The Ohio Company of Associates was a significant land company formed in the late 18th century, credited with establishing the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. This company played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the United States, particularly with the founding of Marietta, Ohio, in 1788.
Formation and Objectives
The Ohio Company of Associates was formed between March 1 and March 3, 1786, by a group of influential individuals, including Rufus
Putnam, Benjamin Tupper, Samuel Holden Parsons, and Manasseh Cutler. These founders met in Boston, Massachusetts, to discuss the settlement of the territory around the Ohio River. Their goal was to secure land for settlement and to promote the orderly expansion of the United States into the Northwest Territory.
The company was officially organized with Putnam, Parsons, and Cutler as directors, and Winthrop Sargent as secretary. The company aimed to purchase a large tract of land at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, which would become the site of Marietta. The purchase was facilitated by the passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, which provided a framework for the governance and settlement of the territory.
Negotiations and Land Acquisition
Manasseh Cutler played a pivotal role in negotiating with the Congress of the Confederation to secure a claim on the land. He aligned with William Duer, secretary of the U.S. Treasury Board, to facilitate the purchase. The Ohio Company's purchase was enabled by the Act of October 23, 1787, which authorized Congress to make contracts of public lands for not less than one million acres.
The Ohio Company initially contracted to purchase 1,500,000 acres of land, but due to financial constraints, they settled for a purchase of 750,000 acres. This land was located in present-day Washington, Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence, and Athens counties. The contract also included provisions for public education and religious uses, with sections of land set aside for these purposes.
Founding of Marietta
In 1788, General Rufus Putnam laid out the plans for Marietta, marking the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. The Ohio Company sent pioneers from New England to establish the settlement, which became a model for future communities in the region. Despite challenges, including difficulties with Native Americans during the Northwest Indian War, the settlement of Marietta represented a significant achievement in the westward expansion of the United States.
The Ohio Company of Associates' efforts to settle the Northwest Territory were instrumental in shaping the early development of the region. Their establishment of Marietta set a precedent for future settlements and demonstrated the potential for growth and prosperity in the newly organized territory.
