Ohio History Journal

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT*

 

OF THE

Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

 

SOCIETY

 

TO THE GOVERNOR.

 

From   February 19, 1893, to February 19, 1894.

 

 

To the HON. WILLIAM MCKINLEY, Governor of Ohio:

SIR-The eighth annual report of this Society was a resume

of the work to that time, chiefly along lines connected with the

department of American Archaeology and History at the World's

Fair

Since the date of that report our labors have been princi-

pally directed toward completing in the best manner possible an

exhibit for the Fair which should in all respects prove a credit to

our State.

It first had been the intention to give this department a

place in the Manufacturers and Liberal Arts building; but this

structure, despite its enormous size, was found to be no more

than adequate for the exhibits in the departments of Manufac-

* Mr. Graham, the Secretary, before yielding the duties of his office

and leaving for the West, prepared a very complete and interesting report

of the participation of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society in

the Columbian Exposition at Chicago. This report gave a full list of the

articles exhibited by the Society and their donors or loaners; a full report

of the proceedings on Ohio Day, September 14, when the monument of

"Ohio's Jewels" was unveiled on the grounds of the Exposition. This

report, some seventy-five pages in length, was too extended to be published

by the State for general distribution with the State reports of the other

departments. Only a brief synopsis was therefore printed officially by the

State. That synopsis is herewith reprinted. The full report of Mr. Graham,

with some additional matter pertinent thereto, was published by the

Society and distributed to the members in August 1894.

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Ninth Annual Report.                 397

 

turers and Liberal Arts. Hence, it became necessary to con-

struct a separate building wholly for American Ethnology and

History. Owing to the delay thus created, our exhibit was not

fully installed until July 21, when it was reported to the Execu-

tive Committee.

Associated with the Secretary of the Society, who had gen-

eral charge of the work, were: Rev. H. A. Thompson, of

Westerville; Will V. Van Meter, of Marietta; Seth Hayes, of

Cincinnati; H. P. Starr, of Norwalk; M. C. Read, of Hudson,

and Prof. G. Frederick Wright, of Oberlin. These gentlemen

assisted in securing the loan of collections and individual articles

from the different parts of Ohio and aided in arranging the

exhibit at Chicago.

We were quite successful in obtaining loans desired, although

it is becoming constantly more difficult to secure the loan of

such specimens as we solicited, owing to owners' fear of loss or

mutilation of the articles.

In the department of archaeology, especially, we aimed to

present typical specimens demonstrating variety, classification

and use of articles, avoiding a multiplication of specimens which

would bring no additional value to the exhibit as an educational

feature.

The exhibit illustrating the Ice Age, consisted of charts,

photographs and specimens forming a compact collection of the

striking glacial phenomena from this State, collected, prepared

and arranged under the direction of Prof. G. Frederick Wright,

of Oberlin College.

In the department of history were exhibited charts, photo-

graphs and paintings, together with relics of historical value

either by reason of former ownership, or as illustrating pioneer

customs and usages in this State. Notably among these were

the following:

Painting illustrating the landing of General Putnam and his

band on the banks of the Muskingum River, April 7, 1788, by

Phil. Clover, Columbus.

Three pictures by Mrs. Josephine B. Scott, Perrysburg,

Ohio,-one of Buttonwood Island, the last camping ground of

the natives of the Maumee Valley (the Ottawa Indians), as it

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398       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 4

 

appeared a half century ago, covered with giant sycamores in

the full vigor of primeval growth; another, a view of Turkey

Foot Rock and Presque Isle Hill, the spot made famous at the

"Battle of Fallen Timbers" by the wonderful daring of the

intrepid chief, "Turkey Foot," who commanded the confederated

forces at that time; and the third, a picture of Fort Meigs, pre-

senting a quiet peaceful evening scene of the "Old Green Fort."

A painting by Howard Christy, of Duncan's Falls, repre-

senting the pioneer hunter, Louis Whetzel, in the act of cutting

his name upon a rock, on the east bank of the Muskingum River

below Zanesville.

Five frames containing currency issued by Ohio banks prior

to the adoption of the National Banking system.

A series of 164 photographic views of the Muskingum and

Maumee Valleys, and of several Ohio towns.

A "pioneer kitchen," fitted up with utensils used among the

first settlers of Ohio; the articles having been largely collected,

prepared and arranged by Mr. H. P. Starr, representative of the

Firelands Historical Society.

An entire set of "old blue" dishes so much in use a hun-

dred years ago in this State, so far as known the only complete

set of its kind in Ohio.

The plan followed by Ohio in this department was entirely

different from that of any State in the Union, inasmuch as it

demonstrated the history of every part of Ohio from the earliest

period to the present time. The work demanded close attention

and unceasing effort, and though executed under many difficul-

ties, the result was one of the best exhibits made in that

department.

A feature of importance is the fact that this collection and

much of the necessary expenditure of time and money attending

its proper installation at Chicago, was not made simply and

solely for this exhibition, but will form the nucleus of a State

museum, and thus become of permanent value. The under-

standing from the beginning was that all the furniture, cases,

maps, charts, pictures, paintings, etc., that were donated for the

exhibit, or paid for from the appropriation for the World's Fair,

would become the property of the Society after the exhibition-

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Ninth Annual Report.               399

 

This Society, however, is simply the trustee of this property,

the ownership being vested in the State. As a result of this ar-

rangement, the Society has secured six large wall-table cases,

six table cases and six pedestals, costing in aggregate $964.30.

The cases have been needed for some time.

 

 

 

OHIO DAY.

At the time the Society was discussing plans for the part

Ohio should take in the World's Fair, General Brinkerhoff, Pres-

ident of the Society, suggested that a group of statuary repre-

senting Ohio's most honored citizens be placed in front of the

Ohio Building. The matter was brought to the attention of the

General Assembly and received their hearty endorsement,

$25,000 having been appropriated to carry the suggestion into

effect. The design of Mr. Levi T. Schofield, of Cleveland, was

accepted, and on September 14, 1893, the monument was un-

veiled, this day having been set apart as "Ohio Day" at the

Fair.

On that occasion General Brinkerhoff, in a stirring address,

paid glowing tribute to the great State of Ohio and the men in

whose memory the monument was erected.

 

 

 

FORT ANCIENT.

As far as the funds have permitted, the care of the Fort has

been properly prosecuted.  The custodian, Mr. Birgle, has

cleared the ground of rubbish, removed the unsightly fences

from the interior, and greatly advanced the work of making the

Fort a popular resort.

Rev. Thomas B. Van Horn, who has had charge of the

Fort in a general way, has made many improvements; and

with Mr. Charles Neeramer has compiled and made a chart of

the Fort at a cost of $137.70, which was framed at a cost of

$22.50, making total cost, $160.20.

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400       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 4

 

An appropriation sufficient to purchase the remainder of the

fortification should be made. This would enable the Society to

assume entire control of much of the surroundings of the Walls,

and would render them better able to beautify the park and keep

it and its surroundings in original condition. Were this park in

Europe it would have been under the proper care of a society for

many years; and in fact it is better known and the facts relating

to it are more widely discussed in the countries of Europe than

in America.

 

 

SERPENT MOUND.

Another remarkable work in Adams county, known as the

Serpent Mound, was purchased through the liberality of the

women of Boston for the Peabody Museum. More than four

thousand dollars has been spent in restoring this work to its

original condition, beautifying the grounds surrounding it, aud

making it not only a place of great historical interest, but of

popular resort. The work is so far from the Cambridge Museum

that they cannot give it as much attention as it deserves.

This park has been offered to the Ohio Archaeological and

Historical Society, if it will simply take care of it. This means

that at a nominal expense this work can be kept in its present

condition and be under the control of the Ohio Society.

 

 

 

A STATE MUSEUM.

Through the liberality of the Trustees of the Ohio State

University at Columbus, the Society has been invited to place its

collections of archaeology and history in the university buildings.

A museum building for Geology has just been completed and

named "Orton Hall," in honor of Dr. Edward Orton, Professor

of Geology at that institution and State Geologist of Ohio. The

archaeological section has been placed by Professor Orton on the

gallery floor of the geological room. Place elsewhere will be

provided for the historical section.

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Ninth Annual Report.                  401

 

Placing the exhibit in this manner in the State University,

not only enlists the sympathy and aid of the University through

its Board of Trustees, its faculty, its students and their friends,

but the Society has been assured their active support. It is only

a question of time when a State building devoted entirely to

American Ethnology will be necessary. Not a museum of this

nature in America has been started with so good a foundation as

we now have. It only needs proper care and development to

place it among the best in the land.

 

 

CENTENNIAL EVENTS.

On April 7, 1888, occurred the centennial celebration of the

settlement at Marietta, Ohio, a full account of which was pub-

lished in the second volume of the proceedings of the Society.

The centennial celebration at Gallipolis was observed Octo-

ber 19, 1890, by centennial services in most of the churches of

Gallipolis, that day being Sunday. The celebration was con-

tinued during the week in the various halls of the city, full

account of which proceedings is contained in the third volume

of the Society.

The most imporant coming centennial event will be that of

General Anthony Wayne's Treaty with the Indians at Green-

ville, August 3, 1795. The last General Assembly passed a joint

resolution in relation to the proper celebration of this event,

which resoulution reads as follows;

WHEREAS, The year 1895 marks the centennial epoch of the conquest

of the Indian nations and the establishment of peace in the territory now

comprised in the State of Ohio and adjacent country northwest of the

Ohio river; and,

WHEREAS, Said conquest was made by the army under command of

General Anthony Wayne, a gallant and meritorious soldier in the War of

the Revolution and the Indian Wars, the battle of Fallen Timbers on the

Maumee river, August 20, 1794, completing the chain of victories, and sub-

duing the Indian tribes; and,

WHEREAS, The treaty of peace, made on the 3d day of August, 1795,

at Fort Greenville (built on the site of Greenville, Ohio), by General

Wayne, on behalf of the United States and various Indian nations occupy-

ing the territory northwest of the Ohio river, was of national importance,

Vol. IV-26

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402        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.    [VOL. 4

 

and established peace and permitted the extension of American settlements

therein; therelore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That steps

be taken to properly observe the one hundredth anniversary of this im-

portant event in the history of our country;

That the United States government should erect a suitable memorial

structure on the site of Fort Greenville to perpetuate the memory of Gen-

eral Anthony Wayne and his gallant army, and that our senators and rep-

resentatives in Congress be requested, through the governor, to secure such

a memorial;

That to accomplish the intent of this resolution the Ohio Archaeolog-

ical and Historical Society is hereby authorized and directed to take the

necessary steps to secure a suitable centennial celebration at Greenville,

Ohio, on August 3, 1895, and to obtain, if possible, through congress, such

a memorial as will fittingly and appropriately perpetuate the centennial of

this important event and those conspicuous in its history;

That the governor of Ohio be authorized to invite, on behalf of this

state, the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky, which states fur-

nished most of the soldiers in the campaign of 1794, and to send repre-

sentatives to participate in such celebration. And also the states of

Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, which states, with

Ohio, comprised the territory northwest of the Ohio river, to send repre-

sentatives to this centennial, and to invite said states to prepare such tab-

lets or other mementos for such memorial structure as they may desire.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS.

The Society has issued three volumes of publications. Of

the third volume about forty copies remain. Volumes One and

Two are entirely exhausted. The demand for them has been so

great that the General Assembly has increased the annual appro-

priation one thousand dollars for the purpose of increasing the

publication of these volumes.

At this time (December 26) the first volume is about ready

for distribution. The second will be completed about the first

of February.   These volumes are, like all the Society's publica-

tions, not for sale. They are given only to members who sup-

port the Society, and anyone desiring to secure them can do so

only by this channel. The annual membership fee of five dollars

gives to each member one copy of the publications of the year

for which the dues are paid.

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