French pioneers discovered most of inland North America, and the Ohio valley was once a part of New France (Canada's name before the British took over). The French pioneers also tended to intermarry a lot with the Native-Americans, resulting in entire towns and territories comprised only of métis, half French half Indian people. After the Brits took over in 1753, they started settling the area.

That's as far as I know, maybe some American historian can take over from here