a new nation, 1776-1815
Organizing for Settlement: The Northwest Ordinance and the Refugee Tract
The Northwest Ordinance (1787) provided the basis for temporary governance and a path for statehood for territory acquired at the end of the Revolutionary War. After the passage of the Northwest Ordinance, the U.S. government began organizing the territory north and west of the Ohio River.
In 1801, Congress set aside the Refugee Tract in central Ohio to provide land compensation to residents of Nova Scotia who had supported the American Revolution. The boundaries in Columbus were the present-day streets of Fifth Avenue on the north and Refugee Road on the South.
Most of those entitled to land in the Refugee Tract sold their land to speculators; however, a few made the journey to settle in Ohio. Robert Taylor established Truro Township, named for his former home Truro, Nova Scotia. Judge Edward Livingston received land from his father, Colonel James Livingston, along Alum Creek. Frederick Sprague lived on a large farm near present-day Livingston Avenue and Brice Road, on land he received from his father, Joshua Sprague.
In 1801, Congress set aside the Refugee Tract in central Ohio to provide land compensation to residents of Nova Scotia who had supported the American Revolution. The boundaries in Columbus were the present-day streets of Fifth Avenue on the north and Refugee Road on the South.
Most of those entitled to land in the Refugee Tract sold their land to speculators; however, a few made the journey to settle in Ohio. Robert Taylor established Truro Township, named for his former home Truro, Nova Scotia. Judge Edward Livingston received land from his father, Colonel James Livingston, along Alum Creek. Frederick Sprague lived on a large farm near present-day Livingston Avenue and Brice Road, on land he received from his father, Joshua Sprague.
The Treaty of Greenville and the Founding of Franklinton
The Northwest Indian War (1785–1795) was a conflict for control of the Northwest Territory between the United States and a confederation of Native Americans. Following the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the Treaty of Greenville (1795) established the boundary line between Native American territory and lands open to white settlers in Ohio.
The northern one-third of the state was reserved for Native Americans; the remaining southern two-thirds of the state was open to white settlers. Most of the Virginia Military District was south of the Treaty line, making it open for white settlers.
Lucas Sullivant, surveyor of the Virginia Military District between the Scioto and Little Miami Rivers, made his first trip to the area around the forks of the Scioto in 1795. Sullivant received land tracts as payment for his work. In 1797, Sullivant established a village on the west bank of the Scioto and named it Franklinton, in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Sullivant offered free land on Gift Street to anyone willing to build a house in the new village.
The northern one-third of the state was reserved for Native Americans; the remaining southern two-thirds of the state was open to white settlers. Most of the Virginia Military District was south of the Treaty line, making it open for white settlers.
Lucas Sullivant, surveyor of the Virginia Military District between the Scioto and Little Miami Rivers, made his first trip to the area around the forks of the Scioto in 1795. Sullivant received land tracts as payment for his work. In 1797, Sullivant established a village on the west bank of the Scioto and named it Franklinton, in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Sullivant offered free land on Gift Street to anyone willing to build a house in the new village.
Ohio Statehood
President Thomas Jefferson signed the Enabling Act in 1802, authorizing the residents of Ohio to form a constitutional convention and to fulfill the other requirements of the Northwest Ordinance to become a state. Under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance, new states were to be admitted “into the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States.”
A state constitutional convention was held in Chillicothe, Ohio in that same year. The majority of the convention delegates favored the Democratic-Republican Party platform, which promoted a small government with limited powers. The Ohio Constitution of 1803 reflected Democratic-Republican ideals by limiting the power of the governor, who could not veto acts of the legislature. Although slavery was prohibited, African Americans were denied the right to vote in Ohio.
Ohio was admitted to the union as the seventeenth state in 1803, becoming the first state formed out of the Northwest Territory. Franklin County was formed out of Ross County.
A state constitutional convention was held in Chillicothe, Ohio in that same year. The majority of the convention delegates favored the Democratic-Republican Party platform, which promoted a small government with limited powers. The Ohio Constitution of 1803 reflected Democratic-Republican ideals by limiting the power of the governor, who could not veto acts of the legislature. Although slavery was prohibited, African Americans were denied the right to vote in Ohio.
Ohio was admitted to the union as the seventeenth state in 1803, becoming the first state formed out of the Northwest Territory. Franklin County was formed out of Ross County.
Worthington: A New England Town in Ohio
A group of proprietors from New England formed the Scioto Company in 1802. A year later, the company purchased 16,000 acres of land along the Olentangy River. One of those proprietors, James Kilbourne of Connecticut, founded Worthington in 1803.
Worthington was named for Thomas Worthington, a U.S. Senator and later Governor of Ohio, who was instrumental in securing statehood for Ohio. The town of Worthington was laid out according to a New England model with a grid pattern around a village green.
Traditional New England institutions were quickly established in Worthington. St. John's Church in Worthington became the first Episcopal Church in the Northwest Territory in 1804. Rev. Philander Chase, the Church's first rector, later founded Kenyon College. Chase's nephew, Salmon Chase, lived with his uncle in Worthington and later served as a Senator, Ohio Governor, Secretary of the Treasury, and Chief Justice of the United States. The Presbyterians began holding services in Worthington in 1805.
Worthington was named for Thomas Worthington, a U.S. Senator and later Governor of Ohio, who was instrumental in securing statehood for Ohio. The town of Worthington was laid out according to a New England model with a grid pattern around a village green.
Traditional New England institutions were quickly established in Worthington. St. John's Church in Worthington became the first Episcopal Church in the Northwest Territory in 1804. Rev. Philander Chase, the Church's first rector, later founded Kenyon College. Chase's nephew, Salmon Chase, lived with his uncle in Worthington and later served as a Senator, Ohio Governor, Secretary of the Treasury, and Chief Justice of the United States. The Presbyterians began holding services in Worthington in 1805.
Columbus: A Capital City
Chillicothe served as the temporary capital of Ohio until 1810 when the Ohio General Assembly moved the capital to Zanesville. The capital moved back to Chillicothe in 1812, while the legislature searched for a permanent location in the center of the state.
Lyne Starling, John Kerr, James Johnston, and Alexander McLaughlin offered the state legislature a tract of land across the Scioto River from Franklinton. The offer was accepted, and on February 14, 1812, the Ohio General Assembly selected the "high bank of the Scioto" as the permanent seat of Ohio government.
Columbus did not exist prior to this act of the General Assembly. The city was designed and platted to be the state capital. The new capital was named "Columbus" on February 21. The first lots were sold on June 18, the same day the War of 1812 began. The Ohio General Assembly met for the first time at Columbus in 1816, occupying the new Statehouse.
Lyne Starling, John Kerr, James Johnston, and Alexander McLaughlin offered the state legislature a tract of land across the Scioto River from Franklinton. The offer was accepted, and on February 14, 1812, the Ohio General Assembly selected the "high bank of the Scioto" as the permanent seat of Ohio government.
Columbus did not exist prior to this act of the General Assembly. The city was designed and platted to be the state capital. The new capital was named "Columbus" on February 21. The first lots were sold on June 18, the same day the War of 1812 began. The Ohio General Assembly met for the first time at Columbus in 1816, occupying the new Statehouse.
Franklinton in the War of 1812
In the first two months of the War of 1812, British forces and their Native American allies took Fort Mackinac and Detroit. Franklinton became a staging point for soldiers heading north and west to fight the British. The 3rd Ohio Volunteer Regiment, which assembled in Franklinton, was part of the group defeated at Detroit. Dr. Lincoln Goodale, a Franklinton physician, was one of the first to enlist, serving as the regiment surgeon.
Fearing attacks from Native Americans, Franklinton residents fortified the village's brick courthouse, and dug a defensive ditch around it. General William Henry Harrison came to Franklinton in October of 1812 in search of men and supplies to build his army. He stayed in several places while in town, one of which may have been the Overdier House on W. Broad Street. In 1813, Harrison negotiated a treaty in Franklinton with Native Americans who agreed not fight against the United States in the War of 1812. During the war, captured British soldiers were taken to the Franklinton-Columbus area where they were imprisoned on an island in the middle of the Scioto River.
Fearing attacks from Native Americans, Franklinton residents fortified the village's brick courthouse, and dug a defensive ditch around it. General William Henry Harrison came to Franklinton in October of 1812 in search of men and supplies to build his army. He stayed in several places while in town, one of which may have been the Overdier House on W. Broad Street. In 1813, Harrison negotiated a treaty in Franklinton with Native Americans who agreed not fight against the United States in the War of 1812. During the war, captured British soldiers were taken to the Franklinton-Columbus area where they were imprisoned on an island in the middle of the Scioto River.
