Ohio History Journal

EDITORIALANA.

HISTORY OF THE MAUMEE RIVER BASIN. There has just appeared from the press of Bowen & Slocum, Indian- apolis and Toledo, a "History of the Maumee River Basin," from the earliest account to its organization into counties. The author is Dr. Charles Elihu Slocum, a life member of the Ohio State Archeological and Histor- ical Society; he has contributed many interesting and valuable articles to its Quarterly, and for many years has been an indefatigable and enthusi- astic student of early Ohio history. The work, as its name indicates, pre- sumably deals with only the northwestern part of the state, one of the richest sections in historic lore, but Dr. Slocum's book, which contains some 650 pages of nearly 500 words to the page, naturally and at times necessarily deals with facts and events pertinent to the history of the entire state. This book is, therefore, to a very great degree, a history of Ohio. Indeed, both from its local limitation and its treatment of certain phases general to the whole state, it becomes not only valuable but is really an indispensable addition to the historical bibliography of Ohio. The interest of this book, therefore, is a general one as well as special. Dr. Slocum with untiring zeal has gone largely to the initial sources for his information, namely, the original documents, as far as accessible, in the libraries of Canada, England and the United States. This gives a double value to his work. He has begun at the very beginning, his open- ing chapter being upon the geology of the Maume River basin, a most scholarly summary of the geological and topographical phases of the portion of the state in question. He discusses the earliest evidences of prehistoric man, following it, of course, with the narratives of the first explorers, namely the French and the British. The long and complicated contests between the French and the British for the possession of this part of the Northwest Territory are entertainingly related. Dr. Slocum has made a comprehensive and devoted study of the character and history of the American Indian, particularly of the races and tribes of the American savages which occupied at various times the Ohio country. He has with much faithfulness and painstaking told of their character, mode of life, warfare, and their various relation- ships with the French, English and the Americans. Dr. Slocum through- out the entire book insists upon designating the "American Indian" as the 354

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Editorialana.                       355

 

"Aborigine," which may be in itself a proper appellation, but which is so

seldom used by other writers that in this instance it often tends to the

confusion of the reader as for example when he speaks of "The French and

Aborigine War" instead of the "French and Indian War" as it was known.

Dr. Slocum has accomplished a great work. We know of no historical

monograph on this part of American history which so thoroughly and

correctly shows up the continued and persistent treachery of the British

Government in its dealings with the Indians, whom they at will cajoled,

employed and betrayed as allies in their warfare, first with the French and

subsequently with the Americans. The author succinctly recounts the

various British and Indian expeditions into Ohio previous to and during

the period of the American Revolution. Dr. Slocum clearly portrays in

proper color and relief the relation of this western history to the colonial

history in the success of the Americans in their war with England and

the organization of the American republic, which was the result of

that war.

The geographical territory which this history specifically covers

embraces many of the most important and picturesque events in the

earliest history of our state, such as the Conspiracy of Pontiac, the Con-

federation of Tecumseh, the Expeditions of Scott, Wilkinson, Harmar,

St. Clair, and particularly that of Anthony Wayne; also the chief western

incidents of the War of 1812.

The early pioneer history is followed by chapters on the drainage

system of the Maumee River Basin and the organization of the counties

in the Northwest. His last chapter is devoted to the development of

communication, public lands, roads-private and public-schools, libra-

ries and so on. Dr. Slocum writes in a clear, concise, indeed rather com-

pact style, and, although the book is as we have indicated, rather

voluminous, there is no waste material and the contents consist of

nothing but purely historical matter. The whole scheme is on the plane

of high historical character. The value of the book is not marred by any

biographical sketches or historical gossip, as the slang phrase is "It is

genuine goods all the way through," and the doctor has made a most

valuable and interesting addition to the historical literature not only of our

own state but to the Northwest. It is copiously illustrated with half-tone

cuts, maps, and so on. The mechanical effects of the book might be

improved in some respects, but for this the author may not be responsible.

This book deserves to be in every library in the country, and no

library in Ohio with any pretense to historical literature of the Buckeye

State will be complete without it.

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