Ephraim Cutler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ephraim Cutler
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| Delegate to 1802 Ohio Constitutional Convention from Washington County | |
| In office November 1, 1802 – November 29, 1802 Serving with
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| Personal details | |
| Born | April 13, 1767 Edgartown, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 8, 1853 (aged 86) Belpre, Ohio |
| Resting place | Gravel Bank Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio |
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| Children | eleven |
Ephraim Cutler (born April 13, 1767 – died July 8, 1853) was an important political leader and judge. He lived in the early days of the Northwest Territory and the state of Ohio.
Contents
Early Life and Family Beginnings
Ephraim Cutler was born in Edgartown, Massachusetts on April 13, 1767. He was the oldest son of Manasseh Cutler. From age three, Ephraim lived with his grandparents. He loved to read books.
He did not go to Yale College like his father. This was because of the American Revolutionary War. Ephraim later wished he had more formal education. When he was 16, he took over his grandfather's farm. He also ran a small shop in the 1790s.
Family Life and Moving West
Ephraim married Leah Atwood on April 8, 1787. She was from Killingly. In that same year, his father, Manasseh Cutler, helped pass the Northwest Ordinance. This law set up how new lands beyond the Appalachian Mountains would be settled.
Manasseh Cutler was a leader of the Ohio Company of Associates. This company bought a large area of land in what is now southeast Ohio. Ephraim Cutler became a sales agent for the company. He sold twenty shares of land. Even though he was young, shareholders chose him to represent them.
Leah, Ephraim's first wife, was often sick. She died on November 3, 1807. Before she died, she asked Ephraim to marry again. She even suggested Sally Parker, who was the daughter of an Ohio Company shareholder. Ephraim followed her advice and married Sally. They had several children together.
Life in the Northwest Territory
After a big battle in 1794, Ephraim Cutler decided to move his family. He hoped the warmer climate in southern Ohio would help his wife's health. On June 15, 1795, he left Killingly with his wife and four children. They traveled with two horses, a cow, and an ox-drawn cart.
They reached the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. There, they had a flat-boat built. The river was low, so their trip was slow. They finally arrived in Marietta, Ohio, on September 18, 1795. Sadly, their oldest and youngest children died during the journey. Leah Cutler also broke two ribs. Ephraim got sick but recovered.
Settling in Ohio
In October, Ephraim's family moved to Waterford, Ohio. Other families from Killingly had settled there. They offered shelter and hired Ephraim to help with plowing. Cutler also finished company business in Marietta. Rufus Putnam paid him to survey land.
In 1796, Ephraim bought some land. He also helped develop a salt spring. Governor Arthur St. Clair made him a captain in the militia. He also became a Justice of the Peace and a judge. By 1799, he was the first settler in what became Ames Township, Athens County, Ohio.
Early Libraries and Education
In 1800, Ephraim Cutler was asked to manage "School Lands." These lands were set aside to support public education. This job involved a lot of travel. In 1804, he helped start the Western Library Association in Ames Township. This was one of the first libraries in the Northwest Territory.
People raised money for the library by selling furs and other items. It became known as the "Coonskin Library." Cutler was elected its first librarian.
Ohio Politics and Statehood
In September 1801, Cutler was elected to represent Washington County, Ohio. He served in the House of Representatives for the Northwest Territory. While there, he helped create the laws for what would become Ohio University.
After this, he visited his father in Washington, D.C.. His father was a member of Congress. Ephraim saw the Enabling Act of 1802 passed. This act allowed Ohio to become a state. It also allowed Washington County to elect four delegates.
Cutler was chosen as one of these delegates. He attended the Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802) from November 1 to 29, 1802. This convention wrote the Constitution that led to Ohio becoming a state in 1803.
Key Votes and Debates
At the convention, Ephraim Cutler was the only Federalist to vote against forming a state government right away. He wanted the people to vote on the Constitution first. He believed this would make sure everyone agreed with it. However, the other delegates voted against his idea. They wanted to become a state quickly.
Life After Statehood
After Ohio became a state, Ephraim Cutler continued to serve his community. He was a Justice of the Peace and a township trustee. His wife, Leah, became very ill. The family moved closer to a doctor in Belpre, Ohio. Leah died on November 3, 1807.
On April 13, 1808, Ephraim married Sally Parker. They had five more children. Four of them grew up, including William P. Cutler. William later became a speaker in the Ohio House and a member of Congress.
Political Influence and Reforms
Later, Ephraim Cutler was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives (1819–1820). He also served in the Ohio Senate (1823–1825). He worked hard on two main issues. He wanted to create a common school system for everyone. Before this, schools were only local efforts.
He also pushed for changes to land taxes. He wanted taxes to be based on the value of the land, not just its size. This was important because some counties had valuable land but paid less tax. His ideas finally won out. Taxes then began to be based on land value. Cutler also supported Ohio University as a Trustee from 1820 to 1849.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Cutler continued to be active. He was a delegate to church assemblies. In 1839, he represented Ohio at a national convention for the Whig Party. He also helped organize and participated in the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.
Sally Cutler died on June 30, 1846. In 1853, Ephraim fell from a horse. He died on July 8, 1853. An obituary said he was a useful man in every part of his life. He was called an honest judge, a smart lawmaker, a good neighbor, and a kind father.
See also
- Manasseh Cutler
- William P. Cutler
Images for kids
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Ephraim Cutler, an early Ohio political leader.
