More About the Ebenezer Zane Cabin in Zanesfield, Ohio

The Zane family was originally from Virginia. And, they may have remained happily in Virginia for many generations, had the Wyandot not captured two of their children in 1763. The older child was soon released. But, young Isaac was not released. Soon, the Wyandot fled into the Ohio Country to escape fighting with the Shawnee, and they ended up in the Mad River Valley.

Isaac Zane escaped from the Wyandot by age 18. But, he returned to his adoptive family within five years. He soon married Myeerah, a daughter of the the Wyandot chief. And, for the remainder of their lives, they remained in the present-day Zanesfield, Ohio area, a part of both societies - natives and settlers, until their death in 1816.

The Ebenezer Zane Cabin is a restoration of an actual cabin from the pioneer days of Zanesfield, Ohio. The original cabin was built in 1805. And for nearly eleven years, the cabin was quite ordinary.

Separate from life in Zanesfield, a Methodist Lay Preacher, John Stewart, was working tirelessly to gain the trust of the Wyandot in Ohio. He was on the verge of abandoning this task when he was finally granted tribal acceptance. And, he began sharing Methodist Theology with his new friends.

Soon, the Cincinnati Methodist District received word that both natives and settlers were accepting the Word as taught by John Stewart. A circuit rider, J. B. Finley, was sent to report on the progress of John Stewart's work.

On November 13 and 14, 1819, a meeting of the Zanesfield Methodist Mission was held. During this meeting 60 indians accepted Christianity in front of approximately 300 settlers from the area. By 1823, a "Bible Class" was formed at Zanesfield. This marked a very important point in the Methodist Missionary movement in Ohio.

To mark the importance of these cabin meetings, the United Methodist Church has marked the Ebenezer Zane Cabin a historic spot within the church.