The map published in 1754 with Washington’s report takes good account of Great Beaver creek—Logstown just above it; opposite, on the Ohio, a fort; Delawares on the west at the mouth; Kuskuskas above; and above that, Owendos’ town, “Wyandot.”. The mixed state of the Indians at that time appears in Celeron, who found in Logstown Iroquois from different places, Shawnees, Delawares, also Nepissings, Abenakes and Ottawas.
Being a convenient way of passing to the lake, a trail as an avenue of commerce preceded the canal, and that the railroad.
Evans was to draw and Franklin to publish, in 1755, at Philadelphia, a map plainly in demand by traders, and from information given by them. At the mouth of the Beaver is a Shingoes’ town; a trail up to the forks finds the Kuskuskas; a trail to the east leaves it for “Wenango” and “Petroleum”; the trail to the west goes to “Salt Springs,” and where farther does not appear.
In his “Analysis,” Mr. Evans says: “Beaver creek is navigable with canoes only. At Kushkies, about sixteen miles up, two branches spread opposite ways—one interlocks with French creek and Cherage, the other westward with Muskingum and Cuyahoga. On this are many salt springs about thirty-five miles above the forks. It is canoeable about twenty miles farther. The eastern branch is less considerable, but both are very slow, spreading through a very rich, level country, full of swamps and ponds which prevent a good portage, but will no doubt in future ages be fit to open a canal between the waters of the Ohio and Lake Erie.”
A map often reprinted, and the one which was made the basis of the treaty of peace after the Revolution, was that of John Mitchell, London, 1755.
Kushkies is said to be the “chief town of the Six Nations on the Ohio, an English factory.” On the east branch are “Owendots.” Pennsylvania reaches its protection over the whole of the Mahoning.
My purpose to outline discovery is nearly ended. In 1760, with Quebec, all New France was surrendered to the English, but new wars with Indians were to follow. Hutchins, Geographer-General to the United States, who introduced our admirable land system, was with Bouquet in 1764. On his map, between Kuskuske and Salt Lick Town, on the west of the river, appears “Mahoning Town,” the first appearance in the maps of the name.
The subsequent history of Ohio is familiar. That of the Reserve grew out of that ignorance which supposed the continent narrow. King Charles granted in 1660 to Connecticut a tract seventy miles wide and over three thousand long. The money for the Reserve became the school fund of Connecticut, and led by the example, to our admirable system of free schools, so that the ignorance of years ago leads to the wisdom of this.
“There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we will.”