inhabitants, were trophies won in a fifty years' war, by a few pioneers of western Pennsylvania, western Virginia, and Kentucky. The nation owes a debt of gratitude to the men, whose march was in the van in those trying times. Their memories should be held in veneration by the millions who now reap in peace and quiet the fruits of their toil and labor.

CHAPTER IV.

A LARGE district of country had been ceded by the Indians, at the treaty of Greenville. The back woodsmen, who had spent a great part of their lives in the front of the war by which these lands were acquired, believed the country of right belonged to the conquerors. In consequence of this opinion, during the winter of 1795-96 they poured into the newly acquired territory by thousands; each endeavoring to select the most advantageous site for a farm, on which they could pass the evening of their days in peace and quiet. Parties of explorers would sometimes meet with others on the same errand, on some inviting tract of first-rate land; quarrels would ensue, about priority of discovery and improvement, which frequently ended in battles, and sometimes in the death of some of the parties. During this winter, McArthur made tomahawk improvements in many of the finest bottoms on the east side of the Scioto river. This pleasing dream of wealth was of short duration: the pioneers soon discovered they had no favors to expect, for conquering and defending the country. They were generally poor, did not understand farming for profit, and were entirely unacquainted with trade and traffic; and when peace came, they were far behind the new emigrants, who settled among them, in all the arts

which distinguish civilized life. The old backwoodsmen were strangers to the various arts of making money: hunting, trapping, and war was their trade; and before they could change their habits and customs to the new order of things which a state of peace brought about, they found themselves elbowed out of the way by the more wealthy and dexterous emigrants.

Duncan McArthur, while engaged on the numberless surveying tours with General Massie, would sometimes settle the compass to the proper course, and sometimes would be permitted to run lines; in this way he became familiar with the face of the compass. Being then in the twenty-fourth year of his age, he went to school a few weeks, and studied arithmetic, till he mastered the rule of Three. He then exchanged his rifle, his beaver traps, and other hunting accouterments, for a surveyor's instruments, determined at least to learn the practical part of surveying. This was a new and hopeful era in his life.

Duncan McArthur studied surveying about as long as the illustrious Patrick Henry is represented to have studied law, and with the same intuitive success. Neither knew but little of the theory of their professions when they commenced their career, yet both excelled in their vocations. Mr. Henry was an unrivaled orator, and only a theoretic statesman, and from indolence was unversed in the details of legislation. General McArthur

was no orator, but by his habits of close investigation and persevering industry, he was a competent surveyor, and a practical statesman, understanding the wants and the condition of the people, and pursuing that course in his public career, best calculated to promote their interests and happiness.

Duncan McArthur's ambition would have been completely gratified at this period of his life, could he have then acquired a competent estate in lands, free from in

cumbrance, on which he could live in a state of independence. How little we know what would be our feelings and conduct under a change of circumstances. Having now a surveyor's compass, he was prepared to become an assistant surveyor to the first who would furnish him employment.

General Nathaniel Massie was a man of enterprise, largely engaged in locating warrants and surveying lands. An assistant surveyor of McArthur's energy and perseverance was, to General Massie, an invaluable acquisition. He soon became a competent and skilful surveyor. At no period of his life did he possess a very sprightly and active mind; but although his conceptions were slow, what he once acquired he never lost. In whatever business he engaged, he was distinguished for an untiring diligence, and an energy that never yielded to difficulties.

In February, 1796, General McArthur was married to Nancy, daughter of William and Effie McDonald, and sister to the author of this narrative.

In the month of March, in this year, General Massie was preparing and engaging a party to make a new settlement somewhere in the fertile valley of the Scioto river. The inducements held out by Massie, to encourage emigrants to follow him into the wilderness, were an in-lot and an out-lot in the new town, which he intended to lay out, and one hundred acres of land for eighty dollars. A numerous party, principally from Kentucky, collected at Manchester. Some of them went by water in canoes, taking with them plows, hoes, axes, &c., &c. The residue of the party went by land, with their horses, to meet those who went by water, at the mouth of Paint creek. They met at that point; and the site on which Chillicothe was erected, was selected for the new town. The town was laid out into lots, and all went to work with spirit. This was the first settlement made in the

western country in peace. It was a new era in their lives.

McArthur, now an assistant surveyor to General Massie, aided him in laying out the town of Chillicothe ; and whilst thus engaged, Massie employed him for one year, for one in-lot and one out-lot in Chillicothe, and one hundred and fifty acres of land in the vicinity. This land soon became the residence of General McArthur; and to this small tract, others were soon added by industry and economy, and form the delightful residence of the general yet, so well known as "Fruit Hill.”

The present appearance and beauty of this residence, is such as to command the admiration of all the lovers of beautiful scenery.

Much information was derived by McArthur from his skilful and experienced employer, and he derived all that an assistant surveyor could from a constant inspection and examination of Massie's plats and connections of this, then, new country. This year the contract of McArthur and Massie was fulfilled, to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.

McArthur having located himself in a cabin, on his land thus acquired, commenced the business of locating and surveying Virginia military warrants, on his own account. He was unable to progress with any extraordinary rapidity, in the first stages of his business, but only proceeded industriously and slowly, like most young men, in the business which he had selected for himself. Having, at this time, but a slight knowledge of books, and exhibiting in his manners the unpolished backwoodsman, it was not until after some slight experience and labor in his new vocation, obtained him a reputation for promptitude and unquestionable capacity in the discharge of the important, duties of a locator of warrants in the Virginia Military District, that he acquired the confidence of holders of warrants, then con

stantly visiting this region of country. But he soon acquired a reputation equal to any in this business, and combining with it the purchase and sale of warrants and land himself, he soon began to reap the rewards of industry and perseverance, in the acquisition of property, and in establishing a decided character, as a man of business, and most competent locator and surveyor.

In 1798, after Ross county was organized, he was appointed and commissioned a captain in the militia, by Governor St. Clair.

McArthur continued his land business with his wonted industry. Fortune favored his efforts, and with his acquisitions of property, he acquired a popularity equal to any of those, who had been favored with an early education and patronage. He was now largely engaged in land speculations, and used all the means within his power, to inform himself in the land laws of Virginia and Kentucky. His entries and surveys were made so special and correctly, that few, if any, of them could be interrupted or interfered with. Notwithstanding his care and precaution in this business, he had to cope with many men of unsurpassed energy and unquestioned capacity, and who, anxious, like himself, to promote their interests by every laudable and legal means, have had with him much litigation. Controversies relative to land and land titles, have given him an immense deal of trouble, vexation, and litigation. This has tended to impair his good opinion of mankind, and somewhat alloyed his happiness, but his success was as signal and general as he could have expected.

Having acquired more wealth than any of his fellow citizens in the Scioto valley, he began to take an active part in the politics of the country. Gen. Massie was then one of the most popular men in Ross county. He admired McArthur for his persevering industry, and close application to business; and was upon all occasions his