Zane, Ebenezer
Zane, Ebenezer
ZANE, EBENEZER. (1747–1812). Pioneer. Virginia. Born near modern Moorefield, West Virginia, he explored and surveyed lands in the Ohio country with his brothers Silas and Jonathan, claiming thousands of acres in the process. During Dunmore's War he was the disbursing agent of the Virginia militia, in which he held the rank of colonel, and in 1774 he supervised the construction of Fort Fincastle (later Fort Henry). During the Revolution he took part in the defense of Fort Henry in both 1777 and 1782. His brother Jonathan was present at Crawford's defeat in 1782, and his sister Elizabeth became a heroine of the Revolution. As a member of the Virginia ratifying convention of 1788, Zane supported the Constitution. In 1793 he laid out the town of Wheeling and began selling lots. In 1796 Ebenezer got permission from Congress to open a road from Wheeling to Limestone (Maysville), Kentucky, when southern Ohio was opened for settlement by the Treaty of Greenville. This became the famous "Zane's Trace," and Zanesville (originally Westbourne) was established on a section of land granted to Zane where his road crossed the Muskingum. Zane died in Wheeling on 19 November 1812.
SEE ALSO Crawford's Defeat; Wayne, Anthony; Wheeling, West Virginia.
revised by Michael Bellesiles