Ohio's Nathaniel Massie-- Part 2: A Military Career

From "Nathaniel Massie, a Pioneer of Ohio" by David Meade Massie.

Nathaniel Massie was commissioned by President Adams as colonel of militia in the Northwest Territory.  Under Ohio's new state constitution he was elected first major general of the Second Division of Ohio Militia.

The militia in the state was extremely important to the American settlers because the Indians were still in the area and were constantly stirred up by the British to get their land back.  He held that post until he resigned in 1810.

In the Spring of 1813, the British and their Indian allies besieged General Harrison at Fort Meigs in Ohio. Massie was getting old, but rose to the occasion and organized fellow citizens of Paint Creek and marched from there to Chillicothe.  By the time they got to Franklinville, they numbered about 500 and Nathaniel Massie, with his experience, was elected their commander.

When they reached Upper Sanduskey, they received word that the Indians and British had returned to Canada so they turned back.

Nathaniel Massie died November 13, 1813, at his home of pneumonia "or rather the treatment, which was then prescribed for that disease--profuse bleeding."

--Brock-Perry

Ohio's Nathaniel Massie-- Part 1

In the last post, I mentioned that Duncan McArthur was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio. Also buried there is Nathaniel Massie (1763-1813).

A Virginia native, he served in that state's militia during the American Revolution and then was a frontier surveyor who founded 14 towns in early Ohio, including Chillicothe, the first capital.  In 1807, the Ohio General Assembly elected him governor, but he refused it.

He also established Manchester, Ohio and platted Chillicothe.  One of Ohio's biggest landowners, he was also a major general in the state militia.

He led troops during the War of 1812 and in 1813, led 500 troops in a relief effort for William Henry Harrison who was besieged at Fort Meigs in Ohio.  There is a Captain Nathaniel Massie's Mounted Cavalry Company listed as probably being from Ross County.

Nathaniel Massie died of pneumonia on November 3, 1813.

--Brock-Perry