Ohio History Journal

Dedication of Ohio's World War Memorial      481

 

fought for freedom and tolerance and your Society with its new

facilities can do much to see that that fight was not in vain.

In this work which we think of great value, your elder sister

pledges you its constant and sincere help with the conviction

that the glory and achievement of one is that of all.

Mr. Greve is a graduate of Harvard and the Cin-

cinnati Law school, a prominent attorney of Cincinnati

and author of biographical and historical works includ-

ing the Centennial History of Cincinnati. His address

was of especial interest, showing, as it did very clearly,

the origin of the institution with which he is now con-

nected and set forth the collections of unusual interest

that have been gathered in the Historical and Philosoph-

ical Society of Ohio in recent years.

 

ADDRESS OF LUCY E. KEELER

Mr. Greve's address was followed by a paper from

Miss Lucy E. Keeler of Fremont which was read by

former State Senator A. E. Culbert of that city. Miss

Keeler spoke for Spiegel Grove, its beautiful park, the

Hayes residence and Memorial building and the rare

and valuable collection of Americana, left by the late

President Rutherford B. Hayes. Her paper follows:

The Hayes Memorial is my special theme, doubly appropriate

on this happy occasion because the very site of this newly dedi-

cated World War Memorial Building is a part of the noble tract

of land saved for the Ohio State University through the far-

sighted and vigorous policy of Rutherford B. Hayes during his

first term as Governor in 1868; after his two terms in Congress

just prior to which the land grant for colleges was authorized;

and because at the time of his death he was Chairman of the

Board of Trustees of the Ohio State University.  President

Hayes's last public service was in attendance as Chairman of the

Board of Trustees of the Ohio State University, returning from

which he was stricken while in the depot at Cleveland and reached

his home in Spiegel Grove only to die on January 17, 1893, fol-

Vol. XXXV -- 31.

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Dedication of Ohio's World War Memorial           483

 

lowing his declaration that he would rather die in Spiegel Grove

than to continue to live anywhere else.

He had been for seven years president of the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society, one of that galaxy of able

men who have served as president of this institution from its in-

corporation up to the present time, never excelled in Ohio --

Allen G. Thurman, Francis C. Sessions, Rutherford B. Hayes,

Roeliff Brinkerhoff, G. Frederick Wright, James E. Campbell, and

our presiding officer, Arthur C. Johnson.

Memorials, it is pertinent to remind ourselves and the public,

are memorable only for the memorials they conserve and the

service they initiate and maintain. How does the Hayes Memorial

meet this test? and indeed, what is the Hayes Memorial?

In a limited sense of the term it is the beautiful grey stone

building near the main entrance of Spiegel Grove, in Fremont,

Ohio, containing an interesting Museum, definitely limited in

scope and space; the large and valuable library of Americana

gathered through many years by Rutherford B. Hayes; and the

continuous expansion of this specialized library made possible

by the generous endowments of Colonel and Mrs. Webb C. Hayes.

In a truer sense, however, the Hayes Memorials comprise, as well,

the entire estate of Spiegel Grove--twenty-five acres of park and

woodland, and the fine ancestral homestead.

Soon after the death of President Hayes in 1893, his suc-

cessor, General Roeliff Brinkerhoff, sought ways and means to

secure for the Society not only the old home in Spiegel Grove, but

especially the vast volume of historical data and papers including

the library of Americana, and issued a confidential circular to the

friends of the Society, and especially to those interested in the

preservation of historical papers relating to Ohio and the North-

west Territory. This confidential circular contained copies of

letters most highly approving the proposition, from President

William McKinley and his Secretary of State, John Sherman.

It said:

The place known as Spiegel Grove is of great historical interest,

being located in the old Indian Reservation or Free Territory maintained

by the Indian Tribes at the Lower Rapids of the Sandusky River for a

long period prior to the Revolutionary War. Near the center of the Res-

ervation, Fort Stephenson was built just prior to the War of 1812, and

became famous by reason of its gallant defense by Major George Croghan

against the combined assaults of the land and naval forces of Great Britain

under Proctor, and Indians under Tecumseh on the 1st and 2nd of August,

1813. The old Harrison Trail, so-called, a military road leading from Fort

Stephenson to Fort Seneca, and then south, passes through the Grove and

is preserved as the principal drive-way.

Of all the homes of our twenty-four Presidents, covering a period

of one hundred and ten years, the only ones that have been preserved are

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484        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

those of Washington, at Mt. Vernon; Jefferson, at Monticello; Madison,

at Montpelier; Jackson, at the Hermitage, and Lincoln's modest home in

the city of Springfield. All of these are now in the hands of private

societies, although in some instances assistance has been had from their

respective States. But in every case more or less time had elapsed before

the homes were secured and put in a state of preservation, and few or no

personal relics or memorials were secured. Spiegel Grove is now in a

perfect state of preservation, and all of the valuable historical effects of

President Hayes remain there intact. Unquestionably this is the largest

and most complete and perhaps most valuable collection of documents,

papers, and books, ever left by any of our Presidents. President Hayes

was a great reader and a man of scholarly tastes and attainments. He

acquired perhaps the finest library of American History owned by any

private individual, and during his public life he preserved all papers and

memoranda in an orderly and accessible form. All of this material will

be at the service of students and scholars if this plan of the Society can

be carried out. It is certainly a rare opportunity, such as seldom comes to

any State or organization. The citizens of Ohio, the friends of President

Hayes, and the students of American History cannot afford to do other-

wise than endorse and assist in this project of the Society and the family

of President Hayes.

R. BRINKERHOFF,                                E. 0. RANDALL,

President.                                      Secretary.

 

Owing to the War with Spain the bequest lapsed under its

time limit and Spiegel Grove and the personal collections became

the property of Webb C. Hayes in the settlement of the estate in

1899 for cash advanced to the estate.

The desire of the Society was ever in the foreground, and

in 1909 General Brinkerhoff's successor, Dr. George Frederick

Wright, secured from Colonel Hayes the transfer of the Spiegel

Grove property in three separate deeds to the State of Ohio, as a

free gift, with the following three simple conditions: The con-

struction of the Harrison Trail and other drives as Park Drives; a

suitable enclosure from the public highway and around the Knoll;

and the marking of the trees with their common and scientific

names to make them interesting and instructive to visitors.

Under the administration of Gov. Judson Harmon, the Leg-

islature of Ohio made an appropriation of $50,000 toward the

erection of the fireproof building, $10,000 of which was later used

for paving the streets on the three sides of the Spiegel Grove

State Park. Although it had been Colonel Hayes's announced

intention to devote his bequest solely to the purchase of historical

books, relying on the Society and State to maintain in full the

conditions of the deeds, nevertheless he advanced to the Society

some sixty thousand dollars required to erect and equip the orig-

inal Hayes Memorial Building, in 1914, and about $100,000 ad-

ditional prior to the Centenary Celebration of 1922 for the com-

pletion of the six split boulder and cannon gateways and for the

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Dedication of Ohio's World War Memorial               485

 

Library and Museum Annex, out of his intended book purchase

bequest.

The dedication of the original building was deferred on ac-

count of the engagements of President Wilson owing to the com-

plications of the pending World War, and it was not till the 30th

of May, 1916, that the formal ceremonies occurred, the Hon.

Newton D. Baker representing the President of the United States.

President Wright in his opening address said:

As pilgrims come to this sacred spot from far and near they cannot

fail to be impressed with the importance of the historical events which are

here commemorated, and with the debt which we owe to the heroic men

who did so much here both to obtain and to preserve the liberties of our

country.

At the grave of President Hayes and in this memorial building a

flood of memories will come as they recall his gallantry on the field of

battle, his wise administration of the government of his native State, and

the transcendent service which he rendered in the face of violent oppo-

sition and abuse as President of the United States to restore that loyalty

and good feeling which we now witness in such full degree between the

warring sections of fifty years ago. All these are monuments to remind

us of the extreme and unselfish devotion of private interests to the public

good which are shown only by soldiers and statesmen of the highest rank.

Here may we come in increasing numbers to devote ourselves anew to

the service of our country and our common humanity.

The ninety-eighth anniversary of the birth of Rutherford B.

Hayes was opened with ceremonies of unusual interest on Oct. 4,

1920. The parade reviewed by the distinguished guests formed

in front of the Hayes Memorial, on the northern wall of which

was placed the artistic Memorial Tablet presented by Col. Webb

C. Hayes, M. H., in memory of his eighty comrades of San-

dusky County who died in the service of their country in the War

with Spain, the insurrection in the Philippines, China, the Mexi-

can Border and in the World War. Mrs. Webb C. Hayes, in the

costume of the Y. M. C. A., in which she had served in France as

Hostess and Librarian at the Soldiers' American Leave Areas at

Aix-les-Bains and Nice, unveiled the beautiful bronze tablet.

The Hon. James E. Campbell, president of the Society, in his

opening address, said:

No part of the work of this Society has been more important or

more valuable to the historical collections of the State than the acquisition

of Spiegel Grove with the precious personal property connected therewith.

Through the generous filial devotion and patriotic spirit of Colonel Hayes,

this tract was offered, without cost, to the State as a public park in memory

of both of his parents, by deeds dated March 20, 1909 and March 10, 1910.

The conditions upon which Colonel Hayes donated this property to the

State of Ohio simply require its maintenance as a State park, with the

further condition that the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society

should secure the erection of a suitable fireproof building for the purpose

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of preserving and forever keeping in Spiegel Grove all papers, books and

manuscripts left by the said Rutherford B. Hayes.

Thus there was given to the nation and to the State a heritage of

which both can well be proud, and I take this occasion on behalf of the

Society which I represent, and on behalf of the State which is represented

by the Society, to express the fullest appreciation and deepest sense of obli-

gation. The expressions also extend to the noble and generous wife of

Colonel Hayes who has joined him in making this spot one of historic

beauty as well as patriotic monument.

In all the years since Colonel Hayes executed his first deed to this

property, the public has been left in ignorance of the magnitude of his

contributions; of his self-sacrifice; and of his generous patriotism. He

has arrived at the age (and so have I) at which the truth can be told

without the suspicion of flattery or adulation, and at which it can be re-

ceived without undue inflation. Therefore I take it upon myself, as pres-

ident of this Society, to relate publicly and in detail what Colonel Hayes

has contributed to this great patriotic monument, aside from the property

itself; and these facts are due historically not only to Colonel Hayes, but

to the Society and to the people of Ohio.

On July 1st of last year Colonel Hayes placed $100,000 in trust to

be used in the maintenance and upbuilding of this patriotic memorial. I

am within a conservative estimate when I state that Colonel Hayes has

disposed, for the benefit of posterity, in the form of the beautiful and at-

tractive property which you see before you, of at least $500,000; $250,000 in

cash and securities for endowment funds, and $250,000 in real estate and

personal property including the library of Americana and collections.

Again on the occasion of the Centenary of the birth of Ruth-

erford B. Hayes, Oct. 4, 1922, exercises were held and addresses

delivered by the leading men of the State and formal letters read

from President Harding who, owing to the illness of his wife, was

unable to be present, and Chief Justice Taft.

Archbishop O'Connell, reading the printed report of the

Centenary, took occasion to write to Col. Hayes that not long be-

fore the death of Cardinal Gibbons -- a keen observer of men --

they were discussing the relative merits of the various presidents,

and the Cardinal said:

I have known them all intimately and well from Lincoln un-

til now, and to my mind the most scholarly and refined of them all

was President Hayes.

Almost fifty years ago (1877) President Hayes, accompanied

by his cabinet and his son Webb, made an official visit to search

for and mark the almost forgotten birthplace of George Washing-

ton, at which time the son, hardly more than a youth, conceived

the idea of making the much-beloved family home at Spiegel

Grove the nucleus of a memorial to his parents. Until the present

hour of accomplishment the idea has never been far from his

thoughts and he has worked toward his goal with a zeal and per-

severance undaunted by obstacles.

The Hayes Memorial includes properly, also, seven substan-

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Dedication of Ohio's World War Memorial       487

 

tial volumes issued as the Hayes Series: the two volume "Life of

Rutherford B. Hayes," by Dr. Charles R. Williams, of Princeton;

and the more recent volumes of the diary and letters of Ruther-

ford B. Hayes, edited by Dr. Williams, and published by the

State of Ohio. The six appendices of great historical value, cov-

ering all the source material relative to the obsequies and official

testimonials to President Hayes, and pictures of the tree-enclosed

Knoll where he lies beside his wife; the buildings, with elaborate

catalogues of their contents and all deeds, trust agreements and

endowments of the Spiegel Grove estate in relation to the State.

The twelve years of President Hayes's life following his re-

tirement from the Presidency were devoted to philanthropy in

many phases, and the demands upon his purse -- always gener-

ously met -- were constant and enormous. To cope with the

financial situation which President Hayes knew would follow his

death, I myself heard him advise his son to divide Spiegel Grove

into residence tracts for sale. Instead, thanks to filial devotion,

this superb estate, one of the few unspoiled natural beauty spots

and one of the most notable historic landmarks of Ohio has been

preserved intact for the benefit of the people. Visitors resort

hither, often hundreds daily, walking and resting under the mam-

moth trees which stand guard over so many memories; driving

over the very trackways used by the Indians and their captives,

explorers and missionaries, French, British, Colonial and local

troops; standing reverently at the gate of the Knoll; browsing

about the delightful library and museum -- the register showing

names from every State of the Union and from foreign lands.

Owing to the apparent lack of interest in historical matters

on the part of our Society and a devotion to the very worthy

archaeological and museum features, and the culmination of the

efforts of the Society in the present magnificent World War Me-

morial Wing, to all of which we are glad to own our individual

interest and allegiance as members of the Society, nevertheless

many of us believed it necessary to revive the interest in historical

matters in Ohio, using as a nucleus the magnificent Memorials

in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes; to accord also with the ex-

pressed desire of Mrs. Webb C. Hayes to devote a considerable

sum to be added to Colonel Hayes's bequests as a historical library

in the Hayes Memorial Library in the Spiegel Grove State Park,

conditional only on sufficient interest being shown by the State

or Society to complete the equipment and maintain the library

and museum in a creditable manner, which latter bequest was in

great danger of being lost through the lack of interest in historical

matters.

In furtherance of this, the budget committee of the Spiegel

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488       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

Grove Committee, after conference with Dr. W. O. Thompson,

President of the Ohio State University and Trustee of the So-

ciety, and Prof. A. S. Root, the distinguished librarian of Oberlin

College, issued a call for a conference of persons, societies and

librarians interested in the collection, preservation and publication

of the records and histories of Ohio and the Northwest Territory

in the nine northern counties of Ohio contiguous to Spiegel Grove,

including the Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, the

Firelands Pioneer and Historical Society of Norwalk, and the

Maumee Valley Historical Society of Toledo, and the professors

of history in the colleges of that territory, to be held at Spiegel

Grove, Sept. 27, 1924. Great interest and enthusiasm were dis-

played by those present at the meeting.

A second historical Conference was held on Oct. 4, I925, the

anniversary of the birth of Rutherford B. Hayes, in the Hayes

Homestead in Spiegel Grove, which was attended by the chair-

man of Spiegel Grove Committee, Dr. W. O. Thompson, with

Mrs. Thompson; the recently elected president of the Archaeolog-

ical Society, the Hon. Arthur C. Johnson, with Mrs. Johnson; Dr.

Chas. R. Williams, of Princeton, author of the Life and editor

of the "Diary and Letters" of Rutherford B. Hayes, with Mrs.

Williams; H. L. Peake, of Oberlin College, with Mrs. Root;

Prof. C. C. Kohl, of Bowling Green State Normal College, with

Mrs. Kohl; Mr. A. R. Culbert, of Fremont, with Mrs. Culbert;

Mr. H. D. Messick, of the Union Trust Company, Cleveland, with

Mrs. Messick; Mr. Birchard A. Hayes of Toledo, and Miss Lucy

E. Keeler of Fremont.

The tentative plan for the organization of the Hayes Historical

Society was suggested as follows: A Board of Trustees, consist-

ing of twelve ex-officio trustees, nine of whom are successors in

positions formerly held by Rutherford B. Hayes as Governor of

the State of Ohio or as president of the board of Trustees of

Ohio educational institutions or of Ohio historical societies with

which he had been affiliated during the latter years of his life,

five incorporating trustees for life, whose successors shall be

elected by the Trustees of the Hayes Historical Society and six

elective trustees to be elected annually at the meeting of the trus-

tees of the Hayes Historical Society in the Spiegel Grove State

Park, Fremont, Ohio, on October fourth.

12 ex-offcio Trustees, as follows:--

13 Ohio State Officers:--

The Governor of the State of Ohio -- Hon. A. V. Donahey of

New Philadelphia, Ohio

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Dedication of Ohio's World War Memorial       489

The Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives -- Hon. H.

S. Silver of Eaton, Ohio

The Superintendent of Public Instruction of Ohio -- Hon. V. M.

Riegel.

8 Presidents of Ohio institutions of learning and Ohio His-

torical Societies:--

The President of the Ohio State University -- Dr. W. O. Thomp-

son of Columbus, Ohio.

The President of the Western Reserve University -- Dr. R. E.

Vinson of Cleveland, Ohio.

The President of the Ohio Wesleyan University -- Dr. J. W.

Hoffman of Delaware, Ohio.

The President of Kenyon College -- Dr. W. F. Peirce of Gam-

bier, Ohio.

The President of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society -- Hon. A. C. Johnson of Columbus, Ohio.

The President of the Western Reserve Historical Society -- Hon.

W. P. Palmer of Cleveland, Ohio.

The President of the Firelands Pioneer and Historical Society --

Hon. H. L. Peake of Sandusky, Ohio.

The President of the Maumee Valley Historical Society.

The Occupant of the Hayes Homestead in Spiegel Grove --

Colonel Webb C. Hayes of Fremont, Ohio.

Colonel and Mrs. Hayes were deeply gratified at the cordial

response to the invitation to act as incorporators by five of Ohio's

most distinguished men of today in the persons of:--

Dr. W. O. Thompson of Columbus, President emeritus of the Ohio

State University.

The Hon. John H. Clarke of Youngstown, late Associate Justice

of the United States Supreme Court.

The Hon. Newton D. Baker of Cleveland, late Secretary of War

during the World War.

The Hon. Theodore E. Burton of Cleveland, late United States

Senator.

The Hon. Myron T. Herrick of Cleveland, Ambassador to

France.

The Hayes Historical Society was incorporated and its officers

elected at a meeting of the incorporators held at Cleveland, Janu-

ary 8, 1926, at which time Dr. W. O. Thompson was elected presi-

dent; the Hon. Newton D. Baker, Vice-president; Prof. A. S.

Root of Oberlin, Secretary; and H. D. Messick, Esq., of Cleve-

land, Treasurer.

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490       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

The incorporating trustees together with Dr. R. E. Vinson,

President of the Western Reserve University; Dr. W. F. Peirce,

President of Kenyon College, and Col. Webb C. Hayes, the oc-

cupant of the Hayes Homestead, were elected the executive com-

mittee of the Board of Trustees with full power to control the

affairs of announcement made of the prospective endowment of

the Hayes Historical Society by Mrs. Mary Miller Hayes.

I trust that I have, in this summary, shown you some bright

pictures of Spiegel Grove, expressed something of the historic

interest, charm and refinement of an American home of the 19th

century before the old order changed; drawn some portraits of

the personages living there whose foresight, courage and stead-

fastness to beneficent aims strengthen one's faith in humanity.

I hope to have shown you how the Hayes Memorial is not

only conserving rich treasures and memories of a local and per-

sonal past, but initiating and ensuring a rich service for the fu-

ture.

At the close of the reading of Miss Keeler's paper,

the conference adjourned for luncheon, after which

Doctor William C. Mills, director of the Ohio State

Archaeological and Historical Society, through whose

industry and zeal, chiefly, its collections have been

brought together, conducted the party of guests and

friends through the rooms of the Museum, pointing out

the leading objects of interest, and answering questions

in regard especially to the recent notable finds in the

Ohio mounds.

Following the inspection, the memorial bronzes in

the rotunda and at the Fifteenth Avenue entrance to the

building were unveiled. The direction of this ceremony

was under Mr. Herbert B. Briggs, the State Architect.

In introducing the sculptor, Bruce Saville, Mr. Briggs

said:

There was born in Massachusetts some years ago a baby --

I almost said a man -- who has had a very interesting career. I

do not know whether it is quite proper for me to use the word

which General Orton told me characterizes the character or con-

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