In 1801 the Northwest Territorial government approved the “Grade Road” from Dilles Bottom at the Ohio River to Jacobsburg, then along the ridge tops to Barnesville and Pultney Ridge to just east of Old Washington, Ohio. The grade up from the river was gentle and a much easier route for westward pioneers than the rugged climb up from the Wheeling area to St. Clairsville. This road was popular but did not get improved as the Zanes’ Trace which became the National Road. This improvement called for toll charges and the stones in the deep wagon ruts caused hoof discomfort to animals being driven (droved) to the east. The Grade Road became the drovers’ choice of routes eastward for hundreds of thousands of animals on the way to the Baltimore, MD market. Animals on this route were cared for at drovers stations. The “Grade Road” became known as the Drove Road and from Jacobsburg to Barnesville it has become State Route 147. Locals refer to the old drove road as the “drovers trail” and some deep grooves can still be seen along sections of SR 147. Cattle, Horses, Mules, Hogs, Sheep, even Turkeys traveled this route until about 1875 when railroads became competitive and the drove roads became conduits for horses and eventually automobiles.