OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 96B ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 August 30, 2006 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid-Bits - Part 96 B by Darlene E. Kelley notes by S. Kelly Holley's Journal ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-Bits - Part 96 B. Holleys Journal ( Con't ) July 16th -- On Saturday morning a party of five, ordered by Mr. Porter, came up. The woods being wet, in consequence of the rain the evening before, we delayed starting till after noon. From this place two men with one pack horse, returned to creek Independence, for provision. We proceeded on our way with five horses. Land to the end of the forty-third mile is composed of rises and descends, the whole generally descends to the south west. The soil rich, timbered with black and white oak, chestnut and black walnut, undergrowth of the same hung together with grape vines. There are three fine springs on this mile. At the last end of the forty-fourth mile we crossed a large smooth stream ( Shenango ) one chain and twenty-five links wide, course east, stony bottem, banks tolerably high, as far as we could see it was good boating; we waded the stream, it was about two and a half feet deep, but an uncommon dry time. Forty-fifth mile, land rises and descends. Timber, oak and hickory; soil good for grain. On the forty-sixth mile near a run, course east, we encamped for the night. Sunday, July 17th -- Continued on; the land level, and good timber, maple, oak, beech and ironwood. Forty-seventh mile, the first part level, the last part very steep ridges; timbered with oak, the soil poor. The forty-eighth mile more gentle rises, land better, pretty well watered. Forty-ninth mile is very abrupt ridges, stony and poor land, oak timber, and whintleberries. To the end of the fifty-second mile land very much as last dscribed. On the fifty-second mile the land descends to the east, and we overlook several large ridges; on this also, there were large stones which appear like grindstones. On the fifty-third mile we crossed a large creek or river about two chains and fifty links wide; bottom gravelly, current brisk; abounds with fish, course south west. We waded this and found the depth at this dry season to be more than waist high. We supposed this to be the same stream we crossed on the forty-fourth mile, with the addition of all others that we passed. On this creek is good bottom land timbered with red elm, cherry, crab apple trees, plumb and thron bush. This has been a wet uncomfortable day. In the morning when we started from our encampment three of our men were looking for the horses that strayed. Monday, July 18th -- In the morning. Our horses have not yet come. Its beginning to rain and we concluded not to leave our encampment. Tuesday, July 19th -- We confirmed our line south. About one hundred rods from the camp we crossed the river again, where it appears navigable for boats. About twelve rods from the river we crossed a creek four rods wide, gravel bottom. Mr. Porter went about one half mile up this and found course to be east and west running east. We soon rose high land, timbered to the end of the fifty-sixth mile, the land is simular-rises and descends; timber oak, some maple and beech, well watered, soil in many places good. On the fifty-seventh mile is some interval on a creek twenty-five links wide. rest of land ridgy and stony. To the end of the sixty-second mile descends to the south, gradually. Encamped on this mile. From the rain yesterday and a shower this morning, we have been wet and uncomfortable all day. Wednesday, July 20th -- Land on sixty-second mile, low and moist. Land on Sixty-third mile is excellent and handsome, rises and descends. Sixty-fourth mile, for seventy chains, descends gently to the south, thinly timbered with white and black oak, undergrowth same kind, and grapevines; at seventy-two chains, to an Indian path east and west, we descend on a good intervale. On the sixty-sixth mile we encamped, at five chains, on the north side of a river. This we find to be Big Beaver River ( Mahoning ). The course is east, current gentle but brisk, gravel bottom and low banks. It is about four feet deep; we measured across by trigonometry and found it to be about fifteen rods wide. After we came away, Landon told us he saw two men in a canoe on the opposite shore, and called to them to him. They told him they had been at work there ( about fifty rods down the river, on the Pennsylvania side.) three years; that the salt springs were about eighteen mile up the river, and they were then going there to make salt; they had not got their families on yet, but should ere long; that about twelve miles below the line, on Big Beaver River, there was an excellent sets of mills, and about twenty-five miles below the line, there was a town building rapidly, where every provisions of every kind could be procured, and from thence carried by water up the Big Beaver into the heart of the Connecticut Reserve. There are no falls to the source; and it is but sixty miles from the line down to Pittsburgh. Below the town, and above Pittsburgh, there are falls and a carrying place of two miles. The Big River falls into the Allegheny twenty-five miles below Pennsylvania line. The stream we crossed before is the Little Beaver, and joins with the others. This information we did not get till we had got three miles south of the river, else we should have sent down to the mills. On the forty-second mile, where we encamped , we heard an ox bell and a smaller one off to our right hand, and several of our men went in search of it, supposing their might be inhabitants, but as they descended the hill they lst the sound, and returned without discovering anything, but our conjectures proved true, the men told Landon that there was a family living there on the Little Beaver. Thurday afternoon we arrived at the corner, and prepared to make an observation of the polar star for the variation of compass. The next day Mr. Porter and Pease fixed the quadrant for an observation of the sun at noon. The day was fair and their observation was good. In the evening we again took the variation by the star, and Mr. Pease observed several of the stars for latitude. After comparing observations they make the latitude to be forty-one degrees twenty seconds north. We set a large square oak post, on which is July 23rd, 1796, north side. Saturday July 23rd -- Mr. Warren, with a party of thirteen, arrived last evening. Saturday afternoon Mr. Porter went down to the corner, and set a chestnut post, sixteen inches by twelve, on the south side in latitude forty-one degrees north, variation one minute twenty-one seconds east, west side is south-east corner New Connecticut - July 23rd, 1796, on north side, sixty-eight miles Lake Erie; east side, Pennsylvania. Sunday morning, July 24th, 1796 -- I took nine days' provisions and five hands, and am to start as soon as possible with a line for the Lake shore. This morning Mr. Porter, Stoddard and Landon, set out to go down the Big Beaver in search of provisions; took with them two days' allowance for three hands. Thus after they had distributed themselves along te base line, Holley ran up the first range line, Spafford the second, Warren the third, and Pease and Porter the fourth. The compasses did not work together. Some of their meridian lines converged, while others diverged, causing a variation of half a mile before reaching the Lake. When the cross lines were run, those differences were found very material. The early surveys of the Government of the United States were conducted in the same manner, but it was soon found necessary, in using an instrument subject to so many fluctuations as the ordinary compass, to make a correction of each township line before proceeding to the next. This is done by running a random line across the north end of each township and correcting back. By the system employed on the Western Reserve, the townships were not equal in quanity. +++++++++++++++++++++ Fresh Powers Given to the Agent And Surveyors. Hartford, Connecticut August 26, 1796. Moses Cleaveland, Esq.; Sir; The Board of Directors think it is advisable, expecting the measure will be approved by the Company at their next meeting in October, to request that you, Mr. Sorrow, Mr. Porter and the four other surveyors, will consider yourselves a committee to divide the lands in the Western Reserve, according to the mode of partition determined upon by the Company in April. And to effect this you will perhaps judge it expedient, to postpone surveying any of the lots in the six towships for the present, however, this must be left for you to decide upon. In case the surveys can be completed so far this summer, as that partition can be made according to the mode pointed out, it is the particular wish of the Directors. that this be done in preference to anything else. If partition can be made in the course of the ensuing winter, it will essentially forward the settlement of lands, and be of very considerable advantage to the proprietors. If you are of opinion that this object can be accomplished, it will be necessary to obtain information in regard to the quality of the lands in the different townships. This mode of partition agreed to by the Company in April, will determine you what steps are necessary to be taken in this business. The mode of partition and the articles of agreement entered into with Gen. Hull, so far as they relate to the excess, must be particularly attended to. And unless the lines of the whole territory can be run, so as to ascertain the quantity of the excess, no partition at present can be made. This we conceive may be done, by running a line from the north-east boundary upon Lake Erie, to the river Cuyahoga, and from thence taking a traverse, and continuing the line upon the lake to the north-west boundary, making one hundred and twenty miles. In respect to the five townships, which the Directors were authorized to sell by the constitution, so many of them as remain unsold, we believe would be well for you to dispose of the best advantage, having particular regard to actual settlement being made, and the greater number of actual settlers the more for the interests of the Company. And in respect to the township in which by the constitution the first settlements are to be made, and which was to be surveyed into small lots, and those lots sold and disposed of to actual settlers only, we are of the opinion that the sales made to anyone settler, ought not to exceed one hundred and fifty or two hundred acres; and that not more than one half of the township be disposed of at present. And in case of your making sales of any said lots, to sell only to actual settlers. These communications are not intended to interfere with any engagements which you or Mr. Porter may have made prior to the reception of this letter. The knowledge which you, and the surveyors have obtained of the Western Reserve, will enable you much more readily to equalize the townships, than any other person. If a committee were to go on to the territory next spring, it would take the whole summer for them to obtain the information you are possessed of in respect to the land, and would, at the same time, occasion one year's delay in settlement, use and sale of them. Should the capital town, viz; the town ordered by the Constitution to be surveyed this season, it could be done early next spring. The principal object of attention at present seems to be, to make partition of the Reserve as soon as possible. If equalizing the townships cannot be done this season, it will take most of next summer to effect it, and at a very considerable expense. Of course, none of the lands will be sold, and those persons, who are now so engaged to puchase and settle in the Reserve, will look out for settlements elsewhere, which will probably depreciate the value of the lands. In the mode of partition it is ordered that four townships, be surveyed into lots of one hundred to a township, & etc. This can be dispensed with this year, and a division of the rest be made. These four townships can be surveyed into lots next spring, and a division than take place consistent with the mode of division. Please write us on the subject of this letter, as soon as you can with convenience. We are, sir, with sentiments of esteem, Yours, Oliver Phelps, Henry Champion, 2D Roger Newberry. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits - Continued in Part 96 C