Looking at a map of northern Ohio, you will see towns by the name of New Middletown, Middlefield, Saybrook, Hartford, Manchester, Clinton and Litchfield. There are two towns named after men from Middletown – Stow (after Joshua Stow) and Shalersville, (after Nathaniel Shaler).

This is not a coincidence. Soon after the Revolutionary War, people from Middletown and from other towns throughout Connecticut headed over the mountains to the Western Reserve of Connecticut to seek new opportunities. The Western Reserve eventually became part of the current state of Ohio.

Richard Buel, professor of history emeritus at Wesleyan University, will talk about the impetus and events that led to the settling of the Western Reserve, or New Connecticut, when he discusses his new book "The Peopling of New Connecticut" on Tuesday at the Russell Library in Middletown. He will outline the findings in his book and conclude with a sketch of what it teaches us about the western movement in the 19th century.

Buel is a graduate of Amherst College and received his PhD in history from Harvard University. He taught at Wesleyan from 1962 to 2002, during which time he published five books, the best known of which was co-authored with Joy Buel and is titled "The Way of Duty." Since retirement he has worked on five books, the last of which is the subject of his remarks.

The program will be held at 7 p.m. in the Hubbard Room of the library at 123 Broad St.

Buel's presentation will be followed by a book signing. For more information, call (860) 346-0746.