Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 4).djvu/119



New town and settlement of Warren—Roland's ferry—Comfortable situation, the effect of industry—Wheeling—Walk by moon-light—New state road—Wheeling island—Canton.

We proceeded after dinner from Charlestown, three and a half miles to a ferry, and two miles further, we passed a point and a tavern on the right, a mile and a half below which on the same hand, is the straggling town and fine settlement of Warren, laid out by Mr. Kimberly, the proprietor, five years ago, but it is only within two years that it has began to assume the appearance of a town. It contains thirty-eight dwelling houses, charmingly situated on an extensive bottom, the largest I had noticed since leaving Pittsburgh, with Indian Short creek emptying into the Ohio at its southern extremity.

Three miles lower, we passed Pike island, which is about three quarters of a mile long, and seems capable of cultivation, though perhaps rather low. Opposite to it is the boundary line between Jefferson and Belmont counties in Ohio.

Two miles further, at six o'clock we landed at Roland's ferry, on the left, and found Roland and his son employed building a boat on the bank. He had removed from Pittsburgh last April, and now rents {94} a small farm from Mr. Woods, the county surveyor, who has a handsome house in sight, a little remote from the river where he resides, another on the bank a little lower down, and a cottage amongst the woods on the highest neighbouring hill, intended for a banqueting house during summer, and commanding an extensive prospect. At Roland's invitation, we walked to his cottage a little distant from the river bank. His wife and a