Ohio History Journal




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EDITORIALANA.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.

On September 19, 1904, a meeting of the Executive Committee of

the Trustees of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society

was held in the rooms of the society, Page Hall, O. S. U., with the follow-

ing members present: Mr. George F. Bareis, Col. John W. Harper,

Mr. W. H. Hunter, Prof. B. F. Prince, Secretary E. O. Randall, Hon. D.

J. Ryan, Hon. S. S. Rickly, Prof. G. F. Wright and Mr. E. F. Wood.

The Secretary presented the resignation of Professor J. P. MacLean

as Trustee of the Society and also as a life member. Professor Mac-

Lean since his connection with the Society dating back to the annual

meeting of April 26, 1901, when although not even being a member of

the Society, he was elected a Trustee, has taken great interest in the

progress and success of the Society, having written several articles of

historical value which have appeared from time to time in the Quarterly

and having especially devoted himself to the gathering of material con-

cerning the history and literature of the Shaker Societies particularly

those in Ohio. He has made numerous donations to the Society of

books published by or pertaining to the Shakers and has also collected

for and delivered to the Society a considerable number of historical

Shaker articles in the shape of household utensils, articles of dress,

implements of farming, manufacture and so on. All this material the

Society received, catalogued and prepared to properly arrange and pre-

serve. On August 10th, during a visit to the museum and library of the

Society, Professor MacLean requested one of the assistants in charge to

send him a complete list of all articles and books delivered by him to the

museum and that receipts of all donations be sent to the various donors.

This was during the time when the curator of the museum and library

was absent in Saint Louis having in charge the exhibit of the Society at

the Louisiana Exposition and unusual duties devolved upon the assistants

in charge. On September 1st, Professor MacLean wrote the Secretary,

complaining that he had not received the requested list from the museum.

In explanation of the delay the museum assistant wrote Professor Mac-

Lean as follows:

"COLUMBUS, OHIO, September 6, 1904.

PROF. J. P. MACLEAN, Frankin, Ohio.

My Dear Sir:-

The list of Shaker pamphlets and books was forwarded to you

some time ago. Mr. Mills has not been home in the meantime and I

(89)



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have had other duties besides making the list and answering receipt of

the Shaker material so that the delay was unintentional. If you have

not received the list please let me know and I will make a duplicate at

once.

Very truly yours," etc.

 

 

To the expression in this letter, perfectly harmless and proper,

"Shaker material" Professor MacLean at once took offense and in the

face of attempted explanations by the Secretary to the effect that nothing

was farther from the intention of the writer than the casting of any

reflection upon the Shaker Society in the term "material," Professor Mac-

Lean insisted upon an immediate resignation of his Trusteeship and after

waiting only a few days for action upon it by the Executive Committee

which had not yet met, he followed up his resignation by returning his

life certificate and the peremptory demand that his name be erased from

the list of membership. His resignation was dated September 13 and

his demand for removal from the list of members was dated September 17.

Tile Executive Committee after making itself fully acquainted with

the facts in the premises unanimously accepted the resignation of Pro-

fessor MacLean as Trustee and also by the same formal vote ordered

the Secretary to remove the name of Professor MacLean from the list

of membership as per his request. In both of these actions the expres-

sions on the part of the Committee and the Secretary were general that

Professor MacLean had rendered admirable and valuable services to the

Society in his studies and investigations of the history and various phases

of Shakerism in Ohio and that they sincerely regretted that he felt com-

pelled to discontinue his relationship with the Society. A committee

consisting of three was appointed by the chair to present at the next

meeting of the Executive Committee a name or names of candidates

for the trusteeship to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Pro-

fessor MacLean.

Mr. W. H. Hunter presented to the Society a handsome framed pho-

tograph of the medallion of Ohio's first Governor, Edward Tiffin. The

medallion being the one which was placed in the Court House at Chilli-

cothe with fitting ceremonies at the time of the Ohio Centennial held in

May, 1903. The photograph was accepted by the Committee with thanks

to Mr. Hunter and with directions to the Curator that it be hung on the

walls of the Society's library.

Secretary Randall and Assistant Treasurer Wood on September 6-10

made a trip in behalf of the Society to the Saint Louis Exposition to

inspect the exhibit being made by the Society in the Anthropological

Building. They found the same in every respect highly creditable to the

Society and the management and efficiency of Curator W. C. Mills. It

was the favorite quarter of visitation for the thousands of spectators



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who daily sought entrance to the exposition. During their visit, in com-

pany with a party of archeologists including Curator Mills and Pro-

fessor Starr, the eminent archeological scholar of Chicago University,

Messrs Wood and Randall made a trip to the famous Cahokio Mound

located in Illinois on the Mississippi opposite Saint Louis. This is the

largest mound now remaining constructed by the mound builders. The

trip proved to be a most delightful and profitable one as the party were

the fortunate auditors of informal dissertations, by the various scholars

present, upon the antiquity and purpose of the great mound, and the

surrounding ones, of which there are more than one hundred in number.

On nomination of Colonel John W. Harper, the names of many

prominent gentlemen, resident in Cincinnati, were elected to active mem-

bership in the Society.

 

*      *     *      *     *

On November 28 a meeting of the Executive Committee was held

in the reference rooms of the Public Library, Columbus, with the follow-

ing members present: General R. Brinkerhoff, Mr. George F. Bareis,

Col. J. W. Harper, Prof. B. F. Prince, Secretary E. O. Randall, and Mr.

E. F. Wood.

Explanations of absence were received from Hon. M. S. Greenough,

Mr. W. H. Hunter, Hon. D. J. Ryan and Hon. S. S. Rickly.

The Secretary submitted for the consideration of the Committee

some letters which had passed since the last executive meeting between

the Secretary and Professor MacLean and also between Professor Mac-

Lean and General Brinkerhoff, President of the Society. The only por-

tion of this correspondence worthy of attention was the request by Pro-

fessor MacLean that the Society return to the Shakers any of the material

which it had received through Professor MacLean and which the Society

did not desire to retain. Without dissent it was decided by the committee

that the Society would return none of the Shaker gifts as these donations

had come properly into the possession and ownership of the Society and

there was no legitimate cause for the return of any. Indeed, the Society

had been at some expense in their reception; moreover these donations

were regarded as of great interest and value by the Society and their

acquisition had been duly appreciated. Indeed, the Secretary was re-

quested to inform the Shakers that the Society would be very much

pleased to receive further donations from them and would properly place

and care for such gifts in its museum.

The committee appointed at the previous meeting of the Executive

Committee to nominate a successor to Professor MacLean reported in

favor of Hon. R. E. Hills of Delaware and he was unanimously elected

to fill out the unexpired term which will terminate at the next annual

meeting of the Society to be held in the Spring of 1905.

The Secretary reported to the Committee that on October 11, he had

been invited as a representative of the Society to be present at the dedi-



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cation of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall now being erected

on East Broad Street, Columbus, under the auspices of a commission

appointed by the Governor. He had accepted the invitation and was

present at the open air exercises in the afternoon when the cornerstone

was laid with fitting ceremonies. Captain N. B. Abbott presided. Ad-

dresses were made by Governor Herrick, Ex-Governor Nash, both life

members of The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. Gen-

eral Eugene Powell on behalf of the commission made the chief address.

In the evening an open campfire was held under the auspices of the

Wells Post and McCoy Post, G. A. R. in the auditorium of the Board

of Trade, at which the speakers were General H. A. Axline, Hon. J. Y.

Bassell, Hon. D. C. Badger, E. 0. Randall, Col. W. L. Curry and others.

Col. John W. Harper reported to the Committee an account of a

visit made by Messrs. Harper, Martzolff and Randall of the Executive

Committee to Serpent Mound on Saturday, November 5, 1904. The

party met at the Pennsylvania Depot in Cincinnati on the morning in

question and proceeded by the Norfolk and Western train to Peebles

whence they were driven by private conveyance to Serpent Mound, arriv-

ing there about 11 A. M., and remaining till 2 P. M., dining at the custo-

dian's house in the park. They were received by Daniel Wallace and

conducted over the property of the Society. The inspection revealed

that the park and the serpent were in most excellent condition; Mr.

Daniel Wallace, the custodian, having continued in his faithful and

efficient care of the property. Various suggestions were made by the

members of the committee to the custodian in regard to details in the

method of his protecting the property and preventing any injury being

done by improper intruders. Mr. Wallace, the custodian, petitioned the

visiting committee for the privilege of erecting at the expense of the

Society a summer kitchen and a chicken coop, the cost of both not to

exceed $110.00. The visiting committee reported in favor of this request

to the Executive Committee and the Secretary of the Society was in-

structed to notify Mr. Wallace that he might proceed with the erection

of the buildings in question.

The Secretary reported that he had received from Professor Mills,

the curator, the following letter:

 

"SAINT Louis, U. S. A., October 19, 1904.

My Dear Mr. Mills:

This is to apprise you formally of the action of the International

Jury of Awards in voting The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society a grand prize on the admirable exhibit in this building, with a

gold medal to yourself as collaborator. The certificates of award will

probably be issued in the course of the month, though the medal will

not be ready for delivery until some time later.

Yours cordially,  W. J. MCGEE, Chief."



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This is a great honor to our Society as it places it foremost among

the various competitors at the exposition. Several of the states and some

of the foreign countries, particularly of South America, having made very

elaborate archaeological exhibits. This award places the Ohio Society at

the head of the list in so far as its exhibit is to be compared with the

other exhibits. The Jury of Awards was as follows: Prof. M. H. Saville,

Columbia University, Chairman; Dr. De Lima, Brazil, Vice-Chairman;

Dr. George G. McCurdy, Yale University, Secretary; Madam Zelia Nuttall,

Mexico; Prof. F. W. Kelsey, University of Michigan; Prof. Mitchell

Corrall, Columbia University.

The exposition was closed at noon, December 1.

Professor W. C. Mills, curator of the Society has been the recipient

of many complimentary attentions during his stay at the exposition. He

was invited to address the Congress of Arts and Sciences, The National

meeting of Anthropologists, The Missouri Historical Society, Central

High School of Saint Louis and other bodies.

Prof. Mills was also made honorary Superintendent of Exhibits,

as the following letter will testify:

 

ST. Louis, U. S. A., November 15, 1904.

DR. WM. C. MILLS, Ohio State Exhibit, Anthropology Building.

MY DEAR SIR:-With the approval of the Director of Exhibits

under authority vested in him by the President of the Louisiana Pur-

chase Exposition Company, and in recognition of the confidence reposed

in your abilities and training, I have the honor to designate you Hon-

orary Superintendent of Archaeology in this department. This action is

inspired largely by the desire to convey to you some token of apprecia-

tion not merely of the high value of your special exhibit in the An-

thropology Building but of the scientific and scholarly character you

have constantly aided in giving to this Department.

In case you find it consistent with your duties toward the institu-

tion and state you have so efficiently represented to prepare a general

report on the archaeologic exhibits of the Department, I should greatly

appreciate the favor and should take much pleasure in incorporating the

same in the general report of the Department for publication by the

Exposition Company.

With assurances of consideration, I remain,

Yous respectfully,

W. J. MCGEE, Chief.

 

Mr. Mills has also been made Consulting Editor of the Records of

the Past, of which Prof. George F. Wright is editor-in-chief.

The Secretary announced that he had received a communication

from Reuben Gold Thwaites, Secretary of the Wisconsin Historical

Society, and a member of the Executive Committee of the National



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American Historical Association, requesting that our Society be repre-

sented at the forthcoming annual meeting of the American Historical

Association to be held in Chicago, December 28-30. The Executive

Committee selected Secretary Randall and Mr. A. J. Baughman, life

member of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and

Secretary of the Richland County Historical Society, as representatives

of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society at said meeting

in Chicago.

The Secretary reported that on the evening of Friday, November

18, the famous Liberty Bell passed through Columbus on its return trip

from Saint Louis to Philadelphia. It was on a special train accompanied

by the Mayor of Philadelphia and a committee of fifty citizens as its

escort. It stopped at the Columbus Union Depot from 7:00 to 7:30 P. M.

Arrangements had been made by Mayor Jeffrey and Superintendent

Shawan of the public schools to receive the bell with fitting ceremonies.

At the request of the Mayor a committee of thirteen each was selected

to represent the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the

American Revolution, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society,

Grand Army of the Republic, Ladies' Auxilliary to the Grand Army of

the Republic and the Schools and Universities of the city. The follow-

ing committee from the Society had been chosen as its representatives

on that occasion: lion. C. B. Galbreath, Mr. O. C. Hooper, Mr. W. A.

Mahony, Mr. F. B. Pearson, Mr. A. H. Smythe, Hon. H. C. Taylor,

Gen. J. L. Vance, Dr. D. H. Gard, Rev. I. F. King, Hon. O. A. Miller,

Dr. G. S. Stein, Miss Anna E. Riordan, and Mr. E. O. Randall.

This committee met at the Chittenden Hotel at 6:00 P. M. on the

evening in question and with the other committees proceeded to the

depot to await the arrival of the bell train. Thousands of school children

and citizens were present. There were appropriate exercises consisting

of music by the Columbus Glee Club, patriotic tunes by the G. A. R.

drum corps and a speech by Mayor Jeffrey on behalf of the Columbus

welcoming committees.

Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, Pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn,

was elected an honorary member of the Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society in recognition of his being the author of a book just

published by the Macmillan Company, being a story founded upon the

career of John Chapman known as "Johnny Appleseed," one of the unique

and original characters in early Ohio history. Dr. Hillis in his preface

to this book acknowledged his indebtedness to the Secretary of the Society

for valuable assistance in securing the historical material upon which his

book was founded. There were elected to life membership in the Society,

Hon. Jeptha Garrard, Cincinnati; Hon. E. V. Hale, Cleveland; Prof.

G. A. Hubbell, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky; Prof. John D. H. Mc-

Kinley of Columbus; Judge James B. Swing, Cincinnati; Dr. C. E.

Slocum, Defiance; Miss Martha J. Maltby, Columbus, and Mr. Stephen

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ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA.

The latest and one of the best encyclopedias to appear is that known

as the Encyclopedia Americana, published under the auspices of the

Scientific American Company and edited by Frederick Converse Beach

and a corps of competent assistants. It comprises sixteen large volumes

and is produced in the best mechanical and typographical form  with

copious illustrations, maps, tables, etc. One of its excellent features is

that the articles on leading subjects are written by well-known and

acknowledged authorities over their subscribed names. This gives the

topics thus treated an unusual attraction and value. The article on Ohio

is contributed by the Honorable Daniel J. Ryan, Ex-Secretary of State

and trustee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. It

goes without saying that Mr. Ryan has produced a most scholarly, read-

able and comprehensive chapter. The article would occupy some fifty

pages of an ordinary 12 mo. book and treats tersely of the typography,

hydrography, and geology of the State, its natural resources; material,

industrial, agricultural and other productions, its educational and charit-

able institutions; its development and government. The portion devoted

to the history of the Buckeye State from earliest pre-state times to the

present is a recital particularly satisfactory and interesting. Few, if any,

students are better versed in the history of Ohio than is Mr. Ryan and

in the compass of a few thousand words he has given in clear and logical

sequence the brief events in the remarkable and romantic narrative of

the emerging of the great and powerful Ohio Commonwealth from the

early days when La Salle (1669) on his journey of adventure discovered

the Ohio River and ascended its waters from the Mississippi to the site

of Louisville. Mr. Ryan's chapter is the best sketch of Ohio "in a nut

shell" we have yet seen in any publication.

 

 

GOVERNMENT OF OHIO.

The Government of Ohio, its history and administration is a new

volume just issued from the press of the Macmillan Company of New

York and written by Wilbur H. Siebert, professor of European History

at the Ohio State University; author of the Underground Railroad from

Slavery to Freedom. This little volume is an admirable and reliable

compendium of the history of the State and the structure and machinery

of its government. It deals with the growth of the government, begin-

ning with Ohio as a part of the Northwest Territory and following the

events that led to the organization of Ohio as a state. Chapters follow

in logical order concerning the character of the state constitution, citizen-

ship, suffrage, local governments of the state, the administration of jus-

tice, control of economic interests, management of public finances and



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so on. Professor Siebert is a careful and painstaking student and has

exercised discriminating judgment as to what is necessary for the proper

educidation of his subject. He gives under each chapter the list of

authorities which he has consulted or which may be further examined

by those who desire more exhaustive study of the various topics. The

book is accompanied by an excellent appendix giving a chronological

outline of the historical events incident to the development of the state,

beginning with the land grant of King James in 1609 and leading through

to the last event of importance in 1904 when the new school code was

enacted by the legislature. There is also a complete text of the ordi-

nance of 1787 and the enabling act of 1802, constitution of 1851, etc.

The book is thoroughly indexed and will be of incalculable interest not

only to the historical and economic student of Ohio but particularly to

teachers. It comprises one of the series of handbooks of American gov-

ernment; 308 pages with map of Ohio giving counties, railroads, etc.

Macmillan Company. 75 cents.

 

 

THE QUEST OF JOHN CHAPMAN.

John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed was an eccentric and

unique character who first appeared on the Ohio River about 1790 in a

boat filled with appleseeds. His plan was to go in advance of the settlers

planting orchards through the wilderness. This strange and philantropic

vocation he followed for some 25 or 30 years. His earlier career is

shrouded in mystery but is made romantic with the tradition that he was

early disappointed in love. He was a character of much ability in some

directions and exercised in his peculiar way a serviceable influence upon

the forest pioneers among whom he wandered.

Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis, the eloquent pastor of Plymouth Church

has chosen John Chapman as the hero of a fascinating and beautiful

narrative entitled "The Quest of John Chapman." Says Mr. Hillis in his

preface: "Save Col. Clark, he (Chapman) is the most striking man of

of the generation that crossed the Alleghanies." Sir Walter Scott thought

it a matter of moment to his countrymen that some one should preserve

the story of that old man who went through the cemeteries rechiseling

the names of dead heroes. But this scarred old hero of our republic is

a thousand times more fascinating than Old Mortality or the heroes of

the Nibelungen Lied." Mr. Hillis with a vivid and artistic imagination

and in the most felicitious and charming English initiates his narrative

in the Town of Redham, New England, at the time of the departure of

Mannasseh Cutler and his party for their journey to the Ohio wilder-

ness. John Chapman is the son of the village minister and has given his

heart to Dorothy, a daughter of Col. Durand. The latter is a prowd,

high-spirited, influential gentleman who objects to the alliance of his daugh-

ter with John. Col. Durand and Dorothy are members of the Ohio Com-



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pany. Subsequently John Chapman seeks in adventurous wanderings

through the western country, the home of his plighted love. There is,

of course, a rival, fascinating and chivalrous, but unworthy. Mr. Hillis

has with rare gifts of pen portrayal pictured the simple but perilous life

of the New England pioneers who sought their fortunes and amid the

Indian inhabited fastnesses beyond the Alleghanies. It is a beautiful

story, pure, idyllic, poetic and through the entire volume runs a delicate

vein of moral and elevating sentiment such as renders the story at once

a prose poem and an eloquent sermon. Amidst the flood of trashy and

demoralizing novels of the day Mr. Hillis' "Quest of John Chapman" is

like a draft of sparkling and refreshing water from some mountain spring.

It should be read by every lover of a thrilling story told in the choicest

language. It is published by Macmillan & Company, New York.

 

 

FIRST OHIO     BATTLE IN     1812 WAR.

The Van Wert Bulletin of October 1, 1904, is responsible for the

following:

The first trial of arms in Ohio, in the war of 1812, was a skirmish

on Marblehead peninsula between Indians in the employ of the British

and early white settlers in the Ottawa County firelands. The whites

were principally from  Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. Among them

was Joshua R. Giddings, then aged sixteen years, and who later stirred

the halls of Congress as one of Ohio's senators.

The skirmish resulted in the flight of the whites across Sandusky

Bay. After going but a short distance, however, they met a relief party

from their former homes bound for their own new settlement. The entire

party returned, and succeeded in dispersing the erstwhile successful in-

vaders. But it was only after a terrible conflict, and after many whites.

lost their lives, that the redskins were forced to retreat.

A number of years after this memorable conflict the survivors of

the battle met on the spot where the conflict took place. It was agreed

that they should meet at stated periods, but the few who assembled in

later years dwindled until finally in 1864, but one was left. That person

was Joshua R. Giddings, and, visiting the scene of the conflict for the

last time, as fate destined it to be the last, he erected a monument to the

memory of the hundred brave men who fought the skirmish and resisted

the siege which was Ohio's debut in the war of 1812.

A short time after the placing of this little stone, and in the same

year, 1864, Giddings died. The monument was placed by Giddings at

Meadowbrook, a beautiful spot near Sandusky Bay, and but a short dis-

tance from Johnson's Island, another place which became a location of

history as the federal prison for southern prisoners captured in the War

of the Rebellion.

Vol. XIV-7.



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STORY OF THE FIRELANDS.

The following interesting account of the "Firelands" is taken from

the West Liberty Banner:

Unnumbered native Ohioans, not to speak of hundreds of thousands

of residents of the state from foreign lands and other states of the union,

must have wondered why a fertile and productive tract in northern Ohio,

a district which in no way hints of the ravages of fire, should be called

the "Firelands." Among all the vicissitudes of Ohio's early history great

conflagrations were known for their absence. No such terrible forest

fires swept this state as ravaged large areas in Michigan and Wisconsin

seventy or eighty years later.

The fires to which the name refers raged in Connecticut, not Ohio,

and they were the work of British or Tory soldiers instead of the result

of accidents or natural causes. In 1781, when the long struggle for inde-

pendence was nearly ended, Benedict Arnold commanded an expedition

which ravaged the Connecticut coast of Long Island Sound. He burned

New London and other towns and left behind misery and destitution

as well as a greater hatred himself than he had earned before the outrage

upon his native state.

This and other cruel and senseless attacks upon Connecticut's towns

left so strong a feeling of sympathy and injustice behind that in disposing

of Connecticut's rights in lands now forming part of Ohio, 781 square

miles in the extreme western edge in the Western Reserve were reserved

to reimburse those who had suffered by the British raids. Five ranges

of townships running north and south were included in this tract.

Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie extend so far southward at this point

that the five ranges of townships contained only about 500,000 acres of

land. The tract measured some twenty-seven miles by thirty. The Con-

necticut sufferers from the torch of the enemy lived chiefly in New Lon-

don, Norwalk and Fairfield, and it was from these towns that many of

the settlers of the "Firelands" came to build in the Ohio wilderness

settlements bearing the same names and having like civic ideals and

character.

 

 

 

OHIO COLONIAL WAR SOCIETY.

On November 25, 1904, at the tenth general court of the Society of

Colonial Wars in the State of Ohio, held at the Queen City Club, Cin-

cinnati, the following officers were elected:

Governor -Perin Langdon, Cincinnati.

Deputy Governor - Charles Theodore Greve, Cincinnati.

Lieutenant Governor-Hiram    Harper Peck, Cincinnati.



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Secretary--Harry Brent Mackoy, Covington, Ky.

Deputy Secretary - Murray Marvin Shoemaker, Cincinnati.

Treasurer - Howard Sydenham Winslow, Cincinnati.

Registrar -Robert Ralston Jones, Cincinnati.

Historian -John Uri Lloyd, Norwood.

Chancellor - Herbert Jenney, Cincinnati.

Surgeon - Dr. Phineas Sanborn Conner, Cincinnnati.

Chaplain -  Rev. Henry Melville Curtis, Cincinnati.

Gentlemen of the Council - Nathaniel Henchman Davis, Cincinnati;

Edwin C. Gashorn, Cincinnati; Charles Humphrey Newton, Marietta;

Harry Langdon Laws, Cincinnati; Dr. Gilbert Langdon Bailey, Cincin-

nati; John Sanborn Conner, Cincinnati; James Wilson Bullock, Williams-

town, Mass.; George Merrell, Cincinnati; Roderick Douglass Barney,

Wyoming; Benjamin Rush, Cowen, Cincinnati.

Committee on   Membership-Achilles Henry     Pugh, Cincinnati;

Charles James Stedman, Glendale; Ward Baldwin, Cincinnati; Howard

Barney, Wyoming; Michael Myers Shoemaker, Cincinnati.

Committee on Collection of Historical Documents and Records--

Rev. Dudley Ward Rhodes, Cincinnati; Prof. Edward Orton, Jr., Colum-

bus; Ethan Osborn Hurd, Plainville.

Following the election a banquet was held, after which speeches

were made by the retiring officers and Gen. B. R. Cowen.

The flowers used on the occasion were sent as a remembrance to the

widows of the two members who have died in the last year, Mrs. W. W.

Seely and Mrs. John Bailey.

 

 

 

CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

On November 15, 1904, the Clark County Historical Society, in its

new rooms in the East County Building, Springfield, Ohio, held its annual

meeting and elected the following officers for the ensuing year:

President - Prof. B. F. Prince.

Secretary-William M. Harris.

Treasurer - Charles H. Pierce.

Trustees -Oscar T. Martin, for five years; L. H. Fahnestock, for

six years.

All of the officers elected succeeded themselves except Mr. Fahne-

stock, who succeeded Prof. A. H. Linn. The Board of Trustees, as at

present constituted, consists of seven members. An amendment to the

by-laws was proposed, increasing the number of trustees to nine. The

meeting was well attended and great interest was manifested in the

progress of the Society. Professor Prince, who was honored with the

presidency, is a trustee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society.



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NOAH'S ARK.

The construction and voyage of Noah's Ark is not exactly material

pertinent to Ohio history or archaeology; but as a matter of universal

curiosity we herewith republish from very recent popular press items the

following:

M. V. Millard, archaeologist and distinguished excavator along the

Nile, who was recently at Indianapolis, declared that he had discovered

the place where Noah built the ark. Millard for a year past was engaged

in excavations at various places on the Nile, especially at Gizeh, in the

neighborhood of the great pyramid of Cheops.

"I have discovered during the last three years," he said, "just where

Noah lived, where the ark was built, and that Noah built the great pyra-

mid of Khufu, known as the pyramid of Gizeh. Noah was the greatest

king this world has ever seen. He was the greatest of the Egyptian

Pharaohs, not excepting Rameses the Great.

"Noah was a millionaire. The biblical account of the flood gives no

clew as to where Noah lived or where his ship carpenters were at work

for 126 years constructing the ark. Noah was 600 years old when the

flood came. He must have been a millionaire, and a man of great

authority. He built the ark at his own expense. Such a boat in these

times would cost more than half a million dollars.

"Noah built the great pyramid during the earlier part of the fourth

Egyptian dynasty, and not more than 1,200 years after God had expelled

Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden."

 

 

 

King Christian of Denmark will, in the near future, have a chance

to experience the feelings of Noah during the flood.

A Danish engineer, M. Vogt, supplied with money by the large

Carlsberg fund, left by the late millionaire brewer, Jacobsen, has built

an exact copy of the ark in which Noah floated around until he stranded

on Mt. Ararat. The new ark was built according to the description con-

tained in the Old Testament and an ancient representation of the Biblical

vessel on an Apamean coin, dating back to 300 B. C., which is on exhibi-

tion in a museum at Stockholm.

M. Vogt's ark is, however, only one tenth the size of the one built

by Father Noah, but a number of Danish University professors and scien-

tists declare it to be a fine craft, which behaves spendidly in the open

sea, as they had an opportunity to see during a recent trip on the Oere-

sound.

King Christian has promised to make a trip in the unique vessel

during next month, and later the builder of the vessel may try to take it

across the Atlantic.