Ohio History Journal


The OHIO HISTORICAL Quarterly

The OHIO HISTORICAL Quarterly

 

VOLUME 65 ?? NUMBER 1 ?? JANUARY 1956

 

 

 

From England to Ohio, 1830-1832:

The Journal of Thomas K. Wharton

Edited by JAMES H. RODABAUGH

 

 

This is the journal of an immigrant boy who came from his

native England to the United States in 1830 and lived for nearly

two years in Ohio. It was transcribed by the author in 1854 and here

and there recollections were added. It is an interesting journal for

several reasons: It relates in detail the story of the journey from

the Humber to Ohio and gives colorful descriptions of the country-

side and of life in this country and in this state 125 years ago. Its

author enlarged the value of his written record by including on its

pages a series of competent drawings of many points of interest on

his trip and scenes and structures that caught his eye during his stay

in Ohio. It was written by a lad only sixteen years old when the

journey began and but eighteen when he left Ohio, a remarkably

perceptive youth, however, with a broad knowledge which sharpened

his appreciation of new experiences.

The journal reproduced here is part of a manuscript volume cover-

ing four years from May 3, 1830, to October 15, 1834, and including,

besides the record of the journey from England and the residence in

Ohio, the diary of two years spent in New York.

Thomas Kelah Wharton, our journalist and artist, was born in

Hull, April 17, 1814. His father was a general merchant and ship

owner, who, having suffered reverses in his business, decided to

move to the United States. He came to this country in 1829, acquired

a 180-acre farm at the south edge of Piqua, Ohio, and sent for his

family.

Thomas, his mother, and his three brothers and two sisters set