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121-642: Clark County is the name of twelve counties in the United States. Most, though not all, are named after two brothers: military hero George Rogers Clark in the Midwest, and explorer William Clark in the West. Clark County, Arkansas Clark County, Idaho Clark County, Illinois Clark County, Indiana Clark County, Kansas Clark County, Kentucky Clark County, Missouri Clark County, Nevada ,

242-755: A captain in the Virginia militia. He was preparing to lead an expedition of 90 men down the Ohio River when hostilities broke out between the Shawnee and settlers on the Kanawha frontier; this conflict eventually culminated in Lord Dunmore's War . Most of Kentucky was not inhabited by Indians, although such tribes as the Shawnee , Cherokee , and Seneca (of the Iroquois Confederacy) used

363-462: A ceremonial sword . After another stroke, Clark died at Locust Grove on February 13, 1818; he was buried at Locust Grove Cemetery two days later. Clark's remains were exhumed along with those of his other family members on October 29, 1869, and buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. In his funeral oration, Judge John Rowan succinctly summed up Clark's stature and importance during

484-692: A 1790 U.S. government report, 1,500 Kentucky settlers had been killed in Indian raids since the end of the Revolutionary War. In an attempt to end the raids, Clark led an expedition of 1,200 drafted men against Native American villages along the Wabash River in 1786. The campaign, one of the first actions of the Northwest Indian War , ended without a victory. After approximately three hundred militiamen mutinied due to

605-573: A chain of forts and enforce peace in the area. In the early morning of November 3, 1791, nearly a 1,000 Miamis, Shawnees, Delawares , and other warriors under the leadership of Chief Little Turtle launched a surprise attack on the American camp near the Miami town of Kekionga , costing the Americans nearly nine hundred casualties and forcing the militia's retreat. St. Clair's defeat in 1791 remains

726-449: A common education at Donald Robertson's school, where fellow students included James Madison and John Taylor of Caroline . He was also tutored at home, as was usual for the children of Virginia planters in this period. There was no public education. His grandfather trained him to be a surveyor . In 1771 at age 19, Clark left his home on his first surveying trip into western Virginia. In 1772, he made his first foray into Kentucky via

847-470: A lack of supplies, Clark had to withdraw, but not before concluding a ceasefire with the native tribes. It was rumored, most notably by James Wilkinson , that Clark had often been drunk on duty. When Clark learned of the accusations, he demanded an official inquiry, but the Virginia governor declined his request and Virginia Council condemned Clark's actions. With Clark's reputation tarnished, he never again led men in battle. Clark left Kentucky and moved across

968-631: A law granting voting rights to all free adult males who paid county or territorial taxes and had resided in the territory for at least one year. Because of William Henry Harrison's leadership in securing passage of the Land Act of 1800 and his help in forming the Indiana Territory in 1800, while serving as the Northwest Territory's delegate to the U.S. Congress, it was not surprising that President John Adams chose him to become

1089-429: A law in 1809 that allowed the territory's inhabitants to choose a delegate to Congress in a territory-wide election. Jonathan Jennings defeated Thomas Randolph, the territory's attorney general and Harrison's chosen candidate, in a highly contested race to become the territory's first popularly-elected representative to the U.S. Congress. Jennings was reelected to the post in 1811, 1812, and 1814, prior to his election as

1210-580: A march on Fort Detroit, Clark used his own resources and borrowed from his friends to continue his campaign after the initial appropriation had been depleted from the Virginia legislature. He re-enlisted some of his troops and recruited additional men to join him. Hamilton waited for spring to begin a campaign to retake the forts at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, but Clark planned another surprise attack on Fort Sackville at Vincennes. He left Kaskaskia on February 6, 1779, with about 170 men, beginning an arduous overland trek, encountering melting snow, ice, and cold rain along

1331-539: A meager $ 2.47. To increase the treasury, tax levies were modified and new forms of revenue were established. These changes included reductions in some taxes, increases in others, and implementing licensing requirements for some types of business ventures in order to stabilize revenue. William Prince, the first territorial auditor, was also blamed for the territory's revenue shortage because he had failed to collect taxes from two territorial counties. Growth of territory's population helped improve its financial situation through

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1452-637: A petition to the Virginia General Assembly , asking Virginia to formally extend its boundaries to include Kentucky. Clark and Jones traveled the Wilderness Road to Williamsburg , where they convinced Governor Patrick Henry to create Kentucky County, Virginia . Clark was given 500 lb (230 kg) of gunpowder to help defend the settlements and was appointed a major in the Kentucky County militia. Although he

1573-517: A proclamation forbidding Americans from violating U.S. neutrality and threatened to dispatch General Anthony Wayne to Fort Massac to stop the expedition. The French government recalled Genêt and revoked the commissions he granted to the Americans for the war against Spain. Clark's planned campaign gradually collapsed, and he was unable to convince the French to reimburse him for his expenses. Clark's reputation, already damaged by earlier accusations at

1694-479: A result, he moved to Locust Grove , a farm eight miles (13 km) from the growing town of Louisville, and became a member of the household of his sister, Lucy, and brother-in-law, Major William Croghan, a planter. In 1812 the Virginia General Assembly granted Clark a pension of four hundred dollars per year and finally recognized his services in the Revolutionary War by presenting him with

1815-666: A retaliatory force that defeated the Shawnee at the village of Peckuwe. It has been commemorated as George Rogers Clark Park near Springfield, Ohio . In 1781, Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson promoted Clark to brigadier general and gave him command of all the militia in the Kentucky and Illinois counties. As Clark prepared to lead another expedition against the British and their allies in Detroit, General Washington transferred

1936-858: A secret expedition to capture the British-held villages at Kaskaskia , Cahokia , and Vincennes in the Illinois country . Governor Henry commissioned him as a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Regiment of the Virginia State Forces and authorized him to raise troops for the expedition. The unit originally was raised as a special Virginia militia regiment for defense of the Western Department. Clark and his officers recruited volunteers from Pennsylvania , Virginia, and North Carolina. Clark arrived at Redstone ,

2057-596: A separate territory, which Harrison opposed. In 1809, five years after Congress established the Michigan Territory, the St. Clair County settlers successfully petitioned Congress for the formation of a separate territory. Despite Harrison's disapproval, Congress approved the formation of the Illinois Territory from the western portion of the Indiana Territory, in addition to granting the inhabitants of

2178-591: A settlement on the Monongahela River south of Fort Pitt on February 1, where he made preparations for the expedition over the next several months. The men gathered at Redstone and the regiment departed from there on May 12, proceeding on boats down the Monongahela to Fort Pitt to take on supplies and then down the Ohio to Fort Henry and on to Fort Randolph at the mouth of the Kanawha. They reached

2299-598: A similar fashion without firing a shot. The garrison at Vincennes along the Wabash River surrendered to Clark in August. Several other villages and British forts were subsequently captured, after British hopes of local support failed to materialize. To counter Clark's advance, Hamilton recaptured the garrison at Vincennes, which the British called Fort Sackville, with a small force in December 1778. Prior to initiating

2420-453: A small group of regulars to assist, but the detachment was disastrously defeated in August 1781 before they could meet up with Clark. This ended the western campaign. In August 1782, another British-Indian force defeated the Kentucky militia at the Battle of Blue Licks . Clark was the militia's senior military officer, but he had not been present at the battle and was severely criticized in

2541-522: A war hero of the Revolutionary War in the West, especially as the leader of the secret expeditionary forces that captured Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes in 1778–79. Some historians have suggested that the campaign supported American claims to the Northwest Territory during negotiations that resulted in the Treaty of Paris (1783) . Clark's Grant, the large tract of land on the north side of

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2662-411: The 10th U.S. Congress to create the Illinois Territory in 1809, 4 counties in the Indiana Territory located within contemporary Indiana reported the following population counts: The Indiana Territory's government passed through a non-representative phase from 1800 to 1804; a semi-legislative second phase, which included the election of lower house of the territorial legislature, that extended through

2783-517: The Falls of the Ohio in early June where they spent about a month along the Ohio River preparing for their secret mission. In July 1778, Clark led about 175 men of the Illinois Regiment and crossed the Ohio River at Fort Massac and marched to Kaskaskia , capturing it on the night of July 4 without firing their weapons. The next day, Captain Joseph Bowman and his company captured Cahokia in

2904-614: The Great Miami River . In addition, the eastern part of present-day Michigan was added to the Indiana Territory. The territory's geographical area was further reduced in 1805 with the creation of the Michigan Territory to the north, and in 1809 when the Illinois Territory was established to the west. In 1800 the Indiana Territory's total white population was 5,641, but its Native American population

3025-497: The Indiana Canal Company in 1805 to build a canal around the Falls of the Ohio , near Clarksville, Clark was named to the board of directors. He became part of the surveying team that assisted in laying out the route of the canal. The company collapsed the next year before construction could begin, when two of the fellow board members, including Vice President Aaron Burr , were arrested for treason. A large part of

3146-594: The Mississippi River ; nearly all of the Upper Peninsula and the western half of the Lower Peninsula of present-day Michigan ; and a narrow strip of land in present-day Ohio that was northwest of Fort Recovery. This latter parcel became part of Ohio when it attained statehood in 1803. The Indiana Territory's southeast boundary was shifted in 1803 when Ohio became a state, to the mouth of

3267-543: The Northwest Territory (then part of the British Province of Quebec ) and earned Clark the nickname of "Conqueror of the Old Northwest". The British ceded the entire Northwest Territory to the United States in the 1783 Treaty of Paris . Clark's major military achievements occurred before his thirtieth birthday. Afterward, he led militia forces in the opening engagements of the Northwest Indian War , but

3388-562: The Ohio River at Pittsburgh and spent the next two years surveying the Kanawha River region, as well as learning about the area's natural history and customs of the various tribes of Indians who lived there. In the meantime, thousands of settlers were entering the area as a result of the Treaty of Fort Stanwix of 1768, by which some of the tribes had agreed to peace. Clark's military career began in 1774, when he served as

3509-473: The U.S. Army's worst defeat by American Indians in history. Casualties included 623 federal soldiers killed and another 258 wounded; the Indian confederacy lost an estimated 100 men. In August 1794, General "Mad Anthony" Wayne organized the Legion of the United States and defeated a Native American force at the Battle of Fallen Timbers . The battle was a turning point for the Americans, who took control of

3630-760: The United States Congress . Due to haphazard record keeping on the frontier during the war, Virginia refused payment, claiming that Clark's receipts for his purchases were "fraudulent". As compensation for his wartime service, Virginia gave Clark a gift of 150,000 acres (610 km ) of land that became known as Clark's Grant in present-day southern Indiana, while the soldiers who fought with Clark also received smaller tracts of land. The grant and his other holdings gave Clark ownership of land that encompassed present-day Clark County, Indiana , and portions of adjoining Floyd and Scott Counties. Although Clark had claims to tens of thousands of acres of land,

3751-646: The "Conqueror of the Northwest." Because the British ceded the entire Old Northwest Territory to the United States in the Treaty of Paris , some historians, including William Hayden English , credit Clark with nearly doubling the size of the original Thirteen Colonies when he seized control of the Illinois country during the war. Clark's Illinois campaign—particularly the surprise march to Vincennes—was greatly celebrated and romanticized. More recent scholarship from historians such as Lowell Harrison has downplayed

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3872-819: The American Revolutionary War. As the American Revolutionary War began in the East , Kentucky's settlers became involved in a dispute about the region's sovereignty. Richard Henderson , a judge and land speculator from North Carolina , had purchased much of Kentucky from the Cherokee by an illegal treaty. Henderson intended to create a proprietary colony known as Transylvania , but many Kentucky settlers did not recognize Transylvania's authority over them. In June 1776, these settlers selected Clark and John Gabriel Jones to deliver

3993-754: The Armies of France and Commander-in-chief of the French Revolutionary Legion on the Mississippi River". Clark began to organize a campaign to seize New Madrid , St. Louis , Natchez , and New Orleans , getting assistance from old comrades such as Benjamin Logan and John Montgomery , and winning the tacit support of Kentucky governor Isaac Shelby . Clark spent $ 4,680 (equivalent to $ 84,020 in 2023) of his own money for supplies. In early 1794, however, President Washington issued

4114-573: The Indiana Territory caused a significant opposition from the Quakers who had settled in the eastern part of the territory. They responded by forming an anti-slavery party. Davis Floyd of Clark County was the only anti-slavery representative elected to the territory's House of Representatives in the 1805 election, but Harrison's measures to legalize slavery in the territory were blocked by the two representatives from St. Clair County, who refused to authorize slavery unless Harrison supported their request for

4235-407: The Indiana Territory the right to elect a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and members of the territory's Legislative Council (upper house). Harrison, whose political power was reduced by these changes, found himself at odds with the territorial legislature when the anti-slavery party came to power after the 1809 elections. Voters promptly rebuffed many of his plans for slavery, and in 1810

4356-464: The Indiana Territory was divided to create the Illinois Territory, the U.S. Congress altered the makeup of the territorial legislature. The members of the House of Representatives continued to be elected by the territorial inhabitants and were apportioned in relation to each county's population, but membership in the five-member upper house (Legislative Council) was also by popular vote and apportioned among

4477-596: The Native American tribes and was left unsettled. While Native Americans continued to cede large tracts of land in the Indiana Territory to the federal government, the Americans also expanded their ownership of lands farther west as a result of the Louisiana Purchase agreement with France. From October 1, 1804, until July 4, 1805, administrative powers of the District of Louisiana were extended to

4598-451: The Northwest Territory in advance of Ohio's statehood. At the time the Indiana Territory was formed, the two main American settlements in what would later become the state of Indiana were at Vincennes and Clark's Grant , while the settlement at Kaskaskia would later become a part of Illinois (but, because it is now west of the Mississippi River, is accessible only from Missouri . President John Adams appointed William Henry Harrison as

4719-500: The Ohio River that he received as compensation for his military service, included a large portion of Clark County, Indiana, and portions of Floyd and Scott Counties, as well as the present-day site of Clarksville, Indiana, the first American town laid out in the Northwest Territory (in 1784). Clark served as the first chairman of the Clarksville, Indiana, board of trustees. Clark was unable to retain title to his landholdings. At

4840-475: The Ohio River to the Indiana frontier, near present-day Clarksville, Indiana . Following his military service, and especially after 1787, Clark spent much of the remainder of his life dealing with financial difficulties. Clark had financed the majority of his military campaigns with borrowed funds. When creditors began pressuring him to repay his debts, Clark was unable to obtain reimbursement from Virginia or

4961-609: The Ohio Valley's native tribes to Allan Bowie Magruder and archaeological evidence related to the Mound Builders to John P. Campbell. In later life Clark continued to struggle with alcohol abuse , a problem which had plagued him on-and-off for many years. He also remained bitter about his treatment and neglect by Virginia, and blamed it for his financial misfortune. When the Indiana Territory chartered

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5082-500: The Ordinance of 1787 made no provision for a popularly-elected territorial government in the non-representative phase of territorial government (1800 to 1804). Instead of separate legislative and judicial branches of the territorial government, the U.S. Congress, and later, the president with congressional approval, had the authority to appoint a general court consisting of three territorial judges. The judges were initially appointed by

5203-399: The U.S. government, opening large parts of the territory to further settlement. In 1809 the U.S. Congress established a bicameral legislative body for the territory that included a popularly-elected House of Representatives and a Legislative Council. In addition, the territorial government began planning for a basic transportation network and education system, but efforts to attain statehood for

5324-457: The U.S. government. The Treaty of Vincennes (1803) was the first of several treaties that Harrison negotiated as territorial governor. Leaders from local tribes signed this treaty to recognize Americans' possession of the Vincennes tract, an area that George Rogers Clark had captured from the British during the American Revolutionary War . The Treaty of Grouseland (1805) further secured

5445-464: The U.S. government. As a result of the treaty, the Miamis considered themselves allies with the United States, and thousands of acres of newly ceded western lands attracted an increasing number of new settlers to what would become the Indiana Territory. The U.S. Congress passed legislation to form the Indiana Territory on May 7, 1800, effective July 4, 1800. The new territory was established by dividing

5566-586: The United States, they "should know that the next thing would be the Tomahawk" with "Your Women & Children given to the Dogs to eat". The proposed expedition was never carried out due to budgetary concerns. After Clark's victories in the Illinois country, settlers continued to pour into Kentucky and spread into and develop the land north of the Ohio River. On December 17, 1783, was Clark appointed Principal Surveyor of Bounty Lands. From 1784 to 1788 Clark served as

5687-532: The Virginia Council for the disaster. In response November 1782, Clark led another expedition into the Ohio country, destroying several Indian villages along the Great Miami River , including the Shawnee village of Piqua, Miami County, Ohio . This was the last major expedition of the war. The importance of Clark's activities during the Revolutionary War has been the subject of much debate among historians. As early as 1779 George Mason called Clark

5808-407: The Virginia militia, and with Virginia's support, Clark's campaign into the Illinois country helped strengthen Virginia's claim on lands in the region as it came under the control of the Americans. Clark's military service in the interior of North America also helped him became an "important source of leadership and information (although not necessarily accurate) on the West." Clark is best known as

5929-472: The area for hunting. Tribes in the Ohio country who had not been party to the treaty signed with the Cherokee were angry, because the Kentucky hunting grounds had been ceded without their approval. As a result, they tried to resist encroachment by the American settlers, but were unsuccessful. Clark spent a few months surveying in Kentucky, as well as assisting in organizing Kentucky as a county for Virginia prior to

6050-543: The area near the strategically important Maumee–Wabash portage, as well as Fort Miami at Kekionga (rebuilt as Fort Wayne ). In addition, several other forts were built in the territory to maintain American control of the area. The Treaty of Greenville (1795) ended the Northwest Indian War and marked the beginning of a series of land cession treaties. Under the terms of this treaty, native tribes ceded southeastern Indiana and two-thirds of present-day Ohio to

6171-633: The attempt. Kentucky militiamen generally preferred to defend their own territory and stay closer to home, rather than make the long and potentially perilous expedition to Detroit. Clark returned to the Falls of the Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky , where he continued to defend the Ohio River valley until the end of the war. In June 1780, a mixed British-Indian force, including Shawnee , Lenape and Wyandot warriors, set out from Fort Detroit and invaded Kentucky . They captured two fortified settlements and seized hundreds of prisoners. In August 1780, Clark led

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6292-422: The autobiography contains factual inaccuracies, the work includes Clark's perspective on the events of his life. Some historians believe Clark wrote his memoirs in attempt to salvage his damaged reputation and to document his contributions during the Revolutionary War. On February 2, 1793, with his career seemingly over and his prospects for prosperity doubtful, Clark offered his services to Edmond-Charles Genêt ,

6413-460: The breaking the point. The availability of low-cost federal land led to a rapid increase in the population of the territory, with thousands of new settlers entering the region every year. Large settlements began to spring up on the periphery of the territory around the Great Lakes, the Ohio River, the Wabash River, and the Mississippi River. Much of the interior, though, remained inhabited by

6534-479: The circuit courts. James Noble was appointed to replace Sparks following Sparks' death in early 1815. When the Indiana Territory entered its semi-legislative phase of government, territorial inhabitants were allowed to elect representatives to the lower house of its bicameral legislature . President Jefferson delegated the task of choosing the five members of the Legislative Council (upper house of

6655-465: The collection of various taxes, including property taxes and taxes on sale of public lands. However, governmental expenses also increased as new counties and towns were formed, causing the need for new governmental offices and further increases in the government's overall size. The major political issue in Indiana's territorial history was slavery ; however, there were others, including Indian affairs,

6776-472: The company's $ 1.2 million (equivalent to $ 24.42 million in 2023) in investments was unaccounted for; its location was never determined. Alcoholism and poor health affected Clark during his final years. In 1809 he suffered a severe stroke . When he fell into a burning fireplace, he suffered a burn on his right leg that was so severe it had to be amputated. The injury made it impossible for Clark to continue to operate his mill and live independently. As

6897-456: The controversial ambassador of revolutionary France , hoping to earn money to maintain his estate. Many Americans were outraged that the Spanish , who controlled Louisiana , denied Americans free access to the Mississippi River , their only easy outlet for long-distance commerce. The Washington administration was also unresponsive to western matters. Genêt appointed Clark "Major General in

7018-478: The critical years on the trans-Appalachian frontier: "The mighty oak of the forest has fallen, and now the scrub oaks sprout all around." Clark's career was closely tied to events in the Ohio-Mississippi Valley at a pivotal time when the region was inhabited by numerous Native American tribes and claimed by the British, Spanish, and French, as well as the fledgling U.S. government. As a member of

7139-549: The end of his life, he was poor, in ill health, and frequently intoxicated. Several years after Clark's death the government of Virginia granted his estate $ 30,000 (equivalent to $ 807,882 in 2023) as a partial payment on the debts it owed him. The Virginian government continued to repay Clark for decades; the last payment to his estate was made in 1913. Clark never married and he kept no account of any romantic relationships, although his family held that he had once been in love with Teresa de Leyba, sister of Fernando de Leyba ,

7260-639: The end of the Revolutionary War, was further maligned as a result of his involvement in these foreign intrigues. Brigadier General James Wilkinson , 2nd in command of the Legion of the United States , claimed credit for undermining Clark and for preventing supplies from being shipped down the Ohio River . In his later years Clark's mounting debts made it impossible for him to retain ownership of his land, since it became subject to seizure due to his debts. Clark deeded much of his land to friends or transferred ownership to family members so his creditors could not seize it. Lenders and their assignees eventually deprived

7381-404: The federal government's possession of land in present-day south-central Indiana. After the signing of the contentious and disputed Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809) , in which Harrison acquired for the U.S. government more than 250,000,000 acres (100,000,000 hectares) of land in what later became central Indiana and eastern Illinois, tensions between the Native American and settlers on the frontier neared

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7502-403: The first governor of Indiana in 1816. In addition to the territorial governor and three judges, the office of secretary was established in 1800. Governor Harrison appointed a treasurer and attorney general in 1801 as the only additional government officials during the territory's non-representative phase of government. During the second phase, the office of territorial auditor was combined with

7623-498: The first governor of the territory on May 13, 1800, but Harrison did not arrive in the territory to begin his duties as governor until January 10, 1801. John Gibson , the territorial secretary, served as acting governor until Harrison's arrival at Vincennes. A three-member panel of judges called the General Court assisted the territorial governor. Together they served as both the highest legislative and judicial authority in

7744-400: The first governor of the territory. Presidents Adams, Thomas Jefferson , and James Madison made a total of three appointments to the office of governor of the Indiana Territory between July 4, 1800, when the territory was officially established, and November 7, 1816, when Jonathan Jennings was sworn in as the first governor of the state of Indiana . When the Indiana Territory was created,

7865-440: The first time on July 29, 1805. Governor Harrison retained his veto powers as well as his general executive and appointive authority, while the legislative assembly had the authority to pass laws, subject to the governor's approved before they could be enacted. The change in territorial governance also removed the territorial judges' legislative powers, leaving the territorial court with only its judicial authority. In 1809, after

7986-467: The formation of northern and western territories from portions of the Indiana Territory, concerns about the lack of territorial self-government and representation in Congress, and ongoing criticisms of Harrison's actions as territorial governor. Most of these issues were resolved before Indiana achieved statehood. The formations of the Michigan Territory and the Illinois Territory ended the debate about

8107-727: The fort, Clark forced its surrender. In 1783, Clark, who "had a reputation as an Indian hater" and once declared that he would like to see "the whole race of Indians extirpated , that for his part he would never spare Man woman or child of them on whom he could lay his hands", publicly proposed that a 2,000-strong force be mustered in Virginia to attack Native Americans in the Ohio Valley . Clark argued that this proposed expedition would show "that [the United States] are always able to crush [Native Americans] at our pleasure". He also once told Native Americans that if they declared war on

8228-608: The government made the decision to relocate the territorial capital to Corydon. Construction on the capitol building began in 1814 and was nearly finished by 1816. The area that became the Indiana Territory was once part of the Northwest Territory , which the Congress of the Confederation formed under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance on July 13, 1787. This ordinance outlined the basis for government in

8349-534: The importance of the campaign in the peace negotiations and the outcome of the war, arguing that Clark's "conquest" was little more than a temporary occupation of territory. Although the Illinois campaign is frequently described in terms of a harsh, winter ordeal for the Americans, James Fischer points out that the capture of Kaskaskia and Vincennes may not have been as difficult as previously suggested. Kaskaskia proved to be an easy target; Clark had sent two spies there in June 1777, who reported "an absence of soldiers in

8470-501: The journey. They arrived at Vincennes on February 23 and besieged Fort Sackville . After a siege which included the killing of 5 captive Indians on Clark's orders to intimidate the British, Hamilton surrendered the garrison on February 25 and was captured in the process. The winter expedition was Clark's most significant military achievement and became the basis of his reputation as an early American military hero. News of Clark's victory reached General George Washington , and his success

8591-402: The land claim was transferred to the Indiana Land Company and offered for sale; however, the government of Virginia disputed the claim, arguing that it was the rightful owner because the land fell within its boundaries. The United States Supreme Court took up the case and extinguished the company's right to the land in 1798. Two years later, Congress applied the Indiana Land Company's name to

8712-529: The legislature) to the governor, who chose from a list of ten candidates provided by the lower house. After the formation of the new legislative body, each county in the territory was granted the right to elect representatives to the House of Representatives (the legislative assembly's lower house). The lower house initially included seven representatives: one from Dearborn County, one from Clark County, two from Knox County, two from St. Clair County, and one from Randolph County. The territorial legislature met for

8833-674: The lieutenant governor of Spanish Louisiana. Writings from his niece and cousin in the Draper Manuscripts in the archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society attest to their belief in Clark's lifelong disappointment over the failed romance. Indiana Territory William Henry Harrison , the territory's first governor, oversaw treaty negotiations with the Native inhabitants that ceded tribal lands to

8954-457: The meantime, Major Jean François Hamtramck led an expedition from Fort Knox to Wea , Potawatomi , and Kickapoo villages on the Wabash , Vermilion , and Eel Rivers, but his company lacked sufficient provisions to continue, forcing a return to Vincennes. In 1791 Major General Arthur St. Clair , the governor of the Northwest Territory, commanded about 2,700 men in a campaign to establish

9075-473: The most populous county bearing the name Clark, containing Las Vegas Clark County, Ohio Clark County, South Dakota Clark County, Washington Clark County, Wisconsin See also [ edit ] Clarke County (disambiguation) Lewis and Clark County, Montana [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with

9196-487: The mouth of the Kentucky River , extending northeast to Fort Recovery in present-day western Ohio , and north to the border between the United States and Canada along a line approximately 84 degrees 45 minutes West longitude. The territory initially included most of the present-day state of Indiana ; all of present-day states of Illinois and Wisconsin ; fragments of present-day Minnesota that were east of

9317-534: The new capital. On March 11, 1813, the territorial legislature selected Corydon as the new seat of government for the territory, effective May 1, 1813. Harrison favored Corydon, a town he had founded, named, and where he owned an estate . In 1813, after it was brought to the territorial legislature's attention that plans were underway to construct a new county courthouse in Corydon and the new building could also be used for its assemblies (a significant cost savings),

9438-659: The new territory. Passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 committed the U.S. government to continued plans for western expansion. Increasing tensions with the Native Americans who occupied the western lands erupted into the Northwest Indian War. During the autumn of 1790, American forces under the command of General Josiah Harmar unsuccessfully pursued the Miami tribe near present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana , but had to retreat. In

9559-537: The northwest or for the defense of Kentucky, which was left entirely to the local population. Clark spent several months defending settlements against the Indian raiders as a leader in the Kentucky County militia, while developing his plan for a long-distance strike against the British. His strategy involved seizing British outposts north of the Ohio River to destroy British influence among their Indian allies. In December 1777, Clark presented his plan to Virginia's Governor Patrick Henry, and he asked for permission to lead

9680-557: The office of territorial treasurer. The territory also had a chancellor during most of this period. Secretary Auditor Treasurer Attorney General During the non-legislative phase, the federal government paid the salaries of the governor, the three-member judicial council, and the territorial secretary, which cost about $ 5,500 per year. In addition, a small fund of approximately $ 200 covered other expenses such as printing, postage, and rent. The federal government did not provide funds for any additional governmental offices such as

9801-491: The ongoing hostilities with Native Americans and the War of 1812 ; and a final period, when the territory's population increased and its residents successfully petitioned Congress for statehood in 1816. Under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance, the territorial government went through 3 phases prior to statehood: In 1803, when the Indiana Territory was formed from the remaining Northwest Territory after Ohio attained statehood,

9922-469: The opposition party, led by Congressman Jonathan Jennings , dominated territorial affairs in its final years and began pressing for statehood. In June 1816 a constitutional convention was held at Corydon, where a state constitution was adopted on June 29, 1816. General elections were held in August to fill offices for the new state government, the new officeholders were sworn into office in November, and

10043-411: The president who later delegated this authority to the territorial governor. Adams chose William Clarke, Henry Vanderburgh , and John Griffin as the territory's first three judges. Following Clarke's death in November 1802, Thomas T. Davis was appointed as his replacement. Acting as the combined judicial and legislative government, the territorial governor and the three judges adopted the laws to govern

10164-511: The region helped him to become an expert on the West's natural history. Over the years he welcomed travelers, including those interested in natural history, to his home overlooking the Ohio River. Clark supplied details on the area's plant and animal life to John Pope and John James Audubon , and hosted his brother, William, and Meriweather Lewis , prior to their expedition to the Pacific Northwest . Clark also provided information on

10285-400: The requirement for proceeding to the semi-legislative phase of territorial government was modified. Instead of requiring the territory's population to reach 5,000 free adult males, the second phase could be initiated when the majority of territory's free landholders informed the territorial governor that they wanted to do so. In 1810 the requirement for voters to be landholders was replaced with

10406-565: The result of his military service and land speculation, he was "land-poor," meaning that he owned much land but lacked the resources to develop it. Clark's receipts were discovered in the Richmond Virginia's Auditors building in the early twentieth century showing that his record keeping efforts were complete and correct but not reimbursed due to the State of Virginia's incompetency, thus he was exonerated, though not officially. Although

10527-455: The right to debate, submit legislation, and serve on committees, but they were not permitted to vote on legislation. When the Indiana Territory entered its second phase of governance, the territory's legislative assembly elected Benjamin Parke as its delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Jesse B. Thomas was appointed to the post following Parke's resignation in 1808. Congress approved

10648-544: The same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clark_County&oldid=1186900287 " Category : United States county name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages George Rogers Clark George Rogers Clark (November 19, 1752 – February 13, 1818)

10769-432: The superintendent-surveyor for Virginia's war veterans, surveying lands granted to them for their service in the war. The position brought Clark a small income, but he devoted very little time to the enterprise. In 1785 Clark helped to negotiate the Treaty of Fort McIntosh and the Treaty of Fort Finney in 1786, but the violence between Native Americans and European-American settlers continued to escalate. According to

10890-399: The suspension in order to make the region more appealing to slave-holding settlers and ultimately make the territory economically viable by increasing its population. In addition, the petition requested that the slaves and their children brought into the territory during the suspension period should remain slaves even after the suspension ended. Benjamin Parke, a pro-slavery supporter who became

11011-524: The terms of the Northwest Ordinance of 1796. Because Harrison's political fortunes were tied to Indiana's rise to statehood, he was eager to expand the territory. In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson granted Harrison the authority to negotiate and conclude treaties with the Native American tribes in the territory. Harrison oversaw the establishment of thirteen treaties that ceded more than 60,000,000 acres (24,000,000 hectares) of land from Native American tribes, including most present-day southern Indiana , to

11132-448: The territorial government. Territorial revenue fell to critical levels due to the War of 1812, when many of the territory's taxpayers were unable to pay what they owed, and their land reverted to the federal government. Financial issues also caused the movement for statehood to be delayed until after the war's end. At one point during 1813, for example, the balance in territory's treasury was

11253-409: The territorial legislature repealed the indenturing laws that Harrison and the judicial court had enacted in 1803. The capital of the Indiana Territory remained in Vincennes from 1800 to 1813, when the territorial legislature moved it to Corydon . After the Illinois Territory was formed from the western portion of the Indiana Territory in 1809, Vincennes, which was initially situated in the center of

11374-419: The territory to be brought into the territory and bound into service for fixed terms set by the slave owner. After the territory was granted representation in Congress in 1805, Parke was able to get Congress to pass legislation to suspend Article Six for ten years, granting the territories covered under the ordinance the ability to legalize slavery in their territories. Harrison's attempts to allow slavery in

11495-453: The territory was dissolved. On December 11, 1816, President James Madison signed the congressional act that formally admitted Indiana to the Union as the nineteenth state. When the Indiana Territory was formed in 1800, its original boundaries included the western portion of the Northwest Territory. This encompassed an area northwest of a line beginning at the Ohio River , on the bank opposite

11616-483: The territory was limited, with the primary source of funds coming from the sale of federal lands. Other revenue came from the collection of duties, licenses, and excise taxes. In 1811 property taxes collected from landowners were based on the numbers of acres and its rating; previously, these taxes were based on land values. Taxes were also collected for territorial counties to use. After 1815 taxes were levied on some types of manufactured goods to provide additional funds for

11737-402: The territory were delayed due to war. At the outbreak of Tecumseh's War , when the territory was on the front line of battle, Harrison led a military force in the opening hostilities at the Battle of Tippecanoe (1811) and in the subsequent invasion of Canada during the War of 1812 . After Harrison resigned as the territorial governor, Thomas Posey was appointed to the vacant governorship, but

11858-465: The territory's counties. Harrison County, established in 1808 from portions of Knox and Clark counties, elected one representative to the lower house; Clark and Dearborn counties each had two representatives; and the more populated Knox County had three. This bicameral legislative structure remained unchanged for the remainder of the territory's existence. Territorial delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives could attend congressional sessions with

11979-466: The territory's first representative in Congress in 1805, carried the petition to Washington, D.C.; however, Congress failed to take action, leaving Harrison and the territorial judges to pursue other options. In 1803 Harrison and the general court judges passed legislation that evaded the Ordinance of 1787 in order permit slavery in the Indiana Territory through the use of indentured servitude laws. The bill allowed adult slaves owned or purchased outside

12100-400: The territory's geographical size. In the second phase of territorial governance, the increasing democratization of the government shifted the authority initially placed in the hands of the territorial governor and a judicial council to a legislative branch of elected representatives and a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. The debate over the issue of allowing slavery in the territory

12221-426: The territory's population increased. By 1810 the Indiana Territory's enumerated population reached 24,520, even after the territory's size had been reduced with formation of the Michigan Territory (1805) and Illinois Territory (1809). When the Indiana Territory petitioned for statehood in 1816, its population was spread among fifteen counties and exceeded 60,000 people, which was the minimum required for statehood under

12342-435: The territory, was now on its far west edge. The territorial legislature was also becoming increasingly fearful that the outbreak of the War of 1812 could cause an attack on Vincennes, resulting in their decision to move the seat of government to a location closer to the territory's population center. In addition to Corydon, the towns of Madison , Lawrenceburg , Vevay , and Jeffersonville were considered as potential sites for

12463-584: The territory. As governor of a territory of the first stage, which was outlined in the Northwest Ordinance , Harrison had wide-ranging powers in the new territory that included the authority to appoint all territorial officials and members of the territorial General Assembly. He also had the authority to divide the territory into districts. Vincennes, the territory's oldest settlement and among its largest with 714 townspeople in 1800, became its first territorial capital. The former French trading post

12584-536: The territory. In addition to working with the territorial governor on legislative issues, the territorial judges presided over the general court. When the Indiana Territory entered the semi-legislative phase of government in 1805, the legislature gradually became the dominant branch, and the judges focused on judicial matters. In 1814, as the territory progressed toward statehood, three circuit courts were established. Governor Posey appointed Isaac Blackford , Jesse Lynch Holman , and Elijah Sparks as presiding judges over

12705-402: The town, its surrounding area, and the fort. Clark was already aware of the fort's military strength, poor location (surrounded by houses that could provide cover to attackers), and dilapidated condition. Clark's strategy of a surprise attack and strong intelligence were critical in catching Hamilton and his men unaware and vulnerable. After killing five captive Indians by hatchet within view of

12826-489: The town." Clark's men also easily captured Vincennes and Fort Sackville. Prior to their arrival in 1778, Clark had sent Captain Leonard Helm to Vincennes to gather intelligence. In addition, Father Pierre Gibault , a local priest, helped persuade the town's inhabitants to side with the Americans. Before Clark and his men set out to recapture Vincennes in 1779, Francis Vigo provided Clark with additional information on

12947-632: The treasurer and attorney general. Salaries for these officials were paid from the territory's treasury. In the semi-legislative phase, the federal government paid the salaries of the territorial governor, judges, and secretary at a cost of approximately $ 6,687 per year. The territorial treasury was responsible for funding legislative expenses, as well as the salaries of the treasurer, auditor, attorney general, and chancellor. The territorial treasurer also paid operational expenses such as printing, rent, stationery, and other supplies and services. These expenses were estimated to cost $ 10,000 per year. Revenue for

13068-427: The veteran of nearly all of the property that remained in his name. Clark, who was at one time the largest landholder in the Northwest Territory, was left with only a small plot of land in Clarksville. In 1803 Clark built a cabin overlooking the Falls of the Ohio, where he lived until his health failed in 1809. He also purchased a small gristmill , which Clark operated with two slaves he owned. Clark's knowledge of

13189-540: The war, but he later became famous as a leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition . The family moved from the frontier to Caroline County, Virginia , in 1756 after the outbreak of the French and Indian War . They lived on a 400-acre (1.6 km ) plantation that they later developed to a total of more than 2,000 acres (8.1 km ). Clark had little formal education. He lived with his grandfather so that he could receive

13310-601: The western lands and also provided for an administrative structure to oversee the territory, including a three-stage process for transitioning from territory to statehood. In addition, the Land Ordinance of 1785 called for the U.S. government to survey the newly acquired territory for future sale and development. The Northwest Territory, which initially included land bounded by the Appalachian Mountains , Mississippi River , Great Lakes , and Ohio River ,

13431-544: The word Indiana dates from 1768, when the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy reserved about 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of land in the present-day state of West Virginia and deeded it to a twenty-five-member Philadelphia -based trading company that engaged in trade with the native tribes in the Ohio River valley. The company named their land claim Indiana, in honor of its previous owners. In 1776

13552-471: Was accused of being drunk on duty. He was disgraced and forced to resign, despite his demand for a formal investigation into the accusations. Clark left Kentucky to live in the Indiana Territory but was never fully reimbursed by the Virginian government for his wartime expenditures. During the final decades of his life, he worked to evade creditors and suffered living in increasing poverty and obscurity. He

13673-441: Was also one of the few white settlements in the territory. Indiana Territory began with four counties: Saint Clair and Randolph County , which became part of present-day Illinois; Knox in present-day Indiana; Wayne County , which became part of present-day Michigan. Governor Harrison formed Clark County , the first new county in the territory, out of the eastern portion of Knox County. Additional counties were established as

13794-630: Was an American military officer and surveyor from Virginia who became the highest-ranking Patriot military officer on the northwestern frontier during the Revolutionary War . He served as leader of the Virginia militia in Kentucky (then part of Virginia) throughout much of the war. He is best known for his captures of Kaskaskia in 1778 and Vincennes in 1779 during the Illinois campaign , which greatly weakened British influence in

13915-465: Was born on November 19, 1752, in Albemarle County, Virginia , near Charlottesville , the hometown of Thomas Jefferson . He was the second of ten children borne by John and Ann Rogers Clark, who were Anglicans of English and possibly Scottish descent. Five of their six sons became officers during the American Revolutionary War . Their youngest son William was too young to fight in

14036-570: Was celebrated and was used to encourage the alliance with France . General Washington recognized that Clark's achievement had been gained without support from the regular army, either in men or funds. Virginia also capitalized on Clark's success, laying claim to the Old Northwest by calling it Illinois County, Virginia . Clark's ultimate goal during the Revolutionary War was to seize the British-held fort at Detroit, but he could never recruit enough men and acquire sufficient munitions to make

14157-403: Was estimated to be near 20,000, possibly as high as 75,000. In the 1800 United States census , 4 counties in the Indiana Territory (2 of which were located in contemporary Illinois and 1 in contemporary Michigan) reported the following counts: In the 1810 United States census , following the passage of organic acts by the 9th U.S. Congress to create the Michigan Territory in 1805 and by

14278-400: Was involved in two failed attempts to open the Spanish -controlled Mississippi River to American traffic. Following a stroke and the amputation of his right leg, he became disabled. Clark was aided in his final years by family members, including his younger brother William , one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition . He died of a stroke on February 13, 1818. George Rogers Clark

14399-415: Was only 24 years old, he led older but lesser ranked settlers such as Daniel Boone , James Harrod and Benjamin Logan . In 1777, the Revolutionary War intensified in Kentucky. Lieutenant-governor Henry Hamilton , based at Fort Detroit , provided weapons to his Indian allies, supporting their raids on settlers in hope of reclaiming their lands. The Continental Army could spare no men for an invasion in

14520-421: Was settled in 1810; however, criticism of Governor Harrison continued, even after much of his authority was transferred to territorial legislators and judges. In December 1802 delegates from Indiana Territory's four counties passed a resolution in favor of a ten-year suspension of Article Six of the Northwest Ordinance, which prohibited slavery in the original Northwest Territory. They also petitioned Congress for

14641-507: Was subsequently partitioned into smaller territories that included the Indiana Territory (1800), Michigan Territory (1805), the Illinois Territory (1809), and eventually became the present-day states of Ohio , Michigan , Indiana , Illinois , Wisconsin , and eastern Minnesota . Indiana , meaning "Land of the Indians", references the fact that most of the area north of the Ohio River was still inhabited by Native Americans. Formal use of

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