OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
REVIEWS, NOTES AND COMMENTS
BY THE EDITOR
DEATH OF HONORABLE DANIEL J. RYAN
Early Friday morning, June 15, 1923,
Daniel Joseph
Ryan, Vice President of the Ohio State
Archaeological
and Historical Society, breathed his
last. He had been
in poor health for some time but the
end came unex-
pectedly. He passed without pain
"from the repose of
sleep to the repose of
death." This announcement
brings sadness to the members of the
Society and a large
circle of friends. A sketch of Mr.
Ryan's life and work
will appear in the next issue of the QUARTERLY.
SARAH ELIZABETH REYNOLDS
We regret to announce the death of Mrs.
Sarah
Elizabeth Reynolds, a life member of
the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society
and Secretary of
the Historical Society of Preble
County. At the age
of seventy-seven years she departed
this life April 5,
1923. She was the daughter of John M.
and Sarah
(Truax) Daugherty of Butler. County,
Ohio. She was
educated in the district schools of
Dickson Township,
Preble County, and married Roddie
Reynolds Novem-
ber 26, 1866. He was Secretary to
General Ben Le-
(542)
Reviews, Notes and Comments 543 Fevre, Congressman from the Eaton District. He also served in the United States Navy during the Civil War and is said to have been the youngest commander in that war. Later he was chief of division in the 6th |
|
Auditor's office, Washington, D. C., a position which he held at the time of his death in 1884. He and Mrs. Reynolds were the parents of three chil- dren, two of whom are still living, L. C. Reynolds, attor- ney, Baltimore, Maryland, and Mrs. Nellie Eastman, wife of Professor George R. East- man of Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Reynolds was one of the widest and most favorably known women of Preble County. She was active in all public and patriotic move- ments and organizations. She was past president of the local Woman's Relief Corps; Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star; Staff Member of Great Pocahontas of Ohio and First Pocahontas in Eaton; member of the Daughters of the American |
Revolution; delegate to the National D. A. R. Conven- tion at Washington in 1914, and member of the Richard Arnold Chapter at Washington, one of the first in the United States. As chairman of the Ladies' National |
544 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications
Naval Association she was instrumental
in establishing
the nation-wide practice of strewing
flowers upon the
waters in memory of the United States
sailors and
marines.
She was deeply interested in the
history of Fort St.
Clair and secured hundreds of
signatures to the peti-
tion presented to the General Assembly
of Ohio for the
purchase of the site of this old fort
and the scenic
grounds immediately surrounding it. In
her last hours
it was a source of great satisfaction
to her to know that
the General Assembly of Ohio had acted
favorably in
response to this petition.
She took a prominent part in the St.
Clair celebra-
tion of November 6, 1922, fully
described in this issue
of the QUARTERLY. In a letter to the
writer she ex-
pressed her great satisfaction with the
ceremonies and
declared that the day had been one of
the happiest of
her life. The portrait published with this sketch is
from the photograph of a group taken on
that occasion
just before the unveiling of the
monument.
The following resolutions, adopted by
the Preble
County Historical Society, were read by
its Vice-Presi-
dent, Major William H. Ortt, at her
funeral:
WHEREAS, The Preble County Historical Society, especially
assembled in formal session, sorrowed
and reverent because of
the death of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth
Reynolds, Charter Member
and Secretary of said Society, and
because of desire to formulate
a heartful expression of the
appreciation and emotion of the
love and loss of said Society in the
passing of a member so
faithful, efficient and beloved and so
distinguished in life and
death,
We, the members of said Society do
hereby affectionately
and reverently resolve--
That Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Reynolds was
superlatively en-
dowed for her superior efficiency in her
said membership in that
she possessed a profound and fervent
delight in all the manifold
Reviews, Notes and Comments 545
memories, recorded and traditional
histories of the daring adven-
turers who first ventured into the then
further frontier, and of the
struggles and simplicities, comedies and
tragedies, exploits, trails,
forts, battles, woodland-clearings,
log-houses, mementoes, and
the conspicuous personalities of the
Preble primevals.
That her happy proclivities were such
that despite the in-
firmities of years she remained ever
eager and alert in her desires
and delights to obtain and retain for
Preble posterity all the
pioneer history and all objects and
mementoes and insignia il-
lustrative.
That we are pleased to record that she
was familiar with
Preble history, was highly entertaining
in her mentions of the local
love, legends and myths current among
the early settlers as
to singular omens and ghostly forms,
chief of which fantasies was
that of a headless man riding a white
horse on moonlight nights
up and down the vales near Fort St.
Clair.
Her local loyalty, knowledge of relics
and historical insigna,
and her enthusiastic inspirations were
all highly helpful and
strongly stimulative in the
organization, ambitions and attain-
ments of the Preble County Historical
Society.
She was most sincerely enthusiastic in
her admiration and
reverence for the soldiers and naval
sailors of Preble. She re-
joiced in their valor and victories and
highly prized their trophies.
She was active and influential in the
annual military memori-
al at Mound Hill Cemetery and her loving
initiative established
the special memorial in honor of our
naval heroes, one of whom
was her beloved husband, Roddie
Reynolds. This special memor-
ial was a beautiful performance of
strewing garlands and flowers
in the waters which flow between the
Eaton of living and Mound
Hill, the Eaton of the dead.
Her home contained many historical
attractions and in these
precious possessions she found great
fascination.
She was most fervent in her local, state
and national patriot-
ism and the members of this Society and
many citizens concur
that no Preble countian ever surpassed
her persistent patriotism.
She was most happy in her hopes and
forceful in her activi-
ties for the acquirement of a beautiful
picturesque tract of land
surrounding Fort St. Clair and the
sacred burial spot of the fallen
heroes, and on the delightful day of the
dedication of the monu-
ment, there recently erected, she
donated a beautiful wreath,
lovingly encircled it over the monument
and donated and unfurled
from the staff near by a very beautiful
flag which this day floats
in the gentle breeze. A few days before
her death she was most
joyous when informed that through the
liberality of the state
Vol. XXXII -- 35.
546 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications
this loyal public would ever especially
enjoy the St. Clair park of
seventy-seven acres embracing the site
of Fort St. Clair, the
battle field, burial place, and the
scenic lands surrounding.
The old flag of thirteen stars and many
scars, which now
drapes the form of our darling dead, she
greatly prized on ac-
count of the hallowed remembrances
thereof to herself person-
ally relating. This old flag was her
talisman; it tenderly thrilled
her patriotic and friendly heart.
Be it resolved, That this resolution be spread upon the min-
utes of this Society and that copies
thereof be delivered to her
daughter, Mrs. Nellie Reynolds Eastman,
and her son, L. C.
Reynolds, of Baltimore, Maryland.
In her will Mrs. Reynolds left to the
Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society
her collection of
early Ohio newspapers and her decorated
chinaware
illustrative of local history, chiefly
of scenes and inci-
dents relating to Fort St. Clair.
PATRIOTIC MEETING AT THE LOGAN ELM
On the afternoon of June 13 a very
interesting meet-
ing of the Sons and Daughters of the
American Revolu-
tion was held under the spreading
branches of the Logan
Elm. The principal address was
delivered by Honorable
Simeon D. Fess, junior United States
Senator from
Ohio. In his opening remarks he
commended very
highly the work of patriotic societies
and the Ohio
State Archaeological and Historical
Society in marking
places of historic interest in Ohio. He
spoke of the
educational value of contact with the
past through the
association of place and material
things relating to men
and incidents of other years. We have a
livelier inter-
est in an achievement of the long ago
when we stand
upon the very spot that it has immortalized.
He com-
mended also in strong terms the effort
of the Society
to collect the trophies and relics of
Ohio history.
Reviews, Notes and Comments 547
Senator Fess then delivered an eloquent
address on
the origin and achievements of the
government of the
United States. He paid a glowing
tribute to the Revo-
lutionary fathers and the framers of
our institutions.
This he followed with a survey of the
progress under
our republican form of government. His
address was
received with frequent applause by the
attentive and
appreciative audience.
Mr. Henry Williams recited the famous
message
of Logan to Lord Dunmore. Mrs. Orson D.
Dryer
spoke briefly and effectively paying a
fine tribute to the
Indian chieftain Cornstalk whose
village was within
sight of the Logan Elm.
Two poems, one by Mrs. Rachel E. Hughes
and one
by Colonel W. L. Curry, were read. They
are as
follows:
OUR PATRIOT FOREFATHERS
BY COLONEL W. L. CURRY
Today around this Logan Elm,
With wonted zeal burn Freedom's fires;
Today we crown anew the sword
And musket of our patriot sires;
And down Time's vistas seems to come,
Clear and distinct, from far away,
The long, shrill roll of Freedom's drum,
Which eager beats the battle fray.
And as the mists of Time dissolve,
We catch the glint of blade and gun,
Which did a burning question solve
Upon the sward of Lexington;
Ah, from the dim, heroic past,
Replete with actions of renown,
We hear the murmurings of the blast
Which tore a jewel from a crown.
548
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications
The little band in homespun suits,
To whom our ancestry we trace
With pride, were Freedom's first
recruits --
The heroes of a noble race;
They heard the call of Paul Revere --
His rousing cry: "To arms! to
arms!"
And eager flocked from far and near,
The stalwart yeomen of the farms.
Hail to the men that made us free!
Hail to the stainless swords they drew:
A thousand years will never see
Forgetfulness of men so true;
Their deeds will live while grandly
waves
The flag of a united land
Above their scattered, sacred graves,
From mountain height to ocean strand.
UNDER THE AGED LOGAN ELM
BY RACHEL E. HUGHES
Beautiful tree how well you have fared,
And for many more years we'd have you
spared,
Standing alone through all the years,
Have you been lonely, have you, shed
tears?
Will you lend today a listening ear?
For this page is written for you to
hear.
As a bit of God's handiwork, stately and
grand --
You're here where he placed you and
secretly planned
To give you a place in His hall of fame,
Are you not proud of the honor, proud of
the name,
Attracting to you the once savage Chief?
You listened, I'm sure, to his story
brief,
And he sought you out among others to be
The Logan Elm, the history tree.
Yes, days long ago, but somehow 'tis
sweet
To go back to the Indian's happy retreat
--
Back to his once happy hunting ground.
But "Lo The Poor Indian" no
longer around
My Indian is here and every day
I see him back in the same old way.
But no: that day is forever gone now --
The day when Logan sat 'neath your
bough;
For Bow and Arrow days
have fled.
Reviews, Notes and Comments 549
We mingle now the white and red.
Oh! ancient tree, could you but speak
today,
We're wondering what 'twould be you'd
say;
Yes, Honored Elm, we feel and
know
You first would greet these friends
And bid them welcome ere they go;
Then tell the story of the Indian and
his song,
The story buried here in Nature's trunk
so long;
The story of the Indian tall,
Whose hunting ground was here --
And that not all --
You'd tell us much of what you saw
About the Indian chief, papoose and
squaw,
Describe their raiment and their ways,
Tell all the happenings in those days.
Then of yourself we'd ask to hear
What, as a tree, you held most dear.
Your answer we'd anticipate to be
That nature's haunts meant most to
thee.
In taking leave we'd all agree
That you were such a friendly Tree.
Mr. Frank Tallmadge formally accepted
two young
elms that were planted, one by the Sons
of the American
Revolution and the other by the
Daughters of the
American Revolution.
Mr. Langdon T. Williams closed the
exercises of the
afternoon with a strong plea for the
restoration and
preservation of our forests.
Mr. Boyd B. Haddox, president of the
Franklin
chapter, Sons of the American
Revolution, presided.
Reverend Clayton W. Eldridge invoked
the Divine
blessing.
In the absence of Governor James E.
Campbell,
president of the Ohio Archaeological
and Historical So-
ciety, Secretary Galbreath briefly
welcomed the assem-
bly. Mrs. Vander Veer Taylor, regent of
the Columbus
chapter, Daughters of the American
Revolution, grac-
iously responded.
550 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications
LITTLE LOGAN ELMS
Sometime early in the current year it
was suggested
that possibly under the spreading
branches of the Logan
Elm might be found some seedling baby
Logan Elms
that with proper care would grow up
through the years
into sturdy trees like the parent. The
little park sur-
rounding the Elm is mown every year and
the young
seedlings fall before the scythe. Upon
investigation,
however, a number of stubs were found
with good live
roots. On April 21, several of these
were raised by Mr.
Frank Tallmadge and the writer and
placed in prepared
positions by Miss Margaret E. Ritchie,
who christened
them "Logan Elms of the New
Generation." They
were planted in a row by the fence at
the north side of
the Park, where they will be safe from
the keen edge
of the caretaker's scythe. They have
put out leaves and
apparently every one of them will grow.
NEW LAWS OF INTEREST TO THE SOCIETY
On a previous page of this issue of the
QUARTERLY
will be found a statement in regard to
the appropriation
of $15,000 for real estate and other
improvements at
old Fort St. Clair, in Preble County,
Ohio. Other acts
of interest to the Society were passed
at the recent ses-
sion of the Legislature as follows:
A bill introduced by Honorable Joseph
H. Ebright
of Tuscarawas County appropriates
$10,000 for "the
purpose of acquiring and preserving the
site of the vil-
lage of Schoenbrun situated in Goshen
Township, Tus-
carawas County, Ohio." In this
village was built 150
years ago, by the Moravian
Missionaries, the first school
Reviews, Notes and Comments 551
house and the first church established
in the Ohio Coun-
try. When this property is improved it
is to be trans-
ferred to the custody of the Ohio State
Archaeological
and Historical Society.
A bill introduced by Honorable Thomas
L. Calvert
of Clark County appropriates $10,000
for "the purpose
of aiding in paying the cost of
constructing a monument
to General George Rogers Clark and to
commemorate
the battle of Piqua and birthplace of
Tecumseh." This
monument is to be erected by the Clark
County Histor-
ical Society and on its completion to
pass into possession
of the state and custody of the Ohio
State Archaeological
and Historical Society.
A bill introduced by Honorable Harvey
D. Cope,
authorizing the transfer, by county
commissioners, of
newspaper files to the custody of the
Ohio State Archae-
ological and Historical Society is now
a law. It pro-
vides that after bound newspaper files
are kept for ten
years the county commissioners may transfer
them to
the Society. It is believed that in
time many counties
will take advantage of this act and
that the library of
the Society will through the agency of
this law make
substantial additions to its newspaper
files.
WORLD WAR PAPERS
PRESENTED BY SERGEANT NEIL K. REESE
The Society is under especial
obligations to Sergeant
Neil K. Reese of the United States
Army, who has for-
warded valuable World War documents to
our library.
In his letter dated Coblenz, Germany,
February 15,
1923, he says in part:
552 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications Upon the withdrawal of these Forces and my return to the United States, I am forwarding to you, under separate cover, my file of publications of the Third Army and the American Forces in Germany, as I believe you may be able to obtain some valuable information from the same in compiling your history for the period covered by these orders. These documents give in detail the history of this branch of the army service. They constitute the funda- mental material from which must be written the record of service of the Third Army and the American Army of Occupation in Germany. The thanks of the Society are due to Sergeant Reese, whose home address is Seville, Ohio. |
|
OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
REVIEWS, NOTES AND COMMENTS
BY THE EDITOR
DEATH OF HONORABLE DANIEL J. RYAN
Early Friday morning, June 15, 1923,
Daniel Joseph
Ryan, Vice President of the Ohio State
Archaeological
and Historical Society, breathed his
last. He had been
in poor health for some time but the
end came unex-
pectedly. He passed without pain
"from the repose of
sleep to the repose of
death." This announcement
brings sadness to the members of the
Society and a large
circle of friends. A sketch of Mr.
Ryan's life and work
will appear in the next issue of the QUARTERLY.
SARAH ELIZABETH REYNOLDS
We regret to announce the death of Mrs.
Sarah
Elizabeth Reynolds, a life member of
the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society
and Secretary of
the Historical Society of Preble
County. At the age
of seventy-seven years she departed
this life April 5,
1923. She was the daughter of John M.
and Sarah
(Truax) Daugherty of Butler. County,
Ohio. She was
educated in the district schools of
Dickson Township,
Preble County, and married Roddie
Reynolds Novem-
ber 26, 1866. He was Secretary to
General Ben Le-
(542)