Ohio History Journal

Annual Meeting Ohio Valley Historical Association.      399

 

we need most in this great work of rescue and preservation, Mr. Presi-

dent, Ladies and Gentlemen, are more Lyman C. Drapers,-men who,

with knapsack on their backs, are not only willing, but anxious to go

on foot, if need be, many miles to the left and to the right to secure

a journal, a diary, a memorandum, an autograph letter, that shall be pre-

served and become a priceless document to those who are to come after

us.

It is not my province to suggest a plan of work as to rescue, classi-

fication, or cataloguing the written but unprinted sources of the history

of the distant past, and more recent history of the Ohio Valley. But

may we not hope that ere long, some plan for systematic action may be

devised and adopted-one which will result in rescuing from oblivion,

all which yet remains of the Manuscript history of a Valley filled with

the most progressive people of the world. Within a period of five years

this should be done, and those Documents in the possession of persons

who will not part with them, should be catalogued or listed by title,

with names of owner's location, and brief description, but sufficiently

elaborate to indicate to the student the value and character of the Manu-

script.

I close, as I began, by saying, that I rejoice that The Ohio Valley

Historical Association has been organized, and that its greatest work,

in the immediate future, is the collection and preservation of the Manu-

script sources of the history of the region included in its field of work.

Mr. Lewis was followed by Prof. Frank T. Cole of the

Old Northwest Genealogical Society, who presented an address.

 

 

 

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF MANUSCRIPTS.

FRANK T. COLE,

Old Northwest Genealogical Society.

Probably each one of us could name instances where the papers

and correspondence of the grandfather, preserved with care by him and

his children have gone to the waste basket at the hands of the third

and fourth generation, and thus, through carelessness or ignorance there

has passed from sight much accumulated material for state and local

history.

This meeting does well to consider the question, how many we

discover, preserve and render available to the student such collections.

Some years ago, by the efforts of Mr. William Henry Smith, a

beginning was made of such a collection in the State Library, and the

papers and correspondence of Governor Thomas Worthington, Governor

Ethan Allen Brown and some others were secured and deposited there.

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400        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

I have had occasion to consult the Worthington papers and I know

of how much assistance such a collection may be to the student of local

conditions.  Possibly a reference to some bits of experience may be

permitted.

Colonel James Kilbourne, who in 1802 walked from the end of the

stage line at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, to Lancaster, Chillicothe and

Franklinton, examining with Nathaniel Little, his companion, the land

of Central Ohio for a group of Connecticut and Massachusetts men who

called themselves the Scioto Land Company, left a chest of papers,

among which was the report which he made to his company concerning

his journey. The report was published in "The Old Northwest Gene-

alogical Quarterly," together with some of his correspondence during

his ten years' service in Congress, 1811-1821. Among these papers were

especially notable the memoranda for and a copy of his bill in further-

ance of free homesteads to actual settlers, (for he was the first who

introduced a homestead law in Congress), and also his correspondence

with the people of the Kaskaskia and Cahokia settlements in Illinois.

We found in the home of a Delaware County farmer a diary be-

gun in New Hampshire in 1816 and continuously kept by mother and son

up to within a year ago; a series of letters by Colonel James Denny,

who commanded a regiment under General Hull in 1812, written to his

wife, which gave a frank account of the expedition and of the General;

a story of the early life in Germany, emigration by sailing ship, canal

journey to Ohio, early business struggles and later business prosperity

of a representative citizen of foreign birth, and also an account of a

missionary tour of two months among the people of western New York

in 1808.

At our request Mrs. Mary McArthur Tuttle examined the papers

of her grandfather, Governor Allen Trimble. These papers were in the

Governor's desk just as it had been carried up stairs after his death

thirty and more years ago. She found a delightfully vivid autobiography

whose existence was wholly unknown to the family. The manuscript

covered some thirty-five years of his life up to the time that as President

of the Senate he succeeded Governor Ethan Allen Brown in the execu-

tive chair on the latter's election to the U. S. Senate. Would that Gov-

ernor Trimble had completed the accounts of his pro tem term, of

Governor Morrow's term, and his own term, when he was elected to

succeed Governor Morrow; of his labors in the interests of education

and agriculture, and of his campaign as candidate of the American

Party against Chase. He did give full accounts of his share in the War

of 1812, and of his early legislative career.

The papers above referred to we have published besides many others.

I refer to them simply to show what may be found by those who search

in a small way. There are extensive family collections and some of

magnitude in private, college and historical libraries, and some, like one

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Annual Meeting Ohio Valley Historical Association.       401

 

that I know of in Columbus, still resting in the old desk where its owner,

a distinguished scientific man of Ohio, left it over thirty years ago, still

undisturbed unless it be by the prying fingers of curious little grand-

children.

The men who settled this region preserved the letters received by

them  and in cases of importance, copies of their own letters. These

should be found, published, or copied or placed in some safe depository

where they may be of service. The State Library would seem to be

the proper place for them, especially when they have suitable room for

their preservation. If not the State Library, the State Archaeological

and Historical Society, which, before many years, will have adequate

quarters for the proper care of such papers. But at any rate, the material

should be sought out, catalogued and duplicate lists distributed to all

libraries.

The mention by the preceding speaker of Governor Trimble

and his autobiography formed a most fitting introduction to Mrs.

Tuttle's paper, which follows in full.

 

 

 

HISTORIC MATERIALS FOUND IN OLD DESKS.

MRS. MARY MCARTHUR TUTTLE.

[In the absence of Mrs. Tuttle, her paper was read by Mrs. J. A.

Gallagher.]

It was a lonely afternoon when the mother of a statesman and her

daughter, sat side by side, in deep reflection: for old age was fast over-

taking-the mother, and the white hair and delicate flesh tints were sug-

gesting to the mind of the daughter, the opal colors of the sun sinking

beyond the horizon.  The daughter looked up and said-"Sister has

done so much for you, what is there left for me to do? Anything that

will make you happy?"

"I fear to mention that there is one thing, I should like to see

accomplished before my death, the papers in your grandfather's secre-

tary gone over. They have not been looked at for many years; and

it may be there are yet papers of especial importance and interest there."

It was a very warm August afternoon, but the daughter assured

the mother, all should be done according to her wishes. The next day

a large table was placed in front of a wide open western window, and

stacks of papers, which filled a colonial secretary, were laid in the sun

light. Could you believe one would ever have patience to examine each

and every one? Ah! yes: because the dear mother desired it. And now

let me tell you a secret. This labor was only terminated at the close of

two years of correspondence, editing, etc., etc.

Vol. XVIII- 26.

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