Preface

The following pages contain abstracts of The Major David Zeigler Papers, 1791-1822, as prepared by the former staff of the Dayton Room and the current Dayton Collection Librarian. The Dayton Room, which existed from 1944 to 1962, was located in the Annex of the old library, and was the physical location of the Dayton Collection of local history materials.

The papers are part of the Forrer-Peirce-Wood manuscripts in the Dayton Collection. This document abstracts various letters written and received by Major David Zeigler, his wife, Lucy Sheffield Zeigler, and various other family members. Also included are documents, deeds, estate papers, and a photograph. The copy photograph, which appears in this document, is that of an oil miniature whose location is unknown. The image dates back to Zeigler’s Ohio Valley career, since he is shown wearing his Society of Cincinnati medal. The uniform style would suggest a date of ca.1792, when he resigned from the army.

The Forrer-Peirce-Wood Collection which spans the years 1791 to 1926, was given to the library for its preservation and for research purposes. The Zeigler Papers have been cleaned, deacidified, encapsulated and post bound in a scrapbook format. They may be viewed by contacting the Dayton Collection Librarian.

"Zeigler" has been used consistently throughout these abstracts, because many of the original letters and documents signed by David Zeigler use that spelling. This is an attempt to be true to the original holograms, letters, and documents signed by and addressed to David Zeigler, which varies from the preferred spelling of "Ziegler". Other names such as "Lucianna" Zeigler have been referenced in the same manner.

This abstract is divided into five chapters. The documents in each chapter are arranged in chronological order beginning with those documents listed as n.d. (no date) and ending with those with the most recent date. There is a number following most entries in this work , i.e. (5), that indicates the corresponding page number in the book of manuscript letters and documents entitled, The Major David Zeigler Papers, 1791-1822.

References in the notes of the abstracts to Edgar refer to the book by John Ferris Edgar, entitled, Pioneer Life in Dayton and Vicinity, 1796-1840, Dayton, Ohio: W. J. Shuey, c1896.

Timeline

The following is a timeline highlighting events in the life of Major David Zeigler:

• 1748 Born in Heidelberg, Germany.
• 1774 Emigrated to the United States and settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
• 1775 Joined William Thompson’s Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion.
• 1776 Became 1st Lieutenant when Thompson’s reorganized as the First Continental Infantry. Wounded August 16th.
• 1778 Promoted to Captain in the First Pennsylvania Regiment.
• 1783 Retired from the army.
• 1784 Appointed Captain in the regular army and sent to Ohio frontier to protect federal surveyors. Engaged in Indian treaties.
• 1789 Married Lucy Anne Sheffield.
• 1790 Promoted to Major.
• 1792 Resigned from the army and entered the mercantile business.
• 1797 Appointed Supervisor of Cincinnati Township Highways.
• 1802 Became first Mayor of Cincinnati.
• 1803 Appointed first Marshal of Ohio District by President Jefferson.
• 1807 Served as Adjutant-General of Ohio.
• 1809 Made Surveyor of the Port of Cincinnati.
• 1811 Died September 24th in Cincinnati.

This page was created by Nancy Horlacher, July 8, 1999.

Contents