More on the elder Ebenezer Zane

As promised, I am returning to the topic of Ebenezer Zane - the elder. This distinction is used to ease confusion between Ebenezer Zane (1747-1811) and his nephew of the same name.

Ebenezer Zane was the second child of William Zane of Virginia. With two of his brothers, Silas and Jonathan, Ebenezer Zane founded the first settlement at what is now Wheeling, West Virginia. Ebenezer also served in the British Military prior to the Revolutionary War. He was in Fort Henry when his father was wounded and his sister, Betty Zane, ran out of the fort to retrieve munitions from the family's cabin. Ebenezer also served in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War.

After the war, in 1796, Ebenezer Zane petitioned Congress for permission and funds to create a road through the Northwest Territory. In return, Zane requested land near the Scioto, Muskingum, and Hocking Rivers. So, from 1796 to 1797 Zane worked on his road. It began in Wheeling, Virginia (note: before it was West Virginia) and ended in Maysville, Kentucky. This road frequently followed old Indian Trails, and in most places, this road was not suitable for travel by wagon. The road would become known as Zane's Trace. Between 1825 and 1830, the part of the road between Wheeling and Zanesville was rebuilt for inclusion in the "new" National Road. The National Road was later superseded by US Route 40.

The town of Zanesville was named for Ebenezer Zane and is situated on a track of land that was deeded to his brother, Jonathan, and son-in-law, John McIntire. The town was originally platted in 1799 as Westbourne. But, the name was later changed to Zanesville by a postmaster.

And, so this is the legacy of Ebenzer Zane, the elder. While he was a national figure, those outside of Ohio and West Virginia probably have no idea who he was.