Ohio History Journal

REVIEWS, NOTES AND COMMENTS

 

 

BY THE EDITOR

 

THE NATION'S HISTORY

 

A new edition of The Nation's History by two Ohio

authors, Arthur R. Leonard, head of the Department

of History in the Central High School, and Bertha E.

Jacobs of the North High School, of Columbus, Ohio,

has just been issued by Henry Holt and Company of

New York City.

The content of the volume of 648 pages with ad-

denda, including 37 pages of biography, a list of im-

portant dates in 1789, and a copy of the Constitution

of the United States, is up to date in every particular.

It includes an account of the flight of Lindbergh to

Paris and his good-will flights to Central and South

America. It is copiously and judiciously illustrated and

contains some interesting plates in color.

In their "Preface to the New Edition" the authors

make the following statement:

The necessity for making new plates has made possible a

careful revision of the text in the interest of simplification and

teachableness.  The helpful suggestions of teachers who have

used the earlier edition have determined the direction of all

changes made. The earlier chapters of the book have been

shortened to make room for a fuller treatment of the Industrial

Revolution and recent history.  New thought-provoking prob-

lems have been added, and the unit organization of the book

has been emphasized by previews and self tests.

(618)

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Reviews, Notes and Comments          619

The authors hope that in its new dress the book may be more

useful than before in helping boys and girls to an intelligent

understanding and appreciation of our Nation's History.

While this work was written especially to meet the

demands for a seventh and eighth grade text-book in

American history, the interesting matter and style of

the work commend it to a much wider patronage. Open

it at almost any page and you will find it so interesting

that you will reluctantly lay it aside. Great care has

been exercised in the statement of facts and judgments

of the writers are just and free from bias.

This book was reviewed in a previous number of the

QUARTERLY. We can only add that the new edition

fulfills the promise set forth in the preface quoted above,

and is a very worthy addition to the literature of the

history of the United States.

 

INTERESTING AND VALUABLE CHRONICLES OF

SCIOTO COUNTY

Henry T. Bannon, former congressman and emi-

nent lawyer of Portsmouth, Ohio, has published a real

contribution to the history of Ohio in Stories Old and

Often Told, Being Chronicles of Scioto County, Ohio.

While these stories are old and some of them have been

frequently told, the author presents them in a new light

and an attractive style. We quote from his introduc-

tion. It is a statement of his method and a plea for the

writing of local history.

Many were the books that were read, many were the library

catalogues examined, many were the volumes thumbed through,

that this simple book might be made. The doing of it has been

a joy.  That the effort may prove wasted, is a fear.  These

chronicles are faithful; as thorough as the writer's diligence and

perseverance could make them. Mistakes there may be, but the

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salient outstanding facts are here.  There has been no yielding

to temptations either to state conclusions or to make forecasts.

History must live in the past; a man, never.

The study of history is a stimulus to youth.  Such was the

inspiration for Longfellow's lines, beginning, "Lives of great men

oft remind us." The history of a nation can deal only with the

very few who have attained the pinnacles of fame. But the lives

of the outstanding men of any community, men known in per-

son, or by their works, to the youthful reader, are better

reminders to such readers that they, too, may make their lives

sublime; and, departing, leave behind them their footprints on the

sands of time. It is the age old struggle with oblivion. Genius

is a germ either present or absent at birth.  If present, it will

grow.   If not, it cannot be acquired.  But persistence, applica-

tion, economy, and integrity will make useful men and women

of us all.  What such men and women may accomplish, the

community accomplishes; no more, no less.   Many are they,

unmentioned here, who have done much to make Scioto County

notable.        To tell of each is impossible; to discriminate is un-

thinkable.     Our development is due to the concerted efforts of

bankers who knew credits; merchants versed in salesmanship;

farmers who rotated crops; manufacturers who knew their costs;

artisans, skilled and earnest; lawyers, learned and alert; physi-

cians, sympathetic and wise; teachers, patient and thorough;

statesmen, logical and foresighted. All are merged into a narra-

tion of events creative of our common weal.   The youth of

Scioto County can, and they will carry on the work of those men

and women who have done the things set down in this book.

The work throughout bears evidence of the state-

ment of the author, "These chronicles are faithful; as

thorough as the writer's diligence and perseverance

could make them." Every page bears testimony to the

consultation of authorities, and the exercise of good

judgment in weighing testimony and in the winnowing

of the material of real importance from the mess of

authorities consulted. As evidence of his judicious han-

dling of conflicting sources, we quote his statement on

the French claim that La Salle discovered the Ohio

River. On this subject he says:

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Reviews, Notes and Comments            621

 

La Salle is known to history as an early explorer of the

Great Lakes region, the Mississippi Valley, and the Ohio River.

There is documentary proof that La Salle descended the Ohio

River to "the falls" (now Louisville) in 1670. This proof is

not without elements of weakness, however, and some historians

refuse to accord him that honor. Parkman bases his conclusion

that La Salle discovered the Ohio upon a memorial written by

the explorer in 1677, in which he states that he made such dis-

covery and, also, upon the fact that his rival, Joliet, recorded

upon his map, dated 1674, that La Salle followed the route of the

Ohio. It is conceded that he knew of the existence of the river

and was searching for it.  The intensity of his courage and

determination add much weight to the claims made in his favor.

But it is certain that La Salle made a voyage on the Mississippi.

By virtue of this voyage, France claimed all the region drained

by the Mississippi River.  This, of course, included the Ohio

Valley.

The book is an excellent example in typography,

paper and illustrations of first-class modern book-mak-

ers' art. The illustration are appropriate. They include

facsimiles of manuscripts and maps not usually found

in one volume. Some of the chapters scarcely belong

exclusively to "Stories Old."  Among the chapters that

have a very distinct reference to later time are "The

Clay Products Industry," "The Shoe Industry" and

Poets of Scioto County." An appendix of 38 pages is

devoted to weather reports, flood and low water stages,

plants, birds and the origin of place names, all of which

are distinct additions to the value of the work.

 

THE JOURNAL OF NICHOLAS CRESSWELL

1774-1777

There has recently come into the possession of the

library of this Society The Journal of Nicholas Cress-

well. Cresswell came to America in 1774 and remained

until 1777. He came intending to purchase land in the

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Illinois country. Shortly after he reached America, the

Revolution began and he could not return to his native

country, England. He was a faithful subject of the

King and was not in sympathy with the Revolution. He

was regarded with suspicion by the American patriots

and experienced all the difficulties of a Tory during the

greater part of his enforced sojourn in this country. In

1775 he made a journey down the Ohio River accom-

panied by seven men, who like himself, were interested

in the purchase of land. This ranks with other impor-

tant early voyages down that historic waterway.

He was well educated, as his Journal of 287 pages

attests. The observations that he has faithfully re-

corded constitute a valuable account of conditions in

America in the early years of the Revolution and the

period of unrest immediately preceding it, from the

point of view of a loyal subject of King George III

of England. He met some of the men who figure prom-

inently in the history of the time and is frank in his

opinions of their actions and character. He is equally

frank in regard to his own activities and opinions.

When we understand that he was in entire sympathy

with the Tories, we may readily admit that from his

point of view his Journal is a record of facts as he saw

them and a sincere expression of his judgment.

His observations on the life and character of "Gen-

eral Washington" are full of interest and not altogether

to the discredit of "The Father of his Country." We

quote briefly:

The General seems by nature calculated for the post he is in;

he has a manner and behaviour peculiar to himself and particu-

larly adapted to his present station and rank in life. It is said

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Reviews, Notes and Comments            623

 

(and I believe with great truth) that he never had an intimate,

particular bosom friend, or an open professed enemy in his life.

By this method of behaviour he in a great measure prevents all

parties and factions, and raises a spirit of emulation amongst his

officers and men. As there is no favourite to pay their court to

and pave their way to preferment, and the General, I believe, is

proof against bribery, they have no way to advance themselves

but by merit alone. His private character is amiable, he is much

beloved and respected by all his acquaintances.  [Page 256].

Again he said:

He certainly deserves some merit as a General, that he with

his Banditti, can keep General Howe dancing from one town to

another for two years together, with such an Army as he has.

Confound the great Chucclehead, he will not unmuzzle the mas-

tiffs, or they would eat him and his ragged crew in a little time

were they properly conducted with a man of resolution and spirit.

Washington, my Enemy as he is, I should be sorry if he should

be brought to an ignominious death.  [Page 257].

It is remarkable that this Journal should have been

carefully preserved in private hands in almost perfect

condition for one hundred and forty-seven years before

its publication. The Foreword to the book is written

by Samuel Thornely of West Sussex, England. Mr.

Thornely is the great-grandson of Joseph Cresswell, the

youngest brother of Nicholas Cresswell. The book is

published by The Dial Press, New York City.

 

POPULATION MAP OF OHIO, 1920

Mr. Guy-Harold Smith of the Ohio State Univer-

sity has contributed to the Geographical Review        of

July, 1928, a very valuable and illuminating monograph

entitled, A Population Map of Ohio for 1920. The text

is concise and comprehensive. No words are wasted.

Much information is compressed in the seven pages of

printed matter. The two maps, the "Physiographic

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Provinces of Ohio" and the "Population of Ohio, 1920,"

are illuminating and tell their story at a glance.

 

CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA

The Old Free State, a Contribution to the History

of Lunenburg County and Southside Virginia, is the

title of a very interesting and valuable addition that has

recently been made to the library of the Society. This

work in two volumes by Landon C. Bell contains a

wealth of historical and genealogical material gleaned

by faithful and painstaking research from original

sources. A review of this important contribution to

the history of "The Old Dominion" will appear in a

future issue of the QUARTERLY.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We are under obligation to Mr. B. A. Aughinbaugh,

Ohio Department of Education, for use of a photograph

from which the cut of the tomb of William Henry Har-

rison has been made for this issue.

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