The American Pioneers of the Northwest Territory consisted of military from the American War of Independence (the Revolutionary War) and Ohio Company of Associates, a land company comparable to the modern-day property developer. The Northwest Territory as an organized incorporated territory came into existence on July 13, 1787.
On this day April 7th, in 1788, Marietta, Ohio is established and becomes the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. The territory had only been a part of the U.S. for under a year at the time. 48 men were part of the expedition, carefully chosen, and many of them knew George Washington personally, as he commented that they were the perfect candidates to take on such an endeavor.
The Northwest Territory covers Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota – equaling about 260,000 sq. miles. It was George Washington’s idea to settle Ohio, as he mentioned to Rufus Putnam, one of the 48 men to settle Marietta. The settlement was named in honor of Marie Antoinette because she aided the U.S. in its revolution against the British.