Ohio History Journal

MINUTES

 

 

OF THE

 

TENTH ANNUAL MEETING

 

OF THE

Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

 

SOCIETY,

 

HELD AT COLUMBUS, OHIO, FEBRUARY 19, 1895.

 

 

The eleventh meeting (tenth annual) of The Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society was held in the Library

room of the State Capitol on the afternoon of February 19,

1895, General R. Brinkerhoff, the President, in the chair.

The following members were present:

 

B. W . Arnett ..............  ........ ... .....  Wilberforce.

W. E. Moore ................................ Columbus.

N. S. Townshend ............................. Columbus.

Chas. Parrott .................................                                                                  Columbus.

S. S. Rickly  .... .............................                                                                   Columbus.

N. W . Evans ........ . ... ...................                                                                 Portsmouth.

L. C. Herrick ............................ Columbus.

R. E. Hills ...........................        Delaware.

G. F. Bareis ............................. . Canal Winchester.

J. J. Janney ................................  Columbus.

H. C. Vincent ............................ Marietta.

E. O. Randall .................. .   ...........                            Columbus.

R. Brinkerhoff ................... ...........                             Mansfield.

E. F. Wood ............................... Columbus.

D. H. Gard  ................................ ..  Columbus.

W. J. Gilmore ........................... Columbus.

Benigna G. Kalb   .......     ................ Columbus.

(430)

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.       431

 

The minutes of the last annual (ninth) meeting of the So-

ciety were read by the Assistant Secretary, and upon motion

were approved.

As the report of the Executive Committee, which was next

in order, the Secretary read the report which had been prepared

by him in behalf of the Society and filed with the Governor.

This report, he explained, was in process of printing and a copy

of it would be sent to each member of the Society when ready

for distribution. The report was approved by the Society.

The term of office of five Trustees, elected by the Society,

expired at this meeting. These Trustees were as follows: Gen.

R. Brinkerhoff, Hon. M. D. Follett, Dr. H. A. Thompson, Hon.

D. J. Ryan and Mr. R. E. Hills. On suspension of the rules,

these gentlemen were unanimously re-elected to serve for the

ensuing three years.

A committee of three, viz., Dr. Moore, Mr. Bareis and Dr.

Townshend, were appointed to wait upon the Governor and pre-

sent to him the greetings of the Society then in session and sug-

gest to him that the sentiment of the Society was in favor of the

reappointment of the Trustees whose terms expired at this time,

viz., Judge W. J. Gilmore and Hon. Israel Williams. The com-

mittee reported that the Governor returned his compliments to

the Society and said he would be glad to reappoint those gentle-

men, as requested. He also expressed satisfaction over the work

being accomplished by the Society.

The Secretary was instructed to keep a scrap book, the

property of the Society, in which might be permanently pre-

served such historical articles as may be furnished him from

different parts of the State.

The Secretary explained the situation as to the Greenville

Centennial Celebration; that the Legislature had failed to make

an appropriation for this purpose, but that he was in correspond-

ence with the committee at Greenville and had pledged the co-

operation of the Society, so far as it would be able to act.

Upon call for the report of the Special Committee, consist-

ing of Messrs. Wm. E. Moore, E. F. Wood and E. O. Randall,

appointed at the last annual meeting of the Society to revise the

constitution, Secretary Randall stated that owing to the lack of

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anything approaching a suitable constitution, the report em-

braced practically a new constitution.

The revised constitution, as finally adopted by the Society,

is as follows:

 

CONSTITUTION.

 

 

ARTICLE I.

Name and Location.

SECTION 1. This Society shall be known as THE OHIO

STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Its office

shall be located and its principal business be transacted at

Columbus, Ohio.

ARTICLE II.

Membership.

SECTION 1. The membership of this Society shall be divided

into four classes, designated as follows: Life Members, Active

Members, Corresponding Members and Honorary Members. Ap-

plications for membership shall be made to the Secretary of the

Society and by him referred to the Executive Committee. Upon

the approval of the Executive Committee, such applicants shall

be declared members.

SEC. 2. The payment at any one time of twenty-five dol-

lars ($25.00) to the Society shall constitute the person so paying

a life member. Life members shall be exempt from all further

dues and shall be entitled to all the privileges of active member-

ship. Any person who shall make a donation to the Society,

the value of which shall be determined by the Trustees to be not

less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), shall be entitled to life

membership. Said life membership payments shall constitute a

permanent fund, to be invested at the discretion of the Execu-

tive Committee. The income only of this fund shall be used by

the Society for such purposes as the Executive Committee may

direct.

SEC. 3. Active members shall be residents of Ohio and

shall pay in advance an annual fee of three dollars. They shall

be entitled to vote and hold office. They shall receive free all

publications of the Society, and have free access to the museum

and library.

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.        433

 

SEc. 4. Corresponding members may be residents of any

locality, and shall be persons who take an interest in the Society

and its objects, and are willing to aid it by representing its inter-

ests and securing donations for its museum and library. Secre-

taries of historical or kindred societies whose publications are

furnished to this Society may be constituted corresponding

members.

SEC. 5. Honorary members shall be persons distinguished

for scientific and literary attainments, particularly in the depart-

ment of archaeology and history.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

Government.

SECTION 1. The government of this Society shall be vested

in a board of twenty-one (21) Trustees, fifteen of whom shall be

elected by ballot by the Society at its annual meetings. They

shall be divided into three classes, five only being elected each

year to serve for three years each from the time of their election,

or until their successors are elected and qualified.  In case a

vacancy occurs among the Trustees thus elected by the Society

during their term of service, the remaining Trustees shall fill

such vacancy until the next annual meeting of the Society, when

the vacancy shall be filled by the Society. The other six Trus-

tees necessary to complete the number of twenty-one (21) shall

be appointed by the Governor of Ohio, as provided by the legis-

lative enactment of April 16,1891, two to be appointed each year

to serve for the period of three years, or until their successors

are appointed and qualified.

SEC. 2. The Board of Trustees shall elect a President, one

or two Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, if required an Assistant

Treasurer, a Secretary and Librarian, and such other officers, or

agents, as the proper management of the Society may require.

SEC. 3. There shall be an Executive Committee, which

shall consist of the officers of the Society, and such other mem-

bers as the Trustees shall select from their own number. The

Executive Committee shall have full power in the interim to

conduct and administer the affairs of the Society.

SEC. 4. The Trustees may appoint such other committees

as may from time to time be required.

SEC. 5. The Trustees may fix the tenure of office and com-

pensation of all officers and agents, and may remove the same

whenever the interests of the Society may demand.

Vol. IV-28

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SEC. 6. The Trustees may adopt a code of by-laws for the

government of the Society, not inconsistent with the Articles of

Incorporation and this Constitution.

 

ARTICLE IV.

 

Officers.

SECTION 1. President.-The President of the Board of

Trustees shall be the President of the Society. He shall preside

at all meetings of the Society; shall have a casting vote; shall

appoint all committees not otherwise provided for; shall sign all

orders drawn on the Treasurer, and perform such other duties as

usually pertain to the office.

SEC. 2. Vice President.-In the absence of the President,

the senior Vice President shall perform the duties usually incum-

bent upon the office of President; and in the absence of both

President and Vice President, any member selected by the Exec-

utive Committee shall act as President.

SEC. 3. Treasurer.-The Treasurer shall receive all pay-

ments of money to the Society and receipt for the same. He

shall give bond to the Board of Trustees in such amount as they

may require. He shall keep accounts of all receipts and dis-

bursements, and shall render an annual statement to the Society,

and statements to the Trustees whenever they shall so require,

and make out and forward all assessments and bills of the Society.

He shall pay the current expenses of the Society upon orders

drawn by the Secretary and approved by the President, or in his

absence, by the Vice President; but he shall make no payments

except upon the order of the Secretary and President, or Vice

President, with the approval of the Executive Committee.

SEc. 4. Secretary.--The Secretary shall keep the minutes

and records of the Society; give due notice of all meetings; fur-

nish certificates to members; attend to all the correspondence of

the Society, preserving all letters received and a copy of all writ-

ten. He shall, on being advised of the death of a member,

record the same, with the time and place of death, and report

the same at the next meeting. He shall attend all meetings of

the various standing committees of the Board of Trustees, and

shall perform such other duties as the Trustees may direct. He

shall make written report of the operations of the Society at the

annual meetings, and may perform the duties of Librarian.

SEC. 5. Librarian.-The Librarian shall have charge of

the library and museum, the care and arrangement of books,

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.      435

 

manuscripts, papers, maps, paintings; and all other property

belonging to the same. He shall properly preserve, arrange and

keep them in good order, and shall prepare and keep a proper

catalogue of the same. He shall keep a book in which shall be

recorded all donations to the Society of whatever nature, with

the name of the donor and date of receipt by the Society;

and shall also carefully label such donations with the name of

this Society and the name of the donor. He shall not permit

anything belonging to the Society to be removed from its rooms,

except as provided for in the regulations of the library and mu-

seum. He shall report at each regular meeting the donations

received since the preceding meeting, and at the annual meeting

shall make a full report of the condition of the library and

museum.

ARTICLE V.

Meetings.

SECTION 1. The annual meeting of this Society shall be

held in the City of Columbus, on the third Tuesday in February

of each year.

SEC. 2. Other meetings of this Society, known as special

meetings, may be held at such times and at such places as a

majority of the Trustees may direct.

SEC. 3. The President, or any one of the Trustees, shall

call a special meeting of the Society on the request of any ten

members.

SEC. 4. Ten members shall constitute a quorum for the

transaction of business.

ARTICLE VI.

Liabilities.

SECTION 1. No debts shall be contracted by the Society,

nor by any of its Trustees, officers or agents in its behalf, except

by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, or by direction

of the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE VII.

Amendments.

SECTION 1. This Constitution may be amended by a ma-

jority vote at any meeting of the Society. All amendments shall

be proposed in writing, and shall, if required by a majority of

those present, lie over for action until the next meeting.

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MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES.

The annual meeting of the Society was followed by the

annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, the following being

present:  Messrs. Arnett, Moore, Townshend, Rickly, Hills,

Bareis, Randall, Brinkerhoff, Gilmore, Smythe, Robeson. The

meeting duly elected officers of the Society to serve the ensuing

year, viz., February 19, 1895, to February 19, 1896. They were:

Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, President ................... Mansfield.

Rev. Wm. Moore, Vice President .................. Columbus.

Hon. S. S. Rickly, Treasurer.......... ......... Columbus.

Edwin F. Wood, Assistant Treasurer ............. Columbus.

E. O. Randall, Secretary ........................... Columbus.

In addition to the officers of the Society, who are ex-officio

members, the following Executive Committee was elected:

Judge W. J. Gilmore. .......................... Columbus.

A. H . Smythe ....................... ....... .....                              Columbus.

G. F. Bareis................  .....   ...                                                                                     Canal Winchester.

Hon  D. J. Ryan  .................... ..............                                                                     Columbus.

R. E. Hills ............ ....................... Delaware.

The organization of the new Executive Committee was com-

pleted by the selection of Rev. Wm. E. Moore as permanent

Chairman and E. O. Randall as Secretary.

Mr. Warren K. Moorehead was elected Curator of the

museum, and Mrs. Benigna G. Kalb official reporter of the

Society. Salaries of the various officers were determined, and

meeting adjourned subject to call of the Secretary.

 

 

 

BANQUET.

 

The attendance at the banquet of the Society, which was

held in the evening in the parlors of the Y. M. C. A., was much

greater than had been anticipated. Upwards of eighty sat down

to the tastefully arranged tables. The program of toasts which

had been provided was presided over by Gen. R. Brinkerhoff,

as toastmaster. In his opening remarks, General Brinkerhoff

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.  437

 

said that he felt the Society had reason to congratulate itself

upon the fact that a larger number were in attendance at this

banquet than upon any similar occasion, indicating a growth of

interest among Ohio people in the work of the Society. He

quoted from a sermon onGood Government which had been

published, in a Chicago paper, this sentiment: "A country with-

out wealth of noble names is poor; a people without inspiration

of worthy ideals can never be great."  America, he said, is

great because she had great men, and Ohio is great because of

her great men. One of the most important things this Society

has to do is to preserve the history of these men for the elevation

of the present and future generations. He deplored the lack of

complete or reliable biographical histories of Ohio's Governors

and other great men, and called upon President Scott, of the

Ohio State University, to educate some of the young men there

studying so that they might supply this deficiency. He was glad

that to this Society had been given the honor of presenting to

the young people of Ohio, and of the country, the embodiment

of ideals represented in the statue " My Jewels," which stands

on the lawn of the State Capitol.

General Brinkerhoff introduced Hon. S. S. Rickly as one of

the oldest supporters of the Society, and he responded to the

first toast, "Our Society." Mr. Rickly claimed the usual poeti-

cal license allowed one replying to a toast, and introduced his

subject by remarking that if this was not a royal society, it was

first cousin to it; because, if " our President is not a Romanoff,

he is at least our Brinkerhoff."  On this occasion, he said, the

Society was celebrating the completion of the first decade of its

existence as a society, which did not mean that it was in a state

of decadence, for it was a very lively body with a bright outlook

for a useful future.

Archaeology, the speaker explained, treats of the origin of

things, mineral, vegetable and animal, but this Society confines

itself more particularly to the study of the prehistoric remains

of man. He then spoke in glowing tribute of the life and works

of Leo Lesquereux, describing his early investigations of nature

on the mountains of his native Switzerland, and following his

migration to this country, and his settlement in Columbus, where

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

 

he remained a loved and honored citizen to the time of his death.

Mr. Rickly suggested that the Secretary of the Society, Mr.

Randall, was thoroughly capable of preparing a history of Ohio

and her great men, such as General Brinkerhoff wanted, and

hoped he might soon furnish such a history as would answer all

requirements.

Mr. Rickly's remarks were followed by hearty applause,

after which President Scott, of the Ohio State University, was

announced to respond to the toast, "Relation of the 0. S. U. to

the A. and H. Society."

President Scott, in opening, told of the arrival in this city

several years ago of two old gentlemen, who, in their search for

a lodging, wandered into the State Capitol, and introducing

themselves as Mr. R. K. Ology and Mr. H. I. Story, asked for

accommodations. A small space had been rather grudgingly

alloted to them for a while, but they were soon given to under-

stand that their room was wanted for other purposes. They

were then obliged to find other shelter for themselves and the

treasures they had been busily engaged in collecting, and in a

stroll on North High street one day saw the two new buildings

being erected on the O. S. U. grounds. Upon inquiry they

found that one was intended to accommodate the Museum of

Geology, and they decided that this was the place for which they

were looking. An interview was sought with the Trustees and

arrangements made by which their possessions were transferred.

Quarters were found which were well adapted to the needs of

one and temporary accommodations were given to the other with

the expectation of doing better for him later. So that, President

Scott thought, the subject assigned to him was a fitting one. A

university, he said, covers a great deal; indeed, is larger by two

syllables than the universe itself. The Ohio State University

aspires to great things, but the name, it must be admitted, is

larger than the thing itself. While it hopes to be more than it

is, it really covers much ground; he could not himself enumerate

all the things which it teaches or discusses. With all the sub-

jects included in its curriculum, why should it not include arch-

aeology and the study of history of the great State of Ohio and

of the men who have honored it? The Ohio State University

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.       439

 

and the Archaeological and Historical Society should co-operate

in carrying on the study of the historic and prehistoric periods

of the territory within which both are included. In closing, he

said: " Let us to-night clasp hands a little closer and go on to

this great task before us of building up a university and a society

that shall not be less than the greatest, not a whit behind the

foremost, in the West or in the East."

That this sentiment was endorsed by those present was em-

phatically demonstrated by the applause which followed the

conclusion of Dr. Scott's remarks.

The next speaker scarce needed an introduction to the

assemblage, and claimed the most interested attention through-

out his entire discourse, frequently causing much merriment by

his skeptical allusions to the traditions of "old settlers" regard-

ing the existence of wonderful silver and lead mines in Ohio in

pioneer time, and other stories of equal credibility.

In replying to the toast, "The Early Geologists of Ohio,"

Prof. Edward Orton said, that in choosing this subject, the Secre-

tary had evidently not taken heed of the double name and nature

of the Society. Had he done so, he would have embraced the

opportunity to indicate the archaeological and historical character

of its work by making the subject include not only the early

geologists of Ohio, but the earliest geologists of Ohio. The

speaker, however, would divide the subject on this basis, and

before coming to the early geologists of Ohio he would speak

briefly of the earliest workers in this important and interesting

field. This order, he adopted, because Archaeology comes first

in the title, of which fact he hoped the Secretary would make

proper note for future guidance on like occasions.

As earliest geologists, he referred to the discoveries made

and work accomplished by the Indian occupants of the country

preceding us. They were too close to our own time for the

application of either the term " prehistoric" or "pre-Columbian,"

being removed but two or three generations from to-day.

If even a tithe of what the speaker had heard of the knowl-

edge and work of these aboriginal geologists is true, they are

suffering great injustice at our hands; it would even seem that a

"conspiracy of silence" had been entered into in regard to what

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they accomplished. While the information on these subjects was

not strictly first hand, it comes from sources which archaeologists

and historians are bound to respect. From the old and respect-

able citizens-from the oldest and most respectable citizens, as

the newspapers put it, of their several neighborhoods; from the

oracle of the cross-roads, grocery or country tavern; from the

grey-haired sage who was brought into this particular "neck of

the wood" when he was "a child in arms," or certainly not later

than when he was a "chunk of a boy," and who recalls with

perfect distinctness the personal testimony of old man Smith, or

Jones, or Robinson, who in his turn had lived in the country

while the Indians were still here, and probably had been taken

prisoner by them, in some of the unpleasantnesses of that early

day, and had been detained among them for months or years.

If the stories which these venerable narrators tell of the posses-

sion of mineral wealth ever underwent the evolution which

philosophers tell, all things in heaven and earth are bound to pass

through, it must have been far in the past, for they have not

been changed for generations, at least. The stories are precisely

the same in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and presumably in all

the other States as well.

The particular kinds of mineral wealth in the States that

were specialties with the Indians were undoubtedly lead and

silver, and in regard to these, they were experts of a high order.

A record of an aboriginal discovery, in which one or both these

elements did not figure, would be considered as decidedly off-

color,-base-metal, as it were. They would lack the genuine

ring. On the basis of information named, only one hundred

years ago, the silver and lead mines of the Indians could be

counted by the score, or hundred, within the limits of the State.

But with all our explorations and expenditures on geological

surveys, not a single silver or lead mine is to our credit to-day,

and we have given up looking for either. The lead and silver

mines of our aboriginal geologists were located indifferently in

rocks of Lower Silurian, Upper Silurian, Devonian, Subcarboni-

ferous, or Carboniferous age, in limestone, shale, sandstone and

conglomerate. They seem to have borne a definite relation to

the topography of the country, and may surely be found where

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.        441

 

there is anything in the rocky strata abnormal or unusual. All

that is necessary to conviction in this regard, is to consult the

proper authorities already referred to, viz., the oracles of the

neighborhood. Too often, however, these localities can only be

identified by the old men who were taken prisoners by the

Indians, and as was usual, carried to the mining camp and back

again with bandaged eyes, the bandages being removed only

while they were in camp. Therefore, the old men can never be

just certain about the particular ravine in which the mining and

smelting that they saw were carried on.

In closing, Professor Orton proposed the following senti-

ment, in which he asked the Society to join, viz.: "The abo-

riginal geologists and miners of Ohio, and the oldest inhabitants

who are keeping alive the memory of their wonderful work:-

May the former rest from their labors, and may the latter also

be allowed to lie in peace." [Applause.]

Mrs. J. A. Shawan, in response to the toast, "Women as a

Factor in Ohio Politics," took a decided stand in behalf of suf-

frage for women. She said, whether woman will or will not be-

come a factor in Ohio politics, is for her alone to determine. It

is true, a greater part of our women have not tried to inform

themselves on questions pertaining to our government, both from

lack of time and lack of interest. But when the women of Ohio,

and of every American State, once make up their minds that

they will understand these vital questions, it may be depended

upon that very little will escape their curious, questioning search.

She quoted a bit of rhyme-

 

"Lost. Somewhere between eighteen forty

And eighteen ninety-two,

The good, old-fashioned damsel,

Such as our grandsires knew.

Lost, strayed away or stolen,

Gone from the world's wide view,

One good, old-fashioned young lady,

Modest, and simple and true."

She thought this young lady had been neither lost, strayed

away nor stolen, but is with us to-day, just as modest and simple

and true, as she was in our grandsire's time. True, she has

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added to these God-given virtues, knowledge, and has grasped

the opportunities which have been placed within her reach, and

to-day she reigns with becoming grace and dignity in thousands

of American homes, in our schools and colleges, in our courts

and offices. In the near future, when called upon to cast her

ballot, she will not necessarily need to duplicate her father's or

husband's vote,-she will know how to vote for herself. If, by

entering politics, the Ohio woman is made to think the less of

her home, her husband, or her children; if she is to become

unlady-like, hard or cruel, it is not wanted. But if by her in-

fluence she is able to make the affairs of our great State purer

and more Christian-like, the door is being opened-why shall

she not enter? In Louisiana, where women vote for members

of school board, and are voted for such as members, the State

Superintendent of Schools says thay make good economists, and

perform all duties conscientiously and zealously. In Wyoming,

the advent of women in the elections has made them quiet and

orderly. The Ohio woman has a charming modesty, and does

not like to appear bold and conspicuous, yet she likes to be called

independent. Her influence; which has constantly been felt in

home and public life, cannot help but play an important part in

our State politics.

Concluding, she said: "Perhaps we do shrink from it, yet

when the proper time comes, if woman's vote seems to be the

one thing needful, surely our Ohio women will not be found

wanting. And when we listen to the roll-call in the future, the

questions will not be, 'Where are our women?' but 'Where, 0,

where are our men?' And echo answers--'No where.'"

That the sympathy of the audience was with Mrs. Shawan

in her discourse, was evidenced throughout and at its conclusion

by generous applause.

Miss Anne Virginia Culbertson rendered a dialect recitation

entitled "Buckeye Folks," which was well received.

Following this, Judge W. J. Gilmore presented some inter-

esting facts gleaned from a study of Fort Ancient in an enter-

taining manner, and was warmly applauded at the close of his

response to the toast, "Fort Ancient."

He stated that his was an object lesson, and he would like

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.      443

 

to be able to show the length and breadth of the object, but had

been admonished, when asked to make an address, that on

account of the Governor's reception at this same time, he must

"cut it short." The idea of cutting Fort Ancient short was in

itself ludicrous, for in such an event, the persons who had con-

structed those great works must be consulted. But these people,

like an animal of which Mr. Lincoln was fond of telling, had

gone into their hole and pulled the hole in after them, and it was

expecting a good deal of a man of his physique to pitch in and

dig down to those fellows and get the hole out.

The work which has been done at Fort Ancient compares

favorably with the pyramids of Egypt, of the history of which

the world is full. Yet so little interest has been taken in it by

Ohio people that the walls have been allowed to be plowed over

in places and partly obliterated. Yet, where untouched by the

plow, they stand firmer than the hills, unaffected by the elements.

The people who constructed this work were undoubtedly a

great people and perfectly capable of controlling a great govern-

ment. It is the work of the archaeologist to trace the connec-

tions of this fort with other portions of the great West and find,

if possible, the limits of the government of which this evidently

was the capital. Connection has been traced to the works in

Licking, County, and it is thought can be established between

Fort Ancient and the great Indian works in Ross County and a

fort at the confluence of Twin and Banta creeks, in the heart of

Preble County. At the last named place advantage had been

taken of the steep banks, the fort consisting of an arc drawn

from one bank to the other; and lines were yet discernible, show-

ing that a building, 300 x 200 feet, had been built inside this arc

of the bowlders which were here furnished plentifully to their

hands. There is also evidence of a shaft having been sunk by

these people on the Twin Creek side, by which they could reach

water-level without being exposed to danger.

It has been ascertained, to the satisfaction of some at least

who had studied Fort Ancient, that the unit of measurement of

these people was 22 feet, all their distances, of which the speaker

instanced several, being either 22 feet or multiples of it. In

speaking of the question of water supply at Fort Ancient, Judge

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Gilmore said he thought Dr. Orton had reference to some of the

legends of that neighborhood when he spoke of lead mines, etc.,

for it was current tradition that the whole fort was undermined

in such a way as to have furnished an immense population with

water found in these water-ways; but this story had not yet been

verified.

When it is considered that at command of shovel and pick

northern Africa and western Asia are yielding up their treasures,

the people of Ohio ought to be interested in the investigation of

Fort Ancient. From an examination of a specimen skull of

these people, it is evident that they were a race different from

the Aborigines found here on the discovery of America, 400

years ago; but they were a quiet, domestic people, inhabitants

of a government partly, at least, civilized.

Gen. Geo. B. Wright, who had been invited to prepare a

response to the toast, " War Governors of Ohio," was unable to

be present, and his address was read by the Secretary of the

Society, Mr. Randall.

General Wright had been intimately associated with Gov-

ernors Dennison and Tod, and of the former said that he was a

man of vigilance, great industry and unsurpassed patriotism in

the administration of the affairs of his office. His efforts as a

zealous supporter of President Lincoln did not cease with his

term of office, but he was often called on by his successor, Gov-

ernor Tod, to undertake important missions to Washington and

perform other valuable service.

Governor Tod was a man of pure and patriotic motives.

Throughout his term of office he was vigilant and active in pro-

moting the interests of the Federal government and looking after

the Ohio soldiers in field and hospital. His loyalty and patriot-

ism were of the very highest order. To his own eulogy of Gov-

ernor Tod General Wright appended a copy of a joint resolution

passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, January 18, 1864, in

tribute to the Governor.

Of Governor Brough he had little to say. Before his nom-

ination the Governor, who was then manager of the Cleveland,

Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad Company, had refused to

carry sick and wounded soldiers to and from their regiments at

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.       445

 

the rate of two cents a mile, as all other roads had agreed to do,

but insisted upon charging the full three or three and a half

cents. On this account General Wright had quarreled with Gov-

ernor Brough, and while not doubting his ability, he doubted if

he had any heart.

Mrs. Abram Brown entertained the audience with a delight-

ful talk about "The Pioneer Woman of Ohio," her address

abounding in beautiful, poetically-clothed thoughts, being list-

ened to with evident pleasure by those present.

She commenced by saying: "There is no beauty like that

of morning. The splendor of noon, falling upon a world alive

from center to circumference, the majestic, peaceful glory of

evening, conscious of the coming night, have not the mysteri-

ous, tender beauty of dawn, when hope and joy are born."

Did the pioneer woman lack opportunities? She was often

called upon to defend life, liberty and pursuit of happiness at

the point of a bayonet, though she did not hold in her hand that

which is supposed to bestow this inestimable privilege upon her

sex-the ballot. She did not dream of the pulpit, bar or scal-

pel, yet in many homes far from sound of church bells, the altar

fires burned clear and strong, ignorant of the common law of

Ohio, her words of subtle eloquence have been known to turn

aside the deadly tomahawk; in cabin, fort and stockade her skill-

ful, devoted, intelligent care brought scores of sick and wounded

up from the Valley of Death.

The speaker thought the pioneer woman needed no pity for

her lack of higher education, for she found-

"-tongues in trees, books in running brooks,

Sermons in stones and good in everything."

Neither did she deserve sympathy because the art galleries of

Europe were not available to her, for the vast panorama of

Nature was hers -before whose miracles of form and color the

hand of a master falls helpless. She did not live to hear the

mighty music of that master of harmony, Richard Wagner, but

hers was the symphony of storm and forest, the choiring of

myriad birds mad with the joy of morning. The pioneer woman

was free from the tyranny of clubs, clothes and coal smoke, of

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

 

clamor for the ballot, and from the complexity of modern civil-

ization.

"All honor to the pioneer woman of Ohio ! Many were the

opportunities-though they had not the ballot-and mightily

they took possession of them. Perhaps they realized more per-

fectly than some of their descendants that the power behind the

throne is mightier than the throne itself."

Mr. Tod Galloway, who was called upon to respond to the

toast, "Ohio's Congressmen During the War," presented a

resume of Ohio's able representatives during the period named,

touching briefly upon the chief characteristics and service of

each.

After referring to the " embarrassment of riches," which he

found to be his, even when his subject had been curtailed to

include only "Ohio Congressmen during the war," though

originally embracing all Ohio Congressmen, he said:

"We are proud of our State. We are wont to boast of its

achievements. If I mistake not, this banquet this evening is a

sort of Buckeye 'jolly.' There have been many and great deeds

performed by gallant and brilliant men, both with sword and

pen, in this country; and when the balance sheet is struck of

good accomplished, of emergencies met, and of lasting results

for the prosperity of our country, Ohio will be found to have

furnished more than her quota. When we turn back the pages

of our history to the record of the dark days from '61 to '65,

there is no State in the Union that can point with greater pride

to the work done by her representatives in the halls of Congress

in stemming the tide of disunion and secession and holding up

the hands of Abraham Lincoln, who, like the Moses of old, led

his people with a confidence and faith-a courage which at

times we lacked-through the dark period of trial and tribula-

tion, only to die when about to see the promised land of peace

and prosperity."

Mr. Galloway depicted briefly the events which preceded

the actual breaking out of the war, and proceeding, repeated

Blaine's statement made in his "Twenty Years in Congress," in

referring to the war period, that "No other State was in the

aggregate so ably represented as Ohio."

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Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.       447

 

Recalling the names of the more prominent of Ohio's repre-

sentatives during the war, the speaker mentioned as the oldest

in service on the Republican side John A. Bingham, who was an

effective debater, well informed, ready and versatile. Next was

Samuel Shellaberger, distinguished for the analytical and logical

character of his mind. Valentine B. Norton was an authority on

all questions of finance and business. To James M. Ashley

belongs the credit of having made the first proposition in Con-

gress to amend the Constitution so as to prohibit slavery

throughout the United States. George H. Pendleton was the

leader on the Democratic side. Samuel S. Cox was gifted and

witty, and a valuable authority on foreign affairs. Thomas Cor-

win was distinguished for his towering intellect, John A. Gurley

for his unflinching patriotism, and others who served well their

State were Richard A. Harrison, Cary A. Trimble, Edgerton

Blake, Riddle, Cutler and William Allen.

"No Congress, save the first in the history of this govern-

ment, ever met under such conditions of uncertainty, of trial,

tribulation and danger as confronted the Thirty-eighth. Ohio

had added among others two bright stars to her list of Congress-

men, who have since become national names-Robert C. Schenck

and James A. Garfield."  Schenck was noted for keenness of

perception, extraordinary rapidity of analysis, and remarkable

power of expression

"James A. Garfield, after the most perilous service and con-

spicuous gallantry in battle, after the famous ride at the battle

of Chickamauga, was sent to Congress to represent the Nine-

teenth District. Eloquent, able and earnest, he at once took

front rank in the important discussions in the House. In the

debate on the proposition that three-fourths of the State had the

right to amend the Constitution Garfield made a speech of his-

toric interest."

Speaking of the two war Senators, Mr. Galloway said: "One,

crowned with years and honors, still serves Ohio in the Senate,

John Sherman. Comment on his services is unnecessary. The

other was bluff Ben Wade, foremost among all the brave hearts

who surrounded and upheld the government, and never, in all

the gloomiest hours, did he once despair of the Republic.

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

 

"All honor to those men who, by their work and labors,

their patriotism and fidelity in public trust, have honored Ohio."

To Bishop B. W. Arnett was assigned the subject, "The

Colored Mall in Ohio."

He said that when the invitation to speak upon this subject

first reached him he had wondered why Mr. Randall should have

thought him capable of speaking upon such a subject, but sup-

posed he must have heard that when he (Bishop Arnett) was

small he had played with colored boys and had lived with a col-

ored family, and had judged from these facts that he would know

something about them. He had then gone to the old colored

man, and to the young man, to find what each wanted him to

say on this occasion. The old colored man, he found, was grate-

ful for freedom--that was the height of his ambition. The

young colored man, on the other hand, wanted "everything in

sight," everything the white man had. One represented the

past and the other the future. The old colored man was doing

the best he could under the circumstances of his early training

and environment. The young colored men are doing just what

the young white men are doing; wherever you find a white man

you find a colored man close at hand. Some are going to church,

some to school, and some are going to jail.

Professor Moorehead was collecting jewels of the past, and

General Brinkerhoff had, in the form of a statue, collected the

jewels of the present age: but he gave notice that by the next

hundred years they would have a black jewel for the other

corner. They were going right to work and would have him

ready and he hoped he would come from Greene County.

He had not time in the space allotted him to tell all that the

colored man of Ohio was doing. He is ambitious, loves office

and never lets one escape him. For a number of years there

has been a colored member in the Legislature. There were

better chances for the colored man in Ohio than anywhere else;

the school system is better and the rights of the race more fully

recognized. (Applause).

Professor Moorehead followed with a brief talk on "Archae-

ology of Ohio." There are two schools in Ohio, he said, of

archaeology, the practical and the theoretical, or the new and the



• 19
 

Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting.        449

 

old. Nearly all archaeologists of to-day belong to the practical

school and there are scarcely a half dozen representatives of the

old school. It is the office of this new school to explore, to pre-

serve specimens properly recorded in fire-proof buildings, to com-

pare the types of man's handicraft of one section of the country

with those of another, to survey and photograph and study the

enclosures, fortifications, village sites and tumuli of ancient man

of both the Americas. Its work is covered by the term anthro-

pology, the study of man.

This Society confines its work largely to the pre-historic

tribes of Ohio and the Ohio Indians, and has a field unequaled

by that of any other section of America. It should remember

in projecting its important work among the ruins of past ages to

exhibit the careful, analytical, scientific spirit and avoid any-

thing which savors of charlatanism. It can do no better than

follow the work of such men as Brinton, Putnam and Holmes.

To understand the daily life of pre-Columbian man in Ohio

one only requires extensive field work, large excavation and

careful comparison to learn facts which are not apparent from

the surface and could never be known by regarding these monu-

ments externally.

Having this important and interesting field, it should be

explored and studied, preserving the relics of our predecessors.

The subject of archaeology is not dry and dull, and he urged its

study upon the people of Ohio.

Dr. W. E. Moore responded in regard to the "Value of Per-

sonal History," as follows:

Our work is not confined to archaeology, important as that

is, and is becoming more and more important as time and van-

dalism is fast destroying the sources of our scientific knowledge

in the works of the pre-historic races.

We are also a historic society, and here our aim is not so

much to collect the histories, especially of our own State and of

the Northwest Territory, which are already written, as to collect

and preserve the sources of such histories as are yet to be writ-

ten. These sources are to be sought and found in the homes of

our people in the shape of letters, diaries and journals of the

early settlers and their descendants. They are to be gathered

Vol. IV-29

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

 

from the newspapers cotemporary with the events they narrate.

They are to be looked for in historical addresses and sermons,

such as were suggested by the Centennial of 1876, of which there

are many hundreds, if not thousands, lying in drawers and clos-

ets awaiting the annual besom of house-cleaning, if not rescued

and preserved by some such agency as ours. There may be

many bushels of chaff, but through these are scattered many

grains of golden wheat which the future historian will prize as

fixing some date, or identifying some names, or explaining the

connection of isolated facts.

The recent revival in our country of genealogical research

and family histories is significant of the interest taken by our

people in tracing the rivulets and streams which, coming down

from the mist-covered mountains, unite their hundreds of rills in

the stream which flows at their feet and which flows on, uniting

and commingling with other streams, toward the ocean of a com-

mon humanity which holds in its bosom every drop which has

fallen in the ages past. We want that those who come after us,

in our own line, shall be able to trace the converging streams of

their descent to those whose fidelity to duty, to God and man,

gave their tribute to the sum of religion, patriotism, good gov-

ernment and education and freedom, which is the heritage of

Ohio, derived ultimately from Anglo-Saxon, Teuton, Huguenot

-through England, old and new, Scotland, Ireland Holland and

France.

We want to gather, collate and preserve these rills or even

drops of history which may add to our knowledge of our own

people, and show the future historian of Ohio why she has been

so blessed of God with great and good men and women, and why

she has so prospered in material wealth. "There were brave

men before Agamemnon," but their memory has perished be-

cause they lacked a historian.

The speeches were fittingly closed by a soprano solo entitled

"The old Buckeye State," rendered by Mrs. J. F. McNeil

• 21