Ohio History Journal

0. K.

 

 

J. WARREN KEIFER.

The above is the most used form of expression in the Com-

mercial world, and is used in the United States oftener, perhaps,

in conversation, than any other purely arbitrary expression in the

English language.

It has no classic origin or derivation; it has no linguistic,

Greek or Latin, root: it cannot be claimed for it even the dig-

nity of an American slang birth: nor is it an abbreviation of an

established expression or form of words properly found in any

language. Its universally accepted meaning is well understood,

yet not until recently has any dictionary or lexicon given it a

place, or undertaken to tell its significance. It is used to attest the

accuracy, genuineness, or approval of whatever it is placed upon.

It is not usually used in composition, or in connection with other

words, or phrases. Its meaning is so ample and complete that it

defies misunderstanding, and requires no qualifying words to

explain or amplify it. It is used, literally, around the world.

Not only the business men in banks, mercantile houses, private

business offices, insurance companies, etc., in America, use 0. K.

to avouch the correctness of statements, accounts, bills of all

kinds, etc., but the American and English legations, consuls, etc.

in all countries where they are found, especially in all parts of

the world in which ships enter and depart, use the same 0. K.

to express their approval of all official business documents or

papers. In all the principal and subordinate departments of our

government, 0. K. is now in more or less common use by offi-

cials and clerks to attest their approval, satisfaction or the ac-

curacy of whatever they favorably pass judgment upon. Its use

extends to wherever the English language is used, but

more particularly in connection with trade and commerce.  It

has no synonym; nor no substitute; it stands unique, and alone,

(35O)

• 1
 

O. K.                       351

 

for its use. Its meaning is -All Correct. Its origin came from

the mis-spelling of the two words- all correct.

The origin of the expression - if it may be so called - was

in the exciting Harrison political campaign of 1840.

According to the then custom of organizing and attending

political meetings, Whig and Democratic, the people went in pro-

cessions, sometimes for long distances, to the appointed places

where they were to be harangued by the orators. Great rivalry

existed between parties to hold the largest meeting at a given

place, and to have the greater numbers in the processions, the

most persons on the same wagon drawn by the most horses, and

the most flags, and banners, on which were usually mottoes sup-

posed to be the most expressive and catchy, especially in the mat-

ter of attracting the populace and expressing the sentiment of the

people.

A notable Whig convention was held at Urbana, Champaign

County, Ohio, September 1₅th, 1840, which General William

Henry Harrison, the candidate for President, addressed (it is said

for two hours) and at which Hon. Moses B. Corwin (cousin of

Thomas Corwin) of Urbana presided. In the grove of John A.

Ward (father of the now famous sculptor, John Q. A. Ward of

New York City) twelve tables were set, each 300 feet long, from

which the people were fed barbecued oxen, sheep, etc., with cider

(the popular beverage of that campaign) and all in abundance.

Addresses were made during the day and evening by Ex-Gov-

ernor Metcalf of Kentucky, (in a buckskin hunting shirt, it is

said), Arthur Elliott, a Mr. Chambers, of Louisiana, and Richard

Douglas, of Chillicothe.

An enthusiastic Whig farmer from    Jackson Township,

Champaign County, rigged up a wagon, drawn by many

horses, with a platform thereon to accommodate his neighbor-

farmers, to join a procession and to attend this convention. A

banner was suspended over the platform on which Was rudely

printed the inscription: THE PEOPLE IS OLL KORRECT.

According to the recollections of some, who pretend to re-

member, the inscription was: THE FARMERS IS OLL KOR-

RECT.

• 2
 

352      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

The material part, however, is the last two words, and their

mis-spelling.

Democratic newspapers seized on the bad spelling of this in-

scription and displayed it as an evidence of the ignorance of the

Whigs and the supporters of General Harrison. Samuel Medary

of Columbus, Ohio, famous then for his zeal in publishing cam-

paign-democratic literature, and in assaults on the Whigs, made

much use in his paper of this farmer's illiteracy. Democratic

orators carried this banner-motto around on hand bills and ex-

hibited it to their shouting hearers, much to the disgust and cha-

grin of the Whigs.

One Daniel Leffel, a typical early-time tavern-keeper, an

unusually, even for that time, enthusiastic Whig and supporter

of Harrison, the proprietor of the Sugar Grove tavern, located

just west of Springfield, Ohio, on the National Road, thought it

best to ward off the odium heaped on his party by the rustic

farmers illiteracy by accepting the situation and making the most

of it. So, before the campaign ended, he caused the letters O. K.

to be painted immediately over a front door of his Sugar Grove

tavern, in large capital letters, and thence forth gave it out, that

they meant that his tavern was "Oll Korrect."

This is, with little doubt, the first place these two letters-

O. K. - were used with the artificial meaning they now so uni-

versally possess. From this use, with this meaning, at first lit-

tle by little locally, matters were O. K.-ed, until now millions use

the expression without doubt as to its meaning, or question as to

the propriety of its use, or without inquiry or knowledge of its

origin.

Dan Leffel built better than he knew - so the Jackson

Township farmer. 0. K. has come to stay.

Whatever of local differences there may be as to the details

of the farmer's banner-inscription, or as to the great Urbana-

Harrison convention, there is a concurrence as to the mis-spelling

of the words -all correct, and that they were, on the banner,

spelled "Oll Korrect."

The Sugar Grove House (thus inscribed) was used as a way-

side tavern - a stopping place for movers using the National

Road as a throat to pass to the great west -some "cheer" was

• 3
 

O. K.                       353   dispensed there to local and other patrons - stories of gambling, etc., etc., have been told as a part of the entertainment furnished - for about forty years, and only ceased when the mover and cattle-driver ceased to move, or drive, by ordinary road, as in the good old times.   Dan Leffel is dead, and some question whether his life and character were such as to secure for him an 0. K. for the better world. However, this may be, his use of the letters 0. K. will go on so long as the English language is written.

The House (shown above) a few years ago, with the pictur- esque land around it, passed to the ownership of the Ohio State Masonic Home.    The stately buildings of this Home, where practical, fraternal charity is now dispensed, overtowered the old tavern. It was spared until 1901, then torn down to further clear and beautify the Masonic Home grounds. The originally in- scribed letters "0. K." remained above the door about sixty 23 Vol. XIII.

• 4
 

354      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.   years and until the brick upon which they were painted were re- moved and scattered by the destroyer. Atttempts have been made to otherwise account for the origin of 0. K. as so generally used, on suppositions, and theories, and probabilities, but only the foregoing has any real founda- tion. O. K. is found in the Century Dictionary where it is said: "The origin is obscure; usually said to have been originally used by Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the U. S., as an abbre- viation of All Correct spelled (whether through ignorance or hu- morously) Oll Korrect: but this is doubtless an invention." Another speculation there refers the use to "Old Keokuk," an Indian Chief, who is said to have signed treaties with the initials, "O. K." These suggestions as to a definition are all inventions, born of a desire to find a plausible origin for the much used expression.

• 5