Ohio History Journal

PROCEEDINGS

 

 

OF THE

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

 

 

 

OF THE CITY OF

 

GALLOPOLIS, OHIO.

 

 

 

 

October 16, 17, 18 and 19, 1890.

 

 

 

 

 

PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS.

 

As early as April, 1890, the citizens of Gallipolis, through

their Board of Trade, took action to secure a proper celebration

of the approaching centennial of the city's settlement. On April

22, 1890, at a meeting of the Board of Trade, the following

named gentlemen were elected an Executive Committee of

arrangements:

John L. Vance, Chairman; C. Fred Henking, W. B. Shober,

H. R. Bradbury, Joseph Mullineux, J. A. McClurg, Geo. House,

J. C. Hutsinpiller, C. W. Henking, Dr. J. Eakins, B. F. Bar-

low, P. A. Sanns, J. C. Priestley, B. T. Enos, E. L. Menager,

C. D. Kerr, J. M. Kerr, S. A. Dunbar, A. W. Kerns, W. Kling,

A. Ufermann, Charles Regnier.

The organization of the Committee was completed by the

selection of the following named gentlemen to the positions

stated:

Vice-Chairman -B. F. Barlow.

Secretary- H. R. Bradbury.

Treasurer -C. W. Henking.

Vol. III--1

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2         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VoL. 3

 

The meetings of the Committee were held at the Audi-

tor's office, the use of which was tendered by A. W. Kerns.

The Committee at its first meeting, tendered an invitation to

the General Assembly of Ohio to be present at the Centennial,

which invitation was presented to the House of Representatives

by Hon. J. Eakins, a member of the House from Gallia County.

The invitation was accepted by the General Assembly, and

arrangements made by the members of that body to attend.

On the evening of April 28th the Executive Committee met

and appointed a Sub-Committee to confer with the Ohio Archaeo-

logical and Historical Society in regard to the Centennial celebra-

tion: Hon. J. Eakins, Wm. B. Shober, C. F. Henking, J. A.

McClurg, H. R. Bradbury, Jos. Mullineux, and John L. Vance.

Messrs. B. F. Barlow, William Kling, A. W. Kerns, J. M.

Kerr and B. T. Enos were also appointed a committee to suggest

names and duties of sub-committees.

The first named committee went to Columbus, May 12th,

and the next day met the Executive Committee of the Archaeo-

logical and Historical Society, and after a conference, a com-

mittee consisting of H. R. Bradbury, Jon. L. Vance, C. F. Hen-

king, F. C. Sessions, and A. A. Graham was appointed to pre-

pare a programme for the Centennial. This committee met in

Gallipolis, Saturday, June 7th, and arranged a provisional pro-

gramme, and assigned to John L. Vance and A. A. Graham the

duty to arrange the details necessary to its completion, and

authorized them to make such alterations and additions as might

be necessary for the final programme.

Steps were now taken by the Society and the Gallipolis

committee to secure in permanent form the papers, addresses and

proceedings of the Centennial in volume third of the Historical

Society's publications. The Secretary of the Society was au-

thorized to prepare a circular setting forth the proposed contents

of the volume, and to secure a subscription thereto from the peo-

ple of Gallipolis. In pursuance of this action, the following

circular was prepared and submitted to a meeting of the Board

of Trade of Gallipolis the evening of Friday, June 20th, and a

subscription of 150 copies of the publication secured. The cir-

cular is as follows:

• 2
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.     3

 

 

 

THE OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.       CIR-

CULAR OF INFORMATION NO. 2, 1890.     THE

PUBLICATIONS FOR 1890.

 

The Centennial of the Settlement of Gallipolis, Ohio, will

occur October 19th, next. It will then be one hundred years

since the colony of French emigrants landed on the northern

bank of "La Belle River."

This settlement, the only one of its kind in Ohio, bears no

little impress on our history, and merits more than merely a Cen-

tennial celebration. Its history contains not only the location of

the colony, and the founding of a town, but also carries with it

many questions of national interest. Made about the opening

of the French Revolution, when the attention of all Europe was

drawn to the questions of civil and religious liberty; and when

the minds of men were easily turned to any solution of the prob-

lems then agitating mankind, there clusters about this settlement

many interesting and instructive questions in our early annals.

The scheme of locating a foreign colony upon land in an Ameri-

can wilderness, obtained from the Government through organized

land companies was watched by many, not only in Europe, but

also in America. It was not merely local interest; the attention

of nations was drawn thither.

The history of this colony, the formation of the Ohio and

Scioto Land Companies, both more or less interested in its suc-

cess, and the relation each bore to the other, with a concise his-

tory of their transactions so far as they relate to this colony, will

appear in this volume. Original maps, plats, drawings and docu-

ments will be used to illustrate the text. The " French Grant"

will be carefully and fully described, and such plats and maps, as

will elucidate the text, will be used.

The story of the French emigrants will be faithfully given,

and as far as possible a complete list of the first settlers will be

printed. Plats and plans, views and portraits, as far as can be

obtained, will be used to illustrate the work.

The volume will therefore not be merely an account of the

exercises commemorative of the Centennial. It will be a history

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4         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

of the colony, and a careful digest of the questions pertinent

thereto.

The work when published will be somewhat similar to that

issued in 1888, i. e., "The Marietta Centennial of April 7th,^"

save that this will be a bound volume, and will be the Society's

publication for 1890. Like all publications of the Society, the

volume is not for general circulation. Members of the Society

will be supplied, and additional copies will be printed only for

exchanges, societies, and for those who request them.

Several thousand copies of this circular were issued and sent

liberally to all parts of the country, and through the Board of

Trade at Gallipolis, were freely distributed there.

On August 19th, the Board of Trade appointed the follow-

ing committees on detail work:

 

ADVERTISING.

P. T. Wall, Chairman; I. F. Chapman, Theo. N. Wilson,

Chas. D. Kerr, S. A. McClurg.

 

AMUSEMENTS.

Thos. R. Hayward, Chairman; J. Will Clendinen, N. R.

Canaday, P. T. Wall, A. L. Roadarmour, C. B. Hanson, Geo. D.

McIntyre, C. H. Small, H. C. Johnston, Jas. W. Gardner.

 

ATHLETICS.

Arthur Williams, Chairman; Henry Neal, Fred Kling.

 

BADGES.

Ralph C. Jones, Chairman; C. C. Olmstead, Frank Moore.

 

DECORATIONS.

O. M. Henking, Chairman; Chas. W. Uhrig, C. H. McCor-

mick, Dr. F. A. Cromley, Ed. W. Vanden, Ross Williams, A.

R. Weaver, Frank Ulsamer, W. B. Fuller, B. Frank Barlow, A.

A. Lyon, J. C. Staats, C. F. Hudlin, C. A. Smith, C. M. Adams,

Samuel T. Cook, S. D. Cowden, J. Will Clendinen, Chas.

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The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.    5

 

Gentry, Jas. H. Sanns, S. A. Rathburn, Charles Johnston,

Aaron Frank.

DRINKING WATER.

C. W. Ernsting, Chairman; E. T. Moore, J. H. Frank,

Fred H. Kerr, E. Lincoln Neal, John Pepple, B. L. Gardner, A.

Moch, J. M. Smith, Frank Bell, Jos. Ziegler, G. W. Cox, Paul

Dober, Dr. J. R. Safford, Geo. W. Alexander, E. L. Menager,

J. C. Shepard, C. J. Schreck, J. S. Billups, Henry House, Chas.

F. Jenny, Alvin Brown.

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT.

John C. Hutsinpiller, 'Chairman; J. H. Schaaf, Charles

Stuart, S. F. Crane, C. H. D. Summer, Henry Gilman, W. G.

Fuller, A. J. Greene, Dr. John Sanns, Henry.R. Bell, Henry

Beall.

FIREWORKS.

E. E. Gatewood, Chairman; Thomas R. Hayward, J. A.

Blazer, A. B. Williams, C. Fred Henking, Geo. N. Bolles, M.

S. Hern.

GROUNDS AND SUPPLIES.

Geo. House, Chairman; Jos. F. Martin, A. F. Lasley, John

Lupton, James H. McClurg, W. H. Billings, W. R. White.

 

HORSES AND CARRIAGES.

W. C. Hayward, Chairman; James G. Priestley, Frank

Hutsinpiller, Geo. Wetherholt, Charles C. Baker.

 

HOTELS, BOARDING HOUSES, ETC.

W. H. Hutchinson, Chairman; J. C. Morris, Creuzet

Vance, Frank Ulsamer, J. W. Gardner, J. L. Hayward, Chas.

Jenny, John C. Graham, Amos Troth, A. A. Lyon, Ed. Gills,

Chris. C. Mack.

INTELLIGENCE.

John C. Vanden, Chairman; A. F. Moore, Chas. Mack, C.

W. Bird, Frank J. Donnally.

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6         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

 

LIGHT.

Jas. A. McClurg, Chairman; C. W. Henking, C. D. Kerr,

B. T. Enos, F. W. Dages, S. Witham, Chas. Stockhoff.

 

MUSIC -INSTRUMENTAL.

James H. Sanns, Chairman; Geo. D. McBride, L. B. Shaw.

 

MUSIC-VOCAL.

Jas. M. Neal, Chairman; D. W. Jones, Gus Mack, Dr. Jas.

T. Hanson, J. E. Matthews, John R. McCormick, E. S. Ale-

shire, G. A. Roedell, F. O. Fowler, Wm. Mullinuex, T.P. Wil-

liams, F. M. Snead.

MILITARY DISPLAY.

C. H. McCormick, Chairman; Silas Pritchett, E. S. Aleshire,

A. G. Beall, D. W. Jones, Geo. D. McBride, H. R. Bradbury,

Chas. Weihe.

PRESS.

William Nash, Chairman; D. W. Jones, John L. Vance, jr.

H. LeClercq Ford, J. E. Robinson, J. D. Olmsted.

 

PROGRAMME.

F. C. Sessions, Chairman; A. A. Graham, John L. Vance,

H. R. Bradbury, Jehu Eakins.

 

RAILROAD AND RIVER TRANSPORTATION.

W. B. Shober, Chairman; John R. McCormick, H. W. Ellis,

S. M. Cherrington, P. A. Sanns, John Nevius, Miles H. Brown,

W. A. Barrows, S. Silverman, F. J. Donnally, Geo. W. Bay.

 

RECEPTION.

John M. Alexander, Chairman; Geo. House, James Mul-

lineux, W. H. McCormick, C. D. Maxon, P. A. Sanns, W. C.

Hayward, James Harper, A. Ufermann, Dr. E. W. Parker, G.

B. Little, Dr. H. C. Brown, D. B. Hebard, Frank Cromley,

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The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.    7

 

James Gatewood, Alexander Vance, Wm. C. Miller, M. C. Bar-

low, John L. Kuhn, R. D. Neal, D. S. Ford, H. N. Ford, C.

Doepping, H. H. McGonagle, Joseph Mullineux, S. R. Bush, C.

A. Clendinen, Charles Mack, Dr. P. Gardner, Albert Mossman,

Daniel Calohan, Eliza Smith, E. Betz, C. C. Welbert, C. D.

Bailey, John Dages, James Vanden.

 

SABBATH PROGRAMME.

Rev. P. A. Baker, Chairman; Rev. John Moncure, Rev. C.

A.. McManis, Rev. R. H. Coulter, Rev. Father Oeink, W. L.

Robinson, H. N. Ford, A. J. Greene, W. G. Bradley, Jos. F.

Hund.

SANITARY.

William Kling, Chairman; A. Henking, J. C. Priestley, Dr.

James Johnson, C. A. Hill.

 

SCHOOLS.

T. W. Karr, Chairman; D. B. Hebard, Dr. John Sanns, Dr.

E. G, Alcorn, A. L. Roadarmour.

 

STEAMBOAT EXCURSION.

S. A. Dunbar, Chairman; R. L. Hamilton, John W. Hol-

loway, Chas. Regnier, John Damron, M. V. Nelson.

 

TENTS AND AMPHITHEATRE.

A. W. Kerns, Chairman; Jas. Mullineux, Jr., S. F. Neal,

P. B, Pritchett.

 

TO FORM TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES.

I. F. Chapman, Chairman; W. T. Minturn, A. W. Kerns,

V. H. SWitzer. W. R. White.

 

LADIES' RECEPTION COMMITTEE.

The following ladies were appointed a Committee to prepare

a suitable reception for the Governors, their Staff officers, State

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8         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

officers, members of the Legislature, and other distinguished

guests:

Mrs. C. Fred. Henking,                       Mrs. J. E. Robinson,

Mrs. H. R. Bradbury,                          Mrs. W. B. Shober,

Mrs. B. F. Barlow,                              Mrs. P. A. Sanns,

Mrs. W. G. Brading,                            Mrs. Sam'l Silverman,

Mrs. Josephine Cadot,                        Mrs. J. H. Sanns,

Mrs. F. A. Cromley,                           Mrs. J. C. Shephard,

Mrs. S. A. Dunbar,                             Mrs. J. M. Smith,

Mrs. B. T. Enos,                                 Mrs. John L. Vance,

Mrs. W. B. Fuller,                               Mrs. Mary A. Wood,

Mrs. J. C. Hutsinpiller,                       Mrs. A. Uhrig,

Mrs. E. S. Aleshire,                             Mrs. H. N. Ford,

Mrs. O. M. Henking,                          Miss Mary Aleshire,

Mrs. W. H. Hutchinson,                     Miss Hattie Beard,

Mrs. John T. Halliday,                       Miss Belle Coffman,

Mrs. James Johnson,                          Miss Blanche Cadot,

Mrs. D. W. Jones,                               Miss Callie Deletombe,

Mrs. C. D. Kerr,                                   Miss Mary Graham,

Mrs. Genevieve Maxon,                      Miss Kate McClurg,

Mrs. John Moncure,                           Miss Kate McIntyre,

Mrs. J. C. Morris,                               Miss Ida Nevius,

Mrs. Geo. D. McIntyre,                     Miss Alice Pitrat,

Mrs. C. W. Ernsting,                           Miss Annie Uhrig,

Mrs. A. W. Kerns,                              Miss Marie Drouillard.

Each committee arranged all details necessary and by the

middle of October everything was in readiness.

The Committee on Tents arranged for a large tent for the

Auditorium  with a seating capacity of 2,000.  A stage was

built in it on the parquet order with a seating capacity of 400.

Near it were arranged a dozen tents for Committees' head-

quarters. The main tent was erected in the center of the Park

next the river, where the reunion tent was spread in 1888. This

gave a fine view up and down the river and was convenient to

every one. The main tent was well lighted and comfortably

seated.

Early in October, John L. Vance and A. A. Graham ar-

• 8
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.      9

 

ranged the following programme, which, in the main, was

carried out:

 

 

1790                                    1890

PROGRAMME

 

 

OF THE

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

 

 

OF THE

 

SETTLEMENT OF THE CITY

 

 

OF

GALLIPOLIS, OHIO,

 

 

BY THE

 

French, October 19, 1790.

 

 

October 16, 17, 18 and 19,

 

1890.

The following account of the reason of the settlement of

this locality by the French emigrants was printed in the pro-

gramme:

" On October 19, 1790, a party of French emigrants landed

at the site of the present city of Gallipolis, Ohio. These emi-

grants were part of a number who had purchased land in the

Ohio country from the Society of the Scioto in Paris. This

Society had acquired the right of purchase in this part of

America from Joel Barlow, agent of the Scioto Associates in

America. They had contracted to buy from the United States a

large tract of land in the Northwest Territory. Through the

failure of the Society of the Scioto to meet its payments the

Scioto Associates were unable to fulfill their obligations and the

lands continued in possession of the American government. To

satisfy the claims of the emigrants to whom the Society of the

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10         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VoL. 3

 

Scioto had given deeds for lands in the 18 ranges of townships -

but which, upon the map furnished by Mr. Barlow, were located

at and adjacent to the site of Gallipolis-the Scioto Associates

contracted to buy from the Ohio Company the land represented

by its shares, which had been forfeited for non-payment-about

200,000 acres. This land they were permitted to locate in the

fourteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth ranges of townships, in-

cluding the site of Gallipolis. Owing to the failure of the prin-

cipal men among the Scioto Associates in the financial panic of

1792, they were unable to pay for this tract. This left the

French without titles to any of their purchases. The Ohio

Company was unable to complete the tract it had originally con-

tracted for, but, by its settlement with Congress in 1792, it

acquired the title to the land in the 14 and 15 ranges of town-

ships, including Gallipolis. In 1795, through the efforts of Jean

Gabriel Gewase, seconded by the leading men in the Ohio Com-

pany, a grant of 24,000 acres of land, in what is now Scioto

county, was made to the French emigrants. In the same

year the Ohio Company sold to them two fractional sections,

about 900 acres of land, including the town site of Gallipolis, at

$1.25 per acre. It also offered to each French settler at Galli-

polis,' one hundred acres of land from the donation tract granted

to it by Congress to be given to actual settlers.

 

FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 17, IN THE AUDITORIUM.

 

MUSIC.

Address ..... ........... .... HON. H. R. BRADBURY, Mayor of Gallipolis

Address .........................PROF. N. J. MORRISON, of Marietta

On behalf of Ohio Historical Society - "A Century and Its Lessons."

 

MUSIC.

 

 

FRIDAY, 2 P. M.-AUDITORIUM.

 

MUSIC.

Address............... ..........................HON. D. K. WATSON

"The Early Bar of the Ohio Valley."

 

SHORT ADDRESSES.

 

MUSIC.

• 10
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.         11

 

FRIDAY EVENING--7:30 O'CLOCK.

MUSIC.

Address ................. HON. JAMES E. CAMPBELL, Governor of Ohio

Address ............... A. A. GRAHAM, Secretary Ohio Historical Society

"French Exploration and Occupation in America."

(Illustrated by the Stereopticon.)

This address was, by request of the audience, repeated Sat-

urday evening. It was of such a nature it could not be pre-

pared for publication.

SATURDAY, 10 A. M.- AUDITORIUM.

MUSIC.

Address  .................................. .... ... . COL. JOHN  L. VANCE

"The French Settlement and Settlers of Gallipolis."

Owing to other duties this address could not be given, but it

is printed in this volume. Short addresses were made by Rev.

H. A. Thompson, Prof. J. M. Davis, Mr. R. D. Marshall, Mr.

R. D. Jones, Judge R. A. Safford, Gen. C. H. Grosvenor, and

others.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON-2:00 O'CLOCK.

Excursion by Steamboats to points of interest on the Ohio and the

Kanawha.

SATURDAY EVENING - 7:30 O'CLOCK.

MUSIC.

Address ..................................... ... HON. DANIEL  J. RYAN

"The Scioto Company and the French Grant."

CENTENNIAL DAY.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1890.

10:00 A. M.- Services in all the Churches under charge of the City Pastors'

Association; appropriate exercises.

In each church an historical sermon was given by the pas-

tor, or by some one selected by him. A synopsis of these

addresses appears in this volume.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 2: 00 O'CLOCK - AUDITORIUM.

MUSIC BY AUDIENCE.

Historical Discourse ................ REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D. D.

MUSIC.

SUNDAY EVENING- 7:30 O'CLOCK.

Closing services in the Churches.

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12        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

The programme at first provided for opening exercises

Thursday evening, the sixteenth; but that day being very wet

and disagreeable, and owing to an extra session of the General

Assembly being called, but few persons could leave Columbus

with the members of the Archaeological and Historical Society.

The train bearing the party was late, and did not reach Gallipo-

lis till after nine o'clock in the evening. The opening exercises

were, therefore, deferred until Friday morning, and the pro-

gramme arranged accordingly. Members of the Assembly in-

vited to take part, were detained at Columbus, and their places

filled by others.  The citizens of Gallipolis had made ample

preparations, and when the guests arrived everything was in

readiness. The following from the Gallipolis Bulletin of Octo-

ber ²1st, is a very good account of the celebration:

Friday morning opened clear and beautiful. The clouds

and rain had disappeared and the sun shone out, diffusing

warmth and beauty. By 10 A. M. the large tent was filled. The

meeting was called to order by Hon. H. R. Bradbury, City

Mayor, who in the opening address extended a hearty welcome

to all who came. At the close of his address and after music by

the band, Rev. N. J. Morrison was introduced, and for an hour

spoke on the topic assigned to Mr. Sessions. Mr. Sessions, the

President of the Society, to whom had been assigned this address,

was absent, in New York, on account of illness, and had secured

Dr. Morrison to fill his place. The address was scholarly,

eloquent, and filled with information. It was a timely and most

excellent resume of the century just closed.

Following Dr. Morrison, Rev. J. M. Davis, President of

Rio Grande College, gave a brief history of the educational

institutions in Gallia County, especially of the college at Rio

Grande.

Rev. H. A. Thompson, one of the Trustees of the State

Historical Society, and for many years President of the Wester-

ville College, spoke on the value of education, especially that

given in the small colleges of the country, and in the academies.

The afternoon exercises were varied in character. Owing

to the late arrival of the Governor's train, no attempt was made

to gather the people until near 4 o'clock. Col. R. D. Marshall,

• 12
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.   13

 

of Dayton, was introduced by Secretary Graham, and about half

an hour spoke on the general theme of the Centennials and the

value of their influences on American life.

Following this address came a civic parade, in which

Governors Campbell, of Ohio, and Fleming, of West Virginia,

and their staffs, took part; also many civic societies. At the

close of the parade the people gathered at the tent.

The audience was called to order by Col. John L. Vance,

who introduced Hon. D. K. Watson, Attorney General of Ohio,

who delivered an address on the "Early Bar of the Ohio

Valley." At the conclusion of his address, Governor Fleming,

of West Virginia, was introduced and spoke on the relation of

Virginia to the Ohio Valley.  Governor Campbell was then

introduced.  As it was getting late the Governor spoke but

a few moments, deferring his speech until evening.

Assembling again in the evening, Governor Campbell

resumed his remarks. They were largely relative to the

value of proper centennial celebrations as educational in

character and as agencies in impressing on the minds of the

young the value of American institutions.

Mr. Graham was then introduced, and for an hour spoke on

the "Early Exploration and Occupation of the French in

America."  The address was illustrated by a series of stere-

opticon views, showing the routes of the early explorers by

sea and by land, also the various posts, stations and forts built

in the Western valleys. Maps showing the possessions and

territory claimed by the English and French in North America,

especially in the Valleys of the St. Lawrence and Mississippi

Rivers and their tributaries, were shown, and at the close of the

address a series of pictures were shown illustrating life on the

Ohio a century ago.   These included pictures of Marietta,

Belpre, Fort Harmar, the "floating mill" used in grinding

grain, and views of Gallipolis as it appeared when the French

landed, October 19, 1790, and also views of the city as it appears

to-day.  At its close, numerous requests were made for the

repetition of the address the next evening. After music by the

Parkins quartet the meeting adjourned to a reception in the

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14        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VoL. 3

 

Elks' Hall, tendered the Governors, their staffs, and the visitors

in the city.

Saturday morning the audience assembled at 10 o'clock and

were addressed by Mr. J. V. Jones, of Fostoria, a resident of

Gallipolis in 1832. His address related to the city as it was at

that time and the people residing here.

He was followed by Judge W. H. Safford, of Chillicothe, a

lineal descendant of Col. Robert Safford, one of the original

party who, under Maj. Burnham and employed by the Ohio

Company, cleared the ground and erected the cabins on the

Square for the occupation of the French settlers.

Following this address, the visitors and guests in the city

were taken on an excursion up the Ohio River on the steamer

Bostona a short distance above Point Pleasant. In the after-

noon a second excursion was taken on the same steamer, thereby

accommodating those who could not go in the forenoon.

At 2 o'clock the meeting was called to order by Mayor Brad-

bury, who introduced Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor, who spoke

on the Virginia claims to the Northwest Territory and on the

capture of the British posts by Gen. George Rogers Clark, in

1788. At his request, Mr. Graham explained in detail the part

taken by Gen. Clark and his men, and narrated the history of

Clark's expedition.

Following this, Judge Safford gave an account of the find-

ing of one of the lead plates buried at the mouth of the

Kanawha by direction of the French commandant in Canada,

as one of the means of'establishing the claims of France to this

territory. He also gave an account of the capture of Richard

Garner and others for assisting runaway slaves in 1848. The

case was ably argued by Samuel H. Vinton on the part of Ohio.

The people gathered in great numbers in the evening to

witness a fine display of fireworks on the river's bank. After

that, the tent was quickly filled and Mr. Graham repeated that

portion of his illustrated address relating to the French settle-

ments, posts and exploration in the Northwest Territory.

After this, Hon. Daniel J. Ryan, Secretary of State, deliv-

ered a timely address on the "Scioto Company and the French

Grant," reviewing the entire history of the land transactions

• 14
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.     15

 

relative to this settlement by the French. This done, the Par-

kins quartet, which had furnished the music of the evening,

sang a selection and the audience dispersed.

 

THE CENTENNIAL DAY.

Sunday was distinctively the Centennial Day, it being on

the nineteenth day of October, 1790, when the French emigrants

arrived on the site of where Gallipolis now stands. The city

was full of visitors, as during the other days of the celebration,

and there was a deep interest manifested to hear the subject of

the happenings of a hundred years considered from religious

standpoints, which is the most beautiful and significant of any.

Centennial services were conducted in most of the city

churches. The programmes which had been arranged for the

occasion by the Pastors' Union were of the most attractive char-

acter, and will be long remembered by the appreciative congre-

gations. A brief synopsis of these services is appended;

 

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The congregation was given a treat here which was much

appreciated. Rev. Mr. McMannis, the pastor, had secured the

services of Rev. Dr Lasher, editor of the Journal and Messen-

ger, the organ of the Baptist church in Ohio, and published in

Cincinnati. His sermon, like all the others, was on the practical

lessons of the century, looking at the matter particularly in ref-

erence to the denomination to which he belonged.

 

METHODIST CHURCH.

An elaborate musical programme was most ably rendered,

the Parkins Brothers being among the singers. The bass solo

by Mr. Matthews was also one of the enjoyable characteristics

of the service. Rev. David Moore, D. D., editor of the Western

Christian Advocate, preached the sermon. The historical feat-

ures were directed to the consideration of the history of Method-

ism, and the wonders which it has accomplished, as a medium

for making the country better.

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16        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [Vol. 3

 

 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

 

The music was under the supervision of Professor J. M.

Neal. Rev. Sylvester Scovill, the President of Wooster College,

was the preacher, and the wisdom of selecting him was clearly

demonstrated by the excellent address of more than an hour to

which the large congregation listened. Presbyterianism in its

different stages in Ohio, during the century, was the instructive

and useful topic of his discourse, and the feeling of gratitude

was no doubt paramount in the minds of his hearers, for the

blessings which it has given our country in the way of a

preached Gospel and a Godly example.

 

 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

 

In the services here the rector was assisted by Rev. D. I.

Edwards, of the diocese of Newark, N. J. The music was of

an appropriate character, Mrs. Moncure presiding at the organ,

and a solo, by Miss Nora Kerr, gladdening the hearts of the

congregation. The sermon, by the rector, Rev. Moncure, was

like the others, on the teachings of the century. These were

briefly considered from a secular standpoint, and more elabor-

ately from that of the church, particularly the Protestant Epis-

copal church, the organization, difficulties and success of which

were recounted, as they applied to the Nation, State and City,

and the mercies of God, as illustrated by His blessings upon its

endeavors gratefully mentioned.

 

 

ST. LOUIS CHURCH.

 

The day was appropriately observed by the Roman Catholic

churchmen. First mass was celebrated at 7:30 A. M. and High

mass at 10 A. M. Bishop Watterson, of the Diocese of Colum-

bus, was present at both services. In the afternoon he con-

firmed a large class. The Centennial services were held in the

evening, when the Bishop preached an interesting and instruc-

tive sermon on the events of the past century. The musical

part of the services was good.

• 16
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.    17

 

 

OPERA HOUSE SERVICES.

In the afternoon service was held at Betz Opera House,

when the Rev. Washington Gladden, D. D., of Columbus, de-

livered the Centennial address. A large audience was in attend-

ance, and many members of the Legislature, with their ladies,

occupied seats upon the stage. The following is the order of

service observed:

Music by the choir.

Prayer by President Davis, of Rio Grande College.

Music by Parkins' Quartet.

Sermon by Dr. Gladden.

Music by the choir.

Benediction by Rev. Dr. Moore.

Dr. Gladden's sermon was closely listened to, and will long

be remembered by those present. His text was: "By faith

Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he

should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out

not knowing whither he went."-Hebrews, xi.-8. The sermon

is riven in full in this volume.

Sunday evening the visiting clergy, who filled the pulpits in

the morning, preached to appreciative congregations, and thus

closed the exercises commemorative of the settlement of this

city.

 

 

THE GRAND PARADE.

The delay in the arrival of trains, made a corresponding

delay in the formation and start of the parade.

It was fully three o'clock before the formation was com-

pleted by Chairman McCormick and Marshal W. P. Small. The

organization was as follows:

1. Gates Second Regiment Band, West Virginia N. G.

2. Governor Fleming and Staff--General Oxley, Colonels

MacCorkle, Hagan, Bowyer, Gallaher and White.

3. Governor Campbell and Staff- Generals Hawkins,

Vance, Groesbeck and Hart; Colonels Courtright, McKinney,

Denver, Wilkins, Dill, Hinman, Spangler, Kinnane, Bresler,

Vol. III-2

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18        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

with Sergeant Fred Steube, carrying the banner, and Chairman

Hayward in advance.

4. Porter Band.

5. Grand Army Posts and other veterans.

6. Company Ohio National Guard from Middleport.

7. Ben Hur Division, U. R. K. P., of Gallipolis.

8. Patriarchs Militant Band, of Columbus.

9. Grand Canton Ohio, No. 1, of Columbus.

10. Canton Fidelity, No. 1, of Huntington, W. Va.

11. Canton Sanns, of Gallipolis.

12. Canda Hose Company, of Huntington.

13. Gallipolis Fire Department.

14. Citizens in carriages.

The parade formed on Third and Court streets, with right

resting on Second, and the line of march was up Second to Olive;

Olive to Third; Third to Grape; Grape to Second; Second to

State, where the parade was dismissed.

The pupils of the Union Schools were drawn up in line on

Third street, between State and Locust, and reviewed the parade

amid. great enthusiasm. At Court, the Governors and their

Staffs left the procession and took up a position on Second, just

above Court, and the parade passed in review before them.

While this was being done the schools marched down Second.

They were headed by President Alcorn, Supt. Mohler and Prof.

Karr, and each school accompanied by its teacher. When Court

street was reached a halt was made and the pupils faced Second

street, and sang "America" with profound effect. At the con-

clusion of the song, three rousing cheers were given for Gov-

ernors Campbell and Fleming.

 

THE RECEPTION.

 

The Reception, at the Elks' Hall on Friday evening was con-

tinued until a very late hour, and was a brilliant affair. Mrs.

Jas. E. Robinson, the Chairman, and the ladies of the Com-

mittee having the matter in charge, are to be congratulated upon

the great success that attended their efforts. The refreshments

were elegantly prepared and served with skill. The music was

• 18
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.  19   furnished by the Logan Orchestra. Governor Campbell and Staff, Governor Fleming and Staff, Governor Marquis, Mr. C. C. Waite, Colonel R. D. Marshall, General D. K. Watson, and many others of our distinguished visitors were present, together with the ladies accompanying them. During the progress of the banquet, in answer to calls, short responses were made by Governor Campbell, Governor Fleming, Mr. Waite, Governor Marquis, Colonel R. D. Marshall, General D. K. Watson, and General Morton L. Hawkins.     A CENTENNIAL RELIC ROOM.   The Committee in charge of the display of relics, secured a room in which were arranged all articles illustrating the life of the century. The following shows the list of those who fur- nished articles and the articles displayed, as given in the Bulletin :

S. C. Maguet, dish and plate used for 60 years; salt cellar used for 64 years; brass candlestick brought with the first French settlers. Wm. Waddell, shoe hammer given to grandfather in 1796; ginseng hoe over 100 years old; leather wallet, once the property of Nathan Wad- dell; small spinning wheel 150 years old. Mrs. Lewis Maguet, quilt made during the Revolutionary War from clothing worn at that time; chair, 70 years old, used by Major J. P. R. Bureau, Dr. E. Naret and Hon. S. F. Vinton; saddlebags, 70 years old, used by Hon. S. F. Vinton. Mrs. J. E. Robinson, tea-cups and saucers, 85 years old; stew-pots 75 years old; picture of husband taken when he was 3 years old, by Thomas Wilkinson; picture of J. C. Robin- son, Principal of Gallia Academy in '43-4, taken 1833; picture of Mrs. Elizabeth Dickerson, the first col-

ored female child born in Gallipolis, now 67 years old. Mrs. Guthrie, brass badge of Tip- pecanoe; towel, woven and spun by herself and 75 years old. Mrs. Mary Coulson, tin plate 150 years old, used by the sixth genera- tion. Mrs. Mary J. Hebard, old Cincin- nati papers, of date of 1822-5. Mrs. R. C. Smithers, shawl belong- ing to her mother, 70 years old, and prayer-book printed in 1782. Wm. Preston, trunk brought from France, over 100 years old; tea-ket- tle and pot, same. Miss Titia Jones, Cadmus, book printed in 1702. Miss Maggie Northup, large col- lection of books, among the first printed. A. A. Wade, Gallipolis Journals of the early part of the present cen- tury. Dr. J. R. Safford, beautiful crayon

• 19
 

20         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

picture of his grandfather, Col. Robt. Safford, who cut down the first tree on the present site of Gallipolis, executed by Miss Lily Calohan from an old daguerreotye; the Colonel's horse-pistol, candlestick, powder horn, sword, sleeve-buttons worn by him and 150 years old; pair of can- dle snuffers. Gus Vollborn, tablecloth 267 years old. Hon. H. R. Howard, Pt. Pleasant, 2 bound books of newspapers (daily) subscribed for by the Sebrill family in 1800 and 1807. A. C. Safford, wolf trap presented to Col. Robt. Safford by Daniel Boone, his bosom friend; holster, shaving - case, old papers, books, gun, pistol, histories, bullet-pouch, horn, and silver watch owned by Col. Safford. Lydia Safford, tea-pot, water urn, tallow pot, candle moulds, candle- sticks, owned by Col. Robt. Safford. M. L. Muzio, marble mortar, 100 years old; Italian flag and coins (1/2 cent U. S. 1826 and silver piece of 1773, and French coin of 1810.) Jas. Moats, spurs worn during the Revolutionary War; block of wood out of Libby Prison building. Reuben Aleshire, jr., canteen picked up at battle of Point Pleas- ant during the late war; R. Ale- shire, sr.'s flatboat pilot license; Luther Shepard's commission as Major of battalion, signed by Jos. McLain, Secretary of War. Mrs. J. C. Cadot, vinegar bottle over 100 years old, candlestick 95 years old. C. M. Whitmer, collection of rare Indian relics, 50 spears, pipe, medal, and 10 old coins.

John Irion, Bible owned by the celebrated Ann Bailey, and used 135 years. Mrs. R. T. Carter, old Gallia Free Press of 1825. Mrs. E. J. Miles, fruit dish 100 years old. Lena Wood, Bible of 1828, excel- lent state of preservation. Frank Donnally, snuff box, warm- ing pan and fire tongs about 100 years old, brought from France by Jos. W. Devacht's father; saw, chest of silversmith's tools, etc., trunk of French books, 11 account books, among first kept in the city. Capt. Polsley, pieces of wood caught in the river after the Johns- town flood. Mrs. John Atkinson, Japanese broom; silver spoons 85 years old. Mrs. M. Reynolds, sugar bowl brought from France 200 years ago. Mrs. A. W. Buskirk, Portsmouth, cane carried by Jos. Devacht, sr., 100 years old; parasol carried by Mrs. Devacht, sr., 100 years old. Jas. Beall, an interesting case of Indian relics. Mrs. O. M. Henking, cradle 80 years old. Mrs. M. L. Shepard, piece of log- wood used in old times; picture of Marie Louise LeClercq, the first white child born in Gallipolis; candlesticks 100 years old. W. C. Hayard, Bible over 100 years old; marriage certificate and license of Henry Whitman and Sophie Tilley, his mother's sister; a letter written to Elijah Hayward, jr., by Solomon Hayward, dated Alex- andria, Va., Oct. 11, 1806, while on his way here from Massachusetts. Miss S. E. Rodgers, spoon 60



• 20
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.           2l

years old kettle 85 years old; hand- kerchief 50 years old. Mrs. John S. Mills, reel 99 years old. Miss Lily Calohan, pitcher, over 50 years old; waffle irons 60 years old; picture 77 years old. Mrs. L. A. Hern, plate, book and saucer 100 years old; sugar bowl brought from Scotland, over 100 years old; calico 53 years old. Dr. John Sanns, song and music written by Calvin Shephard in 1800; the contract for the building of the first Methodist Church, with signers; the muster and pay roll of Brig. Gen. Tupper; account book of 1805. Lilian Stewart, vest, coverlet, veil, box, and cuff buttons, bowl, steel- yards of great age. Ella B. Smeltzer, andirons 100 years old. J. H. Hannan, Colonial and Bra- zilian money. C. H. McCormick, kettle made by his grandfather in 1801; his hunt- ing bag, flax hackle, rocking chair 90 years old; bread oven, tea kettle and iron kettle over 65 years old. Mrs. Frank Barlow, pitcher from Switzerland, plate, linen sheets made in 1804; flax hackle, waffle irons, wood cards, skillet, andirons and crane of centennial years. H. W. McGath, cuff buttons 250 years old; spectacles of 1800; clasp and book of 100 years. Mrs. Scheneberger, ink-stand over 100 years old; book over 200 years old; nut cracker and cup from Paris 75 years old. Miss Jennie Myers, a table of 100 years old made from one of the first trees cut on the square in Gallipo-

lis (poplar and maple); basket over 100 years old. T. R. Hayward, spinning wheel 75 years old; sample of fancy work over 100 years old. Ernest Shober, papers over 100 years old. W. T. Minturn, Third Year of Commonwealth; picture of Burke, and one of Washington; the Indian Chief Cornstalk's pipe. P. T. Wall, axe used by Col. Saf- ford to cut down the first tree. H. U. Maxon, dress skirt from Scotland in 1870. Mrs. A. H. Alexander, bread bag 75 years old, knit bag 75 years old. Mrs. Cavin, picture and ink stand from France. Mrs. Chas. Hern, old picture. Allen Reifsnyder, moccasins 100 years old. Miss M. J. Rodgers, book of 1678 and 1646. Claude Parker, gun brought from England in 1789. Mrs. H. N. Ford, two pictures in brass frames brought from France; the Lord's prayer in French; picture of Mary Bobin Menager; Sabots, be- longing to A. LeClercq; two cut glass tumblers belonging to R. Le- Clercq and to R. Doszedardski; box of chips with which the French set- tlers played the game of Boston; old commissions in frames; old papers of the Scioto Co.'s land deeds; Post- master's commission; certificate of naturalization of Frances LeClercq; appointment of treasurer in Gallia county in 1804; deed for land signed by President James Monroe; certi- ficate of first commission of Rosalie LeClercq; needle book of Marie C.

• 21
 

22         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VoL. 3

Marret; scent bottle of same; sugar bowl decorated by one of the first colonists in Gallipolis; candle snuf- fers and tray; spelling book of 1817; almanac of 1829; book of French poems belonging to Dr. Doszedard- ski. Mrs. Julius Pitrat, picture of Peter Menager, born Oct. 22d, 1793; first Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine brought to Gallipolis, bought by Mr. Menager in 1845, a great curios- ity, turns with a crank; picture of Christ, by Claude Miller in 1636. Jas. W. Gardner, three pictures of Public Square, Second and Front streets, during the war; records; tax duplicate of Gallia county in 1804; original specifications of Gallia county court house, Dec. 29, 1806, Commissioners of county being Orasha Strong, Chas. Buck, Chas. Mills; assessors return of personal property in Harrison township in 1820, Vernon Northup, lister; com- missioners journal from July, 1804, to July, 1807. E. Deletombe, family relics brought from France in 1820; pair of silver candlesticks, brass candle- sticks, cut glass tumbler, cut glass vinaigrette, pair gold ear-rings, 100 years old; diamond ring in box of straw; Mosaic, dating back five generations; meerschaum pipe 125 years old; ivory dominoes over 100 years old; pen portrait of Voltaire; lady's portrait, painted on ivory; amber beads; embroidered fichu; white shawls; Tambour embroidery; Tambour working cotton and stil- letto; silver bodkins and knitting sheath; sandal wood needle case set with turquoise; ivory needle case; fine clocked hose; mouseline-delaine

shawl in colors; velvet reticule; beaded purse; porcelain pen stand; cut glass ink bottle and blotting sand; E. Deletombe's miscellaneous family relics-souvenirs of the Mexi- can war of 1847; lady's fan-kid- fancy painting steel sticks; child's toy cupboard made of glass; pack of Mexican playing cards; cannon ball from Mexican battlefield; pair of painted china vases; shell jewel box from Cologne, Germany; silk jewel box with mirror from Germany; cut glass vinaigrette over 50 years old; lady's shell comb 65 years old; toy chair over 50 years old; paper weights of agate from Turkey; of onyx from Mexico; of marble from the Hartz mountains; glass stylo- graphic pen 50 years old; sea biscuit brought to America in 1810 by Mrs. Deletombe's father, G. Steinman; pack of playing cards made for use during the rebellion with flags, shields, etc., to replace the original designs; California flowers pressed in 1849; sandal wood from the Sand- wich Islands; horn of buffalo killed on the Public Sqnare; tomahawk found on Gallipolis Island in 1879; amber beads used 60 years; silver spoon used 85 years; incense 68 years, old; lava and ornaments made of it, from Mt. Vesuvius; spun glass from Vienna, Austria; a leaf of the silver fir from the Southern coast of Africa; pieces of the flag staff erected after the defeat of St. Clair at Ft. Re- covery; amethyst from the Black Hills; button worn in the war of 1812; Harrison badge of 1840; fac simile of a $1,000 bill, the first ever owned by E. Deletombe, and exe- cuted by the late Chas. Henking with a pen; picture of the Star

• 22
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.       23

House of Hiram Fisher on Public Square built in 1844, and from which Dr. Maxon fell and killed himself in 1851; bottle of vinegar, over 40 years old, made by Francois E. Dele- tombe's father; portrait of Dr. Sau- grain, one of the first settlers; of Mrs. Elise Marie Kennesly, living in St. Louis, 91 years old; photo of the old Deletombe house that stood 77 years at the corner of Fourth and Court streets, and built in 1810; picture on parchment presented with a medal to August Loyn (uncle of E. Deletombe) for his faithful serv- ices in the Bureau of Correspond- ence of the National Guard of Paris, dated Jan. 4. 1817; deed of land in the French Grant to one J. Pignolet, one of the first settlers; marriage certificate of Francois Deletombe and Natalie Loyn, dated Oct. 19, 1808, parents of E. Deletombe; baptismal certificates of Francois Deletombe and other members of his family, the earliest of which is dated Jan. 2, 1804; carrier's address of the Lancaster Gazette and En- quirer, printed on white satin, and dated 1838; apron and shoes 80 years old; dress brought from Mex- ico in 1847. Mrs. Elise M. Kennesly, St. Louis, a sketch in pamphlet form in 1827 of her father, Dr. Saugrain, a photo of the monument of Dr. Saugrain's great-grandfatder standing in the cemetery of Pere-la-Chaise, Paris. J. L. Hayward, Gen. E. W. Lup- per's sash; his own bady cap at 4 months; wedding coat of Leonard Beck, 60 years old, made by the father of J. L. Hayward; gourd bot- tle made in 1820. Mrs. Priestly, dish 65 years old.

Mrs. Ella Gordon, a smoothing iron 120 years old, and a tea pot 147 years old. Mrs. H. N. Hayward, lace shawl about 100 years old; winding-sheet, brought from Scotland in 1802, it is 18 feet long and 6 feet wide; a baby dress in which herself and three sisters were christened; a beautiful fan belonging to Miss Isabel Rodg- ers, 70 years old; a coverlet brought from Scotland in 1802. John Lupton, bottle of wine made by Rosina LcClercq in 1830. Mrs. Fannie Miles, platter and tablecloth 50 years old, woven by Mrs. Rodgers. Malbry Hern, a Masonic apron framed by Solomon Hayward over 70 years ago, and which is 125 years old. G. D. McBride, a French picture with translation of great age, and of Rio College. Mrs. E. Westlake, plate 250 years old. Robt. Gates, picture of Gen. Geo. House. Mrs. H. H. Jones, wooden tray 120 years old, and glass dish 112 years old. Henry House, sword captured at Kickapoo Bottom. Henry Beall, a silver spoon used in the Revolutionary War, and a paper trunk of valuable papers, be- longing to Col. Strickler. Mrs. Sam Silverman, a Jewish Bible picture of great age; knife and fork 200 years old; a Hebrew Bible printed in 1840; cup made in 1713; sheet 300 years old. Thos. Arrington, a cane 63 years old, used by his father. John Alexander, bottle of stream

• 23
 

24        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

tin and lot of quartz from Black Hills; saber captured by himself in deadly conflict at Blacksburg, Va., and given to Capt. Alexander by special order of Col. Turley. Mrs. Judge Thomas, a platter 100 years old. James Mullineaux, Sen., Bible printed in 1772. James H. Sanns, a bottle of water taken from the center of the Park in flood of 1884. Mrs. G. S. Stevenson, a sugar bowl 200 years old; tin sugar bucket over 100 years old. Capt. W. V. Martin, a book that is Centennial on border warfare. Mrs. S. Rodgers, a silk bag 125 years old; needle book 100 years old; great-grandmother's belt worn at her wedding in one of the Block Houses at Harmar, and nearly 200 years old. Mr. Ed Gills and Miss Clara Hea- ton, old relics, consisting of key to first Gallipolis Jail, belonging to Claude Pritchett; pair scissors 111 years old, belonging to Mrs. Marie McConnell; petrified russet apple 125 years old, belonging to Miss Heaton; gold key with heart, be- longing to Mrs. Adelaide Magnet, one of the original settlers, who died in 1889, eighteen days short of 100 years old, her picture, and many other relics, belonging to the fam- ily. Mrs. S. F. Neal, copy of the Ulster County (N. V.) Gazelle, containing complete account of circumstances, death and obituary address of Presi- dent George Washington, dated Jan- uary 4th, 1800; also a Postal Guide, showing the number of Postoffices in the U. S. in 1811, to be only 2400.

F. E. Duduit, Portsmouth, razors, solid silver spoons, brought from Paris by his father. Marion Beall, Indian relics, fine collection. Picture of Mrs. Adelaide Magnet, who came here when 5 years old, and died just short of 100 years. Miss Mary Johnson, skillet 100 years old. A. E. Jones, plate, 95 years old. Mrs. L. A. Stanley, teapot, glass cane, box specimens, the teapot made in England and 70 years old. Mrs. Sallie Smith, kettle belong- ing to Extra Billy Smith, of great age. A. J. Green, whip made of hoof and horn of deer in 1848. Jonas McCarty, flat iron used in the Revolutionary War. Alex Beatty, Portsmouth, candle- stick brought to America in 1790. Jos. Walter, cartridge box used in battle of Waterloo; tomahawk 100 years old, and Indian relics. David Irwin, newspaper of 1828. L. M. Shepard, cane belonging to Col. Robert Safford; scissors pre- sented to Col. Safford by Col. Tup- per in 1795; bellows from Quebec by Col. Robert Safford. Mrs. Hudson Maddy, cup and sau- cer 100 years old. Miss Blanche Cadot, marriage cer- tificate of her great-grandmother; lock that was on first fort in Galli- polis. Jas. Thomas, Charity, O., cash box 273 years old. Ralph C. Jones, cane carried by Col. Safford and made from first tree cut on the site of Gallipolis. H. U. Maxon, waiter of dishes 75 years old; bag very old.

• 24
 

The Centennial Celebration at Gallipolis.        25

Mrs. Lalla Moncure, bottle of water from River Jordan. John Morrison, Indian relics and used at Andersonville. John Nealon, apron 100 years old. Jas. L. Clark, sabre of the Revolu- tionary war. Jos. Walter, five-dollar bill of the old Gallipolis bank. Mrs. S. Brosius, samples embroid- ery (2 pieces), painting in velvet, very old, no date. Bevery Grant, pewter spoons, and novels of 1780. C. H. D. Summers, male and female buffalo horns, captured in Montana by Harry and Fred Sum- mers. Mrs. C. Knapp, beads 100 years old. Mrs. A. McCormick, bellows, sea- weed, French letter, handkerchief, picture. All these things belonged to the Warth family and are very old. Ellis Swisher, wolf-trap over 100 years old. Mack Sprague, sign, auction, 200 years old; mortar, made in England in 1725; books, 1828. Mrs. C. C. Row, Portsmouth, silver snuff box made in France, and brought fom there 100 years ago. Mrs. F. M. Womeldorff, hackle and flax made and brought from Ireland over 86 years ago by her grandmother. Mrs. Isabel Rodgers, copper kettle 70 years old, and old papers. Mrs. Alex Vance, pan and andirons belonging to General E. W. Tupper, and Bible 139 years old.

Mrs. Madeline Langley, John Peter Roman Bureau's wedding tie of white satin, cigar case, beads, French  picture (Virgin Mary), handsome snuff box with the Con- stitution of the United States on lid, pearl needle case, shell box, coin, spoon and various articles of age belonging to Madeline Fran- cis Charlotte Bureau; watch-seal, breastpin and cane belonging to J. P. R. Bureau; needle case and ret- icule belonging to Margaret Hughes Bureau. Mrs. Mary Johnson, skillet 100 years old. Ella Olmstead, steelyards 150 years old, and clock made of different materials. J. L. W. Evans, tomahawk, about 200 years old. Mrs. Emma Lang, German and English Bible and table-cloth, all 100 years old. Miss Lily Heisner, sand-box, needle-book and turquoise necklace used during the Revolutionary War; night-cap 58 years old, owned by Mrs. Charles Creuzet. J. M. Davis, Nehemiah and Par- melia Atwood's pictures, the found- ers and endowers of Rio Grande College. Flora Jackson, book of poetry of 1810: Wm. Diamond, author, beau- tiful book. Hattie Miles, Chinese idols from Foo-Chin, China. S. R. Davis, ancient coin found in West Virginia.

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26        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

 

OPENING ADDRESS BY HON. HORACE R. BRADBURY, MAYOR OF

GALIPOLIS.

 

Fellow-Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen.

As the official head of this city, representing the people of

Gallipolis, in their behalf and in behalf of the Executive Com-

mittee, by whom this Centennial celebration has been projected

and managed thus far, and while welcoming other distinguished

guests, it becomes my pleasant duty to extend an especial wel-

come to the members of the Historical Society of this State.

Gentlemen and ladies of the State Historical Society, I

therefore extend to you the sincere and cordial greetings of the

citizens of Gallipolis, and I assure you that our people are united

in extending this welcome, and we, one and all, hope that your

stay among us may be pleasant and your labors profitable.

When, one hundred years ago, a handful of settlers, voyag-

ing down the beautiful river which flows at our feet, rounded-to

their primitive vessels and landed at this spot, no such welcome

as this was extended to them. The place whereon we stand was

a part of the wilderness extending northwardly to the great

lakes, and the only welcome they received was that extended by

the savage wild beasts and still more savage wild men who

roamed therein unchallenged.

These pioneers left civilization and its comforts and con-

veniences behind them; they found before them untamed natives,

requiring infinite and exhausting labor to subdue. What hopes

animated, what fears and doubts depressed them?

But it is no part of my duty to recount the trials of these

men-how they succeeded or where they failed-this is the duty

of other and abler minds. They will tell you how the wilderness

was subdued, how the forests gave way before the sturdy blows

of the pioneers, and how cities and towns arose and flourished,

and smiling farms made glad the waste places; how our beloved

State arose from humble beginnings, her destinies guided by the

worthy sons of noble sires, to shine the bright particular stars,

in the glorious galaxy of States evolved from the great North-

west Territory; all this and much more will pertain, to the duties

• 26
 

The Century and Its Lessons.             27

 

of the distinguished gentlemen whom we have assembled here

to greet.

This city of ours has in time sent forth her sons and daugh-

ters, who, with willing hands and strong hearts, have engaged in

founding other cities and States, thus following the noble ex-

ample set by their ancestors. Many of these sons and daughters

have returned in response to invitations cordially extended; and

I desire to say to them, as well as the strangers within our gates,

we extend a thousand hearty, cordial welcomes to you all.

This gavel, which I hold in my hand, and with which this

assembly was called to order, is of some historic interest; the

wood of which it is made is a portion of a log taken from one of

the first cabins built for the French emigrants at Gallipolis.

This wood is emblematical of the trials, suffering and hardships

endured by our forefathers in making possible the great advance

in the arts and sciences made by their descendants, this advance

being fully represented by the beautiful silver binding of the

gavel and the inscription thereon.

Again, I bid you all thrice welcome.

At the conclusion of this address, a selection of music was

given by the band, after which Mayor Bradbury introduced Dr.

N. J. Morrison, of Marietta College, who spoke on the topic "A

Century and its Lessons."

 

 

THE CENTURY AND ITS LESSONS.

 

Each century of human history is marked by a train of

peculiar events, characterized by its own peculiar spirit, gives

birth to its own family offspring of ideas, and bequeaths to after-

ages a heritage of peculiar and instructive lessons.

Thus the philosophic historian characterizes one century as

an age of intellectual and political decadence and another as an

age of intellectual and political renaisance; this century as a

period of Augustan brilliancy in Letters and that as a period of

Invention and Discovery.

And so we call the Eleventh Century of our era the " Age

of the Crusades," when a wave of religious and martial fanatic-

ism swept from West to East over all Europe and culminated in

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overwhelming the Moslem power in the Land of the Cross, and

crowning Baldwin, Count of Flanders, as Christian King of Jeru-

salem, just as the Clock of Time was striking the morning hour

of the year 1100.

The Thirteenth Century is distinguished in European his-

tory from all precedent and subsequent ages, by the develop-

ment and perfection of that matchless form of Christian Archi-

tecture, known as the Gothic Cathedral. York Minster, West-

minster Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral in England; the Notre

Dame of Paris, and the Cathedral of Rheims in France, and the

Cathedrals of Strasbourg and Cologne in Germany, each a speci-

men of " poetry crystalized into stone," are illustrious examples

of the almost inspired skill of the church-builders of the Thir-

teenth Century.

The Sixteenth Century, introduced in 1492-98 by the Colum-

bian discovery of the New World, is marked throughout by the

influence of the most tremendous intellectual awakening and

intellectual commotion which the world has yet experienced.

This was the period of Copernicus, Tycho Brahe and Galileo in

Astronomy, and of the resulting revolution in men's ideas about

the system of the universe. Then also the Art of Painting

reached its perfection in the works of the three great masters,

Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Ranzio. It was the

Elizabethan era of Literature and Philosophy in England. It

was also the era of Luther, Calvin, Knox and Loyola, and the

great religious revolutions and counter-revolutions, which these

historic names signify.

This Nineteenth Century has its stream of- characteristic

events, moved by its own forces, along its own channels, toward

its own predetermined end. We call this the " Age of the Peo-

ple,"-meaning that mankind have at last reached that stage in

their toilsome progress, when the bonds of hereditary authority

and prescriptive privilege are broken, and men are moving for-

ward into the full enjoyment of an equality in personal liberty,

equality in civil rights, and equality in opportunity.

Properly regarded, the present century begins with the last

ten years of the Eighteenth Century. In that decade, events of

such momentous importance took place in one quarter of the

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The Century and Its Lessons.           29

 

world, as to give permanent impulse, character and direction to

the course of civilization since. It was then that Democracy

burst its Mediaeval fetters and marched forth from the prison-

house of ages, as a strong man armed, upon the stage of human

affairs to rule the world.

The French Revolution of 1789 set in motion political and

social forces which have dominated and given character to the

course of human events during the century since. It will aid us

in estimating the influence of these forces and in rightly inter-

preting the "Lessons of the Century," if we briefly recapitulate

the causes of the Revolution. These are commonly ascribed by

historians to the tyranny and reckless extravagance of the reign-

ing Bourbon monarchy; the iniquitous privileges and corruption

of the nobility and clergy; the unspeakable misery of the mass

of the people; and the revolutionary spirit of contemporary

French philosophy and literature.

The French king held in his own despotic power the pro-

perty, liberty and life of every subject, enacting the spirit of

that arrogant phrase of Louis XIV, "I am the State." He

imprisoned without trial and without preferring charges; gov-

erned without cabinet or legislature, -the royal edicts were

laws; imposed taxes according to the royal whim, or at the beck

of a corrupt courtier, that were spoliation and confiscation on the

property of the hapless people;--and the revenues thus obtained

were squandered in extravagances and debaucheries that would

shame a Turkish Sultan. One writer declares that "Louis XV

probably spent more money on his harem than on any depart-

ment of the French Government."

In 1790 the nobility of France comprised one quarter million

of souls in a population of 25,000,000 in the nation. They were

mainly the "Rubbish of Medieval Feudalism," living in idleness

and dissipation at the Court, and pensioners on the royal bounty.

Though numerically scarcely one one-hundreth part of the

French people, they monopolized more than one-fifth of all the

land. They were the "absentee" landlords of the time, exact-

ing exorbitant rents from the poor tenants of their estates with

remorseless rigor. And yet, though thus supported from the

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public revenue and holding vast territories of the richest land,

they were practically exempt from the burden of public taxation.

The French clergy constituted a decayed feudal hierarchy,

enormously wealthy; the higher stations, filled with scions from

the nobility, "Patrician Prelates," often of the most dissolute

morals, of whom the famous Talleyrand, at once secular Prince

and Primate of the Gallican Church, is an instructive example;

the clergy holding title to one-third of all the lands of France,

and receiving stipends from the public exchequer, yet privileged

with exemption from the public burthens.

On the other hand, the "plain, common people," the mass

of the French nation, oppressed and despoiled through many

generations by King and Court and Clergy, were reduced to a

condition of suffering penury. As the great Fenelon wrote in

an appeal to the King, " France is simply a great hospital, full

of woe and empty of bread." They were helots,-without in-

fluence in the State, without power or hope of redress for their

wrongs, their only " Use to the State to pay feudal duties to the

lords, tithes to the priest and imposts to the king."

To these primary causes of the impending catastrophe of

the kingdom of Louis XVI, must be added the great influence

on the opinions of Frenchmen, during the last half of the

Eighteenth Century, of the philosophical writings of Voltaire,

Rousseau and the Encyclopaedists generally. Their philosophy

was sceptical, iconoclastic, subversive of the existing order.

They assailed with undiscriminating ardor the abuses which had

barnacled on existing institutions and the institutions them-

selves. Religion, the State, society itself, in their view, needed

not reformation merely but an overturning.  To restore the lost

purity and happiness of mankind, society must return to the

state of nature. They entered upon a crusade for the recovery

of Human Rights.

By the winter of 1787, the financial disorders of the king-

dom reached a crisis,-there was a deficiency of 140,000,000

francs. The King called an assembly of the Notables, who had

not been previously summoned since the days of Henry of

Navarre, in the Sixteenth Century.  But, unwilling to tax

themselves, or to surrender for the general good any of their

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The Century and Its Lessons.           31

 

immunities and prerogatives, they adjourned without accom-

plishing anything. As a last resort, Louis XVIth resolved to

convoke the States General, comprising representatives of the

three orders of the State, the Nobility, the Clergy and the Com-

mons. This body, representing the French Nation at large, had

not before been invited to take part in the government for 175

years. During all this period the King and his Court had gov-

erned France alone.

The States General met at the Palace in Versailles, May

5th, 1789, and consisted of 1200 members, of whom a majority

were from the commons, the lesser half being divided about

equally between the nobility and the clergy. The King had

consented that the "Third Estate," as the commons were called,

should outnumber the aristocratic deputies, presuming on the

continuance of the ancient usage of the States General, accord-

ing to which voting was by the orders. But the Third Estate,

perceiving that they would be outvoted and powerless, and feel-

ing that they were backed by the public sentiment of the nation,

demanded that individuals, and not orders, should be counted in

the deliberations and decisions of the States General.

For five weeks the contest went on between the orders in

the States General when finally the Third Estate declared them-

selves the National Assembly, and invited the two orders to join

them in their deliberations, giving them clearly to understand

that if they declined, the commons would proceed to transact

public business without them.

The King, in anger at this revolutionary proceeding,

promptly prorogued the Assembly and closed the doors of the

Palace against the deputies. Undismayed, the Commons met in

tennis court of the Palace, and there bound themselves by

a solemn oath never to separate until they had given a constitu-

tion to France. Shut out from the Palace the deputies found

places of meeting in the churches, where they were soon joined

by a great part of the clerical deputies, and a little later by

many nobles. On the 17th day of June, 1789, the States Gen-

eral became in reality the National Assembly, its President, in

welcoming the adhesion of the other orders, exclaiming, "This

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day will be illustrious in our annals; it renders the family com-

plete."

Meanwhile events of startling moment are maturing. The

King masses troops around Versailles to overawe the National

Assembly. The rumor reaches Paris that he intends to disperse

the assembly by force of arms. The capital is in a ferment.

Leading men from the various wards of the city come together

and constitute themselves a Provisional Committee to protect the

city's interest and direct its government,-thereby creating the

germ, out of which speedily grew the Paris Commune of such

portentous power and tendency. The National Guard, so famous

in the after wars of the Republic and the Empire, is organized

and, with Lafayette at its head, placed under the direction of the

Commune. Rumor flies among the people that the guns of the

old Bastile, that grim mediaeval prison-house of tyranny, are

being trained on the city. "To the Bastile!" wildly shout the

excited multitude. And quickly a vast, armed, infuriated mob

have surrounded the fortress, battered in the doors, slain the

defenders, liberated the imprisoned, razed its towers and walls to

the ground. The fourteenth of July, 1789, has sounded. Paris

is in the hands of an armed mob.

When the report of this outbreak in the Capital reaches the

King, he cries out: "What, a rebellion?"  "No, Sire," "but

revolution."

When the news of this great event reaches the National

Assembly a scene transpires, the like of which the world has

never witnessed in any deliberative body. The privileged orders

realize that it is all over with their exclusive privileges. Rising in

the tribune, prominent members of the nobility declare their

willingness to renounce all exemptions. A contagious enthusi-

asm of generosity seizes the members. Nobles and prelates

crowd to the tribune to emulate this patriotic example. Every-

body is eager to make sacrifices for the common good. The

members embrace each other in transports of joy, and sing

the Te Deum in celebration of the advent among men of peace,

equality and good-will.

The revolution moves on with quickening pace. The

Parisian mob, led by frenzied Amazons, stream out of the city to

• 32
 

The Century and Its Lessons.              33

 

Versailles, encamp about the Royal Palace for the night, and in

the morning assault and sack the Palace, and compel the King,

the Royal Family and the National Assembly to march back with

them to Paris. And thus is made "the joyous entry of October

6th, 1789," famous in the annals of the Revolution.

From this time the Paris Commune controls in public

affairs, holding the King hostage in the Tuilleries, and dictating

legislation to the National Assembly. The Assembly votes to

curtail the Royal prerogative, to confiscate the accumulated

wealth of the Church, to abolish the religious orders, and to give

universal suffrage to the people, meanwhile busying itself with

the task of framing a free Constitution for France.

Presently the Constitution, providing for the continuance of

the Monarchy, limited by a National Legislature, for an inde-

pendent judiciary, for local self-government throughout the

realm, for the election of all civil officers by the people, for the

abolition of rank and privilege and the installation of equality

among citizens, for a free press and absolute freedom of religion,

is offered to the Nation for solemn ratification. On the 14th day

of July, 1790, in the Champs de Mars, "in the presence of half

a million Frenchmen," the Abbe Talleyrand as representative of

the National Church; Lafayette as Commander of the National

Guard, the President of the National Assembly, and the King,

in succession take oath to maintain this Constitution; the Queen

also holding up the infant Crown Prince before the eyes of the

people, and pledging his future fidelity to that instrument.

Such solemn approval of the new civil institutions of France

by the several national powers, seemed, at first, to mark the

inauguration of a millenial era of political freedom and brother-

hood; the spirit of the transcendant motto of the Revolution,

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," seemed about to be realized.

But the King, tiring of his confinement in the Tuilleries,

secretly leaves Paris and attempts to fly from France; is caught

at the frontier, brought back, incarcerated, cited to trial as

a conspirator against the public safety, condemned, beheaded.

The Republic is proclaimed; the massacres of the "Bloody

Reign of Terror" follow. The hapless Mary Antoinette is

brought to the guillotine, pathetically crying out to the tribunal

Vol. III-3

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which had condemned her: " I was a Queen, but you took away

my crown; a wife, and you killed my husband; a mother, and

you robbed me of my children; my blood alone remains-take

it, but do not make me suffer long!"

The historical sequel is familiar-the Directory, the Consul-

ate the Empire, the prolonged struggle with embattled Europe,

until Waterloo, and then the restored Bourbons under Louis

XVIII.

I have tarried thus long in the presence of these great

events, because they have so largely dominated and shaped the

course of human affairs since. The motto of the Revolution,

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," embodies the political ideal of

humanity, and toward the attainment of that ideal have the

struggles of humanity since been directed. The political

progress of the century is but the progressive realization in

society of this ideal.

Thus the Revolution gave the coup de grace to feudalism in

all its forms; ecclesiastical, vassal and lord, military service, land

tenure and prerogative by inheritance.

The "divine right of kings" received mortal hurt by the

same stroke that slew its twin offspring of the Middle Ages--

Feudalism.  Monarchy has never recovered from the rude shock

given it by the fall of Louis XVI. Throughout Christendom-

save Russia-wherever sceptered monarchy still lags "super-

fluous" on the world's stage, kings have learned that they reign,

if at all, only as "citizen" kings deriving authority from the

consent of the governed. Since the days when the holy alliance

of Austria, Russia and Prussia was formed on the downfall of

Napoleon, to prop up the tottering thrones of Europe, half the

nations of the world have thrown off the trammels of monarchy

and become republics; and the other half only await favorable

opportunity to follow their example.

The nineteenth century is an era of revolution. Not a

country of Europe or America has, since the day of Waterloo,

remained unshaken. Scarcely had the holy alliance replaced the

expelled Bourbons on their forfeited thrones, when the people

of Italy, of Spain and Spanish America rose in revolt. In 1830

another revolutionary wave swept over Europe, lifting the

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The Century and Its Lessons.            35

 

"citizen" king to the throne of France and inaugurating a new

kingdom in Belgium of the most liberal tendencies. In 1848

again all Europe trembled in the throes of civil convulsions.

The boundaries of States were changed, kindred peoples arbi-

trarily separated coalesced, and political institutions were gener-

ally liberalized. Hungary sought national autonomy, and gained

political equipoise with her rival and late enemy in the dual

Empire of Austria-Hungary.

Many of the uprisings of the people during this period have

indeed aborted and been suppressed in blood; and yet, plainly

the aggregate result of all these revolutions and revolts of

nearly a century is the vindication of human rights and the ad-

vancement of human freedom.

The hundred years that expire to-day have been a century

of emancipation. At its dawning, the echo of the Marseillaise,

sung by the conquering legions of Republican France, heard

across the seas, roused the black slaves in the French West

Indies to strike for freedom. The eloquent pleadings of Gran-

ville Sharp, Wilberforce and Brougham in Parliament, finally im-

pelled the British government, in 1833, to break the shackles of

every slave on British soil, decreeing England's eternal reproba-

tion of the "wild and guilty phantasy that man can hold prop-

erty in man." In 1861 Alexander of Russia put his seal to a

state paper of transcendent human importance, by which 46,-

000,000 Russian serfs, slaves of the soil, have attained to free-

dom. By the fortunate issue of our own terrible civil war, in-

voked by human selfishness to perpetuate American slavery,

4,000,000 human chattels on our soil have been transformed into

free men, endowed with full citizenship. And lately, by the

great act of the enlightened ruler of Brazil, African slavery

in that country has ceased to exist, and vanished, finally, from

the soil of the American continent.

The present century has been made illustrious by the re-

naissance and rehabilitation of ancient nationalities. In the

third decade, the public life and literature of England and

America thrilled with the heroic story of the Greeks striking for

freedom from Turkish despotism, and for the restoration of the

commonwealth of Pericles and Epaminondas. Italy, since the

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days of Charlemagne, the victim of internal dissensions and the

sport of Transalpine greed, combining her previously dissevered

members into one body, has again become a nation, under one

political constitution, from the Alps to Sicily-independent,

free, progressive. And the historic people of the German

States, boasting one language and one noble literature, but

for centuries broken into an unstable chaos of political frag-

ments, feeble, discordant, often belligerent, and always the easy

prey of harpy nations around, led by the "Man of Blood and

Iron," have recently coalesced in the gigantic Military Empire

of revived and united Germany.

No feature of the Nineteenth Century is more striking than

the development of Parliamentary government. When the Great

Revolution opened Parliamentary rule existed only among Eng-

lish-speaking peoples in Great Britain and America. The irre-

sponsible despots of France had not consulted the people in

legislation for two hundred years. But now, at a century from

the storming of the Bastile, Russia, alone, of all Christian pow-

ers, is ruled without the intervention of a legislature chosen by

the people and for the people.

And as the people have thus, by their representatives, ac-

quired authority and the functions of government, in like pro-

portion has legislation been ameliorated and fitted to conserve

the rights and the interests of the people. Formerly laws were

promulgated by the classes for themselves; now the masses con-

trol in statute-making, or are coming to control. In America

and in Western Europe men are now substantially equal before

the law. A century ago the judges of England concurred in

this dictum of one of them -" There is no regenerating a felon

in this life; and for his sake, as well as for the sake of society, I

think it better to hang!" They did "hang" for nearly every

offense known to English law. Contrast the spirit of this hor-

rible maxim of jurists then with the humane spirit of the laws

and the humane practice of the Courts of England and America

to-day.

The present is par excellence the age of discovery in science

and of invention in the useful arts. The eloquent panegyric of

Macaulay on Science, as applied to the arts in promoting human

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The Century and Its Lessons.             37

 

welfare, is justified, and more than justified by the facts about

us: " Science has lengthened life; it has mitigated pain; it has

extinguished diseases; it has increased the fertility of the soil;

it has given new securities to the mariner; it has furnished new

arms to the warrior; it has spanned great rivers and estuaries

with bridges of form unknown to our fathers; it has guided the

thunderbolt innocuously from heaven to earth; it has lighted up

the night with the splendor of the day; it has extended the range

of the human vision; it has multiplied the power of the human

muscles; it has annihilated distance; it has facilitated intercourse,

correspondence, all friendly offices, all dispatch of business; it

has enabled man to descend to the depths of the sea, to soar into

the air, to penetrate securely into the noxious recesses of the

earth, to traverse the land in cars which whirl along without

horses, to cross the ocean in ships which run ten knots an hour

against the wind." And all these achievements of science, and

others since Macaulay still more wonderful, have accrued to the

benefit and glory of mankind since the Great Revolution.

Consider a few familiar contrasts between then and now:

There were then no locomotives, no railroads, no steam ships, no

telegraphs, telephones, or phonographs; no power printing press,

no stereotype, no electrotype; no hard rubber with its ten thou-

sand admirable utilities; no known utility of the then tameless

power of frictional electricity, which now swiftly draws our car-

riages by day, and lights up with the splendor of the sun our

streets and houses by night; no photography; no spectroscope

to analyze the beams of the sun and the far off twinkle of the

fixed stars, and no microscope to reveal to human ken the infini-

tude of organized beings which float unseen by us in the air we

breathe and swim in the water that we drink; no agricultural

machines for the farm. It took Washington eight days to journey

from Mt. Vernon to New York to be inaugurated First President.

Our present Chief Magistrate makes the same journey to cele-

brate the Centennial of Washington's inauguration in less than

eight hours. The French immigrants, whom we honor to-day,

were longer in making their toilsome journey from Alexandria

to this place, than Miss Bisland lately required to travel round

the globe.

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I should seem wanting in due honor for the profession to

whose service I have given my life, if, in this hasty resume of

some of "the lessons of the century," I should accord no place

to the progress of education.

In the year 1809, when, by the Peace of Tilsit between Na-

poleon and Alexander with his allies, Prussia was left dismem-

bered, stripped of half her territory, her military power broken,

her exchequer bankrupt, her people beggared by devastating war

and disheartened, two of her statesmen, William Von Humboldt

and Baron Stein, set themselves to the great task of national re-

generation and recovery; and they began their work of rebuild-

ing Prussia at the point where skillful architects of States must

always base the foundations of their edifices-in the education

of the people. They founded the University of Berlin, at the

moment of the lowest ebb in the life of the nation, which has

now grown into the dignity of the most powerful University

known to history. They reorganized the whole system of public

instruction and provided that every Prussian child not only might

but actually should attain to a fair education. And to their plan

instituted in the crisis of Prussia, publicists tell us Prussiaowes,

her remarkable advance among modern nations, her invincible

military prowess, her primacy in founding and directing the

destiny of the German Empire.

The liberalizing of the political institutions of Western

Europe has been accompanied with widespread revival in public

education. Provision for the education of all the children of

the State is now an accepted maxim of government in all en-

lightened nations. And in America how the galaxy of colleges,

starting with Harvard, has spread as a zone of living light

across the broad firmament of the continent. And how the in-

stitution of the common schools, offspring of Puritan parentage,

at first slowly following the New England emigrant in his march

to the Pacific, has lately, by the overthrow of its deadly enemy,

slavery, hastened southward and captured the country. And

to-day every State, from ocean to ocean, and from the lakes to

the gulf, wills that every child within its bounds shall enjoy the

blessings of education.

And with this progress of the nations during the last hun-

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The Century and Its Lessons.            39

 

dred years in respect to larger freedom, better legislation, more

general and improved education, in discovery in science, in in-

vention, in the arts, what advancement in national and indi-

vidual wealth! The Golden Era has dawned, if by that is

meant an age of accumulated and accumulating wealth. How

the comforts and elegancies of life have multiplied, and how

widely are they distributed. Men generally live far more ration-

ally, as if endowed with a more than animal nature, than ever

before. This is a grand age--a privilege to live in and be a

part of it.  We may not produce statues that can rival the

work of Phidias; we may have no painter that can limn like

Raphael; the age builds no gothic cathedrals to vie with Milan

and Cologne. We do better than all this-we dedicate our

highest powers to the production of agencies by which the

higher well-being of the average man may be promoted. Our

works of art are the cotton gin, the locomotive, the power press,

bridges for commerce across the straits of the seas, tunnels

under the Alps, canals to connect oceans, great laboratories and

museums of science, and school houses for the people.

The motto which inspired whatever good inhered in the

Revolution, and which has so far moulded human thought and

action since, " Liberty, Equality and Fraternity," approaches its

full realization in human society. The average man has all the

freedom he needs. On the whole the equality of men is pretty

fairly attained, certainly before the law, and largely in respect to

opportunity. Much progress also is making in the attainment

of the spirit of fraternity among men. To the full realization

of the spirit of brotherhood, and so of applied Christianity in

the world, is the summons for to-day-is the task of the coming

age.

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40        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

 

MAJOR JOHN BURNHAM AND HIS COMPANY.

Mr. Barlow had written Colonel Duer early in December,

1789, that huts must be built on land opposite the mouth of the

Great Kanawha to accommodate at least one hundred persons.

The cost of these huts was to be paid by the agent of the immi-

grants upon their arrival. In March, 1790, General Rufus Put-

nam, as agent for the Trustees for the Scioto Associates, em-

ployed John Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts, to enlist in New

England a company of fifty young men who were expert wood-

men and who would submit to military discipline. They were

to be employed for six months and were to build the huts on the

site selected for the city of Gallipolis, to assist in clearing the

lands adjacent, to act as hunters when required and to keep such

guard as might be necessary. There was peace along the border,

but it was an "Indian peace," and the frontier was infested by

marauders, white, red and black. No better leader for such a

party than John Burnham could have been found. He had

served as an officer of the line through the war of the Revolu-

tion and was present at every important battle from Bunker Hill

to Yorktown. The company he commanded in the eighth Mas-

sachusetts regimiment was, in 1782, complimented in general

orders by General Washington himself for its "soldier-like and

military appearance." He quickly enlisted the company and on

the twenty-ninth of May, 1790, reported to Gen. Putnam at

Wellsburg, on the Ohio river with thirty-six men. Of the fifty

whose services had been engaged ten had not yot joined and four

had deserted. The following is the roll, omitting the names of

the deserters:



• 40
 

Major John Burnham and His Company.         41   "SUBSISTENCE ROLL FOR A COMPANY OF MEN ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF THE SCIOTO COMPANY TO MAKE A NEW SETTLEMENT ON THE BANKS OF OHIO FROM THE TIME THEY LEFT THEIR SEV- ERAL HOMES 'TILL THEY ARRIVED AT YOUHIOGY.

• 41
 

42        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3   "WELLS BURG, May 29, 1790. "I hereby certifie that the within Subsistance roll is just and true and that the moneys paid to Deserters, sick, left sick on the way or not joined I will endevor to recover, and if recovered or any part thereof I will repay the same to. Rufus Putnam or his ordor. JOHN BURNHAM."

From Wellsburg the party proceeded by water to Marietta, where General Putnam gave to Major Burnham the following letter of instructions: "MARIETTA, June 4th, 1790. "Dear Sir: "You will please to proceed with the people engaged in the service of the trustees of the Scioto proprietors, in consequence of my letters to you of the-  day of March last, to a place on the Ohio [river] next Chickamaga creek, which will be marked out and shown to you by Col. [R. J.] Meigs, [Sr.,] where you will begin your operations and prosecute the business

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Major John Burnham and His Company.         43

 

in the best manner you can for the interest of your employers

and safety to yourself and people. The object is to erect four

block [houses] and a number of low huts, agreeably to the plan

which you will have with you, and clear the lands. Your own

knowledge of hut building, the block house of round logs which

you have will have an opportunity to observe at Belleprie,

together with the plan so clearly explained, renders it unneces-

sary to be very particular; however, you will remember that I

don't expect you will lay any floors except for your own con-

venience, nor put in any sleeper or joyce for the lower floors;

plank for the doors must be split and hewed and the doors hung

with wooden hinges; as I don't expect you will obtain any stone

for the backs of your chimneys, they must be made of clay first,

moulded into tile and dried in manner you will be shown an

example at Belleprie.

When Col. Meigs has assigned the spot and set the stakes

for the center of the four block houses, you will first clear a spot

(which will be pointed out) and throw up a work, which must

be as near the place marked on the plan as you can find a con-

venient or the best landing, where you will erect a temporary or

stone house and a cover to keep you men dry till the block

houses are completed, which should be your next object and

after that proceed to building huts. In clearing the lands, what-

ever timber is useful for your building, should be cut and select-

ed for the purpose as you go along and the rest cleared and

burned entirely off. Your clearing must be in one continued

body and extended up and down the river equally from your

work as well as from the river. Supply yourself and party with

whatever you find necessary and reasonable and take care that

the provisions are used with economy. I wish you to inform

yourself with respect to a supply of beef at Kanawha and let me

know by Col. Meigs what may be depended on that I may, if

necessary, send you beef from some other quarter.

You will pay no wages to the carpenters, Smith Brown and

son, nor to John Gardiner, as the carpenters will be paid by

myself or Col. Meigs and I am bound for Gardiner for more

than three months full pay. The pay of your men must com-

mence on their arrival at Youghioganee, deducting four days for

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44        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3   their passage to Muskingum. If anything more should occur which it may be necessary to communicate to you, I will endeavor to inform you by letter. Wishing you a prosperous voyage and successful campaign, I am, with the most perfect sentiment of esteem, Your humble servant, RUFUS PUTNAM." The party reached its destination on the 8th of June. In November, at the expiration of the six months' term for which the men were engaged, most of them re-entered the service of the Scioto Associates, under Captain Isaac Guion, who had suc- ceeded General Putnam in charge of their affairs in the West. Two, Isaac Choate and Asa Bullard, joined the party that estab- lished the settlement at Big Bottom. In the attack by the In- dians upon that post, on the second of January 1791, Choate was captured and Bullard escaped. Major Burnham returned to his home in New England, after a long delay in securing a set- tlement of his accounts. The total cost to the Scioto Associates of Burnham's party during his command of it was $3,243.02. E. C. DAWES.

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The French Settlement and Settlers of Gallipolis.  45

 

 

THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT AND SETTLERS OF GALLIPOLIS.

Preceding addresses and other papers have given the story

of the Scioto Company, under whose auspices the French set-

tlers came to America. I shall not attempt to repeat any part

of this history, but begin my narrative with the sailing of the

first party of emigrants to their new homes in the unknown

West, which had been described to them in such glowing terms

by those who had induced them to come. In February, 1790,

six hundred emigrants set sail from Havre de Grace. Five

ships had been chartered to take them to Alexandria, Va., prob-

ably the nearest port to their new homes. Their experiences

then were inauspicious as an omen in regard to the future. In

these days of rapid transit, when a voyage across the ocean rep-

resents a not unpleasant journey of a few days' duration, we

cannot imagine what it must have been when, on account of

stormyseas and contrary winds, the traveler was compelled to

spend weeks, and even months, on the great deep. Yet such

experiences as the latter were common once, and they were felt

by the Franch emigrants. A desolate feeling must have been

theirs then. Behind them was stormy France, its peace that

was, having been swept from it, with little hope of its return in

the near future; about them the stormy waves of old ocean

threatening to engulf them, and thus violently end their new-

born hopes. Before them-what? A fair land they believed,

but an uncertainty; they had only man's representation upon

which to base their hopes, and man is more than liable to mis-

represent facts when he has a purpose to gain thereby. The

future only could reveal that which they so ardently desired to

know, and they awaited its developments, which, with their

characteristic, sunny disposition, we believe they did as content-

edly as was possible with men. At length, after a voyage of

about three months' duration, they arrived at the town of Alex-

andria, about seventy-five miles up the river Potomac. Here

they encountered circumstances which both cheered and de-

pressed them. They were gladdened by a cordial reception on

the part of the people to whom a Frenchman was a welcome

visitor in view of the recent benefits conferred upon the country

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46        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VoL. 3   by the assistance of the French Government in the war with the British. The emigrant, no doubt, felt as if his fond hopes were about to be realized, as, with his land titles in his pocket, he landed on these hospitable shores. But he was destined to be bitterly disappointed, for it was not long before he knew that difficulties had arisen, which threatened the complete frustration of his plans. The Scioto Company, from which he had made his purchase, had forfeited its title to the lands, having failed to make the payments according to contract with the government, and consequently their dealings with it were null and void. Furthermore, the lands which they thought they had purchased, had been purchased from the government by another corporation, known as the Ohio Company, and contrary to representation, their prospective homes were far away in the Western land, in a wilderness infested by hostile bands of Indians. A pitiable con- dition, truly, and one which called forth the sympathy of their new-made friends. They were literally strangers in a strange land, and their own country, for which they would naturally yearn under such circumstances, unsafe as a retreat from the dangers which there presented themselves. Their sad condition soon became noised abroad, and reached the ears of those in authority, and ere long a movement was inaugurated, in which President Washington was interested, to compel the Scioto Company to reimburse them the money of which they had been defrauded. As might have been expected, these negotiations occupied much time, and sorely tried the patience of the forlorn emigrants, insomuch that some gave up in despair, and sought other homes, some going to New York and Philadelphia, some settling in Alexandria, and a few return- ing to France. At length an agreement was entered into with Colonel Duer, the Company's agent at New York, whereby, as far as the means under his control would permit, the emigrants should be transported to the West, and established on the Ohio River at a point opposite the mouth of the Big Kanawha, where they expected their town to be located, erect suitable block houses for defence against the attacks of Indians, and survey and lay out a town to be divided among them in proportion to cash paid in Paris by each individual on their lands. A written

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The French Settlement and Settlers of Gallipolis.  47

 

agreement to this effect was made, and with such a compromise,

which was more perhaps than they had dared to hope for, the

emigrants abandoned all claims upon the lands for which they

held deeds. The second stage journey was now about to begin.

Wagons and supplies were obtained, and the travelers departed.

This journey was far more perilous, no doubt, than the long and

stormy passage across the Atlantic. The dangers by the way-

side consisted of attacks from the Indians, sickness and fatigue.

In addition to these, progress was slow in consequence of the

almost impassable condition of the roads, and the insufficiency

of the supplies provided for their maintenance. Their route was

through the Valley of Virginia, near the town of Winchester;

thence in a north-westerly direction via Brownsville, Pennsyl-

vania, and to the Ohio. The traveler of the present day, when

he speeds through this section of the country, and views it from

the window of his Pullman car, can form but little idea of the

trials and privations of that long jonrney. Think of a number

people, including women and little children, finding a way over

those high mountains, and across swollen streams, meagerly

supplied with food, and harassed at all times by fear of the ever-

vigilant savage, and you may fancy the experience of these emi-

grants. The Scioto Company had contracted with General

Rufus Putnam to erect buildings and furnish the settlers with

provisions for a year, and he sent Major Burnham down from

Fort Harmar on the Muskingum River with forty men for that

purpose. The first town, under the name of Fair Haven, had

been laid out by the Company opposite the mouth of the Kana-

wha, was intended as the point for the location of the French

settlers, but as the ground was considered low there, and

liable to overflow, Major Burnham and his party wisely pro-

ceeded to a point four miles below, where the high banks could

well withstand the rising waters, as has been since proved to the

satisfaction of the residents. The locating party arrived here

June 8th, 1790, and immediately began the work of preparation

for the settlers, who would make a home here in the wilderness.

This was no doubt a most arduous undertaking, but determined

energy made itself felt, and soon there were evidences that order

would emerge from chaos. Trees, brush, and other debris made

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48         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

way for the houses, which formed the new town. On what is

now the Public Square were erected eighty log cabins, twenty

in a row. At each of the corners were block-houses two stories

in height. In front of the cabins, close by the river bank, was

a small log breast-work. Above the cabins, on the square, were

two other parallel rows of cabins, which, with a high stockade

fence, and block-houses at each of the upper corners, formed a

sufficient fortification in times of danger. These upper cabins

were a story and a half in height, built of hewn logs, and

furnished in better style than those below, being intended for

the wealthier class, and those appointed to manage and superin-

tend the interests of the colony. Such was the home which the

emigrant found for his reception, when, weary and travel-worn,

he at length reached his final destination. He had journeyed

far by sea and land, and dreamed bright dreams, and was it all

for this? A few log cabins with a background of forest, in

which was the home of the sworn enemy of the white race.

France is a country no larger in extent than one of the

average-sized states of the Union, and at this time its popula-

tion was about twenty-five millions. Think of five hundred

people from this thickly populated place, and composed entirely

of those ignorant of what would be required of them in a new

land-physicians, lawyers, jewelers and other artisans, a few

mechanics, servants to the exiled nobility, and many with no

trade or profession-suddenly placed in a wilderness of this

kind, and infested by wild beasts and murderous bands of

Indians. They were as inexperienced in pioneer life as children.

The hardy natures of such rugged characters as Daniel Boone,

or any one of those who preceded the march of progress, could

readily combat the difficulties which were likely to present them-

selves. They knew what to expect in frontier life, and it was

even with a sense of enjoyment perhaps, that they engaged in

the work of preparing the way for the settler. Our French

emigrants, however, could not view    the prospects without

consternation and conjecture as to the many difficulties which

would arise in their work of making the best of a bad bargain.

The solution of the problem was with them, and as subsequent

events proved, many of them rose bravely to the occasion.

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The French Settlement and Settlers of Gallipolis.  49

 

There are some people whose strength and grandeur of character

would never be known save by means of severe tests. Heart

trials most frequently prove to be blessings in disguise, on

account of the way in which they represent the true worth of a

man's character. The pure metal cannot be obtained save

through the medium of the smelting furnace. Thus it was with

the French settlers at Gallipolis, for they not only determined to

remain, but made a success of what appeared a hopeless cause.

At an early meeting of the settlers, the town was named Galli-

polis (City of the Gauls-French). The work of making their

new home attractive was long and arduous, this latter being the

natural result of the inexperience of the settlers. Everything

that they did had to be learned, and with as many hard knocks

as a school-boy experiences with his Latin verbs, but indomitable

perseverance gave its usual testimony, in that the lesson was

learned. Quoting the words of one who has written on this sub-

ject: "A description of early attempts to adapt themselves

to circumstances, would be amusing, but doubtless was no joke

to them."

A number were seriously wounded, and some lost their lives

in learning to fell trees. Having no knowledge of the use of

the axe, some two or three would tackle a monster of the

forest, girdling the tree, and giving the death blow at the heart;

as can readily be seen, the tree would oftentimes slip from the

stump upon the workmen, or more frequently they (or the

admiring group who were watching the process) not being able

to tell the direction in which the tree would fall, would be

crushed to the ground under the heavy branches. A short

experience of this kind sharpened their wits, and by placing

strong men at the ends of the two ropes, the other end being

fastened to the tree, they found that they could guide it in its

fall, and this operation thereafter became less dangerous.

It will be seen from such incidents as this that, although the

settlers were enterprising, courageous, and willing to work, and

mainly very intelligent, as a class, they were obliged to suffer by

practical experience before they were able to adapt themselves

to the new mode of living, or make much substantial progress in

rendering their situation comfortable, as we must all suffer, when

Vol. III-4

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50        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VOL. 3

 

we are learning a new principle in life. We must always learn

effectually, by means of experience, but experience is quite

frequently a stern and merciless teacher.

An account of this settlement, by an eye witness, will

not, we believe, be uninteresting here. The letter of Mon-

sieur Mentelle to the American Pioneer, a magazine published

in Cincinnati, in the April number, 1843, among other matters

contains the following:                 "I did not arrive till nearly all the

colonists were there.                    I descended the river in 1791, in flat

boats loaded with troops, commanded by General St. Clair,

destined for an expedition against the Indians. Some of my

countrymen joined that expedition, among others was Count

Malartie, a captain of the French Guard of Louis XVI."  Con-

cerning the settlement at Gallipolis, he said among other things:

"Notwithstanding the great difficulties, the difference of tem-

pers, education and professions, the inhabitants lived in har-

mony. The Americans and hunters employed by the Company,

performed the first labors of clearing the township which was

divided into lots. Although the French were willing to work,

yet the clearing of the American wilderness and its heavy tim-

ber was far more than they could perform. To migrate from

the eastern States to the 'far west' is painful enough now-a-days,

but how much more so must it be for a citizen of a large Eu-

ropean town! Even the farmer of the old countries would find

it very hard, if not impossible, to clear land in the wilderness."

The hunters, who supplied the colonists with fresh meat, " were

paid by the colonists, to prepare their garden ground, which was

to receive seeds brought from France; few of the colonists

knew how to make a garden, but they were guided by books on

that subject, likewise brought from France. The colony began

to improve in its appearance and comfort. The fresh provisions

were supplied by the Company's hunters, the others came from

the magazines." These represented some of the bright features

of the early life of the colonists, and all seemed working well,

and no doubt lively hopes were excited in their breasts that the

difficulties of their hitherto trying position were lessening, but

again they were called upon to face disappointment. At this

time it became apparent that the Scioto Company could not

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The French Settlement and Settlers of Gallipolis.  51

 

obtain for them any further remuneration for the impositions

that had been practiced upon them. The Company had fulfilled

nearly all their engagements for the first six months, after which

they ceased their supply of provisions to the colonists, and it

was given as a reason, that one or two of their agents who had

received the funds in France for the purchased land, had run off

with the money to England, and the Company were defrauded

of the whole, without having purchased or gained title to any

of the tract which they had sold to the deceived colonists.

An unusually severe winter had set in, and the rigor of

climate was added to other trials and difficulties. The Ohio had

frozen over, so that flat boats could not come down with flour

from above; the hunters no longer had meat to sell. The peo-

ple were destitute of almost everything except a scanty supply

of vegetables, and almost a famine was produced in the settle-

ment. The money and clothes they had brought with them

were nearly gone; they knew not to whom to go to get their

lands (for they did not even own their homes), and their con-

dition became such as to excite despair. Looking back upon

them through the lapse of years, our minds are filled with sym-

pathetic thoughts, and the fact that these difficulties were suc-

cessfully combated kindles within us a feeling of admiration and

pride. The Pilgrim Fathers, who landed "on wild New Eng-

gland's shore," and whose hardihood and determination have

sounded their praises down the ages, deserve little less laudation

in the pages of history than the settlers of our town, who have

left, as a rich heritage, to those who have lived after them, the

testimony of the unconquerable nature of brave perseverance.

Following this condition of affairs, the fear of the Indians dis-

turbed their peace of mind. "When," says Mentelle (speaking

of some months previous of the expeditions of Generals St.

Clair and Wayne), "many of the troops stopped at Gallipolis,

the Indians who, no doubt, came there in the night, at last saw

the regulars going morning and evening round the town in order

to ascertain if there were any Indian traces, attacked them, kill-

ing and wounding several- a soldier, besides other wounds, was

tomahawked, but recovered. A French colonist, who had tried

to raise cane some distance from town, seeing an Indian rising

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52        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.  [VoL. 3

 

from behind some brushwood against a tree, shot him in the

shoulder.  The Indian, hearing an American patrol, must

have thought that the Frenchman made a part of it, and

sometime afterward a Frenchman was killed, and a man

and woman made prisoners as they were going to collect

ashes to make soap, at some distance from town. After

this, although the Indians committed depredations on the

Americans on both sides of the river, the French had suf-

fered only by the loss of some cattle carried away, until

the murder of the man referred to. As the severe winter ad-

vanced, "the dangers from the Indians augmented every day.

Kanawha had been visited by one of these sad events, that few

of the present generation can realize, otherwise than by compar-

ing it to a romantic tale with ghosts. A Captain Vonbever had

gone to make sugar at a little distance from and opposite to

Kanawha. He had his negro man with him, intending to make

sugar and raise corn, but staid to make sugar only. The camp

was fronting the river and in sight of Kanawha. They had not

been there long when the negro saw an Indian running after

him. He warned his master, who was not far from the house,

and they both entered it at the same time and secured the door.

The Indian, thinking they had no arms, and whose intention it

was to carry off the negro, turned back as soon as he saw them

in the house, and was shot by the negro with a gun that was

loaded with buck-shot. The alarm spread to Kanawha; the in-

habitants came in their canoes, thinking that there might be

more Indians, but on their landing they saw only the body of a

single one, which, after having stripped of what he had, they

threw into the river; the corpse floated down and was carried by

the stream on the shore of Gallipolis the next day, as if to con-

firm the rumor which they had heard that morning, and as a

warning to themselves. Captain Vonbever had let his beard

grow, and had sworn to leave it so until he should have taken a

complete revenge of the Indians, who had killed one of his

children.

The expedition against the Indians by General St. Clair

having met with signal defeat, the Indians were encouraged to

greater depredations in the Western land, but fortunately for our

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The French Settlement and Settlers of Gallipolis.  53

 

colonists they were directed principally against Americans. The

hostile tribes imagined that the French settlers were from

Canada, and with the French at that place they were on terms

of friendship.  Immediately after St. Clair's defeat, Colonel

Sproat, of Marietta, appointed four spies for Gallipolis, one of

whom was Mousieur Mentelle from whom we quoted a moment

ago. These were released after the treaty of Greenville in 1795.

Honorable Rufus Putnam, at Marietta, was the acknowledged

head of all the settlements in Washington county, which then

embraced a territory now covered by nearly forty counties, and

to him an application was made and steps were taken to organize

a defensive force. By his orders, Colonel Ebenezer Sproat ap-

pointed Captain Dr. Francis Hebecourt, a man of distinguished

qualifications, to take command. A Frenchman named Malden

was appointed Lieutenant, and C. R. Menager, Ensign. A com-

pany of ninety colonists offered their services, who were divided

into squads of ten, and on each succeeding day one squad, or

patrol company, was to start out in the morning to act in con-

junction with the scouts or spies, whose duty it was to return

every night and report the presence or absence of Indians. In

this way a defense was kept up until General Wayne defeated

the Indians at the battle of " Fallen Timbers," on the Maumee

Rapids, five miles above Perrysburg, Ohio, August 20th, 1794,

and made the treaty of peace at Greenville in 1795 with all the

Western tribes. After peace was declared, a free intercourse

took place between them and the colonists from Massachusetts

and other New England states at Marietta and Belpre, and with

settlements at Point Pleasant and Charleston, Virginia. Thus,

in an alternate atmosphere of hopes and fears, the colonists

passed the first years of their lives in the New World. They

were, perhaps, becoming accustomed to the changed conditions

of their existence. Even in the far away western wilderness,

they were recognizing home ties, and pleasant associations were

being formed which endeared this wild country to them. France,

with its attractions, had passed out of their lives; such repre-

sented but features of the past, and would be to them but fond

recollections of what had been. There was one great difficulty

which had to be surmounted, however, before they could reso-

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lutely face life in this country. The titles to their homes had

never been perfected; indeed, there was every reason to suppose

that they were living on land which belonged to other people.

Although it had been sold to them by the Scioto Company,

which had transported them thither, the fact remained that the

Ohio Company still held the titles to it, inasmuch as that corpora-

tion had bought and paid for it, and there had been no just or

legal transfer of it to other parties, it was but rational that the

owners should be demanding their rights. This dilemma which

they had known that they must face, when it reached its climax,

brought with it its disheartening influences; indeed, so great

must have been the discouragements that the disruption of all

the new ties must have been threatened. A letter from Mr.

B. J. D. Le Ture, a Gallipolis merchant, who had removed to

Cincinnati for business purposes, and which is now in the

possession of Maj. E. C. Dawes, of Cincinnati, throws some

light on the situation at this time. It is written under date of

July 6th, 1792, and is addressed to Mr. John Matthews at

Gallipolis. Mr. Le Ture says: "The situation of the colony