LEADEN PLATE AT
THE MOUTH OF THE MUSKINGUM
In the October QUARTERLY were published
cuts of the
leaden plate prepared for deposit at the
mouth of the Conewango
and the one buried at the mouth of the
Kanawha.
On the following pages are illustrations
of the remnant of
the plate buried at the mouth of the
Muskingum and what was
probably its entire text. This plate was
considerably multilated.
A portion of the lead was cut away for
bullets before the signifi-
cance and importance of this relic were
realized. We are under
obligation to the American Antiquarian
Society for a very satis-
factory photograph of this remnant from
which has been pro-
duced the illustration on the following
page.
The plates which have been found thus
far show that an
effort was made to include identical
text on each with the excep-
tion of the date and the name of the
river at the mouth of which
the plate was buried. No two of the
plates, however, could have
been made from the same mold, as they
contain respectively
nineteen, twenty-one and eighteen lines
of varying length. A
separate mold must have been used in
casting each and space
was left to engrave the date and the
name of the river, at the
confluence of which with the Ohio, each
plate was buried. Some
writers have ventured the opinion that
the inscription, with the
exception above noted, was stamped upon
the plates.
The full text of the inscription on the
plate buried at the
mouth of the Muskingum is not given in
either of the Journals,
but from the official statement, the
text of the inscriptions on
the other plates and the assertion of
Celoron that "the inscription
is always the same" (page 371) the
writer has undertaken to
supply, with the aid of the fragment
left, the full inscription of
this plate. The result is found on page
479. It cannot vary
materially from the original and is
believed to be practically
identical with it.
A comparison of the texts of these
plates shows some varia-
tions and slight inaccuracies in
orthography. The artist, Paul
(477)
478 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. |
|
480 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
de Brosse, like Celoron himself, had
evidently not taken first
prize in spelling words of his native
tongue and was somewhat
careless as the variations in the texts
of the inscriptions indicate.
Mr. Marshall in his paper, page 442,
tells us how Caleb Atwater,
Governor Clinton and others were led for
years to suppose that
the leaden plate found at the mouth of
the Muskingum had
originally been buried at the mouth of
French Creek on the
site of the old Indian village, Venango.
They were led to this
conclusion by the similarity of the
words "Yenangue" and
"Venango." The fact is, as the
Journal of Celoron shows, that
"Yenangue" is only part of the
name of the river, the con-
cluding portion of which, "kouan"
undoubtedly was carried over
to the beginning of the next line,
completing the word "Yenan-
guekouan" the name given to what is
now the Muskingum
River.
The circumstances under which this plate
was discovered
are stated on a succeeding page and more
fully in Hildreth's
Pioneer History of the Ohio Valley pages 19 and 20. The
names of the boys who discovered the
plate are not given. In
The Olden Time, Vol i, pages 238-241, is published an account
of the discovery of the plate at the
mouth of the Great Kanawha.
This plate was found by "a little
son of J. W. Beale, while play-
ing on the margin of the river."
The writer in The Olden Time
makes the following comment on the
inscription of this plate:
"The French is none of the purest,
and the accents, apos-
trophies, and punctuation are wanting,
except that the circum-
flex is placed over the initial O in Oyo
the first time that word
occurs, while the I's, though capitals,
are invariably dotted, and
the Q's are of the old black letter
form, like a P reversed."
CELERON'S JOURNAL
(Concluded from page 377.)
The 9th of October, I set out from the
lower part of the
Narrows and came to pass the night at
Point Pelee. During
our voyage across Lake Erie nothing
happened worth men-
tioning. On the 19th I arrived at
Niagara, where I was de-
layed three days from stress of weather.
The 22d I set out
from Niagara for the southern part of
Lake Ontario, so as to
pass that way to Fort Frontenac. It took
me fourteen days
to sail over this lake, and many of my
canoes were broken by
the violence of the winds. On the 6th of
November I arrived
at the fort.
The 7th of November I set out from Fort
Frontenac and
passed by the establishment of M.
Piquette.82 I had received
orders from M. the Marquis de la
Galissoniere to notice how
many deserted during my expedition. I
did not find any more
desert than when I was passing there in
the beginning of July.
His (M. Piquette's) fort was burned
after his departure for
Montreal, by some Indians who are
believed to have been sent
by the English at Chouequin. A granary
stocked with hay was
also burned, and a sort of a redoubt
which stood in the angle of
the bastion was saved, although it was
set on fire on different
occasions.
There were but three men on guard at
this fort, one of
whom had lost his arm by a gun exploding
in his hand whilst
firing on those who were setting the
place on fire. I made in-
quiries as to whether it was known which
nation it was that
had perpetrated this act, and I was told
that it was two Goyo-
quin,83 who had passed the
summer with M. Pipuette, and who
had been hired by the English to take
away his negro from him.
I set out and came to pass the night at
the foot of the Rapids.
The 10th of November, I arrived at
Montreal where I
stayed two days. I went down to Quebec
to render an account
82, 83. See page 391.
Vol. XXIX-31. (481)
482
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
of my expedition to M. the Marquis de la
Jonquiere.84 I felt
happy enough, notwithstanding the
fatigues of the campaign,
the poor diet, and the number of sick,
to have lost (only) one
man, who was drowned in the shipwreck of
M. Dejonquiere.
I was happy too in the esteem of Father
Bonnecamp, a Jesuit
and great mathematician, who paid very
great attention to the
route.- The journey is twelve hundred
leagues. I was still
more happy in my own esteem and in that
of the officers of the
detachment. All that I can say is, that
the nations of these
localities are very badly disposed
towards the French, and are
entirely devoted to the English. I do
not know in what way
they could be brought back. If violence
were to be used, they
would be notified of it, and would take
to flight. They find a
great refuge with the Flat-Heads,85
from whom they are not very
distant. If our traders were sent there
for traffic, they could not
sell their merchandise at the same price
as the English sell theirs,
on account of the many expenses they
would be obliged to incur.
Moreover, I think it would be dangerous
to make any easier
conditions with the nations who inhabit
the Beautiful River,
than those made at the other posts.
Detroit, Miamis, and the
rest would abandon our ancient posts and
perpetuate the nations
on the Beautiful River, who are within
the grasp of the English
government. However, some persons have been sent there
these last years; but there were fewer
English then, and they
had not so much credit as they have
to-day; and, if the French
traders will tell the truth, they will
agree that their profits will
prove just as trade made with the
English by the exchange of
furs. The raccoons, the otters and the
pecos86 command a very
low price in England, while with us they
are very high; and,
besides, only these furs are known to
come from that quarter,
but never beavers, this last is given in
exchange to the English.
A solid establishment would be useful in
the colony, but there
are a great many inconveniences in being
able to sustain it, on
the score of the difficulties of the
ways for transporting pro-
visions and the other suitable
requisites. I am in doubt as to
the feasibility of the undertaking
without incurring enormous
expenses. I feel myself obliged on account
of the knowledge
84, 85, 86. See page 391.
Celeron's Journal. 483
I have acquired of all these places, to
put these reflections at the
end of my journal, so that one
may make use of them as he
shall judge proper.
Signed,
CELORON.
Copy of the Summons served on the
English of the Beautiful River:
We, Celoron, Captain, Knight of the
Royal and Military Order of
St. Louis, Commander of a detachment
sent by order of M. the Marquis
de la Galissoniere, Governor-General of
New France, have summoned
the English traders who were in an
Indian village, situated on the Beau-
tiful River, to withdraw into their own
country with their effects and
baggage, under penalty of being treated
as smugglers in case of refusal,
to which summons the said English
traders responded-that they were
going to withdraw into their own country
with their effects. Made in
this, our camp of the Beautiful River.
Copy,
LECIONQUIERE,87
T. S. V. P. (or B.)
87. See page 392.
THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
SOCIETY. SOCIETY BUILDING, COLUMBUS, OHIO, December 15, 1920, 9:30 A. M. Pursuant to a call issued December 10, 1920, the Ohio
State Archaeological and Historical Society met in annual
session at the Museum and Library Building. The meeting was called to order by President
Campbell. The following members were present: |
G. Frederick Wright, Daniel J. Ryan, Waldo C. Moore, W. O. Thompson, E. F. Wood, J. Warren Keifer, Fred Palmer Hills, George F. Smythe, L. S. Sullivant, J. S. Roof, George F. Waters, Jr., Daniel Hosmer Gard, W. H. Scott, Fred J. Heer, C. B. Galbreath, C. W. Justice, |
James E. Campbell, B. F. Prince, W. H. Cole, George F. Bareis, Van A. Snider, H. C. Shetrone, W. F. Felch, Dr. Wm. H. Harper, W. L. Curry, Frank Henry Howe, R. C. Baker, R. S. Dunlap, Frank Tallmadge, Theodore Leonard, W. C. Mills. |
Mr. Ryan moved that the President of the Society act
as chairman of the meeting of the members; seconded by
Mr. Heer; carried. PRESIDENT CAMPBELL: I have no report to make. The various reports of committees will be exceedingly
interesting, (484) |
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 485
and will disclose the fact that we have
made some great strides
this year. I think special mention
should be made of the fact
that the Columbus Dispatch contributed
more than sixteen hun-
dred dollars for the opening up of the
Mound City Group of
mounds, wherein were found some
wonderful archaeological
specimens and important discoveries were
made. It did this so
quietly that even I, though nominally
the titular head of this
Society, never heard of it until a week
ago. I think when any
one is so willing to assist in a cause,
and ask no more credit
than that, some one should say something
in commendation.
[Applause.]
Mr. Bareis moved that the usual custom
be followed, and
the Secretary of the Society act as
Secretary of the meeting.
Carried.
President Campbell stated that the terms
of three of the
Society's Directors have expired, and a
vacancy exists, caused
by the death of Mr. L. P. Schaus. The
Trustees whose terms
expire are Dr. Wright, Dr. Thompson and
Colonel Hayes.
Mr. Bareis moved, and it was seconded,
that the chair ap-
point a committee on nominations to
recommend candidates for
these positions. Carried.
President Campbell appointed Messrs.
George F. Bareis,
Theodore Leonard and W. L. Curry as the
committee on nomina-
tions.
Secretary Galbreath read the
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
which follows:
"It is the duty of your secretary
at this meeting to report
generally the work of the Society for
the period since the last
annual meeting which was held August 21, 1919. This
includes
a little less than four months of the
service of his predecessor
and about three months during which a
vacancy existed in the
office he now holds. Fortunately,
however, a careful record had
been kept up to the time of his
election, March 16, 1920, and
the materials are at hand for a complete
report for the time in-
tervening since the last annual meeting.
"A meeting of the trustees was held
December 2, 1919, at
which was considered the proposition of
Colonel Webb C. Hayes
to provide a fund for the erection of an
addition to the Hayes
486 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
Memorial Library and Museum. At this
meeting Mr. Wood
called attention to the action of the
Society at its previous annual
meeting, 'authorizing the finance
committee not only to prepare
the budget hereafter, but also to stand
back of it with the gen-
eral assembly.'
"On December 15, 1919, an agreement
was entered into
by the President and Treasurer of the
Society with Colonel and
Mrs. Webb C. Hayes creating the Spiegel
Grove Building Fund.
"On December 18, 1919, the finance
committee was called
together by the death of the Secretary,
Emilius Oviatt Randall.
Arrangements were made to attend the
funeral in a body and
all gave expressions of respect and
esteem for Mr. Randall and
regret for the irreparable loss to the
Society in his death.
"On January 5, 1920, a meeting of
the finance committee
was held to consider a request from the
joint legislative com-
mittee on salaries for suggestions as to
what increases were de-
sired for the employes of the Society. A
schedule of increases
in salaries was discussed and agreed
upon. President Campbell
requested the members of the finance
committee to meet 'January
6th for the purpose of appearing before
the joint committee of
the general assembly on salary
increases.'
"On February 11, 1920,
Governor Cox appointed Honorable
James E. Campbell and William P. Palmer
trustees of the So-
ciety for the term ending February 18,
1922; and Mr. Claude
Meeker for the term ending February 18,
1923, to succeed the
late E. 0. Randall.
"On March 1, 1920, the finance
committee met and called
a meeting of the trustees of the Society
for March 16, 1920,
President Campbell announced
appointments on various stand-
ing committees to fill vacancies occasioned
by the death of
Honorable E. O. Randall.
"At the special meeting of the
trustees, March 16, 1920, C.
B. Galbreath was elected Secretary of
the Society to fill the
vacancy created by the death of Mr.
Randall. The reprint of
the publications of the Society and
affiliation with other his-
torical societies of the state were
considered and referred re-
spectively to the committee on
publications and Dr. Mills. One
hundred and fourteen new members were
elected to the Society.
"The April number of the QUARTERLY is the
Society's
tribute to the memory of Emilius Oviatt
Randall.
"At a meeting of the finance
committee held June 7, 1920,
the secretary was requested to publish a
guide book to Fort
Ancient prepared by Dr. William C. Mills. At this
meeting
Dr. Mills was authorized to attend the
conference of museum
directors at Washington, D. C.
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 487
"A meeting of the finance committee
was held November 3,
1920, to prepare and submit to the state budget commissioner
requests for appropriations for the two
years ending June 30,
1923. After a careful consideration of
the estimates filed by
the heads of departments and chairmen of
the various commit-
tees, the finance committee agreed upon
a budget and directed
the secretary to submit the same with
sustaining statements pre-
pared by himself in accord with the
conclusions reached by the
finance committee. This the secretary
did and the results in
printed form are in your hands.
"A meeting of the board of trustees
was held at Spiegel
Grove, October 4, 1920, the 98th
anniversary of the birth of
President Rutherford B. Hayes. At this
meeting resolutions
were adopted expressing appreciation of
the generosity of Col-
onel Webb C. Hayes in transferring to
the state Spiegel Grove
Park and providing for maintenance of
the property and the
library as a perpetual memorial to his
father. At a large public
meeting held in the afternoon under the
auspices of the Society,
President James E. Campbell gave in an
address a complete
statement of the gifts of Colonel Hayes
to the state. This is
presented in full in the account of the
meeting published in the
October QUARTERLY. A summary paragraph of
Governor Camp-
bell's address indicates the magnitude
of the gift to the state:
"'On July 1st of last year Colonel
Hayes placed $1OO,-
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
attractive property which you see before
you, 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.'
"This summary of the work of the
Society to date will be
supplemented by the program for the afternoon detailing the
notable gifts that are formally
presented as the crowning achieve-
ments of the year. The splendid
contribution by Governor Cox
of the money held in trust by him; the
generous gift of Mr.
Meeker in the presentation of the best
privately owned library
of Ohioana in the state; the two notable gifts by Mr.
Kettering
that link his name with the most generous donors to our
Society;
the transfer of the papers and relics of
John Brown to the
keeping of the state in which he grew up to manhood and
in
which his valiant sons with a single
exception were born; and
488 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
the presentation of a cane with a story
and a safe reminiscent
of colonial banking days by Mr. Deshler,
certainly signalize a
most successful and notable year in the
history of our Society.
"It should be remembered in this
connection that a steady
stream of other valuable gifts is
constantly flowing in and that
a public spirit never before manifest is
developing for the up-
building of this institution.
"Here are gathered mementoes of the
Civil War and the
war with Spain. Hither are coming
manuscripts, letters, personal
reminiscences, accounts of voyages,
expeditions and campaigns,
thrilling narratives of heroic service
in the camps and battle-
fields of foreign soil and all that goes
to form the basis of an
enduring memorial to Ohio's sons who
followed the flag in the
World War.
"Here, with a few felicitations, I
might close. Something
remains to be said, however, in regard
to the work which was
especially assigned to your secretary at
the time of his appoint-
ment.
LIBRARY WORK AND POLICY
"He is expected to act not only as
secretary, but as editor
and librarian. The most important work
that he has done, and
the work that makes the least show, has
been done under his
direction by his faithful and
industrious assistant in the library.
On the 16th day of last March hundreds
of books were waiting
some one to bring the key to open the
mysteries of Dewy's
decimal system of cataloging. For more
than a year no printed
cards had come from the library of
Congress, not even for the
publications of our own Society. An
order was at once sent for
a thousand cards analyzing these
publications. Promptly after-
wards three thousand cards were ordered
for the reports of the
American historical association. The
enthusiastic interest of our
assistant librarian made it easy to
unlock the mysteries of
Dewy's decimals. The four thousand cards
were promptly
marked and filed in our catalogue to
guide patrons and assistants
to the contents of these two important
historical sets. About as
many more cards have been purchased and
used for other works
that were in waiting and the deck will
soon be cleared to handle
additions as they are received. So
satisfactorily is the work
in this department progressing that even
now your secretary is
seldom called to look after details. Of
course, thousands of
books that are coming to the library as
gifts and the thousands
that we hope to be authorized to
purchase before the close of
another year will make additional help
necessary. As our ability
to meet requests of patrons increases
and becomes known, ad-
ditional trained service will be
demanded.
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 489
"In this connection mention should
also be made of our
faithful assistant who presides at the
typewriter, always at her
post and ready to answer the call to
duty.
"Your secretary, on entering upon
his duties, was promptly
made conscious of the fact that this
Society has two libraries,
one in Columbus and one at Spiegel
Grove. For the purchase of
books for the latter a trust fund of
$50,000 has been created
and this in time, I am advised, may
reach $100,000. The inter-
est on this fund means an income for
books alone amounting
to from $2,500 to $5,000 annually. How is this money to be
expended? What are to be the relations
of these two libraries?
"The problem presented by this
situation is important. Its
solution has already been long deferred.
A critic has said, 'The
Spiegel Grove Library will become an
elephant on your hands.'
It is our business to prevent that. The
solution of the problem
demands patience and a consistent,
continuous library policy.
Some duplication will be necessary but
the two libraries must be
made to supplement each other. The
Spiegel Grove Library
with a perpetual income for the purchase
of books offers an
opportunity which this Society must
realize to the full limit.
With the rare library of President Hayes
as a nucleus, a collec-
tion of especially selected books that
need not be duplicated here
may be purchased for the Spiegel Grove
Library, and the com-
bination of the two may be made to serve
efficiently the needs
of students and historians of our own
state or those that come
from other states to consult our library
resources. What is
imperatively needed at Spiegel Grove is
a trained librarian to
direct the work in harmony with the
joint policy of the two
libraries.
"Additions to the library here
should be made with refer-
ence, first of all to present needs, and
next to an enlarged pro-
gram for the future. Many of the volumes
that are received
as gifts and that might not now be
properly placed on the shelves
may be required in the expanding demands
of the future.
COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPERS
"In the two libraries of this
Society should be placed at
an early day all the valuable manuscript
collections in the pos-
session of the state. Here should also
be gathered, as soon as
room can be provided, the bound
newspapers belonging to the
state and the Society. A room equipped
for prompt access to
newspaper files would be as thoroughly appreciated by
news-
paper correspondents and students as are the neat and
orderly
rooms where relics are now displayed
with labels explaining
each. Now as never before there is need for such
service and
490 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
most fortunate will be this institution
if it is enabled to provide
such a room.
"What shall be our policy relative
to the collection and bind-
ing of newspapers? Will it be wise to
attempt to keep on file
and in bound form all the papers of the
state? If not, where
shall the limit be fixed? These are
questions that may well be
pondered before an inflexible policy is
adopted.
"In the meantime, we should accept
bound files of Ohio
newspapers whenever they may be had,
especially those covering
early periods of our history. In 1850 a
law was enacted by our
general assembly requiring county
commissioners to 'subscribe
for one copy of the leading newspapers
of each political party,
printed and published in their county,
and cause them to be
bound and filed in the auditor's office
as public archives, for the
gratuitous inspection of the citizen of
such county.' That law
is still in full force and it is presumed
that it is generally com-
plied with. As a result files of
newspapers have accumulated in
the court houses of the various counties
of the state, except
where they have been destroyed by fire
in such depository. Not
infrequently they have been stowed away
in the attic of the
court house where they are rarely or
never consulted.
"If a law were enacted authorizing
some designated officer in
each county, for a nominal fee and with
the approval of the
county commissioners, to transfer these
files to the library of our
Society with the understanding that
officers and citizens of said
county, under specified conditions,
should be furnished on re-
quest typewritten or photostat copies of
any desired article
or extract from such files, it is
believed that many counties in
time would send their files to the
library of this Society. With
modern agencies for service, such papers
in most instances could
be more readily consulted, even by
citizens of the county in
which they were published, from this
library than from the loft
of the county court house. The Library
of Congress photostats
an entire newspaper page for 75 cents.
The same thing could
be done in Columbus.
"Our library is now a subscriber to
a newspaper clipping
bureau. The clippings are carefully
assorted and those of value
will be securely and permanently bound
in scrap books with
typewritten indexes.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY
"In spite of an effort to get out
the QUARTERLY on time its
appearance has been delayed beyond a
month of its nominal
publication. Other Societies seem to
have the same difficulty.
One of the most carefully edited and
valuable publications which
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 491
comes to our table is now over one year
behind time, the last
issue, which was received within the past week, bearing
the date
of April, 1919. This,
however, is not a sufficient excuse for our
delay. An earnest effort will be made to
publish more promptly
and your secretary feels that he can assure you that
the April
Number will appear on time. So much
cannot be promised for
the coming January number, although we
hope to have it in
the mails before the close of that month.
"The distribution of the
publications of the Society, like our
two libraries, must have a definite,
fixed policy. The frequent
republications of bound volumes of the QUARTERLY for
gratuitous
distribution by the general assembly is
likely to be criticized as
was the similar publication and
distribution of Howe's Historical
Collections. It may become even more
embarrassing. Frequent
requests come to this office for volumes
to complete sets given
away years ago. Those who were so fortunate
to get these free
evidently think that they should have
the following volumes as
issued without paying anything for
them-a somewhat illogical
but perfectly natural conclusion.
"Of course, volumes should always
be available to complete
sets by purchase, and for educational
purposes the following
limited gratuitous distribution is
suggested:
"1. Send the quarterly to every
college and every free
tax supported library in the state that
is regularly open
under the care of a librarian.
"2. Send regularly to all such libraries each year the
bound volumes of the QUARTERLY.
"3. Send with each issue and each
bound volume a card
acknowledging receipt and require the
return of the
card duly signed as the only formality
necessary to in-
sure continued sending of the
publications free of
charge.
"With each issue might properly be
sent, for insertion in
local papers, a news item giving a very
brief synopsis of the con-
tents of the number and stating that it
could be had at the library.
Such a policy would be in harmony with
the purposes of this
Society and would bring our work into
closer contact with the
educational forces of the state.
"With the library of President
Hayes, came his carefully
preserved diary and correspondence
covering the period of his
life from his school days to his latest
year. His biographer,
Professor Charles R. Williams, of
Princeton College, is ar-
ranging these papers for publication in
a series as nearly as
492
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
possible identical in style with the two
very creditable volumes
of the life of President Hayes already
published. As soon as
the first volume of the proposed series
of diary and letters is in
the press, Colonel Webb C. Hayes
proposes to present to the
Society the remaining copies of the life
already published and
the plates, illustrations and everything
necessary to reproduce the
two volumes at the nominal cost of press
work and binding. It
is the purpose of your appropriate
committee to commence the
proposed publication as soon as
Professor Williams furnishes the
edited copy.
"A survey of our requests filed
with the state budget com-
missioner may leave the impression that
a very generous in-
crease in expenditures is contemplated,
but this is only apparent.
The Society is adding every year to the
tangible, substantial
property of the state more than it gets
from the public treasury,
to say nothing of the educational
service that it performs. It is
winning the attention and confidence of
the public and if the
state will do but approximately what
other states are doing this
institution will soon become a vast
treasury of source materials
from which will be written the
incomparable history of Ohio.
"The legislature of Wisconsin, at
an initial expenditure of
$650,000, erected a building for her
Historical Society and
Library. Minnesota appropriated $500,000
for a similar purpose
and in May, 1918, opened her splendid
new building to the public.
Illinois has taken steps to expend an
even larger sum for a
building, while a wealthy citizen of the
little state of New
Hampshire, with patriotic vision and
state pride, has given
$650,000 for a state Historical
Building. Ohio has made a
creditable start with an appropriation
of $100,000, wisely and
economically expended in the erection of
this building--the
vestibule of the larger structure yet to
be. If we have faith in
our proclaimed eminence among the
sisterhood of states and
appreciation of the lessons that our
history should teach, here
at the gateway to our great university
will rise a living monument
that shall eloquently speak of the
prestige and power and glory
of the Buckeye state."
Mr. Wood moved that the report be
received, and not only
made a part of the proceedings, but also
be published. Seconded.
Carried.
Dr. W. O. Thompson stated he thought the
assistants men-
tioned in the report should be named,
and Mr. Galbreath stated
that the assistants mentioned are Miss
Helen Mills and Miss
Margaret Fry.
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 493
MR. FRANK TALLMADGE: I am here to make two
presen-
tations. I desire to say that Mr. Booth, of the Logan
Elm
Committee, is not present, being out of the city. He
was to
have been here. He is responsible for a little
enterprise in the
way of preparing souvenirs from two dead limbs cut from
the
Logan Elm last September. Mr. Booth is under the
impression,
I guess, that we have a very disorderly meeting here,
and that
it is necessary that order be preserved. In the name of
the
Logan Elm Committee I am presenting to Governor
Campbell,
our President, to be his personal property, a gavel
made from
a limb of the Logan Elm. To The Ohio State
Archaeological
and Historical Society I present another gavel, a
larger one, for
sometimes it is necessary to preserve order in the
absence of
our President. (Applause.)
MR. BAREIS: Your
Committee on Nominations beg leave
to report the following: To fill the vacancies caused
by the ex-
piration of the terms of three of our trustees we
nominate Dr.
G. Frederick Wright, Dr. W. O. Thompson and Colonel
Webb
C. Hayes; to fill the vacancy caused by the death of L.
P.
Schaus we present the name of Arthur C. Johnson, editor
of the
Columbus Dispatch. I move that the Secretary be instructed to
cast the ballot of this Society for these nominees. The
motion
was seconded and carried.
Secretary Galbreath thereupon cast the ballot of the
Society
for Messrs. G. Frederick Wright, W. O. Thompson and
Webb
C. Hayes for membership on the Board of Trustees, full
terms,
and for Mr. Arthur C. Johnson to fill the unexpired
term of
L. P. Schaus. Messrs. Wright, Thompson, Hayes and
Johnson
were duly declared elected.
President Campbell stated that the Finance Committee
will
make no report, since the reports of the Treasurer and
Auditor
will thoroughly cover the work of that Committee.
Mr. E. F. Wood read the
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR THE YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 1920.
RECEIPTS.
Cash on Hand July 1, 1919................................. $4,914 02
Life Membership Dues ..................................... 2,940 00
494 Ohio
Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Active
Membership Dues
................................... 100 00
Interest on Permanent Fund
............................... 793
03
Books sold ................................................ 166 23
Subscriptions ......................................
...... 18 50
Interest
................................................... 200 00
Refund by C. B. Galbreath
.................................. 208
32
Refund of Insurance
...................................... 32 36
From State Treasurer on Sundry Appropriations
............ 21,327
29
Total Receipts
........................................ $30,699 75
DISBURSEMENTS.
W ages .................................................... $100 00
Salaries ........................................ ....... 15,485 29
Publications
............................................... 1,792 28
M useum
Equipment
........................................ 127 77
Light, Heat & Power
..................................... 842
20
Express, Freight and
Drayage.............................. 70
62
Expense of
Trustees
....................................... 334 31
Telephones
................................................ 104 25
Sundry Expenses .......................................... 62 03
Field W ork ............................................... 500 00
Logan Elm Park ...................
....................... 65 46
Serpent M ound Park ...................................... 55 67
Fort Ancient Park ........................................ 129 92
Hayes Memorial Library Bldg.
............................. 889
20
Office Supplies ..................................
.......... 267 20
Library Equipment ........................................ 544 74
W ater ..................................................... 93 60
R epairs .................................................... 28 95
General Plant Supplies
.................................... 256 82
Exhibition Cases .......................................... 57 35
Transferred to Permanent Fund
............................ 3,735
00
Cash on Hand July 1, 1920
................................ 5,157
09
Total
................................................. $30,699 75
The Permanent Fund of the Society on July 1, 1920,
amounted to the sum
of................................
18,510 00
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) E. F. WOOD,
Treasurer.
Mr. Wood then read the Report of the Auditors, as fol-
lows:
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 495
REPORT OF THE AUDITORS.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, August 16, 1920.
MR. C. B. GALBREATH, Secretary,
The Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical Society,
Columbus, Ohio.
DEAR SIR:-
Pursuant to the request of Mr. E. F. Wood, Treasurer of
your Society, we have completed our annual audit of the
books
of account for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1920, and
herewith
present our report with schedules supporting same.
The Balance of the current fund at July 1, 1919 was
........ $4,914 02
The cash receipts for the year were............ $4,458 44
And the appropriations paid by the Treasurer of
State
amounted to
.......................... 21,327 29
Total
................................. $25,785 73
The disbursements for the year including amount
transferred to permanent fund and payments
by State Treasurer aggregated .............. 25,542 66
An excess of Receipts over Disbursements
of................ 243 07
Leaving a Balance in Current Fund at June 30, 1920
of...... $5,157 09
The above balance of current fund is composed of the
following :-
Capital City Bank - Checking Account
...................... $1,057 09
Certificates of Deposits:
Ohio State Savings Association No. 74627
............... 2,000 00
Ohio State Savings Association No. 81056 .............. 2,000 00
Savings Account No. 81700 Ohio State Savings Associa-
tion ............................................... 100 00
Total as above..................................... $5,157 09
Your Permanent Fund is composed of Certificate of
Deposit
No. 83652 for .......................................
$18,510 00
Balance July 1, 1919 was
................................... 14,775 00
Increase for year of.................................... $3,735 00
496 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
The
above increase was made up of receipts during the year
as
follows:-
Life
Membership Dues ....................... $2,940
00
Interest
Permanent Funds ...................... 793
03
Transfer
from Current Funds .................. 1
97
Total
as above......................................... $3,735 00
The
Society's Property Investment shows a balance of ....... $568,450 02
Balance June
30, 1919 was.................................. 567,701 61
Increase
of ............................................ $748
41
The
above increase represents purchases during the year of:
Buildings
(Improvements) ................ $18
55
Library
and Museum Equipment ............ 458
26
Books
.................................... 271
60
$748
41
The
vouchers covering the disbursements were examined
and
found to be correct. Checks drawn against current funds
were
examined and the cash balance has been reconciled with
the
bank balance as shown on page (4).
Journal
entries covering increase to Society's property in-
vestment
are found on page (6) and we would suggest that
proper
ledger accounts be opened and posted with entries sub-
mitted
with this and our reports of 1918 and 1919.
The
books of account were found to be in their usual neat
and
accurate condition.
Respectfully
submitted,
(Signed)
W. D. WALL,
Certified
Public Accountant.
BALANCE
SHEET AS AT JUNE 30, 1920.
ASSETS.
Cash:
Checking
Account ......................... $1,057
09
Savings
Account .......................... 100
00
$1,157
09
Certificate
of Deposit:
Current
Fund ............................. 4,000
00
Permanent
Fund .......................... 18,510
00
22,510
00
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 497
Real Estate:
Land ......................................
107,640 92
Buildings and Structures:
Balance June 30, 1919...... $186,360 00
Additions during Year..... 18 55 186,378 55
294,019 47
Equipment and Exhibits:
House Furniture and Fixtures .............. 32,347 00
Library and Museum Equipment:
Balance June 30, 1919...... $30,425 11
Additions During Year..... 458 26
_ ----
30,883 37
Archaeological and Historical Exhibits ..........
180,050 00
Books:
Balance June 30, 1919.......... 28,528 58
Additions During Year......... 271 60
_____________ 28,800 18
Paintings .................................... 2,000 00
Automobile ................................... 350 00
274,430 55
$592,117 11
CONTRA.
Current Fund-E. F. Wood, Treasurer .................... $3,157 09
Advance by Minna Tupper Nye for Retaining
Wall.......... 2,000 00
Permanent Fund Invested
.................................. 18,510
00
Society's Property Investment
.............................. 568,450 02
$592,117 11
POST CLOSING TRIAL BALANCE AS AT JUNE 30, 1920.
State Treasurer ............................... $16,410 30
E. F. Wood, Treasurer ........................ 5,157 09
Cash
.......................................... $5,157 09
Superintendent of Buildings ................A-1 208 33
Investments ................................... 18,510 00
Permanent Fund .............................. 18,510 00
Office Supplies .............................C-4 28 80
General Plant Supplies ....................C-11 17
Library Equipment .......................G-31 1
21
Museum
Equipment .......................G-31 475
00
Capital Equipment ....................... G-31 142 65
Miscellaneous .............................G-32 224 44
Vol. XXIX- 32.
498 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Light, Heat and Power .....................F-4 62
30
Publications ...............................F-9 1,207
72
Freight, Express and Drayage ...............F-5 80
87
Contingencies ..............................F-8 20 47
Field W ork ................................F-9 45
Repairs ........... ........................ F-1 56
Watchman ..............................F-1 813
88
Reprinting and Publications ................. F-9 13,000 00
Additions and Betterments ..................G-2 143 45
$40,077 39 $40,077 39
STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1920.
Balance
July 1,
1919....................................... $4,914 02
RECEIPTS.
Life Membership Dues ......................... $2,940 00
Active Membership Dues ........................ 100 00
Books sold .................................... 166 23
Subscriptions .................................. 18 50
Interest Permanent Fund........... 793 03
Interest Current Fund............. 200 00
993 03
Refund on Insurance........................... 32 36
Refund on Salaries ............................ 208 32
$4,458 44
From State Treasurer on Appropriations ........ 21,327 29
25,785 73
$30,699 75
DISBURSEMENTS.
Transferred to Permanent Fund: ............... $3,735 00
Care and Improvements:
Logan Elm Park............... $65 46
Serpent Mound Park........... 55 67
Fort Ancient Park............. 129 92
251 05
Salaries ................................... 15,485 29
Supplies:
Office ......................... $267 20
General Plant ................. 256 82
524 02
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 499
Publications ................................... 1,792 28
Library Equipment ............................ 544 74
Museum
Equipment ........................... 127
77
Repairs and Upkeep of Buildings ............... 28 95
Water Rentals ................................ 93 60
Light, Heat and Power........................ 842 20
Express, Freight and Drayage .................. 70 62
Expenses of Trustees and Committees ........... 334 41
Telephone Rentals ............................. 104 25
Sundry Expense:
Auditing ...................... $35 00
Bond Premium ................ 15 00
Telegrams ..................... 3 78
Miscellaneous ................. 8 25
62 03
Field Work ................................... 500 00
Hayes Memorial Building:
Repairs ................................... 889 20
Exhibition Cases .............................. 57 35
Wages ........................................ 100 00
25,542 66
Balance on Hand June 30, 1920
............................ $5,157
09
BANK RECONCILIATION AS AT JUNE 30, 1920.
Balance as per Pass Book Capital City Bank Dated July
7,
1920 ..................... ..........
.................. $1,129 56
Less Outstanding Checks:
Check No. 2282 ............................ $8 00
Check No. 2309............................ 25 00
Check No.
2313............................ 12 50
Check No. 2314............................ 25 00
Check No. 2315 ............................. 1 97
72 47
Total in Checking Account
.......................... $1,057 09
Certificates of Deposit:-
No. 74627-January 1, 1918................. $2,000 00
No. 81056-April 14, 1919 .................. 2,000 00
4,000 00
Savings Account No. 81700
................................. 100
00
Balance as per Ledger
.................................. $5,157
09
500 Ohio Arch. and
Hist. Society Publications.
STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE
30, 1920.
Amount Ap-
New Old July
1, propriated
Code. Code. 1919. During
Year.
Personal Service:
A-1
Salaries
.......................
.......... $16,395 00
Personal Service:
A-2 W
ages ........................ .......... 100 00
C-Supplies:
C-4 Office
Supplies ................. $0
11 300 00
C-Supplies:
C-11 General
Plant Supplies .......... 1 92 175 00
F-1 Repairs ........................ .......... 900 00
F-3 Water
......................... 106
76 90 00
F-4 Light,
Heat and Power......... 1,243
94 900 00
F-5 Express,
Freight and Drayage ............ 150 00
F-6 Traveling
Expense ............. 96
78 250 00
F-7 Communication ................ 32 60 93
00
F-8 Contingencies .................. .......... 50 00
F-9 General
Plant Service:
Publications ................ 4 00 3,000
00
Explorations and Field Work 73 500
00
Republishing Reports ................. 13,000 00
G-Additions and Betterments:
G-2
Buildings:
Shelter House (Serpent
Mound) ............... .......... 200
00
G-31 E-8 Museum
Collections ........... 97 500 00
G-31 E-9 Capital Equipment ............. 6 12 500 00
G-31 Exhibition
Cases ............... .......... 200 00
G-32 Other
Capital Outlay............ .......... 300 00
E-2 Household
..................... 4 00 ....
G-3 Gateway .......................40 ..........
$1,498 33 $37,603
00
STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE
30, 1920.
New Old Transfer
Code. Code. of
Funds. Total.
Personal Service:
A-1
Salaries
.......................
.......... $16,395 00
Personal Service:
A-2 Wages
..................................
100 00
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 501
C-Supplies:
C-4 Office
Supplies .................. $20
99 321 10
C-Supplies:
C-11 General
Plant Supplies.......... .......... 176 92
F-1 Repairs
........................ .......... 900 00
F-3 Water
......................... .......... 196 76
F-4 Light,
Heat and Power......... 123
50 2,020 44
F-5 Freight,
Express and Drayage . ........... 150 00
F-6 Traveling
Expense ............. .......... 346 78
F-7 Communication .......................... 125 60
F-8 Contingencies
.................. .......... 50 00
F-9 General
Plant Service:
Publications ......... .......... 3,004 00
Exploration and Field Work. .......... 500
73
Republishing Reports ................. 13,000 00
G-Additions and Betterments:
G-2
Buildings:
Shelter House (Serpent
Mound) .............. .......... 200
00
G-31 E-8 Museum
Collections ........... 78
50 579 47
G-31 E-9 Capital Equipment.............. 24 01 530 13
G-31 Exhibition
Cases .............. .......... 200 00
G-32 Other
Capital Outlay ...................... 300
00
E-2 Household
......... ............... .... 4
00
G-3 Gateway
.................................. 40
$39,101 33
STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR YEAR ENDED
JUNE 30, 1920.
Cash Drawn
New Old From
State Balance
Code. Code. Treasury. Lapsed.
Personal Service:
A-1
Salaries .......................
$15,372 79 ..........
Personal Service:
A-2 Wages
......................... 100
00 ..........
C-Supplies:
C-4 Office
Supplies ................. 292
19 $0 11
C-11 General
Plant Supplies.......... 174
83 1 92
F-1 Repairs
........................ 899
44 ..........
F-3 Water
......................... 93
60 103 16
F-4 Light,
Heat and Power......... 837
70 1,120 44
F-5 Freight,
Express and Drayage.. 69
13 ..........
F-6 Traveling
Expense ............ 251
99 94 79
502 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
F-7 Communication ............... 93 00
32 60
F-8 Contingencies
.................. 29
53 ..........
F-9 General
Plant Service:
Publications ................ 1,792 28 4
00
Exploration and Field Work.... 499 55 73
Republishing Reports .................... ..........
G-Additions and Betterments:
G-2
Buildings:
Shelter House (Serpent
Mound)
............... 56
55 ..........
G-31 E-8 Museum
Collections ........... 103
50 97
G-31 E-9 Capital Equipment ............. 528 30 62
G-31 Exhibition
Cases ............... 57
35
G-32 Other
Capital Outlay ............ 75
56 ..........
E-2 Household ..................... .......... 4 00
G-3 Gateway ....................... .......... 40
$21,327 29
$1,363 74
STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE
30, 1920.
Balance
New Old Total
De- June 30,
Code. Code. ductions. 1920.
Personal Service:
A-1
Salaries .......................
$15,372 79 $1,022 21
Personal Service:
A-2 Wages
........................ 100
00 ..........
C-Supplies:
C-4 Office
Supplies ................. 292
30 28 80
C-Supplies:
C-11 General
Plant Supplies.......... 176
75 17
F-1 Repairs
........................ 899
44 56
F-3 Water
......................... 196
76 ..........
F-4 Light,
Heat and Power........ 1,958
14 62 30
F-5 Freight,
Express and Drayage.. 69
13 80 87
F-6 Traveling
Expense ............. 346
78 ..........
F-7 Communication ................ 125 60 ..........
F-8 Contingencies
.................. 29
53 20 47
F-9 General
Plant Service:
Publications
........... 1,796
28 1,207 72
Exploration and Field Work , 500
28 45
Republishing Reports ................. 13,000 00
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 503
G-Additions and Betterments:
G-2
Buildings:
Shelter House (Serpent
Mound) ............... 56
55 143 45
G-31 E-8 Museum Collections ........... 104
47 475 00
G-31 E-9 Capital Equipment . ............ 528
92 1 21
G-31 Exhibition
Cases ............... 57 35 142 65
G-32 Other
Capital Outlay........... 75 56 224 44
E-2 Household
..................... 4 00 .
G-3 Gateway
....................... 40
$22,691 03 $16,410 30
JOURNAL ENTRIES NECESSARY TO RECORD INCREASE IN
SOCIETY'S PERMANENT INVESTMENT FOR YEAR
ENDED JUNE 30, 1920.
Buildings ..................................... $18 55
To Society's Permanent Investment
........................ $18 55
For Expenditures made during year as per
vouchers as follows:
Date. Voucher.
Amount.
May 20, 1920.............. 1563 $4
65
June 24, 1920.............. 1587 13
90
$18 55
Library and Museum Equipment ................ $458 26
Books
........................................ 271 60
To Society's Permanent Investment
........................ $729 86
For expenditures made during year and charges
as follows:
Ledger Page.
Account. Amount.
172 Library
Equipment.... $544 74
80 Museum Equipment... 127 77
230 Exhibition
Cases...... 57 35
$729 86
On motion of Mr. Ryan, duly seconded, the Reports of
the
Treasurer and Auditors were ordered received and place
on file.
504 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
Mr. Ryan then read the
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS,
as follows:
"No publications were issued by the
Society during the past
year except the annual volume and the
quarterlies. The editing
of the diaries and letters of Hayes,
covering a period of about
sixty years, has been practically
completed by Mr. Charles
Richard Williams, the author of the
biography of Rutherford B.
Hayes, and I think the coming year will
see them published."
The report of the committee was ordered
received and
placed on file.
REPORT OF THE CURATOR.
"I have the honor to submit the
customary annual report
of the Curator on the present condition of the museum as well
as the operations and activities during
the past year.
"The Committee on Museum has not
been able to hold a
meeting on account of the lack of funds
to bring this com-
mittee together. The Chairman has
endeavored to keep the
members posted concerning the activities
of the Museum. We
hope next year to have sufficient funds
to bring together the
Museum Committee at least three or four
times for consultation.
"The visitors to the museum have
greatly increased, many
come during the morning hours of week
days, but Sunday after-
noon seems to be a popular time for Sunday
School Teachers
to bring their classes for a visit to
the museum. We have been
doing much to help visitors by supplying
the necessary descrip-
tive labels. We feel if an object is
valuable it should be well
displayed with an appropriate label. The
public schools of the
city and surrounding country are using
the museum for class
study. The interest of children in the
museum is of great edu-
cational value. We have encouraged them
to come, and many
times I have been gratified to see
children acting as guides and
showing their parents through the halls.
"PRESENT CONDITION OF THE MUSEUM.
"During the year we have been
compelled to store in part
several excellent collections. Our
exhibition rooms are now
becoming overcrowded with cases and the
cases themselves over-
crowded with specimens. In the
Historical Hall on the first floor
was installed a display case purchased
from the Board of Admin-
istration. This case is very large,
being 17 feet long, 4 feet
wide and 7 feet high. We have
installed in this case the Martha
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 505
L. Taylor collection of Navajo blankets.
This collection of
blankets was collected by Miss Taylor
during many years of
travel in the Navajo country and represents the highest
art in
Navajo weaving. The John Brown relics
are also installed in
this case as well as the Galbreath world
war collection. How-
ever, this is not a commendable
installation, ethnological speci-
mens and war relics in the same case.
"In the south Archaeological Hall,
second floor, have been
installed two new cases each 12 feet long, 4
feet wide and 5 feet
high. In one has been placed the
Kettering collection from
Montgomery county and in the other the
William B. Mills collec-
tion and the William E. Evans collection
both for the most part
from Ross county.
"EXPLORATION WORK OF
THE SOCIETY.
"Permission to explore the old
Mound City Group was se-
cured by the Society from the War
Department through General
Sturges, Commanding Officer at Camp
Sherman. This matter
was presented to the Finance Committee
of the Legislature and
funds were requested to make the
explorations. For some
reason the amount asked was cut to $500
per year. This appro-
priation was inadequate for the
undertaking of such important
work and two of our life members, Mr.
Robert F. Wolfe and
Mr. H. E. Wolfe, through Mr. Arthur C.
Johnson, Editor of the
Columbus Dispatch, authorized the Society to draw upon him to
the amount of $2000 if necessary to
carry forward this work.
The Society drew upon him to the extent
of $1614.73.
"For many years the Society has
been trying to secure per-
mission to examine this group of Mounds.
Recently archaeolo-
gists have manifested much interest
concerning the statements
of Squier and Davis in their
interpretation of the use of these
mounds. The work of examination is
perhaps a little more
than half complete and the facts
revealed by the exploration thus
far do not justify many statements made
by Squier and Davis.
When the exploration is complete the
facts obtained concerning
the mortuary customs of this culture of
the prehistory Indian
will more than repay the expense, not
taking into consideration
the wonderful array of artifacts taken
from the burials, especial-
ly those made of native copper and
silver, such as the bear and
antler head dress, flying eagles,
double-headed eagles, plates
with double-headed eagles in repousse
work, effigy pipes of
birds and animals, spears of obsidian
and nyaline quartz. For
the most part the artifacts have been
placed on exhibition in
the north Archaeological Hall, second floor. Another
valuable
and interesting feature found in the
Mound City Group is the
506 Ohio Arch.
and Hist. Society Publications.
intrusive burials representing an
entirely different culture. The
artifacts found with this culture have
been placed on exhibition
in a case adjoining the Mound City Group
proper.
"I believe the exploration of the
Mound City Group the
most important undertaking in the
history of the Society's scien-
tific explorations. We have many such
sites in Ohio and it
becomes the duty of the Society to
explore these and publish
the results. The Society's work in the
field and the building up
of an archaeological museum from the
results of exploration
have attracted the attention of the
outside world to what the
Society is doing in the way of exploring
and developing its
antiquities.
"The National Research Council,
through its division of
Anthropology and Psychology, has taken
steps to establish state
archaeological surveys in Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa and Missouri
by inviting the several states through
their Historical and Scien-
tific Societies to take the matter
before the legislature of their
respective states and ask for funds
necessary for the survey and
for the issuing of an archaeological
atlas 'comparable with that
issued by the State of Ohio.' The
research council also recom-
mends that many of the sites may be made
into state parks and
again refers to what Ohio has done to
preserve their antiquities
and what a splendid asset the parks are
to the state.
"Within the year the ground
occupied by the large mound
at Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio,
has been purchased
by Mr. C. F. Kettering of Dayton and
presented to the Society.
Mr. Kettering anticipates parking the
grounds surrounding the
mound at his expense. This mound and its
surroundings will
be one of the most interesting of the
parks or outdoor museums
in possession of the Society. Mr.
Kettering also acquired and
presented to the Society the
archaeological specimens collected
by Mr. H. T. Thompson, of Dayton, Ohio-the
largest rep-
resentative collection of such specimens
representing Mont-
gomery county and southwestern Ohio. I
consider the Thomp-
son collection one of the best private
collections in the state and
we are happy to add it to our museum.
The collection is now on
exhibition in the south Archaeological
Hall.
"The transfer of the John Brown
relics to the custody of
the Society is of special interest to
the Historical Museum.
These priceless heirlooms were presented
by the granddaughter
of John Brown and her husband, Mr. and
Mrs. T. B. Alexander.
"Mrs. Almer Hegler, of Washington
C. H., presented the
library of Mr. Hegler as well as many historical and
archaeolo-
gical specimens to augment the Hegler
collection. Mr. Hegler
died April, 1920. He had always taken a deep interest in the
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 507
Society. Many years ago he presented a
small archaeological
collection to the Society and added to
this from time to time
until he had build up for us a very fine
and representative col-
lection from Fayette and surrounding
counties.
"Mrs. W. E. Evans and family
presented the archaeological
specimens, collected by the late W. E.
Evans in Ross and ad-
joining counties.
"Other collections were secured for
the museum as follows:
ACCESSIONS SINCE LAST ANNUAL MEETING:
ARCHAEOLOGICAL:
J. E. Duncan and Gilbert C. Adams,
Washington C. H.,
each presented collections of Fayette
county archaeological speci-
mens.
J. R. Gragg, Bainbridge, presented a
collection from Paint
Creek Valley.
A collection of Madisonville village
site material was ob-
tained through exchange with Harvard
University museum.
From Prof. Robert F. Griggs was received
a collection of
ethnological specimens from Katmai and
other Alaskan dis-
tricts.
The archaeological collection of the
late W. E. Evans
Chillicothe, was presented to the Museum
by his widow.
A collection of Ross county specimens
was secured from
Henry McNeill, Frankfort, Ohio.
Mrs. Laura A. Hegler turned over to the
Museum speci-
mens to be added to the collection of
her late husband, Almer
Hegler.
"Others who presented
archaeological specimens are: Dr.
O. M. Wiseman, Zanesville; Mr. King G.
Thompson, Columbus;
Mr. John Seip, Chillicothe; Mr. Robert
Kaiser, Columbus;
Prof. A. C. Osborn, Columbus; Mr. Henry
Kercher, Cleve-
land; Lydia Moats, Columbus; George C.
Bixler, Beaver, Pa.;
and Miss Clara Marks, Columbus.
HISTORICAL:
Prof. Edward Orton presented autographed
photo of Wm.
McKinley.
Mr. George J. Schwartz, Wooster, early
bank notes.
Dr. J. M. Henderson and Dr. E. C. Mills,
a collection of
early dental tools.
Mrs. M. E. Rath-Merrill, Columbus,
presented a rare collec-
tion of rubbings of English Memorial
Brasses.
508 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Mrs. Sarah E. Fletcher, Columbus,
presented plans of
Sebastopol fortification and siege.
Col. Worthington Kautzman, Columbus,
collection of Fili-
pino relics.
American Red Cross presented a Red Cross
rug with
U. S. Coat-of-Arms.
Mrs. W. E. Evans, Chillicothe,
historical specimens.
Mr. Homer Zimmerman, Sugar Creek,
pioneer relics.
Mrs. Ella May Smith, Columbus,
collection of rare corals.
Mrs. Ida E. Carner, Columbus, specimens
from the Bar-
bados.
Mrs. C. H. Lindenberg, Columbus, shells
and fossils.
The American Can Company, a 75-mill.
shell.
Mrs. James Judge, Columbus, Alaskan
specimens.
Mr. J. A. Burke, Columbus, German flag,
captured at
Moselle.
Mr. Charles E. Jarvis, Columbus, relics
from war zone.
Dr. Albert Cooper, Columbus, pioneer
relics.
Others: F. A. Stahl, New Philadelphia; S. C. Gray,
Deavertown; J. M. Fulkerson, Columbus;
W. H. Hickson,
Marengo; Leonard Dellinger,
Bloomingburg; Dr. H. Bartilson,
Columbus; Mrs. William Loudenslager,
Columbus; Miss A. D.
McKee, Columbus; J. J. Sutton,
Greenwich; J. E. Harvey,
Stewartsville; A. Sparhawk, Akron; Alpha
Tau Omega Frater-
nity, Columbus; J. A. Beverage,
Middleport; Western Reserve
Historical Society; B. T. Brooks,
Columbus; Sheldon Marks, Co-
lumbus; A. S. Good, Columbus; J. C.
Cramer, Marietta; R. A.
Magley, Columbus; F. N. Funston,
Missouri; Dudley T. Fisher,
Columbus; F. S. Turner, Columbus; Prof.
Foster, Iowa City,
Ia.; Capt. J. T. Morgan, Trenton, N. J.;
C. A. Carr, Columbus;
L. H. Barth, Poland, Ohio, and Mrs.
Lelia Hudson, Columbus.
"During the second semester of the
college year the Curator
gave a course of lectures on Ohio
Archaeology to a class of
fifteen, also to an unusual number of
classes in various depart-
ments of the University.
"The Curator was requested to
represent the Society at the
American Association of Museums at
Washington City. The
meetings of this association are of
great importance and value
to those having public museums under
their charge. The papers
are along the lines of museum
management, in fact, everything
pertaining to a museum is presented and
discussed.
"Early in April our museum was
entered by thieves. They
entered by breaking a window in the
basement and finding their
way to the rotunda on the first floor,
where they broke the door
to the north Historical Exhibition Room.
Here nine show cases
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 509
were broken into and hundreds of
specimens were taken. The
police department acted promptly and
made photos of the finger
prints left by the thieves. Long before
they were apprehended
their identity was established. They
were apprehended at Cin-
cinnati and the specimens returned. I
feel deeplyindebted to the
Columbus Police Department for their
prompt service.
"The matter of a night watchman for
our building was
presented to the Emergency Board and an
appropriation of
$1000 per year was granted. We now have
a watchman in the
building during the entire night,
reporting each hour upon our
register clock.
"The past year in the museum has
been a very enjoyable
one even with our cramped condition. We
certainly must have
a wing to our building or quit accepting
historical and archaeo-
logical material that comes to us
unsolicited. We hope sufficient
funds will be provided to care for the
archaeological and histor-
ical material available for our use and
that the Ohio State Mu-
seum may be made one of the best in the
country."
(Signed) W. C. MILLS,
Curator.
On motion of Mr. Ryan the Report of the
Curator was
accepted and ordered placed on file.
MR. RYAN: "This report discloses the fact that through
the generous assistance of Messrs. Wolfe
and Johnson our So-
ciety was enabled to make some very
important investigations.
We do not often receive these marks of
appreciation of our
work, and I believe that we owe it to
these gentlemen to indicate
our formal appreciation of their
interest in the Society, and to
publicly express the same and record it
upon our records. I
therefore move that the following
resolution be adopted:
"Resolved, by The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical
Society, That the appreciation and
thanks of the Society are
hereby expressed to Robert F. Wolfe and
Harry P. Wolfe for
their interest in its archaeological
researches, and for their
financial assistance in conducting the
investigations at Camp
Sherman, and to Arthur C. Johnson,
editor of the Columbus
Dispatch, for his enthusiastic support to this Society.
"Resolved, 'That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded
to the gentlemen named."
510 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
The motion was seconded by Messrs. Heer
and Galbreath,
and unanimously carried.
The Committee on Library made no report,
Mr. Ryan stat-
ing that the work of the committee would
be practically covered
during the afternoon session.
Dr. G. Frederick Wright read the reports
of the Committees
on Warren County Serpent Mound and on
Historical Sites, as
follows:
WARREN COUNTY SERPENT MOUND.
"There is little to say concerning
the prospect of obtaining
the Warren County Serpent Mound except
to report that we
are pursuing the policy of watchful
waiting. The farm is now in
the name of Presocia Spence and very
likely will come into
the market for sale soon. The land is
very valuable but only a
few acres would be necessary to preserve
the mound. We will
keep the matter in mind and ascertain
later if these few acres
can be obtained on favorable terms. I
should hope that the
owner might contribute them as a public
park bearing her name.
"Some remarkable light has been
shed upon the significance
of our serpent mounds which increases
their importance and
will call attention to them from
anthropologists the world over.
"On seeing a copy of the
illustration of the Adams County
Serpent Mound published by our Society,
Dr. E. M. Wilson,
who has been for twenty-five years a
medical missionary among
the Tamils of southern India, came up a
few weeks ago to tell
me of the remarkable resemblance between
the Adams County
Serpent Mound and the images which the
Tamils worship in
southern India. These tribes worship the
cobra, which is a
hooded snake, and the lingham supposed
to be the source of
life and corresponding to the egg. The
engravings of these
objects of worship upon their temples
correspond almost exactly
with our Adams County Serpent Mound, and
with what remains
of the Warren County Serpent Mound. The
cobra is a hooded
serpent and there is no hooded serpent
in America from which
the Mound Builders could have obtained
the idea represented
in our mounds. The conclusion,
therefore, is inevitable that
in ancient times the Mound Builders of
North America migrated
from the same center on the eastern
continent as that which is
occupied by the Tamils.
"This evidence is a striking
confirmation of that presented
sixty years ago by Lewis Morgan in the
volume of Smithsonian
contributions in which are collected
from all over the world the
variety of methods by which family
relationships are reckoned.
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 511
Among the Aryan races they are reckoned
according to descent
from the father. We have children,
grandchildren, great grand-
children, etc., but among the Turanian
races they are reckoned
according to tribal relationships. All a
man's nephews are reck-
oned as his sons, and what we should
reckon as cousins are
reckoned as brothers. Amidst the various
complications of this
method of relationships it was found
that the American Indians
and the Tamils agreed so exactly in
their methods that it seemed
to prove identity of origin. The
similarity of our serpent mound
to the inscriptions among the Tamils
presents such a remark-
able confirmation of this inference that
its truth seems to be
established as a practical certainty.
All this increases the im-
portance of the work we are doing to
preserve these mounds.
Dr. Wilson promises an article for our
QUARTERLY detailing all
these facts.
"(Signed) G. FREDERICK WRIGHT."
HISTORICAL SITES.
"The Battle of Fallen Timbers, one
of the most important
in the history of Ohio, occurred in the
valley of the Maumee,
a few miles above Toledo. It is very
desirable that a monu-
ment should mark the site. Already
measures are being taken
to secure from the owners of the
property in which the site
occurs the gift of a conspicuous
location for such a monument.
We hope something tangible will result.
"The Warren County Serpent Mound,
on the Little Miami
River, south of Lebanon, should be
preserved, especially in view
of the recent light shed upon the
relations of that and the Adams
County mound to similar objects of
worship in southern India.
But we have no progress to report. Your
committee has simply
pursued the course of watchful waiting.
We understand that
the farm on which the mound stands has
recently changed hands.
Whether anything can be done with the
hopeful prospect of ob-
taining the situation we cannot say. As
the mound is near a
public highway a few acres of land would
be all that is neces-
sary to obtain for a public park which
would preserve the
mound. The committee should be continued
for another year.
"(Signed) G. FREDERICK
WRIGHT."
On motion of Mr. Bareis the report was
received and
placed on file.
Prof. B. F. Prince read the report of
the Committee on
512 Ohio
Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
FORT
ANCIENT,
as
follows:
"Your
committee on Fort Ancient has no changes or unusual
improvements
to report this year. A few minor repairs have
been
made at various places.
"The
general appearance of the Fort is fine. The weeds
have
been cut and the walls trimmed. The unusual growth of
grass
during the past year has added much to the beauty of the
place.
"Since
the disappearance of most of the houses in the town
of
Fort Ancient it is difficult to secure at the Fort such help
that
is needed, for no place can be found near by as a tene-
ment
for a laborer.
"Your
committee believe that soon there should be a small
house
erected at some suitable place in the Fort. It would help
to
solve many difficulties in keeping good order on the grounds.
"The
number of visitors that come to the grounds during
the
season for autoing runs into tens of thousands, and these
all
add to the care of the custodian. A helper located near by
would
be of material assistance to the efficiency required.
"Your
committee believes that the finance committee should
take
this matter under serious consideration.
"The
following expenses have been incurred:
Repairing roof
on house................................... $27 50
Plastering material ........................................ 9 00
One
new pump and repair of an old one .................... 21 35
Total
................................................ $57 85
"Some
improvements highly necessary were made and the
money
to pay for them was advanced by Mr. Cowan. He asks
the
Society if it thinks proper to pay the bills.
"They
were:
1. Papering
the house at a cost of .......................... $30 35
2.
White lime ............................................ 3 52
3. Hauling and sawing
logs ................................ 6 50
Total ................................................ $40 37
"Your
committee recommends that these bills be paid by the
Society.
(Signed) "B. F. PRINCE
WALDO
C. MOORE."
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 513
On motion of Mr. Mills the report was
received and placed
on file.
Mr. Bareis moved, and it was carried,
that the recommenda-
tions contained in the report be
referred to the Finance Com-
mittee.
SPIEGEL GROVE PARK.
In the absence of Colonel Webb C. Hayes,
Chairman of the
Committee on Spiegel Grove, Mr. Wood
read a statement from
him setting forth what the state has
done toward the erection
and support of the Hayes Memorial
Library and Museum and
the need of adequate provision for
future maintenance.
Mr. Wood was followed by Mr. Ryan who
paid tribute
to Colonel Webb C. Hayes and concluded
with the following
statement of his gifts to the state:
"In this connection, and in the
absence of Colonel Hayes,
I desire to call the attention of the
Society to his unusual and
generous contributions in connection
with Spiegel Grove. In
memory of his father and mother he has
practically donated
this vast property with all its contents
to the State of Ohio. It
is a great monument of filial devotion
to his parents, and at the
same time he has created a patriotic
shrine that will reflect glory
upon the State and Nation. He is a
modest man and it is with
difficulty that we have been able to get
the facts from him as to
what he has really done at Spiegel Grove
for the Society. He
has created a great trust fund, the
proceeds of which go to the
maintenance and operation of this
property. From memory
I think I can give substantially what
Colonel Hayes has given to
the State of Ohio, reserving the control
of this vast fund to
himself and the Society, jointly.
"Spiegel Grove his first donation,
at the time he deeded it
to the State was conservatively valued
at $50,000 but it and
the real estate adjoining, men who live
there tell me, is easily
worth four times that amount. When we
constructed the mu-
seum the State of Ohio appropriated
about $40,000 for that
purpose, but Colonel Hayes added $50,000
to the state appropria-
tion. Then he made an additional
donation to the Society of
$25,000, the proceeds to be used in
keeping up Spiegel Grove,
and in addition an endowment of $50,000,
the proceeds of which
were to be devoted to the equipment and
keeping up of the
museum and library which contains his
father's books, relics
and papers. Then he deeded to the State
of Ohio, the proceeds
Vol. XXIX-33.
514 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
to go to this Society, property
adjoining Spiegel Grove of which
he has sold up to date the sum of
$30,000 worth, and this amount
has gone into a trust fund which is for
conducting and main-
taining Spiegel Grove. The balance of
that real estate, unsold,
is valued at $100,000. July 1st last he
created another trust
fund of $100,000, for the use of this
Society in maintaining the
library and building. Since then he has
created another fund of
$25,000, for the purpose of making additions to the
Memorial
Building in which he had already
invested $50,000. So up to
date Colonel Hayes has put in money and
securities now on de-
posit with the Trust Company at
Cleveland, for the use and
benefit of that American shrine, over
four hundred thousand
dollars, counting Spiegel Grove at fifty
thousand dollars. It
really amounts to over $500,000."
Mr. Wood moved that Mr. Ryan be
requested to prepare
resolutions expressing the appreciation
of the Society for the
donations made by Colonel Hayes, and
that a copy of the resolu-
tions be forwarded to Colonel Hayes.
Carried.
GENERAL J. WARREN KEIFER
being present, and called upon by the
Chairman to come for-
ward, responded, and he was then
informally introduced and
spoke as follows:
"I am proud to be before these
distinguished gentlemen, and
to hear read these splendid reports
showing the success of this
great Society; I am glad to be one of
you, and I hope to be with
you during my life.
"I am older in years than any of
you, I guess.
GOVERNOR CAMPBELL: "Except
myself."
MR. KEIFER: "Well, you may
be older than I am, but you
haven't as many years; I will be
eighty-five years of age on the
29th of January
next; most people would say the 30th of Jan-
uary next, but that will be my
eighty-sixth birthday; I will be
eighty-five years old the day before my
next birthday; that is
the law and the fact; when a birthday
comes we enter upon a
new year.
"I came here today to be with you,
and to listen.
MR. RYAN: "You served with
Hayes?"
MR. KEIFER: "I served with
General Rutherford B. Hayes
in the Civil War, though not generally
in the same army or
command. I know his military history
however. He went early
in the volunteer service in the Civil
War (23 0. V. I.), and
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 515 served conspicuously throughout that war, fighting in many of its battles, and he was twice severely wounded. "I participated with him in Virginia (now West Virginia) in campaigns and in battles (Cheat Mountain and Tygart's Val- ley, September 12-15, 1861) and again in September and Octo- ber 1864, in the Shenandoah Valley, in all General Sheridan's famous battles. |
|
"General Hayes served (1864) in the Army of West Vir- ginia, commanded by Major General George Crook (also an Ohio General, born in Montgomery county) and at the opening of the battle of Opequan (Sept. 19, 1864) Hayes, then Colonel, commanded a brigade in the Second Division until its com- mander, Colonel Isaac H. Duval, was disabled by a severe wound, |
516
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
when he succeeded to the command of the
Division and there-
after continuously commanded it.
"In the succeeding battles under
Sheridan, Fisher's Hill
(Sept. 22, 1864), and Cedar Creek (Oct. 19, 1864)-commonly
known as the 'Sheridan's Ride battle,'
through T. Buchanan
Read's poem- General Hayes displayed
great gallantry; inspired
his men to heroic deeds and won just
fame. He served in the
field with great distinction until
mustered out at the end of the
Civil War.
"Subsequently he served a term in
Congress, House of
Representatives; three terms as Governor
of Ohio, and was
President of the United States,
1877-1881. In all public rela-
tions he proved himself an exemplary
citizen of our great Re-
public.
"A few words relating to General
Philip H. Sheridan, an-
other distinguished Ohio General of the
Civil War, whose fame
will live in history, with that of
Generals Grant, Sherman, Rose-
crans, Thomas, Meade, Wright, and other
distinguished officers
of that war, through time.
"Sheridan, pursuant to a summons to
Washington for a
conference at the War Department, was
absent from his Army
when the Battle of Cedar Creek opened at
about 4 A. M. October
19, 1864.
"General Horatio G. Wright
commanded his army in his
absence, and General James B. Ricketts,
my division commander,
commanded the Sixth Army Corps and I
succeeded to the com-
mand of the Third Division, Sixth Army
Corps.
"General Ricketts was dangerously
wounded before General
Sheridan's return to the Army, and
consequently, I remained
throughout the battle in command of the
Third Division, and
for some time thereafter.
"General Frank Wheaton commanded
the First and General
George W. Getty commanded the Second
Divisions of the Sixth
Corps.
"The left wing of our army was, by
a surprise attack led
by General John B. Gordon, outflanked
and driven back in some
confusion. The Sixth Corps on the Union
right maintained the
battle successfully, and generally
Wright had assumed the offen-
sive before Sheridan's arrival about 10
A. M.
"Sheridan, though much disturbed by
the reports of non-
combatants through whom he passed in
coming from Winchester
where he had spent the night of the 18th
of October, assumed
full command, and though the battle did
not end until after
night-fall, the Confederate army was not only defeated
but
largely captured and destroyed; its
artillery and trains were all
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 517
captured, and only disorganized
detachments of General Early's
Army escaped.
"Major William McKinley (later
President of the United
States), then on General Crook's Staff,
was a prominent figure
in the battle of Opequan* as he was in
other campaigns and
battles.
"The battle of Opequan commenced at
4 A. M. and ended
about 8 P. M., without an interval for
rationing the troops;
one of my brigade commanders (Colonel
Emery) closes his re-
port of the battle by stating that he
was ordered by me to take
his command into camp at 8 o'clock P. M.
and cook breakfast.
(applause).
"This is not the time or occasion
for giving, as requested,
any comprehensive history of my own
life, and it must suffice
to say here, that I enlisted in the
Civil War as a private soldier
on President Lincoln's first call for
troops (April 15, 1861) but
was later (April 27, 1861) commissioned
Major (3rd O. V. I.);
Lieutenant Colonel February 12th, 1862
(same regiment);
Colonel (110th O. V. I.) Sept. 30, 1862,
and brevet Brigadier
General by appointment of President
Lincoln 'for gallant and
meritorious services' (November 30,
1864) and assigned to
duty by him with that rank (December 29,
1864); and I was
appointed, on the recommendations of
Generals Wright, Meade
and Grant, brevet Major General, 'for gallant and
distinguished
services during the campaign ending with the surrender
of the
insurgent army under General R. E.
Lee.'
"I was mustered out of service,
June 27, 1865, having
served as an officer four years and two
months, without an inter-
val of a day, and I was wounded four
times, twice severely.
"I served in now West Virginia in
1861 and in Kentucky,
Tennessee and Alabama in 1862 to
September 29, 1862, and
again in 1862 as Colonel 11oth Ohio
Volunteers, in West Vir-
ginia, reaching Winchester in the
Shenandoah Valley, January
1, 1863, generally commanding a
brigade after I was commis-
sioned Colonel; joined the Third Army
Corps, Army of the
Potomac, July 6, 1863, and served in it
until it was broken up
(March 23, 1864) when, with my division,
I was then trans-
ferred to the Sixth Army Corps, Army of
the Potomac, in which
corps, and the Third Division thereof, I
served until the close
of the Civil War.
"I was on detached service (August
1863) with three regi-
ments in New York City and Brooklyn to
put down riots and
enforce the draft.
* Spelled also Opequon.
518 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
"I commanded the Third Division of
the Sixth Corps in
the battle of Cedar Creek, and,
temporarily, in campaigns and
other battles, notably the battle of
Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865.
I fought in twenty-eight battles, large
and small; and there were
killed on the battle-fields under my
direct command in what
was called the 'Keifer Brigade' 54
officers and 812 enlisted
men; wounded 101 officers and 2410
enlisted men, in all 3377,
only six less than the like casualties
under General Scott and
General Taylor in their conquest of
Mexico (1847-1848) and
a larger number than was killed under
the command of Wash-
ington in the War of the Revolution
(1776-1783).
"I fought in the first field-battle,
Rich Mountain (now
West Virginia) July 11, 1861, and
in the last one--Sailor's
Creek, Va., April 6, 1865, and I was
present at the surrender
of the Confederate Army by General Lee
to General Grant at
Appomattox, April 9, 1865.
"I served throughout the Spanish-American
War (1898-
1899) as Major-General of Volunteers
(7th Army Corps) in
Florida and Cuba; and in Civil Life one
term (1868-1869) in
the Ohio Senate; also fourteen years in
the Congress of the
United States (1877-1885; 1905-1911);
and as speaker of the
House of Representatives (47th Congress)
1881-1883.
"I thank you for your indulgence
and again for this kind
reception." (applause).
Mr. Wood stated that when the Society
had twenty-one
Trustees, instead of the present number,
fifteen, General Keifer
served on the Board of Trustees, and
moved that all present
rise as a mark of respect to General
Keifer. The motion was
unanimously carried, and all present
arose. General Keifer said,
"I know the kind of men you are,
earnest and honest. I am
proud of you, and I thank you."
LOGAN ELM PARK.
Mr. Frank Tallmadge, Chairman of the
Committee, sub-
mitted the following report:
"The current year has broken all
records as to number of
visitors at the Park. The Elm has shown
more vigor than at
any season it has been under our
control, for it has made growth
in its foliage to an unexpected extent
and the leaves have been
of a better color, all no doubt due to
the mulching treatment
given the roots three years since. No
branches have fallen as
the heavy limbs have been cabled to the trunk. The
barricade
has effectually protected the tree from damage by the
tops of
autos running under it. No vandalism has
been reported. All
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 519
visitors have respected the memorials to
an unusual extent.
Since our last report a new memorial has
been completed and
formally accepted by our Society in the
shape of an imposing
granite monument to the Indian Chief
Logan, which occupies
a most prominent spot, the first stone
to be reached as one enters
the Park. It contains on one side
Logan's message to Lord
Dunmore, read under the Elm at the
treaty in 1774, together
with a bas-relief in bronze of the tree,
giving its dimensions.
On the reverse, also in bronze, the
strikingly handsome head of
an Indian, reproduced from the recent
nickel coin, under which
there is cut in the stone about twenty
lines, well chosen, ex-
planatory as to the history connected
with the site, and com-
ments upon the incidents which inspired
Logan to the eloquent
and pitiful words of the message. This
memorial is well con-
structed throughout, reflecting much
credit upon the donors,
citizens and former citizens of Pickaway
and Ross counties.
Messrs. J. T. Sharp and John A. Wilson,
representatives of fam-
ilies living in the immediate
neighborhood for over one hundred
years, were instrumental in carrying the
project to a most suc-
cessful end. They deserve our thanks and
congratulations. The
unveiling occurred last September, with
appropriate ceremonies,
in the presence of about one thousand
persons, including the
scholars from a nearby township school,
who, under the direction
of their teacher, Miss Hanna McKenzie of
Circleville, recited
separately a playlet written by Miss
McKenzie called "A Tribute
to Logan," which embraced all the
known history of Logan's
life, each scholar having committed to
memory one incident
thereof. A copy of this 'Tribute' should be in our
achives;
it is worthy of publication in our QUARTERLY.
"We recommend the purchase by this
Society of that por-
tion of Congo Creek that lies just
outside our east line and the
removal of the fence to the opposite
bank, throwing the creek
within the Park, and thereafter
terracing our bank to the water's
edge, thus giving the visitors a view of
the swift running and
clear stream, which is now invisible.
"Some attention should also be
given to the general beautifi-
cation of the ground by planting hardy
shrubs, together with
each and every variety of native trees.
This can be done with-
out interfering with the parking space.
Complaints have been
made that there are no trees around the
cabin, and that we have
not started a grove in the southeastern
part, now unused, which
if done will make more room for picnics
and parties.
"Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) "FRANK TALLMADGE,
"Chairman."
520 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Mr. Tallmadge then read a letter,
addressed to President
Campbell, as follows:
"I regret that it will probably be
impossible for me to attend
the annual meeting of The Ohio State
Archaeological and His-
torical Society, on the 15th inst., of
which I have just received
my notice. Before I received the notice,
I had made my arrange-
ments for an important out-of-town
business trip, and cannot
break that engagement. It is possible,
however, that I can return
in time to attend the meeting.
"I congratulate the Society and
yourself as its President,
on the work done during the present
calendar year. I hoped to
attend the annual meeting, because I
wished to present for the
consideration of its members a tentative
plan for improving and
perpetuating the state's property in
Pickaway county, and hope,
in lieu of doing that, that I may have
the opportunity, later on,
to present that matter to the members of
the proper committee.
"Very truly yours,
"H. J. BOOTH."
Mr. Tallmadge stated that he did not
pretend to know what
improvements Mr. Booth refers to. The
road will be improved
this winter, by widening it so that
automobiles entering the
Park will not all run in the same track.
The Park, four and
seven-tenths acres, is wedge shaped, the
north line being only
one hundred and fifty feet in length.
The branches of the tree
are now so long that they reach the
fence, and if the adjoining
field should be put into pasture
live-stock could easily nibble
the ends of the branches.
On motion of Mr. Mills the report was
received and placed
on file.
Mr. Bareis moved that the question of
the purchase of ad-
ditional land for the Park be referred
to the Board of Trustees.
Carried.
Dr. Cole read the report of the
Committee on
SERPENT MOUND,
as follows:
"The Serpent Mound continues to
attract an increasing
number of visitors.
"The Custodian reports eight
thousand registered during
the past year, with probably as many
more who did not register,
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 521
making sixteen thousand who enjoyed the
pleasures of the Park
during the year.
"While many of these, doubtless,
belonged to the great com-
pany of sightseers, it is fair to assume that most of
them carried
away more or less impressions of the
great Serpent effigy.
"It has been the policy of the
administration to get into the
possession of visitors some literature
concerning this marvelous
work of prehistoric man. To aid in this
there has been prepared
and placed on sale at the Park some
inexpensive literature set-
ting forth the main features of the
Park, and the effigy. This
embraces "Serpent Mound," by
our former Secretary, Mr. E. O.
Randall, "Map and Guide of Serpent
Mound," compiled from
the published report of Professor Putnam
of the serpent effigy
and his operations and work at the Park,
and a large folding
card, six by fourteen inches, on one
side of which is a large cut
of the effigy, and on the reverse side a
map of the Park together
with historical and descriptive notes of
interest to the general
reader.
"Of this literature twelve hundred
and fifty pieces have
been sold during the year, and it is a
safe assumption that this
literature will increase information and
interest in the archaeo-
logical work of the Society. This
literature has been circulated
without expense to the Society, it being
sold at a price to cover
the printing and selling costs.
"We take the liberty of again
calling the attention of the
Society to the value of the Museum that
has been installed in
the Shelter House. While only a
beginning has been made, the
results in the way of interest of
visitors fully justifies a larger
collection as soon as the Society can
provide funds for the neces-
sary cases for the protection of
specimens.
"Our Curator informs us that a
large collection could be
made from the numerous duplicates
belonging to the Society
without in any way impairing the parent
Museum.
"During the year there has been
erected at the entrance to
the Park two modest but somewhat
imposing pillars, two and a
half by six feet. These pillars were
constructed of concrete,
the material for the same being hauled
by the Custodian, who
also assisted in the labor of
construction. The cost of these,
together with some work on the Shelter
House, was $94.18.
"The driveway up the hillside to
the plateau, being some-
what steep and subject to frequent
washings of the soft material
used in its construction, should be
replaced as soon as possible
by some kind of firmer material that
will make it more per-
manent.
522 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
"During the year our Custodian, Mr.
Guy Wallace, has
married a wife, left the Park and turned
the care of it over
to his brother, Denver, who has been
associated with him in its
care and who now seeks the appointment
as Custodian.
"In view of the fact that in some
of the properties owned
by the Society there are cultivatable
lands that yield income,
and that the Society is paying
stipulated sums for the care of
these properties, would it not be well
for Custodians to account
more specifically for the labor
performed in the upkeep, and for
the receipts from lands under
cultivation?
"Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) "W. H. COLE,
"WM. C. MILLS,
"Committee."
On motion of Mr. Heer the report was
received and placed
on file.
Mr. W. J. Sherman, Chairman of the
Committee on
FORT MIAMI, FORT MEIGS AND FALLEN
TIMBERS
being unavoidably absent, Secretary
Galbreath read his report,
as follows:
"Your Committee on Ft. Miami, Ft.
Meigs and the Battle-
field of Fallen Timbers respectfully
submit the following report:
FORT MIAMI
"The full committee paid a visit to
this historic site Novem-
ber 4, 1920, and made a very careful and
thorough inspection of
the present condition of the earthworks.
It may not be generally
known that these old works are still
well and clearly defined and
in an excellent state of preservation.
They occupy one of the
most commanding sites to be found on the
West or left bank of
the Maumee River. The state monument at
Ft. Meigs, some
two miles away, is plainly visible. It
is the unanimous opinion
of the committee that this beautiful and
historic spot should
belong to the Society. We regret to
report the property is still
in the hands of owners who state that
they do not wish to sell
the property, though their reason is not
apparent, for Ft. Miami
is not a source of revenue to its owners.
BATTLE FIELD OF FALLEN TIMBERS
"Your committee has been working
for a long time past in
an effort to secure from the owners with practically no
cost to
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 523
the historical society a suitable site
for the monument to com-
memorate the Battle of Fallen Timbers. We are pleased
to re-
port that a beautiful spot has been selected by your
full com-
mittee and the representative of the
owner, complete typograph-
ical surveys and maps have been
prepared, as has also a descrip-
tion of the property for incorporation in the deed. The
owner
is an elderly lady whose brother, a
local real estate agent, is
representing her in the transaction.
Though we are not able to
report as yet that the deed to this
beautiful property is resting
in the vaults of your Society,
nevertheless we have been re-
peatedly assured by the representative
of the owner that we
may expect to receive the deed to the
property within a very
short time. The owner asks no
compensation whatever and
promises to insert no conditions save
such as any prudent busi-
ness man would require.
FORT MEIGS
"The conditions at Ft. Meigs remain
practically the same
as they were one year ago. Some ten
thousand dollars have
been expended during the past season in
improving the water
supply for the Fort and the rest house.
Your full committee
had the pleasure of inspecting this
property on the 4th of last
month and unite in reporting it to be
apparently in fine condition.
"Very respectfully yours,
(Signed) "W. J. SHERMAN."
The report was ordered received and
placed on file, on
motion of Mr. Cole.
The Committees on Fort Laurens and
Campus Martius
made no report, on account of the fact
that the Chairman, Mr. E.
O. Randall, is now deceased.
NECROLOGY.
Curator Mills reported that during the
year the Society
has lost, by death, the following
members:
Mr. E. O. Randall, for many years
Secretary of the Society.
Mr. Almer Hegler.
Dr. J. C. Reave, of Dayton.
Mr. Louis P. Schaus, for many years a
member of the
Board of Trustees.
Mr. Wood moved that the Secretary be
requested, at his
earliest convenience, to prepare an
abstract of the recommenda-
524
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
tions made by the
several committees in their reports, and sub-
mit them to the Board
of Trustees for action. Carried.
On motion of Mr. Heer
the meeting adjourned.
OPEN MEETING OF THE
SOCIETY.
SOCIETY BUILDING,
COLUMBUS, 0.,
2:00 P. M., December
15, 1920.
President Campbell
called the meeting to order, stating that
it was called for the
purpose of receiving a number of interest-
ing and valuable-
almost priceless- donations.
The chairman then called
upon
MR. JOHN G. DESHLER,
who read the following
letter:
"COLUMBUS, OHIO, DEC. 1O, 1920.
HON. JAMES E.
CAMPBELL,
President, The Ohio
State
Archaeological and
Historical Society.
Columbus, Ohio.
DEAR SIR: -
"I take
pleasure in presenting, through you, to The Ohio
State Archaeological
and Historical Society, a cane that once
belonged to my father.
It bears the inscription:
'Salmon P. Chase "Merrimac."
to April
1864.
Wm. G. Deshler 88/64.'
"The intrinsic,
historic value of this cane rests upon the
fact that the wood is
a part of the celebrated Confederate con-
verted ram, the Merrimac,
which for a time struck terror to the
North during the War.
Its metal--the handle and the ferrule
- is made from
material taken from the guns of the Merrimac.
"The historical
association of the cane, why it was made
and the occasion of
its presentation, is likewise of great interest.
My father in his
lifetime, when he was seventy-three years old,
wrote out a full
history of this cane, which I have in my posses-
sion, and from which I
will summarize the events which led to
the circumstances of
its presentation.
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 525
"On the 14th of April, 1864, my
father received the follow-
ing telegram from Washington:
'Confidential.'
'Am going to New York tonight. If you
can, meet
me at Fifth Avenue Hotel on Friday night
or earlier. Come
at once. 'S. P. CHASE.'
"In his memoirs, from which I shall
quote quite extensively,
my father says:
"This call did not surprise me, as
from the beginning of
Secretary Chase's administration of the
United States Treasury
Department, I had frequent conferences
with him, through cor-
respondence and in person, so that I was
familiar with the new
condition of his Department required by
the wide extension of
its operation in consequence of the
breaking out of the rebellion.'
"He was in New York the next day,
and when he went to
the hotel desk to register the clerk
said: 'Mr. Deshler your room
has been secured-thirty-six Parlor
floor-you will find a
gentleman awaiting for you in the next
room, as they connect.'
The gentleman was Secretary Chase, and
apparently he was very
much concerned about the financial
situation of the government.
In this conversation Mr. Chase said:
"' We are confronted here in New
York, on every side, by
the rankest treason. Men professing
loyalty- with our flag
at their desk--are secretly engaged in
trying to break down
the credit of the government by
speculation in stocks and gold.
They have a chain of operations,
reaching from here to Rich-
mond, by way of Montreal and by way of
Louisville. They have
given the State Department great trouble
in our strained foreign
relations. The thing I am interested in
directly, and which has
worried me, is that they have thwarted
my negotiations with a
syndicate of German bankers for a loan
of two hundred million
dollars.'
"As he related the details of his
negotiations his eyes
snapped, his tone was bitter, his
feelings intense to the point of
vengeance. He said with emphasis 'That
conspiracy must be
crushed and the gang punished. I want
you to take the matter
in charge, make your own plans, which we
will talk over this
evening.'
"Handing my father a paper he said:
'Here is a list of that
gang, and you will be surprised to see
some of the names on it
-honorable men, forsooth,' he said
bitterly, 'yet that list is re-
liable, as I am assured by the Secret
Service Department.'
526 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. "Mr. Chase left, saying he would return in an hour. "Quoting my father's memoirs again, he said: 'As I looked over the list I was surprised, as I knew some personally, others by reputation, as among the best business men in New York. To myself I said, "Here is a job; he wants me to crush this gang; why don't he shoot them, as do our boys down South?" |
|
I thought over the general situation, and the outlook was not pleasant; our army massed to protect Washington (the battles of the Wilderness were fought a few days later); copperheads rampant throughout the North; gold going up (which was green- backs going down); speculation in stocks wild, so much so that every evening the lobbies of the Fifth Avenue Hotel were crowded with a mob of howling brokers plying their trade; the |
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 527
issue of bonds and paper money to pay
war expenses; many
soldiers called out and in the field;
the ultra democratic papers
objecting to the draft; the taxes and
the flood of bank circula-
tion on top of the greenbacks. Indeed it
was not a healthy con-
dition.'
"After dinner Mr. Chase and my
father met in the former's
room, and to the Secretary of the
Treasury he outlined a plan
of operation which, in his mind, was
sufficient to check the dis-
astrous financial condition. He said to
the Secretary: 'If I can
sell a few millions of gold a little
under the market rate, to be
paid for in greenbacks, no checks on the
banks or certificates of
deposit to be taken, greenbacks will
become scarce, the banks
will be alarmed, they will call in loans
or demand increased
margins as the market for gold and
stocks declines. Then I
will find out the 'specialties'
protected by the men in this list
and look after them in the Stock
Exchange; also I will offer
a premium for greenbacks to be paid for
with checks on the
banks. In other words my gold business
will be done on a
money basis only. Of course I must
employ brokers and pay
their commissions, but I will get the
right kind of brokers - and
all of their operations in stocks will
be by bank checks. Thus the
government will be buying its debts in
the shape of greenbacks
and paying them in gold, which it has in
the Subtreasury; the
law certainly allows that, but it don't
allow government funds
to be used in stock operations. The gold
and stock operations
must not be mixed, but can be
cooperative in producing the
result desired. The stock part I must
handle myself, and it
must be left to me. The gold business
will be done through the
Subtreasury where secrecy must be
maintained for a short time
at least.'
"The Secretary approved this plan
of operation, and it was
agreed that they should meet at Mr.
Cisco's office, who was the
Subtreasurer of the United States.
"The rest of the evening was spent
in gossip about home.
Reference was made to the early
associations in and around
Columbus. My father says that he asked
him if he remembered
his first speech. The Secretary inquired
'Do you mean the slave
girl case?' 'No,' said my father, 'long
before that. It was at
your uncle's, the Bishop's school near
Worthington, upon the
occasion of the examination just before
vacation when you and
Joseph Sullivant were school-boys together.' He
remembered
Sullivant's story and laughed heartily.
After a few stories of
Ohio times they parted with the
understanding that they would
meet at the Subtreasurer's office at 10 o'clock the
next morning.
528 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
'When my father entered Mr. Cisco's
private office he found
Horace Greeley there, and upon being
introduced as from Ohio
Mr. Greeley said: 'Great state, but too
many copperheads in it.'
"My father in his memoirs gives a
passing description of
the great editor. He speaks of him as
'standing there, a rare
picture, his big loose coat, with its
pockets stuffed with news-
papers, his necktie shifted around with
its knot under his ear,
and the big-brimmed hat set back on his head, making
him look
like a belated cherub with a misfit
glory on.'
"After a few remarks about Greeley,
Secretary Chase said to
Mr. Cisco: 'Mr. Deshler will want to use
some money during
the next few days, and you will let him
have what he wants,
taking his receipt, which will be your
sufficient voucher.' Mr.
Cisco said: 'Why, Mr. Secretary, we have
a great deal of
money here, and do I understand that
your order is unlimited?'
'Yes,' replied the Secretary, looking at
my father with a twinkle
in his eye. Mr. Cisco, somewhat
surprised, said: 'Will you
kindly put your order in writing, Mr.
Secretary?' Mr. Chase sat
down as Cisco's desk and wrote the
order, and handed it to him.
He carefully read it, looked at Chase,
then at my father, 'some-
what dazed.' I quote again from my
father's memoirs: 'Mr.
Chase then left. As the door closed Mr.
Cisco said: "Is the
Secretary a relative of yours?"
"No," I replied. "How much
gold have you on hand?" He looked
over a little book and told
me the millions, as he muttered to
himself, "Remarkable."
"Well," I said, "I don't
think I will need it all; have you a con-
siderable sum in bags, ready for
delivery?" "Yes," he replied,
and again muttered "Remarkable."
I left, telling him I would
call soon again.'
"My father then went to the
American Exchange Bank, to
Mr. George S. Coe, its President, at
that time one of the most
prominent and influential bankers in New
York. They were
business and personal friends of many
years' standing, and he
was known as one of the most
conservative of bankers, actively
and thoroughly loyal to the government,
and one of the advisors
of Secretary Chase when his advice was
asked. From Mr. Coe
my father received a general letter of
endorsement, practically
guaranteeing any contracts that he
should make. Armed with
this letter and the backing of the
Treasury of the United States,'
and with his own individual means used
in the purchase of
stocks, he went upon the market to sell
gold, which he did at a
price below the market price, and bought greenbacks at
a price
above the market price. The result was
that after expending
several million dollars in gold in the
purchase of greenbacks,
and selling several million dollars of
gold below the price of the
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 529
raiders, the projects of the gold
conspirators were defeated. He
kept feeding the market with gold and
purchasing greenbacks
at higher prices every day. The purpose
desired by Mr. Chase
was accomplished. Greenbacks rose and
gold went back. The
financial condition of the government
was such that Mr. Chase
readily disposed of his war bonds, but
for four days there was a
merry time on Wall Street. Its gamblers
in gold discovered
on the second day that it was government
gold that was being
thrown on the market, and of course that
created a tremendous
panic as they well knew that with the
government as a com-
petitor their end was in sight.
"My father was called to New York on April 14; the
Ohio State Journal in its New York "Stock Report" of April
18th, says:
'Money market much disturbed by stock
panic- no regular
rate of interest-at public board the
panic became intense, and
blocks were thrown overboard at almost
any price. One per cent
a day interest is paid - the banks are
not paying out greenbacks,
and legal tenders are worth two per cent
premium more than
certified checks - a large number of
bull operators have broken
down.'
"The operators that broke down were
members of the gang
who has conspired to cripple the United
States government at
its most critical period. While all this
was going on and the
end of the gold orgy was approaching, my
father went to Wash-
ington and reported to Secretary Chase
what he had done. The
Secretary was greatly pleased.
"He declined to receive any pay for
his services, and re-
ceived a draft on the Assistant
Treasurer of the United States
for his expenses, $123.93. In sending
this draft to my father,
Mr. Chase's private secretary said, in a
letter in my possession:
'I am directed by the Secretary to
enclose draft on Assistant
Treasurer, New York, for $123.93. He
would write himself
but for pressure of public business. The
fidelity and success
with which you conducted the important
duties imposed upon
you in New York met his hearty approval,
and he directs me to
assure you of his thanks.
"Very truly yours,
"J. W. SCHUCKERS."
"After my father had completed his
labors in New York
he received the following letter from
Mr. Chase:
Vol. XXIX-34.
530 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
'TREASURY DEPARTMENT
"April 26, 1864.
'MY DEAR SIR:-
'I am sorry that you go home unwell, but
hope that home
and its affectionate cares for your well
being will soon give you
perfect health.
'Accept my thanks for your services to
the public and
especially to this Department, in New
York-you must allow
me at least to repay the expense you
incurred. Please state the
amount.
'I beg you to receive my thanks, and as
a slight mark of
my personal appreciation, a cane, all
the materials of which are
from the wreck of the Merrimac, blown
up by the order of her
rebel commander the morning after the
capture of Norfolk.
The cane was made for me by Norfolk
mechanics, and may be
received as genuine and authentic. I
received it and another
because having been a volunteer aid to
General Wood on the
Norfolk expedition, and pretty active in
the whole affair, which
was immediately followed by the suicide
of the Merrimac, I was
thought to take special interest in the
wreck.
'Your friend,
'S. P. CHASE.'
'To W. G. DESHLER, ESQ.
"I am presenting this cane with the
original telegram and
letters, for its historic value and as a
memento of my father's
patriotic service to his country. I have
felt that I owe it to his
memory to make this explanation of its
history, and at the same
time I have, out of a sense of filial
duty, left this written report
of his conduct in one of the most
crucial periods of our nation's
history.
"Very truly yours,
"JOHN G. DESHLER."
Mr. Deshler stated that the cannon on
this cane is an exact
duplicate, in miniature, of the cannons
on the Merrimac, and
that when a boy he frequently shot it.
In reply to a question he
said that the inscription
"88/64," means that gold went to 88 in
1864; the plan of the conspirators was
to send gold to 200, and
greenbacks down to fifty cents.
President Campbell stated that four of
the "Merrimac"
canes were made, one of them was
presented to Mr. Lincoln,
one to the Smithsonian Institute, and
two to Mr. Chase.
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 531
MR. COLE: As a fitting expression of our
appreciation I
want to make a motion that the thanks of
this Society be ten-
dered Mr. Deshler, not only for the
cane, but also for the inter-
esting letter and memoranda. Carried.
Chairman Campbell stated that two gifts
are to be presented
through Governor James M. Cox. The first
a library, the second
a trust fund of $47,424.69. Governor Cox
will tell you how
this fund was raised, and why it is to
be given to this Society
to build an addition to the Museum and
Library Building, the
addition to be known as "The
Memorial Building to the Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines of the Great
War."
GIFT BY MR. CLAUDE MEEKER.
Hon. Daniel J. Ryan explained that Mr.
Meeker, the donor
of the library, being unable to attend the meeting has requested
him [Mr. Ryan] to represent him. Mr.
Ryan then read a letter
from Mr. Claude Meeker, as follows:
"COLUMBUS, OHIO, December 4th,
1920.
"Gov. JAMES M. Cox,
"Executive Office,
"Columbus, Ohio.
"SIR:-
"It is my pleasure to present
through you, to the State of
Ohio, a collection of books and
pamphlets relating to Ohio. I
intend this as a heritage to the people
of the State, upon the
following conditions:
First:- They are to be held forever in
the custody of and
under the exclusive control of 'The Ohio
State Archaeological
and Historical Society.
Second:-They are to be preserved,
maintained and in-
dexed as a separate library unmixed with
any other books or
library except such of a kindred nature
as may be added to it
from time to time.
Third: -Said collection of books shall
be known as "The
Meeker Collection of Ohioana."
Fourth: -Said collection shall be used
as a reference
library, free to the use of all scholars
and students.
"This library specialized on the
State of Ohio, is the result
of intelligent and discriminating collecting for a
period of forty
532 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. years. It was selected with a view of preserving for the future the history of the people and manners, the evolution and accom- plishments of our State as recorded in the literature covering a period of from 1750 to the present. "Its card index shows that it contains two thousand one |
|
hundred and ten (2110) volumes, of which about three hundred (300) are in pamphlet form, bound separately. "It can be said with certainty, and without qualification, that there is not in this country, under private ownership, a library as complete and comprehensive on its subject matter, |
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 533
and as numerous in its titles. It is
very largely composed of
literature of the nineteenth century;
the dates of publication
throughout that period ranging from one
hundred and fifteen
years ago to the present time.
"The value of this library as a
collection can only be ap-
preciated by a personal examination and
study, but its scope
may be realized by the following summary of the
character of
its contents.
"1. Pertaining to the
physiography of the State, being the
literature relating to the fauna and
flora; its geology and its
rivers and water-sheds; the histories of
its floods and flood pre-
vention.
"2. The literature of the
prehistoric or mound-builder
period of Ohio, containing all that has
been written upon that
subject.
"3. The publications relating to
the Indians of Ohio, and
the period of their occupation,
including those treating of the
Indian wars in the settlement of the
State.
"4. Numerous histories of the
pioneer occupation and
early settlement of Ohio. In this are
also included the histories
and lives of the pioneers, both
autobiographical and biographical,
as well as local histories of cities,
towns and counties.
"5. Travels through, and tours into
Ohio, commencing
with Rev. David Jones' Journal of
1772-1773, and including
Forman (1789), Walcott (1799), Michaux
(1803), Ashe (1806),
Cuming (181O), Melich (1812), and others
of later dates. This
literature, composed of original editions,
narrating experiences
of those early travelers and their
comments upon the new
country and its people, is extremely
interesting and valuable,
rare and out of print.
"6. The literature pertaining to
the Ordinance of 1787,
the Northwest Territory and Ohio when a
part of such territory.
"7. A complete collection of all
the histories of Ohio as a
State, commencing with that of Thaddeus
M. Harris, published
in 1805, to Randall and Ryan's in 1912.
"8. Biographies, autobiographies,
speeches, addresses and
writings of distinguished Ohioans -
statesmen, lawyers, min-
isters, physicians, soldiers, literary
men, poets and politicians.
"9. The historical literature of
Ohio relating to the War
of 1812; with special reference to the
battle of Lake Erie, the
siege of Fort Stephenson, the battles in
the Northwest and Gen-
eral Harrison's campaigns.
"10. Official documents, writings
and histories relating to
the construction, development, and
operation of the Ohio Canal
System.
534 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
"11. Proceedings of, and literature pertaining to the Con-
stitutional Conventions of 1851, 1871
and 1912, including the
current publications composed of
pamphlets, brochures and mag-
azines relating to the questions before
the people at the time
of their submission.
"12. The magazine literature
published in Ohio including
complete sets of the official
publications of the Western Reserve
Historical Society (1877-1917), the
Firelands Historical Society
(1858-1915), the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical So-
ciety (1887-1917) and the Old Northwest
Genealogical Society
(1898-1912). Among the magazines are
complete sets of the
Hesperian (3 Vols. 1838-1839), The
American Pioneer (2 Vols.
1842-1843), and the Cincinnati
Miscellany (2 Vols. 1845-1846);
all of which are out of print and
extremely rare.
"13. The
educational literature of Ohio; being a collection
of the histories of its colleges and
universities; histories relating
to the establishment and growth of the
common school system
and institutions of higher education;
the official reports, pre-
sented to the Legislature, providing for
the establishment of a
common school system (1825), and general
educational addresses
of a historical nature.
"14. The ecclesiastical history of
the state; being histories
of the growth and religious progress of
the leading denomina-
tions; numerous anniversary sermons
relating to the foundation
and development of individual churches,
and the history of
various religious movements, together
with memoirs and remin-
iscences of pioneer preachers of Ohio.
"15. Official publications of the state, bearing upon, and
recording historic events, and having a
distinct value for that
purpose. These are entirely out of print
and are now only to
be found in institutional libraries.
"16. The political literature of the state; embracing com-
plete histories of the Democratic and
Republican parties; political
addresses, platforms and biographies of
the prominent political
leaders of Ohio.
"17. The Civil
War literature of Ohio; composed of (a)
the writings of Ohio authors upon the
Civil War; (b) the writ-
ings of authors concerning Ohio in the
Civil War; (c) the
official records and literature of the
state for that period, and (d)
the histories of Ohio regiments and
other army organizations.
To those may be added (e) Publications
of the Ohio Com-
mandery of the Loyal Legion, (f) the
Grand Army of the Re-
public of Ohio, (g) speeches, addresses
and sermons on the
war, and (h) miscellaneous military
literature of that period.
This collection of Ohio Civil War
literature is the most complete
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 535
of its kind in this country, not
excelled in number and complete-
ness by the Congressional Library or the
War Department
Library. This division of the library
alone contains seven hun-
dred and twenty-eight (728) volumes.
It is well known among librarians and
book collectors that
the historical literature of Ohio is
becoming scarcer year by
year. The great public libraries of the
state universities and
colleges have been collecting so industriously
that it is practical-
ly removed from the private collections.
Indeed it has become
impossible to secure the publications
printed in the first half of
the nineteenth century. Therefore, so
far as duplicating by col-
lection at this late date, such a
library as this, neither money nor
search can accomplish what years of
patient work have done.
"Such a library should be within
free and easy access of
students and scholars, and to this end I
have thought that its
place is in the building of the Ohio
State Archaeological and
Historical Society, and I have therefore
made this donation so
that that purpose may be accomplished.
"Very respectfully,
"CLAUDE MEEKER."
MR. RYAN: Governor, I am authorized by
Mr. Meeker to
say in addition that it is his purpose
to create a foundation, or
fund, the resources of which will be
used to keep up this library
and purchase hereafter any rare works
pertaining to the history
of this state, whenever the opportunity
to do so may arise.
(Applause.)
GOVERNOR JAMES M. COX
was presented and spoke as follows:
"Mr. President, Members and
Guests of this Society:
"I am very happy that the last days
of my incumbency of
the executive office bring circumstances
which enable me to come
here, and in my official capacity make a
presentation of two
substantial things to this very historic
historical society.
CHECK FOR MEMORIAL BUILDING.
"Acting on the suggestion of your
distinguished president,
I will give you, briefly, the history of
this fund which was as-
signed to my care. Soon after the
selective-service law became
operative in this State - speaking now,
when the hours of stress
have passed with a confidence that wouldn't have been
prudent
at that time- I might say to you that we had some
misgivings
536 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. in this state, as they had doubtless in some other states, as to just how this law would work out. When the first realization of the stern fact of war came, young men, of course, were leav- ing their homes and were taking trains for the training camps. General Glenn, then in command at Camp Sherman, very happily |
|
conceived the idea of making a moving picture out of the daily life of the boys in camp. I remember very well that the first part of the film was made up of the entrance into camp of sundry contingents in citizens clothes, carrying their traveling bags and belongings; every process of physical examination; the |
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 537
drilling of the boys; the precautions
taken as to health and sani-
tation, the provisions that were made
for food, in fact every-
thing that entered into the day of the
young soldier was shown
upon the canvas by means of this
picture, and in consequence of
it the law, as we continued to
administer it, seemed to have
very much less severity to it.
"When the picture was first
exhibited, a small admission fee
was charged to bear the cost, because there
was no governmental
fund available for that purpose, and its
finally developed that
there was such a demand for the picture
that three or four
distinct outfits were provided.
"When General Glenn went over seas,
he advised me that
he had the fund in his possession, and
he was very much in the
position of the man having hold of the
cow's tail--he didn't
quite know how to let go of it - He
wanted to place it in charge
of some state authority. I told him
there would be a great im-
propriety in permitting it to pass into
the general revenue fund
of the state; that it ought to have a
great historic value and ap-
plication, and I agreed that if the
whole enterprise from its
outset were audited by acknowledged
experts, I would become
the custodian of the fund. After it was
given to me, the money
was turned over to the State Treasurer,
and placed on interest.
We disbursed a few thousand dollars in
order to get under way
the vocational training of soldiers.
This left a sum aggregating
$47,424.69. Governor Campbell in some
way discovered that
we had the money, and in his enthusiasm
in behalf of this
organization, so well known to you that
there is no need of men-
tion of it by me, he requested the money
and persisted in it until
the hour came when I realized there was
to be no peace of mind
until I gave it to him. Then the task
was in ascertaining just how
the transfer might be made and the fund
administered so that
there would be no trespassing upon
propriety, and we finally
agreed that the money would be used and
the donation made upon
the definite specification that it would
be employed in building,
in whole or in part, an addition to this
structure, into which
would pass, exclusively, collections and
data, historical and other-
wise, bearing upon the Great War.
"Now I conclude my responsibility,
and very happily, by
presenting the check to this organization.
MEEKER LIBRARY OF OHIOANA.
"The collection of books presented
by Mr. Meeker is, be-
yond any question, the most important one
of its kind in exist-
ence. I will not permit the modesty of Mr. Ryan to be
respon-
sible for your leaving this room without
knowing who it was
538
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
that made, in the first instance, this
collection. It was Mr. Ryan
-Daniel J. Ryan himself. The question of
purchasing this col-
lection and making it a part of some
private library was under
consideration by a number of individuals
in this state, but those
of us who gave it thought were all
agreed in this, that no selfish
ambition should be permitted to
interfere with this unusual col-
lection of books being made a part of
the great historical prop-
erty of the great commonwealth of ours.
"Now I take great pleasure in
presenting this library as it
comes from Mr. Claude Meeker, than whom
there is no prouder
citizen of this Commonwealth, no man, I
mean, who is prouder
to be an Ohioan and to have come from
the flesh and bone of
Ohio people. He is himself Ohio born. He
had a long and
distinguished career in journalism, and
his golden hearted qual-
ities and unselfish spirit generally are
so well known to most
people in this community that it would be
almost inappropriate
for me to elaborate upon them.
"I lay down the cares of office now
in a little while, after
having served longer than any man in the
history of Ohio as
Governor of the State, and somehow it
seems to me that I would
be a little ungracious if I did not
leave some observations with
reference to and in behalf of the
departments of government
with which I have come into more or less
close contact. Acting
upon that thought, I am going to make a
suggestion in behalf
of this association. It must be
something more than a coinci-
dence that in the main people don't give
much attention to the
history of their own state until they
have at least entered or
passed through middle life. There must
be something which
joins to our physical and mental
transformation which does not
make the history and traditions of a
state or a nation of appealing
interest to humanity until old age is in
sight. It seems to me
that we ought, in this state, because it
is a commonwealth of a
wonderful history both in men and in
events - no state is her
superior in war or in peace [applause]
-encourage study along
these lines. If you will consult the
current text books in the
schools, you will be very lucky, I
believe, and I am speaking not
critically of the school text books, but
you will be very fortunate
if you find three pages, or possibly two
pages, devoted to the
early history of Ohio. My suggestion is
that three or four times
a year, and perhaps once every month,
the schools, public and
private, in Ohio, be called upon in
their history courses or in their
general courses, to set aside a day for
the study of the early
history and the traditions of this
state, and that some one con-
nected with this organization prepare for the year a
definite
course of study to that end. I am quite
sure, Mr. President, that
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 539
you will have the most enthusiastic
co-operation of the University
presided over by that great executive
and educator, Dr. Thomp-
son. I am happy to see with my
retirement from office that his
spirit is undiminished, that his
strength goes on just as it did
when I came eight years ago, and that
his sympathetic interest
continues in behalf of our ambitious
boys and girls seeking
higher education. I hope his shadow will
never grow less.
"I now formally present you with
this check, accept the gift
tendered by Mr. Meeker's representative,
and tender this collec-
tion to you also, at the same time take
my official leave of this
organization, and submit my
recommendation for what it is
worth." (Applause.)
GENERAL KEIFER: "I
arise to move, on behalf of the So-
ciety, the tender of our warmest thanks
to our distinguished
Governor, James M. Cox, and also to Mr.
Claude Meeker, for
the services they have rendered to the
people of Ohio, and par-
ticularly to this Society." The
motion was carried.
PRESIDENT CAMPBELL: "I
think the necessity for the addi-
tion to this building is not altogether
understood. You see here
six or eight tons of material. There are
in this building fifty
tons of material, relating to the State
of Ohio in the World War,
which we have no place to exhibit. It
relates to every phase of
activity - the soldier papers; thousands
and thousands of their
letters; every newspaper published in
Ohio during the war; the
activities of the Red Cross, Y. M. C.
A., Jewish Relief, Knights
of Columbus and every institution of
every character that had to
do, either at home or abroad, with the
war. So that to erect a
building to house this material, where
it can be classified and
placed together, not only appeals to the
patriotism of the men
who won the war, but equally to those of
us at home who did
everything in our power to make the war
a success. I know
of no possible way that this money could
be better expended than
in preserving the history of the
soldiers and patriots of this
state. I am a thousand times gladder
than I was before that
I pestered the Governor until we got
it."
Dr. W. O. Thompson, President of Ohio
State University,
being called upon for remarks, spoke as
follows:
540
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
DR. W. O. THOMPSON.
Mr. President:
I wish to say that so far as the
University is concerned,
and so far as I can help, we shall be
most happy to inspire in the
coming generations a love of our
commonwealth, where your
chairman was born, where we live, love
and labor; and if the
University can do anything more to make
the history, the early
history, of Ohio sacred and beloved by
the coming generations
I am quite sure we shall do our utmost
to that end.
I am intensely interested this
afternoon. I attended a while
this morning, and returned this
afternoon. These two exer-
cises I have enjoyed.
The details concerning the cane
displayed with filial devo-
tion by Mr. John Deshler, the account of
the great events in
which his father participated, let us
know what hundreds of
thousands of people of Ohio have not
known, and may never
know, that in men like William G.
Deshler and others of his
kind the commonwealth has always had its
most valuable asset
in patriotism, in devotion and in love
of country. This makes a
country like ours imperishable. It has
made me feel anew my
interest in Ohio and her history.
I have been so long associated with the
gentleman who made
this collection of books presented this
afternoon, and have
respected him so sincerely, that it
would be family history, al-
most, if I should tell you he spent
forty years of his life in the
making of this collection. Moreover his
association with his
colleague in the preparation of Randall
and Ryan's "History
of Ohio," and my own intimate
relation with both men, have
brought me into close association with
this Society and have in-
creased my interest. I realize the
benevolence of Mr. Meeker,
who made this presentation here today a
possibility-I am
grateful to him, and I am also grateful
to Mr. Ryan for the
services he has performed for so many
years. I congratulate
this Society on the acquisition of this
wonderful collection.
Being the President of the University,
which has a great
library in the making, of over two
hundred thousand volumes
now, I feel that I can speak in defense
of the Ryan collection
being here, rather than in the library
of the University. I want
to say as President of the University,
although I might not
speak for a majority of the faculty, I
am glad it is here and not
there; it will give it a distinct place
in the study of the history
of Ohio that it might not have in the
State House or any place
else.
I may say that there is a long history
concerning the bring-
ing of this building to the campus. Twenty years ago I
took
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 541
a great interest in bringing your
collections here. We housed
them in our buildings as best we could. However, the
coming
of this Society to the campus was a
matter of serious distress
to some people, but after long years of
endeavor the state pro-
vided this building for our Society. It
was located here, and,
as I think the testimony now shows, it
has been of great educa-
tional value. When Sir William Ramsey
came from Scotland
to study our archaeological exhibition,
once and again he demon-
strated what I think we did not always
appreciate, that a man so
interested in history or archaeology as
to travel thousands of
miles is not especially interested in
what street corner it is
located on; but I think he is interested
in its location where are
present the human interest and factors
that make history. So
while the word "archaeology"
may remind us of human bones,
I wish you to remember that this
building houses a human so-
ciety, and the most human thing about it
is the devotion to our
history and the history of what makes
men.
We are located between the Ohio and the
Lakes, with as
great a variety of resources as any
state in the Union, a great
state in material wealth, a great
variety of resources in what is
under the ground, what is in the ground
and what may be taken
out of the ground. We have great assets
in common business
and transportation, and are so located
that the world cannot get
away from us, but must come to us and
buy from us. President
James said he regarded Ohio State
University as the greatest
competitor the West had in education. I
want to say of our
state, that in my opinion, as time goes
on there will be an in-
creasing population and wealth; that no
less in fundamental edu-
cational than in other advantages will
there be a great increase
in the development of things worth
while.
Speaking of Ohio citizens, climate or
location is very un-
important. The quality of this state is determined
by the char-
acter of her men and women. Here, from
this day on, with
thirty languages spoken in the city of
Cleveland, will be one of
the greatest melting pots in the greater
melting pot of America.
We hope there will be wrought out here
the great problem of
real Americanization. We must secure in
some way the means
by which the people who come into this
commonwealth can
grasp the spirit of Ohio, which I think
is the spirit of the
United States. We must do something that
will make people
when they come here become a part of us;
we must have no
traitors in Ohio. [Applause.] We welcome
immigrants, but
when they come they must begin at once
to become Americans.
We have seen the day when Ohio was
laughed at for her forty-
eight colleges. I have never laughed at
it. I said a few days
542 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
ago there was more Americanization
taking place on the foot-
ball fields in Ohio every fall than in
any other place in the country
because we sing the same songs,
experience the same emotions
and suppress all differences. I think
that in our Ohio colleges,
in our Ohio homes, and in the hearts of
our people there is
something we cannot lose. That is what I
want the man who
comes into our midst to participate in.
Our distinguished Presi-
dent said we did not ask anything for
ourselves in this great
war, that we did not ask for others; but
I wish to say that we
do not have anything in Ohio that we are
happy about that we
are not willing to share with any other
man or woman in Ohio,
and thus enable them to become what we
ourselves ought to be.
The spirit of Ohio is the desire for the
development of that kind
of character in men and women. I should
like to see the Uni-
versities, Colleges and Schools become
the agency for that work.
Let me say that I believe the greatest
characteristic of this state
has been the dependability of her
citizenship. No man has ever
become a member of this society and
lived in it a year and then
felt that here is a place where any
ulterior or selfish purpose
could have a place. We ought to see that
our colleges shall be as
far from that selfishness as it is
possible to be in this world of
ours. It is with such men and women as I
believe you to be
that Ohio is putting forth her supreme
effort in the making of
men and women whose hearts are warm,
whose conduct is above
reproach, whose patriotism will stand
the test, whose citizenship
is a citizenship that will do honor to
Ohio at home and abroad.
There is nothing small, or narrow, or
provincial in the Ohio
people; albeit some people express it
that way. They are mis-
taken. Ohio is a place of profound
conviction, of calm con-
sideration, of religious liberty, of
sound personal judgment. It
is a place worthy of our greatest
endeavor in doing things that
are right, so that our commonwealth may
throughout the years
be proud of its manhood and womanhood. I
trust we shall hold
these high ideals, so that, just as our
grandfathers one hundred
years ago helped to make Ohio what it
is, we shall help to make
it a better place -so that we shall
be better Buckeyes and bet-
ter Americans.
GIFTS OF CHARLES F. KETTERING.
PRESIDENT CAMPBELL: "Speaking
of the University, I have
a letter from an alumni, a resident of
Dayton. In this letter he
explains that he is unable to be here
today, Had he been here he
would have presented to our Society,
first, an archaeological
collection which he purchased at a great
price; and, second, the
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 543 Miamisburg Mound. To obtain this mound he had to buy a farm of more than two hundred acres. He has set aside the mound, which has been deeded to this Society, and is spending |
|
a large amount of money to make it a park. It will be a pleasure ground and park for the people of Ohio forever. I would suggest that some one offer a resolution thanking Mr. Charles F. Kettering, the donor of these gifts." |
544
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
MR. WOOD: "I move that we express,
by a rising vote, our
appreciation and thanks to Mr. Kettering
for his splendid gifts;
and that we also empower the President
and Secretary of this
Society to prepare appropriate
resolutions to Governor Cox, Mr.
Meeker and Mr. Kettering for their great
gifts." Carried.
JOHN BROWN RELICS.
In the absence of Mrs. T. B. Alexander,
of Put-in-Bay,
Ohio, granddaughter of John Brown, who
had consented if
possible to be present and personally
transfer the John Brown
relics to the custody of the Society, C.
B. Galbreath, the Secre-
tary of the Society, read the following
telegram from Mr. T. B.
Alexander and the greeting from Mrs.
Alexander:
TELEGRAM.
"C. B. GALBREATH,
"Columbus, Ohio.
"Severe storm on lake since Monday.
No small boats could
live in it. Regret my inability to be
present. Please present our
regrets to Governor Cox and all and you
act as our proxy deliv-
ering Mrs. Alexander's message to the
distinguished guests.
"T. B. ALEXANDER."
GREETING OF MRS. T. B. ALEXANDER,
GRANDDAUGHTER
OF JOHN BROWN.
"My grandfather, John Brown, was
concerned about the
legacy of reputation he should leave to
his children. On Octo-
ber 31, 1859, while in prison awaiting
execution he wrote to his
wife and family:
"'I feel no consciousness of guilt
in this matter, nor even
mortification on account of my
imprisonment and irons; and I
feel perfectly sure that very soon no
member of my family will
feel any possible disposition to blush
on my account.'
"A few days later he wrote:
"'I can trust God with both the
time and the manner of
my death, believing as I now do, that
for me at this time to seal
my testimony for God and humanity with
my blood will do
vastly more toward advancing the cause I
have earnestly en-
deavored to promote, than all that I
have done in my life before.
I beg you all meekly and quietly to
submit to this, not feeling
yourselves in the least degraded on that
account.'
Thirty-fifth Annual Meeting. 545
"On November 28, 1859, his
son, John Brown, Jr., my
father, in a farewell letter to his
father, my grandfather, written
from Ashtabula, Ohio, said among other
things:
"'We feel rich in the legacy of
your life and your deeds
*
* * and now, dear father, be
cheered by our conviction
that your life furnishes the best vindication of your
memory;
that, even now, your motives are
appreciated by those whose
hearts are susceptible of generous and noble emotions.'
"With these legacies in mind, it
seems to me that if the
spirits of my grandfather and his
children could return, they
would be gratified to know with what
marks of respect and
honor these relics and mementoes of the
days in which they lived
have been received in the custody of
Ohio-the state in which
he lived and in which fourteen of his
sons and daughters were
born."
After reading the message from Mrs.
Alexander Secretary
Galbreath at the request of President
Campbell gave a general
description of the large collection of
John Brown relics now on
exhibition in the museum of the Society.
He stated that "these
include guns, swords, uniforms,
surveying instruments, auto-
graph letters, photographs,
daguerreotypes and other items rang-
ing from bullet molds to locks of the
hair and beard of this
sturdy old anti-slavery warrior and a
bronze replica of the gold
medal presented to John Brown's wife by
Victor Hugo and his
associates. Mr. Galbreath's remarks are
omitted here because he
expects to include a portion of what he
said on this occasion in
future articles in the QUARTERLY.
Mr. Ryan presented the following
resolution:
"Resolved, That in recognition of services and gifts to this
Society, The Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical Society
create life memberships in said Society
as follows: Hon. James
M. Cox, Governor of Ohio; Mr. Charles F.
Kettering, of Day-
ton, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Alexander,
of Put-in-Bay, Ohio,
and Mr. John G. Deshler, of Columbus,
Ohio."
The resolution was adopted by a rising
vote.
On motion of Mr. Wood the meeting
adjourned.
Vol. XXIX-35.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BUILDINGS.
COMPILED BY THE EDITOR.
On the following pages are presented
brief statements of
what Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota,
all younger states than
Ohio, have done for their historical
societies. Half-tone cuts of
the New Hampshire and Ohio buildings are
also shown.
Other states and a number of cities have
erected buildings
not less notable.
The Historical Society of Buffalo has a
building of which
any state might be proud. The work of
this society ranks high
and its publications are recognized as
authoritative.
San Francisco, within the current year
has received through
the generosity and public spirit of M.
H. de Young a memorial
museum and buildings valued at over
$5.000,000. The magnifi-
cent group of buildings in which the
museum is housed is located
in the famous Golden Gate Park. Through
years to come it will
speak of the triumph of American
civilization and the crowning
glory that marks the westward course of
empire on this conti-
nent. It is fitting that while Liberty
Enlightening the World
stands at the port of our eastern
metropolis, the muse of history
should look upon the ocean from her
palace at the gateway of
the Pacific Slope.
No state west of the Allegheny Mountains
has contributed
more to the service of American progress
than has our own
Ohio. We are justly proud of the record.
Our orators elo-
quently admit this on the platform and
the hustings. Assuredly
Ohio will do her full share in providing
for the preservation of
the relics, sources and monuments of her
remarkable history.
ILLINOIS
The State of Illinois is erecting a
Centennial Memorial
Building which will cost when completed
and equipped over
$1,500,000. $950,000 has already been appropriated. This will
provide quarters for the Illinois
Historical Society and its State
Museum, including a Lincoln Room, the
Illinois State Library,
(546)
548
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
an auditorium and a few minor
offices. The cut herewith
presented shows that the State of
Illinois has entered the class
of New York in liberal manifestation of
interest in her history.
"Growth and development beyond the
prophet's most san-
guine expectations have thus far marked
the progress of Ameri-
can life; who is brave enough to predict
that the mighty current
shows even the slightest signs of
diminution? The problem
therefore is, while planning wisely and
sanely for today to let
each step be a preparation for the
marvelous unseen activities
of tomorrow.
"The Centennial Building will thus
be seen to have a dual
importance- important not only as a
monumental memorial
marking in enduring stone the completion
of the first hundred
years of a great State's existence, but
important also as a symbol
of greater achievements by that State
and its people in the years
that lie before. A double vision has
inspired and directed those
who have had the work in charge -a
vision of the past and a
vision of the future.
"Not only with regard to the
setting and surroundings of
the Centennial Building, but in planning
the building itself, has
the idea of future development been kept
firmly in mind, so that
the oft-repeated error of building a
structure which becomes
outgrown and crowded after a decade or
two might be avoided."
-Edgar Martin, Supervising Architect.
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin, although admitted into the
Union forty-five years
later than Ohio, has excelled all other
states carved out of the
Northwest Territory, in collecting,
arranging and safeguarding
the sources of local, state and national
history. Ohio students
and authors, after they have exhausted
the scattered resources
in their own state, must go to the
Wisconsin Historical Society
to consult books, maps and manuscripts
that cannot be found
elsewhere in the Mississippi Valley. So
interested in the history
of their state have the people of
Wisconsin become that they do
not wait for gifts and bequests. The
state appropriated for the
erection of a building for her
historical society, $650,000. Sub-
550
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
sequent appropriations have been made
for equipment and the
value of this noble structure, to which
the citizens of the entire
state contributed and in which they take
an especial pride, is not
less than $1,000,000.
There is now in this building which is
located near the state
university perhaps the most valuable
collection on American
history to be found in any institution
west of the Allegheny
Mountains. Students of local history from other states of the
Middle West must go to Wisconsin for
their sources of informa-
tion. This state through a number of
years has built up a living
monument in its library of books,
documents and manuscripts.
In this respect Wisconsin has set a
notable and noble example
for her sister states.
MINNESOTA
Minnesota, a comparatively young state,
is following the
example of her adjoining neighbor,
Wisconsin. The stately
building pictured above on May 11,
1918, was dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies. For it the state
appropriated $500,000.
"The Minnesota Historical Society
was organized in 1849,
under territorial charter, and for many
years has looked forward
to having a building of its own. A fund was gradually ac-
cumulated for the purchase of such a
building, in the event of
the society having to build for itself.
This, however, was not
a large sum, and it would have been many
years before the
society itself could have built a proper
home. When the present
Capitol was built, rooms were provided
for the society in the
basement and these served our purpose
for some years. In
1913 the legislature, recognizing
the need, made a very generous
provision, an appropriation of five
hundred thousand dollars,
for the building, the society agreeing
to pay seventy-five thou-
sand dollars for the purchase of a site
and for furnishing the
building. The site first selected by the board of control, and
approved by the society, was purchased
from this fund at a
cost of thirty-five thousand dollars.
The title was acquired by
the state, and the state still owns the
property. Before plans
for the building had been perfected, it
was recognized by the
board of control and the society that a
mistake had been made
552 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
in the selection of the first site, and
the legislature was asked to,
and did, amend the bill, so as to
provide for the erection of a
building upon a site to be selected by
the society." - Charles P.
Noyes, at dedication of Minnesota
Historical Building.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
This beautiful and substantial structure
was erected at a
cost of over $600,000. New Hampshire has many creditable
library, educational and institutional
buildings; New Hampshire
has and will have only one historical
society building. No other
structure will rise to rival it or share
in its distinctive purpose.
By his generous gift Edward Tuck has
erected an enduring
monument to himself as well as to his
native state.
In recent years public spirited,
patriotic persons with ample
fortunes have done much to encourage the
preservation of local
and state history. Such citizens have erected substantial
build-
ings for their historical
societies. In some instances they have
been aided by the municipality or the
state; in others they have
provided without assistance for such
buildings. A notable
example is seen in the splendid building
that has been erected
for the New Hampshire Historical Society
through the gener-
osity and public spirit of Edward Tuck.
Opportunities to do much in this line
are still open to
wealthy, public spirited men of Ohio.
Colonel Webb C. Hayes,
as will be seen by reference to the
concluding page of this
circular, has presented to the Ohio
State Archaeological and His-
torical Society the homestead of his
father, Rutherford B. Hayes,
former President of the United States,
and created trust funds
for the maintenance of this splendid
property including the
Memorial Library Building at Spiegel
Grove. The opportunity
remains for patriotic citizens of the
state to contribute to the
collections of the Society, to provide
funds for publications or
an additional building and thus to link
their names permanently
with the incomparable history of the
Buckeye State.
OHIO
Above is a small cut of the museum and
library building
of the Ohio State Archaeological and
Historical Society. This
554 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. is really the High Street front of a structure which when com- pleted will extend 250 feet back on the grounds of the Ohio State University. The present building awaits funds for addi- tions in accordance with the original plan. $100,000 was appro- priated for this building, and it has been so carefully expended that perhaps no state building in Columbus exhibits a more satisfactory return for the investment. It is well lighted and thoroughly fireproof. It stands at the main entrance to the Ohio State University grounds and continually invites students from every section of the state to its museum, illustrating the archaeology and history of Ohio, and to its growing library which |
|
in time will take rank with the historical libraries that have been built up in other progressive states. Within the past year the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society has been greatly encouraged by the manifesta- tion of an awakened public interest in its important work. Within that period gifts in cash, real estate and relics valued at not less than $70,000 have come to the Society through the agency of public spirited citizens of the state. This includes $47,000 earned by motion picture films of Camp Sherman and transferred by Governor James M. Cox to the Society to be used in constructing wholly or in part an addition to the present building which shall be dedicated to the soldiers of the World |
Historical Society Buildings. 555 War. This sum is now available if adequately supplemented by appropriations from the Legislature and gifts from other sources. The present building is already overcrowded. Ohio's share of the relics of the World War will soon be transferred from Washington to the custody of our state. Most of them will come to the Society. Provision must be made for their care and preservation. In the October QUARTERLY is an address delivered by for- mer Governor James E. Campbell, President of the Society. It sets forth what Colonel Webb C. Hayes has done by the trans- fer to the state in the custody of the Society property worth over half a million dollars.. If the state will do its part other public spirited citizens will be encouraged to follow the gener- ous and patriotic example of Colonel Hayes. |
|
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
SOCIETY.
REVIEWS, NOTES AND COMMENTS.
BY THE EDITOR.
"KENTUCKY-MOTHER OF UNITED STATES
SENA-
TORS AND REPRESENTATIVES."
This is the title of valuable
compilation by A. C. Quisen-
berry published in The Register of
the Kentucky State Historical
Society for January, 1920. It appears from this that Kentucky
has given to other states sixty-one
United States senators and
one hundred fifty-one represensatives in
Congress, making a
total of two hundred twelve. Deducting names duplicated,
ninety-one in number, there remain one
hundred twenty-one dif-
ferent persons from Kentucky who served
other states in the
United States Congress. Those who served
Ohio in the Senate
were Alexander Campbell, Thomas Corwin
and William A.
Trimble. Those who served our state in
the House of Represen-
tatives were Moses B. Corwin, Thomas
Corwin, Tom L. John-
son, John McLean, William McLean, Wilson
Shannon, Joe B.
Stevenson and James January Winans. All
of the foregoing
were born in Kentucky except Shannon who
was born in Ohio
and educated in Kentucky. It seems that
that state claims to be
mother to all the Congressmen that lived
any considerable time
within her borders and afterwards represented
other states.
This makes the figures quoted appear
somewhat less impressive,
but after a further deduction is made
for those born in other
states than Kentucky the list is a long
one and entitles Kentucky
to her claim of "Mother of United
States Senators and Repre-
sentatives." A like contribution
for the QUARTERLY setting forth
Ohio's claim to a similar distinction
would be timely in view
of our approach to the distinguished
title of "Mother of Presi-
dents."
(556)
Reviews, Notes and Comments. 557
"THE OHIO WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
LAW."
Since the publication of the QUARTERLY
for January, 1920,
frequent complaints have been made by
the representatives of
one of the dominant political parties in
regard to the article en-
titled "The Ohio Workmen's
Compensation Law." It has been
charged that the author of that article,
Mr. Mengert, is a par-
tisan; that he has not stated fairly the
leading facts in regard
to the attitude of prominent public men
toward the law; that
the views of former Governor Frank B.
Willis, now United
States Senator, and Governor James M.
Cox are not fairly
presented; that the article in fact is
political propaganda in the
interest of a party and its prominent
leader; that due credit has
not been given former Governor Harmon
for his influence in
the inauguration of workmen's
compensation in Ohio; that
Governor Cox was not originally in favor
of the state monopoly
feature of the present law; that
workmen's compensation was
not an important issue in the
gubernatorial campaign in 1914;
that both Cox and Willis and their
respective parties favored
workmen's compensation in that campaign;
that the favorable
attitude of Governor Willis toward the
law through his adminis-
tration has not been fairly shown in the
article. The complaints
have come from individual Republicans
and those connected
with the state organization of that
party. They have said that
while they have not brought political
discussion into this publica-
tion and do not desire to do so, they
are unwilling, without pro-
test, to have the article on "The
Ohio Workmen's Compensation
Law" written down for the perusal
of the present and future
generations in a publication of the
dignity and authority of the
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical
Quarterly.
The Editor wishes to state in this
connection that the article
in question was published in the
interval between his appoint-
ment as Secretary and the death of his
predecessor, Honorable
E. O. Randall. The Society was without a
Secretary and the
QUARTERLY without an Editor when the article was
published.
Workmen's compensation in Ohio has been
a subject of
partisan controversy since the year
1912. The literature issued
by the campaign committees of both
parties teems with charges
558 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
and counter-charges on issues growing
out of this subject. Those
interested are referred to this
literature and the newspapers for
the attitude of men and parties toward
workmen's compensation.
No good purpose can be subserved by the
publication in the
QUARTERLY of the views of
representatives of political parties on
this subject. It should be sufficient to
record here the fact that
a protest has been made. The Society
desires the interest and
support of prominent Ohioans of all
parties. The QUARTERLY
cannot afford to devote its space to
matters of current political
controversy. If a mistake has been made
in this matter in the
past it cannot be corrected now by
repetition. We are sure that
upon mature consideration this will be
the view of members of
our Society and of all persons
interested in its work or in the
controversy to which we have felt it
necessary to make this
reference.
JOSEPH S. BENHAM.
Joseph S. Benham was an eminent lawyer
of Cincinnati at
the time of Lafayette's visit to that
city. His fame preceded
that event by a number of years. It is
celebrated in Horace in
Cincinnati which was published in 1824. In this poem he is re-
ferred to as follows:
With person of gigantic size,
With thund'ring voice, and piercing
eyes,
When great Stentorius deigns to rise,
Adjacent crowds assemble,
To hear a sage the laws expound,
In language strong, by reasoning sound.
Till, though yet not guilty found,
The culprits fear and tremble.
He was an orator of impressive power and
personality.
Levasseur paid fitting tribute to the
address of Benham on the
occasion of Lafayette's visit to
Cincinnati. References to the
eloquent advocate are found in The
Centennial History of Cin-
cinnati, page 629, in Carter's Reminiscences and Anecdotes of
the Courts and the Bar pages 38-41 and in Masfield's Personal
Memories pages 164-165.
Reviews, Notes and Comments. 559
He was a Kentuckian by birth and his
daughter became the
wife of George D. Prentice, the gifted
editor and writer of
Louisville, Kentucky.
HONORS AWARDED TO OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
MEN.
The following announcement in a local
paper is of general
interest. We are pleased to note that
our state archaeologist is
included in the honor roll:
"Membership in the Ohio State
University chapter of Phi
Beta Kappa, honorary scholastic
fraternity, has been conferred
upon ten Ohio State alumni,
distinguished for their literary,
artistic or humanitarian work. They
include, Charles Magee
Adams, B. A. Milford, editor of The
Valley Enterprise of Mil-
ford and contributor to national
magazines although totally blind;
Frank Bohn, Ph. D., New York, writer on
socialism, member of
the foreign branch of the United States
committee on public
information and representative of the
Socialist party at the
Berne conference; Thomas H. Dickinson,
Pelham, N. Y., author
and dramatist; Thomas E. French, M. E.,
Columbus, professor
of engineering drawing at Ohio State and
winner of prizes in
exhibitions of American Bookplate
society; Robert F. Griggs,
Columbus, Ph. D., explorer of the Valley
of Ten Thousand
Smokes in Alaska, professor of botany at
Ohio State and mem-
ber of staff of National Geographic
magazine; Dr. Roy D. Mc-
Clure, surgeon-in-chief of Henry Ford
hospital, Detroit, and
author of articles on medical subjects;
Charles F. Marvin, M.
E., Washington, chief of the United
States weather bureau, in-
ventor of meteorological instruments and
author of articles on
weather topics; William C. Mills, M. S.,
Columbus, curator of
Ohio Archaeological and Historical
museum and author of works
on archaeological subjects, and Dr.
Harry H. Snively, M. A.,
Columbus, who served in Russia before
the war, fought typhus
for American Red Cross in central Europe
and served as major
in the United States Army."
The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
for October, 1920,
contains a carefully prepared article on
"The Hayes Adminis-
tration and Mexico." This is of
Ohio interest because it sets
forth the attitude of an Ohio President
pending the firm estab-
lishment of Diaz at the outset of his
long domination over the
560 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. affairs of our sister republic south of the Rio Grande. We are all more or less familiar with the Mexican troubles under the administration of President Wilson but the serious difficulties that confronted our government in dealing with a distressing and delicate situation in that quarter when Hayes was president have been in a measure forgotten. It is worth while that they be recalled at this time. Mr. H. R. Mengert desires to have added to his article on "The Ohio Workmen's Compensation Law" the following note: "The United States Supreme Court finally settled the case to which reference has been made when a decision was rendered in the Thornton litigation upholding the Ohio Supreme Court in a ruling that the initiated act of 1917 is constitutional and that it prohibits continuation of indemnity contracts for the repayment of awards paid by insuring employers who carry their own risks. The decision finally ended the business of a few liability insurance companies protecting some 675 employers. It was a final victory for the workmen's compensation law." The Secretary of the Ohio Historical Commission, Mr. W. Farrand Felch, has prepared a very complete resume of his work for the past year. The Civil War Historian, Colonel W. L. Curry, has presented a brief report. In a future issue of the QUARTERLY we hope to give a summary of the work of each. |
|
LEADEN PLATE AT
THE MOUTH OF THE MUSKINGUM
In the October QUARTERLY were published
cuts of the
leaden plate prepared for deposit at the
mouth of the Conewango
and the one buried at the mouth of the
Kanawha.
On the following pages are illustrations
of the remnant of
the plate buried at the mouth of the
Muskingum and what was
probably its entire text. This plate was
considerably multilated.
A portion of the lead was cut away for
bullets before the signifi-
cance and importance of this relic were
realized. We are under
obligation to the American Antiquarian
Society for a very satis-
factory photograph of this remnant from
which has been pro-
duced the illustration on the following
page.
The plates which have been found thus
far show that an
effort was made to include identical
text on each with the excep-
tion of the date and the name of the
river at the mouth of which
the plate was buried. No two of the
plates, however, could have
been made from the same mold, as they
contain respectively
nineteen, twenty-one and eighteen lines
of varying length. A
separate mold must have been used in
casting each and space
was left to engrave the date and the
name of the river, at the
confluence of which with the Ohio, each
plate was buried. Some
writers have ventured the opinion that
the inscription, with the
exception above noted, was stamped upon
the plates.
The full text of the inscription on the
plate buried at the
mouth of the Muskingum is not given in
either of the Journals,
but from the official statement, the
text of the inscriptions on
the other plates and the assertion of
Celoron that "the inscription
is always the same" (page 371) the
writer has undertaken to
supply, with the aid of the fragment
left, the full inscription of
this plate. The result is found on page
479. It cannot vary
materially from the original and is
believed to be practically
identical with it.
A comparison of the texts of these
plates shows some varia-
tions and slight inaccuracies in
orthography. The artist, Paul
(477)