Ohio History Journal

OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTOR-

ICAL SOCIETY.

PROCEEDINGS FOR THE YEAR 1887, WITH ABSTRACTS

OF ADDRESSES AND PAPERS PRESENTED BE-

FORE THE SOCIETY.

COLUMBUS, January 14th, 1887.

The Society met in the Senate Chamber in the State

House, F. C. Sessions, First Vice President, in the chair.

The Secretary reported that four active members had

been received since the last meeting, and that several

donations had been made to the museum. Among the

donations were a surveyor's level and receipt book, accom-

panied by the following letter:

"PORTSMOUTH, SCIOTO COUNTY,

January 14th, 1887.

A. A. GRAHAM, Secretary of the Ohio Arch. & Hist.

Society:

DEAR SIR: Aurora Lodge, 48, Free and Accepted

Masons, of Portsmouth, Ohio, being possessed of the level

and receipt book used by our 1ate brother, Francis Cleve-

land, when State Civil Engineer locating the Ohio and

Erie Canal in 1829, and deeming them worth preserving,

-not for their intrinsic value, but that they might find a

place in the State archives as relics-decided to present

them to the Ohio State Arch ological and Historical

Society, and to accomplish that end appointed the under-

signed Committee. We, therefore, in the discharge of our

duty, express them to your address, and, through you, do

formally present them to the above Society.

The level is the one used by Mr. Thomas J. Matthews,

father of Justice Stanley Matthews, who, upon his appoint-

ment to a professorship in the Lexington, Ky., University,

resigned the position of Ohio state Civil Engineer, and

Brother Cleveland was appointe his successor.

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Proceedings of the Society.     377

Brother Cleveland was Secretary of Aurora Lodge the

last twenty-five consecutive years of his life. He was

uncle of Grover Cleveland, President of the United States.

JOHN K. LODWICK,

J. H. JOHNSON,

R. A. BRYAN,

Committee of Aurora Lodge, No. 48, F. and A. M.

ATTEST: J. H. JOHNSON,

Sec'y Aurora Lodge, No. 48, F. and A. M."

On motion of E. O. Randall the following resolution

was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of the Ohio State Archaeolog-

ical [and Historical] Society be extended to Aurora Lodge,

No. 48, F. & A. M., of Portsmouth, Ohio, for the level and

the receipt-book used by Thomas J. Matthews and Francis

Cleveland in the surveys of the Ohio and Erie Canal, and

that the same are hereby accepted; and that a copy of this

resolution, attested by the President and Secretary of the

Society, be sent to the officers of the lodge.

General E. B. Finley, of Bucyrus, Ohio, then read a paper

upon "Drift." [An abstract of the paper will appear in the

QUARTERLY.]

The Society then, upon motion, adjourned.

COLUMBUS, February 8, 1887.

The Society met in the Senate chamber, and was called

to order by J. J. Janney, who, in the absence of the Secre-

tary, presented the monthly report.

An address upon "Volcanoes and Earthquakes " was then

delivered by Hon. George G. Washburn, of Elyria.

[An abstract of this address will appear in the QUAR-

TERLY.]

At its conclusion the Society, upon motion, adjourned.

 

SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.

COLUMBUS, February 2₃d, 1887.

The Society met in public session in the Hall of the

House of Representatives, in the State House, at 7:30

o'clock, P. M.

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378    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

F. C. Sessions, First Vice President, read the annual ad.

dress on the History and Prospects of the Society. [This

address is printed in full on page 332 of the QUARTERLY.]

After a brief interval William P. Cutler, of Marietta,

was introduced, who read a paper on " The Ordinance of

1787." [This paper was printed in full in the QUAR-

TERLY for June, 1887, page 10.] The Society then ad-

journed to meet in the State Library at 10 o'clock the

next morning.

THURSDAY, February 24th, 1887.

The Society met in the State Library, at 10 o'clock,

Vice President Sessions in the chair.

The Secretary read the reports of the Secretary and

Treasurer, which, on motion, were referred to the Execu-

tive Committee.

The minutes of the last annual meeting were then read

and approved.

The report of Committees being next in order, Wm. P.

Cutler, Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, sub-

mitted the following report, which was, on motion, unan-

imously adopted:

"WHEREAS, The foundation of civil and religious lib-

erty, of civil government, and of national independence

resulted from the wisdom, patriotism and fidelity of the

thirteen States acting through the Continental Congress,

and

"WHEREAS, Their patriotic services were especially

directed to the conquest of the territory northwest of the

river Ohio from the British Crown, to the amicable ad-

justment of all conflicting claims to it by the several States

-members of the Confederacy-and pursuing the wise

policy of organizing a distinct government, they enacted

an ordinance, on the 13th day of July, 1787, which stands,

sa a monument of their wisdom and as their basis of civil

government in said territory, and

"WHEREAS, The centennial anniversary of the first

permanent occupation of the territory, under the provi-

sions of that ordinance, will occur on the 7th day of April,

1888. and

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Proceedings of the Society.      379

" WHEREAS, Arrangements are in progress for a suitable

celebration of that event at Marietta, Ohio, and for an

Industrial Exposition at the capital of the State, also to

erect at Marietta a monumental structure to commemor-

ate the distinguished services rendered to our common

country by all the actors in the events of our nation's early

history; therefore, be it

"Resolved, That a cordial invitation be extended to each

of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecti-

cut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,

Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South

Carolina and Georgia to be represented at such celebration

and exposition, and to take such interest in the monu-

mental structure as may be most convenient and agreeable

to each of them respectively;

"Resolved, further, That Ohio, as the first born of such

illustrious parentage, extends this invitation with an

earnest desire that such a reunion upon her soil of veterans

in the great cause of human rights and civil liberty, may

be an occasion when all asperities of the past may be soft-

ened by the grateful recollections of the patriotic services

of an honored and common ancestry bestowed upon a

common country.

"Resolved, That the Secretary of this society be instructed

to issue a circular to each of the State Historical Societies

of the old thirteen States, and to those formed out of the

Northwest Territory, setting forth the objects of the Cen-

tennial to be held at Marietta on April 7th, 1888; also the

general purpose of erecting a monument at that place, and

to make, and to invite the co-operation of these societies

in making the celebration an event of national interest

and importance, and that by recalling the memories of the

founders of our nation, a spirit of good will and harmony

may be presented; that with a view to preserve and per-

petuate for the benefit of posterity, the early part of history

as connected with the Northwest and its institutions, the

several societies be requested to furnish such legends and

historical inscriptions as may be properly placed upon the

proposed monumental structure; and that the plan and

wishes of each society may be communicated as early as

possible to the trustees of the Marietta Centennial Com-

mittee, that a plan of the structure may be decided upon."

The Secretary presented the resignation of John B.

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380    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

Peaslee, as trustee and member of the Committee on the

Centennial Memorial, which, on motion of Dr. I. W. An-

drews, was accepted, and Dr. Eli T. Tappan elected to the

vacancy.

Mr. Wm. P. Cutler, from the Committee on the Centen-

nial Memorial to be erected at Marietta, made the folowing

report:

" The Committee on the Centennial Monument ask leave

to report:

"That a Memorial was presented by this Society at its

last annual meeting to the Legislature of Ohio, asking

that body to take action in regard to raising money for

building a monumental structure at Marietta, in commem-

oration of the first settlement of Ohio, on the 7th of April,

1788, under the auspices of the ordinance of July 13, 1787.

"In response to this memorial, the Legislature in-

structed our Senators, and requested the Representatives

in Congress, to use their efforts to procure aid from the

United States. The Senate have agreed to an amendment

to the Civil Service Appropriation bill providing for a pay-

ment to the Marietta Centennial Monument Association

of $50,000, provided a like sum shall be raised by the

State of Ohio, or by other means. The amendment is

now pending between the two Houses of Congress.

"The citizens of Marietta have organized, under the

laws of Ohio, a Monumental Association, having power to

receive donations in real or personal estate, and apply

them to the erection of a monument. That Association is

making efforts to raise a monument fund from private

sources, and have made a good start in that direction. The

people of Marietta have also organized efficient committees

to make suitable preparations for a Centennial celebration.

"The programme comprises the erection of a large audito-

rium, and it is proposed that April 6th, 1888, shall be devoted

to such reunions of pioneers as may be brought together on

the occasion. The 7th to be occupied by addresses and the

Centennial exercises. The 8th being the Sabbath, will be

devoted to a review of the religious and educational features

of the ordinance of 1787, and their application and progress

during the century. Invitations have been extended by the

Ohio Legislature to the several States of Indiana, Illinois,

Michigan and Wisconsin to participate in the proposed cele-

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Proceedings of the Society.       381

bration. Favorable responses have been received from these

invitations.

"Respectfully submitted,

"W. P. CUTLER,

"Chairman."

The report was accepted and the committee continued.

On invitation, Gen. S. H. Hurst, representing the Centen-

nial Exposition to be held in Columbus in the autumn of

1888, appeared before the Society and addressed the mem-

bers on the work to be done and the objects of the Centen-

nial Exposition. On motion of Major E. C. Dawes, the

Secretary was instructed to extend invitations on behalf of

the Society to the Ohio Societies in New York, Washington

City, California and other places where they exist; also to

the Massachusetts Society in Cincinnati to participate in

the coming centennial.

Mr. W. C. Turner, from the Committee on Archaeology,

read the report of the chairman, Professor Wright, and a

letter from Prof. F. W. Putnam. The report showed prog-

ress, and recommended additional members on the com-

mittee.

The report was adopted; the Committee, on motion of

Mr. Turner, increased to nine members and made a Stand-

ing Committee.

The report of the Committee and the letter of Professor

Putnam were ordered printed in the regular proceedings

of the Society.  [See the QUARTERLY for June, 1887,

page 55.]

The Secretary presented for consideration the question

of the form of the Society's publication. After considera-

tion it was, on motion of Major E. C. Dawes, resolved that

the Society issue its publication in pamphlet or magazine

form, not less than once per quarter.

Dr. I. W. Andrews presented an invitation, from the

Washington County Pioneer Society, to hold the next

annual meeting of this Society at Marietta, at the time of

the Centennial of the settlement of that place.

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382    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

On motion of Mr. Rickly the invitation was referred to

the Executive Committee, with the request that the same

be accepted.

On motion the Chair appointed a committee to nomi-

nate five trustees for the term of three years.

On motion of Mr. Rickly the preparation of the pam-

phlet-programme of exercises for the schools was referred

to the Executive Committee, the expression of the Society

being that the Secretary be authorized to prepare the same

for publication.

The Society then took a recess till 2 o'clock P. M.

 

 

On reconvening at 2 P. M., the Committee on Nomina-

tions presented the following names for trustees for three

years:

WM. P. CUTLER, Marietta;

N. S. TOWNSHEND, Columbus;

REV. WM. E. MOORE, Columbus;

E. C. DAWES, Cincinnati;

C. C. BALDWIN, Cleveland.

The report of the committee was adopted, and the above

persons elected.

On motion, the Society adjourned to meet in public

session at 7:30 P. M.

SECOND PUBLIC SESSION.

The Society met at 7:30 P. M. in the Senate Chamber,

and listened to an interesting paper on " Salmon P. Chase,"

by Dr. N. S. Townshend, of Columbus, a member of the

General Assembly that first elected Mr. Chase as United

States Senator from Ohio. [This paper appeared in the

QUARTERLY for September, 188₇.]

 

ACTION OF THE TRUSTEES.

The Board of Trustees met Thursday afternoon, Feb-

ruary 24th, Mr. Sessions in the chair.

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Proceedings of the Society.        383

The election of officers being in order, the following were

chosen:

President-F. C. Sessions, Columbus.

First Vice-President-R. Brinkerhoff, Mansfield.

Second Vice-President-Wm. E. Moore, Columbus.

Secretary and Librarian-A. A. Graham, Columbus.

Treasurer-S. S. Rickly, Columbus.

The following standing committees were appointed:

Executive Commitee--F. C. Sessions; James S. Robinson,

N. S. Townshend, Wm. E. Moore, H. A. Thompson.

Finance Committee-Wm. E. Moore, James S. Robinson,

S. S. Rickly.

Committee on Resolutions-Wm. P. Cutler, Eli T. Tappan,

N. S. Townshend, Chas. Townsend, A. W. Jones.

Committee on Archaeology-G. F. Wright, W. C. Turner, R.

Brinkerhoff, I. W. Andrews, M. F. Force.

Library Committee-Charles J. Wetmore, S. C. Derby, R.

W. Stevenson, N. S. Townshend.

After which, on motion, the board adjourned.

A. A. GRAHAM,

Secretary.

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