The narrative that follows  was authored by Fortesque M.  Cuming, A Tour to the Western Country. It is a non-fiction day by day account of his tour over the Zane Trace beginning at Chapter XXVIII and concluding  with Chapter XXXVI.
         He had made a European trip in 1806 where he purchased a parcel of land (1,000 acres) on the Trace sight unseen. Now he wanted to see first hand what he had purchased. He crossed the Ohio River from Limestone, Kentucky and walked the six miles to his land. He expected to find nothing more than a wilderness. He was totally surprised, finding his land surrounded by other fine farms. The Trace had already been open nine years and many settlers had migrated to the western country via The Zane Trace.
        Now satisfied with his purchase, he returned to Ellis Ferry to have his baggage sent by stagecoach to Chillicothe, Ohio. After a good nights sleep he  returned to the Trace, continuing on his return trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by walking, horseback and stagecoach, arriving in Pittsburgh, August 21,1807.

       As he made his return over the Zane Trace he passed through the villages, towns, and cities which were founded and still exist today. Places such as West Union, Peebles, Sinking Spring, Chillicothe, Tarleton, Lancaster, Zanesville, Cambridge, St. Claisville, Wheeling, and many points in between.