Description: Northwest Territory


Northwest Territory Early Letter from Chillicothe, Ohio, "we have Built a Still ... about two Miles from town But we have not begun Stilling...we will begin in about two weeks time"

Autograph letter signed, three pages, 7½ " x 8¼ ", Chillicothe, [Northwest Territory], January 6, 1800, to George Bowman in Lebanon, Pennsylvania reporting on the erection of a still, crop and whiskey price, and other news including the tragic death of several settlers who were killed by a tree which fell on their tent in the middle of the night. A fine content and extremely early letter from Chillicothe, Ohio, written only four years following it's founding in 1796. Dear Brother. I now take the Liberty With Pleasure to Inform you that we are all Hearty at this present time, and I hope these Few lines will Meat [sic] you all in the same Situation and I let you know that we have Built a Still house about two Miles from town But we have not begun Stilling yet but I hope we will begin in about two weeks time, we have Tradet [sic] a good Many of our goods away for Corn, and We mean to Still the most Part Corn we have Taken in better than a Thousand Bushels of Indian Corn already at twoo [sic] Shillings per Bushel, and we have Some Rie [sic] twoo, but not Much yet, perhaps we will go to Cantucky [sic] Some time this winter and fetch a boat Load of Rie there, in Cantucky it can be Bought at twoo shillings per Bushel, and whiskey Sels [sic] with us at 4/6 & 5/ Shillings per Gallon this Money, our Intension [sic] is to Still This winter and Next Summer if the ago[?] Dont Hinter [Hinder?] us, and So I dont expect That any of us will be down till Next fall But perhaps Brother John will be down Against Spring for Money is very Scarse [sic] at This place, I do not think that we will get Shut of our good before Next fawl [sic] I know no Particular News for to Inform you with at this Present time but I let you know that there was a Great Aesident [sic] hap[p]ned on the Allegany Mountain last fawl there was a Couple familys [sic] Moving out to Siothen[?] and one night the[y] hap[p]ened to Camp on the Allegany Mountain on a Large Tree and in the night time the tree fell Down and Killed Six Souls of them four was Dead on the Spot and two of them Lived Till Next day " no More at present But Martin Zimmerman Sends his Compliments To all His Relatives ... "
Offered together with a manuscript Document signed by John Bowman, two pages, 8"" x 12½"", Chillicothe, March 5, 1800, appointing George Bowman of Pittsburgh "my true and lawful attorney in fact and in my name, and for my own proper use and benefit...". Documents from the Old Northwest Territory are quite scarce on the market and provide us with an important record of the early American settlements there. Both documents neatly and expertly silked, a few light creases, else near fine condition.


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