Archaeologist, legislator and historian Caleb Atwater greatly influenced Ohio in the early 19th century. Atwater moved to Circleville in 1814, where he organized the city's first school board and served as prosecuting attorney. His interest in local history led to writings about Native American Earthworks in Ohio, including those at the original site of Circleville. His book "The History of Ohio" served as the first complete account of the state's natural and civil origins. Caleb Atwater was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1821, where he supported construction of the Ohio and Erie Canals. Atwater's writings on archaeology, education and history served as catalysts for change in the Ohio Valley.