The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West

On May 5, 1805, Aaron Burr came to Marietta on an extravagant boat, described as a “floating house” (151). Burr, the former Vice President of the US, had killed Alexander Hamilton the previous year in a duel. As a result, many considered him a murderer and his political career was over. Both Jefferson and Hamilton, political rivals themselves, called him the “Cataline of America, referring to the unprincipled ancient Roman notorious for scheming against the republic” (152). After visiting the ancient mound and the shipyard, Burr spent the night at Blennerhassett’s mansion. He left the next day on a mysterious mission downriver and proceeded to correspond with Blennerhassett, who was widely considered to be gullible and lacking common sense.

On August 27, 1806, Burr returned to Marietta and commissioned Dudley Woodbridge, Jr., to build 15 large flatboats, which could transport 500 men. Blennerhassett paid the cost. Although Burr informed Woodbridge and Barker that his expedition had “secret government approval” (156), Blennerhassett told others that Burr was attempting to separate the western territory from the union. Soon thereafter, Blennerhassett began writing editorials in newspapers urging western secession. The articles got the attention of those in power and by November of 1806, there was fear of Burr’s intrigue. When James Wilkinson, who had been a co-conspirator of Burr’s for a year, turned on him and told President Jefferson of the threat, Jefferson sent John Graham to investigate.

Graham quickly discovered the intentions of the expedition after a dinner with Blennerhassett, who spoke freely to him before he knew that he was an agent of the US government. Traveling to the state capital, Graham convinced the governor, with the legislature’s permission, to dispatch the militia. On December 9, 1806, the government took possession of 15 boats being built for Burr and intercepted 10 others heading down the river. When news reached Blennerhassett that there was a warrant for his arrest, he fled with four boats and 30 men, none of whom were from Marietta. His wife, who remained behind with the children, found her home occupied by the Virginia militia. She departed with only a few possessions on December 17.

On February 18, 1807, Burr was arrested in the Mississippi territory and transported to Richmond, Virginia to stand trial for treason. Blennerhassett was also arrested and taken to Richmond. The trial was in Virginia because the plot was hatched at Blennerhassett’s mansion, which was in that state. Since there were no witnesses to the plotting, both Burr and Blennerhassett were acquitted on September 1, 1807. Blennerhassett and his family lost their riches and were taken in by a family member. Their extravagant home burned to the ground in 1811 and Blennerhassett died in 1831. Burr traveled to Europe and then returned to New York where he died, “unrepentant to the end” (164), in 1836.

Beginning in the summer of 1807, the pioneers were faced with numerous challenges. That summer, there was an outbreak of yellow fever, which claimed the lives of 50-60 men, women, and children in Marietta. In Belpre, under Dr. Samuel Hildreth’s care, only 2 or 3 of the 100 afflicted with the disease perished.

From Methuen, Massachusetts, Hildreth arrived in Marietta the year before on October 4. He did not know anyone there but Dr. True proved helpful and told him of the need for a physician in Belpre. Marrying Rhoda Cook, Hildreth later settled in Marietta. They had their first child in May 1808 and five more followed. Hildreth established a lucrative frontier practice. At a moment’s notice, he could be called upon to travel miles to attend to the sick. A chronicler of pioneer life as well, Hildreth described the primitive conditions in which those outside the towns lived. He was very interested in nature and took notice of the flora and fauna on his trips. He spent two sessions in the state legislature, managing to pass a bill that regulated the practice of medicine in Ohio, and then returned to private life.

Shipbuilding had become critical to the economy, much as it was in New England, by 1807. Related industries, such as ropes works to supply rigging, also emerged in Marietta. Thus, the Embargo Act, passed by Congress at the end of 1807, dealt a major blow to the settlement. According to the Act, American ships were forbidden to carry exports and, as a result, shipbuilding ceased. Marietta went into an economic slump and Cincinnati surpassed it as the “Queen City” (172) of the West. Still, people came to the west. From 1800 to 1810, the population of Ohio increased from 45,365 to 230,760 people. Among the newcomers were more professionals such as physicians, who numbered five in Marietta by 1810.

E. Cutler experienced personal adversity in these years. His wife Leah died of consumption on November 3, 1807, at 42—“the worst blow of Ephraim’s life” (178). When she was ill, E. Cutler surrendered his seat in the state legislature and moved closer to civilization. Concerned about their four children, Leah advised him to re-marry quickly and suggested Sally Parker as a candidate. After Leah’s death, E. Cutler wrote to Sally, who was living in western Pennsylvania. Sally’s father had shares in the Ohio Company. M. Cutler, who had retired from Congress, approved of re-marriage in his correspondence with his son. The couple were married in April 1808 and would have five more children together. Described as “warm-spirited, well-mannered, and witty” (182), Sally contributed much to the household. E. Cutler built a new home for the family in Warren, which became a social center in the community, and he returned to his service in the state legislature.

In 1807, Fuller’s steamboat debuted in a trip up the Hudson River to Albany, New York. The first steamboat on western waters, the New Orleans, arrived in October 1811. This mode of transport revolutionized travel, making it much faster and requiring less work. As McCullough observes, moving “produce and supplies, as well as countless passengers both downstream and back, was never to be the same” (184). In December 1811, a major earthquake hit Marietta, though not as big a one as that impacting the Missouri territory. The state capital was moved to Zanesville.

The War of 1812 was not popular in New England or Ohio. Putnam and E. Cutler led Ohio’s opposition to the war. The settlers were concerned about Indigenous attacks in the northwest corner of the state, as the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh had joined forces with the British army. To make matters worse, less than a year after war had been declared, the Ohio River flooded in late January 1813. Crops and homes were destroyed. Fortunately for the settlers in Ohio, two victories over the British and Indigenous tribes in September and October of 1813 eased tensions. In September, naval officer Oliver H. Perry defeated the British at Lake Squadron and in October, General William Henry Harrison won a decisive victory against British forces with Chief Tecumseh killed.

In August of 1814, the British captured and burned Washington, D.C., with President Madison and Congress forced to flee. Americans were outraged despite any opposition to the war. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814. Before news of that treaty had reached the US, General Andrew Jackson won an overwhelming and psychologically important battle at New Orleans. The news of the victory and the war’s end sparked celebrations in Ohio.

In February of 1815, Hildreth went to visit his parents in Massachusetts. His parents did not recognize him at first, as he had been away for nine years and his appearance had changed. His father sold him his remaining 1,500 acres in Ohio and Hildreth returned to Ohio that May.