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After an act of Congress in August 1790, the task of entering and surveying in the unknown region of the Virginia Military District was placed in the hands of Nathaniel Massie. This was no easy job because the hottest Indian war in history was on, and it didn’t calm down until after the Greenville Treaty was signed in 1795.
Every creek explored and every line run was a risk of life from the savage Indians. The surveyors chose the winter months for their expeditions because they were more secure from the Indians, who were in their winter headquarters. By crossing the Ohio, the surveyors were separated by the river from their place of retreat in case they were defeated and pursued.
The Indians displayed their wiles throughout their long and bloody wars and proved to have patience and fortitude , which they used against superior discipline and numbers of their enemies. It was a contest for dominion and bravery and the boldness displayed by the Indians in executing their plans could only be equaled by this fearless onset in attacks and their masterly retreats when defeated. The white explorers were just as courageous as they pushed forward with their work. These robust and daring men, headed by Massie, were determined to settle this country.
Some of these men were John Lindsay, William Wade, John Black, Samuel Smith, Jesse Wethington, Josiah Wade, John Clark, Robert Ellison and Zephaniah Wade. Each of these men received one in-lot and one out-lot on one hundred acres of land that was promised by Massie to the first twenty-five families that would join him, provided they would settle in the town he would lay off. This town was Manchester.
Massie reserved one thousand acres of the high tablelands overlooking the Ohio River for himself. Though he built Buckeye Station in 1797. The Station was surrounded by a stockade to protect it against Indian attacks. The old weather beaten house, which may possibly be the oldest dwelling in Ohio, is still standing. Some of the original weather boarding with the handmade nails are still intact. The rooms are large with several windows. There are two big fireplaces where long logs were kindled on cold winter nights and big meals with homemade bread cooked over the flames by day.
The present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Myers, were kind enough to show me inside the house and the surrounding landscape. From the huge rocky bluffs, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Ohio River and the Kentucky shore. It’s a peaceful site of the calm waters and in the fall of the year, when the leaves are off the trees, you can see the two Manchester islands. It is from these rocks that the Indians watched the white men slowly enter their territory, a few at a time, until soon the Indians had to move on to find good hunting and peace.
Buckeye Station is a good sightseeing trip, but please remember that it is private property. Vandalism is ruining this treasured landmark of the state.
