Eleanor Finch
Ephraim Cutler was a prominent political leader and businessman in Southeast Ohio. Cutler was born in 1767 in Massachusetts and moved to Marietta, Ohio, in 1795. He was a Washington County delegate to Ohio's constitutional convention in Chillicothe in 1802. Cutler was a strong supporter of education and abolitionism, and he played a leading role in framing and securing the passage of Article VIII, or the Bill of Rights, of Ohio's Constitution. Cutler's efforts prohibited slavery in the state. Cutler owned another home near the Ohio River, and his homestead in Constitution, Ohio, was known as the Old Stone House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The Ephriam Cutler Homestead is in present-day Ames Township, Athens County, Ohio, United States. Specifically, it is located along State Route 550, between the communities of Guysville and Macksburg. |
| History | Ephriam Cutler, a prominent early resident of Ohio, built the homestead in 1806. Cutler was a lawyer and judge, and he played a significant role in the establishment of Ohio University in Athens. The homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. |
| Architecture | The main house is a two-story brick structure with a gable roof and a large central chimney. It was built in the Federal style and features a symmetrical facade with a central entrance and evenly spaced windows. The property also includes a springhouse and the remains of a stone gristmill founded by Cutler. |
| Current Status | The Ephriam Cutler Homestead is privately owned and not open to the public. However, it remains a significant historical site in the area and is recognized with an Ohio historical marker. |
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What You'll Learn
Ephraim Cutler's role in Ohio's 1802 constitutional convention
Ephraim Cutler was an early Northwest Territory and Ohio political leader and jurist. Cutler played a significant role in Ohio's 1802 Constitutional Convention, which took place from November 1 to November 29, 1802.
Cutler was a delegate at the convention, representing Washington County, Ohio. He was a strong advocate for abolitionism and education. Cutler was a member of the committee that introduced Article VIII, or the Bill of Rights, of Ohio's Constitution. He drafted Section 2, which explicitly prohibited slavery or involuntary servitude in Ohio, citing the Ordinance of 1787 as its basis. Cutler's efforts were crucial in ensuring that Ohio entered statehood as a free state.
Cutler also played a role in the establishment of educational institutions in Ohio. In 1802, he introduced legislation to establish the American Western University, which later became Ohio University. He also helped to secure funding for public education in the state.
In addition to his role in the 1802 Constitutional Convention, Cutler held various other positions throughout his career. He served as a judge of the court of common pleas and Justice of the Peace in Washington County. He was also a land surveyor for the Ohio Company and a trustee of Ohio University. Cutler was well-known in southeastern Ohio for his political and educational contributions.
Cutler's role in the 1802 Constitutional Convention was significant as it helped shape the foundation of Ohio's statehood and its commitment to abolitionism and education. His efforts, particularly in prohibiting slavery, left a lasting impact on the state's history and its commitment to civil rights.
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Cutler's opposition to slavery
Ephraim Cutler was born in 1767 in Massachusetts and moved to Marietta, Ohio in 1795. Cutler was a Washington County delegate to Ohio's constitutional convention in 1802, where he played a crucial role in opposing slavery in the state.
Cutler was a strong abolitionist and advocated for the rights of African Americans. He introduced legislation to establish what later became Ohio University and chartered a medical school there. He was also a trustee of the university. Cutler's anti-slavery contribution at the convention was his introduction of a section to the Ohio Constitution that explicitly excluded slavery in the state. He drafted Section 2 of Article VIII, or the Bill of Rights, which stated that slavery or involuntary servitude was forbidden in Ohio based on the Ordinance of 1787. This section passed by just one vote.
Cutler is often credited with defeating slavery in Ohio through his last-minute vote and by convincing a colleague to change their vote. However, it is important to note that there was no major opposition to the article preventing slavery. Cutler had worked in committee beforehand to change opinions and prevent slavery in Ohio. His efforts were so significant that his home north of Belpre, Ohio, was named Constitution, and a nearby community was called Veto.
Cutler also played a role in the Underground Railroad. By 1810, he was helping fugitive slaves from Wood County, Virginia, begin their journey to freedom. His home became a model for Underground Railroad stations, and he worked with abolitionists to assist escaped slaves crossing the Ohio River.
Cutler's father, Manasseh Cutler, was also instrumental in shaping Ohio's history. He helped pass the Northwest Ordinance, which established a political framework for settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Manasseh was a leader of the Ohio Company of Associates, which bought a large tract of land in what is now southeast Ohio. Ephraim Cutler followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a sales agent for the company and later a judge of the court of common pleas and Justice of the Peace.
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Cutler's other homes
Ephraim Cutler was born in Edgartown, Massachusetts, in 1767. In 1795, he moved to Marietta, Ohio, from Connecticut. Cutler was a prominent figure in southeastern Ohio, serving as a judge and justice of the peace, as well as a land surveyor for the Ohio Company. He also played a crucial role in the establishment of Ohio University, acting as one of its trustees.
Cutler's journey to Ohio and his early years in the state were marked by challenges. He settled in the Marietta area and became a successful political leader and businessman in the region. In addition to his political and business endeavours, Cutler was also a devoted family man. He married twice and had several children.
Cutler's first marriage was to Leah Atwood in 1787. Together, they had four children: Nancy, Charles, Mary, and Daniel. After Leah's death in 1807, Cutler sent his son Daniel to live with his grandparents in Massachusetts. The following year, in 1808, Cutler married Sally (or Sarah) Parker, a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts. With Sally, Cutler had five more children, four of whom survived to adulthood, including William P. Cutler, who followed in his father's footsteps and became a prominent figure in Ohio politics.
Cutler's homes in Ohio included the well-known "Old Stone House" in Constitution, Ohio, and another residence near the Ohio River. He also had a home in Veto, Ohio, which has been depicted in a painting. Additionally, Cutler's daughter, Mary, lived near the old Cutler homestead in Ames Township. Cutler's brother, Jervis Cutler, briefly resided in Marietta, Ohio, before returning to New England.
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Cutler's early life and journey to Ohio
Ephraim Cutler was born in Edgartown, Massachusetts, on April 13, 1767. He was the oldest son of Dr. Manasseh Cutler and was named after his father's brother, who had died the previous year. Cutler took over his grandfather's farm when he was 16 and also ran a shop by the 1790s. In 1787, at the age of 20, he married Leah Atwood, with whom he had several children, including Nancy, Charles, Mary, and Daniel.
In 1795, Cutler decided to move his family from Killingly, Connecticut, to Ohio, hoping that the climate in southern Ohio would improve his wife's delicate health. On June 15, 1795, Cutler, his wife, their four children, and several members of the family of Revolutionary War general Israel Putnam set out for Ohio. They traveled by foot, with two horses, a cow, and a cart drawn by oxen, to the Monongahela River near Williamsport, Pennsylvania. From there, they continued by boat, arriving in Marietta, Ohio, on September 18, 1795, after a journey of over three months.
Upon their arrival in Marietta, Cutler fell ill and the family remained there for several weeks. They then continued up the Muskingum River to Waterford, Ohio, where they settled for a while with other families from Killingly. In 1796, Cutler purchased land nearby and later helped develop and market a salt spring. He also received commissions from Governor Arthur St. Clair, becoming a captain of the militia, Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
In 1799, Cutler became the first settler in what would become Ames Township, Athens County, Ohio, moving there with his wife and their two surviving children from Connecticut, as well as two children born in the Northwest. Cutler was a strong supporter of education and played a leading role in social, political, and educational movements in the area. He was also a land surveyor for the Ohio Company and a trustee of Ohio University.
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Cutler's legacy
Born in 1767 in Edgartown, Massachusetts, Ephraim Cutler moved to Marietta, Ohio, in 1795. Cutler was the son of Manasseh Cutler, who was a leader of the Ohio Company of Associates, a land company that bought a large tract of land in what is now southeast Ohio. Ephraim Cutler became a sales agent for the company and was elected by shareholders to represent them at a meeting in 1788, despite not being of legal age.
Cutler was well-known in southeastern Ohio and held several prominent positions throughout his life. He was a land surveyor for the Ohio Company, a trustee of Ohio University, and a judge of the court of common pleas and Justice of the Peace. In 1802, Cutler was selected as a Washington County delegate to Ohio's constitutional convention, where he played a significant role in shaping the state's constitution.
One of Cutler's most notable contributions was his commitment to abolishing slavery. He was a member of the committee that introduced Article VIII, or the Bill of Rights, of Ohio's Constitution. Cutler drafted Section 2, which explicitly excluded slavery or involuntary servitude in Ohio, citing the Ordinance of 1787 as a basis. This section passed by just one vote, and Cutler is credited with casting the deciding vote to keep Ohio a free state.
In addition to his abolitionist efforts, Cutler advocated for the rights of African Americans and supported education. He introduced legislation to establish what later became Ohio University and chartered a medical school at the university by 1825. Cutler also served as a township Justice of the Peace from 1803 to 1805 and as a township trustee of Ames Township in 1806.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ephriam Cutler homestead was in Warren Township, a ghost town outside of Belpre, Ohio.
Ephriam Cutler was a Washington County judge, a land surveyor for the Ohio Company, and a trustee of Ohio University.
Ephriam Cutler was a Washington County delegate at the Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1802. He was a committed abolitionist and played a leading part in framing and securing the passage of Article VIII, or the Bill of Rights, of Ohio's Constitution.
Ephriam Cutler was born in 1767 in Edgartown, Massachusetts. He moved to Marietta, Ohio, from Connecticut in 1795 and became a prominent figure in the region. Cutler was the eldest son of Dr. Manasseh Cutler and had a successful career as a political leader and businessman in Southeast Ohio.
