerce and manufacture, March 16, 1816. 60 Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 29.

(164) scale than any in the state or west of the Alleghany Mountains at that time." "Mr. Patterson," he related, "after great anxiety to see the factory in operation, died simultaneously with the starting of the engine." Howells' father was engaged as a wool-grader in the factory until 1826. 61 With the end of the war English goods flooded in, prostrating the woolen business, and ruining most of the new woolen-mills that had mushroomed up during the war. To save his company from disaster, at the same time that the banking situation was threatening ruin, Wells faced struggles that put wrinkles in his fresh complexion, and silver in his hair. Looking back at the period after ten years had passed, he stated in the memorial to Congress already referred to: The superabundance of all those articles for the want of which we had recently suffered, (which) flowed upon us from abroad, he did believe that a recollection of those difficulties and sufferings would not be readily lost; he did believe that the spirit of the nation would ultimately bear out the manufacturers in their exertions. Under this impression, and with a desire to save a large investment of capital in buildings and machinery from total loss to himself and the country, your memorialist continued to struggle on through a long train of opposing difficulties, with frequent alternations of hope and despair.62 The ruin caused by the dumping of low-priced English goods on the American market made Bezaleel Wells one of the most vitally interested sponsors of the principle of a protective tariff, which is generally regarded as having been first adopted in the tariff of 1816. It came too late, however, to do much good at that time, as the phenomenal deluge of foreign goods was practically over by the time that the 25 per cent tariff went into effect July 1 of that year. Owing to the continuance of the depression, the proposed reduction to 20 per cent after three years, was postponed. 63 The first reported sign of distress came from Dickinson, in a letter to Rotch, dated from Steubenville April 29, 1817: I groan in telling you that I will sell Arlington - my Poverty and not my will consents - I set no price - if a purchaser offers - we shall not disagree provided he pays me the money down - or a great part - with the balance on interest - I cant ask more than 20 dolls - nor would I take less than 15 - The confounded Sheep fever which you inoculated me with has driven me to it. I have expended 15,000 dolls in 6 1 William D. Howells, Ohio in 1813-1840, in Henry Howe, Historical Collec- tions (Cincinnati, 1907), I, 967-68. 62 U. S. House Documents, 1 Cong., 1 Sess., III, No. 83 (1828). 63 Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 163-165; Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 41; F. W. Taussig, The Tariff History of the United States, 8th ed. (New York, 1931), 40; Ernest L. Bogart, Economic History of the United States (New York, 1938), 189; David R. Dewey, Financial History of the United States (New York, 1936), 162.

(165) money on sheep and fixtures for them - Do try then and get me out of the scrape. Mary joins in love to you and my good friend Charity. Sincerely your friend W. R. Dickinson 64 That Wells was in similar distress was revealed in a letter written to Rotch a fortnight later, - replying to a letter received the night before from Rotch. It was a remarkable letter in several ways. He pictured the size of his financial problem in terms of $20,000 worth of cloth to dispose of to save the factory from ruin. He described the unique plan he had for turning traveling salesman, and sailing down the Ohio with the goods to sell if possible in western Ohio or in Kentucky. No less impressive was the fact that with the multitude of problems on hand he devoted the first two-thirds of a long letter to a careful reply to inquiries regarding certain clays found on Wells's lands adjoining his. The letter showed a surprising knowledge of a field that, so far as the writer knows, lay outside the sphere of Wells's investments or business responsibilities. The letter follows:

Steubenville, 10th May, 1817 Dear Sir: Your letter of 3rd curr't was rec'd by last nights mail. I am much pleased to learn that you have made an experiment in some degree satisfactory on the white clay on my farm. It will be an important discovery, should that clay be found suitable for manufacturing queens ware. I believe such a clay has not heretofore been discovered. All that I have heard of on biscuiting and burning over turn dark coloured, generally straw colour or brown. I have therefore supposed that if we ever succeeded in making a white ware, it would be by using an opaque glazing, which I understand can be made of calcined block tin. The great difficulty attendant on most of our white clays is the presence of lime with them, and I was apprehensive that it might be the case with that on my farm, as I have observed lime in the banks of the run adjacent to where the clay is. The evil produced by the presence of lime with argillaceous earth is that when submitted to the heat necessary for semi- vitrification, it fuses and becomes a solid body, in this case when hot water is put into a vessel made of it, it flies to pieces, like glass. To make the experiment fairly, and satisfactorily, you ought to biscuit your ware (as the potters call it) and then glaze and burn it in saggers, if upon this second burning it continues white and dont crack with hot water, you may be satisfied that there is no lime in it, and that it will make good queens ware. I have no disposition to make any charge for what clay you may want from my land, and if you will persevere in making a

64 Horatio Wales MSS., in the Massillon Museum.

(166) full experiment and it shall be found to answer for queens ware, I will oblige myself to give you the free use of the bank or what would be sufficient for a pottery, for a term of years, but should that clay be found to answer the purpose, I have no doubt but that it will be found at the bottom of almost every swamp or stream issuing therefrom, throughout that Country. I can communicate no satisfactory information respecting moulds, for plates, dishes, Teapots, ac, or such ware as cant be turned. I have understood that they are made both of metal & gypsum. There is an Englishman in Pittsburgh by the name of Wm. Price, who can give you every necessary information on this subject, indeed I have no doubt but that he can make the moulds if you require it. It will give me pleasure if I can be of service to you in gaining any information you may want in this way. I am intimately acquainted with Price and can venture to ask for anything in his power to communicate. I am now entirely occupied indivising the means of saving our Cloth Manufactory from sinking into ruin. I find nothing will do but to take what fabrics we have on hand and carry them thro Kentucky and the western part of this State. Altho sinking I cant "give up the ship" I will try the boasted patriotism of the Kentuckians: on our own people I have no reliance for help. They look upon us with such a cold hearted indifference as they thought our establishment of no importance to the Country. If I can accomplish a sale of our first fabrics of crossed wool even at a considerable sacrifice I will be satisfied and it will enable us to go on with fine cloths upon which I know we can make a profit and which will readily sell. I expect to set sail on Monday, 8 days, with about 20,000 dollars worth of cloth. Will call at all the towns on the Ohio until I reach Louisville, & what remains unsold at that place I will take by waggons thro Kentucky to the principal towns. It is humiliating to be thus compelled to peddle with our fabrics but it must be done or we must give up the Factory. My wife & Daughter join in respects to Mrs. Rotch and I am with esteem yours Bez. Wells 65 The concentration of difficulties as the panic of 1818 approached, was reflected in a further short letter from Dickinson to Rotch June 2nd, 1817, calling a loan of 700 dollars. "The Trustees of the Bank," wrote Dickinson, "have instructed me in the 'gentlest terms' to intimate that it would be agreeable to have this note discharged as the exigencies of the Bank require it, - not only from you, but from every other customer." "I sent the money immediately T Ro," was penned by Thomas Rotch at the end of the letter. 66 To realize cash Wells offered at public sale in November 1817, at the farm of James Watkins, near Canton, cows, work-oxen, sheep, hogs,

65 Ibid. 66 Ibid.

(167) plows, harrows and other farming utensils. 67 In the factory labor saving machinery was introduced under a new manager, C. H. Orth, which enabled the proprietors to reduce the price of their cloth to a point "lower than any imported cloths." In one respect they claimed superior- ity over any other domestic cloths which crossed the mountains, and that was the colouring. And the patriotic appeal, already noted in the advertising of the Canton agent, Martin Lohr, was sounded in the Steu- benville Herald: "We learn that in Pittsburgh as well as here Steubenville cloths are quite the rage, and that every man who wishes to show his patriotism and save his money and appear genteely dressed puts on a coat of Steubenville cloth." 68 An excellent word of mouth story regarding the high quality of the Steubenville goods was attributed to the famous Methodist preacher, James B. Finley. The story went that Finley, in travelling his circuit, fell in with a Mr. Horatio Gates Spaf- ford of New York, well known as the author of several literary works. Manufacturers having become the topic of conversation, Mr. Spafford informed Mr. Finley that he had been a member of a committee in New York appointed for the purpose of ascertaining the qualities of the cloth manufactured in the United States. 2,000 specimens were laid before the committee and after careful examination the different specimens were numbered agreeably to their quality - when it appeared that that which had been numbered one was a piece of cloth from the Steubenville Factory. 69

If Wells tried to realize cash on his Steubenville and Jefferson County property, he was not overly successful, his sales in 1818 amounting to only $500 on two lots, and $2,580 on two farm tracts, one of which was to Dr. McDowell, his daughter's new father-in-law. The 1817 sales had been better, six lots bringing $1,190 and seven farm tracts $2,869. His fortunate deal however, as a depression life-saver was the sale to Andrew Meyers in October 1817 of the 1,080 acres around Wells Lake for $11,000. Even small opportunities to turn cash were not overlooked, and in September 1818, he offered to sell 100 to 150 ewes - principally half bloods. 70

But all measures failed to save the company from bankruptcy. 71 Ross and Baldwin sold out their interests to Benjamin Tappan, a prominent and colorful judge of Steubenville, and to William R. Dickinson. The company reorganized in 1818 under the name B. Wells and Company. 72

67 Ohio Repository, October 23, 1817. 68 Quoted in the Ohio Repository, December 18, 1817. 69 Quoted in the Ohio Repository, January 30, 1818, from the Western Herald. 70 Ohio Repository, September 18, 1818. The ad was dated at Steubenville. 71 Utter, Frontier State, 251. 72 Caldwell states that after Ross and Baldwin stepped out, and Judge Tappan and Dickinson came in the firm reorganized as B. Wells and Co. but no dates are given. Howells, in his article for Henry Howe, gives the date 1818 as the time B. Wells and Company began, with Judge and Senator Tappan as a member, but calls it "another company." Howells was over 80 when he wrote these reminiscences in 1887. Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 206, puts the date of Dickinson's entry into the company as 1819.

(168) Later Dickinson bought out Tappan, and Dickinson and Wells became the only two partners in the company. The dire straits of the Steubenville Factory became a matter of state politics. Societies for the "Encouragement of Domestick Manufactures" sprang up spontaneously all over Ohio, meaning Ohio manufactures when they said "domestic." The idea was that instead of sending their money to New Orleans or the eastern seaboard for manufactured articles, let those factories that were producing the needed articles in Ohio get the Ohioan's money, and if there were other articles that could be made in Ohio, but were not being made, let new Ohio factories be built to produce those articles too. And for such luxuries as Ohio could not produce, let them be avoided so far as possible, such as imported liquors, fruits and preserves. As the depression deepened in 1819 these societies increased. 73 The movement reached Stark County in October 1819 when the citizens were called to meet at the Court house to inquire into the propriety of asking the Congress of the U. S. and the Legislature of Ohio to foster and encourage Domestick Manufactures, "especially the growing of wool." 74 Following this meeting the "Friends of Domestick manufactures" were invited to return to the court house the first Satur- day in November to sign "a memorial to the legislature of Ohio" to encourage the project. 7 The statewide movement had the support of William Henry Harrison, under whose influence the General Assembly passed an act exempting woolen and cotton-mills and glass-works from taxation. 76 Merchants were asked to sell only Ohio woolens, the aid of the Steubenville factory being the main motive. 77 The movement reached its climax when it was proposed to aid the Steubenville mill by a direct appropriation, the money to be raised by a tax on the Bank of the United States. 78 It was in the depths of the depression that the census of 1820 was taken which served as a basis for a digest of manufactures which was prepared in 1822 at the order of a congressional committee. The report showed that the Steubenville factory had a capital of $40,000, and was producing goods to the value of $55,000 annually, including broadcloths, cassimeres, Kerseynets, sattinets, flannels, wool, cotton warp, and dye stuffs. The factory used 50,000 pounds of merino and common wool, and 1,000 pounds of cotton warp annually. Raw materials cost $29,700, wages $18,000, and contingent expenses $5,000. Employees numbered 115, of whom 48 were men, 27 women, and 40 boys and girls. The profits were $2,300 on a $40,000 investment, or 5.7 percent. Sum- marizing the history of the company, the report stated: This establishment had originally been intended for manufacturing the finest kind of broadcloths, and machinery, adapted

3 Utter, Frontier State, 261; Cole, American Wool Manufacture, 161, 162. 74 Ohio Repository, October 22, 1819. 75 Ibid., November 4, 1819. 76 Act of January 27, 1823. 77 Utter, Frontier State, 262. 78 Liberty Hall, February 22, 1820.

(169) to such manufactures, was obtained, believed to be the best kind, and, with the exception of 2 or 3 articles, as complete as possessed by any similar establishment. Machinery has been added for the manufacture of coarse cloths, and both are now in full operation; workmen employed mostly Europeans; was commenced in 1814, with a good prospect, but the war ceased, and with it the circumstances of the country changed. The market was filled with foreign woolens; and the merchants universally gave them a decided preference in their purchases, and discouraged by every means, the purchase or use of our own productions. By hostile and foreign rivalry, the establishment has not been destroyed, but has been continued in operation at a loss of more than $40,000. When the hope of protection from Government ceased, the establishment went into the hands of new proprietors, since which time a favorable change has taken place. The people of the country are determined to use our fabrics in preference to foreign. On trial, they were found more durable, and in all respects equal to foreign acticles, yet the demand is limited, and sales effected with difficulty. 79 The value of the products of the Steubenville factory was higher than for any other establishments in the state except two iron-works. This circumstance, added to the fact that its management enjoyed the highest reputation for ability and character, gave to its distressing experiences in 1818 and 1819 a convincing argument for a protective tariff, which was tellingly used by Ohio's representatives in Congress. 80 The beginning of a general revival of the woolen business in 1821 was quickly reflected in an improvement of the affairs of Wells and Dickinson. In February the 120 workmen were each finishing six pieces of cloth every other day, valued at three to nine dollars each. Dickinson had a flock of 1,000 merino sheep which yielded an annual profit of three dollars per head. Arguments were used to encourage wool growing. Dickinson calculated that an acre of ground could maintain five sheep. Land fit for sheep should be dry and cleared of forest. 50 acres would support 250 merino sheep which would produce 1,250 pounds. This would make 200 yards of superfine cloth worth eight dollars per yard, or $1,600, - far more profitable than to use the same land for grain. 81 Further arguments, probably emanating from the management of the Steubenville factory, appeared in the Steubenville Gazette, asserting that there was no danger of a wool surplus even if farmers generally increased their wool production: TO WOOL GROWERS Some people appear fearful that if farmers generally get into the raising of sheep the country will be overstocked with wool,

79 U. S. Census Office, Digest of Manufactures (Washington, 1822), 29. 80 Utter, Frontier State, 251. 81 Ohio Repository, February 8, 1821.

(170) and that it will be as dull sale as wheat is at present. Such people will be relieved of their fears when we inform them that the Steubenville Woolen Manufactory have not been able to procure more than 40,000 pounds of wool in the State of Ohio, when it could work up 100,000 lbs. annually. It will be recollected this is but one factory. The period is not far distant when there will be a dozen such west of the mountains. Steubenville Gazette Thomas Rotch's mill at Kendal shared in the improving conditions. A superior double machine had been installed by July 1821. s2 By May 1823 his factory and machinery had been enlarged and improved, and B. F. Hopkins engaged as agent to superintend the growing business. A successor to the Society for the Encouragement of Domestick Manu- factures appeared in the Stark County Farmer's Society, which was organized in April 1822. The objects were ostensibly the promotion and improvement of agriculture and rural affairs, but primarily the growing of wool. Members were to pay one dollar and fifty cents for premiums to be given at the anniversary meetings. Resident members must reside in Stark County, but William R. Dickinson, Benjamin Tappan, Bezaleel Wells, George Todd, Elisha Whittlesey, John Sloane, and John C. Wright were declared honorary members. 83 Probably it was to this period of revival in the 1820's that the accounts of the Stark County sheep raising business belong that have been handed down by the families of Wells's and Dickinson's shepherds. Mrs. Elta Michener tells of the trips she took as a girl with her grandmother, Mary Scott Freeman, to the house where her father, John Scott, and his family lived after he became chief shepherd for Bezaleel Wells in 1818. The log-cabin office of Wells, at the foot of the hill west of the present Brookside Country Club, was still standing. He kept a set of books for his 3,000 sheep, and used to come up, and spend days at a time. He had his meals and lodging with the Scott's while there, and they used to go over and call him to the meals. Sometimes his daughters, Catherine and Rebecca, would come up by horse-back through the endless forest, from Steubenville, by themselves, and stay with Bezaleel. They had been to school in Philadelphia. In those days there were many wolves and they were dangerous to the sheep, and the shepherds often had to sleep out nights in the open, on straw beds in carts, and keep the fires burning, to keep the wolves away. To aid them in fighting the wolves, they used trained dogs and blew a horn. A wonderful dog was Toss, whd refused to eat when his master, John Scott, died, and after two weeks disappeared never to be seen again. Mary Scott married John Freeman, who lived near Steubenville, and who was wanted by Wells as a foreman. Wells had a house just west of Meyers Lake, which the Freeman's occupied. Wells set them up in housekeeping by giving them a barrel of beans, a barrel of flour and

82 Ohio Repository, July 5, 1821. 8a Ibid., April 4, 1822.

(171) corn meal and some cured hams. They spent the first day of their honeymoon washing a hundred sheep in Meyers Lake. In those days the country west of Meyers Lake was very beautiful. Originally a plains, practically free of trees, a fire had burnt off the grass and low shrubs. Afterwards the landscape blossomed with great masses of flowers of all kinds and colors. There were also deer and rattlesnakes, and Mary Freeman saw as many as nine deer in a bunch. It was lonely with no neighbors. John Freeman heard of a hound at Steubenville, so he walked the sixty miles to Steubenville, bought the hound, and walked back again. The hound had nine pups, then it was no longer lonely. Mr. Wells was generous in his arrangements with John Scott, allowing him to buy land and sheep as well as receive wages. When Wells failed Scott had purchased 400 acres of land and 600 sheep. "Our family thought a great deal of Bezaleel Wells. He must have been a grand man," commented Mrs. Michener, the descendant of John Scott. 84 At Arlington chief shepherd Adam Heldenbrand built the barn that stands today. Still in use is a big stone watering trough at the old home, where they watered the sheep and horses. 85 Heldenbrand was a dyer by trade before coming to Ohio in 1820, and had been a farmer and sheep raiser. 8 James McDowell came to the Arlington farm in 1823, beginning at the age of fourteen as an attendant and assistant to Adam Heldenbrand. At sixteen he was given general management of Dickinson's herds. He married Elizabeth Heldenbrand, sister of Adam. Dickinson was a sheep raising enthusiast and a trainer of shepherds. He kept his merino flock pure and intact. These sheep were the pride of his heart, and he never parted with any of the ewes during his life, and but few of the rams. They were separately kept and distinctly marked with paint and special ear marks. In 1826 the Brazilian minister to this country offered a silver cup as a prize for the ram that would shear the greatest weight of picklock wool. Dickinson took his ram, Bolivar, to Baltimore, where the contest took place June 1, 1826. Bolivar sheared twice as much as the best imported Saxony sheep, which were beginning to be the rage then, as the merinos had fifteen years previously. Dickin- son swamped the Saxony craze with his triumph. Bolivar was brought back over the mountains and was one of the principal attractions at the Steubenville fourth of July parade. 87 The troubles of Wells's and Dickinson's shepherds in fighting the wolves were related to General Lafayette when he visited Steubenville in the early summer of 1825, and on his return to France he sent back a pair of trained shepherd dogs of a type developed by French sheep

84 The information about Shepherd John Scott and his descendants was given to the writer by Mrs. Elta Michener in an interview February 8, 1942. 85 Information by Mrs. Freymark, March 21, 1942. 86 History of Benton County, Iowa (Chicago, 1878), quoted in the Freymark family album, but author not named. 87McDowell, National Dickinson Sheep Catalogue, 7, and Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," in Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 238.

(172) raisers for destroying wolves and sheep killing dogs. According to one tradition he sent the pair to Bezaleel Wells, but according to another tale they were sent to the editor of the American farmer, who was to keep one in Maryland, and send the other to Dickinson in Ohio. 88 The descendants of these dogs were said to have served Jefferson County farmers for many years, - probably meaning Stark County. There was another tradition, that has been handed down in local history, that the sheep used to be summered in Stark County, as in the northern, mountainous grazing provinces in Spain; and wintered around Steubenville, the Andalusia of Ohio, thus keeping up the migratory habits of their Spanish ancestors. But the present day descendants have no recollection of hearing of such annual migrations. The picture they give indicates that Stark County was their year-round pasture land. The years 1825 to 1830 saw the Wells and Dickinson flocks at their peak. By 1825 they had 2,500 to 3,000 sheep each, their combined flocks numbering about 5,500.89 By 1828, according to the testimony of Dickinson before a Senate investigating committee, they had 3,000 to 4,000 sheep each, or a combined flock of between 6,000 and 8,000. According to Dickinson the flocks were not connected. 90 This assertion would seem to qualify, if not contradict, another writer's statement that Wells and Dickinson interchanged their rams so that their flocks became identical. 91 Dickinson stated that the number of sheep had been increasing for the past three years, but that it cost a dollar a head for him to keep the sheep, and farmers could do it cheaper than he, so that he was inclined to sell. The Wells-Dickinson flocks on the Stark County plains, had become the center of the merino sheep industry in the country. The eastern merino flocks had been largely sacrificed during the troublous times following the War of 1812, the farmers turning against them with as much rage, as prices fell, as they had formerly sought them in the rising market. Many merinos had been butchered, while many others were driven west to swell the flocks of Wells and Dickinson and of other western merino growers. The easterners, beginning with 1822, began to build up new flocks of Saxony sheep, which became the new craze to replace the abandoned merinos, but Wells and Dickinson clung to their merinos. By 1822 they began shipping merino wool to New Jersey, and by 1825 they were shipping 30,000 to 50,000 pounds of wool annually to the East, most of which went to Boston. 92 These shipments were maintained for the next three years, according to the declaration of Dickinson in 1828. 9 Throughout these years fine wool was selling at better prices at Steubenville than in the East. On the other hand coarse or common wool sold at higher prices in the East than in the West.

88 Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 14, 1936 and Ohio Repository, January 19, 1829, copied 100 years later. 89 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 304. 90 American Finance State Papers, Finance, V, 801. 91 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 304. 92 Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 74. 93 American State Papers, Finance, V, 801.

(173) The wool which Wells and Dickinson shipped east were their coarser grades. Dickinson testified that they lost two years out of three. Trans- portation was the great difficulty. The Steubenville factory was paying in 1825 $1.25 per pound for full-blooded merino wool No. 1, $.95 for full-blooded wool No. 2, $.60 for 7/8 blooded, $.45 for /4 blooded, $.35 for 1/2 blooded, and $.30 for 1/4 blooded and common. For the Steubenville factory all was not smooth sailing even in the reviving prosperity. The death of Mary Dickinson, William's wife, in March 1822, at the age of 32, 94 was followed by a fire on June 20, which destroyed the dwelling house, offices and warehouse, two years after the power-loom, spinning, napping, and shearing were being operated by steam. The buildings were quickly rebuilt, however, and in 1824 the Wells factory received national recognition with a silver medal from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia for the exhibit of manufactured goods. This medal was cherished by the descendants for generations. o9 In his testimony before the Senate Committee in 1828 Dickinson stated the relative qualities of wool consumed in the Steubenville factory during the previous three years, in the following proportions: 3,000 pounds of common native wool 8,000 pounds of common and 1/2 merino 12,000 pounds of 3/4 and 7/8 merino 15,000 pounds of full-blooded merino

38,000 total (average per year) He further testified that the region about Steubenville had merino wool "as fine as the best Saxony he ever saw, but the quantity was very small, 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, out of 80,000 to 100,000." 96 If the merinos clipped five pounds per sheep, it would mean that only 600 to 800 of the Stark County flocks were pure merinos. Assuming that the 7/8, 3/4 and 1/2 blooded merinos probably constituted the majority of the flocks, and clipped less than pure merinos on a descending scale, but more than common sheep, and taking four pounds per head as an average, would mean an annual clip of from 24,000 to 32,000 pounds from the Stark County flocks, close to the amount used in the Steubenville factory. It would leave the question as to the source of the cheaper grades of wool which they sent east in large quantities, unless they purchased it from neighboring farmers, as was done in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Wells and Dickinson built up in the Steubenville-Stark County District the first wool capital in the United States, which remained such for the fifteen year period, 1815-1830. It was so by virtue of the combination of growing and manufacturing wool under one ownership and one control. The Steubenville factory was not the largest woolen factory in the

9 4 Ohio Repository, March 14, 1822. 9 5 Doyle, Steubenville and Jefferson County, 281. 96 American State Papers, Finance, V, 802.

(174) country, but one of the six or seven largest. The Wells-Dickinson flocks were not necessarily the largest, though in combination they may have been at certain periods. They certainly became the largest merino flocks. What gave Steubenville and Stark County supremacy in the wool world was the creation of the first and for its time only large-scale vertically controlled wool industry, combining the wool-growing and wool-manufacturing operations and producing the finest grades of each. Steuben- ville was definitely the merino capital of America, and Bezaleel Wells and his partner William R. Dickinson, directed its destinies. The accumulating difficulties of the Steubenville factory, and the drastic measures taken to meet them, were described by Wells in his Memorial to Congress in 1828: The (Memorialist's) losses had reached a point that almost precluded the possibility of saving the establishment. Then came the tariff of 1824, and although it was to your memorialist but an ignis fatuus to allure him into further difficulties he does believe that it was honestly intended for what it purported to be - a protection to manufactures; yet it proved a dead letter; all know that its provisions are evaded; yet your memorialist, with all his brother manufacturers, received it as an evidence that Congress would render available what they had intended as a shield to manufacturers - and he has not diminished, but increased his exertions; he has reduced his expenses in every possible shape; he has introduced new economy in management; wherever practicable, he has substituted power machinery managed by females, for the dearer labor of men, and reduced the price of the raw material so low as scarcely to be an object with the culture; yet he cannot compete with the foreign manufacturer; the market is filled with foreign goods, far below any prices that had been known before the passage of the tariff. Your memorialist makes this candid statement of his sufferings and experience - with a hope that your honorable body will permit him to appear before the committee in the only shape in which it is practicable for him to do; that is by a statement comprising a considerable part of the business transactions of the establishment in which he is engaged since the passage of the tariff of 1824. To be more explicit, your memorialist ... and his partner have been compelled to find a market for the principal part of their fabrics in the Eastern cities. He sends to you the actual account sales of those goods, to which is annexed the cost of manufacturing of each piece of the same goods; this cost is taken from the books of the manufactory, as made out by the Clerk, the correctness of which is verified by the oath of the same Clerk. It is the actual cost of materials, labor, and incidental expenses (without anything in the nature of advance or profit upon the goods), and the principal material pinched down to a price that has brought the farmer complaining before you, and claiming protection. Your

(175) memorialist prays that this petition may go before the Com- mittee of Manufacture. Bez. Wells 97 A further burden to the Steubenville factory was the waste of cast-off machinery in the march of progress brought about by ever changing improvements. English competition forced the pace in this technical improvement. To the Steubenville factory these changes were extra- ordinarily burdensome because of the added expense of transporting over the mountains except where machinery could be obtained in Steubenville or Pittsburgh. Howells, in his old age, recollected the junk piles of the cast-off machinery around the Steubenville factory. He wrote: The original cost was great; while the introduction of new machinery and new styles of working every year absorbed a great part of the profits. I well remember, when very young, being impressed with the terrible losses that were evident to me, in the discarded machinery that filled every vacant spot of the ground and buildings - the result of the changes that came in constant succession from year to year. This was not the result of dishonesty or very bad management. It seemed to have come of the crowding growth of improvements, which often made it economy to cast aside a machine of real value. To this may be added successive fires, panics and money de- pressions following the year 1812. The factory and its various buildings occupied about ten acres near the west end of Main Street a little east of the two factories afterwards built by James and Ebenezer Wallace. 98 The disruption of the Wells-Dickinson wool domain came suddenly in 1830. The original factory building was said to have been built with the aid of a government loan, at the time of the War of 1812, which was allowed to run without repayment, in view of the losses which the firm suffered. Upon the coming of the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, however, the loan was called early in 1830, and a federal judgment was obtained in the District Court against B. Wells and Company 9

97 U. S. House Documents, 20 Cong., 1 Sess., III, No. 83. 98 Howells, Ohio in 1813-1840, in Howe, Historical Collections, I, 968. 99 The writer has been unable to discover any papers or documents relating to the federal trial and judgment, or even any authentic information as to its place and dates. The Jefferson County court records contain the judgments involved in the fall liquidation, but no explanation of the circumstances. McDowell's National Dickinson Sheep contains the only reference to the government loan and its being called under the Andrew Jackson administration that the writer has discovered. The copies of the Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette are missing before August 1830, and there is a gap of two years in the files of the Ohio Repository, between May 8, 1829 and May 1831, except for the issue of January 8, 1830. It is the opinion of a representative of the Canton Repository that the files .for the dates of both the Steubenville and Canton newspapers were borrowed for the federal trial and never returned.

(176) for $120,000, which was levied by U. S. Marshal John S. Patterson. 100 The owners were forced to make assignment of all of their property 1 on March 19, 1830, to D. L. Collier, Trustee. 10 The old bell on the belfry tolled a requiem for by-gone years, and the workmen went about the streets in mourning. 102 The liquidation was a distressing and long drawn out process extending over most of 1830 and 1831. As early as April 10 trustee Collier was advertising the liquidation sale of "a splendid assortment of cloths and flannels at the factory, at wholesale and retail at Philadelphia prices." 103 A new steam woolen factory owned by William Eaken, William B. Hawkins and John Wise, and equipped with new machinery, was opened about May first, at the head of Market Street, near the factory of B. Wells and Company. 104 In the store room formerly occupied by B. Wells and Company, A. J. McDowell and W. B. Copeland opened a new store in April. 105 But as late as May Bezaleel Wells was still named as a reference by Liver- more and Kendall, wool commission .merchants in Boston. 106 In July came the announcement of Robert Thompson, Sheriff, of the public sale of the beautiful mansion and estate of Bezaleel and Sally Wells, including 412 acres of land. Extraordinary and humiliating was the cumulative preamble: By virtue of sundry writs of venditioni exponas, levari facias, levari facias et fieri facias, pluries levari facias, and alias fieri facias et levari facias, to me directed, will be sold at public vendue, on Monday the 30th of August next, at 12 o'clock noon, at the Court House in Steubenville the following property, viz. All the right, title and interest of Bezaleel Wells and Sally Wells in and to 412 acres of Land be the same more or less, adjoining the town of Steubenville, on which the said Wells now resides, being part of sections Nos. 29 & 35, in the 2nd twp. & 1st range. This tract is bounded by the river Ohio, and includes the Mansion House, the Mill and the Copperas Works. Robert Thompson, Sheriff 107 July 24, 1830

100 Doyle, History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, 281; and Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 493. 101 Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette, October 26, 1831. 102 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 493. 103 Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette, August 21, 1830, the advertisement being dated April 10. 104 Ibid., advertisement dated April 3. 105 Ibid., advertisement dated April 17. 106 Ibid., advertisement dated May 22. 107 Ibid., advertisement dated July 24. These advertisements all appear in the Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette for August 21, 1830, which is the first copy in a bound volume in the Library of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland. The volume contains the rest of the issues for 1830, and for the years 1831, 1832 and 1833. The writer has been unable to discover the earlier issues for

(177) Samuel Stokely, Bezaleel's old friend and neighbor in Washington County, became the new owner of the mansion house and property. Bezaleel went to live with his daughter, Rebecca, and son-in-law, the Reverend Intrepid Morse on South High Street. In this same month of July was announced the sale of 2,500 of Dickinson's "celebrated flock of full-blooded merino sheep," at a public auction on September 10th. 108 Buyers attended the sale from all parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Five ewes and rams of highest quality brought $22.50 per head; 1,200 ewes and withers of the first and second quality brought $3.16 per head. Altogether 4,000 sheep were sold at public auction, 109 the other 1,500 probably being those of Bezaleel Wells. Thus Wells and Dickinson sheep were scattered all over this part of the country, laying the foundation for the high standards of wool growing for which Ohio, and the neighboring districts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia became famous for many years. 110 In August came crushing blows from the Steubenville banks, when loans taken out for several years past, were called. The Bank of Steu- benville served notice August 7, same being published in the Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette requesting all persons indebted to the bank to make immediate payment to James Caldwell, Hans Wilson or Samuel Stokely. The Bank of Steubenville, represented by Stokely and Marsh, attorneys, obtained judgments against Wells and Dickinson for $92,178.48 in three actions in the August term of the court. These were to repay loans taken out in 1824 and 1826. The Farmer's and Me- chanick's Bank obtained a judgment of $1,839.91 each against Wells and Dickinson. Even Wells's old friend and partner, James Ross, secured a judgment of $3,260 in settlement of a loan for $2,576.65 made by Ross April 12, 1826, "often demanded and not yet paid." Smaller judgments of $1,031.25 and $955.78 were obtained in the same term. In the No- vember term Bezaleel's son, James Ross Wells, was Clerk of the Probate Court when the Bank of Steubenville secured judgments against William R. Dickinson and others for $13,170.78. 111 Thus judgments totaling $112,436.20 were secured against Wells and Dickinson during the Au- gust and November terms of court in 1830. This, added to the $120,- 000 federal judgment in the district courts, made a total of $232,000, an irretrievable loss for those days. In October 1831 the machinery of the Woolen Factory was advertised for sale at public auction by Trustee Collier. In the list of the property, which was offered for sale entire, and not separately were included:

1830 that might throw light on the trial, loan and federal judgment. Winifred Gregory's American Newspapers 1821-1936, discloses no files of the Steubenville paper in existence between January 23, 1829 and May 22, 1830 and the latter is the only issue that year until August 21. 108 Announced in Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette, August 21, 1830. 109 Caldwell, Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 493. 110 Doyle, History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, 281. 111 Jefferson County Docket E, August Term, 1830; pages 302, 308, 311, 312, and 313; Journal 10 J, pages 174, 176, 179, 181, 194, 231 November Term, 1830; Docket E, 318, 325, 329.

(178) 10 Carding Machines, 4 Condensers, 2 Pickers, 1 Billy, 1 Spin- ning Mule or Jack with 120 Spindles, 7 Spinning Jennies with 100 and 120 Spindles, 27 broad Power Looms and a number of Reeds and Geers, 16 Broad Shearing Machines, 1 Sattinette Power Loom with 2 Bushing Machines, 3 Cloth Presses with iron screws, 5 Gig-Mills, with a quantity of Card Handles, 2 cast iron Blue Vats, 2 Copper Kettles or Boilers for fancy colors, 4 Indigo Mills, 1 Warping Mill and sizing apparatus attached, 1 Spooling Machine, 1 Gloating Mill for washing cloth, 1 Gloating Mill for washing wool, 20 Coal Stoves, 1 Washing Mill in the fulling mill, 1 Press for baling wool or cloth, 1 cast iron Pump and 40 feet of cast iron Pipes. Oct. 9, 1830 D. L. Collier, Trustee 112 D. L. Collier was the purchaser, who in turn held it ready for sale "at a price greatly below its real value," hoping to dispose of it to some individual or company who would operate it. 11 Tragically Wells and Dickinson lost their Stark County merino domain. They had already been saddened by the death of their friend, Thomas Rotch, of Kendal, who passed away suddenly September 14, 1823, while attending the Quaker annual meeting at Mount Pleasant in Jefferson County. A year later he was followed by his wife, Charity, who per- petuated her fair name and "most feeling heart," by willing her entire fortune, amounting to upwards of $30,000, to the founding of a Free School, a Social Library, the building of a Friends Meeting House, and other judicious charities. 114 Arvine Wales was executor. The lands and sheep were sold. Bezaleel Wells lost all his lands and sheep. Different parts of his lands are now owned by the Brookside Country Club, Lou Bardel, Mrs. Robertson E. Miller of Cleveland, and Fred Hess of Massillon. John Scott, Wells's shepherd, when forced to move out, bought lands southwest of the hill, near present 12th Street Extension, adjoining lands which were purchased by "Button" Miller - very suitable for orchards, because freer from frost by three weeks than surrounding country. Most tragic of all, however, was the fate of Dickinson. Adam Helden- brand became owner, by assignment, of the large valuable bred flock, including the Bolivar ram and its breed. Out of the wreck of his fortunes Dickinson was able to save a reserve flock, with which he decided to try his fortunes anew in Texas. James McDowell was to bring on the sheep, but two days before the time set, word came of Dickinson's death at New Orleans. Heldenbrand offered McDowell all of the salary and other privileges he would have enjoyed with Dickinson, and McDowell accepted on condition that he could have first choice on the Bolivar breed. A compromise was agreed upon, he receiving second choice. Later 112 Western Herald and Steubenville 113 Gazette, October 26, 1831. Ibid., November 1831, quoting the Niles' Register. 114 Ohio Repository, August 12, 1824. The School was incorporated by act of legislature January 24, 1826. Acts of Ohio, XXIV (1825-1826), 36, 37. The library was incorporated January 28, 1825. Acts of Ohio, XXIV, 101-103.

(179) McDowell became an independent sheep raiser, and moved to Pleasant View, five miles out the Market Road from Canton, which became his homestead. He actively tended the sheep for 64 years. Pleasant View still remains in the hands of the family, Corwin McDowell being the present owner. Alice McDowell of Canton is a granddaughter of James Mc- Dowell, Dickinson's shepherd. Adam Heldenbrand bought the Arlington property, on which, by 1842, he had developed one of the best flocks of sheep in the country, numbering 900, and producing 2,800 pounds annually. 115 It is said that Wells went through the humiliation of being put in debtor's prison at Steubenville, where pauper's oath was administered on him by Judge William Johnson. The latter was so incensed that a person of Wells's character and standing had to go through such humiliation that he got the state debtor's law repealed. 116 It was the irony of fate, that had the government held off a few years more, Wells and Dickinson could probably have fulfilled their plans for repaying the loan, as the American woolen business finally turned the corner in 1830, and prosperous days dawned, due to the phenomenally high prices for fine wool, which ruled from 1830 to 1837.117 Bezaleel's son, Alexander, purchased a farm at the head of South Street, Steubenville, which he gave to his father while he lived. A new residence was built in 1832 where Bezaleel lived peacefully, looking after his farming and copperas interests, which were all that he saved out of the wreck of his fortunes. He remained a bankrupt the rest of his life, but retained his prestige and reputation for unblemished character, and continued to perform his duties as senior warden of St. Paul's. He died in 1846, at the age of 83, and is buried in the family lot at Union Cemetery. His wife had preceded him, dying in 1839. 118 The year after Wells's death James Ross died in Pittsburgh.

115 Ohio Repository, May 13, 1941, quoting 100 years ago; H. G. McDowell, National Dickinson Sheep, 7-9. 116 Sources on Bezaleel Wells, MSS., in Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, Cincinnati. 117 Wright, Wool Growing and the Tariff, 88, 89. 118 Sources on Bezaleel Wells, MSS., in Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, Cincinnati.

(180) CHAPTER XI Cultural and Religious Foundations

The cultural influence of Bezaleel Wells as expressed in his beautiful and hospitable Manor at 'The Grove," has already been referred to. Despite the heavy demands upon his time and energy made by his varied responsibilities in the real estate, manufacturing, banking, wool growing, and shipping fields, Wells took an active and leading part in cultural and religious affairs. It was probably due to the necessity of solving the educational problem in his own family of six boys and five girls that his school-founding activities expanded. Perhaps it was partly to enable them to receive advanced instruction without sending them away that Wells inspired the establishment of the Steubenville Academy, which was incorporated by act of state legislature January 22, 1811. He is credited with having been its principal subscriber. * His name was included in the list of fourteen trustees, and he headed the group of three trustees who were legally authorized to receive subscriptions previous to the first election of trustees, the other two being Samuel Hunter and Thomas Henderson. 2 One provision of the act was that "the clear annual increase of all such property shall not exceed the sum of $5,000." Five dollars was to be paid on each share. This was the fifth academy incorporated in Ohio, the earlier ones being the Dayton, Worthington, and Chillicothe Academies in 1808, and the New Lisbon Academy in 1810. There were as yet no public schools in Ohio, and no- other academies were incorporated prior to 1815. In comparison with the meager primary and secondary schools, Ohio was top-heavy with colleges. Ohio University had been chartered in 1804, and opened for first instruction in 1809. 3 Cincinnati University had been incorporated in 1807 and Miami University in 1809. Earlier than the academy, but unrecorded in state legislation, or local ordinance, or by newspaper reference, was the first school building in Steubenville, erected by Wells in 1807, and called the Little Red School House on account of its red paint. ' Even before any school building existed, a Mr. Black taught school in 1805-1806. 5 For the academy Wells erected a substantial brick building, fifty by thirty feet, on the west side of High Street, a short distance above South. The school was conducted

1 W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," in Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, V, 249. 2 Acts of Ohio, IX (1810-11), Chapter XX. 3 Clarence S. Marsh, ed., American Universities and Colleges (Washington, 1940), 698. 4 Joseph B. Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio (Steubenville, Ohio, 1914), 90, 91. James A. Caldwell, History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, 476. 5 Ibid., 476; also W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 249.

(181) as a corporation under a Mr. Collier as president. G One of the playmates of Wells's children in school and academy, was Edwin M. Stanton, future war minister in Lincoln's cabinet, but delicate and sickly as a child. 7 In the field of religious interests, it was not his own Episcopal denomination that first enjoyed his philanthrophy, but the Methodists and Presbyterians. The Methodist preacher, the Reverend James B. Finley, seems to have made a great impression upon Wells about 1817, when the Methodist conference was held at Steubenville. Finley himself relates an interesting story connected with this conference, which clearly refers to Wells, but without mentioning names: Conference was held at Steubenville and being the presiding elder, it became my duty, with the preachers of the circuit, to find places for the preachers during the session. A request was handed to me by one of the stewards, from a gentleman of wealth, that I would send him one of our most talented ministers, and he would cheerfully keep him during conference. The gentleman was a member of the Episcopal Church, and had a worthy family, rather more than ordinarily refined, and enjoying all such elegancies of life as a country village could afford. Wishing to gratify him, I sent Russell Bigelow to be his guest. Now, Russell was dressed in plain, homespun apparel, cut and made with as much skill as home could furnish. It was not exactly that ala mode which suits fashionable life. The young miss in the parlor cast many sidelong glances at the young preacher, who diffidently sat composing his features, and gazing upon the various objects around him. Meeting the steward, Mr. said, "I do not think you have treated me right in sending me such a common, homespun-looking man." At this the steward came to me in great haste, saying Mr. was displeased. "Well," said I, "his request has been complied with; he asked for a talented man, and I sent'him the most talented we have. Go and tell him that I wish him and his family to go out to the Presbyterian Church to-morrow and hear him preach, and then if they are dissatisfied, I will remove him." Sabbath came. The minister in homespun ascended the desk, - all eyes were upon him. "How finely he reads !" says "What distinct articulation!" said Mr. to his lady, as they sat in the pew. "Dear me," said the daughter, "how beautifully our country preacher reads poetry!" There followed his prayer; and when, with warm heart, he prayed for the families who had with generous hospitality thrown open their houses for the entertainment of God's servants, the silent tear and half suppressed sigh told of his power over the heart. He preached, and it was only as Russell Bigelow of sainted

6 J. H. Andrews, Centennial Souvenir Steubenville and Jefferson County (Steu- benville( Ohio, 1897), 168. 7 Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio, 47.

(182) memory, could preach. Indeed, it is said he exceeded himself on that occasion. The effect upon his hearers was powerful, and upon none more so than his worthy host and family, who took him home, and sent for me to ask my pardon, remarking that he had never heard such a sermon in all his life. He said to the steward on Monday, "why do you not keep your ministers better clothed? You ought not to have a man of such talents as Mr. Bigelow." That day he ordered for him a fine suit of clothes. 8 It was this same year, that Wells sold to John Patterson Finley and the Trustees of the Methodist Church of Steubenville a plat of ground measuring 13,366 square feet for $100, to be used for a church building and cemetery. 9 John Finley was a brother of James Bradley Finley and the pastor of the Steubenville Methodist Church. Also this same year the Reverend Obadiah Jennings became pastor of the Presbyterian Church, to the trustees of which Wells gave lots 200 and 201 on Fourth Street for the nominal consideration of one dollar. 10 The Presbyterian Church was incorporated in 1819. Wells's generous interest in the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches did not mean however that his heart had been weaned away from the Episcopal Church of his boyhood days. Yet up to 1818 no Episcopal Parish had been founded in Steubenville, and Bezaleel and his wife had not even been confirmed, and this despite the fact that his cousin, Doctor Joseph Doddridge, had preached in Steubenville more or less regularly the twenty years since its founding, and had established Epis- copal parishes on both the Brooke County and Jefferson County sides of the river. It was to remain for Philander Chase to bring about both the confirmation of Bezaleel Wells and his wife and the organization of St. Paul's Parish in Steubenville. It was about 1818 when Chase and Wells first became acquainted. 11 This acquaintance ripened into a friendship that led to the union of the two families by marriage, their practical control of the destinies of the Episcopal Church in Ohio for over a decade, and their joint founding of Kenyon College. Chase had resigned his successful rectorship at Christ Church, Hart- ford, in February 1817, and came out to Ohio, at the age of 42 and at the height of his great physical and mental powers, dedicating himself to the founding of the Episcopal ministry in the frontier state. At the convention held at Worthington in June 1818 Chase was elected first Bishop of Ohio. He probably stopped at Steubenville on his August trip to the east for consecration, and made the acquaintance of Bezaleel Wells and his daughter, Rebecca, who were to figure so prominently in

8 The Reverend James B. Finley, Autobiography, ed. by W. P. Strickland (Cin- cinnati, 1853), 307, 308. 9 Jefferson County Deed Record F 296, 298 and 300. 10 Jefferson County Deed Record G, 446, recorded August 20, 1820. 11 According to Philander Chase, Reminiscences (New York, 1844), 157, his first visit to Steubenville was May 16, 1818, but the events there narrated are the same as given in the Diocesan Journal a year later.

(183) Ohio Episcopal history from this time on, that their mansion became known as the Rectory. At the home of William R. Dickinson, the partner of Bezaleel Wells in the banking and woolen business, Bishop Chase organized St. Paul's Parish of Steubenville on May 17, 1819. 12 For its services it leased the upper floor of the academy building, erected by Wells in 1818, which was fitted up as a place of worship. 13 In Worthing- ton Academy, in the Spring of 1820 were Alexander and Beza Wells, "sons of a wealthy manufacturer of Steubenville." 14 Among their playmates was Salmon P. Chase, twelve years old, nephew of Philander Chase, and destined to become first Republican governor of Ohio, secretary of the treasury in Lincoln's cabinet, and chief justice of the supreme court. In charge of the academy teaching was Philander Chase, Jr., son of the Bishop. Wells was brought a step closer to the inner circle of the church on April 3, 1820, when he was elected warden of St. Paul's Parish, along with George Chapman; and elected a delegate to the convention, along with John C. Wright. 15 At the convention at Worthington, on June 11, 1820, Bezaleel and Sarah Wells were confirmed. 16 From this time on Bezaleel Wells was Bishop Chase's able and devoted friend and supporter. Two years later, on November 17, 1822, Rebecca Wells and Philander Chase, Jr. were united in marriage in Steubenville by the Reverend John Armstrong, Rector of the Episcopal Church at Wheeling. 17 The Reverend Intrepid Morse, another nephew of Bishop Chase, had become rector of the Steubenville Parish, and he and Bezaleel Wells were elected to the standing committee of the diocese in 1821. Steubenville was becoming the hub of the Episcopal diocese of Ohio. In the summer of 1823 Bishop Chase set forth on his trip to England to raise funds for an Episcopal Theological Seminary in Ohio. On the way he and his family stopped to visit Bezaleel Wells. The Bishop was accompanied by his nephew Salmon, who gave the following recollection of the visit in the Trowbridge letters: Journeying eastward we reached Steubenville and stopped at the hospitable mansion of Mr. Wells, the father-in-law of my cousin Philander, whose wife I now first met. Mr. Wells was a manufacturer, but had lost by it. He still retained, however, his beautiful place on the banks of the Ohio, and there with his sons, my playmates, and in his pleasant family, I passed some very agreeable days. 18 The Bishop's departure was saddened by the illness of his son, Phil- ander, Jr., who had gone to Charleston, South Carolina. There he died

12 Diocesan Tour, 1819, p. 9, quoted in George F. Smythe, A History of the Diocese of Ohio Until the Year 1918 (Cleveland, 1931), 102. 13 Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio, 61. 14 Robert P. Warden, Salmon Portland Chase (Cincinnati, 1874), 69, 70. 15 Doyle, The Church in Eastern Ohio, 55. 16 Ibid., 47. 17 Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette, November 28, 1822. 18 Warden, S. P. Chase, 105. Doyle dates this visit in 1821, but the August 1823 date in Warden's S. P. Chase agrees with Smythe, Diocese of Ohio.

(184) March 1, 1824, while his father was in England. He was buried in St. Michael's church-yard. In the funeral service, read by Bishop Bowen, were the words, "I have seen him a husband and a father." Another son was born after he died. 19 Thanks to the help of Lord Gambler, whose support was gained by a letter of introduction from Henry Clay, the English campaign for funds exceeded all expectations, and Bishop Chase returned with over $20,000 raised, which eventually grew to $30,000. The constitution for the new seminary was drawn up by the able Charles Hammond, who had moved to Cincinnati, and who had secured for Bishop Chase the letter of introduction from Henry Clay. Henry Clay had accepted the office of umpire, who should give the word to the English donors when the conditions had been fulfilled on this side with respect to a permanent site. The Episcopal Theological Seminary was incorporated by act of legislature December 29, 1824. The first Trustees were Bishop Chase; four clerical members, Roger Searle, Intrepid Morse, Ezra B. Kellogg, and Samuel Johnston; and four lay members, Bezaleel Wells, William K. Bond, John Johnston, and Charles Hammond. The clear annual income of the estate was not to exceed $20,000.20 Bishop Chase was a strong minded person who sometimes decided matters personally, that should have been referred to the trustees. This happened when he accepted the Alum Creek property near Columbus as the permanent site. Two of his strong trustees, Charles Hammond and Colonel John Johnston, resigned in protest, leaving Bezaleel Wells as the leading layman still on the board. When the present site of Kenyon Col- lege was being considered in place of the Alum Creek site, Wells and Bishop Chase visited the owner, William Hogg, at Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania, and got a reduction in the price of the 8,000 acres, from $24,000 to $18,000.21 Bishop Chase got a supplemental act through the legislature January 24, 1826, creating Kenyon College, and granting the power to confer degrees in the arts and sciences to the "President and Pro- fessors of Kenyon College." 22 At the convention at Columbus, June 7, 1826, Bezaleel Wells was appointed chairman of a committee of five to establish the permanent location of the college, which was done on the following day by selecting the present site. 23 On the next day, June 9, Bishop Chase, the Hon. Henry Clay, and Bezaleel Wells were appointed as a committee, authorized to have the seminary's funds transferred from England "so soon as the state of the money-market may render it ad- visable." Authority was also given to the Bishop and Bezaleel Wells "to memorialize Congress for a remission of the duties upon donations from England and other favors, and the Ohio legislature for such aid as they may please grant the college." 24 By November 1827 the funds had been

19 George F. Smythe, Kenyon College (New Haven, 1924), 20 29. Acts of Ohio, XXIV (1824-1825), 12, 13. 21 Chase, Reminiscences, 492, 493. 22 Acts of Ohio, XXIV, 39. 23 Chase, Reminiscences, 510, 511; Smythe, Kenyon College, 53, 54. 24 Chase, Reminiscences, 512, 513.

(185) transferred, the land was paid for, and the balance invested in United States Bank stock. The Wells and Chase family ties were still more closely bound through the marriage on December 6, 1826 of Intrepid Morse, nephew of Bishop Chase, to Rebecca Wells, in the third year of her widowhood. Intrepid and Rebecca built a new home in 1827, which remained the rectory during the long rectorship of Morse in St. Paul's Parish, ending with his death in 1865. 25 Meanwhile, against many difficulties and disappointments Bishop Chase struggled through to success with the college plans. The cornerstone of the main building-still standing-was laid June 9, 1827. The sixty-five students constituting the college were moved from Chaseland in June 1828. Finally, on September 9, 1829, the first commencement exercises were held at Kenyon. It was an hour of triumph for Bishop Chase, shared of course by his leading trustee, and co-worker, Bezaleel Wells. For Chase as for Wells, 1829 was the proud year before the fall. Chase's autocratic temper, and dominating insistence on having his way, stirred up rebellion among the faculty members and trustees. The storm was gathering through the same disastrous year, 1830, that the collapse of Wells's business interests deprived the Bishop of his support. Finally, at the Diocesan Convention of 1831, on September 9, Bishop Chase, under pressure, resigned from the Presidency of the College and Seminary. 26 It was accepted by a vote of 11 to 1, Intrepid Morse being the only one voting in the negative. Wells was not present. Bezaleel returned to the convention the following September and battled valiantly for the rein- statement of the Bishop, but to no avail. 27 The two giants had fallen together, the one from his pinnacle of business success, the other from his eminence as college and seminary president. The Bishop and his family took refuge, under conditions of distressing poverty, in a little log-cabin near Millersburg, Ohio, which he called "Valley of Peace." Here Bezaleel Wells paid him a surprise visit on Easter Day 1832, and together they traveled on to Michigan to visit Bezaleel's son Hezekiah at Prairie Ronde. Among their adventures on this trip they were detained for a day by a sheriff as suspicious characters. The Bishop discovered a beautiful tract of land whither he moved his family and farmed for three years. 28 He was then called to Illinois as the first Episcopal Bishop of that State, and founded Jubilee College, near Peoria. While Kenyon College certainly would not have been built without Bishop Chase, it probably would not have been built without Bezaleel Wells. Playing a less spectacular part than the Bishop, the business acumen and judgment of Bezaleel Wells, his loyalty to the Bishop, and his readi- ness to accept official responsibilities in his behalf saved the day for Chase when other strong laymen deserted him. The personality of Wells

25 Doyle, Church in Eastern Ohio, 78. 20 Smythe, Kenyon College, 109. 27 Smythe, History of the Diocese of Ohio, 181 ff. 28 Doyle, Church in Eastern Ohio, 69.

(186) -conciliatory and persuasive-and accustomed to reconcile conflicting viewpoints and personalities, supplemented the Bishop's more combative and provocative character. It was an ideal partnership of clergyman and layman in an historic enterprise of the church, by two men who had each reached the climax of their careers,--Wells at the age of sixty-six in the business field, and Bishop Chase at the age of fifty-four in the field of the ministry.

(187) CHAPTER XII APPRAISAL

As an introduction to an appraisal of Bezaleel Wells it seems appro- priate to let his contemporaries assess his personality and character. Reference has been made to the commanding personal qualities displayed by Bezaleel Wells on the maiden voyage of the steamboat named for him. Other appraisals by his contemporaries agree that he possessed a personality of high distinction. In the same year that he made this trip, his friend Judge Ephraim Cutler, then in the General Assembly, wrote from Columbus: Mr. Bezaleel Wells is also here on business. His brow is somewhat wrinkled with care and his head silvered with time (57 years); but he still retains that noble, dignified air you may have often heard me mention that he possessed in a superior degree. 1 Another characterization of about the same date, and even more eulo- gistic, is quoted by Caldwell in his History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, as follows: "In frankness, candor and enterprise he had few equals, while in his moral character he was exemplary. His heart was abundantly stored with sympathy and generosity, and his honor and integrity he cherished with a zealous care." 2 Consistent with these character sketches is the handsome painting of Bezaleel Wells by a later Steubenville artist, Charles P. Filson, which hangs in the main reading room of Steubenville's Carnegie Library. Op- posite hangs the painting of his partner, James Ross, by the same Steuben- ville artist, and between them, over the fireplace, a full length painting of Baron von Steuben, in whose honor the fort, and later the town, were named. The prestige of Bezaleel Wells was recognized in 1816 when Charles- town, the county seat of Brooke County, Virginia, was renamed in his honor, Wellsburg. 3 Bezaleel's father, Alexander, had died there in 1813, aged 86, and his mother two years later at the age of 87. In 1817 an apple that was grown in the Steubenville district was named the Wells apple in honor of Bezaleel Wells. Jabez Smith planted the tree in Steuben- ville while working for Wells. 4 The high regard in which both Wells and Ross were held in Steubenville by the generation immediately following them was shown by the fact that when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad first came to Steubenville, in 1853, the three locomotives that were used

1 Charles B. Galbreath, History of Ohio (Chicago and New York, 1925), 31, 32. 2 p. 478. 3 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, V, 227. 4 W. H. Hunter, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County" in Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI, 289.

(188) on trains that passed through the city were named the "Steubenville," "James Ross," and "Bezaleel Wells." 5 Later generations have honored Wells in Steubenville with the Wells High School, and in Canton with the Bezaleel Wells School and Wells Street. As one reviews Bezaleel Wells's career with a view to appraisal, the subject seems to fall naturally into three main aspects: first, his contributions by enterprises; second, his relation to his time and place; third,. some general observations. The founding of Canton and Steubenville appear to be his two most permanent and important contributions. Canton's founding, coming nine years after the founding of Steubenville, benefited from his experience and broadening contacts while attending the State Constitutional Convention at Chillicothe. Canton's plat came closer to the ideal, spacious plan. But what Steubenville lost in the planning it gained in the thirty-four years of personal leadership which Wells gave to the town of his residence; in contrast, after nine years of rather unsatisfactory and unpleasant relation with Canton's town fathers, Wells became virtually an absentee proprietor to the Stark County town. The success of the two towns both as regards growth and character, testify to the qualities of the founder. Steubenville soon became the second largest and most industrialized town in Ohio, while Canton became a charming self- sufficient rural center, with an attractive idyllic life that was most alluring to travelers. The early settlers of both towns were above the average in ability, citizenship and leadership, for which happy condition the able and judicious publicity and promotion methods used by Wells deserve a large share of the credit. Today, Canton as eighth city in Ohio, and Steubenville as eighteenth, are living monuments to his town-founding and town-building abilities. The beautiful modern Timken Vocational High School and the age-mellowed First Presbyterian Church of Canton are memorials to his generous philanthropy in donating the original squares for school and church purposes. The next most important enterprise was doubtless the manufacture and growing of wool. It gave Steubenville the earliest and largest woolen-mill west of the Alleghany Mountains, and the third largest manufacturing plant in the State of Ohio. It was largely responsible for Steubenville's early entry into the industrial revolution. It stimulated the growing of fine merino wool on the plains of Stark County. Wells and his partner William R. Dickinson became the greatest merino sheep breeders in the country. They built the first merino wool capital in the United States in which the combined operations of growing and manufacturing merino wool were concentrated under one management. It was probably one of the earliest examples in this country of a vertically controlled business enterprise. Unfortunately the period that their wool capital lasted-1815 to 1830-was unprofitable for the American woolen business. They lost money two out of three years, and the losses finally led to their bankruptcy. But even in the public sales of their sheep, a service was rendered through the distribution of their prized stock to the farmers from all that part of the country. This resulted in high

5 Ibid., VI, 245.

(189) standards of wool growing in the upper Ohio Valley for generations to come. His failure in woolen manufacturing, and consequent bankruptcy, were not the result of mismanagement and reflected no discredit, but arose apparently from patriotically accepting government loans to build a woolen mill in 1812, only to have the loan called under an administration of differing political faith eighteen years later, just before the woolen business entered its profitable era. Probably third in importance was the Steubenville Bank, third to be established in Ohio, and fourth west of the Alleghany Mountains. In a day of wild-cat banking, and in a state, where it was exceptionally reck- less, Wells and his partner Dickinson followed conservative banking methods. Their bank stood the test of the 1817-18 banking crisis in a superior manner. It was one of seven Ohio banks to continue payment of specie after seventeen or eighteen others had closed or ceased paying specie. It was one of two Ohio banks whose paper was first accepted at Ohio land-offices after the crisis. Its stock remained quoted at par on the Pittsburgh exchange after all other Ohio bank stocks had fallen below par, some of the important ones as much as 40 to 60 per cent. In the 1817-18 crisis Steubenville became the key city where the bankers of the Upper Ohio Valley met in conference to deal with their problems and Wells was one of a committee of five appointed with executive powers to deal with the government. Aside from his banking interest Wells was by that time recognized as one of the most influential men of eastern Ohio. In the late twenties the increasing losses of the woolen factory became a disturbing factor in the condition of the bank; loans to Wells and Dickinson grew to unsound proportions, and when the crash of their personal fortunes came in 1830, the bank suffered with them. From the viewpoint of service to society Wells's land speculations and investments probably ranked fourth, though in his own mind they probably came first in his earlier career, perhaps up to 1812 or 1814. As respects these operations Wells was probably most nearly a reflection of his day, whereas in his town-founding, manufacturing and banking interests, he was ahead of his day, or an exceptional leader. Nearly everybody speculated in lands. On the other hand only a dozen Ohio towns could claim founding as early as, or earlier than, Steubenville; a few dozen more by the time Canton was founded; only two other manufacturing concerns in Ohio ranked with his woolen factory, and in banking he was preeminent. Yet he could also claim distinction in his land speculations and investments. While on a lesser scale than the original great grants from the Government to the Ohio Company, Judge Symmes, the Connecticut Land Company, and the Virginia Military Tract, his operations were large for the new era of direct purchasing from the Government that began with the Land Act of 1796. He was the greatest real estate operator that Jefferson and Stark Counties ever knew. Today's properties in those two counties that go back to him as the original purchaser from the Federal Government are far greater in value and extent than those going back to any other individual. To Wells his purchases

(190) of wilderness tracts were more important than the towns he founded. The latter were a means to enhance the value of his surrounding lands which ran into many thousands of acres in Jefferson, Stark, and Columbiana Counties. Wells was not a fly-by-night or quick-turn land-speculator. Much of his land he developed into farms and sheep ranges. He himself was a farmer on a considerable scale and a sheep raiser on a grand scale. He held much of his land for many years. The lands which he purchased in Jefferson County in 1796 were sold over a period of thirty years or more, and the lands he bought in Stark County for a period of twenty to twenty-five years. His profits when averaged over the number of years they were earned represented the conservative investment yield of six or seven per cent annually. His real estate operations belonged to the investment rather than the speculative class. They were the soundest and most dependable part of his business interests. Yet, measured in terms of service to society, they belonged essentially to the class of middleman's profits, and fell below the value of the more productive and vital services of town-founding, manufacturing and banking. Wells's own interest in his real estate operations lessened after the failure of his venture in founding Madison, and from 1814 on he concentrated on his manufacturing, banking, and wool growing interests, turning over into these investments most of the profits that continued to come in from his lot and land sales. In the field of politics Wells made important contributions both in his own county and in the state. As first Judge of Probate, Prothonotary to the Court of Common Pleas, and Clerk to the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace of Jefferson County, he held a key position in establishing the orderly processes of government in a region that when he first took office covered about a fifth of the area of Ohio. For the State of Ohio he was an influential member of the group of thirty-five leading citizens who drew up the first state constitution. In a close vote that failed by only one of fastening a restrictive "Black Code" upon the Negroes of Ohio, Bezaleel Wells, despite slave-holding family connections, cast his vote against the restrictions. He was chairman of the committee that considered the items of the Ohio Compact with the Federal Government, and made recommendations that were approved by the Convention, broadening the application of educational support, and saving three per cent of the proceeds from land sales for the laying out and building of roads within Ohio. But politics were distinctly secondary in Wells's interests to his business enterprises. He was not a seeker of political office, but accepted such political honors as came his way as the duty of a public spirited citizen. His name was mentioned as a candidate for Governor in 1824, but, whether from discouragement by Wells, or otherwise, did not come to the ballot. He was less interested and active in political life than his brilliant attorney partner, James Ross. In a day when most of Ohio's leaders came to prominence through political activity, Wells was an exception. Outside of his official duties in Jefferson County and in the State Constitutional Convention and Legislature, his political influence, which was many-sided, was mostly behind the scenes.

(191) To him politics were the hand-maiden of successful business, in which he represented the conception of the modern business man. He was non- partisan to the extent of working with and having the respect of both parties. He sympathized, however, with the Hamiltonian and Federalist school of political thought, in which the foundations of society were primarily economic, and politics either secondary or an instrument of economic development and control. Culturally and religiously Wells made important contributions to the life of Steubenville, to the establishment of the Episcopal Church in Ohio, and to the founding of Kenyon College. His home was one of three or four of the most famous residences of Ohio during the first quarter of the nineteenth century-renowned for its hospitality and cultural influence, as well as for its beauty of location and impressiveness of building and architecture. He built Steubenville's first school and academy, being the principal contributor to the latter. He was one of the founders of St. Paul's Parish in Steubenville, served as senior warden practically con- tinuously from its establishment until his death, and was one of its principal supporters. He was a trustee of the Kenyon Theological Sem- inary and of Kenyon College from the incorporation of those institutions until his retirement from business; was chairman of the committee that picked the permanent site for Kenyon College, and was on the committee of three, with Bishop Chase and Henry Clay, that transferred the $30,000 that Bishop Chase raised in England, to America for the use of Kenyon College. Whether Bezaleel Wells had the advantage of a college education himself is open to doubt. If he attended William and Mary College according to tradition, the college records fail to confirm it. The few of his earlier letters that are extant possess numerous grammatical ir- regularities that suggest the lack of a college experience. But by the time he was fifty years of age his communications possess a distinction of style and freedom from grammatical errors that would go with a thorough training in writing. Perhaps, like Abraham Lincoln, he devoted time in his maturity to the perfecting of his powers of expression. In relation to his time and place, he was a modernist in a frontier setting. Born )and bred on the frontier, he was distinctly not the frontier type, but a man of affairs and culture taking advantage of frontier opportunities. His home in Steubenville began as an oasis of culture and refinement in a frontier wilderness. His dignified and noble carriage and bearing belonged to the eastern seaboard plantation or city rather than to the frontier wilderness. His adaptability was evident in his successful adjustment to his surroundings. In fact this adjustment was a life-long process in which he developed from surveyor to real estate operator, then to banker and wool manufacturer and sheep raiser. The steps in his career fitted into each other logically. Surveying laid the foundation for his career in finances and experience, at a time when the surveyors of this nation were enjoying a marvelous expansion of their opportunities as the nation's boundaries extended westward. He acquired

(192) the reputation of being the best surveyor of the Ohio Valley. This experience brought him into contact with influential patrons and associates, most notable of whom was James Ross, the outstanding attorney of Pittsburgh, and leading Federalist of Western Pennsylvania-agent for the vast western lands of George Washington to whom he was linked in intimate personal friendship. Bezaleel Wells's genius for gaining the confidence and support of the most distinguished men of his time was shown in his winning James Ross as a partner in his first and greatest land speculation in Jefferson County. This partnership assured his success.

As with many other young men of his day, his surveyor's work opened up his opportunities as land speculator and investor. He was on the ground with the first to seize the new opportunities opened up by the Land Act of 1796, and, with James Ross, made the first purchases in the Seven Ranges under that act. Until recently this chapter in Ohio's settlement has been neglected, but its importance, and the significance of the leadership furnished by Ross and Wells, are being increasingly recognized. Again his Jefferson County experience opened his way to the State Constitutional Convention and the State Legislature, and that in turn broadened his vista to the new opportunities in Stark, Columbiana, and Wayne Counties at the exact moment when the time for action promised the greatest returns. The War of 1812 provided the most important turning point in his career, opening the door to industrial expansion at the time that mass land-buying under new liberalized land laws, as well as the ground-swell of Jeffersonian democracy, were reducing opportunities in land investments and town-founding for a Federalist like himself. His proximity to the Pittsburgh industrial orbit, as well as the acumen of his partner James Ross, doubtless helped to ripen his convicitions and crystallize his plans in making this transition. Bezaleel Wells was an outstanding representative of the American system of free individual enterprise when it was least trammelled. He exhibited unusual qualities as a promoter and publicist. Although not as conservative as Ross, he was conservative as measured by the Ohio standards of the day. An uncanny sense for proper timing was an outstanding characteristic. In his large Jefferson and Stark County investments he showed thorough preparation before he acted, but once having adopted an undertaking he carried it through with boldness, imagination, and despatch. His conservatism deserted him in only one known important undertaking, and that was the woolen business, but this exception proved his undoing. Ross's more conservative character was shown by his withdrawal from the Steubenville mill while its affairs were still prosperous, whereas Wells's continuance plunged him further and further into debt, and to his eventual ruin. Wells differed from the typical frontier business man of his day in that, instead of shifting frequently from one enterprise to another, and

(193) from one associate to another, he followed a cumulative policy. His new enterprises were added to his old ones, constantly increasing his affairs. Eventually he found himself the center of a virtual holding corporation with a great variety of enterprises, but all dependent on his personal leadership, and most of them closely linked with each other. In conclusion Bezaleel Wells was essentially a founder and builder. To him more than to any other individual, the modern cities of Canton and Steubenville owe their existence and the fortunate character of their beginnings.

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(199) Turner, Frederick J., The United States 1830-1850, New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1935. Utter, William T., The Frontier State 1803-1825, Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1942, Vol. II in series edited by Carl Wittke, The History of the State of Ohio.

VanTyne, Claude H., The American Revolution, New York: Harper and Bros., 1905. Vol. 9 in The American Nation: A History.

Wallen, James, Cleveland's Golden Story, Cleveland: Published by Wm. Taylor Son and Co., April 1920.

Warden, Robert B., An account of the Private Life and Public Services of Salmon Portland Chase, Cincinnati: Wilstach, Baldwin & Co., 1874.

Weisenburger, Francis P., The Passing of the Frontier 1825-1850, Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1941. This is Vol. III in the series edited by Carl Wittke, The History of the State of Ohio.

Williams, Samuel, "Edward Tiffin," a chapter in James B. Finley, Sketches of Western Methodism: Biographical, Historical and Miscellaneous. Illustration of Pioneer Life, Cincinnati: 1855. (n.n.).

Wright, Chester W., Wool Growing and the Tariff, Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin Co., Riverside Press, 1910.

PERIODICALS AND PUBLICATIONS

Baldwin, George E., "Address on Behalf of the Builders," Dedicatory Exercises of the Canton High School and the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Instruction for the Year Ending August 31, 1886.

By-Laws of Canton Lodge No. 60, F. & A. M., Canton, 1902.

Carpenter, Helen M., "The Origin and Location of The Firelands of the Western Reserve," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XLIV (April 1935), 165-203. Crall, F. Frank, "A Half Century of Rivalry Between Pittsburgh and Wheeling," Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, XIII (January, 1930), 237-247.

Davidson, Miss Jessie, "Historical Sketches on the First Methodist Church of Canton," Bulletins of the First Methodist Church, 1941.

Davis, Nelson'W., "The First Steamboat on the Ohio," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XVI (July, 1907), 310-315.

Heald, Edward T., "The 120th Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church," First Presbyterian Church Anniversary Souvenir, Canton, Ohio: Fomo Pub- lishing Co., 1941.

Downes, Randolph C., "Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries," Ohio State Archae- ological and Historical Quarterly, XXXVI (1927), 340-477.

Howells, Maud M., "Canton Youths Hunt Pirate Treasure," News Magazine, May 1, 1924. (n.p.), (n.n.).

(Hunter, W. H.,, "Pathfinders of Jefferson County," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, VI (1900), 95-313. (200) McDowell, H. G., Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue of the National Dickinson Sheep, Canton, Ohio: Repository Printing Company, Printers, 1910.

"Canton's Origin" and "The First Citizens," The Roller Monthly, XXI (Novem- ber, 1905), 3-9, 19, 20. (n.n.).

Sargent, Charles Sprague, "Winthrop Sargent," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XXXIII (1924), 229-236.

Scott, W. Elza, "An Historical Sketch of Richard 'Graybeard' Wells and His Pioneer Farm and Family," prepared for the Tri-State Historical Society's Third Annual Pioneer Sunday Meeting on Bert Wells Farm, August 18, 1940, Steubenville, Ohio: H. C. Cook Co.

Slusser, Dr. Lew, "Address," Dedicatory Exercises of the Canton High School and the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Instruction for the School Year ending August 31, 1886, pp 20, 21.

Smith, Rev. James, "Tours Into Kentucky and the Northwest Territory," Three Journals, 1783, 1795 and 1797, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly XVI (July 1907), 348-420.

DOCUMENTS

American State Papers (Washington, 1832-61), Finance, II, 427; V, 801.

American State Papers, Class VIII, Public Land Document number 91, January 23, 1804, by Joseph B. Nicholson. Annals of Congress, 7 Cong., 1 Sess., 296, 1252.

Census (Second) of the United States, 1800, Washington: Printed by the Apollo Press, by Wm. Duane and Son, 1802.

Census (Third) of the United States, 1810.

Census (Fourth) of the United States, 1820, Washington: Gales and Seaton, 1821.

Census (Fifth) of the United States, 1830, Washington, Duff Green, 1832.

Census Office (U. S.), Digest of Manufactures, Washington, 1822. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Treaties Between the United States of America and the Several Indian Tribes, 1778-1837, Washington, D. C., Langtree and O'Sullivan, 1837.

OHIO, Acts of the General Assembly, I-XXVIII (1803-1830), the place, name of publisher, and date being as follows: I-III, Chillicothe: Nathaniel Willis, 1803-05. IV, Chillicothe: T. G. Bradford and Co., and Joseph S. Collins and Co., 1806. V, Chillicothe: Joseph S. Collins and Co., 1807. VI, Chillicothe: R. D. Richardson, 1808. VII, VIII, Chillicothe: Joseph S. Collins and Co., 1809-10. IX, X, Zanesville: White Sawyer and Chambers, 1811-12. XI, Chillicothe: Printed at the Office of the Supporter, by Nashee and Denny, 1812. XII, Chillicothe: Printed at the Office of the Fredonian by John Bailhache, 1814. XIII, Chillicothe: Printed at the Office of the Supporter, by Nashee and Denny, 1814. XIV, Chillicothe: Printed by Nashee and Denny for John Bailhache, 1816.

(201) XV, XVI, Columbus: P. H. Olmsted and Co., 1817-18. XVII, Chillicothe: Printed at the Office of the Supporter, by George Nashee, 1819. XVIII, Columbus: Printed at the Office of the Columbus Gazette by P. H. Olmsted, 1820. XIX, Columbus: Printed at the Office of the Ohio Monitor by David Smith, 1821. XX-XXIII, Columbus: Printed at the Office of the Columbus Gazette, by P. H. Olmsted, 1822-25. XXIV, XXV, Columbus: Printed by George Nashee, 1826-27. XXVI, Columbus: Printed by P. H. Olmsted, 1828. XXVII, XXVIII, Columbus: Olmsted, Bailhache and Camron, 1829-30.

OHIO, Constitution of the State of Ohio, Preface to Vol. I of the Acts of the General Assembly.

OHIO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, Journal. Original in the office of the Ohio Secretary of State; Reprint by Photo Offset Lithography, by the Bobbs Merrill Co., Indianapolis, 1933.

Statement of Accounts by William Graham, Collector of Excise for Westmoreland, Washington and Fayette Counties, Pa., April 1, 1785 to July 18, 1786.

A Statement of the Arts and Manufactures of the U. S. A. Prepared in execution of an Instruction of Albert Gallatin, Esq., Secretary of the Treasury, March 19, 1812.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 50 Cong., H. of Reprs., Mis. Doc. No. 550, Special Report, Wool and Manufactures of Wool, Prepared by the Chief of Statistics, Treasury Department, Washington. Government Printing Office, 1888.

UNITED STATES, The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America from the Organization of the Government in 1789 to March 3, 1845. Boston, 1845, 6 vols. II, 173; II, 280, 281.

UNITED STATES, House Documents, 20 Cong., I Sess., III, No. 83, Bezaleel Wells, Memorial to Congress.

NEWSPAPERS

Baltimore News-Post.

Baltimore Sun.

Canton Repository, 125th Anniversary Supplement.

The Centinel of the North-Western Territory, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Cleaveland Register.

Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 14, 1936.

Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Mercury. Mercantile Advertiser, October 13, 1810.

Niles' Weekly Register.

The Ohio Repository, Canton, Ohio. Pittsburg Gazette.

(202) Steubenville Gazette.

Steubenville Western Herald.

Steubenville IWfestern Herald and Steubenville Gazette.

The Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette.

PARTS OF SERIES Belote, Theodore T., "The Scioto Speculation and the French Settlement at Galli- polls," in University Studies, Series II, September-October, 1907, Vol. III, No. 3, University of Cincinnati.

Schopf, Johann D., "A German View of Pittsburgh in 1783," (translation), in Pittsburgh as Seen By Early Travellers, Descriptions by Those Who Visited it from 1783 to 1818, From the monthly bulletin of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh April 1902-June 1906, No. 1, 201-208.

Brackenridge, Hugh H., "Account of Pittsburgh in 1786," in Pittsburgh As Seen By Early Travellers, Descriptions By Those Who visited It From 1783 to 1818, From the monthly bulletin of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, April 1902- June 1906, No. 2, 260 ff.

UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS Brooke County (W. Va.) Will Record.

Canton (Ohio) Plats, Engineer's office, City Hall, Canton, Ohio.

Collier, William, editor, "Grandfather's Diary," being an English translation from the original German diary of Char Christ William Gallwitz, kept in Canton, Ohio 1820-1824, typed in 1910, 3 copies, of which one belongs to Mrs. Charles W. Fretz, Canton, Ohio.

Columbiana County Deed Record A, Lisbon, Ohio.

Constitution and Records of the Canton Academy, in same book with the Records of the Incorporated Town of Canton, original in Canton Public Library, Copy at City Hall.

Contract between the United States and James Ross and Bezaleel Wells, MSS. No. 2372 in Library of Western Reserve Historical Society, November 20, 1799. This same MSS. also contains Indenture of same date modifying the terms of contract.

Cunningham, Auburn S., "Canton and Stark County Guide," edited and rewritten February 24, 1938 by Director of Stark County W.P.A. Historical Project. Still unpublished.

Heald, Edward T., "Revolutionary Effects of the New Ohio-Erie Canal 1825-1840," a paper prepared for a Seminar course at Western Reserve, 1939. Jefferson County (Ohio) Common Pleas Journal A.

Jefferson County (Ohio) Court Docket E, August and November Terms 1830; Journal 10 J, same months.

Jefferson County (Ohio) Deed Records A to L inclusive, 1798-1827. Kirkbride. The Reverend Tames F., "Statement Regarding History of the First Presbyterian Church, Canton, Ohio," Based on early records of the Presbytery, September 29, 1921, First Presbyterian Church, Canton, Ohio.

(203) Ohio County (W. Va.), Deed Records copied into Brooke County Records for period previous to 1797, Wellsburg, Ohio.

Park, The Reverend William, "Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church," 1875. MSS. in the church office.

Records of the Incorporated Town of Canton, Ohio. Original at Canton Public Library, copy at City Hall.

Rice MSS., Contains some unpublished letters of' Bezaleel Wells, Ohio Archaeolo- gical and Historical Library, Columbus, Ohio.

"Sources on Bezaleel Wells," MSS., in Library of Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, Cincinnati.

Rotch, Thomas, MSS., Massillon Museum, Massillon, Ohio.

Stark County (Ohio) Deed Records A-E, 35-1257, Canton, Ohio. Stark County (Ohio) Indenture Record A, Canton, Ohio.

Surveyor-General's Office, "Ohio Letters Received and Sent 1797-1806," General Land Office, In Archives Building, Washington, D. C.

Surveys of the Seven Ranges, Township Plats and Descriptions by the original surveyors, Division of Surveys, New Interior Building, Washington, D. C. Surveys of Washington County (Pa.), Recorder's Office, V. Vestry Records of St. Thomas Church, preserved in the Maryland Historical Library, Baltimore.

Wager, The Reverend Vernon W., Pageant for 125th Anniversary of First Metho- dist Church, Canton, Ohio, 1933. Wales, Horatio, MSS., Museum, Public Library, Massillon, Ohio.

Washington, George, Letter to Presley Neville, June 16, 1794, Room of Rare MSS., Library of Congress.

Washington, George, Letters from George Washington to James Ross, Room of Rare MSS., Library of Congress.

Washington County (Pa.) Deed Records, Washington, Pa. Wayne County (Ohio) Deed Records, Wooster, Ohio.

Wells, Bezaleel, "List of Sales of Lots in Steubenville, Ohio, 1796-1803." Library Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland.

Wells, Bezaleel, "Sales Book of Canton Lots Sold," in possession of George H, Clark, Canton, Ohio.

(204) APPENDIX I LIST OF SALES, JEFFERSON COUNTY, 1798-1806 BY BEZALEEL WELLS, GRANTOR

RECORDED IN DEED BOOK A, JEFFERSON COUNTY

Date Selling Recorded Grantee Page Price Lots Large Tracts

1796 July 4 Jacob Nessley 59 $400 pd. by Bez. Wells Lot 4 Twp. 10 R 3

1797 May 16 Peter Sunderland Wash. Co. 100 350 100 acres T 7_R 4

1798 Feb. 13 Henry McGarrah 73 34 25 Wash. Co. Feb. 13 William Atkinson Brooke Co. Va. Pleas 82 16 79 Feb. 13 Hans Wilson Brooke Co. 85 147 14, 120, 139 Feb. 13 George Atkinson Brooke Co. 115 36 78, 88 Feb. 13 George Atkinson Brooke Co. 116 106 5 acres out lot 2 Feb. 13 Wm. Ingle Brooke Co. 134 80 4, 137 Feb. 13 Samuel Meeks Brooke Co. 137 145 5 acre out, lot 16 Feb. 13 Samuel Meeks Brooke Co. 138 12 8 Feb. 13 Archibald Allison Brooke Co. 316 53 72, 73 Mar. 14 James Bailey Wash. Co. 97 33 142 Mar. 14 James McCoy-an Wash. Co. 145 39 141 June 2 William Sharron Wash. Co. 70 32 20 & 33 June 2 Zenas Kimberly Jeff. Co. 82 21 95 June 2 Win. Smith Wash. Co. 85 32 2 June 2 Alexander McClean Fayette Co. 100 68 64, 65 June 2 John Rowland Brooke Co. 135 23 179

(205) Date Selling Recorded Grantee Page Price Lots Large Tracts

1798

June 4 John Milligan Cecil Co., Md. 145 $100 62 June 2 Abel Johnson Brooke Co. 218 26 97 July 16 Jacob Repshire Jeff. Co. 139 40 22 Aug. 15 The Justices of the Court 83 For Ctt. House Oct. 25 James Bryan Trans. Lot 9 T 7 R 4 Jeff. Co. 90 A sun McMahan's Cr. Oct. 25 Valentine Ault Jeff. Co. 91 4 T 7 R 4 McMahan's Cr. Oct. 25 Robert Meeks Brooke Co. 99, 73 108, 113, 16 Oct. 25 James Eagelson Brooke Co. 108 404 Lot 26 T 4 R 2 101 acres Oct. 25 Jacob Moore Jeff. Co. 120 23 151 Oct. 25 Samuel Hunter Jeff. Co. 147 30 143 Oct. 25 Thomas Achison Wash. Co. 196 113 68, 69 & 70 Oct. 25 John McNight

Jeff. Co. 203 31 1 106 Oct. 25 William Clark

Wash. Co. 208 66 1 102 Oct. 25 William Hays

Wash. Co. 272 57 1 19 Nov. 13 Thomas Tipton Lot 9 T 7 R 4 Jeff. Co. 93 240 60 acres McMahan's Cr. Nov. 20 Zephaniah Beal, Jr. Croxton & Bowman Runs Wash. Co. 98 1000 300 acres Lot 3 T 8 R 2 Dec. 18 Abraham Lesh Trsfd. to Wells 1789 by Jeff. Co. 94 200 Win. Duerr-60 Trsfd. 8-8-1796 to Wells by Win. Duerr Dec. 18 James Woods St. Clairsville-Belmont Co. Jeff. Co. 95 4S0 160 Dec. 18 David McWilliams Part Lot 10 Aug. 18, 1796 Jeff. Co. 131 280 80 acres McMahan's cr. T7R4 Dec. 18 Allen Stewart Part Lot 10 Jeff. Co. 132 280 80 acres T 7 R 4

1799

June Peter Snider Jeff. Co. 140 55 18 June 4 Samuel Hunter Jeff. Co. 147 100 100 June 4 John Maddigh Jeff. Co. 181 48. 71

(206) Date Selling Recorded Grantee Page Price Lots LArge Tracts

July 17 John Ward Jeff. Co. 139 $185 61 & 63 July 17 Jacob Repshire Brooke Co. 170 20 23 July 17 Thomas Hasslet Jeff. Co. 218 25 150 July 17 James Harvey Wash. Co. 287 33 July 17 James Shane 384 30. N. side of Steubenville Sept. 10 Reasin Beall Wash. Co. 141 110 101 Oct. 4 House Bently Jeff. Co. 170 170 60 Oct. 4 Henry Maxwell Wash. Co. 174 17 87 Nov. 20 Wells & Ross agreement concerning certain lands in Partnership. Dec. 10 House Bently Jeff. Co. 169 60. 67 Dec. 10 Wnm. Henry Jeff. Co. 260 12 156

1800 Jan. 27 Alexander Young Alleghany Co., Pa. 218 47 131 Mar. 30 Stephen Ford 160 acres S 10 T 10 R 3 Jeff. Co. 227 560 Cross Cr. & Yellow Cr. Apr. 17 Jacob Miller Wash. Co. 176 75 Apr. 18 John Edgington Brooke Cc. 222 144 13, 117, 175, 144 Apr. 23 Mathew Adams Jeff. Co. 232 35 98 May 8 Nicholas Bousman Allegh. Co. Pa. 214 70 177 May 8 Abraham Clements Jeff. Co. 215 80 1/2 12 outlot 2/29 May 8 Hans Wilson Jeff. Co. 222 80 1/2 outlot 12 May 8 House Bently Steub. 236 53 1/2 OL 19 June 13 Wi. Boggs 160 acres Lot 10 T 7 R 4 Jeff. Co. 199 560 McMahan Run & Wheelon R June 14 Jacob Miller Jeff. Co. 207 21 76 Oct. 14 Abraham Clements Jeff. Co. 215 40 146 Oct. 22 David & Benj. @200 pt 34 T 7 R 4 Newell, Jeff. Co. 219 770 Wheelon & McMahans Cr. Nov. 13 Cunningham Sample Allegh. Co. Pa. 214 80 138 Nov. 13 John Smurr Allegh. Co. Pa. 215 63 217

(207) Date Selling Recorded Grantee Page Price Lots Large Tracts

1801 Mar. 5 Levi Jones Pa. 269 $26 45 July 6 Reasin Beall Jeff. Co. 241 90 OL 13 Aug. 6 Reasin Beall Jeff. Co. 242 50 147, 148 Sept. 8 Andrew McMechan (Patented to 103 acres T pt Sec Wash. Co. 254 495 (Bez. Wells 26 T 4 R 2 Big Run (1/15/98 & Glens Run Sept. 16 Thos. Vincent Jeff. Co. 304 12 155 Oct. 9 James Wood Fayette Co. Pa. 257 45 218 Oct. 9 David Hoge Jeff. Co. 257 50 104 Nov. 12 Andrew Lockard 113 acres pt NE 1/4 T 6 Jeff. Co. 272 567 R 2 McMahans Run

1802 Jan. 13 Wi. Wallace Brooke Co. 310 51 103 Jan. 28 Christian Smith Jeff. Co. 281 46 58 Feb. 10 James Cochran 63 acres Big Run, pts. S Belmont Co. 264 265 20 & 26 T 7 R 3 Apr. 3 Jonathan Taylor 640 a.Sec 26 T 9 R 2 Jeff. Co. 279 3150 N F Yell. Cr. (bot. by Bez. July 1800) Apr. 15 Frances Mitchell Brooke Co. 466 55 135 May 8 John Johnston 2461/2 a Secs 4 & 10 T 8 R Jeff. Co. 276 886 Yellow Cr. & Bonums R 2 May 11 Valentine Smith Jeff. Co. 275 40 126 May 12 Wm. Abrahams Jeff. Co. 319 50 96 Aug. 9 David Hoge Jeff. Co. 292 150 O.L. 11 Aug. 12 Jos. Potts Nathan Harper, etc. Phil. Co., Pa. 285 3150 640 a Sec. 26 T 9 R 2 Oct. 25 Benj. Doyle Jeff. Co. 377 100 10 a. Lot adj. Steub.

1803 1 Jan. -1 George Mahon pt of NE 1/4 T 6 R 2-263 /2 a. Jeff. Co. 309 1200 Cross Cr. & McMahon's R. Feb. 11 Abraham Cazier Jeff. Co. 315 47 17 Feb. 21 James Lucas Jeff. Co. 327 40 109

(208) Date Selling Recorded Grantee Page Price Lots Large Tracts

Apr. 23 Reasin Beall Jeff. Co. 338 $100 O.L. 9 Aug. 3 George Heap Belmont Co. 337 64 10 Aug. 17 Reuben Bailey pt of Sec. 35 Fayette Co., Pa. 348 55 24 McMahon's R. & NE 1/4 Aug. 31 Wi. Abrams Sec. 29, 35, 36 T 2 R 1 Jeff. Co. 347 500 108 a. In Forks of McMahan's R. Aug. 31 Robert Abrams Jeff. Co. 347 40 127 Sept. 2 Alexdr. Snodgrass Jeff. Co. 345 45 181 Sept. 29 Augustine Bickerstaff pt of Sec 35 T 2 R 1 Jeff. Co. 350 525 105 a. McMahons R. & NE T 6 R 2 Sept. 29 Abraham Risher pts 35 & 36 T 2 R 1 Jeff. Co. 350 420 821/2 a. McMahons R NE 1/4 T6 R 2 Oct. 21 Martin Andrews Jeff. Co. 360 58 140 Nov. 7 John Galbraith Jeff. Co. 361 24 107 Nov. 28 Charles King jef. Co. 364 25 125

1804 Feb. 16 Archibald Richmond Beaver Co., Pa. 375 45 172 Apr. 6 Robert McCleary Daughin Co., Pa. 376 79 59 Apr. 14 Robert Boden 57 acres Part of Sec. 30 Fayette Co., Pa. 378 199 T6R2 Sept. 17 Joseph Hobson 160 a. Cross Cr. & Yell. Jeff. Co. 513 560 Cr. Pt Sec 10 T 10 R 3 Oct. 9 Jacob Cable 160 acres Jeff. Co. 397 720 Pt of Sec 3 T 7 R 2 Oct. 22 John Robertson 543 acres Jeff. Co. 398 1765 Pt of Secs 9 & 10 T 8 R 2 Nov. 5 Jacob Cox 160 acres NE / of Jeff. Co. 402 480 Sec 14 T 9 R 3 Nov. 8 David Powell 165 acres Pt of NE 1/4 T 6 Jeff. Co. 408 1120 R 2 & Sec 36 T 2 R 1 Nov. 14 Win. Porter Wash. Co. 410 45 Lot Dec. 1 Mary McGuire Jeff. Co. 411 130 Lot

1805 Aug. 12 Chas. King Jeff. Co. 443 25 124 Aug. 12 Thomas Dadey Jeff. Co. 468 50 178

(209) Date Selling Recorded Grantee Page Price Lots Large Tracts

Aug. 12 Thomas Dadey Jeff. Co. 469 $189 O.L. 7 Aug. 24 John Philips Jeff. Co. 448 610 122 acres NE / T 6 R 2 Oct. 28 John McDowell Jeff. Co. 501 80 1/2 O.L. 8 Dec. 19 Samuel Salters Fayette Co., Pa. 468 47 Dec. 21 Peter Brokaw Wash. Co. 467 25 74

1806 Jan. 2 John Galbraith Jeff. Co. 495 100 Part of 176 Jan.- 9 Andrew Anderson 1071/2 acres Cross Cr. Jeff. Co. 483 700 Pt. NE 1/4 T 6 R2 Jan. 29 John Ward Jeff. Co. 475 130 O.L. 3 Feb. 19 Phineas Ash Chester Co., Pa. 480 50 133 Feb. 20 Peter Ash Lancaster Co., Pa. 480 50 226 Mar. 4 Eli Way Center Co., Pa. 481 50 214 Mar. 12 Thos. Hazlett

Jeff. Co. 482 60 134 Apr. 21 Win. Ross Chester Co., Pa. 501 120 166 May 26 Noble Rayl 150 acres Pt. Sec. 20 Fayette Co., Pa. 505 480 T9R4 May 28 Peter Wilson Jeff. Co. 507 80 114, 115 May 28 Brice Viers Jeff. Co. 514 200 1/2 O.L. 19 & 1/2 20 July 16 Jacob Beam Jeff. Co. 526 200 66 Aug. 10 Isaac Jenkinson Jeff. Co. 533 120 51-& 52

APPENDIX II,. A

LIST OF LANDS PURCHASED BY BEZALEEL WELLS IN STARK COUNTY ,FROM THE U. S. GOVERNMENT 1805-1814, CANTON TOWNSHIP Tract Date Purchased Vol. Page President Date Patented Purchased

NE 1/4 9-10- 8 163 484 Jefferson Dec. 30, 1807 5-14-05 SE 1/4 4-10- 8 666 76 W. Wilson Nov. 1, 1810 5-14-05 NW 1/4 10-10- 8 242 7 Madison Nov. 1, 1810 5-14-05 NW 1/4 5-10- 8 188 254 Madison Aug. 10, 1811 5-14-05 NE 44-10- 8 207 431 Madison Aug. 10, 1811 5-14-o5

(210) NE 1/4 6-10- 8 383 381 Madison Aug. 10, 1811 5-14-05 NE 1/4 6-10-10 857 81 Coolidge Aug. 10, 1811 SW 1/4 9-10- 8 35 573 Madison June 8, 1812 11-8-05 SE 4 6-10- 8 188 255 Madison July 30, 1812 NW 1/4 9-10- 8 35 574 Madison Aug. 6, 1813 10-17-05 SE 1/4 9-10- 8 177 502 Madison Aug. 6, 1813 9-10-05 SW 5-10- 8 188 254 Madison Aug. 6, 1813 6-22-05 NW 1/4 4-10- 8 205 254 Madison Aug. 6, 1813 6-22-05 Fract. 6 & 7-10- 9 1257 274 Coolidge Mvfar. 16, 1815 NE 47-10- 8 188 257 Madison Mar. 7, 1817

APPENDIX ii, B

LIST OF LANDS PURCHASED BY BEZALEEL WELLS IN STARK COUNTY FROM THE U. S. GOVERNMENT 1805-1814 OUTSIDE CANTON TOWNSHIP

Tract Purchased Purchase Date Price Recorded

SW 1/4 31-19- 7 3-27-05 $338.34 SW1 6-18- 7 4- 2-05 450.40 7-20-10 SE 7-18- 7 4- 3-05 419.31 7-20-10 NE 7-18- 7 4- 3-05 423.01 8-10-11 NW 1/4 7-18- 7 4- 3-05 422.06 8-10-11 NE 1/4 36-11- 8 4- 5-05 409.03 7-20-10 NE 31-19- 7 4- 5-05 317.30 W 1/4 9-18- 7 4-26-05 394.01 8-10-11 NE 1/ 5-18- 7 4-26-05 417-69 10- -8-11 SE 1/4 31-19- 7 4-26-05 377.86 7-20-10 NE 1/4 5-18- 7 4-26-05 417.69 8-10-11 NW 1/4 6-18- 7 4-26-05 NW 1/4 4-18- 7 4-26-05 421.74 8-10-11 SE 1/4 9-18- 7 4-29-0 320.00 6- 3-06 NE 1/4 32-11- 8 5-14-05 392.47 11- 1-10 SE 1/4 32-11- 8 5-14-05 392.18 7-20-10 NW 1/4 32-11- 8 5-27-05 420.54 8- 6-13 NW 1/4 10-18- 7 6- 1-05 320.00 1-23-06 W / 32-11- 8 6-22-05 419.89 8- 6-13 NE 1/4 9-18- 7 10-14-05 320.00 7-18-06 NE 1/4 10-18- 7 10-14-os 320.00 7-18-06 SW 1/4 31-12- 8 10-26-05 319.00 SE 1/4 31-12- 8 11-21-05 319.00 7- 1-07 SW 1/4 6-11- 8 3- 1-06 340.76 12- 1-09 NW 1/4 35-11-9 @ 1.25 6- 3-24 197.60 10-10-24 W 1/2 SE 1/4 35-11-9 6- 3-24 98.80 8-10-25 NW 1/4 6-11- 8 6- 3-24 352.26 3-23-08

(211) APPENDIX ICI

LIST OF LANDS PURCHASED FROM THE U. S. GOVERNMENT BY OTHERS THAN BEZALEEL WELLS IN CANTON TOWNSHIP 1805-1814 Purchase Purchaser Section Date Price Patented

Nicholas Firestone NE 1/4 10-10-8 11-8-1804 $322.60 12-7-1809 Chas. Long Columbiana County SW 1/4 2-10-8 11-8-1804 315.20 5-20-1806 Chas. Long SE 1/4 3-10-8 11-8-1804 316.24 10-8-1805 Jacob Painter, West- moreland Co., Pa. NW 1/4 1-10-8 12-19-1804 356.17 11-10-1811 assigned to Peter Wise Aaron Brooks SE 1/4 10-10-8 3-21-1805 345.62 Aaron Brooks NW 1/4 2-10-8 3-21-1805 341.39 8-1-1809 James Leonard NE 14 3-10-8 3-21-1805 355.30 Win. Ewing Beaver Co., Pa. SE 1/4 2-10-8 3-22-1805 322.48 6-23-1810 Obadiah Jennings Steubenville NE 1/4 2-10-8 3-22-1805 341.39 8-10-18 19 Jonathan Jennings Steubenville SW 1/4 11-10-8 3-22-1805 356.99 2-1-1811 Jacob Aultman, West- moreland Co., Pa. SE 1/4 12-10-8 3-23-1805 323.80 7-16-1806 John Aultman,- West. moreland Co., Pa. SW 1/4 12-10-8 3-23-1805 323.80 6-1-1810 Philip Ream Columbiana Co. E 1/2 1-10-8 3-26-1805 648.10 8-10-1811 Geo. Macenterfer Columbiana Co. SW 1/4 1-10-8 3-26-1805 338.30 2-20-1810 Geo. Bair Columbiana Co. SE 1/4 36-10-8 3-26-1805 333.90 6-27-1805 Christopher Bair Columbiana Co. NE 1/4 11-10-8 3-26-1805 383.50 11-1-1811 Rudolph Bair Columbiana Co. NE 1/4 12-10-8 3-26-1805 310.00 11-3-1806 Michael Schnitzer Columbiana Co. NW 1/4 12-10-8 3-26-1805 323.80 Apl. 1812 Geo. Bair Columbiana Co. SW 1/4 14-10-8 4-2-1805 315.20 5-8-1806 Win. R. Dickinson NW 1/4 11-10-8 4-4-1805 317.80 6-3-1806 Aaron Brooks Columbiana Co. NW 1 23-10-8 4-8-1805 337.08 4-10-1809 John Hammon Adams Co., Pa. NW /4 3-10-8 4-10-1805 321.52 6-14-1813 Jacob Newman Beaver Co., Pa. SW /4 3-10-8 4-10-1805 321.52 6-14-1813 James Latimer Fayette Co., Pa. 13-10-8 4-15-1805 1404.24 5-20-1806 Ebenezer Shaw Westmoreland E 1/2 14-10-8 4-16-1805 630.40 3-10-1807 Win. R. Dickinson NW 1/4 14-10-8 4-19-1805 315.20 2-10-1807

(212) Purchase Purchaser Section Price Patented-

John Nichols Columbiana Co., assigned to Win. R. Dickinson W 1/2 27-10-8 4-24-1805 $811.55 10-1-1811 John Nichols NE 1/4 27-10-8 4-24-1805 406.14 5-11-1811 David Bachtel SE 1 11-10-8 4-24-1805 317.80 5-8-1806 Valentine Yunt Washington Co., Pa. S 1/2 23-10-8 5-3-1805 645.04 6-30-1810 Valentine Yunt SSW 1/4 24-10-8 5-3-1805 321.56 4-1-1810 Robert Thompson Franklin Co., Pa. 26-10-8 5-31-1805 1303.90 1-4-1810 Geo. Murray Beaver Co., Pa. NE 1/4 34-10-8 5-31-1805 324.16 2-1-1809 John Taggart Columbiana Co. NE 1/ 23-10-8 6-1-1805 357.27 Sept. 1812 Abraham Kraft

Washington Co., Pa. E 1/2 24-10-8 6-1-1805 826.99 12-6-1916

Abraham Kraft NqW 1/4 24-10-8 6-1-1805 318.00 12-28-1807 Peter Hack

Columbiana Co. NqWv 1/4 25-10-8 6-1-1805 323.08 3-3-1925 Thos. Thompson

Steubenville NJW 1/4 28-10-8 6-17-1805 397.50 Thos. Thompson )

Wi. R. Dickinson ) NE 1/4 29-10-8 6-17-1805 396.25 Thos. Thompson

Steubenville SSW 1/4 35-10-8 6-17-1805 385.45 June 1812

Thos. Thompson NE 1/4 5-10-8 6-17-1805 389.67 4-10-1827 John Sluss

Columbiana Co. SSW 1/4 25-10-8 6-22-1805 401.96 8-17-1811

Geo. Grous SIE 14 5-10-8 8-16-1805 322.80

John Nichols SE 1/4 27-10-8 8-28-1805 357.64 Dec. 1812 Christian Clinker

Columbiana Co. S 1/2 28-10-8. 8-28-1805 680.39 3-23-1810 George Nees Center Co., Pa. S 30-10-8 10-13-1805 331.59 12-25-1811

Michael Reed SE 1/4 30-10-8 10-15-1805 315.08 12-25-1811 Michael Reed 1/4 30-10-8 10-15-1805 381.50 1-20-1812 George Nees Center Co., Pa. NE 1/4 30-10-8 10-15-1805 331.59 6-23-1810 J. Shorb

Baltimore SW 1/4 4-10-8 10-18-1805 321.96 Andrew Boyer Westmoreland Co., Pa. SE 1/4 34-10-8 11-23-1805 397.50 John Stofer 11-27-1805 2-1-1809 Wash. Co., Md. INE 1/4 28-10-8 322.80 Jacob Schenk, West-

moreland Co., Pa. NE I/4 33-10-8 11-27-1805 503.27

John Nichols JW 1/4 34-10-8 11-27-1805 403.09 4-12-1812 James Leonard N SE 1/4 32-10-8 3-22-1806 351.87 12-31-1811 John Newman

Columbiana Co. 5SW 1/4 29-10-8 4-22-1806 366.23 10-1-1811

(213) Purchase Purchaser Section Date Price Patented James Leonard

Columbiana Co. N9 1/2 31-10-8 4-22-1806 $688.09 1-2 0-18 12 Thos. Hurford SE 1/4 17-10-8 5-2-1806 388.14 1-21-1918

Thos. Hurford NE 1/4 20-10-8 5-2-1806 363.99 4-15-1812 Wm. Armstrong Franklin Co., Pa. SE 1/4 29-10-8 5-2-1806 332.85 John Nimmon E 1/2 32-10-8 5-24-1806 642.96 10-1-1811 John Yoder Somerset Co.. Pa. SE 1/4 20-10-8 5-26-1806 332.08 12-10-1808 Christian Yoder

Somerset Co., Pa. S 1/2 31-10-8 5-26-1806 648.80 12-30-1811 Brinton & Condy SW 1/4 29-10-8 6-19-1806 400.36 12-15-1813 Brinton & Condy Philadelphia W 1/2 20-10-8 6-19-1806 644.68 12-15-1813 Wi. Armstrong SIE 1/4 29-10-8 8-5-1806 359.59 10-1-18 11 Win. R. Dickinson Steuberville NE1/4 2 5-10-8 8-25-1806 323.08 8-25-1813 John Richards NW 1/4 33-10-8 L1-27-1807 321.64 John Fisk Baltimore N 1/2 21-10-8 3-31-1809 1273.60 8-10-1811 Adam Reed Center Co., Pa. NW 1/4 22-10-8 5-2-1809 647.36 Jos. Eicher Stark Co. SE 1/4 15-10-8 5-10-1809 642.52 6-19-1813 Thos. Worley SE 1/4 33-10-8 5-11-1809 321.64 4-10-1812 In. Brausz Shand Co., Va. NW 1 15-10-8 9-16-1809 642.52 10-9-1813 Geo. Prince Shanand. Co.. Va. NE 1/4 15-10-8 9-16-1809 663.59 Mar. 1812 Jas. F. Leonard SW 1/4 15-10-8 1-13-1810 642.52 8-10-1813 School Section 16-10-8 Fred K. Heron SW 1/4 34- 10-8 2-2-1810 343.04 3-8-1814 Wm. Williams, West- moreland Co., Pa. SW' 1 10-10-8 2-19-1810 367.90 10-21-1815 Levi Engle Hampshire Co., Md. NE 1/4 35-10-8 3-24-1810 350.48 8-9-1815 Rob In Lassals SW 1 22-10-8 4-19-1810 720.67 3-16-1814 Barnet Lickman Washington Co. NW 1/ 35-10-8 5-16-1810 326.28 8-24-1813 Michael Yoke NE 1/4 36-10-8 5-16-1810 322.76 10-1-1811 J. Shorb NE 1/4 8-10-8 5-24-1810 323.16 7-2-1814 Thos. C. Shields SE 1/4 35-10-8 7-2-1810 342.60 10-3-1810 John Zerbe SE1/ 22-10-8 8-1-1810 675.68 8-4-1814 John Newman Stark Co. SE 1/4 19-10-8 10-1-1810 310.28 4-10-1812 Christopher Smith NE 1/4 22-10-8 11-29-1810 723.42 2-1-1815 Thos. Thompson ) Wmn. R. Dickinson ) NE 1/4 29-10-8 t2-6-1810 404.61 7-30-1816

(214) Purchase Purchaser Section Date Price Patented Thos, C. Shields ) Isaac Bachtel ) Washington Co., Pa. ) SE 1/4 21-10-8 4-2-1811 $668.80 May 1812 Jesse Edgington Steubenville SE 1/4 34-10-8 4-4-1811 397.50 Michael Yutzey Huntington Co., Pa. SW 1 19-10-8 4-8-1811 324.11 5-3-1814 Jno. Myers SW 1/4 17-10-8 6-20-1811 402.06 12-18-1816 Jno. Myers New Lisbon NE 1/4 19-10-8 6-20-1811 385.13 12-18-1816 Jno. Myers NE 1/4 17-10-8 7-15-1811 401.05 12-18-1816 Jno. Myers New Lisbon NW 1/4 17-10-8 7-15-1811 401.05 12-18-1816 Jno. Myers SW 1/4 32-10-8 7-1.5-1811 398.03 12-18-1816 Dani. Schlinker SW 1 21-10-8 8-21-1811 636.80 10-10-1815 P. Slusser NW 8-10-8 11-20-18 11 323.16 June 1812 John Myers, New Lisbon assigned to Martin Lohr SE / 8-10-8 12-12-1811 362.57 Mar. 1817 Frederick Roemer SW 1/4 8-10-8 2-11-1812 362.67 6-5-1816 John Shutt Washington Co. SW 1/4 33-10-8 5-23-1812 350.85 8-9-1815 Thos. Alexander Canton NW / 19-10-8 6-18-1812 310.28 8-24-1816 Jonathon W. Condy Canton SE / 18-10-8 7-6-1812 385.55 j. H. Brinton SE / 7-10-8 Philadelphia (150.4(E6 acres) 7-14-1812 300.92 6-4-1814 H. Brinton Philadelphia SW 1/4 7-10-8 7-14-1812 300.92 6-4-18 14 J. H. Brinton Philadelphia, Pa. NE 18-10-8 7-14-1812 308.28 6-4-1814 j. H. Brinton SW 1/4 18-10-8 7-14-1812 300.92 6-4-1814 J. H. Brinton NW. 1/4 18-10-8 7-14-1812 308.28 6-4-18 14 John Patton Canton NE 1/4 33-10-8 8-12-1813 345.00 10-9-1813 Jos. Flickinger Stark County SE / 25-10-8 1-6-1814 323.08 7-30-1816 Peter Kinney NW / 36-10-8 6-22-1814 346.88 9-1-1819 John Stall Stark County SE 35-10-8 9-12-1814 326.28 5-3-1815 Abraham Gifford Stark County SE / 36-10-8 12-24-1816 322.76 7-29-1819 Wm. Long Steubenville SE 1/4 34-10-8 12-26-1816 324.16 Conrad Miller SE 1/4 36-10-8 5-26-1817 322.70 8-19-1824 A. Myers Baltimore NW 1/ 6-10-8 4-6-1822 185.52 Sept. 1823 @ 1.25 per acre Win. R. Dickinson NW 4 28-10-8 7-29-1831 397.50

(215) APPENDIX IV

LIST OF SALES, STARK COUNTY, 1809-1814 BY BEZALEEL WELLS, GRANTOR RECORDED IN INDENTURE RECORD A AND DEED BOOKS B, C AND D, STARK COUNTY Date Vol. No. of No. of Recorded Grantee Page Acres Sec. Twp. Range Lot Price 1809 Mar. 4 Andrew Rappee A 1 Canton 44 $ 24 Mar. 7 John Hammond C 149 Canton 11 30 Mar. 27 Philip Hammond D 28 Canton 21 25 May 4 Valentine Smith A 23 Canton 58 48 May 19 Jacob Slusher A 74 Canton 70 70 June 13 Jacob Slusher A 72 5 Canton 80 June 26 Alexander Cameron A 19 Canton 24 42 July 21 *Abram Croft A 92 5 10 8 1 Right of Way July 25 Joseph Eicher B 43 Canton 90 36 Aug. 15 Christian Palmer A 21 160 1 11 9 560 Aug. 16 John Sloane A 38 Canton 65 31 Aug. 16 Jacob Shaneberger A 40 53) Aug. 16 Jacob Shaneberger A 40 Canton 99) 65 Aug. 16 James Campbell A 127 Canton 68) Aug. 16 James Campbell A 127 Canton 69) 100 Nov. 18 John Chapman A 36 Canton 195 45 Nov. 18 Philip Slusher A 44 60.67 32 11 8 280 Nov. 18 Wm. J. Kelly A 58 Canton 36 31 Nov. 18 Jabez Smith C 43 Canton 81 91 22 Dec. 8 Peter Spiker A 32 Canton 23) Dec. 8 Peter Spiker A 32 Canton 45) 61 Dec. 8 Peter Spiker A 32 Canton 79) Dec. 8 Geo. Kirkpatrick A 35 Canton 93 16 1810 June 5 Abraham Craft A 88 Canton 56 43 June 5 John Mathews A 183 Canton 4 40 July 26 J. Drennan & Patton S. A 81 Canton 7 35 July 26 Abraham Craft A 85 10 10 50 July 26 James Drennan A 83 Canton 101 11 July 26 Andrew Lucky A 192 Canton 26 50 July 26 J. Drennan & Patton S. I 233 Canton 7 twice recorded Oct. 12 George Stidger A 139 8.5 adjoining outlcot 56 1810 Oct. 12 Hugh Cunningham A 109 11/2 Canton 30 Oct. 12 Jacob Hahn A 173 Canton 201 41

(216) Date Vol. No. of No. of Recorded Grantee Page Acres Sec. Tzwp. Range Lot Price Oct. 12 Jacob Bachtel A 209 Canton 39 - $10 Oct. 12 George Cribbs A 360 Canton 265 266 50 Oct. 24 Daniel Carter A 93 Canton 96 29 Oct. 24 Abraham Bevers A 129 Canton 2 50 Oct. 24 Garet Crusan A 145 Canton 5) Oct. 24 Garet Crusan A 145 Canton 41) 67 Oct. 24 Garet Crusan A 145 Canton 42) Oct. 24 Thomas Hurford C 279 Canton 20 22 1811 May 4 Jacob Kitzmiller A 181 Canton 15) May 4 Jacob Kitzmiller A 181 Canton 71) 87 May 4 Hugh Cunningham A 183 Canton 1 67 May 4 P. Oister and No. Jacob Grove A 188 Canton 43 amt. May 4 John Shorb A 190 Canton 95 11 May 18 George Stidger A 230 E 1/2 Canton 32 22 May 18 David Morris A 232 W 1/2 Canton 32 22 May 4 John Sloane A 239 Canton 66 39 May 4 John Brouse A 241 Canton 48 77 May 4 John Nichols B 9 Canton 64 40 Aug. 3 Henry Sheller B 11 25) Aug. z Henry Sheller B 11 97) 72 May 18 Wm. Brown B 23 Canton 267 30 Oct. 31 Thomas Harford B 57 Canton 10 31 Nov. 16 Philip Slusher B 86 50.52 4 10 8 213 Oct. 31 Adam Shriver B 88 Canton 172 35 Nov. 6 Thomas Schovia B 103 120 6 18 7 350 Oct. 31 Philip Reem B 105 50 6 18 7 195 May 4 John Bowman B 110 Canton 127 May 4 John Bowman B 110 Canton 188 21 Oct. 10 Andrew Johnson B 129 163.48 7 18 7 640 Aug. 3 Samuel Thomas B 146 Canton 77 282 26 May 14 John McConnell B 356 Canton 169 11 Oct. 21 Jacob Painter C 158 Canton 40 24 1812 Mar. 20 Philip Slusher B 85 241/2 32 11 8 100 May 5 Jacob Coleman B 107 14334 32 11 8 500 May 4 Philip Dewalt B 111 Canton 49 71 May 29 Wm. Raynolds, Jr. B 115 Canton 54 600 May 2 Thomas Alexander B 124 Canton 22 26 May 9 Henry Houtz B 131 Canton 204 21 May 21 John Ebi B 133 Canton 14 83 70 84 May 27 Abraham Croft B 135 5 10 10 8 50 July 27 Andrew Rappee B 137 Canton 51 142

(217) Recorded Grantee No. of No. of Date Vol. Acres Sec. Twp. Range Lot Price May 20 James Campbell B 145 5-25/160 4 10 8 $40 June 13 Frederick Verner B 154 Canton 60 28 May 27 Alexander Thomas B 312 Canton 46 50 May 7 George Stidger B 334 5 Canton 75 Oct. 21 Wm. Capper C 4 Canton 18 22 Oct. 31 John McConnel D 80 Canton 3 250 May 27 Baltzer Bentzel D 85 623/4 29 11 8 250 1813 Apr. 6 John Fisk B 232 Block 100 Dec. 31 Edward Nelson B 292 7 Canton 50 July 15 James Williams B 293 42/3 3 10 8 40 Oct. 10 Philip Plum B 328 5 Canton Out-lot 75 July 18 George Stidger B 337 5 Canton 75 1814 112) Jan. 18 James Gaff, Jr. B 330 Canton 113) 35 114) Jan. 18 George Stidger B 335 Canton 87 12 May 16 Thomas Taylor B 343 127.19 29 11 8 400 32 Sept. 23 County Commissioners B 385 " Aboi ut 15i0 lots Oct. 20 County Commissioners B 401 " Court House lolt 30 10 July 13 Daniel Lichten- walter B 432 171.28 6 18 7 700 Aug. 20 Wm. Raynolds B 435 9 Canton 135 Aug. 20 Winnans C. Clark C 2 5 30 May 16 Wm. Henry C 105 Canton 268 35 May 19 Samuel Funk C 166 167 4 18 7 400 1815 Jan. 24 Roswell Masson B 435 10.90 9 10 163 Mar. 29 Christian Flickinger B 21 Canton 63 31 Mar. 29 Jacob Rapp C 64 Canton 123 10 Mar. 29 Wm. Fogle C 50 Canton 27 75 June 12 Jacob Rapp C 64 Canton 78 35 1815 June 6 William Stacy C 94 Canton 126 15 Feb. 1 Jacob Bucher C 100 Canton 82 20 Mar. 29 Moses Andrews C 124 Canton 75 33 Mar. 20 Thomas Hurford C 126 Canton 211 12 June 12 Abraham Vanmetre C 127 Canton 67) 190) 90 Mar. 9 James Drennan C 164 Canton 271 35 Aug. 17 David Richards C 228 Canton 102 25 Sept. 15 H. & Hurxthal F. 6) Dowy D 411 272 7) 10 9 1640

(218) Date Vol. No, of No. of Recorded Grantee Page Acres Sec. Twp. Range Lot Price

1816 Feb. 29 John Trump C 176 113 29) 11, 8 $400 32) Apr. 9 Anthony Weyer C 222 5 10 10 8 60 Apr. 11 George Milligan C 230 160 9 18 7 560 Mar. 13 John Shorb C 240 Canton 29-37) 38-47) 50-85) 250 86-88) May 6 Margaret Wersheler C 242 20 9 10 8 360 June 24 Jacob Shorb C 268 Canton 76 37 June 24 Jacob Shorb C 269 Canton 72 106 Apr. 13 * George Stidger C 233 8.5 Canton Outlot 56 Sept. 24 Andrew Rappee C 285 22 . 10 8 250 Oct. 28 Alexander Johnson C 294 5 Canton 15 200 June 8 Winnans Clark C 330 Canton 6 100 July 5 *James Williams C 303 4.60 10) 10 8 40 3) Nov. 2 *Jacob Myers C 330 7.61 Canton 212 Dec. 3 Abraham Gibfert C 355 Canton 283 45 Nov. 5 James Williams C 379 4.60 9 10 8 40 July 4 Andrew Wise C 465 6 10 10 8 75 Dec. 3 T. Wallace & John Whiple C 536 10 4 10 8 120 Feb. 29 George Stidger D 94 15 Canton 100 Dec. 3 Jacob Robb D 130 131/2 4 10 8 168 1817 Mar. 6 Samuel Coulter C 345 13.40 9 10 210 Mar. 6 Thomas Drayton C 346 3.62 3) 10 72 10) Mar. 6 Thomas Hartford C 348 10 9 10 8 150 Apr. 2 John Slusser C 364 30.26 4 10 8 482 Jan. 2 John Shorb, Sr. C 367 Canton 288 30 1817 Apr. 9 Jacob Myers C 372 3% Canton 100 Mar. 6 James Hazlett C 388 13.40 9 10 8 202 Jan. 22 Martin Houser C 410 Canton 103 30 Apr. 2 Thomas Drayton C 410 2 Canton 1 Sept. 11 Andrew Meyer C 439 1000 5-6 &7 10 8) Sept. 11 Andrew Meyer C 439 80 32 11 8) 11000 Apr. 14 * Jacob Myers C 372 33 Canton 100 Jan. 27 John Sterling C 560 211/4 10 10 8 360 May 13 Philip Plum D 160 4.40 9 10 8 80 Mar. 28 Christian Palmer D 315 3134 4 10 8 470 May 8 Winans Clark D 336 27 4 10 8 300 May 8 Winans Clark C 433 2% Canton 300 Apr. 20 George Stidger H 270 32 11 8 45

(219) Dale Vol. No. of No. of Recorded Grantee Page Acres Sec. Tsvp. Range Lot Price 1818,

Apr. 4 Martin Lohr C 552 V4 ) 2.23) 9 10 8 $60 Feb. 25 Anna Capes C 599 Canton 285 45 1819 Aug. 18 Elderkin Potter D 209 331/2 9 10 8 418 1820 May S Samuel Coulter E 454 Canton 203 45 Aug. 1 John Brouse G 359 Canton 9 40 1821 Mar. 22 Wi. Raynolds D 638 161/4 Canton 400 Dec. 19 Wm. Christmas E 93 Canton 28 1200 1822 'Aug. 16 John Shorb E 86 1/2 Canton 15 Aug. 1 John Reed E 87 Canton 98 30 Mar. 9 James Hazlett E 302 Canton 192 35 Aug. 15 John Shorb F 194 5 4 10 60 July 12 Vincent Kittlewell F 362 Canton 20 1823 May 7 Robt. McMurray E 236 Canton 8 30 Apr. 12 Robt. Crosswite E 253 160 23 18 400 Oct. 1 Jas. W. Lathrope E 325 5 4 10 100 May 27 George Ruffner E 330 5 10 10 100 Feb. 18 John Sterling E 348 11/2 Canton 200 May 6 G. & Wert G. Snyder G 578 10 10 8 80 1824

Jan. 15 Wn. Fogle E 324 11/2 Canton 20 Jan. 2 1 Thomas A. Drayton E 343 Canton 12 32 May 16 John Shorb, Jr. E 397 Canton 89 22 Aug. 2S Andrew Gillig E 443 16 4 10 8 210 June 9 Andrew Gillig E 445 4 4 10 8 75 June 12 Jacob Rowland E 494 23/4 10 10 8 50 Tune 9 George H. Cake F 58 Canton E12 73 100 Aug. 19 Robert Owen F 103 8 4 10 8 1-50 Oct. 21 Joseph Musser F 260 Canton 92 150 June 9 George Swigert F 274 7/ Canton 100 June 9 Barney & Samuel McDannel F 340 Canton W1/'2 73 100 Oct. 21 Thomas Bonfield H 685 Canton 35 260 June 15 Wi. Hill 1 125 Canton 62 250) article) Jan. 27 Adam Kimmel I 298 9.95 9 10 8 199

(220) Date Vol. No. of No. of Recorded Grantee Page Acres Sec. Tzup. Range Lot Price

1825 July 20 *Wm. Foljamb F 86 158 34 11 $500 Apr. 13 Joseph Trout F 96 6.30 4 10 112 Mar. 24 Abraham Gibford F 101 50.30 4 10 500 Oct. 30 Sarah Lichtenwalter F 268 158 31 19 640 Apr. 14 George N. Webb G 108 30 perches Canton 37 May 17 George Dunbar, Jr. G 109 30 " 10 10 38 Apr. 5 Daniel Hartman G 412 169 3 18 400

1826 Apr. 27 George Dunbar F 350 Canton 74 150 Mar. 28 Frederick Young F 383 613/ 10 10 8 926 Apr. 27 Henry Guise F 463 Canton outlot 75 July 8 Michael Feigner F 651 8 9 10 8 150 July 9 Wm. Philips G 23 Canton 270 75 July 9 Christian Palmer I 449 4 10 8 280 1827 Sept. 15 *Thomas A. Drayton G 86 11 Canton outlot 200 Aug. ? Thomas A. Drayton G 87 11 Canton outlot 200 Nov. 29 Griffith Owen G 358 10 4 10 200 Nov. 29 Nicholas Marshal G 408 11/2 10 10 30 Nov. 29 Joseph Trout G. 529 152/3 4 10 279 1828 Aug. 8 Elias Little G 558 5 perches Canton 80 Mar. 24 Jacob Hentzell H 699 13.95 4 10 8 209 Dec. 16 *James Duncan R 702 Massillon M84) 400 90) Agreement 1829

June 4 John Reed H 267 Canton 100 90 June 9 George Nighman H 269 Canton 13 90 June 4 John Buckius H 270 Canton 120 100 May 5 Frederick Haller H 271 33/ 4 Canton 340

June 4 George Binkley H 344 .2 )o 34 Mar. 24 John Cryder H 354 121/ 4 10 8 244 Oct. 27 George Williams H 420 9 4 10 8 198 Dec. 19 Griffith Owens H 593 8 4 10 8 175 Oct. 10 John Shorb H 650 Canton twp. lots & others 300 1830 Nov. 23 rhonas Hartford I. 125 62 100 Apr. 14 H. B. Wellman H 703 Massillon M84) 90) Transfer 1831 May 16 J. Myers & J. Shorb I 472 120 9 10 8 Quit claim

Nov. 2 Martin Zimmerman F 277 10 4 10 8 150 Dec. 3 Jacob Robb C 610 131/2 4 10 8 168 *Grantor

(221) APPENDIX V ADDED IN 1948 HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEZALEEL WELLS' DEDICATIONS ON PLAT OF CANTON

As set out heretofore, Bezaleel Wells, when he platted Canton in 1805, dedicated certain tracts for specific purposes, as set forth in Chapter 5. The old graveyard, now known as McKinley Park on McKinley Avenue, Southwest, was established a graveyard by endorsement on the plat of the word "Graveyard." The property now occupied by the First Presbyterian Church on Tuscarawas Street, West, was dedicated for religious purposes by endorsement on the plat of the words "For a Place of Worship." The old Central High School property now known as Timken Vocational High School was dedicated for educational purposes by the endorsement on the plat of the words, "For a School or Academy." The legal effect of the plat dedication was that the title of the property remained in the name of Bezaleel Wells, and his heirs, subject to the several uses set forth on the plat, as long as each property was used for the several purposes; but would revert to Bezaleel Wells and his heirs in the event of abandonment of the use for the prescribed purpose. The development of the dedicated properties has been of importance to the City of Canton, and their history is interesting. The present title of the same, oddly enough, came about from the formation in Canton by Frank S. Lahm in 1907, of the Aero Club of Ohio, and the subsequent balloon flights promoted by the Club. Artificial gas was used in the balloon ascensions; and the best location for starting flights was the south end of Walnut Avenue, Southeast, just North of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and alongside the gas plant on the east side of Walnut Avenue. A number of flights were made from that place. When natural gas was brought to Canton, which put an end to the gas plant, the use of natural gas for future flights necessitated the location of a new flying field where natural gas could be procured. At that time the McKinley Avenue graveyard was practically abandoned, there remaining but a few tombstones thereon, and the City Council granted the Aero Club the use of the site for future flights. There developed opposition to such use, and Franklin Goheen, who lived opposite, in March 1908, filed a suit in the Common Pleas Court, to enjoin the balloon flights. In this case the Court held that since the property was dedicated for cemetery purposes, the City had no right to permit balloon flights therefrom, and that such use would result in the City forfeiting to the Wells heirs whatever rights it had in the property. Joseph M. Blake was at the time Secretary of the Aero Club and its attorney in the case, and in seeking a way to get around the adverse decision of the Court, started in 1908, to acquire the Wells heirs' title in order to legally do away with the graveyard and to consent that balloon flights be made from that place. Before the securing of the title was completed, another flight site was secured; but the title matter having started, it was continued until completed in 1912. The funds for the cost of securing this title were donated by H. H. Timken, W. R. Timken, Johnson Sherrick, Frank S. Lahm, Marshall Barber, Zebulon Davis, Gordon Mather and Joseph M. Blake. The legal work by Blake was

(222) done for the fun of it, the legal title was taken in his name individually; but in fact as Trustee, and the Trust designated as the "Graveyard Syndicate." The total cash invested amounted to less than $500.00. The legal title to the graveyard remains today in Mr. Blake, as originally acquired. Securing title to the graveyard for the balloon ascersions called Blake's attention to the title of the Presbyterian Church and High School properties, as to which the title was in the same shape. Knowing that some day it would be desirable to clear the title for the Church and School properties, that when desirable, speed to so do would be important, and that the same could be best accomplished while the heirs were known, he proceeded individually in 1912 to get the outstanding title. As developed by the investigation in securing the Graveyard title, the next of kin of Bezaleel Wells and their addresses were as follows: Mary O. Chase, Gambier, Ohio John L. Matthews Mary A. Matthews Alice A. Matthews, San Diego, California George M. Matthews, Manila, Arkansas Belle Matthews Thomas, Beaver Falls, Penna. Bezaleel Wells, Kansas City, Missouri George R. Wells, San Francisco, California Morse Wells, Schoolcraft, Michigan Bezaleel Wells, Schoolcraft, Michigan Samuel H. Wells, Bessie, Oklahoma Fay Chase Kellogg, Berkeley, California Rebecca Sarah Oge, Los Angeles, California Emeline E. Chase, Gambler, Ohio Harry Orton Howitt, San Rafael, California Henry Dudley Howitt, San Rafael, California Beatrice Fay Howitt, San Rafael, California Bertha Griffith Chase, Los Angeles, California Alexandra Chase Cole Prentiss, Santa Monica, California Agnes L. Wells Sarah G. Wells, Steubenville, Ohio Frank C. Wells, Saline, Michigan The acquiring of the title from all those heirs as to the remaining property was largely accomplished during 1912; but not completed until July, 1914. As to the Presbyterian Church property, the Wells heirs title was thereafter conveyed by Mr. Blake to the Church, which now has clear title. The title to the Timken High School property is now owned by the Board of Education, as appears by the following self-explanatory correspondence. On January 13th, 1938, Mr. Blake addressed to Mr. H. H. Timken, then at Palm Springs, California, a letter, a copy of which is as follows: Dear H. H.: "I saw in the Repository a short time ago that you proposed to establish in Canton, a Technical High School. As usual, your genius led direct to the thing that counts. A few days ago somebody told me that you proposed to handle the matter through what is called the Timken Foundation, and that the new school will be located on West Tuscarawas Street on the site of the present Central High School, which will be torn down. The title to this school site was in the same situation as the old South McKinley Avenue graveyard site, which I cleared up years ago and took title as Trustee for Yourself and others. When Bezaleel Wells platted Canton, he wrote the word "School" on that site and thereby made a common law dedication for school

(223) purposes. When the site ceases to be used as a school, the title reverts back to the heirs of Bezaleel Wells or their assigns. While I was working out clearing the title to the old graveyard site, so as to enable us to follow in balloons the shades of the de- parted heavenward, my attention was called to the school site situation. And thereupon I expended what was to me at the time, a fair sum of money and spent a lot of time getting that reversionary title away from the Wells heirs and into my name individually, where it now is. I anticipated that sometime the City would want that title clear and I could make some money. A number of years ago the Board of Education asked me to turn the title over to the Board. I refused. I feel different about the matter now. If you can donate that Technical High School, I can at least donate the title clearing and will be glad to do so. I will execute a quit claim deed to the site to such trust or Corporation as you are handling the matter through, or to the Board of Education-whichever you desire. If you will indicate your wishes in the matter, I will carry the same out." JOSEPH M. BLAKE. To that letter, Mr. Timken replied by letter, dated February 5, 1938: Dear Joe: "Your letter of recent date to hand. I am sure the citizens of Canton will appreciate the offer you suggest of turning over to the School Board the reversionary title to the Central High School property. Progress is being made on the plans for the Vocational High School which the Timken Foundation will build and equip and, when completed, turn over to the School Board. We have had exhaustive studies made of the various Vocational High Schools throughout the East, before deciding to build. Canton is one of the most highly industrialized cities in the country, which means that most of the boys graduating from the Canton High Schools must go into the factories in that vicinity if they expect to reside in Stark County. This will grow more and more so right along. About 25,000 men and women are employed in the factories in Canton in good times. That probably leaves 15,000 for all other employment. There is not one first class vocational high school in the great industrial State of Ohio. We hope to create one. Our School Board is entirely free from politics therefore we have a better chance than in most cities. The Central High site is the logical one although a little smaller than we wish. A vocational high school in Canton should be centrally located. Some day others may be required. A vocational school is more expensive to run than the ordinary high school as each teacher has less pupils and is generally better paid. However, there is a Federal and State fund from which a larger allocation is made; therefore Canton's taxes will not be increased. Our investigations show that all modernly built and equipped vocational schools have a long waiting list after two years of operation. I venture to say that some day half of the high schools in Canton will be vocational.

(224) I consider the prime factor in the average boy's education is to better fit him to make a better and more satisfactory living. It is especially important if he can do this in the town where his family and friends live; where he can have his roots in the soil of his own town. After careful study we concluded that better results would come from about a million dollar investment here in this way than through any other purpose. Mr. Mason and the entire School Board are of this same opinion, therefore you can see a real spirit of enthusiasm will be displayed in an effort to get the best possible results. My son Bob 1 is to handle the details of all payments, etc. I am sending your letter to him in order that he may show it to Mr. Mason 2 and the School Board whom I am sure will appreciate your fine action as much as I do." H. H. TIMKEN. On April 1st, 1938, Mr. Blake addressed a letter to the Board of Education of Canton, giving a history of the title of the High School property, and en- closing a recorded quit claim deed to the Board of Education for the High School property, the receipt of which was acknowledged by letter dated April 9th, 1938, from Mr. George H. Dueble, President of the Board, concluding as follows: "As President of the Board, I want to take this opportunity of thanking you on behalf of the Board for your interest in clearing up the title to the ground on which the new Timken Vocational School will be erected. The addition of the Timken Vocational High School to the already existing facilities, will place our system in a position to offer courses of study that will exactly fit the needs of our community. We will be in a position to offer a program of practical education second to none in the State." Mr. Timken thereafter added $250,000.00 to his donation for the Vocational High School, making a total gift therein of $1,250,000.00, and there now stands out on the site one of the finest schools in this world, the benefits from which are beyond estimation. In such manner, did the genius, idealism and generosity of H. H. Timken climax the foresight and idealism of Bezaleel Wells, who 133 years previously had written in his own handwriting, on a plat of the little frontier town of Canton, Ohio, the words, "For a School or Academy."

1 W. Robert Timken. 2 Jesse H. Mason, Superintendent of Canton public schools.

(225) INDEX

Abbott, David, 45, 48 Bair, George, 65, 73, 104 Academy, Canton, 122, 123; Bair, Rudolph, 47, 65, 73 Steubenville, 181 Baldwin, Eli, 78 Adams, John Quincy, 151 Baldwin, Henry, 160, 168 Adams, Matthew, 139 Baldwin, Michael, 45, 46, 55 Adams, Seth, 87, 155 Baldwin, Samuel Smith, 87 Adams County, Ohio, 27, 56 Balloon flights of Aero Club, Adena, 32 appendix v Aero Club of Ohio, appendix v Baltimore, Md., 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 57, 76, African lion exhibit, 128 79, 80, 110, 117, 118, 120, 121 Akron, Ohio, 108, 131 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 188 Alban, William, 106, 126 Baltimore County, Md., 12, 31 Alexander, Thomas, 102, 117, Baltimore Repository, 110 118, 126 Bank of Steubenville, 144, 147, 148, Alexander, William, 125 178, 189, 190 Alexandria, Ohio, 92 Bank of the United States, 147, 148, Allegheny County, Pa., 15, 29 169 Allen, James, 128 Baptists, 19, 90, 120 Allison, Nancy, mother of President Barber, Henry, 79 McKinley, 90 Barber, James, 79 Alum Creek, 185 Barber, Marshall, appendix v Andalusia, Spain, 154 Barber, Sarah, 79 Anderson, Andrew, 140, 141 Barber family, 114 Andrews, Martin, 139, 141 Bardel, Lou, 179 Anti-Federalists, 95 Barnesville, Ohio, 83, 109 Apple Creek Valley, Wayne County, Bassett, Pa. (see Washington, Pa.) 8 Ohio, 92 Bauer, Dorsey and George, 148 Arkansas Territory, 136 Beall, Reasin, 62, 73, 90, 94, 96 Arlington sheep ranch, Canton, Beatty, Zaccheaus A., 65, 73, 74, 75, 153, 162, 164, 165, 172, 180 86, 87, 139 Armstrong, Rev. John, 184 Beaver County, Pa., 65, 94 Arthur, John, 160 Beck, Anthony, 139 Ashland County, Ohio, 62 Bedford, Pa., 15, 20 Aten, Henry, 97 Beer, Rev. Joshua, 108 Athens, Ohio, 40 Begges and Graham, 117 Augusta County, Va., 9 Belmont Bank, St. Clairsville, Ohio, 148 Augustine, John, 125, 126 Belmont Aultman, Jacob, 65 County, Ohio, 52 Aultman, John, 65 Berkeley County, Va., 139 Austin, Ohio, 63 Bethlehem, Stark County, Ohio, 63, 84, 85 Bever, John, 94, 95 Bachman, Henry, 90 Big Sandy Creek, Ohio, 63 Bachtel, David, 65, 125 Big Sandy River, 21, 83 Bair, Christopher, 65 Bigelow, Russell, 182

(226) Black, Abraham, 115 Canal Fulton, Ohio, 131 Black, John, 115 Cane-Ridge, Ky., Revival of 1801, 108 Black Code, 52, 191 Canfield, Ohio, 63 Blake, John T., 122 Canonsburg, Pa., 16 Blake, Joseph M., 122, clearance of Canonsburg Academy, 31 reversionary titles, appendix v Canton, Ohio (see also Bezaleel Wells) Blennerhassett, Herman, 32 and Ohio-Erie canal, 113, 131, 132 Blodgett, L., 119 and state road, 85, 97 Blumeneau, Dr. Adolph, 118 Board of Education, appendix v bridges, 128, 129 Bolivar, Ohio, 131 Catholics and Catholic church, Bolliger, Rev. T. B., f. n. 82 119, 120, 121 Bond, William K., 185 Central High School, appendix v Bonfield, Dr. John, 118 City Council, appendix v contribution made by Bezaleel Bonn, Germany, 121 Wells, 132 Boston, Mass., 151, 155, 177 court house, 103, 104, 108 Bower, John, 78, 105 county seat, 75, 77, 78, 91, 92, 97 Bowers, John, 116 dancing school, 92 description Bowlby, of in 1816, 128; in Samuel, 124 1830, 132 Boy Scouts, Columbiana County, 90 early churches and ministers, 82, Brackenridge, Henry M., 75 108, 109, 119 Brackenridge, Hugh Henry, 16 early doctors, 118 early industries, 115, 116 Brant Building, Canton, Ohio, 102 early landowners, 65 Brazilian minister, 172 early library, 122 Breysacher, Dr. George, 118, 128 early schools, 81, 82, 122, 124 fire Brooke County, W. Va., 12, 29-32, department, 124, 125 37, 148, 152 first settlers, 72 founding of, 60, 62 Brooks, Aaron, 65 Germans, 109,130 Brookside Country Club, Canton, growth 1809-1814, 91, 101, 102, 161, 171, 179 107, 110, 113, 129 Brown, John, 128 horse race, 74, 103 Browne, John W., 45, 46 hunters' paradise, 130 incorporation of town, 124 Brownsville, Pa. (see Redstone) many religious sects, 130 Buck Hill, Canton, 67 market house, 118 Buckingham, Ebenezer, 41, 66, 67 origin of name of Canton, 4, 5, 76 plat Buckius, John, 115, 123, 125, 128 of, 70-72, 124, 138 population, 107, 110, 113, 129 Buckius, Samuel, 126 postoffice, 79, 81, 102 Buffalo Creek, W. Va., 11, 12, 17, sale of lots, 72-77, 101, 103 18, 152 sheep raising (see Bezaleel Wells) Buffalo Fork, 83 stage coach lines, 132 stores Burnet, Judge Jacob, 46, 94 1815-1830, 117 taverns, 79, 117 Butler County, Ohio, 58 townsite, selection of, 64, 65, 66, Byrd, Charles Willing, 36, 45, 55 68, 69, 71 water works, 122 Cable, Philip, 34 Canton Academy, 122, 123 Cable Lake, 153 Canton Board of Education, Cadiz, Ohio, 37, 89, 140 appendix v Calcutta, Ohio, 85 Canton Days, f. n. 4 Caldwell, James, 78, 104, 178 Canton District, 63 Caldwell's Creek, 141 Canton Estate, Baltimore, Md., 5, 76 Cambridge, Ohio, 83 Canton Land Office, 63, 96

(227) Canton Lodge No. 60 F. & A. M., 128 Clark, George, 98 Canton Repository, 110, 111 Clark, George Rogers, 10, 39 Card playing, 84 Clark, Winance (Winans), 114, 123 Canton Thespian Society, 127 Clark building, Canton, 102 Canton Township, 64, 65, 78, 82 Clay, Henry, 151, 185, 192 officers, 125 Clays, 166 schools, 123 Clearance of reversionary titles on Capper, William, 102, 125 Wells's dedications on plat of Can- Carlisle, Pa., 146 ton, appendix v Carnegie Library, Steubenville, 188 Cleaveland, Moses, 38, 39, 41 Carpenter, Emanuel, 41, 45, 66, 67 Cleaveland (Cleveland) Ohio, 36-38, Carroll, John, 115 40, 45, 63, 85-87, 91, 113, 119, 131, 132, 148, 149 Carroll, Robert, foundry and machine shop, Steubenville, 146 Clinker, Christian, 65 Carroll County, Ohio, 58, 85, 89 Clinton, Summit County, Ohio, 85 Carrollton, Ohio, 82 Clinton paper-mill, Steubenville, 145 Carter, Dan, 102 cock-fighting, 84 Carter, Lorenzo, 87 College Township, 56 Caskey, John, 102 Collier, D. L., 177-179 Cass, Jonathan, 87 Collot, Victor, 68 Cassilly, James, 122 Columbia (Cincinnati), Ohio, 19 Castor-oil factory, Steubenville, 149 Columbiana, Ohio, 92 Catholics, 79 Columbiana County, Ohio, 31, 56-58, 61, 62, 65, 76-78, 83, 85, 89-92, Catfish (Washington), Pa., 17 95, 97 Cazier, Abraham, 139 Columbus, Ohio, 40, 56, 135, 148-150, Cecil County, Md., 29 185 Chapman, George, 184 Commissioners of public lands, 96 Charlestown, W. Va. (renamed Wells- Conestoga wagon, 121 burg), 11-14, 18, 28, 30, 32, 37, Congregationalists, 40 141, 152, 188 Congress (U. S.), 49, 54, 55, 185 Chase, Rev. Philander (first bishop of Ohio) 37, 120, 121, 151, 183-187, Congress Lands, 22 192 Conneaut, Ohio, 37, 38 Chase, Rev. Philander, Jr., 184 Connecticut Land Co., 38, 62, 190 Chase, Salmon P., 184 Connolly, John, 8, 9 Chase, Rev. Thomas, 1, 2 Continental Congress, 22 Chaseland, 186 Contract of partnership between Chew, Miss Sallie, 5 Bezaleel Wells and James Ross, 24, 30 Chillicothe, Ohio, 32, 33, 36-38, 40- 48, 54-59, 69, 96, 112, 135, 140, Cook, Alexander, 108 144, 181, 189 Cooper, Daniel C., 40 Chillicothe Academy, 181 Copeland, W. B., 177 Christ Episcopal Church, Hartford, Copperas industry, Steubenville, 33. Conn. 183 150 Christmas, John, 117 Coshocton, Ohio, 83 Christmas, William, 117, 122, 123 Coulter, John P., 128 Christmas store, 118 Coulter, Samuel, 79, 81, 103, 107, Cincinnati, 19, 20, 22, 25, 33, 36,, 39, 114, 115, 117, 118, 122, 123, 126 41, 43-48, 56, 57, 120, 134; 135, Counties, Ohio, 53, 57 140, 148, 151, 185 County seats, Ohio, 55, 94 Cincinnati University, 18 Court House, Canton, 71, 101, 103, Clark, Miss Abigail, 119 107 (228) Court House, Steubenville, 34 Dickinson, Mrs. William R. (Mary) Courtland Hotel site, 107 174 Coxe's Fort, Ohio, 17 Dike, N., 119 Cradock, Catherine, 2 Division of Surveys, Washington, Cradock, Rev. Thomas, 1, 2 D. C., 23 Craig, John, 158 Doan, Nathaniel, 41 Doane, Crawford, Col. William H., 11, 31 Timothy, 87 Doddridge, Creighton, William, Jr., 55 Rev. Dr. Joseph, 36, 37, 135, 141, 183 Crips, George, 116, 125 Dohrman, George, 160 Critzer, John, 115 Dohrman, Peter, 160 Croghan, George, 8 Dominican Fathers, 120 Cross Creek, Pa.. 6, 7, 9-14, 17, 20, 28, 31, 32, 109, 141, 159 Don Pedro, prize merino ram, 154 Crozer, John, 90 Dorsey, Joseph, 99 Crusan, Garret, 79 Double Lick, Ohio, 56 Doyle, Cumberland Road, 55, 57, 135, 149 Benjamin, 33 Cumberland-Wheeling land route, Drayton, Thomas A., 107, 124, 125, 20 130 Cuming, Fortesque, description of Drennan, Steubenville, 25, 33, 135 J. & P., 102 Cutler, Judge Ephraim, 43, 45, 47, Drennan, James, 115, 122, 123, 126, 48, 50, 53, 54 128 Cutler, Rev. Manasseh, 17, 18, 19, 43 Dunbar, George, 105, 115, 119, 123, 125 Cuyahoga River, 21, 38, 86, 92, 1131 Duncan, Capt. James, 131, 156 Dunlavy, Francis, 46 Damascus, Ohio, 92 Dunlevy, Daniel, 140 Dancing school, Canton, 128 Dunmore, Fort, Pa., 8 Daniels, Horace, 91 Dunmore, Lord, Governor of Virginia, Danner, Jacob, 115 6, 8, 9 Davis, Zebulon, appendix v du Pont de Nemours, 154, 155, 161 Dayton, Jonathan, 39 Dayton, Ohio, 37, 39-41, 56, 135, 139, 181 Eaken, William, 177 Dayton Academy, 181 East Canton (see Osnaburg) *Deerfield, Ohio, 63 East Creek of the Nimishillen, 67, 78 Delaware, Ohio, 155 East Liverpool, 62, 91 Denman, Matthias, 19 Education in Ohio, 54 Depression of 1819, 169 Elephant exhibit, 128 Depue, John, 91 Elliott, Capt. Thomas H., 4, 148 Derby, Mass., woolen mill, 161 Embargo Act of 1807, 134, 135, 152, Detroit, Mich., 43 154 Deuble, George H., 82, appendix v England, 155, 184, 185 Dewalt, Daniel, 81 England, John, 139 Dewalt, George and Mrs. George, English competition, 176 117, 125 English Day School, 122 Dewalt, Philip, 80, 102, 107, 117, 118, 127, 128 Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, 184, 186 Dewalt family, 114 Episcopal Theological Seminary, Dewalt Avenue, Canton, 80 Ohio, 184, 185 Dickinson, William R., 59, 65, 86, Episcopalians, 36, 37, 109, 120, 135, 112, 144, 148, 154-175, 178, 179, 182 184, 189 Essick, John, 115

(229) Estramadura, sheep ranch of William Floyd, Judge Joseph L., 105 R. Dickinson at Massillon, 153, Fogle, William, 102, 104, 114, 115, 154, 155, 162 116, 122, 123, 125 Euclid Township, Western Reserve, 38 Follansbee (Mingo Bottoms) Ohio, Evans, Estwick, 136 11, 31 Everhard, Henry, 104 Forbes route, 18 Fort Dunmore, Pa., 8 Fairfield, Ohio, 33, 45 Fort Hamilton, Ohio, 39 Fairfield, Columbiana County, Ohio, Fort Harmar, Ohio, 19, 20 92 Fort Industry, Treaty of, 62, 94 Fairhope, Stark County, Ohio, 64 Fort Laurens, Ohio, 21 Fairport, Ohio, 132 Fort McIntosh, 20 Fallen Timbers, Battle of, 21 Fort Pitt, Pa., 8 Falls of the Ohio, 149 Fort Recovery, Ohio, 21, 44 Farmer's Bank, Canton, 114, 118 Fort Steuben, 20, 25, 28, 30 Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank, Cin- Fort Washington, Cincinnati, 20, 21 cinnati, 148 Fourth of July celebrations, 127 Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank, Steu- Fourth Street, Steubenville, 25 benville, 148, 178 Franklin, Ohio, 33 Farming country, 75 Franklin County, Ohio, 58 Fawcett, Thomas, 34, 35 Franklin Institute, 174 Fawcettstown (East Liverpool) 91 Franklinton (Columbus) Ohio, 40, Fayette County, Pa., 13, 29, 82 41, 56 Federal Ordinance of 1785, 58 Frease, Harry, 80 Federalist Party; 14, 15, 20, 27, 35, Fredericksburg, Md., 110 36, 43-47, 50, 53, 54, 95, 96, 127, Freeman, 140, 147, 192, 193 John, 171, 172 Ferries, 30 Freeman, Mary Scott, 171, 172 French and Festival of St. John the Baptist, 128 Indian Wars, 7, 8 Fickes, Jacob, 140 French emigrants, 20 French Fifth Street, Steubenville, 25 shepherd dogs, 172 Filson, Charles P., 188 Freymark, Mrs. Theodore, 153, 162 Filson, John, 19 Fulton Road, Canton, 79, 80 Finley, Rev. James, 83, 108, 119, 168, Furnace, iron, 90 182, 183 Finley, John Patterson, 183 Gaff, James, 119, 125 Firestone, Nicholas, 65 Gaff, James, Jr., 116, 126 First Methodist Church, Canton, 102 Gage, Gen.' Thomas, 8 First National Bank, Canton, 80 Gallatin, Albert, 57, 58, 143, 145, 153 First Presbyterian Church, Canton, Gallia County, Ohio, 58 71, f. n. 108, 119, 133, 189, appendix v Gallipolis, Ohio, 20, 56 Gallwitz, Char Christ William, First Reformed Church, Canton, f. n. 118, 82 119, 127, 130, 131 Gambier, Lord, First Trust & Savings Bank, Canton, 185 102 . Gambling, 84 Fisher, William, 160 Gardner, Julius, 128 Fisher's pottery, Steubenville, 145 Gardner, Dr. William, 118, 128 Five percent of land sales for roads, Gatch, Rev. Philip, 45 54 Geographic Line, 22, 58 Flickinger, Christian, 126 German Lutheran Church, Canton, Flint, James, 137 81, 82, 83, 91

(230) German Lutherans, 91 Harmon's Creek, 141 German Reformed Church, Canton, Harris, John, 108, 118, 122, 123, 127, 81-83 128 Germans, 9, 82, 118, 130, 131 Harris, Stephen, 105, 127 Gerow, Dr. Andrew, 118 Harrison, William Henry, 44, 169 Gibson, Thomas, 142 Harter, Isaac, 117 Gillies, Sheriff, 142 Harter Bank, Geo. D., 102, 111 Gilman, Benj. Ives, 45, 47, 54 Hartford, Thomas, 102, 115-118, 123 Gist, Christopher, 2 Hartford, Conn., 154 Gitchel, Levi B., 127 Hallet, Thomas, 105 Glacial area in Stark County, Ohio, Hawkins, William B., 177 68 Hazlett, James, 114, 122-124 Glasgow, John, 141 Heald, William, 90, 92 Gnadenhutten, 11 Heldenbrand, Adam, 162, 172, 179, Goforth, William, 45 180 Goheen, Franklin, appendix v Heldenbrand, Elizabeth, 172 Goodenow, John, 99 Helmick, Isaac, 126 Goodwill, Bradley C., 81, 128 Henderson, Thomas, 181 Graham, William, 14 Headley, John D., 106 Grand River, Ohio, 63 Hening, I. G., 104, 105 "Graveyard Syndicate," appendix v Henry, William, 94, 102 Gray, Thomas, 142 Herbst, Mary E. and Lillic K., 80, Gray Beard (Richard Wells), 31 102 Great Miami River, 56 Hess, Fred, 179 Greene County, Ohio, 58 High Mill, Stark County, 162 Greensburg, Pa., 8, 75 High Street, Steubenville, 25 Greenville, Treaty of, 21, 27, 39, History of Wells's plat dedications, 61, 62 appendix v Griffith, Hugh, 30 Hobson's Choice, Camp, 21 Gross, George, 65 Hoge, David, 33, 139 Gross, Judge John I, 121 Hogg, William, 185 Grove Manor (The Grove) (see Holm and Son, A., 117 Bezaleel Wells) Holm, Jacob, 119 Gun-making, 90 Holmes County, Ohio, 62 Gwyn, William & Co., Steubenville, Hoover, John, 126 150 Hopkins, B. F., 171 Horse-race, Canton, 74, 75, 103 Hack, Peter, 65 Horse-racing, 75 Hallock, J. H., 128 Horses, breeding of, 129, 141 Hamilton, Alexander, 13 Hostetter, Jacob, 90 Hamilton, Ohio, 37, 39, 41 Hough, Benjamin, 139 Hamilton County, Ohio, 25, 27, 34, 45, 52, 53, 134 Howard, Barbara, 116 Howells, William C., 164, 165 Hammond, Charles, 147, 151, 185 Hannan, ferryman, Steubenville, 142 Ilowells, William Dean, 176 Hannastown, Pa., 8, 9 Howells, William Dean, grandfather, 164 Harbaugh, Daniel, 90 Hoyt, Dr. J. W., 126 Harbaugh, William, 73 Hudson, Ohio, 63 Hardscrabble Hill, Stark County, Ohio, 65 Hughes, Gideon, 90 Harmar, Col. Josiah, 20 Huguenots, 1, 5

(231) Hull, David, 139 Jubilee College, Ill., 186 Humphrey, George, 47 Judiciary of Ohio, 53 Humphreys, Col. David, 154, 161 Humphries, George, 34 Kaufman, Peter, 102 Hunter, Samuel, 139, 141, 144, 181 Kaufman House, Canton, 80, 102 Hunter's paradise around Canton, 130 Kellogg, Ezra B., 185 Huntington, Samuel, 45, 46, 54, 85-87, Kendal, Ohio, 102, 109, 156, 162 90 Kentuckians, 20, 44, 52, 109 Huntington (Pa.) Gazette, 110 Kentucky, 166, 167 Hurford, Thomas, 114, 117, 123, 125, Kenyon College, Ohio, 151, 183, 185, 126 186 Huron County, Ohio, 97 Kettering farm, near Canton, 162 Hurxthal, F. and L., 118 Kilbourn, John, Public Documents Hutchins, Col. Thomas, 21 Concerning the Ohio Canal, 151 Illinois country. 10 Kimmel, Adam, 115, 116 Kingsbury, Alva, 128 Incorporation of manufacturing com- Kingsbury, James, 37 panies in Ohio, 145 Kingsbury, John, 87 Indian lands and Indian territory, Kingsbury, William, 122, 128 54, 62, 63 Kinney, Lewis, 89 Indian Treaty of July 4, 1805, 63, Kirk, Nathaniel, 130 64, 94 Kirker, Thomas, 46 Indian wars, 20, 21, 25, 31, 39, 41 • Kirtland, Turhand, 40, 41, 87 Indians, 11, 25, 31, 36, 62 Kitchel, John, 47 Intoxication, 84 Klippart, Henry, and Jacob, 116 Irish canal laborers, 131 Kobacker Store, Canton, 102 Korb, Augustus, 150 Jackson, Andrew, 127, 151, 176 Kraft, Abraham, 65 Jackson, John, 140, 141 Kroft, John, 125 Jackson Township, Stark County, 162 Kroft, Philip, 115 Janney, Amos, 116 Kryder, John, 106 Jarvis, Col. William, 155, 158 Kuhns, William T., 131 Jay Treaty, 21 Jefferson, Thomas, 44, 48 LaFayette, Gen., 172 Jefferson, Ohio, 59 Lahm, Frank S., appendix v Jefferson County, Ohio, 27-29, 34-36, Lancaster, Ohio, 56 43, 45, 47-49, 53, 54, 57-59, 61, 88, 90, 91, 101, 134, 137, 145, 159, Laird, William W., 102 183, 191 Lake Erie, 21 Jeffersonian Democrats (Republicans) Land Acts (Congressional) 35, 36, 44, 48, 139, 140, 147, 151, Of 1785, 22 193 Of 1796, 22, 23, 60, 190, 193 Jennings, Jonas, 116 Of 1800, 60 Of 1804, 22, 58, 60 Jennings, Jonathan, 65 Land Offices, 60, 95, 136 Jennings, Rev. Obadiah, 65, 90, 183 At Cincinnati, f. n. 22 Johnson, Charles, 142 Department of Interior records, Johnson, Judge William, 180 Washington, D. C., 23 Johnston, Col. John At Pittsburgh, 22, 23 Johnston; Samuel, 185 Land Sales, 54 Journal of the Ohio State Constitu- Landon, Josiah, 38 tional Convention, 51 Larimore, David, 150

(232) Larwell, John, 95 McClure, Daniel L., 77, 125 Larwell, Joseph H., 94, 95, 97 McConnell, John, 102 Larwell, William, 90, 95 McCready, Robert, 31 Lathrop, J. W., 105, 115, 118, 119, McCurdy, John, 115 122-128 McDonaldsville Road, Stark County, Latimer, James, 78, 103, 104 162 Latrobe, Engineer, 160 McDowell, A. J., 177 Leeper, James, founder of Osnaburg, McDowell, Miss Alice, 153, 180 77 McDowell, Corwin, 153, 180 Legionville, Pa., 21 McDowell, Dr., Steubenville, 168 Leonard, James F., 65, 72, 76, 79, 83 McDowell, H. G., Illustrated Descrip- Lewis, Joseph, 140 tive Catalogue of the National Dick- Lexington, Ohio, 92, 156 inson Sheep, Canton, 153 Liberty Hall, 140 McDowell, James, 172, 179, 180 Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Mercury, McDowell, John, 144, 149 46 M'Elheran, Daniel, 140 Library Company of Canton, 122 Macenterfer, George, 65 Licking River, 19 McFarland, William, 47 Ligonier Pa., 19, 20 McIntire, John, 45, 47 Limestone, Ky., 19 McKeesport, Pa., 75 Lincoln Highway, 133 McKinley, David, grandfather of Lindsay's nail factory, Steubenville, President McKinley, 90 145 McKinley, President William, 90, 114 Lisbon, Portugal, 155 McKinley, William, Sr., father of Little Beaver Creek, 56 President McKinley Little Beaver River, 62 McKinley Park, Canton, 71, appendix v Livermore and Kendall, Boston, Mass., 177 MacLean, Rev. William, 119 Livingston, Robert, 154 McLean, Co., 35 Lohr, Martin, 116, 123, 168 M'Leary, Benjamin, 140 Loomis, Andrew W., 119 McMillan, Rev. (Dr.) John, 31 Loramie's Store, Ohio, 21 Mad River, Ohio, 39 Losantiville, Ohio, 19 Madison, President, 96, 121 Lotteries, 86, 87 Madison, Wayne County, Ohio, 89, 92, 93, 98 Louisiana Purchase, 134 Madisonburg, Waync County, Louisville, Ohio, 63, 77 Ohio, 99 Lower, Mathias, 90 Maguire, Mrs. Mary, 37 Lowry, William, 139 Mahnenschmidt, Rev. John Peter, 82, Lucas, Enos, 160 83, 84, 109 Ludlow, Israel, 19, 39, 41 Mahoning County, Ohio, 58 Lupton, Nathan, 163 Mahoning Valley, Ohio, 95 Lutheran Church, Canton, 81-83, 109 Mails, 91 Lutheran Reformed Congregation, Malvern, Ohio, 82 Canton, 119 Manchester, Ohio, 20, 37, 41 Lyman, George, 81 Mansfield, John F., Map of Ohio, 63 Lynn, John, 14 Mansfield, Ohio, 97, 98, 119, 132 Marietta, Ohio, 18-20, 25, 33, 36, 41, MacArthur, Duncan, 41 43-45, 56, 57, 87, 140, 144 McCahan, John, 110 Market House, Canton, 118, 130 McClaran, Robert, 98 Market St. (Ave.) Canton, 69, 71

(233) Market St., Steubenville, 25 Miller, "Button," 130, 179 Marshal, Robert, 152, 153 Miller, John, 125, 139 Martin, Absalom, 23, 34, 41 Miller, Margaret, 130 Martin, Samuel, 77 Miller, Mrs. Robertson E., 179 Maryland, 29, 32, 36, 40, 82, 90, 91, Millersburg, Ohio, 186 110 Milligan, John, 47, 48 Mason, J. H., appendix v Military Tract (see U. S. Military Mason, Rosewell, 108 Tract) Mason and Dixon Line, 9 Mingo Bottom (now Follansbee), Masonic Fraternity, 128 Ohio, 11, 31 Massachusetts, 156 Mississippi Territory, 35 Massie, Nathaniel, 20, 37, 40, 41, Mississippi Valley, 134 44-46, 54, 55 Moderwell and Chapman, steamboat Massillon, Ohio, 63, 67, 109, 113, builders, Steubenville, 149 131, 151, 153, 155, 156 Monongahela Valley, 8-11, 13, 20 Massillon Museum, 127, 153, 154, 158 Monongalia County, Va., 9, 10 Mather, Gordon, appendix v Montgomery County, Ohio, 58 Mathew's butcher shop, 107 Moody, John, 34 Matthews, John, 80, 102 Moore, James, 97 Matthews families, 114 Morrison, Duncan, 56 Mellett Building, Canton, 102 Morristown, Ohio, 83 Memories of Old Canton, by William Morrow, Rev. James B., 119 T. Kuhns, 131 Morrow, Jeremiah, 46 Merino sheep and wool, 152, 154-158, 160, 161, 164, 170, 173, 175, 178, Morse, Rev. Intrepid, 178, 184-186 189 Mosquitoes, 68 Mesopotamia, Ohio, 63 Mottice, Peter, 126 Metcalf, Orlando, 119, 125 Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, 9, 45, 59, 179 Methodist Church, Canton, 83 Mud Brook Valley, 162 Steubenville, 143, 183 Mulattoes, 51, 52 Methodists, 45, 108, 109, 119, 182 Museum of wax work, 127 Meyer, Andrew, 113, 121, 122, 126, 161, 168 Muskingum County, Ohio, 56, 58 Meyer, Andrew, Jr., 122 Muskingum River and Valley, Ohio, 19, 20, 60, 63, 86, 156 Meyer, Rev. Antonius, 82 Meyer, Anthony, 122 Myers, Jacob, 114, 116, 122, 125 Meyer, Mrs. Elizabeth Gross, 121, 122 Myers, John, 109, 114, 123, 126, 128 Meyer, Francis, 122 Meyer, Helena, 122 Napoleonic Wars, 155 Meyer, Joseph, 122 Navarre, Ohio, 63, 84, 85 Meyer, Joseph Edward, 122 Negroes, 50-52, 191 Meyers Lake, Canton, 64, 67, 113, Neville, John, 9 121, 130, 131, 161, 171, 172 Neville, Presley, 7 Miami Canal, 151 Nevilles, The, 15 Miami Purchase, 21 Newark, Ohio, 150 Miami River, 21, 22, 27, 39, 44 Newburyport, Mass., 155 Miami University, 181 "New Connecticut," Ohio, 39 Michener, Mrs. Elta, 162, 171, 172 Land Company, 61, 62 Middlebranch, Stark County, Ohio, New England settlers, 109 82 New Garden, Columbiana County, Middletown, Conn., woolen mill, 161 Ohio, 92

(234) New Lisbon, Ohio, 56, 59, 62, 63, 68, Ohio-Erie Canal, 113, 131, 132, 150 78, 81, 89-91, 94, 95, 101, 102, Ohio Gazette & Virginia Herald, 140 108, 118, 128, 181 Ohio Power Co., building site, Can- New Lisbon Academy, 181 ton, 102 New Market, Ohio, 63 Ohio Repository, 110-112, 132, New Orleans, La., 150, 169, 179 136, 140 New Philadelphia, Ohio, 83, 89, 128 Ohio River and Valley, 20, 56, 61, New Salem, Ohio, 59 68, 134 New York, 58, 150, 151, 155 Ohio University, 181 Nichols, John, 65, 78, dO, 102, 103 Olentangy River (Whetstone), Niles Weekly Register, 164 Ohio, 40 Nimishillen Creek, Ohio, 63, 64, 66, Onesto Hotel, building site, Can- 67, 74, 75, 85, 128, 162 ton, 102 Nimishillentown (Nimishillen Vil- Ontario St., Cleveland, Ohio, 38 lege) 63, 64, 77, 78, 84, 85, 116 Orgensterne, Canton Nimishillen Township, 64, 78, 116 Orth, C. H., 168 Norfolk, Va., 155 Osnaburg (East Canton), Ohio, Norton's Mills, Ohio, 86 63, 84, 85 North Bend, Ohio, 19 Osnaburg Township, 64, 77, 78, 101 North Canton, Ohio, 67 Oswalt, Michael, 126 North Industry, Ohio, 65, 162 Out-lots, 25, 69, 76 North St. (6th St. N.), Canton, 71 Owings, Leah, 1 North St., Stuebenville, 23, 25, 30 Owings, Richard, 2, 12 Northampton Woolen Mfg. Co., 161 Owings, Samuel, 3 Northwest Territorial Assembly, 43, 49 Paine, Edward, 38 Painesville, Northwest Territory, 20, 27, 43, Ohio, 37, 38 44, 63 Panhandle, Va. (Later W. Va.), Nuttal, Thomas, 136 11, 30, 36 Panic of 1818, 147, 148 Oberly Corner, Canton, 79 Paris Reformed Church, 83 O'Donnell, Capt. John, 4, 5 Parker, Joseph, 117 Ogden, George W., 137 Parks, David, 117, 126 O'Hanna, John, 148 Ohio Patterson, John S., U. S. Marshal, 177 Agricultural Experiment Station, 92 Patterson, Col. Robert, 19 Constitutional Convention (1802) Patterson, Samuel, 160, 165 43, 45, 47, 49 Patton, John, 102 Education, 54 Education Act of 1823, 123 Paulmore, Christian, 124, 125, 130 General Assembly, 49, 50, 55, 58, Pearce, Isaac, 90 86, 87, 92, 98, 99, 169 Pease, Calvin, 90 Immigration into, 134 industrial development, 153, 169 Pease, Seth, 41 settlement of, 17, 60, 61, 69 Pekin, Ohio, 85 State of, 57 Pennewell, Samuel, 124 State enabling act, 45, 46, 48, 54 State Senate, 46 Penney Store, building site, Canton, 102 State Supreme Court, 46, 90 Ohio Bell Telephone Co., building Penns, The, 15 site, 102 Pennsylvania, 29, 36, 40, 53, 69, 75, Ohio Company, 7, 17, 18, 21, 22, 82, 91, 95, 108, 131, 153 40, 190 Land Office, 15 Ohio County, Va. (later W. Va.) State Constitution, 15 9, 10, 12, 13, 37 turnpikes, 135

(235) Pennsylvania Germans, 78 Quakers, 45, 91, 154, 156, 179 Pennsylvania-Virginia boundary struggle, 7-10 Rapoee, Dr. Andrew, 77, 80, 114, 118 Perkins, Simon, 147 Ravenna, Ohio, 63 Perry County, Ohio, 120 Raynolds, William (and Jr.), 101, Perry Township, 67 102, 104, 117, 122, 123, 125, 127 Perrysburg, Ohio, 21, 109 Raynolds (Reynolds) heirs, 105 Philadelphia, Pa., 37, 57, 77, 84, Real estate operations of Bezaleel 118, 151 Wells (see Bezaleel Wells) Philadelphia County, Pa., 29 Ream, Philip, 65 Phillips, Arthur M., foundry and Redstone, Pa. (Brownesville) 8, 185 machine shop, Steubenville, 146 Reed, Michael, 128 Piano, first in Stark County, 122 Reed, Timothy, 124-128 Pigeons, wild, 130 Reformed Church, Ca.nton, 81-83, 109 Pitkin, Oren, 128 Renkert Building, Canton, site, 102 Pittsburgh, Pa., 8, 9, 14-16, 21-23, 34, Repository, Ohio, 110, 111, 55, 56, 58, 75, 91, 117, 132, 134, Baltimore, 110 135, 144-149, 160, 168, 176, 193 Republicans (Jeffersonian) Pittsburgh Exchange, 190 (see Jeffersonian Democrats) Pittsburgh Gazette, 15, 28, 34, 153 Revolution, the American, 3, 4, 9 Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, Rex, Jacob, 115, 117, 124 64, 67, 68, 78, 118, 119, 126 Reynolds, William R., 78 Plains near Canton, 66, 68, 172 Richards, Leonard, 140 Pleasant View, 180 Richland County, Ohio, 62, 97 Poland, Ohio, 63 Rieth, Michael, 83 Polley and Johnston, 117 Rigdon, Rev. Thomas, 90 Pontius, F., 119 Risteau, Catherine, 2 Pontius, Miss Mary, 119 Risteau, Portage, The, Ohio, 21 John, 2 Portage Lakes, Ohio, 131 Risteau, Rebecca, first wife of Bezaleel Wells, 2, 4, 16 Porter, August, 41 Ritchie, Matthew, 7 Portland, Maine, 155 Ritchie, Robert, 163 Portugal, 155 River transportation, Potter, Elderkin, 90 25 Roads Prairie Ronde, Mich., 186 in Ohio, 54-57, (0, 62, 63, 72, 75, 77, 85, 86, 89, 92, 95-98, 110, Prather, Charles, 11, 13, 17, 18 135 Pratt, Cary, 141 Roberts, William, 141 Presbyterian Church Rochester (Navarre), Stark County, Canton, 83, 108, 109 Ohio, 85 New Lisbon, Ohio, 91 Steubenville, 135, 143, 182, 183 Roger's Mill, 141 Presbyterians, 40, 91, 119 Roller bearings, an early inven- Price, William, 167 tion, 116 Pritchard, John, 148 Roller Monthly, f. n. 61 Privateers, War of 1812, 121 Roman Catholics (see Canton, Profanity, 84 Catholics) Protestant churches in Canton, 82 Ropp, Jacob, 118, 124, 125, 128 Prouise, Polly, 124 Ross, Angus, 158, 162 Public Square, Canton, 72 Ross, James, 14, 15, 20-24, 28, 30, 35, Pumpkin butter, 130 35, 43-45, 53, 57, 96, 137, 139, 145, Putnam, Rufus, 40, 41, 45, 47, 54, 147, 149, 153, 160, 168, 178, 180, 57, 58 188 191, 193

(236) Ross (James) Addition, Steubenville, Scott, John, 171, 179 30, 31, 135 Scott, Thomas, 46, 47 Ross County, Ohio, 34, 44, 47, 53 Scott & Bayless paper mill, Steuben- Rotch, Charity, 156, 157, 179 ville, 145 Rotch, Thomas, 109, 154, 156, 158, Scull, John, editor Pittsburgh Gazette, 161-167, 170, 179 15, 153 Rotch (Charity) School, 154, 179 Searle, Roger, 185 Rowland, Jacob, 123, 125 Section No. 16 (for school sup- Rowland's Mills, Canton, 78, 116, 129 port), 54 Ruggles, Benjamin, 104 Semple, Robert, 160 Senate investigating committee, on Sabbath Day, 84 wool tariff, 173, 174 Seven Ranges, St. Clair, Arthur, 8, 20, 21, 25, 27, 20-25, 41, 61, 85, 35, 36, 39, 44-49, 96 96, 193 St. Clairsville, Ohio, 57, 59, 147, 148 Shaeffer, Edward, 124, 128 St. John's Catholic Church, Can- Sheep, 129, 153-158 (See also Canton ton, 120 and Steubenville) St. John's Episcopal Parish, 37 Shepler, Jacob, 148 St. Michael's churchyard, Charleston, Sherman Reformed Church, Stark S. Car., 185 County, Ohio, 83 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Balti- Sherrick, Johnson, appendix v more, Md., 1, 2 Shorb, Adam Andrew, 79 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Steuben- Shorb, Catherine, 120 ville, 2, 180, 184, 186 Shorb John, 79, 80, 86, 87, 92, 94, St. Paul's Episcopal Parish, W. Va., 37 95, 97, 99, 102, 107, 114, 117. St. Thomas Episcopal Parish, Balti- 119, 127, 140 more, 1, 2, 3, 16 Shorb, John, Jr., 115, 120, 122, Sala, Jacob, 117 126, 127 Salem, Ohio, 92 Shorb family, 114, 115, 121 Salt Creek, Ohio, 83 Shorb Grove, 80 Sandusky, Ohio, 83 Short Creek, Ohio, 56 Shriver, Sandy Township, Stark County, 78 David, 116 Shriver's Spring and Run, Canton, Sargent, Winthrop, 23, 27, 30, 35 68, 102, 125, 127, 129 Saxony sheep, 172, 173 Simison, Robert, 90 Saxton, John, 110, 112, 114, 118, 122, Simpson, James, 41 123, 125, 126 Singing school, Canton, 127 Schnitzer, Michael, 65 Sippo Creek, Stark County, Ohio, Scholfield's woolen mill, 161 63, 156, 157, 162 Schools, Columbiana County, Ohio, Siopo Lake, Stark County, Ohio, 156 90 (see also Canton and Steuben- Slavery issue at first Ohio State Con- ville) stitutional Convention, 50, 52 Schopf, Johann D., 16 Sloane, John, 171 Scioto Company and settlements, Sluss, John, 65, 106, 126 20, 52 Slusser, Catherine, 117 Scioto County, Ohio, 58 Slusser, John, 78, 105, 107 Scioto Gazette, 48, 112, 140 Slusser, Dr. Lew, 81, 123 Scioto River, Ohio, 40 Slusser, Philip, 78, 107, 108, 114, Scotch-Irish settlers, 8, 11, 13, 20, 40, 118, 123, 126 95, 96, 109 Slusser family, 114 Scott, Betty, 95 Slusser's mill, Canton, 78, 107 Scott, David, 90 Smallpox, 118 (237) Smith, Christian, 90, 125 and sheep raising (see Bezaleel Smith, Edward I, 74, 75 Wells) Smith, Jabez, 188 and the War of 1812, 145 and written Smith, records, 139, 140 John, 45, 46, 54 churches of, 135, 143 Smith, Josiah, 115 cotton factories, 146, 150 Smith, William, 90 description of in 1807, 135; in Smithfield, Ohio, 59 1817, 136; in 1819, 136, 137 (see also 25, 33) Snodgrass, Rev., 135 fire department, 144 Sonnendecker, Rev. Henry, 119 incorporation of, 139 South St. (6th St. S.) Canton, 71 market, 140, 141 South St., Steubenville, 25 population, 134-136 sales book, Spafford, Amos, 87 28, 29 town council, 140, 141 Spafford, Horatio Gates, 168 town of entry into Ohio, 134 Spain, 154-158 water company, 144 Spanish Junta, 155 Washington St., 25 Specie payments, 147, 148 Water St., 25 woolen factory (see Bezaleel Wells) Spencer's tan-yard, Steubenville, 144 Steubenville Academy, 181 Spiker, Peter, 77 Steubenville and Cadiz Turnpike, 149 Spread Eagle tavern, Canton, 80, 107 Steubenville Bank (see Bank of Steu- Sprigg, William, 90 benville) Springfield, Ohio, 56 Steubenville Coal & Mining Co., 33 Springfield, Summit County, Ohio, Steubenville Gazette, 170, 171 108 Steubenville Herald, 33, 168 Sproat, Ebenezer, 41 Steubenville Land District Office, Squatters, 20, 36 33, 61, 63, 144, 147, 148, 153 Stanton, Edwin M., 182 Steubenville Township, Jefferson Stark, Silas, 116 County, Ohio, 23 Stark County, Ohio, 45, 53, 56, 58, Stibbs, Joseph, 95 61, 63, 65, 77, 78, 84, 85, 88, 91, Stidger, George A., 107-109, 114-117, 95, 97, 99, 101, 113, 129, 131, 153, 120, 122, 125-127 156-158, 164, 169, 173-175 Stidger, Harriet, 126 Stark County commissioners, 103-107 Stiles, Job, 38 Stark County Farmer's Society, 171 Stiles, Tabitha 38 Stark Dry Goods Co., Canton, building site, 102 Stillwater Creek, Ohio, 83 Stites, Benjamin, Starkweather, David, 119 19 Stokely, State roads in Ohio, 85 Samuel, 178 Stow, Castle, 39 Staugh (or Stough) Rev. John, 82, 91 Stow, Joshua, 39 Steam in manufacturing, 145 Sugar Creek, Ohio, Steamboat Bezaleel Wells, 149 83 Sullivant, Steamboat service, 134 Lucas, 40, 41 Summit County, Sterling, Mrs. Elizabeth, 115 Ohio, 85 Sunday School, 119 Sterling, John, 102, 115, 118, 123-125 Superior St., Cleveland, Steubenville, 11, 15, 23, 25-37, 39, 38 41, 43, 54-59, 62, 63, 68, 69, 71, Supreme Court of Ohio (see Ohio 74, 75-80, 84, 85, 87, 88, 91, 96, State Supreme Court) 100-104, 109, 121, 132, 134, 140, Surveys and surveyors, 41, 42, 58 150, 151, 156, 157, 159-161, 168, Canton site, 66, 67, 72 172, 173, 184, 188, 190 Sutherland, Alexander, 148 and the embargo, 135 and the industrial revolution, Swedenborgians, 84 134, 135 Switzerland, 90

(238) Symmes, John Cleves, 18, 19, 39 Union Cemetery, Steubenville, Symmes Grant, 18-22, 39, 190 143, 180 Uniontown, Pa., 8 Taggart, John, 65 United States Bank, 186 Tammany Society (St.) 96 United States Hotel, Steubenville, 33 Tan-yards, 102 U. S. Land-Offices and Panic of Tappan, Benjamin, 104, 148, 168, 171 1818, 147 Tariff, 165, 170 U. S. Military Tract, 54, 61 Taverns, 102 Updegraff, Nathan, 43, 45, 47 Taxes, 58, 59, 85 Taylor, Thomas, 114 Vaccination, 118 Third Presbyterian Church, Steuben- Vallandigham, Rev. Clement, 91, 108 ville, 37 Vance, David, 27, 34, 35 Thomas, Alexander, 102 Vance's Fort, 31 Thomas Road, 77 Venice (Dayton), Ohio, 39 Thompson, Robert, 177 Vermont, 155 Thompson, Thomas, 65 Viers, Brice, 33 Thomson, Dr. Alfred C., 118 Vincennes, Ind., 44 Thornville, Ohio, 59 Vincents, Thomas, 139 Three percents for Ohio roads, Virginia and Virginians, 7-10, 20, 29, 97, 98, 135 37, 40, 44, 52, 53, 55, 75, 91, 109 Thwaites, Reuben G., Early Western Virginia Military Tract, 20, 21, 40, Travels,, 135, 136, 137 54, 190 Tiber River, Ohio, 39 Von Steuben, Baron, 188 Tiffin, Edward, 45-47, 50, 52, 54, 90, 96, 139 Waco, Stark County, Ohio, 65, 162 Timken, H. H., appendix v, Estate, Wadsworth, Elijah, 78 121 Wales, Arvine, 156-158, 163 Timken Vocational High School, Wales, Horatio, 153, 154, 158, Canton, 71, 82, 123, 133, 189, 163, 166 appendix v Foundation, appendix v Wallace, Ebenezer, 176 Timken, William R., appendix v Wallace, James, 176 Timken, W. Robert, appendix v Walter, Walter, 131 Tingley, William, 148 Walworth, John, 87 Todd, George, 171 War of 1812, 87, 121, 134, 145, 158, 176 Toffler, Peter, 115 Ward, John, 31, 35, 36, 139, 142 Tom the Tinker, 14 Wareham, David, 115, 126 Tories, The, 9 Warren, Ohio, 40, 56, 91, 132, 147 Toss, shepherd dog, 171 Warren County, Ohio, 58 Township surveys, numbering Warstler Reformed Church, plans, 22 near Canton, 83 Trowbridge Letters, 184 Washington, George (President), Trumbull, Ohio, 45, 48, 56, 63 2, 3, 8, 11, 14, 27, 29, 193 Trump, John, 128 Washington, Pa., 8, 15, 16, 17, 25 Turnpikes, 135, 148 Washington and Jefferson College. 31 Tuscarawas River, Ohio, 21, 58, 62, Washington County, Ohio, 25, 28, 63, 75, 83, 85, 92, 131, 156 45-47, 53, 54, 58 Washington Tuscarawas St., Canton, 71 County, Pa., 6, 10-15, 20, 21, 29, 35, 65, 82, 83, 90, 174, 178 Waterford, Columbiana County, Ulster Irishmen, 151 Ohio, 92

(239) Watkins, James, 167 Methodists, 109, 143 Watts, Rev. James, 83 mother, Leah Owings Wayne, navigation, 85-87 Mad Anthony, 21, 25, 39 ,new counties, 58 Webb, John, 115, 122, 123, 125 Ohio-Erie Canal, 151 Wellington, Duke of, 155 Ohio State Convention, 43, 45-55, Wells, Absalom, 13 59, 60, 191 partner Wells, Alexander, father of Bezaleel, of James Ross, 14, 15 personality, 16, 1, 6-8, 10-12, 14, 17, 18-20, 37, 188 188 politics, 191, 192 Wells, Alexander, son of B. Wells, real estate operations, 63-65, 88, 89, 180, 184 91, 100, 101, 103, 113, 137-139, Wells, Bert, 31 190, 191 Wells, Beza, son of B. Wells, 184 Steubenville, 15, 23-33, 41, 194 Wells, Bezaleel coal mines, 145 court American Revolution, 4 house, 142 Apple, 188 distillery, 145 appraisal of, 189 ferries, 140 Bank of Steubenville, first steamboat built in Steubenville, 144, 147, 148, named 178, 189, 190 Bazeleel Wells, 149 founding Birth, 1 of Steubenville, 60, 61, 68-82, 88, 138 Canton 102, 113, 127, 132, 189, 1,94 growth, 135, 136, 138 court house, 101, 103, 104, 105 market, 141 founding of, 60, 61, 68-76, 79-82, 88, 138 Negro whipping, 142 incorporation of and Presbyterians, 143 plat, 124 sawmill, 140 name of, 106 smoke house, 142 sales book, f. n. 108 Steubenville Charlestown, Water Co., 144 Va. (later W. Sheep raising Va.) 141 and wool industry, 112, 150, 153-157, 158-176, 178, churches, 182-184, 192 189 Columbiana County, 89, 91 Stark copperas County Farmer's Society, 171 industry, 177, 180 State Senator, 55 Cross Creek, 11 Surveyor, 11, 42, 192 daughter, Rebecca, 183, 184, 186 Turnpikes, 148, 149 death, 180 War of 1812, 193 debtor's prison, 180 Whigs, 151 Dickinson, William R., 116, 146, 150-153, 158, 193 Wells, Catherine M., 104, 105, early Ohio settlement, 17-20 144, 171 education, 3, 10, 181, 192 Wells, Charles, 17, 19 Episcopal Church, 109, 141, 192 Wells, Hellen, 7, 11 father, Alexander Wells, 1, 6-8, Wells, James, 7 10-12, 14, 17-20, 37, 188 free enterprise, 193 Wells, James Ross, son, 178 fulling mill, 11 Wells, Rebecca, daughter, 171, 178 Grove Manor (Mansion House, Wells, Richard, 7, 30, 31 Rectory), 32, 36, 135, 177, 178, Wells, Richard, Jr., 7, 11 181, 184, 192 Indian wars, 21 Wells, Sally (Griffith), wife of B. Wells, 104, 105, 177 Jefferson County, 34-36, 89, 91 Kenvon College, 185, 186, 192 Wells, Thomas, 7 liquidation of, 176-180 Wells, William, 34, 35 list of heirs in 1912, appendix v Wells Avenue, Canton, 133, 189 Madison, Wayne County, Ohio, B. Wells & Co., 168-170, 174-177 89-91, 92-95, 97, 99, 100, 191 Wells Creek, 150 marriage to Rebecca Risteau, 2, 16, 32; to Sally Griffith, 32 Wells High School, Steubenville, 189 Memorial to Congress in 1828, Wells Lake (now Meyers Lake), Can- 159, 160, 165, 175 ton, 113, 161, 168

(240) Wells Run, Steubenville, 25, 33 Williams, Samuel, tannery, Steuben- Wells, (Bezaleel) School, Canton, ville, 145 133, 189 Williamson, Col. David, 11 Wells Township, Jefferson County, Willis, Nathaniel, 48 Ohio, 23 Wills Creek, 56 Wellsburg (formerly Charlestown) W. Methodist circuit, 83, 108 Va., 11, 28, 135, 188 Wilson, George, 102 Wellsville, Ohio, 108 Wilson, Hans, 178 Wells's Mills, 11-14, 18, 28 Wilson, James, 151 Wells's settlement, Cross Creek, 17 Wilson, John, 141, 177 Welty's mill, 129 Wilson, Woodrow, 151 West, Rev. William, 2 Windsor, Ohio, 63 West Augusta, Pa., District of, 8, 9 Wise, Andrew, 128 West Creek of the Nimishillen, Can- Wise, Peter, 116 ton, 66, 67. Wolf hunts, 130 Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette, 151 Woods, Ann, 15, 20 Western Herald of Steubenville, Woods, George, 15 74, 80, 84, 87, 103, 139-142, 152 Woods, John, 15 Western Reserve, The, 36-41, 45, 54, Woolen manufactures (see under Can- 61-63, 68, 91, 108, 109 ton and Steubenville, and sheep Western Reserve Historical Library, raising) 140 Wooster, Ohio, 92, 94-99, 109, Western Spy and Miami Gazette, 140 147, 148 West Liberty, Ohio, 37 Worthington, Thomas, 32, 46, 47, 139 Westmoreland County, Pa., 8, 13, 65 Worthington, Ohio, 183, 184 West Union, Ohio, 56 Worthington Academy, 181, 184 Weyre, Rev. Anthony, 119 Wright, Jabez, 97 Wheeling, Va. (now W. Va.) 16, 18, Wright, John C., 148, 149, 171, 184 55-57, 149, 156, 157, 184 Wright, William, 104 Whetstone River (Olentangy) Ohio, 40 Yale College, 118 Whiggism, 151 Yerky home, 162 Whipple homestead, Canton, 162 Yohogania County, Va., 9, 10 Whipple Road (Street), Canton, 161 Youghiogheny Valley, Pa., 9, 11 Whisky Rebellion, 13, 14 Young, John, 40 White Eyes, Chief, 31, 32, 34 Y. M. C. A. building site, Canton, 102 Whittlesey, Elisha, 171 Young's, Frederick, tavern, 122 Wierton Steel Co., 32 Youngstown, Ohio, 37, 40, 63, 91, 95 Wilet, Samuel, 115 Yunt, Valentine, 65 Wiley, Joseph, 115 Zane, Ebenezer, 18, 45 William and Mary College, 3, 11 Zanesville, Ohio, 45, 56, 83, 109, 121, Williams, James, 117, 126 132, 135, 150

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