Wheeling settled in 1770, contained in the year 1795 about 50 log and frame houses.[198] Harris in 1803 says that "Wheeling is increasing very rapidly in population and in prosperous trade; and is, next to Pittsburg, the most considerable place of embarkation to traders and emigrants, anywhere in the western waters. During the dry season, great quantities of merchandise are brought hither, designed to supply the inhabitants on the Ohio River, and the waters that flow into it, as boats can go from hence, when they cannot from higher up the river. Boat building is carried on at this place to a great extent, and several large keel boats and some vessels have been built."[199] At this point the great post roads from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Northern Virginia united, and crossed the river, on the route through the States of Ohio and Kentucky, to Tennessee, and New Orleans.[200] In 1807 Wheeling contained about 200 houses, amongst which there was a considerable number of stores, well supplied with every kind of merchandise. It still continued to draw trade away from Pittsburg, many of the lower country merchants preferring to send their goods overland to this place, rather than risk a detention of 3 or 4 weeks at Pittsburg.[201]
The settlement of the Ohio Company's purchase commenced in April 1788, when they planted the colony of Marietta at the junction of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers.[202] By the end of the year about 300 persons had settled in Marietta, and aside from these there was not a single white family within the present bounds of Ohio.[203] In 1795 the town contained about 200 wooden houses, and was protected from theattacks of the Indians by soldiers stationed there. From 1790-1795 the Indians were very troublesome and stole a great number of horses from the settlers.[204] The population, at this time, was composed of five or six hundred families from New England and a few unfortunate French families, the victims of American land speculators, and of the ignorance of the chiefs of the Scioto Company.[205]
As early as the year 1798 or 1799 Commodore Preble built a brig of 120 tons at this place, which probably was the first sea vessel launched in the western waters.[206] "The inhabitants of Marietta were the first that had an idea of exporting directly to the Carribee Islands the produce of the country, in a vessel built in their own town, which they sent to Jamaica. The success which crowned this first attempt excited such emulation among the inhabitants of that part of the western country, that several new vessels were launched at Pittsburg and Louisville, and expedited to the Isles, or to New York and Philadelphia."[207] The ship yard at Marietta was on the Muskingum, and there in 1803 was built the brig "Mary Avery" of 130 tons.[208] The ship building industry increased; ships completely equipped for sea at $50 a ton, brigs, schooners,[209] and bun boats[210] were built at Marietta in 1807. Schultz says, "Ship building is carried on here with more spirit than any other town on the Ohio."[211] From 1801-1808 ship building was carried on with great spirit at Marietta, not less than 20 ships, brigs, and schooners, from 150 to 450 tons being built, besides some gun boats.[212] The embargo of 1808 overwhelmed several of these merchants with ruin, especially such as had ships on hand unsold. One man who had a ship in New Orleans at the time lost $10,000 on her and the cargo. No town in the United States suffered so much as this, according to its capital. Three extensive rope walks, working up large quantities of hemp raised in the country, and furnishing rigging for the ships, were put out of employ, and in a few years fell into ruins. The business of the town did not revive for many years.[213]
Limestone, Kentucky, in 1790 was a little town and the point where emigrants from Virginia disembarked.[214] It later, 1796, became the depot for whatever goods passedfrom Baltimore and Philadelphia to Kentucky.[215] The grow th of the town was slow, and in 1807 they were only 80 houses. Schultz says, "from the great number of boats of every description lying along the shore, it must have a very considerable share of business. Ship building, I was informed, is likewise carried on with much spirit, but I saw nothing of the kind going on while I was there."[216]
Louisville was, in 1796, a small settlement containing from 80 to 100 houses.[217] This was one of the earliest settlements on the Ohio and was rendered the more important at that time, by its position at the Falls of the Ohio. All the boats which touched at Louisville to take pilots were obliged to ascend the river more than two miles above the town to gain the current on the opposite side, which led to considerable expense and loss of time. This disadvantage in the situation of the town probably prevented it from increasing.[218] The Falls were occasioned by a bed of rocks extending from one side of the river to the other. There was a fall of 22½ feet in two miles.[219] In the year 1807 the legislature of Kentucky had incorporated a Company for the purpose of opening a canal around the Falls.[220] At this time Louisville contained 120 houses. Ship and boat building was carried on with considerable spirit.[221] Pilots were appointed to conduct boats over the falls, at the price of $2 per boat.[222]
Steubenville, Ohio, laid out in 1798, and incorporated as a town in 1805,[223] contained, in 1807, about 130 houses, a number of brick buildings, and several stores well stocked with every kind of merchandise.[224] Chillicothe, was laid out on the Scioto by Nathaniel Massie in 1796. Galliopolis, settled in 1791, by a French colony,[225] is a good example of the bad faith of the Scioto Company.[226] This town rapidly declined.[227]
Fort Vincents and Jeffersonville, Indiana, were in 1796, small villages, one of 50 houses,[228] and the other 40 houses.[229]
In 1796 a large number of merchants had already established themselves at Frankfort on the Kentucky River, which was navigable for the largest boats ten months in the year.[230] Henderson, Kentucky, carried on a considerable export trade 1807-1809.[231]