Editorialana. 99
A daughter of Mr. Nichols, the
anti-slavery man, is yet living, and
gives in a letter to me interesting
facts. She says:
"My father and mother became
earnest anti-slavery advocates in
1841, and from that time until the war,
the colored people knew my
parents as friends, and our home was a
refuge. When old enough,
probably about the year '48 or '49, I
became greatly interested in the
black people, who came quietly to our
kitchen door after dark and left
before daylight; often we children did
not know who our callers were,
but we soon understood 'the back door
knock,' the look exchanged be-
tween mother and father, and the anxious
mysterious atmosphere that
pervaded the home, until father had word
from the next 'station.' I
remember one morning before light,
hearing a noise down stairs. I
crept to the kitchen to find a big black
man and woman, for whom break-
fast was being prepared. I was quickly
taken back to bed.
"I, one evening overheard father
telling mother 'he had found a half
killed darkey in the cornfield,' who
must get some supper and sleep,
and he would see Mr. - , and get him off before daylight. I did
not see the man."
E. G. Coffin who aided in the arrest of
the United States marshals
for the assault on Sheriff Layton, was a
nephew of Levi Coffin of Cin-
cinnati. At the head of the underground,
he aided hundreds of slaves
on their way north. He was a Quaker. E.
G. Coffin often drove the
underground 'express,' from South
Charleston to Mechanicsburg, and had
secretly taken the slave Addison White
there in 1855. For this and other
service he now states:
"The outbreak of the war itself,
was all that saved me from a term
in the state penitentiary, over which I
afterward presided as warden."
AUTHORITIES.
Geo. H. Frey, Sr., E. G. Coffin, James
H. Pyles, Chas. H. Pierce,
Walter Pierce, Mrs. D. A. Johnson, Mrs.
Belle Nichols Rebuck, Ver-
sailles, Indiana. As to arrests, The
Springfield Nonpareil, issue 1857.
THE CENTRAL OHIO VALLEY HISTORICAL
CONFERENCE.
During the Summer and early Fall of the
past year (1907) a number
of Cincinnati gentlemen interested
directly or indirectly in history in
general and Ohio Valley history in
particular formulated a plan for hold-
ing what was designated as the Central
Ohio Valley Historical Confer-
ence. The purpose of this plan was to
bring together for the opportunity
of discussion and mutual acquaintance and
co-operation all writers, schol-
ars, teachers and others engaged in the
field of history and all societies,
whose object might be, in whole or part,
the promotion of history, gath-
ering of material, presentation and
dissemination of the same. Patriotic
societies were included in the scope of
the project. The chief, if not
original, protagonist of this idea was
Professor Isaac J. Cox, of the de-
partment of history of the University of
Cincinnati. Professor Cox sub-
mitted the plan to the Executive
Committee of the Cincinnati Historical
Teachers' Association, which
organization gave the idea enthusiastic sup-
port. General and special committees
were appointed and many patriotic
100 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
and historical societies lent their aid
to the cause. The main and execu-
tive committee consisted of Mr. Charles
Theodore Greve, author of "The
History of Cincinnati," the
"Bench and Bar of Ohio," and professor of
law in the Cincinnati Law School;
Professor Isaac Joslin Cox, mentioned
above, and Mr. Frank Parker Goodwin,
professor of history in the Wood-
ward (Cincinnati) High School. Great
praise is due this committee for
the energy and tact displayed in their
work and for the more than success-
ful conclusion of their efforts,
culminating in the series of important and
interesting meetings held Friday and
Saturday, November 29th and 30th,
1907.
The first session of the conference was
held in the afternoon of
Friday in McMicken Hall, University of
Cincinnati. Mr. Charles T.
Greve presided and Mayor E. J. Dempsey
of Cincinnati and President
Charles W. Dabney, of University of
Cincinnati, welcomed the delegates
to the conference in short addresses, in
which they expressed their appre-
ciation of the work being done by the
historical and archaeological and
patriotic societies in Ohio, Kentucky,
Indiana and West Virginia. The
main speaker of the occasion was Reuben
Gold Thwaites, L.L. D., Sec-
retary of the Wisconsin Historical
Society and well known author of
many works on western history. His theme
was "The Mission of Local
History." It was a strong plea for
the search for and preservation of
historical data hitherto neglected. Mr.
E. O. Randall briefly presented
the history of the "Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society,"
its purposes, lines of work, relation to
the state and local societies. Mr.
Virgil A. Lewis, Director State
Department of Archives and History,
Charleston, W. Va., spoke of the work of
his state and the great oppor-
tunity yet unimproved of gathering
historical matter pertinent to the Ohio
river; his subject was "State Aid
in Local History." Mr. Charles B.
Galbreath, Ohio State Librarian,
outlined the work of Ohio Library in
historical departments. "Local
History Work in the Counties of Ken-
tucky," was interestingly and
wittily put forth by W. W. Longmoor,
Curator Kentucky State Historical
Society, Frankfort, Ky. The topic
"Recent Work in Prehistoric
Fields," by Mr. Frederick W. Hinkle, Cin-
cinnati Branch, Archaeological Institute
of America, afforded the speaker
an opportunity to present to the public
for the first time an account of
the recent explorations in the famous
Madisonville Prehistoric Cemetery.
The investigations were conducted in the
summer of 1907, by the archaeo-
logical department of Peabody Museum,
under the direction of Professor
F. W. Putnam. Mr. Hinkle personally
participated in the explorations
which proved to be rich in discoveries
quite new to Ohio archaeology.
In the evening the delegates repaired to
the Queen City Club, where
at the banquet table they met a number
of noted Cincinnatians. Charles
T. Greve acted as toastmaster. He
introduced as the chief speaker of the
evening, William Dudley Foulke, of
Richmond, Ind., a member of the
United State Civil Service Commission.
His subject was "The Autocrat
Editorialana. 101
of Indiana." The curiosity of the
delegates had been aroused regarding
the identity of this personage, but it
was soon allayed, as the speaker in
his introductory remarks mentioned the
name of Oliver P. Morton in
such eulogistic terms as to leave no
doubt that the famous War Gov-
ernor of Indiana was the
"autocrat." The speaker told the story of Mor-
ton's life in such a manner as to keep
the attention of his audience alert
till the last word was spoken. A chapter
from the most exciting fiction
could not have been more interesting.
Prof. William H. Venable, who was
expected to read an original
poem entitled, "The Founders,"
was unable to be present. His son, Prof.
Emerson Venable, recited the poem. This
production is published else-
where in this Quarterly under the title,
"Cincinnati." Short speeches were
then made by Prof. Merrick Whitcomb, R.
G. Thwaites, Archer B. Hul-
bert, W. W. Longmoor, F. P. Goodwin,
Virgil A. Lewis, James Alton
James and E. O. Randall.
The guests were Isaac J. Cox, R. G.
Thwaites, J. A. James, C.
L. Martzolff, F. P. Goodwin, E. Venable,
V. A. Lewis, S. B.
Harding, M. E. Marsh, Frank T. Cole, E.
F. McIntyre, John Uri Lloyd,
C. M. Thompson, Albert S. Hill, Thomas
C. Miller, Thornton M. Hinkle,
Harlow Lindley, Herbert Jenney, Charles
L. Burgoyne, S. K. Bartholo-
mew, A. A. Weerland, M. Whitcomb, C. T.
Greve, A. B. Hulbert, Alex-
ander Hill, E. R. Blaine, G. S. Sykes,
E. W. Coy, D. L. James, C. J.
Livingood, John H. Miller, F. L. Steele,
W. H. Mackoy, F. W. Hinkle,
C. L. Metz, John W. Harper, Ferd Jelke,
Jr., F. R. Dyer, Demarchus C.
Brown, Harry B. Mackoy, John E. Blaine,
P. S. Conner, Alston Ellis,
W. W. Longmoor, W. H. Siebert, W. D.
Foulke, E. O. Randall and J.
A. James.
Saturday morning at McMicken Hall, was
given to the teachers of
history. Mr. Wilbur H. Siebert,
Professor of European History, O. S.
U., Columbus, Ohio, presided and
rendered an appropriate address on the
general subject of history teaching.
Welcome remarks were made by
Professor F. B. Dyer, Superintendent
Cincinnati Public Schools, and
Professor Merrick Whitcomb, University
of Cincinnati. A most scholarly
address was made by Mr. James Alton
James, Professor of American
History, Northwestern University, Evanston,
Ill., on "The Teacher of
Social Sciences." This was followed
by a discussion of the features of
the address by Professor Samuel
Bannister Hardin, University of Indiana,
Bloomington, Ind.; Clement L. Martzolff,
Professor of History, Ohio
University, Athens, Ohio; and Bertram L.
Jones, Instructor in the Manual
Training High School, Louisville, Ky.;
Archer Butler Hulbert, Professor
of American History, Marietta College,
Marietta, Ohio, and author of
many works on American history, spoke on
"The Use of Local Records
in History Teaching," explaining
his method of directing his pupils in
conducting original work among material
accessible to their use.
At the close of the Saturday morning
session the attendants upon
102 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
the conference were tendered a luncheon,
served in one of the halls of
the University of Cincinnati. In the
afternoon a reception was held by
the Hereditary Patriotic Societies, in
the quarters of the Patriotic Soci-
eties, Mercantile Library Building. The
social features of the reception
were preceded by an exceedingly
entertaining program of addresses by
representatives of the Patriotic Societies.
General Benjamin R. Cowen
presided and an introductory address was
made by Mr. Henry B. Mackoy,
Covington, Ky., Sons of the Revolution
and Chairman Reception Com-
mittee. Succeeding speeches were
delivered by: Mrs. Herman Groesbeck,
Society of Colonial Dames; Rev. Henry M.
Curtis, D. D., Society of
Colonial Wars; Mrs. John A. Murphy,
ex-State Regent Daughters of the
American Revolution; Mr. John A. Blaine,
Sons of the Revolution and
Mrs. Joseph C. Hosea, Daughters of the
Confederacy. It was a brilliant
and fitting close to the two days of
historical revelry and feasting. The
papers read and addresses made
throughout the conference were of a
high order of merit and interest. The
audiences were large and enthusi-
astic. Nothing could have exceeded the
perfect arrangements of the
various committees in charge or the
courtesy and hospitality of the
authorities of the University of
Cincinnati and the people of the city.
The purpose of the conference to
concentrate, direct and awaken new in-
terest in Ohio Valley History was more
than accomplished. In connec-
tion with the meeting there was an
exhibit of maps, manuscripts, and rare
volumes, in the library rooms of the
Historical and Philosophical Society
of Ohio, in the Van Wormer Library
Building. This exhibit was under
the direction of Miss L. Belle Hamlin,
Librarian of the Society. A
special exhibit of books and maps,
applicable to the nature of the con-
ference, was also made by Mr. N. D. C.
Hodges, Librarian, in the rooms
of the Cincinnati Public Library.
At the Friday afternoon meeting a
provisional committee of fifteen
on permanent organization was selected.
This committee met after the
evening banquet and again on Saturday
morning before the Teachers'
Session. At the close of the latter the
committee of fifteen submitted
the report which follows and which was
unanimously adopted by the con-
ference.
The Committee to whom was referred the
task of drafting resolu-
tions on the subject of a permanent
co-operation of the history workers
of the Ohio Valley beg leave to submit
the following resolutions:
1st. Resolved, That there be
formed an organization to be called the
Ohio Valley History Conference.
2d. Resolved, That membership in
this organization be composed of
the following classes:
(a) Individual members.
(b) Organizations whose object it is to cherish all forms of patriotic
work, to stimulate a greater interest in
history teaching in general and in
the subject of the local history of the
Ohio Valley in particular, and to
Editorialana. 103
aid in the collection, preservation, and
publication of its records and of
original work based thereon.
(c) Persons not residing in the Ohio
Valley but whose published
work or regular occupation naturally
identifies them with our purpose.
3d. Resolved, That a second
meeting of this conference be held one
year from date, at some place to be
determined upon later, and that a
committee consisting of nine persons be
empowered to prepare a program
and make other necessary preparations
for this meeting; and in addition
to draft a permanent constitution to be
acted upon at that meeting.
4th. Resolved, That the
membership of this committee consist of the
following persons:
Isaac Joslin Cox, University of
Cincinnati; Samuel Bannister Hard-
ing, University of Indiana; E. O.
Randall, Ohio State Archaeological and
Historical Society; Virgil A. Lewis,
State Department of Archives and
History, West Virginia; W. W. Longmoor,
Kentucky State Historical
Society; Harry B. Mackoy, Filson Club
and hereditary patriotic societies;
Frank Parker Goodwin, Cincinnati History
Teachers' Association; Archer
B. Hulbert, Marietta College and Ohio
Valley Historical Society, and
Clement L. Martzolff, Secretary, Ohio
University, Athens.
The Committee of nine thus chosen
decided to meet in Cincinnati on
January 17 and 18, 1908, at which time
it will formulate definite plans
for the future scope and work of the
conference.
KERR'S LIFE OF JOHN SHERMAN.
John Sherman in his will provided for
the writing of an impartial
biography and in connection therewith
his will says: "This provision
is not made to secure a eulogy, for I am
conscious of many faults, but
I claim that in my duty to the public, I
have been honest, faithful and
true." His biographer as well as
his executor is Hon. W. S. Kerr, of
Mansfield, Ohio, in his duty enjoined
upon him by Mr. Sherman in his
lifetime Mr. Kerr has written "John
Sherman; His Life and Public
Services," in two handsome volumes
making together nearly nine hundred
pages. Although Mr. Kerr approached his
labor without literary train-
ing or experience, it can be truthfully
stated no better written political
biography can be found in American
bibliography. It is not only John
Sherman's life but it is an admirable
contemporary history of events
surrounding the great Senator's career.
It is not our purpose to dwell
upon the details of the work. It is
sufficient to note that the work before
us is in complete harmony with the
dignified character which is its sub-
ject. From Mr. Sherman's entrance into
the House of Representatives
in 1855, to the day he laid down the
port folio of Secretary of State in
President McKinley's Cabinet, it is a
complete mirror of his public life
and a splendid review of all
contemporary legislative politics in which he