John McIntire (October 15, 1759 – July 29, 1815) was the founder of the city of

Zanesville, Ohio Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. It is located east of Columbus and had a population of 24,765 as of the 2020 census, down from 25,487 as of the 2010 census. Historically the state capita ...

. McIntire was born in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

. He married Sarah Zane, the daughter of Colonel

Ebenezer Zane Ebenezer Zane (October 7, 1747 – Nov. 19, 1811) was an American pioneer, soldier, politician, road builder and land speculator. Born in the Colony of Virginia (possibly near what became Moorefield, West Virginia), Zane established a settle ...

, in December 1789. McIntire founded Zanesville in 1797 on land deeded by Colonel Zane. One family history claims that in 1802 while exiled from France,

Louis Philippe Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France. As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary War ...

, who later became King of France, stayed with the McIntires and was very impressed by them.

United States Ambassador to France The United States ambassador to France is the official representative of the president of the United States to the president of France. The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with France since the American Revolution. Relations we ...

Lewis Cass Lewis Cass (October 9, 1782June 17, 1866) was an American military officer, politician, and statesman. He represented Michigan in the United States Senate and served in the Cabinets of two U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. He w ...

, under pseudonym "An American", wrote ''France: its King, Court and Government'' in 1840. He had this to say of the King's tour through the Northwest:

Parents

Nothing certain is known of McIntire's background prior to his arrival in

Muskingum County, Ohio Muskingum County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410. Its county seat is Zanesville. Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is based on a Delaware American Indian ...

. A family history written by Isaac McIntire in 1902 claims that his parents were John McIntire of Scotland, Ireland, and Charlotte Hedge, an English woman. Currently this claim has not been proven.

Politics

In 1802, Zanesville was still located in Washington County, and McIntire was elected as one of four Washington County delegates, along with

Ephraim Cutler Ephraim Cutler (April 13, 1767 – July 8, 1853) was an early Northwest Territory and Ohio political leader and jurist. Early and family life Ephraim Cutler was born in Edgartown, Massachusetts on April 13, 1767. The oldest son of Manasseh Cu ...

Benjamin Ives Gilman Benjamin Ives Gilman (1852–1933) was notable as the Secretary of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts from 1893 to 1925. Beginning with the museum as a curator and librarian, he held a variety of positions during this time. As Secretary, he focused ...

and

Rufus Putnam Brigadier-General Rufus Putnam (April 9, 1738 – May 4, 1824) was an American military officer who fought during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. As an organizer of the Ohio Company of Associates, he was instrumental ...

, to the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio which met November 1–29, 1802.

Epitaph

A description of the life John McIntire appears on his gravestone. The epitaph is as follows:

''"Sacred to the memory of John McIntire, who departed this life July 29, 1815 aged 56 years. He was born at Alexandria, VA, laid out the town of Zanesville in 1800, of which he was the patron and father. He was a member of the convention which formed the constitution of Ohio. A kind husband, an obliging neighbor, punctual in his engagements, of liberal mind and benevolent disposition, his death was sincerely lamented."''

Namesake

Mr. McIntire's memory lives on in the town he founded. Places around Zanesville named for him include: John McIntire Public Library, McIntire Terrace, John McIntire Elementary School, and McIntire Avenue.

Notes

References

*Schneider, Norris F. ''Y Bridge City'' (1950). 414 pp. *https://web.archive.org/web/20091014165511/http://marhavenmiscellany.com/files/EbenezerZaneFamSheet.pdf * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:McIntire, John 1759 births 1815 deaths American pioneers People from Zanesville, Ohio People from Alexandria, Virginia Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)