Clark County, Ohio

History and Genealogy



The Old Northwest


From 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio by Hon. William A. Rockel
Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1908


That part of the United States located between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers includes that part of our great commonwealth which historians now designate as the "Old North West." It comprises 265,878 square miles and was subsequently divided into Ohio with 39,964 square miles, Indiana with 33,809 square miles, Illinois with 55,414 .square miles, Michigan 56,451 square miles, Wisconsin 53,924 square miles, and that part of Minnesota lying east of the Mississippi estimated to contain 26,000 square miles, making a grand total of 170.161,867 acres. It is really and truly the heart of our country.

Its admission into the Union if I may so use the term is the beginning of a new era in the life of our commonwealth. All the original states were named after persons or objects in the old country—the new states were strictly American, their names being commemorative of the American race that preceded the white man in the occupation of the lands.

Within its boundaries are found the great cities of Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Paul, and many others of considerable consequence. Through its boundaries a constant stream of commerce is carried on between the states of the colonies and the great west, beyond the Mississippi. Without any disparagement to either that part of the country which lies to the east or the west, it may be said with respect to all the great events that have happened since this great Northwest became a part of this government she has furnished a large proportion of the means and men by which and whom they were accomplished. Especially is that true in regard to all matters occurring within the last half century. Six presidents have come from the states within the old Northwest, namely: Wm. H. Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford R. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley.

This territory was beautiful in nature as well as important in civilization. Two hundred years ago, save a few Jesuit priests and French explorers, it was in the sole possession of the red man. The bison roamed over the prairies of Illinois, the deer fed in the valleys of Ohio, the bear climbed unmolested the hills of Michigan and Minnesota and the howl of the wolf re-echoed in the untrodden woodland. Fish abounded in the many fresh waters and the beaver and other animals were plentiful. With the priest and the explorer there came the pioneer trader and hunter, a man of intrepid fearlessness, but not as a general thing of very lofty ideals of justice or morality.







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