THE HISTORICAL TIMES NEWSLETTER OF THE GRANVILLE, OHIO, HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Volume I Number 1 October 1987
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 What were these lands about which the early Congress was con- cerned: The end of the Revolu - ionary War in 1783 found the --Text of remarks delivered to the colonies, by then loosely linked Granville Historical Society on through the Articles of Confedera - April 9, 1987. ation, as the owners of the vast territory which now comprises Ohio, I have been asked to say a few Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and words about the Northwest Ordinance Wisconsin. Under their royal of 1787 this evening. Even during - charters, a number of the colonies celebrations of their bicenten had had conflicting and overlapping nials, ordinances, whether village, claims to these lands. The Articles or Northwest, do not enjoy a very of Confederation,which were adopted good reputation as exciting topics by the Continental Congress in for speeches, even to historical 1777, were not ratified and put societies. But hopefully, by into effect for four years, until placing the Northwest Ordinance, 1781, because of this very which is a political document, into question; Maryland, which had no the context of the physical western claims, refused to ratify development of the Northwest Terri- the Articles until all the other tory through the various land laws, states had conceded their claims to and by looking at some of the the lands North of the Ohio River - specific developments which fol to the Confederation. (With the lowed its enactment, the pivotal only exceptions being here in Ohio importance of this very far-sighted - as we will see later.) document can be better appreciated. Congress now had to deal with the question which had perplexed Note from the editors: the English government before the Revolution: How to control the Communication is important inevitable expansion of the white to all of us. That s what we are population into these lands then attempting to do. We hope you will thinly populated, but popu- enjoy this, our very first volume lated none-the-less, by Indians. of The Historical Times. We plan The English solution, or at least to have interesting articles for you the temporary solution, had been a to read, news from the Board of purely political one, the Proclama - Management and many other items. tion of 1763, forbidding settlement We welcome your suggestions. beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Wish us luck! This solution had proven to be pro- Flo Hoffman vocative to the colonists and very Tony Lisska unpopular, and was not one that Mary Ann Malcuit Congress considered. Congress groped for a solution which would make this expansion orderly and states (and Jefferson even proposed productive for the fledgling names for them, most of which like - nation. Pelisipia, Polypotamia and Assen isipia have not survived; but some As early as 1780, anticipating of which, like Michigania and the land concessions and the Illinoia have) and provided for the successful conclusion of the organization of their governments. Revolution which was still three More striking was Jefferson s sug- years away, the Continental gestion that no slavery be allowed, Congress had passed a resolution an idea not adopted by the Congress that anticipated the settlement of when the Ordinance was approved. the area beyond the mountains and that introduced a radically new The next year, 1785, saw - idea concerning its political Congress dealing not with the poli organization. The resolution tical organization of the Northwest stated that: but with its physical organization. Another Jefferson committee, this " The unappropriated lands may be one on land disposal, proposed the ceded or relinquished to the United Land Ordinance of 1785. It pro- States ... shall be settled and vided for the rectangular survey of formed into distinct Republican the public lands into townships 6 states, which shall become members miles square, each to consist of 36 of the Federal Union, and shall sections of 640 acres each, one of have the same rights of sovereign - which sections was reserved for the ty, freedom and independence as the support of public schools. Lands other states. " were to be sold, not given away, at land offices to be established in Thus, the seed was planted for the territory. This ordinance gave one of the key elements, and, in the young country two important 1787, totally unique elements of principles - first the system of the Northwest Ordinance, the idea orderly survey of the new lands, a - that new territories would not system that, with minor varia exist as inferior colonies of the tions, spanned the continent. mother country, but would have Second, it established that public a right to equality of status and lands were to be sold (although the treatment with the existing states. rather steep initial price of one This principle underlay the entire dollar per acre for 640 acres subsequent development of the minimum was more than most private continental United States. farmers could pay, so private land companies - like the Licking Com- Congress next dealt with the pany which founded Granville, came land question in 1784, shortly to the fore). This approach of after the relinquishment of state selling the public lands, even claims, by passing the Ordinance of though the prices varied consid- 1784, which was in many ways the erably over the years, remained precursor of the Northwest Ordin- in effect until the enactment of ance. This Ordinance of 1784, the Homestead Act in 1862. passed by Congress but never put into effect, was originally drafted So that brings us to the by none other than Thomas Northwest Ordinance itself, passed Jefferson, who can thus be said to on July 13 of 1787. Drawing on have had a very strong, if in- Jefferson s Ordinance of 1784 it direct, influence on the Northwest established the means for a grad- Ordinance which followed three uated system of governments leading years later. Jefferson s ordinance to statehood. The territory was of 1784 provided for the division first ruled by a governor appointed of the area into up to ten new by Congress. When there were 5,000
2 free male inhabitants of voting was struck down as unconstitutional age, a territorial legislature in the Used Scott decision. One could be formed, and a non-voting other interesting assurance was representative sent to Congress. given to generations unborn: the When a territory reached 60,000 very first words of the Ordinance free inhabitants (not limited to assured that the property of a males) it was to be formed into a person dying without a will passed state and could petition to be equally to all his children, admitted to the Confederacy (and rejecting the key foundation of later the Union), " on an equal landed wealth in Britain, the footing with the original states, descent of entire estates to the in all respects whatever " . The eldest son. number 60,000 represented the then population of the smallest state, How did Ohio evolve under this Delaware, thus assuring that the system? The map shows the original new states could not obtain equal land divisions. Two states did not representation without population cede all their lands to the minimally comparable to the exist- national government. Virginia kept ing states. The residents of Ohio, back the area between the Scioto in 1803, were the first citizens of and Little Miami Rivers to pay off the Northwest Territory to avail the overdue salaries of her revolu - themselves of this remarkable tionary soldiers. These Virginia extention of political opportunity. Military Lands, just over four million acres, are labeled as #5. In order that all inhabitants Among those Virginia soldiers of the new territory should be receiving a grant was George secure in knowing that as their new Washington, who received 3,051 areas evolved toward full statehood acres in Clermont County. they held certain basic rights, the Northwest Ordinance also contained Washington s one time aide, what were called Articles of Benedict Arnold, also played a part Compact between ... "the Original in these early land divisions. States and the people and states in said territory " . These articles - Connecticut retained its display in many important respects western claims - the Western the values incorporated four years Reserve, originally #6 and #7 on later on the first ten amendments the map. Late in the Revolutionary to the Constitution, the Bill of War Arnold, who had been rewarded Rights. for his betrayal of the American cause with a commission as a This Compact provided for free Brigadier General in the British exercise of religion, the right to Army, led a raid in Southern writs of habeus corpus, the right Connecticut. Much property was put to trial by jury, and the right to to the torch. Area #7 represents proportionate representation in the the part of the Western Reserve legislature. Schools were to be known as the Fire Lands, lands encouraged, and perhaps most pro - given as compen- sation to the phetically as the issue which the people who suffered losses in Constitution of 1787 could never Arnold s Connecticut raid. accommodate, slavery was forbidden. This also was a radical step at a Licking County is in the areas time when slavery, even if not numbered #9 and #12. Area #9 is widely practiced, was recog- the U.S. Military Lands - lands nized in almost all the states, awarded by Congress to Revolu- North and South. This latter pro- tionary War Veterans. These lands vision, interestingly, was to were laid out in 5 mile square remain in effect until 1857 when it townships, rather than six mile
3 square townships as indicated in Area #12 is the so-called the Ordinance of 1785, because they Refugee Tract. Included in it is all that part of Licking County accommodated the minimum grant to - Revolutionary soldiers of 100 lying south of Refugee Road. Cer acres. Most were sold in quarter tain British subjects in Canada township blocks of 4,000 acres had been helpful to the American assembled by speculators who bought colonists during the Revolution. up the rights of veterans. The Just as the Loyalists were made Licking Company bought the North- unwelcome in the colonies after the west, Southwest and Southeast war, these persons were driven from Quarters of Granville Township from Canada and settled in the new such speculators in New York, the United States. After much delay, Northeast having been purchased until 1798 in fact, Congress earlier by the Welsh settlers, as awarded a total of 50,000 acres to well as quarters in several other 67 of such claimants. townships.
4 Among the other areas of note Colony boundaries include what was are #2 and #3, the lands of the to be the connection of East Maple original Ohio Company, and #16, the Street to Main and the next so-called Twelve Mile Square building lot to the North. Reservation. The Ohio Company was founded in Massachusetts in 1787 e. A town spring was reserved and originally contracted to pur- behind the house built by Elias chase 1,500,000 acres, although Gilman in 1808 at the northwest slightly less than a million were corner of Mulberry and College ultimately paid for. The Ohio Streets, now the Theta House. Company centered its efforts in Until a few years ago a picket Marietta. The Twelve Mile Square fence surrounded the old spring, Reservation #16, surrounded the but it is now gone. British Ft. Miami, one of the posts in the Northwest territory which Just as the division of the the English refused to vacate after whole northwest had been undertaken the Revolution. The British garri- with great forethought, the Licking son remained until the conclusion Company gave a good deal of thought of the Jay Treaty in 1795 - only 8 to the division of their property. years before Ohio statehood. Lands They purchased 7 quarter townships were set aside for people who had all told - 28,000 acres, to be settled near the fort, and Congress divided into 100 acre farms. provided for the division of the Therefore, they divided the village remaining land in 1805. Area #10 into 288 lots - and each member got represents the French Grant, 24,000 one town lot to go with each 100 acres in Scioto County granted by acre farm purchased. The survey of Congress to a group of French sett- the village was, on a purely local lers who had been swindled by scale, as farsighted as the North- speculators. west Ordinance was nationally. We have been allowed to enjoy broad And how did the land division streets and the houses of worship work out here in Granville? Suf- clustered around the central fice it to say that provision was intersection of the village for made for a number of important over 180 years. Was the Northwest things: Ordinance perfect? Probably not. Nor were the early surveys of a. 100 acres were set aside Granville. Modern survey instru- for support of the churches, with ments have shown that the original the income to be divided in the plat - laid out we must recall in a same proportions as members of dif- virgin forest, is off by a few feet ferent churches paid states taxes. in every village block. Modern villagers would do better to accept b. 100 acres were set aside historical boundaries - fences and for support of the schools. bushes, then to look too closely at survey evidence. c. 4 acres, possibly for a quarry, were set aside on Stone But even if the surveys are Hill - now Sugarloaf - and remain off a few feet here and there, let in public ownership. us recall on this occasion that we are privileged to live in a mature d. Ground was provided for a community which could only have burying ground - Old Colony - been planted because of the orderly although it must have early on planning embodied in the Northwest proved to be too small or ill Ordinance - which went a long way suited on its original site, the toward making this area open to and southern half of the present attractive to settlement. cemetery, because the present Old - Robert N. Drake
5 History of Granville Re-Issued
On p. 3 of Prof. W. T. Utter s book Granville, the Story of an Ohio Village there is a sentence which all who knew the inimitable professor-author should read first thing the book is at hand. Prof. Utter is writing of the fact that just south of Granville the Lan- caster Road crosses the 40-degree N. parallel of latitude. Here are his words: "In our latitude each minute is equal to 6071.3 feet, William T. Utter. which means that if one walked due south from the depot a bit more than 4.4 miles he could stand astride the tinguishing the new from the old. Fortieth Parallel (and much good Even the dust jacket has been might it do him)." It is that exactly reproduced; all of the black parenthetical expression that is the and white drawings and the half-tone consumate "utterism." The thousands, photos retain or better their and it was thousands, of Denisonians original clarity. who sat in Bill " Tecumseh " Utter s class from 1929 until 1962 will The writer of this piece is remember their own favorite "utter- acutely aware that newer residents isms" spoken softly with a slight of Granville have been denied the drawl which betrayed his Missouri privilege of knowing Professor Utter 1 birth and upbringing--the unexpected and may not fully understand this asides which added so much savor to writer s enthusiasm for the his lectures especially those on reappearance of this volume which American Frontier history. And tells so absorbingly the exceptional Granville residents of the decades story of our truly unique village. of the 30 s, 40 s, 50 s will As Prof. Utter says in the first remember pleasant and interesting sentence of the foreword, "the encounters with this most unusual village will always be the central man who epitomized all that is best character in this book. The village about the long enduring Town and remains and the people pass through Gown relationship. it, pausing for an allotted time. " We all have our " allotted time " in The good news announced the Granville and the "village remains." last weekend in May is that Utter s Once again the story of the village, Granville, the Story of an Ohio extraordinarily well-told by a Village is once more available. master story teller, is available. With the permission of Mrs. Alma I hesitate not a bit to highly rec- Lucas Utter and William L. Utter, commend the book to all Granvillians widow and son of the author, the especially the younger ones for whom Granville Historical Society it may be unfamiliar. Read about arranged for the publication of a "the Great Riot, "Four Churches and facsimile edition of the book; a a Schism" , " Postwar Apathy " ; " Behavior copy of the original edition of 1956 and Misbehavior " , " One Village-Five has been virtually unobtainable for Schools" and much, much more. more than twenty years. The Historical Society is delighted with The book may be purchased for the physical appearance of the $10.00 at any one of the village facsimile; those familiar with the museums. original will have difficulty dis - - Richard H. Mahard
6 How it came about--- expressed delight that " Utter " was once more available. Richard and Marian Mahard arranged to travel to Shortly after the reorganiza- Oxford on May 30 and had the privi- tion of the Granville Historical lege of presenting Mrs. Utter with - Society in 1982, under the presi four copies of the facsimile dency of Robert Drake, the Board of edition, one for her, her son, and Management of the Society decided two grandchildren. Mrs. Utter was that a worthy project would be the delighted with the appearance of reprinting of Professor William the book and was deeply moved to Utter s definitive history of receive it. She expressed her and Granville entitled Granville, The her son s very deep appreciation to Story of an Ohio Village. However, the Granville Historical Society for other ventures including physical making possible a new life for a 30- improvements of the Society s two year old best seller. buildings, intervened and it was not until 1985 that the decision could - Richard H. Mahard be reached to assign the Utter re- printing project the highest priority. Museum News Mrs. Alma Lucas Utter and her son William L. Utter were contacted Since the museum opened for in their current hometown of Oxford, the season in April, 1276 visitors Ohio and immediately gave their have signed the log. There have enthusiastic approval to the been 99 from states other than Ohio project. They expressed the wish, and 10 from foreign countries; this however, that the original edition year from Canada, England, el" of the book, including the dust Scotland, France, Italy, South jacket should be reproduced exactly Africa and Japan. as originally issued in 1956. This wish matched the desire of the Board The museum is open mid-April and the search for a printer began. to mid-October on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and by Several bids and estimates were special arrangement at other times. obtained and it was apparent that Edwards Brothers of Ann Arbor, Don't Forget-- Michigan was the best choice. Modern technology enables almost The annual dinner of the perfect duplication of printed Society on November 10, at the Old material but photographs constitute Academy Building. The Historian a problem. Edwards asked for as of the Year will be named. many of the original photos as possible. Fortunately, Flo Hoffman, Archivist of the Granville Historical Society Historical Society, was able to Granville locate the material and it was sent Board of Management to Ann Arbor. All schedules were met by the printer and on May 29, President: Fanchion Lewis 1987 a small truck load of books, V. President: Richard Boyer 1000 copies plus a substantial over- Treasurer: Carl Frazier run, arrived in Granville. Secretary: Richard Mahard
We were pleased that the first Curtis " Bud " Abbott, Mary Anderson, two weekends the book was available Florence Hoffman, John Innis, were Denison Commencement and Alumni Anthony Lisska, Mary Ann Malcuit, Weekend, consequently sales of the John Nairn, Harold " Buck " Sargent, book were brisk and many purchasers Richard Shiels From the Archives---
The Opera House decorated for the Granville centennial celebration in 1905.