Noah Zane facts for kids

Noah Ebenezer Zane (born October 23, 1778 – died June 3, 1833) was an important American pioneer and politician. He was born near a place called Fort Henry, which later became the city of Wheeling in what is now West Virginia. Noah Zane served in the Virginia Senate, representing several counties in western Virginia during the War of 1812.

Early Life and Family History

Noah Zane was one of eleven children. His parents were Ebenezer Zane, a famous pioneer, and Elizabeth McColloch. His father, Ebenezer, also served as a politician in the Virginia House of Delegates.

When Noah was a baby, he and his sisters survived a difficult time called the siege in September 1782. During this event, Native Americans tried to remove the settlers from the area. Noah's father, his uncles, and his aunt Betty Zane bravely fought to protect their home.

In 1806, Noah married Mary Chapline. She came from two other important pioneer families in the area. Noah and Mary had several children. Their only son who lived to adulthood, Platoff Zane, had three sons and two daughters. Noah Zane's four daughters also married and lived through the American Civil War.

Political Career and Land

Noah Zane was a farmer near Wheeling, on both sides of the Ohio River. He also managed the properties of his parents. In the early 1800s, it was common for some people in Virginia to own enslaved people. Noah Zane's household included enslaved individuals during this period. However, he did not use enslaved labor in the State of Ohio, because it was against the law there.

In 1812, voters from Ohio County and several nearby counties chose Noah Zane to represent them in the Virginia Senate. These counties included Monongalia, Harrison, Randolph, Wood, and Brook Counties. He served in the Senate until 1816.

Death and Family Legacy

Noah Zane passed away in June 1833. His wife was left to raise their children and grandchildren.

His grandsons later fought on different sides during the American Civil War. Edwin Greathouse Zane fought for the Confederate side and died from injuries received in a battle. His brother, Noah Zane, also fought for the Confederates but survived the war. Their eldest brother, Samuel Sprigg Zane, joined the Union side and also survived. This shows how the Civil War divided families, even those with deep roots in American history.