[83] This settlement failed to develop into a permanent town, as there is now no important settlement at this point on the West Virginia side of the river.—Ed.
[84] For sketch of Rufus Putnam, see Harris’s Journal, vol. iii of this series, p. 311, note 1.—Ed.
[85] Zanesville on the Muskingum was laid out (1799) by Jonathan Zane (brother of the founder of Wheeling) and John McIntyre. In 1809, the seat of the Ohio government was transferred thither, and Zanesville grew rapidly until the state capitol was removed to Columbus, when it declined slowly, being now a place of little importance.—Ed.
[86] Major Joseph Lincoln was a Revolutionary soldier of note, who came out with Putnam’s first colony to found Marietta. During the Indian wars he lived at Farmer’s Castle; but about 1795 engaged in business at Marietta, in which he was quite successful, erecting in 1807 the finest building in the town. His death occurred soon after Cuming’s visit.—Ed.
CHAPTER XV
Trade wind—Vienna—Belle-prè—Little Kenhawa river—Browning’s tavern—Blennerhasset’s island, handsome seat and fine farm.
At half past two we proceeded from Marietta, accompanied by a Mr. Fry, a genteel and well informed young lawyer, from the vicinity of Boston, in search of an establishment in some part of this new country. We had also as a passenger, a countryman, by trade a house carpenter, who resided in Virginia, {108} about fifty miles lower down the river, and was returning home after a trip up and down the Muskingum as one of the crew of a keel boat.
There was a fresh S. W. wind, which is a trade wind on the Ohio every day during summer, generally commencing about eight o’clock in the morning, and ceasing about five in the afternoon, during which a boat with a sail could ascend against the stream, from two to five miles an hour, in proportion to the force of the wind; on which account I would recommend it to navigators ascending the Mississippi and the Ohio in the summer season, to be provided with a sail, as it will accelerate their voyage very much, besides saving them a great deal of labour.
It blew so fresh this afternoon, that even with the aid of our passengers, and a strong favourable current, we could scarcely make any progress against the wind, which also occasioned a considerable roughness of the water. By dint however of perseverance we advanced a little, passing, three miles below Marietta, Muskingum island, two miles long, and uncultivated, and a mile beyond that, Second island, a fine little uncultivated island, three quarters of a mile long.
Two miles from hence, we passed on the left, a small settlement of six or eight cabins, called Vienna, which does not appear to be flourishing; and half a mile lower on the right, Coles’s tavern, a very good square roofed house; a little beyond which is Third island, a mile long, and the beginning of the fine settlement of Belle-prè on the right, and a mile lower down, Little Kenhawa river on the left.[87] This is a handsome little river, about eighty yards wide, with a placid stream. It has Wood county court-house, and a tavern, on the right bank of its embouchure.