colonization to independence, beginnings-1776
Mound Builders in Early Central Ohio
The ancient Mound Builder cultures were the earliest groups to settle in the central Ohio region. Used for burial and ceremonial purposes, the first mounds appeared in Ohio about 2,500-3,000 years ago.
Beginning around 1000-800 B.C., The Adenas occupied most of the southern two-thirds of Ohio. Thousands of cone-shaped Adena burial mounds were built across Ohio. Hundreds of these mounds are visible today. Shrum Mound on McKinley Avenue stands 20 feet tall with a diameter of 100 feet, and is one of the last remaining mounds in the Columbus area. The Adena disappeared between A.D. 100-300 for unknown reasons.
The Hopewell (100 B.C. to A.D. 500) built elaborate geometric earthworks near present-day Newark and Circleville in central Ohio. The precision of these earthworks suggests the Hopewell had surveying skills. A large portion of the Hopewell earthworks in Newark are preserved today. Jeffers Mound in Worthington was probably built between 100 B.C. and A.D. 400 by the Hopewell people.
Beginning around 1000-800 B.C., The Adenas occupied most of the southern two-thirds of Ohio. Thousands of cone-shaped Adena burial mounds were built across Ohio. Hundreds of these mounds are visible today. Shrum Mound on McKinley Avenue stands 20 feet tall with a diameter of 100 feet, and is one of the last remaining mounds in the Columbus area. The Adena disappeared between A.D. 100-300 for unknown reasons.
The Hopewell (100 B.C. to A.D. 500) built elaborate geometric earthworks near present-day Newark and Circleville in central Ohio. The precision of these earthworks suggests the Hopewell had surveying skills. A large portion of the Hopewell earthworks in Newark are preserved today. Jeffers Mound in Worthington was probably built between 100 B.C. and A.D. 400 by the Hopewell people.
Native Americans in Central Ohio, 17th and 18th Centuries
The Iroquois Confederacy, composed of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca nations, dominated the Ohio country in the late 1600s and early 1700s. The Iroquois came primarily to trap and hunt beaver and deer, and it is likely that only several hundred of them lived in Ohio at any one time. They eventually returned to their home in New York.
In the mid-1700s, Mingo, Wyandot, Delaware and Shawnee Native Americans settled along the Scioto Trail in central Ohio. The Mingo, composed primarily of Senecas who did not return to New York, settled around the forks of the Scioto River. The Wyandot settled immediately north, and the Delaware further north of the forks. The Shawnee settled south of the forks.
One of the most important trails in the Old Northwest, the Scioto Trail extended from the mouth of the Scioto River at Portsmouth to the Sandusky Bay. The trail ran along the Scioto River, the Little Scioto River, and the Sandusky River.
In the mid-1700s, Mingo, Wyandot, Delaware and Shawnee Native Americans settled along the Scioto Trail in central Ohio. The Mingo, composed primarily of Senecas who did not return to New York, settled around the forks of the Scioto River. The Wyandot settled immediately north, and the Delaware further north of the forks. The Shawnee settled south of the forks.
One of the most important trails in the Old Northwest, the Scioto Trail extended from the mouth of the Scioto River at Portsmouth to the Sandusky Bay. The trail ran along the Scioto River, the Little Scioto River, and the Sandusky River.
French and British Claims in the Ohio Country
In 1669-1670, French explorer Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle became the first European to reach the Ohio River. His explorations expanded the fur trade and helped to consolidate French claims.
Following King George's War (1744-1748), both Britain and France claimed ownership of the Ohio country. In 1749, Celeron de Blainville led an expedition into the Ohio country to claim territory for France and drive British traders out of the region. Along the way, he planted at least six lead plates several feet deep in the earth to mark French claims on the land, a practice that began in the Middle Ages as a common way to show land ownership.
In 1750-1751 Christopher Gist, a surveyor and frontiersman, provided the first description of the Ohio country for the British colonies in North America. A neighbor of Daniel Boone in North Carolina, Gist explored the Ohio country for the Ohio Company of Virginia. Gist described the land of central Ohio as a place where "nothing is wanted but cultivation to make this a most delightful country." He gave the name "Buffalo Swamp" to a shallow, swampy pond on the present-day site of Buckeye Lake. At the beginning of the French and Indian War, Gist returned to the Ohio country with George Washington to challenge French presence on the Allegheny.
Following King George's War (1744-1748), both Britain and France claimed ownership of the Ohio country. In 1749, Celeron de Blainville led an expedition into the Ohio country to claim territory for France and drive British traders out of the region. Along the way, he planted at least six lead plates several feet deep in the earth to mark French claims on the land, a practice that began in the Middle Ages as a common way to show land ownership.
In 1750-1751 Christopher Gist, a surveyor and frontiersman, provided the first description of the Ohio country for the British colonies in North America. A neighbor of Daniel Boone in North Carolina, Gist explored the Ohio country for the Ohio Company of Virginia. Gist described the land of central Ohio as a place where "nothing is wanted but cultivation to make this a most delightful country." He gave the name "Buffalo Swamp" to a shallow, swampy pond on the present-day site of Buckeye Lake. At the beginning of the French and Indian War, Gist returned to the Ohio country with George Washington to challenge French presence on the Allegheny.
French and Indian War and Pontiac's Rebellion
From 1754-1763, Great Britain and France clashed over control of the Ohio country in the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years War in Europe). The war began with a dispute over control of the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, called the Forks of the Ohio, and the site of the French Fort Duquesne in present-day Pittsburgh.
Most Native Americans in Ohio supported their French trading partners. In the Treaty of Paris (1763), the British gained control over French claims in the Ohio country. Many Native Americans were concerned about the loss of their French allies, and feared further invasion by the British. The British treated the Native Americans in Ohio as a conquered people.
Chief Pontiac unified Native Americans in an attack against British forts in 1763. Eight forts were destroyed, and hundreds of British colonists were killed or captured. In a battle at a trading post at the forks of the Scioto River, Matthew McCrea, a Pennsylvania trader, became the first person whose name we know to die on the site that later became Columbus. Pontiac's Rebellion did not drive away the British, but the rebellion led the British government to modify its policies.
Most Native Americans in Ohio supported their French trading partners. In the Treaty of Paris (1763), the British gained control over French claims in the Ohio country. Many Native Americans were concerned about the loss of their French allies, and feared further invasion by the British. The British treated the Native Americans in Ohio as a conquered people.
Chief Pontiac unified Native Americans in an attack against British forts in 1763. Eight forts were destroyed, and hundreds of British colonists were killed or captured. In a battle at a trading post at the forks of the Scioto River, Matthew McCrea, a Pennsylvania trader, became the first person whose name we know to die on the site that later became Columbus. Pontiac's Rebellion did not drive away the British, but the rebellion led the British government to modify its policies.
Lord Dunmore's War
In 1768, the Iroquois signed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, and agreed to give up all of lands east and south of the Ohio River to Britain. However, most Native Americans in Ohio, including the Delaware, the Mingo, and Shawnee, did not surrender their land.
By 1774, violent encounters had taken place between Native Americans and colonial settlers along the Ohio River. In May of 1774, a group of colonists killed at least twelve Mingo, including the mother and sister of Chief Logan. Although Logan had previously maintained friendly relations with whites in the Ohio country, he led raids against colonial settlements in response to the murders.
Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Virginia, responded by taking an army into Ohio in what became known as Lord Dunmore's War. While encamped near modern-day Circleville, Dunmore sent a group of men, led by Colonel William Craword, to attack Mingo camps at the forks of the Scioto River in present-day Columbus. At least six Mingo were killed and fourteen were taken prisoner. In his official report, Colonel Crawford states that he destroyed two Mingo villages.
By 1774, violent encounters had taken place between Native Americans and colonial settlers along the Ohio River. In May of 1774, a group of colonists killed at least twelve Mingo, including the mother and sister of Chief Logan. Although Logan had previously maintained friendly relations with whites in the Ohio country, he led raids against colonial settlements in response to the murders.
Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Virginia, responded by taking an army into Ohio in what became known as Lord Dunmore's War. While encamped near modern-day Circleville, Dunmore sent a group of men, led by Colonel William Craword, to attack Mingo camps at the forks of the Scioto River in present-day Columbus. At least six Mingo were killed and fourteen were taken prisoner. In his official report, Colonel Crawford states that he destroyed two Mingo villages.
The American Revolution
The roots of the American Revolution began in 1763 when Britain began to tighten its grip on the American colonies following the French and Indian War. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachians, including the Ohio country. This policy angered the colonists as did the arrival of British troops.
The most serious breakdown in British and colonial relations resulted from Britain's effort to raise money to support the empire. The Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Act, and the Coercive Acts further fueled colonial resentment, and ultimately led to the War for American Independence.
Control of the Ohio country was critical as Americans and the British fought to gain Native American support. While many Native Americans initially hoped to remain neutral, most ultimately sided with Britain. The area of central Ohio was largely untouched during the war. According to Richard Butler, a messenger from the Continental Congress to the Wyandot, the area around the forks of the Scioto was largely abandoned and had only one log cabin standing.
The most serious breakdown in British and colonial relations resulted from Britain's effort to raise money to support the empire. The Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Act, and the Coercive Acts further fueled colonial resentment, and ultimately led to the War for American Independence.
Control of the Ohio country was critical as Americans and the British fought to gain Native American support. While many Native Americans initially hoped to remain neutral, most ultimately sided with Britain. The area of central Ohio was largely untouched during the war. According to Richard Butler, a messenger from the Continental Congress to the Wyandot, the area around the forks of the Scioto was largely abandoned and had only one log cabin standing.
