Ohio History Journal

DOCUMENTARY DATA

 

BY BERTHA E. JOSEPHSON

 

THE DOCUMENTARY TREASURE CHEST

Beginning with the present issue, the curator of this depart-

ment will try to include in every quarterly report, not only in-

formation about recent acquisitions and data on materials which

have been cataloged but also, informal "jotations" on some of the

valuable deposits in the Society's document vaults. The head of

this department believes that one of the reasons why doctoral

dissertations are so dull is because neither the advanced students

who write dry-as-dust theses nor their professors who advise them

are always aware of the rich possibilities that lie buried in manu-

script and archival vaults. As custodian of such a treasure trove,

the writer of this section, therefore, feels a sacred obligation to

cast her "divining rod" and announce, from time to time, oppor-

tunities for "mining" certain promising literary and historical

"lodes."

In addition, she will take the liberty to make occasional sug-

gestions as to flagrant deficiencies as well as marked needs in

local and general history writing. She invites readers, both lay

and professional, to correspond with her on these problems and

promises prompt attention to all suggestions or inquiries. With

your cooperation, this section can become a clearing house for

ideas and can result in the furthering of knowledge about local,

State and national history. Do not hesitate. Let us have your

pet ideas or gripes. They might help the next fellow.

For an "ice-breaker" here are two collections among the many

that lie dormant in the manuscript vaults: The first is the James

M. Comly Collection, the letters and papers of the one-time owner

and editor of the Ohio State Journal and later U. S. Minister to

Hawaii. This collection of over 30 boxes, for the period from

1832 to 1887, has enough material in it to rate a good life history.

Comly was a vigorous figure whose interests and acquaintances

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172   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

were widespread. Letters from many famous individuals in the

world of journalism, literature and politics are to be found in the

collection and though some of these have been examined by re-

searchers who sought data on the period, the collection has never

been thoroughly "dug into" for biographical purposes or from

the standpoint of journalistic history. The collection is chrono-

logically arranged and an itemized, box by box, list of contents

was recently prepared by Miss Genevieve Potts. The Comly

papers offer material not only to students in history, but also to

those in journalism, political science and literature.

The second collection is that of the Civil War financier, Jay

Cooke. This large collection, consisting mainly of family letters

and of business papers during the period of the bankruptcy, com-

prises about 36 boxes plus several cartons and covers the period

from 1845 to 1892. All of the papers in the collection (secured

from two different sources) were acquired after the writing of

the Oberholtzer biography (Ellis P. Oberholtzer, Jay Cooke,

Financier of the Civil War, 1907), and the composition of the

Larson volume (Henrietta M. Larson, Jay Cooke, Private Banker,

1936). Neither Dr. Oberholtzer nor Miss Larson examined this

collection. There is, therefore, an opportunity here for some am-

bitious historical writer to do a new study of Cooke with the aid

of these manuscripts. The earlier part of the collection which con-

sists of 26 boxes, has been chronologically arranged.  Just a

start has thus far been made on the arrangement of the latter half

of the collection (about 10 boxes and several cartons). No index

or calendar exists for either portion. The collection is virgin

territory but can offer interesting possibilities to the biographer or

business historian with sufficient patience to wade through the

mass of items and sufficient imagination to extract the ore from

the dross.

The following miscellaneous letters have recently been cata-

loged and arranged chronologically:

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DOCUMENTARY DATA               173

E. Allen to Gen. Haldimand, June 16, 1782, about Rev. War. T. Lewis to Coroner of Lowdown Co., Aug. 7, 1784, handmade paper, about debt. J. C. Symmes and G. Turner to S. Win- throp, at Vincennes, July 10, 1790, 5pp., handmade paper, about court sea- sons. A. Whitlock to W. M. Clellan, from Fort Washington to Fort Hamilton, Aug. 11, 1800-also ten other receipts, notes, etc. 1793-1813, about bus. & friends. J. Liggot, S. Bond, G. Atchison, and J. Lerner to W. Sargent from Cahokia, Sept. 28, 1797, 4pp., handmade paper. A. St. Clair to J. Smith at Cinn., June 4, 1800, 3pp., handmade paper, about In- dians. B. Tappan to J. Sloane, from Canfield to Chillicothe, Nov. 28, 1805, 4pp., hand- made paper, about division of state. E. Putnam to J. Meigs, to Zanesville from Marietta, Jan. 28, 1812, 2pp., hand- made paper, about a note. L. Cass to ----, from Urbana, Aug. 24, 1812, 2pp., handmade paper, about Hull's surrender. A. Nye to H. Nye from    Springfield to Urbana, Sept. 8, 1812, 4pp., about banking and politics. B. Tappan to T. Worthington from Huron to Washington City, Nov. 28, 1812, about Campaign of 1812. J. McLean to E. A. Brown from Wash- ington City, March 17, 1816, about Congress and election. E. Fisher to N. Fisher from Xenia to Mendon, Mass., Dec. 28, 1817, 4pp., about life in Ohio. L. Cass to J. C. Calhoun, from Wash- ington, Jan. 16, 1823, 4pp., about Hull's Army. A. Morrill to M. Morrill from Ogden to Canterbury, N. H., April 30, 1824, 4pp., about family. W. Howard to R. G. Harper, from Wash- ington to Baltimore, Md., Sept. 17, 1824, 4pp., about Ohio & Chesapeake Canal. S. A. Otis to S. Baldwin, from Sandusky to New York, March 5, 1825, 2pp., about payment of account. A. Morrill to M. Morrill, from Ogden to Canterbury, N. H., Sept. 4, 1826, 3pp., about family.

R. & J. Merrick to Baldwin & Forbes, from Atwater to New York, Nov. 8, 1828, 2pp., about butter shipment. J. Q. Adams to C. Hammond, from Me- ridian Hill, Wash., to Cinn., O., March 22, 1829, 2pp., about obtaining terri- tory. R. & J. Merrick to Baldwin & Forbes, from Atwater to New York, Oct. 29, 1830, 2pp., about butter shipment. M. Clark to E. Rosaman, from Barnesville to Fairview, April, 1833, 4pp., about family. H. Carter to P. Bowers from Kirtlance Mills to Addison, Vt., May 19, 1833, 4pp., about family. L. Lucas to M. H. Kirby, from Piketon to Columbus, Aug. 7, 1833, 3pp., about vacancy for Judge. E. Whittlesey to J. Blunt, from Wash- ington, Jan. 24, 1834, about U. S. Senate. H. Clay to S. S. Bennett, from Ashland, June 23, 1837 (?), 2pp., copy, about livestock. C. Morris to J. Mices, from Washington City, Feb. 28, 1838, 2pp., handmade paper, about Congress and finances. J. Rinner to C. Rinner, from Germany to Zoar, O., April 29, 1838, 5pp., copy, about family in Germany and America. G. S. Sterling to S. Sterling, from Lima to Willoughby, Dec. 11, 1838, 4pp., about family and friends. M. Devine to M. L. Roseman, from Rush- ville to Fairview, July 6, 1839, 2pp., about family and friends. G. Williamson to A. B. Williamson, from Massillon to Newtown Square Post Of- fice, Oct. 19, 1840, 4pp., about trip through Ohio. N. B. B. to ----, 1840-42, copies, from Sinking Springs, and Columbus, about current news and politics-9 letters. S. F. Covington to S. Fulton, from Baton Rouge, La., to Rising Sun, Indiana, Jan. 13, 1841, 4pp., about farm prices. G. Steiley to Mrs. W. Streator, from Lima to Aurora, Jan. 31, 1841, 2pp., about family. J. Sturge to Friends Society, from New York, July 17, 1841, 3pp., about Anti- Slavery movement in America and Eng- land.

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174  OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

S. Richards to M. Eastman, from Marietta to Franklin, N. H., March 19, 1842, 4pp., about life in Marietta. M. S. Devine to I. A. Clarke, from Fair- view to Bolling-Green, Ill., May 4, 1842, 4pp., about family. E. Inlep to Mr. Whitmore, from White- ford to Checkeberry Village, Vt., Aug. 28, 1842, 2pp. (also 2 copies), about farms and friends. F. Renick to ----, from Janey's (?) Camp, May 22, 1843, about Indians. ---- to S. B. Ford, from Granville to Milford, Conn., March 30, 1844, 4pp., about family. M. S. Devine to E. A. Roseman, from Tereana to Fairview, April 14, 1844, 4pp., about family and friends. W. M. M. Wright to I. Miller, from Homer to Ludberry, Vt., Oct. 15, 1844, 3pp., about trip to Vt. M. B. Sterling and G. Sterling to W. S. Streator, from Three Rivers, Michigan, to Louisville, Ky., Dec. 12, 1844, 4pp., about family. W. H. Seward to 18 men, from Broadway House, Cinn., April 21, 1846, 2pp., about Cincinnati. M. S. Devine to E. Roseman, to Fairview, May 3, 1846, 2pp., about family and friends. W. G. Lane to R. B. Hayes, from Berlin, Germany, June 12, 1846, 4pp., about Germany and voyage to Europe. M. & G. Sterling to W. S. Streator, from Three Rivers, Michigan, to Ravenna, O., July 25, 1846, 4pp., about family. W. G. Lane to R. B. Hayes, from Berlin, Germany, Sept. 10, 1846, 4pp., about Europe. W. G. Lane to R. B. Hayes, from Berlin, Germany, to Lower Sandusky, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1846, 4pp., about Europe. N. Huson to T. Huson, from New Orleans and Mexico to Peru, O., Nov. 29, 1846, and March 25, 1847, about trip to New Orleans and Mexico and Mexican War. J. Ewing to W. Bebb, from Cinn., to Cols., April 29, 1847, 2pp., about mus- tering of Ohio Volunteers. H. K. Heywood to Mrs. J. B. Thornton, from Venice, O., to Saco, Maine, May 21, 1847, 4pp., about family.

J. Roseman to I. B. Findley, from Fair- view to Cols., Dec. 1, 1847, 4pp., about family and friends. M. B. Sterling to W. S. Streator, from Three Rivers, Michigan, to Ravenna, Nov. 3, 1848, 4pp., about family and friends. M. Sterling to W. S. Streator, from Lima, Dec. 12, 1848, 4pp., about family. J.---- to Mrs. W. S. Streator, from Willoughby to Ravenna, May 21, 1849, 4pp., about family. G. Graham to A. B. Sullivan, from Cinn. to Cinn., Aug. 13, 1851, 2pp., about land for parks in Cinn. J. W. McDonald to his father, from Platte River below Ft. Larimie, May 26, 1852, 4pp., about early settlers on their way to Calif. M. Taylor to R. Wood, from Cinn. to Cols., Aug. 14, 1852, handmade paper, introducing Peter I. Sullivan. S. F. Cary to E. W. Jackson, from Cinn., Dec. 30, 1853, 3pp., about dishonesty of Mr. Van Wagner. W. Cracraft to L. C. Draper, from Van Buren, Penn., July 28, 1853, Sept. 1, 1853, Oct. 1, 1853, Feb. 22, 1860, 12pp., copies, about war with Indians. S. F. Cary to E. W. Jackson, from College Hill, O., Jan. 20, 1854, 2pp., about temperance movement. W. Seuthstrom   to ----, from   Cinn., July 12, 1854, about new member of Board of Trustees for Cinn. School Board. S. F. Cary to E. W. Jackson, from College Hill to Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 27, 1854, 2pp., about temperance move- ment in Ohio. M. Sims to W. W. Pierce, from Zanes- ville, March 12, 1855, about salary of Probate Judge. D. S. Ford to his father, from Gallipolis, July 4, 1855, 4pp., about family and grocery store. D. S. Ford to his father, from Gallipolis, April 28, 1856, 2pp., about family. H. N. Ford to S. B. Ford, from Gallipolis, May 26, 1856, 3pp., about family and western settlers. W. H. Maltby to Etta ----, from Cleve- land, Oct. 6, 1856, 4pp., about family and politics.

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DOCUMENTARY DATA                175

S. F. Cary to E. W. Jackson, from College Hill, O., Dec. 12, 1856, 2pp., about family and temperance movement in Ohio. L. Cass to J. M. Mason, from Washington to Senate, Feb. 28, 1859, 2pp., about relations between U. S. and China. S. F. Cary to E. W. Jackson, from College Hill, O., April 5, 1860, 2pp., about temperance movement. J. J. Andrews to D. S. McGavic, from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Glemingsburg, Ky., June 5, 1862, copy; last will and testament of Andrews.. J. H. Ogden to E. P. Ogden, from Camp Frederick, Va., to Chillicothe, Dec. 8, 1862, 3pp., about camp life. J. W. Dunham to W. P. Mellen, from Cinn., April 28, 1864, 2pp., about gov- ernment contract for sale of cotton. S. S. Mill to G. P. Putnam, from Mark- heath Park, Ky., July 2, 1864, 2pp., about politics. A. Lincoln to Mrs. Bixby, from Washing- ton, D. C., to Boston, Mass., Nov. 21, 1864, copy, letter of condolence. A. Hart to J. Brough, from Ravenna, 1864 (?), about the return of a fugi- tive. W. Allie to B. Reed, from Akron, Feb. 17, 1865, 3pp., about drafting of men. W. ---- to his brother, from    Chatta- nooga, Tenn., April 24, 1865, 2pp., about Civil War and death of Lincoln. E. C. Turrell to ----, from Bainbridge, April 30, 1865, 3pp., about Lincoln's funeral train. Will ---- to his brother, from Chatta- nooga, Tenn., May 27, 1865, 2pp., about friends. G. C. Reed to B. Reed, from Oberlin, Jan. 21, 1868, 4pp., argument against secret societies. G. C. Reed to B. Reed, from Aurora, Jan. 11, 1869, 4pp., about Masons and family. J. R. Baird to B. Reed, from Rockford, Ill., June 14, 1869, about religion. G. M. Tuttle to B. Reed, from Warren to Gerard, Aug. 12, 1869, 2pp., about secret societies. ---- Price to B. Reed, from    Greens- burg, Feb. 14, 1870, about secret so- cieties.

W. M. Ingersoll to B. Reed, from Youngs- town, May 30, 1870, 2pp., about secret societies and churches. E. J. Goodrich to B. Reed, from Oberlin, Sept. 13, 1870, about Masons. J. A. Wardell to Messrs. Dewey and Shot- well, from New Philadelphia, March 21, 1871, 2pp., about sale of land and business conditions. N. M. Buck to B. Reed, from Mecca, July 11, 1871, 2pp., about Anti-Masons. E. Bascom to B. Reed, from Greensburg, July 17, 1871, 4pp., about Anti-Masons. F. D. Parish to B. Reed, from Sandusky, July 22, 1871, about Masons and elec- tion. A. Falkner to B. Reed, from Greensburg, July 26, 1871, 4pp., about Anti- Masons. V. Phillips to B. Reed, Feb. 8, 1862, about Masons. F. Sewall to B. A. Ferris, from Urbana University, Dec. 28, 1872, 4pp., about article "New Theory of the Origin of Species." J. M. Blakeslee to J. H. Reed, from Cole- brook, 1875, 4pp., about friends. A. Fanger to G. W. Rodabaugh, from Celina, March 3, 1876, about friends. A. Belding to A. E. Lee, from Ravenna, April 14, 1876, 2pp., about a Pardon. W. F. Poole to J. A. Garfield, from Chi- cago, Ill., July 17, 1876, typed copy, paper on "Ordinance of 1787 and Dr. Cutler." ---- to W. F. Tibballs, from    Cinn., March, 1877, 2pp., about an appoint- ment as physician. G. S. Bowen to W. Allen, from Chicago, Ill., to Chillicothe, July 11, 1877, about Independent Greenback Club. W. L. O'Brien to J. Bell, from Cols. to Cinn., Dec. 5, 1877, 2pp., letter of introduction. N. Thomas to R. Donovan, from Ohio Penitentiary, Dec. 19, 1881, prison rec- ord of Timothy Donovan. R. Donovan to Gov. of Ohio, from Louis- ville, Ky., Dec. 22, 1881, 2pp., plea for pardon of Timothy Donovan. H. W. Donaldson to ----, from Phila- delphia, Pa., Feb. 21, 1882, about U. S. Land Laws.

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176 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

J. L. Wilson to Adj. Gen. of Ohio, from Somerset, O., July 24, 1884, 2pp., about the correct dress for members of Rifle Regiment. C. P. Dewey and A. B. Dewey to R. G. Barr, from Chicago, Ill., to Wheeling, W. Va., May 15, 1886, about settling of estate. J. E. Campbell to W. Jones, from Office of Gov., Cols. to Cinn., March 7, 1890, about vacation facilities. J. N. Kates, Jr., to --, from Rarden, O., March 4, 1896, about probation of will. M. A. Hanna to H. P. Lewandowski, from New York to New York, Aug. 20, 1896, about Polish-Lutheran American Repub- lican League. M. A. Hanna to J. F. Richard, from Cleve- land to Washington, D. C., Dec. 4, 1896, about the success of the election. E. Bennett to W. D. Howells, from Phila- delphia, Pa., June 19, 1897, 9pp., about his life and career.

B. Whitlock to M. T. Herrick, from To- ledo to Osterville, Mass., July 7, 1904, 6pp., about friends. J. B. Coulter to W. Va. State Service Commission, n. d., 2pp., copy, about Civil War services. M. S. Devine to E. A. Roseman, from Ingleside Cottage to Fairview, n. d., 2pp., about obtaining a teaching po- sition. M. S. Devine to E. A. Roseman, from Ingleside Cottage to Fairview, n. d., 4pp., about family. M. S. Devine to M. L. Roseman, from Middletown to Fairview, n. d., 2pp., about family. H. Nye to The Editors of the Cincinnati Gazette, n. d., 4pp., about Campaign of 1812. W. Va. State Service Commission, Charles- ton, W. Va., to J. B. Coulter, n. d., 2pp,. in answer to services claim.

The Executive Correspondence of the past six years' ad- ministration of Governor John W. Bricker was recently added to the voluminous collection of governors' correspondence and other State Archives in the custody of this department.

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