Ohio History Journal

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

OF THE

 

Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society

 

 

 

 

TO THE

 

 

 

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE AND THE MEMBERS

OF THE SOCIETY.

 

 

 

BY E. O. RANDALL, SECRETARY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLUMBUS OHIO, JANUARY, 1901.

 

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OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

FROM FEBRUARY 1, 1900 TO FEBRUARY 1, 1901.

Elected by the Trustees.

 

GEN. ROELIFF BRINKERHOFF --      -- President

GEN. GEORGE B. WRIGHT ------- First Vice-President

GEO. F. BAREIS --------- Second Vice-President

HON. S. S. RICKLY                         - - --------- Treasurer

EDWIN F. WOOD                           ---------                                                                          Assistant Treasurer

E. O. RANDALL, PH. B., LL. M., - - - - -   Secretary and Editor

W. C. MILLS, B. Sc., - - -         -      Curator and Librarian

TRUSTEES.

Elected by the Society.

TERM EXPIRES IN 1901.

GEN. R. BRINKERHOFF -   ------           -- Mansfield

HON. M. D. FOLLETT  ----------                 Marietta

HON. D. J. RYAN - - - - --- Columbus

REV. H. A. THOMPSON - - - -                   - Dayton

MR. R. E. HILLS  ---------                -- Delaware

TERM EXPIRES IN 1902.

*HON. JOHN SHERMAN               ---------- Mansfield

PROF. G. F. WRIGHT                                   --------              -- Oberlin

COL. JAMES KILBOURNE - - - --- Columbus

HON. SAMUEL F. HUNT ---------- Hamilton

JUDGE J. H. ANDERSON  -------             -- Columbus

TERM EXPIRES IN 1903.

HON. ELROY M. AVERY     -    - --- Cleveland

BISHOP B. W. ARNETT - - - - - - - - - - Wilberforce

HON. S. S. RICKLY  --------                        -- Columbus

MR. G. F. BAREIS ---------                          Canal Winchester

HON. A. R. McINTIRE ----- -                     - Mt. Vernon

APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

TIME EXPIRES AS INDICATED.

GEN. GEO. B. WRIGHT, Columbus - - - --            1901

HON. ISRAEL WILLIAMS, Hamilton - - - - - - - -1901

PROF. B. F. PRINCE, Springfield --  ---   --- 1902

HON. E. O. RANDALL, Columbus ------          -- 1902

HON. CHAS. P. GRIFFIN, Toledo - - - - -1903

REV. N. B. C. LOVE, Elmore - -         -          1903

*Died October 22, 1899.

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SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.

 

The Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Ohio State Archaeo-

logical and Historical Society was held in the parlors of the Y. M.

C. A. Building, Columbus, Ohio, at 2:15 P. M., February 1,

1900, with the following members present:

General R. Brinkerhoff, President ................. Mansfield.

E. O. Randall, Secretary ............................ Columbus.

Hon. A. R. McIntire ................................Mt. Vernon.

G. F. Bareis ...................................... .. Canal  Winchester.

B.F.Prince ................................ ....... Springfield.

A.B. Coover ........................................ Roxabelle.

Rev. H. A. Thompson .....................Dayton.

Hon. Charles Foster ................................ Fostoria.

Gerard Fowke   ...................................... Chillicothe.

John D.H. McKinley ............................... Columbus.

E. F. Wood  .........................................  "

Hon. D. J. Ryan  .................................... "

Col. James Kilbourne ..............................  "

Dr. M. P. Hunt  .....................................   "

H. A. Gard  ...........................................   "

Gen. G. B. Wright  ...............................   "

R. E. Neil  ..........................................   "

Judge J. H. Anderson.............................    "

E. H. Archer ........................................   "

Frank I. Brown  .....................................    "

W. C. Mills  .........................................    "

George H. Twiss  ....................................    "

C. S. Van Tassel .................................... Bowling Green.

Hon. S.S. Rickly  ................................... Columbus.

General Brinkerhoff presided. E. O. Randall, Secretary,

read the minutes of the previous Annual Meeting (held May 1,

1899, Y. M. C. A. Building, Columbus, Ohio), which were

approved.

Letters of regret, at being unable to attend this Annual

Meeting, were read from Bishop Benjamin Arnett and Hon.

Israel Williams, Trustees of the Society.

The Secretary was called upon by the President for his

Annual Report to the Trustees of the Society. He stated the

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386       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

custom required that the Secretary should make a report each

year at the Annual Meeting of the Society. It is also a courtesy

rather than a requirement, that the Society make a report to the

Governor each year, since the Society is a quasi-state institution.

This has always been done since the legislature began making

appropriations for the Society, therefore each year when the

other departments have reported to the Governor, the Secretary

has also, in behalf of the Executive Committee and the Board

of Trustees, made a formal and full report to the Governor,

and that report has been made to answer at the Annual Meetings

as the report also to the Society. That report, to the Governor,

for the past year, you all doubtless have in your hands. It was

published a month ago, and has been submitted to the Governor

and the members of the Legislature. (That report will be found

in Vol. VIII, pages 345 to 371 of the annual publications.)

A letter was submitted and read to the trustees concerning

the property still held by the Ridge family and other parties,

consisting of twenty-one acres at and including the northern

end of Ft. Ancient, which is riot yet owned by the State, and

which the proprietors are willing to part with for the sum of

$3,000. The Secretary explained that this subject revived some

interesting ancient history, that in '95, through correspondence

with the Ridges, the latter gave a written option on that prop-

erty for $900, at the same time Mr. Couden, who owned a large

tract, embracing property (104 acres) both within and without

the southern end of the Fort, agreed to sell for $50 an acre.

With these propositions in hand the Secretary (Randall) went

before the joint committee of the House and Senate (March,

1896) and presented the proposition for the state. The Com-

mittee thought both tracts ought to be obtained for $5200 and

that amount was appropriated by the Legislature to cover the

purchases. The Secretary upon proceeding to Ft. Ancient to

consummate the negotiations found that the Ridges had raised

their price to $3,000, on the ground that they had prospectively

sold the property to the "Ft. Ancient Hotel Company" for build-

ing lots for a Summer Resort, that the said company had also

begun the building of a Summer Hotel, and in order to recoup

themselves they would have to receive $3,000 for the property.

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Sixteenth Annual Report.              387

 

That Summer Resort and hotel scheme as exploited by the Ft.

Ancient Hotel Company reads like a chapter from Munchausen's

Tales. The "company" was to represent a capital of $15,000.

They proposed to erect a frame structure to "Summerize" one

hundred and fifty guests with most elaborate metropolitan hotel

accommodations, electric lights, ball room, billiard room, bowling

alleys, etc. Back of the hotel, in the ravine, was to be created

an artificial lake with bathing, boating and fishing facilities. The

appointments of the hostelry were to be so comfortable and rest-

ful, that the guest might "dream he dwelt in marble halls."

Bands were to play at the meals and guests in picturesque, rural

attire, were to gaze from the open balconies, spellbound, upon

the earthen relics of a pre-historic race. This was all imagina-

tively advertised by the general manager of the company, a veri-

table Colonel Sellers, in the daily papers, circulars and even

magazines. (American Home Magazine, May, 1896.) Excur-

sion trains from various parts of the state were to be run to

Ft. Ancient to carry the crowds, rushing to the spot to eagerly

purchase lots for cozy cottages. They claimed to have expended

$8,000 in giving publicity to this fairy undertaking. They actu-

ally broke ground for the cellar -they also "broke" several who

were not sellers but buyers in the enterprise. The Secretary, of

course, upon confronting the situation, respectfully refused to

purchase this air castle or to further proceed in negotiations with

its promoters. The Couden tract was bought. Thus the matter

has stood until this time. The state ought to acquire this Ridge

strip of land to complete the possession of the Fort-but of

course only at the proper figure. The whole subject was referred

to the Executive Committee for their consideration.

 

Mr. Bareis, Chairman of the Ft. Ancient Committee, re-

ported that they had expended about $1200 in repairing the

tenant's house on Ft. Ancient; that we now have a well built,

spacious, eight room dwelling house, affording comfortable quar-

ters for the Trustees or Committee when they visit the Fort

and wish to spend the day or night, and also to accommodate

visitors, when any wish quarters for a day or more, which fre-

quently happens, as there is no hotel or place where strangers

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388       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

or travelers can be cared for at, or in the vicinity of, the Fort.

Mr. Bareis also reported that they had renewed the contract, for

three years, with Mr. Warrren Cowen to take charge of the

Fort, and employ a responsible tenant to keep the house and

be constantly on the ground to protect and care for the property,

and look after vsitors who might come to inspect the Fort.

Hon. A. R. McIntire, as Chairman of the Auditing Com-

mittee, consisting of Prof. Prince, Judge Anderson and himself,

appointed to examine and report upon the expense of the im-

provement incurred by the Ft. Ancient Committee, in the recon-

struction of the building, made a report which was as follows:

"We, the undersigned Committee, appointed to audit certain

transactions of the Executive Committee, and to which the above

bill has been referred, report that they have examined the pro-

posals, bills of materials, contracts, statements and vouchers

furnished by the Ft. Ancient Committee, and find the contracts to

have been judiciously made, at fair prices, that the labor and

material represented in an accompanying statement has been

actually used in the reconstruction of the building at Ft. Ancient,

except a defect in the plastering, and has all been paid for, except

$17.80 to be paid on the completion of the plastering. This

Committee approves the action of the Ft. Ancient Committee,

and recommends the thanks of the Society. Signed, A. R.

McIntire, B. F. Prince, J. H. Anderson." (February 1, 1900.)

This report was approved and ordered entered upon the record.

 

Mr. W. C. Mills made a verbal report to the meeting, sup-

plemental to what he had said in the Annual Report, particularly

as to his work as Librarian, to which office, in addition to the

Curatorship, he had been elected by the Executive Committee

on December 8, 1899. The Library was receiving valuable and

numerous accessions constantly from various Societies, Libraries

and individuals. As Curator he had received and answered 312

letters during the year. He urged each member of the Society

to be on the lookout for books, through their own libraries or

those of friends, which books might be donated to the Society's

Library. It was an excellent depository for much valuable litera-

ture which would likely be lost in private libraries.

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Sixteenth Annual Report.              389

 

ELECTION OF TRUSTEES.

The Secretary reported that the five Trustees whose terms

expired at this meeting were Hon. Elroy M. Avery of Cleveland,

Bishop B. W. Arnett of Wilberforce, Hon. S. S. Rickly of Colum-

bus, Hon. G. F. Bareis of Canal Winchester and Hon. A. R.

McIntire of Mt. Vernon. The death of Rev. Dr. Moore (June 5,

1899), also created a vacancy in the Board of Trustees. Mr.

Moore's term would have expired February 1, 1902. Also the

death of Robert Clark (August 7, 1899), created a vacancy.

Robert Clark's term would have expired February I, 1902. A

committee of five, consisting of D. J. Ryan, W. C. Mills, H. A.

Thompson, E. H. Archer and R. E. Neil, were named by the

Chair to present nominations to fill the above vacancies. After

due consultation they reported as follows: "To fill vacancies

of Dr. Moore and Robert Clark, Hon. John Hay, Washington,

D. C., and Col. James Kilbourne, Columbus, to serve two years

until February 1, 1902. To serve three years, to February 1,

1903, Hon. E. M. Avery, Cleveland; Bishop B. W. Arnett,

Wilberforce; Hon. S. S. Rickly, Columbus; Mr. George F.

Bareis, Canal Winchester; and Hon. A. R. McIntire, Mt. Ver-

non." The Secretary was instructed to cast the ballot of the

Society in accordance with this report. He did so. They were

declared elected.

NEW MEMBERS.

The Secretary reported that the Trustees during the past

year (1899) had elected to Life Membership in the Society the

following: Willard B. Carpenter, M. D., Columbus; A. B.

Coover, Roxabelle; Henry S. Hallwood, Columbus; Prof.

Archer B. Hulbert, Cleveland; W. H: Hunter, Chillicothe; Mrs.

Elijah P. Jones, Findlay; Walter A. Mahoney, Columbus; Prof.

J. M. Mulford, Columbus; Mr. Louis Siebert, Columbus.

The Secretary also proposed for election, at this meeting,

for Life Membership, the following names: Hon. George K.

Nash, Columbus; W. O. Thompson, President 0. S. U., Colum-

bus; Gen. John Beatty, Columbus; Supt. J. A. Shawan, Colum-

bus; Rev. I. F. King, Columbus; Col. J. T. Holmes, Columbus;

Hon. T. E. Powell, Columbus; George H. Twiss, Columbus;

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390      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

O. A. Miller, Columbus; W. F. Burdell, Columbus; W. R.

Walker, Columbus; Gen. George B. Wright, Columbus; S. F.

Harriman, Columbus. They were duly elected.

Dr. E. B. Fullerton and Col. E. D. Taylor, both of Colum-

bus, were elected to Active Membership.

 

 

Mr. Gerard Fowke outlined at some length the character of

the forthcoming Archaeological History of Ohio, which he was

preparing for publication by the Society.

 

 

Col. James Kilbourne, President of the Centennial Com-

mission, spoke at length of the forthcoming Ohio Exposition at

Toledo, dwelling particularly upon the work which our Society

should do at that Exposition, and urging members of the Soci-

ety to co-operate with the Centennial Commission in securing

a million dollars from the Legislature. Hon. D. J. Ryan, Direc-

tor General of the Ohio Centennial, also spoke most enthusiastic-

ally and emphatically in support of Col. Kilbourne's views, and

in advocacy of the Society's co-operation. Hon. Charles Foster

also spoke concerning the proposed Toledo exhibit, and compli-

mented very highly the work of the Society, and his desire to

assist in its efforts in every way. Prof. G. F. Wright presented

his views as to what the Society should do in its exhibit at that

Centennial.

The Secretary expressed the hope, indeed the expectation,

that great results would be forthcoming for the Society at this

Centennial. He thought that if the state made the appropria-

tion proposed ($1,000,000) the Commission ought to allow at

least twenty-five thousand dollars for a building for the Society,

so constructed on the grounds at Toledo, that it might subse-

quently be removed to Columbus and furnish a permanent habita-

tion for our work and effects.

Upon the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the Society,

there was held at the same place immediately thereafter, the

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Sixteenth Annual Report.              391

 

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

Those present were: J. H. Anderson, G. F. Bareis, R.

Brinkerhoff, James Kilbourne, A. R. McIntire, B. F. Prince,

E. O. Randall, D. J. Ryan, H. A. Thompson, George B. Wright

and G. Frederick Wright. Gen. Brinkerhoff acted as Chairman

and Mr. Randall as Secretary. The Secretary read Section 2

of Article 3 of the Constitution concerning the election of officers.

Gen. Brinkerhoff was unanimously elected President for the

ensuing year. He made fitting acknowledgment in a few words

of the continued honor. Gen. George B. Wright was elected

First Vive-President and Mr. George F. Bareis Second Vice-

President. Mr. S. S. Rickly was elected Treasurer and Mr. E.

F. Wood Assistant Treasurer. Mr. E. O. Randall was elected

Secretary. Mr. W. C. Mills was elected Curator and Librarian.

The Trustees then selected as the Executive Committee to act

for the Board of Trustees for the ensuing year the following:

J. H. Anderson, G. F. Bareis, R. Brinkerhoff, James Kilbourne,

A. R. McIntire, B. F. Prince, E. O. Randall, S. S. Rickly, D. J.

Ryan, George B. Wright.

Upon motion and vote the Executive Committee was there-

upon empowered to fix, at its convenience, the compensation of

such officers as were paid by the Society. After some informal

discussion as to the policy of the Society for the forthcoming

year the Trustees adjourned.

 

Governor Nash appointed on February 18, 1900, as Trustees

of the Society to serve for three years (to February 1, 1903),

Hon. Charles Griffin of Toledo to succeed himself, and the Rev.

N. B. C. Love of Elmore to succeed Hon. Andrew Robeson

of Greenville.

 

The Hon. John Hay of Washington, D. C., on being notified

of his election as Trustee, respectfully declined the honor because,

as he wrote, "I have had to decline so many requests of this

nature from other friends, that it might seem invidious if I should

allow my name to be printed among your list of Trustees."

The Executive Committee at its March meeting elected the

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392       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

Hon. Samuel F. Hunt of Cincinnati to serve in the Trusteeship

declined by Mr. Hay.

Meetings of the Executive Committee were held (in 1900)

as follows: February 1, March 16, April 30, June 11, July 24,

September 18, October 15, November 5, December 5 and Jan-

uary 4 (1901).

 

In the March meeting the Trustees elected Life Members

of the Society as follows: J. A. Jeffrey, W. R. Walker, Prof.

George A. Chambers, R. N. Hubbard and Irvine Butterworth,

all of Columbus, and Dr. Clark Bell (Editor of the Medico Legal

Journal), of New York. Mr. Herbert Osborn was elected an

active member.

In the April meeting: To Life Membership, Frank Tall-

madge, Hon. E. N. Huggins, Hon. Charles P. Galbreath, Miss

Harriet N. Townsend, all of Columbus; Prof. W. F. Heilman of

Canal Winchester; and to Active Membership, Dr. Wallace N.

Stearns of Delaware, Ohio.

In the June meeting: To Life Membership, Gen. Warren

Keifer, Edward L. Buchwalter and Richard H. Rodgers of

Springfield, and Henry Harrison Greer of Mt. Vernon. To

Active Membership, Jonathan F. Linton of Columbus, Edward

N. Halbedel of Upper Sandusky, and Major Robert M. Davidson

(Secretary Ohio Society S. A. R) of Newark.

In the July meeting: To Life Membership, William E. Con-

nelley of Topeka, Kansas. To Active Membership, Frank R.

Shinn of Columbus.

In the September meeting: To Life Membership, Mr. J. E.

Baum and Mr. Pollard Hill of Ross County, Frederick B. Hoff-

man and Dr. G. S. Stein of Columbus.

In the October meeting: To Active Membership, Prof.

Amon B. Plowman of Delaware, and Prof. B. F. Stanton of

Salem.

In the November meeting: To Life Membership, Mr. E.

H. Archer of Columbus, and Nelson W. Evans of Portsmouth.

In the January meeting: To Life Membership, Prof. C. L.

Martzolff of New Lexington.

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Sixteenth Annual Report.             393

 

HISTORY AND FAILURE OF OHIO CENTENNIAL.

The 73rd General Assembly, on April 26, 1898, passed an

act to provide for the appointment of a Centennial Commission

and payment of the expenses thereof. This act authorized the

Governor "to appoint a Commission to consist of twenty-one

members, one member of which Commission shall be selected

from each of the Congressional districts of this state, and not

more than eleven of whom shall belong to any one political party,

who shall serve without pay or compensation, but whose actual

and legitimate expenses shall be paid on vouchers to be approved

by the Governor." The act further specifies the duties and pur-

poses of this commission; to acquaint themselves with the

grounds where the exposition was to be held--(Toledo, as

previously selected by the legislature) -to examine plans for

improvement of the grounds, inspect such improvements as they

were made, and "to procure plans and propositions pertaining to

said exposition and recommendations and suggestions generally

that would be of profit in determining what this state should

do in forwarding said exposition; * * * and all of such

plans, recommendations, suggestions, propositions and informa-

tion said commission shall report to the next general assembly

within ten days from the beginning of its first session," etc. In

accordance with this act the Governor appointed as such com-

mission: W. H. Stewart, Cincinnati; Capt. M. A. McGuire,

Cincinnati; Nathaniel P. Ramsey, Dayton; William Binkley,

Sydney; George K. Otis, Hicksville; John W. Davis, Batavia;

Henry Flesh, Piqua; L. J. Fenton, Winchester; M. H. Dona-

hue, New Lexington; George B. Christian, Marion; Curtis E.

McBride, Mansfield; B. J. McKinney, Marietta; T. G. Donald-

son, Scroggsfield; Jesse P. Forbes, Coshocton; J. Craig Smith,

Youngstown; John M. Stull, Warren; D. E. McLean, Cleve-

land; James W. Conger, Cleveland; James Kilbourne, Colum-

bus; John F. Kumler, Toledo; William A. Belt, Kenton. The

Commission elected Col. James Kilbourne President and Lem

P. Harris of Toledo Secretary. It acted in accordance with its

authority and made an elaborate report to the succeeding (74th)

legislature.

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394      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

The 74th General Assembly, after much discussion and at

times exciting debate, finally appropriated the sum of $500,000

"For the Ohio Centennial and Northwest Territory Exposition."

(94 Ohio Laws, 197, 267.) The Centennial Commission con-

tended uncompromisingly for one million, and in this they were

heartily supported by the people of Toledo. After the appropri-

ation of this amount and the adjournment of the legislature, the

availability, under the law, of the $500,000 was brought in ques-

tion and submitted to the State Supreme Court, and decided by

that body in State ex rel. Harris v. Guilbert, Auditor, 63 Ohio

St., 177. The decision was: "There is no provision by which

the appropriation of $500,000 made by the last legislature, 'for

the Ohio Centennial and Northwest Territory Exposition,' can

be made available for the purpose designated, the duties of the

Ohio Centennial Commission created by the act of the legislature,

passed April 26, 1898, being advisory and not executive." (De-

cided June 26, 1900.)  This decision was in substance, that

though the money was appropriated, neither the Ohio Centennial

Commission nor any other agency had been authorized to expend

or direct the expending of the fund. This summarily disposed

of the Ohio Centennial Exposition, and with its abandonment

went the hopes and prospects of the participation, in that exposi-

tion, of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

 

CENTENNIAL BUILDING FOR THE SOCIETY.

Now that the Society has lost the anticipated opportunity

of securing permanent quarters, as one of the results of the

intended Ohio Centennial Exposition, it is justified in looking

in other directions for a suitable building. The suggestion has

come from many quarters throughout the state, and has been

advocated by some of the leading daily papers, that a fitting

manner for Ohio to recognize its centenary as a state, would be

for the legislature to appropriate say $50,000 for a memorial

building to be erected, either in the center of Columbus, or

perhaps on the grounds of the Ohio State University. Such

building to be the abiding place of the Ohio State Archaeological

and Historical Society, the Relic Room-now in the capitol

building- and the repository of kindred collections. The dedi-

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Sixteenth Annual Report.             395

cation of this building could be made a state occasion, with

addresses and proper official exercises. Certainly the hundredth

birthday of the Buckeye state should not go unrecognized, and

if commemorated as above, the expense would be comparatively

unnoticed and the results immeasurable and enjoyed by this and

future generations.

PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.

Another exposition disappointment for our Society occurred

in our yielding the idea of taking part in the Pan-American

Exposition to be held at Buffalo, in the Summer of 19O1. The

74th General Assembly authorized the Governor to appoint a

Commission of three residents of the state of Ohio, whose duty

it should be to direct the construction of an Ohio building on

the grounds of said Pan-American Exposition. And to take

charge of the same during the exposition. And for the further-

ance of this purpose, the legislature appropriated $25,000 "for

the erection and equipment of such building" and the sum of

$5,000 "for the expenses of the Commission provided for in

this act, and to pay for the necessary help in caring for such

building." (94 Ohio Laws, 167.) The Governor appointed as

such Commission the Honorables W. S. McKinnon, Charles L.

Swain and Samuel L. Patterson. Shortly after their appoint-

ment the Secretary (Randall) conferred with them concerning

the exhibition by our Society at Buffalo of our Archaeological

Museum, or portions of it, and possibly the illustration of some

features of the methods of our Archaeological explorations. At

the same time correspondence was carried on, both by the Secre-

tary and our Curator, W. C. Mills, with Dr. A. L. Benedict,

Superintendent of Ethnology and Archaeology in the Pan-Amer-

ican Exposition. The latter was very earnest in his solicitation

that our Society be represented at Buffalo. The Ohio Pan-

American Commission finally decided that they would be unable

to use any of their funds in assisting our Society. And after

much consideration it was decided that our Society could not

legally divert any of its funds for the purpose in question. Dr.

A. L. Benedict endeavored to come to our assistance through

the authorities of the Buffalo Exposition, but finally on Novem-

ber 20, 1900, we were obliged to write Dr. Benedict that we

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396       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

should have to give up the expectation of being in evidence at

the Buffalo Exposition. We wish, however, in this place to

sincerely thank the Ohio Commission for its earnest efforts in

trying to assist us in this matter.

 

We were invited to be present and engage in the interesting

exercises of the Hudson Centennial, held at Hudson, Ohio, June

5, 1900. We were unable to be present, but have given a full

account of this event in the January (1901) Quarterly of the

Society.

The past year, 1900, marked the hundredth year anniversary

of the settlement of Lancaster (city) and Fairfield County, and

our Society offered to assist the people of that historic town in

fittingly celebrating the occasion. The proposal was considered

by their citizens in public meeting, but the project for sufficient

reason was finally abandoned.

ACQUISITION OF SERPENT MOUND.

It will be recalled that during the visit of Prof. F. W. Put-

nam of Harvard University to the meeting of the American

Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Columbus,

August, 1899, that gentleman stated to the officers of our Society

that if we would accept, repair and suitably preserve and guard

the property known as Serpent Mound, in the possession of the

Peabody Museum, that the trustees of that institution would

transfer to us said property. (See Vol. VIII, page 366, of our

annual publications.) In December, 1899, in pursuance of this

generous proposition, we began correspondence with Prof. Put-

nam as to the nature of the title we would receive, etc. After

proper presentation of the matter to the Finance Committee of

the House (March, 1900) that committee recommended, and

the legislature gave us, in the appropriation bill, $500 for the

first year and $200 for the second "For the repair and care of

Serpent Mound." In view of this assurance of our ability to

properly protect the property, Prof. Putnam brought the matter

before the President and Fellows of Harvard College, and after

the required deliberation and necessary proceedings, that insti-

tution forwarded us a deed to the property. This deed recites,

"That this conveyance is upon the condition that the grantee

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Sixteenth Annual Report.              397

 

corporation shall provide for the perpetual care of the Serpent

Mound and upon the further condition that the grantee corpo-

ration shall keep the Serpent Mound Park as a free public park

forever, and the non-fulfillment or breach of said conditions or

either of them shall work a forfeiture of the estate hereby con-

veyed and revest the same in the grantor and its successors.

And upon the further conditions that the grantee Society shall

place and maintain in the park a suitable monument or tablet

upon which shall be inscribed the record of the preservation of

the Serpent Mound and the transfer of the property to the State

Society." This deed was acknowledged on the 8th day of Octo-

ber, 1900. It was recorded in the Recorder's office, West Union,

Adams County, November 22, 1900. The Society is therefore

to be heartily congratulated upon acquiring this most valuable

and unique relic of the Mound Builders. We are of course

indebted to Prof. F. W. Putnam for the very satisfactory con-

clusion of this matter. A description of the mound and the

history of its preservation, so far as it is known, will be properly

set forth in a future number of the Society's Quarterly. As

rapidly as possible arrangements are being made to carry into

effect the conditions of the transfer to us.

 

PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY.

In August, 1900, the Society issued in bound form the

eighth volume of its annual publications. The material compris-

ing it had previously been issued in Quarterly form -No. I

(Vol. VIII) for July, 1899; No. 2 for October, 1899; No. 3

for January, 1900, and No. 4 for April, 1900. The table of con-

tents for Vol. VIII need not be repeated here, suffice it to say

no more readable or valuable volume has ever been put forth

by the Society. Extra editions of portions of that volume were

separately printed and met with large circulation. The Quar-

terlies for July, 1900, October, 1900, and January, 1901 (all

to appear in Vol. IX), have also been put before the public.

As evidence of the worth of, and demand for, the publica-

tions of the Society, the 74th General Assembly in its appropria-

tion designated the sum of $5,600 "For reprinting Vols. I, II, III,

IV, V, VI, VII and VIII of the Society's Annual Publication;

• 15
 

398       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

each member of the 74th General Assembly to be provided with

ten copies of each volume, to be delivered under the direction

and at the expense of the Society." In compliance with this

appropriation those volumes have been reprinted and are now

being delivered, properly boxed, to the members of the said

legislature at their respective homes. The demand for these

books, not only throughout the state of Ohio, but throughout

the United States and even in foreign countries, is constantly

increasing. This testimony from libraries, societies and individ-

uals is sufficient to more than justify the slight expense the state

is at in promoting the dissemination of the literature of the

Society.

Great interest is manifested by libraries and students, as is

attested by the frequent letters of inquiry which the Secretary

receives concerning the forthcoming Archaeological History of

Ohio, which is being prepared by Mr. Gerard Fowke and to be

published by our Society, for which the legislature made special

provision. The manuscript is practically complete, and we hope

to have the book ready for circulation in the Spring of 1901.

 

The last Annual Report of the work of the Society in Archae-

ology, as made by W. C. Mills, our Curator, has met with very

great favor by the archaeologists throughout the country. It

has evoked much favorable comment upon the accurate and

systematic methods pursued by Mr. Mills, not only in the man-

agement of our Museum, but in his explorations and classification

and preservation of the findings. As to Mr. Mills's work for the

year just past, it speaks for itself in Mr. Mills's Report, which

will appear later. Mr. Mills has inaugurated a course of lec-

tures upon anthropology and archaeology, which are being given,

three each week, during the Winter term    at Orton Hall,

Ohio State University. A large number of students are availing

themselves of the opportunity thus afforded by Mr. Mills for

study in those subjects.

TOUR OF PROF. G. FREDERICK WRIGHT.

On February 5, 1900, Prof. G. Frederick Wright, one of

our Trustees, and whom our Society had selected and the Cen-

tennial Commission had accepted, as the Director of the Depart-

• 16
 

Sixteenth Annual Report.             399

 

ment of Archaeology and Ethnology in the (then) proposed

Ohio Centennial, accompanied by his son Fred. B. Wright,

started from Oberlin upon a tour around the world in the interest

of Archaeology, Ethnology and Geology. They were to proceed

by way of New Orleans, San Francisco and Honolulu to Tokio,

Japan. Thence through Japan, China, Siberia, Russia, Turkey,

Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Italy and by way of Europe home. The

trip was to occupy about a year, and they are soon expected

to return. The members of our society anticipate much pleas-

ure and profit from the accounts which Prof. Wright will be

able to make of his very important and instructive tour.

It will be recalled that Prof. G. Frederick Wright, on the

evening of the Annual Meeting, February 1, 1900, lectured in

the House of Representatives upon the Mound Builders of Ohio,

to a very large and appreciative audience, comprising members

of the Society, members of the General Assembly and the invited

guests.

On the evening of February 26, 1900, in the Board of Trade

Auditorium, Prof. J. P. MacLean, Curator and Librarian of the

Western Reserve Historical Society, delivered a lecture under

the auspices of our Society, upon "The Mound Builders of Ohio."

The lecture was illustrated with stereopticon views and was pre-

sented to the members of our Society and the invited public,

constituting a very large and most appreciative audience. For

this and much friendly assistance during the year, we wish to

acknowledge our indebtedness to Prof. MacLean.

 

SECRETARIAL JOURNEYINGS.

On April 8 the Secretary visited Cincinnati, made the

acquaintance of Dr. Joshua Lindahl, Curator of the Natural

History Society of Cincinnati, and inspected the quarters,

Museum and Library of that learned and time-honored associa-

tion. Calls were also made at the rooms of the Ohio Historical

and Philosophical Society, of which Mrs. C. B. Lord is the Sec-

retary and Librarian. This Society was founded in 1835 and

has a very valuable and well preserved library of some fifteen

thousand volumes. Both of these Cincinnati societies occupy

• 17
 

400       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

quarters of their own, in each instance representing very valuable

property.

On July 12 the day was spent at Norwalk investigating the

workings and property of the Firelands Historical Society, of

which Hon. Rush M. Sloane is President and Dr. A. Sheldon,

Secretary, and Hon. C. H. Gallup, Librarian. The Society has

a library of some three thousand books, and issues an annual

publication of great interest and value. It has published some

thirty volumes altogether, which are now much sought after by

public libraries.

During the month of August the Secretary made a some-

what extended tour of visitation to the leading State Historical

Societies of the East and Middle West. They were: Maryland

Historical Society, Baltimore; Congressional Library and Smith-

sonian Institute, Washington, D. C.; American Philosophical

Society, The American Catholic Society, The Geographical Soci-

ety, The American Academy of Political and Social Science, The

Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, and Pennsylvania Histor-

ical Society, all located in Philadelphia, Pa.; also the Museum

of Archaeology and Paleontology, connected with the University

of Pennsylvania; The State Historical Society of Delaware,

Wilmington, Del.; The New Jersey Historical Society, Newark,

New Jersey; The New York Historical Society, New York

City, also The Genealogical and Biographical Society of New

York; The Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; The Pea-

body Museum, Cambridge; The Rhode Island Historical Society,

Providence; the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford; Chi-

cago Historical Society, Chicago; Wisconsin Historical Society,

Madison.

This trip and some resulting conclusions pertinent to our

Society will be found in the editorial department, October Quar-

terly (1900) of our Society.

 

Mr. Warren Cowen, the custodian of Fort Ancient has

rendered most excellent service the past year in keeping the

property in a clean and attractive condition. Perhaps in no

previous time have the embankments and inclosed field space,

presented such a neat and well-preserved appearance. The Fort

• 18
 

Sixteenth Annual Report.             401

Ancient Committee of the Trustees paid several visits during the

year to the Fort to inspect the work of Mr. Cowen and both,

the faithful discharge of his duties and his good judgment have

met their commendation.

 

In conclusion we wish to say that we believe the past year

has been the most prosperous and progressive one in the history

of the Society, not only as to the work it has actually accom-

plished, and in the influence it has exerted, but also for the

increased creditable reputation it has attained in distant quarters.

Personally the Secretary begs to thank the Trustees and

especially the members of the Executive Committee for their

uniform kindness and courtesy to him.

Respectfully submitted,

E. O. RANDALL,

Secretary.

COLUMBUS, OHIO, January, 1901.

• 19
 

REPORT OF TREASURER

FOR YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY FIRST, 1901.

 

RECEIPTS.

Balance on hand January 1st, 1900 .......................... $ 750 07

Life         memberships . ....................................... 672   50

Active memberships ........................................   94   00

Subscriptions ............................................ 15 00

Books sold................................................  26 00

Supplies sold          .............................................. 3 77

Refunded by             O. S. U  .......................................  5 87

Interest  ................................................... 71 65

From State Treasurer:

For current expenses.................................. 2,381 77

For care of Fort Ancient ............................... 659 34

For field work, etc .................................... 1,025 90

For publications ....................................... 2,315 47

For repair and care of serpent mound .................. 91 10

For reprinting volumes I to VIII ...................... 2,000 00

 

$10,112 44

DISBURSEMENTS.

Reprinting publications (on account) ....................... $ 2,000 00

Current  publications ....................................... 2,318 47

Job printing ...................... ................... 50 70

Lectures ........................................ 57 00

Museum and library ...................................... .  245 54

Express and freight ........................................  98 58

Postage        ................................................... 97 96

Salaries        ................................................... 1,415 00

Trustee and committee expenses ............................ 200 90

Field work  ................................................  1,048 83

Care of Fort Ancient ....................................... 659 34

Sundry Supplies ........................................... 24 00

Fire insurance on publication plates ......................... 104 00

Membership secretary ...................................... 105 00

Serpent  mound  ............................................   91 10

Sundries ........................................ ... 75 61

To permanent fund ........................................ 744 15

Balance on hand January 31st, 1901 ........................ 776 26

$10,112 44

Respectfully submitted,

S. S. RICKLY, Treasurer.

(402)

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