Ohio History Journal

EDITORIALANA.

MEETING OF THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. In the historic and picturesque city of New Orleans, on the days of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, December 29, 30, and 31, 1903, was held the nineteenth annual meeting of the American Historical Association. It proved to be an event of unusual interest and enjoyment. The American Historical Association was organized at Saratoga, New York, September 10, 1884, and now numbers some twenty-five hundred members, comprising the leading historical students, professors, and writers in the United States and Canada. The city chosen for the gathering and the nature of the meet- ing, it being the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, gave a two-fold attractiveness to the members of the Association, to say noth- inf of the unusual list of distinguished speakers selected for the program. In the absence of the Hon. Charles Lea, the President of the Asso- ciation, the Hon. William Wirt Howe, President of the American Bar Association, presided and delivered an address upon "The Civil and the Common Law in the Louisiana Purchase." The first session of the meeting was held in the council chamber of the famous Cabildo, or municipal building, itself an object of great historic interest, it having been erected more than one hundred years ago, during the days of the Spanish dominion, and in the council chamber of which took place, as related elsewhere in this Quarterly, the transfer of the Louisiana province, first, from Spain to France, and then from France to America in November, 1803. At the opening gathering the Association was welcomed to Louisiana and the city of New Orleans in a graceful speech by Professor Alcee Fortier, professor in the Tulane University and President of the Louisiana Historical Society. The various formal sessions of the Association were subsequently held in the lecture rooms of the buildings of the Tulane University. Papers were read as follows: "New Orleans and the Burr Conspiracy," by Dr. Walter F. McCaleb; "The Story of Lewis and Clark's Journals," by Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites; "Louisiana in the Spanish Archives," by Dr. W. R. Shep- herd; "Ethical Values in History," by Dr. Henry C. Lea, read in the absence of the author by Prof. Haskins; "Louis XVI, Machault and 287

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Maurepas," by Prof. F. M. Fling; "Sermons as sources of Mediaeval

History," by Prof. C. H. Haskins; "What and When was the Re-

naissance," by Prof. J. H. Robinson; "Timonides of Leukas," by Prof.

H. A. Sill; "Relations of Spain, England and France to the Missis-

sippi Valley, 1789-1800," by Prof. F. J. Turner; "Latest Phases of the

West Florida Controversy," by Prof. A. B. Hart; "Texas Annexation,"

by Prof. G. P. Garrison; "The Treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo," by Dr.

Jesse S. Reeves; "Some Unpublished Papers of Baron von Closen of

Rochambeau's Staff," by Dr. C. W. Bowen; "The Compromises of the

Constitution," by Prof. Max Farrand; "The Constitutional Convention

of 1864 in Louisiana," by Prof. J. R. Ficklen; "British West Florida, 1763-

1781," by Hon. P. J. Hamilton; "Popular Sovereignty and the Develop-

ment of the West," by Prof. Allen Johnson.

The American Economic Association also held its annual meet-

ing in New Orleans during the same dates, and two of the sessions

consisted of joint meetings of the two Associations. In the latter of

these joint meetings "The Relation of Sociology to History and Eco-

nomics" was the topic for discussion, in which leading members of both

Associations took part.

The intervals during the regular meetings were delightfully oc-

cupied by visits to the points of memorable interest in and about the

time-honored Spanish-French-American City-the series of pleasurable

events of the meeting closing with an excursion down the river to one

of the typical sugar plantations of Louisiana; the party stopping en route

and landing at the site of the famous battlefield where Andrew Jackson

with the American forces met and defeated the attacking British under

General Packenham on the 8th of January, 1815. The party gathered

about the base of the partially completed monument erected in com-

memoration of the battle, upon the spot where "Old Hickory" held

his headquarters. Upon the mound at the base of the column Professor

J. B. McMaster, the popular American historian, delivered a short

address descriptive of the battle, followed by most felicitous remarks

of Professor Alcee Fortier concerning the part which the Creoles took

in that conflict. It was an incident long to remembered-the concourse

of interested historical students and scholars standing upon the memor-

able soil, and listening to the recital of the event so calculated to arouse

the pride and patriotism of every American, as the story was told in

the genial and vivid language of the distinguished speakers.

The good people of New Orleans extended most hospitable southern

courtesy to the visitors; the pleasure of the sojourn being enhanced by

receptions at the rooms of the Round Table Club, the Athletic Club, and

the Boston Club, and private residences; the weather was delightful, and

every feature of the meeting was fraught with enjoyment and profit.

The officers of the American Historical Association elected for the

ensuing year (1904) were: President, Goldwin Smith, Esq., Toronto, Can-

ada: First Vice-President, Professor John Bach McMaster, Philadelphia;

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Second Vice-president, Judge Simeon Eben Baldwin, New Haven, Con-

necticut; Secretary, A. Howard Clark, Esq., Smithsonian Institute,

Washington; Corresponding Secretary, Professor Charles H. Haskins, 15

Prescott Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Treasurer, Clarence Winthrop

Bowen, Esq., 130 Fulton St., New York. Chicago was chosen as the next

place of meeting, December, 1904.

The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society was repre-

sented at the American Historical Association meeting by Secretary

E. O. Randall, who was elected a member of the Association in the year

1894. Prof. A. B. Hart, of Harvard University, and Mr. Randall de-

livered addresses before the students of Leland University, one of the

leading colored colleges of Louisiana, located at New Orleans.

 

 

 

AFFAIRS OF THE OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL

SOCIETY.

On February 29, 1904, in the Columbus Public Library, there was

held a meeting of the executive committee. The members present were,

George F. Bareis, Canal Winchester; G. Frederick Wright, Oberlin;

John W. Harper, Cincinnati; B. F. Prince, Springfield; D. J. Ryan,

E. O. Randall and E. F. Wood, Columbus. The meeting was mainly

occupied with consideration of the requests which the Society had made

to the legislature for appropriations for the continuation of the work of

the Society. The propriety of asking the legislature for an appropria-

tion for a building to be located upon the university grounds was also

considered, and after a careful discussion and survey of the situation it

was decided that it would not be wise, at this time, to press this mat-

ter before the members of the legislature, but defer it until a later

and more promising date. It was decided to hold the annual meeting

of the Society in latter part of May or the early part of June, and

to have at that time, if possible, an excursion to Fort Ancient. After

the disposal of the usual routine business brought before the committee,

adjournment was made to the office of the Governor, where the members

of the committee were presented to him. The Governor received the

trustees most cordially and spoke of the interest he took in the work

they were doing in behalf of the Society and the history and archaeology

of the state; he particularly complimented the character of the publi-

cations which the Society was issuing, and stated it would be his

pleasure to co-operate in the furtherance of the purposes of the Society

so far as might lie in his power. He particularly desired to visit Fort

Ancient and Serpent Mound and inspect the interesting and famous

property of which the Society is the custodian.

19 Vol. XIII.

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290        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   THE Library of The Boston Athenaeum, Boston, Massachusetts, was made a life member of the society, to date from January 1, 1904; and Miss Lucy Elliott Keeler, Fremont, Ohio; Mr. B. F. Smith, Nevada, Ohio; Mr. Louis P. Schaus, Newark, Ohio; Mr. Walter C. Metz, Newark, Ohio, and Major Harry P. Ward, Columbus, Ohio, were made life members, dating from March, 1904.       ON MARCH 25, Governor Herrick appointed Mr. M. S. Greenough, of Cleveland, Ohio, trustee of the State Archaeological and Historical Society, to serve for three years, until February, 1907--to succeed Hon. R. E. Hills, of Delaware; and he also appointed as trustee for the same time, Professor Martin R. Andrews, of Marietta, Ohio, to succeed himself, he having been appointed by Governor Nash on No- vember 17, 1903, to fill out the vacancy caused by the death of General George B. Wright, Columbus. Mr. M. S. Greenough, the new trustee, is a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. He was born in August, 1848, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and

resided in Boston until some forty years of age.  His educational advantages were the very best. He graduated at the Boston Pub- lic Latin School and later from Harvard Uni- versity., in the class of 1868. He entered the service of the Boston Gas Light Com- pany, remaining with the same until the year 1892, having meanwhile become engineer of the company. He was prominently identified with the public affairs of the city, being councilman and alderman of Boston from 1879 to 1885. For two years he was president of the New England Association of Gas Engi- neers and in 1887 was elected president of the American Gas Light Association. In

1892 he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and became manager of the Cleveland Gas Light and Coke Company, of which he was made president in the year 1894, and is still retaining that position. Mr. Greenough has taken a very active part in the literary and his- torical interests of Cleveland. He has been president of the Harvard Club of that city, of the Archaeological Society, and of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of five of the leading American technical societies, as well as one English and one French scientific society. Mr. Greenough has been a great traveler, having made trips to Europe upon nine different occasions. He is a member of the Union

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Club, the University Club, and the Country Club, of Cleveland, and a

vestryman in Trinity church of that city. He enters upon his duties as

trustee of the Ohio State Archaeological Society with much enthusiasm

and without doubt will be a most valuable counsellor and participant in the

purposes and work of the Society.

 

 

THE Society received, through the courtesy of Mr. George T. Craw-

ford, of Columbus, a box of relics, presumably hand clay articles by a

prehistoric race, found upon the property of The Tuxtepec Development

Company, situated in the municipality of Chiltepec, state of Oaxaca,

Mexico. The relics comprise some beautiful and perfectly preserved

specimens of pottery and a hardened clay seal upon which are hieroglyphic

figures. These articles are doubtless the productions of the early Mexican

race and are interesting studies in comparison with relics of a similar

character found in mounds of Ohio.

 

 

 

THE citizens of New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, propose to

celebrate in September, 1904, the founding of their town in 1804 by Mr.

John Knisely. This purpose meets the approval of the trustees of the

State Archaeological and Historical Society which is invited to partici-

pate in the ceremonies of the celebration.

 

 

 

SINCE the issuing of the January Quarterly the State Archaeo-

logical and Historical Society has met with severe losses by death, in

the decease of Governor Charles Foster, who died at the residence of

General J. Warren Keifer, in Springfield, on January 9, Governor Fos-

ter then being enroute to Columbus to attend the inauguration of Gov-

ernor Herrick; Governor Asa S. Bushnell, who died at Grant Hospital,

Columbus, on January 15, he being stricken with apoplexy on the day

of the inauguration while in a carriage on the way to the depot to take

his departure for home; and Senator Marcus A. Hanna, who died at the

Arlington Hotel, Washington, D. C., on February 15. All three of these

distinguished gentlemen were life members of the Society and took an

active and personal interest in its progress and welfare. A fitting sketch

of Governor Bushnell, by his friend Rev. Julius Atwood, appears else-

where in this Quarterly. Tributes to the life and memory of Governor

Foster and Senator Hanna will appear in the July Quarterly. Another

life member of the Society, Mr. Augustus Newton Whiting, died at his

home in Columbus, December 22, 1903. An extended notice of his life

and character will appear in a later number of this Quarterly.

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292        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

IN ACCORDANCE with the resolutions passed by the audience at the

Centennial celebration at Chillicothe, on May 21, asking Governor Nash

to request in his next annual message to the legislature an appropriation

for the erection of a monument to Governor Saint Clair, the Governor,

in his address to the Seventy-sixth General Assembly, which met on the

first Monday of last January, made such a request, in fitting terms;

but the legislature, in view of the great demand made upon it for ap-

propriations in what it regarded more important directions, failed to

comply with Governor Nash's recommendation.

 

 

 

THE Society acknowledges the gift to it from Mr. B. F. Smith, of

Nevada, Ohio, of an unique cane made out of native and historic woods

from every state and territory of the Union and the far off islands of

the sea. This, with the donations from Oaxaca, Mexico, have been

properly placed in the museum of the Society.

 

 

ON JUNE 2, next, the Richland County Historical Society will hold

its sixth annual meeting at Mansfield, for which occasion Mr. A. J.

Baughman, the secretary, has arranged an interesting program of speeches

and music. The Crawford County Pioneer Association will participate

in the event.

 

 

History of Lieutenant-Colonel George Rogers Clark's Conquest of

the Illinois and of the Wabash Towns from    the British in 1778 and

1779, with Sketches of the Earlier and Later Career of the Conquerer, by

CONSUL WILLSHIRE BUTTERFIELD, author of the "History of the Discov-

ery of the Northwest by John Nicolet, in 1634"; "History of the Girtys";

"History of Brule's Discoveries and Explorations, 1610-1626"; and other

works.

This volume, comprising nearly 850 pages, is the last and most

authentic account of the famous conquest of the Illinois by George Rogers

Clark. It was the last work from the pen of Consul Willshire Butterfield,

who was one of the most profound scholars on the subjects of Western

history of the present generation. He spent the best part of his time

for some years in gathering the materials for this work, and in putting

his information into most interesting and delightful literary form. His

recital of the events of the narrative is supported by extensive addendum

notes giving his authority and excerpts from letters, previous publica-

tions, and personal reminiscences of relatives, and those who came in

personal contact with George Rogers Clark or his immediate followers.

No work could have been more carefully prepared, and Mr. Butterfield

had that indefatigable industry for the seeking of details upon which a

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Editorialana.                        293

 

reliable history only can be produced. This book is especially interesting

at this time owing to the revival of interest in the achievements of

George Rogers Clark in the Northwest Territory and the voyages of

research and exploration by William Clark, a younger brother of George

Rogers, who, with Meriwether Lewis, led the expedition across the

continent from 1803 to 1806, by which the extent and resources of the

Louisiana Purchase were first made known to the American people.

The account of the conquest of the Illinois by George Rogers Clark

as it is told by Mr. Butterfield has all the fascination and intense interest

of a romance while it portrays the exploits of a fearless and patriotic

leader who saved the great Northwest Territory to the American Republic.

George Rogers Clark was known as "The Washington of the West." He

was a huntsman of the trackless forest interior of Kentucky, who with the

soul of a patriot, the bravery of an American soldier and the mind of a

statesman, hastened on foot, through six hundred miles of wilderness,

to Williamsburg, the capital of Virginia. There he obtained audience

with Patrick Henry, then governor of Virginia. Clark proposed to strike

the vast power of Great Britain in the Northwest and save that magnifi-

cent territory to American independence. His plans were appreciated and

approved, but troops could not be spared him from the Continental army;

they were needed to a man in the East. Clark gathered two hundred

Virginia and Pennsylvania backwoodsmen and while the sun of spring

was melting the snows of Valley Forge and hope and courage were

again animating the heart of Washington, Clark set out on that famous

expedition for the capture of the interior northwest posts of Great Britain.

It was the campaign of the 'Rough Riders' of the Revolution. It was

the dash of Sheridan in the Shenandoah. It was Sherman's 'march to

the sea,' through the interior of the enemy's country. That campaign

of Clark broke the backbone of British strength in the West. The British

posts of Illinois and Indiana were all taken save Detroit. The North-

west was secured and preserved to the United States.

The book has a scholarly introduction by Mr. W. H. Hunter, trus-

tee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

Price, post-paid $1.50. Address all orders to F. J. Heer, Printer

and Publisher, Columbus, Ohio.

 

 

 

JUDGE THOMAS J. ANDERSON             AND WIFE.

"Life and Letters of Judge Thomas J. Anderson and Wife." in-

cluding a few letters from children and others; mostly written during

the Civil War; a history; carefully edited and copiously annotated by

James H. Anderson, LL. B., life member and trustee of the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society, and president of the Old Northwest

Genealogical Society.

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294        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

This book by Judge Anderson, though intended to be the memoirs

of his predecessors, is really an historical monograph of wide interest

and value to a large field of readers, inasmuch as the main personages

dealt with lived during important epochs of our state and national his-

tory, and came in personal contact with most of the leading characters

of their time. Judge Anderson, the author, who served under President

Lincoln as United States consul at Hamburg, and has had a most con-

spicuous career, is a gentleman of unusual culture and scholarly at-

tainments, an excellent writer, giving a decided literary finish and

flavor to the pages of his book which, it goes without saying, he wrote

con amore.  The work contains a vast amount of interesting corre-

spondence, comprising letters from many of the distinguished officials

of our government. These letters throw sidelights upon the events of

their time, and furnish the basis for a great many annotating and

explanatory statements by the author. It has much of Ohio history

which is not easily found elsewhere. For instance, it tells when all the

treaties with the Ohio Indians were made, and gives much reliable data

respecting Ohio. Indians, with an account of the Delaware, the Seneca,

and the Wyandot Indians -the last Indians to leave the state-and their

reservations in Ohio, Kansas, and Indian Territory. It tells the story

of the celebrated slave case tried in Marion in 1839. The work com-

prises letters from prominent men and women, written during the Civil

War and throwing much information of great value upon the events

which they describe with the vividness incident to personal experience.

It recounts many important and hitherto untold, incidents occurring dur-

ing the war of the great rebellion, anecdotes of great generals and ac-

counts of some of the chief battles, and is especially valuable as setting

forth the forceful part which Ohio enacted in that greatest of civil wars.

Much is said about very many of the leading Ohio families, those

who were active in the pioneer settlement of the state, and those who

were conspicuous in its subsequent development, and those who became

prominent figures in our national history. Mr. Anderson has the literary

touch and delineation of an artist; his portrait sketches of the gov-

ernors of Ohio and prominent characters in the career of the state are

deftly and judiciously done; he presents much about these people never

before published and arouses anew the desire to peruse the lives of our

great state characters.

Judge Anderson is to be congratulated upon his achievement in

the scholarly detail of his work and his success in enshrining his own

family with leading historical events as a background to their eventful

lives. The book is made especially valuable by a very complete and

satisfactory index. It is published by the press of F. J. Heer, Columbus,

Ohio.

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Editorialana.                       295

 

 

THE MEMOIRS OF RUFUS PUTNAM.

Compiled and annotated by Miss Rowena Buell, Marietta, Ohio.

Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston and New York.

This is a work of rare historical value, and one which every

student of history, and particularly of Ohio history, will covet and

consult with great satisfaction. It consists mainly of the official papers

and correspondence connected with the life and deeds of General Rufus

Putnam, who was the leader in the little band of pilgrims who came

from New England, and in the later Mayflower sailed down the Ohio

and landed, on that memorable 9th of April, 1788, at the present site

of Marietta. Next to the settlement of Plymouth by the passengers

of the first Mayflower, this second voyage was fraught with greatest

results to American history. The "Adventure," as the Mayflower was

first called, was to the great northwest empire what that little ship,

which landed upon the bleak shores of Cape Cod, in December, 1620,

was to the American colonies of the new-born American republic.

The material comprising this book is historical, and admirably ar-

ranged and edited by Miss Buell. The first part is autobiographical,

giving the family history and descent of Rufus Putnam, beginning with

his first American ancestor, John Putnam, who came to Salem in

1634. The second part covers General Putnam's military and public ser-

vices until 1804. General Putnam was a distinguished participant in the

Revolutionary War, enjoying the personal friendship and esteem of

Washington; he was an engineer of superior attainment and superin-

tended all the defenses of New York in 1776, and aided in construct-

ing the fortifications at West Point. The War of the Revolution over,

he began the second period of his career, perhaps more distinguished,

certainly more romantic and not less courageous, by his services in direct-

ing the first settlement in the Northwest Territory.

Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, and President Perry, of Marietta

College, contribute introductory pages to this volume, which is pub-

lished under the auspices of The Society of Colonial Dames of America

in the State of Ohio.

It is a volume which should be in every Ohio library, and which

will be of value to all students of early American history, and particularly

of the foundation and development of the Northwest Territory and the

state of Ohio. Miss Buell has contributed a most valuable volume to Ohio

literature.

 

THE VANISHED EMPIRE.

"The Vanished Empire," by Waldo H. Dunn; published by The

Robert Clark Co., Cincinnati.

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This is a little volume just issued from the press, in which the author

recounts "A tale of the Mound Builders." The location of the events

of the story is mainly at Serpent Mound and Marietta, at which latter

place the author locates the capital or abiding place of the king of the

Mound Builders, whom he calls Oko. The story is not intricate, and is

simply and speedily told. It is an imaginative portrayal of the life and

character of the Mound Builders, whose king is Oko, husband of Queen

Gurda. There is a treacherous officer of the court known as Bodo,

who becomes the spy and accomplice of the race under King Inca, who

came from the south, attacked and vanquished the Mound Builders. The

author has, evidently, studied the chief pieces of literature concerning

the Mound Builders. He gives a vivid description of Serpent Mound

and the ceremony of worhsip supposed to have been their custom at

that place, one Gilgo acting as high priest. Mr. Dunn's book is rather

unique, in that it deals almost exclusively with that mysterious race

concerning which we really know very little. His book is calculated

to arouse an interest in the people of that vanished empire and stimulate

the inspection of their remaining works, and the study of such authors

as have dealt with this long-buried race. The book has some illustra-

tions, particularly two excellent ones of Serpent Mound, around which

the story revolves. The book is honored with an introduction by Prof.

J. P. MacLean, the distinguished scholar of American archaeology.

 

 

 

 

ST. MEMIN PORTRAITS.

Dr. William J. Campbell, the wellknown bookseller of Phildelphia,

is writing an elaboratework on St. Memin portraits. It will be in eight

volumes with over eight hundred and thirty engraved portraits, all on

separate pages.

The basis of the book will be the famous "Collection" of 761

proofs, made by the artist himself, which has recently come into Dr. Camp-

bell's possession.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress, both of

which have extensive collections, are co-operating with the author, giving

him the free use of any portraits that they possess that are not in his own

collection.

Any of our readers who have information either biographical or

genealogical, about any portrait that St. Memin made, or any information

as to the present location of any original crayons, coppers or engravings,

will confer a favor on the author by communicating with him.

Due credit will be given in the book for all information received.

Dr. Campbell's address is 1218 Walnut street, Philadelphia.

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